General Assembly recesses for 10 days, will reconvene March 29

This past week, the 2017 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly finalized the vast majority of its work. We have recessed for ten days, preserving time to override any potential vetoes Governor Bevin might utilize. Additionally, some legislation may pass on the final days but, for practical purposes, the Legislature has concluded most all of its work for the year.

Quite a few bills passed this past week and are currently awaiting the Governor’s signature to be enacted into law. Among the highlights, I would like to let you know about the following bills.

Senate Bill 136 is a way to help recognize and reward those who serve our nation and protect our citizens. The bill would allow any active member of the Kentucky National Guard to be treated as a Kentucky resident when enrolling in a Kentucky public postsecondary institution. Occasionally, a National Guard member will move across the state line while serving, especially in communities near our borders, but remain active in the Kentucky National Guard. It’s fitting that we continue to treat them as Kentucky residents as they continue serving our Commonwealth. The bill passed by a vote of 97-0.

Senate Bill 11 would lift Kentucky’s current moratorium on nuclear power facilities. This bill is especially important for West Kentucky, as there is thought that the former gaseous diffusion plant in Paducah could be converted into a nuclear power facility in the future. If that were to happen, it would still likely be decades down the road, but this legislation removes a critical barrier that was in place.

Receiving much attention last week was Senate Bill 1, which deals with school accountability. The bill would create a culture that measures productivity, rather than activity, in Kentucky’s public schools. The legislation would require a review of academic standards in Kentucky schools beginning next year and every six years thereafter. It also sets forth a new series of benchmarks for measuring college and career readiness. Schools would submit less paperwork to the Kentucky Department of Education, freeing up more time for teachers to devote to their classrooms. The legislation was supported by a host of organizations, and passed the House by a vote of 94-0.

Senate Bill 21, commonly referred to as the “Right To Try” bill, passed the House by a vote of 87-7. This legislation would permit eligible patients with terminal illnesses to use investigational drugs, biological products, or devices. These drugs would have had to have passed Phase I of FDA approval, but would not be available through normal prescriptive measures yet. They would also have to be monitored by a doctor. Currently, 33 other states have passed similar legislation, and we are optimistic that these drugs might have a positive effect on terminally ill patients in Kentucky.

The growing deer and elk population in Kentucky is the subject of Senate Bill 83. This legislation would allow the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify areas where deer and elk pose threats to agriculture. The Department could then take steps, such as extending the doe harvest