LRC News Releases
Stakeholders ask for more Delta-9 regulations
Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Lexington, asks a question about hemp-derived intoxicating beverages during Thursday’s Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Delta-9 products are legal in Kentucky – if you’re at least 21 years old – but some hemp industry stakeholders want the products to be further regulated.
The Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations discussed the issue Thursday. Jennifer Doering, general manager for Chas Seligman Distributing Co., said Delta-9 infused beverages need more regulations in Kentucky since they are intoxicating products.
“What we’re here to talk to you about is putting a little more regulation around these products because they are intoxicating and they don’t fall under the umbrella of the ABC,” Doering said.
In 2023, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation to put an age limit on hemp-derived products and to require testing and labeling requirements. The bill also gave the Cabinet for Health and Family Services the ability to develop administrative regulations for the products.
Joshua Mulberry, vice president of Kentucky for Heidelberg Distributing Co., said Kentucky’s current regulations are not adequate.
“There’s a registration process versus like a licensure, so there’s not as much checks and balances when it comes to what actually ends up in the marketplace,” Mulberry said. “So there are, unfortunately, examples of products that maybe aren’t registered or accounts that have not gone through the proper process.”
Bringing Kentucky law on intoxicating hemp-derived products into “parity” with rules on alcoholic beverages is something the legislature should consider, Mulberry said.
A licensing process, limiting the products to certain retailers and requiring more enforcement are some of the suggestions Mulberry and the other stakeholders made.
However, not everyone in the Kentucky hemp industry is on board with changing the current regulations. Hemp retailer and Kentucky Hemp Association board member Dee Dee Taylor said there is no reason hemp-derived beverages should be limited to liquor stores.
“The reason being is the cabinet has established regulations,” she said. “They have inspectors. I’ve already had one come out to my establishment.”
Lawmakers had many questions following the presentation. Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Lexington, asked if the intoxicating hemp-derived products are sold in convenience stores.
Doering said convenience stores do sell the products but stock them next to alcoholic beverages.
Committee co-chair Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, wanted to know more about “reasonable regulations.”
Doering said Kentucky should move regulation for hemp-derived intoxicating beverages from the Cabinet from Health and Family Services to Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).
Rep. Al Gentry, D-Louisville, said he is open to finding ways to better regulate hemp products.
“I don’t know what the exact or the best way is to do that,” he said, adding he wants to know more about the intoxicating effects of these products.
Mulberry said the level of THC in one Delta-9 beverage is akin to a beer.
“You’re talking two or three of these before you have any effects that you would feel,” Mulberry said, adding some products have a higher level making them more intoxicating.
Not every hemp-derived product is intoxicating, committee co-chair Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, said.
“We’re not talking about something that doesn’t have an intoxicating effect,” he said. “These very much do … These are in very much a gray area, I could say, right now. And what we’re talking about is how do we put these for consumer protection on the market.”
Legislators learn about proposed Heroes to Healers program
Rep. Steve Bratcher, R-Elizabethtown, speaks Wednesday during a meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Legislators on the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services heard testimony Wednesday from advocates of a proposed program that would help military medics become licensed practical nurses.
The initiative, dubbed Heroes to Healers, would help fill serious workforce gaps in Kentucky while creating opportunities for veterans, supporters said. They offered the same testimony to the Interim Joint Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection later in the day.
Rep. Steve Bratcher, R-Elizabethtown, said the program is part of a bill supported by many stakeholders, and he thanked Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, for joining him as a cosponsor of the measure. Moser is co-chair of the IJC on Health Services.
“I appreciate all of the members of the different organizations working together to show how we can work together to do better for the commonwealth,” he said.
Bratcher said the bill allows military medics to become LPNs, and they could later choose to work toward becoming registered nurses.
Committee Co-Chair Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, agrees with Bratcher that teamwork is a must.
“One of our goals is being one of the most veteran friendly states in the United States, and I think this falls within that parameter in scope,” he said. “But also we try to address a workforce shortage that we’ve talked about throughout this meeting.”
Aaron Thompson, president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, said it’s vital for Kentucky to get relief from the health care shortage.
“For many years at CPE, we’ve been establishing processes to actually combat that. We also know that to keep our economy going, we’re going to have to have a lot more people in our workforce who are educated to do that,” he said.
Thompson said officials from CPE went to Fort Campbell and realized that more should be done to help those leaving the military with leadership abilities move quickly into the civilian workforce.
“It’s about adult learners, true enough. But it is also about getting these highly trained veterans in our workforce that will stay in Kentucky and stay in our workforce,” he said.
Phil Neal, executive vice president and provost of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, said a pathway for medics to become registered nurses already exists, but the new program would benefit even more veterans.
Kelly Jenkins, executive director of the Kentucky Board of Nursing, testified that the board’s goal is to protect the public, but that addressing the commonwealth’s workforce shortage with other agencies is important.
Bratcher agrees with Jenkins that public safety must be maintained.
“We’re not trying to lower the standards at all. We’re just trying to make a pathway to where people can come from the military and have that background in the military and move on to a viable field and then further on, once you get an LPN license, you can move on and do a bridge to do an RN,” he said.
Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, said he was a military medic and took a test to practice as a civilian.
“This kind of hits a little home for me because I was a medic in the military as well. I went to X-ray school in the military, and I was able to transition rather smoothly from the military into the private sector,” he said.
He asked if a testing model would be put in place for those who received training in the military.
Jenkins said the National Council of State Boards of Nursing sets testing standards, and KCTCS would identify training gaps and offer classes in an accelerated program.
Moser said she’s very pleased with the proposal and called it a “great initiative.”
“It helps address our health care workforce shortage, and it is mission-driven in that it really helps our active duty military transition,” she said.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 9 a.m.
Workforce reentry legislation could get second chance
Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, shares her plan to file legislation to help convicted felons reenter the workforce with the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity on Tuesday. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, plans to refile a bill in 2025 to help convicted felons reenter the workforce.
Callaway informed the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity of her plans during the group’s Tuesday meeting. She said she believes an updated version of the legislation could potentially help 32,000 Kentuckians find meaningful employment.
Earlier this year, Callaway filed House Bill 124, which would require employers to inform potential employees if their criminal history would prevent them from working in a job that requires a professional license. This would happen prior to moving further in the application process or seeking the licensure, according Callaway.
“This significantly reduces the risk assumed by the people who are interested in pursuing work in licensed fields but are uncertain whether their criminal history will ultimately result in a denial,” Callaway said on Tuesday.
HB 124 passed the House by a 95-1 vote in March, but did not receive a vote from the Senate before the Kentucky General Assembly adjourned for the year. In order to be reconsidered in 2025, Callaway will have to refile the legislation, which she says will have minimal changes compared to the 2024 version.
Callaway said one of her goals is to promote transparency.
“All of this will be upfront and before an individual goes through the process of education and any other pursuit of that career. They know what they’re getting into,” Callaway added.
Additionally, the legislation would require hiring authorities and licensing boards to give the convicted felon applicant reasonable consideration, she said. The bill would ensure the licensure board and employer have details on the applicant’s conviction and rehabilitation.
“Reviewing these details during the application process will greatly reduce the number of appeals for denials and will encourage employers to hire these ambitious applicants due to a more thorough vetting process during the application process,” Callaway said.
Callaway said the legislation will benefit society.
“We want to get people who want to work back in society … This will maintain increased public safety, but it also gives citizens legitimate opportunity for well established employment, not just a job,” Callaway said. “It does obviously boost our economy by allowing people back into our workforce.”
Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, said she supports Callaway’s bill.
“We need a trained workforce,” Berg said. “… This is a win, win, win.”
Co-chair Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, said she and Rep. George Brown Jr., D-Lexington, have discussed what policy recommendations the commission might make leading into the 2025 session.
“What we want to do is create more access and opportunity, and this legislation fits that,” Bledsoe said. “I applaud your efforts and look forward to supporting you.”
Callaway said several organizations across the state are working to help convicted felons find employment post incarceration, but this legislation would help remove additional barriers.
“This does take all of us working together,” Callaway said. “I’m really excited to hear you all having these conversations, because I rarely meet somebody who doesn’t know someone – it’s usually a family member – that’s been affected by some kind of criminal record.
“Anything we can do to help them and get them back into society and stop creating that kind of stigma, I’m excited to do so.”
The Kentucky General Assembly cannot take action on legislation until the 2025 legislative session begins on Jan. 7.
The next Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity meeting is scheduled for Oct. 22 at 1 p.m.
The commission is a statutory committee comprised of select Kentucky legislators and citizen members who study issues related to education, health, economic opportunity, justice, and other sectors to identify areas of improvement in providing services and opportunities for minority communities.
Legislators receive housing overview from stakeholders
Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson, speaks during a recent meeting in this file photo. Mills co-chairs the Kentucky Housing Task Force, which heard from housing stakeholders Monday. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Legislators on the Kentucky Housing Task Force received an overview from industry leaders Monday about challenges and possible solutions to housing needs across the state.
Kate Shanks, senior vice president of public affairs for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, testified with Anetha Sanford, chief executive officer/executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Kentucky.
Sanford said the state faces a shortage of skilled laborers in fields such as carpentry and plumbing. Planning and zoning requirements, inflation and financing can also be challenges for stakeholders, she said.
When workforce shortages happen, construction is delayed and costs can climb, Sanford said. However, she told legislators the association is grateful for legislators’ continued investments in education pathways.
“Last year, you all supported and passed KEES funding for trade schools,” she said, referring to Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship money.
Kentucky is estimated to have a shortage of 206,000 housing units, but moving forward, housing does create jobs, Sanford said.
“People are working. When people purchase a new home, they’re going into furniture stores. They’re helping support the economy. But often times, there can be a downside, which is if companies don’t have housing or can’t hire employees to come and work, that can put a hamper on our local economy,” she said.
Shanks said the chamber and the state homebuilders’ association published a two-part study in June after hearing about housing issues from members and chambers of commerce in local communities.
Shanks said the policy solutions focus on support for housing infrastructure and local zoning reform, the homebuilding workforce, government relations, and regional approaches to housing.
Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, noted that the legislature earmarked money for converting vacant office spaces into housing. He said there’s a need for affordable, mid-range and upper-level housing.
“We have a demand at all levels of housing,” he said.
J.D. Carey, executive director of the Louisville Apartment Association, suggested multi-family dwellings should be encouraged to help Kentucky alleviate its shortage.
“We need to allow for townhomes and small lot homes. Allow your transit-rich corridors to turn into functional, mixed-use communities. Allow multi-family and mixed-use development at all commercial areas,” he said.
Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, asked Carey if he sees a trend especially on multi-family units moving to smaller units to help reduce costs.
Carey said this is the case, and Higdon said he’s aware of multiple generations of families living in the same unit to save money.
