>> Renee: A RAFT OF PANDEMIC RELATED MEASURES FROM SCHOOL REOPENINGS TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TO VACCINATION OPT-OU ADVANCE IN THE STATE LEGISLATUR AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNS A BILL GETTING KENTUCKY KIDS BACK IN CLASSROOMS BY MONTH'S END ON DA 23 OF THE 2021 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE" TONIGHT I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER AND WHEN KENTUCKY KIDS SHOULD RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM FOR FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION IS SETTLED AS STATE LAWMAKERS ENDORSED A PLAN TO GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL BY MARCH 29TH.

HOUSE EDUCATION CHAIR REGINA HUFF'S HOUSE BILL 208 REQUIRES SCHOOLS TO REOPEN FOR AT LEAST FOUR DAYS A WEEK WITH AT LEAST TWO DAYS OF IN-PERSON LEARNING, FASHIONED AFTER THE HYBRID MODEL MANY SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED.

ACCORDING TO THE KENTUCKY SCHOO BOARDS ASSOCIATION, ALL BUT NEARLY 40 OF KENTUCKY'S 171 SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE ANNOUNCED PLANS TO HOLD IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION FOUR OR FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR ALL STUDENTS BY THE EN OF THE MONTH.

JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS A PARTICULAR FOCUS OF HOUSE BILL 208.

>> AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS BILL.

THERE'S BEEN SOME NOISE WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE JUST TOTAL MISREPRESENTED THE BILL.

I'VE HAD THE BILL REVIEWED BY LRC, AND THIS BILL FULLY EXPECTS STUDENTS TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM FULL-TIME ACROSS THE BOARD NEXT YEAR.

IT SIMPLY ALLOWS FOR THE 40/80, 40/20, 40/80 HYBRID FOR STUDENTS AND FOR A PARTICULAR DISTRICT THAT I HAD IN MIND WHEN THEY HAD, THE UNION HAD VOTED NOT TO RETURN.

NOW LET ME BE CLEAR.

THERE WAS 42% OF THE STUDENTS OF THAT PARTICULAR DISTRICT THAT WANTED TO, AND YOU I'VE HEARD FROM LOTS OF TEACHERS IN THAT DISTRICT THAT WANTED TO RETURN, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE THE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN.

THIS ALLOWS THEM TO RETURN.

IT AM LOUSE THOSE STUDENTS TO HAVE FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITH TEACHERS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR, AND THAT IS A PRIORITY AND OF IMPORTANCE TO ME.

EVERYONE ELSE CAN RETURN OF FIVE DAYS A WEEK IF THEY PREFER.

IN FACT, 131 OF OUR 171 WILL BE IN-PERSON FOUR TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK BY THE DEADLINE MARCH 29th, AND THAT HAS -- WE STILL HAVE BOARDS THAT ARE MEETING TO RETURN TO THAT CAPACITY.

>> Renee: LOUISVILLE DEMOCRAT TINA BOJANOWSKI IS SUPPORTIVE O HOUSE BILL 208.

SHE STOOD, THOUGH, TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL'S REOPENING EFFORTS.

ACCUSATION AND INSINUATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS NO PLAN FOR REOPENING AND THAT THE DISTRICT HAD NO INTENTIONS OF OPENING THIS YEAR AT ALL.

BOTH ARE FALSE.

LAST FALL JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RELEASED A REOPENING PLAN AFTER TALK WITH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FAMILIES AND STAFF.

THIS COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT REOPENING HAS BEEN UPDATED AS NEW GUIDANCE HAS BEEN RELEASED.

THE PLAN DETAILS PROCESSES FOR EVERYTHING FROM CONTACT TRACING TO ADDRESSING SICK CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS TO SOCIAL DISTANCING.

