Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2000/acts/act066.htm
Timestamp: 2017-12-14 06:18:59
Document Index: 10044824

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 16', '§ 1181', '§ 4015', '§ 4025', '§ 6066', '§ 6066', '§ 1871', '§ 311', '§ 5', '§ 4025', '§ 706', '§ 435', '§ 2604', '§ 2959', '§ 434', '§ 434', '§ 5']

NO. 66. AN ACT RELATING TO PROVIDING ADJUSTMENTS IN THE AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED FOR THE SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT.
This act shall be known as and shall be cited as the "Budget Adjustment Act - Fiscal Year 2000".
Sec. 2. Sec. 8 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services 281,150 281,150
Operating expenses *[968,850]* 1,092,850
Total*[ 1,250,000]* 1,374,000
Internal service funds*[ 1,250,000]* 1,374,000
Sec. 3. Sec. 14 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services 5,296,223 5,296,223
Operating expenses *[5,991,792]* 6,191,792
Total*[ 11,288,015]* 11,488,015
General fund*[ 9,660,189]* 9,860,189
Transportation fund 1,327,826 1,327,826
Sec. 4. Sec. 28 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services 2,154,820 2,154,820
Operating expenses*[ 555,302]* 605,302
Total*[ 2,885,122]* 2,935,122
General fund*[ 256,499]* 306,499
Transportation fund 2,576,623 2,576,623
Sec. 5. Sec. 30 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services 8,339,462 8,339,462
Operating expenses 2,247,350 2,247,350
Total 10,586,812 10,586,812
General fund*[ 9,362,241]* 9,988,470
Special funds*[ 899,505]* 273,276
Sec. 6. Sec. 42 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Other*[ 4,000,000]* 3,793,202
General fund*[ 1,950,000]* 1,849,186
Transportation fund *[2,050,000]* 1,944,016
Total*[ 4,000,000]* 3,793,202
Sec. 7. Sec. 45 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services*[ 1,436,000]* 1,501,000
Total*[ 1,454,500]* 1,519,500
General fund*[ 1,202,968]* 1,267,968
(a) The establishment of *[two (2)]* three (3) new exempt positions - Legislative Counsel - is authorized in fiscal year 2000.
Sec. 7a. 2 V.S.A. § 16(1) and (2) are amended to read:
(1) *[One copy of the daily House calendar shall be placed on the desk of each member of the House, and one copy of]* Unless otherwise directed by the member, copies of both the daily House calendar and the daily Senate calendar shall be placed on the desk of each member of the House and Senate. An additional number of copies of both the daily House and Senate calendars shall be made available to both House and Senate members in their respective chambers, and to the public in the legislative council offices. The number of such copies required shall be determined by staff of the legislative council based on their demand.
(2) *[Copies]* Unless otherwise directed by the member, copies of both the daily House and Senate journals, and of the bills, shall be *[made available to both House and Senate members in their respective chambers, and]* placed on the desk of each member of the House and Senate, and made available to the public in the legislative council offices. The number of such copies required shall be determined by staff of the legislative council based on their demand.
Sec. 8. LEGISLATIVE HEALTH CARE FUNDS CONTINUANCE
Any unexpended portion of the funds appropriated to the legislature for the health care cost inflation study by Sec. 105 of No. 1 of the Acts of 1999 and for the prescription drug cost study by No. 51 of the Acts of 1999, shall be available to and may be used by the legislature for expenditures of the
legislature relating to prescription drug and health care cost control in FY 2000.
