WEST’S MEDICAL CANNABIS LEGISLATION APPROVED BY SENATE COMMITTEE

WEST’S MEDICAL CANNABIS LEGISLATION APPROVED BY SENATE COMMITTEE

FRANKFORT, KY (March 14, 2023) - Senate Bill 47 (SB 47), sponsored by Senator Steve West, R-Paris, has cleared the first major hurdle of the legislative process by passing out of the Senate Standing Committee of Licensing and Occupations.

“A constituent approached me several years ago with a personal story regarding medicinal marijuana, piquing my interest and beginning the process of crafting this piece of legislation,” West said. “I am a proponent of this issue, not for personal reasons, but because through extensive research, I genuinely feel that medical cannabis is inherently safe. On this issue, I believe Kentuckians deserve as many safe options for their medical care and treatment as possible.”

The passage of medical marijuana by state legislatures has been a trend across the nation, as more focus has been placed on incorporating holistic palliative treatments for cancer and many other debilitating disorders. In many situations, some may prefer the option to use a form of medical marijuana as opposed to opioid pain medications, due to their addictive nature.

The following diagnoses are covered under SB 47:

• Any type or form of cancer regardless of the stage.

• Chronic, severe, intractable, or debilitating pain.

• Epilepsy or any other intractable seizure disorder.

• Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, or spasticity.

• Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome that has proven resistant to other conventional medical treatments.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder.

• Any other medical condition or disease for which the Kentucky Center for Cannabis established in KRS 164.983, or its successor, determines that sufficient scientific data and evidence exists to demonstrate that an individual diagnosed with that condition or disease is likely to receive medical, therapeutic, or palliative benefits from the use of medicinal cannabis.

This bill not only names specific ailments that qualify for medical cannabis but also sets up the regulatory authority through the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to oversee all aspects of medicinal legalization. It establishes guidelines for law enforcement, requiring that medical marijuana be transported in an opaque container with labels and a clearly marked dosage. SB 47 establishes rights for employers, civil rights for parents and custodians of minors, and parameters involving rights within education and how a patient must obtain eligibility and acquire a medical card.

Legalizing medical marijuana is a complex administrative process. In addition to the guidelines concerning patient access, physician responsibility and civil liberties for many areas of everyday society that have to be established. SB 47 lays out the standards for setting up a dispensary, applying for a business license, and obtaining the product for distribution. As all medication in Kentucky, medicinal marijuana will not be taxed, but there will be fees levied on producers and dispensaries. Kentucky farmers will also benefit, as all medical marijuana sold in the commonwealth, must be grown in the commonwealth. This bill touches on nearly every aspect of incorporating medicinal marijuana into Kentucky’s health care system.

“SB 47 is the product of a lot of research, many discussions and carefully considering all sides of the issue,” Senate President Robert Stivers said. “The legislative process is at work. While I have expressed my concerns with the bill, I recognize the will of many Kentuckians to have this as a medicinal treatment option and the legislative process will play out as it was intended.”

With the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee’s approval, SB 47 can now be considered by the full Senate. If enacted, the measure would take effect January 1, 2025, which provides time for the Kentucky Center for Cannabis to complete studies. The Center was established by 2022’s House Bill 604. The center’s purpose is to advance the study of the use of cannabis and cannabis derivatives for the treatment of certain medical conditions and diseases as indicated and recommended by the center's advisory board.
Click here to find the bill in full and to track its status. Visit legislature.ky.gov to access more legislation being considered during the 2023 Legislative Session.

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Senator Steve West, R-Paris, represents the 27th Senate District, including Bourbon, Fleming, Harrison, Mason, Nicholas, Robertson, and Rowan Counties and part of northern Fayette County. He serves as Senate Education Committee chair and Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee chair. West is also a member of the Senate standing committees on Agriculture and a Budget Review Subcommittee on Education member.

Please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate127.jpg  for a high-resolution .jpeg of West.

STATEMENT RELEASE: MILLS ON PASSAGE OF BILL PROTECTING TEACHERS, STATE EMPLOYEE PENSIONS FROM IDEOLOGICAL-DRIVEN INVESTMENTS

STATEMENT RELEASE: MILLS ON PASSAGE OF BILL PROTECTING TEACHERS, STATE EMPLOYEE PENSIONS FROM IDEOLOGICAL-DRIVEN INVESTMENTS

FRANKFORT, KY (March 13, 2023) — The following is a statement from Senator Robby Mills, R-Henderson, upon the Senate's approval of Rep. Scott Sharp's House Bill 236. The bill would require state public pension funds to base investment decisions on financial risks and returns and not on environmental, social and governance factors, commonly known as ESG:

"People should not have to lie awake at night worrying about whether or not their pension fund is being managed based on political ideology," said Mills, a Public Pension Oversight Board member. "The sole focus of fiduciaries caring for our state employee's pension systems should be to see it grow, not to take risks with people's livelihoods in efforts to push forward some social and political agenda."

House Bill 236 cleared the Senate 32-5. The bill is similar to last year’s Senate Bill 205, which was sponsored by Senator Robby Mills. House Bill 236 now moves to the Governor for consideration. The measure would take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the session.

Find the bill in full by clicking THIS LINK.

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Senator Robby Mills, R-Henderson, represents the 4th Senate District, including Henderson, Hopkins, Union, and Webster Counties. He serves as Senate State and Local Government Committee chair and is a Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor; Natural Resources; and Energy and Transportation committee member. Additionally, he is a Public Pension Oversight Board member and a member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance and Public Protection.

For a high-resolution .jpeg of Mills, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate104.jpg

SENATE BILL 115 PASSES THE SENATE, PROTECTS CHILDREN FROM SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PERFORMANCES

SENATE BILL 115 PASSES THE SENATE, PROTECTS CHILDREN FROM SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PERFORMANCES

FRANKFORT, KY (March 10, 2023) - Senate Bill 115 (SB 115), sponsored by Senator Lindsey Tichenor, passed out of the Senate today. Barely over one page, 31 lines to be exact, the intent of SB 115 is to prevent children from being exposed to sexually explicit adult performances in publicly-funded spaces or privately-owned public accommodations where children may be present. Such locations include but are not limited to schools, public libraries, public parks, restaurants, or entertainment venues.

“There is a destructive culture permeating our society and stealing the innocence of our children,” Tichenor said. “I wrote this bill to protect them from undue exposure to events and performance content their brains are not scientifically ready to process or understand.”

SB 115 defines “adult performance” as a sexually explicit, live performance or a live performance involving male or female impersonators who provide entertainment in a prurient or sexually charged, unwholesome nature. Taken as a whole, the performance must lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

It is important to reiterate that this bill does not prevent adults from attending these performances. It only prohibits use of publicly owned facilities or property, and prevents and protects minor children from attending or unknowingly witnessing them due to an inappropriate venue.

Lastly, the bill sets forth the penalties for violating Senate Bill 115. Performers would be subject to a charge of a misdemeanor for the first two offenses and a class D felony for the third offense. Businesses who host adult performances where minors under 18 are present will be subject to:

• Suspension or revocation of alcohol license by the Kentucky Alcohol Beverage Control Board.

• Suspension or revocation of business license or certificate of occupancy.

• Denial or refusal to renew a business license or certificate of occupancy.

• Any other appropriate penalty based on the degree of violation or offense.

“For the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone wants to expose their children to such sexually explicit content, essentially robbing them of the simplicity and innocence of their childhood,” said Tichenor. “My hope is that the penalties for violating this bill will curtail these performances and protect not only the children of those who choose to take them, but those who unintentionally happen upon them by way of just attending school, the park or the library.”

