Idaho Bills

Appropriates $2,291,500 to the Lava Hot Springs Foundation for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 15.8.

Appropriates $1,300,700 to the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 8.

Appropriates $4,986,600 to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 41.12.

Adds to, amends and repeals existing law to authorize GARVEE bonding to finance highway transportation projects, to provide distribution from the sales tax account for certain transportation projects, and to revise distributions from the strategic initiatives program.

This legislation approves bonding authority to issue highway transportation (GARVEE) bonds by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) in a principal amount sufficient to finance the highway transportation projects listed in the legislation in an amount up to $300 million. Such bonds are expected to be paid from federal highway apportionments and a small State match. Project selection and allocation of GARVEE bond proceeds shall be the sole responsibility and duty of the Idaho Transportation Board. This legislation creates the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation Fund in ITD. Thislegislationextendsfor2yearsthesurpluseliminatorin2015'sH312aaSaaS,providingforasplitof60% for state and 40% for local units of government. The 40% local split would be put in a newly created fund called local strategic initiatives fund. LHTAC will work with local units of government to select projects. This legislation redirects the unallocated portion of the cigarette tax to the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation Fund.

Appropriates an additional $1,043,900 to the Children's Mental Health Program for fiscal year 2018; reduces the appropriation to the Children's Mental Health Program by $1,181,600 for fiscal year 2018; authorizes an additional 7 full-time equivalent positions; and provides for legislative intent for the Division of Medicaid.

Appropriates $298,637,800 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Children's Programs for fiscal year 2018; directs the use of funds for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy; directs the use of funds for the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program; directs the use of funds for remedial coursework; directs the use of funds for limited English proficiency programs; directs the use of funds for gifted and talented students; directs the use of funds for purchasing digital content and curriculum; requires advanced opportunities reporting; directs the State Controller to transfer funds to the Commission on Hispanic Affairs; directs the State Controller to transfer funds to the Idaho State Police; provides reappropriation for certain dedicated funds; and defines the term “distributed.”

Appropriates $48,486,600 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Facilities for fiscal year 2018; provides moneys for the Bond Levy Equalization Fund; specifies the amount of revenue to be distributed to the General Fund; and allows for the General Fund to be included in the year-end reconciliation, if necessary.

This is the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriation for the Facilities Division of the Public Schools Educational Support Program in the amount of $48,486,600. This includes $17,217,400 from the General Fund and $31,269,200 from dedicated funds. This appropriation funds the Bond Levy Equalization Program, the Charter School Facilities Program, and the School Facilities Maintenance Match Program and results in a General Fund decrease of 9.2% and a 1.9% decrease in all funds. The estimated cost of the Bond Levy Equalization Program is $20,500,000 and is funded from a mix of $7,305,800 from the General Fund (transferred from cigarette tax revenue), $12,050,000 of Idaho Lottery proceeds directed by statute to the Bond Levy Equalization Program, and $1,144,200 from the fund balance in the Bond Levy Equalization Fund. The estimated cost for charter school facilities is $6,084,100, all from the General Fund. The estimated cost of the state facilities maintenance match is $21,902,500 and is funded from a combination of $3,827,500 from the General Fund and $18,075,000 from the School District Building Account, which receives moneys directly from the Idaho Lottery.

Adds to existing law to provide for a specified renewal fee for a certain year.

This legislation will address a financial situation facing the Board of Veterinary Medicine. In order to providerevenuetoassistinthepurchaseofamodern, functional, user-friendlyweb-basedlicensingsoftware program, the legislation would impose a separate statutory increase for veterinarian license renewal fees for 2017 only and include a "sunset" provision.

Appropriates $74,754,900 to the Division of Career Technical Education for fiscal year 2018; exempts appropriation object transfer limitations; and reappropriates certain unexpended and unencumbered fund balances.

Appropriates $3,125,900 to the Soil and Water Conservation Commission for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 17.75; and provides legislative intent regarding distributions to the districts.

This is the fiscal year 2018 appropriation in the amount of $3,125,900 to the Soil and Water Conservation Commission for fiscal year 2018. It limits the number of authorized full-time positions to 17.75. It provides funding for the increased cost of health insurance, funds the replacement of three vehicles, and accounts for an increase in statewide cost allocation. It funds an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion of the administrator. This bill includes one line item for $17,500 in federal funds. When the technical records specialist position became vacant, the commission changed its scope to include liaison responsibilities. This position was fully funded by the Legislature but was filled at 3/4 time in order for the commission to cover any unanticipated employee separations. The position serves the commission, districts, and the National Resource Conservation Service with record keeping, planning, interpreting state rules and policies, and by strengthening the local, state, and federal partnership through capacity building. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has committed to supporting one-fourth of the personnel costs of this technical records specialist position. The budget is a 1.8% increase in the General Fund, a 20.9% decrease in dedicated funds, and an indefinite increase in federal funds for an overall decrease of 1.0% from the original FY 2017 appropriation.

