HB58     INTERSCHOLASTIC EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (LEE; Couch; Meade; Morgan)

Create a new section of KRS Ch. 158 to authorize participation in a public school interscholastic extracurricular activity by a home school; establish criteria for participation therein.  (Not yet posted in Committee but still anticipated)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB58.htm

HB128  BIBLE LITERACY (JOHNSON; Bentley; Blanton; Brown, L; Fugate; Hale; Hart; Heath; Johnson; Moore; Morgan; Santoro)

Create a new section of KRS Ch. 156 to require the KY Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations to establish an elective social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament of the Bible, the New Testament, or a combination of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament of the Bible; .... (Passed the House 80 – 14 and received in Senate)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB128.htm

HB151  SCHOOL ATTENDANCE   (BRATCHER)

Permit a student to enroll in the school nearest to their home, except in cases in which there are academic or skill prerequisites for attendance in the school.  (Passed House 59 – 37 with Committee Sub and FA1; received in Senate)

State Bill Page:          http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB151.htm

 HB152  TEACHER CERTIFICATION (LINDER; Dossett; Bechler; Herald; Thomas)

Include an option to maintain an initial regular provisional certificate by receiving positive performance evaluations and completing professional development requirements; add an option to maintain subsequent regular provisional certificates by completing professional development requirements and submitting evidence of continued character and fitness; allow a teacher to receive a one-year temporary provisional certificate to correct any deficiency in meeting the requirements under these options or to maintain certification by any other method available; amend KRS 161.123 to allow an experienced, out-of-state teacher to qualify for a regular provisional certificate if the teacher submits an application and holds a valid teaching certificate issued by a state that grants reciprocal privileges to holders of KY teaching certificates.    (Not yet posted in Committee but in active development)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB152.htm

HB186  KY TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM (NELSON; Carney)

Remove marriage as a disqualifying event for a widow or widower who is receiving survivor's benefits from KTRS.  (Posted for Passage in the House on Monday, 2-27.)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB186.htm

HB195  ADULT EDUCATION (TIPTON; Hart; Miller, C)

Allow KY Adult Education Program to establish programs aligned with the College & Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education, which upon successful completion will result in issuance of a High School Equivalency Diploma; require at least one program to include a test aligned with College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education, to serve as a qualifying test, which upon passing will entitle students to receive a High School Equivalency Diploma; delete external diploma program; grandfather previously recognized high school equivalency diplomas; forbid invalidation of issued High School Equivalency Diplomas due to changes in test selection; amend KRS 164.0062, et.al   (Passed House 96-0; referred to Senate Ed Committee)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB195.htm

HB231  CAREER READINESS (RILEY; Moore; Rowland)

Require the KY Board of Education to identify a student who obtains a sufficient score on the ASVAB and signs enlistment papers for any branch of service as career-ready.   (Passed the House 93 – 0; referred to Senate Ed Committee)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB231.htm

HB241  STUDENT ATHLETE SAFETY (SIMS JR.; Gentry; Koenig; Nemes; Richards; Santoro; Westrom)

Prohibit a coach from returning a student to play who is diagnosed with a concussion; prohibit a student from returning to play if no physician or licensed provider is available to conduct the required concussion evaluation; prohibit a student who does not receive the required evaluation from returning to play in a subsequent practice or competition unless written clearance from a physician is provided.  (Passed the House 97 – 9; referred to Senate Education Committee)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB241.htm

HB252  AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS (BLANTON; Moser; Hale; Prunty; Sims Jr)

Require the school council or, if none exists, the principal to obtain an automated external defibrillator by the 2019-2020 school year; require a minimum of three employees be trained on its usage; require the school council or, if none exists, the principal to adopt procedures for its usage and policies on training and maintenance; amend KRS 158.302 to delete language stating that a school is not required to have an automated external defibrillator.  (Passed House 92-2; received in Senate)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB252.htm

HB269  CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED SCHOOL PERSONNEL (RILEY)

Allow relatives who are currently ineligible for employment in a school district to serve as substitutes.  (Passed House 99 – 0; referred to Senate Ed Committee)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB269.htm

HB277  LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION (REED; Sims Jr.)

Remove board of education member eligibility restriction that no aunt, uncle, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law be employed by that board.   (Posted for Passage in the House since 2-23-17)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB277.htm

HB283  PUBLIC RETIREMENT INFORMATION (MILLER, J)

Amend KRS 61.661, 161.585, and 21.540 to require the disclosure of the retirement benefit information for individuals who are receiving combined annualized retirement benefits from the state-administered retirement systems exceeding twice KY's annualized per capita personal income; required disclosure for each individual shall include their name, status, and projected or actual retirement benefit benefits from KRS, KTRS, Legislators' Retirement Plan, and the Judicial Retirement Plan; require information to be posted on the executive branch transparency Web site as provided by KRS 42.032; amend KRS 42.032 to conform.   (Posted in Committee but not yet scheduled for hearing; Floor Amendment 1 filed)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB283.htm

HB367  KY TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM (PALUMBO; Carney)

Require KTRS board to provide the same dependent subsidy provided to state employees for the remainder of the 2017 plan year if the retired teacher participates in the KY Employees Health Plan and selected couple, family, or parent plus coverage; provide that the KTRS board shall have the authorization to provide the dependent subsidy in the 2018 plan year; EMERGENCY. 

