>> Lawmakers scurrying to send measures on principle selection than teaching history to the governor's desk.

And the governor implores lawmakers to find Pre K and full-day kindergarten.

A measure barring transgender girls.

Sports play is also headed to the governor's desk as well.

Those issues and more on day.

55 of the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly in regular session.

Good evening, everyone.

Thank you for joining us for legislative update tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

A plan to shift certain school governance authority from school based decision-making council is made up of parents and educators to superintendents has been rubber stamped by the Senate and it's on its way to the governor's desk.

The Senate went along with House changes to the upper chamber's priority.

Bill Senate Bill.

One that includes the Teaching American Principles Act on history instruction in Kentucky.

Schools and language on how the Jefferson County School Board should operate along with giving school superintendents the power to hire and fire principles determine school curriculum.

The revised Senate bill one also mandates 2 dozen historical documents, tech speeches and U.S. Supreme Court cases.

They taught in social studies classes in middle and high school.

Those history lessons are required by the bill to be age, appropriate, objective and non-discriminatory.

The sponsors of the 2 bills combined by the House.

Senator Max Wise and John Schickel praised the new version of Senate Bill.

One and urged members to vote for it.

>> It gives our schools back to the community at large.

The people who pay the bills, taxpayers and parents that to this bill gives control control too.

The elected school board.

It also give control to the community with regards to curriculum.

Historical documents, things like the Constitution, another historical documents.

To not uses the foundation for education I think is a big mistake.

>> And this bill does not limit the teaching should just those documents provides those documents.

Take it has the input from parents.

>> And educators and students to be able to get back to the American principles of what we need to be learning.

Learn from our mistakes.

Learn from atrocities.

To learn about the good Lord about the bad, but there's nothing.

Nothing in this that will tell a teacher you cannot teach on the subject certain subject matter.

>> 15 senators voted against the amended Senate bill.

One for reasons ranging from new superintendent responsibilities to objections over codified historical documents as required reading and targeting the Jefferson County Public School board.

>> With with regard to the original Senate bill, number one, I really believe that the most important voice that can be hurt when a child's and schools, the parent's voice and with Senate Bill one does is take away that parent's voice.

I think that's going in the wrong direction.

I think parents should have the ultimate say in terms of how the children being educated and what's in the bill does what school councils his legally the vote voice of the Sony opposed to that as well as as opposed to Senate bill one.

38 and is its.

Guys as a critical race theory.

again, I want to emphasize that critical race theory is not all not taught in public schools and that what Senate Bill, one 38 does in effect is.

>> She'll the TV adaptation by teachers to are now going to be reluctant >> be a fray.

But I continue to object to the language of Senate Bill.

One.

38.

>> It sets a bad precedent to establish a list of these documents.

In statute.

Documents that some of us agree with and some of us don't.

But setting those documents and statute invites future General Assembly's to add to that list to take away from that list and that precedent.

It's something I'm afraid we're going to regret.

Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, this bill and others like it filed in the House are in response to situations we've seen in other jurisdiction or a judge or stations around the country and existing civil rights law can be used.

That is being used to challenge those incidents of acts and other states.

What we have not discussed is what was put on the house in this bill.

What was put on the house on this bill is a another piece of legislation specifically targeting Jefferson County.

>> Because this committee substitute in the House.

States.

How often the Jefferson County School board can meet.

This is an elected body.

These are elected officials who represent just as many people as the members of this body.

And here we are from Frankfurt.

Saying when they can and can't meet arbitrarily setting limits.

What if something comes up and they need to call a board meeting.

How would we feel?

If Washington set limits on how often this body could meet.

>> The Senate signed off on the House revise Senate bill one.

21 to 15 with one pass vote.

It now heads to Governor Andy Beshear's desk for him to sign veto.

Arlette, become law without his signature.

LGBTQ advocates and the ACLU of Kentucky are blasting final passage of a measure that's called save women's sports climbing.

