Home > Member Information > IOGA Bulletins > 2008 Bulletins > January 2008 Legislative Report

January 2008 Legislative Report

2008 IOGA Legislative Report #1 (by Jeremy Pisca, IOGA Lobbyist and his associate, Ben Davenport)

 

 

The 2008 Legislative Session is well underway.  As you know the state capitol building is under construction and it has been evacuated in its entirety.  All functions of the state legislature have been relocated to the old Ada County Courthouse, one block east of the capitol, which has been renovated for that purpose.  The courthouse annex is roughly 1/8 the size of the statehouse.  With much less personal space to operate in and no public viewing gallery, this session also marks the first time in Idaho history that the public has not been able to witness legislative floor debate in person (though both houses are televised through IPTV).

 

As per usual, the governor sets the tone of the legislative session with his state of the state address which was delivered two weeks ago.  Taking center stage is the issue of transportation funding as Idaho tries to get ahead of a crumbling transportation infrastructure in a time of rising construction costs.  Anticipated measures to fund such transportation infrastructure include: raising the cost of vehicle registration, reauthorization of GARVEE bonding, and proposals to implement local option sales taxes as ways to address transportation shortfalls within regions.     

 

With regard to IOGA interests, the Department of Fish and Game rules, which included changes that IOGA supports on controlled hunt allocation,  have passed the House and await a Senate hearing.  Based on conversations with Senators on the Resource Committee, there are no foreseeable problems, however, we will continue to watch this issue closely.  The Department of Fish and Game has presented its wolf management plan and is preparing for a fall harvest, upon delisting.  We will continue to monitor that issue as well.

 

Another area of interest for the IOGA is the proposed legislation to repeal the personal property tax.  Last year this legislation, presented by the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, was close to getting the steam it needed to get through the two houses, but was held in the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee by a one-vote margin.  The bill has been reworked in an attempt to address issues raised by legislators last session.  Again, we will be monitoring this closely and will let you know of the progress of this bill. 

 

Rep. Mike Moyle has agreed to sponsor the IOGA bill addressing unlicensed outfitting.  We have been working the House Resource Committee daily and will continue to do so.  The bill has been drafted in “Routing Slip” (RS) form and should be scheduled for an introduction hearing in the very near future.  We will keep you posted early and often. Below is the draft statement of purpose.

 

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

 

RS 17693

 

            The state of Idaho requires Idaho outfitters and guides to be licensed.  Despite that requirement there is an ever-increasing amount of unlicensed activity, which jeopardizes public safety, frustrates enforcement of Idaho's fish and game laws, and works a disadvantage to those outfitters and guides in compliance with the law.  The current penalty for violating these laws is $100.  This amount is too low to serve as a meaningful deterrent.

 

            This legislation increases the fines that may be imposed in a court's discretion and creates a “graduated” penalty for repeat offenders.  The legislation allows a court the discretion to suspend a hunting or fishing license and allows prosecuting agencies the ability to recoup costs incurred in the investigation and prosecution of persons found guilty.  It creates a penalty for people who knowingly hire an unlicensed outfitter or guide.  Finally, the bill makes a technical correction for subpoena issuance to make it consistent with the Idaho Administrative Procedures Act.

 

FISCAL NOTE

 

            This legislation will have no impact on the general fund.

 

Check out the attached Tracking Sheet. Our lobby team provides this tracking document of bills of interest.

 

• There are a several Department of Fish and Game bills that are of interest. Land based outfitters will want to check out S. 1266 which has a provision that a report of a depredation kill of a wolf needs to occur within 48 hours. Is this realistic for backcountry outfitters, especially in light of present problems with satellite phone systems such as Globalstar? Contact Grant Simonds at gsimonds@cableone.net with your thoughts.  
• S. 1313 raises the high fence “shooting” issue again this session.  
• IOGA has learned from a reliable source that S. 1285 is a “non-issue”, meaning that it is likely not going anywhere. Coast Guard regulations include provisions that states allow a 60-day reciprocity period for non-residents for motorized boating in the states. In addition, S. 1285 would endanger $1.3 million that is passed from the federal government to the state (Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Department) for projects annually.
• Outfitter who keep and board hunting dogs will want to check out H. 391. Let us know your thoughts and questions. gsimonds@cableone.net
• There is “talk” of a legislative proposal to charge boat owners $5 registration/sign an affidavit that your boat is Quagga Mussel-free. We don't know the details yet. In the meantime, how many of you are aware of the threats of quaggra mussel? I would be interested in the general level of knowledge of the outfitting industry on this topic. gsimonds@cableone.net  Why would not a significant education effort be mounted as the first tool of choice?
• IOGA has learned that the next meeting of the Governor's non-motorized boat registration work group will occur after the legislative session is over. Simonds' read…don't think for a minute that this issue is going away!

 

IOGA Lobby Day, February 12/13. The 17^th annual IOGA Lobby Day(s) are just around the corner. This is a perfect opportunity to make contact with your elected leaders in a comfortable atmosphere that IOGA organizes and implements. We have received many RSVP's from legislators and others (we are planning for 130 to 150 persons) for our Taste of Idaho Outfitting dutch oven cuisine at the Basque Center in downtown Boise, beginning at 5 pm on February 13. We need additional membership commitment to make this a success. Contact Janey Bruesch at idoutfitt@cableone.net to indicate your ability to attend and/or help.