[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6084151,"mediaKeyId","2921874-4634259b513b8d378ca429790bd063ba","parentId",2921874,"title","Human Rights Commission warns of intake backlog, requests four full‑time positions and paralegal support","audioSeconds",54,"startMs",84000,"endMs",138000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2921874-4634259b513b8d378ca429790bd063ba&start=84&end=138","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2921874-4634259b513b8d378ca429790bd063ba/thumbnail_84000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6084151/Vermont/Human-Rights-Commission-warns-of-intake-backlog-requests-four-fulltime-positions-and-paralegal-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084151-88e1a199a3970687d4d02fc42c5dc9c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875846&Signature=jHKythRcImZHgV0FjOAShxPFeF-OcLhb7lnmPx1EwPKPzQ6vpP43aeL8F4dBFkeJenpKOSCF0X1NBAC8FYpXiZ310JFx4ZQ5jVIEd930looUgDmIwORV~rPYyes59XWeCqK1uIc97gXKPxN4cCsmGftPXuBUrPzejSZ2evWKhjfV0vVTS6bUGayExTrCVR7Woysi1wHJsz9meyUPALwRl1ebR2a8cAppOX7IAa47-yuchLKKAJhPQS2X~ZvU9Xz3DsRQzLvwFLBH5QRDMXlZDqQzMqD2xk12y2p3l4gYfsLtFzv8vvfvrVQjaM5t7k-ywuNIo1RRhQ3qpwJQmob85A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Vermont Senate Committee on Judiciary","date","2025-04-09T04:05:06Z","article","Faith Hartman, executive director and general counsel of the State of Vermont Human Rights Commission, told the Senate Judiciary Committee the commission has seen a “severe uptick” in inquiries and complaints and that capacity constraints have created multi‑month delays for intakes and investigations.

Hartman said the commission currently has seven staff (five attorneys, including one litigator), no dedicated full‑time intake specialist, and that intake delays have grown to approximately three to six months. “We currently have about 90 people waiting to hear back from us about whether or not we can accept their intake for investigation,” Hartman said. She added that many accepted complaints remain unassigned for lack of investigator capacity.

Hartman outlined an eight‑position package she previously requested to the administration and said the House budget included two of those positions (one intake specialist and one staff‑attorney investigator). Her “bare minimum” for next fiscal year is four full‑time positions (including two additional investigator/staff‑attorney slots and a paralegal) costing roughly $450,000 for FY26; the full 8‑position package would total about $880,000 for the year.

She described how capacity shortfalls affect vulnerable populations: people of color, unhoused people, elderly residents and people with disabilities experience delays or have complaints declined because the commission lacks the resources to investigate complex or systemic claims. Hartman also requested two part‑time positions (a mediator to expedite early resolution and a social‑worker case manager to help callers in crisis) and a communications/outreach coordinator in an ideal staffing model.

Hartman said the commission handles neutral investigations of fair‑housing and public‑accommodation claims and state‑employee discrimination; employment complaints involving non‑state employers are generally handled by the Attorney General’s civil‑rights unit. She warned that federal civil‑rights enforcement offices are changing and that state enforcement may be the primary recourse for some protected classes moving forward.

Ending: Hartman urged the committee to consider at least the two positions the House included and recommended adding the additional investigator and paralegal to reduce backlog and enable the agency to pursue both intake and litigation work effectively.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Judiciary - 2025-04-08 - 10:35 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The State of Vermont Human Rights Commission told the Senate Judiciary Committee it is overwhelmed by intake volume and investigative demand; the commission requested multiple new positions, including intake staff, additional investigators and a paralegal, to address a growing backlog and rising complaints.","taxTitle","Judiciary, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",47267,"location","Vermont","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6084156,"Police academy seeks K‑9 trainer, athletic trainer and equipment funding to sustain statewide training",322,2611000,2933000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2921874-4634259b513b8d378ca429790bd063ba&start=2611&end=2933","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2921874-4634259b513b8d378ca429790bd063ba/thumbnail_2611000.jpg","/articles/6084156/Vermont/Police-academy-seeks-K9-trainer-athletic-trainer-and-equipment-funding-to-sustain-statewide-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084156-cbc62cf73db4863f9d01e2e070c53623/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875846&Signature=jMTwPBug~AA0WiFqL~1yw~4AORdrY5cMR8qPyUMqNBig~asFkVJeX2oLsm586u459YxaZSNutuxL3D~G4r52hJIJrAkOEZcOyoLCRQQZrCSSFwJKDcM~b1Fc-w3miYY~r1Z9YmfYsyL1qdDgXJJLMshPv4MlN8jY25V7lnFgoTPRaryBRrX6OLsFgWaRWiMWZOOqXcyYnLHcfWO4PeP1rh3k5O-6GsuIMyyPxmteNi1V14kW6rwu0q3xSeQhgrX0xHp7~rq4pm7SJCNj0d8xPVXwjnX6TeabM3EHsQVlURBRh5l--3VgqnVPFOIAbzMnWEH9UZXBVYF519yrBI7d0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Purkel, executive director of the Vermont Police Academy and representative of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, told the Senate Judiciary Committee the academy is asking for several positions and one‑time equipment funding to sustain existing statewide training programs.

