Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 00:00:14 Approve Minutes from November 14, 2024 – 00:01:02 Native American Artifacts Repatriation – 00:01:15 Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet – 00:02:58 Community Comments From Legislators and the Friends of Blue Lick – 00:33:23 Shawnee Tribe Available For Questions After Meeting – 01:06:26 Committee Staff Response to Member Requests – 01:06:58 Adjournment – 01:11:49, 958, all

Summary: The committee met on December 19, 2024, to discuss the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and the planned repatriation of 274 Native American artifacts from the Pioneer Museum at Blue Licks Battlefield State Park. Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet staff explained that NAGPRA, and a new 2024 regulation, require consultation with tribes, protection of human remains and cultural items, and repatriation when appropriate. They said the Shawnee tribe requested that images of the artifacts not be displayed, and they described the items as funerary objects from the William J. Curtis collection, which was purchased by the state in 1949. Staff also said the museum will not close, the repatriated items are about 12.5% of the collection, and new exhibits are planned. Cabinet witnesses detailed the historical basis for the repatriation, citing records, letters, newspaper accounts, and the 1942 museum catalog showing that Curtis and others excavated graves at Fox Farm and other sites, collecting items identified as grave goods. They said the department consulted with eight tribes, with three responding and two consulting, and that the Shawnee and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians deferred to the Shawnee on these Fort Ancient-related artifacts. Members asked about how the artifacts were identified as Shawnee, whether the tribe could allow them to remain on display, where any civil penalties would go, and whether the items should be returned to the original graves; cabinet staff said the tribe made the disposition decision and that they did not know the destination of penalty funds. The cabinet also said it had communicated with state and federal officials, local county judges and attorneys, and the Friends of Blue Licks group, including meetings in August and earlier in the year. After the cabinet presentation, Senator Steve West, Representative William Lawrence, Friends of Blue Licks chair Paula Hunter, and others testified that the process had lacked transparency and that local residents were deeply concerned about the park and the handling of the artifacts. They said a petition with more than 2,000 signatures reflected local opposition and asked for public explanation of the evidence and timeline. Cabinet witnesses responded that they had followed the federal process and were willing to meet with legislators confidentially to review the artifacts. The discussion also noted that other Kentucky sites, including John James Audubon State Park, Wickliffe Mounds, Cumberland Falls, and Big Bone Lick, are in various stages of NAGPRA review or repatriation.

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:19 Approval of 111924 Minutes 00:30 Information Items 01:55 KCNA-KyWired Overview 20:31 Project Rpt from Postsecondary Institutions – KCTCS 22:32 Lease Rpt from Postsecondary Institutions – UK HealthCare 30:02 Project Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 32:20 Lease Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 43:35 Rpt from Office of Financial Mgmt – KIA 50:04 Office of Financial Mgmt – New KHC Debt Issues 52:59 Office of Financial Mgmt – SFCC Debt Issue 58:30 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the November meeting minutes and received several information items, including University of Kentucky equipment purchases, UK financing and bond updates, Eastern Kentucky University and KCTCS asset preservation projects, and a notification of non-approval for a new lease PR 5800. Members then heard a detailed update from the Kentucky Communications Network Authority (Kentucky Wired) on the statewide fiber network. KCNA reported that the 3,400-mile build is complete, all backbone fiber and rings are operational, and migration work continues, especially in western Kentucky after tornado damage. Officials said 552 circuits have been migrated so far, more than 70% of the planned total, and answered questions about the network’s middle-mile role, bond debt, revenue expectations, the wholesaler arrangement, board membership, and whether private ISPs are using the network yet; members requested updated projections and revenue-by-source information. The committee then took action on a KCTCS project for a new welding lab expansion at Maysville Community and Technical College’s Montgomery campus. The $1.220 million project will add 14 welding booths, including one ADA-accessible booth, and is funded by federal money with a KCTCS restricted-funds match. The committee approved the project by roll call. Next, the University of Kentucky presented three Fayette County leases for UK HealthCare administrative space, a primary care clinic, and ophthalmology offices. Members questioned the higher per-square-foot costs, and UK explained that location, utility-inclusive operating costs, and limited available space drove the pricing; the committee approved the leases, with one member voting no and another expressing concern about high rents in dense areas. Finally, the Finance and Administration Cabinet presented two no-action projects: emergency repair/replacement work for the Kentucky State Police Supply Branch facility damaged by a July 2024 fire, and a Central State Hospital building automation system upgrade. The committee also heard a lease modification for PR 3567 in Perry County for the Department for Natural Resources, increasing the space by 7,343 square feet to 13,601 square feet at $8 per square foot, for a new annual total of $4,487.29; because the modification exceeded $50,000, members asked questions about the added space before the item continued.

