Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to provide that the Governor's appointment of the executive officer of the state board is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, to revise provisions regarding School District Facilities Fund distributions and School Modernization Facilities Fund distributions, and to revise provisions regarding public charter school financial support and charter school authorizers.

This is a trailer bill to HB 521 this session that makes several changes: 1) It ensures the executive officer of the state board is Senate confirmed; 2) It lightens the minimum days requirement for schools by eliminating the requirement for contract days, delays implementation to 2025 to ensure legislative oversight of board decisions, and provides the state board flexibility to phase in hours or days requirements; 3) It ensures any misused dollars by a local school district are recaptured to the schools facilities fund and distributed to rural schools; 4) It amends to one-time distributions from the school district facilities fund; 5) It restores public charter school facility funds to what they were prior to unanticipated reductions from funding formulas impacted by the passage of HB 292 in 2023; and 6) It resolves a conflict within Section 33-5209A, Idaho Code.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Administration for the Division of Public Works for fiscal year 2025.

This is the FY 2025 original appropriation bill for the Permanent Building Fund. It appropriates a total of $174,908,300 to the Department of Administration for the Division of Public Works. The bill includes ten line items, including: construction of a secure mental health facility; utilities connections for the National Guard's Orchard Readiness Center; facility expansion for Idaho State University's physician assistant program; safety upgrades to the Mechanical-Technical Building and Wittman Complex at Lewis-Clark State College; construction of additional residential cottages at the School for the Deaf and Blind; and an insulated bus storage barn at the School for the Deaf and Blind. Four of the ten line items provide additional funding for existing projects, including: a 848-bed female prison; the new Science and Research Building at Boise State University; the Meat Science and Innovation Center at the University of Idaho; and the MOSS Campus at the University of Idaho. The bill also includes $87,448,300 for building maintenance projects to provide alterations and repairs projects for state agencies and institutions; asbestos abatement; facilities maintenance for the Capitol Mall and Chinden Campus; and statewide Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. The bill also includes a transfer from the General Fund. ThebillrepurposesappropriationsfrompriorDepartmentofCorrectioncapitalprojectstopurchaseandremodel the Department of Correction Training and Development Center that is currently under a lease agreement. The bill also repurposes contingency appropriation for previously authorized deferred maintenance projects to provide funding for a 100-bed minimum security dorm at the Idaho Correctional Institition in Orofino and additional funding for Idaho State University's physician assistant facilities expansion. Interest accrued in FY 2024 will be used to restore this funding for deferred maintenance. DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and

Amends existing law to provide for when pending fee and non-fee rules shall become effective.

This legislation sets a default effective date of July 1 for all pending rules approved by the Legislature. This legislation will also ensure that all rules reviewed and approved this session will go into effect on July 1, unless the concurrent resolution states otherwise.

Amends existing law to revise definitions.

To update Idaho Code by adding the new "space force" to the list of U.S. Military branches of our nation's armed forces.

Adds to existing law to provide for parental rights during certain child protection investigations.

This legislation creates a new section in Idaho Code to provide for the notification of parents or guardians of their legal rights with respect to child protection investigations.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding an optional retirement program.

This legislation allows employees hired by the Office of the State Board of Education on or after July 1, 2024 who have credited service in the public retirement system of Idaho (PERSI) to make a one time irrevocable election to remain a member of that retirement program. Currently this opportunity is only available to new employees who are fully vested prior to their hire date.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding electioneering activities near polling places, to provide certain qualifications, and to revise penalties for violations.

To maintain the integrity of elections and to provide voters a polling place free from interference or intimidation, this legislation clarifies and augments the prohibitions against electioneering and related activity at the polls. The penalty for violating electioneering prohibitions is also expanded to include an increased fine amount and a misdemeanor conviction for repeat offenders.

Amends existing law to establish provisions regarding prisoners who secure employment with a private employer.

This legislation applies to Idaho inmates hired by a private employer under the Department of Correction work releaseprogram. Itspecifiestheresponsibilityoftheprivateemployertoofferthesamesalaryrangeandbenefits as other similarly situated employees based on experience, education and other qualifications and clarifies the opportunity for inmates to use the benefits offered.