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Bill to protect school emergency plans from public records disclosure introduced
Summary
Representative Chris Mathias introduced RS 32018 to reorganize several school safety provisions, tighten background‑check language and exempt certain emergency‑response plans and training materials from automatic public‑records disclosure; the committee approved introduction.
BOISE, Jan. 23, 2025 — Representative Chris Mathias introduced RS 32018 to clarify and reorganize existing school safety code, broaden background‑check language for school employees and exempt emergency response plans and some training materials from routine public‑records release.
Mathias (D., Dist. 19) told the House Committee on Education that the draft converts a single “sloppy paragraph” into three clearer subsections so each provision stands alone. He said subsection 16(b) would make it clear schools need not automatically disclose operational emergency plans and teacher‑training materials under public‑records requests, a change prompted by safety practitioners who worried that publicly available plans could be misused.
Mathias said the draft also aligns background‑check language so that people with unsupervised contact with students are covered and that annual training and plan familiarity for school staff is required. He listed organizations that had provided feedback, including the Office of School Safety, the State Board of Education, the State Resource Officers Association, the Idaho Education Association, school administrators, PTA and local districts.
Representative Harris asked whether expanding background checks from those with “irregular contact” to those with “unsupervised contact” would create substantial additional expense. Mathias said stakeholders agreed the change was necessary and that the group had not produced a marginal cost estimate; he said the intent was to align with chapter 83, title 18 of state code.
Representative Nelson moved to introduce RS 32018. The committee approved the motion by voice vote. Representative Clough noted a wording typo in the statement of purpose and Mathias agreed to correct it before the public hearing.
Why it matters: Sponsors said the bill would preserve security details about school emergency responses while improving clarity on background checks and training requirements for school personnel. Committee members requested cost and implementation details for broader background checks before a bill hearing.
