Legislative View

2022 VCP Legislative Agenda

2022 Legislative Advocacy Webinar presentation and transcript 

2022 VCP Legislative Updates:

Legislative Update for May 10, 2022 – Status Update on Bills of interest: H.96, H.655, H.703—now S.11, H.711, H.720, H.740, S.195, S.197, S.285

Legislative Update for May 3, 2022 – House of Representatives Set to finalize S.285; Senate Health and Welfare Reviews House Changes to S.285; H.720 the Developmental Disabilities Bill Amended then passed by Senate and Sent to the House; Budget Conference Committee Negotiations Begin; Senate Government Operations Reviews H.96 on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Status Update on Bills of Interest

Legislative Update for April 26, 2022 – Senate Approves FY23 Budget with 8% Rate Increase for DA/SSAs/Home and Community-based Care; House Appropriations Committee Reviews Senate Proposal of Amendment to the FY23 Budget Bill; Senate Health and Welfare Makes Recommendation on H.703 to Economic Development Committee; Senate Health and Welfare Makes Recommendation on H.703 to Economic Development Committee; Senate Health and Welfare Reviews and Passes H.728 on Opioid Overdose Response Services; House Human Services Receives Overview of S.285 by Senator Ginny Lyons; House Health Care Testimony and Approval of S.285 the Health Reform Bill; House Appropriations Committee Reviews H.285; Senate Appropriations Reviews H.720 the Developmental Disabilities Bill; Senate Appropriations Reviews H.711 Opioid Advisory Bill; House Health Care Committee Considers S.195 on Peer Certification; House Human Services Reviews Public Engagement Plan on Conflict Free Case Management; Worker Relocation Program H.159

Legislative Update for April 19, 2022 – Senate Appropriations Recalibrates the FY23 Budget; Senate Health and Welfare Makes Budget Recommendations; House Health Care Accepts Testimony on S.285; Mental Health Supports Bill S.197 Reviewed in House Education Committee; Mental Health Licensure Passed by Senate Government Operations Committee; Opioid Overdose Response Services Bill H.728 Studied by Senate Health and Welfare Committee; Senate Government Operations Committee Discusses H.96 Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Senate Health and Welfare Committee Finalizes H.720 Developmental Disabilities Bill; Senate Health and Welfare Committee Meets with State Prevention Officer Monica Hutt

Legislative Update for April 13, 2022 – Senate Appropriations Studies Designated and Specialized Service Agency funding in Budget Bill; Senate Health and Welfare Continues Testimony on H. 720 the Developmental Disabilities Bill; Senate Appropriations Committee Reviews House FY23 Budget with Joint Fiscal Office; Senate Health and Welfare Committee Reviews House FY23 Budget; Senate Economic Development Committee Picks up H.703 Workforce Development Bill; Senate Health and Welfare Committee Passes H.153; House Health Care Committee Takes up S.285; Suicide Prevention Bill S.69 is Considered in Senate Health and Welfare; Senate Health and Welfare Passes H.655 on Telehealth and Licensing; Mental Health Bill Testimony is taken in Senate Government Operations Committee; Peer Support Bill S.195 Testimony is Heard in House Health Care Committee; Health Care Flexibilities Extension Signed into Law

Legislative Update for April 5, 2022 – Senate Appropriations Continues Budget Testimony; Interstate Telehealth in Senate Health and Welfare; DMH Testifies on Wait Times in Emergency Departments [ED] in House Health Care; Joint Meeting of Senate Health and Welfare and House Health Care on Health Care Wait Times; Peer Credentialing and Respite in House Health Care; Mitigating the Opioid Crisis in Senate Health and Welfare; House Committee on Education Hears Testimony on Act 173; Save the Date! Vermont Disability Awareness Day 

Legislative Update for March 30, 2022 – House Passes the FY23 Budget with 7% Rate Increase for Designated & Specialized Service Agencies; Senate Health and Welfare Hears Testimony on Medicaid Rates for Community-based Providers; Senate Committee on Health and Welfare Hears Testimony on Developmental Disabilities Bill H.720; Prior Authorization for Buprenorphine in House Human Services; Overview of Blueprint at House Health Care Committee; House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs Moves H.96 through the Final Stages; Save the Date! Vermont Disability Awareness Day  

Legislative Update for March 23, 2022 – Agency Staff Tell their Stories to the Legislative Workers’ Caucus; Senate Health and Welfare Takes up H.153; House Human Services Considers H.711 on Opioid Overdose Response Services; House Human Services Returns to the DD bill; H 720 on the System of Care for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Bill Presented to the House; House Human Services Committee Receives Overview of Global Commitment 1115 Waiver Program; House Health Care Reviews S.285; Senate Appropriations Committee Reviews S.285; Funding for Mental Health for Schools in Senate Education, March 16, 2022; Interstate Telehealth in Senate Health and Welfare, March 17, 2022; Senate Finance Approves Fee Structure Proposal for Peer Credentialing in S.195; Save the Date! Vermont Disability Awareness Day

