Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Unidentified committee member]: No. We're

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: we're live.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Never mind. Welcome

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: back to the Senate Committee on Government Operations Committee meeting on Thursday, 04/16/2026. We are happy to welcome in, I think, her first appearance, Maria Loyal from the legislative council office. And we're gonna take a look now at H927. This is the annual technical corrections bill, and this is specifically for the 2026 legislative section. So committee members just received the actual pass by the House bill, which is 180 pages, and thankfully a section by section which is considerably less, And that's what we're going to look at now for about the next thirty five minutes or so. So Maria, welcome in. It's great to have you on.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Thank you very much. Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel. Very happy to be here. You're familiar with the technical corrections.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: I do.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: As you know, a lot of these issues come up as we're doing other amendments or in our statutory revision process during the summer, things that don't fall under that very narrow scope where we can just fix it, get collected, and then eventually put into a bill like this one. There are 136 secondtions here. 18 of 33 titles are include proposed amendments.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: So which titles did you look at this year?

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Two, title two, legislature title three, executive officers. Four, judiciary. Five, aeronautics and surface transportation. Six, agriculture. Seven, alcohol, beverages, cannabis, tobacco. Eight, banking and insurance. Nine, commerce and trade. Nine, UCP. 10, conservation and development. 11, corporation partnerships associations. Sixteenth, Education, seventeenth, Elections. Most of the 136 sections have to do with elections, and that's because that volume is gonna be republished this year. I'm just wanting to get all of the changes in the bowel volume as opposed to the supplement filter now later.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: So for the election titles, what titles

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: are 17. 17 is Yep.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: That's a new volume that's coming out this year. Often, do do corrections focused on production, publication, and we do

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: make Yes, yep, we try to do that. 20, internal security and public safety, 21 labor, 23 motor vehicles, 28 public institutions and corrections, 32 taxation and finance, and very, very human services. The nature of the changes, just very quickly, most of this is just getting the correct terminology, using gender neutral language, place of gendered language, fixing cross references to reflect potentially repealed sections, so updating grammar, punctuation style, making sure it conforms with our drafting conventions, which sometimes change over the years, institutional updates, new committees, and any other kind of corrections or omissions. So, that's just broad overview. So, we'll look at the section by section, and please stop me at any point in time. This is worked on almost everybody in our office. The first section though, ironically, is the one that actually includes somewhat of a substantive provision, and that is because it actually reflects an amendment that occurred on the House floor. Initially, the bill is introduced in section one, concerns the Joint Carbon Emissions Reduction Committee, and the proposed technical fix was to just update a committee name. The energy committee has been energy and environment, energy and technology, and I was in it, so just updating the appropriate name. Regarding that specific committee, the House Energy Committee spent a lot of time, it hasn't been active for years and not all of the members have even been appointed. It used to be the Joint Energy Committee and was pretty active up until 2019 when the name changed. So there was a lot of discussion about possibly reinvigorating this committee, which the committee never decided to follow through on. But the one issue that did come up that there was agreement on is something that's very consistent with standard practice, and that is of the appointments, not all are from the same political party. I would say I think six out of the 10 joint oversight committees specify just that. There are a couple of others that are based on just chairs. And some of them and some of those committees are, know, mixed, have political diversity. But this one kinda stands out as not having political diversity, and so it's obviously not something that we would suggest from our office, but it was offered on the floor. I'm spending a lot of time in this session. Promise the rest of them are now gonna take this much time, but I just wanted

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: to make you aware. This was offered on the floor. It was offered on

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: the floor. Now in the house. In the house. On the