TO STATE THAT THIS DISTRICT, SERVING ONE IN SEVEN KIDS IN KENTUCKY, HAS NO PLAN WHEN A PLAN HAS BEEN IN PLACE AND UPDATED REGULARLY SINCE LAST OCTOBER IS AN AFFRONT TO THE HARD WORK OF THE DISTRICT STAFF AND STAKEHOLDERS MAKING VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS >> Renee: oN A VOTE OF 81 TO 15 THE SENATE AMENDED BILL TO REOPEN KENTUCKY SCHOOLS TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION BY MARCH 29TH WAS APPROVED BY THE HOUSE.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEA ALREADY SIGNED THE BILL INTO LA KENTUCKIANS WORRIED THAT MAY 3 MAY HAVE TO PAY BACK JOBLESS BENEFITS FROM THE STATE MAY RES EASIER AS A LEGISLATIVE REMEDY IS NEARING FINAL APPROVAL.

SENATE PRESIDENT DAVID PRO TEM DAVID GIVENS HAS A PLAN TO PREVENT A CLAWBACK OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS CHECKS THAT WERE MAILED TO SOME KENTUCKIANS DUE TO PANDEMIC-RELATED ACTIONS BY GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S ADMINISTRATION.

SENATE BILL 7 APPLIES TO WORKERS, WHO CONCERNED ABOUT EXPOSURE TO THE CORONAVIRUS, LEFT THEIR JOBS, CLAIMED UNEMPLOYMENT AND WERE LATER ASKED TO REPAY, AS THE STATE REVERSED COURSE ON APPROVING THEIR ELIGIBILITY.

IT COVERS THE TIME FRAME FROM JANUARY 27 TO DECEMBER 31ST OF LAST YEAR.

GIVENS' BILL ALLOWS CLAIMANTS WHO RECEIVED UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE RECEIVED BY FAULT OF THE STATE, TO REQUEST AN EXEMPTION FROM RETURNING THE OVERPAYMENTS.

THE CABINET CAN FORGIVE THAT OVERPAYMENT UPON FINDING IT WASN'T A RESULT OF FRAUD.

MONROE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE BART ROWLAND SAYS HE ENCOUNTERED THE ISSUE WITH SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS IN HIS DISTRICT.

>> AND SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS WERE INSTRUCTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO FILE FOR THE PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT.

THE QUESTION EVEN ARISE SHOULD WE FILE FOR IT EVEN STARTING IN JUNE AND LATER WHEN SCHOOL TYPICALLY NOT BE IN SESSION, AND THEY WERE TOLD SPECIFICALLY BY THE ADMINISTRATION YES, APPLY FOR IT.

YOU'RE ELIGIBLE.

ONLY TO FIND OUT ABOUT AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER THAT THEY WANTED THAT MONEY BACK.

SO MY QUESTION IS, AND I THINK I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER BUT I WANT TO ASK IT ANYWAY, WHAT IF SOME OF THOSE FOLKS EXHAUSTED ALL THEIR OPTIONS AND WROTE THAT CHECK BACK?

WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE FOLKS?

>> REPRESENTATIVE ROLAND, GREAT QUESTION, AND THE BILL DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY MECHANISM FOR SOMEONE WHO PAID BACK A CLAIM THAT THEY HAD FILED IN GOOD FAITH AND THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN WAIVED UNDER THE PASSAGE OF THIS LANGUAGE.

IT DOES NOT PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR THEM TO RECOUP THOSE FUNDS, AND I'M NOT CLOSE-MINDED TO A WAY TO TRY TO DO THAT, BUT IT BECOMES A LIL LITTLE BIT ENTANGLING, BUT I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS.

>> I UNDERSTAND, AND I FELT THAT'S WHAT THE ANSWER WOULD BE.

I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT SCENARIO UP BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE THAT I HEARD MOST ABOUT.

>> Renee: THE BILL ALSO ESTABLISHES GUARDRAILS TO PREVENT FRAUD, ENSURES PRIVACY OF USER INFORMATION AND GIVES THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TOOL TO PROSECUTE FRAUDULENT ACTIVIT GIVENS SAYS HE'S REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM THE LABOR CABINET ABOUT THE NUMBER OF OVERPAYMENT CASES AND FRAUDULEN CLAIMS TO NO AVAIL.

THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE DATA LEAKS OR SECURITY BREACHES WITHIN THE UN INSURANCE SYSTEM THAT'S LENT TO THE VOLUME OF FRAUDULENT CLAIMS SENATOR GIVENS SAYS IT INDICATE A SYSTEM BREAKDOWN THAT IS FRIGHTENING TO EMPLOYERS.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LEAK OF DATA IN SOME FASHION.

THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND.

FOR FRAUDSTERS TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT I HAD AN EMPLOYEE THAT LEFT 15 YEARS AGO AND THEY'VE GOT THAT EMPLOYEE'S NAME AND THAT EMPLOYEE'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND THEY FILE THREE CLAIMS AGAINST OUR FARM STORE BUSINESS -- IN AN EMPLOYEES NAME THAT LEFT AT HAVE LET 15 YEARS AGO AND CURRENTLY DOING WELL AND EMPLOYED IN ANOTHER COMPANY, FOR THEM TO KNOW THAT INDICATES A LEVEL DATA LEAKAGE IN SOME FASHION THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

IT'S SUGGESTS.

>> Renee: SENATE BILL 7 WAS FORWARDED TO THE HOUSE FLOOR FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE THIS MORNING AND NOW WAITS FOR ACTION BY THE FULL HO IN RESPONSE TO SOME KENTUCKIANS CONCERNS THAT THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE A COVID VACCINE, WARREN COUNTY REPUBLICAN MIKE WILSON IS OFFERING UP SENATE BILL 8.

HE QUALIFIED HIS PITCH OF THE BILL IN COMMITTEE DECLARING THAT HE'S, QUOTE, NOT AN ANTISLACKSER AND CLARIFIED THAT HIS BILL DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS WHAT'S ALREADY IN LAW AND OPTING OUT CHILDREN FROM HEALTH REASONS FROM BEING IMMUNIZED OR BECAUSE OF PARENTS' RELIGIOUS REASONS.

>> THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE CHANGING IS THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EPIDEMIC OR A PANDEMIC WANTS IS THE CASE WITH OUR SITUATION RIGHT NOW, THE LAW CURRENTLY STATES THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, THEY COULD REQUIRE THIS IMMUNIZATION FOR ALL PEOPLE IN THAT AREA.

THERE IS NO OPTION FOR THEM TO OPT OUT& THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT.

SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES, IT CREATES AN OPTION FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO OPT OUT OF THOSE IMMUNIZATIONS IN THOSE SITUATIONS ONLY.

SO THIS WOULD ONLY APPLY TO A PANDEMIC OR AN EPIDEMIC THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OPT OUT FROM RECEIVING THAT, AND, OF COURSE, THE ONLY THING IT CHANGES IS THEY DO HAVE RELIGIOUS GROUNDS OR CONSCIENTIOUSLY HELD BELIEFS.

HOWEVER, THEY DO HAVE TO DO A SWORN STATEMENT WHEN THEY OPT OUT ON THIS EMERGENCY PANDEMIC SITUATION.

THAT FORM IS ALSO IN HERE, THAT THE CABINET HAS TO DEVELOP IT, PUT ON IT A WEBSITE, MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO DOWNLOAD, AND FILL OUT.

SO THAT WAY THE CABINET STILL HAS A MEANS OF TRACKING THOSE THAT HAVE OPTED OUT AS THEY ARE MONITORING THAT situation >> Renee: HOUSE HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIR KIM MOSER VOCALIZED HER SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND HER SUPPORT FOR VACCINES.

>> WHILE THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS NOT TO FORCE TREATMENT OR THE PREVENTION OF DISEASES ON INDIVIDUALS BUT TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF PROGRAMS WHICH ENCOURAGE AND IMPROVE GOOD HEALTH, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP.

IT IS THE ROLE OF OUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO EDUCATE AND INFORM CITIZENS ON BEST PRACTICES FOR MAINTAINING GOOD HEALTH.

IT IS THROUGH STRONG PUBLIC POLICY AND EDUCATION AND CIVIL DISCOURSE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BETTER WORK TOGETHER AND REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO PROTECT OUR LOVED ONES AND EACH OTHER.

