Melissa Wintrow — Makes the motion to send Alan Kavanaugh's appointment to the floor with a recommendation for confirmation.
Melissa Wintrow — Clarifies the motion regarding the term dates for Alan Kavanaugh's appointment.
Melissa Wintrow — Made the motion to recommend confirmation of Mr. Kavanaugh.
Melissa Wintrow — Seconded the motion to send RS 33058 to print.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow was identified as the sponsor of Senate Bill 1226.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow introduced herself as the senator for District 19 in Boise and began presenting her bill.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow explained that she would walk the committee through the bill and introduce supporting witnesses.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow explained why the earlier version of the bill stalled and described her background working with victims.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow presented the bill and offered to answer questions. The committee thanked her, asked if there were any questions, and then concluded the exchange when no questions were raised.
Melissa Wintrow — Invited to conclude the testimony.
Melissa Wintrow — Thanked Representative Hill for co-sponsoring and supporting the bill, and thanked all who testified.
Melissa Wintrow — Closed by urging support for the bill and emphasizing accountability and closure for victims.
Melissa Wintrow — Questioned about whether the felony provisions are retroactive and which past felonies would qualify.
Melissa Wintrow — Said she would ask for help to answer the retroactivity question and invited Mark to come up.
Melissa Wintrow — The question references her explanation of retroactivity and whether the state must track down people for DNA collection.
Melissa Wintrow — Thanked Mark and clarified that the DNA collection process is already happening under the current grant.
Melissa Wintrow — Explained that the bill does not add to the existing process because the collection effort is already underway.
Melissa Wintrow — Reiterated that the current grant already covers the collection effort and explained why missing non-IDOC cases matters.
Melissa Wintrow — Was thanked and invited back up before the motion was made.
Melissa Wintrow — Praised for working across the aisle on the bill.
Melissa Wintrow — Asked Amy Anderson about her qualifications and decision-making criteria for the Parole Commission.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Tammy Nichols is present, introduces herself as representing District 10, presents RS 33024, and offers to answer questions while asking that the RS be printed.
James Ruchti — Senator James Ruchti of District 29 is introduced as the sponsor of RS 33058, and subsequent remarks thank him for presenting the bill and praise him for taking the lead, coordinating with others, and driving the legislation forward.
Ms. Anderson — The chair noted that Ms. Anderson was not showing online and suggested taking her matter up another day if she could not connect.
Ms. Anderson — The chair noted difficulty getting her online for the appointment hearing.
Ms. Anderson — Was addressed by the committee during the telephonic connection troubleshooting.
Ms. Anderson — Was asked to describe her qualifications and decision-making approach.
Todd Lakey — Senator Lakey addressed Senator Wintrow and invited her to present her bill.
Todd Lakey — Todd Lakey is addressed as Chairman Lakey in a brief greeting by the speaker.
Matthew Gamut — He was identified as a witness who would testify about the CODIS database and DNA collection.
Lisa Boastaff — She was identified as a witness who would testify later in support of the bill.
Dr. Lisa Boastaff — She was identified as a Boise State criminal justice professor who researched the crimes at issue.
B. Black — Identified as the director of the Women's and Children's Lines in Boise, speaking from the victim's perspective.
B. Black — Concluded testimony in support of requiring DNA collection for two misdemeanor crimes to help catch serial perpetrators earlier and prevent cold cases.
Heather Scott — Identified as Senator Wintrow's co-sponsor on the bill.
Heather Scott — Chair notes Representative Hill will be heard after the sign-in list.
Heather Scott — Representative Hill was thanked and praised for bipartisan work on the bill, with speakers expressing appreciation for her contribution after the motion carried.
Dr. Boastaff — Senator Wintrow said Dr. Boastaff would explain research linking these crimes with other sexual and violent offenses.
Matthew Gammon — Introduced himself as Laboratory System Director for Idaho State Police Forensic Services.
Beatrice Black — Scheduled to testify next, but no testimony appears in this excerpt.
Beatrice Black — The committee announced the next witness, Beatrice Black.
Lisa Bostaff / Dr. Lisa Groat for staff — Introduced as the next witness; transcript contains a garbled self-identification that appears to be Dr. Lisa Boastaff, professor of criminal justice at Boise State University.
Dr. Lisa Groat for staff — Identified herself as a professor of criminal justice at Boise State University with extensive research and criminal justice experience in Idaho.
Alyssa Cullen — Named as a graduate research assistant who helped with the study.
Alyssa Cullen — Introduced as the next person to testify.
Professor Boe staff — The chair thanked the professor after testimony; likely a misrendering of Dr. Lisa Groat for staff.
Edward Hill — Representative Hill testified in strong support of the bill, explaining that his experience with serious crimes being downgraded and his family’s own trauma from his sister’s 1977 abduction and rape shaped his position. He argued that DNA evidence could have helped close that case sooner and cited later crimes by one perpetrator, as well as a Boise State-area serial rape case, to emphasize the need to collect DNA in battery cases to better identify repeat offenders and protect victims. He concluded by reaffirming that it is a good bill and inviting questions, after which the chair thanked him and Senator Wintrow praised his partnership and co-sponsorship.
Kevin Cook — Asked whether he had any additional questions or testimony; he responded that he did not.
Mark Denhart — Mark Denhart, a contractor for the state police collecting ODNA, explained the retroactive scope of the DNA collection law. He said enforcement began in 1997, that the listed offenses were covered from that point, and that by 2013 all felonies were already eligible for collection. He clarified that the cases being discussed were supposed to have DNA collected but did not, and that the legislation is intended to address those gaps, including situations where people served time through non-traditional routes such as county facilities and DNA collection did not occur.
Amy Anderson — Amy Anderson participated in her appointment hearing for the Idaho Pardon and Parole Commission. She confirmed she was present, introduced herself as a candidate for parole commissioner, and outlined her 30-year career with the Idaho Department of Corrections, including her retirement in May 2024 and long tenure in corrections work. She described her security background, investigations experience, leadership and training, and emphasized the importance of programming to help people successfully return to the community. She also explained the factors she uses in parole decisions, including the nature of the crime, offender history and progress, behavior, work, interview preparation, accountability, genuineness, and individual circumstances. The exchange ended with appreciation for her willingness to serve and notice that the appointment would be voted on at the next meeting.