WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING us OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: KENTUCKY'S RESPONSE TO COVID.

IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT DECISION LIMITING THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS CAN STATE LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A RESPONSE PLAN TO THE COVID-19 SURGE?

KENTUCKY'S POSITIVITY RATE IS SETTING RECO DAILY CASE NUMBERS ARE NEARING ALL TIME HIGHS, AND HOSPITALS AND ICUs HAVE MORE COVID PATIENTS THAN EVER BEFORE.

SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING IN SOME PLACES AS COMMUNITIES DEAL WITH RISING CASE COUNTS, QUARANTINES AND STAFF SHORTAGES.

TO DISCUSS HOW KENTUCKY IS HANDLING ALL THIS, WE ARE JOINED IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO BY FOUR OF KENTUCKY'S LEGISLATIVE LEADERS: SENATE PRESIDENT PRO-TEM DAVID GIVENS, A REPUBLICAN FROM GREEN SENATE MINORITY LEADER MORGAN MCGARVEY, A DEMOCRAT FROM LOUIS HOUSE SPEAKER PRO-TEM DAVID MEADE, A REPUBLICAN FROM STANFO.

Y AND HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JON JENKINS, A DEMOCRAT FROM SHIVEL.

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DURING GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S PRESS CONFERENCE A FEW OURS AGO, HE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT COVID IS HAVING ON CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY THOSE AGES 10 TO 19, THE AGE GROUP GETTING COVID AT A HIGHER RATE THAN ANYONE ELSE HE BELIEVES UNIVERSAL MASKING IN SCHOOL IS AN EFFECTIVE DEFENSE.

>> WHAT I ALSO NEED IS TO MAKE SURE AS WE MOVED FORWARD THAT EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND EVERY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL UNIVERSALLY MASK ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS.

Y WE HAVE SEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS GET HIT AND HIT HARD.

THOSE THAT HAVE NOT MASKED ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY GET HIT BY FAR THE HARDEST, AND WE HAVE SEEN EVEN WHEN YOU MASK THIS THING IS SO AGGRESSIVE, IT CAN BE TOUGH, BUT THE DIFFERENCES ARE NIGHT AND DAY.

AND LET'S GET BEYOND THE MYTH THAT THIS DOESN'T SPREAD IN SCHOOLS, AND WE ALL TRY TO SAY, WELL, THEY BROUGHT IT IN FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

LISTEN, SOMEBODY CAN LITTLE BIT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT IF WE'RE NOT MASKING THEY'RE GOING TOED VERY IT ALL OVER THERE.

I CAN TELL YOU FROM TALKING TO SCHOOLS THEY DO THE CONTACT TRACING AND PEOPLE ARE TESTING POSITIVE.

>> Renee: ACCORDING TO THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, THERE ARE 19 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN KENTUCKY THAT HAVE PAUSED IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION SINCE THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR began THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT NON-TRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION DAYS, REFERRED TO AS TO NTI, AN OTHER EDUCATIONAL ISSUES RELATE TO COVID THAT LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR ARE EXPECTED TO RECONCILE IN AN ANTICIPATED SPECIAL SESSION.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT A TIME FRAME FOR A SPECIAL SESSION, GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAD THIS TO SAY: >> MY GOAL IS TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AS SOON AS LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE REACHED A GENERAL CONSENSUS ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK CAN BE DONE AND WE'RE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, AND I'M SURE I WILL PUSH FOR SOME OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN SOON.

AND IT PROBABLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE STATE OF EMERGENCY MIGHT IN AND OF ITSELF GO AWAY, IF NOTHING ELSE, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN SCHOOLS.

SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF COVID SHOULD BE GOING TO NTI DAYS, RIGHT?

THEY SHOULD ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT LEARNING AND NOT HALT THAT PROGRESS AS LONG AS THEIR STAFF WHICH HAS BEEN HIT HARD ISN'T SICK.

THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES -- THERE WILL BE POTENTIALS WHERE THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.

AND ADDITIONAL REFLECT AND EVERYTHING FROM BEING ABLE TO USE -- HAVING MORE NTI DAYS TO BEING USE YOU THE ON AN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS, FOR INSTANCE, AND RIGHT NOW IT HAS TO BE ON AN ENTIRE SYSTEM WITH THIS MANY SCHOOLS THAT HAVE HAD TO PAUSE, THEY NEED MORE TOOLS AND MORE OPTIONS, AND I DON'T -- I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT THE TEN-DAY LIMIT NEGATIVELY ON THE LEGISLATURE.

WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.

BUT IT'S GOT TO CHANGE NOW.

IT'S GOT TO CHANGE QUICKLY.

I'M GOING TO SEEK ALL THE TOOLS THAT I CAN.

I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD OFF ON CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION IF I DON'T GET ALL OF THEM BECAUSE, LISTEN, IF THERE ARE EIGHT TOOLS TO FIGHT COVID AND TWO ARE CRITICAL AND I CAN ONLY GET ONE OF THEM BUT I GET ALL THE OTHER TOOLS, TOO, LISTEN, THAT'S BETTER THAN FIGHTING WITH NOTHING.

NOW, IF IT DOESN'T INCLUDE MASKING IN SCHOOLS, OUR KIDS SUFFER.

IF IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE ABILITY TO HAVE A STATEWIDE ORDER, THEN JUST KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE CASES AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE BAD OUTCOMES.

THAT'S JUST THE SCIENCE OF IT.

BUT WE'VE HAD ONGOING CONVERSATIONS.

I'M NOT TO APPOINT WHERE I CAN SAY THERE'S A CERTAIN DAY THAT WE'VE AGREED TO, BUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> Renee: SO NOW WE WANT TO HAVE OUR PANELISTS WEIGHING IN ON ALL OF THIS EARTHQUAKES TO GO TO SENATE PRESIDENT PRO-TEM DAVID GIVENS.

GIES HEARD THE GOVERNOR SAY THAT THERE THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE UNDERWAY.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHERE THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE?

HAVE THEY STARTED?

HOW FAR ALONG ARE YOU?

AND IF YOU ARE TO ABIDE BY WHAT HE HAS SUGGESTING TO HAVE A RESOLUTION BEFORE HIS EMERGENCY ORDERS WOULD EXPIRE, I BELIEVE THAT'S SEPTEMBER 10th, A SPECIAL SESSION WOULD HAVE TO BE CALLED IN SHORT ORDER AND THAT ABOUTS CONDUCTED IN SHORT ORDER, CORRECT?

>> RENEE, IT'S GREAT TO BE ON YOUR SHOW AND THANK YOU FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

CERTAIN WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH THE GOVERNOR AS HE INDICATED.

AS YOU RECALL ON SATURDAY ON A THE SUPREME COURT RULING CAME OUT 7- 0 FINDING THAT IT IS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S PURVIEW TO DRAFT POLICY.

IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S PURVIEW TO EXECUTE POLICY.

AND THAT'S LONG BEEN OUR THOUGHT ON SENATE SIDE AND THE HOUSE MAJORITY SIDE WELL.

WE'RE AT THIS PLACE WHERE SADLY THE SUPREME COURT HAS HAD TO SAY, GOVERNOR, ENGAGE WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WE'RE GLAD TO DO IT.

WE PHONED THE GOVERNOR, COMMUNICATED BACK AND FORTH IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT RULING.

MONDAY FOLLOWING THAT SATURDAY WE SAT DOWN WITH THE GOVERNOR.

HE HAD ABOUT FOUR PAGES OF PRIORITIES THAT HE NEEDED US TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

WE STARTED WORKING THROUGH THOSE RAPIDLY, AND I'M GRAD TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE WITH YOU AND THE VIEWERS AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

IN ADDITION, THE POLICY MAKING SKILL SETH OF ALL OF OUR CAUCUS STARTED TO FLOURISH IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE LONG BEEN WANTING TO HAVE, BRIEF BUT POINTED CONVERSATION ABOUT, THINGS THAT WE NEIL LIKE WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

THE BALANCE BETWEEN MEETING THE IMMEDIATE COVID NEEDS ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR SCHOOLS, IN-PERSON EDUCATION HAPPENING AND SO MANY OTHER NEEDS THAT HAVE TO BE MET TO KEEP OUR COMMONWEALTH BALANCED.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED HE HAD, THE GOVERNOR HAD FOUR PRIORITIES.

CAN YOU LAY THOSE OUT FOR US.

>> FOUR PAGES PRIORITIES.

