House Human Services committee approves S.36 with amendment to expand public inebriate services, prioritize Chittenden County

The House Committee on Human Services voted 11-0 to approve S.36 as amended, adding a Section 6 that requires the Department of Health and the Department of Mental Health to expand public inebriate services and prioritize Chittenden County, and to report back to the committee next February. The committee also directed the Department of Corrections to present on Feb. 15 next year about efforts to reinstate the practice of connecting individuals with community-based substance use and recovery services.

The amendment — drafted after the Senate-passed version and labeled “House Human Services Amendment” in the committee packet — was first subject to a straw poll and then included in the final bill considered by the committee. The committee’s clerk recorded an 11-0 vote in favor of the amendment in the straw poll, and the committee subsequently approved S.36 as amended with an 11-0 roll call vote. The clerk read the roll: Representative Bishop, Representative Cole, Representative Donahue, Representative Heeses, Representative Garfano, Representative McGuire, Representative McGill, Representative Nielsen, Representative Noyes, Representative Steady and Representative Wood all voted yes.

Why it matters: The change directs state health authorities to expand publicly run inebriate services and to prioritize Chittenden County, and it sets reporting deadlines so the legislature can track implementation. The bill also addresses how high- and lower-intensity residential substance use disorder treatment is determined and aligns Medicaid payment with clinical needs, language the committee said reflects current practice. The committee agreed to retain the Senate’s repeal of a July 1, 2025 prohibition on using correctional facilities as an option for public inebriate services.

Discussion and committee directions: Committee members spent time confirming that the amendment incorporated changes the committee made the previous day, including the Chittenden County priority and scheduling staff presentations. The committee added reporting requirements related to the Human Services Board, including data on cases resolved before reaching a hearing officer or full board review, and included the House Committee on Healthcare among recipients of that report. The committee also added the term “end analysis” to the recommendations the Human Services Board is to provide with the data.

The committee instructed Representative Bishop to report the bill to the floor. Staff members identified in the hearing — including Katie, Laurie and Dan — were asked to provide a clean copy of the amendment and to assist with next steps. The committee recorded that the Senate had passed a version of the bill earlier; a committee member said the Senate vote was unanimous, although the tally cited in the hearing included an earlier reference to “five-zero.”

Votes at a glance: The committee approved S.36 as amended on a roll call vote, 11-0. The clerk’s roll call listed the following affirmative votes: Representative Bishop; Representative Cole; Representative Donahue; Representative Heeses; Representative Garfano; Representative McGuire; Representative McGill; Representative Nielsen; Representative Noyes; Representative Steady; Representative Wood.

What the bill requires (as discussed in committee): The new Section 6 requires the Department of Health and the Department of Mental Health to expand public inebriate services and to prioritize Chittenden County in that expansion. The agencies must report to the committee in February on progress. On Feb. 15, the Department of Corrections must present to the committee on efforts to reinstate the practice of connecting individuals leaving correctional settings with community-based substance use and recovery services. The bill’s provisions on residential treatment say placement levels (high- or lower-intensity) should follow health-care professional recommendations and seek alignment between Medicaid payment structures and clinical needs.

Ending: After the vote the committee confirmed logistical next steps: securing a clean copy of the amendment from staff and preparing the committee report to the full House. Committee members then moved on to preview other upcoming business, including a walkthrough of H.248 and a presentation from Deputy Commissioner Janet McLaughlin on the child care program at a future meeting.