2007 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 56 – Rural Development Partnership Act

HOUSE BILL NO. 56

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H0056aaS............................................by AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS
RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP ACT - Adds to existing law to provide for the
Idaho Rural Development Partnership Act; to provide for responsibilities of
the partnership; to provide for a board of directors and general
membership; to provide for cochairs and an executive director; and to
provide for the consideration of certain comments when conducting
performance evaluations of state employees.
                                                                        
01/25    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
01/26    Rpt prt - to Agric Aff
02/13    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/14    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
02/16    3rd rdg - PASSED - 68-0-2
      AYES -- Anderson, Andrus, Barrett, Bayer, Bedke, Bell, Bilbao, Black,
      Bock, Boe, Bolz, Brackett, Bradford, Chadderdon, Chavez, Chew, Clark,
      Collins, Crane, Durst, Eskridge, Hagedorn, Hart, Harwood, Henbest,
      Henderson, Jaquet, Killen, King, Kren, Labrador, Lake, LeFavour,
      Loertscher, Luker, Marriott, Mathews, McGeachin, Mortimer, Moyle,
      Nielsen, Nonini, Pasley-Stuart, Patrick, Pence, Raybould, Ring,
      Ringo, Roberts, Ruchti, Rusche, Sayler, Schaefer, Shepherd(2),
      Shepherd(8), Shirley, Shively, Smith(30), Smith(24), Snodgrass,
      Stevenson, Thayn, Trail, Vander Woude, Wills, Wood(27), Wood(35), Mr.
      Speaker
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Block, Edmunson
    Floor Sponsor - Bolz
    Title apvd - to Senate
02/19    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Agric Aff
02/28    Rpt out - to 14th Ord
03/13    Rpt out amen - to 1st rdg as amen
03/14    1st rdg - to 2nd rdg as amen
03/15    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg as amen
    Rls susp - PASSED - 34-0-1
      AYES -- Andreason, Bair, Bilyeu, Broadsword, Burkett, Cameron,
      Coiner, Corder, Darrington, Davis, Fulcher, Gannon, Geddes, Goedde,
      Hammond, Heinrich, Hill, Jorgenson, Kelly, Keough, Langhorst, Little,
      Lodge, Malepeai, McGee, McKague, McKenzie, Pearce, Richardson,
      Schroeder, Siddoway, Stegner, Stennett, Werk
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Bastian
    Floor Sponsor - Gannon
    Title apvd - to House
03/15    House concurred in Senate amens - to engros
03/16    Rpt engros - 1st rdg - to 2nd rdg as amen
03/19    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg as amen
03/20    3rd rdg as amen - PASSED - 66-0-4
      AYES -- Anderson, Andrus, Barrett, Bayer, Bedke, Bell, Bilbao, Black,
      Block, Bock, Bolz, Brackett, Bradford, Chadderdon, Chew, Clark,
      Collins, Crane, Durst, Edmunson, Eskridge, Hagedorn, Hart, Harwood,
      Henbest, Henderson, Jaquet, Killen, King, Kren, Labrador, Lake,
      Loertscher, Luker, Marriott, Mathews, McGeachin, Mortimer, Moyle,
      Nielsen, Nonini, Pasley-Stuart, Patrick, Pence, Raybould, Ring,
      Ringo, Roberts, Ruchti, Rusche, Sayler, Schaefer, Shepherd(2),
      Shepherd(8), Shirley, Shively, Smith(30), Smith(24), Snodgrass,
      Stevenson, Thayn, Trail, Vander Woude, Wills, Wood(27), Wood(35)
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Boe, Chavez, LeFavour, Mr. Speaker
    Floor Sponsor - Bolz
    Title apvd - to enrol
03/21    Rpt enrol - Sp signed
03/22    Pres signed - To Governor
03/28    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 238
         Effective: 07/01/07

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-ninth Legislature                   First Regular Session - 2007
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 56
                                                                        
                             BY AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO THE IDAHO RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP ACT;  AMENDING  TITLE  67,
  3        IDAHO  CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW CHAPTER 90, TITLE 67, IDAHO CODE, TO
  4        PROVIDE A SHORT TITLE, TO PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS, TO  DEFINE  TERMS,
  5        TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  IDAHO RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, TO PROVIDE FOR
  6        RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP, TO PROVIDE FOR THE  BOARD  OF  DIREC-
  7        TORS,  TO  PROVIDE  FOR COCHAIRS, TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TO
  8        PROVIDE FOR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP, TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSIDERATION  OF  CER-
  9        TAIN  COMMENTS  WHEN CONDUCTING PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF STATE EMPLOYEES
 10        AND TO PROVIDE FOR INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY.
                                                                        
