AN ACT Related to Cannabis pre-filed for 2022

A video is presented by WHAS11 as to the pre-filing of a Cannabis Bill 22 RS BR 325 at the link at the bottom of the page.

State Representative Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, pre-filed legislation on Nov. 29. 

This Bill would allow citizens 21 years and older to posses  and use up to an ounce of Cannabis as well as buy and sell it.  Up to 5 plants allowed for cultivation and use and removal of penalties of paraphernalia.

If approved by 3/5th’s of the House and Senate in Kentucky  approve it during the 2022 legislative session an AMENDMENT would go on ballot in November.

Please see more information at this link:

https://www.whas11.com/article/news/kentucky/bill-kentucky-deciminalize-legalize-marijuana-nima-kulkarni-prefiled/417-016744b7-da5c-4128-b143-2018cac3e8a9

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Week 8 of the 2021 Regular Session

SENATOR JASON HOWELL’S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Week 8 of the 2021 Regular Session

With the end of the 2021 Regular Session in sight, fellow lawmakers and I are wrapping up legislative efforts by passing a variety of bills and finalizing the state’s annual budget.

As bills move through the process, vetoes are always a possibility. With that, the General Assembly needs to pass most bills by Tuesday, March 16, to consider any veto overrides that may be necessary.

Why so soon? The legislature will recess on Tuesday, March 16 and will reconvene on Monday, March 29. During the recess period, the Governor will have time to consider bills that have arrived on his desk. Upon returning to the Capitol at the end of the month, the legislature will only have 2 days remaining to pass additional legislation and override any vetoes. Therefore, any legislation sent to the Governor during those final days will not be eligible for a veto override, as we are constitutionally required to conclude Regular Session business before April 1 in odd numbered years.

In other news, the House and Senate have overridden the Governor’s vetoes on Senate Bill (SB) 3 and House Bill (HB) 6. Since both of these measures contain what’s known as an emergency clause, the bills go into effect immediately upon becoming law rather than 90 days after adjournment.

Senate Bill 3 moves the Office of Agricultural Policy under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner’s Office. Moving these critical boards under the authority of the Commissioner of Agriculture streamlines our efforts to strengthen Kentucky Agriculture and help our farmers. The office’s official role is the promotion of interests of agriculture and horticulture, agricultural revenues, and the protection of Kentucky’s livestock industries.

House Bill 6 strengthens an already existing legislative committee which, with the passing of this bill, would become the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee. It codifies subpoena powers, gives the committee the ability to maintain the confidentiality of investigative documents, and imposes fines on those in non-compliance with the committee’s efforts.

Several bills are now with the Governor for consideration including:

Senate Bill 102 expands the Kentucky Proud agricultural marketing program to allow products produced from Asian carp, paddlefish, or sturgeon to be qualified to use the Kentucky Proud logo on packaging as long as the fish were harvested from a body of water in Kentucky.

House Bill 312 limits the ability of people who do not live, work or conduct business in Kentucky to obtain records through the state’s open records law. These restrictions would not apply, however, to out-of-state journalists. A second section of HB 312 would explicitly allow open record requests to be made via email. A third would provide a standardized form for the requests but not require that it be used. Under this bill, the time to comply with requests would also be lengthened to five days from three.

House Bill 518 would change the makeup of the Kentucky State Fair Board and clarify how it operates. Not only does the fair board operate the Kentucky Exposition Center where the state fair is held, but it also operates the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville. The two properties have an annual $500 million economic impact and generate $40 million in taxes.

The General Assembly took significant steps regarding the one-year State Budget this past week. Biennial budgets, or two-year budgets, are traditionally enacted in even-numbered years, the 60-day regular sessions of the General Assembly. As the budget was being crafted last year amid the pandemic’s onset, legislators did not know what the economic outlook, and therefore, what state revenues would be. Out of an abundance of caution, it was determined to pass only a one-year budget, then return to the 30-day session this year to pass another. This year’s budget will essentially be a continuing budget and will look similar to last year’s budget.

The budget conference committee met to publicly review and discuss decisions regarding the budget proposals from the Governor, the House, and the Senate. This committee consists of Majority and Minority Leadership and Appropriation and Revenue Committee Chairmen from both chambers. You can find the archived video of budget conference committee meetings by visiting www.ket.org/legislature/archives.

These final days of the session will be busy, so I encourage you to utilize the many legislative resources available to the public. Stay up to date on committee meetings and bill activity by visiting the LRC’s website at www.legislature.ky.gov. Additionally, you can stream live legislative coverage by logging onto www.ket.org/legislature.

If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me Jason.Howell@LRC.ky.gov.

