Vermont H 674: An act relating to the creation of the Vermont Sister State Program

Bill Text

BILLAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE H.674
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H.674
Introduced by Representatives Graning of Jericho, Bosch of Clarendon, Carris
Duncan of Whitingham, Cooper of Pownal, Duke of
Burlington, Marcotte of Coventry, Micklus of Milton, Olson of
Starksboro, Priestley of Bradford, and White of Bethel
Referred to Committee on
Date:
Subject: Executive; Agency of Commerce and Community Development;
Sister State Program
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create the
Vermont Sister State Program to be overseen by a Sister State Program
Committee. The Committee, with the assistance of the Agency of Commerce
and Community Development, will review applications and recommend to the
Governor whether an official sister state relationship should be formalized.
This bill also repeals the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission.
An act relating to the creation of the Vermont Sister State Program
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BILLAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE H.674
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It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. 3 V.S.A. § 2479 is added to read:
§ 2479. VERMONT SISTER STATE PROGRAM
(a) Creation and purpose.
(1) The Vermont Sister State Program is created within the Agency of
Commerce and Community Development. The Agency shall provide support
to the Program and to the Sister State Program Committee as required.
(2) The purpose of the Program is to strengthen Vermont’s international
engagement and to foster mutually beneficial relationships with subnational
governments abroad, with a goal of promoting cultural exchange, economic
development, educational cooperation, and diplomatic collaboration.
(b) Program oversight.
(1) The Sister State Program Committee, composed of the following
members, shall oversee the Program:
(A) the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development or
designee;
(B) a member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the
Speaker of the House;
(C) a member of the Senate, appointed by the Committee on
Committees;
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BILLAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE H.674
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(D) the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Vermont Council on
World Affairs or designee;
(E) the Vermont Adjutant General or designee;
(F) the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Vermont Arts Council
or designee; and
(G) three members, as follows:
(i) one member with expertise in cultural exchange or in Peace
Corps operations, appointed by the Governor;
(ii) one member representing a private institution of higher
education, appointed by the Committee on Committees; and
(iii) one member representing a public institution of higher
education, appointed by the Speaker.
(2) Members of the Committee shall serve two-year terms, provided that
members appointed pursuant to subdivision (1)(G) of this subsection shall
serve initial terms of three years each to establish staggered terms. Members
may be reappointed.
(3) The Committee shall elect a chair and vice chair from among its
members that shall each serve a two-year term.
(4) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
(c) Meetings.
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(1) All meetings shall be called by the Chair, but in the event that the
Committee does not have a chair, a meeting may be called by the Secretary of
Commerce and Community Development or designee.
(2) The Committee shall meet:
(A) at least once quarterly, for the purpose of:
(i) evaluating current Program agreements;
(ii) proposing new Program agreements;
(iii) preparing its annual report; or
(iv) discussing any other matter that the Committee deems
relevant to its work; and
(B) to review and score an eligible Program application not later than
30 days after the Committee receives the application from the Agency,
pursuant to subdivision (d)(3) of this section.
(d) Program application, review, and approval procedures.
(1) Development of application process. The Agency, in consultation
with the Committee, shall develop a process by which an entity can apply and
be considered for admission as a partner to the Program. This process shall
include the development of:
(A) an official application to be in the Program;
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(B) a confidential internal review procedure to be used by the
Agency to review Program applicants for sensitive political, legal, ethical, and
strategic factors;
(C) minimum eligibility requirements to be considered for the
Program;
(D) a fixed-scoring system, including a rubric, to be uniformly
applied by the Committee to evaluate all eligible applications; and
(E) a memorandum of understanding template to be used and signed
by the State and an approved Program partner.
(2) Agency initial verification.
(A) When a Program application has been received by the Agency
pur