This Act amends various laws relating to personal autonomy and ancillary matters. The primary amendments target the Code of Civil Procedure (Chapter 12) and establish a reformed framework for supporting persons with disabilities and elderly persons through personal autonomy safeguards. The Act replaces the previous guardianship model with a support-person model designed to respect the autonomy and preferences of vulnerable persons. Key changes include: (1) renaming the 'Board on Custody' to the 'Board for Personal Autonomy Safeguards'; (2) restructuring the Board's composition to include up to six members—a lawyer or former judge with expertise in disability rights (including psychosocial disability), plus one member each appointed following consultation with the Disability Commissioner, the Mental Health Commissioner, the Commissioner for Elderly Persons, the Head Executive of the Victim Support Agency, and one health or social care professional appointed by the responsible minister, with a requirement that the majority be persons with disabilities from different categories and balanced gender representation; (3) establishing term limits of three years for Board members with eligibility for re-election; (4) replacing 'guardians' with 'support persons' who respect the supported person's will and preferences; (5) mandating holistic functional assessments adapted to age and gender, sensitive to intersectional characteristics and cultural background; (6) allowing appointment of temporary support persons during proceedings, not exceeding 26 weeks; (7) ensuring legal aid availability where necessary; and (8) providing for regulations on assessment procedures. The Act affects all persons requiring personal autonomy safeguards, particularly persons with disabilities (including psychosocial disability) and elderly persons. Enforcement mechanisms include Board procedures, appeals to court under specified articles, and ongoing oversight by appointed officials. The Minister responsible for disability rights has discretion to set staggered commencement dates for different provisions via notice in the Government Gazette.

Personal Autonomy Amendment Act (Act XIII of 2026)