State budget writers, on Thursday, funded a top priority for Idaho Education Association members — educator access to quality, affordable health insurance.
Full legislative approval of the budget will be the final legislative act needed to allow school districts to purchase health insurance for all district employees through the State of Idaho’s employee health insurance plan. The bill will be up for a vote in the full House early next week.
“This is an extraordinary step forward for educators across Idaho,” said IEA Executive Director Paul Stark. “Too often, the modest salaries and tight school district budgets, especially in rural districts, have left educators out in the cold — unable to get decent health insurance for themselves and their families. This bill gives many districts the tools they need to change that for their employees — and will leave educators with more money in their pocket at the end of the month.”
Earlier in the session, lawmakers approved and Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 443 into law, providing the legal mechanism for educator insurance. Thursday’s approval of the funding — part of the state’s overall education operations appropriations — provides the funding to school districts to make educator health insurance a reality.
After the House and Senate’s expected approval of the budget, Gov. Little could sign the measure into law as early as next week.