Keywords: Meeting start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:01:53 Approval of Minutes 00:02:20 Report on the projects considered for funding by the Agricultural Development Board 00:02:37 Update from the UofL James Graham Brown Cancer Center 00:32:22 Update from the UK Markey Cancer Center 01:02:42, 958, all

Summary: The committee met in December, approved the November minutes, and received an update from Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy staff on November activity. Brandon Reed and Bill McClosky reviewed board work, staff travel, and outreach, including the Kentucky Agriculture Council, a Food Is Medicine partnership with Appalachian Regional Hospital, the Farm City luncheon, Tyson visits, the Kentucky Women in Agriculture Conference, and staff participation in leadership programs. They reported November investments of about $4.8 million through the Development Board and $3.4 million in participation loans through the Finance Corporation, along with 12 council meetings and continued activity across the state. Members asked questions about the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation, including the beginning farmer loan program, loan limits, and whether projects were tax exempt. Staff explained that beginning farmer loans can help with land purchases, are aimed at new entrants to farming, and that the program has a strong repayment record. They also said agricultural projects receive reduced property tax treatment rather than full exemption, and that the revolving loan program has grown to about $145 million with more than 1,500 loans since 2004 and only four write-offs. The committee then reviewed three highlighted projects. The Kentucky Horticulture Council received approval for $2 million over two years to provide technical assistance to farmers transitioning from tobacco to horticulture and vegetable production. Keeneland Sustainability LLC received a $1 million participation loan for a $9.2 million gasification system to convert muck into biochar, with members asking about ownership, the need for state participation, and whether the product had been used on farmland; staff said it is a soil amendment with research support and that the loan will be repaid. Jingleheimer Anchin Gardens LLC, a Lee County bakery project, was approved with county funds matched by state funds up to half the project, after securing $20,000 in county money. Staff and members also noted that next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Development Board and praised the long-term work of the program.

Keywords: 00:00:00 - Attendance Roll Call 00:00:40 - Approval of Minutes 00:04:38 - Report of Findings from 2024 RS SJR 170, relating to veterinary school at a Kentucky comprehensive university 00:40:00 - Comments from Murray State University regarding a potential veterinary school 01:35:88 - Public Comments 02:09:20 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its seventh and final 2024 interim meeting, approved the prior minutes, and handled several introductions, including a ceremonial passing of the gavel related to the incoming House Agriculture Committee chair. The main substantive item was a presentation from Aaron Thompson of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and Deloitte Consulting on Senate Joint Resolution 170 and the feasibility review of Murray State University’s proposed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, along with the broader review of proposed doctoral programs and the CPE program-approval process. Deloitte described its methodology, including interviews with more than 75 university administrators, faculty, and staff, meetings with CPE, state and community officials, benchmarking against more than 100 peer institutions, and review of documents and external data sources. For Murray State, the presenters said the university’s current financial health, student success, and research infrastructure were generally strong. They also said demand for DVM seats is high and expected to remain high, even with growth in the number of programs nationally. However, they identified feasibility concerns in several areas: the proposed CVM would be expensive to operate, faculty recruitment would be difficult given national shortages and salary pressures, accreditation would be demanding, and the distributive clinical model would require about 200 clinical partners and may require sites outside Kentucky. On workforce alignment, Deloitte said there is a real shortage of rural veterinarians, especially large-animal veterinarians, but questioned whether a new in-state vet school would meaningfully solve that problem, citing pipeline and debt issues that tend to steer graduates toward companion-animal work in urban and suburban areas. Murray State disputed some of those concerns and argued it is well positioned to help address rural needs. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the expected growth in distributive-model vet schools and about accreditation challenges; the presenters pointed to a slide showing several planned new DVM programs and seat expansions, many using distributive clinical education, and said they would review their notes to see whether they had examples of schools that failed to secure accreditation. No votes or final committee action on the proposal were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Education met with a quorum, approved the minutes from its November 8 meeting, and heard brief remarks from members who were leaving the General Assembly or the committee. Representative Timoney reflected on the importance of education and workforce development in Kentucky, and the chair thanked departing members for their service. The committee then took up a report required by SJR 170 on the feasibility of proposed post-baccalaureate and doctoral programs at Kentucky public universities. Deloitte Consulting and Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson presented the study, which examined four proposals: Eastern Kentucky University’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine, Murray State University’s proposed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, Western Kentucky University’s plan to pursue R2 research status through a PhD in data sciences and related programs, and Kentucky State University’s proposed PhD in integrated agroecology and sustainable agriculture. Presenters explained that the study used a mix of institutional data, external benchmarks, stakeholder interviews, and a red-yellow-green feasibility framework. They emphasized that the ratings were not a go/no-go decision, but a way to identify risks for policymakers. For EKU’s proposed osteopathic medical school, the presenters said demand and workforce alignment were strong, but financial health, research capacity, faculty recruitment, accreditation requirements, and clinical placement needs raised significant feasibility concerns because of the scale and cost of the project. They estimated operating costs above $16 million to $21 million annually, plus $70 million to $75 million in capital costs, while noting the project could still generate a surplus and economic impact if launched. For Murray State, the DVM proposal was described as a distributive clinical model aimed at addressing rural veterinarian shortages and creating the state’s first veterinary medicine program. WKU’s proposal was framed as a longer-term effort to reach R2 status, and KSU’s proposal was presented as a first-of-its-kind doctoral program in Kentucky that would build on the university’s research strengths. The presentation was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final committee vote or action on the report was shown in the excerpt.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the November 13 meeting and then moved through a large agenda of procurement items. A major discussion involved a Department of Local Government item for Jackson flood recovery housing: Matthew Stevens explained that the listed $6 million project was only a summary of a larger effort to acquire 57 acres in Breathitt County, subdivide it for about 17 to 20 initial single-family homes for low- to moderate-income disaster-impacted residents, and build supporting infrastructure such as water, sewer, and roads. Members questioned the limited description, the cost of the land, and the use of federal disaster recovery funds, but the committee ultimately approved the item. The committee then reviewed a Kentucky Office of Highway Safety contract for an NHTSA EMS assessment. Senator Meredith and others pressed the agency on what would happen after the study, how the data would be used, and whether it would lead to recommendations or funding for trauma care and rural road safety. Agency staff said the assessment was a recommendation from a prior management review, not a recurring requirement, and that the final report would go to the Kentucky Board of EMS and partners. Members emphasized rural trauma shortages, secondary road conditions, and distracted driving as major safety issues. The committee approved the contracts after discussion. Next, the Auditor of Public Accounts presented a new $1 million contract under House Bill 825 for a comprehensive performance review of the Kentucky Department of Education. Auditor’s office staff explained that the review would examine internal documents, operational practices, curriculum decision-making, and relationships with the public and school districts, using subpoena authority and protected work papers. Members asked about confidentiality, whether interviews with educators and parents would be done in isolation, and whether recommendations would be issued; the auditor’s office said confidentiality would be protected and a full report with recommendations would be produced by July 1, 2025. The committee also discussed how the contract cost was reduced from an earlier $2 million estimate after an RFI process, and then approved the contract. Finally, the Department of Highways presented two engineering contracts for bridge work. Officials said the contracts covered roughly 136 bridges under one firm and about 194 under another, and that they were for a new federal requirement addressing constraint-induced fracture details, including plan review, inspection, and design of retrofit solutions. Members asked about the number of bridges, prior-year use of funds, and whether the work included design services; the agency confirmed it did. The committee approved the bridge contracts as well.

Keywords: 00:00:00 Meeting Start / Roll Call 00:02:10 Introductions / Recognitions 00:05:04 2024 RS SJR 170 Feasibility Study of Postbaccalaureate Program 00:57:00 2024 RS SJR 179 Report Findings 01:46:18 Guest Speakers 02:00:00 Announcements / Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its November 8 meeting and heard brief remarks recognizing members who may be leaving the committee or the General Assembly. Representative Timoney offered farewell comments emphasizing the importance of education, workforce development, and continued investment from early childhood through higher education. The chair then introduced the main agenda item: a report on SJR 170, which directed a feasibility review of proposed post-baccalaureate programs and the state’s program approval process. Aaron Thompson of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and Deloitte consultants Scott Friedman and Amy Whitmayer presented the study. They said the review covered four proposed programs: Eastern Kentucky University’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine, Murray State University’s proposed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, Western Kentucky University’s proposed effort to reach R2 research status through new PhD programs beginning with data sciences, and Kentucky State University’s proposed PhD in integrated agroecology and sustainable agriculture. They explained that the report also examined CPE’s coordinated program approval process and used a red-yellow-green framework to summarize feasibility concerns, noting that the colors were not a go/no-go recommendation but a way to highlight risks for policymakers. The presenters described their methodology as combining interviews with university leaders, CPE officials, government and community stakeholders, industry groups, and peer institutions, along with review of documents and external data sources. For EKU, they identified financial, research, accreditation, faculty recruitment, clinical placement, and cost concerns, while also noting strong student demand and workforce alignment because of Kentucky’s physician shortage. They said the proposed DO school would require substantial operating and capital investment, including reserve funding and extensive clinical partnerships. For Murray State, they reported generally favorable financial and student-success indicators and said the DVM proposal aligned with rural veterinarian shortages and existing agricultural strengths. WKU’s proposal was framed as a longer-term strategy to build research capacity and attract talent and funding, and KSU’s proposal was described as leveraging existing strengths in agriculture and environmental studies. No votes were taken on the feasibility report during the portion of the meeting provided.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the November 13 minutes and then moved through a large agenda of deferred and contract items. A Department for Local Government representative explained a land acquisition item for Jackson, clarifying that the project involved $6 million to acquire 57 acres in Breathitt County, subdivide it for 17 to 20 initial low- to moderate-income homes, and build supporting infrastructure; members noted the earlier description had been too brief. The committee then approved that item and later approved the remaining contract agenda after discussion. A major portion of the meeting focused on a Public Accounts contract for a performance review of the Kentucky Department of Education under HB 825. Auditor Ball’s office said the review would be comprehensive, using internal documents, subpoena authority, surveys, and interviews with educators, parents, and school administrators, with confidentiality protections for respondents. Members asked about the purpose of the audit, the timeline, and the cost; the office said the report is due July 1, 2025, that Commissioner Fletcher and KDE had been cooperative, and that the contract cost was about $1 million because a competitive RFI brought in Public Consulting Group at less than the state’s earlier estimate. The committee approved the contract, with one member saying he hoped the review would follow constitutional guidelines and produce useful results for taxpayers. The committee also reviewed Transportation Cabinet contracts for an EMS-related NHTSA assessment and for bridge inspection/retrofit work. Transportation officials said the EMS study was prompted by a prior management review and would produce recommendations to the Kentucky Board of EMS and partners on reducing crash-scene time, secondary crashes, and fatalities; members questioned how the data would be used and urged follow-up, especially given rural trauma and road-safety concerns. For the bridge contracts, officials said the work covered more than 100 bridges, involved a new federal requirement addressing constraint-induced fracture details, and included plan review, inspection, and retrofit design; they said there were four responses and the contracts were awarded based on qualifications. The committee approved these transportation items as well.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:02 Attendance Roll Call: 00:00:11 Approval of Minutes: 00:02:26 BR 437 – KPPA Pension Spiking Provisions: 00:03:55 BR 804 – Add WeLeadCS to List of Participating TRS Employers: 00:07:30 BR 17 – KPPA Reorganization: 00:16:36 BR 357 – TRS Reemployment After Retirement: 00:28:11 TRS Housekeeping Bill & Response to Questions: 00:43:56 Adjournment: 01:19:57, 958, all

