Article 1. The welfare commissioners (Minsei-iin) shall be engaged in the work of protection and guidance with the spirit of serving the community, and shall endeavour to promote the social welfare.
Article 2. The welfare commissioners shall endeavour at all times to cultivate their personality and outlook, and to acquire knowledge and technique necessary for the execution of their duties.
第三條 民生委員は、市（特別区を含む。以下同じ。）町村の区域にこれを置く。
Article 3. The welfare commissioners shall be established in the area of the city (including the special ward;and the same shall apply hereinafter), town or village.
Article 4. The quorum of the welfare commissioners shall be determined by the prefectural governor for each area as provided for in the preceding Article, in accordance with the standards fixed by the Minister of Welfare, and after securing the opinion of the mayor of the city, and to the headman of the town or village (including the headman of the special ward;and the same shall apply hereinafter) who has jurisdiction over the area.
第五條 民生委員は、都道府縣知事の推薦によつて、厚生大臣がこれを委嘱する。
Article 5. The welfare commissioners shall be commissioned by the Minister of Welfare, upon recommendation of the prefectural governor.
As provided for in the preceding paragraph the prefectural governor shall recommend those persons whose names were submitted by the Welfare Commissoner Nomination Conference (Minsei-iin Suisen Kai) established in each city, town and village, after the opinion of the Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference (Minsei-iin Shinsa Kai) established in each prefecture has been secured.
Article 6. In nominating candidates for welfare commissioners, the Welfare Commissioner Nomination Conference shall choose the persons, from among those who have the right to vote for the members of the assembly of the city, town or village (including the assembly of the special ward;and the same shall apply hereinafter), who have good personality and outlook, wide knowledge of the circumstances of the community, who are earnestly interested in the promotion of social welfare, and are also suitable to be the child welfare workers under the Child Welfare Law (Law No.164 of 1947).
Article 7. The prefectural governor, when he recognizes that a candidate nominated by the Welfare Commissioner Nomination Conference is not suitable to be a welfare commissioner, may order the conference to submit a new nomination, after he has secured the opinion of the Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference.
In the cases of the preceding paragraph, if the Welfare Commissioner Nomination Conference does not submit a new nomination within twenty days of the order, the prefectural governor may, after securing the opinion of the mayor of the city, the headman of the town or village concerned and the opinion of the Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference, choose a person whom he recognizes as suitable to be a welfare commissioner, and recommend him to the Minister of Welfare.
第八條 民生委員推薦会は、委員長一人及び委員若干人でこれを組織する。
Article 8. The Welfare Commissioner Nomination Conference shall be composed of a chairman and several members.
The members of the conference shall be commissioned by the mayor of the city, the headman of the town or village, from among those who are members of the assembly of the city, town or village, those who are concerned in the operation of social work, or those who are men of learning and experience, after the mayor and headman has secured the opinion of the assembly of the city, town or village;provided that the number of the members of the conference to be commissioned from among the members of the assembly shall be less than one-fourth of the total number of the members of the conference.
３ 委員は、当該市町村の議会の議員の選挙権を有する者でなければならない。
The members of the conference shall be those who have the right to vote for the members of the assembly of the city, town or village.
４ 委員長は、委員の互選とする。
The chairman shall be elected from among the members of the conference by mutual vote.
Besides those provided for in the four preceding paragraphs, necessary matters concerning the Welfare Commissioner Nomination Conference, such as the term of office of the chairman and the members, the duties of the chairman, etc. shall be fixed by Cabinet Order.
第九條 民生委員審査会は、委員長一人及び委員九人以内でこれを組織する。
Article 9. The Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference shall be composed of a chairman and members not exceeding nine persons.
The prefectural governor shall commission the members from among those who are members of the prefectural assembly, those who are concerned in the operation of social work or in child labour, or those who are men of learning and experience;provided that the number of the members to be commissioned from among the assemblymen shall be three persons or less.
３ 委員は、当該都道府縣の議会の議員の選挙権を有する者でなければならない。
The members of the conference shall be those who have the right to vote for the members of the prefectural assembly.
４ 委員長は、委員の互選とする。
The chairman shall be elected from among the members of the conference by mutual vote.
Besides those provided for in the four preceding paragraphs necessary matters concerning the Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference, such as the term of office of the chairman and the members, the duties of the chairman, etc. shall be fixed by Cabinet Order.
第十條 民生委員は、名誉職とし、その任期は、三年とする。
Article 10. The post of welfare commissioners shall be honorary and their tenure of office shall be three years.
