Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to provide for secret ballot elections for an employer to recognize, certify, or collectively bargain with a representative of employees.

The Secret Ballot Protection Act proposes amending Section 72-1382 to safeguard employee rights and privacy during union formation elections. It guarantees the right to vote via secret ballot elections, either administered by the director or through a similar process conducted by the employer. However, this legislation excludes employees under the exclusive jurisdiction of federal officials or boards.

Amends and repeals existing law to remove provisions regarding child labor.

Youth employment is currently hampered by a legacy of restrictive regulation in Idaho. Other states like Iowa, Nebraska, and Arkansas have passed legislation to liberate young adults to go to work and to build the economicopportunityintheirstates’tightlabormarkets. Thisbillwillfreeworkerstoworkatyoungerages,get employment in jobs currently restricted, and help employers get the workers they need at lower costs. The bill will untie labor restrictions from public education constraints because many young workers are home-schooled or attend alternative education models that do not follow the traditional public education times and days. The bill, while prohibiting exploitation, will be encouraging to any enterprising young kid who wants to work, and does so without sacrificing basic education.