VCDR 2021 Weekly Summary of Legislative Activities, Committee Agendas and Calendar of Events
May 2 – May 6
Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights
Legislature
**NEW** The Legislature is moving toward the end of the 2021 session. Both the House and the Senate have passed their version of the FY 2022 Budget (H.439) and they will now begin to work out the difference. The Governor and his Administration do not agree with the Legislature has already begin to allocate the new Federal American Recovery Act Plan funds (ARPA). That will also need to be resolved in the next few weeks.
The Legislature reconvened on Wednesday January 6of this year. This is the first year of the new biennium with newly elected Representatives and Senators along with those returning to the legislature, new leadership in the House and Senate, and a new Lt Governor.
The Legislature made a decision to meet remotely, as they have since March of 2020 for the remainder of this legislative year. Although there certainly have been some technology issues and other with meeting remotely, for the most part all legislative meetings can be accessed remotely. This included the respective caucus, floor sessions of the House and Senate, legislative committees and other special committees. (See links below)
The work to combat the ongoing Coronavirus health and economic crisis continues to be on the front burner for the Scott Administration and the Legislature, as it was last year. House and Senate Leadership are tackling other key issues as well.
The ongoing crisis a has only heightened the precarious situations many Vermonters face: low income children accessing the internet for remote learning; food insecurity and isolation for the elderly and those with disabilities; loss of income and/or those needing to work for low wages on the front lines with few safety measures; housing; healthcare and many equity issues. The Work this session continues to help stabilize low income families in the short term and include all Vermonters in the recovery efforts.
The legislature addressed a number of these issues during the extended session last year with the help of substantial federal funds and existing state revenues, and the focus this session will again be COVID recovery efforts. There are some additional federal funds passed in H.R. 133 already authorized in December (see link below).
President Joe Biden and Congress have passed a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill – the “American Rescue Plan Act”. For Vermont the bill includes:
- 89% of Vermont households will be receiving a direct payment – 428,000 adults and 145,000 kids in Vermont will be receiving direct payments averaging $2,230 per household.
- The bill increases the child tax credit from $2,000 to $3,000 and to $3,600 for families with kids under the age of 6. This will help over 143,000 children in Vermont.
- $1.35 billion in COVID-relief will be going to the state of Vermont and local governments
- $152 million in rent and utility relief will be going to Vermonters who owe thousands of dollars in back rent.
- $50 million in mortgage assistance will be going to struggling Vermont homeowners
- $27 million will be provided to Vermont for vaccine distribution.
- Vermont will also receive a substantial increase in funding for summer school and after school programs, community health centers, mass transit and many other vital programs. (See articles below)
There is a dispute between the Administration and the Legislature on the use of the American Rescue Plan Act funding. The legislature has incorporated and allocated some of this funding in legislation. The Governor has indicated he wants to “invest federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money in a truly strategic and fully transparent way, preferably in a single piece of legislation.” The Legislature has begun to use it in a number of different areas before the Governor’s proposals have been completely reviewed. He has sent a letter suggesting that the House, the Senate and the Administration should all agree on how to spend the ARPA funds.
**NEW** The House and Senate have passed their version of the FY 2022 Budget presented by the Governor in January. They will work out the differences in the next few weeks along with key policy bills. The bill begins to use some of the additional federal stimulus dollars in the America Rescue Plan Act. The Legislature is beginning to wind down and finalize their business for the 2021 session.
The House and Senate passed another COVID Relief Bill (H.315). The governor let the bill go into law without his signature because he disagrees with some elements of the legislation, but wanted some the COVID relief to get out soon. The House passed an Economic Development and Workforce bill 2 weeks ago (H.159) that is now moving through the Senate. Senate Appropriations has folders all the spending in H.159 into the FY 2022 Budget.
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***VCDR PLATFORM***
Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights 2021 Legislative Platform
Attached
VCDR Website: www.VCDR.org
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***Featured LEGISLATIVE UPDATES ***
MadFreedom is a human and civil rights advocacy organization whose mission is to secure political power to end discrimination and oppression of people based on perceived mental state. Each week, MadFreedom curates a calendar of committee hearings in the Vermont legislature that concern issues of interest to psychiatric survivors and/or social justice advocates.
