BILL THAT WOULD BAR TRANSGENDER FEMALE ATHLETES FROM PLAYING IN GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, GOVERNORS' PARDONING POWER COUL BE SCALED BACK WITH A BILL PASSING COMMITTEE, AND MORE HELP FOR THE AREAS IMPACTED BY THE D TORNADOES, ALL ON DAY 30 OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "LEGISLATIVE UPD I'M CASEY PARKER-BELL.

TRANSGENDER FEMALE ATHLETES IN KENTUCKY MAY BE FORCED TO PLAY IN BOYS' SPORTS IF A BILL PASSING THE SENATE TODAY BECOME SENATE BILL 83 WOULD USE BIRTH CERTIFICATES TO DETERMINE THE BIOLOGICAL SEX OF STUDENT ATHLETES AND WHAT SPORTS THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN.

HENDERSON SENATOR ROBBY MILLS EXPLAINS WHY HE THINKS KENTUCKY NEEDS THE ME.

>> THIS STATUTE CHANGE CLEARLY ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT KHSAA REGULATION.

SURGEON CA CHANGE AND HORMONE THERAPY, REGARDLESS OF THE LENGTH OF TIME, DOES NOT REDUCE THE PHYSICAL ADVANTAGE THAT A BIOLOGICAL MALE HAS OVER A BIOLOGICAL FEMALE.

BOYS HAVE ATHLETIC ADVANTAGES EVEN BEFORE PUBERTY IN CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE, MUSCULAR STRENGTH, MUSCULAR ENDURANCE, SPEED, AGILITY, AND POWER TESTS.

>> Casey: UNDER THE LEGISLATION, TRANSGENDER MALE ATHLETES COULD PLAY IN BOYS' sp A COMMON REFRAIN FROM OPPONENTS OF SENATE BILL 83 IS THAT THE MEASURE IS A SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO TRANSGENDER ATHLETES PLAYING SPORTS IN KENT MILLS SAID ON THE SENATE FLOOR WHY HE BROUGHT THE MEASURE NOW.

>> AS LEGISLATORS, WE ATTEND CONFERENCES TO LEARN OF PUBLIC POLICY TRENDS AND HOW OTHER STATES ARE ADDRESSING CERTAIN ISSUES.

WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO THINK AHEAD BASED ON OTHER STATES' EXPERIENCES.

SENATE BILL 83 THINKS AHEAD SO THAT YOU OR I TO NOT HAVE A SELENA SOUL IN OUR DISTRICT IN THE FUTURE, A YOUNG LADY WHO LOSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE IN THE SPORT SHE LOVES BECAUSE A BIOLOGICAL MALE IS COMPETING AGAINST HER.

>> Casey: LOUISVILLE SENATOR KAREN BERG PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ENSURE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WOULDN'T BE SUBJECT TO THE LANGUAGE IN SENATE BILL 83.

>> SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT 2 RESTRICTS THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BILL TO ATHLETIC TEAMS, ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS FOR STUDENTS IN THE SIXTH THROUGH 12th GRADE ONLY, SO WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS AMENDMENT IS BASICALLY SAYING THAT CHILDREN IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL BE FREE TO PLAY ON TEAMS THAT MATCH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY.

>> Casey: DECISIONS ON HOW YOUTH SPORTS ARE RUN FOR THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVELS ARE DETERMINED BY LOCAL SCHOOLS AND ARE NOT THE KENTUCK HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION OR KHSAA.

SENATE BILL 83 REQUIRES KHSAA TO MAKE REGULATIONS PROHIBITING TRANSGENDER FEMALE ATHLETES FRO PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

CURRENTLY THE KHSAA ALREADY HAS A POLICY SAYING STUDENT ATHLETES MUST PARTICIPATE ACCORDING TO THE GENDER ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE UNLESS LEGALLY REAS THE AMENDMENT PASSED 34 TO 1.

AFTER HER AMENDMENT'S PASSAGE, BERG VOTED AGAINST SENATE BILL BERG HAS A TRANSGENDER CHILD AN SAYS THE SENATE IS PASSING A BILL THAT IS HURTFUL TO OTHERS.

SHE USED HER PERSONAL EXPERIENC AS AN EXAMPLE.

