S 106

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1S.106
2 Introduced by Senators Gulick, Vyhovsky and White
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Regulated drugs; Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group
6 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to extend the
7 tenure of the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group, add new
8 members, and expand the scope of the Group’s charge.
9    An act relating to continuing the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working
10    Group
11 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
12 Sec. 1. PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY ADVISORY WORKING GROUP;
13STUDY
14    (a) Findings.
15(1) In 2024, the General assembly enacted Act and Resolves No. 126,
16 “An act relating to the establishment of the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory
17 Working Group,” for the purpose of reviewing existing research on the cost-
18 benefit profile of the use of psychedelics to improve mental health and to make
19 findings and recommendations regarding the advisability of the establishment
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1 of a State program to permit health care providers to administer psychedelics
2 in a therapeutic setting and the impact on public health of allowing individuals
3 to legally access psychedelics under State law.
4(2) On November 12, 2024, the Working Group issued its report
5 recommending the “[extension] of the current [W]orking [G]roup with the
6 expansion of participants to monitor the evolution of research and programs
7 across the country and to facilitate the ability to research psychedelic therapies
8 in Vermont.” The Working Group also found that “[a]lthough not the only
9 promising area of application supported by existing science, the [G]roup
10 demonstrated general consensus regarding the potential for psilocybin-assisted
11 therapy for depression and anxiety in the context of serious illness & end-of-
12 life care.”
13    (b) Creation. There is created the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working
14 Group for the purpose of reviewing existing research on the cost-benefit profile
15 of the use of psychedelics to improve mental health and to make findings and
16 recommendations regarding the advisability of the establishment of a State
17 program to permit health care providers to administer psychedelics in a
18 therapeutic setting and the impact on public health of allowing individuals to
19 legally access psychedelics under State law.
20    (c) Membership. The Working Group shall be composed of the following
21 members:
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1      (1) the Dean of the Larner College of Medicine at the University of
2 Vermont or designee;
3      (2) the President of the Vermont Psychological Association or designee;
4      (3) the Executive Director of the Vermont Board of Medical Practice or
5 designee;
6      (4) the Director of the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation or
7 designee;
8      (5) the Executive Director of the Vermont Medical Society or designee;
9      (6) the Vermont Commissioner of Health or designee;
10      (7) the Vermont Commissioner of Mental Health or designee;
11      (8) an expert in psychedelic treatment of mental conditions who is
12 affiliated with a Vermont hospital currently providing ketamine therapy
13 appointed by the Vermont Commissioner of Mental Health;
14      (9) a mental health professional with specialized training in psychedelic
15 medicine or research appointed by the Commissioner of Health;
16      (10) an attorney with experience in health care appointed by the
17 Commissioner of Health; and
18      (11) a member of the public appointed by the Commissioner of Health.
19   (d) Powers and duties.
20      (1) The Working Group shall:
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1(A) continue to review the latest research and evidence of the public
2 health benefits and risks of clinical psychedelic assisted treatments;
3(B) continue to monitor the laws and programs of other states that
4 have authorized the use of psychedelics by health care providers in a
5 therapeutic setting and the necessary components and resources if Vermont
6 were to pursue such a program;
7(C) consider how Vermont can develop and fund harm reduction
8 training and education for health practitioners and the public regarding the use
9 of psilocybin and other psychedelics; and
10(D) propose a pilot project for the use of psilocybin-assisted therapies
11 in persons with serious illnesses and end-of-life care.
12(2) The Working Group shall seek testimony from nationally recognized
13 research institutions that have conducted and are conducting research in
14 psychedelics.
15    (e) Assistance. The Working Group shall have the assistance of the
16 Vermont Department of Mental Health, in collaboration with the Vermont
17 Psychological Association, for purposes of scheduling and staffing meetings
18 and developing and submitting the report required by subsection (f) of this
19 section.
20    (f) Report. On or before November 15, 2025, the Working Group shall
21 submit a written report to the House and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the
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1 House Committees on Health Care and on Human Services, and the Senate
2 Committee on Health and Welfare with its findings and any recommendations
3 for legislative action.
4    (g) Meetings.
5(1) The Vermont Department of Mental Health shall call the first
6 meeting of the Working Group to occur on or before July 15, 2025.
7(2) The Working Group shall select a chair from among its members at
8 the first meeting.
9(3) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
10(4) The Working Group shall cease to exist on January 1, 2026.
11 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
12    This act shall take effect on passage.
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