Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/journal/sj070504.htm
Timestamp: 2017-10-21 17:29:28
Document Index: 107427105

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2546', '§ 1011', '§ 1114', '§ 1114', '§ 1122', '§ 912', '§ 913']

Message from the House No. 77
I am directed to inform the Senate that the House has considered Senate proposal of amendment to House bill of the following title:
Pending on the Calendar for notice, on motion of Senator Shumlin, the rules were suspended and House bill entitled:
Senator Collins, for the Committee on Education, to which the bill was referred, reported recommending that the Senate propose to the House to amend the bill by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following
* * * Statewide School Year Calendar * * *
(5) A uniform calendar ensures better attendance at regional programs, such as technical centers.
(6) The dates on which a school year begins and ends have great impact on children, their families, and local businesses, as does the scheduling of in‑service days and vacation.
(a) Minimum number of days School calendar. Except as provided in this section, each public school shall be maintained and operated for The commissioner shall develop at least two proposals for school calendars for use by all public schools. To develop the calendars, which the commissioner shall use as the model for future calendars, the commissioner shall engage in a public process with students, parents, educators, the business community, and other interested parties. The purpose of the proposed calendars shall be to improve high quality learning opportunities for all Vermont students. The commissioner shall make the proposed calendars available by October 1, 2007. At least one of the proposed calendars shall require that each school district provide at least five and one‑half hours of classes daily to students in all grade levels on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the week preceding Labor Day. At least one of the proposed calendars shall provide for the first student day of the academic year to occur after Labor Day. The proposed calendars shall include:
(2) at least five common teacher in‑service education days, during which time activities shall be conducted without students present in order to increase the competency of the staff, improve the curriculum of the school, enable teachers to attend state educational meetings, or disseminate student progress information to parents or the community. At least one of the five days will be organized by the department and conducted at regional sites throughout the state;
(b) Hours of operation. Within the minimum set by the state board, the school board shall fix the number of hours that shall constitute a school day, subject to change upon the order of the state board. A majority of students in each grade must be in attendance or participating in a school‑sponsored academic activity for a minimum of five and one‑half hours, including time available for lunch, for a day to constitute one full student attendance day. If a majority of students in any grade is in attendance or participating for fewer than five and one‑half hours, the day shall be counted as one‑half of a student attendance day unless a waiver due to an emergency is requested of and granted by the commissioner.
(e) Regional calendar. Before April 1 of each year, the superintendents of schools and the headmasters of public schools not managed by school boards in an area shall meet, and by majority vote, establish a uniform calendar within that area for the following school year. The calendar shall include student attendance days, periods of vacation, holidays and teacher in‑service education days and shall comply with subsection (a) of this section. Unless permitted by the commissioner, no area served by a regional technical center shall be divided into two or more calendar regions. Regional calendar. Before February 1 of each year, the director of each regional technical center shall designate a time and location at which the school board members of each district eligible to send students to that regional technical center shall meet to establish a uniform calendar. In areas served by more than one technical center, the directors of both centers shall jointly designate the time and location of the meeting. A majority of those board members present and voting at the meeting shall approve one of the calendars proposed by the commissioner to be used by all districts in the region in the ensuing academic year.
Sec. 3. NONCOMPLIANCE
On or before January 15, 2008, the commissioner of education shall propose to the senate and house committees on education an appropriate financial penalty to be imposed upon any district that fails to provide at least five and one‑half hours of classes daily to students in all grade levels on each of the 175 common student attendance days adopted by the region in which the district is located.
This act shall take effect on passage. The calendar proposals developed under Sec. 2 of this act shall be in effect at all schools for the 2009–2010 school year and each year thereafter.
The Committee further recommends that upon passage the title of the bill shall be amended to read:
H. 547.
Senator Bartlett, for the Committee on Appropriations, to which the bill was referred, reported that the bill ought to pass in concurrence.
Senator Shumlin Assumes Chair
S.R. 19. Senate resolution designating May 6, 2007, as Vermont Vets for Victory Day.
Whereas, many of them are engaged in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and
Whereas, members of the United States military are making considerable personal sacrifices, including long separations from their families, and
Whereas, many troops have made the supreme sacrifice, now therefore be it
That the Senate of the State of Vermont declares full support for our troops, and be it further
Resolved: That the Senate of the State of Vermont is proud of the sacrifices and bravery of our servicemen and women and expresses its sincere gratitude for their heroic service to the United States of America, and be it further
Resolved: That this Senate of the State of Vermont recognizes May 6, 2007, as Vermont Vets for Victory Day, and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate send a copy of this resolution to Adjutant General Michael Dubie, Governor James Douglas, the President of the United States, and Veterans Services Director Clayton Clark at the Vermont Department of Veterans Affairs.
