>> Renee: HOUSE REPUBLICANS UNVEIL THEIR TAX MODERNIZATION PACKAGE AS SEPARATE IDEAS ON TA BREAKS FOR CORPORATE GIANTS AND TAX REFUNDS FOR KENTUCKIANS ARE THE SENATE ENDORSES A RESPONSE IS TO TEACHING CRITICAL RACE th SOME PUBLIC OFFICIALS COULD HAV THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION SHIELDED FROM PUBLIC VIEW.

AND ENDING THE GOVERNOR'S COVID STATE OF EMERGENCY AND PUTTING LIMITS ON CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS BAIL BONDING IS ALL ACTION THIS SEVENTH WEEK OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

32 FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE."

I'M RENEE Shaw.

FRANKFORT POLITICIANS ARE DEVISING THE WAYS TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE POCKETS OF KENTUCKY TAXPAYERS, AS MANY ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP ABOVE WATER IN THE FACE OF RISING INFLATION.

IN A LEGISLATIVE HEARING YESTERDAY, THE SENATE BUDGET CHAIRMAN ROLLED OUT A STATE INCOME TAX REBATE PLAN.

IT WOULD GIVE A $500 TAX REFUND TO LAST YEAR'S SINGLE TAX FILERS AND A $1,000 REFUND TO MARRIED COUPLES.

THE REBATE WOULD COST THE STAT A LITTLE OVER $1 BILLION AND IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE STATE WILL HAVE NEARLY $2 BILLION IN EXCESS .

REVENUE ABOUT WHAT IT'S EXPECTED TO DOLE OUT.

>> WHAT THIS MEANS IS IF YOU ARE A HOUSEHOLD THAT PAID $750 IN PERSONAL INCOME TAX LAST YEAR, THIS COMING YEAR OR BY THE END OF THE SUMMER YOU WILL HAVE A REFUND FOR THAT WHOLE $750.

IF YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHO PAID OVER $1,000 IN KENTUCKY STATE INCOME TAX LAST YEAR, YOU WILL RECEIVE A REFUND OF $1,000.

THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROPOSAL SHOULD NOT EXCEED $1.15 BILLION.

AND THAT IN CURRENT YEAR APPROPRIATION.

AND THAT IS ACCOUNTED FOR IN SECTION 4 OF THE BUDGET.

THERE'S AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE ATTACHED TO THIS, SO THAT THE MONEY CAN BE APPROPRIATED INTO THE APPROPRIATE FUND AND THEN e >> Renee: THE STATE TAKES 6.3% OF THE AVERAGE KENTUCKIAN'S PAY IN INCOME TAX.

MCDANIEL SAYS TH AVERAGE IS 5.4%.

AND HE SAYS NEARBY STATES ARE EVEN LOWER.

>> SENATE BILL 194 TODAY ADDRESSES SOME OF THOSE DISPARITIES WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ADDRESSING THE CRUSHING INFLATION THAT AVERAGE CITIZENS ARE DEALING WITH.

>> Renee: CHAIRMAN MCCANAL SAYS LOWER INCOME KENTUCKIANS WOULD HAVE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE THEIR TAX REFUNDS REFUND TODAY THEM UNDER THE TAX REBATE PLAN THERE WOULD BE A $2.3 BILLION I THE BUDGET RESERVE TRUST FUND A THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR THA ENDS JUNE 30TH EVEN AFTER THE REBATES WERE ISSUED.

SENATE BILL 194 ADVANCED FROM THE A&R COMMITTEE YESTERDAY AND IS NOW WAITING FOR APPROVAL BY THE FULL Senate LAST WEEK DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ANDY BEAR SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FREEZING VEHICLE PROPERTY TAXES THAT WERE SUBJECT TO A PANDEMIC RELATED SURGE OF 40%.

AND UNDER A PROPOSAL FILED BY HOUSE MINORITY WHIP ANGIE HATTON, THE STATE SALES TAX WOULD DROP FROM 6% TO 5% FOR ONE FISCAL YEAR THAT BEGINS JULY 1ST.

I ASKED HER ABOUT THAT PLAN MONDAY NIGHT ON KET'S "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

>> WITH INFLATION RATES HIGH AND EVERYONE PAYING MORE FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING, IT'S A TEMPORARY 1% CUT IN SALES TAX WHICH SHOULD GIVE EVERYBODY A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK AT LEAST IN WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THINGS.

