reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
1 V.S.A. § 214
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 3 - Construction of Statutes|§ 214. Effect of amendment or repeal

§ 214. Effect of amendment or repeal|(a) The amendment or repeal of an act or of a provision of the Vermont Statutes Annotated shall not revive an act or statutory provision which has been repealed.(b) The amendment or repeal of an act or statutory provision, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, shall not:  (1) affect the operation of the act or provision prior to the effective date of the amendment or repeal thereof; (2) affect any right, privilege, obligation, or liability acquired, accrued, or incurred prior to the effective date of the amendment or repeal; (3) affect any violation of the act or provision amended or repealed, or any penalty or forfeiture incurred thereunder, prior to the effective date of the amendment or repeal; (4) affect any suit, remedy, or proceeding to enforce or give effect to any right, privilege, obligation, or liability acquired, incurred, or accrued under the amended or repealed provision prior to the effective date of the amendment or repeal; and the suit, remedy, or proceeding may be instituted, prosecuted, or continued as if the act or provision had not been repealed or amended.   (c) If the penalty or punishment for any offense is reduced by the amendment of an act or statutory provision, the same shall be imposed in accordance with the act or provision as amended unless imposed prior to the date of the amendment. (Amended 1969, No. 207 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. March 24, 1970.)
1 V.S.A. § 215
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 3 - Construction of Statutes|§ 215. Severability of provisions

§ 215. Severability of provisions|The provisions of any act are severable. If any provision of an act is invalid, or if any application thereof to any person or circumstance is invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. (Added 1969, No. 16, § 12, eff. March 11, 1969.)
1 V.S.A. § 271
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 271. Common law adopted

§ 271. Common law adopted|So much of the common law of England as is applicable to the local situation and circumstances and is not repugnant to the constitution or laws shall be laws in this State and courts shall take notice thereof and govern themselves accordingly.
1 V.S.A. § 272
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 272. Equality of privilege

§ 272. Equality of privilege|In cases proper for the cognizance of the civil authority and the courts of judicature in this State, citizens of the United States shall be equally entitled to the privileges of law and justice with citizens of this State.
1 V.S.A. § 273
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 273. Eligibility to hold office

§ 273. Eligibility to hold office|A person shall not be debarred on account of sex from holding any office or position of trust or responsibility under the State, including U.S. Senator and Representative to Congress or any county, town, city, village, town school district, or incorporated fire, lighting, or school district office.
1 V.S.A. § 311
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 311. Declaration of public policy; short title

§ 311. Declaration of public policy; short title|(a) In enacting this subchapter, the legislature finds and declares that public commissions, boards, and councils and other public agencies in this State exist to aid in the conduct of the people's business and are accountable to them pursuant to Chapter I, Article VI of the Vermont Constitution.(b) This subchapter may be known and cited as the Vermont Open Meeting Law. (Amended 1979, No. 151 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 24, 1980.)
1 V.S.A. § 315
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 315. Statement of policy; short title

§ 315. Statement of policy; short title|(a) It is the policy of this subchapter to provide for free and open examination of records consistent with Chapter I, Article 6 of the Vermont Constitution. Officers of government are trustees and servants of the people and it is in the public interest to enable any person to review and criticize their decisions even though such examination may cause inconvenience or embarrassment. All people, however, have a right to privacy in their personal and economic pursuits, which ought to be protected unless specific information is needed to review the action of a governmental officer. Consistent with these principles, the General Assembly hereby declares that certain public records shall be made available to any person as hereinafter provided. To that end, the provisions of this subchapter shall be liberally construed to implement this policy, and the burden of proof shall be on the public agency to sustain its action.(b) The General Assembly finds that public records are essential to the administration of State and local government. Public records contain information that allows government programs to function, provides officials with a basis for making decisions, and ensures continuity with past operations. Public records document the legal responsibilities of government, help protect the rights of citizens, and provide citizens a means of monitoring government programs and measuring the performance of public officials. Public records provide documentation for the functioning of government and for the retrospective analysis of the development of Vermont government and the impact of programs on citizens.(c) This subchapter may be known and cited as the Public Records Act or the PRA. (Added 1975, No. 231 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2011, No. 59, § 1; 2015, No. 29, § 1; 2017, No. 166 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
1 V.S.A. § 317a
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 317a. Management of public records

