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Committee advances Title 9 accountability measure aimed at university reporting
Summary
House Bill 141, advanced by the committee, would change reporting lines for Title 9 accountability at Idaho public universities so issues currently handled at staff level would report to university presidents' offices, with sponsors stressing the bill does not define protected classes or direct application.
Representative Doug Pickett told the Senate State Affairs committee House Bill 141 as amended does not redefine protected classes or direct university policies, but raises accountability by moving certain staff reporting to the office of a university president rather than remaining at staff level.
Pickett said the House amendment changed language from "within the office of president" to "reporting to the office of president" to avoid imposing new hiring requirements on university presidents. He cited a concern raised by a college president about needing to hire extra staff under the original wording and said the amendment was intended to address that.
Committee members raised questions about whether the bill represents an unusual reach by the legislature into university operations. One senator said he was uncomfortable with the idea of the legislature dictating university operations but acknowledged the amendment alleviated some concerns. No members of the public signed up to testify and the committee moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation.
The bill now goes to the Senate floor for further debate and any amendments.