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Senator Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, represents the 6th Senate District, including Oldham and Trimble Counties and part of Jefferson County. She serves a Senate Education; Families and Children; and Health Services committee member. Tichenor is also a Budget Review Subcommittee on Human Resources Committee member.

Please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate106.jpg  for a high-resolution JPEG file of Tichenor.

STATEMENT RELEASE ADAMS EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT WITH BESHEAR’S VETO OF SENATE BILL 37

STATEMENT RELEASE ADAMS EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT WITH BESHEAR’S VETO OF SENATE BILL 37

FRANKFORT, KY (March 24, 2023) — The following is a statement from Senate Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, in light of Governor Andy Beshear’s Senate Bill 37 veto:

“I am disappointed in the Governor's veto of Senate Bill 37 and am troubled by his lack of comprehension of the bill. Contrary to his veto message, the bill does not allow ‘private organizations to appoint individuals to a state board.’

“Senate Bill 37 defines the representation of an advisory council to the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy. This advisory council is not a newly established council through Senate Bill 37. It has existed for years and the General Assembly has never defined its membership. Rather, lawmakers have delegated this membership to the discretion of the Board of Pharmacy.

“To bring additional resources and expertise to the board regarding the current scope and practice of pharmacy, the bill defines the ‘broad representation’ of members to this advisory council and the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy retains the ability to confirm the council’s membership by a roll call vote at a public meeting.

“The Kentucky Board of Pharmacy has always possessed the ability to select the members to its advisory council—which was established in statute by the Kentucky General Assembly—and while Senate Bill 37 does define the representation on this advisory council, it does not remove any authority or jurisdiction from the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy.”

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Click here to find Senate Bill 37 in its entirety.  

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Senator Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, represents Kentucky’s 36th Senate District in eastern Jefferson County. She is the Senate majority caucus chair. Adams serves as the newly formed Senate Families and Children vice chair and is a member of the Senate Banking and Insurance, Health Services, and Licensing and Occupations committees. Additionally, Adams is a member of the Legislative Research Commission, the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee, and the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee.

For a high-resolution .jpeg of Raque Adams, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate136.jpg

STATEMENT RELEASE HOWELL RESPONDS TO BESHEAR’S SENATE BILL 126 VETO

STATEMENT RELEASE HOWELL RESPONDS TO BESHEAR’S SENATE BILL 126 VETO

FRANKFORT, KY (March 24, 2023) — The following is a statement from Senator Jason Howell, R-Murray, upon Governor Andy Beshear’s veto of Senate Bill 126, a measure that would mitigate the practice of forum shopping in constitutional challenges:

“The Governor is wrong in calling Senate Bill 126 an ‘unconstitutional power grab.’ Kentucky courts hold that venue is ‘purely a legislative matter.’ The Franklin Circuit Court should not hold a monopoly on hearing challenges to the constitutionality of important legislative enactments.

“The Governor is again wrong in insisting the bill will ‘force Kentuckians to challenge the constitutionality of government actions in places where they do not live.’ The reality is that after the 2021 session, plaintiffs who justly challenged the constitutionality of executive actions could finally redress their grievances in their home counties and courts. Before 2021’s House Bill 3, residents from 119 counties had to traipse to Franklin County to challenge to seek redress from the courts in certain cases. The Governor never came to the defense of those Kentuckians.

“The procedure outlined in Senate Bill 126 is simple, and automated processes in place should not cause the costs or delays the Governor imagines.”

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Senate Bill 126 is a revision to 2021's House Bill 3, which relates to the venue for constitutional challenges to state law, regulations, executive orders and certain cabinets and departments. The bill would allow a plaintiff or defendant to have one change of venue in constitutional challenges. A case transfer notice is automatic and is accomplished by the Supreme Court of Kentucky clerk through random selection of a different judicial circuit and order to the original jurisdiction to transfer the action.

Click here to access Senate Bill 126 and learn more about Senator Jason Howell.

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Senator Jason Howell, R-Murray, represents the 1st Senate District including Calloway, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Lyon, and Trigg Counties. He is the Senate Agriculture Committee chair. He will serve as a Banking and Insurance; Economic Development, Tourism and Labor; and Licensing and Occupations committee member. Howell will also serve as a Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee and Legislative Oversight and Investigations committee member.

For a high-resolution .jpeg of Howell, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate101.jpg.

SENATE TO CONDUCT IMPEACHMENT HEARING MARCH 21-22

SENATE TO CONDUCT IMPEACHMENT HEARING MARCH 21-22

FRANKFORT, KY (March 8, 2023) - For the first time in 135 years, the Senate will conduct an impeachment hearing and potential trial in its chambers. The last time one was held was in 1888 when State Treasurer “Honest Dick” Tate was impeached for fleeing to Brazil and abandoning his office with nearly $200,000 in state funds. In 1916 and 1991, impeachment hearings were conducted but never went to trial.

The Senate received the articles of impeachment for Commonwealth’s Attorney Ronnie Lee Goldy, Jr. from the Kentucky House of Representatives following the work of the2023 House Impeachment Committee. The Senate passed Senate Resolution 108, which set forth a plan for Senate impeachment proceedings.

“Conducting an impeachment trial in the Senate is uncharted territory for any of us currently living (in office), as the last one occurred over a century ago,” said Senate President Robert Stivers. “In researching how to proceed with this process, we developed a sound, constitutional plan which provides due process and ensures public office integrity.”

Using Rule 39A, an amendment to the Senate Rules, the Senate President will appoint a committee of seven senators which includes no less than two minority members. The committee’s purpose will be to hear evidence from the House of Representatives presented by managers. The Senate members selected to sit on the committee are:

• Senator Brandon Storm, R-London, Chair

• Senator Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield

• Senator Gex Williams, R-Verona

• Senator Jason Howell, R-Murray

• Senator Michael Nemes, R-Shepherdsville

• Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville

• Senator Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington

The hearing portion of the proceedings will take place March 21-22. Following the introduction of evidence to the committee, the defendant in the case will have the opportunity to present evidence.

Upon conclusion of the hearing, the committee will prepare recommendations and present them to the full Senate. The body may then accept the recommendations, reject them, or proceed to a full trial on the Senate floor. The Constitution of Kentucky requires the concurrence of two-thirds of the senators present to convict and remove the office-holder.

This process was most recently used by the United States Senate in 1989 and was upheld as constitutional by the United States Supreme Court in United States v. Nixon.

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Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the ongoing 2023 30-day Legislative Session, such as committee schedules and membership.

Live legislative coverage is available at ket.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel. Access archived footage of 2022 Interim legislative meetings and 2023 Regular Session legislative activity at ket.org/legislature/archives.

Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We also encourage you to visit KYSenateRepublicans.com to subscribe to receive new releases from our office and access additional information on caucus members.

***UPDATE*** SENATE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE MEASURES MOVE TO THE STATE HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION

***UPDATE*** SENATE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE MEASURES MOVE TO THE STATE HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION

FRANKFORT, KY (March 7, 2023) – Tuesday, the Senate approved two bills addressing Kentucky's Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) crisis. Senate Bill 158, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem David Givens, R-Greensburg, and Senate Bill 162, sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll, R- Benton, would push to solidify needed action by the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and DJJ to ensure the safety of the state's detained youth and those working within the facilities.

