BILL NO. 446

(as introduced)

1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
2 Charles III, 2024

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Community Use of Public School Facilities Act

 

Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin
Cumberland North

First Reading: March 22, 2024

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

 

An Act Respecting
the Community Use of Public School Facilities

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Community Use of Public School Facilities Act.

2 The purpose of this Act is to

(a) provide standardized practices and procedures for the community use of public school facilities; and

(b) increase and improve access to public school facilities for community groups, events and activities.

3 In this Act,

"Minister" means the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development;

"public school" has the same meaning as in the Education Act.

4 (1) Within six months of the coming into force of this Act, the Minister shall publish a policy that governs the community use of public school facilities.

(2) The policy published under subsection (1) must, with respect to the community use of public school facilities across the Province,

(a) provide standardized practices and procedures, including with respect to

(i) online booking,

(ii) rules concerning access to and use of the facilities,

(iii) the types of permitted community events and activities,

(iv) requirements that education entities must adhere to in providing access to the facilities,

(v) rental costs and fees, and

(vi) any other matter that the Minister considers appropriate;

(b) ensure that

(i) no rental costs or fees are charged for community sporting and recreational organizations, and

(ii) rental costs and fees are minimized for any other community groups;

(c) provide for the designation of a person from a community group who is responsible for ensuring the good condition of the facility at the conclusion of the community event or activity, for the purpose of removing any need for a custodian to be on-site at all times; and

(d) include definitions for the purpose of enhancing public understanding of the policy.

 

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