>> HOW AND WHAT SHOULD BE TAUGHT WHEN IT COMES TO CIVICS AND AMERICAN HISTORY IS THE SUBJECT OF LENGTHY FLOOR DEBATE.

ENDING THE GOVERNOR'S COVID-RELATED STATE OF EMERGENCY IS ENDORSED BY THE UPPER CHAMBER.

BUFFERING THE LEGISLATURE FROM CHALLENGES OVER CONSTITUTIONALITY OF LAWS PASSED GAINS TRACTION.

AND, THE CHECK COULD BE IN THE MAIL FOR INCOME TAX REBATES FOR KENTUCKIANS IF A SENATE PROPOSAL FOR REFUNDS GETS FULLY ENDORSED.

ALL THAT ACTION AND MORE ON DAY 35 OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE TEACHING AMERICAN PRINCIPLES ACT, WHICH THE SENATE SPONSOR BELIEVES CAN UNIFY FOLKS DIVIDED OVER CRITICAL RACE THEORY, HAS PASSED THE SENATE.

UNDER SENATE BILL 138, KENTUCKY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO READ 24 HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS RANGING FROM THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS TO MARTIN LUTHER KING'S LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL AND THEODORE ROOSEVELT'S NEW NATIONALISM SPEECH.

THE MEASURE HAS CREATED CONTROVERSY AS SEVERAL BILLS IN THIS YEAR'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY SEEK TO CURB THE TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY - AND SOME HAVE PLACED SENATE BILL 138 IN THAT CATEGORY.

THE TEACHING AMERICAN PRINCIPLES ACT ALSO STATES SOCIAL STUDIES MATERIALS AND INSTRUCTION SHOULD BE OBJECTIVE, NONDISCRIMINATORY, AND RESPECTFUL TO THE DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES OF STUDENTS.

WITHOUT DIRECTLY MENTIONING C.R.T., THE MEASURE'S SPONSOR, SENATE EDUCATION CHAIR MAX WISE, SAYS THE BILL DOESN'T PROHIBIT TEACHERS FROM HAVING TOUGH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HISTORICAL EVENTS.

>> BOTH EDUCATORS AND PARENTS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THE STANDARDS SEEM TO LACK SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO TO KEY PEOPLE, EVENTS, STRUGGLES, CHALLENGES AND ONGOING SUCCESSIONS AMERICAN PRINCIPLES EQUALITY, FREEDOM AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.

SECOND, OVER THE PAST YEAR, PARENTS, COMMUNITY CONSTITUENTS AND STUDENTS HAVE VERY PASSIONATELY AND ARTIC.

LATLY SHARED SAMPLE STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS.

INDOCTRINATION INTO A PARTICULAR WORLD VIEW RATHER THAN EDUCATION THAT EQUIPS STUDENTS IT THINK CRITICALLY, >> SENATE BILL 138 HAS LANGUAGE THAT DEFINES AMERICAN VALUES - WHILE SAYING THAT SLAVERY AND RACIAL SEGREGATION WERE CONTRARY TO THEM.

IT ALSO LAYS OUT A FRAMEWORK FOR HOW CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SLAVERY AND RACE CAN OCCUR IN THE CLASSROOM.

WHILE WISE SAYS THE BILL DOESN'T DICTATE CLASSROOM CURRICULUM, THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER DISAGREES.

LOUISVILLIAN MORGAN MCGARVEY SAYS THE MEASURE IS POLITICAL AND VAGUE - LEADING TO CHILLING EFFECT ON KENTUCKY'S EDUCATORS.

>> THIS BILL DICTATES WHICH DOCUMENTS MUST BE TAUGHT.

IT'S NOT A STANDARD.

THAT'S CURRICULUM.

WHICH DOCUMENTS MUST BE TAUGHT.

AND THEN LOOK AT THE BILL ITSELF.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME.