Logan Hanes, executive director of the Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute, said the housing of yesterday has been drastically improved. He showed legislators images of site-built homes and other housing side-by-side, and said manufactured housing stigma is outdated.
Rep. Mike Clines, R-Alexandria, said in 2023 he attended a manufactured housing exposition in Louisville and was “blown away” by the quality and the appearance of today’s manufactured homes.
Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson, and co-chair of the task force, said there were three “very good” presentations during the meeting.
The next task force meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21.
Legislators hear from university presidents about DEI policies
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, speaks Tuesday during a meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Education. The meeting dealt mainly with diversity, equity and inclusion policies at postsecondary institutions. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Legislators on the Interim Joint Committee on Education received updates Tuesday from five university presidents regarding diversity, equity and inclusion policies on college campuses.
Committee members volleyed questions to the presidents of the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University and Western Kentucky University. The updates follow the 2024 Regular Session when DEI topics were widely debated.
UK President Eli Capilouto said he encourages those at the school to ask themselves, "Did we care? Were we fair? and Did we give everyone a fair shot?"
He said he hears the concern that everyone be represented in what is said and done at the university. These concerns are voiced from faculty, staff and students.
"So, we're here today to find a common approach to a common concern, and that is how we support everyone regardless of where they are from, what they think and who they are," he said.
Capilouto said changes at UK were announced approximately a month ago. They include the closure of the Office for Institutional Diversity.
"The work of representing everyone needs to take place everywhere," he said. "Units that support all students have moved to the Office for Student Success where there already exists a suite of services, whether they be for first-generation students, students with disabilities, individuals who have particular mental health concerns. There are a whole host of things."
Rep. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, said he has concerns about teachings on victim ideology, microaggressions, toxic masculinity and more. He asked Capilouto if the changes are simply rebranding and shifting DEI concepts to other programs and departments.
"We did redefine and rewrite those job descriptions. When I met with the individuals that had some of those terms in their job descriptions or titles, I learned firsthand that their responsibilities extend to everyone," Capilouto said.
Those at the university seek to respond to and serve everyone, and some of the topics might be a subject of inquiry in a classroom and a fair debate, but not part of trainings, Capilouto added.
Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, asked Capilouto how much of the taxpayers' money was used to prepare documents and slides shared with legislators. She said the entire process regarding DEI isn't a microaggression, it's "a macroaggression against universities who are trying to ensure that all of their students' needs are being met."
She said she is uncomfortable with the situation and embarrassed that the committee met to discuss it.
"From my perspective, the problem is the demonization of diversity, equity and inclusion programs by certain members of this body," she said.
UofL President Kim Schatzel said the school's goal is to, "focus relentlessly on success of all our students...where no student is left behind."
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, asked Schatzel if she has any reservations about the changes at UofL.
"I spent seven years with the same goal and same priority at Towson University where we were very directed with being able to support student success for all students, and we made the same kind of changes there as we're doing here," she said.
Rep. Candy Massaroni, R-Bardstown, said UofL provides additional salaries for DEI employees, and she asked if their salaries are based on race or sex.
Schatzel replied they are not.
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, said testimony was given during the 2024 Regular Session by a university student who Tichenor said was unjustly not chosen to be a resident assistant.
"The efforts of DEI, I think at their beginning, were not to be divisive, but to create a more inclusive environment," she said. "But unfortunately, we see that it has created divisive and exclusive situations for a student to be told she couldn't be hired because she was too white and too Christian."
WKU President Timothy Caboni said the university is a guardian of free speech, and it has an obligation to establish an environment where a wide range of viewpoints are exchanged.
"Every student matters. And we remain committed to providing a support structure tailored and responsive to the needs of every student at our institution, from first-year programs and student organizations to global study and research opportunities," Caboni said. "And just as important, we remain committed to ensuring a sense of belonging and to protecting freedom of expression."
Rep. Timmy Truett, R-McKee, said the meeting offered legislators understanding.
"Talks like this need to happen. We need time like this to where you can explain why you are doing things and we can ask you why are you doing these things. So, this has been very informative to me, and I want to take this time to thank you guys for listening. You guys have listened," he said.
Legislators express concerns about human trafficking
Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, speaks Wednesday during a meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Members of the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services on Wednesday heard testimony from a human trafficking survivor, those who assist victims and former victims, and the leader of a data and research group.
"I live in Columbus, Ohio and have been doing this work for 15 years – sharing my story all around the country trying to open up people's eyes to what the words human trafficking mean and what they look like here in the United States," said Theresa Flores, a human trafficking survivor, licensed social worker and founder of The SOAP (Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution) Project.
Flores said her abusers kept track of her and threatened to kill her family. She was terrified and stuck in the situation when she was 15 and 16 years old. Today, there are still many people who don't know about human trafficking, and not only should the traffickers be prosecuted, but also the buyers, she said.
Committee Co-Chair Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, said human trafficking is probably more prolific now due to social media and the different ways people connect versus in the 1980s. She said it's scary to think about human trafficking and what's happening to the victims. She thanked Flores for coming forward with her experiences.
"I really appreciate your sharing your story. It is difficult to hear. It is difficult to understand that this is going on in the U.S. and in Kentucky, but I felt like it was important for everyone to hear you and to hear what we are working on here in Kentucky." she said.
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, said human trafficking is shocking and staggering, and buyers should be held accountable. She cited familial trafficking, unaccompanied minors who are unaccounted for, sextortion, child pornography and online exploitation. She said those who experience these things are all victims and are being continually sold to buyers.
Rep. Scott Sharp, R-Ashland, said he's concerned about children becoming victims of human trafficking at the Mexico-United States border.
"I appreciate this presentation today, and as a father of two daughters, it just really gets me mad," he said.
Two authors of the 2024 Kentucky Statewide Human Trafficking Data Report, Glenn Harden of Asbury University, and Marissa Castellanos of The Coterie, testified during the meeting. The report stems from the Kentucky Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force, which was established in 2013.
Harden testified that the report contains a 10-point recommendation summary of ways to address human trafficking in the commonwealth. It calls for increasing institutional capacity, expanding community resilience through policies to promote economic opportunities and other measures, and prioritizing survivor-centered human trafficking training for law enforcement and other stakeholders.
Harden said labor trafficking in Kentucky also needs to be addressed. He noted that certain visa holders are especially vulnerable to labor trafficking, but this can also happen in familial settings.
"Often people think of human trafficking as stranger danger, which exists. But the importance of recognizing that human trafficking can occur in the family, to raise awareness and to address those appropriate intervention issues are critical," he said.
Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, asked if there are programs to help those dealing with K-12 students recognize signs of trafficking or similar issues.
Castellanos said on the national level, the Department of Education has some helpful webinars and the Office on Trafficking in Persons has funded grants for prevention education for school districts. Kentucky districts could possibly benefit from these grants, she said. Others testified about additional resources.
Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, said she got to meet Charity, a dog used by the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General to detect electronics such as USBs and cell phones possibly used in human trafficking and other cases.
Flores said although survivors' stories are hard to hear, they are reality. She said human trafficking is a highly prevalent crime, and sextortion is rising at epidemic rates.
"So, it is time that we really take a stronghold against this, and I'm confident that a great state like Kentucky can do some really good work," she said.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25.
Commission discusses bourbon industry barriers, solutions
Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, shares his thoughts on barriers minorities face in the bourbon industry during Tuesday's Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians Sean and Tia Edwards made history several years ago when they opened the first African American-owned distillery in Kentucky.
On Tuesday, the couple spoke to the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity on the barriers minorities face working in the bourbon industry.
The commission is a statutory committee comprised of select Kentucky legislators and citizen members who study issues related to education, health, economic opportunity, justice, and other sectors to identify areas of improvement in providing services and opportunities for minority communities.
The Edwardses said the goal with their company – Fresh Bourbon Distillery – was to create an approachable product that anyone can enjoy, but they have faced some barriers being an African American-owned company.
Historically, the bourbon industry has been led by white men since the end of the Civil War due to many Black Americans moving away from the area during reconstruction, Sean Edwards said.
"We're happy about being in the industry, but you also deal with inherit prejudices that people have and ideas," Sean Edwards said, adding a misconception some buyers have is that their bourbon is being marketed as a bourbon for Black people when it is a bourbon for everyone.
Working with the banking industry has also been an issue for Fresh Bourbon Distillery, Sean Edwards said.
"(Banking) has been a very hard challenge for us and other people we know in this industry and other industries that have African Americans breaking into it ... because banking is built on relationships," Sean Edwards said.
The Edwardses learned by speaking with other startup distilleries that they had access to more capital due to relationships rather than credit profiles or business plans.
Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, said it's important for the legislature to talk about what barriers exist in order to move forward.
"I think that the initiative is very important as well as overdue, but the barrier parts of it certainly have struck me with respect to this," Neal said. "We need to look deeper into that and how we can do things from a policy standpoint to alleviate some of that."
The Edwardses said the legislature and the consumer can do several things to help break down some of the barriers facing Black bourbon distillers in Kentucky.
"How can the consumer like myself and the commonwealth contribute to breaking those barriers" citizen member Katima Smith-Willis asked.
Tia Edwards said when it comes to restaurants, it helps if the customer requests the bourbon.
"The more that it is requested by the consumer, it's going to force them to bring it in even if they don't want to," Tia Edwards said. "Like Sean said, we've been told ‘Oh, this is a bourbon for Black people.' Well, no, it's a bourbon for everyone."
Sean Edwards agreed, and said policy wise, tax incentives might be something to consider.
"I think tax incentives to banks that work with underrepresented communities would be a good starting place," he said. "There might be some that exist, but creating and establishing relationships with the banking community or banks around Kentucky would do well for the African American population."
Rep. Killian Timoney, R-Nicholasville, who co-chairs the commission, said he thinks the Edwards have a lot to offer when it comes to being entrepreneurs.
"The Governor's School for Entrepreneurs is something that's put on every summer. I think that's definitely a venue that you need to take a look at and explore because there are probably a lot of people who have ideas, but they don't know how to materialize them," Timoney said.
Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, who also serves as a co-chair, agreed there is a need to create a pathway for more diversity in the bourbon industry, such as scholarship opportunities for university students.
Mays Bledsoe said sometimes all it takes is a student seeing someone who is like them to realize they can accomplish that goal too.
Task force seeks housing needs information
Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson, speaks Monday during a meeting of the Kentucky Housing Task Force. He serves as committee co-chair. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Legislators on the Kentucky Housing Task Force heard during Monday's meeting from a mayor, county judge/executive and an attorney about housing-related challenges facing communities throughout the commonwealth.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and Myron Lewis, county judge/executive of Elliott County, along with F. Keith Brown of Pike Legal Group PLLC answered legislators' questions and testified during the meeting.
