LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
September 18, 2019
Committees hold monthly meetings, legislature gearing up for 2020 Regular Session
Representative James Tipton
Interim committees met September 9 through 13 for their monthly meetings, bringing together members of the House and Senate to hear from state government officials and members of the public about the issues we will be looking at during the next session. I believe I have shared that this year’s committee meeting schedule has been reorganized, so now almost all of the meetings take place during one week each month.
This month, members of the Education Committee met and discussed two important topics facing education today – child abuse and neglect, and a shortage in teachers. The presentation on child abuse and neglect came from a group of students from Boyle County. They are requesting that the General Assembly consider requiring age-appropriate education on child abuse to our public school curriculum. According to the presentation, 28 states have already passed similar requirements and comparable measures have been filed in previous sessions. Child abuse and neglect have been a priority for the General Assembly over the past few years, with Kentucky leading the nation in child abuse and neglect cases. While the next step for this proposal requires a great deal of review and consideration, I was quite impressed by how this group of young people handled a difficult topic.
Education Committee members also heard from school superintendents about a shortage in teachers in our public schools. According to the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, 95 percent of public school superintendents say that the teacher shortage is a “significant problem.” Flynn also shared that there has been a steep decline in the number of students studying education, from 13,000 in 2007 to just 5,000 today. Naturally, we need to delve into why fewer people are looking at teaching as a career and what we can do to engage more. There has already been some discussion about into incentives like dual credit hours, the certification process and maybe even expanding the financial assistance available to those who want to teach. Already, more than $1.7 million a year in lottery funds are invested in need-based scholarships designed to attract qualified students to teaching. The pension crisis also creates some uncertainty for potential teachers, as does the concern that teachers have to spend too much time on paperwork and not enough with students. The root of the problem is likely a combination of all of these factors. We will continue to monitor the situation and look for possible solutions.
A legislative working group created to review opportunities for Kentuckians who want to pursue a career in one of the skilled trades or technical fields also met this week. The Kentucky Career and Technical Education Task Force received a report on how Kentucky stacks up with neighboring states. According to the Southern Regional Education Board, our career and technical education system is far less centralized. Instead of one system, we have several on the secondary and postsecondary levels that plug into existing resources. Also, and this was particularly interesting to me, some states fund at different levels based on the demand for specific skills. For example, Ohio allocates per-pupil funding of up to $5,100 for information technology, manufacturing, health sciences, but only $1,300 for family and consumer sciences education.
The Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment also met last week. Representatives from the drug abuse treatment, business and health insurance communities were on the agenda to discuss how the opioid crisis is hurting our efforts to improve Kentucky’s workforce. This is a hot topic because, despite record economic investment and thousands of new jobs we still rank 47th in the nation in workforce participation. That means that too many Kentuckians who could be working are not. The information we get paints a pretty clear picture – drug addiction is preventing people from becoming productive, healthy members of society.
On another note, the Interim Joint Committee on State Government heard testimony on two proposals that seek to prevent cities from adopting any policy that forbids or discourages the enforcement of immigration laws. Both proposals seek to prohibit local authorities from establishing “sanctuary cities” for those who are here illegally. While supporters and those opposed to the measures discussed both at great length, the overwhelming message was clear – our federal government has to move to fix our broken immigration system.
The state’s dairy industry was a hot topic for members of the Agriculture Committee during last week’s meeting. The Kentucky Dairy Development Council gave an update on the dramatic shift in dairy farming we have experienced. Between 2005 and 2018, almost 66 percent of Kentucky dairy farms permanently closed their barn doors. Oddly enough, at the same time the state increased dairy production by 43 percent. The demand for Kentucky milk has increased as other supply from other states slows. Committee members also learned that the market has opportunity for growth as more and more dairy products – items like cheese and dehydrated cheese - are processed. The KDDC also shared a fun fact, did you know that the dehydrated cheese used to make Cheetos is made here in Kentucky?
As you can see, interim committees cover a wide array of topics. They represent the opportunities and challenges we face as a state, and highlight what we need to work on when we come back in session in January. The committees will meet again the week of September 30 through October 4 and I hope to report back after those meetings as well.
As always, I can be reached at the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181 or my mobile at (502)639-7079. You can also contact me via e-mail at James.Tipton@lrc.ky.gov. You can also keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at www.lrc.ky.gov.
September 18, 2019
Committees hold monthly meetings, legislature gearing up for 2020 Regular Session
Representative James Tipton
Interim committees met September 9 through 13 for their monthly meetings, bringing together members of the House and Senate to hear from state government officials and members of the public about the issues we will be looking at during the next session. I believe I have shared that this year’s committee meeting schedule has been reorganized, so now almost all of the meetings take place during one week each month.
This month, members of the Education Committee met and discussed two important topics facing education today – child abuse and neglect, and a shortage in teachers. The presentation on child abuse and neglect came from a group of students from Boyle County. They are requesting that the General Assembly consider requiring age-appropriate education on child abuse to our public school curriculum. According to the presentation, 28 states have already passed similar requirements and comparable measures have been filed in previous sessions. Child abuse and neglect have been a priority for the General Assembly over the past few years, with Kentucky leading the nation in child abuse and neglect cases. While the next step for this proposal requires a great deal of review and consideration, I was quite impressed by how this group of young people handled a difficult topic.
Education Committee members also heard from school superintendents about a shortage in teachers in our public schools. According to the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, 95 percent of public school superintendents say that the teacher shortage is a “significant problem.” Flynn also shared that there has been a steep decline in the number of students studying education, from 13,000 in 2007 to just 5,000 today. Naturally, we need to delve into why fewer people are looking at teaching as a career and what we can do to engage more. There has already been some discussion about into incentives like dual credit hours, the certification process and maybe even expanding the financial assistance available to those who want to teach. Already, more than $1.7 million a year in lottery funds are invested in need-based scholarships designed to attract qualified students to teaching. The pension crisis also creates some uncertainty for potential teachers, as does the concern that teachers have to spend too much time on paperwork and not enough with students. The root of the problem is likely a combination of all of these factors. We will continue to monitor the situation and look for possible solutions.
A legislative working group created to review opportunities for Kentuckians who want to pursue a career in one of the skilled trades or technical fields also met this week. The Kentucky Career and Technical Education Task Force received a report on how Kentucky stacks up with neighboring states. According to the Southern Regional Education Board, our career and technical education system is far less centralized. Instead of one system, we have several on the secondary and postsecondary levels that plug into existing resources. Also, and this was particularly interesting to me, some states fund at different levels based on the demand for specific skills. For example, Ohio allocates per-pupil funding of up to $5,100 for information technology, manufacturing, health sciences, but only $1,300 for family and consumer sciences education.
The Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment also met last week. Representatives from the drug abuse treatment, business and health insurance communities were on the agenda to discuss how the opioid crisis is hurting our efforts to improve Kentucky’s workforce. This is a hot topic because, despite record economic investment and thousands of new jobs we still rank 47th in the nation in workforce participation. That means that too many Kentuckians who could be working are not. The information we get paints a pretty clear picture – drug addiction is preventing people from becoming productive, healthy members of society.
On another note, the Interim Joint Committee on State Government heard testimony on two proposals that seek to prevent cities from adopting any policy that forbids or discourages the enforcement of immigration laws. Both proposals seek to prohibit local authorities from establishing “sanctuary cities” for those who are here illegally. While supporters and those opposed to the measures discussed both at great length, the overwhelming message was clear – our federal government has to move to fix our broken immigration system.
The state’s dairy industry was a hot topic for members of the Agriculture Committee during last week’s meeting. The Kentucky Dairy Development Council gave an update on the dramatic shift in dairy farming we have experienced. Between 2005 and 2018, almost 66 percent of Kentucky dairy farms permanently closed their barn doors. Oddly enough, at the same time the state increased dairy production by 43 percent. The demand for Kentucky milk has increased as other supply from other states slows. Committee members also learned that the market has opportunity for growth as more and more dairy products – items like cheese and dehydrated cheese - are processed. The KDDC also shared a fun fact, did you know that the dehydrated cheese used to make Cheetos is made here in Kentucky?
As you can see, interim committees cover a wide array of topics. They represent the opportunities and challenges we face as a state, and highlight what we need to work on when we come back in session in January. The committees will meet again the week of September 30 through October 4 and I hope to report back after those meetings as well.
As always, I can be reached at the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181 or my mobile at (502)639-7079. You can also contact me via e-mail at James.Tipton@lrc.ky.gov. You can also keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at www.lrc.ky.gov.
Legislative Update
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2019
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative James Tipton
As I file this legislative update from my Capitol desk, we are more than halfway through this year’s legislative session and wrapping up business on our seventeenth legislative day. Our week began with members of the General Assembly convening Tuesday’s session in the Old State Capitol Building. It was a great opportunity to appreciate the building that was the center of our state government from 1830 until 1910.
My time there this week led me to consider how Kentuckians have faced many challenges in our state’s history. The Old Capitol witnessed political debates on issues that have challenged us throughout our commonwealth’s history and continue to confront us today, but our commonwealth has persevered just as the building itself has.
In the House of Representatives, this past week was a banner week for a cause not only important to me – but also critical to the safety and protection of Kentucky families. Public safety took a large, bipartisan step forward as multiple bills began moving through the General Assembly that are designed to protect children from obscene crimes, consumers from scans, and some of our most vulnerable citizens from harm.
Nothing is more of a pressing issue for the General Assembly at this point in time than school safety. The School Safety and Resiliency Act took another monumental step forward this past week, advancing through the House Education Committee and to the full House for consideration. I am proud to support this measure, which secures our schools and strengthens our students with a comprehensive approach.
We also passed House Bill 375 – a measure which would require wireless providers to give call location information to emergency responders, upon request, when there is a risk of death or serious injury. Widely known as “pinging,” this measure would give law enforcement more tools to respond to emergency situations by informing them of the general location of a missing person based on where they last received a cell phone signal. HB 375 was inspired by the tragic death of Leah Carter of Monroe County, who drowned after being swept away by rising flood waters. It took searchers five days to locate her.
Likewise, public safety measures like HB 298 and HB 130 moved through the House Judiciary Committee and will hopefully soon move on to the Senate. HB 298 stiffens penalties for the possession and distribution of child pornography that display minors under the age of 12. HB 130 of which I am the sponsor expands the definition of terroristic threatening and raises the penalty for this crime to a Class C felony when an individual is caught preparing to carry out a threat, such as loading guns or ammunition in preparation of the crime.
On the consumer protection front, legislation also passed the House that cracks down on telemarketers who engage in “spoofing,” which involves a person misrepresenting their real phone number by disguising themselves under a local number. HB 84 prohibits this practice, and increases fines for multiple offenses.
One more bill designed to provide increasing protections for the most vulnerable children of our society was passed by the House on a bipartisan basis. House Bill 158 makes a series of reforms to child welfare, including strengthening the reporting of abuse, neglect, or dependency of children by a caretaker. This measure also establishes a comprehensive “Bill of Rights” for foster children, in order to ensure that children in state care are adequately taken care of and do not slip through the cracks of our society.
Bills designed to strengthen our reporting systems for missing disabled persons as well as missing veterans also passed the House this past week. HB 150 creates a “Golden Alert” System to notify the public through the news media and highway signs when an impaired individual goes missing, while HB 180 includes missing or at-risk veterans within a Golden Alert, identifying them separately as a “Green Alert.”
On Thursday, we voted 96-4 to approve a tax cleanup bill that would exempt all Kentucky nonprofits from collecting the sales tax on admissions to their charitable events. HB 354 also ensures that all nonprofits see their threshold for collecting sales taxes raised from $1,000 to $10,000. Last year, the legislature took a major step forward in making the tax code more pro-business, lowering your income taxes and moving Kentucky in a more consumption based direction. However, minor adjustments to major legislation like the tax reform package are always necessary as changes are implemented.
Shortly after passing the tax reform measure, the House voted overwhelmingly to pass HB 268, which would provide additional funding to several state entities – including our state parks and universities. Once nationally recognized for their facilities and offerings, our parks have fallen into a state of disrepair. HB 268 would authorize a $50 million investment in bond funds for improvements at Kentucky’s state parks for the first phase of improvements while committing to an additional $50 million for state park improvements in future budgets. The bill also provides funding for critical programs at several of our public universities.
I’m proud to have supported critical public safety issues during this legislative session, which will strengthen our communities and protect families. As we enter the final few weeks of the 2019 session, I will continue to keep you informed about progress on issues of importance. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with your thoughts on issues we should address.
Rep.James Tipton represents the 53rd House District, which includes Anderson, Spencer and Bullitt Counties. Contact him with any questions, concerns, or advice. He can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181, on his cell at (502)639-7079 or via e-mail at James.Tipton@lrc.ky.gov
February 22, 2019
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative James Tipton
As I file this legislative update from my Capitol desk, we are more than halfway through this year’s legislative session and wrapping up business on our seventeenth legislative day. Our week began with members of the General Assembly convening Tuesday’s session in the Old State Capitol Building. It was a great opportunity to appreciate the building that was the center of our state government from 1830 until 1910.
