SENATOR PHILLIP WHEELER’S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The Kentucky General Assembly wrapped up its final day before the start of a veto recess by passing a one-year Executive Branch budget. Under normal circumstances, the Legislature would be passing a two-year budget; however, because of COVID-19, it’s simply unclear how severe the disease’s impact will be on the amount of taxes collected or the citizenry’s wellbeing. Therefore, there was a bipartisan agreement that a one-year plan was more appropriate.
The current12-month budget uses the most pessimistic revenue forecast considered by the state’s nonpartisan economic forecasters. The heart of the spending plan is the executive branch budget found in House Bill 352, which passed unanimously in the Senate and with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House.
With economic uncertainties in mind, the Kentucky General Assembly had to reset sights from what was widely envisioned earlier this year where drafts of the budget proposal outlined by both the Governor and the House increased school funding as well as pay raises for teachers and state employees. HB 352 would eliminate all salary increases included in earlier budget proposals but would hold SEEK base appropriation at $4,000 per pupil. SEEK stands for Support Education Excellence in Kentucky, which is the formula used to allocate state tax dollars to local school districts. In addition, HB 352 would provide $7.4 million for school-based mental health service providers, which are required based on the language in the 2019 School Safety and Resiliency Act.
Other highlights of HB 352 include $938,000 for the “rocket docket,” a program to expedite court cases to save on legal fees, administrative expenses, and even jail costs while ensuring timely access to the courts. Supporters of the expenditure said the rocket docket will be even more important because of COVID-19. The disruption in people’s lives caused by the disease is likely to place additional stress on our court system.
HB 352 would also provide $1.6 million to support medical services at county jails and additional cash for the Kentucky Poison Control Center, which is running the state’s COVID-19 hotline. No money would be taken from accounts held by professional and occupational boards and commissions under HB 352. Many of these professions, such as nursing, are on the frontline of the COVID-19 response.
Additionally, HB 352 would freeze funding contribution requirements for so-called quasi-governmental organizations, like health departments and community mental health centers, at the current 49 percent of employee pay. Our Health Departments and Regional Mental Health Centers have risen to the occasion of combatting the COVID-19 virus and there were concerns that escalating pension costs could weaken the organizations as they are called upon to respond to this unprecedented public health crisis. Unfortunately, HB 352 wouldn’t add additional money to the state’s budget reserve trust fund (our state “savings” account). It is also not clear how much of the $300 million that was expected to be available in the fund will actually be there once the fiscal year ends on June 30.
Other Highlights from the budget bill that are of particular interest to the 31st Senate District and Eastern Kentucky in general are as follows:
1) We have equalized school infrastructure funding so that school districts can get the help from Frankfort that they need to make sure our students have safe buildings with the latest technology.
2) We have also fully funded vocational education and included $250,000.00 for promising programs like Jobs for America’s Graduates (“JAG”).
3) Nearly $800,000.00 has been allocated towards Optometry Scholarships, much of which will go to the Kentucky School of Optometry at UPIKE.
4) $2 million is committed to Operation UNITE which has demonstrated much success in fighting the scourge of drugs which has plagued Eastern Kentucky.
5) The Budget also invests in Eastern Kentucky’s infrastructure needs by accelerating the construction of the Mountain Parkway and providing nearly $34 million for KentuckyWired, the state’s 21st Century super-Highway.
6) Coal severance funding is being returned almost completely to the coal-producing counties with the exception of debt service and $1 million for state mine inspectors.
7) I am particularly proud of getting $10 million committed towards the completion of the US 460 bridge at Beaver in Pike County for the 2020-2021 road plan. This vitally important infrastructure project for the 31st Senate District had been cut by Governor Beshear and was still delayed until 2022 in the House Transportation Budget. This appropriation will get this shovel-ready economic development project going and provide desperately needed jobs for our region.
8) $1.4 million has been restored to the Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims to ensure that our injured workers’ claims are timely adjudicated so that they can get the benefits they desperately need.
9) $500,000.00 is included for the Kentucky Mountain Regional Trail Authority to further the development of recreational tourism in Eastern Kentucky similar to what our neighbors in West Virginia have done with the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system.
A related revenue bill, known as House Bill 351, was amended in the Senate to include language that would grant the governor, secretary of state and the board of elections additional flexibility in conducting the 2020 primary election, now set for June 23. The language would allow for the change in the “manner” of an election in case of a state of emergency. Current law permits the governor and secretary of state to change the time or place but not the “manner” of an election. This would allow the two elected officials, in conjunction with the board, to develop an election procedure more open to absentee voting, which may be necessary because of COVID-19.
The Senate also passed the judicial and legislative branch budgets in addition to the state’s highway plan, which would still extend over 24 months. All of the budget-related bills have been delivered to the governor, including HB 351.
Because of the COVID-19 emergency, the Senate has decided to recess for as much time as possible to minimize everyone’s potential exposure to the virus. However, we plan to return on April 13 to begin considering any veto overrides and possibly give final passage to a handful of other bills. But, our leadership will continue to monitor the COVID-19 emergency and make adjustments in our schedule accordingly. The Kentucky Constitution prohibits the legislature from conducting business in even-numbered years beyond April 15.
A number of other bills initially on track this session have not been acted upon. Those bills can be refiled for the 2021 Regular Session. This was the original purpose of the ‘short’ session in Kentucky. The Senate will also have to consider the next 12-month budget during that session — unless we are called into a special session beforehand by the Governor.
While we are all ‘hunkered’ down in our homes enjoying our families and the beginning of Spring, I would urge everyone to please make sure they have filled out the questionnaires for the Census. This is vital for federal funding and future projections for our communities.
One can watch upcoming legislative business by going to the Kentucky Educational Television website www.ket.org, clicking on the “legislative coverage” link near the top right corner and selecting a video feed.
Feedback about the budget or bills to be taken up can be left by visiting the Kentucky Legislature website at legislature.ky.gov, clicking on the “legislators” dropdown menu in the upper left corner and selecting “contact a member.”
Take care of each other and stay healthy. It is an honor to represent you in Frankfort.
If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at Phillip.Wheeler@LRC.ky.gov.
