>>> PRESENTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAUR LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTING TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO, BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO TELEVISION, AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS MOVED QUICKLY ON BILLS, BUT SOME OF THOSE HIGH-PROFILE PROPOSALS MAY DIE QUIET DEATHS WITHOUT A HEARING IN THE SENATE.

I'M MELISSA DAVLIN.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IDAHO REPORTS."

THIS WEEK GARTH TAYLOR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES JOINS ME TO DISCUSS HOW THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS ALREADY EFFECTING THE IDAHO'S AG INDUSTRY.

THEN PRODUCER RUTH BROWN SITS DOWN WITH SENATOR PETER RITIONZ TO DISCUSS THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNCIL'S EFFORTS TO CHANGE THE CIVIL COMMITMENT PROCEDURES.

>>> THE HOUSE DEBATED A BILL TO PROHIBIT THE DISTRIBUTION OF OBSCENE MATERIALS TO CHILDREN IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS, AND SCHOOLS, WITH PENALTIES OF A GEM CONVICTION.

-- MISDEMEANOR CONVICTION.

PO IN THES ASK WHETHER IMTHEY'LL CHARGES THE -- .

>> THAT FIND THEIR WAY INTO OUR SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

WHILE I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, INADVERTENTLY, THE INCREASING FREQUENCY OF EXPOSURE OF OUR CHILDREN TO OBSCENE AND PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL IN PLACES THAT I AS A PARENT CONSIDER SAFE, AND ASSUME A FREE FROM THESE KINDS OF HARMFUL MATERIALS, IS ALARMING.

>> TO JUST BLANKETLY SAY THAT WE CANNOT HAVE THIS INFORMATION IN UBPUBLIC LIBRARIES IS A CONCERN TO ME, NOT BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE PORNOGRAPHIC INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE, BUT FOLKS, WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE INTERNET AND -- AND WHILE I DON'T LIKE IT, OUR CHILDREN ARE SUBJECTED TO THIS EVERY DAY.

>> I WOULD WERE THEY ARE MY 6-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON START SMOKING CIGARETTES TOMORROW THAN GET A VIEW OF THIS STUFF ONE TIME AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> SANITIZE.

TO SENSOR.

-- CENSOR FOR FEAR OF BEING PROSECUTED, PERSECUTED, BY GROUPS THAT DON'T LIKE CERTAIN CONTENT.

THAT'S NOT THE AMERICA THAT I GREW UP IN THAT'S NOT THE WORLD I WANT MY CHILDREN TO GROW UP IN.

OR OUR GRANDCHILDREN.

>> THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE IN A 51-14 VOTE.

BUT IN A CALL WITH THE HIDE HOE PRESS CLUB ON WEDNESDAY, CHUCK WINDER SAID HE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE BILL COULD GET A HEARING IN THE SENATE WHICH COULD EFFECTIVELY KILL IT FOR THE YEAR.

>> I DON'T SEE IT GETTING A HEARING IN COMMITTEE.

I THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATELY NUMBERED, 666.

YOU UNDERSTAND THE SYMBOLISM OF THE NUMBER.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S MISCHIEF.

AND SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T NEED TO HAPPEN.

WE ASKED WHERE'D THEY GET THE INFORMATION, THEY'RE SAYING THIS INFORMATION IS IN OUR LIBRARIES, SO YOU ASK THEM SPECIFICALLY, WHERE DID YOU GET THIS INFORMATION, AND YOU NEVER GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER.

OTHER THAN WELL, WE FOUND IT IN IDAHO.

>> THIS WEEK THE HOUSE DEBATED A BILL TO PROHIBIT GENT-AFORMING MEDICAL TREATMENT OF TRANSGENDER MINESSORS AND MAKE PROVIDING THAT TREATMENT A FELONY.

THE CHANGES WOULD BE ADDED TO AN EXISTING STATUTE THAT PROHIBITS RICHUL FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATIONS.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE BILL DURING THE CALL WITH HIDE HOE PRESS COLOR, SENATOR WINDER SAID HE WASN'T SURE IF THE SENATE WOULD HEAR THAT LEGISLATION EITHER.

THE NEXT DAY COMMITTEE CHAIR SENATOR PATTIE ANNE LODGE SAID SHE HADN'T MADE UP HER MIND, TELLING THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE STORIES SHE'S HEARD HAVE BEEN HEARTBREAKING.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S SIGNIFICANT DRUM BEAT FOR IT.

