On 18 April, Commissioner for Human Rights in Leningrad Region Sergey Shabanov proposed to amend legislation at a meeting of the Legislative Assembly regional commission on Social Policy and Labor Relations.

Sergey Shabanov informed the deputies about the legislative restriction revealed in the course of work with citizens' appeals, according to which maternity capital is not required in cases of adoption of the spouse’s child of a former marriage.

In addition, Part 2, Article 3 of the Federal Law No. 256-FZ "On additional measures of state support for families with children" excludes the right to additional state support measures for those who adopted a second child, who is a stepchild of these persons at the time of adoption.

According to Sergey Shabanov, the restriction is unreasonable; therefore it is necessary to eliminate the existing social inequality.

In turn, the deputies of Leningrad region unanimously supported the initiative of the regional commissioner. Work on the draft law for submission to the State Duma of the Russian Federation is under personal control of Sergei Shabanov.

Adapted from the Press Service of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Leningrad Region