(Posted in the House for Passage on Consent Orders for 2-27-17)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB367.htm

HB454  SCHOOL CURRICULUM (SHELL; Carney; Fleming; Morgan; Moser)

Require, beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, a local school district shall provide essential skills curriculum to students; require each student to attain essential skills to graduate;…create a new section of KRS Ch. 158 requiring the KY Dept. of Education to develop an age-appropriate drug awareness and prevention program; require local school boards to ensure that students receive annual instruction in drug awareness and prevention.    (Not yet posted in Committee but considered to have good prospects with a sponsor in leadership)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB454.htm

HB460  STUDENT ATTENDANCE (DECESARE)

Declare a petition of dependency, neglect, or abuse filed by a school district or school personnel based solely on a child's attendance to be an act to enforce compulsory attendance laws; require a school district or school personnel to comply with those laws before filing a petition; amend KRS 159.140 to require a director of pupil personnel to document home conditions of a student and intervention strategies when filing a dependency, neglect, or abuse petition; amend KRS 159.180 to require a school give notice to a parent before filing a dependency, neglect, or abuse petition based solely on a child's attendance or truancy.   (Not yet posted in Committee but having a well-placed sponsor)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB460.htm

HB495  STUDENT WRITING (YORK; Bunch; Morgan)

Require cursive writing to be taught in elementary schools beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year.  (Reported favorably in House Ed Committee; First Reading in House in 2/24/17)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB495.htm

HB520  CHARTER SCHOOLS (CARNEY)

Create new sections of KRS Ch. 160 to describe the intent of the General Assembly and the purposes of authorizing public charter schools; establish a public charter school project and identify public charter school authorizers; define terms; describe the characteristics and the requirements of a public charter school; identify the requirements and the components of a public charter school application; describe the responsibilities of public charter school authorizers; describe public charter school renewal and revocation processes; identify the components of a public charter school annual report; identify the requirements for student enrollment; create a new section of KRS Ch. 157 to identify funding practices for public charter schools; allow public charter schools to accept gifts and donations; create a new section of KRS Ch. 161 to identify employment conditions for public charter school staff; amend KRS 161.220 to include a qualified teacher employed by the board of directors of public charter schools in the state-sponsored retirement system; amend KRS 78.510 to include public charter schools in the definition of "county" so as to include noncertified employees of public charter schools in the state-sponsored retirement system; APPROPRIATION.    (Not yet posted in Committee but could be heard as soon as 2/28; Committee Substitute to be released soon.)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HB520.htm

HCR121                  KY TRANSPORTATION CABINET (MILES)

Encourage school bus drivers to apply with KY Transportation Cabinet to assist with snow removal on days schools are closed for snow.   (Not yet posted in Committee)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/HC121.htm

SB1        PUBLIC EDUCATION (WILSON; Givens; Alvarado; Carroll, J; Carroll, D; Embry; Girdler; Meredith; Stivers; Thayer; West; Wise)

Require school districts to develop and implement a personnel evaluation system…; EMERGENCY.    (Passed Senate 35 – 0; referred to House Ed but not yet posted in Committee)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB1.htm

SB2        RETIREMENT (BOWEN; McDaniel; Adams; Alvarado; Carroll, J; Carroll, D; Girdler; Hornback; Thayer; Wilson; Wise)

Require the Judicial Form Retirement System, which administers the Legislators' Retirement Plan and the Judicial Retirement Plan, to post descriptive and financial information to the system's Web site; amend KRS 61.645 to specify that investment fee and commission reporting requirements for the KRS shall include profit sharing, carried interest, and partnership incentives; provide that the systems may not have to disclose contracts on a Web site if disclosure would result in competitive disadvantage but require those contracts to be released to the trustees, State Auditor, and the LRC Govt. Contract Review Committee; subject the systems to KRS Ch. 18A regarding personnel; subject hiring of executive director to Senate confirmation; make technical amendments; amend KRS 161.250 to specify that investment fee and commission reporting requirements for the KY Teachers' Retirement System must include profit sharing, carried interest, and partnership incentives; provide that the Teachers' Retirement System may not have to disclose contracts on a Web site if disclosure would result in competitive disadvantage, but require those contracts to be released to the trustees, State Auditor, and the LRC Govt. Contract Review Committee; amend KRS 161.340 to make hiring of executive secretary subject to Senate confirmation; amend various KRS sections to place all state retirement systems under Model Procurement Code regarding contracts and clarify ban on placement agents; amend KRS 7A.220 to increase the membership of the Public Pension Oversight Board; EMERGENCY.    (Passed Senate 37 – 0; passed House 99-0 with amendments; posted for passage for concurrence in House amendment for 2-27-17)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB2.htm

SB17     EXPRESSION IN SCHOOLS (ROBINSON; Carroll, J; Carroll, D; Embry; Girdler; Seum; Thayer; Wilson; Wise)