I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME THAT WILL WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN FOR WHATEVER THEIR REASON MIGHT BE.

IF I WERE A BETTING PERSON, I WOULD GIVE IT PRETTY LOW ODDS OF ADVANCING.

>> THE SENATE MAY ALSO BE THE LAST STOP FOR A NUMBER OF ELECTION BILLS, INCLUDING TWO PROPOSALS FROM SENATOR MARY SOUZA ON VOTER REGISTRATION AND I.D.

AND ABSENTEE BALLOT DELIVERY.

THOSE DIED IN SENATE STATE AFFAIRS ON FRIDAY MORNING.

>>> IT WAS ANOTHER BIG WEEK FOR EDUCATION.

EARLY THIS WEEK THE JOINT BECOME COMMITTEE SET THE $3.4 BILLION K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES $2.3 BILLION IN STATE FUNDS AND ANOTHER ONE BILLION IN FEDERAL.

THAT BUDGET INCLUDES 46 MILLION FOR EARLY LITERACY PROGRAMS, WHICH DISTRICTS COULD USE FOR FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

>>> ON THURSDAY THE SENATE PASSED THE POLICY COME OPPONENTS OF THOSE LIST RATE PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

SOME SENATORS SUPPORTED THE BILL, THOUGH EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH PROVISIONS IN THE LEGISLATION TO SEND LESS MONEY TO SCHOOLS WITH LOWER READING TEST SCORES.

OTHERS SAID IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO REDUCE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS THAT DO WELL.

>> THIS IS BASED ON THE IRI THAT'S GIVEN IN THE SPRING.

AND THESE ARE 5-YEAR-OLDS, 6-YEAR-OLDS, AND 7-YEAR-OLDS.

THIS IS A PRETTY HIGH-STAKES TEST IF IT MEANS THEIR DISTRICT LOSES FUND FIGURE THEY DON'T MAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> THE DISTRICTS UNDER THE CURRENT FORMULA OF HOW THIS WORKS, THE DISTRICTS THAT ARE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB AS THE GOOD SNAR FROM 8 MENTIONED, ARE LOSING FUNDING BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB FOR THEIR STUDENTS IN K-3, WITH THE LITERACY INTERVENTION FUNDS THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE, AND THEN THEIR FUNDS DROP THE NEXT YEAR.

>> THE BILL NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE.

>>> WHILE POLICY MAKERS HAVE BEEN BUSY WITH IDAHO ISSUES, THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE IS STILL ON THEIR MINDS.

THIS WEEK GOVERNOR BRAD LITTLE DECLARED MARCH 10TH SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE DAY, AND THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL CONDEMNING THE INVASION OF UKRAINE.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE THE STATE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLAN TO DISPOSE OF ANY INVESTMENTS IDAHO HAS IN ASSETS OWNED BY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.

THE BILL NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

>>> ON THURSDAY U.S.

SENATOR JIM RISCH, RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS SCHT -- COMMITTEE, CALLED ON THE UNITED STATES TO ARM UKRAINE QUICKLY.

>> ENABLE THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE TO DEFEAT PUTIN.

UKRAINE NEEDS NEEDS FOR TANK MISSILES, STINGER ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES, LARGER ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS, DRONES, AND AMMUNITION OF ALL CALIBERS, COMMUNICATIONS, GEAR, PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND AIRPLANES.

LOT MORE AS ARE NEEDED.

I HAVE AN AMMUNITION MANUFACTURER IN IDAHO READY TO SEND MORE.

>> LATE THURSDAY, THE U.S. SENATE APPROVED A MASSIVE SPENDING BILL, INCLUDING $13.6 BILLION IN AID TO UKRAINE.

>>> AND WHILE CONGRESS IS MOVING TO HELP UKRAINE, THE RIPPLE EFFECTS FROM THE INVASION ARE AFFECTING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, INCLUDING HERE IN IDAHO.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THOSE RISING PRICES AT THE GAS PUMP.

ON WEDNESDAY GARTH TAYLOR FROM UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES JOINED ME TO EXPLAIN THE IMPACT THE WAR IS ALREADY HAVING ON AGRICULTURE IN IDAHO AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

HOW WILL THE WAR IN UKRAINE AFFECT IDAHO AGRICULTURE?