“We are happy these measures have taken the next step in the legislative process,” Givens said. “This puts us one step closer toward mitigating the damage caused by a leadership failure within DJJ,”

Senate Bill 158 would officially direct the Kentucky auditor of public accounts office to enter into a contract with a third party to conduct a thorough performance review of DJJ. The measure defines the authority of the third-party entity and the scope of the review and would provide the necessary funding, $500,000, in the current fiscal year, for the audit.

Senate Bill 162 is the start of a long-term reformation of DJJ and a commitment to finally address the needs of juveniles with serious mental illness. The bill carries an emergency designation, noted in section 14, meaning it would take effect immediately upon filing with the Kentucky Secretary of State's Office.

“Provisions of Senate Bill 162 are pointed and will be valuable in repairing the broken culture within our DJJ facilities where, until now, there’s been a reluctance to accept accountability,” Carroll, co-chair of the DJJ work group, said. “As the legislature leads in statutory reforms, we must remember the buck has to stop somewhere. Unfortunately, even stories as recent as today are showing a lack of transparency and lackluster communication that has sadly become the norm within DJJ.”

Major provisions of Senate Bill 162 include:

• Investment of over $55 million in the next two years to support comprehensive reforms within the system. (Sections 7-12)

• Transitioning DJJ back to a regional model while continuing to segregate males and females, and violent and non-violent offenders. (section 5)

• Section one reorganizes DJJ, including:

  o Creating a Division of Compliance and an Office of Detention and requiring the eight DJJ centers to be under one person's supervision who reports directly to the DJJ commissioner. This office will house the Division of Transportation.

  o Moving the Division of Professional Development under the Office of Support Services.

• Requiring the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to maintain a comprehensive, centralized data tracking system for DJJ. (section 2)

• Reforms membership and responsibilities of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. (section 3)

• Setting requirements for DJJ facilities and requiring DJJ to enter into sufficient contracts to ensure the availability of institutional treatment for children with severe emotional disturbance or mental illness as soon as practical. (section 4).

  o Requires the Kentucky Department of Medicaid to take steps to provide benefits to eligible detained children. (section 6)

• Establishing staff retention measures and addressing workforce needs by implementing a Youth Worker-R program to bring retired workers back into facilities (section 5) and providing employee professional development opportunities.

• Implementing a limited duration program to allow previously resigned staff to return to employment classifications with the department's approval.

• The substantial appropriations in the legislation demonstrate the seriousness of the crisis and the Senate's commitment to finding short and long-term solutions.

Senate Bills 158 and 162 directly result from the work group efforts. With approval from the Senate, the bills now qualify for action in the state House of Representatives where they will first be assigned to a committee.

BACKGROUND:

Before the General Assembly's constitutionally required session break in week one of the 2023 Legislative Session, Givens carried Senate Concurrent Resolution 31 to Senate passage, which initiated the efforts of a work group. Carroll, a retired law enforcement officer and former vice-chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, served as the work group's co-chair. Carroll, alongside his House counterpart Representative Kevin Bratcher, led several meetings throughout the session break. The meetings engaged a bipartisan group of lawmakers and received information from various stakeholders within the DJJ system.

Givens, Carroll and other lawmakers held a press conference on February 2, updating the public on the work group's findings and articulating clear recommendations Governor Andy Beshear's administration should take action on.

Only after what has been described as a gang rape of a minor in the Adair County Detention Center did the Beshear administration take necessary action to get control of the DJJ system. First, it implemented two recommendations made by lawmakers during the 2022 interim, separating juveniles based on gender and severity of the alleged crime. Additionally, Beshear was prompted to heed the work group's recommendation to use Kentucky State Police to provide around-the-clock support at the Adair, Fayette and Warren detention centers.

Unmet Needs:

Many initial recommendations remain unmet and Senate Bill 162 seeks to address them through legislative reforms aiming to repair the existing toxic culture in DJJ. However, some require executive action from the Governor. Notably, Beshear has refused to hold those who have failed in leadership positions within DJJ accountable. Members of the DJJ work group had called for the DJJ commissioner's replacement and the appointment of an independent individual with a vision to repair the culture within DJJ. The Governor has taken neither action.

Givens' and Carroll's measures are two significant steps in remedying the DJJ crisis. Visit legislature.ky.gov for more information on Sens. David Givens and Danny Carroll and CLICK HERE to find Senate Bills 158 and 162.

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Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, represents the 2nd Senate District, including Ballard, Carlisle, Livingston, Marshall, and McCracken Counties. He serves as Senate Families and Children Committee chair. He is also a Senate Education, Health Services and Judiciary committee member. Additionally, Carroll is a member of the Public Pension Oversight Board and the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee.

For a high-resolution .jpeg of Carroll, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate102.jpg.

Senator David Givens, R-Greensburg, represents the 9th Senate District, including Barren, Edmondson, Green, and Hart Counties as well as northwestern Warren County. He serves as Senate president pro tempore and is Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity co-chair. Givens is a Senate Agriculture, Appropriations and Revenue, and Education committee member.

For a high-resolution .jpeg of Givens, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate109.jpg.

Visit Legislature.ky.gov for information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the ongoing 2023 30-day Legislative Session, such as committee schedules and membership.

Live legislative coverage is available at ket.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel. Access archived footage of 2022 Interim legislative meetings and 2023 Regular Session legislative activity at ket.org/legislature/archives.

Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We also encourage you to visit KYSenateRepublicans.com to subscribe to receive new releases from our office and access additional information on members of the Senate Majority Caucus.

MILLS AIMS TO PROVIDE KENTUCKIANS ENERGY SECURITY

MILLS AIMS TO PROVIDE KENTUCKIANS ENERGY SECURITY

FRANKFORT, KY (March 2, 2023) – Senate Bill 4 (SB 4), sponsored by Senator Robby Mills, R-Henderson, passed on the Senate floor with a vote count of 25 to 8.

The measure aims to strengthen electric grid reliability in the Commonwealth and ensure Kentucky’s residents are not faced with the dangerous and sometimes deadly consequences of power outages, “brown-outs,” or “black-outs.” The bill would prohibit the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) from authorizing the retirement of a fossil-fuel fired electric power generating unit unless the utility can demonstrate that:

1. The utility will replace the retired unit with with new electric generating capacity that is dispatchable; maintains or improves the reliability and resilience of the electric transmission grid; and maintains the adequate minimum reserve capacity;

2. The retirement of the unit will not harm the utility’s ratepayers by causing the utility to incur costs to be recovered from the ratepayers that could be avoided by continuing to operate the unit; and

3. The decision to retire the unit is not the result of any financial incentives or benefits offered by any federal agency.

“We have a lot of elected officials and special interest groups who want to rapidly force our energy sector toward renewable energies, but we need to be practical about what technology keeps the lights on,” Mills said. “Kentucky knows better than any state the importance of our natural resources, so with Senate Bill 4. I want to protect Kentuckians from the unintended consequences of green energy run amok.”

The retirement of coal-fired plants is a top priority of President Joe Biden’s administration, which has committed to “net-zero operations by 2050.” Kentucky’s 19 existing coal-fired plants are in line to meet Biden’s schedule, with six scheduled to close by 2029, six more by 2039 and the remaining by 2049. The annual economic impact of Kentucky’s 19 existing coal-fired plants equates to over $1.5 billion and generates a yearly tax revenue of over $90 million.

