This bill proposes to improve emergency medical services in Vermont by providing $20 million annually from 2024 to 2028 to support ambulance operations, training, and equipment. It requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover emergency medical services for patients who do not need to be transported to a hospital. The legislation also establishes a refundable income tax credit for qualified emergency responders and creates a study committee to examine the EMS system. Additionally, the bill sets requirements for Medicaid reimbursement rates for ambulance services and restricts transporting patients to destinations where the ambulance service has a financial interest.
This bill establishes a temporary study committee to examine the effects of PFAS chemicals in landfill leachate on Vermont's natural resources and to identify better waste management options. The committee will include representatives from environmental agencies, waste management companies, environmental organizations, and health departments, and will develop a long-term state plan for managing PFAS in solid waste. The group is required to submit its findings and recommendations by December 1, 2023, and will cease to exist on February 1, 2024, after which its work will inform future environmental policy.
This bill extends health and life insurance benefits to members of Vermont's General Assembly, allowing them to enroll in the state employees' health plan with the Assembly covering 80% of premiums and members paying 20%. It also provides term life insurance coverage of $15,000 for sitting legislators, with the Assembly paying 75% of the premium and members responsible for the remaining 25%, while simultaneously increasing life insurance benefits for retired state employees from $10,000 to $15,000. Additionally, the legislation establishes adjournment compensation for legislators, paying them 10% of their weekly session salary for each week the General Assembly is not in session. These changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, and apply to all members of the General Assembly.
This bill requires landlords in Vermont to submit an annual Landlord Certificate to the Department of Taxes by January 31, reporting the gross rent paid for each rental unit along with owner and tenant information. The Department of Taxes must then create a public database containing this data, allowing anyone to request and review details about rental properties and payments. Additionally, the bill mandates a written report by January 15, 2024, analyzing how changes to the Renter Credit program in 2020 affected eligibility, including data on individuals who gained or lost access to the credit. The report will also examine the impact of pandemic assistance programs on renter credit claims and offer recommendations for improving the program's eligibility criteria and data metrics.
This bill proposes creating a state-supported regional animal control program to assist Vermont municipalities with managing domestic pets. It would establish regional offices to provide free or low-cost vaccination, spay, and neuter services, and help locate resources for regional shelters. The legislation aims to strengthen municipal animal control services through coordinated regional support rather than changing existing local responsibilities.
This bill changes how often landowners in Vermont must post and record notices prohibiting hunting on their private property. Instead of requiring annual updates, landowners would only need to post and record these notices every five years or when ownership changes. The law requires signs to be placed at property corners and along boundaries, with specific size and design standards set by the state commissioner. Landowners must also file a recording form with their town clerk, which includes details like acreage, location, and date, while keeping a copy for themselves. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, applying to private preserves, farms, ponds, refuges, and shooting grounds.
This bill expands the 802 Opportunity Grant to provide tuition assistance for youth in foster care and kinship care in Vermont. It directly affects students under the custody of the Commissioner for Children and Families, as well as young adults aged 18 to 24 who were in foster care or permanent guardianship for at least six months between ages 16 and 18. The key provision increases the annual grant amount from $3,000 to $4,000 and allows eligible students to receive grants for up to six consecutive years or until they complete an undergraduate degree, whichever comes first. The bill also appropriates an additional $150,000 for fiscal year 2024 to fund these expanded grants and takes effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill requires Vermont's Agency of Education to create a model safety policy for schools to handle violent intruder situations, involving input from mental health experts, school administrators, law enforcement, and families. The policy mandates that safety drills be trauma-informed and age-appropriate, prohibiting them for students below 9th grade and preventing older students from physically practicing lockdown procedures. School districts must notify parents before drills, track their effectiveness, and adopt safety policies that meet or exceed the state model, with automatic adoption of the model policy if a district fails to create its own.
This Vermont bill, H 236, increases compensation and benefits for General Assembly members starting in the 2033-34 legislative biennium. The legislation requires the state to pay the full premium for health insurance for legislators, matching the coverage provided to other state employees. Additionally, it mandates that the weekly salary for Assembly members be doubled on January 1, 2033, with future adjustments tied to compensation increases for other constitutional officers. The bill also establishes that Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate receive the same compensation increases as regular members. These changes apply to all elected legislators and take effect over a multi-year timeline beginning in 2033.
This bill would reduce a school district's reported education spending by 75% of salary and wage increases for licensed teachers and other school employees, but only if the district meets specific eligibility requirements. To qualify, a school district must be located in a rural area or have at least 40% of students from low-income families, and it must pay all salaried staff at least $50,000 annually or hourly workers at least $20 per hour during fiscal years 2025 through 2027. The calculation determines the amount of increase above these minimum thresholds that would be excluded from the district's spending totals. Districts currently bound by collective bargaining agreements that prevent them from meeting the minimum pay requirements would need to negotiate changes to those agreements to become eligible for the spending exclusion.
This bill requires town clerks in Vermont to notify the state's Agency of Digital Services within 24 hours if a cybersecurity breach disrupts municipal services. The law applies to all municipalities and mandates reporting of both the breach itself and any resulting service interruptions. The notification must occur within one day of the incident, ensuring timely communication between local governments and state officials. This measure takes effect on July 1, 2023, and aims to improve coordination during cybersecurity incidents at the municipal level.
This bill requires three Vermont state departments to ask whether applicants or their family members have served in the U.S. Armed Forces on intake forms used to determine eligibility for programs and services. The Department for Children and Families, the Department of Vermont Health Access, and the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living would each add this question to their application materials. The change applies to all individuals seeking assistance from these agencies and would take effect on July 1, 2023. The legislation does not specify how the information would be used or what benefits veterans might receive as a result of providing this data.