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: house floor. Just a recent technical. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Okay. So, are five representatives, five senators, and this just specifies that for each category, not all, you think, local party. Moving on. Section two, updated kind of nomenclature here, as you know, the state adopts rules, federal agencies adopt, or promulgate regulations. This section references both, and so it now includes rules in addition to in reference to regulations. That's all it is. Section three under the the spouse abuse program, it just creates a subsection heading, and this actually same nature of change in the next, I think, two or three sections. Sometimes when we're doing an amendment, the director might add subsection headings, but the rest of the subsections don't have headings. So the editors say either strike them all or add them all. That's kind of what we prefer to do if we can. So this proposes to strike the one subsection heading, same thing in the next section. And the section five is actually the opposite. There are subsection headings, but this new provision did not include one, so now the proposal is to include the subsection test. Also, in that section, just a more correct reference, there's a reference to, cross reference to sections four fifty five, which is meant to include all of the sections in a particular chapter. We try not to do that anymore, just be more specific and say the chapter. In section six, just again, a little bit more precise when making a cross reference, instead of saying, you know, such and such subdivision in this chapter, we say in this subchapter. But we don't always do that, but sometimes it's helpful for the reader to understand it's all within the same body of law. Section seven includes a conjunction. This concerns privatization contracts and the practices that there are two requirements that need to be met, but there is no conjunction at all. So, it's just adding that conjunction. End, also updating the committee name for the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs. Subsection eight concerning the Vermont Wage Retirement System adds a subsection heading that was missing, strikes a cross reference rule of appeal provision of law, converts numbers to text, and also adds some gender neutral language, replaces an or with a period in subdivision B4B to be consistent of the statutory structure. All of the items are listed with periods, and there's an or that's out there. Yep. And we can look at the language at any point you wanna

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: go ahead make I'm just curious because we have had numbers issues before, many times before. So just remind us, numbers are okay to be

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: numeric when they refer to

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: as a in a parenthesis, in a to identify a chapter, but they aren't okay in the text of the statute. Is that correct?

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I actually didn't know that that was a hard and fast drafting rule, because I Until then. You know, so I think, yes. Okay, great. I think that is now the preference going forward. That seems to be the preference, right? Yeah. And then last change, again, is concerning early retirement. There's an exemption for specific group G categories of employees, group G members, and that because without getting into too much detail, they are already covered under a specific statutory, how they're treated, provision. So really just fixing the language. Some section nine, gender neutral language, specifying, being very clear that subdivision a two was repealed. And then, actually, it does say in the statute itself where subdivision two would be. It just says repealed and just reorganizes things based on that. And also updates a cross reference to the correct cross reference, which concerns the next opinion. So section 10 or excuse me. Section 10, again oh, so sometimes when we're already drafting a bill, we don't know when it's gonna be effective. You know, so in the text, we'll say, found the effective date of this act, which then might get carried over into the statute itself once we know when it was effective, when it was signed. Then we try to go back and update with the more precise date so that it happens. Is that like in an instance where the effective date that we've sent is on passage? Yes. Yep. Exactly. So then section 11 updates some statutory cross references of a chapter on unclaimed property that was referenced, was repealed, and recodified in a new chapter, chapter 18, which is referenced here. And then the other change is just adding in Lawrence subdivisions some language that made it conform with the leading language. So instead of beginning discharge, it says shall discharge. And again, that's consistent with the Beaden language. Section 12, there actually had a number of proposed statutory changes within chapter 19 of title three. This concerns social security for state and municipal employees. So first in the definitions, basically, mostly just amends the outline structure in the definition of employment so that it's a little bit clear, but no substitute change as gender neutral language and also capitalizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which is appropriate. The next section removes reference unnecessary subdivision reference with oh, because within the subdivision itself, the actual paragraph, it was broken into subdivisions, which we typically never do. We need to create a whole new subject, but we don't put it in the paragraph. So it goes subdivision, you know, I think it was a, b, and c. The a and c are deleted. They're just listed as. I get I also see gender neutralizing within that section. Oh, also, there are instances where there's kind of what's considered more archaic legalese, you know, heretofore. Those are our favorites. You love those? Okay. I'll point all of them out. So here's one. So instead of saying heroes Which section are you in this? Still So in section 12. We're in section 12, and we're in the statutory section five seventy three, which

[Unidentified committee member]: oh, I should have page A little bit on that.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Okay. Let's move on to the So,

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: you're playing page a year off. Yes. With a healthily section. Okay. It takes now three words to say what we all understood.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: You know, I actually I prob sometimes I prefer the the heroes. Sometimes I even put them

[Unidentified committee member]: in, but we all understand what they mean. But I think if you went out to lay public, they don't understand what it means always.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Just spray do the soap. Okay.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: And then there's just some reformat of the paragraphs for greater clarity. In section five seventy four, there's gender neutral language added. His or her is replaced with employee. Same thing in section five seventy five. Section five seventy six is updating the outline structure for greater clarity, which then needs the corresponding update of internal subsection cross references. Gender neutral language replaces the term or the phrase for and only for with solely for replaces the treasurer of the state with the state treasurer. Section five seventy eight and subsection a just divides breaks up a run on sentence. It's two complete sentences. Gender neutral language. Five seventy nine, gender neutral language. Then moving on to section 13, state employee labor relations act updates the statutory outline structure in subdivision b three d. Section 14, this is an issue we're referring to state rules, but it says regulations. So just changing regulations to rules. Same thing in section 15. Section 16 just adds a conjunction to clarify the duties of the Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. It was grammatically incorrect in current statute. Section 17, this is another one of those on the effective date of the subchapter replacing it with a specific date, the effective date. Same thing in section 18. Section 19 I'm sorry.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: What does SIA stand for?

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Same as above. Both names. Section 19 removes references to a repealed subdivision of the statute. So within the statute itself, there's a repeal. Section 20. This is a similar one we're drafting. We might, in the language of the draft, you might reference this act. But once it becomes enacted, we try to we can do this. Usually, we can do it by the time it's enacted. But if something makes it through and it it just says the this act, we try to update it with the more precise statutory reference. In this case, chapter 13, which pertains to the state's classified personnel system. Section 21 just references the appropriate division of AHS operations, non administrative services. Section 22, again, regulations becomes rules. Section 23, this one's interesting because this concerns agency of human services duties of directors. This was enacted in 1970, this particular statute, and it has to do with directors being subject to the classified personnel system. At that time in 1970, there was an exemption for anyone who was a director at that time of enactment that they could just follow their existing employment contract. They didn't immediately get switched over. So, that was in 1970, and I think the presumption was there probably aren't any more directors still in service. Fifty six years they'd be in service, so think that's true, but I'm wrong, let me know.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: There's many about this, but maybe with it, the circulatory statements of this. Right, it's

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: at '24, again, regulations speak on those rules. There's a reference to, just a parenthetical reference, which is not necessary. This concerns the Environmental Justice Advisory Council, another regulation to play the rules. The judicial bureau, just updating the subjects that are covered under the statute include cannabis, which reflects current law, section 27, gender neutral language. Section 28 is just moving a subsection heading to its correct place in the outline structure of the statute. Section 29. So this is fixing what is an internal reference. This one got a little bit confusing. Not my subject area. So the subject is penalties for minors related to alcoholic beverages. Minors are defined as between 12 and 20 years of age. In the statute, specifically in subdivision B three c roman numeral two, there's a reference to subdivision a roman numeral one, which is replaced with a roman numeral two. And this has to do with first offense, second offense, respectively. First offense, thirty days suspension, second offense, ninety days. The statute references the thirty days, but as I understand it, it was supposed to reference the ninety day suspension. And those are that's the category of motor vehicle operators that can request to operate during that period of time, provided they use an ignition interlock RDL. So, sorry that was a lot of words. This one took me a little while, so I gotta figure out.

[Unidentified committee member]: I also have questions for the attorney whose area of expertise this is on this, because why would a 12 year old be driving? Oh, that's, oh, my oh, okay. So not all

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: of the subject, the chat, the section does it because you're driving.

[Unidentified committee member]: It Well, other question is is, so the chapter reflects the minors 12 to 20. Does that mean it's fine if an 11 year old is drinking? I don't think so. Like I said, have questions for everything. Yeah.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I'll I'll just look and see. Yeah. I actually I definitely put that in there. I'm gonna look at the statute and see where it subsidizes.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Well, we could look at it right here.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: It doesn't say in the let's see. What book right now?

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: So this is section 29. Right?

