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Post by ClayLive on Jun 18, 2009 22:54:22 GMT -5
Economic development and mega-projects bills pass House The Kentucky House passed bills today that would create financing authorities for transportation mega-projects costing over half a billion dollars and create incentives to both keep and attract new jobs, and tourism, to the Commonwealth. House Bill 4, sponsored by House Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation Vice Chair Rep. Don Pasley, D-Winchester, passed by a vote of 89-9. It would allow bi-state authorities to be created between Kentucky and Indiana to finance and build projects connecting the two states, like the $4 billion Louisville bridges project and the I-69 bridge project near Henderson. It would also allow authorities to be created for other mega-projects solely within Kentucky. “We have some $12-$13 billion in projects now on the radar that we have no feasible way to pay for,” said Pasley. Projects within Kentucky that could be funded under the bill could include construction of bridges in West Kentucky’s lake region, a proposed I-66 through Southern Kentucky and expansion of other state highways, Pasley said. A Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority would be created to approve and oversee all mega-project construction and financing, which could include revenue bonds paid for with tolls. Pasley said the bill has safeguards to ensure that authorized tolls are used only to retire debt on bonded projects. Pasley said the legislation is needed now to move ahead with desired projects like the Louisville bridges project, which includes building two new spans between Kentucky and Indiana and reworking a Louisville interchange known as Spaghetti Junction. It could also help attract more federal dollars for such projects, he said. “We need to have this in place…so we can seek more federal funds for projects we have on our books,” Pasley said. HB 3, sponsored by Rep. Tommy Thompson, D-Owensboro, passed the House 97-1. The legislation would expand tax incentives for existing businesses to help them expand, add small business tax credits and tax credits and refunds for high tech businesses, expand the kinds of properties that qualify for tax increment financing (TIF), establish a refundable income tax credit for films produced in Kentucky, increase the cap on incentives for historic preservation from $3 million to $5 million, provide incentives to bring a NASCAR Sprint Cup race to Kentucky Speedway the Breeder’s Cup to Kentucky and secure funding for an advanced battery manufacturer proposed for Hardin County. Incentives to upgrade short line rail tracks and other provisions are also included. The bill was amended to reduce base wages required in the original bill for certain economic development incentives to 125 percent of the federal minimum wage in counties with enhanced incentives and 150 percent of the federal minimum wage in other counties. The 125 percent rate, Thompson said, would amount to a base wage of $9.06 per hour. He told a House budget committee on Tuesday that the change reflects recent increases in the federal minimum wage. Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, called the 125-percent rate wage “a poverty wage” and proposed raising the rate to its original 150 percent, increasing base pay slightly to $10.87 per hour . Lawmakers rejected the proposal after lengthy debate about its possible effect on economic development recruitment in rural Kentucky. Thompson called HB 3 as passed “responsible policy,” adding “I think it will help Kentucky expand our economic base.” HB 4 and HB 3 are two of four House bills that Gov. Steve Beshear has asked state lawmakers to consider during a special session that began Monday. The other two bills, which are expected to come before the committee later this week, would modify the state’s budget to address a shortfall next fiscal year and propose expanded gaming at racetracks. HB 4 and HB 3 now go to the Senate for consideration. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jun 19, 2009 5:54:40 GMT -5
Video lottery machine bill passes House The Kentucky House voted 52-45 today in favor of an expanded gaming bill that would allow the state’s racetracks to be licensed to operate video lottery terminals in hopes of boosting the horse industry and state programs like public education. House Bill 2, sponsored by House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, is projected to yield over $1 billion in state revenue over the next five fiscal years, including $194.3 million in fiscal year 2010. Initial licensing fees paid by tracks with VLTs would add another $102 million per year over five years, Stumbo said, giving the state what he described as a “conservative” total of around $300 million a year for individual income tax and horse farming tax breaks, regional infrastructure, education and job growth. “If this bill becomes law, it will not only save the signature industry (horse industry) in this state, it will save thousands of jobs,” Stumbo told the House. “Kentuckians need to go back to work, and we have the ability and the tools to put them back to work today.” HB 2 now goes to the Senate for its consideration. The bill is designed to help the state’s ailing horse industry by funding breeder incentives and attracting more horse races through bigger purses, or race winnings. Planned uses for anticipated state revenue in HB 2 includes, but is not limited to, income tax relief for the military, income tax relief of $250 per person or $500 per couple from the state motor vehicle property tax, horse farming sales tax relief, a fund for treatment of problem gamblers, a tourism and infrastructure fund and billions of dollars for education. The legislation is expected to provide at least $143 million a year to pay off future bond issues for capital construction at both public schools and state colleges and universities. Funding for educational technology and equipment and an increase in funding per pupil funding for school districts is also planned under HB 2. Rep. David Osborne, R-Prospect, spoke in favor of the bill as a Kentucky horseman. Osborne told the House before the vote on the bill that HB 2 would help decide the fate of a centuries-old industry. “These are not strangers,” he said. “This is an industry that has been here before we were a state.” Opponents of the HB 2, including Rep. Danny Ford, R-Mt. Vernon, questioned estimates of how much revenue the bill would create. He also said the bill would add over $1 billion in new debt by authorizing more bond issues. “We’re talking about $1.3 billion in new bonding in this bill,” said Ford. Ford added that Governor Steve Beshear’s initial call this special session required state lawmakers to pass a revised state budget in light of a nearly $1 billion shortfall. “To my knowledge we haven’t discussed or debated a bill that would address a budget shortfall,” he said. House Minority Floor Leader Rep. Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown, said he opposes expanded gaming in Kentucky, and HB 2, because he doubts the General Assembly’s “fiscal discipline” with such revenue. “This body…would not be able to be fiscally responsible to take the revenue and address current problems,” said Hoover. House Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chair Rep. Rick Rand, D-Bedford, explained that expected revenue shortfalls in fiscal year 2010 and a current state unemployment rate of around 10 percent support the need for HB 2. “Just 12 short months ago, we had just completed our 2008 session and things were pretty good,” but that changed as the nation fell into recession, he said. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jun 19, 2009 21:38:04 GMT -5
Senate approves special session itemsThe Senate approved legislation concerning the issues behind the governor’s call for a special session today. Senate changes to House Bill 4 largely mirror the governor’s plan for budget reduction, including cuts to most state agencies but eliminating unpaid holidays for state employees called for by the governor. The budget bill passed on a 33-0 vote, with one senator passing. The Senate rolled plans for economic development incentives and transportation megaprojects, along with Senate President David Williams’ plan for aid to the state’s horse industry, into an omnibus substitute for House Bill 3. The Senate economic development plan is substantially similar to the version passed by the House, which revised state programs to better help small businesses, high-tech businesses, and projects needing tax increment financing. The plan also includes targeted incentives to attract an advanced battery factory to Hardin County, a Sprint Cup race to Kentucky Speedway in Gallatin County, and Breeders’ Cup races to the state’s thoroughbred tracks. House Bill 3 would also allow the creation of local authorities to plan transportation megaprojects on the order of $500 million or more. Such authorities would be subject to legislative ratification both in the scope and the funding model for their projects. “The General Assembly will not be micromanaging,” said Sen. Ernie Harris, R-Crestwood, but would exercise oversight as it does with other bonded projects across the state. In addition, the plan authorizes a bi-state authority to allow Kentucky officials to work with Indiana officials concerning bridges across the Ohio River. Finally, House Bill 3 includes a proposal to aid the state’s horse industry. Under the Senate-approved plan, lottery tickets would include a 10 percent surcharge, while tracks and off-track betting centers would pay a 1.5 surcharge for their simulcasting signals from Kentucky horse racing tracks. The money raised — projected at more than $85 million — would benefit purses at Kentucky racing tracks, horse breeders, local horse shows, and the state’s KEES scholarship programs. “With the money that’s available… Kentucky will have the richest purses in America,” said Williams, R-Burkesville. HB 3 passed 32-0, with one senator abstaining. Both bills now return to the House for its concurrence in the Senate changes. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jun 20, 2009 4:55:41 GMT -5
