RESPONDERS COULD HAVE MORE OPTIONS OF DRUGS THAT REVERSE OPIOID OVERDOSES.

A PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO IMPROVE READING SCORES FOR KENTUCKY KIDS RECEIVES FUNDING IN A SENATE BILL.

AND A COMMITTEE HEARS A MEASURE THAT WILL ALLOW SOME VISITORS TO NURSING HOMES AND MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALS, DESPITE POTENTIAL RE WE RECAP THE ACTION OF DAY 11 O THE 2022 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

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

KENTUCKY'S FIRST RESPONDERS AND HOSPITAL STAFF COULD GET ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR DRUGS THAT REVERSE OPIOID OVERDOSES.

SENATE BILL 56 BROADENS THE DEFINITION FOR OPIATE ANTAGONISTS, THOSE OVERDOSE REDUCING DRUGS, AND OPENS THE DOOR FOR MORE OPTIONS.

FRESHMAN SENATOR DONALD DOUGLAS, A DOCTOR, SAYS KENTUCKY NEEDS TO EXPAND THIS DEFINITION BECAUSE OF THE EMERGENCE OF STRONGER SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS.

HE SAYS THE NEWER DRUGS MEANT TO COMBAT IF OPIOID EPIDEMIC ARE LONGER LASTING AND IN SOME CASES STRONGER.

>> THIS BILL IS DESIGNED TO EXPAND THE LANGUAGE AND TO ALLOW AN INCLUSION OF NEWER, SOME WOULD SAY BETTER, AND CERTAINLY LONGER-LASTING OPIATE REVERSAL AGENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS BILL.

THE OPPONENT ANTAGONIST IS AN OPIATE REVERSAL AGENT.

IT HAS BEEN USED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND NATURAL OX NALOXONE HAS BEEN THE BASELINE DRUG THAT HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE LITERATURE OR IN THE LEGISLATION.

WHAT I AM HOPE DOOD ISING TO DO IS EXPAND THAT LEGISLATION TO INCLUDE THE NEWER REVERSAL AGENTS, THE NEWER OPPONENT ANTAGONISTS, SO THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WILL HAVE MORE OPERATIONS IS WHEN COMING UPON A CASE AND IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS IN COMMUNITY SITUATIONS.

>> Annie: MORE than KENTUCKIANS DIED FROM DRUG OVERDOSES IN 2020, A 49% INCREASE FROM 2019.

DISCUSSION ON THE MEASURE SPARKED A CONVERSATION ON HOW THE STATE IS HANDLING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

SENATORS PAUL HORNBACK AND JOHN SCHICKEL ASKED IF THE STATE IS DOING THE RIGHT THINGS.

1900.

>> IF THE UNDERLYING BILL IS A PROBLEM.

WE TALK ABOUT HOW DEATH RATES FROM OVERDOSES HAVE GONE UP, AND IT HASN'T BEEN THAT LONG AGO THAT WE PASSED THE NALOXONE BILLS, GIVING OUT FREE NEEDLES, GIVING NALOXONE TO FELLOW DRUG USERS TO ADMINISTRATOR TO THEIR PARTNER WHEN THEY DID -- ADMINISTER TO THEIR PARTNER WHEN THEY DID OVERDOSE.

MR.

CHAIR, I ARGUE THIS IS ENABLING THIS BAD BEHAVIOR TO CONTINUE.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ONE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT I THINK TO RULE OUT OR SAY WE ARE GOING TO DRUG TREAT OUR WAY TO SUCCESS IS A HUGE, HUGE MISTAKE.

I TEND TO SIDE MORE WITH THE SENATOR FROM SHELBY, THAT UNTIL WE GET PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT THERE'S PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY INVOLVED IN THIS, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO MAKE ANY HEADWAY, AND LIKE HE SAID AND I AGREE WITH, THERE'S CONSEQUENCES TO THE CHOICES YOU MAKE.

THERE'S CONSEQUENCES TO COMMITTING CRIMES.

AND WE CAN SAY ALL DAY LONG IT'S THIS FACTOR, IT'S THAT FACTOR AND PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, BUT I DISAGREE.

>> Casey: SENATE FROM the ROBERT STIVERS SAYS THAT ADDRESSING THE ONGOING CRISIS WILL REQUIRE CLEAR TREATMENT AN HE SPOKE TO THE GAINS HIS HOME COUNTY MADE REDUCING OVERDOSES THE LAST YEAR.

