IN SEPTEMBER 8’S FINAL READING:
— Senate Natural Resources continued to work on its modest Act 250 reform measure that focuses on best management practices for trails and outdoor recreation as well as starting to address forest fragmentation and the breaking up of natural habitat.
However, the Scott administration told senators Tuesday that it cannot support the latest draft that deals with the state’s land use law.
“I just wanted to indicate that the draft 2.1 is not something the administration can support. We believe it does not represent a balanced proposal and leaves behind some of what we saw as critical elements in any final bill,” said Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore.
“I’m sorry that that’s the administration’s conclusion,” committee Chair Chris Bray, D-Addison, responded. – KN
— The Senate gave final approval to S.352 — which includes slight changes to the enacted hazard pay program — and S.353 — which expands the hazard pay grant program eligibility to a number of jobs that failed to make it into legislation that was enacted in the summer.
The final version of S.352, which increases the funding for fiscal year 2021 from $28 million to $30.5 million and clarifies language around eligibility requirements, passed with an amendment that stipulates $12 million be authorized for child care workforce stabilization.
S.353, a $19.5 million expansion of the hazard pay program, would make grocery and retail workers along with others eligible for backpay.
In May, the Senate passed its original hazard pay measure that covered a larger assortment of professions but House members had concerns that the breadth of the upper chamber’s version might make it ineligible for the $1.25 billion in federal Covid-19 assistance funds — the source of funding for the program — and stripped the language from the final version of the bill.
The fate of the Senate’s new proposal remains uncertain as it heads to the lower chamber. – KN
— The Senate Ag committee has begun reviewing an amendment to the $35 million aid package, S.351, for the forest and agriculture industries in the state.
The panel has drafted language to change statutory deadlines and has removed a clause that advocates argued put farmers who did not see immediate financial stress brought on by the coronavirus at a disadvantage from receiving assistance.
Under current law, dairy farms, processors, forestry businesses and fairs are required to show that they simply lost revenues or incurred expenses caused by the Covid-19 public health emergency. Non-dairy farms and food businesses, however, must document no net profits between March 1 and Aug. 1. That higher financial reporting standard for farmers has been met with opposition from NOFA and other organizations.
The amendment under consideration removes net profits as a disqualifying stipulation.
Sen Bobby Starr, D-Essex-Orleans, chair of the committee, said it is his hope to get the language decided on soon and move it to Senate Appropriations where lawmakers are working on crafting one large Covid-related measure. – KN
— In the other chamber, House Human Services started to pore over a Senate amendment to H.663, legislation that mandates public schools make menstrual hygiene products available to students at no cost.
In addition to other changes, the Senate amendment strips House language that required schools to share “any data” about the height and weight of K-6th graders with the Department of Health — citing privacy concerns.
Committee Chair Ann Pugh, D-South Burlington, said the legislation is on the panel’s agenda for the week but that it is unlikely to make it to the House floor by Friday.
Pugh said Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero, had sent a memo to lawmakers with a list of bills that would likely come up by week’s end.
“I think I will let her know that it is highly unlikely that this will be ready for the floor on Friday,” Pugh said. – KN
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