ID H0684

Appropriates $10,029,700 to the State Board of Education and Board of Regents of the University of Idaho for special programs for fiscal year 2013 (July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013), distributed across Forest Utilization Research ($504,100), Geological Survey ($701,200), Scholarships and Grants ($7,980,500), Museum of Natural History ($452,500), Small Business Development Centers ($247,500), and TechHelp ($143,900)

Authorizes a combined 27.33 full-time equivalent positions across the six programs, with individual limits including 4.38 for Forest Utilization Research, 9.78 for Geological Survey, 7.20 for Museum of Natural History, and 3.87 for Small Business Development Centers

Provides funding for a two percent (2%) pay increase for all classified and nonclassified permanent performing employees, including adjunct faculty, and directs the Department of Administration to maintain current health insurance benefits with possible employee cost sharing

Allows excess personnel cost appropriations or salary savings from turnover to be used for merit increases to reward permanent and temporary state employees

Reappropriates any unexpended and unencumbered General Fund balance from fiscal year 2012 to the Scholarships and Grants Program for nonrecurring expenditures, contingent upon the June 30, 2012 balance being greater than zero