Rep. Rey Garofano

Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to eliminate Vermont's state laws against disorderly conduct and aggravated disorderly conduct, which currently allow for criminal charges against individuals who create public inconvenience, make unreasonable noise, use abusive language, or obstruct traffic. The legislation would directly affect law enforcement, prosecutors, and citizens who might otherwise face arrest or fines under these statutes. By repealing sections 1026 and 1026a of the Vermont Statutes, the bill removes the legal basis for charging people with these offenses, regardless of whether they engage in fighting, threatening behavior, or other disruptive actions in public spaces. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, and would prevent future convictions and penalties that currently carry up to 180 days of imprisonment or fines of up to $2,000 for aggravated cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally congratulates the Essex High School girls' volleyball team on winning their second consecutive Vermont State championship. The resolution recognizes the team's undefeated regular season performance and their decisive 3-0 victory over Champlain Valley Union High School in the championship match. It lists the names of the team members and coaches who achieved this accomplishment. The General Assembly directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this resolution to Essex High School as an official acknowledgment of their success.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement officers to detain a driver for a primary violation before issuing a ticket for specific secondary motor vehicle violations. The changes directly affect drivers in Vermont who may be stopped for issues like expired registration, driving without a license, or broken taillights. Under the new rules, officers must have a valid reason to stop a vehicle first, such as a safety concern or another suspected offense, before addressing these secondary violations. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and applies to ten specific categories of violations listed in the bill text.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Vermont's earned sick leave law to explicitly allow employees to use accrued sick time for reproductive health care appointments and protects their privacy by prohibiting employers from requiring specific medical details about the nature of the treatment. It also establishes a state fund to provide grants to organizations that offer practical support, such as covering travel, housing, and childcare costs, to individuals seeking abortion services. The legislation strengthens existing protections against employer retaliation and clarifies that employees do not need to find replacements for absences related to medical care. Additionally, it updates the legal framework to ensure employees can access reproductive health services without facing economic hardship or privacy violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program to support community nurses who work in partnership with Vermont municipalities to provide health services. The Department of Health would administer grants of up to $10,000 per municipality to fund these nurse programs, with priority given to communities establishing new programs. To qualify, municipalities must demonstrate nonprofit or municipal financial oversight, legislative approval, and a plan for ongoing funding after grant eligibility ends. The legislation appropriates $200,000 for fiscal year 2024 and intends to provide the same amount annually thereafter, aiming to improve access to care in rural and underserved areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program to fund afterschool and summer care services for children and youth in Vermont, with priority given to programs serving underserved communities. The program will be financed using revenue from the state's cannabis sales tax, which will be deposited into a dedicated special fund managed by an advisory committee. The advisory committee, composed of representatives from various state agencies and Vermont Afterschool, Inc., will oversee grant distribution and report annually on outcomes such as the number of children served and cost savings for families. Grants can be used by program operators for technical assistance, implementation, expansion, and sustainability, with administrative costs capped at $500,000 per year. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.

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 establishes new structures and funding to support suicide prevention efforts in Vermont, including a special fund for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and a Crisis Response Commission to oversee its operation. It creates a Suicide Fatality Review Team to investigate suicide deaths and identify ways to prevent future incidents, while also requiring crisis phone numbers on student ID cards and mandating suicide awareness training for faculty and staff. The legislation raises a small fee on universal service charges to help fund the 988 Lifeline and directs the Department of Mental Health to submit reports on call diversion and other suicide prevention activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires secondary school districts in Vermont to include at least two nonvoting student members on their school boards, allowing students to participate in board discussions and provide input on policies and budgets without casting votes. Student members would be appointed by the board based on applications submitted by district residents, receive the same compensation as voting members, and attend all regular meetings with specialized training on board procedures. Additionally, serving as a student school board member would count toward flexible graduation pathways, recognizing this experience as applied or work-based learning. The bill applies only to districts providing secondary education, while elementary-only districts are encouraged but not required to include student representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts that do not operate their own elementary or high schools to designate up to three eligible schools to serve as the public schools for their students. These designated schools can be public schools in Vermont or other states, or recognized independent schools that meet specific criteria such as serving as regional career centers or being designated as public schools under older laws. The legislation also repeals the definition and approval process for independent schools while keeping the recognized independent school enrollment process intact. Additionally, it creates a new definition for therapeutic schools and adjusts special education tuition provisions. The bill allows school districts to pay tuition to designated schools for their students without requiring a separate vote from the district's electorate, though some existing options for tuition payment remain available.