>> Lawmakers >> act on covid-related measures addressing non-disclosure of immunization status and ending the governor's emergency declaration.

A bill to legalize medical.

Cannabis is making its rounds for the 3rd time.

A 15 week abortion ban is advanced and so much more on day.

45 of the 2022.

Kentucky General Assembly and regular session.

Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to legislative update tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for joining us.

First stop fed up with COVID rules.

A few measures that supporters say give the people what they want.

Representative Savannah, Maddox has a measure that keeps public agencies and entities from requiring employees to disclose their COVID-19 immunization status and universities would be barred from the same when it comes to students, faculty and staff.

Madison's House Bill.

28 also bars COVID passports for government mandates related to the virus.

Kentucky public schools would also be prohibited from requiring students to be vaccinated against COVID giving parents a choice to refuse based on conscientious objections.

A stronger version of the bill included private employers.

But Representative Matic says she softened the measure to elicit more support and get it passed even though she prefers broader protections for every Kentucky and against what she calls force or coercion from the government.

A Jefferson County educator and Democratic representative sought clarification when it comes to schools.

>> Various provisions of this bill clarify that even though they cannot require or inquire about vaccinations, they can still screen our tests, folks who come into their buildings, the provision regarding K through 12 schools is worded a little differently.

Could you confirm that schools could still require testing even though they could not require vaccinations or inquire about status, but it >> Lady no aspect of this legislation pertains to the operational aspects or infection protocol or screenings or anything of that nature with regard to K through 12 schools.

It's so Lee seeks to ensure that parents can decide for their own children whether or not to receive the vaccine.

>> Why the Republican Jennifer Decker is a co sponsor of the COVID immunization disclosure ban.

She reasons the measure strikes the right balance between liberty and security and that lawmakers, she says are duty bound to respect the will of the people and freedom.

>> I think that the need for this bill has resulted because well, we debate and have debated which level of government should have control free.

People have balked at the notion that a government entity should require the disclosure of whether they have chosen to be immunized.

And that requirement is pressure to receive a shot.

There's another concept that I believe must be recognized to understand why this bill is both necessary and right.

And that is the concept of the need for the consent of the governed.

Actually, I believe that any action that is outside the consent of the governed in this country is invalid.

>> This this is about choice today.

This is about giving the parents the choice because millions of people across this nation was losing jobs because not only that they was being forced out of their jobs because of the choice.

People was walking off from the military.

Therefore military was was was Losen the strength because they was taking a dishonorable discharge because they would be in force for a vaccine that they did not feel that they had the choice in that.

And so I stand for this legislation today that it does give some kind of choice for our people.

>> Most Democrats voted against the measure before the vote board.

Let up with responses.

Louisville Democrat Pam Stevenson asked the bill sponsor this.

>> How can the government as the only person S responsible for the common good.

Take actions to protect the common good.

If they have no information.

But it will grant.

>> I think information is the key word.

That the lady has said.

I think it's the appropriate role of government to provide accurate up to date information to its citizens.

I do not think.

That's the word protection or the government's role to keep people safe or save lives or any of these euphemisms that we continue to hear that are essentially euphemisms for forcing a needle into someone's arm against their will.

That's what mandatory vaccination is.

But you always talk about some of you.

How the federal government extends to fall.

>> And yet on this floor today, that's what we're doing.

And I can tell you that as a teacher.

The Board of Education should be making those decisions about the school district.

As a local elected official, which I served.

They need to be making the decisions about their local entities.

Not the state government.

We talk about the overreach of the federal government.

And yet that's exactly what we're doing here.

Overreach as a state Gov bought.

I'm tired.

>> I'm tired of women being told what they can do and what they can do.

You're tired of parents being told what to do and what they can't do.

Why don't we just mind our own business?

>> The COVID immunization disclosure ban advance from the House.

71 to 29 and now heads to the Senate for consideration there.

A House committee agreed with the Senate on a resolution to expire.

Governor Andy Beshear is COVID-19 emergency declaration for more than 2 years ago.

Jessamine County Republican freshman Donald Douglas, a physician.

And since that time is now to return to normal.

>> If we don't do something now.

We will finish our session.

And the governor and the executive branch can change regulations.

And we can't do anything about it.

Until our next session due in January of next year.

Or less, the governor calls back in the special session and I would ask this committee, how did that work out for you last year?

>> Senator Douglas insisted during the committee hearing that federal funding wouldn't be affected less than 2 hours later, the measure was taken up on the House floor.