My time there this week led me to consider how Kentuckians have faced many challenges in our state’s history. The Old Capitol witnessed political debates on issues that have challenged us throughout our commonwealth’s history and continue to confront us today, but our commonwealth has persevered just as the building itself has.
In the House of Representatives, this past week was a banner week for a cause not only important to me – but also critical to the safety and protection of Kentucky families. Public safety took a large, bipartisan step forward as multiple bills began moving through the General Assembly that are designed to protect children from obscene crimes, consumers from scans, and some of our most vulnerable citizens from harm.
Nothing is more of a pressing issue for the General Assembly at this point in time than school safety. The School Safety and Resiliency Act took another monumental step forward this past week, advancing through the House Education Committee and to the full House for consideration. I am proud to support this measure, which secures our schools and strengthens our students with a comprehensive approach.
We also passed House Bill 375 – a measure which would require wireless providers to give call location information to emergency responders, upon request, when there is a risk of death or serious injury. Widely known as “pinging,” this measure would give law enforcement more tools to respond to emergency situations by informing them of the general location of a missing person based on where they last received a cell phone signal. HB 375 was inspired by the tragic death of Leah Carter of Monroe County, who drowned after being swept away by rising flood waters. It took searchers five days to locate her.
Likewise, public safety measures like HB 298 and HB 130 moved through the House Judiciary Committee and will hopefully soon move on to the Senate. HB 298 stiffens penalties for the possession and distribution of child pornography that display minors under the age of 12. HB 130 of which I am the sponsor expands the definition of terroristic threatening and raises the penalty for this crime to a Class C felony when an individual is caught preparing to carry out a threat, such as loading guns or ammunition in preparation of the crime.
On the consumer protection front, legislation also passed the House that cracks down on telemarketers who engage in “spoofing,” which involves a person misrepresenting their real phone number by disguising themselves under a local number. HB 84 prohibits this practice, and increases fines for multiple offenses.
One more bill designed to provide increasing protections for the most vulnerable children of our society was passed by the House on a bipartisan basis. House Bill 158 makes a series of reforms to child welfare, including strengthening the reporting of abuse, neglect, or dependency of children by a caretaker. This measure also establishes a comprehensive “Bill of Rights” for foster children, in order to ensure that children in state care are adequately taken care of and do not slip through the cracks of our society.
Bills designed to strengthen our reporting systems for missing disabled persons as well as missing veterans also passed the House this past week. HB 150 creates a “Golden Alert” System to notify the public through the news media and highway signs when an impaired individual goes missing, while HB 180 includes missing or at-risk veterans within a Golden Alert, identifying them separately as a “Green Alert.”
On Thursday, we voted 96-4 to approve a tax cleanup bill that would exempt all Kentucky nonprofits from collecting the sales tax on admissions to their charitable events. HB 354 also ensures that all nonprofits see their threshold for collecting sales taxes raised from $1,000 to $10,000. Last year, the legislature took a major step forward in making the tax code more pro-business, lowering your income taxes and moving Kentucky in a more consumption based direction. However, minor adjustments to major legislation like the tax reform package are always necessary as changes are implemented.
Shortly after passing the tax reform measure, the House voted overwhelmingly to pass HB 268, which would provide additional funding to several state entities – including our state parks and universities. Once nationally recognized for their facilities and offerings, our parks have fallen into a state of disrepair. HB 268 would authorize a $50 million investment in bond funds for improvements at Kentucky’s state parks for the first phase of improvements while committing to an additional $50 million for state park improvements in future budgets. The bill also provides funding for critical programs at several of our public universities.
I’m proud to have supported critical public safety issues during this legislative session, which will strengthen our communities and protect families. As we enter the final few weeks of the 2019 session, I will continue to keep you informed about progress on issues of importance. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with your thoughts on issues we should address.
Rep.James Tipton represents the 53rd House District, which includes Anderson, Spencer and Bullitt Counties. Contact him with any questions, concerns, or advice. He can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181, on his cell at (502)639-7079 or via e-mail at James.Tipton@lrc.ky.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2019
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative JAMES TIPTON
The pace picked up during week three of the 2019 General Assembly, with legislation clearing committees and passing the full House. As we left Frankfort on Friday, we are almost halfway through with this year’s session. Wednesday, February 20 is the last day that lawmakers can file new legislations, but already more than more than 800 bills and resolutions have been filed for consideration in both the House and Senate.
It has often been said that the numbers attached to bills indicate their priority level. That is certainly true of HB 2, a measure which seeks to prepare us to receive federal funding for Kentucky’s kinship and fictive care program. In 2013, Governor Beshear put a freeze on applicants to Kinship Care, a program which was dedicated to providing caregivers of children in need with $300 a month to help support the children they have taken in. The General Assembly allocated $5.1 million last year to begin ramping this valuable program back up, but significantly more must be done.
We are heading in that direction with HB 2. While this legislation is by no means the ultimate solution, it sets us on the right path to supporting those who take care of Kentucky’s most vulnerable. Prioritizing Kinship Care is critical, as it is preferable to sending children through the foster care system in numerous ways. For one, it costs significantly less for taxpayers, and secondly, there is nothing more supportive than a loving family member, coach, or other caring adult who will take a child into their home.
Protecting the life of the unborn is once again on full display as well, a common theme since Republicans took control of the Kentucky House. The House passed HB 148 by a 69-20 vote last Friday. This measure seeks to prepare Kentucky for the possibility that the Supreme Court could overturn Roe v. Wade by prohibiting abortion in all cases except when required to save the life of the mother or prevent serious harm to her. The Senate also passed SB 9, a measure which bans abortion after a child’s heartbeat can be detected.
Another pro-life measure moving out of committee was HB 158, which would create a foster child bill of rights and make numerous other improvements to child welfare. This legislation would give statutory rights to foster children – including the right to adequate food, clothing and shelter, a quality education, and a safe, secure, and stable family. These are just a few of the 16 rights granted in this legislation, which also improves background checks on the staff of child care facilities and child-placement agencies
This bill builds on the bipartisan successes of HB 1 during the 2018 General Assembly Session, which made transformative adoption and foster care reforms designed to reduce wait times and remove barriers to providing a child with a loving home. Between that legislation and the improvements within HB 158 this year, Kentucky is well on its way to becoming a national model for handling children in out-of-home-care.
These priority measures are proof that our House majority cares not only about protecting the life of the unborn, but being pro-life in every sense. We must do all we can to boost the health and well-being of our children and families, particularly Kentucky’s most vulnerable.
Removing a barrier for physicians to treat opioid addiction with a proven strategy is the goal of one of the first pieces of legislation passed by the House this session. The bill, HB 121, passed unanimously and would prevent insurance companies from requiring prior authorization for medication-assisted addiction treatments. Currently, someone struggling with an addiction must wait five to ten days before they can begin a medication-assisted treatment so that insurance companies can approve coverage. If passed by the Senate, HB 121 would remove the requirement of prior authorization and speed up the necessary treatment.
I also joined my fellow members of the House in approving HB 22. This piece of legislation changes the way that school board vacancies are filled. Currently, the Education Commissioner fills the vacancy, and this bill would transfer that power to the rest of the local school board, who would vote to fill the empty slot. The Kentucky School Board’s Association testified in support of the measure, which would also shorten the amount of time given to fill the vacancy from 90 to 60 days.
I am the primary sponsor for HB 118, also called the “Keep Americans Working Act of 2019. This legislation passed out of the full House on Friday and now goes to the Senate. ” If passed into law, this commonsense measure would prohibit someone from having their occupational license suspended or revoked solely because they are delinquent on a student loan or work-related scholarship. The last thing an individual struggling to pay back their loans needs is for their mechanism to earn a living to be stripped. Pulling out the rug from underneath a working individual is the opposite of what we should be doing, as incentivizing work should be and is a top priority of mine.
Among the bills filed this week was a tax bill aimed at fine-tuning reforms enacted by the legislature in 2018. The bill, HB 354, will also clarify various interpretations by the Department of Revenue that impact how the state sales tax is levied. If passed, HB 354 would make admissions to events held by 501(c)(3) organizations tax exempt. The bill also exempts the first $10,000 in sales of items by all nonprofit organizations. This is an increase from the current exemption of $1,000. Direct contributions to nonprofits would remain tax exempt. House Bill 354 also includes language that would allow services purchased by a retailer or other business to be tax exempt if they are intended for resale. After all, asking a business to pay the sales tax on something they are ultimately going to sell to a consumer is essentially collecting the same tax twice – making our businesses less competitive and products more expensive. This bill is expected to be heard by the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee this week.
Over the next few weeks I will continue to update you on our progress. In the meantime, I can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181, my office at (502)564-8100, ext 793 or on my cell at (502)639-7079. You can email me at [email protected] or please visit our website at www. Legislature.Ky.Gov. It is an honor to represent the great citizens of House District 53.
February 16, 2019
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative JAMES TIPTON
The pace picked up during week three of the 2019 General Assembly, with legislation clearing committees and passing the full House. As we left Frankfort on Friday, we are almost halfway through with this year’s session. Wednesday, February 20 is the last day that lawmakers can file new legislations, but already more than more than 800 bills and resolutions have been filed for consideration in both the House and Senate.
It has often been said that the numbers attached to bills indicate their priority level. That is certainly true of HB 2, a measure which seeks to prepare us to receive federal funding for Kentucky’s kinship and fictive care program. In 2013, Governor Beshear put a freeze on applicants to Kinship Care, a program which was dedicated to providing caregivers of children in need with $300 a month to help support the children they have taken in. The General Assembly allocated $5.1 million last year to begin ramping this valuable program back up, but significantly more must be done.
We are heading in that direction with HB 2. While this legislation is by no means the ultimate solution, it sets us on the right path to supporting those who take care of Kentucky’s most vulnerable. Prioritizing Kinship Care is critical, as it is preferable to sending children through the foster care system in numerous ways. For one, it costs significantly less for taxpayers, and secondly, there is nothing more supportive than a loving family member, coach, or other caring adult who will take a child into their home.
Protecting the life of the unborn is once again on full display as well, a common theme since Republicans took control of the Kentucky House. The House passed HB 148 by a 69-20 vote last Friday. This measure seeks to prepare Kentucky for the possibility that the Supreme Court could overturn Roe v. Wade by prohibiting abortion in all cases except when required to save the life of the mother or prevent serious harm to her. The Senate also passed SB 9, a measure which bans abortion after a child’s heartbeat can be detected.
Another pro-life measure moving out of committee was HB 158, which would create a foster child bill of rights and make numerous other improvements to child welfare. This legislation would give statutory rights to foster children – including the right to adequate food, clothing and shelter, a quality education, and a safe, secure, and stable family. These are just a few of the 16 rights granted in this legislation, which also improves background checks on the staff of child care facilities and child-placement agencies
This bill builds on the bipartisan successes of HB 1 during the 2018 General Assembly Session, which made transformative adoption and foster care reforms designed to reduce wait times and remove barriers to providing a child with a loving home. Between that legislation and the improvements within HB 158 this year, Kentucky is well on its way to becoming a national model for handling children in out-of-home-care.
These priority measures are proof that our House majority cares not only about protecting the life of the unborn, but being pro-life in every sense. We must do all we can to boost the health and well-being of our children and families, particularly Kentucky’s most vulnerable.
Removing a barrier for physicians to treat opioid addiction with a proven strategy is the goal of one of the first pieces of legislation passed by the House this session. The bill, HB 121, passed unanimously and would prevent insurance companies from requiring prior authorization for medication-assisted addiction treatments. Currently, someone struggling with an addiction must wait five to ten days before they can begin a medication-assisted treatment so that insurance companies can approve coverage. If passed by the Senate, HB 121 would remove the requirement of prior authorization and speed up the necessary treatment.
I also joined my fellow members of the House in approving HB 22. This piece of legislation changes the way that school board vacancies are filled. Currently, the Education Commissioner fills the vacancy, and this bill would transfer that power to the rest of the local school board, who would vote to fill the empty slot. The Kentucky School Board’s Association testified in support of the measure, which would also shorten the amount of time given to fill the vacancy from 90 to 60 days.
I am the primary sponsor for HB 118, also called the “Keep Americans Working Act of 2019. This legislation passed out of the full House on Friday and now goes to the Senate. ” If passed into law, this commonsense measure would prohibit someone from having their occupational license suspended or revoked solely because they are delinquent on a student loan or work-related scholarship. The last thing an individual struggling to pay back their loans needs is for their mechanism to earn a living to be stripped. Pulling out the rug from underneath a working individual is the opposite of what we should be doing, as incentivizing work should be and is a top priority of mine.