>> LAST WEEK, MELISSA, THE WE HIT A 50-YEAR HIGH IN COMMODITY PRICES ON THE FUTURES MARKET.

IT ALREADY AFFECTED US AND THE WHOLE WORLD.

AND IT WILL TO BE JUST DEVASTATING ON -- I MEAN, YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHETHER YOU'RE A FARMER OR A CONSUMER OF GOODS FROM UKRAINE AND RUSSIA, IT WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT US VERY SEVERELY.

>> SO WHY IS THAT?

YOU KNOW, UKRAINE IS, WHAT, 5,000 MILES AWAY.

WHY IS A CONFLICT AS HORRIFIC IT IS IN UKRAINE AFFECTING IDAHO AG?

>> WELL, ABOUT -- RUSSIA AND UKRAINE COMBINED ARE ABOUT 20, 30% OF THE WORLD'S WHEAT PRODUCERS.

IN THE WORLD.

AND THEIR WHEAT GOES TO LARGELY TO THE MOST DEVASTATED IMUPONNISHED FAMISHED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.

IT'S A FAR DIFFERENT MARKET THAN IDAHO'S WHEAT WHEREERT GOES TO.

THEY GO TO PLACES LIKE YEMEN, LEBANON, EGYPT, LIBYA.

STRICKEN WITH FAMINE AND VERY IN DESPERATE NEED OF A WHEAT WHERE THE -- WHERE THEIR DIETS ARE LARGELY BREAD.

>> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S RIPPLE EFFECTS THAT ARE AFFECTING THE MARKET.

IS IDAHO'S WHEAT SECTOR MORE AFFECTED THAN, SAY, POTATO OR DAIRY?

>> YES, IT WOULD BE.

ON THE -- ON THE PRICE'S SIDE.

BUT IDAHO WHEAT IS A FAR DIFFERENT MARKET THAN UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN WHEAT.

IT'S A WHITE WHEAT THAT GOES TO THE PACIFIC RIM.

JAPAN AND KOREA AND PHILIPPINES.

AND IT'S AS FAR DIFFERENT SEGMENT IN THE MARKET, SO THEY DON'T REALLY COMPETE VERY MUCH.

>> SO HOW ABOUT THE INPUTS FOR AGRICULTURE AND HOW THAT AFFECTS PRODUCERS?

ARE WE SEEING EFFECTS ON -- OBVIOUSLY FUEL, BUT HOW ABOUT FERTILIZER?

>> YES, FERTILIZER.

THOSE COUNTRIES THERE, RUSSIA LIKE -- I THINK PRODUCES 13, 15%.

WORLD'S FERTILIZERS.

AND A LOT OF THAT IS PRODUCED FROM NATURAL GAS.

YOUR NITROGEN FERTILIZERS.

AND FOR EXAMPLE, THEY PRODUCE OVER A QUARTER OF THE FERTILIZER THAT'S USED BY THE E.U.

SO AND THAT'S RIPPLES THROUGH THE WHOLE MARKET AND FARMING HERE IN THE UNDERSTAND.

AND WE'VE SEEN HORRIFIC RUN-UPS BECAUSE OF NATURAL GAS PRICES, RUN-UPS IN FERTILIZER COSTS.

AND AS YOU LISTEN TO FARMERS AROUND, ESTIMATES OF TWO OR $300 INCREASES IN INPUT COSTS PER ACRE.

IT'S REALLY A DELICATE PRECARIOUS TIME FOR IDAHO FARMERS.

>> AND WE'RE COMING OUT OF ANOTHER TIME OF UNCERTAINTY FOR IDAHO FARMERS AND AG PRODUCERS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

ARE THOSE STRESSES ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN ALLEVIATED YET OR ARE WE STILL SEEING THOSE EFFECTS?

>> NO.

MELISSA, THIS SITUATION IS UNFOLDING AND IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE, IN MY ESTIMATION.

WE'RE COMING OFF A DROUGHT, SUPPLY CHAIN, COVID, AND NOW INPUT PRICES, AND THE WORST OF ALL THAT AFFECTS FARMERS, MOST OF ALL, IS INFLATION.

THEY CAN STAND, THEY CAN COPE WITH THESE DROUGHT AND OTHER TYPES OF THINGS, BUT INFLATION IS WHAT KILLED FARMERS IN THE '80S.

AND IT DEVASTATED THEM.

THEY'RE -- AS I LISTEN TO FARMERS AROUND THE STATE, THEY'RE IN THE MOST PRECARIOUS POSITION THAT THEY'VE EVER BEEN IN THEIR LIFETIMES.

AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT INTEREST RATES ARE GOING UP AND SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTION AND EXPORT MARKET DISRUPTIONS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO BALANCE ALL OF THESE THINGS OUT.

DROUGHT AND ALL OF THESE OTHER UNCERTAINTIES IN THEIR INPUT AND OUTPUT PRICES.

>> BOTTM LINE, HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT FOOD PRICES FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMER IN IDAHO?

>> MELISSA, FOOD PRICES, THE OLD -- OLD SAYING THAT THERE'S LESS THAN 6 CENTS OF WHEAT IN A LOAF OF BREAD.

THAT'S TRUE.

AND FARMERS HAVE LONG COMPLAINED ABOUT THAT.

SO IF WHEAT PRICES GO UP 50%, WELL, THERE'S NINE CENTS.

IT'S NOT GONNA AFFECT THE PRICE OF BREAD IN IDAHO.

WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS THIS RIPPLE THROUGH OTHER TYPES OF THINGS, INTO CORN MARKETS, INTO OTHER FEED PRICES, AND EVEN WHEN YOU START MESSING WITH CORN PRICES, THEN YOU MESS WITH ALFALFA PRICES, WHICH ARE IN LARGE PART -- DETERMINED BY CORN PRICES, AND THEN THAT AFFECTS THE DAIRY INPUT PRICES, INPUT COSTS FOR DAIRIES.

AND ALL -- IT PLACES A WHOLE DIFFERENT DYNAMIC FOR ALL OF AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE OF IDAHO.

>> YOU'RE DESCRIBING THIS INTRICATE AND DELICATE BALANCE WITH LIVESTOCK FEED, FROM CORN BEING AFFECTED BY INPUTS AND THAT'S AFFECTING FOOD PRICES DOWN THE LINE.

IS THERE ANY GOOD NEWS OUT OF THIS FOR EITHER FARMERS OR CONSUMERS?

>> WELL, FARMERS ARE GOING -- ARE MAKING MORE MONEY.

NOW WHRRKTS THAT'S GOING TO BE BAD BY COSTS OR TAKEN AWAY BY LARGE ESHCOSTS, THAT'S YET TO BE SEEN.

AND WHETHER THEY CAN BALANCE THAT WITH DROUGHT AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT THESE ARE VERY GOOD PRICES FOR FARMERS.

IN FACT, WE'VE HAD SOME VERY GOOD YEARS FOR FARMERS THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT RECORD HIGHS IN CASH RECEIPTS AND LAST YEAR, AND INCOME.

I'M LOOKING AT -- ON THE CASH RECEIPTS SIDE.

BREAKING RECORD HIGHS AGAIN IN 2022.

NOW, WHETHER THE INCOME IS GONNA BE THERE, I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S -- COSTS ARE GOING TO EAT UP ALL THOSE REVENUES.

A LOT.

>> BECAUSE THERE'S THE MONEY THAT'S COME IN BUT ALSO THE MONEY THAT HAS TO GO OUT TO PAY FOR THAT EXTRA COST OF FERTILIZER AND FEED AND EVERYTHING.

>> EXACTLY.

>> IS THERE ANY WAY TO KNOW HOW LONG THINGS MIGHT BE IN UNSTABLE?

>> -- THIS UNSTABLE?

>> WELL, MELISSA, RIGHT NOW IT'S IMMEDIATE.

THOSE PORTS OUT OF UKRAINIAN HAVE STOP SHIPPING WHEAT.

RIGHT NOW.

IN FACT, SEVERAL -- I HEARD NEWS SEVERAL OF THE SHIPS HAVE BEEN HIT BY ROCKETS BY THE CRASHZS.

SO -- RUSSIANS.

SO ALL OF EXPORTS ARE NOT COMING OUT.

AND RIGHT NOW, IN THE UKRAINE IS WHEN -- JUST LIKE IDAHO.

THEY'RE DECIDING WHAT TO PLANT.

THE FARMERS ARE STARTING TO GET OUT AND FERTILIZER.

THEY HAVE NO FERTILIZER OR FUEL.

