Legislative Update - Week 8, 2024
After a long weekend dedicated to observing Presidents' Day, the Kentucky General Assembly returned to Frankfort on Tuesday, energized and ready to tackle the second half of the 2024 Regular Session. The deadline for bill filings is approaching, so all proposals for consideration in Frankfort will be known by the close of next week.
As Senate Budget chair, we continue to review the House's budget proposal and budget requests flow in. Everyone has suggestions on how to spend other people's money. It is my job to remain disciplined in this process and stay focused on the fact that each dollar in the legislature's care was created through the effort and investment of time of a Kentucky taxpayer. The Senate is still a few weeks away from releasing our budget, and I will keep you updated.
Senator Chris McDaniel presents SB 126 for the full Senate's consideration. Feb. 21, 2024. Photo credit: David Hargis, Photographer, Public Information Office, Legislative Research Commission.
Bills passed this week include:
I was proud to sponsor Senate Bill (SB) 126 and carry it to passage. It proposes amending the Constitution of Kentucky to limit a governor's ability to issue pardons or sentence commutations before an election. The aim is to enhance accountability and prevent potential misuse of executive power during sensitive political periods. If passed by the House with the approved three-fifths majority, it would move to a future general election ballot for you, the voter, to decide. I, like many of you, remain aggrieved at the actions of former Governor Matt Bevin, who circumvented multiple layers of our justice system to release murderers and rapists back into our communities. My bill would place reasonable restrictions to better ensure nothing like that ever happens again, and God forbid it does, that the person responsible must stand before the Kentucky voter to answer for their actions.
SB 45, if enacted, would establish the Kentucky Ashanti Alert System to promptly alert the public when a missing adult is believed to be in immediate danger of abduction or kidnapping. Developed by the Kentucky State Police (KSP), it would utilize existing resources like electronic highway signs and the Amber Alert System. The system would encourage law enforcement cooperation, operate within existing budgets, and activate based on KSP's assessment for public safety and secure recovery.
SB 48 would increase the time in which two separate offenses of theft by unlawful taking must occur for the offenses to be combined and the value of the property aggregated to determine the appropriate charge.
SB 74 would establish a state maternal fatality review team to enhance the monitoring of child and maternal fatalities. It would define the team's jurisdiction and require cooperation with an external child fatality review panel. Additionally, it would direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to publish an annual report on hospital delivery procedures starting December 1.
SB 91 would streamline Kentucky driver's licensing services by mandating the establishment of at least one regional office in each senatorial district by July 1, 2025. The bill would allow county clerks to choose to provide operator's licenses or personal ID cards. It would also permit third-party entities to issue licenses, with associated costs and a potential convenience fee. Additionally, the bill would initiate a Kentucky State Police pilot project for skills testing, reducing travel for high school students in five counties without a regional office. The pilot program would operate from Sept. 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026.
SB 131 addresses the tricky business of manipulated content through the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI). This includes altered videos or audio in political messages during elections. The measure aims to ensure more honest and fair elections. It would allow for a candidate whose appearance, action, or speech is altered through the use of altered media in an electioneering communication to seek legal action and damages, developers and owners of the software, and the individual or entity responsible for creating the content. The bill defines electioneering communication as any communication broadcast, mail piece, or telephone call that refers to any candidate for any state, county, city, district office, or ballot measure. It also defines "synthetic media" as an image, audio or video recording of an individual's appearance, action, or speech intentionally altered with AI software and bars its use in electioneering without disclosure.
SB 140, addressing COVID-19-related unemployment insurance benefit overpayments (Jan. 27, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020), would require the Secretary of Education and Labor Cabinet to send new notices by July 1, giving recipients an additional chance to request a waiver. Recipients would have one year from the notice to request a waiver, ensuring a hearing. The bill would allow reimbursement if recipients prove entitlement to the waiver based on specified statute standards.
SB 162 would facilitate access to vehicle history and accident reports for consumers considering purchasing a vehicle. The bill would allow law enforcement agencies to retain and provide these reports to interested parties, enhancing transparency and consumer confidence in the used car market.
SB 191 would make minor adjustments to Kentucky's public postsecondary education system's performance-based funding model. The bill would redefine non-traditional age students as individuals aged 25 to 64. The aim would be to narrow achievement gaps by enhancing credential and degree attainment in this demographic. Proposed changes include revising funding percentages for public universities, introducing a weighted premium for credentials aligned with the state's economic needs in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) funding formula, and incorporating nontraditional-age students into outcomes credit. The Council on Postsecondary Education would be directed to implement these changes by April 1 with an emergency declaration for immediate enactment upon filing with the Kentucky Secretary of State's Office.
Thank you for your continued engagement in the 2024 Regular Session. It is a privilege to represent you in Frankfort. Find the status of legislation by calling 866-840-2835, legislative meeting information at 800-633-9650, or leaving a message for lawmakers at 800-372-7181. You can watch and follow legislative activity at KET/org/legislature and Legislature.ky.gov. You can learn more about these bills and others by visiting www.legislature.ky.gov. Thank you for staying engaged in the legislative process. It is an honor to serve you in Frankfort.