>> WHY JUST ONE YEAR?

>> WELL, BECAUSE WE NEED TO LOOK AT A NEXT YEAR, SEE IF THE INFLATION RATE LAST HAS COME BACK DOWN.

ANOTHER REASON FOR FILING IT WAS TO GET US TALKING ABOUT WHAT A BAD IDEA IT WOULD BE TO RAISE SALES TAX AT THIS POINT.

IF WE COULD LOWER INCOME TAX, I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL, WHEN WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, RECORD REVENUES, MONTH AFTER MONTH, AND THE BUDGET LOOKS REALLY GREAT, AND THE OUTLOOK FOR THE ECONOMY IS LOOKING REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW.

IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO CUT SOME INCOME TAX AS WELL WHETHER THE STATE DOESN'T NEED AS MUCH OF THE MONEY, BUT RAISING SALES TAX IS NOT GOING TO HELP THE POOREST KENTUCKIANS.

>> SO WHAT WOULD BE THE METRIC BY WHICH THE INFLATION MARK, RIGHT?

YOU SAID TO JUST KIND OF SEE HOW INFLAYS WAS DECLINING.

IS THERE A MAGIC NUMBER THAT IT WOULD HIT IN ORDER FOR TO YOU CONTINUE THAT BEYOND ONE YEAR?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A MAGIC NUMBER, BUT IF INFLATION RATES GO DOWN, AS PREDICTED, BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR IT MAY NOT BE NEEDED AND IT MAY BE SOMETHING WONDERFUL THAT WE WOULDN'T TO KEEP FOREVER >> Renee: WHEN LAWMAKERS TALK OF TAX BREAKS AND REBATES, IT OFTEN SPURS QUESTIONS ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND RESTRUCTURING OF KENTUCKY'S TAX I TALKED ABOUT THIS MONDAY NIGH ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

WHAT IS TAX REFORM LIKELY TO LOOK LIKE?

WHEN WILL WE SEE A PLAN?

HOUSE SPEAKER PRO-TEM DAVID MEADE RESPONDED FIRST TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE HOUSE'S WORK ON TAX REFORM AND PLANS TO REDUCE THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX.

>> WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO SEE ZERO PERCENT LIKE SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING STATES AND LIKE FLORIDA AND TEXAS.

INDIANA 20 DIDN'T GET ALL THE WAY TO ZERO BUT THEY GOT SOMEWHERE AROUND 3 I THINK IT WAS, AND THAT MAY BE THE APPROACH THAT WE END UP TALKING BUT DOING THIS BUDGET EARLY WAS PART OF THAT PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT RAINY DAY OR THE BUDGET RESERVE TRUST FUND AND BUILD IT UP DO THAT AMOUNT SO THAT WE CAN DO THE TAX REFORM BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO TAX REFORM IN A YEAR THAT YOU NEED MONEY BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST GOING TO END UP PASSING TAX INCREASES AT THAT POINT.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT WHETHER YOU HAVE A SURPLUS LIKE THIS, AND THAT'S WHAT OUR PLAN IS TO BE ABLE TO LOWER THE TAXES AS WE DO THAT.

>> IN 2018 THE LAST TIME THIS THEIR WAS TAX REFORM THAT LOWERED THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX ABOUT IT DID IT FOR THE WEALTH NESS KENTUCKIANS.

IT HAD ACTUALLY DIDN'T LOWER THE TAX BURDEN ON THE HARD WORKING FAMILIES OF KENTUCKY IT.

RAISED IT, AND WE'RE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF THAT NOW.

>> Renee: ASK AND JAWS AS HEAD THEY HAD LATE THIS MORNING HOUSE REPUBLICANS UNVEILED THEIR PLAN EMBROILED IN HOUSE BILL GO THAT WOULD LOWER THE STATE TEASE 5% INCOME TAX INCREMENTALLY OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS UNTIL IT IS ZEROED OUT.

THIS IS THEIR TAX MODERNIZATION PLAN.

THE FIRST DECREASE WOULD THE INCOME TAX RATE AN ENTIRE PERCENTAGE POINT TO 4% ON JANUARY 1ST OF NEXT YEAR.