“I hope Kentuckians understand the significance of what is happening. A net-zero emission plan from the Biden Administration can be sold as a bill of good, energy-friendly policy, but the reality is that we are potentially putting lives at risk,” Mills said. “What happens when you lose electricity and heat in the dead of winter? What ultimately keeps our economy functioning and charges people's Electric Vehicles? We are still 10 to 15 years away from this technology being sustainable for our grid. How many lives are we going to lose during that time? I would like to have rose-colored glasses on for our sustainable energy future, but I have a responsibility as a lawmaker to fight and protect Kentuckian’s best interests. At the end of the day, this legislation is about making sure Kentucky families are safe.”

Additional bill provisions would require the PSC to submit an annual report by December 1 to the Legislative Research Commission on the retirement of electric generating units.

SB 4 carries an emergency designation, which means it would go into effect immediately upon filing with the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office.

Click here to see Senate Bill 4 in its entirety and visit legislature.ky.gov to find other legislation being considered during the ongoing 30-day Legislative Session.

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Senator Robby Mills, R-Henderson, represents the 4th Senate District, including Henderson, Hopkins, Union, and Webster Counties. He serves as Senate State and Local Government Committee chair and is a Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor; Natural Resources; and Energy and Transportation committee member. Additionally, he is a Public Pension Oversight Board member and a member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance and Public Protection.

For a high-resolution .jpeg of Mills, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate104.jpg.

For more information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the 2023 Legislative Session, such as committee schedules and membership, please visit legislature.ky.gov.

Live legislative coverage is available at ket.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel. Access archived footage of legislative meetings at ket.org/legislature/archives.

Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We also encourage you to visit KYSenateRepublicans.com to subscribe to receive new releases from our office and access additional information on caucus members.

**UPDATE** CARROLL CHAMPIONS NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMONWEALTH Resolution Would Initiate State Efforts in Nuclear Energy Production

**UPDATE** CARROLL CHAMPIONS NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMONWEALTH Resolution Would Initiate State Efforts in Nuclear Energy Production

FRANKFORT, KY (March 2, 2023) – In efforts to establish a nuclear energy development working group, Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, filed Senate Joint Resolution 79 (SJR 79). Today, he carried to bill to passage in the state Senate.

“I appreciate my colleagues support of this resolution that I believe can serve a critical role in providing the commonwealth energy reliability as we look to the future,” Carroll said. “The nuclear energy commission this resolution would establish will improve Kentuckian’s lives, power their future and provide incredible career opportunities. I am calling on my friends in the House to approve this measure and allow Kentucky to be a leader in nuclear energy production.”
Senate Bill 11 from the 2017 Legislative Session lifted a moratorium on constructing new nuclear power facilities in Kentucky.

Beyond the potential to better meet energy needs for Kentucky residents, this measure can also bolster economic development and job creation by making Kentucky more attractive to the nuclear industry.

According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, the United States nuclear energy sector employs nearly 100,000—500-800 in each power plant. This number climbs to 475,000 when you include secondary jobs.

NUCLEAR ENERGY WORKING GROUP’S MISSION

If approved by both legislative chambers, the Nuclear Energy Working Group would be administratively attached to the Energy and Environment Cabinet for staff support. It would be tasked with the following:

• Identifying the barriers to deploying nuclear power generation resources and other related technologies in the Commonwealth, including regulatory, statutory, financial, social, environmental, workforce and educational barriers.

• Developing recommendations for how a permanent nuclear energy commission could address the barriers to deploying nuclear power generation resources and other related technologies in the Commonwealth.

• Consulting with any federal, state, or local agencies, nonprofit organizations, private industry, or other impacted stakeholders on what the role of the permanent nuclear energy commission should be.

• Developing recommendations for a required report on the group's efforts.

 The group would begin meeting no later than September 1 and would have to submit a report to the Legislative Research Commission on or before December 1. The report must detail the working group’s activity and provide recommendations for creating a permanent nuclear energy commission, along with information such as staffing needs, creating a mission statement, and a list of short and long-term goals.

MEMBERSHIP

The twenty-membership body would include the following:

• The executive director of the Office of Energy Policy

• The executive director of the Public Service Commission

• The director of the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research

• A representative from each of the four investor-owned electric utilities operating in the commonwealth—designated by the president of each investor-owned electric utility, including:

  o   AEP Kentucky Power in Ashland

  o   Louisville Gas and Electric Co. in Louisville

  o   Kentucky Utilities Company in Lexington

  o   Duke Energy in Newport

• The chief operating officer of the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives

• The executive director of the Kentucky Municipal Utilities Association

• The executive director of Kentucky Industrial Utility Customers

• The chief nuclear officer of the Tennessee Valley Authority

• The executive director of the United States Nuclear Industry Council

• The executive director of the Kentucky Conservation Committee

• A representative from a national nuclear educational nonprofit organization

•  A representative from a United States Department of Energy National Laboratory with expertise in nuclear energy policy issues

• The director of business services for the Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership

• Two non-voting ex-officio members from each legislative chamber in the Kentucky General Assembly—designated by the House Speaker and Senate President

A Senate Floor Amendment was adopted to SJR 79 on the Senate floor prior to its passage. The amendment increases the number of members to 23, adding three members:

• two representatives from cooperative electric generation and transmission utilities and;

• one representative from the Nuclear Energy Institute

With the Senate’s approval, SJR 79 now qualifies for consideration by the full Senate. While joint resolutions do not modify state statutes, they do carry the force of law.

NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT FORUM COMING TO KENTUCKY

In a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, McCracken County, the City of Paducah and other local organizations, the Energy Communities Alliance’s Nuclear Development Forum is slated to hold a conference in Paducah, KY May 17-19. The focus of the forum will be building nuclear capacity and opportunity.

Visit legislature.ky.gov for more information on Sen. Danny Carroll and CLICK HERE to access Senate Joint Resolution 79. See the PDF attachment for details on the May Nuclear Development Forum in Paducah.

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Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, represents the 2nd Senate District, including Ballard, Carlisle, Livingston, Marshall, and McCracken Counties. He serves as Senate Families and Children Committee chair. He is also a Senate Education, Health Services and Judiciary committee member. Additionally, Carroll is a member of the Public Pension Oversight Board and the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee. For a high-resolution .jpeg of Carroll, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate102.jpg.

Visit Legislature.ky.gov for information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the ongoing 2023 30-day Legislative Session, such as committee schedules and membership.

Live legislative coverage is available at ket.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel. Access archived footage of 2022 Interim legislative meetings and 2023 Regular Session legislative activity at ket.org/legislature/archives.

Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We also encourage you to visit KYSenateRepublicans.com to subscribe to receive new releases from our office and access additional information on members of the Senate Majority Caucus.

BILL INNOVATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS’ COMPLETION OF PROJECTS APPROVED BY SENATE

BILL INNOVATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS’ COMPLETION OF PROJECTS APPROVED BY SENATE

FRANKFORT, KY (March 2, 2023) - The Senate approved Senator Max Wise’s, R-Campbellsville, Senate Bill 169 on Thursday. If enacted, the bill would open the possibility for Public Private Partnerships (P3s) for Kentucky’s 171 public school districts.

P3s allow Kentucky government agencies to work with private sector partners on projects. Senate Bill 169 would authorize local boards of education to engage in P3s to complete work more quickly and efficiently, especially construction projects. Schools would enjoy the same opportunities cities and counties currently do.

“I am excited about this innovative way to provide schools with another, maybe even less expensive, means of getting additional space for classrooms, labs, auditoriums and gyms,” said Wise. “Senate Bill 169 will also provide our local school boards access to federal grant funds already available to city and county governments.”

The Kentucky General Assembly first implemented a framework for P3s in 2016 after Republicans secured control of the Kentucky House of Representatives for the first time in nearly a century.  House Bill 309 (16 RS) passed the Senate 29-9, with Wise among those in support.