**NEW** Link to this week’s calendar: 04/26/2021 – https://mcusercontent.com/4c0f316156312742402b0121c/files/bd7b41e8-2f9c-448f-aec7-97b48c6621ee/2021May3_CuratedCalendar.pdf
**NEW** Vermont Cares Partners – April 27, 2021
https://vermontcarepartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Legislative-Update-for-April-27-2021.pdf
Legislative View – Vermont Care Partners
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***LAST WEEK***
The full Senate passed their version of the FY 2022 Budget – H. 439 – An act relating to making appropriations for the support of government on Monday. (See new documents below)
The full Senate passed H.210 – An act relating to addressing disparities and promoting equity in the health care system, in concurrence with proposal of amendment.
S.100 Universal school breakfast and lunch for all public school students S.100: Draft 2.1, 4-2-2021
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***THIS WEEK***
On Tuesday, May 3 the House Committee on Commerce will hold a joint hearing with House Committee on Government Operations to listen to employees and employers in Vermont about the issues faced with unemployment insurance during the COVID pandemic.
To register as a speaker at the hearing, please sign up here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/links/public-hearing-unemployment
Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and testimony time will be limited to two minutes per person.
To view the live stream of the hearing, go to https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/shared-joint-committees.
On Tuesday the House Health Care Committee will discuss Children and Mental Health Testimony on the crisis of children waiting in emergency departments for psychiatric beds.
Article: State to propose solutions for kids stuck in emergency rooms By Katie Jickling Apr 29 2021 https://vtdigger.org/2021/04/29/state-to-propose-solutions-for-kids-stuck-in-emergency-rooms-waiting-for-mental-health-care/aiting for mental health care
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***LEGISLATIVE PAGES***
Legislature Website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/
Announcements – Caucuses, Meetings and Streaming Links:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/home/noteworthy/announcements/
Complete Schedule of Legislative Committee Agendas: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/weeklyAgendas/2022
House and Senate Committee Pages: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/document/2022/9/Date/1-15-2021#documents-section
All committees can be viewed through you tube LIVE STREAM. You can find the link on the committee’s page or the agenda.
House and Senate Floor Times: (Times are subject to change)
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***SELECTED LEGISLATION and TESTIMONY ***
| **NEW** H. 439 – An act relating to making appropriations for the support of government. In Calendar: 4/30/2021- P. 741 |
Https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/JOURNAL/sj210430.pdf#page=39
**NEW** STEPHANIE BARRETT, JFO
- H.439: General Fund Onetime Appropriations Summary
2022/WorkGroups/Senate Appropriations/Bills/H.439- H.439: ARPA State Fiscal Funding Summary by Category
2022/WorkGroups/Senate Appropriations/Bills/H.439
- H.439: ARPA State Fiscal Funding Summary by Category
- STEPHANIE BARRETT, JFO
**NEW** J.R.H. 6 – Joint resolution relating to racism as a public health emergency https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/RESOLUTN/JRH006/JRH006%20As%20Introduced.pdf
- BOR YANG
- JRH 6: As Introduced
- JRH 6: Source List
**NEW** H.46 – An act relating to miscellaneous provisions of mental health law https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0046/H-0046%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20House%20Unofficial.pdf
H.46 proposes to require patients who voluntarily wish to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital to consent to such in writing; requires the Department of Mental Health to oversee and collect information and report on data regarding the use of emergency involuntary procedures for patients admitted to a psychiatric unit regardless of whether the patient is under the care and custody of the Commissioner; and report data on the number of individuals seeking voluntary inpatient psychiatric care, the number admitted involuntarily and their lengths of stay.
H. 243 – An act relating to the Working Group on Services for Adults with Autism https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0243/H-0243%20As%20Introduced.pdf
H.232: Racial Housing and Wealth Inequality and Discrimination
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0232/H-0232%20As%20Introduced.pdf
- STEPHANIE SEGUINO UVM – RaciaL Barriers to Home Ownership H.232: Racial Housing and Wealth Inequality and Discrimination
J.R.H. 6 – Joint resolution relating to racism as a public health emergency https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/RESOLUTN/JRH006/JRH006%20As%20Introduced.pdf
H.265 – OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE
- Nolan Langweil, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office – Fiscal Note – As Recommended by HHS
- Strike-all Amendment – Draft 10.3 – 4-15-2021 – House Committee on Human Services
S.16 An act relating to the creation of the Task Force on School Exclusionary Discipline Reform S.16: As Passed by the Senate In House Appropriations
S.16 proposes to create the School Discipline Advisory Council to collect and analyze data regarding school discipline in Vermont public and approved independent schools in order to inform strategic planning, guide statewide and local decision making and resource allocation, and measure the effectiveness of statewide and local policies and practices.
