[♪♪] >> Bill: TEACHER SICK LEAVE TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT AND THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT GETS MORE DEBATE.

AFTER REJECTION FROM VOTERS IN 2022 THERE IS A NEW PROPOSAL TO ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF INTO SESSION.

IN WASHINGTON SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL SEES A BIPARTISAN BORDER PROPOSAL DEFEATED.

AND CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS RETURNS TO WORK.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR WILL SPEAK IN MONTANA FUELING SPECULATION ABOUT HIS FUTURE.

AFTER A WINTER WEEK THAT FELT LIKE SPRING, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME TO YOU "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY", A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE AUSTIN HORN POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADERS SARAH LADD HEALTH AND POLICY REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN, AND RYLAND BARTON KENTUCKY BASED SENIOR EDITOR FOR NPR.

TONIGHT AT LEAST ONE KENTUCKY SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL OBSERVE WHAT IT CALLS SUPER BOWL MONDAY.

AND KENTUCKY IS GETTING NEARLY $7 MILLION IN A MULTISTATE SETTLEMENT OVER THE OPIOID CRISIS.

LAWMAKERS ARE HOME FOR THE WEEKEND AFTER ANOTHER BUSY WEEK AT THE CAPITOL AND AS WE NEAR THE HALFWAY POINT OF THE SESSION, THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ADDRESSED A BIG CROWD AT THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN LEXINGTON.

>> THERE IS A C.E.O.

SOMEWHERE OUT THERE WHO IS LOOKING AT KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW.

AND WITH THIS PROGRESS WE'RE SHOWING WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

WHEN YOU KEEP RACKING UP WIN AFTER WIN AFTER WIN YOU DON'T LET UP.

YOU DOUBLE DOWN AND YOU KEEP WINNING.

>> IN REALITY, IT IS OUR JOB TO KEEP GOVERNMENT FOCUSED ON ITS MISSION AND LET THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE WHO CREATE BUSINESSES AND GROW JOBS AND GROW BUSINESSES DO YOUR BEST AND WE'LL STAY OUT OF YOUR WAY.

>> I THINK THEY WILL BE HIGH IMPACT INVESTMENTS.

THINGS THAT WILL LEAD US INTO THE FUTURE, THINGS THAT WILL MAKE US PROSPEROUS.

>> Bill: ON TIP.

THE BALANCE OF POWER IN KENTUCKY IS INTERESTING WITH THE REELECTED DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND THE STRONG REPUBLICAN DOMINATION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING ONCE THE BILLS START ARRIVING ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AS THIS SESSION ROLLS ALONG?

>> YEAH, YOU SAW A LOT OF AGREEMENT THERE, GENERALLY TALKING ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF THE ECONOMY AND THERE'S BEEN SOME AGREEMENT WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT BESHEAR HAS HAD THAT REPUBLICANS SUPPORTED.

AND PA HERE IS NOPE ALI SUPPORTED THE LAST TAX CUT.

AND THERE IS A A LOT OF UNANIMITY IN FRANKFORT THAT GETS UNDERCOVERRED WE FOCUS ON THE CONFLICT AND THERE ARE SMALL BILLS THAT GET PASSED THAT BESHEAR DOES SIGN.

THAT SAID IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW BESHEAR'S BEHAVIOR WITH HIS VETO PEN CHANGES.

HE DID SIGN THAT TAX CUT LIKE WE SAID.

I BELIEVE HE SIGNED A GUN -- ANTIGUN CONTROL BILL LAST SESSION.

AND THAT WAS IN THE LEAD UP TO HIS OWN ELECTION.

DOES THE BEHAVIOR CHANGE NOW THAT HE MIGHT BE THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HIS FUTURE NOT TO SAY HE IS THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT THING, BUT YOU WANT TO TAILOR YOUR RECORD TO WHAT YOUR NEXT THING IS GOING TO BE.

>> Bill: THE POLITICAL ELBOWING FOR CREDIT IS INTERESTING PARTICULARLY AT TIMES LIKE THIS.

ACCUMULATED SICK LEAVE FOR TEACHERS WAS A TOPIC A SENATE COMMITTEE ADVANCED A BILL WHO SAYS THE POLICIES ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND IT'S HURTING THE TEACHERS PENSION FUNDS.

>> SICK LEAVE PROGRAM HAS MORPHED INTO SOMETHING WE DID NOT INTEND IT TO BE.

