FRANKFORT – When it comes to high school dropouts in Kentucky, one number in particular stands out: 33.

 That’s how many students on average walked out of the classroom each and every school day in 2010, amounting to 6,200 students over the entire year.

It’s a staggering figure, and for many of these young adults, it’s a decision that will hinder them for the rest of their lives, especially in an economy that now all but requires a college diploma to succeed. By not graduating high school, this group will collectively earn several billion dollars less than their other classmates, and they will cost the state tens of millions of dollars more because of greater need for government services.

Over the last several years, the Kentucky House of Representatives has worked with Governor Beshear, First Lady Jane Beshear, the Kentucky Board of Education and other educational organizations to try to reverse that trend.  The first step in that direction is raising the dropout age from 16 – where it has been since at least the 1930s – to 18.

The House has passed this several times and took it up again on Thursday, in the hope that this will be the legislative session in which Kentucky joins the 21 other states that have already taken the same step. If this legislation does become law, the compulsory school age would rise to 17 in 2016 and then to 18 the following year.

We know that raising the dropout age is not enough by itself; it will take a renewed effort to engage these students so they want to be better prepared for the future.   Still, that is far more preferable than letting them make a decision that will adversely affect them – and all of us – for decades to come.

As we move forward to help these children in school, the House is also pushing to take a closer look at children caught up in the judicial system.  That’s why the chamber unanimously voted for legislation to set up a task force to study several different aspects of these cases.  This includes status offenses – violations like truancy that would not be an issue if committed by an adult – and how best to handle children 10 and younger who are charged with a crime.  If this becomes law, the task force will also better gauge what effect domestic violence situations have on children.

In other action this past week, the House voted for two bills centered on elections.  The first would require all candidates running for statewide office to file their election finance reports electronically, beginning in 2015, while the second would greatly reduce the costs for special elections that are necessary when there is an open seat in the General Assembly and only one candidate is on the ballot.

In these situations, voting could take place at just the county clerk’s office or another designated site, negating the need to staff a full election outside of the traditional dates in May and November.  The bill is named in honor of former state Rep. Dewayne Bunch, who was critically injured last year in Whitley County while breaking up a fight in the school where he taught.  After he resigned, his wife was the sole candidate on the ballot to complete the remainder of his term.

Now that the first half of the legislative session is behind us, and the major issues are known and getting the public vetting they deserve, the House and Senate are poised to see the level of debate increase significantly over the next month and a half.

If you would like to take part in this, please don’t hesitate to contact me with your views.  You can write to me at Room 366B, Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601.

You can also leave a message for me or for any legislator at 800-372-7181. For those with a hearing impairment, the number is 800-896-0305.

I hope to hear from you soon.

When the General Assembly began the legislative session last month, there was already broad agreement on what the three biggest issues would be: Writing state government’s budget; realigning legislative and Kentucky Supreme Court districts; and limiting if not stopping prescription drug abuse.

Last week, the latter two took center stage.

On Monday, Governor Beshear held a press conference to highlight the broad, bipartisan support behind stopping the illegal flow of prescription drugs.  The event featured legislative leaders from the House and Senate and representatives from key support groups.

There is no shortage of evidence showing that we are truly facing an epidemic.  Kentucky has a much higher rate of abuse than the national average, and the numbers of those dying annually from prescription drug overdoses far outpaces those dying on our highways.  Many of our prisoners, meanwhile, are there because of crimes tied one way or another to these drugs.

Under House Bill 4, the state would take a much more pro-active approach.  In short, this bill would make it easier for law enforcement and medical licensure boards to find exactly where this abuse is taking place and then stop it.

It would begin doing that by moving the state’s KASPER program – which monitors prescription drug use – from the Cabinet for Families and Health Services to the Attorney General’s office and expanding access to our local prosecutors.

All prescribers would also be required to take part, which would dramatically increase KASPER’s usefulness.  Currently, less than half of our pharmacists and doctors are enrolled.

This blanket coverage would make it significantly harder for abusers to doctor shop, and it would severely limit the ability of rogue doctors to prescribe such drugs as OxyContin with little to no patient oversight.

We are very conscious of not hindering patients in need or doctors acting in good faith.  Steps are being taken to keep that from happening.

As this legislation begins moving forward, the General Assembly’s plan to redistrict its population boundaries took what can be called a sideways step on Tuesday last week, when a judge set the stage for more review of the plan that became law last month.  As a result, he said that, in the meantime, candidates will run in the same House and Senate districts that have been in place for the last decade.

I have no problem with this decision, because I have thoroughly enjoyed representing my constituents.  However, I also agree with House and Senate leaders that it’s important for the Kentucky Supreme Court to determine if the new plan is indeed constitutional; if it’s not, we need the court to give us more concrete guidelines on how to proceed next.  Eventually, a plan must be adopted so the legislature’s districts are again roughly the same size population-wise and meet other legal requirements.

