BILL 51

An Act Respecting the Transfer of Responsibilities to Service New Brunswick

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

Change of Name Act

1 The Change of Name Act, chapter C-2.001, Acts of New Brunswick, 1987, is amended by adding after section 3 the following:

Administration of Act

3.1 The member of Executive Council designated by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council to administer the Service New Brunswick Act is responsible for the administration of this Act.

Marriage Act

2 Section 1 of the Marriage Act, chapter M-3 of the Revised Statutes, 1973, is amended in the definition “Minister” by striking out “the Minister of Health” and substituting “the member of Executive Council designated by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council to administer the Service New Brunswick Act”.

Vital Statistics Act

3(1) Section 1 of the Vital Statistics Act, chapter V-3 of the Acts of New Brunswick, 1979, is amended

(a)  in the definition “Minister” by striking out “the Minister of Health” and substituting “the member of Executive Council designated by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council to administer the Service New Brunswick Act”;

(b)  in the definition “Registrar General” by striking out “by the Minister” and substituting “by the Registrar General”.

3(2) The Act is amended by adding after section 1 the following:

Administration of Act

1.1 The member of the Executive Council designated by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council to administer the Service New Brunswick Act is responsible for the administration of this Act.

3(3) Section 2 of the Act is amended

(a)  by repealing subsection (1) and substituting the following:

2(1) The Lieutenant-Governor in Council shall appoint a Registrar General of Vital Statistics.

(b)  by repealing subsection (3) and substituting the following:

2(3) The Registrar General may designate persons within Service New Brunswick to act on his or her behalf.

(c)  by repealing subsection (4) and substituting the following:

2(4) The Registrar General shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Minister.

3(4) Section 30 of the Act is amended by adding after subsection (1) the following:

30(1.1) The Registrar General may designate an appropriate employee of a regional health authority or a coroner to act on his or her behalf for the purpose of issuing a burial permit under subsection (1).

3(5) Section 39.1 of the Act is amended

(a)  by adding after paragraph (c) the following:

(c.1)  upon the request of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the purpose of determining whether the cause of death is related to the disability for which the deceased received pension benefits;

(c.2)  upon the request of a spouse or other member of the deceased’s family for the purpose of settling an estate, legal proceedings or insurance claim, determining an entitlement to pension benefits emanating from the United States of America or providing information that may be relevant for medical purposes to the person making the request or on whose behalf the request is made;

(b)  in paragraph (e) by striking out “Minister” and substituting “Minister of Health”.

3(6) Subsection 43(1) of the Act is amended by striking out “the Department of Health” and substituting “Service New Brunswick”.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Section 1

New provision.

Section 2

The definition of “Minister” is amended.

Section 3

1)  

(a)  Consequential amendment.

(b)  Consequential amendment.

2)  New provision.

3)  

(a)  The existing provision is as follows:

2(1) There shall be appointed, in accordance with the Civil Service Act, a Registrar General of Vital Statistics.

(b)  The existing provision is as follows:

2(3) The Minister may designate persons to act on behalf of the Registrar General.

(c)  The existing provision is as follows:

2(4) The Registrar General shall, under the direction of the Minister, be responsible for the administration of this Act, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Minister.

4)  New provision.

5)  

(a)  New provisions.

(b)  Consequential amendment.

6)  Consequential amendment.