IF THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THIS LIST OF ORIGINAL AMERICAN DOCUMENTS IS TO HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERING OPINIONS ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY, THEN WHY MUST WE LIST OUT THE SPECIFIC OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT AMERICA IS AND HOW ONE SUCCEEDS IN AMERICA IN SECTION 1?

BECAUSE IT'S CURRICULUM.

NOT STANDARDS >> WISE SAYS THE BILL PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY IN THE CLASSROOM AND, QUOTE, "PROVIDES A CORE CIVICS FOUNDATION."

AND PARIS SENATOR STEPHEN WEST SAYS THE BILL DIDN'T ORIGINATE FROM THE C.R.T.

DEBATE.

HE SAYS THE BILL IS A RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LACK OF DIRECTION FOR SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTION FOUND IN SENATE BILL 1 - THE OMNIBUS EDUCATION BILL AT THAT PASSIONED IN 2017.

>> THE BILL AS IT IS DOES ALLOW TEACHERS TO TEACH.

IT ALLOWS CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS TO STILL BE TAUGHT.

THE CORE DOCUMENTS ARE PRIMARY SOURCES.

THEY'RE NOT TEXTBOOKS.

THEY'RE NOT LESSONS OF THE THEY'RE NOT CURRICULUM.

THEY'RE NOT OPINIONS.

IT IS ALIGNING SOCIAL STUDY STANDARDS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO BE ACHIEVED.

>> SENATE BILL 1 DID NOT ADDRESS SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS.

IT ADDRESSED MATH AND SCIENCE AND OTHER CORE STANDARDS BUT IT DID NOT TOUCH SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS SO WE HAD MULTIPLE -- A LOT OF EMAILS ON THIS AND PUSH FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

THIS BILL DOES THAT.

THIS BILL ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO US FROM THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND IT FILLS A GAP AND PROVIDES NEEDED GUIDANCE IN THIS AREA.

SENATOR SAYS THIS FORCES CURRICULUM ON OUR STUDENTS, ON OUR SCHOOLS, ON CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, THIS THE LIST THAT IS IN THIS BILL, THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.

THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS BILL THAT SAYS YOU CAN TEACH THIS AND ONLY THIS >> WEST'S CLAIM THAT THE BILL DIDN'T ORIGINATE FROM LAST SUMMER'S NATIONWIDE DISCUSSION ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY ISN'T SOMETHING SENATE MINORITY CAUCUS CHAIR REGGIE THOMAS AGREES WITH.

HE SAYS THE BILL WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BECAUSE OF IT.

THOMAS CALLED THE MEASURE AN ATTEMPT TO WHITEWASH HISTORY.

>> THIS WHOLE IDEA OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS A BOGEYMAN.

IT'S A BOGEYMAN.

BECAUSE WE DON'T TEACH THIS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IT DOES NOT EXIST.

WE'VE HAD A THUMB OF HEARINGS HERE LET'S BE FACTUAL TODAY.

NO ONE HAS COME FORWARD IN ALL THESE HEARINGS, ALL THESE TESTIMONY THAT HAS IDENTIFIED ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR ONE TEACHER THAT'S TAUGHT CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

SO WITH WE DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM IN KENTUCKY.

BUT WHAT WE DO HAVE HERE IS AGENDA THAT'S BEING SET FORTH THAT I THINK IS DANGEROUS.

I THINK IT'S NON-EDUCATIONAL AND I THINK IT TENDS TO WHITE CANS WASH HISTORY.

HERE IN THIS COUNTRY >> TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS SAY THE MEASURE WILL ALLOW EDUCATORS TO TACKLE DIFFICULT SUBJECTS HEAD ON.

TAYLOR MILL SENATOR CHRISTIAN MCDANIEL AND PIKEVILLE SENATOR PHILLIP WHEELER OPENLY ADMIT THAT WHEN THEY SAW THE LIST OF 24 DOCUMENTS INCLUDED IN SENATE BILL 138, THEY REALIZED THEY HADN'T READ ALL OF THEM.