Legislative Week in ReviewIt unfolded gradually this spring, as numbers crunchers began warning that the state might face a billion-dollar budget shortfall next fiscal year, hard on the heels of the tough cuts needed to balance this year's budget during the Legislature's off-year short session last winter. Gov. Steve Beshear finally reckoned that projected state finances were indeed that dire -- this despite skepticism on that point by some key legislative leaders, who said the real deficit was much less if calculated properly, and did not require legislative intervention. Regardless, the governor called the Legislature into special session, beginning June 15, to put the budget back in balance. After issuing the original session call limited to that topic, he added some other items: Economic-development incentives that would in part attempt to lure a major NASCAR race to Kentucky Speedway and The Breeders Cup to Churchill Downs, as well as a so-called megaprojects measure (commonly called the 'bridges bill') that would provide a funding and control mechanism for huge and expensive infrastructure projects like the multi-year, multi-billion dollar Ohio River bridges proposal in Louisville. And, working without a net politically – since no consensus existed on the issue, and in fact it faced powerful resistance – the governor also added video lottery terminals (otherwise known as video slots) at Kentucky racetracks to the session call. The putative reason for this was to save the state's troubled Thoroughbred industry, by drawing more patrons to tracks and injecting new money into race purses, thereby keeping racetracks open and horses and horsemen in the state. An underlying rationale, though not as frequently cited in the discussion that evolved, was that slots could rake hundreds of millions of dollars in licensing fees and taxes into the chronically strapped State Treasury, at a time when the phrase 'billion-dollar budget shortfall' had entered Kentucky's public-policy lexicon for the first time. The VLT idea has been with us for years, and it's always been controversial. The same is true this year. Advocacy groups instantly mobilized both pro and con, with TV and radio ads and demonstrations in Frankfort, and Senate leaders signaled all along that if any VLT legislation made it down the hall to them it would face severe uphill sledding in that chamber. The House had never voted to endorse the idea in previous legislative sessions, despite multiple attempts. But as the session's first week wore on, the VLT proposal taken up by the House had morphed into a potent, politically alluring form for that chamber: A huge chunk of VLT-generated revenue would be devoted to debt service on bonds for more than $1 billion in school-building construction, both at state colleges and in school districts statewide where aging elementary and secondary buildings need replacement. When the measure came before the full House on Friday, it was approved on a 52-45 vote. As a result, the chamber will include the school-construction provisos in the budget-balancing bill it plans to take up next week. It's not clear what form that bill will take, but the governor has proposed that most of the shortfall be made up with federal stimulus money, coupled with 2.7 percent across-the board agency cuts – with important exceptions: Basic funding for public schools and universities would be spared the axe. Aside from the VLT drama, last week saw legislative action on economic development measures and legislation to support transportation mega-projects. After receiving bills on these topics from the House, the Senate added a state budget-balancing plan to one measure while rolling together plans for economic development incentives, transportation megaprojects and aid for the horse industry into the other. The Senate budget plan largely mirrors the governor’s budget reduction proposal, including cuts to most state agencies but eliminating unpaid holidays for state employees. Under the Senate’s approach to helping the state’s horse industry, lottery tickets would include a 10 percent surcharge, while tracks and off-track betting centers would pay a 1.5 surcharge for their simulcasting signals from Kentucky horse racing tracks. The money raised — projected at more than $85 million — would benefit purses at Kentucky racing tracks, horse breeders, local horse shows, and the state’s KEES scholarship programs. Efforts to iron out differences between House and Senate approaches to the issues of the current session are sure to be underway when lawmakers return to Frankfort next week. In the meantime, lawmakers are seeking feedback from their constituents. Citizens can find contact information on lawmakers – as well as a wealth of resources pertaining to the current legislative session -- on the Legislative Research Commission Web site at www.lrc.ky.gov or can call the General Assembly's toll-free Message Line at 1-800-372-7181, to leave a message for their legislators. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jun 23, 2009 21:54:45 GMT -5
New laws go into effect this weekNew laws approved during the Kentucky General Assembly's 2009 regular session go into effect on Thursday, June 25. That means home health agencies in Kentucky will soon be required to conduct criminal background checks on employees, sex offenders will be banned from Facebook, and flags purchased by state and local governments must be made in the U.S.A. The Kentucky Constitution states that legislation approved by the General Assembly goes into effect as state law 90 days after a legislative session ends, unless a bill specifies a different effective date or contains an emergency clause that makes it effective as soon as it is signed by the governor. This year’s regular session was adjourned on March 26. Some of the biggest items of the session, such as the approval of revisions to the state budget, contained emergency clauses and are already in effect. Most of the 101 bills approved this year, however, are slated to go into effect on June 25. Among the new laws that take effect this week are the following: • Agricultural products. Senate Bill 84 will require state agencies purchasing agricultural products or Kentucky-grown products to make annual reports to state lawmakers and the Department of Agriculture on the types, quantities, and costs of the products. • Animal protection. House Bill 301 will prohibit the removal of identification tags or electronic tracking devises from dogs unless approved by the pet’s owner or is necessary to treat an injured animal. • Donations. SB 8 requires for-profit entities that collect donated items for resale to place a sign on the collection bins stating that the collections are not charitable in nature and do not qualify for a charitable deduction. • Driver’s licenses. HB 39 exempts 17-year olds who have enlisted in the military from being required to obtain an intermediate driver's licenses and exempts individuals over age 18 from graduated driver's licensing requirements. • Excused absences. HB 124 will allow children wishing to see parents or legal guardians serving overseas in the military who have been granted leave to do so without being penalized for missing up to ten days of school. • Flags. SB 33 requires all U.S. and Kentucky flags purchased by state and local governments to be made in the U.S. • Mine safety. HB 185 allows an electrical trainee to perform electrical work in a mine if under the direct supervision of a certified electrician. • Online activity of sex offenders. HB 315 bans convicted sex offenders from MySpace, Facebook, and other social networking sites where minors are allowed. It also requires them to register their e-mail addresses, screen names, and other online IDs with state authorities. • Personal services. SB 22 requires home health agencies and other personal service businesses to conduct criminal background checks on their employees and bans anyone convicted of abuse, drug crimes, or sex crimes from being hired. • Road weight limits. SB 47 will allow farm trucks transporting agricultural items to exceed gross weight provisions by 10 percent on all highways, except interstates. • Violent and sex offenders. SB 148 will prevent violent offenders and registered sex offenders from serving on school site-based decision-making councils. It also prohibits such offenders from entering the property of a school or day care unless they receive permission from school or day care officials. • Wildlife protection. SB 81 bans out-of-state deer and elk from being imported unless they’ve been tested for chronic wasting disease. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jun 24, 2009 22:15:49 GMT -5
Final budget reduction plan passes, headed to governorA final plan to bring the state’s budget in line with expected revenues was passed today by both the House and the Senate, sending it to Gov. Steve Beshear for his signature. The governor called a special session, which began June 15, after state economists projected next year’s revenues to come in more than 5 percent under the previously approved budget’s expectations. House Bill 4, written by a conference committee of lawmakers from both chambers, reconciled differences between the House and Senate’s budget plans and added language on certain economic development projects. The budget agreement largely follows the original proposal put forth by Gov. Beshear, but changed some sections. While most executive branch agencies would be cut by 2.6 percent, K-12 SEEK funding, colleges and universities, and local jail funding will be kept constant. The state’s Medicaid program will also be fully funded, while the governor’s proposal to require state employees to forgo some holiday pay was removed. The judicial branch will send $22.6 million back to the treasury as its part in the budget reduction plan, while the legislative branch will send back more than $2.6 million. The plan also increases funding to county attorneys, Commonwealth’s Attorneys, and public defenders, whose expenses are largely personnel-driven. County PVAs, another office whose spending goes mostly to salaries, are forbidden from being cut, while state parks received a boost of $4.9 million. HB 4 now also includes language authorizing Jefferson Community and Technical College to purchase nearby land, the University of Kentucky to borrow $100 million to finish its medical center expansion, and UK to work with a private company to update other facilities, including its athletics campus. Finally, the bill approves a 1,550 acre site in Hardin County to be used for a proposed advanced battery plant. The bill passed 35-0 in the Senate and 97-0 in the House. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jun 24, 2009 22:27:38 GMT -5
Incentives, bridges bill goes to governor Legislation is on its way to becoming law that would help Kentucky finance billions of dollars in construction of mega highway projects along with millions of dollars in incentives to expand business, tourism and give tax breaks to Kentucky’s military and car buyers. House Bill 3, sponsored by Rep. Tommy Thompson, D-Owensboro, won final passage in the House by an 86-10 vote. The bill, which includes changes agreed upon by a committee of House and Senate conferees over the past couple days, passed the Senate by a 35-0 vote earlier today. It now goes the governor for his signature. Transportation provisions in HB 3 would allow a newly-created state transportation infrastructure authority to approve in-state and bi-state projects included in the state’s current biennial highway construction plan that cost at least $500 million, such as the $4.1 billion Louisville bridges project, although the Kentucky General Assembly would control creation of the authorities, approval of state authority projects and changes to a project’s scope. Bi-state projects would relate only to those road or bridge projects co-funded by Kentucky and Indiana, with tolls authorized to pay for bonds issued for bi-state or in-state projects. “This … affirms the power and responsibility of the Legislature to control state appropriations for these large projects, and to monitor plans and activities of the authorities that may be created,” said Rep. Don Pasley, D-Winchester, who filed the mega-project legislation. “We can do this without micromanaging.” New economic incentives, tax breaks and tourism provisions added by the House and Senate to HB 3 include a motor vehicle use tax incentive that would only tax car buyers on the difference between a new car purchase and the owner’s trade-in, loan support for certain economic incentive projects, an extension of tourism development incentives and an income tax exemption for Kentucky’s active-duty military, beginning Jan. 1. “With the extension of the deployments that we’re seeing… this will be a real benefit to our military families,” Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, said before the Senate vote on HB 3. Other provisions in the bill include incentives for reinvestment in existing manufacturing facilities, streamlining of business incentives while creating new jobs, increasing the cap from $3 million to $5 million for historic preservation projects, incentives to draw film and Broadway play productions to the Commonwealth, incentives to attract a NASCAR Sprint Cup race to Kentucky Speedway and the Breeders’ Cup to Churchill Downs, small business tax credits and income tax incentives for railroad improvement and transport. “The main emphasis will allow for our existing industry to retool and retrain,” said Thompson. Also added to the bill by the House and Senate is a tax credit of up to $5,000 for new home buyers, capped at $25 million. “Of the 10.6 percent unemployment rate that we presently have, a good portion of those people are in the construction industry. This will allow a lot of them to get off the unemployment rolls and go back to gainful employment,” Thompson said. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jun 25, 2009 7:38:21 GMT -5
