reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
33 V.S.A. § 3511
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 35 - Child Care|§ 3511. Definitions

§ 3511. Definitions|As used in this chapter:  (1) "Child" means an individual under 13 years of age. (2) "Child care facility" means any place or program operated as a business or service on a regular or continuous basis, whether for compensation or not, whose primary function is protection, care, and supervision of children under 16 years of age outside their homes for periods of fewer than 24 hours a day by a person other than a child's own parent, guardian, or relative, as defined by rules adopted by the Department for Children and Families, but not including a kindergarten approved by the State Board of Education. (3) "Child care provider" means a person licensed or registered by the Department for Children and Families, or authorized by the Department, to provide child care. (4) "Child care services" include developmentally appropriate care and supervision for children under 13 years of age for fewer than 24 hours a day by a child care provider. (5) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner for Children and Families. (6) "Division" means the Child Development Division. (7) "Family child care home" means a child care facility that provides care on a regular basis in the caregiver's own residence for not more than 10 children at any one time. Of this number, up to six children may be provided care on a full-time basis and the remainder on a part-time basis. As used in this subdivision, care of a child on a part-time basis shall mean care of a school-age child for not more than four hours a day. These limits shall not include children who reside in the residence of the caregiver, except:  (A) These part-time school-age children may be cared for on a full-day basis during school closing days, snow days, and vacation days that occur during the school year. (B) During the school summer vacation, up to 12 children may be cared for, provided that at least six of these children are of school age and a second staff person is present and on duty when the number of children in attendance exceeds six. These limits shall not include children who are required by law to attend school (seven years of age and older) and who reside in the residence of the caregiver.  (8) "Training" means an activity, approved by the Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee, that is likely to lead to employment or required to maintain employment. (Added 1987, No. 205 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 1997, No. 31, § 1; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 110; 2007, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 63, eff. May 20, 2014; 2019, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Oct. 5, 2020; 2019, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2021.)
33 V.S.A. § 3513
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 35 - Child Care|§ 3513. Protective and family support child care services

§ 3513. Protective and family support child care services|The Division shall establish a program which subsidizes, in whole or in part, the cost of child care services provided to protective services children or to families for the purpose of preserving, rehabilitating, or reunifying such families. (Added 1987, No. 205, (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 64, eff. May 20, 2014.)
33 V.S.A. § 3514
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 35 - Child Care|§ 3514. Payment to providers

§ 3514. Payment to providers|(a) The Commissioner shall establish a payment schedule for purposes of reimbursing providers for full or part-time child care services rendered to families who participate in the programs established under section 3512 or 3513 of this title. Payments established under this section shall reflect the following considerations: whether the provider operates a licensed child care facility or a registered family child care home, type of service provided, cost of providing the service and the prevailing market rate for comparable service. Payments shall be based on enrollment status or any other basis agreed to by the provider and the Division.(b) The Commissioner may establish a separate payment schedule for child care providers who have received specialized training, approved by the Commissioner, relating to protective or family support services.(c)(1) The payment schedule established by the Commissioner may reimburse providers in accordance with the results of the most recent Vermont Child Care Market Rate Survey.  (2) The payment schedule shall include reimbursement rate caps tiered in relation to provider ratings in the Vermont STARS program. The lower limit of the reimbursement rate caps shall be not less than the 50th percentile of all reported rates for the same provider setting in each rate category. (Added 1987, No. 205 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 111; 2021, No. 45, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 2021.)
33 V.S.A. § 3521
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 35 - Child Care|§ 3521. Child Care Facilities Financing Program established

§ 3521. Child Care Facilities Financing Program established|(a) A Child Care Facilities Loan Financing Program is established to facilitate the development or expansion of child care facilities in this State.(b) The Program shall be administered by the Office of Economic Opportunity within the Agency of Human Services.(c) [Repealed.]  (Added 1987, No. 206 (Adj. Sess.); amended 1989, No. 225 (Adj. Sess.), § 25(b); 1995, No. 180 (Adj. Sess.), § 38(a); 1995, No. 188 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 112; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 65, eff. May 20, 2014.)
33 V.S.A. § 3522
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 35 - Child Care|§ 3522. Loan program

