BILL NO. 190
(as introduced)
2nd Session, 63rd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
68 Elizabeth II, 2019
Private Member's Bill
Health Authorities Act
(amended)
Tammy Martin
Cape Breton Centre
First Reading: October 10, 2019
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
Explanatory Note
This Bill requires the provincial health authority to provide interpretation communication services in hospital emergency departments and collaborative emergency centres for deaf and hard of hearing patients.
An Act to Amend Chapter 32
of the Acts of 2014,
the Health Authorities Act,
Respecting Assistance to the Deaf
and the Hard of Hearing
Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 Chapter 32 of the Acts of 2014, the Health Authorities Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 60 the following Section:
- 60A (1) The provincial health authority shall provide interpretation communication services in hospital emergency departments and collaborative emergency centres within each management zone for deaf and hard of hearing patients during emergency situations.
(2) The interpretation communication services must be provided by a qualified individual either in person or by use of video conferencing or such other technological means as prescribed by the Minister.
(3) In every hospital emergency department and collaborative emergency centre, the provincial health authority shall, as prescribed by the Minister,
(a) provide training to staff who are responsible for ensuring access to and providing deaf and hard of hearing patients with interpretation communication services; and
(b) post in a prominent place, capable of being easily visible by deaf and hard of hearing patients, details on accessing interpretation communication services.
2 Chapter 32 is further amended by adding immediately after clause 79(1)(m) the following clauses:
- (ma) prescribing technological means to be used for interpretation communication services for deaf and hard of hearing patients in hospital emergency departments and in collaborative emergency centres;
(mb) prescribing matters related to video relaying interpretation communication services including a broadband network for exclusive use of video interpretation communication services for deaf and hard of hearing patients in hospital emergency departments and in collaborative emergency centres;
(mc) prescribing training for staff responsible for ensuring access to and providing deaf and hard of hearing patients with interpretation communication services in hospital emergency departments and in collaborative emergency centres;
(md) prescribing the form, content and all related matters associated with the posting of details regarding interpretation communication services for deaf and hard of hearing patients in hospital emergency departments and in collaborative emergency centres;
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2019 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created October 10, 2019. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
