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Lawmakers to take remote testimony on Monday

Citizens living in remote parts of the state will be able to testify electronically.

BOISE - A pilot project at the Statehouse aimed at engaging citizens living in remote parts of Idaho is set to take flight on Monday in the House Education Committee.

It's an opportunity for residents who want to weigh in on legislation but can't get to Boise the ability to do so electronically.

There will be six sites across the state -- in Coeur d' Alene, Moscow, Lewiston, Salmon, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello -- where residents can testify.

Testimony will be held in area university and college campuses and be conducted through video.

For those who want to participate, they must sign up 24 hours in advance and dress as if they were at the Capitol.

House Education Chair Rep. Julie Van Orden says there has been many instances where Idahoans living far from Boise have wanted to testify on a particular bill but distance has kept them from doing so.

Van Orden also says she's excited to test out the program in her committee and thinks there will be a lot of engagement because education is a large part of the budget and in the past has proved to draw a lot of public testimony.

"If you have looked at the surveys education is one of the most important things to Idaho citizens, so to allow them to be able to weigh in on our conversations has been a great thing and I'm really excited for Monday to try this out," says Van Orden.

Van Orden has scheduled three hearings Monday when the program will be tested for bills she thinks will be big talkers.

One has to do with teaching gun safety in schools, another on occupational and physical therapists in schools and the third regarding school board members being able to hire their spouses.

If you want to weigh in from one of these six sites, you can do so by going to the Legislature's website where there are directions.

If this pilot program is successful it will expand to other committees.

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