THE MEASURE ALSO EXTENDS THE SALES TAX OR A USER FEE TO SERVICES LIKE TAXI CABS, CAR RENTALS OR N SERVERS LIKE UBER AND LYFT, TEMPORARY RENTAL SERVICES LIKE AIRBNB, ADVERTISING 1 MARKETING AND GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES, RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND EVENT SPACE RENTALS, COSMETIC SURGERY AND LEGISLATIV AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH LOBBYING.

THE MEASURE ALSO IMPLEMENTS A BATTERY RECLAMATION FEE ON ELECTRIC AND HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLES AND A TAX ON THE USE O FEE-FOR-SERVICE CHARGING STATIO REVENUE RAISED THROUGH THESE MECHANISMS WOULD BE EARMARKED FOR THE STATE ROAD FUND AND GENERAL FUND.

THE HOUSE BILL DOES NOT REDUCE CORPORATE INCOME TAX OR THE LIMITED LIABILITY ENTITY TAX, NOR DOES IT EXPAND THE SALES ta TO TRADITIONALLY NON-TAXED ITEM LIKE GROCERIES AND MEDICATION.

THE PROGRESSIVE-LEANING KENTUCK CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY CALLED THE MEASURE A RECKLESS BILL THAT WOULD DOOM KENTUCKY'S SCHOOLS AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES AND CREATE A FUTURE OF WIDER INEQUALITY, DEEPER POVERT AND STAGNANT ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND LABOR GROUPS ARE URGING HERO PAY, THAT IS FEDERALLY FUND BONUSES FOR THOSE WORKERS WHO WERE DEEMED ESSENTIAL DURING TH COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE BUDDY WHEATLEY, WHO CHAIRED THE KENTUCKY HOUSE CAUCUS' ESSENTIAL WORKERS WORK GROUP IN DECEMBER, ANNOUNCED A WREST RESOLUTION HE'S FILING TO AWARD PREMIUM PAY TO THOSE FRONTLINE AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS USING FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OR ARPA.

VARIOUS UNION REPRESENTATIVES AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS ALSO AS HARD THEIR STORIES THIS WEEK ON WHAT IT WAS LIKE WORKING ON THE FRONTLINES AT THE HATING HEIGHT OF PANDEMIC.

>> THE TEAM TEAMSTERS UNION REPRESENTS WORKERS FROM BROAD SPECK TRIUMPHS INDUSTRIES, AND WE ARE HERE ON BEHALF TO ASK THAT ALL ESSENTIAL WORKERS BE INCLUDED IN THE FUNDING ALLOCATED BY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

>> WITH THE ARPA FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, WE'RE CALLING UPON THE MAJORITY PARTY TO JOIN US IN THIS EFFORT TO AWARD THE $400 MILLION TO THESE DESERVING WORKERS.

>> COVID-19 HAS PLACED A HUGE PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND PHYSICAL BURDEN ON OUR MEMBERS.

WE'VE HAD TO IDENTITY FROM OUR FAMILIES FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS AT A TIME IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEM FROM OUR DAILY EXPOSURES.

ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN MANDATED TO WORK OVERTIME IN EXCESS OF MANY HUNDREDS OF HOURS DUE TO RESTRICTIONS ON THE WORKFORCE FROM QUARANTINE TEENS AND THE INABILITY TO HIRE.

>> THE SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL STAFF, INCLUDING BUS DRIVERS AND SUBSTITUTES, CONTINUES TO STRESS THE SYSTEM IN WAYS THAT WE'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED.

NOW MORE THAN EVER SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ARE BEING ASKED TO DO MORE WITH LESS.

WE ARE TIRED AND OVERWHELMED, BUT WE CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS OVER AND AROUND ALL OF BARRIERS THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS CREATED.

>> WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THE MOON.

AN ESSENTIAL WORKER BONUS WOULD NOT MEET ALL THE NEEDS OF OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS OR MAKE WHOLE WHAT WAS LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BUT WHAT AN ESSENTIAL WORKER BONUS COULD DO IS AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THE SACRIFICES MADE BY OUR COMMONWEALTH, DISTILLERIES, FOOD PROCESSING, MEATED PACKING AND GROCERIES WORKERS WHO SHOWED UP TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES WHEN IT MATTERED.

>> THE TIME IS RIGHT, THE TIME IS NOW, IT'S TIME FOR THIS TO BE A VERY BIPARTISAN MOVEMENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND TREAT THEM LIKE THE HEROS THEY ARE.

