This is from a regular roundup of some of ICIE’s activities in and around the Idaho Legislature. Staffing limits mean we can’t cover every meeting. If there’s an item of interest to you at an upcoming meeting of one of the environment or agriculture committees, let us know and we’ll try to cover it. Agendas are available at http://www.state.id.us/. Click on “Legislative” and click on “Calendars and agendas.”
On Friday, Senator Jeff Siddoway introduced draft legislation to the Senate Resources and Environment Committee that would stipulate that domestic sheep and livestock operators will be held harmless from adverse impacts of bighorn sheep mixing with domestic sheep by the State. His legislation provides for control of certain bighorn sheep by the Idaho Department of Fish & Game and its director; and removes the reference to the shared veterinarian program between ISDA and IDFG. This is the most recent in a series of legislation addressing further reintroduction of big horn sheep without adversely affecting domestic sheep grazing allotments on federal lands. The committee sent the bill to the 14th Order where it was amended. The amended version is on the Second Reading calendar.
For background on the bighorn sheep issue, see the 1/31/09 posting on bighorn sheep.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Bills resolved litigation between Idaho Power Company and the State
This post is part of a regular roundup of some of ICIE’s activities in and around the Idaho Legislature. Staffing limits mean we can’t cover every meeting. If there’s an item of interest to you at an upcoming meeting of one of the environment or agriculture committees, let us know and we’ll try to cover it. Agendas are available at www.state.id.us. Click on “Legislative” and click on “Calendars and agendas.”
Three bills were approved by the Senate Resources and Environment Committee last week that resolve litigation between the Idaho Power Company and the State of Idaho. Idaho Power filed suit in the Snake River Basin Adjudication in 2007. At issue were certain points of a 1984 agreement concerning the Swan Falls hydroelectric facility on the Snake River, about 40 miles southwest of Boise.
Jim Tucker, attorney for Idaho Power Company, Clive Strong from the Attorney General’s office and David Hensley with the Governor’s office were on hand to present the framework for the bills to a joint meeting of the House Resource and Conservation Committee and the Senate Resources and Environment Committee last week. They noted that the proposed legislation clarifies and reaffirms the original Swan Falls Agreement to the satisfaction of everyone involved.
S1167 requires that the Idaho Water Resources Board approve any recharge project in excess of 10,000 acre-feet because it may have effects on surface flows similar to those of a storage reservoir. Such a recharge project would go through a public process to evaluate and balance the effects of managed recharge in accordance with state law and the state water plan.
S1168 was replaced by S1185 and clarifies that the Swan Falls Agreement does not preclude use of water for recharge. It also confirms that ground water recharge rights will be issued in compliance with state law and the state water plan. It gives the Director of the Department of Water Resources the authority to determine the amount of water diverted for recharge and to operate aquifer recharge projects.
Finally, S1169 confirms in code the limitations on the Idaho Public Utilities Commission that are part of the 1984 Swan Falls settlement.
Senator Eskridge and others on the committee noted that the framework presented and the bills themselves are true to the intent of the original Swan Falls Agreement and will benefit Idaho. He commended the task force on its collaborative efforts.
Three bills were approved by the Senate Resources and Environment Committee last week that resolve litigation between the Idaho Power Company and the State of Idaho. Idaho Power filed suit in the Snake River Basin Adjudication in 2007. At issue were certain points of a 1984 agreement concerning the Swan Falls hydroelectric facility on the Snake River, about 40 miles southwest of Boise.
Jim Tucker, attorney for Idaho Power Company, Clive Strong from the Attorney General’s office and David Hensley with the Governor’s office were on hand to present the framework for the bills to a joint meeting of the House Resource and Conservation Committee and the Senate Resources and Environment Committee last week. They noted that the proposed legislation clarifies and reaffirms the original Swan Falls Agreement to the satisfaction of everyone involved.
S1167 requires that the Idaho Water Resources Board approve any recharge project in excess of 10,000 acre-feet because it may have effects on surface flows similar to those of a storage reservoir. Such a recharge project would go through a public process to evaluate and balance the effects of managed recharge in accordance with state law and the state water plan.
S1168 was replaced by S1185 and clarifies that the Swan Falls Agreement does not preclude use of water for recharge. It also confirms that ground water recharge rights will be issued in compliance with state law and the state water plan. It gives the Director of the Department of Water Resources the authority to determine the amount of water diverted for recharge and to operate aquifer recharge projects.
Finally, S1169 confirms in code the limitations on the Idaho Public Utilities Commission that are part of the 1984 Swan Falls settlement.
