Idaho Bills

Amends and repeals existing law to provide that certain persons who enter or attempt to enter the habitation of another are presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit a felony, to revise a provision regarding use of force and to provide that certain persons shall not have a duty to retreat.

This legislation clarifies statutes to presume that a person who unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter the habitation of another person is doing so with the intent to commit a felony.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Idaho to reduce the bonding requirement for counties, cities, boards of education, school districts, and other subdivisions of the state from two-thirds to sixty percent of the qualified electors voting at an election.

This amendment to Section 3, Article VIII, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho, is to reduce the bonding requirement for counties, cities, boards of education, school districts, and other subdivisions of the state from two-thirds to sixty percent of qualified electors. Difficulty passing important bonds has limited the ability of local elected leaders from effectively serving their communities. A two-thirds requirement can give a small minority the ability to effectively block progress.

Amends existing law to provide that a court shall consider certain methods when deciding whether to authorize medical or surgical care for a child.

This legislation amends Section 16-1627, Idaho Code to provide for the consideration of alternative health care methods given a child by a parent or guardian when the court makes an authorization for emergency medical treatment.

Amends existing law to provide certain requirements for when certain liquor licenses are in actual use.

The statute will set a requirement of 20 hours per week and the 20 liquor-by-the-drink sales per week as the definition of "actual use." Idaho Code 23-908(4) already requires that newly issued liquor licenses be put into use six days a week for eight hours a day. With new legislation the state is not dictating which days of the week a business must be open only that they have to be open for the legitimate sale of liquor 20-hours per week. It is up to each individual licensee to decide their business hours for the 20-hours. Adopting a standard will allow remote business to operate within the confines of the rules, but also provides the agency with an enforceable standard when liquor licenses are not in actual use.

Amends existing law to revise a definition.

The purpose of this legislation is to increase the required automobile minimum liability insurance (proof of financial responsibility) from $25,000 to $50,000 minimum (for one claimant); from $50,000 to $100,000 minimum (for two or more claimants); and from $15,000 to $50,000 minimum for property damage (to one or several vehicles). Automobile liability insurance minimum requirements have not been increased since 1983, almost 34 years ago. The same $25,000 in medical services that a person received in 1983 would cost over $110,000 today - after adjustment for medical inflation, according to federal statistics.

Adds to existing law to provide funding for cost adjustments in a public school employer's portion of employee health care plans.

This bill establishes a new section of education spending titled, School District Employer Health Care. This section specifies an allocation method to provide the districts with funds for school district employee health insurance costs in an amount equitable and in the same portion as state employee health care cost adjusts. This amount is the amount appropriated for the employer cost adjustment per full-time equivalent employee for the state of Idaho state employee group insurance plan authorized under section 67-5764, Idaho Code.

Adds to existing law to establish the Community Primary Care Program.

This bill creates within the CAT Fund the Community Primary Care Program to provide primary care to 15,000 adults with chronic health conditions earning less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level. The program is funded with state funds. Part of the funds are used to encourage the use of life coaching to help individuals in the program pass through poverty as quickly as possible and achieve more economic self-sufficiency.

Amends existing law to revise apportionments from the Highway Distribution Account; and to provide for a distribution to the Law Enforcement Fund.

This legislation will transfer one percent of the sales tax collected to the law enforcement fund created in Idaho Code Section 67-2914. The revenue that previously came from the highway distribution account and went to the law enforcement account will now be apportioned at a rate of 60/40. Forty percent will go to local units of government, and sixty percent will go to the state highway account.

Amends, adds to and repeals existing law to revise provisions regarding alcohol, including licensing.

This legislation will fix Idaho's liquor license system by paying current state liquor license holders for the investment they have made into our current inequitable system, and create a new, fair system of municipal licenses for qualified applicants moving forward. The current structure for issuing liquor licenses to Idaho businesses is unjust. For a state-issued privilege such as a license, each person who is qualified should have equal access, even if such access it stringent. Instead, a market unrelated to state-issuance of this privilege has grown, and businesses are left scouring the private market to pay up to three hundred thousand dollars to a private citizen for a license. There are many business owners who have been waiting to get a state liquor license for years, and it is unclear how many more years until they finally get a permit. Idaho's current liquor license laws are a roadblock for local business owners. The regulations are preventing business owners from creating more jobs and contributing to the local economy. Furthermore, fixing this unjust application of licensure is very difficult, and if done incorrectly, could unjustly hurt current license holders who have played by the rules to operate their businesses. This legislation creates a balance that will protect the value current license holders have in their state-issued licenses, but create a new tier of licenses for restaurants that want to sell liquor by the drink. This legislation will allow counties and cities to sell these licenses, called municipal licenses, to restaurants that have full kitchens, and dedicate the vast majority of their business to serving food. This would remove restrictions that are preventing business owners from investing in Idaho and create certainty in the market. Current business owners who hold a state liquor license will continue to see the value of their investment under this legislation. While restaurants operating under a new municipal license will have to meet