Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding multiple awards.

This legislation, recommended by the State Procurement Laws Interim Committee, revises an existing statute that allows the Administrator of the Division of Purchasing to award contracts to more than one vendor in a single solicitation under certain circumstances. The purpose of this legislation is to clarify such circumstances and to specify that multiple contract awards can be made on a regional basis. This would enable the Administrator to grant contracts to vendors in, for example, northern Idaho, western Idaho and eastern Idaho, respectively, to serve the difference regions when such a division would make sense. On-site services, such as janitorial services, might be procured more cost-effectively on a regional rather than statewide basis. This legislation also allows the Administrator to make a multiple award if the multiple award would "serve the best interest of the state." This provision enables the Administrator to make a multiple award in circumstances other than those listed when there would be a specific advantage to the state in doing so.

Amends existing law to provide an exception to applicability of prohibitions against dog racing for certain exhibition-style live dog races.

Thepurposeofthislegislationistoprovideanexemptionforexhibition-stylelivedogracesorthetrainingof dogs to compete in exhibition-style live dog races, conducted at county fairs and upon which no pari-mutuel betting occurs.

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding distribution of the source market fee.

The bill amends the distribution of Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) funds to provide the Idaho State Racing Commission with funding to continue operations. With the loss of revenue from live racing and simulcastingfromIdaho'slargesthorseracingpark,aswellasthelossofrevenuefromtherepealofhistorical racing, the Commission's dedicated revenue stream is down 80%. Adjusting the ADW distribution will providetheCommissionwiththenecessaryrevenuetocontinuetoregulateracingatsmalltracksthroughout the state, while still providing 50% of ADW funds to the racing industry. Specifically, the bill amends the distributions as follows: 20% (from 40%) for the horsemen's purse account; 10% (from 30%) for simulcast sites; 5% (unchanged) for the track distribution fund; 5% (unchanged) for the breed distribution fund; 45% (from 5%) for the state racing commission; 5% (unchanged) for the public school income fund; and, 10% (unchanged) for track operating expenses. The bill includes an emergency clause to allow the first payments in the 2017 racing season to be distributed under the proposed formula as early as April. This will ensure the Commission has adequate funding to close out FY 2017. The bill also includes a sunset provision to allow the distribution formula to revert back at the end of calendar year 2018.

Amends existing law to provide that the right to ship, transport, possess or receive a firearm shall not be restored following certain felony convictions.

The purpose of this legislation is to amend the law relating to felons who may possess firearms. The current law makes it clear that the worst kind of felons (murder, rape, kidnapping, drug dealing, sex crimes) cannot possess firearms, even after they are discharged from their sentences. Missing from the list of criminal offenses in the current law are crimes that have been created since the original passage of the law, or crimes that were not originally considered but are crimes committed by organized criminals, terrorists, and criminal gang members. This legislation adds these serious felonies to the current law.

Proposing an amendment to Section 22, Article I, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho, relating to rights of crime victims.

This Joint Resolution proposes an amendment to Section 22, Article I of the Idaho Constitution, relating to the rights of crime victims. It states the question to the electorate, "Shall Section 22, Article I, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended to provide equal rights to victims of crimes including the right to notification of court proceedings, reasonable protection from the accused, and a voice in the criminal justiceprocess?"ItdirectsLegislativeCounciltopreparestatementsrequiredbySection67-453,IdahoCode, and file the same, and directs the Secretary of State to publish the proposed amendment and arguments as required by law.

Amends and adds to existing law to establish the position of administrator of invasive species policy; to revise the duties of the director of the Idaho Department of Agriculture; to authorize the director to apply for search warrants under certain conditions, to provide that certain check stations may have extended operating hours; to provide penalties for any person failing to stop at a check station; to provide that the director shall pursue federal government partnerships and funding; to provide that the director under certain conditions shall enter into cooperative agreements; and to provide for formal memoranda of agreement with certain entities.

This bill amends the Idaho Invasive Species Act by establishing in the Office of the Governor, an administrator of invasive species policy and codifies the Idaho Invasive Species Council. This legislation sets up the duties of the administrator and the Department of Agriculture and lays out the coordination efforts between state agencies.

Amends and repeals existing law to remove references to dyed fuel.

The purpose of this legislation is to amend Idaho Code Section 63 and various subsections therein to remove the dyed fuels exemption from the motor fuel tax. This proposal does away with dyed diesel fuel and keeps one diesel fuel (clear) in the marketplace for all users. There is a system in place for off road users of diesel fuel to apply for a refund as frequently as monthly and no longer than annually. There is also a system in place for State and local units of government to purchase fuel without paying the state and federal taxes. Amending Idaho Code Section 63 will eliminate the necessity for dyed diesel, which will also eliminate the enforcement issue experienced since the exemption was added.

Adds to existing law to create the Special Education Reimbursement Act facilitating Medicaid reimbursement to schools for eligible pupils.

The purpose of this legislation is to assist public schools in accessing federal Medicaid flow-through dollars to provide federally-mandated services to special-needs students. Specifically, the legislation clarifies the difference between school-based Medicaid reimbursement program and the for-profit community-based program and sets out definitions related to this new section. This legislation also sets out what services can be provided to a special-needs student, how often the services need to be reviewed, when reimbursement for the services will begin, and who can authorize those services. This legislation sets our specific parameters for an Interagency Student Services Support Committee, specifically: the committee membership and terms of office, governance of the committee, committee voting rights, the committee's mission. The committee will report back to the legislature annually. This legislation states that public schools can receive reimbursement for Medicaid Administrative Claiming (or "MAC Claiming") which will allow public schools to seek reimbursement for provided eligible administrative services. It also sets parameters for a professional development program for staff in public schools who submit reimbursement for these services. Finally, the legislation sets out accountability measures to assure that public schools are complying with federal and state requirements as well as audit requirements.

Adds to existing law to prohibit the use of public funds in elections, to limit mass communications, to provide for violations, and to provide for a challenge on the validity of an election.

Thepurposeofthislegislationispreventpublicfunds,resourcesandorpropertyfrombeingusedtoinfluence the outcome at the ballot box.

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.

This is the fiscal year 2018 appropriation to the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho for the Health Education Programs in the amount of $15,905,800 and 21.8 FTP. This appropriation includes benefit cost increases, medical contract inflation, and one-time funding for replacement items. This appropriation also includes $75,000 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. Additionally, three line items are included. Line item 1 provides one-time funding for laboratory equipment; lineitem2providesongoingfundingfortwonewmedicalstudentsattheUniversityofUtahMedicalSchool Program; and line item 3 provides FTP and funding additional residencies. This appropriation is an increase of 15.4% increase in the General Fund, and a 15.0% increase in total funds.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding contracts with providers of dental services.

This piece of legislation will clarify current language in Idaho Code that a person contracting with a dentist cannot set the rate for a procedure that is not covered by that contract. The proposed bill further defines that covered services are services that a person contracting with a dentist is liable for paying either in part or in whole. The bill will apply to any contract which is issued after December 31, 2017. Existing contracts will be brought into compliance on the next anniversary date, renewal date or the expiration date of the applicable collective bargaining contract.