With less than a hundred days until we convene the 2024 Regular Session, I was in Frankfort throughout last week to take part in the discussions which will shape our agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Several interim joint committees (IJCs), task forces, and statutory committees met and their agendas, minutes, and presentations can be found on the legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov under the committee section.

IJC on Health Services: Committee members met this week to discuss ongoing issues surrounding the pharmacy community in Kentucky, more specifically how we approach Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) as well as specialty pharmacies as a whole. While there are merits to PBMs and Specialty pharmacies, there is a lot that goes into play in the way citizens receive their treatment. While the discussion surrounding these facets in the pharmacy industry continue, I fully expect the legislature to be front and center in finding solutions that maintain quality access to timely health care.

Health and Human Services Task Force: Members met this week to discuss current standings of local health departments, as well as the utilization of public benefits throughout the state. Public Health Departments as well as SNAP benefits have become a mainstay in several communities across the state, and because of action taken by the legislature in 2020 through HB 129, we have seen an uptick in utilization by essentially every community that has a health department. Our Public Assistance metrics are vital to families across the commonwealth, and the processing procedures for them should be seamless for those who seek to utilize the programs. Upon conclusion of this week’s meeting, I personally drafted a letter to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, seeking clarity into why there are plans in place to change processing functions from a local process to a statewide process. There have been several indications that this move will come at a great cost to not only consumers, but to the Department for Community Based Services and its employees. I hope to continue work on this issue, so that there is resolve for all stakeholders from the ground up.

Jail and Corrections Reform Task Force: Panel members heard from folks working to help formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives through job training, education, and learning basic soft skills. A representative from the Life Learning Center described the success of the Northern Kentucky program and the positive impact it has had on the region. The panel also heard from the Kentucky Jailer’s Association. They presented recommendations to improve the current jail system in Kentucky such as classification reform and speedy trial laws. 

Juvenile Justice Oversight Council: Lawmakers met with representatives from the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The DJJ presented their Community Supervision program to the panel, and explained the various programs that accompany the process. The AOC presented on their Court Designated Workers and the impact of HB 3 (2023) on the court system.

Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity: Panel members learned about the challenges facing Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) who want to work as nail techs. According to testimony, the issues stem back to the Board of Cosmetology and vary from a lack of access to licensing tests in languages other than English to an extremely slow process. Lawmakers on the commission also learned about the health risks associated with chemical relaxers and other hair products used by African American women and other ethnicities in an effort to conform to societal standards.

Capital Projects and Bond Oversight: Legislators received several project updates, lease reports, and maintenance requests from the Finance and Administration Cabinet. Projects included infrastructure updates and maintenance requirements for floors, roofs, bathrooms, and other facilities in essential state-owned buildings.

IJC on State Government: Legislators heard from the State Board of Elections regarding ongoing efforts to update voting records to remove those who have passed away or moved to another state, as well as those who are no longer able to vote because they have been incarcerated or declared mentally incompetent. Unfortunately, the state’s voter rolls were neglected for decades and a great deal of work must be done before they are brought up-to-date. Lawmakers also continued work on legislation that would prevent foreign entities from nations considered security threats from purchasing agricultural land in Kentucky. The proposal passed the House earlier this year, but did not receive a hearing in the Kentucky Senate.

IJC on Local Government: Representatives from property valuation administrators (PVAs) walked legislators through how the Fayette County PVA updates property valuations.  Of note, the PVA reported that, since 2012, the median sale price of houses in Fayette County has doubled from about $150,000 to $300,000.  Other speakers at the meeting were the Kentucky County Clerks Association, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, and Kentucky Sheriff’s Association.

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.