Sec. 9. Sec. 51 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Sec. 51. Total general government*[ 81,610,338]* 81,842,540
General fund*[ 38,080,301]* 38,920,716
Transportation fund*[ 9,521,039]* 9,415,055
Federal funds 2,100,951 2,100,951
Special funds*[ 13,042,981]* 12,416,752
Enterprise funds 1,720,904 1,720,904
Expendable trust 93,530 93,530
Internal service funds*[ 15,865,442]* 15,989,442
Interdepartmental transfer 1,185,190 1,185,190
Total*[ 81,610,338]* 81,842,540
Sec. 10. Sec. 53 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Grants*[ 821,967]* 891,967
General fund 424,342 424,342
Special funds *[225,000]* 295,000
Total*[ 821,967]* 891,967
Sec. 11. Sec. 56 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services*[ 1,681,448]* 1,860,029
Operating expenses *[218,280]* 237,792
Total*[ 1,899,728]* 2,097,821
General fund*[ 1,365,427]* 1,563,520
Sec. 12. Sec. 57 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services*[ 4,089,215]* 4,157,956
Operating expenses 440,724 440,724
Total*[ 4,529,939]* 4,598,680
General fund*[ 3,629,935]* 3,698,676
Federal funds 48,000 48,000
Special funds 251,312 251,312
Sec. 13. Sec. 58. of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services*[ 1,757,137]* 2,212,890
Total*[ 1,791,642]* 2,247,395
General fund*[ 1,532,058]* 1,987,811
Transportation fund 259,584 259,584
Sec. 14. Sec. 60 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services 547,827 547,827
Operating expenses*[ 336,909]* 351,284
Grants 30,000 30,000
Total*[ 914,736]* 929,111
General fund*[ 874,111]* 894,111
Special funds *[40,625]* 35,000
Sec. 15. Sec. 65 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services 2,450,062 2,450,062
Operating expenses *[577,792]* 585,792
Total*[ 3,027,854]* 3,035,854
General fund*[ 232,123]* 234,123
Federal funds *[2,795,731]* 2,801,731
Sec. 16. Sec. 74 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Sec. 74. Banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration -
Personal services*[ 483,453]* 568,453
Operating expenses 19,000 19,000
Total*[ 502,453]* 587,453
Special funds*[ 502,453]* 587,453
Sec. 17. Sec. 76 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Sec. 76. Banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration -
Personal services*[ 2,519,836]* 2,560,436
Operating expenses 482,740 482,740
Total*[ 3,002,576]* 3,043,176
Special funds*[ 3,002,576]* 3,043,176
Sec. 18. Sec. 77 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Sec. 77. Banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration -
Personal services*[ 289,463]* 350,163
Operating expenses *[104,933]* 109,933
Total*[ 394,396]* 460,096
Special funds*[ 394,396]* 460,096
Sec. 19. Sec. 78 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Sec. 78. Banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration -
Personal services*[ 984,499]* 1,067,063
Operating expenses *[234,170]* 239,170
Total*[ 1,218,669]* 1,306,233
Special funds*[ 1,218,669]* 1,306,233
Sec. 20. Sec. 80 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services*[ 23,201,011]* 23,222,011
Operating expenses 4,887,366 4,887,366
Grants 572,100 572,100
Other 135,700 135,700
Total*[ 28,796,177]* 28,817,177
General fund 6,363,436 6,363,436
Transportation fund 18,157,462 18,157,462
Federal funds 2,084,119 2,084,119
Special funds*[ 1,555,169]* 1,576,169
Interdepartmental transfer 635,991 635,991
Sec. 21. Sec. 81 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services*[ 4,264,802]* 4,330,181
Operating expenses 2,663,425 2,663,425
Grants 1,168,000 1,168,000
Total*[ 8,096,227]* 8,161,606
General fund*[ 25,000]* 90,379
Transportation fund 2,903,659 2,903,659
Federal funds 2,892,367 2,892,367
Special funds 1,734,081 1,734,081
Interdepartmental transfer 541,120 541,120
Sec. 22. Sec. 94 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services*[ 17,272,500]* 17,357,500
Operating expenses 2,724,500 2,724,500
Total 19,999,000 20,084,000
