HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

1 Section 106.3 of the School Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 412, is amended by adding the following subsection:

106.3  (7.1) Any amendments made by the minister under subsection (6) that decrease the amount of the operating grant must be made prior to the board having adopted its annual budget, the adoption of which must be done by June 30 of each year for the next fiscal year.

2 Subsection 113 (2) of the School Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 412, is amended by striking out "or a grant is withheld or reduced under section 117 (1)".

3 Section 117 (1) of the School Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 412, is amended by adding the following subsection:

117  (1.1) Subsequent to the board's adoption of its annual budget, the deadline for which is June 30 of each year for the next fiscal year, the minister may not withhold or reduce grants under subsection (l).

 
Explanatory Note

This act makes amendments to the School Act that will protect school districts from funding cuts being made subsequent to school boards' submissions of annual budgets, which are submitted by June 30 each year. This will provide school boards with stability and assurance, so that they may have confidence in their ability to adhere to their budgets, and will not face budget cuts during the school year.