LEGISLATIVE WEEK IN REVIEWAs Senate leaders had warned, the Beshear-proposed and House-passed racetrack slots bill was DOA in the upper chamber this week, failing to even get out of committee, but the other three items on the governor's call were agreed on and passed in good order as the special legislative session wrapped up work in just eight days. Passed: An economic incentive-package probably best known for seeking to lure a major NASCAR event to Northern Kentucky, coupled with the so-called 'Bridges Bill' to create a finance-and-control authority for massive transportation megaprojects like the $4.1 billion Ohio River twin-bridges project in Louisville, and a rebalanced state budget to fix what Gov. Steve Beshear and some predictors called a near-$1 billion shortfall in the coming fiscal year. The economic-incentive measures lawmakers agreed to include $75 million to boost existing incentives that encourage the expansion of businesses already operating in Kentucky. Plus, in addition to tax credits to help Kentucky Speedway in Gallatin County land a NASCAR Sprint Cup race, it also includes tax incentives to attract the Breeders' Cup horse racing championships to Louisville, and creates a tax credit for small businesses and for film and TV productions shooting in the Commonwealth. It also exempts active-duty military from state income taxes. The initial reason Beshear called the special session for June 15 was to revise the state budget. His proposal called for using $741 million in federal stimulus funds to fill most of the projected shortfall. He also proposed across-the-board spending cuts for most state agencies -- but sparing education -- of 2.6 percent. Those steps lawmakers approved. But in the agreement reached between House and Senate negotiators late Tuesday, the governor's proposal to suspend three paid holidays for state workers making less than $50,000 a year and five holidays for those making $50,000 or more was deleted from the final bill. Overall, observers hailed the session as highly productive, given quick and relatively painless agreement on three major issues. But the biggest newsmaker in the room -- video lottery terminals, or video slots – came up short when it landed in the Senate. The governor had added VLTs to the session call to help save the state's troubled Thoroughbred industry, by drawing more patrons to tracks and injecting new money into race purses. The hope was to keep racetracks open, and horses and horsemen in the state. The VLT idea has been bubbling under the legislative surface for a decade or more, but no full chamber has ever actually voted on it -- until the House voted 52-45 last week to approve the measure. But House leaders added a sweetener this year: a sudden proposal to tie most slots revenues to debt service on bonds for more than $1 billion in school-building construction, both at state colleges and in school districts statewide where crumbling elementary and secondary buildings need replacement. However, Senate leaders felt relying on slot-machine revenue was bad public policy, and had their own proposal to help the horse industry without expanded gambling: Taxing state lottery sales and adding a surcharge for simulcasting signals from Kentucky horse racing tracks. In the end, neither chamber could agree to the other's proposal. The Legislature is committed to year-round citizen involvement in its work. Kentuckians are encouraged to visit the Legislative Research Commission website at: www.lrc.ky.govThey will find there a wealth of resources pertaining to the current legislative session, as well as past sessions and the legislative process in general. They may also call the General Assembly's toll-free Message Line at 1-800-372-7181, to leave a message for their legislator. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jul 11, 2009 11:32:13 GMT -5
Kentucky’s wine industry maturing nicely, lawmakers toldKentucky’s grape and wine industry continues to grow – not just in the quantity of wine produced, but in quality as well, lawmakers were told during today’s meeting of the Licensing and Occupations Committee. Still, some small farm winemakers are looking to Frankfort for help with the next step they say will help their industry: Sunday wine sales. Chuck Smith, an owner of Smith-Berry Vineyards and Winery in New Castle, told lawmakers that although his business partially depends on tourists visiting his tasting room, he has to turn away people on Sundays since he’s not allowed to sell wine then. “They get a little mad about it,” he said. Losing Sunday customers in that manner is “a double negative” in some winemakers’ eyes, said Mac Stone, executive director of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s marketing office. “They don’t just not get that sale. They feel that person won’t be coming back,” he said. Currently, it’s up to local governments to determine whether Sunday alcohol sales are allowed, and that’s an issue some local leaders don’t want to case votes on, Smith said. He’d rather see state leaders step in to allow Sunday sales at wineries like his. Rep. Darryl Owens, D-Louisville, questioned whether lawmakers would want to take away the decision-making on Sunday wine sales from local governments. “If the community speaks, then the community speaks,” he said. Richmond winemaker Lowell Land responded that he sees the issue as one of personal rights. If Sunday wine sales were allowed, then “if you want to come to my place on Sunday, you can. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to,” he said. The grape-growing and winemaking business is still a relatively young industry in Kentucky. Although Kentucky was known as a grape-producing state early in the nation’s history, Prohibition erased the industry. But it appears to be making a comeback. There were only four small farm wineries in Kentucky in 2003. Today there are more than 50. Lawmakers got to see one of those small farm wineries today during their meeting at Smith-Berry Vineyard and Winery. They met in a converted dairy barn that now contains some of the oak barrels used to age wine at Smith-Berry. Rep. Rick Rand, D-Bedford, said he believes the success of Kentucky’s vineyards and wineries will continue to grow. “I believe these wineries will be a signature industry in Kentucky,” he said. “I think we’re seeing the birth of an industry here.” The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jul 15, 2009 8:57:31 GMT -5
Lawmakers hear concerns about special educationConcerns about how students are diagnosed with special education needs, financing of their education, and assessment standards were among the issues addressed in a report discussed by the Interim Joint Committee on Education at its meeting yesterday. Legislative researchers with the Office of Education Accountability presented their findings to the panel, which was meeting at Midway College. Among the findings was that while the local committee that determines special needs eligibility may include health professionals in addition to parents and educators, the diagnosticians are not mandatory. When Kentucky children ages 3-5 are compared to national identification rates, Kentucky children are twice as likely to be diagnosed with a disability. Because Kentucky’s preschool program is not universal but has specific provisions for special needs students, there is an incentive for a student to be diagnosed, researchers said. When students age 6-21 are considered, the discrepancy is greatly reduced. In 2006, that gap was 1 percentage point, with a national rate of 9 percent and Kentucky at 10 percent. Still, the report found, there is incentive for students to be diagnosed with a disability, because of the Individualized Education Program and certain aids allowed to those students, including extra time for tests and having tests read to them. Another related issue to contend with is financing of special education, the report found. The state’s SEEK formula, which gives money to local school districts based on attendance, gives added weight to special needs students, with more severe disabilities resulting in higher funding levels. Local school districts with the lowest wealth tend to have a higher percentage of students with disabilities, and that number is growing, while higher-wealth districts have fewer students diagnosed, and the numbers are remaining fairly constant. Even so, when special needs revenue is compared to the money spent on special education, the higher-wealth districts spent more than they received, while lower-wealth districts spent less. Statewide, there was a $38 million gap in 2007, with more money being spent than distributed to local districts. One formula used by a minority of states is to allot special education funds based on total student population rather than special needs population, the report noted. Assessment of students with disabilities also presents a problem, the report said. The federal No Child Left Behind Act sanctions schools that receive Title I money if they do not show proficiency across all demographics, including students with disabilities. Only 15 percent of elementary schools show reading scores for disabled students that are on track to meet goals in 2010, while only 3 percent of middle and high schools are meeting the pace. In math, the numbers shrink to 5 percent of elementary schools, 1 percent of middle schools, and no high schools. This pushes some school administrators to actually beg off from federal funding because of the federal sanctions that will eventually come with it, even those showing steady progress. Most states are in the same situation, the researchers said, which could suggest that either NCLB standards are too stringent. “There is, as yet, no proof that students with disabilities as a group can meet the same proficiency targets as students without disabilities,” the report said. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jul 18, 2009 8:08:01 GMT -5
