Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT063.HTM
Timestamp: 2017-12-13 22:34:03
Document Index: 101905594

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 5212', '§ 4', '§ 8', '§ 3448', '§ 954', '§ 5', '§ 104', '§ 907', '§ 103', '§ 103', '§ 104', '§ 104', '§ 105', '§ 105', '§ 317', '§ 317', '§ 152', '§ 808', '§ 5212', '§ 5212', '§ 5212', '§ 406', '§ 317', '§ 1574', '§ 2680', '§ 3823', '§ 3824', '§ 3824', '§ 3448', '§ 1552', '§ 2171', '§ 2171', '§ 2179', '§ 161', '§ 2603', '§ 4753', '§ 2291', '§ 3625', '§ 1263', '§ 126', '§ 1266', '§ 1625', '§ 1266', '§ 4154', '§ 4154', '§ 1624', '§ 4771', '§ 1571', '§ 6603', '§ 4049', '§ 4049', '§ 7054', '§ 511', '§ 160', '§ 160', '§ 211', '§ 3856', '§ 881', '§ 908', '§ 4355', '§ 4355']

NO. 63. AN ACT RELATING TO CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION, STATE BONDING, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
(H.457)
Sec. 1a. SHORT TITLE; CONTENTS
(a) This act may be referred to as the 2003 Capital Construction Bill or the 2003 Capital Construction Act.
(b) Contents of Act:
1b(1) Barre, court house and office building, renovations 400,000
1b(2) Burlington, Cherry St. Garages, repairs 375,000
1b(3) Burlington, co-location Health & Public Safety Lab, site
selection and design; (see Sec. 31 for language) 500,000
1b(4) Montpelier, 133 State St, addition for AOT, design 200,000
1b(5) Montpelier, district heating system (see Sec. 32 for language) 60,000
1b(6) Montpelier, Winooski River Greenway Project; design & implementation 25,000
1b(7) Waterbury, Dale facility, new chiller and heat recovery unit 300,000
1b(8) Statewide, major maintenance 4,450,000
1b(9) Statewide, ADA, accessibility to public buildings 450,000
1b(10) Statewide, contingency 500,000
1b(11) Statewide, building reuse 100,000
1b(12) Statewide, planning 20,000
1b(13) Statewide, rest areas, repairs 75,000
1b(14) Statewide, security enhancements 250,000
1b(15) Statewide, State House, room renovations 60,000
2 St. Albans, NW Correctional Facility, sprinkler system 375,000
3 Rutland, court house, phase II; judicial records project 4,000,000
4(a)(1) Statewide, major maintenance at all historic sites 100,000
4(a)(2) Bennington, battle monument, stairway and cast iron repairs 125,000
4(a)(3) Strafford, Morrill Homestead, match for enhancement grant 40,000
4(a)(4) Calais, Kent Tavern, phase one, restoration 150,000
4(b)(1) Historic preservation grants 150,000
4(b)(2) Historic barns and agricultural buildings grants 150,000
4(b)(3) Cultural facilities grants 50,000
4(c) Statewide, underwater preserves 25,000
4(d) Bennington, battle monument, lighting 40,000
4(e) Commerce and Community Development Projects 189,574
4(f)(1) Broadband, report to the General Assembly 0
4(f)(2) Broadband, rural communities 15,000
4(f)(3) Broadband, Capitol Complex Pilot 0
4(g) Statewide, historic site markers 15,000
4(h) Statewide, Unmarked Burials Fund 15,000
4(i) Statewide, Recreational Facilities Grants (see Sec. 39 for language)
5(a) School Construction 8,600,000
5(b)(1) North Country Career and Technical Center 250,000
5(b)(2)(A) Chittenden, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
5(b)(2)(B) Chittenden County Regional Technical Center 250,000
5(b)(3) Southeastern Vermont Technical Center 1,000,000
5(c) Vocational Center Equipment 500,000
5(d) Hannaford Career Center; re-allocated funds 318,000
5(e) Technical center accounting; report to the General Assembly 0
6(a) Agricultural Science Building, first phase, replacement of space
6(b) Re-allocation authority 0
7 Major Maintenance 3,000,000
8(a) Water pollution grants & public drinking water; includes Marshfield 7,100,000
8(b) Dams, maintenance, repair, reconstruction 451,064
8(c) Forest, Parks and Recreation, major maintenance 500,000
8(d) Fish & Wildlife, Kehoe conservation camp, construction 350,000
8(e) Green Mountain Club; Long Trail 50,000
8(f) Ruffed Grouse Society 50,000
9 Various, maintenance, repairs, replacement 165,000
10 Electrical and heating systems, upgrades and repairs 160,000
11 Vermont History Center, renovations 325,000
12(a) Addison County, state police station, acquisition, construction
12(b) Bethel State Police (Royalton) 50,000
12(c) St. Albans State Police 50,000
12(d) Pittsford, state police, West Cottage fit up 42,000
13(a) Pittsford, Training Academy, miscellaneous repairs to campus 150,000
13(b)(1) Pittsford, portable flashover simulator, tractor and trailer 150,000
13(b)(2) Pittsford, fire response training vehicle (pumper) 250,000
13(c) Master plan update 50,000
13(d) Condition of appropriation; equal educational opportunity 0
13(e) Condition of appropriation; signage 0
14(a) Nonpoint pollution reduction, best management practices 750,000
14(b) Montpelier, 116 State Street, heat system replacement 500,000
14(c) AG Economic Development Study (see Sec. 71 for language) 25,000
15 Vermont Public Television, conversion to digital broadcasting 350,000
16(1) White River Junction site upgrade 50,000
16(2) Camera/lens/controller, upgrade 50,000
16(3) Time-base correctors and switches 20,000
16(4) Computer display enhancements 25,000
16(5) Computer, servers and software 30,000
17 Dry Hydrant Program 100,000
18(a) Reallocation, Act 185 of 1996, Sec. 1(a)(3) -41,880
18(b) Reallocation, Act 149 of 2002, Sec. 1b(6) -3,200,000
18(c) Reallocation, Act 149 of 2002, Sec. 5(d) -225,000
18(d) Reallocation, Act 61 of 2001, Sec. 6(c)(2) -893,758
18(e) Reallocation, Act 149 of 2002, Sec. 5(b)(2)(B) -1,000,000
18(f) Reallocation, Act 149 of 2002, Sec. 1b(3) -200,000
* * * POLICY * * *
Managing this Act
20 Reallocation among historic preservation sites
21 Transfer by ANR, BGS, & Military of project balances
22 Authority of departments to receive grants
23 Miscellaneous uncodified authority given to BGS
24 Miscellaneous BGS property transactions
25 Purchasing card program authorized
26-28 Redesignates existing law so similar sections are together
29-30 Public records exemption
31 STUDY; co-location of health/forensic labs (funding §§ 1b(3), 18(f))
32 STUDY; Capitol Complex; thermal energy needs (funding § 1b(5))
33 STUDY; Waterbury State Hospital
Human Services; Corrections
34 Inmate vocational training
35 Video conferencing in courts/prisons; STUDY/PILOT
36 Unmarked burials fund – clarification of 18 V.S.A. § 5212b
37 Unmarked burials fund; report on spending
38 Hydro dams, creates Authority
39-40 Recreational facilities grant program/2-yr sunset; (funding § 4(j))
Education; School Construction
41 North Country Career Center
42-43 Austine School – subordination of state lien; selection of president
44 Twinfield early education; 30% state funding authorized
45 South West Career Center, tuition
46 $1M and $40M borrowing authorized
47 Removes BGS from involvement
48 Authorizes conveyances of land
49 Sewer priority rules
50 Establishes stormwater fund
51-52 Sewer capacity allocation
53-55 Phosphorus
56 Listers annually identify % ANR land
57 Pond name – authorizes libraries to go through process
58 Dams; requests legislation
59-61 Drinking Water fund, administrative rate
62 Bradford – sludge; clarification
63 Woodford State Park - moved from Senate § 8(e)
64-65 Green Mountain Conservation Camp Endowment Fund
66 Sale of Northfield Armory
67 STUDY; by Legislative Council
68 Clarifies terrorism study committee established in 2002
69 Fire department finances; fees
70 Clarifies session law re PSAP; Derby
71 STUDY; Agricultural economic development Sec. 14(c)
72 Milk at rest areas
73 Makes explicit that milk processing is within VEDA’s mission
Education & Health Buildings Finance Agency
74 Tightens oversight; tax-exempt bonding
75 Clarification; state’s attorney appropriation, 2002 session
76-77 Electricians
78 Toilet facilities at snack bars
79 Effective Date
Sec. 1b. STATE BUILDINGS
The sum of $7,765,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services, and the commissioner is authorized to direct funds appropriated in this section to the projects contained in this section; however, no project shall be canceled unless the chairs of the house and senate committees on institutions are notified before that action is taken. The individual appropriations in this section are estimates only.
(1) Barre, courthouse and office building, renovation of 3rd and 4th floors, engineering and design of 11,000-square-foot addition and new facade: (400,000)
(2) Burlington, Cherry Street garages, repairs: (375,000)
(3) Burlington, department of health laboratory and criminal justice forensic science laboratory, co-location, for the design work required in Sec. 31 of this act: (500,000)
(4) Montpelier, 133 State Street, preliminary design studies for an addition to house the agency of transportation: (200,000)
(5) Montpelier, capitol complex, long-term thermal energy needs, to assist with the requirements of Sec. 32 of this act: (60,000)
(6) Montpelier, to begin implementing vegetation plans along the Winooski River up to the Taylor Street bridge as envisioned in the Capital District Master Plan adopted by the city-state commission in 2000: (25,000)
(7) Waterbury, Dale facility, new chiller and heat recovery unit: (300,000)
(8) Statewide, major maintenance: (4,450,000)
(9) Statewide, Americans with Disabilities Act, accessibility to public buildings: (450,000)
(10) Statewide, contingency fund: (500,000)
(11) Statewide, building reuse: (100,000)
(12) Statewide, planning: (20,000)
(13) Statewide, rest areas, replacements or repairs of infrastructure: (75,000)
(14) Statewide, security enhancements: (250,000)
(15) Statewide, State House, to continue to purchase conference tables and chairs for first floor committee rooms, provided that furniture purchased with this appropriation shall be, to the extent feasible, made by Vermont craftspeople and that preference will be given to the use of Vermont wood when appropriate: (60,000)
(Total appropriation – Section 1b $7,765,000)
The sum of $375,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the agency of human services for installation of a sprinkler system and a smoke evacuation system and for design of a fire suppression system in the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans.
