Amendment would require AHS consultation for wellness checks on older Vermonters; committee to refine language

Legislative counsel described a proposed amendment by Representative Wood that would require the Agency of Human Services (AHS) to be consulted for a portion of the statewide emergency management plan related to safety and wellness checks for vulnerable residents.

Under the draft described by counsel, the change narrows AHS's role to consultation specifically for "check-ins on vulnerable populations," limited to safety and wellness checks on older Vermonters and individuals with disabilities. "Draft 2.1 is going to make it specific that the agency of human services is consulted for purposes of the check ins on vulnerable populations," Tucker Anderson said.

Counsel said the adjustment intends to keep AHS involved where its expertise is relevant while avoiding broader placement in the entire statewide emergency management plan. The counsel also noted a terminology change: committee members and counsel said the statutory language uses "older Vermonters" rather than the broader phrase "aging populations." "On the floor yesterday, she pointed out that aging populations is not the right term under the subjects that that committee deals with. It is older Vermonters," Anderson said.

The committee did not record a formal vote on the Wood amendment in the portion of the transcript provided; members and counsel said draft 2.1 would be posted and that the language aims for statutory consistency with existing terms.

The amendment as described focuses on consultation and planning, not on creating new operational responsibilities for AHS beyond those consultation duties.