Thereupon, pending the question, Shall the Senate concur in the House proposal of amendment?, on motion of Senator Sears, the Senate refused to concur in the House proposal of amendment and requested a Committee of Conference.
Second: By adding a new section to be numbered Sec. 8a to read as follows:
Third: By adding a new section to be numbered Sec. 8b to read as follows:
§ 2546. DEPOSIT OF EARLY VOTER ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN BALLOT BOX
(a) No sooner than 30 days before the opening of polls on election day, the town clerk of a municipality with at least 5,000 registered voters on its checklist may direct two election officials working together to open the outside envelope in order to sort absentee ballots by ward and district, may data enter the return of the ballots by the voter, may determine that the certificate has been signed, and may place the inside envelopes in various secure containers to be transported to the polling places on election day. No sooner than 48 hours before the opening of polls on election day, a town clerk in all other municipalities may direct two election officials working together to open the outside envelope and remove the certificate envelope in order to determine that an absentee ballot certificate has been properly signed by the early voter, and that the name of the early voter appears on the checklist. The election officials shall check the name of the early voter off the entrance checklist and place the sealed envelope into a secure container marked “checked‑in early voter absentee ballots” to be transported to the polling place on election day. Upon opening of the polls on election day, ballots from this container may be opened by election officials, who are not members of the same political party, and deposited either into the ballot box or into the voting machine.
Fourth: By adding a new section to be numbered Sec. 8c to read as follows:
Fifth: By adding a new section to be numbered Sec. 9a to read as follows:
Sixth: By striking out Sec. 14 in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new Sec. 14 to read as follows:
Fourth: By striking out Sec. 14 in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new Sec. 14 to read as follows:
J.R.H. 21.
J.R.H. 28.
Joint resolution commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Vermont Vietnam veterans memorial and all Vietnam war veterans.
Thereupon, the resolutions were severally adopted in concurrence.
Rules Suspended; Third Readings Ordered
An act relating to approval of amendment of the charter of the city of Vergennes.
Senator Ayer, for the Committee on Government Operations, to which the bill was referred, reported that the bill ought to pass in concurrence.
Rules Suspended; Bill Passed in Concurrence with Proposal of Amendment
Pending entry on the Calendar for action tomorrow, on motion of Senator Shumlin, the rules were suspended and House bill entitled:
Was placed on all remaining stages of its passage in concurrence with proposal of amendment forthwith.
Rules Suspended; Bills Passed in Concurrence
An act relating to approval of amendment o the charter of the city of Vergennes.
Was placed on all remaining stages of its passage in concurrence forthwith.
S. 6; S. 116; H. 15; H. 542; H. 547.
On motion of Senator Shumlin the Senate recessed until 4:00 P.M.
At 4:15 P.M. the Senate was called to order by the President.
Message from the House No. 78
I am directed to inform the Senate the House has considered Senate proposals of amendment to House bills of the following titles and has refused to concur therein and asks for Committees of Conference upon the disagreeing votes of the two Houses and the Speaker has appointed as members of such Committees on the part of the House
Rep. Marcotte of Coventry
H. 531. An act relating to ensuring success in health care reform.
H. 546.
Senator White, for the Committee on Government Operations, to which the bill was referred, reported that the bill ought to pass in concurrence.
Senator Kitchel, for the Committee on Appropriations, to which the bill was referred, reported that the bill ought to pass in concurrence.
First: In Sec. 1, 33 V.S.A. § 1011(e), by inserting at the end of the sentence the following: provided that federal financial participation is available for such transitional medical assistance
Second: In Sec. 11(b), 33 V.S.A. § 1114, by striking out subdivision (b)(5) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision (b)(5) to read as follows:
Third: In Sec. 11, 33 V.S.A. § 1114, by striking out subsection (c) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new subsection (c) to read as follows:
Fourth: In Sec. 15, 33 V.S.A. § 1122(e), by striking out subdivision (6) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision (6) to read as follows:
(6) The participating parent agrees to limit employment to no more than 20 hours per week when school is in session. The department may establish exceptions by rule to allow the participating parent to work more than 20 hours per week.
