2010 Interim LEGISLATIVE Volume 20, No. 14 May 2010 RECORD General Assembly’s 2010 Session adjourns by Rob Weber LRC Public Information policies on ethics, procurement, hiring and compen- sation. State lawmakers adjourned “sine die” on April Agriculture. House Bill 398 creates an equine Speaker of the 15, bringing the Kentucky General Assembly’s council to advise the state on equine health mat- House Greg 2010 Regular Session to a close on the 60th and ters and strive to establish regional care centers for Stumbo speaks final session day allowed by the state constitution. unwanted, neglected and abused horses. The leg- on legislation Lawmakers considered more than 800 bills islation also establishes a livestock care standards during this year’s session, including measures to commission and prohibits local governments, with before the improve services for stroke victims, offer new pro- some exceptions, from having on-farm animal care House in the tections to domestic violence victims and require standards that exceed state standards. latter days of more transparency and openness from taxpayer- Autism. HB 159 expands health insurance the 2010 Regu- funded organizations. coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism lar Session, Topics covered by legislation approved this spectrum disorders. The bill requires large-group which ended on year include the following: and state employee insurance plans to provide cov- April 15. Accountability. Senate Bill 88 allows greater erage in the annual amount of $50,000 for children Bud Kraft/ public scrutiny of the Kentucky League of Cities with autism from age 1 to 6 and up to $12,000 a LRC Public and the Kentucky Association of Counties by mak- year for older children with autism. Information ing both groups adhere to the state’s open records Bee habitats. Senate Joint Resolution 177 re- and open meetings laws. The bill also requires the quires the state apiarist to work with the Transporta- groups to place spending reports online and develop tion Cabinet and local beekeeping clubs to identify Continued on page 2 Stroke center ‘Amanda’s Bill’ now law to protect designation domestic violence victims approved The monitoring device tracks the location of by Rebecca Mullins Hanchett abusers and alerts victims and law enforcement by Chuck Truesdell LRC Public Information when an abuser is in an area that has been declared LRC Public Information off-limits to that person by the court. A carefully watched bill that will allow Abusers would qualify Recognition for stroke care excellence could judges to electronically track those who violate “We know for for a monitoring device un- save lives under legislation passed unanimously by domestic violence orders has been signed into a fact that the der the law by committing both chambers during the 2010 Regular Session. law. one or more of 12 “substan- Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senate President House Bill 1, or Amanda’s Bill, sponsored implementation tial” violations that include, David Williams, R-Burkesville, would bring atten- by House Speaker Greg Stumbo during the 2010 of this but not limited to, assault, tion to outstanding facilities in the area of stroke Regular Session, received final passage in the (monitor- stalking, wanton endanger- care, helping the public understanding those hospi- House and Senate on April 14 and was signed by ment, kidnapping, theft and tals that are best able to treat loved ones in the event the governor on April 26. The new law, officially ing) system destruction and damage to of a stroke. known as the “Amanda Ross Domestic Violence works...” property. Under SB 1, facilities that are certified by the Prevention Act”, will take effect in July. Named in honor of for- Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Besides allowing judges to order those who mer state worker Amanda Speaker Organizations or the American Osteopathic As- violate a domestic violence order, or DVO, to Ross, who was shot to death sociation would be state-designated as primary wear a global positioning monitoring system Greg Stumbo outside her Lexington home stroke centers. Such facilities would provide a high device, the new law will allow courts to require last fall, Stumbo said the standard of stroke care, including a greater ability that abusers stay up to 500 feet away from their new law will save lives. to treat multiple types of strokes in an emergency victims and the victim’s family and allow felony “We know for a fact that the implementation setting and first-rate care during recovery. charges to be pressed against DVO violators who of this (monitoring) system works,” Stumbo, D- In order to earn certification, the hospitals are attempt to remove a court-ordered monitoring Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 device. THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY Stroke care, 2010 laws, New laws from page 1 from page 1 benefit also responsible for community state-owned rights-of-way that could education, with a goal of stroke be made into pollinator habitat sites veterans, prevention as well as awareness and for bees. Another piece of legislation, treatment. HB 175, encourages the development active troops Having superior stroke care is of bee habitats on mine reclamation especially important in Kentucky be- sites to speed up plant growth and cause it lies in the “stroke belt,” with improve soil stability. by Rebecca Mullins Hanchett LRC Public Information a high rate of strokes and high rate of Child abuse. HB 285 boosts mortality from them. training for health care officials, day From expanded access to the The state currently has 12 pri- care workers and others who work state’s military family assistance trust mary stroke with children improve their abilities fund to new job opportunities for centers to spot signs of child abuse. eligible veterans, many laws passed — four each Coal. HB 283 reduces delays Sen. Elizabeth Tori, R-Radcliff, explains a bill during the 2010 Regular Session sa- that would benefit military veterans before a in Louis- in issuing coal mine permits. The Senate President lute those who serve and have served meeting of lawmakers during the 2010 Regular ville and legislation increases certain coal min- our country. Session. David Northern ing fees and directs money from the Senate Bill 30 as passed gives Mike Sunseri/LRC Public Information Kentucky, increased fees to expedite the mine Kentuckians who served on active Williams two in Lex- permitting process. duty outside the U.S. or federal ac- Other notable military-related ington, and Corrections. SB 17 makes it a said the tive duty with the National Guard bills that passed during the 2010 one each in felony for workers at prisons, jails and Reservists and their families up Regular Session include: legislation Pikeville or detention centers to have sex with to six months following the end of n HB 19, which allows mili- and Bowling inmates. won’t impose deployment to apply for need-based tary personnel to renew their con- Green. Domestic violence. HB 1 allows assistance from the military family cealed deadly weapon license early new The judges to order those who violate a trust fund. The law, which takes ef- and by mail, and gives personnel legislation domestic violence order (DVO) to requirements fect in July, also specifies that eligible whose concealed and carry license wouldn’t wear a global positioning system applicants could receive up to $1,000 expires while on active duty up to a impose new tracking device to help ensure that on hospitals per request and up to $10,000 per year to renew the license at the end of require- abusers remain the required distance year if there is a demonstrated need their deployment without paying late or ments on from victims. The bill allows felony and a majority on the trust fund board fees or other penalties. hospitals charges to be pressed against DVO require approves the award. n HB 14, which grants veter- or require violators who attempt to remove a House Bill 75, which is similar ans who were disabled while on duty state state fund- court-ordered tracking device. The to bills that have passed the House in up to three nights of free lodging at a ing, Wil- legislation is known as Amanda’s funding. past years, will require state agencies Kentucky State Park each year. liams said, Bill in honor of state worker Amanda to offer a job interview to all veterans n HB 199, which creates a but would Ross, who was shot to death outside and military family members entitled Gold Star Fathers special license simply act as her Lexington home last fall. to bonus points called “preference plate and allows persons to buy ad- recognition for achievement that Drugs. HB 265 strengthens the points” on state job examinations if ditional Gold Star Mothers, Gold Star would bring attention from those who prosecution of drivers found to be there are fewer than five qualified Fathers or Gold Star Spouse license may require stroke care. under the influence of illegal drugs veterans or eligible family members plates beyond the two plates exempt Every minute counts when a per- or certain prescription drugs. The competing for a particular job. The from fees. Also passes was HB 96, son suffering a stroke, because every legislation also criminalizes two state must offer interviews to at least which allows the surviving spouse of moment that the brain goes without street drugs: synthetic marijuana and five of these individuals if five or a Purple Heart recipient to keep the oxygen results in brain damage. piperazines. more are vying for a job. HB 75 also Purple Heart license plate assigned to Knowing which hospital is best suited Education.