New laws affect boaters, smokers, others

The Legislature passed dozens of laws last winter, and many take effect Tuesday.

July 1, the start of the state's new fiscal year, also is the default date for laws to become effective, although plenty of measures have alternative starting dates.

Two high-profile laws with alternative effect dates are the ban on driving while using electronic devices including cellphones, which takes effect Oct. 1, and the mandate on labeling GMO foods, which is delayed until July 2016.

The fattest law to take effect on July 1 each year is always the one that details all the appropriations to run state government, but many other pieces of legislation will affect Vermonters.

Those who are canoeing or boating on Vermont's lakes and ponds on these warm days will face penalties if they toss litter into the water. If you carry something aboard a watercraft, carry the item off.

Owners of property on lakes and ponds face new restrictions on development under a law intended to protect water quality, enhance wildlife habitat and reduce erosion and flood damage.

This being the time of year when many Vermonters spend time outdoors in tick habitat, residents now could benefit from a law that gives doctors and other health-care providers greater protection from disciplinary action should they choose to offer an array of treatment options to patients they are treating for Lyme disease.

Smokers need to pay attention where they light up. New bans take effect on smoking in hotels, schools, within 25 feet of state buildings and in vehicles when a young child is a passenger. They also will pay 13 cents more per pack. The total state tax will now be $2.75. Taxes on snuff and smokeless tobacco increase, too.

Whistleblowers alleging waste, fraud, abuse or public-safety threats by state officials or contractors might feel less vulnerable because of a new law requiring their names remain confidential unless they consent to the public release of their identities.

Public boards now have clearer direction about when they may go into closed sessions, under what circumstances they could conduct meetings electronically and what information they need to include on agendas.

In the health-care world, a faster legal process for decisions on involuntary medication takes effect, which supporters hope will reduce the length of time some patients wait without medication in hospitals.

The state's Medicaid program must now cover telemonitoring services performed by qualified health-care providers for people with serious or chronic medical conditions that could result in frequent hospitalizations.

Organizations that process and pay prescription-drug claims for insurance companies must pay pharmacies every two weeks.

Dairy farmers can sell their raw milk at farmers markets if they are the vendors.

A law change will allow for the possibility that those running massage parlors could be charged with human trafficking if they force foreign women to perform any sort of sexual act with clients.

All those who like to barbecue might notice that small propane canisters used for grills now are subject to a sales tax, not the fuels gross receipt tax.

Contact Nancy Remsen at 578-5685 or nremsen@freepressmedia.com. Follow Nancy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nancybfp.