We began the third week of the legislative session with an opportunity to reflect on the life and contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr., and finished the week up having the chance to spend time with several advocacy groups and vote on several great pieces of legislation. These were all important opportunities and helped set the tone for the week.
Thousands of people from all walks of life visit our Capitol Building each session to advocate and share their concerns with lawmakers. Truly, it is a daily reminder of the responsibility I have to serve our state and this district.
One of my favorite parts about this opportunity is that I get to visit and hear from constituents from the 18th District here in Frankfort. This week, I got to visit with four constituent groups: CASA of the Heartland, the United Methodist Women for Children’s Advocacy Day, Kentuckian’s for Medicinal Marijuana, and several Hardin County elected officials with the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo).
Committees this week kept us busy, but we had the opportunity to move forward a piece of legislation that expands existing state laws prohibiting registered sex offenders from being on the grounds of or living within 1,000 feet of a public playground in the House Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee.
Under the provisions of House Bill 204, the same requirements would apply to publicly operated playgrounds on leased property – an expansion that will protect even more Kentucky children.
In the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, we heard discussion on HB 55, which would make changes to the timeline for vacancies in elected office and move Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) examinations to remain valid for four years, rather than one year. There was no vote taken on the legislation during committee.
On the floor this week, one of the first bills to pass the House this session is aimed at helping independent business owners. The bill, House Bill 186, would eliminate some potentially expensive requirements for the more than 171,000 Kentuckians that operate direct sales businesses like those that offer home décor, health and beauty products, and clothing.
For generations, direct sales businesses have offered Kentuckians the opportunity to provide for their families while providing benefits like flexible schedules and independence. This type of company has never been required to carry workers’ compensation insurance on those who contract with them to sell products. However, there is a great deal of concern that the way workers’ compensation laws are interpreted by courts today, these direct sellers may be considered employees rather than independent contractors. The measure, HB 186, clarifies the relationship and is now in the senate waiting to be assigned to a committee.
Later in the week, we approved HB 153, which would create both the Mental Health First Aid Training Program and a foundation to help train the right people to identify mental health, suicide and substance use issues. While the training would be open to anyone, it would be specifically targeted to first responders, faith leaders, social workers, and educators. Both the training program and the foundation would operate as part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The foundation proposed by HB 153 would operate through public and private donations.
The bill had bipartisan support and passed by a vote of 93-0.
We also passed a resolution aimed at finding an alternative to the expensive reformulated gasoline (RFG) requirements that are costly to those who buy gas in Bullitt, Jefferson, and Oldham counties. The measure, House Joint Resolution 8, calls for the state to explore alternatives to RFG in order to meet the requirements of a federal mandate included in the Clean Air Act of 1990.
Gasoline in these counties is regularly between 20 and 30 cents more per gallon than when purchased just a few miles outside of that tri-county area – costing area residents and those who commute for work or entertainment almost $75 million more a year.
Of course, our top priority is the budget this session. Budget subcommittees have already begun meeting, but we look forward to hearing from Gov. Andy Beshear about his budget proposal. The governor’s budget speech is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, and will be shown live on Kentucky Educational Television’s website, www.ket.org.
If you have any questions or comments about this session, I can be reached during the week from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (EST) through the toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181. They will ask you to share contact information, but I will get the message and I do indeed appreciate hearing from constituents.
You can also contact me via e-mail at Samara.Heavrin@lrc.ky.gov. You can keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at www.lrc.ky.gov and you can also follow me on Facebook @kyrepsamaraheavrin. I have been posting daily updates of floor votes when we are in session.
By Rep. Samara Heavrin
