Monday

An effort to call SB1205, the Healthy Idaho Plan out of the Senate Health and Welfare committee for debate on the Senate floor was voted down across straight party lines on Monday.

Senator Dan Schmidt of Moscow who is the bill's sponsor made the motion to pull the bill out of committee, followed quickly by Senator Bart Davis's motion to excuse the committee from Schmidt's call. 

Senator Schmidt in debate on the motion to excuse the committee said  “I believe strongly that we should be considering the issue this motion is about. It’s not always comfortable to face issues like this. And I’m sorry that we are making a motion to call this bill. I wish it was being done differently. But we have these rules, we have Senate rules for a purpose just like this.”

He went on to debate by saying,“I believe we were elected to do this sort of difficult thing. And I support the process that we’ve all been called to do. It’s our job. So I will be opposing the motion to excuse the committee. I believe the committee has had the bill, I believe the committee has had a hearing, and I believe it is time for this body to consider this issue. Thank you.” 

Senator Davis focused his debate not on the substance of the bill but on the decision making of the germane committees and how the committee process works. 

This particular legislation is dead for this year.  But, continue reading...there is more action on this issue that happened this week.

Thursday

On Thursday, the House Health and Welfare Committee was set to hear two new pieces of legislation from  Majority Caucus Chairman Rep. John Vander Woude, regarding health coverage for the gap population. Instead the committee pulled the bills from the agenda and will consider the issue on Monday morning.

One of the proposed bills would create a study committee and the other would provide a health care data collection grant program.

The grant program would provide a block grant of $5 million to Idaho's community health centers in 2017 to enhance services to the gap population and collect data on how many people are in the gap.

Many committee members voiced their concern about getting something done this session to help this population.

Committee chairman, Fred Wood vowed that on Monday even if the committee had to start at 7:00 am they would have a hearing on an RS or two, and if any are sent to print that they will go directly to the 2nd Reading calendar on the floor of the House.

Thursday

Senator Schmidt, the sponsor of the Healthy Idaho Plan that was not allowed a hearing in the Senate Health and Welfare committee, has decided to drop his state paid health insurance out of a sense of fairness to people who are not covered by insurance and fall into the gap.

He said that he gets paid health insurance as a member of the legislature, yet this year's legislature can't give any benefits to the 78,000 Idahoans who can't afford it. "This is a nudge," Schmidt said. "I'm trying to nudge folks to feel a sense of urgency, to feel a sense of doing the right thing."

To read more on Senator Schmidt's decision click here.

On Wednesday, the House passed the Medicaid budget on a 39-30 vote. House Minority Leader John Rusche debated against the budget saying it didn't do enough for the people that fall through the insurance coverage gap. He suggested that the bill be sent back to JFAC for another try.

Rep. Pete Nielsen argued against the budget request because he felt it spent too much on Medicaid.

It now goes to the Governor for his signature.

HB413, the Maniac License Plate legislation is dead for this year. It did make it all the way through the House after an amendment, being voted down, then reconsidered and finally passed by a narrow margin.

It was sent to the Senate Transportation committee on March 9th and was going to have a hearing in that committee this coming Tuesday, but at the last minute Representative Shepherd, the bill's sponsor, asked that the legislation be pulled and not heard in committee.

It is thought that the legislation would not have made it out of the Senate Committee and rather than have it killed, it would be better to pull it and bring it back next year.

On Wednesday, advocates of raising the minimum wage in Idaho rallied at the Capitol.

HB400 would increase the minimum wage from the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour to $8.25 per hour on July 1, 2016, and to $9.25 on July 1, 2017.

The current tiered wage structure for tipped and seasonal employees would be maintained. Wages for tipped employees would increase from $3.35 per hour to $3.80 per hour on July 1, 2016; and to $4.25 on July 1, 2017.

Wages for seasonal employees would increase from $4.25 per hour to $4.70 per hour on July 1, 2016; and to $5.35 per hour on July 1, 2017. The time period for payment of the seasonal minimum wage would be reduced from the current 90 days to 30 days, after which the employee would be compensated at the regular minimum wage level.

Beginning in 2018, the minimum wage for all employees would be adjusted annually based on the United States Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) each September 30th to take effect on the following January 1st.

Since printing, the legislation has remained in the care of the House Ways and Means Committee. At this date, there is very little interest to advance the legislation.

It is worth noting that HB463 which  prevents any municipality from requiring businesses to pay a wage higher than the state minimum, has passed both Houses and is awaiting the Governor's signature.  

From Disability Scoop

A revamped approach to federal legislation aimed at addressing the needs of kids with autism and other developmental disabilities who wander is garnering bipartisan support.

Two years after U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., originally proposed a bill to establish federal resources related to kids with disabilities who wander, aides say that the senator has reached an agreement to get the legislation off the ground.

Originally, Schumer sought $10 million in federal funds for a new U.S. Department of Justice program that would provide free electronic tracking devices for children with autism and other developmental disabilities who are prone to bolting.

