Vermont H 194: An act relating to establishing incentives for early learning professionals and improving access to child care

Bill Text

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VT LEG #379950 v.1
H.194 1
Introduced by Representatives Headrick of Burlington, Carris-Duncan of 2
Whitingham, Chapin of East Montpelier, Logan of Burlington, 3
McCann of Montpelier, and Minier of South Burlington 4
Referred to Committee on 5
Date: 6
Subject: Education; State aid for capital construction costs 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require that 8
any nonemergency school construction project receiving State aid include the 9
creation of a high-capacity, gender-neutral restroom. 10
An act relating to high-capacity, gender-neutral restrooms in schools 11
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 12
Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 3448 is amended to read: 13
§ 3448. APPROVAL AND FUNDING OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION 14
PROJECTS; RENEWABLE ENERGY 15
(a) Construction aid. 16
* * * 17
(2) Approval of preliminary application. 18
(A) When reviewing a preliminary application for approval, the 19
Secretary shall consider: 20

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(i) regional educational opportunities and needs, including school 1
building capacities across school district boundaries, and available 2
infrastructure in neighboring communities; 3
(ii) economic efficiencies; 4
(iii) the suitability of an existing school building to continue to 5
meet educational needs; and 6
(iv) statewide educational initiatives and the strategic plan of the 7
State Board of Education. 8
(B) The Secretary may approve a preliminary application if: 9
(i) the project or part of the project fulfills a need occasioned by: 10
(I) conditions that threaten the health or safety of students or 11
employees; 12
(II) facilities that are inadequate to provide programs required 13
by State or federal law or regulation; 14
(III) excessive energy use resulting from the design of a 15
building or reliance on fossil fuels or electric space heat; or 16
(IV) deterioration of an existing building; 17
(ii) the need addressed by the project cannot reasonably be met by 18
another means; and 19

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(iii) the proposed type, kind, quality, size, and estimated cost of 1
the project are suitable for the proposed curriculum and meet all legal 2
standards; and 3
(iv) the project includes the creation of a high-capacity, all-gender 4
restroom with fully enclosed stalls. 5
* * * 6
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 7
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 8