Thursday, March 20, 2014

Day Forty Nine of KY's 2014 Session In Review

HB 388, sponsored by Rep. Gooch, passed the Senate unanimously yesterday, clearing its path to Governor Beshear's desk.  HB 388 establishes performance standards criteria for Energy and Environment Cabinet for the regulation of carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units. The bill would establish different criteria for coal-fired electric generating units and natural gas-fired electric generating units and allows performance standards to be adjusted on a case-by-case basis. But probably the most important element of  HB 388 is that it declares that any plan or performance standard has no legal effect if the United States Environmental Protection Agency does not issue federal rules or guidelines for regulating carbon dioxide emissions from existing electric generating units or if the rules are withdrawn or invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction.
SB 201, a bill sponsored by Senator Denton, requires equal access to suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid addiction. A recent article in the New York Times talks about the dark side of this drug and features an interview with a jailer from Whitley County Kentucky who says the film form of that drug should be ban because it is becoming the preferred method of contraband in jails across the Commonwealth. 

LEGISLATIVE TRACKERS BY INTEREST

Click on the links below

    LINKS TO SOME OF TODAY's HEADLINES: 

     UPCOMING MEETINGS:

    Thursday, March 20, 2014
    9:00am, Annex Room 171
    HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
    Agenda: Consideration of SB 153

     9:00am, Annex Room 169
    SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON VETERANS, MILITARY AFFAIRS, AND PUBLIC PROTECTION
    Agenda: Consideration of HB 405, HB 234, HB 189 and HB 179

    10:00am, Annex Room 131
    HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY
    Agenda: Consideration of HB 404, HB 489, HB 560 and HB 573 - FOR DISCUSSION ONLY HB 485

    10:00am, Annex Room 129
    SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, AND LABOR
    Agenda: Confirmations/Resolutions,  SCR 188

    10:00am, Annex Room 154SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
    Agenda: Consideration of SB 181, SB 189, HB 78, HB 264 and HB 343

     11:30am, Annex Room 171
    SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

    Noon, Annex Room 169
    HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE
    Agenda: Consideration of HB 453, HB 575, SB 3, SB 8, SB 85 and SB 98

    Noon, Annex Room 154
    HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT
    Agenda: Consideration of HB 313, HJR 52, HB 91 and HB 92

    Noon, Annex Room 149
    SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE
    Agenda: pending 1:00pm, Annex Room 125

    HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
    Agenda: The following bills are posted and may be called for consideration: HB 398 and HB 551

    2:00pm, House Chambers
    House Convenes

    2:00pm Senate Chambers
    Senate Convenes (Orders of the Day)

    Upon Recess of the House Chambers, Capitol Room 305
    HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
    Agenda: Consideration of HB 397

    SOME OF THE LATEST POLITICAL STORIES:

    Republican Sen. Rand Paul's criticisms of President Barack Obama and other government leaders over recent surveillance disclosures were warmly received on Wednesday at the University of California, Berkeley.Click to Continue » [...]
    Thu, Mar 20, 2014 12:41:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
    Senate President Robert Stivers said Wednesday he hopes a conference committee will start soon to iron out differences between the House and the Senate on snow days legislation.Click to Continue » [...]
    Wed, Mar 19, 2014 10:33:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
    House Speaker Greg Stumbo, considering his own run for governor in 2015, has harsh words for fellow Democrats pondering a run for the Governor's Mansion.Click to Continue » [...]
    Wed, Mar 19, 2014 9:39:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
    HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU FRANKFORT — The Senate unanimously gave final approval Wednesday to a bill that would let Kentucky create coal-friendly power plant emission standards in an attempt to head off tougher federal rules. House Bill 388, sponsored by Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence, now goes to Gov. Steve Beshear for his considration. The U.S. Environmental Protection […] [...]
    Wed, Mar 19, 2014 9:06:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
    FRANKFORT – The Senate overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment Wednesday to cut the number of days state lawmakers meet each year. The vote was 34-3. Senate Bill 195, sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester,would cut the number of days lawmakers meet in session from 90 days every two years to up to 60 days, saving the state up to $7 million a year. Stivers said having fewer legislative days each year would attract more candidates to run for the House and Senate. He also said legislators should not be concerned with less pay. “We are supposed to be citizen legislators. This [...]
    Wed, Mar 19, 2014 8:59:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
    Republican Senator Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes sit on opposite sides of the debate about the role of money in U.S. elections.A deluge of campaign cash is playing a significant role in Kentucky's Senate race thus far.The money raised by the campaigns and outside groups is expected to top the $100 million mark and go down as the most expensive in U.S. history. [...]
    Wed, Mar 19, 2014 3:27:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
    WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama, the nation’s No. 1 college basketball fan, is going to make his picks public on Wednesday. Our USA TODAY colleague David Jackson, who covers the White House, reports that ESPN basketball reporter Andy Katz was spotted in the executive mansion on Tuesday. ESPN annually tapes Obama as he fills in his brackets and explains his picks. The White House confirmed that the president’s brackets will be made public Wednesday. You will recall that Obama last July hosted the University of Louisville Cardinals at the White House to recognize their championship win. And the president was a bit conciliatory, given that [...]
    Tue, Mar 18, 2014 7:05:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
    All but one of the Kentucky politicians who supplied WHAS11 with a bracket also predict the Cardinals will make it to the national championship against top-seeded Florida. [...]
    Thu, Mar 20, 2014 11:40:39 AM, Continue reading at the source