(Total appropriation – Section 2 $375,000)
Sec. 3. JUDICIARY
The sum of $4,000,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the judiciary for construction of the Rutland courthouse; provided this sum shall include an appropriation of $50,000 to the department of buildings and general services for the office of the court administrator to initiate the first phase of the Vermont early judicial records project to inventory, microfilm, and house Vermont judicial records dating from 1785 to 1845 according to archival practices and controls.
(Total appropriation – Section 3 $4,000,000)
Sec. 4. COMMERCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
(a) The following sums are appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the agency of commerce and community development for the following projects; provided the projects shall be under the supervision of the department of buildings and general services:
(1) Statewide, major maintenance at historic sites: 100,000
(2) Bennington, Bennington Battle monument, finalize stairway and cast-iron repairs: 125,000
(3) Strafford, Morrill Homestead, final matching funds for transportation enhancement grant to design and construct a visitor/education building: 40,000
(4) Calais, Kent Tavern, phase one brick and clapboard restoration: 150,000
(b) The following sums are appropriated to the agency of commerce and community development, division for historic preservation, for:
(1) Historic preservation grants: 150,000
(2) Historic barns and agricultural buildings grants; no additional consideration shall be given for a barn or agricultural building that is in active use: 150,000
(3) Cultural facilities grant program, to be administered by the Vermont Arts Council and made available on a one‑for-one matching basis with funds raised from nonstate sources; no such grant shall be available for a project receiving funding from any other appropriation of this act. The Vermont Arts Council may use up to six percent of the total amount appropriated to administer the program. The remaining appropriation shall be awarded on a competitive basis. In recommending grant awards, a review panel shall give priority consideration to applicants who demonstrate greater financial need or are in underserved areas of the state: 50,000
(c) The sum of $25,000 is appropriated to the agency of commerce and community development for underwater preserves.
(d) The sum of $40,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services to illuminate the Bennington Battle monument in accordance with Sections 54(G) and 51(D) of the interim zoning bylaw adopted by the Village of Old Bennington on April 1, 2003. In addition, on or before February 15, 2004, the department shall file a report with the house and senate committees on institutions that shall (1) examine the impact of lighting the monument as permitted under the interim zoning bylaw and the advisability of lighting it for periods exceeding what is currently permitted and (2) provide an estimate of the additional cost necessary to illuminate the statues of Colonel Seth Warner and General John Stark.
(e) Community development projects.
(1) The sum of $100,000 is appropriated to the agency of commerce and community development for the Vermont sustainable jobs fund to assist in the creation of community infrastructure necessary to support a vibrant economy in the following municipalities:
(A) Town of Brighton (Island Pond), Brighton Community Forum, provide matching funds necessary to create a welcome center as part of downtown redevelopment efforts focused on tourism: 33,333
(B) Town of Alburg, Alburg Action Steering Committee, continuation of downtown revitalization efforts and development of marketing package for existing industrial site: 33,333
(C) Town of Springfield, Springfield Regional Development Corporation, planning by regional partners of a business incubator facility to assist with the development of sustainable technology: 33,334
(2) Disbursement of the sums appropriated in subdivision (e)(1) of this section is conditioned upon demonstration to the satisfaction of the agency or its designee that the following standards have been met:
(A) The community in which the project is proposed faces high unemployment, major downturns in business activity, or a stagnant economy.
(B) Members of the community are actively working with local businesses to develop and implement an economic plan that promotes job creation and retention.
(C) Necessary infrastructure improvements identified in the economic plan are business-related and will be an important component of business growth.
(D) The economic plan incorporates existing resources to rebuild the economic base of the community.
(3) The sum of $45,000 is appropriated to the agency of commerce and community development for the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association, for statewide outdoor recreational and nature-based tourism opportunities; provided that no part of this appropriation shall be used to pay salaries.
(4) The sum of $7,074 is appropriated to the agency of commerce and community development for the Lake Champlain Walleye Association, Inc. to assist with the construction of a portable hatchery for cultivating walleye fry; provided that no part of this appropriation shall be used to pay salaries.
(5) The sum of $37,500 is appropriated to the agency of commerce and community development for Lake Champlain International, Inc. to assist with a series of community programs hosted by the organization along 120 miles of Vermont shoreline; provided that no part of this appropriation shall be used to pay salaries.
(f) Broadband communications.
(1) The chief information officer may extend and renegotiate, but shall not renew for greater than 12-month intervals, the existing state broadband contracts with Verizon Communications Inc. and Adelphia Business Solutions that expire September 20, 2003. In consultation with the Vermont Council on Rural Development Telecommunications Committee, broadband vendors providing services in Vermont, and the department of public service, the office shall evaluate the potential for and advisability of allowing businesses to purchase limited broadband services through state contracts in areas where such services are currently unavailable or are prohibitively expensive. The office shall develop recommendations and a request for proposals supporting its conclusions. On or before January 15, 2004, the chief information officer shall report to the senate and house committees on institutions concerning implementation of this subsection.
(2) The sum of $15,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for use by the Vermont Council on Rural Development, Inc. to assist rural Vermont communities that lack access to low cost business telecommunications services at data transfer rates of 500 kilobits in at least one direction to identify their broadband needs, assess their aggregate demand, negotiate with service providers, and obtain the best services at the most competitive pricing. As a condition of this appropriation, the Vermont Council on Rural Development shall agree to report and shall report to the senate and house committees on institutions concerning the implementation of this subsection.
(3) Pilot Project. On or before January 15, 2004, the commissioner of buildings and general services, with the approval of the secretary of administration, may transfer and use not more than $50,000 of the total sum appropriated to the department in Sec. 1b(8) of this act (major maintenance) to participate in a pilot project for the delivery of high-speed broadband wireless telecommunications service, to serve all or part of the capitol complex. Participation in the pilot project shall be on terms and conditions related to price, security, and extent of service as agreed to by the commissioner in consultation with the chief information officer and the legislative council.
(g) The sum of $15,000 is appropriated to the agency of commerce and community development for replacement of historic site markers erected in the early 1950s.
(h) The sum of $15,000 is appropriated to the agency of commerce and community development for the unmarked burials fund established in Sec. 57 of No. 149 of the Acts of the 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002).
(i) The sum of $195,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the recreational facilities grant program created in Sec. 39 of this act.
(Total appropriation – Section 4 $1,259,574)
(a) The sum of $8,600,000 is appropriated to the department of education for state aid for school construction projects pursuant to section 3448 of Title 16.
(b) The following sums are appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for technical center projects:
(1) North Country Career Center. The sum of $250,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for planning in connection with the North Country Career Center project required in Sec. 41 of this act and, if necessary, for extension of the option on the Sherlaw property.
(2) Chittenden County Regional Technical Center.
(A) The sum of $150,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for use by the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce for the Workforce Investment Board to continue planning in connection with the Chittenden County Regional Technical Center, which may be used for the following purposes:
(i) Final financial analysis of operating and capital costs.
(ii) Continued curriculum development.
(iii) Implementation of a governance transition plan.
(iv) Community outreach and informational meetings.
(v) Preparation and coordination of a regional vote; provided that no portion of this appropriation may be used to advocate for a specific result.
(B) The sum of $250,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for continued planning and design of construction documents, provided that no funds shall be expended until there has been a favorable regional vote to proceed with the project: 250,000
(3) Southeastern Vermont Career Education Center.
(A) Findings. The general assembly finds that the renovation of approximately 36,000 square feet of space occupied by the Southeastern Vermont Career Education Center at the Brattleboro Union High School District #6 building in Brattleboro must be undertaken at the same time that the rest of the building is renovated. The estimated cost to renovate the Southeastern Vermont Career Education Center portion of the building is approximately $3,000,000.
(B) Appropriation. The sum of $1,000,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the Brattleboro Union High School District #6 for the Southeastern Vermont Career Education Center.
(c) The sum of $500,000 is appropriated to the department of education for regional technical education centers and comprehensive high schools to assist with the purchase of educational program equipment, to be distributed in equal amounts to each center and high school with no local matching funds required.
(d) Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center.
(1) Findings. The general assembly finds that:
(A) The Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center (“Hannaford Center”) and the Vermont Technical Center (“VTC”) have entered into a partnership to provide secondary and postsecondary programs related to agriculture and agriculture-related industries to ensure that students have the necessary training for successful career entry and continuous career development.
(B) The Hannaford Center and VTC have developed a business plan and timetable to offer a new program in diesel power mechanics in the fall of 2003, pending funding support and program approvals for the institutions involved and the Vermont State Colleges.
(C) Subsequent program development is planned in agribusiness food processing and in natural resource management.
(D) The lease of additional space and the renovation of portions of the Hannaford Center’s Middlebury campus is critical to the provision of these educational and economic growth opportunities.
(2) The sum of $318,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the planning and construction or fit-up of space for a power mechanics program at the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center, as the first phase in the development of an agricultural workforce development center project; provided the Middlebury Union High School District first demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioners of education and of buildings and general services that it has determined the location of the project, that the funds appropriated in this subsection are adequate to complete phase one of the project, and that the District has received commitments for the 50 percent local match required in 16 V.S.A. § 3448e to support the planning and construction or fit-up of space for the power mechanics program. Notwithstanding any provision of Title 16 to the contrary, the District is authorized to make the demonstration of the required 50 percent local match under this subsection by presenting evidence of in-kind contributions of equipment from private sources.
(e) On or before December 15, 2003, the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of the Chittenden County Regional Technical Center, the Middlebury Union High School District, on behalf of the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center, and the North Country Workforce Development Board, created in Sec. 41 of this act, on behalf of the North Country Career Center shall provide to the departments of education and of buildings and general services a detailed written account of how funds appropriated to them in this section were expended. On or before January 15, 2004, the departments shall report this accounting to the house and senate committees on institutions.
(Total appropriation – Section 5 $11,068,000)
Sec. 6. UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
(a) The sum of $1,000,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the University of Vermont for the first phase of funding for replacement of space in the Joseph E. Hills Agricultural Science Building.
(b) The University of Vermont may reallocate appropriations made to it in Sec. 11(a) of No. 29 of the Acts of the 1999 Session (Perkins Geology Building) and Sec. 13 of No. 148 of the Acts of the 1999 Adj. Sess. (2000) (Perkins Geology Building) for renovations to Delehanty Hall on the former Trinity College campus.
(Total appropriation – Section 6 $1,000,000)
Sec. 7. VERMONT STATE COLLEGES
The sum of $3,000,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the Vermont state colleges for major facility maintenance.
(Total appropriation – Section 7 $3,000,000)
Sec. 8. NATURAL RESOURCES
(a) The sum of $7,100,000 is appropriated to the agency of natural resources for water pollution grants and the state match for the pollution control and public drinking water supply program state revolving fund loans, all in accordance with chapter 55 of Title 10 and chapter 120 of Title 24; provided this sum shall include a grant of $50,000 to the Marshfield Village Water District to improve the existing water system such that the public drinking water supplied by the Marshfield Village Water District meets state standards for uranium.
