Committee reviews H.219 to codify and expand Lund family‑support program for incarcerated parents

Montpelier — On March 13, 2025, the Vermont House Appropriations Committee heard testimony on H.219, legislation that would codify and phase a family‑support program for incarcerated parents and guardians currently operated under contract by Lund at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility and expand similar services to Northern State Correctional Facility with the intent of statewide implementation by 2028.

Benjamin E. Novogrovsky, legislative counsel, told the committee the amended bill “essentially codif[ies] an already existing program” and would change the earlier pilot designation to an established program with phased implementation to achieve gender parity across correctional facilities.

Why it matters: supporters said the program preserves parent‑child contact, supports reentry, and may reduce longer‑term corrections costs. The bill directs the Department of Corrections (DOC) to include sufficient funding for the program in future budget…