>> Renee: UNION ORGANIZERS AND DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR $400 MILLION IN HERO PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

WHEN IT COMES TO JOBS IN THE HEALTH CARE FIELD, SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE A PLAN TO EASE THE STATE'S NURSIN THAT'S WORSENED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS FROM THE COVID PANDEM.

HENDERSON SENATOR ROBBY MILLS SPONSORS SENATE BILL 10 THAT AI TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS FOR ON IT-OF-STATE AND FOREIGN-TRAINED NURSES TO PRACTICE IN KENTUCKY.

AND IT HOPES TO IMPROVE STUDENT TAKES TO NURSING PROGRAMS BY REMOVING ENROLLMENT LIMITS AT NURSING SCHOOLS.

>> I WAS CONTACTED FROM A COUPLE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT THAT JUST DYING FOR NURSES, JUST NEEDING NURSES IN LONG-TERM HEALTH FACILITIES, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET QUALIFIED NURSES POSSIBLY FROM ON IT OF THE COUNTRY BUT OUT OF STATE JUST ANYBODY TO COME IN THAT HAS THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT DOESN'T GET TIED P IN THE BUREAUCRACY OF THE LICENSURE PROCESS.

>> THE CEO OF THE KENTUCKY NURSES ASSOCIATION says HER ORGANIZATION, WHICH REPRESENTS 89,000 NURSES, BACKS SENATE BILL 10 BUT THAT THEY HAVE SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE IT.

THEY'RE CALLING FOR $100 MILLIO TO HELP ADDRESS THE NURSING SHO.

>> THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 2,000SAPRNs WHO ARE PRACTICING OUTSIDE KENTUCKY BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PRACTICE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE THEIR LICENSURE AND EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION.

WE NEED TO BRING THOSE NURSES HOME.

THERE ARE ALSO APPROXIMATELY 5,000 RETIRED NURSES THAT WE THINK WILL COME BACK AND HELP US IF WE PROVIDE THEM WITH EDUCATION AND RETRAINING.

WE DON'T THINK WE CAN GET 5,000 BUT WE DO THINK WE CAN GET APPROXIMATELY 1500 OF THOSE.

WITH JUST THOSE TWO GROUPS, THAT WOULD BE 3500 NURSES THAT COULD HELP US WITH THE NURSING SHORTAGE.

WE ALSO THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR NURSE FACULTY.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FACULTY TO ACCOMMODATE MORE STUDENTS.

LAST YEAR THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF NURSING REPORTED THAT THERE WERE 1700 SEATS UNFILLED BY NURSING STUDENTS.

WE DON'T HAVE THE FACULTY OR CLINICAL PRACTICE AREAS IN TO ACCOMMODATE 1700 STUDENTS AT THIS TIME.

>> Renee: SENATE BILL 10 PASSED THE SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY O WEDNESDAY AND NOW WAITS FOR ACTION BY THE FULL SENATE.

SHIFTING NOW TO CRIMINAL JUSTIC MATTERS, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUT UP BAIL FOR INMATES FACE SOME RESTRICTIONS UNDER A BILL THAT COULD SOON COME BEFORE THE FULL WHEN IT WAS FIRST FILED, HOUSE BILL 313 WOULD HAVE PUT AN OUTRIGHT BAN ON THOSE GROUPS IN KENTUCKY, BUT THIS WEEK IT WAS SCALED BACK TO LET THEM KEEP OPERATING BUT THEY COULDN'T POST BONDS FOR AMOUNTS HIGHER THAN $5,000 OR IN CASES INVOLVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES OR INVOLUNTARILY SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT INTEREST IN THE BILL GREW AFTER LOUISVILLE MAYORAL C CRAIG GREENBERG WAS SHOT AT IN HIS CAMPAIGN OFFICE LAST WEEK.

THE MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER, QUINTEZ BROWN, WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL AFTER THE LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY BAIL PROJECT POSTED THE $100,000 BON FOR HIS RELEASE.

FORMER LAW ENFORCER TURNED REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BLANTON AND ATTORNEY JASON NEMES, A LOUISVILLE REPUBLICAN,D .

THIS BELL AND SAY THE RECENT INCIDENT HEIGHTENS THE NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION NOW.