IT IS A GREAT PERK AND WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL INTENT.

>> TO HAVE THAT TAKEN AWAY WHEN YOU'VE PLANNED ON THAT, IS A LITTLE DEFLATING FOR EDUCATORS WHEN WE CAN'T GET TEACHERS TO GO INTO THE PROFESSION.

>> Bill: THIS WOULD TRIM THE NUMBER OF DAYS TEACHERS COULD BANK AND BE ABLE TO CASH OUT UPON RETIREMENT.

TEACHERS ARE SAYING IT'S TAKING AWAY ANOTHER BENEFIT AT A TIME WHEN IT'S HARD TO ATTRACT PEOPLE INTO THE PROFESSION.

>> GETTING FLASHBACKS TO 2017 AND 2018.

SO THIS WOULD MAKE IT SO TEACHERS CAN USE 10 DAYS PER YEAR TO COUNT TOWARDS THEIR RETIREMENT WHEN THEY CASH OUT THE RETIREMENT.

UNDER CURRENT RULES 30% OF THOSE DAYS CAN COUNT TOWARDS YOUR FINAL PAYCHECK LEAVING YOUR JOB.

WHICH CAN THEN MAKE YOUR ANNUITY PART OF YOUR PENSION HIGHER GOING FORWARD.

THERE'S SOME STUDIES SHOWING THAT THE AMOUNT THAT THIS WOULD HELP SAVE THE STATE MONEY, IT REALLY NOT THAT HUGE ESPECIALLY WHEN CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THERE WERE REFORMS PUT IN PLACE IN RECENT YEARS, 2008 WAS WHEN THE BIG ONE HAPPENED WHEN THERE ARE CAPS ON THIS.

POT POPULATION OF TEACHERS IS BEING PHASED OUT ALREADY THAT CAN TAKE THE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT PENSION SPIKING.

NONE THELESS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PENSIONS HAVEN'T BEEN THE FRONT OF MIND TOPIC FOR LAWMAKERS AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES THAT IT'S BEEN THIS HIGH PROFILE DISCUSSION AND KENTUCKY CONTINUES TO HAVE A PENSION LIABILITY THAT IT HAS TO DEAL WITH.

AND LAWMAKERS PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT FUND AND THIS IS ANOTHER EVERY PENNY COUNTS ATTEMPT TO SAVE A BIT OF MONEY.

BUT IT IS POLITICALLY FRAUGHT.

>> SENATOR CLAIMS THERE ARE CASES WHERE TEACHERS ARE ARE OWED HUNDREDS OF DAYS OF PAY.

>> HE PROVIDED AN EXAMPLE.

SOMEBODY HAD 591 DAYS OF UNUSED SICK TIME THAT WOULD COUNT TOWARDS THEIR PENSION.

I THINK THAT THAT IS AN EXTREME EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT REALLY LOOKINGS LIKE FOR MOST TEACHERS WHEN RETIRING.

BUT THIS IS AGAIN, THIS IS JUST AN ATTEMPT FOR LAWMAKERS TO DO THIS.

ANOTHER GOT TO MENTION THIS WAS A POLICY GOING INTO EFFECT STARTING THIS SUMMER AND WOULD APPLY TO CURRENT EMPLOYEES BUT ONLY SICK TIME ACCRUED THEIR ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING AFFECTING CURRENT WORKERS.

IT WOULD AFFECT CURRENT WORKERS GOING FORWARD.

>> Bill: IF TEACHERS WERE INCENTIVIZED TO TAKE THEIR TIME THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE MORE SUBSTITUTES.

>> AND CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DIFFERENT POLICIES WHAT KIND OF TIME, PERSONAL TIME, VACATION TIME AND SICK TIME.

>> Bill: AUSTIN TEACHERS HAVE SEEN THE STATE BUDGET PROPOSAL OUT THERE AND MAKING THE ROUNDS.

IT DOES NOT GUARANTEE THEM RAISES THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD PROPOSED AND AT A TIME WHEN MANY STATES ARE PAYING CONSIDERABLY MORE.

THERE WAS BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO THE SICK LEAVE CHANGE IN THE COMMITTEE.

LOOKING THE THE POLITICS OF THIS ARE TEACHERS BACK IN A POSITION WHEN THEY RALLIED AROUND THE FLAG AND ALL OF THAT WAS GOING ON?

>> I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.

IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S QUITE THE SAME SORT OF ENERGY BREWING YET.

BUT THAT'S STARTING TO BLOOD PRESSURELE UP A LITTLE BIT.

I'M CURIOUS WHICH TOPIC THEY CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON SHOULD THEY WANT TO REALLY COME OUT.

NOBODY ORGANIZES QUITE LIKE TEACHERS DO.

SO WILL IT BE RAISES?

WILL IT BE THIS PENSION ISSUE?

I DON'T KNOW.

AND THERE'S THE QUESTION OF WHERE THAT BATTLE LINE IS AS WE'VE SEEN WITH SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS.

THEY'VE ASKED FOR UPPING THE SEEK PER PUPIL FORMULA THAT KENTUCKY USES TO FUND EDUCATION.

AND BESHEAR ASKED FOR MANDATED RAISES OUTSIDE OF THE SEEK FORMULA.

IS THAT WHERE THE BATTLE HAPPENS?

IS IT JUST SEEK?

IS IT SEEK PLUS THIS MANDATED RAISE?

WHERE DOES THAT HAPPEN?

I WILL BE INTEREST MILLION DOLLAR WATCHING NOOCH I WAS TOLD BY A SUPERINTENDENT TODAY THAT SUPERINTENDENTS ARE GETTING FRUSTRATED ON THE VERGE OF GOING TO FRANKFORT AND TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE SEEK FORMULA AND HOW THEY THINK THAT THIS WOULD ALL FALL SORT IF GIVING THEM THE ABILITY TO GIVE RAISES.

AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ALSO SAID THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN THE SEEK FORMULA TO PEOPLE IN A SOUNDBYTE.

THEY ARE FEELING THE NEED TO DO MORE EXPLAINING BECAUSE IN THE END THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE THE KINDS OF RAISES THAT THEY WOULD TAKE TO RETAIN TEACHERS.

>> AND IT CAN'T BE OVEREMPHASIZED IN A LOT OF THESE COUNTIES THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS IF NOT THE TOP EMPLOYER, ONE OF THE TOP EMPLOYERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE THERE IF NOT MORE POWERFUL THAN A STATE LEGISLATOR.

>> Bill: AN INTERESTING DEBATE.

>> I MEAN SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS HAD A ROUND TABLE WITH REPORTERS ON TUESDAY AND THE TOPIC CAME UP AND HE SAID THAT HE'S WITH GOVERNOR BESHEAR IN TERMS OF WANTING TO SEE MORE MONEY INTO THE SYSTEM.

HIS PROBLEM WAS THAT IF YOU THROW OUT A NUMBER, 11% RAISES ACROSS THE BOARD AND THEN IT'S NOT EQUITABLE, SOMEONE IN A MORE AFFLUENT COUNTY THAT IS MORE OF A RAISE FOR THEM THAN A RURAL AND POOR COMMUNITY HE FELT THAT WOULD OPEN THE STATE UP TO A LAWSUIT RISK THERE.

>> Bill: IT'S THE CONTINUING COMMITMENT THEY ALSO HAVE TREPIDATION ABOUT.

YOU DO THE 11% IT'S THERE AND IT HAS TO GO FORWARD.

THE GOVERNOR WAS IN YOUR HOME COUNTY TODAY PUSHING TEACHER RAISES.

>> HE WAS THERE WITH MY HEALTH TEACH ERIC CAR.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING THIS Mr.

CAR WE APPRECIATE YOU OR AT LEAST I DO.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

THERE IS ALSO A PROPOSAL TO ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF INTO SPECIAL SESSION OR EXTEND ITS REGULAR SESSIONS.

IF THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR IT IS.

VOTERS DEFEATED A PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT WOULD HAVE DONE THAT IN 2022.

BUT HOUSE SPEAKER OSBORNE SAYS THE AFFECT TWO YEARS AGO WAS THAT IT WAS 700 WORDS LONG, TOO COMPLICATED HE PROMISES THIS AMENDMENT WOULD BE SIMPLE AND DIRECT.

SO THERE'S AN INTERESTING SITUATION.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PUT THE ENTIRE AMENDMENT UNDER RECENT COURT RULINGS ON THE BALLOT.

>> IF YOU FIRST AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY AND TRY AGAIN IT'S THE SAME THING AND TRY TO GO WITH SIMPLER LANGUAGE.

VOTERS WILL REMEMBER IF YOU VOTED IN 2022 THAT IS THE REASON THE BALLOT WAS SO LONG THAT YEAR.

IT WAS A VERY COMPLICATED PHRASE.

THERE'S BEEN -- THIS WOULD PROVIDE LAWMAKERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY.

IF THEY VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE EXTENDING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION OR REALLY LIKE THEY COULD GAVEL OUT AND COME BACK IN AT A LATER DATE OR IF THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER AGREE THEY COULD CALL THEMSELVES IN FOR SPECIAL SESSIONS AS WELL.

IT IS A HUGE POWER FOR THE LEGISLATURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE.

THE GOVERNOR'S THE ONE WHO CAN CALL LAWMAKERS INTO PASS NEW LAWS RIGHT NOW OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR SESSION.

THAT IS WHY THESE MONTHS ARE SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR LAWMAKERS TO GET THE STUFF FIGURED OUT.

AND THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS MORE.

IT RAISES QUESTIONS, TOO, ABOUT THE ROLE OF A LAWMAKER.

WE HAVE A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE THAT WHERE PEOPLE ARE THEY'VE GOT REGULAR JOBS THAT IS THE SESSION.

AND IT'S WITH THE PREDICTABLE DATES OF IT YOU CAN MAKE THINGS WORK.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO POSSIBLY BE CALLED IN AT ANY OTHER TIME IT IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE HAVE.

>> Bill: BESHEAR OPPOSE TO DO IN 2022.

WOULD WE EXPECT THAT AGAIN?

>> I IMAGINE SO.

THIS ONE OF THE FEW STILL LIKE CONCRETE CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS HE HAS OVER THE LEGISLATURE SINCE HIS VETO POWER IS WEAK OVER THE LEGISLATURE THEY CAN OVERRIDE HIM EASILY.

HIM HAVING THAT ABILITY WHEN SOMETHING IMPORTANT IS HAPPENING TO GET EVERYBODY TO COME TO THE TABLE THAT IS A POWER HE WANTS TO KEEP.

>> HE'S SIGNALED ALREADY THAT HE IS AGAINST IT.

AND I MEAN HE'S GOT A GOOD TRACK RECORD WHEN HE IS ADVOCATING FOR ISSUES ON THE BALLOT.

BOTH THE AMENDMENTS HE ADVOCATED AGAINST FAILED IN 22 AND HE WON AN ELECTION IN 2023.

A FORMIDABLE FORCE WHEN IT COMES TO STATE-WIDE ELECTIONS.

>> Bill: THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT DEI, DIVERSITY EQUITY AND CLUNGS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ISSUED A FRESH STANCE TALKING ABOUT BELONGING.

THERE ARE BILLS THAT WOULD OUTLAW DEI INITIATIVES, BILL 6 IS SPONSOR SECOND BY MIKE WILSON IT IS TO PREVENT VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION.

OPPONENTS SAY IT COULD LEAD TO MORE DISCRIMINATION.

SARAH, THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT IS BEING TAKEN UP IN MANY STATES RIGHT NOW.

>> I BELIEVE 21 STATES ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO COMBAT THESE ESTABLISHED POLICIES.

AND YOU STARTED TO SEE THIS MORE AFTER THE SUPREME COURT SAID YOU CAN'T CONSIDER RACE ANYMORE ON COLLEGE APPLICATIONS.

ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS ABOUT DIVERSITY ABOUT GENDER, SEXUALITY AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUND.

BUT AFTER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FELL IN PLACE SINCE '78, THEN YOU STARTED TO SEE MORE OF THESE CONVERSATIONS COME AFTER THAT.

THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR THIS.

>> Bill: WE'RE HEARING THAT THERE ARE FIVE CANDIDATES FOR KENTUCKY EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.

THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS NEXT FRIDAY.

IS THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN KENTUCKY A FACTOR IN WHY IT MIGHT APPEAR THE RESUMES ARE NOT ROLLING IN?

>> THAT IS TOTALLY POSSIBLE.

IT'S -- WHEN THE SENATE PASSED A LAW THAT MADE IT SUCH THEY HAD TO CONFIRM THE NOMINEE OR RATHER THE HIRE, IT CREATED A KIND OF NEEDLE THAT A HIRE THAT WAS TO THREAD.

THEY HAVE TO BE ACCEPTED BY BESHEAR WHO IS A DEMOCRAT APPOINTED BOARD AND SIGNED OFF BY A REPUBLICAN DOMINATED SENATE.