Gorton said Lexington is experiencing the same housing affordability and supply issues as many other cities across Kentucky and other parts of the United States. Without affordable housing, the economy of cities could falter, and officials in Lexington are working to improve the situation, she said.
"We work on this every day because we know that housing is one of the foundations of a strong city. It touches every aspect of our lives," Gorton said. "For example, as one of the state's largest economic engines, Lexington's businesses are dependent on a reliable workforce. That workforce requires housing that's affordable."
Gorton said as the only fully merged city-county government in the commonwealth and one of a very few merged governments nationwide, Lexington's housing policies must be attentive to the housing needs of both the rural and urban areas.
Like Gorton, Lewis said Elliott County has its own challenges regarding housing.
"Elliott County has been suffering from a diminishing population for several decades due to non job growth in and around our area. For many years, we've watched good families pack up and leave Elliott to chase the American dream elsewhere because it could not be realized here at home," he said.
Lewis pointed to the removal of tobacco crops as a catalyst for sinking income, closed businesses and decreases in property values and property taxes. He said this is choking the school system's tax base.
However, the Kentucky General Assembly and governor committed $114 million to double the size of the Little Sandy Correctional Complex and there will be jobs available, he said.
"This investment back into Elliott will send a generational ripple into homes right here by assuring a much more respectable living wage is available to those who choose to stay and find their version of the American dream right there in Sandy Hook," Lewis said.
More housing for workers is expected to be needed so they can be near the facility.
"Once construction is complete at our prison, LSCC will be adding up to 150 new jobs. The clock for demand of quality housing for prison workers is now ticking. And so far, we're already late," he said.
Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher, R-Louisville, recalled how controversy ensued in the 1990s when zoning issues came to the forefront.
"There was a lot of battles down there. I don't know if you guys were around during that time, but there was, compared to Louisville where I'm from, there was a real squeeze not to allow too much development that you'd be sorry for later," he said.
Bratcher asked Gorton if Lexington has a housing shortage and if details could be provided.
Gorton said a housing assessment is being completed to determine the kinds and quantity of housing needed, and she wants to know for certain what the study will show.
"We believe we are short of housing. That's why we are putting a lot of our resources into affordable housing. That is a huge need for us," she said.
Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson, said he spent five years on a planning and zoning board and three of them on the board of zoning and adjustments.
"I think every community fights the battle of where's the balance and allowing development versus property rights and people's rights to be heard, and you know I think that's best solved on a case-by-case basis in the communities," he said.
Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, said he would like more details as well.
He responded to Gorton, saying "you said you're doing an assessment of what the needs are, and we're certainly gathering information. I'm trying to get my arms around what are the needs."
Higdon added that one size doesn't fit all.
"Like you said, it's going to be a lot of different needs. A lot of different sizes. A lot of different cost points, or price points," he said.
Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, praised the officials from Lexington.
"I really am grateful for the work that Lexington is doing to advance affordable housing for all of our residents, so I know that's a commitment that you continue to follow through day after day, so I want to thank you," she said.
Lawmaker proposes change to protection order statute
Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, shares her plans to file legislation on coercive control at Friday's Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Domestic violence doesn't always involve physical violence. Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, spoke to the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary on Friday about coercive control and how the abuse tactic is used to leave victims feeling isolated and trapped.
"It involves a pattern of behavior aimed at undermining a victim's autonomy and freedom," Dietz said. "This can include manipulation, isolation, financial control and threats, none of which necessarily involve physical violence but are equally devastating."
Dietz said she has seen the impacts of coercive control firsthand as a family law attorney. She's met victims who were slowly isolated from their friends and family and slowly lost access to their own bank accounts, for example.
"I now understand just how important it is for us to look at the patterns of control and the behavior that ultimately results in the physical act of domestic violence," she added.
Dietz said her proposed legislation for the 2025 legislative session would "present a crucial amendment to our current domestic violence statute."
Current statute says an act or threat of physical violence is a requirement to receive an emergency protection order or interpersonal protective order. Dietz's bill would allow courts to issue protection orders to protect a victim from coercive control.
"This legislation would give victims a way out before the physical violence starts," she said. "This legislation could save lives."
House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, asked which state has the best language for protection orders involving coercive control.
Christy Burch, CEO of The Ion Center for Violence Prevention, said eight states currently have coercive control language in statute. Burch testified alongside Dietz on the dangers of coercive control and shared different, real-life examples with the committee, like how one abuser used control over food and hygiene to manipulate and abuse a Kentucky woman and her children.
When working on the current draft of the bill, Dietz said she felt it was more appropriate to have more general language.
"Some states were much more specific in their examples... I don't know if all those specific examples are necessary because it could bind the court," she added.
In response, Nemes said he had some concerns about the language.
"This is new to me, so I don't have a position on it yet, but the generalization is what gives me great concern," Nemes said. "I'm don't know where I'm at on it and want to learn more about it, but I think maybe more particular (language) would be better."
A copy of Dietz's proposed bill is available here.
The Kentucky General Assembly cannot take action on legislation until the 2025 legislative session begins on Jan. 7.
The next Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary meeting is currently scheduled for Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. For more information, visit legislature.ky.gov.
Legislators discuss employment barriers legal immigrants might face
Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, and Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, testify during Wednesday's meeting of the Workforce Attraction and Retention Task Force. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Workforce Attraction and Retention Task Force on Wednesday heard from two legislators and others about barriers some legal immigrants face when they seek employment.
Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, and Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, testified during the meeting about those challenges and ways services might be connected to make attaining employment easier.
Koch recalled that, while serving in the military in Afghanistan, he met a translator who also worked in the medical profession before he immigrated to the United States.
"He goes from working in the medical field over in Afghanistan to coming over here and driving a cab," Koch said. "And that's always resonated with me because he did a great service for our country."
Koch said Wednesday's discussions dealt with those who came to the United States legally.
"Let me tell you what this conversation is not. This is not a conversation about the border of the flow of illegal immigrants. I'm a Marine. There's nothing I love more than a secure perimeter," he said. "This is about the Green Card holders. This is about our international students. This is about those who have come over here seeking asylum. Think about Ukraine. Think about Iraq."
Kulkarni said Kentucky is not the only entity dealing with challenges related to helping immigrants obtain employment, and learning best practices is paramount.
"It's not necessarily a Kentucky-specific issue, either. There's not one solution that's worked in every state. I will say overall what you heard from our guests, you've heard models that work, programs that work, but that have really sprouted up in areas on their own in a response to a growing need that is only getting bigger," she said.
If Kentucky officials take on some responsibility for funding, expanding and supporting programs where they exist, the commonwealth will benefit, Kulkarni said. Kentucky has the potential to harness a huge and growing potential workforce that's already here, she added.
Kristina Mielke, of Jewish Family and Career Services in Louisville, testified that Kentucky could benefit from legal immigrants who are in high-demand professions such as medicine and dentistry.
Sen. Robin L. Webb, D-Grayson, who practices law, said protocols could possibly be put in place – such as an apprenticeship or practicum under supervision – or some acknowledgement of job seekers' skills could be made.
"There are other ways to verify things, to come up with some alternative criteria for that. And then incorporate that with testing protocols. And I know a lot of these professions, including mine, are somewhat protectionist." she said.
Kulkarni said some who have come to Kentucky had to quickly flee their country of origin without documentation, which is often required to secure a job.
"The reason I think that we wanted to identify barriers to historically underrepresented workforce populations is exactly the point Senator Webb was making. Why are licensure boards not able to individually evaluate these foreign credentials because we're talking about populations that are displaced, so they don't come here with certified transcripts and copies of diplomas that we all may have in our basements or attics," she said.
Co-Chair Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, said recent legislation has helped some new Kentuckians more easily obtain employment, particularly related to nail salons.
The bill sparked a lot of interest "by that community that showed up in the halls here in Frankfort. I know that was a huge push into getting that bill across the line," he said.
Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, expressed concern about the difficulty of having enough interpreters and interpreters of certain languages. He said he thinks those who testified conveyed a similar message that efforts could be coordinated.
"This is new to us on a supply-demand standpoint. And we're just not set up from an infrastructure thing to deal with this appropriately," he said.
Kulkarni pointed out that the employment process could be improved by the federal government.
"So, this is just hopefully the beginning of the conversation. I mean in my years as an immigration practitioner, I do primarily employment based, so there's a lot of issues federally. There are a lot of reforms that should happen federally. And increasingly, it means states have come up with their solutions in order to harness patterns of global migration," she said.
Task force receives update on state use of AI
Artificial Intelligence Task Force Co-chair Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, asks a question about the future of AI in Kentucky during Tuesday's task force meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — For nearly a year, the Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT) has worked to learn all it can about artificial intelligence technology.
Ruth Day, chief information officer at COT, told the Kentucky legislature's Artificial Intelligence Task Force what the agency has learned and how it's being used by state government on Tuesday.
"Since we are early in the journey, I can tell you that's very limited use," Day said. COT currently has a list of all the AI tools that have been procured, but how they're being used is decided agency-by-agency, she added.
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services, for example, is using a generative AI tool to identify on its self-service portal where users are spending most of their time to indicate where users might be having difficulty with the portal, Day said.
COT currently has 30 AI tools available for agency use, according to Day. In order to ensure ethical usage and privacy protection, COT is also drafting a new AI policy that will strengthen the agency's current technology usage policies.
Additionally, Day said COT has been using a process called Kentucky Information Technology Standards during the AI tech procurement process. Staff is also undergoing annual training on AI.
In September 2023, COT held an "AI Day" where Day and other staff met with several companies like Google and Microsoft about AI.
"The key takeaway that my team and I heard ... was understand that generative AI, like ChatGPT, is powerful. But know what you put into those public, free models are then in the public domain," Day said.
Being aware of bias, data quality, privacy and other accuracy issues were also topics of concern.
"In all use cases of generative AI, there must be human oversight and human review of the output," Day added.
Co-chair Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, asked: "Do you feel like we have a good handle on employees being wise about their uses?"
Day said she does, however, COT is still working on understanding how to use all the AI tools currently available.
Following up on that topic, Co-chair Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, asked Day what the state can expect to see with AI in the next two years.
"Will we see AI maybe within the unemployment system to maybe help process some of these claims?" Bray asked. "Nationally, we've seen an uptick in unemployment insurance claims. The markets have kind of appeared to cool off, and there are some that think we're headed towards a recession. Is the commonwealth prepared for that?"
Day said the future of AI in Kentucky is being discussed every day.
"I'm not familiar with all the workings of the unemployment insurance, but I do know they have had great success in this optical character recognition," Day said. "It's not the stuff you knew 10 years ago. It's come a long, long way, and they have a high level of accuracy."
With the 2025 legislative session in mind, Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, asked Day when the policy COT is drafting will be finished.
"We, as a task force, would like to see your report prior to us formulating what we're going to be doing beginning in January," he said.
Day said the hope is to have the policy finished before Thanksgiving.
Tuesday was the second meeting of the Artificial Intelligence Task Force. The special committee is tasked with studying AI systems and how they're being used by Kentucky government agencies and other states.
The task force will also provide recommendations on how Kentucky's use of AI systems would benefit state agencies and the legislative initiatives needed to provide consumer protection in the private and public sectors.
The task force's next meeting is currently scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sept. 10.
Committee hears from trauma network advocates, others
Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, speaks Tuesday during a meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services. He also serves as committee co-chair. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Legislators on the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services heard Tuesday from paramedic and emergency medical technician advocates, trauma network supporters and other medical-related stakeholders.
John Holder, chair of the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services, said EMS groups are "hemorrhaging providers," causing great concern.
"The EMS in Kentucky has an attrition rate of 21% among our providers right now. That means for us, two out of 10 of our providers will not return and will not certify again next year," he said.
Additionally, Holder said the call volume is up 30,000 runs from the time a legislative task force started examining the situation approximately two years ago.
Committee Co-Chair Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said he filed legislation last year dubbed the "super speeder bill." He said it's modeled after legislation in Georgia, a state that didn't have a trauma network and needed a way to fund it.
"So, in Georgia, if you go 20 miles over the speed limit, you get an additional $200 fine, which is put into a trauma fund. And for Georgia, this generates $20 million a year. The legislation I filed – I had a compromise on it. It would actually call for 25 miles over the speed limit," he said.
Meredith said the fines could possibly generate $9 million a year in Kentucky by using the 25-mile-an-hour speeding infraction. He said that could help improve the EMT situation in Kentucky, bolster the Kentucky Rural Hospital Revolving Loan Program and pay for new automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, who is a physician, said she favors allowing inmates who are trained to be emergency medical technicians to keep practicing once they are released from incarceration.
"They've already been selected. They've already been trained. This is just a suggestion. I made it years ago. Nobody wanted to listen to it because these people have felony convictions, but the truth is you have a right to make up a debt to society," she said.
Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, asked Holder what paramedic and EMT leaders need from the legislators to increase reimbursement rates. She expressed apprehension that paramedics and EMTs don't get reimbursed when patients aren't transported to a hospital.
Holder said treatment in place is a good thing because patients don't have to go to a hospital unnecessarily and hospitals don't have to incur the costs if patients can be treated in the field.
"Basically, we would need support from you to increase those reimbursement rates. We're moving our advanced practice paramedics forward, including community paramedics and mobile integrated health programs," he said. "Looking forward in the very near future, we're going to be looking for avenues for those folks to be reimbursed when they go out and provide that care."
Committee members also heard from Richard "Dick" Bartlett, Kentucky State Trauma Program Director for the Kentucky Hospital Association, who said trauma is a severe health problem and is a major cause of death and long-term disability. He said trauma centers save lives and money.
"We have built a system essentially using voluntary assistance, grants and gifts, and we've grown it from four verified trauma centers in 2008 to where we are today, which is about 23. And I've got probably five to seven more that are working hard to become trauma centers down the road." he said.
Meredith said the cost of doing nothing to remedy trauma system and EMT/paramedic situations would be staggering.
"We heard from the trauma system that they want $1 million. Really, that's not that much money, but the return is just phenomenal. The EMTs are asking for $3 million and $6 million over the biennium. Again, the return on investment could be incredible," he said.
County jail needs discussed at interim committee
Sen. Greg Elkins, R-Winchester, speaks on ways to reduce costs at county jails during the Interim Joint Committee on Local Government meeting on Monday. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Counties are struggling to fund jails, according to county jailers, judge-executives, and other stakeholders.
A presentation on the financial burden county jails have on local governments was given to the Interim Joint Committee on Local Government on Monday. Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) Executive Director Jim Henderson said the fiscal impact jails have on counties is challenging and complex.
In Kentucky, about 43 out of 120 counties do not have a jail, he added, and funding for jails comes from several different sources. For jails that house federal inmates, they receive some federal reimbursement. But Kentucky counties spend about $350 million per year to operate jails, Henderson said.
Rowan County Judge-Executive Harry Clark joined Henderson to talk about the jail funding issue. In 2018, Rowan County opened a new 279-bed facility where a third of the inmates come from other counties.
Six out of the seven counties surrounding Rowan County do not have a jail, so they fit a need for the region. However, the cost of operating the jail is still an issue, Clark said.
"We're struggling now," Clark said. "The counties are definitely struggling to keep up these jails, so we need to come up with a long-term solution, whatever that may be."
Clark said cleaning and food costs have increased over the last few years making the fiscal issue worse. He suggested that contracting for some services might reduce costs.
"It's bleeding us dry," Clark said. "There's so many other things we could do with the money that we're spending on this."
Menifee County Judge-Executive Rick Stiltner also spoke before the committee. He said his county's jail closed more than 30 years ago, and he doesn't want to open a new one.
Counties without jails in Kentucky are forced to contract with other county jails to house their inmates. Stiltner said this decision saves Menifee County money, but the county is still spending about one-fifth of its budget on prisoner costs.
Stiltner said he isn't sure how to fix the issue, but he likes Clark's idea to contract out services, like food.
Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, said bringing certain services in-house has helped Fayette County's jail. It has its own medical facility, which has cut down on transportation costs and has made health care more immediate for inmates, she said.
"It does not by any means touch long-term the cost of medical, which is huge, but it is something," she said. "I think it's a good idea to look at maybe regionally is there some cost savings where we can have people come in to the facilities and provide that care"
Hardin County Attorney Jenny Oldham also spoke before the committee. She said sometimes the medical needs of an inmate are so expensive that the inmate must be released, but she and the jailer do everything they can to prevent that from happening.
Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, asked if anyone is keeping track of how many inmates have to be released due to expensive medical needs. Oldham said they are not keeping any official data, but it is something they can start doing.
The length of time an inmate spends waiting for trial was also discussed. Sen. Greg Elkins, R-Winchester, said he's aware some inmates can spend up to three or five years waiting for trial or a resolution.
"I think we're going to have to find a way to get those inmates sentenced quicker and through the system quicker," he said. "One-thousand-plus days on the county dime is unreasonable."
Oldham said there are systems in place to help the courts cut down on jail time, but bail schedules are an issue. She said the Administrative Office of the Courts sets those.
"Those are not local," Oldham said. "I don't think that is conducive to having the right kind of control to reduce those costs."
Committee members hear testimony on EPA standards
Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, speaks during Thursday's meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. He also serves as co-chair of the committee. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — During Thursday's meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, members heard testimony about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's rule on greenhouse gas standards and guidelines for coal-fired power plants.
A state Department for Environmental Protection official, an attorney with experience in environmental law and an attorney from Kentucky's Office of the Attorney General offered comments. Lawmakers questioned how the rules would affect new and existing power plants that run on coal, oil or gas.
Allison D. Wood, a partner at the McGuireWoods law firm, said many states are opposing the rule, but others support it.
"This is in fact a final rule. It is being litigated vigorously by not just states, but also many industry parties," she said. "There are 27 states that are challenging the final greenhouse gas rule, including the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and there are 22 states that are defending it."
Committee Co-Chair Rep. Jim Gooch Jr., R-Providence, said affordability and reliability could be affected soon "if we continue on the current path."
He said he doubts the rule would be attainable, and the state is being forced to switch from coal to other energy sources.
"We still have a lot of unanswered questions. The problem that we have is that with the new rule – the things that they're talking about – 90% sequestration of carbon dioxide is probably not possible, certainly not feasible. It's not something that can be done as far as cost is concerned," Gooch said.
Like Gooch, Committee Co-Chair Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, said he's also a skeptic.
Smith said he was on a clean air task force in China before the Olympics, and the Chinese government sought "blue sky days," when the air is cleaned up so the sky can be viewed.
"When I was there with the task force, every single industry we went to couldn't wait to get past the preliminaries and introductions so they could show us their new generators that they had purchased in America," Smith said. "And so, they would use their quota from the government. As soon as they reached their 10,000 megawatts or whatever they had, they would fire up these generators which would cause pollution at a different level than I think China had ever dreamed would happen."
Wood said the rule would put energy producers in a tough spot by creating standards that aren't achievable. Producers will look to retire plants rather than break the law, she said.
Anthony "Tony" Hatton, commissioner of the state's Department for Environmental Protection, said the federal rule requires Kentucky to submit a state implementation plan for the new rule in 2026.
"Intuition, no value judgment, but intuition says that there will be impacts, potential impacts to current and future electric generation," he said.
Hatton said property would need to be set aside for carbon sequestration, and issues would arise with private landowners. In some states, there might be issues surrounding surface rights and minerals rights – a process that could become extremely complicated, he said.
The rule potentially forces state officials to choose between meeting requirements of the Clean Air Act or providing electricity as required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Hatton said.
Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, asked Hatton about facilities across the state and summed up what could happen due to the standards and guidelines.
"Because of these regulations that they're pushing down, we've going to end up losing some plants or some partial plants, and we're going to increase rates for our customers across the commonwealth and weaken our power grid is what I'm hearing from all this. It just all comes into play," he said.
Lawmakers discuss juvenile justice trends, solutions
Rep. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, asks a question about youth mental health and crime trends during Thursday's Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Teen mental health and staffing issues at detention facilities were discussed during a presentation on juvenile justice issues given to lawmakers Thursday.
The Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary heard from Nina Salomon, deputy division director for the Corrections and Reentry Justice Center with The Council for State Governments (CSG).
CSG's national data shows the number of incarcerated youth declined by 70% from 2000 to 2022, and youth arrests for violent offenses remain historically low, she said. However, there has been a post-pandemic increase in youth arrests for homicide and weapons, resulting in a concurrent increase in youth victimization.
"We've definitely heard a concern around youth violence and youth gun violence in particular," Salomon said. "While youth gun violence remains historically low – a decline of about 54% from 2000 to 2022 – it's still a long-standing problem, and one that we know deserves further attention and more targeted attention."
In Kentucky, Salomon said the data shows behavioral health needs are a significant driver of justice involvement.
Students in Kentucky report various ways of experiencing trauma, she said, adding that "23% of Kentucky high school students reported ever seeing someone get physically attacked, beaten, stabbed or shot in their neighborhood."
Although the current data is alarming, Salomon said it also shows arrests have declined significantly since 2010.
"This is a testament to the great work that folks in Kentucky across the board have done over the last several years to reform the front end of the juvenile justice system, and keep kids out of the juvenile justice system who don't need to be there, especially since the passage of that reform bill about a decade ago," Salomon said.
CSG's national data also showed more female students reported feeling "sad or hopeless" in the last year than male students. Rep. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, asked how the youth crime data reflects those statistics.
