Legislative Update: To-go alcohol, flagrant non-support, and repayment to coal companies move forward

Legislation to allow to-go alcoholic beverages permanently passed through the Senate with a 28-7 vote Monday and now heads to the House.

Senate Bill 67, sponsored by Sen. John Schickel, would allow restaurants to sell alcohol, including cocktails, with to-go and delivery orders when purchased with a meal from that establishment.

The legislation comes after the governor issued an executive order amid the COVID-19 pandemic to allow restaurants to temporarily sell to-go alcohol, as many of them had to shut their doors to in-person dining and shift to a takeout model because of restrictions. The bill would put the language from the executive order into statute.

Senate Bill 141, sponsored by Sen. Robbie Mills, dealing with the coal workers’ pneumoconiosis fund passed the Senate with a 35-0 vote Monday afternoon.

The state’s pneumoconiosis fund, which has been managed by Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance (KEMI), only has two outstanding claims that they believe will take 2-3 years to settle.

Money in the fund, around $20 million currently, will be paid back to coal companies who have paid in, but the cases are holding up that repayment. Senate Bill 141, Mills said, will allow for the distribution of those funds back to the coal companies to begin while also retaining the money necessary to pay out the final two claims.

Both Senate Bill 67 and Senate Bill 141 now move to the House for consideration in committee.

House Bill 402, sponsored by Rep. Ed Massey, passed through the House Monday with a 71-22 vote.

The legislation would raise the felony threshold for flagrant nonsupport from $1,000 to $5,000.

House Bill 402 now moves to the state Senate for consideration in committee.