Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: S1447 – Idaho High Needs Student Fund Appropriation FY2027
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 1447 appropriates an additional $5,000,000 to the Public Schools Educational Support Program’s Division of Student Support for fiscal year 2027, drawing from the Idaho High Needs Student Fund. To capitalize that fund, the bill directs two internal government transfers: $1,000,000 from the Idaho Career Ready Students Program Fund and $4,000,000 from the Driver Training Account, both to be executed by the Office of the State Controller as soon as practicable.
The bill declares an emergency, making it effective July 1, 2026, the start of the fiscal year. The appropriation is subject to standard conditions, limitations, and restrictions as specified in the act. No new revenue is raised; the $5,000,000 is assembled entirely by redirecting existing state funds from two other program accounts into the High Needs Student Fund before disbursement to the Division of Student Support.
Overall Assessment
This bill’s most consequential action is redirecting $4,000,000 from the Driver Training Account — funds previously dedicated to driver education programs — into the Idaho High Needs Student Fund to cover a new $5,000,000 appropriation for student support services. Students and schools that relied on driver training funding face a reduction in those resources, while high-needs students in Idaho public schools gain additional support dollars for FY2027. The reallocation increases total government spending in the student support division without a corresponding reduction in overall appropriations, raising a fiscal responsibility concern about expanding expenditures through fund transfers rather than explicit budget deliberation.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. Responsibility in Government (-1)
Section 1 adds $5,000,000 in new appropriations 'in addition to any other appropriation provided by law,' expanding government spending beyond previously authorized levels. Sections 3 and 4 fund this increase by raiding two existing program accounts — the Career Ready Students Program Fund and the Driver Training Account — rather than through transparent budget appropriations, obscuring the true cost and bypassing standard fiscal deliberation.
ARTICLE II. Citizen Involvement in Government (0)
The bill is a narrow appropriations measure involving internal fund transfers between state education accounts. It creates no mechanisms affecting citizen participation, public comment, voting, or access to government processes.
ARTICLE III. Education (0)
While the bill directs $5,000,000 to Idaho public school student support services for high-needs students, it does not expand parental choice, fund school choice programs, or address curriculum standards — the primary education priorities in this metric. The funding benefits students within the existing public school structure but does not advance or restrict the specific education reforms this metric measures.
ARTICLE IV. Agriculture (0)
The bill exclusively addresses public school student support funding through internal state fund transfers. It contains no provisions related to agriculture, farming, ranching, water for agricultural use, or agricultural education programs.
ARTICLE V. Water (0)
The bill's scope is limited to education funding appropriations and fund transfers. It contains no provisions affecting water rights, water management, irrigation, or any water-related policy.
ARTICLE VI. Natural Resources and Environment (0)
The bill addresses only public school student support appropriations. It contains no provisions related to natural resource management, environmental policy, federal land use, or any related topic.
ARTICLE VII. Energy (0)
The bill is confined to education funding and internal state fund transfers. It contains no provisions affecting energy policy, energy independence, utility rates, or energy resource development.
ARTICLE VIII. Idaho National Laboratories (0)
The bill addresses public school student support funding exclusively. It contains no provisions related to the Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, technology transfer, or associated workforce development.
ARTICLE IX. Private Property Rights (0)
The bill involves only state government fund transfers between education-related accounts. It imposes no regulations, takings, or restrictions on private property of any kind.
ARTICLE X. State and Federal Lands (0)
The bill is an education appropriations measure with no connection to state or federal land ownership, management, transfer, or policy.
ARTICLE XI. Wildlife Management (0)
The bill addresses public school student support funding through internal fund transfers. It contains no provisions related to wildlife management, hunting, fishing, predator control, or fish and game policy.
ARTICLE XII. Economy (0)
The bill reallocates existing state funds between government accounts and does not directly regulate commerce, affect small businesses, alter labor policy, or change tax burdens on Idaho's private economy. The internal fund transfers have no direct economic impact beyond the government programs involved.
ARTICLE XIII. Health and Welfare (0)
The bill funds public school student support services, not health care, health insurance, Medicaid, or welfare programs. It contains no provisions affecting health policy or welfare benefit structures.
ARTICLE XIV. American Family (0)
The bill appropriates funds for high-needs student support within public schools but does not address parental authority over education, school choice, marriage policy, right to life, or other family-centered priorities measured by this metric.
ARTICLE XV. Older Americans (0)
The bill is directed entirely at K-12 public school student support programs. It contains no provisions affecting seniors, retirement security, elder care, or workforce policies relevant to older Idahoans.
ARTICLE XVI. Law and Order with Justice (0)
The bill is an education funding measure with no connection to criminal justice, law enforcement, gun rights, drug policy, incarceration, or judicial processes.
ARTICLE XVII. National Defense - Securing the Border (0)
The bill addresses only state education funding through internal fund transfers. It contains no provisions related to national defense, military affairs, border security, or immigration enforcement.
ARTICLE XVIII. Election of Judges and Idaho Supreme Court Justices (0)
The bill is a narrow appropriations measure for public school student support. It contains no provisions affecting judicial elections, judicial selection processes, or constitutional interpretation standards.
ARTICLE XIX. Religious Liberty (0)
The bill appropriates funds to public school student support programs through internal state fund transfers. It contains no provisions affecting religious exercise, faith-based organizations, or religious liberty protections.