FROM THE LEGISLATURE
British Columbia
School Trustees Association
July 21, 1999
BY FAX
(two pages)
PLEASE COPY TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT
AND THE SECRETARY-TREASURER. THANK YOU.
LEGISLATURE ADJOURNED; STATUS OF LEGISLATION
When the Legislature adjourned on June 15, Royal Assent was given to Bills 87 (Education Statutes
Amendment Act, 1999) and Bill 88 (Local Government Statutes Amendment Act, 1999). The
status of legislation that we have reported on in From the Legislature this year is as follows:
Bill 69, Education Statutes Amendment Act, 1999
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See From the Legislature May 26, 1999 for description of Bill 69.
Royal Assent June 29, 1999.
School board meetings by telephone or other means of communication: in force July 19, 1999,
by B.C. Regulation 223/99.
Definition of student record to exclude child abuse reports: in force June 29
Local school calendar changes: in force June 29.
Francophone education authority changes: in force November 19,1999, transitional provisions
to allow elections to take place.
Bill 87, Education Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 1999
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Provincial assessment reporting, research uses of education personal information. See From the
Legislature July 8, 1999 for more description.
Amended in committee to remove ability to add new uses of Personal Education Number by
regulation.
Royal Assent July 15, 1999.
In force July 19,1999 by B.C. Regulation 224/99 except that ministerial order to authorize a
provincial process for assessing student performance is not yet in place.
Bill 88, Local Government Statutes Amendment Act, 1999
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Comprehensive amendment of Municipal Act, including elections and campaign financing
disclosure amendments.
See From the Legislature June 30, 1999 for description of parts of bill of special interest to
school boards.
From the Legislature
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Page 2
Numerous amendments were made in committee but amendments do not affect the substance of
the elections provisions.
Royal Assent July 15, 1999.
Amendments to elections provisions including campaign financing provisions in force
retroactive to June 29, 1999, the date of First Reading of the Bill, except:
 old provisions apply to elections prior to 1999 general trustee elections;
 old provisions apply to persons currently holding office, except in relation to 1999 general
trustee elections;
 bylaws under the amendments may be passed by the board any time between June 29 and
September 30 to apply to 1999 general trustee elections;
 obligations to disclose on a disclosure statement any contributions of candidate’s own
money made before June 29, 1999, will be satisfied if the candidate’s financial agent has
made his or her best efforts to report in accordance with the new requirements;
 obligations with regard to opening separate campaign accounts and ensuring all
contributions are made to and expenses paid from the campaign accounts will be satisfied if
the financial agent satisfies the obligations as soon as reasonably practicable after June 29,
1999;
 with regard to contributions and expenses before June 29, 1999, new obligations to record
and disclose contributions are satisfied if the financial agent and candidate use their best
efforts to satisfy the obligations; and
 procedure for public notice when a candidate has failed to file campaign financing
disclosure statements does not apply to elections before the upcoming general election.
There is a general power contained in section 6.1 of the Municipal Act enabling Cabinet to make
orders in council to prevent transitional difficulties or to resolve ambiguities arising from
amendments to the Act.
1155 W. 8th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6H 1C5 Telephone 734-2721 Fax: 732-4559 Email: bcsta@bcsta.org