Legislative Update
2012 Legislative Update March 9, 2012
March 2012Legislative Update April 15 2012
April 2012The Kentucky General Assembly has concluded their regular session for this year. All of their work was not completed prior to midnight on April 12th, the final day. Governor Beshear has already issued a call for a special session beginning on Monday, April 16th.
During the recent session, AGC of Kentucky was a leader/significant participant in three different pieces of legislation. They are:
HB 277, local taxation of business entities. This bill will establish a standard local occupational tax form. Governor Beshear signed this bill on April 11th. AGC co-sponsored and supported HB 277. This is a significant victory not only for AGC members but for all small businesses in the state.
HB 495, unemployment insurance, was a very high priority for AGC this year. AGC co-sponsored and supported HB 495 as the only viable option currently available to pay the federal government interest owed to the Unemployment Insurance trust fund. Another AGC success!
AGC fully supported and was the prime initiator of HB 496, our Open Records bill. This bill better defines entities that must make their records available subject to Open Records requests.
Other bills of interest to AGC members include:
HB 390, an act relating to metals, was signed by the governor on 4/11.
SB 152, underground facility damage prevention, was signed by the governor on 4/11.
HB 215, electrical licensing, was also signed by the governor on 4/11.
Bills of interest to AGC during the 2012 regular session:
SB 42, SB 98, SB 100, HB 251, SB 2 – pain management clinics
SB 77 – employee misclassification
SB 81 – local school district funding
HB 88 – arbitration
HB 58, HB 5, HB 118, SB 118 – unauthorized aliens
HB 60, HB 270, SB 149 – worker’s compensation issues
HB 87, HB 215 , HB 470, – electricians
HB 202, HB 339 – health insurance / health care
HB 245, HB 246, HB 255 – alternative fuels and energy efficiency
HB 263, HB 470, – HVAC licensing
HB 277 – local taxation of businesses
HB 339 – airborne contaminants
HB 358 – boiler external piping inspections
HB 4, SB 153 – prescription drug abuse
SB 152 – underground facility damage protection
HB 390 – copper theft
SB 155 – school board purchasing
SB 167, HB 495 – unemployment insurance loans
HB 496 – open records
HB 501 – commercial building permits
Read More2012 Legislative Update March 23, 2012
March 2012The Kentucky General Assembly has completed 54 of the 60 legislative days for this legislative session. There are only 5 legislative days remaining before they recess for a 10 day veto period.
With the number of legislative days dwindling, action on bills is extremely important.
HB 496, our Open Records bill, was given a first reading in the Senate on Tuesday and a second reading on Wednesday prior to having a committee hearing. On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed HB 496 unanimously. Before adjourning on Thursday night, the full Senate went ahead and passed our bill 32-3-1. It is on its way to the governor to be signed! AGC fully supports this legislation as it better defines entities that must make their records available subject to Open Records requests.
HB 277, local taxation of business entities, passed the Senate A&R Committee on Tuesday unanimously. It is now on the Consent Calendar awaiting a full Senate vote, which could take place any day. AGC supports HB 277,
On Thursday, the Senate passed their versions of the Executive Branch Budget (HB 265), the Legislative Branch Budget (HB 268) and the Judicial Branch Budget (HB 269). The House did not accept the Senate’s version, therefore these bills will go to a Conference Committee next Monday. There is still plenty of time left for the two chambers to resolve their differences with the budgets.
HB 202, an act relating to chiropractors, was originally assigned to the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Last week, it was reassigned to the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee then to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. This past Wednesday in committee, Sen. Tom Buford (R-Nicholasville) declared this bill dead for the remainder of the session. AGC opposes the bill.
HB 495, unemployment insurance, received its first reading on Tuesday and second reading on Wednesday. We expect Senate action early next week. AGC supports HB 495 as the only viable option currently available to pay the federal government interest owed to the Unemployment Insurance trust fund.
HB 499, a tax amnesty program, has been assigned to the Senate A&R Committee. AGC had concerns with part of this bill relating to employee misclassification. The Senate version of HB 499 removed our concerns. AGC will continue to monitor this bill as it proceeds through the legislative process.
HB 390, an act relating to metals, was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. This week, a friendly floor amendment was filed on the final version the Senate passed. It will now be returned to the House for concurrence or non-concurrence. AGC supports HB 390.
