Idaho Bills

States findings of the Legislature and recognizes the historical importance of the commissioning of the USS IDAHO SSN-799.

To recognize the significance of the United States Navy naming a ship of the line after the Great State of Idaho. It is the 5th ship to be named the USS Idaho and the first ship in over 100 years to be named such. It is more than appropriate this ship is a submarine as Idaho has strong ties to the submarine community of the United States Navy. INL was the training ground for the first nuclear submarines and Bayview in northern Idaho has contributed greatly to the development of submarine design.

Amends existing law to provide for a more streamlined licensure by endorsement process for military members, veterans, and spouses.

This legislation relating to occupational licensing reform improves the clarity of the license by endorsement process for our military members, veterans, and spouses. It includes a deadline for processing applications for licensure. It provides for basic requirements for proof of military or veteran status and licensure in another jurisdiction and allows for a limited scope of practice rather than outright denial. It also maintains the ability to benefit from existing interstate compacts for licensure.

Repeals existing law relating to the Idaho Food Quality Assurance Institute.

Consistent with the Governor's Red Tape Reduction Act, this bill seeks to eliminate inactive provisions of law. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) proposes repealing Title 67, Chapter 83, which established the Idaho Food Quality Assurance Institute (IFQAI). The IFQAI originally was established as an "independent public body corporate and politic" to oversee the management of the Idaho Food Quality Assurance Laboratory. The laboratory previously was housed within the University of Idaho. At the request of industry and the university, ISDA took over management of the laboratory. The IFQAI has transferred its powers and duties to the ISDA for years through memoranda of understanding (MOUs). The IFQAI has not managed the day-to-day activities of the laboratory for more than a decade. The IFQAI has been functioning as an advisory committee, and this bill would codify what has been established through MOUs. If this bill were to become law, the ISDA will organize and host an Idaho Food Quality Assurance Laboratory advisory committee. TheIdahoFoodQualityAssuranceLaboratoryoffersformal, third-partyfoodqualityandenvironmentaltesting to Idaho producers, government agencies, agricultural groups, processors, and consumers. This bill would not change the services, including voluntary industry testing, provided by the laboratory. Under the Idaho Public Records Act, all records of laboratory test results provided by or retained by the laboratory are confidential and exempt from disclosure. This bill would not affect those exemptions.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Administration for the Idaho State Capitol Commission for fiscal year 2022.

This is the FY 2022 original appropriation bill for the Idaho State Capitol Commission. It appropriates a total of $2,342,000 and will fund the following: $142,000 for general operating expenses, including administrative support of the commission; and $2,200,000 for statehouse maintenance projects, as needed. This bill also includes a $125,000 cash transfer from the Capitol Maintenance Reserve Fund to the Capitol Commission Operating Fund and provides reappropriation authority for both of these dedicated funds.

Repeals, adds to, and amends existing law to enact the Annuity Consumer Protections Act.

This purpose of this legislation is to adopt a recent NAIC model regulation in statute rather than rule which clarifies the obligations for insurance producers and insurers to act in the best interest of the consumer when making a recommendation of an annuity, to establish producer training expectations, and to require insurers to establish and maintain a system to supervise recommendations so that the insurance needs and financial objectives of consumers at the time of the transaction are effectively addressed. It also clarifies and simplifies the applicability of the annuity statutes in Chapter 19, Title 41, Idaho Code. Several of the provisions of the act besides the best interest standard are currently in IDAPA; this act moves those provisions to statute.

Repeals existing law relating to the Permanent Building Fund.

Consistent with the Governor's Red Tape Reduction Act, this bill seeks to eliminate inactive provisions of law.

Relates to the appropriation to the Commission of Pardons and Parole for fiscal year 2022.

This is the FY 2022 original appropriation bill for the Commission of Pardons and Parole. It appropriates a total of $3,668,400 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 37.00. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP, extends the holiday for the employer's sick leave contribution rate for another year, and restores funding for the employer's unemployment insurance contribution rate. Funding for replacement items includes $20,800 for 13 laptop computers. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 2% change in employee compensation for permanent state employees and a 2% upward shift in the compensation schedule. The bill funds one line item, which provides $50,000 for extradition transport costs.

Adds to existing law to provide that students may receive credit for extended learning opportunities or by demonstrating prior knowledge of a content area.

