Bill Roden, lobbyist for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, is detailing the differences between the current tribal policing bill, HB 111, and the earlier version from this session, HB 33. There are a couple of changes suggested by the Idaho Sheriff's Association and a few clarifying tweaks. The tribe last year dropped its legislation, then HB 500, 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. The new 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. Mack Shirley asked Roden whether he has an attorney general's opinion on the new bill. Roden responded that he can't request one - only a lawmaker or state official can - but that an opinion on the tribe's legislation last year found it fully constitutional. House Judiciary Chairman Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, confirmed that and said he requested the opinion last year, and will make it available to the committee.