Frankfort Today - March 15, 2010
Legislative Day 47
House
Another New Board/Commission
HB 498 leads off the House orders creating yet another railroad advisory board
Another New Spending Program
HB 513, which we mentioned on Tuesday, is a new spending program which will potentially take educations funds out of the classroom.
Anti-Contract-Preference Legislation
Likely KEY VOTE: SB 45 evens the playing field in the state procurement system by creating a reciprocal preference penalty. If another state gives unfair preference to local companies in bids for contracts, then Kentucky will penalize applications from companies in that state by the same amount. This is a good disincentive for the anti-competitive practice of geographic discrimination.
And Another New $3,000,000 Spending Program
Possible KEY VOTE: HB 436 creates a $3,000,000 new program to fund school nurses. Wile we do not take issue with nurses in schools, we question whether this is the appropriate time to create new funding burdens. There is a committee substitute deleting the funding language.
New Entertainment Tax
As we mentioned on Wednesday, HB 206 is a KEY VOTE on a new tax.
Recidivism Reduction
From Committee on Tuesday, HB 340 would allow prisons to enter in cooperative agreements with private enterprises.
Dueling Allowed
Also from Tuesday, HB 36 would remove the language swearing public officials have not participated in a duel.
Abolishing One Non-Existent Board
Likely KEY VOTE. As we mentioned a few weeks ago, HB 309 eliminates the Kentucky Wood Products Competitiveness Corporation
Attempting To Circumvent Parole Board
The Governor has not hidden his plan to help balance the state's budget by releasing more criminals from state jails. The problem as he sees it is that the Parole Board is trying too hard to keep violent criminals in jail. Beshear is pushing HB 564 so that he can take better control of the parole process and release more prisoners from jail early to save money.
Transparency in Spending
Likely KEY VOTE of support: HB 492, from last Monday, would require the legislative and judicial branch to post their finances online.
Transparency for Quasi-Governmental Agencies
Likely KEY VOTE of support: SB 87 creates new transparency in spending requirements for entities like KACo and KLC.
Wage Litigation
Potential KEY VOTE: HFA2 to HB 435 is an amendment that softens legal language prohibiting wage discrimination, opening the door to less clarity and greater litigation.
