Idaho Bills

Adds to existing law to require background checks for certain PERSI employees.

Request statutory authority, in cooperation with the Idaho State Police, to perform FBI criminal history check. Due to the nature of the information PERSI houses, access to the information by PERSI staff, the financial and investment transaction performed, there is a desire to maximize the ability to background check employees.

Adds to existing law to provide that students who attend medical school through the WWAMI program or who are in an Idaho slot at the University of Utah shall commit to practicing in Idaho or reimburse the state for supporting the student's medical education.

ThislegislationwillrequireIdahostudentswhoenrollinWWAMIRegionalMedicalProgramortheUniversity of Utah School of Medicine to sign a contract with the State Board of Education stipulating that the student will repay monies paid for their education from public funds, unless the student is actively engaged in professional practice in Idaho for four years.

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the Secretary of State for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

This is the FY 2023 original appropriation bill for the Secretary of State. It appropriates a total of $4,489,700 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 29.00. For benefit costs, the bill increases the appropriated amount for health insurance by $850 to $12,500 per eligible full time FTP, includes a one-year holidayofunemploymentinsurance,andadjustsworkerscompensationamounts. Thebillalsoprovidesfunding for permanent employees for the equivalent of a 3% salary structure shift and provides $1.25 per hour per eligible employee to be distributed based on merit for change in employee compensation. The bill funds three lineitems,whichprovideadditionalfundsforanupgradetotheSecretary'sbusinessfilingssoftware,publication and mailing costs associated with voter notification requirements, and election integrity audits. Also included in this bill is a FY 2022 supplemental appropriation, which provides for election integrity audits.

States findings of the Legislature and supports the development of civics standards for Idaho students.

Civic engagement is essential to our nation’s form of government. Civic education gives young people the knowledgeandbackgroundtobeengagedcitizenswhoaremorelikelytovoteandparticipateincivicactivities. Inrecentyears, manystatesincludingUtah, GeorgiaandFloridahavestrengthenedtheirstates’civicsstandards and requirements. Idaho’s civics standards are currently embedded in the state’s social studies standards. Separating and enhancing the standards, will highlight the importance of civic education and what we want students to know and be able to do with that education..

States findings of the Legislature and recognizes October 9, 2022, as PANDAS/PANS Awareness Day.

In 2019, 2020, and 2021, Idaho’s Governor issued proclamations declaring October 9th of each respective year, Idaho PANDA/PANS Awareness Day. PANDA is Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders AssociatedwithStreptococcalInfections,andPANSisPediatricAcute-onsetNeuropsychiatricSyndrome. This resolution (a) demonstrates support for the thousands of Idaho children and families who are experiencing PANDA/PANS and (b) declares October 9, 2022, Idaho PANDA/PANS Awareness Day in Idaho.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Juvenile Corrections for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

ThisistheFY2023originalappropriationbillfortheDepartmentofJuvenileCorrections. Itappropriatesatotal of $56,539,300 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 413.00. For benefit costs, the bill increases the appropriated amount for health insurance by $850 to $12,500 per eligible full time FTP, includes a one-year holiday of unemployment insurance, and adjusts workers' compensation amounts. The bill also provides funding for permanent employees for the equivalent of a 3% salary structure shift and provides $1.25 per hour per eligible employee to be distributed based on merit for change in employee compensation. The bill funds three line items, which provide additional funds for institutional staff pay, cottage furniture and fixtures, and educator career ladder. Also included in this bill are two onetime FY 2022 supplemental appropriations, which provides funding for safe teen receptions centers and youth crisis centers.

Relates to the appropriation to the Commission on Hispanic Affairs for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

This is the FY 2023 original appropriation bill for the Commission on Hispanic Affairs. It appropriates a total of $512,000 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 3.00. For benefit costs, the bill increases the appropriated amount for health insurance by $850 to $12,500 per eligible full time FTP, includes a one-year holiday of unemployment insurance, and adjusts workers' compensation amounts. The bill also provides funding for permanent employees for the equivalent of a 3% salary structure shift and provides $1.25 per hour per eligible employee to be distributed based on merit for change in employee compensation. Also included in this bill is a FY 2022 supplemental, which provides for a grant funding increase.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Children's Programs, the Office of the State Board of Education, the STEM Action Center, and the Commission for Libraries for fiscal year 2022.

This is a FY 2022 supplemental appropriation that adjusts the current year appropriation from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) set-aside portion of the award. The set-aside portion uses and distributions are subject to legislative appropriation, but the State Board of Education directs the use of the funds. This bill reduces a portion of the original appropriation from the Children's Programs Division in the Public School Support Program and provides an appropriation to the following agencies: 1) Office of the State Board of Education (OSBE) to replace the current school data system, create a dyslexia handbook, and summer learning programs; 2) STEM Action Center to provide summer learning STEM programs; and 3) Commission for Libraries to provide summer library reading programs.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding supplemental Medicaid reimbursement for ground emergency medical transportation.

