Week 8 of the 2024 Legislative Session
After a long weekend dedicated to observing Presidents' Day, the Kentucky General Assembly returned to Frankfort on Tuesday. The deadline for bill filings is approaching, so all proposals for consideration in Frankfort will be known by the close of next week.
Bills passed this week include:
I was happy to co-sponsor Senate Bill (SB) 48. It would increase the time in which two or more separate offenses of theft by unlawful taking must occur for the offenses to be combined and the value of the property aggregated to determine the appropriate felony charge.
I was recently awarded the 'Tough on Crime' award by the Kentucky Commonwealth's Attorneys' Association. SB 48 is a step in the right direction in addressing crime issues facing our communities.
Senate Bill 14 (SB 14) would address Kentucky Cosmetology Board issues and remove barriers for nail technicians. The legislation would mandate a warning notice before an immediate salon shutdown unless there's an immediate public health threat. It would require detailed violation descriptions and specific remedies in the notice. SB 14 would also mandate administrative hearings post-emergency order for salons to resume operations. Additionally, the bill would add two new board members—an esthetician and a nail technician.
SB 45, if enacted, would establish the Kentucky Ashanti Alert System to promptly alert the public when a "missing adult" is believed to be in immediate danger of abduction or kidnapping. Developed by the Kentucky State Police (KSP), it would utilize existing resources like electronic highway signs and the Amber Alert System. The system would encourage law enforcement cooperation, operate within existing budgets, and activate based on KSP's assessment for public safety and secure recovery.
SB 91 would streamline Kentucky driver's licensing services by mandating the establishment of at least one regional office in each senatorial district by July 1, 2025. The bill would allow county clerks to choose to provide operator's licenses or personal ID cards. It would also permit third-party entities to issue licenses, with associated costs and a potential convenience fee. Additionally, the bill would initiate a Kentucky State Police pilot project for skills testing, reducing travel for high school students in five counties without a regional office. The pilot program would operate from Sept. 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026.
SB 126 would propose amending the Constitution of Kentucky to limit a governor's ability to issue pardons or sentence commutations before an election. The aim would be to enhance accountability and prevent potential misuse of executive power during sensitive political periods. If passed by the House with the approved three-fifths majority, it would move to a future general election ballot.
SB 140, addressing COVID-19-related unemployment insurance benefit overpayments (Jan. 27, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020), would require the Secretary of Education and Labor Cabinet to send new notices by July 1, giving recipients an additional chance to request a waiver. Recipients would have one year from the notice to request a waiver, ensuring a hearing. The bill would allow reimbursement if recipients prove entitlement to the waiver based on specified statute standards.
SB 191 would make minor adjustments to Kentucky's public postsecondary education system's performance-based funding model. The bill would redefine "non-traditional age students" as individuals aged 25 to 64. The aim would be to narrow achievement gaps by enhancing credential and degree attainment in this demographic. Proposed changes include revising funding percentages for public universities, introducing a weighted premium for credentials aligned with the state's economic needs in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) funding formula, and incorporating nontraditional-age students into outcomes credit. The Council on Postsecondary Education would be directed to implement these changes by April 1 with an emergency declaration for immediate enactment upon filing with the Kentucky Secretary of State's Office.
Thank you for your continued engagement in the 2024 Regular Session. It is a privilege to represent you in Frankfort.Find the status of legislation by calling 866-840-2835, legislative meeting information at 800-633-9650, or leaving a message for lawmakers at 800-372-7181. You can watch and follow legislative activity at KET/org/legislature and Legislature.ky.gov.
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