Idaho Bills

Appropriates $92,091,200 to the Military Division for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 323.8; and grants a continuous appropriation for the Idaho Office of Emergency Management”s Miscellaneous Revenue Fund for costs arising out of hazardous substance incidents.

This is the FY 2018 appropriation to the Military Division, in the amount of $92,091,200 with a limit on the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions of 323.8. This bill includes funding for the employer's share of increased benefit costs; inflationary adjustments due to rent increases; $748,000 for replacement items including two vehicles, computers, servers, microwave batter banks and testing equipment; changes made in the statewide cost allocation plan; an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion of agency heads; and $100 for ongoing cybersecurity insurance. Also included are an ongoing appropriation of $50,000 to expand the Tuition Assistance Program for line item 1; $63,800 in line item 3 for security personnel at Gowen Field; $90,000 for the Smartnet Warranty for line item 4; $87,200 and 1.00 FTP for a contracts manager in line item 9; $12,000 for server storage drives in line item 10; $32,000 for network site monitors from line item 11; $12,000 for line item 12 to purchase additional microwave GPS calibration units; $22,000,000 in Federal Funds for construction on the Orchard Combat Training Center in line item 13; a shift of $3,712,300 from Trustee & Benefit to Operating Expenditures in the Office of Emergency Management for line item 14; and a transfer of $5,760,900 in Operating Expenditures from the Office of Emergency Management to the Federal/State Agreements program in line item 15. This legislation includes intent language to grant continuous appropriation for the Idaho Office of Emergency Management's Miscellaneous Revenue Fund for the purpose of covering incurred costs arising out of hazardous substance incidents. Overall, this represents a 32.2% increase over the Military Division's fiscal year 2017 budget, predominantly due to the infusion of $22,000,000 of federal dollars to build out the Orchard Combat Training Center in line item 13. Without that line item, th

Appropriates $172,900 to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 3; and authorizes lump sum spending authority.

Appropriates $311,600 to the Commission on Hispanic Affairs for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 3.

This bill appropriates $311,600 to the Commission on Hispanic Affairs for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to three (3). This bill includes funding for the employer's share of increased benefit costs; inflationary adjustments due to rent increases; changes made in the statewide cost allocation plan; an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion of agency heads; $100 for ongoing cybersecurity insurance; and a one-time appropriation of $25,000 to cover outreach and travel costs.

Appropriates $6,189,300 to the Idaho State Lottery for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 45; and provides legislative intent regarding certain continuous appropriations.

Appropriates $90,616,400 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Administrators for fiscal year 2018; and amends existing law to increase the salary-based apportionment for administrators.

Repeals existing law relating to possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia by a minor, the use of controlled substances, and fines.

Appropriates $6,589,800 to the STEM Action Center for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 4.

Appropriates $9,036,500 to the Office of the State Board of Education for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 31.25; authorizes the reappropriation of the Federal Grant Fund; authorizes the reappropriation of the Public Charter School Authorizers Fund; authorizes the reappropriation of the Higher Education Stabilization Fund; provides legislative intent regarding administrator training on teacher evaluations; and provides legislative intent regarding school improvement evaluations.

Amends existing law to increase the salaries of members of the Public Utilities Commission; to increase the salaries of members of the State Tax Commission; to increase the salaries of members of the Industrial Commission; appropriates an additional $11,000 to the Public Utilities Commission for commissioner salaries; appropriates an additional $13,500 to the State Tax Commission for commissioner salaries; and appropriates an additional $10,500 to the Industrial Commission for commissioner salaries.

Appropriates $2,889,200 to the Office of the State Appellate Public Defender for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 23; provides legislative intent for the payment of outside counsel costs; provides legislative intent for the payment of capital representation costs; and provides for a cash transfer.

