Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Okay. We are hot. And Okay.

[Russ Ingalls (Member)]: Yeah.

[John Benson (Member)]: Still

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: something. Are we there now? Okay. Yes. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. Welcome. Those of you who are online Today is 01/07/2026 and this is Senate Institutions and we're going to have a relatively brief meeting to talk about our work this session and priorities. And what I'd like to do is hear from you all and then I will give you what I'm thinking about. I'd like to hear from you first, So, if you don't yeah,

[Joseph "Joe" Major (Member)]: Russ, and you don't know, over the off session, I was on Joint Information Technology Oversight Committee. I happened to be the chair of it. And there's more to talk about what it is, but basically a lot of what we did was look at state IT projects, where they are currently, how the process is going, and doing oversight on that. Through some of that, we got updates along the way and then hear feedback from some folks and come back and look at it again. And that is something I think that this community should be doing. You know, have ADS in here telling us, you know, and whichever, agency is part of the project and there are there's a list of them, higher priorities. Lisa Gobin, the Joint Fiscal Office IT Consultant, she keeps on top of all of these things, and I know, I think, I'm not sure, sometime this week, I think, she's going to

[Russ Ingalls (Member)]: be giving an overview now, K.

[Joseph "Joe" Major (Member)]: The house energy and the data infrastructure. Having her do that with us so that we know what they are, and they're they're similar to, like, capital projects in terms of very big projects and very high dollar amounts. So that's that's something I'm I'm hoping to to do, and also have, ADS kind of talk to us about I'm not sure necessarily about AI, but about their we started hearing about this at the end, what they're doing with the state's data. And, essentially, it's they can explain that that there's particular structure that they're they're amusing. I'm hoping to hear more about that and whether or not that's something the legislature should have some sort of policy about. Well, those are the two pieces of top of mind for me. Perfect. Although, obviously, keeping on top of whether the restoration of Venice and Battle of Monument is going. But also also with with all

[Russ Ingalls (Member)]: of the historical, private, as

[Joseph "Joe" Major (Member)]: I mentioned earlier, Allison mentioning that we haven't been putting out

[Robert Plunkett (Vice Chair)]: the votes on that and

[John Benson (Member)]: that's a big part of the Capital Building.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Definitely. Great, thank you. And then I just want to mention the other committee that you and I were both on was joint judiciary. Yes. So that's relevant.

[Joseph "Joe" Major (Member)]: That was with corrections as well.

[Russ Ingalls (Member)]: There are different parts of it. Speaking

[John Benson (Member)]: of corrections, think it's a secret that I'm invested in in trying to lay the groundwork to find out a place for this one to put to put into prison where. And I will say, and I I may have said this in in the last session, I I I really, appreciate, commissioner Manoli's presentation yesterday because I was not fully vetted on what the situation was, in essence, and how that fell through. But we need to to find some way to to, figure out at least the beginning of where we're going. That that's that's probably number one. The second thing is the the current winter print, and it it's it's been there dormant since 2017, and Well nothing has been done. Nothing for me. Because ANR has taken the surrounding area, the only thing that I see is that we can find some housing there. There are entities that I have reached out to, One Financial and one development developer and one business. We found that are interested in helping to move this along. I it just and Senator Ingo, I'm sorry. You know, because of your background

[Robert Plunkett (Vice Chair)]: in

[John Benson (Member)]: real estate, I kinda volunteered. You you helped share share with this. So I I apologize for blindsiding you with that, but

[Russ Ingalls (Member)]: All good. Oh, well.

[John Benson (Member)]: All good.

[Russ Ingalls (Member)]: If the worst thing happens to me today, I'll be okay.

[John Benson (Member)]: And the and the the other thing, you know, both senator Ingalls and I both have business in our districts, so we are deeply keen of what it what it takes to Yeah. Get those things through. But for me, those are the two main things that I think we we at least are we going to solve those two things? It's probably not, but at least move it along so we at least can have some framework of in in the next session, not unless it may be, but next session so they can have something to build. Sounds good. I would be echoing some of what senator Major said.