>> I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DIFFICULT, THIS IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

YOU DO NOT WANT BIOLOGICAL MALES COMPETING AGAINST FEMALES WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPORTANT THINGS, LIKE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS OR THE OLYMPICS OR EVEN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

BUT THIS BILL, THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, REGARDLESS OF THE ASSURANCES OF THE SENATOR FROM HENDERSON, HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE 6th, 7th AND 8th GRADE TRANS FEMALES, FIRST OF ALL, NOT HAVE A TEAM TO PARTICIPATE IN, BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT MAKES THEM FEEL LIKE THEY WILL NOT BE INCLUDED ON PURPOSE.

ON PURPOSE.

YOU ARE EXCLUDING THESE CHILDREN, AND IT GOES TO THEIR HEARTS AND IT HURTS THEIR PARENTS' SOULS BEYOND -- I CANNOT TELL YOU THE WORDS OF HOW HURTFUL IT IS TO A PARENT TO SEE YOUR CHILD SUFFERING FROM IGNORANCE, FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW AND HONESTLY PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE.

>> Casey: ANOTHER LOUISVILLE DEMOCRAT EXPLAINED HIS NO VOTE.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER MORGAN MCGARVEY SAYS THE BILL IS ADDRESSING A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

SENATOR DAVID YATES AGREES.

>> BUT THIS THE PLACE TO MAKE A UNIFORM LAW THAT UNDER EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE IMPACTS EVERY KID IN EVERY COMMUNITY WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO BE KIDS AND PLAY SPORTS.

WE HAVE ATHLETIC BODIES DEALING WITH THIS.

WE HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS DEALING WITH THIS.

WE'RE COMING IN HERE NOW IN A BUDGET YEAR AND WHEN WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT SO MANY THINGS THAT REALLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THIS BODY, AND TACKLING A POLICY THAT ALREADY HAS ZERO TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN KENTUCKY PLAYING HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

>> I THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN OSTRACIZED THE MOST.

I HEAR THE STORIES FROM INDIVIDUALS LIKE MY COLLEAGUE FROM JEFFERSON AND ABOUT THE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S INCLUSION.

AND THEN I THINK IS THERE A PROBLEM?

AND ALL OF THE TESTIMONY THAT I HAVE HAD, DESPITE THE PICTURE THAT'S BEEN PAINTED HERE TODAY, WE KNOW THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE EXAMPLE OF A PROBLEM IN KENTUCKY.

NOT ONE.

NOT ONE EXAMPLE.

YET HERE WE ARE GOING TO PASS LAW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT DIDN'T EXIST.

TO SEND THAT MESSAGE.

IS THAT THE MESSAGE WE WANT TO SEND?

>> Casey: A COUPLE OF DEMOCRAT VOTED IN FAVOR THE OF THE MEASURE, DENNIS PARRETT AND ROBIN WEBB.

WEBB EXPLAINED HER AYE VOTE, SAYING THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LEGIS ATHLETICS POLICY, USING TITLE I AS AN EXAMPLE.

>> I WAS THE FIRST GIRL TO PLAY IN THE BASKETBALL HOME ROOM TOURNAMENT, SO I BROKE THE GENDER BARRIER THERE, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING, BUT WE DENT HAVE TITLE IX.

I WAS A PRODUCT TITLE IX, AND WHEN YOU CEJA THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T GET IN SPORTS, I DISAGREE WITH THAT, AND POLICY, BECAUSE TITLE IX HAS ENABLED ME, MY DAUGHTER, AND A GENERATIONS OF FEMALE ATHLETES TO GO ON AND THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN ORGANIZED SPORTS AND SUCCESS, CORPORATE CEOs, ELECTEDS, AND OTHERS FOR WOMEN, SO I CAN'T BUY INTO THAT.

I THINK WE HAVE POLICY RESPONSIBILITY, AND TITLE IX IS A GOOD INDICATOR OF WHAT CAN BE DONE.

SO I'VE COACHED COULD ED THREE SPORTS: OKAY SOCCER, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, TREATED EVERY CHILD WITH ALL FAIRNESS, OPPORTUNITY AND EQUITY REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY IDENTIFIED OR THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR WHERE THEY WERE FROM OR ANYTHING.

SO WE'VE GOT GREAT COULD ED PROGRAMS WITH GOOD VOLUNTEERS.