General fund*[ 15,254,387]* 15,339,387
Federal funds 127,000 127,000
Interdepartmental transfer 1,691,540 1,691,540
Total*[ 19,999,000]* 20,084,000
Sec. 22a. 32 V.S.A. § 1181 (8) and (9) is amended to read:
July 4, July 2,
(8) Lamoille county*[ 39,869]* 44,055 48,984
(9) Orange county *[ 39,869]* 44,055 48,984
Sec. 23. Sec. 96 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Sec. 96. Vermont radiological emergency response fund
Other*[ 300,000]* 400,000
Special funds*[ 300,000]* 400,000
Sec. 24. Sec. 98 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Sec. 98. Total protection to persons and property*[ 127,729,834]* 129,095,039
General fund*[ 43,319,943]* 44,214,909
Transportation fund 26,593,767 26,593,767
Federal funds*[ 17,552,150]* 17,558,150
Special funds*[ 30,922,592]* 31,386,831
Tobacco funds 490,000 490,000
Enterprise funds 3,433,205 3,433,205
Interdepartmental transfer 5,418,177 5,418,177
Total*[ 127,729,834]* 129,095,039
Sec. 25. Sec. 105 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services*[ 41,645,364]* 40,465,913
Operating expenses*[ 18,541,365]* 21,834,045
Total*[ 60,336,729]* 62,449,958
General fund*[ 57,734,246]* 59,847,475
Federal funds 508,587 508,587
Interdepartmental transfer 476,385 476,385
(e) In counties in which ten or more furloughed inmates reside, the department of corrections shall assign one or more full-time, classified positions at a community correctional officer level to a departmental office in that county, in order to supervise the furloughed prisoners assigned to and living in that county.
(f) The departments of corrections and developmental and mental health services shall develop a protocol to ensure access to third shift nursing care as needed for Dale residents.
Sec. 26. Sec. 118 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Grants*[ 43,531,324]* 40,368,596
Federal funds*[ 25,113,425]* 21,950,697
Total*[ 43,531,324]* 40,368,596
Sec. 27. Sec. 120 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Grants*[ 9,967,628]* 9,265,781
General fund*[ 9,967,628]* 9,265,781
Sec. 28. Sec. 121 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Grants*[ 340,845,606]* 353,688,004
General fund*[ 72,442,463]* 75,702,919
Federal funds*[ 212,475,462]* 220,459,581
Special funds*[ 40,945,620]* 42,543,443
Tobacco funds 14,982,061 14,982,061
Total*[ 340,845,606]* 353,688,004
Sec. 29. Sec. 134 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services 613,487 613,487
Operating expenses 95,744 95,744
Grants 9,099,416 9,099,416
Total 9,808,647 9,808,647
General fund 752,049 752,049
Federal funds*[ 4,376,788]* 4,312,598
Special funds*[ 4,312,598]* 4,376,788
Interdepartmental transfer 367,212 367,212
Sec. 30. Sec. 138 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services 12,130,883 12,130,883
Operating expenses 1,914,053 1,914,053
Other *[40,717,360]* 41,502,010
Total*[ 54,762,296]* 55,546,946
General fund*[ 21,228,189]* 21,572,415
Federal funds*[ 32,619,644]* 33,060,068
Special funds 914,463 914,463
Sec. 31. Sec. 140 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services 1,073,984 1,073,984
Operating expenses 301,091 301,091
Grants *[23,149,206]* 24,522,105
Total*[ 24,524,281]* 25,897,180
General fund*[ 5,845,083]* 5,319,424
Special Funds 832,000 832,000
Federal funds *[17,772,198]* 19,670,756
Sec. 32. Sec. 143 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Sec. 143. Developmental and mental health services - developmental
Personal services 2,445,181 2,445,181
Operating expenses 367,718 367,718
Grants*[ 64,346,293]* 65,136,192
Total*[ 67,240,532]* 68,030,431
General fund*[ 25,742,032]* 26,042,032
Federal funds*[ 40,730,997]* 41,220,896
Special funds 546,253 546,253
Interdepartmental transfer 221,250 221,250
(a) The department of developmental and mental health services shall not change the system of care plan regarding eligibility and services before the end of fiscal year 2000.
