Idaho Bills

Repeals existing law relating to the Professional Studies Program and the Professional Studies Account.

Consistent with the Red Tape Reduction Act, this bill seeks to eliminate obsolete and unnecessary restrictions. Specifically, the proposed legislation would repeal Section 33-3720, Idaho Code. This section of code establishes a loan program that is no longer administered and has not been funded in over a decade.

Amends existing law to remove the requirement that the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station use the administrative rules process to set standards and requirements for seed certification.

The purpose of this legislation is to amend Section 22-1505, Idaho Code, removing the requirement that the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station in the College of Agriculture of the University of Idaho use the Administrative Rule process for setting standards for seed certification. The current process that allows for public and industry input in setting seed certification standards through the Idaho Crop Improvement Association, the current agent of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, would remain in place; however, the added formal rule promulgation process would be removed. Layering the formal rule promulgation process on top of the process that has been developed through the Idaho Crop Improvement Association has added a layer of bureaucracy and timelines that limits the ability to amend standards in a manner responsive to industry needs. The current framework for gathering stakeholder/industry input used by the Idaho Crop Improvement Association allows those that are impacted by changes to the standards to be involved in the process through the Idaho Crop Improvement Association. Additionally, a 30-day public comment period for the standards would be required prior to their establishment.

Amends existing law to provide that a person's teaching certificate shall be revoked for the commission of certain crimes against adults and to provide an exception.

Idaho's patrons, educators, and especially children have a reasonable expectation that Idaho's educators are free from convictions of egregious criminal acts. Current legislation prevents the abusers of children from attaining employment in Idaho schools but does not prevent perpetrators of adult violence. These revisions will apply to violations against any person of any age. This legislation would remove the conditions of "against a child" in a variety of circumstances which include "any of the following felony offenses:" -Aggravated assault, or assault with intent to commit a serious felony -Aggravated battery, or battery with intent to commit a serious felony -Murder, or voluntary manslaughter -Kidnapping -Interstate trafficking in prostitution -Rape Right now, people convicted of these crimes can be hired to teach our children, if they have not yet committed suchcrimesagainstachild. Thisbillwillalsoassureahigherlevelofsafetytoparents, knowingthattheteacher in a classroom is free from having committed these felonious offenses.

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of Species Conservation for fiscal year 2021.

This is the FY 2021 original appropriation bill for the Office of Species Conservation. It appropriates a total of $15,125,800 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 15.00. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP and temporarily removes funding for the employer's sick leave contribution rate. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 2% change in employee compensation for permanent state employees, with an additional 2% increase for those in the 20 job classifications most in need of equity adjustments. The bill funds three line items, which provide $15,000 for travel expenses for the Idaho Roadless Commission; $75,000 for year six of the Sage Grouse Study; and 1.00 FTP and $95,000 for a federal lands coordinator. Also included are adjustments to pay the Office of Information Technology Services for security software and data center office space located at the Chinden Campus; and software licensing, server infrastructure, and storage to expand system capabilities on core systems and to maintain agency-specific software. Lastly, the ongoing General Fund appropriation is reduced by 2%.

Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding the Fish and Game Commission's authority associated with tags, to revise powers and duties of the board, and to provide for the designation of allocated tags.

This consensus legislation will amend the laws governing the allocation of deer and elk hunting tags for clients of outfitters in capped and controlled hunts by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and the designation of those allocated tags to outfitters by the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board. This legislation clarifies the agencies' authority and direction to ensure the agencies can implement the statutes in a manner that provides predictability and opportunities for growth for outfitters and maximizes the use of the these tags by the outfitted public.

Adds to existing law to provide for first-time home buyer savings accounts.

The purpose of this legislation is to establish First-time Homebuyer Savings Accounts. Similar to existing Idaho tax-advantaged savings accounts for healthcare and educational purposes, Idaho's First-time Homebuyer SavingsAccountswouldencourageindividualstosavefortheirfirsthome,includingdown-paymentonahome, or other eligible home costs associated with closing on their first home in Idaho. The allowable tax deduction for an individual account holder is $15,000 per year, while the allowable tax deduction for a married couple is $30,000 per year. The proposed legislation mirrors existing Idaho code for reporting and depository related matters for other tax-advantaged savings accounts in Idaho.

