Starting off the 25th day of the 30-day session, the Senate Standing Committee on Families and Children moved two bills forward to help with Kentuckians access to quality recovery housing and childcare.
House Bill 248, sponsored by Rep. Samara Heavrin, would establish statewide minimum standards for the operation of recovery residences in Kentucky. Residences would be required to obtain certification from a certifying organization and ensure residents participate in key support services like employment training and self-help meetings.
In the meeting on Monday, Heavrin and those testifying with her said it is critical to give individuals a safe and reliable place to stay while they recover and this bill will help regulate any “bad actors” especially at a time where Kentucky is seeing an uptick in overdose deaths.
The committee also heard House Bill 165, sponsored by new state Rep. Nick Wilson. The legislation is a technical cleanup bill for the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership set up in House Bill 499 passed in the 2022 session.
House Bill 499 set up a public-private partnership to encourage businesses to provide childcare assistance as a benefit of employment. Employers interested in participating in the program can learn more here: https://www.kychamber.com/childcare .
Both House Bills 248 and 165 passed through the committee and now move to the full Senate for a vote.
Stay tuned to The Bottom Line for more updates in the final days of the 2023 session.
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