BUT I DID DISCUS AND SHOT PUT IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND E. I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE HAD THE RECORD AND THE OFFERS THAT I HAD IF I WAS COMPETING AGAINST A BIOLOGICAL MALE COUNTERPART.

>> Casey: SENATE EDUCATION CHAIR MAX WISE VOTED IN FAVOR O THE MEASURE.

HIS MOTHER, DONNA WISE, COACHED CAMPBELLSVILLE UN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM FOR 32 SEASONS AND FINISHED HER CAREER AS THE WINNINGEST COACH IN NAIA DIVISION 1 BASKETBALL HISTORY.

HE SAYS HE SPOKE TO HIS MOTHER ABOUT SENATE BILL 83, AND HE'S VOTING FOR THE MEASURE BECAUSE HE WANTS TO PROTECT THE SUCCESS OF WOMEN'S PROGRAMS ACROSS THE .

>> MY MOTHER HAS FOUGHT SO MUCH TO SEE THE SUCCESS OF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AND WOMEN IN GENERAL.

MY WIFE IS A STAND-OUT HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYER, KENTUCKY ALL-STAR TEAM PLAYING COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL, AND I'VE SEEN THE IMPACT THAT SPORTS HAVE HAD WITHIN MY FAMILY MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AND MY WIFED AND A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION ASK OTHER LEGISLATION, AND I I'LL BE VERY HONEST.

I WISH THIS BILL WOULD GO FARTHER TO GO INTO COLLEGE ATHLETICS BECAUSE THERE IS THAT FEAR, THE FEAR OF INEQUITY, OF GIRLS WHO HAVE FIAT THEIR WHOLE LIFE TO BREAK BARRIERS AND THEN TO SEE SITUATIONS THAT MAY BE BECOMING OBSTACLES DOWN THE ROAD.

>> Casey: TWO REPUBLICANS, JASON HOWELL AND WIL SCHROEDER, VOTED AGAINST THE BILL.

SENATE BILL 83 PASSED THE SENATE 37 TO 8 AND HAS BEEN SENT TO THE HOUS CONTROVERSIAL PARDONS BY FORMER GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN AT THE END OF HIS TERM LED TO CALLS FOR CHANGING HOW PARDONS AND COMMUTATIONS CAN BE ISSUED.

TAYLOR MILL SENATOR CHRISTIAN MCDANIEL HAS A BILL ADDRESSING THE ISSUE.

SENATE BILL 149 PROPOSES AN AMENDMENT TO THE KE CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD PREVENT FUTURE GOVERNORS FROM ISSUING PARDONS AND COMMUTATIONS IN THE PERIOD AFTER AN ELECTION AND BEFORE THE INAUGURATION.

GOVERNORS WOULD BE BARRED FROM ISSUING PARDONS 30 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION UNTIL FIVE WEEKS AFTER ONE.

MCDANIEL CALLS THE BILL A SMALL LIMITATION ON THE POWERS OF ONE PERSON.

>> NOW, TO ME THE SCARIEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF 2019 WASN'T NECESSARILY THE ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN BUT THE VALLEY THAT VEIL THAT WAS TAKEN AS TO THE ACTIONS THAT COULD BE TAKEN.

IN THE WORDS OF THE FORMER GOVERNOR HIMSELF, AND I'LL QUOTE, WE SHOULD WANT THERE TO BE INTEGRITY IN THE SYSTEM, BUT IF WE THINK IT'S A FLAWLESS SYSTEM, WE'RE KIDNEY OURSELVES.

I CAN TELL YOU TODAY THAT THE PEOPLE OF COMMONWEALTH FIND THE JUDICIAL PROCESS WITH ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND SAFEGUARDS I PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED TO BE SUPERIOR TO THE PARDONING POWERS OF ONE INDIVIDUAL.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE THE POWER TO PARDON SHOULD REMAIN INTACT.

THIS IS WHY THIS AMENDMENT DOES NOT DO AWAY WITH THE POWER TO PARDON.

IT SIMPLY RESTRICT THAT POWER DURING THE 30 DAYS PRIOR TO AN ELECTION AND THEN BETWEEN A GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION AND A SWEARING-IN.

