Idaho Bills

Amends and adds to existing law to provide requirements for statutory authorization of all Department of Health and Welfare programs and services and all appropriations for any program, service, or activity.

This legislation reaffirms the Legislature's constitutional role in authorizing state programs and expenditures by clarifying that the Department of Health and Welfare may operate only those programs and services that are expressly authorized in Idaho Code. The bill amends existing statutes to require the Director of the Department of Health and Welfare to continuously monitor programs for statutory authorization and to discontinue any program or service lacking express authority. It establishes enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance, including revocation of spending authority and corresponding appropriation adjustments when unauthorized expenditures occur. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Welfare to submit a comprehensive report identifying all programs it operates and the statutory authority supporting each program. Additionally, the bill clarifies that appropriation acts do not themselves create or imply independent program authority. The purpose of this legislation is to strengthen legislative oversight, improve transparency, ensure statutory compliance, and maintain proper separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches.