From the Third Floor
Mirroring what was going an all across Kentucky, the level of
activity at the Capitol this week had all the qualities of a gradual thaw after
a deep freeze. Legislators showed up on Tuesday and convened the session with
little fanfare, except for some partisan sniping leftover from last year’s
incidents of alleged sexual harassment of staffers by a now-former legislator.
Short daily sessions of each chamber have been the norm so far, with little
significant action.
There have been meaningful moments, however. Governor Beshear
delivered his “State of the Commonwealth” address Tuesday evening and,
among other things, sounded the call for increased funding for elementary and
secondary education. Also, the first bill of the session to pass committee came
out on Wednesday, and has some impact on schools.
HB 8 was passed on Wednesday by the House
Judiciary Committee. The bill deals with emergency protection for victims of
domestic violence, and includes “dating violence” within its provisions. One
specific section of the bill allows judges to impose conditions on school
districts if the domestic violence victim is a minor student. KASA and others
are working with the sponsor and bill supporters to make sure the language
related to the duties of school districts is both effective and practical.
Other bills of interest so far: two bills that would require
schools to always have present, at each school and at all school activities on and off
campus, trained personnel who can administer
glucagon and insulin. SB
20 and HB
98 also prohibit school districts from requiring students with
diabetes or seizure disorders to attend a school other than the one in whose
attendance area the student resides.
The most interesting bill so far? HCR 11, a House resolution encouraging
the KHSAA and Kentucky school districts to offer trapshooting as an
extracurricular activity. The resolution does not address whether students
would be allowed to shake hands while armed.
KASA lobbyists will be at the Capitol every day of the session.
Call or email the KASA office for information about any legislative issue. We
can be reached at (800) 928-5272, or email wayne@kasa.org or rhonda@kasa.org.