Senate Health and Welfare Committee introduces several RSs to print, including bills on prescribing psychologists, tire cleanup and foster timelines

The Idaho State Senate Health and Welfare Committee on an unspecified date voted to send several requested statutes (RS) to print, moving forward proposals on prescribing psychologists, abandoned tire cleanup, foster-care timelines, residential care regulations and access to medical records for Social Security Disability claims.

The bills were introduced by senators in committee and, following short explanations and questions, were each moved and seconded and put to a voice vote.

Why it matters: The bills cover public-health practice rules, environmental cleanup incentives, child-welfare timelines that could affect permanency for foster children, licensing and operational rules for assisted-living facilities, and a measure aimed at reducing barriers for Social Security disability applicants to obtain medical records. If advanced from print, any further hearings could lead to amendments or formal votes by the full Senate.

RS32220 — prescribing psychologists Senator Mark Harris (Idaho State Senate, Legislative District 35) introduced RS32220 as a measure “to improve and streamline practice of psychology in the state of Idaho.” Harris said the primary change is to replace a supervision model for provisional prescribing psychologists with a collaborative agreement model and to eliminate a permanent advisory panel. Harris told the committee that, under the current process, “Idaho has only 8 prescribing psychologists since the bill to allow prescribing psychologists went into effect 8 years ago,” and that the bill “removes unnecessary barriers.” The committee voted to send RS32220 to print (motion moved by Senator Shippey; seconded by Senator Buerke). Outcome: moved to print by voice vote.

RS3214 — abandoned tire pilot and small disposal fee Senator Mark Harris also introduced RS3214, described as a three‑year pilot program to provide partial reimbursement to recyclers for transporting, processing and recycling abandoned tire piles and to provide funding to the Department of Environmental Quality to administer the program. Harris said Idaho has “about 20 abandoned tire piles” and that recyclers were interested in handling them. He told the committee the pilot would include a continuing consumer disposal fee charged when purchasing replacement tires and that, for the pilot, the proposal sets a 50¢ per tire fee. Senator Wintrow noted the committee previously received an informational presentation on this issue. The committee voted to send RS3214 to print (motion moved by Senator Wintrow; seconded by Senator Bierke). Outcome: moved to print by voice vote; a committee member asked to be recorded on the motion.

RS32351 — foster-care timelines Senator Cody Galloway (District 15) introduced RS32351, which he said would amend timelines and provisions of the Child Protective Act to shorten review and custody timeline benchmarks so foster children move toward permanency sooner. Galloway said the bill reduces the time between review hearings from six months to two months (page 1, lines 15 and 17 in the draft), shortens custody timeline language from “15 of 22 months” to “12 of 22 months” (page 5, line 19), and adds language to allow judges to consider the bond a foster child has formed with a substitute caretaker (page 9, line 23). Galloway said he consulted foster families, the Department of Health and Welfare and the Ada County courthouse. The committee voted to send RS32351 to print (motion moved by Senator Keiser; seconded by Senator Seiferfeld). Outcome: moved to print by voice vote.

RS32348 — residential care and assisted living regulations Senator Camille Blaylock (District 11) introduced RS32348, which she described as an update to regulations for residential care and assisted‑living facilities. Blaylock said she worked with the Idaho Health Care Association and that the RS “streamlines regulatory requirements by revising various provisions in Idaho code relating to facility admissions, licensing, staffing, inspections, medication management, and resident agreements” to make it easier to open and operate facilities while maintaining health and safety standards. The committee voted to send RS32348 to print (motion moved by Senator Harris; seconded by Senator Keiser). Outcome: moved to print by voice vote.

RS31947C1 — medical records for Social Security disability applicants Senator Doug Ricks (District 34) introduced RS31947C1, a narrowed bill intended to address delays and costs when applicants for Social Security disability need copies of medical records. Ricks said a similar bill had passed the Senate last year but stalled elsewhere; this version is pared down to provide one free copy of medical records specifically for Social Security disability applicants. Ricks said requesters and representatives currently face time delays of “15 months to 2 years.” The committee voted to send RS31947C1 to print (motion moved by Senator Wintrow; seconded by Senator Blaylock). Outcome: moved to print by voice vote.

Votes at a glance - RS32220 (psychologist practice; move from supervision to collaborative agreements): motion to send to print moved by Senator Shippey, seconded by Senator Buerke; outcome — moved to print by voice vote. - RS3214 (abandoned tire pilot; 3‑year sunset; 50¢ per tire disposal fee to fund reimbursements and DEQ administration): motion moved by Senator Wintrow, seconded by Senator Bierke; outcome — moved to print by voice vote; one request to be recorded was made. - RS32351 (foster‑care timelines; review hearings shortened to 2 months; custody language 15/22 → 12/22; judges may consider foster bonds): motion moved by Senator Keiser, seconded by Senator Seiferfeld; outcome — moved to print by voice vote. - RS32348 (residential care and assisted living regulation updates): motion moved by Senator Harris, seconded by Senator Keiser; outcome — moved to print by voice vote. - RS31947C1 (one free copy of medical records for Social Security disability applicants): motion moved by Senator Wintrow, seconded by Senator Blaylock; outcome — moved to print by voice vote.

What the committee did not decide here: Each RS was introduced and sent to print; sending a request statute to print is an early step that places the draft before the legislature for future hearings. None of the measures were enacted at today’s meeting; further committee hearings, amendments, fiscal notes or votes by the full Senate would be needed for any final action.

The committee adjourned after the day’s business and noted a meeting scheduled for the following day.