UPDATES

Tracking the Legislature

By Kathie Garrett

I am frequently asked about how to track legislation and how to contact their Legislators.   Here are some many suggestions:

Ø  The Legislative process happens quickly and sometime with little notice.  That is why many groups hire “Lobbyist” or legislative advisors to do it for them.

Ø  The best source of information about the Legislature is their web page- http://legislature.idaho.gov

Ø  The Legislative web page contains the following helpful information.

• Bill Center - text, history, statements of purpose, fiscal notes of legislation. Here you can find a Bill by its number or subject matter.
• Calendars and Agendas - House and Senate reading calendars and committee agendas.  The Third reading calendar of the House and Senate is the Legislation that they will be debating and voting on that day.  From this location you can also view the Committee agendas.  It is in the Committee hearings that the public is invited to testify.  If you are track a piece of Legislation you need to check the calendars on a daily basis.
• Video and Audio Streaming - live coverage of House and Senate; committee hearings. 
• Who’s my Legislator? Provides you help in identifying who are your Legislators.
• Contacting Legislators:  Gives mailing and telephone number of the information center.  From here you can directly send an email message.  It is important to note that during the session Legislators are extremely busy and may not have time to give you a phone call or a written response but they will all most always read your message.
• Committees:  Here you will find who serves on what Committee
• Information Center: The Information Center can help you with your questions.  Their number is 208-332-1000.

One last note:  Idaho has a “citizen legislature.”  They need to hear what you and the citizens of Idaho think.  Your opinions, knowledge and experience are important to them.

 

Committee Hearings:  I am sorry for short notices.  Sometimes we have only 24 hours.  If you want to comment on any of these, I recommend you email the members of the Health and Welfare Committees (House and Senate).

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Legislative Report

January 5, 2010

By Kathie Garrett

 

As the Legislative session is rapidly approaching, I am frequently asked

“what are the major mental health

and substance abuse issues of the

2010 session.”  It can all be summed

up with one word:  “Budget!”  Or to

quote a phrase from the past:  “It’s

the economy stupid.”  The economic

reality is sobering.

 

The Department of Health and Welfare

faces an estimated shortfall of $133

million in state general funds.  When

the lost of Federal Matching funds for Medicaid is considered, that shortfall

grows to an enormous $515 million

for fiscal year 2011.  Idaho, like

other states, is waiting for word from Congress as to whether they are going

to extend the increase Federal Match

that was in the last stimulus package. 

Not knowing that, Idaho’s Governor

and Legislature will be faced with the daunting task as to how to balance the budget.

 

While every year the Budget is a

major tool for shaping public policy,

this year it will be even more critical. 

Here is some information on the Budget process and how to track it.

 

Ø The first glimpse of the Governor’s Budget will come Monday, January 11

at 1:00 pm when he presents his State

of the State Address to a Joint Legislative Session.  The public can hear the address from various access points at the newly renovated State Capitol.  The address can also be seen on Idaho Public Television.

Ø A copy of the Governor’s budget recommendations should be available on Tuesday, January 12 on the Idaho home

page at www.accessidaho.org.

Ø The Legislative Budget process begins with the Joint Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee. 

This Committee will advise the

Legislature about the reasonableness

of the total estimated revenues available

for the fiscal year 2010 and fiscal budget year 2011.  These meeting are open

to the public.

The Joint Economic Outlook and

Revenue Assessment Committee of

the Idaho State Legislature will hold meetings at the... State Capitol,

Room EW41, 700 W. Jefferson Street,

Boise, Idaho 83720 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010; 8:00 a.m. Thursday, January 7, and 3:00 p.m. Thursday, January 14.

Ø The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JAFC) has the responsibility

to produce a balance budget for the Legislature to approve before they

complete their 2010 Legislative session.  JFAC meets daily during the Session

usually from 8:00 am to 11:00am. 

These meetings are open to the public

and can be seen on a live stream from

the Legislative home page at

http://legislature.idaho.gov.  JFAC does

not take any public testimony. Here are

a few key hearings dates:

· January 12 8:40 am Review of the Governor’s Recommendations.

· January 15 8:00 am Economic Outlook Report

· January 19, 20, and 21 Department of Health and Welfare presentations. 

8:00am-11:00 am.

· February 16 9:40 am Office of Drug

Policy

· February 22-March 12 JFAC begins

the budget setting process.

Ø The final budget step is for the

Legislature to vote on each budget bill

and send it to the Governor for his

signature or veto.

 

Is your head swimming yet?  If so, you’re not alone.  Just remember this

year the budget process is where the

major public policy affecting all of Idaho

will be made.  Over the next three or

four months I will do my best to keep

you informed of critical issues as they emerge from the budget discussions. 

If you have any questions, please feel

free to email me at

kgarrettidaho@aol.com

and I will do me best to assist you.

 

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