What’s New

• Jurisdiction: Vermont,United States
• Citation: Vol. 45 No. 2 Pg. 24
• Pages: 24
• Publication year: 2019

WHAT’S NEW Vol. 45 No. 2 Pg. 24 Vermont Bar Journal Summer, 2019

VBA Legislative Overview — 2019

by Therese M. Corsones, Esq.

The VBA followed a number of bills affecting the bar and the courts this legislative session. Below is a brief summary of those that have been enacted to date in bill number order; please note that a number of them have July 1, 2019 effective dates. The summary includes the bill designation, act number (if assigned), title, date signed by Governor Scott, effective date, and an indication of any VBA Connect Communities where information about the bill was posted during the legislative session. A link to each bill is included with each summary.

Many thanks to VBA Government Relations Coordinator Bob Paolini for so ably tracking these and a variety of other bills affecting the bar, and for making sure that testimony was provided when needed. Many thanks, also, to the numerous lawyers who testified so capably, when needed. Please contact Teri Corsones at tcor-sones@vtbar.org if you have any questions about this overview.

H. 278 – Act 24 “Parentage” bill (an act relating to acknowledgment or denial of parentage); signed by Governor Scott on May 16, 2019; Sections 1–3 and 7 are effective on passage, remaining sections are effective on July 1, 2019. (VBA Family Law Community)

• Clarification of timing for rescission of denial or acknowledgement of parentage

• Clarification of circumstances regarding the release of parentage information

• Clarification of certain details of parentage forms and parentage orders

https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2020/Docs/ACTS/ACT024/ ACT024%20As%20Enacted.pdf

H. 287 – Act 36 “Small probate estates” bill (an act relating to small probate estates); signed by Governor Scott on May 28, 2019; effective on July 1, 2019. (VBA Probate Law Community)

• Small estate limit raised from $10,000 to $45,000

• Estate must consist entirely of personal property; time share property may be allowed

• Listing of what needs to be fled

• Interested parties have 14 days to object

• Letters of administration effective for one year

• Spells out process if small estate insolvent

https://legislature.vermont.gov/ Documents/2020/Docs/BILLS/H-0287/H-0287%20As%20Passed%20by%20 Both%20House%20and%20Senate%20Un-offcial.pdf

H. 330 – Act 37 “Repeal of Statute of Limitations” bill (an act relating to repealing the statute of limitations for civil actions based on childhood sexual abuse); signed by Governor Scott on May 28, 2019; effective on July 1, 2019 (VBA Practice and Procedure Community)

• Repeal of statute of limitations for civil actions based on childhood sexual abuse

• Felony sexual exploitation of a minor added to definition of childhood sexual abuse

• Repeal applies retroactively to abuse that occurred prior to July 1, 2019

•...