Rep. Mary-Katherine Stone

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools and approved independent schools in Vermont to create seizure action plans for any student with a seizure disorder or who takes seizure medication. The law mandates that schools designate at least one trained staff member to administer seizure rescue medications or operate vagus nerve stimulator magnets, while all employees with direct student contact and students themselves receive seizure recognition and first aid training. Parents must provide written authorization, medical instructions, and unopened medication packages before school staff can administer treatment, and the State Board of Education will establish guidelines for these individualized health plans. The bill also includes liability protections for school employees acting in good faith according to the seizure action plan and takes effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the transfer of Vermont inmates to correctional facilities outside the state, directly affecting the Department of Corrections and incarcerated individuals. It amends existing statutes to remove the Commissioner of Corrections' authority to order inmate transfers to out-of-state facilities and repeals provisions related to using competitive bidding for such placements. The legislation also clarifies the intent to create new work camps within Vermont to reduce reliance on out-of-state housing, while specifying that new work camps should only house nonviolent offenders who have already served part of their sentence in a state facility. These changes take effect on January 1, 2025, aiming to keep inmates within Vermont for oversight, cost, and family visitation reasons.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Vermont Agency of Human Services to update specific administrative rules to use respectful language and reflect current practices. It requires the agency to submit a plan by January 1, 2024, to amend rules governing intermediate care facilities, guardianship for mentally retarded persons, Medicaid regulations, long-term care services, and vocational rehabilitation. The agency must prioritize updating the rules related to intermediate care facilities and guardianship. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and applies to the agency's rulemaking processes rather than directly changing how services are delivered to individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase pay and expand benefits for Vermont state legislators by making them eligible for the state employees' health insurance plan at no cost to themselves. It would establish an annual salary equal to half the statewide average wage, with higher amounts for the Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tempore, and include reimbursements for child care, dependent care, and overnight parking for those with mobility limitations. The legislation also provides per diem compensation and expense reimbursement for legislators-elect attending pre-session training and meetings, while updating rules for out-of-state committee business to include mileage, lodging, and meal reimbursement. These changes would be implemented through amendments to existing state statutes governing legislative compensation and benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits crisis pregnancy centers from advertising services they do not provide or that are designed to mislead the public, particularly regarding medical care availability and timing. It directly affects crisis pregnancy centers in Vermont by requiring them to clearly disclose whether they are licensed medical facilities and what services they actually offer. The legislation treats false advertising by these centers as an unfair or deceptive practice subject to existing consumer protection enforcement. Additionally, the bill addresses data privacy concerns by regulating how these centers collect and share personal information from visitors who may believe they are seeking medical care.