Senate accepts committee of conference report on S 58, relating to public safety

The Senate accepted and adopted the Committee of Conference report on S 58, an act relating to public safety, after a motion to suspend the rules allowed the chamber to take the measure up for immediate consideration.

Senator from Chittenden Central moved to suspend the rules and bring S 58 forward; the presiding officer called a voice vote and the motion carried. The presiding officer then asked whether the Senate would accept and adopt the Committee of Conference report on S 58. The Senator from Bennington spoke in support, summarizing several provisions in the final package and describing the bill as "smart on the crime session." He said the bill contains "a permissive inference at the positive depth in an overdose situation" and discussed challenges transferring certain cases to adult court.

A roll-call vote followed. The clerk called the roll and recorded individual 'Yes' and 'No' responses for members; the presiding officer announced the result and declared that the Senate had accepted and adopted the Committee of Conference report on S 58. The transcript records the clerk's announcement as, "Those voting yay, 24." A subsequent line reads, "Those voting yay, 3," which appears to be a transcription error in the record; the presiding officer declared the report adopted.

By adopting the committee's report the Senate completed its action on S 58 and—by subsequent unanimous procedural motion—directed that the action be messaged to the House forthwith. No further debate or amendments were recorded after the roll call.

The Senate then proceeded to other business and recessed later in the session.