House and Senate leadership appointed legislators this week to several task forces that will study issues important to cities. The majority and minority appointed members to six groups including the Task Force on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) that House Bill 777 established. The KLC initiative provides new options for local governments and hospitals to get a certificate of need (CON) for vital ambulance service.

House Bill 777 also created a task force to review EMS and medical transportation needs including response times, patient needs, licensing processes, and education. A mayor of a city that operates a licensed Class I ground ambulance provider either directly or contractually will represent KLC on the group.

Legislative members appointed include:

• Co-Chair Senate President Pro Tem David Givens (R-Greensburg)
• Co-Chair Representative Ken Fleming (R-Louisville)
• Senator Donald Douglas (R-Nicholasville)
• Senator Brandon Storm (R-London)
• Senator Robin Webb (D-Grayson)
• Representative Mark Hart (R-Falmouth)
• Representative Michael Meredith (R-Oakland)
• Representative Lisa Willner (D-Louisville)

Other task forces established this week include:

• Task Force on Early Childhood Education
  • Co-Chair Senator Danny Carroll (R-Benton)
  • Co-Chair Representative Samara Heavrin (R-Leitchfield)
  • Senator Wil Schroder (R-Wilder)
  • Senator Reginald Thomas (D-Lexington)
  • Senator Mike Wilson (R-Bowling Green)
  • Representative Adam Bowling (R-Middlesboro)
  • Representative Josie Raymond (D-Louisville)
  • Representative Scott Sharp (R-Ashland)

• Benefits Cliff Task Force
  • Co-Chair Senator Jason Howell (R-Murray)
  • Co-Chair Representative Jonathan Dixon (R-Corydon)
  • Senator Gerald Neal (D-Louisville)
  • Senator Mike Nemes (R-Shepherdsville)
  • Senator Phillip Wheeler (R-Pikeville)
  • Representative Josh Bray (R-Mount Vernon)
  • Representative Pamela Stevenson (D-Louisville)
  • Representative Russell Webber (Shepherdsville)

• Task Force on Bourbon Barrel Taxation
  • Co-Chair Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester)
  • Co-Chair House Majority Whip Chad McCoy (R-Bardstown)
  • Senator Denise Harper Angel (D-Louisville)
  • Senator Jimmy Higdon (R-Lebanon)
  • Senator Chris McDaniel (R-Ryland Heights)
  • Representative Jennifer Decker (R-Waddy)
  • Representative Thomas Huff (R-Shepherdsville)
  • Representative Cherlynn Stevenson (D-Lexington)

• Task Force on Executive Branch Efficiency
  • Co-Chair Senator Robby Mills (R-Henderson)
  • Co-Chair Representative Jerry Miller (R-Louisville)
  • Senator Mike Nemes (R-Shepherdsville)
  • Senator Whitney Westerfield (R-Crofton)
  • Senator David Yates (D-Louisville)
  • Representative Shane Baker (R-Somerset)
  • Representative Bobby McCool (R-Van Lear)
  • Representative Patti Minter (D-Bowling Green)

• Task Force on Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) Structure
  • Co-Chair Senator Steve Meredith (R-Leitchfield)
  • Co-Chair House Speaker Pro Tem David Meade (R-Stanford)
  • Senator Julie Raque Adams (R-Louisville)
  • Senator Ralph Alvarado (R-Winchester)
  • Senator Karen Berg (D-Louisville)
  • Representative Danny Bentley (R-Russell)
  • Representative Keturah Herron (D-Louisville)
  • Representative Kim Moser (R-Taylor Mill)