>> SO WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO?

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO OUTLAW THESE ENTITIES.

WE'RE TRYING TO STAY THAT THEY CAN'T BAIL PEOPLE OUT FOR STEARS OFFENSES.

THAT'S IT.

I ENCOURAGE, WE ENCOURAGE, WE WANT TO -- WE WANT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SMALLER CRIMINALS, DEFENDANTS, I SHOULD SAY, THAT ARE BAIL OUT BY INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES.

WE'RE NOT -- THIS BILL DOESN'T COVER THAT, AND SO WE SAID, AND I'M GETTING IN EXPLAINING THE BILL, WE SAID THAT NO ENTITY CAN BEITEL SOMEONE FOR A SERIOUS CRIME.

WHERE DO WE BUT THAT LINE?

WE PUT AT A 5,000 FITZPATRICK REASON WE PUT IT AT $5,000 IS BECAUSE WE REACHED OUT TO CIRCUIT JUDGES, WE ASKED THEM TO DO -- HAVE A COMMUNICATION AMONG THEMSELVES AND GET BACK TO US ON WHAT THEY THOUGHT THAT THAT LINE OUGHT TO BE.

AND WHAT THEY SAID WAS $5,000.

THEY ALSO HAD TWO OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.

THEY SAID UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD AN ENTITY BE ABLE TO BAIL OUT SOMEONE THAT IS CHARGED WITH A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSE.

WHY?

REPRESENTATIVE BLANTON, BECAUSE WE KNOW IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS THERE'S AN EXTRA CONCERN AND A TIMELINESS CONCERN OF THE VOLATILITY OF THE DEFENDANT.

>> Renee: HOUSE BILL 313 ALSO REQUIRES THESE GROUPS TO REPORT WHO THEIR DONORS ARE.

THE FAMILY OF A VICTIM OF DRUNK DRIVING TESTIFIED FOR THE BILL.

THE MOTHER OF 17-YEAR-OLD MADELYN TROUTT SAID HER DAUGHTER WAS KILLED LAST YEAR BY A DRUNK DRIVER WHO WAS BAILED OUT BY TH LOUISVILLE BAIL PROJECT.

>> I AM HERE TODAY TO FIGHT ON BEHALF MADLYNN, FOR THE HEARTS OF MY FAMILY AND FOR FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

YOU SEE, THIS TRAGEDY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

THE DRIVER OF THE STOLEN TRUCK WHOSE FLAME DOES NO DESERVETON TO BE SAID ALLOWED WAS ARRESTED ON FEBRUARY 27th, ALESSI THAN 58 HEROS BEFORE THIS WRECK FOR STEALING A VEHICLE IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT DRUGS.

NONETHELESS, THIS CRIMINAL AND LIABILITY TO SOCIETY WAS RELEASED AS HE WAS BAILED OUT BY THE LOUISVILLE BAIL PROJECT WITH NO MONEY OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET.

AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

THIS MAN HAS A FILED THAT WAS MULTIPLE PAGES LONG.

NO BACKGROUND INFORMATION OR CHECK WAS PLACED ON THIS MAN NOR T. WERE THE PROGRAMS SET UP FOR ENFORCE TO ENSURE HE NOTE GO BACK OUT AND REPEAT HIS DECISIONS, WHICH HE DID.

THE REASON THAT MY DAUGHTER IS NOT HERE IS THAT THE HANDS OF THE LOUISVILLE BAIL PROJECT AND ITS supporters.

>> RENEE: SHAME PARRISH-WRIGHT, WHO IS RUNNING FOR LOUISVILLE MAYOR, HEADS THE LOUISVILLE CHAPTER OF THE BAIL PROJECT, BUT SHE TESTIFIED IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY AS SHE WANTED IT noted.

SHE SHARED HER ARREST AFTER A INCIDENT OF INTIMATE PA AFTER SPENDING 38 DAYS IN JAIL, SHE SAID SHE PLEAD GUILTY TIE LESSER CHARGE TO GET OUT.

>> ALL I WANTED WAS TO GET OUT AND SEE MY DAUGHTER.

I WANTED TO BE HOME.

I KNEW THIS PLEA WOULD GIVE ME A CRIMINAL RECORD THAT WILL FOLLOW ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

BUT AT THAT MOMENT I FELT I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE.

