EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Health Insurance Act. Insured services shall include prescribed hospital-based and community-based violence intervention programs. They shall also include prescribed trauma-informed counselling for survivors and others affected by gun violence.

The Bill also amends the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Boards of health shall have programs and services for reducing gun violence. They shall also have programs and services for increasing the capacity of the community to assist survivors and others affected by gun violence.

Bill 9 2022

An Act to amend the Health Insurance Act and the Health Protection and Promotion Act in respect of addressing gun violence and its impacts

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Health Insurance Act

1 Subsection 11.2 (1) of the Health Insurance Act is amended by adding the following paragraph:

   4.  Prescribed hospital-based and community-based violence intervention programs, and prescribed trauma-informed counselling for survivors of gun violence and impacted family members and observers, rendered by prescribed practitioners under such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed, but without any time limit on accessing the counselling.

Health Protection and Promotion Act

2 Section 5 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act is amended by adding the following paragraphs:

2.1  Reduction of gun violence.

2.2  Increasing the capacity of the community to enhance the well-being of survivors of gun violence and of people with trauma associated with gun violence.

Commencement and Short Title

Commencement

3 This Act comes into force on the day that is six months after the day this Act receives Royal Assent.

Short title

4 The short title of this Act is the Safe and Healthy Communities Act (Addressing Gun Violence), 2022.