§ 317a. Management of public records|(a)(1) Public records in general and archival records in particular should be systematically managed to provide ready access to vital information, to promote the efficient and economical operation of government, and to preserve their legal, administrative, and informational value.  (2) Any public agency may seek services from the Statewide Records and Information Management Program, as defined in 3 V.S.A. § 117(b) and administered by the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, to establish, maintain, and implement an active and continuing internal records and information management program for the agency.   (b) A custodian of public records shall not destroy, give away, sell, discard, or damage any record or records in his or her charge, unless specifically authorized by law or under a record schedule, as defined in 3 V.S.A. § 117(a)(6), that has been approved by the State Archivist. (Added 2007, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2017, No. 100 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
1 V.S.A. § 318a
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 318a. Executive Branch Agency Public Records Request System

§ 318a. Executive Branch Agency Public Records Request System|(a) The Secretary of Administration shall maintain and update the Public Records Request System established pursuant to 2006 Acts and Resolves No. 132, Sec. 3 and 2011 Acts and Resolves No. 59, Sec. 13 with the information furnished under subsection (b) of this section and post System information on the website of the Agency of Administration.(b) All public agencies of the Executive Branch of the State:  (1) that receive a written request to inspect or copy a record under this subchapter shall catalogue the request in the Public Records Request System established and maintained by the Secretary of Administration by furnishing the following information:  (A) the date the request was received; (B) the agency that received the request; (C) the person that made the request, including a contact name; (D) the status of the request, including whether the request was fulfilled in whole, fulfilled in part, or denied; (E) if the request was fulfilled in part or denied, the exemption or other grounds asserted as the basis for partial fulfillment or denial; (F) the estimated hours necessary to respond to the request; (G) the date the agency closed the request; and (H) the elapsed time between receipt of the request and the date the agency closed the request; and  (2) shall post in a conspicuous location on their respective websites a link to the location on the Agency of Administration's website where Public Records Request System information is maintained. (Added 2017, No. 166 (Adj. Sess.), § 6.)
1 V.S.A. § 319
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 319. Enforcement

§ 319. Enforcement|(a) Any person aggrieved by the denial of a request for public records under this subchapter may apply to the Civil Division of the Superior Court in the county in which the complainant resides, or has his or her personal place of business, or in which the public records are situated, or in the Civil Division of the Superior Court of Washington County, to enjoin the public agency from withholding agency records and to order the production of any agency records improperly withheld from the complainant. In such a case, the court shall determine the matter de novo, and may examine the contents of such agency records in camera to determine whether such records or any part thereof shall be withheld under any of the exemptions set forth in section 317 of this title, and the burden of proof shall be on the public agency to sustain its action.(b) Except as to cases the court considers of greater importance, proceedings before the Civil Division of the Superior Court, as authorized by this section, and appeals there from, take precedence on the docket over all cases and shall be assigned for hearing and trial or for argument at the earliest practicable date and expedited in every way.(c) If the public agency can show the court that exceptional circumstances exist and that the agency is exercising due diligence in responding to the request, the court may retain jurisdiction and allow the agency additional time to complete its review of the records.(d)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the court shall assess against the public agency reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this section in which the complainant has substantially prevailed.  (2) The court may, in its discretion, assess against a public agency reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in a case under this section in which the complainant has substantially prevailed provided that the public agency, within the time allowed for service of an answer under V.R.C.P. 12(a)(1):  (A) concedes that a contested record or contested records are public; and (B) provides the record or records to the complainant.  (3) The court may assess against the complainant reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this section when the court finds that the complainant has violated V.R.C.P. 11. (Added 1975, No. 231 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2011, No. 59, § 5.)
1 V.S.A. § 320
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 320. Penalties