(b) The sum of $451,064 is appropriated to the agency of natural resources for maintenance, repair, and reconstruction of state-owned dams.
(c) The sum of $500,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the agency of natural resources, department of forests, parks and recreation for major maintenance and for construction of one- and two-room cabins at state parks and recreation areas.
(d) The sum of $350,000 is appropriated to the agency of natural resources for the department of fish and wildlife for foundation and exterior construction of a dining hall and education center at the Kehoe conservation camp in Castleton; provided that the existing dining hall shall not be destroyed or substantially changed in appearance; and further provided that any new buildings or construction shall be consistent with the character of the camp as it existed in 1969, and shall be as approved by the division of historic preservation.
(e) The sum of $50,000 is appropriated to the agency of natural resources for the Green Mountain Club, Inc. for the procurement, in fee simple or by easement, of properties along the Long Trail.
(f) The sum of $50,000 is appropriated to the department of fish and wildlife for the Ruffed Grouse Society, a non-profit corporation working to promote healthy forest environments, to accelerate the process of implementing management plans on Vermont’s wildlife management areas in cooperation with the department of fish and wildlife; provided that approximately one-third of this appropriation shall be made to each of the three chapters of the society located in Vermont: the Green Mountain chapter, the Northeast chapter, and the Southern Vermont chapter.
(Total appropriation – Section 8 $8,501,064)
Sec. 9. MILITARY
The sum of $165,000 is appropriated to the department of the military for various capital needs arising from physical plant emergencies and maintenance requirements and for repair or replacement of roofs, electrical infrastructure, heating systems, and ADA compliance.
(Total appropriation – Section 9 $165,000)
Sec. 10. VERMONT VETERANS’ HOME
The sum of $160,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the Vermont veterans’ home for upgrades and repairs to parking lots, electrical infrastructure, heating systems, and laundry facilities.
(Total appropriation – Section 10 $160,000)
The sum of $325,000 is appropriated to the Vermont historical society for continuing renovation of the former Spaulding Graded School in Barre to become an education and research center known as the Vermont History Center.
(Total appropriation – Section 11 $325,000)
(a) The sum of $1,300,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the department of public safety to purchase land and to design, engineer, construct, and fit-up a new state police station in Addison County to replace the station currently located in Middlebury; provided that the state shall purchase two contiguous parcels, known as Lots C and D, owned by Peter M. Norris, Jr. on U.S. Route 7 in New Haven for this purpose.
(b) The sum of $50,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the department of public safety to design, engineer, and site a new state police station to replace the existing Bethel Field Station; provided that the new station shall be modeled after the Vermont state police station building in Derby; and further provided that the new station shall include adequate space for the law enforcement division of the department of fish and wildlife that services the area and for local firefighters, emergency rescue services, and not-for-profit and community organizations.
(c) The sum of $50,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the department of public safety to identify suitable real property on which to locate a new state police station to replace the existing St. Albans Field Station, for which it is authorized to secure an option. This appropriation shall also be used to design and engineer the new state police station, using the Vermont state police station building in Derby as a prototype.
(d) The sum of $42,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the department of public safety to fit‑up West Cottage at the Pittsford Academy for use by the state police.
(Total appropriation – Section 12 $1,442,000)
(a) The sum of $150,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the Vermont criminal justice training council in Pittsford for miscellaneous repairs to facility and grounds.
(b) The following sums are appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the Vermont fire service training council in Pittsford, subject to the conditions set forth in subsection (c) of this section, for:
(1) Portable/transportable flashover simulator tractor trailer: 150,000
(2) Fire response training vehicle (pumper): 250,000
(c) The sum of $50,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services to be used to update the 1996 Master Plan for the Vermont criminal justice training and fire service training councils. The study shall include consideration of the future demands that the anticipated expanded use of the Pittsford training facility may cause on town infrastructure. The study shall also explore options for sources, other than state capital appropriations, to fund all or part of the proposed expansion of the facility.
(d) In order to provide equal educational opportunities to interested parties throughout the state, the fire service training council shall:
(1) Provide modules and basic training courses in all regions of the state.
(2) Begin to offer, on or before September 1, 2003, modules and courses in all regions of the state, sufficient for certification of Firefighter Levels 1 and 2.
(3) Begin to offer, on or before September 1, 2005, modules and courses in all regions of the state, sufficient for certification as Fire Officer Levels 1 and 2.
(e) Before any activity authorized and funded by this section has been substantially completed, the commissioner of buildings and general services shall erect a sign at the entrance of the facility that states the name designated in Sec. 821(a)(2) of No. 148 of the 1997 Adj. Sess. (1998) as follows: “Vermont Fire and Police Training Academy.”
(Total appropriation – Section 13 $600,000)
(a) The sum of $750,000 is appropriated to the department of agriculture, food and markets, best management practice implementation cost share program, for agricultural nonpoint source pollution reduction.
(b) The sum of $500,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the department of agriculture, food and markets to replace heat and ventilation systems at 116 State Street in Montpelier.
(c) The sum of $25,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for the department of economic development to undertake the agricultural economic development study required in Sec. 71 of this act.
(Total appropriation – Section 14 $1,275,000)
Sec. 15. VERMONT PUBLIC TELEVISION
The sum of $350,000 is appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for Vermont Public Television for the federally-mandated conversion of its transmission sites to digital broadcasting format.
(Total appropriation – Section 15 $350,000)
Sec. 16. VERMONT INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
The following sums are appropriated to the department of buildings and general services for Vermont Interactive Television for an equipment replacement fund to support the following:
(1) White River Junction site upgrade: 50,000
(2) Camera/lens/controller upgrades: 50,000
(3) Time-base correctors and switches: 20,000
(4) Computer display enhancements: 25,000
(5) Computer servers and software: 30,000
(Total appropriation – Section 16 $175,000)
Sec. 17. VERMONT RURAL FIRE PROTECTION
(a) Of the amount appropriated in Sec. 1(a)(3) of No. 185 of the Acts of the 1995 Adj. Sess. (1996) (Pittsford, Fire and Police Academy, renovation and construction), the sum of $41,880 is reallocated to the department of buildings and general services to defray expenditures authorized by this act.
(b) Of the amount appropriated in Sec. 1b(6) of No. 149 of the Acts of the 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002) (Montpelier, Vermont Mutual Insurance Company, purchase of real property), the sum of $3,200,000 is reallocated to the department of buildings and general services to defray expenditures authorized by this act.
(c) Of the amount appropriated to the department of education in Sec. 5(d) of No. 149 of the Acts of the 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002) (Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center), the sum of $225,000 is reallocated to the department of buildings and general services for the purposes set forth in Sec. 5(d) of this act (Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center).
(d) Of the amount appropriated to the department of buildings and general services in Sec. 6(c)(2) of No. 61 of the Acts of 2001 (North Country Career and Technical Center), the sum of $893,758 is reallocated to the department of buildings and general services to defray expenditures authorized by this act.
(e) Of the amount appropriated to the department of buildings and general services in Sec. 5(b)(2)(B) of No. 149 of the Acts of the 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002) (North Country Career and Technical Center), the sum of $1,000,000 is reallocated to the department of buildings and general services to defray expenditures authorized by this act.
(f) Of the amount appropriated to the department of buildings and general services in Sec. 1b(3) of No. 149 of the 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002) (colocation of department of health laboratory and criminal justice forensic science laboratory, site study and conceptual design), the sum of $200,000 is reallocated to the department of buildings and general services to defray expenditures authorized in Sec. 1b(3) (co-location of department of health laboratory and criminal justice forensic science laboratory, study) of this act.
(Total reallocation– Section 18 $5,560,638)
The state treasurer is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the amount of $36,000,000 for the purpose of funding the appropriations of this act. Authorization granted in Sec. 18 of No. 149 of the Acts of the 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002) to issue general obligation bonds in the amount of $39,000,000 remains in effect. The state treasurer, with the approval of the governor, shall determine the appropriate form and maturity of the bonds authorized by this section consistent with the underlying nature of the appropriation to be funded. The state treasurer shall allocate the estimated cost of bond issuance, or issuances, to the entities to which funds are appropriated pursuant to this section and for which bonding is required as the source of funds, pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 954.
(Total bonding – Section 19 $36,000,000)
Sec. 20. AGENCY OF COMMERCE AND COMMUNITY
The commissioner of buildings and general services may reallocate the funds in Sec. 4(a) of this act (commerce and community development) to other state historic sites only for major maintenance, should a more pressing need arise following the session.
Sec. 21. TRANSFER OF FUNDS APPROPRIATED IN THIS ACT
(a) Natural resources. The secretary of natural resources, with the approval of the secretary of administration, may transfer any unexpended project balances between projects authorized in Sec. 8(a), (b), and (d) of this act (natural resources).
(b) Natural resources. The commissioner of buildings and general services, with the approval of the secretary of administration, may transfer any unexpended project balances between projects authorized in Sec. 8(c) of this act (natural resources) and may reallocate the funds in those sections to other state parks and recreation areas.
(c) Military. The adjutant general, with the approval of the secretary of administration, may transfer any unexpended project balances between projects authorized by Sec. 9 of this act (military).
(3) The commissioner of health, with the approval of the secretary of human services, may accept federal grants made available through the Labor/Health and Human Services appropriations bill. The department of buildings and general services shall be responsible for site acquisition and any new construction or building renovations resulting from such grant in connection with a juvenile residential treatment facility.
Sec. 23. BUILDINGS AND GENERAL SERVICES; MISCELLANEOUS
(a) The commissioner of buildings and general services is authorized to utilize funds appropriated under this act for capital projects requiring additional support that were funded with capital or general appropriations made in prior years.
(b) Notwithstanding any provisions of 32 V.S.A. § 5 to the contrary, the commissioner of buildings and general services, on behalf of any qualifying state agency or department or the Vermont state colleges, may request and accept free electric cars offered through the Green Mountain Institute’s neighborhood program.
(c) The commissioner of buildings and general services is authorized to provide aid to communities in order to resolve municipal boundary disputes.