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    Wednesday, March 19, 2014

    Day Forty Eight of KY's 2014 Session In Review

    SB 148, sponsored by Senator Buford, is a bill that requires comparable copayment, coinsurance, or deductibles for patient-administered anticancer medications as there are for anticancer medications injected or intravenously administered by health care providers. The bill passed out of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee yesterday to the Consent Calendar. SB185, a bill that would require face-to-face provider contract negotiations, sponsored by Senator Gibson was removed from the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee agenda at the last minute.
    Senator Leeper filed an amendment to SB 166, the state fair hearing bill yesterday, that would require the agency head to issue a final order within 25 days or the hearing officer's opinion will become final and requires an MCO to pay for all disputed services and interest within 30 days upon exhaustion of all appeals.
    Senator Denton has filed an amendment to SB 201, her suboxone bill, that would require the MCOs to establish the same access criteria for suboxone instead of equally reimbursing alternative administration methods. This amendment could clear the way for this bill to move this week.
    Rep. Marzian has filed an amendment to Chairman Tilley's HB527, the CMHC legislation, that would retain most of the provisions of the house committee substitute, except the mandatory the list of services that community mental health centers provide. Rep. Marzian's amendment would exclude primary care services which remain permissive and delete the requirement that the provider must be a Medicaid-participating provider.
    The House Banking & Insurance Committee Meeting is cancelled for today, taking HB395, a bill that creates medication synchornization  process at the pharmacy, off the table, possibly for the rest of the session. And the Senate Health & Welfare Committee will hear testimony on the concerns of the Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC).

    LEGISLATIVE TRACKERS BY INTEREST

    Click on the links below

      LINKS TO SOME OF TODAY's HEADLINES:

       UPCOMING MEETINGS:

      Wednesday, March 19, 2014
      8:30am, Annex Room 129
      HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND SMALL BUSINESS
      Agenda: Consideration of SB 170, HR 175, HB 491 and HR 210

      9:00am, Annex Room 169
      HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LICENSING AND OCCUPATIONS
      Agenda: Consideration of HB 283, HB 420, SB 19, SB 26 and SB 128

      9:00am, Annex Room 154
      SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
      Agenda: Consideration of SB 167, SB 228, HB 133, HB 169 and HB 281

      10:00am, Annex Room 131
      SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE
      Agenda: Discussion of Referred Legislation: HB 310 and HCR 133, Discussion of Concerns Regarding Community Mental Health Centers

      11:00am, Annex Room 154
      SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY
      Agenda: Consideration of SB 40, SR 249, HB 291 and HB 328

      Noon, Annex Room 171
      HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
      Agenda: Consideration of HB 397, SB 45, SB 47, SB 66, SB 86, SB 124, and SB 157

      Noon, Annex Room 131
      HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
      Agenda: The following bills are posted and may be called for consideration: HB 544, HB 551, HB 561 and SB 144

      Noon, Annex Room 169
      HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON VETERANS, MILITARY AFFAIRS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY
      Agenda: Consideration of SB 100, SB 158 and HB 531

      Noon, Annex Room 154
      SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
      Agenda: Consideration of SB 216, HB 81, HB 84, HB 138, HB 208, HB 276, HB 367 and HB 364

      2:00pm, House Chambers
      House Convenes (Orders of the Day) 
      2:00pm, Senate Chambers
      Senate Convenes (Orders of the Day)

      SOME OF THE LATEST POLITICAL STORIES:

