>> Casey: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS SENT ALL OF KENTUCKY'S NEWL REDISTRICTED MAPS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS COULD BE GETTING NEW POWERS.

AND THE GOVERNOR HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET AFTER LEGISLATORS FILE THEIR VERSION BEFORE HIS BUDGET ADDRESS.

WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THIS WEEKEND AND RECAP THE ACTION OF DAY SIX OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

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

WE'LL BEGIN WITH ACTION FROM OVER THE THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY GATHERED FOR A RARE SATURDAY WORKDAY TO FINISH WHAT THEY BEGAN ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, REDISTRICTING.

KENTUCKY SENATE WAS CHARGED ARE REDISTRICTING AND DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE DEBECOMMENDED ON MOANED THE PROCESS AND THE PRODUCT HOUSE MINORITY CAUCUS C DERRICK GRAHAM BLASTED THE NEW POSITIONING OF FRANKLIN COUNTY IN THE 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AS "WRONG, PURE AND SI THE SENATE-CONTRIVED MAP MOVES THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT OUT THE CENTRAL KENTUCKY-BASED 6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND INTO THE 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT SPRAWLS FROM FAR WEST IN FULTON COUNTY TO MIDDLE PORTION OF THE STATE.

GRAHAM, WHO REPRE FRANKFORT, LAMENTED ON THE BOND BETWEEN FRANKLIN AND FAYETTE AND HE SAYS IT SHOULDN'T BE SEVERED BY CONGRESSIONAL BOUNDARIES.

>> FRANKLIN COUNTY SHARES A LOT OF BOND WITH WESTERN KENTUCKY.

BUT WE SHOULD NOT SHARE A CONGRESSMAN.

THE HEART OF THAT DISTRICT IS MORE THAN 200 MILES AWAY, AS THE JAP FROM WEBSTER CAN TELL US, AND YOU HAVE TO GO ANOTHER 100 MILES TO GET TO HICKMAN IN FULTON COUNTY.

THE FARTHEST COUNTY SEAT TO THE WEST.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF KENTUCKY SPECIFICALLY SINGLED OUT FRANKLIN COUNTY'S CHANGE AS A MAJOR REASON WHY IT OPPOSES THIS CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

THE LEAGUE SAID THAT THIS MOVE, I QUOTE, "CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED AS SERVING CITIZENS OR VOTERS WELL."

AND I COULD NOT AGREE more >> Casey: TAYLORSVILLE REPUBLICAN JAMES TIPTON ALSO OBJECTED TO THE REDRAWN CONGRESSIONAL LINES HE AGREES WITH HIS CAUCUS COLLEAGUES THAT THE MAPS ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY DRAWN BUT EXPRESSED MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT THE PLAN.

>> MY NO VOTE TODAY IS ON BEHALF MY CITIZENS WHO I REPRESENT IN ANDERSON COUNTY.

AS I HAVE TALKED TO INDIVIDUALS IN THAT COMMUNITY, AS I HAVE LOOKED AT THE WAY THAT THE PRECINCTS HAVE BEEN SPLIT, TRAVEL THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW WHO THEIR CONGRESSMAN IS, AND MY NO VOTE IN NEE WAY REFLECTS NEGATIVELY ON THE PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY REPRESENT THE 1st AND THE 6th DISTRICT, BUT -- OR WHO MAY REPRESENT THEM IN THE FUTURE, BUT I JUST -- I JUST BELIEVE THAT THE WAY THIS WAS DRAWN, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE >> Casey: NO OTHER DEBATE OR COMMENTARY CAME FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR ON THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL SENATE BILL 3 WAS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR ON A VOTE OF 65 TO 25.

HOUSE MEMBERS WERE MORE VOCAL O THE REDISTRICTING PLAN FOR THE KENTUCKY SENATE, SENATE BILL 2.

DEMOCRATS IN THE LOWER CHAMBER WERE OUTRAGED THAT LEXINGTON BOWLING GREEN AND COVINGTON WER BEING CRACKED, OR EVEN GUTTED, AS THEY SEE IT.

