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H.159
An act relating to community and economic development and workforce revitalization It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
* * * Tourism and Marketing * * *
Sec. 1. TOURISM AND MARKETING; APPROPRIATION
(a) The tourism and hospitality sector has suffered widespread disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, with restaurant, lodging, entertainment,
specialty retail and related businesses, as well as cultural attractions, suffering job losses and an uncertain ability to remain operational due to the travel restrictions imposed and the revenue losses that have been experienced.
(b) When travel is safe again, Vermont will have a strategic opportunity coming out of the pandemic to encourage visitation due our abundance of open space, strong cultural and outdoor recreation assets, and careful management of the virus.
(c) In fiscal year 2022, the amount of $2,500,000.00 is appropriated from the funds available to the State under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the Department of Tourism and Marketing to promote Vermont’s travel,
recreation, culinary, arts, culture, agritourism, and heritage experiences to
attract visitors, and stimulate visitor spending with local attractions and small businesses in rural communities and throughout the State.
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* * * Technology-Based Economic Development * * *
Sec. 2. TECHNOLOGY-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION
(a) In fiscal year 2022, the amount of $1,000,000.00 is appropriated from the amounts available to the State through the American Rescue Plan Act of
2021 to the University of Vermont to design and implement a technology-
based economic development program, consistent with the following:
(1) Small business innovation research; small business technical transfer; technical assistance. A total of $200,000.00 to provide technical assistance to first-time applicants pursuing a federal SBIR or STTR grant.
(2) SBIR; STTR; Phase I and Phase II matching grants. A total of
$400,000.00 to provide a 50 percent State matching grant, up to $50,000.00, to businesses that receive a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I or Phase II grant.
(3) Industry research partnership program. A total of $200,000.00 to provide a 100 percent matching grant to Vermont small businesses:
(A) to purchase services and technical assistance from universities and research institutions, including research and development assistance,
technology assessments, product prototyping, lab validation, and overcoming development hurdles; and VT LEG #354963 v.1
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(B) to establish better relationships among Vermont businesses and higher education researchers, speed time-to-market for new technologies, and help keep Vermont companies relevant in the marketplace.
(4) University of Vermont Office of Engagement. A total of
$200,000.00 to the Office of Engagement to administer the funds pursuant to
this subsection.
(b) In fiscal year 2022, the amount of $2,000,000 is appropriated from the amounts available to the State under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the University of Vermont Office of Engagement for a two-year period to
leverage the research services and data science capabilities of the University.
(c) On or before January 15, 2022, the University of Vermont shall report to the General Assembly concerning the implementation of this section,
including the provision of grants and technical assistance; the number of
businesses assisted; how many SBIR/STTR phase I & II matching grants awarded; how many businesses received the maximum grant; how many matching grants and the amounts awarded through the industry research partnership program; and the nature and scope of assistance provided through the Office of Engagement.
(d) The University of Vermont shall use the funds appropriated in this section to promote technology-based businesses and to provide assistance to
Vermont businesses that have suffered economic harm due to the COVID-19
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public health emergency consistent with the American Rescue Plan Act of
2021.
* * * Postsecondary CTE System * * *
Sec. 3. 2019 Acts and Resolves No. 80, Sec. 6 is amended to read:
Sec. 6. POSTSECONDARY CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
SYSTEM
(a) Findings; purpose.
(1) Findings. The General Assembly finds:
(A) Like many rural states, Vermont faces demographic realities that have resulted in an historically low unemployment rate and created obstacles for employers that seek to hire and retain enough fully trained employees.
(B) Notwithstanding this high employer demand, due to rapidly changing technology and evolving business needs, potential employees may lack the particular skills and training necessary to qualify for available jobs.
(C) In order to assist employers and employees in matching demand to requisite skills, Vermont has a broad diversity of postsecondary workforce education and training programs offered by multiple providers, including programs administered or funded by State government, educational institutions, and business-lead groups such as the Vermont Talent Pipeline Management Project. The State should continue to work closely with these providers to identify and meet the needs of employers and employees.
