Idaho Bills

Relates to the appropriation from the Idaho Millennium Income Fund.

This is the FY 2020 original appropriation bill for the Idaho Millennium Fund. It appropriates a total of $732,500. Grant funding is provided to Recovery Idaho for the operations of nine community recovery centers around the state. Funding is also provided to the Office of Drug Policy to establish a vaping awareness and prevention program in Idaho. These grant awards were recommended by the Joint Legislative Millennium Fund Committee. The bill also provides that certain unexpended and unencumbered balances of moneys shall revert to the Idaho Millennium Income Fund at the end of fiscal year 2020 and, further, that any moneys in the Income Fund at the end of fiscal year 2019 are to remain in the fund.

Relates to the appropriation to the Division of Building Safety for fiscal year 2019.

This is an FY 2019 supplemental appropriation bill for the Division of Building Safety. It provides an addition of $60,100 to the Miscellaneous Revenue/Logging Fund to be expended on personnel costs. Additionally, the bill reduces personnel costs by $60,100 from the Miscellaneous Revenue/Industrial Safety Fund.

Relates to the appropriation to the State Appellate Public Defender for fiscal year 2020.

This is the FY 2020 original appropriation bill for the State Appellate Public Defender. It appropriates a total of $3,024,400 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 24.00. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP; provides a 5.5% increase for the employer's share of PERSI contributions; and temporarily reduces the rate agencies pay the Division of Human Resources for its services. Inflationary adjustments include $3,300 for employee development costs, general services, repair and maintenance services, and computer services. Funding for replacement items includes $9,300 for eight computers and related software and hardware. For statewide cost allocation, $1,200 is provided. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 3% change in employee compensation for permanent employees, with a minimum increase of $550 for each employee and the remaining amount to be distributed based on merit. The bill funds one line item, which provides $2,600 for cybersecurity.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the number of district judges of the Fourth Judicial District.

ThisbillwouldaddonenewdistrictjudgepositionwithresidentchambersinAdaCounty,beginningOctober 1, 2019. The last new district judge position in Ada County was created in 2013, and the last one before that in 2007. The population of Ada County has increased by 16% since 2013, and it continues to grow. The judiciary has been able to keep pace with the corresponding growth in court calendars by the use of senior judges and by having active judges assigned to cases in districts other than their own when required. Drug andmentalhealthcourtsoperatinginthisdistricthaveprovidedacost-effectivemeansofavoidingexpensive incarceration costs while protecting the community. Their operation has been possible only because judges have been willing to devote time beyond normal working hours to preside over these courts. Dealing with Idaho's growing population and caseload and continuing to expand the capacity of drug and mental health courts requires these additional judicial resources.

Relates to the appropriation to the Division of Financial Management for fiscal year 2020.

This is an FY 2020 trailer appropriation bill to the Division of Financial Management. It addresses the fiscal impact of H73, which transfers the Office of the Administrative Rules Coordinator from the Department of Administration to the Division of Financial Management.

Relates to the Appropriation to the Department of Environmental Quality for fiscal year 2020.

This is the FY 2020 original appropriation bill for the Department of Environmental Quality. It appropriates a total of $68,415,600 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 389.00. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP; provides a 5.5% increase for the employer's share of PERSI contributions; and temporarily reduces the rate agencies pay the Division of Human Resources for its services. Funding for replacement items includes $425,800 for computers, network equipment and software, three trucks, and scientific equipment. For statewide cost allocation, $240,700 is provided. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 3% change in employee compensation for permanent employees, with a minimum increase of $550 for each employee and the remaining amount to be distributed based on merit. Funding for a 3% upward shift in the compensation schedule is also included. The bill funds seven line items, which provide: 3.00 FTP and $757,300 for the Idaho Pollution Discharge Elimination System (IPDES), which Idaho assumed primacy over in June of 2018; a transfer of $1,500,000 from the Water Pollution Control Fund for the Triumph Mine; a reduction of $1,345,300 from the Water Pollution Control Fund and an increase of $1,050,400 in the General Fund for a total decrease of $294,900 to shift the Beneficial Use Reconnaissance Program and the Lakes Management Plan back to the General Fund; a net reduction of $100,000 in federal funds and an object transfer of $100,000 from operating expenditures to personnel costs for the Environmental Remediation Match; $167,200 for water quality monitoring to establish naturally occurring background levels for arsenic; $50,100 for a boat and trailer to monitor and respond to time-critical issues such as harmful algal blooms and provide access to the Snake River for water quality monitoring; and $340,000 onetime for remediation project co

Amends and adds to existing law to allow online examinations; to provide a new type of examination for certified shorthand reporters; and to provide for certification by endorsement.