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Let's see. I might have to pull it up on the notes.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: So you may be able

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: to get more description. Or Oh, yeah. So the title of the existing statute, so I'm on page 32. Mhmm. Person 12 years of age or older and under 21 years of age, misrepresenting age, procuring possessing or consuming alcohol beverages, also includes impaired driving, possession of cannabis, civil violation. Yeah, so I'll ask Eric. You can add, Eric. Well, also I know there are

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: some age. There are some provisions for farm for younger people on Drinking on the farm. Drinking. Obviously, not drinking. And in fact, it's very interesting to have any chapter that deals with with both of these issues. Well, anyway, that younger people are allowed to drive tractors and Sure. Not so. So we do have some provisions in statute that address age with driving, but not drinking because we all do.

[Unidentified committee member]: I'll talk to the.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Yeah. I don't think this and okay. Mean, I'm just not

[Unidentified committee member]: I don't wanna derail it. I found it very interesting. Yeah.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Yeah. Well No. Good. It might be Eric or Michelle. So one one of the two. Section 30, it just fixes an erroneous cross reference related to convinceable investment by insurance companies. Section 31 strikes a subsection heading because there aren't headings in the rest. Same thing in section 32. Section 33, also concerning health insurance, strikes a reference to a paper appeal subsection, which created a task force that no longer exists. Section 34, as language clarified, subdivision applies to individuals just adding under 21 years of age. Section 35 just replaces the word nonconclusive. This concerns foreclosure sales with noncollusive, which is probably which well, I think most definitely is the intent. This has to do with agricultural finance leases. So a noncollusive foreclosure sale is where the lender and buyer aren't somehow conspiring to manipulate the price. Nonclusively So appropriate terms. I'm not sure if I know. I do know a nonconclusive means that that it wouldn't make sense here. Section 36. No. Just knows. Consumer protections. Oh, it strikes in the heading of statute, legislative intent because there are only findings in that. It's the customer statute. They already Sorry. That. There there there are complexities. We don't think Oh. That. Just updates the section heading to conform with some of the amendments that were made in 2025. Of the provisions. And then now we're getting into title nine a. These are all provisions in the UCC, the Uniform Commercial Code. So changes here well, I'll just mention the first one. Replacing this article with the article, so that's how it's referenced throughout that particular article. And then the next several sections are capitalizing state, because as you know, when it's capitalized, it's reviewed for each of the line and that it's the intent, but that's never caught in the UCC. So, next Capitalized fee. Anything in section 46, and also just when there's cross reference includes sections in that cross reference,

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: which is

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: appropriate. 47, capitalize and save. Hyphenating pre effective date. What is a pre effective date? I'm not sure. Okay. All I know is it's hyphenated now, and it wasn't four. Okay. But you don't

[Unidentified committee member]: know what it is.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: It's hyphenated. I don't know what it is. I don't. I swear

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: to care about to identify it.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Well, that's the rules on that. For the hyphen, I think. Our editors. I mean, they make suggestions. Right. That's even our degree. And then it goes to the attorneys, and they're they say, okay. We'll make that change. That's it. Yeah. We can look at the context.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: The state fees, I guess. It's always amazing to see.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Let's just see 47. Still, this is on page thirty eighth. So the amendment of pre effective date financing of state. Oh, Okay. So except as otherwise provided, if the law of the state governs perfection of the security interest, the information in financing statement may be amended after the act of the act. So,

[Unidentified committee member]: some sort of financing statement that's going on retroactively to conform. Got it. Okay. Yeah.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: So it's still a good question. What is it?

[Unidentified committee member]: Well, so as I'm reading it, if I'm guess, the

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: so it's a

[Unidentified committee member]: pre effective date financing statement, which is not like a JFO report.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Or something must be effective. Well It may not take into go into effect on that date. So it's it's

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: so it's part of the UCC. So my guess is it's commercial entities, you know, involving some kind of financing, and there needs to be a financing statement for the terms of the you know, in this case, there's a it involves a secured loan because there there's a perfection of a security interest, but that there were changes in law and that those earlier financial statements could be could be amended to reflect whatever the current changes are. That is my understanding. I could look at it more closely. Just for, you know But then What are we on? 48? Mhmm. This is what car events. Yes. So this is in I started to think there are any air pollution control, and there were some cross references to a definition of sports car event.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Maybe we should have Phil Scott report this thing. But