[Russ Ingalls (Member)]: Believe that incarceration is needed

[John Benson (Member)]: when people violate the rules and laws that

[Russ Ingalls (Member)]: we make down here, and if we don't want that to happen, then we need

[John Benson (Member)]: to make less laws. But I also think that there is

[Russ Ingalls (Member)]: a balance of not punishment, but rehabilitation. I'm saddened that we are five or six years away from having these women, and I don't think that there should be any less. Think that they're where they need to be, but I'm saddened that they're in the conditions of where we're at. Also that we have been kicking the can down the road for better than six years for a youth facility. We've to get these kids out of the emergency rooms and get them in protective air to get them off to a better start in the world. The pandemic created a lot of havoc in people's lives. A lot of what they don't talk about is the social aspect of what's happened to them. I'm also a money guy. I want the projects that we have incorporated money for through the bonding or cash to be done in an effective way. Delay is dollars, and it doesn't make much sense to me to have a lot of delays only to raise costs. So yeah, and a of decisions that I would be willing to make really can't happen until thirteen days from now when I see the governor's budget and understand what we have for dollars. Because it's easy to say that we can buy prioritize this or that, but if you don't know what you're gonna spend, then it's a bit you know, you're you're wasting your breath. So but yeah. But I would say the biggest thing is I am sad that we're six or seven years away from having a woman's facility to let them live in dignity while incarcerated and I'm very fond of that they don't have a youth facility. It sounds like there's some positive death and all that urgent but it can't happen fast enough for me.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Thank you.

[Robert Plunkett (Vice Chair)]: So I would basically echo the same. I think that, and the other piece of it is the technology piece that has to come along. I mean, some of the state systems are inadequate and need to be updated to improve efficiency, but I I definitely agree with senator each. We gotta know what you have or money, and then try to prioritize things. But certainly, as two previous senators indicated, dealing with the women's prison has got to be one of the high priorities. You can't believe them in the conditions that they're in, or essentially you're you're just breeding reoccurrence. And I also agree with the youth in that I attended a forum at one point, this had nothing to do with where I am here today, but it was clear that one of the problems in this state is drugs are coming into this state and they are using the younger people to do that because they know, even if they're caught, there's no penalty because we have no place to incarcerate. And so that's another problem we have. And right now, it's going to continue unless we have some way to deal with that.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Okay, in day two, thank you. Terrific, so I think the priorities that have listed are very similar overlap. I started with IT first and last year we spent a lot of time on the kids code. We aren't going to spend as much time on external IT this year, but not even nearly what we did because there are just so many other priorities. We'll get an update on Kids Code and see if we need to make any adjustments. But we will look at data privacy and we'll do that and we'll probably have a joint hearing with the House Committee of Jurisdiction. I hope to have a few joint hearings. I think that's a really helpful way to get things done when we're working with other committees.

[John Benson (Member)]: I'm glad I said that because, you know, it's sometimes we put in a a lot of work, and I and we I I don't want to and then for it to go to the house, and then we we butt heads off. Right. You know? And so I I I'm so glad you said that. I mean, that was the well, thank you.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: And I think it's a really good use of our time.

[Joseph "Joe" Major (Member)]: Yeah.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Because then we don't duplicate it.

[John Benson (Member)]: Yeah.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Yeah. Good. I will. So and then but but we're going to work on internal systems, which is what Senator Plunkett was talking about too. So, and we'll work it. Those will be our first, I think, our first joint hearings will be with the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee where we'll talk about, we'll begin to talk about these state systems. These state systems are by and large very old systems. We do have a new system in DMV that Commissioner Manoli worked on and it's working well. We do have an example of something that's working well in the state. And also with IT, do need to look at how the state is using data because when we think about data that the state has, that's data on the residents primarily and the properties of the state. And our systems were developed in a time when there wasn't internet access. So they can be pretty vulnerable that's really important data that needs to be protected. So that'll be part of what we do. Capital bill, we're going to start on Friday. Scott Moore will be here to go over the bill as it is. And just to refresh all of our memories and to introduce anybody. Bonding capabilities, we're gonna have the capital debt affordability committee come in and look at the possibility of changing, extending the timeframe if it's appropriate and makes sense to give us some more flexibility and possibly more ability to address issues that the state has. Have so many capital needs. We're seeing that in transportation also. And so, I'm kind of using what I learned in transportation here and what I'm doing here in transportation just again so that we can work better. And corrections, I'm glad that's on everybody's list. Our facilities are not doing what they should be doing. They're being prisons more than corrections. So, we have started to hear from the corrections department. The next folks that we'll have are the PRIN and it's Prison Research Innovation Network and we heard from them over the summer and that's a group that is just now in full force and they go into the prisons in a very structured academic way and look at conditions. And they hear from the members or the incarcerated people and the staff on how things are going and they ask the same questions at each time so that they can look at how things are changing. And I'll share with you all, there was a really good report that we received in the Joint Judiciary Committee. I mean, were a few reports. Yeah. But they're really easy to understand at a glance because there are a lot of questions and then there's a little marker to whether things are getting better or worse of that component which I found very helpful. And they're willing to have, more than willing, they would love to have legislators be part of one of their printing groups. And so I'm looking at one of the first two Tuesdays in February, I think, February 9 was better for you, Senator? And that would be if if we do it, it would be at the Springfield, right? Yeah. Springfield facility. So if others are interested, it's it's not set yet.

