House Corrections Panel approves revised language to restore family-support program after veto

The House Committee on Corrections & Institutions on May 21 reviewed revised statutory language intended to restore a trauma-informed family-support program for incarcerated parents after Governor vetoed H.2.19 and signaled committee support to transmit the language to the Senate.

Committee members discussed changes that remove a clause requiring the Department of Corrections (DOC) commissioner to include funding for the program in the governor’s proposed budget, while retaining a requirement that the DOC establish and “provide and sustain” the family-support services and submit an annual report on funding, participation and outcomes by July 1.

The change responds to the administration’s veto message, which argued that the original bill’s language encroached on the governor’s constitutional authority to propose the executive branch budget. Committee members and staff cited statutory precedent and said the revised language narrows the provision to avoid dictating the governor’s budget proposal.

Ben Dobegrowski, a committee staff member, summarized the revision: “So it says to provide and sustain,” and explained the operative effect is that the commissioner is responsible to provide and sustain the program but is no longer required to include that funding in DOC’s proposed budget to the governor.

Committee members retained an annual reporting requirement so the legislature can track program costs and expansion. Under the bill language the committee reviewed, the program is currently funded at two facilities — the women’s facility at Chittenden and a men’s facility at Northern State — and the statutory intent is to expand statewide by 2028; the committee left the reporting language in place so lawmakers can monitor year-to-year expansion and funding needs.

Members also discussed the practical mechanics of advancing the provision. The committee chair said staff would deliver the revised text as “orphan language” — language without an independent bill vehicle — to the Senate chair and sought to attach it to S.109 as a vehicle; the administration’s attorney and legislative liaison, Jay Johnson and Jason Malucci, reviewed the revised language with the committee and indicated agreement with the changes presented.

Rather than a formal roll-call vote, the committee conducted a show-of-hands straw poll on the revised language; the chair announced that 11 members raised their hands in favor. Committee members explicitly characterized that expression of support as a procedural signal, not a formal enactment, and discussed next steps for formally advancing the provision on the Senate side.

Committee discussion also covered procedural definitions. Members asked for clarification about “orphan language” — language intended for attachment to another bill later in the session — and staff explained that at this stage it functions as a vetted provision to be handed to Senate sponsors or attached to a vehicle if a suitable bill is available. The committee noted that if the provision is not added to S.109 it could be reintroduced as a separate bill, which would require additional procedural steps in both chambers.

The committee kept in the bill an annual reporting requirement and other clarifying edits: removal of a standalone “contingent on funding” subsection (struck after the budget-submission clause was removed) and insertion of gender-neutral language specifying that parenting and family support be provided at each correctional facility “regardless of gender.”

The committee did not take formal final action on a bill number during the meeting; members directed staff to forward the revised text to the Senate and to follow up with chairs of the relevant judiciary committees. The committee also discussed logistical scheduling for follow-up meetings and related informational visits but made no additional policy decisions at this session.