Week 7
Here is a brief snapshot of what is happening under the dome…
Bill Number: S1056 Passed 24-9-2
MILITARY AND MILITIA – Repeals and adds to existing law to prohibit cities and towns from supporting certain military companies or organizations and to provide exceptions.
The following language is being repealed:
46-802. UNORGANIZED ASSOCIATIONS PROHIBITED -- PARADES PROHIBITED -- EXCEPTIONS. No body of men, other than the regularly organized national guard, the unorganized militia when called into service of the state, or of the United States, and except such as are regularly recognized and provided for by the laws of the state of Idaho and of the United States, shall associate themselves together as a military company or organization, or parade in public with firearms in any city or town of this state.
This is the worst thing to pass the Senate to date this session. This piece of legislation removes the prohibition on forming militias and allows militias to ‘parade’ while fully armed. In short, any group of people may assemble, march, and carry weapons in any parade, or gather outside someone’s home or place of business. The ramifications of this are substantial, and quite frankly, very scary.
A Quick Update on Language Introduced in Legislation
Private Right of Action:
This language has been introduced in ten bills (to date) this session and this language is being used as the primary enforcement mechanism for prosed new laws. A private right of action creates a bounty system where people can go looking for something wrong and then sue the intended target. An example of this is SB1100, better known as the ‘bathroom bill.’ If a person in a public school were to accidentally walk into the wrong bathroom and someone sees this, the school could be sued and the statute of limitations for bringing a suit forward is 4 years. Another example is HB 242. This bill makes it an imprisonable crime to drive a pregnant woman over state lines to receive an abortion. The private right of action in this case would allow the father, grandparents, siblings, aunts, and uncles of the preborn child to all sue the physician for $20,000.00 each, again with a 4-year statute of limitations to file.
This language, simply put, turns citizens against each other. Using a private right of action to enforce the law is wrong. Enforcement of the law should be left to those who are motivated by ensuring justice, not monetary rewards.
On the Positive Side
Bill Number: HB 63 Died in Committee 3-3-1
Sincerely Held Principles.
HB 63 proposed to provide conscience protection for counselors. What? After reading the bill, it is more of an anti-gay, anti-trans, anti-you have different beliefs than I do bill. Therapists and their patients should work together to find the best possible course of action.
Bill Number: HB 213 Passed
Rural Nursing Loan Repayment Program
This bill was designed to bring nurses to rural Idaho while providing a program assisting them financially. The program provides up to $25,000.00 per nurse, over a three-year period, in loan re-payment. This program has the ability to help one hundred nurses and sets a sunset clause to the program in 2029.
Good News of the Week
After a quick trip home to Hailey on Friday afternoon, shoveling the roof, having a great home-cooked dinner, and sleeping in, Alex and I made it back to Boise in time for the Frank and Bethine Church Gala.
We had such an enjoyable time that we did not get photos, sorry :(