[John Benson (Member)]: Okay. If we can do it and just as far as timing goes, if we could do it in the afternoon, if that's possible.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: I'll check.

[John Benson (Member)]: Yeah. See if I like

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Yeah.

[John Benson (Member)]: That that would be that would be great. I just

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Okay.

[John Benson (Member)]: Like three.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Like 03:00? Yeah. Okay. Alright. I'll do my best. I appreciate it. Yeah. And I don't know if they have teams in other prisons. They might have one in Newport. And so if they do, I think that would be a great opportunity for you folks and I'm willing to go up there too. So I think that'll be really helpful for us to to see their perspective. And we will have, or I'm talking to Senator Hashim about a joint judiciary meeting because I think that would be very helpful for us to have because if you were talking about young folks and incarceration for drugs and so those are the kind of things that the judiciary deals with. So I think it would be a helpful meeting, helpful joint hearing. And then we have appointments. Each Senate committee has appointments for folks who are being appointed from the governor or by the governor. And so ours are mostly the capital complex commission. And so I have a couple of those. There's one of them who I want to speak with but what we do is if others of you wanna be part of that process, you volunteer to take a person and call them and interview them. And I do wanna have the capital commission in here and have David Sheets come in and see if we need to make any adjustments or updates because we haven't looked at that in a long time at their jurisdiction. So are you familiar with the capitals? It's a commission that has jurisdiction over, it's basically, well, a certain area and there are guidelines for development in that area. And the goal of it is to keep the area around this amazing building consistent and compatible with the state house. Let me see if I can.

[John Benson (Member)]: Think

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: that's all I have. I think we'll have a good, a good balance of things. It will be a good session. And tomorrow we don't need to have a meeting unless anybody's dying of a meeting.

[John Benson (Member)]: That would be enough.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: And actually my schedule is once a month there's a meeting of the regional storm water utility commission and I'm attending those. It says the, whatever tomorrow, the second Thursday of the month.

[Robert Plunkett (Vice Chair)]: Okay, but then we would reconvene on Friday. Is that the plan?

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Yes. Yes. That's that's when Scott and Mark will be. Okay. Of course. And I think we're about finished.

[John Benson (Member)]: Alright.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Okay? Alright. So anything else? You're good?

[John Benson (Member)]: Appreciate it.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Yeah. Thank you. And if you come up with things and, like, as as soon as you have folks who wanna, talk to us about winter Yeah. Let me know. Yep.

[John Benson (Member)]: You know what? I will begin to to reach out. I've I've got had preliminary meetings with Massimo and Bennington, with Mount Scoppy Hospital who are interested in the process as well as, you know, so many stakeholders that we can begin, you know, and I think it's

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: And the town at one place.

[John Benson (Member)]: Yeah. But town's going obviously, town's going through Yeah. The town manager changeover. So I, you know, I've gotta check to see if that actually came to fruition yet. But, yeah, let's let's let's see if that we can do that.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Yep. We have time.

[John Benson (Member)]: Yeah. Yeah.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Yeah. Too. Good.

[John Benson (Member)]: Good. Point well taken.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: And then do you know of anything, Ken, that I missed?

[Russ Ingalls (Member)]: No. I don't think so.

[Wendy Harrison (Chair)]: Okay. Okay. Anything else? Alright. Okay. Well