>> Casey: A MEASURE THAT ADJUSTS REGULATIONS FOR ASSISTE LIVING CENTERS HEADS TO THE HOU CLARIFICATIONS FOR HOSPITAL CLASSIFICATION OF STROKE CENTER COULD BE ON ITS WAY.

AND KENTUCKY STUDENTS MAY GET EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH REASONS.

WE RECAP THE ACTION OF DAY 10 OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FO I'M CASEY PARKER-BELL.

A BILL CREATED BY STUDENTS COULD ALLOW STUDENTS TO HAVE EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH REAS HOUSE BILL 44, SPONSORED BY RETIRED TEACHER BOBBY MCCOOL, REQUIRES SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO INCLUDE PROVISIONS FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES BECAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

THE VAN LEAR REPUBLICAN SAYS THE LEGISLATION IS IMPORTANT TO BRINGING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES INTO THE CONVERSA.

>> HOW BILL 44 IS STUDENT-LED.

IT'S SIMPLE IN THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY CHANGES IN THE CURRENT ABSENTEE POLICIES.

IT'S SIMPLE IN THAT IT DOESN'T ADD ANY MANDATES.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS BRINGS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TO THE LEVEL OF CONVERSATION WITHOUT FEAR OF ANY TYPE OF STIGMA.

IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE MENTAL HEALTH IS A HEALTH ISSUE.

>> Casey: HOUSE BILL 44 DOES NOT EXPAND THE NUMBER OF EXCUSE ABSENCES STUDENTS MAY RECEIVE.

LOUISVILLE DEMOCRAT LISA WILLNE IS A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST.

SHE APPLAUDED THE THREE STUDENTS THAT BROUGHT THE BILL TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S ATTENTION AN SAYS THE MEASURE HAS RECEIVED WIDESPREAD SUPPORT.

>> IT DOESN'T ADD EXTRA DAYS FOR ABSENCES BUT SIMPLY MAKES IT EXPLICIT THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS HEALTH.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE IMPORTANT LESSONS THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS TAUGHT US.

SINCE THE GENTLEMAN FROM JOHNSON AND I BEGAN WORKING ON THE BILL WITH THE STUDENTS THIS PAST SUMMER, WE'VE GAINED THE SUPPORT OF NUMEROUS EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH GROUPS, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS, THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, TEACHER GROUPS, THE KENTUCKY MENTAL HEALTH COALITION, THE KENTUCKY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, AND NASW KENTUCKY.

WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED NO OPPOSITION TO THE BILL.

THE BILL REPRESENTS ONE IMPORTANT STEP IN REDUCING STIGMA AND SUPPORTING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH, BUT WE KNOW THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

>> Casey: HOUSE BILL 44, WHICH EXPANDS EXCUSED ABSENCES TO INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, PASSED THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY 94 TO 0.

IT NOW HEADS TO THE SENAT KENTUCKY'S NEWEST STATE SENATOR SCORED HIS FIRST POLICY VICTORY NICHOLASVILLE SENATOR DONALD DOUGLAS WON THE DISTRICT 22 SPECIAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER AFTER THE DEATH OF FORMER STATE SENATOR TOM BUFORD.

HE'S SPONSORING SENATE BILL 55, WHICH HE SAYS WILL HELP ELIMINATE CONFUSION ABOUT HOW HOSPITAL STROKE CENTERS ARE CATEGORIZED, AND IT CREATES A NEW CATEGORY OF STROKE CENTERS TO HELP PATIENTS GET BETTER.

>> CURRENT LANGUAGE TALKS ABOUT PRIMARY STROKE CENTERS.

IN FACT, WE HAVE ACUTE STROKE READY HOSPITALS.

WE HAVE PRIMARY STROKE CENTERS.

AND WE HAVE COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CENTERS.

SO CONTINUALLY THERE HAS BEEN SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS REGARDING PRIMARY STROKE CENTERS.

YOU ABOUT WITH THAT I'M PROPOSING TODAY IN MY BILL IS THAT WE USE THE WORD "CERTIFIED" SO THAT THIS AGAIN FURTHER CATEGORIZES THE STROKE CENTER SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE OUR STROKE VICTIMS THE VERY BEST CARE POSSIBLE.