WHO IS THE CANDIDATE WHO FITS BOTH OF THOSE BOXES?

I DON'T KNOW.

I GUESS WE'LL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE BOARD.

>> THIS IS A REAL NEW UNCHARTERED TERRITORY FOR HOW TO RUN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

BECAUSE KENTUCKY WENT THROUGH A PERIOD OF ELECTING THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION ON A STATE-WIDE LEVEL AND CAME TO THE POINT OF THE GOVERNOR APPOINTING PEOPLE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND HIRING THE COMMISSIONER WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INSULATED.

AND NOW HAVING THE LEGISLATURE IN HERE THEY HAVE BOXED THEMSELVES INTO A CORNER IN HAVING TO COME AND MAYBE HAPPILY THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON SOMEBODY.

IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO COME TO AGREE ON SOMEBODY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE'RE ALL WAITING TO SEE WHO TURNS UP AND WHETHER EVERYBODY CAN BE HAPPY.

>> Bill: THERE'S MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOUSE BILL 5 ITS SPONSORS CALL IT THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT IT HAS A LOT OF PROVISIONS IT ENHANCES PENALTIES FOR VIOLENT CRIMES AND MAKES SLEEPING IN MANY PUBLIC PLACES ILLEGAL.

THAT HAS BEEN A FLASHPOINT IN THE DISCUSSION.

JENNY RAMSEY, A HOMELESS ADVOCATE IN LEXINGTON BROUGHT FOLKS TO FRANKFORT FOR FACE TO FACE MEETINGS AND SAYS THEY WERE VERY WELL RECEIVED AND RESPECTFUL CONVERSATIONS.

BUT THIS BILL IS BROAD AND IT INCLUDES A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> THE STREET CAMPING PART IS ONE LARGE BUT ONE PART OF THIS VERY LARGE BILL THAT INCLUDES OTHER THAN THAT A LOT OF THINGS THAT INCREASE CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

THE STREET THREE STRIKES LAW MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOST FAMED PARTS.

ON THE STREET CAMPING BAN PART THIS IS LIKE A HUGE POLICY THAT IS BEING CONSIDERED IN A LOT OF STATE LEGISLATURES RIGHT NOW AND THIS U.S. SUPREME COURT AGREED TO TAKE UP A STREET CAMPING BAN LAW LOCALLY FROM OREGON.

THEY WILL BE HEARING ARGUMENTS OVER IT THIS YEAR.

AND GOING FORWARD THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW STATES AND LOCALITIES ARE ALLOWED TO REGULATE HOMELESSNESS.

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IN KENTUCKY IF THEY PASS THIS LAW WILL BE PUTTING ITS MARK DOWN ON WANTING TO REGULATE.

WHICH WOULD CRIMINALIZE CAMPING ON THE STREET.

WHICH THERE ARE ALREADY LOTS OF REGULATIONS AROUND IT BUT IT'S GOING TO FORCE COMMUNITIES TO CANING HOW THEY DO THIS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HOPE THEY WILL STILL BE ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO CONNECT FOLKS WITH RESOURCES.

>> Bill: BECAUSE IT'S NOT GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSES.

>> AND BANS HOUSING FIRST POLICIES.

POLICIES THAT ARE INTENDED TO END UP PUTTING SOMEBODY IN SOME FORM OF PERMANENT HOUSING.

IF THIS PASSES THERE IS A LOT OF FIGURING OUT TO DO FOR ESPECIALLY LARGE CITIES LIKE LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Bill: THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED AN OMNIBUS BILL AND IT WOULD ADDRESS MATERNAL HEALTH AND CHALLENGES OF MOTHERHOOD IN KENTUCKY.

>> OMNIBUS IS PLAYING ON OMNIBUS IT DOES A LOT OF THINGS FOR MATERNAL HEALTH.

REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT WOMEN GATHERED LAST SUMMER AND LOOKING HOW BAD KENTUCKY'S MATERNAL MORTALITY IS AND THEY WANTED TO COME UP WITH LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THIS AND LAWMAKERS SIGNED ON IT.

MOMNIBUS PASSED OUT OF THE COMMITTEE AND IT DOES A LOT OF THINGS IT INCENTIVIZES PRENATAL CARE TO MAKE SURE OF INSURANCE COVER.

IT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TELEHEALTH TO GET ULTRASOUNDS AT HOME.

THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE NOT SEEN CONTROVERSY AROUND THERE WAS UP WITH THING IN COMMITTEE WHERE LANGUAGE WAS SAYING PREGNANT INDIVIDUAL TO PREGNANT WOMAN AND THE REPRESENTATIVE ASKED WILL THIS EXCLUDE PEOPLE WHO ARE PREGNANT AND DON'T IDENTIFY AS WOMEN.

AND THE PRIMARY SPONSOR RESPONDED AND SAID WOMEN ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN GET PREGNANT T SOUNDS LIKE HER THINKING AND INTENT HERE IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE LANGUAGE HAS CHANGED, THE LAW WOULD SEE ANYONE WHO IS PREGNANT AS A WOMAN.

THAT IS THE ONE SMALL THING THAT CAUSED DISCUSSION.

>> Bill: THERE WAS A BILL THAT WOULD ADDRESS KINSHIP CARE AND RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICES IS WILLING TO MAKE WHEN A CHILD IS TAKEN FROM THE PARENTS.

THEY WOULD GET THE BENEFITS OF FOSTER PARENTS.

>> WHAT IS HAPPENING IF YOU ARE A GRANDPARENT AND YOU GET A CALL FROM A SOCIAL WORKER SAYING YOUR GRANDCHILD HAS TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING ABUSED OR NEGLECTED OR AT RISK OF THAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HEARING TWO OPTIONS.

THE KID IS GOING TO GO INTO FOSTER CARE OR YOU CAN TAKE TEMPORARY CUSTODY.

THEY WANT TO KEEP THE CHILD OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS THEY GET TRAPPED IN TEMPORARY CUSTODY AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING MUCH HELP IN THAT SITUATION FROM THE STATE.

THIS BILL WOULD LET THEM APPLY TO CHANGE THEIR STATUS TO A CHILD SPECIFIC FOSTER HOME WHICH MEANS THEY WOULD GET $750.

THEY WOULD GET MORE HELP FROM THE STATE AND THAT FLEXIBILITY IS A THING ADVOCATES ARE HAPPY ABOUT.

IT WOULD MEAN CHILDREN COULD WRITE A LIST IF THEY ARE ABLE TO CHILDREN IN THIS SITUATION, COULD WRITE A LIST OF PEOPLE TO LIVE WITH AND A COURT COULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION SO THEY HAVE SAY.

>> Bill: CHILDCARE ISSUES YOU ARE WATCHING CLOSELY DO YOU EXPECT ON THAT.

>> .

>> PROBABLY NEXT WEEK.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THERE'S MONEY ATTACHED TO SUCH A THING.

THE HOUSE BUDGET ALLOCATED $52 MILLION FOR CHILDCARE AND ADVOCATES SAY THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

>> Bill: A HOUSE BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW WATER COMPANIES TO OPT-OUT OF PUTTING FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER SAILED THROUGH A COMMITTEE.

>> COSPONSOR IS LOOKING AT THIS AS FORCED MEDICATION.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE FLUORIDE IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING MINERAL AND HEALTH EXPERTS SAY BY HAVING THIS YOU'RE PAUSING OR MAYBE REVERSING TOOTH DECAY THAT CAN COME ON BY EATING SUGAR FOR EXAMPLE.

>> Bill: AND THIS IS THOR TOPIC AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> THIS IS -- AND THEORIES AROUND THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF FLUORIDE GO BACK TO THE IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE MID-20TH CENTURY.

KENTUCKY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STATES TO IMPLEMENT FLUORIDE ON A WIDE SCALE TO GREAT SUCCESSES.

AND STUDIES SHOW AS SARAH POINTED OUT IT IS A HEALTHY THING FOR FOLKS ENCOURAGES GOOD HEALTHY DENTAL HYGIENE.

>> Bill: WE KNOW SENATE BILL 1 IS FOR A HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH.

AUSTIN, SENATE PRESIDENT STIVERS ALSO IS TALKING ABOUT HAZARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS A UNIVERSITY.

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT REALLY SAYS SOMETHING THAT THIS IS SENATE BILL 1.

AND TO BE CLEAR THAT BILL IS ABOUT ENDOWED RESEARCH FUNDS THAT SORT OF ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION ON RESEARCH BETWEEN THE STATE'S UNIVERSITIES.

WHICH SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S PRIORITIES, I THINK.