Sec. 33. Sec. 156 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Sec. 156. Total Human Services*[ 863,123,168]* 877,161,668
General fund*[ 286,856,728]* 291,647,133
Transportation fund 1,940,011 1,940,011
Federal funds*[ 476,051,217]* 483,637,299
Special funds*[ 75,563,413]* 77,225,426
Tobacco fund 16,439,861 16,439,861
Internal service funds 1,747,710 1,747,710
Interdepartmental transfer 4,514,228 4,514,228
Total*[ 863,123,168]* 877,161,668
Sec. 34. Sec. 160 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services 2,580,049 2,580,049
Operating expenses 883,487 883,487
Grants *[49,428,461]* 53,333,730
Total*[ 52,891,997]* 56,797,266
General fund 1,713,093 1,713,093
Federal funds*[ 50,540,610]* 54,445,879
Special funds 434,800 434,800
Interdepartmental transfer 203,494 203,494
Sec. 35. Sec. 161 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services*[ 295,267]* 320,967
Operating expenses*[ 133,600]* 146,300
Grants *[45,000]* 75,000
Total*[ 473,867]* 542,267
Special funds*[ 473,867]* 542,267
Sec. 36. Sec. 162 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Grants*[ 3,147,664]* 3,196,474
General fund 2,419,927 2,419,927
Federal funds *[727,737]* 776,547
Total*[ 3,147,664]* 3,196,474
Sec. 37. Sec. 163 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Personal services 1,157,073 1,157,073
Operating expenses 244,316 244,316
Grants *[12,608,133]* 12,727,392
Total*[ 14,009,522]* 14,128,781
General fund 992,293 992,293
Education fund 7,070,901 7,070,901
Federal funds*[ 4,709,778]* 5,172,894
Special funds*[ 284,018]* 113,748
Interdepartmental transfer *[952,532]* 778,945
Sec. 38. Sec. 165 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Grants*[ 4,122,209]* 4,137,960
Education fund*[ 4,122,209]* 4,137,960
Sec. 39. 16 V.S.A. § 4015(a)(6) is added to read:
(6) "School district" means a town, city, incorporated, interstate, union or joint contract school district.
Sec. 40. TRANSITIONAL PROVISION - SMALL SCHOOLS GRANTS
A union school district or joint contract school district which became eligible to receive a small schools grant on passage of this act, shall be considered to have been eligible at the beginning of fiscal year 2000 and, upon passage of this act, shall receive small schools support payments that it would have received in September 1999 and December 1999.
Sec. 40a. EXTRAORDINARY TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENT
$67,294.00 of education funds are hereby appropriated to the contingency fund in the department of education established in Sec. 122(f) of No. 71 of the Acts of 1998. Said funds shall be used as necessary to make extraordinary transportation payments to local school districts for fiscal year 2000 that would have been paid had notice and timely filing occurred.
Sec. 41. Sec. 166 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Grants*[ 46,838,371]* 48,651,760
Education fund*[ 46,838,371]* 48,651,760
Sec. 42. Sec. 170 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Grants*[ 440,580]* 698,393
Education fund*[ 440,580]* 698,393
Sec. 43. Sec. 171 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Grants*[ 3,943,000]* 2,970,433
Education fund*[ 3,943,000]* 2,970,433
Sec. 44. Sec. 173 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
There is appropriated from the education fund for fiscal year 2000 to the department of education, *[$217,125,000.00]* $217,344,779.00 for education grants to school districts as required by Sec. 24 of No. 60 of the Acts of 1997. Such grants shall provide in fiscal year 2000 a total statewide average education grant per equalized pupil of $5,377.00. Of the *[$217,125,000.00]* $217,344,779.00 appropriated in this section, $125,000.00 shall be utilized as an adjustment for average daily membership errors reported by the Coventry school district during prior fiscal years.
Sec. 44a. SUPER CIRCUIT BREAKER ADJUSTMENT
In fiscal year 1999, payments from the education fund as required under 16 V.S.A. § 4025(b)(3) for income sensitivity payments under 32 V.S.A. § 6066(a)(1) and (2) shall include payments for benefits under those subsections which were claimed as a part of the total benefit under 32 V.S.A. § 6066(a)(3), as estimated by the commissioner of taxes.
