>> Casey: THE SENATE PASSES A MEASURE THAT WOULD SEND KENTUCKIANS A 2020 TAX REBATE, JUNETEENTH COULD BECOME A STATE HOLIDAY, AND MULTIPLE BILLS ON SPORTS WAGERING ARE FILED, ALL ON DAY 37 OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SES GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "LEGISLATIVE UPD I'M CASEY PARKER-BELL.

THE SENATE APPROVED A MEASURE THAT WOULD SEND KENTUCKIANS A REBATE ON THEIR 2020 TAXES.

SENATE A&R CHAIR CHRISTIAN MCDANIEL IS THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL, SENATE BIL IF PASSED, MCDANIEL SAYS THE BILL WOULD MEAN A $500 REBATE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO PAID STATE PERSONAL INCOME TAX.

THE AMOUNT WOULD GO UP TO $1,000 FOR MARRIED COUPLES.

MCDANIEL SAYS THE REBATES WILL HELP CURB ONGOING INFLATION.

>> IS AS EVERYONE HERE KNOWS, IF YOU FILLED UP ON THE WAY TO SESSION TODAY, IF YOU WENT GROCERY SHOPPING THIS WEEKEND, IF YOU PAID A UTILITY BILL, IF YOU DID ANY OF THE BASICS OF LIFE, YOU'RE SEEING INFLATION PROBABLY UNLIKE MOST OF US HAVE EVER SEEN IN OUR ADULT LIVES.

AND DEPENDING ON YOUR AGE, IT'S INFLATION UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT'S EVER EXISTED IN YOUR LIFE.

IN FACT, THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS LAST MONTH RELEASED THE NUMBER THAT THE ANNUALIZED INFLATION RATE IS NOW AT 7.5%, WHICH IS ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN OVER 40 YEARS.

FOR THE AVERAGE AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD, THAT WORKS OUT TO $267 OF ADDITIONAL COST SIMPLY TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT LIFESTYLE THAT YOU'RE ACTIVELY MAINTAINING.

NOW, IN THE AVERAGE RURAL FAMILY MAKES $38,400 PER YEAR.

AND FOR THAT FAMILY THAT MAKES $38,400 PER YEAR, THIS ADDITIONAL $3,000 OF COSTS THAT THEIR FAMILY IS BEARING AS A RESULT OF AM RA PANT INFLATION RAMPANT INFLATION IS SIMPLY A BURDEN MORE THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT THOSE KENTUCKY FAMILIES ARE BEARING THAT BURDEN, THERE'S A VERY DIFFERENT WORLD THAT EXISTS HERE IN FRANKFORT.

THAT WORLD IS THAT ON JUNE THE 30th OF THIS YEAR THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY WILL BRING IN AN ESTIMATED $2 BILLION ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE ACTUALLY ANTICIPATED WHEN WE PROPOSED THE BUDGET LAST YEAR.

>> Casey: MANY DEMOCRATS PUSHE BACK AGAINST THE MEASURE.

THEY ARGUE NOT ALL KENTUCKIANS STAND TO BENEFIT.

THEY'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BILL BEING VOTED ON BEFORE A STATE BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED.

>> WHAT THAT DISCUSSION FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IS THAT TODAY HERE IN KENTUCKY YOU HAVE 507,000 KENTUCKIANS WHO ARE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL WHO THIS BILL WOULD NOT HELP.

WOULD NOT HELP.

BUT THAT DISCUSSION ALSO FAILED TO MENTION ABOUT KENTUCKY IS THAT YOU HAVE 970,000 KENTUCKIANS, MR. PRESIDENT, WHO ARE EITHER AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE POVERTY LEVEL, BUT BELOW 133% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL.

AND THEN LET ME ALSO ADD, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT THIS BILL DIDN'T MENTION ABOUT ANOTHER 500,000 RETIREES IN THE STATE.

NOW, LET'S DO THE MATH.

WE HAVE 500 TOWN PLUS 500,000, 970,000.

WE HAVE TWO MILLION PEOPLE.

MR. PRESIDENT, I MENTION THAT BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE I JUST IDENTIFIED DO NOT PAY TAXES IN THIS STATE.

AND SO THEREFORE, THIS BILL WOULD NOT IMPACT THEM WHATSOEVER.