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: those statutes with that definition were repealed. So it left with this current statute without a definition of sports tournaments. So basically, the proposal here is to take the repealed definition and put it directly into the statute. So it doesn't change the definition, just moves it to the statute. Moves it

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: to a real statute, not a It's a statute for appeal. Yeah.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Section 49 just corrects a statutory false reference. Section 50 just uses the appropriate term developmental disabilities, where it's a existing statute, it says development disability. Section 51. This is under Act two fifty. As you know, the Natural Resources Board has been replaced by the Land Use Review Board, so just making that change around the statute. A few there are a few sections here. Section 52, removing a subsection heading. It's another instance. I'm just updating the name of the it's a new board. Same thing in section 54. Section 55, just fixing the title, but striking the word of, which didn't make sense. Section 56, just making singular the plural reference to registered nurses, so it's not just registered nurse. We try to use singular if we can. Yep. And so population probably.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: I refer to things in singular and plural.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Section 57 is adding a conjunction between subdivisions. It's case And so then we get to the in in title 17. And so you'll notice section 58, there are a whole bunch of changes, individual statutes within chapter 31. So the first one is in section eighteen eleven of that chapter. There are many, many, many instances where such is replaced with a more precise term. So in the so for example, in the first section, it replaces four instances of such and either replaces that term with the or The United States as appropriate. So

[Unidentified committee member]: Under neutral language. Yeah. I see that it actually replaces it with the abbreviation US. Is that standard throughout statute that you use US and not United States? If it's if it's I'm gonna look. We states. Okay. But I'm looking at the actual bill, and it's and it inserts US. Oh, wait. Hold on. So it's on page 44. So where I know it says it inserts The United States, but what it actually inserts is to the US constitution.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Oh, so okay. That's correct. Okay. When it's being used to qualify something, like it's the US constitution, then we we do wording. Okay. So what's in this this language is correct.

[Unidentified committee member]: So my summary. And it also looks like it used to read to constitution of The United States, and now it is reading to the US constitution. Is that also just in line with how

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: you view Yeah. Yep. Just try to be a little more concise. Except where you watch. You're too poor, Alison. You're too poor. Also, gender neutral language and and statute eighteen twelve replaces the phrase capital at Montpelier with state house.

[Unidentified committee member]: It's interesting to me that we include where the state house is. The state house hasn't always been in Montpelier. It might not always be in Montpelier. So it's interesting that to me

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: that it's in statue where it's physically located. Or was. Now it's not. Now it's floating in.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Yeah. So now I No. It's in there.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: It is going the state.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I don't even know. Here.

[Unidentified committee member]: It's still on it's at the bottom of page four. Shall meet in the Senate Chamber of the state house in Montpelier. Oh.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: The date of

[Unidentified committee member]: Like, it's interesting Yeah. That that it's in statute where it is because the state house hasn't always been in Montpelier.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Well, it's now year for what? To go through constitutional to be in all the technical corrections. I'm something happens. We'll revisit it.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Well, I'm gonna check with Sam. I'll kinda see if he's aware of this issue. What other state house needs to think of it?

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: I'll get back to you. Yeah. Thank you.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: So, in section eighteen thirteen, instead of stating forty days of the date, try and be a little more precise, forty days before the date was 1814, gender neutral language, replacing as such with a the. Same thing in 1815. 1818, just check list, making it one word instead of two. Section eighteen nineteen, replacing notice thereof with notice of election and replacing such a. Eighteen twenty replaces returns thereof with ballot returns, painting three instances of such. Section eighteen twenty one, results thereof becomes result of the election. Eighteen twenty three, gender neutral language. Eighteen twenty five, places the word same with amendment, to be more precise. Thereunder becomes under. Thereto becomes with the resolution or statute as referenced in that section. Then finally, or actually, section 59 replaces legislature with general assembly. Then we get to a different chapter entitled You know why that's preferred. I don't actually know why it's preferred. It's, no, it is preferred, but they always tell us to use general assembly,

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: not legislature for Vermont when you're talking about the Vermont general assembly. Yeah.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: So I'm not sure who made that choice. I actually don't know why.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Yeah. No. It would just be interesting to know why. Mean, general assembly just sounds so ordinary as opposed to Super Duke or General.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: We, perhaps be the Brigadier. Will

[Unidentified committee member]: that feel less ordinary to you?