Summary: The board opened with roll call, approved the prior meeting minutes, and heard introductory remarks emphasizing that pension-related legislation should be previewed carefully to avoid unintended consequences and unfunded liabilities. Leader Graham introduced his successor, Erica Hancock, who will represent the 57th District. Representative Blandon presented a bill to codify existing court guidance on pension spiking. He explained that the measure would clarify that across-the-board pay raises authorized by the General Assembly do not count as pension spiking, would apply to all plans or systems, would not be retroactive, and would not affect other spiking provisions. Members asked whether it changed any other law, and Blandon said it did not. Alicia Sales of We Lead CS then described a request to add We Lead CS as a named employer in KTRS so the organization can directly employ its teachers rather than route payroll through an educational cooperative. She said the change would help with benefits administration and would not create liability for the retirement system because employees would receive service credit, not compensation credit, for accrued time. Members asked about certified versus classified staff and the funding structure, and one member noted possible questions about how the appropriation was intended. KPPA then presented a reorganization proposal to elevate the CFO to the executive director level and split accounting into separate accounting and investment-accounting divisions. KPPA said there would be no immediate additional cost for the CFO or current accounting director, though one additional investments-related position could be added later within the agency cap. Members questioned the fiscal need and potential return on investment, and KPPA said the change would improve transparency, align the structure with other agencies, and better reflect current operations. The board agreed to receive an organizational chart and follow-up information. Finally, Chairman Tipton outlined a bill request to expand the number of retired teachers who can return to work in critical shortage areas, especially special education. He said the proposal would raise the cap from 1% to 10% and increase the minimum number from two to four, while leaving intact existing waiting periods and retirement rules for returning to work. He noted that he had already discussed the issue with TRS, school groups, and retiree organizations, and said the goal was to help districts fill vacancies without harming the retirement system.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met in December, approved the prior minutes, and opened with a citation honoring Senator Damon Theer for more than two decades of service in the Kentucky General Assembly and over three years on the committee. Members and Senator Theer offered remarks about his work on regulatory oversight, legislative independence, and the separation of powers. Theer said he was retiring from the General Assembly after 21 years, though he described it as “rewiring,” and noted he would continue to watch the committee’s work. The committee then considered Council on Postsecondary Education regulations 13 KAR 2:120 and 13 KAR 2:130 on performance-based funding for public universities and KCTCS institutions, along with related aviation scholarship regulations. The agency requested a deferral on the funding-model regulations after discussions with members, and the subcommittee agreed without objection. Testimony from the Kentucky Student Rights Coalition opposed the proposed weighting changes, arguing they exceeded statutory authority and should better reflect support for underserved students; Senator Theer and Co-Chair West also raised concerns about legislative intent and statutory authority. The aviation regulations were not opposed and were handled with staff amendments. The subcommittee next approved staff amendments, without objection, for a series of regulations from the State Board of Elections, Personnel Cabinet, Teachers Retirement System, Board of Pharmacy, Board of Optometric Examiners, Board of Dentistry, Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, and Board of Veterinary Examiners. These rules covered post-election audits, employee insurance handbooks, QDRO procedures for TRS Tier 4, pharmacy licensure and non-resident pharmacy permits, optometric renewal fees, dental community health worker scope, funeral establishment and apprenticeship rules, and veterinary notice-to-comply procedures and fines. Several agencies explained that their amendments were largely technical or conformed to KRS Chapter 13A, while some substantive changes included pharmacy licensing revisions, optometry fee increases, funeral director practice updates, and veterinary enforcement tools for unlicensed practice. The committee approved the staff amendments and agency amendments where applicable, with no recorded objections.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met to hear an update on the new Legislative Research Commission Office of Health Data and Analytics and on Medicaid spending and operations. Chair McDaniel opened the meeting, the minutes were approved, and members briefly recognized Representative Palumbo, who noted it was his last committee meeting after 34 years in the House. Stephanie Bates, assistant director of the new LRC office, explained that the office is nonpartisan and will provide health data analytics and program evaluation for the General Assembly, with an initial focus on a Medicaid reimbursement study. She said the first report is expected by the end of January, with a second phase by the end of February. The committee then received a detailed overview from Department for Medicaid Services Commissioner Lisa Lee, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Lesley Hoffman, and CFO Steve Beckle. They reviewed Medicaid eligibility, federal-state financing, K-CHIP, managed care, and enrollment trends, noting that Kentucky has about 1.4 million Medicaid members, including over 600,000 children and about 485,000 expansion members. They also described the program’s complexity, the role of mandatory and optional benefits, and the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment benefit for children. Members asked for additional breakdowns of enrollment and eligibility data, and the department said some requested information would be sent in phases, with the remaining prior authorization data expected by the end of the year. The discussion also focused on budget growth and waiver spending. Department officials said Medicaid benefits spending in fiscal year 2024 was about $18.2 billion, with total Medicaid spending around $18.5 billion including administration, and that the fiscal year 2025 budget rose to about $19.1 billion. They attributed much of the increase to new waiver slots, rate studies, nursing facility rebasing, and other waiver programs, along with higher health care costs and FMAP changes. Members questioned how to interpret “budget neutrality” for Medicaid waivers, and officials explained that federal waiver approvals use a budget-neutrality test comparing waiver costs to alternative care settings. The department also said its forecasting was accurate to within less than half a percent for both eligibility and expenditures.