ALSO, I'M PROPOSING ADDING A NEW CATEGORY THAT IS A THROMBECTOMY CAPABLE STROKE CENTER.

PREVIOUSLY WE HAD THREE LEVELS.

I WANT TO ADD THIS THIRD level.

>> Casey: SENATE BILL 55 PASSED AFTER THE VOTE WAS READ ALOUD, THE ENTIRE CHAMBER CONGRATULATE.

>> THERE BEING 32 YEAS, NO NAYS, SENATE BILL 55 IS PASSED.

SENATOR FROM SCOTT.

[APPLAUSE] >> Casey: ANOTHER HEALTH CARE BILL WAS ALSO PASSED BY THE SENATE TODAY.

WINCHESTER SENATO SPONSORS SENATE BILL 11 WHICH ALLOWS ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.

AND, ACCORDING TO THE SENATOR, IT WOULD LEAD TO GREATER OVERSIGHT.

>> IT MERGES PERSONAL CARE ORE BASIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES WITH SOCIAL WHICH IS A SOCIAL MODEL INTO ONE BROADER LICENSURE CALLED ASSIST LIVING OR S HAVE ALCs.

PERSONAL CARE HOMES THAT MEET ASSISTANT LIVING CARE CENTERS WILL BE RERIGHT HANDS A ALCs.

I REDUCES CONSUMER CONFUSION WITH PRIVATE PAY PARTICIPATE ALCs.

CONSUMERS DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY SENIOR COMMUNITIES WITH SIM ARE APPEARANCES THAT CARE ARE FOR SENIORS WITH LOW ACUTE NEEDS ARE LICENSED DIFFERENTLY.

PERSONAL CARE HOPES DELIVER HEALTH SERVERS WHILE ALCs ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE HEALTH serv >> Casey: SENATORS REGGIE THOMAS OF LEXINGTON AND KAREN BERG OF LOUISVILLE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE BILL, EACH FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.

>> LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THAT OVERSIGHT IS.

THAT OVERSIGHT INVOLVES TWO PEOPLE THAT THE STATE HIRES NOW WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 120 COUNTIES AND 137 FACILITIES.

THERE'S NO WAY THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO ALL THOSE FACILITIES, ALL 137 FACILITIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE IF ANY MEANINGFUL WAY.

SO THERE'S JUST PRACTICALLY NOW NO EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT OF THESE FACILITIES.

I'M JUST OPPOSED AT CREATING AGAIN TWO SEPARATE STANDARDS OF CARE IN THIS STATE THAT IS A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE BODY THAT I HAVE ACTUALLY REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THIS BILL.

THERE ARE SOME REALLY, REALLY GOOD PROVISIONS IN HERE.

AND WE NEED, WE NEED TO LOOK AT ASSISTED LIVING AND PERSONAL CARE FACILITIES IN THIS STATE, WHICH ARE NOT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM REGULATED IN THE SAME WAY THAT NURSING HOMES ARE.

AND WE NEED TO UPDATE THESE REGULATIONS AND WE NEED TO HONESTLY PROTECT OUR ELDERLY AND OUR FRAIL BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE AWARE OF SITUATIONS THAT ARE LESS THAN OPTIMAL.

I THINK THIS BILL GOES A TREMENDOUS WAY TOWARDS MAKING IMPROVEMENTS.

THE PROBLEM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT IS CLEARLY AN INDUSTRY-DRIVEN BILL.

IT CLEARLY GIVES THE INDUSTRY PROTECTIONS FROM OVERSIGHT THAT I THINK IS NOT FAIR AND NOT IN THE CONSUMER'S BEST INTERESTS.

>> Casey: ALVARADO RESPONDED T THOSE COMMENTS BY SAYING SEVERA PATIENT ADVOCACY GROUPS WEIGHED IN ON THE BILL, WHICH HE SAYS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THOMAS AND BERG WERE THE LONE VOTES AGAINST THE MEASURE AS IT PASSED THE SENATE ON A VOTE OF 30 TO 2.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE COVID-19 SURGE ACROSS THE STATE AS OMICRON CONTINUES TO MAKE CASE NUMBERS RISE AND PUT FURTHER STRAIN ON THE STATE'S HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

KENTUCKY HIT MULTIPLE NEW GRUESOME RECORDS OVER THE PAST WEEK, FROM THE HIGHEST EVER DAILY CASE NUMBER TO A RECORD 30% POSITIVITY RATE LAST WEEK THE GOVERNOR SIGNED SEVERAL BILLS, INCLUDING HB 5 WHICH APPROPRIATES $200 MILLION TO HELP VICTIMS OF THE DECEMBER TODAY, DURING THAT PRESS CONFERENCE, HE COMMENTED ON SOM BILLS HE HASN'T SIGNED: HOUSE BILL 2 AND SENATE BILLS 2 AND 3 THESE ARE BETTER KNOWN AS THE MEASURES REDISTRICTING BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBL AND THE UNITED STATES HOUSE.