THEY BELIEVE IT'S AN OUTRIGHT ATTEMPT BY THE GOP TO DILUTE THE VOICES OF VOTERS IN THE URBAN CORE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE ACCUSED REPUBLICANS OF REDRAWING LINES TO CAPTURE CERTAIN VOTERS AND MAINTAIN THAT EVEN THOUGH THE MAPS MAY BE CONSTITUTIONAL, IN THEIR MINDS THEY'RE FAR FROM FA.

>> JUST LOOK AT FAYETTE COUNTY.

THERE ARE 200,000 LEXINGTON OWN OWNIANS THAT ARE SPLINTERED ACROSS SIX DISTRICTS THAT ARE BASED OUTSIDE THE OF FAYETTE COUNTY.

IN DISTRICT 12 ONLY 34.5% OF THAT DISTRICT IS IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

DISTRICT 17, ONLY 9.4% OF THAT DISTRICT LIES IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

DISTRICT 22, 43.8% LIES IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

DISTRICT 27, 15.2% LIES IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

DISTRICT 28, 32.2% LIES IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

DISTRICT 34, 25.5% IS IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

THERE'S ONLY ONE DISTRICT THAT IS WHOLLY IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

NOW, YOU MAY SAY, OH, THAT MEANS THERE ARE GOING TO BE SEVEN PEOPLE IN THE SENATE THAT ARE GOING TO BE FIGHTING FOR FAYETTE COUNTY.

AND I HOPE THAT'S TRUE.

BUT WE ALL KNOW YOUR AREA OF RESIDENCE MEANS A WHOLE LOT IN YOUR FAMILIARITY AND YOUR ABILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT AREA.

WE ARE DILUTING THE VOICES OF URBAN CENTERS WHEN WE KNOW POPULATION IS HEADED TOWARD URBAN CENTERS.

>> THESE SPLITS GO RIGHT DOWN TO THE STREET LEVEL.

THERE'S NOT JUST EXCESSIVE CRACKING OF THE COUNTY.

THERE IS A CRACKING OF PRECINCTS.

AND IT'S BEEN DONE VERY DELIBERATELY, TO SPLIT THE URBAN CORE OF ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING CITIES IN THE STATE.

THERE WAS NO REASON TO SPLIT PRECINCTS IN DOWNTOWN BOWLING GREEN UNLESS YOU'RE TRYING TO DILUTE THE VOICES OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST.

>> THIS SMACKS TO ME OF ABSOLUTELY CHOOSING YOUR VOTERS BECAUSE THE WAY DISTRICT 24 IS RIGHT NOW, IF IT DIDN'T CHANGE AT ALL AND WE ALLOWED FOR CONTINUITY IN REPRESENTATION THERE, THE POPULATION IS OVER 116,000 VOTERS, WHICH IS WITHIN THE MARGIN, SO NOTHING HAD TO CHANGE.

KENTON COUNTY IS ALMOST 115,000 VOTERS, SO IT COULD HAVE BEEN KEPT WHOLE TO KEEP THE SPIRIT OF THAT COMMUNITY WHOLE.

BUT INSTEAD, 4,000 VOTERS HAVE BEEN PULLED OUT OF KENTON COUNTY, MANY OF WHOM ARE FROM A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST, AND I ASK FOR WHAT REASON.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE AT HOME TO TAKE A LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT DISTRICT 24 AND DISTRICT 23 BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY I THINK THE VISUAL OF WHY WE ARE STANDING UP HERE AND SAYING, THESE MAPS ARE UNFAIR.

THESE MAPS MAY BE CONSTITUTIONAL BUT THEY'RE WHY PEOPLE START TO LOSE FAITH IN GOVERNMENT.

>> YOU'RE KILLING THE URBAN CENTERS.

YOU'RE SPLITTING UP THE BLACK VOTE.

YOU'RE MAKING SURE WE CAN'T BE HEARD.

AND YOU SAY, W. IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL.

IT'S THE NUMBERS.

WE DON'T MEAN ANY HARM.

