Beech Tree News Network

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Friends, colleagues, constituents and various interest groups flooded the hallways of the Capitol, making for a busy third week of the 2015 legislative session. It was great to see so many people weighing in on so many important issues in Frankfort.

As we welcomed the many visitors, we also were active in committees and on the Senate floor on proposed legislation. In a 30-day “short session,” it’s sometimes difficult for both chambers to fully consider all the bills that have been filed.  However, over the last two weeks, the Senate has taken action on our priority legislation, giving the House chamber more time to study those bills.

 In the Senate this week, we approved important bills addressing the shoring up of retirement laws, school safety, patient rights to determine medical scope of treatment, legislative redistricting, and more.

Senators also put politics aside to pass legislation (Senate Bill 82) which could help children diagnosed with cancer. Doctors diagnosed the son of the bill’s sponsor with the disease. The legislation would allow residents to donate their income tax returns directly to the pediatric cancer research trust fund by checking a box on the front of their state tax return. After a stirring floor speech from Sen. Max Wise (R-Campbellsville), and hearing from other supporters of the measure, the Senate applauded the bill’s unanimous passage. I also co-sponsored Senate Bill 82 having lost my granddaughter, Heather West, to the disease at age two.

In another effort to ensure legislative accountability, Senate Bill 27 passed the chamber this week. The bill simply states that in the next legislative redistricting session, which will be after the next U.S. Census, the re-districting must be completed by April 15, or legislative members will have to continue the process without receiving pay. In 2013, it took a special session to complete the redistricting and the extra cost of the legislative session places a financial strain on Kentucky’s budget.  The bill also ensures that every county in Kentucky is adequately represented in the House of Representatives.

The Senate unanimously passed two bills regarding transparency and legislative responsibility regarding pension systems. Senate Bill 22 would clean up Retirement System loop holes and require retirement systems to disclose the use of placement agents. Senate Bill 23, will allow legislators to set a precedent with contributions to the pension system. The bill would permit members to make a one-time election to have their benefits from the Legislators' Retirement Plan based solely on their legislative salary. In short, it would prevent pension “super-sizing.”

School safety is the goal of Senate Bill 39 which also passed this week. The bill will require public schools to consult with local and state safety officials and National Weather Service and Federal Emergency Management Agency guiding principles when identifying the best available severe weather safe zones.

I co-sponsored Senate Bill 55, which would permit hunters to donate their game meat to charitable organizations that feed the needy in Kentucky. The meat would be required to be properly field dressed and processed, and could not be spoiled or diseased. This is another way to make sure those who are in need have access to food.

An effort to close retirement loopholes of elected enforcement officials passed unanimously. Senate Bill 62 will prohibit elected law enforcement officials, such as sheriffs, from retiring, receiving that pay out, and then coming back as sheriff to also collect a salary. This is very hard on state and county budgets. The legislation will allow the salary but not the retirement upon reemployment.

We also passed Senate Bill 34 Thursday, which relates to driving under the influence. This bill would change what is known in legal circles as the “look back period” from five to 10 years from five years. What that means is that if someone is convicted of drunken driving multiple times in a 10-year period the penalties for the crimes are increased.

We passed Senate Bill 107 on Friday, which relates to health providers, and would require Medicaid providers to provide operating disclosures to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in order to promote transparency.

Monday, February 16 is Presidents Day, a federal holiday that honors President Washington’s birthday and President Lincoln’s, reminds us of all of the founding fathers of our nation. I think this day is especially important to Kentucky because our native son, President Abraham Lincoln, was born here and eventually led the U.S. through the most turbulent time of our history. Recalling President Lincoln, President Washington, and the many that led that built the United States while keeping our democracy in tact gives us a renewed sense of our duty and reminds us what is at the heart of our work here in Frankfort.

All these bills now move to the House for their consideration.  If you have any questions or comments about the issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181.  You can also review the Legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.

Senator C.B. Embry, JR (R-Morgantown) represents the 6th District including Butler, Hopkins,  Muhlenberg, Ohio Counties. He is Vice Chair of Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection, Chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education, and member of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy, and Transportation Committees.