§ 3522. Loan program|(a) The State Economic Opportunity Office shall administer a low-interest loan program.(b) Loans may be made to persons unable to obtain conventional financing for the purpose of establishing or expanding or renovating a child care facility in this State. The terms of the loans shall be determined by the State Economic Opportunity Office, but shall not be made in an amount in excess of $10,000.00 to any single applicant, nor at a rate to exceed eight and one-half percent, simple interest per annum.(c) A Child Care Facilities Financing Revolving Loan Fund shall be established for the Child Care Facilities Financing Program within the State Economic Opportunity Office of the Agency of Human Services. The Fund shall contain appropriations provided for that purpose and all repayments of principal and interest of loans under this section. Interest earnings may be used for administration of this Program.(d) The Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity shall establish by rule, the criteria, conditions, and procedures that will be used in administering the provisions of this subchapter. (Added 1987, No. 206 (Adj. Sess.); amended 1995, No. 188 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 113.)
33 V.S.A. § 3531
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 35 - Child Care|§ 3531. Child care- Building Bright Spaces for Bright Futures Funds

§ 3531. Child care- Building Bright Spaces for Bright Futures Funds|(a) A child care facilities financing program is established to facilitate the development and expansion of child care facilities in the State. The Program shall be administered by the Department for Children and Families.(b) The Program shall be supported from a special fund, to be known as the "Building Bright Spaces for Bright Futures Fund," referred to in this section as "the Bright Futures Fund," hereby created for this purpose to be administered by the Commissioner for Children and Families. Subject to approvals required by 32 V.S.A § 5, the Fund may accept gifts and donations from any source, and the Commissioner may take appropriate actions to encourage contributions and designations to the account, including publicizing explanations of the purposes of the Fund and the uses to which the Bright Futures Fund has been or will be applied.(c) Funds appropriated for this Program shall be used by the Commissioner to award grants to eligible applicants for the development and expansion of child care options and community programs targeted for youths 14 through 18 years of age. These options may include recreational programs and related equipment or facilities, development or expansion of child care facilities, and community-based programs that address specific child care and youth program needs of the applicant region. The Commissioner shall establish, by rule, criteria, conditions, and procedures for awarding such grants and administering this Program. (Added 2001, No. 142 (Adj. Sess.), § 139; amended 2003, No. 66, § 138; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 66, eff. May 20, 2014; 2021, No. 20, § 321.)
33 V.S.A. § 3541
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 35 - Child Care|§ 3541. Scholarships for current early childhood providers

§ 3541. Scholarships for current early childhood providers|(a) There is established a need-based scholarship program for individuals employed by a regulated, privately operated center-based child care program or family child care home while acquiring credits in early childhood development or that are related directly to working with children from birth through eight years of age.(b) The Department for Children and Families may contract for the administration of the program set forth in subsection (a) of this section and adopt policies, procedures, and guidelines necessary for its implementation.(c) Scholarships distributed pursuant to this section shall be available on a first-come, first-served basis until any appropriated funds are depleted.[ Subsection (d) repealed effective July 1, 2026.](d) An individual shall not simultaneously participate in the scholarship program set forth in this section and the student loan repayment assistance program set forth in section 3543 of this title. (Added 2021, No. 45, § 6.)
33 V.S.A. § 3542
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 35 - Child Care|§ 3542. Scholarships for prospective early childhood providers

§ 3542. Scholarships for prospective early childhood providers|(a)(1) There is established a need-based scholarship program for individuals pursuing a college degree in early childhood education or early childhood special education. The scholarship program shall provide financial assistance up to the full cost of tuition for an eligible individual.  (2) An eligible individual shall:  (A) attend a Vermont college or university at least part-time; (B) be pursuing an associates or bachelor's degree in early childhood education or early childhood special education; and (C) commit to working in a regulated, privately operated center-based child care program or family child care home in Vermont for years equal to those in which scholarship monies are sought under this section.    (b)(1) The Department for Children and Families shall adopt policies, procedures, and guidelines necessary for implementation of the program described in subsection (a) of this section.  (2) The Department may contract for the administration of the program. Administration costs shall not be more than 10 percent of the total appropriation received to implement this section.   (c)(1) Scholarships distributed pursuant to this section shall be available on a first-come, first-served basis until any appropriated funds are depleted.  (2) An eligible individual who does not work the required number of years in a regulated, privately operated center-based child care program or family child care home in Vermont after completion of the individual's degree program shall repay scholarship monies received under this section commensurate with the balance of the eligible individual's time commitment.   (d) An individual shall not simultaneously participate in the scholarship program set forth in this section and the student loan repayment assistance program set forth in section 3543 of this title. (Added 2021, No. 45, § 6.)
33 V.S.A. § 3543
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 35 - Child Care|§ 3543. Student loan repayment assistance

