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Survivor advocates push study and relief language for coerced debt in H.137
Summary
The Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence urged a study and model remedies for coerced debt in language proposed for H.137; committee agreed to a summer study and to coordinate with DFR and stakeholders.
Charley Glesserman, policy director at the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, told the Vermont House Committee of Commerce & Economic Development on Feb. 25 that coerced debt—debt incurred through coercion or identity theft—can have long‑term consequences for survivors’ housing, education and employment.
Glesserman urged lawmakers to adopt a study and follow model statutory language to enable survivors to request that creditors cease collections and remove coerced debt from credit reports. "Forced debt occurs when a person utilizes coercive control, threats, or identity theft to incur debt in the name of an individual without their consent," Glesserman said, describing both short‑ and long‑term harms.
Why this matters: survivor advocates said financial protections remove a barrier to safety and housing stability for victims of abuse, trafficking and exploitation. The testimony referenced model language from the National Consumer Law Center used in other states and asked the legislature to preserve a study in Section 20 of H.137 so stakeholders could develop workable remedies.
Committee response and next steps Committee members expressed support for a study and more time to work on remedies. The chair confirmed the committee will send the matter to a summer study committee to work with DFR, the Vermont Bankers Association and victim‑service organizations. Kristelia, identified as president of the Vermont Bankers Association, told the committee she supports the studies and will work with DFR on questions such as bank holds on transactions.
What was said Glesserman summarized survivor impacts and asked for statutory relief modeled on other states: "This legislation was based on model language from the National Consumer Law Center, and we are very grateful to Representative Groening for her work on this issue," Glesserman said. She also noted that coerced debt affects other vulnerable groups beyond gender‑based violence, including older adults and foster youth.
The committee agreed to the summer study and to coordinate with DFR and other stakeholders in the off‑session to draft workable remedies for survivors. No formal vote was taken on statutory language during the Feb. 25 meeting.