WE'RE TELLING YOU THERE IS HARM.

AND YOU DON'T care >> Casey: TO THE DEMOCRATS' CRITICISMS, HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE OFFERED THIS RETORT.

HE SAID REDISTRICTING INPUT WAS SOUGHT FROM THE MINORITY PARTY AND THAT REPUBLICANS ARE NOT REPEATING THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST BUT CORRECTING THEM.

>> I MEAN, LADY FROM JEFFERSON 35, JUST ON THURSDAY, MADE THE OBVIOUS STATEMENT, WHICH WAS BY ANY OBJECTIVE MATTER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP OF JEFFERSON COUNTY YOU CAN SEE, I BELIEVE YOUR WORDS WERE, IT IS ABSURDLY GERRYMANDERS.

AND NOW WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT -- AND THIS IS A ROUGH ESTIMATE -- WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY WHICH IS 93 SQUARE MILES, THAT HAS 18 LEGISLATORS, FIVE OF THEM ARE FIVE SQUARE MILES CONTAIN SEVEN LEGISLATORS.

SEVEN LEGISLATORS WITHIN JEFFERSON COUNTY ARE CONCLUDED IN THE FIVE SQUARE MILE AREA.

FOR A COUNTY THAT'S 93 SQUARE MILES.

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLY REPRESENTATIVE?

IT DOESN'T MEAN, GENTLEMAN FROM JEFFERSON, THAT WE ARE REPEATING THE SINS OF THE PAST, BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME YOU HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY THE PAST.

LLEYTON CAMPBELL '67, YOU AND I STOOD IN NASHVILLE AND TALKED ABOUT THE ABSURD FINGER THAT INCLUDED NO PEOPLE BUT THE OHIO RIVER IN YOUR DISTRICT.

IT WAS INCLUDED IN A NATIONAL TV SHOW.

YOU CAN'T REPEAT THAT, THANK GOD WE DIDN'T REPEAT THAT, BY ANY OBJECTIVE MATTER, BY ANY OBJECTIVE SCORE.

WE HAVE IMPROVED COMPACTNESS AND WE HAVE IMPROVED COMMUNITY INTEGRITY.

BUT THAT'S NOT REPEATING, THAT YOU HAVE TO CORRECT it >> Casey: THE KENTUCKY SENATE MAPS WERE OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED 67 TO 23 IN THE HOUSE AND FORWARDED TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS REVIEW.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO HAS IN HIS POSSESSION SENATE BILL 20 THAT DEALS WITH LEGAL CHALLENGES TO NEWLY DRAWN LEGISLATIVE DISTRIC IT REQUIRES ANY LAWSUITS QUESTIONING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE MAPS BE FILED IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE PLAINTIFF'S RESIDENCE.

IT WAS AWARDED FINAL PASSAGE BY THE HOUSE ON SATURDAY ON A 85 TO 4 WHILE THE HOUSE TOOK UP THE SENATE'S WORK, THE UPPER CHAMBE DEBATED THE MERITS OF THE LOWER CHAMBER'S WORK.

HOUSE BILL 2, PASSED BY THE SENATE ON SATURDAY, REDISTRICTS THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S HOUSE'S ECHO.

>>> COPS HEARD EARLIER THE IN BARRACK WYE HIS democratic COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE CAPITOL'S THIRD FLOOR, SENATE MINORITY LEADER MORGAN MCGARVEY SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE NEW MAP AND HOW IT IMPACTS THE DEMOCRAT-HEAVY LOUISVILLE AREA.

>> THIS MAP UNNECESSARILY PITS INCUMBENTS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

MAYBE I SHOULD SAY PUNITIVELY PITS INCUMBENTS AGAINST EACH OTHER, PARTICULARLY IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

I THINK THERE'S ALSO SOME OBVIOUS PARTISANSHIP, MORE THAN WHAT YOU NORMALLY SEE IN A MAP OF THIS type >> Casey: MCGARVEY SAYS THE HOUSE'S MAP MAY NOT BE LEGAL, AND THE ONLY SENATE DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING EASTERN KENTUCKY SAYS SHE THINKS THE SAME THING.

GRAYSON SENATOR ROBIN WEBB CREDITED THE HOUSE FOR THEIR WORK ON THE DISTRICTS IN HER PART OF THE STATE BUT QU WHETHER THEY WILL HOLD UP IN CO. >> AND I GIVE THEM MUCH CREDIT FOR THE WORK THEY'VE DONE AND IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, PARTICULARLY.

HOWEVER, AS WITH ANYTHING LEGAL, LAWYERS SOMETIMES DISAGREE.

IT'S INTERPRETIVE.

I'VE BEEN HERE THROUGH A COUPLE OF THESE REDISTRICTING FIGHTS, AND AT THIS TIME MY CONSTITUTIONAL SENSE AND INTERPRETATION ON A CURSORY PER VIEW OF IT IS GOING TO OVERRIDE NIGH VOTE no >> Casey: SENATE M LEADER DAMON THAYER WASN'T INTERESTED IN HEARING THE DEMOCRATS' CRITICISMS OF THE MA HE SAYS DEMOCRATS HAVE LONG HAD ENOUGH TO SET DISTRICTS.

>> BECAUSE YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND YOUR OWN PERSONAL CRITICISMS WITH EVERY MAP.

THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.

IT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE ITS FOUNDING.

BUT THIS MAP MEETS ALL THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

>> Casey: HOUSE BILL 2 RECEIVE FINAL PASSAGE IN THE SENATE 23 TO 10.

ET NOW HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR'S ALSO PASSED BY THE SENATE WAS THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT'S NE HOUSE BILL 179 REDRAWS THE SUPREME COURT'S DISTRICTS WHICH MANY LAWMAKERS SAY HAVE GONE TO LONG WITHOUT A CHANGE.

LAWRENCEBURG SENATOR ADRIEN SOUTHWORTH WAS THE ONLY PERSON TO VOTE AGAINST THE MAP, SAYING SHE BELIEVES IT'S UNCONSTITUTIO SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS SAYS EVEN THOUGH HE CAN'T ANSWE ALL SOUTHWORTH'S QUESTIONS, THE NEW MAP IS BETTER THAN THE CURRENT ONE.

>> I WAS SUPPORTIVE ENOUGH OF THE BILL YESTERDAY TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT, BUT AT THIS POINT I FEEL THAT THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES TO DO THE AS NEARLY AS EQUAL AS POSSIBLE IN POPULATION AND AS COMPACT AS POSSIBLE, AND WE DON'T HAVE WIGGLE ROOM TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE WILL WORK.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND THAT IS WHY I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS MEASURE.

>> I UNDERSTAND HER CONCERNS.

I UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE.

BUT I CANNOT GIVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER TO HER CONCERNS BECAUSE THERE'S NO CASE LAW ON IT.

BUT THIS IS ONE WHERE WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE COURT SYSTEMS, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, TO COME UP WITH THIS MAP WHICH WE THINK IS SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER THAN THE WOEFUL STATE OF THE DISTRICTS AS THEY ARE NOW.

>> Casey: HB 179 PASSED THE SENATE WITH A COMMITTEE, SUBSTITUTE OF 33 TO 1.

THE HOUSE THEN GAVE THE MEASURE FINAL PASSAGE 75 TO 7.

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS COULD GAIN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF NEW POWER IF SENATE BILL 1 BECOMES LAW.

THE MEASURE GIVES SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS THE POWER TO HIRE AND FIRE PRINCIPALS AND FINAL SAY OVER SCHOOL CURRICULU IN MUCH OF THE STATE, THIS IS A POWER HELD BY SCHOOL-BASED DECISION MAKING COUNCILS, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS SBDMS.

THESE COUNCILS INCLUDE PARENTS TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO SET SCHOOL POLICY.

PROPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY GIVING SUPERINTENDENTS THESE RESPONSIBILITIES PLACES POWER BACK IN THE HANDS OF VOTERS, AS LOCALLY-ELECTED SCHOOL BOARDS CONTROL THE SUPERINTENDENT.

SENATE BILL 1'S SPONSOR JOHN SCHICKEL SAYS HIS LEGISLATION I MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER WITH ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SCHOOL CURRICULUM HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> SINCE THIS BILL WAS FIRST FOUNDED OR SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONTROVERSY AROUND SCHOOL CRICK LUNNE LUM, AND IT'S MADE THE URGENCY OF THIS BILL EVEN MORE SO.

AND I'M NOT HERE TODAY TO PUSH ONE CURRICULUM OR PUSH ANOTHER CURRICULUM OR SAY THIS SHOULD BE BANNED OR THAT SHOULD BE BANNED OR WE SHOULD PROMOTE THIS OR WE SHOULD PROMOTE THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S MY ROLE.

I THINK THAT EVEN WHEN I DISAGREE, THOSE DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE NOT BY US BROWARD COUNTY ELECTED SCHOOL boards.

>> Casey: LOUISVILLE SENATOR GERALD NEAL PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1 THAT WOULD REQUIRE SUPERINTENDENTS T CONSIDER THE DIVERSITY IN A SCHOOL WHEN FILLING PRINCIPAL VACANCIES AND SETTING CURRICULU HE EXPLAINS HIS REASONING FOR FILING THE AMENDMENT.

>> I'M CONCERNED ALSO ABOUT THE DECISION-MAKING OF SUPERINTENDENTS.

IN THE PROCESS.

I'M EVEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE DECISION-MAKING OF SCHOOL BOARDS BOARDS, DEPENDING UPON THEIR HISTORY AND THEIR CULTURAL BACKGROUND AND THE BIASES AND PERSPECTIVES THEY BRING TO THE TABLE BECAUSE WE ALL BRING THEM TO THE TABLE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

SO WHEN WE DEAL WITH QUESTIONS REGARDING TEXTBOOKS AND WHO IS GOING TO BE THE CHIEF DMV OF A SCHOOL, THAT DID -- ADMINISTRATIVE HAVE A SCHOOL, THAT SORT OF THING, I WORRY GAIN OF OUR HISTORY THAT WE DRAG THAT -- OR LET ME PUT IT ANOTHER WAY -- THAT WE IGNORE THE FACT THAT THAT HISTORY IMPACT OUR DECISION MAKING AND HOW WE MANIFEST OUR VALUE SYSTEMS AND DISTRIBUTE THEM IN OUR DECISION-MAKING EVERY TIME WE OPEN OUR MOUTHS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT DEALS WITH ISSUES OF RACE.

>> Casey: FRESHMAN SENATOR DONALD DOUGLAS VOTED AGAINST'S NEAL'S AMENDMENT.

HE SAID IT SEPARATES PEOPLE INTO GROUPS WHEN THEY SHOULD BE COMING TOGETHER TOGETHER.

>> MY CONCERN FOR THIS AMOUNTED IS THAT IT FURTHER OR CONTINUES TO SEPARATE US INTO GROUPS.

THIS IS THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

WE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT SOCIAL GROUPS, MANY DIFFERENT RACIAL GROUPS.

WE CAN LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT LEGISLATION.

LET ME CONTINUE.

LOUISVILLE HAS ALREADY GIVEN THEIR SUPERINTENDENT THESE POWERS, AND REPUBLICAN JULIE RAQUE ADAMS SAYS IT'S A SYSTEM THAT WILL WORK EVERYWHERE.

>> I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATION.

I HAVE SOME POTENTIAL ISSUE WITH THE APPLICATION, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHING'S NOT BROKE IN MY DISTRICT, I DON'T TEND TO TRY TO FIX IT.

I'M NOT HEARING A GREAT NEED FOR ANY REFORM, IF YOU WILL, ALONG -- ON THIS MEASURE.

OUR SITE-BASED COUNCILS WORK VERY WELL.

SUPERINTENDENTS COME AND GO.

WE CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T GET PEOPLE TO RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD HALF THE THE TIME.

SO, YOU KNOW, IN A RURAL DISTRICT.

WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT ARE TAILOR-MADE FOR THE DEMOGRAPHIC.

AND IT'S WORKED VERY WELL.

I'VE GOT GREAT HESITATION ABOUT THE APPLICATION OF THIS MEASURE.

>> THIS LEGISLATION IS VERY APPEALING TO ME.

WE DID THIS TWO YEARS AGO IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND I REMEMBER SITTING IN A COMMITTEE ROOM, PACKED COMMITTEE ROOM WHERE EVERYBODY WAS CONVINCED THAT THIS WAS THE DEMISE OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE SBMDMs AND IN FACT THAT CRITICISM NEVER CAME TRUE.

IN FACT, THIS WAS HAS WORKED EXCELLENT IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT WORKING EXCELLENT IN ALL OF THE DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> Casey: SENATE PRESIDENT PRO-TEM DAVID GIVENS SAYS SCHOOL-BASED DECISION MAKING COUNCILS ARE ALREADY SUPPOSED T BE TAKING CUES FROM SCHOOL BOAR HE SAYS SENATE BILL 1 MAKES SUR THAT OCCURS.

>> BUT APPARENTLY OVER THE YEARS THE COURTS HAVE INTERPRETED THIS TO NOT MEAN WHAT IT SAYS.

AND SO VERY CORRECTLY AND RIGHTLY, THE SENATOR FROM BOONE'S LEGISLATION CLARIFIES, "SCHOOL COUNCIL SHALL SET POLICY THAT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH BOARD POLICY AND GOALS FOR THE DISTRICT ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD."

THE SCHOOL BOARD ESTABLISHES THE GOALS FOR THE DISTRICT AS THEY SHOULD.

THE CHANGES IN THIS LEGISLATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND THE ONE I'M MENTIONING NOW MAKES CERTAIN THAT THOSE GOALS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL ALIGN WITH THAT BOARD POLICY, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION.

>> Casey: SENATE MINORITY LEADER MORGAN MCGARVEY VOTED AGAINST SENATE BILL 1.

HE SAYS THE MEASURE TAKES AWAY LOCAL CONTROL AS OPPOSED TO IMPROVING IT.

>> I HAVE SAID OFTENTIMES IN THIS THE BODY THAT WE DON'T OPERATE WITH A SCALPEL.

AND ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS I SEE WITH THIS LEGISLATION IS THAT WE ARE USING A BLUNT INSTRUMENT IN EVERY SCHOOL, IN EVERY DISTRICT ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

I THOUGHT WE WERE USUALLY DEBATING FOR MORE LOCAL CONTROL.

INSTEAD TODAY WE ARE TAKING THE VOICES OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE MOST FAMILIAR WITH THE KIDS AND THOSE SCHOOLS.

>> Casey: MCGARVEY SAID HE COULD VOTE FOR THE MEASURE IF THE HOUSE MAKES SOME CHANGES TO SENATE BILL 1 IS NOW IN THE HOUSE'S POSSESSION AFTER PASSIN THE SENATE 25 TO 9.

NOW FOR SOME ACTION FROM today.

DESPITE BEING A QUIET DAY AT TH CAPITOL, SOME MASSIVE HELP COUL BE ON ITS WAY TO THOSE IMPACTED BY THE DECEMBER TORNADOES THAT STRUCK ACROSS THE STATE, KILLIN 77 PEOPLE.

THAT HELP COMES IN THE FORM OF $200 MILLION, $45 MILLION OF WHICH WILL BE SPENT $30 MILLION OF THE INITIAL DOLLARS WILL GO TO THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS IMPACTED BY TH STORMS PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SCHOO SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND HELP PAY FOR ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO GET DISPLACED STUDENTS TO AN FROM THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE OTHER $15 MILLION WOULD GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS TO BE USED TO OBTAIN TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR THOSE DISPLACED BY THE STORMS.

REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD HEATH REPRESENTS SOME OF THE HARDEST HIT AREAS AND HE SPONSORED HOUS BILL 5.

