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[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Good afternoon. Welcome in to the Senate Committee on Government Operations meeting of Friday the thirteenth, March thirteenth two thousand twenty six. We were earlier regaled on the floor with birthdays for two of our senators and a whole bunch of other people and a whole bunch of other stuff. It was six years ago today that the state began its lockdown, if you know, for COVID. And thank goodness for using the rear view mirror to look at that. We have two bills that I wanna load up today, if possible, and we're gonna take up the first one right now. This is Senate Bill two ninety one, an act relating to travel disclosures for legislators and certain executive officers. We're gonna look at draft 4.2, which was drafted by, Tim Devlin this morning at nine. So this is the most recent, freshest draft, and I will let Kim walk through just the changes I think would be appropriate, Tim. That sounds good to me. Well, thank you very
[Tim Devlin (Legislative Counsel)]: much for having me, committee members. For the record, my name is Tim Dublin, Williams State Council. You have, let's see, just one quick change on page two, and that's changes are highlighted, because it's easy to reference, I should say. That just changes the title of the two we added pre BSA twelve fourteen of travel disclosures in general, and I just want to point out that it's now in general because it'll be contrasted with the to be added section three here, page five, to create pre VSA twelve fifteen travel disclosures for executive officers of the governor. And this is, in essence, an exception to having, for those executive officers who operate under the governor, including the governor, tells to, they will not have to file the travel disclosures to the ethics commission if they are already filing travel disclosures for or sorry, shouldn't say, in accordance to rule a bulletin under the regular practice, which is a testimony from already existing. And I'll just read through this language here just to point out some of the nuance of insurance. Two fifteen, travel disclosures, executive officers, certificate of government. A, notwithstanding the requirements of subsection 1214A, that is the requirement to file away the ethics of the law and completion of this title. Yes.
[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: In the executive All right. Sorry, sir. So recycle that. Thank you. Was wondering. Thank you. Thank you. More yellow.
[Tim Devlin (Legislative Counsel)]: Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection twelve fourteen of this title, an executive officer serving under the governor is not required to disclose any expenses or reimbursements for travel for any travel payer. One, the executive officer, is otherwise required to be approved, reported, and disclosed pursuant to a rule or bulletin as adopted by the governor. Two, that rule or bulletin conforms with the requirements of Section twelve fourteen of the style. Three, copies of all disclosures made by and copies of the disclosures made by the executive officers pursuant to rule the bulletin are posted on the agency of administration's website. Support to emphasize two is that, regardless of what the rules and bulletins currently are, if the extent they differ, I'm sure if they do or not, to the requirements in this bill, they all have to be brought up in compliance. But the rule and bulletin, this bill will serve as a floor, the rules and bulletin can require anything beyond it if the governor so pleases to. And then B, the agency of administration may design its own disclosure forms for executive officers serving as the governor, but these forms conform to their requirements of subsections of the Formal Awards being entitled. Again, just making sure that anything's required in the Formal Awards being is listed out there and then subsequent reporting. That's interesting.
[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Any questions for Attorney General? I will note, I did receive along with senator Vyhovsky and Lynn an email at 12:59 today just before we convene that says, good morning. I appreciate the updates, and it aligns with my understanding based on our discussion. I appreciate the leverage of existing executive branch processes. From Sarah? Yes. From Secretary Clark.
[Tim Devlin (Legislative Counsel)]: Yep.
[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: So it would appear that all parties are satisfied with this language, and unless someone has heartache here, I would accept the motion to move this forward. I would move we accept draft 4.2 of S two ninety one and vote it out favorably. Okay. Will the clerk call the roll? I will.
[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Senator Clarkson. Yes. Indeed. Senator Morley, yes. Senator Vyhovsky?
[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Yes.
[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Senator White? Yes. Senator Hall? Yes.
[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Five zero zero. And this is a strike all, Just so you know, there is no running in this, so it should Another straight to the floor. Yeah. And senator Vyhovsky has not requested, but volunteered to report the bill. It's since it was her bill to begin interesting because there's money imparted at that comes Yes. In But it won't have to go either way. Okay. So that one is done. The remaining consideration will be for s two seventy five. We have draft 1.2, I believe, as our most recent draft of this. This is a John Gray bill, and, I have been in touch with, is it Sarah? No. It's Diana Vyhovsky from the Vermont Municipal Clerks and Treasurer Association. And she, along with Tom Giffen and Chris Book, Tom being the president of VOCA and Chris Book, the director of the Vermont Funeral Directors Association, I had told them at 02:00. So we have time now to, take a break. And then if they can get here a little early so I guess what I would ask is that committee members check back around 02:35. Well, 01:35? Oh, I'm sorry. 01:35.
[Tim Devlin (Legislative Counsel)]: You.
[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: 01:35. In case they 155. No. No. 135 in case they can come early, and then we could poke that second glove. Okay. Alright. So we will take a ten, fifteen, fifteen minute, break and be back as soon
[Tim Devlin (Legislative Counsel)]: as
[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: poss