Purkel said the academy has used carry‑forward funds and outside contractors to deliver K‑9 training after the Vermont State Police moved to a different training platform. He asked the committee either to fund a permanent K‑9 training position or provide two years of contracting funds to stabilize the program while the state considers whether to realign training platforms. “We are continuing to do it until the end of our contract, which goes until December of this year. And then what we are looking for is the ability to actually, have that position,” Purkel said.

On wellness and injury prevention, Purkel described recent use of a contracted human‑performance firm to reduce training injuries and said the academy is requesting an athletic‑trainer position to lower work‑comp costs and keep recruits engaged during recovery. He pointed to past work that identified rhabdomyolysis cases during physical training and said the program helps trainees meet standards without exacerbating injuries.

Purkel also outlined an equipment and operations request totaling roughly $635,000 for items that fall outside normal operating budgets: kitchen appliances, tactical vests, a Taser 10 training device to match field deployments, and other durable goods. He defended the package as necessary to continue current operations and training offered statewide.

Committee members asked about harassment and bullying, and Purkel said the academy now has a community inclusion director and a fair‑and‑impartial‑policing trainer who address bias and related topics; the athletic‑trainer request is not intended to cover harassment responses.

Ending: Purkel said the academy will return with further details if the committee wants more specificity and described the current ask as focused on sustaining services already provided to law‑enforcement agencies across the state.","The Vermont Police Academy and Criminal Justice Council asked the Senate Judiciary Committee for new positions and one‑time funding to stabilize canine training, add an athletic/trainer role to reduce injuries, and replace aging kitchen and training equipment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6084159,"Victim services agency asks Legislature to backfill $1.1M VOCA shortfall and shore up special funds",1205,1334000,2539000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2921874-4634259b513b8d378ca429790bd063ba&start=1334&end=2539","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2921874-4634259b513b8d378ca429790bd063ba/thumbnail_1334000.jpg","/articles/6084159/Vermont/Victim-services-agency-asks-Legislature-to-backfill-11M-VOCA-shortfall-and-shore-up-special-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084159-0fa71ef6ef10bec8b13d6aa8dc3de0c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875846&Signature=Bg8XfNrWfzW9IOZTfP6YIH3HT3VZcRGpdzOz18r5AJ17WadYbuBBFSXFXGTe2at3ulFK-MRQOvQTvjSJUko3g37XBJX1O3TLe~TEggKZgrHgL2-bfnZTvnLysR1p-fMFPYZ30pRROZAN~vzIrxy05C6Z7LGQZaOtB3cVKKoKXNr0j5h3i6A9q6HaLHBIl2l7zEMWGN5uPa1BdooZPJxVkEQ6OqwaWqL9fwnmRAsp5spTg7oZ2Ml7sA8qeYjjhmamXFZJxgRUO-bcVJvkVe99K0RlHHhvzFcsl9pzqG8LKO-q~UqwT~PAnCUYa09Bu-BfIBT5JVFTUF6Qb3m0uHESHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jennifer Pullman, executive director of the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services, told the Senate Judiciary Committee the center faces a major reduction in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding and declines in the special funds that support victim compensation, restitution and domestic‑violence services.

Pullman said the center’s current general‑fund allocation is about $1.6 million and that the administration and House have recommended only a 3% general‑fund increase. She described the center as “that weird state agency that has no state employees” and said most of the dollars the center distributes are straight pass‑through grants to local programs.

VOCA, Pullman said, dropped from about $3.0 million last year to an expected $1.9 million in the coming year, a loss of roughly $1.1 million that would directly affect 46 programs statewide. “The loss of $1,100,000 would mean that we would have to make cuts and actually probably set it up as more of a competitive grant, amongst our 46 different subgrantees versus a grant that they have come to rely on as at least something that they can…,” Pullman said.

She also detailed projected deficits in the special funds the center administers: a projected $562,000 deficit for the victim‑ compensation fund, a $324,000 projected deficit for the restitution fund and a $92,000 shortfall in the domestic and sexual‑violence special fund. Pullman said those declines result partly from long‑term drops in the revenue streams that feed the special funds, including fewer traffic stops and fewer fines and fees.

On statutory authority and operations, Pullman emphasized that victims’ compensation is available on a probable‑cause finding and does not require conviction or prosecution, allowing payments to victims while their cases remain pending. She urged the committee to consider broader structural changes to revenue priorities and cited an out‑of‑state example (Hawaii) that places victim services earlier in the distribution order for fines and fees.

Pullman summarized the center’s top budget asks: $1.1 million to replace the VOCA loss (with an ideal target of $1.5 million to permit modest increases), $562,000 to level the victim compensation fund, and $324,000 to level the restitution fund. She said three ARPA grants expire Sept. 30 and will reduce subgrantee funding by about $777,000.

Committee members asked whether shifting priorities for fee revenue in other states had produced adverse consequences such as underfunding probation or increased recidivism; Pullman said she would follow up with Hawaii on outcomes but stressed that revenue declines are already producing local program instability.

