Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker
The Bill Tracker will continually be updated as bills are filed and move.
Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker
The Bill Tracker will continually be updated as bills are filed and move.
Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2018 Legislative Priorities
Learn more about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children here.
Blueprint Item
Senate Bill 31 and House Bill 230
Permanently Establish the Kentucky Kinship Care Program
Status
SB 31 is sponsored by Senator Dennis Parrett and has been assigned to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. HB 230 is sponsored by Representative Russell Webber and has been assigned to the House Health and Family Services Committee.
Blueprint Item
Senate Bill 69
Improve Process for Reviewing Cases when Teachers are Fired from Public Schools
Summary
SB 69 would ensure students have educators who work effectively and safely with children by implementing a balanced process for reviewing cases when teachers are fired from public schools, and bill would also protect teacher confidentiality when a teacher needs to take a leave of absence.
Status
SB 69 is sponsored by Senator Stephen West and is awaiting action by the Kentucky Senate.
Blueprint Item
Senate Bill 133
Improve Outcomes of Pregnant Inmates and Minimize the Impact of Parental Incarceration
Summary
SB 133 would improve conditions for pregnant inmates, including prohibiting shackling of women during labor and delivery and allowing pregnant women to be released to substance abuse treatment. SB 133 would also take steps to minimize the impact of parental incarceration by making criminal justice reforms to focus incarceration on serious offenses.
Status
SB 133 is sponsored by Senator Julie Raque Adams, Senator Whitney Westerfield, and Senator Alice Forgy Kerr.
Learn More
Thank your state Senator and Representative for supporting SB 133 to improve the outcomes of pregnant inmates and their babies HERE.
View the fact sheet about holding parents accountable in ways that allow them to care for their children HERE.
Read a statement from Dr. Terry Brooks on SB 133 passing the Kentucky House HERE.
Check out the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children issue brief, Minimizing the Impact of Parental Incarceration on Children HERE.
Blueprint Item
Senate Bill 137
Allow Adults to Whom a Child Has Disclosed Abuse to Testify in Court
Summary
SB 137 would keep kids safer from abuse by allowing a trustworthy adult to whom a child age 12 years or younger has disclosed abuse to testify in court about that disclosure.
Status
SB 137 is sponsored by Senator Whitney Westerfield.
Learn More
Thank your state Senator and Representative for supporting SB 137 to keep Kentucky kids safer from abuse HERE.
View the fact sheet on allowing adults to whom a child has disclosed abuse to testify in court HERE.
Read a statement from Dr. Terry Brooks on SB 137 passing the Kentucky House HERE.
SB 137 is a Face It policy priority.
Blueprint Item
House Bill 1
Keep Kids Safe and Improve How Kentucky Responds to and Supports Families
Summary
HB 1 would make changes to the foster care and adoption system, including strengthening front end support to help keep families together and, when that’s not possible, addressing timelines for adoption cases so children do not linger in care without a permanent family. The bill also includes a number of changes to improve the performance of programs and to help ensure decisions made prioritize the best interest of the child.
Status
HB 1 is sponsored by Representative David Meade and Representative Joni Jenkins.
Learn More
Thank your state Senator and Representative supporting HB 1 to keep Kentucky kids safe and improve how the commonwealth responds to child abuse and supports families HERE.
View the fact sheet on keeping kids safe from abuse with improvement in how we respond to and support families HERE and on increasing the independence of the Ombudsman’s office HERE.
For a deeper dive into HB 1, view a summary of bill components and why they’re good for kids HERE.
Read a statement from Dr. Terry Brooks on HB 1 passing the Kentucky Senate HERE.
HB 1 is a Face It policy priority.
Blueprint Item
House Bill 200 (Executive Branch Budget)
Invest in Kentucky Kids and Families
Summary
HB 200, the proposed executive branch budget, includes funding for the state Cabinets that provide child protection, education, and health services for the next two years. The proposed budget would allocate funds to help restore the Kinship Care Program, to recruit additional social workers and reduce social worker caseloads, and to fulfill relative foster care payments based on the decision by the Sixth Circuit Court. It also includes funding for SEEK and Family Resources and Youth Services Centers.
Status
HB 200 is sponsored by Representative Steven Rudy.
Learn More
Read a statement from Dr. Terry Brooks on the Kentucky House and Senate passing the executive branch budget HERE.
Blueprint Item
House Bill 396
Reform the Criminal Justice System and Minimize the Impact of Parental Incarceration
Summary
HB 396 would reform many aspects of the criminal justice system, which would address Kentucky’s ranking as second in the nation in the rate of children who’ve had a parent incarcerated and second in the rate of female incarceration. The bill focuses on alternatives to incarceration to address the underlying issues like substance abuse and mental health issues. HB 396 holds offenders accountable in a way that also keeps families together.