>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE VOTING ON THIS BILL RIGHT NOW BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE BUDGET, BEFORE WE KNOW WHETHER THE TAX BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED IN THE HOUSE ARE GOING TO PASS THERE, WHERE TAX BILLS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTRODUCED IN PAST SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THIS CHAMBER, WHERE THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE FROM LETCHER COUNTY IN THE HOUSE WAS NOT PART OF THIS DISCUSSION, ALTHOUGH IT IS FOR ACTIVE CONSIDERATION DOWN THERE, WHERE A TAX BILL WAS PROPOSED IN THE HOUSE REDUCING THE INCOME TAX ON FRIDAY THATTEST IS NOT PART OF THIS DISCUSSION, WHICH A BUDGET WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THE APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE COMMITTEE HERE IN THE SENATE OR DISCUSSED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN IT AND HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EXTENDING $1.15 BILLION.

YES, WE WANT TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

I WILL BE IN A UNION HALL TONIGHT AND, PROUD TO STAND UP AND SAY THAT I WANT TO HELP THE HARD-WORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF KENTUCKY.

I'M ALSO WILLING TO SAY THAT HERE WE ARE DEBATING A BILL THAT SPENDS OVER $1 BILLION AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THE REST OF THE BUDGET.

>> Casey: NOT ALL REPUBLICANS WERE ONBOARD WITH THIS MEASURE.

TWO MEMBERS EXPLAINED THEIR OPPOSITION ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

>> IT'S NOT THAT I'M OPPOSED TO THIS MONEY GOING BACK TO THE FAMILIES THAT GAVE THIS MONEY TO THE STATE, THAT PAID THEIR TAXES, THAT PAID THEIR TAXES, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S IN OUR BEST INTERESTS TO GIVE THAT MONEY TO THEIR CHILDREN, TO THEIR GRANDCHILDREN, TO THE GENERATIONS THAT WILL FOLLOW.

WE DO THAT BY INVESTIGATING THE MONEY IN AREAS THAT WILL HAVE THE GREATEST RETURN, AREAS LIKE PAYING DOWN THE PENSION SYSTEM, INVESTING IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, USING THESE FUND TO FACILITATE COMPREHENSIVE TAX REFORM, TO BUILD A TAX BASE THAT WILL MOVE THIS STATE FORWARD, THAT WILL GENERATE THE REVENUE TO PROVIDE A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE GENERATIONS THAT WILL FOLLOW.

>> I RALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS.

I LIKE THE THOUGHT OF GIVING MONEY BACK TO THE PEOPLE THAT PAY IN AND WORK AND EARN THIS.

BUT AT THIS POINT, WITH ALL OF OUR OUTSTANDING PENSION LIABILITY, WITH ALL THE OTHER DEBTS THAT WE HAVE, I'M JUST NOT SURE THAT IT'S THE MOST WISE AND EFFICIENT USE OF OUR MONEY, AND FOR THAT REASON I VOTE no >> Casey: MANY MORE REPUBLICANS SPOKE OUT IN FAVOR HAVE THE BILL, INCLUDING SENATE PRESIDENT .

ROBERT STIVERS.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE SURPLUS.

LET ME GIVE YOU AND THE LISTENING PUBLIC A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT WHERE WE STAND.

OUR CURRENT ANNUALIZED BUDGET IS $12 BILLION.

WE ARE GOING TO FINISH THIS CURRENT YEAR WITH AROUND $3.4 BILLION, OVER 25% OF WHAT OUR ANNUAL BUDGET IS.

25%.

IF AT MAXIMUM IMPLEMENTATION, AND THERE'S NO WAY THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FULL $1.15 BILLION, WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE SITTING ON 200 -- OR $2.25 BILLION, STILL WELL OVER 20% OF OUR REVENUES.

NO, NOT QUITE BUT CLOSE.

OF OUR BUDGET.

BUT THEN YOU LOOK AT THIS.

WE STILL HAVE $1.1 BILLION OF ARPA DOLLARS TO APPROPRIATE, AND THEN THE PROJECTIONS OF OUR CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.

THIS IS MONEY WE'RE APPROPRIATING WE ALREADY HAVE IN HAND, ALREADY HAVE IN HAND.

WE ARE FORECASTED TO HAVE CLOSE TO $14 BILLION, $2 BILLION OVER.

SO WHY DO I TELL YOU THIS?