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Yeah, there may be a reason. I just don't know what it is. So, still in elections test, think, now in chapter 34 a, which is I'm starting to re apportion there. So section nineteen oh one Reimportant. Reimportant. Reimportant. Reimportant. Section 19 o three, striking an instance of such 19 o four, replacing hereafter set forth with pursuant to this chapter. Yeah. 19 o six, striking such 19 o six a striking such. Same thing, 19 o seven.

[Unidentified committee member]: In nineteen o seven, we changed fourteenth that is written out to fourteenth that is numerical in front of amendment. So they previously read f f o u r t e fourteenth, spelled amendment of the US constitution, and now it is numerical. Is that I think

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: that's how we do it in our Perhaps national. Yes. Okay. I will make sure, though, because it's

[Unidentified committee member]: a little wonky because, like, in some places, we do it this way, but then in other place yeah. Understood.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Let and let's so let me just make sure that that's that's accurate. Okay. So section 61, gender neutral language, adding some punctuation. So it's curated at each of the sentence at each of the subdivisions. And I haven't looked at it in a while, but I'm guessing that's because one of the subdivisions contains at least two sentences. So when that's the case, then we add a period after each of the substructures. Section

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: 62, such becomes the. Section 63 But I have to ask because you said the beginning, there were lots of examples of such replacing being replaced with something more precise. What is more precise about the

[Unidentified committee member]: So in the context In the I can give you an example. Don't know what here. The provided presiding officer or it used to say the presiding officer may choose to provide any such voter with a new ballot. Now it says the presiding officer may choose to provide the voter. Where is this? This is on page 55. This is just in the example I was looking at. My dad

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: and me were talking about.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Oh, that's a good

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: because I was curious too because

[Unidentified committee member]: you were replacing such with lots of different forms.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Yeah. Apologize because we didn't see any It wasn't clear, but it was intending to be more specific.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: No. It's just, you know, Okay. Right. But that is more precise. That's better. Yes.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Okay. So section 64, gender neutral language. 65, such becomes that. Same thing in 66. Hopefully, it's clear in the context. Do you wanna look at that? Do you wanna?

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Because we actually just keep

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Okay. So section 67, touch with any or the, you know, places from or following. Section 68, such, same thing, 69, same thing,

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: or strikes, such Right. 70. All making things more precise.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Yeah. Striking, such in '71, same thing in 72, same thing in 73 with the addition of gender neutral language, 74, gender neutral language. 75, such becomes any. 76, 77, 78, striking instances of the word such. 79 replaces thereof with of the organize organizational resolution, section 80, section 81, gender neutral language thereof, becomes of the charter. Some such changes replaces copies thereof with official copies of the charter proposal. Section 82, such as the eighty three sixteen. Same thing in section 84. 85 thereof becomes of the duties. 86, such with the 87, gender neutral strikes in such cases. Necessary. Section 88, gender neutral language replaces but with only. And that you don't wanna look at the comp again, stop me at any point. You wanna make sure that the context I'm I'm following along. Okay.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Okay. No. Pardon me, Brian.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I know.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: I know. Yes. Those sections move fast. So we're now on page

[Unidentified committee member]: 71. 71. And it does make sense. Yeah.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I think these all have checked a couple of nails. 88 I'm sorry. 89, 9091, 92. Okay. Replacing such, hopefully, the appropriate term. 93, in such case becomes the 94, another such, another 95, another such, 96. In such case, supplementary was is replaced by the

