House Transportation votes unanimously to introduce, send full House measure on safe routes to school

After an ardent plea from Rep. Janet Trujillo, R-Idaho Falls, the House Transportation Committee has voted unanimously to introduce and send to the full House a new bill adding a clause to the law regarding the surplus eliminator, which SB 1206 would extend, to allow funds to be spent for “children and pedestrian safety on the state and local systems,” including such projects as safe routes to school.

When some committee members said they were supportive, but wondered why the matter was coming up so late, Chairman Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, said it was something the Legislature agreed to do in HB 312 two years ago. “It was referenced in 312, that we did talk about doing some safe routes to schools,” Palmer said. “We haven’t done that to this point. We decided to stick it in here. … It’ll have to stand on its own.”

When Rep. Steven Harris, R-Meridian, questioned what would happen if the new bill passed but SB 1206 failed, since they amend the same section of law, Palmer said, “If 1206 fails on the floor, I would pull this bill immediately, because you’re right, it would cause a conflict.”