Among the bills filed this week was a tax bill aimed at fine-tuning reforms enacted by the legislature in 2018. The bill, HB 354, will also clarify various interpretations by the Department of Revenue that impact how the state sales tax is levied. If passed, HB 354 would make admissions to events held by 501(c)(3) organizations tax exempt. The bill also exempts the first $10,000 in sales of items by all nonprofit organizations. This is an increase from the current exemption of $1,000. Direct contributions to nonprofits would remain tax exempt. House Bill 354 also includes language that would allow services purchased by a retailer or other business to be tax exempt if they are intended for resale. After all, asking a business to pay the sales tax on something they are ultimately going to sell to a consumer is essentially collecting the same tax twice – making our businesses less competitive and products more expensive. This bill is expected to be heard by the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee this week.
Over the next few weeks I will continue to update you on our progress. In the meantime, I can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181, my office at (502)564-8100, ext 793 or on my cell at (502)639-7079. You can email me at [email protected] or please visit our website at www. Legislature.Ky.Gov. It is an honor to represent the great citizens of House District 53.
LEGISLATIVE COLUMN –REPRESENTATIVE JAMES TIPTON
As the month of June kicks off summer, June also begins the work of the Joint
Interim Committees in the Kentucky General Assembly. For the next six months,
members of the Senate and House will come together each month in their
respective committees to learn additional information concerning a variety of
issues. We will hear reports from various state agencies and citizens plus hear
informational testimony on pre-filed legislation. Several of these meetings will
take place in various venues across the state allowing us to interact with citizens
from across the commonwealth.
Last week, I attended the first of six Joint Interim Education Committee meetings
on Education. We heard from various experts in the area of school safety. After
the recent school shootings across the nation including here in Marshall County, I
can think of no greater priority than how to keep our children safe and secure
while attending school. There have been a wide range of proposals presented in
recent months. Our challenge at the state level along with local schools is what
proactive steps can we take that will make our schools more safe. The presenters
last week focused on three suggestions, hardening our schools against possible
attacks, prevention and adding additional school resource officers across the
state. Along with our committee efforts, a bi-partisan working group has been
established specifically to study school safety. Their goal is to actively research
various ideas and proposals and develop a list of best practices that can be
implemented in our Kentucky schools.
I will also be meeting with the Joint Interim Committees on Agriculture and
Appropriations and Revenue throughout the year. Many important subjects will
be discussed throughout this process. There are eight sub-committees of
Appropriations and Revenue which will also meet during the interim. As chairman
of the Budget Review Sub-Committee on Postsecondary Education, we will hear
from our eight public universities and the Kentucky Community Technical College
System on budget and financial issues they face.
I have also been named to serve on a Taskforce that will examine the Tax
Expenditures that currently exist in the state of Kentucky. These include several
hundred tax exemptions, tax credits and other deductions from tax revenues.
There are currently over $10 Billion per year in income, sales and property taxes
that are not collected. In addition there are various tax credits for projects across
our state. Our challenge is to review these tax expenditures and evaluate their
need and effectiveness. We will make recommendations as to whether they
should continue or be eliminated or modified by the end of the year. This will be
an extremely challenging process, but this will be a critical part of any future
discussions on comprehensive tax modernization. Our first meeting will be June
28 at 3 PM and will be held in the Capitol Annex in Frankfort.
SB 151 which passed in the recent session of the General Assembly included a
provision requiring all future Governors and Legislators to fully fund all future
public pension contributions. This legislation also implements a Level Dollar
Funding Model which will insure that adequate appropriations are made each
budget cycle to pay off the over $40 Billion in unfunded pension liabilities that
Kentucky faces. In the final budget that passed this year the amount allocated for
public pension contributions over the next two years was $3.3 Billion or 15% of
our entire general fund budget. This is the first time since 2002 that our pension
systems were fully funded. In 2014, less than $1 Billion was allocated which was
5% of the budget and in 2016 the number was $2.2 Billion or 10% of our state
budget. This is a huge obligation that continues to grow which will impact all
Kentuckians for many years to come.
For my Spencer County constituents, I have been informed by the Transportation
Cabinet that work will begin the week of June 18 on Highway 44 going east out of
Taylorsville (The Four Lane). There has been much discussion around the
community since a new pavement maintenance process was done last fall
resulting in the swirly black lines on the roadway. The next step in the process will
be a chip n seal on the roadway. I have been told that this process could take up
to 10 days and drivers are advised to take extra precaution and reduce speed as
you drive. The final part of the process is an application of a thin layer of asphalt
over the highway. Officials have told me this process will be done at around 55%
of the cost of a normal repaving project and should extend the life of the road by
10 years. This new pavement maintenance process is being done in several
locations across the state.
You now have the opportunity to find meeting presentations from our joint
interim committee meetings on the following website. Go to www.Lrc.Ky.Gov and
click on Committees. From there, click on Joint Interim Committees and choose
the committee that you are interested in learning more about. There is a link
called Meeting Materials that will allow you to view the presentations that were
made to the committee. The school safety information from last week’s Education
Committee is already available. It is an honor to represent the great people of
Anderson, Spencer and Bullitt Counties who make up House District 53. Please
contact me with any concerns or needs at (502)564-8100, ext 793 or my cell at
(502)639-7079. You can also email me at [email protected].
As the month of June kicks off summer, June also begins the work of the Joint
Interim Committees in the Kentucky General Assembly. For the next six months,
members of the Senate and House will come together each month in their
respective committees to learn additional information concerning a variety of
issues. We will hear reports from various state agencies and citizens plus hear
informational testimony on pre-filed legislation. Several of these meetings will
take place in various venues across the state allowing us to interact with citizens
from across the commonwealth.
Last week, I attended the first of six Joint Interim Education Committee meetings
on Education. We heard from various experts in the area of school safety. After
the recent school shootings across the nation including here in Marshall County, I
can think of no greater priority than how to keep our children safe and secure
while attending school. There have been a wide range of proposals presented in
recent months. Our challenge at the state level along with local schools is what
proactive steps can we take that will make our schools more safe. The presenters
last week focused on three suggestions, hardening our schools against possible
attacks, prevention and adding additional school resource officers across the
state. Along with our committee efforts, a bi-partisan working group has been
established specifically to study school safety. Their goal is to actively research
various ideas and proposals and develop a list of best practices that can be
implemented in our Kentucky schools.
I will also be meeting with the Joint Interim Committees on Agriculture and
Appropriations and Revenue throughout the year. Many important subjects will
be discussed throughout this process. There are eight sub-committees of
Appropriations and Revenue which will also meet during the interim. As chairman
of the Budget Review Sub-Committee on Postsecondary Education, we will hear
from our eight public universities and the Kentucky Community Technical College
System on budget and financial issues they face.
I have also been named to serve on a Taskforce that will examine the Tax
Expenditures that currently exist in the state of Kentucky. These include several
hundred tax exemptions, tax credits and other deductions from tax revenues.
There are currently over $10 Billion per year in income, sales and property taxes
that are not collected. In addition there are various tax credits for projects across
our state. Our challenge is to review these tax expenditures and evaluate their
need and effectiveness. We will make recommendations as to whether they
should continue or be eliminated or modified by the end of the year. This will be
an extremely challenging process, but this will be a critical part of any future
discussions on comprehensive tax modernization. Our first meeting will be June
28 at 3 PM and will be held in the Capitol Annex in Frankfort.
SB 151 which passed in the recent session of the General Assembly included a
provision requiring all future Governors and Legislators to fully fund all future
public pension contributions. This legislation also implements a Level Dollar
Funding Model which will insure that adequate appropriations are made each
budget cycle to pay off the over $40 Billion in unfunded pension liabilities that
Kentucky faces. In the final budget that passed this year the amount allocated for
public pension contributions over the next two years was $3.3 Billion or 15% of
our entire general fund budget. This is the first time since 2002 that our pension
systems were fully funded. In 2014, less than $1 Billion was allocated which was
5% of the budget and in 2016 the number was $2.2 Billion or 10% of our state
budget. This is a huge obligation that continues to grow which will impact all
Kentuckians for many years to come.
For my Spencer County constituents, I have been informed by the Transportation
Cabinet that work will begin the week of June 18 on Highway 44 going east out of
Taylorsville (The Four Lane). There has been much discussion around the
community since a new pavement maintenance process was done last fall
resulting in the swirly black lines on the roadway. The next step in the process will
be a chip n seal on the roadway. I have been told that this process could take up
to 10 days and drivers are advised to take extra precaution and reduce speed as
you drive. The final part of the process is an application of a thin layer of asphalt
over the highway. Officials have told me this process will be done at around 55%
of the cost of a normal repaving project and should extend the life of the road by
10 years. This new pavement maintenance process is being done in several
locations across the state.
You now have the opportunity to find meeting presentations from our joint
interim committee meetings on the following website. Go to www.Lrc.Ky.Gov and
click on Committees. From there, click on Joint Interim Committees and choose
the committee that you are interested in learning more about. There is a link
called Meeting Materials that will allow you to view the presentations that were
made to the committee. The school safety information from last week’s Education
Committee is already available. It is an honor to represent the great people of
Anderson, Spencer and Bullitt Counties who make up House District 53. Please
contact me with any concerns or needs at (502)564-8100, ext 793 or my cell at
(502)639-7079. You can also email me at [email protected].
Kentucky General Assembly’s 2018 session ends
FRANKFORT -- The Kentucky General Assembly’s 2018 regular session ended this evening, capping off a session in which lawmakers approved the state’s next two-year budget and numerous other measures that will affect people throughout the state.
Most new laws – those that come from legislation that don’t contain emergency clauses or different specified effective dates – will go into effect in mid-July.
A partial list of bills approved this year by the General Assembly include measures on the following topics:
Abortion. House Bill 454 will prohibit a certain type of abortion procedure, known as a D & E, if a woman is more than 11 weeks pregnant. The legislation does not ban other types of abortion procedures. (Enforcement of this new law has been temporarily halted by a federal judge until motions challenging the measure are heard in June.)
Abstinence Education. Senate Bill 71 will require the inclusion of abstinence education in any human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases curriculum in Kentucky high schools.
Bicycle safety. House Bill 33 will require drivers to keep vehicles at least three feet away from bicyclists during an attempt to pass. If that much space isn’t available, the driver must use “reasonable caution” when passing cyclists.
Breweries. House Bill 136 will increase what breweries can sell onsite to three cases and two kegs per customer. Another provision will allow breweries to sell one case per customer at fairs and festivals in wet jurisdictions.
Budget. House Bill 200 will guide state spending for the next two fiscal years. The plan fully funds the state’s main public pension systems at the levels recommended by actuarial analysis. It calls for 6.25 percent baseline cuts for most state agencies, although some agencies are spared. Agencies that will avoid cuts include the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Kentucky State Police, and local school-based Kentucky Family Resource and Youth Services Centers. The budget plan will boost base per-pupil funding for K-12 education to a record level of $4,000 per student in each fiscal year. It also includes more than $60 million in new revenue to help implement proposed adoption and foster care reforms and tens of millions of dollars to hire more social workers.
Dyslexia. House Bill 187 will require the state Department of Education to make a “dyslexia toolkit” available to school districts to help them identify and instruct students who display characteristics of dyslexia.
Financial literacy. House Bill 132 will require Kentucky high school students to pass a financial literacy course before graduating.
Foster Care and Adoption. House Bill 1 intends to reform the state’s foster care and adoption system to ensure that a child’s time in foster care is limited and that children are returned to family whenever possible. It would expand the definition of blood relative for child placement and ensure that children in foster care are reunified with family or placed in another permanent home in a timely manner.
Gangs. House Bill 169 will establish penalties for criminal gang-related crimes, especially those involving gang recruitment. The legislation will make gang recruitment a felony instead of misdemeanor for adults and make minors involved in such activity face felony charges in certain cases.
Jail security. House Bill 92 will allow jail canteen profits to be used for the enhancement of jail safety and security.
Organ donation. House Bill 84 will require coroners or medical examiners to release identifying and other relevant information about a deceased person to Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates if the person’s wish to be an organ donor is known and the body is suitable for medical transplant or therapy.
Pharmacies. Senate Bill 5 is aimed at ensuring that independent pharmacists are fairly reimbursed for filling prescriptions of Medicaid recipients. This measure will place the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services in charge of setting the reimbursement rates for a pharmacist. The rate is currently set by pharmacy-benefit managers hired by the state’s Medicaid managed-care organizations.
Police cameras. House Bill 373 will exempt some police body camera footage from being publicly released. It will exempt the footage from certain situations being released if it shows the interior of private homes, medical facilities, women’s shelters and jails or shows a dead body, evidence of sexual assault, nude bodies and children.
Prescription medicines. Senate Bill 6 will require a pharmacist to provide information about the safe disposal of certain prescription medicines, such as opiates and amphetamines.
Price gouging. Senate Bill 160 will clarify laws aimed at preventing price gouging during emergencies. The bill specifies that fines could be imposed if a retailer suddenly increases the price of goods more than 10 percent when the governor declares a state of emergency.
Public pensions. Senate Bill 151 will make changes aimed at stabilizing public pension systems that face more than $40 billion in unfunded liabilities. Changes proposed by the pension reform legislation include placing future teachers in a hybrid “cash balance” plan rather than a traditional benefits plan and limiting the impact of accrued sick leave on retirement benefit calculations.
