Title 20, Title 20: Internal Security and Public Safety

§ 1271. Pay and rations When the State Guard or any part of it is ordered out for active duty or field training, its members shall be entitled to the same pay and rations as the National Guard on similar duty and shall be paid under rules adopted by the Governor. (Amended 2017, N…

§ 1274. Exemptions No officer or enlisted member of the State Guard shall be arrested on any warrant, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace, while going to, remaining at, or returning from a place where he or she is ordered for military duty. Every officer and enlist…

§ 1483. Adjutant General; duties as to veterans’ affairs In addition to the duties elsewhere set forth by law, the Adjutant and Inspector General shall: (1) acquaint himself or herself, and his or her assistants and employees, with federal, State, and local laws enacted for the b…

§ 1484. Assistants; office space Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Adjutant and Inspector General may employ expert and clerical assistants as necessary to administer the functions and duties of the Adjutant and Inspector General with respect to veterans’ affairs, and …

§ 1485. Cooperation with local organizations The Adjutant and Inspector General may cooperate with local organizations in the State to provide information and assistance for the purposes set forth in this chapter. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 35(d), eff. March 1, 1961; …

§ 1486. Acceptance of gifts, services, and facilities The Adjutant and Inspector General is authorized to accept gifts, services, and facilities from any source, public or private, granted in aid of the administration of the duties of the Adjutant and Inspector General, provided …

§ 1543. Preferences in appointment to State positions In certification for appointment, in appointment, in employing, in retention of employment position, whether in classified or unclassified civil service, whether for temporary or for extended time, wherever State funds furnish…

§ 1544. State pay for military service (a) Each enlisted individual in the U.S. Armed Forces subsequent to August 5, 1964 and not later than March 31, 1973 who resided in the State of Vermont at the time of the individual’s enlistment or induction into the U.S. Armed Forces shall…

§ 1545. Vermont distinguished service medals (a) The Governor may present in the name of the State of Vermont a distinguished service medal, ribbon, lapel button, and certificate to an individual or the individual’s spouse, child, parent, sibling, or grandchild if the individual …

§ 1546. Vermont veterans’ medal (a) The Office of Veterans’ Affairs may present in the name of the State of Vermont a veterans’ medal, ribbon, lapel button, and certificate to an individual or the individual’s spouse, child, parent, sibling, or grandchild if the individual is dec…

§ 1547. Patriot’s Medal (a) The Governor or the Governor’s designee, at an appropriate time and place, shall present the Vermont Patriot’s Medal and accompanying certificate to the families of Vermont residents killed in action while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces after Februar…

§ 1548. Vermont Veterans’ Fund (a) There is created a special fund to be known as the Vermont Veterans’ Fund. This Fund shall be administered by the Military Department and shall be paid out in grants on the recommendations of a nine-member committee comprising: (1) the Adjutant …

§ 1581. Vermont Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery Advisory Board (a) The Vermont Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery Advisory Board is created to advise the Adjutant and Inspector General on all matters relating to the establishment and operation of a Vermont veterans’ memorial cemetery to be …

§ 1582. Rules The Vermont Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery Advisory Board may adopt rules under the provisions of 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 relating to acquisition of land; design of the cemetery, its buildings, and grave markers; eligibility for burial; and any other matters necessary to e…

§ 1583. Adjutant General; powers and duties (a) The Adjutant General, subject to available funds and with the advice of the Vermont Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery Advisory Committee, shall administer the creation, establishment, operation, and maintenance of the Vermont Veterans’ Me…

§ 1584. Cemetery location The Vermont Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery shall be located on approximately 100 acres of land, suitable for cemetery purposes, in the northerly portion of State-owned property known as the Langevin Farm in Randolph, Vermont. (Added 1989, No. 69, § 1, eff. …

§ 1585. Cemetery design The Vermont Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery identified by section 1584 of this title shall be of contemporary design prepared by an experienced cemetery landscape architect, may accommodate approximately 1,000 graves per acre, and shall allow for freedom of ch…

§ 1586. Interment of unclaimed remains of veterans The Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery shall accept and inter the unclaimed remains of an eligible veteran if: (1) a funeral director or crematory operator has determined pursuant to 18 V.S.A. § 5227(c)(2) that interment of the v…

§ 1601. Aid to veterans in need (a) The monies annually available for the purposes of this chapter, or the amount of those monies that is necessary, shall be expended under the supervision of the Vermont Office of Veterans’ Affairs at the direction of the Adjutant and Inspector G…

§ 1605. Veteran education The Office of Veterans’ Affairs may use some, none, or all of the funds to educate veterans in need about programs and benefits that will provide more permanent solutions to their financial situation. Any use of funds for veteran education or program sup…

§ 1701. Term of Vietnam War era For purposes of the Veterans’ Affairs archives, the term of the Vietnam War era shall be July 1, 1958 to May 15, 1975. (Added 1987, No. 25, eff. April 30, 1987.)

