Idaho Bills

Appropriates $168,949,700 for the Welfare Division in the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2017; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 635.55; provides for transfers to the Cooperative Welfare Fund; directs expenditures for trustee and benefit payments; provides legislative intent for program integrity; and requires biannual forecast reports.

This is the fiscal year 2017 appropriation for the Department of Health and Welfare for the Welfare Division. It includes $40,798,000 from the General Fund, $6,928,100 from dedicated funds, and $121,223,600 from federal funds for a total of $168,949,700 and 635.55 FTP. There are three sections of department-wide intent language and one section requiring for biannual report submission on the actual and forecasted caseloads for various welfare programs. The bill includes standard budget adjustments for employee benefit costs, statewide cost allocation, 27th payroll and the 3% merit-based CEC to be distributed at the discretion of the director. This bill also includes the annualized funding for the implementation of multi-day issuance of food stamps and caseload growth for the Aid to Aged Blind and Disabled Program (AABD). There are four line items. The first line item provides one-time funding to migrate and modernize the child support enforcement system. The second line item provides ongoing funding for maintenance of the benefits eligibility system (IBES). The third line item provides ongoing funding to increase the subsidy for child care support and provides additional funding for increased caseload. The fourth line item provides one-time funding to migrate and modernize the Child Care Program automation system.

Appropriates $1,257,700 to the Office of Energy Resources for fiscal year 2017; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 8.

Appropriates $1,257,700 to the Office of Energy Resources for fiscal year 2017 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at eight. The bill includes funding for increased costs for health insurance, includes funding for replacement items, and accounts for an increase in statewide cost allocation. It also includes an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees and accounts for the 27th payroll. There are three line-items. The first provides $11,000 from the Indirect Cost Recovery Fund to account for allowable overhead costs for a state energy program competitive grant. The second provides $30,000 in federal funds to complete the administration of the statewide wood energy team grant. Lastly, the bill includes a shift of $31,000 from the Renewable Energy Resources Fund to the Petroleum Price Violation Fund to continue the energy efficiency audits of state and local buildings.

Appropriates $12,570,600 to the Commission on Aging for fiscal year 2017; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 13; requires a management review implementation report; and requires a region three Area Agency on Aging report to be submitted quarterly.

This is the fiscal year 2017 appropriation bill for the Idaho Commission on Aging. It appropriates $4,531,000 from the General Fund, and $8,039,600 in federal funds, for a total of $12,570,600 and 13.00 FTP. It includes appropriation adjustments for employee benefit costs, statewide cost allocation, 27th payroll, and an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion the director. This bill also includes two sections of legislative intent language. The first section directs the commission to provide an annual report to the Legislature on how the commission is implementing the audit findings and recommendations from the Legislative Services Office, Audits Division, Management Report 18715. The second section of intent language directs the commission to provide quarterly reports on the status of selecting and transitioning responsibilities to a new Area Agency on Aging (AAA) in southwest Idaho.

Appropriates and transfers $324,000 from the General Fund to the Pest Control Deficiency Fund.

Idaho Code authorizes the use of deficiency warrants under certain circumstances. The agencies pay the bills and come back to the Legislature during the next session for the cash to reimburse those costs. This legislation reimburses the Department of Agriculture for prior fiscal year costs to survey and control pests on state and private lands.

Appropriates $613,471,500 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Operations for fiscal year 2017; amends existing law to increase the salary-based apportionment for classified staff; provides an estimate for discretionary funds per support unit; provides for expenditures for information technology staff; provides for classroom technology; directs the use of moneys for instructional management systems; defines the term "distributed"; and allows for transfers between other divisions.

This is the Fiscal Year 2017 appropriation for the Operations Division of the Public Schools Educational Support Program in the amount of $613,471,500. This budget includes increases for nondiscretionary adjustments that include an estimated enrollment growth of 167 support units, an increase for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, and an endowment increase. There is also a base salary increase of 3% for the classified staff in this division. There are three line items addressed in this appropriation. Line item 1 provides $27,309,300 to increase discretionary funds from $23,868 per support unit to $25,696 per support unit, which is a 7.7% increase. Line item 3 provides $5,000,000 ongoing from the General Fund to be distributed to school districts and charter schools for classroom technology. Line item 8 adds $389,000 ongoing from the General Fund to be distributed to school districts and charter schools to purchase and operate instructional management systems of their choice. This amount, added to the existing $2,611,000 in the base, brings the amount to be distributed for instructional management systems up to $3,000,000. This appropriation is an increase of 7.3% from the General Fund and 7.3% from all funds.

Appropriates $4,660,600 to the Office of Drug Policy for fiscal year 2017; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 6.

This is the fiscal year 2017 original appropriation bill for the Office of Drug Policy. It appropriates $320,700 from the General Fund, $3,500 in dedicated funds, and $4,336,400 in federal funds, for a total of $4,660,600 and 6.00 FTP. It includes increases for employee benefit costs, adjustments for statewide cost allocation, funding for the 27th payroll, and an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees to be distributed at the discretion of the director. The bill also includes one line item that increases the federal fund appropriation by $385,400 to reflect a faster distribution of the Strategic Prevention Framework Grant funds. The total grant is for $7.5 million and will be distributed over five years and moneys will be used to prevent the onset, and reduce the progression, of substance abuse, reduce substance abuse related problems, and build prevention capacity and infrastructure at the state and community levels.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for the crime of torturing a companion animal; and to revise penalties.

This legislation amends Idaho Code Section 25-3502 to define companion animals and to define torture to an animal. The legislation also provides a new Section 25-3504A which provides that any person convicted of torture to a companion animal is guilty of a felony on the first offense if that person has been convicted of voluntary infliction of bodily injury upon any human within the previous ten years. Any person convicted of torture to a companion animal is guilty of a felony on the second or subsequent convictions. The legislation provides that a court shall order a pre-sentence investigation that shall include a psychological evaluation. Current and normal livestock practices in section 25-3514 shall be exempt from provisions of this act.