Legislative Update for March 2, 2022 – Budget Adjustment Act Specifies funding for Community-Base Workforce; House Health Care Committee Hears Green Mountain Care Board Proposed Process for Health Reform; House Health Care Committee Develops Budget Recommendations; House Health Care Recommendations to the House Commerce and Economic Development; House Human Services Committee FY’23 Budget Recommendations; Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs; Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL); House Corrections and Institutions Recommendations for the FY23 Budget; House Committee on Human Services Walk-through of DS System Bill; Health Care Flexibilities Bill Passes the Full Legislature; Senate Health and Welfare Bill to Expand Blueprint for Health and Community-Based Services; House Human Services on Opioid Advisory Committee & Management of Abatement Fund; House General, Housing and Military Discussion of H.96 Truth and Reconciliation Bill; Vermont Care Partners Provides information on S.197; House Appropriations has Joint Fiscal Office (JFO) Deputy Director Sarah Clark Review General Funds

Legislative Update for February 22, 2022 – House Health Care Committee Discusses FY23 Budget Recommendations; Pathways Requests Expansion at House Health Care; House Corrections and Institutions Determines Investment of Justice Reinvestment Savings; House Human Services Consider Committee Bill on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; Parents from Developmental Disabilities Community Testify to House Committee on Human Services; Green Mountain Self Advocates (GMSA) testifies to House Human Services Committee; House Human Services Committee Hears More testimony about Yellow House in Middlebury; House Health Care Considers Hospital Sustainability and Proposal by Green Mountain Care Board; Health Equity Report Presented to House and Senate Health Committees; Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) budget Reviewed at Senate Appropriations; Healthcare Flexibility Bill in Senate Health and Welfare February 16, 2022; Suicide Prevention in House Health Care Committee; Senate Health and Welfare Hears from Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) on Peer Certification; Peer Respite, Peer Certification, and Services for Students in Senate Health and Welfare; ESSR Funds to Afterschool Programs in Grants from DMH in Senate Health and Welfare; House Human Services Committee Plans to Develop Legislation on Opioids; Advocacy Events

Legislative Update for February 15, 2022 – Senate Appropriations Hears Department of Mental Health (DMH) Budget Proposal for FY23; Green Mountain Care Board Shares Perspective on Health Care Sustainability; DMH Testifies at Senate Institutions on Services to People Discharged from Inpatient; Mental Health Advocacy Day at Senate Institutions; Update on Institutions on Mental Disease [IMD] in Senate Institutions; Health Care Flexibilities Overview in Senate Health and Welfare, February 9, 2021; Trauma Prevention and Resilience Development in House Human Services; Mental Health First Aid and S194, S195, and S197 at Senate Health and Welfare Committee; House Health Care Take Testimony on the Mental Health Workforce; House Corrections and Institutions Considers Justice Reinvestment Appropriation; Public Hearing on the FY23 Budget; House Health Care Listens to Workforce Issues; House Human Services Hears Testimony from Parent’s Group on Housing; House Human Services reviews DAIL Living System of Care (SOCP); Act 173 Testimony to the House Committee on Education; House Human Services Learns about Opioid Settlement; Advocacy Events

Legislative Update for February 8, 2022 – Senate Appropriation Committee Finalize Budget Adjustment Act; Agency of Human Services Provides Senate Appropriations Committee with FY23 Budget Overview; Senate Appropriations Committee Reviews DAIL FY23 Budget Request ; Senate Appropriations Committee Reviews ADAP FY23 Budget Request; House Health Care Continues Testimony on Mental Health Budget; House Human Services Receives Overview of Vermont Development Disabilities Act; Parents Share Experience with Developmental Disabilities System with the House Human Services; House Human Services Receives Overview of the Designated Agency (DA) I/DD Services; House Health Care Take Testimony of Mental Health Advocacy Day; Mental Health Advocacy Day Testimony at House Corrections and Institutions; Mental Health Advocacy Day and Mental Health Bills in Senate Health and Welfare; Mental Health Advocacy Day Testimony in House Education; DMH and Department of Buildings and General Services [BGS] Update on Secure Residential; Senate Health and Welfare Committee Learns about Choices for Care and the Blueprint for Health; House Human Services Receives Overview of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs FY23 Budget Request; House Education Committee Considers Act 173 Census Block Grant Funding; Rep. Wood Presents Bill to Exempt Students from Standardized Assessments in Public Schools; Advocacy Events