§ 1711. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Board” means the Vermont Veterans’ Home Board of Trustees as set forth in section 1713 of this chapter. (2) “Gift” means the trust created by the quitclaim deed of the Trenor W. Park Home for Destitute Children and Women dated Jan…

§ 1712. Vermont Veterans’ Home The Vermont Veterans’ Home is a body corporate and politic and a public instrumentality of the State. The exercise by the Home of the powers conferred by this chapter constitute the performance of essential governmental functions of the State. (Adde…

§ 1713. Vermont Veterans’ Home Board of Trustees (a) The Vermont Veterans’ Home is governed by the Vermont Veterans’ Home Board of Trustees. (b) The Board shall consist of 21 members: (1) Twenty members shall be appointed by the Governor for staggered terms of three years, at lea…

§ 1714. Powers and duties of the Board of Trustees Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Board shall have all powers necessary and convenient for governing the Home, providing services to veterans and other residents of the Home, providing services to veterans living …

§ 1715. President of the Board The President of the Board shall: (1) preside over all meetings of the Board and ensure adherence to bylaws adopted by the Board; (2) act as agent of the Home in the execution of all legal documents pertaining to the Home, as authorized by the Board…

§ 1716. Chief Executive Officer The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief administrative officer of the Home and shall exercise general supervision over the business and affairs of the Home. In addition to other duties, the Chief Executive Officer shall: (1) Attend meetings …

§ 1717. Management of funds (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 1714(2) of this chapter, all funds of the Home, except residents’ funds as described in subsection (e) of this section, shall be held by the State Treasurer and credited to appropriate accounts establis…

§ 1719. Legal actions (a) Except for purposes of collecting charges due under subdivision 1714(3) of this chapter, the Board shall have no independent authority to sue, be sued, complain, or defend in its own name or on behalf of the Home. The Attorney General shall represent the…

§ 1720. Department of Buildings and General Services Unless otherwise directed by the General Assembly, the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services, after consultation with and concurrence of the Board, shall: (1) supervise the engineering, construction, improvement, repai…

§ 1811. Creation of Department There is hereby created a Department of Public Safety for the purpose of consolidating certain existing police and investigating agencies, to promote the detection and prevention of crime generally, and to participate in searches for lost or missing…

§ 1812. Definitions As used in this title, unless otherwise provided: (1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Safety. (2) “Department” means the Department of Public Safety. (3) “Employee” means a person employed by the Department. (4) “Member” means a sworn employee …

§ 1813. Law enforcement duties generally The Department shall, in addition to the other law enforcement duties set forth in this title, administer and enforce the law pertaining to the following subjects: (1) the patrol of highways and the operation of traffic thereon; (2) [Repea…

§ 1814. Cooperation generally The Department shall cooperate and exchange information with any other department or authority of the State or with other police forces, both within and outside this State, including federal authorities, for the purpose of preventing and detecting cr…

§ 1815. Availability of photographic prints or photostatic copies (a) Photographic prints taken by the Department of Public Safety or photostatic copies of investigation reports or other material on file relating to motor vehicle accidents or fires may be furnished to any interes…

§ 1816. Construction This chapter and chapter 113 of this title shall be liberally construed to the end that the criminal laws may be efficiently enforced and offenders promptly and certainly apprehended.

§ 1817. Reports of law enforcement officer; accidents involving alcohol Any law enforcement officer who, upon investigation of a motor vehicle accident or other incident involving the use of alcohol, shall inquire whether the person involved in the accident or incident was served…

§ 1818. Law Enforcement Advisory Board (a) The Law Enforcement Advisory Board is created within the Department of Public Safety to advise the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Governor, and the General Assembly on issues involving the cooperation and coordination of all agencies…

§ 1819. Equipment of officers with video recording devices The Department shall ensure that all members assigned to the Vermont State Police Field Force Division who routinely engage with members of the public related to the enforcement of laws are equipped with a body camera or …

§ 1820. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Missing person” means an individual: (A) whose whereabouts is unknown; and (B)(i) with either a physical disability, a mental disability, or a developmental disability; or (ii) who is an unemancipated minor. (2) “Unemancipated min…

§ 1821. Missing person complaint (a) A person filing a missing person complaint with a law enforcement agency shall provide at a minimum the following information: (1) the name, age, address, and identifying characteristics of the missing person; (2) the length of time the person…

§ 1822. Missing person report Upon receiving a complaint, the law enforcement agency shall promptly prepare a missing person report. The report shall include all information contained in the missing person complaint and any information or evidence gathered by a preliminary invest…

§ 1823. Dissemination of missing person report (a) Upon completion of the report, a copy shall promptly be forwarded to the Commissioner of Public Safety, all law enforcement agencies within the jurisdiction where the missing person lives or was last seen, and other law enforceme…

§ 1824. Searches for missing persons (a) A law enforcement agency shall commence a search for a missing person as soon as a report is received. (b) Any rule specifying an automatic time limitation before commencing a missing person investigation shall be invalid. (c) Notwithstand…

§ 1825. Missing person complaints regarding unemancipated minors If a missing person complaint involves an unemancipated minor, including a runaway child as defined in 13 V.S.A. § 1311, the law enforcement agency shall transmit the report, as soon as it is complete, to the Depart…

§ 1826. False information on missing person A person who knowingly makes a false report of a missing person or knowingly makes a false statement in the report shall be fined not more than $1,000.00. (Added 1985, No. 254 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 4, 1986.)