THAT WAY IF A GOVERNOR BELIEVES IN A PARDON STRONGLY ENOUGH, HE OR SHE CAN STAND IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS OR HAVE THEIR PARTY STAND IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS TO DECIDE THEIR OPINION OF THOSE ACTIONS >> Casey: THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN SENATE BILL 149 WOULD APPEAR ON VOTERS' BALLOTS IN THIS NOVEMBER'S GENERAL ELECTION.

NOT ALL SENATORS IN THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AGREED WITH THE MOVE TO PUT LIMITS ON A GOVERNOR'S PARDONIN LOUISVILLE SENATOR DENISE HARPE ANGEL CALLS THE BILL UNNECESSAR AND, AND LAWRENCEBURG SENATOR ADRIENNE SOUTHWORTH REFERRED TO THE MOVE AS A KNEE-JERK REACTIO.

>> BECAUSE THE FORMER GOVERNOR MADE SOME UNCONSCIONABLE PARDONS DOESN'T MEAN THE CURRENT GOVERNOR OR FUTURE GOVERNORS WOULD DO THE SAME, AND I THINK THE BILL IS UNNECESSARY.

IN ORDER TO TRY TO GET THE GOVERNORS TO NOT ACT WITHOUT OVERSIGHT AFTER THEY'VE ELECTED, BEFORE THEY'VE TRANSITIONED, I'M JUST -- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BETTER WAY TO DO THE GOAL THAT'S NOT REACTIVE AND NECESSARILY LIMITING THE GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY IN THIS AREA AND NOT OTHERS.

>> WE'VE GOT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN APPOINTED, WE'VE GOT ALL KIND OF THINGS THE GOVERNOR DOES, AND THIS ONE THING WE'RE GOING TO SAY WEEKS, NO, NOT THIS.

I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THIS IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO ADDRESS THE REAL issues.

>> Casey: SENATE MINORITY LEADER MORGAN MCGARVEY ALSO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL.

WHILE THOSE SENATORS VOTED AGAINST THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, ONE SENATOR SAYS THE STATE WILL BENEFIT FRO PHILLIP WHEELER SAYS THE STATE NEEDS TO PUT LIMITS ON ONE PERSON MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT A COURT RULING AFTER THE PROCESS HAS PLAYED OUT.

>> WHAT WE DID SEE THE LAST TIME WAS UNCONSCIONABLE FOR MANY REASONS.

ONE, IT PUT SOME DANGEROUS PEOPLE BACK OUT ON THE STREETS IT.

CAUSED MANY VICTIMS TO HAVE TO RELIVE THEIR CRIMES ALL OVER AGAIN.

BUT, TWO, IT SERVED AS A FIRM REJECTION BY SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT RESPECT I THINK ONE OF THE MOST BASIC FORMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, WHICH IS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, SOMETHING THAT COMES DOWN FROM OUR ENGLISH COMMON LAW THAT SAYS 12 PEOPLE OUT OF A COMMUNITY WILL SIT IN JUDGMENT OF A PERSON FOR A CRIME, FOR AN ACTION FOR DAMAGES TO SEE IF SOMEONE IS HARMED.

I MEAN, WE WERE NOT SET UP AS A KINGDOM WHERE ONE PERSON CAN WHOLESALE REJECT THESE PRINCIPLES.

>> Casey: SENATE BILL 149 INCLUDES THE LANGUAGE THAT WOUL APPEAR TO VOTERS ON BALLOTS THI IT PASSED THE SENATE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AND HOW NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE FLO IN THE HOUSE, STATE LAW REQUIRE STUDENTS TO BE IN SCHOOL A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS EACH YEAR.

TORNADOES THAT HIT WESTERN KENTUCKY IN DECEMBER DISRUPTED LIVES AND MADE SCHOOL ATTENDANC DIFFICULT OR EVEN IMPOSSIBLE FO MANY STUDENTS.

HOUSE BILL 397, COSPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE MYRON DOSSETT, WOULD GIVE THOSE STUDENTS MORE FLEXIBILITY.

>> HOUSE BILL 397 WILL ADD 15 ADDITIONAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY DAYS FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

IT WILL ALSO, IN DOING SO, THAT WILL ALLOW OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR CRITERIA FOR THEIR DAYS OF BEING IN SCHOOL, AS WELL AS THE CONTRACTS OF OUR CLASSIFIED -- CERTIFIED AND NON-CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES.