>> BUT I WANT TO LET INDIVIDUALS KNOW THROUGH MY TIME HERE, MY HOMETOWN HAS BEEN ONE OF THE WORST.

SENATOR McCARTER KNOWS THAT.

BEEN AROUND A LOT OF THE COUNTIES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY HAVE HAD HARD TIMES DEALING WITH THIS.

BUT I'M GOING TO DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD SAID ABOUT BEING SOFT ON CRIME.

WE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE SMARTER ABOUT IT.

AND I USED TO BE MORE IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL LINE OF THINKING WHAT THE SENATOR FROM SHELBY, BUT AFTER YEARS OF WORKING ON THINGS IN AND DEALING WITH ISSUES LIKE PROVIDING FIRST RESPONDERS THE TOOLS TO DEAL WITH OVERDOSES, SO THERE IS NOT A DEATH, BEING SMART AND HAVING AN INTERVENTION, GETTING INDIVIDUALS INTO TREATMENT, THE SENATOR FROM CHRISTIAN AND I AND SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE WORKED ON BILLS AND ARE WORKING ON BILLS TO EFFECTUATE POLICIES THAT WILL GET THAT INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT TO INDIVIDUALS.

>> Annie: STIVERS SAYS LAST YEAR CLAY COUNTY, KENTUCKY HAD THE SINGLE BIGGEST DROP IN OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE UNITED S HE SAYS SOME OF THE TRENDS IN CLAY COUNTY NEED TO BE ADOPTED STATEWIDE, INCLUDING GETTING PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT FOR LONGE DEMOCRAT SENATOR ROBIN WEBB SAY EASTERN KENTUCKY HAS BEEN HIT PARTICULARLY HARD AND THAT LEGISLATORS ARE ALWAYS ATTEMPTING TO HIT A MOVING TARGET AS THEY TRY TO ADDRESS THE OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A MARKETABLE UNIT OF COMMERCE IN AN OXYCONTIN PILL FOR H. OR, AND WE ENHANCE CASPER AS WE LEARNED AS WE WENT AND WE ADDRESSED PROBLEMS.

SO IT'S AN EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS.

AND DRUG COURTS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED TRYING TO BE RESPONSIVE, AND PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE CURVE, BUT IT WAS REALLY HARD TO GET TRACTION BACK IN THE EARLY 2000s WHEN YOU HAD MILLION DOLLARS DRUG COMPANIES FIGHTING YOU AT EVERY EVERYTHING.

AND CONGRESSMAN ROGERS WAS THERE, AND WE TRIED ON A FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL TO DO BETTER.

AND WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO BETTER.

AND I THINK THAT WE ARE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE DRUG TRADE AND THE DRUGS THEMSELVES HAVE ALSO MORPHED AND ADAPTED, SO NOW YOU DON'T HAVE A -- AN IDENTIFIABLE UNIT OF COMMERCE.

>> Casey: SENATE bill PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 35 TO 0.

A FLOOR AMENDMENT TO THE BILL WAS ATTACHED TO CLARIFY SOME LANGUA THE MEASURE NOW HEADS OVER TO THE HOUSE.

STUDENTS WHO ARE BEHIND THEIR GRADE LEVEL IN READING COULD GET ADDITIONAL HELP IN THE FORM OF THE READ TO SUCCEED PROGRAM.

PARIS SENATOR STEPHEN WEST SAYS HIS SENATE BILL 9, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "READ TO SUCCEED ACT," WILL HELP THE 200,000 KENTUCKY STUDENTS WHO NEED READING INTERVENTION.

THE GOAL IS THAT STUDENTS AT TH THIRD GRADE LEADING LEVEL AT TH END OF THEIR THIRD GRADE YEAR.

WEST EXPLAINED THE BILL HE SAYS WAS INFLUENCED BY PROGRESS IN M. 56.

>> AND IN ESSENCE IT WAS VERY SIMPLE.

IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT KIDS KNOW HOW TO READ BY THIRD GRADE, IT CHANGES THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES AND IT ALSO CHANGES THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR STATE SCORES.