"Are we seeing a proportional increase based on that and offenses related to young women as opposed to young men? And if so, how are facilities changing or moving towards addressing young women, particularly with respect to housing as opposed to young men?" Doan asked.
Salomon said males tend to commit more serious offenses than females, who are more likely to commit non-person offenses that are rooted in experiencing behavioral health issues and abuse. She suggested looking deeper at the system as a whole and how it addresses the different needs of females and males experiencing trauma and behavioral health problems.
Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said the presentation showed 62% of committed youth are status offenders or committed a non-person or technical violation. She asked Salomon what are some solutions to those issues.
Salomon said some states have passed laws that say youth cannot be detained or incarcerated for certain technical violations or they have created graduated response matrices.
Staffing issues at juvenile justice centers was another issue lawmakers wanted to discuss with Salomon. Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, asked what the top reasons were for retention issues.
COVID-19 changing the way younger people experience the workforce, pay, training, and safety were among the top reasons, Salomon said.
Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, said prevention and programming are topics the legislature has discussed before.
"I think we need to look into things like better training and mobile crisis response, early assessment, as for that sort of thing upon intake and really see what it is kids need," she said.
Education committee discusses DEI efforts at universities
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, speaks during Tuesday's Interim Joint Committee on Education meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Legislators on the Interim Joint Committee on Education offered a variety of viewpoints Tuesday about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in Kentucky higher education.
Committee Co-Chair Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, said bills related to DEI programs were filed in both the House and Senate during the 2024 legislative session.
"We felt that if we were going to broach the subject, if this subject was going to be addressed again, that we should have all the information available to us, and we should have a thorough understanding of what all our postsecondary institutions were doing as it pertains to DEI," he said.
Presidents of two state universities, a representative from a constitutional advocacy center, and two officials from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) were on hand to testify and answer lawmakers' questions.
Travis Powell, vice president and general counsel for CPE, said the Office for Civil Rights found Kentucky in violation of the Civil Rights Act in 1982 due to racial segregation in higher education. CPE was tasked at that time with responding to the U.S. Department of Education's desegregation plan.
Kentucky was released from the plan in 2008, "which was a great accomplishment for the state." Powell said. "But we still had this legislation in place in order to set equal educational opportunity goals. So, in 2010, the council created a new diversity plan, and then in 2016, we created a DEI policy that was integrated into our strategic agenda."
Powell said CPE sets targets for supporting low-income and underrepresented minority students and evaluates campuses based on their progress toward those targets. However, he said, CPE does not set quotas.
"No one student is discriminated against based on any of our policies that we have in place," he said, adding that state universities maintain high admission rates. "We are not about turning anybody away on our campuses at all."
Cady Short-Thompson, president of Northern Kentucky University, and Jay Morgan, president of Morehead State University, also testified about DEI policies on campus.
Short-Thompson said NKU spent 0.34% of its budget on programs and activities related to DEI in fiscal year 2024.
Morgan testified that MSU does not require diversity statements from job applicants, require DEI training or use race-based admissions for students.
Lawmakers asked the presenters about several DEI-related issues, including campus pronoun policies, affinity groups and how DEI has impacted academic standing.
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, noted that, even though Morehead serves a high-number of low-income students, it has not always met CPE's targets for DEI. She asked if the campus has been affected by CPE's scoring process.
Morgan said MSU did not meet the diversity goals one time out of the past seven years. However, he added that it can be hard for MSU to meet the diversity goals while supporting the region. Half of the institution's students qualify as low-income, placing serious demands on funding and resources, he said.
"We do not let diversity take a back seat with respect to the CPE state plan," he said. "However, there have been some times when we have gently disagreed with some of the metrics that were in there."
Timothy K. Minella, senior constitutionalism fellow at the Goldwater Institute's Van Sittert Center for Constitutional Advocacy, testified that CPE annually scores institutions based on DEI metrics.
"Through this annual process, CPE essentially threatens public institutions, ‘get on board with racial discrimination and DEI practices or lose the ability to expand your academic offerings to serve students,'" he said.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, said his grandmother once told him that there were only three or four other Black students when she attended the University of Kentucky in 1955.
He asked Minella if he wanted to return UK to the 1950s or if he had something else in mind that wasn't included in the report Minella shared with committee members.
Minella said the intent is to prohibit racial discrimination in public institutions of higher education, both in admissions and hiring
House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, said conservatives do themselves a disservice in conflating efforts to help people who have been harmed historically, whether it be redlining, poverty or something else.
"What I think we should be hyper focused on is making sure we have intellectual diversity, and making sure that we attack the places in our university that are going after the institutions of western civilization and trying to change our culture like we've seen all over the country this past year," he said.
West said the committee will continue to discuss DEI and hear from state universities in September.
Interim committee hears update on electric vehicle charging program
Rep. Tom Smith, R-Corbin, asks if a reduction in electric vehicle production is going to slow down the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program rollout. The discussion was part of Tuesday's Interim Joint Committee on Transportation meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — In 2022, the federal government granted Kentucky $69.5 million to install electric vehicle charging stations across the state by 2027.
On Tuesday, the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation heard testimony from John Moore, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet assistant state highway engineer, on the project's progress.
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI) is funded by the federal 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Moore said the program is focused on building out the alternative fuels corridor, which includes all interstates and parkways.
In order to receive funding, charging stations are required to be within 50 miles of each other, within a mile of the corridor and publicly available 24/7. The charging stations must also be able to support four simultaneously charging vehicles at 150 kilowatts.
To date, Moore said the state has awarded two RFPs and $27.2 million to build 42 charging sites.
"Once these are completely built out, travelers will have access to 168 chargers conveniently located along Kentucky's primary corridors," Moore said.
Committee co-chair Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, asked if a match is required to receive a grant from the program. Moore said it is a reimbursement program.
"Whatever expenditures they have that qualify for the NEVI program, we will reimburse 80% of that," he added.
Some of the new charging stations will be operational soon. Eleven charging sites should become operational this year with another 21 operational next calendar year, Moore said.
"We're optimistic that we'll be able to achieve build out certification in 2026," Moore said, adding once the federal requirements are met along the corridor, the program will be able to expand beyond the corridor.
Rep. Tom Smith, R-Corbin, asked if the Transportation Cabinet is planning to slow down the rollout of the program due to reports of manufacturers cutting back on production of electric vehicles.
"Are you aware of any downtrend in the electric vehicle use? I've heard manufacturers say they're going back to the hybrid system and not fully electric," he said.
Moore said the cabinet does not plan on scaling back the rollout of the charging stations. He also said although he's not fully "dialed-in" to what is going on in the electric vehicle industry, he knows dependable infrastructure is important for vehicle production.
"Part of the suppression of demand is the lack of dependability traveling long-distances," Moore added. "Right now, you almost have to plot your course out on a map to figure out if you can make it ... This is ideally going to break the logjam and provide that dependable infrastructure."
New laws set to take effect in Kentucky next week
New laws passed during the 2024 legislative session will take effect on July 15. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A battery of new state laws will take effect in Kentucky next week, including key measures on crime, autonomous vehicles, maternal health and child protection.
The Kentucky General Assembly passed more than 200 bills during the 60-day session, and most will become effective on Monday.
The Kentucky Constitution specifies that new laws take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature unless they have special effective dates, are general appropriation measures, or include emergency clauses that make them effective immediately upon becoming law.
The general assembly adjourned the 2024 session on April 15, making July 15 the effective date for most bills.
Some of the measures set to take effect include:
Adoption Records: House Bill 87 will allow some family members to inspect adoption records if they are related to someone who was adopted or to the birth parents who gave up a child for adoption. The records can only be inspected after both birth parents or the adoptee have passed away.
Animal Abuse: House Bill 258 seeks to strengthen state laws against torturing a dog or cat. That includes stiffer penalties for first-time offenders, who could face a class D felony rather than a misdemeanor charge under the bill.
Autonomous Vehicles: House Bill 7 creates a legal framework in state statute for operating autonomous vehicles in Kentucky. The bill will take effect July 15 except for one section related to platoons of vehicles, which does not take effect until August 2026.
Capitol Statues: House Bill 513 requires the Historic Properties Advisory Commission to receive approval from the Kentucky General Assembly before adding or removing any statues, monuments or art on permanent display in the Capitol rotunda.
Child Care Subsidies: Senate Bill 240 clarifies that foster parents who work remotely can receive child care subsidies.
Child Protection: House Bill 278 will ramp up the criminal penalties for offenders who sexually abuse, assault or exploit children. The bill also seeks to prevent people convicted of sex crimes or violent felonies from working in public schools. Another provision in the final bill will require age verification to access adult websites.
Child Sex Dolls: House Bill 207 creates felony penalties for possessing, trafficking, importing or promoting the use of a child sex doll. It also expands laws against child pornography to include computer-generated images of an identifiable minor.
Civics Education: House Bill 535 calls on the Kentucky Board of Education to create academic standards for civic literacy in high schools. That includes lessons on America's founding, the U.S. Constitution, principles of government and civil liberties, among others.
Crime Victims: Senate Bill 319 calls for the Crime Victims Compensation Board to make its application process available online, to publish the application in additional languages, and to establish a tracking process for claims. It also clarifies who is eligible to file claims and extends the deadline to file claims.
Cursive Handwriting: Senate Bill 167 calls for elementary schools to teach cursive handwriting and ensure that students are proficient in cursive by the end of the fifth grade.
Emissions Standards: Senate Bill 215 forbids state agencies from adopting or enforcing California's emission standards on motor vehicles.
Firearms: House Bill 357 forbids government agencies from creating a list of privately owned firearms – or their owners – unless the information relates to a criminal investigation. The bill also prevents credit card companies from creating unique merchant codes for gun stores.
Foster Care: Senate Bill 151 allows family members who take temporary custody of a relative's child to apply to become a relative or fictive kin foster parent. That will help them access more state resources and support.
Gas Stations: House Bill 581 prevents local governments from passing or enforcing rules that treat retail gas stations differently from electric vehicle charging stations.
Health Care Background Checks: Senate Bill 145 will allow health care providers enrolled in the Medicaid program to conduct employee background checks through Kentucky's child and adult abuse registries.
Health Care Liability: House Bill 159 protects health care providers from criminal liability when a medical error harms a patient. The bill exempts harm resulting from gross negligence or wanton, willful, malicious or intentional misconduct.
Juvenile Offenders: Senate Bill 20 seeks to curb youth gun violence. Among several provisions, it clears the way for juveniles to stand trial as adults if they use a firearm in the commission of certain felonies and they are at least 15 years old.
Kratom: House Bill 293 aims to regulate kratom, an herbal drug frequently sold online and in convenience stores. The bill prohibits sales to people under 21 and provides guidelines for manufacturing and labeling the product.
