Sannie Overly - Democrat - State Representative

Legislative Update from Representative Sannie Overly

June 30, 2008

Last week, both chambers of the Kentucky General Assembly unanimously passed House Bill 1, the first step in ensuring the long-term financial stability of the state's employee pension systems.

Solvency is not a simple goal when you consider that our state retirement systems now have over $26 billion in unfunded future retirement obligations. Those commitments (with the exception of annual cost-of-living increases) are protected by inviolable contracts with state workers and must be met—no exceptions. Without meaningful reform, some say the system could go broke in as little as 14 years. That is why we had to act before the new fiscal year begins on July 1 to pass a pension bill that begins to make meaningful, necessary corrections to fund the system.

House Bill 1 focused on the twin pillars of long-term financial stability and fairness to state employees, teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public servants.

Few changes were made to the retirement plans of current employees and current retirees. However, newly hired state employees will work longer before they can retire with full or partial pension and health care benefits.

We also addressed the concerns of local governments struggling to pay their existing obligations to the systems. They have received significant and immediate budgetary relief as well with House Bill 1.

Of course, we realize that these changes - while monumental in scope - are only the beginning, and that a number of ideas for further changes still need additional study.

The Governor has created work groups that will proceed with this additional analysis. Those work groups are made up of the same folks who helped bring about the passage of House Bill 1, including legislators, executive branch personnel, pension experts, state retirees, and city and county representatives.

If you have any questions about House Bill 1 or if you would like to share your comments or concerns with me or another legislator about any issue, you can call the toll-free Legislative Message Line at 800-372-7181, or email me at sannie.overly@lrc.ky.gov. To find out when interim committee meetings are scheduled, you can call the LRC toll-free Meeting Information Line at 800-633-9650. Enjoy your summer!

Legislative Update from Representative Sannie Overly

February 29, 2008

Health care legislation that would give more Kentuckians access to colon cancer screenings, provide cheaper prescription drugs, and give chiropractors comparable reimbursement for their services passed out of the House of Representatives this week.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 153,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year and 800 people died from the disease in Kentucky in 2007. Many of these deaths could have been prevented with early screenings. House Bill 162, which passed the House by a vote of 96 to 0, would require health insurance companies to cover colon/colorectal cancer screenings based on the American Cancer Society's guideline, with no increases in premium costs.

Another colon cancer screening initiative also passed the House of Representatives this week. House Bill 415 would provide colon cancer screening services to uninsured individuals ages 50 to 64, and others at high risk. Under this legislation, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services would establish the Colon Cancer Screening Advisory Committee which would require the Kentucky Cancer Program to establish a colon cancer screening education and outreach program - focusing on individuals who lack access to colon cancer screening - in each of the area development districts.

House Bills 162 and 415 would help save lives and reduce cancer costs across Kentucky, and both pieces of legislation have gone to the Senate for consideration.

Many Kentuckians struggle with the high cost of prescription drugs and even with insurance co-payments; the cost can be prohibitive for families and seniors on a tight budget. House Bill 7, which passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 95 to 0, would require that the governor ask that the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services permit Kentucky's licensed pharmacists, distributors, and wholesalers to import drugs. The Cabinet would be prohibited from creating a state drug importation program unless the FDA certifies the imports' safety and low-cost advantage.

It has been reported that our chiropractors are facing tough economic times, with many leaving the state to practice elsewhere, because of Kentucky's low reimbursement fees. House Bill 148 would remedy that situation by requiring insurance companies to reimburse chiropractors for their services and procedures at the same fee schedule used for workers' compensation. The bill would also permit a reduction of up to 10 percent of the fee if the chiropractor enters into an approved agreement with a managed care plan. With applause from members and spectators in the House gallery, House Bill 148 passed with a vote of 80 to 7.

The House of Representatives passed many other bills this week:

House Bill 479 would modernize Kentucky election law by allowing voters to request an absentee ballot application via email. The bill would improve Kentucky’s elections by allowing voters to return absentee ballots unmarked and still be eligible to vote on Election Day. The bill passed with a vote of 73 to 15.
House Bill 600 would address a $26 million unfunded liability in Kentucky's public employee retirement systems, protect future state retiree benefits, and shore up funding for retiree health insurance. The goal of House Bill 600 is to bring the system to solvency by 2020 through measures mostly affecting future hires, such as including incentives to work longer, closing loopholes that benefit only a few employees, and limiting hazardous duty benefits. The bill passed with a vote of 96 to 0.
As a final note, the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee approved a constitutional amendment that would authorize no more than nine casinos in Kentucky. The amendment would allow up to five of the casinos to be located at Kentucky race tracks; however, no licenses would be set aside for the tracks. The amendment, approved on a 7-2 vote, will now go to the full House for consideration. If approved by both the House of Representatives and Senate, the measure would be placed on the ballot to be decided on by Kentucky voters.
You can stay informed of legislative action on bills of interest to you this session by logging onto the Legislative Research Commission website at www.lrc.ky.gov or by calling the LRC toll-free Bill Status Line at 866-840-2835. To find out when a committee meeting is scheduled, you can call the LRC toll-free Meeting Information Line at 800-633-9650.
If you would like to share your comments or concerns with me or another legislator about a particular bill under consideration this session, you can call the toll-free Legislative Message Line at 800-372-7181, or email me at sannie.overly@lrc.ky.gov. I look forward to serving you in Frankfort during this busy 2008 budget session.

