(Changes in membership, functions or agreement)
Article 291-3.
When a Wide-Area Uuion wishes to change its membership or the functions it performs, or wishes to amend its agreement, the said change or amendment shall be determined by mutual agreement between the member bodies, and with the approval of the Minister of Home Affairs (in the case of a To, Do, Fu or Ken), or the approval of the governor of the To, Do, Fu or Ken (if otherwise). However, this shall not apply when the Wide-Area Union wishes to amend its agreement with regard to the matters mentioned under items 6 or 9 of paragraph 1 of the following article, or wishes to alter the agreement of the Wide-Area Union merely with regard to additional functions to be performed by the Wide-Area Union in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2 of the preceding article.
2.
The Minister of Home Affairs shall consult with the chief executives of the related national administrative agencies regarding approval under the preceding paragraph.
3.
When a Wide-Area Union wishes to amend its agreement with regard to the matters mentioned under items 6 or 9 of paragraph 1 of the following article, it shall determine the said amendment by mutual agreement of the local public bodies concerned, and give immediate notification of the same to the Minister of Home Affairs or the governor of the To, Do, Fu or Ken, as prescribed in paragraph 1 of this article.
4.
When a Wide-Area Union has added to or changed the functions it performs in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2 of the preceding article, the chief executive of the Wide-Area Union shall immediately make the necessary amendments to the agreement concerning the matters mentioned under item 4 or 9 of paragraph 1 of the following article, give notification of the said amendment to the Minister of Home Affairs or the governor of the To, Do, Fu or Ken as prescribed in the text of paragraph 1 of this article, and also give notification of the same to the chief executives of the member bodies of the Wide-Area Union.
5.
When the governor of the To, Do, Fu or Ken gives approval under paragraph 1 of this article or receives notification under paragraph 3 or 4 of this article, he or she shall make immediate public announcement of the same, and shall also inform the Minister of Home Affairs.
6.
When the Minister of Home Affairs gives approval under paragraph 1 of this article or receives notification under paragraph 3 or 4 of this article, he or she shall make immediate public announcement of the same and shall also inform the chief executives of the related national administrative agencies of the same. When the Minister of Home Affairs receives notification under the preceding paragraph, he or she shall give immediate notification of the same to the chief executives of the related national administrative agencies.
