Vermont H 777: An act relating to the Vermont Skier Development Scholarship Fund and Scholarship Program

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.777
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VT LEG #385971 v.3
H.777 1
Introduced by Representatives Brady of Williston, Carris Duncan of 2
Whitingham, Graning of Jericho, Harple of Glover, Holcombe 3
of Norwich, and Priestley of Bradford 4
Referred to Committee on 5
Date: 6
Subject: Economic development; ski academies; special fund; education 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create the 8
Vermont Skier Development Scholarship Fund, to be administered by the 9
Agency of Commerce and Community Development, to fund up to 20 10
scholarships for selected Vermont skiers and snowboarders to attend eligible 11
Vermont ski academies. The bill also proposes to prohibit school districts 12
from paying tuition under 16 V.S.A. chapter 21 for students to attend Vermont 13
ski academies. The Special Fund would be funded by the amount of sales and 14
use tax necessary to fund 20 scholarships at a rate of $25,000.00 per 15
scholarship, increased annually by an inflator. 16
An act relating to the Vermont Skier Development Scholarship Fund and 17
Scholarship Program 18

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.777
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VT LEG #385971 v.3
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 1
Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. chapter 87, subchapter 6 is added to read: 2
Subchapter 6. Vermont Skier Development Fund 3
§ 2871. VERMONT SKIER DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND 4
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 5
(a) Special fund. 6
(1) Pursuant to 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5, there is established a 7
special fund to be known as the Vermont Skier Development Scholarship 8
Fund, which shall be used for the purpose of funding scholarships for up to 20 9
sponsored Vermont skiers and snowboarders to attend eligible Vermont ski 10
academies. 11
(2) The Fund shall be established and held separate and apart from any 12
other funds or monies of the State and shall be used and administered 13
exclusively for the purpose of this section and for necessary costs incurred in 14
administering the Fund. The money in the Fund shall be invested in the same 15
manner as permitted for the investment of funds belonging to the State or held 16
in the Treasury. The Fund shall consist of any combination of the following: 17
(A) sales and use tax in the amount specified in 32 V.S.A. § 9714; 18
(B) such sums as may be appropriated or transferred thereto from 19
time to time by the General Assembly, the State Emergency Board, or the Joint 20
Fiscal Committee during such times as the General Assembly is not in session; 21

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VT LEG #385971 v.3
(C) all interest earned from the investment of Fund balances; and 1
(D) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit 2
of the Fund. 3
(3) The Fund shall be administered by the Agency of Commerce and 4
Community Development pursuant to subdivision (b)(5) of this section. 5
(4) The Agency of Commerce and Community Development shall 6
administer awards in such a way as to comply with the requirements of the 7
Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 108(f). 8
(b) Vermont Skier Development Scholarship Program. 9
(1) The Agency of Commerce and Community Development shall 10
establish a scholarship program to facilitate the payment of scholarships from 11
the Vermont Skier Development Scholarship Fund to eligible Vermont ski 12
academies on behalf of up to 20 sponsored Vermont skiers and snowboarders 13
accepted for enrollment in the eligible ski academy of their choice. 14
(2)(A) Eligible scholarship recipients shall: 15
(i) have completed eighth grade in either a Vermont public school 16
or in an approved independent school to which the student’s district of 17
residence paid publicly funded tuition on behalf of the student pursuant to 16 18
V.S.A. chapter 21; and 19
(ii) be enrolled in grades nine, 10, 11, or 12. 20

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VT LEG #385971 v.3
(B) In order to retain a scholarship in subsequent academic years, a 1
scholarship recipient shall meet the following criteria: 2
(i) evidence of athletic progress, which shall be demonstrated by: 3
(I) improved or sustained competitive standing; 4
(II) minimum training and competition participation thresholds; 5
and 6
(III) an independent annual performance review panel 7
comprised of nonacademy reviewers; 8
(ii) satisfactory academic progress, attendance compliance, and 9
code of conduct adherence; 10
(iii) compliance with injury reporting and return-to-sport 11
protocols, as well as conditioning and safety training participation; and 12
(iv) Vermont engagement, which shall be demonstrated by: 13
(I) annual service contributions; and 14
(II) maintenance of Vermont affiliation unless such affiliation 15
is waived for national team placement. 16
(3) Eligible ski academies shall meet the following criteria: 17
(A) student support and equity, which shall include: 18
(i) a demonstrated capacity to serve students with disabilities and 19
students with mental health and injury r