Committee introduces bill to extend outfitter exemption to accredited private colleges

Representative Bridal Raybould (District 34) introduced RS31873 to amend the outfitters and guides chapter of Idaho law to exempt accredited private postsecondary institutions from outfitter licensing requirements in the same manner as public institutions.

Raybould directed the committee to lines 32–33 of the draft, saying the provision would explicitly state that "a public or private post secondary educational institution accredited by an organization recognized by the state board of education is exempt from the provisions of the chapter." He said public postsecondary institutions and their employees had previously used a provision in Idaho Code section 36-2,102 that exempts state employees performing job-related duties; the proposed language would create equivalent treatment for accredited private institutions that run guided trips as part of curriculum or training programs.

Committee members voiced no substantive objections during the RS introduction. A motion to introduce RS31873 was made and the committee approved it by voice vote; no roll-call tally appears in the transcript. Vice Chairman Shepherd said he would reserve detailed questions for the bill hearing, when the committee will take formal testimony and staff analysis.

The RS, if scheduled for a bill hearing, would allow the committee to consider statutory language, potential limitations, and any technical edits. The transcript contains no discussion of fiscal impact, specific private institutions, nor any suggested amendments; those details remain "not specified" in the meeting record.