>> FOUR IRRELEVANT PAGES OF PRIORITIES.

>> I MISUNDERSTOOD P DO YOU HAVE THE CLIFFSNOTES VERSION OF THOSE PRIORITIES AND HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO THE SENATE REPUBLICANS?

>> THERE'S A LOT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN DOING THAT WE HAVEN'T 15 TAKEN ISSUE WITH.

IT'S BEEN THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE TAKEN ISSUE.

PROHIBITIONS ON, PRESCRIPTION REFILLS, EXTENDING LICENSURES OF PERSONNEL FROM-OUT STATE.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT FOUR PAGES OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, SOME OF WHICH WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO DO.

SOME WHICH WILL TAKE A QUICK BUT DELIBERATIVE LOOK AND AT MAY OR NIGHT DO.

>> SENATE LEADER McGARVEY, I DO WANT TO ASK YOU -- I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE -- HAVE YOU BEEN A PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS?

HAS YOUR CAUCUS BEEN ENGAGED?

AND IS THERE ALREADY SOME AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW THIS SPECIAL SESSION TO BE CALLED AND FOR YOU ALL TO GAVEL INTO SESSION THE DAY AFTER LABOR DAY?

>> YES, WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH BOTH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND WITH THE MAJORITIES CAUCUS IN THE SENATE.

LEADER JENKINS AND I HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH SPEAKER OSBORNE AND PRESIDENT STIVERS AS WELL.

AND THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF AGREEMENT.

GOOD.

WE ARE IN AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TIME RIGHT NOW.

THE PANDEMIC IS SURGING, AND PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY LOSING THEIR LIFE IN KENTUCKY, SO WE HAVE TO ACT, WE HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY.

I PERSONALLY THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A STRONG EXECUTIVE WHO IS ABLE TO RESPOND TO THESE TYPES OF EMERGENCIES.

THAT'S NOT AS WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IS INTENDED TO DO.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A STRONG EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

BUT THAT FIGHT ON THE LEGISLATURE, THE SUPREME COURT WEIGHED IN.

SOW IT IS INCUMBENT ON THE LEGISLATURE, WE TOOK THESE POWERS AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR, AND SO THE BALL IS NOW IS IN THE LEGISLATURE'S COURT.

THE LEGISLATURE MUST ACT.

AND THE STAKES REALLY ARE AS HIGH AS PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> WOULD YOU BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ENGAGED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PANDEMIC TO POSSIBLY OFFSET THE COURT INTERVENING?

>> I'VE LOST TRACK OF HOW MANY TIMES THE GOVERNOR AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAVE COME IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE TO HEARINGS TO EVERYTHING ELSE TO GIVE UPDATES.

THEY'VE BEEN CALLED IN FRONT OF COMMITTEES.

THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED FROM THE START.

LET'S FACE.

IT.

THE LEGISLATURE KNEW WHAT IT WAS DOIN' AND THE FIRST PAGE OF HOUSE BILL 1 HA WAS PASSED BY THE MAJORITY, IT SAYS THAT THE GOVERNOR CANNOT CALL A STATE OF EMERGENCY EVEN IF THERE IS A VARIANT TO THIS VIRUS.

SO THEY WANTED TO TAKE THESE POWERS AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR DESPITE THE COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, FROM OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE.

IT HAPPENED.

NOW IT'S SORT OF THE DOG THAT CAUGHT THE CAR.

AND IT'S GOOD TO BE WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR.

IT'S GOOD TO BE WORKING WITH THE MINORITY BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRAT PROBLEM.

THIS IS NOT A REPUBLICAN PROBLEM.

THIS IS NOT AN URBAN PROBLEM.

THIS IS NOT A RURAL PROBLEM.

THIS IS A KENTUCKY PROBLEM.

WE HAVE OVER 13% POSITIVITY RATE.

WE HAVE OVER 2,000 CASES TODAY.

WE HAVE OVER 600 PEOPLE IN THE ICU IN KENTUCKY.

WE HAVE OVER 300 PEOPLE ON VENTILATORS RIGHT NOW IN OUR STATE.

FROM A VIRUS THAT IS NOT SHOWING SIGNS TODAY OF SLOWING DOWN, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE US COMING TOGETHER IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE IF WE CAN AND REALLY TRY TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS TOGETHER.

>> SPEAKER PRO-TEM DAVID MEADE, THIS VIRUS IS GRIPPING NOT JUST KENTUCKY BUT THE NATION.

GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION ABOUT WHERE A CONSENSUS BUILDING IS RIGHT NOW, HOW CLOSE ARE YOU ALL ON FORMING A CONSENSUS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S INPUT, WITH THE MINORITY PARTY?

AND WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE GOING INTO SPECIAL'S?

SAY THE MATTER OF IF OR WHEN?

>> I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN.

WE MET WITH THE GOVERNOR LAST WEEK AND HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM.

HE GAVE US THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT WERE ABOUT TO EXPIRE.

THE REGULATIONS THAT WERE ABOUT TO EXPIRE.

AND WE TALKED THROUGH SOME THINGS, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN AGREE ON AS SENATOR GIVENS SAID.

IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE ALL BEEN WORKING ON.

WE'VE GOT OUR FOLKS, CHAIRMAN IS WORKING ON THINGS FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVERS.

I'M WORKING ON THINGS WITH THE CABINET AS WELL AS FAR AS ADOPTION OF FOSTER CARE, THOSE TYPE THINGS.

WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW TO DO THOSE THINGS.

OUR ISSUE WITH THE GOVERNOR WAS NOT HOW HE COMPLETELY PROCEEDED WITH EVERYTHING.

IT'S ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WAS DONE DURING THIS PROCESS.

IT'S ABOUT THE PROCESS.

IT'S ABOUT INCLUDING ALL THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

THAT WAS OUR BIGGEST ISSUE.

ONE BRANCH SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR EVERYONE IN THE STATE AND OVERLOOK THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND THE PEOPLE'S CHAMBERS.

SO THAT WAS OUR BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THAT.

AND WE CONTINUE FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS TO ASK THE GOVERNOR TO BE INCLUSIVE.

AND IT'S NOT THE SAME TO HAVE THE DIRECTORS OF THE CABINETS COME IN AND SPEAK TO COMMITTEES AND THOSE TYPE THINGS YOU.

NEED TO SPEAK TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECT, AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT AND THAT WAS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR US, WE NEEDED TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE GOVERNOR IN ORDER FOR TO US COME WITH SOME IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS THAT WE COULD ALL BE IN AGREEMENT WITH.

AND OUR DISAGREEMENTS, AS A SAID, CAME FROM THE FOLKS, OUR CONSTITUENTS GIVING US FEEDBACK, AND THAT'S HOW WE PASSED THOSE BILLS WHEN WE CAME INTO SESSION, AND THEN AS SENATOR GIVENS SAID, THE SUPREME COURT RULED AND SAID THAT HE HAS NO EMERGENCY POWERS OTHER THAN WHAT THE LEGISLATURE GIVES HIP.

>> WE KNOW TODAY THERE WERE SOME INTERIM JOINT COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT WERE ANNOUNCED, JUNCTION, HEALTH AND WELL PARE, I THINK THERE'S A STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT WERE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON, TESTIFYING.

IF BELIEVE THAT'S ON WEDNESDAY.

SO THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING TOMORROW, BEDS WEDNESDAY, THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, IS THAT SETTING THE STAGE FOR A SPECIAL SESSION ON TUESDAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE GETTING THE FEEDBACK THAT WE NEED TO GATHER THE DATA AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND HAVE THAT SESSION, AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A IS PROCESS SIMILAR TO HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 77 WHERE WE TAKE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS, AND WE GO THROUGH THEM, WE DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO EXTEND, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO POSSIBLY DO AWAY WITH, WHAT WE MAY NEED TO CHANGE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE US BE VERY DELIBERATE IN THAT PROCESS?

AND SPEEDY?

WILL IT BE DONE IN A MATTER OF FOUR OR FIVE DAYS?

>> YES.

WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT WITH US HAVING COMMITTEE MEETINGS IS SO WE CAN DO IT VERY QUICKLY.

>> CAN VERY THEY VOTE DURING INTERIM JOINT COMMITTEES OR IS THAT FOR HEARING AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONING HEARING AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ON.

>> WHEN YOU GO IN, LET'S SAY IT'S TUESDAY.

YOU CAN START BUSINESS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> LEADER JENKINS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

>> THAT YOU GO.

