reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
33 V.S.A. § 101
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 101. Policy

§ 101. Policy|It is the policy of the State of Vermont that:  (1) Its social and child welfare programs shall provide assistance and benefits to persons of the State in proven need thereof and eligible for such assistance and benefits under the provisions of this title. (2) It is the purpose of its social and child welfare laws to establish and support programs which contribute to the prevention of dependency and social maladjustment and contribute to the rehabilitation and protection of persons of the State. (3) Assistance and benefits shall be administered promptly, with due regard for the preservation of family life, and without restriction of individual rights or discrimination on account of race, religion, political affiliation, or place of residence within the State. (4) Assistance and benefits shall be so administered as to maintain and encourage dignity, self-respect, and self-reliance. It is the legislative intent that assistance granted shall be adequate to maintain a reasonable standard of health and decency based on current cost of living indices. Notwithstanding this subdivision, the Department will amend rules that establish new maximum Reach Up grant amounts only when the General Assembly has taken affirmative action to increase or decrease the Reach Up financial assistance appropriation. (5) The programs of the Department for Children and Families shall be designed to strengthen family life for the care and protection of children; to assist and encourage the use by any family of all available personal and reasonable community resources to this end; and to provide substitute care of children only when the family, with the use of available resources, is unable to provide the necessary care and protection to ensure the right of any child to sound health and to normal physical, mental, spiritual, and moral development. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; amended 1973, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. April 14, 1974; 1975, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Feb. 5, 1976; 2003, No. 122 (Adj. Sess.), § 139a; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 20, 2014.)
33 V.S.A. § 102
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 102. Definitions and construction

§ 102. Definitions and construction|(a) As used in this chapter:  (1) "Aid" means financial assistance. (2) "Assistance," when not modified by an adjective, means general assistance or public assistance, or both. (3) "Benefits" means aid or commodities furnished under chapter 17 of this title. (4) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner for Children and Families. (5) "Department" means the Department for Children and Families. (6) "Federal department" or "federal agency" means a department or agency of the United States of America. (7) "Guardian" means a legal guardian appointed by a Probate Division of the Superior Court or by a court in a divorce or other proceeding or action. (8) "Public assistance" means aid provided by the Department under Title IV, XVI, or XIX of the Social Security Act. (9) "Regulation" means a rule or regulation. (10) [Repealed.] (11) "Social Security Act" means the federal Social Security Act and regulations promulgated under the Act, as amended at any time.   (b) The laws relating to the Department for Children and Families and its programs shall be construed liberally to carry out the policies stated in this chapter. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; amended 1973, No. 101, § 6; 1973, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 11, eff. April 14, 1974; 1999, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 68; 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 238a, eff. Feb. 1, 2011; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § I.36; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. May 20, 2014; 2015, No. 23, § 152; 2021, No. 20, § 271.)
33 V.S.A. § 103
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 103. Composition of Department

§ 103. Composition of Department|The Department for Children and Families, created pursuant to 3 V.S.A. §§ 212 and 3084, shall consist of the Commissioner for Children and Families and all divisions, councils, boards, committees, and offices within the Department. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; amended 1973, No. 101, § 2; 1999, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 69; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. May 20, 2014.)
33 V.S.A. § 105
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 105. Commissioner; appointment, term, duties, and powers

§ 105. Commissioner; appointment, term, duties, and powers|(a) The Commissioner may exercise the powers and perform duties required for effective administration of the Department, and he or she shall determine the policies of the Department.(b) In addition to other duties imposed by law, the Commissioner shall:  (1) administer the laws assigned to the Department; (2) fix standards and adopt rules necessary to administer those laws and for the custody and preservation of records of the Department; (3) appoint all necessary assistants, prescribe their duties, and adopt rules necessary to ensure that the assistants shall hold merit system status while in the employ of the Department, unless otherwise specifically provided by law.   (c) The Commissioner or the Governor, whenever the federal law so provides, may cooperate with the federal government in providing relief and work relief and community work and training programs in the State.(d) The Commissioner, with the approval of the Attorney General, may enter into reciprocal agreements with social and child welfare agencies in other states in matters relating to social welfare, children, and families.(e) The Commissioner shall ensure the provision of services to children and adolescents with a severe emotional disturbance in coordination with the Secretary of Education and the Commissioners of Mental Health and of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living in accordance with the provisions of chapter 43 of this title.(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commissioner may delegate to any appropriate employee of the Department any of the administrative duties and powers imposed on him or her by law, with the exception of the duties and powers enumerated in this section. The delegation of authority and responsibility shall not relieve the Commissioner of accountability for the proper administration of the Department.(g) The Commissioner may publicly disclose findings or information about any case of child abuse or neglect that has resulted in the fatality or near fatality of a child, including information obtained under chapter 49 of this title, unless the State's Attorney or Attorney General who is investigating or prosecuting any matter related to the fatality requests the Commissioner to withhold disclosure, in which case the Commissioner shall not disclose any information until completion of any criminal proceedings related to the fatality or until the State's Attorney or Attorney General consents to disclosure, whichever occurs earlier. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; amended 1973, No. 101, § 6; 1983, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.); 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. May 20, 2014; 2015, No. 29, § 11; 2021, No. 20, § 273.)
33 V.S.A. § 111
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 111. Records; restrictions; penalties