Revenge porn. House Bill 71 will increase penalties for posting sexually explicit images online without the consent of the person depicted. The crime would be misdemeanor for the first offence and felony for subsequent offences. Penalties would be even more severe if the images were posted for profit.
Road Plan. House Bill 202 will authorize over $2.4 billion for bridges, repaving and other highway needs throughout Kentucky over the next two fiscal years.
Tax reform. Tax reform provisions included in House Bill 366 will generate about $400 million in additional revenue over the next two years. The plan include a cigarette tax increase of 50 cents per pack and an expansion of the state sales tax to some services, such as landscaping, janitorial, laundry and small-animal veterinary services. It will also create a flat 5 percent tax for personal and corporate income taxes in Kentucky. The inventory tax would also be phased out over a four-year period. Under the plan, the only itemized deductions allowed would be for Social Security income, mortgage income and charitable giving. It would also disallow the deductions for such things as medical costs, taxes paid, interest expense on investments, and casualty and theft losses. It would also remove the $10 state personal income tax credit.
Teen marriage. Senate Bill 48 will prohibit anyone under the age of 17 from getting married. It would also require a district judge to approve the marriage of any 17-year-old. While current law states 16- and 17-year-olds can be married with parental consent, a district judge can approve the marriage of a child below the age of 16 if the girl is pregnant.
Terrorism. Senate Bill 57 will allow a person injured by an act of terrorism to file a claim for damages against the terrorist in state court.
--END--
FRANKFORT -- The Kentucky General Assembly’s 2018 regular session ended this evening, capping off a session in which lawmakers approved the state’s next two-year budget and numerous other measures that will affect people throughout the state.
Most new laws – those that come from legislation that don’t contain emergency clauses or different specified effective dates – will go into effect in mid-July.
A partial list of bills approved this year by the General Assembly include measures on the following topics:
Abortion. House Bill 454 will prohibit a certain type of abortion procedure, known as a D & E, if a woman is more than 11 weeks pregnant. The legislation does not ban other types of abortion procedures. (Enforcement of this new law has been temporarily halted by a federal judge until motions challenging the measure are heard in June.)
Abstinence Education. Senate Bill 71 will require the inclusion of abstinence education in any human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases curriculum in Kentucky high schools.
Bicycle safety. House Bill 33 will require drivers to keep vehicles at least three feet away from bicyclists during an attempt to pass. If that much space isn’t available, the driver must use “reasonable caution” when passing cyclists.
Breweries. House Bill 136 will increase what breweries can sell onsite to three cases and two kegs per customer. Another provision will allow breweries to sell one case per customer at fairs and festivals in wet jurisdictions.
Budget. House Bill 200 will guide state spending for the next two fiscal years. The plan fully funds the state’s main public pension systems at the levels recommended by actuarial analysis. It calls for 6.25 percent baseline cuts for most state agencies, although some agencies are spared. Agencies that will avoid cuts include the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Kentucky State Police, and local school-based Kentucky Family Resource and Youth Services Centers. The budget plan will boost base per-pupil funding for K-12 education to a record level of $4,000 per student in each fiscal year. It also includes more than $60 million in new revenue to help implement proposed adoption and foster care reforms and tens of millions of dollars to hire more social workers.
Dyslexia. House Bill 187 will require the state Department of Education to make a “dyslexia toolkit” available to school districts to help them identify and instruct students who display characteristics of dyslexia.
Financial literacy. House Bill 132 will require Kentucky high school students to pass a financial literacy course before graduating.
Foster Care and Adoption. House Bill 1 intends to reform the state’s foster care and adoption system to ensure that a child’s time in foster care is limited and that children are returned to family whenever possible. It would expand the definition of blood relative for child placement and ensure that children in foster care are reunified with family or placed in another permanent home in a timely manner.
Gangs. House Bill 169 will establish penalties for criminal gang-related crimes, especially those involving gang recruitment. The legislation will make gang recruitment a felony instead of misdemeanor for adults and make minors involved in such activity face felony charges in certain cases.
Jail security. House Bill 92 will allow jail canteen profits to be used for the enhancement of jail safety and security.
Organ donation. House Bill 84 will require coroners or medical examiners to release identifying and other relevant information about a deceased person to Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates if the person’s wish to be an organ donor is known and the body is suitable for medical transplant or therapy.
Pharmacies. Senate Bill 5 is aimed at ensuring that independent pharmacists are fairly reimbursed for filling prescriptions of Medicaid recipients. This measure will place the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services in charge of setting the reimbursement rates for a pharmacist. The rate is currently set by pharmacy-benefit managers hired by the state’s Medicaid managed-care organizations.
Police cameras. House Bill 373 will exempt some police body camera footage from being publicly released. It will exempt the footage from certain situations being released if it shows the interior of private homes, medical facilities, women’s shelters and jails or shows a dead body, evidence of sexual assault, nude bodies and children.
Prescription medicines. Senate Bill 6 will require a pharmacist to provide information about the safe disposal of certain prescription medicines, such as opiates and amphetamines.
Price gouging. Senate Bill 160 will clarify laws aimed at preventing price gouging during emergencies. The bill specifies that fines could be imposed if a retailer suddenly increases the price of goods more than 10 percent when the governor declares a state of emergency.
Public pensions. Senate Bill 151 will make changes aimed at stabilizing public pension systems that face more than $40 billion in unfunded liabilities. Changes proposed by the pension reform legislation include placing future teachers in a hybrid “cash balance” plan rather than a traditional benefits plan and limiting the impact of accrued sick leave on retirement benefit calculations.
Revenge porn. House Bill 71 will increase penalties for posting sexually explicit images online without the consent of the person depicted. The crime would be misdemeanor for the first offence and felony for subsequent offences. Penalties would be even more severe if the images were posted for profit.
Road Plan. House Bill 202 will authorize over $2.4 billion for bridges, repaving and other highway needs throughout Kentucky over the next two fiscal years.
Tax reform. Tax reform provisions included in House Bill 366 will generate about $400 million in additional revenue over the next two years. The plan include a cigarette tax increase of 50 cents per pack and an expansion of the state sales tax to some services, such as landscaping, janitorial, laundry and small-animal veterinary services. It will also create a flat 5 percent tax for personal and corporate income taxes in Kentucky. The inventory tax would also be phased out over a four-year period. Under the plan, the only itemized deductions allowed would be for Social Security income, mortgage income and charitable giving. It would also disallow the deductions for such things as medical costs, taxes paid, interest expense on investments, and casualty and theft losses. It would also remove the $10 state personal income tax credit.
Teen marriage. Senate Bill 48 will prohibit anyone under the age of 17 from getting married. It would also require a district judge to approve the marriage of any 17-year-old. While current law states 16- and 17-year-olds can be married with parental consent, a district judge can approve the marriage of a child below the age of 16 if the girl is pregnant.
Terrorism. Senate Bill 57 will allow a person injured by an act of terrorism to file a claim for damages against the terrorist in state court.
--END--
April 14, 2018
This Week at the State Capitol
April 13-14
FRANKFORT -- State lawmakers put the finishing touches on the General Assembly’s 2018 session this week by overriding gubernatorial vetoes, most notably on the state budget and tax reform legislation, and passing bills right up to the session’s final hours.
By overriding vetoes this week, lawmakers ensured that their preferred versions of the budget and tax measures become law.
The tax reform measure, House Bill 366, will increase state revenues which, in turn, allowed lawmakers to craft a state budget that avoids some, but not all, of the budget cuts that were contained in the governor’s original budget proposal.
Highlights of the tax plan – which is expected to generate nearly a half of billion dollars in additional revenue for the state over the next two fiscal years – include a cigarette tax increase of 50 cents per pack and an expansion of the state sales tax to some services, such as landscaping services, janitorial services, veterinarian services for small animals, fitness and recreational sports centers, commercial laundries, golf courses and country clubs, dry cleaning, pet grooming, weight loss centers and campgrounds.
The tax reform plan will allow the vast majority of working Kentuckians to see their income taxes go down. Most working Kentuckians currently have at least 5.8 percent of their pay go toward income taxes. But, starting this summer, that rate will go down to a flat 5 percent for everyone.
The corporate income tax rate will also go to a flat 5 percent.
Proponents of the tax plan say that it does what many say good tax policy should strive to do: broaden the tax base while lowering rates. They also note that the plan moves the state toward a consumption-based tax system. Critics of the plan say the tax changes disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Kentuckians.
As a result of the tax plan, budget cuts are less severe than some expected. The spending plan includes 6.25 percent baseline cuts for most state agencies, although some agencies are spared. Agencies that will avoid cuts include the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Kentucky State Police, and local school-based Kentucky Family Resource and Youth Services Centers.
The budget fully funds the state’s main public pension systems at the levels recommended by actuarial analysis.
It also boosts base per-pupil funding for K-12 education to a record level of $4,000 per student in each fiscal year. It would also increase school transportation funding to $127.8 million in each year of the budget cycle.
The budget plan includes more than $60 million in new revenue to help implement newly approved adoption and foster care reforms, including more than $23 million for placement of foster children with relatives, and tens of millions of dollars to hire more social workers and increase social worker salaries.
In a separate action this week, lawmakers also overrode a gubernatorial veto to House Bill 362, a pension “phase in” bill for local governments. The legislation will allow city and county government to phase in increased contributions to their pension systems while allowing local governments to receive financing at zero percent interest when leaving the system.
Also this week, lawmakers sent a bill to the governor’s office aimed at reducing criminal gang activity. House Bill 169 will make gang recruitment a felony instead of misdemeanor for adults and make minors involved in such activity face felony charges in certain cases.
Although the legislative session has now ended, constituents are still encouraged to contact their Representatives and Senators to voice their opinions about issues of interest. If you’d like to share your thoughts and ideas with state lawmakers, please call the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at (800) 372-7181, or find contact information for individual legislators at www.lrc.ky.gov.
--END-
This Week at the State Capitol
April 13-14
FRANKFORT -- State lawmakers put the finishing touches on the General Assembly’s 2018 session this week by overriding gubernatorial vetoes, most notably on the state budget and tax reform legislation, and passing bills right up to the session’s final hours.
By overriding vetoes this week, lawmakers ensured that their preferred versions of the budget and tax measures become law.
The tax reform measure, House Bill 366, will increase state revenues which, in turn, allowed lawmakers to craft a state budget that avoids some, but not all, of the budget cuts that were contained in the governor’s original budget proposal.
Highlights of the tax plan – which is expected to generate nearly a half of billion dollars in additional revenue for the state over the next two fiscal years – include a cigarette tax increase of 50 cents per pack and an expansion of the state sales tax to some services, such as landscaping services, janitorial services, veterinarian services for small animals, fitness and recreational sports centers, commercial laundries, golf courses and country clubs, dry cleaning, pet grooming, weight loss centers and campgrounds.
The tax reform plan will allow the vast majority of working Kentuckians to see their income taxes go down. Most working Kentuckians currently have at least 5.8 percent of their pay go toward income taxes. But, starting this summer, that rate will go down to a flat 5 percent for everyone.
The corporate income tax rate will also go to a flat 5 percent.
Proponents of the tax plan say that it does what many say good tax policy should strive to do: broaden the tax base while lowering rates. They also note that the plan moves the state toward a consumption-based tax system. Critics of the plan say the tax changes disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Kentuckians.
As a result of the tax plan, budget cuts are less severe than some expected. The spending plan includes 6.25 percent baseline cuts for most state agencies, although some agencies are spared. Agencies that will avoid cuts include the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Kentucky State Police, and local school-based Kentucky Family Resource and Youth Services Centers.
The budget fully funds the state’s main public pension systems at the levels recommended by actuarial analysis.
It also boosts base per-pupil funding for K-12 education to a record level of $4,000 per student in each fiscal year. It would also increase school transportation funding to $127.8 million in each year of the budget cycle.
The budget plan includes more than $60 million in new revenue to help implement newly approved adoption and foster care reforms, including more than $23 million for placement of foster children with relatives, and tens of millions of dollars to hire more social workers and increase social worker salaries.
In a separate action this week, lawmakers also overrode a gubernatorial veto to House Bill 362, a pension “phase in” bill for local governments. The legislation will allow city and county government to phase in increased contributions to their pension systems while allowing local governments to receive financing at zero percent interest when leaving the system.
Also this week, lawmakers sent a bill to the governor’s office aimed at reducing criminal gang activity. House Bill 169 will make gang recruitment a felony instead of misdemeanor for adults and make minors involved in such activity face felony charges in certain cases.
Although the legislative session has now ended, constituents are still encouraged to contact their Representatives and Senators to voice their opinions about issues of interest. If you’d like to share your thoughts and ideas with state lawmakers, please call the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at (800) 372-7181, or find contact information for individual legislators at www.lrc.ky.gov.
--END-
This Week at the State Capitol
April 6, 2018
FRANKFORT -- This week, lawmakers fulfilled a main duty the state constitution requires of them as final approval was given to a state budget that will guide more than $22 billion worth of spending over the next two years.