Fifth: In Sec. 25, by striking out subsection (a) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new subsection (a) to read as follows:
Sixth: In Sec. 26, by striking out subsection (b) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new subsection (b) to read as follows:
Seventh: In Sec. 26, by striking out subsection (d) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new subsection (d) to read as follows:
Thereupon, the question, Shall the Senate concur in the House proposals of amendment to the Senate proposals of amendment?, was decided in the affirmative.
Report of Committee of Conference Accepted and Adopted on the Part of the Senate
Senator Giard, for the Committee of Conference, submitted the following report:
Respectfully reports that it has met and considered the same and recommends that the Senate accede to the House’s proposal of amendment and that the bill be further amended in Sec. 2a by striking out both instances of the phrase “and the department of health”
Further Proposal of Amendment; Bill Passed in Concurrence with Proposals of Amendment
An act relating to viability of Vermont agriculture.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senator Kittell, on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture, moved that the Senate further propose to the House to amend the bill as follows:
First: In Sec. 8, by striking out subsection (d) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) Any menu item that includes poultry that is exempt under this section shall clearly state the name of the farm from which the poultry was purchased and shall include the words “poultry processed on the farm and not inspected” on the menu in proximity to the menu item. Poultry sold to food restaurants under the exemption in this section shall include a label alerting the purchaser to these labeling requirements.
Fourth: In Sec. 23(a), by striking out the following: “consult with the secretary of the agency of natural resources in determining” and inserting in lieu thereof the following: determine
Thereupon, pending the question, Shall the Senate proposal of amendment be amended as recommended by Senator Kittell?, Senator Scott moved to amend the proposal of amendment of Senator Kittell, in the first proposal of amendment, in Sec. 8, subsection (d) in the first sentence, by striking out the word “include” and inserting in lieu thereof the words prominently display
Thereupon, the question, Shall the Senate proposal of amendment be amended as recommended by Senator Kittell, as amended?, was decided in the affirmative.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senators Campbell and Illuzzi moved to amend the Senate proposal of amendment by adding a new section to be numbered Sec. 23b to read as follows:
Sec. 23b. 16 V.S.A. §§ 912 and 913 are added to read:
(a) Any student in a public or independent elementary or secondary school may refuse to dissect, vivisect, incubate, capture, or otherwise harm or destroy an animal or any part of an animal, or to observe any of these activities, as part of a course of instruction.
(b) Any restaurant may offer frog legs that originated from a school dissection class on their menu if
(1) Any menu item that includes frog legs that is exempt under this section shall clearly state the name of the school from which the frog was dissected and shall include the words “frog legs dissected in the school and not inspected” on the menu in proximity to the menu item. Frog legs sold to food restaurants under the exemption in this section shall include a label alerting the purchaser to these labeling requirements.
(c) A student who chooses to refrain from participating in or observing a portion of a course pursuant to this section shall be assigned an alternative education project to learn the material required by the course. If course assessments require harmful or destructive use of animals, the student shall be offered an alternative assessment by which to demonstrate mastery of the material. A student may refuse to participate in any alternative education project or alternative assessment that involves or necessitates the harmful use of an animal or animal parts. A student shall not be discriminated against based upon his or her decision to exercise the right afforded by this section.
(c) As used in this section, the word “animal” means any living organism of the kingdom animalia and includes an animal’s cadaver or the severed parts of any animal’s cadaver.
§ 913. Animal use in science classes and science fairs
(a) In public and independent elementary and secondary schools, live vertebrate animals shall not:
(1) Be experimentally medicated in a manner causing painful reactions or inducing painful or lethal pathological conditions.
(2) Be injured in any other manner, including anesthetization and electric shock.
(b) Live animals on school premises shall be housed and cared for in a humane and safe manner.
Thereupon, pending the question, Shall Senate proposal of amendment be amended as recommended by Senator Campbell and Illuzzi?, Senator Campbell requested and was granted leave to withdraw the proposal of amendment.
Thereupon, the bill was read the third time and passed in concurrence with proposals of amendment, on a roll call, Yeas 25, Nays 1.
Those Senators who voted in the affirmative were: Ayer, Campbell, Carris, Collins, Condos, Coppenrath, Cummings, Doyle, Flanagan, Giard, Hartwell, Illuzzi, Kitchel, Kittell, Lyons, MacDonald, Maynard, McCormack, Miller, Nitka, Racine, Scott, Shumlin, Snelling, White.
The Senator who voted in the negative was: Mazza.
Those Senators absent and not voting were: Bartlett, Mullin, Sears, Starr.
