Act No. 124 Page 1 of 1
2024
This act summary is provided for the convenience of the public and members of the General Assembly. It
is intended to provide a general summary of the act and may not be exhaustive. It has been prepared by the
staff of the Office of Legislative Counsel without input from members of the General Assembly. It is not
intended to aid in the interpretation of legislation or to serve as a source of legislative intent.
Act No. 124 (H.872). An act relating to miscellaneous updates to the powers of the
Vermont Criminal Justice Council and the duties of law enforcement officers
Subjects: Internal security and public safety; Vermont Criminal Justice Council;
unprofessional conduct
This act makes miscellaneous updates to the powers of the Vermont Criminal Justice
Council and the duties of law enforcement officers.
Specifically, this act modifies what constitutes Category B Conduct, replacing the
various enumerated subcategories of misconduct with a statewide policy named the “Law
Enforcement Officers’ Code of Conduct” (“Code”). The Vermont Criminal Justice
Council shall, by December 31, 2024, create the Code by rule in accordance with the
Vermont Administrative Procedure Act (3 V.S.A. chapter 25), although the Code’s
parameters and content are dictated by statute (20 V.S.A. § 2371). The Code will apply
to each law enforcement officer in the State, and compliance with the Code is a condition
for obtaining and maintaining law enforcement certification. The Code, pursuant to
20 V.S.A. § 2371, shall prohibit “Category A” criminal conduct, untruthfulness, misuse
of official position, discrimination and biased enforcement, unlawful use of force while
on duty or under the authority of the State, and domestic violence while on duty or off
duty.
The act also amends 20 V.S.A. § 2407 (limitation on Council sanctions) so that the
Vermont Criminal Justice Council may sanction a law enforcement officer for a first
violation of the Code (Category B conduct) only to the extent the sanction does not
surpass any disciplinary action taken by the law enforcement agency for the same alleged
conduct. The Council, however, may impose a greater sanction if: (1) the law
enforcement officer is terminated for the same alleged conduct or resigns; (2) the alleged
conduct is committed by a law enforcement agency’s executive officer; (3) pursuant to
20 V.S.A. § 2408, the law enforcement agency fails to conduct a valid investigation of
the alleged conduct; or (4) the disciplinary action taken against the law enforcement
officer by the law enforcement agency is clearly unreasonable.
Multiple effective dates, beginning on May 29, 2024
VT LEG #377673 v.2


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 20-2355, 20-2401, 20-2407
As Passed By the House -- Official: 20-2355, 20-2401, 20-2407
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 20-2355, 20-2401, 20-2407
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 20-2355, 20-2401, 20-2407
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 20-2355, 20-2401, 20-2407
As Enacted: 20-2355, 20-2401, 20-2407