Kindergarten Readiness: House Bill 695 will establish the Adaptive Kindergarten Readiness Pilot Project within the Kentucky Department of Education. The program will offer reading, math and science instruction through an online platform.
Maternal Health: Senate Bill 74 aims to support maternal and infant health and reduce the high mortality rate for mothers in Kentucky. Several sections of the bill are set to take effect on July 15, including one that will provide more information about breastfeeding and safe sleep to at-risk parents. Other sections will establish a state maternal fatality review team and require state Medicaid services to cover lactation consulting, breastfeeding equipment, and in-home and telehealth services. The bill also calls on state health officials to compile an annual report about the number and types of delivery procedures performed at each hospital. Other sections of the bill will not take effect until 2025.
Mathematics Education: House Bill 162 seeks to improve numeracy in Kentucky. It calls for reform to early education math standards and for more professional development for teachers. The bill will also create multitiered support systems for struggling students.
Medicinal Cannabis: House Bill 829 seeks to update some aspects of Kentucky's upcoming medicinal cannabis program. It will allow schools to opt out and allow local governments to apply a small fee to the program, among other changes. Three sections of the bill related to applications for business licenses, state enforcement and patient pamphlets will not take effect until 2025.
Missing Adults: Senate Bill 45 calls on Kentucky State Police and other state officials to operate a new alert system that helps find missing people over the age of 17.
Nuclear Energy: Senate Bill 198 establishes the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority to support and facilitate the development of a nuclear energy ecosystem across the state.
Official State Rock: House Bill 378 changes the official state rock from Kentucky agate to coal. It also changes the official mineral from coal to calcite and the official gemstone from the freshwater pearl to Kentucky agate.
Pseudoephedrine: House Bill 386 eases purchase limits on pseudoephedrine to help people with chronic allergies legally obtain enough of the medication to meet their medical needs.
Recording Food Operations: Senate Bill 16 forbids people from capturing or distributing unauthorized video, audio or photos from a commercial food manufacturing facility or an animal feeding operation. Violators could face a class B misdemeanor on the first offense and a class A misdemeanor for a subsequent offense.
Research Consortiums: Senate Bill 1 creates an endowment fund to support collaborative research consortiums among public universities in Kentucky. Administered by the Council on Postsecondary Education, the program will focus on research projects that seek to improve quality of life through medicine, health and economic development.
Safer Kentucky Act: House Bill 5 aims to crack down on repeat, violent offenders. It will also allow prosecutors to file a manslaughter charge against anyone who sells or distributes fentanyl that causes a fatal overdose. Other provisions seek to curb unlawful street camping and set limits on charitable bail organizations.
School Bus Behavior: House Bill 446 seeks to address disciplinary issues on school buses. Under the bill, every bus rider and at least one of their parents or guardians will need to sign a transportation agreement with the district. The agreement would outline expectations for students and parents and explain the consequences for misbehavior.
School Notifications: Senate Bill 11 seeks, in certain cases, to speed up notifications to schools when a student has been charged with a crime.
School Safety: Senate Bill 2 seeks to enhance school safety by allowing some veterans and former police officers to serve as school "guardians." It also calls on school districts to assemble trauma-informed teams to improve mental health interventions.
Sex Offenders and Social Media: Senate Bill 249 will require sex offenders who have been convicted of abusing a minor to use their legal name on social media platforms.
Truancy: House Bill 611 calls for school officials to file a complaint with the county attorney when a student misses 15 days or more of school without an excuse. For students in elementary school, the parent would be held responsible.
Vaping in Schools: House Bill 142 will ban all tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products in Kentucky public schools. It will also require school districts to adopt disciplinary procedures for students who violate the bans.
Veteran Suicide Prevention: Under House Bill 30, the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs will create a suicide prevention program for service members, veterans and their families.
Window Tinting: Senate Bill 46 allows windshield tinting on vehicles as long as at least 70% of light can still pass through the material.
Youth Employment Programs: Senate Bill 128 allows nonprofit organizations to employ 12- and 13-year-olds for the purpose of learning life and employment skills. To participate, organizations would need to first receive approval from the state Department of Workplace Standards, and the work can not exceed 18 hours a week.
Youth Medical Records: House Bill 174 stipulates that parents have access to their child's medical records. Right now, children ages 13 and older must sign a waiver for parents to have access.
Committee hears how farm alliance helps bring healthy food to Kentuckians
Rep. Shawn McPherson, R-Scottsville, speaks Thursday during the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee meeting. A high-resolution photo is available here.
FRANKFORT — Members of the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee learned Thursday how the Community Farm Alliance helps bring healthy food to Kentuckians.
Myrisa K. Christy, executive director of the alliance, and two others offered committee members an overview of the Kentucky Double Dollars and Farmers Market Support Program. Through Kentucky Double Dollars, spending power is increased on Kentucky-grown fruits and vegetables, she said.
The program is designed to increase sales and income for the state's farmers, develop new farm customers by introducing local food for low-income populations and leverage federal food and nutrition program funds, she said.
"I think it's important to have farmers markets participating in the program and taking ownership, because that's how they're going to end up supporting it long-term and developing the community around it," Christy said.
Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, also committee co-chair, said the program is good because it brings healthy food to more people.
"The dollar program is fantastic, and I know in my county, the farmers markets are critical to providing accessibility to what you need – fresh food," she said.
Rep. Shawn McPherson, R-Scottsville, said he's thinks Allen County leads the state in vegetable production, and he supports the local farmers market on the downtown square and other efforts to put producers' goods in front of potential customers.
"It's a big thing, and we do a lot with our local square there. We have First Fridays. We do a lot of things so everybody's familiar with and they come to," he said.
McPherson said it's a good thing when farmers can take risks and plant more crops annually knowing the demand is there; that the food won't go to waste.
"And so, we're always looking to see where we can expand that market," he said.
Rep. Rachel Roarx, D-Louisville, said her interest was piqued after learning about the program's expansion at Save A Lot stores in Louisville. She asked which locations will participate.
Jamie Fitzwater, director of Kentucky Double Dollars, said the group will be at the stores on Portland Avenue and Taylor Boulevard.
Rep. Myron Dossett, R-Pembroke, also committee co-chair, expressed concern about inflation.
"As we have seen for the last three, four years, inflation has impacted every family whether they be low income or going up the economic ladder. We're all experiencing increased costs. We're seeing it within agriculture as well," he said.
He asked if there has been an increase in shoppers at farmers markets.
Christy said food service benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic might not be topped. However, there is an increase in awareness of other places to get resources.
She explained that multiple point surveys are expected to be implemented this year to find out who is being served and how their shopping and eating behaviors change over the long term.
Fitzwater said that social media has been a great way to get the word out about Kentucky Double Dollars.
Sen. Robin L. Webb, D-Grayson, said promoting a healthy lifestyle will cut down on medical costs and decrease cancer rates and diabetes. She said she would like to see more counties participate in the program.
"I'd like to see SNAP benefits going to promote healthy lifestyles because when you're experiencing cheap foods, carbs, wasted calories and all that, I mean, health is a lifestyle. You talk about dollars in funding, but you can't really quantify reaching those children and the life choices that they make," she said.
Webb said school family resource centers are the "boots on the ground" for various nutrition issues.
Mays Bledsoe said cooperation between agriculture-related groups will benefit many Kentuckians.
"What's so interesting, I think about this committee, is that you do get to see all different partners working together and leveraging funds and resources, because we do want a better and a healthier Kentucky, and that's the goal," she said.
Citizen members appointed to serve on JCPS task force
The Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force will convene its first meeting at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 15. A high-resolution photo is available here.
FRANKFORT — Legislative leaders have appointed five citizen members to a new task force that will study the administration of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and recommend possible reforms ahead of the 2025 legislative session.
House Speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers established the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force in May. The 13-member panel is tasked with reviewing the district's governance model and identifying areas for potential improvement by Dec. 1.
Rep. Kim Banta, R-Fort Mitchell, and Sen. Michael J. Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, will lead the group as co-chairs. They selected the citizen members through a public application process announced last month. The appointments include:
Angela Masden-Wilson and Brittany Abdelahad will serve as resident-parent members. To qualify for the position, both appointees had to be taxpayers living in a school district with an enrollment greater than 75,000. Both had to have competency and experience or knowledge in the field of education and have children who are currently attending or recently graduated within the past five years from the school district. Neither appointee could be a current employee of the district.
Jody Wurtenberger will serve as the business member. This role required experience in the finance, management, and operations of large businesses that operate in the commonwealth.
George Nichols will serve as the teacher member. To qualify, this appointee had to be a certified teacher currently employed as a classroom teacher in a school district with enrollment greater than 75,000. The appointee had to have at least five years of experience working in the district.
Dr. Rebecca Nicolas will serve as the principal member. She was chosen from a list of three principals nominated by the superintendents of school districts with enrollment of 75,000 or greater.
The task force is a direct result of House Concurrent Resolution 81, which the Kentucky General Assembly adopted during the 2024 legislative session.
Sponsored by Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, the measure called for a working group to review the administrative functions and learning outcomes of school districts that have more than 75,000 students.
The task force is also charged with gathering testimony from parents and policy experts and researching the structures and outcomes of similar districts in other states.
Fleming will serve on the panel along with Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield; Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville; and Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville.
State Auditor Allison Ball and Louisville Metro Councilman Phillip Baker will serve in the remaining two positions.
All members of the task force will have voting privileges, and the group will convene its first meeting at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 15.
More information on the task force is available here on the LRC website.
Task force learns about housing shortage
Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, speaks during Monday's Kentucky Housing Task Force meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Housing Task Force, a new legislative panel focused on solutions to housing shortages, heard from several state officials Monday about efforts to address the problem.
Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, was among those who had questions for officials from the Kentucky Housing Corp., the Kentucky Center for Statistics and the state's Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction.
"There's a lot of different spokes to this. It's no certain, no one thing can solve this problem. It's going to take a lot of different folks – like I said, a lot of partnerships and the private sector really has to step up and start working on this," he said.
Wendy K. Smith, deputy executive director of Housing Programs for the Frankfort-based Kentucky Housing Corp., said it's vital for the housing supply in Kentucky to be a main focus instead of niche or secondary housing issues.
She and others presented information from the first phase of the Housing Supply Gap Analysis, a study commissioned by the KHC and released in April.
"In our view, the housing supply shortage is Kentucky's most urgent issue," she said. "What we're seeing is while Kentucky Housing for 50-plus years has been investing in affordable housing, because there's not enough supply in the overall marketplace, we're losing ground in serving the folks we try to serve."
Smith said all of Kentucky's counties need housing, and if enough supply existed, the state would have lower average housing costs.
"Supply will bring down costs. That's just, that's economics, right? We would have higher ownership rates. We would have more workforce housing if we just had more supply. We would have lower addiction rates. We would have fewer homeless Kentuckians, and we'd have increased household stability," she said.
