Week 11 legislative highlights

ANA-VT has its finger on the pulse of

Vermont’s legislative happenings because nurses have power!

Legislative Highlights Week 11 (Mar. 15, 2022 – Mar. 18, 2022)

Highlights of Interest to Nurses

 

H.717, a bill relating to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine has passed the House and Senate. Please encourage Governor Scott to sign this bill as well as

H.654 An act relating to extending COVID-19 health care regulatory flexibility which has also passed both House and Senate

 

Senate Committee on Health and Welfare Room 17 and Zoom

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-health-and-welfare

 

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

10:00 AM  H. 265 - An act relating to the Office of the Child, Youth, and Family Advocate

The bill establishes the Office of the Child, Youth, and Family Advocate for the purpose of advancing the interests and welfare of Vermont’s children and youths receiving services from the Department in a manner that addresses racial and social equity, including providing transparent and impartial oversight of the child protection and juvenile justice systems. The Office promotes needed reforms, reviews systemic issues, provides information about recipients’ rights and responsibilities related to Departmental services, and reports findings and recommendations annually to the General Assembly and the Governor. An Advisory Council composed of nine stakeholders impacted by child welfare services will be appointed.

Introduction by Reporter, walk-through by counsel and joint fiscal

• Daniel Noyes, Reporter and Sponsor
• Kelly Pajala, Sponsor
• Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
• Nolan Langweil, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

 

11:15 AM  H. 153 - An act relating to Medicaid reimbursement rates for home- and community-based service providers

Introduction by Reporters, walk-through by counsel and joint fiscal

• Daniel Noyes, Reporter
• Theresa Wood, Reporter
• Jennifer Carbee, Director and Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
• Nolan Langweil, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

 

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

9:00 AM  H. 265 - An act relating to the Office of the Child, Youth, and Family Advocate

• Mike Fisher, Health Care Advocate, Vermont Legal Aid
• Moira O'Neill, Director, State of New Hampshire Office of the Child Advocate
• Jennifer Myka, General Counsel, Department for Children and Families
• Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner, Family Services Division, Department for Children and Families
• Amy Rose, Policy Associate, Voices for Vermont's Children
• Xusana Davis, Executive Director of Racial Equity, Agency of Administration

 

10:30 AM  H. 655 - An act relating to establishing a telehealth licensure and registration system

This bill has passed favorably out of the House Committee on Health Care, Ways and Means, and Appropriatians and is now on the action calendar for Tuesday 3-15-22 House 3/15/2022 - Action Calendar: Favorable with amendment This is a bill ANA-VT was on the workforce to create, and assists with registration/licensing of  health care professionals not otherwise licensed, certified, or registered to practice in Vermont in a tiered approach that allows for consultations. It does not disrupt Compact rules.

Introduction by Reporter, walk-through by counsel and joint fiscal, and testimony

• Lori Houghton, Reporter
• Jennifer Carbee, Director and Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
• Nolan Langweil, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
• Lauren Hibbert, Director, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office

 

Thursday, March 17, 2022

 

9:00 AM  Confirmation Hearing

Monica White, Commissioner, Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living

 

10:00 AM  FLOOR

 

Friday, March 18, 2022

 

9:00 AM H. 353 - An act relating to pharmacy benefit management

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mari Cordes RN, proposes to require pharmacy benefit managers to obtain licensure from, rather than register with, the Department of Financial Regulation. It would establish a detailed regulatory framework for regulating pharmacy benefit managers and would prohibit or restrict a number of pharmacy benefit management activities

(for context, Pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) negotiate on behalf of health insurers, not patients. These manager middlemen have the power to limit formularies {lists of drugs covered by an insurance plan} and affect the cost of medications). The bill would recodify many statutory provisions relating to PBM’s, allow insurance plan beneficiaries to choose their own pharmacies, limit direct solicitation by pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers, & require the Agency of Human Services to select a wholesale drug distributor through a competitive bidding process to be the sole source to distribute prescription drugs to pharmacies for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Introduction by Reporter, walk-through by counsel.