State lawmakers will, quote, prioritizing discrimination against the state's most vulnerable groups and are calling for Governor Andy Beshear to veto Senate Bill.

83.

The bill bans transgender girls from playing on all-girls sports teams from the 6th grade through college.

The Family Foundation of Kentucky applauds the measure and urges the governor to sign it.

They say it provides common sense protections for girls and athletics.

Henderson, Republican Robby Mills is the sponsor.

I was glad the House broaden his original plan for middle and high school teams to include collegiate sports.

>> The addition of these of the college athletics to this bill >> in my opinion, is stronger.

What?

Because it protects all women and girls.

An 18 year-old college freshman has the same right to a fair and level playing field as an 18 year-old high school senior.

Mr. President currently the NCAA no longer has a policy on transgenders.

They basically abandoned their policy and have it somewhat hunted to each sport to determine that policy.

>> Senate Democrats condemn the measure as a solution and search of a problem.

The only known transgender girl playing school sports is a 12 year-old 7th grader who started her middle school's field hockey team with the passage of this law, the biological boy who identifies as female won't be able to play on the girls team next year.

>> We've never had a problem with this.

This bill obviously has some kind of intent.

A motive that I really don't understand I oppose this bill the first time.

And so we want to pose as bill again, if a if a transgender tile was to compete.

They truly identify with that particular sex in 7th 8007th and 9th grade or beyond to high school.

I'm feeling fine with that.

>> And I think sometimes we do things like this.

We send the wrong message to that child to the community, to the family.

And so walk and say, I understand.

It upsets in likely unfair advantage of particular swimmer, a logical of a nudge.

And it is it is adult.

We go into something very, very different.

We're regulating the children's sports at the state legislature.

Something we haven't done for an issue that has not been an issue because the committee that testified over and over again helping this happen.

What kind of issues that is something we need to work on?

No, no, no.

Yet here we are.

Despite all these other concerns is what we're doing.

My question is why is this happening?

And I can tell you.

>> So our.

>> Clearly.

>> The reason this is happening.

Is because we have.

Paid and son did organizations coming in to state legislators.

>> Sir, on park this.

Purpose.

Trying to pass anti trans legislation.

In every state house in this country.

With varying degrees of success.

>> A transgender girl sports band was finally approved.

And the Senate today.

26 to 9 Senate bill 83 now heads to the governor's desk a handwritten note with a misspelled name and a son's birth date.

That's what a Lexington mother was handed by a corner that left her shattered with fear and confusion.

It puts Stacey Burnette from Lexington on a mission to change the way the coroner's office delivers death notifications and she went on an emotionally grueling discovery to learn that her 18 year-old son Nathan, died out of state while snowboarding almost a year later, she's close to having a law named after her son, Nathan.

That would require death notifications to be given verbally in person and respectfully.

Mister Burnett shared her harrowing experience before a legislative panel this morning.

>> This is my son, Nathan Burnett.

He was a senior at Henry Clay High School and last year on spring break, he had gone with his best friends, family to Utah on a snowboarding trip.

And on March 30th of last year.

My husband was outside with our 2 boys and I was walking outside in a coroner's van, pulled up to our house.

So I get very nervous time and he simply handed us this little piece of paper.

And it had our names wrong on it.

But it had are son's name and a sheriff's now a number in Utah.

He was a corner.

So we obviously knew that our son died, but he wouldn't even answer that question.

We asked him.

If our son was dead multiple times and he said he had no details whatsoever.

Just call you top.

So he.

Handed us the snow and then walked away and we obviously I'm upset and screaming in the long and are sentenced observing it.

And my husband had to call you time to get all the details.

He didn't give us any instructions on.

Bring our son back or how to arrange anything.

He just.

Left.

And when we look at legislation are looked at rules for corners, there's basically 0 for us about had it how they're educated on that notifications.

