2007 Legislative Priorities
KFTC’s 2007 legislative issues at a glance
The 2007 General Assembly has adjourned.
| Issue | Summary | Status |
| Raise the Wage! House Bill 305 House Bill 206 KFTC position: FOR More information … Thanks to all who came to the Raise the Wage Lobby Day in Frankfort on February 8! |
HB 305, as originally filed, would have raised the state minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7 an hour immediately, and indexed annual increases to the cost of living. HB 206, as originally filed, would have required that tipped workers receive base pay of at least 60% of the minimum hourly wage. |
An amended HB 305 passed the House and the Senate and has been signed into law by Gov. Fletcher! HISTORY: The House Labor & Industry Committee gutted important provisions of HB 305 before passing it 14-2 on Feb. 15. The committee phased in an increase to $7.25 an hour over two+ years and removed the annual increases. HB 305 passed the House 89-10 on Feb. 21. The Senate Economic Development, Tourism & Labor Committee amended the bill on March 6 to allow companies receiving state tax incentives to retain the current minimum wage for their "their base hourly wage calculations" until July 2008. A Senate floor amendment to take this provision back out failed, and the Senate passed the Senate 33-1 on March 8. The House concurred with the Senate amendment. An amended HB 206, setting the tipped wage at only 42% of the minimum, passed the House Labor & Industry Committee on Feb. 22 and is now stuck on the House floor. |
| Voting Rights House Bill 70 KFTC position: FOR More information … |
HB 70 called for a constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to former felons upon the completion of their sentence. | HB 70 (though weakened by the House Elections & Constitutional Amendments Committee on Feb. 13) passed the House 70-28 on Feb. 28. In the Senate it has been assigned to the Appropriations and Revenue Committee for no apparent reason, other than to kill it. |
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Coal Mine Safety More information ... |
HB 207 strengthens underground coal mine safety standards so that there are more inspections, including electrical inspections, more emergency equipment and personnel available to miners, and the right for injured miners or their survivors to be present at inquiries. | A much amended HB 207 passed the House and the Senate and has been signed into law by Gov. Fletcher!. HISTORY: There was a hearing on HB 207 with powerful testimony from widows of killed miners on Feb. 15. However, committee chair Rep. Jim Gooch, who has ties to the coal industry, said he would not allow a vote on the bill. After a week of pressure on Gooch and Speaker of the House Jody Richards, HB 207 as brought up on Feb. 22 for a quick hearing on a committee substitute, and then passed. The committee substitute, introduced by Rep. Robin Webb without the courtesy of notifying HB 207 sponsor Rep. Brent Yonts, weakened the bill. However, floor amendments restored most of the previsions. (read about this), and HB 207 passed the House 100-0 on March 6. HB 207 was amended again in the Senate before passing 36-0 on March 12. The House concurred with the Senate changes. |
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Safe Roads, Good Jobs for Coal Truckers |
HB 454 called for strengthened enforcement of coal truck weight limits by setting up an electronic monitoring system of truck weights. Coal companies that load the trucks would have been responsible for overweight fines, not the truck drivers. | HB 454 was sent to the House Transportation Committee. Chairperson Rep. Hubert Collins said overweight coal trucks are not a problem and refused to allow a hearing. |
| Valley Fills House Bill 385 KFTC position: FOR More information … |
HB 385 would have prohibited the dumping of mining wastes into any waterway. Coal companies would be required to return mining wastes to the mine site or another mining site. | HB 385 was assigned to the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee. Chair Rep. Jim Gooch did not allow the bill to come up for a hearing, saying there is no public outcry against mountaintop removal and valley fills. |
| Tax Reform House Bill 411 KFTC position: FOR More information ... |
KFTC supports reforms to make our tax system more fair to low-income and working Kentuckians and raise new revenue in order to make progress in key areas like education, higher education, health care, housing and the justice system. HB 411 reflected these goals. |
KFTC members and Rep. Jim Wayne testified in support of HB 411 on March 7 before the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Since this was not a budget year the hearing was for information and discussion alone. |
| Campaign Finance Reform House Bill 55 KFTC position: FOR |
HB 55 would have improved the system of publicly financed elections in Kentucky. | HB 55 died in the House Elections & Constitutional Amendments Committee. |
| Health Care Reform House Resolution 81 House Resolution 243 KFTC position: FOR Read HR 243 |
HR 81 called on the U.S. Congress to pass the United States National Health Insurance Act. HR 243 took the same position, in somewhat stronger language. It became necessary after the House "approved" HR 213 with most member unaware that they had done this. |
HR 81 was approved by the Kentucky House on Feb. 7 by voice vote. However, on March 8 the House approved HR 213 urging Congress not to pass the National Health Insurance Act. On March 27, HB 243 was approved, re-stating the House's support for universal health care. |
| Underground Storage Tank Removal House Bill 137 KFTC position: FOR |
HB 137 extends the currently-expired deadline for registration of old underground storage tanks to 2010, allowing the removal of those tanks to be reimbursed by the state petroleum storage tank fund. | HB 137 was approved by the Kentucky House 98-0 on Feb. 13, and by the Senate 38-0 on March 9 and has been signed by the governor. |