Legislative Update for February 1, 2022 – Sign up for Public Hearings on the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) Budget February 8^th and 9^th; Mental Health Advocacy Day January 31, 2022; The House Appropriations Committee Hears Testimony on Mental Health Budget for FY23; The House Appropriations Committee Hears Testimony on DAIL Budget for FY23; The House Appropriations Committee Hears Testimony on Department of Health Budget for FY23; Senate Health and Welfare Committee Reviews Budget Adjustment Act for FY22; Senate Appropriation Receives Administration’ Perspective on House Budget Adjustment Act; Commissioner Monica White Provides Overview and Proposed Budget to House Human Services; Interim AHS Secretary Jenney Samuelson Presents Proposed Budget to House Human Services; House Human Services Approves Extending COVID-19 Health Care Regulatory Flexibility; Developmental Disabilities Council Testifies on CMS Rules for Home and Community-Based Services; Mental Health Related Testimony in Senate Health and Welfare January 26; FY23 DMH Budget Presentation in House Health Care; Agency of Education (AOE) presents Act 173 implementation Update to House Education Committee; Senate Health and Welfare Review Committee Bill on Expanding Blueprint; Advocacy Events

Legislative Update for January 24, 2022 – The House of Representatives Passes the FY23 Budget Adjustment Act; Governor’s FY23 Budget Proposal; Human Services Secretary Samuelson Highlights FY23 Budget Proposal to House Appropriations; House Health Care Committees Move H. 654, the “Flexibilities Bill,” Forward; House Health Care and Senate Health and Welfare Committees Review Consultant Report; Senate Health and Welfare Continues Review of Taskforce on Accessible and Affordable Health Care; House Appropriations Receives Updates from Joint Fiscal Office and State Economist; Senate Health and Welfare Reviews Bills for Potential Consideration; The House Committees Hold Hearing for Homelessness Awareness Day

Legislative Update for January 18, 2022 – House Appropriations Committee’s Second Public Hearing on FY22 Budget Adjustment Act (BAA); House Human Services Discusses Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs (ADAP) and DAIL BAA; House Health Care Committee Deliberate Request for Budget Adjustment; Joint Fiscal Office Educates Appropriations on Workforce Investments and Discussion Ensues; House Appropriations Review Policy Committee Recommendation for BAA; Senate Appropriations Hears FY22 Budget Adjustment Act (BAA) DAIL Commissioner White; Senate Health and Welfare and House Health Care Joint Hearing on COVID Flexibilities and Telehealth; Department of Mental Health (DMH) Testimony at Senate Appropriations on Budget Adjustment Act

Legislative Update for January 10, 2022 – House Appropriations Committee Holds Public Hearing on FY22 Budget Adjustment Act; House Appropriations Receives Overview of FY22 BAA from Finance Commissioner Greshin; House Appropriations Hears Budget Adjustment Act Proposal from the Agency of Human Services; Workforce Recruitment and Retention Initiatives; Joint Meeting of House Health Care and Commerce and Economic Development Committees; DAIL Testimony to House Committee on Human Services on Developmental Disabilities Services; AHS Presents DDSD American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds to House Human Services Committee; Mary Moulton Testifies on Workforce Crisis to House Committee on Human Services; Department of Mental Health (DMH) on Budget Adjustment at House Health Care; Vermont Care Partners Asks House Health Care Committee for $22.5 million investment in Workforce; DAIL Testifies to House Committee on Human Services on Budget Adjustment for Choices for Care; House Health Care and Senate Health and Welfare Joint Hearing Act 6 Flexibilities and Telehealth; Senate Judiciary and Senate Institutions Joint Hearing on DCF Plan for Placement of Youth; Deputy Commissioner Dougherty on Substance Use During Pandemic in House Human Services; Joint Hearing on the Pupil Weighting Taskforce Recommendations to Senate Education and Finance; Senate Health and Welfare Reviews Bills from First Half of the Biennium; Advocacy Events

Legislative Update for December 29, 2021 – Vermont Care Partners Legislative Agenda for 2022; Budget Adjustment Act Hearings; House Appropriations Committee Begins Hearing Testimony on the FY22 Budget Adjustment; Mental Health Advocacy Day – January 31, 2022; Legislative Advocacy Webinar – January 10, 2022; Homelessness Awareness Day – January 20, 2022

Legislative Update for December 14, 2021 – Legislators Receive Briefing on the Economic Outlook; House Appropriations Committee Begins Work on the FY22 Budget Adjustment; House Health Care Committee Prepares for the Upcoming Session with a Mental Health Update; Health Care Oversight Committee Hears Report on Health Care Regulation; Advocacy Events

2021 VCP Legislative Updates

2021 Legislative Committees by DA/SSA

2021 Legislative Wrap Up

Legislative Update for May 26, 2021 – A complete legislative wrap up of all legislation relevant to the Vermont Care Partners network will follow.  This is update is focused only on the budget, S.3, J.R.6 and H.243.