Another provision of Senate Bill 169 makes necessary amendments to state law, adding "local school district" to the definition of a "local government” in statutes relevant to the delivery method of awarding contracts for capital construction projects—Kentucky Local Government Public-Private Partnership Board (KRS 65.028).

“I am excited about how this bill can bring additional financial flexibilities as school board members consider how they will utilize revenues, whether it’s for the capital projects this bill helps with or important considerations like teacher raises,” Wise said. 

Senate Bill 169 now qualifies for consideration by the state House of Representatives.

Click here to access Senate Bill 169. Visit legislature.ky.gov to find more details on Senator Max Wise and to follow the status of other legislation being considered during the ongoing 2023 Legislative Session.

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Senator Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, represents the 16th Senate District, including Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, and Taylor Counties and eastern Warren County. He is Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee chair. Wise also serves as a Senate Education Committee member and is a member of the newly formed Families and Children Committee and Health Services Committee. Additionally, he is an Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee member.

Please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate116.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Wise.

Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for more information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the ongoing 2023 30-day Legislative Session, such as committee schedules and membership.

Live legislative coverage is available at ket.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel. Access archived footage of 2022 Interim legislative meetings and 2023 Regular Session legislative activity at ket.org/legislature/archives.

Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and visit our website at KYSenateRepublicans.com.

A STATEMENT FROM SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS ON SB 47 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT

A STATEMENT FROM SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS ON SB 47 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT

FRANKFORT, KY (March 1, 2023) —The following is a statement from Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, following the bill's assignment to the Senate Standing Committee of Licensing and Occupation:

“I have no idea as to whether or not the measure will pass but the process is working.”

Click here to find Senate Bill 47. The next Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. EST Tuesday, March 7. Committee schedules and agendas are subject to change.

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Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, represents the 25th Senate District, including Clay, Jackson, Knox, McCreary, Owsley, and Whitley Counties. As of January 1, 2023, Stivers will have served as Kentucky Senate president for nearly a decade, first assuming the position in 2013, succeeding former Senate President David Williams. As Senate president, Stivers chairs the Senate Committee on Committees and the Rules Committee, and is Legislative Research Commission co-chair. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Senate standing committees on Education and Judiciary, and recently served as 2022 Interim Bourbon Barrel Taxation Task Force co-chair.
For a high-resolution .jpeg of President Stivers, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate125.jpg.

Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the ongoing 2023 30-day Legislative Session, such as committee schedules and membership.

Live legislative coverage is available at ket.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel. Access archived footage of 2022 Interim legislative meetings and 2023 Regular Session legislative activity at ket.org/legislature/archives.

Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We also encourage you to visit KYSenateRepublicans.com to subscribe to receive new releases from our office and access additional information on caucus members.

Senator Max Wise Admonishes Governor Beshear’s Veto of SB 150 Beshear Puts Party over Kentuckians’ Wish to Eliminate Woke Ideologies in Our Children’s Schools

Senator Max Wise Admonishes Governor Beshear’s Veto of SB 150 Beshear Puts Party over Kentuckians’ Wish to Eliminate Woke Ideologies in Our Children’s Schools

FRANKFORT, KY (March 24, 2023) – Senator Max Wise, the sponsor of Senate Bill 150, admonished Governor Andy Beshear’s veto of this important piece of legislation. SB 150 was recently introduced in the Senate before the bill filing deadline of this year’s regular session.

“It should come as no surprise that Governor Beshear put his party’s politics over the people of Kentucky, as he has done his whole political career,” Wise said. “The goal of SB 150 is to strengthen parental engagement and communication in their children’s education. This bill, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support, reinforces a positive atmosphere in the classroom and removes unnecessary distractions, like woke ideology and mandating use of specific pronouns in our schools.

Parents should look at this veto as a slap in the face. It’s clear Governor Beshear cares more about woke ideologues and D.C. bureaucrats than parents and students here in Kentucky. I look forward to the legislature overriding this veto, and protecting children from the irreparable harm of gender transition surgeries by making SB 150 law.”

SB 150 resulted from conversations with educators, superintendents, and parents across the commonwealth. It is one of the largest omnibus bills in the country strengthening protections for Kentucky’s children. SB 150 bans transgender surgeries for those under the age of 18, bars any human sexuality curriculum for students in K-5th grade, provides expected privacy rights for restrooms, locker rooms and shower rooms that align with a child’s biological sex, and prohibits the Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky Board of Education from recommending or requiring policies to keep minor students’ information confidential from their parents.

Under the bill’s provisions, a school district must notify parents of health and mental health services offered and if their children seek those services through the school. Another tenet of the bill would empower parental engagement and awareness of school courses, curriculum programs, or instruction related to human sexuality by requiring a school district to provide parents with two weeks' prior notice and an opportunity to review materials before instruction begins.

Under SB 150, if a student’s parent objects to an assignment on human sexuality, the school must provide an alternate assignment. The bill also provides staff and students First Amendment protections by ensuring nobody is compelled or required to use pronouns that do not conform to a student's biological sex.

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Senator Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, represents the 16th Senate District, including Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, and Taylor Counties and eastern Warren County. He is Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee chair. Wise also serves as a Senate Education Committee member and is a member of the newly formed Families and Children Committee and Health Services Committee. Additionally, he is an Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee member.

Please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate116.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Wise.

GIRDLER ISSUES STATEMENT UPON ENACTMENT OF HIS CONSUMER PROTECTION MEASURE Senate Bill 30 Provides Consumers with Greater Ability to End Pesky Automatic and Hard-To-Cancel Subscription Renewals

GIRDLER ISSUES STATEMENT UPON ENACTMENT OF HIS CONSUMER PROTECTION MEASURE Senate Bill 30

FRANKFORT, KY (March 23, 2023) — The following is a statement from Senator Rick Girdler, R-Somerset, upon Senate Bill 30—which provides consumers with more information on, and eases the process of, canceling, automatic renewals of service or product subscription—being signed into law:

“I’m glad to see this bill finally become law because we are seeing businesses increasingly move toward the model of subscription-based services and automatic renewals. Now, this is great for businesses and I’m happy they are able to better provide customers with the respective services they offer, but with all the things people have to keep up with, sometimes they lose track of subscriptions they’ve signed up for, especially on electronic devices like cell phones.

“This bill is going to make it easier for them to cancel some of those things and keep them from having to go in circles trying to do it. I appreciate everyone who worked to support this bill.”

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Senate Bill 30 requires a business that makes an automatic renewal offer to be more upfront on what a subscription includes and provide clear ways a customer can stop an automatic subscription.

Specifically, the bill requires the following:

• A list of renewal terms before the subscription begins.

• If the offer includes a gift or trial period, the offer must consist of the price charged after the trial period.

• An acknowledgment including the automatic renewal terms, cancellation policy, and information regarding how to cancel in an easily remembered manner.

• A toll-free contact number, electronic mail address, postal address, or another cost-effective, timely, and easy-to-use means of cancellation.

• The ability for consumers to terminate the automatic renewal exclusively online, which may include a termination email formatted and provided by the business the consumer can send without additional information.

• In the event of a material change in the automatic renewal, businesses must provide the consumer with clear and easily seen notice of the change and information on how to cancel.

Additionally, the bill would permit the Kentucky attorney general to recover penalties for each act violation.