# # #

Note: Senator Jason Howell (R- Murray) represents the 1st District including Calloway, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Lyon, and Trigg Counties. Senator Howell serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on licensing & Occupations. He is also a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Agriculture; Banking and Insurance; and Health and Welfare. Additionally, Senator Howell serves as a member of the Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Statutory Committee. For a high-resolution .jpeg of Senator Howell, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate101.jpg.

—

"Breonna Taylor." "Say her name."

“Breonna Taylor.”

“Say her name.”

“No justice, no peace.”

Peaceful protesters met with riot gear, flashbangs, roadblocks, and arrests.

This was the refrain of the summer of 2020, which will forever be marked as the summer of protest, the summer of demands for justice. It was the summer the eyes of the world fell upon Kentucky, the home of an innocent Black woman who was murdered for no reason.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s death. It wasn’t only the tragedy of a young and promising life stolen that moved Kentuckians to action from Hazard to Paducah; it was also the insult of injustice.

Fueled by collective grief, Black Kentuckians led the call for justice, and thousands of Kentuckians from all backgrounds and corners of the commonwealth followed their lead. They allied to demand police accountability and to declare once and for all that Black Lives Matter.

The ACLU of Kentucky immediately expanded its racial justice work to ensure a death like Breonna’s never happens again. ACLU of Kentucky Policy Strategist Keturah Herron knew our organization’s role was to take the people’s demands and turn them into policy. Her goal was to first ban no-knock warrants in Louisville, and then take the measure statewide when the General Assembly convened seven months later. Working with allies, Keturah crafted Breonna’s Law and launched the #NoMoreNoKnocks campaign. Just 17 days later, the measure unanimously passed Louisville Metro Council and was formally named “Breonna’s Law.”

Internally, we renewed our commitment to racial justice by reexamining our work in all areas to approach policy through the lens of racial justice. When we lift up the people most harmed by society, we lift up all people. We also began the ongoing and difficult process of self-reflection to root out white supremacy in our own organization and hold ourselves to the same standards we expect from others.

Our work has carried into the General Assembly for the 2021 legislative session. Keturah has successfully collaborated with lawmakers from around the commonwealth and from both parties to create legislation that will save lives.

Breonna was an EMT and wanted to save lives. We will continue this work to honor her legacy and fight for a commonwealth that treats all Kentuckians equally under the law.

Sincerely,

Michael Aldridge
Pronouns: He, him, his
Executive Director, ACLU of Kentucky

P.S. Watch a powerful video about Keturah’s work organizing Kentuckians on Breonna’s Law.

CONTINUE READING…

2021 Kentucky Cannabis

Legislation prior to this year can be found at the following link:

2020 Complete List of Cannabis/Hemp Bills Kentucky – U.S. Marijuana Party Kentucky (wordpress.com)

As of February 12, 2021 the following has been introduced into Kentucky Legislature:

Roberts Files Bill to Legalize Recreational Cannabis

FRI, 02/12/2021 – 07:12 RCN NEWSDESK

State Representative Rachel Roberts filed legislation this week that would legalize the use of recreational cannabis (marijuana) by adults, and to lead to the expungement of the criminal records of those convicted of marijuana-related misdemeanors.

The legislation, the Newport Democrat said, would also open the door for the use of marijuana by people suffering from chronic medical conditions.

“Fifteen states, including neighboring Illinois, have legalized cannabis and are reaping its considerable benefits,” said Roberts. “Kentucky has been desperate for new revenue for years to deal with rising costs in education, public employee pensions and healthcare. It is time to take advantage of the revenue from this growing market and stop the illegal trafficking of marijuana.

“By doing this, we could see as much as $100 million annually in new tax revenue, money that could make a real and lasting difference. Many Kentuckians would also be helped by having their criminal record expunged, while farmers would have a new crop rivaling what tobacco was for many decades.”  CONTINUE READING…