I THINK THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT FACTOR WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS BILL.

WHILE WE ARE HERE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, WE SHOULD PROBABLY LETTERS THE DISEASES AND THE COMORBIDITIES WHICH HAVE LED TO SOME OF KENTUCKY'S MOST SUSCEPTIBLE POPULATIONS AND THOSE SUCCUMBING TO COVID.

OUR COMORBIDITIES IN THE STATE ARE HIGH AND WE NEED TO THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE OUR HEALTH ASK THE HEALTH OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS, OUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND THOSE WE HAVE YET TO MEET.

WE HAVE PROVEN WAYS TO PROTECT OURSELVES EVER OURSELVES, AND THAT IS THROUGH LIFE-SAVING VACCINATION.

>> Renee: SENATOR WILSON SHARE THAT GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR HAS NOT INDICATED PLANS TO MAKE COVID VACCINATIONS MANDATORY, AND NO ONE IS CURRENTLY BEING FORCED TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

LOUISVILLE DEMOCRAT LISA WILNER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VACCINE FEARS AND WITH CASES ON DECLINE SHE WONDERS IF UTAH PROVISIONS WILL STALL RECOVERY FROM THE pa SENATOR WILSON SAID HIS MEASURE JUST SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES ARE PROTECTED FOR THOSE WHO REFUSE .

A HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDED SENATE BILL 8 ADVANCED TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AND WAITS FOR PLACEMENT O THE CHAMBER VOTING DOCKET.

A BILL CREATING NEW PENALTIES FOR RIOTING CLEARED A SENATE COMMITTEE THIS MORNING.

BUT CRITICS WORRY THAT THE BILL CRIMINALIZES FREE SPEECH.

FORMER POLICE OFFICER DANNY CARROLL IS THE SPONSOR OF SENATE BILL 211 THAT HE SAYS ISN'T ABOUT LAWFUL PROTESTS OR RACIAL ACTIVISM, BU CONSEQUENCES FOR CROSSING THE LINE FROM PEACEFUL PROTEST TO UNLAWFUL RIOTING THAT HE SAYS IS A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND OFFICERS' LIVES.

>> THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON LAWFUL PROTEST AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR CITIZENS' RIGHTS TO DO SO.

WHAT THIS DEALS WITH ARE THOSE WHO CROSS THE LINE AND COMMIT CRIMINAL ACTS.

WE SAW THIS IN MANY CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY DURING THE SUMMER.

WE SAW IN IT LOUISVILLE.

WE SAW IT AT OUR CAPITOL IN WASHINGTON, DC.

WE FEARED A RIOT AT THIS VERY GROUNDS SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND AS RECENT AS TWO DAYS AGO AB INCIDENT OCCURRED THAT VERGED ON RIOT.

I HAPPENED TO GET CAUGHT IN THAT INCIDENT WHERE THERE WERE STREETS BEING BLOCKED BY PROTESTORS WHO WERE BECOMING LOUD.

THEY WERE APPROACHING CARS.

IT DIDN'T GO THAT FAR, BUT IT WAS CLOSE.

SO I THINK THERE'S ABSOLUTELY A NEED FOR THIS.

THE NEED CROSSES POLITICAL LINES.

IT CROSSES RACIAL LINES.

IT'S NOT AIMED AT ANYONE ANY ONE PARTICULAR SEGMENT OF THIS COMMONWEALTH OF ANY COMMUNITY.

IT'S TO PROTECT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

IT'S TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

IT'S TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY.

AND THAT'S BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

THIS BILL PUTS PENALTIES THAT ARE HARSH ENOUGH TO DETERT RIOT-BASED CRIMES IT.

PROVIDES CONSEQUENCES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE GROSSLY NEGLIGENT.

AND IT DISCOURAGES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM CONSIDERATION OF DEFUNDING THEIR AGENCIES.

