Vermont H 860: An act relating to next steps for implementation of Green Mountain Care

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.860
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VT LEG #386375 v.3
H.860 1
Introduced by Representative Cina of Burlington 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Economic development; public property and supplies; Department of 5
Buildings and General Services; public institutions and corrections; 6
human services; recovery residences; recovery communities 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create a 8
working group to develop a proposal for a justice and recovery hub on State 9
land adjacent to the Costello Courthouse and the Department of Labor in 10
downtown Burlington and to identify additional sites along public transit 11
corridors for justice and recovery spokes offering similar services. 12
An act relating to establishing the Justice and Recovery Hub and Spoke 13
System Working Group 14
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 15
Sec. 1. JUSTICE AND RECOVERY HUB AND SPOKE SYSTEM; 16
WORKING GROUP; REPORT 17
(a) Creation. There is created the Justice and Recovery Hub and Spoke 18
System Working Group to develop a proposal for a justice and recovery hub on 19
State land adjacent to the Costello Courthouse and the Department of Labor in 20

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VT LEG #386375 v.3
downtown Burlington and to identify additional sites along public transit 1
corridors for justice and recovery spokes offering similar services. 2
(b) Membership. The Working Group shall be composed of the following 3
members: 4
(1) the Executive Director of the Chittenden County Regional Planning 5
Commission or designee; 6
(2) the Executive Director of the Central Vermont Regional Planning 7
Commission or designee; 8
(3) the Executive Director of the Northwest Regional Planning 9
Commission or designee; 10
(4) the Executive Director of the Addison County Regional Planning 11
Commission or designee; 12
(5) the Secretary of Human Services or designee; 13
(6) the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services or designee; 14
(7) the Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court or designee; 15
(8) a codirector of the Land Access and Opportunity Board or designee; 16
and 17
(9) the General Manager of Green Mountain Transit or designee. 18
(c) Powers and duties. The Working Group shall assemble subcommittees 19
to address the following directives and may prioritize development of the 20
Justice and Recovery Hub. 21

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(1) Justice and recovery hub. The Working Group shall engage with the 1
City of Burlington and stakeholders local to Burlington, including housing 2
providers, private landowners, businesses, workers, neighbors, and 3
community-based service providers, to develop a proposal for a justice and 4
recovery hub to be constructed on State land adjacent to the Costello 5
Courthouse and the Department of Labor in Burlington as part of a coordinated 6
public-private partnership for the redevelopment of Burlington’s downtown 7
core. The proposal shall include as components of the justice and recovery 8
hub: 9
(A) a 200-bed residential facility for justice-involved individuals who 10
are detained or in reentry from incarceration; 11
(B) recovery housing and supportive housing for youth in transition, 12
prioritizing youth with history of involvement with the Department for 13
Children and Families; and 14
(C) nonresidential components, giving specific consideration to a 15
new firehouse or other public safety infrastructure, storefronts for small 16
businesses and service providers, and a public observation tower. 17
(2) Justice and recovery spokes. The Working Group shall engage with 18
municipalities and stakeholders across Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and 19
Washington Counties, including housing providers, private landowners, 20
businesses, workers, neighbors, and community-based service providers, to 21

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identify potential sites along existing public transit corridors for the 1
coordinated redevelopment of State, municipal, and private land into recovery 2
spokes that may include recovery housing, secure recovery residences, 3
residential treatment facilities, and recovery shelters. 4
(3) Public engagement. The Working Group shall consider methods for 5
facilitating equitable public engagement leading up to any construction 6
resulting from the Working Group’s proposal, including using the parking lots 7
of the Costello Courthouse and the Department of Labor in downtown 8
Burlington as temporary shelter, supportive housing, or a community resource 9
hub during any public engagement process and identifying State land along 10
transit lines for similar use. 11
(d) Assistance. The Working Group shall have the administrative, 12
technical, and legal assistance of the Vermont Housing and Conservation 13
Board. 14
(e) Report. On or before January 15, 2027, the Working Group shall 15
submit a written report to the General Asse