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Giving your two cents to the Legislature can be easy

by Judd Wilson Staff Writer
| February 23, 2018 12:00 AM

COEUR d’ALENE ­­— Ever wanted to give state legislators a piece of your mind? This year you can do it in person without going all the way to Boise.

Better yet, you can sign up with a few simple clicks.

On Monday, Feb. 26 at 8 a.m. Pacific time, the Idaho House of Representatives Education Committee has scheduled public hearings on three pieces of legislation. The committee designated the North Idaho College Workforce Training Center at 525 Clearwater Loop in Post Falls as one of six sites statewide for its remote testimony pilot project.

One proposal concerns occupational and physical therapists’ placement on the public school career ladder. Another is about school board member spouses employed by school districts. The third would allow school districts to hold elective courses in gun safety taught by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and similar organizations.

Want to testify on any of these proposals? Here’s how to do it.

Go to legislature.idaho.gov and click on the remote testimony “Sign Up” link near the top of the page. On the next screen, select the bill you want to speak about and click its “Sign Up” link. Next, select the NIC Workforce Training Center as your location. Finally, fill in your contact information, whether you’re for or against the bill, whether you’re representing yourself or speaking for an organization, and include your written comments. Written comments are required so legislators will get your input even if technical difficulties occur during the hearing.

Here’s the fine print: If no one registers to give testimony at NIC by 24 hours prior to the start of the Feb. 26 hearing, the remote testimony there will be canceled. Also, registering does not guarantee that registrants will be permitted to testify. Those who do not register will not be allowed to testify as walk-ins. Finally, committee meetings may be delayed or rescheduled.

On the day of the public hearing, enter the Workforce Training Center through the main door and follow the signs. The room will be straight ahead or down the right hallway in Room 106 or 108. No parking passes are necessary.

Individuals will be limited to two to three minutes each. A video demonstrating the public hearing process is available at legislature.idaho.gov/remote-testimony/resources/video. Additional information on how to give your testimony is available at legislature.idaho.gov/remote-testimony/resources.