Vermont H 246: An act relating to supports to help students experiencing homelessness and students exiting the foster care system succeed in postsecondary educational institutions

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.246
2025 Page 1 of 3

VT LEG #380545 v.1
H.246 1
Introduced by Representatives McGill of Bridport, Bos-Lun of Westminster, 2
Burrows of West Windsor, Chapin of East Montpelier, Cole of 3
Hartford, Cordes of Bristol, Eastes of Guilford, Logan of 4
Burlington, Olson of Starksboro, and Tomlinson of Winooski 5
Referred to Committee on 6
Date: 7
Subject: Education; postsecondary education; homeless youth; youth exiting 8
foster care; liaison 9
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require 10
postsecondary schools in Vermont to designate an official liaison to students 11
experiencing homelessness and students exiting the foster care system, as well 12
as develop policies requiring priority housing and class enrollment options and 13
fee waivers for such students. 14
An act relating to supports to help students experiencing homelessness and 15
students exiting the foster care system succeed in postsecondary educational 16
institutions 17
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 18
Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 181 is added to read: 19
§ 181. STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND STUDENTS 20
EXITING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM 21

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.246
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VT LEG #380545 v.1
(a) Student Liaison Officer. Each postsecondary school operating in 1
Vermont shall designate an official liaison for students experiencing 2
homelessness and students exiting the foster care system, to be called the 3
Student Liaison Officer. The Liaison shall be responsible for understanding 4
the provisions of the federal and State law pertaining to financial aid eligibility 5
of current and former foster youth and students experiencing homelessness, 6
including unaccompanied homeless youth, and for identifying services 7
available and appropriate for enrolled students who fall under one or more of 8
these categories. The Liaison shall inform current and prospective students 9
about student financial aid and other assistance available to youth experiencing 10
homelessness and current and former foster youth and assist such students in 11
applying for and receiving federal and State financial aid, including the 12
eligibility of such students as independent students under the Higher Education 13
Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1087vv (definition of independent student). 14
(b) Class enrollment. The board of trustees or other governing body of 15
each postsecondary school operating in Vermont shall adopt and ensure 16
enforcement of a policy that gives students experiencing homelessness or 17
exiting the foster care system priority in class enrollment. The policy shall 18
ensure such students have access to classes despite work obligations, 19
transportation issues, or other barriers they may experience at a higher rate 20
than other students. 21

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.246
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VT LEG #380545 v.1
(c) Housing. The board of trustees or other governing body of each 1
postsecondary school operating in Vermont shall adopt and ensure 2
enforcement of a policy that gives students experiencing homelessness or 3
exiting the foster care system priority in accessing existing on-campus housing. 4
The policy shall require students experiencing homelessness to be enrolled at 5
least half-time in order to access on-campus housing. The policy shall also 6
include a plan to provide students experiencing homelessness with housing 7
during school breaks. 8
(d) Fees. The board of trustees or other governing body of each 9
postsecondary school operating in Vermont shall adopt and ensure 10
enforcement of a policy that allows for waivers of registration fees and 11
laboratory fees for students experiencing homelessness or exiting the foster 12
care system. 13
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 14
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 15