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Senate committee advances bill moving foster-home rules into statute, removes rule requiring firearms and ammunition be locked in separate locations
Summary
Senate Bill 1034, which moves existing foster-home licensing rules into statute and removes a rule requiring firearms and ammunition be locked in separate locations, was sent to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation after committee debate over safe-storage requirements and recruitment barriers.
The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1034 to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation after debate over a removed requirement that foster-home operators lock firearms and ammunition in separate locations.
Sen. Brandon Shippey (District 9), the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure moves existing foster-care licensing rules (sections cited from the administrative procedures act) into statute and removes language that required weapons and ammunition to be locked in two separate locations. Shippey said those requirements could “disarm” foster parents in an emergency and create an undue burden that has discouraged potential foster providers.
"It was listed as weapons, but it was pretty clear it referred to firearms, weapons and ammunition to be locked in 2 separate locations," Shippey said. "The concerns that I... have expressed... is that essentially disarms you." He said the Department of Health and Welfare supports replacing the requirement with an educational approach and that the department plans to provide a gun-safety education video as part of orientation for licensed foster parents.
Supporters of the bill said the firearms-storage language had deterred some prospective foster parents. Shippey said he had received messages from people who began the licensing process and then withdrew after encountering the rule. He described the remaining licensing requirements as basic (for example, a working toilet, sink and hot water) and said the change would remove an obstacle to recruitment while keeping the department's oversight intact.
Opponents and cautious committee members urged stronger safe-storage language. Senator Wintrow cited national data in arguing that locking firearms is the best way to prevent accidental child deaths. "The best way to prevent a death... with a firearm with a child is to lock it up," Wintrow said, adding that she would vote no in committee.
Sen. Harris moved, and Sen. Blaylock seconded, to send the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee decided by voice vote to advance the bill; the transcript records a voice "aye" and a recorded objection from Senator Wintrow. The transcript does not contain a roll-call tally.
The bill preserves other residential-safety requirements and leaves implementation details, including planned educational materials from the department, to administrative practice. Several senators said they expected the department's training to instruct foster parents on safe storage and how to set household protections appropriate to placements with different ages and behavioral histories.
Committee members discussed but did not add a statutory requirement for a particular locking technology (for example, fingerprint safes) or mandate separate locations for firearm and ammunition storage. A substitute motion to send the bill to the fourteenth order for possible amendments failed for lack of a second.
