Past Policy Updates

I am thankful we didn’t market this as a weekly update because as you can tell… Thanks for your patience.

So starting from the future and working backwards…

Interactive VBSR website

By mid-April we will be launching a new VBSR website that will have a public policy blog and public policy forums that will replace these e-mailed policy e-notes. More opportunity for member input into public policy, no more difficulty opening attachments, etc.  We think it will be great but we will need to hear what you think. 

Public Transportation Public Hearing

Next Tuesday, there will be a public hearing at the Statehouse, April 3, 2007, 6:00-9:00 p.m., regarding Public Transportation.  Please attend to lend your voice in support of increased public transportation in Vermont. We need to work together to reduce our reliance on the automobile, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and promote greater energy independence.  VBSR testified this week in House Transportation with public policy recommendations (see VBSR Energy and Transportation Policy) and emphasized the importance of sending market signals to consumers to influence behavior (tax bads, not goods). Hope you can come out.  (If you can’t, please send me letters/emails that I can get to the House Transportation Committee).

Goings on at the State House this week:

Renewables Bill- House Ways and Means is exploring the tax /revenue implications of H. 520 which has passed out of House Natural Resources. VBSR testified during the early development of this bill to offer support for incentives to create more renewable energy in the state.  
The bill contains renewable energy goals, tries to put some teeth in commercial building energy standards, revises net metering laws to allow systems up to 250 kilowatts capacity, allows group net metering, allows for the temporary siting of meteorological stations, expands the extent to which increased output from existing renewables may be counted as SPEED resources,  proposes to establish a wind-based electric generation facility tax, and proposes to pass on a federal business solar tax credit.  It also requires various reports including creation of a permitting ombudsman for renewable energy projects, how state agencies can use more biodiesel, and how the state can facilitate permitting of "mini"- hydro.

Buildings Efficiency- House Natural Resources is taking testimony this week on “energy efficiency” although they are not specifically saying it is on S.94, the Buildings Efficiency bill. That bill has not moved out of Senate Finance yet.  Senate Finance has nothing scheduled on that bill until Friday afternoon.  VBSR has been testifying in support of this bill.

Prekindergarten Education- House Education is putting the final touches on the prekindergarten education bill which should make it out of that committee this week. VBSR has been offering support for this bill. 

Telecom- The Telecommunication Authority bill is on the fast track in the House. It has been through Commerce, Natural Resources, and Transportation. It should be out of the House in no time.  VBSR is tracking but has not testified on this bill.

Mental Health Parity- S. 114 is getting its first hearing this week in Senate Finance on Thursday afternoon.   VBSR plans on lending its support to this bill which seeks to ensure that access to treatment for mental health and substance abuse be fully integrated with all other health services, and that health insurance plans be required to cover all offered services without subcontracting or otherwise separating access through distinct subparts of the health insurance plan.

Last Week-

The Agriculture Bill, H. 522, passed the House unanimously, but not before some debate and then ultimate approval of the provisions regarding on-farm poultry processing. Provisions of the bill going to the Senate include:

• The state to develop a buy- local program for its own agencies and for state-funded programs, study ways to increase instate dairy processing, and work to get the Northeast Interstate Compact for Dairy Pricing re-established.
• Exempts from inspection requirements the slaughter of fewer than 1,000 birds if those bird are sold instate only and only to a farm, at a farmers market, or at a restaurant.  To be exempt there must also be conformance with labeling requirements, including notices on restaurant menus that they sell un-inspected poultry. 
• Other provisions promote and facilitate use of mobile processing units, and a study of how to lower farm workers compensation costs. 

It is important to note that the poultry inspection provisions will make Vermont law consistent with Federal law and help small scale producers. 

Wonder what you all think?

Members who want more in-depth information about this bill can go to Rural Vermont’s website.

The next Public Policy "event" will be VBSR statehouse day on May 1.  PLEASE SAVE THE DATE AND PLAN ON ATTENDING.  More details will follow.

Check out the Legislature's web site to see copies of bills or to track bills.

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