JFAC approves Idaho Millennium Fund recommendations to support youth programs, fentanyl campaign and juvenile assessment centers

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved the Joint Millennium Fund Committee’s recommendation for fiscal-year allocations from the Idaho Millennium Fund income account.

What passed Representative Gallavey moved the package, which the committee recorded as a due-pass recommendation. Key items in the motion included: - $500,000 for an Idaho State Police fentanyl awareness campaign (opioid settlement fund) - $1,500,000 for the State Department of Education for after-school programs (dedicated) - $210,000 for Idaho State Police from miscellaneous revenue for programs run in partnership with schools - $2,500,000 one-time for the Department of Juvenile Corrections for youth assessment centers

The motion asked for a total additional $6,710,000 from dedicated funds to support the agencies identified and included reappropriation authority (not to exceed $1,291,000) for juvenile corrections funding approved as a FY2025 supplemental.

Committee discussion and language Analysts and committee members explained that the Idaho Millennium Fund receives annual tobacco settlement dollars and that statute and constitutional provisions govern transfers among the fund accounts. The committee discussed previously considered line items that were removed or reduced in the current draft (for example, an earlier youth assessment survey and Idaho Public Television operational costs had been reduced or removed from the current recommendation).

The committee also approved detailed language on: after-school program use (requiring prevention and cessation education for tobacco, alcohol and other substances), nonprofit-only definitions and quarterly distribution and reporting requirements for recovery centers, and priority rules that prioritize youth under 18 for Millennium Fund income-account dollars.

Outcome Roll-call summaries recorded the measure as passing with a combined committee vote of 19 ayes and 1 nay. Committee chairs said the language and recommendation will appear in the appropriation bills for further legislative action.

Speakers and roles - Jared Tetrault, Deputy Division Manager of Budget & Policy Analysis, Legislative Services (presented background and line items) - Representative Gallavey (mover)

Clarifying details - The Millennium Fund is funded by annual tobacco settlement payments (staff noted roughly $25 million per year to Idaho from the national master settlement). - The motion directed after-school funds to be used for prevention/cessation education and required compliance with specified age requirements in statute.

Searchable tags: millennium fund, youth programs, fentanyl, juvenile corrections, after-school