FRANKFORT, Ky. — An effort to replace the Kentucky State University board of regents has taken another step forward in Frankfort.

Senate Bill 265, sponsored by Sen. David Givens (R, Greensburg) states the board’s current membership “has a history of failing to function and is no longer functioning” the way it should. 

"There have been lots of discussion about the internal culture of the board of regents, the internal culture of the KSU organization itself," Givens said. "We’ve got to get that right."

Under the bill, the governor would select eight appointments to the board from 16 committee nominations, and those could include current members. 

Discussions on the financial problems facing Kentucky’s only public historically Black university have been ongoing for months. 

A November presentation by the Council on Postsecondary Education said there was a lack of sufficient budgetary controls at KSU and that the school would be out of cash by this month.

CPE recommended the university ask the General Assembly for $23 million. 

Sen. Reggie Thomas (D, Lexington) said KSU will need more than that. 

"Kentucky State University, historically, has not been funded to the same level as other state universities and has not had the chance to really explode off the blocks like other state universities, and so the $23 million only gets Kentucky State University to the starting line.," Thomas said.

The bill passed unanimously and moves next to the House. 

A $23 million loan to KSU cleared the House last month and is awaiting discussion in the Senate.