Note: This year IFF rated maintenance bills according to a more refined system. This is an enhancement bill, and will be rated as a standalone bill. IFF will only consider enhancement line items in these ratings. This means that FTP reductions passed in maintenance legislation will not be evaluated here, among other things.
Bill Description: Senate Bill 1416 is an enhancement* of $46,107,400 and 23.00 new full-time positions for the Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination (SMEC) for fiscal year 2027. This legislation appropriates a total of $46,107,400 and 23.00 full-time positions to the agency. This implements H737, the consolidation of the Office of Energy and Miner Resources (OEMR) and the Office of Species Conservation (OSC) into a new agency, SMEC.
*Note: For the purposes of this rating, increases to FTP and appropriations stemming solely from the consolidation of OEMR (SoP Line 1) and OSC (SoP Line 2) will not be considered. Consolidation efficiencies will be rated (SoP Line 3), and SoP lines 3-7 will be considered enhancements for purposes of the rating.
Rating: 0
Is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending, if any, inappropriate for the changes in circumstances, scope of the agency, or current economic environment? Conversely, is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending appropriate given any change in circumstances or economic pressures?
This legislation authorizes a new ongoing spending enhancement for SMEC of -$250,000. As this is a new agency, there is no prior reference year.
The first enhancement is an increase in appropriations to create the Idaho Orchestrating Nuclear (ION) office ($106,900 DF). This office would coordinate and streamline the process for nuclear energy permitting in the state of Idaho, reducing barriers to entry.
(0)
The second enhancement is a decrease in spending due to Efficiencies from Consolidation ($356,900 G/D/FF).
(+1)
Does this budget incur any wasteful spending among discretionary funds, including new line items? Conversely, does this budget contain any provisions that serve to reduce spending where possible (i.e. base reductions, debt reconciliation, etc.)?
This legislation authorizes new onetime spending for SMEC of $3,000,000. As this is a new agency, there is no prior reference year.
This enhancement consists solely of funds for fish habitat restoration (3,000,000 FF). This spending is unwarranted, especially so in a deficit year.
(-1)
Energy Resiliency Grants ($10,609,800 DF) are reappropriations from the consolidated agencies, and don’t represent an actual enhancement. This is a shift of fund balances from the old agency to the new one.
(0)
Does this budget perpetuate or expand state dependence on federal dollars, thereby violating principles of federalism? Conversely, does this budget actively reduce the amount of federal dollars used to balance this budget?
This legislation appropriates $2,798,000 in federal enhancements to the agency for replacement items and the above mentioned grants. This represents a commitment to continued reliance on borrowed federal dollars, deepening the dependence on the federal government and violating the principles of federalism.
(-1)
Does the budget grow government through the addition of new, objectionable, permanent FTPs or through funding unlegislated efforts to create new or expanded existing programs? Conversely, does this budget reduce the size of government staff and programs except where compelled by new legislation?
This legislation reduces FTP count by 4.00 due to Efficiencies from Consolidation.
(+1)
