Committee advances bill to align deaf and blind school budget process with other agencies

The Senate Finance Committee voted to send House Bill 169 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. The bill would change how the Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind submits its budget, making it consistent with other state agencies.

Representative Steve Miller, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the current process requires the board to hold public hearings and then submit a recommended budget to the state superintendent of public instruction; HB 169 would instead have the board submit its budget to the governor and the Legislature like other agencies. "This bill has to do with the budget process for the Idaho Education Services for the deaf and blind," Miller said. "...What this does is make the process consistent with all of the other budgets."

Committee members asked whether the state superintendent sits on the board. Legislative Services staff member Jared Tacher confirmed the superintendent is a board member. Senators also asked whether this change could prompt similar adjustments for other entities that currently flow through different agency structures; staff said the idea has been discussed before but had not moved forward historically.

One senator asked whether anything in particular prompted the change; Miller and Legislative Services staff said the change is intended to simplify and conform the board's process with other state budgeting procedures. Committee members indicated they were not aware of opposition; the committee approved HB 169 on a voice vote and sent it to the Senate floor. Jared Tacher told the panel HB 169 had passed the House and would proceed through the normal Senate process and, if approved there, go to the governor for signature or veto.

The committee recorded no roll-call vote; the committee chair announced the ayes had it and the bill will proceed to the next legislative stage.