Final Reports of the Interim Joint, Special, and Statutory Committees 2013
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Final Reports of the Interim Joint, Special, and Statutory Committees 2013 Informational Bulletin No. 243 Legislative Research Commission Frankfort, Kentucky December 2013 Final Reports of the Interim Joint, Special, and Statutory Committees 2013 Presented to the Legislative Research Commission and the 2014 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly Informational Bulletin No. 243 Legislative Research Commission Frankfort, Kentucky lrc.ky.gov December 2013 Paid for with state funds. Available in alternative format by request. Legislative Research Commission Foreword 2013 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 2013 Interim, all 15 interim joint committees held meetings. Two special committees met in 2013. Seven of the nine statutory committees met during the 2013 Interim. LRC provides this informational booklet as a summary of the activity of the interim joint, special, and statutory committees since adjournment of the 2013 General Assembly. The reports were prepared separately by the committee staff. Marcia Seiler Acting Director Legislative Research Commission Frankfort, Kentucky December 2013 i Legislative Research Commission Contents 2013 Final Committee Reports Contents Reports of the 2013 Interim Joint Committees Agriculture .......................................................................................................................................1 Appropriations and Revenue ............................................................................................................7 Banking and Insurance ...................................................................................................................27 Economic Development and Tourism ...........................................................................................31 Education .......................................................................................................................................43 Energy ............................................................................................................................................57 Health and Welfare ........................................................................................................................61 Judiciary .........................................................................................................................................67 Labor and Industry .........................................................................................................................75 Licensing and Occupations ............................................................................................................81 Local Government .........................................................................................................................91 Natural Resources and Environment ...........................................................................................101 State Government.........................................................................................................................107 Transportation ..............................................................................................................................123 Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection .......................................................................137 Reports of the 2013 Special Committees Military and Overseas Voting Assistance Task Force .................................................................147 Unified Juvenile Code Task Force ...............................................................................................149 Reports of the 2013 Statutory Committees Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee ......................................................................155 Capital Planning Advisory Board ................................................................................................159 Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee ........................................................................163 Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee.............................................173 Government Contract Review Committee ...................................................................................177 Program Review and Investigations Committee..........................................................................181 Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee ......................................................185 iii Legislative Research Commission Agriculture 2013 Final Committee Reports Report of the 2013 Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture Sen. Paul Hornback, Co-Chair Representative Tom McKee, Co-Chair Sen. Carroll Gibson Rep. Richard Henderson Sen. David Givens Rep. James Kay Sen. Sara Beth Gregory Rep. Kim King Sen. Stan Humphries Rep. Martha Jane King Sen. Dennis Parrett Rep. Michael Meredith 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. C.B. Embry Rep. Wilson Stone Rep. Jim Glenn Rep. Tommy Turner Rep. Derrick Graham Rep. Susan Westrom Rep. Richard Heath LRC Staff: Tanya Monsanto, Lowell Atchley, Kelly Ludwig, Kelly Blevins, and Susan Spoonamore Presented to the Legislative Research Commission and the 2014 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly 1 Agriculture Legislative Research Commission 2013 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. David Givens Rep. Richard Heath Sen. Dorsey Ridley Rep. Kim King 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. C.B. Embry Rep. Tommy Turner Rep. Jim Glenn Sen. Paul Hornback, ex officio Rep. Tom McKee, ex officio LRC Staff: Kelly Ludwig and Susan Spoonamore 2 Legislative Research Commission Agriculture 2013 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; and county fairs. Committee Activity The Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture held six meetings during the 2013 Interim. Several committee meetings were held outside Frankfort in order to visit sites engaged in agricultural operations. The committee reauthorized the Subcommittee on Horse Farming and the Subcommittee on Rural Issues, and each held two meetings during the Interim. Numerous topics were discussed, and several agencies and organizations updated committee members on projects and proposed legislative suggestions for the 2014 Regular Session. The committee visited several venues outside Frankfort, including a meeting at God’s Pantry Food Bank in Lexington, where members discussed statewide hunger issues. Members discussed the food donation tax credit for entities making donations to nonprofit food programs, as well as the results of a limited study on the use of food banks. The executive director of the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy discussed the Agricultural Development Board’s financial commitment to the Farms to Food Bank organization. Members discussed the potential status of industrial hemp production in Kentucky. The committee met at the Webster County Extension Office and toured Tyson Foods Inc. facilities in Robards. Representatives of Tyson, Kentucky Poultry Federation, Kentucky Soybean Association, Kentucky Corn Growers Association, and Kentucky Farm Bureau discussed the impact of the poultry industry on Kentucky agriculture. Tyson representatives discussed transportation and truck weight issues relating to KRS 189.222(2)(b). At the State Fair, in Louisville, the president of the State Fair Board discussed fair activities and projects. Members discussed efforts to entice more trade shows to use facilities. The committee met at the E.S. Good Barn at the University of Kentucky. The dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment discussed the college and enrollment and programs at the