Rep. Chad Aull

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 new sections of KRS Chapter 246 to define the terms; establish the Healthy Farm and Food Innovation Board and specify membership; set forth the duties of the Healthy Farm and Food Innovation Board; establish the healthy farm and food innovation fund; amend KRS 18A.115 to exempt the Kentucky Healthy Farm and Food Innovation Board from a classified service designation.

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

Recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Kentucky.

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

Recognize March 2023 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

Amend KRS 157.3175 to require school districts provide a full-day preschool program for eligible three and four year olds; define "eligible"; require that preschool for three year old children continue to be funded through a grant process and preschool programs for four year old children be funded under KRS 157.310 to 157.440; require preschool programs to operate on the school district calendar; require transportation be provided; amend KRS 158.031 to include preschool programs for four year old children in the primary school program; amend KRS 157.320 to remove the definition of "kindergarten full-time equivalent pupil in average daily attendance"; amend KRS 157.360 to remove a reference to the kindergarten full-time equivalent; amend KRS 158.030 to include a preschool program for four year old children in the definition of "common school"; remove language allowing kindergarten to operate for less than six hours on a school day.

Create new sections of KRS 304.17A-600 to 304.17A-633 to establish eligibility criteria and requirements for prior authorization exemptions; establish requirements for rescinding prior authorization exemptions; set forth requirements for external reviews of prior authorization exemption denials and rescissions; establish requirements for sending forms and notices to health care providers; prohibit the retrospective denial, reduction in payment, and review of health care services for which a health care provider has a prior authorization exemption and establish exceptions; provide that nothing shall be construed to authorize a health care provider to act outside the provider's scope of practice or require an insurer or private review agent to pay for a health care service performed in violation of law; amend KRS 304.17A-600 to conform; amend KRS 304.17A-605 to establish applicability of provisions relating to prior authorization exemptions to certain insurers and private review agents; amend KRS 304.17A-607 to establish requirements for prior authorizations; provide that a lack of prior authorization shall not alone be a basis for a retrospective review; amend KRS 304.17A-621 to conform; amend KRS 304.17A-627 to prohibit conflicts of interest with independent review entities and reviewers of prior authorization exemption denials and rescissions; require independent review entities and reviewers of prior authorization exemption denials and rescissions to submit an annual report to the Department of Insurance; amend KRS 304.17A-633 to require the commissioner of the Department of Insurance to report on external reviews of prior authorization exemptions denials and rescissions; amend KRS 304.17A-706 to prohibit contesting a clean claim by conducting a retrospective review based on a lack of prior authorization; amend KRS 205.536 to require the Department for Medicaid Services, or managed care organizations contracted to provide Medicaid benefits, to comply with the sections on prior authorization exemptions; apply the provisions to contracts delivered, entered, renewed, extended, or amended on or after the effective date of the Act; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to seek approval if it is determined that such approval is necessary; EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2024.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 218A to make possession of a personal use quantity of cannabis exempt from civil or criminal penalty; amend KRS 218A.010 to define "cannabis," "personal use quantity of cannabis," and "cannabis accessory"; amend KRS 218A.1422 regarding cannabis possession to conform; amend KRS 218A.1423 regarding cannabis cultivation to conform; amend KRS 218A.500 regarding drug paraphernalia to exempt personal use cannabis accessories; amend KRS 218A.1421 on cannabis trafficking to exempt personal use quantities; amend KRS 138.872 to exclude personal use quantities from cannabis stamp tax; amend KRS 218A.410 and 533.030 to conform; create a new section of KRS Chapter 431 to allow expungement of certain convictions relating to cannabis; apply Section 10 retroactively.

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.