>> Winchester physician and Republican Senator Ralph Alvarado is the sponsor of Senate Bill 66 that requires the corner or deputy coroner to provide death notifications verbally in person and in a respectful manner.

Coroner's would have to complete a 4 hour course on the grieving process and best practices for providing death notifications to a spouse or next of kin.

>> I realize that we can't legislate compassion or empathy or some basic human kindness.

Also realize that are corners or elected officials and have to answer for their actions.

However, I believe it's important to provide our corners.

Every educational opportunity to know how to deliver the worst news a family may never hear in their entire lifetime.

And we talked to my own Clark County Coroner Robert K Heart.

He asked I asked for his input on how this could be accomplished and Senate Bill 66 is the product of that work.

Also got a phone call from the coroner's association with some requested changes in those have been included in the bill.

It basically add language to corner training that within 3 years of assuming office, a corner must complete a course of at least 4 hours provided by DOT J T that includes instruction of the grieving process and best practices for providing a notice of data next of kin.

If the coroner has already completed, the course are not required to retake the course.

There's also language in the bill regarding the actual notification process.

>> Senator Alvarado Senate Bill 66 was approved by the House Health and Family Services Committee today and now waits for action by the full House.

>> If you've ever seeing someone speed past a stopped school bus state could soon get a ticket in the mail for failing to stop us.

Kids are getting on or off the bus House Bill.

2.21.

Allow school districts to install stop arm video cameras to detect people illegally passing a stopped school bus.

The bill sponsor, Representative David Hale says he hopes the bill will change driver behavior to make school buses safer.

>> First up this this does have no fiscal impact.

If this does not legalize.

Cameras because there are a few districts in the state of Kentucky today that already have these they use.

These are very expensive.

Thanks to install to the best I was given.

I'm actually monetary numbers on this and I can't verify this for sure.

But I was told that to install the cameras on the best would cost approximately $10,000 per bus.

This bill right here would give those districts the opportunity to have that done at absolutely no cost to them.

Whoever they entered into with a contract with that vendor would install the cameras maintain the cameras collected data.

>> Schools that voluntarily install the cameras would contract with an outside company to store the video data and coordinate with local authorities to assess fines.

Senator Jimmy Higdon had questions from hail about how those fines would be assessed and where the money from them would go.

>> The funds, of course, would be sent by the by the local entities there.

The first violation could not be more than $300 for the first 5.

Now, it doesn't have to be $300.

It could be less than that.

But if if it was set at a maximum $300 for the first the fans and then $500 for the next defense.

If there would be one of that $300.

$25 of that amount would go to the local sheriff.

Bringing this to whomever the individuals that committed the violation and then all of that amount that would be remaining.

and I'm not going to go into specific dollar amount that of amount that would be remaining approximately 40% of that would go to the school and 60% of that then would go to the to the to to that.

Yes, to the hosting to everything the vendor was to help out the defray that experience.

>> Hayden says he doesn't support the bill because it circumvents the current judicial system.

Then Senator Danny Carroll and retired police officer voted in favor of the measure, but says while police stations are facing staffing shortages, it could create a manpower issue.

The Lexington Senator Reggie Thomas, a Democrat, says the bill needs to be passed.

Now.

>> It would be my preference that law enforcement officials had more of a say in this sport is making the final decision because this is going to fall in their lap and there are manpower issues associated with and often times within a county judge executive of the sheriff don't quite see eye to eye.

so this is a law enforcement function.

I think the final approval really should come through them.

I don't think we should wait until we have blood on the streets before we act.

I mean, I think not to the logical age of we can use cameras that 2 people from running stop signs on school buses or red lights on street corners.

That's a good thing for the Kentucky people save lives.

>> The Senate Education Committee approved House Bill 2, 21, 10 to one with one pass vote.

As Kentucky continues to face a teacher shortage, a bill that would help accelerate the education of new teachers makes its way through committee House Bill 2.77.

