House Bill H0065

2015 Freedom Index Score: (+4)

Analyst: Parrish Miller
Date of analysis: January 30, 2015

ANALYST'S NOTE: House Bill 065 instructs the state superintendent of public instruction to "begin the
process of removing Idaho from the smarter balanced assessment consortium [SBAC] immediately." It
further declares that "any moneys saved by removing Idaho from the smarter balanced assessment
consortium shall be deposited into the public school income fund established in section 33-903, Idaho
Code, and shall be made available for appropriation to support teachers' salaries." It is estimated that
removing Idaho from the smarter balanced assessment consortium will save the state at least $5 million.

Point No. 1 Does it create, expand, or enlarge any agency, board, program, function, or activity of
government? Conversely, does it eliminate or curtail the size or scope of government?
ANALYSIS: House Bill 065 begins the process of removing Idaho from the "smarter balanced
assessment consortium" which is commonly referred to as 'SBAC.' (+1)

Point No. 4 Does it increase barriers to entry into the market? Examples include occupational
licensure, the minimum wage, and restrictions on home businesses. Conversely, does it remove barriers
to entry into the market?
ANALYSIS: House Bill 065 stipulates that "on and after the effective date of this section, no pupil
shall be required to take any test or any test question developed by the smarter balanced
assessment consortium as a requirement to qualify for graduation from an accredited secondary
school." This removes a government-created barrier to graduating high school and moving on to
either a job or higher education. (+1)

Point No. 7 Does it increase government spending (for objectionable purposes) or debt? Conversely,
does it decrease government spending or debt?

ANALYSIS: House Bill 065 stops the state from spending $5 million on a problematic initiative
and instead directs that the money shall be spent on activities consistent with the state
constitution. (+1)

Point No. 12 Does it violate the principles of federalism by increasing federal authority, yielding to
federal blandishments, or incorporating changeable federal laws into Idaho statutes or rules? Examples
include citing federal code without noting as it is written on a certain date, using state resources to
enforce federal law, and refusing to support and uphold the Tenth Amendment. Conversely, does it
restore or uphold the principles of federalism?
ANALYSIS: The "smarter balanced assessment consortium" is not an Idaho-based or Idahocentric initiative. It is a multi-state undertaking funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
House Bill 065 will begin the process of extricating Idaho from this sovereignty-compromising
endeavor. (+1)