DIESEL TO RUN TRACTORS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S IMMEDIATE AND IT COULD LAST -- DISRUPTIONS IN THE FARMERS' SUPPLY IN UKRAINE COULD LAST FOR YEARS AS THEY FET -- GET FERTILIZER OR SEEDS OR OTHER INPUTS TO PRODUCE THIS THING.

IT'S GOING TO BE CA TATROVE FOR A NUMBER OF -- CATASTROPHE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN -- IT'S NOT ONLY UKRAINE'S ECONOMY BUT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THESE VERY VULNERABLE COUNTRIES.

SYRIA AND LEBANON AND THOSE -- THAT'S REALLY WHO'S GOING TO BE FEELING THE CRUNCH OF ALL OF THIS WHEAT, LOSS OF WHEAT FOR THEIR PEOPLE.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

VERY BRIEFLY.

IS THERE ANYTHING FROM THE -- EITHER THE CONGRESSIONAL OR LEGISLATIVE SIDE THAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS OR ALLEVIATE IT?

>> I DO NOT THINK SO.

THIS IS -- PUTIN, GO HOME.

[LAUGHTER] YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST NOT SOMETHING WE NEED FOR ANYTHING.

AND I JUST -- VERY LITTLE -- I HAVE A LITTLE HOPE FOR ANY KIND OF LONG OVER SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS TO THESE THINGS.

THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY HURT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WORLD FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS, MELISSA.

>> GARTH TAYLOR, UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

>>> ON THURSDAY THE HOUSE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE APPROVED A SENATE BILL TO CLARIFY LANGUAGE AROUND CIVIL COMMITMENTS AND SHIFT SOME FUNDING RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE COUNTY TO THE STATE.

THE BILL COMES FROM THE EYE -- IDAHO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNCIL TO IMPROVE REGULATIONS AROUND CIVIL COMMITMENTS FOR SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL RESIDENTS AND WORK TO MAKE THE PROCESS MORE HUMANE.

LATER THAT DAY, SENATOR PETER RIGGS JOINED PRODUCER RUTH BROWN TO DISCUSSION THE LEGISLATION.

>> CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE SENATE BILL DOES?

I STAY ON THE SENATE FLOOR THE OTHER DAY, YOU MENTIONED DAYS LIKE THIS MAKE ME PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS BODY.

THAT WOULD BILL 1327 DO FOR IDAHOANS?

>> I THINK TO TELL HOW 1327 IS GONNA AFFECT PEOPLE, WE FIRST HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HOUSE BILL 316 WAS FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS -- WITH THE MEDICAID EXPANSION INTO IDAHO, SOME OVERLAP IN WHAT OUR INDIN JENT FUND AND CATASTROPHIC FUND WERE DOING FOR PEOPLE IN IDAHO THAT NOW A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE BEING TRANSITIONED TO MEDICAID.

SO THERE WAS A PLAN TO PHASE OUT THE INDIGENT FUND AND THE CATASTROPHIC FUND, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF MOVING PIECES AND COMPLEXITY.

WE WEREN'T QUITE SURE HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT.

SO I STARTED WORKING WITH PEOPLE THAT HAD SPECIFIC OWNERSHIP OF PARTS OF HOW THIS WAS GOING TO BE AFFECTED LAST YEAR TO KIND OF GET PARTIES TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WAS GONNA BE DONE.

AND SO WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE GOING TO BE SOME ADDITIONAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WERE GOING TO NEED TO PATCH SOME SOFT SPOTS, THAT WE KNEW THAT 316 WASN'T GOING TO TAKE CARE OF.

AND THAT WAS PART OF WHAT MADE ME REALLY PROUD ABOUT 1327, IS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF TRUST PUT IN BY DIFFERENT PARTIES THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE REASON TO TRUST EACH OTHER BECAUSE THIS IS JUST THE POLITICAL WORLD AND THINGS GO SIDEWAYS.

AND SO IT WASN'T A LACK OF TRUST OUT OF ANY SORT OF MALICIOUS INTENT BUT JUST PEOPLE GET SCARED THAT THEY MIGHT NOT GET WHAT THEY NEED.

