21Week of Jan 14, 2020 VT legislature
Governor Open Office: Wednesdays 8 to 9am
Lt. Governor Open Office: Fridays 8:30am to 10am
Floor Times: These traditionally do not change during the session.
Note: Legislature is traditionally not is session on Mondays and adjourn at 12noon of Fridays
Note: Legislature is not in session the week of Town Meeting Day in March
From the week of 14th January
House Education:
3pm Review Act 1: scheduled to testify Amanda Garces/VT Coalition for Ethic and Social Equity in Schools
Action: Amanda requested statute be expanded to include: 2 additional positions for youth representation, 1 additional Indigenous Person, and 1 position for Clerk of the Task Force.
Committee voted in affirmative
Of note/interest:
H-107 Paid Family and Medical Leave
Senate has already voted to adopt the report from committee of conference 20 Yea-9 Nay-1 absent (This is a veto proof vote)
House has yet to vote on report from committee of conference
As voted out of committee of conference
Qualified employee permitted to receive a total of not more than 12 weeks of Family and Medical Leave benefits in a calendar year
May include up 12 weeks of bonding leave
May include up to 8 weeks for family care leave
May include up to 6 weeks for medical leave (This is now an “opt in” versus being a mandatory benefit.)
Members of the Committee of Conference
House
Anthony Stevens/Waterbury
Diana Gonzalez/Winooski NOTE: did not sign compromise proposal
Robin Scheu/Middlebury
Senate
Michael Sirotkin/Chittenden
Becca Balint/Windham
Alison Clarkson/Windsor
S-23 Minimum Wage
Committee of Conference to begin negotiations on Tuesday 01/21
House voted not to concur with Senate proposal
Beginning January 1, 2020, an employer shall not employ any employee at a rate less than $11.50
Beginning January 1, 2021, an employer shall not employ any employee at a rate less than $12.20
And on each subsequent January 1, the minimum wage rate shall be increased by five (5) percent or the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index, CPI-U….as calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor or successor agency for the 12 months preceding the previous September 1, whichever is smaller, but in no event shall the minimum wage be decreased.
Current VT minimum wage is: $10.96 as of 01/01/2020
Livable wage in VT using 2016 benchmarks was assessed to be $13.03 for a household of 2 adults with no children.
Assigned Committee of Conference for S-23
House
Anthony Stevens/Waterbury
Mary Hooper/Montpelier
John Killacky/So. Burlington
Senate
Michael Sirotkin/Chittenden
Becca Balint/Windham
Alison Clarkson/Windsor
For the week of 21st January
NOTE: Tuesday 21st January at 2pm Governor Scott will deliver his budget address and identify legislative priorities.
Tuesday 01/21
9:30am Committee of Conference meets to discuss S-23 Minimum Wage
Senate Economic Development
10:45am S-237 Affordable Housing
Included in bill: a housing element include a component for addressing low- and moderate-income housing needs
NOTE: Committee will be hearing testimony on this bill each day throughout the week
Senate Government Operations
3:15pm Charter City of Montpelier: Non-Citizen Voting
Senate Health & Welfare
10:30am S-288 Ban on Flavored Tobacco Products and e-liquids
NOTE: Committee will be working on this bill each day throughout the week
Wednesday 01/22
House Human Services
1pm H-611 Older Vermonters Act
Bill would establish an Older Vermonters Act that describes a system of care, supports, and protections for Vermonters 60 and older. Currently does not include a LGBTQ+ specific inclusion.
Thursday 01/23
House Health Care
9am Update on Importation of Prescription Drugs
House Human Services
1pm OneCare Vermont
OneCare Vermont, by design, is an accountable care organization working with Medicare, VT Medicaid, commercial and self-funded insurance companies to improve the health of Vermonters. But, are they?
Senate Judiciary
S-169 Firearm Procedures: Discussion of override to Governor’s veto
As passed by Senate & House in 2019, this bill expands who is subject to backgrounds checks, inclusive of family members, and imposes a 24-hour waiting period.
Listening to the hallway conversations:
In House Judiciary, there may be a move to take up H-568 regarding immunity for a sex worker who is the victim of or witnesses a crime from prosecution when reporting the crime. The bill would also establish a task force to investigate the decriminalization of sex work/prostitution in VT as outlined in H-569. Still reviewing H-561 which essentially creates a tax and regulate process if sex work/prostitution were to be decriminalized.
