Wednesday April 28, 2010

A couple of bills are moving. The technical corrections bill to the Vermont Trust Code (S. 173) is no won its way to the governor for signature. The Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (H. 689) made it through second reading in the senate yesterday with no questions or objections. It should sail through today and then be signed into law. The House Commerce Committee voted out the benefit corporation bill (S. 263) by a vote of 8-3. The three dissenters were concerned about provisions in the bill that allow conversion to a benefit corporation. There is unanimous agreement on the portions that govern setting up a new benefit corporation. I expect this to be debated on the house floor tomorrow and Friday. After passage, and since it is a senate bill, it will return to the senate for its concurrence or go to a committee of conference.
There is no progress to report on restructuring. I hope that the senate committee completes work on it tomorrow or at the latest Friday. I did see a printout of probate judge proposed salaries after restructuring but while keeping 14 probate judges. I expect most to be unhappy with the proposal I saw as it did reduce most salaries. That’s what’s really left to work out in my opinion. I think the side judge and the small claims fees issues can be resolved without too much trouble. But we’ll see.
Today the House Judiciary Committee spent a good hour reviewing the senate’s version of H. 590, foreclosure mediation. The big change from the house passed version is the elimination of pre filing mediation. The committee seems to be committed to that approach- their approach. But all the stakeholders (VLA; AG; Vermont Bankers; Vermont Mortgage Bankers; BISHCA; and the Association of Vermont Credit Unions) support the senate passed version, thereby putting the house committee and its preferences squarely in play. Although the committee did not finish its review I expect they will not concur and request a committee of conference, thereby gaining some time to absorb the changes and think them through.
I really have nothing else to report right now. We’re entering the stage of conference committee meetings that are hit and miss within whatever time is available. It’s hard to predict when or even if something will take place. There is usually no schedule, at least not a public or published schedule. I’ll post something after the Senate Judiciary Committee makes some decisions on H. 470. Thanks for reading.
UPDATE: The House is now in session and they have just suspended the rules to take up H. 590 for the purposes of NOT concurring with the senate version. The Speaker appointed Reps. Koch, Jewett and Marek to the Committee of Conference.