§ 111. Records; restrictions; penalties|(a)(1) The names of or information pertaining to applicants for or recipients of assistance or benefits, including information obtained under section 112 of this title, shall not be disclosed to anyone, except for the purposes directly connected with the administration of the Department or when required by law.  (2) Names of or information pertaining to applicants for or recipients of Medicaid shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions set forth in section 1902a of this title.   (b) A person shall not publish, use, disclose, or divulge any of those records for purposes not directly connected with the administration of programs of the Department or contrary to rules adopted by the Commissioner. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; amended 1969, No. 99; 1973, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 13, eff. April 14, 1974; 1975, No. 244 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. May 20, 2014; 2015, No. 29, § 12; 2015, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § E.306.8; 2021, No. 20, § 274.)
33 V.S.A. § 112
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 112. Banks and agencies to furnish information

§ 112. Banks and agencies to furnish information|(a) An officer of a financial institution, as described in 8 V.S.A. § 11101(32), a credit union, or an independent trust company in this State, when requested by the Commissioner, shall furnish the Commissioner information in the possession of the bank or company with reference to any person or his or her spouse who is applying for or is receiving assistance or benefits from the Department.(b) Any governmental official or agency in the State, when requested by the Commissioner, shall furnish him or her information in the official's or agency's possession with reference to aid given or money paid or to be paid to any person or person's spouse who is applying for or is receiving assistance or benefits from the Department.(c) The Commissioner of Taxes, when requested by the Commissioner for Children and Families, and unless otherwise prohibited by federal law, shall compare the information furnished by an applicant or recipient of assistance with the State income tax returns filed by such person and shall report his or her findings to the Commissioner for Children and Families. Each application for assistance shall contain a form of consent, executed by the applicant, granting permission to the Commissioner of Taxes to disclose such information to the Commissioner for Children and Families. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; amended 1975, No. 244 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1999, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2001, No. 73 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. Feb. 2, 2002; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 70.)
33 V.S.A. § 114
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 114. Allocation of payments when appropriation insufficient

§ 114. Allocation of payments when appropriation insufficient|Should the funds available for assistance be insufficient to provide assistance to all those eligible, the amounts of assistance granted in any program or portion thereof shall be reduced equitably, in the discretion of the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access by rule. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; amended 1971, No. 247 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 7, 1972; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 71; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § I.37.)
33 V.S.A. § 116
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 116. State-placed students

§ 116. State-placed students|To enable a school district to determine if a student is a State-placed student, as defined in 16 V.S.A. § 11(a)(28), the Commissioner for Children and Families shall immediately notify the superintendent of schools for the school district educating the student if the parent or parents of a student under the care and custody of the Commissioner move from or into that school district. (Added 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. May 20, 2014.)
33 V.S.A. § 121
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 121. Cancellation of assistance or benefits

§ 121. Cancellation of assistance or benefits|If at any time the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access has reason to believe that assistance or benefits have been improperly obtained, he or she shall cause an investigation to be made and may suspend assistance or benefits pending the investigation. If on investigation the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access is satisfied that the assistance or benefits were illegally obtained, he or she shall immediately cancel them. A person having illegally obtained assistance or benefits shall not be eligible for reinstatement until his or her need has been reestablished. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; amended 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 72; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § I.38.)
33 V.S.A. § 122
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 122. Recovery of payments

§ 122. Recovery of payments|(a) The amount of assistance or benefits may be changed or cancelled at any time if the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access finds that the recipient's circumstances have changed. Upon granting assistance or benefits the Department for Children and Families or the Department of Vermont Health Access shall inform the recipient that changes in his or her circumstances must be promptly reported to the Department.(b) When on the death of a person receiving assistance it is found that the recipient possessed income or property in excess of that reported to the Department for Children and Families or the Department of Vermont Health Access, up to double the total amount of assistance in excess of that to which the recipient was lawfully entitled may be recovered by the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access as a preferred claim from the estate of the recipient. The Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access shall calculate the amount of the recovery by applying the legal interest rate to the amount of excess recovery paid, except that the recovery shall be capped at double the excess assistance paid.(c) When the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access finds that a recipient of benefits received assistance in excess of that to which the recipient was lawfully entitled, because the recipient possessed income or property in excess of Department standards, the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access may take actions to recover the overpayment.(d) In the event of recovery, an amount may be retained by the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access in a special fund for use in offsetting program expenses and an amount equivalent to the pro rata share to which the United States of America is equitably entitled shall be paid promptly to the appropriate federal agency. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 20; amended 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 73; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § I.39.)
33 V.S.A. § 123
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 123. Guardian or legal representative

