Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to remove the requirement that the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station use the administrative rules process to set standards and requirements for seed certification.

The purpose of this legislation is to amend Section 22-1505, Idaho Code, removing the requirement that the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station in the College of Agriculture of the University of Idaho use the Administrative Rule process for setting standards for seed certification. The current process that allows for public and industry input in setting seed certification standards through the Idaho Crop Improvement Association, the current agent of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, would remain in place; however, the added formal rule promulgation process would be removed. Layering the formal rule promulgation process on top of the process that has been developed through the Idaho Crop Improvement Association has added a layer of bureaucracy and timelines that limits the ability to amend standards in a manner responsive to industry needs. The current framework for gathering stakeholder/industry input used by the Idaho Crop Improvement Association allows those that are impacted by changes to the standards to be involved in the process through the Idaho Crop Improvement Association. Additionally, a 30-day public comment period for the standards would be required prior to their establishment.