WITH THE DEVASTATING TORNADOES THAT TOOK PLACE ON DECEMBER THE 10th, DECEMBER THE 11th, WE HAVE SEEN OURAL SCHOOL TERN EL, OUR STUDENTS, THE IMPACT THAT IT'S TAKEN UPON THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THIS IS A WAY BY ADDING THESE EXTRA DAYS TO ALLOW THEM TO GET THEIR LIVES BACK TO A LITTLE BIT OF normalcy >> Casey: THE HOUSE PASSED THE BILL UNANIMOUSLY.

KENTUCKY LAW PREVENTS OVERTIME SPIKING IN ORDER TO UNFAIRLY INCREASE THE SIZE OF A PUBLIC P THE THE LAW PREVENTS WORKERS FROM DELIBERATELY WORKING EXTRA OVERTIME LATE IN THEIR CAREERS JUST TO CHANGE HOW THEIR PENSIO IS CALCULATED.

BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THAT CAN HURT WORKERS WHO HAVE TO WORK OVERTIME DURIN THAT'S WHY REPRESENTATIVE JERRY MILLER HAS SPONSORED HOUSE BILL.

>> THE GENESIS OF THIS BILL WAS RELATED TO IN MAY OF 2020, CIVIL UNREST INCLUDING DEMONSTRATIONS AND RIOTING CAUSED BY THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF MS. BREONNA TAYLOR, CAUSED MAYOR GREG FISCHER TO DECLARE A SOME KNOWLEDGE AND ORDER LMPD TO WORK MANDATORY 12 HOUR ON, 12 HOUR OFF SHIFTS.

AND WHILE THE GOVERNOR ON THE 30th OF MAY SENT IN THE NATIONAL GUARD, HE DID NOT DECOLLAR A STATE OF EMERGENCY, WHICH WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED THE MANDATORY OVERTIME AS AN APPROPRIATE EXEMPTION FROM THE SPIKING PROVISION.

>> Casey: THE BILL WOULD ALLOW THAT OVERTIME TO BE APPLIED TO PENSIONS IN THAT KIND OF EMERGENCY OR DISASTER SITUATION THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED TH LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT SUPPORTERS SAY WOULD LEAD THE WAY TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAX REF IF HOUSE BILL 475 PASSES, VOTER WOULD DECIDE WHETHER TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION AND ALLOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO GIVE TOWNS, CITIES AND COUNTIES MORE FLEXIBILITY IN HOW THEY RAISE M RIGHT NOW, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS LIMITED IN THE OPTIONS IT CA GIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

TODAY THE HOUSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE DISCUSSED A RELATED BILL, HOUSE BILL 476.

>> WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS VERY SIMPLE.

IT JUST KEEPS THE STATUS QUO AS IT IS.

IT MAKES SURE THAT IF THE CONSTITUTIONAL "A" WERE TO PASS, THAT COUNTIES EVER COUNTY, CITIES, MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INCLUDING CONSOLIDATED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENTS CAN CONTINUE THE SAME TAX STRUCTURES THAT THEY'RE AUTHORIZED TO HAVE CURRENTLY UNDER THE STATUTES, AND IT SAYS THAT THERE IS NO EXTENSION OF THAT WITHOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMING BACK TO CREATE A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR OTHER TYPES OF TAXES THAT WOULD BE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONAL amendm >> Casey: THE COMMITTEE PASSED THE BILL, MOVING IT TO THE FULL WHILE THE HOUSE DEBATED POTENTIAL CHANGES TO KENTUCKY'S TAX CODE, GOVERNOR ANN BESHEAR ANDY BESHEAR PROPOSED A ONE-YEAR REDUCTION TO THE STATE SALES TAX, LOWERING IT FROM 6 PERCENT TO 5.

HE SAYS THIS WILL HELP KENTUCKIANS DEALING WITH INFLAT AFTER THAT PROPOSAL, GOVERNOR BESHEAR WARNED ABOUT POTENTIALL CHANGING THE STATE'S TAX CODE O A PERMANENT BASIS.

>> A WORD OF CAUTION TO THOSE IN FRANKFORT THAT ARE USING EVASIVE TERMS, VAGUE TERMS LIKE "COMPREHENSIVE TAX REFORM."

THAT PHRASE HAS ALWAYS MEANT ONE THING, RAISING THE SALES TAX ON EVERYBODY SO THAT THEY COULD DECREASE INCOME TAX AND CORPORATE INCOME TAX ON THE WEALTHIEST KENTUCKIANS AND COMPANIES THAT ARE ALREADY HAVING THEIR BEST YEARS IN DECADES.

THOSE TYPES OF CUTS, OUT-OF-STATE CORPORATIONS DON'T BENEFIT OUR KENTUCKY ECONOMY.

PEOPLE PUT THEM IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT INSTEAD OF THEM BEING DIRECTLY RELATED TO SPENDING.

THEY WILL NOT STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY AND THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE RELIEF TO PEOPLE IN EVERY SINGLE INCOME BREAK THE LIKE THIS 1% REDUCTION, A REDUCTION FROM 6% TO 5% OF THE SALES TAX WILL.

SO WHY?

WHY WOULD PEOPLE IN THE MIDST OF THE HIGHEST INFLATION IN DECADES WANT TO PUT IN A REFORM THAT MAKES THINGS COST MORE?

>> Casey: HOUSE MINORITY WHIP ANGIE HATTON WILL CARRY THE BIL TO REDUCE THE SALES TAX IN THE AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S COMMENTS, HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE ISSUED A STATEMENT IN RESPONSE.

HE SAYS, "WHILE THE GOVERNOR SUPPORTS LOWERING THE STATE SALES TAX, WE ARE HOPEFUL HE EVENTUALLY RECOGNIZES THAT FAR MORE CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED FOR KENTUCKIANS BY OVERHAULING THE STATE'S ANTIQUATED TAX STRUCTUR WHY SHOULD THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY SETTLE FOR A TEMPORARY 1% SALES TAX CUT WHEN WE CAN ADOPT POLICIES THAT LET THEM KEEP MORE OF THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE?

AT THAT SAME PRESS CONFERENCE THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HE HAD ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO REDUCE THE MOTOR VEHICLE TAX.

THIS COMES AS MULTIPLE BILLS MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT ADJUST HOW THE VEHICLE PROPERTY TAX IS CALCULATED.

NICHOLASVILLE SENATOR DONALD DOUGLAS, WHO SPONSORS ONE OF TH MEASURES TO REDUCE THE MOTOR VEHICLE TAX, HAD THIS TO SAY.

>> OUR CITIZENS HAVE PAID TAXES, HAVE HAD MONEY TAKEN OUT OF THEIR ACCOUNTS.

THE COUNTY CLERKS ARE CALLING ME AS A SENATOR.

WE'VE ALREADY DISTRIBUTED THIS MONEY.

WHERE DO WE GET THE MONEY TO PAY THIS BACK?

HOW DO WE GET THIS MONEY TO OUR CITIZENS?

DO WE SEND OUT NEW TAX VALUATIONS?

THOSE ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED.

>> Casey: THE BILL SPONSORED B DOUGLAS, SENATE JOINT RESOLUTIO 99, HAS RECEIVED ITS FIRST READING IN THE HOUSE.

SOME OF KENTUCKY'S COUNTY JAILERS SAY THEIR COUNTIES SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY HOLDING DEFENDANTS BEFORE THEY GO TO TRIAL.

HOUSE BILL 211 WOULD REQUIRE THE STATE TO REIMBURSE COUNTIES FOR SOME OF THOSE EXPENSES.

THE BILL THE SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL MEREDITH.

>> HOWEVER, ON THE BACK SIDE OF THAT CONVICTION, THESE INMATES ARE BEING GIVEN A CREDIT SENTENCE CREDIT FOR THEIR STATE SIDE SENTENCE FOR HOW MANY HOWEVER MANY DAYS THEY SAT THAT IN COUNTY JAIL, AND THE COUNTIES HAVE PAID FOR THAT PORTION.

SO WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IS THE CREDIT IS A BENEFIT TO THE STATE.

THE COUNTIES ARE PAYING IT, BUT THE STATE IS PROVIDING NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE BENEFIT THE COUNTIES ARE PROVIDING TO THE STATE WITH REGARD TO THOSE DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING EXPENDED BY COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.

THIS BILL WOULD ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND CREATE A REIMBURSEMENT.

NOW, WE HAD ALL HOPED FOR AND EXPECTED A MUCH LOWER FISCAL NOTE ON THE BILL.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE PROJECTION IS THAT IT WOULD BE $79.2 MILLION ANNUALLY TO IMPLEMENT THIS LEGISLATION.