According to the Institute of Business Value, the subscription market has increased more than 300 percent in the past decade and expectations are that the subscription billing service model will nearly double by 2026. Market research firm C+R Research commissioned a 2022 survey indicating consumers do not realize how much they spend on subscription services, the average monthly spending being $219; 2.5 times more than consumers realized.

Click here to access Senate Bill 30 and learn more about Senator Rick Girdler.

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Senator Rick Girdler, R-Somerset, represents the 15th Senate District, including Clinton, Cumberland, Pulaski, Russell, and Wayne Counties. Girdler is chair of the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee and is vice chair of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. He also serves as Capital Projects and Bond Oversight co-chair. Additionally, Girdler is a member of the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee; and the newly formed Senate Families and Children Committee.

Please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate115.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Girdler.

STATEMENT RELEASE WILSON REACTS TO BESHEAR’S VETO OF SENATE BILL 107

STATEMENT RELEASE WILSON REACTS TO BESHEAR’S VETO OF SENATE BILL 107

FRANKFORT, KY (March 24, 2023) — The following is a statement from Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson upon the Governor’s veto of his Senate Bill 107—which mitigates political influence and provides legislative oversight on the confirmation of Kentucky’s education commissioner:

“The Governor would like to keep as much control as possible over the Kentucky Department of Education to continue indoctrinating students and causing gender confusion rather than caring for their ability to read, write, and learn arithmetic. Given the Governor’s and current commissioner’s abysmal failure regarding Kentucky students’ learning outcomes, we must ensure legislative oversight and confirmation of the next education commissioner. 

“We must not forget that only hours after Beshear’s inauguration, he dramatically politicized the Kentucky Department of Education by completely dissolving the Kentucky Board of Education, appointing Democrats to all 11 voting-member positions, and immediately paving the way for removing the state’s education chief with no just cause, then hiring a new one.

“Section 93 of the Constitution of Kentucky grants the Kentucky Senate authority to confirm a state officer. I look forward to adding Senate Bill 107 to the long list of bills vetoed by the Governor and overridden by the Kentucky General Assembly, and establishing necessary checks and balances for the selection of the Commonwealth’s Education Commissioner.” 

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Senate Bill 107 requires the state education commissioner to be subject to Senate confirmation before taking office. The bill also sets a four-year term for the position.

Click here to access Senate Bill 107 and learn more about Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson.  

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Senator Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, represents the 32nd Senate District, including Logan, Simpson, and Todd Counties and southern Warren County. He serves as the Senate majority whip and, as a Senate majority leadership member, serves on the Legislative Research Commission, the Committee on Committees, and the Rules Committee. Wilson is a member of the Senate Agriculture; Economic Development, Tourism and Labor; Education; Transportation; and Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection committees. He also serves as Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee and Public Pension Oversight Board member. Wilson recently served as a 2022 Interim Early Childhood Education Task Force member.

STATEMENT RELEASE: MILLS ON SENATE BILL 4 ENACTMENT WITHOUT BESHEAR’S SIGNATURE

STATEMENT RELEASE: MILLS ON SENATE BILL 4 ENACTMENT WITHOUT BESHEAR’S SIGNATURE

FRANKFORT, KY (March 27, 2023) — The following is a statement from Senator Robby Mills, R-Henderson, following the enactment of Senate Bill 4 without the Governor’s support:

Senate Bill 4 is a huge victory for citizens of our Commonwealth who have been hit hard by losing power in their homes and businesses for extended periods of time during storm events and natural disasters.  This bill is designed to prevent the premature retirement of coal-fired power generating plants that have abundant supplies of coal on-site to provide the power when we need it rather than rely upon other inherently unreliable so-called “green” energy sources that the Biden administration works so hard to impose upon us.  The bill also bolsters the coal industry and the coal miners who work so hard every day to keep our lights on. 

It is illuminating that Governor Beshear has chosen not to sign this bill that so clearly benefits every person and business in Kentucky.  Rather, in an election year the Governor has chosen the politically expedient middle ground.  By not signing Senate Bill 4, Governor Beshear avoids alienating his “green-at-all-cost” friends in the Biden administration.  By not vetoing the bill, he attempts to show nominal support for the bill in a disingenuous effort to avoid the political wrath of good people of Kentucky on election day.  But the citizens of the Commonwealth should not be fooled by the Governor’s refusal to demonstrate solidarity with and support for the people of Kentucky by refusing the sign this important  bill that is designed to protect us all from power outages and bolster our power grid.

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Senate Bill 4 strengthens electric grid reliability in the Commonwealth and diminishes the chances that Kentucky’s residents will face dangerous and sometimes deadly consequences of power outages commonly referred to as “brown-outs,” or “black-outs” as a result of the premature retirement of coal-fired power generating plantsThe bill would prohibit the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) from authorizing the retirement of a fossil-fuel-fired electric power generating unit unless the utility can demonstrate that:

• The utility will replace the retired unit with a new electric generating capacity that is dispatchable; maintains or improves the reliability and resilience of the electric transmission grid; and maintains the adequate minimum reserve capacity;

• The retirement of the unit will not harm the utility’s ratepayers by causing the utility to incur costs to be recovered from the ratepayers that could be avoided by continuing to operate the unit.

• The decision to retire the unit is not the result of any financial incentives or benefits offered by any federal agency.

Additional bill provisions would require the PSC to submit an annual report by December 1 to the Legislative Research Commission on the retirement of electric generating units.

Senate Bill 4 carries an emergency designation, which means it became effective state law today upon filing with the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office.

Click here to access Senate Bill 4 and learn more about Senator Robby Mills.

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Senator Robby Mills, R-Henderson, represents the 4th Senate District, including Henderson, Hopkins, Union, and Webster Counties. He serves as Senate State and Local Government Committee chair and is a Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor; Natural Resources; and Energy and Transportation committee member. Additionally, he is a Public Pension Oversight Board member and a member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance and Public Protection.

GIRDLER CHAMPIONS SENATE CONSUMER PROTECTION MEASURE Senate Bill 30 Targets Frustrating, Difficult to Cancel Automatic Subscription Renewals

GIRDLER CHAMPIONS SENATE CONSUMER PROTECTION MEASURE Senate Bill 30 Targets Frustrating, Difficult to Cancel Automatic Subscription Renewals

FRANKFORT, KY (March 1, 2023)  - The Senate approved a consumer protection measure on Wednesday that, if enacted, would provide consumers with more information on, and ease the process of canceling, automatic renewals of service or product subscriptions.

Senate Bill 30, sponsored by Senator Rick Girdler, R-Somerset, would require a business that makes an automatic renewal offer to be more upfront on what a subscription includes and provide straightforward ways a customer can stop an automatic subscription.

Specifically, the bill would require the following:

• A list of renewal terms before the subscription begins.

• If the offer includes a gift or trial period, the offer must consist of the price charged after the trial period.

• An acknowledgment including the automatic renewal terms, cancellation policy, and information regarding how to cancel in an easily remembered manner.

• A toll-free contact number, electronic mail address, postal address, or another cost-effective, timely, and easy-to-use means of cancellation.

• The ability for consumers to terminate the automatic renewal exclusively online, which may include a termination email formatted and provided by the business, the consumer can send without additional information.

• In the event of a material change in the automatic renewal, businesses must provide the consumer with clear and easily seen notice of the change and information on how to cancel.

Additionally, the bill would permit the Kentucky attorney general to recover penalties for each act violation.

“We’re starting to see more and more businesses move toward subscription-based services,” Girdler said. “You see at almost every turn, whether it is a food subscription service like DoorDash, gym memberships and social media. Consumers are getting subscription fatigue and what I’m hoping to do is make sure everyone is getting front-end awareness of what they are signing up for. Most importantly, though, an easier way to get out of it, especially when families are pinching pennies as it is.”

