Senate Committee Hears VSEA Request to Keep Police‑Academy Trainers in Group C; Legal Questions Prompt Delay

The Senate Committee on Government Operations on Feb. 13, 2026, heard testimony from the Vermont State Employees Association asking that trainers at the Vermont Police Academy be permitted to remain in Group C instead of moving to Group F, a change VSEA says would help recruit and retain certified law‑enforcement officers.

"For the record, Steve Howard, I'm the executive director of the Vermont State Employees Association, and we represent the employees at the Vermont Police Academy," said Steve Howard, introducing the association's request and saying, "the trainers...were required to be certified law enforcement officers, and we have subsequently learned that that is no longer the case." Howard said allowing members who are certified officers to remain in Group C would be an incentive to fill trainer positions.

Committee members asked for details about the scope and legal risks of the proposal. A committee member asked how many positions would be affected; witnesses said the count appeared to be small — "6 positions" — but described that number as approximate. Howard said that staff who remained in Group C would be expected to maintain their certification and that, under the proposal, they would continue to hold the retirement status associated with Group C. He also said he believed the mandatory retirement age was "I believe it's now 57."

Tim Duggan, director of the Vermont Retirement Systems in the Office of the State Treasurer, referred the panel to a prior legislative study committee report, saying, "Page 6 of the report...that committee did was look at all of the existing group C positions," and reported the study committee's conclusion that trainers "did not meet the definition, the ADEA definition of law enforcement" eligible for the mandatory‑retirement exemption. Duggan said the study committee recommended addressing recruitment and retention through broader compensation and benefits changes rather than by changing retirement classifications.

Members pressed for comparative information and legal review. Senator Pence and others urged staff to ask legal counsel or the Joint Fiscal Office to contact national organizations such as the National Conference of State Legislatures or the Council of State Governments for how other states treat similar trainer positions. A committee member suggested asking Chris Root to examine pension implications.

The committee did not take formal action. Members agreed to gather further analysis — including legal guidance and comparative state practice — and to revisit the VSEA request at a later date. The chair recessed the session until 2:00 p.m.; the committee planned to return to consider S.196 (property tax sales) and to hear testimony from Chris Delia of the Vermont Bankers Association.