Sen. Phillip Wheeler

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 16 to require the Department of Kentucky State Police to provide for training for forensic lab technicians; require any forensic lab technician that completes training provided for by the department to remain employed with the department for at least five years; provide that if a forensic lab technician does not remain employed with the department for at least five years shall be required to repay training costs incurred by the department.

Direct the Transportation Cabinet to designate a portion of Kentucky Route 292 in Martin County as the PFC Larry Gene Ratliff Memorial Highway.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 365 to prohibit a person, business, or agency who sells goods and services or collects fees from requiring the use of a credit or debit card or refusing cash in a face-to-face sale; amend KRS 365.990 to create a penalty for violations.

Amend KRS 342.0011 to define "medical professional"; amend KRS 342.020 to provide that failure to submit a statement for services within 45 days may render the statement for services ineligible and that denial of a claim shall toll the requirements to submit the statement for services; amend KRS 342.033 to delete "physician" and insert "medical professional" to allow medical professionals to provide direct testimony through a written medical report; amend KRS 342.125 to allow an administrative law judge to reopen and review any award or order for post-award request for vocational rehabilitation; amend KRS 342.140 to include unemployment benefits in the average weekly wage calculation; amend KRS 342.276 to require the commissioner to promulgate regulations requiring parties to demonstrate attempts have been made to reach a settlement and that mediation will be beneficial to resolve the issues; amend KRS 342.281 to provide that after an order of reconsideration has been rendered, subsequent petitions for reconsideration shall not toll the time to appeal unless the petition for reconsideration is filed to correct an order on reconsideration; amend KRS 342.310 to provide that if an administrative law judge determines a medical dispute was frivolously filed or filed for the purpose of harassment by an employer, its third-party administrator, or the responsible insurer, attorney's fees may be assessed; amend KRS 342.315 to add University of Pikeville to the medical schools that the commissioner shall contract with to evaluate workers, delete "physicians" and insert "medical professionals" qualified as "B" readers in cases involving coal workers' pneumoconiosis, delete "physicians" and insert "medical professionals" performing evaluations for injuries or occupational hearing loss; amend KRS 342.316 to delete "physician" and insert "medical professional" to provide at least one written medical report in filing occupational disease claims; amend KRS 342.320 to delete "physicians" and insert "medical professionals" fees which are subject to approval of an administrative law judge; amend KRS 342.794 to delete "physicians" and insert "medical providers" in the "B" reader list.

Amend KRS 150.170 to remove the requirement that resident owners of farmlands must own five or more acres of land in order to be exempt from sport hunting and sport fishing license requirements when hunting or fishing on their own farmlands.

Amend KRS 31.020 to require the appointment of the public advocate to be confirmed by the Senate.

Amend KRS 514.030 to increase the theft aggregate timeframe from 90 days to one year.

Direct the Transportation Cabinet to include Richie Weems and the Continental Five on the Country Music Highway and place signs on US Highway 23 in Pike County denoting the designation.

Amend KRS 164.7874 to include an equivalent score on the Classic Learning Test as a KEES supplemental amount; define "eligible noncertified school graduate"; amend definitions of "KEES award," "KEES award maximum," and " KEES base amount" for an eligible noncertified school graduate; amend KRS 164.7879 to establish an equivalent grade point average for eligible noncertified school graduates based on the graduate's ACT score; amend KRS 164.7884 to conform.

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