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: supplementary. Right.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: '97, '98, '99. They've actually made lowercase, because it refers to all states, not just Vermont. And such with 100, 101, 102, such with 103, striking thereof. Language 104, adds missing oh, this is just the phrase independent expenditure only. It should say political committee. That's where political is added. 105 Subdivision pending replaces by such and such date with honor before 01/2006 and support her after his. One zero seven appropriately references subsection because that is what's referenced as opposed to section, section one zero eight. Strikes some misplaced commas. Misplaced commas. Two of them. Section 109 just gets rid of an unnecessarily duplicative conjunction between subdivisions. There are two, one that really all needs to be one. Section 110, instead of child 18 years of age or younger, now it says child 18, years of age, 111. Just basically reorganizes the statutory outline, the form of drafting inventions. Hopefully, they can remember one twelve Capitalize Contingent Fund because that is the name of the fund. One thirteen replaces Shell with DUNS. Also, unemployment compensation. We the same

[Unidentified committee member]: we we argue shalls may speak to many a lot. Do does shall does shall and does have the same meaning legally? I think

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: it depends kind of on the context. Mhmm. The preference, if it works, is to use does. For example, procuring alcohol when you're 11 years old shall constitute instead It does. Or say does constitute. Okay. We don't always do that. In fact, yeah. Yeah. So

[Unidentified committee member]: Yeah. I guess I just I know from the many arguments I've had over shals and mays that shall is very definitive.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Shal is out of the day. Absolutely. Shall under the may. And in the context, it so definitely that is Yes. I just

[Unidentified committee member]: wanna make sure does has the same definitiveness as shall.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: It's intended to it it least where it's proposed here. I can say that definitively. Correct.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: So It does do it definitively.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: It does. It sure does. So section one fifteen, just the appropriate name of the fund, just the unemployment compensation trust fund, adding trust. And then bleeding by on or before, because it's not necessary, again, fixing the trust fund name in 01/2016, 01/2017, fixing the trust fund name in 01/2018, striking subdivision heading, clarifying some internal statutory cross references, gender neutral language, subjugation five one hundred nineteen. Court is supposed to be uppercase to conform with our drafting conventions. Section one twenty, corrects an internal statutory cross reference. Section one twenty one inserts is at least oh, okay. Yeah. So this concerns motor vehicle registration fees. I mean, they're all itemized based on the pounds of the trucks. And it's and you'll see if you looked if you're looking at the statute, you'll see that it's at least 30,000 pounds, whatever, is consistent with the language in there. Should say is at least, not just

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: is 30,100 pounds.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: That says is a pigston.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: That's mine. Says it right in the bill. I don't know. We need a number. Correction building's here for sure.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: It's a correction summary. Yeah.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I got it.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: My summary is wrong. So it's we're supposed to read that is badly.

[Unidentified committee member]: That is what it says now. Okay.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Good. '20 01/22 replaces an n with an or to reflect the legislative intent. 01/23, there's an erroneous cross reference to the word section in statutory cross reference. One twenty four, gender neutral language. Land owner becomes one word. Land Okay. Replaces operator is the land owner with person just because that works in the context and is a little more succinct. And similarly, replaces select men or trustees of the local governing body with legislative body of the municipality. Section 125, there's a redundant instance of shall, which is stricken, replaced promulgate, referring to state rules. And again, it's not promulgate, it should be shall adopt. Section 126 strikes reference to the dental health program because it has since been repealed. Section 27 is, it just says deleted in here. It had to do with an appropriation from the Ed Fund. Intended to correct what was the practice and the intent, because another provisional law was recodified without the appropriation, and it was generally agreed that doing so here without all of the proper funding Oh, no. And it's gonna be a it was or it's stressing the miscellaneous tax bill. So it was a little bit confusing and definitely raised a lot of those eyebrows. 01/28, just changing appraised values to appraised value. One twenty nine, replacing nonresidential with non homestead. This is for property tax purposes, so just more current language. From the last page. The very last page, one thirty. And then I have Oh, go 32, one thirty three, and

[Unidentified committee member]: one thirty four, five, and six?

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Yeah.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Yeah.

