It was a busy week in Frankfort for the Kentucky General Assembly, as they worked to determine the damages caused by flooding across the state and the best steps forward, while also contemplating a wide variety of bills.
Senator Craig Richardson says they’re still gathering all the information and looking for a monetary total and if a cap that was placed on the amount the governor can devote to disaster relief needs to be lifted, they can consider it, but he has no doubt they’ll work to get the funding to the Kentuckians who need it.
In the House, Representative Myron Dossett was pleased to see House Bill 574, also known as Baby Miya’s Bill, pass out of committee and heads to the A&R committee for review.
He says it still has a way to go, but he’s pleased to see it gain traction, saying this bill would help keep newborn babies safe in the event they were born into families where other children have been removed from the home. He says he’s all for second chances, but we need to make sure babies have their first chance too.
Dossett spoke highly of local foster care non-profit Joy Closet for the tremendous amount of work they did in crafting this legislation, saying it shows where their hearts truly lie—with the children of the Commonwealth.
Representative Walker Thomas says the house will now get to consider a somewhat controversial bill that would make it so state employees would no longer have tele-work as an option and would need to return to the office.
Thomas says the house will go over and change things as needed, because while he has no doubt some should return to the office, it wouldn’t be the best option for others.
Representative Thomas says a bill that would make repeated violations of a protective order a felony also saw movement in the House, which he says will help keep victims of domestic violence or abuse safer by imposing stricter penalties on those who routinely break the law.