Status
HB 396 is sponsored by Representative Kimberly Poore Moser and Representative Jason Nemes and has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.
Blueprint Item
House Bill 527
Support the Education of Children Who Have Experienced Abuse or Neglect
Summary
HB 527 would support the educational stability of children who have experienced abuse or neglect by allowing them to remain in the school where they were most recently enrolled or, when that is not in their best interest, ensuring a seamless transition to their new school.
Status
HB 527 is sponsored by Representative Steve Riley.
Learn More
Thank your state Senator and Representative for supporting HB 527 to promote the educational stability of children who’ve experienced abuse or neglect HERE.
View the fact sheet on supporting the education of children who have experienced abuse or neglect HERE.
Read a statement from Dr. Terry Brooks on HB 527 passing the Kentucky Senate HERE.
Other Legislative Items
Supported by Kentucky Youth Advocates
Legislative Item
Senate Bill 3
Create Protections for Victims of Crimes
Summary
SB 3 would initiate the process to create constitutional protections for victims of crimes, including children, by making sure they have certain rights during and after the court process.
Status
SB 3 is sponsored by Senator Whitney Westerfield. SB 3 is a proposed amendment to Kentucky’s constitution and must be approved by Kentucky voters in November.
Legislative Item
Senate Bill 38
Ensure Accommodations for Pregnant Women and New Moms at Work
Summary
SB 38 would ensure expectant mothers have reasonable accommodations made at work that allow them to support their families, have a safe pregnancy, and support breastfeeding.
Status
SB 38 is sponsored by Senator Alice Forgy Kerr and is awaiting action by the Kentucky Senate.
Legislative Item
Senate Bill 48
Establish Minimum Age of Marriage
Summary
SB 48 would ensure both parties in a marriage are legal adults with rights and protections of adulthood.
Status
SB 48 is sponsored by Senator Julie Raque Adams.
Legislative Item
Senate Bill 51 and House Bill 318
Make School Campuses Tobacco-Free
Status
SB 51 is sponsored by Senator Ralph Alvarado and has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee. HB 318 is sponsored by Representative Kimberly Poore Moser and has been assigned to the House Education Committee.
Legislative Item
House Bill 52
Protect the Safety of Young Kids When Riding Bicycles
Summary
HB 52 would require all children under the age of twelve to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle to protect against head injuries.
Status
HB 52 is sponsored by Representative Regina Huff and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee.
Legislative Item
House Bill 70
Protect Children from Unsafe Contact Electronically
Summary
HB 70 would protect children from unsafe contact electronically by specifying that people convicted of criminal sexual offenses against children, cannot communicate electronically with anyone under the age of 18.
Status
HB 70 is sponsored by Representative Joseph Fischer.
Legislative Item
House Bill 101
Protect 16 and 17-year-olds from Relationships with Significantly Older Adults
Summary
HB 101 would protect children ages 16 and 17 from sexual relationships with much older adults by specifying that a child of that age cannot give consent.
Status
HB 101 is sponsored by Representative Jason Petrie.
Legislative Item
House Bill 124
Help Parents Create a Safer Environment for Kids
Summary
HB 124 would ensure parents have access to treatment that will help them recover from addiction in the most effective way available, creating a safer and more stable environment for their children..
Status
HB 124 is sponsored by Representative Addia Wuchner.
Legislative Item
House Bill 143
Establish a School Safety and Crisis Line for Students
Summary
HB 143 would establish a School Safety and Crisis Line to allow students to report safety concerns and self-crises.
Status
HB 143 is sponsored by Representative Danny Bentley and is awaiting a hearing in the House Education Committee.
Legislative Item
House Bill 197
Support New Mothers with Paid Maternity Leave
Summary
HB 197 would establish six weeks of paid maternity leave for new mothers who have worked at larger companies for at least a year. Paid maternity leave after the birth of a child lessens the risk of pediatric abusive head trauma and contributes to the healthy development of infants and toddlers.
Status
HB 197 is sponsored by Representative James Kay and is awaiting a hearing in the House Health and Family Services Committee.
Legislative Item
House Bill 423
Expand Substance Abuse Treatment for Mothers
Summary
HB 423 would promote recovery for mothers and babies by creating funding streams for substance abuse treatment for mothers through a program called Family In Recovery Empowerment (FIRE).
Status
HB 423 is sponsored by Representative Addia Wuchner and is awaiting action by the Kentucky House.
Legislative Item
House Bill 604
Utilize a Trauma-informed Approach in Schools
Summary
HB 604 would help keep kids safe by ensuring schools have access to mental health professionals, as well as by creating a toolkit to help schools develop a trauma-informed approach to recognize when students may be in need of help.
Status
HB 604 is sponsored by Representative Will Coursey and Representative Steven Rudy, and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Education Committee..