H 687

 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.687
 2026  Page 1 of 2
1H.687
2 Introduced by Representative Waszazak of Barre City
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Education; approved independent schools; therapeutic schools;
6moratorium on new approved independent schools
7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to exclude initial
8 applications for approval of a therapeutic approved independent school from
9 the moratorium on approval of new approved independent schools if such
10 application is required pursuant to a change in ownership of the school.
11    An act relating to an exception to the moratorium on approval of new
12    approved independent schools
13 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
14 Sec. 1. 2023 Acts and Resolves No. 78, Sec. E.511.1 is amended to read:
15    Sec. E.511.1 MORATORIUM ON APPROVAL OF NEW APPROVED
16INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
17    (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the State Board
18 of Education shall be prohibited from approving an application for initial
19 approval of an approved independent school until further direction by the
20 General Assembly.
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 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.687
 2026  Page 2 of 2
1    (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a change in either tax
2 status or conversion to a nonprofit organization by a therapeutic approved
3 independent school, absent any other changes, shall not affect the approval
4 status of the school.
5    (c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the moratorium
6 on approval of new approved independent schools shall not apply to changes in
7 ownership of therapeutic approved independent schools as that term is defined
8 in 16 V.S.A. § 828(d). If submission of an application for initial approval of
9 an approved independent school is required as the result of a change in
10 ownership of a therapeutic approved independent school, that at the time of the
11 change in ownership is approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to
12 16 V.S.A. § 166, the moratorium created pursuant to subsection (a) of this
13 section shall not apply and the Agency of Education and State Board of
14 Education shall process the application according to applicable State and
15 federal law.
16 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
17    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
                                                                   VT LEG #386181 v.2