Senator Eskridge and others on the committee noted that the framework presented and the bills themselves are true to the intent of the original Swan Falls Agreement and will benefit Idaho. He commended the task force on its collaborative efforts.
Invitation from the Idaho and BSU Student Chapters of the Air & Waste Management Association
Please join us for an informal discussion with Sue Richards, DEQ Air Quality Analyst, to learn about:
State of Idaho Green House Gas emission inventory
DEQ's Climate Registry membership
Proposed federal Green House Gas regulations
When: 8:00 a.m. - 9 a.m., April 22, 2009 (Earth Day)
Where: Boise State University Student Union Building, Alexander Room
Cost: free
Coffee and other refreshments available for purchase at Moxie Java on first floor of SUB (below Alexander Room).
Recommended parking in the Lincoln Garage, directly across University Drive from the SUB ($1/hour, remember your space number when exiting your vehicle and prepay at the machine near the stairs with cash or credit card).
This coffee hour presentation is organized by the Idaho and BSU Student Chapters of the Air & Waste Management Association.
State of Idaho Green House Gas emission inventory
DEQ's Climate Registry membership
Proposed federal Green House Gas regulations
When: 8:00 a.m. - 9 a.m., April 22, 2009 (Earth Day)
Where: Boise State University Student Union Building, Alexander Room
Cost: free
Coffee and other refreshments available for purchase at Moxie Java on first floor of SUB (below Alexander Room).
Recommended parking in the Lincoln Garage, directly across University Drive from the SUB ($1/hour, remember your space number when exiting your vehicle and prepay at the machine near the stairs with cash or credit card).
This coffee hour presentation is organized by the Idaho and BSU Student Chapters of the Air & Waste Management Association.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Governor Otter's Budget Proposal
Otter’s budget chief, Wayne Hammon, sent the following message to all legislators this morning. The text of the Governor's full proposal follows:
Members of the Senate and House,
Attached is a copy of the Governor’s proposal for the end of the year budget bill. This plan addresses many of the concerns that up until now have remained unresolved.
Specifically, the Governor’s plan:
· Eliminates cross-the-board salary reductions for all employees
· Decreases the statewide PC reduction from JFAC approved 5% to 3%
· Provides flexibility to agency directors in how to implement PC reduction
· Uses “rainy-day” funds for their intended purposes while maintaining healthy balances as a safeguard against continued economic decline
· Maximizes impact of federal stimulus dollars by helping communities across the entire state while putting Idahoans back to work in construction projects in both the private and public sectors
· Provides safeguards for possible end-of-year revenue shortfalls
*****
Governor’s Proposal – End of the Year Budget Bill
Section 1. Transfer from Budget Stabilization Fund In order to balance all spending authorized to date by JFAC, accommodate other pending legislative action (such as IRS conformity) and to allow the scheduled phase-in of the grocery tax credit expansion to take place, $30 million will be transferred from the Budget Stabilization Fund (BSF) to the General Fund.
Section 2. Revenue Short Fall Provision
In anticipation of the possibility of a revenue shortfall at the end of FY 2009 and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Legislature authorizes the Governor to draw upon funds from BSF and the Public Education Stabilization Fund (PESF) in the amount required to meet the shortfall. The Governor is to draw upon both funds in a ratio consistent with current law and only if the shortfall exceeds the projected ending balance. The Governor’s authority will be capped at no more than 50% of either fund. Should the shortfall exceed this limit, it would be the Governor’s responsibility to call a special session of the Legislature to address the matter.
Section 3. Beginning Balance Provision
Should the FY 2009 General Fund ending balance equal less than the current projection of $50 million, the Governor would be authorized to transfer up to $50 million from BSF and PESF to the General Fund in a ratio consistent with current law to restore the projected FY 2010 beginning balance. Doing so would avoid the need to any additional holdbacks in FY 2010 until such time as the Legislature was convened in January.
Section 4. Agency Director Flexibility
All sections of intent language in each appropriation bill mandating a 3% across-the-board salary reduction and outlining legislative priorities shall be repealed and each agency director charged with meeting the reduction in a manner best suited for their individual agency. All such plans would require DFM approval prior to implementation.
Section 5. Decrease of PC Reduction
In order to reduce the FY 2010 PC reduction set from the 5% set by JFAC to 3%, $8 million will be transferred from either BSF or the federal stimulus to the General Fund. This provision does not apply to public education where the reduction is already less than 3% or higher education where federal stimulus funds have already been authorized to offset the PC reduction.
