Vermont S 184: An act relating to community justice centers

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED S.184
2026 Page 1 of 2

VT LEG #386018 v.1
S.184 1
Introduced by Senator Lyons 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Community justice centers 5
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish the 6
Community Justice Center Working Group for the purpose of identifying 7
available support services for pretrial diversion and transitional needs and the 8
mechanisms to make such information available to courts and other 9
stakeholders and to identify gaps in services in each community justice center 10
area, including behavioral health services. 11
An act relating to community justice centers 12
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 13
Sec. 1. COMMUNITY JUSTICE CENTER WORKING GROUP 14
(a) The Community Justice Center Working Group is created for the 15
purpose of identifying available support services for pretrial diversion and 16
transitional needs and the mechanisms to make such information available to 17
courts and other stakeholders and to identify gaps in services in each 18
community justice center area, including behavioral health services. 19

BILL AS INTRODUCED S.184
2026 Page 2 of 2

VT LEG #386018 v.1
(b) The Working Group shall be composed of the following members: 1
(1) one member from the Community Restorative Justice Center serving 2
Caledonia County and southern Essex County and two members from other 3
community justice centers, appointed by the Vermont Community Justice 4
Network; 5
(2) the Chief Superior Court Judge or designee; 6
(3) the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health or designee; 7
(4) the Commissioner of Health or designee; 8
(5) the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections or designee; and 9
(6) a member, appointed by the Attorney General. 10
(c) The Working Group shall present its findings and any recommendations 11
to the General Assembly not later than December 1, 2026. 12
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 13
This act shall take effect on passage. 14