Rep. Edye Graning

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Vermont schools and educational programs that receive state funding from using unlawful physical restraints, seclusion, mechanical restraints, or chemical restraints on students. It defines specific types of restraints and seclusion that are banned, while allowing certain voluntary physical contacts like escorts and prompts that do not restrict movement. Covered entities must report and document any incidents involving restraint or seclusion, notify parents within 24 hours, and hold meetings within five school days to discuss prevention strategies and potential behavioral support plans. The Agency of Education is tasked with creating a performance review system to monitor compliance and provide technical assistance to schools for implementing evidence-based programs that reduce the need for restraints.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Vermont Teacher Forgivable Loan Incentive Program, which offers interest-free loans to students enrolled in teacher training programs who agree to work as public school teachers in Vermont for a minimum of one year for each year of loan received. It also establishes a Peer Review Support Grant Program to provide funding for mentoring, professional development, and exam support for prospective educators seeking licensure through the state's peer review process. Additionally, the bill suspends teacher licensure fees from fiscal year 2024 through 2029 and requires the Agency of Education to assess the costs and benefits of teacher licensure reciprocity agreements and compacts. These measures aim to address teacher workforce development and retention by reducing financial barriers and supporting educator training.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont state agencies to create and complete a one-stop online portal designed to help small businesses with fewer than 20 employees navigate state requirements. It establishes a steering committee led by the Secretary of State to develop a plan that consolidates business registration, permits, licenses, and payments into a single digital system. The portal will also include features for demographic self-identification, simplified annual filings, and access to state and federal business programs. Agencies must submit a detailed proposal with timelines and funding plans by December 15, 2023, and designate staff to support the committee's work.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Medicaid program to provide coverage for one breast pump per child born to Medicaid beneficiaries. It allows pregnant Medicaid recipients to order and receive a breast pump before the baby is born, but only after reaching 27 weeks of pregnancy. The legislation directs the Agency of Human Services to seek necessary federal approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this coverage change. If federal approval is not needed, the coverage provisions would take effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $5 million from the state's General Fund to the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation for the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative in fiscal year 2024. The funding will support grants for outdoor athletic events like marathons and bike races that attract competitors from outside Vermont. The program aims to boost local economic activity by funding events that draw visitors from other states. The appropriation takes 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 restricts how property transfer tax revenue collected in Vermont can be used by prohibiting its application to any purpose other than the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund. The legislation amends state law to ensure that 50 percent of property transfer tax revenue, along with any additional funds contributed to the trust, remains permanently dedicated to housing and conservation initiatives. By adding language that the fund's revenues must remain inviolate, the bill prevents future lawmakers from redirecting these specific funds for other government needs. The measure directly affects the state's budgeting process and ensures that money collected from property transfers continues to support the original housing and conservation programs established by the fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont public schools to include Holocaust education in their curricula for grades six through twelve, starting in the 2024-2025 school year. It mandates that each supervisory union provide at least six hours of age-appropriate instruction annually, integrated into global citizenship or English language arts classes, while the Agency of Education will offer technical assistance to help schools develop and implement the program. The law defines key terms like "Holocaust" and "genocide" and outlines specific learning goals, including understanding how prejudice escalates to violence, recognizing the roles of perpetrators, bystanders, and rescuers, and examining how to combat discrimination in democratic societies.