This week, the legislature focused on education, juvenile justice and labor and pension reform.

So far this session, a group of over 30 House legislators have united to co-sponsor a constitutional amendment aimed at providing more families with the freedom to choose the education that best fits their children’s needs. While the proposal has significant support, it has yet to move in the House. 

In addition, a bill has passed the Senate that would prohibit school district policies intended to keep student information confidential from parents, while still maintaining conditions for confidentiality when needed to protect youngsters. Though opponents have criticized the bill, it is intended as a basic parental rights measure to help parents better support their children.

Also passing out of the Senate is Senate Bill 24 that would allow homeschooled students to utilize state KEES dollars. Instead of being denied financial opportunities because they don’t receive a transcript with grades like their traditional public school peers, these students would be tested to qualify for scholarship money. This bill has the potential to provide more opportunities for homeschooled students to pursue higher education and could lead to a more diverse range of students receiving scholarship support.

Meanwhile, two labor reform bills have been introduced, one in the House and one in the Senate, aiming to prohibit the transmission of tax dollars to unions. In addition, House Bill 364 includes a provision that would require union members to opt-in to paying dues annually, as well as provide members with a yearly report of how unions are spending those dues dollars.

Two other significant bills have been filed in both the House and the Senate focusing on pension investments and aiming to achieve the highest possible return for the state’s retirees. The proposed bills would require fiduciaries to consider only the interests of members and beneficiaries of retirement systems, based solely on pecuniary factors, and not on environmental, social or political ideological reasons.

There was also an emphasis on juvenile justice this week pre-empted by news of violence, overly confining juveniles in their cells, understaffing, riots and chaos. A bill in the Senate would require an independent entity to conduct a performance review of the Department of Juvenile Justice. 

In addition, proposed legislation passed the House that would reopen a juvenile justice facility in Louisville.

Previously, Jefferson County had been the only county in the state operating a juvenile justice facility locally rather than being run by the state. However, the city council defunded the facility and requested that the state take over its operations. While the state had initially deemed operating the facility in Louisville to be too costly, this bill responds to the rise in crime of juveniles since the closing of the detention center. 

For a full list of bills being monitored, check out the updated list as the session continues: