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House Judiciary panel rejects H 691 on child-neglect definition
Summary
The House Judiciary, Rules & Administration Committee voted down H 691, a bill to revise the statutory definition of child neglect, after testimony from child-advocacy and prosecuting-attorneys groups and questions from committee members. The motion to send the bill to the floor failed 7–8–1.
The House Judiciary, Rules & Administration Committee rejected H 691, a bill presented by Rep. Ehardt and Scott Herndon that would alter the statutory definition of child neglect.
Diane Garvey of Idaho Children Are Primary and Shawna Dunn of the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association testified in opposition. Committee members asked whether routine parenting actions (such as feeding or bedtime scheduling) have led to arrests, how many calls result in legal findings of neglect, and what effect the bill could have on families that practice faith healing.
Rep. Hostetler moved to send H 691 to the House floor with a DO PASS recommendation. Rep. Mathias requested a roll-call vote; the motion failed on the roll call, 7 AYE, 8 NAY, 1 Absent/Excused. Those voting in favor were Reps. Alfieri, Scott, Ehardt, Erickson, Hawkins, Hill and Hostetler. Those opposing were Reps. Garner, Handy, Pohanka, Shirts, Stone, Gannon, Mathias and Rubel; Rep. Skaug was absent/excused.
With the motion defeated, the committee did not report H 691 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation. The minutes record the committee's questions and the witnesses' opposition but do not indicate further committee direction on amendments or future hearings.