SO THE COURAGE THAT EVERYONE SHOWED OF KIND OF WALKING THIS PATH TOGETHER, IT WAS EVIDENT IN 316 AND NOW IN 1327, COMING BACK TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS, THESE STAKEHOLDERS TO SAY, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE COVERED.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT DEVELOPED, WAS WHILE WE WERE LOOKING AT THE WAY OUR HOSPITALS AND OUR PEOPLE IN THE SERVICES WERE BEING HANDLED, IT BECAME VERY CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NO REAL DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THINGS YOU WOULD GO TO A HOSPITAL FOR.

SO IF YOU WERE TREATED FOR A BROKEN BONE OR A SORE THROAT, IT'S THE SAME AS A PSYCHOTIC EPISODE.

ANY SORT OF MENTAL DISORDER THAT NEEDED TREATMENT.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THOSE WILL JUST VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.

IT BECAME CLEAR THAT WE NEEDED TO CREATE SOME SEPARATION FROM TRADITIONAL ILLNESS AND INJURY VERSUS MENTAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE HANDLED, AND THE SAME GOES WITH MORE URBAN-FOCUSED HOSPITALS AND THEN RURAL CRITICAL CARE ACCESS HOSPITALS.

AND SAYING, YOU CAN'T TREAT THOSE THE SAME EITHER.

SO OUR NORMAL SYSTEM BECAME KIND OF SEGMENTED IN THAT WAY.

AND SO IT BECAME IMPORTANT FOR US TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE DOING WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO FROM OUR STATE OBLIGATION TO CARE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEEDED, ESPECIALLY THE INVOLUNTARY MENTAL HOLDS, THE CIVIL COMMITS AS THEY'RE CALLED.

THEY -- THEY -- WE HAVE BASELINE TAKEN THIS PERSON -- BASICALLY TAKEN THIS PERSON, WE'VE RETAINED THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING A MENTAL EPISODE AND THEY NEED TO BE CARED FOR.

AND THIS IS VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN SOMEBODY WHO GETS INTO A ACCIDENT.

SO WE HAD TO LOOK AT THE WAY WE WERE DOINGS THINGS.

AND WE WERE DEFICIENT IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS.

WE CAN DO BETTER.

THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT 1327, WILL HELP CLEAN UP THOSE ISSUES AND MAKE IT BETTER FOR EVERYONE THAT IS BOTH BEING TREATED AND DOING TREATMENT.

>> SURE.

THE CIVIL COMMITMENTS APPLY TO FOLKS THAT ARE SO ACUTELY ILL THAT PERHAPS HE CANNOT MAKE THEIR OWN MEDICAL DECISIONS.

THERE IS SOME SHIFT IN FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH THIS LEGISLATION, FROM THE COUNTY TO THE STATE.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THAT WILL MEAN FOR THE COUNTY BUDGETS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE BIGGEST PART OF THE FINANCIAL SHIFT AWAY FROM THE COUNTIES AND TO THE STATE WAS BASED AROUND THIS IDEA THAT WE ARE BASICALLY -- FROM A STATUTORY STANDPOINT, WE'RE SAYING THAT SOMEBODY THAT GETS PLACED ON COMMITMENT LIKE THAT, THEY HAVE TO -- THEY'RE BASICALLY BEING HELD BY THE STATE TO BE ASSESSED AND WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT THEY'RE GOING TO UNDERGO IS SOMETHING THAT GETS DETERMINED THERE.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE SAID, WELL, IF WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION FROM THE STATE LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITIZENRY ARE CARED FOR AND PROTECTED AND SOME OF THIS LANGUAGE IS KIND OF -- IN THE IDAHO CONSTITUTION, SAYING, FOR THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE, THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND SO IT STARTED TO BECOME CLEAR TO US THAT THIS REALLY SHOULDN'T BE A COUNTY FINANCIAL OBLIGATION.

ALSO BECAUSE WITH THE LACK OF FUNDING FROM THE -- CATASTROPHIC FUND GOING FORWARD, WE SAY THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE.

AND THAT WAS PART OF THE PIECES OF TRUST THAT I ALLUDED TO EARLIER.

THE HOSPITALS WERE GOING TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR ALL OF THESE COSTS, IF WE DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF 1327 AND GET THESE THINGS FILLED AND THAT'S WHERE THE HOSPITALS REALLY STEPPED UP TO SAY, IF THIS DOESN'T GET FIXED, WE'RE GOING TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR A LOT OF THESE COSTS, WHICH TO SOME OF THE LARGER HOSPITALS, WOULD BE FRUSTRATING BUT NOT -- YOU KNOW, DISRUPTIVE.