FY22 Budget Passes the Legislature; House Human Services Committee Writes Letter to DAIL on Autism; S.3 Related to Competency to Stand Trial and Insanity as a Defense Passes on Last Day of Session; Senate Passes after Health and Welfare Considered J.R. 6 on Racism as a Public Health Emergency

Legislative Update for May 18, 2021 – Conference Committee on the FY22 Appropriations Bill Negotiations Moves Quickly; Senate Education Passes S.16 on Creating a Taskforce on Exclusionary Discipline Reform; Testimony from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in House Human Services; House Approves JR.6 Declaring Racism a Public Health Emergency; S.3 on Competency and Sanity Approved by Full House After Review by Appropriations Committee; Senate Government Operations Committee Recommends Eugenics Resolution with Amendment; House Health Care Continues focus on Children Waiting in Emergency Departments; May is Mental Health Month

Legislative Update for May 11, 2021 – Conference Committee on the FY22 Appropriations Bill Commences Today; Policy Language in the Appropriations Bill – Use of Restraints – Taskforce on Affordable, Accessible Health Care; House Human Services Approves Joint Resolution on Racism as a Public Health Emergency; House Health and Human Services Committee Hear Administration Proposal on Emergency Housing; Children and Youth Waiting in Emergency Departments in House Health Care; H.225 Removing Criminal Penalties for Possession of Small Amounts of Buprenorphine; House Human Services Continues H.243 on a Working Group on Services for Adults with Autism; S.3 on Competency and Sanity Ready for Full House Approval

Legislative Update for May 4, 2021 – Full Senate Approves FY23 Budget Proposal; Senate Health and Welfare Committee Approves S.120; Bill Updates in House Health Care; Bill H.225 on Decriminalizing Small Amounts of Buprenorphine in the Senate for Consideration; House Human Services Review Bill of Working Group on Services to Adults with Autism; Senate Health and Welfare Committee Approves H.210 with Improvements; House Health Care Committee Learns about Global Commitment Waiver; House Health Care Learns more about OneCare Vermont; Senate Judiciary Committee Completes S.3 on Competency and Insanity

Legislative Update for April 27, 2021 – Senate Appropriations Committee Finalizes FY22 Budget Proposal;Senate Health and Welfare Makes Recommendation of the Budget; Highlights of Final Work by Senate Health and Welfare on Health Reform Bills S.120 and S.132; Senate Health and Welfare Take Further Testimony and Finalizes Health Equities Bill H.210; House Health Care Studies Children Waiting in Emergency Departments; Medicaid 101 and Global Commitment in House Appropriations (link); Facilitation of Interstate Practice Using Telehealth Workgroup in Senate Health and Welfare; Senate Government Operations Committee Considers Eugenics Resolution

Legislative Update for April 20, 2021 – Appropriations Bill Heading into the Final Stretch; H.315 the Quick One-time Bill Becomes Law; House Committees Continue Consideration of S.3; Senate Health and Welfare Continues Work on Health Reform; S.16 on Exclusionary Discipline Reform in House Education Committee; Senate Health and Welfare and Judiciary Committees Study Residential Care for Youth; Mental Health Related Topics in Senate Health and Welfare – Friday April 16, 2021; Senate Health and Welfare Reviews Miscellaneous Mental Health Bill; H.210 on Health Equity

Legislative Update for April 14, 2021 – H.315 the Quick One-time Bill Passes the Full Legislature; Senate Health and Welfare Hears Proposal on Secure Residential; House Judiciary Committee Continues Testimony on S.3; Senate Health and Welfare Learns about All Payer Model Improvement Plan; Senator Health and Welfare Considers Health Reform Options; Joint Resolution Related to Racism as a Public Health Emergency by House Human Services; House Human Services Committee Passes H.225; House Education Hears Testimony on S16, Creating a Taskforce on Exclusionary Discipline Reform

Legislative Update for April 6, 2021 – ARPA; Senate Health and Welfare Reviews House Budget Bill with Joint Fiscal Office’s Stephanie Barrett; House Judiciary Committee Takes on S.3 on Competency and Insanity Defense; Senate Health and Welfare Takes up H.153 on Rates for Medicaid Community Based Services; Senate Health and Welfare Presents Report on Managing Health Expenditures; Senate Health and Welfare Hears from Representative Lippert on Health Equity Bill; House Education Committee Takes Testimony on School Exclusionary Discipline; Senate Health and Welfare heard testimony on H.104 on Interstate Telehealth; House Human Services Takes Up Decriminalizing Small Amounts of Buprenorphine with H225; H. 329 – Amending the Prohibitions Against Discrimination Reviewed by House General Committee

Legislative Update for March 30, 2021 – Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Budget Bill Passes House of Representatives; H.153 Passes the House as Amended by the House Appropriations Committee; H.315 Quick One-Time Bill Passed by Full Legislature; Steve Klein Provides Senate Health and Welfare with Overview of ARPA; H.438, The Capital Bill Passes House of Representatives; House General, Housing and Military Affairs Passes Resolution Offering Eugenics Apology; Senate Health and Welfare Hears update on All Payer Model (APM); H.210 Health Equity Bill Passes House of Representatives; S.117 Health Care Flexibilities Bill Ready for Governor’s Signature; Senate Passes S.3