Sec. 45. Sec. 178 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Sec. 178. Total general education and property
tax support *[ 785,768,376]* 791,311,573
General fund 277,323,710 277,323,710
Education fund*[ 419,410,449]* 420,811,908
Federal funds*[ 74,112,355]* 78,529,550
Special funds*[ 9,970,593]* 9,868,723
Interdepartmental transfer *[1,276,254]* 1,102,667
Total*[ 785,768,376]* 791,311,573
Sec. 45a. Subsection (a) is added to Sec. 243 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 to
(a) In addition to allocations made prior to January 13, 2000, additional allocations in the town highway emergency fund are hereby made to the towns to assist with flood disaster relief for occurrences during calendar year 1998 as follows: Belvidere, $683.00; Bethel, $19,234.00; Bradford, $49,574.00; Braintree, $11,684.00; Goshen, $2,165.00; Granville, $8,569.00; Hancock, $78,770.00; Lincoln, $68,064.00; Moretown, $5,696.00; Randolph, $55,218.00; Ripton, $1,567.00; Westford, $1,429.00; and West Haven, $1,450.00.
Sec. 46. FISCAL YEAR 2000 ONE-TIME APPROPRIATIONS
(a) The following amounts are appropriated in fiscal year 2000 from the general fund to the secretary of administration, for transfer and use by the referenced departments:
(1) $112,000 to the department of health - health improvement division - for capital costs associated with opening a dental clinic in Windham County to serve primarily low income Vermonters. 112,000
(2) $385,000 to the department of housing and community affairs for state match for disaster relief. 385,000
(3) $23,000 to the department of personnel for an Intel-based file server to replace an Alpha NT server. 23,000
(4) $4,900 to the legislature to fund the committee on public health care values and priorities. 4,900
(5) $50,000 to the secretary of administration to serve as the state's contribution to a fund for the construction of a memorial to World War II veterans. 50,000
(6) $70,000 to the department of sheriffs for costs of increased prisoner transports from fiscal year 1999. 70,000
(7) $57,052 to the department of state's attorneys for costs of temporary replacement of an incapacitated State's Attorney. 57,052
(8) $125,000 to the Judiciary for costs of retired judges, court security and the professional responsibility board. 125,000
(9) $510,000 to the department of environmental conservation - office of water programs - for contract survey costs for instrumentation and monitoring of Waterbury Dam. 510,000
(10) $75,000 for substance abuse treatment costs at the
Maple Leaf Farm. 75,000
(11) $12,000 to the Lamoille County Office of the State's Attorney to fund a special prosecutor for the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Team for the remainder of fiscal year 2000. 12,000
(12) $200,000 to the Vermont housing and conservation board for the home access project to be used in a manner consistent with Vermont housing and conservation board guidelines. 200,000
(b) The following amounts are appropriated in fiscal year 2000 from the transportation fund:
(1) $1,559,962 to the agency of transportation - rail and aviation division - for the acquisition of the Boston & Maine Corporation railroad line between Hartford and Newbury. 1,559,962
(2) $372,678 to the agency of transportation - project development and special project unit - for level and seal (paving). 372,678
(c) The following amounts are appropriated in fiscal year 2000 from the general fund to the referenced departments:
(1) There is appropriated to the sergeant at arms the amount of $21,512 general funds on a one-time basis to cover costs of increased security presence, overtime and phone coverage. 21,512
(2) The amount of $60,000 general funds is appropriated on a one-time basis to the office of economic opportunity in order to provide grants to community agencies for the purpose of providing shelter for homeless families. Specifically, $35,000 of these funds shall be granted to the Committee on Temporary Shelter in Chittenden County to provide emergency overflow shelter for families. The remaining $25,000 shall be granted through an application process to the office of economic opportunity to community agencies throughout the state. Priority will be given to those agencies demonstrating the greatest need for funds to address emergency shelter overflow for families or other homeless prevention measures such as assistance with security deposits and/or rental arrearages. 60,000