 11    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 12        SECTION 1.  That Title 67, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby  amended
 13    by  the addition thereto of a NEW CHAPTER, to be known and designated as Chap-
 14    ter 90, Title 67, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
                                                                        
 15                                      CHAPTER 90
 16                       IDAHO RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP ACT
                                                                        
 17        67-9001.  SHORT TITLE. This act may be referred to and cited as the "Idaho
 18    Rural Development Partnership Act."
                                                                        
 19        67-9002.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds that:
 20        (1)  Rural development has been given  a  high  priority  as  a  means  of
 21    achieving  a sound and mutually beneficial balance between the economies, cul-
 22    ture, infrastructure and community vitality of rural and urban areas of Idaho.
 23        (2)  (a) During the last half century, the legislature  has  enacted  many
 24        laws  and established many programs to provide resources to rural communi-
 25        ties;
 26        (b)  Efforts have been made, and continue  to  be  needed,  to  coordinate
 27        rural development programs; and
 28        (c)  During  the  last  decade, the national rural development partnership
 29        and its principal components, the national rural development  council  and
 30        state rural development councils, have successfully provided opportunities
 31        for collaboration and coordination among federal agencies and between fed-
 32        eral  agencies  and  states,  nonprofit organizations, the private sector,
 33        tribal governments, and other entities committed to rural advancement.
 34        (3)  State rural development councils were established in 1990  by  Presi-
 35    dential executive order as vehicles to help coordinate rural programs.
 36        (4)  The  congress of the United States authorized and codified a national
 37    system of rural development coordination and cooperation with enactment of the
 38    "national rural development partnership act" (7 U.S.C. 2008m).
 39        (5)  The national rural development partnership has been recognized  as  a
 40    model  of  new governance and as an example of the effectiveness of collabora-
 41    tion between the federal, state, local, tribal, private, and nonprofit sectors
                                                                        
                                       2
                                                                        
  1    in addressing the needs of the rural communities.
  2        (6)  Partnerships between governmental and  nongovernmental  entities  can
  3    extend scarce funding through collaboration and cooperation.
  4        (7)  The  continued  success  and  efficacy of the Idaho rural development
  5    partnership could  be  enhanced  through  specific  legislative  authorization
  6    removing  any  statutory  barriers that could detract from the benefits poten-
  7    tially achieved through the partnership's unique structure.
                                                                        
  8        67-9003.  DEFINITIONS. As used in this chapter:
  9        (1)  "Agency with rural responsibilities" means any public entity  of  the
 10    state of Idaho that:
 11        (a)  Implements a provision of law targeted at rural areas; or
 12        (b)  Administers a program that has a significant impact on rural areas.
 13        (2)  "National  rural development partnership" means the organization cre-
 14    ated by the national rural development partnership act (7 U.S.C. 2008m).
 15        (3)  "Partnership" means the Idaho rural  development  partnership  estab-
 16    lished by section 67-9004, Idaho Code.
 17        (4)  "Rural area" means:
 18        (a)  All the territory of the state of Idaho that is not within the bound-
 19        ary of any standard metropolitan statistical area as defined by the United
 20        States office of management and budget;
 21        (b)  All  territory  within  any  standard  metropolitan  statistical area
 22        described in subsection (4)(a) of this section within a census tract  hav-
 23        ing a population density of less than twenty (20) persons per square mile,
 24        as  determined according to the most recent census of the United States as
 25        of any date; and
 26        (c)  Such areas as the partnership may identify as rural.
                                                                        
 27        67-9004.  IDAHO RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP  CREATED.  There  is  hereby
 28    created  an  independent  public body corporate and politic to be known as the
 29    "Idaho rural development partnership," which shall be a public instrumentality
 30    of the state and its exercise of the powers conferred by this chapter  is  and
 31    shall  be  deemed to be the performance of essential public functions and pur-
 32    poses. The Idaho rural development partnership shall be exempt from  taxation,
 33    and  shall  be  an entity of the state of Idaho as provided in the tort claims
 34    act, chapter 9, title 6, Idaho Code, and shall be entitled to all the  protec-
 35    tion as provided in the tort claims act, chapter 9, title 6, Idaho Code.
                                                                        