Legislative Update for March 23, 2021 – House Appropriations Committee Completes Work on FY22 Budget Bill; House Appropriations Adjusts Medicaid Rate Review for Community-based Providers; Senate Passes H.315 Quick One-Time Appropriations Bill; Administration’s Response to Senate on H.315; Substance Use Disorder System of Care Redesign Reviewed by House Human Services; Corrections and Institutions Considers Proposal for Secure Residential; House Health Care Completes Testimony on Secure Residential Residence; Senate Institutions Committee Receives Testimony on Secure Residential Residence; Regulatory Flexibilities Bill is Reviewed by House Health Care Committee; Senate Judiciary Committee Continues Consideration of S.3; House General, Housing and Military Affairs Continues Work on Eugenics with JRH2; Disability Advocacy Day Legislative Panel

Legislative Update for March 17, 2021 – Briefing on Federal Relief Funding; House Appropriations Committee Marks Up the FY22 Budget; House Human Services Addresses Medicaid Reimbursement Rates for Community-based Providers; Senate Appropriations Committee Reviews H.315 – One-time Bill; Senate Health and Welfare Reviews One-time Bill H.315; House Health Care Committee Listens to Proposal for New Expanded Secure Residential Facility; Senate Judiciary Committee Finalizes S.3 on Competency to Stand Trial and Insanity Defense; House Health Care Committee Hears More Testimony on H.210 the Racial Disparities Bill; House Health Care Committee Passes Bill on Interstate Practice of Telehealth; Senate Addresses Regulatory Flexibilities; House General, Housing and Military Affairs Considers Eugenics Apology and Next Steps to Address It

Legislative Update for March 3, 2021 – House Health Care Committee Recommendations to the Appropriations Committee; House Human Services Reviews Medicaid Reimbursement Rates for Community-based Services; Mental Health Commissioner Squirrell Presents Residential Needs to House Health Care Committee; House Committee on Corrections and Institutions on Sequential Intercept; Senate Health and Welfare Looks at Audio-Only; House Health Care Committee Considers Legislative Priorities; House Health Consider H.104 to Allow use of Telemedicine Across State Lines for Mental Health Care; Representative Donahue Introduces H.46 to Expand Reporting on Involuntary Mental Health Procedures; House Health Care Testimony on Health Disparities and H.210 the Health Equity Bill

Legislative Update for February 24, 2021  – House Human Service Committee FY22 Budget Requests; House Health Care Committee Receives Testimony on One-time investments from DMH Commissioner; House Health Care Budget Discussion; The House Appropriations Adopts Recommendations of Health Care Committee for One-time Funding; Senate Appropriations Committee Hears Further Testimony from Department of Mental Health; Senate Health and Welfare on Audio-Only; House Health Care Committee Accepts Testimony on Health Equity Bill

Legislative Update for February 16, 2021 – Department of Mental Health Budget Presented to Senate Appropriations and House Health Care; Senate Health and Welfare Receives Update on Federal COVID Funds; Disability Rights Vermont Testifies in House Health Care Committee; House Health Care Learns about Health Care Disparities; House Health Care Considers Bill to Address Health Care Disparities; House Health Care Committee Discusses FY22 Budget; Extending COVID-19 Flexibilities, including Audio-Only Care ; School Discipline Advisory Council; House Human Services Committee Walks through Bill on Involuntary Sterilization; What’s happening next: Recovery Day February 17, 2021; VHCC Legislative Kick off February 17, 2021

Legislative Update for February 10, 2021 – Mental Health Advocacy Day – A Virtual Success; House Human Services Receives Overview of Agency of Human Services Budget Request; Department of Disabilities Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) Budget Request ; House Appropriations Committee Hears Mental Health Budget; Department of Children and Families (DCF) Budget Testimony to House Appropriations Committee; Vermont Care Partners Provides Overview of DA/SSAs to House Health Care Committee; Senate Institutions Committee Accepts Mental Health Advocacy Day Testimony; House Health Care and Senate Health and Welfare Listen to Testimony on Extending Flexibilities; House Health Care Learns about Mental Health; Audio-Only Care in House Health Care; Senate Health and Welfare on Continuing COVID-19 Flexibilities; Joint Hearing of Senate Judiciary and House Human Services: Roundtable Discussion on “Aggressive Behavior of Juveniles/Danger to Staff” ; Senate Health and Welfare Take Testimony in Honor of Mental Health Advocacy Day; Justice Reinvestment II Report Presented to Multiple Committees; Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs take Mental Health Advocacy Day Testimony

Legislative Update for February 2, 2021  –  Senate Health and Welfare Hears Overviews from Health Care Providers; House Appropriations Committee Hears Agency of Human Services Budget Overview; House Appropriations Committee Hears DAIL Budget Overview; Senate Health and Welfare Hears Overview of Health Reform; House Health Care Committee Studies Health Reform; Woodside Update 1/26/2021 in Senate Judiciary ;Families First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Discussed in House Human Services; Audio-Only Care in House Health Care 1/26/21 and 1/29/21; Homelessness Awareness Day 1/27/21; ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY – Public Hearing on the FY22 Budget; Information on Your Senators and Representatives; Action Circles Calendar

