The second week of the action-packed legislative session in the Kentucky Senate saw floor votes, committee hearings, and spirited debate. Guests from all corners of the Commonwealth were welcomed to Frankfort to speak on behalf of various bills.
On Thursday we were visited by hundreds of young and energetic faces celebrating Children’s Advocacy Day, sponsored by Kentucky Youth Advocates. The group hosted a rally in the Capitol Rotunda where several Senate majority members were recognized for their efforts in standing up for Kentucky’s children. I was honored to receive a 2016 Champion for Children Award during the rally.
The Senate also began passing bills on Thursday, headlined by Senate Bill (SB) 9, a measure to repeal the prevailing wage requirement on public school projects with a cost of over $250,000. Passage of this priority legislation will reduce construction costs on large-scale school projects, thus providing additional funding for education.
Senate Bill 11 also passed, helping bourbon distilleries, wineries and breweries across Kentucky. SB 11 would allow bourbon distilleries to offer by-the-drink sales to visitors, sell more bourbon on-site, and offer slightly larger quantities of free samples to better accommodate the hundreds of thousands of tourists attracted to Kentucky distilleries each year. Additionally, SB 11 would allow expanded production for local small farm wineries and microbreweries.
From Senate committee meetings this week, two of our priority bills—SB 4 and SB 10—were reported favorably. SB 4 would require women seeking an abortion to have a face-to-face meeting with a doctor at least 24 hours in advance of the procedure as a measure to help further promote the value of life. SB 10 would move statewide elections to even-numbered years, thus promoting greater voter turnout and saving the Commonwealth money.
Senate Bill 72, which clarifies when the Executive Branch must come before the Legislature to make appropriations and protects the separation of powers in state government, also passed out of the Licensing and Occupation Committee this week.
In the Education Committee, SB 52 passed, which would allow veterans to receive a provisional teaching certificate after meeting certain criteria. I believe it is crucial to provide these opportunities to veterans and I am proud to be a co-sponsor on this bill. The same committee also passed SB 81, which would require the Department of Education to create a system identifying students with military parents or families.
Senate Bill 56, which would extend the look-back window for DUI’s from five years to 10, and SB 60, which would add further protections for vulnerable victims of sex crimes, both were reported out of the Judiciary Committee this week. I am a proud sponsor of SB 56, and I believe extending the look-back window will ultimately save many lives and keep repeat offenders off our roads.
The Health and Welfare Committee passed SB 20, which would create an appeals process for Medicaid claims denied by a managed care organization. This is a badly needed bill in our state especially for small providers and non-profits. In addition, SB 33 passed, which would require students to receive CPR training one time while enrolled in grades 9-12.
As we look forward to another busy week of session, I am proud of the bipartisan demeanor displayed thus far in the Senate and I will continue to commit myself to legislation that will move our Commonwealth forward.
If you have any questions or comments about the 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. You can also review the Legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.