Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Immigration And Integration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate authorizes study committee to explore creating an Office of New Americans
Summary
S.56 will create an eight‑member study committee, chaired by the director of the Vermont Refugee Office, to recommend whether and how to establish an Office of New Americans to better coordinate services and workforce support for immigrants and refugees in Vermont.
The Vermont Senate on March 20 ordered third reading of S.56, a bill that directs creation of a study committee to evaluate establishing an Office of New Americans to coordinate state supports for immigrants, refugees, and other new Americans.
What the study would do
Senator Zechoskie, reporting for the Committee on Government Operations, described the bill as workforce and economic development legislation: the study committee would be chaired by the director of the Vermont Refugee Office and include eight members, among them representatives appointed by the Commissioner of Labor and the Office of Racial Equity, and five governor-appointed members including at least one new American with lived experience. Specific nominations include representatives from stakeholders such as the Association of Africans Living in Vermont, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, the Vermont Afghan Alliance, the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, and Migrant Justice.
Why backers say it’s needed
Committee testimony indicated that current refugee and newcomer supports are limited in scope and that a dedicated office could help licensed professionals who are new to the U.S. (for example, nurses and teachers) obtain required state licensure, assist business startups, and coordinate services across agencies. The bill intentionally tasks the study committee with producing a Vermont‑specific definition of “new American” and with recommending an office design and staffing approach.
Appropriations and cost
The Appropriations Committee reviewed the bill and noted an expected modest cost for the study group; the floor discussion referenced an estimated fiscal note in the neighborhood of $6,000. The appropriations committee voted 7–0–0 in favor.
Committee witnesses
The Government Operations Committee heard from Tracy Dolenz (director, Vermont Refugee Office), staff from the Southern Vermont Working Communities Challenge and Winooski initiatives, representatives of national networks that assist state-level offices of new Americans, and testimony from local organizations and advocates. The Government Operations Committee voted 5–0–0 in favor; Appropriations reported favorably as well.
Outcome
The Senate adopted committee recommendations and ordered third reading by voice vote.
Attribution
Reporters on the floor included Senator Zechoskie (Government Operations reporter) and Senator Westman (Appropriations reporter). Testimony before committees included Tracy Dolenz, director of the Vermont Refugee Office.