 36        67-9005.  RESPONSIBILITIES.  The  partnership's  responsibilities shall be
 37    to:
 38        (1)  Assess conditions of rural Idaho;
 39        (2)  Advise the governor and the legislature on public policy and  strate-
 40    gies to improve the quality of life in rural Idaho;
 41        (3)  Act  as  a  clearinghouse  of information and as a referral center on
 42    rural programs and policies;
 43        (4)  Conduct outreach to rural communities  and  facilitate  communication
 44    between rural residents and public and private organizations that provide ser-
 45    vices to rural communities;
 46        (5)  Identify  organizations, authorities and resources to address various
 47    aspects of rural development;
 48        (6)  Serve as a nonpartisan forum for identifying and understanding  rural
 49    issues from all perspectives;
 50        (7)  Improve  intergovernmental  coordination, private and public coopera-
 51    tion,  and to seek out opportunities for new  partnerships  to  achieve  rural
 52    development goals within existing governmental and community structures;
                                                                        
                                       3
                                                                        
  1        (8)  Foster coordinated approaches to rural development that support local
  2    initiatives,  with  an  imperative not to usurp the individual missions of any
  3    member organizations or duplicate effort;
  4        (9)  Seek solutions to unnecessary impediments to rural development, first
  5    within Idaho and then through the national rural development partnership; and
  6        (10) Work cooperatively with the national  rural  development  partnership
  7    and other state rural development councils.
                                                                        
  8        67-9006.  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS.  (1) The partnership shall be managed by a
  9    board of directors that shall include the following members:
 10        (a)  A representative from the executive office of the governor;
 11        (b)  The directors from not more than five (5) agencies with rural respon-
 12        sibilities, these being, unless otherwise seated by  the  balance  of  the
 13        board  of directors, the Idaho departments of agriculture, commerce, envi-
 14        ronmental quality, labor, and transportation;
 15        (c)  The director of the cooperative extension service  in  the  state  of
 16        Idaho;
 17        (d)  Representatives  from  the  following  federal  agencies:  the United
 18        States department of agriculture's rural development, farm service  agency
 19        and  forest service, the United States department of the interior's bureau
 20        of land management, the United States department  of  commerce's  economic
 21        development  administration,  the  United  States environmental protection
 22        agency, and the United States department of housing and urban development;
 23        (e)  Four (4) state legislators consisting of two (2) senators and two (2)
 24        representatives selected by their respective legislative leaders;
 25        (f)  A representative chosen by each of the  federally  recognized  Indian
 26        tribes in the state of Idaho;
 27        (g)  Four  (4)  representatives  from organizations of local government in
 28        the state of Idaho, one (1) each representing cities,  counties,  economic
 29        development  agencies, and resource conservation and development organiza-
 30        tions;
 31        (h)  Two (2) representatives from for-profit  business  organizations,  to
 32        include  agribusiness and other businesses operating with special emphasis
 33        on rural areas of the state of Idaho;
 34        (i)  A representative of the principal contractor for  the  United  States
 35        department of energy's Idaho national laboratory; and
 36        (j)  Five  (5)  rural  leaders chosen by the governor representing private
 37        entrepreneurs, chambers of commerce, nonprofit and community-based organi-
 38        zations, living in rural  Idaho  and  representing  a  geographic  balance
 39        across the state.
 40        (2)  Nonvoting, ad hoc members may be included on the board to assist with
 41    specific issues and projects as necessary.
 42        (3)  Except  for  appointments  by the governor under subsection (1)(j) of
 43    this section, members of the board of directors shall serve at the pleasure of
 44    the organization or entity the  member  represents.  Board  members  appointed
 45    under  subsection  (1)(h) of this section shall serve four (4) year terms con-
 46    current with the governor's term, though lagging behind by  three  (3)  months
 47    the governor's term.
                                                                        
 48        67-9007.  COCHAIRS.  (1)  The  board of directors of the partnership shall
 49    have two (2) cochairs, one (1) elected by the partnership's board of directors
 50    from among the board's membership, and the other  appointed  by  the  governor
 51    from  among the state agency directors appointed pursuant to subsection (1)(b)
 52    of section 67-9006, Idaho Code. The cochair elected by the board of  directors
 53    shall  serve  a  two (2) year term, and may be reelected until a total of four
                                                                        
