[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6324295,"mediaKeyId","2338715-0446d95b22667f1e0810a31ee64ada33","parentId",2338715,"title","Committee reviews Keisha's omnibus labor draft covering agriculture pay, workers' comp, contingent faculty UI and prevailing-wage rules","audioSeconds",597,"startMs",1949000,"endMs",2546000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338715-0446d95b22667f1e0810a31ee64ada33&start=1949&end=2546","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338715-0446d95b22667f1e0810a31ee64ada33/thumbnail_1949000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6324295/Vermont/Committee-reviews-Keishas-omnibus-labor-draft-covering-agriculture-pay-workers-comp-contingent-faculty-UI-and-prevailing-wage-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324295-feb2c312ec6d9786d43eb67aaa39c71e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582574&Signature=MjIHe46kAlfUaVMy4eeJqAoWYxhQDSqg95ChP4x~pyqsM6xOYzUZefZoeiQKybxqUcCKJ5h0k4xsIxKLDoD26th2fdqXEa9OmEELXCSiIbDbAxdqi-yTYRUHZmWjBRqIOBtaEZPxWq53swjF2NzD52ctGjGyU6iNDcGMB-9L8McTur6NQ6HjjHNR2YId3j3z5msiieB9JUriH7W4VFrnEOmm9zCQvDStRyQ-5tMOW3MrvXtPjLAxjb6cEt3mxnSz-d7hzBLY10nXLEDcLibBH5QvK5VpugcN0SfMjRyJTXA2~I30yLs-6mhwmaLSh--QTNEK6CFUs6VVeKcD002Kxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-19T09:15:18.263Z","article","Senator Keisha presented an omnibus labor draft (identified in committee as draft 1.2 of 25-0652) containing multiple, discrete labor provisions that the committee walked through at a high level. The draft spans agriculture, wage and overtime rules, vacation payout on separation, workers' compensation reforms, unemployment insurance for contingent faculty, incarcerated-worker pay, and prevailing-wage/recordkeeping requirements for state construction projects.

Agriculture and overtime: The draft would remove the statutory exclusion that currently exempts many agricultural employees from state minimum-wage coverage and would require overtime pay for agricultural employees who work more than 60 hours a week when the employer receives state grants. The sponsor said the bill would keep an exclusion for an agricultural employer's parent, spouse or child. Committee members noted conflicting testimony from industry groups: some producers said they do not pay subminimum wages and worried about noncompliant actors, while worker advocates reported survey data indicating underpayment in parts of the sector. The committee agreed to hear additional witnesses on those questions.

Duties and salary threshold: The draft updates the \"executive, administrative and professional\" exemption by tying the salary threshold to a weekly figure of $1,128 (about $58,656 annually) that had been part of federal rulemaking; the presenter noted the federal rule increasing thresholds to $43,888 in July and to $58,656 on January 1 was later struck down in court. Committee members discussed the two-prong duties-and-salary test and the implications of raising the salary floor.

Vacation payout: Section 3 of the draft would require employers to pay accrued but unused vacation at separation, whether separation is voluntary or involuntary. Members raised concerns about cases of termination for cause and suggested statutory language or safeguards may be needed to address disputes where employers allege theft or misconduct.

Workers' compensation changes: The draft would (a) add the market value of employer-provided health insurance to the calculation of average weekly wage in workers' compensation benefits, (b) insert a statutory definition and claimant access to \"medical case management\" (now defined in an administrative rule), and (c) require translation services at employer expense for injured workers with limited English proficiency so claimants understand rights and treatment options. The bill also proposes a preauthorization path for case-management services and a sliding scale of penalties for untimely benefit payments (raising the current late-fee regime that the presenter said now includes a $10 or 5% late-fee). Committee members asked for impact details and for witness testimony from a workers' compensation attorney and the department.

Contingent faculty and reasonable assurance: The draft clarifies UI coverage for contingent or adjunct faculty by defining \"reasonable assurance\" and listing factors that constitute written or implied offers of re-employment, aiming to give clearer guidance to colleges, employers, and adjunct instructors about eligibility for UI when semester-based teaching ends.

Incarcerated workers: Sections 9 and 10 would require offenders working for correctional programs to be compensated at a rate equal to or greater than the minimum wage. Committee members asked the Department of Corrections for current pay data and noted most paid opportunities are declining in number.

Prevailing wage and recordkeeping: The draft would replace existing prevailing-wage language for state projects with a standard that sets the prevailing rate as either the applicable federal Davis-Bacon wage or the local collective-bargaining rate (whichever is higher). It would also require certified, weekly payroll records from prime contractors and subcontractors, require record retention for inspection by the Commissioner of Labor or Attorney General, and extend enforcement exposure to employers and subcontractors.