Legislative Update for January 25, 2021  – Senate Institutions Committee Receives Update on Mental Health Plans; House Human Services, House Health Care and Senate Health and Welfare Briefed on Federal Funds; House Appropriations Committee Reviews Revenue Forecast; Senate Health and Welfare Receives Overview from AHS Secretary Mike Smith; House Human Services Learns about Addiction; The Senate Extends Timeframe for CRF Appropriations; ADVOCACY EVENTS and INFORMATON

Legislative Update for January 19, 2021 – New Biennium; Pressures and Challenges of 2022 the Budget – Expect a State of Flux; House Appropriations Receives Overview of AHS CRF Expenditures; House and Senate Committees on Health and Human Services Learn about CRF; House Human Services Hears Introductory Remarks by AHS Secretary Mike Smith; Human Service Committee Review of Potential Legislation; Senate Judiciary Committee Plan to Return to Insanity and Competency Issues; Advocacy Events and Information (Mental Health Advocacy Day – Monday, February 1, 2021 / Vermont Virtual Homelessness Awareness Day and Vigil Wednesday, January 27, 2021); Information on Your Senators and Representatives; Action Circles Calendar

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2020 VCP Legislative Updates

Legislative Wrap Up for 2020:

Overview of Progress and Achievements

1. FY21 Appropriations – Act 154 (H.969)
2. Health Care and Human Services Appropriations from the Coronavirus Relief Fund Act 136 (H.965)
3. CRF Resources for Broadband Connectivity, Housing, and Economic Relief Act 137 (H.966)
4. Health Reform – Act 140 (S.160)
5. Vermont’s Response to COVID-19 – Act 91 (H.742)
6. Governmental Structures Protecting the Public Health, Safety and Welfare – Act 166 (S.124)

Summary of Budget and Policy Legislation

Appropriations

Budget Overview – Act 154 (H.969); Mental Health Budget Remains in DMH; Corona Virus Relief Funds (CRF); Mental Health and Public Safety; Woodside Juvenile Detention Facility

Policy Legislation

Health Care and Human Services Appropriations from the Coronavirus Relief Fund Act 136 (H.965); COVID-19 Funding and Assistance for Broadband Connectivity, Housing, and Economic Relief Act 137 (H.966); Miscellaneous Health Care Bill – Act 140 (H.960); Vermont’s Response to COVID-19 – Act 91 (H.742); Justice Reinvestment Act 148 (S.338); Governmental Structures Protecting the Public Health, Safety and Welfare – Act 166 (S.124); Workers Compensation and COVID Act 150 (S342)

2020 VCP Legislative Agenda

Fact Sheet Designated and Specialized Service Agencies

Fact Sheet Mental Health

Fact Sheet Developmental Services

3% Fact Sheet 

Legislative Update for October 7, 2020 – Legislature Finalizes the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget – Budget Overview; Fiscal Year 2022 Pressures; Corona Virus Relief Funds (CRF); Mental Health Budget Remains in DMH; Mental Health and Public Safety; Justice Reinvestment; Woodside Juvenile Detention Facility / Other Legislation – S.124 Directs the Criminal Justice Council to Address Racism and Improve Mental Health Supports

Legislative Update for September 24, 2020 – Legislature Focuses on Finalizing the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget; Senate Health and Welfare Reviews DAIL Budget; House Health Care Reviews Public Safety Proposal for Mental Health Workers in State Police Barracks; Senate Health and Welfare Considers Public Safety Proposal; House Health Care Committee Develops Budget Amendment for DPS Proposal; Senate Adjusts Woodside Proposal in the Budget; CRF for Designated and Specialized Service Agencies; House Appropriations Hears Commissioner Greshin’s Opinion on Senate Budget Bill; Senate Health and Welfare and House Health Care Joint Meeting on CRF; Senate Health and Welfare and Senate Appropriations Reviews OneCare Funding for Primary Care; Senate Finance Committee Addresses Broadband

Legislative Update for September 2, 2020 – Legislature Reconvenes with a Focus on Finalizing the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget; Scott Administration Proposes FY21 Budget Restatement with Few Changes; House Health Care and Senate Health and Welfare Committees Take Testimony on the FY21 Budget; Appropriations Committees Deliberates Budget and Takes Public Testimony; Department Budget Testimony – Department of Mental Health Overview; DAIL Budget Overview; DVHA Budget Overview; Department of Health Budget Overview; Joint Fiscal Oversight Committee Considers Woodside; House Health Care Committee Considers Mental Health Funding; Senate Committees Supportive of Embedded Workers at State Police Barracks; Senate Appropriations Considers Hazard Pay; Education

VCP FY21 Budget Request

Legislative Update for July 1, 2020 –  Legislative and Funding Overview; Legislature Approves First Quarter Appropriation Bill H.961; Senate Adjusts the House CRF Bill H.965 for Health and Human Services; Legislature Passes H.966 to fund Broadband, Housing and Economic Relief with CRF; Legislature Passes Miscellaneous Health Care Bill; Workers Compensation Legislation Passes Legislature; Secretary of Education Dan French Addresses How Schools Shall Reopen

