An act relating to waiver of criminal history record fees for certain DAIL volunteers
S.252 would amend Vermont law governing criminal history record check fees to create a new fee exemption for organizations and agencies that administer no-cost home-delivered meal programs for elderly Vermonters through the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL). Under current law, most name-and-date-of-birth criminal history or conviction record checks cost $30, with several existing exemptions for criminal justice agencies, certain care providers, researchers, self-checks, housing authorities, and environmental enforcement officers. This bill adds a specific exemption for the meal-delivery programs serving older Vermonters.
The practical effect is to reduce administrative costs for nonprofits or agencies that rely on volunteers or staff to deliver meals to seniors, making it less expensive to perform required background checks. The bill is narrowly targeted and does not change the underlying background check process or eligibility standards; it only waives the fee for this one category of DAIL-related service providers. It would take effect on July 1, 2026.
The bill would amend 20 V.S.A. § 2063, which sets the standard fee for Vermont criminal history and conviction record checks and lists categories of fee exemptions. It would add a new subsection exempting requests made by organizations or agencies administering no-cost home-delivered meals for elderly Vermonters in connection with DAIL. As a result, affected meal programs would no longer pay the $30 record-check fee for covered volunteers or workers, lowering operating costs for senior nutrition services and potentially encouraging participation.
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be generally favorable and noncontroversial in purpose, with a clear public-service rationale centered on supporting services for elderly Vermonters. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided material, so there is no documented opposition or formal debate to indicate broader sentiment. The bill’s narrow scope and fee-waiver approach suggest it is intended as a modest administrative relief measure rather than a major policy change.
The main potential point of contention is fiscal and administrative: the bill reduces fee revenue collected by the Vermont Crime Information Center for a specific class of background checks, even though the amount is likely limited. Another possible issue is line-drawing—whether the exemption should extend beyond no-cost home-delivered meal programs to other elder-service or volunteer programs—but the bill as drafted keeps the exemption tightly focused on DAIL-connected meal delivery. No specific objections, amendments, or opposing viewpoints are included in the provided record.