House Judiciary Chair outlines multi-week docket including pretrial supervision and forensic facility bills

The House Judiciary Committee chair spent part of the session briefing members on a multi-week plan of bills the committee expects to consider, identifying areas that may require more drafting and public testimony.

The chair said next week may include animal cruelty and voyeurism bills, a Human Rights Commission presentation of a recent report, and short-form bills such as H.572, which would allow the press to access criminal records through an account on the judiciary system rather than going to courthouses. The chair also mentioned possible consideration of H.728 (no-trespass order language) and a committee bill covering miscellaneous judiciary matters.

In week six the committee will hold a joint public safety hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee to get testimony on the Chittenden County accountability court docket and to consider pretrial supervision language in H.529 and related language in H.721. The chair also flagged H.642 on youthful offender provisions and said H.721 contains overlapping language.

The chair said H.613 (officer-involved shooting) and a forensic facility bill would need more work, and indicated the forensic facility language in the House is similar to what the Senate is taking up. Members discussed priorities and agreed to try to streamline repetitive testimony by limiting duplicate witnesses.

The committee confirmed a revised-draft presentation from Michelle Childs is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. and that additional witnesses (including Kim McManus and a representative identified as 'Charlie') may present later in the day or at a 2:30 p.m. slot if needed.