2009 Bill 209 Second Session, 27th Legislature, 58 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 209 CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW COMMITTEE ACT MR. CHASE First Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Second Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Committee of the Whole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Third Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Royal Assent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1 Bill 209 Mr. Chase BILL 209 2009 CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW COMMITTEE ACT (Assented to , 2009) HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:

Definitions 1 In this Act, (a) “child” means a person under the age of 18 years; (b) “children’s services” means programs and services provided to children by or on behalf of the Minister; (c) “Committee” means the Children’s Services Review Committee established under

section 2; (d) “identifying information” means information from which the identity of the individual who is the subject of the information can be readily ascertained; (e) “Minister” means the Minister designated with the responsibility for the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act. Committee established 2(1) A committee called the “Children’s Services Review Committee” is established consisting of 3 members appointed by the Minister.

(2) No member of the Committee may be a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

2 Chair, vice-chair 3(1) The Minister shall designate one of the members of the Committee as chair and another as vice-chair.

(2) The vice-chair is to be the acting chair of the Committee in the event of the absence or inability to act of the chair or a vacancy in the office of chair. Committee duties 4(1) The Committee shall undertake a comparative review of the provision of children’s services by employees of the Government under the Minister’s administration and the provision of children’s services by organizations and their employees on behalf of the Minister, including but not restricted to (

a) the quality and effectiveness of the children’s services provided, (

b) remuneration of the individuals who provide children’s services, including benefits, (

c) the training, development and qualification of the individuals who provide children’s services, and (

d) the workload and type of work carried out by the individuals who provide children’s services.

(2) The Committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the Minister respecting the provision of children’s services. Oath 5 The Minister shall require each member of the Committee, before beginning the member’s duties, to take an oath that the member will not, except as authorized by the Minister, divulge any information received by the member in the course of the member’s Committee duties. Staff 6 The Minister may provide to the Committee the services of employees of the Government under the Minister’s administration and supplies for the purposes of carrying out secretarial, clerical and related work that the Committee may reasonably require to enable it to carry out its duties.

3 Remuneration and expenses 7 The Minister may (

a) prescribe the rates of remuneration payable to members of the Committee other than those who are employees of the Government or members or employees of an agency of the Government, and (

b) authorize the payment of travelling and living expenses for members of the Committee while outside their normal place of residence in the course of performing their duties. Meetings 8 The Committee may, with the approval of the Minister, make rules governing the calling of its meetings, the quorum required at its meetings, the procedure at its meetings, and any other matter relating to the conduct of its business and affairs. Committee information requests 9(1) The Committee may request information necessary to carry out its duties from the Minister or any organization that provides children’s services.

(2) Where the Committee makes a request for information pursuant to subsection (1), the Minister or organization must provide that information to the Committee within 30 days of receipt of the request.

(3) The Committee shall not request and no person or organization shall provide to the Committee identifying information respecting an individual who provides or receives children’s services. Report to Assembly – Committee 10(1) Within one year of the date on which this Act comes into force, the Committee shall submit to the Minister a report that summarizes the findings and recommendations of the Committee respecting the provision of children’s services.

(2) The Minister shall lay a copy of the report received under subsection (1) before the Legislative Assembly if it is sitting and, if it is not, within 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting.

4 Report to Assembly – Minister 11(1) Within one year of the date that the Minister lays the report before the Legislative Assembly under

section 10(2), the Minister shall prepare a report that (

a) responds to the findings and recommendations of the Committee, (

b) identifies which recommendations the Minister accepts and which recommendations the Minister rejects, and (

c) sets out strategies for implementing the recommendations that the Minister accepts.

(2) The Minister shall lay a copy of the report prepared under subsection (1) within 10 days of its completion before the Legislative Assembly if it is sitting and, if it is not, within 15 days after commencement of the next sitting. Expiry 12 This Act expires 3 years after the date it comes into force. Coming into force 13 This Act comes into force on Proclamation.

Record of Debate STAGE DATE MEMBER FROM TO TOTAL CUMULATIVE TOTAL Title: 2009 (27th, 2nd) Bill 209, Children’s Services Review Committee Act