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Dozens of new laws become effective this month. The 2020 Regular Session of the General Assembly adjourned on April 15, and the Kentucky Constitution states that bills take effect 90 days after adjournment. That means bills without special effective dates or an emergency clause and those that are not general appropriation measures take effect July … Continued
When it comes to wearing a mask or face covering in public, Governor Andy Beshear said on Thursday, “It’s no longer voluntary. It’s mandatory.” The governor signed an executive order that requires people in public or certain situations to wear a facial covering or mask. The order takes effect at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, … Continued
How and when police departments should utilize body-worn cameras and the reason some do not dominated a Thursday morning legislative hearing. KLC Executive Director/CEO J.D. Chaney and various representatives of law enforcement agencies testified before the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary. They stressed that most law enforcement agencies like the transparency and protection body-worn cameras … Continued
Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner welcomed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Jim Carroll on Wednesday. The Office designated Clark County as an Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). McConnell pointed out that the current pandemic has led to an increase in overdoses and highlighted the need to … Continued
Governor Andy Beshear warned Tuesday that COVID-19 “remains a very serious global health challenge…We therefore must remain vigilant to protect the most vulnerable among us.” The state reported 371 new cases on Tuesday, a spike that the governor called a serious cause for concern, along with a death toll of more than 600 Kentuckians. Cabinet … Continued
Kentucky is amending training requirements for police officers seeking an annual Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund (KLEFPF) stipend. The state requires peace officers undergo 40 hours of annual training to receive the $4,000 supplement. Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) Commissioner Nicolai Jilek announced at a Wednesday morning legislative meeting that the governor’s … Continued
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said a new federal coronavirus relief act is in the works. Speaking at Flaget Memorial Hospital in Bardstown, McConnell stated that he would draft the legislation and promised it would include liability protections. Local governments are also seeking direct federal aid to ensure vital services are not threatened due to … Continued
The Department for Local Government (DLG) approved more Kentucky cities for reimbursement of COVID-related expenses through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF). KLC and the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) worked with Governor Beshear to initially apportion $300 million for local government reimbursement from Kentucky’s $1.7 billion CRF allocation. Another $345 million could be made available … Continued
KLC Executive Director/CEO J.D. Chaney appeared this weekend on WKYT’s Kentucky Newsmakers to discuss the role cities play in controlling the spread of the coronavirus and in helping the state’s economic recovery. Chaney stressed that many of the state’s successful efforts have occurred at the local level. “I think when we have resiliency, it’s going … Continued
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced on Wednesday that he filed a brief in the Kentucky Court of Appeals to defend “Casey’s Law.” Legislators passed the measure in the 2004 session. The statute permits family members and friends to file a petition seeking court-ordered drug treatment for a loved one. Cameron stated that the measure … Continued