House Bill 467  Sponsor R. Roberts

Establish KRS Chapter 245 and create a section to define terms such as “cannabis accessory,” “cannabis product,” “immature cannabis plant,” “indoor cultivator,” “mature cannabis plant,” and “outdoor cultivator”; create new sections of KRS Chapter 245 to require cannabis to be tracked from seed to consumer; establish license types, application fees, and license fees, and direct license fees to the cannabis development fund; define sizes for cultivator license types; specify allowed transactions for each license type; set parameters for the home grower permit; require the board to promulgate an administrative regulation for license applications; set license length at one year and allow the board to establish renewal system; limit cannabis retail locations to one for every two thousand three hundred persons per county; require cannabis retail stores to be separate from other store and only carry cannabis, cannabis products, and cannabis accessories; create requirements for child-proof packaging and labeling; establish procedures for license denial and a hearing in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B; establish payments in lieu of suspension for licensees and direct the funds to the cannabis development fund and the agency’s revolving trust and agency account; establish minimum age of twenty-one to use or buy cannabis and create status offense for minors under eighteen; ban smoking cannabis in public; require signs in retail locations regarding minors and the US Surgeon General’s statement on cannabis, and create cannabis development fund, cannabis development board, and establish cannabis development fund oversight committee; create new sections of KRS Chapter 138 to define “cannabis,” “cannabis administrator,” and “cannabis product”; set wholesale tax rates and payment schedules for cannabis cultivator and processor licensees; allow local governments to impose up to a 5% regulatory license fee on cannabis licensees in their territory; establish conditions for tax liability; impose civil penalties for tax violations; amend KRS 139.200 to set retail tax rate for cannabis at 15% and amend KRS 139.260, 139.310, and 139.470 to conform; amend KRS 139.240 and 139.250 to require a permit for retailer from Department of Revenue; amend KRS 2.015 to exempt cannabis from age of majority; amend KRS 42.205 to include licensing and permit fees, payments in lieu of suspension, and moneys from wholesale taxes to go to the permanent pension fund and to be distributed quarterly to KERS nonhazardous and TRS funds; amend KRS 241.020 to include a Division of Cannabis in the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control; amend KRS 241.030 to add administrator of the Division of Cannabis; amend KRS 241.060 to add supervision of the cultivation, processing, testing, and trafficking of cannabis to the board’s duties; amend KRS 241.090 to add cannabis to search provisions; amend KRS 243.025 to direct application fees for cannabis licenses into the agency revolving trust account; amend KRS 218A.1421 to exempt cannabis licenses from trafficking statute; amend KRS 218A.1422 to exempt one ounce of marijuana from possession statute; amend KRS 218A.1423 to permit cannabis cultivator licensees and home grower permits to cultivate under their license or permit; amend KRS 218A.500 to exclude cannabis accessories from drug paraphernalia; create a new section of KRS Chapter 431 to create process for expungement of marijuana misdemeanor charges and to waive fees; amend KRS 431.079 to exclude need for certification of eligibility for expungement; amend KRS 131.1815 to include cannabis licensees in delinquent taxpayer statute; amend KRS 600.020 to include cannabis offenses in the definition of status offense; amend KRS 12.020 to create Division of Cannabis within the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. CONTINUE READING…

House Bill 461 Sponsors N. Kulkarni, A. Scott, L. Willner

Establish KRS Chapter 245 and create new sections thereof to define terms, including “cannabis accessory”, “cannabis product”, “immature cannabis plant”, and “mature cannabis plant”; require cannabis to be tracked from seed to consumer; establish license types, application fees, and license fees; specify allowed transactions for each license type; require the board to promulgate an administrative regulation for license applications; set license length at one year and allow the board to establish renewal system; set forth an applicant scoring system; establish parameters for social equity applicant and disproportionately impacted areas; require cannabis retail stores to be separate from other store and only carry cannabis, cannabis products, and cannabis accessories; create requirements for child-proof packaging and labeling; establish procedures for license denial and a hearing in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B; establish payments in lieu of suspension for licensees and direct the funds to the agency’s revolving trust and agency account and the criminal justice reinvestment fund; establish minimum age of 21 to use or buy cannabis and create status offense for minors under eighteen; ban smoking cannabis in public; and require signs in retail locations regarding minors and the US Surgeon General’s statement on cannabis; create new sections of KRS Chapter 138 to define “cannabis”, “cannabis administrator”, and “cannabis product”; set wholesale tax rates and payment schedules for cannabis cultivator and processor licensees, allow local governments to impose up to a five percent regulatory license fee on cannabis licensees in their territory; establish conditions for tax liability; impose civil penalties for tax violations; create a new section of KRS Chapter 245 to set conditions for the cannabis tax rates effective July 1, 2026 and beyond; amend KRS 2.015 to exempt cannabis from age of majority; amend KRS 241.020 to include a Division of Cannabis in the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control; amend KRS 241.030 to add administrator of the Division of Cannabis; amend KRS 241.060 to add supervision of the cultivation, processing, testing, and trafficking of cannabis to the board’s duties and require Department of Agriculture to review regulations for cultivators prior to filing; amend KRS 241.090 to add cannabis to search provisions; amend KRS 243.025 to direct application fees for cannabis licenses into the agency revolving trust account; amend KRS 218A.1421 to exempt cannabis licenses from trafficking statute; amend KRS 218A.1422 to exempt one ounce of marijuana from possession statute; amend KRS 218A.1423 to permit cannabis cultivator licensees to cultivate under their license; amend KRS 218A.500 to exclude cannabis accessories from drug paraphernalia; create a new section of KRS Chapter 431 to create process for expungement of marijuana misdemeanor charges and to waive fees; amend KRS 431.079 to exclude need for certification of eligibility for expungement; amend KRS 131.1815 to include cannabis licensees in delinquent taxpayer statute; amend KRS 600.020 to include cannabis offenses in the definition of status offense; amend KRS 12.020 to create Division of Cannabis within the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. CONTINUE READING…

ADDITIONALLY,

SB 92(BR-1140)/LM/CI(click bill number to view bill details.)

