§ 5. Acceptance of grants

(a) Definitions. As used in this section:

(1) "Loan" means a loan that is interest free or below market value.

(2) "State agency" means an Executive Branch agency, department, commission, or board.

(b) Executive Branch approval.

(1) Approval required. A State agency shall not accept the original of any grant, gift, loan, or any sum of money, or thing of value except as follows:

(A) the State agency is granted approval pursuant to this subsection; or

(B) Joint Fiscal Committee policies adopted pursuant to subsection (e) of this section do not require a State agency to obtain approval.

(2) Governor review. The Governor shall review each grant, gift, loan, or any sum of money, or thing of value and shall send a copy of the approval or rejection to the Joint Fiscal Committee through the Joint Fiscal Office together with the following information with respect to these items:

(A) the source and value;

(B) the legal and referenced title, in the case of a grant;

(C) the costs, direct and indirect, for the present and future years;

(D) the receiving department or program, or both;

(E) a brief statement of purpose; and

(F) any impact on existing programs if there is a rejection.

(3) Legislative review.

(A) The Governor's approval in subdivision (b)(2) of this section shall be final except as follows:

(i) When the General Assembly is not in session, within 30 days of receipt of the copy of an approval and related information required under subdivision (b)(2) of this section, a member of the Committee requests such grant, gift, loan, sum of money, or thing of value be placed on the Committee's agenda; or

(ii) when the General Assembly is in session, within 30 days of receipt of the copy of an approval and related information required under subdivision (b)(2) of this section, a member of the Committee requests that such grant, gift, loan, sum of money, or thing of value be held for legislative approval. If a copy of an approval and related information is received when the General Assembly is in session, but before the members of the Joint Fiscal Committee are appointed, one of the statutorily appointed members of the Committee may request to hold a grant for legislative approval. Legislative approval under this subdivision may be granted by legislation or resolution.

(B) In the event of a request to hold a grant made pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection, the grant shall not be accepted until approved by the Joint Fiscal Committee or the General Assembly.

(C) The 30-day period described in subdivision (3)(A)(i) of this subsection may be reduced where expedited consideration is warranted in accordance with Joint Fiscal Committee policies adopted pursuant to subsection (e) of this section.

(D) Upon receipt of the copy of an approval and related information required under subdivision (b)(2) of this section while the General Assembly is in session, the Joint Fiscal Committee shall promptly file a notice with the House and Senate Clerks for publication in the respective calendars.

(4) Exceptions.

(A) General. The review and approval process set forth in subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to the following items:

(i) the acceptance of grants, gifts, loans, sums of money, or other things of value with a value of $15,000.00 or less, if the acceptance of those items will not incur additional expense to the State or create an ongoing requirement for funds, services, or facilities; or

(ii) a legal settlement.

(B)(i) Notification required. The receiving agency shall promptly notify the Secretary of Administration and Joint Fiscal Office of the source, value, and purpose of any items received under this subdivision; provided, however, that no notification is required for an item received under this subdivision with a value of less than $1,500.00.

(ii) The Joint Fiscal Office shall report all items received under this subdivision to the Joint Fiscal Committee quarterly. The provisions of 2 V.S.A. § 20(d)(expiration of required reports) shall not apply to the report to be made under this subdivision.

(5) Transportation. With respect to acceptance of the original of a federal transportation earmark or of a discretionary federal grant for a transportation project, the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply, except that in addition:

(A) notification of the Governor's approval or rejection shall also be made to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation; and

(B) such grant or earmark shall be placed on the agenda, and shall be subject to the approval, of a committee comprising the Joint Fiscal Committee and the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation, if one of the Chairs or a member of the Joint Fiscal Committee so requests.

(c) Legislative and Judicial Branch approval.

(1) Approval required. The Legislative and Judicial Branches shall not accept the original of any grant, gift, loan, or any sum of money, or thing of value except as follows:

(A) approval is granted pursuant to the process set forth in subdivision (b)(3) of this section if the item received has a value of more than $15,000; and

(B) notification is sent to the Joint Fiscal Committee and the Secretary of Administration of the source, value, and purpose of the item received if the item has a value of $1,500.00 or more.

(2) Exceptions. The review process set forth in subdivision (b)(2) of this section shall not apply to the approval of any grant, gift, loan, or any sum of money, or thing of value received by the Legislative or Judicial Branches.

(d) Limited service position. The Joint Fiscal Committee is authorized to approve a limited service position request in conjunction with a grant if the position is explicitly stated for a specific purpose in the grant, and the position request is approved pursuant to the process set forth in subsection (b) of this section. The position shall terminate with the expiration of the grant funding unless otherwise funded by an act of the General Assembly. A limited service position request shall include a certification from the appointing authority to the Joint Fiscal Committee that there exists equipment and housing for the position or that funds are available to purchase equipment and housing for the position.

(e) Policies. The Joint Fiscal Committee is authorized to adopt policies to implement this section, including a policy on expedited review by the Joint Fiscal Committee when the General Assembly is not in session. (Added 1971, No. 260 (Adj. Sess.), § 29(a); amended 1977, No. 247 (Adj. Sess.), § 186, eff. April 17, 1978; 1983, No. 253 (Adj. Sess.), § 248; 1995, No. 46, § 52; 1995, No. 63, § 277, eff. May 4, 1995; 1995, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 416, eff. May 22, 1996; 1997, No. 2, § 72, eff. Feb. 12, 1997; 1997, No. 66 (Adj. Sess.), § 60, eff. Feb. 20, 1998; 2007, No. 65, § 394; 2009, No. 146 (Adj. Sess.), § B15; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § E.127.2, eff. June 3, 2010; 2013, No. 142 (Adj. Sess.), § 54; 2013, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 2013, No. 179 (Adj. Sess.), § E.342.7; 2017, No. 85, § E.700; 2019, No. 72, § E.127.2.)