AN ACT relating to psychologists.

Amend KRS 319.053 to reduce the five-year supervision requirement to two years for a licensed psychological associate to qualify as a licensed psychological practitioner; amend KRS 319.050 and 319.064 to extend the grace period from 60 days to 180 days allowing temporary licensure while applications are pending; remove provision that sunsetted in 2013.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/26/2024 - (H) Referred to Committee House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League supports HB35 because it would reduce barriers to licensing psychologists and help address a dire shortage of mental health care in the state of Kentucky. We are asking our supporters to urge their legislators to support this needed legislation.

AN ACT relating to the recruitment and retention of medical professionals and declaring an emergency.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 344 to ensure federal law relating to emergency medical treatment and the collection of evidence is not overridden; define terms; prohibit discrimination against medical care providers who decline to perform procedures that violate their conscience; grant providers the right not to participate in or pay for services that violate their conscience; exempt providers from liability for exercising these rights; prohibit the State Board of Medical Licensure from reprimanding medical practitioners and require the board to provide complaints it has received to medical practitioners; establish a civil cause of action for persons injured by violations; provide that the Act may be cited as the Healthcare Heroes Recruitment and Retention Act; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/2/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League opposes HB49 because this bill would allow medical professionals to refuse treatment based on their own personal beliefs. This could have serious negative health consequences for many people. We will continue to monitor this bill for movement.

AN ACT relating to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 211 to establish a PFAS Working Group to research the effect that exposure to PFAS has on health outcomes in the Commonwealth; create new sections of Subchapter 10 of KRS Chapter 224 to define the terms "consumer product," "intentionally added," "PFAS," "product component," and "wastewater treatment facility"'; establish a reporting requirement for manufacturers that intentionally include PFAS in products manufactured for sale or distribution in the Commonwealth; establish a reporting requirement for PFAS releases in the Commonwealth by manufacturers that intentionally include PFAS in manufactured products.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/6/2024 - (H) Referred to Committee House Health Services (H)

  NEWS STORIES

4/23/2024 - ‘Forever chemicals:’ Now that feds have acted, some say Kentucky should do more

AN ACT relating to environmental audits.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 77 to define "environmental audit" and to provide that a person or facility subject to the requirements of KRS Chapter 77 that performs an environmental audit according to the requirements of KRS 224.1-040 shall be entitled to all of the benefits, privileges, and protections afforded by that section; amend KRS 224.1-040 to allow facilities regulated by air pollution control districts established under KRS Chapter 77 to avail themselves of the same environmental audit process available to facilities regulated by the Energy and Environment Cabinet under KRS Chapter 224; allow owners or operators of facilities regulated by air pollution control boards under KRS Chapter 77 to make voluntary disclosures as a result of the findings of an environmental audit; create an environmental audit privilege to protect the confidentiality of communications relating to voluntary internal environmental audits of facilities regulated under KRS Chapter 77; prohibit an air pollution control district from seeking civil penalties against a facility for a violation of KRS Chapter 77 or the rules, orders, or administrative regulations promulgated thereunder if certain conditions are met. House Floor Amendment (1) Require that, as part of the conditions for civil penalties to be barred for the voluntary disclosure of a violation of KRS Chapters 77 or 224 and the administrative regulations promulgated thereunder, the violation not be part of a pattern of violations occurring in the past five years at a facility or facilities owned by the same entity.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/12/2024 - Delivered to Secretary of State

  NEWS STORIES

4/10/2024 - Governor vetoes series of bills

4/8/2024 - Gov. Andy Beshear vetoes JCPS 'splitting' bill, Louisville nonpartisan elections, more

3/20/2024 - Ky. Chamber and ACLU lead Frankfort lobbying spending in opening months of session

1/26/2024 - Kentucky House passes bill limiting power of Louisville’s air pollution authority

1/19/2024 - Would a GOP lawmaker benefit from a bill easing pollution controls in Louisville?

