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BILL NO. 244

(as introduced)

2nd Session, 63rd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
69 Elizabeth II, 2020

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Education Act
(amended)

 

Tim Halman
Dartmouth East



First Reading: March 3, 2020

(Explanatory Note)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

Explanatory Note

This Bill amends the Education Act to require classrooms in public schools to be equipped with mental health wellness kits. It also requires professional development programs for teachers to include instruction on the appropriate use of mental health wellness kits.

An Act to Amend Schedule A
of Chapter 1 of the Acts of 2018,
the Education Act,
Respecting Mental Health Wellness Kits

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Schedule A of Chapter 1 of the Acts of 2018, the Education Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 8 the following heading and Sections:

    MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS KITS

    8A (1) Subject to subsection (3), every classroom in every public school must be equipped with a mental health wellness kit to assist students experiencing a mental health issue that has not yet reached a crisis level.

    (2) Mental health wellness kits must include

    (a) stress-relieving devices such as stress balls or fidget spinners;

    (b) contact information for mental health services in the Province;

    (c) small heating and cooling packs; and

    (d) any other items a mental health professional employed by an education entity deems appropriate.

    (3) The money required for the purpose of this Section must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.

    8B Professional development programs for teachers who work in public schools must include instruction on the appropriate use of mental health wellness kits.

 


This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2020 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created March 3, 2020. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.