BEGINNING IN THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, ANY STUDENT IN GRADES K THROUGH THREE IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING ACCELERATED PROGRESS TOWARD PROFICIENT PERFORMER IN READING WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INTENSIVE INTERVENTION THAT ADDRESSES INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES AND ENABLES THE STUDENTS, STUDENT TO RECEIVE IN-SCHOOL SUPPORTS AND POSSIBLE ENRICHMENT FOR INCREASING A STUDENT'S RATE OF PROGRESS TOWARD PROFICIENT PERFORMANCE IN READING.

THE KEY PART OF THAT IS "ANY STUDENT."

>> Casey: THAT THE bill APPROPRIATES $22 MILLION TO SET UP THE PROGRAM IN THIS YEAR'S B IT WILL THEN TAKE $15 MILLION EACH YEAR AFTER TO CONTINUE IT.

LEXINGTON SENATOR REGGIE THOMAS VOTED AGAINST THE MEASURE.

HE SAYS IT WILL HURT A PROGRAM HE BELIEVES IS CURRENTLY WORKING, CALLED READ TO ACHIEVE.

9.

>> FOR FAYETTE COUNTY, MY COUNTY, 2018-2019, YOU HAD 1,000 1,00027 STUDENTS GO THROUGH THE READ TO ACHIEVE PROGRAM.

OF THAT NUMBER, ONLY EIGHT DID NOT READ AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

WHEN YOU DO THE QUANTITATIVE NUMBERS, THAT'S A 99% SUCCESS RATE.

IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT ANY KIND OF DATA AND GET 99% CORRECT.

THAT'S ALMOST A GUARANTEE.

AND WHAT SENATE BILL 9 DOES, MR. PRESIDENT, IS THAT IT ASKS THE READ TO SUCCEED PROGRAM TO IT THAT'S A LARGER GRANT THAT HAS THE THREAT AND THE LIKELIHOOD TO MOVE OUT THE READ TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE PROGRAM.

>> Casey: DESPITE Thomas' OPPOSITION, SENATE BILL 9 PASSE THE SENATE 28 TO 7.

IT NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION THE NUMBER OF MEDICAID MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS COULD BE REDUCED IF A SENATE BILL PASSIN THROUGH COMMITTEE TODAY BECOMES.

MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS OR MCOs AS THEY'RE OFTEN CALLED, ARE PROVIDED COMPANIES THAT MANAGE HEALTH CARE FOR THOSE COVERED BY MEDICAID THE MCOS RECEIVE PAYMENT ON A PER-MEMBER PER-MONTH BASIS.

FEDERAL LAW DICTATES THAT EACH STATE MUST CONTRACT WITH TWO M COMMENTS HAVE BUT CURRENTLY DE CONTRACTS WITH six FORMER HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR AND CURRENT STATE SENATOR STEVEN MEREDITH SAYS THAT IS TOO MANY.

HE SAYS IT PARTICULARLY HURTS RURAL HOSPITALS AS DEALING WITH MULTIPLE MCOS MEANS HIGHER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

HE SAYS THAT RURAL HOSPITALS DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO KEEP UP.

HE SPONSORS SENATE BILL 45, WHICH WOULD LIMIT THE NUMBER OF MCOS IN KENTUCKY TO THREE.

>> RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE COLLAPSING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THIS DMV BURDEN.

IT MAKES NO SENSE -- ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.

IT MAKES NO SENSE.

I'MCO CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, AND A COUPLE OF MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES IS OPERATE THE STATE LIKE A BUSINESS.

SECONDLILY,IN SPEND THE MONEY LIKE IT'S YOUR OWN.

AND WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU HIRE SIX DIFFERENT GROUPS, ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ONLY REQUIRES TWO, AND WE COMPROMISE WITH THREE?

NOW, THE EXCUSE THAT I GET IS, WELL, THE SAME THING COULD HAPPEN BACK WHEN THE PROGRAM STARTED, ANTOINE OF THE MCOs MAY BOLT AND IT'S GOING TO CREATE ALL THIS HAVOC.

NOT IF WE'RE DOING OUR JOBS.

I THINK IT'S A JOB OUR ADMINISTRATION CAN PROPERLY VET THOSE MCOs BE WITH HAVE A CONTRACT THAT PUTS IN THOSE SAFEGUARDS AND MAKES THIS PROGRAM SECURE.

WE HAD NO PROBLEM AT ALL DURING OUR TURNING OUR FOSTER PROGRAM OVER TO A SINGLE MILLION DOLLARS CARE SOURCE SO WHY IS HEALTH CARE ANY DIFFERENT?