Legislative Update for June 23, 2020 – House Passes CRF Bill for Health Providers H.965; Senate Health and Welfare Committee Begins Deliberation of CRF for Health Providers in H.965; Senate Appropriations Committee Reviews the work of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on H.965; Senate Amends First Quarter of FY21 Budget with Plan for Mental Health Workers in State Trooper Barracks; Senate Judiciary Committee Take Testimony on S.219 Law Enforcement Bill; Senate Plans to Amend S.218 on the DMH 10-year Plan to an Act Establishing the Mental Health Integration Council; House of Representatives Passes H.966 CRF (corona virus relief fund) for Broadband, Connectivity and Housing; Senate Health and Welfare Amends Health Care Bill Further

Legislative Update for June 16, 2020 – House of Representatives Considers Appropriation of Corona Virus Relief Funds CRF; Vermont Care Partners Advocacy on CRF; House Appropriations Works Through CRF Appropriations Recommendations; House Appropriations Receives Proposal from House Health Care Committee; House Health Care Committee Recommendations on CRF to House Appropriations Committee; Broadband Discussed by Senate Finance; CRF to address Housing and Homelessness; Senate Health and Welfare Begins Consideration of CRF; Mental Health Commissioner Squirrell Presents to Senate Health and Welfare on Brattleboro Retreat; Senate Judiciary Committee Begins Work on Addressing Police Brutality Concerns; House Education Committee Learns about Success Beyond Six Challenges; Legislative Process for FY21

Legislative Update for June 8, 2020 – Legislative Process for Fiscal Decisions; CRF Appropriation Deliberations; House Health Care Committee Takes Testimony from the Chair of the Green Mountain Care Board; Coalition of Health Care Providers Make Recommendations to the House Health Care Committee on June 3^rd ; Secretary Smith Testifies about the CRF to Human Service and Health Care Committees on June 3^rd and 4^th; House Health Care Committee Continues Deliberations of CRF Expenditures on June 5^th;Brattleboro Retreat to Receive Additional Funding; Judiciary Committee

Legislative Update for June 2, 2020 –  Opportunity for Further COVID-19 Funding; Health Care Providers Testify to the House Health Care Committee and Senate Health and Welfare Committee; Highlights of Information Presented to Appropriations Committees; Finance Commissioner Adam Greshin Presents FY21 First Quarter Skinny Bill to House Appropriations Committee; AHS CFO Sara Clark Presents to House Appropriations Committee; House Appropriations Committee Budget Discussions; Budget Adjustment Bill Ready for Governor Scott’s Signature; Telehealth Options Studied by Senate Health and Welfare; House Human Services Hears DCF testimony on Woodside and COVID Residential Programs

Legislative Update for May 19, 2020 – House Appropriation Receives Briefing on FY21 Budget Request; Updates of Federal Funding; Budget Adjustment Bill at Finish Line in the House; House Human Services Learns about the New Budget Adjustment Proposal for AHS; Senate Health and Welfare and House Health Care Committees Receive Budget Update from AHS; Senate Health and Welfare Considers Extension of COVID-19 Health Care Measures

Legislative Update for May 11, 2020 – Update of the New Fiscal Realities; Essential Employee Hazard Grant Program Gains Support; Health Committees Review Telehealth; House General, Housing and Military Affairs Addresses Homelessness; Senate Health and Welfare Develops Legislation to Plan for After the Pandemic is Past the Disaster Stage; Senate Caucus

Legislative Update for April 28, 2020 – The Legislature Makes Adjustments in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic; Update of the New Fiscal Realities; Joint Fiscal Committee Adopts Conditions for the Acceptance of the Coronavirus Relief Funds to Vermont; Special Education Discussed by House Education Committee; Children’s Integrated Services

Legislative Update for April 17, 2020  – The Legislature Makes Adjustments to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic; Act 95 Addresses COVID-19; Legislature Explores New Financial Realities; House Health Care and Senate Health and Welfare Hear from Secretary Smith on Response to Covid-19; DMH Testimony at House Health Care on March 27th; Senate Health and Welfare Returns to S.290; House Health Care Committee House Education Hears Testimony from Four School Superintendents; House Education Hears Testimony on School Mental Health; AOE Special Ed Guidance; Justice Reinvestment Bill Continues Moving Forward

Legislative Update for March 6, 2020  –  House Appropriations Committee Deliberates the FY21 Budget Recommendations; Senate Health and Welfare Returns to Rutland Mobile Response Bill; Justice Reinvestment Bill Passes the Senate; S.183 on Insanity and Competency Ready for Passage by the Senate

