Hillbilly Report

Kentucky Legislative Actions June, 24 2008

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House Bill 1 (Slightly lower public employee fringe benefits)
introduced by Rep. Mike Cherry on June 23, 2008, to change public employee benefits for new government employees hired on or after September 1, 2008. The bill extends various requirements for employees to gain pension, health, and leave benefits and limits the availability of others, but does not do so enough to reverse the growth of an acturial deficit that is currently in excess of $27 billion.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=63939

House Bill 1 (Slightly lower public employee fringe benefits)
Reported in the House on June 23, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=63939

Kentucky Legislative Actions

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Senate Bill 2 (Pay for enhanced math and science education)
Amendment offered by Rep. Frank Rasche on March 24, 2008, to create the Academy of Mathematics and Science at WKU.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=55842

Senate Bill 2 (Pay for enhanced math and science education)
Substitute offered in the House on March 4, 2008, to require that middle school students have access to rigorous and academically challenging curriculum and provide that the KEES supplements for scores on AP and IB examinations begin with the 2008-2009 academic year.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=55842

Senate Joint Resolution 5 (Create "The Purple Heart Trail")
Amendment offered by Rep. Milward Dedman, Jr on March 18, 2008. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 24, 2008, to name the US 127 by-pass in Mercer County "The Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Highway".
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=54772

Senate Joint Resolution 5 (Create "The Purple Heart Trail")
Amendment offered by Rep. Fred Nesler on March 18, 2008. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 24, 2008, to name KY Route 121 from Mayfield city limits south to Calloway County line in honor of Adrian "Odie" Smith.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=54772

Senate Joint Resolution 5 (Create "The Purple Heart Trail")
Amendment offered by Rep. Reginald K Meeks on March 11, 2008. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 24, 2008, to direct the Transportation Cabinet to extend "Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Trail" to include the entire length of Interstate 75 in the Commonwealth.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=54772 

Kentucky Legislative Actions

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Senate Bill 13 (Set up court recall provision for child witnesses)
Reported in the House on March 19, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=54578

House Joint Resolution 17 (Monitor child protection programs)
Reported in the Senate on March 19, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=55832

Senate Bill 29 (Create Kentucky Board of Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Pedorthics)
Amendment offered by Rep. Jimmy Higdon on March 19, 2008, to direct the staff of the Legislative Research Commission to study the issues associated with licensed and unlicensed prosthetists, orthotists, pedorthists, and orthotic fitters, including the advantages and disadvantages of licensure of these professions in Kentucky.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=55195

Kentucky Legislative Actions, February 29, 2008

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February 29, 2008
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House Bill 7 (Encourage reimportation of prescription drugs)
Substitute offered in the House on February 7, 2008. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on February 25, 2008, to replace existing language with a requirement that the Governor and the secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services coordinate a request to the federal Food and Drug Administration to report to the Governor, the cabinet secretary, and the LRC on whether drug importation from foreign pharmacies and distributors poses no additional risk to public health and would result in a significant reduction in the cost of prescription drugs. The substitute also prohibits the cabinet secretary from designing a program to facilitate drug importation for resale in Kentucky unless the FDA certifies that drug importation poses no additional risk and would reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=55862

House Bill 7 (Encourage reimportation of prescription drugs)
Introduced by Rep. Thomas J Burch on January 9, 2008. Passed in the House (95 to 0) on February 25, 2008, to require the Governor and the secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services coordinate to request the federal Food and Drug Administration to report to the Governor, the cabinet secretary, and the LRC on whether drug importation from foreign pharmacies and distributors poses no additional risk to public health and would result in a significant reduction in the cost of prescription drugs. The bill also prohibits the cabinet secretary from designing a program to facilitate drug importation for resale in Kentucky unless the FDA certifies that drug importation poses no additional risk and would reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=263461

Senate Bill 14 (Abolish state Treasurer's office)
Substitute offered in the Senate on February 20, 2008. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 26, 2008, to retain the original provisions of the bill and add that the offices of Auditor of Public Accounts and Attorney General be elected on a nonpartisan basis.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=54644

Senate Bill 14 (Abolish state Treasurer's office)
Amendment offered by Sen. Damon Thayer on February 20, 2008. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 26, 2008, to make a title amendment.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=54644

Senate Bill 14 (Abolish state Treasurer's office)
Introduced by Sen. Damon Thayer on January 8, 2008. Passed in the Senate (23 to 12) on February 26, 2008, to place on the 2008 general election ballot a proposed state constitutional amendment to abolish the Kentucky Treasurer's office and make the offices of Auditor of Public Accounts and Attorney General nonpartisan.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=263722

Kentucky Legislative Actions.