Sec. 24. PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS AND RELATED ISSUES
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of 29 V.S.A. § 104 to the contrary, the commissioner of buildings and general services is authorized, with the approval of the secretary of administration, to deed to the Town of Springfield 30 acres more or less of real property adjacent to the Southern State Correctional Facility and commonly referred to as “The Industrial Park,” pursuant to a written agreement between the state and the town, dated March 30, 1999.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the commissioner of buildings and general services is authorized, with the approval of the secretary of administration, to execute any deed or other document necessary to adjust the property line along the southern edge of the Redstone property in Montpelier for the purpose of clearing up conflicting deed language, or, if necessary, to convey up to one-half acre of real property along the southern edge of the property for that purpose.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the commissioner of buildings and general services is authorized, with the approval of the secretary of administration, to sell approximately one-half acre of land from the former State Farm lands in Duxbury to a property abutter. Sale of this land is contingent upon receiving proper state and local permit approvals and receiving fair market value for the sale. All costs associated with this transfer shall be borne by the property abutter.
Sec. 25. 29 V.S.A. § 907 is amended to read:
(a) The commissioner of buildings and general services shall furnish to suppliers at the expense of the state the forms for all proposals and contracts. He The commissioner shall make all contracts in duplicate and shall forward forthwith one copy to the commissioner of finance and management. An item of expense for any article mentioned in this chapter shall not be allowed by the commissioner of finance and management in the settlement of any account except when the purchase of the article is authorized and approved by the commissioner of buildings and general services.
(b) The commissioner of buildings and general services may establish a purchasing card program for the purpose of authorizing all spending units of the state to use a purchasing card as an alternative payment method for official state purchases. The commissioner may contract with one or more financial institutions, card-issuing banks, credit card companies, charge card companies, debit card companies, or third-party merchant banks to provide state purchasing cards. The commissioner is authorized to establish policies for participation in the program and use of the purchasing card.
Sec. 26. 29 V.S.A. § 103 is redesignated to read:
§ 103 164. LEASES
Sec. 27. 29 V.S.A. § 104 is redesignated to read:
§ 104 166. SELLING OR RENTING STATE PROPERTY
Sec. 28. 29 V.S.A. § 105 is redesignated to read:
§ 105 167. RENTAL OF STATE PROPERTY TO VETERANS
Sec. 29. 1 V.S.A. § 317(c)(31) and (32) are added to read:
(31) With respect to publicly-owned, -managed, or -leased structures, and only to the extent that release of information contained in the record would present a substantial likelihood of jeopardizing the safety of persons or the security of public property, final building plans and as-built plans, including drafts of security systems within a facility, that depict the internal layout and structural elements of buildings, facilities, infrastructures, systems, or other structures owned, operated, or leased by an agency before, on, or after the effective date of this provision; emergency evacuation, escape, or other emergency response plans that have not been published for public use; and vulnerability assessments, operation and security manuals, plans, and security codes. For purposes of this subdivision, “system” shall include electrical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, telecommunication, elevator, and security systems. Information made exempt by this subdivision may be disclosed to another governmental entity if disclosure is necessary for the receiving entity to perform its duties and responsibilities; to a licensed architect, engineer, or contractor who is bidding on or performing work on or related to buildings, facilities, infrastructures, systems, or other structures owned, operated, or leased by the state. The entities or persons receiving such information shall maintain the exempt status of the information. Such information may also be disclosed by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, which may impose protective conditions on the release of such information as it deems appropriate. Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude or limit the right of the general assembly or its committees to examine such information in carrying out its responsibilities or to subpoena such information. In exercising the exemption set forth in this subdivsion and denying access to information requested, the custodian of the information shall articulate the grounds for the denial.
(32) The account numbers for bank, debit, charge, and credit cards held by an agency or its employees on behalf of the agency.
Sec. 30. PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTIONS; LEGISLATIVE INTENT
The general assembly has amended 1 V.S.A. § 317(c) to include subdivision (31) to address security concerns.
Sec. 31. CO-LOCATION OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORIES
(1) It is in the best interest of the state to combine the laboratory facilities of the departments of health and of public safety and to construct a single, new facility.
(2) Co-locating a new state laboratory facility with laboratories of the University of Vermont will promote education, training, professional development, efficiency or operations, and opportunities for collegial development.
(b) In designing the facility, the commissioner of buildings and general services shall consider the following:
(1) The design that ensures the ability of the laboratories to discharge their duties effectively and to safeguard evidence and dangerous substances.
(2) A design philosophy that enables cross-training of laboratory staff where appropriate.
(3) A methodology by which construction costs can be shared equitably by all parties.
(4) Identification of any federal funds and other grants available or anticipated to become available to assist with design, construction, or operation of the facility.
(5) The ability to include incubation space for private enterprise either at the facility or to be co-located with other University programs
(6) The ability to include laboratory space for research or teaching to be used by Saint Michael’s College, provided that all costs for such space shall be equitably allocated to and borne by the colleges.
Sec. 32. STUDY; CAPITOL COMPLEX; LONG-TERM THERMAL ENERGY NEEDS
The commissioner of buildings and general services shall study and identify preferred strategies for meeting the long-term thermal energy needs of the capitol complex area, including review of recent developments in technology relative to wood-fired systems and other systems that use a local source of energy as a primary fuel. The commissioner shall identify potential sites for and the optimal size of a new boiler facility to serve the capitol complex area, shall consider whether it would be advantageous to the state to join a district heat authority or to partner with other energy users, and shall conduct engineering and cost analyses of those systems the study identifies as preferable. With the approval of the secretary of administration, some or all of the appropriation made in Sec. 1b(5) of this act may be used to work with private or public entities in connection with the study. On or before January 15, 2004, the commissioner shall report the results of the study, including specific recommendations concerning strategies, conversion timelines, and phasing options, to the house and senate committees on institutions and on natural resources and energy.
Sec. 33. STUDY; VERMONT STATE HOSPITAL; WATERBURY;
SECURE BED SPACE
(a) The general assembly has taken testimony that a lack of specialized units in the inpatient psychiatric unit of the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury has resulted in an unacceptable number of injuries to patients and staff at the facility.
(b) The department of developmental and mental health services is directed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the need for psychiatric inpatient services throughout Vermont, including services provided by the Vermont State Hospital, in order to map out strategic recommendations for the future of the hospital. In the course of this study, the department shall consult with advocates for patients at the facility, representatives of the Vermont state employees’ association, representatives of community mental health centers, the Vermont Psychiatric Society (a part of the Vermont Medical Society), and the department of buildings and general services. The commissioner of developmental and mental health services shall report his or her findings and recommendations to the house and senate committees on institutions and on health and welfare on or before January 15, 2004.
(c) Pending results of the study and plan required in subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner of buildings and general services, in consultation with the commissioner of developmental and mental health services and with the approval of the secretary of administration, is authorized to undertake emergency steps to lease, create, or renovate space for specialized units, which may be funded pursuant to the emergency expenditure provisions of 29 V.S.A. § 152(25).
(d) On or before September 1, 2003, the department of developmental and mental health services shall adopt clear protocols for ensuring that patients from all wards have access to the recreation area outside the confines of the building that houses the inpatient psychiatric unit, consistent with each patient’s individual treatment plan.
* * * Human Services; Corrections * * *
Sec. 34. INMATE VOCATIONAL TRAINING
(a) The corrections workforce committee, established in Sec. 40 of No. 149 of the Acts of the 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002), shall work with the departments of employment and training and of corrections to develop and implement an orientation program for persons placed on furlough pursuant to 28 V.S.A. § 808, to be presented at least once every three months at its 12 regional career resource centers, addressing the availability of training in the building trades. The committee shall report its progress on this initiative to the senate and house committees on institutions on or before January 15, 2004.
(b) The corrections workforce committee shall work with the apprenticeship program of the department of employment and training and with the department of corrections to develop a proposal for a training program in which persons under the custody of the commissioner of corrections shall be involved in the manufacturing, construction, and rehabilitation of affordable housing in cooperation with other public and private entities. The corrections workforce committee shall present the training proposal, which shall include a proposed budget and provide details of potential federal or other funding sources, to the senate and house committees on institutions on or before January 15, 2004.
Sec. 35. TELEPHONE AND INTERACTIVE VIDEO CONFERENCING
TECHNOLOGY IN THE COURTS AND CORRECTIONAL
FACILITIES; STUDY; PRISONER TRANSPORT; PILOT
(a) There is created a committee comprised of the commissioner of corrections, the court administrator, the Vermont defender general, the executive director of the department of state’s attorneys, the commissioner of buildings and general services, and the president of the sheriff’s association, or their designees, to consider options for reducing the cost of transporting individuals between and among the courts and correctional facilities of the state. Implementation of telephone and video conferencing shall be among the options studied by the committee. On or before January 15, 2004, the committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the house and senate committees on judiciary and on institutions. The report shall include an analysis of the projected net savings of the options studied, and proposed legislation to implement the committee’s recommendations. Legislative council shall provide administrative support and assistance with drafting the report and any proposed legislation.
(b) The court administrator shall develop a proposal for a pilot project implementing telephone and video conferencing at the Vermont District Court in Bennington and the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in order to reduce costs associated with transportation of incarcerated defendants. On or before July 15, 2003, the Vermont Supreme Court is requested to submit a proposed judicial rule to implement the pilot project to the legislative committee on judicial rules, which shall consider the proposal in the manner it considers proposed rules pursuant to chapter 1 of Title 12.
* * * Commerce and Community Development * * *
Sec. 36. 18 V.S.A. § 5212b(e) is amended to read:
§ 5212b. UNMARKED BURIAL SITES SPECIAL FUND
Sec. 37. UNMARKED BURIAL SITE FUND REPORT; DEPARTMENT OF
The commissioner of housing and community affairs shall issue a written report to the senate committee on economic development, housing and general affairs, the house committee on general, housing and military affairs, and the governor’s advisory commission on Native American affairs on or before January 15, 2004, regarding the implementation of 18 V.S.A. § 5212b. The report shall include:
(1) The balance of the unmarked burial sites special fund, including the sources of deposits.
(2) Disbursements that have been made from the fund, the municipality for which the disbursement was made, and a description of the process used or implemented by the municipality to protect unmarked burial sites or property owners, or both.
(3) Management processes implemented by municipalities that are designed to protect unmarked burial sites, preserve Native American human remains, and protect the rights of owners of property on which unmarked burial sites exist or are suspected to exist and an evaluation of the effectiveness of these processes and a description of the actions taken by the division of historic preservation to encourage and support appropriate municipalities to design such a process.
(4) Improvements made to facilitate access to and communications with the governor’s advisory commission on Native American affairs, including assuring publication of telephone and fax numbers and postal and e-mail addresses in local and state directories, message retrieval, state website presence, and any other enhancement implemented to improve access to the governor’s advisory commission on Native American affairs.
(5) The status of any rulemaking initiated or completed pursuant to this act.
