Term Limits Revision Ok’d

Another attack on Idaho’s term limits law has surfaced in the Legislature.

Last week a House committee approved introduction of a bill that would repeal term limits for county prosecutors. On Thursday the House Education Committee gave preliminary approval to legislation that would repeal limits for school board members.

The proposal will return to the committee for debate later.

“They are the only unpaid elected officials who fall under the term limits law,” sponsor Herm Steger said. He represents the Idaho School Boards Association. “It is inappropriate for school board members to be under term limits for that reason.”

He said there should be a distinction between people paid to serve on a part-time board or commission and those who serve without compensation.

Besides the two proposals to exempt prosecutors and school board members from term limits, Rep. JoAn Wood, R-Rigby, is working on a bill to repeal term limits for all county officials. It hasn’t been introduced.

In response to a question from a committee member on whether term limits would lead to “new blood and fresh thinking” on school boards, Steger said a survey shows the average school board trustee in Idaho serves only three and a half years.

If approved by the Legislature and signed into law, the exemption would go into effect immediately.

Steger said that’s because school board elections are in May and the law could have an impact on who runs.