                                       4
                                                                        
  1    (4) consecutive years have been served, following which that  individual  will
  2    be disqualified for election to the position of cochair until at least one (1)
  3    term of office has intervened.
  4        (2)  The duties of the cochairs shall be to:
  5        (a)  Set operating policies; and
  6        (b)  Manage  the  partnership budget and staff, including the hiring of an
  7        executive director.
                                                                        
  8        67-9008.  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. The executive director  of  the  partnership
  9    shall:
 10        (1)  Be an exempt, full-time position within a department of the executive
 11    branch of Idaho state government as designated by the governor;
 12        (2)  Manage  the  day-to-day  operations of the partnership as directed by
 13    the board of directors and the cochairs;
 14        (3)  Be a person with the skills necessary  to  manage  a  diverse  public
 15    organization  effectively and with broad experience in building and sustaining
 16    networks and partnerships; and shall be hired through an open and  competitive
 17    process  when  a vacancy occurs, after a broad, statewide advertising campaign
 18    without any preselection;
 19        (4)  Hire an assistant, and such temporary or part-time employees  as  may
 20    be  necessary  to achieve the partnership's purposes, provided approved by the
 21    cochairs of the board of directors and the availability of funding.
                                                                        
 22        67-9009.  GENERAL MEMBERSHIP. The general membership  of  the  partnership
 23    shall  be  open to any and all individuals or organizations desiring to assist
 24    with the partnership's purposes, including all local, tribal, state, and  fed-
 25    eral  governments,  as well as for-profit and not-for-profit private organiza-
 26    tions having an interest in or some responsibility for  rural  development  in
 27    the  state of Idaho. No voting privileges on the partnership's board of direc-
 28    tors are granted by virtue of general membership.
                                                                        
 29        67-9010.  PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF STATE EMPLOYEES.  In  conducting  the
 30    performance  evaluation  of  an employee of an agency with rural responsibili-
 31    ties, that agency shall consider any comments  submitted  by  the  partnership
 32    concerning  the  responsiveness and cooperation of that employee in attempting
 33    to achieve the partnership's purposes.
                                                                        
 34        67-9011.  INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY. By  unanimous  vote  of  the  board  of
 35    directors,  the  partnership  may  exercise the power to summon an official of
 36    federal, state or local government or to take the testimony under oath of such
 37    individual if deemed necessary to obtain information  in  furtherance  of  the
 38    purposes of the partnership.

Amendment


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-ninth Legislature                   First Regular Session - 2007
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                     Moved by    Kelly               
                                                                        
                                                     Seconded by Gannon              
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                              SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.B. NO. 56
                                                                        
  1                               AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 1
  2        On page 3 of the printed bill, delete lines 23 and 24, and insert:
  3        "(e)  Four (4) state legislators consisting of one (1) member appointed by
  4        the president pro tempore of the senate, one (1) member appointed  by  the
  5        minority  leader of the senate, one (1) member appointed by the speaker of
  6        the house of representatives and one (1) member appointed by the  minority
  7        leader of the house of representatives;";
  8    in line 45, delete "(h)" and insert: "(j)"; and following line 47, insert:
  9        "(4)  The duties of the board of directors shall be to:
 10        (a)  Elect a cochair as provided in section 67-9007, Idaho Code;
 11        (b)  To  appoint  and  employ, and at its pleasure discharge, an executive
 12        director and to prescribe the duties and fix the compensation of the exec-
 13        utive director; and
 14        (c)  To establish offices, to incur expenses, to enter into contracts  and
 15        to create such liabilities as may be reasonable for the proper administra-
 16        tion and enforcement of this chapter.
 17        (5)  The  board  of  directors  shall  hold a meeting at least annually. A
 18    majority of the members of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum.".
 19        On page 4, delete lines 30 through 38 and insert: "performance  evaluation
 20    of  an  employee of an agency who has worked with the partnership, that agency
 21    may consider any comments submitted by  the  partnership  in  support  of  the
 22    employee.".
                                                                        
 23                                 CORRECTION TO TITLE
 24        On  page  1,  delete  lines 8 through 10, and insert: "PROVIDE FOR GENERAL
 25    MEMBERSHIP AND TO PROVIDE FOR CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN COMMENTS WHEN  CONDUCT-
 26    ING PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF STATE EMPLOYEES.".

