[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6262835,"mediaKeyId","3111285-3b839156765071006075b1c9572ee1cf","parentId",3111285,"title","Committee advances chloride reduction bill that limits liability for certified salt applicators; small operators raise concerns","audioSeconds",2206,"startMs",1934000,"endMs",4140000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3111285-3b839156765071006075b1c9572ee1cf&start=1934&end=4140","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3111285-3b839156765071006075b1c9572ee1cf/thumbnail_1934000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262835/Vermont/Committee-advances-chloride-reduction-bill-that-limits-liability-for-certified-salt-applicators-small-operators-raise-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262835-2c0f59944e1f80be8d5bed40b820e37d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775961549&Signature=OD1BS2VyRiDVaIQHsLjEjBy4CQu6yo9b7nrcUh8dYSkCrBYnPg1gKWfsOrOWon~mh9x164b~Hn8RBp0aPEecWuY~Dv6l1xUgakdxnxSyCF5BCqT0oWf6DP77YR4oej6j6h2HsOxrhLgLp5v2BhU3uY9NM3-FhNB~iOpQdGgxjXfM4ZmFZyNT-hY4MdhMB2MMNc~d5GT~OTDixhSUdFU96JTyjlOEfXyFjh~i~pqo~bjalqvxG24SWbZd8lN2injua0lUTZpcxvkwhB7PTABGF7nJABDk9HCviJmyhoasssZsFBSLXjRJzZ1cOmCmz32mSdaorueUGK~XkLPAXwVcgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-24T15:46:54.723Z","article","Legislative counsel on April 20 reviewed a draft bill to establish a chloride contamination reduction program that would set best‑management practices (BMPs) for salt and salt alternatives, create voluntary certification for commercial applicators, and provide a limitation on liability for applicators who follow the standards.

Mike O'Grady of Legislative Counsel told the committee the draft adds a purpose-and‑intent section saying the act is intended to \"establish accepted standards of care\" for salt application that both protect safety and reduce water‑quality impacts. He described a limited liability provision that will attach once the program is up and applicators are trained — rather than on a preset date — and said municipal applicators taught under the Vermont Local Roads curriculum would be required to keep records similar to commercial applicators to maintain liability protection.

The draft requires municipal and commercial applicators to keep records — including type and rate of deicer, dates of treatment and weather conditions — and retain those records for three years; ANR removed an earlier requirement that records be submitted annually, citing administrative burden. O'Grady said enforcement in the draft is limited to revocation of certification rather than civil penalties.

Committee members and witnesses praised the goal of reducing chloride pollution but raised repeated concerns about program costs and accessibility for small businesses. Several committee members said the certification and recordkeeping could favor larger firms with newer equipment and GPS/geofencing systems; some testimony from commercial applicators and municipal representatives suggested technologies and vehicles needed to meet systems currently in wide use may be in short supply.

Small operators warned the liability protection could become a de facto standard in negligence litigation, creating pressure to certify even though the program is voluntary. One committee member said plaintiffs could argue uncertified operators did not follow the BMPs and therefore were negligent, potentially imposing litigation risk on small businesses that cannot afford equipment or insurance.

Proponents pointed to New Hampshire's program as a working model; testimony summarized that New Hampshire applicators welcomed having standards, training and an evidentiary record to defend against litigation. The committee discussed funding and implementation; O'Grady and members noted the draft includes a request for appropriations for contracting and staff, but final funding will be decided in the budget and appropriations process.