Ending: Pullman urged lawmakers to consider general‑fund backfilling for federal and special‑fund declines to preserve existing victim services and to reduce the need for competitive reallocations among subgrantees.","The Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services told the Senate Judiciary Committee it faces federal grant declines and special‑fund deficits that could force cuts; the center requested roughly $1.1 million to offset an expected VOCA reduction and additional one‑time and ongoing funding to stabilize compensation and restitution programs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6084165,"Corrections urges $31.6 million increase, cites staffing, overtime and Medicaid 1115 waiver",2673,504000,3177000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2921874-4634259b513b8d378ca429790bd063ba&start=504&end=3177","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2921874-4634259b513b8d378ca429790bd063ba/thumbnail_504000.jpg","/articles/6084165/Vermont/Corrections-urges-316-million-increase-cites-staffing-overtime-and-Medicaid-1115-waiver","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084165-1080646a8e2b67da53a7476e38bb8c38/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875846&Signature=Ku4RB55Am3swRiwkxUI7VYcMgxxUJtOI1KyXyFK4z5ava1qN7GNPVGUzGgbaTMraODqp9IfJqpZQSle92iOCL7hcf9-zUVPgrmjnhw1OKj1nBotqR8WBgWs9nGY3c-ydnp-zI96UEOQz18mITS9dgkoT2NuV7TTbSXrVXhqzVCtKr8Uieh9gAv0gHfviAa9-PaH~MzQ-5tHSOzb2qMDmPWU7OpIivAD5OhxEaFSUKk2JWC4j340SPrTDNRJnZw16-D6dvetz1DhGHARhz-ciF1hKgnIDZ7vnP2tpRH0-35Obb0CoLI-u2yo6A-19vR~9jdamZuBqmoMz9Yp0yxpXEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Commissioner Christian Galbert told the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 8 that the Department of Corrections’ FY request includes an increase of about $31.6 million on top of a current budget of roughly $199 million, driven mainly by salary and benefit annualizations tied to collective bargaining and persistent overtime costs.

Galbert said the department’s funding picture includes a large general-fund component and smaller special, federal and Medicaid Global Commitment amounts. “Our FY 26 or 27 request is, an increase of 31,600,000.0 for a current budget of 199,000,000. That represents a general fund increase of about 30,000,000,” Galbert said.

The committee was briefed on several programmatic items that the department plans to pursue if funded. Galbert described a negotiated fifth‑year fee of $75,000 for the statewide victim notification system contract and a separate expansion line for statewide pretrial services. He also outlined work to convert part of the St. Johnsbury facility to provide a more “enhanced treatment” program and said $200,000 had been included to pay a consultant to help design that conversion.

On substance‑use services, Galbert said the department has already created a recovery‑coaching network funded with $500,000 from the governor and about $1 million in opioid settlement funds; recovery coaches now work in correctional facilities and probation and parole offices. He added that a congressionally directed spending request of nearly $2 million did not receive federal funding this year because of a continuing resolution.

Committee members pressed on overtime and vacancies. Galbert said vacancy savings are largely consumed by overtime costs: “we're not able to have vacancies in a correctional facility. We have to mandate overtime. … That's why you see there is a vacancy savings of 5,600,000.0, but there's an overtime not by the of it's eaten up.” He described uniform staff routinely working high overtime levels and said the department has taken steps to reduce early mandatory overtime and to centralize operations and deployment of staff to cover gaps.

Galbert described implementation work tied to a Medicaid 1115 waiver approved last summer by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. That program will fund Medicaid enrollment 90 days before release and some care‑management services post‑release; the budget shows roughly $801,000 in Global Commitment Medicaid funding for the first six months of implementation. “January 1 is the expectation date. That's 2026,” Galbert said.

Committee members also heard the department’s request to pursue Wi‑Fi installation in correctional facilities to support tablets, medical alert bracelets and other operational technology; Galbert described prior mapping and discussions with the Agency of Digital Services.

The department did not present any formal motions or votes to the committee during the hearing. Committee members said they plan to compile a letter of priorities from the Judiciary Committee for the Appropriations Committee and asked the department to highlight the top requests within the committee’s jurisdiction — staffing, victim notification system costs and pretrial expansion were identified as priorities.

Ending: Committee members asked for follow‑up detail on several line items, including clearer estimates of expected cost savings tied to Medicaid coverage and the design work for a converted treatment facility. Galbert offered to provide additional materials and said the department will continue to work with other state partners on rollout plans for Medicaid and treatment expansions.","Department of Corrections officials told the Senate Judiciary Committee they seek roughly $31.6 million in additional funding largely to cover collective-bargaining salary increases, overtime and staffing, and described plans to implement an approved Medicaid 1115 waiver that would expand Medicaid coverage for incarcerated people pre-release.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Human Rights Commission warns of intake backlog, requests four full‑time positions and paralegal support

Police academy seeks K‑9 trainer, athletic trainer and equipment funding to sustain statewide training

Victim services agency asks Legislature to backfill $1.1M VOCA shortfall and shore up special funds

Corrections urges $31.6 million increase, cites staffing, overtime and Medicaid 1115 waiver