reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
16 V.S.A. § 1695a
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1695a. Pre-application criminal background determination; uniform process for foreign credential verification

§ 1695a. Pre-application criminal background determination; uniform process for foreign credential verification|(a) Pre-application criminal background determination. An individual may request a pre-application determination of the individual's criminal background. The pre-application determination shall adhere to the process set forth in section 254 of this title. Results of a pre-application determination shall not be binding on the Secretary in a future application.  (1) The individual's request for a pre-application determination shall include documentation related to criminal conviction or substantiation, evidence of rehabilitation or mitigation, and identification of which license and any endorsement the individual will seek. (2) The individual shall submit this request on a form provided by the Secretary, accompanied by the pre-application criminal background determination fee set forth in section 1697 of this chapter. If the individual thereafter applies for licensure, this pre-application fee shall be deducted from that license application fee. (3) The Secretary shall:  (A) process a request within 30 days of receiving a complete request; (B) assess the nature of any underlying convictions and substantiations, the nexus to the license and endorsement sought, and the provided evidence of rehabilitation or mitigation; and (C) respond to the individual's request in writing, stating whether the individual may seek licensure.    (b) Uniform process for foreign credential verification.  (1) The Standards Board shall adopt rules in consultation with the Secretary that prescribe a process for the Secretary to assess the equivalence of an applicant's professional credentials earned outside the United States as compared to State licensing requirements for professional educators. (2) Any determination of equivalence by the Secretary under this subsection (b) shall be in consultation with the Standards Board, recorded in the applicant's licensing file, and binding upon the Secretary. (3) In administering this subsection, the Secretary may rely upon third-party credential verification services. The cost of such services shall be paid by the applicant. (4) The provisions relating to preliminary license denials set forth in subsection 1704(a) of this chapter shall apply to a license application that is preliminarily denied for nonequivalence under this subsection. (Added 2019, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. April 1, 2021.)
16 V.S.A. § 1696
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1696. Licensing

§ 1696. Licensing|(a) Qualifications of applicants. An applicant shall submit to the Secretary evidence satisfactory to the Secretary that the applicant either has completed all requirements of an approved educator preparation program or has otherwise acquired the knowledge and skills required for a license through coursework and experiences apart from an approved educator preparation program.(b) License by reciprocity.  (1) By rule, the Standards Board shall establish standards according to which an applicant who meets the licensing standards of another state with standards substantially similar to Vermont's may be accorded a license in this State, provided the other state recognizes, by substantially reciprocal regulations or laws, licenses issued in this State. (2) Eligibility for licensure under this subsection shall be in addition to eligibility for licensure under subdivision 1694(3)(B) of this chapter.   (c) Temporary licenses. By rule, the Standards Board may establish standards, if any, by which an applicant who otherwise does not meet the standards for a license may obtain, for a period not to exceed two years, a temporary license.(d) Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructors. The Board shall accept certification of a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor by the federal Department of Defense as qualification for a license to provide Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instruction to a student enrolled in a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program.(e) Denial of license. The Secretary may deny a license for:  (1) failure to meet the conditions for issuance of a license or endorsement or renewal or reinstatement thereof; or (2) failure of a licensee to demonstrate the competencies specified in the rules of the Standards Board.   (f) Appeal. An applicant aggrieved by a decision of the Secretary regarding the issuance or renewal of a license may appeal that decision by notifying the Secretary in writing within 30 days of receiving the decision. The Secretary shall transmit notice of the appeal to the administrative officer for hearing panels to initiate the appeal process set forth in section 1700 of this title. (Added 2005, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2007; amended 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 163, eff. Feb. 14, 2014; 2019, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. April 1, 2021.)
16 V.S.A. § 1697
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1697. Fees

§ 1697. Fees|(a) Each individual applicant and licensee shall be subject to the following fees:  (1) Processing of application                          $50.00 per application (2) Issuance of Level I license                          $50.00 per year                          for the term                          of the license (3) Issuance of Level II license                          $50.00 per year                          for the term                          of the renewal (4) Official copy of licenses                          $10.00 (5) [Repealed.] (6) Issuance of provisional, emergency,                          $50.00 per year  or apprenticeship license                          for the term of the license (7) Peer review process                          $1,200.00 one-time fee (8) Pre-application criminal background                          $25.00  determination   (b) Pursuant to qualifications and procedures determined by the Secretary, the Agency shall, upon request, waive application fees to qualified military members and military spouses.(c) Fees collected under this section shall be credited to special funds established and managed pursuant to 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5, and shall be available to the Agency to offset the costs of providing those services. (Added 1971, No. 104, § 2; amended 1989, No. 118, § 1; 1997, No. 59, § 26, eff. June 30, 1997; 2001, No. 65, § 12; 2005, No. 202 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2005, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2007; 2015, No. 57, § 6; 2019, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. April 1, 2021.)
16 V.S.A. § 1698
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1698. Causes for licensing action

§ 1698. Causes for licensing action|Any one of the following, or any combination of the following, constitutes potential cause for licensing action whether occurring within or outside the State:  (1) Unprofessional conduct, which means:  (A) grossly negligent conduct or greater, on or off duty, that places a student or students in meaningful physical or emotional jeopardy, or conduct that evidences moral unfitness to practice as an educator; (B) conviction for a criminal offense in which the underlying circumstances, conduct, or behavior, by gross negligence or greater, places a student or students in meaningful physical or emotional jeopardy, or conviction of a crime that evidences moral unfitness to practice as an educator; (C) conviction of grand larceny under 13 V.S.A. § 2501 or embezzlement as defined in 13 V.SA. chapter 57, subchapter 2, provided charges were brought after July 1, 2006; (D) conviction of a crime charged after July 1, 2006 that involves fraudulent misrepresentation, dishonesty, or deceit, including conviction for any of the following: 13 V.S.A. §§ 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1106, 1107, 1108, 3006, or 3016, provided that conviction under 13 V.S.A. §§ 2002, 2502, 2561, 2575, 2582, and 2591, if the value or amount involved is $500.00 or less, shall not be considered a conviction under this subdivision unless it is part of a larger pattern of dishonesty, deceit, or fraud; (E) a pattern of willful misconduct or a single egregious act of willful misconduct in violation of duties and obligations of the position; (F) falsification, misrepresentation, or misstatement of material information provided in connection with the application for or renewal or reinstatement of a license or endorsement; and (G) with respect to a superintendent, the failure to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of information provided pursuant to subsection 1700(c) and subdivision 1708(f)(3) of this title.  (2) Incompetence, which means the inability or incapacity to perform the duties and competencies required by the license. (Added 2005, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2007.)
16 V.S.A. § 1699
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1699. Reports of alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence

§ 1699. Reports of alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence|(a) An individual who has reasonable cause to believe a licensee has engaged in unprofessional conduct or is incompetent may, and a superintendent who has reasonable cause to believe a licensee has engaged in unprofessional conduct or is incompetent shall, submit a written report to the Secretary concerning allegations of unprofessional conduct or incompetence about a licensee. A principal submitting a report under this section shall submit it to the superintendent and may also submit it to the Secretary.(b) Except as provided in section 1708 of this title, information provided the licensing office under this section shall be confidential.(c) A person who acts in good faith under the provisions of this section shall not be liable for damages in any civil action. (Added 2005, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2007; amended 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 164, eff. Feb. 14, 2014.)
16 V.S.A. § 1700
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1700. Investigation

