Committee reviews H.27 to expand Vermont domestic-violence fatality review commission and allow ‘near‑fatal’ reviews

The House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 22 heard testimony on H.27, a bill that would expand the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission’s membership and permit the commission to review “near‑fatal” domestic violence incidents in addition to deaths, witnesses said.

Supporters and commission staff told the committee the changes aim to bring additional perspectives to multidisciplinary reviews and to capture cases that could yield prevention lessons similar to those learned from fatalities.

Carolyn Hansen, a staff attorney in the Attorney General’s Office who works with the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission, said the panel — currently 17 unpaid commissioners who meet about six times a year — reviews domestic‑violence‑related deaths and looks for system gaps. “We try as much as possible to talk to people,” Hansen said, describing the commission’s practice of taking testimony from police, family members and other witnesses and using Office of the Medical Examiner data to identify domestic‑violence‑related deaths.

H.27 would make three principal changes: add specified seats to the commission (including a sheriff representative, a restorative‑justice specialist, and a non‑confidential state’s‑attorney victim advocate), add language directing appointing authorities to consider diversity in appointments, and expand the…