Advocacy Opportunity

2/21/2019

In this issue:

Campaign Finance Bill

Last week we alerted you to a draft campaign finance legislation. On Wednesday, February 13, it was introduced as a bill during the Senate Affairs meeting. It remains unchanged from the previous version we shared with you which has some concerning language relating to electioneering communication from nonprofit organizations.

At this time, the Idaho Nonprofit Center is not taking a position for or against the proposed bill. However, we are doing our best to share with our sector and the elected officials who serve us the places where we have concerns. We outlined our concerns in a previous legislative watch, so please refer to that communication for information about what we would like to see addressed in the current version.

Again, we just want to make you are aware of the impact the bill could potentially have on nonprofit organizations and encourage you to contact the Senate Affairs Committee to voice your concerns or support.

What do You Think?

Your opportunity to share your concerns is this Friday, February 22 at 8:00 am in room W55 at the Idaho State Capitol. Enter the building off 8th Street on the garden level. The room is on your right.

Crime Against Critical Infrastructure Bill

Senate bill 1090 is aimed toward impeding crime against critical infrastructure. We wanted to draw your attention to a section of the bill relating to organizational liability, which creates severe penalties for an organization.

Pg.1 line 31: “An organization that aids, abets, solicits, compensates, hires, conspires with, commands, or procures a person to commit the crime of impeding critical infrastructure is subject to a fine not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), provided that the organization acted with the intent that the crime of impeding critical infrastructure be completed.”

The broad language is concerning because of the wide range of possible relationships between an organization and an individual. For example, if an organization provided food or water to protesters who chained themselves to the entrance of a construction site. Could this be considered “aiding” the individuals committing a crime? If an organization provides information or training to protectors going after a mine or a gasoline pipeline company, can the organization then be charged with a crime? If so, the organization could be fined up to $100,000.

We encourage you to read this bill and decide for yourself if you have concerns. This and other bills can be tracked using the Idaho State Legislaturebill tracker program online (more instructions here).

Follow the Idaho Legislature With ‘Idaho in Session’

Stay informed about the discussions, issues and legislation that affect your nonprofit with Idaho Public Television’s ‘Idaho in Session.’ This free online service provides live feeds of the Idaho House and Senate; the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC); and the Lincoln Auditorium, East Wing 42, and eight additional committee legislative hearing rooms while the Idaho Legislature is in session.

more information here

Contacting Idaho’s Senators and Congressmen

Learn who your representatives are
Contact information for Senators Mike Crapo and James E. Risch and Congressmen Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson

Legislative Watch is written by Albertine Amouzougan, a student at Boise State University

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