Idaho Bills

Appropriates $400,000 to the Legislature for fiscal year 2018 for the Public School Funding Formula Interim Committee.

Appropriates $77,568,300 to the Idaho State Police for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 587.85; reappropriates certain unexpended and unencumbered balances; provides legislative intent regarding youth equine education; and provides legislative intent regarding transfers to the Public School Income Fund.

This bill appropriates $77,568,300 to the Idaho State Police for FY 2018 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 587.85. For program maintenance, the bill provides for the employer's share of increased benefit costs, inflationary adjustments, replacement items, statewide cost allocation, annualizations, and cybersecurity insurance. The bill also provides for an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion of the agency head. Fifteen line items are included, which provide 1.00 FTP and $124,500 for brand inspectors; 3.00 FTP and $564,000 for specialists to conduct crash reconstruction investigations; 2.00 FTP and $421,000 for a sergeant and trooper to expand the drug detection K9 program; 2.00 FTP and $148,600 for IT information technicians; $32,000 for instrument maintenance; $292,400 for conducted energy devices; $24,400 for advanced malware protection; 1.00 FTP and $57,300 for a technical records specialist; 1.00 FTP and $48,000 for an office specialist; $102,000 for digital imaging; $150,000 for additional costs associated with the Regional Communications Centers console system; 2.00 FTP and $369,400 for commercial vehicle safety specialists; $143,400 in one-time trustee and benefit payments from the Idaho Horse Council Youth Programs Account within the Pari-mutuel Distributions Fund to be used solely for youth equine education and promotion of equine-related youth development programs of the Idaho Horse Council; $7,300 in one-time trustee and benefits payments from the Breed Distribution Account within the Pari-mutuel Distributions Fund for a transfer to the Public School Income Fund to offset amounts that were improperly distributed to the Idaho Quarter Horse Association; and $65,200 in one-time trustee and benefits payments from the Breed Distribution Account within the Pari-mutuel Distributions Fund for a transfer to the Public School Income Fund to offset amoun

Appropriates $40,000,900 to the State Board of Education for Community Colleges for fiscal year 2018; exempts the appropriation from object and program transfer limitations; requires an update on the Complete College Idaho initiative; and appropriates an additional $1,200,000 to the College of Southern Idaho for fiscal year 2017.

This is the FY 2018 appropriation to Community Colleges in the amount of $40,000,900, including $39,400,900 from the General Fund and $600,000 from dedicated funds. This appropriation provides for increased cost of benefits, the equivalent of a 3% ongoing change in employee compensation, and a nondiscretionary adjustment for enrollment workload decreases. This appropriation includes seven line items. Line item 3 provides funding to the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) for the Bridge to Success Summer Program. Line item 4 provides funding to CSI to hire two dedicated faculty members for the CSI Outreach Center in Idaho Falls. Line item 7 provides funding to North Idaho College (NIC) to hire a Title IX Coordinator to lead compliance efforts and conduct training. Line item 8 provides funding to NIC for an assistive technology coordinator and make associated upgrades. Line item 9 provides funding to the College of Western Idaho (CWI) to hire staff to advise existing students and provide outreach to special student populations. Line item 10 provides funding to CWI to aid in average weighted credit equity with other community colleges. Line item 12 provides funding to backfill the current and projected decreases in enrollment at the three community colleges. This funding would provide $434,200 to CSI, $443,200 to CWI, and $416,200 to NIC. This appropriation results in an 6.7% increase from the General Fund and 6.6% from all funds. The supplemental appropriation, in the amount of $1,200,000 one-time from the General Fund, is provided to the Community Colleges for the remainder of fiscal year 2017. The funding will enable the College of Southern Idaho to purchase Pristine Springs near Twin Falls from the Idaho Department of Water Resources. CSI utilizes the geothermal aquifer at Pristine Springs as a source of heat for buildings on the community college campus. The total purchase price for Pristine Springs is $2,400,000. CSI will match the appropriation, and upon payment, th

Appropriates an additional $1,019,900 to the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2017, of which $519,900 is for the methyl bromide project; and $500,000 is for animal tracking software; and provides reappropriation authority for fiscal year 2018.

This is a supplemental appropriation bill to the Department of Agriculture for two purposes. First, it provides $169,900 from the General Fund and $350,000 from the federal grant fund for a total of $519,900 for the methyl bromide project. Activities are in response to the identification of fields and commoditiesthatexhibitelevatedlevelsofinorganicbromide,aresidueofmethylbromide. Methylbromide was used as a fumigant to treat fields infested with pale cyst nematode (PCN), a pest of potatoes identified in 26 fields in Bonneville and Bingham counties. PCN is a quarantined pest, the presence of which has impacted export market access for fresh potatoes from Idaho. Moneys will be used for commodity and water sampling, disposal of hay, grower contracts for baling hay, and a burn study with the Idaho National Laboratory. Second, it provides $500,000 from the General Fund for the development of a software program that will facilitate the electronic tracking of animal identification numbers and other data pertaining to livestock movements into and out-of the state. This software will also be able to pass information electronically to the Brand Board for its use, as well as capture relevant data from the Brand Board software. A supplemental is needed because the Division of Purchasing will not allow the distribution of the Request for Proposal (RFP) until a funding source has been approved. Because of the timing and process, JFAC provided carryover authority into FY 2018.

