Blueprint Legislative Priority Strengthen Quality and Access to Child Care House Bill 6 would help ensure quality child care to children with disabilities by increasing training to providers and allowing on-site therapy (when available) with parent permission, strengthen the Children Care Assistance Program and the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership program, and more. Review the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children policy priority fact sheet. Check out this deep dive into HB 6. [...]

Other Legislative Item House Joint Resolution 50 Study Child Care in the Commonwealth Summary HJR 50 would direct the Auditor of Public Accounts to commission a study of applicable statutes, administrative regulations, and agency policies that impact the opening and operating of licensed and certified child care services and report its findings and recommendations. Status HJR 50 is co-sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin and Representative Robert Duvall. It has passed the Kentucky [...]

Other Legislative Item House Bill 418 Improve Child Safety in Cases of Domestic Violence Summary HB 418 would ensure domestic violence allegations are meaningfully considered and children appropriately represented during custody proceedings. It also prohibits custody removals or reduced parenting time for nonoffending parents and requires 16 hours of related training for paid visitation supervisors and Guardian Ad Litems, among other items. Status HB 418 is sponsored by Representative Jason [...]

Other Legislative Item Senate Joint Resolution 54 Promote Youth Literacy Summary SJR 54 would direct the Department for Libraries and Archives and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to collaborate in order to maximize utilization and expansion of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Program. Status SJR 54 is sponsored by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong. It has passed the Kentucky Senate and the House Families and Children Committee. Passed House Committee [...]

Other Legislative Item Senate Bill 122 Hold Parents Accountable in ways that Minimize the Impact of Incarceration on Children Summary SB 122 would require the courts to consider alternative sentencing options when the individual has committed a non-violent offense and is the primary caregiver to a dependent child. It would also promote rehabilitative options that support the parent-child relationship and improve family stability. House Bill 464 is the companion bill in the House. [...]

Other Legislative Item House Bill 246 Equip Animal Control Officers in Child Abuse Prevention Efforts Summary Known as Kyan's Law, HB 246, would require animal control officers to receive training on recognizing child abuse. HB 246 is a Face It policy priority. Status HB 246 is sponsored by Representative Susan Witten and has passed the Kentucky House. Passed KY House

Other Legislative Item House Bill 4 Protect Children from Grooming and Abuse Summary HB 4 would define grooming of a minor child as criminal offense. Read more about HB 4 and understanding and recognizing grooming behaviors. HB 4 is a Face It policy priority. Status HB 4 is sponsored by Representative Marianne Proctor. It has passed the Kentucky House and Senate and has been signed by the Governor. Signed by [...]

Other Legislative Item House Bill 333 Promote Access to Affordable Housing Summary HB 333 would allow certain exemptions for religious institutions building affordable housing. Status HB 333 is sponsored by Representative Michael Pollock. It has passed the Kentucky House and Senate and has been signed by the Governor. Signed by the Governor

Other Legislative Item Senate Bill 81 Support Families with Young Children Summary SB 81 would establish a refundable Kentucky child credit for taxpayers with children under the age of 6 with a maximum credit of $1,000 per qualifying child for individuals with income below $50,000 for single taxpayers and $100,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. Status SB 81 is sponsored by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong and is awaiting committee assignment. [...]

Blueprint Legislative Priority Protect Children and Families from Utility Disconnection House Bill 377 would create extreme temperature standards for disconnection of service by retail electric and gas utilities, a process for reestablishing service, and establish other standards related to utility disconnections. Review the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children policy priority fact sheet. HB 377 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority. Status HB 377 is co-sponsored by Representative Susan Witten and [...]