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BILL NO. 145

(as introduced)

2nd Session, 63rd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
68 Elizabeth II, 2019

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Chief Dental Officer Act

 

Karla MacFarlane
Pictou West



First Reading: April 11, 2019

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

 

An Act to Establish the Chief Dental Officer

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Chief Dental Officer Act.

2 The purpose of this Act is to improve the oral health status of Nova Scotians and to increase awareness about the prevention of oral diseases by establishing a Chief Dental Officer.

3 In this Act,

(a) "Chief Dental Officer" means the Chief Dental Officer appointed pursuant to Section 4;

(b) "Minister" means the Minister of Health and Wellness.

4 (1) The Minister shall appoint a Chief Dental Officer.

(2) The Minister shall establish the qualifications, skills and standards that an individual must have to be appointed pursuant to subsection (1).

5 Subject to Section 9, the Chief Dental Officer shall

(a) develop plans for ongoing surveillance of oral diseases;

(b) promote improvement to and report on the status of population oral health, with special emphasis on vulnerable populations;

(c) collaborate with private, public and non-profit sectors to develop initiatives to strengthen population oral health and prevent and control oral health diseases;

(d) provide to the Minister expert advice respecting oral health issues;

(e) provide a point of contact with professional associations, academic institutions and other non-governmental organizations on oral health issues;

(f) develop plans to integrate oral health promotion with general health initiatives; and

(g) fulfil such other roles and responsibilities as may be assigned to the Chief Dental Officer by the Minister from time to time.

6 The Chief Dental Officer may share with other jurisdictions or parties any information the Chief Dental Officer considers necessary to carry out the functions and duties of the Chief Dental Officer.

7 The Chief Dental Officer shall submit to the Minister, in the form and at the time determined by the Minister, an annual report outlining the activities of the Chief Dental Officer, including any recommendations by the Chief Dental Officer respecting initiatives to improve population oral health and prevent and control oral health diseases.

8 (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations

(a) prescribing the duties and functions of the Chief Dental Officer;

(b) prescribing annual report requirements and times for the purpose of Section 7;

(c) defining any word or expression used but not defined in this Act;

(d) respecting any matter or thing the Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to effectively carry out the intent and purpose of this Act.

(2) The exercise by the Governor in Council of the authority contained in subsection (1) is a regulation within the meaning of the Regulations Act.

9 The money required for the purpose of this Act must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.

 


This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2019 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created April 11, 2019. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.