The budget plan does not include all of the program cuts that received much attention when they were unveiled in the governor’s original budget plan. Rather, lawmakers approved a tax measure on the same day they approved the budget that raises revenue to stave off many of the proposed cuts.
In passing the budget plan, lawmakers emphasized that it fully funds the state’s main public pension systems at the levels recommended by actuarial analysis.
The budget includes 6.25 percent baseline cuts for most state agencies, although some agencies are spared. Agencies that will avoid cuts include the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Kentucky State Police, and local school-based Kentucky Family Resource and Youth Services Centers.
For K-12 education, the budget plan, known as House Bill200, would boost base per-pupil funding for K-12 education to a record level of $4,000 per student in each fiscal year. It would also increase school transportation funding to $127.8 million in each year of the budget cycle. It would also provide more than $10 million next fiscal year to help 31 school districts replace lost revenues following a drop in the assessment on unmined coal, among other provisions.
HB 200 also includes more than $60 million in new revenue to help implement proposed adoption and foster care reforms, including more than $23 million for placement of foster children with relatives, and tens of millions of dollars to hire more social workers and increase social worker salaries.
Additional funds for spending on social workers and prosecutors is also included in the budget, with provisions that would add $10 million to hire 94 additional Youth Workers for the Department of Juvenile Justice and around $6 million to hire more prosecutors.
The budget bill passed the House by a 59-36 vote and was approved by the Senate on a 25-13 vote.
Increased revenue that the budget depends on for some of its spending will be generated by the provisions found in House Bill 366, a tax reform measure that has been approved and sent to the governor. The measure, which includes a 50 cent tax increase on packs of cigarettes, would generate nearly a half of billion dollars in additional money for the state over the next two fiscal years.
Besides the cigarette tax, the plan would create a flat rate for personal and corporate income taxes in Kentucky while expanding the sales tax to certain services.
The personal income tax rate would be set at a flat five percent instead of the current brackets ranging from two percent to six percent, while the corporate income tax would also go to a flat rate of five percent instead of the current brackets ranging from four percent to six percent. The inventory tax would also be phased out over a four-year period.
The only itemized deductions allowed under HB 366 would be for Social Security income, mortgage income and charitable giving. It would disallow the deductions for such things as medical costs, taxes paid, interest expense on investments, and casualty and theft losses. It would also remove the $10 state personal income tax credit.
Another provision would lower the pension income exclusion to $31,110 from $41,110.
The plan would also place a sales tax on some services associated with certain repairs, installation and maintenance related to personal property, such as a car. The sales tax would also be expanded to other selected services including landscaping services, janitorial services, veterinarian services for small animals, fitness and recreational sports centers, commercial laundries, golf courses and country clubs, dry cleaning, pet grooming, weight loss centers and campgrounds.
The tax measure was approved by the Senate on a 20-18 vote and by the House on a 51-44 vote.
While much attention was on the budget and tax reform measures approved this week, lawmakers also approved a number of other bills, including legislation on the following topics:
Road Plan. House Bill 202 will guide over $2.4 billion in spending for Kentucky’s bridges, repaving projects and other road needs throughout Kentucky over the next two fiscal years. The bill has been approved and delivered to the governor. Lawmakers have also approved House Joint Resolution 74, which identifies projects for in the last four years of the state’s six-year Road Plan. Projects in this plan are prioritized but not yet funded.
Adoption and foster care. House Bill 1 would reform Kentucky’s adoption and foster care system with the goal of ensuring that a child’s time in foster care is limited and that children are returned to family whenever possible. The legislation would also expand the definition of blood relative for child placement and ensure that children in foster care are reunified with family or placed in another permanent home in a timely manner. It would also require more case reviews for each child in foster care, create a “putative father registry” so that a child’s possible (but not verified) biological father can be notified of the child’s prospective adoption, and allow the state to seek termination of parental rights for new mothers who won’t seek drug treatment after giving birth to a drug-addicted baby.
Abstinence education. Senate Bill 71 would require the abstinence education be included when schools offer any human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases curriculum.
Alcohol. House Bill 400 would allow direct shipment of alcoholic beverages to people’s homes. The legislation would allow visitors at bourbon distilleries to ship limited amounts of spirits home as well as join bourbon of the month clubs. HB 400 would also permit vineyards to ship specific amounts of wine out of state. Another provision would allow liquor stores to ship a limited amount of spirits purchased from their shops. In addition, it would also require the shippers of the spirits to verify the delivery is made to someone at least 21 years old living in a “wet” area.
Lawmakers have now returned to their homes districts for a ten-day “veto recess.” This is the period of time in which lawmakers wait until the end of the time period in which the governor can cast vetoes on legislation that has recently passed. This waiting period ensures that lawmakers have a chance to consider overriding any vetoes before officially adjourning the 2018 session. The session’s final days are scheduled to be held on April 13 and 14.
If you’d like to share your thoughts with lawmakers about any of the measures that have been approved this year, you can do so by calling the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.
--END--
April 6, 2018
FRANKFORT -- This week, lawmakers fulfilled a main duty the state constitution requires of them as final approval was given to a state budget that will guide more than $22 billion worth of spending over the next two years.
The budget plan does not include all of the program cuts that received much attention when they were unveiled in the governor’s original budget plan. Rather, lawmakers approved a tax measure on the same day they approved the budget that raises revenue to stave off many of the proposed cuts.
In passing the budget plan, lawmakers emphasized that it fully funds the state’s main public pension systems at the levels recommended by actuarial analysis.
The budget includes 6.25 percent baseline cuts for most state agencies, although some agencies are spared. Agencies that will avoid cuts include the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Kentucky State Police, and local school-based Kentucky Family Resource and Youth Services Centers.
For K-12 education, the budget plan, known as House Bill200, would boost base per-pupil funding for K-12 education to a record level of $4,000 per student in each fiscal year. It would also increase school transportation funding to $127.8 million in each year of the budget cycle. It would also provide more than $10 million next fiscal year to help 31 school districts replace lost revenues following a drop in the assessment on unmined coal, among other provisions.
HB 200 also includes more than $60 million in new revenue to help implement proposed adoption and foster care reforms, including more than $23 million for placement of foster children with relatives, and tens of millions of dollars to hire more social workers and increase social worker salaries.
Additional funds for spending on social workers and prosecutors is also included in the budget, with provisions that would add $10 million to hire 94 additional Youth Workers for the Department of Juvenile Justice and around $6 million to hire more prosecutors.
The budget bill passed the House by a 59-36 vote and was approved by the Senate on a 25-13 vote.
Increased revenue that the budget depends on for some of its spending will be generated by the provisions found in House Bill 366, a tax reform measure that has been approved and sent to the governor. The measure, which includes a 50 cent tax increase on packs of cigarettes, would generate nearly a half of billion dollars in additional money for the state over the next two fiscal years.
Besides the cigarette tax, the plan would create a flat rate for personal and corporate income taxes in Kentucky while expanding the sales tax to certain services.
The personal income tax rate would be set at a flat five percent instead of the current brackets ranging from two percent to six percent, while the corporate income tax would also go to a flat rate of five percent instead of the current brackets ranging from four percent to six percent. The inventory tax would also be phased out over a four-year period.
The only itemized deductions allowed under HB 366 would be for Social Security income, mortgage income and charitable giving. It would disallow the deductions for such things as medical costs, taxes paid, interest expense on investments, and casualty and theft losses. It would also remove the $10 state personal income tax credit.
Another provision would lower the pension income exclusion to $31,110 from $41,110.
The plan would also place a sales tax on some services associated with certain repairs, installation and maintenance related to personal property, such as a car. The sales tax would also be expanded to other selected services including landscaping services, janitorial services, veterinarian services for small animals, fitness and recreational sports centers, commercial laundries, golf courses and country clubs, dry cleaning, pet grooming, weight loss centers and campgrounds.
The tax measure was approved by the Senate on a 20-18 vote and by the House on a 51-44 vote.
While much attention was on the budget and tax reform measures approved this week, lawmakers also approved a number of other bills, including legislation on the following topics:
Road Plan. House Bill 202 will guide over $2.4 billion in spending for Kentucky’s bridges, repaving projects and other road needs throughout Kentucky over the next two fiscal years. The bill has been approved and delivered to the governor. Lawmakers have also approved House Joint Resolution 74, which identifies projects for in the last four years of the state’s six-year Road Plan. Projects in this plan are prioritized but not yet funded.
Adoption and foster care. House Bill 1 would reform Kentucky’s adoption and foster care system with the goal of ensuring that a child’s time in foster care is limited and that children are returned to family whenever possible. The legislation would also expand the definition of blood relative for child placement and ensure that children in foster care are reunified with family or placed in another permanent home in a timely manner. It would also require more case reviews for each child in foster care, create a “putative father registry” so that a child’s possible (but not verified) biological father can be notified of the child’s prospective adoption, and allow the state to seek termination of parental rights for new mothers who won’t seek drug treatment after giving birth to a drug-addicted baby.
Abstinence education. Senate Bill 71 would require the abstinence education be included when schools offer any human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases curriculum.
Alcohol. House Bill 400 would allow direct shipment of alcoholic beverages to people’s homes. The legislation would allow visitors at bourbon distilleries to ship limited amounts of spirits home as well as join bourbon of the month clubs. HB 400 would also permit vineyards to ship specific amounts of wine out of state. Another provision would allow liquor stores to ship a limited amount of spirits purchased from their shops. In addition, it would also require the shippers of the spirits to verify the delivery is made to someone at least 21 years old living in a “wet” area.
Lawmakers have now returned to their homes districts for a ten-day “veto recess.” This is the period of time in which lawmakers wait until the end of the time period in which the governor can cast vetoes on legislation that has recently passed. This waiting period ensures that lawmakers have a chance to consider overriding any vetoes before officially adjourning the 2018 session. The session’s final days are scheduled to be held on April 13 and 14.
If you’d like to share your thoughts with lawmakers about any of the measures that have been approved this year, you can do so by calling the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.
--END--
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The Senate passed public pension reform legislation last week. Some of the provisions of Senate Bill 1 were placed into another bill, SB 151, and sent to the Governor for his signature. There have been many questions about how SB 151 was passed and what changes the legislation made to public employee retirement benefits, so here are some important things to know: SB 151 does not change the cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retired teachers; teachers can still retire after 27 years and receive their earned benefit enhancements; high 3 remains in place for those retiring at or after 27 years; and the factor of 3 remains for teachers working beyond 30 years.
SB151 does make one change to retirement benefits for current teachers. In a change taken from the Superintendents’ Shared Responsibility Plan, teachers will no longer be able to use sick days earned after January 1, 2019 to enhance their final retirement calculation. But teachers can still use their existing sick days to enhance their final year of compensation when they retire, with no time limit to use them. It is important to note that no teacher will ever lose a sick day, and he or she will not be forced to retire by a certain date to use their existing sick days for retirement. Teachers will still be able to cash in sick days earned after January 1, 2019 at retirement, but those sick days will not be included in retirement calculation.
Teachers hired after January 1, 2019 will have their retirement funded by a hybrid cash balance plan administered by the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System (KTRS or TRS), the same system that current manages teachers’ retirements. This plan sends new teachers' retirement contributions to TRS to be invested in the exact same way current teachers’ contributions are invested.
There are no perfect solutions, but inaction on reforming Kentucky’s public pension systems was not an option. If the General Assembly had simply raised taxes without addressing funding issues and unfunded retirement enhancements, we would never get the plans fully funded. The pension reforms enacted by the General Assembly ensure that the core retirement benefits of every current public employee are protected, and new public employees will have a safe, sustainable retirement income in the future. In SB151, we require future General Assemblies to fully fund all plans.
This has been a challenging process. I can see why it has not been addressed for the past 10 years. Based on the concerns of the thousands of teachers, retirees, and KERS/CERS members who contacted me, I worked to change many of the initial proposed cuts to make a better bill. Here are some important details of the bill I voted for:
1. No reduction in COLA,
2. The only change to active teachers was to cap sick days as of Dec 31st of this year,
3. New employees will go into a hybrid cash balance plan. This stops the digging so we can concentrate all funding towards our unfunded liability,
4. Requires future Governors and General Assemblies to fully fund all pension plans,
5. Moves TRS to level-dollar funding instead of percentage-of-payroll funding, which requires an additional $400 million a year.
Thanks again for all your e-mails, phone calls, letters and visits. I want to thank you all for participating in the process. I assure you that your participation improved the final version of the pension bill.
If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181, on my home phone at 270-692-6945, or email me at [email protected]. You can also review the Legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.
Jimmy Higdon
The Senate passed public pension reform legislation last week. Some of the provisions of Senate Bill 1 were placed into another bill, SB 151, and sent to the Governor for his signature. There have been many questions about how SB 151 was passed and what changes the legislation made to public employee retirement benefits, so here are some important things to know: SB 151 does not change the cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retired teachers; teachers can still retire after 27 years and receive their earned benefit enhancements; high 3 remains in place for those retiring at or after 27 years; and the factor of 3 remains for teachers working beyond 30 years.
