Vermont H. 170: An act relating to possession and cultivation of marijuana by a person 21 years of age or older

Bill Text

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VT LEG #379962 v.1
H.170 1
Introduced by Representatives Headrick of Burlington, Arsenault of Williston, 2
Bluemle of Burlington, Cina of Burlington, Logan of 3
Burlington, Minier of South Burlington, Rachelson of 4
Burlington, and Tomlinson of Winooski 5
Referred to Committee on 6
Date: 7
Subject: Education; University of Vermont; enrollment cap; housing 8
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to (1) limit the 9
enrollment of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College when 10
the vacancy rate of the City of Burlington is below five percent; (2) require 11
University housing to meet municipal housing codes and rental housing health 12
and safety standards; and (3) establish the UVM Housing Task Force to 13
monitor compliance. 14
An act relating to University of Vermont and State Agricultural College 15
residential living space 16

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VT LEG #379962 v.1
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 1
Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 2286 is added to read: 2
§ 2286. ENROLLMENT CAP 3
(a) The City of Burlington, in collaboration with the University of Vermont 4
and State Agricultural College, shall contract for the publication of an annual 5
citywide housing vacancy rate in accordance with U.S. generally accepted 6
auditing standards. The rate shall be published annually on or before July 31. 7
(b) Whenever the housing vacancy rate for the City of Burlington is less 8
than five percent as published by subsection (a) of this section, the University 9
of Vermont and State Agricultural College shall limit the number of students 10
enrolled in the school to its enrollment number as of the end of the fall 11
semester concluding immediately after the publication of the housing vacancy 12
rate. 13
Sec. 2. 16 V.S.A. § 2287 is added to read: 14
§ 2287. RESIDENTIAL HOUSING REQUIREMENTS; ANNUAL 15
REPORT; UVM HOUSING TASK FORCE 16
(a) The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College shall ensure 17
that all university-owned or affiliated housing complies with: 18
(1) minimal standards for dwellings adopted by ordinance under 24 19
V.S.A. chapter 123 (municipal housing codes) by the municipality where the 20
housing is located; and 21

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(2) 20 V.S.A. chapter 172 (rental housing health and safety). 1
(b)(1) The standards identified in subsection (a) of this section shall apply 2
to all residential buildings in use on July 1, 2025 as well as all new 3
construction and existing buildings repurposed for housing on or after July 1, 4
2025. 5
(2) The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College shall 6
make reasonable efforts to ensure all housing complies with this section as 7
soon as practicable. 8
(3) Current students living in on-campus housing not meeting the 9
requirements of subsection (a) of this section shall be offered housing that 10
meets the requirements of this section prior to the same housing being offered 11
to new students. 12
(4) Space designed to house two students that does not meet the 13
requirements of this section shall be offered to students with documented 14
medical accommodation needs for a single room. 15
(c)(1) On or before January 15 of each year, the University of Vermont and 16
State Agricultural College shall submit to the General Assembly an annual 17
housing impact report. 18
(2) The report shall include: 19
(A) a summary of compliance with the requirements of subsections 20
(a) and (b) of this section, including: 21

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(i) a detailed listing of housing not in compliance with this section 1
with the number and types of compliance violations; and 2
(ii) the number of housing units and the number of students 3
affected; 4
(B) an analysis of the on-campus and affiliated housing capacity of 5
the University; 6
(C) student enrollment numbers, including the number of students 7
residing in off-campus housing by municipality; 8
(D) any current plans for future housing developments; and 9
(E) steps taken to bring housing into compliance with the 10
requirements of this section. 11
(3) The provisions of 2 V.S.A. § 20(d) (expiration of required reports) 12
shall not apply to the report required under this subsection. 13
(d)(1) There is established the UVM Housing Task Force to monitor 14
compliance with this section. The Task Force shall be overseen by the State 15
Auditor and shall be composed of the following members: 16
(A) the State Auditor or designee; 17
(B) a current member of the House of Representatives, who shall be 18
appointed by the Speaker of the House; 19
(C) a current member of the Senate, who shall be appointed by the 20
Committee on Committees; 21

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(D) the Mayor of Burlington or designee; 1
(E) two members of the Board of Trustees of the University of 2
Verm