Appropriates $44,609,800 to the Division of Veterans Services for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 346.

This is the fiscal year 2018 original appropriation for the Division of Veterans Services. It includes adjustments for increased employee benefit costs, statewide cost allocation, replacement items, an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion of the director, and funding for cybersecurity insurance. Thisbillincludesfundingforninelineitems. ThefirstthreelineitemsprovideadditionalFTPandassociated funding to meet personnel needs and reduce agency turnover. The fourth line item provides for new capital outlayitems. Lineitemsfive, six, andsevenprovidefundingtosupportprogramsthatbenefitIdahoveterans. Line item eight provides necessary appropriation to address various alteration and repair projects at the three veterans homes. Line item nine provides the appropriation needed for the addition of a second veterans cemetery in Blackfoot.