What Frankfort's Up to Today - March 10, 2010
Legislative Day 45
House
Another New Spending Program
Likely KEY VOTE: The House Agriculture Committee will take up HB 594, a new tax and subsidy program for dairy farmers.Not only is this a new tax designed to increase the price of (and therefore reduce the demand for) milk, it puts a new burden on retailers to apply and collect the tax.
New Eminent Domain Powers for State-Run Sequestration Service
KEY VOTE: The House Committee on Resources and the Environment will hear HB 491, making all sequestration in Kentucky a state-run endeavor. The bill grants the state condemnation rights based on geologic features favorable to carbon sequestration, establishes a board which has the authority to charge a fee for "carbon storage" in the confiscated property. This government takeover of an emerging private enterprise is, well, the antithesis of the free market.
Corporate Organization Bills
The House Committee on Judiciary will hear SB 150, SB 151 and SB 152, all which change the rules of business organization in Kentucky.
Zoning Fee Increase
The House Committee on Local Government will consider HB 431 which allows local governments to raise fees for planning and zoning violations.
Senate
Anatomical Gifts
The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare will consider SB 4, a bill creating procedures for individuals to bequeath body parts.
Personal Care Homes
The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare will also consider SB 143, creating a regulatory structure to certify 'personal care homes' and explore the ability to include such facilities in Medicaid.
$1,000,000 Public Health Accreditation
HB 258 will be discussed in Senate Health and Welfare, which creates a new public health accreditation program that apparently costs $1,000,000.