According to the Institute of Business Value, the subscription market has increased more than 300 percent in the past decade, and expectations are that the subscription billing service model will nearly double by 2026. Market research firm C+R Research commissioned a 2022 survey indicating consumers do not realize how much they spend on subscription services, the average monthly spending being $219; 2.5 times more than consumers realized.

“Businesses are finding the subscription model to be a great success, and that’s a good thing for businesses,” Girdler said. “They will keep being successful even with us putting consumer protection in place and giving their customers better ways of keeping up with their subscriptions.”

With the Senate’s unanimous approval of Senate Bill 30, it moves to the state House of Representatives for consideration.
Click here to access Senate Bill 30 and learn more about Senator Rick Girdler. The status of other legislation being considered by the Kentucky General Assembly in the ongoing 30-day Legislative Session can be found at legislature.ky.gov.

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Senator Rick Girdler, R-Somerset, represents the 15th Senate District, including Clinton, Cumberland, Pulaski, Russell, and Wayne Counties. Girdler is chair of the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee and is vice chair of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. He also serves as Capital Projects and Bond Oversight co-chair. Additionally, Girdler is a member of the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee; and the newly formed Senate Families and Children Committee.

Please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate115.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Girdler.

Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the ongoing 2023 30-day Legislative Session, such as committee schedules and membership.

Live legislative coverage is available at ket.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel. Access archived footage of 2022 Interim legislative meetings and 2023 Regular Session legislative activity at ket.org/legislature/archives.

Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We also encourage you to visit KYSenateRepublicans.com to subscribe to receive new releases from our office and access additional information on caucus members.

SENS. GIVENS AND CARROLL BRING FORWARD LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS DJJ CRISIS

SENS. GIVENS AND CARROLL BRING FORWARD LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS DJJ CRISIS

FRANKFORT, KY (March 1, 2023) – The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee approved two bills addressing Kentucky's Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) crisis on Wednesday. Senate Bills 158, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem David Givens, R-Greensburg, and Senate Bill 162 with a Senate Committee Substitute, sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll, R- Benton, would push to solidify needed action by the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and DJJ to ensure the safety of the state's detained youth and those working within the facilities.

Senate Bill 158 would officially direct the Kentucky auditor of public accounts office to enter into a contract with a third party to conduct a thorough performance review of DJJ. The measure defines the authority of the third-party entity and the scope of the review and would provide the necessary funding, $500,000, in the current fiscal year, for the audit.

Senate Bill 162 is the start of a long-term reformation of DJJ and a commitment to finally address the needs of juveniles with serious mental illness. The bill carries an emergency designation (section 14), meaning it would take effect immediately upon filing with the Kentucky Secretary of State's Office.

Major provisions of Senate Bill 162 include:

• Investment of over $55 million in the next two years to support comprehensive reforms within the system. (Sections 7-12)

• Transitioning DJJ back to a regional model while continuing to segregate males and females, and violent and non-violent offenders. (section 5)

• Section one reorganizes DJJ, including:

  o   Creating a Division of Compliance and an Office of Detention and requiring the eight DJJ centers to be under one person's supervision who reports directly to the DJJ commissioner. This office will house the Division of Transportation.

  o   Moving the Division of Professional Development under the Office of Support Services.

• Requiring the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to maintain a comprehensive, centralized data tracking system for DJJ. (section 2)

• Reforms membership and responsibilities of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. (section 3)

• Setting requirements for DJJ facilities and requiring DJJ to enter into sufficient contracts to ensure the availability of institutional treatment for children with severe emotional disturbance or mental illness as soon as practical. (section 4)

  o   Requires the Kentucky Department of Medicaid to take steps to provide benefits to eligible detained children. (section 6)

• Establishing staff retention measures and addressing workforce needs by implementing a Youth Worker-R program to bring retired workers back into facilities (section 5) and providing employee professional development opportunities.

• Implementing a limited duration program to allow previously resigned staff to return to previous employment classifications with the department's approval.

The substantial appropriations in the legislation demonstrate the seriousness of the crisis and the Senate's commitment to finding short and long-term solutions.

Senate Bills 158 and 162 are a direct result of the work group efforts.                                       

"We are pleased with the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee's approval and support of these two bills," Givens and Carroll said in a joint statement. "The issues within DJJ will not be solved in a single 30-day session, but we believe it is incumbent upon us and this legislative body to do what we can today. Senate Bills 158 and 162 are two proposals from the Senate, and our House counterparts from the DJJ work group have worked on measures from their chamber. We look forward to continued communication throughout the session to help remedy the DJJ crisis."

BACKGROUND:

Before the General Assembly's constitutionally required session break in week one of the 2023 Legislative Session, Givens carried Senate Concurrent Resolution 31 to Senate passage, which initiated the efforts of a work group. Carroll, a retired law enforcement officer and former vice-chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, served as the work group's co-chair. Carroll, alongside his House counterpart Representative Kevin Bratcher, led several meetings throughout the session break. The meetings engaged a bipartisan group of lawmakers and received information from various stakeholders within the DJJ system.

Givens, Carroll and other lawmakers held a press conference on February 2, updating the public on the work group's findings and articulating clear recommendations Governor Andy Beshear's administration should take action on.

Only after what has been described as a gang rape of a minor in the Adair County Detention Center did the Beshear administration take necessary action to get control of the DJJ system. First, it implemented two recommendations made by lawmakers during the 2022 interim, separating juveniles based on gender and severity of the alleged crime. Additionally, Beshear was prompted to heed the work group's recommendation to use Kentucky State Police to provide around-the-clock support at the Adair, Fayette and Warren detention centers.

Unmet Needs:

Many initial recommendations remain unmet and Senate Bill 162 seeks to address them through legislative reforms aiming to repair the existing toxic culture in DJJ. However, some require executive action from the Governor. Notably, Beshear has refused to hold those who have failed in leadership positions within DJJ accountable. Members of the DJJ work group had called for the DJJ commissioner's replacement and the appointment of an independent individual with a vision to repair the culture within DJJ. The Governor has taken neither action.

Givens' and Carroll's measures are two significant steps in remedying the DJJ crisis.

Visit legislature.ky.gov for more information on Sens. David Givens and Danny Carroll and CLICK HERE to find Senate Bills 158 and 162.

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Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, represents the 2nd Senate District, including Ballard, Carlisle, Livingston, Marshall, and McCracken Counties. He serves as Senate Families and Children Committee chair. He is also a Senate Education, Health Services and Judiciary committee member. Additionally, Carroll is a member of the Public Pension Oversight Board and the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee.

For a high-resolution .jpeg of Carroll, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate102.jpg.

Senator David Givens, R-Greensburg, represents the 9th Senate District, including Barren, Edmondson, Green, and Hart Counties as well as northwestern Warren County. He serves as Senate president pro tempore and is Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity co-chair. Givens is a Senate Agriculture, Appropriations and Revenue, and Education committee member.

For a high-resolution .jpeg of Givens, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate109.jpg.

Visit Legislature.ky.gov for information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the ongoing 2023 30-day Legislative Session, such as committee schedules and membership.

Live legislative coverage is available at ket.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel. Access archived footage of 2022 Interim legislative meetings and 2023 Regular Session legislative activity at ket.org/legislature/archives.

Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We also encourage you to visit KYSenateRepublicans.com to subscribe to receive new releases from our office and access additional information on members of the Senate Majority Caucus.