SB 152, underground facility damage prevention, was passed by the full House last week with some minor changes from the Senate version. The bill is now in the Senate for concurrence or non-concurrence. AGC supports SB 152.
AGC is at the Capitol every day watching for legislation impacting the commercial construction industry. If you have any questions concerning these activities, please contact Ron Wolf at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Bills of interest to AGC:
SB 42, SB 98, SB 100, HB 251, SB 2 – pain management clinics
SB 77 – employee misclassification
SB 81 – local school district funding
HB 88 – arbitration
HB 58, HB 5, HB 118, SB 118 – unauthorized aliens
HB 60, HB 270, SB 149 – worker’s compensation issues
HB 87, HB 215 , HB 470, – electricians
HB 202, HB 339 – health insurance / health care
HB 245, HB 246, HB 255 – alternative fuels and energy efficiency
HB 263, HB 470, – HVAC licensing
HB 277 – local taxation of businesses
HB 339 – airborne contaminants
HB 358 – boiler external piping inspections
HB 4, SB 153 – prescription drug abuse
SB 152 – underground facility damage protection
HB 390 – copper theft
SB 155 – school board purchasing
SB 167, HB 495 – unemployment insurance loans
HB 496 – open records
HB 501 – commercial building permits
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2012 Legislative Update March 16, 2012
March 2012The Kentucky General Assembly has completed 49 of the 60 legislative days for this legislative session. There are 10 legislative days remaining before they recess for a 10 day veto period.
Several bills of significance to AGC saw action this week. HB 496, our Open Records bill, passed the full House on Tuesday 93-0-1. The bill now moves to the Senate. AGC fully supports this legislation as it better defines entities that must make their records available subject to Open Records requests.
HB 495, unemployment insurance, passed the House A&R Committee on Tuesday unanimously. On Wednesday, the full House voted 97-0 in support of this measure. AGC supports HB 495 as the only viable option currently available to pay the federal government interest owed to the Unemployment Insurance trust fund. The bill now goes to the Senate for their consideration.
HB 390, an act relating to metals, was discussed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. The committee voted to pass this bill to the full Senate for consideration, but some changes will be made. AGC supports HB 390.
SB 152, underground facility damage prevention, was passed by the full House on Wednesday 97-0. There were a few changes the House made that will now be considered by the Senate for concurrence or non-concurrence. AGC supports SB 152.
HB 277, local taxation of business entities, was anticipated to be heard in the Senate A&R Committee this week. That did not happen. AGC supports HB 277 and has been reassured this bill is of significant interest to the Senate so that this committee will hear it in the near future.
On Thursday, the House A&R Committee passed HB 266, the Transportation Cabinet funding bill, and HB 267, the state road plan. The full House passed these two significant bills on Friday by identical votes of 88-4-1. The Senate A&R Committee is diligently working on the Executive Branch Budget (HB 265), the Legislative Branch Budget (HB 268) and the Judicial Branch Budget (HB 269).
HB 499, a tax amnesty program, has been assigned to the Senate A&R Committee. AGC has concerns with part of this bill relating to employee misclassification. AGC opposes HB 499 in its current form and will work in the Senate to seek changes.
AGC is at the Capitol every day watching for legislation impacting the commercial construction industry. If you have any questions concerning these activities, please contact Ron Wolf at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Bills of interest to AGC:
SB 42, SB 98, SB 100, HB 251, SB 2 – pain management clinics
SB 77 – employee misclassification
SB 81 – local school district funding
HB 88 – arbitration
HB 58, HB 5, HB 118, SB 118 – unauthorized aliens
HB 60, HB 270, SB 149 – worker’s compensation issues
HB 87, HB 215 , HB 470, – electricians
HB 202, HB 339 – health insurance / health care
HB 245, HB 246, HB 255 – alternative fuels and energy efficiency
HB 263, HB 470, – HVAC licensing
HB 277 – local taxation of businesses
HB 339 – airborne contaminants
HB 358 – boiler external piping inspections
HB 4, SB 153 – prescription drug abuse
SB 152 – underground facility damage protection
HB 390 – copper theft
SB 155 – school board purchasing
SB 167, HB 495 – unemployment insurance loan
HB 496 – open records
HB 501 – commercial building permits
HB 202, an act relating to chiropractors, was assigned to the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee this past Monday. On Wednesday, it was reassigned to the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee. AGC opposes the bill. We will work with any committee in the Senate to defeat this bill as currently written.
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