Committee sends proposal to move existing mental‑health and substance‑use rules into Idaho code to print

Sen. Julie Van Orden, chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, asked the panel to send RS31829 — a request to move three existing Department of Health and Welfare rule sets into Idaho code — to print.

The measure would place regulation language now found in administrative rules for children's mental health services, adult mental health services and substance use disorder services into statute without increasing or decreasing services, Van Orden said. "It doesn't increase or decrease services to anybody. It only moves existing program regulations into statute so that the legislature would be able to address them," she said.

The draft language would relocate definitions and eligibility‑screening requirements for the children's mental health program into Idaho Code (the transcript references chapter 16, chapter 24). It would likewise transfer definitions, certification standards and screening requirements for substance use disorder services and move adult mental health definitions and screening rules into statute. The proposal also would repeal the three existing administrative rule sets on the effective date of the statutory provisions, July 1 (year not specified in the transcript).

Sen. Blaylock moved to send RS31829 to print; Sen. Lehi seconded the motion. The committee carried the motion on a voice vote. No recorded roll call or vote tally was provided in the transcript.

Committee members did not debate the measure on the record beyond the sponsor’s presentation.

If printed, RS31829 would proceed to a full public hearing and the formal bill process before any change to statutory law could occur.