FRANKFORT - The 2010 legislative session reached the halfway mark this week, so there is a lot of work still left to be done. Our biggest job -- approving a State budget - still lies ahead. We anticipate that we will get the budget from the House soon, but this week, before we start budget negotiations, we focused on several other important issues.
House Bill 240 will make sure that recent energy initiatives will continue into the future. From incentives on energy-efficient investments for homeowners and small businesses to green standards for state construction, Kentucky is becoming an energy conservation leader. There has been some concern that these programs could end because of legal technicalities, but HB 240 ensures that we can continue on the path toward energy independence.
Along similar lines, Senate Bill 132 will ensure that school construction decisions consider how better design can save money on operating costs over the life of the facility, not to mention energy conservation and a healthier environment. In fact, one of the aims of SB 132 is to build more “net zero schools” where enough renewable energy is produced on-site to offset the school’s consumption, saving money on utility bills and teaching our students a valuable lesson. As we train the next generation of engineers and scientists, hands-on training, using their own classroom will be an invaluable tool. More energy-efficient design - for example, through more natural light rather than overhead bulbs - will also be better for student attendance, attention, and health.
Of course, if we are more diligent about long-term costs in school construction, it will also help our state budget for years to come. That is an advantage that will benefit all Kentuckians.
On another note, national board-certified teachers employed at any of the State’s 54 area technology centers cannot receive salary enhancements even though they teach the same students, and go through the same certification process as teachers employed by local school districts. We passed a bill this week that will address that inconsistency. SB 89 gives all Kentucky teachers an equal opportunity for national certification supplements. The bill ensures that teachers in the secondary State-operated area technology programs who earn national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards receive the same salary enhancements that all other national board certified teachers receive in local school districts.
We took steps this week to ensure that Medicaid coverage is extended for our youngest citizens. SB 106 deletes the list of metabolic or genetic disorder conditions that Medicaid pays for and specifies that the conditions covered are those specified genetic disorders for which newborns are required to be screened.
One final bill we passed this week would help us continue our crackdown on the growing epidemic of drug abuse. SB 144 is our latest attempt to help police keep people from driving while on drugs. We have specific standards for drivers who consume alcohol, but it is very difficult to convict someone who is high on meth, cocaine, or other drugs while they are driving. SB 144 would give law enforcement officers a tool to get drugged drivers off the roads by providing that driving with any amount of a controlled substance is illegal, unless it was being used according to its prescription. Our DUI laws have done a great job of reducing the incidence of drunk driving. Now it is time to take similar action against those who are driving while on drugs.
As I mentioned, this year’s session has reached its mid-point. Traditionally, the first half of the session is spent with the Senate focusing on Senate bills and the House considering its own legislation. As we get deeper into the session, we will start considering more House bills and focusing on the State budget.
The pace will be increasing as we head toward the last few weeks of this session, so your voice and opinion are more important than ever. As always, I urge you to call our Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 or visit our web site at www.lrc.ky.govto follow our work. You may also contact me at joey.pendleton@lrc.ky.gov.