This bill designates April 6, 2023, as Alzheimer's Awareness Day at the Vermont State House to raise visibility for the disease and its impact on the state. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to the Alzheimer's Association's Vermont Chapter. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of the growing number of Vermonters affected by Alzheimer's disease. The designation coincides with a planned visit from Alzheimer's advocates who will share information with legislators about ongoing concerns related to the disease.
This bill is a ceremonial resolution that congratulates five Vermont youth who were named Boys & Girls Clubs of Vermont's 2023 Youth of the Year honorees. The resolution recognizes these young people for overcoming personal challenges while demonstrating academic success, healthy lifestyles, and community contributions. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to each of the five honored youth members from the Brattleboro, Burlington, and Rutland clubs. The measure does not create new laws or policies but serves to formally acknowledge the achievements of these specific individuals.
This House concurrent resolution designates April 5, 2023, as Start by Believing Day in Vermont to raise awareness about supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence. The measure does not change laws or create new programs but serves as a symbolic recognition of the challenges survivors face when seeking help. By acknowledging this day, the General Assembly aims to encourage friends, family, and community members to respond with support rather than doubt when someone discloses violence. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, which provides services to survivors in the state.
This bill is a ceremonial resolution that commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal program established in 1933 to provide jobs for unemployed young men on conservation projects. The resolution honors the memory of the three million men who participated in the CCC and specifically acknowledges the program's significant impact on Vermont's natural resources, including the establishment of more than 30 camps in the state. It does not change any laws or policies but serves as an official recognition of the program's historical importance and legacy of forest management, park development, and trail construction.
This bill is a House resolution that recognizes April 2023 as the Month of the Military Child in Vermont. It aims to support military children, including those affected by parent deployments and frequent relocations. The resolution acknowledges existing programs like Military Kids Connect and local support services, and directs the House Clerk to send a copy to the Vermont National Guard's Child & Youth Services. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal recognition of the importance of military family support.
This bill establishes an optional ranked-choice voting system for presidential primary elections in Vermont towns, cities, and villages. Local municipalities can choose to adopt this system by voting at their annual or special meetings, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one. The bill outlines specific rules for how votes are counted across multiple rounds, including procedures for eliminating candidates with the fewest votes and transferring their ballots to voters' next choices. Once adopted, the system remains in effect until the local community votes to discontinue it, with transparency requirements for reporting vote totals and inactive ballots.
This bill directs Vermont's Pension Investment Commission to divest state pension funds from fossil fuel industry investments by December 31, 2030, while also setting a longer-term goal to eliminate all private fossil fuel investments by December 31, 2040. The legislation applies to the Vermont State Employees' Retirement System, the Vermont Teachers' Retirement System, and the Vermont Municipal Employees' Retirement System, requiring the Commission to develop a divestment plan that considers fiduciary obligations and potential impacts on funding requirements. The bill includes specific definitions for fossil fuel exposure, allows for exceptions for small investments under two percent of the portfolio, and mandates regular reports to state committees on progress and financial impacts. Additionally, the act appropriates $127,000 in 2024 to fund a staff position to support the review, planning, and reporting requirements of the divestment process.
This bill is a ceremonial resolution that formally recognizes the importance of mental health awareness in Vermont. It does not create new laws or change existing policies, but instead acknowledges the state's commitment to addressing mental health challenges. The resolution highlights statistics about mental illness and lack of treatment in Vermont, emphasizing the need for community-based support services. It serves as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness rather than implementing concrete policy changes.
This bill designates April 4, 2023, as Youth and Young Adult Mental Health Day in Vermont to raise awareness about mental health challenges among young people. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a ceremonial recognition to highlight the importance of supporting teen and young adult mental well-being. The resolution cites research showing increased rates of anxiety and depression among students and notes that the prefrontal cortex does not fully develop until the mid-20s. The measure was adopted by both the Senate and House of Representatives as a symbolic gesture rather than a policy change.
This bill directs Vermont state agencies to study the feasibility of creating a rental housing registry that would collect information from landlords and property owners. The study will examine two options: using existing landlord certificate data or establishing a new annual registration system for both long-term and short-term rentals. The report will include cost estimates, technological requirements, and data security recommendations to be submitted to legislative committees by December 15, 2023. The bill appropriates $25,000 in fiscal year 2024 to fund this assessment project.
This bill establishes new accountability and oversight requirements for independent schools in Vermont that accept public tuition funds. It requires these schools to agree to enroll students with special education needs when placed there by their school districts, and mandates regular reporting on student attendance, academic progress, and enrollment changes to local education agencies. The legislation also prohibits discriminatory admissions practices for publicly funded students, such as mandatory interviews or academic entrance exams, while allowing schools to maintain accreditation standards through recognized agencies. These provisions aim to ensure that independent schools receiving public funds maintain quality education standards and provide equal access to all students.
This bill creates a temporary School Construction Aid Task Force to study school construction needs, funding options, and safety standards, with members drawn from state agencies and education organizations. The task force will review existing school facility conditions and submit recommendations by January 2024 before ceasing to exist. Additionally, the bill pauses new indoor air quality testing for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in schools until the task force completes its work and the legislature decides whether to resume testing. It also reallocates existing PCB testing funds back to the Education Fund and provides grants to schools that need to remediate PCB contamination identified through testing.
