FRANKFORT, Ky. — Several bills moved forward in Frankfort Friday as only eight legislative days remain on the calendar.
Perhaps two of the bills making the most headlines; have passed both chambers after the Senate passed both House bills. One is related to education funding; the other is known as The Safer Kentucky Act (House Bill 5). The bills have little to no bi-partisan support.
House Bill 2 seeks to change the state’s constitution to allow tax dollars to be used on funding non-public school education. To do this, lawmakers would have to get voter approval to ignore seven sections of Kentucky’s constitution pertaining to use of tax dollars and common schools—known today as public schools.
Supporters call this school choice. Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said parents who want more options for their children’s’ education besides a traditional public school are low-income families in failing school districts.
“Give our families the same choices that have been available for many years in the most politically liberal states in the union,” Thayer said.
The bill does not enact policy. Instead, it’s a constitutional amendment, so voters would have the final say on the matter. State Senator Steve West, R-Paris said the current system is not working and pointed to no improvement in test scores from the 1990s and now.
“This is just an opportunity to try something different. If the people of Kentucky don’t want this option, they can vote it down in November. It’s up to them,” West said.
Opponents of the measure, however, are concerned about the “what-ifs” should the voters approve the constitutional change. Their primary concern is the effects it could have on public schools.
State Senator Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington said 72 counties in Kentucky don’t have an option other than a private school in their area.
“We want to take that money away and give it to some other place outside of your county, unchecked, and weaken the economic engine in your county,” Thomas said.
An omnibus crime bill known as the Safer Kentucky Act (HB 5) also cleared both chambers on Friday. The bill creates a carjacking statute, harshens penalties for many crimes and creates a three strikes rule for violent crimes, meaning if a criminal commits three violent crimes it would be an automatic life sentence.
State Senator Michael Nemes, R-Shepherdsville said it’s time for Kentucky to crack down on crime.
“Crime is too high in Kentucky; it needs to be addressed. Citizens are afraid and they want something done,” Nemes said.
Opponents of the measure, mostly Democrats, are against the bill in both chambers. Particularly a provision making street camping a crime has been the biggest division among the parties.
State Senator Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, broke party lines and voted against the bill. He said it doesn’t address root issues of crime and homelessness.
“We’re not spending enough on the treatment and the care side, behavioral health side of the equation but now in addition to not spending enough there we’re going to have to spend more on the corrections and detention side,” Westerfield said.
The Safer Kentucky Act now heads back to the House for concurrence of the changes. Then it goes to the governor’s desk for signature where it will likely be vetoed.
As for HB 2, it now has a chance to be on the ballot in November. Only four constitutional amendments out of the numerous bills filed and passed can be put to the voters.
Also Friday, The House also passed a major piece of legislation. Senate Bill 6 pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in universities passed 68-18.