AND THAT'S THE CHOICE COUNTLESS PEOPLE MAKE, COUNTLESS PEOPLE MAKE IN KENTUCKY EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE OF THAT -- OF THE CASH BAIL SYSTEM.

IF I HAD MONEY TO PAY MY BAIL OR IF THERE WAS A CHARITABLE BAIL ORGANIZATION AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT ME, I COULD HAVE GONE HOME, WORKED WITH A LAWYER TO FIGHT MY CASE.

I COULD HAVE AVOID CONVICTION.

I WOULD NOTE HAVE HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD.

BUT BECAUSE I WAS POOR, I DID NOT GET MY DUE PROCESS.

THIS PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE ONLY EXISTED ON PAPER.

IT'S BEEN 25 YEARS SINCE THAT NIGHT WHEN I THOUGHT MY YOUNG LIFE WOULD COME TO A PREMATURE END.

HOW BILL 313 IS NOT THE SOLUTIO >> Renee: HOUSE BILL 313 WON APPROVAL FROM THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND NOW WAITS FOR ACTION BY THE FULL HO A BILL TO SHIELD PUBLIC INFORMATION OF CERTAIN PUBLIC OFFICIALS WAS SENT TO THE HOUSE THE MEASURE BY MARSHALL COUNTY REPUBLICAN DANNY CARROLL HAS COME UNDER SCRUTINY FROM THE PRESS AND OPEN GOVERNMENT ADVOCATES AS THEY CONTEND IT WILL UPEND THE NEARLY 50-YEAR-OLD OPEN RECORDS LAW, IMPEDE TRANSPARENCY, AND MAKE I DIFFICULT TO HOLD OFFICIALS ACC SENATE BILL 63 WOULD EXEMPT THE PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION, ALSO KNOWN AS PII, FROM FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS FOR POLICE OFFICERS, JUDGES, PROSECUTORS OR PUBLIC DEFENDERS, AMONG OTHERS THE MEASURE ALSO PREVENTS THE DISSEMINATION OF PII FOR THESE OFFICIALS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTAN.

>> YOU ONLY TO HAVE LOOK AROUND THE WORLD TODAY TO SEE THE NEED FOR THIS.

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS THERE HAS ABOUT AN A 400% INCREASE IN THE THREATS TO FEDERAL JUDGES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.

ALSO, LAST YEAR WE SAW THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FELONIOUS IN THE LINE OF DUTY DEATHS OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS SINCE 1995.

EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO WITHIN OUR COMMONWEALTH CLEARLY SHOW THE DANGER THE PUBLIC FIGURES ARE IN.

WE HAVE NARROWED DOWN THE LIST OF THOSE PROTECTED TO THOSE WITHIN THE I MANY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM P, FIRST RESPONDERS AND THOSE WHO TESTIFY IN COURT.

WE DID OUR BEST TO TRY TO MAKE THIS AS STREAMLINED AS WE COULD.

>> Renee: SOME DEMOCRATS IN OPPOSITION TOOK UMBRAGE WITH TH TYPES OF PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT ARE OMITTED FROM THE PUBLIC SHIELD OF PERSONAL INFORMATION IN THE BILL, AND THEY BELIEVE IT SETS UP A FALSE SENSE PROTECTION SINCE ALL ANYONE WANTS TO KNOW IS THE BUT A FEW KEY STROKES AWAY.

>>NESS DEALING WITH GOVERNMENT.

I BELIEVE THAT SUNSHINE CONTINUES TO BE THE BEST DISINFECT.

THIS BILL WALKS THE LINE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING AND A PERSON ASPIRATE TO BE LEFT ALONE.

BUT WE ALREADY -- PERSON'S RIGHT TOBY LEFT ALONE, YOU THE ABOUT WE ALREADY AFFORD THOSE PROTECTIONS.

SO BAD ACTORS, THEY DON'T GET THIS INFORMATION FROM HEAVILY REGULATED GOVERNMENT LAWS.

THEY GET IT FROM GOOGLE.

I THINK THIS BILL IN THIS ITERATION WITH THE PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION, WITH THE THINGS THAT WERE NOT IN IT LAST YEAR WHEN IT PASSED THIS BODY WITH MORE SUPPORT, CAUSED MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES.

>> I'M A FORMER ENVIRONMENTAL PROSECUTOR.