In another redistricting matter, the House and Senate agreed on Friday on a map for Kentucky’s six congressional seats.  This formalized a plan House leaders had offered, and assuming it becomes law, it will set the boundaries for the next decade.  Although many citizens won’t see a change, there were some modifications in the central and northeastern sections of the state.

While redistricting and combating prescription drug abuse dominated the news, the House voted for several other bills this past week that would be beneficial if they become law.

House Bill 308, for example, would provide more state oversight of our for-profit colleges, making them more accountable to those they serve.

House Bill 37, meanwhile, would create “districts of innovation” for schools that want to try a different approach to improve learning.  This would give them the ability to do such things as lengthen the school calendar and provide more alternative programs for students in the evening.

For now, the legislative session will reach its halfway point this coming week, although much of our work still remains in front of us.  Because of that, your input is more important than ever.  If you would like to take part, my address is Room 366B, Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601.

You can also leave a message for me or for any legislator at 800-372-7181. For those with a hearing impairment, the number is 800-896-0305.

I hope to hear from you soon.

FRANKFORT – While no one can predict exactly what will pass in a regular legislative session, one constant can always be counted on: Diversity. Last week was a textbook example of that in action in the Kentucky House, with legislation ranging from wild pigs to alternative energy projects.

For those not in agriculture, wild pigs may not seem like a major issue, but the truth is that their growing numbers are wreaking havoc in the fields of many farmers, including in Henry County. If the legislation passing the House unanimously last Monday becomes law, the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife would determine the exact size of the problem, and a plan of action would flow from there.

On Tuesday, the House turned its attention to the use of cleaning products in our schools. The goal here is to find ways to limit the exposure children may have with the sometimes harsh chemicals used to keep a school clean. This bill would have the state’s Department of Education help promote other cleaning supplies that are just as effective but less toxic.

Children were also the focus of an official report that came to light last week by a legislative task force created in 2011 to study childhood obesity.

It found that Kentucky is tied with Mississippi for the highest percentage of high school students classified as obese, with the rate nearly one in five. We’re tied for eighth with two other states when it comes to obesity among low-income children between the ages of two and four.

This trend, not surprisingly, has long-term impacts both on the lives of these children as they mature and the state’s pocketbook as well. According to the report, Kentucky spends more than $1.2 billion annually on obesity-related medical conditions.

On the positive side, some notable strides are being made in our schools. The state regularly gets high marks for its food services, and we’re seeing such things as the Kentucky Farm to School program – found in more than 1,200 schools across the state – put locally grown products onto our children’s plates.

While we wait to see what legislation will move forward as a result of this report, the House did vote unanimously on Tuesday for a bill designed to keep our state government workforce healthy. Under this plan, the Personnel Cabinet would establish a pilot program that would lay out incentives for qualified employees who take concrete steps to improve their health.  A study would be done in coordination

On Wednesday, the House re-visited an area where it has taken the lead over the last several years: alternative and renewable energy.  This legislation, sent unanimously to the Senate, would exempt the sales tax on equipment needed for geothermal drilling and expand tax incentives to more companies involved in the

One of the most widely discussed topics last week wasn’t on legislation still before us but on a bill that was signed into law last month: the redistricting of the General Assembly’s population boundaries and those of the Kentucky Supreme Court.  As happened in the wake of redistricting in the 1990s, this matter is now in the courts to determine if the plan was done properly.  If that case from nearly 20 years ago is a guide, it may be a year or two before a final answer from the Supreme Court is handed down.

As we wait to see what happens next, the number of bills moving through the House will begin picking up in the days ahead.  Many of the major initiatives, from limiting prescription drug abuse to the budget, are still in their early stages but are on track to be introduced and ready for a full House vote within a month or so.

I have already received numerous messages from many of you about these issues and other bills, but would appreciate hearing from even more.  Should you want to write, my address is Room 366B, Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601.

You can also leave a message for me or for any legislator at 800-372-7181. For those with a hearing impairment, the number is 800-896-0305.

I hope to hear from you soon.

FRANKFORT – With January behind us, the General Assembly is finding the quick pace that defined the legislative session’s opening days is now settling into a more measured routine.

The first few weeks, of course, were dominated by two main actions: Governor Beshear’s speeches on the state of the Commonwealth and his budget proposal; and redistricting, which the House and Senate undertake each decade to reflect population changes in their districts and those of the Kentucky Supreme Court and our congressional delegation.

On Tuesday last week, the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee began the weeks-long task of closely looking at the governor’s budget to see what changes our chamber may want to make.  Given the financial difficulty expected – Governor Beshear has warned most agencies to prepare for cuts of more than eight percent – few if any major alterations are forecast.

As this process gets underway, several other noteworthy bills have already been sent to the Senate for consideration.  Those include a few designed to benefit those who have served our country.

House Bill 197, for example, would authorize an “I Support Veterans” license plate, and House Bill 221 would let veterans obtain a driver’s license that would reflect their service.  House Bill 121, meanwhile, would require that any POW/MIA flag bought and flown by a public institution in Kentucky be American made.

