A Fair and Friendly Look at What's Happening in the 2016 Legislature
Legislative Update
February 1-5, 2016
Senate Committee Allows Testimony on Healthy Idaho Plan
S1204 and S1205
On Tuesday of this week the Senate Health and Welfare Committee allowed testimony on two bills that would expand Medicaid coverage for 78,000 Idaho citizens who are currently falling through the gap and not eligible for any medical coverage.

Over 300 advocates showed up at the Capitol to show their support for the Healthy Idaho Plan. 

At the beginning of the hearing, Chairman Lee Heider told the group that he didn't want a vote on the bills because the committee has not heard the Governor's proposal for  the Primary Care Access Program, and he wants them to have the opportunity to weigh all legislation. The bills will stay in committee for now.

S1204 calls for full expansion of Medicaid to cover Idahoans who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level and its estimated savings to state and county taxpayers is $47 million a year.

S1205, the Healthy Idaho plan, would expand Idaho’s Medicaid program to cover non-disabled adults who earn up to 100 percent of the poverty level, and accept federal Medicaid expansion funds to cover those between 100 and 138 percent of poverty by subsidizing their premiums for private insurance plans. Its estimated savings to state and county taxpayers is $28.4 million a year.

To read in depth reports on the hearing go to Betsy Russell's blog here.

Close the Gap proponents were pleased with the turn out and the opportunity to have legislators hear from experts in the field. They are urging those that didn't have a chance to testify to attend the joint Health and Welfare listening session scheduled for February 12th from 8:00 -10:00 a.m.

They have also recently released a new video that can be seen here. 
Joint Health and Welfare Listening Session Scheduled

February 12th is the date for the House and Senate Health and Welfare Committees to hold their annual joint listening session.

From 8:00-10:00 a.m. both committees will convene together and will take testimony on any topic related to health and welfare issues. They are scheduled to meet in the Lincoln Auditorium.

If you would like to be heard by these legislators, plan to arrive early and sign in to testify. Usually each person is allowed three minutes to present their testimony, so come prepared.

To download a flyer from the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities click here.
Maniac License Plate Advances with Modifications

On Thursday the House Transportation Committee heard testimony on Representative Paul Shepherd's Maniac license plate legislation H413.
 
Advocates testified that the Orofino mascot, the maniac is offensive and stigmatizes individuals with mental illness. In Idaho 54,000 adults and 18,000 children suffer from mental illness.

The committee heard from Orofino City Councilwoman and head of the Clearwater Community Foundation, Jill Woolsey who said the funds from the license plate would raise badly needed money for the school district.

After diverse testimony, a decidedly split committee voted to change the bill by eliminating the word "maniac" and keeping the graphic of the crazy wild haired boy in a hospital gown. It will now be sent to the House for amendment.

To weigh in on this legislation contact your district representative. See information in this newsletter on how to contact your legislator.

To see the Maniac click here.
Developmental Disabilities Council Membership
S1268

Christine Pisani, Executive Director of the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities received a print hearing on legislation that would change the law pertaining to Council membership. The bill is S1268.

Specifically, individuals applying to fill the positions of "Individual with a Developmental Disability" and "Parent of a Child with a Developmental Disability" would not be restricted based on working for a state agency or local organization that receives funds for or provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities as currently defined in Idaho statute.

The federal law only restricts employees of a State agency that receives funds or provides services under the DD Act subtitle. The Council, University Center for Excellence in Disability, or the state Protection and Advocacy organizations all receive funding through the DD Act.

This proposed change resolves a current member recruitment issue where the Council finds it a barrier to find prospective applicants, especially parents, who do not work in the disability field in some way.

The Council values and encourages parents to apply their knowledge, skills, and expertise gained through their life experiences to become more involved in service to children and adults with developmental disabilities in their communities. Denying parents or individuals with developmental disabilities the ability to serve on the Council because of their work situation seems counter intuitive to this idea.

To read the bill click here.

To learn more about the Council on Developmental Disabilities and its membership click here.
Upcoming Events
February 12th
Joint Health and Welfare Listening Session
8:00-10:00
Lincoln Auditorium
February 23
Consortium For Idahoans Disability Awareness Day at the Capitol
Contacting Your Legislator
Your legislator is happy to hear from you. Here are a number of ways to contact your legislator.

If you are not sure who your legislators are, you can check by going to the Legislature's website at: http://legislature.idaho.gov/who'smylegislator.htm .

You can contact your legislators in a variety of ways. 

Here are the basic ways to communicate with legislators:

TELEPHONE CALLS: During the legislative session, you can call the Legislature and have a message delivered to your legislators. You will be asked to provide your name and contact information. Here are the phone numbers to use:

Local: 208-332-1000
Toll Free: 800-626-0471
Fax: 208-334-5397
Hearing Impaired: 800-626-0471

PERSONAL VISITS: During the legislative session, you are encouraged to visit your legislators in person at the Capitol. You can attend and participate in committee hearings. You can visit personally with your legislators. You can observe the House and Senate in action.

If you want to visit with a legislator, you can go to either the House or Senate lobby and the door keeper will have a page hand deliver a note to your legislator who will then come out to speak to you (time allowing).

LETTERS: You can send letters to your legislators. Do not count on a reply. They try their best, but, again, they are inundated with information and requests. They appreciate your input, and it will be considered. 

(Name)
Idaho State Legislature
State Capitol Building
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho
83720-0038 (House) 
83720-0081 (Senate)  

All mail must contain your name and address or phone number.

E-MAILS: The Legislature has a website which allows you to e-mail your legislators directly. Once you know who your legislator is, you can select them by name at the following web address:

http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/about/contactbyname.cfm

Or contact them by district at the following web address:

http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/about/contactbydistrict.cfm

Idaho Fiscal Facts

To learn more about Idaho's facts, figures and trends the Idaho fiscal Facts document is a good source of information.  Click here for the pdf.
Tracking Legislation

If there is legislation that you want to follow, there is a a nice tool offered by Legislative Services that help you know where in the process a bill is. Click here and log in to establish your own personal bill tracker for 2016.
Update Archives
Community Partnerships of Idaho | 208-376-4999 | bibiana.nertney@mycpid.com| www.mycpid.com