S. 120 – An act relating to the Joint Legislative Health Care Affordability Study Committee S.120: As Introduced and
S. 132 – An act relating to health care reform implementation
H.315 COVID-19 Relief Bill – The bill became law without the Governor’s signature.
This bill spends or reserves one-time funds of $29,502,500 general funds; $5,000,000 new Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF); $59,048,000 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and $4,000,000 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSR). In addition, there is $3,200,000 Reallocated and Reauthorized CRF.
J.R.H. 2 Joint resolution sincerely apologizing and expressing sorrow and regret to all individual Vermonters and their families and descendants who were harmed as a result of State-sanctioned eugenics policies and practices. Adopted by the House – Currently in Senate Government Operations
In addition to apologizing and expressing sorrow, the resolution also resolves that the “General Assembly recognizes that further legislative action should be taken to address the continuing impact of State-sanctioned eugenics policies and related practices of disenfranchisement, ethnocide, and genocide.”
The Vermont House supported a resolution that formally apologizes for the General Assembly’s role in the Vermont eugenics movement. The resolution passed unanimously. You can watch the presentation /debate here: here: https://youtu.be/GhrmKVRZF0c?t=512
H. 145 – An act relating to amending the standards for law enforcement use of force https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0145/H-0145%20As%20passed%20by%20the%20House%20Official.pdf
H.145, as passed by the House, creates a new definition of a chokehold and clarifies that law enforcement may use a chokehold when lethal force is justified.
S. 3 – An act relating to competency to stand trial and insanity as a defense As passed by the Senate – In House Judiciary
S.3 proposes several measures related to criminal proceedings involving the defendant’s sanity at the time the offense was committed or the defendant’s competency to stand trial for the offense.
H.101: An act relating to the implementation of 2018 Acts and Resolves No. 173 by providing grant funding to build systems-driven, sustainable literacy support for all students with measurable outcomes As Passed the House, in Senate Education
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***JOINT FISCAL INFORMATION***
Joint Fiscal Page: https://ljfo.vermont.gov/
Subjects (Budgets): https://ljfo.vermont.gov/subjects/appropriations-and-budget
FY 2022 Budget – FY 2022 Budget – House Appropriations
H.439 – FY 2022 Budget Bill – Highlights of House Appropriations Committee Proposal
H.439 – An act relating to making appropriations for the support of government Numbers and Language
H.439 – FY 2022 Budget – One-time Lists – House Appropriations Committee
FY 2022 House Budget Web Report
AMERICA RESUE PLAN ACT Summary
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***COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS***
House and Senate Committee Pages: https://legislature.vermont.gov/
Weekly Committee Agendas: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/weeklyAgendas/2022
Below please find highlight of House and Senate Committees this week. You can go to any committee page to find documents, bills, and testimony by date, witness, bill numbers and key word searches.
**New** Senate morning committee will likely shut down at the end of this week, and meet only on a need to know basis.
HOUSE COMMITTEES
House Committee on Appropriations: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/9
On Tuesday and through the week the House Committee on Appropriations will review H. 439 – An act relating to making appropriations for the support of government, as passed by the Senate and other items in the Budget.
House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/11
On Tuesday the committee will take up S. 10 – An act relating to extending certain unemployment insurance provisions related to COVID-19 and Tuesday evening they will hold a joint hearing with House Committee on Government Operations to listen to employees and employers in Vermont about the issues faced with unemployment insurance during the COVID pandemic.
Bills in Committee:
S. 62 – An act relating to creating incentives for new remote and relocation workers
Bills voted out of Committee:
H. 159 – An act relating to creating the Better Places Program. This bill will become the Committee’s Economic Development Bill. As passed by the House.
House Committee on Corrections and Institutions: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/17
Most of the week the committee will take up H. 438 – An act relating to capital construction and State bonding
Other Bills in Committee:
S.3 An act relating to competency to stand trial and insanity as a defense and discuss Justice System Revisions discuss
S.3 An act relating to competency to stand trial and insanity as a defense –As passed by the Senate https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/S-0003/S-0003%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20Senate%20Unofficial.pdf
S. 18 – An act relating to limiting earned good time sentence reductions for offenders convicted of certain crimes
H. 435 – An act relating to miscellaneous Department of Corrections-related amendments. This bill proposes to make 6 miscellaneous changes regarding the Department of Corrections, including the organizational structure, practices for hiring, training, certifying, and disciplining employees, and authorizes the use of body cameras for correctional officers.