Bullet County Republican Thomas Huff carried it when it was called up for chamber vote.

>> The question we really need to ask ourselves is are we in a state of emergency?

Are the hospitals overflowing?

Are the deaths skyrocketing?

All the numbers climbing.

That is the question we need to ask, not whether we can squeak by another month on free federal money.

>> I'm trying to decide how to vote on this bill.

I think it's something that my constituents may want me to vote for.

They're tired of the emergency.

I just want to know what practical purpose it would serve.

What what does it end?

>> Thank you, Mister Speaker.

I think it would end within a lot of restrictions.

Restrictions.

I think it's long overdue.

I think it's the right thing for Kentucky.

I'm not really interested in continuing to draw federal funds if they're not deserved, are needed.

>> Since things really are back to normal mask mandates are gone.

Businesses are open.

I it looks pretty normal to me.

But there are 11% of people in Warren County who are using the emergency allotment, snap benefits and they are now going to lose 7 million, $765,000.

$544.

So, you know, 7.7 million dollars.

And that's money.

If you want to look at it from a calmer standpoint and I'm looking at it from a keeping food people's belly standpoint.

If you look at it from commerce standpoint.

I have to farmers markets in my district.

They're amazing.

They take snap benefits.

People won't be able to spend their money there.

>> You're failing to acknowledge the vicious cycle that has occurred.

That has an assessed that 8 of the need for federal funding to begin with, which was shutting down the economy.

And that has led to rapid inflation and all kinds of socioeconomic issues that we're going to be contending with for years.

Senate Joint Resolution, one 50 that expires the governor's COVID-19 emergency declaration was approved in the House 75 to 20.

>> It now heads to the governor's desk.

Employees could have a pathway to avoid employer vaccine mandates.

If a bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee becomes law.

The Senate committee substitute to Senate Bill 93 would allow for employees to reject immunization mandates for religious or health reasons.

The measure would also require employers mandating vaccines to notify their workers.

Paris Senator Stephen West explain how the measure would work.

>> When an employer.

>> Does a vaccine mandate?

In Kentucky.

We will allow 2 exceptions to that.

One is in the case of a sincerely held religious belief and the other one is in it case of a medical exception.

As part of that, we also we require that the employer provide notice of these exceptions to their employee.

>> West says there are already laws on Kentucky's books that allow conscientious objection to vaccine mandates enacted by a local health department.

The Senate Bill 93 is similar nature.

There is federal law on vaccine mandates for health care workers.

The Senate bill, 93 would require health care facilities working under those laws to notify employees of religious exemptions to the mandate allowed under it.

Louisville physician and Senator Karen Berg Express these concerns.

>> This decision is completely outside of their purview.

And the pharmacist has no way.

To determine whether a vaccine is going to be injurious to to somebody.

It's completely outside of the medical purview.

>> The main reason for this exhaustive list is if someone wants the vaccine exception.

I don't want them to be able to go to to go to their doctor, their their normal doctor.

And if if the state decides to apply pressure on the backside, maybe sends out a letter that SEO, if you enter issuing these letters, you better watch out for your Medicaid funds.

I don't want the doctors to feel any pressure.

The health care professionals to feeling pressure on the backside.

>> Berg says she understood west reasoning but still voted against the measure.

Senate Bill 93 sponsored by Somerset.

Republican Rick Guard Ler pass the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The sponsor of the bill to legalize medical marijuana says the bill and timing is right and it let sick people get a safe product.

Republican Attorney Jason Amos is House Bill one.

36 set up a regulatory framework for farmers processors and dispensaries.

And Nima says it's only met for patients with bona fide medical relationships with their doctors to treat a handful of conditions by which traditional medicines have failed.

It was heard in tonight's House Judiciary Committee.

>> Let's not kid ourselves this.

We're going to bring marijuana, Kentucky tear and what this does.

Chairman Massey is it lets the mother.

Who's getting it for her child.

Lets them wife is going for a husband.

It lets her go to a place where the lights are bright.

The products have been tested.

And the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure in the law enforcement has the keys.

Isn't that what we want there be no fun when these people in these in these packages, there will be no products that we don't know laced in here.

This is safe product.

>> Eric Crawford, a fixture in the Frankfurt halls as a staunch advocate for medicinal marijuana in 1994, Crawford was in a serious car accident that broke his neck in 3 places.

Rendering him a quadriplegic one 0nd, he said changed his life.

