Vermont H 480: An act relating to adopting COVID-19 test to stay guidance for child care facilities

Bill Text

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VT LEG #384391 v.1
No. 72. An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law.
(H.480)
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
* * * School Safety * * *
Sec. 1. 2023 Acts and Resolves No. 29, Secs. 5 and 6 are amended to read:
Sec. 5. BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAMS;
IMPLEMENTATION
* * *
(b) Establishment of behavioral threat assessment teams; training.
(1) School districts and independent schools not already using
behavioral threat assessment teams shall take all actions necessary to establish
a team establish a team and identify team members not later than July 1, 2025,
including:.
(2) School districts and independent schools shall take all actions
necessary to implement comprehensive behavioral threat assessment and
management programs not later than October 1, 2025, including:
(A) identifying and training team members, which shall include
group bias training and the training requirements contained in 16 V.S.A.
§ 1485(d);
(B) adopting a behavioral threat assessment team policy;
(C) establishing procedures for proper, fair, and effective use of
behavioral threat assessment teams;

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VT LEG #384391 v.1
(D) updating and exercising emergency operations plans; and
(E) providing education to the school community on the purpose and
use of behavioral threat assessment teams.
(2)(3) School districts and independent schools currently using
behavioral threat assessment teams shall certify compliance with the training
requirements contained in 16 V.S.A. § 1485(d) on or before the first day of the
2023–2024 school year.
(3)(4) The Agency of Education and Department of Public Safety shall
issue guidance and offer training necessary to assist school districts and
independent schools with implementation of this subsection.
(c) The Agency of Education shall establish guidelines necessary to collect
the data required pursuant to 16 V.S.A. § 1485(e). Each supervisory union,
supervisory district, and independent school using behavioral threat assessment
teams as of July 1, 2023 shall comply with the data collection requirements
under 16 V.S.A. § 1485(e) beginning in the 2023–2024 school year.
[Repealed.]
* * *
Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATES
* * *
(c) Sec. 2 (16 V.S.A. § 1480) shall take effect on July 1, 2024 2025.

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(d) Sec. 4 (16 V.S.A. § 1485) shall take effect on July 1, 2025, except that
subdivision (b)(3) shall take effect on October 1, 2025 and subsection (e) shall
take effect on July 1, 2027.
Sec. 2. 16 V.S.A. § 1485 is amended to read:
§ 1485. BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAMS
* * *
(b) Policy.
* * *
(3) Each school district and each approved or recognized independent
school shall develop, adopt, and ensure implementation of a policy and
procedures for use of behavioral threat assessment teams that is consistent with
and at least as comprehensive as the model policy and procedures developed
by the Secretary. Any school board or independent school that fails to adopt
such a policy or procedures shall be presumed to have adopted the most current
model policy and procedures published by the Secretary. Any superintendent
or independent school that fails to adopt such procedures shall be presumed to
have adopted the most current model procedures published by the Secretary.
* * *
* * * Postsecondary Schools Chartered in Vermont * * *
Sec. 3. 16 V.S.A. § 176(d) is amended to read:
(d) Exemptions. The following are exempt from the requirements of this
section except for the requirements of subdivision (c)(1)(C) of this section:

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* * *
(4) Postsecondary schools that are accredited. The following
postsecondary institutions are accredited, meet the criteria for exempt status,
and are authorized to operate educational programs beyond secondary
education, including programs leading to a degree or certificate: Bennington
College, Champlain College, College of St. Joseph, Goddard College, Green
Mountain College, Landmark College, Marlboro College, Middlebury College,
New England Culinary Institute, Norwich University, Saint Michael’s College,
SIT Graduate Institute, Southern Vermont College, Sterling College, Vermont
College of Fine Arts, and Vermont Law and Graduate School. This
authorization is provided solely to the extent necessary to ensure institutional
compliance with federal financial aid-related regulations, and it does not affect,
rescind, or supersede any preexisting authorizations, charters, or other forms of
recognition or authorization.
* * *
* * * Nutrition Contracts and Public Bids * * *
Sec. 4. 16 V.S.A. § 559 is amended to read:
§ 559. PUBLIC BIDS
* * *
(e) Application of this section. Any contract entered into or purchase made
in violation of the provisions of this section shall be void; provided, however,
that:

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(1) The provisions of this section shall not apply to contracts for the
purchase o