Frankfort Update: State Senate OKs school safety, healthcare, state debt bills

By Sen. Jimmy Higdon
14th District State Senator

SEN. JIMMY HIGDON

Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 (FRANKFORT) – In a 30-day “short session” like this year, it’s difficult for both chambers to fully consider hundred of bills that have been filed. However, over the last two weeks, the Senate has taken early action on major legislation, giving the House more time to study those bills.

This week the Senate passed important bills addressing school safety, the state’s General Fund debt, economic development and healthcare.

First off, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 8, which would require schools to establish a comprehensive emergency plan to better protect children throughout the Commonwealth. This legislation, which I co-sponsored, is based on recommendations from the Kentucky Center on School Safety, and would require adoption of a school safety plan, safety drills during the first month of school, and again in January, and for school diagrams to be shared with local first-responders. The safety of our children is of utmost importance, and involves so much more than just locking down the school building. These are common sense and low-cost measures that will better prepare us to hopefully avoid the sort of tragedy that occurred just a few months ago in Newtown, Connecticut.

In an effort to cap the state’s rapidly growing debt, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 10, a measure that would limit the state’s debt to six percent of revenues. This limit would put us at the level generally accepted by national bond rating agencies which will, in turn, improve the state’s bond rating. The measure excludes debt for universities, the Kentucky Housing Authority, and other agencies not using the General Fund, as well as the Road Fund.

Another top priority is growing jobs, and to that effort, the Senate passed legislation that would make it easier for physician assistants to work in Kentucky. The measure would change our credentialing standards to more closely match those of surrounding states. We hope this would encourage more physician assistants to stay in the Commonwealth to provide much-needed health service to our citizens, rather than leaving for a neighboring state.

Senate Bill 50, designed to boost the economy and support Kentucky farmers, was approved by the Senate and will now move on to the House for consideration. If the bill becomes law, Kentucky farmers would still need to wait for federal legislation to enable hemp production. However, this legislation puts us in a position to be ready to act should our congressional delegation be successful in their efforts in Washington to get an exemption or legislation that would lift the ban. Some are concerned that law enforcement and other drug task force agencies may have an extra burden with monitoring legal hemp growth, in addition to their work eradicating illegal marijuana activity. However, the measure would create a system of annual licensing by the Agriculture Department, background checks, and would allow inspection of hemp fields by both the Agriculture Department and law enforcement officials. With Kentucky’s climate ideal for the growth of hemp, if the federal ban is lifted, the measure would position the state to reap the economic benefits of potential jobs from the production of goods made with hemp, including cars, ropes, clothes and cosmetics.

I’ll keep you informed on the work of this committee and others this session. Your input is invaluable, so please call me in Frankfort toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or my home at 270-692-6945 if you have any questions, concerns, or comments.

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Editor’s Note:  Senator Jimmy Higdon (R-Lebanon) represents the 14th District including Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor, and Washington counties. He is the Chairman of both the Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation; the Vice Chair of both the Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee and the Transportation Committee, and a member of the 2012 SS HB 1 Implementation and Oversight Committee; the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, and Public Protection; the Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee; the Education Committee; the Health and Welfare Committee; the Program Review and Investigations Committee; and the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee.

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