Section 6. Federal Stimulus Funds
The following appropriations will be made from the $44.8 million available in the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund of the federal stimulus bill (ARRA):
-- $3 million for the Idaho Education Network administered by the Dept of Administration
-- $5 million for drinking water projects administered by DEQ
-- $10 million for clean water projects administered by DEQ
-- The remaining funds for transportation infrastructure projects
Advantages
-- Eliminates cross-the-board salary reductions for all employees
-- Decreases the statewide PC reduction from JFAC approved 5% to 3%
-- Provides flexibility to agency directors in how to implement PC reduction
-- Uses “rainy-day” funds for their intended purposes while maintaining healthy balances as a safeguard against continued economic decline
-- Maximizes impact of federal stimulus dollars by helping communities across the entire state while putting Idahoans back to work in construction projects in both the private and public sectors
-- Provides safeguards for possible end-of-year revenue shortfalls
*****
Members of the Senate and House,
Attached is a copy of the Governor’s proposal for the end of the year budget bill. This plan addresses many of the concerns that up until now have remained unresolved.
Specifically, the Governor’s plan:
· Eliminates cross-the-board salary reductions for all employees
· Decreases the statewide PC reduction from JFAC approved 5% to 3%
· Provides flexibility to agency directors in how to implement PC reduction
· Uses “rainy-day” funds for their intended purposes while maintaining healthy balances as a safeguard against continued economic decline
· Maximizes impact of federal stimulus dollars by helping communities across the entire state while putting Idahoans back to work in construction projects in both the private and public sectors
· Provides safeguards for possible end-of-year revenue shortfalls
*****
Governor’s Proposal – End of the Year Budget Bill
Section 1. Transfer from Budget Stabilization Fund In order to balance all spending authorized to date by JFAC, accommodate other pending legislative action (such as IRS conformity) and to allow the scheduled phase-in of the grocery tax credit expansion to take place, $30 million will be transferred from the Budget Stabilization Fund (BSF) to the General Fund.
Section 2. Revenue Short Fall Provision
In anticipation of the possibility of a revenue shortfall at the end of FY 2009 and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Legislature authorizes the Governor to draw upon funds from BSF and the Public Education Stabilization Fund (PESF) in the amount required to meet the shortfall. The Governor is to draw upon both funds in a ratio consistent with current law and only if the shortfall exceeds the projected ending balance. The Governor’s authority will be capped at no more than 50% of either fund. Should the shortfall exceed this limit, it would be the Governor’s responsibility to call a special session of the Legislature to address the matter.
Section 3. Beginning Balance Provision
Should the FY 2009 General Fund ending balance equal less than the current projection of $50 million, the Governor would be authorized to transfer up to $50 million from BSF and PESF to the General Fund in a ratio consistent with current law to restore the projected FY 2010 beginning balance. Doing so would avoid the need to any additional holdbacks in FY 2010 until such time as the Legislature was convened in January.
Section 4. Agency Director Flexibility
All sections of intent language in each appropriation bill mandating a 3% across-the-board salary reduction and outlining legislative priorities shall be repealed and each agency director charged with meeting the reduction in a manner best suited for their individual agency. All such plans would require DFM approval prior to implementation.
Section 5. Decrease of PC Reduction
In order to reduce the FY 2010 PC reduction set from the 5% set by JFAC to 3%, $8 million will be transferred from either BSF or the federal stimulus to the General Fund. This provision does not apply to public education where the reduction is already less than 3% or higher education where federal stimulus funds have already been authorized to offset the PC reduction.
Section 6. Federal Stimulus Funds
The following appropriations will be made from the $44.8 million available in the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund of the federal stimulus bill (ARRA):
-- $3 million for the Idaho Education Network administered by the Dept of Administration
-- $5 million for drinking water projects administered by DEQ
-- $10 million for clean water projects administered by DEQ
-- The remaining funds for transportation infrastructure projects
Advantages
-- Eliminates cross-the-board salary reductions for all employees
-- Decreases the statewide PC reduction from JFAC approved 5% to 3%
-- Provides flexibility to agency directors in how to implement PC reduction
-- Uses “rainy-day” funds for their intended purposes while maintaining healthy balances as a safeguard against continued economic decline
-- Maximizes impact of federal stimulus dollars by helping communities across the entire state while putting Idahoans back to work in construction projects in both the private and public sectors
-- Provides safeguards for possible end-of-year revenue shortfalls
*****
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