Appropriates and transfers $400,000 from the General Fund to the Wolf Control Fund for fiscal year 2018.

Appropriates an additional $66,400 to the Department of Lands for fiscal year 2017; authorizes an additional 3 full-time equivalent positions onetime for fiscal year 2017; appropriates an additional $375,000 for fiscal year 2018; and authorizes an additional 3 full-time equivalent positions ongoing for fiscal year 2018.

This is a trailer appropriation to S1099. S1099 establishes a new division head within the Idaho Department of Lands to handle oil and gas conservation matters currently handled by program staff (1.34 FTP plus 1.00 FTP in FY 2018 appropriation bill) in the Lands and Waterways Division. The division administrator will lead an oil and gas division to be created by the director. The administrator will serve the Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and must possess the qualifications necessary to successfully implement a professional oil and gas conservation program in Idaho. In addition to current program staff and appropriation, the new Oil and Gas Division will require three (3.0) additional new full time positions and $375,000 ongoing and $3,900 one-time general fund support for personnel costs and associated operating expenses, to include: (1) ongoing general fund support for the new Oil and Gas Division Administrator (unclassified) in the amount of $120,000 for annual salary and $40,700 for benefits; (2) ongoing general fund support for an Analyst 3/Information Specialist (grade M) in the amount of $52,300 for annual salary and $27,000 for benefits; (3) ongoing general fund support for an Administrative Assistant 2 (grade I) in the amount of $32,500 for annual salary and $20,500 for benefits; and (4) a one-time capital outlay appropriation of $3,900 for three personal computers and monitors. This bill also provides an ongoing general fund operating expense appropriation in the amount of $22,000 for administrative overhead and $60,000 for contracted hearing officers and professional engineering services. An emergency clause, added by the House of Representatives, adds 2 months or 1/6 of personnel costs and operating expenditures for FY 2017.

Amends existing law to remove language specifying a date after which a county auditor must deliver a missed property roll to the tax collector.

This legislation amends Idaho Code § 63-811to remove language specifying the date after which a county auditor must deliver a missed property roll to the tax collector. Current statute requires delivery after the first Monday of March in the following year. Removing this requirement will allow taxpayers to receive their tax notice sooner.

Repeals and adds to existing law to prohibit acts by a permittee or his agent or employee, to require supervision, and to provide exceptions, penalties and administrative action.

The purpose of this legislation is to repeal and replace Idaho Code § 23-614. It is the intent of the State of Idaho to enact this statute to ameliorate the secondary effects at or near establishments whose predominate business is selling alcohol and, as part of that business, offering entertainment by or employing individuals who appear in a state of nudity or partial nudity or who engage in actual or simulated sexual activity. The secondary effects from such establishments are detrimental to the public health and safety and welfare of Idaho citizens, and include an increase in criminal activity (including public sexual contact between entertainers and patrons, prostitution, gang activity, sex offenses, drug use, and assaults), the potential depreciation in the value of real property, and disruption of the peace and harm to the economic welfare of the community.

Appropriates $54,359,100 to the Department of Lands for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 309.15; and exempts certain appropriation object transfer limitations.

This is the fiscal year 2018 appropriation to the Idaho Department of Lands in the amount of $54,359,100. The budget includes a cap of 309.15 FTPs. In addition to the standard maintenance items, it includes funding for 19 line items. Line item 1 provides $200,000 for the land information management system implementation. Line item 2, provides one FTP and $179,200 for an off-highway program specialist. Line item 3 provides $60,000 for electronic records management. Line item 4 provides $22,800 for a wide area network failsafe. Line item 5 includes $103,300 for mapping software and storage. Line item 6 provides $44,600 for IT equipment and network software. Line item 7 provides $274,200 for the sage grouse conservation initiative. Line item 8 includes $65,600 for an oil and gas program specialist. Line item 9 includes $33,800 for the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association to pay the Forest Service for its share of the McCall dispatch center. Line item 10 shifts $84,200 from one dedicated fund to another, for support of the Navigable Waters Program. Line item 11 provides $250,000 for a navigable waterways study. Line item 12 includes $36,200 for additional equipment. Line item 13 includes $40,000 to scan mineral documents. Line item 14 provides $200,000 to increase the appropriation for the abandoned mine program. Line item 15 include 2 additional FTPs and $750,000 for the Good Neighbor Authority Program. Line item 16 provides for $398,800 for the soft costs of the Coeur d'Alene Office Expansion. Line item 17 includes $112,400 in dedicated funds and 13.05 FTPs, to convert temporary positions to permanent. Line item 18 includes $20,000 for project learning tree. Line item 19 includes $23,800 for the two timber protective association CEC and inflation. Also the budget includes $100 for cybersecurity insurance. The budget is a 6.6% increase in the General Fund, a 1.9% reduction in dedicated funds, and an 40.7% reduction in federal funds for an overall cut of 8.7% fr

Amends existing law to provide that the administrator of the Division of Purchasing may authorize agencies to participate in cooperative purchasing agreements and to utilize contracts of other agencies.

