Vermont H. 182: An act relating to certain businesses regulated by the Department of Financial Regulation

Bill Text

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VT LEG #379294 v.3
H.182 1
Introduced by Representatives Birong of Vergennes, Boyden of Cambridge, 2
Noyes of Wolcott, and Nugent of South Burlington 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Human services; professional regulation; early childhood education; 6
early childhood educators; licensure 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the 8
licensure of early childhood educators. 9
An act relating to the licensure of early childhood educators 10
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 11
Sec. 1. 3 V.S.A. § 122 is amended to read: 12
§ 122. OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATION 13
The Office of Professional Regulation is created within the Office of the 14
Secretary of State. The Office shall have a director who shall be qualified by 15
education and professional experience to perform the duties of the position. 16
The Director of the Office of Professional Regulation shall be a classified 17
position with the Office of the Secretary of State. The following boards or 18
professions are attached to the Office of Professional Regulation: 19
(1) Board of Architects 20

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VT LEG #379294 v.3
* * * 1
(53) Peer Recovery Support Specialists 2
(54) Early Childhood Educators 3
Sec. 2. 26 V.S.A. chapter 111 is added to read: 4
CHAPTER 111. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS 5
§ 6211. CREATION OF BOARD 6
(a) The Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators is created. 7
(b) The Board shall consist of nine members appointed for five-year terms 8
by the Governor pursuant to 3 V.S.A. §§ 129b and 2004 as follows: three 9
public members and two each of individuals licensed as an Early Childhood 10
Educator I, Early Childhood Educator II, and Early Childhood Educator III 11
pursuant to this chapter. All members shall be Vermont residents. The 12
members who are early childhood educators shall have been in active practice 13
in Vermont for not less than the preceding three years and shall be in active 14
practice during their incumbency. The public members shall be persons who 15
have no financial interest personally or through a spouse, parent, child, or 16
sibling in the activities regulated under this chapter, other than as consumers or 17
possible consumers of its services. Appointments shall be made without 18
regard to political affiliation and on the basis of integrity and demonstrated 19
ability. 20
(c) Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as initial appointments. 21

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VT LEG #379294 v.3
(d) Board members shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. 1
§ 6212. BOARD PROCEDURES 2
(a) Annually, the Board shall meet to elect a chair, vice chair, and a 3
secretary. 4
(b) Meetings shall be warned and conducted in accordance with 1 V.S.A. 5
chapter 5. 6
(d) A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. 7
(e) All business may be transacted by a majority vote of the members 8
present and voting, unless otherwise provided by statute. 9
§ 6213. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD 10
(a) The Board shall: 11
(1) adopt rules, pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, that are necessary for 12
the performance of its duties in accordance with this chapter, including 13
activities that must be completed by an applicant in order to fulfill the 14
educational and experiential requirements established by this chapter; 15
(2) provide general information to applicants for licensure as early 16
childhood educators; 17
(3) explain appeal procedures to licensees and applicants and complaint 18
procedures to the public; and 19
(4) use the administrative and legal services provided by the Office of 20
Professional Regulation under 3 V.S.A. chapter 5. 21

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VT LEG #379294 v.3
(b) The Board may conduct hearings as provided in 3 V.S.A. chapter 5. 1
Sec. 3. 26 V.S.A. chapter 111 is amended to read: 2
CHAPTER 111. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS 3
Subchapter 1. General Provisions 4
§ 6201. DEFINITIONS 5
As used in this chapter: 6
(1) “Board” means the Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators. 7
(2) “Early childhood educator” means an individual licensed to provide 8
early childhood education pursuant to section 6202 of this section. 9
(3) “Guidance” means direct or indirect consultative support in which an 10
Early Childhood Educator III provides feedback to an Early Childhood 11
Educator II. 12
(4) “Supervision” means on-site, direct oversight in which an Early 13
Childhood Educator II or III observes the practice of an Early Childhood 14
Educator I and provides feedback, support, and direction to an Early Childhood 15
Educator I. 16
§ 6202. SCOPE OF PRACTICE 17
(a)(1) An early childhood educator licensed pursuant to this chapter shall 18
provide care and educational instruction to children from birth through eight 19
years of age in a variety of settings, including: 20

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