When the first racehorse crosses the finish line, others usually aren’t far behind.
The same can be said about bills passing into law. Once Kentucky lawmakers are far enough into a legislative session to deliver a bill to the governor’s desk, other bills soon follow.
This past Tuesday, a phone deregulation bill became the first bill of 2015 to reach Gov. Steve Beshear’s office. The next day, two more bills landed on the governor’s desk. Four more bills have also passed both chambers and are ready to be delivered from the third floor of the Capitol to the governor’s first-floor office.
The telephone deregulation bill, House Bill 152 would end phone companies’ obligations to provide landline phone services to customers in urban and suburban areas if they provide service through another technology, such as cellular or an Internet-based phone service.
Supporters describe this as a modernization step to improve Kentucky’s telecom infrastructure by encouraging phone companies to invest in newer technologies like broadband networks. Opponents warn that some customers could end up with higher-priced, less-reliable phone service.
Another bill sent to the governor this week would give Kentuckians a new kind of health care directive to consider using when planning end-of-life care. Senate Bill 77 would allow Kentuckians to use what’s known as “medical order for scope of treatment.” These orders spell out patients’ wishes for end-of-life care. Unlike advance directives, the orders are considered to be physician’s orders and are signed by both the patient or patient’s legal surrogate, and the patient’s physician.
Lawmakers also sent the governor a bill this week to fund the construction of a state-of-the-art medical research center to target prevalent diseases in Kentucky, including cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. House Bill 298 would authorize the issuance of $132.5 million in bonds for the construction of the building at the University of Kentucky. The university would raise money for the other half of the $265 million building.
At the time of this writing, the governor had not yet signed the bills that have been delivered to his office. Under the Kentucky Constitution, he has ten days (excluding Sundays) after receiving a bill to veto it or sign it into law. If no action is taken within ten days, a bill goes into effect without the governor’s signature.
The record-breaking snowfall that created hazardous driving conditions throughout the state this week prompted legislative leaders to adjust the schedule for the 2015 session. Chamber proceedings were called off for Thursday and Friday last week.
The schedule for Monday’s legislative committee meetings is available online or by calling the General Assembly’s Calendar Line at 800-633-9650.
Legislative leaders have agreed to adjust the 2015 legislative calendar in response to disruptions caused by the winter storm. The General Assembly is now scheduled to convene three days next week before starting a veto recess on March 12, with the final two legislative days of the 2015 session on March 23 and 24.
The revised 2015 Regular Session Calendar can be viewed here.
The Kentucky Legislature Home Page, www.lrc.ky.gov, provides information on each of Kentucky’s senators and representatives, including phone numbers, addressees and committee assignments. The site also provides bill texts, a bill-tracking service, and committee meeting schedules.
To leave a message for any legislator, call the General Assembly’s Message Line at 800-372-7181. People with hearing difficulties may leave messages for lawmakers by calling the TTY Message Line at 800-896-0305.
You may also write any legislator by sending a letter with the lawmaker’s name to: Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.
From Legislative Research Commission