There is still some fallout from the 2024 election over the state school choice ballot measure that failed.

School officials took heat, then over claims they spent public resources to oppose the measure.

As our June Leffler reports, a state senator wants stiffer penalties, so that doesn't happen again.

It's already illegal for public resources like dollars or working hours of public employees to be spent on political issues.

But such infractions could result in a $500 fine or a class A misdemeanor on the third offense.

Under Senate Bill 59.

This proposed provision to include criminal penalties is not about punishing honest mistakes.

It is about ensuring accountability and deterrence.

When public institutions knowingly misuse tax dollars to influence voters.

They undermine both public trust and the fairness of the electoral process.

Many school teachers and administrators publicly opposed amendment 2 in 2024, which would have paved the way for public dollars to go to private schools.

Though teachers unions can get political.

School districts cannot.

We saw newspaper articles.

Social media, such as Facebook post advocating against the ballot measure.

In the run up to that vote, Attorney General Russell Coleman issued a warning to school officials but did not pursue any charges.

You referenced op eds in your preface to the bill.

I would just ask just because someone's getting paid with state dollars, would that prohibit them from exercising the First Amendment, resourceful opinion or expertise on the matter?

I think they can speak on their own time if it is truly their own time, and I think it would be a high burden of proof, probably to prosecute them for criminal offense.

I think in most instances there wouldn't be a problem in in Northern Kentucky.

There was an article in Lincoln, KY and other publications.

It had 11 superintendents speak out against the this amendment, and I think that was over the line.

I think that's an example where they they actually were in violation of this statute.

What if they collaborated outside of school?

Time to come up with that.

I value my input from my superintendents that I defer to them a lot of times on education issues and like to hear from them, and I want to know their opinion.

I just think it could have some arbitrary application and interfere with one's First Amendment rights.

The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee approved Senate Bill 59, in an 8 to 3 vote.

Two Republicans and one Democrat oppose the measure.

For Kentucky edition, I'm June Leffler.

Thank you.

June Senate Bill 59 now heads to the full Senate for its first floor vote.