Idaho Bills

Amends and adds to existing law to provide that specified law shall not apply to prospecting and small-scale dredge mining, to prohibit regulations, restrictions, limitations or prohibitions regarding prospecting and small-scale dredge mining and to provide exceptions.

This bill recognizes the de minimus nature of suction dredge mining and tries to free this important small business vocation from unreasonable regulation. This bill further clarifies that the State of Idaho finds that a "bright line" threshold of "addition of pollutants" is not met by activities that transfer water and aggregate within the same body of water. This bill recognizes the existence of Federal Mining Claims under the 1872 Mining Act and amendments as being Congressionally granted rights to real property in every sense of the word. We recognize that environmental laws have been effective statewide and no unnecessary burdens are warranted on the suction dredge mining community for undocumented harm to aquatic habitat and assumed harm to free swimming fish. Therefore, for this bill being necessary for the promotion of small business as evidenced in the words reiterated in the Organic Administration Act of 1897; "citizens are entitled to enter public lands for the purpose of prospecting and removing mineral deposits . . . " without material interference.

Amends existing law to increase certain penalties for the illegal killing, possession or waste of certain game animals.

This bill amends section 36-1404 to increase the reimbursable damage penalties assessed by magistrates to any person guilty of the illegal killing, illegal possession, or illegal waste of certain species of big game as a further deterrent to these illegal actions. The increases are based upon the CPI from the last time these fines were changed.

Repeals existing law relating to the Idaho Women's Commission in the Office of the Governor.

This bill would repeal the state Women's Commission, which last received funding in FY 2009. The Women's Commission began in 1965 as the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women. It ceased operations June 30, 2009.

Adds to existing law to provide an exemption from the sales and use tax on certain materials used in connection with a public highway or street.

This legislation exempts road materials used to construct, improve and maintain our public roads from the sales/use tax. Currently, the fiction that the contractor is the end user of the materials is used to tax such materials even if they are provided by the State of Idaho or its subdivisions (ITD, Counties, Highway Districts and Cities) that have the responsibility to build and maintain our public roads. The result is higher cost for our road projects and a transfer of the money to the general fund.

Amends existing law to provide that the value of property to be taken in an eminent domain proceeding shall not include certain increases or decreases in value.

The purpose of this legislation is to provide that in the case of a court proceeding to assess whether a property is to be condemned, the value of the property may not include an increase or decrease in the value based upon a proposed use of the property to be condemned, and to provide a correct code reference.

Amends existing law to establish additional provisions regarding supplemental contracts.

School districts and charter schools pay some certificated employees to work extra days, (called extended days), beyond the standard teaching contract year. Employees such as school counselors, speech language pathologists, school psychologists, PTE instructors, IT personnel, school nurses or others may work anywhere from 1 to 60 days beyond the end of the standard teaching contract year. School districts and charter schools are required to issue contracts to all certificated employees using a state-approved contract which does not allow districts to differentiate between the standard teaching contract and extended days. The inclusion of extended days on a standard teaching contract creates a property right for these certificated employees, and removes any flexibility in amending the designation of extended days by the local board of trustees, which may create an unintended financial burden on a district's budget. This legislation would allow school districts and charter schools to issue separate contracts for those extended days.

Amends existing law to require the annual issuance of certain Governor's Wildlife Partnership Tags.

This bill provides that the Idaho Fish & Game Commission enact Idaho Code 36-408, the Governor's Tag Program. This will provide the Idaho Department of Fish & Game an increased revenue stream. Revenue will be appropriated to the Access Yes! Program which is a collaborative effort to increase hunter access across private property. Revenue increases will be used for wildlife habitat projects and wildlife management projects to increase the quantity and quality of big game herds. The legislation authorizes the Commission to designate one moose, and three elk, deer and antelope tags respectively, and it will designate one wild sheep and one mountain goat tag per year. Tags would be taken from the nonresident tag pool thereby not diminishing resident hunting opportunity.

Amends existing law to clarify that the Department of Administration shall offer a health savings account program and to provide that state employers shall deposit a certain amount into a health savings account.

This legislation requires the state to offer state employees a health benefit plan that utilizes Health Savings Accounts (HSA) paired with high-deductible health plans. An HSA is a tax-free financial account that is designed to allow state employees to set aside money for current and future medical expenses. This legislation further requires that the employer cost of the HSA-compatible health plan does not exceed the average per person employer cost of traditional insurance plans that the state is currently offering. HSA's, paired with high-deductibe health plans, can create a win-win situation for taxpayers and public employees. The plans provide state employees more savings, choice and control over their health care needs and expenses, while offering an opportunity for the State to reduce its health insurance costs for state employees.

Proposing an amendment to Section 7, Article IX, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho, relating to the State Board of Land Commissioners to remove the Attorney General and add the State Treasurer to the board.

A joint resolution that amends Section 7, Article IX of the Idaho Constitution relating to the State Board of Land Commissioners, that removes the Attorney General and adds the State Treasurer. New sections are added to address the question to be submitted to the electors at the next general election, authorization for the Legislative Council to prepare the statements required by Section 67-453, Idaho Code, and direction for the Secretary of State to publish the proposed constitutional amendment and arguments as required by law.

Amends existing law to provide that personal telephone numbers and electronic mailing addresses filed pursuant to elections or lobbyist and campaign finance laws are exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act.

There are times when the Secretary of State or a County Clerk needs an immediate response from a political candidate, campaign treasurer or a lobbyist. The same occurs with voters who request an absentee ballot. The quickest way to contact them is generally via e-mail or calling their cellular phone, however many will not give the Secretary of State or County Clerk that information if it is a public record. This legislation protects the cell phone number and e-mail address from public disclosure for voters. The rest of the contact information- mailing address, residence address and telephone number is still available to anyone who requests it. Personal cell phone numbers of campaign treasurers, candidates, and lobbyists will also be protected if a home telephone number and business number are listed on forms filed pursuant to Chapter 66, Title 67, Idaho Code.