Transportation, maternal health, Governor pardon limitation bills pass Senate

After a long weekend dedicated to observing Presidents' Day, the Kentucky General Assembly returned to Frankfort on Tuesday, Feb. 20. The deadline for bill filings is approaching, so all proposals for consideration in Frankfort will be known by the close of next week.

Bills passed by the Senate then move to the House for further consideration. If approved, they are delivered to the Governor's desk to be signed, vetoed, or left to become law without a signature. Bills passed this week include:

Senate Bill (SB 91), which I was proud to sponsor and carry to passage, would streamline Kentucky driver's licensing services by mandating the establishment of at least one regional office in each senatorial district by July 1, 2025. The bill would allow county clerks to choose to provide operator's licenses or personal ID cards. It would also permit third-party entities to issue licenses, with associated costs and a potential convenience fee. Additionally, the bill would initiate a Kentucky State Police pilot project for skills testing in five counties without a regional office. The pilot program would operate from Sept. 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026.

I've heard from many constituents, especially here in the 14th Senate District, about how challenging it is to travel to wherever their nearest regional office is. Employees must miss time from work and students' time from school when they take their skills test. This bill is another effort to ease access to these services. I strongly fought to get features like mail-in license renewals and for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to host traveling services to counties without regional offices.

SB 107, which I also sponsored, would address various transportation issues, including restricting semi-trucks from the left lane except in certain conditions, streamlining commercial vehicle registration, enforcing towing regulations, adding organ donation information to driver education, and allowing for administrative regulations on over-wide and over-dimensional permits.

SB 45, if enacted, would establish the Kentucky Ashanti Alert System to promptly alert the public when a missing adult is believed to be in immediate danger of abduction or kidnapping. Developed by the Kentucky State Police (KSP), it would utilize existing resources like electronic highway signs and the Amber Alert System. The system would encourage law enforcement cooperation, operate within existing budgets, and activate based on KSP's assessment for public safety and secure recovery.

SB 74 would establish a state maternal fatality review team to enhance the monitoring of child and maternal fatalities. It would define the team's jurisdiction and require cooperation with an external child fatality review panel. Additionally, it would direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to publish an annual report on hospital delivery procedures starting Dec. 1.

SB 89 would mandate the Department for Medicaid Services and any managed care organization contracted for Medicaid services to offer coverage provided by licensed certified professional midwives. The aim would be to ensure that certified professional midwifery services are included in the scope of Medicaid coverage and allow for the pursuit of federal approval when required. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department for Medicaid Services must seek federal approval if they determine it necessary to implement this coverage.

SB 126 would propose amending the Constitution of Kentucky to limit a governor's ability to issue pardons or sentence commutations before an election. The aim would be to enhance accountability and prevent potential misuse of executive power during sensitive political periods. If passed by the House with the approved three-fifths majority, it would move to a future general election ballot.

SB 140, addressing COVID-19-related unemployment insurance benefit overpayments (Jan. 27, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020), would require the Secretary of Education and Labor Cabinet to send new notices by July 1, giving recipients an additional chance to request a waiver. Recipients would have one year from the notice to request a waiver, ensuring a hearing. The bill would allow reimbursement if recipients prove entitlement to the waiver based on specified statute standards.

SB 162 would facilitate access to vehicle history and accident reports for consumers considering purchasing a vehicle. The bill would allow law enforcement agencies to retain and provide these reports to interested parties, enhancing transparency and consumer confidence in the used car market.

SB 163 would permit local authorities to opt for cremation as a cost-saving measure for unclaimed deceased individuals under their care. The bill would offer flexibility to manage such situations efficiently while potentially reducing financial burdens on local governments.