This legislation, recommended by the State Procurement Laws Interim Committee, enables individual state agencies to: (1) participate in cooperative purchasing agreements with other public agencies; and (2) participate in contracts made by other Idaho public agencies (such as political subdivisions). Allowing agencies to participate in cooperative purchasing and to share contracts would reduce administrative costs to the state by requiring fewer solicitations. As cooperative purchasing agreements contain a higher volume of goods and services, state and other Idaho public agencies would likely be able to procure property for reduced costs as well. To ensure the integrity of the procurement process, this legislation requires that any shared contract must have been made after competitive bidding that is consistent with Idaho law.

Appropriates an additional $50,000 to the Division of Building Safety for fiscal year 2017; appropriates $13,989,900 to the Division of Building Safety for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 141.

This is the FY 2018 appropriation to the Division of Building Safety in the amount of $13,989,900 with full-time equivalent positions capped at 141. This budget includes funding for benefit cost increases, statewide cost allocation, a 3% CEC, and contract inflation for rent. The 3% CEC is a merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion of each director. Additionally, this bill includes funding for replacement items which include computers, monitors, printers, and 17 vehicles. Finally, this budget includes 7 line items. Line item 1 provides 7.00 FTP and provides appropriation for salaries and benefits as well as equipment for the new employees. Line item 2 provides 3.00 FTP and appropriation for personnel costs and computer equipment. Line item 3 will provide for travel-related expenses for employees of the Board of School Safety and Security. Line item 4 provides for $150,000 to bring salaries of inspectors closer to that of other governmental entities. Line item 8 includes $30,000 for online license renewal software. Line item 9 provides $100,000 to update the TRAKiT software. Line item 11 provides $22,600 in one-time funds to publish Idaho building codes online. The budget also includes a $50,000 FY 2017 supplemental for the Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Board.

Appropriates an additional $100,000 to the Public Utilities Commission for fiscal year 2017.

This is a fiscal year 2017 supplemental appropriation to the Public Utilities Commission in the amount of $100,000 in operating expenditures from the Indirect Cost Recovery Fund. The commission's only federal grant, the Pipeline Safety Program, recently expanded allowable indirect costs from a 20% ceiling to the actual negotiated indirect rate. This change was not confirmed to the states until late spring 2016, when the commission received a supplemental reimbursement check for an additional $93,000 for overhead costs. Proper accounting for overhead expenses ensures that the regulated natural gas companies are not picking up a disproportionate share of the costs of the pipeline safety program. This appropriation doubles the base appropriation to match the new, higher indirect reimbursement amounts moving forward.

Appropriates $2,285,308,600 for the Medicaid Division in the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2018; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 216 for fiscal year 2018; provides for transfers to the Cooperative Welfare Fund; directs transfers from trustee and benefit payments; provides legislative intent regarding program integrity; requires monthly Medicaid tracking reports; provides for transfers between programs; requires biannual reports regarding managed care implementation; requires an annual report on flexible spending authority; provides legislative intent for non-emergency medical transportation for fiscal year 2018; appropriates an additional $10,741,500 for the Medicaid Division for fiscal year 2017; reduces the appropriation by $22,600,000 for the Enhanced Medicaid Plan program for fiscal year 2017; authorizes 5 additional full-time equivalent positions for fiscal year 2017; and provides legislative intent for non-emergency medical transportation for fiscal year 2017.

This is the fiscal year 2018 Original Appropriation and fiscal year 2017 supplemental appropriation bill for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for the Medicaid Division. For fiscal year 2018, it appropriates $531,903,900 from the General Fund, $328,070,300 from dedicated funds, and $1,425,334,400 from federal funds, for a total of $2,285,308,600 and 216 FTP. The fiscal year 2018 portion includes adjustments for employee benefit costs, statewide cost allocation, annualizations, cybersecurity insurance, and an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion of the director. Also included is $53,726,600 for nondiscretionary adjustments that include changes for caseload, utilization, and the federal match (FMAP). This bill includes three sections of department-wide intent language and five sections of division-specific intent language for fiscal year 2018. The bill contains four line items. Line item 5 provides $654,100 to continue with the implementation of the federally required financial reporting system called Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (TMSIS). Line item 14 adds an additional position to the Estate Recovery Program. Line item 28 add an additional Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit position. The EPSDT program allows a child under 21 to receive medically necessary services that exceed the limits of the Idaho Medicaid plan; including dental, mental health, developmental, and specialty services. The final line item reduces $100,000 of ongoing appropriation for services being requested in another Health and Welfare program. The line item related to the Jeff D lawsuit settlement will be handled in a separate JFAC action. The fiscal year 2017 adjustments include adding five new positions for services related to the K.W. vs Armstrong lawsuit settlement and for changes in the Home and Community Based Services Program. This bill also includes