Legislative Update for February 25, 2020 – Senate Health and Welfare Hears Vermont Care Partners Request for Financial Review; House Appropriations Committee Takes Testimony from Human Service Advocates; House Health Care Budget letter; House Human Services Committee Budget Letter; Senate Health and Welfare Reviews S.302 Mobile Response Bill; Senate Judiciary Committee at the Finish line with S.183 on Insanity and Competency; Senate Health and Welfare Reviews S.183 on Insanity and Competency Legal Issues; Senate Appropriations Committee Reviews Justice Reinvestment Bill S.388; Senate Judiciary Considers Closure of Woodside; House Human Services Studies Woodside; Senate Health and Welfare Hears Vision 2030 Report Presented by Mental Health Commissioner

Legislative Update for February 18, 2020 – House Appropriations Committee Discusses Public Hearing Testimony; Senate Appropriations Hears Budget Testimony on Mental Health; House Health Care Hears about Department of Mental Health (DMH) Performance Measures; Senate Judiciary Committee Continues to Study Insanity and Incompetency Legislation; House Health Care Committee Learns about the Mental Health Residential Continuum; House Health Care Studies Suicide; Board of Education & Agency of Education Rule Making Authority Under Study; Budget Adjustment Bill, H.760, Nears Finish Line with House and Senate Amendments

Legislative Update for February 10, 2020 – House Committee on Appropriations Hears Mental Health Budget Proposal for FY20; Mental Health Budget Presented to House Health Care Committee; Senate Judiciary Committee Finalizes the Justice Reinvestment Bill; Senate Appropriations Committee Hears Health Department Budget Proposal; Senate Health and Welfare Takes First Testimony on S.302 Mobile Response for Youth in Rutland; New version of S.183 Taken up by Senate Judiciary Committee; S. 290 on Health Care Reform Implementation Reviewed by Senate Health and Welfare Committee

Legislative Update for February 4, 2020 –  Save The Dates; Mental Health Advocacy Day Make a Strong Statement of Support for Community Mental Health; House Human Services Takes a full Morning of Testimony on Mental Health; Senate Institutions Learns about Intensive Residential Recovery Proposal; House Human Services Learns about experiences with Developmental Disability and Substance Use; House General, Housing and Military Affairs Learns about the Experience of Homelessness; Senate Judiciary Begins Work on Justice Reinvestment Bill; Human Services Secretary Mike Smith Presents FY21 Budget to House Appropriation Committee; AHS Budget Highlights: Initiatives (base funding will annualize, one time funding will not); Two Committees look at Use of Force by Law Enforcement; House Appropriations Committee Hears Department of Children and Families FY21 Budget Proposal; House Health Care Committee Receives Update on Secure Residential Development

Legislative Update for January 27, 2020 – Save the Dates; Governor Scott’s Budget Address; Senate Judiciary Committee Continues Testimony on Insanity Plea; House Health Care Learns about Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMDs);Council of State Government Presents Justice Reinvestment II; House Human Services Hears OneCare Overview

Legislative Update for January 21, 2020 – House Human Services Learns about Developmental Disability Services; Senate Judiciary Committee Begins Study of Insanity Defense as Proposed in S.183; House Corrections and Institutions Studies Woodside; GMCB Reviews their Analysis of the Brattleboro Retreat Finances at House Health Care; House Appropriations and Health Care Committee Learns about All Payer Model; House Health Care and Senate Health and Welfare Jointly Receive Testimony from OneCare; Senate Health and Welfare Hears Rural Health Task Force Report; Senate Institutions Gets Update on Secure Residential facility; State Revenue Forecast increases by $44 Million

Legislative Update for January 13, 2020 – Save the Dates; House Corrections and Institutions Hears from Incoming Human Services Secretary Mike Smith; Mental Health Commissioner Squirrell Updates the House Corrections and Institutions Committee; AHS Secretary Smith Presents Budget Adjustment Request to Senate Appropriations Committee; Governor’s Scott Presents State of the State Speech; House Appropriations Hears Mental Health Overview on January 9^th; Senate Education Committee Plans Revisions to State funding of Schools; Justice Reinvestment

Legislative Update for January 6, 2020 – Vermont Care Partners Legislative Agenda; Mental Health Advocacy Day and Advocacy Webinar; Budget Adjustment and Fiscal Issues; OneCare and Delivery System Reform Funding; Woodside Juvenile Detention Center Discussed at Justice Oversight; Save the Dates

Make Your Voice Heard! Mental Health Advocacy Day is January 29th Please join us at the State House on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 @ 8:00 a.m.

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2019 Legislative Wrap Up

VCP Legislative Agenda 2019

2019 Legislative Updates

* 2019 Legislative Wrap Up

*  Update for May 18, 2019

*  Update for May 7, 2019

*  Update for April 30, 2019

*  Update for April 23, 2019

*  Update for April 16, 2019

*  Update for April 9, 2019

*  Update for April 2, 2019

*  Update for March 25, 2019

*  Update for March 19, 2019

*  Update for March 9, 2019

*  Update for February 26, 2019

*  Update for February 20, 2019

*  Update for February 12, 2019

*  Update for February 5, 2019

*  Update for January 29, 2019

*  Update for January 23, 2019

*  Update for January 15, 2019

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2018

2018 VCP Legislative Wrap Up