Legislative Update from Rep. Trail March 26-31st

[Tom Trail <RepTrail@infotrail.com>]

     The Idaho Legislative session will end next week.  Legislators are packing
up and getting ready to leave.  This will be the last regular newsletter
although I'll send a final wrap-up letter toward the end of next week.  After
Wednesday please use my e-mail address at ttrail@moscow.com

1.  Education Budget  --  a mixture of rock ribbed and cautious conservatives
failed to stop House approval of the $873 million in general tax support for
education.  SPI Marilyn Howard has been given sole discretion of how the money
shall be spent although general guidelines from both JFAC and the House and
Senate Education Committees provide guidance.  Although this may be a first for
public education, the Legislature follows the same procedure in granting
University Presidents' the authority on how money is spent.

2.  $27 Million Approved to Settle Trucking Suit  --  $17 million will be taken
from the "rainy" day fund and $10 million from the pollution fund to settle the
suit which could have cost the State from $60-$120 million.  It turns the
complicated weight-distance tax into a flat registration fee system.

3.  Tax Cuts  --  The House approved a series of three tax cut packages and
sent these to the Senate.  The cost of the three packages ran from $26-$29
million down from the original HB 707 tax cut bill of $41 million.  A joint
Conference Committee failed to reach a compromise.  There is speculation that
the Senate may either amend each bill to a lower figure and send back to the
House or do nothing.  It almost seems that any tax cut may be problematical.

4.  School Facilities  --  This is still the wildcard in the Legislative
process.  The three facilities bills will become law:  these include the
Banker's Bill (districts can extend payment up to 20 years on levees), the
Uniform Safety Building Code bill, and the $20 million low interest loan bill. 
The big question is whether or not these will satisfy the judge in the school
facilities suit.  The judge may give us a year to see if these three bills
improve the situation and then make her final judgment.  Personally, I don't
feel that the State has met the Idaho Constitution obligation of providing our
students with a safe learning environment.

5.  HB 510/511  --  The PERSI or state employee retirement legislation passed
the Senate.  HB 511, also known as the multiplier bill, will increase
retirement pay by 4.3% starting on July 1, 2000.  HB 510 is the gains sharing
bill.  Earlier legislation made PERSI a fully funded retirement plan at 100%
with 12% of funding (or to the 112% level) as a safety factor against severe
market downturns.  The fund is already up to 114% and so anything over that
amount goes into the "pool".  In past years based on PERSI's performance the
pool could be as high as $300 million.  This would then be divided among PERSI
members, employers, and retirees.   Each members and retiree will be given a
401 k type account.  This legislation will benefit 60,000 PERSI members and
20,000 retirees.  Rep. Bert Marley and I were the Co-sponsors of this
legislation.  Rep. Maynard Miller deserves a great deal of the credit for the
early development of the legislation.

6.  Interim Committee To Study the Farmworker Minimum Wage Legislation  -- 
Legislative Leadership approved the funding for the Committee.  There were 15
requests and only 3 committees funded.  One of the committees will study the
tax exemptions granted by the State.  The Farmworker minimum wage study was the
top rated request.  I'm becoming increasingly optimistic that minimum wage
legislation advanced by Reps. Beiter, Robison, and myself will be given a fair
hearing through the committee process and that we will finally pass the
legislation this  year.  Many farm organization leaders are in favor of passing
the minimum wage law and several members of the Ag Committee tell me they will
support repealing the Ag exemption

7.  Drug Tests Required for Welfare  --  The Senate passed the bill that will
require all cash welfare recipients to be screened for substance abuse.  If the
tests are positive the recipients will get free treatment.  If a recipient
refused the tests then cash aid eligibility could be denied.  I voted against
this bill because it presumes that the majority of Idahoans who are most in
need of public assistance are abusing drugs.

8.  Pledge of Allegiance  --  Early in the year the Legislature voted to have
all public school students give the pledge of allegiance in school every day. 
A similar bill was debated in the House which would have legislators also give
the pledge on a daily basis.  After an hour debate, we passed the bill.  My
comment was that you either "Talk the Talk" or "Walk the Walk."

9.  Industrial Hemp Legislation  --  I plan in reintroducing three industrial
hemp bills this next year.  We have strong farmer and environmental community
support.

10.  Ban the Spam  --  HB 505 Co-sponsored by Sen. Schroeder and myself passed
the Senate.  Under the legislation, anyone sending unsolicited spam
(unsolicited e mail messages) would have to include a legitimate return mail e
mail address.  If senders persist sending messages it then becomes illegal.
Spam victims could collect civil damages from the senders of $1,000 for each
spammed message.  The Attorney General's Office will handle complaints.  I've
received numerous complaints from teachers, businesses, and the public.  Many
parents complain that their children receive unsolicited pornography related
messages.  The Supreme Court has upheld similar type legislation in a 1996
Supreme Court decision.

Again,  I'll send out a final wrap-up at the end of session and then
back to Moscow.

Remember, after the session ends, please contact me at ttrail@moscow.com


Rep. Trail, district 5

by email:
ttrail@moscow.com     

Legislative newsletters and additional materials and information can be located
on my web
and home page http://www.infotrail.com/idaho