Amendments to Criminal Records Review Act Pass

Amendments to the Criminal Records Review Act (“CRRA”) designed to reduce the risk of physical and sexual abuse of children passed third reading in the BC Legislature on April 23, 2007.

As we reported in April, The Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2007 expands employers’ obligations under the CCRA to ensure that employees who present a risk of physical or sexual abuse of children do not work with children. The Amendment Act:

• expands the offences which trigger a determination as to whether an employee poses a potential risk to include those committed outside Canada;

• extends application of the CRRA to teachers in independent schools and education students who work with children; and

• requires employees subject to criminal record review to provide a criminal record check authorization every five years rather than just at the commencement of their employment.

(Click here for Bill 16)