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Senate Judiciary reviews bill to let Vermont review near‑fatal domestic violence cases, adds seats to commission
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on H.27 to allow Vermont—s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission to review near‑fatal incidents, add five members and encourage diversity among appointees. Witnesses said the changes would strengthen prevention work; some senators questioned whether 23 members is too large.
Michelle Brown of the Office of Legislative Council told the Senate Judiciary Committee the bill under consideration is H.27, which the House passed, and that the measure draws on recommendations from the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission—s 2023 report.
The bill would amend the statute that created the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission in 2002 to let the commission review near‑fatal domestic violence incidents in addition to fatalities, add five members to the current membership of 17 and include language urging appointing authorities to seek racial, ethnic, disability and LGBTQ+ diversity among members.
Charlie Lesserman, policy director at the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, told the committee that reviewing near‑fatal cases can identify missed intervention opportunities. "These cases offer valuable insights into opportunities for intervention and prevention of completed homicides," Lesserman said, citing research that many homicide cases involved prior contact with criminal‑justice or health‑care professionals.
Carolyn Hanson, who said she chairs the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission and works with the attorney general—s office, described how the commission gathers information from the medical examiner, chooses cases for review and issues reports to the governor and General Assembly. Hanson said the commission is required by statute to report biennially but has provided reports annually in practice. She also explained that the bill authorizes alternate members for some appointing authorities so agencies can send both a supervisory and a front‑line perspective to meetings.
Committee members pressed witnesses about the proposed increase to 23 members. Several senators said they were concerned 23 is a large number for a statutory commission, while witnesses and some committee members said adding seats would bring needed perspectives such as a restorative‑justice practitioner, a corrections victim services representative and a nonconfidential victim advocate in a state's attorney's office. Witnesses said most of the additional seats are already participating informally in meetings and that the only recurring stipend is for the survivor representative.
Hanson said the commission meets about six times a year and generally selects closed cases to review; she added that reviewing near‑fatal cases would not substantially increase workload because the commission does not review every case. Witnesses and committee members discussed alternatives such as calling restorative‑justice practitioners as witnesses rather than adding them as statutory members, but witnesses argued statutory membership builds continuity and trust.
No formal action or vote on H.27 was taken during the hearing; the committee asked follow‑up questions and signaled it may call witnesses back for additional detail.
The committee moved on to other bills after the discussion.