THE TWO SENATORS SAY THIS WILL IMPROVE STUDENT'S CIVIC EDUCATION AND ALLOW TEACHERS TO ADDRESS SUBJECTS INVOLVING PREVIOUS ATROCITIES.

>> IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOME OF THE HARSHS CRITICISMS OF THOSE FLAWS, WHICH FRANKLY HAVE DEFINED OUR NATIONAL HISTORY, READ WHAT'S IN HERE.

TEACH WHAT'S IN HERE.

BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S NOT ONLY IMPORTANT, IT'S CRITICAL.

BECAUSE NO ONE IMPROVES IN A SOCIETY IMPROVES BY ACTING LIKE THE ILLS OF THE PAST DIDN'T EXIST.

AND I CERTAINLY CANNOT FIND WHERE THIS BILL DOES ANYTHING OF THE SORT.

>> BUT I WOULD SAY IF A STUDENT GETS OUT OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM NOT KNOWING ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTION, NOT KNOWING ABOUT OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND NOT KNOWING ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER WONDERFUL DOCUMENTS THAT ARE LISTED IN THIS BILL MANY OF WHICH MYSELF I HAVE NOT READ OR HAVE NOT HAD PRESENTED TO ME, AND I'M PERSON WHO LOVES TO READ HISTORY, THEN I THINK WE HAVE FAILED THE STUDENTS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.

WE HAVE FAILED IN OUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS TO BE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN OUR DEMOCRACY >> WINCHESTER SENATOR RALPH ALVARADO SAYS SENATE BILL 138 IS FAIR AND SAYS PARENTS SHOULD BE LEADING VOICES IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

BUT LOUISVILLE SENATOR DAVID YATES QUESTIONED THAT.

HE ASKS IF THE BILL OPENS THE DOOR FOR PARENTS FORCING TEACHERS TO AVOID DISCUSSING CERTAIN TOPICS.

>> THESE ARE NOT RIGHT WING OR LEFT WING.

THEY'RE FUNDAMENTALLY AMERICAN.

I THINK WE ALL CAN TAKE PRIDE IN THAT.

IF WE'RE HAVING HEARTBURN AND DIFFICULTIES ON THIS BILL, I'M FRANKLY RATHER CONCERNED.

ABOUT THE APPROACH FROM WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS.

WHAT I HEARD TODAY IS SOMEHOW OUR PARENTS KNOW LESS THAN OUR TEACHERS DO.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM A LOT OF PARENTS IN OUR DISTRICTS AND FAMILIES IN OUR DISTRICTS.

I THINK IT'S TIME WE BEGIN TO LIST AND RESPECT THE OPINIONS AND CHOICES FEEL PARENTS AND OUR FAMILIES WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

>> MY BIG FEAR IS WHAT WE'RE HEARING TODAY SAYING THAT THE PARENTS KNOW BEST.

I'M A PARENT.

I LIKE TO SAY I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR MY CHILD.

I CAN TELL YOU HERE IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE POLITICALLY STAND UP ELECTED OFFICIAL AND SAY AS A YOUTH MENTOR SOMEONE WHO WORKED KIDS IN A JUVENILE SYSTEM IT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE.

I'VE DEALT WITH SOME HATEFUL, IGNORANT, RACIST INDIVIDUALS IN MY PAST.

AND A BEAUTIFUL CHILD WHO WANTS NOTHING MORE THAN THAN TO LEARN AND TO COME FORWARD.

AND SO WE USE THE EXAMPLE OF A HALLOW CAUGHT DENIER OR OUTRIGHT BIGOT.

ARE THEY ALLOWED TO COME IN AND SAY YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T TEACH THAT TO MY CHILD?

BECAUSE OF THAT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CARRY ON THAT BIGOTRY?

IS THAT WHAT WE WANT FTION >> SENATE BILL 138 WOULD ADD STATUTE STATING SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO ENGAGE IN TRAINING THAT STEREOTYPES ANY GROUP.

GRAYSON SENATOR ROBIN WEBB HAD AN ISSUE WITH THAT LANGUAGE.

