THIS IS the second article in a series of articles highlighting our Legislative accomplishments for the 2010 session.

Education

The house passed four education bills that focus on educational quality and safety. They will strengthen our communities now and in the future: Independent colleges will develop harassment policies (H.648), schools will have greater access to funds for nutritional programs (H.408), a PreK-16 council was charged with increasing college aspirations and completion rates (H.709), and separation agreements with former employees would no longer be permitted to hide conduct that could jeopardize the safety of a minor or vulnerable adult (H.730). In addition, children with learning disabilities will be able to participate in graduation activities with their peers without losing access to continued educational opportunities and school districts that decide to create a more efficient structure for their communities can merge voluntarily (H.66). Voluntary school district merger language was incorporated into H.66. The bill permits districts that find it is in their collective interest to merge to receive incentives and technical assistance to facilitate merger. It leaves decisions in the hands of the district, removes barriers to merger, and allows districts to design for efficiencies.

Mobile home ownership

H.542 is an important piece of legislation with respect to ownership of mobile homes, as well as rent-to-own agreements. This bill addresses the reality that rules and regulations surrounding mobile homes have been notoriously confusing.

It is sometimes difficult to track sales and rentals of mobile homes. This creates a negative impact on renters, as well as municipalities that must track property taxes for the home. Many homes are owned, and the pad upon which they sit is rented from a mobile home park owner. The mobile homes themselves have, in the past, been considered real property at times and real estate at others. This bill will help provide a straight line of rentership or ownership between the buyer and seller, and will provide municipalities an easier way of tracking ownership so the collection of property taxes will be easier.

A Stronger Vermont

Economy

In a recent letter to the editor the president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce stated: “the message from the Vermont Chamber of Commerce is one for the record books: victory for Vermont business community. In the most challenging fiscal environment in decades, businesses in Vermont applied pressure and as a result, the Republican administration and the Democrat-led Legislature came together to create an environment in Vermont that encourages business growth and economic prosperity.”

We did this in many ways. Our jobs bill invests almost $9 million in federal stimulus funds in broadband, workforce training, access to capital, agriculture, and many worthwhile projects.

We amended the estate tax to allow small businesses and farms to pass on their equity to their families without an added penalty.

Our new policies make business and commerce more equitable and operate more efficiently. This includes a solution for the unemployment insurance trust fund, strengthened rights for condo-owners and others in home associations, fair labor laws that ensure proper classification of employees for workers’ compensation, strengthening of the VT Seal of Quality, and support for Farm-to-Plate grants and the Buy Local movement.

We balanced a budget that closed a $150 million gap without raising taxes

Additionally, merchants will be able to decide whether to accept credit cards for purchases under $10. Furthermore, we responded to concerns from Ben & Jerry’s and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility to create a new business structure of Benefit Corporations. It allows them maximize profits and make business decisions based on the greater social good.

These are just a few of the accomplishments we achieved to help strengthen our economy. Please let me know if you would like more information on other initiatives.

Protecting Home Ownership

Like the rest of the country, Vermont has seen massive increases in the rate of home foreclosure during this recession. While this is a natural symptom of the recession, it is not one that we have to accept.

Federal law requires that lenders consider modification of the terms of principal residence home mortgages when the borrowers are 60 days behind in their payments. When the federal law is followed, more than half the homeowners going into foreclosure are able to remain in their homes. Based on 2009 foreclosure filings, this would allow as many as 1,000 families to remain in their homes.

The foreclosure mediation bill (H-590) requires banks to set up mediation with those homeowners with whom they intend to file foreclosure. I was one of the lead sponsors of this important bill. Vermont attorneys who have been trained in foreclosure prevention and loss mitigation by the Vermont Bar Association will conduct the mediations. Mediators will make sure that a variety of home foreclosure prevention tools are explored including application of the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).

One of the biggest challenges to avoiding foreclosure is getting homeowners to answer the complaint and appear in court. We heard that as many as 80 or 90% of foreclosure defendants fail to appear and lose their houses to the bank by default. If you know anyone facing foreclosure please urge them to file an answer (show up in court) and request mediation with their lender; H-590 may allow them to keep their homes.

Contact: maxjg@wcvt.com or 496-7667.