SB151 does make one change to retirement benefits for current teachers. In a change taken from the Superintendents’ Shared Responsibility Plan, teachers will no longer be able to use sick days earned after January 1, 2019 to enhance their final retirement calculation. But teachers can still use their existing sick days to enhance their final year of compensation when they retire, with no time limit to use them. It is important to note that no teacher will ever lose a sick day, and he or she will not be forced to retire by a certain date to use their existing sick days for retirement. Teachers will still be able to cash in sick days earned after January 1, 2019 at retirement, but those sick days will not be included in retirement calculation.
Teachers hired after January 1, 2019 will have their retirement funded by a hybrid cash balance plan administered by the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System (KTRS or TRS), the same system that current manages teachers’ retirements. This plan sends new teachers' retirement contributions to TRS to be invested in the exact same way current teachers’ contributions are invested.
There are no perfect solutions, but inaction on reforming Kentucky’s public pension systems was not an option. If the General Assembly had simply raised taxes without addressing funding issues and unfunded retirement enhancements, we would never get the plans fully funded. The pension reforms enacted by the General Assembly ensure that the core retirement benefits of every current public employee are protected, and new public employees will have a safe, sustainable retirement income in the future. In SB151, we require future General Assemblies to fully fund all plans.
This has been a challenging process. I can see why it has not been addressed for the past 10 years. Based on the concerns of the thousands of teachers, retirees, and KERS/CERS members who contacted me, I worked to change many of the initial proposed cuts to make a better bill. Here are some important details of the bill I voted for:
1. No reduction in COLA,
2. The only change to active teachers was to cap sick days as of Dec 31st of this year,
3. New employees will go into a hybrid cash balance plan. This stops the digging so we can concentrate all funding towards our unfunded liability,
4. Requires future Governors and General Assemblies to fully fund all pension plans,
5. Moves TRS to level-dollar funding instead of percentage-of-payroll funding, which requires an additional $400 million a year.
Thanks again for all your e-mails, phone calls, letters and visits. I want to thank you all for participating in the process. I assure you that your participation improved the final version of the pension bill.
If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181, on my home phone at 270-692-6945, or email me at [email protected]. You can also review the Legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.
Jimmy Higdon
Putting our Pensions on a Stronger Path
Legislation to put Kentucky’s pension systems on a stronger trajectory passed the General Assembly last week. This measure puts the retirement of our teachers, law enforcement, and state workers on sounder footing, and is based heavily off of the input and concerns of these valued public servants. With an unfunded liability for our pension systems of at least $40 Billion, it was imperative that action be taken this year.
We did not continue to kick the can down the road, as many wanted us to do. We took sound action to confront this crisis. It is a crisis because Kentucky has one of the worst managed and worst funded pension plans in the United States. Our plan establishes a sound funding formula that ensures future General Assemblies will fully fund the pensions, and puts future hires into a defined benefit, hybrid cash-balance plan.
The hybrid plan, which new state employees hired since 2014 have entered into, has many benefits that future employees will receive. In fact, it is likely that future employees will have more money for their retirement under this hybrid plan than in the traditional defined benefit plan. Analysis shows that, using economic circumstances and past market trends, participants would have an average of 78% of their income replaced in retirement. Currently, it is just 71%. This plan allows participants to realize increases in the stock market, while also not suffering from any market downfall.
Further, this plan does not reduce benefits for any current employee. I cannot emphasize this enough, as well as how much this differs from the other proposals. Cost of living adjustments for retired teachers will remain at 1.5%, and a provision requiring teachers with less than 20 years of service to work longer in order to receive enhanced benefits (High 3 and 3.0 Multiplier) was pulled.
The only change for current teachers is that sick days accumulated after December 31, 2018 cannot be used to increase credible compensation for retirement moving forward. However, teachers can apply any days they have accumulated up until that point to their credible compensation for retirement, and can continue to get paid for those sick days in accordance with their local district policy.
In the KRS system, employees within five years of retirement will continue to be able to use their accumulated sick days as of December 31, 2018 for service credit to obtain a date certain for retirement. For employees who are more than five years from retirement, they will be able to use accumulated sick days as of December 31, 2018 to add to their service credit once they get to a date certain for retirement. Also, a full 36 months will be required to determine the High 3 and a full 60 months will be required to determine a High 5 calculation.
Also, much is being made about the supposed $5,000 reduction in death benefits for beneficiaries of state employees. This is language should have been included in the 2013 pension reform bill as there is no mechanism to provide this benefit to employees in the hybrid cash balance plan. These active employees receive a $20,000 life insurance policy. However, the death benefit does not change for those currently invested in the system.
This is a well thought out plan that has been heavily analyzed and scrutinized. It was not rushed, as this legislation has been in the public eye for weeks in the form of Senate Bill 1. I would not have voted for anything that I hadn’t read, and the committee substitute simply removed the provisions outlined above from SB 1. While it was not ideal for this legislation to be attached to another bill, this was the only way to proceed on saving the pension system this late in the legislative session. The Actuarial Analysis for this legislation is posted online, in the form of House Committee Substitute 1 to Senate Bill 151.
Internal meetings have taken place since April of 2017 to talk about the best way to approach this crisis. There have been public meetings since June discussing the steady decline in pension funding over time. I take this crisis seriously and am dedicated to fixing the pension system and providing a good retirement for all public employees.
I will continue to push for full pension and education funding in the budget and a revenue stream to pay for these needs, which will be finalized on Monday of this week. I will provide those details next week. In the meantime, I hope that you will reach out to me with your questions, comments, and concerns. It is an honor to serve you in Frankfort, and I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Reach out to me at [email protected], on my cell at (502)639-7079 or on the LRC message line at 1-800-372-7181.
Legislation to put Kentucky’s pension systems on a stronger trajectory passed the General Assembly last week. This measure puts the retirement of our teachers, law enforcement, and state workers on sounder footing, and is based heavily off of the input and concerns of these valued public servants. With an unfunded liability for our pension systems of at least $40 Billion, it was imperative that action be taken this year.
We did not continue to kick the can down the road, as many wanted us to do. We took sound action to confront this crisis. It is a crisis because Kentucky has one of the worst managed and worst funded pension plans in the United States. Our plan establishes a sound funding formula that ensures future General Assemblies will fully fund the pensions, and puts future hires into a defined benefit, hybrid cash-balance plan.
The hybrid plan, which new state employees hired since 2014 have entered into, has many benefits that future employees will receive. In fact, it is likely that future employees will have more money for their retirement under this hybrid plan than in the traditional defined benefit plan. Analysis shows that, using economic circumstances and past market trends, participants would have an average of 78% of their income replaced in retirement. Currently, it is just 71%. This plan allows participants to realize increases in the stock market, while also not suffering from any market downfall.
Further, this plan does not reduce benefits for any current employee. I cannot emphasize this enough, as well as how much this differs from the other proposals. Cost of living adjustments for retired teachers will remain at 1.5%, and a provision requiring teachers with less than 20 years of service to work longer in order to receive enhanced benefits (High 3 and 3.0 Multiplier) was pulled.
The only change for current teachers is that sick days accumulated after December 31, 2018 cannot be used to increase credible compensation for retirement moving forward. However, teachers can apply any days they have accumulated up until that point to their credible compensation for retirement, and can continue to get paid for those sick days in accordance with their local district policy.
In the KRS system, employees within five years of retirement will continue to be able to use their accumulated sick days as of December 31, 2018 for service credit to obtain a date certain for retirement. For employees who are more than five years from retirement, they will be able to use accumulated sick days as of December 31, 2018 to add to their service credit once they get to a date certain for retirement. Also, a full 36 months will be required to determine the High 3 and a full 60 months will be required to determine a High 5 calculation.
Also, much is being made about the supposed $5,000 reduction in death benefits for beneficiaries of state employees. This is language should have been included in the 2013 pension reform bill as there is no mechanism to provide this benefit to employees in the hybrid cash balance plan. These active employees receive a $20,000 life insurance policy. However, the death benefit does not change for those currently invested in the system.
This is a well thought out plan that has been heavily analyzed and scrutinized. It was not rushed, as this legislation has been in the public eye for weeks in the form of Senate Bill 1. I would not have voted for anything that I hadn’t read, and the committee substitute simply removed the provisions outlined above from SB 1. While it was not ideal for this legislation to be attached to another bill, this was the only way to proceed on saving the pension system this late in the legislative session. The Actuarial Analysis for this legislation is posted online, in the form of House Committee Substitute 1 to Senate Bill 151.
Internal meetings have taken place since April of 2017 to talk about the best way to approach this crisis. There have been public meetings since June discussing the steady decline in pension funding over time. I take this crisis seriously and am dedicated to fixing the pension system and providing a good retirement for all public employees.
I will continue to push for full pension and education funding in the budget and a revenue stream to pay for these needs, which will be finalized on Monday of this week. I will provide those details next week. In the meantime, I hope that you will reach out to me with your questions, comments, and concerns. It is an honor to serve you in Frankfort, and I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Reach out to me at [email protected], on my cell at (502)639-7079 or on the LRC message line at 1-800-372-7181.
This Week at the State Capitol
March 26-30
FRANKFORT -- Efforts to reform the state’s public pension systems have taken a winding road and faced uncertain prospects at times since the issue came to the forefront of public discussion last year. But after making changes based on input received from stakeholders throughout the General Assembly’s 2018 session, public pension legislation reached the end of its legislative journey this week as lawmakers approved a bill on the issue and delivered it to the governor’s office to be signed into law.
One notable change to the legislation in recent days was removing a provision that would have reduced the cost-of-living adjustment for retired teachers. The previous proposal would have reduced that adjustment from 1.5 percent to 1 percent, but there’s no such reduction in the plan lawmakers ultimately approved.
The goal is to stabilize pension systems that face more than $40 billion in unfunded liabilities. More funding is one part of the plan, according to the proposed state budgets both chambers have approved but, as of this writing, have not come to a final agreement on. Changes proposed by the pension reform legislation, Senate Bill 151, are aimed at shoring up the system in a number of ways, such as by placing future teachers in a hybrid “cash balance” plan rather than a traditional benefits plan and by limiting the impact of accrued sick leave on retirement benefit calculations.
While much of the focus at week’s end was on the movement of the pension legislation, a number of other bills also received final approval and were sent to the governor this week, including measures on the following topics:
Prescription medicines. Senate Bill 6 would require a pharmacist to provide information about the safe disposal of certain prescription medicines, such as opiates and amphetamines.
Terrorism. Senate Bill 57 would allow a person injured by an act of terrorism to file a claim for damages against the terrorist in state court.
Police cameras. House Bill 373 would exempt some police body camera footage from being publicly released. It would exempt the footage from being released when it shows the interior of private homes, medical facilities, women’s shelters and jails or shows a dead body, evidence of sexual assault, nude bodies and children.
Abortion. Abortion. House Bill 454 would prohibit a certain type of abortion procedure, known as a D & E, if a woman is more than 11 weeks pregnant. The legislation does not ban other types of abortion procedures.
Lawmakers have adjusted their 2018 legislative calendar in order to convene the Senate and House on Monday, April 2, with hopes that a state budget agreement will be reached between the chambers at that time. A legislative recess is scheduled to begin on April 3, with lawmakers returning to the Capitol to adjourn the session by April 14.
Citizens who want to share feedback on the issues confronting our state can do so by calling the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.
--END--
March 26-30
FRANKFORT -- Efforts to reform the state’s public pension systems have taken a winding road and faced uncertain prospects at times since the issue came to the forefront of public discussion last year. But after making changes based on input received from stakeholders throughout the General Assembly’s 2018 session, public pension legislation reached the end of its legislative journey this week as lawmakers approved a bill on the issue and delivered it to the governor’s office to be signed into law.
One notable change to the legislation in recent days was removing a provision that would have reduced the cost-of-living adjustment for retired teachers. The previous proposal would have reduced that adjustment from 1.5 percent to 1 percent, but there’s no such reduction in the plan lawmakers ultimately approved.
The goal is to stabilize pension systems that face more than $40 billion in unfunded liabilities. More funding is one part of the plan, according to the proposed state budgets both chambers have approved but, as of this writing, have not come to a final agreement on. Changes proposed by the pension reform legislation, Senate Bill 151, are aimed at shoring up the system in a number of ways, such as by placing future teachers in a hybrid “cash balance” plan rather than a traditional benefits plan and by limiting the impact of accrued sick leave on retirement benefit calculations.
While much of the focus at week’s end was on the movement of the pension legislation, a number of other bills also received final approval and were sent to the governor this week, including measures on the following topics:
Prescription medicines. Senate Bill 6 would require a pharmacist to provide information about the safe disposal of certain prescription medicines, such as opiates and amphetamines.
Terrorism. Senate Bill 57 would allow a person injured by an act of terrorism to file a claim for damages against the terrorist in state court.