Would create an expedited teacher certification program that would grant a bachelor's degree to potential teachers and 3 school years.

The teacher recruiter for Christian County Public Schools says the measure will help get new teachers into the pipeline.

>> This bill could be a game changer for districts who are interested in growing their own.

We want a pipeline of teachers to recruit who live in our community.

Who know our kids and have a passion for teaching.

We know this is a sound investment.

I know my why.

It's the students in Christian County in us.

The students across the state they made and they deserve the very best teachers.

And I know some of those future teachers are living in my hometown.

In your hometown.

They just need a different path.

Torts teacher certification this bill.

This option on could afford that opportunity and quite honestly help us to address the teacher shortage.

>> While Ford says the program could help recruitment, Senator Mike Wilson says more could still be Don to attract kids into the teaching profession and then back to their local school district to teach.

>> One of the things that it's always baffled me is that.

The schools themselves.

>> Have a students right there potentially to be teachers yet we don't do anything to recruit them into the teaching field or in any other field for that matter.

It's always about to college to college, to college or post-secondary.

I I would encourage you that this is something that could go a little further.

>> The Senate Education Committee passed House Bill 2.77, and it is now available for consideration by the full Senate and other education news.

A measure to fund all-day kindergarten was slated for action in a legislative committee tonight, but it wasn't called up for action.

And the 2021 regular session, the General Assembly appropriated 140 million dollars in fiscal year.

21.

22 to support full day kindergarten based on recent information provided by the Kentucky Department of Education.

The cost for full-day kindergarten is around 120 million for the upcoming biennium in each fiscal year.

Governor Andy Beshear was asked today about the measure and how it's been tethered to a separate bill funding charter schools.

>> It is wrong to use the education of a 5 year-old as a bargaining chip to get something that you want.

We have a duty and I believe it's a constitutional moral, faith-based duty to provide a good education for all of Kentucky's kids.

And if someone is threatening not to include funding.

For 5 year-olds and their education to get something else.

It's absolutely wrong.

There have to be some lines, right?

It feels like every line is his cross.

There have to be some lines about what we start.

All these negotiations saying, of course, we're going to do these basic things.

>> During today's presser, Governor Beshear made another appeal for funding early childhood education or PRE K that helps get kids ready for school by age 5.

And he said Kentucky's bright budget picture presents opportunities to invest in other critical programs.

>> That they have an opportunity to ensure access to to health care, to build up our regional airport so every region can compete and to come around to Universal Pre K now universal Pre-K for all 4 year-olds just cost 9%.

Of of the extra revenue we have this year.

You could funded for the first year with what just what's left over from the Poker star settlement.

That wasn't allocated in the bill that went through about having every Kentucky kid kindergarten ready.

But the other pieces were hearing a whole lot about workforce.

And we're seeing a lot of bills passed that.

Hurt our safety net.

Claiming that it's going to help workforce.

But Universal Pre K is proving to be the number one thing that we can do to improve our workforce.

And when they did in DC 10% increase in one year, 6 families want $12,500.

At least a year.

So if you want to achieve your objectives, why would you not fund the program?

>> There are just 5 days left in this year's regular session.

Lawmakers are scheduled to meet tomorrow and today's next week before taking recess period for the governor to issue vetoes.

On the criminal justice front.

Drug traffickers would face stiffer penalties for selling the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl under House Bill.

2.15, that's close to final passage.

Representative Chris Few gets measure also known as Dalton's law enhances the jail time for importing or traffic car.

Fentanyl, fentanyl or fentanyl.

Derivatives from a minimum of 50% served to a minimum of 85% of the Senate served.

If you get a retired Kentucky state trooper worked on the high intensity drug trafficking areas.

Task Force, a federally funded program.

The drug overdose rate is 56% higher than it has been in the year before.

And almost 3 quarter of that is attributed to fentanyl Judiciary Committee Chairman Whitney Westerfield voted for the bill to move it out of committee, but he's against it in principle.