      The Kentucky House on Tuesday approved a $4.51 billion, two-year road plan that relies on a gas tax increase and postpones completion of Gov. Steve Beshear's proposal to widen and…Click to Continue » [...]
      Tue, Mar 18, 2014 10:32:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
      HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU FRANKFORT – The Senate approved Tuesday a bill sponsored by Sen. Robin Webb that would require any funds recovered by the attorney general’s office in a legal case to be deposited into the General Fund, which pays for most state programs. Some lawmakers have claimed that $32 million Attorney General Jack Conway has collected from lawsuit settlements with two drug companies should have gone into the General Fund. Conway decided to use the money to expand substance abuse treatment in Kentucky. He said court orders filed in both settlements required that the money be spent on drug treatment [...]
      Tue, Mar 18, 2014 10:13:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
      A committee has recommended giving $2.3 million in city money to 29 nonprofit agencies for homeless, domestic violence, job training and other services.Click to Continue » [...]
      Tue, Mar 18, 2014 9:40:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
      The Kentucky Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would make clear U.S. Sen. Rand Paul may run for two federal offices at once.Click to Continue » [...]
      Tue, Mar 18, 2014 8:52:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
      By Sam Youngman syoungman@herald-leader.com An issues group supportive of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is launching a three-week, $1.8 million advertising campaign in Kentucky, by far the largest ad buy to date of the 2014 U.S. Senate race. Unlike other Super PACs operating in Kentucky, the Kentucky Opportunity Coalition is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization, so its political activity is restricted to issue-focused ads that don't directly ask voters to support one candidate over another. The group is beginning its run of ads, which will appear statewide on cable, broadcast television and radio, by focusing on McConnell's record on veterans' issues. "This week, you'll see the [...]
      Tue, Mar 18, 2014 1:44:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
      By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT – With no discussion, the Senate approved a bill Monday that would allow the Senate president or House speaker to intervene in a court case when the attorney general fails to defend a state law or part of the Kentucky Constitution. The vote on Senate Bill 221, sponsored by Sen. Sara Beth Gregory, R-Monticello, was 31-6, with one Democrat passing. Six other Democrats cast the “no” votes. Gregory said the bill was filed in part due to Attorney General Jack Conway’s recent decision not to appeal a federal judge's ruling that Kentucky must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other [...]
      Tue, Mar 18, 2014 12:16:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
      It appears the legislation that could change the school calendar in Kentucky due to snow days could make it to the Governor Steve Beshear's desk soon. [...]
      Wed, Mar 19, 2014 12:04:56 PM, Continue reading at the source

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      Tuesday, March 18, 2014

      Day Forty Seven of KY's 2014 Session In Review

       HB5, State Auditor Adam Edelen's Cyber Security bill cleared the Senate State & Local Government Committee last night with a committee substitute that allows third parties regulated by other federal regulations to turn to those regulations for guidance. HB 395, Rep. Wuchner's Med Synch bill was posted in the House Banking & Insurance Committee. SB73, Senator Buford's Prior Authorization bill was assigned to House Banking & Insurance yesterday. Rep. Ken Upchurch's, HB 218, proof of insurance bill was enrolled and signed by the President of the Senate yesterday. Senator Carroll's, SB137, a workers comp bill that doubles attorney's fees was taken from Senate Banking & Insurance and reassigned to Appropriations and Revenue.
      SB 148, Senator Buford's oral cancer bill, is on the agenda in Senate Banking & Insurance today and Senator Gibson's SB185 is scheduled for a hearing in the same committee.

      LEGISLATIVE TRACKERS BY INTEREST

      Click on the links below

        LINKS TO SOME OF TODAY's HEADLINES:

         UPCOMING MEETINGS:

        Tuesday, March 18, 2014 
        8:00am, Annex Room 129
        HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
        Agenda: Consideration of HB 444 and HB 473
        8:00am, Annex Room 125
        SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
        Agenda: Consideration of SB 168, HB 79, HB 87, HB 154, HB 254 and HB 279
        8:00am, Annex Room 154
        SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
        Agenda: Consideration of SB 181, SB 184, SB 189 and SB 212
        9:00am, Annex Room 171
        HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
        9:00am, Annex Room 149
        SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE
        Agenda: Consideration of HB 94, HB 341 and HB 483 - For Discussion Only: HB 445
        10:00am, Annex Room 154
        HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE
        Agenda: Consideration of HB 41, HB 119, HB 236, HB 237, HB 376 and HB 474
        10:00am,Annex Room 169
        SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LICENSING, OCCUPATIONS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS
        Agenda: Consideration of SB 213, HB 102, HB 379, HB 413, HB 415 and HB 475
        11:30am,Annex Room 131
        SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
        Agenda: Consideration of SB 208 and HB 448
        Noon, Annex Room 149
        HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
        Agenda: Consideration of SB 23, SB 59 and SB 143
        Noon, Annex Room 129
        SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND INSURANCE
        Agenda: Consideration of SB 148, HB 206 and HB 375, FOR DISCUSSION ONLY: SB 185
        1:00pm, Annex Room 169
        CAPITAL PROJECTS AND BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
        2:00pm, House Chambers
        House Convenes (Orders of the Day) 
        2:00pm, Senate Chambers
        Senate Convenes (Orders of the Day)