Police cameras. House Bill 373 would exempt some police body camera footage from being publicly released. It would exempt the footage from being released when it shows the interior of private homes, medical facilities, women’s shelters and jails or shows a dead body, evidence of sexual assault, nude bodies and children.
Abortion. Abortion. House Bill 454 would prohibit a certain type of abortion procedure, known as a D & E, if a woman is more than 11 weeks pregnant. The legislation does not ban other types of abortion procedures.
Lawmakers have adjusted their 2018 legislative calendar in order to convene the Senate and House on Monday, April 2, with hopes that a state budget agreement will be reached between the chambers at that time. A legislative recess is scheduled to begin on April 3, with lawmakers returning to the Capitol to adjourn the session by April 14.
Citizens who want to share feedback on the issues confronting our state can do so by calling the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.
--END--
This Week at the State Capitol
March 19-23
FRANKFORT – There are always surprises in legislative sessions. But one safe assumption when a state budget must be approved is that Senate and House members will form a committee late in the session to iron out differences in each chamber’s preferred state spending plan.
That’s what happened this week as Senate and House members created a conference committee in the hopes of reaching an agreement on Kentucky’s next two-year budget before a legislative recess that’s scheduled to start on March 29.
While many parts of the two chambers’ budgets are in agreement with each other, there are notable differences in each chamber’s spending priorities. Among the questions conference committee members are confronting are:
These are just several among a range of complex budget issues that lawmakers will work on resolving in the days ahead. Their goal is to agree upon a budget early enough that they’ll still have a chance to override vetoes, if the governor casts any, before the session ends.
While work on the budget continued this week, a number of other bills advanced, including measures on the following topics:
Finance Education. House Bill 132 would require a financial literacy course as a graduation requirement for Kentucky high schools. Kentucky is currently ranked 48th in financial literacy. The bill received final passage this week in the House with an 88-3 vote and has been sent to the governor to be signed into law.
Opioid Overdose. House Bill 428 would require those who overdose on heroin or other opioid drugs in Kentucky’s largest population areas to be detained by first responders and taken to a hospital. Passing the House with a 92-3 vote, HB 428 now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
Law Enforcement. Under House Bill 68, law enforcement officials who encounter traumatic events while on the job would get mental health and wellness support, funded by donations, grants and money from the state Department of Criminal Justice Training budget. HB 68 has received final passage with a 38-0 vote and heads to the governor for his signature.
Gun Violence. Senate Bill 210 would increase penalties imposed on convicted felons for possession of a firearm during the commission of certain crimes. With an 18-0 vote in a House Committee meeting, SB 210 now goes to the full House for consideration.
Revenge Porn. House Bill 71 would make it a crime to post sexually explicit images of someone online without that person’s consent. Penalties for posting such an image would be a misdemeanor for a first offense or a Class D felony for each subsequent offense. HB 71 received final passage in the House today on a vote of 90-2. It now goes to the governor to be signed into law.
Road Plan. House Bill 202 is a $2.5 billion Biennial Highway Construction Plan that would focus on the safety and maintenance of Kentucky’s bridges. The measure passed the Senate this week with changes made and now go back to the state House for consideration of those changes.
If you’d like to offer your feedback on the issues under consideration at the State Capitol, you can share a message with state lawmakers by calling the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.
--END--
March 19-23
FRANKFORT – There are always surprises in legislative sessions. But one safe assumption when a state budget must be approved is that Senate and House members will form a committee late in the session to iron out differences in each chamber’s preferred state spending plan.
That’s what happened this week as Senate and House members created a conference committee in the hopes of reaching an agreement on Kentucky’s next two-year budget before a legislative recess that’s scheduled to start on March 29.
While many parts of the two chambers’ budgets are in agreement with each other, there are notable differences in each chamber’s spending priorities. Among the questions conference committee members are confronting are:
- How much should the budget depend on possible new revenue sources? The House plan made spending decisions based on the possibility of new revenue, most notably a proposed 50 cents per pack increase in the cigarette tax and a 25 cent per dose tax increase on prescription opioids at the distribution level. The Senate plan is not based on any tax increases.
- How should increases in funding for public pension systems be prioritized? Compared to the House plan, the Senate plan directs a larger percentage of its pension funding to the least-funded systems -- the state employee’s system and the police system – than to the teachers’ retirement system, which would still be funded at levels required by statute.
- Where should spending cuts be made? The Senate plan restored some, but not all, of the cuts to state agencies, including universities, that were proposed in the governor’s original budget proposal. The House plan included less spending cuts and would have spared most university funding.
These are just several among a range of complex budget issues that lawmakers will work on resolving in the days ahead. Their goal is to agree upon a budget early enough that they’ll still have a chance to override vetoes, if the governor casts any, before the session ends.
While work on the budget continued this week, a number of other bills advanced, including measures on the following topics:
Finance Education. House Bill 132 would require a financial literacy course as a graduation requirement for Kentucky high schools. Kentucky is currently ranked 48th in financial literacy. The bill received final passage this week in the House with an 88-3 vote and has been sent to the governor to be signed into law.
Opioid Overdose. House Bill 428 would require those who overdose on heroin or other opioid drugs in Kentucky’s largest population areas to be detained by first responders and taken to a hospital. Passing the House with a 92-3 vote, HB 428 now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
Law Enforcement. Under House Bill 68, law enforcement officials who encounter traumatic events while on the job would get mental health and wellness support, funded by donations, grants and money from the state Department of Criminal Justice Training budget. HB 68 has received final passage with a 38-0 vote and heads to the governor for his signature.
Gun Violence. Senate Bill 210 would increase penalties imposed on convicted felons for possession of a firearm during the commission of certain crimes. With an 18-0 vote in a House Committee meeting, SB 210 now goes to the full House for consideration.
Revenge Porn. House Bill 71 would make it a crime to post sexually explicit images of someone online without that person’s consent. Penalties for posting such an image would be a misdemeanor for a first offense or a Class D felony for each subsequent offense. HB 71 received final passage in the House today on a vote of 90-2. It now goes to the governor to be signed into law.
Road Plan. House Bill 202 is a $2.5 billion Biennial Highway Construction Plan that would focus on the safety and maintenance of Kentucky’s bridges. The measure passed the Senate this week with changes made and now go back to the state House for consideration of those changes.
If you’d like to offer your feedback on the issues under consideration at the State Capitol, you can share a message with state lawmakers by calling the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.
--END--
This Week at the State Capitol
March 12-16
FRANKFORT -- The first piece of legislation to pass a legislative chamber this week dealt with making playground equipment accessible to all children. One of the final bills of the week to advance through a chamber focused on the mental health of students. In between, lawmakers cast votes on a range of topics including bike safety, health care, prayer, and teen marriage.
It was a particularly busy week at the State Capitol as lawmaker moved into the home stretch of the General Assembly’s 2018 session. There are now eight legislative days until final adjournment. For a bill moving through the process to have a chance to be signed into law, it must pass the Senate and House by the session’s final day, which is scheduled for April 13.
Legislation that moved closer to becoming law this week included measures on the following topics.
Felons. Senate Bill 210 would increase penalties against convicted felons for possessing a firearm while committing certain crimes. The measure was approved by the Senate on Wednesday and has been sent to the House for consideration.
Criminal gangs. House Bill 169 would increase penalties for those recruiting others into criminal gangs. The bill, which would make such recruiting a crime, is intended to target the threat posed by gangs that deal in illegal drugs, weapons, human trafficking and other criminal behavior. The legislation was approved by the House on Thursday and has been sent to the Senate.
Playgrounds. House Resolution 191 encourages local governments and public agencies that provide playgrounds to offer play equipment that can be enjoyed by all children regardless of their physical or mental abilities. The resolution was approved by the House on Monday.
Mental health. House Bill 604 would require school districts to employ at least one mental health professional for each 1,500 students. The bill passed the House on Friday and has been sent to the Senate.
Prayer. House Bill 40 would designate the last Wednesday in September of each year as “A Day of Prayer for Kentucky's Students.” This measure would enshrine in statute a day that has already been observed by some students in recent years. Under the bill, students would be encouraged to pray, meditate, or reflect “in accordance to their own faith and consciences” on the prayer day. They would also be allowed to participate in a student-initiated event before the start of the school day. The bill was approved by the House on Thursday and has been sent to the Senate.
Revenge porn. House Bill 71 would criminalize “revenge porn,” the online posting of sexually explicit images or videos without the consent of the subject. The bill was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday and now awaits action by the full Senate.
Child Protection. Senate Bill 137 would help in the prosecution of child molesters by allowing out-of-court statements from children who have been sexual abused to be admissible in court, under certain circumstances. The measure was approved by the Senate on Wednesday and has been sent to the House for further action.
Bicycle-safety. House Bill 33 would require drivers to keep vehicles at least three feet away from bicyclists during an attempt to pass. If that much space isn’t available, the driver must use “reasonable caution” when passing cyclists. The bill has been passed by both chambers and is ready to go to the governor so that he can consider signing it into law.
Teen marriage. Senate Bill 48 has received approved by both legislative chambers and now goes to the governor’s desk. If signed into law, the measure would prohibit anyone under the age of 17 from getting married. It would also require a district judge to approve the marriage of any 17-year-old. While current law states 16- and 17-year-olds can be married with parental consent, a district judge can approve the marriage of a child below the age of 16 if the girl is pregnant.
The big issue expected to command much attention in the days ahead is consideration of the state budget proposal, which has already been approved in the House and now awaits Senate action.
Citizens who want to weigh in on the state’s spending priorities or any other matters can share thoughts with Kentucky lawmakers by calling the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at (800) 372-7181.
--END--
March 12-16
FRANKFORT -- The first piece of legislation to pass a legislative chamber this week dealt with making playground equipment accessible to all children. One of the final bills of the week to advance through a chamber focused on the mental health of students. In between, lawmakers cast votes on a range of topics including bike safety, health care, prayer, and teen marriage.
It was a particularly busy week at the State Capitol as lawmaker moved into the home stretch of the General Assembly’s 2018 session. There are now eight legislative days until final adjournment. For a bill moving through the process to have a chance to be signed into law, it must pass the Senate and House by the session’s final day, which is scheduled for April 13.
Legislation that moved closer to becoming law this week included measures on the following topics.
Felons. Senate Bill 210 would increase penalties against convicted felons for possessing a firearm while committing certain crimes. The measure was approved by the Senate on Wednesday and has been sent to the House for consideration.
Criminal gangs. House Bill 169 would increase penalties for those recruiting others into criminal gangs. The bill, which would make such recruiting a crime, is intended to target the threat posed by gangs that deal in illegal drugs, weapons, human trafficking and other criminal behavior. The legislation was approved by the House on Thursday and has been sent to the Senate.
Playgrounds. House Resolution 191 encourages local governments and public agencies that provide playgrounds to offer play equipment that can be enjoyed by all children regardless of their physical or mental abilities. The resolution was approved by the House on Monday.
Mental health. House Bill 604 would require school districts to employ at least one mental health professional for each 1,500 students. The bill passed the House on Friday and has been sent to the Senate.
Prayer. House Bill 40 would designate the last Wednesday in September of each year as “A Day of Prayer for Kentucky's Students.” This measure would enshrine in statute a day that has already been observed by some students in recent years. Under the bill, students would be encouraged to pray, meditate, or reflect “in accordance to their own faith and consciences” on the prayer day. They would also be allowed to participate in a student-initiated event before the start of the school day. The bill was approved by the House on Thursday and has been sent to the Senate.
Revenge porn. House Bill 71 would criminalize “revenge porn,” the online posting of sexually explicit images or videos without the consent of the subject. The bill was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday and now awaits action by the full Senate.
Child Protection. Senate Bill 137 would help in the prosecution of child molesters by allowing out-of-court statements from children who have been sexual abused to be admissible in court, under certain circumstances. The measure was approved by the Senate on Wednesday and has been sent to the House for further action.
Bicycle-safety. House Bill 33 would require drivers to keep vehicles at least three feet away from bicyclists during an attempt to pass. If that much space isn’t available, the driver must use “reasonable caution” when passing cyclists. The bill has been passed by both chambers and is ready to go to the governor so that he can consider signing it into law.
Teen marriage. Senate Bill 48 has received approved by both legislative chambers and now goes to the governor’s desk. If signed into law, the measure would prohibit anyone under the age of 17 from getting married. It would also require a district judge to approve the marriage of any 17-year-old. While current law states 16- and 17-year-olds can be married with parental consent, a district judge can approve the marriage of a child below the age of 16 if the girl is pregnant.
The big issue expected to command much attention in the days ahead is consideration of the state budget proposal, which has already been approved in the House and now awaits Senate action.
Citizens who want to weigh in on the state’s spending priorities or any other matters can share thoughts with Kentucky lawmakers by calling the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at (800) 372-7181.
--END--
This Week at the State Capitol
March 5 - 9
FRANKFORT – Capitol observers have been tuned in for months to find out what form lawmakers’ public pension reform plans might take and how legislators would cast their first votes on the issue.
They got some answers as Senate Bill 1 advanced through a Senate committee this week.
