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1 S.194
2 Introduced by Senators Gulick, Hashim and Weeks
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Executive; Office of New Americans; report
6 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the
7 Agency of Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Office of Racial
8 Equity to submit recommendations on the utility and structure of a to-be-
9 created independent Office of New Americans.
10 An act relating to public safety reporting
11 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
12 Sec. 1. REPORT
13 On or before September 1, 2025, the Agency of Human Services and its
14 State Refugee Office, in consultation with the Department of Labor and the
15 Office of Racial Equity, shall submit a written report to the House Committee
16 on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on
17 Government Operations containing recommendations for creating an
18 independent Office of New Americans, including:
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1 (1) a summary of the current demographic, economic, and public health
2 data regarding New Americans in the State and information regarding the
3 government services being utilized and underutilized by New Americans;
4 (2) a summary or survey of varying and successful approaches to
5 providing government services to New Americans in other states, with
6 particular focus on the topics of the role of education and training institutions,
7 professional licensing, housing, and support for employers and municipalities;
8 (3) in consultation with community-based organizations composed of or
9 serving New Americans, State agencies and departments that provided services
10 to New Americans, municipal government leaders, educational institutions,
11 and business leaders, information on:
12 (A) the existing State and local-level barriers for New Americans for
13 gainfully participating in the State’s workforce, economy, and communities;
14 (B) additional governmental services needed by New Americans but
15 not yet offered by the State; and
16 (C) the transfer or consolidation of existing governmental services
17 for New Americans that would be more efficiently provide by a new Office of
18 New Americans;
19 (4) the structure of a to-be-created independent Office of New
20 Americans; and VT LEG #372852 v.1
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1 (5) the proposed structure, duties, funding, and labor needs of an Office
2 of New Americans.
3 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
4 This act shall take effect on passage.
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