Title:  AN ACT relating to medicinal cannabis.

Sponsor(s):

West , Stephen
Nemes , Michael J.
Yates , David
Parrett , Dennis
Webb , Robin L.
Harper Angel , Denise
Neal , Gerald A.
Embry Jr. , C.B.
McGarvey , Morgan
Higdon , Jimmy
Current Status:

to Committee on Committees (H)
In House

Summary:

Create various new sections of KRS Chapter 218A to define terms; exempt the medicinal cannabis program from existing provisions in Kentucky law to the contrary; require the Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control implement and regulate the medicinal cannabis program; establish the Division of Medicinal Cannabis and the Board of Physicians and Advisors within the Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control; establish restrictions on the possession and use of medicinal cannabis by cardholders; establish certain protections for cardholders; establish professional protections for practitioners, attorneys, and other professionals; provide for the authorizing of practitioners by state licensing boards to issue written certifications for the use medicinal cannabis; prohibit the consumption of medicinal cannabis by smoking; permit an employer to restrict the possession and use of medicinal cannabis by an employee; require the department to implement and operate a registry identification card program; establish requirements for registry identification cards; require the department to operate a provisional licensure receipt system for cardholders; establish the requirements for a registry identification card and the application process; establish notification requirements for cardholders; establish when a registry identification card may be revoked; establish various cannabis business licensure categories; establish requirements for a cannabis business licensure and the application process for a license; prohibit a practitioner from being a board member or principal officer of a cannabis business; prohibit cross-ownership of certain classes of cannabis businesses; establish rules for local sales, including establishing the process by which a local legislative body may prohibit the operation of cannabis businesses within its territory and the process for local ordinances and ballot initiatives; establish technical requirements for cannabis businesses; establish limits on the THC potency of medicinal cannabis that can be produced or sold in the state; establish cultivation square footage limits for cannabis businesses that are permitted to cultivate; establish procedures for the department to inspect cannabis businesses; establish procedures for the suspension or revocation of a cannabis business license; exempt certain records and information from the disclosure under the Kentucky Open Records Act; require the department to develop, maintain, and operate electronic systems for monitoring the medicinal cannabis program; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to implement the medicinal cannabis program; establish that nothing in the bill requires government programs or private insurers to reimburse for the cost of use; amend KRS 342.815 to establish that the Employer’s Mutual Insurance Authority shall not be required to provide coverage to an employer if doing so would subject the authority to a violation of state or federal law; amend KRS 216B.402 to require hospital emergency departments to report cases of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control; amend KRS 218A.010, 218A.1421, 218A.1422, 218A.1423, and 218A.500 to conform; amend KRS 12.020, 12.252, 15.300, 15.380, 15.398, 15.420, 15A.340, 61.592, 62.120, 131.1815, 211.285, 241.010, 241.015, 241.030, 243.025, 243.0307, 243.038, 243.090, 243.360, 438.310, 438.311, 438.313, 438.315, 438.317, 438.320438.325, 438.330, 438.337, and 438.340 to change the name of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control; some sections EFFECTIVE July 1, 2022.

HCR63(BR-1238)(click bill number to view bill details.)

Title:  A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION to create the Task Force on Economic Effects of Casino Gambling and Cannabis Legalization.

Sponsor(s):

Cantrell , McKenzie
Current Status:

to Committee on Committees (H)
In House

Summary:

Create the Task Force on Economic Effects of Casino Gambling and Recreational Marijuana Legalization to study economic effects of legalization of casino gambling and cannabis on governments, corrections, judiciary, small business, wages, and employment; establish task force membership; require five meeting of the task force during the 2021 interim and report findings to the Legislative Research Commission by December 1, 2021.

HB 326(BR-390)(click bill number to view bill details.)

Title:  AN ACT relating to the creation of the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research and making an appropriation therefor.

Sponsor(s):

Moser , Kimberly Poore
Bentley , Danny
Banta , Kim
Bridges , Randy
Frazier , Deanna
Freeland , Chris
Heavrin , Samara
Pratt , Phillip
Reed , Brandon
Santoro , Sal
Sheldon , Steve
Smith , Tom
Tate , Nancy
Massey , C. Ed
Current Status:

to Committee on Committees (H)
In House

Summary:

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to establish the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research at the University of Kentucky; define the role, mission, and responsibilities of the center; establish the university’s duties related to the center; APPROPRIATION.

