Legislative Issues for 2012

KACo and each affiliate assocation has developed a list of legisaltive priorities, which are shared with legislative leaders and Executive Branch officials.

Below are the top six legislative issues of KACo, followed by specific issues identified by KACo affiliate agencies.

Top KACo Legislative Issues

Pain Clinics

KACo and its affiliate members advocate for a strengthening of statutory options to further regulate the operators and the opening of such clinics, to separate the legitimate practitioner from those seeking only quick, illegal financial gain.

  E-911

KACo and its affiliate members advocate a funding stream update for the continued operations and maintenance of E-911 service. We await the results of 2011's Senate Bill 119 authorizing a study of all PSAPs (Public Safety Answering Points) and current funding mechanisms in order to proceed with legislation.

Constables

KACo and its affiliate members advocate removing all statutorily designated powers and duties from the office.

Retirement

KACo and its affiliate members want to give 2008's House Bill 1 time to work.

Tax Reform

KACo and its affiliate members advocate for local and state tax reform to be taken up as a whole. With limited options at the local level and an outdated tax code at the state level, much could be done to achieve a more efficient and equitable system. State and local governments can only make progress toward smarter tax laws by working simultaneously.

 Jail Funding

KACo and its affiliate members advocate for additional funding, enabling counties to reduce their deficits due to jail operations and maintenance.

 

 

Specific Affiliate Legislative Issues

 Kentucky Commonwealth's Attorneys Association

• Schedule pseudoephedrine to cut down on methamphetamine production/abuse.
• Restructure felony classifications, parole eligibility and jail credit structure.
• Strengthen current gang laws to counter increased gang-related violence.

  Kentucky Jailers Association

• Refile  2010 Senate Bill 190 which would return to the State Treasurer's unclaimed money in inmate accounts or prisoner canteen accounts to the general fund of the county in which the jail is located in, after three years.

Kentucky Sheriffs Association

• Increase Court Security officers' funding. Currently reimbursed by the state at $8/hr, this is inadequate to meet actual costs incurred by county sheriffs.
• Allow sheriffs to collect an administrative fee on all fees added to property tax bills which they collect.
• Abolish the office of constable.
• Stop the retirement system health insurance payments by employers for retirees who are hired. They are more experienced but this employer payment makes them more expensive to employ.
• HB 463 issues: law reduces the arrest fees sheriffs receive; could be liability on arresting officers who arrest rather than cite the citable offenses outlined in the bill.

Kentucky County Judge Executives Association

• Increase jail funding. While HB 463 has potential to alleviate costs in the long-term, fiscal courts still contribute more than $140M annually to jail funds.
• Emergency communications funding. Land line revenues continue to dwindle so counties must look for other ways to enhance coverage of 911 expenditures.
• Pension costs. High contribution rates put increased stress on county budgets.
• Telecom Franchise Fee shortfall. Increase the annual hold-harmless amount to local jurisdictions.
• Compensating Rate on Property Taxes. Look at options to change that calculation.
• Election reimbursement. The current $255 per precinct that counties receive from the state is far below the actual cost, which is around $1800.
• Status offenders. Seek a reduction in the number of status offenders placed in county jails.
• Tax reform. Any attempt at tax reform by the General Assembly should include taxing options for local governments.
• Abolish the office of Constable.
• Road Fund Formula should remain the same.

Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks Association

• HB 463 needs judges' roles fleshed out more to achieve more uniformity across judicial circuits.
• Circuit clerks statewide have turned over $500,000 less for the month of July to the state compared to July of 2010; if decrease continues, there will be $6M less for the year.
• Transportation Cabinet is considering offering specialty driver license for veterans much like the plate, for veterans; increases workload to verify veteran status.
• There will be a fiscal impact for electronic filing.
• AOC may propose some new courthouses for the FY 12-14 budget.

Kentucky Magistrates & Commissioners Association

• Increase E911 funding to local governments. Land line revenues are insufficient to cover actual expenditures.
• Increase jail funding.
• Road Fund formula should be preserved regardless of any fluctuations.
• Preserve local government compensating rate for property taxes.
• Coal severance should not be cut off the top for programs, only one-time projects.
• Abolish the office of constable.

Kentucky Property Valuation Administrators Association

• Lack of funding continues. It has been seven years since funding from the state was increased. Statewide, 38 employee jobs were lost last fiscal year, about 5% of the workforce.

Kentucky Coroner's Association

• Watch for another bill that would require all nursing home deaths suspected to be a resulted of maltreatment, to be continued by the coroner as a coroner's case.
• Watch for a bill from KSP and UNITE, requiring all drug deaths to be reported to KSP, for any further mandates for coroners.

Kentucky County Attorneys Association

• Secure adequate baseline funding for the Prosecutors Advisory Council for both county and commonwealth attorneys.
• Protection for the delinquent tax law that was adopted in the 2009 legislative session that insures important revenue for county officials, schools and local taxing districts.

Kentucky County Clerks Association

• Require all local option elections to be held on a primary or general election date for greater efficiency and as a cost savings.
• Standardize all non-nominating petitions to include name, signature, date of birth, social security number, residential address and date of petition signature.