WE CAN DO EVERY PAY INCREASE THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT TO SOCIAL WORKERS, 6% STATE WORKERS, EVERYTHING TO STATE POLICE, $80 MILLION FOR EVERY $100 INCREMENT OF SEEK ALLOTMENT, AND WE PROBABLY WON'T GET CLOSE TO $500 MILLION OF THE $2 BILLION THAT WE'VE APPROPRIATED, AND WE ARE STILL SITTING THERE WITH this >> Casey: THE BILL PASSED 28 TO 7.

SENATOR MCDANIEL SAYS IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW, TAXPAYERS CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE MONEY BY THE A BILL PASSING THE HOUSE TODAY COULD LIMIT THE POWER OF KENTUCKY'S CONSTABLES.

CURRENTLY, KENTUCKY'S CONSTABLE HAVE POLICE POWERS, LIKE MAKING ARRESTS, BUT ARE NOT REQUIRED T GET THE SAME TRAINING AS A POLICE OFFICER.

HOUSE BILL 239 SEEKS TO CHANGE THAT.

ERLANGER REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KOENIG EXPLAINS THE MEASURE.

>> THIS BILL DOES NOT REMOVE THE OFFICE OF CONSTABLE FROM THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE CONSTITUTION ONLY NAMES THE POSITION, JURISDICTION AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR CONSTABLE.

THEIR PEACE OFFICER POWERS ARE STATUTORILY GRANTED.

ALSO, THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT IMPACT CURRENT CONSTABLES OR THEIR DEPUTIES WHEN IT COMES TO PEACE OFFICER POWERS BECAUSE IT GRANDFATHERS THEM IN.

I'M GOING TO REPEAT THAT.

THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT IMPACT CURRENT CONSTABLES OR THEIR DEPUTIES BECAUSE IT GRANDFATHERS THEM IN.

IT ALLOWS THEM TO USE THEIR PEACE OFFICER POWERS FOR AS LONG AS THEY SERVE.

HOUSE BILL 239 HAS A DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE OF JANUARY 1, 2023, AFTER THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

HOUSE BILL 239 WOULD NOT STOP NEWLY ELECTED CONSTABLES WHO ARE NOT POP CERTIFIED FROM SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY.

THEY'LL STILL BE ABLE TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS, ASSIST WITH CHILD SUPPORT ACTIONS, SERVE SUBPOENAS, DIRECT TRAFFIC, PROVIDE FUNERAL ESCORT AND PERFORM OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES.

HOUSE BILL 239 ENSURES THAT THAT I CONSTABLE WHO HAS NOT BEEN THROUGH THE SAME TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS THAT WE, THE LEGISLATURE, EXPECT OF OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CANNOT INFRINGE ON ANOTHER PERSON'S CIVIL LIBERTIES WEEK CANNOT MAKE A TRAFFIC STOP, MAKE AN ARREST OR FILE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

HOUSE BILL 239 WILL HELP CONSTABLE GET THE REQUIRED POLICE OFFICER TRAINING.

THIS BILL SPECIFIES THAT CONSTABLES CAN APPLY TO ANY KENTUCKY LAW ENFORCEMENT COUNCIL CERTIFIED BASIC TRAINING COURSE.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS BILL REQUIRES THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING TO ACCEPT AT LEAST ONE QUALIFIED CONSTABLE IN EACH TRAINING CLASS, AND THEY HAVE TEN TRAINING CLASSES A YEAR ON AVERAGE WITH 30 RECRUITS IN EACH CLASS.

>> Casey: KOENIG SAYS THAT OF THE MORE THAN 500 CONSTABLES IN KENTUCKY, ONLY TWO HAVE THE PEACE OFFICER PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OR POPS CERTIFICATION REPRESENTATIVES FROM RURAL PART OF THE STATE SPOKE AGAINST THE THEY SAY THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES NEED CONSTABLES TO BE ACTIVE PARTS OF THE PUBLIC PROTECTION .

>> AND HERE WE ARE TAKING 550 CONSTABLES ACROSS THE STATE WHO WE HAVE ALREADY HAD A SHORTAGE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BEGIN WITH AND DEMONIZING THEM IN PUBLIC.

I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY BECAUSE I'VE GOT CONSTABLES THAT ARE ALSO DYNAMIC IN THE JOBS THAT THEY PERFORM.

COMING FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY, AND I SEE IT ALREADY, I SEE THE SIGN, THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

IT'S A RURAL VERSUS URBAN ISSUE BECAUSE MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME FROM MORE POPULATED AREAS IN THE CITIES, YOU GUYS ARE STANDING TOGETHER.

