Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo

Amend KRS 525.135 to include intentional and wanton harm to a dog or cat; define "restrain" and "serious physical injury or infirmity" and redefine "torture"; provide that torture of a dog or cat is a Class D felony in every instance and that each act may constitute a seperate offense; set forth what does not constitute torture of a dog or cat.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to define "freestanding birthing center"; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate updated administrative regulations to establish licensure standards for freestanding birthing centers, including requiring accreditation by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers, compliance with the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) Standards for Birth Centers, and consistent plans for transfer and safe transport to a hospital as needed; exempt a center from certificate-of-need requirements for establishing and licensing a freestanding birthing center; limit liability of center; amend KRS 216B.020, 196.173, 211.647, 211.660, 213.046, 216.2920, and 216.2970 to conform; provide that the Act may be cited as the Mary Carol Akers Birth Centers Act.

Honor the 75th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 2 to designate the fourth Thursday in March of each year as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 189 to define "automated speed enforcement device," "owner," "program," and "recorded images"; direct the Transportation Cabinet to establish a pilot program for automated speed enforcement in highway work zones and issue a uniform civil citation to an operator of a motor vehicle traveling more than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit; establish procedures for citation issuance; direct the Transportation Cabinet to install signage and to promulgate administrative regulations to implement the program; establish civil fines for violations issued under the program; specify that all fines and penalties assessed be deposited into the automated speed enforcement fund; require the Transportation Cabinet to annually report to the Legislative Research Commission the status of the program; establish the automated speed enforcement fund; specify that moneys collected be used to defray the costs of administering the program; specify that any moneys collected in excess of program costs be deposited into the highway work zone safety fund and used for the purposes of that fund; provide that the provisions be repealed effective July 1, 2027; provide the Act may be cited as the Jared Lee Helton Act of 2023; APPROPRIATION.

Amend KRS 95A.220 to define "stress injury" to include post-traumatic stress disorder; define scope of coverage; allow lifetime cap on benefits.

Create the Multimodal Freight Transportation System Improvement Task Force to study the current system of ports, freight, and air terminals, identify needed improvements, and explore options to fund the system; set task force membership; allow the task force to meet during the 2023 Interim and to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislative Research Commission by December 1, 2023.

Recognize March 2023 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

Amend KRS 138.470 to exempt active members of the Armed Forces assigned to Kentucky who are on temporary duty in other locations and members of the Kentucky National Guard from motor vehicle usage tax on vehicles purchased from Kentucky motor vehicle dealers; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2023.

Amend KRS 139.010 to define "feminine hygiene products"; amend KRS 139.480 to exempt from sales and use tax the sale or purchase of feminine hygiene products; apply to sales or purchases made on or after July 1, 2023, but before July 1, 2027; require the Department of Revenue to report annually to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue the total exemptions claimed for the previous fiscal year on September 1; amend KRS 131.190 to allow the Department of Revenue to report to the Legislative Research Commission.