MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Legislation ranging from retail theft to library policy takes effect on Monday.
The retail theft bill increases penalties for misdemeanor offenses.
Those charged with retail theft a second time face a $1,000 fine or up to two years in jail if it’s committed within two years of the first offense. It comes as Vermont businesses – especially those in Chittenden County – deal with a deluge of theft.
Thanks to another bill, some young readers in Vermont can now check out the books they want to read without their parents knowing.
S.220 lowers the age of confidentiality, preventing parents from knowing what their kids check out from age 16 to age 12.
Some people who opposed the bill say it will infringe on parents’ rights, while those who support the bill say the new law gives Vermonters the freedom to read.
Other bills taking effect impact anything from your commute to your trash day.
A new law requires that cars give bikers four feet of room when passing, and now single-use and rechargeable batteries are banned from landfills.
Lastly, a bill covering a host of employment policy changes crossed the finish line without securing the governor’s signature.
H.55 includes changes to detect firefighter cancer earlier and expand unemployment benefits during a declared state of emergency – both components Governor Phil Scott supported.
The bill also establishes the Baby Bond Trust which would invest $3,200 for every Vermont child born on Medicaid to be invested by the Treasurer’s Office for the child to use later in life.
Gov. Scott opposed the initiative, saying the Baby Bond Trust has the potential to add $6.5 million to the state budget.
The bill was allowed to pass into law without the governor’s signature.