BUT THAT AIN'T THE WAY IT GOES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY BECAUSE IT'S SO FAR AND SO SPREAD OUT THAT CONSTABLES ARE PLACED TO BE A PEACE OFFICER IN AREAS THAT IT'S HARD FOR THE SHERIFF TO GET TO OR THE CITY POLICE.

>> NOW, IF YOU LIFT IN BIG CITY LIKE SOME PEOPLE DOES, IF AN OFFICER CALLS FOR BACKUP, THEY HAVE THAT BACKUP, AND I'M GLAD FOR THAT, BUT I'M ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER ABOUT WHAT IT'S PUTTING ON OUR OFFICERS WHERE WE LIVE.

WE HAVE A HOUSE BILL THAT IS REQUESTING THESE CHAMBERS TO GIVE US THE HELP THAT THESE CONSTABLES ARE ASKING.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR TRAINING.

AND I'M ALL FOR THAT.

BUT THIS HOUSE BILL HERE WILL DO AWAY WITH THE CONSTABLE ALTOGETHER.

>> WE CONTINUE TO CUT AND WHACK AT LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LAWLESS SOCIETY.

DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN THAT?

I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF THAT.

AND FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES, IF YOU'RE TRAVELING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND YOU HAVE A NEED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT VOTING NO ON THIS BILL.

>> Casey: HOUSE MINORITY WHIP ANGIE HATTON VOTED AGAINST HOUS BILL 239.

SHE SAYS THE MEASURE WILL HURT COMMUNITIES LIKE HERS.

>> IT IS AN URBAN VERSUS RURAL ISSUE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN, BUT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THEIR CONSTABLES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

WE KNOW THEM BY NAME.

WE'VE KNOWN THEM OUR ENTIRE LIVES.

WE COUNT ON THEM.

AND WHEN THEY TELL ME THIS IS NOT WHAT THEY NEED, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT.

THE CONSTABLES THAT I KNOW ARE PERFECTLY WILLING TO GET TRAINING, BUT THEY DO BELIEVE THAT THIS BILL GOES TOO FAR AND LITERALLY DOES PREVENT THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS.

>> Casey: HOUSE BILL 239 PASSE THE HOUSE 59 TO 38.

SOME JUDGES IN KENTUCKY HAVE SUCH HEAVY CASELOADS THAT THEY HAVE TWICE THE WORKLOADS AS OTHER JUDGES.

ATTEMPTING TO RECTIFY THIS IMBALANCE IS HOUSE BILL 214.

IT ADJUSTS 18 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS, MOVING NINE JUDGES FROM AREAS WITH LOWER WORKLOADS TO PLACES WITH THE HIGHEST WORKLOADS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

DJ JOHNSON SAYS THE BILL IS A RESULT OF A JUDICIAL WORKLOAD STUDY.

>> WHAT IS MEANT BY A CRITICAL IMBALANCE IS EITHER AN UNACCEPTABLY HIGH OR AN UNACCEPTABLY LOW CASE LORD WORKLOAD AS COMPARED IS TO OI A STATISTICAL NORM FORE THE OPTIMUM WORKLOAD.

THESE WORKLOAD VALUES ARE THE RESULT OF A JUDICIAL WORKLOAD STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE NEVER OFFICE OF THE COURTS BEGINNING IN 2015 AND SUBSEQUENTLY UPDATED THROUGH THE END OF 2019.

EVERY DISTRICT AND EVERY CIRCUIT WAS EVALUATED DURING THE WORKLOAD STUDY.

WHILE THE STUDY CONFIRMED TO NEED 4 A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE DECADE OLD DISTRICT AND CIRCUIT CONFIGURATION WE NOW HAVE, IT BECAME CLEARLY THAT THERE ARE 18 DISTINCT AND CRITICAL WORKLOAD IMBALANCES THAT MUST BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY.

THESE IMBALANCES NOT ONLY CAUSING IMPROPER WORKLOADS FOR OUR JUDGES AND THEIR STAFFS, THEY ARE CAUSING A SUBSTANDARD LEVEL JUDICIAL SERVICES FOR FAR TOO MANY OF OUR KENTUCKY CITIZENS.

THE ACTUAL SCOPE OF 214 INCLUDES 18 JUDICIAL CHANGES, NINE ADDITIONS AND NINE DELETIONS INVOLVING 32 COUNTIES AND IMPACTING OVER 2 MILLION OF THE KENTUCKY CITIZENS.

