Bill Description: House Bill 741 would expand the definition of "in-demand careers" as it applies to the cronyistic and redistributive Launch Grant program.

Rating: -1

NOTE: House Bill 741 is related to Senate Bill 1390. Both bills would expand the definition of "in-demand careers" as it applies to the cronyistic and redistributive Launch Grant program created by House Bill 24 in 2023. In our analysis of House Bill 24, we warned that "the program will not be neutral in terms of its recipients. Those pursuing certain careers will receive priority. In this way, government picks winners and losers, predicting (or more realistically, guessing) what careers will have the greatest demand in the future."

Does it violate the principle of equal protection under the law? Examples include laws which discriminate or differentiate based on age, gender, or religion or which apply laws, regulations, rules, or penalties differently based on such characteristics. Conversely, does it restore or protect the principle of equal protection under the law? 

House Bill 741 would amend Section 72-1204, Idaho Code, to expand the potential for cronyism inherent in the subjective definition of "in-demand careers" as it applies to the cronyistic and redistributive Launch Grant program. The bill would also add a related definition for "eligible coursework."

The current definition of "in-demand careers" requires that the career paths subsidized through the Launch Grant program must "have a high number of openings in Idaho or an expected high rate of growth in Idaho." The law gives sole discretion to the workforce development council to make an annual determination of what careers fall under this definition. 

House Bill 741 would change this definition to define "in-demand careers" as "careers that have a positive economic output for the state of Idaho and increase economic mobility for the people of Idaho. Factors including but not limited to the number of job openings, the rate of job growth, and the length of the training program shall be incorporated to create a matrix of careers and training programs that align to in-demand careers."

It also says, "Careers that require a postbaccalaureate degree for entry into the profession shall not be included in the matrix or as an in-demand career."

The existing definition at least requires the workforce development council to use somewhat objective criteria in determining what careers are "in demand." This new definition scraps all pretense of objectivity and effectively gives the council carte blanche to "create a matrix of careers and training programs" based on whatever factors it chooses to prioritize.

(-1)