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Dear Friends,
I look forward to keeping you informed with highlights
taking place in the Idaho Capitol during our legislative session.
Below are some recent activities. I hope you will enjoy the information. For more details, you can log onto legislature.idaho.gov
where you will find bills, committee recordings and live stream videos of our
House and Senate floor sessions. I look
forward to your involvement.
Lastly, if you do not want to receive these newsletters, you
can unsubscribe below.
Sincerely,
Steve Vick
 Diagnosed when she was
six years old, this nine-year old manages her Type 1 diabetes (T1D) with the
help of her service dog who warns her when she experiences low glucose levels. She came to the Capitol to share her experiences
with lawmakers on Diabetes Awareness Day.
Representatives from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
also provided information to legislators and the public regarding a cure for T1D.
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JDRF is
the leading global organization funding T1D research. Its mission is to accelerate life-changing
breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. JDRF is an organization built on a grassroots
model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally
for efficiency, and uniting on a national level to pool resources, passion and
energy. Click
Here
to learn more about JDRF.
Both the House and the Senate took time this week to
commemorate the life of Abraham Lincoln. In the Senate chambers, orchestra
students from Idaho Falls performed patriotic medleys for legislators. Across
the way in the House chambers, students from the Idaho Fine Arts Academy of
Vocal Music performed the “Star Spangled Banner” and melodies from the Civil
War era. Representatives also unveiled
the Dean Estes Lincoln Bronze Bust to be on permanent display in the Lincoln
Auditorium of the Capitol.
This week the Senate passed
legislation to create health insurance waivers for agencies using local tax
dollars.
The legislation (SB 1219) permits
the Director of the Department of Insurance to waive the requirement for a
Joint Public Agency Self-Funded Health Benefits Plan to purchase aggregate stop
loss insurance when certain conditions are met.
Joint Public Agency Self-Funded Health Care Plans are funded
by their member agencies using local tax dollars. This legislation streamlines the process for
agencies and thereby reduces the cost of maintaining a self-funded health care
plan.
 Boise State Public
Radio
By MATT GUILHEM
Blue Cross of Idaho is the first insurer in the
state to submit plans to regulators that follow Governor Butch Otter's
executive order calling for a state-based solution to health care. The plans
are out of compliance with the federal Affordable Care Act. Click Here
for the full story.
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On Wednesday on the fourth floor of the Capitol rotunda, home schooled students provided delicious homemade pies, shared creative educational displays, and performed beautiful music for the enjoyment of the public.
 Talented legislative pages
sang and performed ukulele arrangements of patriotic music as part of their
farewell performance for lawmakers. This
week, legislators say goodbye to the pages who have served during the first
half of the session.
The House and Senate
Page Programs are for high school seniors between the ages of 16 and 19 years
old. A page's first responsibility is to
render service to lawmakers while they are on the floor debating. The
page is assigned to specific committees, giving assistance to the respective
committee chairmen and secretaries. The
pages serve Monday through Friday for a duration of six-weeks. For more information about the Page Program
click here.
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These bills have already passed Senate committees and are
working through the legislative process.
SB
1208
Agricultural Labor – allows for the use of inmate labor in production.
SB
1222
Education – Bolsters Career Technical Education Secondary programs and
incentive funding.
SB
1229
Secretary of State – streamlines submission of early voting notification
process for both the county and the Secretary of State.
SB
1267
Education – Establishes a Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
(STEM) diploma. A STEM diploma should
help those who receive it with scholarship applications, college admittance
applications and job resumes.
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