AND THEN HE HAS THIS RESOLUTION TO LOOK AT A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY IN HAZARD.

LIKE A BLANK SPOT IF YOU LOOK AT THE EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE OF KENTUCKY THAT SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY REGION.

IT MAKES YOU WONDER AND HE FILED A SIMILAR RESOLUTION LAST YEAR A PRECURSOR TO THIS ONE.

>> Bill: HE IS VERY INTERESTED IN.

IN WASHINGTON KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS BACK TO WORK AFTER A SERIOUS AUTO ACCIDENT.

HIS LONGEST SERVING MEMBER OF THE U.S. HOUSE AND THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER IN KENTUCKY.

AND BACK AT THE CAPITOL IS COUNTING HIS BLESSINGS.

>> WELL, IT WAS A CAR ACCIDENT.

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT TO GET TO MY CONDO.

AND THIS ONCOMING CAR AND THE OTHER DIRECTION HIT ME.

TOTALED MY CAR.

I WAS VERY LUCKY, BLESSED AS A MATTER OF FACT TO NOT HAVE MORE SERIOUS INJURIES.

I FELL MUCH BETTER.

I'M STILL UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE.

BUT I'M BACK AT WORK.

>> Bill: AND HE ARRIVED BACK TO A STANDING OVATION.

>> YEAH, HE IS A BIG DEAL IN WASHINGTON HE IS THE DEAN OF THE HOUSE I'M SURE HE WAS EAGER TO SHOW EVERYBODY HE WAS IN GOOD HEALTH.

>> Bill: SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL SAW THE BORDER DEAL GO DOWN IN DEFEAT.

McCONNELL SIGNALED IT WAS IN TROUBLE AND RAND PAUL CALL TO DO A FAKE BORDER BILL.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SENATE REPUBLICANS LOOKED LIKE THEY WOULD BE UNITED ON BUT IT STARTED TO FALL APART.

THIS IS -- THERE WAS A BILL THAT INCLUDED A LOT OF BORDER SECURITY AND MONEY TO TRY AND FIX WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE BORDER AND ATTACH THAT TO AID FOR UKRAINE AND ISRAEL BUT ALL BLEW UP THERE ARE QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER McCONNELL HAS CONTROL OF HIS CONFERENCE.

BUT AND ALSO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP LOOMS LARGE OVER THIS HE VOICED OPPOSITION AND REPUBLICANS RAN FOR THE WINGS.

NOOFER GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR IS HEADING TO MONTANA TO SPEAK AND THAT'S FUELING EXPLANATION?

>> MONTANA IS A STATE PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT ONE OF THE BIG REPUBLICAN TARGETS YOU HAVE A DEMOCRAT RUNNING THERE AN INCUMBENT IN A RED STATE.

AND IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT BESHEAR'S ERIC HIGHERS RAN GOVERNOR STEVE BULLOCK'S CAMPAIGN IN MONTANA.

THAT MIGHT BE THE CONNECTION THERE.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

KENTUCKY'S GETTING $7 MILLION IN A SETTLEMENT OVER THE OPIOID CRISIS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN ANNOUNCED IT IS COMING FROM PUBLIC FOR MARKETING AND ADVERTISING THE COMPANY'S ROLE IN HELPING OXYCONTIN MAKER SELL ITS PILLS 350 MILLION THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THAT SETTLEMENT.

WE'RE WATCHING FLU AND RESPIRATORY SITUATIONS AND THE MEASLES.

>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONFIRMED CASES OF MEASLES IN THE CINCINNATI AIRPORT BETWEEN JANUARY 27-29 YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED A PERSON TRAVELED THROUGH IN THAT AREA.

>> Bill: YOU WONDERED WHICH SCHOOL SYSTEM IS GOING TO TAKE MONDAY OFF IT IS PARIS INDEPENDENT THEY WILL TAKE IT OFF FOR THE SUPER BOWL.

THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE BY THE SCHOOL BOARD LAST YEAR TO BE EFFECTIVE THIS SUPER BOWL WEEKEND.

AND SO INSTEAD OF TAKING PRESIDENT'S DAY THEY WILL TAKE MONDAY OFF THE DAY AFTER THE SUPER BOWL AND THAT IS THE PLAN TO OBSERVE SUPER BOWL MONDAY.

INTERESTING, RIGHT?

SHOULD BE NATIONAL AUSTIN SAYS.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.