§ 123. Guardian or legal representative|(a) If the Commissioner finds that an applicant for or recipient of assistance is incapable of taking care of himself or herself or his or her business affairs, the Commissioner may direct the payment of the assistance to a guardian appointed by the Probate Division of the Superior Court.(b) If the Commissioner finds that an applicant for or recipient of assistance is incapable of prudently attending to his or her business affairs, the Commissioner may direct the payment of the assistance to the legal representative of the person appointed by the Probate Division of the Superior Court. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; amended 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 238a, eff. Feb. 1, 2011.)
33 V.S.A. § 124
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 124. Inalienability of assistance payments

§ 124. Inalienability of assistance payments|All rights to, and all monies or orders granted to persons as assistance shall be inalienable by assignment, transfer, attachment, trustee process, execution, or otherwise. In case of bankruptcy the assistance shall not pass to or through a trustee or other person acting on behalf of creditors. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1.)
33 V.S.A. § 142
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 142. Bringing needy person into the State

§ 142. Bringing needy person into the State|(a) Any person who knowingly brings or causes to be brought, a needy person from out of the state into this State for the purpose of securing assistance for the needy person or making him or her a public charge, shall be obligated to support the needy person at his or her own expense as long as the needy person or persons dependent on the needy person remain in the State.(b) The Commissioner may bring a civil action on this statute to enforce support of the needy person and his or her dependents. In the action the court may make an order, which shall be subject to change by the court from time to time as the circumstances require, directing the defendant to pay a certain sum periodically to the Department for the benefit of the needy person and his or her dependents residing in the State. The court may punish for violation of the order as for contempt. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1.)
33 V.S.A. § 143
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 143. General penalty

§ 143. General penalty|(a) A person who knowingly violates a provision of this title for which no penalty is specifically provided shall:  (1) if the assistance or benefits obtained pursuant to a single fraudulent scheme or a course of conduct are in violation of subsection 141(a) or (b) of this title involving $1,000.00 or less, be fined not more than the amount of assistance or benefits wrongfully obtained or be imprisoned not more than one year, or both; (2) if the assistance or benefits obtained pursuant to a single fraudulent scheme or course of conduct are in violation of subsection (a) or (b) of section 141 of this title and involve more than $1,000.00, be fined not more than an amount equal to the assistance or benefits wrongfully obtained or be imprisoned not more than three years, or both; or (3) if the violation is under subsection (c), (d), or (e) of section 141 of this title, be fined up to $1,000.00 or up to an amount equal to twice the amount of assistance, benefits, or payments wrongfully obtained or be imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.   (b) If the person convicted is receiving assistance, benefits, or payments, the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access may recoup the amount of assistance or benefits wrongfully obtained by reducing the assistance, benefits, or payments periodically paid to the recipient, as limited by federal law, until the amount is fully recovered.(c) If a provider of services is convicted of a violation of subsection 141(d) or (e) of this title, the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access shall, within 90 days of the conviction, suspend the provider from further participation in the medical assistance program administered under Title XIX of the Social Security Act for a period of four years. The suspension required by this subsection may be waived by the Secretary of Human Services only upon a finding that the recipients served by the convicted provider would suffer substantial hardship through a denial of medical services that could not reasonably be obtained through another provider. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; amended 1977, No. 206 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1999, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 75; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § I.41; 2021, No. 20, § 275.)
33 V.S.A. § 143a
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 143a. Civil remedies

§ 143a. Civil remedies|(a) A person who violates subsection 141(c), (d), or (e) of this title with actual knowledge may be subject to a civil suit by the Attorney General for:  (1) restitution of the amount of assistance, benefits, or payments wrongfully obtained; (2) interest; and (3) a civil penalty of up to three times the amount of the wrongfully obtained assistance, benefits, or payments; or $500.00 per false claim; or $500.00 for each false document submitted in support of a false claim, whichever is greatest.   (b) The remedies provided in this section shall be in addition to any other remedies provided by law.(c) The right to a jury trial shall attach to actions under this section. (Added 2003, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
33 V.S.A. § 143b
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 143b. Education and information

§ 143b. Education and information|Within six months of the effective date of section 143a of this title, the Department of Vermont Health Access shall issue rules establishing a procedure for health care providers enrolled in State and federally funded medical assistance programs to obtain advisory opinions regarding coverage and reimbursement under those programs. Each advisory opinion issued by the Department of Vermont Health Access shall be binding on that Department and the party or parties requesting the opinion only with regard to the specific questions posed in the opinion, the facts and information set forth in it, and the statutes and rules specifically noted in the opinion. (Added 2003, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 76; 2009, No. 33, § 65; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § I.42.)
33 V.S.A. § 144
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 1 - Department for Children and Families|§ 144. Statutory construction

§ 144. Statutory construction|(a) Section 143 of this title shall not preclude prosecution under 13 V.S.A. § 1801, 1802, or 2002 when the alleged violation involves forging an economic assistance check or where duplicate economic assistance checks have been wrongfully negotiated during any one welfare period.(b) Section 143 of this title shall not preclude prosecution under any other title or sections of this title when the alleged violation is under subsection 141(c) or (d) of this title. (Added 1977, No. 206 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; amended 2021, No. 20, § 276.)