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League vehemently opposes House Bill 136 (HB 136),
which threatens to shield industrial companies, particularly in
Louisville's Rubbertown corridor, from penalties for self-reported air
pollution violations. Sponsored by Rep. Jared Bauman, associated with
Lubrizol, a chemical plant in the area, the bill provides a loophole for
companies to evade accountability for violations. If passed, HB 136
could exacerbate the already critical air quality issues in Louisville,
impacting communities, especially in the West and South ends, where a
higher percentage of Black residents reside. The bill's potential
consequences include increased health risks such as cancer, asthma,
organ damage, and reduced life expectancy. The Louisville Urban League
urges supporters to call the legislative hotline at 1-800-372-7181,
urging legislators to reject HB 136 and protect the well-being of our
communities.

AN ACT relating to insurance for loss of income and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 304.3-110 to authorize life and health insurers to transact disability income and paid family leave insurance; make technical corrections; create new sections of Subtitle 5 of KRS Chapter 304 to define "disability income insurance" and "paid family leave insurance" and specify how each is to be classified and filed; amend KRS 304.9-030 to include paid family leave insurance in life and health lines of authority; establish Subtitle 53 of KRS Chapter 304 and create new sections thereof to regulate paid family leave insurance; establish paid family leave insurance requirements, authorized scope of benefits, disclosure requirements, and authorized limitations; authorize the insurance commissioner to promulgate administrative regulations to enforce Subtitle 53 of KRS Chapter 304; create short title; amend KRS 304.17A-005, 304.18-010, and 304.36-030 to conform; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

  NEWS STORIES

3/28/2024 - Paid family leave bill sees final passage

1/29/2024 - Republican-led Kentucky House passes bill aimed at making paid family leave more accessible

1/10/2024 - Bill seeking to provide businesses ability to offer paid family leave benefits moves forward

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League supports HB179 because it would help make it easier for businesses to offer paid family leave to their employees. This bill has already passed through one committee, and LUL will continue to monitor it. We encourage our supporters to ask their legislators to support HB179.

AN ACT proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to the environment.

Propose to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to establish a right of the people to have a healthy environment, including a right to clean air, pure water, and ecologically healthy habitats; declare the Commonwealth's natural resources, among them its air, water, flora, fauna, climate, and public lands, are the common property of all people, including generations yet to come; establish that as trustee of the environment and its natural resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/18/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

LUL endorses HB302 as a necessary initiative aimed at safeguarding the rights of Kentucky citizens to a healthy and secure environment. The pursuit of environmental justice is closely linked to considerations of racial equity, given the historical correlation between hazardous environmental conditions and predominantly Black neighborhoods. These communities are disproportionately exposed to detrimental factors such as toxic chemical emissions, compromised drinking water safety, and airborne pollutants.

AN ACT relating to maternal health disparities in prenatal care.

Amend KRS 211.680 to expand the scope of the legislative intent and findings; create new sections of KRS Chapter 211 to define terms; require licensed health facilities under KRS Chapter 216B to provide each patient with written information regarding the patient's rights and implement an evidence-based maternal health disparities program for all health providers involved in the perinatal care of patients within those facilities; require the Department for Public Health to track data on maternal death and severe morbidity.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/18/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

LUL supports HB 306, recognizing its merit in addressing the critical issues surrounding maternal mortality, particularly the higher rates among Black individuals in the United States. This commendable legislation ensures that women undergoing treatment are fully informed of their rights, advocates for comprehensive training in perinatal care facilities to eliminate outdated practices and enhance understanding of social determinants of health, and underscores the importance of recording and tracking data related to mortality and specific health conditions.

AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Child Mental Health Services Access Program.

Create a new section of KRS 210.370 to 210.485 to create the Kentucky Child Mental Health Services Access Program; establish duties and responsibilities; amend KRS 210.400 to establish that the community board for mental health or individuals with an intellectual disability shall implement, staff, and operate the Kentucky Child Mental Health Services Access Program.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/24/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

LUL supports HB 364, a crucial piece of legislation aimed at establishing the Kentucky Child Mental Health Services Access Program. Aligned with our commitment to community well-being, this bill addresses the vital needs of children with mental illness or intellectual disabilities. By operating through regional community services programs, the program would provide essential services such as immediate clinical consultation, face-to-face mental health consultation, care coordination, and professional education. LUL recognizes the significance of this initiative in enhancing the mental health support system for children in the Commonwealth, and we urge all stakeholders to support the passage of HB 364 for the betterment of our community's youth.

