Senate committee reviews H.488 language to expand volunteer drivers, adds background‑check and reporting requirements

Senate Transportation members discussed proposed H.488 language that would appropriate $600,000 from the general fund to the Agency of Transportation (AOT) in fiscal year 2026 to fund grants for volunteer coordinators for demand‑response and nonemergency medical transportation programs.

The provision would fund “the identification, recruitment, and retention of volunteers to provide service, transportation services to individuals enrolled in the state's demand response transportation programs,” and would direct AOT to distribute grants so they are “geographically balanced,” with a report back on whether the grants actually increased volunteer capacity, according to language presented by legislative counsel Damian Leonard.

Why it matters: The state and transit providers have faced driver shortages since the pandemic. Committee members framed the appropriation as a potential way to lower per‑trip costs and increase ride capacity for older adults, people with disabilities, and Medicaid non‑emergency medical transportation (NEMT) users.

Discussion and proposed changes

Leonard told the committee the bill draft includes three related changes: the appropriation for volunteer coordinators, a requirement that the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) and AOT provide a detailed analysis to the Joint Fiscal Committee before executing a new Medicaid NEMT contract, and amendments to streamline background‑check rules for volunteers. “The proposal from the Public Transport Association, that I worked on with AOT is for $600,000 to be appropriated from the general fund to AOT and FY '26 for the purpose of providing grants to higher volunteer coordinators,” Leonard said.

Senators and agency witnesses discussed several amendments and clarifications. Senator Westman and other lawmakers urged the draft measure to allow AOT flexibility to use funds either for volunteer coordinators or to increase direct payments to volunteers. AOT witness Michelle Boomhower said the agency supports flexibility but cautioned about federal and tax implications: raising mileage reimbursement above federal rates or providing incentives beyond $600 in value could trigger taxable income reporting and employment‑status questions. “If we do more than mileage reimbursement... there is a limit of $600 where if that were exceeded, we would be in the position of having to create 1099 forms and taxable income,” Boomhower said.

On performance metrics, staff recommended measuring volunteer capacity rather than raw counts of volunteers—“you could have one full‑time volunteer at 40 hours a week. You could have three volunteers doing 10 hours a week,” Leonard said—so the report tracks hours or capacity gained rather than only headcount.

Background checks and waivers

Section 25 of the draft directs AOT and DVHA to, “to the extent permitted under federal law,” amend background‑check policies so a volunteer who passed a background check required by another state agency within the prior three years could be eligible to provide transportation services. The draft also would create a variance process allowing waivers for incidents appearing on background checks that occurred at least 10 years before the application date, provided passenger safety would not be compromised.

Agency witnesses and committee members discussed practical limits. AOT staff noted federal requirements may constrain changes, and DVHA staff said annual checks remain standard practice and that passing a prior check would not automatically replace current annual checks. “We do them for everybody annually because you never know what's happened within the past 12 months,” a DVHA staff member told the committee.

Scope and related programs

Committee members asked the drafters to broaden references beyond the NEMT and Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities programs to include smaller dial‑a‑ride programs, return‑to‑work transports and recovery/job access trips. Jim (last name not specified in the transcript) specifically asked that language extend to other dial‑a‑ride services; the drafters agreed to add that language.

DMV outreach and recruitment

Multiple senators suggested a DMV license‑renewal or registration “check‑off” option to allow motorists to opt in to receive information about volunteer driver opportunities. AOT staff said DMV is examining technical and privacy considerations and that an online “pop‑up” or portal message might be a feasible path. “We can probably find a pathway towards connecting people who are part of the DMV network with our community volunteer driver programs,” Boomhower said.

Next steps and reporting

The draft requires AOT to report back — in consultation with transit providers — on whether the grants produced measurable increases in volunteer capacity, and it asks DVHA to provide the Joint Fiscal Committee a detailed analysis before executing new Medicaid NEMT contracts to show services and coordinated delivery would not be degraded. Committee members asked staff to return with revised language that (1) clarifies measurement of volunteer capacity, (2) expands program scope to other dial‑a‑ride services, and (3) adds statutory text making background‑check negotiation and reporting explicitly “to the extent permitted by federal law.”

No formal committee vote was recorded on the bill text during the hearing.