House advances bill to remove mandatory retirement language for college professors

The Vermont House on Jan. 27 advanced H-532, a bill that would remove a state code provision allowing mandatory retirement of college professors at age 70, ordering the measure for third reading.

The member from Kalis, Representative Mahali, told the chamber H-532 is “a technical correction that brings Vermont law into compliance with long standing federal law on age discrimination.” Mahali said a contrary provision in Vermont law—32 VSA section 495 (as described in committee testimony)—remained unnoticed until it was identified by legislative council and that the bill “simply strikes the relevant Vermont code section thus making Vermont law and federal law consistent with each other.”

Committee testimony recorded a recommendation that the bill 'ought to pass' and reported a committee vote of 10-0-1 in favor of the recommendation. Mahali disclosed a possible appearance of conflict, saying he is an emeritus professor and over age 70, and asked members for their support.

Supporters framed H-532 as a clarifying, nonpolicy change meant to remove a statutory provision inconsistent with the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act. No floor debate in opposition or additional amendments was recorded during the second-reading presentation. The House ordered the bill read a third time; the next procedural step is third-reading consideration before final passage or further amendment.

Authorities referenced in discussion included the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the cited Vermont code provision described in committee remarks as 32 VSA section 495. The committee report and the member’s disclosure were entered into the record during the second reading.