FINAL REPORTS OF THE INTERIM JOINT, SPECIAL, AND STATUTORY COMMITTEES 2005 Presented to the Legislative Research Commission and the 2006 Kentucky General Assembly Informational Bulletin No. 219 Legislative Research Commission Frankfort, Kentucky lrc.ky.gov December 2005 Paid for with state funds. Available in alternative form by request. Legislative Research Commission Foreword 2005 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 2005 Interim, all 14 interim joint committees held meetings. Four special committees were authorized by LRC. All eight statutory committees met during the 2005 Interim. LRC provides this informational booklet as a summary of the activity of the interim joint, special, and statutory committees since adjournment of the 2005 General Assembly. The reports were prepared separately by the committee staff. Robert Sherman Director Legislative Research Commission Frankfort, Kentucky December 2005 i ii Legislative Research Commission Contents 2005 Final Committee Reports CONTENTS FOREWORD.... ..................................................................................................................i CONTENTS......................... .............................................................................................iii REPORTS OF 2005 INTERIM JOINT COMMITTEES Agriculture and Natural Resources.............................................................................1 Appropriations and Revenue.....................................................................................11 Banking and Insurance..............................................................................................21 Economic Development and Tourism ......................................................................25 Education ..................................................................................................................35 Energy.......................................................................................................................41 Health and Welfare ...................................................................................................45 Judiciary....................................................................................................................67 Labor and Industry....................................................................................................77 Licensing and Occupations.......................................................................................83 Local Government ....................................................................................................89 Seniors, Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection ......................................95 State Government....................................................................................................103 Transportation.........................................................................................................109 REPORTS OF 2005 SPECIAL COMMITTEES Blue Ribbon Panel on Public Employee Health Benefits.......................................117 Task Force on Local Taxation ................................................................................123 Kentucky Broadband Task Force............................................................................125 School Calendars and the Tourism Industry Task Force........................................129 REPORTS OF STATUTORY COMMITTEES Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee.................................................133 Capital Planning Advisory Board ...........................................................................137 Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee ...................................................141 Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee........................153 Government Contract Review Committee..............................................................157 Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee .......................................................161 Program Review and Investigations Committee.....................................................169 Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee .................................173 iii iv Legislative Research Commission Agriculture and Natural Resources 2005 Final Committee Reports REPORT OF THE 2005 INTERIM JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES Sen. Tom Jensen, Co-Chair Rep. Tom McKee, Co-Chair Rep. James Gooch, Co-Chair Sen. David E. Boswell Rep. W. Milward Dedman, Jr. Sen. Ernie Harris Rep. Mike Denham Sen. Dan Kelly Rep. C.B. Embry, Jr. Sen. Robert J. Leeper Rep. W. Keith Hall Sen. Vernie McGaha Rep. Jimmy Higdon Sen. Joey Pendleton Rep. Charlie Hoffman Sen. J. Dorsey Ridley Rep. Charles E. Meade Sen. Richie Sanders, Jr. Rep. Reginald K. Meeks Sen. Ernesto Scorsone Rep. Brad Montell Sen. Damon Thayer Rep. Fred Nesler Rep. Royce W. Adams Rep. Don R. Pasley Rep. Adrian K. Arnold Rep. Marie L. Rader Rep. John A. Arnold, Jr. Rep. Rick W. Rand Rep. James E. Bruce Rep. Steven Rudy Rep. Dwight D. Butler Rep. Terry Shelton Rep. James Carr Rep. Brandon D. Smith Rep. Mike Cherry Rep. Jim Stewart III Rep. Hubert Collins Rep. Tommy Turner Rep. James R. Comer, Jr. Rep. Ken Upchurch Rep. Howard D. Cornett Rep. Robin L. Webb Rep. Tim Couch Rep. Susan Westrom LRC Staff: Tanya Monsanto, Biff Baker, Hank Marks, Lowell Atchley, and Kelly Blevins PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION AND THE 2006 REGULAR SESSION OF THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1 Agriculture and Natural Resources Legislative Research Commission 2005 Final Committee Reports SUBCOMMITTEE ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP Subcommittee on Rural Issues Sen. Vernie McGaha, Co-Chair Rep. Mike Denham, Co-Chair Sen. Tom Jensen, ex officio Rep. James Gooch, Jr., ex officio Sen. Robert J. Leeper Rep. Jimmy Higdon Sen. Richie Sanders, Jr. Rep. Tom McKee, ex officio Rep. Adrian K. Arnold Rep. Fred Nesler Rep. John A. Arnold, Jr. Rep. Marie L. Rader Rep. Dwight D. Butler Rep. Rick W. Rand Rep. Mike Cherry Rep. Steven Rudy Rep. James Comer, Jr. Rep. Tommy Turner Rep. C.B. Embry, Jr. Subcommittee on Horse Farming Sen. Damon Thayer, Co-Chair Rep. Susan Westrom, Co-Chair Sen. Tom Jensen, ex officio Rep. James Gooch, Jr., ex officio Sen. Joey Pendleton Rep. Charlie Hoffman Rep. Royce W. Adams Rep. Tom McKee, ex officio Rep. James E. Bruce Rep. Brad Montell Rep. James Carr Rep. Don R. Pasley Rep. W. Milward Dedman, Jr. Rep. Ken Upchurch Subcommittee on Natural Resources Sen. Ernie Harris, Co-Chair Rep. W. Keith Hall, Co-Chair Sen. David E. Boswell Rep. Tom McKee, ex officio Sen. Tom Jensen, ex officio Rep. Charles E. Meade Sen. Dan Kelly Rep. Reginald K. Meeks Sen. Ernesto Scorsone Rep. Terry Shelton Rep. Hubert Collins Rep. Brandon D. Smith Rep. Howard Cornett Rep. Jim Stewart III Rep. Tim Couch Rep. Robin L. Webb Rep. James Gooch, Jr., ex officio 2 Legislative Research Commission Agriculture and Natural Resources 2005 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; Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet; 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 six monthly meetings during the 2005 Interim. Three subcommittees were formed. They were the Natural Resources Subcommittee, the Horse Farming Subcommittee, and the Rural Issues Subcommittee. The Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources balanced its attention between agricultural issues, natural resource issues, and environmental concerns during the 2005 Interim. The topics illustrated the conflict between different-sized producers of agricultural commodities, the effect of the deepening energy crisis, and the impact of federal actions on Kentucky. The committee focused on a number of important agricultural issues during the 2005 interim. Those issues included the promotion of grape and wine production in Kentucky, the implementation of an animal identification and tracking system, and the restructuring of the Kentucky Farm Service Agency. Natural resource issues included the impact of marina setbacks on sport anglers, the application of usage fees on boat ramps at some state park facilities,