§ 3543. Student loan repayment assistance|(a)(1) There is established a need-based student loan repayment assistance program for the purpose of providing student loan repayment assistance to any individual employed by a regulated, privately operated center-based child care program or family child care home.  (2) An eligible individual shall:  (A) work in a privately operated center-based child care program or in a family child care home that is regulated by the Division for at least an average of 30 hours per week for 48 weeks of the year; (B) receive an annual salary of not more than $50,000.00; and (C) have earned an associates or bachelor's degree with a major concentration in early childhood, child and human development, elementary education, special education with a birth to age eight focus, or child and family services within the preceding five years.  (3) To participate in the program set forth in this section, an eligible individual shall submit to the Department for Children and Families documentation expressing the individual's intent to work in a regulated, privately operated center-based child care program or family child care home for at least the 12 months following the annual loan repayment award notification. A participant may receive up to $4,000.00 annually in student loan repayment assistance, which shall be distributed by the Department in four allotments. The Department shall distribute at least one-quarter of the individual's total annual benefit after the individual has completed three months of employment in accordance with the program. The remainder of an individual's total annual benefit shall be distributed by the Department every three months after the initial payment.   (b)(1) The Department shall adopt policies, procedures, and guidelines necessary to implement the provisions of this section.  (2) Student loan repayments shall be available pursuant to this section on a first-come, first-served basis until appropriated funds are depleted. (3) The Department may contract for the administration of the program. Administration costs shall not be more than 10 percent of the total appropriation received to implement this section.   (c) An individual shall not simultaneously participate in the student loan repayment assistance program set forth in this section and either of the scholarship programs set forth in section 3541 or 3542 of this title. (Added 2021, No. 45, § 6.)
33 V.S.A. § 3601
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 36 - Early Care and Education Providers Labor Relations Act|§ 3601. Purpose

§ 3601. Purpose|(a) The General Assembly recognizes the right of all early care and education providers to bargain collectively with the State over matters within the State's control and identified as subjects of bargaining pursuant to subsection 3603(b) of this chapter.(b) The General Assembly intends to create an opportunity for early care and education providers to choose to form a union and bargain with the State over matters within the State's control and identified as subjects of bargaining pursuant to subsection 3603(b) of this chapter.(c) Specific terms and conditions of employment, which are the subject of traditional collective bargaining between employers and employees, are outside the limited scope of this chapter.(d) The matters subject to this chapter are those within the control of the State of Vermont and relevant to all early care and education providers.(e) Early care and education providers do not forfeit their rights under the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 151-169, or the Vermont State Labor Relations Act, 21 V.S.A. §§ 1501-1624, by becoming members of an organization that represents them in their dealings with the State. The terms and conditions of employment with individual early care and education providers, which are the subjects of traditional collective bargaining between employers and employees and which are governed by federal law, fall outside the limited scope of bargaining defined in this chapter. (Added 2013, No. 187 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 5, 2014.)
33 V.S.A. § 3602
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 36 - Early Care and Education Providers Labor Relations Act|§ 3602. Definitions

§ 3602. Definitions|As used in this chapter:  (1) "Board" means the State Labor Relations Board established under 3 V.S.A. § 921. (2) "Collective bargaining" or "bargaining collectively" means the process by which the State and the exclusive representative of early care and education providers negotiate terms or conditions related to the subjects of collective bargaining identified in subsection 3603(b) of this chapter that when reached and funded shall be legally binding. (3) "Early care and education provider" means a licensed child care home provider, a registered child care home provider, or a legally exempt child care home provider, which is defined by the Legally Exempt Child Care Provider Requirements set forth by the Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division, who provides child care services as defined in subdivision 3511(4) of this title. (4) "Exclusive representative" means the labor organization that has been elected or recognized and certified by the Board under this chapter and consequently has the exclusive right under section 3608 of this chapter to represent early care and education providers for the purpose of collective bargaining and the enforcement of any contract provisions. (5) "Grievance" means the exclusive representative's formal written complaint regarding an improper application of one or more terms of the collective bargaining agreement. (6) "Subsidy payment" means any payment made by the State to assist families in paying for child care services through the State's child care financial assistance program. (Added 2013, No. 187 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 5, 2014.)
33 V.S.A. § 3603
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 36 - Early Care and Education Providers Labor Relations Act|§ 3603. Establishment of collective bargaining

