Public Safety Modernization Act
British Columbia's Bill 17 (Public Safety Modernization Act) is the Eby NDP government's 2024 reform of the BC police-services framework, the BC Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, and the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC. Increases the BC Police Act regulatory authority, expands IIO mandate to cover all serious-injury and in-custody-death incidents involving BC police (previously limited to RCMP and select municipal forces), creates the new BC Police Modernization Office under the Solicitor General, and adjusts the Police Act to align with the November 2022 BC Special Committee on the Reforming the Police Act recommendations.
Status
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Restructures the BC government's response to public-safety and substance-use incidents. Funds new mobile mental-health teams, tightens involuntary-care criteria, and adjusts the rules that govern when police are or aren't the right responder.
Issues this bill touches
- Drug Policy & Harm Reduction
Restructures BC's public-safety response and shifts policy toward more interventionist substance-use approach.
Legislative history
- Introduced
Tabled in the originating chamber by the sponsor.
View source - In committee
Reviewed clause by clause by a standing committee; amendments possible.
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Sponsored by
David EbyBC NDPOfficial source
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