THIS JUST ADDS ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN THAT HAS NO PURPOSE WHATSOEVER.

AND I CAN MARCH LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO THIS TABLE TODAY, AND YOU COULD ASK THEM, DOES THIS IMPROVE HEALTH CARE?

AND THEY WILL TELL YOU IT DOES NOT.

DOES THIS INCREASE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN OF HEALTH CARE?

IT MOST CERTAINLY DOES.

IT IS NOT JUST A ADMINISTRATIVE NUISANCE.

IT'S CRUSHING SMALL PROVIDERS, RURAL HEALTH PROVIDERS PARTICULARLY.

AND WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

WE ARE IN A CRISIS SITUATION AS EVIDENCED BY THIS COVID SITUATION.

IT'S NOT JUST TRYING TO IMPROVE PROFITS FOR THESE PEOPLE.

IT'S SURVIVAL FOR THESE PEOPLE.

AND WE'VE TAKEN SOME MEASURES THAT IMPROVE THEIR REIMBURSEMENT, MAY BE MORE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THEM BUT THAT JUST LETS THEY TREAD WATER IT.

DOESN'T RAISE RATES UP.

ONE THING WE CAN DO AND WE SHOULD DO IS REMOVE THIS UNNECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN THAT ADDS TO GO NOT QUALITY OF CARE, REDUCE COSTS OR MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE AVERAGE KENTUCKIAN.

>> Casey: CURRENTLY Kentucky HAS 1.6 MILLION INDIVIDUALS ON THAT'S A THIRD OF THE STATE'S P KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAID SERVICES COMMISSIONER LISA LEE SAYS MEMBERS ARE CURRENTLY HAPP WITH THEIR MCOS BUT THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HOSPITALS TO BE SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS TOO.

>> WE DO SHOW THAT MEMBERS ARE SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES THEY'RE RECEIVING FROM THE MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS, AND, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD, WHEN INDIVIDUALS HAD A CHANCE TO MOVE FROM ONE MANAGED CARE TO ANOTHER, LESS THAN 1% ACTUALLY MOVED TO A MANAGED CARE, FROM ONE MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATION TO ANOTHER.

AND I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MEDICAID DOES COVER A LOT OF SERVICES THAT COMMERCIAL CARRIERS EITHER DO NOT OR WILL NOT COVER, SO WHEN WE LOOK AT MEDICAID IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS AND OUR HEALTH CARE DELIVERY, WE ARE A MAJOR PAYER IN THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY, AND I THINK IF WE REALLY WANT TO REFORM THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET AT THE TRUE COST OF HEALTH CARE.

LIKE SENATOR MEREDITH, I DO NOT WANT ANY OF OUR RURAL HOSPITALS CLOSING.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT A BURDEN ON ANY OF THOSE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF STATE OF HAVE SAFETY NET PROVIDER THERE.

EV WOO SOME FANTASTIC MEDICAID PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THEM BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT MY MANTRA IS THE MEDICAID PROGRAM WAS CREATED FOR THE MEDICAID MEMBER, BUT WE CANNOT TAKE CARE OF OUR MEMBERS IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR PROVIDERS.

>> Casey: SENATOR DANNY CARROLL WORKS WITH MEDICAID MANAGED CARE organizations.

HE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE BILL AND SAYS THAT IT MAY NOT GO FAR ENO.

>> COMING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A SMALL PROVIDER, THE MOST FRUSTRATING ISSUE THAT WE DEAL WITH IS OUR MCOs AND WE ARE A VERY, VERY LIMITED IN SCOPE PROVIDER WITH VERY LIMITED CODES THAT WE USE, YET EVERY YEAR WITH AT LEAST ONE MCO WE GO THROUGH THE SAME ORDEAL.

THE SYSTEM IS USED AGAINST PROVIDERS, AS WAS STATED, AND FOR A SMALL PROVIDER, $70,000, $100,000 RECOUPMENT, THAT ADDS UP PRETTY QUICKLY, AND YOU FIND YOURSELF YOURSELF HAVING TO SPEND ADDITIONAL TIME FIGHTING TO KEEP THAT MONEY OR GET IT BACK.

AND THE SYSTEM IS INEFFICIENT.

I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH SUPPORTING THE MCO MODEL, BUT IT CAN'T BE EFFICIENT FOR THE STATE TO MANAGE, EITHER, THE WAY IT IS.