Sec. 38. VERMONT RENEWABLE POWER SUPPLY ACQUISITION
(a) An Vermont Renewable Power Supply Acquisition Authority shall be created to prepare due diligence and feasibility studies regarding the purchase of hydroelectric dams and related assets on the Connecticut and Deerfield Rivers and, with the consent of the governor, to enter into negotiations necessary to prepare a proposal for the purchase of the dams, to be submitted to the general assembly for its consideration.
(b) The Authority shall be composed of eight members. The members shall be the Secretary of Administration, or designee, to serve as chair; the State Treasurer, or designee; the Commissioner of Public Service, or designee; a person chosen by the Public Service Board; two Representatives chosen by the Speaker of the House, and two Senators chosen by the Senate Committee on Committees.
(c) The AcquisitionAuthority shall prepare two studies as follows:
(1) A study of the financial and of the fiscal and technical issues involved in a purchase of the hydroelectric dams on the Connecticut and Deerfield Rivers; and
(2) A study of the principal policy issues implicated by such a purchase, if it were authorized, including:
(A) , including administrative and structural options for the ownership of the facilities and the sale and distribution of their power output, which might include ownership through of the facilities including the creation of a single purpose limited purpose state public power authority; byone or more Vermont municipalities the Vermont Public Power Supply Authority; by one or more Vermont utilities; or by a public- private partnership.
(B) .alternatives for disposition of the power output of the facilities, including wholesale and retail sales within and outside the state and use of the power within a portfolio to support advanced and renewable energy technologies, and the impacts of these alternatives on the credit-worthiness of the state and the ability of Vermont utilities to access investment capital on reasonable commercial terms.
(b) The Acquisition Authority may consult with other state, municipal, or private entities, including representatives of the following stakeholders: the State Treasurer; ;the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources; the Vermont Municipal Bond Bank; representatives of existing municipal, cooperative, and investor‑owned utilities; tThe Vermont Department of Public Service, and, where appropriate, the Public Service Board. Reasonable administrative support for the Authority shall be provided upon request by the Department of Public Service and the legislative council. Legislative members of the Authority shall receive per diem and expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A. § 406; members of the Authority who are not state employees may be compensated by their appointing authorities.
(e) The Authority may obtain, use, and develop commercial and financial information of a proprietary nature whose public release could jeopardize the position of the State of Vermont and its agents in negotiations or other efforts to present recommendations for the Legislature to purchase the facilities on advantageous terms. The Authority may also obtain, use, and develop information for the same purposes that is entitled to proprietary treatment to protect the commercial or trade secret interests of others. All information not exempt from public inspection under 3 V.S.A. § 317 shall be available to the public, including any reports and recommendations received by the Authority, which may be redacted as necessary to accomplish the purpose of this subsection.
(f) The members of the Authority shall be appointed not later than 29 days following passage of this act and the Secretary of Administration shall convene the Authority not later than 30 days after the effective date of this act to initiate the studies required in this section. The Authority may retain professional assistance to undertake the duties required herein, and may use the appropriation contained in House Bill H.464 to accomplish these objectives. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Authority may contract with one or more qualified entities to undertake the duties required by this section without the need to competitively bid such contracts. The Acquisition Authority shall complete the studies no later than December 1, 2003, and present its recommendations to the senate committee on finance, the house committee on commerce, and the house and senate committees on natural resources and energy. The recommendations shall include best case, middle range, and worst case scenarios.
(g) If at any time prior to December 1, 2003, the AcquisitionAuthority determines that the purchase of the hydroelectric facilities and related assets available for sale will promote the general good of the state and that action by the general assembly is necessary before the 2004 session to effectuate the purchase, then the Acquisition Authority shall request that the Governor convene a special session of the general assembly for the purpose of considering and acting in response to the recommendations of the Acquisition Authority. The Acquisition Authority may use funds appropriated in any manner it determines necessary to accomplish the purpose of this section, including the use of contractual services. . If the Acquisition Authority determinesin cooperation with the Department of Public Service, that additional expenditures are necessary to preserve options on behalf of the state, the Acquisition Authority is authorized to seek further funding from the Emergency Board.
Sec. 39. RECREATIONAL FACILITIES GRANT PROGRAM
In order to provide an ongoing source of funding for the development of opportunities for youth of the state to engage in healthy activities, there is created a recreational facilities grant program to provide competitive grants to municipalities and nonprofit organizations to stimulate the creation and development of recreational opportunities for community youth. The program is authorized to award matching grants of up to $50,000 per project, provided that grant funds shall be awarded only when evidence is presented by a successful applicant that three dollars have been raised from nonstate sources for every one dollar awarded under this program. The fund shall be capped at 0.5 percent of the amount of new capital debt authorized for the year. The program shall be administered by the department of buildings and general services which is hereby authorized to adopt rules that are necessary for implementation of the program, including a definition of “recreational facility” and a list of criteria by which applications will be evaluated, and that are consistent with the provisions of this section.
Sec. 39 of this act is repealed effective July 1, 2005.
* * * Education; School Construction * * *
Sec. 41. NORTH COUNTRY CAREER CENTER; PLANNING AND
REGIONWIDE VOTE
(1) On March 27, 2001, Kathy Austin, chair of the North Country Career Center (“NCCC”) governance board, and Grant Spates, chair of the North Country Union High School (“NCUHS”) board, testified before the senate committee on institutions.
(2) The two board chairs, on behalf of and with the majority votes of their respective boards, and with the approval of the department of education, jointly recommended, because of the space requirements necessary to accommodate the proposed programs and course offerings, that a new NCCC be constructed as a stand-alone facility on a specific off-site location in the town of Derby.
(3) In reliance on that recommendation, the 2001 general assembly appropriated the sum of $950,000 in Sec. 6(c)(2) of No. 61 of the Acts of 2001 for “planning, design, and engineering of a new, stand-alone facility” for the NCCC “at a location off the present site.”
(4) Also in reliance on the 2001 recommendation, which was reaffirmed in March 2002, the 2002 general assembly appropriated the sum of $1,000,000 in Sec. 5(b)(2)(B) of No. 149 of the Acts of 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002) “for the design and construction of a stand-alone facility” for the NCCC “to be located in Derby.”
(5) In the summer of 2002, the NCUHS board, after hearing opposition to the size and site of the planned facility from the superintendent of the Orleans-Essex North Supervisory Union and others, created an ad hoc committee to reconsider the size and site of the proposed project. That committee issued its report to the NCUHS board and the NCCC governance board in December, 2002. The report recommended that the project be downsized to serve 200 full-time equivalent (“FTE”) students instead of the originally-planned 260 FTE. The report did not recommend a site, but summarized the benefits and liabilities of the two sites considered during the planning of the project, reflecting a difference of approximately $400,000 in operating costs. The governance board was informed that the NCUHS board already had rescinded its selection of the Derby site in favor of building the new center on the NCUHS campus or, failing that, on the campus of the junior high school. The governance board approved a motion to reconsider its selection of site and on December 18, 2002 it voted to concur with the NCUHS board to pursue a project on the NCUHS campus, resulting in the resignation of the NCCC governance board chair, who was a representative of the business community.
(6) On January 1, 2003, the memorandum of agreement between the NCCC governance board and the NCUHS board expired.
(7) The sum of $56,242 has been expended or encumbered in connection with the proposed project at an off-site location. In addition, a total of $219,500 in capital funds was appropriated for the proposed project in 1998, 1999, and 2000 and has all been spent.
(8) During the 2003 session, including a meeting on April 17, 2003 in the senate chamber, the general assembly received testimony from members of the NCUHS board and the former NCCC governance board about the decision of the two boards to build the center on the NCUHS campus. The chair of the NCCC governance board expressed a belief that the NCCC governance board as it was constituted in late 2002 was out of balance, not adequately representing the views of the business and adult education communities. The general assembly has also heard testimony from residents of the region who focused their comments on whether the proposed NCCC project should be located on the NCUHS campus or at an off-site location.
(9) It is clear that no regional consensus exists as to the proposed programs and course offerings for the project, which were the two principal factors that drove the original decision to propose constructing the facility off‑site.
(b) North Country Workforce Development Board. There is hereby created a board, to be known as the North Country Workforce Development Board (“Board”).
(1) Membership. The Board shall be composed primarily of residents of the technical center region as follows:
(A) The chair of the board of the Lake Region Union High School #24, or the chair’s designee who shall be a member of the board.
(B) The chair of the board of the NCUHS #22, or the chair’s designee who shall be a member of the board.
(C) The adult services coordinator of the NCCC.
(D) Four members of the business community who reside and do business in the NCCC region, as that region is defined by state board of education rule, to be appointed by Vermont’s North Country Chamber of Commerce, or its successor entity.
(E) The mayor of the City of Newport, or if the mayor is unable to attend, then the mayor’s designee shall be the president of the Newport City council.
(F) The chair of the Derby selectboard or the chair’s designee, who shall be a member of the selectboard.
(G) The chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges, or the chancellor’s designee, who shall represent colocators who have previously expressed an interest in establishing an ongoing physical presence and relationship with the workforce development center.
(2) Actions of the Board. Eight members shall constitute a quorum of the Board. Any vote taken by the Board shall be binding only if a quorum is present and voting and if affirmed by a vote of at least six of the voting members present.
(3) Authority. The general assembly confers on the Board all authority to study and recommend what action, if any, the general assembly should take with regard to creation of a regional technical center school district and a workforce development center, including proposed programs and course offerings, and the size and the scope of the project. It shall also have the authority and the responsibility of being the “planning committee” as set forth in subchapter 5A of chapter 37 of Title 16, consistent with the provisions of this section.
(4) Organizational meeting. An organizational meeting of the Board shall be called by the staff of the legislative council to occur no later than 30 days following the effective date of this act. At the organizational meeting, the first order of business shall be to elect, by majority vote of all voting members of the Board, a member to serve as chair of the Board. At the organizational meeting, the chair shall ensure that the Board establishes a timetable by which to attain the goals set forth in this section.
(5) Assistance and access to records and information. The director of the NCCC, the director of the University of Vermont Extension Service, and the commissioners of education, of employment and training, and of buildings and general services, or their designees, shall make themselves available to inform and advise the Board. The commissioner of education shall provide administrative support; the staff of legislative council shall provide support to the department if needed. The superintendents of the Orleans Central Supervisory Union and the Orleans-Essex North Supervisory Union, the director and adult services coordinator of the NCCC, and their staff members shall ensure that all records and information related to the planning, design, and management of the proposed workforce development center, or other proposals, are made available to the Board; shall provide the Board access to all supervisory union data and budgets that the Board deems necessary for the implementation of this section; and shall make themselves available to advise the Board on all matters relating to the supervisory union.
