Committee reviews bill to add a full‑time mediator to Vermont Labor Relations Board, cites $115,000 placeholder

The Committee on General & Housing heard a walk‑through of H 518, a short‑form bill that would create a permanent full‑time mediator position at the Vermont Labor Relations Board and include an initial placeholder appropriation of $115,000 to cover salary and benefits.

Sophie Zatney, legislative counsel, told the committee the Vermont Labor Relations Board currently operates with a very small staff — effectively 1.5 employees — and the proposed mediator position would provide free mediation services to both public and private sector collective bargaining units. “This would add in a mediator position to provide free mediation services to both public and private sector collective bargaining units,” Zatney said.

Members asked whether the state‑level mediator would duplicate services provided historically by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). Zatney and committee members noted that an executive order had sharply reduced FMCS staffing and capacity, that litigation and restoration efforts are ongoing, and that FMCS statutory obligations do not necessarily include the full scope of public‑sector mediation in Vermont. Committee members and staff discussed that parties must request mediation at impasse and that the proposed position would provide neutral, locally based capacity.

Several members requested follow‑up on fiscal details, testimony from affected employers and carriers, and possible implementation mechanics (employee vs. independent contractor). The chair described two procedural paths for a short form bill — leaving it on the wall while a fuller Senate bill (S 173) moves forward or asking legislative counsel to draft a long‑form bill for the committee to consider. The committee indicated it would proceed with drafting a long form for the short bill 5 48 so it remains active in the House process.

Next steps: Legislative counsel will draft the long‑form bill and the committee may request testimony from stakeholders during markup.