On Wednesday, the latest version of proposed pension was approved by the Senate State and Local Government Committee on a 7-4 vote. By week’s end, though, the legislation had taken an uncertain turn as it was recommitted back to the committee for further review rather than coming up for a vote in the full Senate.
In looking at the issue, lawmakers are striving to establish sound financial footing for ailing pension systems that are estimated to have unfunded liabilities between $40 billion and $60 billion. Additional funding for pension systems is part of the budget proposal that is moving through the legislature. Senate Bill 1 proposes changes to the system that would help reduce unfunded liabilities in a number of ways, such as by reducing the cost-of-living adjustments for retired teachers pensions from 1.5 percent to 1 percent until the teachers’ system is 90 percent funded.
While much of the focus was on the pension bill this week, a number of bills on other issues also moved through the legislative process:
Disabled Parking Permit. House Bill 81 would limit eligible individuals or organizations to one free permanent or temporary disabled parking placard while requiring $10 for each additional placard. The measure, which is meant to limit the misuse of disabled parking permit placards, passed the House by an 85-10 vote. It now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
Bicycle-safety. House Bill 33 would require drivers to keep vehicles at least three feet away from bicyclists during an attempt to pass. If that much space isn’t available, the driver must use “reasonable caution” when passing cyclists. In hopes to increase roadway safety, HB 33 passed a Senate committee this week and now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
Pregnant Inmates. Senate Bill 133 would improve outcomes for pregnant inmates by limiting shackling during childbirth and by allowing access to substance abuse treatment. The bill is intended to ensure pregnant women are receiving proper nutrition behind bars, adequate sanitary items, and undergarments. SB 133 has passed the Senate and now goes to the House for further consideration.
Fertility Treatment. Senate Bill 95 would require health insurers of cancer patients to cover fertility preservation, the process of saving or protecting eggs, sperm or reproductive tissue so that a person can use them to have biological children in the future. To give hope to men and women facing infertility caused by cancer treatments, SB 95 has been approved by the Senate and now goes to the House for further consideration.
Abortion. House Bill 454 would ban an abortion procedure known as a “D & E” for women who are at least 11 weeks into their pregnancy except in medical emergencies. The measure would not result in a complete ban of all abortions after 11 weeks but would solely target D & E procedures described as an “intentional dismemberment procedure.” Passing a House committee this week, HB 454 now goes to the full House for consideration.
Road Plan. House Bill 202 would create a two-year state Road Plan that would authorize over $2.4 billion for bridges, repaving and other road and highway projects statewide through 2020. The plan focuses on road safety as well as economic development for Kentucky. Passing the House this week with a 66-25 vote, HB 202 now goes to the Senate or its consideration.
Holocaust Education. House Bill 128 would require public middle and high schools across Kentucky to teach their students about the Holocaust and other internationally-recognized acts of genocide. To ensure that students are being given Holocaust curriculum based in fact, HB 128 passed the House by a vote of 93-1 and now goes to the Senate.
To leave a message for any legislator, call the General Assembly’s Message Line at 1-800-372-7181. People with hearing difficulties may leave messages for lawmakers by calling the TTY Message Line at 1-800-896-0305.
--END--
March 5 - 9
FRANKFORT – Capitol observers have been tuned in for months to find out what form lawmakers’ public pension reform plans might take and how legislators would cast their first votes on the issue.
They got some answers as Senate Bill 1 advanced through a Senate committee this week.
On Wednesday, the latest version of proposed pension was approved by the Senate State and Local Government Committee on a 7-4 vote. By week’s end, though, the legislation had taken an uncertain turn as it was recommitted back to the committee for further review rather than coming up for a vote in the full Senate.
In looking at the issue, lawmakers are striving to establish sound financial footing for ailing pension systems that are estimated to have unfunded liabilities between $40 billion and $60 billion. Additional funding for pension systems is part of the budget proposal that is moving through the legislature. Senate Bill 1 proposes changes to the system that would help reduce unfunded liabilities in a number of ways, such as by reducing the cost-of-living adjustments for retired teachers pensions from 1.5 percent to 1 percent until the teachers’ system is 90 percent funded.
While much of the focus was on the pension bill this week, a number of bills on other issues also moved through the legislative process:
Disabled Parking Permit. House Bill 81 would limit eligible individuals or organizations to one free permanent or temporary disabled parking placard while requiring $10 for each additional placard. The measure, which is meant to limit the misuse of disabled parking permit placards, passed the House by an 85-10 vote. It now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
Bicycle-safety. House Bill 33 would require drivers to keep vehicles at least three feet away from bicyclists during an attempt to pass. If that much space isn’t available, the driver must use “reasonable caution” when passing cyclists. In hopes to increase roadway safety, HB 33 passed a Senate committee this week and now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
Pregnant Inmates. Senate Bill 133 would improve outcomes for pregnant inmates by limiting shackling during childbirth and by allowing access to substance abuse treatment. The bill is intended to ensure pregnant women are receiving proper nutrition behind bars, adequate sanitary items, and undergarments. SB 133 has passed the Senate and now goes to the House for further consideration.
Fertility Treatment. Senate Bill 95 would require health insurers of cancer patients to cover fertility preservation, the process of saving or protecting eggs, sperm or reproductive tissue so that a person can use them to have biological children in the future. To give hope to men and women facing infertility caused by cancer treatments, SB 95 has been approved by the Senate and now goes to the House for further consideration.
Abortion. House Bill 454 would ban an abortion procedure known as a “D & E” for women who are at least 11 weeks into their pregnancy except in medical emergencies. The measure would not result in a complete ban of all abortions after 11 weeks but would solely target D & E procedures described as an “intentional dismemberment procedure.” Passing a House committee this week, HB 454 now goes to the full House for consideration.
Road Plan. House Bill 202 would create a two-year state Road Plan that would authorize over $2.4 billion for bridges, repaving and other road and highway projects statewide through 2020. The plan focuses on road safety as well as economic development for Kentucky. Passing the House this week with a 66-25 vote, HB 202 now goes to the Senate or its consideration.
Holocaust Education. House Bill 128 would require public middle and high schools across Kentucky to teach their students about the Holocaust and other internationally-recognized acts of genocide. To ensure that students are being given Holocaust curriculum based in fact, HB 128 passed the House by a vote of 93-1 and now goes to the Senate.
To leave a message for any legislator, call the General Assembly’s Message Line at 1-800-372-7181. People with hearing difficulties may leave messages for lawmakers by calling the TTY Message Line at 1-800-896-0305.
--END--
This Week at the State Capitol
Feb. 26 – March 2
FRANKFORT -- The Kentucky General Assembly’s 2018 session passed a couple big milestones this week as the deadline to introduce new bills arrived in the House on Tuesday and in the Senate on Thursday.
Capitol observers now have a complete view of the subjects that will be considered this year on major issues like education, taxes, and health care as well as on lesser-known matters like shark fins, nail salons, and elk.
The big issue of the week, though, was the passage of a state budget plan and a revenue-generating measure in the state House of Representatives.
The budget bill, House Bill 200, restores many of the programs that were cut in the governor’s original budget proposal while also providing more funding for education and public safety. The plan would protect school transportation funding and boost per-pupil school funding to the highest level ever. It also provides funds to help the state police modernize an aging fleet with 260 new cruisers and 800 new rifles.
The plan would also increase funding for the Kentucky Retirement Systems by $774.5 million and the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System by 89.1 million to meet the full actuarial require contribution for public pensions.
Still, spending cuts for many parts of state government remain in the spending plan. Many state agencies would see 6.25 percent cuts, the same amount as proposed in the governor’s original spending plan.
House Bill 200 passed the House on Wednesday on a 76-15 vote.
The revenue bill, House Bill 366, passed the House the same day on a 68-25 vote. Under this measure, taxes on packs of cigarettes would go up 50 cents and prescription opioids would be taxed at 25 cents per dose at the distribution level, which means the increase is intended to be paid for by manufacturers and not passed on to consumers.
Many other bills also took steps forward in the General Assembly this week, including measures on:
Truck Platooning. Senate Bill 116 would allow truck platooning. The term refers to two or more individual commercial vehicles traveling together in sync with electronically coordinated speeds through wireless communication. With safety and fuel-efficiency benefits for drivers, SB 116 passed the Senate unanimously and now goes to the House for consideration.
Adoption and Foster Care. House Bill 1 would allow the state to petition for involuntary termination of parental rights of a mother who won’t seek drug treatment within 60 days after giving birth to a drug-addicted baby. The measure would also expand the definition of a “blood relative” for child placement and ensure that dependent, neglected or abused children placed in foster care are reunified with family or placed in a new permanent home in a timely manner. HB 1 passed the House by a vote of 94-1 this week and now goes to the Senate.
Breweries. House Bill 136 would increase the cap on packaged beer to individual customers for Kentucky’s craft brewers. It would also allow craft brewers to start sending their wholesale tax payments directly to Kentucky Department of Revenue. The bill received final passage this week and is headed to the governor’s desk.
Peer-Reviews. House Bill 4 would exempt doctors’ reviews of other doctors in medical-malpractice lawsuits from discovery, a pre-trial procedure in a lawsuit to obtain evidence. Peer review is used to determine whether accepted standards of care have been met and be a source of information for physicians. In hopes to prevent physician errors, HB 4 received final passage by a vote of 25-13 and has been sent to the governor’s desk.
Volunteer Jurors. Senate Bill 87 would allow Kentucky’s 54 judicial districts to accept volunteers for jury duty. These volunteer jurors would still be subject to jury selection and voire dire like any other person called for jury duty. After passing a Senate committee this week, SB 87 now goes to the Senate floor for further consideration.
Legislators are eager to receive feedback on the issues confronting our state. To share your thoughts and ideas with state lawmakers, please call the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at (800) 372-7181.
--END--
Feb. 26 – March 2
FRANKFORT -- The Kentucky General Assembly’s 2018 session passed a couple big milestones this week as the deadline to introduce new bills arrived in the House on Tuesday and in the Senate on Thursday.
Capitol observers now have a complete view of the subjects that will be considered this year on major issues like education, taxes, and health care as well as on lesser-known matters like shark fins, nail salons, and elk.
The big issue of the week, though, was the passage of a state budget plan and a revenue-generating measure in the state House of Representatives.
The budget bill, House Bill 200, restores many of the programs that were cut in the governor’s original budget proposal while also providing more funding for education and public safety. The plan would protect school transportation funding and boost per-pupil school funding to the highest level ever. It also provides funds to help the state police modernize an aging fleet with 260 new cruisers and 800 new rifles.
The plan would also increase funding for the Kentucky Retirement Systems by $774.5 million and the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System by 89.1 million to meet the full actuarial require contribution for public pensions.
Still, spending cuts for many parts of state government remain in the spending plan. Many state agencies would see 6.25 percent cuts, the same amount as proposed in the governor’s original spending plan.
House Bill 200 passed the House on Wednesday on a 76-15 vote.
The revenue bill, House Bill 366, passed the House the same day on a 68-25 vote. Under this measure, taxes on packs of cigarettes would go up 50 cents and prescription opioids would be taxed at 25 cents per dose at the distribution level, which means the increase is intended to be paid for by manufacturers and not passed on to consumers.
Many other bills also took steps forward in the General Assembly this week, including measures on:
Truck Platooning. Senate Bill 116 would allow truck platooning. The term refers to two or more individual commercial vehicles traveling together in sync with electronically coordinated speeds through wireless communication. With safety and fuel-efficiency benefits for drivers, SB 116 passed the Senate unanimously and now goes to the House for consideration.
Adoption and Foster Care. House Bill 1 would allow the state to petition for involuntary termination of parental rights of a mother who won’t seek drug treatment within 60 days after giving birth to a drug-addicted baby. The measure would also expand the definition of a “blood relative” for child placement and ensure that dependent, neglected or abused children placed in foster care are reunified with family or placed in a new permanent home in a timely manner. HB 1 passed the House by a vote of 94-1 this week and now goes to the Senate.
Breweries. House Bill 136 would increase the cap on packaged beer to individual customers for Kentucky’s craft brewers. It would also allow craft brewers to start sending their wholesale tax payments directly to Kentucky Department of Revenue. The bill received final passage this week and is headed to the governor’s desk.
Peer-Reviews. House Bill 4 would exempt doctors’ reviews of other doctors in medical-malpractice lawsuits from discovery, a pre-trial procedure in a lawsuit to obtain evidence. Peer review is used to determine whether accepted standards of care have been met and be a source of information for physicians. In hopes to prevent physician errors, HB 4 received final passage by a vote of 25-13 and has been sent to the governor’s desk.
Volunteer Jurors. Senate Bill 87 would allow Kentucky’s 54 judicial districts to accept volunteers for jury duty. These volunteer jurors would still be subject to jury selection and voire dire like any other person called for jury duty. After passing a Senate committee this week, SB 87 now goes to the Senate floor for further consideration.
Legislators are eager to receive feedback on the issues confronting our state. To share your thoughts and ideas with state lawmakers, please call the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at (800) 372-7181.
--END--