Vermont H 575: An act relating to bears doing damage to agricultural crops

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.575
2026 Page 1 of 7

VT LEG #386028 v.1
H.575 1
Introduced by Representative Oliver of Sheldon 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Public safety; law enforcement officers; survivors’ benefits; disability 5
benefits 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to provide a 7
survivors’ benefit for law enforcement officers and to add a disability benefit 8
for emergency personnel and law enforcement officers totally and permanently 9
disabled in the line of duty. 10
An act relating to survivor and disability benefits for emergency personnel 11
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 12
Sec. 1. 20 V.S.A. chapter 181 is amended to read: 13
CHAPTER 181. SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR THE 14
SURVIVORS OF EMERGENCY PERSONNEL 15
§ 3171. DEFINITIONS 16
As used in this chapter: 17
(1) “Board” means the Emergency Personnel Survivors Benefit and 18
Disability Benefits Review Board. 19

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.575
2026 Page 2 of 7

VT LEG #386028 v.1
(2) “Child” means a natural or legally adopted child, regardless of age. 1
(3) “Emergency personnel” means: 2
(A) firefighters as defined in subdivision 3151(3) of this title; and 3
(B) emergency medical personnel and volunteer personnel as defined 4
in 24 V.S.A. § 2651; and 5
(C) law enforcement officers who have been certified by the Vermont 6
Criminal Justice Council pursuant to section 2358 of this title. 7
(4) “Line of duty” means: 8
(A) answering or returning from with respect to firefighters, 9
emergency personnel, and volunteer personnel: 10
(i) service in answer to a call of the department or service for a 11
fire or emergency, including going to and returning from a fire or emergency 12
or participating in a fire or emergency training drill; or 13
(B)(ii) similar service in another town or district to which the 14
department or service has been called for firefighting or emergency purposes.; 15
and 16
(B) with respect to law enforcement officers: 17
(i) service as a law enforcement officer in answer to a complaint 18
lodged with the department or in response to a disorder, including going to, 19
returning from, and investigating or responding to the complaint or disorder; or 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.575
2026 Page 3 of 7

VT LEG #386028 v.1
(ii) service under orders from the department or in any emergency 1
for which the law enforcement officer serves as a law enforcement officer. 2
(5) “Occupation-related illness” means a disease that directly arises out 3
of, and in the course of, service, including a heart injury or disease 4
symptomatic within 72 hours from the date of last service in the line of duty, 5
which shall be presumed to be incurred in the line of duty. 6
(6) “Parent” means a natural or adoptive parent. 7
(7) “Permanent total disability” means a disability as defined in 21 8
V.S.A. § 644. 9
(8) “Survivor” means a spouse, child, or parent of deceased emergency 10
personnel. 11
§ 3172. EMERGENCY PERSONNEL SURVIVORS BENEFIT AND 12
DISABILITY BENEFITS REVIEW BOARD 13
(a)(1) There is created the Emergency Personnel Survivors Benefit and 14
Disability Benefits Review Board, which shall consist of the State Treasurer or 15
designee, the Attorney General or designee, the Chief Fire Service Training 16
Officer of the Vermont Fire Service Training Council or designee, the 17
Executive Director of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council or designee, and 18
one member of the public to represent the interests of emergency personnel 19
appointed by the Governor for a term of two years. 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.575
2026 Page 4 of 7

VT LEG #386028 v.1
(2) Survivors of emergency personnel, employed by or who volunteer 1
for the State of Vermont, a county or municipality of the State, or a nonprofit 2
entity that provides services in the State, who die in the line of duty or of an 3
occupation-related illness may request the Board award a monetary benefit 4
under section 3173 of this title. 5
(3) Emergency personnel, employed by or who volunteer for the State of 6
Vermont, a county or municipality of the State, or a nonprofit entity that 7
provides services in the State, who suffer a permanent total disability in the 8
line of duty may request the Board award a monetary benefit under section 9
3173 of this title. An award of a monetary benefit under section 3173 of this 10
title shall not diminish or otherwise impair any other benefit that the disabled 11
emergency personnel is entitled to receive under any other State or federal law. 12
(4) The Board shall be responsible for determining whether to award 13
monetary benefits under section 3173 of this title. A decision to award 14
monetary benefits shall be made by unanimous vote of the Board and shall be 15
made within 60 days after the receipt of all information necessary to enable the 16
Board to determine eligibility. 17
(5) The Board may request any information necessary for the exercise of 18
its duties under this section. Nothing