>> I told him no vote.

But if I vote no, this bill does right here.

And I'm not gonna do that to your bill.

I don't like 85% for this.

I don't like mandatory minimum language in legislation.

And I don't appreciate that.

I'm very familiar with the dangers of these drugs that presents the law enforcement and to our people and our communities.

Mandatory minimums and moving in that direction.

Take us away from getting the people on the ground power to do what they need to do to find the right outcome in each individual case.

>> The bill is named after Dalton Bishop, a 22 year-old who passed away from a fentanyl overdose in November 2020 opponents of the bill say there should be more investment in treatment rather than punishment.

Some banks and other financial institutions are refusing to invest in fossil fuel based energy companies because of concerns over pollution and climate change that's affecting coal, oil and gas companies in Kentucky, sponsors of Senate Bill 2 '05, 1, to fight back by having Kentucky boycott those banks.

The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee Chairman Representative Jim Goods said it's time for Kentucky to take a stand.

>> You know it when we may not be in a position here where we can have a huge going forward.

But at some point we have to fight back as representatives of the people.

We have to fight back.

And the one thing that I really take offense at is so many of the consumer advocates that well talk about how they really care about to consumers because they want to be there at the right hearing saying that they're representing them, but they never opened their mouth when decisions are made in Washington that really affect those changes.

And for me, I think no, no, this is not directed.

Anyone here for me.

I think many of those groups are frauds.

>> Environmentalists Tom Fitzgerald said he thinks the banks will be able to get around this >> that will understand the intent behind Senate Bill.

2 '05.

I don't think it's going to accomplish much of anything.

And the reason for that is I I've watched the financial institutions over the past 20 years, particular over the past 5 to 10 years.

And I know of no decisions that they have made that are not for a quote, ordinary business purpose, which is exempted from this bill at those sorts of decisions are not considered to be an energy board caught and I've not seen any situation in which a financial institution is lent or has refrain from lending has invested or has refrained from investing for reasons other than a belief by that institution that they're acting prudently.

2 words in the ordinary course of business towards for their fiduciary business purpose towards their shareholders.

In fact, there are federal remedies if they fail to do that.

>> The committee voted in support of the bill, sending it to the full House.

The house then took it up later in the day.

Their representative due to criticize the thinking behind the energy boycotts.

>> You know, we have some people today that actually worship at the the altar of the costs of climate change we're seeing that now was hostage to work.

The 2.

And and it's really sad that those people are willing to give up what we actually achieve that.

I never thought we could achieve.

And that was energy independence and a year and a half ago, we were energy and dependent and that was on the first day let the ministrations that was wiped out because of policies that this administration implemented.

>> Representative Marylee Mars in a Louisville Democrat said the bill would son Kentucky in the wrong direction and she said it's a mistake to use federal government actions as scapegoats for the decline of coal.

>> There is climate change and climate change is real and what we need to realize that this kind of, you know.

Hurt our efforts to move towards new jobs.

New forms of energy are solar energy.

But we did have 4 years of Trump and I don't think anything help they're and McConnell's been there very long time.

And they said they were going to bring call back.

But I haven't seen that happen.

So I think we need to work together in a bipartisan effort to do what's best.

For our children and our grandchildren.

So they will have some air that.

Thank you.

Bree.

And that's what I think is the problem with this is that could stymie that.

>> The House passed the bill.

73 to 22.

A version of it has already passed the Senate.

That's all for day.

55 of the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly in regular session for information about legislative meetings.

Call 1, 806, 3, 3, 9, 6, 5, 0, You can also follow our gavel to gavel coverage throughout the day by downloading K E T S led a slate of coverage app to your smartphone or tablet.

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We hope to see you again tomorrow night right after comment on Kentucky at 8.30, Eastern 7.30, central time.

Thank you so very much for watching.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Have a great night.

>> And I'll see you tomorrow.