The Kentucky State Fair was founded more than a century ago to celebrate our state’s incredible heritage, but also to bring Kentuckians together to educate, inform, and experience new things. I was honored to participate in a day of legislative committee meetings aimed at doing just that – bringing the legislative process to the people. While our day included some fun, our agenda was full and the discussions were helpful as we prepare for session. 

Here are some brief summaries of the work the interim joint committees (IJCs) did during this year’s visit to the Kentucky State Fair:

Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture: Representatives of the Kentucky State Fair Board presented to the board how the fair has impacted the state and the ongoing projects to further the development of the state fair and other events. The facility generates millions in event revenue for the state, in addition to providing both meeting space and playing an important role in the state’s disaster and emergency response. In addition, board members emphasized the importance of structural updates to the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, which received $180 million in funding to make structural improvements and upgrades to the facility. It is critical that we sustain this incredible asset to Kentucky’s tourism, public safety, economic development, and agricultural efforts.

Interim Joint Committee on Local Government: Legislators discussed opioid settlement fund distribution. The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission shared that $842 million through annual distribution will be dispersed through 2038 with 50% going to counties and cities and the other 50% going towards the commonwealth. The funding was calculated by the number of overdose deaths and the number of pill prescriptions per state, a similar formula will be used for distribution to counties in Kentucky.

Interim Joint Committee on State Government: Members received an update from county clerks about election policies and proposals to make efforts to verify election security more transparent and efficient. Testimony was also presented on a proposed constitutional amendment to allow voters to decide if the legislature should give local governments more flexibility in their approach to revenue.

Interim Joint Committee on Health Services: Committee members met at the state fair this week for their monthly meeting, and heard from a slate of stakeholders on establishing an all payer claims database, the impact the Covid pandemic had on the commonwealth as well as the future challenges we anticipate, and an update on midwifery licensure in the state. Currently in Kentucky, 38% of hospitals are in a state of financial struggle, largely due to the residual effects of COVID-19. Out of this 12 are in rural areas. During the pandemic, most hospitals did not conduct elective surgeries, and gave precedent to treating COVID patients with limited resource from the Federal Government. Because of this, revenue was at an all-time low for three years, resulting in some hospitals struggling to make ends meet. Now that the pandemic is considered over, most hospitals have band together to create an action plan if this kind of incident occurs again, and how to make up losses. 

Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children: Legislators held the committee’s third interim meeting and were presented with a wide variety of information and requests from many stakeholders from throughout the Commonwealth. The Lifeworks program at WKU presented their story and successes with helping individuals with Autism further develop life skills and the ability to obtain employment. Advocates for kinship care in Kentucky provided insight to the struggles of family members who take responsibility for a related child. Representatives from the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky unveiled their proposed expansion to better meet the mental health needs of the state. Finally, a representative of the Children’s Alliance spoke on the struggle to keep, retain, and open mental health providers and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities in the state with the current level of Medicaid reimbursement.

Health and Human Services Delivery Task Force: Though this meeting did not happen at the state fair, it was still a very vital discussion that took place this week in Frankfort. Lawmakers met to discuss staff recruitment and retention efforts in several areas of the Cabinet of Health and Family Services, including the office responsible for inspecting the state’s nursing homes. According to cabinet representatives, the state still struggles to recruit new staff, but additional funding provided by the legislature and other policy changes have been helpful. The cabinet has had an influx of new employees, adding approximately 1,000 employees to its workforce over the last two years. 

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at Amy.Neighbors@lrc.ky.gov. You can also keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky legislature’s home page at legislature.ky.gov.