>> SO WHERE WE ARE NOW, WOULDN'T REHASH.

YOU KNOW IT VERY WELL.

WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR FROM THIS POINT ON.

A LOT OF CRITICISM OF THE FIRST FLOOR BY THE EXECUTIVE NOT BEING ENGAGED WITH THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

YOUR TAKE ON WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A CONSENSUS PLAN.

WE'VE HEARD EVERYTHING FROM FOSTER CARE TO LOTS OF IDEAS WHICH SEEM LIKE THAT COULD REALLY KEEP MOUNTING AND MAYBE EVEN PROLONG A SPECIAL SESSION LONGER THAN WHAT IS INTENDED.

YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK THE LEGISLATURE ASKED FOR THIS RESPONSIBILITY, AND IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME DECISIONS I THINK NEED TO BE MADE THAT MAY NOT BE POLITICALLY POPULAR WITH FOLKS.

>> SUCH AS?

>> SUCH AS MASKING FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN.

I THINK ALL THE EVIDENCE SHOWS US THAT THAT'S THE WAY TO KEEP KIDS IN-PERSON LEARNING.

IT'S THE WAY TO KEEP THEM FROM GOING TO SCHOOL ALL NEXT SUMMER.

SO WE ASKED FOR THIS.

WHEN I SAY "WE" THE UNIVERSAL WE AS A GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ASKED FOR THIS RESPONSIBILITY.

SO WE HAVE TO SHOW COURAGE AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR KENTUCKIANS.

AS ALL THESE GENTLEMEN HAVE SAID, WE ARE IN A TERRIBLE SPOT RIGHT NOW IN KENTUCKY.

THIS VARIANT IS SURGING.

WE ARE SEEING HOSPITALS, ESPECIALLY RURAL HOSPITALS, BECOMING OVERWHELMED.

WE ARE SENDING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP WITH THOSE THINGS.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO BICKER AMONG OURSELVES.

WE'VE GOT TO GET TO WORK, AND WE'VE GOT TO -- WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A PLAN.

WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT CAN PASS THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL ACCEPT AS WELL.

SO IT IS TIME FOR ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO SAY THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN PROBLEM.

THIS IS A KENTUCKY PROBLEM.

AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WITH COURAGE TO KEEP KENTUCKIANS SAFE.

>> PRESIDENT PRO-TEM, IS THERE A TOLERANCE AND AN EMBRACE OF HAVING A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE FROM THE SENATE GPO UK CAUCUSES PERSPECTIVE.

>> >> SO I'D LIKE TO RESPOND THIS WAY.

AND I'VE GOT TO SAY THE REASON WE'RE HERE TONIGHT AND THE DISCUSSIONS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK AND THAT PECIAL SPECIAL SESSION HAS COMING UP RATHER SOON.

THAT'S AT THE PURVIEW OF THE GOVERNOR TO CALL THAT DATE.

THE GOVERNOR IS ENGAGED WITH US ABOUT TRYING TO GET THE DATE RIGHT SO THAT WE'RE READY.

>> YOU WILL HAVE INPUT ON THE DATE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I FEEL LIKE WE WILL BUT AGAIN IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S CALL AT THE END.

THE THING THAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT TWO WEEKS IS WE'RE GOING TO BE ENGAGING IN CONVERSATIONS IN A TRANSPARENT ISSUE-DIRECTED SORT OF WAY, AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE NIGHT TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ME MAKE SOME PROPOSALS THAT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT IN COMMITTEE.

YOU MENTIONED TWO OF THE THREE COMMITTEES.

THE THIRD ONE IS EDUCATION.

THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE PUBLIC'S GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO FEEDBACK RAPIDLY TO THE PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT THEM, AND THEN WE'LL PRODUCE POLICY THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE TO YOU.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT LIES AHEAD.

THE DIFFERENCE IS WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE STANDING BEHIND A PODIUM AND SAYING, "I NOW ORDER THIS."

THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

A LOT MORE VOICES IN THE AM RADIO, A LOT MORE INPUT IN THE CONVERSATION -- ROOT BE-ROOM, INPUT IN THE CONVERSATION AND A LOT MORE IDEAS.

WE DO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY, ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR, TO GET THIS RIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE THE POLICY-MAKING BRANCH.

HE REMAINS THE ONLY AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE ON THAT POLICY.

AND SO WE ARE A COLLECTIVE TEAM IN THIS EFFORT.

I'M TRULY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD BUT I HAVE A CLEAR-EYED SENSE OF THE REALITY IN OUR RURAL HOSPITALS, IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

AT THE SAME TIME IT WAS HEARTWARMING TONIGHT WHEN I GOT OUT OF CAR HERE IN FRONT OF THE KET STUDIOS TO HEAR THE STUDENTS ACROSS THE WAY ON THE FIELD, THE COLLEGE STUDENTS RUNNING AND YELLING AND DOING THE THINGS THAT COLLEGE STUDENTS DO.

SOME SORT OF SPORTS EVENT WAS GOING ON.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE BALANCE.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE BALANCE.

NOW, BACK TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION.

>> MASK MANDATES.

>> MASK MANDATES.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY EXCITED ABOUT MANDATING FOR OR AGAINST LOTS OF THINGS.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE US DRIVE IT TO LOCAL CONTROL.

AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS WILL CONTINUE TO MANDATE MASKS IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

OTHERS MAY NOT.

>> SO THE LEGISLATURE WON'T GO AS FAR AS BANNING MASK MANDATES I HAVE.

>> NO SENSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THAT FAR.

>> AS OTHER STATES HAVE DONE AND ARE BEING CHALLENGED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> THAT'S NOT MY SENSE.

>> WHEN YOU SAY GIVE CONTROL BACK TO LOCALS, YOU MEAN LOCAL SPORTS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> LEADER McGARVEY, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS ON HERE AND WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS WHEN REPRESENTATIVE MEADE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE GAVE THE GOVERNOR MANY OF THE EMERGENCY POWERS THAT THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR HAS.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TODAY'S GOVERNOR, JUST THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE INSTITUTION, SO I DO THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN REMOVE SOME OF THOSE POWERS.

THE QUESTION IS SHOULD WE.

AND IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE WE HAVE, THE LEGISLATURE WHICH IS 138 DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM ALL -- EVERY CORNER OF THE COMMONWEALTH COMING TOGETHER IN TWO LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE POLICYMAKERS IN THE ROOM AND HAVE THEIR VOICES AT THE TABLE.

BUT THIS AT THE END OF THE DAY DOES REQUIRE EXECUTIVE ACTION AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE GIVE THE GOVERNOR THE ABILITY TO HAVE A MASK MANDATE.

WE CAN REVISIT THAT.

WE CAN FASHION IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE COULD REVISIT, BUT RIGHT NOW I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU AS A A SENATOR OR POLICYMAKER OR EVEN AS AN ATTORNEY.

I'M TALKING TO YOU AS A PARENT OF THREE YOUNG CHILDREN, NONE OF WHOM ARE OLD ENOUGH TO BE VACCINATED.

I WANT THEM IN SCHOOL.

DO I WANT THEM LEARNING.

I DO WANT THE THINGS THAT SENATOR GIVENS WAS TALKING ABOUT TO BE EXPERIENCING SOME TYPE OF NORMAL CHILDHOOD WITH SOME BALANCE.

THAT'S HAPPENINGS WITH MASKS.

AND WE KNOW FROM EVERY REP REPUTABLE SCIENTIFIC AGENCY THESE ARE WORKING.

AND SO WE WANT OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.

WE WANT OUR BUSINESSES OPEN.

WE WANT IT TO BE DONE SAFELY.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE US USING THIS DISEASE ANY MORE TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS, AND SO SOMETIMES WE'RE GOING TO NEED THAT TYPE OF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TO MAKE THOSE TYPE OF UNPOPULAR DECISIONS THAT KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE AND OUR BUSINESSES OPEN.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS MADE IT SO WE WILL BE IN THE ROOM TO MAKE THOSE -- TO INFLUENCE THOSE DECISIONS.

ABOUTBUT I THINK TO JUST SAY WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO CONSIDER SOMETHING WHEN WE'VE GOT 2,198 KENTUCKIANS IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.

I WAS LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS.

IN OFFING 2020 WE HAD 2,352 CASES OF COVID IN CHILDREN UNDER 18.

IN AUGUST OF 2021 IT'S 18,909.

