Legislative Update, March 24, 2014

As the 2014 session of the Kentucky General Assembly enters the home stretch, a number of key proposals hang in the balance. Later today, the Senate is expected to approve their version of the state’s two-year budget, setting up the always difficult budget negotiations. Along with the biennial budget, legislators still have several high-profile measures to deal with, including several Chamber-supported measures. These include legislation to approve public-private partnerships, medical review panels, local option sales tax and juvenile justice reform. Several other measures seem unlikely to be addressed, despite the need and public support, such as gaming and comprehensive tax reform.

The 2014 National Archery in the Schools (NASP) Kentucky state championship held March 17-18 at Louisville’s International Convention Center featured more students than ever.

Attorney General Jack Conway, Gov. Steve Beshear, First Lady Jane Beshear and members of the Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory Committee are reminding community groups and treatment providers that submissions are currently being accepted for $19 million in juvenile substance abuse treatment grants through the KY Kids Recovery program.  The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2014.

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) honored nine members of the agency who went above and beyond the call of duty to make highways safer in the Commonwealth. The seventh annual Excellence in Highway Safety (EHS) awards ceremony was held at KSP headquarters on March 18, 2014.

EHS award recipients. From L. to R.: Sgt. Steve Walker, Tpr. Nathan Clinkenbeard, Ofr. Richard Bolduc, Ofr. David Burton, Insp. Ramona Lawson, Tpr. Shaun Little, Insp. Billy Taylor, Tpr. Jason Young and Ofr. Brian Gilliam.

By Curtis L. Coy

Colleagues and Fellow Veterans, I want to share with you some recent news relating to the “Employment Situation of Veterans - 2013” report published by the Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics) as well as the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP).