Another week of the 2021 Regular Session is in the books. With only six legislative days left, robust discussion on critical issues is as prominent as ever.
While crafting the state budget remains at the forefront of everyone’s minds, we are staying the course to uphold our other legislative obligations as members of the General Assembly by passing bills that include specific reforms and amendments to keep the Commonwealth moving forward.
Activity from the Senate Chamber this week includes passage of another Senate priority bill, Senate Bill 5. Among numerous other measures, it is a bill that works to mitigate the negative impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Kentucky’s economy and infrastructure. In this case, notably to support and provide reassurance to various sectors of our society trying to reopen or continue operation.
If made law, Senate Bill 5 would provide liability protections for premises owners or leaseholders, including places of worship, schools, restaurants, medical facilities, and more. It would also establish essential services protections for food suppliers, manufacturers, distributors of personal protective equipment, child care service providers, and other businesses deemed essential. The measure, however, would not protect entities that act in a malicious or grossly negligent way to ignore safety orders during a state of emergency.
Other notable bills passing in the Senate this week include:
Senate Bill 128 provides any student enrolled in a Kentucky public school in grades K-12 during the 2020-21 school year the opportunity to request to participate in a temporary program during the 2021-22 school year to retake or supplement the courses or grades the student has already taken. The ultimate decision of providing this opportunity will be left to local school districts, which must decide to accept all student’s requests or none at all.
The past year has been tough on so many, but Kentucky students have significantly been negatively impacted. A recent report from The Lexington Herald-Leader shows failing grades have skyrocketed. The good news is that most school districts have returned to some form of in-person learning, but the school year is almost over now. For the most part, all of the 2020-21 school year has remained virtual, and while districts, teachers, and parents or other guardians have done their best, distance learning has been inadequate for many of our kids. Some children may not have the support they need at home. Our rural communities with broadband issues have proven to be a challenge for families.
Quite simply, our students have missed their teachers, friends, and vital emotional and social experiences they deserve. Senate Bill 128 will provide local school districts with the ability to do right by students and families determining it is in their best interest to take advantage of a supplemental year of education. It will ensure participating seniors’ preparedness for whatever their next chapter in life is and all students’ peace of mind knowing the pandemic will not cause them to be left behind.
Senate Bill 255 relates to an emerging commercial mining industry of cryptocurrency. It provides incentives for this new and advanced technology in the Commonwealth by allowing a minimum investment of 1 million dollars to qualify for incentives.
Senate Bill 267, a measure I am proud to be sponsoring, creates a criminal and civil liability to disseminate personally-identifying information. Senate Bill 267 also provides that this information must be on an internet site or public forum with the intent to intimidate, abuse, threaten, harass, or frighten a person in Kentucky. The bill also provides criminal penalties and creates a civil cause of action for violation.
Bills headed to the governor’s desk for consideration include:
House Bill 7 establishes the Recovery Ready Community council and program for cities and counties that want to demonstrate their addiction recovery commitment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 83,000 people died in the twelve months ending in July 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has only heightened addiction. The state has worked hard over the years to combat the scourge of drug addiction. Although the challenge is difficult, we must continue efforts to address the abuse of opioids and other narcotics. House Bill 7 is one more step in saving lives.
House Bill 8 allows quasi-governmental organizations, such as local health departments and mental health centers, to pay back unfunded liabilities owed to the Kentucky Retirement Systems for Employees using a liability-based system instead of a percent of payroll. By changing to a liability-based contribution method, House Bill 8 assures accurate payment assumptions, allowing these agencies to adequately plan each fiscal year, therefore, reducing the risk of having to cut back on staff and services. House Bill 8 also establishes an intent that the General Assembly will pay the increased cost associated with this bill for the first year.