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Committee advances change to runaway-shelter law after debate over youth access and parental notice
Summary
The committee advanced House Bill 46 after testimony on whether to remove a consent requirement for runaway youth shelter; sponsors said the change preserves crisis-center services while opponents warned it could block immediate help for abused children.
The committee voted to advance House Bill 46 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation after testimony about youth crisis centers and runaway youth access.
Representative Elaine Price, sponsor of the change, told the committee HB 46 would amend Idaho Code section 18-15-10 and asked that the panel delete the provision that currently treats a child’s consent to shelter as one of three conditions that protect crisis centers from violating the law on harboring runaways. Price said removing that first condition would not stop centers from providing services because the centers would still be required to attempt to contact a parent or guardian and to notify law enforcement.
Opposition testimony urged caution. Britney Shipley, who said she represents herself and has experience on local youth crisis boards, testified the change could jeopardize access for the most vulnerable children, including those fleeing abuse, trafficking or sexual assault. Shipley said crisis centers were designed to provide short stabilization (often described as stays up to 23 hours, 59 minutes) and that removing the consent provision could force staff to notify guardians immediately, which might expose a child to harm if the guardian is the abuser.
Representative Price and other supporters said the proposed amendment would not change the centers’ ability to accept and treat youth; it would instead narrow the section of law whose purpose was to protect centers from being prosecuted for giving shelter in emergency circumstances. Senate members asked practical questions about how centers operate; witnesses said in practice many centers already attempt to contact parents and notify law enforcement where required, but that self-referral and friend-referral pathways exist and are important for children who cannot safely contact a guardian.
The committee’s motion to send HB 46 to the floor was made by Senator Lenny and seconded by Senator Keiser. Senator Wintrow asked clarifying questions during testimony and asked to be recorded as “nay with confusion” when the committee took its voice vote. The chair announced the motion carried and HB 46 will proceed to the full Senate.