House Committee on Education: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/10
On Wednesday the committee will hear from the director of Rights and Democracy Vermont (RADVT) and also take up the quality of Education and H. 426 – An act relating to addressing the needs and conditions of public school facilities in the State on Thursday.
Other bills in Committee:
S. 114 – An act relating to improving prekindergarten through grade 12 literacy within the State
Bills voted out of committee:
H.101 – An act relating to the implementation of 2018 Acts and Resolves No. 173 by providing grant funding to build systems-driven, sustainable literacy support for all
(Act No. 173 (H.897of 2018). Education; special education funding – an act relating to enhancing the effectiveness, availability, and equity of services provided to students who require additional support).
H.101 As passed by the House
Other Bills in committee:
S. 16 – An act relating to the creation of the Task Force on School Exclusionary Discipline Reform.
S. 115 – An act relating to making miscellaneous changes in education laws
House Committee on Energy and Technology: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/19
On Thursday the committee will take up H. 263 – An act relating to State development, use, and procurement of automated decision systems and H. 410 – An act relating to the creation of the Artificial Intelligence
H.263 proposes to require (1) the Secretary of Digital Services to conduct a review and inventory of all automated decision systems that are developed, used, or procured by the State; H.410 proposes to create the Artificial Intelligence Commission to support the ethical use and development of artificial intelligence in the State.
House Committee on General, Housing, and Military Affairs: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/13
On Tuesday the committee will take up S. 79 – An act relating to improving rental housing health and safety each day of the week and on Wednesday hear from Rights and Democracy Vermont (RADVT). On Thursday the committee will discuss Housing and hear a Presentation on a variety of housing solutions in the State
S.79 As Recommended by the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs
Bills in committee:
H. 232 – An act relating to promoting land and home ownership and economic opportunity.
H.232 An act relating to promoting land and home ownership and economic opportunity. https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0232/H-0232%20As%20Introduced.pdf
H. 273 – An act relating to promoting racial and social equity in land access and property ownership and
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0273/H-0273%20As%20Introduced.pdf
H. 96 – An act relating to creating the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Development Task Force H.96: As Introduced
House Committee on Government Operations: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/14
On Tuesday and the rest of the week the committee will take up S. 25 – An act relating to miscellaneous cannabis regulation procedures and on Tuesday evening they will hold a Joint Public Hearing with House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to listen to employees and employers in Vermont about the issues faced with unemployment insurance during the COVID pandemic.
Bills in committee:
S. 107 – An act relating to confidential information concerning the initial arrest and charge of a juvenile
Prop 2 – Declaration of rights; clarifying the prohibition on slavery and indentured servitude
S. 15 – An act relating to correcting defective ballots
Bills voted out of committee:
H. 196 – An act relating to supporting the work of the Executive Director of Racial Equity H.196: As Recommended by House Committee on Government Operations
H. 293 – An act relating to creating the State Youth Council
H.293: As Recommended by House Committee on Government Operations
House Committee on Health Care
https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/15g
On Tuesday the committee will take up H. 46 – An act relating to miscellaneous provisions of mental health law, and hear testimony on Children and Mental Health and the crisis in children waiting in emergency departments for psychiatric beds from the Department of Mental Health, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA), Department for Children and Families and Developmental Disabilities Services Division, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living.
On Thursday the committee will hear about the Emergency Housing Proposal in a joint hearing with House Committee on Human Services.
Bills voted out of committee:
H. 210 – An act relating to addressing disparities and promoting equity in the health care system – As Passed by the House: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0210/H-0210%20As%20passed%20by%20the%20House%20Official.pdf
Bills in Committee:
S.3 An act relating to competency to stand trial and insanity as a defense – As passed by the Senate https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/S-0003/S-0003%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20Senate%20Unofficial.pdf
S. 42 – An act relating to establishing the Emergency Service Provider Wellness Commission – As passed by the Senate https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/S-0042/S-0042%20As%20passed%20by%20the%20Senate%20Official.pdf
House Committee on Human Services: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/16
On Tuesday the committee will take up H. 243 – An act relating to the Working Group on Services for Adults with Autism taking testimony from the Vermont Family Network and Green Mountain Self Advocates and on Wednesday they will hear from Rights and Democracy and take up J.R.H. 6 – Joint resolution relating to racism as a public health emergency. On Thursday the committee will hear about the Emergency Housing Proposal in a joint hearing with House Committee on Health Care.