HB 136(BR-49)/LM/CI(click bill number to view bill details.)

Title:  AN ACT relating to medicinal cannabis and making an appropriation therefor.

Sponsor(s):

Nemes , Jason
Gentry , Al
Lawrence , William
Lewis , Derek
Miller , Charles
Miller , Jerry T.
Koch , Matthew
Osborne , David
Goforth , Robert
Minter , Patti
Kulkarni , Nima
Huff , Thomas
Flood , Kelly
Kirk-McCormick , Norma
Pratt , Phillip
Hatton , Angie
Bojanowski , Tina
Stevenson , Cherlynn
Palumbo , Ruth Ann
Cantrell , McKenzie
Elliott , Daniel
Timoney , Killian
Jenkins , Joni L.
Willner , Lisa
Raymond , Josie
Graham , Derrick
Westrom , Susan
Current Status:

to Committee on Committees (H)
In House

Summary:

Create various new sections of KRS Chapter 218A to define terms; exempt the medicinal cannabis program from existing provisions in Kentucky law to the contrary; require the Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control implement and regulate the medicinal cannabis program; establish the Division of Medicinal Cannabis and the Board of Physicians and Advisors within the Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control ; establish restrictions on the possession and use of medicinal cannabis by cardholders; establish certain protections for cardholders; establish professional protections for practitioners, attorneys, and other professionals; provide for the authorizing of practitioners by state licensing boards to issue written certifications for the use medicinal cannabis; prohibit the consumption of medicinal cannabis by smoking; permit an employer to restrict the possession and use of medicinal cannabis by an employee; require the department to implement and operate a registry identification card program; establish requirements for registry identification cards; establish registry identification card fees; require the department to operate a provisional licensure receipt system for cardholders; establish the requirements for a registry identification card and the application process; establish notification requirements for cardholders; establish when a registry identification card may be revoked; establish various cannabis business licensure categories; establish requirements for a cannabis business licensure and the application process for a license; prohibit a practitioner from being a board member or principal officer of a cannabis business; prohibit cross-ownership of certain classes of cannabis businesses; establish rules for local sales, including establishing the process by which a local legislative body may prohibit the operation of cannabis businesses within its territory and the process for local ordinances and ballot initiatives; establish technical requirements for cannabis businesses; establish limits on the THC potency of medicinal cannabis that can be produced or sold in the state; establish cultivation square footage limits for cannabis businesses that are permitted to cultivate; establish procedures for the department to inspect cannabis businesses; establish procedures for the suspension or revocation of a cannabis business license; exempt certain records and information from the disclosure under the Kentucky Open Records Act; require the department to develop, maintain, and operate electronic systems for monitoring the medicinal cannabis program; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to implement the medicinal cannabis program; establish that nothing in the bill requires government programs or private insurers to reimburse for the cost of use; establish the medicinal cannabis trust fund; establish the local medicinal cannabis trust fund; establish procedures for the distribution of local cannabis trust fund moneys; create a new section of KRS Chapter 138 to establish an excise tax on certain transfers of medicinal cannabis; amend KRS 216B.402 to require hospital emergency departments to report cases of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control; amend KRS 342.815 to establish that the Employer’s Mutual Insurance Authority shall not be required to provide coverage to an employer if doing so would subject the authority to a violation of state or federal law; amend KRS 139.470 to exempt the sale of medical cannabis from the state sales tax; amend KRS 218A.010, 218A.1421, 218A.1422, 218A.1423, and 218A.500 to conform; amend KRS 12.020, 12.252, 15.300, 15.380, 15.398, 15.420, 15A.340, 61.592, 62.120, 131.1815, 211.285, 241.010, 241.015, 241.030, 243.025, 243.0307, 243.038, 243.090, 243.360, 438.310, 438.311, 438.313, 438.315, 438.317, 438.320438.325, 438.330, 438.337, and 438.340 to change the name of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control; some sections EFFECTIVE July 1, 2022; APPROPRIATION.

Sam Girod to be released from prison on May 1st!

The following information was reported on Facebook this morning.

So good to see a innocent person be finally released from the Hell that he never should have experienced in the first place!

The tyrannical Government which has irresponsibly incarcerated more innocent people than virtually anywhere else in the World has to be called into rein. 

From Sally Oh:

Amish farmer Sam Girod is coming home to his family!

ADDRESS TO SEND CARD: 409 Satterfield Lane, Owingsville, KY 40360

The FDA prosecuted him for mislabeling a harmless chickweed salve that his family made and sold for over 20 years. He’s been in federal prison since July 2017 and had 3 more years on his sentence!!!

