Committee finds draft favorable that adds disability-representative seat to regional emergency management panel

At its meeting, the Government Operations & Military Affairs committee reviewed draft 4.2 of bill 26-00550, titled in discussion as an act relating to emergency management, and voted to report the draft favorably for introduction.

Tucker Anderson of Legislative Council summarized the textual changes and said one previously flagged section had been removed. Anderson said the updated language adds a new voting member to the Regional Emergency Management Committee: "an individual with lived disability experience representing a disability-led organization appointed by the Vermont Council for Independent Living." The committee did not raise further questions about that provision.

A member identified in the transcript as Bud Thorn moved to find the draft favorable; a committee member seconded the motion. The clerk called the roll and recorded the following votes as yes: Representative Boyden, Representative Coffey, Representative Henegau, Representative Hooper-Randall, Representative Morgan, Representative Nugent, Representative Pinsonault, Representative Waters Evans and Representative Barron. Representative Stone was not recorded as voting. The clerk announced the result as 9-0-1.

Committee members thanked staff and witnesses for last-minute drafting and for submitting written testimony, which the committee noted was posted on its web page. The chair said the committee had "moved a phenomenal amount of bills" during the crossover push and instructed staff to proceed with drafting and introduction steps, including the committee bill shuffle and submission for introduction.

The committee concluded the review by directing that the committee report be submitted for introduction; no further amendments or formal conditions on the report were recorded in the transcript.