Idaho Bills
661 bills · 2022 Regular Session
Adds to existing law to establish a loan repayment program for rural veterinarians who treat large animals.
This legislation creates the “Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment Program” under Title 25, Chapter 41. Money allocated to the fund would pay education debts for veterinarians committing to provide care primarily to agriculture production animals in a rural area. Payments would be capped at $25,000 per year up to a maximum of $75,000 per qualified applicant. Any candidate already receiving another loan repayment award is excluded from this program. Private donations and federal funds would be permitted to contribute to the fund in the future, if available. A seven-member review board would be established to conduct the grant process.
Adds to existing law to provide that health benefit plans and student health benefit plans covering prescription contraception must provide reimbursement for a six-month supply except under certain circumstances.
This legislation allows enrollees to receive up to a six (6) month supply of prescribed contraceptives if they so choose or if they are on an established prescription already. Currently, many insurance plans reimburse for only a 1 (one) to 3 (three) month supply of contraceptive supplies. This legislation will require any health benefit plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023, which covers contraceptives approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration, to provide reimbursement for up to a six (6) month refill supply obtained at one time by the enrollee. The exception is if the enrollee has never been prescribed prescription contraception; then the provider shall provide a smaller supply.
24 – 44
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding who may return an absentee ballot.
Idaho is one of only a handful of states without a law prohibiting the collection of absentee ballots by people outside the voter’s trusted circle of family, caregiver or household member. The wholesale collection of absentee ballots increases the chance of election fraud. This was specifically called out in 2005 by the Commission on Federal Election Reform chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker. They declared that “absentee ballots remain the largest source of potential voter fraud.” They were concerned about vulnerable voters being coerced by more powerful people. “Citizens who vote at home, at nursing homes, at the workplace, or in church are more susceptible to pressure, overt and subtle, or to intimidation. Vote buying schemes are far more difficult to detect when citizens vote by mail,” the Carter-Baker report said. With this historic perspective in mind, Idaho must add protections for absentee ballots to our election laws. This bill specifies the people who can help an absentee voter by delivering their completed ballot to the county elections department. It also limits to six, the total number of ballots any one voter can deliver, including their own.
Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding alcohol, including licensing.
Idaho's current structure for issuing liquor licenses to Idaho businesses is unjust and discriminates against our vast rural areas. Each person who is qualified and wants to operate a business that serves liquor by the drink should have equal access, even if that access is stringent. Instead, a market unrelated to state issuance of this privilege has grown, and businesses are left scouring the expensive private market seeking a license which could cost over $300,000 from a private citizen who has no intention of operating a business that sells liquor by the drink. Many people have been on a waiting list for well over 30 years. It is unclear when they will have the opportunity for a permit. Idaho's current liquor laws are a roadblock for local business owners. The regulations are preventing business owners from creating more jobs and contributing to the local economy. The lack of solving this unjust system has caused the problem to grow and if this difficult problem is not solved correctly, could hurt current license holders who have played by the rules to operate their businesses. This legislation creates a balance that will protect the value the current license holders have in their state issued licenses, but it will create a new tier of licenses for restaurants that want to sell liquor by the drink. This legislation will allow counties and cities to issue these licenses, called municipal licenses, to restaurants that have full kitchens, and dedicate the vast majority of their business to serving food. This would remove restrictions that are preventing business owners from investing in Idaho and create certainty in the market. Current business owners who hold a state liquor license will continue to see the value in their investment under this legislation. While restaurants operating under a new municipal license will have to meet certain requirements, follow strict guidelines, and pay $6,000 to receive a license their first year and an annual renewal fee of up to $
Adds to existing law to prohibit the enforcement of taxation of Idaho businesses by certain out-of-state taxing entities.
This bill protects Idaho business from being taxed by out of state taxing entities for conducting sales or other business, takingplacewithintheStateofIdaho, betweenanIdahobusinessandanon-residentwhoisphysically present within the State of Idaho, while engaging in the business transaction.
35 – 0
Amends and adds to existing law to revise and clarify provisions regarding requirements for extraordinary collection actions by health care providers against patients.
The legislation modifies the Idaho Patient Act by clarifying that the pursuit of overdrawn checks for the amount of the overdrawn check is not an extraordinary collection action, providing a faster timeline for adverse credit reporting in exchange for giving up the ability to pursue other extraordinary collection action, adjusting the timing and content of certain necessary patient communications as well as the burden of proof, before engaging in an extraordinary collection action against a patient. The legislation also provides intent language to further clarify that the limits on costs, fees, and attorney’s fees began with any extraordinary collection action commenced on or after January 1, 2021, regardless of when the goods or services were delivered to the patient.
Adds to existing law to provide for the protection of certain monuments and memorials.
This proposal will require approval by the Idaho Historical Society before division of state or local government permanently removes historical monuments or memorials.
44 – 24
Amends, adds to, and repeals existing law to exempt sales of food from sales tax, to increase revenue sharing, to repeal the grocery income tax credit, and to provide for a distribution of moneys from the Tax Relief Fund.
This legislation repeals the sales tax on groceries using the definition of food employed by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and ends the grocery tax credit. It increases the revenue sharing to local governments to prevent an impact on property taxes. It uses funds available in the Tax Relief Fund to partially offset the impact to the General Fund.
Lauren Necochea · HD-019A
Adds to existing law to provide for the Confined Animal Feeding Operations Improvement Fund and Committee.
The existing Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) Fund, I.C. 39-3628A, supports investments in farm and ranch projects that improve water quality standards in impaired water bodies in Idaho. Confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are not eligible for these projects because CAFOs do not directly discharge to water bodies. The purpose of this legislation is to make a fund available to support investments in environmental projects on CAFOs to improve livestock byproduct, waste, nutrient and water management, its land application and storage systems.
Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Administration for the Division of Public Works for fiscal year 2022.
ThisisaFY2022supplementalappropriationbillforthePermanentBuildingFund. Itappropriatesandtransfers $2,000,000 onetime from the General Fund to the Permanent Building Fund for FY 2022 for the purpose of audio-visual enhancements to conference and hearing rooms to increase government transparency.
49 – 19
Amends existing law to provide police officer member status to emergency communications officers.
In Idaho, emergency dispatchers are not eligible to retire until they’ve reached the Rule of 90 within PERSI, meaning their age plus years on the job equal 90. The position of a “Emergency Communications Officer” requires for them to be certified in Idaho’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) pursuant to IDAPA rule 11.11.01. The role of a dispatcher is often misunderstood by the general public. Idaho’s dispatchers are the lifeline to every emergency that occurs in our communities. They work the same hours as patrolmen and take on similar stress and trauma from taking emergency calls from the public. Dispatchers need the ability to multi-task and think critically, while working long hours, in order to be respond effectively for the Idaho public. The purpose of this legislation is to include Idaho’s dispatchers into the PERSI’s Rule of 80 system to retain and incentivize our law enforcement’s front line workers. This piece of legislation amends Idaho Code, 59-1303, to add “Emergency Communications Officers” into police officer membership status for Idaho State Police, county law enforcement and city law enforcement.
30 – 4
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding voter registration.
This legislation makes a number of small changes to Idaho's voter registration system. First, it removes the option of a county clerk sending verification of electronic voter registration by email, and instead requires that such verification be sent by non-forwardable first class mail, as is sometimes done for those registering electronically, and always done for those registering by mail. This will ensure that the registrant actually lives at the address stated. Second, it clarifies that the full name is required, in order to provide a more accurate match with the DMV and social security information with which voter registrations are cross-checked. Third, inordertoencouragemorevoterstoprovideadditionalcontactinformationtothecountyclerk, itexemptsvoter phone numbers and email addresses from public records requirements. And fourth, it removes the exemption that members of the military hold from having their voter registration cancelled if they are found not to be a citizen of the United States.
61 – 0
Amends existing law to allow for certain employees to continue to receive master educator premiums.