SO WE'VE GOT TO BE TAKING SERIOUS ACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS, KEEP OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL, KEEP OUR BUSINESSES OPEN, AND DO IT IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.

>> RENEE, A BRIEF RESPONSE, PLEASE.

I.

THE NUMBERS ARE REAL.

THE IMPACT IS REAL ON FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

AND OUR FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS, I HEARD STORIES OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT NEIGHBORS OF MINE THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT FRONTLINE IN THE ER AND THEY'RE STAGGERING, THE CHALLENGES ARE STAGGERING, AND THE RURAL COMMUNITIES, THE THING THAT HAPPENS IS YOU KNOW THE FAMILY, AND I'M CONFIDENT MAYBE IN URBAN AREAS, TOO, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WHEN THAT FAMILY SHOWS UP WITH THAT LOVED ONE WHO SADLY ENOUGH HAS NOT BEEN VACCINATED IN MOST CASES AND THEY ARE IN THE LAST MOMENTS OF LIFE, AND THAT FAMILY IS LOOKING TO THIS HEALTH CARE PROVIDER THAT THEY KNOW AND HOPING THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THOSE MOMENTS IN MANY CASES THAT CAN BE DONE, WHEN YOU KNOW THOSE FAMILIES, IT'S THAT MUCH MORE TAXING ON THESE FRONTLINE WORKERS.

I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY THE CONVERSATION AROUND MASK MANDATE, AND I'M GLAD TO ENGAGE IN IT WITH YOU, WE HAVE A MASK MANDATE IN SCHOOLS NOW, AND WE ARE AT 2,198 KENTUCKIANS, THE HEIST NUMBERS WE'VE SEEN, ASTRONOMICAL RISE IN THIS DELTA VARIANT BECAUSE IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE VARIANT, AND SALAD, WE TALKED ABOUT THE VACCINATION.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VACCINATED PEOPLE.

WE HAVE THESE TOOLS IN PLACE NOW, AND WE'RE IN THIS SCENARIO.

>> AND IF I COULD, RENEE, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK -- I HOPE I AGREE WITH SENATOR GIVENS.

EVERYONE GET VACCINATED.

>> PLEASE.

>> PLEASE GET VACCINATED.

>> AND LET'S SPEND MORE TIME ON THAT BEFORE THE NIGHT'S OVER.

>> THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE.

91% OF ALL NEW COVID CASES SINCE MARCH 1ST OF THIS YEAR ARE UNVACCINATED.

91% OF HOSPITALIZATIONS COME FROM UNVACCINATED.

87% OF DEATHS COME FROM UNVACCINATED.

GET VACCINATED.

BUT WHEN WE TALKING MASK MANDATES, LOOK WHAT HAPPENED IN WARREN COUNTY SCHOOLS.

THEY MADE MASK OPTIONAL, AND THE FIRST WEEK 1400, 1700 KIDS QUARANTINED IN WARREN COUNTY SCHOOLS.

THEY WENT TO A MASK MANDATE.

THEY CUT THAT NUMBER IN HALF.

I HAVE TWINS WHO ARE IN FOURTH GRADE, AND WE'RE VERY FORMAL ON THIS PROGRAM, RENEE, SOMETIMES BUT WE ALSO GET ALONG.

WE'RE NOT HERE -- AND SO WE SAY SENATOR GIVENS BUT, DAVID, YOU'VE WATCHED MY KIDS GROW UP.

>> SURE.

>> THEY WERE A YEAR OLD WHEN I GOT ELECTED TO THE SENATE.

AND DO THEY LOVE WEARING MASKS?

SCHOOL?

NOT PARTICULARLY.

BUT I PROMISE YOU IT BOTHERS THEM A LOT LESS THAN IT SEEMS TO BOTHER A LOT OF ADULTS WHO AREN'T IN THOSE SHOES.

WHAT THEY'RE HAPPY IS HAPPY TO BE IN SCHOOLS, HAPPY TO PLAY SPORTS AND BE WITH THEIR FRIENDS, AND THAT'S COMING FROM HAVING MASKS ON RIGHT NOW.

>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT GETTING TO THE POINT ABOUT VACCINATIONS, SO IF PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT AND REFUSE VACCINATIONS BUT JETETTE THERE IS A -- A DESIRE TO APIECE PEOPLE BY NOT ENFORCING MITIGATION MEASURES THAT WE KNOW CAN BE A PROPHYLACTIC AS WELL, WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN STRATEGY FOR REVERSING THE NUMBERS OF COVID?

IF THEY'RE EVEN PRE-FILED BILLS THAT ARE ADVERSE TO VACCINATION INCENTIVE.

AND THEN AGAINST MASKS.

IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO HAVE IT ALL THE WAYS TO MANY PEOPLE.

>> WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN STRATEGY TO DEFEAT COVID?

>> YES, WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN STRATEGY.

>> I WISH THERE WERE ONE.

I WISH WE ALL HAD ONE.

I WISH THE GOVERNOR HAD GOTTEN IT 100% OUT OF THE BOX AND WE HAD NO COVID TO TALK ABOUT.

THIS CAN'T BE SOLVED BY GOVERNMENT ALONE.

THIS HAS TO BE INDIVIDUALS CARING FOR COMMUNITIES, CARING FOR EACH OTHER AND TAKING ACTION.

THAT MEANS VACCINATING.

THAT MEANS IF THE WARREN COUNTY, BOWLING GREEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SYSTEM SAYS MASKING IS BEST FOR US -- NOW, UNDERSTAND IF THAT DISTRICT CHOOSES TO NOT MASK THEN SUDDENLY THEY'VE GOT TO GO SIX FEET 27 STUDENTS.

MASKING GIVES THEM THREE FEET.

I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF DISTRICTS WILL CONTINUE TO MASK.

THESE ARE SUPERINTENDENTS WHO ARE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED IN EDUCATING STUDENTS AND CARING FOR THEIR TEACHERS.

>> AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ENCOURAGES?

>> IF HE FEELS IT'S THE BEST FOR HIS DISTRICT BECAUSE HE KNOWS HIS DISTRICT, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

NOW, ON THE VACCINATION,EVER CONVERSATION, WE SHOULD ALL BE PROMOTING THAT.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM WE RUN INTO.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT THAT PLACE, MOST OF THE LOW-HANGING FRUIT OF PEOPLE WANTING THE VACCINE HAVE HAD ACCESS TO IT, HAVE GOTTEN IT, AND ARE EVEN NOW CLAMORING FOR THAT THIRD SHOT.

MANY ARE.

WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO IS START TO MOVE THE SPACE THAT'S HARDER TO MOVE.

AND, RENEE, WE'RE KIDDING OURSELVES IF WE THINK THAT ANY OF US CAN SAY SOMETHING ON THIS PROGRAM TONIGHT TO MAKE SOMEONE WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND SAY, OH, SENATOR GIVENS SAID THE VACCINE WAS RIGHT FOR ME AND THAT PERSON JUMPED OUT OF BED AND GO AND GET THE VACCINE.

CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD THIS WEEK WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE RELUCTANT STILL REVOLVE AROUND FALSE NOTIONS ABOUT SAFETY AND FALSE NOTIONS ABOUT THE BENEFIT, AND I'D LIKE TO PUT BOTH OF THOSE ARGUMENTS TO BED AND SAY IT'S VERY SAFE.

IT'S HIGHLY BENEFICIAL.

PLEASE GET THE VACCINE.

BUT WHAT'S GOING TO MOVE PEOPLE, I THINK, IS WHEN YOU'RE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE LIKE A PLIER CARE PHYSICIAN THAT YOU KNOW AND THAT KNOWS YOUR HISTORY AND MAYBE YOU HAVE A WEIGHT PROBLEM AND MAYBE YOU WERE A SMOKER UP UNTIL TEN YEARS AGO AND MAYBE IT RUNS IN YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU'VE GOT SOME DIABETES, YOU'VE GOT THE SORT OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAN CREATE A PROBLEM AND YOU'VE GOT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INFLUENCER WHO CAN SAY TO YOU, YOU SHOULD GET THE VACCINE.

SO I APPEAL RIGHT NOW TO EVERYBODY LISTENING, WATCHING AND TALKING WITH FRIENDS, FIND SOMEONE YOU TRUST, A PERSON, NOT A DEVICE, NOT A COMPUTER, NOT THE INTERNET.

FIND A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN OR SOMEONE YOU TRUST AND ASK THEM THEIR OPINION.

