Rep. Sarge Pollock

Direct local school districts to provide a one-time payment of $2,000 to certified employees, excluding superintendents, in each year of the 2024-2026 biennium, and a one-time payment of $1,000 to classified employees in each year of the 2024-2026 biennium; appropriate $153 million from the Budget Reserve Trust Fund in each year of the 2024-2026 biennium to the Department of Education to provide the payments; APPROPRIATION.

Amend KRS 189.292 to define " operating a motor vehicle," "stand-alone electronic device," and "use"; prohibit the use of a personal communication device or stand-alone electronic device while operating a motor vehicle; exempt school bus operators who are instead subject to KRS 281A.205; set forth exceptions; amend KRS 189.294 to provide that persons under 18 years shall not use a personal communication device or stand-alone electronic device in any manner while driving; amend KRS 189.990 to set forth penalties for the violation of KRS 189.292 and 189.294; create a new section of KRS Chapter 281A to apply these provisions to commercial motor vehicle drivers; amend KRS 189.2327 to conform; provide that the Act may be cited as the Phone-Down Kentucky Act.

Create a new section of KRS 304.17C-130 to 304.17C-138 to establish requirements for insurers of dental benefit plans relating to assignment of benefits; create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require insurers providing coverage for dental services to honor assignments; require providers to comply with assignment provisions; amend KRS 304.17C-085 to modify the definition of "noncovered service"; prohibit a contractual waiver of the section; amend KRS 304.14-250, 304.17-130, and 304.18-090 to conform; direct that provisions apply to policies, plan, and contracts issued or renewed on or after the effective date of the Act.

Amend KRS 164.295 to permit Eastern Kentucky University to offer doctor's degrees required for professional practice and licensure in osteopathic medicine.

Amend KRS 164.295 to permit Murray State University to offer doctor's degrees required for professional practice and licensure in veterinary medicine.

Propose to amend Sections 145 and 155 of the Constitution of Kentucky to prohibit persons who are not citizens of the United States from being allowed to vote in the Commonwealth of Kentucky; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.

Amend KRS 75.450 to allow nonprofit fire departments to increase their fees charged when responding to fires or other emergencies at properties that are not subscribers, and specify that in the case of a fire or other emergency in which more than one department responds, that the jurisdictional fire department may charge up to $1,500 to the nonmember or nonsubscriber and any other responding fire departments may charge up to $500.

Affirm Kentucky's support for the State of Israel and the Israeli people and condemn the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.