J.R.H 6 – Joint resolution relating to racism as a public health emergency
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/RESOLUTN/JRH006/JRH006%20As%20Introduced.pdf
H. 243 – An act relating to the Working Group on Services for Adults with Autism https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0243/H-0243%20As%20Introduced.pdf
Other Bills in Committee:
H.265 An act relating to the Office of the Child Advocate. H.265: Draft 3.12, 3-26-2021
H. 171 – An act relating to the governance and financing of Vermont’s child care system H.171: Draft 5.3, 3-9-2021
H.114 – An act relating to the Nutrition for Older Vermonters Working Group https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0114/H-0114%20As%20Introduced.pdf
House Committee on Judiciary: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/18
On Tuesday and Wednesday the committee will take up S.7 – An act relating to expanding access to expungement and sealing of criminal history records and on Wednesday they will take up H. 428 – An act relating to hate-motivated crimes and misconduct.
Bills in committee:
S. 7 – An act relating to expanding access to expungement and sealing of criminal history records
S. 3 – An act relating to competency to stand trial and insanity as a defense,
H. 317 – An act relating to establishing the Bureau of Racial Justice Statistics and the Bureau of Racial Justice Statistics Advisory Panel
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0317/H-0317%20As%20Introduced.pdf
Bills voted out of Committee:
H.183 H.183: Bill as Recommended by House Committee on Judiciary
H. 145 – An act relating to amending the standards for law enforcement use of force H.145: Bill as Recommended by House Committee on Judiciary
H.128 – An act relating to limiting criminal defenses based on victim identity
H.128: Bill as Recommended by House Committee on Judiciary
House Committee on Transportation https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/20
House Committee on Ways and Means: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/21
SENATE COMMITTEES
Senate Committee on Appropriations: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/23
Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/32
The Committee will continue to work on Language and policy in H. 159 – An act relating to community and economic development and workforce revitalization. Senate Appropriations put the funding for this bill in the FY 2022 Budget.
H.159 An act relating to community and economic development and workforce revitalization as passed by the House.
Bills voted out of committee:
S. 79 – An act relating to improving rental housing health and safety S.79: As Recommended by the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs .
S.10 – An act relating to extending certain unemployment insurance provisions related to COVID-19 S.10: As Recommended by the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs
Senate Committee on Education: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/24
On Tuesday the committee will discuss S.16 – An act relating to the creation of the Task Force on School Exclusionary Discipline Reform (the bill is in House Appropriations and H. 101 – An act relating to the implementation of 2018 Acts and Resolves No. 173 by providing grant funding to build systems-driven, sustainable literacy support for all students with measurable outcomes. On Wednesday they will take up H. 106 – An act relating to equitable access to a high-quality education through community schools and on Thursday they will take upS. 75 – An act relating to screening students for dyslexia
Bills in Committee:
S.16 – An act relating to the creation of the Task Force on School Exclusionary Discipline Reform S.16: As Passed by the Senate.
H.106 Equitable Access to a High-Quality Education (passed by House)
H. 426 – An act relating to addressing the needs and conditions of public school facilities in the State
S. 84 – An act relating to the use of exclusionary discipline for students who are under eight years of age and to school district truancy referrals to the State’s Attorneys https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/S-0084/S-0084%20As%20Introduced.pdf
S.84: Research Regarding Pre-K to 12 School Exclusion
Senate Committee on Finance: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/25
On Tuesday and Wednesday the committee will take up H. 360 – An act relating to accelerated community broadband deployment.
Bills in Committee:
H.360 – An act relating to accelerated community broadband deployment on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.H.360: Brief History of the VTA
H.360 as passed from the House: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0360/H-0360%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20House%20Unofficial.pdf
S. 60 – An act relating to allowing municipal and cooperative utilities to offer innovative rates and services and Arrearages and Disconnections in a Pandemic S.60: As Recommended by Senate Finance
S. 59 – An act relating to an income tax surcharge to reduce State retirement liabilities. https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/S-0059/S-0059%20As%20Introduced.pdf
Senate Committee on Government Operations: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/26
On Tuesday and Wednesday the committee will take up H. 435 – An act relating to miscellaneous Department of Corrections-related amendments and on Wednesday will take up J.R.H. 2 Joint resolution sincerely apologizing and expressing sorrow and regret to all individual Vermonters and their families and descendants who were harmed as a result of State-sanctioned eugenics policies and practices.
