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Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence presents funding, protection‑order and tech‑safety priorities
Summary
The Vermont Network outlined statewide service reach, long-term funding shortfalls for domestic/sexual violence programs and a legislative package including vehicle-possession relief in protection orders, device-related stalking updates, coerced‑debt relief and 24‑hour access to sexual‑assault protection orders.
Sarah Robinson and Charlie Glesserman of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence briefed the Judiciary Committee Friday on services provided statewide and the network’s legislative priorities for the session, including sustainable funding, protections for survivors regarding vehicles and electronic stalking, remedies for coerced debt and round‑the‑clock access to sexual‑assault protection orders.
Robinson said the network represents 15 direct-service organizations statewide that last year answered about 23,000 hotline calls and provided in-person advocacy to more than 8,000 people. Glesserman said most member organizations have been level‑funded through the state Domestic and Sexual Violence Fund for about 15 years and that the fund and related special‑fund revenues are in decline.
Why it matters: The network’s members provide crisis hotlines, emergency and transitional housing, legal advocacy, forensic nurse certification, community-based services and prevention education. Funding and statutory changes affecting protection orders and technology‑enabled stalking directly influence survivor safety and program capacity.
Top priorities explained
- Sustainable funding: The network asked the Legislature to establish a new, sustainable revenue source for the Domestic and Sexual Violence Fund and to invest to meet growing demand and inflationary pressures.
- Vehicle and device protections: Proposed changes would allow survivors to request possession of a vehicle in protection orders, update definitions to cover device‑based stalking (including GPS or app‑paired vehicle tracking), and improve privacy and safety tools.
- Coerced debt relief: The network supports legislation modeled on other states to provide a pathway for survivors to have coerced debt removed from credit reports and stop creditor collection where debt was incurred through coercion or identity theft.
- 24‑hour sexual‑assault protection orders: The network seeks statutory changes so survivors can obtain sexual‑assault protection orders at any hour; Robinson said the judiciary (Judge Zomey) has been supportive and the change is primarily statutory rather than a capacity issue.
Committee exchange and next steps
Committee members asked about jurisdiction and statute language. Robinson said the network will supply draft language and work with the committee on definitions and implementation. Glesserman noted Representative Edie Grammer is involved in the coerced‑debt effort and that some measures will start in Commerce but could move to Judiciary.
Ending
The network said it would return during the session with bill text and additional data as requested.
