2005 Legislation
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SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 103 – Law enforcement, BLM land

SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 103

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Bill Status



SJM103.........................................by RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LAND - Stating findings of the Legislature and
urging the President of the United States and the Congress of the United
States to pass legislation establishing an equitable reimbursement formula
based upon the number of users or acreage or another equitable basis for
the Bureau of Land Management to reimburse counties for local law
enforcement services.
                                                                        
02/14    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/15    Rpt prt - to Res/Env
02/22    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 10th Ord
02/23    10th Ord - ADOPTED - voice vote
    Floor Sponsor - Goedde
    Title apvd - to House
02/24    House intro - 1st rdg - to Res/Con
03/02    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/03    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/09    3rd rdg - ADOPTED - voice vote
    Floor Sponsor - Wood
    Title apvd - to Senate
03/10    To enrol
03/11    Rpt enrol - Pres signed
03/14    Sp signed
03/15    To Secretary of State

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-eighth Legislature                   First Regular Session - 2005
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                                                                        
                               SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 103
                                                                        
                           BY RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                   A JOINT MEMORIAL
  2    TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED  STATES  IN  CONGRESS
  3        ASSEMBLED,  AND  TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE STATE OF
  4        IDAHO IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
                                                                        
  5        We, your Memorialists, the Senate and the House of Representatives of  the
  6    State  of  Idaho  assembled  in  the First Regular Session of the Fifty-eighth
  7    Idaho Legislature, do hereby respectfully represent that:
                                                                        
  8        WHEREAS, more than 22% of the state of Idaho is  land  controlled  by  the
  9    U.S. Bureau of Land Management; and
 10        WHEREAS, Bureau of Land Management lands do not pay property taxes to help
 11    pay for services on those lands; and
 12        WHEREAS,  all  county sheriffs in Idaho's forty-four counties must provide
 13    law enforcement services on Bureau of Land Management lands ranging from traf-
 14    fic accidents to homicide investigations on a regular  and  increasing  basis;
 15    and
 16        WHEREAS, the Bureau of Land Management reimburses twenty-four counties for
 17    services  at  a  fraction  of  the actual cost while the other twenty counties
 18    receive no compensation; and
 19        WHEREAS, there is no formula for  compiling  the  reimbursement  from  the
 20    Bureau of Land Management to counties for law enforcement functions; and
 21        WHEREAS,  counties  in  Idaho receive reimbursement at a rate ranging from
 22    0.1 cent per acre up to 88 cents per acre with the  average  being  only  11.6
 23    cents per acre; and
 24        WHEREAS,  the  Idaho Sheriffs' Association and the Western State Sheriffs'
 25    Association have attempted to rectify the issue of additional  funding  and  a
 26    standardized  formula for distribution of that funding with the Bureau of Land
 27    Management for several years, but have not had any rectification of  the  mat-
 28    ter.
 29        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the First Regular Session
 30    of the Fifty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Representa-
 31    tives  concurring therein, that we urge the President of the United States and
 32    the Congress of the United States to pass legislation establishing an  equita-
 33    ble reimbursement formula based upon the number of users or acreage or another
 34    equitable  basis  for  the Bureau of Land Management to reimburse counties for
 35    local law enforcement services.
 36        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate  be,  and  she  is
 37    hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this Memorial to the Pres-
 38    ident  of  the  Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Con-
 39    gress, and the congressional delegation representing the State of Idaho in the
 40    Congress of the United States.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                            RS 14980

The Bureau of Land Management has control of more than 22% of the
total acreage in the State of Idaho.  These lands do not pay
property taxes and are promoted as great areas of recreation for
Idaho residents and visitors.

The Bureau of Land Management has a minimal staff to deal with
law enforcement issues, so criminal investigations, ranging from
traffic accidents to homicide investigations, must be
investigated by county sheriffs, placing the burden for these
services on local property tax payers.

Currently, in Idaho, all forty-four counties have some Bureau of
Land Management Land within their jurisdictions.  Only twenty-
four of the forty four counties receive reimbursement from the
Bureau of Land Management for Law Enforcement Service.  There is
no standardized formula on how that money is allocated, nor have
the rates increased to keep up with costs.

This Memorial urges the President of the United States and the
U.S. Congress to pass legislation that will establish an
equitable reimbursement formula based on some measurable,
standardized method.


                          FISCAL IMPACT

None unless funds are appropriated as requested and then the
impact would be positive.



Contact
Name:  Sen. John Goedde  
Phone: 332-1331


STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                     SJM 103