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1H.29
2 Introduced by Representative Berbeco of Winooski
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Health; mental health; crisis response; health equity; land access
6 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to replace
7 references in the Vermont Statutes Annotated to Vermont Psychiatric
8 Survivors with MadFreedom, Inc.
9    An act relating to replacing statutory references to Vermont Psychiatric
10    Survivors with MadFreedom, Inc.
11 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
12* * * Vermont Land Access and Opportunity Board * * *
13 Sec. 1. 10 V.S.A. § 325u is amended to read:
14 § 325u. VERMONT LAND ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY BOARD
15    (a) Creation. There is created the Vermont Land Access and Opportunity
16 Board to promote improvements in access to woodlands, farmland, and land
17 and home ownership for Vermonters from historically marginalized or
18 disadvantaged communities who continue to face barriers to land and home
19 ownership. The Board shall be attached to the Vermont Housing and
20 Conservation Board for administrative purposes.
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1    (b) Organization of Board. The Board shall be composed of:
2***
3(11) one member, appointed by Vermont Psychiatric Survivors
4 MadFreedom, Inc.
5***
6* * * Health Equity Advisory Commission * * *
7 Sec. 2. 18 V.S.A. § 252 is amended to read:
8 § 252. HEALTH EQUITY ADVISORY COMMISSION
9    (a) Creation. There is created the Health Equity Advisory Commission to
10 promote health equity and eradicate health disparities among Vermonters,
11 including particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color;
12 individuals who are LGBTQ; and individuals with disabilities. The Advisory
13 Commission shall amplify the voices of impacted communities regarding
14 decisions made by the State that impact health equity, whether in the provision
15 of health care services or as the result of social determinants of health. The
16 Advisory Commission shall also provide strategic guidance on the
17 development of the Office of Health Equity, including recommendations on the
18 structure, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of such an office.
19    (b) Membership.
20(1) The Advisory Commission shall be composed of the following
21 members:
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1***
2(T) a member, appointed by Vermont Psychiatric Survivors
3 MadFreedom, Inc.;
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5* * * Mental Health Crisis Response Commission * * *
6 Sec. 3. 18 V.S.A. § 7257a is amended to read:
7 § 7257a. MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE COMMISSION
8***
9   (c)(1) The Commission shall comprise the following members:
10***
11(H) an individual who has a personal experience of living with a
12 mental condition or psychiatric disability, appointed by Vermont Psychiatric
13 Survivors MadFreedom, Inc.;
14***
15* * * Mental Health Response Service Guidelines * * *
16 Sec. 4. 18 V.S.A. § 7260 is amended to read:
17 § 7260. MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE SERVICE GUIDELINES
18   (a) The Department shall develop guidelines for use by municipalities,
19 including use by emergency medical technicians and public safety personnel,
20 such as law enforcement officers as defined by 20 V.S.A. § 2351a and
21 firefighters as defined in 20 V.S.A. § 3151, who are employed, volunteer, or
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1 are under contract with a municipality. The guidelines shall recommend best
2 practices for de-escalation and for mental health response services, including
3 crisis response services. The Department shall make the guidelines available
4 to municipalities and publish the guidelines on the Department’s website.
5    (b) In developing the guidelines required pursuant to subsection (a) of this
6 section, the Department shall consult with the following entities:
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8(5) the Vermont Psychiatric Survivors MadFreedom, Inc.;
9***
10* * * Effective Date * * *
11 Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE
12    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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