Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky

Maddy summaryThis bill extends certain employment protections to temporary and seasonal state employees in Vermont, including whistleblower rights, paid leave benefits, and health insurance after six months of service. It also modifies definitions in state labor laws to clarify which temporary workers qualify for collective bargaining rights, specifically including those working more than 1,280 hours annually over two years. The legislation applies to employees across various state agencies and the judiciary, taking effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring the memory of James McNamara, a former Vermont state representative and environmental commissioner from Burlington. It expresses the General Assembly's sincere sympathies to McNamara's family following his death in November 2022. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to McNamara's family and to the District 4 Act 250 Environmental Commission. This type of commemorative measure does not create new laws or policies but serves to acknowledge McNamara's public service contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to gradually implement Green Mountain Care, Vermont's publicly financed health care program, over a ten-year period starting with primary care in the first year and adding preventive dental and vision services in the second year. It establishes an advisory group within the Green Mountain Care Board to recommend how to sequence and finance additional health services for years three through ten, aiming for comprehensive coverage by the tenth year. The legislation requires the state to seek federal waivers to modify existing health insurance rules and mandates detailed financial analysis to ensure the program is economically sustainable and reduces overall health care spending. It also directs the Green Mountain Care Board to consider cost-sharing options and ensures health care professionals receive adequate reimbursement to recruit and retain staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Vermont to join the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact, enabling licensed audiologists and speech-language pathologists to practice in other member states without needing separate licenses for each location. The compact facilitates this by recognizing licenses from other participating states while maintaining each state's authority to regulate practice and protect public health. It specifically supports military families by allowing providers to practice in states where their spouses are stationed and enables telehealth services across state lines. The legislation also establishes a system for sharing information about disciplinary actions and investigations between member states to ensure consistent oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill would protect people and organizations involved in safer drug consumption programs from criminal prosecution and civil penalties. It defines these programs as supervised spaces where individuals can use preobtained drugs with access to sterile supplies, overdose monitoring, first aid, and referrals to treatment services. The legislation also removes a future expiration date for the exemption that allows possession of small amounts of buprenorphine without criminal penalty. To receive legal protections, program operators must publicly report annual data on participants, supplies distributed, and overdose incidents.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program in Vermont that would provide paid, job-protected leave to employees and self-employed individuals for specific reasons including serious illness, childbirth, adoption, military family needs, and domestic or sexual violence situations. The program would be administered by the Office of the Treasurer and would allow workers to take time off to care for themselves or family members facing health issues, or to seek medical care, counseling, or safe housing after experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Eligible workers would need to meet certain work history requirements and pay contributions to fund the benefits, with leave defined as "safe leave" specifically for victims of abuse to access services, recover from injuries, or relocate to secure safe environments. The legislation also expands the definition of family members to include individuals with significant personal bonds regardless of biological or legal relationships, ensuring broader coverage for diverse family structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont school districts that do not operate their own elementary or high schools to designate eligible public or independent schools to serve as the district's public schools. It allows these districts to pay tuition to designated schools for their students, with specific criteria for which independent schools qualify, such as being recognized regional centers or having historical public school status. The legislation also removes the definition and approval process for independent schools while keeping the enrollment process for recognized independent schools intact. Additionally, it creates a new definition for therapeutic schools and updates special education tuition provisions. The changes apply to school districts and their students, with oversight and reimbursement rules for tuition payments between districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans and Vermont Medicaid to cover specific fertility-related services for all insured individuals and Medicaid beneficiaries. It mandates coverage for fertility diagnostic care, intrauterine insemination, at least three rounds of in vitro fertilization with donor or partner gametes, and clinically appropriate fertility medications. The legislation also prohibits insurers from imposing higher costs or restrictions based on the use of donor materials or surrogacy, while excluding experimental procedures and nonmedical donor costs. Additionally, the bill directs the state to seek federal approval to expand Medicaid coverage for these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new health insurance program in Vermont that would provide coverage to adults over 18 who are currently ineligible for Medicaid or premium tax credits due to their immigration status. The program would offer hospital, medical, dental, and prescription drug benefits similar to existing Medicaid coverage, with eligibility based on household income thresholds. It also requires the state to protect applicant privacy by prohibiting the sharing of enrollment information with the federal government. To support implementation, the bill authorizes funding for healthcare provider reimbursements and grants to organizations for outreach efforts, with the program set to begin on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates January 23-27, 2023, as the first annual Holocaust Education Week in Vermont. It directly affects Vermont schools and educational institutions by establishing a formal period for Holocaust education activities. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to the Vermont Holocaust Memorial and the Agency of Education to facilitate the event. This commemorative measure recognizes the historical significance of the Holocaust and aims to increase awareness through organized educational programming during the designated week.