In 2015 the Career Ladder was created to provide a new teacher state appropriation policy. This policy was phased in over 5 years. It was originally recognized that the first Career Ladder was more favorable to young teachers at the expense of veterans. Within that bill Section 10 of the HB292 bill established Master Teacher Premiums,whatbecameknownastheMasterEducatorPremium(MEP).Section33-1004IdahoCodeprovided veteran teachers to apply for the Master Educator Premium. The process was complex and time consuming. It requiredtremendouseffortbythecandidateandmanyreviewersacrossthestate. ThoseeducatorsontheCareer Ladder would then qualify for a premium appropriation of $4,000 per year, renewable every three years. In 2020 the Career Ladder was revised to add a new rung “Advanced Professional” to address the complexity created by the Master Educator Premium and address the salary appropriation for our veteran teachers. In that bill, the Master Educator Premium was set to sunset on July 1, 2024, after two cohorts of teachers qualified. It has been noted that there was an inequity for veteran teachers, who had been patient with the original career ladder and ultimately qualified. Some teachers saw their education career grow over the past seven years and serve our Idaho students in their schools with a different role. Teachers have invested many hours and personal dollars to qualify to become a school administrator, like a principal or vice-principal. Unfortunately, legislative foresight did not provide for this contingency. Administrators are not covered by the Career Ladder and accordingly, teachers who had applied and been approved for the Master Educator Premium and were subsequently offered an administrator position, found themselves outside the career ladder, yet still serving Idaho Students. Thislegislationwouldauthorizeanestimated23schooladministratorstoreceivetheirfullthreeyearsofMaster Educator Premium as scheduled. They may have one, two or three premiums remain
32 – 3
Repeals existing law relating to minors' consent to certain medical treatment without parental permission.
This legislation would repeal 39-3801 and restore the requirement for parental consent for minors, fourteen years of age or older, to receive specific medical treatment. Section 39-3801. INFECTIOUS, CONTAGIOUS, OR COMMUNICABLE DISEASE — MEDICAL TREATMENT OF MINOR 14 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER — CONSENT OF PARENTS OR GUARDIAN UNNECESSARY. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a minor fourteen (14) years of age or older who may have come into contact with any infectious, contagious, or communicable disease may give consent to the furnishing of hospital, medical and surgical care related to the diagnosis or treatment of such disease, if the disease or condition is one which is required by law, or regulation adopted pursuant to law, to be reported to the local health officer. Such consent shall not be subject to disaffirmance because of minority. The consent of the parent, parents, or legal guardian of such minor shall not be necessary to authorize hospital, medical and surgical care related to such disease and such parent, parents, or legal guardian shall not be liable for payment for any care rendered pursuant to this section.
Priscilla Giddings · HD-007A
States findings of the Legislature and approves fee rules reviewed by the House and Senate Education Committees.
The House and Senate Education Committees have received and reviewed from the State Board of Education, Docket No: 08-0000-2100F, Omnibus Pending Fee Rule. It is the recommendation of the Committees that the Omnibus Pending Fee rule be approved in its entirety. There have been no increases in the identified fees from previous years.
65 – 0
Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Administration for the Idaho State Capitol Commission for fiscal year 2023.
ThisistheFY2023originalappropriationbillfortheCapitolCommission. Itappropriatesatotalof$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.
35 – 0
Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to transfer authority to license certain health care facilities from the Department of Health and Welfare to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.
The legislation transitions the regulatory authority, duties, and staff for licensing and inspecting eighteen (18) types of healthcare facilities and agency types within Idaho from the Division of Licensing and Certification (L&C) in the Department of Health and Welfare to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). The legislation includes transitioning the management of the certification program for certified family homes as well as Idaho’s certified nurse aid registry to DOPL.
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the postsecondary credit scholarship.
The proposed amendments to Section 33-4605, Idaho Code, Postsecondary Credit Scholarship would remove the restriction that the required matching industry or business scholarship include an academic merit requirement and add a provision that would prohibit parents who own a business from awarding the scholarship to their child. To be eligible for this scholarship a student must first earn a minimum number of college level credits. Once they have met this advanced achievement requirement the student must them find a matching scholarship from business or industry. Currently, this matching scholarship must also include an academic merit-based scholarship from business or industry to match the state award. Due to the challenge it is for students to find merit based scholarships from business and industry, it has been very difficult for students to qualify for the full amount available based on the dual credits they have earned for this scholarship. The proposed amendment would remove the requirement that the matching scholarship be merit based while retaining the requirement that the matching scholarship be from business or industry.
35 – 0
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding city annexations.
This proposal clarifies rights of private landowners who consent to annexation.
12 – 19
Amends existing law to distribute money to the Peace Officers Standards and Training Fund and to revert certain moneys to the General Fund.
