With a recap of this week in Frankfort, here is Benton native, Sen. Danny Carroll…
Week four of the Kentucky General Assembly marked a momentous occasion for our state. Governor Matt Bevin gave his first State of the Commonwealth Budget Address, laying out a plan that will guide Kentucky out of the financial mire that has lingered for the past eight years.
Governor Bevin laid out several priorities in his executive budget recommendation that will ultimately strengthen Kentucky’s financial foundation while addressing the growing pension crisis in the state. He challenged lawmakers to build infrastructure for Kentucky’s future, transform our healthcare delivery system, and invest in education and workforce development. Fighting substance abuse and protecting those who protect us were also among the governor’s priorities. Additionally, he asked that we safeguard Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens and keep our commitment to all public servants. As Governor Bevin said, this budget is “saving for a down payment on Kentucky’s future.”
The Senate also had a busy week passing legislation. Senate Bill (SB) 25 was one of our priority bills, which would further criminalize the sale of aborted fetus body parts. I proudly co-sponsored it, and it passed the Senate with bipartisan support.
Other bills that passed the Senate this week include:
- Senate Bill 46, which I also co-sponsored, would modify and condense local government retirement systems to optimize benefits for retirees and save local cities’ and governments’ money.
- SB 22, which would add the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) to the list of nationally recognized accreditation organizations in our state.
- SB 74, which would create a smoother process for submitting title lien termination notices to county clerks and offer the clerks protection when fraudulent notices are submitted.
- SB 16, which would offer civil protection for citizens who retrieve a child from a locked car whom they believe to be in danger, potentially saving the lives of young children across the Commonwealth. I was proud to be the primary sponsor of this legislation.
- SJR 36, a resolution that received bi-partisan support urging the Commonwealth of Virginia to respect the second amendment rights of Kentuckians who hold concealed carry permits.
- SB 33, which I also co-sponsored, would require students to receive CPR training over the course of grades 9-12. This training would be done in cooperation with local emergency services providers
Other priority bills that moved through the committee process in the Senate this week were SB 2, SB 6, SB 15, and SB 20.
The State & Local Government Committee passed SB 2, which would add a necessary layer of transparency to address Kentucky’s pension crisis.
The Committee on Appropriations and Revenue reported favorably SB 20, which I co-sponsored, significantly improving the appeals process for Medicaid providers.
The Health and Welfare Committee passed SB 6, another bill I co-sponsored, which would offer additional legal protection to medical providers and encourage physicians to bring and keep their practices in Kentucky.
Finally, Senate Bill 15 was reported favorably by the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee. This legislation would protect religious freedoms in our schools and other educational settings. I am co-sponsor of this legislation also.
If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or e-mail me at danny.carroll@lrc.ky.gov. You can also review the legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.
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Note: Senator Danny Carroll (R-Paducah) represents the 2nd District encompassing Ballard, Carlisle, Marshall and McCracken counties. Senator Carroll serves on the Senate Appropriations & Revenue; Education; Health & Welfare; and Judiciary Committees. He also serves as Chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance & Public Protection and as a member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education. For a high-resolution .jpeg of Senator Carroll, please visit http://www.lrc.ky.gov/pubinfo/portraits/senate02.jpg.