§ 3603. Establishment of collective bargaining|(a) Early care and education providers, through their exclusive representative, shall have the right to bargain collectively with the State through the Governor's designee.(b)(1) Mandatory subjects of bargaining are limited to:   (A) child care subsidy reimbursement rates and payment procedures, excluding quality standards and payment schedules associated with the STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS); (B) professional development; (C) the collection of dues and disbursement to the exclusive representative; (D) agency fees and disbursement to the exclusive representative; and (E) procedures for resolving grievances.  (2) The parties may also negotiate on any mutually agreed matters that are not in conflict with State or federal law.   (c) The State, acting through the Governor's designee, shall meet with the exclusive representative for the purpose of entering into a written agreement.(d) Early care and education providers shall be considered employees, and the State shall be considered the employer, solely for the purpose of collective bargaining under this chapter. Early care and education providers shall be considered State employees for purposes of collective bargaining. Early care and education providers shall not be considered State employees for any other reason, including for purposes of vicarious liability in tort, unemployment compensation, or workers' compensation. Early care and education providers shall not be eligible for participation in the State Employees Retirement System or the health insurance plans available to Executive Branch employees solely by virtue of bargaining under this chapter.(e) An early care and education providers' organization shall not charge the agency fee unless it has established and maintained a procedure to provide nonmembers with:  (1) an audited financial statement that identifies the major categories of expenses and divides them into chargeable and nonchargeable expenses; (2) an opportunity to object to the amount of the agency fee sought, and to place in escrow any amount reasonably in dispute; and (3) prompt arbitration by the Vermont Labor Board to resolve any objections over the agency fee.   (f) Agency fees, if successfully bargained, shall be based on the proportionate amount of subsidies an early care and education provider receives. (Added 2013, No. 187 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 5, 2014.)
33 V.S.A. § 3604
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 36 - Early Care and Education Providers Labor Relations Act|§ 3604. Rights of early care and education providers

§ 3604. Rights of early care and education providers|Early care and education providers shall have the right to:  (1) organize, form, join, or assist any union or labor organization for the purpose of collective bargaining without any interference, restraint, or coercion; (2) bargain collectively through a representative of their own choice; (3) engage in concerted activities for the purpose of supporting or engaging in collective bargaining; (4) pursue grievances through the exclusive representative as negotiated pursuant to this chapter; and (5) refrain from any or all such activities. (Added 2013, No. 187 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 5, 2014.)
33 V.S.A. § 3605
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 36 - Early Care and Education Providers Labor Relations Act|§ 3605. Rights of the State

§ 3605. Rights of the State|Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to interfere with the right of the State to:  (1) carry out the statutory mandate and goals of the Agency of Human Services and to use personnel, methods, and means in the most appropriate manner possible; (2) with the approval of the Governor, take whatever action may be necessary to carry out the mission of the Agency of Human Services in an emergency situation; (3) comply with federal and State laws, rules, and regulations regarding child care and child care subsidies; (4) enforce child care rules and regulatory processes, including rules regarding the qualifications of early care and education providers and the prevention of abuse in connection with the provisions of child care services; (5) develop child care rules and regulatory processes subject to the rulemaking authority of the General Assembly and the Human Services Board; (6) establish and administer quality standards under the STep Ahead Recognition System; (7) solicit and accept for use any grant of money, services, or property from the federal government, the State, or any political subdivision or agency of the State, including federal matching funds, and to cooperate with the federal government or any political subdivision or agency of the State in making an application for any grant; and (8) refuse to take any action that would diminish the quantity or quality of child care provided under existing law. (Added 2013, No. 187 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 5, 2014; amended 2021, No. 20, § 322.)
33 V.S.A. § 3606
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 36 - Early Care and Education Providers Labor Relations Act|§ 3606. Bargaining unit

§ 3606. Bargaining unit|(a) The bargaining unit shall be composed of licensed home child care providers, registered home child care providers, and legally exempt child care providers, as defined in this chapter, who have an agreement with the Department to accept a subsidy.(b) Early care and education providers may select an exclusive representative for the purpose of collective bargaining by using the procedures in sections 3607 and 3608 of this chapter.(c) The exclusive representative of the early care and education providers is required to represent all of the providers in the unit without regard to membership in the union. (Added 2013, No. 187 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 5, 2014.)