St. Petersburg city council members passed a bill in its first reading expanding the procedures for using maternity capital. Parents will now be able to use this money to pay for physical education and health services for their children.
The explanatory note to the law notes that, within the framework of the Russian Federation program "Development of Physical Culture and Sports," one of the key areas of state policy is to encourage citizens, especially youth and children, to participate in regular sports activities.
Previously, maternity capital did not allow families to pay for physical activity classes at private institutions or with entrepreneurs who do not have an educational license. This opportunity has now been extended, including to adults under 23 who are full-time university students, according to the press service of the St. Petersburg Governor's Administration.
Furthermore, this year, city authorities have authorized the use of the regional portion of maternity capital for the installation of new windows and doors, glazing of balconies in apartments and residential buildings, and connecting them to utility networks.
Starting in 2025, adoptive parents in St. Petersburg also gained the right to receive maternity capital.