HE GAVE LITTLE INSIDE ON HIS PLANS FOR THE LEGISLATION.

>> WHILE I SIGNED THE SUPREME COURT REDISTRICTING MAP, SO ULTIMATELY BELIEVED THAT TO BE FAIR, I AM STILL REVIEWING AND ANALYZING THE OTHER MAPS.

NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, SO I HAVEN'T COME TO A FINAL CONCLUSION ON COOLING OR FAIRNESS.

BUT I WILL BY 1159 ON THURSDAY IF NOT before >> Casey: THE GOVERNOR HAS UNTIL FRIDAY TO DECIDE TO SIGN OR VETO THE MEASURES OR TO LET THEM BECOME LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE.

SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE, SENATE MINORITY LEADER MORGAN MCGARVEY, AND HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JONI JENKINS JOINED RENE SHAW LAST MONDAY ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" TO DISCUSS LEGISLATION LIKELY TO MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS THIS SESSION.

IN LAST TUESDAY'S "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE" YOU GOT TO SEE WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S LEADERS SAID ABOUT THE BUDGET AND EDUCATION TONIGHT WE'LL LOOK AT OTHER ITEMS OF IMPORTANCE, INCLUDING POTENTIAL CHANGES TO KENTUCKY'S TAX CODE AND POTENTIAL NEW REVENUE GENERATORS.

SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS SAYS THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD LOOK TO GIVE TAX BREAKS TO INDIVIDUALS.

>> DO YOU KNOW THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PAY INCREASE FOR PEOPLE, AND THAT'S TO CUT THEIR TAXES.

THAT MIGHT BE A NOVEL IDEA IN SOME PLACES IN THIS STATE, BUT YOU HAVE MORE INCOME IF THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT TAKING AS MUCH OF IT.

SO WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER SOME TAX REFORMS THAT LETS PEOPLE KEEP MONEYS IN THEIR POCKET.

>> IS IT EITHER/OR OR BOTH AND?

>> YOU CAN DO A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

>> YEAH, I WANT TO JUMP IN THERE REALLY QUICKLY TOO.

ONE, IT'S WHY WE SHOULDN'T DO THE BUDGET BEFORE WHEN WE KNOW WHAT TAX REFORM LOOKS LIKE.

THEY SAY -- LIKE THE SPEAKER SAID EARLIER AND YOU IT'S THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT HE SAID.

>> BUT HOW DO WE WKYT FOR THAT IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS.

NUMBER TWO WE'VE BACK UP APPROVE.

SOME OF IT IS PROJECTED BUDGET SURPLUS.

SOME OF IT IS ONE-TYPE MONEY.

I ACTUALLY AGREE WE SHOULD SPEND ONE-TIME MONEY ON ONE-TYPE EXPENDITURES.

KENTUCKY IS ONLY STATE THAT BORDERS THAT DOESN'T HAVE SPORTS BETTING.

VIRGINIA TOOK IN $50 MILLION FOR THE STATE ON SPORTS BETTING.

WE'RE THE HORSE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD YET WE RENEWS TO THINK THAT SPORTS BETTING -- OF COURSE, PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK THERE IS NO SPORTS BETTING IN KENTUCKY, GO TO ANY POST OFFICE IN MARCH AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BETTING ON SPORTS.

U. I THINK WE SHOULD GO FULL ON GAMING IN.

WE HAVEN'T MEDICAL MARIJUANA WHICH WOULD BE OTHER SOURCES REVENUE.

THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH TAXES.

>> MEDICAL MARIJUANA YOU SAY WOULD BE TADD?

MEMORABILIA MARIJUANA WOULD GENERATE JOBS.