AND WE'RE NOT CONTROLLING IT WELL ENOUGH THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH THEM.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LEGISLATION TO SET CERTAIN STANDARDS.

THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING, AND I THINK NARROWING IT DOWN TO PERFORMANCE-BASED MODEL, THE THREE BEST MCOs, THAT'S WHO WE KEEP, AND SOME OF THESE ISSUES MAY GO AWAY ON THEIR OWN BASED ON THAT.

>> Casey: SENATE bill PASSED THE SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY 9 TO 0.

IT NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE FULL B THIS AFTERNOON IT WAS ANNOUNCED 45 ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THAT THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENU COMMITTEE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING TOMORROW.

THAT DECISION REPRESENTATIVE JONI JENKINS OF SHIVELY TO CALL FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY FROM THE MAJORITY SHE SAYS BILLS ARE BEING ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE WITH LITTLE TO NO TIME FOR LAWMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW THEM.

>> TOMORROW WE'VE ANNOUNCED THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES MEETING, AND THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT MY MEMBERS HAVE GOTTEN HAVE SAID AGENDA PENDING.

THE AGENDA IS COMING.

NOW, OUR CAULK, AND I'M SURE YOUR CAUCUS AS WELL, LIKES TO BE PREPARED GOING INTO COMMITTEE, HAVING READ THE BUILTS, HAVING MADE -- ASKED QUESTIONS IF THEY NEED TO, HAVING TALKED TO STAKEHOLDERS, SO I WILL JUST IMPLORE THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND THE MAJORITY TO MAKE ATTEMPTS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT SO THE PUBLIC AND LEGISLATORS ALIKE ARE ABLE TO SEE WHAT LEGISLATION IS GOING TO BE TAKEN UP IN THESE COMMITTEES.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

>> Casey: THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE RELEASED THE AGENDA SHORTLY AFTER ADJOURNMENT TODAY.

THEY WILL TAKE UP THE HOUSE'S VERSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH BUDGET, HOUSE BILL 1, TOMORROW.

THE HOUSE MAY TAKE UP ITS VERSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH BUDGET TOMORROW, BUT THE SENATE HEARD TESTIMONY ON THE GOVERNOR'S VERSION OF THE BUDGET THIS MORN THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE COMMITTEE MET WITH STAT BUDGET DIRECTOR JOHN HICKS TO GET AN OVERVIEW OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL RELEASED LAST WEEK AFTER HIS BUDGET ADDR SENATORS HAD PLENTY OF QUESTION FOR THE BUDGET DIRECTOR.

PARIS SENATOR STEPHEN WEST ASKED HOW RISING INFLATION COULD IMPACT THE BUDGET.

>> WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, INFLATION, RISING INTEREST RATES, PULL BACK ON QUANTITATIVE EASING FOR THE STOCK MARKET?

WHAT IF THAT KIND OF ZAPS THE ECONOMY AND WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO MAYBE 2018 BUDGET LEVELS?

WHAT WOULD THE BUDGET LOOK LIKE AT THAT POINT?

WHERE WOULD THAT EXTRA BILLION COME FROM AT THAT POINT?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

FIRST I WOULD SAY THAT THE STIMULUS TO CONSUMER SPENDING, INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD HAS CEASED MONTHS AND MONTHS AGO.

THE INDIVIDUAL PAYMENTS TO HOUSEHOLDS WENT OUT IN MARCH.

THE ADDITIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE HAS CEASED.

THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN LONG EXPIRED.

THOSE THINGS DID THE JOB.

THEY BRIDGED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC RECESSION, BUT THEY'RE NOT HAVING THE LASTING EFFECTS.

THE LAST NUMBER OF MONTHS, KENTUCKY'S WAGES AND SALARIES HAVE REALLY INCREASED, AS WELL AS CONSUMER CONSUMPTION, BECAUSE BOTH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX REVENUES AND OUR SALES TAX REVENUES HAVE REALLY TRENDED UPWARDS SIGNIFICANTLY, AND THAT IS WITHOUT THOSE INDIVIDUAL PAYMENTS, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE THAT ARE GONE.

SO AS IT RELATES TO INFLATION, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THERE.

ONE, INFLATION DOESN'T REDUCE TAX REVENUES.

IN FACT, IT IS AN UPSIDE RISK TO TAX REVENUES, NOT -- BUT A DOWNSIDE TO INDIVIDUAL POCKETBOOKS UNDERSTANDABLY.