>> HOUSE BILL 5 IS OUR ATTEMPT TO BRING SOME RELIEF TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHO SUFFERED THROUGH THE LOSS OF THE STORMS IN DECEMBER, WHILE THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY WILL ULTIMATELY DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY AND HOW MUCH RELIEF IS AVAILABLE AND TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE IMMEDIATE -- WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE UNTIL THE FEDERAL AGENCY MAKES ITS DETERMINATIONS.

SO THESE FUNDS WILL BE REPAID WHEN THE INSURANCE CLAIMS AND FEMA RESOURCES ARE AWARDED.

THE BILL ALSO ADDRESSES AID TO LOCAL SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE SOME WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO ASSIST THEM IN THEIR SCHOLASTIC PROGRESS.

>> Casey: THE ADDITIONAL $155 MILLION WILL BE PLACED IN THE WEST KENTUCKY STATE AID FUNDING FOR EMERGENCIES, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SAFE FUND.

REPRESENTATIVE LISA WILLNER ASKED HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE ABOUT WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO SPEND THE ADDITIONAL MONEY LOCATED IN THE SAFE FUND.

>> DOES THAT MEAN THAT FOLKS NEEDING THE AND I HAD KNOWING THE IMMEDIATE NEED WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR APPROVAL FOR EVERY EXPENDITURE?

>> NO.

REPRESENTATIVE WILLNER, WHAT THAT BASICALLY MEANS IS THE FROM REQUEST FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WAS A TOTAL OF $200 MILLION.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY APPROXIMATELY $45 MILLION OF THAT SO FAR AS TO EXACTLY HOW TO APPROPRIATE THAT.

THIS WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL MONEYS FOR -- THAT ARE NEEDED FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE INSURANCE SHORTFALLS.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME SCHOOL INTRODUCTION MONEYS THAT ARE NEEDED.

WE JUST DO NOT KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE YET.

SO WE WANTED TO ABSOLUTELY ESTABLISH THAT THE MONEYS ARE THERE, APPROPRIATE THE MONEY BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO IDENTIFY THE EXACT DOLLARS YET.

AS SOON AS THOSE DOLLARS ARE IDENTIFIED, THEN THEY WILL BE RELEASED WITH ADDITIONAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

>> Casey: OSBORNE SAYS THAT FURTHER APPROPRIATIONS WILL BE MADE AS REQUESTS COME IN.

HE ALSO SAID THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WAS CONSULTED BEFORE THE CREATION OF SENATE BILL 5.

IT PASSED THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY AND NOW MAKES ITS WAY TO THE FULL HOUSE FOR CONSI THE SENATE HAS FILED COMPANION LEGISLATION, SENATE BILL 5.

THE HOUSE A&R COMMITTEE ALSO PASSED HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 29, AND IT PASSED THE HOUSE AFTER THEY WAIVED THE REQUIRED THREE READINGS OF THE RESOLUTION ON THREE DIFFERENT DAYS.

THE MEASURE EXTENDS THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF EMERGENCY RELATING TO RECENT STORM DAMAGE UNTIL APRIL THIS WEEKEND THE HOUSE FILED THEIR VERSION OF THE STATE BUDGET, PREEMPTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS ON TH TODAY THE GOVERNOR HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO PREVIEW ASPECTS O HIS VERSION OF THE BUDGET THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED IN MORE DEPTH DURING HIS BUDGET ADDRESS.

THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T HESITATE TO CRITICIZE THE LEGISLATURE FOR FILING THE BUDGET, CALLING IT "UNPRECEDENTED, UNWISE AND PERHAPS EVEN UNLAWFUL."

>> NEITHER THE HOUSE NOR THE SENATE REACHED OUT TO TELL US THEY WERE CONSIDERING FILING THEIR OWN BUDGET, AND THAT OBVIOUSLY TOOK WEEKS OR MONTHS TO DO.

WE'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH THEM ON OTHER THINGS THESE PAST WEEKS LOOKING AT EACH OTHER EYE TO EYE OR ON ZOOM GIVEN WHERE OMICRON IS.

