House passes bill letting unaccompanied homeless youth obtain services without parental consent after amendment

The Vermont House passed H657, an act enabling unaccompanied homeless youth to obtain certain services without parental consent, after adopting an amendment designed to tighten immunity language and correct statutory oversights.

Representative Arsenal (House, Williston), who spoke for the House Judiciary Committee, said the amendment narrows the bill’s immunity-from-liability provision so that professionals may “rely in good faith on a certification form presented by a person who claims to be a certified unaccompanied youth” and that those professionals will be immune from liability for such reliance. Arsenal also said the amendment expands coverage to services that are not strictly contractual in nature so the language matches the bill’s purposes.

The amendment also addressed a drafting issue identified by the Office of the Child, Youth and Family Advocate. Under the change, certain certified shelter providers remain exempt from parts of a statute that otherwise criminalizes knowingly taking, enticing, or harboring a runaway child, while the amendment preserves criminal liability where a provider knowingly takes or harbors a child with the intent to commit a criminal act.

The House Committee on Human Services reported the amendment favorable and the body adopted the amendment. The House then voted on third reading and passed H657 by voice vote.

Supporters framed the measure as a practical step to clear barriers that can prevent homeless youth from accessing health care, shelter and other services when parental involvement is not available. Sponsors said the amendment strikes a balance between protecting service providers acting in good faith and preserving remedies when bad actors are involved.

The bill’s full text and the adopted amendment were posted to the House overview page and paper copies were made available to members; the clerk recorded passage on third reading.