SHE SAYS IT RAISES SOME DUE PROCESS CONCERNS FOR SCHOOL STAFF.

>> THAT PARTICULAR PROVISION, TO ME, LACKS CLARITY IN DEFINITION AND COULD BE A PROBLEM IN APPLICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR EMPLOYEES IN ANY DISTRICT.

THEM NOT HAVING A DIRECT WHO'S MAKING THAT DECISION, WHAT'S THE CRITERIA AND DUE PROCESS.

THAT PROVISION BOTHERS ME, >> LOUISVILLE SENATORS GERALD NEAL AND KAREN BURG VOTED AGAINST SENATE BILL 138.

NEAL SAYS THE BILL IS THE FIRST STEP DOWN A ROAD THAT COULD LEAD TO MORE INTRUSIVE MEASURES - ALLUDING TO A BILL IN TEXAS THAT BANNED SOME BOOKS FROM SCHOOL LIBRARIES, EARLIER THIS YEAR.

BERG SAYS THE MEASURE MAY KEEP HISTORY FROM BEING TAUGHT ACCURATELY.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH THIS BILL IS THAT IT IS AN EFFORT TO APPEASE.

IT IS AN EFFORT TO APPEASE A SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION THAT IS STANDING UP AND SAYING "I DON'T WANT MY KIDS TAUGHT HISTORY THE WAY HISTORY HAPPENED.

BECAUSE IT MAKES THEM FEEL BAD.

AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL BAD.

AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE ANY COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S A SOCIETY WE -- AS A SOCIETY WE ALL HAVE COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY.

>> IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR US TO DO WHAT MY FRIEND SPOKE OF EARLIER, ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH SCHOOLS, ET CETERA.

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE CAN'T RUN THEM FROM HERE.

IT HAS TO HAPPEN ON THE GROUND.

AND THE THEORY IS AND WE SEE EVIDENCE OF IT IF YOU LOOK AT FLORIDA, VIRGINIA RIGHT NOW, THIS WHOLE BOGEYMAN AS THE SENATOR FROM FAYETTE 13 REFERS TO, WAS A RUSE.

IT LACKED ALL KINDS OF INTEGRITY.

IT WAS DESIGNED TO CREATE A BAIT AND SWITCH SO WE CAN GET INTO THE EDUCATION PIECE TO LITIGATE ALL ISSUES THAT IN SOME STATES HAVE LED TO BANNING OF BOOKS >> SENATE BILL 138 WAS APPROVED BY THE SENATE 28 TO 8 ON A PARTY-LINE VOTE.

IT NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE.

LEGISLATION TERMINATING THE GOVERNOR'S COVID STATE OF EMERGENCY WAS ADOPTED ON A LARGELY PARTY LINE VOTE IN THE STATE SENATE.

JESSAMINE COUNTY REPUBLICAN DONALD DOUGLAS'S SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 150 WAS FILED LAST FRIDAY.

IT DESIGNATES MARCH 7, 2022, ONE DAY OVER TWO YEARS FROM THE ORIGINAL STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION, AS THE EXPIRATION DATE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE LONG MAINTAIN THE GOVERNOR OVERSTEPPED HIS EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY HANDLING THE PANDEMIC.

AS A PHYSICIAN, DOUGLAS SAID HE QUESTIONED THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR.

>> THE EMERGENCY FORCED STATEWIDE SUSPENSION OF ELECTIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES.

PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PROCEDURES BEING PERFORMED.

THERE WERE NO NEED FOR NEM IN THE HOSPITAL.

THERE ARE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATES, TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.

SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN.

BUSINESSES SHUT DOWN.

HECK, EVEN AT ONE POINT THE KENTUCKY STATE POLICE WERE DIRECTED TO TARGET CHURCH ATTENDEES, MR. PRESIDENT, CHURCH ATTENDEES >> IN A STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WHEN THE BILL WAS FILED LAST WEEK, A SPOKESPERSON SAID THE STATE OF EMERGENCY HELPS KENTUCKY RECEIVE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO FIGHT THE PANDEMIC AND PROVIDE RELIEF.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S OFFICE ALSO ADDED THAT "KENTUCKY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS AS THERE ARE NO STATE RESTRICTIONS ON EMPLOYERS AND SCHOOLS ARE OPEN."