Engrossed Bill (Original Bill with Amendment(s) Incorporated)


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-ninth Legislature                   First Regular Session - 2007
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                        HOUSE BILL NO. 56, As Amended in the Senate
                                                                        
                             BY AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO THE IDAHO RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP ACT;  AMENDING  TITLE  67,
  3        IDAHO  CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW CHAPTER 90, TITLE 67, IDAHO CODE, TO
  4        PROVIDE A SHORT TITLE, TO PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS, TO  DEFINE  TERMS,
  5        TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  IDAHO RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, TO PROVIDE FOR
  6        RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP, TO PROVIDE FOR THE  BOARD  OF  DIREC-
  7        TORS,  TO  PROVIDE  FOR COCHAIRS, TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TO
  8        PROVIDE FOR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP AND TO PROVIDE FOR CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN
  9        COMMENTS WHEN CONDUCTING PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF STATE EMPLOYEES.
                                                                        
 10    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 11        SECTION 1.  That Title 67, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby  amended
 12    by  the addition thereto of a NEW CHAPTER, to be known and designated as Chap-
 13    ter 90, Title 67, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
                                                                        
 14                                      CHAPTER 90
 15                       IDAHO RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP ACT
                                                                        
 16        67-9001.  SHORT TITLE. This act may be referred to and cited as the "Idaho
 17    Rural Development Partnership Act."
                                                                        
 18        67-9002.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds that:
 19        (1)  Rural development has been given  a  high  priority  as  a  means  of
 20    achieving  a sound and mutually beneficial balance between the economies, cul-
 21    ture, infrastructure and community vitality of rural and urban areas of Idaho.
 22        (2)  (a) During the last half century, the legislature  has  enacted  many
 23        laws  and established many programs to provide resources to rural communi-
 24        ties;
 25        (b)  Efforts have been made, and continue  to  be  needed,  to  coordinate
 26        rural development programs; and
 27        (c)  During  the  last  decade, the national rural development partnership
 28        and its principal components, the national rural development  council  and
 29        state rural development councils, have successfully provided opportunities
 30        for collaboration and coordination among federal agencies and between fed-
 31        eral  agencies  and  states,  nonprofit organizations, the private sector,
 32        tribal governments, and other entities committed to rural advancement.
 33        (3)  State rural development councils were established in 1990  by  Presi-
 34    dential executive order as vehicles to help coordinate rural programs.
 35        (4)  The  congress of the United States authorized and codified a national
 36    system of rural development coordination and cooperation with enactment of the
 37    "national rural development partnership act" (7 U.S.C. 2008m).
 38        (5)  The national rural development partnership has been recognized  as  a
 39    model  of  new governance and as an example of the effectiveness of collabora-
 40    tion between the federal, state, local, tribal, private, and nonprofit sectors
 41    in addressing the needs of the rural communities.
                                                                        
                                       2
                                                                        
  1        (6)  Partnerships between governmental and  nongovernmental  entities  can
  2    extend scarce funding through collaboration and cooperation.
  3        (7)  The  continued  success  and  efficacy of the Idaho rural development
  4    partnership could  be  enhanced  through  specific  legislative  authorization
  5    removing  any  statutory  barriers that could detract from the benefits poten-
  6    tially achieved through the partnership's unique structure.
                                                                        
  7        67-9003.  DEFINITIONS. As used in this chapter:
  8        (1)  "Agency with rural responsibilities" means any public entity  of  the
  9    state of Idaho that:
 10        (a)  Implements a provision of law targeted at rural areas; or
 11        (b)  Administers a program that has a significant impact on rural areas.
 12        (2)  "National  rural development partnership" means the organization cre-
 13    ated by the national rural development partnership act (7 U.S.C. 2008m).
 14        (3)  "Partnership" means the Idaho rural  development  partnership  estab-
 15    lished by section 67-9004, Idaho Code.
 16        (4)  "Rural area" means:
 17        (a)  All the territory of the state of Idaho that is not within the bound-
 18        ary of any standard metropolitan statistical area as defined by the United
 19        States office of management and budget;
 20        (b)  All  territory  within  any  standard  metropolitan  statistical area
 21        described in subsection (4)(a) of this section within a census tract  hav-
 22        ing a population density of less than twenty (20) persons per square mile,
 23        as  determined according to the most recent census of the United States as
 24        of any date; and
 25        (c)  Such areas as the partnership may identify as rural.
                                                                        
