I was fortunate to meet with superintendents from my fifth Senate district this week. We had a great discussion about the needs of education, especially in our rural communities, and they explained to me the catastrophic consequences that proposed budget cuts would have on our local schools. For my part, I spoke more about the financial hardship the state faces and the need for a fiscally responsible budget.
We discussed potential solutions to meet the state’s obligations while also investing in education. I assured them that I would continue to advocate for our public schools and commitments that were made to the people entrusted with the education of our children. The budget process is a long way from finished, so I urge you to continue to make your voice heard!
Now that the filing deadline has passed, there has been a significant increase in filed bills and committee hearings. Most of my time is spent reading and responding to constituent calls and emails, educating myself on proposed legislation, offering suggestions to improve the way government works, and advocating for rural communities in committee. The looming budget, pension, and tax reform tasks weigh heavily on us all, but there are other matters that we must address in the meantime.
Here is a brief summary of bills that passed the Senate this week:
- Senate Bill (SB) 35 would align Kentucky labor laws for seasonal facilities with federal standards.
- SB 37 would direct the Transportation Cabinet to establish procedures allowing federal inmates on work release to obtain a driver’s licenses in order to better integrate into society. Measures such as SB 37 are important in both workforce development and criminal justice reform as we try to help inmates best prepare for reentry into the workforce.
- SB 68 would clarify that a victim of domestic violence is not required to pay the legal fees of the abusive spouse in a divorce action when the spouse is jailed for crimes against the victim.
- SB 85 would make it easier for notaries public to change their names without having to undergo the certification process again.
- SB 57 would allow a person injured by an act of terrorism to file a claim for damages against the terrorist. It also establishes a crime of terrorism as a capital offense that will be punished by imprisonment for life without probation or parole and that a person convicted of terrorism cannot be released early.
- SB 72 would prohibit the naming of state buildings, properties, programs, initiatives, highways, or bridges in honor of any living elected state official or state employee. This bill will help ensure that state elected officials and employees do not use their public positions for personal gain. The bill is not retroactive and will not affect already-named structures.
With the passage of SB 12, the Senate took time to honor an often-forgotten group in education as it designated May 1 of every year “School Bus Driver Day” in Kentucky. Interaction with these first and last adults many children encounter in the school system every day is one of the most important parts of the school day, and we are so grateful for the work they do.
We wrapped up the week on Friday wearing blue and orange to support Marshall County High School and show that we are #MarshallStrong. We continue to pray for all those affected, especially the citizens of Marshall County; they remain in our hearts as we continue our work in Frankfort.
If you have any questions or comments about public policy issues, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at Stephen.Meredith@LRC.ky.gov. You can also review the legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.
