The bill amends Vermont's laws to enhance the Reach Up program and support for unaccompanied youth. It eliminates the $9,000 asset limit for families in the Reach Up program, allowing the Department to determine eligibility without this restriction. New provisions are introduced regarding Social Security benefits for children in foster care, ensuring these benefits do not offset state costs except for maintaining eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The Department is also required to establish qualified ABLE accounts for children receiving SSI and provide annual accounting of Social Security benefit usage. Additionally, the bill allows unaccompanied youth aged 16 and 17, who are homeless due to severe family dysfunction, to access essential services without parental consent, including identification, health care, and housing.

Further, the legislation reforms the issuance of operator licenses and permits for unaccompanied youth and individuals with disabilities, allowing those with certification under 33 V.S.A. 4908 to receive licenses and motorcycle endorsements at no charge. It also revises transportation regulations for children in custody, emphasizing secure transport only when necessary and prohibiting routine mechanical restraints. The bill establishes strict documentation and reporting requirements for the use of restraints during transport. Additionally, it introduces significant reforms regarding the use of seclusion and physical restraint on children, mandating that these measures be a last resort and requiring immediate release once the risk of harm subsides. The bill also creates a Prenatal Engagement and Family Support Working Group and mandates data collection on restraint practices, with staggered effective dates for various provisions.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 18-5017, 23-115, 23-608, 23-617
As Passed By the House -- Official: 18-5017, 23-115, 23-608, 23-617, 33-1103, 33-4902, 13-1311, 33-5123, 33-5130(l), 33-5130
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 33-1103, 33-4902, 13-1311, 18-5017, 23-115, 23-608, 23-617, 33-5123, 33-5130(l), 33-5130
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 18-5017, 23-115, 23-608, 23-617, 33-1103, 33-4902, 13-1311, 33-5123, 33-5130(l), 33-5130
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 33-1103, 33-4902, 13-1311, 18-5017, 23-115, 23-608, 23-617, 33-5123, 33-5130(l), 33-5130
As Enacted: 33-1103, 33-4902, 13-1311, 18-5017, 23-115, 23-608, 23-617, 33-5123, 33-5130(l), 33-5130