Idaho Bills

Adds to existing law to require the Department of Health and Welfare to prepare and file a public benefit program employer report, to provide the contents of the report and to provide what the report shall be subject to and what shall not be included in the report.

This bill requires the Department of Health and Welfare to compile an annual report that identifies fifty (50) employers who employ fifty (50) or more employees that have the highest number of employees on public benefitprograms. Thepurposeofthisbillistoidentifyemployersthatpaylowwagesandinsufficientbenefits to the extent that their employees are compelled to resort to public benefit programs. When large, profitable employers pay low wages and limited benefits, they shift the burden of these saved costs to taxpayers in the form of public benefit programs. This report will help the legislature obtain data that can be used to protect workers and strengthen the economy of Idaho.

Adds to existing law to require labeling on poisonous plants offered for sale; to provide labeling requirements; and to provide for public outreach and the compilation of a list of poisonous plants by the director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture shall ensure that any entity that sells any poisonous plant labels such in a conspicuous way, with a red label a minimum of eight inches by eight inches.

Adds to existing law to provide that certain lands shall be public lands; to provide that lands shall be acquired and managed for public access, multiple use and sustained yield; to provide that public lands granted from the federal government to the state shall be held in trust for all Idahoans and to ensure public access; to provide that any transfer of federal lands to the state shall be structured to prevent sale of the lands; to provide that state officers shall hold and manage lands in perpetuity for purposes other than maximization of financial return; and to provide for the exchange of limited amounts of state lands and to provide that any exchange shall cause no more than a de minimis loss or gain in value of the state lands within any county.

This legislation adds a new section to Idaho Code 58 – 157 to provide that should additional public lands be granted from the federal government to the state of Idaho that these lands shall be declared public lands and provide that the lands shall be acquired and managed for public access, multiple use and sustained yield.

Adds to existing law to establish the Office of the Inspector General.

Inspectors General are used by various levels of government to provide an opportunity to investigate concerns about fraud, waste, abuse or malfeasance prior to public court action. Here in Idaho, such concerns have difficulty. They can be made to a supervisor (who may be part of the concern) or to a county prosecutor or to law enforcement if criminal behavior. Idaho's recent history shows that having an entity to do an initial investigation could save the state time, money and help us produce a better "product" for our citizens. This bill establishes an Inspector General Office within the Governor's Office. Though appointed by the Governor, the Inspector General serves a 6-year term and requires Senate confirmation. He/she may be removed only with Senate concurrence. The Office of the Inspector General will not do prosecution but may refer cases to law enforcement. It is envisioned as a receiver of complaints and concerns, assuring citizens that their voices are heard and that the Governor's Directors can find out about issues and begin corrective action as early as possible.

Adds to existing law to provide for electronic publication of legal notices on government websites.

The legislation will allow government entities to publish legal notices on government websites in lieu of the requirement to have them printed in a newspaper. The electronic publication of legal notices is optional, has the same legal effect as printed notification, and will not alter any of the advance notice requirements currently in statutes. Similar to other records requirements, government entities would be required to maintain historical records of notices provided online.

Adds to existing law to provide restrictions on the PERSI Board, the State Treasurer and political subdivisions of the State of Idaho when dealing with companies who engage in a boycott of Israel.

The purpose of this legislation is to require the State of Idaho to do business only with those businesses which do not boycott the country of Israel or its entities.

Adds to existing law to provide for the salvage of certain wildlife unintentionally struck and killed by a vehicle on a roadway; to provide that certain severely injured wildlife may be dispatched; to provide reporting requirements; and to provide exceptions to applicability.

Thisbillallowsanindividualtodispatchandsalvageunprotectedwildlifeunintentionallykilledonroadways by a vehicle.

Adds to existing law to provide a partial sales and use tax exemption for qualified vehicles, to provide a definition of “qualified vehicle” and to provide limitations.

This legislation serves as a pilot project that supports the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles in the State of Idaho. Expanding the adoption of Natural Gas, propane or electrically propelled and other alternative fuel vehicles allows Idahoans to consume Idaho-produced fuels, helping to reduce Idaho's current reliance on imported transportation fuels. This legislation may also encourage automobile manufacturers to deliver more vehicles to Idaho to be sold by Idaho dealers, in turn spurring the Idaho economy. This legislation also seeks to mitigate the issues surrounding non-attainment for air quality standards throughout Idaho. Alternatively fueled vehicles produce less particulates and nitrogen oxides that are a leading cause of Idaho's air quality challenges. This proposed legislation accomplishes all of this by adding a new section of code that allows purchasers of new vehicles, propelled by alternative fuels (compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas, propane or plug in electric) to pay 50% less sales tax, if the vehicle is originally registered in Idaho.

Amends existing law to revise the taxation of a corporation's foreign income, to increase the deduction from Idaho taxable income for foreign dividends, and to remove language regarding certain conditional water's-edge corporate reporting requirements.

This trailer bill to H 463 creates better consistency in policy between worldwide and "water's edge" filing methodologies. Historically, the U.S. federal tax system has partially double-taxed foreign earnings, and Idaho also partially double-taxed foreign earnings using a more simplified methodology (for water's edge filers)soIdahowouldconformtofederallaw. Thefederalsysteminnolongerdoubletaxingforeignearnings in order for U.S. multinational companies to be competitive with non-U.S. companies. This bill creates conformity to the new federal law to keep Idaho multinational companies competitive. Additionally, the majority of states historically do not double-tax foreign dividends, and currently Idaho is notcompetitivewiththoseotherstates. LegislativehistoryinIdahofrom2004allowedareducedleveloftax on foreign dividends. The 2004 repatriation act allowed companies the option to repatriate with a federal double-tax burden. The new law requires federal tax on all unremitted earnings, with a similar reduced federal double-tax burden. This bill follows Idaho's own legislative historical precedent and provides for discounteddouble-taxonhistoricalearnings. IfIdaho'staxlawmaintainsthestatusquo, itwillbepenalizing these companies with incremental double-tax liabilities compared to historical levels, so this bill resolves that double-tax issue. Finally, thenewFederalForeignDerivedIntangibleIncome(FDII)provisionsprovidea"booster"deduction to incentivize U.S. companies to manufacture domestically, rather than manufacture offshore. This bill includes an adoption of this policy by Idaho as well.

Adds to existing law to enact the Health Care Billing Equity Act.

This medical services consumer protection bill, known as the "Health Care Billing Equity Act," protects patients who receive health care services in an in-network hospital, under their insurance plan, from being billed extra for out-of-network provider services. Patients admitted to a hospital for emergency or elective services with the understanding that it is a facility covered under their insurance policy are sometimes surprised to receive billings from out-of-network providers for care without the patient's consent. This bill would preclude that practice except for elective care under certain conditions. In emergency situations, the out-of-network provider would be paid a specified rate by the patient's insurance plan and prohibited from billing the patient for anything more than the normal deductible or copay required under the policy. In elective situations, the out-of-network provider may balance bill if an agreement for such service is signed by the patient prior to the day of admission.