FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill that would add more oversight to Gov. Andy Beshear’s disaster relief funds, set up after natural disasters in both eastern and western Kentucky, is one step closer to passing. Sen. Whitney Westerfield’s Senate Bill 99 passed with an 8-0 vote from the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee Wednesday and now awaits a vote on the Senate floor. 

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Andy Beshear created the Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund following the Dec. 2021 tornadoes

  • Through this fund, thousands of $1,000 checks were sent out to survivors

  • Several checks were sent to people not affected by the disaste
  • A bill in the state Senate calls for more oversight on the governor's relief funds has passed in committee

“I don’t believe that these funds, well intended as they were, useful as they are, are constitutional,” Sen. Westerfield (R-Fruit Hill) said. 

SB 99 questions the constitutionality of the governor creating the funds, as well as asks the state for more information on how the money is being distributed. 

“We have language in there to get that to us by June 30. It’s not a full blow examination by the auditor or anything like that, it just shows us these very basic questions that the cabinet should be able to answer,” Sen. Westerfield said. 

This move from state lawmakers comes after our partner, The Herald-Leader, reported several $1,000 dollar checks, meant for western Kentucky tornado survivors, were sent to the people who were not affected by the disaster.

Senate President Pro Tem David Givens (R-Greenburg), who sits on the committee and is a co-sponsor of SB 99, brought up concerns about a governor creating funds like this in the future.
“This is one that we all agree on,” Sen. Givens said, referring to the western and eastern Kentucky relief funds. “What if it was one that didn’t all agree on?” 

Sen. Givens offered the example of a governor creating a similar fund to collect money for hot-button issues, like school vouchers. 
“I like what you are doing by probing this question and I think that’s why that appropriation actions belong in the hands of the general assembly,” Sen. Givens said. 

Committee Chair Senator Chris McDaniel (R-Ryland Heights) spoke about why he feels this legislation needs to be passed. 

“While we are not necessarily against the effort that the governor was making and the outpouring of support form across Kentucky, the fact is that in his capacity as chief executive he was soliciting funds and expending those through a state agency and there is a constitutional fence that surrounds that kind of spending,” Sen. McDaniel said.

During last week’s Team Kentucky briefing, Gov. Beshear said he would welcome more oversight concerning the two relief funds.

Senate Bill 99 now waits for a vote on the Senate floor. 

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