Senate moves mental‑health and substance‑use service rules into state code

The Idaho Senate on Feb. 4 approved Senate Bill 10‑24, a measure that moves multiple administrative rules covering children’s mental‑health services, substance‑use disorder (SUD) services and adult mental‑health services into Idaho Code.

Sen. Van Orden, who opened debate on SB 10‑24, told colleagues the bill shifts definitions, certification standards and eligibility‑screening requirements from administrative rule into statute so that future changes would be made by the Legislature rather than solely through agency rulemaking. He identified specific sections of the bill addressing children’s mental health (page 2), substance use disorder services (starting on page 4) and adult mental health (page 8) during his floor remarks.

Sponsor remarks said the change will allow the Legislature to see and act on those definitions and eligibility standards directly rather than through agency rules. The sponsor said the change applies to certification and eligibility screening requirements for providers and programs in the listed areas. The Health and Welfare Committee placed the bill on third reading and the Senate voted in favor of final passage.

The secretary announced the roll call result for SB 10‑24 as 35 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent or excused. The clerk noted no correction to the title; the bill will be transmitted to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Floor debate on SB 10‑24 was limited to the sponsor’s summary of what portions of administrative rule are being codified; no amendments or recorded objections were made during third reading.