>> Renee: A PREVIOUS VERSION OF THE BILL HAD CALLED FOR MANDATORY MINIMUMS, CONTAINED CAMPING PROVISION THAT COULD HAVE IMPACTED THE HOMELESS AND WOULD HAVE BANNED SOMEONE FROM PUBLIC BE ASSISTANCE BENEFITS IF CONVICTED OF RIOT 36 BASED CRIMES, BUT AMID OBJECTIONS THE SPONSOR AGREED TO CONCESSIONS THAT REMOVED THOSE CONTROVERSIAL TENANTS FROM THE THE bill RYAN STRAW WITH THE KENTUCKY STATE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE REINFORCED THE INTENT OF THE BI.

>> WE KNOW THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE SWORN TO SERVE AND PROTECT UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE AND STRESS.

THEY PERFORM TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES THIS SUMMER.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE KNOW THE RIOTS DO NOT JUST INCLUDE MEMBERS OF GROUPS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT MAY BE DISCONNECTED FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT WERE SOME LOOKING TO CAUSE AN ARCKY AND LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO LOCK AT STRONGLY, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL SPECIFICALLY DOES.

MANY CITIES AROUND OUR COMMONWEALTH AND OUR COUNTRY AND EVEN OUR WORLD SAW SOME SORT OF PROTEST AND RIOTS, THE RACIAL -- DUE TO RACIAL INEQUALITY, POVERTIES, AND OPPORTUNITIES.

SENATOR CARROLL'S SENATE BILL 211 ENSURES WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT FIRST RESPONDERS BUT ALSO OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE DESTRUCTION OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROPERTY IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO GO ABOUT PROVING A POINT.

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN NOT ALLOWING THEIR DIFFERENT AGENCIES TO CORRECT REACTS THAT I WAY THAT OFFERS PROTECTIONS TO ITS CITIZENS, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE NEED SOME TIME TYPE OF CHANGE.

THIS BILL DOES OFFER MANY, IF NOT YOU'LL THE REFORM NECESSARY TO DETER THESE TYPES OF RIOT CRIMES.

>> Renee: DAVID YATES, A LOUISVILLE DEMOCRAT AND FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, SAID IT'S PARAMOUNT THAT BONDS OF TRUST B RESTORED BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMEN AND THE COMMUNITIES WITH WHICH THERE'S BEEN CONFLICT.

IN VOTING AGAINST THE MEASURE, HE FEARS IT TRAMPLES ON CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS OF FREE SPEECH.

HE SAID THE TENSIONS IN LOUISVILLE RESULTED MISMANAGEMENT BY LOCAL OFFICIAL HE TOOK ISSUE WITH A PROVISION THAT THE SPONSOR ADMITTED WAS IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO RESIDENTS IN YATE'S HOMETOWN OF LOUISVILLE LAST YEAR.

>> I'M LOOKING AT A COUPLE PROVISIONS AS FAST AS I CAN READ THROUGH TIN CORRECT COPY BECAUSE I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE CORRECT COPY.

THERE'S A SECTION ON THERE THAT SAYS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE IT A CRIME BECAUSE THE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT RIGHT NOW ARE A CRIME.

RIGHT?

ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL CONDUCT CAN BE PUNISH PANEL BUT WE WANT TO SAY IF YOU INSULT OR TAUNT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR PROVOKE A VALID RESPONSE FROM A EVANGELICAL PERSON.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH GOOD OFFICERS THAT YOUR WORDS NOT GOING TO TAUNT A RESPONSE.

AND I THINK CODIFYING THAT IS DANGEROUS AND IT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE, AND I THINK ALL OF MY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THE GOOD COPS, WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK US HAVING LANGUAGE LIKE THAT IN HERE, IT MAKES MY STOMACH TURN.

>> Renee: SENATOR DANNY CARROLL'S RIOT-BASED CRIMES BIL ADVANCED FROM THE PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE 7 TO 3 AND IS EXPECTED TO UNDERGO FLOOR REVISIONS WHEN IT'S TAKEN UP BY THE FULL SENATE MEMBERSHIP.

AN EFFORT TO RAISE THE THRESHOLD FOR FELONY THEFT AND FRAUD IS GAINING MOMENTUM.