JEFFERSON COUNTY DOCTOR AND SENATOR KAREN BERG REGISTERED A ´NO' VOTE ON THE MEASURE.

SHE SOUGHT TO CLARIFY WHY ELECTIVE SURGERIES WERE SHUTTERED AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE ELECT IFER SURGES WERE SHUT DOWN AT THE BEHEST OF THE HOSPITALS THEMSELVES WHICH IS NOT A MANDATE FROM OUR GOVERNOR.

OUR HOSPITALS DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO SUPPORT THEM AND IN FACT, IT WAS ONLY THE WEEK BEFORE LAST OR MAYBE EVEN LAST WEEK THAT BAPTIST HEALTH CARE IN LOUISVILLE RESUMED ELECTIVE PROCEDURES THAT REQUIRED AN OVERNIGHT HOSPITALIZATION.

SO I WOULD SAY ELECTIVE PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN HELD IN THIS STATE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THIS BODY FOR MUCH, MUCH, MUCH LONGER THAN THEY WERE HELD UNDER THE CONTROL OF OUR GOVERNOR.

>> WHEN COVID STARTED THERE WAS A LOT OF FEAR.

FEAR EVERYWHERE.

THIS BODY REFUSE TODAY MEET.

PEOPLE WERE LYSOLLING THEIR GROCERIES.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME.

OUR UNDERSTANDING HAS COME AROUND TO IT.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE UNDER THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

THE STATE OF EMERGENCY WAS VOTED ON AFFIRMED BY THIS BODY LAST MONTH.

NOW WE'RE CHANGING IT TODAY IT MARCH 7 TO AN ARBITRARY DATE WHEN IN THE TESTIMONY TODAY WE HEARD WE ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN, THAT'S WHY WE'RE DELAYING THE DATE.

WHILE IT SAYS IN THE RESOLUTION ITSELF IT'S THE INTENTION THAT THIS DOESN'T HURT FEDERAL FUNDING OF PROGRAMS LIKE NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS TO OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, IT VERY WELL COULD.

THAT IS NOT LEGISLATION THAT IS READY TO BE PASSED BY THIS BODY.

OF >> SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 150 WAS ADOPTED BY THE SENATE 28 TO 8, AND NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION THERE.

MORE DEVELOPMENTS RELATED TO COVID EMERGENCY ORDERS CAME FROM A HOUSE PANEL TODAY.

THE HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE APPROVED HOUSE BILL 43 THAT PROHIBITS GOVERNMENT FROM RESTRICTING RELIGIOUS SERVICES DURING AN EMERGENCY MORE THAN WHAT IS IMPOSED ON BUSINESSES AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

SOMERSET REPUBLICAN SHANE BAKER SAID HIS LEGISLATION STEMS FROM ACTIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO WHEN GROCERY AND HARDWARE STORES AND GAS STATIONS REMAINED OPENED BUT EVENT VENUES AND CHURCHES WERE CLOSED TO SLOW THE SPREAD.

>> IN 2020, IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, WE FACED SOME UNPRECEDENTED SITUATIONS.

DURING THAT TIME, CHURCHES WERE SHUT DOWN.

THERE WERE A LOT OF CONFUSION AND FRUSTRATION THAT TOOK PLACE ALONG WITH THAT.

AND WHILE CHURCHES WERE SHUT DOWN, BIG BOX RETAILERS, GROCERY STORES, GAS STATIONS AND HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTERS REMAINED OPEN.