Amends existing law to allow a barber school or a cosmetology school an opportunity for retroactive license renewal.

The purpose of this legislation is to amend Chapter 58, Section 21 of Title 54 Idaho Code. In 2018 the Cosmetology and Barber Boards were merged into a new Barber and Cosmetology Services Act. During that process, the new section that addresses the Renewal and Reinstatement of License and Registration did not address the unfortunate consequences of an inadvertent late payment of a Cosmetology or Barber School. Many of these schools provide training to students who rely on financial aid. The US Department of Education requires these schools to maintain a continuous license. This amendment provides the Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board the authority to approve the reinstatement retroactive to the date of expiration. The school must have paid the renewal fee within 90 days of the failure to renew, there must be no other cause for the school's license to have been cancelled, and all costs and penalties related to the renewal must be paid. This only changes the renewal and reinstatement of Barber and Cosmetology schools and not the many licensed professions covered by the Barbers and Cosmetology Act. The students of these schools would be assured that an inadvertent clerical error would not impact their financial aid or continuity of their education.

Relates to the appropriation to the Lava Hot Springs Foundation for fiscal year 2021.

This is the FY 2021 original appropriation bill for the Lava Hot Springs Foundation. It appropriates a total of $3,010,000 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 15.80. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP and temporarily removes funding for the employer's sick leave contribution rate. Funding for replacement items includes $298,100 for water pumps, replacement decking, gel coat repair, splash toys, and a tractor. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 2% change in employee compensation for permanent state employees, with an additional 2% increase for those in the 20 job classifications most in need of equity adjustments. The bill funds three line items, which provide $500,000 to demolish the Tumbling Waters Motel; $100,000 to purchase additional merchandise for the gift shop; and $10,000 for a tractor mounted bucket attachment. Also included are adjustments to pay the Office of Information Technology Services for security software and data center office space located at the Chinden Campus.

Amends existing law to provide that water may be diverted and used with or without a water right for certain cleanup or removal of hazardous substances or petroleum, to provide for reporting, and to provide that the director of the Department of Water Resources shall be consulted.

This proposal would provide an exemption from the requirement to obtain a temporary water right permit for removalofcontaminatedwaterduringanemergencyresponse. ThisexemptionissimilartoIdahoCodeSection 42-201 where water is withdrawn to fight wildfires. Emergency spills can happen at all hours of the day and immediate response is critical to mitigate further damage to water bodies and public drinking water systems that use surface water. Under the current statute, IDWR grants a temporary water right to remove contaminated water for treatment offsite or to temporarily remove the contaminated water, separate out the contamination, and return the decant water back to the water body. Granting a temporary water right can potentially take days. The current process impacts the state's ability to work with the regional hazmat teams/emergency response cleanup contractors/responsible parties to remove contaminated water from a water body in a timely manner and minimize the potential impacts on human health and the environment.

Relates to the appropriation to the Division of Financial Management for fiscal year 2021.

This is the FY 2021 original appropriation bill for the Division of Financial Management. It appropriates a total of $2,614,100 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 19.00. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP and temporarily removes funding for the employer's sick leave contribution rate. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 2% change in employee compensation for permanent state employees. Also included are adjustments to pay the Office of Information Technology Services for security software and data center office space located at the Chinden Campus; and software licensing, server infrastructure, and storage to expand system capabilities on core systems and to maintain agency-specific software. Lastly, the ongoing General Fund appropriation is reduced by 2%.

Stating findings of the Legislature, supporting the Itafos Conda project, and requesting that the federal government commit adequate personnel and resources to the project.

This Joint Memorial encourages the President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Secretary of the United States Department of Interior, Administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency and Idaho's Congressional Delegation, to commit adequate, experienced and knowledgeable personnel and sufficient financial resources to move forward with permitting Itafos Conda's Husky 1/North Dry Ridge project, so the site may be developed in a timely and cost-effective manner in order to provide viable resources for continued operations, a gainfully employed workforce and a domestic fertilizer supply to support the American farmer.

