FRANKFORT, KY (February 7, 2022) – Day 23 of the 2022 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly, originally scheduled to occur on Friday, February 4, was postponed because of winter weather sweeping across the Commonwealth late last week. The Senate convened today, receiving overdue news of enactment of Senate Bill (SB) 100 into law and passing legislation aiming to help Kentucky farmers, strengthen investigations of child deaths or near deaths, provide better health outcomes for newborns and more.
Before voting on numerous legislative measures, Senate Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams (R-Louisville) rose to speak on the Senate floor, expressing concern about Governor Andy Beshear’s inaction on SB 100. The bill extends provisions of SB 2 from this past summer’s special session, which allows residents of assisted-living facilities, long-term care facilities and mental hospitals access to loved ones as compassionate caregivers. The Kentucky General Assembly unanimously moved SB 100 to the governor’s desk on January 31, the date the provision was set to expire. SB 100 was passed 35-0 in the Senate and 94-0 in the state House of Representatives.
“While this bill sat on the governor’s desk for eight days, it was unclear if residents of these facilities had a loved one by their bedside; some perhaps in the waning hours of their life,” Adams said. “The entire purpose of passing the bill was to ensure we were continuing to provide them dignity and consider their holistic well-being. I am happy it was finally signed into law.”
Senate bills passed today and now one step closer to the governor’s desk included:
SB 97, sponsored by retired law enforcement officer Sen. Danny Carroll (R-Benson), provides more effective means of investigating and gathering evidence in cases involving child fatalities or near fatalities. Among other provisions, it allows law enforcement to request a blood, breath or urine testing of the person supervising a child in cases of fatality or near fatality if they believe the supervising adult is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the adult refuses and probable cause exists, testing would require a warrant. Additionally, the bill does some restructuring to strengthen legislative oversight and input. It requires coroners to make more timely reports to law enforcement, the health department and the Department of Community-Based Services regarding deaths involving children ages 18 and younger.
Carroll serves as co-chair of the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee. That committee heard testimony last October from the Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel– an independent panel charged with conducting comprehensive reviews of child fatalities and near fatalities reported to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services suspected to be a result of abuse or neglect.
“The work of the committee over the interim period allowed an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation about some of our shortcomings,” Carroll said. “I’m grateful for the collaboration of stakeholders and my colleagues and trust this strengthening of state law will deliver better outcomes for our children.”
SB 105, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise (R-Campbellsville), increases awareness of and improves treatment for newborns with cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus related to chickenpox and mononucleosis. CMV can cause long-term health problems; hearing loss is most common in babies born with congenital CMV. The bill provides for CMV testing when risk factors are present and requires the Department for Public Health to provide educational resources and information to pregnant women and women who may become pregnant.
“The sooner we can get families a diagnosis, the better outcomes we can bring to those affected by CMV,” Wise said. “I am grateful for the support of SB 105 and for being joined in Frankfort by individuals and families familiar with the impacts of CMV.”
SB 53, sponsored by Sen. Paul Hornback (R-Shelbyville), assists farmers who may not be able to afford to purchase certain types of farm equipment by authorizing a Soil and Water Conservation District to lease heavy or specialized equipment to residents in the district.
“As a Kentucky farmer, I’m uniquely familiar with the challenges farmers are facing. The cost of equipment and repairs threaten our small local farmers, and this bill makes it more affordable,” Hornback said.
The bill authorizes the continuation of a successful program that has helped Kentucky farmers since 1948. SB 112, sponsored by Sen. Wil Schroder (R-Wilder), specifies interlocal agreements amended solely to add or remove parties to the agreement are not required to be submitted to the Secretary of State to become effective. The bill simplifies local governments’ efforts to work together for mutual benefit.
Senate Resolution 41, sponsored by Sen. Phillip Wheeler (R-Pikeville), confirms the appointment of John Barry Coleman as an administrative law judge in the Department of Workers’ Claims. The department has exclusive jurisdiction over workers’ compensation claims.
These bills now qualify for consideration by the state House of Representatives.
