The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
(Cite as: 33 V.S.A. § 7510)
-
§ 7510. Legal assistance
(a)(1) A contract for Ombudsman services shall require the Ombudsman program to secure adequate
legal counsel that is available, has competencies relevant to the legal needs of the
Ombudsman program and of residents, and is without conflict of interest, in order
to:
(A) provide consultation and representation as needed to enable the Ombudsman program
to protect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents; and
(B) provide consultation or representation, or both, as needed to assist the Ombudsman
and representatives of the Office in the performance of their official functions,
responsibilities, and duties, including complaint resolution and systems advocacy.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, if the Ombudsman
or representatives of the Office are State employees, the Office of the Attorney General
shall provide legal representation and advice to the Ombudsman and the representatives
of the Office.
(b) Legal representation of the Ombudsman program by the Ombudsman or a representative
of the Office who is a licensed attorney shall not by itself constitute adequate legal
counsel. (Added 1989, No. 251 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1993, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2017, No. 23, § 1.)