Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2021.

This is the FY 2021 original appropriation bill for the Department of Health and Welfare for the Division of Public Health. It appropriates a total of $126,846,900 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 238.02. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP and temporarily removes funding for the employer's sick leave contribution rate. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 2% change in employee compensation for permanent state employees, with an additional 2% increase for those in the 20 job classifications most in need of equity adjustments. This bill shifts $400,000 from the General Fund to dedicated funds for Medicaid expansion cost-offsets. The bill funds four line items that are intended to reduce child abuse, minimize substance use disorders, prevent suicide, reduce or flatten the health care costs trend, and help prevent Idahoans from entering the legal and welfare systems. Specifically, funding is provided for home visiting services, an advanced care directive registry, Project ECHO, and the Health Care Policy Initiatives Program is moved from a stand-alone program to a program within this division. Lastly, the ongoing General Fund appropriation is reduced by 2% with a partial shift to dedicated EMS funds. DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and