The Idaho Certified Shorthand Reporters Board is proposing legislation to add the Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) Exam to the list of Board-approved exams, to allow online exam testing, and to provide a pathway to licensure by endorsement for applicants that have passed a national exam and have been working for three of the past five years in another state. This legislation will provide more flexibility to applicants and licensees, provide additional pathways to licensure for out-of-state applicants, and enhance portability between Idaho and other states.

Amends existing law to provide that certain moneys in the custody of the State Treasurer shall be kept in the treasurer's office.

This legislation removes the current requirement that moneys in the custody of the State Treasurer be kept in a vault and allows moneys not otherwise deposited or invested to be kept in the office of the State Treasurer.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for periodic reviews of the state's public school funding formula, to provide for student enrollment counts and rulemaking, and to provide for certain reports.

This bill is mostly comprised of definitions needed for a Student Based Funding Formula (SBFF), and some reporting of student enrollment data. In preparation for SBFF discussions during the 2020 legislative session school districts will report student enrollment figures in the fall of 2019, in addition to average daily attendance (ADA). Districts will report overall student enrollment numbers, along with enrollments in the sub-categories of special education, low income, English language learners, and gifted and talented. With this parallel data, both ADA and enrollment, the legislature and stakeholders will be able to better determine the fiscal impact per district of a new Student Based Funding Formula.

Amends existing law to provide that persons 15 years of age may identify as an organ donor on a driver's license or identification card.

In 2018 the Idaho Legislature passed HB0546 which changed the minimum donor age from 16 to 15 for individuals to be able to volunteer to be an organ donor. Idaho allows individuals to get a driver's license at 15, but prior to HB0546, those individuals were not able to volunteer to be a donor and get the organ donor designation on their license. AfterHB0546passed,itwasdiscoveredthatadditionalsectionsofcodeneededtobeupdated. Toaccomplish the original purpose of HB0546. This legislation simply changes the sections of code that were missed.

Relates to the appropriation to the Division of Building Safety for fiscal year 2020.

This is the FY 2020 original appropriation bill for the Division of Building Safety. It appropriates a total of $15,001,600 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 144.00. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP; provides a 5.5% increase for the employer's share of PERSI contributions; and temporarily reduces the rate agencies pay the Division of Human Resources for its services. Inflationary adjustments include $167,200 for general inflation and $20,800 for contract for a total of $183,500. Funding for replacement items includes $505,400 for the replacement of vehicles and computer equipment. For statewide cost allocation, $38,500 is provided. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 3% change in employee compensation for permanent employees, with a minimum increase of $550 for each employee and the remaining amount to be distributed based on merit. The bill funds six line items and two governor initiatives, which provide $70,000 for a Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance grant; $80,500 for a STOP grant; 1.00 FTP and $175,100 for a school safety grant; $42,700 for a Department of Transportation grant; $15,000 for receipt of donations; a reduction of $66,500 for a grant that did not receive funding; $13,000 for network equipment; and a reduction of 4.00 FTP and $23,000 for consolidation. The bill also includes language regarding reappropriation authority for $100,000 from the State Regulatory Fund to be used for the Trackit9 system.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding contracts with providers of dental services.

This legislation will clarify current language in Idaho Code that a dental plan contracting with a dentist cannot set the rate for a procedure that is not covered by that contract. The proposed bill further defines that covered services are services that a dental plan contracting with a dentist is liable for paying either in part or in whole. The bill provides for discussion and notice between a dentist and patient when the patient's services become non-covered services due to the patient exceeding their capped benefit by 100 percent. The bill will apply to any dental plan or contract which is issued after December 31, 2019.

Amends existing law to provide for an order withholding judgment and to provide for an infraction action.

