Section 3436 - Assessment education(a) The Director shall certify assessment education programs for municipal listers and assessors at convenient times and places during the year and is authorized to contract with one or more persons to provide part or all of the assessment instruction. Certified programs shall include education on racial disparities in property valuation outcomes in the United States, with a focus on Vermont in particular, and on-going bias reduction training. Certified programs may include instruction in lister duties, property inspection, data collection, valuation methods, mass appraisal techniques, property tax administration, or such other subjects as the Director deems beneficial to listers and both mandatory and optional certified programs may be presented by Property Valuation and Review or a person pursuant to a contract with Property Valuation and Review, the International Association of Assessing Officials, the Vermont Assessors and Listers Association, or the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.(b) The Director shall establish designations recognizing levels of achievement and the necessary course work or evaluation of equivalent experience required to attain each designation. Designation for any one level shall be for a period of three years.(c) Designation obtained under subsection (b) of this section may be renewed for three-year periods upon completion of requirements as determined by the Director.(d) The Director shall also notify all towns annually of any new approaches that the Division of Property Valuation and Review is aware of for obtaining or performing mass reappraisals and for grand list maintenance.(e) A sum not to exceed $100,000.00 each year shall be paid from the Education Fund to the Division of Property Valuation and Review for the purpose of providing assessment education for municipal listers and assessors. The Director is authorized to establish guidelines and requirements for education programs to be provided using the funds described in this section. Education programs provided using funds described in this section shall be provided at no cost or minimal cost to the municipal listers and assessors. In addition to providing the annual education programs described in this section, up to 20 percent of the amount available for education programs may be reserved as a scholarship fund to permit municipal listers and assessors to attend national programs providing education opportunities on advanced assessment topics. All applications for scholarships shall be submitted to and approved by the Director.Amended by 2023 , No. 68, § 6, eff. 7/1/2023.Added 2005, No. 38, § 3, eff. 6/2/2005; amended 2013, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. 6/4/2014; 2015 , No. 57, § 39, eff. 6/11/2015.