4th Session, 42nd Legislature

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Bill 244

THE PROTECTING YOUTH IN SPORTS ACT

(Assented to                                         )

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

Definitions

1(1)

The following definitions apply in this Act.

"athletic activity" means an athletic activity that is organized or arranged by a sports organization or association, a school division or an independent school. (« activité sportive »)

"coach" means a person who is authorized or recognized by a sports organization or association, a school division or an independent school as a coach of one or more young athletes. (« entraîneur »)

"parent" includes a legal guardian. (« parent »)

"young athlete" means a child who is engaged in or is preparing for an athletic activity. (« jeune sportif »)

Terms used in Education Administration Act

1(2)

Terms and expressions that are used but not defined in this Act and are defined in The Education Administration Act have the same meaning in this Act as they have in that Act.

Application

2(1)

This Act applies to

(a) a sports organization or association that receives government funding, either directly or indirectly, to organize or arrange an athletic activity in Manitoba; and

(b) a school division or independent school whose pupils engage in extra-curricular athletic activities that are organized, directly or indirectly, by the school division or the independent school.

Act does not apply to curriculum activities

2(2)

For certainty, this Act does not apply in respect of activities engaged in by a pupil that form part of the pupil's curriculum if those activities are carried out under the supervision of a teacher who is acting in the course of the teacher's employment.

Requirements

3

A sports organization or association, a school division or an independent school that is subject to this Act must ensure that the following measures are in place:

For coaches

(a) a requirement that each coach complete, before commencing activity as a coach, a program that provides training in preventing sexual abuse, harassment, abuse and bullying in sport;

(b) a requirement that each coach must undertake in writing not to host a young athlete in the coach's residence without the prior permission of

(i) a parent of the athlete, and

(ii) in the case of a pupil engaged in an extra-curricular athletic activity, the principal of the pupil's school;

For parents

(c) a program available for parents of young athletes that provides education respecting

(i) the identification of inappropriate behaviours that the parent or their child may be exposed to while their child is engaged in or preparing for an athletic activity, and

(ii) the appropriate actions a parent may take if their child has been or may have been exposed to inappropriate behaviour while their child is engaged in or preparing for an athletic activity;

For young athletes

(d) a program available for young athletes that provides age-appropriate education respecting

(i) the identification of inappropriate behaviours that the athlete may be exposed to while engaged in or preparing for an athletic activity, and

(ii) the appropriate actions the athlete may take if they believe that they have been exposed to inappropriate behaviour while engaged in or preparing for an athletic activity.

Minister may request information

4(1)

The minister responsible for the administration of this Act may request a sports organization or association or a school division or independent school that is subject to this Act to provide information about its training program for coaches, including the number of coaches who have completed the training and the time period in which the training was completed.

Reporting

4(2)

A sports organization or association, a school division or an independent school that receives such a request must comply with it in the form and manner and within the time specified by the minister.

C.C.S.M. reference

5

This Act may be referred to as chapter P143.6 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba.

Coming into force

6

This Act comes into force six months after the day it receives royal assent.