Legislative session reaches halfway mark, county priorities gain momentum
During week No. 7 of the 2022 Regular Session, KACo saw progress on a number of county priorities including reapportionment, local tax modernization, jailer education and more.
County reapportionment bill on Governor’s desk
HB 212, sponsored by Rep. Michael Meredith, adjusts the filing deadline by requiring fiscal courts to initiate reapportionment proceedings in May 2023 instead of 2022.
As it is currently mandated, reapportionment of fiscal court members could result in changes to district lines after the May primary has passed and before the general election, potentially leaving some primary election winners ineligible to run in November if they were moved to a different district as a result.
The bill was passed unanimously by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. An emergency clause attached to the bill will put the legislation into effect immediately after it is signed into law.
We are grateful for the support of Rep. Meredith for sponsoring the bill and Sen. Robby Mills’ leadership in carrying the bill in the Senate.
Bill to allow General Assembly options to modernize county revenue passes first hurdle
HB 475, sponsored by Representative Michael Meredith, has passed out of committee. The legislation proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky that would permit the General Assembly to expand and modernize the revenue options available to counties and cities.
Should the bill be signed into law, the question would be placed on the November ballot for voters to consider for ratification. Contact your representative today, and ask them to support and cosponsor this important legislation. Read more about HB 475 in full article in this newsletter.
Bill with major positive fiscal impact on county jail budgets discussed
HB 211, sponsored by Rep. Michael Meredith, would require the State Treasury to reimburse counties when inmates convicted of a felony receive credit for time served in the county jail pre-trial.
This bill would have a substantial and positive fiscal impact on all 120 counties, including counties with a closed jail.
Committee members commended Rep. Meredith for sponsoring this bill, noting the significant impact it would have on every county. The cost counties pay for housing pre-trial state inmates, who later receive credit against their sentence for time served in the county jail, is substantial, with estimates exceeding $70 million.
Rep. Meredith said he is waiting on the Department of Corrections to confirm the estimated fiscal impact to the state before bringing HB 211 to a vote in the committee.
Increased jail funding is a top KACo priority. KACo supports HB 211 and encourages members to reach out to their legislators and ask them to support this bill and sign on as a co-sponsor.
Deputy jailer education and training bill heard for discussion
HB 439, sponsored by Rep. James Tipton, would require deputy jailers to have consistent basic training and continuing education to be overseen by the creation of e the Kentucky Jail Training Council. The bill was heard for discussion in the House Local Government Committee Wednesday.
The new section of KRS 441 would require deputy jailers to complete a basic training course of no less than 80 hours within one year of Jan. 1, 2023, for current deputy jailers, and one year of their employment for any deputy jailer hired on or after Jan. 1, 2023.
After the initial 80- hour basic training course, deputy jailers would be required to receive 40 hours of continuing education each calendar year.
HB 439 would also establish the Kentucky Jail Training Council, an entity that would serve as an independent administrative body to streamline the training of Kentucky jail personnel.
Ask your legislators to support these additional county-first bills
HB 480 (Rep. Patrick Flannery): would make library taxing district board appointments consistent with all other SPGE boards by placing the authority for the appointments to a library taxing district with the county judge/executive and fiscal court.
HB 515 (Rep. Ed Massey): would require approval of the governing body of a public school system for annexation of school property by a city.
HB 524 (Rep. Ryan Dotson): would repeal an arbitrary population threshold in current state law that would allow every county to fulfill publication mandates by advertising online. Current law restricts this money-saving measure to counties with a population of 80,000 or more.
Dates to watch
Feb. 21 - Presidents Day, no session
March 1 - last day to file a new House bill
March 3 - last day to file a new Senate bill
March 31 - April 12 - Veto days (no session takes place on these days)
April 14 - Final day of session (Sine Die)
As always, please email shellie.hampton@kaco.org or gracie.lagadinos@kaco.org with any questions or feedback from legislators. We appreciate everything you do to lead counties to a successful session.