Kentucky lawmakers discuss possible effects of federal energy billState lawmakers shared comments and concerns about a federal bill that proposes, among other changes, a three percent cut in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2012 and a 17 percent cut in emissions by 2020 during a meeting of the state legislative Special Subcommittee on Energy today. The comments followed testimony by Kentucky Public Service Commission officials on the bill, named the Waxman-Markey Climate Bill after sponsors Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Ed Markey, D-Mass. PSC Executive Director Jeff Derouen said that the bill, which passed the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on May 21, could mean significant increases in utility rates over time. Derouen said possible rate increases under the climate and energy bill could range from 15 percent to 60 percent, although most experts estimate that rate increases would fall in the 20 to 35 percent range. “They (rate changes) wouldn’t all come at once, and there’s still a moving target even among utilities about what it would mean in real dollars,” Derouen said. Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said he is concerned about the impact such increases would have on Kentucky industry and jobs. Per Stivers’ request, the subcommittee asked for more detail on the bill’s potential impact on large employers who rely on Kentucky’s historically low electricity rates. “What bothers me…especially in this economy, is what there will be in terms of impact to the A.K. Steels of the world, the Ford plant in Louisville, the Toyota plant in Georgetown, the GM plant in Bowling Green—these high-end users that have come to the state because of low energy costs for production,” Stivers said. What emissions are taxed will ultimately affect how much Kentuckians are taxed, Derouen said. He explained that Kentucky’s average utility rates are currently ranked 48th nationally while emissions from utility plants are ranked 7th. That ranking falls to 13th if all emissions, including vehicle emissions, are considered. “So if the federal government chooses to tax all emissions including vehicles, the impact on us would be less than if they just taxed carbon emissions from utility plants,” he said. Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, said the climate crisis gives Kentucky opportunities to be an energy leader—something it has been working toward for several years in the General Assembly and the research field. “I truly think there are bits and pieces of this puzzle being worked on all over the country and nobody has pulled that together, but that can be done and we can do that in Kentucky,” he said. “We can be the lead state in carbon management.” In response, Subcommittee Co-Chair Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, said that while there are some concerns by some members, “…we are looking forward to playing whatever role we can in moving forward.” On a motion by Sen. David Boswell, D-Owensboro, the subcommittee passed a resolution to recommend to the 2010 General Assembly that Kentucky’s resources be combined with available federal and other states’ resources to move forward on the use of carbon dioxide outside of the realm of carbon capture and storage. “We’ve talked about coal conversion. We’ve talked about utilization of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, we’ve talked about all these things. We’ve not only talked, we’ve spent hundreds of millions of state and federal dollars in the process. And we’ve come to the conclusion that we can do all these things if we just figure out what to do with carbon dioxide,” Boswell said. “What’s been said here today I think exemplifies the desire of this Legislature to move forward and kind of quit talking about it and let’s pull all these resources together.” Carbon capture and storage involves removing carbon dioxide—a greenhouse gas that has been attributed to global warming--from fossil fuels and storing it hundreds of meters below ground indefinitely, potentially for millions of years. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Aug 2, 2009 21:48:49 GMT -5
Protection of public records discussed by state lawmakersUsing sprinkler systems to protect permanent records from fire in local government offices is not foolproof, a state legislative committee heard today, although state officials say buildings are better off with the systems than without them. Any damage caused by water sprinklers to marriage licenses, deeds and other permanent paper records stored in local governments should be less than damage caused by fire, Kentucky Division of Building Codes Enforcement Deputy Commissioner George Mann told the Interim Joint Committee on Local Government. But not all local officials and building contractors are happy with current state code requiring office storage rooms larger than 100 square feet to have automatic fire protection, like a water sprinkler system—the most common form of protection. “It’s very common for us to hear statements like ‘If we get a sprinkler head that malfunctions, our records will be ruined because of the water,’” said Mann. “We try to explain (to them) that the records will be damaged if there is a fire. The fire protection system, if installed, will hopefully reduce the amount of damage that that fire would create.” Jeffersontown Fire Protection District Chief and Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs official Jack Reckner testified that while sprinkler heads can fail, the cause is often human error. Only 1 in 16 million sprinkler heads are defective, he said. Committee Co-Chair Rep. Steve Riggs, D-Jeffersontown, said another issue is many people don’t understand how sprinkler system work. “Their understanding of how a sprinkler system works is what they see in Hollywood movies, usually comedies, which is when one sprinkler head goes off, they all go off, which is not the case,” said Riggs. Chief Reckner said proper sprinkler design along with early fire detection and well-designed emergency plans are important for protection of permanent paper government records. Comparing the papers to fuel, Chief Reckner said a system must be able to properly respond to the “fuel load”, which could be cardboard boxes of papers piled ceiling high. “In one building where fire progressed unchecked, there were actually sprinkler heads in the rack storage. Unfortunately, it was not properly designed to presume that the fire would not spread across the face of the boxes,” he said. Like some local officials and contractors, retired law enforcement officer and State Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, believes water sprinklers can do more harm than good. “I spent my whole adult life, professional career, in courthouses—federal courthouses, county courthouses and city buildings. And I hate to see minimized the effect of sprinkler systems going off because it’s been my practical experience…that there’s a lot of damage associated with this. And I’m talking about when there’s no smoke or fire in sight,” said Schickel. Kentucky has a Local Records Program through the Department for Libraries and Archives that helps local governments in all 120 counties protect important records, said program official Jerry Carlton. So far, the program has produced over 52,000 rolls of microfilm of records from local governments with funding from a fee on county clerk services. “Those fees go directly to any local government through our grant program for records management issues, primarily for security microfilming in (local governments),” and protecting records long-term, said Carlton. Sen. Carroll Gibson, R-Leitchfield, added that it might be helpful if records could be protected from both fire and sprinkler systems. As for paper records, Carlton said they will not being going away anytime soon. “I hear the term ‘paperless,’ and it might come someday, but it’s not going to get here for a long, long time,” he said. The committee hearing on fire protection of government records was called about two months after fire destroyed records and caused structural damage at the 154-year-old county courthouse in Madison, Indiana. The courthouse was undergoing renovation at the time of the fire. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by Local News on Aug 5, 2009 20:36:07 GMT -5
State’s high-risk insurance pool running smoothlyKentucky Insurance Commissioner Sharon Clark told state lawmakers today she is unsure how federal health care proposals will affect a Kentucky program that offers health insurance for sick Kentuckians priced out of the private insurance market. But with $10 million on hand to start out the new fiscal year which began July 1, Clark said the nine-year-old state program known as Kentucky Access is doing well despite some challenges. The so-called “high-risk pool” currently covers 4,518 members, has received $7.2 million in grant funds in the past 8 ½ years and is considered one reason Kentucky now has eight health insurers in the state’s individual market after losing several companies in the 1990s. Now, two more individual insurance companies are considering coming to Kentucky, Clark told the state legislative Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee. “So we’ve been very pleased with those discussions,” she said. Kentucky Access is funded by an assessment on health insurance providers, a portion of Kentucky’s share of a 1998 tobacco settlement between states including Kentucky and major tobacco companies, investment income, insurance premiums and grants, said program Executive Director Tonya Parsons. Last year, tobacco settlement dollars were used to cover over $62 million in program expenses including medical claims and the cost of third-party program administration, which Clark said is about one third the national average. “So we pinch our pennies,” she said. Total medical claims through Kentucky Access for fiscal year 2009 were nearly $58 million, Parsons said. Parsons said she expects Kentucky Access to have revenues in the $70 million range this fiscal year, based on a state appropriation of nearly $20 million in tobacco settlement dollars and anticipated premiums. The state’s tobacco settlement dollars are also appropriated by state lawmakers for the state’s Lung Cancer Research Program at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville. Last fiscal year, approximately $1 million of the $5.6 million appropriated for the lung cancer program was transferred to the state’s Ovarian Cancer Screening Outreach Program. That interested Committee Co-Chair Rep. Dottie Sims, D-Horse Cave. “This is a real good thing,” Sims said of the ovarian cancer program, also handled by the universities. She asked Clark how successful it has been so far. Although Clark said she had no specific numbers from the universities, she understands that the program has a waiting list. “So I would deem it to be a success based on that information,” said Clark. As for the federal health care debate ongoing in Washington, Clark said her office is now monitoring discussion on about 10 federal bills that could possibly change health care as it is today. “We certainly do not know what the impact will be with Kentucky Access and, quite frankly, we have been covering these bills and testimony every week. But we are closely monitoring this to see what impact the bills could possibly have,” she said. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by Local News on Aug 10, 2009 16:10:36 GMT -5
Lawmakers meet with new education commissioner Just five days after taking the job, Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday had his first meeting with state legislators as he spoke to the Interim Joint Committee on Education. “My vision of education is to prepare children to lead in the future, and we’ll do so as collaboratively as possible,” he said of his long-term plan for the state’s P-12 school system. In the meantime, though, there are more pressing obligations. “The practical side of me says my vision is Senate Bill 1,” he said of his immediate task, referring to the legislation passed this spring to overhaul the state’s testing and accountability system. “Kentucky has long been known for national leadership in education reform… Your insight and preparation in Senate Bill 1 will certainly lead us into the next generation of education reform,” he said. Staffers from the Department of Education followed Dr. Holliday in detailing executive branch efforts to implement the legislation. Dr. Holliday comes to Kentucky from the Iredell-Statesville schools in North Carolina, where as district superintendent his district won a 2008 congressional award for its long-term improvement in quality and productivity. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by Local News on Aug 10, 2009 16:23:54 GMT -5
Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, co-chair of the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary, presides over the committee's August meeting in Frankfort. Photo by Bud Kraft, LRC Public Information.[/b] Business leaders, others speak out on corrections costs in FrankfortBusiness leaders in Kentucky came before a state legislative committee today to express concern with a state corrections budget that they said is taking money away from education and other priorities. Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President David Adkisson told the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary that state General Fund spending on K-12 education has decreased by about 5 percent since 1988 while corrections spending has grown by 44 percent since the year 2000, or about 14 percent more than growth of the state economy over the recent nine-year period. Medicaid and the state’s public employee health plan budgets have also experienced fast-paced growth. “So that is our concern, that there are three areas—Corrections, Medicaid and public employee health care—that are unsustainable. They are growing faster than the economy, growing faster than the state budget itself,” said Adkisson. Honing in on corrections, Adkisson illustrated the cost of the state’s current inmate population—one of the fastest growing in the nation, according to the Pew Center on the States. While the state spends around $9,200 per year on a K-12 student and around $7,000 per year on a full-time postsecondary education student, it spends around $19,000 a year to house a state inmate. “So our perspective…is we’re coming at this from a budget priority standpoint. That as we find ourselves having to pay the bill on incarceration, we take money from education to do that and it’s a self-defeating trend,” said Adkisson. Adkisson offered a number of potential solutions to the corrections problem, such as increased privatization of inmates to reduce state costs, reclassification of offenses to keep the prison population more in line with Kentucky’s low crime rate, continued attention to the high number of drug offenders in prisons and jails, and a review of the state’s persistent felony offender law which imposes mandatory sentences for repeat offenses. Committee Co-Chair Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, mentioned that some state laws to help reduce the corrections budget--such as a law passed last spring that increased the threshold for felony theft of property in many cases from $300 to $500—have been resisted by the business community. He suggested the state Chamber discuss the positive impact of such changes with local chambers of commerce. “That is one of those areas when (we) talk about the cost of the system that the business community has consistently fought,” said Stivers. “The business community could be a big factor in voicing support based on the numbers you have see and that several of us on this committee have worked on for the past four or five years trying to bring attention (to).” Sen. Gerald Neal, who co-chairs the committee’s Subcommittee on the Penal Code and Controlled Substance Act, said the subcommittee is evaluating the Chamber’s information “and it will be factored into any recommendations that we ultimately make.” Speaking on behalf of counties, which Stivers said generally bear the cost of incarceration at the local level, were Todd County Attorney Mac Johns and Woodford County Attorney Alan George. Johns explained the difficulty in balancing his role as prosecutor with what he called his principal role as “protector of the county budget.” One way to help lower corrections cost, said Johns, is to address drug addiction since drug-related crimes account for a large percentage of the state’s inmate population. “If we had two years of meaningful probation supervision where there are monthly drug tests or even weekly drug tests, we might interrupt that cycle…and help people move away from their addictions,” said Johns. Rep. Johnny Bell, D-Glasgow, said more needs to be done to reduce the state prison population in ways that appease different parties in the criminal justice community. “It should be a concerted effort,” said Bell. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Aug 23, 2009 8:30:24 GMT -5
Unemployment issues get hearing before state lawmakersAfter already borrowing approximately $338 million to pay its unemployment benefits, Kentucky needs new solutions to keep its unemployment trust fund solvent as the state’s jobless rate rises, a state official told lawmakers today. As of July, Kentucky’s unemployment rate had risen slightly to 11 percent—the highest rate in the state in 26 years, Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Helen Mountjoy told the Interim Joint Committee on Labor and Industry. While the rate is not rising as quickly as in recent months, Mountjoy said a state task force is working with consultants to ensure the state has an unemployment insurance trust fund and system that is “stable, solvent and sustainable going into the future.” The Unemployment Insurance Task Force, led by Mountjoy, is working with consultants to develop recommendations on employer rates, the appeals process and other issues affecting the system, she said. One of those issues is the state’s $8,000 fixed taxable wage base used to determine unemployment system revenue. Mountjoy told lawmakers that the taxable wage base hasn’t changed since 1982, and that indexing the base rate will likely be recommended to help revenues keep pace with claims. “We have a fixed base on which revenues are determined, but a changing base on which benefits are determined,” she said. “The previous system worked pretty well for 27 years…It began to falter because it has this fundamental imbalance.” Another concern raised by Mountjoy is the issue of “reimbursing employers”—a category of employers including state and local governments and not-for-profits that are not required to pay regular unemployment insurance tax like most employers but only pay into the system when a claim is made against them. Mountjoy said nearly a quarter of all wages paid in the state come from reimbursing employers. The trouble, Mountjoy explained, is that the unemployment insurance trust fund loses interest since reimbursing employers don’t pay in advance. Rep. Bill Farmer, R-Lexington, asked how much Mountjoy expects the state to have to borrow to keep pace with unemployment claims. Based on reports to the committee, Farmer said the state has already borrowed about $30 million more this month than it borrowed last month. “Can we expect to see about a $30 million growth every month because a majority of employers paying into unemployment have probably already paid their total balance?” he asked. Mountjoy said she is not certain about future rates, although the system tries to project at least three months in advance. Committee Co-Chair Rep. Rick Nelson, D-Middlesboro, asked Mountjoy why some Kentuckians aren’t receiving benefits. “It’s not because they don’t know they can apply, but what do you think a couple of reasons are? Maybe they don’t qualify?” he said. “Even in this economy, drawing unemployment insurance benefits is seen as a stigma in many parts of Kentucky, and in many segments of our population, so we have many people who choose not to apply,” she said. Other reasons are that some people don’t qualify, or were able to build up reserves to live on when they were employed. “We estimate that only about 50 percent of people who could qualify for unemployment benefits actually apply and are awarded in Kentucky,” said Mountjoy. The task force hopes to finish its recommendations by the end of October, she said. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Sept 3, 2009 17:22:59 GMT -5
Lawmakers create new caucus to promote Bourbon Trail tourismThe growing popularity of Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail received another boost yesterday as state lawmakers created the Bourbon Trail Caucus, a group of legislators interested in drawing more visitors to the state’s distilleries. The creation of the caucus, proposed by House Minority Whip David Floyd, was approved by state legislative leaders during a meeting of the Legislative Research Commission. “Interest in Kentucky bourbon has grown exponentially and has become a major focus of tourism in our state,” said Rep. Floyd, R-Bardstown. “People come from all over the world to admire Kentucky’s scenic and historic distilleries and experience first-hand a craft that’s done better here than any other place on earth.” The Bourbon Trail Caucus will include 57 state lawmakers from counties with bourbon distilleries. Rep. Floyd will serve as the inaugural chair of the panel. “Lawmakers have a strong interest in making sure we’re doing our part to support this growing segment of our tourism industry,” Rep. Floyd said. “Tourists attracted by our bourbon distilleries are staying at hotels, eating at our restaurants and visiting shops throughout the state.” The Kentucky Bourbon Trail was created ten years ago to help draw tourists to eight featured distilleries. Since that time, more than 1.5 million visits have been made to the distilleries. Tourists have come from all 50 states and 25 different counties. Eric Gregory, President of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, said the creation of the Bourbon Trail Caucus is another positive step toward drawing more bourbon aficionados to Kentucky. “Kentucky’s signature bourbon distillers applaud the creation of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Caucus. This is an important step in showcasing bourbon’s tremendous economic and tourism impact in the Commonwealth and its proud place in our state’s heritage.... We appreciate today’s action by legislative leadership – and particularly the support of Rep. David Floyd – in creating this key advocacy group to promote and protect the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and our signature bourbon industry.” The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Sept 3, 2009 17:39:01 GMT -5
KACo, League of Cities questioned by state lawmakers Officials from the Kentucky League of Cities and Kentucky Association of Counties told state lawmakers today about changes to their policies in the wake of recent news reports that raised questions about the use of funds by the two organizations. Both organizations, which offer insurance and other services to their local government members, answered questions from members of the Interim Joint Committee on Local Government about reports in the Lexington Herald-Leader that outlined credit card use by staff, possible conflicts of interest with business partners and other concerns. The State Auditors Office announced last month that it was auditing both KLC and KACo to determine how taxpayer dollars, taken from local governments in the form of dues and payment for other services, have been spent. “We want to hear about how you got in this situation, how this lax fiscal control situation occurred, what you’re going to do to improve it, as well as what this General Assembly can do to work with you to improve the situation on a going-forward basis, again, for the citizens of Kentucky that all of us as elected leaders serve,” said Local Government Committee Co-Chair Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown. “What we want to keep on task is what kind of policy changes in your organization do you see necessary so this kind of fiscal disturbance doesn’t happen again,” said fellow Local Government Committee Co-Chair Rep. Steve Riggs, D-Jeffersontown. KLC outgoing President and Richmond Mayor Connie Lawson said the KLC board approved new policies on Aug. 19 that address concerns with that organization. New policies include required disclosure of potential conflicts of interest, restricted use of KLC credit cards and implementing