(3) The amount of $181,433 general funds is appropriated to the Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center on a one-time basis to address issues resulting from overcrowding at the facility. 181,433
(4) The amount of $39,000 general funds is appropriated on a one-time basis to the department of aging and disabilities, division of advocacy and independent living for the under age 60 meals on wheels program. 39,000
Sec. 47. FUND TRANSFERS
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, in fiscal year 2000:
Bond proceeds interest earnings 1,565,000 (approx)
VEDA note repayments 163,476 (approx)
Amortization of VEDA bond reserve 73,206
1101120400 Abandoned property fund 597,282 (approx)
Amortization of W. R. Grace 23,046
0701120200 Cash management improvement fund 40,000
Caledonia Fair loan repayment 13,750
(2) All or a portion of the unencumbered balances in the insurance regulatory and supervision fund (appropriation # 0602270509), the captive insurance regulatory and supervision fund (appropriation # 0602270909), and the securities regulatory and supervision fund (appropriation # 0602270809), expected to be approximately $2,600,000 shall be transferred to the general fund, provided that on or before June 15, 2000, the commissioner of banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration certifies to the joint fiscal committee that the transfer of such balances, or any smaller portion deemed proper by the commissioner, will not impair the ability of the department in fiscal year 2001 to provide thorough, competent, fair, and effective regulatory services, or maintain accreditation by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; and that the joint fiscal committee does not reject such certification.
(3) $525,659 from the general fund shall be transferred to the general fund caseload reserve.
(4) $1,948,125 from the general fund shall be transferred to the Vermont health access program (VHAP) trust fund.
(5) $545,000 from the general fund shall be transferred to the Medicaid reimbursement administrative special fund created in Sec. 126 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999.
Sec. 48. REVERSIONS
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, in fiscal year 2000 the following amounts shall revert to the education fund from the accounts indicated:
1205081000 Tax - municipal grand list assistance 128,748
1205080400 Tax - homestead property tax assistance 602,406
1205770706 Education - capital debt service aid 1,483
1205771100 Education - contingency fund 64,669
1205770906 Education - education grants 11,824
1205771006 Education - local share property tax 2,305,347
Sec. 49. 20 V.S.A. § 1871(i) is amended to read:
Sec. 50. SECRETARY OF ADMINISTRATION; CARRY FORWARD AUTHORITY
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law and subject to the approval of the secretary of administration, general, transportation and education fund appropriations, and fish and wildlife appropriations for land acquisition, remaining unexpended on June 30, 2000 shall be carried forward and shall be reserved for expenditure.
Sec. 51. Sec. 265 of No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the total number of authorized state positions, both classified and exempt, excluding temporary positions as defined in 3 V.S.A. § 311(11), shall not be increased during fiscal year 2000, except for new positions authorized by the 1999 session of the general assembly. Positions in the department of employment and training, operating under the managing-to-payroll program, shall not be subject to this restriction, nor shall limited service positions approved pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 5*[, nor shall this apply to partnership or sponsored positions as defined by this act or by the secretary of administration]*.
16 V.S.A. § 4025(a)(12) (language pertaining to federal Medicaid receipts, redundant with subdivision (13)) is repealed.
Sec. 53. 32 V.S.A. § 706(b) is amended to read:
(b) *[The]* Except as specified in subsection (a) of this section, the transfer of balances of appropriations *[in excess of $25,000.00]* may be made only with the approval of the emergency board.