WHAT THIS SEEKS TO DO IS PUT CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND TREATED IN THE SAME MANNER DURING TIMES OF EMERGENCY SO THEY WOULD BE TREATED IN SAME MANNER AS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

IF THOSE ENTITIES OPEN AT 100% SO TOO WILL THE CHURCHES AND RJ ORGANIZATIONS >> REPRESENTATIVE BAKER'S BILL WOULD ALSO ALLOW RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST A LOCAL OR STATE EMERGENCY ORDER IF IT DEEMS IT'S DISCRIMINATORY, SUCH AS AN INJUNCTION OF EVEN COMPENSATORY DAMAGES.

LAWMAKERS SOUNDED OFF FOR AND AGAINST THE PROPOSAL.

>> THIS IS IF OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE VITAL TO HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC WHICH I WOULD SAY CHURCHES ARE VITAL TO THE WELFARE THE PUBLIC, IF THOSE ARE OPEN, THEN CHURCHES ARE OPEN.

IF THEY HAVE RESTRICTION, THE CHURCHES HAVE THOSE RESTRICTIONS AS WELL BUT NO MORE, NO LESS.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IN MY CONSTITUENTS' PERSPECTIVE, WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOME THINGS WERE OPEN, SOME WEREN'T.

I COULD FIGHT FOR A PARKING SPOT AT LOWES AND ELBOW INTO THE AISLE TO GET WHATEVER I WANTED TO GET THAT WAS NONESSENTIAL OR ESSENTIAL AT LOWES BUT I COULDN'T GO TO CHURCH AND SIT PEWS APART FROM OTHERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY NO ON THIS BILL THAT DIMINISHES THE DEMOCRATIC TOLERANCE OF RELIGIOUS DIVERSITIES AND THOSE OF US WHO FOLLOWED THE RULES ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK TO TAKE CARE OF NEIGHBORS WHO WERE NOT IN OUR CHURCHES, WHO WERE NOT SOMEONE WE WERE GOING TO NECESSARILY SEE THE NEXT DAY.

WE THOUGHT OF ALL OF THOSE WHOM WE HAD TO HELP WHO WERE STRANGERS, WHICH IS WHY OUR CHURCH FOLLOWED THE RULES.

I AM NOT ENDORSING A BILL THAT SAYS IT'S OKAY TO BREAK CIVIC RULES IN EMERGENCIES.

>> THE LEGISLATURE ADDRESSED THIS LAST YEAR WITH THE CHANGES MADE TO 39-A AND THEY'RE SERIOUS SEPARATION OF POWERS ISSUES WITH THIS BILL.

SO I'M VOTING NO TODAY.

WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THIS LAST YEAR >> HOUSE BILL 43 ADVANCED FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AND NOW WAITS FOR ACTION BY THE FULL HOUSE.

A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY REGARDING A BILL THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW CERTAIN LAWSUITS ARE HANDLED.

REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL ELLIOTT OF DANVILLE IS THE SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 248.

IF PASSED, IT WOULD PROHIBIT ANY ELECTED STATEWIDE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, STATE OFFICIALS, STATE EMPLOYEES, AND STATE AGENCIES FROM USING PUBLIC DOLLARS TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF ANY BILL PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

THE BILL CARVES OUT ONE EXCEPTION, AND THAT'S FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SOME DEMOCRATS ARGUE THE BILL MAKES IT HARDER TO HOLD A SUPER MAJORITY ACCOUNTABLE.

>> I THINK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PATH TO GO DOWN, I WOULD ECHO WHAT THE LADY FROM JEFFERSON 34 SAID, THAT IT WOULD APPEAR TO I THINK MANY IN THE PUBLIC THAT THERE THERE WAS SOMETHING WE'RE TRYING TO HIDE HERE.

IF, FOR INSTANCE, WE PASS ADD LAW THAT MADE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GREATER THAN THE GOVERNOR IN TERMS OF STATURE AND ABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, WHO COULD CHALLENGE THAT?

I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I HOPE YOU JOIN ME IN VOTING NO.