The current proposal dubbed Kevin and Avonte’s Law calls for tracking devices for children with autism and other developmental disabilities to be made available through a reauthorization of an existing federal program designed to help those with Alzheimer’s disease who are at risk of wandering.

Under the bill, the Justice Department would distribute grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to pay for training, tracking devices and other efforts to help keep individuals with disabilities or Alzheimer’s disease safe.

The senators are seeking $2 million for the combined program. That’s an increase over the $750,000 in federal funds allocated to address wandering among those with Alzheimer’s in 2015, but far less than the $10 million that Schumer initially wanted.

Securing Grassley’s support, however, is seen as key because the Republican chairs the Senate judiciary committee, which would hear the bill.

“We must move rapidly to implement the potentially life-saving precautions like voluntary tracking devices that will protect our precious children,” Schumer said in a statement to Disability Scoop. “This technology will allow parents of all children with autism, no matter their means, to use the benefits of a high-tech solution to an age-old problem.”

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 7 – A bipartisan group of Senate health committee members, including the Chairman and ranking member, today announced their plan to address the country’s mental health crisis and ensure Americans suffering from mental illness and substance abuse disorders receive the care they need.

The bipartisan draft legislation works to bring our mental health care system into the 21st Century by embracing mental health research and innovation, giving states the flexibility they need to meet the needs of those suffering, and improving access to care.

“One in five adults in this country suffers from a mental illness, and nearly 60 percent aren’t receiving the treatment they need,” said Senate health committee Chairman Alexander (R-Tenn.). “This bill will help address this crisis by ensuring our federal programs and policies incorporate proven, scientific approaches to improve care for patients. States like Tennessee and local governments are on the forefront in treating mental illness and substance abuse, and this legislation will support their efforts so people can get the help they need.”

“I hear far too often from families in my home state of Washington and across the country about loved ones who are unable to get mental health care they desperately need, with tragic consequences,” said Senate health committee Ranking Member Murray (D-Wash.). “Our mental health system has been broken for far too long, and I’m pleased that Democrats and Republicans were able to break through the gridlock and agree on policies to help deliver quality, integrated care to our neighbors, friends, and loved ones who struggle with mental illness.” 

“Our mental health system is broken—the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 begins to fix it,” said Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). “We have all seen a promising life destroyed by untreated mental illness. Destroying not just the person, but also their family. By focusing and making resources available for patients and families, we can help restore mental health to the emotionally broken. I thank Senators Murphy, Alexander and Murray for joining me in this priority.”

“Our mental health care system is failing those who need it most. Individuals struggling with mental illness may go years without receiving treatment, ultimately suffering in isolation, or being cast aside and abandoned by the very system they should be relying on. Too many Americans with serious mental illness slip through the cracks, and Congress must act to stop it,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). “I’m grateful that Senators Alexander and Murray worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Senator Cassidy and me to craft this bipartisan compromise. This bill already represents the biggest reforms that Congress has seen in decades, and I’ll keep working with both Republicans and Democrats on the HELP Committee to make it even stronger.”

At the previously announced March 16th markup, Senators Alexander, Murray, Cassidy, and Murphy plan to introduce additional measures to strengthen access to and quality of mental health care as part of a manager’s amendment. The HELP Committee will also consider legislation at the March 16th markup to help tackle the opioid epidemic by addressing treatment, prevention, and other efforts to fight opioid addiction and abuse.

The MENTAL HEALTH REFORM ACT of 2016 will:

Ensure that mental health programs are effectively serving those with mental illness: The bill will improve coordination between federal agencies and departments that provide services for individuals with mental illness, and will improve accountability and evaluations of mental health programs.

Help states meet the needs of those suffering from mental illness: This bill helps to ensure that federal dollars support states in providing quality mental health care for individuals suffering from mental illness by updating the block grant for states.

Promotes the use of evidence-based approaches, promising best practices in mental health care: The bill requires that the federal agencies and programs involved in mental health policy incorporate the most up-to-date approaches for treating mental illness, and requires that agency leadership include mental health professionals who have practical experience. 

Increase access to mental health care: The bill increases access to care for individuals including veterans, homeless individuals, women, and children. It also helps improve the training for those who care for those with mental illnesses, and promotes better enforcement of existing mental health parity laws.

Click HERE for text of the staff discussion draft.

Many of our good legislators, write a newsletter that they share with constituents in their districts. The newsletters are also available for anyone to receive. So, if you would like to receive your legislator's newsletter or a newsletter from a legislator on a certain committee you can sign up here.

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.

Week 1 January 11-15, 2016

Week 2 January 18-22, 2016

Week 3 January 25-29, 2016

Week 4 February 1-5, 2016

Week 5 February 8-12, 2016

Week 6 February 15-19, 2016

Week 7 February 22-26, 2016

Week 8 February 29-March 4, 2016

Week 9 March 7-11, 2016