Sine Die: The end of the 2014 legislative session

By Sara Beth Gregory, 16th District Senator

Minutes before midnight, and adjournment of the 2014 session, I breathed a sigh of relief as my Senate Bill 108 was finally passed by the House and enrolled. This legislation will terminate the parental rights of convicted rapists as to a child conceived by rape. It was the last bill passed by the General Assembly and delivered to the Governor before the session adjourned “sine die,” meaning until the next session.

Also passing on the final day of the session was a new six-year road plan for the Commonwealth, which specifics funding for road projects throughout the state. I am pleased the final road plan included funding to move forward with several important projects in the 16th Senatorial District, including work on US 127, Highway 92, Highway 55, and Highway 90.

This 60-day budget session produced measures that will affect economic development, public health, safety and education. Of course, as with every session, there were measures that did not succeed. I am hopeful the heroin bill, in particular, will be taken up in a future session.

Our successes this session include passing a fiscally responsible budget with a lower debt ratio and structural imbalance than those proposed by the House of Representatives or the Governor. Additionally, we passed important health-related measures that will have positive effects on the well-being and medical needs of our citizens.

Public health measures included prohibiting sales of e-cigarettes to those under the age of eighteen, relaxing red tape for Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners, and making eye drops that treat glaucoma more available for children in child care and school. We also passed a bill to broaden access to dental care for children who otherwise can’t afford it.

Also having been signed into law was Senate Bill 98, which creates an adult abuse registry for the safety of our seniors and disabled adults who require assistance from caretakers. The compassion for Kentuckians and the access to needed services was obvious throughout the session and we rose to the occasion on these matters.

In the closing days, we put a final stamp of approval on Senate Bill 200 to reform our juvenile justice system. The result of months of dedicated work by a Unified Juvenile Code Task Force, the measure will strengthen evidence-based early intervention programs and services provided to young offenders. The bill went through many revisions, and is expected to both improve outcomes and potentially save millions of dollars.

Education was a winner this session, as funding for our public schools was increased and educator salaries were raised. We expanded preschool, increased per-pupil funding for elementary and secondary schools and authorized capital construction projects on many college campuses across the state.

Many measures gaining full approval by the legislature were aimed at updating laws to reflect the digital age. Businesses in Kentucky will be required to notify customers if a security breach may have compromised their personal or financial information under the provisions of HB 232. Another measure, HB 5, will update electronic safeguards and protocol for government agencies.

With the session complete, we’ll head back home now to meet with constituents, keep an eye on the progress of these new laws and study issues through the interim.

As always, I invite you to contact me with feedback or concerns about legislative issues that interest you. You may contact me in Frankfort at 502-564-8100 or leave a message toll-free at our message line, 800-372-7181, or by e-mail at sara.gregory@lrc.ky.gov. More information about the work of the Legislature is available on the Legislative Research Commission website, www.lrc.ky.gov.