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Summary of the 56th Idaho Legislative Session
SUMMARY OF THE 56TH IDAHO LEGISLATIVE SESSION
We are down to the last week of the 56th Legislative Session. We still
have a few budget bills and the final tax cut bill to resolve. Tuesday
will be a day of mourning for Rep. George Swan who died of cancer on
Thursday. I've tried to hit a few of the highlights of the session for
Latah County Constituents.
1. Higher Education - This was a banner year for Higher Education. The
funding measure is the largest one year increase ever, and at 9.7 percent
the largest percentage hike since 1994. The bill includes a 2% increase
for faculty salary equity, salary increases, and funding on a matching
basis to retain and recruit outstanding scientists. Marty Peterson, U. of
Idaho lobbyist reported this was the best higher education budget in 20
years. Hopefully, we will also approve the capital budget bill. This
would provide the University with about 10.7 million to build the new
Teaching-Learning Center.
2. K-12 Public Education -- The $869.5 million appropriation for public
schools was sent to the governor. The bill includes a 5.5% increase for
teacher salaries, and sets a mandatory starting teacher salary at
$23,210. The House Education Committee had recommended a 8%
increase. Another bill approved by the House Ed Committee will come up for
a vote this week. It would set the minimum wage for starting teachers at
$25,000. Discretionary funds already in the ed budget would fund the
increase, and this would make Idaho more competitive. Another highlight
was restoring $2 million for the Community Resource Program.
3. School Facilities -- The highlight for District 5 was the passage by
the Senate on Friday of HB315. The bill will partially fund interest
payments for certain troubled schools if they take out commercial bank
loans to fix their critical school safety problems. Property tax increases
would pay off the loans. The passage of this bill means that the State
will pick up about $2 million for the Troy School District in interest
payments on a forgiveness basis. This will enable Troy to build a new high
school.
The passage of SB1038 co-sponsored by Sen. Schroeder and myself passed on
Monday. This bill will help make it easier for lending agencies to lend
money to charter schools for building or remodeling purposes. The Moscow
Charter School, for example, is applying for a loan to build a new school.
4. Idaho Public Television -- The $8.7 million budget for IPTV was
approved without debate. Capital improvements include $6.2 million for
digital conversion.
5. HB71 -- Minimum Wage for Farm Workers -- on Wednesday Reps. Robison,
Bieter, and I attended the bill signing ceremony by Governor Kempthorne at
the Farm Labor Camp in Wilder. The bill will cover provide 95% of Idaho's
farm workers under the minimum wage. Both Sen. Schroeder and I introduced
minimum wage bills this year. This has been a four year struggle to
achieve economic and social justice for farm workers. Governor Kempthorne
deserves credit for facilitating a compromise.
6. Tussock Moths -- More than 100,000 acres are infested with the Douglas
Fir tussock moth. The potential damage is estimated at $45 million. Rep.
Young and I testified before the State Land Board supporting state funding
for a spraying program. The Land Board supported a 95% state-5% private
landowner match to pay for the program which will be about a total of $28/acre.
7. Palouse Aquifer Study -- Rep. Young and I worked with JFAC and the
Governor's Office to secure one year funding for the Palouse Aquifer
Study. JFAC approved $100,000 for the study.
8. Human Rights Commission -- a concerted debate tried to reduce funding
for this Commission and failed. One of the human rights issues concerned
the "Squaw" bill which was voted down in State Affairs Committee. My guess
is that Gov. Kempthorne will ban the use of the word for geographical sites
by Executive Order after the legislature closes.
9. Corrections -- There was a substantial increase in funding for
substance abuse programs and educational programs for corrections. This is
a major step forward. If we can help rehabilitate non-violent felons into
useful citizens, this will save the state about $35,000/year. The
expansion of the drug court concept will also assist in the rehabilitation
of drug addicts.
This, except for a few more bills and the tax cut, is a summary of this
year's session. Education fared well. We are all concerned with the
downturn in the economy, and we are hopeful that the Governor's Rural
Economic Initiatives and tax cut measures will help stimulate a
recovery. District 5 fared well this year.
Rep. Tom Trail, district 5
trail@moscow.com
Phone: 208-332-1202
I would like constituents to contact me by e-mail me with their ideas,
comments and recommendations.
Legislative newsletters and additional materials and information can be
located on my web
and home page http://www.infotrail.com/idaho
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