Small Options Homes Moratorium Termination Act

WHEREAS the Government has imposed a moratorium on the approval of new small options homes;

AND WHEREAS interim standards for small options homes have been established since 1996;

AND WHEREAS it is in the interest of persons in need of supervised housing in Nova Scotia that beds be available in small options homes;

2 In this Act,

(a) "person in need of supervised housing" includes an individual with a long-term physical or intellectual challenge, developmental delay, brain injury or long-term mental illness who requires some supervision and support in order to live independently within the individual's community;

(b) "small options home" means any home where persons in need of supervised housing may receive supervisory care or personal care that would be a residential care facility within the meaning of the Homes for Special Care Act but for the reason that care is provided to fewer than four persons.

3 Subject to Section 5, the Minister of Community Services shall ensure that the moratorium on approval of small options homes that is in place is terminated no later than April 1, 2007.

4 After the moratorium on approval of small options homes is terminated in accordance with Section 3, the Minister of Community Services shall consider any proposals or applications respecting small options homes on their merits on the basis of the interim standards produced by the Department of Community Services and tabled in the Assembly by the Minister of Community Services on November 26, 1996, until such time as permanent standards are established, at which time the Minister shall consider proposals or applications on the basis of those standards.

5 The moneys required for the purpose of this Act shall be paid out of moneys appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.

BILL NO. 129

(as introduced)