KLC Initiative Heads to Governor

Representatives gave a KLC initiative final passage on Monday night, and legislators are expected to send several others to the governor later this week.

The House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 213 by a 98-0 vote. Senator Jimmy Higdon (R-Lebanon) sponsored the bill, and Representative Sarge Pollock (R-Campbellsville) carried it in the House. The measure requires the use of federal regulations for permitting the land application of sewer sludge. Currently, the state uses a disjointed system of state statutes that often result in inconsistent reviews. The bill now goes to the governor for his consideration.

The Senate Families and Children Committee unanimously passed House Bill 248 Monday morning. Samara Heavrin (R-Leitchfield) sponsored the KLC initiative to establish minimum standards for recovery residences. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory and Police Chief Jeremy Thompson testified with Representative Heavrin.

“These people are coming to these facilities when they are the most vulnerable,” Chief Thompson stated. “At their most vulnerable point, they are being victimized.”

He informed legislators that one-third of the city’s 15 fatal overdoses last year were related in some way to a halfway house.

The Senate State and Local Government Committee unanimously passed two additional KLC initiatives, House Bills 393 and 587. KLC Director of Public Affairs Bryanna L. Carroll testified with both sponsors.

Representative Jonathan Dixon (R-Corydon) filed House Bill 393 to remove cities from residential bidder preference requirements and exempt community-based charitable organizations from procurement bidding requirements. House Bill 587, filed by Representative Russell Webber (R-Shepherdsville), clarifies that the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA) auditor reports to the KPPA Board.

The Senate unanimously approved a senate committee substitute for House Bill 360 that includes KLC initiative language addressing tax increment financing that calculates state tax revenues. The revenue measure also updates the types of services subject to a sales tax.

That measure now goes back to the House for consideration.