Idaho Bills
21 bills · 2020 Regular Session
Amends existing law to provide that new specialty license plate programs shall not be established for the benefit of entities other than the State of Idaho.
This legislation states that no new special license plate or special license plate program shall be established for the benefit of any entity that is not the State of Idaho or an agency of the State of Idaho after July 1, 2020. After that date any special license plate program that has a nonprofit agency as a recipient of the proceeds from the sales of such plate, if fewer than one thousand (1000) plates are issued in the first year of the special plate's existence, fewer than one thousand five hundred (1500) plates are issued in the second year of the special plate program'sexistence,orfewerthantwothousand(2000)platesinthethirdoranysubsequentyearofeachspecial plate program's existence, the department of transportation will discontinue that special license plate program. The personalized license program will remain the same as it now operates.
47 – 19
Adds to existing law to establish a children's walking and biking infrastructure program.
Adds to existing law to establish a source of transportation funding and to create the Economic Reserve and Investment Fund for the purpose of providing moneys for the Strategic Initiatives Program, General Fund revenue shortfalls, and expenses incurred as a result of a disaster.
This legislation creates a source of transportation funding for State and local roads while saving additional moneys for times of State revenue shortfalls or major disasters. Section 1, in part, creates an Economic Reserve and Investment Fund ("ERIF") for the purpose of providing moneys for: 1) the Strategic Initiatives Program; 2) meeting General Fund revenue shortfalls or 3) meeting expenses incurred as the result of a major disaster declared by the Governor. As background, both the Economic Recovery and Reserve Fund and the Budget Stabilization Fund were for meeting general revenue shortfalls, and expenses as a result of major disasters. The ERIF, which replaces the Economic Recovery and Reserve Fund, still has those purposes with the addition of funding the Strategic Initiatives Program. The Strategic Initiatives Program is a competitive transportation project grant program. The grant is administered by the Idaho Transportation Department ("ITD") and Local Highway Technical Assistance Council ("LHTAC"). The award is based on criteria including, but not limited to, projects enhancing safety, traffic mobility, repair and maintenance of bridges and purchase of right of ways. The ERIF will receive funds from the remaining moneys in the Economic Recovery and Reserve Fund. On or about July 1, 2020, the State Controller is directed to transfer $272,000,000 from the Budget Stabilization Fund to the ERIF. After the close of the fiscal year, on or about July 1, the State Controller shall transfer any General Fund excess to the ERIF. The General Fund excess shall be calculated by first providing for the carry forward ending balance or $60,000,000 — whichever is greater — plus an amount sufficient to cover encumbrances and reappropriation as authorized by the Legislature. On or about July 15, 2020, the State Controller shall transfer $38,200,000 to the Strategic Initiatives Program. On or about July 15, 2021, the State Controller shall transfer $1 dollar to the Strategic In
Amends existing law to provide for authorized agents of the Idaho Transportation Department to issue certain identification cards and to retain certain fees.
34 – 0
Amends existing law to revise requirements for automobile dealer and salesperson license renewals.
34 – 0
Amends existing law to prohibit local entities from enacting distracted driving laws and to provide for certain distracted driving offenses and penalties.
Amends existing law to provide for electronic registration of certain commercial vehicles.
35 – 0
Amends and adds to existing law to establish a Choose Life Idaho specialty license plate.
55 – 12
Amends existing law to prohibit the use of certain electronic devices while driving a motor vehicle, to establish penalties, and to provide that Idaho law preempts local ordinances.
The purpose of this legislation is to treat the use of certain electronic devices behind-the-wheel as an infraction. The bill addresses safety concerns associated with a significant portion of distracted driving crashes. The legislation defines enforcement and retains conditions under which electronic device communications would be allowed. This legislation also addresses the problem of having a growing patchwork of local ordinances.
Adds to and amends existing law to provide a dyed fuel inspection authority for certain commercial vehicles, to provide for dyed diesel enforcement, and to provide for penalties regarding prohibited use of dyed diesel.
Adds to existing law to revise rules regarding highway access.
The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that a balance between property access and the functional integrity of the road system is provided for when determining a right of access to a state highway affecting an area within a city.
Adds to and amends existing law to provide dyed fuel inspection authority, to provide for dyed fuel enforcement, and to provide penalties regarding prohibited use of dyed diesel.
The purpose of this legislation is to provide a practical method for using existing law enforcement and Idaho Transportation Department resources to inspect commercial vehicles for dyed fuel in specified circumstances. Theproposalalsodefinesandsetsviolationsandcivilpenaltiesforviolationsundertheactandprovidesspecific exceptions to its applicability.
42 – 24
Amends existing law to extend the duration of license plates issued by the Idaho Transportation Department from seven years to ten years.