THERE ARE SOME IDEAS BEING FLOATED AROUND ABOUT A WAY TO TRY TO BRING THAT FISCAL DOLLAR AMOUNT DOWN TO WHERE WE WERE HOPING IT TO BE PRIOR TO THE INITIAL FISCAL NOTE COMING OUT.

AGAIN, WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS NOT PRODUCED US ANYTHING FROM THEIR SHOP TO HELP WITH THIS NUMBER AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN REQUESTED ON MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE TIMES.

>> Casey: REPRESENTATIVE JOSH BRAY TOLD THE HOUSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE THE CURREN SYSTEM IS MORE THAN HIS COUNTIE CAN HANDLE.

>>NESS A HUGE, HUGE ISSUE ALL ACROSS THE STATE, ALTHOUGH OF MY COUNTIES ARE BEING STRANGLED BY THIS.

YOU KNOW, MADISON COUNTY, POPULATION 100,000, IT'S KILLED THEM.

ROCKCASTLE COUNTY WITH POPULATION 16,000, IT'S KILLED THEM.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING THIS.

AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO COMPENSATE OR COUNTIES GOING FORWARD BECAUSE ONE OF THE RECURRING THEMES IS WE'VE HAD THESE PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR UP TO A YEAR AND THEN THEY'RE RELEASED FOR TIME SERVED.

AND IT JUST -- IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, SO THANK YOU all.

>> Casey: THE HOUSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE DID NOT VOTE ON THE MEASURE.

THAT SAME COMMITTEE TOOK UP ANOTHER MEASURE FOR DISCUSSION ONLY.

KENTUCKY'S DEPUTY JAILERS WOULD GET MORE TRAINING IF HOUSE BILL 439 BECOMES LAW.

REPRESENTATIVE JAMES TIPTON IS THE BILL'S SPON HE SAYS MORE TRAINING COULD SAV.

>> ESSENTIALLY EVERY DEPUTY JARELL WOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE 80 HOURS OF INITIAL TRAINING DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR OF BEING HIRED ONTO THE JOB.

THEY WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO HAVE 40 HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION EVERY YEAR.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD SET UP A -- A TRAINING COUNCIL THAT WOULD BE HOUSED IN RICHMOND AT THE DEPARTMENT OFIM CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING TO OVERSEE THIS.

THERE ARE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN THE BILL.

>> Casey: LAUREL COUNTY JAILER JAIME MOSLEY SAYS RIGHT NOW THE TRAINING PROCESS FOR DEPUTY JAILERS IS DIFFERENT FROM COUNT TO COUNTY.

>> CURRENTLY STATEWIDE THERE ARE NO STANDARDS OR STANDARDIZED TRAINING PROCESSES THAT WE USE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

MOST COUNTIES DEPEND ON THEIR OWN TRAINING STAFF.

THEY HAVE AN ACADEMY TO APPROPRIATELY TRAIN INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR FACILITIES.

MOST COMMONLY THIS IS A SENIOR OFFICER, WHICH HAS BEEN TO A VERY SHORT, COMPACT TRAIN THE TRAINER COURSE THAT IS PRESENTED BY KENTUCKY'S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

BEING THE CURRENT TRAINEES ARE PROVIDED BY EACH FACILITY ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO FORMAL OVERSIGHT BODY TO CONSIDER PROPOSED CURRICULUM OR A PEER GROUP TO REVIEW THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE LEVEL OF INSTRUCTORS, THAT THEY NEED TO POSSESS IN ORDER TO SPECIALIZE IN PARTICULAR AREAS OF INSTRUCTION THAT THEY MAY BE PROVIDING, YOU MIGHT IMAGINE MANY TIMES THIS CREATES A LOT OF INCONSISTENCY IN OUR TRAINING FOR JAILS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Casey: THE BILL REMAINS IN THE HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT COMM.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR COVERAGE OF DAY 30 OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 11:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME FOR "LE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS, CALL 1-80 YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW OUR GAVEL-TO-GAVEL COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE DAY BY DOWNLOADING KET'S LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE APP TO YOUR SMART PHON OR TABLET.

YOU CAN WATCH ON OUR CHANNEL OR FOLLOW ALONG ONLINE AT KET.ORG.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.