This bill requires postsecondary schools in Vermont to implement several new protections against sexual misconduct, including conducting biannual anonymous campus climate surveys, hiring confidential resource advocates, and establishing formal partnerships with local sexual assault programs. The legislation mandates that schools provide amnesty for good faith reports of sexual misconduct and deliver annual awareness programming and training to students and staff. Additionally, the bill removes the previous expiration date for the Intercollegiate Sexual Harm Prevention Council, ensuring its continued operation. These measures directly affect all postsecondary institutions with Vermont campuses and aim to improve support systems and data collection regarding sexual violence on college campuses.
This bill establishes legal confidentiality protections for peer support counseling sessions involving emergency service providers in Vermont, including firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement officers, and other first responders. It requires that communications made during these counseling sessions, including notes and records, remain private and cannot be disclosed or used as evidence in legal proceedings. The law applies to sessions conducted by trained counselors designated by employers to help providers cope with traumatic incidents related to their work. However, confidentiality does not cover information about threats of violence, child abuse, criminal conduct, or plans to commit crimes, which must still be reported. The bill also clarifies that employers are not liable for unauthorized disclosures made by participants and exempts counseling records from public inspection under the Public Records Act.
This bill would allow certain postsecondary and career technical education students in Vermont to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. To qualify, students must be Vermont residents aged 18 to 49 enrolled at least half-time and meet specific criteria such as working at least 20 hours per week, participating in a federally funded work-study program, caring for young children, or being enrolled in specific state education programs. The law also defines when student status ends and excludes students who have meal plans covering more than half their meals. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill requires all connected devices sold in Vermont to meet specific minimum security standards, directly affecting manufacturers and retailers of internet-capable consumer electronics. The law mandates that these devices use encrypted communications, support automatic security updates, require strong passwords with default password resets, maintain vulnerability management systems, and provide clear privacy policies with data deletion options. Violations of these standards would be treated as unfair and deceptive acts under state commerce law, with the regulations taking effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill amends Vermont's workers' compensation laws to clarify when sole proprietors, partners, and corporate officers can be classified as independent contractors rather than employees. It establishes specific criteria for these individuals to qualify as independent contractors, including requirements that their work be distinct from the contracting party, that they control how the work is performed, and that they hold themselves out as being in business for themselves. The bill also introduces an opt-out mechanism allowing eligible sole proprietors and corporate officers to waive their right to file workers' compensation claims in exchange for the ability to sue for personal injury damages if injured on the job. Additionally, it permits corporations and LLCs to exclude up to four executive officers or managers from coverage requirements under certain conditions, provided they operate as independent contractors and have no other employees. These changes directly affect business owners and their workers' compensation obligations while maintaining protections for other employees who may still be covered under the law.
This bill, known as the Genetic Information Privacy Act, establishes new privacy protections for consumers who use direct-to-consumer genetic testing services. It requires these companies to obtain clear, specific consent from customers before collecting, using, or sharing their genetic data, and mandates transparent privacy policies that explain how data will be handled. The law also prohibits companies from sharing genetic information with health insurers, life insurers, or employers without explicit customer permission, while requiring robust security measures and giving consumers the right to access, delete, or destroy their genetic data and biological samples.
This bill designates July 2 as Vermont Republic and Emancipation Day, establishing it as an official state legal holiday. It directly affects state employees and the general public by recognizing this date as a day when government offices and businesses would typically close. The legislation also requires specific state-owned historic sites, including the Bennington Battle Monument and Mount Independence, to remain open and free to the public on this day. By adding this date to the list of recognized legal holidays, the bill formalizes the commemoration of Vermont's independence and the emancipation of enslaved people within the state's official calendar.
This bill expands Vermont's Fair Employment Practices Act by legally defining "constructive discharge" to include situations where working conditions are so difficult or conduct is so outrageous that a reasonable employee would feel forced to resign. It also updates the state's legislative leave law to ensure all employed legislators can take time off for official duties without losing job status, seniority, or benefits, while requiring employers to maintain insurance and benefits at the same level as if the legislator were working. Employers must provide written notice within 14 days of filing for election or accepting a new position, and may appeal to the State Labor Relations Board if they can demonstrate that granting leave would cause unreasonable hardship. The changes apply to employers with more than five employees and take effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill seeks to purchase Camp Sunrise, a 146-acre property in Benson and Orwell, for conservation purposes. It directs the Secretary of Natural Resources to negotiate with the Boy Scouts Green Mountain Council to acquire the land and protect access to Sunrise Lake and Sunset Lake. The legislation appropriates $3 million in state funds to cover the purchase price and any necessary maintenance, ensuring the property remains available for public use.
This bill proposes to update the mileage threshold used when calculating refunds for zero-emission vehicles under Vermont's Lemon Law. Currently, the reasonable allowance for use is capped at 100,000 miles, but this bill would increase that limit to 150,000 miles to match standards used in California. The change directly affects consumers who purchase zero-emission vehicles that fail to meet warranty requirements and may need to return them to manufacturers. By aligning Vermont's formula with existing regulations, the bill aims to provide a more consistent calculation for compensation in vehicle arbitration cases.
This bill requires Vermont state agencies to install non-fossil-fuel heating and cooling systems when replacing or installing new equipment in buildings they own or control, starting in fiscal year 2025. It directly affects the Department of Buildings and General Services, the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and the Agency of Transportation, mandating the use of alternatives like geothermal heat pumps, electric heat pumps, or wood fuel systems instead of oil, propane, natural gas, or coal. The law includes exemptions for situations where non-fossil-fuel systems are financially impracticable based on life-cycle cost comparisons and allows agencies to keep existing fossil fuel equipment as backup systems. Agencies must also submit annual reports detailing equipment installations, fuel usage, and the reasons for any exemptions granted.
This bill would prohibit individuals from knowingly possessing firearms or deadly weapons on school property, including school buildings and buses. It directly affects students, staff, visitors, and anyone else who might enter school grounds. The law allows exceptions for law enforcement officers performing their duties or when school officials specifically authorize weapon possession for instructional purposes. Violations would result in criminal penalties, with first-time offenders facing up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, and repeat offenders facing up to three years in jail or a $5,000 fine. The bill defines school property broadly to include any property owned, leased, controlled, or subcontracted by a school.
