Vermont H 638: An act relating to the education of children of parents who are homeless

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.638
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VT LEG #385254 v.1
H.638 1
Introduced by Representatives Maguire of Rutland City, Noyes of Wolcott, 2
Austin of Colchester, Bishop of Colchester, Black of Essex, 3
Bosch of Clarendon, Boutin of Barre City, Burrows of West 4
Windsor, Cole of Hartford, Dodge of Essex, Eastes of Guilford, 5
Garofano of Essex, Greer of Bennington, Gregoire of Fairfield, 6
Hango of Berkshire, Howard of Rutland City, Krasnow of 7
South Burlington, Lalley of Shelburne, Logan of Burlington, 8
Masland of Thetford, Morris of Springfield, Morrow of Weston, 9
North of Ferrisburgh, Nugent of South Burlington, Ode of 10
Burlington, Page of Newport City, Pinsonault of Dorset, 11
Pritchard of Pawlet, Quimby of Lyndon, Stevens of Waterbury, 12
Tagliavia of Corinth, and Wells of Brownington 13
Referred to Committee on 14
Date: 15
Subject: Health; substance use disorder; recovery residence; certification 16
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish a 17
voluntary recovery residence certification through the Department of Health. 18
An act relating to recovery residence certification 19

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VT LEG #385254 v.1
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 1
Sec. 1. 18 V.S.A. § 4813 is added to read: 2
§ 4813. RECOVERY RESIDENCE CERTIFICATION 3
(a) Definition. As used in this section, “recovery residence” means a 4
shared temporary living residence supporting persons recovering from a 5
substance use disorder that provides care through peer support and assistance 6
accessing support services and community resources available to persons 7
recovering from substance use disorders. 8
(b) Certification. Upon receipt of an application from a recovery residence 9
in the State seeking certification, the Department shall issue the requested 10
certification if it determines that the applicant meets the following minimum 11
standards: 12
(1) the applicant is certified by either a Vermont affiliate of the National 13
Alliance for Recovery Residences or another organization approved by the 14
Department; 15
(2) the applicant demonstrates the capacity to operate a recovery 16
residence in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of Health and in 17
a manner that ensures person-centered care and resident dignity; 18
(3) the applicant shall fully comply with standards for health, safety, and 19
sanitation as required by State law, including standards set forth by the State 20
Fire Marshal, the Department, and municipal ordinance; 21

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VT LEG #385254 v.1
(4) the applicant agrees that once certified, the recovery residence, 1
including the buildings and grounds, shall be subject to inspections by the 2
Department with a 10-day prior notice; 3
(5) the applicant shall have a clear process for responding to resident 4
complaints, including: 5
(A) a method by which each resident shall be made aware of the 6
complaint procedure; 7
(B) an appeals mechanism within a recovery residence; 8
(C) a published time frame for processing and resolving complaints 9
and appeals within a recovery residence; and 10
(D) periodic reporting to the Department of the nature of complaints 11
filed and action taken; and 12
(6) the applicant shall fully comply with 9 V.S.A. chapter 137. 13
(c) Transferability. A certification is not transferable or assignable and 14
shall be issued only for the premises named in the application. 15
(d) Certification renewal. Annually, a recovery residence seeking renewal 16
of its certification under this section shall submit an attestation to the 17
Department that the recovery residence continues to maintain its certification 18
through either a Vermont affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery 19
Residences or another organization approved by the Department. 20

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VT LEG #385254 v.1
(e) Rulemaking. The Department shall adopt rules pursuant to 3 V.S.A. 1
chapter 25 to carry out the purposes of this section. 2
(f) Reporting. 3
(1) On or before January 1 of each year, a recovery residence certified 4
pursuant to this section shall report to the Department the following data from 5
the previous calendar year in a manner approved by the Department, in 6
consultation with the Vermont affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery 7
Residences or another organization approved by the Department: 8
(A) the number of residents served; 9
(B) the average length of stay at the recovery residence; 10
(C) any exit or transfer of a resident by the recovery residence and 11
the asserted basis for exiting or transferring the resident; 12
(D) the number of residents who gained or lost meaningful 13
employment during their stay at the recovery residence; 14
(E) budgetary needs; and 15
(F) any other information the Department deems appropriate. 16
(2) On or before February 1 of each year, the Department shall submit 17
the data received und