Victims' Rights and Services Act (amended)

BILL NO. 25

(as introduced)

4th Session, 61st General Assembly
Nova Scotia
61 Elizabeth II, 2012

Private Member's Bill

Victims' Rights and Services Act
(amended)

Diana Whalen
Halifax Clayton Park

First Reading: April 17, 2012

(Explanatory Notes)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

Explanatory Notes

Clause 1 ensures that all of the money collected through the victim-fine surcharge is used to directly benefit victims of crime.

Clause 2 removes the cap in the regulations on the hourly rate and maximum number of counselling hours.

Clause 3 gives an applicant who is dissatisfied with a decision of the Director 180 days to appeal the decision.

An Act to Amend Chapter 14
of the Acts of 1989,
the Victims' Rights and Services Act

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Section 9 of Chapter 14 of the Acts of 1989, the Victims' Rights and Services Act, is amended by

(a) adding "(1)" immediately after the Section number; and

(b) adding immediately after subsection (1) as numbered by clause (a) the following subsection:

(2) Expenditures authorized pursuant to subsection (1) may not include salary or administration costs for the Department of Justice or any other payment that does not directly benefit a victim.

2 Chapter 14 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 11H the following Section:

11I (1) An award of compensation made by the Director pursuant to this Act may, subject to subsection (4), include an amount for counselling services.

(2) An amount for counselling services may include an hourly rate and a maximum number of counselling hours.

(3) The hourly rate and maximum number of counselling hours shall be determined by the Director on a case-by-case basis.

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

3 Subsection 11L(1) of Chapter 14, as enacted by Chapter 36 of the Acts of 1992 and amended by Chapter 4 of the Acts of 2000, is further amended by adding ", within one hundred and eighty days," immediately after "may" in the fourth line.

This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2012 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created April 17, 2012. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.

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