>> I THINK THIS BILL IS ANYTHING BUT CLEAR IN ITS INTENTION, AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE INTENTION MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHAT THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY ARE GOING TO SEE FROM THIS BILL IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY HATE ABOUT POLITICS, EXACTLY WHAT THEY HATE ABOUT THIS WHOLE TOWN AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS THAT WE TRY TO ACT WITH IMPUGNITY AND THEN WE PASS LAWS THAT KEEP YOU FROM EVEN CHALLENGING US.

IT LOOKS BAD.

IT'S A BAD LOOK.

IT'S A BAD BILL.

ROPE CANS MAIN THIN THIS BILL WON'T SHIELD FILED BY THE PUBLIC.

>> WHENEVER WE HAVE SOMEONE THT EXECUTIVE BRANCH ENTIRE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THAT SPENDS MONEY THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATED, THEN YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF DOING NOTHING, YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF TALKING ABOUT IT OR YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF SEEING IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SUE ABOUT IT.

BUT IN NO EVENT DOES THIS PREVENT ANY PERSON IN THE COMMONWEALTH FROM FILING SUIT.

IT SIMPLY SPEAKS TO WHETHER YOU CAN USE TAXPAYER MONEY, PUBLIC MONEY FOR OUR OWN PRIVATE, PERSONAL VIEW OF WHAT THE CONSTITUTIONITY IS UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN CHARGED WITH DUTY AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS.

>> I THINK ONE GROUP THAT'S SOMEWHAT LEFT OUT OF THIS DISCUSSION IS THE TAXPAYERS OF KENTUCKY.

AND THIS IS A BILL THAT WOULD PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS OF KENTUCKY, THAT IS MY INTENTION.

I THINK THE CONSTITUTION IS VERY CLEAR IN THAT THE ONLY STATEWIDE ELECTED CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER WHO IS REQUIRED TO BE A LAWYER FOR EIGHT YEARS IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

NONE OF THE OTHER OFFICES HAVE THAT REQUIREMENT.

SO IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD MAKE THESE CHALLENGES WHEN HE OR SHE USING THEIR OWN JUDGMENT AND THEIR LEGAL EXPERTISE DECIDE TO BRING THOSE CHALLENGES >> THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES A PROVISION THAT WOULD MAKE IT APPLY RETROACTIVELY, BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST OF THIS YEAR.

REPRESENTATIVE MARY LOU MARZIAN OF LOUISVILLE VOTED AGAINST THE BILL, SAYING IT WAS AN ATTEMPT BY REPUBLICANS TO DERAIL LAWSUITS REGARDING REDISTRICTING.

THE CURRENT LAWSUIT SURROUNDING NEW DISTRICT MAPS IS BEING CHALLENGED BY THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

REPRESENTATIVE CHAD MCCOY SAID THIS BILL WOULD NOT STOP THAT CHALLENGE FROM GOING FORWARD.

HOUSE BILL 248 PASSED BY A VOTE OF 73 TO 22.

IT IS NOW HEADED TO THE SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION THERE.

KENTUCKIANS COULD BE GETTING SOME OF THE MONEY THEY PAID IN 2020 TAXES SENT BACK TO THEM.

THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE COMMITTEE PASSED A MEASURE THAT COULD REFUND AS MUCH AS $500 BACK TO INDIVIDUALS AND UP TO $1,000 BACK TO JOINT FILERS.

SENATOR CHRISTIAN MCDANIEL SAYS SENATE BILL 194 IS MEANT TO ADDRESS ISSUES WORKING FAMILIES ARE HAVING WITH INFLATION.

>> THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE COMMONWEALTH FOR HOUSEHOLD WITH TWO WORKING PARENTS IS $55,760.

IN KENTUCKY, WE TAKE 6.3% OF THE AVERAGE KENTUCKIANS INCOME IN INCOME TAX.

THE AVERAGE IN THE UNITED STATES IS 5.4%, AND THE AVERAGE IN OUR COMPETITOR STATES IS ONLY 5.2%.