 26        67-9004.  IDAHO RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP  CREATED.  There  is  hereby
 27    created  an  independent  public body corporate and politic to be known as the
 28    "Idaho rural development partnership," which shall be a public instrumentality
 29    of the state and its exercise of the powers conferred by this chapter  is  and
 30    shall  be  deemed to be the performance of essential public functions and pur-
 31    poses. The Idaho rural development partnership shall be exempt from  taxation,
 32    and  shall  be  an entity of the state of Idaho as provided in the tort claims
 33    act, chapter 9, title 6, Idaho Code, and shall be entitled to all the  protec-
 34    tion as provided in the tort claims act, chapter 9, title 6, Idaho Code.
                                                                        
 35        67-9005.  RESPONSIBILITIES.  The  partnership's  responsibilities shall be
 36    to:
 37        (1)  Assess conditions of rural Idaho;
 38        (2)  Advise the governor and the legislature on public policy and  strate-
 39    gies to improve the quality of life in rural Idaho;
 40        (3)  Act  as  a  clearinghouse  of information and as a referral center on
 41    rural programs and policies;
 42        (4)  Conduct outreach to rural communities  and  facilitate  communication
 43    between rural residents and public and private organizations that provide ser-
 44    vices to rural communities;
 45        (5)  Identify  organizations, authorities and resources to address various
 46    aspects of rural development;
 47        (6)  Serve as a nonpartisan forum for identifying and understanding  rural
 48    issues from all perspectives;
 49        (7)  Improve  intergovernmental  coordination, private and public coopera-
 50    tion,  and to seek out opportunities for new  partnerships  to  achieve  rural
 51    development goals within existing governmental and community structures;
 52        (8)  Foster coordinated approaches to rural development that support local
                                                                        
                                       3
                                                                        
  1    initiatives,  with  an  imperative not to usurp the individual missions of any
  2    member organizations or duplicate effort;
  3        (9)  Seek solutions to unnecessary impediments to rural development, first
  4    within Idaho and then through the national rural development partnership; and
  5        (10) Work cooperatively with the national  rural  development  partnership
  6    and other state rural development councils.
                                                                        
  7        67-9006.  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS.  (1) The partnership shall be managed by a
  8    board of directors that shall include the following members:
  9        (a)  A representative from the executive office of the governor;
 10        (b)  The directors from not more than five (5) agencies with rural respon-
 11        sibilities, these being, unless otherwise seated by  the  balance  of  the
 12        board  of directors, the Idaho departments of agriculture, commerce, envi-
 13        ronmental quality, labor, and transportation;
 14        (c)  The director of the cooperative extension service  in  the  state  of
 15        Idaho;
 16        (d)  Representatives  from  the  following  federal  agencies:  the United
 17        States department of agriculture's rural development, farm service  agency
 18        and  forest service, the United States department of the interior's bureau
 19        of land management, the United States department  of  commerce's  economic
 20        development  administration,  the  United  States environmental protection
 21        agency, and the United States department of housing and urban development;
 22        (e)  Four (4) state legislators consisting of one (1) member appointed  by
 23        the  president  pro tempore of the senate, one (1) member appointed by the
 24        minority leader of the senate, one (1) member appointed by the speaker  of
 25        the  house of representatives and one (1) member appointed by the minority
 26        leader of the house of representatives;
 27        (f)  A representative chosen by each of the  federally  recognized  Indian
 28        tribes in the state of Idaho;
 29        (g)  Four  (4)  representatives  from organizations of local government in
 30        the state of Idaho, one (1) each representing cities,  counties,  economic
 31        development  agencies, and resource conservation and development organiza-
 32        tions;
 33        (h)  Two (2) representatives from for-profit  business  organizations,  to
 34        include  agribusiness and other businesses operating with special emphasis
 35        on rural areas of the state of Idaho;
 36        (i)  A representative of the principal contractor for  the  United  States
 37        department of energy's Idaho national laboratory; and
 38        (j)  Five  (5)  rural  leaders chosen by the governor representing private
 39        entrepreneurs, chambers of commerce, nonprofit and community-based organi-
 40        zations, living in rural  Idaho  and  representing  a  geographic  balance
 41        across the state.
 42        (2)  Nonvoting, ad hoc members may be included on the board to assist with
 43    specific issues and projects as necessary.
 44        (3)  Except  for  appointments  by the governor under subsection (1)(j) of
 45    this section, members of the board of directors shall serve at the pleasure of
 46    the organization or entity the  member  represents.  Board  members  appointed
 47    under  subsection  (1)(j) of this section shall serve four (4) year terms con-
 48    current with the governor's term, though lagging behind by  three  (3)  months
 49    the governor's term.
 50        (4)  The duties of the board of directors shall be to:
 51        (a)  Elect a cochair as provided in section 67-9007, Idaho Code;
 52        (b)  To  appoint  and  employ, and at its pleasure discharge, an executive
 53        director and to prescribe the duties and fix the compensation of the exec-
 54        utive director; and
                                                                        