A STATEMENT FROM SEN. STEVE WEST ON SB 47 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT

A STATEMENT FROM SEN. STEVE WEST ON SB 47 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT

FRANKFORT, KY (March 1, 2023) —The following is a statement from Senator Steve West, R-Paris, sponsor of Senate Bill 47, following the bill's assignment to the Senate Standing Committee of Licensing and Occupation:

“My support of medical marijuana has come from a long process of listening to constituents, doing a lot of research, learning from professionals and then thinking through this complex issue. I’ve concluded that medical marijuana is inherently safe and effective in treating many disorders. In the end, I look at this issue through the lens of liberty. I believe in giving Kentuckians as many safe options for their personal health care choices as possible. I appreciate this bill’s committee assignment and look forward to working with my colleagues in moving SB 47 through the next step in the legislative process.”

Click here to find Senate Bill 47. The next Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. EST Tuesday, March 7. Committee schedules and agendas are subject to change.

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Senator Steve West, R-Paris, represents the 27th Senate District, including Bourbon, Fleming, Harrison, Mason, Nicholas, Robertson, and Rowan Counties and part of northern Fayette County. He serves as Senate Education Committee chair and Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee chair. West is also a member of the Senate standing committees on Agriculture and a Budget Review Subcommittee on Education member.

Please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate127.jpg  for a high-resolution .jpeg of West.

SENATOR STORM SPONSORS TWO BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW

SENATOR STORM SPONSORS TWO BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW

FRANKFORT, KY (March 27, 2023) Two bills, Senate Bill 71 and Senate Bill 72, both sponsored by Senator Brandon Storm, R-London, were signed into law last week.

Senate Bill 71 updates Kentucky's organ donor requirements to align with nationally-recognized organ donation modes for organ donation and transplants. Currently, there are over 1,000 individuals in Kentucky waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and just as many others requiring a tissue or cornea transplant.

This bill adds two additional classes of people who may make decisions related to the life-saving donation of organs or tissue:

• Another adult who is related to the decedent by blood, marriage, adoption, or who exhibited special care and concern for the decedent

• Any other person having the authority to dispose of the decedent's body

The bill will also advance donation and transplant science, as well as clarify and strengthen examination and evaluation standards.

“Senate Bill 71 was a much-needed bill to better align Kentucky’s organ donation and transplant laws with national ones,” Storm said. “These changes will make a difficult and time-sensitive decision for families a little easier.  It will also give better decision-making access to family members closest to the donor whether in-state or across state lines.”

Senate Bill 72 allows rebuilt and salvaged vehicles with completed paperwork to utilize the speed title process. The Department of Vehicle Regulation does not allow certain types of titles to use this process. Before SB 72, a speed title could not be used on the following:

• Classic vehicles

• Boats

• Mechanics lien

• Towing and storage

• Affidavit of ownership or bill of sale

• Duplicates

• Correction

• Restored title

• Out-of-country vehicle

• Court order

• Kentucky assigned vehicle identification number

• Salvage title from a vehicle deemed "junk or un-rebuildable"

• Kit vehicle

The bill also allows the department to set the processing time for speed titles on salvage and rebuilt vehicles. For rebuilt vehicles branded as un-rebuildable in another state, the application is 15 business days. The application can be extended by five business days for all other salvage and rebuilt vehicles.

“With the rising cost of new and used vehicles, many are deciding to rebuild the ones they have,” said Storm. “It's often very difficult to get salvaged or rebuilt vehicles titled, and this bill broadens what is allowed under this process and aims to make it more efficient.”

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Senator Brandon J. Storm, R-London, represents the 21st Senate District, including Casey, Laurel, Lincoln and Rockcastle Counties. He is Legislative Oversight and Investigations Statutory Committee chair and Senate Transportation Committee vice chair. Storm is also a Senate Banking and Insurance; Economic Development, Tourism and Labor; State and Local Government; and Judiciary committee member. He recently served as a 2022 Interim Emergency Medical Services Task Force member.

For a high-resolution .jpeg of Storm, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/Pages/Legislator-Profile.aspx?DistrictNumber=121

CARROLL ISSUES STATEMENT ON JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGISLATION BEING SIGNED INTO LAW

CARROLL ISSUES STATEMENT ON JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGISLATION BEING SIGNED INTO LAW

FRANKFORT, KY (March 28, 2023) — The following is a statement from Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, upon the enactment of Senate Bill 162, legislation reforming the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) allocating funding and providing for an independent audit of DJJ:

“Senate Bill 163 and House Bill 3 were the products of strong stakeholder efforts by a lot of people. The DJJ working group could not have created such strong legislation without the excellent work of the unsung staff of the Legislative Research Commission. The reforms and investments in these bills will be monumental in repairing the broken DJJ culture. Senator David Givens’ bill providing a full audit of DJJ facilities and practices was combined with Senate Bill 162 and will go even further in determining the breakdown and failures of leadership within the system. I look forward to seeing the results of this comprehensive, independent audit.

“While I am happy these bills have been enacted into law, Governor Andy Beshear has yet to take the necessary action to bring accountability to those in the highest leadership positions within DJJ. Until there is accountability, it will be difficult to realize a change in culture in DJJ as it currently exists. There is still time for the Governor to recognize this need and I encourage him to reconsider his unwillingness.”

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Senate Bill 158, included in the final provisions of Senate Bill 162, would officially direct the Kentucky auditor of public accounts staff to enter into a contract with a third party to conduct a thorough performance review of DJJ. The measure defines the authority of the third-party entity and scope of the study, and would provide $500,000 in the current fiscal year for the audit.

Senate Bill 162 is the start of a long-term reformation of DJJ and a commitment to finally address the needs of juveniles with serious mental illness. The bill carries an emergency designation, meaning it would take effect immediately upon filing with the Kentucky Secretary of State's office.

Major provisions of Senate Bill 162 include

• investment of over $55 million in the next two years to support comprehensive reforms within the system;

• transitioning DJJ back to a regional model while continuing to segregate males and females, and violent and non-violent offenders;

• Reorganizing DJJ, including:

  o   creating a Division of Compliance and an Office of Detention and requiring the eight DJJ centers to be under one person's supervision who reports directly to the DJJ commissioner. This office will house the Division of Transportation.

  o   moving the Division of Professional Development under the Office of Support Services.

• requiring the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to maintain a comprehensive, centralized data tracking system for DJJ;

• reforms membership and responsibilities of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council.

• setting requirements for DJJ facilities and requiring DJJ to enter into sufficient contracts to ensure the availability of institutional treatment for children with severe emotional disturbance or mental illness as soon as practical;

  o   Requires the Kentucky Department of Medicaid to take steps to provide benefits to eligible detained children;

• establishing staff retention measures and addressing workforce needs by implementing a Youth Worker-R program to bring retired workers back into facilities and providing employee professional development opportunities; and

• implementing a limited duration program to allow previously resigned staff to return to previous employment classifications with the department's approval.

The substantial appropriations in the legislation demonstrate the seriousness of the crisis and the Senate's commitment to finding short and long-term solutions.

Visit THIS LINK to find Senate Bill 162 in its entirety.

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Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, represents the 2nd Senate District, including Ballard, Carlisle, Livingston, Marshall, and McCracken Counties. He serves as Senate Families and Children Committee chair. He is also a Senate Education, Health Services and Judiciary committee member. Additionally, Carroll is a member of the Public Pension Oversight Board and the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee. For a high-resolution .jpeg of Carroll, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate102.jpg.