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KACP LEGISLATIVE ALERT; WEEKLY REPORT FOR WEEK ENDING JAN. 17 The second week of the 2020 Kentucky General Assembly has ended, and this is the first of the weekly legislative reports that will be sent to KACP members. The report will include the major news of the week, status of bills KACP is supporting, opposing or remaining neutral, upcoming events and news and more. It will be emailed to members every week during the session. As always, questions, suggestions, comments or concerns can be directed to Executive Director Shawn Butler, who can be reached at 859-743-2920 or [email protected] or KACP lobbyist Patrick Crowley, who can be reached at 859-462-4245 or [email protected] You can find information about the session on the website of the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Commonly known as LRC, it is the administrative arm of the General Assembly. Bills, legislative calendars, information on legislators include emails and phone numbers and much more can be found on the website. It you have questions about the website or if you are having difficulty finding information, please let us know. This year’s session is a so-called long session, lasting until mid-April. It is also a budget session, meaning legislators will debate and pass a two-year spending plan. As the session gets going, here are some key dates to remember: Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – legislators not in session Jan. 28: Gov. Beshear delivers his budget and gives an evening budget address to a joint session – House and Senate – of the Kentucky General Assembly Feb. 12: KACP Executive and General Membership Meeting, Frankfort Feb. 17: Presidents’ Day – legislators not in session Feb. 21: Last day for bill requests March 2: Last day for new House bills March 3: Last day for new Senate bills April 2: Governor has 10 days to veto bills April 14-15: Legislators meet to consider overriding vetoes, vote on bills April 15: 60th and final day of the session. NEWS State of the Commonwealth: The big news of the week was the first State of the Commonwealth Address delivered by newly elected Gov. Andy Beshear. You can read a transcript here. The speech was long on calling for unity and a move away from partisan politics, which was to be expected since Gov. Beshear is a Democrat and both the House and Senate and controlled by Republicans. It was also short on specifics, which again is typical. But the governor did make some comments of concern to the KACP. Gov. Beshear said he is committed to “keeping our promise and fully funding our pension obligations in (the) budget, keeping our promise to not just our teachers, but to all public servants.” He also spoke about pursuing criminal justice reform in the session with an emphasis on reducing the prison population; decreasing recidivism and the revocation of probation and parole; addressing racial bias and racism in our justice system; and providing “meaningful” addiction treatment and recovery services. But again, no specifics. Special election: In a Tuesday special Senate election, Republican Mike Nemes – a former state rep and the father of current Rep. Jason Nemes – easily won over Democrat Andrew Bailey. The 38th Senate District covers portions of Jefferson and Bullitt counties. ISSUES CONCERNING KACP KLEFPF: When Gov. Beshear delivers his budget to the legislature in less than two weeks, we will be watching for a proposal to take up to $3 million in KLEFPF for the construction of new training facilities in Richmond. We will also be watching to see if there is an increase in KLEEPF funds for individual officers included in the budget. We will advise if these provisions are included in the budget. Remember, the governor’s budget is the administration’s spending plan. The bill will still be heavily debated, vetted and changed by the General Assembly over the next three months. Asset forfeiture: Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, plans to file a bill related to asset forfeiture with an emphasis on reporting. She has been working with the lobbyist for Americans For Prosperity, which is a pollical arm of the Koch Brothers empire. KACP – along with the KY Sheriff’s Association, the Commonwealth Attorneys and others - has been working with Rep. Maddox on the bill’s language. Currently, KACP does have concerns about the reporting requirements being suggested by Rep. Maddox; those concerns have been shared with her. We will report when a bill has been filed. Last year, Rep. Maddox filed a similar bill that would eliminate KLEFPF stipends for officers in departments that did not comply or meet reporting deadlines and requirements. KACP convinced her that was unfair to rank and file law enforcement. She removed that provision, then ultimately dropped her bill. The KLEFPF penalty will not be included in the bill she is currently drafting. Medical marijuana: We met with Rep. Nemes during the interim and he did make some changes based on our suggestions. This bill is coming back and has a chance at passing both chambers. The bill has always had strong support in the House. But now it appears the Senate may also be on board. Senate President Robert Stivers indicated earlier this week that the bill may have a path in the Senate. Rep. Nemes will continue to seek our support. Red Flag: Sens. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, and Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville, plan to file bipartisan legislation creating a Red Flag law. We have also been asked to meet with a group promoting Red Flag. We will report when a bill has been filed. Temporary Caskets: Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, plans to file legislation that would ensure that the remains of a fallen first responder – including law enforcement – killed in the line of duty are returned to their family in a casket draped with an American flag. This bill grew out of an unfortunate circumstance when a fallen Pikeville officer was returned to his family on a gurney. KACP will be strongly supporting and promoting passage. Vehicle pursuits: Rep. Jerry Tipton, R-Topkinsville, is drafting a bill regarding vehicle pursuits by law enforcement. From what we understand, this bill will require departments to have a written policy on pursuits. We will notify members when it is filed. LEIGISLATION As of Friday morning, 382 bills have been filed: 285 in the House, 97 in the Senate. Here are bills we are tracking. The count will be well over 1,000 by the bill filing deadline HOUSE HB10: Officer involved shooting Sponsored by Rep. Attica Scott, D-Louisville. Establish an Officer Shooting Review Board to investigate any shooting of an individual by a law enforcement officer or any deadly incident involving law enforcement. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee. Oppose HB 51: Immigration, sanctuary cities 20 co-sponsors led by Rep. Lynn Bechler, R-Marion. Would require local law enforcement and KSP to enforce immigration laws and, among other provisions, prohibit local governments from adopting sanctuary policies. Assigned to House Local Government. Under consideration HB 76: Keeping firearms from domestic violence offenders Sponsored by Rep. Nima Kulkarni. The bill would require people who are subject of protective orders or convicted of certain domestic violence crimes from possessing a firearm. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee. Under consideration. HB89: Hazardous duty employment cleanup bill Sponsored by Rep. Jerry Tipton, R-Taylorsville. The bill stipulates that a regular full-time hazardous duty officer participating in KERS or CERS and is also employed in a nonhazardous position that is not considered full-time will participate in the retirement system solely as a hazardous duty member. Passed out of committee; awaiting action on the House floor. Support HB136: Medical marijuana Sponsored by Rep. Nemes. This bill has nearly enough co-sponsors – including Speaker of the House David Osborne – for the 51 votes needed to pass, so this legislation is going to the Senate. We encourage to read the bill; at the very minimum, read the summary page. It lays out what this bill does and does not allow. One important component that KACP was among those pushing for – no smoking allowed. Oils and inhalers for those with breathing ailments, but smoking medical marijuana is prohibited. The Richmond Register has just published a Q&A with Rep. Nemes that will answer some questions. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee. Oppose but could change to neutral HB137: Sports wagering. Sponsored by Rep. Adam Koenig, R-Erlanger, would legalize sports betting and regulate online poker and fantasy sports operations in Kentucky. Unanimously passed House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee. Awaiting action on House floor. Under consideration. HB219: Body Cam Sponsored by Rep. Reggie Meeks, R-Louisville. Bill would make it a class D felony for a law enforcement officer operating a body cam preventing the creation of evidence with the intent to obstruct justice. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee. Oppose HB221: Marijuana decriminalization Sponsored by Rep. Charles Booker, D-Louisville. This bill has virtually no chance of passing or even being heard in committee. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee. Oppose HB 250: House version of the asset forfeiture bill. Sponsored by Rep. Reggie Meeks, D-Louisville. Has not been assigned to committee. Not expected to move. Oppose HB240: Expand KLEC Sponsored by Rep. Rob Rothenburger, R-Shelbyville. Would add the president of the KY Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and the president of the KY Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association to the Ky Law Enforcement Council. Assigned to Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee. Under consideration HB 253: Fatal traffic accident investigations Sponsored by Rep.
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