Bills also make it harder to fire workers, evict tenants

by Tim Page

A House bill introduced on February 14 makes law enforcement liable while policing rioters.

H.249 would “remove immunity and subject law enforcement officers and those acting at the request or direction of an officer to civil or criminal liability if they do not abide by the standards for law enforcement use of force in dispersing or apprehending rioters. This bill also defines ‘officer’ for clarity.”

The bill was sponsored by Representative Martin LaLonde (D-South Burlington) and referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

A Senate bill introduced on February 17 would grant direct cash transfers to youth exiting foster care.

S.92 would establish “a two-year pilot program within the Department for Children and Families for the purpose of providing monthly $1,000.00 direct cash transfers to youth over the course of a 24-month period upon the youth’s exit from the foster care system..”

The bill was sponsored by Senator Becca White (D-White River Junction) and referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare.

A House bill introduced on February 16 requires State-developed Holocaust education in public schools.

S.87 would “require Vermont public schools to include Holocaust education in supervisory union wide curricula for grades six through 12 each year, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. This bill also proposes to require the Agency of Education to provide assistance in the development and maintenance of Holocaust education. ”

The bill was sponsored by Senator Virginia Lyons (D-Williston) and referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

A House bill introduced on February 21 would strengthen employee protections, and abolish at-will termination.

H.298 would “provide two hours of paid leave so that employees may vote in primary and general elections and on Town Meeting Day. The bill also proposes to establish a good cause standard for termination of employment, to prohibit employers from taking adverse actions against an employee because of the employee’s exercise of free speech rights, and to prohibit employers from inquiring about employment status on a job application or interfering with an employee’s efforts to seek employment with another employer. This bill further proposes to make interference with an employee’s efforts to seek employment with another employer an unfair labor practice for public employers..”

The bill was sponsored by Representative Joseph “Chip” Troiano (D-Stannard) and referred to the House General and Housing Committee.

A House bill introduced on February 17 reduces the liability of the retailer for sale of alcohol to intoxicated persons.

H.288 would “amend the statutes governing liability for the sale of alcoholic beverages to reduce the scope of strict liability and limit the persons who may be subject to an action for damages resulting from an unlawful sale of alcoholic beverages.”

The bill was sponsored by Representative Logan Nicoll (D-Ludlow) and referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

A House bill introduced on February 21 provides protections for tenants against no-cause evictions.

H.301 would address the findings that ”Vermont renters are subject to eviction at approximately the same rate as prepandemic, but now nearly 50 percent of cases included a claim for no cause, leaving the tenant no defense to the eviction. In the past, only 18 percent of evictions were for no cause; 70 percent were for nonpayment of rent only.”

The bill was sponsored by Representative Joseph “Chip” Troiano (D-Stannard) and referred to the House General and Housing Committee.