LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: February 24, 2006

 

by State Representative Addia Wuchner

House wraps up February with demanding schedule

Greetings from Frankfort! With the deadline for requesting new bills be drafted and the eighth week of session behind us, the State House of Representatives acted on a number of bills last week. In addition to House action, Governor Fletcher signed three more pieces of legislation from the 2006 General Assembly into law, despite being treated for a serious medical condition in a Lexington hospital.

In House Floor business, the House passed HB 402, legislation that recognizes the contribution that police and firefighters make to our communities. The bill authorizes pension boards in cities of the second and third class to pay a death benefit of up to $10,000 to the surviving spouses or families of police and firefighters. To provide funding for the death benefit, HB 402 permits these cities to purchase group life insurance to assist in the payment of such benefits.

The House Judiciary Committee acted this past week on one of the most awaited bills this session when they passed HB 3. The measure is an omnibus bill aimed at toughening Kentucky's laws against sex offenders. Committee members devoted over 10 hours to hearing detailed, expert testimony from 22 individuals regarding the bill and voted unanimously to send it to the floor for consideration.

I would like to give you an update on school funding and education legislation. During the session, I have filed HB 441’s growth district plan, HB 463 which addresses school funding. HB 451 concerning KEES scholarships, HB 352’s goal of decreasing remediation rates and HB 355, the Ready, Set Success program.

HB 411 was moved to Appropriations and Revenue to die. In an attempt to keep it alive, I have filed a committee substitute that would reduce the dollar for dollar match request to 35 cents to a dollar match. If passed, this would still provide Boone County the capacity to build our new elementary school.

HB 557, KEES Scholarship, passed into the education committee a week ago, but was assigned to Appropriations and Revenue to die. Since discussed this past Friday, I continue to remain hopeful that some of my legislation may be addressed in budget language. I have requested, since Boon County Schools actually fits no existing school facilitation category that a category of "excellerated or super growth districts" be classified for funding purposes.

I was a co sponsor of HB 236, which passed in the House on Friday. HB 236 restores the constitutional rights to our citizens and allows them to ensure the protection of their private property. HB 236 would allow a person to exercise defensible force when they hold reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily harm if someone unlawfully and forcibly enters their dwelling or residence.

If all works well, we will be voting on the House version of the budget by next Thursday.

Over the next few weeks I hope to continue to update you on our progress as the 2006 General Assembly continues its work. In the meantime, I hope you will never hesitate to contact me to voice your opinion on an issue or receive more information about any of the bills before us this session. I can be reached here at home anytime, or through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. If you have internet access you can e-mail me at addia.wuchner@lrc.ky.gov or keep track through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page:http://www.lrc.ky.gov.