H 194

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1H.194
2 Introduced by Representatives Headrick of Burlington, Carris-Duncan of
3Whitingham, Chapin of East Montpelier, Logan of Burlington,
4McCann of Montpelier, and Minier of South Burlington
5 Referred to Committee on
6 Date:
7 Subject: Education; State aid for capital construction costs
8 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require that
9 any nonemergency school construction project receiving State aid include the
10 creation of a high-capacity, gender-neutral restroom.
11    An act relating to high-capacity, gender-neutral restrooms in schools
12 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
13 Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 3448 is amended to read:
14 § 3448. APPROVAL AND FUNDING OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION
15PROJECTS; RENEWABLE ENERGY
16    (a) Construction aid.
17***
18(2) Approval of preliminary application.
19(A) When reviewing a preliminary application for approval, the
20 Secretary shall consider:
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1(i) regional educational opportunities and needs, including school
2 building capacities across school district boundaries, and available
3 infrastructure in neighboring communities;
4(ii) economic efficiencies;
5(iii) the suitability of an existing school building to continue to
6 meet educational needs; and
7(iv) statewide educational initiatives and the strategic plan of the
8 State Board of Education.
9(B) The Secretary may approve a preliminary application if:
10(i) the project or part of the project fulfills a need occasioned by:
11(I) conditions that threaten the health or safety of students or
12 employees;
13(II) facilities that are inadequate to provide programs required
14 by State or federal law or regulation;
15(III) excessive energy use resulting from the design of a
16 building or reliance on fossil fuels or electric space heat; or
17(IV) deterioration of an existing building;
18(ii) the need addressed by the project cannot reasonably be met by
19 another means; and
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1(iii) the proposed type, kind, quality, size, and estimated cost of
2 the project are suitable for the proposed curriculum and meet all legal
3 standards; and
4(iv) the project includes the creation of a high-capacity, all-gender
5 restroom with fully enclosed stalls.
6***
7 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
8    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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