Child protections passed ahead of veto recess
The past week has been one of the busiest of the 2024 Regular Session. As of late Thursday evening, the legislature is officially on what is known as the veto recess. This is a period during a session in which the Governor reviews the legislation we have passed and either elects to sign it into law or veto it. If a piece of legislation is vetoed, we will have a chance to override his decision on the final two days of the session, after the two-week veto recess.
However, as we begin this veto recess, we also begin Child Abuse Awareness Month. Child abuse has been an ongoing and horrific problem in our country for decades. While we cannot find a blanket solution that will solve this issue overnight, we still have the duty as legislators to do what we can to take steps to prevent child abuse. For this update, I would like to inform you of some of the measures we have considered ahead of the veto recess that pertain to the overall well-being of this Commonwealth’s children.
Prohibiting the use and sale of illicit sexual products: The legislature has long been committed to the protection of our most vulnerable, including the Commonwealth’s children. HB 207 is a measure that proves this notion by making it a crime to own, sell, or offer a child sex doll.
Supporting childcare infrastructure: A primary reason for Kentucky’s struggling workforce is the lack of access to quality childcare. It is difficult to get parents back to work if they cannot find a way for their children to be cared for. This session we approved HB 561, which would establish the Certified Child Care Community Designation program. HB 561 looks to address the complex issues relating to child care and early childhood education opportunities in the Commonwealth.
Keeping nicotine products out of the hands of children: Ever since vaping became a popular alternative for tobacco consumption, youth across the nation have taken advantage of the fruity and inviting flavors and packaging of the substitute. HB 11 limits the sale of products to only those authorized by the Food and Drug Administration or given a safe harbor to be marketed in the United States and includes penalties for those who break the law.
Preventing child exploitation: Recent statistics show that 1 in 10 children are sexually abused before they turn 18. HB 278 takes steps to prevent and punish some of the most heinous crimes that can be committed against children. These provisions include enhancing the penalties for human trafficking, child pornography/paraphernalia possession, sexual assault, and other serious offenses. This legislation also removes the statute of limitation on childhood sexual assault by adding a “person in a position of authority or trust” in the statute language. It increases the penalty to a Class B felony from a Class C felony. As technology advances, we also have to advance the way the laws work. HB 278 also adds artificial intelligence (AI) to the existing definition of pornography and “matter” to address the evolution of computer-enhanced or created photos and videos.
Investing in our children: The primary focus of this legislative session was to pass our only constitutional requirement; a responsible, balanced two-year spending plan for the state via HB 6. Through the negotiations and drafting of this plan, we were able to secure a record amount of funding for education as well as juvenile justice reform. With $208.5 million for child transportation funding, $8 million to support our Family Resource Youth Service Centers, and a combined $34.8 million going to support juvenile justice operations, we have continued our commitment to the future generations of the Commonwealth.