This is one of a series of bills the Supreme Court has recommended in its annual report to the Governor concerning defects or omissions in the laws, as required by article V, section 25 of the Idaho Constitution. Often times, bail monies posted in cash remain on deposit with the court at the conclusion of a criminal case. I.C. § 19-2908 allows these remaining cash bail monies to be applied to satisfy a defendant's debts owed to the court. However, the current form of I.C. § 19-2908 only allows the remaining bail monies to be applied when a judgment is entered. As a result, this process cannot be utilized when judgment is withheld even though a withheld judgment also results from a finding of guilt. To correct this oversight, entry of an order withholding judgment should be added as a triggering event for applying remaining cash bail amounts to pay debts the defendant owes the court. In addition, this statute now limits payment of the remaining bail monies to debts resulting from the case in which the bail was posted or other "criminal" cases against the defendant. Infractions are civil cases. In support of this law's obvious purpose, applying remaining bail monies to debts resulting from other "infraction" actions against the defendant should also be allowed.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2020.

This is the FY 2020 original appropriation bill for the Department of Health and Welfare for the Public HealthServicesDivision. Itappropriatesatotalof$124,331,400andcapsthenumberofauthorizedfull-time equivalent positions at 236.02. This division includes four programs: Physical Health Services, Emergency Medical Services, Laboratory Services, and Suicide Prevention and Awareness. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP; provides a 5.5% increase for the employer's share of PERSI contributions; and temporarily reduces the rate agencies pay the Division of Human Resources for its services. For statewide cost allocation, $27,000 is provided. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 3% change in employee compensation for permanent employees, with a minimum increase of $550 for each employee and the remaining amount to be distributed based on merit. The bill funds four line items, which provide $200,000 for suicide prevention and awareness infrastructure; $10,000 for the Cancer Data Registry; $166,100 for the tuberculosis program; and the shift of $401,000 from the General Fund to dedicated funds for cost offsets related to Medicaid expansion. The bill also includes six sections of language providing requirements, three of which apply to the entire department, one that directs the use of suicide prevention moneys, one directing a cash transfer, and one for reporting on the Rural Physician Incentive Payments.

Relates to the appropriation to the State Liquor Division for fiscal year 2020.

This is the FY 2020 original appropriation bill for the State Liquor Division. It appropriates a total of $22,377,400 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 240.00. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP; provides a 5.5% increase for the employer's share of PERSI contributions; and temporarily reduces the rate agencies pay the Division of Human Resources for its services. Inflationary adjustments include $96,400 for increases in utilities, maintenance costs, and lease rates for the state's liquor stores. Funding for replacement items includes $408,800 for warehouse equipment, central office IT equipment and data back-up, and store equipment and repairs. For statewide cost allocation, $31,500 is provided. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 3% change in employee compensation for permanent employees, with a minimum increase of $550 for each employee and the remaining amount to be distributed based on merit. Funding for a 3% upward shift in the compensation schedule is also included. The bill funds five line items, which provide: $761,700 to relocate or remodel nine stores; 7.00 FTP and $121,600 to convert temporary positions to seven full-time classified positions; 4.00 FTP and $173,300 to hire four new warehouse employees; $30,000 for warehouse pallet jacks; and $15,600 for the Governor's technology initiative to replace the state's core network equipment.

Amends existing law regarding the Speech and Hearing Services Practice Act to provide that a licensee may show proof of licensure electronically and to remove the requirement that a sign language interpreter attain a minimum age to qualify for licensure.

TheIdahoSpeech,HearingandCommunicationServicesLicensureBoardisproposinglegislationtoremove the minimum age requirement for licensure for sign language interpreters and allow licensees to show proof oflicensureelectronically. Thesechangeswilleliminatebarrierstoemploymentandprovidemoreflexibility to licensees and applicants.

Amends existing law to provide that amounts in certain documents shall be rounded to the nearest whole dollar.

Currently insurance companies report and pay premium tax including cents. Considerable time and effort is spent by staff for insurance companies and the Department of Insurance to prepare and audit tax returns and other reports to the specific penny. These efforts are not commensurate with the value gained by such level of detail. This legislation would require premium tax returns from insurers to be rounded up or down to the nearest whole dollar. A similar change is made to require surplus lines brokers to report and pay tax rounded up or down to the nearest whole dollar.