Senate Health and Welfare committee sends five requests to print, including prescribing-psychologist and foster-care changes

At a meeting of the Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee, senators voted to send five RS drafts to print for further consideration: RS32220 (psychology practice changes), RS3214 (abandoned tire cleanup pilot), RS32351 (child protective act timing changes), RS32348 (updates to residential care and assisted‑living regulations), and RS31947C1 (medical records for Social Security disability applicants).

The committee took the actions by voice vote with motions to “send to print” recorded on the transcript. Sponsors introduced each RS and answered brief committee questions before the motions were approved.

Why it matters: sending an RS to print is an early procedural step that prepares a draft for a formal bill hearing. Each RS could be amended in future hearings or during drafting, and passage to print does not create law.

Votes at a glance

- RS32220 (Mark Harris). Sponsor: Senator Mark Harris (Legislative District 35). Summary: changes to the Psychologist Act to replace a supervision model with a collaborative agreement for provisional prescribing psychologists and eliminate a permanent advisory panel, described as intended to “improve and streamline practice of psychology in the state of Idaho.” Motion: moved by Senator Shippey; seconded by Senator Buerke. Outcome: sent to print (voice vote).

- RS3214 (Mark Harris). Sponsor: Senator Mark Harris. Summary: a three‑year pilot program to provide partial reimbursement and an administrative fund to help recyclers remove and process an estimated ~20 abandoned tire piles in Idaho; includes a 50¢ per‑tire fee to support the program and a three‑year sunset. Motion: moved by Senator Wintrow; seconded by Senator Bierke. Outcome: sent to print (voice vote; one senator asked to be recorded).

- RS32351 (Cody Galloway). Sponsor: Senator Cody Galloway (District 15). Summary: amendments to the child protective act shortening some review timelines (from six months to two months between review hearings), changing a custody timeline from “15 of 22 months” to “12 of 22 months,” and adding language permitting judges to consider the bond between a foster child and substitute caretaker. Motion: moved by Senator Keiser; seconded by Senator Seiferfeld. Outcome: sent to print (voice vote).

- RS32348 (Camille Blaylock). Sponsor: Senator Camille Blaylock (District 11). Summary: updates to Idaho code governing residential care and assisted‑living facilities to streamline requirements for admissions, licensing, staffing, inspections, medication management and resident agreements; described as removing “outdated and unnecessary regulations” while maintaining health and safety standards. Motion: moved by Senator Harris; seconded by Senator Keiser. Outcome: sent to print (voice vote).

- RS31947C1 (Doug Ricks). Sponsor: Senator Doug Ricks (District 34). Summary: a narrowed bill to provide one free copy of medical records needed for Social Security disability applications or for representatives to obtain those records; sponsors said the change responds to lengthy waits (described as 15 months to two years) for applicants and their representatives. Motion: moved by Senator Wintrow; seconded by Senator Blaylock. Outcome: sent to print (voice vote).

Discussion and clarifications

Committee discussion on the RSs was brief and focused on clarifying details for future hearings. For RS3214 (tires), Senator Buerke asked about fees; Senator Harris said a 50¢ per‑tire fee would fund the program. For RS32351 (foster care), sponsor Cody Galloway said he worked with foster families, the Department of Health and Welfare and the Ada County courthouse while drafting the changes. RS32220 sponsor Mark Harris said Idaho has had eight prescribing psychologists since the original law went into effect eight years ago and that the RS would reduce supervision barriers while “maintaining patient safety.”

Next steps

Each RS was approved to be printed and will proceed to drafting and potential scheduling for a committee hearing. Sending an RS to print does not bind the committee to a final bill text or enactment.