A A A

First Session, Thirty-Seventh Legislature

This version is based on the printed bill that was distributed in the Legislature after First Reading.
It is not the official version.   If accuracy is critical, you can obtain a copy of the printed bill from Statutory Publications.

Bill 9

THE COURT SECURITY ACT


Table of Contents Explanatory Note

(Assented to                 )

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

Definitions

1

In this Act,

"court" means The Court of Appeal, the Court of Queen's Bench or The Provincial Court; (« tribunal »)

"court area" means a building, part of a building, or space used by a court and designated by regulation as a court area; (« zone du tribunal »)

"minister" means the minister appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to administer this Act; (« ministre »)

"restricted zone" means a part of a court area designated by regulation as a restricted zone; (« zone d'accès restreinte »)

"screen" means search using methods prescribed by regulation; (« contrôle »)

"security officer" means a person or a member of a class of persons appointed under section 2; (« agent de sécurité »)

"weapon" means a firearm as defined in the Criminal Code (Canada), and anything else that could be used to

(a) cause death or serious bodily harm to a person, or

(b) threaten or intimidate a person. (« arme »)

Appointment of security officers

2(1)

The minister may appoint persons or the members of a class of persons as security officers to provide security in court areas.

Powers of security officers

2(2)

While carrying out his or her duties under this Act, a security officer is a peace officer.

Weapons prohibited in court areas

3

No person shall possess a weapon in a court area unless authorized to do so by regulation or by a security officer.

Security officer may screen before entry

4(1)

A security officer may screen a person for weapons before the person enters a court area.

Security officer may refuse entry

4(2)

A security officer may refuse a person entry to a court area if the person

(a) refuses to be screened for weapons; or

(b) is in possession of a weapon and is not authorized by regulation or by a security officer to possess the weapon in a court area.

Security officer may screen after entry

5(1)

A security officer may require a person inside a court area to move to a place – inside or outside the court area – where screening is routinely conducted, and may screen the person for weapons.

Security officer may evict

5(2)

A security officer may evict a person from a court area if the person

(a) refuses to be screened for weapons; or

(b) is in possession of a weapon and is not authorized by regulation or by a security officer to possess the weapon in a court area.

Limited entry to restricted zones

6(1)

No person shall enter a restricted zone unless authorized by regulation.

Security officer may evict

6(2)

A security officer may evict a person from a restricted zone if the person is not authorized by regulation to enter that restricted zone.

Security officer may use reasonable force

7

A security officer may use reasonable force in refusing a person entry to a court area or a restricted zone, or evicting a person from a court area or a restricted zone.

Judicial powers unaffected

8(1)

Nothing in this Act derogates from or replaces the power of a judge, master, or judicial officer to control court proceedings.

Judicial access to court areas unaffected

8(2)

Nothing in this Act affects the right of a judge, master or judicial officer to have unimpeded access to a court area.

Offences

9(1)

A person is guilty of an offence under this Act if the person

(a) enters a court area after a security officer has refused the person entry;

(b) enters a court area after refusing to be screened for weapons by a security officer;

(c) possesses a weapon in a court area and is not authorized to do so by regulation or by a security officer;

(d) enters a restricted zone and is not authorized to do so by regulation; or

(e) refuses to leave a court area or restricted zone when asked to do so by a security officer.

Penalty

9(2)

A person who is guilty of an offence under this Act is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $5,000. or imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or both.

Lieutenant Governor in Council regulations

10

The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations designating buildings, parts of buildings or spaces permanently or temporarily as court areas.

Ministerial regulations

11

The minister may make regulations

(a) authorizing persons or members of a class of persons to possess weapons in court areas;

(b) respecting the weapons that authorized persons or members of a class of persons may possess in court areas, and the terms and conditions on which they may possess those weapons;

(c) respecting the criteria used to authorize persons to possess weapons in court areas;

(d) prescribing search methods that may be used by security officers to screen persons for weapons;

(e) designating parts of court areas as restricted zones;

(f) authorizing persons or members of a class of persons to enter restricted zones;

(g) limiting the peace officer powers of a security officer;

(h) respecting any matter necessary or advisable to carry out the intent and purpose of this Act.

C.C.S.M. reference

12

This Act may be referred to as chapter C295 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba.

Coming into force

13

This Act comes into force on the day it receives royal assent.

Explanatory Note

This Bill provides for security in court areas identified by regulation.

It provides for the appointment of security officers to ensure that no unauthorized persons enter court areas with weapons.

In addition, it provides for parts of the court areas to be closed to the general public, with access being restricted to judges and other authorized personnel.