Appropriates, distributes and transfers a total of $9,136,200 from the Idaho Millennium Income Fund for fiscal year 2018; requires nonstate entities to sign an agreement with the state in order to receive funds; provides that certain unexpended and unencumbered moneys shall revert to the Idaho Millennium Income Fund at the end of fiscal year 2018; and provides that any remaining unexpended and unencumbered moneys in the Idaho Millennium Income Fund shall be transferred to the Idaho Millennium Permanent Endowment Fund at the end of fiscal year 2018.

Amends existing law to provide that the director of the Department of Administration may authorize the Division of Public Works to enter into leases incidental to the acquisition of a facility by the Idaho State Building Authority.

Appropriates an additional $5,500,000 from the Administration and Accounting Services Fund to the Department of Administration for fiscal year 2018.

Amends existing law to revise a distribution from the Strategic Initiatives Program.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding nurse emeritus licenses; and renewal and reinstatement of nurse licenses.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding compensation for members of the Board of Nursing.

Appropriates an additional $2,222,200 to the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2017.

Appropriates to the Public Defense Commission an additional $100,000 from the General Fund in operating expenditures for fiscal year 2017; and reduces the appropriation to the Public Defense Commission by $100,000 from the General Fund in trustee and benefit payments for fiscal year 2017.

Amends existing law to provide that specified law regarding fishways shall not apply to the Hells Canyon Hydroelectric Project.

Idaho Power Company's Hells Canyon Project is in the process of relicensing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The State of Oregon has attempted to require Idaho Power Company to implement fish passage and reintroduction of anadromous fish above Hells Canyon Project in Idaho waters. Reintroduction into Idaho waters without consent of the State of Idaho violates Idaho law, policy, and the sovereignty of the State of Idaho. This bill amends Idaho Code 36-906 to make it consistent with the Idaho policy and law that fishways are not to be required at the Hells Canyon Hydroelectric Project.

Amends existing law to revise certain license, tag and permit provisions; to provide for grizzly bear tags; to require taxidermist and fur buyer's licenses for those that engage in the business of buying certain skins and parts of specified animals; to require the retention of records for those who purchase certain skins and parts of specified animals; to revise reporting requirements regarding the taking of certain wolves and to provide for the control of depredation of grizzly bear; to provide an exception for grizzly bear to prohibitions of waste and destruction of wildlife; and to provide for reimbursement to the state for grizzly bear killed, possessed or wasted.

This bill revises several sections of Title 36 to specify provisions pertaining specifically to black bear and grizzly bear to clarify and support management of an anticipated delisted Yellowstone grizzly bear population, consistent with the 2002 Idaho management plan for Yellowstone grizzly bear approved by the Idaho Legislature. This bill does not open any hunting season for delisted Yellowstone grizzly bear. This bill also removes obsolete references requiring nonresident disabled American hunters to hunt in association with a qualified organization to receive a reduced fee license; this requirement was statutorily deleted in 2014. This bill also revises taxidermist and furbuyer license requirements to include reporting of certain grizzly bear parts or skins and raw wolf skins, and this bill provides an extended timeframe for reporting control of depredating wolves when no permit is required.

Adds to existing law to provide for the Idaho Underground Storage Tank Program Fund.

The 2016 legislature passed Senate Bill 1244 which allows DEQ to collect fees for underground storage tanks. Fees are not to exceed $100 per tank per year and any fee balance in excess of $35,000 on December 31 will be applied to reduce the following year's fees. An expenditure report on how DEQ spent the fees will also be provided to the legislature and governor annually by February 1. This legislation will establish a dedicated fund for underground storage tank fees to provide for better accountability and transparency. With a dedicated fund, the legislature and state controller will be able to view all revenues and expenditures from the Statewide Accounting and Reporting System (STARS), and DEQ will be able to complete an accurate fee expenditure report. In addition, a dedicated fund will earn interest which may increase the fund's balance and decrease fees in subsequent years.

Amends existing law to provide that a school district shall provide counseling services regarding the granting of postsecondary credit for career technical courses; and to authorize the school district to grant credit for career technical courses.

Amends existing law to remove obsolete statutory and session law references in a statute dealing with anticipation of revenues in the Permanent Building Fund.