(c) Workforce development goals. The Board shall solicit comments from local community members of the technical center region, as that region is defined by state board of education rule, on the technical education vision for workforce development in Orleans and portions of Essex Counties. With support from the department of education, the Board shall then reconsider the workforce development goals of the proposed project, including the proposed programs and course offerings and projected operational costs. If the Board’s goals differ from the goals expressed in the program of studies, enrollment projections, and education specifications submitted by the former NCCC governance board and approved by the department of education in amended form in autumn 2002, then the Board shall seek approval from the department of education before proceeding.
(d) Location supportive of goals. After the Board has reconsidered the proposed programs and course offerings pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and if the Board affirmatively votes to create a comprehensive workforce development center to offer a system of education and training for secondary and adult students, then the following shall occur:
(1) On-site location. The department of buildings and general services shall evaluate whether it is feasible to locate the project on the NCUHS campus. In connection with its evaluation, the department shall assume that all of the existing square footage constructed with 100 percent state dollars, 100 percent federal dollars, or both, is available for the project. In addition, the department shall:
(A) Review and assess all existing planning documents in connection with developing a workforce development center on the NCUHS campus; conduct additional assessments as necessary to determine if the NCUHS campus is a feasible alternative, including a traffic study; and if feasible, prepare an estimate for the cost of expanding and renovating existing space to support the proposed programs and course offerings.
(B) If an on-site location is deemed feasible under subdivision (A) of this subdivision (1), obtain a preliminary determination from the City of Newport zoning administrator and the coordinator of the District 7 Environmental Commission concerning the conditions that would be required if on-site construction is otherwise authorized under applicable local, regional, and state land use requirements.
(2) Off-site location. The department of buildings and general services shall seek to extend its option on the Sherlaw property for up to two additional years following the date the current option expires.
(3) Proposed location or locations. With support from the departments of education and of buildings and general services, the Board shall:
(A) Review all work conducted on facility planning, including work required by this subsection and work performed by the former NCCC governance board.
(B) Prepare and present at no less than two public forums:
(i) a visual representation of the building and site proposed for the project if located on the Sherlaw property and, if determined by the department of buildings and general services pursuant to this subsection to be feasible, on the NCUHS campus.
(ii) estimates of construction and operating costs for the project if located on the Sherlaw property and, if determined by the department of buildings and general services pursuant to this subsection to be feasible, on the NCUHS campus.
(C) Select a proposed location that best serves the proposed programs and course offerings for the purpose of recommending a location to the voters of the region.
(e) Regional technical center district. The Board shall determine, in consultation with the commissioner of education, whether to propose creation of a regional technical center school district, as defined in subchapter 5A of chapter 37 of Title 16, and if so, shall obtain approval of the proposal from the state board of education. The Board may delegate the authority to perform the requirements of this subsection to a five-member subcommittee, whose membership shall be determined by the Board.
(f) Public vote. The Board shall hold a regionwide vote, in the NCCC technical center region defined by state board of education rules, as follows:
(1) If the Board has decided to propose the creation of a regional technical center school district and has obtained the approval of the state board of education, it shall present to the voters an article to approve or disapprove the creation of a regional technical center school district in compliance with subchapter 5A of chapter 37 of Title 16.
(2) The Board shall present to the voters an article to approve or disapprove its proposed project. If the Board is forwarding a proposal on the creation of a regional technical center school district, both articles shall be included on the same ballot and at the same time, the vote shall be held in compliance with 16 V.S.A. § 1574, and the Board shall determine whether the ballots are comingled.
(3) Prior to the vote, the Board shall conduct a hearing in compliance with 17 V.S.A. § 2680g and shall present information to the voters on the workforce development goals, proposed programs and course offerings, a proposed operating budget, sources of funds, the impact on property taxes, and, if proposed, details on the proposed regional technical center school district.
(g) Report to legislative committees. On or before January 15, 2004, the departments of education and of buildings and general services shall provide a progress report to the house and senate committees on institutions concerning the implementation of this section.
(h) Reclamation of technical center space. The department of education shall ensure that the total amount of square footage designated and built for the technical education programs on or about 1968 on the NCUHS campus shall be reclaimed for use by the NCCC no later than September 1, 2003, unless that date is otherwise extended by the commissioner of education for good cause shown.
Sec. 42. 16 V.S.A. § 3823 is amended to read:
The Austine School of Brattleboro, a nonprofit school for the deaf, may from time to time receive state capital appropriations for improvements to the school, subject to the requirements established by Act No. 74 of the Acts of 1910 that the school property shall not be sold without the approval of the general assembly, and that if the school property is sold all state capital funds appropriated for use by the school shall be repaid to the state, without interest, from proceeds of the sale.
(c) If the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing sells any or all of its real property, then, subject to the subordination provisions of subsection (b) of this section, all state capital appropriations made to or for the benefit of the Austine School shall be repaid to the state, without interest, from any remaining proceeds of the sale.
Sec. 43. 16 V.S.A. § 3824 is added to read:
§ 3824. THE AUSTINE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF; SELECTION OF
Any president of the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing selected and hired subsequent to the effective date of this section shall be selected and hired pursuant to the provisions for employing a superintendent of schools in section 241 of this title. For purposes of this section, the terms “supervisory union,” “supervisory union board,” and “supervisory district board” as used in section 241 shall mean the board of trustees of the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Sec. 44. TWINFIELD EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION CENTER;
Notwithstanding any provision of law that renders an early education program ineligible for state school construction aid under chapter 123 of Title 16, the Twinfield Union School District is eligible to receive state school construction aid of 30 percent of the approved cost of a project that reutilizes existing space or constructs new space, or both, to support a community early education facility. The state school construction aid may be used to improve existing, non-early education facilities as long as such improvements result in sufficient space to accommodate a community early education facility. Any project, cost of a project, and state aid under this section shall be subject to approval by the commissioner of education; subject to an affirmative vote, by Australian ballot on or before October 1, 2003, of the voters of the district of a duly warned article that reads substantially as follows: “Shall the Twinfield Union School District apply for state school construction aid in an amount equal to 30 percent of the approved cost of a project that results in an early education facility, and if so approved, shall federal funds and other non-local funds comprise 70 percent of the approved cost of the project?”; and subject to the district’s submission to the department of an application for state school construction aid on or before October 1, 2003. If so approved, the state board of education shall place the project on the prioritized list of school construction projects. Notwithstanding the provisions of 16 V.S.A. § 3448(a)(8)(B) and prior to release of state aid, federal funds and other non-local funds shall comprise 70 percent of the approved cost of the project, which may include funds from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families and Community Development Block Grants administered by the State of Vermont. Federal and non-local funds received in connection with the approved project shall be considered eligible construction costs. With the exception of subsections 3448(b) and (c) which shall apply to the Twinfield Union School District in connection with this project, nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the district to comply with any other requirement of section 3448.
Sec. 45. SOUTHWEST VERMONT CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER;
TUITION CHARGES TO NEW YORK STUDENTS IN THE
BENNINGTON REGIONAL LABOR MARKET
(a) Notwithstanding 16 V.S.A. § 1552, the Southwest Vermont Career Development Center may enroll, on a space available basis, a student who resides within the New York portion of the Bennington regional labor market, as defined by the commissioner of employment and training. The center shall charge the sending school district an amount that is $100.00 greater than the amount it assesses a sending district for a student who is a resident of Vermont. However, if the additional cost to the center to educate the student exceeds the assessment plus $100.00, the center shall charge the New York sending district the excess amount.
(b) This section is repealed on July 1, 2005. However, a New York student who is enrolled and has completed one year of a two-year program as of July 1, 2005 may be enrolled for a second year. In such instance, the center shall continue to charge the sending district pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
Sec. 46. SPENDING AND BONDING AUTHORIZATION; VERMONT STATE COLLEGES
(a) In conformity with 16 V.S.A. § 2171(e), the general assembly approves the expenditure by the Vermont state colleges from its revenues, other than state appropriations, and from its self-generated revenues established for the purpose of capital improvements on housing, dining, and general purpose facilities, to an aggregate of $1,000,000 for necessary capital improvements.
(b) Notwithstanding the provision of 16 V.S.A. § 2171(e), requiring specific prior legislative approval of capital improvements for which the Vermont state colleges intends to borrow funds, the Vermont state colleges may issue no more than $40,000,000 in general obligation bonds, to be repaid from its revenues, other than state appropriations, for the acquisition or construction of buildings for the community college of Vermont and for capital improvements on housing, dining, and general purpose facilities at any of the state colleges.
Sec. 47. 16 V.S.A. § 2179 is amended to read:
Except as expressly provided in this chapter, the corporation, its officers and employees shall not be governed by: (1) chapter 9 of Title 3, dealing with administrative departments; (2) chapter 13 of Title 3, dealing with classification of state personnel; (3) chapter 16 of Title 3, dealing with state employees retirement system except as may be otherwise agreed by the board of trustees of the system and the board of trustees of the corporation with respect to those officers and employees of the corporation transferred to the corporation from the state institutions replaced by the corporation; (4) chapter 55 of this title, dealing with the state teachers retirement system except as may be otherwise agreed by the board of trustees of the system and the board of trustees of the corporation with respect to those officers and employees of the corporation transferred to the corporation from the state institutions replaced by the corporation; (5) chapter 7 of Title 32, dealing with public moneys; (6) chapters 3 and 5 of this title, dealing with the state board of education and the commissioner of education; (7) chapter 49 of Title 29, dealing with supplies, duties of commissioner of buildings and general services as to purchases of material, supplies or equipment except upon request of the corporation, or (8) chapter 5 of Title 29, dealing with the department of buildings and general services, except that any contracts awarded for the construction of buildings by the corporation shall be under the supervision of the commissioner of buildings and general services continue to be subject to the provisions of 29 V.S.A. § 161(b).
Sec. 48. ACTION REGARDING STATE LAND
Pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 2603(b), the commissioner of forests, parks and recreation is authorized to exchange or lease certain state lands, as follows:
(1) To convey a permanent easement to Verizon New England Inc. for a 30’ x 30’ area of Grand Isle State Park to construct, operate, maintain, and replace telecommunications equipment necessary to modernize and enhance telephone communications in the Town of Grand Isle. As compensation for this easement, Verizon New England Inc. shall provide the state an amount to be determined by the commissioner of buildings and general services.
(2) To amend the department’s leases with National Grid (formerly New England Power Company) at Ascutney State Park and Molly Stark State Park to include a provision for the emergency restoration of communication facilities in the event of a disaster or emergency. Specifically, the leases shall be amended to include the following provision: “In the event that a communications facility operated by the Lessee is damaged or cannot be operated, the Lessor hereby agrees that the Lessee may locate and operate a temporary communications facility, including but not limited to a temporary replacement communications tower and supporting equipment, on the property to provide replacement communications until such time as the communications facility can be restored to operation. The Lessor will be notified of the circumstances requiring the placement of temporary communications facilities as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter. Repairs or replacement of the Lessee’s damaged facility will take place within a reasonable amount of time, weather permitting. The temporary communications facility will remain in operation until full service is restored with a new or repaired communications facility.” In addition, any lease renewed or amended pursuant to this subdivision shall encourage colocation consistent with state policy of any new electronic communication facilities at these sites.
