Crime, Disaster Recovery, Mental Health, Death Benefits, Veteran Suicide
Rep. Mark Hart (District 78) reviews the second week of the 2024 Regular Session, noting the assembly has 51 legislative days left to complete its legislative agenda. More than 300 House bills and resolutions are filed for consideration, and Rep. Hart believes there could be hundreds more before the deadline to file House bills in late February. You can read summaries of each piece of legislation, as well as download the entire text of a bill or resolution, on the official General Assembly website, legislature.ky.gov.
The Safer Kentucky Act (HB 5): As you may have seen on the news by now, HB 5 was filed this week and aims to make Kentucky a safer place to live, work, and play. The Safer Kentucky Act represents the next step in the House Majority’s commitment to addressing the crime epidemic in the Commonwealth. HB 5 includes over 20 policy provisions such as a new “Three Strikes Law” targeting experienced and persistent violent felony offenders, “Madelynn’s Law” regulating bail funding organizations, creating a Kentucky statute for carjacking, removing early release for criminals using guns in crimes, enhancing the penalty for the murder of a first responder, hardening sentences for adults using juveniles as criminal accomplices, cracking down on those involved in drive by shootings, improving protocol for involuntary confinement of the mentally ill, increasing penalties for attempted murder, and “Jake’s Law ” toughening sentencing for those who flee the police.
Creating Long-Term Recovery Groups (HCR 31): Kentuckians in all corners of the state, have sustained damages from storms the likes of which many of us could not imagine. HCR 31 urges local governments to facilitate the creation of long-term recovery groups prior to the occurrence of a disaster. The core aim of the resolution is to provide aid and facilitate donations for families affected by catastrophic events that have left them in a state of devastation.
Extending Mental Health Services for Rescue Squad Members (HB 212): While no amount of training can truly prepare someone for a horrific scene, it is imperative that we take care of those that face danger to rescue us in our most desperate times. This measure would allow rescue squad members to access peer support and counseling services through an existing state program.
Increasing Death Benefits for Emergency Workers (HB 164): In recent years, the General Assembly has significantly increased line of duty death benefits paid by the public retirement systems to the surviving spouse and dependent children of a member who perishes in the line of duty. However, benefits payable to a non-spouse beneficiary such as a parent have remained unchanged. HB 164 rectifies this problem by increasing the minimum lump-sum death benefit payable from the retirement systems to a non-spouse beneficiary from $10,000 to the employee’s monthly average pay multiplied by 36 months. This benefit would be in addition to any other state and federal benefits available to the family.
Preventing Veteran Suicide (HB 30): With veteran suicide rates on an upward trend through the last decade, taking steps to further protect those who dedicated their lives to protecting us is a priority to both myself and the legislature. HB 30 would create the Kentucky Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Suicide Prevention Program within the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs. The program would be dedicated to raising awareness of the issue and making resources available to those who might consider taking their own life. HB 30 would require the new program to work with community partners, nonprofits and state and federal programs to reduce barriers to mental and physical health services.