Appropriates an additional $400,000 to the Department of Fish and Game for fiscal year 2017.

Appropriates an additional $50,000 in personnel costs to the Office of Energy Resources for fiscal year 2017; and reduces the appropriation by $50,000 in operating expenditures for fiscal year 2017.

Appropriates $15,905,800 to the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho for Health Education Programs for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 25.8; provides a lump sum appropriation for dedicated funds; and reappropriates unexpended and unencumbered dedicated fund balances for the Dental Education Programs.

Appropriates $2,348,100 to the Executive Office of the Governor for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 22; and exempts appropriation from object and program transfer limitations.

Appropriates $8,694,700 to the legislative branch for fiscal year 2018; reappropriates any unexpended and unencumbered balances in the Professional Services Fund; and exempts appropriation from object transfer limitations.

Appropriates $10,884,300 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind for fiscal year 2018.

Appropriates $44,939,600 to the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 209; appropriates an additional $171,300 to the Idaho State Police for fiscal year 2018; authorizes one additional full-time equivalent position to the Idaho State Police; and provides legislative intent regarding the Watercraft Inspection Program.

Appropriates $125,000 from the General Fund to the Legislature for fiscal year 2017 to fund the State Employee Group Insurance and Benefits Committee; and provides reappropriation authority.

Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the State Tax Commission for fiscal year 2017; and provides reappropriation authority for fiscal year 2018.

Appropriates an additional $384,100 to the Department of Administration for the Division of Public Works from the Permanent Building Fund for fiscal year 2017.

Appropriates an additional $4,400,000 to the Federal/State Agreements Program for construction and maintenance projects for fiscal year 2017.

Appropriates to the Idaho State Police for the Brand Inspection Program an additional $250,000 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2017 for livestock software.

Appropriates $8,355,300 to the Department of Finance for fiscal year 2018; provides legislative intent relating to certain continuous appropriations; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 66.

This is the FY 2018 appropriation to the Department of Finance in the amount of $8,355,300 with full-time equivalent positions capped at 66. This appropriation includes benefit cost increases, Statewide Cost Allocation, a 3% CEC, and cybersecurity insurance. The 3% CEC is a merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion of each director. Additionally, it includes $25,200 for rent increases at the MK Plaza under inflationary adjustments, and $148,100 for replacement items which include software subscriptions, network switches and network printers. This budget includes 2 line items. Line item 1 provides 1 FTP and $67,800 for an IT Programmer. Line item 2 provides $83,800 and 1 FTP for a New Financial Examiner. Overall, this budget is a 2.3% increase above the FY 2017 original appropriation. Section 2 of the bill provides intent language regarding the Idaho Residential Mortgage Practices Act.

Appropriates $753,600 to the Endowment Fund Investment Board for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 3.7; authorizes continuous appropriation authority for certain costs; and expresses legislative intent with regard to transfers from the earnings reserve funds to the income funds.

Appropriates $753,600 to the Endowment Fund Investment Board for FY 2018 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 3.7. The source of funding is dedicated from charges to the funds invested by the board. The bill includes funding for the increased costs of health insurance, provides funding for replacement items, and accounts for an increase in statewide cost allocation. This bill includes an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees. Three line-items are included. Line item 1 shifts $69,900 from the Miscellaneous Revenue Fund to the Endowment Earnings Reserve Administrative Fund to account for the proportion of time spent on the various portfolios. Line item 2 includes $36,800 one-time to double-fill the manager of investments position for 20 days and to pay off accrued vacation. Line item 3 provides funding to potentially increase the salary of the Manager of Investments by $30,000 (from $164,600 to $197,600). Lastly, the budget includes $100 for cybersecurity insurance. The bill authorizes a continuous appropriation for consulting fees, bank custodial fees, and portfolio-related external costs. It contains legislative intent recognizing the amount the State Land Board has approved for transfer into the income funds in FY 2018 and available for appropriation to the beneficiaries. The endowment distribution for public schools is up by 28.1% from last year due to the recognition of deferred gains. This amounts to $10,324,800 more than last year. The distribution for the other land endowments is the same as last year.

Appropriates $172,320,100 for the Welfare Division in the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 630.55 for fiscal year 2018; provides for transfers to the Cooperative Welfare Fund; prohibits transfers of trustee and benefit payments; provides legislative intent for program integrity; requires biannual forecast reports; appropriates an additional $116,300 for the Benefit Payments Program for fiscal year 2017; and reduces the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions by 5 for fiscal year 2017.

Appropriates $28,175,900 to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 152.5.

Appropriates $41,229,200 to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 154.64; permits the department to exceed transfer limitations between programs for certain project grants; and provides carryover authority for the Capital Development Program.

Appropriates $650,900 to the State Independent Living Council for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of full-time equivalent positions to 4.

This is the fiscal year 2018 appropriation to the State Independent Living Council in the amount of $650,900 and authorizes 4.00 FTP. This appropriation includes benefit costs increases, adjustment to the statewide cost allocation, $7,500 for an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion of agency heads and institution presidents. The bill appropriates $124,500 from the General Fund, $353,000 from dedicated funds, and $173,400 from federal funds for a total of $650,900.