Final Reports of the Interim Joint, Special, and Statutory Committees 2014
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Final Reports Of The Interim Joint, Special, And Statutory Committees 2014 Informational Bulletin No. 246 Legislative Research Commission Frankfort, Kentucky December 2014 Final Reports of the Interim Joint, Special, and Statutory Committees 2014 Presented to the Legislative Research Commission and the 2015 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly Informational Bulletin No. 246 Legislative Research Commission Frankfort, Kentucky lrc.ky.gov December 2014 Paid for with state funds. Available in alternative format by request. Legislative Research Commission Foreword 2014 Final Committee Reports Foreword Sections 36 and 42 of the Kentucky Constitution provide that the General Assembly shall meet on the “first Tuesday after the first Monday in January” for 60 legislative days in even- numbered years, and for 30 legislative days, including up to 10 days for an organizational component, in odd-numbered years. Between legislative sessions, the interim joint committees of the Legislative Research Commission (LRC), as well as special and statutory committees, meet to discuss and receive testimony on a number of important issues that may confront the General Assembly. During the 2014 Interim, all 15 interim joint committees held meetings. Eight of the 10 statutory committees met during the 2014 Interim. There were no special committees in 2014. LRC provides this informational booklet as a summary of the activity of the interim joint, special, and statutory committees since adjournment of the 2014 General Assembly. The reports were prepared separately by the committee staff. Marcia Seiler Acting Director Legislative Research Commission Frankfort, Kentucky December 2014 i Legislative Research Commission Contents 2014 Final Committee Reports Contents Reports of the 2014 Interim Joint Committees Agriculture .......................................................................................................................................1 Appropriations and Revenue............................................................................................................7 Banking and Insurance ...................................................................................................................21 Economic Development and Tourism ...........................................................................................25 Education .......................................................................................................................................39 Energy ............................................................................................................................................53 Health and Welfare ........................................................................................................................61 Judiciary .........................................................................................................................................69 Labor and Industry .........................................................................................................................77 Licensing and Occupations ............................................................................................................83 Local Government .........................................................................................................................97 Natural Resources and Environment ...........................................................................................109 State Government.........................................................................................................................113 Transportation ..............................................................................................................................131 Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection .......................................................................153 Reports of the 2014 Statutory Committees Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee ......................................................................163 Capital Planning Advisory Board ................................................................................................167 Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee ........................................................................171 Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee .............................................183 Government Contract Review Committee ...................................................................................187 Program Review and Investigations Committee ..........................................................................191 Public Pension Oversight Board ..................................................................................................195 Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee ......................................................211 iii Legislative Research Commission Agriculture 2014 Final Committee Reports Report of the 2014 Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture Sen. Paul Hornback, Co-Chair Rep. Tom McKee, Co-Chair Sen. Walter Blevins Rep. Richard Henderson Sen. Carroll Gibson Rep. James Kay Sen. David Givens Rep. Kim King Sen. Sara Beth Gregory Rep. Martha Jane King Sen. Stan Humphries Rep. Michael Meredith Sen. Dennis Parrett Rep. Suzanne Miles Sen. Dorsey Ridley Rep. Terry Mills Sen. Damon Thayer Rep. David Osborne Sen. Robin Webb Rep. Sannie Overly Sen. Whitney Westerfield Rep. Ryan Quarles Rep. Lynn Bechler Rep. Tom Riner Rep. Johnny Bell Rep. Bart Rowland Rep. Will Coursey Rep. Steven Rudy Rep. Jim DeCesare Rep. Jonathan Shell Rep. Mike Denham Rep. John Short Rep. Myron Dossett Rep. Rita Smart Rep. Jim Glenn Rep. Wilson Stone Rep. Derrick Graham Rep. Tommy Turner Rep. Richard Heath Rep. Susan Westrom LRC Staff: Tanya Monsanto, Lowell Atchley, Kelly Ludwig, Kelly Blevins, and Susan Spoonamore Presented to the Legislative Research Commission and the 2015 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly 1 Agriculture Legislative Research Commission 2014 Final Committee Reports Subcommittee Organization and Membership Subcommittee on Horse Farming Sen. Sara Beth Gregory, Co-Chair Rep. Susan Westrom, Co-Chair Sen. Carroll Gibson Rep. Martha Jane King Sen. Dennis Parrett Rep. Michael Meredith Sen. Damon Thayer Rep. David Osborne Sen. Robin Webb Rep. Sannie Overly Rep. Lynn Bechler Rep. Ryan Quarles Rep. Derrick Graham Rep. Tom Riner Rep. Richard Henderson Rep. Rita Smart Rep. James Kay Rep. Wilson Stone Sen. Paul Hornback, ex officio Rep. Tom McKee, ex officio LRC Staff: Lowell Atchley and Kelly Blevins Subcommittee on Rural Issues Sen. Stan Humphries, Co-Chair Rep. Mike Denham, Co-Chair Sen. Walter Blevins Jr. Rep. Richard Heath Sen. David Givens Rep. Kim King Sen. Dorsey Ridley Rep. Suzanne Miles Sen. Whitney Westerfield Rep. Terry Mills Rep. Johnny Bell Rep. Bart Rowland Rep. Will Coursey Rep. Steven Rudy Rep. Jim DeCesare Rep. Jonathan Shell Rep. Myron Dossett Rep. John Short Rep. Jim Glenn Rep. Tommy Turner Sen. Paul Hornback, ex officio Rep. Tom McKee, ex officio LRC Staff: Kelly Ludwig and Susan Spoonamore 2 Legislative Research Commission Agriculture 2014 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; agriculture weights and measures; veterinarians; the State Fair; county fairs. Committee Activity The Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture held six meetings during the 2014 Interim. Several committee meetings were held outside of Frankfort in order to visit sites engaged in agricultural operations. The Subcommittee on Horse Farming and the Subcommittee on Rural Issues were reauthorized, and each held two meetings during the Interim. A variety of topics were discussed, and several agencies and organizations updated committee members on projects and proposed legislative suggestions for the 2015 Regular Session. The committee met at Eden Shale Research Farm, in Owen County, where members received testimony from the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, Kentucky Beef Network, and the Dean of University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. The state veterinarian updated members on the Livestock Care Standards Committee regulations. A representative of Dow Agrosciences discussed the company’s work with Eden Shale Research Farm in the area of forage management. The committee met at Fresh Start Farms in Hodgenville. The president of the Kentucky Soybean Board gave an overview of Kentucky’s soybean industry and updated members on the association’s recent activities and goals. Representatives from the soybean industry discussed issues affecting Kentucky soybean farmers. Issues included transportation and market access, food system challenges, and water quality. A motion that the Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture submit a comment on the regulation relating to Waters of the United States Rule was passed, without objection, upon voice vote. At the State Fair, in Louisville, the president of the State Fair Board updated committee members on fair activities and projects being undertaken by the board. The mayor of Louisville discussed the Louisville/Jefferson County Farm to Table project as well as other food market programs. The committee met at the E.S. Good Barn at the University of Kentucky. The president of the University of Kentucky discussed current projects and recent announcements