AN ACT relating to public benefits.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to prohibit the Cabinet for Health and Family Services from taking certain actions regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including increasing the eligibility standards for participation in the program; granting noncash, in-kind, or other benefits to individuals in the program unless individuals are eligible for those benefits under a different program; exempting individuals from the gross income and financial resources standards for benefits; applying for, seeking, accepting, or renewing any waiver of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents; amend KRS 205.178 to remove the provisions allowing the cabinet to waive certain requirements within the SNAP program without first obtaining authorization from the General Assembly. House Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions; require authorization from the General Assembly for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to seek, apply for, accept, or renew any waiver of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/14/2024 - committee vote - failed 5-6

  NEWS STORIES

3/28/2024 - Flurry of bills move on final legislative day before veto period

3/26/2024 - How conservative Florida groups pushed controversial child labor, SNAP bills in Kentucky

3/23/2024 - Bill targeting SNAP benefits would also impact Kentucky farmers, nonprofit says

3/15/2024 - Bills to relax child labor laws, cut SNAP benefits stall in Senate committee

3/14/2024 - Child labor, food assistance bills stall in Kentucky Senate committee but could get another chance

2/23/2024 - Kentucky House passes bill that would make it harder for people to qualify for SNAP benefits

2/23/2024 - GOP bills to cut SNAP benefits, loosen child labor laws advance in House

2/16/2024 - Advocates say bill that would cut Kentuckians off SNAP benefits will worsen food insecurity

2/16/2024 - Kentucky Legislature considers more stringent SNAP eligibility requirements

COMMENTS

LUL opposes HB 367, a regressive piece of legislation that seeks to undermine public benefits, particularly the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This bill takes a decidedly negative and restrictive approach by preventing the Cabinet from increasing eligibility standards for SNAP, unless mandated by federal law. By imposing limitations on non-cash benefits and exemption from eligibility standards, the proposed legislation threatens to increase the challenges faced by individuals in need. Furthermore, the bill introduces complex and burdensome intervals and agencies for reviewing and tracking information related to Medicaid and SNAP enrollees, creating unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles. The provision restricting the waiver of work requirements without explicit authorization from the General Assembly adds an additional layer of rigidity to the proposed measures. LUL firmly opposes this legislation, recognizing its potential to limit access to essential public assistance and hinder the well-being of those who rely on these vital programs.

AN ACT relating to the Perinatal Advisory Committee.

Create a new section of KRS 211.672 to 211.678 to establish the Perinatal Advisory Committee to review Kentucky’s system of perinatal care and make recommendations for the improvement of perinatal outcomes within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services; establish duties, membership, and reporting requirements of the committee.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/30/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to reproductive privacy.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 311 to establish reproductive rights and define terms; amend KRS 18A.225 to remove the prohibition of insurance coverage for abortion; amend KRS 39A.180 to allow the Governor to suspend statutes related to abortion during a declared emergency; amend KRS 156.496 to allow a school district to operate a family resource center that provides abortion counseling; amend KRS 205.010 to permit financial aid for an abortion; amend KRS 205.510 to include abortions or induced miscarriages as medical care; amend KRS 205.560 to allow medical aid payments for abortion; amend KRS 211.603 to allow money in the rape crisis trust fund to be used for abortion services or education; amend KRS 212.275 to allow health departments to dispense medication for an abortion; amend KRS 213.101 to remove various reporting requirements; amend various sections to remove penalties associated with performing abortions; amend various sections to conform; repeal, reenact, and amend or repeal and reenact KRS 311.783, 311.7710, 311.820, 311.990, 311.780, 311.810, 311.572, 311.591, 311.686, and 311.852 to conform; repeal KRS 15.241, 213.098, 213.172, 213.174, 213.176, 216B.0435, 216B.200, 216B.202, 216B.204, 216B.206, 216B.208, 216B.210, 304.5-160, 311.710, 311.715, 311.720, 311.723, 311.724, 311.725, 311.727, 311.728, 311.731, 311.732, 311.733, 311.735, 311.750, 311.760, 311.765, 311.770, 311.7701, 311.7702, 311.7703, 311.7704, 311.7705, 311.7706, 311.7707, 311.7708, 311.7709,, 311.7711, 311.772, 311.7731, 311.7733, 311.7734, 311.7735, 311.7736, 311.7737, 311.7739, 311.774, 311.7741, 311.7743, 311.781, 311.7811, 311.782, 311.784, 311.7841, 311.785, 311.786, 311.787, 311.790, 311.800, 311.821, 311.822, 311.823, 311.824, 311.825, 311.826, 311.827, 311.830, 311.992, and 315.315; EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/31/2024 - Introduced