Sam is my neighbor and a charming, boisterous, outspoken, freedom-loving American. He refused to roll over when the FDA unlawfully threatened and lied to him.

Here’s the story if you don’t know it, please send him a card. He and his family would appreciate that! bit.ly/freeamishsam

Graphic from Owen Yoder, thank you to Carrie Long for sharing the good news with me!!!

SOURCE

RELATED:

Detailed story: FDA’s persecution of Samuel Girod.

KY Amish Farmer Jailed over a Salve Label; the FDA Wants Him Jailed for Life

Free KY Amish Farmer Samuel Girod

This is the story of the FDA’s persecution of Samuel Girod.

Time to Contact our Representatives about Samuel Girod

Free KY Amish Farmer Samuel Girod

"Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19,"

Rand Paul becomes first known senator to test positive for coronavirus

Paul tweeted that he “is feeling fine and is in quarantine.”

March 22, 2020, 12:51 PM CDT

By Allan Smith

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., on Sunday became the first known senator to test positive for COVID-19.

“Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19,” Paul’s account tweeted. “He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person.”

“He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time,” the thread continued. “Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul.”

Paul is the third member of Congress to announce a positive test for coronavirus, following Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Ben McAdams, D-Utah. Several Republican lawmakers also self-quarantined earlier this month after learned they had interacted with someone who tested positive for the virus at the Conservative Political Action Conference. President Donald Trump, who attended CPAC and also interacted with multiple people at his Florida resort who later found out they were infected, tested negative for the virus.

In an interview with NBC News, Diaz-Balart said Saturday he is feeling better after a week but said the initial symptoms hit him “like a ton of bricks.” McAdams, meanwhile, told NBC’s “Today” last week that the symptoms “felt like I had a belt around my chest, and so I couldn’t breathe deeply.”

Paul, a libertarian, forced a delay on the Senate’s first coronavirus aid bill by pushing a doomed amendment. He later voted against it.

Paul suffered lung damage as a result of having his ribs broken during an altercation with a neighbor in 2017. Last year, he had part of his lungs removed in surgery.

CONTINUE READING…

Kentucky police guard coronavirus patient who wouldn’t self-quarantine

By Lee Brown

A Kentucky coronavirus patient has been placed under police guard after refusing to stay under quarantine, the state’s governor has revealed.

The unidentified 53-year-old man from Nelson County recently tested positive at the University of Louisville, but left against medical advice — and also refused to self-isolate at home, Gov. Andy Beshear said at a press conference.

A local judge declared a state of emergency in order to invoke a little-known statute that allows him to force a “self-isolation or quarantine,” the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.

Law enforcement officers are now stationed outside the infected man’s home to make sure he does not leave and spread the potentially deadly virus.

“It’s a step I hoped I’d never have to take, but we can’t allow one person who we know has the virus to refuse to protect their neighbors,” Beshear said at the press conference.

Beshear also revealed that he had been tested himself — with results coming back negative — after attending a public event in Louisville where another attendee later tested positive.

“This, right now, certainly is us against the coronavirus,” he said at a press conference.

“And all we need from people — we’ve all gotta follow these guidelines,” he said. “We need everybody’s help to do it.

“We are part of Team Kentucky. We need everybody out there to be a good teammate,” he said.

With Post wires

CONTINUE READING…

Sen. Perry Clark, and others, will speak at the rotunda rally tomorrow!

FROM THE PROFILE TIMELINE OF DAN SEUM, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE!

THANK YOU DAN SEUM!

FIRST OF ALL,

SENATOR PERRY CLARK will be attending the Rally at the Rotunda and will be speaking.  This will be his last year, as he is retiring.  Let’s all show up and give him the respect he deserves for all his years of hard work for the people in Kentucky!

“Senator Perry Clark will be addressing the Rally tomorrow! Senator Clark has been working for cannabis reform in the Kentucky Legislature for Many years! Senator Clark and Gatewood Galbraith are true Pioneers! This will be Senator Clark’s last Hurrah as he is retiring. Make sure to let the senator know how much you appreciate his leadership and continued mission to end cannabis prohibition in Kentucky!” Dan Seum

ADDITIONALLY,

“Senator Dan Seum will be coming from retirement to address the Rally Tomorrow! Senator Seum filed SB80, “Adult Responsible Use Act” during his last few years in office. Please let the senator know you appreciate his efforts.” — with Dan Malano Seum.

“House Representative Jason Nemes will be addressing the Rally Tomorrow! Representative Nemes is currently championing the Medical Cannabis legislation among his colleagues in Frankfort! Please make sure to thank Rep Nemes for his continued efforts!”

“Representative Cluster Howard will also be addressing the Rally tomorrow! Representative Howard filed HB148 “Adult Responsible Use’. Make sure to thank Rep Cluster Howard!
Rep Howard is retiring also….let him know how much you appreciate his leadership! We will miss you Representative Howard!”