Article 11. In case a welfare commissioner falls under any one of the items listed below, the Minister of Welfare, on advice from the prefectural governor, may dismiss him, in spite of the provisions in the preceding Article:
一 職務の遂行に支障があり、又はこれに堪えない場合
1. When there is hindrance for the execution of his duties, or when he is unable to execute his duties;
二 職務を怠り、又は職務上の義務に違反した場合
2. When he neglects his duties, or when he violates his obligation to his post;
三 民生委員たるにふさわしくない非行のあつた場合
3. When he commits a bad conduct not befitting the welfare commissioner.
２ 都道府縣知事が前項の具申をするに当つては、民生委員審査会の同意を経なければならない。
The prefectural governor shall obtain concurrence of the Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference in submitting the advice as provided for in the preceding paragraph.
Article 12. In the case as provided for in Par.2 of the preceding Article, the Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference shall give notice to the individual beforehand that a further screening will be conducted.
The welfare commissioner who has received the notice in the preceding paragraph may state his opinion to the Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference within two weeks after the date on which he received the notice.
When the opinion is stated under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference shall listen to the opinion stated prior to screening.
Article 15. The welfare commissioners, in executing their duties, shall respect the personality of the individuals, keep their private matters secret, deal out no discriminatory or preferential treatment to persons because of the difference in race, creed, sex, social status or family history, and shall be rational in handling cases with due consideration to actual circumstances.
第十六條 民生委員は、その職務上の地位を政党又は政治的目的のために利用してはならない。
Article 16. The welfare commissioners shall not take advantage of their official position for political parties or for political purposes.
２ 前項の規定に違反した民生委員は、第十一條及び第十二條の規定に從い解嘱せられるものとする。
The welfare commissioner who violated the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be dismissed under the provisions of Arts.11 and 12.
第十七條 民生委員は、その職務に関して、都道府縣知事の指揮監督を受ける。
Article 17. The welfare commissioners shall be under the command and supervision of the prefectural governor concerning their duties.
The mayor of the city, the headman of the town or village may order the welfare commissioners to prepare necessary data on persons requiring protection, and, in addition, he may give necessary directions to the welfare commissioners concerning their duties.
Article 18. The prefectural governor shall, in accordance with-the stipulations of the Minister of Welfare, set up plans for leadership and training of welfare commissioners and put such plans into operation.
第十九條 都道府縣は、民生委員の指導訓練に從事する吏員を置かなければならない。
Article 19. The prefecture shall have officials who will engage in the leadership and training of the welfare commissioners.
２ 前項の吏員は、社会事業に関する学識経驗のある者の中からこれを任用しなければならない。
The officials provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be appointed from among those who have learning or experience in social work.
３ 第一項の吏員に関し必要な事項は、政令でこれを定める。
Necessary matters concerning the officials provided for in the first paragraph shall be fixed by Cabinet Order.
Article 20. The welfare commissioners shall organize a Welfare Commissioner Council (Minsei-iin Kyogi Kai) in each area which the prefectural governor shall decide after securing the opinion of the mayor of the city, and the headman of the town or village.
In deciding the areas in which the Welfare Commissioner Councils will be organized, as provided for in the preceding paragraph, the city area shall be divided into several areas, while the entire town or village shall be one area, except where any special circumstances exists.
第二十一條 民生委員協議会に、常務委員一人を置く。
Article 21. In each Welfare Commissioner Council shall have one standing commissioner (Jomu-iin).
２ 常務委員は、当該民生委員協議会を組織する民生委員の互選とする。
The standing commissioner shall be elected by mutual vote from among the welfare commissioners who compose the Welfare Commissioner Council.
３ 常務委員の任期は一年とする。但し、再任することができる。
The tenure of office of the standing commissioner shall be one year, provided that he may be re-elected.
４ 常務委員は、民生委員協議会の常務を掌り、民生委員協議会を代表し、その会議の議長となる。
The standing commissioner shall manage the standing business of the Welfare Commissioner Council, shall be the representative of the council and shall be the chairman of the conference.
５ 前四項で定めるものの外、常務委員に関し必要なる事項は、政令でこれを定める。
Besides those provided for in the preceding four paragraphs, necessary matters concerning the standing commissioner shall be fixed by Cabinet Order.
６ 常務委員は、政令の定めるところにより、常務委員協議会を組織する。
The standing commissioners shall organize a Standing Commissioner Council (Jomu-iin Kyogi Kai), in accordance with the stipulations fixed by Cabinet Order.
Article 22. The prefectural governor may, if he thinks it necessary to do so, cause the mayor of the city, and the headman of the town or village concerned (the headman of the ward in the cities of Kyoto, Osaka, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagoya, and the same shall apply hereinafter) or other suitable persons to join the organization of the Welfare Commissioner Council.