>> AND WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION LAST WEEK ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" WITH DOCTORS AND THOSE WHO ARE EPIDEMIOLOGISTS WHO SAID THAT I THINK WHAT CONCERNS THEM IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE FRUSTRATED PHYSICIANS WHO ARE IMPARTING THAT KNOWLEDGE, MANY PEOPLE STILL WOULD RATHER REFUSE THE VACCINE BUT THEY TRUST THE FACT THAT MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES, ONCE THEY GET HOSPITALIZED OR IN THE ICU, WILL THEN CURE THEM OR ASK FOR THE VACCINE AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT.

THERE IS A LOT OF DISINFORMATION OUT THERE, SENATOR GIVENS, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO ARE A PART OF THAT.

SO HOW CAN THE MESSAGE BE MORE COHESIVE ABOUT THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF VACCINES AND ENCOURAGING IT?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THE MESSAGE THAT'S GOING TO MOVE AN INDIVIDUAL IS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE TARGETED TO THAT INDIVIDUAL.

EACH PERSON IS GOING TO BE MOVED BY SOME DIFFERENT MESSAGE.

SO MY COLLEAGUES ARE ANXIOUS TO MAKE IT CLEAR AND USE THE EXAMPLE YOU USED OF THE MONO -- OF THE ANTIBODIES.

SADLY ENOUGH, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DEPENDING ON, YOU MAY ARRIVE AT THE ER AND THERE MAY NOT BE SPACE FOR YOU SO DON'T COUNT ON THAT.

THE FOLKS THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT USING PRODUCTS THAT ARE OFF-LABEL, PLEASE DON'T DO THOSE SORTS OF THING.

SO I THINK THE MESSAGE HAS TO BE TARGETED TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL WHERE HE OR SHE MAY BE AND I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT'S BETTER THAN DOING THAT THAN SOMEONE THAT'S CLOSE TO THAT INDIVIDUAL.

SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY, HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION.

I HAD FOUR PEOPLE TODAY THAT I TALKED WITH THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED, AND I SAID, WHAT'S THE CONCERN?

>> HAD THEY HAD COVID?

>> THEY HAVE NOT HAD COVID.

WHAT'S THE CONCERN?

AND IT'S THAT SAFETY AND PERCEPTION OF LOW BENEFIT IN THEIR CASE.

BUT AGAIN, I'M NOT THE TRUSTED SOURCE TO MOVE THEM.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY, FIND SOMEONE YOU DO TRUST, ENGAGE IN THAT CONVERSATION.

>> SO I HATE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT CONVERSATION BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME NITTY-GRITTY OF WHAT WE COULD BE HEARING THE NEXT FEW DAYS IN THE COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE MEADE.

AND YOU MENTIONED FOSTER CARE, AND MANY OF US MAY NOT MAKE THE CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN COVID AND FOSTER CARE, SO I WANT YOU TO KIND OF GO THERE WITH WHAT YOU'RE THINKING COULD BE A REGULATION, THAT COULD BE PART OF THIS OVERALL PROPOSING WHEN IT COMES TO FOSTER DARE EVER CAR AND OTHERS THAT YOU THINK SHOULD REALLY BE TOP OF THE AGENDA.

>> WELL, THERE'S CERTAIN REGULATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO COURT APPEARANCES AND THOSE TYPE THINGS AND BEING ABLE TO DELAY THOSE.

IN SOME INSTANCES THERE'S A LOT OF BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT GO ON OR HOME STUDIES THAT GO ON QUITE OFTEN AND ARE THERE'S SOME HAVE GONE WAIF THOSE THINGS AS WELL ACCEPT.

THEN THERE'S BEING ABLE TO GET YOUR FINGERPRINTS DONE IN OTHER LOCATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY MAKING IT EASIER FOR FOSTER PARENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHENEVER WE GO IN TOOT THOSE TYPE THINGS.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE LOOKING, SAME AS THE SENATE, LOOKING A GIVING REFLECT TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EMERGENCY REGS AS FAR AS CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONS, AND AS SENATOR GIVENS ALREADY MENTIONED, ALLOW ALLOWING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO COME IN FROM OTHER STATES.

THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>> THIS COULD BE A PRETTY VOLUME NEWS BILL.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TAILOR ON IT WHAT IS ALREADY PREEXISTING, AS WE DID HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 77, SO IT -- IT'S PRETTY TAILORED WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S ON PAPER RIGHT NOW.

>> SO THERE'S THE FRAMEWORK'S ALREADY THERE FOR THAT.

>> YES.

>> LEADER JENKINS, I WANT TO COME TO YOU.

ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT REPRESENTATIVE MEADE JUST MENTIONED.

THOSE SOUNDS LIKE CON COUSINS IDEAS.

IS THERE A RECIPROCITY FOR PROFESSIONALS, ET CETERA.

>> I GREED WITH MOST OF THOSE WHEN THEY WERE IN THE EMERGENCY ORDER, SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE EASY THINGS TO DO.

I THINK THE HARDER THINGS TO DO ARE FINGER OUT NTI.

DO WE LIMIT THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT FOLKS CAN DO NON-TRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION, REMOTE LEARNING?

>> BECAUSE IN THE 2021 SESSION IT REVERTED BACK TO THE PREVIOUS LAW.

>> IT DID.

WHICH WAS TEN DAYS, WHICH HELPED IN NORMAL TIMES, HELPED DURING SNOWSTORMS OR BAD WEATHER OR THAT TYPE OF THING.

>> AND MANY SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY USED FIVE, SUCTION, SEVENS OF THOSE.

>> WE HAVE HAD SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT FOR WEEKS ALREADY JUST STARTING.

SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AT -- WHAT IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN KIDS GETTING WHAT THEY NEED FROM IN-SCHOOL LEARNING AND HOW TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

I THINK ALL OF US PROBABLY AGREE THAT NTI WAS A LIFE-SAVER DURING THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR WHEN WE WERE WERE IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT WE ALSO COULD PROBABLY AGREE THAT KIDS DID NOT GET EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR SO WE HAVE TO FIND THAT BALANCE THERE WE HAVE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS BEING MET WHEN THAT YOUNG PERSON IS IN THE CLASSROOM IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING.

WE HAVE SADLY ENOUGH, REAL PROBLEMS IN KENTUCKY WITH CHILD ABUSE.

AND THAT IS OFTEN SO OFTEN, AND KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN I, SO OFTEN SEEN IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING.

HAVING THOSE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL IS SO IMPORTANT, SO MANY WAYS.

AND SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO INNOCENT EVERY STUDENT AND EVERY DISTRICT TO BE IN SCHOOL ALL DAYS THAT IT IS SAFE FOR THEM WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL PENALTIES.

>> MANY PEOPLE WONDER HOW COME EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS NOT GONE TO REMOTE INSTRUCTION.

IS IT GOING TO BE THAT WAY?

YOU HAVE 19 COOL DISTRICTS, I THINK CRITTENDEN COUNTY WAS ADDED TODAY.

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WOULD GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION HERE?

>> SO, GREAT QUESTION AND ESPECIALLY TO ME HOW DISTRICTS ARE DOING SO WELL AND OTHERS ARE NOT.

19 OUT OF 170, 19 OUT OF 107.

>> SO FAR.

>> SO FAR.

AND I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE OUTLIER DOING GREAT POSITIVE THINGS WITH REALLY LOW INCIDENCE OF PROBLEMS.

COUPLE OF RURAL DISTRICTS IN MY PART OF THE STATE ARE DOING A TEST AND STAY MODEL WITH THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IN A SITUATION, QUARANTINE IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS ARE FACING RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE CLOSING IS THE QUARANTINE HEADACHE.

THE TEST AND STAY MODEL SAYS IF YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED IN A CLASSROOM, OF A POSITIVE, WITH A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TESTING EVERY DAY THAT STUDENTS SHOULD BE IN QUARANTINE AND WITH PARENTAL PERMISSION, THOSE STUDENTS ARE STAYING IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING AS LONG AS THEY TEST NEGATIVE.

TEST AND STAY IS WORKING VERY EFFECTIVELY AND MULTIPLE DISTRICTS IN MY PART OF THE STATE.

THAT DEALS WITH THE QUARANTINE QUESTION.

WHAT WE'RE ALSO DOING WITH, REGARDING DIFFERENT FUNDING MODEL THE PRESSURE IS NOT ON THESE PARENTS TO SECOND THESE KIDS WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL WELL.

MAYBE THEY HAVEN'T TESTED POSITIVE BUT THEY DON'T FEEL WELL.

