Bill Description: Senate Bill 1117 would require the Idaho Division of Financial Management to provide updated fiscal impact statements for initiatives under certain conditions. 

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NOTE: Senate Bill 1117 is related to Senate Bill 1047, which was introduced earlier this session.

Does it in any way restrict public access to information related to government activity or otherwise compromise government transparency, accountability, or election integrity? Conversely, does it increase public access to information related to government activity or increase government transparency, accountability, or election integrity?

Section 34-1812, Idaho Code, requires the Division of Financial Management (DFM) to prepare a fiscal impact statement within 20 working days after receiving a copy of an initiative petition from the Secretary of State. Signature gatherers must have a summary of this statement (not to exceed 100 words) with them when they collect signatures in support of an initiative.

Senate Bill 1117 would amend this section of code to require DFM to update the fiscal impact statement if an initiative is modified or if an initiative has garnered enough signatures to be placed on the ballot. If the initiative is modified, DFM must "either submit an updated fiscal impact statement to the secretary of state's office reflecting such modifications or notify the secretary of state that the modifications did not alter the fiscal impact." If the initiative has garnered enough signatures to be placed on the ballot, the fiscal impact statement must be "updated with the most accurate and up-to-date information concerning the fiscal impact of the law proposed by such initiative petition."

While an updated fiscal impact statement may contain no substantive changes, it is worthwhile for DFM to review each initiative to see if modifications to it or recent legislation, recent court decisions, or economic trends may have altered the original statement’s assumptions. This requirement should give voters a more accurate and current assessment of an initiative's fiscal impact.

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