MY GOAL WAS TO BRIEF THEM BEFORE WE DID THIS, BUT SATURDAY OBVIOUSLY CHANGED A LOT OF THAT, SO MY HOPE IN THE FUTURE IS WE CAN GET BACK TO THE WAY THIS IS SUPPOSED TO GO.

I MEAN, UNDER STATE LAW THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

THE TRAINED PROFESSIONAL BUDGET STAFF IS SUPPOSED TO PREPARE THE INITIAL BUDGET.

THAT'S JUST THE SMART WAY OF HOW TO DO THINGS.

AND IT SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT STEALING ANYBODY'S THUNDER, THOUGH I DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THAT PIECE, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT POWER AND CONTROL.

IT SHOULD BE ABOUT OUR PEOPLE AND FOLLOWING A PROCESS THAT WAS PUT IN IN THE '80s AND IT'S BEEN FOLLOWED EVERY YEAR SINCE.

AND, YOU'VE HEARD A WHOLE LOT, AND I GET IT, IN REDISTRICTING ABOUT DEMOCRATS USED TO DO THIS AND DEMOCRATS USED TO DO THAT.

NO ONE HAS EVER DONE THIS.

FILING A BUDGET BEFORE THE GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION, AND MAYBE EVEN ACTING LIKE THEY IGNORED IT.

NO ONE'S DONE that >> Casey: THE GOVERNOR SAYS HIS BUDGET WOULD INCLUDE RECORD FUNDING FO THAT FUNDING WOULD INCLUDE FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN FOR FOUR-YEAR-.

>> MY BUDGET ADDS RECORD FUNDING, NEARLY $2 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING OVER THE NEXT BIENNIUM PRE-K THROUGH 12th GRADE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

ON A SAID PRE-K.

THIS BUDGET STARTS AT THE YELLOWS AGE, PROVIDING UNIVERSAL PRE-K, FULLY FUNDING UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR ALL FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND FUNDING FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN FOR EVERY KENTUCKY CHILD FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

NO LONGER WILL TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR CHILDREN BE LEFT OUT OF PRESCHOOL OR HEAD START, PROGRAMS THAT WE KNOW PROVIDE POSITIVE OUTCOMES ON CHILDREN'S EARLY LITERACY AND MATHEMATICS SKILLS AND FOSTER LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS.

THE COST IS MORE THAN AFFORDABLE.

PRE-K FOR EVERY FOUR-YEAR-OLD IN KENTUCKY COSTS $172 MILLION EACH YEAR OF THE NEXT BIENNIUM.

COMBINED WITH $140 MILLION PROVIDED IN THE LAST BUDGET FOR FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, KENTUCKY WOULD NOW PROVIDE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO FULLY IMPLEMENT A PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, EARLY LEARNING IS NOT JUST CRITICAL.

WITH OUR CURRENT BUDGET OUTLOOK, IT IS MORE THAN AFFORDABLE.

FULLY FUNDING PRE-K FOR ALL FOUR-YEAR-OLDS IS LESS THAN 8% OF THE BUDGET SURPLUS WE HAVE GOING INTO THIS BUDGET.

IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING WE CAN AFFORD TO DO.

IT IS SOMETHING WE MUST DO.

>> Casey: ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR, THE BUDGET INCLUDES A RAISE TO THE SEEK FUNDING FORMULA, SALARY INCREASES FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL, FUNDING FOR A STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRA FOR TEACHERS, AND OVER $97 MILLION TO RENOVATE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

AND THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL ALS PROVIDE A 12% INCREASE TO HIGHE THE FULL PICTURE OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET WILL COME INT CLEARER FOCUS ON THURSDAY NIGHT AFTER HIS BUDGET ADDRESS.

YOU CAN SEE THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS, ANALYSIS AND REACTIONS FROM LEGISLATIVE LEADERS LIVE ON KET THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME.

AL UNTIL THEN, WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 11:00 EASTERN TIME FOR "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE."

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 PHON OR TABLET.

YOU CAN WATCH ON OUR