Sec. 54. Sec. 87a(W) of No. 1 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
(W) To the department of aging and disabilities for a residential care homes revolving fund. Said revolving fund shall be utilized for the provision of emergency loans or grants to residential care facilities primarily for various capital improvements including sprinkler systems necessary for the facilities' continued economic viability. Up to 25% of the funds may be utilized to aid in an orderly transition of residents in the event of a facility closure. Said financial assistance shall only be available to licensed residential care facilities that serve or will serve SSI recipients and priority shall be given to assisting facilities in greatest financial distress whose financial circumstances impede their ability to obtain commercial financing for necessary improvements. The department may provide loans, grants, or combinations thereof, as the circumstances warrant. The department shall give priority to loans where repayments will replenish the revolving loan fund. Grants shall only be utilized for facilities in greatest financial distress whose inability to make loan payments would otherwise prevent them from obtaining necessary sprinkler systems. In the event that a property for which a grant has been awarded changes use within less than three years of the award, the state may pursue recovery of all or a portion of the amount of the grant award. Recovery may be through a lien on the property or other means considered reasonable. Change of use shall mean that the property no longer serves as a residential care facility for the same or similar population of residents as when the grant was awarded. *[It]* The fund shall be used in a manner that maximizes other funding sources to meet financial and programmatic needs. 250,000
Sec. 55. 32 V.S.A. § 435(b)(10) is amended to read:
(10) 33 percent of the revenue from the property transfer taxes levied pursuant to chapter 231 of this title and the *[first $500,000.00 of]* revenue from the gains taxes levied each year pursuant to chapter 236 of this title;
Sec. 56. 33 V.S.A. § 2604(c) is amended to read:
*[(B)]*(C) Residents of the dwelling unit who make reasonable compensation in the form of room rent and who are not members of the same household shall be eligible for an annual home heating fuel assistance benefit in the amount of $50.00.
Sec. 57. Sec. 133(d) of Act No. 62 of the Acts of 1999 is added to read:
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions to the contrary of 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 and 33 V.S.A. chapter 26, the office of home heating fuel assistance may disburse home heating fuel assistance benefits for the 1999-2000 program year on behalf of households that make undesignated payments for energy for home heat in the form of rent and are participating in a public, subsidized or Section 8 housing program, as specified in this act, without having filed or adopted rules beforehand. The secretary of human services shall, in accordance with 3 V.S.A. chapter 26 and no later than November 1, 2000, adopt rules relating to the eligibility criteria for and disbursement of annual home heating fuel assistance benefits for households that make undesignated payments for energy for home heat in the form of rent and are participating in a public, subsidized or Section 8 housing program.
Sec. 58. 16 V.S.A. § 2959a(d) is amended to read:
(d) If the amount of Medicaid reimbursement funds received *[in one fiscal year]* for services provided in the prior state fiscal year exceeds $25,000,000, in addition to the 50 percent of said funds paid to supervisory unions submitting Medicaid bills, 25 percent of the amounts in excess of the $25,000,000 shall be paid into an incentive fund hereby created in the department of education. These funds shall be used for an incentive payment to supervisory unions with student participation rates of over 80 percent in accordance with a formula to be developed by the department of education, in consultation with the Vermont Superintendents Association.
Sec. 59. Sec. 99(h) of No. 49 of the Acts of 1999 is amended to read:
(h) Secs. 78-80 (allocation of property transfer tax) shall take effect beginning with fiscal year 2000, except the formula distribution of the municipal and regional planning fund in Sec. 80 shall take effect beginning with fiscal year 2001.
Sec. 60. 32 V.S.A. § 434 is added to read:
§ 434. INVESTMENT OF CERTAIN FUNDS
(a)(1) A "trust investment account" is hereby created to maximize the earnings of individual funds by associating them together for common investment.
(2) The trust investment account may include:
(A) the whole or any part of individual trust funds resulting from court settlements, private bequests, grants, or other awards accepted in accordance with section 5 of this title, provided the terms thereof do not require a separate investment.
(B) the whole or any part of the funds created by express enactment of the general assembly to finance particular or restricted programs that provide that only investment earnings of the fund shall be used for program purposes, including but not limited to, the Vermont higher education endowment trust fund established pursuant to section 2885 of Title 16.
(C) any other funds which the state treasurer identifies, in consultation with the secretary of administration, as appropriate for inclusion in the account.
(3) The state treasurer may invest and reinvest the funds in the account, and hold, purchase, sell, assign, transfer and dispose of the investments in accordance with the standard of care established by the prudent investor rule under chapter 147 of Title 9. The treasurer shall apply the same investment objectives and policies adopted by the Vermont state employees' retirement system, where appropriate, to the investment of funds in the trust investment account.