H. 531.
H. 522; H. 523; H. 546.
On motion of Senator Shumlin, the action on the following bills was ordered messaged to the House forthwith:
H. 520; H. 531.
Message from the House No. 79
Rep. Mook of Bennington
Rep. McDonald of Berlin
S. 78. An act relating to having the cost of picking up and hauling milk paid by the purchaser.
And has concurred therein with proposals of amendment in the adoption of which the concurrence of the Senate is requested.
J.R.S. 36. Joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment.
H.C.R. 125. Concurrent resolution congratulating Liz Stephen on her accomplishments as a competitive Nordic skier.
H.C.R. 126. Concurrent resolution in memory of former Representative J. Russell Carpenter and of M. Ellen Carpenter.
H.C.R. 127. Concurrent resolution congratulating the nursing staff at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center on the center’s second designation as a Magnet® hospital.
H.C.R. 128. Concurrent resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Green Mountain National Forest.
H.C.R. 129. Concurrent resolution honoring state employees during Public Service Recognition Week.
H.C.R. 130. Concurrent resolution honoring Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports and the participating athletes on its Sugarbush ski team.
H.C.R. 131. Concurrent resolution congratulating the Vermont Business Roundtable on its 20th anniversary.
H.C.R. 132. Concurrent resolution honoring Dan Collins for over 40 years of superb service as a public educator.
H.C.R. 133. Concurrent resolution honoring Northfield fire chief William C. Lyon.
H.C.R. 134. Concurrent resolution honoring Sandra Demasi Kingsley for her outstanding 32‑year career on the administrative staff at Norwich University.
H.C.R. 135. Concurrent resolution congratulating the Community High School of Vermont on earning accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
H.C.R. 136. Concurrent resolution congratulating Collin Bigras on being named to the 2007 Sub-Junior All-American Trapshooting First Team.
H.C.R. 137. Concurrent resolution honoring the role of foster parents during foster parent month.
H.C.R. 138. Concurrent resolution congratulating Thomas Secoy on winning the 2007 Vermont Arbor Day poster contest.
H.C.R. 139. Concurrent resolution commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, “The Wall,” in Washington, D.C. and all Vietnam War Veterans.
H.C.R. 140. Concurrent resolution welcoming the FISA’s 2007 international rowing tour on the Connecticut River.
H.C.R. 141. Concurrent resolution congratulating the Route 100B Byway Committee on the designation of the Mad River Byway.
S.C.R. 22. Concurrent resolution commending the State House cafeteria management and staff for their outstanding work during the first year of the 2007-2008 biennium.
S.C.R. 22.
Senate concurrent resolution commending the State House cafeteria management and staff for their outstanding work during the first year of the 2007-2008 biennium.
[The full text of the Senate concurrent resolutions appeared in the Senate calendar addendum for Thursday, May 3, 2007, and, if adopted in concurrence by the House, will appear in the volume of the Public Acts and Resolves to be published for this session of the sixty-ninth biennial session of the Vermont General Assembly.]
H.C.R. 125
House concurrent resolution congratulating Liz Stephen on her accomplishments as a competitive Nordic skier
House concurrent resolution congratulating the nursing staff at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center on the center’s second designation as a Magnet® hospital
House concurrent resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Green Mountain National Forest
Offered by: House Committee on Government Operations
House concurrent resolution honoring Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports and the participating athletes on its Sugarbush ski team
House concurrent resolution congratulating the Vermont Business Roundtable on its 20th anniversary
House concurrent resolution honoring Dan Collins for over 40 years of superb service as a public educator
Offered by: Representative Donahue and others
House concurrent resolution honoring Sandra Demasi Kingsley for her outstanding 32‑year career on the administrative staff at Norwich Univ ersity
House concurrent resolution congratulating the Community High School of Vermont on earning accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Offered by: House Committee on Institutions
H.C.R. 136
House concurrent resolution congratulating Collin Bigras on being named to the 2007 Sub-Junior All-American Trapshooting First Team
House concurrent resolution honoring the role of foster parents during foster parent month
Offered by: Representative Andrews and others
H.C.R. 138
House concurrent resolution congratulating Thomas Secoy on winning the 2007 Vermont Arbor Day poster contest
Offered by: Representative Krawczyk and others
[The full text of the House concurrent resolutions appeared in the Senate calendar addendum for Thursday, May 3, 2007, and will appear in the volume of the Public Acts and Resolves to be published for this session of the sixty-ninth biennial session of the Vermont General Assembly.]
On motion of Senator Shumlin, the Senate adjourned, to reconvene on Monday, May 7, 2007, at eleven o’clock in the forenoon pursuant to J.R.S. 36.