A bill to provide childcare subsidies to foster families and expand eligibility to these subsidies by including foster parents who are working remotely was among 16 pieces of legislation passed by the Kentucky House on Monday.
SB 240 is sponsored by Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville. She has said, “This bill will decrease barriers to families who wish to participate in foster care. We desperately need more foster families in Kentucky, and this legislation can help us achieve that goal. Kentuckians who want to provide a loving home to a child in foster care should be able to do so; I’m proud that this bill will help them.”
It passed the Senate 37-0 earlier this month, while the House vote Monday was 91-0. It now heads to the governor for his signature.
Another high-profile bill approved in the House on Monday was Senate Bill 45, Sponsored by Sen. David Yates, D-Louisville. Known as The Ashanti Alert System, it would be used in a similar fashion as Amber Alerts are for missing children who may be in danger, complete with public notifications, but this time it is designed for adults. The House added a provision to create and operate a system to notify the public when any individual is determined to be a missing child and the department determines that public notification might aid in the recovery of the individual. The system shall be known as the Kentucky Ian Alert System.
The bill was approved 92-0 but must be returned to the Senate for members of that chamber to decide on whether they will concur in the House changes.
The House of Representatives voted 92-0 to approve House Concurrent Resolution 51, sponsored by Rep. Mike Clines, R-Alexandria. It would establish the Autism in Education Task Force to explore education supports and services for Kentucky students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
That measure now heads to the Senate.
Monday was Day 55 of the 60-day legislative session. Lawmakers will meet through Thursday, then observe the 10-day veto recess, before returning on Friday, April 12, and Monday, April 15, for the final two days.
By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today