Smith said if there is more housing for higher income people and they can get what they want, people with fewer means will have more options open to them because it is a marketplace. Housing is also closely connected to economic development, she said.
"If you want jobs, you need homes," Smith said.
Senate Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, said Detroit has added housing to the city by using sites that were conducive to construction.
"They looked at sites that were already ready to go. They already had the infrastructure there. They already had all of the sewer lines, everything, and they rebuilt those areas, part of the metropolitan area," she said. "And everything that I've read, they've done it block by block by block, and they've really stabilized a huge portion of their metropolitan area."
Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, asked Smith about possible KHC gap incentives for construction companies and developers to spur construction.
"I mean we can, but we don't have any more to work with than we did before. Some of our resources could do that, and are doing that in some communities, but there's not any more to go around. Who are we going to take from I guess is where we're left," Smith said.
Rep. Mike Clines, R-Alexandria, asked Smith if there's a good housing program in another state that KHC favors more than others.
Smith said she would like more time to research the issue, but mentioned Oklahoma's is interesting to her.
Committee Co-Chair Rep. Susan Witten, R-Louisville, said the task force was established after House Concurrent Resolution 68 was adopted during this year's legislative session. The task force is charged with studying and reviewing current and future policy needs to address access and availability of housing for the state's citizens.
Witten said this includes a demographic analysis of housing costs, population and employment opportunities statewide and regionally; a comprehensive review of state and local laws, regulations, policies and procedures that affect housing; analysis of the availability and accessibility of housing; and evaluation of land use, zoning, infrastructure and community planning to identify barriers to attainable and affordable housing.
The task force will also examine efforts in other areas of the United States to address housing shortages and boost home ownership, she said.
Phase 2 of the Housing Supply Gap Analysis will be a 5-year projection of future supply gaps in Kentucky, Smith said. This report is expected to be released Aug. 21 during the Kentucky Affordable Housing Conference in Louisville, she said.
The task force's next meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 29 at 1 p.m.
Interim committee discusses implementation of Senate Bill 151
Senate Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, asks a question about the implementation of Senate Bill 151 during Wednesday's Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children discussed the future of Senate Bill 151 on Wednesday.
The general assembly unanimously passed SB 151 earlier this year, which will allow family members who take temporary custody of a relative's child to become certified as a "child-specific foster home." The bill will give those caregivers more access to state resources. SB 151 officially becomes law on July 15.
The bill's primary sponsor, Senate Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, asked Lesa Dennis, commissioner for the Department of Community Based Services, how the Cabinet plans to implement the legislation.
Dennis said the Cabinet needs additional funding to implement SB 151.
"The Cabinet is supportive of Senate Bill 151, but during those conversations we also identified there would be additional funding needed to implement, and that funding was not made available," Dennis said. "So at this time, we are still hopeful in the near future that there will be an additional pathway for funding of Senate Bill 151. But without that support, the Cabinet will have difficulty moving forward with implementation."
Adams said since SB 151 will be law, she isn't sure if the Cabinet can opt not to implement it. She also questioned whether additional funding was requested from the legislature.
"I can also show you documentation from the Cabinet that says that the cost can be absorbed within your current budgetary framework," Adams said, adding that she would like to hear more from the Cabinet on the issue in July.
Sen. Robin L. Webb, D-Grayson, also had questions about the funding issues for SB 151. Dennis said the estimated cost is $20 million.
"Is there any federal relief or anything we could apply for that would ease the burden of that?" Webb asked.
Dennis said no, because general funds would support additional staffing and pay for the cost of care for the children.
Under SB 151, Dennis also said the process the Cabinet will have to use to transition children from a temporary custody situation to relative/fictive kin foster care situation makes the child ineligible for federal reimbursement.
Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, asked Dennis if there is a different way the Cabinet can implement SB 151 in order to be eligible for federal support.
Dennis said no.
"We have asked our federal partners, and we have worked with our consultants and others in various ways to try to find a solution that would enable us to receive federal funding for this population of children and have not found any workarounds or other options available," she added.
Toward the end of the discussion on the issue, committee co-chair Rep. Samara Heavrin, R-Leitchfield, said she wants the Cabinet to come back in July to continue to discuss the implementation of SB 151.
"To hear that (SB 151) is not going to be implemented because there aren't enough funds when it was stated that the Cabinet could absorb the funds is a major problem," she said.
The next Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children is currently scheduled for 1 p.m. on July 30. For more information, visit legislature.ky.gov.
Lawmakers hear from first responder families seeking workers' compensation
Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, speaks Wednesday about first responder workers' compensation during a meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Family members of those dealing with psychological injuries offered impassioned testimony during Wednesday's meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection.
Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, credited Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, with, "a fabulous bill that's been around for many years" and has had bipartisan support.
"Kentucky's workers' comp system was created in 1914 with a goal of placing responsibility for workplace injuries on the industry in which such injuries occur as opposed to putting that on the general public," she said.
Burke said only physical injuries or physical illnesses are covered under current law, and the measure – House Bill 363 – would create a carve-out for psychological injuries experienced as first responders, who are defined as firefighters, EMTs, police, National Guard and front-line social workers.
"Our first responders take great risks to provide services to the public when we're in crisis. They come to us at our worst moments," she said. "They see the absolute, most awful things that any of us can imagine. They do it willingly, courageously..."
Caleen Treadway of Sharpsburg, cried while testifying about witnessing seizures her father, Bobby Treadway, had that she said were due to PTSD stemming from his EMS employment.
"And my dad has dedicated his life to saving others and sacrificing his own life and his time with his family so others would get the opportunity to make it back to their loved ones," she said. "No one will ever really know what my dad has seen on these runs or calls or what any of these first responders see on a daily basis."
Like Treadway, Wendy Johnson spoke about how her husband, Kyle Johnson, was affected by things he saw during period of civil unrest in Louisville. He had been serving in the Kentucky National Guard for eight years when he received orders to go to Louisville.
"We are here today to address the gap in coverage and benefits for those who find themselves struggling with PTSD. As all of you know, this is mostly an invisible injury, an injury that affects the most important organ in your body...It is a real and devastating injury to receive," she said.
Rep. Bill Wesley, R-Ravenna, thanked Burke for presenting the bill, and said National Guard personnel serve the governor and take the same oath as anybody else who has served in the military.
"If a national guardsman that has taken that same oath, if they're not deployed, they're not considered a veteran, and I think that's wrong. They served in so many different ways...We have people serving all over the world that are from the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a national guardsman," he said.
Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, said he served for nine years in the National Guard, and more than 30 years as a fire officer and a paramedic. He said there are 23 states with some type of presumption for workers' compensation for mental health for firefighters. He said he wasn't sure if this includes police and EMS in those states. He asked Burke if there are other states with laws providing for workers' compensation for National Guard personnel.
"I do believe it's a similar number. Kentucky is an outlier that we're not providing care for our national guardsmen who are on state deployment," she said.
Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, said those in the National Guard should be treated as a veteran whether they are deployed or not.
"I want it stated in the record that 23 states already have the presumptions for first responders for mental health...I hope that this bill is expanded to include those who work in the call centers, either the 911 dispatchers or in the cases of 988, I think a 988 dispatcher or person should be included as well," he said.
Sen. Matthew Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, said it's the legislature's job to reduce red tape that holds back services for those who have provided invaluable assistance. He said he's grateful to the General Assembly for funding USA Cares, which addresses possible lapses in policies.
Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, thanked the families for their testimony and said they were brave for sharing their stories.
"I do not think that vulnerability is a sign or weakness. I do not think that individuals should be humiliated by their circumstances," she said.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for July 30 at 11 a.m.
Lawmakers learn about companies' power needs, receive an energy outlook
Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, speaks Thursday about Kentucky's energy needs to meet demands of companies interested in locating in the commonwealth. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Ensuring Kentucky possesses enough energy to attract and retain businesses was only one facet of Thursday's meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.
Committee members heard from the chairman of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, two executives from two major industries in the commonwealth and a representative of an energy-related state association.
Committee Co-Chair Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, said a business person from Indiana recently showed him a power bill from that state. The energy provider was the same, but the cost per kilowatt was much lower – in some cases almost half – and the firm determined that it was cost prohibitive to come to Kentucky.
Years ago, businesses interested in locating here were focused on building specifications, he said. "Now, I'd say that the No. 1 question that they all ask is what is your power rate."
Kent A. Chandler, chairman of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, said system growth is happening primarily as a result of data center expansion in the Columbus, Ohio and Northern Virginia areas. He expressed concern about replacing current power-generating units.
"I'm still concerned with our ability to reliably and cost effectively replace energy that is lost from a significant number of retirements of current resources," he said. "One or two here and there I think would be fine. A wholesale replacement of our generating fleet, I don't know what we would build to replace it. I'm being very honest."
Chandler said in 2023, Kentucky ranked 14th nationwide for residential electricity rates and second east of the Mississippi River behind only Tennessee. The state ranks No. 11 nationwide for industrial rates.
"On average, our rates across the entire state are very competitive, at least for our entire region," he said, citing state profiles by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Rep. DJ Johnson, R-Owensboro, asked Chandler why transmission costs are increasing.
"I would say that the primary cause of it is the replacement of older transmission with similar or like-kind new transmission," Chandler said.
Committee Co-Chair Rep. Jim Gooch Jr., R-Providence, said the committee is looking for ways to ensure Kentucky has reliability and the availability of power at an affordable cost. However, he said he's not in favor of large corporations that "blindly follow some of the policies in Washington."
Gooch said that capturing carbon emissions at a high rate is not feasible and can't be done.
One of those who testified during the meeting was Cathy Waddell, controller of Ghent-based Nucor Steel Gallatin. She said the company produces sheet steel, which has hundreds of everyday uses. For example, the steel goes into parts for automobiles, solar farms, lawnmowers, appliances and office furniture. Additionally, Nucor opened a second steel mill in Brandenburg last year.
Waddell said with many manufacturing facilities in Kentucky, Nucor is one of the largest electricity consumers in the state.
"For industrial operations like ours, access to reliable and affordable electricity is one of the most important factors to our success," she said.
Nucor is investing in next-generation nuclear technology, she said.
"We're working with NuScale Power, a start-up company that is developing small, modular nuclear reactors. They were the first company to have their new reactor design approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission," she said. "Besides a financial investment, we're also evaluating with NuScale the possibility to co-locate their small modular reactors at one of our steel mills as well as supplying them with the steel to build the reactor."
Kim Allen Menke, regional director of Government Affairs for Toyota Motor North America, said severe weather can create a brief power outage that can shut down manufacturing equipment such as spray booths, curing ovens and paint systems.
"There's no question energy curtailment or brownouts would have a negative impact on our ability to run production and operate our building systems for our team members," Menke said.
