Bill 79 explained in plain English

The Helping Volunteers Give Back Act, 2015, aims to reduce the frequency and cost of criminal record checks for volunteers while maintaining public safety.

This bill, if passed, would create the Helping Volunteers Give Back Act, 2015. It aims to make it easier and less costly for volunteers to get criminal record checks. The Act would prevent organizations from requiring a criminal record check from a volunteer as a condition of starting or continuing volunteer work if the volunteer already provided a recent check (less than a year old and the most recent one available). Organizations could still ask for notice of pending criminal proceedings, or require a new check if they have reason to believe a new conviction has been added to the volunteer's record. Police forces would be required to provide up to five additional original copies of a criminal record check to a volunteer at no extra charge when the check is requested. The Act would not apply in municipalities where police forces do not charge a fee for criminal record checks for volunteers. The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations to prescribe details not specified in the Act.