Legislative
Town Meeting
Report
-- Rep. Mike Yantachka
When the legislature convened in January, we hit
the ground running, full of enthusiasm and dedication and buoyed by the
strength that Vermonters showed in the wake of tropical storm Irene to come
together and prove that WE ARE VERMONT STRONG! In the first few weeks the House had passed
two pieces of legislation to support cities and towns affected by Irene. The
first bill gave municipalities an early commitment from the state to absorb the
costs of storm-related education property tax abatement, and the second bill
enabled the state treasurer to defer the due date of education tax payments to
the state for impacted municipalities.
Since then all committees have been busy working on legislation that
will drive Vermont’s economy, protect our environment and provide for the
general welfare of all Vermonters. Here
are some of the results of our work so far.
The Budget
By the end of January the House passed the Budget
Adjustment bill. These adjustments are necessary to bring the budget into balance
based on actual versus projected
revenues and expenditures since July.
Most of the changes are in response to the devastation of tropical storm
Irene. 21 temporary positions were added to the Agency of Transportation and 17
positions were added to Health Access because of increased caseload. 12 more
positions were added to other departments. Most of these positions will be
filled by transfer of employees from other departments.
For the past month, the
Appropriations Committee has been working on the FY13 budget. This work will probably extend to pretty near
the end of the session in late April or early May.
Vermont Strong
When the going gets tough, Vermonters get
going and that was clearly evident as Vermont struggled with the ravages of
Tropical Storm Irene. State and local
employees, the National Guard and private citizens from around the state rolled
up their sleeves to show the world that we are strong, “Vermont Strong.” The
"Vermont Strong" decorative license plate bill, commemorating this
strength, passed with overwhelming support from both bodies. The proceeds of
the $25 plate go directly to help those affected by Irene; $18 goes to the
Vermont Disaster Fund, $2.00 to the Vermont Food Bank, and $5 to cover the cost
of manufacturing. Plates can be purchased by visiting
http://www.vtstrong.vermont.gov/ and are available at many local businesses.
Natural Resources and Energy
In 1987, the State set a goal to reduce solid waste going
to landfills by 50%. Unfortunately, this goal has fallen short, achieving only
about 36%. In addition, waste generation per capita and by volume has increased
significantly in the past 25 years. With only two operating landfills in the
state and one near capacity, it is time to think of waste products not as trash
but as residual commodities with value for recycling. The House just passed H.485, a major update
of the Vermont’s solid waste law. This bill calls for an analysis by the Agency
of Natural Resources (ANR) of waste composition, disposal rates, and current
recycling efforts. This information will be used to develop a plan to minimize
landfill disposal, build consumer education, develop private markets, and
improve infrastructure. The bill would require separation and diversion of all
recyclable materials in 2015, of leaf and yard waste in 2016, and of food waste
(mostly for compost) in 2017.
We are also working on an energy bill, H.468, that will
sustain the momentum of the renewable energy development industry that has
grown over the last three years. It is
important to achieve sustainable growth in this industry to wean us from fossil
fuels while growing Vermont-based jobs and maintaining reasonable electric
rates for consumers. We are working
diligently to set attainable, responsible and progressive goals in this bill.
Cleaning Products in Schools
The House passed S. 92, which protects students’
health by requiring manufacturers and distributors of cleaning products to sell
only environmentally preferable cleaning products and air fresheners to
schools. Such products include those
that are already used by the state’s Department of Buildings and General
Services under state contracts, or are certified as environmentally preferable
by an independent third party. Individuals
who provide cleaning services to schools also must use only environmentally
preferable products. The bill does not
regulate the sale, use, or distribution of disinfectants or other antimicrobial
pesticides. Schools may continue to use
conventional cleaning products purchased prior to July 1, 2012, until supplies
are depleted. Independent schools may
continue to use conventional cleaning products purchased prior to July 1, 2013
until supplies run out.
Dual Enrollment
Research demonstrates the many benefits high
school juniors and seniors derive from taking college-level courses for
dual-credit. Based on this, the House
Education Committee has begun to draft legislation that will expand access to
such courses for Vermont students. Dual enrollment courses are designed to help
all students with college and career readiness and to reach out to students who
might not otherwise see college as an option. Such courses help create a bridge
between secondary and post-secondary education, helping to guide students in
continuing their learning at either a community college or four-year college or
university.
Agriculture - Working Landscapes
Vermont’s working landscape is part of our
identity. We are on the cusp of an agricultural renaissance, sparking new
economic growth and shaping our legacy for future generations. Our working farms, bountiful forests, and
value-added products hold tremendous opportunity for job creation and rural
revitalization. The Vermont Council on Rural Development recently released a
report entitled “Invest in our Farm and Forest Future.” It describes Vermont’s leadership in the local
foods movement, due in large part to our skilled and dedicated farmers,
creative entrepreneurs, and strategic investments of private and public funds
to strengthen our agricultural economy.
The House Agriculture Committee responded to the
report by offering the Working Lands Enterprise Bill (H.496) to address
technical, regulatory and financial challenges for new and expanding businesses.
Specifically, the bill creates a fund to provide grants and loans to land-based
and value-added businesses, services for new and expanding working lands
enterprises, and infrastructure to support cluster development and spur rural
prosperity. A new Working Lands
Enterprise Board will oversee and administer the fund and will coordinate all
economic development efforts related to working lands enterprises. Find more information here: http://vtworkinglands.org.
Health Care Exchange
The House passed the Health Care Reform Implementation bill
that will establish the insurance exchange that is called for in the Affordable
Care Act of 2009. Every state is setting up an exchange unless they prefer to
let the federal government set one up for them. The exchange will make health
coverage more affordable to middle class Vermonters by allowing them to access
new federal tax credits and subsidies, allowing them to compare insurance
products with a transparent, standardized web portal or with the help of
trained navigators who can help Vermonters enroll. This topic is addressed in
more detail in my article at http://www.mikeyantachka.com/2012/03/word-in-house-next-step-in-health-care.html.
The Vermont Prescription Monitoring System
The legislature has been asked to revise the way
the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System (VPMS) works. The purpose of the
VPMS, as established a few years ago, is to “promote the public health through
enhanced opportunities for treatment for and prevention of abuse of controlled
substances, without interfering with the legal medical use of those
substances.” H. 745 is the bill that may
make changes to VPMS. Some of the
suggested changes include requiring health care providers to search the VPMS
prior to prescribing a controlled substance, expanding the category of people
who may access the VPMS, and creating a unified pain management system advisory
council. The House Human Services
Committee is working on the bill.
As always, you can reach me by phone
(425-3960) or by email (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com).