Michael L. Kurtz, general counsel for Kentucky Industrial Utility Customers, said utility companies in Kentucky are challenging federal rules regarding coal-fired plants.
"So really, if this federal rule survives, all the coal plants effectively will have to shut down by 2038," he said.
Smith said the important issue is what would the closure of the coal-fired plants mean to companies such as Nucor and Toyota.
"We realize that we're going to have to do something because we want you to know we're going to fight for you, and we're going to fight to keep that industry and those jobs here," he said.
Committee discusses potential bill on sex offender residential limits
Rep. Kim Banta, R-Fort Mitchell, testifies before the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary on Thursday about legislation on sex offender residential limits. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The 2024 legislative session ended in April, but Kentucky lawmakers are already working on bills for 2025.
Rep. Kim Banta, R-Fort Mitchell, spoke to the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary on Thursday about this year's House Bill 67. The bill did not become law, but Banta is hoping to refile the legislation in 2025.
Under HB 67, registered sex offenders would be restricted from residing within 3,000 feet of a high, middle, or elementary school; preschool, publicly owned or leased playground; or licensed daycare facility. Current law provides a 1,000-foot limit.
Banta said she's had many people ask her for this bill.
"It's beginning to impact some of our city areas and residents within," she added.
Sen. Johnnie Turner, R-Harlan, said he is concerned how the bill might impact people living in rural areas.
"I represent a rural area, and presently 1,000 feet is a football field in a straight line. Three thousand feet would probably prevent anybody from living in any small town in my county," Turner said.
The bill is not retroactive, Banta said, so anyone convicted prior to this bill would not be impacted. Turner said he still has concerns about punishing people who have already served out their sentence.
Banta said that she supports many policies aimed at helping people, like voting rights restoration and expungement, but sex offenders require different consideration.
"They're always going to be a sexual predator," she said.
Committee co-chair Rep. Daniel Elliott, R-Danville, said he also has concerns on how the legislation would impact rural areas.
"I know you're trying to prevent future crimes and future victims, and I appreciate what you're doing. But there could be an effect, I think, unintentionally of requiring these individuals to live in rural parts of a county for instance where there's only a sheriff's patrol," Elliott said.
Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, said from a law enforcement and executive director of a childcare center perspective, he supports the 1,000-foot limit. But he wanted to know why 2,000 more feet is needed.
Banta said she's aware of a situation in which a convicted sex offender uses binoculars to watch children playing soccer at a nearby school.
Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher, R-Louisville, said he knows of a similar incident happening in his district. However, that person was convicted when the limit was 500 feet.
The Kentucky General Assembly cannot act on legislation until the 2025 legislative session begins on Jan. 7.
The next Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary meeting is scheduled for July 18 at 11 a.m.
For more information, visit legislature.ky.gov.
Department of Juvenile Justice gives update to lawmakers
Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, said he supports the use of pepper spray and other measures in juvenile detention facilities during Wednesday's Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky General Assembly continued its efforts to monitor Kentucky's juvenile justice system on Wednesday.
Kentucky's new Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Randy White provided an update to the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary and spoke on the impacts of recent legislation on the department.
White said in his 27 years working in corrections, today's youth are different.
"They're committing harsher crimes, which require stronger rehabilitative efforts," White added.
In order to reduce Kentucky's juvenile detention center population, White said the state needs to focus on alternatives to detention, education, programming, employment and mental health. Ensuring the safety of incarcerated youth and detention center staff is also a priority.
The legislature has appropriated millions toward the improvement of the Department of Juvenile Justice in the last few years, White said. Due to 2023 legislation, starting salaries at juvenile justice centers went from $30,000 to $50,000. This has resulted in filled positions going from 313 at the beginning of 2023 to 454 as of May 22, 2024, White added.
Ensuring facilities are fully staffed is a major priority. White said the department is expecting more youth to enter the facilities as the result of 2023's House Bill 3 and 2024's House Bill 5 and Senate Bill 20.
HB 3 requires the automatic detention of juveniles charged with violent crimes. HB 5, also known as the Safer Kentucky Act, enhances penalties for certain violent crimes, and SB 20 requires youth who use a firearm in the commission of a crime to be tried as an adult.
Committee co-chair Rep. Patrick Flannery, R-Olive Hill, asked if the department has enough funds to complete the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center and the Jefferson Regional Juvenile Detention Facility at Lyndon renovation projects.
Roberta McCann, acting executive director for the department's Office of Administrative Services, said additional funding provided in this year's budget is adequate.
To maintain order inside the juvenile facilities, corrections officers may use pepper spray, tasers and shields for protection, White said. All usage of pepper spray is investigated. Out of 107 investigations, 14 incidences have been determined to be "substantiated misuses."
"(Pepper) spray continues to be a safer alternative than physical contact between juveniles and staff, reducing injuries and medical attention," White said. "A comparison of staff assaults before and after the use of pepper spray was authorized shows that staff assaults have decreased by 40%."
Sen. Robin L. Webb, D-Grayson, said she wanted more information on the use of pepper spray in juvenile facilities, especially if juveniles are informed on what may be used on them if they misbehave.
"I represent guards and juveniles and I would like to think they're well informed of the potentiality of that," Webb said. "... and what is the penalty for misusing for employees?"
White said he believes potential disciplinary measures for juveniles in detention is in the handbook they're given upon entry to the facility. As for employees who misuse, White said they are often suspended and have to undergo additional training and counseling.
Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, said he supports the use of pepper spray and other measures in juvenile detention facilities due to how violent some of Kentucky's youth offenders are.
"I find it unfortunate that those who would rather forget that there is a problem that must be dealt with societally, know that the people on the front lines of providing that solution to that problem have to feel safe in that environment that we charge them to operate," McDaniel said.
The next Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary is currently scheduled for 9 a.m. on July 17. For more information, visit legislature.ky.gov.
Education committee receives KSU update
Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, speaks about Kentucky State University during Tuesday's Interim Joint Committee on Education meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — During Tuesday's meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Education, legislators received an update on budgeting, enrollment and other key issues affecting Kentucky State University in Frankfort.
Lawmakers heard testimony from five representatives from the commonwealth's only public historically Black college and university (HBCU).
KSU has faced severe financial challenges in recent years, and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education has undertaken a financial review of the institution. The Kentucky General Assembly also passed legislation to provide financial relief to the university.
Tammi Dukes, who serves on the KSU Board of Regents, said she's grateful for the committee and general assembly for the investment in the university, which led to the largest general fund in the school's history.
"The nearly 400% increase in asset preservation and the $5 million for the planning and design of the new health sciences education building have not gone unnoticed," she said. "In addition, your support, particularly through the passing of House Bill 250 in 2022, has been pivotal in our journey towards realizing measurable outcomes and fostering a brighter future for our students and the commonwealth."
Dukes said the university's focus has been on three primary goals – to balance the budget, to ensure robust internal controls across the organization and to grow the enrollment.
Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, asked about the school's outreach to potential students in Northern Kentucky and enrollment numbers.
"We have hired five admission specialists, and we have divided the state among them. And so we do have a contact there in the Northern Kentucky area. What we're looking to do is to continue to grow," said Stephanie Mayberry, KSU's vice provost of student affairs.
Mayberry said the university plans to also reach out to potential students in Bowling Green and Christian County.
Mentioning the current enrollment of approximately 1,700 at KSU, Funke Frommeyer asked how many students live on campus.
Mayberry said the school has the capacity for about 1,200 students on campus. She also said summer school is offered online and several camps are set to kick off this week at KSU.
Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, also committee co-chair, said it's encouraging to hear that good news is happening at KSU, and he asked about the recent relationship between KSU, the KSU Board of Regents and the Kentucky State University Foundation, which he said has been described as "pretty much nonexistent."
Dukes said the board of regents has attempted to forge relationships, but has had no real success.
"In addition, we've also been asking for financial information as it relates to the endowments and all the funds that are being managed through the foundation and have received sporadic, incomplete information over the last two years," she said.
Tipton said committee members would be monitoring the situation and it can hopefully be resolved soon.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, asked Michael Dailey, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, about the record number of degrees awarded during KSU's most recent commencement.
"We had the largest graduating class that we have had in the history of Kentucky State University – over 300 degrees were awarded...," he said.
Thomas also asked about graduation rates going up by almost 25% in KSU's new president's first year in office.
Dailey said the efforts made by Mayberry and her team started with retention. Also addressing gaps in curriculum and the pathways students were pursuing helped boost the rates.
Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said the presentation was encouraging, and he asked about student recruitment and the five admissions counselors.
"I'll be honest. We started behind the eight ball this year. Those five were not in place until January and the recruitment time is September to October," Mayberry said. "We feel confident that we'll be able to get into the high schools. We've been building those relationships all semester so that we can go right into those high schools in the fall so that we have a presence."
Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, said after hearing the presentation that he's encouraged by the transparency and the future of the university.
"I have to tell you this is one of the most refreshing presentations that I've heard before this body. There have been many, but this is one of them. And it's very encouraging what I've heard here," he said. "I think I'm speaking for most of the folks up here, and I haven't looked at facial expressions or anything, but it seems like you're on the right track."
Legislative interim period begins this week
Renovation work continues on the Kentucky Capitol this week as lawmakers return to Frankfort for the start of the 2024 interim period. here.
FRANKFORT — Kentucky lawmakers are kicking off the 2024 interim period this week with the first of many joint committees slated to convene on Tuesday.
The interim period typically runs from June to December each year and provides lawmakers time to hold hearings and study issues in preparation for the next regular session, which begins in January.
The full 2024 interim calendar is available here. Please note, however, that it may be subject to change throughout the year.
Unless otherwise indicated on the calendar, most interim joint, statutory and special committee meetings are held in the Capitol Annex building in Frankfort.
The Legislative Research Commission's website will include a weekly calendar of committee meetings throughout the interim period, offering more detailed information on meeting times, committee members and agenda items. The weekly calendar is available here.
Both Kentucky Educational Television (KET) and the Legislative Research Commission provide livestreams of the committee meetings, and more information on accessing those feeds is available here.
To view materials such as information sheets, handouts and PowerPoint presentations that are compiled for lawmakers to review at committee meetings, please visit the committee pages on the Legislative Research Commission's website. Click on the "Meeting Materials" tab on the right side of each committee's page. Meeting agendas are also posted on this page.
To share feedback on an issue with lawmakers, call the General Assembly's Message Line at 1-800-372-7181. Kentuckians with hearing loss can use Kentucky Relay by dialing 7-1-1.
To directly reach a lawmaker's office, call 502-564-8100. An operator will transfer the call to the office of the lawmaker you want to reach.
If you have a question about the lawmaking process or legislative resources, the LRC Public Information Office can be reached by calling 502-564-8100, ext. 59105.