Keywords: Meeting start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:14 Legislative Research Commission, Office of Health Data Analytics 00:03:16 Overview of Medicaid Services 00:09:30 Trends in Medicaid Services 01:15:50 Correspondence Received 01:55:25 Medicaid Proposal 01:55:48, 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then focused on Medicaid oversight and spending. Representative Bowling explained that Medicaid is now the second-largest general fund spending area and said the committee is trying to better understand rising costs, enrollment trends, and reimbursement rates. He noted a $500,000 appropriation in House Bill 263 for the Medicaid Oversight and Review Committee to assess current reimbursement rates and develop a rebasing proposal. Stephanie Bates, assistant director of the new LRC Office of Health Data Analytics, said her office will provide nonpartisan data analysis for the General Assembly, with a reimbursement study as one of its first projects. She said the office expects a first report by the end of January and a second phase by the end of February. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services then gave a broad overview of Medicaid. Commissioner Lisa Lee, Deputy Commissioner Lesley Hoffman, and CFO Steve Beckle described Medicaid as a federal-state partnership, reviewed eligibility and federal matching rates, and explained Kentucky’s enrollment and budget figures. They said Kentucky currently has a little over 1.4 million Medicaid members, including more than 600,000 children and about 485,000 expansion members, and that CHIP covers about 108,000 children. They also reviewed county enrollment patterns, noting higher participation in eastern Kentucky and lower rates in some western counties, and discussed how redeterminations after the public health emergency reduced enrollment from a peak of 1.7 million. The presentation also covered the budget and major spending drivers. Officials said FY24 Medicaid benefits spending was about $18.2 billion and FY25 is about $19.1 billion, with most of the increase tied to waiver slots, rebasing, the SMI and substance use disorder waivers, re-entry and community-based services, and the personal needs allowance. They explained that provider taxes, hospital rate improvement programs, and intergovernmental transfers help fund the program, and that pharmacy rebates offset expenditures rather than count as revenue. Members asked about budget neutrality for waivers, and staff explained that federal waiver approvals must show budget neutrality. Officials also said they were on target with forecasting and that the department’s eligibility and expenditure estimates were within less than half a percent of actuals.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its sixth and final interim meeting on transportation and, after briefly noting it was short of a quorum, approved the prior minutes once a quorum was present. The main item of discussion was legislation and related administrative regulation changes affecting the Medical Review Board process for driver licensing. The sponsor and Transportation Cabinet Commissioner Matthew Cole described concerns that Kentucky’s current vision standards and medical review procedures were more restrictive than those in many other states and could unfairly burden drivers, including veterans and older residents, even when their own doctors said they were fit to drive. They said the cabinet would also revise regulations so that only certain people—such as medical professionals, law enforcement, or two family members acting by sworn affidavit—could initiate a report to the board, and that the vision field standard would be lowered from 35 degrees to 30 to align more closely with other states. The bill would also change how the Medical Review Board operates by allowing an informal hearing to proceed with one qualified board member instead of requiring three, while leaving the final medical determination to the board’s review of submitted records. It would require written notice before licensing action, allow a driver under review to obtain the report against them, and provide that a properly submitted medical professional’s report could supersede the board’s recommendation if it shows the person does not have a disqualifying condition. The sponsor also said the bill would remove language allowing driver’s license suspension for nonpayment of income taxes. Testimony in support came from members who described constituents and clients who were flagged after isolated incidents, brief medical episodes, or minor accidents, sometimes leading to expensive repeat testing and long delays despite later medical clearance. Questions were raised about physician liability and whether the board should continue to have oversight; the commissioner and others responded that doctors would be acting under the applicable medical standard of care and that the board would still review information, but more efficiently. Several members emphasized the need to balance public safety with individual rights and to avoid unnecessary hardship for people who are medically able to drive. One member suggested county attorneys could serve as a useful intermediary in some cases, while another noted the financial burden on an elderly constituent who faced costly retesting to keep her license. No final action on the bill was taken during the discussion beyond the minutes approval, and members indicated the proposal was still a work in progress and likely to receive further changes.