  NEWS STORIES

2/6/2024 - Democrat files 3 bills to restore abortion access, shield patient medical records

1/31/2024 - State Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, files bills aimed at abortion access, reproductive health

1/31/2024 - Kentucky lawmaker files abortion rights bills, even though she knows GOP majority won't call them

1/31/2024 - Activists renew push to repeal Kentucky’s near-total abortion ban

1/31/2024 - 'Shield Bill' would protect Kentuckians who get out-of-state abortion

1/31/2024 - Ky. bill would repeal abortion bans, protect people seeking care out-of-state

COMMENTS

LUL supports HB428, recognizing the vital need to protect abortion access as an individual right. We believe in upholding bodily autonomy, ensuring safe and legal options for reproductive healthcare. This support extends to safeguarding the individual's health, addressing economic considerations, and acknowledging diverse circumstances. By endorsing HB428, we affirm our commitment to empowering individuals in making informed decisions about their reproductive well-being.

AN ACT relating to reproductive health care.

Create a new section of KRS 311.710 to 311.820 to define terms; establish privacy protections for a woman seeking reproductive health care outside of the Commonwealth; establish protections for any person or entity assisting a woman seeking reproductive health care out of the Commonwealth; establish a civil cause of action for violations; waive sovereign immunity protections of the Commonwealth.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/31/2024 - Introduced

  NEWS STORIES

3/29/2024 - Legally buying bottle of rare bourbon may get harder under Kentucky alcohol bill

2/6/2024 - Democrat files 3 bills to restore abortion access, shield patient medical records

1/31/2024 - State Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, files bills aimed at abortion access, reproductive health

1/31/2024 - Kentucky lawmaker files abortion rights bills, even though she knows GOP majority won't call them

1/31/2024 - Activists renew push to repeal Kentucky’s near-total abortion ban

1/31/2024 - 'Shield Bill' would protect Kentuckians who get out-of-state abortion

1/31/2024 - Ky. bill would repeal abortion bans, protect people seeking care out-of-state

COMMENTS

LUL supports HB 429 because it protects people's right to reproductive health care in Kentucky. The bill ensures that individuals and groups won't face legal trouble for seeking or providing abortion services outside of Kentucky. It also keeps medical records private and prevents punishment for healthcare professionals. By backing HB 429, LUL stands for a supportive environment that respects personal choices in reproductive health care.

AN ACT relating to overdose good samaritans and making an appropriation therefor.

Amend KRS 218A.133 to provide that a person who seeks or renders aid to someone experiencing a possible drug overdose or is the person experiencing a possible drug overdose cannot be arrested on a warrant or be subject to revocation of his or her conditions of release if the evidence for the arrest or motion to revoke is obtained as a result of the need for aid for the possible drug overdose; establish that the immunity extends from the time law enforcement or medical personnel respond at the location of a possible overdose until law enforcement or medical personnel leave the scene; exclude certain offenses from immunity; require the Office of Drug Control Policy to conduct an overdose good samaritan education and awareness campaign; appropriate funds in the amount of $500,000 from the opioid abatement trust fund to support the campaign; APPROPRIATION.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/31/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League supports HB 435 because it will encourage people who suffer from substance abuse disorder to seek help without fear of arrest and prosecution. We will collaborate with partners to bring awareness to this bill, contact people directly, find people to provide testimony, and contact allies. We are asking our supporters to call their state representative and senator and tell them you would like them to vote for HB 435.