Amends and repeals existing law to remove licensing provisions, to provide for compliance with specified law by weighmasters, and to revise provisions regarding weight and tare tickets.

Consistent with the Governor's Licensing Freedom Act, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) reviewedtheweighmasterlicenseanddeterminedthislicenseisnottheleastrestrictiveandeffectiveregulatory framework capable of adequately protecting the public. The ISDA proposes repeal because the license does not meet Licensing Freedom Act thresholds for continuation as a regulatory requirement: • Removing the regulation would not substantially harm the safety or welfare of the public. • The public can be protected by less restrictive means. • The benefits of regulation do not outweigh the cost to consumers. • The license is not the least restrictive effective regulatory framework capable of adequately protecting the public. This bill proposes repealing the weighmaster licensing requirement while preserving weigh ticket standards. Licensure repeal would remove a regulatory burden for 700-900 businesses in Idaho annually.

Amends existing law to prohibit sex offenders from entering upon or living within 500 feet of a daycare facility, to provide an exception, and to clarify that the definition of “school” includes a private school.

This bill will amend the law listing restrictions for convicted sex offenders regarding schools. This bill will add "daycares" to the restrictions.

Amends existing law to increase moneys distributed to the Local Bridge Inspection Account.

Idaho Code Section 63-2412 dedicates $100,000 annually from the state gas tax for a local bridge inspection account. This program ensures safety for users of Idaho's transportation system, and hasn't been adjusted in more than twenty years for inflation and increased federal match requirements. The local bridge inspection account (§40-703) provides the required 7.34% match for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding utilized to conduct local jurisdiction bridge inspections, and is strictly dedicated only for this use. The current estimated cost to inspect local bridges is $2M annually. Required match for $2M is approximately $150,000. Recently, unused funds from previous years have been carried over to cover the gap in matching funds; however, the balance in the local bridge inspection account is nearly exhausted. Annual funding to this account is fixed in statute, while the costs of local bridge inspection grow. This proposal increases funding for the local bridge inspection account to $175,000 to ensure match requirements and cost increases can be met, so that bridges in Idaho's 288 local jurisdictions are properly inspected for safety.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Operations for fiscal year 2021.

This is the FY 2021 original appropriation bill for the Division of Operations of the Public Schools Educational Support Program. It appropriates $685,591,900 from the General Fund and $60,586,400 in dedicated funds. This division includes pupil transportation, salaries and benefits for classified staff, technology, innovation schools funding, and discretionary funds that can be used for any educational support services or general operations. This budget includes $3,150,900 for a 2% base salary increase for classified staff. Also included is $16,017,300fornondiscretionaryadjustmentsandofthatamount,$7,705,300isneededfortheincreaseinpupil transportation, $6,268,000 is to meet the demands of student growth in discretionary funding, and $2,044,000 is for support unit growth for salaries and benefits. Line item 1 increases discretionary funding to $28,887 per support unit, which is a 1.7% increase over the current year, and may be used for health insurance. The amount is the result of several calculations and analyses of health insurance costs, rate increases, and staffing levels. The $28,887 is further divided into two distributions: $16,226 per support unit is to be used at the discretion of the school district or charter school and $12,661 per support unit is to be used to offset the employer costs of health, vision, and dental insurance offered to its employees. If the distribution provided for health, vision, and dental insurance is in excess of the individual school district's or charter school's actual costs, the excess funds may then be used at the school district's or charter school's discretion. This is an increase of 3.8% from the General Fund and 3.7% from all funds.

Stating findings of the Legislature and requesting that the State Board of Education and State Department of Education research alternatives to the tenth grade Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT).

This resolution directs the Idaho State Board of Education and Idaho State Department of Education to replace the federally required ISAT test with another test that would meet federal requirements such as the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test).

Relates to the appropriation to the Legislative Branch for fiscal year 2020.

This is an FY 2020 supplemental appropriation bill for the Legislative Services Office. It provides $40,000 ongoing from the General Fund to provide closed captioning services of Senate and House of Representatives proceedings on television and over the Internet.

Amends existing law to require certain cities to establish districts for city councilmen.

This legislation establishes districts and shall allow election of city councilmen by districts in certain cities. Districts shall be established no later than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the general election.