Committee shelves H.349 security-board proposal, asks staff to survey state employees on building safety

The Corrections & Institutions Committee on Wednesday discussed H.349, a bill that would create a state building security board and transfer responsibility for security in state buildings from the Department of Buildings and General Services and, for courthouses, from the Supreme Court.

The committee heard testimony from BGS and from state employees represented by the Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA). Committee members said the courts raised a constitutional concern, arguing that court operations and courthouse security fall under the Supreme Court’s oversight and that moving that responsibility to a separate board could implicate constitutional issues.

Members said there is not sufficient appetite to advance the bill this session but that security for state employees remains a live issue. Instead of pursuing the bill now, committee members…