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Vermont Human Rights Commission tells House panel disability complaints dominate caseload, urges stronger local voting access and Olmstead review
Summary
The Vermont Human Rights Commission told the House Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee that disability discrimination accounts for a majority of its investigations, urged improved local voting accommodations, and recommended a permanent Olmstead commission and better pay for in‑home care workers.
Big Hartman, identifying themself as executive director and general counsel of the Vermont Human Rights Commission, told the House Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee that disability discrimination now makes up a substantial portion of the commission’s workload and urged lawmakers to act on several recommendations from the commission's November civil rights summit.
"We are seeking to protect people primarily from discrimination," Big Hartman said in opening remarks, describing the HRC as a small agency with nine employees that investigates complaints, attempts resolution, and can file suit when necessary. Big Hartman said HRC currently has 14 cases actively in litigation and that about 60% of the commission's active complaints involve disability —…
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