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Committee introduces three measures including birth-parent privacy change and a 'traditional family' recognition
Summary
An Idaho legislative committee introduced RS32617, RS32673 and RS32698. RS32617 would redact identifying information for registered birth parents; RS32673 would create a period recognizing "traditional family values" and drew a recorded no vote; RS32698 was refiled after adjustments to avoid double payment of board members.
A legislative committee introduced three measures during a short session that included a privacy change for birth-parent records, a symbolic recognition of "traditional family values" and a refiled bill adjusting board membership pay to avoid duplicate compensation.
Representative Joe Alfieri, a Republican from District 4 in Coeur d'Alene, told the committee RS32617 is "a trailer bill to H47 which passed the House earlier this session." He said the bill would amend the bill text so "the registered birth parent's name and any other personally identifying information [would] be redacted before records are released" when a birth parent chooses not to participate in disclosure. The measure was moved for introduction by Representative Scott and the motion carried after the committee voice vote; no individual roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript for RS32617.
The committee also introduced RS32673, described by Representative Alfieri as a bill to establish a period recognizing "traditional family values" that would begin on Mother's Day and end on Father's Day. Alfieri cited the Idaho Constitution in his remarks, saying, "Article 3, Section 24 of the Idaho Constitution says in part that the first concern of all good government is the virtue and sobriety of the people and the purity of the home." He described the proposal as recognition of the family "in all of its various forms, single parent, the traditional family with two parents, blended families."
Representative Achilles offered a substantive objection during debate, saying two-parent households "are obviously better for everybody involved" but arguing the resolution misses economic root causes. Achilles cited housing affordability and wages, stating: "The cost of a single-family home in 1970 was $25,000—about $186,000 in inflation-adjusted dollars. Average price of an Idaho home today is $450,000. We're 43rd for average weekly wages. Our minimum wage hasn't changed. It's $7.25. It hasn't changed since 02/2009, even though $23 an hour is a livable wage on average for the state." He concluded he would vote no because the resolution, in his view, did not address economic conditions he said are driving family outcomes. The committee voted to introduce RS32673; Representative Achilles asked to be recorded as voting no.
Representative Stephanie Mickelson of Legislative District 32, Bonneville County, asked the committee to introduce RS32698, a bill she said the committee had considered previously and adjusted after staff noted that some proposed board members were already receiving pay through a city council or county commission. Mickelson said the change was intended "so that we didn't want them to be paid twice." Representative Polonka moved to introduce RS32698; the motion carried and the bill was set for further consideration.
Votes at a glance - RS32617 (trailer to H47): Motion to introduce moved by Representative Scott; voice vote carried. Individual roll-call not recorded in transcript. - RS32673 (recognition of traditional family values): Motion to introduce moved from the floor; voice vote carried. Representative Achilles recorded a no vote. - RS32698 (adjusted board membership/pay language): Motion to introduce moved by Representative Polonka; voice vote carried.
All three measures were introduced for further action; the committee adjourned at the end of the short session.