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:36 Putting Young Kentuckians to Work 00:01:52 Update on Kentucky Manufacturing and Construction Industries 00:26:06 Putting Kentuckians First 01:14:31, 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment met for its final interim meeting and approved the minutes before hearing an update on the “Putting Young Kentuckians to Work” initiative. Workforce board representatives Michael Griton and Myra Wilson explained how HB 1 funding moved through the Workforce Cabinet, required contracts with the state and local boards, and began flowing in September. They reported 921 enrollments so far and described the program’s target populations as high school seniors not planning to attend college and disconnected young adults ages 16 to 24 who are not in school and not working. They also said the boards now use a technology system called Launchpad to track enrollments and placements across all 10 workforce boards. Witnesses described services including job readiness, career coaching, pre-apprenticeships, training through KCTCS, and outreach to schools, libraries, social media, and homeschooled students. They shared success stories involving a graduate who completed CDL training and got a job at $26 an hour, and another young adult who entered lineman school and said it would change his family’s life. Members asked how to reach students, whether the program covers private schools and older young adults, how students can self-identify interests, and how scheduling works. The witnesses said the best approach is direct contact through schools and counselors, with some outreach to nonstudents through websites, social media, and phone calls; the age range is 16 to 24. Committee members also asked about barriers, including limited CDL training capacity, technology-sector requirements, and legal issues affecting young adults with minor criminal records. The presenters said messaging is a challenge because families are often unsure the funding is free, and school schedules and data-sharing agreements can slow implementation, especially in large districts like Jefferson County. They said they work with Goodwill’s Young Adult Opportunity Center and justice-involved partners to address expungement and other barriers, and one witness suggested the legislature may want to examine whether charges should remain on a young person’s record before conviction. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:16 Approval of Minutes 00:35 Information Items 02:45 Project Report – Finance and Administration Cabinet 15:14 Lease Report – Finance and Administration Cabinet 23:27 Rpt from OFM – KY Infrastructure Authority 34:51 Rpt from OFM – Cabinet for Economic Development 40:50 Rpt from OFM – Office of Financial Management 45:12 Next Meeting Date 45:35 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved amendments and then received a series of informational project reports covering school district debt and capital projects, university construction and preservation projects, state property lease changes, KentuckyWired infrastructure upgrades, and postsecondary compliance reviews. The Department of Military Affairs also presented an action item for a restroom modernization project at the Rena Readiness Center, funded half by federal capital construction funds and half by state armory maintenance pools; the project was approved by roll call. Members then reviewed six pool allocations over $1 million each, including marina upgrades and park design work for the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, a perimeter fence project at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex, and several Kentucky State University and Eastern Kentucky University asset preservation projects. The committee questioned the cost increases for the marina work and the correctional fence; staff explained the marina increase was needed to complete design work for multiple marinas, including Jenny Wy, Buckhorn, and Ruff River, and corrections staff said the fence cost reflected a single-layer security fence with a wrap wall, posts, razor wire, and labor. The Department of Corrections and the university projects were then reported without further action noted in the transcript. The Finance and Administration Cabinet presented a new lease for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Harlan County and a tenant improvement request for the Mayo Underwood Building. After members raised concerns about the Harlan lease cost and the choice of new construction over existing space, the committee split the vote: the Harlan County lease failed 3-3, while the Mayo Underwood tenant improvement request passed. A separate lease modification for the Board of Respiratory Care in Boyle County, involving interior improvements and a $39,500 low bid, was reported as requiring no action. The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority then reported five loans and two Cleaner Water Program grant reallocations, along with an update on the new Kentucky Waters program. The loans included projects for Carrollton, Berea, Farmdale Sanitation District, Mayfield, and Princeton, covering sewer, water, clear well, and lead service line replacement work. After the committee voted to approve the package, KIA noted that 165 applications had been received for Kentucky Waters, 150 were eligible, and about $72 million remained available this fiscal year. The committee also heard six Economic Development Fund grants, including projects tied to Hopkinsville and other locations, before moving on to the next agenda items.