Beech Tree News Network

The 2018 Session is quickly winding down as Thursday, March 29, marked Day 57 of the 60-day budget session. Budget negotiations are continuing and the Senate gaveled in for two days to pass a number of bills including some aimed at helping our first responders and their families. Although the amount of days left is shortening, the days in the Capitol are getting longer as we prepare to pass the Commonwealth’s two-year budget.

This week the Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 151, which had been amended with an updated draft of SB1. There were many concerns from teachers regarding this legislation. Senate Bill 151 passed 49-46 in the Kentucky House of Representatives and 22-15 in the State Senate. I voted no on SB151 which was in line with the majority opinion of my constituents.

The Senate passed a number of other notable bills this week. House Bill 185 passed unanimously and increases line-of-duty death benefits for spouses of police and other hazardous duty personnel. House Bill 185 would increase line-of-duty benefits for surviving spouses from 25 to 75 percent of the deceased individual’s monthly average rate of pay, with dependent children also receiving a share. It then goes a step further to allow surviving spouses to continue receiving a portion of the death benefit when he or she remarries, at a reduced rate of up to 25 percent of the late former spouse’s monthly average pay. This bill was named the Officer Scotty Hamilton and Officer Nick Rodman Memorial Act of 2018 and was passed on the one-year anniversary of Officer Rodman’s death.

We also passed House Bill 193 which increases the penalties for attacks against police officers. This bill adds intentionally causing a peace officer to come in contact with bodily fluids or bodily waste to the elements of a Class D felony of assault. It also increases the criminal penalty to a Class C felony for contact with fluids which could transmit a communicable disease. In light of recent events and sacrifices made by police officers and their families here in our Commonwealth, we want to do everything we can to increase their protection.

 We also passed House Bill 454, a pro-life measure that bans dismemberment abortions beginning at 11 weeks of pregnancy. I was proud to vote for this measure which protects the dignity of human life.

 House Bill 114 was another notable bill to pass requiring that a portion of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in-lieu-of-tax revenue deposited in the general fund be distributed to agencies designated by counties that have TVA property located in that county or purchase power from TVA. This will mean over $100,000 a year will go to three counties in the 6^th Senate District.

 Thank you for reaching out with your questions and concerns. It is an honor to represent you in Frankfort.

 If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at [email protected].  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, and Ohio Counties.He is Vice Chair of Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection Committee and co-chairman of the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee. He also serves as a member of the Agriculture Committee, the Natural Resources and Energy Committee, the Transportation Committee, and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education.