The purpose of this legislation is to establish provisions regarding supplemental Medicaid reimbursement for Ground Emergency Medical Transportation. Ambulance services provide more uncompensated care than any other major health care provider. Currently, Medicaid only reimburses approximately a quarter of the true cost of ground emergency medical transport. Supplemental reimbursement would help to further cover the true cost of emergency medical services and greatly benefit rural areas with less access to emergency medical care, without a cost to either the state or local municipalities.

Amends existing law to revise requirements upon the death of certain persons.

With increase in case loads and difficult identifications, next of kin (NOK) notifications are taking longer. This proposal changes the coroner requirement to report cases to the Treasurer's Office from 48 to 72 hours. Decedents, with no legal NOK or have family that have abandoned, are statutorily Coroner/PA/Indigent cases. Current state statutes required that the decedent is not cremated prior to 14 days after death and when the application has been submitted and approved, so in addition to needing more time to find NOK, this proposed legislation would allow for cremation to be done 10 days from death and the application made and or a waiver to abandonment to be obtained.

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of Drug Policy for fiscal year 2023.

This is the FY 2023 original appropriation bill for the Office of Drug Policy. It appropriates a total of $6,239,200 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 6.00. For benefit costs, the bill increases the appropriated amount for health insurance by $850 to $12,500 per eligible full time FTP, includes a one-year holiday of unemployment insurance, and adjusts workers' compensation amounts. The bill also provides funding for permanent employees for the equivalent of a 3% salary structure shift and provides $1.25 per hour per eligible employee to be distributed based on merit for change in employee compensation. The bill funds one line item, which provide additional funds for substance abuse prevention.

Amends existing law to provide confidentiality for certain persons, to provide that certain persons shall not have their licensure suspended or revoked, and to provide that certain records shall be exempt from disclosure.

This legislation provides legal protection from discovery or disclosure for certain persons and entities to carry out the death penalty. It also protects individuals from license board discipline because of their involvement in carrying out the death penalty. The absence of these protections renders the currently approved means of administering the death penalty impossible to carry out.

Amends existing law to prohibit certain local regulations and taxes regarding tobacco products and electronic smoking devices.

Thepurposeofthislegislationistoensureuniformlawsonthesaleoftobaccoproductsandelectroniccigarettes across the state by preventing local authorities from implementing varying regulations that are more restrictive than state law. It would not interfere with or limit any local unit of government from regulating public use or planning and zoning ordinances related to these products.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Agriculture for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

This is the FY 2023 original appropriation bill for the Department of Agriculture. It appropriates a total of $50,131,000 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 225.00. For benefit costs, the bill increases the appropriated amount for health insurance by $850 to $12,500 per eligible full time FTP, includes a one-year holiday of unemployment insurance, and adjusts workers' compensation amounts. The bill also provides funding for permanent employees for the equivalent of a 3% salary structure shift and provides $1.25 per hour per eligible employee to be distributed based on merit for change in employee compensation. Thebillfundsfivelineitems, whichprovideadditionalfundsfortheInvasiveSpeciesProgram, aninspectorfor the Feed and Fertilizer Program, expansion of the Hemp Program, additional federal funds under the Specialty Crop Grant Program, and an equivalent CEC for fresh fruit and vegetable inspectors. Also included in this bill are two onetime FY 2022 supplementals, which provide expanded funding for Specialty Crop Grants and additional lab equipment.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Central Services for fiscal year 2023.

This is the FY 2023 original appropriation bill for the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Central Services Division. This division includes programs and funds that are spent at the state level by the Department of Education for the benefit of all school districts and charter schools. Funds are primarily used to contract for services and for program oversight and evaluation. This bill restores $200,000 for previously reduced remediation funds and $300,000 for previously reduced content and curriculum funds. The bill also includes $270,000 for Adobe and Microsoft certification programs for Jr.. high and high school students. Finally, this bill includes a cash transfer of $75,500,000 from the General Fund to the Public School Health Insurance Participation Fund that was established in H443.

Amends existing law to revise the prohibitions, penalties, and causes of action of the Fetal Heartbeat Preborn Child Protection Act.

This legislation amends the Fetal Heartbeat Preborn Child Protection Act to include a private enforcement mechanism allowing civil lawsuits against medical professionals who perform unlawful abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Although life begins at conception, a detectable heartbeat is a key indicator of the existence of life.