Statement on HB 47 Passing the House Judiciary Committee
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Kentuckians who are child victims of sexual abuse deserve their voice to be heard, and House Bill 47 takes steps to ensure that happens. HB 47, sponsored by Representative Lynn Bechler and passed by the House Judiciary Committee today, creates an opportunity for child victims of sexual assault or abuse to seek justice through civil claims or to pursue criminal charges by extending the length of time they are able to do so. If a child experiences abuse, research shows that many wait [...]
Statement on the Kentucky House State Budget Proposal
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Leaders in Frankfort frequently talk about our biennial state budget as really being a priority and value document rather than just a dollars and cents proposition. And the good news is the budget proposed by the Kentucky House, which passed the House floor with bipartisan agreement last week, places a strong priority on children and families. Among the key elements impacting kids and families that we applaud in the House proposal include: Increased support to the Child Care Assistance Program to increase eligibility [...]
Statement on SB 56 Passing the House Judiciary Committee
Contact: Kelsey Dimar 502-895-8167 *110 kdimar@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates As much as we don’t want to believe it, children and teens often rely on friends or relatives close in age to get harmful tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. We applaud Senator Ralph Alvarado for championing Senate Bill 56, which seeks to codify in state law the minimum legal sale age of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. This measure, referred to as the Tobacco-21 law, reduces the likelihood of kids’ access to e-cigarettes and other products through peers. We also commend [...]
Statement on SB 45 Passing the Kentucky House
Contact: Kelsey Dimar 502-895-8167 *110 kdimar@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Many children across the Commonwealth spend a majority of their day in early childhood programs and those environments should focus on nurturing healthy development and learning. Today, the Kentucky House emphasized their support of that idea by passing Senate Bill 45, sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll, which seeks to strengthen licensed child care center standards on healthy eating and drinking, active playtime, and limited screen time. Consistent implementation of these important standards will ensure every child in these early care and education programs [...]
Statement on SB 40 Passing House Health and Family Services Committee
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates The Commonwealth has made strides in child welfare system reforms in recent years, but we must do more when it comes to preventing child abuse from ever occurring. That’s why Senate Bill 40 is so important: it closes fault lines in the system to protect children in foster care from harm and does so in a direct and pragmatic way. Today we’re celebrating passage of SB 40, sponsored by Senator Ralph Alvarado, by the House Health and Family Services Committee. This safety measure will [...]
Statement on HB 32 Passing the Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates With today’s passage of House Bill 32 to enact a tax on e-cigarette products, the Kentucky House strengthened their commitment to facing the youth e-cigarette use epidemic head on. E-cigarettes put our young people at risk of nicotine addiction, serious lung injury or disease, and other harmful health outcomes. In 2018, the Kentucky General Assembly made a much needed move to increase the tax on cigarettes but unfortunately did not enact a tax on e-cigarettes. A tax on e-cigarettes equivalent to that on [...]
Statement on SB 45 Passing House Health and Family Services Committee
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Teaching kids healthy habits early nurtures their development and sets them up for a lifetime of healthy choices. Today, the House Health and Family Services Committee reinforced those ideals by supporting Senate Bill 45, sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll, which seeks to strengthen licensed child care center standards on healthy eating and drinking, active play, and limited screen time. We thank Senator Carroll for championing this measure and the House Health and Family Services Committee for supporting it today. While many child care [...]
Statement on HB 32 Passing House Appropriations and Revenue Committee
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates E-cigarette usage among Kentucky youth has surged in recent years, putting thousands of our young people at risk of nicotine addiction, serious lung injury or disease, and other harmful health outcomes. Since advocates raised the alarm of the e-cigarette epidemic, the Kentucky legislature has demonstrated their commitment to facing it head on. The House Appropriations and Revenue emphasized that again today with passage of House Bill 32 to enact a tax on e-cigarette products, championed by Representative Jerry Miller. Research says – and [...]
Statement on HB 22 Passing the Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Corporal punishment does not create a more disciplined learning environment, nor does it change student behavior. Instead it traumatizes kids and creates school climates that are less disciplined and trauma-sensitive. This misguided form of punishment has immediate and long-lasting impacts on the child’s physical and mental health, behavior, and educational outcomes. The Kentucky House took a courageous and necessary step towards improving the learning environments of thousands of Kentucky students with today’s passage of House Bill 22. Eliminating the use of corporal punishment [...]
Statement on SB 87 Passing Kentucky Senate
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates An efficient and effective youth justice system holds kids accountable, helps them grow up to become contributing members of their community, and increases public safety. While Kentucky has made strides in improving the youth justice system, critical opportunities still persist. And the Kentucky Senate took an important step today to continue progress. We applaud Senator Whitney Westerfield for championing Senate Bill 87 to eliminate the mandatory transfer of youth to adult court for certain offenses. We also commend Senate leadership for making the [...]