Bill > S0143

This bill expands the Advisory Council on Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention in Schools by significantly increasing its membership and defining its duties. The council will now include representatives from diverse organizations such as the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights, Outright Vermont, the Office of Racial Equity, the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, and others, ensuring a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to addressing school-based harassment, hazing, and bullying. The council's expanded responsibilities include meeting 4-6 times annually, reviewing and coordinating statewide prevention activities, updating model prevention policies every two years, generating resources for school professionals on best practices, and producing an annual report to the House and Senate Committees on Education. The bill mandates that the council create resources on topics like restorative practices, differentiated responses for students with disabilities, and methods for reentry into educational spaces after incidents. Members will be eligible for per diem compensation and expense reimbursement for up to six meetings per year, and the bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, providing time for implementation and preparation.

Education

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.143