PUBLIC HEALTH (HOWARD’S LAW) 1 BILL No. 604

An Act to amend The Public Health Act, 1994 to provide for access to information relating to Asbestos in Public Buildings (Assented to )

Preamble

WHEREAS the Government of Saskatchewan has lists respecting public buildings that contain asbestos;

WHEREAS these lists must be accessed individually through freedom of information requests pursuant to The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;

WHEREAS asbestos that is not properly encapsulated poses a public health risk;

WHEREAS the availability of information about asbestos allows individuals to make informed decisions regarding their health and safety: THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, enacts as follows:

Short title The Public Health (Howard’s Law) Amendment Act. S.S. 1994, c.P-37.1 amended The Public Health Act, 1994 is amended in the manner set forth in this Act. New sections 19.1 The following is added before

section 20: “Asbestos in Public Buildings “Interpretation 19.1 In this section: (a) ‘asbestos’ means ‘asbestos’ as defined in The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 made pursuant to The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993. (b) ‘public building’ means an enclosed structure that: (

i) is owned by: (

A) the Government of Saskatchewan; (

B) a prescribed Crown corporation; or (

C) a regional health authority or an affiliate, as defined in The Reginal Health Services Act; PUBLIC HEALTH (HOWARD’S LAW) 2 2 (ii) is a building used by and in connection with a school as defined in The Education Act, 1995; or (iii) is prescribed or is a member of a prescribed class of enclosed structures.

(2) Within six months of the day on which

section 19.1 of this Act comes into force, the owner of a public building who is required to record information about asbestos in that building pursuant to The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and the regulations made pursuant to that Act shall post on the website or other suitable electronic format mentioned in subsection (4) the following information about that building: (

a) the written records required to be kept pursuant to The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and the regulations made pursuant to that Act; (

b) any additional prescribed information.

(3) In addition to complying with subsection (2), the owner of a public building mentioned in that subsection shall make the information required pursuant to that subsection available at that building to any person during normal business hours on request.

(4) The minister shall cause a website or other suitable electronic format to be made available where the information required pursuant to subsection (2) must be posted and made available to the public.

(5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations: (

a) for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i)(B), prescribing Crown corporations; (

b) for the purposes of subclause (1)(b)(iii), prescribing enclosed structures or classes of enclosed structures as public buildings; (

c) for the purposes of clause (2)(b), prescribing information that owners of public buildings shall post on the website or other suitable electronic format mentioned in subsection (4)”. Coming into force This Act comes into force on proclamation. Printed by the authority of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan 2013