Government Accountability Committee #
Website #
Membership; reports; documents; and meeting schedules, agendas, and livestreams available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“(a) There is created the joint legislative Government Accountability Committee. The Committee shall recommend mechanisms for State government to be more forward-thinking, strategic, and responsive to the long-term needs of Vermonters. In pursuit of this goal, the Committee shall:
- “Propose areas for the review of statutory mandates for public services that may result in service duplication and to review the alignment of financial and staff resources required to carry out those mandates.
- “Review the legislative process for the creation and elimination of programs and make recommendations for enhancements to the process that support greater long-range planning and responsiveness to the needs of Vermonters.
- “Recommend strategies and tools that permit all branches of State government to prioritize the investment of federal, State, and local resources in programs that respond to the needs of the citizens of Vermont in a collaborative, cost-effective, and efficient manner. Pursuant to those strategies and tools, functions that are not critical to an agency or department mission may be recommended for combination or elimination, while other functions may be optimized.
- “[Repealed.]
- “Determine that data-based program-level performance measures that demonstrate program results have been adopted for the programs in each agency and department.
- “Determine whether each agency and department is taking actions to achieve the population-level outcomes set forth in 3 V.S.A. 2311 that are relevant to that agency or department, as shown by the manner in which the agency’s or department’s program-level performance measures inform population-level indicators.
- “Ensure that the report set forth in 3 V.S.A. 2311 regarding population-level outcomes and indicators and each agency’s or department’s program-level performance measures are transparent and readily accessible to the public via electronic publication.
- “Assess the effectiveness of population-level indicators in measuring progress in achieving population-level outcomes, and annually review population-level indicators in the context of new data development.
- “Approve the addition, amendment, or elimination of population-level indicators in accordance with 3 V.S.A. 2311(c).
- “[Repealed.]
- “Assess whether and how the State of Vermont should provide funds to nonprofit organizations, including whether grants to or contracts with nonprofit organizations should require results-based accountability” (2 V.S.A. § 970).
Health Reform Oversight Committee #
Website #
Membership; reports; and meeting schedule, agendas, and supporting documents available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“This joint committee provides legislative oversight and review of revenue collection, expenditures, and planning related to health care reform efforts” (committee website).
“(a) When the General Assembly is adjourned, the Committee shall provide legislative oversight and review of revenue collection, expenditures, and planning related to health care reform efforts in Vermont.
“(b) When the General Assembly is adjourned during fiscal year 2015, the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access shall provide monthly updates regarding Vermont Health Benefit Exchange operations, enrollment data, coverage status, customer support, and Exchange website functionality.
“(c) Effective on January 1, 2015, all reports previously submitted to the Health Care Oversight Committee shall be submitted to the Health Reform Oversight Committee” (2 V.S.A. § 692).
Joint Information Technology Oversight Committee #
Website #
Membership; bills; and meeting schedule, notes, and livestream available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“(1) The Committee shall oversee, evaluate, and make recommendations on the following:
- “(A) the State’s current deployment, management, and oversight of information technology in the furtherance of State governmental activities, including data processing systems, telecommunications networks, and related technologies, particularly with regard to issues of compatibility among existing and proposed technologies;
- “(B) issues related to the storage of, maintenance of, access to, privacy of, and restrictions on use of computerized records;
- “(C) issues of public policy related to the development and promotion of the private, commercial, and nonprofit information infrastructure in the State, its relationship to the State government information infrastructure, and its integration with national and international information networks; and
- “(D) cybersecurity.
“(2) The Committee may provide advice to the Director of Legislative Information Technology and the Joint Legislative Management Committee as appropriate regarding matters related to legislative information technology” (2 V.S.A. § 614).
