Committee approves printing of RS32800; sponsor says changes reflect governor's requests on medical-intervention language

Senators voted to send RS32800 to print after Sponsor Dan Foreman described targeted changes requested by the governor that clarify and separate definitions related to medical interventions and business entities.

"Under 70 3-5 0 2 paragraph 1, we separated out daycare facilities, private sector daycare facilities from the definition of business entities," Foreman said, summarizing edits he said were requested by the governor. He told the committee the RS incorporates clarifying references to the Idaho Parental Rights Act (Idaho Code 32-10-10 through 32-10-15) and that language referencing vaccine policy in schools was placed in statutory cross-reference for reassurance. Foreman also said the RS tweaked the definition of "medical intervention" by adding the word "medical" before "procedure" and "action" for clarification and replaced the word "employers" with "business entity" in a subsection to distinguish employees from patrons.

Foreman said the RS is a rewrite of the previously considered Senate Bill 1023 that had been vetoed; he said discussions with the governor's office led to the incorporated changes. Senator Wintrow said she would vote against printing because she had opposed the original bill and was unsure whether the changes addressed her concerns.

The committee approved the motion to send RS32800 to print; the chair recorded Senator Wintrow as opposed and announced the motion carried. The RS will be printed for further consideration and possible future amendment.