Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

UI students’ alcohol emergency immunity bill passes Senate

Legislation sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of Idaho to grant limited immunity from prosecution for minor-in-possession or minor consumption of alcohol when the person involved or a friend seeks emergency medical aid has won final passage in the Senate, on a 35-0 vote; assuming the House concurs in the Senate amendments, it will head to the governor’s desk. “It does not condone or promote underage drinking,” said Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, the bill’s Senate sponsor and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “We don’t want one parent to receive a call that their child has died or suffered serious injury because of lack of medical care. A call to 911 can save a friend’s life. The real tragedy is not getting into trouble – it’s the potential death of a friend, and knowing you could have saved a life but did not because of your fear of prosecution.”

Lodge said the bill, HB 521a, is supported by the student governments of the U of I, BSU, ISU and LCSC, and similar legislation has been enacted in 31 states. It’s backed by the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association and the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police. “The students collaborated with the Idaho Sheriffs Association, the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association, and the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association in researching and drafting this legislation,” she said.

The Senate amended the bill to add a three-year “sunset clause,” or expiration date, to allow the Legislature to reconsider it at that point and see how it’s working.



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.

Follow Betsy online: