Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to provide for civil penalties for violating public utilities law.

Currently Idaho Code 61-7 l 2(A) authorizes a civil penalty of $2,000 per pipeline violation, and for each day the violation persists with a maximum of $200,000. This subsection of code only applies to pipeline safety violations, and there are no other penalties included in this legislative proposal. The proposed legislation references the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Titk_ 49. Section1_90)._:ZJ (December 28, 2023) and reflects the amounts the federal Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) program has directed state programs to adopt. PHMSA has advised the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that starting January 1, 2025 they will be taking over enforcement actions of the PU C's pipeline safety program. By adopting the CFR, the PUC will keep State Primacy over the federal government on its pipeline safety and inspection program.

Relates to the appropriation to the Public Utilities Commission for fiscal year 2026.

Amends existing law to increase the salaries of commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission, State Tax Commission, and Industrial Commission.

Provides appropriations for a statutory increase to commissioner salaries of the Public Utilities Commission, Industrial Commission, and State Tax Commission.

This bill is a trailer to Senate Bill 1148 and provides appropriations to the Public Utilities Commission, State TaxCommission, andIndustrialCommission. Theseappropriationsprovidefundingfora$1.55perhoursalary increase for each of the Commissioners of these agencies, as provided for in Senate Bill 1148. Senate Bill 1148 provided an equivalent Change in Employee Compensation (CEC) as received by other state employees.