Many Idaho school districts allow students to earn credit for learning or work done outside of traditional classrooms. This bill codifies the practice and provides certainty for students and parents by clarifying that such credit can be earned in any local district subject to school board discretion. Local school boards will determine how they will implement the policy and create their own process for allowing students to apply for credit. Examples of credit-worthy activities could include organized sports, music lessons, internships, trade apprenticeships or military service. Starting in the 2022-23 school year, high school students will also have an avenue to get credit for prior knowledge. Local school boards will have the discretion to decide how to implement their own policies and processes to allow students to “test out” or otherwise demonstrate that they have sufficient knowledge to get credit for a course.

Amends existing law to provide that advanced opportunities funds may be used for college entrance examinations, preliminary college entrance examinations, and certain other costs.

The purpose of this bill is to clarify that when students utilize Advanced Opportunities (AO) funding when taking tests, the exam and costs associated with the exam to be covered by AO include proctor and administrative fees. This bill also clarifies that the cost of a college admissions test is an allowable AO expense.

Relates to the appropriation to Idaho Public Television for fiscal year 2022.

This is the FY 2022 original appropriation bill for Idaho Public Television. It appropriates a total of $9,552,700 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 70.48. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP, extends the holiday for the employer's sick leave contribution rate for another year, and restores funding for the employer's unemployment insurance contribution rate. Funding for replacement items includes $110,000 for laptop computers, file server, and production switch. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 2% change in employee compensation for permanent state employees and a 2% upward shift in the compensation schedule. The bill funds two line items, which provide $50,000 for year five of a federal video production grant; and $100,000 onetime for federal spending authority related to COVID-19 relief.

Relates to the appropriation to the Division of Veterans Services for fiscal year 2022.

This is the FY 2022 original appropriation bill for the Division of Veterans Services. It appropriates a total of $50,175,700 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 367.20. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP, extends the holiday for the employer's sick leave contribution rate for another year, and restores funding for the employer's unemployment insurance contribution rate. Funding for replacement items includes $1,084,400 for clinical mattresses, electric recliners, a gas oven, a hot food holding unit, living room furniture, desktop computers, laptops, network server equipment, an HVAC system for a cold food storage room, a riding lawnmower, a snow blower attachment, office desks, and office chairs. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 2% change in employee compensation for permanent state employees and a 2% upward shift in the compensation schedule. The bill funds seven line items, which provide funding for new leases and capital outlay, a Medicaid reimbursement change, two construction grants, an expansion of the veterans cemetery in Boise, veteran recognition fund projects, and a federal appropriation for COVID relief. DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and

Amends existing law to provide requirements for physician assistants who practice at certain facilities or practices or who own a medical practice.

This legislation maintains oversight of physician assistants (PAs) in medical practice while offering them relief from over-regulation. It reduces unnecessary administrative and regulatory burdens from PAs, physicians, hospitals, and practice managers while maintaining an appropriate level of oversight. If adopted, these anticipated changes will improve patient access to care, particularly in rural, underserved areas where it can be difficult to comply with burdensome delegation of services requirements. Hospitalsandphysician-ownedclinicswillfinditeasiertoemployPAsbyleveragingexistingcredentialingand privileging systems to ensure patient safety. PAs will be better able to meet the needs of patients without delays caused by site registrations, supervising physician availability requirements, and other regulatory requirements that do not serve any measurable patient safety benefit. This legislation has been reviewed by several stakeholders including the Board of Medicine and the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.

Relates to the appropriation to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for fiscal year 2021.

This is an FY 2021 supplemental appropriation bill for the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It provides $27,900 to replace a vehicle.

Repeals and amends existing law to revise construction requirements and to provide for certain fees.

The purpose of this legislation is to clarify the minimum design standards for phosphogypsum stacks at phosphoric acid facilities. Phosphogypsum and process water from the manufacture of phosphoric acid are placed in stacks at such facilities. These design standards reflect best standards in the industry to minimize impacts to human health and the environment. Establishing minimum design standards avoids case by case determinations by state and federal agencies on the design of phosphogypsum stacks.

Amends existing law to make codifier's corrections.

The purpose of this bill is to make various codifier corrections and technical corrections to the Idaho Code. In termsofthecodifiercorrections, thecodifier, incompilingthenewlawsthatarepassedeveryyear, occasionally finds minor changes that should be made. They notify our editors of the code sections affected and then we include those code sections in our yearly codifier bill. These codifier corrections often are due to the enactment of multiple amendments to a particular code section, chapter or title during a previous legislative session. Conflicts due to multiple amendments are indicated in brackets in the Idaho Code by the codifier. This method of indicating codifier corrections is often confusing to the reader. In terms of technical corrections, those corrections are identified by the Legislative Services staff and include changes involving lower and upper-case changes, grammar and punctuation. Sometimes codifier and technical corrections are made the next time an affected code section is amended. However, rather than waiting for future amendments to the various sections included, this bill addresses those changes.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2022.

This is the FY 2022 original appropriation bill for the Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Public Health Services. It appropriates a total of $195,882,200 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 255.02. For benefit costs, the bill maintains the current appropriated amount for health insurance at $11,650 per eligible FTP, extends the holiday for the employer's sick leave contribution rate for another year, and restores funding for the employer's unemployment insurance contribution rate. The bill also provides funding for the equivalent of a 2% change in employee compensation for permanent state employees. The bill funds four line items, which provide $385,100 for changes in the MOU between the StateComm program in the Emergency Medical Services program and the Idaho State Police; 1.00 FTP and $275,000 for an Alzheimer's disease program coordinator in the Physical Health Program; $67,861,400 in onetime federal funds for funds allocated to the state through the COVID Relief Act; and $300,000 from the General Fund for additional funds for the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program.

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding the homeowner exemption, the circuitbreaker tax reduction, the disabled veterans tax reduction, the property tax deferral program, and the taxation of personal property.

This bill makes several changes to Idaho Code, providing property tax relief and limiting the ability of local taxing districts to increase their budgets. For property tax, it provides property tax relief in 2021 to homeowners by increasing the homeowner's exemption to $125,000. It reduces property taxes for homeowners who qualify for the circuit breaker program by increasing the benefit up to $1,500, depending on need. It reduces property taxes for veterans qualifying for the special disabled veteran's property tax reduction program by increasing the benefit to $1,500. In 2022, it adds an additional qualification for the circuit breaker program to ensure the general fund no longer subsidizes income-poor but asset-rich applicants. Also, in 2022, it increases the exemption for personal property taxpayers to $250,000 and exempts transient personal property from taxation. For local taxing districts, it reduces the amount of valuation available to tax new construction and annexation, creating a total cap of 8% in any budget year. It also reduces the amount of forgone revenue a taxing district may take for ongoing budget growth but provides a mechanism for expenditures that are considered one-time capital projects. Finally, it delays the entry of an improved property's market value on the new construction roll until after the improvements are completed. Overall, this bill provides direct residential and commercial property tax relief and also provides for indirect property tax relief by curbing growth in local budgets, the combination of which results in significant tax relief for all property owners.

Adds to existing law to provide that ARPA moneys are cognizable and to create governing principles and funds for their expenditure.

This legislation addresses the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) in four ways. First, Section 1 declares cognizable any funding from the ARPA that is, or will be, directed to any Idaho state agency and sets aside the noncognizable provisions of Section 67-3516(2), Idaho Code. As a result, these federal funds will not be able to be approved for expenditure by the Division of Financial Management and the Board of Examiners and would require legislative appropriation for expenditure. Second, and within Section 1, there is legislative intent that provides guiding principles on the appropriation and expenditure of ARPA funds. Third, Sections 2 and 3 create two funds from which to appropriate and expend ARPA funding. One fund is to account for receipts and disbursements of ARPA funding and the other is to be used for cost recovery or reimbursementoffunds. Expenditurefromthesefundswillbebyappropriationonlyandwillallowfortracking of these ARPA funds separately from other federal funding and previous COVID-19 federal funding, such as from the CARES Act. Lastly, Section 4 provides an emergency clause that will make this act in full force and effect upon passage and approval.

Amends existing law to authorize water districts to charge fees to certain water delivery organizations and water users.

This amendment clarifies the interface between this chapter and when a water user conveys water pursuant to Idaho Code §42-105 (1). This amendment clarifies that when water is diverted and assessed in one water district but is conveyed and rediverted within a second water district, the second district may levy a fee instead of an assessment for that water that is rediverted. Further, any authorized fees that are levied are not considered an assessment and are not part of a water user's voting credentials for voting within the second water district.