FINAL REPORTS OF THE INTERIM JOINT, SPECIAL, AND STATUTORY COMMITTEES 2004 Presented to the Legislative Research Commission and the 2005 Kentucky General Assembly Informational Bulletin No. 216 Legislative Research Commission Frankfort, Kentucky lrc.ky.gov December 2004 Printed with state funds. Available in alternative form by request. Legislative Research Commission Foreword 2004 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 take testimony on a number of important issues that may confront the General Assembly. During the 2004 Interim, all 14 interim joint committees held meetings. No special committees were authorized by LRC. All eight statutory committees met during the 2004 Interim. LRC provides this informational booklet as a summary of the activity of the interim joint, special, and statutory committees since adjournment of the 2004 General Assembly. The reports were prepared separately by the committee staff. Robert Sherman Director Frankfort, Kentucky December 2004 i Legislative Research Commission Contents 2004 Final Committee Reports CONTENTS Page FOREWORD.... ..................................................................................................................i TABLE OF CONTENTS ... .............................................................................................iii REPORTS OF 2004 INTERIM JOINT COMMITTEES Agriculture and Natural Resources.............................................................................1 Appropriations and Revenue.....................................................................................11 Banking and Insurance..............................................................................................17 Economic Development and Tourism ......................................................................21 Education ..................................................................................................................33 Energy.......................................................................................................................37 Health and Welfare ...................................................................................................41 Judiciary....................................................................................................................61 Labor and Industry....................................................................................................67 Licensing and Occupations.......................................................................................71 Local Government ....................................................................................................77 Seniors, Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection ......................................83 State Government......................................................................................................89 Transportation...........................................................................................................97 REPORTS OF STATUTORY COMMITTEES Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee.................................................107 Capital Planning Advisory Board ...........................................................................109 Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee ...................................................111 Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee........................125 Government Contract Review Committee..............................................................129 Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee .......................................................133 Program Review and Investigations Committee.....................................................139 Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee .................................143 iii 6 Legislative Research Commission Agriculture and Natural Resources 2004 Final Committee Reports REPORT OF THE 2004 INTERIM JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES Sen. Ernie Harris, Co-Chair Rep. Roger Thomas, Co-Chair Rep. James Gooch, Co-Chair Rep. Royce Adams Rep. Adrian Arnold Rep. John Arnold , Jr. Rep. Sheldon Baugh Sen. David Boswell Rep. Scott Brinkman Rep. James Bruce Rep. Dwight Butler Rep. Mike Cherry Rep. Jack Coleman Rep. Hubert Collins Rep. James Comer Rep. Howard Cornett Rep. Tim Couch Rep. Mike Denham Rep. Keith Hall Rep. Jim Higdon Rep. Charlie Hoffman Sen. Daniel Kelly Sen. Bob Leeper Sen. Vernie McGaha Rep. Thomas McKee Rep. Charles Meade Rep. Brad Montell Sen. Virgil Moore Rep. Fred Nesler Rep. Don Pasley Sen. Joey Pendleton Rep. Marie Rader Rep. Rick Rand Sen. Dorsey Ridley Sen. Tim Shaughnessy Rep. Dottie Sims Rep. Brandon Smith Rep. Jim Stewart Sen. Damon Thayer Sen. Elizabeth Tori Rep. Tommy Turner Rep. Ken Upchurch Rep. Robin L. Webb Rep. Susan Westrom Rep. Brent Yonts LRC Staff: Tanya Monsanto, Biff Baker, Hank Marks, Lowell Atchley, and Kelly Blevins PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION AND THE 2005 REGULAR SESSION OF THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1 Agriculture and Natural Resources Legislative Research Commission 2004 Final Committee Reports SUBCOMMITTEE ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE ON HORSE FARMING Sen. Damon Thayer, Co-Chair Rep. Susan Westrom, Co-Chair Rep. Royce Adams Rep. Thomas McKee Rep. Scott Brinkman Rep. Don Pasley Rep. Jim Bruce Sen. Joey Pendleton Rep. Jack Coleman Rep. Ken Upchurch Rep. Charlie Hoffman SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES Sen. Ernie Harris, Co-Chair Rep. Keith Hall, Co-Chair Sen. David Boswell Sen. Dorsey Ridley Rep. Hubert Collins Rep. Brandon Smith Rep. Howard Cornett Rep. Jim Stewart Rep. Tim Couch Rep. Robin Webb Rep. Jim Gooch Rep. Brent Yonts SUBCOMMITTEE ON RURAL ISSUES Sen. Vernie McGaha, Co-Chair Rep. Mike Denham, Co-Chair Rep. Adrian Arnold Rep. Marie Rader Rep. John Arnold Rep. Rick Rand Rep. Sheldon Baugh Rep. Dottie Sims Rep. Dwight Butler Rep. Roger Thomas Rep. Mike Cherry Rep. Tommy Turner Rep. James Comer Rep. Jim Higdon Sen. Bob Leeper Rep. Brad Montell Rep. Fred Nesler 2 Legislative Research Commission Agriculture and Natural Resources 2004 Final Committee Reports INTERIM JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES JURISDICTION: Matters pertaining to crops, livestock, poultry, and their marketing, disease control, and warehousing; tobacco; stockyards; agricultural cooperatives and marketing associations; agriculture weights and measures; veterinarians; State Fair; county fairs; water pollution; air pollution; management of waste; protection of the environment; noise pollution; forestry; mining; fish and wildlife resources; soil and water conservation; flood control and water usage; drainage and irrigation; geology and water resources; waterways and dams; oil, gas, and salt water wells; state and national parks; Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet; and all matters not specifically assigned to another committee relating to administrative, regulatory, or operating issues which, because of their smaller size, uniquely impact small business. COMMITTEE ACTIVITY From July to November, the Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources held five monthly meetings during the 2004 Interim. Three subcommittees were formed to study natural resource and environmental issues, horse farming, and rural community development. The Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources divided its attention principally between agricultural issues and environmental issues during the 2004 Interim. Many of the topics illustrated the conflicts arising out of increased interdependence between Kentucky and other regional markets and showed the impact federal actions have had on the state. The committee focused on a number of agricultural issues including the implementation of an animal identification/tracking system, dairy production and marketing, the federal tobacco buyout, and the future of Kentucky’s horse industry. Important environmental issues considered by the committee included the implementation of new federal air quality standards and the implementation of litter abatement programs in the Commonwealth. The committee also received administrative regulations and several mandated reports. The committee reviewed and approved an executive reorganization order for the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet. The committee also adopted resolutions honoring the legislative service of Representatives Roger Thomas and Dottie Sims and the late Senator Paul Herron. Animal identification/tracking systems are being promoted by the federal government to reduce the impact of animal diseases on public health, animal welfare, and farm economies. At the October meeting, the committee examined implementation of an animal identification/tracking system in Kentucky. The federal government is encouraging states to implement their own animal identification/tracking systems. 3 Agriculture and Natural Resources Legislative Research Commission 2004 Final Committee Reports Animal identification/tracking systems will provide assurance to national and international markets, as