Bill > H0920

This bill establishes the Vermont Citizens' Assembly, a new deliberative body composed of 150 Vermont residents selected through a random process called "sortition" to ensure a representative sample of the population. This Assembly will voluntarily address significant public concerns facing the state and will make legislative recommendations to the Vermont General Assembly. Members will be compensated with a daily wage equivalent to the median income in Vermont, along with reimbursement for essential expenses like lodging, food, childcare, and travel. The Assembly will operate for a one-year term, meeting for two weekends each month between mid-June and mid-November. It will function as an independent entity, responsible for selecting one issue for its annual focus and designating the issue for the following year's Assembly. The Citizens' Assembly will be supported by its own permanent staff and a dedicated website, with funding provided through state appropriations from the General Fund.