Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee sends five proposals to print, including psychology prescribing reforms and a tire‑cleanup pilot

The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee met and voted to send five proposed measures to print for further consideration.

Senators introduced and the committee approved the following RSs by voice vote: RS32220 (psychology prescribing supervision), RS3214 (waste tire cleanup pilot), RS32351 (foster‑care timelines and placement considerations), RS32348 (updates to residential care and assisted‑living facility regulation), and RS31947C1 (copies of medical records for Social Security disability applicants). All measures were introduced and motions to send them to print were made on the floor and carried by voice vote; no opposing votes were recorded on the transcript.

RS32220 — psychology prescribing supervision Mark Harris, Senator, Idaho State Senate, introduced RS32220, saying, “This legislation basically improves and streamlines practice of psychology in the state of Idaho.” He told the committee the bill would remove what he described as “unnecessary barriers,” replace a supervision model with a collaborative‑agreement model for provisional prescribing psychologists and their collaborating prescribers, and eliminate a permanent advisory panel. Harris said Idaho has had only eight prescribing psychologists since the authorizing law passed about eight years ago.

RS3214 — waste tire cleanup pilot Senator Mark Harris introduced RS3214 as a three‑year pilot to incentivize recyclers to remove roughly 20 abandoned tire piles the sponsor said exist in the state. Harris said the proposal would (1) provide partial reimbursement for transporting, processing and recycling abandoned tires, (2) fund the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to administer the program, and (3) include a disposal fee tied to tire purchases; he said the fee would be 50 cents per tire. Senator Wintrow confirmed the committee received an informational presentation on the issue in a prior year.

RS32351 — foster‑care timelines and placement considerations Senator Cody Galloway introduced RS32351, which he said would amend timelines and provisions in the Child Protective Act to shorten timeframes for achieving stable, permanent placement for children in foster care. Galloway summarized three specific changes he said are in the draft: shortening the time between review hearings from six months to two months; changing the custody threshold from “15 of 22 months” to “12 of 22 months”; and adding language to allow judges to consider the bond a foster child has formed with a substitute caretaker when evaluating long‑term placement.

RS32348 — residential care and assisted‑living regulations Senator Camille Blaylock introduced RS32348 as an update to Idaho code for residential care and assisted‑living facilities. Blaylock said the measure revises provisions related to admissions, licensing, staffing, inspections, medication management and resident agreements to “make it easier for these facilities to open and operate within our state” while preserving health and safety standards.

RS31947C1 — copies of medical records for Social Security disability applicants Senator Doug Ricks presented RS31947C1, a narrowed bill tied to previously considered legislation. Ricks said the proposal would provide “one free copy of the records” for people applying for Social Security disability benefits so applicants or their representatives would not face record‑copying fees during long claims processes.

Procedure and next steps Each RS was moved and seconded from the committee floor and the motions carried by voice vote; committee members present responded “Aye” when asked. The committee chair announced the items would be printed; printing is the next procedural step that places RS text on the docket for formal hearing and amendment.

The committee did not take final votes on any bill language at this meeting; each RS was only sent to print. Several sponsors said they had consulted stakeholders (for example, foster families and the Department of Health and Welfare for RS32351; the Idaho Healthcare Association for RS32348). Sponsors generally described the measures as intended to reduce administrative barriers or provide programmatic incentives; none of the RSs were adopted as enacted law at this meeting.

The committee adjourned with a reminder that it will reconvene the following day.