BY LOWERING THE THRESHOLD BELOW 87%, IT IS NOT A CONCERN FOR FINANCING.

>> SO, THAT'S A GOOD POINT BACK TO QUARANTINE.

WAS THERE A POLICY THAT LAWMAKERS, DO THEY HAVE THE PURVIEW OF CRACKING POLICY AROUND QUARANTINE, AND EVEN THE TEST AND I FORGET.

>> TEST AND STAY.

>> TEST AND STAY.

CAN YOU INCENTIVIZE FROM THE AT A TIME POLICY PERSPECTIVE?

>> WE CERTAINLY USE THE PLATFORM TO BROADCAST AND PROMOTE AND IT SUPPORT IT BUT IT SHOULD BE A LOCAL DECISION AND WE'LL BE PROMOTING WHAT EVERY DISTRICT HAS A POLICY TO DEAL WITH COVID.

IN ADDITION WE'LL ENCOURAGE K.D.

E AND K.D.

E TO GO AHEAD AND PUT OUT MODEL PROGRAMS AROUND THINGS LIKE TEST AND STAY.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS FOR US TO LEGISLATE COOL DISTRICT AND ALLEN COUNTY SHOULD GO AND DO IT THIS WAY.

BECAUSE, IT IS GOING BE DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

DIFFERENT COMMUNITYS.

BUT AGAIN , TALENTED LEADERS TO CAN DO THESE THINGS.

>> THE CAPACITY TO DO A TEST AND STAY THAT MIGHT WORK IN SOME SMALLER AREAS BUT FOR RURAL URBAN AREAS THAT MIGHT BE MORE OF A CHALLENGE.

YOU TWO ARE BOTH IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

WOULD THAT WORK?

>> WELL, WE HE WOULD HAVE TO ASK OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'D HAVE TO FIGURE OUT.

IN MY CIRCLE OF FAMILY, WE HAVE ONE OF THE FAMILIES WHERE THE TWO YOUNG SONS WENT TO SCHOOL AND CAME HOME POSITIVE AND NOW THE MOM WHO IS A NURSE AND A NIC-U NURSE HAD CANNOT GO TO WORST WORK.

HAS NOT PESTED POSITIVE BUT SHE'S IN QUARANTINE.

SO THAT TAKES A NURSE OFF A VERY MUCH STRESSEDs HOSPITAL.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT, WITH EMPLOYERS BECAUSE KIDS ARE HOME AND TESTED POSITIVE, THAT PARENTS HAVE TO QUARANTINE WITH THEM AS WELL.

GO THINGS LIKE MASK MANDATES WHERE WE'RE SEEING LESS NUMBERS TO ME SEEM LIKES A GOOD IDEA.

BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND FOR HEALTH REASONS AS WELL.

>> IS THAT THE MAIN EDUCATIONAL ISSUE THAT THE EDUCATIONER AND IMCOMMITTEE WILL TACKLE OR, WHAT ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED THAT THOUGHT OF?

>> THERE ARE A FEW THINGS SIGNIFICANT.

NOT HUGE BUT SIGNIFICANT IN THE EDUCATION CONVERSATION.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SUPERINTENDENT CONTACTED ME, UNDERSTAND IF ONE OF OUR TEACHERS RETIRE, HE OR SHE SHE HAS TO STAY OUT FOR 90 DAYS BECAUSE OF RETIREMENT CONCERNS.

BUS DRIVERS WE NEED THEM TO RETIRE AND COME BACK AND BE SUBS SO YOU'LL SEE US DOING A PERIODS OF EMERGENCY PROMOTE AND PASS POLICY THAT WAIVES THAT 09-DAY HOLDOUT PERIOD.

>> WHICH APPLIES TO THE WHOLE KRS AND KTRS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WOULD THAT ONLY BE IN THE EDUCATION SPACE OR BE IN OTHER -- >> THAT'S A GREAT CONVERSATION.

WE'VE TARGETED TO THE EDUCATION SPACE BUT IT IS NOT HARD TO EXPAND IT INTO OTHER VITAL PLACES THAT NEEDS NEED TO BE MET >> >> ANYTHING ELSE?

>> TEMPORARY WAVERS.

WE HAVE TALENTED YOUNG TEACHERS AND YOUNG TEACHERS THAT ARE NOT CREDENTIALED YET AND ALSO TALENT RED TIRES FROM OTHER BUSINESS SECTORS.

A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES ARE GETTING STAFF.

CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED STAFF IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE'LL BE PROPOSING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SUPERINTENDENTS EMPLOYING INDIVIDUALS ON PROBATIONARY STATUS PENDING THE BACKGROUND CHECKS HAPPENING THERE IS SUCH A DEMAND NOW TO FILL THE SPACES, GET SUBS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> AND BUS DRIVERS.

>> WEIGHED ANYTHING TO HOLD IT UP.

WE'LL BE FILING IN THE LEGISLATION, STATE POLICE, SOME PRIORITIZE ALL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON SCHOOL PERSONNEL.

SO AS MUCH AS WE CAN DO TO ABELIEVEIATE THE BURDEN AND BUREAUCRATIC BACKLOG TO HELPING THE SCHOOLS FIND THE EMPLOYEES TO TEACH THESE STUDENTS AND SUPPORT THESE STUDENT, WE'LL ALLEVIATE THAT BUREAUCRACY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO, ARE THESE POLICIES TEMPORARY?

>> YES.

>> HOW LONG.

>> 30, 45, 90 DAYS.

>> WE'LL LIKELY AND AGAIN, THIS IS OPEN FOR CONVERSATION.

BECAUSE WE'RE THROWING IT OUT AND DOING RAPIDLY.

SOME PROPOSAL LAST UNTIL WE COME BACK IN SESSION IN JANUARY.

AND SOME WE'LL PUT IN FOR THE PERIOD OF AN EMERGENCY.

FOR THIS EMERGENCY.

>> SO THAT'S INTEREST, SPEAKER PRO TEM.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING, YOU SAY LOCAL CONTROL SO OUR SETTING A DATE THAT POINT DOESN'T MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THE SCHOOLS AND MAKE THOSE DECISIONS BASED ON WHERER IN THE CYCLE AT THE TIME.

NGI DAYS WILL BE THE BIGGEST DISCUSSIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BUT ALSO AN INTEREST IN NTI DAYS AND VIRTUAL LEARNING.

THEY ARE THE PACKETS THAT YOU SEE SENT HOME WITH STUDENTS WE KNOW THAT VIRTUAL LEARNING IS NOT AS GOOD AS BEING IN THE CLASSROOM IT IS BETTER THAN THE NTI PACKETS SENT HOME SO THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION ON THAT AS WELL AS IT IS VIRTUAL LEARNING, NTI WHAT IS IT AS WE GO FORWARD.

BUT IT IS ABOUT GIVING THE DISTRICTS THE OPPORTUNITY AND DECISIONS TO BE MADE ON THEIR OWN SO THE THING THAT IS BEST FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ALSO, IN THE CONVERSATION, STAFF, IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT THEY ARE AT SICKAL HOME.

AND THEN, WE SHOULD KEEP AS MANY KID AS POSSIBLE IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING BE MOST OF OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP KIDS AS MANY KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM AS POSSIBLE TO GIVE THEM FLEXIBILITY.

>> FROM A PROCEDURAL PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY WONDERING IF YOU GIVE THE GOVERNOR PARAMETERS FOR 30, 45, 90 DAYS, DO YOU HAVE TO BE CALLED INTO SPECIAL SESSION DURING THE EXPIRATION OF THAT ALLOWS ON OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS GIVE THE LOCAL DISTRICTS THE LATITUDE AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE CALLED BACK IN, RIGHT?

THERE IS NO DATE DETERMINED.

>> IT IS NOT AS CUT AND DRY WHEN YOU GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS ON THEIR OWN.

BY ALSO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO CALL US BACK INTO SESSION.

THAT'S WHAT THE BILLS WERE ABOUT.

IT IS HIS DECISION.

HE CAN DECIDE WHETHER TO CALL US BACK OR NOT.

IF HE FEELS IT IS NECESSARY.

>> SO I WANT TO GO TO THIS SIDE TO ASK YOU YOUR YOUR REACTION FROM WHAT YOU HEARD FROM SENATOR GIVENS WHEN IT COME TO, YOU KNOW, CERTIFIED STAFF AND, KIND OF RELINQUISHING SOME OF SHOWS DATES ON THE PENSION, AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO COME BACK.

