Committee reviews S.230 changes to non-competes, inserts mediator post for state labor board

A legislative committee reviewed a revised draft of S.230 on workplace restrictive covenants and inserted language to authorize a mediator position at the Vermont Labor Relations Board, while flagging unresolved funding and drafting questions.

Sophie Zdatny of the Legislative Council told the committee she was presenting version 7.2 of S.230 and that the draft includes a new subsection 3C incorporating language from H.548 to allow the Labor Relations Board to "employ a mediator" as an administrative position; the draft does not include an appropriation. "This adds a new section 3C," Sophie said, adding the mediator "may provide free mediation services to public and private sector collective bargaining units and employers upon a request made during collective bargaining."

Why it matters: committee members said they hope a state-funded mediator would reduce hearings and delays at the Labor Relations Board by resolving disputes before they reach adjudication. One senior member summarized the bill's path to date:…