J.R.H 2 Adopted by the Househttps://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/RESOLUTN/JRH002/JRH002%20As%20adopted%20by%20the%20House%20Official.pdf
Bills in committee:
H. 449 – An act relating to the membership and duties of the Vermont Pension Investment Commission and the creation of the Pension Benefits, Design, and Funding Task Force Bills in Committee:
S.106 – An act relating to the livestream of legislative proceedings of the General Assembly and lobbying regulations
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/S-0106/S-0106%20As%20Introduced.pdf
Senate Committee on Health and Welfare: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/27
On Wednesday the committee will take up H. 225 – An act relating to possession of a therapeutic dosage of buprenorphine
Bills voted out of committee:
Bills voted out of Committee:
H. 171 – An act relating to the governance and financing of Vermont’s child care system, as passed by the House:
Bills in committee:
S. 120 – An act relating to the Joint Legislative Health Care Affordability Study Committee S.120: As Introduced
S. 132 – An act relating to health care reform implementation S.132: As Introduced.
S. 91 – An act relating to Parent Child Center Network
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/S-0091/S-0091%20As%20Introduced.pdf
Senate Committee on Institutions: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/28
No Meeting Schedule
Senate Committee on Judiciary: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/29
No Meeting Schedule
Bills in committee:
H.128 – An act relating to limiting criminal defenses based on victim identity H.128: Draft 2.1, 4-2-2021
H.317 – An act relating to establishing the Bureau of Racial Justice Statistics and the Bureau of Racial Justice Statistics Advisory Panel https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/BILLS/H-0317/H-0317%20As%20Introduced.pdf
Bills voted out of committee:
S.3 – An act relating to competency to stand trial and insanity as a defense
S.3 S.3: As recommended by the Senate Committee on Judiciary
S.25 An act relating to miscellaneous cannabis regulation procedures
S.25: As Recommended by the Senate Committee on Judiciary
Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/30
Senate Committee on Transportation: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2022/31
No committee schedule at this time.
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***VCDR Bills of INTEREST***
Courtesy of Disability Rights Vermont
Attached – Also See www.VCDR.ORG
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***Articles of Interest***
**NEW** Senate favors expanding health insurance to undocumented immigrants By Xander Landen May 2 2021
Scott allows Covid-19 relief bill to become law without signature By Xander Landen Apr 19 2021, 1:59 PM
In emotional decision, committee unanimously favors apologizing for eugenics movement – VTDigger:
Eugenics apology approved unanimously by House, 90 years after the fact – VTDigger:
House speaker drops pension plan after public backlash,4/2/21, VT Digger:
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***LEGISLATIVE EVENTS***
Legislative Breakfasts and Public Events
Action Circles puts together a list of social media and remote-meeting events being held by legislators to communicate with their constituents. You can fund that here: https://www.action-circles.com/legislator-events/
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**Informational Links**
VT Department of Health – COVID -19: https://www.healthvermont.gov/
VT Digger State Coronavirus Updates: https://vtdigger.org/coronavirus/
COVID-19 Coronavirus: Legal and Benefits Updates for Vermonters https://vtlawhelp.org/coronavirus-updates
VT LEGAL AID SERVICES UPDATE: https://vtdigger.org/press_release/vermont-legal-aid-service-update/
Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living: https://dail.vermont.gov/novel-coronavirus-information
Department of Mental Health: https://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/coronavirus-and-our-mental-health
Resources for Education Agency of Education Guidance to Schools: https://education.vermont.gov/news/covid-19-guidance-vermont-schools
Judiciary: https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/news/information-regarding-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-1
Department of Children and Families – Child Care: https://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/covid-19
CHILD CARE STABILIZATION GRANTS:
Department of Labor: https://labor.vermont.gov/
Department of Labor FAQs for Employers and Employees: https://labor.vermont.gov/covid19/covid-19-frequently-asked-questions
Specific Guidance for Employees: https://labor.vermont.gov/covid19/employees Employee Assistance (Unemployment Claims): 1-877-214-3332.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIM FORM https://vermont.force.com/DOLClaim/s/
Vermont Tax Department: https://tax.vermont.gov/coronavirus
Information on COVID-19:
Vermont Department of Health: State agency providing updated information on matters of public health, including disease outbreaks.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Federal agency with up-to-date information on health and security.
Office of Governor Phil Scott: Press releases from the governor’s office, including details on the state’s efforts to address COVID-19.
The University of Vermont Health Network: Provides updated information from the health network, including preventative measures and current cases.