BILL 55

Fees Act

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

Definitions

1 The following definitions apply in this Act.

“department” means a portion of the Public Service specified in Part I of the First Schedule of the Public Service Labour Relations Act. (ministère)

“fee” means a fee, levy, royalty or other charge fixed by regulation under the authority of a public Act of the Province. (droit)

Application of the Act

2 This Act applies to all fees proposed by departments.

Annual report on fees

3(1) On or before January 31 in each fiscal year, the Minister of Finance shall file an annual report on fees with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.

3(2) The annual report shall contain the following information for every new fee and increase in a fee proposed for the next fiscal year:

(a)  the name of the department that proposed the fee;

(b)  the name of the fee;

(c)  the legislative authority for the fee;

(d)  the amount of the current fee, if any;

(e)  the amount of the new fee or the increased fee;

(f)  the effective date for the new fee or the increased fee;

(g)  the total annual revenue expected from the fee;

(h)  the change in the annual revenue expected from the fee; and

(i)  the name of the contact person.

3(3) The effective date for any new fee or increased fee shall be not less than 60 days after the annual report is filed.

3(4) The annual report shall also contain information regarding the fees introduced, changed or eliminated since the previous annual report.

Other reports on fees

4(1) If a new fee or an increase in a fee is proposed during a fiscal year and the fee is not included in the annual report referred to in subsection 3(1), the Minister responsible for the Act that authorizes the fee shall file a report with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly at least 60 days before the effective date for the new fee or the increased fee.

4(2) The report shall contain the information referred to in subsection 3(2).