A wide array of bills were heard in committees and voted out of the Senate in a busy
and fast-paced third week of the 2017 Session. Because this year’s 30-day meeting of
the Kentucky General Assembly is considered a “short session,” we are maximizing our
time here in Frankfort.
We passed nearly 20 bills this week with topics ranging from tobacco use on school
property to campaign finance reform to transportation issues. One of the most
noteworthy bills, however, is Senate Bill (SB)
14<http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17rs/SB14.htm>, which strengthens penalties for
trafficking in heroin. Kentucky made national news these past few weeks for the rash
of devastating overdoses that occurred. In Louisville, for example, there were over
50 overdoses in a 32-hour period—an unprecedented number. People dealing heroin are
dealing in death, and they must be stopped.
Another important piece of legislation the Senate passed this week was SB
1<http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17rs/SB1.htm>, which is comprehensive education
reform that is desperately needed to help our schools. With approval from teachers,
administrators, and other education stakeholders from across the commonwealth, SB 1
allows teachers to teach and returns control to our local districts. I am happy to
report this bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support and is now heading to the
House for consideration.
We also passed SB 117<http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17rs/SB117.htm>, which would
allow a veteran with a bachelor’s degree in any area to be issued a provisional
teaching certificate if other criteria are met. This legislation would ultimately
make it easier for veterans to teach in a classroom. I am dedicated to helping our
veterans easily integrate back into the workplace.
The Senate has already started to receive House bills, and we have sent Senate bills
to the House for its approval. Many of you have already reached out to me regarding
certain pieces of legislation, and I appreciate your input and concerns. I urge you
to continue making your voices heard in Frankfort.
If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy
issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at
danny.carroll@lrc.ky.gov<mailto:danny.carroll@lrc.ky.gov>. You can also review the
Legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov<http://www.lrc.ky.gov>.
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Note: Senator Danny Carroll (R-Paducah) represents the 2nd District encompassing
Ballard, Carlisle, Marshall and McCracken counties. Senator Carroll serves as the
chairman of the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, as well as the
co-chair of the Program Review and Investigations Committee. He also serves as a
member of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, the Education Committee, the
Budget Review Subcommittee on Education, the Health and Welfare Committee, the
Judiciary Committee, and the Government Nonprofit Contracting Task Force. For a
high-resolution .jpeg of Senator Carroll, please visit
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/pubinfo/portraits/senate02.jpg.