Beech Tree News Network

BELTON, KY— On Tuesday evening, August 23rd Governor Beshear issued the call for a Special Session to address financial support for the victims of the severe floods in Eastern Kentucky as well as extending further support for the ongoing needs of those entities affected by the tornadoes of December 2021 in Western Kentucky.

We went into Session at 3:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday the 24th. HB 1 was filed in both the House and the Senate and had its first reading and then was discussed in Appropriations and Revenue Committee immediately upon adjournment.

On Thursday, we were able to attend the Kentucky Country Ham Breakfast Charity Auction sponsored by Kentucky Farm Bureau at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville as part of the State Fair. Afterward, I was proud to be present when Muhlenberg County’s exhibit, (created through the cooperative efforts of the Muhlenberg County, Greenville, and Central City Tourism Commissions along with the Greater Muhlenberg Chamber of Commerce and the financial support of the Felix E. Martin, Jr. Foundation), received the Kentucky State Fair “Pride of the Counties” Best Exhibit Award.  

Committee meetings also took place at the fair throughout the day. In the Interim Joint Committee (IJC) on Health, Welfare, and Family Services we heard about various organizations and programs that exist in the Commonwealth to try and address the shortage of nurses as well as other healthcare workers.

We returned to Frankfort and went back into session in the afternoon for HB 1 to have its second reading. Friday morning began with an Appropriations and Revenue Committee meeting where we voted HB 1 out of committee to be sent to the House floor for debate. The vote in the House was 97-0 and was then sent to the Senate where it passed 35-1. We then adjourned sine die until noon on January  3, 2023.

HB 1 includes a total of $212,662,200 million ($200 million is from the budget reserve trust fund) which is broken down as follows:

·         $75 million to Military Affairs (Emergency Management is housed under Military Affairs)

·         $40 million to Military Affairs IF needed after the initial $75 million is allocated

·         $40 million to the Kentucky Department of Education to provide funding for wrap-around services, transportation, and advancing funds for construction

·         $45 million to the Transportation Cabinet budget for roads and bridges

·         $12,662,200 million of the remaining ARPA (American Rescue Plan) funds for water and sewer infrastructure projects leaving a zero balance in that account

Eligible recipients:

·         Must be located in areas designated by FEMA as part of the federal emergency declaration

·         Limited to local governments

·         Nonprofit or public utility service providers

·         State agencies

·         School districts

If recipients receive reimbursement from either FEMA or insurance, they must reimburse the state only the amount they receive from those two entities.

Not unlike the relief offered after the tornadoes that devastated Western Kentucky, schools directly affected have the flexibility for waiving attendance days and having additional remote learning days to use as needed. Temporary changes to the formula for determining average daily attendance will also be implemented for districts listed in the FEMA declaration.

Provisions for accountability are included in the bill. An example is oversight by reporting all monies spent by the tenth of each month beginning September 10, 2022.

Additionally, ongoing needs just coming to the forefront that continue to plague school districts in Western Kentucky impacted by the tornadoes of 2021 were addressed. I had met as recently as the 22nd with school personnel from Muhlenberg and adjacent counties directly impacted by the tornadoes for their perspective and input into the legislative process. I was pleased their voice was reflected in the bill.

The original SAFE Act was renamed the Western KY SAFE (State Aid Funding for Emergencies) and monies specifically set aside to meet the needs of Western Kentucky were designated for that purpose. The monies allocated for Eastern Kentucky were set aside in the Eastern KY SAFE Act.

This is just the first step of allocating assistance to Eastern Kentucky. Moving forward, the situation will be reevaluated during the 2023 Regular Session along with the status of Western Kentucky post tornadoes.

After returning from Frankfort, I attended Friday Night Live and the performance of Darryl Van Lear and his crew. It was a great evening enjoying Rock and Roll and Soul. I had hosted Darryl in Frankfort to portray Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during Black History Month 2020. It was good to see him again.

I have recently heard from constituents with ongoing unemployment issues. I encourage them to get their GED if needed and to consider seeking legal assistance if there are any issues with their record. There are two upcoming events sponsored by Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress that might be of interest.

There is a job fair to be held on October 12th from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. with the location TBD. An expungement fair is to be held on October 19th from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at the Sue & Brown Badgett Center in Greenville at no cost to the individual as the application fee is covered. Those present will include attorneys, members of the Bar Association, and Second Chance Employers. For more information email [email protected] or go to facebook.com/MuhlEcDev

As always, I welcome your comments and concerns on any issue and can be reached, regardless of if in session or not, through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at-1-800-372-7181, at 502-564-8100, Ext. 59010, or via email at [email protected]

Please follow me on Facebook @melindagibbonsprunty. You can also keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation by visiting our website at https://legislature.ky.gov and watch both live and recorded meetings on YouTube at KY LRC Committee Meetings or on Kentucky Educational Television at https://ket.org/legislature.

Note: Representative Melinda Gibbons Prunty represents the 15th House District. She is Vice-Chair of both the Health & Family Services Committee and the Budget Review Sub-Committee on Health & Family Services. She serves on the Appropriations & Revenue, Education, and Natural Resources & Energy Committees as well as Medicaid Oversight & Advisory and the Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening & Prevention Advisory Committee.