Senate Health & Welfare considers task force to overhaul mandated‑reporting rules; members press for training, staffing review

The Senate Health & Welfare committee discussed a proposal to create a task force to review the state’s mandated‑reporting statutes, rules and agency policies, with sponsors saying the effort responds to concerns from victim‑service organizations and long‑standing statutory gaps.

A sponsor who identified themself for the record said the measure was prompted by the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services and described it as a careful review rather than an immediate change to law. “Our laws around mandated reporting really haven't been updated since the nineties,” the sponsor said, and added that the center had described ways current statutes and practices have “actually caused harm to victims.”

Committee members pressed for clarification about the task force’s scope. Several legislators suggested adding the Office of the Child Advocate to the membership, and one senator urged the group to examine training requirements for mandated reporters to reduce inappropriate reports that clog the child‑protection system.

Senator Collins noted staffing shortages inside child‑protection agencies and argued that clearer reporting standards and stronger training could reduce unnecessary referrals and allow investigators to focus on higher‑priority cases. The sponsor said the task force could recommend training and that the membership should include both statute drafters and people who apply the statutes in practice.

Members also debated the task force timeline and number of meetings, noting summer scheduling could delay work. The sponsor indicated a preference for producing actionable recommendations in time for the next legislative session but agreed to consult named members on realistic deadlines.

The committee asked staff to refine the draft, coordinate with legal adviser Michelle, and circulate proposed membership and timelines. No formal vote on the task‑force bill was recorded during the session.