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1 H.800
2 Introduced by Representatives Cina of Burlington, Berbeco of Winooski,
3 Brumsted of Shelburne, Cole of Hartford, Harrison of
4 Chittenden, Krasnow of South Burlington, Logan of Burlington,
5 McGill of Bridport, Page of Newport City, and Rachelson of
6 Burlington
7 Referred to Committee on
8 Date:
9 Subject: Economic development; tourism; Olympics
10 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create the
11 Vermont Olympics Task Force, which will produce and present a proposal of
12 Vermont hosting the Olympic Games.
13 An act relating to creating the Vermont Olympics Task Force
14 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
15 Sec. 1. FINDINGS
16 The General Assembly finds the following:
17 (1) That the Olympic host selection process has been reformed in recent
18 years to reduce the cost of hosting and to make the Olympic Games
19 organization more sustainable. Olympic hosts must maximize the use of
20 existing and temporary venues and build new ones only if there is a long-term VT LEG #373159 v.1
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1 legacy need. Events can be located in more than one city, region, or country.
2 Olympic projects, or bids, are assessed according to several elements,
3 including how well they fit with existing regional and national development
4 plans, in addition to the long-term strategic goals of the Olympics. Any project
5 shall have strong public and political support and be aligned with local long-
6 term socioeconomic development plans. The International Olympic
7 Committee encourages each potential host to focus on developing a climate-
8 responsible project that will create lasting community benefits.
9 (2) That climate change has begun to impact Vermont with less snow,
10 more rain, and landslides forcing a reconsideration of the way the State’s land
11 is used. Climate disasters especially affect the public health and economic
12 benefits of the State’s recreation industry. Tourism in Vermont is a three-
13 billion-dollar industry that supports over 30,000 jobs in Vermont, or 10 percent
14 of Vermont’s workforce. The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing
15 (VDTM) appreciates the importance of cultivating the international tourism
16 market. There are a variety of ways that VDTM targets international
17 audiences, including having representation on the ground in key markets,
18 hosting international media in Vermont, and meeting with domestic receptive
19 tour operators.
20 (3) In the face of climate change, the General Assembly must make
21 decisions about how to invest in sustainable and resilient infrastructure in our VT LEG #373159 v.1
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1 regional planning, land use, and economic development. As the State adapts to
2 meet the great challenges of life on Earth in the 21st century, we can promote a
3 more sustainable, equitable, and resilient way of life here and also across the
4 planet through the process of hosting the Olympic Games.
5 Sec. 2. VERMONT OLYMPICS TASK FORCE
6 (a) Creation. There is created the Vermont Olympics Task Force to prepare
7 and present a proposal to the International Olympic Committee and the U.S.
8 Olympic and Paralympic Committee about the feasibility of Vermont hosting
9 the Games of the Olympiad, the Olympic Winter Games, or the Summer or
10 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
11 (b) Membership. The Task Force shall be composed of the following
12 members:
13 (1) the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development or
14 designee;
15 (2) one current member of the House of Representatives, who shall be
16 appointed by the Speaker of the House;
17 (3) one current member of the Senate, who shall be appointed by the
18 Committee on Committees;
19 (4) the current member representing Vermont in the U.S. House of
20 Representatives or designee;
21 (5) the State Treasurer or designee;
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1 (6) one person representing a Vermont Regional Planning Commission,
2 who shall be appointed by the Chair of the Vermont Association of Planning
3 and Development Agencies;
4 (7) one person who owns and operates a small business with experience
5 in the tourism industry in the State, who shall be appointed by the Board of the
6 Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility; and
7 (8) one person who has competed in the Olympic Games as an athlete,
8 who shall be appointed by the Governor.
9 (c) Powers and duties. The Task Force shall perform the following duties:
10 (1) review the current process, criteria, and requirements for hosting the
11 Olympic Games;
12 (2) prepare a proposal for hosting the Olympic Games in the State that
13 aligns with the goals of the Olympic Movement as set forth in the Olympic
14 Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and includes regional development
15 plans of the State;
16 (3) present the proposal to the International Olympic Committee and the
17 U.S. National Olympic Committee; and
18 (4) engage in ongoing dialogue about the feasibility of the proposal with
19 the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic
20 Committee.
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1 (d) Proposal. The Task Force shall prepare a proposal for hosting the
2 Olympic Games in the State that:
3 (1) aligns with the goals of the Olympic Movement as set forth in the
4 Olympic Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020+5;
5 (2) integrates to the extent possible regional and national development
6 plans;
7 (3) assesses regional strengths and identifies potential sites for
8 redevelopment to use for the co-location of athletic facilities, housing, and
9 other infrastructure that promotes the common good;
10 (4) supports State housing plans and meets projected needs for
11 permanent housing;
12 (5) promotes a vibrant and sustainable tourism industry as part of a
13 regenerative economy built on regional and local assets;
14 (6) fosters affordability and economic opportunity;
15 (7) improves transportation infrastructure between the State and
16 surrounding regions;
17 (8) invests in food security measures, ecological resilience,
18 environmental protection, and waste reduction;
19 (9) promotes equity, inclusion, belonging, and social opportunity;
20 (10) promotes civic engagement;
21 (11) improves social determinants of health; and VT LEG #373159 v.1
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1 (12) presents a long-term State vision that can be used as global model
2 for a sustainable, resilient, and equitable way of life on the planet.
3 (e) Reporting. The Task Force shall provide updates on its proposal work
4 to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2024 and on or before
5 March 31, 2025, with a final written report due on or before December 31,
6 2025.
7 (f) Compensation.
8 (1) For attendance at meetings during adjournment of the General
9 Assembly, a legislative member of the Task Force shall be entitled to per diem
10 compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A. § 23 for
11 not more than 20 meetings. These payments shall be made from monies
12 appropriated to the General Assembly.
13 (2) Other members of the Task Force shall be entitled to per diem
14 compensation and reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A.
15 § 1010 for not more than 20 meetings. These payments shall be made from
16 monies appropriated to the Task Force.
17 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
18 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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