SENATE BILL 194 TODAY ADDRESSES SOME OF THOSE DISPARITIES WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ADDRESSING THE CRUSHING INFLATION THAT AVERAGE CITIZENS ARE DEALING WITH >> THE SENATE A-AND-R COMMITTEE APPROVED A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE TO SENATE BILL 194 TO GIVE IT THE NEW LANGUAGE AND AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE.

MCDANIEL SAYS THE MEASURE WILL COST THE STATE $1.15 BILLION.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM DAVID GIVENS ASKED MCDANIEL HOW THE BILL WILL WORK AND WHETHER THE STATE CAN AFFORD IT.

>> I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE ABILITY OF THE STATE TO SEND BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS SOME OF THE MONEY THAT THEY SENT TO US.

>> SURE.

>> SPEAK TO THAT, IF YOU WOULD.

>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THAT.

IT GOES TO A FUNDAMENTAL ITEM WE DISCUSSED MANY TIMES IN THIS COMMITTEE AND ON THE FLOOR, WHICH IS ALL THE DOLLARS THAT WE SPEND ARE NOT DOLLARS THAT WE GENERATE.

THESE ARE DOLLARS AT THAT PEOPLE GENERATE BY THE INVESTMENT OF TIME IN THEIR LIFE.

AND THROUGH THE LAST TWO YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE WRITTEN EXCEPTIONALLY CONSERVATIVE BUDGETS AND SEE RECEIPTS DRAMATICALLY IN EXCESS OF THE ANTICIPATED EXPENSES.

SO, BY CONSEQUENCE, WE HAVE -- THIS YEAR ALONE THAT ENDS ON JUNE 30, WE WILL RECOGNIZE ABOUT $1.94 BILLION OF EXCESS REVENUE ABOVE EXPENDITURES.

AS MENTIONED AND STATED IN SECTION 4, THE TOTAL COST IS ABOUT $1.15 BILLION.

SO YOU'RE ABOUT -- THERE'S ABOUT $830 MILLION OF REVENUE STILL REMAINING IN THE CURRENT YEAR, EVEN AFTER THIS EXPENDITURE IS MADE, >> MCDANIEL ALSO TOLD GIVENS THAT AFTER THE REFUNDS, THERE WILL STILL BE $2.3 BILLION IN THE BUDGET RESERVE TRUST FUND.

BENTON SENATOR DANNY CARROLL ASKED HOW THIS WILL IMPACT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE TAX BRACKET.

>> CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS AND HOW THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE AT THE UPPER END OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC SCALE AND THOSE AT THE LOWER END AND HOW THIS ALLOCATION, THE FAIRNESS OF THE DISTRIBUTION?

>> SURE.

ABSOLUTELY.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

IF YOU WERE TO TAKE A VERY BASIC EXAMPLE OF A FAMILY WHO MAKES $40,000 IN A YEAR, 5% INCOME TAX, THEY'RE PAYING $2,000 TO THE COMMONWEALTH.

SO BY EXTENSION, THIS IS 50% OF THEIR TAX MONEY REFUNDED TO THEM.

IF YOU TOOK A FAMILY WHOSE DOING BETTER AND SAY MAKING $100,000 A YEAR AND PAYING $5,000 IN TAX, THIS IS 20% OF THEIR INCOME TAX REFUNDED TO THEM.

NECESSARILY, LOWER INCOME FOLKS WILL HAVE A MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THEIR TAX BURDEN REFUNDED TO THEM >> THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE OF SENATE BILL 194 PASSED THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE COMMITTEE AND IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR ACTION BY THE SENATE.

THAT'S ALL FOR DAY 35 OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS, CALL 1-800-633-9650.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW OUR GAVEL TO GAVEL COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE DAY BY DOWNLOADING KET'S LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE APP TO YOUR SMART PHONE OR TABLET.

YOU CAN WATCH ON OUR KENTUCKY CHANNEL OR FOLLOW ALONG ONLINE WE HOPE TO SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT RIGHT AFTER COMMENT ON KENTUCKY OUR SPECIAL FRIDAY NIGHT TIME.

8:30 EASTERN, 7:30 CENTRAL FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

I'M RENEE SHAW.