A MAJORITY OF THESE ADDITION WILL BE DESIGNATED AS FAMILY COURTS.

IT CORRECTS WORKLOAD IMBALANCES THAT ARE AS HIGH AS 2.24 AND AS LOW AS .47 WITH THE OPTIMUM WORKLOAD BEING 1 POINT O.

AND FINALLY, MR. SPEAKER, AS I WRAP UP, THE NINE EDITIONS WILL BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2021, BUT -- AND THIS IS IMPORTANT -- THE DELETIONS WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL JANUARY 2027 OR AS VACANCIES NATURALLY OCCUR IN THE INTERIM.

IN SUMMARY, WHILE A COMPREHENSIVE REALIGNMENT PLAN SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED PRIOR TO THE 2030 JUDICIAL ELECTION CYCLE, THESE 18 ADJUSTMENTS MUST BE IMPLEMENTED AS OUTLINED IN 214.

WE OWE IT TO THE CITIZENS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH WHO ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVE LESS THAN ACCEPTABLE JUDICIAL services >> Casey: JOHNSON SAYS THAT 32 COUNTIES AND 2 MILLION KENTUCKIANS WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE CHANGES IN THE MEASURE.

HENDERSON COUNTY IS ONE COUNTY LOSING A JUDGE.

CORYDON REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN DIXON SAYS THE AREA HE REPRESENTS SHOULDN'T LOSE ONE O THEIR JUDGES AS THEY GROW.

HOUSE MAJORITY CAUCUS CHAIR SUZANNE MILES, WHO ALSO REPRESENTS PART OF HENDERSON COUNTY, SAYS IT HURTS TO VOTE FOR A JUDGE TO BE MOVED, BUT THAT ANOTHER PART OF THE AREA SHE REPRESENTS, DAVIES IS IN DESPERATE NEED TO REDUCE .

>> QUITE FRANKLY, THIS BILL HURTS MY CONSTITUENTS BACK HOME.

BY REMOVING ONE OF THE TWO JUDGES IN HENDERSON COUNTY.

HARDEN COUNTY WASN'T ON THE LIST TO BE -- TO HAVE A JUDGE REMOVED UNTIL RECENTLY, AND I WANT THE BODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT PUTS AN UNDUE BURDEN ON OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM BACK HOME IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS STARTING TO GROW.

>> IT'S VERY HARD WHENEVER YOU HAVE TO PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS BETWEEN, I KNOW, SEVERAL OF YOU ALL HAVE CHILDREN ON THE FLOOR, AND I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE OVER THE OTHER.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

PROBABLY NIGH BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THIS AND CONTINUES TO BE IS WE STILL HAVE NOT HAD A COMPREHENSIVE MAP ACROSS THE STATE TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.

AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A BAND-AID FOR THE MOMENT, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS A BAND-AID THAT HELPS ONE OF MY COUNTIES AND HURTS ANOTHER.

I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MEASURE BECAUSE OF THE DESPERATION WE HAVE IN DAVIESS COUNTY FOR A SECOND FAMILY EFFORT COULD JUDGE, BUT IT DOES HURT ME TO TAKE THIS VOTE BECAUSE OF THE OTHER COUNTY THAT I WILL BE HURTING.

>> Casey: AND JEFFERSON COUNTY IS ALSO LOSING A JUDGE TO ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE, BUT LOUISVILLEAN JASON NEMES SAYS HE'LL STILL VOTE FOR THE bill HE SAYS THE BILL IS BASED ON SOLID NUMBERS AND SUPPORTED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT.

>> I DON'T CAST A HAPPY VOTE HERE, BUT THIS VOTE IS FLAT OUT THE NUMBERS.

THE JUDGES THAT ARE LOSING -- THE AREAS THAT ARE LOSING JUDGES ARE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE NUMBERS.

THE AREAS THAT ARE ADDING JUDGES ARE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF NUMBERS.

THERE WAS NOT A SCINTILLA OF POLITICS PUT IN HERE, AND I'M GLAD NO ONE HAS MADE THAT ALLEGATION WHICH WOULD BE UNTRUE.

I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW FOR EVERYBODY'S KNOWLEDGE TO TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHEN YOU GET A NEW JUDGE, THE QUESTIONS ARE WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

HOW IS IT GOING TO WORK?

IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

I THINK THE FILING DEADLINE WILL BE IN AUGUST.