I DON'T THINK I'M COVERED ON THIS AS PROSECUTOR.

I HAVE A CONTRACT PUBLIC DEFENDER.

I DON'T THINK I'M COVERED HERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF GRAY AREAS.

I'M AN OFFICER OF THE COURT AS A MEMBER OF THE PRIVATE DEFENSE BAR.

WE ALWAYS LEAVE US OUT FOR SOME REASON ON ALL THESE MEASURES.

AND WE'RE YET AN OFFICER OF THE COURT THAT PUT OUR LIVES IN JEOPARDY IF THESE OFFICERS OF THE COURTS DO THAT ARE ENUMERATED.

SO IT'S NOT INCLUSIVE AND IT'S RALLY JUST NOT GOING TO DO WHAT YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO DO BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION IS OUT THERE READILY AVAILABLE.

I APPRECIATE THE SPONSOR'S INTENT AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR INDIVIDUALS' NAMED HERE CERTAINLY, BUT IN THIS DAY AND AGE IT'S JUST NOTE REALITY.

>> Renee: SENATOR DANNY CARROLL'S SENATE BILL 63 ADVANCED FROM THE SENATE ON A LARGELY PARTY LINE VOTE TODAY OF 24 TO 8.

IT NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION THERE.

FINALLY TONIGHT, WE RECAP A CONTROVERSIAL MEASURE AIMED AT CRITICAL RACE THEORY THAT SETS IN LAW WHAT SHOULD BE TAUGHT WHEN IT COMES TO HISTORY AND CIVICS EDUCATION.

IN KENTUCKY SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE THREE OTHER MEASURES IN THE HOUSE THAT HAVE YET TO B SENATE EDUCATION CHAIRMAN MAXES WISE HAS CAST HIS SENATE BILL 138 AS AN EFFORT TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON SCHOOL CURRICULUM CONCERNING THE NATION'S BLEMISHED HISTORY ON THORNY ISSUES LIKE RACISM AND SLAVERY.

HIS MEASURE IS DUBBED THE TEACHING AMERICAN PRINCIPLES AC.

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

SECOND, OVER THE PAST YEAR, PARENTS, COMMUNITY CONSTITUENTS, AND STUDENTS HAVE VERY PASSIONATELY AND ARTICULATELY SHARED SAMPLE STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS THAT THEY PERCEIVE ARE INCREASINGLY ABOUT INDOCTRINATION INTO A PARTICULAR WORLD VIEW RATHER THAN EDUCATION THAT EQUIPS STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY.

>> Renee: THE BILL LAYS OUT 24 HISTORICAL TEXTS AND DOCUMENTS THAT ARE TO BE TAUGHT IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.

IT'S A PROVISION OF THE BILL THAT DREW IRE OF CRITICS.

SENATOR WISE AN SUPPORTERS SUPPORTIVE SAY THE SENATE BILL 138 DIDN'T ORIGINATE FROM THE CRT DEBATE NECESSARILY BUT RATHER AS A RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LACK OF DIRECTION IN SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTION.

SENATOR WISE INSISTS THE MEASURE DOESN'T INTEND TO STIFLE DISCUSSION OF HISTORICAL MATTERS.

>> 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.

THEY'RE NOT CURRICULUM.

THEY ARE NOTE OPINIONS.

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

>> Renee: OBJECT TORS TO THE BILL BELIEVE THE MEASURE WILL HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON WHAT'S BEING.IN KENTUCKY CLASSROOMS.

SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CHAIR REG ST. THOMAS BELIEVES THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING CRITICA RACE THEORY IS OVERBLOWN AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO WHAT HE'S DETERMINED IS A NON-EXISTENT PROBLEM IN KENTUCKY COULD LEAD TO THE ERASURE HE SAYS OF KEY HISTORICAL EVENTS BEING TAUGHT TO STUDENTS.

>> THIS WHOLE IDEA OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS A BOOGEYMAN PAP IT'S A BOOGEYMAN.

BECAUSE WE DON'T TEACH THIS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT DOES NOT EXIST, BUT WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF HEARINGS HERE, AND LET'S BE FACTUAL TODAY, NO ONE HAS COME FORWARD IN ALL THESE HEARINGS, ALL THESE TESTIMONIES THAT HAS IDENTIFIED ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR ONE TEACHER THAT'S TAUGHT CRITICAL RACE THEORY, SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM IN KENTUCKY.