２ 関係市町村長又はその委任を受けた者は、民生委員協議会に出席し、意見を述べなければならない。
The mayor of the city, and the headman of the town or village concerned or a person so authorized by the mayor or the headman shall attend the Welfare Commissioner Council and state his opinion.
第二十三條 民生委員協議会は、毎月一回以上、これを開催しなければならない。
Article 23. The Welfare Commissioner Council shall meet more than once each month.
第二十四條 民生委員協議会の任務は、左の通りとする。
Article 24. The duties of the Welfare Commissioner Council shall be as follows:
一 民生委員が担当する区域又は事項を定めること。
1. To fix the areas or the specific matters to be assigned to the welfare commissioners;
二 民生委員の職務に関する連絡及び統制をすること。
2. To coordinate and control the duties of the welfare commissioners;
三 必要な資料及び情報を集めること。
3. To collect necessary data or informations;
四 民生委員をして、その職務に関して互に励まし、研究及び修養をさせること。
4. To cause the welfare commissioners to encourage one another and to make studies and cultivate themselves concerning their duties;
五 その他民生委員が職務を遂行するに必要な事項を処理すること。
5. To deal with any other matters necessary for the execution of duties by the welfare commissioners.
２ 民生委員協議会は、民生委員の職務に関して必要と認める意見を関係各廳に具申することができる。
The Welfare Commissioner Council may submit to the various governmental authorities concerned such opinions as considered necessary concerning the execution of duties of the welfare commissioners.
Article 25. The city designated by the Minister of Welfare shall establish a Welfare Commissioner Office, under the provisions fixed by Cabinet Order, in each area of the Welfare Commissioner Council, in order to provide facilities for the disposition of business of the Welfare Commissioner Council and for those who need protection.
２ 前項の民生委員事務所には、專任の吏員を置かなければならない。
Full-time, specialized officials shall be placed in the Welfare Commissioner Office provided for in the preceding paragraph.
３ 前項の吏員に関しては、第十九條第二項及び第三項の規定を準用する。
The provisions of Pars.2 and 3 of Art.19 shall apply with necessary modifications to the officials provided for in the preceding paragraph.
Article 26. The expenses for the welfare commissioners, the Welfare Commissioner Nomination Conference, the Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference, the Welfare Commissioner Council and the Standing Commissioner Council, and for leadership and training of the welfare commissioners shall be borne by the prefecture.
第二十七條 第二十五條の規定による民生委員事務所に関する費用は、市の負担とする。
Article 27. The expenses for the Welfare Commissioner Office, as provided for in Art.25, shall be borne by the city.
Article 28. The National Treasury shall, under the qualifications and standards fixed by the Minister of Welfare, grant one half of the expenses for the following items:
一 第二十六條の規定により都道府縣が負担した費用
1. The expenses borne by the prefecture under the provisions of Art.26.
二 第二十七條の規定により市が負担した費用
2. The expenses borne by the city under the provisions of Art.27.
Article 29. The prefecture shall, under the qualifications and standards fixed by the Minister of Welfare, grant one-fourth of the expenses borne by the city under the provisions of Art.27.
附 則
Supplementary Provisions:
第三十條 この法律は、公布の日から、これを施行する。
Article 30. The present Law shall come into force as from the day of its promulgation.
第三十一條 民生委員令（昭和二十一年勅令第四百二十六号）は、これを廃止する。
Article 31. The Welfare Commissioner Ordinance (Minsei-iin Rei)(Imperial Ordinance No.426 of 1946) shall be repealed.
Article 32. The persons who hold the post of welfare commissioner at the time of the enforcement of the present Law shall be deemed to have been commissioned to be the welfare commissioners under the present Law;provided that the term of office of these welfare commissioners shall be three years since the date of the enforcement of the present Law.
Article 33. The persons who hold the post of the members of the Welfare Commissioner Nomination Conference or the Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference under the Welfare Commissioner Ordinance at the time of the enforcement of the present Law shall be deemed to have been commissioned to be the members of the Welfare Commissioner Nomination Conference or the Welfare Commissioner Screening Conference under the present Law, provided that their term of office shall be fixed by Cabinet Order.
第三十四條 生活保護法（昭和二十一年法律第十七号）の一部を次のように改正する。
Article 34. A part of the Daily Life Protection Law shall be amended as follows:
第五條中「民生委員令」を「民生委員法」に改める。
In Article 5 "the Welfare Commissioner Ordinance" shall read "the Welfare Commissioner Law."
第三十五條 兒童福祉法の一部を次のように改正する。
Article 35. A part of the Child Welfare Law shall be amended as follows:
第十二條第三項中「民生委員令」を「民生委員法」に改める。
In Article 12, Paragraph 3, "the Welfare Commissioner Ordinance" shall read "the Welfare Commissioner Law."