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— The Vermont Senate unanimously approved law enforcement reforms that would mandate state police wear body cameras, establish an uniform use of force policy for all officers, and criminalize the use of certain restraint techniques, including chokeholds.
The Senate’s swift movement on criminal justice measures comes after Vermont lawmakers vowed to act quickly following the death of George Floyd, who was killed by police in Minneapolis last month.
Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington, the chair of the Senate’s judiciary committee, said the legislation approved on Tuesday, S.119 and S.219, are the “beginning, and not an end” to the chamber’s work on new policing measures. – Kit Norton, Xander Landen
— As the upper chamber approved those proposals Tuesday, the lower chamber got a head start on the bills. The House Judiciary and Gov Ops committees held a joint hearing throughout the day, breaking only for floor sessions, hearing from a number of witnesses.
Michael Schirling, the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, said he supports additional oversight and restrictions on law enforcement — but added he believes some of the measures passed by the upper chamber are purely political and will not work well in Vermont.
Schirling singled out the new crime created for police officers who use banned restraints, and said it was unnecessary, as current criminal statutes can already be used to prosecute police officers. “It’s called aggravated assault,” he said. “It’s been on the books for decades.”
In the Senate and now in the House, people of color have also testified that lawmakers may be moving too swiftly.
“A lot of white people, particularly people in positions of leadership have been mobilized and are extremely energized in wanting to act,” said Xusana Davis, the state’s racial equity director. “For a lot of communities of color and their activists and allies, it feels like we’re being rushed through something that we’ve spent so many years calling for.” – Kit Norton, Xander Landen
— Senate Education took testimony from private college leaders on their plans to bring students back to their campuses safely this fall. Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison, said her constituents are worried that as students return to Middlebury, their presence could pose a public health risk.
“It’s a concern for the residents from Middlebury that will have hundreds of students coming back from around the world and around the country and [the college] may not have the capacity to test them all,” Hardy said.
Mark Anarumo, president of Norwich University, said his institution is planning to test all incoming students, faculty and staff. However, that would cost the university about half a million dollars he said. “We do need the funding help,” Anarumo said. “It’s going to really hammer our budget badly.”
The committee decided to send a letter to the Joint Fiscal Committee requesting that $5 million be allocated to Vermont’s independent colleges to fund widespread testing and personal protective equipment. – Grace Elletson
— Senate Natural Resources has decided to forgo its attempt to attach an Act 250 amendment to an affordable housing bill, S.237. The bill was ordered to lie during a Monday Senate floor session after objections that it was not germaine with the attached amendment.
The amendment garnered criticism from Democratic Sens. John Rodgers and Bobby Star of Essex-Orleans. They accused the Senate committee of passing the amendment in an untransparent fashion without rigorous testimony.
“We will present it in another way. We’re going to go back to H.926, the House Act 250 bill that we received, and we will amend that bill in an ordinary procedure,” said Committee Chair Chris Bray, D-Addison. That process will begin in the committee tomorrow morning. – Grace Elletson
— A bill that would establish a provost marshal within Vermont’s National Guard has been expanded to include requirements that the position also has to to report and document allegations of sexual assault.
The amendment enacting the change was introduced by Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison, who testified about the bill to the House General committee Tuesday. The provost marshal would essentially act as a cop within the Guard, in charge of documenting and reporting crimes to law enforcement that happen among members.
Adjutant General Gregory Knight told House General lawmakers that he supports the amendment and the bill.
“It’s great to have a response,” Knight said. “I want to get out of the response business. I want to get into the prevention business and that’s why I think this bill is important.” – Grace Elletson
