It’s an exciting time in Frankfort as we reconvened for the remainder of the 2019 session of the Kentucky General Assembly. I dove right into legislative activity, with committees meeting in earnest and constituents coming to town to meet and discuss issues.
While there are numerous issues under discussion, there is no doubt that school safety is the top priority of this session. That’s why it carries the unique designation of both House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1 – as securing our school
buildings and providing more resources to troubled youth are among the most important actions that the General Assembly could take.
This bipartisan priority began moving this past week, with SB 1 moving through committee and passing the Senate on Friday. As a primary sponsor, I spoke on the need for this bill to the House Education Committee last week, and will be using feedback from stakeholders and other legislators to improve the measure. Given the tragedy that occurred at Marshall County High School around this time last year, I am dedicated to fighting for passage of this measure, and look forward to fully supporting it when we take it up in the House.
In keeping with a culture of openness and bipartisanship, the Public Pension Working Group has also continued to meet throughout January and February to tackle the Commonwealth’s pension crisis. This group was formed in January with the goal of coming to a solution to the state’s $43 billion unfunded liability, which not only
threatens the retirement of our valued teachers and public employees, but weakens our ability to pay for other vital services like education, school safety, and more.
Feedback from affected parties on this issue, including taxpayers, is critical to coming to a consensus that stops the bleeding of our pension systems. I hope to continue hearing from many of you on this issue, and the working group will also continue taking testimony from a wide range of stakeholders while working toward a solution.
Some important bills began moving through legislative committees this week that will improve treatment options for our fellow citizens affected by the drug epidemic, boost job opportunities, and more. For example, House Bill 121 passed the Health and Family Services Committee, a measure that would eliminate waiting periods often imposed by insurance companies for medication-based treatment for substance abuse. This bill would allow patients to receive critical life-saving treatment right away, and is a critical step in the fight against the opioid epidemic.
On another note, the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet recently announced plans to allocate $20 million for maintenance and facility upgrades to Kentucky State Parks. These dollars were approved by the General Assembly in 2018 as a bond pool, and will be used to provide critical upgrades to replace dire maintenance needs. These
include replacing aging lodge roofs, upgrading campgrounds, repairing swimming pools and more, as part of an effort to ensure that our parks are attractive to tourists from across the country.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with your thoughts on all of the important issues facing us in Frankfort. It is an honor for me to serve as your voice, and I will continue to keep you informed as the 2019 session moves forward.
Rep. Chris Freeland represents the 6th House District, which includes Marshall, Lyon, and part of McCracken counties. Contact him with any questions, concerns, or advice. He can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181, or via e-mail at Chris.Freeland@lrc.ky.gov<mailto:Chris.Freeland@lrc.ky.gov>.