Appropriates an additional $307,900 from the General Fund to the Commission of Pardons and Parole for fiscal year 2018; and authorizes an additional 3 full-time equivalent positions.

This is a trailer appropriation bill that provides $307,900 to the Commission of Pardons and Parole for FY 2018 to address the fiscal impact of S1113, which, among other things, repeals various subsections under Section 20-229B, Idaho Code, regarding intermediate sanctions for parole violators. Intermediate sanctions were added to Idaho Code as part of S1357 (2014) (commonly referred to as the Justice Reinvestment Initiative) in order to divert certain parole violators from lengthy prison stays. Prior to the passage of S1357, paroleviolatorswereincarceratedforamediantermoffivemonthsbeforedisposition. Afterimplementation of S1357, the median term decreased to four months. Removing intermediate sanctions is expected to increase the median term to at least five months, and potentially up to eight months. This will result in a substantial increase to the Department of Correction's bed utilization. To increase the parole hearing capacity of the Commission of Pardons and Parole, and to thereby mitigate the fiscal impact of repealing intermediate sanctions, S1113 increases the number of members on the commission from five to seven; allows the commission to address disposition of parole violations with a panel of two commissioners; and increases their pay by 50% (from $200 to $300 per day). To assist the commissioners, a technical records specialist (TRS) and two hearing officers are also contemplated.

Amends existing law to remove and revise fees charged by the Secretary of State for business filings.

Thisamendmentcorrectsoversightsthatwereincludedinthe2015enactmentoftheIdahoUniformBusiness Organizations Code. These corrections include clarifying fee names, including missed fees, and removing fees that we are no longer charged.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for licensure of sign language interpreters.

Relating to sign language interpreting, this legislation creates a licensing system and licensing requirements for sign language interpreters. At least 13% of the general population has a variety of types of hearing loss, which affects 203,785 Idaho citizens. Out of that total, 2.42% of the population with hearing loss (34,486) experience severe to profound hearing loss. They are unable to readily understand speech due to the extent of their hearing loss, but instead rely on a visual mode of communication. These deaf people are at a distinct disadvantage with incomplete, incorrect, and unethically-delivered information, often by the hands of non-qualified interpreters. A professional and qualified interpreter is required to facilitate the communication and information, ensuring that it is fully accessible and understandable by the customers and the service providers. It is a quality control measure to ensure that deaf and hearing consumers receive appropriate interpreting services, which may reduce general threats to the health and safety of deaf people statewide. Licensing professional interpreters also minimize the liability of hiring entities in providing services to deaf consumers. It also ensures equal access to education, employment opportunities, and health care for deaf children and adults. Recognizing that by using sign language interpreters can profoundly affect the lives of people of the state of Idaho, itisthepurposeofthisacttosetstandardsofqualificationforthosewhoengageinthepracticeofsign language interpreting and protect the public from unprofessional conduct in the practice of sign language interpreting.

Appropriates $6,561,800 to the Public Utilities Commission for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 52.

Appropriates $6,561,800 to the Public Utilities Commission for fiscal year 2018 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 52. Dedicated funding is from assessments charged to the regulated utilities and federal funding is from a pipeline safety grant. The bill includes funding for the increased costs for health insurance, funding for increases in leased office space, provides for replacement items, and accounts for an increase in statewide cost allocation. This bill also includes an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees. No line items are provided.

Amends existing law to add fire station to the definition of “safe haven.”

This amendment allows for fire stations where there are personnel on duty to be included as a "Safe haven" under Chapter 82, Title 39, of Idaho Code.

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding who may apply for relief.

This is one of the bills that the Supreme Court has recommended in its annual report to the Governor concerning defects or omissions in the law as required under article V, section 25 of the Idaho Constitution. I.C. § 19-2604 permits some defendants to have their convictions or pleas or findings of guilt set aside if certain conditions are met. The wording of the statute leaves it somewhat unclear whether a defendant in a misdemeanor case who has been sentenced to a jail term, with a portion of the jail term suspended, would be eligible for this relief. This bill would clarify that when any portion of the sentence of a defendant in a misdemeanor case has been suspended, the defendant could later ask the court for relief if the requisite conditions are met.