Committee members asked for more data and witnesses across the bill's sections (agriculture stakeholders, Department of Labor, workers' compensation attorneys, Department of Corrections, and construction industry representatives). No votes were taken; the committee planned to continue consideration and to schedule targeted testimony.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Economic Development - 2025-02-18-9:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Draft 1.2 (25-0652), presented by Senator Keisha, combines multiple labor reforms covering agricultural pay, overtime, workers' compensation, contingent faculty UI, incarcerated-worker pay and prevailing-wage/recordkeeping rules.","taxTitle","Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",37662,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6324309,"Senate committee reviews bill to revoke state authority to recommend subminimum wages for people with disabilities",483,211000,694000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338715-0446d95b22667f1e0810a31ee64ada33&start=211&end=694","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338715-0446d95b22667f1e0810a31ee64ada33/thumbnail_211000.jpg","/articles/6324309/Vermont/Senate-committee-reviews-bill-to-revoke-state-authority-to-recommend-subminimum-wages-for-people-with-disabilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324309-2efc403de9d9617ec738bf2d2c74d80e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582574&Signature=dSPg-QpjpjMbRZjNujOWZ2SC-m3wdU1Ek6poB2rVs9L10KNIZzZQGQNNdIVJ6fmWv1tSSnSdFUWS2b97W7xAYGWRjiWUBg-P3ynCh453vXIgaTptW9yyghzsryZZR3FeGftU~~0FJPAgaeChjs47Wsg-zjZmTCO~cRsb7qmhVmP8~StRjN4f-4aorbp-l-W9dpHVhloDNiq11l0EBzGri~QDL~z70sSBR9TFDxBqgyIDosoHhLIlqHAs4enSSaO7HW3OBY2VzXUXZIjhhXBOFjKx2dulNBIpnpt6BcqQRsJJGvanorLMTwP3bQZdEImgEojrcrXI97waszZAlyZRkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","S.6 would strip the Vermont Commissioner of Labor of the power to recommend certificates under federal law that allow employers to pay subminimum wages to people with disabilities, a change supporters say would align state code with Vermont's nondiscrimination laws.

The bill's sponsor told the committee the authority exists under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and that Vermont has not in practice requested such certificates. \"S.6 is to repeal the authority that the commissioner of labor has right now to recommend a subminimum wage for individuals with a disability,\" the sponsor said. Committee members noted the repeal would bring state law into closer alignment with the Fair Employment Practices Act's protections against wage discrimination based on disability.

Members asked historical and practical questions about the statute: when the authority was added and why, whether the authority facilitated employment opportunities historically, and what federal rulemaking has done or tried to do on the matter. One committee member traced the origin of the federal-era policy to the 1950s, noting it was originally framed as a mechanism to encourage hiring of veterans and injured workers after World War II. Committee members emphasized they would hear from the labor commissioner on Thursday to explain how the authority has (or has not) been used and whether revocation would have unintended consequences.

Committee members also raised policy trade-offs. One member asked whether revoking the authority might remove some limited, transitional employment opportunities; others responded that Vermont already prohibits wage discrimination against people with disabilities and that many other states have revoked the recommendation authority. A member requested information about the impact on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients who try to work while maintaining benefits.

The committee did not take action on S.6 at this meeting. Members agreed to invite the commissioner to testify on Thursday and to seek any additional data on federal steps or state experiences in other jurisdictions before advancing the bill.","S.6 would rescind the Vermont Commissioner of Labor's authority to recommend federal certificates permitting subminimum wages for people with disabilities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6324299,"Senators introduce proposal to peg minimum wage to biennial \"livable wage\" calculation; committee to hear Public Assets Institute and JFO",316,1468000,1784000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338715-0446d95b22667f1e0810a31ee64ada33&start=1468&end=1784","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338715-0446d95b22667f1e0810a31ee64ada33/thumbnail_1468000.jpg","/articles/6324299/Vermont/Senators-introduce-proposal-to-peg-minimum-wage-to-biennial-livable-wage-calculation-committee-to-hear-Public-Assets-Institute-and-JFO","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324299-818b2fba4e1b1cc34026c22e8b957f3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582574&Signature=VjLGjr7lWxn8D92EbIyRLb3y0uchYqsIx7ErebCe~2Yfvn1~DMpOH01TbHPLBktQJwcerQCcxzEnNbZWjGoQGalwTNAHxcwcmMYsJoyppzuYRhKLnw9cm7OoFnVpR84IM7KNLpuYL~r6RzMCdPYZOoL4AjFlsYv4i5~QlEwG7qW0U52tZHDGewlhbb4xLlE-7mfpDwpuQnWabJyKWvoEyzrIWMZ5N~Ad0Kt3bXjlO1ro5BYaiT40urc3GDGL9juRBRlvH~7XyhrawgHimZFQKjp0Y-d487kVODLyLdTNQxOQZ58JEx5vfutI8my6enTBULLIDjXFklRNwYv7hsBWcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator sponsors presented S.67, a proposal to set Vermont's minimum wage to the \"livable wage\" calculated every two years by the state's basic-needs budget and to index future increases to the consumer price index (CPI).

