Bill Description: House Bill 525 would narrow the scope of responsibility for Idaho's health districts. 

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NOTE: House Bill 525 is related to House Bill 392, introduced earlier this session, but House Bill 525 would not narrow the scope of responsibility for Idaho's health districts as much as House Bill 392 would. 

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?

House Bill 525 would amend Section 39-414, Idaho Code, which defines the powers and duties of the boards of Idaho's seven health districts. The current statute says the boards have the duty to "do all things required for the preservation and protection of the public health and preventive health. …" House Bill 525 would amend this language to say the districts must "do necessary and reasonable things required for the preservation and protection of the public health and preventive health. …" 

This change would replace the extremely broad term, "all things" with the somewhat narrower "necessary and reasonable things." Unfortunately, this terminology is still subjective and not defined in statute. 

Starting in 2020, certain health districts have been using their authority to go beyond what is necessary and reasonable, and this bill aims to curtail future overreaches by these entities.

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