AN ACT relating to the promotion of family well-being and making an appropriation therefor.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 205 to require the eligibility periods for all public assistance programs administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services be extended to the maximum period of eligibility permitted under federal law; prohibit the Cabinet for Health and Family Services from relying exclusively on automated, artificial-intelligence based, or algorithmic software in the identification of fraud in programs administered by the cabinet; require Cabinet for Health and Family Services personnel to review relevant documentation before denying, discontinuing, or reducing an individual's benefits; amend KRS 205.178 to conform; amend KRS 205.231 to establish a presumption of innocence for public assistance beneficiaries when appealing a decision to disqualify the individual; create a new section of Subtitle 17 of KRS Chapter 304 to require insurers to provide a special enrollment period for pregnant individuals and specify coverage requirements; amend KRS 304.17A-145 to require health benefit plans that provide coverage for dependents to cover maternity care for all covered individuals regardless of age; amend KRS 18A.225, 164.2871, 194A.099, 205.522, 205.6485, and 205.5372 to conform; amend KRS 205.592 to allow Medicaid income limits for certain women and children to be increased under certain circumstances; create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to require Medicaid coverage for lactation support services and breastfeeding supplies; amend KRS 205.1783 to require the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training program to offer the same services as are offered to Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program participants; amend KRS 100.982 and 100.984 to permit the operation of family child-care homes in any residential zone without a conditional use permit; amend KRS 199.894 to define terms; create a new section of KRS Chapter 199 to establish the Child Care Assistance Program; create a new section of KRS Chapter 383 to allow court eviction-records to be expunged after three years; require payment of back rent; create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to establish a tuition and student fee waiver for eligible pregnant women and parents; direct the Legislative Research Commission to establish the Basic Health Program Design Task Force to make recommendations regarding the basic health program eligibility, cost sharing, and reimbursement rates; authorize the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to establish a basic health program; direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to prepare and submit federal waiver applications to provide supported housing and supported employment services to certain Medicaid beneficiaries; to waive the single risk pool requirement and establish a state-based reinsurance program; and to permit the cabinet to accept SNAP applications from incarcerated individuals up to six months prior to release; appropriate to the Kentucky Housing Corporation: 2024-2026: $10,000,000 for a rental assistance program for pregnant women and households that include children under the five years of age; appropriate to the Department of Agriculture: 2024-2026 $2,200,000 to establish a school nutrition reimbursement program and to support the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Assistance Program; appropriate to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services: 2024-2025: $284,843,200, 2025-2026: $314,838,400 to expand the Women, Infants, and Children Farmers Market Nutrition Assistance Program to include Jefferson County, establish a Women, Infants, and Children's Program supplemental payment, expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training program offerings; support the Child Care Assistance Program, and fund an additional 280 slots in the Home and Community Based waiver program, an additional 2,100 slots in the Michelle P. waiver program, and an additional 800 slots in the Supports for Community Living waiver program; direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to seek federal approval as necessary; direct the Department of Insurance to seek a federal cost defrayment waiver as necessary; provide that the Act may be cited as the Advancing Lives for Pregnancy and Healthy Alternatives Act or the ALPHA Act; APPROPRIATION; EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/5/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Appropriations & Revenue (S)

  NEWS STORIES

1/16/2024 - Kentucky legislature asked to end long, worrying wait lists for adults with disabilities

1/16/2024 - Kentucky legislature asked to end long, worrying wait lists for adults with disabilities

1/9/2024 - Kentucky lawmakers considering state budget take close look at child care center funding

1/3/2024 - Ban on college diversity initiatives among bills proposed on KY legislature opening day

1/3/2024 - Abortion foe Sen. Westerfield proposes sweeping new supports for Kentucky families

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League supports SB34 because it would help Kentucky families meet their basic needs. It will expand Medicaid support for new parents, support families facing eviction,  increase workforce support for SNAP recipients, and help with childcare assistance. It is currently waiting to be heard in committee. We are asking our supporters to contact the Appropriations & Revenue Committee members to urge them to vote yes on SB34.

