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Racial justice leaders ask Senate Government Operations to advance health-equity office, data collection and funding
Summary
Reverend Mark Hughes, executive director of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and cochair of the Health Equity Advisory Commission, told the Senate Government Operations Committee on Jan. 28 that his organization plans to press lawmakers this biennium for a statutory Office of Health Equity, expanded criminal-justice data collection and increased funding for the Vermont Human Rights Commission.
Reverend Mark Hughes, executive director of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and cochair of the Health Equity Advisory Commission, told the Senate Government Operations Committee on Jan. 28 that his organization plans to press lawmakers this biennium for a statutory Office of Health Equity, expanded criminal-justice data collection and increased funding for the Vermont Human Rights Commission.
Hughes said the alliance wants the Legislature to support an "$800,000-plus increase" in the general fund appropriation for the Human Rights Commission and to advance an equal-protection constitutional amendment that is moving into its second biennium. He described a slate of bills and initiatives that he said include a community health and wellness initiative and a statewide program for constitutional, accountable policing, and said the alliance is working with legislators on data-collection proposals across the criminal justice system.
The request for a statutory Office of Health Equity follows work by the Health Equity Advisory Commission (HEAC) to define duties and where the office should reside. Hughes said HEAC recommended placing the office within the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) and that "Dr. Levine has agreed to be the hiring authority" for an executive director; he added that funding for at least two positions has already been appropriated in a prior session.
Hughes summarized prior statutory and legislative milestones the alliance helped secure, including Act 54 (2017) establishing the Racial Disparities in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System advisory panel, Act 9 from the 2018 special session establishing a racial equity executive director/advisory panel, and Act 33 (2021) creating the Health Equity Advisory Commission. He also cited Joint Resolution R-113 (2021) that declared racism a public health emergency and said the alliance has delivered hundreds of hours of training and supported local programs such as the Richard Kemp Center and the establishment of an annual African Landing Day proclamation.
Committee members discussed scheduling for testimony on related bills. Committee leadership said the committee plans to take testimony on Feb. 6 and that the session would occur in the afternoon between 1 and 4 p.m.; the chair invited Hughes to return for formal testimony when the committee takes up the bill language.
Hughes closed by urging senators to continue transforming institutions and investing in community-based programs "to better enable them to serve and support those who are most vulnerable."