Legislative Update from Representative Sannie Overly

February 15, 2008

To honor Abraham Lincoln's 199th birthday anniversary, the House of Representatives and the Senate met in joint session Tuesday at the Old State Capital in downtown Frankfort, Kentucky. The Kentucky State University choir sang a resounding version of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and a resolution honoring our 16th president was read. It was a moving celebration and a fitting tribute to Abraham Lincoln, remembered for his lasting influence on the United States.

Governor Beshear may need some of Lincoln's political savvy to help pass his casino gaming legislation announced this week. The governor said Thursday that he will file legislation to support a constitutional amendment that would allow 12 casinos in Kentucky. This would include seven at existing racetracks and five at unspecified locations. The five free-standing casinos would require approval from voters in the city or county in which they locate.

Gov. Beshear also proposed legislation that would implement the amendment requiring the five free-standing casinos to be located in Daviess County; Kenton or Campbell County; Boyd or Greenup County; Christian County; and Laurel or Whitley County.

The amendment also specifies how tax money from casino gambling can be spent: 50 percent for education; 20 percent for health care; 5 percent each to city and county governments; 3 percent for host cities and counties; $2 million for compulsive gambling treatment programs; and 17 percent for other programs including veterans' programs, tourism, fish and wildlife, agriculture, livestock research, and economic development.

Separate accounts will be established for support of racing and to further improve the various breeds of horses found in Kentucky. Horse tracks that could apply for a casino include Keeneland and The Red Mile in Lexington, Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ellis Park in Henderson, Bluegrass Downs in Paducah, and Thunder Ridge in Floyd County.

House committees took steps to create better cancer prevention policy this week when by approving legislation designed to improve access to screenings for breast and colon cancer. HB 316, which cleared the House Banking and Insurance Committee on Wednesday, would improve breast cancer prevention by requiring health insurers to cover mammograms as part of their basic health benefit plans. The other bill, HB 415, which passed the House Health and Welfare Committee on Thursday, would establish a colon cancer screening program for uninsured Kentuckians between the ages of 50 and 64 and others considered "high risk." Both bills now head to the full House for a vote.

The House Judiciary Committee passed House Bill 367 which would strengthen Kentucky's laws to protect children from online predators by making social networking sites off limits to sex offenders; requiring sex offenders to register changes in email addresses; and creating a searchable database of registered sex offender email addresses. House Bill 367 would also recognize that stalking takes place in person and online and clarifies that it is a crime to transmit sexually explicit images to a child via webcam.

You can stay informed of legislative action on bills of interest to you this session by logging onto the Legislative Research Commission website at www.lrc.ky.gov or by calling the LRC toll-free Bill Status Line at 866-840-2835. To find out when a committee meeting is scheduled, you can call the LRC toll-free Meeting Information Line at 800-633-9650.

If you would like to share your comments or concerns with me or another legislator about a particular bill under consideration this session, you can call the toll-free Legislative Message Line at 800-372-7181, or email me at sannie.overly@lrc.ky.gov. I look forward to serving you in Frankfort during this busy 2008 budget session.

Legislative Update from Representative Sannie Overly

February 8, 2008

FRANKFORT -- More than 40 bills have passed the Kentucky House of Representatives this session by the end of this week, as legislation to increase long-term care funding for Kentuckians with special needs, provide a tax credit for live-organ donation, and limit double fines in highway work zones made their way through the chamber and were sent to the Senate for a vote.

Kentuckians with disabilities across the Commonwealth would benefit from the passage of House Bill 13, a measure which passed 91 to 0 on Monday. The bill would establish a Kentucky Family Needs Trust Program to supplement any public assistance provided for the long-term care of persons with disabilities, including those in the state's care. The program would be funded through contributions to a trust fund. Those contributions would come from the beneficiaries' families, friends and guardians--not the state, which would be prohibited from using the trust fund for other purposes--and be overseen by a board of trustees. HB 13 now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

Another human services bill that passed the House last week was HB 234, which would provide a tax credit of up to $10,000 for those who donate live organs for transplant. It would also give full-time state employees who donate a live organ up to 30 days paid leave to recuperate. HB 234 passed by a vote of 94 to 0 and will join HB 13 for consideration by the Senate.

The highway bill that passed this week amends current state law requiring that fines for speeding in a highway work zone be doubled whether highway workers are present or not. Under HB 325, which we passed 90 to 0 on Monday, those caught speeding in one of the work zones would not have their fine doubled if no highway workers were present at the time and no signs were posted warning drivers that they would face a double fine for speeding in a work zone while workers were on the job. HB 325 was also sent to the Senate for consideration.

The House of Representatives gained two new members this week as a result of special elections. Former attorney general and Democratic House majority leader Greg Stumbo will represent the 95th House District which covers most of Floyd County. Will Coursey, a banker, will represent the 6th House District seat in western Kentucky. House Democrats look forward to working with these two new members.

Responding to news from the United States' Department of Energy that the Bush administration might drop its support for FutureGen, a $1.5 billion coal-fired power plant located in southern Illinois designed to store carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions underground, Majority Leader Rocky Adkins announced on the House floor that he urged Gov. Steve Beshear to use House Bill 1, energy legislation passed in the previous special session, to attract some of the spin-off projects from FutureGen to Kentucky. The governor agreed and is creating a consortium of experts to pursue this endeavor.