House Bill 619 Summary

• Creates a petition process allowing counties and highway districts to petition the Idaho Transportation Board for state assistance in maintaining local highways that provide the only practical access to cities or developed areas.

• Petitioners must establish that the highway was historically maintained adequately, the jurisdiction is obligated to maintain it, and is now failing to provide safe access; petitions cannot be based solely on failure to improve or expand maintenance.

• Idaho Transportation Department publishes notice, provides the responsible county or district opportunity to respond or take corrective action, and makes a recommendation to the Transportation Board.

• Transportation Board may deny petitions without hearing if deemed without merit, or hold a hearing if petition may have merit; petitions are granted only upon finding that public safety would be endangered by inappropriate and unreasonable failure to maintain.

• If approved, the state or a contracted political subdivision undertakes maintenance with actual costs deducted from the county or district's future highway distribution funds; the affected entity may request termination or modification once concerns are addressed.