§ 320. Penalties|(a) Whenever the court orders the production of any public agency records, improperly withheld from the complainant and assesses against the agency reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs, and the court additionally issues a written finding that the circumstances surrounding the withholding raise questions whether the agency personnel acted arbitrarily or capriciously with respect to the withholding, the Department of Human Resources if applicable to that employee, shall promptly initiate a proceeding to determine whether disciplinary action is warranted against the officer or employee who was primarily responsible for the withholding. The Department, after investigation and consideration of the evidence submitted, shall submit its findings and recommendations to the administrative authority of the agency concerned and shall send copies of the findings and recommendations to the officer or employee or his or her representative. The administrative authority shall take the corrective action that the Department recommends.(b) In the event of noncompliance with the order of the court, the Civil Division of the Superior Court may punish for contempt the responsible employee or official, and in the case of a uniformed service, the responsible member.(c) A person who willfully destroys, gives away, sells, discards, or damages a public record without having authority to do so shall be fined at least $50.00 but not more than $1,000.00 for each offense. (Added 1975, No. 231 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2003, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § 15; 2007, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2011, No. 59, § 6.)
1 V.S.A. § 331
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 331. Definitions

§ 331. Definitions|As used in this subchapter:  (1) "Person who is deaf or hard of hearing" means any person who has such difficulty hearing, even with amplification, that he or she cannot rely on hearing for communication. (2) "Proceeding" means any judicial proceeding, contested case under 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, or other hearing before an administrative agency not included under 3 V.S.A. chapter 25. (3) "Qualified interpreter" means an interpreter for a person who is deaf or hard of hearing who meets standards of competency established by the national or Vermont Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf as amended, by rule, by the Vermont Commission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. (Added 1987, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2005, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 11, eff. May 20, 2006; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)
1 V.S.A. § 332
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 332. Right to interpreter; assistive listening equipment

§ 332. Right to interpreter; assistive listening equipment|(a) Any person who is deaf or hard of hearing who is a party or witness in any proceeding shall be entitled to be provided with a qualified interpreter for the duration of the person's participation in the proceeding.(b) Any person who is deaf or hard of hearing shall be entitled to be provided with a qualified interpreter upon five working days' notice that the person has reasonable need to do any of the following:  (1) transact business with any State board or agency; (2) participate in any State-sponsored activity, including public hearings, conferences, and public meetings; (3) participate in any official State legislative activities.   (c) If a person who is deaf or hard of hearing is unable to use or understand sign language, the presiding officer or State board or agency or State legislative official shall, upon five working days' notice, make available appropriate assistive listening equipment for use during the proceeding or activity. (Added 1987, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2005, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 12, eff. May 20, 2006; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)
1 V.S.A. § 333
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 333. Appointment of interpreter

§ 333. Appointment of interpreter|(a) The presiding officer in a proceeding shall appoint an interpreter after making a preliminary determination that the interpreter is able to readily communicate with the person who is deaf or hard of hearing, to accurately interpret statements or communications from the person who is deaf or hard of hearing, and to interpret the proceedings to the person who is deaf or hard of hearing.(b) The presiding officer shall make findings when appointing an interpreter not designated as a qualified interpreter.(c) It shall be a rebuttable presumption that the requirements of this section are met if the interpreter proposed for appointment is a qualified interpreter. It shall also be a rebuttable presumption that the requirements of this section are not met if the interpreter proposed for appointment is not a qualified interpreter. (Added 1987, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2005, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 13, eff. May 20, 2006; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)
1 V.S.A. § 334
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 334. Waiver

§ 334. Waiver|No privilege recognized by law may be deemed waived or made inapplicable by reason that a communication was made through an interpreter. (Added 1987, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
1 V.S.A. § 335
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 335. Compensation

§ 335. Compensation|An interpreter appointed under section 332 of this title is entitled to receive a reasonable fee for services, together with reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses, including travel and lodging expenses. In civil proceedings, the Court may order that costs of the interpreter be paid by a party, as justice may require, or it may order that the costs be paid by the State. In criminal proceedings, costs of the interpreter shall be paid by the State. An interpreter used in connection with administrative proceedings, transacting State business or State-sponsored activities shall be provided at the expense of the agency involved. An interpreter used in connection with official State legislative activities shall be provided at the expense of the legislature. (Added 1987, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
1 V.S.A. § 336
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 336. Rules; information; list of interpreters