[Unidentified committee member]: Oh. Oh, right. I thought you're saying one thirty was the last page. I was like, no. Have six other sections.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: She occurred. Oh, yeah. The ones pictured.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: 30 strikes a reference to parental leave contribution because it was never enacted. One thirty one, just how we refer to the to an age. So years of age following age being. Same thing, 132 and one 133. 134 uses the correct terminology instead of health professional, health care professional.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: 135

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: clarifies in the leading language that only one of the listed conditions is for disenrollment or elimination of coverage needs to be met, not all three. And 136, this takes effect on passage.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Excellent. Thank you, Maria.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: You're welcome. I I I just have to ask. What was the the most satisfying thing to correct, or what was your favorite section you enjoyed or thought was you know? What was the most important section you thought to be corrected? What was your favorite one that you The first one.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I'm gonna say the first one because that was also the most substantive one, and everyone seemed to agree. So my favorite one. A little bit of diversity on joint legislative committees. But out of my nonpartisan favorite one, I assumed it would be as such.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: So do you have enough? Do you feel Alison to whoever Yeah. Okay.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: And I just need from you. Yeah. We're gonna you That stuff is that people are the That the summary is a summary. Okay. Great.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Great. And then I have my own summary. Oh, yeah. This is great. Yeah. Perfect. I have I have a lot of. Great.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Okay. Someone wanna move? I would

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: move that we pass out that we accept the bill as passed by the house. H Nine. Nine twenty seven as passed by the house. And that we vote on it favorably. And we thank Maria Royal for her incredible work because this is a huge amount of work.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Yeah. It is.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Yeah. But so many attorneys worked

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: on

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: it.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: It's also a long way to add to profile. Profile. A appreciate that. Thank you.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Mr. Clerk.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: All right. Senator Clarkson.

[Sen. Alison Clarkson]: Yes.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Senator Morley? Yes. Senator Vyhovsky? Yes. Senator White?

[Sen. Rebecca “Becca” White]: Yes. Senator Collamore? Yes. Sir.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: And we have a clean copy of the bill right here. And if you'll get I don't I'll pick it up the most of the weekend. She's gonna check-in. So it'll be on notice tomorrow and on action deck

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: for you. Yep.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Then the other one will go to you said it was gonna go to Oh, it was appropriations. You need a cleanup.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Why would it

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: I need for deals.

[Unidentified committee member]: Oh, I thought you were saying the technical corrections job was gonna go to appropriations. I was like, why?

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: So earlier, senator White, we did vote on

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Yes. And I voted. Thank you. Yeah. How did you do Thank

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: you, miss Maria.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Thank you, Maria. I'll be in touch because I can't.

[Unidentified committee member]: It was sneaky. It was a sneaky one.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I've already got I have

[Unidentified committee member]: a real Don't worry. The cat will be

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: This all be used? Yeah. This is the original. And you need this? Yes. I was gonna say, I know I need something else. So

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I need the original.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Yep. You'll probably have to get that from Melissa because they have stuff up there if you don't amend it. Oh, look at that.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: $9.27, right?

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Yeah. Yes.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I can write down the original. Mhmm. These two. The OG and the you want to use this? Oh, it's original. I'm sorry. I have oh, this isn't the original? Well, This it can is what you gotta bring out, these two.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Make sure on the bag that you're- Why am

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I taking two of these pills? One

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: of them is for Brian. That's for Brian, he gets throws at somebody. Heavy. No problem. So I guess we are still Why do we need screwing these?

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: I'm not sure about that.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Actually, wait. Did you change it? No. No. Oh, then you just bring the one I just the Sorry.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: But then Melissa will have

[Unidentified committee member]: screen here.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: A sheet that looks like

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: I need this sheet. This one. Yeah. Do you have a copy of that?

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Melissa will have it upstairs. Just make sure it's Okay. No amendment.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: It's not in the back.

[Unidentified committee member]: Oh, yeah. It's not in the back. Yeah. It is. Look. Flip it over. Right?

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: Yeah.

[Sen. John Morley III (Clerk)]: Oh, no.

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: It's not. So from, like Do you feel fine?

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Oh, good question. Is there anything else to come before the committee today?

[Maria Royal, Legislative Counsel]: I don't believe so.

[Sen. Brian Collamore (Chair)]: Okay. Then with that, we will adjourn for the day and see all

[Unidentified committee member]: of