Jennifer Carbee, Director and Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

House Committee on Human Services Room 46 and Zoom

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-human-services

 

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

10:00 AM  House Floor then Caucuses

1:15 PM  Review of House Judiciary Bill H.629

• Kenneth Goslant, Reporter, House Committee on Judiciary
• Kate Donnally, House Committee on Judiciary
• Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

2:00 PM  Workforce  Development

House Commerce Committee bill

• Logan Nicoll, House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

 Committee Discussion

4:15 PM  Wrap-up and Review Next Day's Agenda

 

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

9:15 AM  Child Development Division

STARS Program

• Miranda Gray, Deputy Commissioner, Child Development Division, Department for Children and Families
• Nicole Dubuque, Policy Director, Child Development Division, Department for Children and Families
• Morgan Crossman, Ph.D., Executive Director, Building Bright Futures
• LouAnn Beninati, Director, Program Viability Strategies, Let's Grow Kids, Member, STARS Oversight Committee
• Kristen Dunne, STARS Administrator, Mary Johnson Children's Center
• Kate Rogers, Early Education Programs Manager, Agency of Education

Vermont Afterschool Representative –invited

 

Thursday, March 17, 2022

9:15 AM                   Palliative Care and Pain Management Task Force Report

Vermont Ethics Network

• Cindy Bruzzese, MPA, MSB, Executive Director, Clinical Ethicist, Vermont Ethics Network

 

10:45 AM                   Global Commitment

• Ena Backus, Director of Health Care Reform, Agency of Human Services
• Ashley Berliner, Director of Healthcare Policy, Agency of Human Services

 

House Committee on Health Care Room 45 and Zoom

at https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-health-care

 

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

10:00 AM   House Floor & After the Floor Caucuses

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

9:00 AM  Review of Bills Recommended by Committee

Discussion of bills due for action on the House Floor, with review of proposed amendments

Thursday, March 24, 2022

9:00 AM  Review of Bills Recommended by Committee

Discussion of bills due for action on the House Floor, with review of proposed amendments

TBA

House Committee on Education Room 9 and Zoom

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

1:00 PM  S. 100 - An act relating to universal school breakfast and the creation of the Task Force on Universal School Lunch

• Julia Richter, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
• Rosie Krueger, State Director of Child Nutrition Programs, Agency of Education - Invited
• Brad James, Finance Manager, Agency of Education - Invited
• Ted Fisher, Director Communications & Legislative Affairs, Agency of Education - Invited
• Faye Mack, Advocacy and Education Director, Hunger Free Vermont - Invited
• Anore Horton, Executive Director, Hunger Free Vermont - Invited

3:00 PM  H. 703 - An act relating to promoting workforce development

Drive-by

• Michael Marcotte, Sponsor
• Charles Kimbell, Sponsor

 

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

10:00 AM  S. 100 - An act relating to universal school breakfast and the creation of the Task Force on Universal School Lunch

• Tristan Brown, Food Service Manager, Orange SouthWest Supervisory Union - Invited
• Emma Renaud, Student, Essex High School - Invited
• Grace Symula, Student, Essex - Invited

 

11:00 AM  S. 139 - An act relating to nondiscriminatory school branding

Introduction

• Elizabeth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
• Dick McCormack, Sponsor – Invited

 

1:00 PM  House Floor

15 Minutes After Floor:  Education Fund Training

• Brad James, Finance Manager, Agency of Education
• Julia Richter, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

 

Thursday, March 17, 2022

10:00 AM  Act 67 Community Schools Act - Every child should be provided with an equitable education…

Update

• Jess DeCarolis, Division Director, Student Pathways, Agency of Education – Invited

 

11:00 AM  S. 283 - An act relating to miscellaneous changes to education laws

Introduction

• Elizabeth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

House Committee on General, Housing, and Military Affairs Room 42 and Zoom

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-general-housing-and-military-affairs

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

9:15 AM   H. 329 - An act relating to amending the prohibitions against discrimination

Walk-through

• Damien Leonard, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
• Sarah Robinson, MSW, Deputy Director, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
• Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association - Invited
• Rachel Seelig, Director, Vermont Legal Aid Disability Law Project

 

10:45 AM  H. 638 - An act relating to a direct-to-consumer spirits shipping license

Committee Discussion

Ryan Christiansen, President, Caledonia Spirits - Invited

Leo Gibson - Invited

 

11:00 AM  H. 713 - An act relating to medical leave for a serious injury

Walk-through

• Damien Leonard, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel 

 

Thursday, March 17, 2022

9:15 AM   S. 210 - An act relating to rental housing health and safety and affordable housing

Introduction & Walk-Through

• Alison Clarkson, Sponsor, Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee

Senate Committee on Appropriations Room 5 and Zoom

live streamed via YouTube

 

All week starting at 9AM Tuesday  22-0443 - An act relating to the fiscal year 2023 Governor's recommended budget

Committee Discussion/Mark-up/Other bills

Crossover Deadline