Lt. Governor Open Office: Fridays 8:30am to 10am
Floor Times: These traditionally do not change during the session.
Note: Legislature is traditionally not is session on Mondays and adjourn at 12noon of Fridays
Note: Legislature is not in session the week of Town Meeting Day in March
From the week of 14th January
House Education:
3pm Review Act 1: scheduled to testify Amanda Garces/VT Coalition for Ethic and Social Equity in Schools
Action: Amanda requested statute be expanded to include: 2 additional positions for youth representation, 1 additional Indigenous Person, and 1 position for Clerk of the Task Force.
Committee voted in affirmative
Of note/interest:
H-107 Paid Family and Medical Leave
Senate has already voted to adopt the report from committee of conference 20 Yea-9 Nay-1 absent (This is a veto proof vote)
House has yet to vote on report from committee of conference
As voted out of committee of conference
Qualified employee permitted to receive a total of not more than 12 weeks of Family and Medical Leave benefits in a calendar year
May include up 12 weeks of bonding leave
May include up to 8 weeks for family care leave
May include up to 6 weeks for medical leave (This is now an “opt in” versus being a mandatory benefit.)
Members of the Committee of Conference
House
Anthony Stevens/Waterbury
Diana Gonzalez/Winooski NOTE: did not sign compromise proposal
Robin Scheu/Middlebury
Senate
Michael Sirotkin/Chittenden
Becca Balint/Windham
Alison Clarkson/Windsor
S-23 Minimum Wage
Committee of Conference to begin negotiations on Tuesday 01/21
House voted not to concur with Senate proposal
Beginning January 1, 2020, an employer shall not employ any employee at a rate less than $11.50
Beginning January 1, 2021, an employer shall not employ any employee at a rate less than $12.20
And on each subsequent January 1, the minimum wage rate shall be increased by five (5) percent or the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index, CPI-U….as calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor or successor agency for the 12 months preceding the previous September 1, whichever is smaller, but in no event shall the minimum wage be decreased.
Current VT minimum wage is: $10.96 as of 01/01/2020
Livable wage in VT using 2016 benchmarks was assessed to be $13.03 for a household of 2 adults with no children.
Assigned Committee of Conference for S-23
House
Anthony Stevens/Waterbury
Mary Hooper/Montpelier
John Killacky/So. Burlington
Senate
Michael Sirotkin/Chittenden
Becca Balint/Windham
Alison Clarkson/Windsor
For the week of 21st January
NOTE: Tuesday 21st January at 2pm Governor Scott will deliver his budget address and identify legislative priorities.
Tuesday 01/21
9:30am Committee of Conference meets to discuss S-23 Minimum Wage
Senate Economic Development
10:45am S-237 Affordable Housing
Included in bill: a housing element include a component for addressing low- and moderate-income housing needs
NOTE: Committee will be hearing testimony on this bill each day throughout the week
Senate Government Operations
3:15pm Charter City of Montpelier: Non-Citizen Voting
Senate Health & Welfare
10:30am S-288 Ban on Flavored Tobacco Products and e-liquids
NOTE: Committee will be working on this bill each day throughout the week
Wednesday 01/22
House Human Services
1pm H-611 Older Vermonters Act
Bill would establish an Older Vermonters Act that describes a system of care, supports, and protections for Vermonters 60 and older. Currently does not include a LGBTQ+ specific inclusion.
Thursday 01/23
House Health Care
9am Update on Importation of Prescription Drugs
House Human Services
1pm OneCare Vermont
OneCare Vermont, by design, is an accountable care organization working with Medicare, VT Medicaid, commercial and self-funded insurance companies to improve the health of Vermonters. But, are they?
Senate Judiciary
S-169 Firearm Procedures: Discussion of override to Governor’s veto
As passed by Senate & House in 2019, this bill expands who is subject to backgrounds checks, inclusive of family members, and imposes a 24-hour waiting period.
Listening to the hallway conversations:
In House Judiciary, there may be a move to take up H-568 regarding immunity for a sex worker who is the victim of or witnesses a crime from prosecution when reporting the crime. The bill would also establish a task force to investigate the decriminalization of sex work/prostitution in VT as outlined in H-569. Still reviewing H-561 which essentially creates a tax and regulate process if sex work/prostitution were to be decriminalized.
For 2017-2018 legislature reports click here.