>> Casey: THE Governor's BUDGET PUTS ALMOST $2 BILLION TOWARD THE STATE'S EDUCATION SY THE PROPOSAL INCREASES SEEK FUNDING, FULLY FUNDS TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS, AN HAS MONEY FOR ALL-DAY KINDERGAR THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET IS ALSO UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR FOUR-YEAR-O STATE SENATOR DANNY CARROLL ASKED HICKS ABOUT HOW THE NEW PRE-K SYSTEM WOULD WORK.

>> THE QUESTION IS SPECIFIC TO THE PROPOSAL FOR UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH.

THIS IS KIND OF A DIFFERENT APPROACH FROM WHAT HAS COMMONLY BEEN SPOKEN ABOUT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS IN THAT WE USE ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH WITH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDING THESE SERVICES.

AND MY QUESTION IS WHAT DOES THIS BUDGET DO TO ADDRESS THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO ADD THESE ADDITIONAL STUDENTS TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, ADDITIONAL STAFF, AND WAS THE IMPACT THAT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR CHILD CARE FACILITIES, WAS THAT CONSIDERED WHEN MAKING THIS DECISION?

AND THAT MIGHT BE OUTSIDE OF YOUR SCOPE, BUT I'LL ASK THE QUESTION ANYWAYS.

>> CERTAINLY, I'LL GIVE YOU WHAT I DO KNOW ABOUT IT, SENATOR CARROLL.

$172MILLION WAS THE DEPARTMENT'S ESTIMATE OF FUNDING, ABOUT 34,000 FOUR-YEAR-OLDS WHO WEREN'T CURRENTLY RECEIVING PUBLIC PRE-SCHOOL.

AND SO IN THOSE -- THOSE ARE THE RESOURCES THAT CAN BE BROUGHT TO BEAR BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DEAL WITH THAT CAPACITY IN ADDITION TO THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WE'RE PROVIDING ON PEOPLE TRANSPORTATION.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE INCURRING THOSE COSTS ALREADY, AND WE'RE NOW TAKING THEM ON, SO THAT FREES UP RESOURCES WITHIN A SCHOOL DISTRICT AS BUDGET TO DO OTHER THINGS, AMONG WHICH COULD BE RESOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNIVERSAL PRE-SCHOOL.

SAME THING WITH THE BASE PER PUPIL INCREASE.

WE'RE EXPANDING RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUT NOT PARTICULARLY TELLING THEM EXACTLY HOW TO DEPLOY THOSE, AND SO THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO CONSIDER THEIR USE IN UNIVERSAL PRE-SCHOOL.

HAS IT RELATES TO CHILD CARE, THE TIME IN WHICH WE WENT TO FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, IT IS A TRANSITION PERIOD FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.

I WILL SAY THAT THE VARIOUS PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS ARE STILL ABOUT $700 MILLION, THAT THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES IS DIDN'TING AND PROVIDING TO PROVIDERS.

>> Casey: AND SENATE president PRO-TEM DAVID GIVENS HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT ONE OF KENTUCKY'S UNIVERSITIES.

HE ASKED HICKS WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DID ABOUT A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FROM KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY.

>> IT RECOMMENDS THE APPROPRIATION IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WITH THE CONDITION THAT THE COUNCIL ON POST SECONDARY ED'S PRESIDENT, THOMPSON, WILL BE KIND OF THE GATEKEEPER BEFORE THE RELEASE OF THOSE FUNDS, AND I BELIEVE IN THE LANGUAGE IN THE PROPOSED HOUSE BILL 285 THERE IS SOME SPECIFICITY IN THERE ABOUT THAT CONDITION, ABOUT A MANAGEMENT PLAN BEING PREPARED BY THE UNIVERSITY PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THE DOLLARS AND WITH THE A OBVIOUSLY PROFIT COUNCIL.

>> Casey: THE GOVERNOR EVER Gov PROPOSAL SETS TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, ATTRACT NURSES TO THE PROFESSION, AND ADDRESS MANY OTHER ITEMS.

BUT SENATOR STEPHEN MEREDITH ASKED HICKS IF THE GOVERNOR CONSIDERED REDUCING TAXES FOR KENTUCKIANS.

>> WAS ANY THOUGHT GIVEN TO REDUCING THE TAX BURDEN FOR THE AVERAGE CITIZEN OF KENTUCKY?

BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WAGES ARE GOING UP, TAXES ARE GOING UP, INFLATION IS GOING UP, AND IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF WE COULD DO THAT, THAT IT WOULD INCREASE CONSUMER SPENDING BECAUSE YOU'RE IMMEDIATELY PUTTING MONEY BACK IN THE AVERAGE KENTUCKIAN'S POCKETS.

IT WOULD SEEM TO BE A GOOD ECONOMIC STRATEGY.

SO WAS ANY CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO THAT WHATSOEVER IN THE FORMULATION OF THIS BUDGET?

>> THANK YOU, SENATOR MEREDITH.

I WOULD SAY TAXES, TAXES WERE JUST CUT RECENTLY.

KENTUCKY FLATTENED ITS INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX JUST A FEW YEARS AGO AS WELL AS FLATTENED ITS CORPORATION INCOME TAX, SO A TAX CUT WAS GIVEN.

THE THE TAX CUT INCIDENCE OF THAT TAX CUT WAS PRIMARILY FOR THOSE WHO ARE MORE WELL OFF, AND IN SOME CASES THE LOWER TAX RATES FOR LOWER INCOMES WERE RAISED TO 5%.

SO I WOULD SAY KENTUCKY HAS DONE THAT RECENTLY.

AND SO IN THIS CASE THE OTHER THING I WOULD ADD IS WE'RE DOING -- WE'RE CATCHING UP FROM A SIGNIFICANT REFRENCHMENT AND AUSTERE BUDGETS THAT WE HAVE HAD WHERE WE HARDLY RAISEED THE BASE PER PUPIL FOR EDUCATION, SO WE'RE TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THESE TARGETED INVESTMENTS, INVESTMENTS THAT PERHAPS WOULD MAY HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN MADE HAD ME NOT CON DENIED THE ENDED WITH THE GREAT RECESSION AND ITS LENGTHIER RECOVERY THAN IN MANY I.

RECESSION IN OUR LIFETIME.

>> Casey: YOU CAN WATCH the HOUSE TAKE UP THEIR VERSION OF THE BUDGET TOMORROW AT 12:00 DURING THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE COMMITTEE.

PATIENTS AT NURSING HOMES, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES AND MENTAL HOSPITALS COULD BE ALLOWED TO DESIGNATE A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER TO VISIT THEM AT THEIR F THIS PERSON WOULD BE CALLED A COMPASSIONATE CARE VISITOR AND WOULD BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE ALLOWED INTO THE FACILITY, DESPITE POTENTIAL REGULATIONS T KEEP VISITORS OUT.

LOUISVILLE SENATOR JULIE RAQUE ADAMS SAYS SHE BROUGHT THIS BILL BECAUSE SOME FACILITIES ARE NOT ALLOWING VISITORS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PA SHE EXPLAINED THE MEASURE TO TH SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMI.

SENATE BILL 100 IS THE ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS BILL.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS TO ESTABLISH AN ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER STATUS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS, GUARDIANS, FRIENDS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD BE ALLOWED TO VISIT RESIDENTS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES AND STATE-RUN MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALS UNDER CERTAIN SAFETY PROTOCOLS ESTABLISHED BY THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.

>> Casey: SENATE Bill PASSED THE SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE 9 TO 0 AND NOW MAKES ITS WAY TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TODAY HEARD ARGUMENTS FOR HOUSE BILL 262 WHICH, IF PASSED, WOULD TRY TO CLOSE SOME LOOPHOLES IN KENTUCKY'S INCEST LAW.

COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY ROB SANDERS OF KENTON COUNTY DESCRIBED ONE OF THOSE LOOPHOLE.

100.

>> THERE IS WHAT I CAN ONLY ASSUME WAS A DRAFTING FLAW IN OVERSIGHT IN PROOFING READING WHEN KENTUCKY PASSED THE INCEST STATUTE BECAUSE AS IT READS IT MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE INTERCOURSE OR SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH A PERSON THEY KNOW TO BE AN AUNT OR UNCLE BUT IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT NIECE OR NEPHEW, SO THIS CREATES THE ABSURD SITUATION WHERE IT'S ILLEGAL FOR A NIECE OR NEPHEW TO HAVE SECONDS WITH THEIR AUNT OR UNCLE BUT NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S THE KIDS THAT NEED PROTECTION, NOT THE AUNTS AND UNCLES.