§ 1700. Investigation|(a) Investigation committee. Upon receiving notice of either an applicant's appeal of a licensing office decision or an allegation of unprofessional conduct or incompetence on the part of a licensee, the hearing panel administrative officer shall assign one or more of its licensee members to serve on an investigation committee with an investigator and prosecuting attorney assigned by the Secretary of Education to investigate the licensing decision or allegation and make recommendations to the Secretary in accordance with subsections (b) and (d) of this section. Teacher members shall be assigned to assist in the investigation of matters involving teachers and administrator members in matters involving administrators. Members shall not serve on a hearing panel regarding any matter they assisted in investigating. If the administrative officer is unable to assign one or more members to the investigation committee by reason of disqualification, resignation, vacancy, or necessary absence, the officer shall appoint ad hoc members who shall meet the requirements of subsection 1693(b) of this title.(b) Preliminary review. After conducting a preliminary review of an allegation of unprofessional conduct or incompetence or of a denial of a license based on alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence, the investigation committee shall make a recommendation to the Secretary regarding whether to conduct a formal investigation.(c) Formal investigation. If the Secretary decides to conduct a formal investigation, the Secretary shall:  (1) notify the educator and direct the investigation committee to proceed with a formal investigation; and (2) notify the superintendent of the school district in which the educator may be employed, or if the educator is currently employed as a superintendent, the chair of the board of the supervisory union or supervisory district that employs the superintendent, that the office has commenced a formal investigation of an allegation of unprofessional conduct or incompetence and shall specify the provisions of section 1698 of this title that best describe the allegation.   (d) Recommendation. Upon completing its investigation, the investigation committee shall recommend that the Secretary, with respect to a license application, affirm, or reverse a licensing office decision or, with respect to alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence, issue, or not issue formal charges.(e) Professional guidance. In its recommendation as to whether the Secretary should issue formal charges and, if so, what form they should take, the committee may consider the effect it believes its professional guidance may have in mitigating the need for and nature of licensing action. (Added 2005, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2007; amended 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 165, eff. Feb. 14, 2014.)
16 V.S.A. § 1701
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1701. Secretary's determination

§ 1701. Secretary's determination|(a) Matters involving denial of licensure. With respect to an applicant's appeal, the Secretary shall, within 10 days of receiving the committee's recommendation, affirm or reverse the licensing decision and notify the applicant in writing. If the Secretary reverses the decision, the office shall issue a license accordingly. If the Secretary affirms the decision, the applicant may appeal by notifying the Secretary in writing within 10 days of receiving the Secretary's decision. The Secretary shall notify the hearing panel administrative officer of the appeal.(b) Matters involving alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence. With respect to a licensee alleged either incompetent or to have engaged in unprofessional conduct, the Secretary shall, within 10 days of receiving the investigation committee's recommendation, determine whether to issue a formal charge and what, if any, licensing action should be imposed. If the Secretary determines no formal charge is warranted, the Secretary shall notify in writing the licensee and, if the licensee is employed, the superintendent of the school district of employment. If the Secretary determines a formal charge is warranted, the Secretary shall prepare a formal charge, file it with the hearing panel administrative officer, and cause a copy to be served upon the licensee charged together with a notice of hearing and procedural rights, as provided in this chapter. The Secretary shall provide a copy of the formal charge to the superintendent of the school district, if any, in which the licensee is employed, or if the licensee is employed as a superintendent, to the chair of the supervisory union that employs the superintendent, provided the superintendent or board chair agrees to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of the information as provided in subsection 1708(d) of this title. If the Secretary finds that public health, safety, or welfare imperatively requires emergency action and incorporates a finding to that effect in the formal charge, the hearing panel may order summary suspension of a license pending proceedings for revocation or other action. These proceedings shall be promptly instituted and determined. (Added 2005, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2007; amended 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 166, eff. Feb. 14, 2014.)
16 V.S.A. § 1702
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1702. Hearing panels