BUT A LOT OF RURAL CRITICAL CARE ACCESS HOSPITAL THAT IS THIS WOULD BE -- THIS WOULD CLOSE THEIR DOORS.

AND SO THAT'S THE LEAP OF FAITH THAT EVERYBODY TOOK TO GET THERE I THINK WAS IMPORTANT AND SO WE FROM THE STATE FELT WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE DID THE RIGHT THING OF TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING BACK AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THESE INVOLUNTARY MENTAL HOLDS.

>> THIS MORNING -- -- SPOKE AND HE MENTIONED THAT ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE BILL IS THE POST COMMITMENT TRANSPORT, WHICH HE FELT WOULD BRING BACK SOME OF THE HUMANITY OF IT.

OF COURSE, WHEN THE COUNTY WAS DOING POST-COMMITMENT TRANSPORT, THE FOLKS WOULD OFTEN BE TRANSPORTED IN A POLICE VEHICLE IN WHICH THEY HAD TO BE SHACKLED AND HANDCUFFED.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NOW THOSE FOLKS, SHOULD THE BILL PASS, WOULD BE TRANSPORTED IN SOME SORT OF SECURE VEHICLE FROM THE STATE RATHER THAN A POLICE VEHICLE.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YEAH.

IT IS.

AND THAT'S KIND OF THE INHERIT DIFFICULTY THAT COMES WITH -- WITH PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THIS TYPE OF SITUATION.

WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH EPISODE, A LOT OF TIMES IT LEADS TO SOME SORT OF DISTURBANCE OF THE PEACE, SOME SORT OF OTHER RELATED CRIME.

AND SO THE TENDENCY HAS BEEN, YOU GET PUT IN A POLICE CAR THEN.

AND THOUGH IT GOES THE SAME WITH OKAY, THEY'RE KIND OF IN POLICE CUSTODY EVEN WHILE AT A FACILITY FOR ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT, ET CETERA.

SO IF EAR GOING TO BE MOVED SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEN THE POLICE WILL CONTINUE THAT KIND OF CHAIN OF CUSTODY TO TAKE THEM TO THE NEXT PLACE.

AND THIS IS -- THIS IS JUST KIND OF FURTHER SHOWING WHAT 1327, HOW WE'RE CHANGING THE WAY THAT WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND HOW WE'RE DEALING WITH THEM, KNOWING THAT WHEN SOMEBODY GOES THROUGH A SITUATION LIKE THAT, THERE'S LIKELY GOING TO BE SOME -- NOT NECESSARILY LEGAL BUT BEHAVIOR THAT COMES FROM IT THAT'S COMPLETELY OUTSIDE OF THEIR CONTROL.

SO WE DON'T -- LET'S NOT PENALIZE THEM FROM A CRIMINAL STANDPOINT.

LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THE HELP THEY NEED.

AND A LOT OF TIMES BEING HANDCUFFED AND PUT IN A POLICE CAR CAN EXACERBATE THESE SITUATIONS, MAKING RECOVERY EVEN HARDER.

THEREFORE LONGER, COSTING MORE MONEY, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

SO THIS IS THE PART OF THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO SAY LET MAKE SURE THAT WE CARE FOR THESE PEOPLE, WE TRANSPORT THEM IN A HUMANE WAY, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT -- WE'RE NOT PUTTING UNDO BURDEN ON THEIR ALREADY FRAGILE MENTAL STATE.

>> GREAT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.

THAT BILL NOW HEADS BEFORE THE HOUSE NOOR FOR A DEBATED.

BUT UNTIL THEN, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

>> WE HAVE MUCH MORE ONLINE, INCLUDING A RUNDOWN OF NOTABLE LEGISLATIVE AND STATEWIDE RACES IN THE UPCOMING MAY PRIMARY NOW THAT THE FILING PERIOD IS CLOSED.

FOR THAT AND MORE, CHECK OUT "IDAHO REPORTS" ONLINE, AT IDAHOPTV.ORG/IDAHOREPORTS.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE, MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THIS WEEK'S "IDAHO REPORTS" PODCAST, WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS GIVING THEIR TAKE ON THE SESSION SO FAR, AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT MOVING FOLDER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> PRESENTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO, BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.