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***
(b) Postsecondary CTE System.
(1) The Department of Labor, in collaboration with the Agency of
Education, the Vermont State Colleges, and the Vermont Adult Technical Education Association, and any shall:
(A) consultant the Department hires for that purpose, issue a request for proposals and hire a consultant on or before September 1, 2021; and
(B) shall consider and report to the General Assembly on the design,
implementation, and costs of an integrated postsecondary career and technical education system that achieves the results specified in subdivision (a)(2) of this section.
(2) In performing their work, the Department, stakeholders, and any the consultant shall conduct a broad-based stakeholder engagement process to
solicit input from interested parties, and State agencies and departments shall provide necessary information and assistance within their relative areas of
expertise.
(c) Report. On or before January 15, 2020 2022, the Department of Labor shall submit a preliminary report on the status of its work and a final report on
or before December 15, 2022 with any recommendations for legislative action to the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development and the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs.
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(d) In performing its work to create an integrated postsecondary career and technical education system, the Department shall recognize issues faced by
persons with historical barriers to employment or who are underrepresented in
the workforce, including persons who have faced discrimination based on race,
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, refugee status, and national origin;
persons in recovery; persons with a history of incarceration; and persons with disabilities.
Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION
The Department of Labor shall allocate not more than $75,000.00 from the amounts available in the Workforce Expansion Fund to implement Sec. 3 of this act.
* * * Group Insurance; Northern Borders Regional Commission * * *
Sec. 5. 3 V.S.A. § 631 is amended to read:
§ 631. GROUP INSURANCE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES; SALARY
DEDUCTIONS FOR INSURANCE, SAVINGS PLANS, AND
CREDIT UNIONS
(a)(1) The Secretary of Administration may contract on behalf of the State with any insurance company or nonprofit association doing business in this State to secure the benefits of franchise or group insurance. Beginning July 1,
1978, the terms of coverage under the policy shall be determined under section
904 of this title, but it may include:
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(A) life, disability, health, and accident insurance and benefits for any class or classes of State employees; and
(B) hospital, surgical, and medical benefits for any class or classes of
State employees or for those employees and any class or classes of their dependents.
(2)(A)(i) As used in this section, the term “employees” includes any class or classes of elected or appointed officials, State’s Attorneys, sheriffs,
employees of State’s Attorneys’ offices whose compensation is administered through the State of Vermont payroll system, except contractual and temporary employees, and deputy sheriffs paid by the State of Vermont pursuant to
24 V.S.A. § 290(b). The term “employees” shall not include members of the General Assembly as such, any person rendering service on a retainer or fee basis, members of boards or commissions, or persons other than employees of
the Vermont Historical Society, the Vermont Film Corporation, the Vermont State Employees’ Credit Union, Vermont State Employees’ Association, and the Vermont Council on the Arts, and the Northern Border Regional Commission, whose compensation for service is not paid from the State Treasury, or any elected or appointed official unless the official is actively engaged in and devoting substantially full-time to the conduct of the business of his or her public office.
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(ii) For purposes of group hospital-surgical-medical expense insurance, the term “employees” shall include employees as defined in
subdivision (i) of this subdivision (2)(A) and former employees as defined in
this subdivision who are retired and are receiving a retirement allowance from the Vermont State Retirement System or the State Teachers’ Retirement System of Vermont and, for the purposes of group life insurance only, are retired on or after July 1, 1961, and have completed 20 creditable years of
service with the State before their retirement dates and are insured for group life insurance on their retirement dates.
(iii) For purposes of group hospital-surgical-medical expense insurance only, the term “employees” shall include employees as defined in
subdivision (i) of this subdivision (2)(A) and employees who are receiving a retirement allowance based upon their employment with the Vermont State Employees’ Association, the Vermont State Employees’ Credit Union, the Vermont Council on the Arts, as long as they are covered as active employees on their retirement date, and:
(I) they have at least 20 years of service with that employer; or
(II) have attained 62 years of age, and have at least 15 years of
service with that employer.