DOES MEDICAL MARIJUANA GENERATE A TON OF REVENUE?

NO, IT'S NOT A HUGE REVENUE PRODUCER.

IS IT REVENUE POSITIVE?

YES.

AND IT'S POPULAR.

IT PASSED THE HOUSE, IN FACT.

AND SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ALSO GENERATE REVENUE.

>> I WILL POINT OUT, THOUGH, THAT YOU SUGGESTED THAT WE DO TAX REFORM BEFORE WE DO A BUDGET SO WE'LL KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH MONEY WE CAN RAISE.

AND I THINK THAT IS COMPLETELY -- >> IF YOU'RE GOING TO TUT TAXES IF YOUR TAX REFORM, SHOULDN'T WE KNOW THAT FOR THE BUDGET FOR PROJECTED REVENUES?

>> OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GOT TO CONSIDER IT, MORGAN, BUT, NO, YOU DO NOT RAISE MONEY TO PAY YOUR BUDGET.

YOU DON'T RAISE TAXES TO BASE YOUR BUDGET NUMBERS ON.

>> NO, BUT THE CONSENSUS FORECASTING GROUP TELLS US WHAT THEY THINK OUR MONEY INCOMING IS GOING TO BE, AND WE'RE BASING OUR BUDGET NUMBERS OFF THAT.

THE CONSENSUS FORECASTING GROUP OBVIOUSLY HAS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT -- >> WE CERTAINLY WILL PACE OUR BUDGET NUMBERS ON THIS.

ANY BUDGET WE PASS THIS YEAR, BUDDHISTS NUMBERS OF THE CONSENSUS FORECASTING GROUP HAS GIVEN US.

>> BUT THEY HAVEN'T -- EVEN IF THE BUDGET IS GOING TO LOWER TAXES, THE TAX REFORM WOULD LOWER TAXES, DOESN'T THAT INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY COMING IN, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE TO SPEND?

WE DON'T BORROW 911 IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> OF COURSE NOT AND WE'RE STILL NOT GOING TO SPEND MORE THAN WE TAKE IN.

>> RIGHT.

SO I THINK WE SHOULD JUST KNOW IN THE NEXT TWO CAREERS -- >> SO IF WE DON'T BUDGET EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE GOT, WE'VE EVER.

-- WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SPEND AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO SPEND I PROMISE YOU.

>> Casey: ONE THING THE GOVERNOR'S AND THE HOUSE BUDGET HAVE IN COMMON IS PAY RAISES FO STATE WORKERS.

BOTH BUDGETS PROPOSE 6% RAISES, AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS EXPLAINED WHY IT'S TIME FOR THE PAY BUMP.

>> IS THAT REALLY WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, 6%?

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER AND WHY?

HOW DO YOU COME TO THAT PERCENTAGE?

>> IT IS -- IT WAS A NUMBER THROUGH RESEARCH BASICALLY TO TRY TO GET US BACK UP TO A LEVEL THAT WE WERE ABOUT TEN OR 12 YEARS AGO IN AM COULD PRACTICAL TERMS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S THE END NUMBER OR ULTIMATE NUMBER BUT THAT WOULD BE KIND OF THE MINIMUM NUMBER, WOULD OBVIOUSLY INCREASE -- LARGER INCREASES FOR SOCIAL WORKERS, FOR STATE POLICE, SOME TARGETED AREAS WOULD HAVE LARGER INCREASES THAN THAT.

>> WHY NOT A DOLLAR AMOUNT OR I A PERCENTAGE AMOUNT FOR THE SECOND PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR?

>> IT'S BASICALLY TO KEEP US -- TO DEVELOP A BETTER PERSONNEL SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN INTO IN STATE, WITH STATE EMPLOYEES, AND SENATOR McGARVEY ALLUDED TO IT, THAT BASED ON WHERE YOU LIVE LIVE, THE PAY MAY NEED TO BE DIFFERENT BASED ON COST OF LIVING, BASED ON WORKING CONDITIONS.

THOSE SALARIES MAY NEED TO FLUCTUATE, MAY NEED TO BE DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE HOUSING ISN'T AS EXPENSIVE OR COST OF LIVING ISN'T AS EXPENSIVE.

SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE THOUGHTFUL IN HOW WE PAY OUR STATE EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS COMPENSATING THEM BETTER.

>> SENATOR STIVERS, DO YOU AGREE THAT PUBLIC WORKERS, STATE WORKERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BETTER AND THEY DESERVE 6%, 5% RAISE?

>> I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO SAYING WHAT'S APPROPRIATE, WHAT I THINK WE HAVE TO BE IS JUST EXACTLY, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS I THINK WE COULD POTENTIALLY REACH SOME AGREEMENT ON, STATE WORKERS WILL HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, AND I KNOW SENATOR McGARVEY KNOWS THIS, ON THE HOUSE ON THE EASTERN PARKWAY.

THAT HOUSE THAT I PAID FOR ON THE EASTERN PARKWAY FOR MY KIDS TO LIVE AND GO TO SCHOOL AT COSTS THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS IT WOULD IN CLAY COUNTY BECAUSE I LOOKED AT ALMOST A SIMILAR HOUSE THERE.

AND SO DIFFERENTIAL OF WHAT SPEAKER OSBORNE IS TALKING ABOUT, THE COST OF LIVING IS MUCH DIFFERENT IN RURAL AREAS VERSUS METROPOLITAN AREAS.

SO WHAT IT SHOULD BE, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I KNOW WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT AND COME UP -- AND I LIKE THE SPEAKER'S APPROACH.

LET'S DO SOMETHING NOW.

LET'S LET THE PERSONNEL CABINET, SEE WHAT THEY CAN COME BACK WITH IN RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEN SECOND YEAR WE CAN LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT BECAUSE THERE WILL HAVE TO BE CERTAIN GROUPS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE TARGETED TO KEEP THEM IN OUR RANKS OF THE EMPLOYED FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

AND FROM OUR POSITION, WE HAVE SEEN HUGE TURNOVER JUST IN THE LRC.

BECAUSE WE CAN'T BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

>> LEADER JENKINS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS KIND OF DIFFERENTIATE SALARY ADJUSTMENT OR INCREASE?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

WE'RE SEEING CRISIS LEVEL STAFFING AMONG OUR SOCIAL WORKERS ESPECIALLY IN LOUISVILLE, AND OUR PRISONS, THE CORRECTION OFFICERS ARE BEING RUN AT I THINK BARELY A SAFE LEV.

AND PART OF THAT IS -- LEVEL.

AND PART OF IT IS THE PAY AND PARTS OF IT IS THE BENEFITS PACKAGE THAT FOLKS NO LONGER KNOW THAT IF I STAY THE AT THIS JOB FOR 15 TO 20 YEARS, I'M GOING TO HAVE A ACCIDENT RETIREMENT.

SO I THINK ALL THE -- A DECENT REQUIREMENT.

ALL THINGS WE HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS TO CHISEL AWAY AT THOSE PENSION BENEFITS, NOBODY COMING TO WORK NOW IS GOING TO GET A DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION.

MANY OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS WHO ARE STILL THERE SAY, I'M JUST THERE BECAUSE I KNOW I'VE PUT IN 20 YEARS, I'M GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, WHEREAS NEWER SOCIAL WORKERS SAYING, I CAN GO AND STOCK SHELVES AND MAKE $19 AN HOUR AND I CAN GO HOME AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY THAT SOMETHING TERRIBLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE I SERVE.

THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR STATE GOVERNMENT, MANY OF THEM WORK WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THAT WE HAVE, THOSE IN PRISONS, THOSE IN FOSTER CARE, THOSE WHO ARE IN REALLY BAD situations >> Casey: "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" HOST RENEE SHAW READ A VIEWER QUESTION ABOUT RETIREES POTENTIALLY RECEIVING COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, AND THAT LED TO A BROADER DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE PENSION SYSTEM WILL BE TREATED IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET AND WHAT CHANGES COULD BE IN STORE IN TH HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT WHAT THE HOUSE'S PROPOSAL SAYS ABOUT COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR .

>> THERE'S NOT ONE CONTEMPLATED IN OUR BUDGET, AND THE ONE THAT WE FILED ON FRIDAY, I DON'T KNOW IF THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED ONE OR NOT.

>> ARE YOU FOR THAT, SENATOR STIVERS?

>> WHAT I AM FOR IS TO STABILIZE AND USING SOME OF THESE ONE-TYPE MONEYS TO STABILIZE THE PENSION SYSTEM.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTATIVE JENKINS SAID.

