Crossover is an agreement between the House and Senate that, on a certain date, they will begin to work on each other’s bills so that in May, when we pass the budget and send it to the governor, each body will have considered its priorities.
My committee worked long hours last week to meet the policy crossover for bills that dealt with emergency shelter for the homeless, broad-based housing policy and changes to child protection laws.
A couple of my priorities made the crossover deadline. The first increases the eligibility to Medicare savings. This change is long overdue as very low-income older Vermonters have struggled to afford health care. Rep. Melanie Carpenter of Hyde Park serves on the health care committee and was instrumental in helping me to move this legislation.
The other bill that I’m glad to see moving forward deals with baby bonds. H.769 was voted out of the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development Friday and was referred to ways and means, which will take it up this week. This bill utilizes unclaimed funds that have been turned over to the state treasurer’s office to invest in wealth-building opportunities for children who are born to families who qualify for Dr. Dynasaur.
The concept is simple: By investing $3,200 into a savings account when the child is born, this allows the investment to grow until the individual turns 18, at which point the money can be rolled into a 529 account and used for post-secondary education. The person can also wait until they turn 21 to use it, when they can put the money toward a down payment on a house, start at business or save for retirement.
The recipients must be Vermont residents and if they do not claim it by age 30 it will revert to the unclaimed property fund. The committee decided to advance the bill as a study at this point, because of current budget pressures and the need to utilize those funds for other programs. I see this as forward movement on a bill that addresses generational poverty in Vermont.
My experience in moving major pieces of legislation, such as the Older Vermonters Act and the creation of the Office of the Child Youth and Family Advocate, is that these things take time. This also gives an opportunity for the Senate to weigh in on the merits of this proposed legislation.
On Friday the House Committee on Government Operations advanced H.585, a bill I proposed to allow the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department to participate in the 20-year retirement program instead of the 30-year program. I have been working on this bill for a couple of years with both Sheriff Roger Marcoux and Sen. Rich Westman.
This is necessary because many law enforcement departments, including other sheriff’s departments and municipalities around that state, are enrolled in 20-year retirement programs. This change will help departments retain officers that they’ve paid to train. Improving employee retention will decrease costs.
If you have questions or need help with state government, reach out at 802-730-7171 or dnoyes@leg.sate.vt.us
Dan Noyes, a Democrat from Wolcott, also represents Belvidere, Hyde Park and Johnson in the Vermont House of Representatives.
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