BC Limits Child Safety Plans to 45 Days

Summary#

• This bill updates British Columbia’s child‑protection law to formally set out “safety plan agreements.” These are short, temporary plans used to keep a child safe while a case is being assessed or while the government seeks a court order.

• It defines who can be in a safety plan, what must be in it, how long it can last, and how it can end. It also brings older, informal safety plans under the new rules.

• Lets a government child‑protection director (senior official) make a temporary safety plan during an assessment/investigation or while applying to court.

• Limits each plan to a maximum of 45 days and allows a new plan if safety concerns continue.

• Requires the director to tell parents they can get independent legal advice at any time; a verbal plan must be written down and shared as soon as possible.

• Sets who can be parties: the director, eligible parents, and—if the child is Indigenous—the child’s First Nation or Indigenous governing body; others with access rights can be added.

• Allows people under 19 to be parties; sets rules for information sharing, withdrawal, and termination.

• States that safety plans do not limit the director’s or the court’s powers to protect a child.

• Treats existing safety plans as valid under the new rules and caps them at 45 days after the law starts if they have no end date or are longer than 45 days.

What it means for you#

• Parents and caregivers

  • You may be asked to enter a short‑term safety plan during an investigation or while the government seeks a court order.
  • You must be told you can get your own legal advice at any time.
  • The plan can set where your child stays, who they can see, and what steps you must take to keep them safe. It can also include referrals to services and supports.
  • Plans last up to 45 days. They can end sooner if everyone agrees. You can withdraw with notice as outlined in the plan, but the government can still take other steps to protect a child.
  • A plan takes effect once everyone agrees to it, even if signatures come later.

• Indigenous families and communities

  • Your First Nation, Nisga’a Nation, Treaty First Nation, or Indigenous community body can be included as a party to the plan.
  • The plan must spell out how your information is used, shared, and protected when an Indigenous body is included.

• People with contact or access rights (for example, through a court order or agreement)

  • You may be included as a party, and the plan can set rules on your contact with the child.
  • If you withdraw, the plan can continue for the remaining parties.

• Youth under 19 who are parties

  • You can enter into a safety plan and may seek your own legal advice.

• People with an existing safety plan

  • Your plan counts under the new law. You can withdraw as the plan allows, or on 3 days’ notice if the plan is silent.
  • If your plan has no end date or is longer than 45 days, it will end 45 days after the law takes effect unless replaced.

Expenses#

Estimated annual cost: No publicly available information.

• The bill adds rules and procedures but does not include a fiscal estimate.

Proponents' View#

• Gives workers and families a clear, time‑limited tool to keep children safe without jumping straight to court.
• Adds guardrails: a 45‑day cap, written documentation, notice that parents can get legal advice, and clear rules for ending a plan.
• Strengthens inclusion of Indigenous governments and adds privacy conditions when they are involved.
• Reduces confusion from past informal safety plans by setting common standards.
• Keeps full court and child‑protection powers available for urgent situations.

Opponents' View#

• Parents may feel pressure to agree quickly; plans can take effect without a signed document.
• Limited court oversight could allow uneven power dynamics or inconsistent use across cases.
• The director can withdraw without advance notice, which may disrupt caregiving and create uncertainty.
• Successive 45‑day plans could extend temporary measures longer than intended.
• Sharing information with more parties, even with conditions, may raise privacy concerns.
• The bill does not address funding for services named in plans, which could make some terms hard to meet.