Wednesday, February 22, 2012

This morning the Senate Natural Resources Committee will be taking up S. 183, potable water supply testing. This bill replaces S. 77 which was passed in 2011 but then vetoed by the governor. It would mandate the same disclosure in this language:
Sec. 4. 27 V.S.A. § 616 is added to read:
§ 616. GROUNDWATER SOURCE TESTING; DISCLOSURE OF
EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL
(a) For purchase and sales agreements executed on or after January 1, 2013,
the seller shall provide the buyer, within 72 hours of the execution of a
purchase and sales agreement for a property with a potable water supply, as
that term is defined in 10 V.S.A. § 1972(6), that is not served by a public water
system, as that term is defined in 10 V.S.A. § 1671(5), with informational
materials developed by the department of health regarding:
(1) the potential health effects of the consumption of untreated
groundwater; and
(2) the buyer’s opportunity under the agreement to test the potable water
supply.
(b) Noncompliance with the requirements of subsection 1 (a) of this section
2 shall not affect the marketability of title.
Testing of new groundwater sources would begin on January 1, 2014; see new 10 VSA 1981(b).
What I am finding really interesting this year is how the Senate is working on House bills before they either pass the House or even get a hearing in the House. For example, on Friday, Senate Natural will “mark up” H. 553, the perpetual conservation easement bill. That bill got a quick hearing in House Judiciary; then, even though it is in Judiciary, got a hearing in Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources. So it hasn’t passed the House yet the Senate is “marking up the bill”. Odd.
Also the Senate Natural Resources Committee is working on the Senate version of building energy disclosure in S.143, a bill that didn’t get much traction in the House Natural Resources Committee. So I’m not sure where this is all going.
Depending on the today’s house calendar I may be back in judiciary as they are scheduled to take up H. 600, the foreclosure mediation bill. But this afternoon may be cancelled as the House will be debating the fee bill which could take some time. Also, the next two days will probably be spent on the House floor as the health care bill is up for action. It’s doubtful there will be any committee time later this week. I’ll keep you posted.
Thanks for reading.