ARE THOSE CONTROVERSIAL.

>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS I HOPE, AN OVERALL AGREEMENT WITH SOME, I THINK, PROBABLY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES AT THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT OVERALL AGREEMENT THAT WE WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY SAFE.

WE WANT TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE AND LEARNING.

WE WANT TO KEEP BUSINESSES OPEN.

LET'S LOOK AT THE PROPOSALS AND THAT SEASONS NOT A COP-OUT IN ANY WAY.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HEARD THAT PROPOSAL TONIGHT AND I TALKED TO YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST AS A PARENT OF THREE KIDS, TWO OF WHOM ARE OLD ENOUGH TO BE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLFUL I DON'T WANT A BUREAUCRATIC BACKLOG, I WANT SCHOOLS PROPERLY STAFFED AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO TWO SCHOOLS AROUND CHILDREN AND SCHOOLS AROUND CHILDREN.

SEE LET'S SEE WHAT GETTING RID OF THE BACKGROUND CHECKS LOOKS LIKE AND WHO WE'RE GETTING TO BE WITH OUR KIDS.

>> THERE'S?

CONCERN, LEADER JENKINS ABOUT KID VULNERABLE AND HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS WHO DISABILITIES.

WHO FEAR GOING BACK IN PERSON.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IS ALREADY INVESTIGATING ANOTHER HANDFUL OF STATES FOR BANNING MASK MANDATES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ENSURING ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR THOSE THAT HAVE THE SPECIAL NEEDS.

SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> IN JEFFERSON COUNTY WE HAVE VIRTUAL LEARNING THAT PARENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IF IT FIT THE CHILD'S NEEDS FOR MANY YEARS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A THOUSAND PERSON WAIT LIST FOR THAT YOU NO.

>> A THOUSAND PERSON WAIT LIST.

>> A THOUSAND PERSON WAIT LIST.

I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A PATHWAYS PROGRAM.

AND ACTUALLY I HAD FOLKS CALL ME MANY WEEKEND AND ASKED IF I COULD HELP THEM GET INTO THAT GIVING THOSE KINDS OF FLEXIBILITYS TO LOCALS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE KINDS OF PROGRAMS FOR THE KIDS THAT NEED THAT, THAT FLOURISH IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND WHAT I'M LOOKING THE FORWARD TO IS A TRANSPARENT VETTING OF ALL THOSE IDEAS BECAUSE I YOU THIS THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT NOT ONLY SHOULD EACH LEGISLATOR FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE WE'RE GOING BUT ALSO, THE PUBLIC SHOULD AS WELL.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE MAJORITY BRING EXPERTS TO THE TABLE.

TO TALK ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS OF ALL OF THIS, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT, I THINK THERE IS A SAFE WAY TO DO IT.

MAKE SURE THE GUARD RAILS ARE THERE AS WE GO FORWARD SO, I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD THAT WE'LL HAVE VERY TRANSPARENT DEEP DISCUSSIONS AROUND THIS BEFORE WE GO TO GOVERNOR AND SAY WE'RE READY FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> SO THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROCESS, AS IEN INDICATED, AND THIS IS NO SLIGHT TOWARD THIS GOVERNOR, IT IS NOT.

THIS IS THE REALITY OF WHERE WE WERE.

THIS PROCESS, IT IS GOING TO BE TRANSPARENT.

WE'RE NOT GOING BE STANDING BEHIND THE PODIUM SAYING THIS IS THE ORDER THAT I'M ISSUING AND IT WILL BE DEBATED AND DISCUSSED AND WE'LL GET THE GREEN SLIPS ALL COMPUTERIZED AND ALL OF THAT PROCESS THAT MAKES THIS WORK, WILL WORK EFFICIENTLY AND RAPIDLY, AND I FEEL CONFIDENT AT THE END WE'LL HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD POLICY THAT COMES OUT OF.

WITH 138 MINDS THAT REPRESENT EVERYONE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH ENGAGES IN A DISCUSSION.

>> AND KET WILL BE PROVIDING COVERAGE OF THOSE INTERIM JOINT COMMITTEE HEARINGS HAPPENING ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

I WANT TO ASK ABOUT SOME MEASURES, SPEAKER PRO TEM MEADE THAT WILL ALREADY PRE-FILED WHEN IT COME TO THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE SIDE EFFECTS, FROM A VACCINE, GETTING WORKERS COMPENSATION.

THERE IS ANOTHER WITH VACCINES.

ARE WE GOING TO SEE THOSE TYPES OF MEASURES PRE-FILED FOR '22 BE INCLUDED IN A PACKAGE FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION.

>> MY ASSUMPTION IS.

NO THE GOVERNOR IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AS YOU KNOW.

AND WHEN HE CALLS THOSE SPECIAL SESSION, HE TAYLORS THE CALL.

WE CAN ONLY OPERATE WITHIN THAT CALL THATTY TAILORS TO GIVE TO US.

>> HE MADE IT BROAD AND SAID COVID-19 REGULATIONS.

>> MOST OF US EXPERIENCED SPECIAL SESSIONS, VERY SELDOM DOES A GOVERNOR MAKE IT BROAD FOR YOU TO GO IN AND DO SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT, WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSION ON THOSE MEASURES RECENTLY.

AND WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO IT.

SOME OF THE RESEARCH WE FOUND SO FAR IS THAT, THERE ARE EMPLOYERS THAT ARE REQUIRING CERTAIN VACCINATIONS, AND IF THERE IS AN ADVERSE SIDE EFFECT, THAT'S PRIMARILY COVERED UNDER WORKMEN'S POM PENNIZATION AND WE'RE ASSUMING THAT WOULD BE THE SAME.

WE'RE STILL RESEARCHING SOME OF THOSE THINGS, AND, WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO BALANCE WHAT RIGHTS THE EMPLOYER HAS IN HIRING SOMEONE IN THE REQUIREMENTS THEY HAVE FOR HIRING SOMEONE AS WELL AS THE PRIVATE RIGHTS OF SOMEONE WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH.

SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF BALANCING AS REPRESENTATIVE JENKINS SAID AS WELL AND WE'LL SEE WHERE WE COME OUT IN JANUARY.

>> IN.

>> BUT NOT FOR THIS PARTICULAR SESSION.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SEEMS TO BE CLAMORING FOR THAT ABILITY TO MANDATE VACCINES, AND ET CETERA.

SO WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

ANY THOUGHT, LEADER McGARVEY ON WHAT ELSE SHOULD BE INCLUDED, AND NOT THAT, PERHAPS, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'LL ECHO THE COMMENTS THE PRESIDENT AND LEER MEADE IN THAT, EVERY SESSION WE HAVE SEEN HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH A GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE WHERE THERE IS NATURAL TENSION BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES.

THERE IS AN AGREEMENT BEFOREHAND, AND THAT AGREEMENT IS TRANSPARENT AND PUBLIC SO I DON'T ANTICIPATE SOME OF THOSE PRE-FILED BILLS THAT AREN'T IN PART OF ANY OF THESE DISCUSSIONS TO BE PART OF THAT CALL TO BE CONSIDERED.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND SO, TODAY IS MONDAY.

AND SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT A SPECIAL SESSION HYPOTHETICALLY, TUESDAY, THE DAY AFTER LABOR DAY WHICH DON'T ASK ME WHAT DATE THAT IS, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO GET DONE.

IF YOU'RE HAVING HEARINGS AND LISTENS TO EXPERTS ON BOTH SIDES BUT YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY FORMULATED POLICY, WE'LL HAVE A REALLY TOUGH WEEKEND AHEAD.

IN ORDER TO GET THAT ROLLED OUT FOR PUBLIC VIEW, AT THE TIME THAT A SPECIAL SESSION COULD BE CALLED ON TUESDAY AFTER LABOR DAY.

JUST TRYING TO GET THE CALENDAR STRAIGHT IN MY HEAD.

>> THE LEGISLATIVE TALENT, IT IS VERY REAL.

AND IN ADDITION, THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND LOTS OF THESE TOPICS ARE NOT NEW CONVERSATIONS FIRST TIME EVER.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE NTI-ADA LANGUAGE IS SOMETHING WE CAN CUT AND PASTE.

WE'VE DONE THAT FOR YEARS.

THE THING THE GOVERNOR CAN'T DO, IN THE MIDST OF AN EMERGENCY, HE CAN WITHSTAND AND WAY STATUTES BUT CAN'T RIGHT NEW STATUTES AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO AND THE SORT OF THINGS THAT WE'LL DO.