(4) At reasonable intervals, but at least annually in June of each fiscal year, the treasurer shall credit each individual fund in the trust investment account with a pro rata share of the net income of the account. The value of the individual funds transferred to or withdrawn from the trust investment account shall be on the basis of the fair market value of the total funds of the account at the time of the transfer or withdrawal. The treasurer may withdraw monies from the account as permitted or required by the terms of the individual funds or as required by acts of the general assembly.
(5) Annually, the treasurer shall prepare a report on the financial activity of the trust investment account.
(b) The state treasurer may invest and reinvest the monies deposited into the tobacco litigation settlement fund established by section 435a of this title, and may hold, purchase, sell, assign, transfer and dispose of the investments in accordance with the standard of care established by the prudent investor rule under chapter 147 of Title 9.
Sec. 61. ANNUAL REPORT ON BRADY LAW NATIONAL
The Vermont state point of contact for the Brady law national insta-check system shall report to the general assembly annually by December 15 for the previous fiscal year on the following:
(1) the total number of record checks done including numbers of denials and contested denials;
(2) a breakdown of the number of crimes which caused denials and the number of referrals for prosecutions which resulted from denials;
(3) the length of time that records are maintained and the percentage of time that state and federal databases were not functioning.
For fiscal year 2000 the report shall cover from March 1 through June 30.
Sec. 61a. TRANSITION OF BRADY CHECKS TO NICS/APPEAL
The commissioner of public safety shall develop a plan to upload Vermont criminal information to the National Instant Criminal Background Checks System (NICS) which will enable a transition of responsibility for Brady checks to NICS on or before June 30, 2001. The commissioner shall also assure that there is a complaint and appeal process in place throughout the insta-check contract. A report of the number of complaints and appeals and said plan to upload Vermont criminal information shall be submitted to the house and senate appropriations and judiciary committees no later than January 15, 2001.
Sec. 62. POSITIONS AUTHORIZED
(a) The establishment of the following positions in fiscal year 2000 is authorized to replace ongoing contractual and temporary services:
(1) Tax - administration/collection: Two (2) new classified positions - Data Clerk.
(2) Buildings and general services - facilities operations: Seven (7) new classified positions - Buildings Custodian A.
(3) Buildings and general services - property management: Five (5) new classified positions - one (1) General Counsel, one (1) Maintenance Mechanic B, two (2) Buildings Custodian A and (1) Buildings Custodian.
(4) Transportation - rail and aviation: One (1) new classified position - Airport Operations Specialist.
(5) Forests, parks and recreation - state parks: One (1) new classified position - Secretary C.
(6) Environmental conservation - office of water programs: One (1) new classified position - Environmental Scientist III.
(7) Social and rehabilitation services - child care services: One (1) new exempt position - Assistant Attorney General.
(8) State's attorneys: One (1) new exempt position - Secretary IV.
(9) Public safety - Emergency Management: One (1) new classified position - Secretary B.
(10) Corrections - administration: One (1) new classified position - Law Clerk.
(11) Corrections - corrections services: Two (2) new classified positions - District Office Clerk.
(b) The establishment of the following new positions is authorized in fiscal year 2000:
(1) Social Welfare - administration: Eleven (11) new classified positions - five (5) Medicaid Consultative Service Coordinator, one (1) Accountant C, one (1) Administrative Assistant A, one (1) Quality Assurance Nurse Manager, two (2) Medical Records Specialist and one (1) Secretary C.
(2) Transportation - project development and special projects unit: Four (4) new classified positions - three (3) Transportation Technician III and one (1) Technician Project Supervisor.
Sec. 63. GRANT ACCEPTANCE
Notwithstanding 32 V.S.A. § 5, the following grant is hereby accepted and appropriated to the department indicated for the purpose specified by the grantor:
(1) $223,238 in federal grant funds from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to the department of public safety to support increased civilian clerical support in the state police field offices in order to make available nine (9) full-time equivalent trooper positions. The establishment of twelve (12) new classified positions - Clerk B - is authorized in fiscal year 2000.
Approved: February 8, 2000