Vt. Stat. tit. 3A § 3-89

Current through L. 2024, c. 185.

Section 3-89 - Executive Order No. 3-89 (No. 09-19) [Vermont 2020 Complete Count Committee]

WHEREAS, Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution requires the federal government to undertake a census every 10 years; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 141 of Title 13 of the United States Code, the next federal census will be on April 1, 2020; and

WHEREAS, having a complete and accurate count of Vermont's population is essential for the fair representation of the citizenry in the U.S. Congress, the State of Vermont legislature and the legislative bodies of local government; and

WHEREAS, the results of the census are the foundation for many important decisions made by federal and state government, including the disbursement of billions of dollars of federal funds to states based on population; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Census Bureau identifies particular groups of residents as "hard-to-count" populations that have traditionally been undercounted in the decennial census process, including but not limited to:

* young children;

* highly mobile persons;

* racial and ethnic minorities;

* non-English speakers;

* low income persons;

* persons experiencing homelessness;

* undocumented immigrants;

* persons who distrust the government;

* LGBTQ persons;

* persons with mental or physical disabilities;

* persons who do not live in traditional housing; and

WHEREAS, it is critically important that census outreach and education efforts focus on reaching these hard-to-count populations to ensure the results of the 2020 Census are as accurate as possible; and

WHEREAS, it will take the collaboration of community leaders, non-profit organizations, local government, legislative leaders and the Governor of the State of Vermont to raise public awareness of the importance of the 2020 Census and to find ways to support census data-collection efforts; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Census Bureau recommends each state create a State Complete Count Committee with the goals of heightening awareness about the 2020 Census and encouraging residents to participate.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Philip B. Scott, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Vermont, do hereby order and direct the creation of the "Vermont 2020 Complete Count Committee" which shall be constituted as set forth below:

I. Composition and Appointments.

The Vermont 2020 Complete Count Committee shall consist of not more than 30 members to be appointed by the Governor. Governmental members shall include:

1. Secretary of the Agency of Administration, or designee;

2. Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, or designee;

3. Secretary of the Agency of Digital Services or designee;

4. Secretary of the Agency of Education, or designee;

5. Secretary of the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, or designee;

6. Secretary of the Agency of Human Services, or designee;

7. Commissioner of the Department for Children and Families, or designee;

8. Commissioner of the Department of Health, or designee;

9. Commissioner of the Department of Labor, or designee;

10. Vermont State Data Center Coordinator;

11. Vermont Secretary of State, or designee;

12. With the consent of the Vermont Senate, no more than two members to be appointed by the Committee on Committees;

13. With the consent of the Vermont House of Representatives, no more than two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

The remaining appointments to the Committee shall be broadly representative of the following sectors:

1. Municipal government, including at least one community with low interest access;

2. Community Action Agencies;

3. Minority, immigrant and refugee communities;

4. Homeless shelter providers;

5. Youth-focused or child advocacy organizations;

6. Education;

7. Senior citizens;

8. The LGBTQ community;

9. Charitable foundations, community foundations, or faith-based organizations;

10. The health care community;

11. Local business and economic development; and

12. Media/public relations.

In making appointments, the Governor shall make efforts to ensure diverse geographic, cultural, ethnic and gender representation on the Committee.

II. Charge.

The Committee shall identify barriers that may impede the full participation of Vermonters in the 2020 Census and shall develop, recommend and assist in the administration of an outreach action plan designed to overcome these barriers and to ensure as complete a count as possible of Vermont's population in the 2020 Census.

The census outreach strategy shall include, but not be limited to, state agency initiatives to encourage participation in the 2020 Census, the establishment and support of school-based outreach programs, partnerships with non-profit community-based organizations, and a multi-lingual, multi-media campaign designed to ensure an accurate and complete count of Vermont's population.

The Committee shall collaborate and coordinate with the United States Bureau of the Census and any other groups in the State needed to carry out Vermont's outreach strategy.

The Committee shall endeavor to provide resources and referrals to people in the "hard-to-count" groups, such as housing placement opportunities for persons experiencing homelessness and access to legal resources for undocumented immigrants.

The first meeting of the Committee shall occur no later than the first week of December 2019.

III. Process.

The Chair of the Committee shall be appointed by the Governor.

The Committee shall meet at the call of its Chair.

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development shall provide administrative support to the Committee.

To assist in carrying out its duties, the Committee may create and appoint subcommittees as it deems appropriate and shall solicit participation from relevant experts and practitioners involved in census issues.

Members of the Committee shall serve terms that expire December 31, 2020. Vacancies in the committee shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. All departments and agencies of the state government shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to the Committee and its agents deemed necessary or desirable by the Committee to facilitate the purposes of this Executive Order.

IV. Expense Reimbursement.

I hereby authorize per diem compensation and reasonable and necessary expense reimbursement for members who are not full-time State employees pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 1010(e).

V. Effective Date. This Executive Order shall take effect upon execution and shall expire on December 31, 2020.

Dated November 14, 2019.

3 Appendix V.S.A. § 3-89