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Committee advances S227 requiring school immigration protocols, model policies and resource guides
Summary
The committee reviewed a revised S227 establishing model administrative procedures and a model policy (AOE by Jan. 1, 2027), requiring superintendents to cultivate relationships with immigration‑legal advocates, and directing AOE to publish a resource guide; the committee voted to report the bill favorably to the next stage.
The Senate Education Committee reviewed a revised draft of S227 on March 10 and voted to report the bill favorably out of committee.
Legislative counsel summarized changes to the draft, including a broadened definition of a "non‑public area" of a school, new language asking superintendents to foster relationships with immigration‑legal or advocacy institutions to assist students (including in cases when a guardian is detained), and the replacement of the term "legal pupil" with "student" to ensure consistent language.
Under the draft, the Agency of Education (AOE), in consultation with the Vermont School Boards Association, Vermont Independent Schools, and the Vermont Superintendents Association, must develop model administrative procedures and a model policy by Jan. 1, 2027. The draft also requires an immigration resource guide that lists advocacy organizations and includes information on standby guardianship under 14 V.S.A. A7 2626a.
The bill clarifies on‑site law‑enforcement procedures: superintendents (or their designees) must ensure law enforcement have a warrant to enter a school on an immigration‑related matter. The draft leaves room for local districts to adopt the AOE model or to develop their own policies consistent with the statutory requirements.
Jill Martin Diaz of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project told the committee she had reviewed the new language and found it appropriately inclusive of situations where young people may need immigration‑related legal support. "I think this looks great," she said, offering herself as a resource.
Outcome: The committee agreed to report S227 favorably. During the parliamentary sequence several senators recorded "Yes" and a member volunteered to shepherd the bill and produce a clean, editable copy for workshop drafting and future hearings.
Next steps: The bill will move from committee with a favorable report; AOE and stakeholder groups will have work to do to prepare the model policy and administrative procedures by the January 2027 deadline specified in the draft.
