Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that adjunct faculty members at post-secondary institutions in Vermont may qualify for unemployment insurance benefits between academic terms under specific conditions. It establishes that these educators are considered to lack reasonable assurance of future employment if the school controls whether their contract renewal conditions are met, if it is unlikely a job will be available next term, or if their position depends on events unlikely to occur. The legislation directly affects contingent faculty who experience gaps in employment between semesters or academic years. By defining these eligibility criteria, the bill aims to provide clearer access to unemployment benefits for non-tenure-track instructors during periods without guaranteed work.
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Maddy summaryThis bill requires independent schools in Vermont to pay their teachers' retirement contributions and administrative expenses directly, rather than having these costs covered by the state education budget. It also clarifies that "education spending" includes the portion of retirement payments attributable to school districts, while excluding funds from other sources like endowments or federal grants. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and include requirements for independent schools to submit annual payment statements and for the state to report on implementation to relevant committees.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires students graduating from Vermont public high schools to demonstrate civics knowledge as a condition of receiving a diploma. The law offers two pathways: passing the standard U.S. citizenship civics test with a minimum score of 60 percent, or completing one semester of community service with a local government organization under a mentor's supervision. The requirement applies to all public high school and career technical center students, though students with individualized education programs may participate at the discretion of their IEP team. The measure would take effect for students graduating in the 2025-2026 academic year or later.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Secretary of Natural Resources to evaluate whether the state can support an expanded polystyrene foam densifier facility for recycling waste Styrofoam. The assessment must include cost estimates, location recommendations, and details on how businesses and waste haulers would access the facility. By January 15, 2024, the Secretary must submit a report to legislative committees with findings on whether to build the densifier and whether to ban landfill disposal of EPS foam if the facility is approved. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023, and requires coordination with waste management entities and businesses that generate EPS foam waste.
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 proposes to gradually reduce how much energy from large hydroelectric plants counts as renewable energy in Vermont. It directly affects utility companies and energy providers that sell power from hydroelectric facilities with a capacity greater than 200 megawatts. Under the bill, the amount of large hydroelectric energy eligible to meet renewable energy obligations would decrease by 10 percent each year starting in 2024, eventually reaching zero. The legislation amends state law to clarify that energy from plants exceeding 200 MW is not renewable, with a phased reduction schedule applied to compliance calculations.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Public Utility Commission to create rules for how electric grid upgrade costs are shared among customers. The commission must establish a process by July 1, 2024, to spread these costs fairly across all customers within each utility service area. A second deadline requires the commission to develop statewide cost-sharing rules by July 1, 2029, ensuring upgrades are distributed equitably across the entire state. The legislation affects electric utility customers and the Public Utility Commission, aiming to make grid improvements more transparent and balanced.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to raise Vermont's minimum wage to $19.45 per hour starting July 1, 2023, and removes several exemptions that currently allow certain workers, such as taxi drivers and outside salespeople, to be paid less than the standard minimum wage. It also establishes a grant program for small businesses with 20 or fewer employees to offset payroll costs resulting from the wage increase, requiring applicants to demonstrate that their business revenue would decline due to the higher wages. Additionally, the legislation directs the Joint Fiscal Office to conduct a study comparing Vermont's wage policies to those of countries with high minimum wages and high standards of living, with the goal of identifying successful practices that could be adopted in the state.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to decriminalize the possession of a personal supply of regulated drugs in Vermont, changing penalties from criminal charges to a civil offense with a $50 fee. The legislation would establish a Drug Use Standards Advisory Board to set benchmarks for what constitutes a personal use supply and allow individuals with prior possession convictions to have their criminal records sealed if their amounts fall below these benchmarks. It also authorizes pilot drug-checking programs that let individuals test substances for chemical composition and contaminants to reduce overdose risks. The bill aims to shift Vermont's approach from criminal prosecution to public health strategies, redirecting resources toward prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands workers' compensation benefits for Vermont firefighters who develop specific types of cancer. It creates a legal presumption that these cancers resulted from job-related exposures if the firefighter had clean cancer screening results before or within two years of starting their career, has at least five years of firefighting service in Vermont, is under 65 years old, and does not have a history of tobacco use within 10 years of diagnosis. The law covers leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and cancers of the bladder, brain, colon, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, liver, pancreas, skin, or testicles, and applies to firefighters diagnosed within 10 years of their last active duty. The bill also recommends that fire departments keep incident reports for at least 10 years to support these claims.