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Committee sends search‑and‑rescue reimbursement threshold to 14th order to correct drafting
Summary
House Bill 185 would raise the point at which search‑and‑rescue operations are treated as "catastrophic" from $4,000 to $8,000; sponsors said the existing catastrophic fund has capacity and the change aligns reimbursements with current costs.
The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee moved House Bill 185 to the fourteenth order for an amendment to correct drafting and to change the reimbursement threshold for search‑and‑rescue operations.
Senator James Ruckde (District 29) presented HB 185, which increases the statutory threshold that triggers catastrophic fund reimbursement for search‑and‑rescue operations from $4,000 to $8,000. Senator Ruckde told the committee a cross‑reference to $4,000 on the bill’s first page should also be updated to $8,000, and requested the bill go to the fourteenth order so the technical edit can be made.
Kelly Brasfield of the Idaho Association of Counties testified in support of the bill. Sheriff Chris Goetz (appearing remotely for the Idaho Sheriffs’ Association) said county search‑and‑rescue teams increasingly use helicopters, underwater equipment and other specialized resources that raise costs; under current language, reimbursement through the catastrophic fund can require waiting for the fund’s governing committee to convene. Goetz said the catastrophic fund balance is roughly $700,000 and that counties typically turn to that fund about five times per year at present levels.
"Helicopter bills easily surpass $4,000 on a search if you use them for more than 2 or 3 hours," Sheriff Goetz said, arguing the higher threshold would allow more immediate reimbursement from the standard fund and reduce county cash‑flow delays.
Committee discussion clarified that HB 185 does not increase fees or create new funding sources; the statutes that supply the search‑and‑rescue fund draw small portions from recreational vehicle registrations, certain fuel‑tax or off‑highway vehicle receipts, and related fees. Senator Ruckde moved to send the bill to the fourteenth order so the drafting error on page one can be corrected; the motion carried.
The bill will return for amendment to change the two cross‑references from $4,000 to $8,000 and then proceed for further committee action.