§ 1702. Hearing panels|(a) Appointment. The Governor shall appoint seven teachers, four administrators, and three members of the public to serve on hearing panels for terms of three years beginning on July 1 of the year of appointment. No person shall be eligible for more than one sequential reappointment. The Governor shall ensure appointments are consistent with the requirements found in subdivisions 1693(b)(1)-(3) of this title. By appointment, the Governor shall fill any vacancy for the remainder of its term. Panel members shall be considered appointive officers for the purposes of 3 V.S.A. chapter 29 and shall be compensated in accordance with 32 V.S.A. § 1010.(b) Administration. The hearing panels shall be attached for administrative purposes to the office. Annually, the panel members shall meet collectively to:  (1) elect an administrative officer for the purpose of assigning hearing panels in licensing matters; (2) approve a pool, based upon the Secretary's recommendation, of impartial hearing officers who shall be attorneys admitted to practice in this State; and (3) plan professional development activities.   (c) Powers and duties of hearing panels. Hearing panels shall have the authority to determine compliance by applicants, licensees, and the office with Standards Board standards according to which individuals may obtain, renew, and retain a license. Upon notification that the applicant has appealed under subsection 1701(a) of this title or that the Secretary has issued a formal charge under subsection 1701(b) of this title, the administrative officer shall appoint a hearing officer and a panel, as well as a chair for the panel. Panels hearing appeals of teachers shall comprise two teacher members and one public member. Panels hearing appeals of administrators shall comprise two administrator members and one public member. In the conduct of proceedings, the hearing officer, or the panel if it takes additional evidence under subsection 1706(a) of this title, may:  (1) issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the furnishing of evidentiary material in connection with a hearing; (2) authorize depositions to be taken as needed in any investigation, hearing, or proceeding; (3) conduct administrative hearings in accordance with this section, section 1705 of this title, and 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 regarding appeals of licensing decisions and charges of unprofessional conduct or incompetence; (4) in the case of the hearing officer, recommend and, in the case of a hearing panel, make decisions regarding appeals of licensing decisions and formal charges; and (5) undertake any other actions and procedures specified in or required or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this chapter. (Added 2005, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2007; amended 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 167, eff. Feb. 14, 2014.)
16 V.S.A. § 1703
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1703. Time and notice of hearing

§ 1703. Time and notice of hearing|The chair of the panel shall fix the time of hearing, which shall be between 30 and 60 days after, as applicable, filing of the license application appeal or service of the charge on the licensee. The chair shall provide the applicant or licensee notice of the hearing, in it stating the following: the time and place of the hearing; the right of the applicant or licensee charged to file with the chair a written response within 20 days of the date of service; the fact that a record of the proceeding will be kept; the rights of the applicant or licensee charged at the hearing to appear personally, to be represented by counsel, to produce witnesses and evidence, to cross-examine witnesses, and to examine such documentary evidence as may be produced; and, in the case of formal charges against the licensee, the range of licensing actions to which the licensee charged may be subject if the formal charges are substantiated. (Added 2005, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2007.)
16 V.S.A. § 1704
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1704. Burden of proof

§ 1704. Burden of proof|(a) Denial of licensure. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the burden of proof in matters involving the denial of an initial license or the addition of an endorsement to a license once issued shall be on the applicant by a preponderance of the evidence.(b) Alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence. The burden of proof in matters involving alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence, including denial of a license based on alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence, shall be on the Secretary by a preponderance of the evidence, except that in the case of revocation or suspension for more than one year, the proof shall be by clear and convincing evidence. (Added 2005, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2007; amended 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 168, eff. Feb. 14, 2014.)
16 V.S.A. § 1705
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1705. Hearing officer recommendation

§ 1705. Hearing officer recommendation|The hearing officer shall conduct the hearing for the purpose of issuing recommended findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a proposed decision to the hearing panel. The hearing officer may administer oaths and otherwise exercise the powers of a judicial officer regarding the conduct of a fair and impartial hearing. Within 30 days of the hearing, the hearing officer shall recommend to the hearing panel findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a decision and by certified mail provide a copy to the applicant or licensee. (Added 2005, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2007.)
16 V.S.A. § 1706
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 16 - Education|Chapter 51 - Professional Educators|§ 1706. Decision and order

§ 1706. Decision and order|(a) Hearing panel decision. The hearing panel may take additional evidence and may accept, reject, or modify the recommendations of the hearing officer and shall issue findings of fact, conclusions of law, and an order within 30 days of receiving the recommendations, unless the hearing panel grants an extension for good cause. The hearing panel shall provide a copy of the decision to the Secretary and, by certified mail, the applicant or licensee charged. If formal charges are not substantiated, the hearing panel shall include in its order a statement that the charges were not substantiated by the evidence, and it shall dismiss the charges.(b) Charges substantiated. If formal charges are substantiated, the hearing panel, in its order, may: take no action; issue a warning; issue a private reprimand; issue a public reprimand; or condition, limit, suspend, or revoke the license to practice. An administrative penalty not to exceed $1,000.00 may be imposed by itself or in connection with the issuance of a warning or of a private or public reprimand. (Added 2005, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2007; amended 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 169, eff. Feb. 14, 2014.)