“State Representative John Sims Jr will be addressing the Rally tomorrow! Representative Sims has been working with the Crawford’s and KY4MM for several years on Medical Cannabis! He co-sponsors HB136. Make sure to thank Rep Sims!”

“We have invited all co-sponsors of HB136 (Medical Cannabis), too many to mention here. But please know that we appreciate ALL the legislators who have put their names on Each of the 10 cannabis bills filed this session!
J. Nemes, J. Sims Jr, T. Bojanowski, C. Booker, T. Branham Clark, K. Bratcher, G. Brown Jr, T. Burch, M. Cantrell, J. Donohue, L. Elkins, D. Elliott, K. Flood, C. Freeland, A. Gentry, J. Glenn, J. Gooch Jr., D. Graham, C. Harris, M. Hart, A. Hatton, K. Hinkle, C. Howard, T. Huff, J. Jenkins, M. Koch, N. Kulkarni, D. Lewis, S. Maddox, M. Marzian, C. McCoy, R. Meeks, R. Meyer, C. Miller, J. Miller, P. Minter, D. Osborne, R. Palumbo, P. Pratt, R. Rand, J. Raymond, D. Schamore, A. Scott, M. Sorolis, C. Stevenson, W. Stone, S. Westrom, B. Wheatley, R. Wiederstein, L. Willner, L. Yates”

PLEASE CHECK DAN SEUM’S PROFILE FOR ADDITIONAL UPDATES THROUGHOUT TODAY AND ALSO THE EVENT LINK.

Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 12:30 PM – 2 PM EDT

700 Capital Ave, Frankfort, KY 40601-3448, United States

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE THERE!

AT ELECTION TIME, VOTE LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS UPON IT —  BECAUSE IT DOES!

SENATOR STAN HUMPHRIES’ LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Office of Senator Stan Humphries

For Immediate Release
March 6, 2020

Contact: Morgan P’Pool

Morgan.PPool@LRC.KY.GOV

SENATOR STAN HUMPHRIES’ LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The Kentucky General Assembly reached the deadline to file new bills this week. Slightly less than 1,000 bills were filed—286 in the Senate and 647 in the House. With this deadline behind us, we now have a more complete view of the issues lawmakers will take up this year.

Senate Bill (SB) 2, the Senate’s proposed voter ID requirement bill, passed in the House this week with provisions. The Senate did not concur with these changes and asked the House to recede its changes to the bill. If an agreement is not reached, SB 2 will then move to a conference committee for further discussion.

A House measure relating to medicinal marijuana research passed in the Senate.  House Concurrent Resolution 5 urges national drug organizations, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to expedite research into the potential therapeutic benefits and risks of using marijuana for health purposes.

Women represented 40 percent of the computer science workforce in 1995. Today, that number is less than 25 percent, which is an alarming decrease to me. SB 193 establishes a goal of increasing participation in computer science courses by underrepresented groups, including females, minorities, students with disabilities, English language learners, and students whose families are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. SB 193 includes the number of computer science courses or programs offered in each school, as well as the nature of those courses or programs and the number of instructors required.

Legislation to rein in surprise medical billing has now advanced to the House. SB 150 seeks to stop the practice by requiring insurers to cover surprise medical billing. This happens when a patient receives medical care—often unwittingly—outside of their insurer’s network. Subsequently, the patient is billed by doctors or hospitals or both for the amount insurance did not cover. SB 150 would require the state insurance commissioner to establish a database of billed health care service charges, and it would provide a dispute resolution program for medical insurers and providers to work out their differences over these out-of-network charges and not the patient.

A bill that would criminalize the “doxing” of minors, SB 182, also passed. By definition, doxing is the act of publicly identifying or publishing private information about someone, especially as a form of punishment, intimidation, or revenge. This legislation was brought after a northern Kentucky student was doxed following the posting of a video of him with a Native American protester in Washington D.C. SB 182 is a commonsense step to address the growing problem of cyber harassment in today’s digital-driven era and would protect the privacy of minors.

Other bills passing this week include:

SB 21 would require veterinarians to report the abuse of animals under their care. Kentucky is the only state where veterinarians are currently prohibited by law from reporting animal abuse unless they have owner permission or are under a court order.

SJR 35 would direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to establish the Task Force on Services for Persons with Brain Injuries.

SB 37 would allow veteran-managed nonprofits to waive some startup fees. It would do this by amending the existing Boots to Business program to include these nonprofits. Through the program, new businesses that are majority-owned by a military veteran or an active-service member are eligible for fee waivers for the initial business filing, as well as the annual report filings. SB 37 passed by a 33-0 vote and was sent to the House for its consideration.

