This bill allows the immediate family of a deceased military veteran to request changes to their death certificate to record that the death was caused or hastened by a service-connected injury or illness. The law permits a surviving spouse or child to apply for these corrections within six months of the veteran's death, provided they submit supporting evidence to the State Registrar. This provision adds a new category of applicants beyond healthcare professionals and funeral directors who can currently request death certificate amendments. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, and aim to ensure accurate documentation of veteran deaths related to military service.
This bill establishes the Public Utility Commission's authority to regulate thermal energy networks, which distribute heat from noncombustible sources like geothermal systems to buildings for heating and cooling. It requires the Commission to create rules for permitting these networks and mandates a public good certificate before any company can build such infrastructure, ensuring projects align with regional and municipal planning. The legislation also prohibits expanding natural gas service into new areas and directs the Commission to develop a tiered discount system for low-income energy assistance. Additionally, it sets up a collaborative group to design an electricity affordability program focused on helping low-income residential customers pay their utility bills.
This bill would require dog trainers in Vermont to obtain informed consent from clients before beginning training sessions. Under the proposed law, trainers must explain the specific methods and equipment they plan to use, along with the associated risks and benefits. The bill also mandates that trainers inform clients about any known behavioral diagnoses, the purpose of recommended interventions, and all available training options including the choice to forgo training entirely. This requirement directly affects professional dog trainers and their clients by establishing a standardized process for transparency and consent in dog training services.
This bill allows licensed marriage and family therapists to supervise the training of individuals seeking licensure as independent clinical social workers in Vermont. Currently, supervision for this role is limited to social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, physicians, or out-of-state equivalents, but this legislation would expand the list to include marriage and family therapists. The change is made by amending state law to recognize marriage and family therapists as qualified supervisors for the required 3,000 hours of supervised practice needed for independent clinical social worker licensure. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023, and applies to people pursuing licensure as independent clinical social workers in the state.
This bill allows municipalities surrounding oligotrophic lakes in Vermont to prohibit wake boats on those lakes. It creates a modified process for the state's Department of Environmental Conservation to update public water rules when such local bans are enacted. The legislation aims to help protect these nutrient-poor lakes from aquatic invasive species that wake boats might spread. Only the towns bordering these specific lakes would have the authority to implement these restrictions.
This bill creates a temporary Basic Needs Budget Technical Advisory Commission to review and update how Vermont calculates its basic needs budget and livable wage standards. The commission will include representatives from government agencies, legislative bodies, small businesses, and community organizations, and must submit its findings by January 1, 2024. Additionally, the bill requires the state to develop a public online calculator that shows how much state and federal assistance individuals and families might receive based on their income, household size, and other factors. The commission will have access to expert analysis and public testimony, with funding allocated for member compensation and technical support.
This bill would remove state-level bans and penalties on the purchase, use, and possession of tobacco products in Vermont, including products like bidis and electronic cigarettes that contain nicotine. It updates legal definitions to clarify what counts as tobacco products and tobacco substitutes, ensuring consistency across state statutes. The legislation maintains existing age restrictions, prohibiting anyone under 21 from possessing, purchasing, or attempting to purchase tobacco products, while also keeping penalties for retailers who sell to minors. The bill includes provisions for compliance testing by the Division of Liquor Control and mandates annual reporting on enforcement efforts to relevant state committees.
This bill allows landowners in Vermont to legally prohibit hunting and fishing on their property by using visible purple paint markings on trees or posts near property boundaries. The paint must be a specific size and height, and landowners must also record the posting with their town clerk's office when the markings are first applied. Unlike traditional signs that require annual updates and recording, the paint marking option only needs initial registration with the town, though the owner must still maintain the markings visibly. The law also requires that any permission-only signs include the owner's contact information and be dated each year. These changes take effect on July 1, 2023, and apply to owners or those with exclusive rights to take game on private land or waters.
This bill establishes new requirements for appointing zoning administrators in Vermont municipalities to ensure the process is fair and based on qualifications. It allows planning commissions to nominate candidates for a three-year term, with final appointment made by the legislative body, and requires administrators to enforce zoning bylaws strictly without discretion. The law also specifies that administrators can be removed for cause by the legislative body after consulting with the planning commission and sets their compensation under existing state personnel rules. These changes take effect on July 1, 2023, and apply to all municipalities adopting or updating their zoning bylaws.
This bill establishes a reimbursement process for Vermont municipalities that take over services traditionally managed by the state, such as public safety, emergency services, inspections, and code enforcement. It creates a fair compensation system that accounts for the costs the state saves by no longer administering these programs. The legislation allows municipalities to enter into contracts or memorandums of understanding to receive funding for these newly assumed responsibilities. This change directly affects local governments in Vermont that are transitioning from state-provided services to municipal administration. The bill aims to ensure municipalities receive appropriate financial support when assuming these previously state-managed functions.
This bill allows Vermont State employees who are members of the State Employees' Retirement System to count their previous temporary or seasonal state employment as creditable service toward their retirement benefits. The key provision adds a new section to the retirement law that grants credit for any temporary or seasonal state employment held before the employee became a formal member of the retirement system. This change applies to all current and future members of the retirement system who previously worked in temporary state positions and provides an effective date of July 1, 2023.
This bill proposes creating a new statewide retirement system specifically for voluntary firefighters in Vermont who are not currently covered by existing state or municipal retirement plans. The Office of the State Treasurer would be responsible for establishing and managing this new system, ensuring these volunteers have access to retirement benefits. The legislation directly affects volunteer fire departments across the state by extending retirement security to their members who do not qualify for other public employee retirement systems.