A sponsor said the measure is intended to address affordability by aligning wages with the cost of living: \"If we're really gonna begin to help get at Vermonters earning more, we need to put our money where our mouth is and set the minimum wage to be the livable wage,\" the sponsor said, citing the two-year basic-needs calculation that produces blended urban and rural figures.

Committee members reacted to the scale and fiscal implications. Some described the measure as a heavy lift that could have large budget consequences for state-contracted workers and social-service programs paid through the state budget. One member said past attempts to raise state pay to match a livable-wage benchmark had been too costly for the state budget and cited home-care and social-service sectors as areas of concern. Another committee member said the committee should solicit multiple perspectives: the Public Assets Institute would present one side and JFO would provide fiscal modeling; the committee agreed to invite both.

Members also debated whether to prioritize this bill before crossover given limited committee bandwidth and the breadth of other labor bills currently before the panel. No action was taken; the committee scheduled testimony for Thursday that will include the Public Assets Institute and JFO and said it would gather additional economic testimony to capture multiple viewpoints.","S.67 would set Vermont's minimum wage to the state's biennial basic-needs \"livable wage\" calculation and then index it to CPI. Senators acknowledged the proposal would be a large fiscal and policy change and agreed to gather testimony from economists, the Public Assets Institute and the Joint Fiscal Office.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6324304,"Committee debates changes to unemployment calculations and proposal to expand UI for school support staff",522,788000,1310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338715-0446d95b22667f1e0810a31ee64ada33&start=788&end=1310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338715-0446d95b22667f1e0810a31ee64ada33/thumbnail_788000.jpg","/articles/6324304/Vermont/Committee-debates-changes-to-unemployment-calculations-and-proposal-to-expand-UI-for-school-support-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324304-54c5614f45c33cedfcfed84dfc462980/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582574&Signature=Vm9fuzopBAwncxH-8kri9gQWBs8hhgVcaCarc2HhrjKMEVZoFlCfSX2eqD1snDM-zLTYdGpThjbqFHJAndFifzykjTujJZPhNm83lflcG6O3iIQPo9EVkF3~0uztULfTHwDjuUGKFYitFHacsr3I21TQX0-8NwNvUNvoNDUkJz9TXXxpi-KcPjroi0DVig~8Dn2ajVdHYOiIG8Rw8fyjKnZXFkPO8kHoysQcvEFyWk9xw8u9hdvQ~WB~9MjuGNjPQzc1RMBKfIxtXYGCfUJGHs6BDOcXJkUkq2x8YiAgZDaC7pOxu81i0~G9BOnFx0DX0UvvL3C7tSNhmxvExVh5HQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members reviewed a bill with two distinct unemployment-related provisions: (1) a change to disregarded earnings that would exclude particular earnings from the gross-wages calculation for weekly unemployment benefits and (2) an expansion or clarification of unemployment insurance (UI) coverage for school support staff.

A staff presenter explained the first change as a modification to the \"disregarded earnings\" rule: under current practice some reported gross wages are partially disregarded when computing UI. \"Right now, you know, they disregard 50% of your reported gross wages earned, and so this would exclude those earnings from that calculation,\" the presenter said, describing a change that would increase weekly UI benefits for people who earn some income (for example as an independent contractor) while collecting UI.

Committee members noted the provision has potentially large fiscal implications and asked the Joint Fiscal Office (JFO) to provide estimates. One member recalled prior testimony that produced a $5 million to $41 million estimate; the committee clarified that that range applied to the second part of the bill (expanding or clarifying UI for school support staff), not to the disregarded-earnings change, and asked JFO to provide separate cost estimates for each provision.

Members discussed policy trade-offs, including whether the change would treat certain seasonal or independent-contractor earnings differently from other seasonal industries. Several members said the committee's original intent when sponsoring the bill was to address school support staff coverage; they expressed concern that the broader disregarded-earnings language turns into a wider UI policy change that would merit separate study. The committee asked the labor commissioner and JFO to testify and to identify what data the Department of Labor already collects that could inform cost estimates.

No formal action was taken; members agreed to seek separate fiscal estimates from JFO for (a) the disregarded-earnings change and (b) the school-support-staff coverage, and to continue the discussion when the commissioner appears on Thursday.","Senators examined a draft that would exclude certain earnings from weekly unemployment benefit calculations and a companion provision to extend or clarify unemployment insurance coverage for school support staff. Members asked the Joint Fiscal Office for separate cost estimates and scheduled further testimony.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reviews Keisha's omnibus labor draft covering agriculture pay, workers' comp, contingent faculty UI and prevailing-wage rules

Senate committee reviews bill to revoke state authority to recommend subminimum wages for people with disabilities

Senators introduce proposal to peg minimum wage to biennial "livable wage" calculation; committee to hear Public Assets Institute and JFO

Committee debates changes to unemployment calculations and proposal to expand UI for school support staff