ANOTHER ONE, PERFECT CASE IN POINT THE GOVERNOR CAN'T DO THAT WE MAY WELL HAVE A GREAT FAST BUT POINTED CONVERSATION ABOUT IS IN OUR STAFF, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS, STAFFING IN THESE FRONT-LINE HEALTHCARE POSITIONS.

WE'RE HEARING ABOUT BED SHORTAGES AND I'M NOT SAYING THOSE AREN'T REAL.

STAFFING SHORTAGES ARE THE CRITTINGAL NEED RIGHT NOW.

ARE WE DOING EVERYTHING TO RETAIN, REWARD AND ATTRACT?

ATTRACT TALENT IN THAT SPACE?

DO WE SOMEWHERE SOME COVID THAT WE CAN APPLY INTO THAT?

THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SPEND MONEY UNLESS WE GIVE IT TO HIM.

SO YOU'RE GOING SEE US OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AND THE HEALTH AND WELFARE CONVERSATION THIS WEEK IN COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE BUDGET DIRECTOR TO SAY, ARE THERE THINGS WE SHOULD DO?

SHOULD WE GIVE YOU SOME LATITUDE TO SPEND FUNDS TO TARGET FRONT LINE STAFF, RETAIN, REWARD, AND ATTRACT.

>> SO WOULD THAT HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN A&R OR ARE YOU PUTTING THAT IN LANGUAGE?

>> IDEALLY GO GO THROUGH THAT COMMITTEE BUT WE CAN PASS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THROUGH ANY COMMITTEE WE CHOOSE TO.

>> WHETHER OR NOT IT IS GERMANE TO THAT COMMITTEE.

SO, SO FAR, EXCEPT FOR THE MASK MANDATES.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING BE THE BIGGEST JUGGERNAUT THAT'S BETWEEN MINORITY AND MAJORITY PEOPLE AND MAYBE EVEN PEOPLE WITHIN THE MAJORITY PARTY?

>> THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST STICKING POINT.

I THINK THAT I KNOW MY CAUCUS IS WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND FALK ABOUT ALL THOUGH HE WAS THINGS.

MOST OF MY CAUCUS SUPPORTED THESE MEASURES WHEN THE GOVERNOR DID THEM THE FIRST TIME.

SO, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WILL BE A PROBLEM THERE.

AND I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT MASKING AND HOW THAT SHOULD ROLL OUT WHETHER IT SHOULD BE A LOCAL MANDATE.

AND MY FEAR IS THAT, WE WOULD PUT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IN A REALLY PRECARIOUS SITUATION.

WE'VE SEEN, AT LEAST IN JEFFERSON AND AROUND THE STATE, THAT WHEN I THINK, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS MADE VERY RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS, THEY RECEIVED DEATH THREATS AND, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND, SO, I HOPE THAT, WE AS LEGISLATORS WILL MAKE THOSE HARD DO AS WELL AS CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.

COURAGEOUS DECISIONS AND NOT PUSH THEM DOWN ON THE LOCALS >> AND TO K.D.

E, DON'T DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE LOCAL ABILITY TO DO THAT ALREADY.

NOW, IF THERE IS ANYONE IN THE COMMONWEALTH WHO IS THREATENING ANYONE FOR THE POLICY POSITIONS THAT THEY ARE TAKING, THEN SHAME ON THEM, THAT SHOULD NOT BE DONE.

AND, WE DON'T -- WE SHOULD NOT WHETHER DOING THIS IN KENTUCKY OR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

IF YOU FEEL SO STRONGLY, AND RIGHTLY, AND CAN ARTICULATE IT IN SUCH A WAY TO WIN AN ELECTION, GO AND WIN A SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION AND THAT'S THE WAY TO CHANGE.

BUT DON'T TRY TO COERCE SOMEONE.

>> LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS KIND OF PILOT PROGRAM, ABOUT ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BE, SOME PEOPLE SAY AS THEY SAY HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY IS THEM IS ENCOURAGEMENT.

>> IT IS A GREAT STRATEGY.

BOTH ARE.

>> FORMER KENTUCKY HOUSE SPEAKER JEFF HOOVER TWEET OUT THAT PERHAPS STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ALONG WITH THE MINORITY LEADER, U.S.

SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL AND OTHERS, ANDY BESHEAR SHOULD GO ON A STATEWIDE BUS TOUR ENCOURAGING VACCINATIONS.

SO IF YOU WANT TO SHOW A UNITED FRONT, WHAT ABOUT THAT IDEAS.

>> LET MS. UP THAT ONE.

I THINK WE CAN DOE EVEN BETTER THAN.

THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T FOLLOWED THIS GUY ON TIKTOK, THIS IS WHO I'LL THROW DOWN TONIGHT.

YOU AND DAMON THAT IER DO A TIKTOK ON VACCINATIONS.

IT WILL BE OFF THE CHARTS.

>> LOOK.

>> I THINK THAT DAMON WOMEN DO IT WITH YOU.

>> >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.

>> LET'S DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO.

>> WE SHOULD.

AND HOPE IS NOT PLANNED BUT WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING AND INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND PART OF THAT IS, I THINK WE SHOULD DO OUR PART, AND I THINK WE ARE.

TALK YOUR PHYSICIAN.

GO AND GET GOOD ADVICE.

TRY TO -- WE'RE ENCOURAGING VACCINATIONS AND PEOPLE TO GO TO THEIR DOCTORS BUT ALSO THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FINDING OTHER INFLUENCERS AND TO NOT BE SO ARROGANT AS TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE LISTEN TO US.

LET'S FIND OTHER PEOPLE AND FIND OTHER WAYS, AND, IT MIGHT BE EASY TO SIT IN ONE BART OF THE STATE AND LAUGH ABOUT SOME WAY THAT YOU MIGHT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO IT BUT IF IT WORKS IN THAT LOCALITY, HESS LISTEN TO SOME OF THE -- LET'S LISTEN TO SOME OF THE LEADERS AND GET IT DONE.

GO BACK TO THE NUMBERS.

THIS IS A DISEASE OF THE UNVACCINATED.

THAT IS WHO IS DYING AND THAT'S WHO IS BEING HOUSE HOSPITALIZED IN MASSIVE PERCENTAGES.

SO, THINK THAT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, AND IF DAMON AND I BEING ON TIKTOK WILL HELP, THEN COUNT ME?

>> THAT'S GREAT.

>> IT WOULD BE AWESOME TO SEE AND IT IS NOT A OTHER THAN A DEMOCRATIC PROBLEM.

IT IS A KENTUCKY PROBLEM.

>> IT IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM.

>> IT IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE ACCESS, IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT A LOT OF OTHER COUNTRIES DON'T HAVE SO LET'S TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.

>> THE MINUTE THAT I HAVE REMAIN, IS ANYONE GOING TO GIVE ME A DATE FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION?

>> >> YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT IT.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> I KEEP COMING BACK TO IT.

>> IS TUESDAY, NOT TOMORROW BUT NEXT -- THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY A WEEK FROM TUESDAY.

>> THE FOCUS IS GETTING IT RIGHT.

SO, IF WE CAN GET IT RIGHT THIS WEEK, YOU MAY SEE IT VERY EARLY NEXT WEEK.

>> ALL RIGHT, BECAUSE, YOU DO WANT TO GET IT DONE BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

IS THAT ALSO AN IMPERATIVE OF THE REPUBLICANS?

>> I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET IT RIGHT.

AND MY HOPE IS BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER EXPIRES AND WE NEED TO GET IT RIGHT AND BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS EXPIRE.

AND COME INTO SESSION, IT IS NOT A ONE-DAY SESSION.

>> RIGHT.

>> IF WE WERE TO COME IN NEXT TUESDAY WE STILL HAVE TIME TO WORK, GETS TOGETHER WITH THOSE 138 PEOPLE AND DEBATE IT BEFORE THE ORDERS EXPIRE.

>> BUT YOU COULD DO IT IN ONE DAY, THREE READINGS IN ONE DAY.

>> GO BACK TO THE QUESTION OF CAN AND SHOULD.

>> LET'S GET IT RIGHT.

>> WE'LL BE THERE FOR IT.

THANK YOU AWFUL THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND I HOPE THAT YOU DO AT HOME AS WELL.

WE'LL BE HERE FOR THOSE INTERIM MEETINGS.