This bill establishes a statewide framework for behavioral threat assessment teams in Vermont schools to evaluate and respond to potential threats of violence while prioritizing student support over punishment. It requires schools to develop policies that minimize interactions with the criminal justice system and ensures that any disciplinary actions follow existing legal protections for students with disabilities. The legislation mandates annual training for team members on bias reduction, civil rights, and trauma-informed practices, and requires schools to collect and report detailed data on assessments and outcomes to monitor implementation. Additionally, the bill updates existing school safety drill requirements to include age-appropriate options-based drills with prior notification to parents and guardians.
This bill defines and protects certain health care activities related to reproductive health and gender-affirming care from civil and criminal liability. It establishes that licensed health care providers in Vermont can legally offer these services to patients regardless of where the patient is located, as long as the services are permitted under Vermont law. The law also protects insurance coverage for these services and prohibits conversion therapy from being classified as gender-affirming care. The protections apply to the provision, prescription, distribution, and use of FDA-approved medications for pregnancy termination as of January 1, 2023. The bill became effective immediately upon passage and was signed into law by the Governor in May 2023.
This bill expands access to certain health care services in Vermont by requiring health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover gender-affirming and abortion-related services. It protects health care providers from professional disciplinary action or insurance premium increases when they provide legally protected health care activities. The legislation also allows pharmacists to prescribe emergency contraception, permits vending machines to dispense contraceptives at pharmacies and colleges, and restricts how pregnancy centers can advertise their services. Additionally, it limits when health information about these services can be shared and requires state agencies to track access to reproductive and gender-affirming care.
This bill requires Vermont's Community Justice Unit to work with community justice centers and law enforcement to refer domestic and sexual violence cases to these centers. It mandates that the Attorney General's office submit two reports to the state legislature by December 2025 and July 2028 to track the program's implementation, effectiveness, and available resources. The legislation updates existing laws to include law enforcement and prosecutors as referral sources while maintaining oversight through required reporting to judicial committees.
This bill updates Vermont's regulations for captive insurance companies, which are insurance entities owned by the businesses they insure. It requires branch captive companies to submit annual reports from their home jurisdictions to the state Commissioner and allows waivers if those reports are deemed sufficient. The legislation also mandates that incorporated protected cells include specific naming conventions like "Incorporated Cell" or "IC" in their titles. Additionally, the bill requires captive insurers to keep original records and documents in Vermont unless the Commissioner approves keeping them elsewhere, and it strengthens pre-licensing requirements by asking applicants to provide detailed information about their assets, management expertise, and operational plans. A portion of premium tax revenues will be transferred to the Department of Financial Regulation to fund captive insurance oversight, with this funding change taking effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill amends the charter of the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District to update its governance and budget procedures. It requires the District's Board of Supervisors to review proposed budgets after considering public comments and adopt them by January 15th each year. The amendment also establishes that if a budget is not approved by the start of a fiscal year, the District will continue operating under the previous year's budget, while ensuring the District remains obligated to pay bond principal, interest, and long-term contract obligations. Additionally, the bill sets the annual District meeting for budget adoption on the first Tuesday in March.
This bill prohibits individuals from teaching, training, or assembling with others for the purpose of practicing the use of firearms, explosives, or techniques intended for civil disorders. It applies to anyone who knows or should know that such activities are meant to support violent public disturbances. The law allows for up to five years in prison or a $50,000 fine for violations, while exempting law enforcement, accredited military science programs, self-defense instruction, safe firearms handling training, and lawful recreational activities like hunting and target shooting. State attorneys can seek court injunctions to stop suspected violations before they occur.
This Vermont bill requires insurance companies to keep individual and small group health insurance markets separate for plan years 2024 and 2025. The law mandates that carriers calculate and file premiums for these two markets independently, applying community rating rules separately to each group. This change directly affects registered insurance carriers and the people who purchase health plans through the individual and small group markets in Vermont.
This bill formally approves amendments to the Town of Springfield's charter that were previously voted on by residents in November 2020. The changes establish new procedures for town governance, including how ordinances are adopted, how charter amendments are proposed, and how town meetings and elections are conducted. Key provisions require Selectboard meetings to use individual roll call votes, mandate that certain administrative roles like Town Clerk and Town Attorney be appointed based solely on qualifications, and create a unified budget request process for the Town Manager. The bill also clarifies procedures for appointing acting clerks during election periods and ensures annual independent audits of town finances.
This bill formally approves a charter amendment for the Town of Barre that was previously voted on by local residents in May 2022. The change replaces the town's elected Board of Listers and Constable with appointed positions, giving the Selectboard authority to hire an Assessor and appoint a Constable for a one-year term. The Constable role now allows the Selectboard to limit or condition law enforcement authority based on certification requirements. The amendment takes effect immediately upon passage, ending the current terms of elected officials and transitioning to the new appointment system.
This bill removes the Vermont residency requirement for patients seeking end-of-life medication under the state's patient choice laws. It directly affects non-resident patients who are 18 or older and under a Vermont physician's care. The key change allows physicians to prescribe medication to hasten death for terminal patients regardless of where they live, while maintaining requirements for terminal diagnosis, decision-making capacity, informed consent, and voluntary requests. The law also protects physicians from civil, criminal, or disciplinary liability when they follow these procedures.
This bill establishes a formal Victims Assistance and Victim Advocate Program within Vermont's Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs to provide support services to victims of crime. The program requires victim advocates to offer information about legal rights, timely notifications of court proceedings, and practical assistance including counseling, financial guidance, restitution help, protection services, property recovery, and transportation to court. State's Attorneys are authorized to hire victim advocates who will deliver these services according to established job descriptions, while victims retain the right to decline any assistance. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, creating a structured framework for victim support throughout the criminal justice process.