A HOUSE BILL AIMS TO RAISE THE THRESHOLD FROM THE CURRENT LEVEL OF $500 TO $1 MULTIPLE OFFENSES OCCURRING WITHIN 90 DAYS OF EACH OTHER CA BE COMBINED AND TREATED AS A SINGLE OFFENSE.

PROPERTY THEFTS TOTALING BETWEEN $500 AND $1,000 WOULD NOW BE A CLASS A MISDEMEA REPRESENTATIVE C. ED MASSEY RESPONDED TO SOME CRITICISM OF HIS BILL.

>> SOME PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED THAT THIS WOULD OPEN UP PEOPLE THAT WOULD CREATE MORE CRIME, BUT CANDIDLY THEY CAN BE HELD AS ACCOUNTABLE IF NOT MORE ACCOUNTABLE UNDER THIS PROVISION BECAUSE THEY CAN STILL SERVE UP TO A YEAR IN JAIL FOR A MISDEMEANOR.

IF THEY GO TO FELONY NOW, WHAT HAPPENS WITH FELONIES NOW IS A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE STILL RESOLVED AS A MISDEMEANOR.

THEY WIND UP GETTING DIVERTED OR GET PROBATED TIME.

>> Renee: A CORRECTIONS IMPACT STATEMENT ATTACHED TO HOUSE BIL 126 SAYS IT COULD SAVE THE STAT UP TO $4 MILLION PER YEAR.

FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND UNION SENATOR JOHN SCHICKEL SAYS HE HAS ISSUES WITH THE LEGISLATION BUT VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT.

>> THIS IS A HUGE DEAL.

WE ARE GIVING A 50% INCREASE TO THE FELONY THRESHOLD FOR THEFT TO PEOPLE, WHICH I SUPPORT BECAUSE IT IS TIME.

IT'S BEEN MANY YEARS.

BUT LET'S REMEMBER, WE ARE NOT GIVING OUR RETIREES ANY RAISE AT ALL.

OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE RETIRED GET NO COST OF LIVING RAISE.

OTHERS ARE GETTING NO COST OF LIVING RAISE.

PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING ARE GETTING NO COST OF LIVING RAISE.

BUT WE'RE INCREASING THE FELONY THRESHOLD BY 50% TO PEOPLE.

>> Renee: HOUSE BILL 126, THE MEASURE THAT WOULD INCREASE THE THRESHOLD OF FELONY THEFT IN KENTUCKY, PASSED THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY 9 TO 0.

KENTUCKY COULD BAN THE PENALTY FOR PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.

HOUSE BILL 148 STATES PEOPLE WITH A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF SCHIZOPHRENIA, SCHIZ DISORDER, BIPOLAR DISORDER, MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER AND DELUSIONAL DISORDER AT THE TIME OF OFFENSE WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBL FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.

THE MEASURE ALSO STATES THE MENTAL ILLNESS MAY NOT BE ATTRIBUTABLE SOLELY TO THE VOLUNTARY USE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.

HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP CHAD MCCOY CALLS THE MEASURE, "NARROWLY TAILORED."

>> IF AT THE TIME OF COMMITTING AN OFFENSE A DEFENDANT HAS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF ONE OF FIVE MENTAL ILLNESSES THEY CAN BE CATEGORIZED AS A DEFENDANT WITH A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, THUS MAKING THEM INELIGIBLE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.

JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, FOUR OF THE FIVE ARE PSYCHOTIC ELEMENTS THAT ARE LISTED, AND I'VE GOT TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO TALK WITH ME BUT I'M GOING SPEAK BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE IN A PURPOSE THEY CAN HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS.

AND THE LAST ONE IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF DISORDER THAT THERE COULD BE.

SO THIS IS NOT, DESPITE ALL THE RHETORIC THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING, GOING TO DO AWAY WITH THE DEATH PENALTY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT IS A VERY, VERY NARROW BILL.

