BILL NO. 50

(as introduced)

3rd Session, 62nd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
65 Elizabeth II, 2016



Private Member's Bill



Safer Universities and Colleges Act



Lenore Zann
Truro–Bible Hill–Millbrook–Salmon River



First Reading: October 27, 2016

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

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An Act to Make Universities
and Colleges Safer Places

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Safer Universities and Colleges Act.

2 In this Act,

(a) "Minister" means the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education;

(b) "sexual violence" means any

whether the act is physical or psychological in nature, that is committed, threatened or attempted against a person without the person's consent, and includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism and sexual exploitation.

3 (1) Each university and college shall adopt a sexual violence policy.

(2) A university's or college's sexual violence policy must

(a) be developed with significant input from its students; and

(b) be reviewed, with student involvement, and renewed every four years.

4 Each university and college shall

(a) ensure that each of its campuses has clearly stated complaint procedures and response protocols related to sexual violence, training and prevention programs related to sexual violence and twenty-four-hour-a-day services and support available for survivors of sexual violence;

(b) support initiatives to reduce sexual violence and sexual harassment and to ensure safe campuses;

(c) ensure that its students have information about preventing sexual violence and sexual harassment and are informed about resources and support available for survivors of sexual violence; and

(d) make the information referred to in clause (c) available in a student's first week of orientation, throughout the year and to students in all years of study.

5 Each university and college shall collect from its students and other persons, and provide to the Minister, such data and other information relating to the following as may be requested by the Minister in the manner and form prescribed by the regulations:

(a) the number of times supports, services and accommodation relating to sexual violence are requested and obtained by students enrolled at the university or college and information about the supports, services and accommodation;

(b) any initiatives and programs established by the university or college to promote awareness of the supports and services available to students;

(c) the number of incidents and complaints of sexual violence reported by students and information about such incidents and complaints; and

(d) the implementation and effectiveness of its sexual violence policy.

6 (1) The Minister may make regulations relating to

(a) sexual violence involving students enrolled at universities and colleges;

(b) sexual violence policies, including

(c) any matter or thing the Minister considers necessary or advisable to effectively carry out the intent and purpose of this Act.

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

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