AN ACT relating to music therapy and making an appropriation therefor.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 309 to define terms; establish a licensing board for professional music therapists; require three members of the board to have engaged in three years of the practice or teaching of music therapy; prohibit any persons not licensed under this board from holding himself or herself out as a licensed professional music therapist; authorize the board to promulgate administrative regulations; authorize the board to issue a license to practice music therapy; establish the process for license renewal, suspension, and revocation; establish fees for licensure; establish fee limitations; authorize the board to implement disciplinary actions; require a licensed professional music therapist to collaborate with a client's physician or other professional involved in the treatment of the client; require a licensed professional music therapist to collaborate with a client's mental health or substance use disorder professional involved in the treatment of the client; prohibit a licensed professional music therapist from replacing services provided by an audiologist or a speech-language pathologist; create the licensed music therapy practice board fund; establish a fine for violations; APPROPRIATION

  CURRENT STATUS

1/3/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Licensing & Occupations (S)

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League supports SB51 because it would expand mental health practice in Kentucky to include music therapy services increasing options for mental health services in Kentucky.

AN ACT relating to freestanding birthing centers.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to define "freestanding birthing center"; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate updated administrative regulations to establish licensure standards for freestanding birthing centers, including requiring accreditation by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers, compliance with the American Association of Birth Centers' Standards for Birth Centers, and consistent plans for transfer and safe transport to a hospital as needed, and to delineate medical malpractice insurance requirements for centers; exempt a center with no more than four beds from certificate-of-need requirements for establishing and licensing a freestanding birthing center; state intent not to limit or expand liability of a center or health care provider or facility; add requirement for medical malpractice insurance for freestanding birthing centers; prohibit abortions in freestanding birthing centers; amend KRS 216B.015 to include freestanding birthing centers in the definition of "health facility"; amend KRS 216B.020, 196.173, 211.122, 211.647, 211.660, 213.046, 214.155, 214.565, 214.567, 214.569, 216.2920, and 216.2970 to conform; provide that the Act may be cited as the Mary Carol Akers Birth Centers Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/12/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Health Services (S)

  NEWS STORIES

1/30/2024 - NKY legislator aims to broaden Medicaid for midwife births

1/11/2024 - Republican lawmakers fighting for freestanding birthing centers in Kentucky (again)

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League supports SB 103 as a needed measure to help provide better options for birth in the state of Kentucky. Birthing centers help reduce some of the risks of giving birth in hospitals and provide families a more comfortable, relaxing environment, leading to better health outcomes. We urge our supporters to encourage their legislators to support SB 103.

AN ACT relating to paid parental leave.

Create a new section of KRS 18A.005 to 18A.200 to provide an employee of the Commonwealth a paid leave of absence of up to four weeks for the birth, surrogacy, or adoption of a child, or up to two weeks for the placement of a child in foster care or kinship care; establish requirements; amend KRS 18A.025 and 18A.110 to conform. Senate Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions, except remove paid parental leave coverage for "surrogacy"; amend the requirements for eligibility and use of paid parental leave.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/14/2024 - House Families & Children (H), (Bill Scheduled for Hearing)

  NEWS STORIES

3/5/2024 - Kentucky Senate takes big steps on education, school safety in rapid fire session Tuesday

3/5/2024 - Kentucky state employees would gain parental leave under bill approved by Senate

3/4/2024 - From U.S. senate vacancies to paid parental leave: Five bills to watch this week

2/21/2024 - GOP bill would give Kentucky teachers 20 days of maternity leave

COMMENTS

LUL supports SB142, a bill that would give paid time off to new parents, whether they've had a baby or adopted a child. We believe that having paid parental leave is important for families and helps balance work and family life. This bill acknowledges that parents need time to bond with their new additions without worrying about money. It's also a way to create a fair and inclusive workplace, understanding that there are different paths to becoming a parent.

AN ACT providing maternity leave for public school employees.

Amend KRS 161.155 to provide 20 maternity days to district employees who give birth; establish the terms and conditions for use of maternity days.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/15/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Appropriations & Revenue (S)

  NEWS STORIES

2/21/2024 - GOP bill would give Kentucky teachers 20 days of maternity leave

2/14/2024 - Despite bipartisan opposition, Senate passes bill changing sick-leave pay for teacher retirees