YOU KNOW, WE SAID ONCE WE GOT THE PENSION SYSTEMS UNDER CONTROL, THEN WE WOULD START MOVING TOWARDS HIRE SALARIES.

IN THIS SITUATION WE HAVE A LOT OF ONE-TYPE MONEYS.

I THINK IT WOULD BENEFIT US TO PUT THEM INTO THE PENSION SYSTEMS BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE, WHEN YOU THINK WITH UNFUNDED LIABILITY, YOU HAVE 30 YEARS OF COMPOUNDING, AND SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE USE SO WE'RE NOT AT 18% IF WE CAN GET UP TO 25 PEST OR 30%.

TO ME -- >> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LEVEL OF FUNDING.

>> RIGHT.

THE YOU EVER FUNDING THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY, REDUCING THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITY SO WE KNOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE PENSION OBLIGATIONS.

>> LEADER McGARVEY.

>> OF COURSE, LET'S REDUCE THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY.

I THINK ALL OF US, YOU HAVE AGREEMENT.

WE WANT OUR PENSIONS FUNDED FOR OUR RETIREES AND FOR THE EMPLOYEES WHO QUALIFY FOR THEM, SO LET'S DO THAT.

AGAIN, LET'S MAKE THIS BUDGET ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO.

FOR ONCE WE HAVE MONEY IN THIS BUDGET.

WE CAN REDUCE UNDER THE YOU FUNDED LIABILITY AND WE CAN DO IT BY BUDGET PROTECT PAYMENTS INTO THE PENSION SYSTEM.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER WAY TWEAK DO IT.

TWEAK GIVE STATE EMPLOYEES A RAISE.

THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT DOES.

IF WE ARE RAISING THE PAY OF STATE EMPLOYEES THEN WE ARE RAISING THEIR CONTRIBUTION INTO THE PENSION FUND SO THEY ARE PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THE PENSION FUND WHEN WE GIVE THEM A RAISE.

WHAT ELSE ARE THEY DOING?

THEY'RE SPENDING 911 IN KENTUCKY KENTUCKY.

MOST EMPLOYEES DON'T SAY I'M GOING TO PLAY THE STOCK MARKET.

THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THEIR MONEY WHERE THEY EXTEND IT.

THEY WORK FOR THE KENTUCKY STATE GOVERNMENT IT.

COMES BACK IN THE FORM OF SALES ZA.

INCOME TAX.

THIS IS A DIRECT INVESTMENT IN OUR WORKERS, IN OUR PEOPLE THAT WILL GO SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

SO I THINK THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO AND WE CAN DO BOTH.

WE CAN PROTECT OUR RETIREES AND WE CAN BENEFIT OUR STATE WORKERS.

>> OH THIS EMAIL JUST CAME IN FROM A VIEWER FROM SCOTT COUNTY.

IS ALL THE MONEY YOU'RE DISCUSSING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE EVERY YEAR OR IS THERE A ONE-TIME DEAL?

IF THE ONLY ONE YEAR WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM NEXT YEAR?

REMEMBER WE HAVE UNPAID RETIREMENT FUNDS.

>> I THINK CLEARLY THAT'S WHY WE HAVE GOT TO BE VERY FOCUSED ON NOT SPENDING THE ONE-TIME MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT CREATES RECURRING EXPENSES, AND THAT'S TAKE THOUGHTFUL PROCESS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TRULY INVESTING ONE-TIME MONEYS IN ONE-TIME OPPORTUNITIES.

I WILL POINT OUT IN THE BUDGET WE PROPOSED ON FRIDAY WE PUT $215 MILLION STRAIGHT INTO HAZARDOUS DUTT RETIREMENT.

THAT GETS THE FUNDING LEVEL UP ENOUGH IN HAZARDOUS DUTY THAT THE CONTRIBUTION RATE GOES FROM 1.45% DOWN TO 100%.

SO IT'S A HUGE SAVINGS LONG TERM.

IT ALSO ALLOWS TO US PAY OUR STATE POLICE AND HAZARDOUS DUTY EMPLOYEES MORE AS WE GO THROUGH BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT CONSECUTIVE PENSION CONTRIBUTION FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES.

