1997 Legislative Session: 2nd Session, 36th Parliament
FIRST READING


The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.


HONOURABLE UJJAL DOSANJH
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
MINISTER RESPONSIBLE
FOR MULTICULTURALISM,
HUMAN RIGHTS AND
IMMIGRATION

BILL 8 -- 1997
BRITISH COLUMBIA NEUROTRAUMA
FUND CONTRIBUTION ACT

Contents

Section  
1  Definitions
2  Contribution to British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund
3-4  Consequential Amendments
5  Commencement

Preamble

WHEREAS the Government of British Columbia acknowledges the number and severity of brain and spinal cord injuries in British Columbia each year and the government recognizes that driving offences, such as speeding, impaired driving, driving without due care and attention, failure to wear seatbelts and riding a motorcycle or bicycle without a helmet, add to the risk of neurotraumatic injury in British Columbia;

AND WHEREAS the Government of British Columbia commends the valuable services and projects directed toward researching and preventing neurotraumatic injury and toward rehabilitating victims of neurotraumatic injury;

AND WHEREAS the Government of British Columbia applauds the commitment of the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation to raise awareness of and funds for services and projects to help victims of neurotraumatic injury;

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

Definitions

1 In this Act:

"British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund" means the British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund established by the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation for the purposes of funding services and projects respecting neurotraumatic injury and victims of neurotraumatic injury;

"fiscal year" means the period from April 1 in one year to March 31 in the next year;

"Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation" means the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation incorporated under the Society Act;

"special account" means the Victim Surcharge Special Account continued under section 9 of the Victims of Crime Act.

Contribution to British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund

2 (1) On or before March 31, 1998, the Attorney General must pay to the British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund, out of the special account, a grant in an amount that is the lesser of the following:

(a) $1.6 million;

(b) 20% of the money paid to the government under section 8.1 of the Victims of Crime Act.

(2) On or before the end of each fiscal year after March 31, 1998, the Attorney General must pay to the British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund, out of the special account, a grant in an amount that is the lesser of the following:

(a) $2 million;

(b) 20% of the money paid to the government in that fiscal year under section 8.1 of the Victims of Crime Act.

(3) As soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation must submit to the Attorney General a report respecting the activities of the British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund for the preceding fiscal year, and that report must contain the following information:

(a) the opening balance of the British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund at the beginning of that fiscal year;

(b) a summary of the financial activities of the British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund for that fiscal year;

(c) a description of the services and projects receiving money from the British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund in that fiscal year;

(d) the closing balance of the British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund at the end of that fiscal year.

 
Consequential Amendments

Victims of Crime Act

3 Section 9 (4) (c) of the Victims of Crime Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 478, is repealed and the following substituted:

(c) provide funding, directly or indirectly, to a service or project, all or any part of which may benefit victims or lead to the development of services that may benefit victims.

4 Section 16 (2) (c) is repealed.

Commencement

5 This Act comes into force by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

 
Explanatory Note

This Bill requires the Attorney General to make an annual grant from the Victim Surcharge Special Account to the British Columbia Neurotrauma Fund established by the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation.


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