Video & Transcript Research : 'Senate Committee'
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KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on State & Local Government (2-19-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- The third meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government is now called to order
- Senator Adams. Senator Chambers. Senator Armstrong. Senator Haron, here. Senator Maiden, here.
- Chairman and members of the committee. I'm here today to discuss Senate Bill 10.
- So I'm presenting today Senate Bill 65, and for most of you on this committee, this is old hat.
- So I'm presenting today Senate Bill 65, and for most of you on this committee, this is old hat.
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:11
Attendance Roll Call: 00:18
Senate Bill 10 (Sen. Mills): 01:47
Senate Bill 65 (Sen. West): 18:47
Senate Bill 104 (Sen. Madon): 25:41
Adjournment: 31:38, 958, all
Summary:
The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government heard testimony on Senate Bill 10, which would revise CERS retiree health subsidies for members who began participating on or before July 1, 2003. Senator Mills said the bill was developed with employee and employer groups to improve retiree health benefits while protecting the system’s financial footing, using a shared-cost structure. Testimony from sheriffs, police chiefs, firefighters, and the League of Cities strongly supported the bill, emphasizing recruitment and retention, affordability of retiree health coverage, and limited taxpayer risk. Members echoed those points, and the committee approved SB 10 with a 9-0 favorable recommendation.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 65, sponsored by Senator West, which would codify the Administrative Regulations Committee’s annual practice of placing certain deficient regulations into statute so they cannot take effect. West explained that the committee’s role is limited to finding regulations deficient or asking for deferral, and that SB 65 is the fifth version of this measure. He described the specific regulation at issue as a Medicaid Services rule that would have required behavioral health associates to hold a master’s degree; providers testified that it would reduce the workforce and harm behavioral health services statewide. West said the committee had deferred the matter eight times before deciding to side with providers. The bill received favorable expression and was reported out.
Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 104, sponsored by Senator Madon, concerning Kentucky Deferred Comp for state employees. The bill would establish a codified fiduciary standard, authorize fiduciary liability insurance, add self-correcting mechanisms to keep the plan in compliance with federal law, and allow self-directed brokerage accounts. Personnel Cabinet representatives said the changes would align the plan with other public pension plans, reduce risk, and offer participants a useful investment option with strong account growth among users. SB 104 also received favorable expression and was reported to the floor. The committee then adjourned.
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