                                       4
                                                                        
  1        (c)  To establish offices, to incur expenses, to enter into contracts  and
  2        to create such liabilities as may be reasonable for the proper administra-
  3        tion and enforcement of this chapter.
  4        (5)  The  board  of  directors  shall  hold a meeting at least annually. A
  5    majority of the members of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum.
                                                                        
  6        67-9007.  COCHAIRS. (1) The board of directors of  the  partnership  shall
  7    have two (2) cochairs, one (1) elected by the partnership's board of directors
  8    from  among  the  board's  membership, and the other appointed by the governor
  9    from among the state agency directors appointed pursuant to subsection  (1)(b)
 10    of  section 67-9006, Idaho Code. The cochair elected by the board of directors
 11    shall serve a two (2) year term, and may be reelected until a  total  of  four
 12    (4)  consecutive  years have been served, following which that individual will
 13    be disqualified for election to the position of cochair until at least one (1)
 14    term of office has intervened.
 15        (2)  The duties of the cochairs shall be to:
 16        (a)  Set operating policies; and
 17        (b)  Manage the partnership budget and staff, including the hiring  of  an
 18        executive director.
                                                                        
 19        67-9008.  EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR.  The  executive director of the partnership
 20    shall:
 21        (1)  Be an exempt, full-time position within a department of the executive
 22    branch of Idaho state government as designated by the governor;
 23        (2)  Manage the day-to-day operations of the partnership  as  directed  by
 24    the board of directors and the cochairs;
 25        (3)  Be  a  person  with  the  skills necessary to manage a diverse public
 26    organization effectively and with broad experience in building and  sustaining
 27    networks  and partnerships; and shall be hired through an open and competitive
 28    process when a vacancy occurs, after a broad, statewide  advertising  campaign
 29    without any preselection;
 30        (4)  Hire  an  assistant, and such temporary or part-time employees as may
 31    be necessary to achieve the partnership's purposes, provided approved  by  the
 32    cochairs of the board of directors and the availability of funding.
                                                                        
 33        67-9009.  GENERAL  MEMBERSHIP.  The  general membership of the partnership
 34    shall be open to any and all individuals or organizations desiring  to  assist
 35    with  the partnership's purposes, including all local, tribal, state, and fed-
 36    eral governments, as well as for-profit and not-for-profit  private  organiza-
 37    tions  having  an  interest in or some responsibility for rural development in
 38    the state of Idaho. No voting privileges on the partnership's board of  direc-
 39    tors are granted by virtue of general membership.
                                                                        
 40        67-9010.  PERFORMANCE  EVALUATIONS  OF  STATE EMPLOYEES. In conducting the
 41    performance evaluation of an employee of an agency who  has  worked  with  the
 42    partnership,  that  agency may consider any comments submitted by the partner-
 43    ship in support of the employee.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                             RS 16636

This bill enacts the "Idaho Rural Partnership Act" to codify the
provisions of existing Executive Order No. 2003-01.  The
Partnership is assigned specific purposes, primary among which
are (1) acting as a clearinghouse of rural development resources
and information, and (2) facilitating rural collaborations
between agencies and the private sector, and (3) removing
regulatory and bureaucratic obstacles to rural economic growth. 
A Board of Directors, Co-Chairs and an Executive Director are
authorized to carry out these purposes.


                         FISCAL NOTE

It is anticipated that salaries for the Executive Director and a
minimal support staff will require $130,000.  The total amount of
the Partnership budget has averaged closer to $300,000, but that
amount is offset by donations routinely received from federal,
non-profit and for-profit private sector contributors.



Contact
Name:  Rep. Bolz, Rep. Trail, Rep. Pence
Phone: 332-1000     

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                          H 56