Vermont H 907: An act relating to legislative review of reporting requirements

Bill Text

No. 157 Page 1 of 37
2026

VT LEG #390249 v.1
No. 157. An act relating to legislative review of reporting requirements.
(H.907)
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
* * * Repeal of Reporting Requirements * * *
Sec. 1. 3 V.S.A. § 2313 is amended to read:
§ 2313. PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS AND GRANTS
(a) The Chief Performance Officer shall assist agencies as necessary in
developing performance measures for contracts and grants.
(b) Annually, on or before July 30 and as part of any other report
requirement to the General Assembly set forth in this subchapter, the Chief
Performance Officer shall report to the General Assembly on the progress by
rate or percent of how many State contracts and grants have performance
accountability requirements and the rate or percent of contractors’ and
grantees’ compliance with those requirements. [Repealed.]
Sec. 2. 3 V.S.A. § 331 is amended to read:
§ 331. TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES
* * *
(c)(1) The Commissioner may authorize the continued employment of a
person in a temporary capacity for more than 1,280 hours in any one calendar
year if the Commissioner determines, in writing, that a bona fide emergency
exists for the appointing authority that requires such continued employment.
* * *

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(3) The Commissioner may authorize seasonal employment in a specific
position for a period of between seven and 12 months if the Commissioner
determines, in writing, that the nature and duties of the position require the
employment of a person for a period of more than seven months in a 12-month
period. The Commissioner shall not authorize seasonal employment for a
period of more than seven months in a 12-month period if the authorization is
intended to circumvent, or has the effect of circumventing, the policies and
purposes of the classified service under this chapter. Annually, on or before
January 15, the Commissioner shall submit a report to the House Committee
on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on
Government Operations:
(A) the total number of positions in seasonal employment that have
been authorized for a period of between seven and 12 months during the prior
calendar year;
(B) the agency or department that each position identified in
subdivision (A) of this subdivision (3) is assigned to; and
(C) the period of time that each identified position is authorized for.
* * *
Sec. 3. 6 V.S.A. § 2972 is amended to read:
§ 2972. POWERS AND DUTIES
* * *

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(b) Included among the powers of the Council in connection with the
enforcement of this chapter are the powers to require reports from any person
subject to this chapter; to adopt, rescind, modify, and amend all proper and
necessary rules and orders to administer this chapter, which rules and orders
shall be adopted by publication in the manner prescribed by the Council and
shall have the force and effect of law when not inconsistent with existing laws;
to administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, take depositions, and certify to
official acts; to require any dealer to keep such true and accurate records and to
make such reports covering purchases, sales, and receipts of dairy products and
related matters as the Council deems reasonably necessary for effective
administration, which records shall be open to inspection by the Secretary of
Agriculture, Food and Markets at any reasonable time and as often as may be
necessary, but information thus obtained shall not be published or be open to
public inspection in any manner revealing any individual dealer’s identity,
except as required in proceedings to enforce compliance; and to keep accurate
books, records, and accounts of all of its dealings; and to make annually a full
report of its doings to the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency,
and Forestry and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and the Governor,
which shall show the amount of money received and the expenditures thereof.
The report shall be submitted on or before January 15. The Vermont Agency
of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall perform the administrative work of the
Council as directed by the Council. The Council shall reimburse the Agency

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of Agriculture, Food and Markets for the cost of services performed by the
Agency.
* * *
Sec. 4. 6 V.S.A. § 4810 is amended to read:
§ 4810. AUTHORITY; COOPERATION; COORDINATION
* * *
(d) Cooperation and coordination. The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and
Markets shall coordinate with the Secretary of Natural Resources in
implementing and enforcing programs, plans, and practices developed for
reducing and eliminating agricultural nonpoint source pollutants and
discharges from farms. The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall
cooperate with the Secretary of Natural Resources in the implementation of the
federal Clean Water Act for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
(CAFOs). The Secreta