Rep. Susan Westrom

Amend KRS 341.030 to suspend any increase in the taxable wage base for calendar year 2022 and utilize the taxable wage base in effect for the 2020 year; amend KRS 341.270 to indicate that employer contribution rates in 2022 shall be determined using the rates listed in Schedule A of Table A; amend KRS 341.614 to provide there will be no surcharge assessment for 2022; retroactively to January 1, 2022; EMERGENCY.

Honor the University of Kentucky football team upon the occasion of their fourth consecutive bowl game victory.

Amend KRS 158.060 to remove language that allows for half-day kindergarten programs; amend KRS 157.320, 157.360, and 158.030 to conform.

Amend KRS 304.17A-164 to prohibit insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, and other administrators of pharmacy benefits from imposing certain requirements on health plan insureds; create new sections of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to establish definitions for pharmacy-related insurance practices; require pharmacy benefit managers to establish reasonably adequate and accessible pharmacy networks; require pharmacy benefit managers to file, and the insurance commissioner to review, an annual report describing pharmacy networks; provide that information and data acquired by the Department of Insurance shall be considered proprietary and not subject to disclosure under KRS 61.870 to 61.884; establish requirements for certain contracts between a pharmacy or pharmacist and a pharmacy benefit manager; establish prohibited practices for pharmacy benefit managers; establish certain requirements for insurers and pharmacy benefit managers contracting for the provision of pharmacy benefit management services; prohibit administrators from offering any incentive or discount for use of an affiliated pharmacy benefit manager; establish a Pharmacy Benefits Management Advisory Council; create a new section of Subtitle 99 of KRS Chapter 304 to authorize the insurance commissioner to order reimbursement to persons who incurred a monetary loss as a result of a violation of provisions of legislation; amend KRS 304.9-054 to make technical changes; authorize the promulgation of administrative regulations; require pharmacy benefit managers to report certain information to the insurance commissioner; provide that certain reported information shall not be subject to disclosure under KRS 61.870 to 61.884; amend KRS 304.17A-708, 304.17A-712, and 304.17A-714 to conform; create a new section of Subtitle 17C of KRS Chapter 304 to apply provisions of legislation to limited health service benefit plans, including limited health service contracts; create a new section of Subtitle 38A of KRS Chapter 304 to apply provisions of legislation to limited health service organizations; amend 18A.225 to require the state employee health plan to comply with provisions of legislation; amend KRS 367.828 to establish certain requirements for the health discount plans that purport to offer discounts, or access to discounts, on prescription drugs; provide for staggered appointments to the Pharmacy Benefits Management Advisory Council; provide that provisions of this Act shall be severable; require the insurance commissioner to promulgate regulations to implement the Act on or before January 1, 2023; EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2023.

Create new sections of KRS 278.010 to 278.450 to establish definitions; require electric utilities regulated by the Public Service Commission to have a vegetation management plan approved by the commission; require vegetation maintenance to be performed in conformance with ANSI standards endorsed by the International Society of Arboriculture; make exception for standards under declared emergency or in situation of cleanup from storm damage; require different notice requirements to the public and property owners; impose penalty for failure of a utility to comply with vegetation maintenance plan requirements; require public hearings; establish homeowner rights with respect to vegetation maintenance; require the utility develop a brochure for homeowner rights and have the information available on its Web site; allow for civil action for unauthorized tree pruning or removal; allow for damages for unauthorized tree removal or pruning; require written consent to remove more than 25 percent of tree canopy; allow for a temporary cessation of work if property owner objects to vegetation maintenance; and prescribe time frames for notice and response.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 620 to allow the Department for Community Based Services to request a criminal justice agency to perform a federal name-based criminal history record check of each adult residing in a home in which a child is placed during an emergency placement; allow the Department for Kentucky State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to charge a reasonable fee for processing a fingerprint-based criminal history record check.

Honor the Kentucky Historical Society.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 210 to define terms; establish a 9-8-8 mental health crisis hotline; create a 9-8-8 board and establish membership; create a crisis restricted fund; create new sections of KRS Chapter 147 to define terms; establish a 9-8-8 service charge; describe the responsibilities of the Department of Revenue in effecting the 9-8-8 service charge; describe the responsibilities of retailers in effecting the 9-8-8 service charge; amend KRS 65.7627, 139.105, and 139.470 to conform; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2023; APPROPRIATION.

Amend KRS 210.370 to establish regional services areas for mental health or individuals with an intellectual disability; amend KRS 210.380 to prohibit a community board for mental health or individuals with an intellectual disability from providing services outside of its regional service area; and amend KRS 210.410 to conform.

Amend KRS 525.135, relating to torture of a dog or cat, to add specific acts to definition of torture; make all violations a Class D felony; make each act of torture prosecutable as a separate offense; make the exemptions applicable only where there is no intent to cause, increase, or prolong the pain and suffering of the dog or cat.