ThisproposalamendsIdahoCodeSection23-404totransfer1.5%oftheLiquorFunddistributiontotheGeneral Fund to the Peace Officers Standards and Training Fund each year. Revenue in the POST Fund is insufficient to support the appropriation in the POST program and as revenues decline over time the problem continues to worsen. Underfunding related to inherent limitations in POST's funding sources has been a persistent concern for over a decade. POST has found it necessary to cut spending to compensate for shortfalls in available cash and has consequently reverted large amounts of appropriation over the last several fiscal years. The problem of insufficient revenues has been addressed with temporary solutions in the form of one-time cash transfers from other funds over the last three fiscal years. Those transfers have had a huge impact on POST’s operations by providing for badly needed repairs and improvements and supporting appropriate staffing levels. However, without a long-term, permanent solution to cash shortfalls POST will continually struggle in future years to deliver services, maintain equipment and facilities, and sustain appropriate staffing levels. POST's spending cuts impact state, county, and city stakeholders throughout Idaho, requiring those agencies to absorb additional costs themselves or opt to delay critical training. Without additional funding, POST will be unable to sustain its current level of services in future years. This will impact law enforcement agencies and public safety throughout the state of Idaho. The additional funding proposed would provide POST with revenue necessary to meet growing demand for services by sustaining appropriate staffing levels, maintaining operations, and providing for necessary repairs, maintenance, and upgrades for POST facilities and equipment.
34 – 0
Amends existing law to provide for full-day kindergarten and to revise provisions regarding certain support units and funding distributions.
Funding for public schools in Idaho is largely driven by the number of students in average daily attendance and the number of support units calculated by grade bands for those students. For kindergarten students the formula is such that a school would not receive more than the equivalent of a half days funding for the student, even if the student attended full time. The proposed legislation would adjust the calculations for support units so that students in kindergarten could be funded for a full day if they attended a full day and a half day if they only attended a half day, similar to how other elementary grade students are funded. Section 33-1002, Idaho Code establishes the tables for calculating kindergarten support units, daily student attendance is used to generate an average daily attendance number, that number is then used to calculate support units. The support unit divisor for kindergarten is 40, while the support unit divisor for other elementary grades ranges between 12 and 23 depending on the size of the school district/charter school or attendance unit, with the majority of school districts having an elementary grade range support unit divisor or 20. The proposed amendments change the kindergarten support unit divisor to 20 and then adjusts the minimum number of support units generated based on size, consolidating the individual size breakouts. Additionally, technical amendments are made, provisions for parent participation are established, and limits on maintenance and operation levies are created for kindergarten programs funded by the state.
Relates to the appropriation to the Idaho Transportation Department for fiscal year 2022.
ThisisanFY2022supplementalappropriationbillfortheIdahoTransportationDepartmentfortheAeronautics Program and the Contract Construction and Right-of-Way Acquisition Division. For the Aeronautics program thebillprovidesanappropriationandtransferfromtheGeneralFundtotheStateAeronautics(Dedicated)Fund for the Idaho Airport Aid Program and capital improvements at the ITD managed airfields. In the Contract Construction and Right-of-Way Acquisition Division, the bill provides an appropriation and cash transfer from the General Fund to dedicated funds and provides an appropriation from the Strategic Initiatives Program (Dedicated) Fund for railroad projects and improvement at the Port of Lewiston; from the Strategic Initiatives Program(Local)Fundforlocalbridgemaintenanceandpedestriansafetyprojects;andtotheGARVEEProgram to pay off the 2012 callable bond.
44 – 25
Adds to existing law to establish the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act.
The proposed legislation relating to the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act broadens the intended audience and adds an annual review by medical experts and the Idaho Down Syndrome Council.
69 – 0
Relates to the appropriation to the Workforce Development Council for fiscal year 2023.
This is the FY 2023 original appropriation bill for the Workforce Development Council. It appropriates a total of $34,569,100 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 9.00. 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 3.00 FTP and additional funds for an Administrative Assistant, CNA Study, and Workforce Training Grants.
36 – 34
Amends existing law to provide that the attorney member of the Industrial Commission be appointed through the Judicial Council.
The purpose of this legislation is to improve the process by which the Governor selects the candidate to be appointed as the attorney representative on the Industrial Commission. These changes will make the process of recruiting and selecting the attorney representative by the Governor more efficient. It should also lead to a larger applicant pool and overall higher quality applicants. Currently, the Governor’s office seeks out applicants to apply for this position. This legislation would place responsibility for recruitment of applicants, processing applications and doing initial interviews of applicants with the Judicial Council with assistance from the Idaho State Bar. The Judicial Council would use the same process they currently use with candidates for open district judge and appellate judge positions. At the end of its process, the Judicial Council would present two to four names to the Governor for his consideration for appointment as the attorney representative to the Industrial Commission.
26 – 42