§ 336. Rules; information; list of interpreters|(a) The Vermont Commission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing shall, by rule, establish factors to be considered by the presiding officer under section 333 of this title before appointing an interpreter who is not a qualified interpreter. Such factors shall encourage the widest availability of interpreters in Vermont while at the same time ensuring that the interpreter:  (1) is able to communicate readily with the person who is deaf or hard of hearing; (2) is able to interpret accurately statements or communications by the person who is deaf or hard of hearing; (3) is able to interpret the proceedings to the person who is deaf or hard of hearing; (4) shall maintain confidentiality; (5) shall be impartial with respect to the outcome of the proceeding; (6) shall not exert any influence over the person who is deaf or hard of hearing; and (7) shall not accept assignments the interpreter does not feel competent to handle.   (b) Rules established by the Vermont Commission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing pursuant to subdivision 331(3) of this title amending the standards of competency established by the national or Vermont Registry of the Deaf shall be limited to the factors set forth in subsection (a) of this section.(c) The Vermont Commission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing shall prepare an explanation of the provisions of this subchapter which shall be distributed to all State agencies and courts.(d) The Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living shall maintain a list of qualified interpreters in Vermont and, where such information is available, in surrounding states. The list shall be distributed to all State agencies and courts. (Added 1987, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2005, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 14, eff. May 20, 2006; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)
1 V.S.A. § 337
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 337. Review

§ 337. Review|(a) A decision, order, or judgment of a court or administrative agency may be reversed on appeal if the court or agency finds that a person who is deaf or hard of hearing who was a party or a witness in the proceeding was deprived of an opportunity to communicate effectively, and that the deprivation was prejudicial.(b) Any person denied a qualified interpreter under subsection 332(b) of this title, may appeal the denial through the administrative appeals process for the agency involved or, where no such administrative appeals process exists, through the Superior Court in the county in which the denial occurred or in Washington Superior Court. (Added 1987, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2005, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. May 20, 2006; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)
1 V.S.A. § 338
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 338. Admissions; confessions

§ 338. Admissions; confessions|(a) An admission or confession by a person who is deaf or hard of hearing made to a law enforcement officer or any other person having a prosecutorial function may only be used against the person in a criminal proceeding if:  (1) The admission or confession was made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently and is not subject to alternative interpretations resulting from the person's habits and patterns of communication. (2) The admission or confession, if made during a custodial interrogation, was made after reasonable steps were taken, including the appointment of a qualified interpreter, to ensure that the defendant understood his or her constitutional rights.   (b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section supplement the constitutional rights of the person who is deaf or hard of hearing. (Added 1987, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2005, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 16, eff. May 20, 2006; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)
1 V.S.A. § 339
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 1 - General Provisions|Chapter 5 - Common Law; General Rights|§ 339. Communications made to interpreters; prohibition on disclosure

§ 339. Communications made to interpreters; prohibition on disclosure|(a) An interpreter, whether or not the interpreter is a qualified interpreter, shall not disclose or testify to:  (1) a communication made by a person to an interpreter acting in his or her capacity as an interpreter for a person who is deaf or hard of hearing or a person with limited English proficiency; or (2) any information obtained by the interpreter while acting in his or her capacity as an interpreter for a person who is deaf or hard of hearing or a person with limited English proficiency.   (b) There is no prohibition on disclosure under this section if the services of the interpreter were sought or obtained to enable or aid anyone to commit or plan to commit what the person who is deaf or hard of hearing or the person with limited English proficiency knew or reasonably should have known to be a crime or fraud.(c)(1) This section shall not be construed to limit or expand the effect of section 334 of this title.  (2) This section shall not be construed to alter or affect the mandatory reporting requirements of 33 V.S.A. § 4913.   (d) As used in this section, "person with limited English proficiency" means a person who does not speak English as his or her primary language and who has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. (Added 2003, No. 142 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2005, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. May 20, 2006; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)