Sen. Andrew Perchlik

Maddy summaryThis bill designates August 31 as Overdose Awareness Day in Vermont to raise awareness about drug overdoses and honor those affected by them. The legislation requires the Vermont State flag to be flown at half-staff on all state-owned flagpoles each August 31 to mark the observance. It also adds these provisions to the state code and includes a clause that will repeal the designation in 2033. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023, and is based on findings about rising opioid-related deaths in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Marshall Webb, a nonprofit cofounder and environmental advocate who passed away in 2022. It recognizes his contributions to Shelburne Farms, a Vermont center for sustainability education, and acknowledges his personal connection to the organization and the state. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy to Webb's family and Shelburne Farms as a formal expression of appreciation. This measure does not change laws or policies but serves to publicly acknowledge Webb's legacy and impact on the community.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires legislative approval from the Vermont General Assembly before the Vermont State Colleges can close, reduce, or convert any physical library that existed on January 1, 2023. It also prevents the colleges from reducing library staff positions, employees, or work hours below the levels established on that same date without state approval. The law affects the Vermont State Colleges Corporation and its library operations across all campuses. If passed, the colleges would need explicit permission from lawmakers before making changes to their library facilities or staffing levels.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for nominating candidates to Vermont unified union school district boards by standardizing the signature requirements across all three representation models. Under the new provisions, a nomination petition must be signed by either 30 voters or one percent of the legal voters in the relevant area, whichever number is smaller. The changes apply to proposed districts, existing unified districts using modified at-large systems, and fully at-large representation models. The bill also specifies filing deadlines and requirements for candidate consent to appear on the ballot.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts Vermont employers from conducting criminal history checks, credit checks, and drug tests on job applicants and employees unless the information has a direct relationship to the specific job duties. It prohibits employers from asking about credit history on initial applications and requires criminal background checks to occur only after an applicant has been deemed qualified for a position, with narrow exceptions for roles involving financial responsibility, law enforcement, emergency medical services, or positions where federal or state law mandates disqualification based on certain convictions. Drug testing is allowed only after a conditional job offer is made, with written notice provided to the applicant, and for current employees only when there is probable cause of drug use on the job, provided the employer offers an assistance program and the employee is not terminated if they successfully complete rehabilitation. The legislation also protects applicants and employees from retaliation if they file complaints or cooperate with investigations regarding unlawful employment practices related to these screening procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires gas stations and convenience stores in Vermont to inform customers before placing a hold on their credit or debit card for an amount larger than the actual gasoline purchase. The law mandates that this notice must be clear and displayed near the payment area before the customer completes their transaction. It applies to both the store itself and any third parties who might place these holds on card accounts. The measure aims to improve transparency for consumers by ensuring they are aware of potential temporary holds on their funds before buying fuel.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont health care facilities to develop and maintain workplace violence prevention policies that protect employees delivering health services. It mandates facilities to conduct comprehensive security evaluations by July 2025, report findings to the Department of Health by January 2026, and establish written safety policies with specific requirements by January 2027. Key provisions include creating violence prevention committees with employee input, implementing incident reporting systems, providing employee training, and conducting annual policy reviews. The Department of Health will create a model policy based on stakeholder input and federal guidelines, which facilities must meet or exceed.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution extends the deadline for a temporary rule allowing electronic participation in Vermont Senate sessions from March 3, 2023, to January 5, 2024. The amendment directly affects senators who may need to vote or participate in proceedings remotely due to health or other circumstances. By updating the rule's expiration date, the Senate maintains flexibility for remote participation while keeping the provision in place for an additional period. The resolution is a procedural measure that modifies an existing rule without creating new substantive requirements for senators.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution temporarily extends the application of Senate Rule 32A, which governs committee meetings, through January 5, 2024. The measure allows Senate committees to conduct electronic meetings concurrently, meaning multiple committees can meet at the same time via video or other electronic means. This provision overrides a previous rule that restricted such electronic meetings to emergency situations only. The resolution directly affects Senate committees and their members by providing a specific timeframe for using these flexible meeting arrangements.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Vermont school districts fund teen parent education programs by increasing the payment amount from 83 percent to 100 percent of the previous year's statewide average net cost per pupil. It also removes the requirement for sending school districts to reimburse receiving schools for coordinating education plans for pregnant or parenting students. These changes directly affect school districts that host teen parent education programs and the families of students attending them. The funding adjustment takes effect on July 1, 2023, and aims to provide more consistent financial support for these specialized education services.