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Committee interviews gubernatorial appointees to two state boards; votes scheduled at next meeting
Summary
The committee interviewed Alan Schneider for reappointment to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Dr. Timothy Rerick for reappointment to the State Board of Health and Welfare. Both appointees answered committee questions; the committee will vote on their reappointments at the next meeting.
The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee conducted confirmation interviews for two gubernatorial reappointments: Alan Schneider for the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ICBVI) and Dr. Timothy Rerick for the State Board of Health and Welfare. The committee did not take votes at this meeting; both confirmations were scheduled for a vote at the committee's next meeting.
Alan Schneider of Garden City introduced himself as a former high-school English teacher who has served on the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for about 10 years and currently serves as board chair. Schneider described how services from ICBVI changed his life after he sought help for his own vision loss and said his motivation is to "give back for all that they've done" for him. Senator Harris asked about Schneider's biggest lessons during his decade on the board; Schneider pointed to the dedication of "boots on the ground" staff who supported clients during the COVID-19 pandemic by making regular welfare calls to isolated, often elderly clients.
The committee then interviewed Dr. Timothy Rerick of Rexburg, a professor and director in the marriage and family studies program at Brigham Young University–Idaho, who is being considered for reappointment to the State Board of Health and Welfare. Rerick described his background in family policy and advocacy and his international speaking and advisory work, including participation at side events during the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, where he said he speaks on fatherhood and family-strengthening approaches to achieve sustainable development goals. Committee members asked whether an advisory board was necessary and what Rerick learned during the COVID-19 pandemic; Rerick said the board occupies an "ambiguous middle" between advisory and rulemaking roles and stressed the need for nuance and hearing multiple perspectives during public-health crises.
Committee members thanked both men for their service. No confirmation votes were recorded; the transcript states the committee will vote on the reappointments at the next meeting.
