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Committee to withdraw appropriations amendment after racial-equity office clears $150,000 for language-access work on S243
Summary
Lawmakers heard from a committee member that memos from the Office of Racial Equity and the Health Department confirmed $150,000 would be an allowable use of racial-equity funds, so House Appropriations will withdraw an amendment; the committee will amend S243 to change 'shall contract' to 'may contract' regarding the Vermont Language Justice Project.
Representative Rey told the House Human Services committee that an amendment from House Appropriations that would have recalled $150,000 from a pot of money is not needed after confirming with the Office of Racial Equity and the Health Department that the funds may be used for the project in S243.
Rey summarized the history: the Senate version included $150,000 for the Health Department, appropriations had stripped that funding based on concerns about allowable uses, and appropriations drafted an amendment to revert the funds. Rey said memos posted by the Office of Racial Equity and the Health Department confirm the office’s funds could be used for the purpose, so appropriations will withdraw its amendment and no recall of $150,000 is necessary.
The amendment Rey plans to offer (attributed in the hearing as coming from Rep. Garafano) makes a technical wording change: it replaces "shall contract" with "may contract" so the Office of Racial Equity can contract with the Vermont Language Justice (VLJ) Project "as needed" rather than creating a mandatory contracting directive. Rey said the Office of Racial Equity will hold the funds and may contract with VLJ to prepare materials at state agencies' requests, and that the Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS) will assist VLJ to become an approved vendor so other agencies can access their services.
Rey conducted a straw poll on the amendment; committee members raised hands and Rey counted about eight supporting the change and said he will report the result tomorrow and that Appropriations will withdraw its prior amendment.
Why it matters: The decision keeps $150,000 available within the Office of Racial Equity for language-access work and clarifies contracting authority and vendor-approval assistance, affecting how state agencies will access language services.
Next steps: Rey said he will report the straw-poll outcome to the committee tomorrow and will offer the technical amendment; Appropriations is expected to withdraw its amendment.
