Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to provide for the executive budget document to include certain information pertaining to certain recommendations.

This legislation ensures that when the Governor's recommended budget includes an item that requires a change in policy, that a draft of the suggested policy is submitted along with the names of legislators willing to sponsor such legislation.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding expenditures made pursuant to certain funds that are not cognizable.

This bill proposes to cap the amount available for approval of non-cognizable adjustments, or federal funds provided to state agencies that were not known during the regular session for appropriations. The creation of this law is to provide a mechanism to the executive branch to spend non-state funds without calling for a special session of the Legislature, under certain circumstances. The Legislature has the authority to appropriate funds once back in session. With the amendment to Article III, Section 8, of the Idaho Constitution, the Legislature can call itself back into session to address additional federal funds with appropriations that were not cognizable during the regular session, among other reasons. This law ensures the authority to pass appropriations rests with the Legislative Department. Article VII, Section VII of the Idaho Constitution provides that no moneys shall be drawn from treasury but in pursuance of appropriations made by law. Section 16, Article VII of the Constitution further provides the Idaho Legislature shall pass all laws to carry out the provisions of Article VII.

Adds to existing law to provide for the Legislative Services Office to provide the joint-finance appropriations committee with a calculated reduction from the governor's budget document.

This legislation directs LSO to perform a calculation of historical personnel expenditures compared to original personnel appropriations for each entity with 50 or more FTPs. That ratio is used by JFAC to reduce the agency’s requested amount for increases in employee compensation, benefits, and health insurance.

Adds to existing law to establish the Idaho Personnel Reduction Act and to provide for the reporting of state employee travel expenses.

This legislation deals with state budget issues. First, it makes state government more efficient by requiring state agencies to identify all employee positions that have been vacant for at least 180 days or more and reducing the agency budget request accordingly. For positions vacant for 180 to 364 days, agencies must either eliminate the position and reduce the agency budget request accordingly, or fund and fill the position using existing funds. This will reduce the size of government agencies to a level at which they have already demonstrated the ability to operate. Second, it requires state agencies to report on employee travel for the previous fiscal year when each state agency submits its annual budget request to the Governor and Legislature. Third, the legislation transfers to the legislative branch one third of the positions eliminated in the executive branch including associated fringe benefits.