Members signaled general comfort with the liability approach as drafted and agreed to send the language to the Environment Committee for technical review and rulemaking under LCAR. The draft remains subject to change in subsequent committees and in appropriations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Judiciary - 2025-04-22 - 1:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Legislative staff walked the committee through draft language to establish chloride‑reduction standards for salt and salt alternatives, create voluntary certification and limited liability for trained applicators, and require recordkeeping; small commercial and \"mom‑and‑pop\" operators warned the program could be costly and deter participation.","taxTitle","Judiciary, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",35152,"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},6262840,"Committee backs repeal of ban on lodging incapacitated people in corrections while urging expansion of public inebriate programs",1895,0,1895000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3111285-3b839156765071006075b1c9572ee1cf&start=0&end=1895","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3111285-3b839156765071006075b1c9572ee1cf/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6262840/Vermont/Committee-backs-repeal-of-ban-on-lodging-incapacitated-people-in-corrections-while-urging-expansion-of-public-inebriate-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262840-84a9b9736ad81dacb19733d90b569de1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775961549&Signature=beyjMeD84hHufAFjIxRi3pzmcnE0OKt27aosegaa9yBYXvnR1M5ogMwwOX485BF~D8MQcr6kG9GWnopIi1FkVJ3RUgqXB5K3qfYRGqTn805fQPZvjP1f~ntMRMLkJDW5HUGXLNl3cRNALJpXCUNb~KEdStammBxrKWerqJLj09TRMF0Ev1zNm0EZfLJJV9CAMxWrCxiRb8a7rvPm2K67TErN1PoLfGz41t7ANQETRIYShzaaP2DsIVqCX1qD2Kv-LN4NrVY3u4V60qXpuKh44ObKuXGMW1q-sOMqQ~Bn-d~BihFasoG3uuslweMncpnRvt3aUFSjK3hd-SpuCKqVlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Judiciary Committee on April 20 heard testimony on S.36 and agreed to amend the bill to repeal a statutory prohibition on using Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities to lodge people who are \"incapacitated,\" while pressing state agencies to expand public inebriate programs and report progress early in the next session.

The change responds to testimony that in some counties law enforcement and emergency departments have limited options for housing people who are intoxicated or otherwise incapacitated but do not require arrest or hospital admission. Representative Doug Bishop, who spoke to the committee about the bill on behalf of the House Human Services Committee, said the panel concluded repeal is appropriate only if other options are being developed.

\"This is not a criminal offense. It's a civil matter,\" Representative Doug Bishop said, describing the committee's approach to people who come to the attention of police because of their incapacitated state. Bishop summarized testimony from medical providers, PIP operators and law enforcement about current practices and gaps in statewide capacity.

Committee witnesses said public inebriate programs, or PIPs, staffed by people trained to work with substance use disorder, are the preferred alternative to lodging people in DOC or in emergency departments. But witnesses also told legislators that PIP capacity is limited: Chittenden County had a PIP that has since closed, and Lamoille County recently lost PIP beds, leaving DOC lodging as sometimes the only available option.

Medical and nursing testimony emphasized public-safety and provider-safety concerns when incapacitated individuals are kept in emergency departments. At the same time, PIP operators, local police and some providers told the committee that there are occasions when individuals arriving at a PIP are not appropriate for that program because of violent behavior or other risk factors, and that DOC should remain an option in a small share of cases.

To address those tensions, the committee amended S.36 to (1) change the statutory phrasing from \"public inebriate\" to \"incapacitated,\" reflecting existing statutory definitions; (2) ask the Agency of Human Services to prioritize implementation of expanded PIP capacity in Chittenden County (moving that county up in the agency's two‑year plan); and (3) direct the Department of Corrections to develop and report back on a feasible plan to reconnect individuals lodged at DOC with community substance‑use services. Committee members also requested an early progress report from the agencies during the next legislative session.

Witnesses and the committee noted significant implementation hurdles: staffing a PIP on a 24/7 basis is difficult and costly, and current budget materials identify funding in this year's state budget for the agencies' plan, though the transcript does not specify amounts. The committee said it will leave the substantive component in S.36 (and may remove it from related bills such as S.109) if human services shows it is addressing capacity and safety concerns.

Committee members emphasized the distinction between discussion and formal action. The committee's action at this stage was to amend the bill and request agency follow‑up; no final floor votes on the bill were recorded during the transcripted session. Agencies were asked to return early next session with progress reports and implementation details.","Lawmakers moved to repeal a statutory ban on using Department of Corrections space to lodge people described as \"incapacitated,\" while directing agencies to prioritize building public inebriate programs (PIPs), especially in Chittenden County, and asking agencies to report back next session.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee advances chloride reduction bill that limits liability for certified salt applicators; small operators raise concerns

Committee backs repeal of ban on lodging incapacitated people in corrections while urging expansion of public inebriate programs