Legislative Update--Mark Harris
We are quickly approaching the deadlines for submitting bills to the various committees so we will see a flurry on newly introduced legislation this next week to sort through. A new private school funding bill was introduced and passed out of the House Education Committee earlier this week. House Bill 93 (H93) replaced House Bill 39 (H39) which was an earlier version of the same topic. H93 proposes to create a refundable tax credit of $5,000 per eligible student that are enrolled in any private school. The bill also proposes a $7,500 tax credit for disabled kids who require ancillary personnel for school instruction. Parents below the 300% poverty level would be a priority for the program.
The total appropriation is capped at $50 million and will be administered by the Idaho Tax Commission. The Idaho Tax Commission would also be able to perform audits, and the penalty for fraud would be a felony offense. There are several concerns about the bill including the idea that parents could send their kids to an out-of-state school, and some could receive more money in tax credits than they paid in taxes, among other things.
This new bill has moved through the legislative process very fast, and I expect it to pass the House and be sent to the Senate for our consideration.
The Senate version of the school choice bill is Senate Bill 1025 (S1025) and it is currently on the Senate floor waiting for debate and a vote. This bill also provides a $5,000 tax credit but adds provisions for schools that participate must be accredited, teachers must have a background check, and there would be testing for the participating kids. This bill also puts a priority on low-income kids. I am not sure this bill has enough votes to pass. It will be an interesting next couple of weeks as we work through this issue.
My Emergency Medical Services (EMS) bill is ready to go and should receive a introduction hearing and a bill number early next week. This time the bill will start in the House. The proposal is to move the EMS Bureau out of the Department of Health and Welfare and into the Idaho Military Division, which already coordinates emergency management with State and local government through the Office of Emergency Management. The bill states that EMS is critical to the life, health, and safety of Idahoans. It also consolidates some funds that the bureau receives and places many of the administrative rules into Idaho Code.
This proposed legislation is a first step into getting some State funds for EMS that will begin to help those EMS districts that are struggling with volunteer retention and burnout, as well as finding funds to buy equipment. If we can get this legislation passed, it will be easier in future Legislative Sessions to build on the progress that EMS needs to be successful in doing what they do for all of us and the Idaho communities we live in.
There are many other issues, including budgets, taxes, ATV fees, grizzly bears, election issues, and Medicaid, that will reveal themselves in the next couple of weeks. And as in the past, there will be a rush to get it all in before this Legislative Session starts winding down.
As for me, it continues to be a privilege and an honor to serve the good people of Legislative District 35. I look forward to hearing from you with any questions or concerns. You can email me at [email protected] or call me at 208-332-1308.
