Final Reports of the Interim Joint, Special, and Statutory Committees Informational Bulletin No. 253 December 2017 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission SENATE HOUSE Robert Stivers David W. Osborne President, LRC Co-Chair Speaker Pro Tem Jimmy Higdon Jonathan Shell President Pro Tem Designate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer Rocky Adkins Majority Floor Leader Minority Floor Leader Ray S. Jones II David R. Meade Minority Floor Leader Majority Caucus Chair Dan “Malano” Seum Dennis Keene Majority Caucus Chair Minority Caucus Chair Dorsey Ridley Kevin Bratcher Minority Caucus Chair Majority Whip Mike Wilson Wilson Stone Majority Whip Minority Whip Dennis Parrett Minority Whip David A. Byerman, Director The Kentucky Legislative Research Commission is a 16-member committee comprised of the majority and minority leadership of the Kentucky Senate and House of Representatives. Under Chapter 7 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, the Commission constitutes the administrative office for the Kentucky General Assembly. Its director serves as chief administrative officer of the legislature when it is not in session. The Commission and its staff, by law and by practice, perform numerous fact-finding and service functions for members of the General Assembly. The Commission provides professional, clerical, and other employees required by legislators when the General Assembly is in session and during the interim period between sessions. These employees, in turn, assist committees and individual members in preparing legislation. Other services include conducting studies and investigations, organizing and staffing committee meetings and public hearings, maintaining official legislative records and other reference materials, furnishing information about the legislature to the public, compiling and publishing administrative regulations, administering a legislative intern program, conducting a presession orientation conference for legislators, and publishing a daily index of legislative activity during sessions of the General Assembly. The Commission also is responsible for statute revision; publication and distribution of the Acts and Journals following sessions of the General Assembly; and maintenance of furnishings, equipment, and supplies for the legislature. The Commission functions as Kentucky’s Commission on Interstate Cooperation in carrying out the program of the Council of State Governments as it relates to Kentucky. Final Reports of the Interim Joint, Special, and Statutory Committees 2017 Presented to the Legislative Research Commission and the 2018 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly Informational Bulletin No. 253 Legislative Research Commission Frankfort, Kentucky lrc.ky.gov December 2017 Paid for with state funds. Available in alternative form by request. Legislative Research Commission Foreword 2017 Final Committee Reports Foreword Colleagues and Constituents of the Kentucky General Assembly: 2017 was a time of change in the Kentucky General Assembly, with a new majority taking the gavel in the House and both chambers pursuing active legislative agendas. But, far from the ornate chambers of the Capitol, it is in the humble committee room where the nuts-and-bolts work of the legislative process takes place. It is in the committee process where citizen participation helps improve legislation. This important role extends to the interim between legislative sessions, when the interim joint committees, as well as special and statutory committees, meet to discuss and receive testimony on a number of important issues that may come before the General Assembly. These committees provide important continuity between sessions. During the 2017 Interim, 14 interim joint committees and nine statutory committees met to conduct business. The Legislative Research Commission publishes this informational bulletin as a summary of committee activity since adjournment of the 2017 General Assembly. The reports were prepared separately by the committee staff. Thank you for your interest in the business of the Kentucky General Assembly. The staff of the Legislative Research Commission stands ready to provide any assistance you may need. David Byerman Director Legislative Research Commission Frankfort, Kentucky December 2017 i Legislative Research Commission Contents 2017 Final Committee Reports Contents Reports of the 2017 Interim Joint Committees Agriculture .......................................................................................................................................1 Appropriations and Revenue............................................................................................................5 Banking and Insurance ...................................................................................................................21 Economic Development and Workforce Investment .....................................................................27 Education .......................................................................................................................................37 Health and Welfare and Family Services .......................................................................................45 Judiciary .........................................................................................................................................53 Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations .............................................................61 Local Government .........................................................................................................................79 Natural Resources and Energy .....................................................................................................101 State Government.........................................................................................................................107 Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology .............................................................125 Transportation ..............................................................................................................................143 Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection .......................................................................165 Reports of the Statutory Committees Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee ......................................................................177 Capital Planning Advisory Board ................................................................................................185 Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee ........................................................................191 Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee .............................................203 Government Contract Review Committee ...................................................................................205 Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee ............................................................................209 Program Review and Investigations Committee ..........................................................................215 Public Pension Oversight Board ..................................................................................................219 Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee ......................................................223 iii Legislative Research Commission Agriculture 2017 Final Committee Reports Report of the 2017 Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture Sen. Paul Hornback, Co-Chair Rep. Richard Heath, Co-Chair Sen. Jared Carpenter Rep. James Kay Sen. C.B. Embry Jr. Rep. Kim King Sen. David Givens Rep. Suzanne Miles Sen. Stan Humphries Rep. Sannie Overly Sen. Dennis Parrett Rep. Jason Petrie Sen. Dorsey Ridley Rep. Phillip Pratt Sen. Damon Thayer Rep. Rick Rand Sen. Robin Webb Rep. Brandon Reed Sen. Stephen West Rep. Rob Rothenburger Sen. Whitney Westerfield Rep. Steven Rudy Rep. Matt Castlen Rep. Dean Schamore Rep. Myron Dossett Rep. Wilson Stone Rep. Derrick Graham Rep. Walker Thomas Rep. David Hale Rep. James Tipton Rep. Mark Hart Rep. Tommy Turner Rep. Angie Hatton Rep. Susan Westrom LRC Staff: Stefan Kasacavage, Kelly Ludwig, Nathan Smith, and Susan Spoonamore Presented to the Legislative Research Commission and the 2018 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly 1 Agriculture Legislative Research Commission 2017 Final Committee Reports Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture Jurisdiction: Matters pertaining to crops, livestock, poultry, and their marketing; disease control; warehousing; tobacco; stockyards; agricultural cooperatives and marketing associations; agricultural weights and measures; veterinarians; the State Fair; and county fairs. Committee Activity The Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture held six meetings during the 2017 Interim. There were no subcommittees. Several committee meetings were held outside of Frankfort to visit sites engaged in agricultural operations. A variety of topics were discussed, and several agencies and organizations provided updates on projects and proposed legislative suggestions for the 2018 Regular Session. Renovation Projects at the Kentucky Exposition Center The committee visited several venues outside Frankfort, including the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. The president and CEO of Kentucky Venues testified about opportunities and obstacles facing the grounds and site facilities. Members toured the facilities to gain insight into the center’s fiscal needs and potential renovation