Beech Tree News Network

Despite bitter cold and record-breaking snowfall, the Senate convened Thursday and Friday to do the people’s work. With the session nearing the halfway point, Thursday and Friday were active days on the Senate floor.
On Thursday, Judicial redistricting was addressed through Senate Bill 49. It has been over 60 years since judicial districts in Kentucky have been updated, leaving some courts with overwhelmingly large caseloads, while others have a relatively small number to hear. Senate Bill 49 would require to require the Supreme Court to adjust the Commonwealth's judicial circuits and districts and the judicial assignments based on population changes in the same years as legislative redistricting is required.
Three bills related to healthcare and the practice of medicine passed. Senate Bill 61 would require medical benefits to cover complete colorectal screenings for early detection of problems and diseases. Senate Bill 44 would set up medical synchronization so pharmacists would have knowledge of a patient’s treatment and afford the best care. This also will save money on premiums through the efficiency resulting from information sharing between doctors and pharmacists. Finally, Senate Bill 86 was passed which would statutorily recognize the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.
Freedom of religious and political expression without the threat of censorship by school administrators is the focus of Senate Bill 71, which also passed Thursday. I was a co-sponsor of this bill, which will ensure students and groups with religious and or political affiliation have the same access and ability to express themselves as all groups, as long as they abide by the constitution.
The senate also passed Senate Bill 78 which permits towing and storage companies to sell property recovered in an abandoned automobile to help recoup costs, and Senate Bill 106, which allows a 10 percent variance on the weight of a truck transporting chickens. This provides a cushion to help agriculture producers of poultry which is now the Kentucky’s leading agriculture product.
On Friday we passed a measure that would benefit education in the Commonwealth in Senate Bill 16. This legislation promotes computer science and computer programming classes in our schools, because of the projected future demand for related skills in the job market.
I also co-sponsored Senate Bill 89, which passed Friday. This legislation would allow state employees with government-issued firearms that are being replaced to purchase the firearms from the agency.
In order to promote a better environment for the mentally ill, we also approved Senate Bill 51, which relates to the duty to take precautions against a patient's violent behavior, to expand the definition of "patient" to include persons currently under the care or treatment of mental health professionals.
All these bills now move to the House for their consideration.  If you have any questions or comments about the issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181.  You can also review the Legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov
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Note:  Senator C.B. Embry, JR (R-Morgantown) represents the 6th District including Butler, Hopkins,  Muhlenberg, Ohio Counties. He is Vice Chair of Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection, Chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education, and member of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy, and Transportation Committees. For a high-resolution .jpeg of Senator Wise please visit http://www.lrc.ky.gov/pubinfo/senate38.htm