Statement on Final Passage of SB 97 by the Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – When the terrible event that a child fatality or near fatality due to maltreatment occurs, Kentucky must have strong systems in place to ensure it never happens again. Thankfully, the Kentucky General Assembly recognizes that imperative with final passage of Senate Bill 97 today by the House via consent orders. SB 97, sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll, will bolster efforts following a child fatality or near fatality, including requiring coroners to immediately notify law enforcement, the Department for Community Based Services, and local health department [...]
Statement on Passage of HB 7 by the Kentucky Senate
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With today’s passage by the Kentucky Senate, House Bill 7 now heads to concurrence by the Kentucky House and then to the Governor’s desk for consideration. We’ve continued to share our appreciation to the bill sponsors, House Speaker David Osborne and Speaker Pro Tem David Meade, for their openness to feedback and efforts to reduce unintended consequences of these reforms to Kentucky’s public benefits. Additionally, we appreciate Senate President Pro Tem David Givens for listening to stakeholder and Committee feedback and bringing forward Senate [...]
Statement on Passage of Final State Budget by the General Assembly
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Earlier this month as leaders of the Kentucky House and Senate went into Conference Committee, we wrote on the important moment: “When the rubber hits the road.” It’s a moment when the true priorities of the General Assembly come to light as the final state budget for the next two years gets crafted – full of compromise, tough cuts, and bold investments. The good news today is that the legislature – with compromises and investments championed across the aisle – ensured kids won [...]
Statement on Final Passage of HB 499 by the Kentucky Senate
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Today, the Senate passed House Bill 499 – a win for the child care sector, businesses, parents, and our youngest Kentuckians. Once concurred by the House and signed by the Governor, the measure will establish the framework for the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership, which is an innovative program that will match employer child care benefits with state dollars. Families and businesses alike know the ripple effects of an unstable child care sector – especially the decision to stay in the workforce or staying home [...]
Statement on Passage of HB 499 by the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor Committee
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Today, we’re celebrating the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor Committee’s passage of House Bill 499. The measure, championed by Representative Samara Heavrin, will establish the framework for the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership – which is a win-win-win for kids and families, businesses, and our economy. A lack of access to child care is a primary contributor to Kentucky’s labor shortage and low workforce participation rates. The Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership established by HB 499 will match employer child care benefits with [...]
Statement on Passage of HB 7 by the Senate Health & Welfare Committee
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – In these final days of the 2022 legislative session, we are disappointed to see advancement of legislation that has more opportunities for harm than good for the Commonwealth’s children and families, including today’s passage of House Bill 7 by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Safety net programs play a critical role in making sure families struggling to make ends meet can have food to eat, cover basic family needs, and access critical supports and services needed to be healthy. To that end, [...]
Statement on Passage of HB 318 by the Senate Health & Welfare Committee
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – The wrong-headed proposal by Representative Kevin Bratcher and advanced by the Kentucky House unfortunately received passage by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee today. The rhetoric around House Bill 318 is that it will address “rising rates of violent juvenile offenders.” Yet, that rationale is based on politics and not reality. It not only sends hollow, fearmongering echoes to constituents, but also jeopardizes the progress made in juvenile justice reforms over the last decade. As HB 318 heads to the Senate floor, we urge Senate [...]
Statement on Final Passage of SB 102 by the Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – We’re celebrating today as the Kentucky House has passed Senate Bill 102, sponsored by Senator Max Wise, to help ensure there is an adequate number of school-based mental health providers to serve students in need of supports. Even before the isolation and other challenges brought forth by the pandemic, children across the Commonwealth struggled with their mental health – a fact that generated the important efforts to improve student safety and well-being and ensure schools approached students with a trauma-informed lens. This is especially [...]
Statement on Passage of Senate Bill 151 by the Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Today, Senate Bill 151 unanimously received its final passage by the Kentucky House and now advances to the Governor’s desk for signature. This measure, sponsored by Senator Jason Howell, clarifies the current law to give school districts the option to serve students on free and reduced meals their breakfast during the first 15 minutes of the day. We thank House members for supporting student health and recognizing the connection between eating breakfast and academic achievement, especially during National Nutrition Month. Students who start [...]
Statement on Passage of HB 83 by House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the nation. And, for the Commonwealth’s nearly 17,000 child victims of abuse or neglect, over 50 percent had family violence as a risk factor. Domestic violence can take many forms, including controlling behaviors, isolation, threats of suicide or murder, threats to take the children, and serious injuries – and can have immediate and long-term impacts on child well-being. These are the realities too many families face every day. Today, we are celebrating [...]