a new travel and meeting expense reimbursement policy. Mayor Lawson said new policies will require supervisor authorization for employee in-state and out-of-state travel. Incoming KLC President and Jackson Mayor Mike Miller commented on recent actions that affect the organization’s insurance sector known as KLCIS (Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Services). Those included, but were not limited to, a vote by the board to more clearly separate KLC’s insurance business from other KLC operations as recommended by the Kentucky Department of Insurance. “As board members, we acknowledge there is still work to be done,” said Mayor Miller, adding that the organization is undergoing several audits of its operations. “We expect these reports will identify any unresolved weaknesses that may need to be addressed and reveal other processes and procedures that we can improve.” KACo President and Christian County Attorney Mike Foster said policy changes planned or in place by that organization include new rules for travel and entertainment expenses, better monitoring of internal operations, extensive management review, cooperation with the State Auditor’s review and elimination of staff credit cards. “By continuing a commitment and recommitment to excellence in accountability, it is the belief of the executive committee and our board that we can take an organization that has done many valuable things over the years…and then transition the association to an even better organization that addresses both programming and an equal amount of attention to internal financial management,” said Foster. He said he sees the current challenges as an opportunity for his organization. Some lawmakers on the committee had specific questions about the membership of KACo’s 34-member board and KLC’s 53-member board. Riggs stressed that city and county elected officials who are selected by their peers to run each organization need to be more involved in the decision making. Both organizations have executive directors that are involved in the organizations’ operations, although KLC Executive Director Sylvia Lovely yesterday announced her resignation from KLC effective Jan. 1, 2010. “I think the challenge is also for the organization to understand that the board runs the organization, is in charge of the organization, makes the policy and procedures,” Riggs told Foster during his testimony. Rep. Ron Crimm, R-Louisville, also had some board-level concerns. “I think that after you elect new board members, I don’t care whether it takes a day or half a day or 15 minutes…before they sit, they need to be brought up to snuff about what’s going on and what their responsibilities are so that they don’t feel intimidated when they go to a meeting,” said Crimm. “Intimidation sometimes keeps people from asking some very hard questions and I think that needs to be considered.” Use of the state retirement system by some organization executives also raised some questions. Sen. Thayer and Rep. Arnold Simpson, D-Covington, questioned KLC about the inclusion of at least some of its top executives in the state retirement system. Thayer asked Mayor Lawson and Mayor Miller about reports concerning a forgiven loan that allowed KLC executives buy time in the retirement system. He asked whether such loan policy would be continued or discontinued. Mayor Miller explained that the loan was made, but that “technically, the loan was not forgiven. The salaries were reduced for a period of years to reflect repayment of the loan.” Simpson said he is “troubled by the fact that individuals with such high salaries are earning a pension.” He said he is unsure if the state pension system was designed for individuals outside of “the ordinary scope of government”, and if so, whether such a policy should apply to those with large salaries. He suggested that KLC consider 401-K products for executive staff with high salaries over the state pension system. Mayor Lawson said she would take that into consideration. Concerning transparency of organizational finances—another major concern of some state lawmakers--Rep. Charlie Hoffman, D-Georgetown, agreed with those lawmakers that more disclosure is necessary, particularly from insurance service boards. “I know the sensitivity of some of the information that you use, but I think it would be best to open that committee up and put a few people on there who could scrutinize from the outside,” Hoffman said. “Unlike the private sector, your background and the people you’re dealing with involves the coffers of local and state government moneys. So I think that’s why it needs to be opened up.” The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by Local News on Sept 4, 2009 9:53:41 GMT -5
LRC approves calendar for 2010 legislative sessionA schedule for the Kentucky General Assembly’s 2010 session was approved today by legislative leaders. The session is scheduled to convene on Jan. 5 and adjourn April 13. It is expected to last 60 working days – the maximum allowed by the state constitution in even-numbered years. Legislators will not meet on Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or on Feb. 15 in observance of Presidents’ Day. The veto recess – the period of time in which lawmakers commonly return to their home districts to see which bills, if any, the governor chooses to veto – will last from March 30 through April 9, with lawmakers returning to the Capitol on April 12 for the final two days of the session. The session calendar can be viewed online at: www.lrc.ky.gov/sch_vist/10RS_calendar.pdf The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Sept 20, 2009 6:02:42 GMT -5
State lawmakers look at wind, other alternative energiesState lawmakers today heard plans to create power in Kentucky from wind and make fuel from plants instead of petroleum at a future biodiesel plant in Winchester. Scott Sykes with Genesis Development, an Elkhorn City-based wind energy company that plans to develop large scale wind energy projects atop reclaimed or abandoned coal mines in Eastern Kentucky, told lawmakers on the Special Subcommittee on Energy that there are now 25 gigawatts of power produced by wind energy in the U.S. Wind power, he added, is the fastest growing energy source in the world. “So, wind power is ready. The question is, is Kentucky ready? I believe that it is,” Sykes said. Wind power can compliment Kentucky’s existing fossil-fuel industry by supplementing the work of that industry rather than competing with it, he said. “It’s all about weaning ourselves off foreign oil and being able to diversify coal,” he said. “We’re not wanting to compete with coal, by any means—we want to be able to partner with them. Coal is very important to the economy of Eastern Kentucky, and do we appreciate that.” Dr. Bruce Pratt of Eastern Kentucky University explained plans for a pilot plant in Winchester and Clark County will produce around 2 million gallons of biodiesel a year from biomass like switch grass and corn stoker. The pilot plant, which is a partnership between EKU and California-based General Atomics among others, will cost around $20-25 million to build and will precede the partnership’s planned construction of a 50 million gallon commercial plant. The EKU/General Atomics biofuel project is in its first phase of planning, with the first round of federal funding received Sept. 3, Pratt said. The pilot plant will be constructed during the second phase of the project after the biofuel produced during the first phase is found to be engine-compatible. “What you are trying to do here is buy down the technology so we can attract private investors to go into the final phase, which is commercialization,” Pratt said. The commercial plant will require one million metric tons of biomass from within 50 miles of the plant to produce biofuel at between $1.65 and $4 per gallon. It will also require additional funding, which Pratt said the partnership hopes to receive. Besides helping the environment, Pratt said the use of biofuels would bolster homeland security. “Right now 60 percent of our oil is coming from outside the United States. Some of that oil is coming from parts of the world that are not necessarily friendly to the United States, like Venezuela, or that are not necessarily politically stable,” Pratt said. In 2008 alone, the U.S. spent approximately $327 billion on foreign oil, he said. “If we could just displace 10 percent of our imported oil, that’s almost $33 billion that stays in the United States--that stays in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Pratt said. Having a biofuels industry in Kentucky, he said, would have an economic impact that would be “multiplied several times.” Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, said that the biofuel project planned by EKU and General Atomics is a good model to follow. “This can be replicated with biomass in a lot of different areas (in the United States),” Moberly said, adding that the fuel and be produced and used locally without costly transport. Subcommittee Co-Chair Rep. Keith Hall, D-Phelps, said supporting agriculture is important as well. “I think it’s very instrumental that we find ways to utilize our farms and our facilities to get the best bang for our buck and create energy for the future,” Hall said. Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence, said he supports the biofuel efforts of EKU and General Atomics but that other options, like turning fossil fuel into energy sources, shouldn’t be overlooked. “We can take and make diesel fuel from coal and that doesn’t take 10 years to develop; that can be done today,” Gooch said. “We need to be considering everything and not dismiss things that can be done today.” Also testifying before the committee was Roger Ford with CNG Energy, who spoke about his company’s efforts to commercialize alternative transportation fuels including compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas and hydrogen. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Sept 23, 2009 5:09:23 GMT -5