(3) To exchange lands and interests in lands with the Town of St. Albans by which the state would convey a portion of St. Albans Bay State Park (currently under long-term lease to the Town of St. Albans) to the Town of St. Albans in exchange for a town-owned parcel located along nearby Black Creek adjacent to state-owned Black Creek Wildlife Management Area. This exchange would result in town ownership and control of the developed portion of the state park and would consolidate state ownership and ensure continued public recreational access along Black Creek to the north of Highway 36. This land exchange would be contingent on the following: (A) a public meeting is held in the town to inform local residents of the proposal and to ensure public support; (B) all necessary federal, state, and local permits, approvals, and requirements for the exchange are met; (C) the state agrees to add the town‑owned parcel that is to come into state ownership as part of the department of fish and wildlife’s Black Creek Wildlife Management Area and to allow public access on this parcel for hunting, fishing, trapping, and other compatible uses; (D) the town agrees that the park and associated dock will remain open and available to all members of the public; (E) the town assumes responsibility for paying all legal costs associated with the land exchange; (F) the town assumes liability for the park from the date of transfer; (G) the town agrees to operate, manage, and maintain the park in a manner consistent with the park’s current operation; and (H) the property will revert to the state if, for any reason, the park no longer functions as a public recreational facility.
Sec. 49. MUNICIPAL POLLUTION CONTROL PRIORITY SYSTEM
(a) The general assembly finds that the municipal pollution control priority system rule amendment adopted on August 30, 2002 is not as clear and predictable as it could be to assist municipalities in planning for compact growth in downtowns, village centers, and growth centers.
(b) The secretary of natural resources shall study the provisions of the existing rule. This study shall include:
(1) A summary of issues concerning implementation of the rule;
(2) A list of proposed alternatives to address the identified issues; and
(3) A draft proposed final rule.
(c) On or before December 15, 2003, the secretary shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on natural resources and energy and on institutions that summarizes the study results and contains recommendations for implementing the study results.
(d) Any revisions to the municipal pollution control priority system rule as a result of the study and report shall be proposed by the agency and filed with the secretary of state on or before March 15, 2004.
(e) The secretary of natural resources, or the deputy secretary if specifically designated by the secretary, shall make all determinations regarding implementation of this rule amendment unless and until the rule is revised after the submittal of the report under subsection (c) of this section.
Sec. 50. 24 V.S.A. § 4753(a)(8) is added to read:
Sec. 51. 24 V.S.A. § 2291 is amended to read:
Sec. 52. 24 V.S.A. § 3625(a) is amended to read:
(a) When capacity under an original or amended discharge permit under 10 V.S.A. § 1263 is or has been granted to any municipality, as defined in 1 V.S.A. § 126, except existing town school districts or incorporated school districts, that capacity shall be allocated, in a manner consistent with a municipality’s obligation to its bondholders to establish rates and apply the proceeds as set forth in section 3616 of this title, pursuant to one of the following, adopted and in effect by July 1, 1990 whether in the form as adopted, or as later amended:
(1) an ordinance adopted under sections 1972 and 1973 of this title. This ordinance may authorize the municipality to include, in any specific allocation, phasing provisions and other conditions intended to implement provisions of a municipal plan adopted under section 4385 of this title or bylaws adopted under sections 4403 and 4404 of this title;
Sec. 53. 10 V.S.A. § 1266a is amended to read:
(a) No person directly discharging into the drainage basins of Lake Champlain or Lake Memphremagog shall discharge any waste which that contains a phosphorus concentration in excess of 0.80 milligrams per liter on a monthly average basis. The secretary of natural resources shall establish a schedule for municipalities that requires compliance with this section at a rate that corresponds to the rate at which funds are provided under subsection 1625(e) of this title. To the extent that funds are not provided to municipalities eligible under that subsection, municipal compliance with this section shall not be required. Discharges of less than 200,000 gallons per day, permitted on or before July 1, 1991, shall not be subject to the requirements of this section subsection. Discharges from a municipally owned aerated lagoon type secondary sewage treatment plant in the Lake Memphremagog drainage basin, permitted on or before July 1, 1991 shall not be subject to the requirements of this section subsection unless the plant is modified to use a technology other than aerated lagoons.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (a) of this section to the contrary, the secretary shall establish effluent phosphorus wasteload allocations or concentration limits within any drainage basin in Vermont, as needed to achieve wasteload allocations in a total maximum daily load document approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or as needed to attain compliance with water quality standards adopted by the Vermont water resources board pursuant to chapter 47 of this title.
(c) The secretary of natural resources shall establish a schedule for municipalities that requires compliance with this section at a rate that corresponds to the rate at which funds are provided under subsection 1625(e) of this title. To the extent that funds are not provided to municipalities eligible under that subsection, municipal compliance with this section shall not be required.
Sec. 54. 10 V.S.A. § 1625(e) is amended to read:
ABATE DRY WEATHER SEWAGE FLOWS
(e) If the department finds that a proposed municipal water pollution control project is necessary to reduce effluent phosphorus concentration or mass loading to the level required in section 1266a of this title, the department shall award to the municipality, subject to the availability of funds, a state assistance grant. Such grants shall be for 100 percent of the eligible project cost. This funding shall not be available for phosphorus removal projects where the effluent concentration must be reduced in order to maintain a previously permitted mass loading of phosphorus.
Sec. 55. PHOSPHORUS GRANTS; PRIORITIES; PHASED FUNDING; LEGISLATIVE INTENT
(a) It is the intent of the general assembly that all projects listed on the Agency of Natural Resources’ one-page document, entitled “Wastewater Project Phase-In List from the Capital Bill Conference Committee” and dated May 20, 2003, that proceed to construction between the effective date of this act and June 30, 2005, will receive all or a portion of the grant funds for which they are eligible in accordance with chapter 55 of Title 10. Where a project proceeds with a grant in an amount less than the amount for which it would ordinarily be eligible, the project will receive elevated priority for funding in subsequent years in order to provide full funding pursuant to statute.
(b) It is the intent of the general assembly that the amendments to 10 V.S.A. § 1266a contained in this act include the elimination of the exemption for aerated lagoons at wastewater treatment plants located in the Lake Champlain drainage basin so that the clean-up of excess phosphorus concentrations in Lake Champlain can proceed in accordance with the total maximum daily load (TMDL) document approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Sec. 56. 32 V.S.A. § 4154a is added to read:
§ 4154a. STATE-OWNED LAND
At least two months prior to each annual town meeting, the listers of each municipality in which the agency of natural resources or one of its subdivisions holds title to lands and premises shall report to the selectboard of the municipality regarding the percentage of acreage within the municipality that is owned or otherwise controlled by the agency.
Sec. 57. POND IN TOWN OF WESTMORE; NAME; REPEAL
(a) Sec. 79 of No. 233 of the Acts of the 1993 Adj. Sess. (1994) and Secs. 10(a)(3)(F) and 10e of No. 185 of the Acts of the 1995 Adj. Sess. (1996) (naming a pond purportedly known as “Unknown Pond” in the Town of Westmore as “Taylor Pond”) are repealed. The order issued June 20, 2000 by the department of libraries naming this pond “Taylor Pond” is void.
(b) The department of public libraries shall name the pond referred to in subsection (a) of this section pursuant to the procedures and standards set forth in chapter 9 of Title 10.
Sec. 58. PRIVATELY- AND MUNICIPALLY-OWNED DAMS; STATE
(1) The state plays a central role in ensuring that privately- and municipally-owned dams do not present a safety hazard. Since 1876, state law has provided a mechanism by which the state detects and repairs unsafe dams and recovers the cost of repairs from the owners. As the cost of construction has increased and the value of mill benefits has decreased, the ability of private and municipal owners to pay for dam maintenance has diminished.
(2) State policy should encourage private and municipal dam owners to remove their dams voluntarily, where appropriate. It should provide technical and financial assistance to municipalities to take care of the dams they own and to assume ownership or control of privately‑owned dams. A few additional dams of statewide significance should be acquired by the state.
(b) Proposed legislation. On or before January 15, 2004, the agency of natural resources, in consultation with the secretary of administration, shall present to the house and senate committees on institutions proposed legislation supporting the conclusions reached in the agency’s Proposed Policy on Dams dated April 2003. Specifically, the proposed legislation shall address the following:
(1) Amendments to existing regulatory programs for dams, permits, inspections, and procedures for emergency responses to hazardous dams pursuant to chapter 43 of Title 10.
(2) The financial implications of a capital budget policy that proposes to promote the removal of dams to address public safety, hazard mitigation, and environmental concerns and that includes incentives for municipalities to own and properly maintain dams.
Sec. 59. 10 V.S.A. § 1624(b) is amended to read:
(B) In no instance shall the annual interest rate, plus administrative fee, be less than necessary to achieve an annual household user cost of equal to one and one-quarter percent of the median household income of the applicant municipality or served area, taking into account:
(6) For purposes of this subsection, the secretary shall determine the median household income of a municipality from the most recent federal census data available when the priority list used for funding the project was approved, or at the option of an applicant municipality, based on the recommendation of an independent contractor hired by the municipality and approved by the secretary. The determination of the secretary shall be final. The cost of an independent contractor may be included in the total cost of a project. When using federal census data to determine the median household income of a municipality, the census data shall be adjusted for inflation beginning in the second year of availability by increasing it four percent per year.
Sec. 60. 24 V.S.A. § 4771(a)(5) is amended to read:
(5) Notwithstanding subdivision (4) of this subsection, a privately‑owned nonprofit community type system may qualify for a 30-year loan term at an interest rate, plus administrative fee, to be established by the secretary of natural resources which shall be no more than three percent or less than minus three percent, provided the applicant system meets the income level and annual household user cost requirements of a disadvantaged municipality as defined in subdivision 1571(9) of Title 10, and provided that at least 80 percent of the residential units served by the water system are continuously occupied by local residents and at least 80 percent of the water produced is for residential use, in which case the secretary shall certify the loan term and interest rate to VEDA. In no instance shall the annual interest rate, plus an administrative fee, be less than is necessary to achieve an annual household user cost of equal to one and one-quarter percent of the median household income of the applicant water system computed in the same manner as prescribed in subdivision 1624(b)(2)(B) of Title 10.