        SOME OF THE LATEST POLITICAL STORIES:

        FRANKFORT — A Senate committee Monday night unanimously approved a cyber-security bill that Auditor Adam Edelen had complained was being blocked in the Senate because of political reasons.Click to Continue » [...]
        Tue, Mar 18, 2014 2:30:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
        By Sam Youngman syoungman@herald-leader.com An issues group supportive of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is launching a three-week, $1.8 million advertising campaign in Kentucky, by far the largest ad buy to date of the 2014 U.S. Senate race. Unlike other Super PACs operating in Kentucky, the Kentucky Opportunity Coalition is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization, so its political activity is restricted to issue-focused ads that don't directly ask voters to support one candidate over another. The group is beginning its run of ads, which will appear statewide on cable, broadcast television and radio, by focusing on McConnell's record on veterans' issues. "This week, you'll see the [...]
        Tue, Mar 18, 2014 1:44:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
        The campaign to re-elect Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell barred a Kentucky reporter from covering a press conference Monday afternoon.Louisville Metro Police were called to stop LEO Weekly's Joe Sonka from entering a hotel conference room where McConnell was holding an event with fellow Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte and a group of veterans. [...]
        Tue, Mar 18, 2014 1:36:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
        By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT – With no discussion, the Senate approved a bill Monday that would allow the Senate president or House speaker to intervene in a court case when the attorney general fails to defend a state law or part of the Kentucky Constitution. The vote on Senate Bill 221, sponsored by Sen. Sara Beth Gregory, R-Monticello, was 31-6, with one Democrat passing. Six other Democrats cast the “no” votes. Gregory said the bill was filed in part due to Attorney General Jack Conway’s recent decision not to appeal a federal judge's ruling that Kentucky must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other [...]
        Tue, Mar 18, 2014 12:16:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
        By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT – A Senate committee Monday night unanimously approved a cyber-security bill that Auditor Adam Edelen had complained was being blocked in the Senate because of political reasons. The Senate State and Local Government Committee changed House Bill 5 before approving it and sending it to the full Senate. Chairman Joe Bowen, R-Owensboro, told reporters that the amended bill had the support of Edelen. Edelen, frequently mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for governor in 2015, said in an email that he appreciated Bowen "clearing the logjam on House Bill 5 and moving this important cyber-security bill forward.” House Bill 5 [...]
        Tue, Mar 18, 2014 12:04:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
        With leading lawmakers at loggerheads, Kentucky school districts remain in limbo as they attempt to finalize the calendar for a school year pocked with snow days.Click to Continue » [...]
        Mon, Mar 17, 2014 10:07:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
        A man identifying himself as a Louisville Metro Police officer, right, stopped Joe Sonka, news editor at LEO Weekly, from entering a press conference held by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. Photo by Alton Strupp/CJ U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s campaign on Monday barred Joe Sonka, the news editor for LEO Weekly magazine, from attending a press conference following a round-table discussion with veterans. The campaign called on the Louisville Metro Police to make sure that Sonka, who has been critical of McConnell in the past, from entering the conference room at the Hilton Garden Inn, on Crittenden Drive, where the event was held. McConnell, [...]
        Mon, Mar 17, 2014 9:17:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
        WASHINGTON – Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul leads the potential Republican field of 2016 White House contenders, according to the latest CNN/ORC International Poll. Paul has the backing of 16 percent of Republicans and independents who lean toward that party, the survey found. Right behind the Kentuckian is Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the 2012 GOP vice presidential nominee, with 15 percent. Texas Gov. Rick Perry is at 11 percent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is at 10 percent, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has 9 percent, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz each have 8 percent, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio [...]
        Mon, Mar 17, 2014 7:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
        Tom Loftus In balancing its version of the 2014-16 state budget last week, the Kentucky House raided smaller state funds for nearly $7 million more than Gov. Steve Beshear proposed to support spending in the next two years. Beshear drew some criticism for tapping 51 various small agency funds and accounts for $370 million during the upcoming two-year budget period. The House appears to have okayed all of those transfers, and added these: * $1.6 million moved from the Equine Drug Research Fund to General Fund in 2014-15. * $1.2 million more than Beshear proposed during the two-year period from the Underground Petroleum Storage Tank Fund to General [...]
        Mon, Mar 17, 2014 6:56:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

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