(B) The premiums for extending insurance coverage to employees shall be paid in full by the Vermont Historical Society, the Vermont Film VT LEG #354963 v.1
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Corporation, the Vermont State Employees’ Association, the Vermont State Employees’ Credit Union, the Vermont Council on the Arts, and the Northern Border Regional Commission, or their respective retirees. Nothing herein creates a legal obligation on the part of the State of Vermont to pay any portion of the premiums required to extend insurance coverage to this group of
employees.
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* * * Better Places Program * * *
Sec. 6. FINDINGS; INTENT AND PURPOSE
(a) The General Assembly finds:
(1) The COVID-19 pandemic has devasted our economy through business closures and job losses, and physical distancing requirements have exacerbated social isolation and impacted Vermonters’ quality of life and sense of community.
(2) Public spaces are essential for supporting economic activity and health and well-being throughout the pandemic and for building engaged,
equitable, and resilient communities in the future.
(3) Vermont’s downtowns and villages increasingly depend on inviting public spaces that are robustly programmed to restore our distinct sense of
place; strengthen community pride and identity; and attract businesses, jobs,
and talent.
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(4) Placemaking projects intentionally leverage the power of the arts and cultural assets to strengthen the economic and social fabric of communities and allow for growth and transformation that builds upon local and regional character, culture, and quality of place.
(5) Research shows that community-driven placemaking projects increase economic and civic vitality and create spaces where commerce thrives, social connections flourish, civic participation increases, and residents are empowered to take ownership of their future to build healthier and equitable local economies.
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to:
(1) enhance the livability and unique sense of place in Vermont’s downtowns and villages by providing funding, training, and resources to
support investments in public spaces and local placemaking projects that build prosperous, equitable, healthy, and resilient communities;
(2) promote healthy, safe, equitable, and vibrant downtowns, villages,
and neighborhoods for people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and incomes by increasing public space and placemaking investments in local communities;
(3) strategically coordinate and simplify the funding process from multiple community development funders, streamline the grantmaking and distribution process, democratize community access to grant funds, and provide communities a nimble, flexible source to quickly fund and launch VT LEG #354963 v.1
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community-driven placemaking projects to make positive and enduring change locally; and
(4) help local leaders identify, develop, and implement placemaking projects by creating the Better Places Program to advance local recovery efforts, rebuild local economies, boost local capacity, and reconnect Vermonters to one another—critical elements that help communities recover quickly and build prosperous and resilient communities in the future.
Sec. 7. 24 V.S.A. § 2799 is added to read:
§ 2799. BETTER PLACES PROGRAM; CROWD GRANTING
(a)(1) There is created the Better Places Program within the Department of
Housing and Community Development, and the Better Places Fund, which the Department shall manage pursuant to 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5.
(2) The purpose of the Program is to utilize crowdfunding to spark community revitalization through collaborative grantmaking for projects that create, activate, or revitalize public spaces.
(3) The Department may administer the Program in coordination with and support from other State agencies and nonprofit and philanthropic partners.
(b) The Fund is composed of the following:
(1) State or federal funds appropriated by the General Assembly;
(2) gifts, grants, or other contributions to the Fund; and
(3) any interest earned by the Fund.
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(c) As used in this section, “public space” means an area or place that is
open and accessible to all people with no charge for admission and includes village greens, squares, parks, community centers, town halls, libraries, and other publicly accessible buildings and connecting spaces such as sidewalks,
streets, alleys, and trails.
(d)(1) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall establish an application process, eligibility criteria, and criteria for prioritizing assistance for awarding grants through the Program.
(2) The Department may award a grant to a municipality, a nonprofit organization, or a community group with a fiscal sponsor for a project that is
located in or serves a designated downtown, village center, new town center, or neighborhood development area that will create a new public space or
revitalize or activate an existing public space.
(3) The Department may award a grant to not more than one project per calendar year within a municipality.
(4) The minimum amount of a grant award is $5,000.00 and the maximum amount of a grant award is $50,000.00.
(5) The Department shall develop matching grant eligibility requirements to ensure a broad base of community and financial support for the project, subject to the following:
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