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Committee advances bill to adjust how crisis centers may shelter runaway youth
Summary
The committee approved sending House Bill 46 to the Senate floor; the bill would remove a statutory line requiring that a runaway child affirmatively consent to shelter care in order for a facility to avoid violating Idaho law, while retaining two other procedural protections.
A Senate committee voted to send House Bill 46 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after representatives and community witnesses debated an amendment that would delete a consent requirement in Idaho code 18-15-10.
Rep. Elaine Price of Kootenai County told the committee HB 46 would delete language (lines 30–31 of the proposed bill) that she said is unnecessary for crisis centers and could be harmful. The original 2024 changes added three conditions to protect providers from prosecution for sheltering runaways: the youth consents to care, the provider attempts to contact the parent or legal guardian, and the provider notifies the sheriff’s office. Price asked the committee to remove the first of those conditions while keeping the other two.
Britney Shipley, who identified herself as serving on a youth crisis-center board, testified in opposition. She said the proposed deletion could impede a youth’s ability to self-refer in emergencies and could endanger minors whose legal guardian is the source of harm. “By requiring parental notification upon the youth's arrival, the bill creates a dangerous situation,” Shipley said, arguing that mandatory parental notification could block an abused child from immediate help.
Supporters of the amendment, including its sponsor, said removing the consent clause would not prevent facilities from providing services; facilities would still be required to attempt parental contact and notify law enforcement as a backstop. The committee debated whether the change would affect a facility’s operating status and whether it would inhibit access for youth seeking immediate help.
Sen. Lenny moved to send the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the motion was seconded by Sen. Keiser and carried. Senator Wintrow recorded a “nay with confusion” on the record. The bill advances to the Senate floor for further consideration.
