Merit Institute Merit

The Vermont Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (VT-ACSA)

Vermont state companion to ACSA. Extends licensure recognition under 26 V.S.A., the Vermont State Colleges / Agency of Education, the Vermont Department of Labor, and 32 V.S.A. credits, with labor-protective worker provisions.

THE VERMONT WORKER-MERIT CREDENTIALING ACT (VT-ACSA)

Vehicle: State passage. Vermont General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Commerce and Economic Development / Government Operations / Ways and Means / Finance.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Vermont Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (VT-ACSA).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that Vermont occupational licensure operates under 26 V.S.A.; that the Vermont State Colleges System operates under 16 V.S.A. Chapter 72; that the Vermont Department of Labor operates under 21 V.S.A.; that 32 V.S.A. authorizes tax credits; and that 21 V.S.A. provides labor protections. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH VERMONT LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Vermont Recognized Merit Credential” or “VTRMC” means a competency-based credential designated by the Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System in coordination with the Commissioner of Labor under Sec. 201.
  2. (b) “Federal FRAC” means a Federally Recognized Alternative Credential under Section 202 of the federal ACSA.
  3. (c) “Covered State licensing authority” means a board under 26 V.S.A.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Vermont Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • 26 V.S.A. (licensing).
  • 16 V.S.A. Chapter 72 (VSCS).
  • 21 V.S.A. (labor).
  • 32 V.S.A. (taxation).

TITLE II — VERMONT RECOGNIZED MERIT CREDENTIALS

Sec. 201. Designation Authority

  1. (a) The Vermont State Colleges System, in coordination with the Department of Labor, shall maintain a Vermont Recognized Merit Credentials registry (“VTRMC Registry”) in machine-readable form, updated at least annually, crosswalked to Federal FRAC.

Sec. 202. Degree-Optional State Employment

  1. (a) The Department of Human Resources, acting under 3 V.S.A. Chapter 13 (state employees), shall apply classifications so that a VTRMC-holder satisfies any position qualification stated in terms of a college degree, unless expressly required by Vermont statute.

TITLE III — WORKFORCE-TRAINING TAX CREDIT (Worker-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 301. Skills-Based Hiring Tax Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to 32 V.S.A. equal to a percentage of qualified first-year wages paid to a Vermont-resident employee whose qualifying pathway is a VTRMC or Federal FRAC.
  2. (b) Credit availability is conditioned on compliance with 21 V.S.A. including prevailing-wage where applicable.
  3. (c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45AA; aggregate cap.
  4. (d) Department of Taxes administers.

TITLE IV — OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE PORTABILITY

Sec. 401. Licensure by Demonstrated Competency

  1. (a) Demonstrated-competency pathway accepting VTRMC, Federal FRAC, or examination-plus-supervised-experience, subject to public health and safety requirements.

Sec. 402. Interstate Recognition for Federal-Fund Recipients

  1. (a) Recognition by federally-funded authorities, consistent with Section 401 of the federal ACSA.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on July 1 of the year following enactment, except that Sec. 301 shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: ACSA. Other Vermont bills: VT-MEWRA, VT-GT&P, VT-AI-Workforce.