Budget Accountability – SB 40 (Thayer) requires all branches of government to create Web sites to post their expenditures of state funds.   SB 40 passed the Senate and now moves to the House.

Gov’t Efficiency – HB 387 (Hoover) requires the secretary of the Personnel Cabinet to provide a detailed report regarding the number and classifications of state employees in state government on a quarterly basis  in an effort to review personnel costs. 

Pensions – HB 146 (Cherry) requires two of the three members of the Kentucky Retirement System's board of trustees to have at least ten years of investment experience.  The bill passed out the House State Government Committee earlier this week and now awaits a vote of the full House.

Statute of Limitations – HB 369 (Carney) is Chamber-initiated legislation that provides for a two-year uniform statute of limitations period for wrongful discharge or wrongful termination claims.  This legislation seeks to remove Kentucky’s five-year default statute of limitations period and will bring Kentucky’s laws in line with neighboring states.

Jobs Tax Credit – HB 275 (Moore) creates a job stimulus tax credit for employers who have hired an employee who had previously been unemployed for at least 30 days.  This is a positive pro-jobs measure that deserves consideration.

Wellness Program Protections – HB 165 (Damron) is Chamber-initiated legislation to allow employers to reward employees with a discounted premium on health care plans and exempt wellness plans with smoking cessation programs from discrimination statutes. The bill passed the House last week and has been referred to the Senate Banking and Industry Committee.

University Bonding – HB 42 (Damron) would allow Kentucky’s public universities to issue their own debt for revenue generating projects such as dormitories, hospitals and research facilities.  Also related to university funding, HB 39 (Damron) would provide an interim process for approval of certain cash-funded capital projects. Both pieces of legislation passed the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee this week and now await action by the full House.

Early Graduation – SB 67 (Winters) would promote early graduation for high school students who fulfill rigorous academic requirements. The bill allows for students to continue on to either a technical and community college or a four-year university with financial aid from the state. This Chamber-supported legislation awaits action by the full Senate.

Summer Learning Camps – SB 94 (McGaha) encourages the establishment of summer learning camps with the goal of closing the achievement gap between students of different socioeconomic backgrounds. This legislation passed the Senate Education Committee this week. 

Principal Hiring—HB 322 (Stevens) permits a superintendent to fill a principal vacancy in a school after consultation with the school council. This bill awaits action in the House Education Committee

Nuclear Power – SB 26 (Leeper) seeks to remove the moratorium on constructing nuclear power plant facilities in Kentucky.  The bill passed the Senate and awaits action in the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee.

Energy Efficiency – HB 240 (Adkins) reenacts legislation passed during the 2008 Kentucky General Assembly that establishes new energy efficiency standards for state-owned buildings and provides tax credits for various energy-related projects.  This legislation passed the House and now awaits action in the Senate.

Corrections Cost – HB 33 (Yonts) would place a ban on privatized food service in state-owned prison facilities.  This legislation is projected to increase the costs of corrections by $10.8 million over the next two years.  HB 33 was recommitted to House Appropriations and Revenue this week.  The Kentucky Chamber believes that food service issues at the state’s prisons could be addressed in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.

Expanded Litigation - HB 133 (Riner) extends the statute of limitations on certain wage discrimination cases from 180 days to two years.  Wage discrimination is already addressed in the federal Equal Pay Act, and this legislation would only encourage more litigation and increase costs for employers in the state.  HB 133 passed the House earlier this week.

AMA Guides - HB 38 (Yonts) amends current law requiring the use of the latest edition of AMA Guides (6th) for determining permanent impairment ratings in workers' compensation cases and mandates the use of the 5th edition. The Kentucky Chamber opposes permanently enacting any edition and worked with the bill’s sponsor to create a process to move to future editions of the AMA Guides.  HB 38 passed the House 77-21 and now makes its way to the Senate.

Worker Verification – HB 321 (Damron) requires employers doing business with state and local governments to use a federal employment verification program to screen workers when hiring employees and submit proof of such.  This legislation passed the House Labor and Industry Committee earlier this week.  Tell us how this bill will affect your business.

Other legislation of interest

Primary Voting – SB 53 (Higdon) permits a registered independent to vote in the primary of one party for each primary election.  This legislation passed the Senate 25-12 and now awaits action in the House.