Poverty Task Force holds first meetingMembers of the Poverty Task Force held the first of their four meetings today in an effort to develop comprehensive anti-poverty legislation for the 2010 Regular Session General Assembly. “The Bible says the poor will always be with us, but we have to try to take care of them,” said House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, who is chairing the task force alongside Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard. The initial meeting was staged as an information-gathering exercise, with a presentation by Drs. James P. Ziliak and Richard Fording from the University of Kentucky’s Center for Poverty Research. The two professors introduced some statistics on the commonwealth’s comparative poverty before suggesting possible policy solutions. One in six Kentuckians lived below the federal poverty line as of 2008, Fording said, the fourth highest rate among all states. “Keep in mind this doesn’t include the bulk of the recession,” he noted, indicating that current rates are likely to be even higher. Certain demographics fare even worse, Fording said, with minorities, female-headed families, rural families, those with less than a high school education, and children all having higher rates. Ninety-five of the state’s 120 counties had child poverty rates of 20 percent or more as of 2007, and three counties had rates of more than 50 percent. Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, noted that he represented two of those counties, and that the federal poverty threshold did not account for local differences in the cost of living. Ziliak acknowledged that there were some shortcomings in federal data, but that it proved useful in tracking trends. Rep. Addia Wuchner, R-Burlington, pointed out that even in relatively well-to-do counties, there are pockets of poverty, and that effective programs are crucial in every county. Among the programs tried by other states in reducing poverty are early education and home nurse visits, Ziliak said. “The seeds for dropping out (of high school) are planted earlier,” he remarked, and a high school education or more are crucial in the modern economy. Reaching children before they reach the age of 3 can have a tremendous impact on later achievement, he said. Several lawmakers also said that additional opportunities for vocational education are essential to keep all students on a path toward personal prosperity. The UK researchers observed that workforce training helped boost the benefits of economic development subsidies to businesses as well. Modernizing the tax code and establishing a state earned income tax credit could also result in more Kentuckians joining the work force, Ziliak said. Subsidies for child care and incentives for savings accounts could also help people lift themselves out of poverty, he said. Expansion of broadband capability and other technology was a favorite of several legislators. “The Internet provides access to information that the folks in the urban areas can get every day,” said Rep. Richard Henderson, D-Jeffersonville. Rep. Leslie Combs, D-Pikeville, remarked that in many poverty-stricken areas of the state, large service providers choose not to expand their service because it’s not cost-effective, and Kentuckians suffer as a result. Lawmakers throughout the meeting suggested options and programs that have worked or could provide promise. “It’s becoming clear to me that a multi-field approach is critical,” said Rep. Kelly Flood, D-Lexington. The panel also has meetings scheduled for October 26, November 16, and December 1. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by Local News on Oct 13, 2009 13:21:12 GMT -5
Legislators look into two-year college transfersMore than a decade after higher education reform, many community and technical college students have trouble transferring to four-year colleges within Kentucky, a panel of lawmakers heard this week. KCTCS Chancellor Jay Box and others discussed the problems with members of the legislature's Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education. While the University of Kentucky and Lexington's Bluegrass Community and Technical College have made great strides in their relationship, "unfortunately, KCTCS's goals are much greater than simply lining up with UK," he said. With 16 local two-year colleges and eight public four-year schools, each with their own course numbering system and course structure, it's complex to get everyone on the same page. Box and Robert King, president of the state's Council on Postsecondary Education, also noted that even when course credit transfers, it doesn't always count toward the student's degree program. A system where every student understands their planned bachelor's degree requirements and what they can do at their two-year school to make progress is essential, they said. "Frankly, there's going to be an expectation that we live up to some of the things we've been talking about" with the tight budget situation heading into the 2010 session, said Sen. Tim Shaughnessy, D-Louisville. Rep. Bill Farmer, R-Lexington, noted that as students take longer to graduate, more state tax dollars are needed to subsidize university programs. Rep. Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, pointed out a 2004 survey showing that 67 percent of KCTCS students planning to transfer had not received any transfer information from a college advisor, and that 32 percent did not understand the transfer process. "Those problems are fixable," he said, while King noted that CPE hoped to conduct an updated survey soon and that he believed those numbers would be much lower. King also pointed to a number of programs in other states, ranging from joint admission/enrollment programs to a focus on common learning outcomes across state institutions, that could be implemented in Kentucky in order to streamline students' transfer process. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Oct 14, 2009 19:19:55 GMT -5
Lawmakers review state's water, wastewater funding programsA state agency that has administered over $1 billion in loans and nearly $800 million in grants for water, wastewater and other infrastructure projects is taking local to a whole new level. Kentucky Infrastructure Authority official Debby Milton told the state legislative Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee today that KIA-which administers loan programs and line-item grants-is making the agency's loan and grant programs more flexible by basing them more on local need. "Hopefully, this will improve the legislative line item process," said Milton. "We have placed a renewed emphasis on planning. Everything starts at the bottom level," with funding proposals prioritized by local water management councils, said Milton. A share of the funding for KIA's water and wastewater line-item projects comes from dollars received from the state's 1998 national tobacco settlement with major cigarette manufacturers. Since the Kentucky General Assembly initiated line-item grants for KIA projects in tobacco and coal counties in 2003, hundreds of millions of dollars have been appropriated for these projects in tobacco dependent counties, Milton explained. "I think all of these line items are very worthwhile and have had a tremendous effect across the state," she said, adding that Kentucky ranks in the top five nationally in the percentage of people with access to community water systems because of KIA's grants and loans. A recent funding source for KIA projects was the federal stimulus package approved by Congress earlier this year. Milton said KIA applied for and received $70 million in stimulus funds, allowing the agency to fund 61 projects that were ready for construction. When asked by Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, if all 61 projects had been previously approved by the General Assembly, Milton said no. She said the projects were on a priority list in KIA's State Revolving Fund-part of a federally-funded program. Milton did say, however, that all projects approved by the General Assembly are funded and placed on a timeline for completion. "We continue to improve drinking water and wastewater planning," she said. "I guess we still have some wastewater needs to fulfill, and just maintaining and upgrading the existing water systems in the state." Concerning water line upgrades, Committee Co-Chair Rep. Dottie Sims, D-Horse Cave, asked if KIA is seeing more systems upgrade from four-to-six-inch water lines. "There are a lot of (systems) going for a six now," said Sims. Milton said systems upgrade for many reasons, including fire protection needs, industrial growth and aging lines. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by Jim Wilson on Nov 16, 2010 18:19:48 GMT -5
"Issues Confronting the 2011 Kentucky General Assembly" book available
FRANKFORT – A book containing issue briefs on topics likely to confront lawmakers during the Kentucky General Assembly's 2011 session is now available in print and online. "Issues Confronting the 2011 Kentucky General Assembly" contains 55 issue briefs prepared by members of the Legislative Research Commission staff. The book is not meant as an exhaustive list of issues that lawmakers will consider, but reflects a balanced look at some of the topics that have been discussed in legislative committee meetings. The new publication can be viewed online at: www.lrc.ky.gov/lrcpubs/IB233.pdf. Copies can also be picked up at the LRC Publications Office in the State Capitol, Rm. 83. The Kentucky General Assembly’s 2011 session begins on Jan. 4. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Nov 18, 2010 5:32:18 GMT -5
Local government panel review state stimulus funds
FRANKFORT – The $3.47 billion that Kentucky has received in federal stimulus funds has led to more than 10,800 Kentucky jobs and billions of dollars for state Medicaid, education, water, transportation and other projects in Kentucky communities, state Finance officials said today. Greg Haskamp with the Finance and Administration Cabinet told the Interim Joint Committee on Local Government this morning that the $3.4 billion is “significantly more” than the state expected to receive under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The amount also makes Kentucky the 25th largest stimulus award recipient among all 50 states, he said. “We’ve had more need for services and benefits because of the severity of the recession,” Haskamp told committee members. Haskamp said federal stimulus funding will peak next year, but that key areas—including certain research initiatives—will continue to be infused with stimulus dollars over the next five years. Locally, Kentuckians are benefiting or will benefit from more than $1.3 billion in stimulus funds set aside for health and human services including over $940 million for Medicaid, $49 million for family assistance, $34 million in child care assistance, $33 million for Head Start and other programs, said Haskamp. Education is the second largest recipient of stimulus funds in the state, he explained, receiving at least $924 million for fiscal relief, school improvement, technology and other programs statewide. Infrastructure stimulus funds totaling more than $882 million are also benefiting local communities, explained Haskamp. Over 200 individual transportation projects and dozens of drinking water projects, among other needs, have been made possible by the funds, which has also brought an additional $118 million for corrections and public safety and over $200 million for energy projects to Kentucky. Drawing considerable attention from some lawmakers was Haskamp’s report that stimulus funds have created or retained 10,885 Kentucky jobs—each equivalent to a 40-hour full-time position, he said. Rep. Stan Lee, R-Lexington, asked Haskamp if he credits the stimulus bill for the job gains quoted in Haskamp’s report. Haskamp replied that the jobs were hours worked because of the stimulus funding and “would not have been worked without them.” “It is a combination of either gaining or retaining those hours,” he told Lee. Bill Riggs with the Finance Cabinet reaffirmed that stimulus package created payroll for the state. “These were a mixture of new jobs that didn’t exist before, and jobs that are supported because the stimulus dollars were there,” he told the committee. Committee House Co-Chair Rep. Steve Riggs, D-Jeffersontown, said the information provided by the Finance Cabinet will be helpful if or when more questions arise concerning the stimulus package and its cost. “I think it will come in very handy as we go out and meet with our citizens and (answer) some of the questions they may have for us dealing with stimulus spending and how it affects local government,” said Rep. Riggs. Stating the stimulus money is taxpayer money, the committee’s Senate Co-Chair Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said he suspects that the debate on whether the package was a good idea will continue. “When we talk about stimulus dollars, we need to remember that these dollars come from one place and that’s the taxpayer, or, if the federal government printed more money (and) took on more debt, future generations of taxpayers,” Thayer said. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jan 5, 2011 5:26:03 GMT -5
FRANKFORT – Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville (left), speaks with newly elected Senate Democratic Floor Leader R.J. Palmer (center), D-Winchester, as Senate Majority Floor Leader Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, looks on.
