Senate passes bill allowing tuition

Boise

Legislation to allow most of Idaho’s four-year state colleges to charge tuition won final passage in the Senate on Monday and headed to the governor’s desk.

HB 231 allows tuition – rather than just fees – to be charged at Lewis-Clark State College, Boise State University and Idaho State University. The Idaho Constitution prohibits tuition from being charged at the University of Idaho.

The difference is that tuition covers the cost of instruction, while fees are directed to other costs, like buildings and utilities.

Student leaders strongly objected to HB 231, saying it will drive up their costs. But Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, the bill’s lead sponsor in the Senate, said the state Board of Education has assured lawmakers that “the purpose of the legislation is not to increase any fees.” Instead, it will give the colleges more flexibility to shift funds around within their budgets, he said.

Opponents said the measure is a sign that Idaho simply isn’t funding higher education adequately.

Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, said students support a cap on fee increases, and no such cap is in the tuition legislation.

“I’m going to support the students,” he said, and he voted against the bill.

All other North Idaho senators voted in favor, and it passed 25-8 and headed to Gov. Dirk Kempthorne for his signature.

Bill trims aid to poor for medical care

Legislation making it harder for poor people to qualify as indigent and get their medical bills paid by the county and state cleared a Senate committee Monday.

Under current law, people aren’t considered indigent if they can pay off the medical bill within three years. HB 282 ups that to five years.

The bill, which earlier passed the House, was opposed by Idaho hospitals, who said it would essentially treat them as lending institutions, and it was developed without their input.

“We’re asking here the hospitals to carry the paper, if you will, from three years to five years,” Steve Millard, head of the Idaho Hospital Association, told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.

But counties supported the bill. Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez told the committee, “The hospital is not a lending institution, I would agree with that, but also the counties are not an unlimited source of revenue for the hospitals.”

Tony Poinelli of the Idaho Association of Counties acknowledged that hospitals weren’t consulted on the legislation. “It was getting late in the session. There was not much time to talk to anybody,” he said.

Backers of the bill estimated it would save $2 million a year, between the state and counties, which jointly fund indigent medical care.

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, moved to pass the bill, but the committee split 3-3, with Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, voting no. Sen. Dick Compton, R-Coeur d’Alene, the committee chairman, broke the tie, sending the bill to the full Senate for final consideration.

Young ATV riders would need helmets

Legislation requiring people 18 and under to wear helmets while on all-terrain vehicles narrowly passed the House Monday.

Proponents of SB 1130, which already has been approved by the Senate, said it would help protect the growing number of children who ride ATVs for entertainment.

“The stakes are high,” said Moscow Democratic Rep. Shirley Ringo, the House sponsor of the measure.

“There have been many horrific accidents, and this would send a strong message that we are doing something about it.”

The bill, which adds to the current motorcycle helmet law, exempts ATV riders on private property and people going from “one farm to another,” said Rep. Richard Wills, R-Glenns Ferry.

But critics argued law enforcement officers would have a tough time enforcing the rule, since most ATV riders travel on backcountry roads.

The measure passed on a 37-30 vote. The only North Idaho lawmakers who voted against it were Reps. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, and Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol.