FINAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FOR THE 1997 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
JUNE 17, 1997
The legislative session ended at 11:59 PM, June 13, 1997
GOOD NEWS! The ANFC budget was restored by 2% when the House passed its
version of the budget. The Senate also voted to restore the 2%. Thanks to
the Legislature for supporting this increase.
Commission on Women Budget Update: The House passed a $10,000 increase to
support the update of the "Legal Rights of Women." The Senate also voted for
this increase. Work on this project will begin in the near future. Thank you
to both Appropriations Committees.
BAD NEWS! H.241 - Access to Ob/Gyn Care, died in the Senate Health and
Welfare Committee. It was a sad day. However, work was done this past
month through the Health Care Authority rules process to try and increase
access.
SUMMER STUDIES! This summer there will be many different legislative studies
going on. The commission will be following the child support study and S.
185 DWI study. For more information and if you wish to attend or
participate, please call Virginia.
MENTORING! This summer Virginia will be working on gathering information on
mentoring programs throughout Vermont. If you know of any or would like to
help with this project, please call Virginia.
Priority Bills for the Commission
House Bills
H.8, Minimum Wage. Key sponsor - Murphy of Ludlow. This bill passed and was signed into law on April 2, 1997.
It increased the minimum wage from $5.00 to $5.15 by July 1, and will riste to $5.25 by October 1. It also eliminated the training wage and restored the tip credit
rate for hotel, motel, tourist place, and restaurant to 45%.
*H.89, DNA Databank. Key sponsor - Voyer of Morristown. This bill would
create a data bank and establish procedures for withdrawal of blood samples
for DNA analysis from people convicted of violent crimes. Passed the House on April 23, 1997.
Currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
H.192, Family Leave. Key sponsor - Howard of Rutland Town. This bill passed and was signed into law on June 10, 1997. This bill will
expand the provisions of the family leave law by allowing parents to take unpaid leave for their childrens' parent/teacher conference or related educational activity or medical appointments for certain family members. The Commission will be publishing a new brochure this fall that will outline the provisions of this new law.
H.208, Child Support. Key sponsor - Fox of Essex. This bill passed both the
House and Senate and is on its way to the Governor. This bill will amend and
supplement current child support laws in order to comply with the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996. This bill allows the state to speed up processes for payments and suspend hunting and fishing licences.
H.241, Access to Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Key sponsor - Pugh of
South Burlington. This bill would allow a woman direct access to an
obstetrician or gynecologist and would allow an obstetrician or gynecologist
to be a primary care provider with the consent of the obstetrician or
gynecologist. Passed the House 4/3/97. Did not pass the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.
*H.480, Employment Termination for Cause. Key sponsor - Bohi of Hartford.
This bill would protect at-will employees from discharge without cause.
Will remain in House General, Housing and Military Affairs Committee until the next legislative session.
Senate Bills
S. 74, Cancellation or Nonrenewal of Health Insurance Coverage. Key sponsor - Rivers of Windsor County. This bill passed both the House and Senate and is
on its way to the Governor. This bill will require a 30-day notice before a
health insurance plan may be canceled or nonrenewed.
Other Bills of Importance
House
*H.16, Health Insurance for Osteoporosis, Key sponsor - Keenan of St.
Albans. This bill would provide health insurance coverage for bone density
screening for osteoporosis for women. Health and Welfare Committee.
H.28, Campaign Finance Reform, Key sponsor - Kitzmiller of Montpelier. This
bill passed both the House and Senate and is on its way to the Governor. It
will allow optional public financing of campaigns for Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Auditor of Accounts, Attorney
General, and State Senator and would provide controls on the amount spent.
H.57, Parity of Mental Health Insurance Benefits. Key sponsor - Poirier of
Barre City. This bill passed and was signed into law on June 10,1997. It
will prohibit discrimination by health insurance companies in the treatment
of mental health and substance abuse disorders.
H.125, Uniform Interstate Family Support Act. Key sponsor - Costello of
Brattleboro. This bill passed both the House and Senate and was signed into
law on May 6, 1997. This bill will enact the Uniform Interstate Family
Support Act.
*H.163, Public Counsel for Health Consumers. Key sponsor - Kehler of
Pomfret. This bill would authorizes the public counsel for health insurance
to represent the interests of health insurance consumers in Vermont. Passed
the House 4/18/97. Currently in Senate Finance Committee.
*H.214, Home Heating Assistance. Key sponsor - Kitzmiller of Montpelier.
This bill would amend and expand the home heating fuel assistance program.
Passed the House Health and Welfare Committee. Currently in the House
Appropriations Committee.
H.255, Health Insurance for Medically Necessary Care and Treatment of
Cancer. Key sponsor - Kitzmiller of Montpelier. This bill passed both the
House and Senate and is on its way to the Governor. It will require health
insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary care and treatment of
cancer.
*H.274, Health Insurance Coverage for Craniofacial Disorders. Key sponsor -
Casavant of Winooski. This bill would require health insurance plans to
cover treatment of craniofacial disorders. Passed the House 3/18/97.
Currently in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee where it will remain
until the next Legislative Session.
Senate Bills
S.50, Child Care. Key sponsor - Riehle of Chittenden County. This bill
passed and was signed into law on May 13, 1997. It will change the
definition of "child" to under the age of 13 for child care instead of 12.
*S.78, Confidentiality of Health Care Information. Key sponsor - Illuzzi of
Orleans County. This bill would consolidate and strengthen the privacy and
confidentiality safeguards for health care information. Passed the Senate
Health and Welfare Committee. Currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
*S.185, Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Senate Judiciary Committee Bill.
This bill would change the DWI laws by, among other things, ordering
forfeiture of the vehicle or issuing special "DWI" decals and registration
for the vehicle used during the offense, regardless of whether the driver is
the sole owner or operator of the vehicle. Passed the Senate 3/26/97.
Currently in House Judiciary Committee where it will remain until next
Legislative Session.
* Bills are still active and can be taken up next term.
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