BILL NO. 14

(as introduced)

2nd Session, 63rd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
67 Elizabeth II, 2018

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Sexual Violence Action Plan Act

 

Tory Rushton
Cumberland South

First Reading: September 11, 2018

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

 

An Act to Address Sexual Violence
at Colleges and Universities

WHEREAS colleges and universities should be accountable for taking reasonable measures to prevent and address any sexual violence against their students and others on their campuses;

AND WHEREAS colleges and universities should be more transparent regarding complaints and incidents of sexual violence reported by their students and others on their campuses;

AND WHEREAS sexual violence policies should include a complaints procedure and response protocols and be readily available to students and others on their campuses;

THEREFORE be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Sexual Violence Action Plan Act.

2 In this Act,

(a) "institution" means a college, university or private career college;

(b) "private career college" has the same meaning as in the Private Career Colleges Act;

(c) "student" means an individual registered as a student in an institution.

3 Within six months of the coming into force of this Act, each college, university and private career college shall develop a sexual violence policy that addresses sexual violence involving any of its students or anyone on its campus.

4 The development of a sexual violence policy under Section 3 and the review of it under Section 8 must include student input.

5 (1) A sexual violence policy must establish processes for

(a) the making of a complaint; and

(b) the reporting of an incident,

of sexual violence.

(2) The complaints and reporting process established under subsection (1) must be made readily available to students and others on campus and be posted on the institution's website.

6 A sexual violence policy must establish the response protocols for the institution when a complaint or report of sexual violence is made.

7 A college or university must have supports, including access to a sexual assault nurse examiner, available on a 24-hour basis for students and others on campus who experience sexual violence.

8 (1) An institution shall establish a committee composed of equal numbers of representatives of the institution and its students to review its sexual violence policy at least once every three years.

(2) The committee established under subsection (1) shall consider and make recommendations regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the sexual violence policy.

(3) The institution shall make such amendments as recommended by the committee.

9 (1) An institution shall collect the following information:

(a) the number of times supports, services and accommodations relating to sexual violence are

(i) requested, and

(ii) obtained,

by its students and others on its campus;

(b) the number and type of complaints of sexual violence made; and

(c) the number and type of reports of sexual violence made.

(2) An institution shall make public

(a) the information collected under subsection (1) without disclosing any personal information within the meaning of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;

(b) any initiatives and programs it establishes to promote awareness of the supports and services available to its students and others on its campus; and

(c) the recommendations and amendments made under subsections 8(2) and 8(3).

10 Subsection 11B(2) of Chapter 14 of the Acts of 1989, the Victims' Rights and Services Act, is repealed and the following subsection substituted:

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), an application for compensation in respect of a sexual assault may be made at any time.

 

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This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2018 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created September 11, 2018. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.