Update from Frankfort

By Max Wise, 16th District Senator

The focus in the Senate last week and the days ahead will be on receiving and vetting many House bills while we continue to work on our own legislation.

The focus last week was on both chambers’ approaches to combating heroin as the House’s measure was presented in the Senate Committee on Judiciary and our Senate Bill 5 was discussed in the House Judiciary Committee for information. Our goal is to get a good piece of legislation that can make an impact on the heroin epidemic resulting in so many deaths from overdose and violence. The fact that both chambers had informational hearings is a positive step towards the goal of passing heroin legislation.

While heroin continues to be the focal point, other significant bills were passed this week more than during any other week prior. From technical changes and statutory updates, to legislation that was the fruition of years of work, the Senate continued to move legislation in hopes of making Kentucky a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Continuing our work to expand opportunities for our young people and their educational pursuits, the Senate passed my legislation, Senate Bill 110, which would allow high school juniors and seniors to begin using their Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) to pay for up to six credit hours of dual credit courses in 2016-17 for seniors and 2017-18 for juniors while enrolled in high school. Currently in Kentucky, a student may not begin using their KEES money until they are enrolled in an undergraduate degree program or a technical certificate program. I am happy to be the sponsor of this legislation that I believe could open so many doors for our students and help them get ahead.

Another education-focused measure, Senate Resolution 103 passed. It directs the Legislative Research Commission to establish the Kentucky Workforce Oversight Task Force to study and develop recommendations concerning the benefits, investments and funding of workforce education, which is estimated at approximately $900 million per year.

The Senate acted on a public health related bill, Senate Bill 75, passing it unanimously. The bill would add the Krabbe disease to newborn screening tests. Krabbe is a rare disease that if not spotted early will cause neurological damage and death. If caught early enough, there are treatments to permit a normal, happy life. This bill would ensure that the disease is detected as early as possible.

Legislation that creates jobs, incentivizes entrepreneurship, improves infrastructure, and grants greater access was passed this week with bipartisan support. Senate Bill 168 creates a funding mechanism to deploy grants and incentives through Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) (a 501C nonprofit corporation) to eastern Kentucky coal counties, which are experiencing a difficult economic hit from the war on coal.

To confront illegal gambling sites that are popping up throughout Kentucky, the Senate passed Senate Bill 28. Internet cafes, which are masquerading as office-related or game playing establishments, are actually allowing patrons to gamble and potentially win sweepstakes. SB 28 inserts language to clarify that these computers and gambling devices are illegal.

The Senate also passed measures to save money through efficient elections, and creating a debt-limit. Senate Bill 93 would move all elections of Kentucky’s constitutional officers to even-numbered years along with federal elections. By doing this, local government and state government would save a great deal. Because the elections would occur along with federal elections, voter turnout also would increase based on statistics that prove that more voters go to the polls for the federal elections.

The Senate Majority is resolved to keep debt reigned in. Government needs to be accountable to current and future taxpayers. Senate Bill 94 would do that, and in addition, work in favor of the Kentucky Employees Retirement System by limiting the issuance of general fund-supported debt, calculate the debt limitation savings, and transfer the savings to the nonhazardous employee unfunded liability trust fund.

Keep up-to-date with all legislative activity by following me on FaceBook and twitter, @maxwellwise, as well as @kysenategop, or by visiting www.lrc.ky.gov .

Senator Max Wise (R-Campbellsville) represents the 16th District which encompasses Adair, Clinton, Cumberland, McCreary, Russell, Taylor, and Wayne counties. Senator Wise serves as Chair of the Senate Enrollment Committee; Vice Chair of Education Committee; and a member of Appropriations and Revenue Committee;; Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee; Health and Welfare Committee; and Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee. He also serves as chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation and member of Budget Review Subcommittee on Education, NR, and EP.