>> Renee: THERE ARE CURRENTLY INMATES ON DEATH ROW IN KENTUCKY, BUT KENTUCKY HAS NOT HAD AN EXECUTION IN 13 YEARS.

A MOTION ALLEGING A DEFENDANT HAS A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE RULED ON 90 DAYS BEFORE A TRIAL.

COMMONWEALTH'S CHRISTOPHER COHRON SAYS THE MEASURE IS NOT NARROWLY TAILORED, AS MCCOY CLAIMS, AND HAS A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH THE.

>> THERE'S SOME ISSUES WE BELIEVE THAT WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH THIS BILL.

FIRST, IN REGARDS TO SECTION 3A, THE TERM "DOCUMENTED HISTORY" RESPECTFULLY IN REGARDS TO THE DRAFTSMANSHIP IN THIS, THAT PHRASE "DOCUMENTED HISTORY" IS A POINT THAT WILL CAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF LITIGATION.

DOCUMENTED BY WHO?

AND BY WHO WITH WHAT QUALIFICATIONS?

WE SEE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT IN REGARDS TO PRETRIAL INVESTIGATION BOTH ON THE DEFENSE AND PROSECUTORIAL SIDE, AND HAVING THAT LOOSE A TERM IS CONCERNING.

MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH THE DISORDERS LISTED, WHEN PROPERLY TREATED AND MEDICATED AT THE TIME, GO ON TO LIVE PRODUCTIVE LIVES.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE ARE SOMEWHAT A QUASI-MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM SO-SO WE HAVE TO USE THAT MANY TIMES.

SO UNDER THE WAY IT IS CURRENTLY DRAFTED RIGHT NOW, YOU MAY HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY AT A YOUNG AGE WHO HAS BEEN COMPLIANT WITH MEDICATION AND TREATMENT, AND WHEN THEY -- DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT AT THE TIME THAT THEY COMMITTED THE OFFENSE THAT THEY WERE IN AN EPISODE OF ONE OF THESE DISORDERS.

>> Renee: SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS RAISED SOME SIMILAR CONCERNS TO COHRON WHEN DISCUSSING HOW THE BILL WOULD APPLY TO PEOPLE WITH A DOCUMENTED SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS BUT NOT SUFFERING FROM THE ILLNESS WHEN THE OFFENSE OC.

>> AND IT IS ALSO THE SAME WITH A DEPRESSIVE DISORDER.

YOU MAY BE UNDER AT POINTS IN TIME STATES OF DEPRESSION, BUT AT THE TIME THE OFFENSE IS COMMITTED YOU ARE NOT.

IN FACT, YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AS BEING IN A STATE OF DEPRESSION BUT HAVE THAT CONTINUALLY OR INTERMITTENTLY, BUT IF YOU CAN SHOW SOME TYPE OF DOCUMENTED HISTORY, NOT NECESSARILY DIAGNOSED HISTORY, THAT THEN RAISES THIS QUESTION.

>> Renee: HOUSE BILL 148 PASSE THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON A NARROW VOTE, AFTER BENTON SENATOR DANNY CARROLL CHANGED HIS NO VOTE TO A YES.

CARROLL SAYS HE BELIEVES THE MEASURE SHOULD BE DISCUSSED BY THE FULL SENATE BODY.

FINALLY TONIGHT AS WE LEAVE YOU, WE'VE BEEN INTRODUCING YOU FROM TIME TO TIME TO SOME OF THE NEW FACES IN THE HOUSE AND Senate AS PART OF OUR FRESHMAN PROFILES SERIES, YOU'LL GET TO KNOW THE BACKGROUNDS OF THE NEW LEGISLATORS, WHAT PROMPTED THEM TO SEEK ELECTED OFFICE ,AND WHA THEY HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WHILE THEY'RE HERE THIS SESSION.

TONIGHT'S FEATURED LAWMAKER, SENATOR KAREN BERG.

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN KENTUCKY, EDUCATED HERE.

I WENT TO UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY UNDERGRADUATE, POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR, DOUBLE MINOR IN PSYCHOLOGIC AND SOCIOLOGY.

