House committee amends H.57 to let emergency board refill survivor-benefits fund; full bill continued

The House Committee on General and Housing held a hearing Feb. 18 on H.57, a bill that would make law enforcement officers eligible for a one-time survivor benefit paid from a special fund when an officer dies in the line of duty.

Committee members adopted an amendment to H.57, offered by Legislative Council, that authorizes the Emergency Board to transfer money into the special fund when the Legislature is not in session. The amendment was approved unanimously in committee roll call (11–0). The committee did not vote the underlying bill out; members asked a small group of committee members and Legislative Council to reconcile earlier committee edits and return with amendment language for further consideration.

Why it matters: H.57 would expand eligibility for a one-time payment that has historically been paid from a special fund administered by the Office of the State Treasurer. The committee’s amendment responds to a key operational concern raised by the treasurer’s office and others: the fund has fluctuating, non‑base funding and can be depleted when an application is filed while the Legislature is not sitting.

Treasury, funding and process Ashley Hallan, director of policy at the Office of the State Treasurer, told the committee the treasurer’s office staffs the benefits board and administers the special fund that pays the benefit. Hallan said the statute allows payments of up to $80,000 per eligible survivor and that the board is required to make a determination within 60 days of receiving a complete application. She reported that, after a payout late last year, the fund currently contains approximately $100,000 and that the office has two pending applications that together would require about $160,000.

“We’re in support of adding additional eligible categories so long as the Legislature fully understands the financial commitment,” Hallan said, and urged the committee not to “put us in that situation” of forcing board members to decide how to allocate a depleted fund among multiple pending claims.

Hallan said the treasurer’s office requested a one‑time appropriation of $220,000 in the Senate’s budget adjustment bill (BAA), which would raise the special fund to an amount the office characterized as prudent to cover several awards.

Support and context from first‑responder groups Christopher Hoare, president of the Vermont Police Association, testified in support of H.57, calling current survivor benefits “inequitable” and urging the committee to pass the bill. Hoare said Vermont has recorded 29 line‑of‑duty deaths since the committee’s tracking began and noted two deaths classified as duty‑related illness, one in 1932 and another in 2015 (Trooper Kyle Young).

Administrative and statutory questions Sophie Sadatney of the Office of Legislative Council presented the amendment that would allow the Emergency Board to transfer “amounts necessary” into the special fund when the General Assembly is not in session. Committee members clarified that the statute still authorizes awards of up to $80,000 and asked whether the Emergency Board would be obligated to transfer a full $80,000 per claim; Legislative Council and counsel answered that the amendment provides authority but does not mandate specific dollar amounts from the Emergency Board.

Committee next steps Committee members expressed a preference to finish the bill “right,” noting the committee made extensive changes last year that are not reflected in the version before the panel. Members asked Representatives Elizabeth (surname not specified in the record) and Mary (attending electronically) to work with Legislative Council to draft a follow‑up amendment that reconciles prior committee edits; the committee continued consideration of the bill to a future meeting. The adopted amendment (Emergency Board transfer authority) remains attached to the bill as drafted by Legislative Council.

Votes at a glance - Amendment (Legislative Council language authorizing Emergency Board transfers into the special fund): approved in committee roll call, 11–0.

Ending The committee advanced one technical change to H.57 and paused final action pending staff drafting and reconciliation of earlier committee work. Lawmakers asked the treasurer’s office to continue coordinating with appropriations staff to seek appropriations in the BAA and told Legislative Council to prepare amendment language for the committee’s next meeting.