Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mental Health Substance Use Rules topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee sends proposal to move mental‑health, substance‑use program rules into Idaho code to print
Summary
Sen. Julie VanOrden presented RS31829 to transfer three Department of Health and Welfare rule sets for children's mental health, adult mental health and substance‑use disorder services into statute; the committee voted to send the draft to print.
Senator Julie VanOrden, District 30, asked the Senate Health and Welfare Committee to send RS31829 to print, a proposal to move three existing Department of Health and Welfare rule sets for children's mental health services, adult mental health services and substance use disorder services into Idaho statute.
The bill, VanOrden said, would transfer existing definitions, certification standards and eligibility‑screening requirements from administrative rule into Idaho Code and repeal the three rule sets effective July 1 — the same day the new statutory provisions would take effect. "This bill ... would move those 3 rule sets into Idaho code. It doesn't increase or decrease services to anybody," VanOrden said during the hearing.
Committee members did not debate the measure on the floor. Senator Blalock moved to send RS31829 to print; Senator Lenny seconded the motion. The committee approved the motion on a voice vote.
Why it matters: moving program requirements into statute shifts review of future changes from the administrative‑rule process to the Legislature, changing how and where policy updates would be considered and authorized. The RS, as introduced, does not change service levels, according to the sponsor.
Background and details: The sponsor described the three components as children's mental health (identified in the presentation as found in Idaho Code, Title 16, Chapter 24), substance use disorder services and adult mental health services. The RS would: move definitions and eligibility‑screening requirements into statute and repeal the current administrative rules the same day the statutory provisions would take effect.
Next steps: The committee sent RS31829 to print for introduction and a subsequent public hearing, establishing the bill for future committee consideration.
Votes at a glance: Motion to send RS31829 to print — mover: Senator Blalock; second: Senator Lenny; outcome: approved (voice vote).
