A new version of a tribal policing bill to replace HB 33 was introduced today on a unanimous vote in the House Judiciary Committee; it's mostly similar to the earlier measure, but makes a couple of changes suggested by the Idaho Sheriff's Association and a few clarifying tweaks, according to Coeur d'Alene Tribe Lobbyist Bill Roden. The tribe last year dropped proposed legislation when just as lawmakers were getting ready to pass it, Benewah County agreed to a cross-deputization agreement. Then, after the legislative session ended, the county backed out of the agreement. House Judiciary Chairman Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, traveled to Benewah County in December to try to broker a deal, and an agreement again was reached - and again the county backed out.

Today's bill, like HB 33, wouldn't require the county to be involved; tribal police officers could function as police officers under state law if they had all the required training and insurance and cite all non-tribal criminal offenders into state court, not tribal court. Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, sat in the audience as the new bill was introduced, and said he hasn't had a chance to review this year's legislation yet. "I was opposed to the other one, so I'm probably going to be opposed to this one as well," Harwood said. "This is really not a state issue, as far as I'm concerned. ... We should be able to resolve this on a county and tribal basis."

Roden said, "We did try that." Added Helo Hancock, the tribe's legislative director, "More than once."