BUT THE RACE WILL BE IN NOVEMBER, AND THERE WILL BE NO PRIMARY SO IF SEVEN PEOPLE RUN, IT WILL BE A SEVEN-PERSON RACE, SEVEN PEOPLE WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

>> Casey: HOUSE BILL 214 PASSE THE HOUSE 73 TO 23.

IT NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE.

KENTUCKY COULD BE GETTING A NEW STATE HOLIDAY.

A BILL SPONSORED BY LEXINGTON REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE BROWN WOULD MAKE JUNE 19TH, OR JUNETEENTH, A STATE HOLIDAY COMMEMORATING JUNETEENTH NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY.

JUNETEENTH IS THE DAY FEDERAL TROOPS ARRIVED IN GALVESTON, TEXAS TO ENSURE ALL ENSLAVED PEOPLE WERE FREED, AND REPRESENTS THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES.

LEXINGTON REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE BROWN SPOKE TO HIS MEASURE.

>> JUNE 19th, 1865 WAS THE DAY UNION SOLDIERS BROUGHT THE MESSAGE TO ENSLAVED PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT?

GALVESTON, TEXAS, THAT THE WAR WAS OVER AND THAT ALL ENSLAVED PEOPLE WERE NOW FREE.

THIS WAS TWO AND A HALF YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

FOR THOSE WHO HEARD THE NEWS, IT WAS A DAY OF SHOCK AND THEN CELEBRATION.

IN THE YEARS AHEAD, JUNE 19th WAS THE DAY CHOSEN BECAUSE IT MEANT THE BEGINNING OF THE END TO A DARK PERIOD IN OUR COUNTRY.

AND NOW JUNETEENTH SERVES AS A DAY OF REFLECTION AND INTERROGATION IT.

SERVES AS A TIME TO LOOK BACK ON OUR HISTORY SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND, ADDRESS AND REPAIR ITS DAMAGE.

IT CELEBRATES A CRUCIAL PIVOT POINT IN OUR COUNTRY, A NEW ERA WHEN AMERICA CAME CLOSE, ONE STEP CLOSER TO EMBODIYING THE WORDS AND IDEALS FOUND AT THE TIME DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

>> Casey: HOUSE BILL 133 PASSE 97 TO 0.

THE HOUSE ALSO WELCOMED A NEW MEMBER TO THE CHAMBER.

REPRESENTATIVE KETURAH HERRON WAS SWORN IN BY CHIEF JUSTICE O THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT THIS HERRON REPLACES REGINALD MEEKS IN THE 42ND DISTRICT SEAT.

MEEKS RETIRED IN DECEMBER.

THIS AFTERNOON, STATE REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KOENIG HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT BILLS HE FILED TODAY ON SPORTS GAMING AND RESOURCES FOR PROBLEM GAMING.

ONE OF THE MEASURES WOULD LEGALIZE MOST FORMS OF SPORTS GAMING, FROM FANTASY SPORTS TO ONLINE POKER, AND WOULD SET UP FRAMEWORK TO TAX THEM.

ANOTHER BILL ADDRESSES PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING OR WHERE BETTORS BET AGAINST ONE ANOTHER AND EQUALIZES THE TAX ON THE BETS.

KOENIG EXPLAINS.

>> WE ARE GOING TO MAKE ALL OF THE CARRIAGES ON PARI-MUTUEL THE SAME, SO RIGHT NOW IF YOU BET ON A, WHAT'S CALLED AN AWD LIKE THE TWIN SPIRES APP HERE IN KENTUCKY, THERE ARE SOME OTHER APPS BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE KENTUCKY-BASED OWN ONE OBJECT WERE AN ADW, THE TWIN SPIRES APP, THAT IS YOU TAXED A 1 HALF OF 1%.

NOW, IF YOU MAJOR ON AN HHR MACHINE OR LIVE AT A TRACK ON A RACE THAT'S HAPPENING, THAT'S TAXED AT 1.5%.

IF YOU WAGER ON A SIMULCAST RACE, SO YOU GO TO A TRACK AND YOU WAGER ON A RACE THAT'S GOING ON SOMEWHERE ELSE, THAT'S TAXED AT 3%.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ALL THOSE THE SAME.

EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE TAXED AT 1.5%.

>> Casey: THAT SAME PIECE OF LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO REMOVE THE KENTUCKY HORSE RACING COMMISSION FROM THE STATE'S LEDGER AND HAVE IT GENERATE ITS OWN FUNDING.