I WAS PRELAW, PREPARED TO GO AND MICHAEL FOR LEGAL AIDE AND EVENTUALLY RUN FOR OFFICE AND TRIED TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, AND I WENT BACK, I TOOK ALL THE PREREQUISITES FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL IN ONE YEAR, APPLIED TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL.

I HAVE LOVED, LOVED PRACTICING MEDICINE.

I PRACTICE MEDICINE NOW FOR I THINK 33 YEARS.

AND IT WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO I REALIZED THAT I WAS AT THE POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I COULD GO BACK AND VIEW WHAT IT WAS THAT I HAD WANTED TO DO FROM THE BEGINNING.

WHAT I AM DOING RIGHT NOW, I AM LISTENING, I AM LEARNING, I AM STUDYING THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING BROUGHT FORWARD, TALKING TO PEOPLE, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE GOOD, WHAT'S THE BAD, IS THIS -- WHAT'S THE MOTIVATION, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS BEHIND THIS AND WHY ARE WE MOVING TOWARDS THIS.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN, LIKE IF I HAD MY OWN WORLD, WHAT WE WOULD DO WHEN WE GET UP HERE, WE WOULD PUT ASIDE THE FACT THAT WE'RE DEMOCRATS, PUT ASIDE THE FACT THAT THE WE'RE REPUBLICANS, GET TOGETHER ALL THE KENTUCKIANS, ALL THE ADVOCATES FOR THIS STATE AND WHAT THIS STATE NEEDS.

YOU CAN'T MAKE A PRODUCTIVE LIFE FOR YOURSELF IF YOU DON'T HAVE BASIC HOUSING AND FOOD AND HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION AND JOBS, AND I GUESS THAT'S REALLY WHERE I AM.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, I MEAN EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS, IS JUST A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE.

SO WE'RE IN THE EARLY '90S FOR ME TO GET A PENETRATING INJURY, IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, AND THEN WHEN I WAS RUNNING BACK IN 20, THE STATISTICS WERE ON AVERAGE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE GOT ONE GUNSHOT WOUND A DAY.

I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY CHECKED THE NUMBERS, BUT I AM SURE THAT WE ARE ON AVERAGE AT LEAST UP TO THREE A DAY.

WE'RE GETTING CASH THE UNIVERSITY WE'RE GETTING 14, 14, 16-YEAR-OLDS ALMOST DAILY NOW, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY GETTING ACCESS TO THESE GUNS AND HOW DO WE STOP MINOR CHILDREN FROM GETTING AHOLD OF GUNS.

EQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE IS A BASIC STANDARD THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THIS IN COUNTRY.

THERE'S SOCIETAL ISSUES THAT YOU GET TO SEE IN PART WHEN YOU'RE PRACTICING MEDICINE, BUT YOU DON'T GET TO IMPACT THEM.

DRUG ABUSE, WHICH IS SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO.

VIOLENT CRIME.

IT WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO I JUST DECIDED, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF GOODWILL, PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY JUST NEED TO STAND UP, NEED TRIPLE CROWN FOR OFFICE, NEED TO GET ELECTED, AND NEED TO START SITTING AT THE TABLE WHEN THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE HAPPENINGS HAPPENING.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR >> Renee: YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE PROFILES OF SOME OF THE OTHER FRESHMAN LAWMAKERS ON THE KET YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

THAT'S ALL FOR DAY 23 COVERAGE OF THE 2021 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN REGULAR SESSION.

FOR INFORMATIO LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS, CALL 1-80 YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW OUR GAVEL-TO-GAVEL COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE DAY BY DOWNLOADING KET'S LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE APP TO YOUR SMART PHON OR TABLET.

YOU CAN WATCH ON OUR CHANNEL OR FOLLOW ALONG ONLINE AT KET.ORG.

AND YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER TO GET UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT RIGHT AFTER COMMENT ON KENTUCKY AT 8:30 EASTERN, 7:30 CENTRAL TIME ON "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE."

FOR KET, I'M RENEE SHAW.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

AND I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.