Highlights from 02-21-2013

CONCEALED WEAPON

Rep: Let people conceal 4-inch knives

Mountain Home Rep. Pete Nielsen is frustrated his son was cited for illegally carrying a concealed dangerous weapon without a permit - because he had a four-inch knife under his car seat.

Nielsen said Thursday his son ended up paying $300 after the traffic stop.

Nielsen now aims to change Idaho's concealed weapon law, so it no longer applies to knives with blades 4 inches or less.

The Associated Press

CAPITOL SURVEILLANCE

Bill would deny public access to recordings

Idaho's Department of Administration wants to bar people from obtaining recordings made by systems meant to protect public buildings.

After a man in January 2012 made a request for recordings from the Capitol, the agency began worrying because it isn't spelled out explicitly in Idaho code.

The House panel agreed to introduce the bill.

PROPERTY TAXES

House approves tribal lands tax exemption

The bill would forbid counties from taxing tribal government land on the state's reservations.

Thursday's 64-3 vote came without debate. The bill now heads to the Senate.

The proposal would save $303,000 in assessments annually for the five tribes with reservations in Idaho.

The Associated Press

FIGHTING CANCER

Pink-tinged House notes speaker's wife

Rep. Steven Miller, who lost his wife to cancer in November, joined the American Cancer Society and Idaho affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in supporting the treatment efforts of Sarah Bedke on Thursday.

Mrs. Bedke has been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer during the 2013 Legislature. Her husband, Scott, R-Oakley, is speaker of the Idaho House.

Miller, R-Fairfield, wore a bright pink tie in honor of Bedke and others. Flowers and pink pins were provided to both Bedke and his wife. Mrs. Bedke observed from the gallery.

Dan Popkey

WILDERNESS TRAILS

Committee OKs disaster resolution

The resolution urges federal forest officials to declare the trail system in the Frank Church-River of No Return wilderness a disaster area.

It also asks federal officials to make maintenance of the popular trail system a priority or make it easier for volunteers to do the job.

The committee unanimously approved the measure Thursday, sending it to the House floor.

Horsemen groups and outfitters say the 2,500-mile trail system in the vast wilderness area has suffered from neglect, wear and tear and obstructions caused by trees felled by fire and wind.

The Associated Press

CHARTER SCHOOLS

Bill targets state money for buildings

The House Education Committee voted Thursday to introduce the measure that would make an estimated $1.4 million available to offset for facility costs for nontraditional schools.

Charter schools get a share of tax dollars to help with general operating budgets. But unlike traditional schools, charter schools can't ask local voters to approve levies for other costs.

The funding formula would allow lawmakers to appropriate in the first year up to 20 percent of the per-pupil average collected by public schools statewide from bond levies and facilities levies.

The Associated Press