BUT WHAT WE DO HAVE HERE IS AN AGENDA THAT'S BEING SET FORTH THAT I THINK IS DANGEROUS, I THINK IT'S NON-EDUCATIONAL, AND I THINK IT IS TENDS TO WHITEWASH HISTORY.

HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> Renee: ALSO UNDER THE MEASURE, SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO ENGAGE IN TRAINING THAT STEREOTYPES ANY GROUP.

AFTER NEARLY TWO HOURS OF DEBATE, THE TEACHING AMERICA'S PRINCIPLES ACT WAS APPROVED BY THE SENATE 28 TO 8, SENDING it DOWN TO THE HOUSE FOR REVIEW TH A PROGRAMMING NOTE, TEACHING HISTORY IN KENTUCKY CLASSROOM AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS MY TOPIC MONDAY NIGHT ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" AT 8:00 EASTERN, 7:00 CHAIRMAN WISE AND EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS ARE AMONG THE SCHEDULED GUESTS.

WE HOME YOU WILL TUNE in.

LEGISLATION TERMINATING THE GOVERNOR'S COVID ST. JEROME ARE WAS ADOPTED ON A A LARGELY PARTY LINE VOTE IN THE STATE SENATE y JESSAMINE COUNTY REPUBLICAN DONALD DOUGLAS' SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 150 DESIGNATES MARCH 7, 2022, TWO YEARS AND ONE DAY FROM THE ORIGINAL STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION, AS THE EXPIRATION DATE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE LONG MAINTAINED THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OVERSTEPPED HIS EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY IN HANDLING THE PANDEMIC.

AS A PHYSICIAN, DOUGLAS SAID HE'S QUESTIONED THE ACTIONS OF THE G. >> IS THE EMERGENCY FORCE DOLLARS STATEWIDE SUSPENSION OF ELECTIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES, PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PROCEDURES BEING PERFORMED, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR THEM IN THE HOSPITAL.

THERE WERE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATES A.

THERE WERE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.

SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN.

BUSINESSES SHUT DOWN.

HECK, AT EVEN ONE POINT THE KENTUCKY STATE POLICE WERE DIRECTED TO TARGET CHURCH ATTENDEES, MR. PRESIDENT, CHURCH ATTENDEES.

>> Renee: IN A STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S OFFICE LAST WEEK WHEN THE BILL WAS FILED, A SPOKESPERSON SAID THE STATE OF EMERGENCY HELPS KENTUCKY RECEIVER FEDERAL DOLLARS TO FIGHT THE PANDEMIC AND PROVIDE RELIEF.

BARN'S OFFICE ALSO ADDED THAT, QUOTE, KENTUCKY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS AS THERE ARE NO STATE RESTRICTIONS ON EMPLOYERS AND SCHOOLS ARE open.

JEFFERSON COUNTY DOCTOR KAREN BERG, A SENATOR, REGISTERED A NO SO THE ON THE measure SHE SOUGHT TO CLARIFY WHY ELECTIVE SURGERIES WERE SHUTTERED AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE ELECTIVE SURGERIES WERE SHUT DOWN AT HOSPITALS AT THE BEHEST OF THE HOSPITALS THEMSELVES, WHICH WAS NOT A MANDATE FROM OUR GOVERNOR.

OUR HOSPITALS DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO SUPPORT THEM.

AND, IN FACT, IT WAS ONLY ABOUT THE WEEK BEFORE LAST OR MAYBE EVEN LAST WEEK THAT BAPTIST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN LOUISVILLE EVEN RESUMED ELECTIVE PROCEDURES THAT REQUIRED AN OVERNIGHT HOSPITALIZATION.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT 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.

>> Renee: SENATE JOINT RESTSLUTION 150 WAS ADOPTED BY THE Senate SENATE 28 TO 8 AND NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE FOR CONS THAT'S ALL FOR DAY 36 AND WEEK SEVEN COVERAGE OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS CALL YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW OUR GAVEL-TO-GAVEL COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE DAY BY DOWNLOADING KET'S LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE APP TO YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET.

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

AND YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER TO GET UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN MONDAY NIGHT AT 11:00 EASTERN, 10:00 CENTRAL TIME FOR "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE."

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AHEAD, AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

TAKE GOOD CARE