Kentucky General Assembly’s 2011 session begins Citizens have many ways to stay in touch
FRANKFORT -- Legislative leaders have gaveled the 2011 Kentucky General Assembly into session, kicking off a session scheduled to last 30 days. Lawmakers will go into a legislative recess at the end of this week and will return to Frankfort on Feb. 1 to resume the session, which is scheduled to conclude on March 22. Citizens have numerous ways to follow legislative action throughout the session, including seeing legislative action in person in the State Capitol’s legislative chambers and committee meeting rooms, which are open to the public. The Kentucky Legislature Home Page (www.lrc.ky.gov) is updated daily to provide the latest legislative information. Web surfers can view the issues before lawmakers by browsing through bill summaries, amendments, and resolutions. The website is regularly updated to indicate each bill’s status in the legislative process, as well as the next day’s committee-meeting schedule and agendas. In addition to general information about the legislative process, the website also provides information on each of Kentucky’s senators and representatives, including their phone numbers, addresses, and legislative committee assignments. The Kentucky General Assembly also maintains toll-free phone lines to help citizens follow legislative action and offer their input. People who want to give lawmakers feedback on issues under consideration can call the Legislative Message Line at (800) 372-7181. People who prefer to offer their feedback in Spanish can call the General Assembly's Spanish Line at (866) 840-6574. Citizens with hearing impairments can use the TTY Message Line at (800) 896-0305. A taped message containing information on the daily schedule for legislative committee meetings is available by calling the Legislative Calendar Line at (800) 633-9650. Information on the status of each bill lawmakers are considering is available on the Bill Status Line, (866) 840-2835. Citizens can write to any legislator by sending a letter with a lawmaker's name on it to: Legislative Offices, 701 Capitol Ave., Frankfort, KY 40601.
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Post by ClayLive on Jan 6, 2011 19:55:20 GMT -5
Senate approves one-stop business center, informed consent bills
FRANKFORT — Business would have a one-stop online government center to help navigate the paperwork and other regulations they face under a bill passed unanimously by the Senate today. Senate Bill 8, sponsored by Sen. David Givens, R-Greensburg, would direct the Secretary of State’s office to create the core of an online business portal by 2012 and to operate a call center to help businesses with their questions. The state’s Commission on Small Business Advocacy would also report annually on ways to improve the system. The portal would allow businesses to take care of a number of functions from the permitting process to making payments online. The Senate also signed off on a revision to the state’s abortion law. Under SB 9, sponsored by Sens. Jack Westwood, R-Erlanger, and Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, the pre-procedure consultation 24 hours before any abortion would have to be conducted in person rather than over the phone. In addition, the provider would be required to perform an ultrasound and give the patient an opportunity to view the results. The woman could turn away from the image, but any provider who refused the ultrasound viewing would face a $100,000 fine. SB 9 passed on a 32-5 vote. Both bills now await consideration by the House. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jan 6, 2011 20:04:48 GMT -5
Teacher incentives, principal selection bills pass Senate
FRANKFORT — Incentives for advanced-level science and math teachers, along with a change to the method of principal selection, were among the first bills to pass the Senate during the 2011 Regular Session. Senate Bill 13, sponsored by Sen. Ken Winters, R-Murray, would create monetary awards for math and science teachers whose students achieve high scores on end-of-year Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams to earn college credit. Teachers would be rewarded for each student who achieves a minimum score on the exams, a 3 on the AP tests and 5 for IB. Awards would be great for high-achieving low income students, and the total per teacher would be capped at $7500. A separate pool would exist for the teachers of non-advanced science and math courses, along with Algebra I teachers at feeder middle schools. That pool, based on awards to advanced-course teachers but caped at $5000 per school, would be distributed to teachers based on their courseload to reflect the role they play in preparing students for college-prep courses. The program would mirror the privately-funded AdvanceKY program, which is already in place in 44 Kentucky high schools. “We’re going to be undergirding that grant activity,” Winters said, with an estimated annual cost of $1.2 million early on. The cost, he said, would hopefully grow as more students take the exams. The bill passed on a 23-14 vote with one “pass” vote. SB 12, also sponsored by Winters, would alter the principal selection process for public schools. Under the legislation, superintendents would choose school principals after consultation with school councils. In current practice, the school councils select principals from a list supplied by the superintendent. The bill passed on a 21-16 vote with one “pass” vote. Both bills now move to the House for its consideration. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jan 7, 2011 19:29:09 GMT -5
Election reform, government transparency bills pass Senate
FRANKFORT — The state’s spending reports would be put online permanently and primary elections would be pushed back under legislation passed today by the Senate. Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, would require the state’s three branches of government to maintain an online searchable database with all spending. Many state agencies already make such information available, Thayer said, but future state officials may not choose to withhold some spending information unless it is included in statute. “The transparency movement is sweeping the country,” Thayer said. “Citizens are demanding more information on how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent.” The databases would be updated at least monthly, but information in the state’s electronic accounting system would be updated on a weekly basis. When available, the spending documents themselves would be attached. SB 7 was approved unanimously. Senators also approved changes to the state’s campaign finance law, forbidding statewide officers and candidates for those offices from accepting contributions from lobbyists. Increased filing requirements for finance reports, including the requirement to file them electronically, are also included. SB 4, sponsored by Sen. Jared Carpenter, R-Berea, would also push back primary elections until August and filing deadlines to April. “Currently, no major legislation moves until the filing deadline has passed” and lawmakers know whether they will have opposition, Carpenter said. SB 4 passed on a 21-14 vote. Both bills now move to the House of Representatives for its consideration. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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Post by ClayLive on Jan 7, 2011 19:40:01 GMT -5
Immigration, Bill of Rights legislation head to House
FRANKFORT — State enforcement of federal immigration law and a 21st Century Bill of Rights for the state constitution, got the Senate stamp of approval today, capping off a dozen bills passed by that body at the end of the legislative session’s opening week. Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, would allow state and local police to inquire about the immigration status of anyone they stop in their normal course of law enforcement. Those in Kentucky illegally could be transferred to federal custody or face jail time for their crimes. SB 6 also creates three new crimes for illegal immigrants, those who smuggle them into Kentucky, and those who help them move about the state undetected. “The state of Kentucky should now be able to enforce federal immigration law,” said Schickel. “We are not writing new immigration law. We are simply enforcing the laws the federal government will not.” The bill passed 24-14. SB 10, meanwhile, would create a 21st Century Bill of Rights that would be submitted to state voters in 2012. “This bill is about protecting Kentucky’s state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” said Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, the bill’s sponsor. The bill’s 10 provisions range from rights to possess firearms, hunt, and fish, to responses to recent federal legislation concerning health care and energy. Public display of the Ten Commandments and a prohibition on any gambling not already allowed in Kentucky are also included. “We believe strongly in states’ rights, and we want to send a message to the federal government,” Thayer said. The measure passed on a 26-12 vote, three votes more than the constitutional majority necessary to put an amendment on the ballot. The preceding was a press release from LRC eNews. For more information on items before the Kentucky Legislature contact your local senator Robert Stivers (left) and/or representative Tim Couch (right).
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