Governor Andy Beshear signed two more KLC initiatives into law on Tuesday, but he also vetoed measures that are important to the growth and vitality of cities.
The governor signed Senate Bill 66 and House Bill 7. Senator John Schickel (R-Union) filed Senate Bill 66 to ensure background checks for workers and volunteers at youth camps and to help municipalities operate day camps. Representative Adam Bowling (R-Middlesboro) sponsored House Bill 7, a KLC initiative that establishes a Recovery Ready Communities Advisory Committee and a certification program.
The governor vetoed the following:
- House Bill 272 ‒ The bill protects the ability of municipal utilities to maintain much needed revenue and ensures utility workers are not sidelined during a public emergency.
- House Bill 312 ‒ The bill updates Kentucky’s Open Records Act and helps public agencies deal with the growing number of arbitrary requests made by out-of-state entities that often delay or impede the effort of Kentucky citizens, businesses and media organizations that have a legitimate need for the information.
- Senate Bill 105 ‒ The KLC initiative helps cities deal with abandoned, blighted and deteriorated properties. The governor’s veto message inaccurately stated the provisions of the bill, which is narrowly tailored to ensure multiple criteria are met before a community could use the provisions of the legislation to help clean up properties that pose a health and safety risk in a neighborhood.
The governor signed four other KLC initiatives into law on Monday. Additional announcements are expected on Wednesday.
KLC will continue to monitor the governor’s actions and discuss possible legislative steps to override the vetoes when the session resumes on March 29. Republicans have supermajorities in both the House and Senate. A vote to override a gubernatorial veto requires 51 votes in the House and 20 votes in the Senate.
