Idaho Bills

Stating findings of the Legislature and supporting a collaboration among the three branches of the state government, local governments, and community partners in developing and implementing a statewide strategic plan to improve the Idaho behavioral health system.

This resolution supports the establishment of a three-branches of government collaboration to develop and implement a statewide strategic plan to improve the behavioral health system in Idaho.

Amends existing law to revise the definition of “evaluation committee,” thereby permitting licensed professional counselors to serve on committees evaluating individuals for developmental disabilities.

Amends and repeals existing law regarding the prevention of blindness and disease in infants.

Adds to existing law to establish Simon's Law regarding life-sustaining treatment for children.

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that at least one parent or guardian of an unemancipated minor child, who is under the care of a doctor and healthcare facility, is notified 48 hours prior to a doctor instituting an order to withhold life-sustaining treatment. This legislation also provides within 48 hours of notification of such an order, a parent or guardian has the right to request their unemancipated minor child to be transferred from the facility under whose care the child is admitted to another available facility or transferred home. The parent or guardian has 15 days to arrange the transfer, if it is not against existing state law, governing agency rules and regulations, hospital policy, or third-party payment contracts.

Amends existing law to provide for the administration and maintenance of the Health Care Directive Registry by the Department of Health and Welfare.

This legislation transfers the responsibilities for the health care directive registry from the Secretary of State to the Department of Health and Welfare, including the existing records, and directs the Department to make the registry available 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week.

Stating findings of the Legislature and requesting that the President of the United States and Congress establish sanctions against opioid traffickers and financial institutions that assist them.

Amends existing law to apply provisions regarding tobacco products to electronic smoking devices as well.

This legislation would amend the Prevention of Minors Access to Tobacco Act by incorporating electronic smoking devices into the definition of tobacco products, creating parity between traditional tobacco products and new, emerging electronic smoking devices and products. It also allows the Department of Health and Welfare to permit all retailers of electronic smoking devices and other vape products in the same manner that traditional tobacco product retailers are currently permitted through the state.

Stating findings of the Legislature and requesting that Congress take action necessary to make buprenorphine more accessible to patients.

Suboxone is a drug that alleviates withdrawal symptoms in patients suffering from opioid addiction. This kind of treatment normalizes brain chemistry and relieves physiological cravings, effectively allowing patients to focus on recovery and build healthier lifestyles. Suboxone has few adverse side effects and minimal potential for abuse. Unfortunately, federal law creates barriers for medical practitioners who wish to prescribe Suboxone (known generically as buprenorphine). This Joint Memorial seeks to remove those barriers so that opioid treatment drugs can be as readily available as the opioids themselves. The United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and Idaho's Congressional Delegation are requested to amend 21 U.S.C. 823 and other provisions of federal law as necessary to allow widespread access to Suboxone. This Joint Memorial was crafted with statistics provided by the Idaho Office of Drug Policy to illustrate the urgency of the crisis relating to opioid overdoses in Idaho and the United States.