Bill Description: House Bill 561 would expand the scope of the state's Emergency Medical Fund III.

Rating: -1

Does it create, expand, or enlarge any agency, board, program, function, or activity of government? Conversely, does it eliminate or curtail the size or scope of government?

Current Idaho law says money in the state's Emergency Medical Fund III "shall be used exclusively for the purpose of acquiring vehicles and equipment for use by emergency medical services personnel in the performance of their duties. ..."

House Bill 564 amends Section 56-1018B, Idaho Code, to say that the money in this fund "shall be used for acquiring vehicles and equipment, training, licensing expenses, communication technology, dispatch services, and costs, not to include personnel salaries, associated with assuring the performance of planned coverage and emergency response, including highway safety and emergency response to motor vehicle accidents."

In other words, there is no limit on how the money in this fund may be used other than the restriction against using it for salaries. In addition to all the new categories listed, the term, "costs ... associated with assuring the performance of planned coverage and emergency response" could include nearly anything, including possibly even personnel benefits, since only "personnel salaries" are excluded. 

Expanding a narrowly tailored fund into an effective slush fund constitutes a concerning expansion of government.

(-1)