If House Bill 224 becomes law, those serving in the Kentucky National Guard would be eligible for a new adoption-assistance program.  In this case, those enlisted could recoup up to $5,000 in unreimbursed expenses if they adopt a child with special needs and up to $3,000 for any other child.  This money would come from the military family assistance trust fund.

House Bill 71 would offer assistance to the families of soldiers killed in action by exempting probate fees their estate would normally pay; this exemption would apply as well to such hazardous-duty professionals here at home as law enforcement and firefighters.

Another prominent topic in the House this legislative session is education.  House Bill 40, which is now in the Senate, would establish a statewide teacher evaluation system by the 2014-15 school year, streamlining a process that now varies from district to district.  Those helping to implement this would include the Kentucky Department of Education, the Kentucky Education Association, the Kentucky School Boards Association and a statewide parent organization.  This evaluation system could include peer and parent surveys and evidence of student progress in the classroom.

Another school-related bill also making it through the chamber, House Bill 30, would let school districts sell qualified advertising on their school buses as a way to raise revenue.

In addition to these bills, the House has put its support behind two studies centered on our youngest generation.  One would take a closer look at the effect domestic violence has on children, and another would see how we can get more computing devices in the hands of fifth and sixth graders.

On Friday, the House voted unanimously for my resolution calling on the U.S. Dept. of Labor to reconsider a proposed rule change that would limit how much help teenagers under 16 could provide on the farm.  If this federal rule is allowed, it would keep teens from using power equipment like tractors or handle cattle.  No one wants to endanger their welfare, of course, but I think we have achieved a good balance as things now stand.  Now that my resolution has passed the House, it will be sent to our congressional delegation and the secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Labor.

As all of this legislation shows, there is no shortage of ideas being discussed, but with only about two months left to finish our work, it is still too soon to say what will ultimately become law.  Because of that, I encourage you to keep contacting me with your thoughts and concerns.

My address, should you want to write, is Room 366B, Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601.

You can also leave a message for me or for any legislator at 800-372-7181. For those with a hearing impairment, the number is 800-896-0305.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Frankfort –

“This proposed change, however well-intentioned, would have an unnecessary effect on farm families across the country,” said Rep. Rand, D-Bedford.  “Like millions of others, I grew up on a family farm and credit that experience for teaching me the enduring value of hard work along with many life lessons.  The last thing any farmer wants to do is endanger the welfare of a teenager, but this rule change is over-reaching.  I think we have a good balance now as things stand.”

Under the proposed federal rules, most children under the age of 16 would be barred from using power equipment, such as driving a tractor, and would face limitations in other areas as well, such climbing ladders taller than six feet or handling cattle.

Rep. Rand’s House Resolution 62 will now be sent to the Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Labor and to each member of Kentucky’s congressional delegation.

“This approach gives us what the House has wanted all along: To solve a problem without harming education and our most vulnerable citizens,” said state Rep. Rick Rand, D-Bedford.  “I’m proud we could find a bipartisan way to close an issue that, if we did not act, would have severely undermined healthcare providers who serve Medicaid patients.

The problem arose last fall when Congress did not provide as much stimulus money as Kentucky and about two dozen other states had expected.  Ultimately, the shortfall totaled more than a half-billion dollars, and the only way to close it by the end of the fiscal year this summer without the General Assembly acting would be to cut payments to the Medicaid healthcare providers by as much as 35 percent.

“Governor Beshear offered a strong plan in November that would have kept this solution within Medicaid and not harm any other program,” Rep. Rand said.  “The House agreed with that in early February.  It wasn’t until there were only a few legislative days left that we even saw the Senate plan, and it relied heavily on cuts to classrooms, our veterans, our local governments and other agencies that have already had their budgets cut by a fifth or more in recent years.  I could not support that, not when there was a viable alternative.”

With Thursday’s action, the House agreed to pass the latest Senate version, with Governor Beshear promising in a letter to veto the language that would have cut education and other services.  “Let me be clear: I do not like the Senate bill, but this is a classic case of taking one small step back so we can take two large steps forward,” Rep. Rand said.  “By doing this, we can avoid what likely would have been the second drawn-out debate on a compromise with Senate leaders that would have guaranteed no resolution.  Now, we can rest assured that our hospitals, our local pharmacies, and other physicians will not see their payments cut at all.  The classroom will continue to be preserved, and so will so many other services.”

In a letter from Governor Beshear to all House members, he assured them that he would use his veto power to uphold the chamber’s original goal of keeping the problem within Medicaid.  “You have my absolute commitment to honor the principles you and the Senate Democrats have stood for throughout this session,” he wrote.

The House voted to end the special session shortly after the legislation was sent to Governor Beshear.  The Senate chose not to follow, however, and House leaders said that move to tack on more than a dozen days could cost taxpayers well over $800,000.  “We believe that we should do all we can to save taxpayer dollars, and our plan to end our work now does just that,” Rep. Rand said.  “It’s the action the people deserve.”