>> Casey: MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS A BIG TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGAIN THIS YEAR, AFTER MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE HOUSE AND FAILING I THE SENATE DURING THE 2020 SESS.

SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS SPOKE TO WHETHER MEDS NAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION HAS A CHANGES TO PASS BOTH CHAMBERS THIS YEAR.

>> I'VE BEEN CLEAR.

I THINK THERE IS STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT CALENDAR BECAUSE I ROADED READ 20 STUDIES BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE KEY WORD THAT IT CAN HELP YOU IN NAUSEA, HELPING YOU EAT, SPASTICITY, THAT SOMEBODY HAS A SEIZURE.

IT REDUCES THE IMPACT.

JOINT SWELLING.

THERE ARE STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT INDICATORS.

THAT'S NOT MY TERMINOLOGY.

THAT'S THE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS OR THE INVESTIGATORS I THINK IS WHAT THEY'RE CALLED.

BUT THERE'S ALSO WELL-KNOWN, ONE, SENATOR McGARVEY TALKS ABOUT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS ADVERSE TO BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IF YOU'RE UNDER 25.

TWO, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO A PSYCHOTIC EVENT IF YOU HAVE OVEREXPOSURE TO THC.

AND THREE, IF YOU SMOKE IT, IT HAS 50% MORE CARCINOGENS THAN TOBACCO DOES.

SO IT BECOMES THE PROCESS OF HOW SHOULD IT BE USED, AND EVERY STUDY, BECAUSE FOR YEARS I'D SAY, HERE'S ALL THE STUDIES THEY'VE GIVEN ME, NONE.

BUT THEY GAVE ME 20.

I READ THEM ALL.

EVERY ONE OF THEM HAD THE SAME CONCLUSIONS, STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT INDICATORS BUT BECAUSE THE SAMPLE SIZES WERE TOO SMALL, THE DURATION WAS TOO SHORT, MORE STUDY WAS NEEDED.

>> AND SO YOU'RE SAYING NO TO A VOTE ON A MEDICAL CANNABIS BILL SHOULD IT COME FROM THE HOUSE.

>> I DON'T SEE THAT ANYBODY CAN SIT HERE LIKE A JOHNS HOPKINS OR THE FDA OR A GROUP LIKE THAT AND SAY, THIS IS THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE USED.

NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.

AND WE'VE SEEN, AND I'LL GO BACK, I'VE BEEN READING THE COURIER TOO MUCH, SOME PEOPLE NEED TO READ THE ARTICLES WHAT'S GONE ON IN CALIFORNIA WITH THE BLACK MARKET OF MARIJUANA WHERE THEY'VE HAD THE CARTELS GET INVOLVED AND THAT THE VIOLENCE HAS GONE UP.

THEY FOUND A PERSON BEHEADED AND PEOPLE BURNED IN THEIR CARS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS.

IT IS NOT A PANACEA THAT PEOPLE THINK IT IS AND GO LOOK A COLORADO AND CALIFORNIA AND SEE ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW.

>> BUT THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY WANT IT, RIGHT, LEADER JENKINS.

AND LEADER McGARVEY?

>> I THINK 90% OF KENTUCKIANS WANT MED MARIJUANA.

OR MEDICAL CANNABIS, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY THAT.

SHOWING MY AGE HERE.

I THINK WE HAVE PASSED IT OUT OF THE HOUSE ONCE, IF NOT TWICE.

>> ONCE.

>> I THINK MOST OF MY CAUCUS WAS A COSPONSOR OF IT.

I THINK THE PEOPLE WANT IT.

>> AND A REPUBLICAN WAS THE SPONSOR.

>> I A REPUBLICAN WAS THE SPONSOR.

>> AND I'LL JUST BROUGHT UP THE THINGS I BROUGHT UP MEDICAL CANNABIS AND GAMING AND SPORTS BETTING HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RAISING TAXES ON KENTUCKIANS.

>> Casey: HOUSE REPUBLICAN JASON NEMES HAS AGAIN FILED MEDICINAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION HOUSE BILL 136.

WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON ACTION OF THE BILL DURING THIS SESSION.

BE SURE TO TUNE I NIGHT AT 11:00 P.M. EASTERN TIM 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 CHANNEL OR FOLLOW ALONG ONLINE AT KET.ORG.

THANKS FOR JOINING FOURS "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE" TONIGHT.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.