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Eye On Boise

Constitutional amendment to clarify county probation authority heads to ballot

Rep. Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, presents SJR 102, a one-word constitutional amendment to clarify that counties can handle misdemeanor probation, to the House on Wednesday; it passed and now heads to the November ballot. (Betsy Russell)
Rep. Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, presents SJR 102, a one-word constitutional amendment to clarify that counties can handle misdemeanor probation, to the House on Wednesday; it passed and now heads to the November ballot. (Betsy Russell)

Legislation to make a one-word change to the Idaho Constitution, to clarify that the state Board of Correction has jurisdiction over adult felony probation and parole, but counties can handle misdemeanor probation, passed the House today with just three "no" votes; it had earlier passed the Senate unanimously. The one word the measure adds to the Constitution: "felony." The three "no" votes in the House came from Reps. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries; Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton; and Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls. Now that it's passed both houses by more than a two-thirds margin, the measure goes on the next general election ballot for voters to decide.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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