Permit students to voluntarily express religious or political viewpoints in school assignments free from discrimination; require local boards of education to ensure that the selection of student speakers is made in a viewpoint-neutral manner, the student's prepared remarks are not altered before delivery without student's consent, religious and political organizations are allowed equal access to public forums on the same basis as nonreligious and nonpolitical organizations, and no recognized religious or political student organization is discriminated against in the ordering of its internal affairs; ….  (Passed Senate 31-3; referred to House Ed Committee)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB17.htm

SB50     SCHOOL CALENDAR (THAYER; Alvarado; Hornback)

Amend KRS 158.070 to establish a school district calendar committee and determine its membership; allow inclusion of a variable student instructional year in a school calendar; define a variable student instructional year; establish school calendar adoption procedures; require notice to be given to the media for school board meetings regarding the school calendar; provide that districts adopting a school calendar with the first student attendance day no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26 may use a variable student instructional year; make changes throughout to conform.   (Passed Senate 33-1; referred to House Ed Committee but not yet posted in Committee)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB50.htm

SB78     TOBACCO USE (ALVARADO; Adams)

Prohibit use of tobacco products by students, school personnel, and visitors in schools, school vehicles, properties, and activities; require policies to be in place by the 2018-2019 school year; require smoke-free policies and signage be adopted; specify punishments for use of tobacco products; provide that existing bans are not impacted; … (Passed Senate 25-8-2; referred to House Ed Committee)  

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB78.htm

SB80     TEACHER CERTIFICATION (WILSON)

Prohibit EPSB from imposing conditions for a teacher to maintain his or her certification; amend KRS 161.1211 to prohibit the EPSB from requiring a Rank III teacher to obtain a Rank II or Rank I to maintain his or her certificate; …(Discussed in Senate Ed Committee but not yet scheduled for a vote)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB80.htm

SB117   ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION (WISE; Wilson; Carroll, J; Carroll, D; Girdler)

Amend KRS 161.010 to include definitions for "provisional certificates," "professional certificates," and "college or university work of graduate grade"; amend KRS 161.048 to allow a veteran with a bachelor's degree in any area to be issued a provisional teaching certificate if other criteria are met; require a passing score on the GRE or its equivalent for certification of a person in a field other than education to teach in elementary, middle, or secondary programs; provide that after successful completion of the internship program candidates shall receive a professional certificate and be subject to the same renewal requirements as any other teacher with a professional certificate; amend KRS 161.095 to delete language that restricts continuing education related to maintaining a certificate.    (Passed Senate 35-0 with FA1; reported favorably in House Ed Committee and 1^st Reading to Consent Calendar on 2/24/17)

                State Bill Page:           http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB117.htm

 SB118   SCHOOL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (SCHRODER)

Provide certain school districts an alternative method of publishing annual financial statements by publishing the statement prominently on the district's Web site for not less than 90 days and by publishing a legal display advertisement in a qualified newspaper that announces the statement has been prepared and published on the Web site, provides the electronic address of that Web site, and notifies that copies of the statement have been provided to local newspapers, news services, and radio and television stations that have requested receipt of the statement; amend KRS 160.463 to provide school districts with 300,000 or more inhabitants with the same alternative method of publishing annual financial statements.   (Had its Second Reading and returned to State & Local Govmt Committee on 2/23/17)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB118.htm

SB126   RETIREMENT SYSTEM (MCDANIEL; Schickel)

Amend KRS 16.505, 61.510 and 78.510 to define final compensation to allow state and county employees, who entered the retirement systems on or after September 1, 2008, but prior to Jan. 1, 2014, to use partial fiscal years, which may contain less than 12 months of service credit, to reach a final compensation calculation that is at least 60 months for non-hazardous employees and at least 36 months for hazardous employees.   (Posted for passage in Consent Orders of the Day for 2/27/17)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB126.htm

SB138   PUBLIC SCHOOLS (WEBB; Carroll, J; Carroll, D; Embry; Meredith; Westerfield; Wilson)

Create a new section of KRS Ch. 156 to require the KY Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations to establish an elective social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament of the Bible, the New Testament, or a combination of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament of the Bible; …  (Reported favorably out of Committee; Second Reading, to Rules)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB138.htm

SB159   PUBLIC SCHOOLS (CARPENTER; Wise; Alvarado; Embry; McGarvey; Thayer; Wilson)

Require all public high school students to pass a civics test in order to receive a regular diploma; direct the KY Dept. of Education to prepare or approve the test with 100 questions drawn from the test administered by the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services to persons seeking to become naturalized citizens, …(Passed Senate 37-1 on 2/23/17; received in House)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB159.htm

SB161   SCHOOL EMPLOYEES (WILSON)

Allow the superintendent to determine whether a national background check is required for each classified initial hire as a condition of employment.   (Passed Senate 38 – 0 on 2/23/17; received in House)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB161.htm

SB190   EDUCATIONAL STABILITY (SEUM)

Establish educational stability requirements for when a child is placed in an out-of-home placement.  (Reported favorably out of Senate Education; Second Reading to Rules on 2/24/17)

                State Bill Page:            http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/SB190.htm