§ 61. Election
A Sergeant at Arms shall be elected biennially by the Senate and House of Representatives
in joint assembly.
§ 62. Legislative duties
(a) The Sergeant at Arms shall:
(1) execute orders of either house, the Joint Legislative Management Committee, the Committee
on Joint Rules, or the House or Senate Committee on Rules;
(2) maintain order among spectators and take measures to prevent interruption of either
house or any committee thereof;
(3) arrange for special meetings and conferences at the State House;
(4) provide for the distribution of mail to all legislators;
(5) schedule the time for the use of rooms for committee meetings and hearings;
(6) maintain the State House and its furnishings in good repair in consultation with the
State Curator;
(7) provide for the establishment of a cafeteria and supervise its operation;
(8) provide security for the State House, pursuant to the responsibilities set forth in
29 V.S.A. § 171; and
(9) perform such other duties for the benefit of the legislators as may be required by
any duly authorized committee thereof.
(b) The Sergeant at Arms or any person employed by the Sergeant at Arms shall not accept
any compensation or gift for the services of the Sergeant at Arms or any of the employee’s
services other than the Sergeant at Arms’ or the employee’s salary, respectively.
Any person who violates this provision shall be fined $25.00.
(c) The Sergeant at Arms shall not be responsible for:
(1) structural repairs or capital improvements to the State House building;
(2) the maintenance of the State House building;
(3) curating the historic State House and its collections; or
(4) the use, upkeep, or maintenance of the State House grounds.
(d) The Sergeant at Arms and employees of the Sergeant at Arms shall seek guidance from
and operate in accordance with policies adopted by the Joint Legislative Management
Committee. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 47, eff. March 1, 1961; 1961, No. 231, § 1, eff. July 25, 1961; 1971, No. 213 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 3, 1972; 1999, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 45, eff. May 24, 2000; 2017, No. 84, § 24, eff. June 16, 2017; 2019, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2021, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. May 31, 2022.)
§ 63. Repealed. 2019, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.
§ 64. Employment of assistants; Capitol Police
(a) The Sergeant at Arms may employ assistants, custodians, doorkeepers, guides, messengers,
mail and room assignment clerks, security personnel, pages, and other staff as needed
to carry out the Sergeant at Arms’ duties, except that requests for new, permanent
positions shall be subject to the approval of the Joint Legislative Management Committee.
The Sergeant at Arms shall also appoint Capitol Police officers as set forth in section
70 of this chapter.
(b) All individuals employed by the Sergeant at Arms shall be subject to the personnel
policies adopted by the Joint Legislative Management Committee.
(c) The provisions of 3 V.S.A. chapter 13 (classification of State personnel) shall not apply to employees of the Sergeant
at Arms unless this exception is partially or wholly waived by the Joint Legislative
Management Committee. (Added 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 49, eff. March 1, 1961; amended 1971, No. 213 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 3, 1972; 1975, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 8; 1977, No. 109, § 26, eff. July 3, 1977; 1979, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 4a; 1995, No. 13, § 1; 1997, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 44; 1999, No. 29, § 47, eff. May 19, 1999; 2011, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2019, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§§ 65, 66. Repealed. 1999, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 48, eff. May 24, 2000.
§ 67. Deputy Sergeant at Arms
The Chief Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives shall be ex officio Deputy Sergeant
at Arms. (Added 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 52, eff. March 1, 1961.)
§ 68. Budget
The Sergeant at Arms shall propose a budget for the Office of Sergeant at Arms to
the Joint Legislative Management Committee. (Added 2019, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 70. Capitol Police Department
(a) Creation. The Capitol Police Department is created within the Office of the Sergeant at Arms.
The Sergeant at Arms shall appoint and may remove, at his or her pleasure, individuals
as Capitol Police officers, one of whom shall be appointed to serve as Chief. All
such positions shall be exempt State employees. The Chief shall supervise the officer
force under the direction of the Sergeant at Arms. Such appointments and all oaths
or affirmations shall be in writing and filed with the Sergeant at Arms. An officer
shall also serve as a Deputy Sergeant at Arms and as a notary public pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 442.
(b) Powers; training.
(1) A Capitol Police officer shall have all the same powers and authority as sheriffs
and other law enforcement officers anywhere in the State, which shall include the
authority to arrest persons and enforce the civil and criminal laws, keep the peace,
provide security, and serve civil and criminal process. For this purpose, a Capitol
Police officer shall subscribe to the same oaths required for sheriffs.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a Capitol Police officer
shall be a Level II or Level III law enforcement officer certified by the Vermont
Criminal Justice Council pursuant to the provisions of 20 V.S.A. chapter 151, except that the Chief of the Capitol Police shall be a Level III certified law enforcement
officer.
(c) Coordination of Capitol Complex security. The Capitol Police Department shall provide security within the State House and assist
the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services in providing security and law enforcement
services within the Capitol Complex, pursuant to the memorandum of understanding required
by 29 V.S.A. § 171(f).
(d) Training; equipment. At State expense and with the approval of the Sergeant at Arms, Capitol Police officers
shall be provided with training and furnished uniforms and equipment necessary in
the performance of their duties, and such items shall remain the property of the State.
(e) Strategic plan. The Sergeant at Arms, in consultation with the Chief, shall prepare, maintain, and
update, at least biennially, a strategic plan for the Capitol Police Department, which
shall be subject to review and approval by the Joint Legislative Management Committee. (Added 1999, No. 29, § 46, eff. May 19, 1999; amended 1999, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 46, eff. May 24, 2000; 2011, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2013, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. July 1, 2015; 2015, No. 2, § 1, eff. March 12, 2015; 2015, No. 2, § 2; 2015, No. 88 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 6, 2016; 2017, No. 87 (Adj. Sess.), § 56, eff. Feb. 13, 2018; 2019, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 71. Redesignated. 2019, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 11(a).