SB 115 would amend the statute regarding the tuition waiver for Kentucky foster or adopted children to include graduate programs and extends the eligibility time period to 10 consecutive or non-consecutive semesters up to age 28.

SB 136 would codify in statute that home health aides providing Alzheimer’s and dementia care have four hours of training in their first 60 days of employment. It would also require an annual, two-hour refresher course.

SB 148 would require individuals applying to claim certain agriculture exceptions to first apply for an agriculture exemption number from the Kentucky Department of Revenue (DOR). The bill further requires that DOR develop a searchable agriculture exemptions-number database for sellers and retailers to use for verification.

SB 159 would require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate regulations for the operation and maintenance of public splash pads, areas with sprinklers and fountains but little or no standing water. There are currently no regulations on how splash pads should be operated and maintained. 

SB 161 would toughen penalties for predators who target children online. Among other things, it would increase penalties for people who prey on children under the age of 12. The bill would also make it easier for investigators to conduct undercover stings by clarifying that they are allowed to pose as children online.

The pace in Frankfort is getting quicker, and I anticipate an increase in visitors and advocates from across the Commonwealth.  If you have the time and opportunity, please stop by my office in Frankfort or call for an appointment. If you have any questions or comments about any of these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at Stan.Humphries@LRC.ky.gov. 

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Note:  Senator Stan Humphries (R-Cadiz) represents the 1st District including Calloway, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Lyon, and Trigg Counties. Senator Humphries serves as vice chairman of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee and co-chairman of the Capital Planning Advisory Board and the Public Assistance Reform Task Force. He also serves as a member of the Agriculture Committee; the Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee; and the State and Local Government Committee, and the 2020-2022 Budget Preparation & Submission Statutory Committee. Additionally, he serves as an ex-officio member of the Senate Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development and Tourism, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection; Education; General Government, Finance, and Public Protection; Human Resources; Justice and Judiciary; and Transportation. For a high-resolution .jpeg of Senator Humphries, please log onto https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate101.jpg

TO VIEW FULL BILLS GO TO THIS LINK…

Medical marijuana bill advances in KY General Assembly

Above:  HB 136 primary cosponsor Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, presenting the medical marijuana legislation for a floor vote.

For Immediate Release

February 20, 2020

Medical marijuana bill advances in KY General Assembly

FRANKFORT— For the first time in Kentucky history, a bill to legalize medical marijuana came to a vote on the floor of the Kentucky House. Apparently the first time was a charm.

Members of the House voted 65-30 to approve the legalization of medical marijuana under House Bill 136, along with eight floor amendments to the bill. The measure now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

“HB 136 when it is passed, which I hope that it is, will be the tightest medical marijuana bill in the country,” said Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, who shares primary sponsorship of the measure with Rep. John Sims Jr., D-Flemingsburg.

Nemes said that he and Sims have spent years meeting with stakeholders to ensure that the legislation addresses their concerns.

“We’ve met with stakeholders from law enforcement, constituents, regular folks … patients, physicians, chiropractors. I mean, you name it, we’ve been there,” he said.

The bill as passed by the House would extensively clarify state policies for cultivation, processing, sale, distribution, and use of medical marijuana. Licensing of cannabis dispensaries is covered, as is maintenance of a cardholder registry for cannabis users.

Smoking of medical marijuana would be prohibited under HB 136.  The bill instead would allow the drug to be dispensed as “edibles” such as gummies, oils, or similar products.  Customers would be limited to a month’s supply at one time.

Keeping with the sponsors’ commitment to make HB 136 a public health bill and not a revenue maker, Nemes said excise taxes and all other revenue created by the bill would go to regulation of the program and nothing else. Additionally, local governments would have the last say in whether medical marijuana businesses operate within their jurisdiction.

Among those House members voting against the proposal was former Kentucky State Trooper and current pastor Rep. Chris Fugate, R-Chavies. He cited the fact that marijuana remains a federally controlled substance that isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration as a reason for his vote.

“Marijuana, no matter how we look at it, is against federal law” and joins heroin, LSD, and ectasy as a Schedule I narcotic, said Fugate. It is also a “gateway drug,” he said, referring to drugs that are believed by some to lead to abuse of more dangerous drugs later on.

Voting is support of the bill was Rep. Robert Goforth, R-East Bernstadt. The licensed pharmacist said he supports the bill on behalf of individuals like his adult brother diagnosed years ago with cerebral palsy.

Goforth said he sees his brother suffer on a regular basis from “adverse side effects” caused by FDA-approved anticonvulsants and other drugs.

“If I can give him a little bit of relief from the FDA-approved medication that has caused those adverse side effects for him, to control those conditions, I’m going to do it. I have to do it,” he said.

END