>> God is always have in the palm of his hand.

There are other plants meant for me.

Now I'm here at state Capitol in Frankfort.

Wearing a tie trying to get medical cannabis legal for sick people.

Medical cannabis relaxes my continuous uncontrollable muscle spasms.

Medical cannabis really does Mark Hasse to chronic pain.

Cannabis helps me.

>> 38 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana.

Northern Kentucky, Republican Kim Moser who once ran a regional Office of Drug Control Policy has expressed concerns about medical cannabis in previous sessions.

She believes there are too many unknowns about dosage.

How it's funded and the creation of a government bureaucracy to monitor the program.

She cast the single No Vote in committee tonight.

She has a bill that would set in motion.

More research on medical marijuana safety and effectiveness.

You know, I I want.

>> Cannabis products to to be dispensed stand and to really understand the qualifying medical conditions that can help We need to know what the drug interactions are.

You know, I think research will allow for things like the study of cannabis and our CBD to really full fully understand the differences, why it works.

Mister Crawford for some people and not for others.

I think that there are still some questions that we need to to answer.

>> House Bill, one 36 has come before committee twice before and received a House floor vote a couple years ago.

But the Senate has yet to consider it.

Senate Judiciary chairman, though Whitney Westerfield is supportive of the bill.

So are other Republicans and some wish the measure was broader.

>> I hate this bill.

I think it's too restrictive.

I think it's too narrow.

I think it's too much government.

But for the 3rd time in yes.

And it becomes really a patient access and patient safety issue.

Represent a name.

As you know, you said if you have a family member sick, what would you do?

And I think we're all in the same boat that you would do whatever it took to get your family, a member relief in my district.

When a poll it polled for that reason.

And because I believe in this cause, I'm a yes.

>> Representative namus is House Bill one.

36 advance from committee earlier this evening.

1 and now heads to the House floor for a vote by the full membership.

The Kentucky General Assembly is moving on yet another abortion measure.

Senate Bill 3.21.

Is modeled after legislation passed by Mississippi, but some observers believe could overturn the 1973 decision.

Roe versus Wade.

The legislation would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Campbellsville Senator Max Wise sponsors, the bill.

He says it'll give Kentucky a piece of abortion legislation that won't require a legal fight if the Supreme Court upholds Mississippi's law.

>> This legislation for use in both 3.21.

Is closely modeled after the Mississippi legislation that is before the Supreme Court.

I'm bringing this bill to you so that in the event that the Supreme Court upholds the Mississippi legislation is constitutional, we will have a pro-life law in place that would not be subject to a good faith legal challenge.

This bill prohibits a person from performed an abortion on a pregnant woman when the probable just station UL age of the unborn child is 15 weeks or greater.

Probable just station UL age has to be determined opposition within reasonable probability soon about 3.21.

Also gives the attorney general and the state Board of Medical Licensure specific authority to bring in action in law or equity to enforce any provision of the law.

>> The state director for Planned Parenthood of Kentucky says Senate bill 3.21.

Is nearly identical to a bill passed in 2018 she opposes the bill and says the state should wait until the ruling on the Mississippi law before moving on Senate bill 3.21. other pro choice advocates contend the legislation will only hurt poor people.

>> Abortion will always be available for people with money, restricting access to safe abortion only hurts poor people.

Forcing people to stay pregnant against their will does nothing more then prevent us from breaking the generational curse of poverty.

This bill is a poverty trap.

It is not always possible for someone to get an abortion as soon as they have made the decision to do so many things can stand in the way from delay the finding out you're pregnant to not being able to afford it to a lack of providers nearby or barriers put in place by politicians such as bans on assurance covering abortion and mandatory delays.

Senate bill 3.21.

Doesn't do anything that our state hasn't already done.

>> It attempts to imitate Mississippi's 15 week ban, which is currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Just like the 15 week ban.

Our state has already enacted the Mississippi ban still has not been held to be constitutional and it has never gone into effect passing yet another 15 week ban now without waiting for the Supreme Court to issue a ruling on Mississippi's ban and without waiting for a ruling on the 15 week ban, our state has already passed shows that this is nothing more than political theater designed to score points in an election year.

>> Paris Senator Stephen West asked a Louisville OBGYN who spoke against the bill about the point of viability.

Here was her response.

>> Do you think?

That it should be legal at 24 weeks or after.

>> I believe that I should have the opportunity with my medical expertise and experience to individualize every patient's care depending on there medical history.

The specific situation and there's the circumstance surrounding it, which with my expertise I should be able to inform and educate them, give them options.

And then they based on their cultural beliefs, their religious beliefs, their background, their family support their social situation together.

That's that's that sanctity.

I'm talking about.

>> Louisville Senator Karen Berg is the only physician on the Senate Judiciary Committee explaining her vote.

She said the measure isn't what is best for women's health care when Senate President Robert Stivers explained his yes vote.

He voiced his disagreement with the Bills.

Opposition this.

>> Bill is a metal pole sham.

It does not follow medicine.

It does not even before to listen to Matt set and for each and every one of my colleagues to be so willing to cast an aye vote.

But what you are doing is >> putting you are favored.

Putting your knee, putting your.

Gotten to women.

Ted, you are telling when that because abortion will continue when men will continue to have efficacy over their own body.

Whether or not you may get legal.

>> What I heard one of my colleagues talk about today.

Primarily health care, but one of education and economics.

And then the young lady who I did respect her position.

I don't necessarily agree with that.

Made a decision based on education and economics.

The doctor was asked about this.

It seems to believe that.

She thinks individuals.

The viability even after 24 weeks should be made on education and economic opportunity.

After respectfully disagree with that.

>> The Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 3.21.

It now heads to the Senate for a vote by the entire Senate membership.

>> A bill requiring school boards to set aside at least 15 minutes for public comments during regular meetings, pass the Senate Education Committee today.

>> The bill passed the House last month.

The lead sponsor of the bill Republican Representative Regina Huff says this bill was not a response to actions by a specific school district, but from e-mails and comments she's received from This bill became came with the conversation between my policy bicep and some of the correspondents we're receiving from parents.

>> And this is no way a relevant to our largest school district.

It turns out that there was a lot of parents and it wasn't a rule urban divide.

It was just a consensus that this was a problem at that with parents not being able have a voice, but then school board meetings.

Representative Haas also says she selected school board members at random to get their thoughts and allowing the public to speak at school board meetings.

>> She says the school board members were overwhelmingly in favor of it.

>> One lady, she said, you know, she said I'm glad you c*****.

She said I would much rather.

Address someone collectively as a board.

Then when someone stopped me at the local Wal-Mart, she said because I get really defensive.

I'm nervous.

I'm Fred, the recording me.

She said I'm Fred than I'm not going to be proactive in the board stands on things.

And she said, you know, it's concerning.

So and there was 3 at 3 different ones that said, you know, they would rather address the public collectively.

So don't think, you know this or these are public school boards.

I think that it's important.

We give the public the opportunity to have some input.

A former Jefferson County Public School parents spoke before the committee.

He says the 15 minute public comment mandate should apply to just school boards.

>> Well, I firmly believe school boards should have generous comment.

Policies and support those.

I can't get over the very real feels fears that my local school board members have expressed in our policy meetings that one day.

And I remember the public is going to resort to violence instead of angry words.

Additionally was support mandatory comment periods.

I think the General Assembly shouldn't pass without creating one for itself and other bodies as well.

It seems hypocritical required school boards to face public comment during their meetings, but not expect the same of other legislative bodies.

>> The bill comes as school board meetings across the country have become contentious with some school board members fearing for their safety.

Some members of the committee pointed out that public comment plays an important role in a Democratic society, but that those making the comments need to be civil.

>> Folks as a commonwealth, it's time we take a look at ourselves and where we're headed.

It's time to be heard again.

It is a stated on the 4 yesterday to be heard.

You first have to be heard without civility with in that arena, especially when our kids are watching of all arenas that we are concerned about education for this issue has to take the priority and we have to be respectful in when we're dealing a policy regarding our children, we have to work together.

We have to be You know what we've seen across this country to slash KET >> this year.

and last year with that, the angry miss, the violence, the hostility, the people display these board meetings.

It is just gotten out of control.

I get to have their voice heard, but they should do the civil tone.

So Marshall is absolutely right.

So I support your effort but but I again, I would I would say that, you know, that should apply even when people say things that we don't agree with, that we should.

We should tolerate this will be because that's healthy for them.

And that's what freedom is all about.

>> The bill does allow the school boards to skip the public coment period.

If no one signs up to speak.

The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote there.

That's all for day.

45 coverage of the 2022?

Kentucky General Assembly in regular session for information about legislative meetings.

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Thanks so much for watching.

I'm Michelle.

Have a great night.

>> See you tomorrow.