Bill signed to adjudicate North Idaho water rights

Legislation to start adjudicating all the water rights in North Idaho was signed into law by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne this week, along with more than 60 other bills, including one that adds a judge in the North Idaho judicial district.

The water rights bill, HB 545, doubles fees for those seeking to settle their water rights in an attempt to raise money to begin the adjudication project. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, and Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene, and co-sponsored by 11 other North Idaho lawmakers.

Other bills signed into law include HB 686, which grants sales tax exemptions for fees paid to non-profit shooting ranges; HB 762, which limits the amount of pseudoephedrine that can legally be possessed to 25 grams; and SB 1397 and HB 582, which increase the civil and criminal penalties for refusing to take a sobriety test when stopped for suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants.

– Meghann Cuniff

BOISE

Workers’ comp won’t pay for psychological injuries

Workers’ compensation laws in Idaho will not be altered to include psychological injuries as a bill from House Speaker Bruce Newcomb proposed.

The House State Affairs Committee unanimously rejected HB 850 Thursday after testimony from the insurance industry and businesses, all opposed to the bill.

“This legislation would be a lawyer’s paradise,” said Boise attorney Jack Barrett, who specializes in workers’ compensation issues. Barrett said he hasn’t had time to research how much the proposal could cost businesses – the bill was introduced just last week – but he said it’s in the millions.

Rep. John Rusche, who sponsored the bill as a favor to Newcomb, said he hadn’t had time to calculate the cost to the business community.

No one spoke in favor of the bill, causing Rusche, D-Lewiston, to admit in his closing remarks, “It’s clear that this is not a universally popular concept … I know where things are going, so I’ll just sit down.”

Newcomb, R-Burley, said he hadn’t even expected the bill to make it to the full House for a vote; he simply wanted to get the idea on the Legislature’s radar.

“It was thrown together at the last minute, but I think it kind of lays the question for future discussions,” Newcomb said.

– Meghann M. Cuniff

Rathdrum

Construction will begin on Twin Lakes Elementary

Construction starts Wednesday on Twin Lakes Elementary School, six months after Rathdrum-area voters approved funding for it.

Lakeland district officials and students will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 1 p.m. at the 17-acre site near the intersection of Highway 41 and Rice Road. The $5.3 million, 300-student school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2007.

The elementary school was part of a $14.2 million bond issue voters approved last October to relieve overcrowding and plan for growth. Other projects included expanding and remodeling Lakeland Senior High School, expanding the lunchroom at Garwood Elementary School and adding a wireless computer lab at each elementary school. These projects are expected to be completed in 2007.

Architects West Inc. and general contractor T.W. Clark are leading the construction team.

– Rasha Madkour