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February 22, 2008
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Senate Bill 1 (Eliminate Commonwealth Accountability Testing System)
Introduced by Sen. David L. Williams on February 19, 2008, to eliminate 4th grade writing portfolios and to remove all other writing portfolios from annual assessments. The bill would eliminate CATS and replace it with tests that measure progress of individual students over time. The bill also eliminates open-response test questions from annual assessments. The bill requires reporting of assessment results to school districts and schools within sixty days after testing can begin.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=59867

Senate Bill 5 (Eliminate gubernatorial runoffs)
Reported in the House on February 20, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=53952

House Bill 6 (Create state employee sick leave bank)
Reported in the House on February 14, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=56010

Senate Bill 8 (New campaign finance regulations)
Amendment offered by Sen. Damon Thayer on February 14, 2008. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 19, 2008, to restore the definition of "political issue committees" and to define "referendum committee".
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=54377

Senate Bill 8 (New campaign finance regulations)
Reported in the Senate on February 13, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=54377

Senate Bill 8 (New campaign finance regulations)
Substitute offered in the Senate on February 13, 2008. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 19, 2008, to increase the time frame for the retirement of campaign debt from 180 days to 365 days.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=54377

Senate Bill 8 (New campaign finance regulations)
Introduced by Sen. Damon Thayer on January 8, 2008. Passed in the Senate (36 to 0) on February 19, 2008, to authorize the Registry of Election Finance to impose a civil penalty for the filing of frivolous complaints; establish reporting requirements of candidates, slates of candidates, candidate campaign committees, referendum committees, political issues committees, and registered fundraisers. The bill also increases the time frame for the retirement of campaign debt from 180 days to 365 days.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=261011

House Bill 9 (Increase regulation of long term care insurers)
Reported in the House on February 13, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar .
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=55765

Kentucky Legislative Actions.

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February 13, 2008
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House Concurrent Resolution 112 (Start Abraham Lincoln celebration)
Introduced by Rep. Jody Richards on February 11, 2008, to recognize February 12, 2008, as the official commencement of the celebration of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=59283

House Concurrent Resolution 114 (Save money on legislative meetings)
Introduced by Rep. Tim Moore on February 11, 2008, to require the Legislative Research Commission to group monthly interim committee meetings for maximum efficiency and cost savings.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=59284

House Joint Resolution 118 (Phillip K. Epling Memorial Bridge)
Introduced by Rep. Leslie Combs on February 11, 2008, Direct the Transportation Cabinet to honor Phillip K. Epling by naming the bridge on Kentucky Route 80 over Beaver Creek in Pike County in his memory.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=59285

House Bill 138 (Expand permissible requests for absentee ballots)
Amendment offered by Rep. Brad Montell on February 11, 2008, to require county clerks to view government-issued document to confirm the identity of each in-person absentee voter.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=55232

Senate Bill 146 (Criminalize unauthorized distribution of unemployment insurance information)
Introduced by Sen. Carroll Gibson on February 11, 2008, to strengthen confidentiality of personal unemployment insurance information and make unauthorized distribution of such information a Class D felony.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=59265

Senate Bill 147 (Fund water supply study)
Introduced by Sen. Tom Buford on February 11, 2008, to give $15,000 to the University of Kentucky for a study of the water supply and water needs of central Kentucky. The bill would require the study to compare alternate plans to meet the region's and to recommend the best approach by November 30, 2008.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=59266

House Bill 243 (Allow certain three-wheeled electric vehicles on some highways)
Substitute offered in the House on February 5, 2008. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on February 11, 2008, to change all use of the term "medium-speed electric vehicle" to the term "low-speed electric vehicle"; eliminate language requiring a low-speed electric vehicle to be equipped with a roll cage and change equipment requirements of a low-speed electric vehicle from having at least three wheels to being four-wheeled. The amendment changes the posted speed limit on a roadway that a low-speed electric vehicle can operate on or cross from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour and permits low-speed electric vehicles to cross a roadway with a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour if the intersection is equipped with an electric traffic signal.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=55962

House Bill 243 (Allow certain three-wheeled electric vehicles on some highways)
Introduced by Rep. Steven Riggs on January 10, 2008. Passed in the House (95 to 0) on February 11, 2008, to allow four-wheeled low speed electric vehicles on highways with posted speed limits of thirty-five miles per hour or less if the vehicle is properly titled and insured and the driver has a valid drivers license.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=255987

House Bill 306 (Increase regulation of animal shelters)
Amendment offered by Rep. David Osborne on February 5, 2008. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on February 11, 2008, to change the definition of livestock to include all equine animals and exempt livestock from the minimum animal shelter standards.
http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=56695

Kentucky Legislative Actions January 15, 2008

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Glendale, Kentucky
January 16, 2008
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House Bill 3 (Promote gender equity on boards and commissions):
Introduced by Rep. Mary  Lou Marzian on January 15, 2008, to encourage the Governor, when appointments to boards and commissions are made from lists submitted to him, to appoint a male or female so as to achieve and unspecified level of gender equity.
Details and Comments: http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=56388

House Joint Resolution 6 (Include Holocaust in school curriculum):
Reported in the House on January 15, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar.
Details and Comments: http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=54577

House Concurrent Resolution 16:
Reported in the House on January 15, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar.
Details and Comments: http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=55827

House Concurrent Resolution 43 (Study abolishing voting precincts):
Introduced by Rep. Reginald K Meeks on January 15, 2008, to study whether counties should be offered the option of conducting elections in centralized voting centers rather than in voting precincts.
Details and Comments: http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=56382

House Bill 51 (Require colleges to hand out "financial awareness" materials):
Reported in the House on January 15, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar.
Details and Comments: http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=55054

House Bill 80 (Require state approval of certain agreements between local governments):
Reported in the House on January 15, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar.
Details and Comments: http://www.kentuckyvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=55833