Notes from Montpelier
by Rep. Bill Frank

     In my last column I wrote about the date bills have to be voted out of committee in order to be taken up by the other chamber, "crossover date". My committee, as were all committees, was busy that last week before crossover and now we are busy taking up the many bills the Senate sent to us. Our year long work dealing with the protection of children continues with Senate Bill S.152 dealing with prohibiting the sale of children's products that contain lead. The testimony we heard confirmed my belief that there is no good reason for children's products made with lead to be sold or marketed in Vermont. If passed, Vermont will be one of the first states to have such a restriction. We are hopeful federal legislation will become law in the near future. The amount of lead by weight allowed will decrease over the next three years from 0.06% (600 parts per million) beginning October 1, 2008 to 0.01% (100 parts per million) as of January 1, 2010. I have received many comments about why Vermont does not have such a ban, including comments like "it's the right thing to do". This really came to light when I met with a Cub Scout troop last Friday. We talked about how and why bills are introduced and how a bill becomes a law. When I asked the scouts what laws they thought the legislature should pass I was told "toys with lead in them should be banned". These comments make me especially proud to be working on this important bill.

     Another bill dealt with one of my primary areas of interest, "End of life care and pain management". The senate bill, S.281, would direct the Department of Health to convene a group of stakeholders to discuss how to improve palliative care, end-of-life care, and management of chronic pain. I took the lead in our committee to better define who would be part of this group and to define what should be studied. The Attorney General's office conveyed a group for a three-year study on "Initiative of End of Life Care" in 2005. I have studied their reports to direct the discussion toward how Vermont is doing on their recommendations. The group, which I'm suggesting to be headed by the Attorney General's office, will be directed to provide a written progress report on its findings and recommendations by next January. My goal is for recommendations that can lead to the introduction of legislation for the next biennium.

     This legislative session is fast coming to an end, we are shooting to finish in early May. I appreciate hearing from you; contact me at Rep.BillFrank@verizon.net, 899-3136 or 19 Pokerhill Rd, Underhill 05489.