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Legislative panel endorses Millennium Fund report, backs one‑time aid for youth assessment centers
Summary
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee accepted the Millennium Fund Committee report, which recommends one‑time funding for youth assessment centers and other prevention programs funded by tobacco settlement dollars.
Senator Van Burtonshaw, co‑chair of the legislative Millennium Fund Committee, told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Feb. 28 that Millennium Fund dollars derive from the state’s tobacco settlement and are targeted toward prevention, cessation and treatment programs for substances including vaping and alcohol.
The committee recommended one‑time supplemental support for youth assessment centers administered by the Department of Juvenile Corrections, $2 million in additional funding for Department of Education programs (including a second cohort for school vape detectors and related after‑school programming) and personnel funding for Idaho Public Television. The committee also recommended appropriations from the opioid settlement for Idaho State Police educational programs, and to rollover any remaining Millennium Fund balance to consider options for 2027.
The report stresses a youth focus. “The funding should be prioritized for programs that benefit Idahoans less than 18 years of age,” Burtonshaw said during his presentation. Representative Jordan Redmond, the committee’s other co‑chair, told JFAC the youth assessment center funding is intended as a one‑time infusion to get centers through several months while they work toward sustainability.
Redmond said the committee’s recommendation included $2 million for Department of Education programming, and one‑time funds for the juvenile assessment centers for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. When asked whether the assessment centers faced an immediate closure risk, Redmond said some centers reported they would likely have to close without emergency funding because federal grants had not come through in time.
The committee’s report was accepted by unanimous consent. The committee did not adopt long‑term appropriations in the Millennium Fund this session and recommended rolling remaining balances into future deliberations to inform 2027 decisions.
Members stressed the one‑time nature of the assistance. Representative Redmond said, “this is the last time, this is a one time basis, and we really need you to become sustainable in this.” The committee asked that the Department of Juvenile Corrections and the assessment centers provide business plans showing how they will pursue sustainability after the one‑time support.
The Millennium Fund Committee report will be considered as part of JFAC’s ongoing work groups and budgeting process.
