Vermont H. 747: An act relating to providing for cash penalties against landlords who fail to provide adequate heat

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.747
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VT LEG #385975 v.2
H.747 1
Introduced by Representatives Dodge of Essex, Kleppner of Burlington, 2
Arsenault of Williston, Austin of Colchester, Bartholomew of 3
Hartland, Berbeco of Winooski, Bluemle of Burlington, Bos-4
Lun of Westminster, Brown of Richmond, Burkhardt of South 5
Burlington, Burrows of West Windsor, Carris Duncan of 6
Whitingham, Casey of Montpelier, Chapin of East Montpelier, 7
Cina of Burlington, Cole of Hartford, Duke of Burlington, 8
Durfee of Shaftsbury, Eastes of Guilford, Greer of Bennington, 9
Harple of Glover, Headrick of Burlington, Holcombe of 10
Norwich, Hooper of Burlington, James of Manchester, Krasnow 11
of South Burlington, Lalley of Shelburne, McCann of 12
Montpelier, McGill of Bridport, Minier of South Burlington, 13
Morrow of Weston, Mrowicki of Putney, Olson of Starksboro, 14
Pezzo of Colchester, Pouech of Hinesburg, Priestley of 15
Bradford, Rachelson of Burlington, Satcowitz of Randolph, 16
Sibilia of Dover, Tomlinson of Winooski, Torre of Moretown, 17
Waszazak of Barre City, and White of Bethel 18
Referred to Committee on 19
Date: 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.747
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VT LEG #385975 v.2
Subject: Internal security and public safety; Vermont Criminal Justice Council; 1
general provisions; standards for law enforcement identification 2
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require 3
standards for the identification of law enforcement. Specifically, this bill 4
proposes to require that all local, state, and federal law enforcement officers 5
clearly identify themselves by their agency and their name or badge number 6
while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties. 7
Additionally, this bill proposes to prohibit masks or personal disguises with 8
certain exceptions for potentially hazardous situations and deployments. 9
An act relating to standards for law enforcement identification 10
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 11
Sec. 1. SHORT TITLE 12
This act may be cited as the “No Secret Police Act.” 13
Sec. 2. 20 V.S.A. § 2373 is added to read: 14
§ 2373. STANDARDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IDENTIFICATION 15
(a) Legislative intent. 16
(1) It is the intent of the General Assembly to exercise the power 17
granted to Vermont by the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to protect 18
the health, safety, and welfare of its residents and law enforcement officers 19
present in the State by codifying standards for law enforcement identification. 20

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VT LEG #385975 v.2
(2) Community safety requires trust in law enforcement, which is 1
undermined when armed masked agents disrupt and kidnap members of the 2
community without warning, warrant, or identification. By codifying 3
standards for law enforcement identification, it is the intent of the General 4
Assembly to promote transparency and accountability and to reduce the risk of 5
conflict escalation, thereby enhancing the safety of both officers and members 6
of the public. 7
(b) Definitions. As used in this section: 8
(1) “Law enforcement agency” has the same meaning as in section 9
2351a of this title. 10
(2) “Law enforcement officer” has the same meaning as in section 11
2351a of this title and includes any officer of a federal law enforcement agency 12
or any person acting on behalf of a local, state, or federal law enforcement 13
agency. 14
(3) “Mask” means a facial covering that conceals or obscures the facial 15
identity of an individual, including garments, helmets, and headgear, such as 16
balaclavas, tactical masks, gators, and ski masks. 17
(c) Identification requirements. 18
(1) A law enforcement officer shall be clearly identified by the officer’s 19
agency and by the officer’s name or badge number, or both, on the officer’s 20
uniform. 21

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VT LEG #385975 v.2
(2) A law enforcement officer shall not wear any mask or personal 1
disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of the officer’s 2
duties. 3
(3) Notwithstanding subdivision (2) of this subsection, a law 4
enforcement officer in the performance of the officer’s duties may wear the 5
following: 6
(A) a medical-grade mask that is surgical; 7
(B) an N95 respirator designed to prevent the transmission of 8
airborne diseases; 9
(C) a mask designed to protect against exposure to smoke during a 10
fire-involved situation; 11
(D) a mask, helmet, or device, such as a self-contained breathing 12
apparatus, necessary to perform duties during a water rescue operation; 13
(E) a mask related to protection against exposure to biological or 14
chemical agents during an incident where these agents may be present; 15
(F) a mask designed to protect against exposure to cold during a 16
declared weather emergency; 17
(G) a motorcycle helmet when utilizing a motorcycle or other vehicle 18
that requires a helmet for safe operation; or 19
(H) eyewear necess