Senate Health & Welfare advances two reappointments, schedules one hearing for tomorrow

The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Thursday voted to advance two gubernatorial reappointments to the full Senate and deferred action on a third appointment until its next meeting.

The committee voted to send the reappointment of Alan Schneider to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired to the Senate floor with the recommendation that he be confirmed. The committee also voted to send the reappointment of Dr. Timothy Rerich to the State Board of Health and Welfare to the floor with a recommendation for confirmation after an initial procedural gap in obtaining a second for the motion was resolved during the meeting. The committee did not vote on the reappointment of Mark Watkins to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; committee members told Watkins that his reappointment will be voted on at the committee’s next meeting.

Why it matters: These confirmations move citizen appointees closer to full Senate consideration. The Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the State Board of Health and Welfare advise and oversee programs that shape services for Idahoans with disabilities and statewide health and welfare policy.

Committee action and discussion Senator Wintrow moved and Senator Blaylock seconded that the committee send the gubernatorial reappointment of Alan Schneider to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired to the Senate floor with a recommendation that he be confirmed; the committee recorded an affirmative voice vote.

A motion to send the gubernatorial appointment of Dr. Timothy Rerich to the State Board of Health and Welfare was made by Senator Blaylock but initially “died for lack of a second,” according to the transcript. Committee members later provided a second and proceeded to send that appointment to the floor with a recommendation for confirmation; the committee recorded an affirmative voice vote after that second was entered. Committee members briefly discussed the procedural lapse on the floor before moving on.

Mark Watkins, who appeared virtually to discuss his reappointment to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, introduced himself as a Rexburg resident and professor at Brigham Young University–Idaho. Watkins told the committee he has been on the board for three years and described his experience navigating services for people with low vision and blindness. “Those people are amazing,” Watkins said of the staff at the state assessment and training center in Boise, recounting a 12-week training he attended. Watkins said the training was “invaluable” and that it shaped his decision to serve on the board. The committee told Watkins it will vote on his reappointment at its next meeting.

Officials and participants Mark Watkins said he has been legally blind his whole life and went completely blind about seven years ago; he described using low-vision aids earlier in life and later participating in the state assessment and training program. He told the committee he has attended board meetings for three years and believes his lived experience gives him perspective useful to the commission.

What the committee did not decide The committee did not finalize a vote on Mark Watkins’ reappointment; members informed Watkins they will vote at the committee’s next meeting. The transcript contains no further detail about Alan Schneider’s or Dr. Rerich’s backgrounds beyond the recorded motions and votes.

Next steps The two forwarded reappointments will appear on the Senate floor calendar for consideration by the full Senate. The committee will vote on Mark Watkins’ reappointment at its next scheduled meeting.