Jobs, Child Care, Special Government Entities

The legislature’s interim joint committees (IJCs) continued with October meetings as the agenda for session begins to take shape. Here are a few summaries from committees that met the week of October 23-27.

IJC on Economic Development and Workforce Investment: Lawmakers received an update from the Cabinet of Economic Development. Kentucky has seen 34,000 new fulltime jobs, an average incentive wage of $26.78 per hour, and has received billions of dollars in investments from companies intending on coming to the state. Representatives from the James Beam Institute at the University of Kentucky discussed their success in developing a one-of-a-kind educational facility and program for the bourbon and spirits industry. This program advances the education of students across the nation, supports the bourbon industry, and researches new methods for the cultivation and expansion of oak, wheat, and other key ingredients needed for the distillation of bourbon. The final presentation to the committee was from Boom KY. Boom KY is a non-profit that focuses on workforce investment, and provides educational supports to hundreds of high school students in Kentucky. They host start-up competitions for Kentucky students that support the children in developing a business idea or product with the support of professional accountants, business marketers, and developers. They provide an online curriculum to assist the students on their project that will be presented at the end of the year, and focus on bringing the business to market.

IJC on Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology: Members pressed important concerns with cyber security and how to prepare for potential threats. Dave Hatter, a Cybersecurity Consultant from Intrust IT, shared the history of cyberattacks and the projection of potential threats in the upcoming years. Along with educating the members on the various modes of security threats, Dave proposed how to properly protect data against those attacks. Additionally, the members received a look into how employers view the workforce and economic conditions within the commonwealth.

IJC on Local Government: Lawmakers discussed special purpose governmental entity reports (SPGE). SPGEs are independent, political subdivisions of the state, government entities that exercise less than statewide jurisdiction and are organized for the purpose of performing specific services within limited boundaries. A few examples include libraries, tourism, and extensions.

IJC on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection: Legislators heard from several Kentucky officials and military officers during their October meeting. Maj. Timothy Olson, Director of Psychological Health for the Kentucky National Guard delivered a presentation alongside Maj. General Haldane Lamberton, the Adjutant General of Kentucky, regarding suicide among service members and how the Kentucky National Guard are looking to bring awareness and combat the issue. Maj. General Lamberton also informed the committee of ongoing efforts to establish a state partnership program with Sweden and their armed forces. Jeremy Slinker, Director of Kentucky Emergency Management, presented their proposed budget for 2025 and 2026. This budget includes a plan to establish statewide and highly trained teams dedicated to search and rescue operations, establish a helicopter aquatic rescue team, and increased funding for rescue aid programs. Steven Bullard, Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs, presented their legislative agenda for the upcoming legislative session. This plan is focused on the reintroduction of HB 63, which would provide state protection guarantees for Kentucky National Guard and Reserve families as well as all of our commonwealth’s veterans.

IJC on Families and Children: Lawmakers discussed an array of critical issues that are currently our Commonwealth is currently facing. The first presenters discussed public school programs aimed at helping grieving children. The committee also heard from a concerned child care facility owner and operator. She provided information and concerns that indicate that there could be a child care facility shortage going into 2024. Roughly 50 facilities that opened after March 11, 2021, were not able to receive sustainability grants. This assistance proved critical to helping other facilities survive the economic uncertainty of recent years. The last discussion was on the many challenges facing foster care placement in Kentucky. The Cabinet of Health and Family Services has been unsuccessful in securing bids for psychiatric residential treatment facilities. The cabinet also updated members on an increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates to $500 a day per child for tier 1 and $600 a day for tier 2, but new providers have not come forward to address the lack of capacity in the state. IJC on Health Services: Members received an update on the current health care provider shortage–particularly of physicians and nurses–as well as programs in place to retain them through their career. In addition, members also discussed the transformation of local health departments through the years, the role pharmacy benefit managers play in the healthcare market, and the need for more mental health professionals. Currently, there are roughly 10,002 physicians practicing in Kentucky, along with 69,102 nurses. While these numbers seem robust, rural areas of the state are struggling to maintain adequate coverage and access to healthcare necessities.