Sec. 61. 10 V.S.A. § 1571(9) is amended to read:
(9) “Disadvantaged municipality” means a municipality or the served area of a municipality which has a median household income below the state average median household income as determined by the secretary, and which after construction of the proposed water supply improvements will have an annual household user cost greater than 1.25 one percent of the median household income as determined by the secretary.
Sec. 62. CLARIFICATION
Sec. 8(a)(2) of No. 149 of the Acts of the 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002) is amended to read:
(a) The following sums are appropriated to the agency of natural resources
(2) Solid waste implementation grant, in accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 6603c, for a sludge storage facility, appurtenant construction, and related engineering at the Bradford wastewater treatment facility, as well as land acquisition for sludge management: 180,000
Sec. 63. WOODFORD STATE PARK; PARKING; STUDY AND AUTHORIZATION
(a) The commissioner of forests, parks and recreation shall study how best to address the winter parking needs of individuals using the Woodford State Park in Woodford. The commissioner shall report the results of the study, together with proposed solutions, to the house and senate committees on institutions on or before January 15, 2004.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, if the commissioner identifies a suitable location for a parking lot prior to September 1, 2003, the commissioner shall have the authority to spend not more than $15,000 from the appropriation made in Sec. 8(c) of this act to complete construction of a gravel parking lot that shall not exceed six inches in depth.
Sec. 64. 10 V.S.A. § 4049a is added to read:
There is established in the agency of natural resources a fund to be known as the green mountain conservation camp endowment fund, to be managed by the secretary and from which expenditures may be made by the commissioner of fish and wildlife for the purpose of supporting the maintenance of and minor improvements to the green mountain conservation camps in Castleton and Woodbury and for the camps’ ongoing expenses such as the purchase of recreation equipment. There shall be deposited into the fund monies received by the agency and designated for this purpose, including appropriations of the general assembly, grants, and donations.
Sec. 65. 10 V.S.A. § 4049b is added to read:
(a) There is created a green mountain conservation camp endowment fund committee comprised of five members who shall serve for concurrent terms of four years. Members of the committee shall be appointed by the commissioner of fish and wildlife as follows: two members shall be chosen from the employees of the department; the three other members shall be chosen on the basis of fundraising experience.
(b) The committee shall promote and seek contributions to the green mountain conservation camp endowment fund established by section 4049a of this title.
Sec. 66. SALE OF NORTHFIELD ARMORY
The board of armory commissioners may sell the Northfield armory pursuant to chapter 27 of Title 20 to Norwich University for the sum of $50,000. Proceeds of the sale shall be used to fund the state’s share of construction costs for the army aviation flight facility located in South Burlington. Any excess proceeds shall be used for the repair or maintenance of existing armories in the state for which no funds have been budgeted during the fiscal year in which the proceeds are received.
Sec. 67. STUDY; VERMONT VETERANS’ HOME
On or before November 15, 2003, the staff of the legislative council, the Vermont veterans’ home board of trustees, the office of the attorney general, and the office of finance and management shall research and report to the general assembly concerning any potential conflicts or ambiguity in Vermont law relating to the operations and management of the Vermont veterans’ home.
* * * Public Safety * * *
Sec. 68. Sec. 11(b) of No. 149 of the Acts of the 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002) is amended to read:
(b) The department of public safety, division of the Vermont state police, homeland security unit shall work jointly with the coalition of fire and rescue service for the state of Vermont to study how best to manage and direct anticipated federal anti-terrorism grant funds to support local first responders. Any grant proposal or plan shall incorporate jointly agreed-upon recommendations. The Vermont coalition of fire and emergency services shall select two individuals from its membership, at least one of whom shall be a volunteer firefighter, to represent its interests in this regard.
Sec. 69. STUDY; EXTENSION OF DEADLINE
The report required by Sec. 91 of No. 149 of the Acts of the 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002) shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on institutions, the house committee on ways and means, and the senate committee on finance on or before January 15, 2004. The commissioner of banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration shall convene the first meeting of the study committee, which shall occur no later than 30 days after the effective date of this act.
Sec. 70. CLARIFICATION
Sec. 88(b) of No. 152 of the Acts of the 1999 Adj. Sess. (2000), as amended by Sec. 15 of No. 11 of the Acts of the 2001 Session, is further amended to read:
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of 30 V.S.A. § 7054 or 32 V.S.A. § 511, monies deposited into the E-911 fund and carried forward to a subsequent fiscal year shall not be spent, as excess receipts or otherwise, for the construction or maintenance of any public service answering points not already in operation on January 1, 2001, except for those already approved for the E-911 Board’s network, database, and equipment, and their maintenance costs, associated with Rockingham and, Rutland, and Derby, without the express, annual appropriation of the general assembly.
* * * Agriculture, Food and Markets * * *
Sec. 71. STUDY; AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
(a) Study. The commissioner of economic development shall undertake a study of the agricultural sector of the Vermont economy. It is the intent of the general assembly that, in designing and carrying out the study, the commissioner be guided by the considerations outlined in this section.
(b) Focus. The study should focus on all elements of the Vermont agricultural economy, but should recognize the evolving context of the dairy industry, and should address all possible income growth opportunities in agriculture. The study should also address circumstances of farmers and others wishing to expand or diversify into other agricultural endeavors.
(c) Substance. The study should:
(1) Describe and measure present conditions, and when possible historic trends, including in-state production, and related to this production, both in‑ and out-of-state value-added processing, marketing, distribution, and consumption. The description should include: economic production functions and resulting productivity levels; employment and wage levels; and secondary benefits within the Vermont economy.
(2) Identify, through analysis of micro-economic conditions, market or public policy barriers to successful entry, expansion, and innovation in Vermont agribusinesses. Based on this analysis, it should identify situations in which both private and public investment and other types of intervention could most enhance businesses’ financial viability, job creation, and gross state revenues.
(d) Products. The study should produce:
(1) A baseline data set for use in charting future trends and in evaluating future economic development decisions.
(2) A general reference document for use by agribusiness persons, public officials, and the general public to learn about conditions of and business opportunities in the Vermont agricultural economy.
(3) A report to the general assembly containing recommended Vermont public policy, government organization, and investment, including ways state economic development agencies could collaborate to enhance agricultural economic productivity and expansion.
(4) A strategy for the broad dissemination of study products and for their use by state and national private and public decision makers responsible for economic development, and by individuals, firms, and other private and public organizations and institutions that already are, or could be, active participants in Vermont agriculture.
(e) Review; completion date. The commissioner shall by September 15, 2003, present at a joint meeting of the chairs of the senate and house committees on agriculture, on appropriations, and on institutions, the senate committee on economic development, housing and general affairs, and the house committee on commerce a study design, work plan, schedule, and budget for accomplishing the study, at which time such members of the general assembly shall determine whether the proposed study meets the intent of this section and, if so, set the study completion date.
Sec. 72. 29 V.S.A. § 160b is added to read:
§ 160b. SALE OF MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS AT INFORMATION
(a) The division for the blind and visually impaired is encouraged to sell milk and milk products, with a preference for the sale of Vermont-produced milk whenever feasible, in vending machines at rest areas and information centers in this state according to policies and rules established by the commissioner of buildings and general services.
(b) The commissioner shall designate areas within rest areas and welcome centers for the sale of milk and milk products with an emphasis on the sale of Vermont‑made products. The commissioner, at his or her sole discretion, shall have the authority to designate the areas where sales may occur.
Sec. 73. 10 V.S.A. § 211(c) is amended to read:
(c) Therefore, the general public advantage requires:
(7) Low-cost capital to assist Vermont family farmers to farm as provided in section 272(a)(3) of this title; and
(8) Low-cost capital available for the purchase of land, buildings, and equipment to process Vermont milk, including the processing of milk into cheese, yogurt, or other value-added milk products.
* * * Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency * * *
Sec. 74. 16 V.S.A. § 3856(h) is amended to read:
(h)(1) In the discretion of the agency, the bonds may be secured by a trust indenture by and between the agency and a corporate trustee or and the resolution authorizing the bonds may provide for the appointment of a corporate trustee for the purpose of securing the bonds, which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company in or out of the state of Vermont.
(A) may contain reasonable provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders, including covenants setting forth the duties of the agency in relation to the acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation, repair and insurance of the facilities and the custody, safeguarding and application of all moneys, ; and
(B) may provide that any facility shall be constructed and paid for under the supervision and approval of consulting engineers or architects a bond construction oversight committee or other internal committee of the borrower’s board of directors or trustees which has been designated to provide reasonable assurance and reporting, or both, so that all phases of construction comply with applicable Vermont statutes and rules and the covenants of all bond financing agreements.
(3) The agency may provide by the trust indenture or resolution authorizing the bonds for the payment of the proceeds of the bonds and the revenues of any facility or moneys received under the terms of any lease, as the case may be, to the trustee of the trust indenture or resolution authorizing the bonds or other depository, and for the method of disbursement thereof, with such safeguards and restrictions as it may determine.
* * * Miscellaneous; Effective Date * * *
Sec. 75. CLARIFICATION
The appropriation made to the department of state’s attorneys and sheriffs in Sec. 15 of No. 149 of the 2001 Adj. Sess. (2002) “for the purchase and installation of a comprehensive case management software system” is intended for the purchase of both case management software and the hardware necessary to support the software to support integration with other entities in the criminal justice system.
Sec. 76. 26 V.S.A. § 881(9) is amended to read:
(9) “Registered apprentice” means an apprentice registered with the apprenticeship division of the state department of labor and industry employment and training for electrical training.
Sec. 77. 26 V.S.A. § 908(b) is amended to read:
(b) All journeyman and master electricians shall, as a condition of license renewal, complete 15 hours of instruction, approved by the board, on the national electrical code during the preceding 36-month period. All holders of a type-S journeyman license shall, as a condition of renewal, complete eight hours of instruction, approved by the board, on the subject of the license holder’s specialty during the preceding 36 months, except that holders of multiple type-S licenses shall not be required to complete more than 15 hours of instruction during the preceding 36 months.
Sec. 78. 18 V.S.A. § 4355 is amended to read:
§ 4355. REGULATIONS; REPORTS
(a) The board may prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to insure the operation in a sanitary and healthful manner of places in which food is prepared and served to the public or in which lodgings are provided. All reports which such board may require shall be on forms prescribed by it.
(b) The board shall not adopt any rule requiring food establishments that operate less than six months of the year and provide outdoor seating for no more than 16 people to provide toilet facilities to patrons, and any such rule or portion thereof now in effect is repealed.
Sec. 79. EFFECTIVE DATE
This act shall take effect from passage. The sums appropriated and the spending authority authorized by this act shall be continuing and shall not revert at the end of the fiscal year.