THE PORTION OF THE BILL THAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON IS SIMPLY ASKING TO YOU CHANGE IT SO THAT IT'S ILLEGAL FOR AUNTS AND UNCLES TO HAVE SEX WITH THEIR NIECES AND NEPHEWS.

>> Casey: HOUSE BILL 262 ALSO CLARIFIES THE DEFINITION OF MENTAL INCAPACITATED.

>> IT ADDS ALCOHOL TO THE DEFINITION FOR PHYSICALLY HELPLESS.

LAST YEAR RIGHT AFTER SESSION ENDED THERE WAS A SUPREME COURT COURT CASE IN MINNESOTA THAT-- A RAPE CASE THAT GOT OVERTURNED BECAUSE THE FEMALE HAD BEEN INTOXICATED, AND SO I WAS TALKING TO CHAIRMAN MASSEY AND TO JOSH MACY AND I WAS LIKE WHAT CAN WE DO IN KENTUCKY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

A LOT OF TIMES IN GOVERNMENT WE SEEM TO BE REACTIVE RATHER THAN PROACTIVE SO THIS IS JUST A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO THAT.

OTHER THAN ADDINGS ALCOHOL TO THE DEFINITION OF PHYSICALLY HELPLESS, IT ALSO ADDS THAT IF HE OR SHE END GAUGES IN SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH ANOTHER PERSON KNOWING THAT THE OTHER PERSON'S ABILITY TO APPRAISE THE NATURE OF HIS OR HER CONTROL, HIS OR HER OWN CONDUCT IS ESSENTIALLY IMPAIRED, SO REALLY IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THE THAT LANGUAGE IS CLEAN.

CURRENTLY IN KENTUCKY STATUTE WE HAVE FOCUSED MORE ON DATE RAPE DRUGS RATHER THAN ALCOHOL.

>> Casey: COMMITTEE MEMBERS VOTED YES TO THE BILL, MOVING I TO THE FULL HOUSE.

SUSPECTS WAITING TO GO ON TRIAL SOMETIMES SPEND THAT TIME ON HOME INCARCERATION, AND THAT TIME IS CREDITED TO THEM WHEN THEY'RE EVENTUALLY SENTENCED.

REPRESENTATIVE C. ED MASSEY WANTS TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THA MASSEY IS THE SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 310.

HE DISCUSSED IT TODAY TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTE.

>> THE WAY THE STATUTES WERE WRITTEN, IF YOU WERE MONITORED WHILE IN HOME INCARCERATION, YOU'RE GIVEN CREDIT AGAINST ANY JAIL SENTENCE YOU MIGHT RECEIVE BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING MONITORED.

BUT WE'VE HAD CASES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE SPENT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID, ON HOME INCARCERATION, AND THEN JUDGES ARE NOT GIVING CREDIT FOR THE TIME THAT'S WERE CONFINED EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE INCARCERATED,AL BEE IT'S AT HOME, SO THE LAW BASICALLY SIMPLY SAYS THAT IF SOMEBODY IS A SIGNED HOME INCARCERATION AS PART OF THEIR PRE-TRIAL RELEASE, IF YOU WILL, AND I HAVE A PERFECT EXAMPLE BECAUSE I HAVE A -- I HAD A CLIENT THAT WAS ACTUALLY ON HOME INCARCERATION FOR 12 MONTHS AND THEN SUBSEQUENT TO THAT WAS PUT ON A MONITOR FOR THREE MONTHS AND WE'RE HAVING TO ARGUE THAT CASE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT HE WOULD GET CREDIT FOR THE 12 MONTHS, ALTHOUGH CREDIT FOR THE THREE IS GOING TO BE GIVEN AUTOMATICALLY.

NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT COURTS CANNOT IMPOSE A MONITORING ON THESE PERSONS IF THEY WANT IF THEY PUT THEM ON HOME INCARCERATION.

IT JUST SIMPLY SAYS THAT IF YOU'RE OH HOME INCARCERATION AND YOUR FREEDOMS ARE RESTRICTED, THAT YOU WILL BE GIVEN CREDIT FOR THAT AGAINST YOUR SENTENCE IF YOU RECEIVE A SENTENCE OF JAIL TIME.

THAT'S THE ENTIRE BILL.

>> Casey: THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS PASSED THE MEASURE AND IT WILL NOW BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE HOUSE.

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