Joint Legislative Child Protection Oversight Committee #
Website #
Membership; bills; and meeting schedule, notes, and livestream available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“(1) The Committee shall:
- “(A) Exercise oversight over Vermont s system for protecting children from abuse and neglect, including:
- “(i) evaluating whether the branches, departments, agencies, and persons that are responsible for protecting children from abuse and neglect are effective;
- “(ii) determining if there are deficiencies in the system and the causes of those deficiencies;
- “(iii) evaluating which programs are the most cost-effective;
- “(iv) determining whether there is variation in policies, procedures, practices, and outcomes between different areas of the State and the causes and results of any such variation;
- “(v) evaluating whether licensed mandatory reporters should be required to certify that they completed training on the requirements set forth under 33 V.S.A. § 4913; and
- “(vi) evaluating the measures recommended by the Working Group to Recommend Improvements to CHINS Proceedings established in Sec. 24 of this act to ensure that once a child is returned to his or her family, the court or the Department for Children and Families may continue to monitor the child and family where appropriate.
- “(i) evaluating whether the branches, departments, agencies, and persons that are responsible for protecting children from abuse and neglect are effective;
- “(B) The Committee shall report any proposed legislation on or before January 15, 2016 to the House and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the House Committee on Human Services, and the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare.
“(2) The Committee may review and make recommendations to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations regarding budget proposals and appropriations relating to protecting children from abuse and neglect…
- “(d) Assistance. The Committee shall have the administrative, technical, and legal assistance of the Office of Legislative Council.
- “(e) Retaliation. No person who is an employee of the State of Vermont, or of any State, local, county, or municipal department, agency, or person involved in child protection, and who testifies before, supplies information to, or cooperates with the Committee shall be subject to retaliation by his or her employer. Retaliation shall include job termination, demotion in rank, reduction in pay, alteration in duties and responsibilities, transfer, or a negative job performance evaluation based on the person s having testified before, supplied information to, or cooperated with the Committee” (2015 Act No. 60, §23).
Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee #
Website #
Membership; bills; and meeting schedule, notes, and livestream available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“The Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee exercises oversight over the Department of Corrections and works with and provides assistance to other legislative committees on matters related to corrections policies” (committee website).
Joint Legislative Management Committee #
Website #
Membership; reports; documents; and meeting schedules, agendas, and livestreams available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“(a) The Joint Legislative Management Committee shall:
- “prepare a proposed budget for the Legislative Branch that includes a budget for each legislative office;
- “approve requests for new, permanent positions in staff offices as appropriate, for inclusion in the proposed Legislative Branch budget;
- “approve the reallocation of existing positions among staff offices, as appropriate;
- “approve and adopt policies that apply across the Legislative Branch, including compensation and benefits plans, personnel policies, and policies relating to information technology; and
- “attend to other relevant management and oversight matters.
“(b) The Joint Legislative Management Committee shall have access to legal, financial, administrative, information technology, and other services from legislative offices as needed to serve the needs of the Legislative Branch” (2 V.S.A. § 42).
Joint Pension Oversight Committee #
Website #
Membership; bills; and meeting schedule, notes, and livestream available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“The Committee shall evaluate and make recommendations on the following:
- “issues of public policy related to the provision of retirement benefits to the State’s public sector workforce;
- “changes to statutory provisions regarding the provision, design, and administration of retirement benefits and the retirement systems;
- “issues of public policy relating to health benefit design innovations, State regulatory measures, and alternative methods of providing pooled health care benefits to both active and retired school employees to lower health care costs for employees, retirees, school boards, and the State; and
- “the appropriate annual appropriation to fund the State’s retirement obligations in accordance with actuarial recommendations, statutory amortization schedules, and funding policies” (2 V.S.A. § 1001).
Joint Transportation Oversight Committee #
Website #
Membership; bills; and meeting schedule, notes, and livestream available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“As provided in 19 V.S.A. §12B, the Joint Transportation Oversight Committee provides oversight of transportation issues when the General Assembly is adjourned” (committee website).
“(c) The Committee shall provide legislative oversight of the Transportation Fund revenues collection and the operation and administration of the Agency of Transportation construction, paving, and rehabilitation programs. The Secretary of Transportation shall report to the Committee upon request.
“(d) If and when applicable, the Secretary shall submit electronically to the Joint Fiscal Office for distribution to members of the Committee a report summarizing any plans or actions taken to delay project schedules as a result of:
- “a generalized increase in bids relative to project estimates;
- “changes in the consensus revenue forecast of the Transportation Fund or Transportation Infrastructure Bond Fund; or
- “changes in the availability of federal funds” (19 V.S.A. § 12b).
Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules #
Website #
Membership; bills; reports; and meeting schedule, documents, and livestream available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“(b) The Committee shall meet as necessary for the prompt discharge of its duties and may use the staff and services of the Office of Legislative Counsel and the Office of Legislative Operations. The Committee shall adopt rules to govern its operation and organization. A quorum of the Committee shall consist of five members. For attendance at a meeting when the General Assembly is not in session, members of the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules shall be entitled to the same per diem compensation and reimbursement for necessary expenses as provided members of standing committees under 2 V.S.A. § 23.
“(c) The Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules may hold public hearings on a proposed or previously adopted rule on its own initiative. The Committee shall give public notice of any hearing at least 10 days in advance and shall notify the agency affected. Any public hearing shall be scheduled at a time and place chosen to afford opportunity for affected persons to present their views. As appropriate, the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules shall consult with the standing legislative committee having jurisdiction in the area of the rule under review.
“(d) In addition to its powers under section 842 of this title concerning rules, the Committee may, in similar manner, conduct public hearings, object, and file objections concerning existing rules. A rule reviewed under this subsection shall remain in effect until amended or repealed.
“(e) At any time following its consideration of a final proposal under section 841 of this title, the Committee, by majority vote of the entire Committee, may request that any standing committees of the General Assembly review the issues or questions presented therein which are outside the jurisdiction of the Committee but are within the jurisdiction of the standing committees. On receiving a request for review under this subsection, a standing committee may at its discretion review the issues or questions and act on them. The Committee’s request for review shall not affect the review or review period of a final proposal” (3 V.S.A. § 817).
Sunset Advisory Committee #
Website #
Membership; bills; and meeting schedule, notes, and livestream available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
- “Inventory; group; review schedule.
- “(A)(i) The Commission shall inventory all of the State boards and commissions, organize them into groups, and establish a schedule to conduct a review of one group each biennium.
- “(ii) The inventory shall include the names of the members of the State boards and commissions, their term length and expiration, and their appointing authority.
- “(B) The Commission shall provide its inventory of the State boards and commissions to the Secretary of State for the Secretary to maintain as set forth in section 116a of this title.
- “(A)(i) The Commission shall inventory all of the State boards and commissions, organize them into groups, and establish a schedule to conduct a review of one group each biennium.
- “Biennial review.
- “(A) Each biennium, the Commission shall review all of the State boards and commissions within one of its inventoried groups and shall take testimony regarding whether each of those boards and commissions should continue to operate or be eliminated and whether the powers and duties of any of those boards and commissions should be revised.
- “(B) In its review of each State board and commission, the Commission shall consider:
- “(i) the purpose of the board or commission and whether that purpose is still needed;
- “(ii) how well the board or commission performs in executing that purpose; and
- “(iii) if the purpose is still needed, whether State government would be more effective and efficient if the purpose were executed in a different manner.
- “(C) Each board and commission shall have the burden of justifying its continued operation.
- “(D) For any board or commission that the Commission determines should continue to operate, the Commission shall also determine whether members of that board or commission should be entitled to receive per diem compensation and if so, the amount of that compensation.
- “Biennial report. On or before the end of the biennium during which it reviews a group, the Commission shall submit to the House and Senate Committees on Government Operations its findings, any recommendation to eliminate a State board or commission within that group or to revise the powers and duties of a board or commission within the group, its recommendations regarding board or commission member per diem compensation, and any other recommendations for legislative action. The Commission shall also specifically recommend whether there should be changes to the information the Secretary of State provides in his or her inventory of the State boards and commissions as set forth in 3 V.S.A. § 116a. The provisions of 2 V.S.A. § 20(d) (expiration of required reports) shall not apply to the report to be made under this subsection.
- “(d) Assistance. The Commission shall have the administrative, technical, and legal assistance of the Office of Legislative Counsel, the Office of Legislative Operations, the Joint Fiscal Office, and the Agency of Administration” (3 V.S.A. § 268).