KOENIG COMPARED TH TO OTHER STATES, SAYING THAT SPORTS GAMING SHOULDN'T BE A PARTISAN ISSUE.

>> AS FAR AS NEIGHBORING STATES, EVERY STATE HAS LEGALIZED IT EXCEPT FOR MISSOURI, AND THAT'S, WHAT, A 40-MILE BORDER WITH US, SO WE'RE MORE OR LESS SURROUNDED.

EVEN TENNESSEE WHO DOESN'T EVEN ALLOW BINGO HAS SPORTS BETTING.

33 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAVE LEGALIZED IT.

30 OF THOSE STATES ARE OPERATIONAL, OHIO AND TWO OTHERS I BELIEVE IS JUST NOT UP AND RUNNING YET.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT MANY STATES, IT'S A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

EVERY STATE THAT LEGALIZES IT IS NOT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT IT.

GOES BOTH WAYS.

AND FOR THOSE STATES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED IT, ESPECIALLY THE REPUBLICAN STATES, I MEAN, THIS IS -- PEOPLE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT FREEDOM.

THIS IS FREEDOM P. THIS IS GOVERNMENT GETTING OUT OF THE WAY OF ALLOWING ADULTS TO MAKE ADULT DECISIONS.

THIS IS GOVERNMENT STANDING IN THE WAY OF AN ENTERPRISE THAT EXISTS, AND ALL THIS HAS HAPPENED IN FOUR YEARS SINCE THE SUPREME COURT RULING, SO IT HAS TAKEN NO TIME TO GET HERE, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK FROM THAT REGARD IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WHAT -- THAT THIS SHOULDN'T BE A PARTISAN ISSUE.

>> Casey: LEXINGTON REPUBLICAN KILLIAN TIMONEY JOINED KOENIG A THE PRESS CONFERENCE, AS HE IS COSPONSOR OF A BILL AIMING TO ADDRESSES GREY MACHINES, the UNREGULATED GAMING MACHINES LITTERED ACROSS THE STATE.

>> IDENTIFIER COMMUNITY IN KENTUCKY HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY THESE GREY MACHINES, AND THEY COME IN -- THEY COME TO CHALLENGE BEFORE OUR ALREADY ESTABLISHED, ACCEPTED CHARITABLE GAMING OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS LOTTERY OPPORTUNITIES, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THIS, ON THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF GAMING.

ONE MESSAGE THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEND CLEARLY WITH THIS BILL IS THAT WHEN DEALING WITH KENTUCKY, PARTICULARLY WITH GAMING, ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS INSTEAD OF PERMISSION IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T LIKE FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SEND THAT MESSAGE TO ANY INDUSTRY THAT WANTS TO COME HERE TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR CITIZENS, THAT THEY NEED TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS.

>> Casey: HOUSE MINORITY LEADE JONI JENKINS HAS BEEN A COSPONSOR ON THE SPORTS GAMING BILL IN PREVIOUS SESSIONS.

SHE SPOKE TO HER PERSPECTIVE ON THE BILLS AND IF HER CAUCUS WOULD SUPPORT THEM.

>> Casey: REPRESENTATIVE KOENIG .

>> I AM VERY MUCH IN SUPPORTIVE SPORTS GAMING BILL.

I THINK I'VE BEEN A PAST COSPONSOR OF IT.

I HAVE VOTED FOR IT BEFORE.

THE THE OTHER PIECES THE CAUCUS NEEDS TO LOOK AT.

CERTAINLY WE'RE INTERESTED IN THE GREY MACHINES.

WE WANT TO LOOK AT THAT TO TEST ITS CONSTITUTIONALALITIES.

WE WANT TO AGAIN LOOK AT THE HHR BILL.

I THINK IN GENERAL WE HAVE A CAUCUS THAT SUPPORTS ADULTS MAKING DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES WITHOUT INTERFERENCE.

SO THERE WILL BE MORE PROBABLY FROM OUR CAUCUSES TO COME LATER.

THANK YOU.

>> Casey: REPRESENTATIVE KOENI FILED THE BILLS THIS AFTERNOON.

HE SAYS HE DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE TAKEN UP IN COMMITTEE BUT DOES SAY HE BELIEVES THERE IS ENOUGH SUPPOR FOR THE BILLS TO PASS THE HOUSE THAT CONCLUDES OUR COVERAGE OF DAY 37 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 SMARTPHONE OR TABLET.

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

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.