Vehicle owners are required to purchase and display license plates on their vehicles. Currently, license plates must be replaced every seven (7) years regardless of condition. This legislation adjusts the length of time that a license plate is valid from seven (7) years to ten (10) years, and allows vehicle owners a slight reprieve from having to replace license plates at a more frequent interval.
33 – 1
Stating findings of the Legislature and encouraging the efforts of the Idaho Transportation Department and other governmental entities to engage in programs similar to those employed by ITD.
The purpose of this resolution is to acknowledge Idaho Transportation Department's (ITD) exemplary performance in implementing innovation and cost-saving initiatives, and encourage all other governmental agencies to consider similar activities. The ITD model of a worker-led initiative that was implemented with minimal impact on existing resources, is a proven approach that exemplifies the "Idaho Way" of being good stewards of trusted tax dollars. In the past years, ITD has shown its commitment to effective management, and has streamlined its operations to enhance efficiency. It has implemented innovation strategies that encourage all its employees to engage in finding improvements to daily activities. ITD's effort to successfully develop and implement innovative business practices have helped the agency save taxpayers' millions of dollars which has stretched resources for other public safety projects, State's mobility and economic improvement. HighlightingITD'sprovensuccessprovidesframeworkforothergovernmentagenciestofostersimilarbusiness practices. This type of process improvement is beneficial for the State because it drives frontline involvement in promoting efficiency and effectiveness of all aspects of government.
Adds to existing law to provide for a Too Great for Hate license plate.
30 – 32
Amends existing law to allow a commercial service airport to adopt reasonable rules and regulations regarding transportation network companies and drivers.
This bill seeks to amend Section 49-3715, Idaho Code, to exempt commercial service airports in the State of Idaho from the prohibition on municipal regulations of any Transportation Network Company (TNC) services.
29 – 5
Amends existing law to revise the sales tax distribution to the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation Fund and to establish the Bridge Maintenance and Replacement Program Fund.
This legislation increases the distribution to the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation program from 1% of sales tax collections to 2% of sales tax collections.
50 – 12
Amends existing law to clarify that motorists must abide by railroad crossing laws with respect to on-track equipment traveling on railroad tracks.
Currently under Idaho Code, a motorist is responsible to stop fifty (50) feet, but not less than fifteen (15) feet, awayfromarailroadcrossingwhena"train"isapproaching—"on-trackequipment"isnotmentioned. Modern on-trackmaintenanceequipmenthasevolvedinto“trainlike”machinesthatpresentthesamedangersasatrain. This legislation adds the language “or other on-track equipment” into Idaho Code anywhere it delineates a motorist’s responsibilities at a railroad crossing or when a “train” is present. This legislation is a simple rail safety effort supported by the railroad carriers, rail safety advocates, rail labor, and railroad contractors. There has been no opposition because this is a public safety issue. Twenty-eight states have already passed this legislation and an additional seven states are in the process of passing it.
34 – 0
Amends existing law to prohibit the use of certain electronic devices while driving a motor vehicle, to establish penalties, and to provide that Idaho law preempts local ordinances.
The purpose of this legislation is to treat the use of certain electronic devices behind-the-wheel as an infraction. The bill addresses safety concerns associated with a significant portion of distracted driving crashes. The legislation defines enforcement and retains conditions under which electronic device communications would be allowed. This legislation also addresses the problem of having a growing patchwork of local ordinances.
24 – 7
Amends existing law to prohibit the use of certain electronic devices while driving a motor vehicle, to establish penalties, and to provide that Idaho law preempts local ordinances.
The purpose of this legislation is to treat the use of certain electronic devices behind-the-wheel as an infraction. The bill addresses safety concerns associated with a significant portion of distracted driving crashes. The legislation defines enforcement and retains conditions under which electronic device communications would be allowed. This legislation also addresses the problem of having a growing patchwork of local ordinances.
30 – 5
Amends existing law to increase moneys distributed to the Local Bridge Inspection Account.
Idaho Code Section 63-2412 dedicates $100,000 annually from the state gas tax for a local bridge inspection account. This program ensures safety for users of Idaho's transportation system, and hasn't been adjusted in more than twenty years for inflation and increased federal match requirements. The local bridge inspection account (§40-703) provides the required 7.34% match for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding utilized to conduct local jurisdiction bridge inspections, and is strictly dedicated only for this use. The current estimated cost to inspect local bridges is $2M annually. Required match for $2M is approximately $150,000. Recently, unused funds from previous years have been carried over to cover the gap in matching funds; however, the balance in the local bridge inspection account is nearly exhausted. Annual funding to this account is fixed in statute, while the costs of local bridge inspection grow. This proposal increases funding for the local bridge inspection account to $175,000 to ensure match requirements and cost increases can be met, so that bridges in Idaho's 288 local jurisdictions are properly inspected for safety.
33 – 0