2008 KENTUCKY PTA LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 

Kentucky PTA promotes legislation designed to protect all children and youth; legislation designed to meet the education, health and welfare needs of children and youth; and legislation designed to assist in preparing children and youth to intelligently assume the ever increasing responsibilities of citizenship.  At its Convention 2007, the members of Kentucky PTA adopted the following legislative priorities and position statements for the 2008 session of the Kentucky General Assembly.

School-Based Decision Making:

-Add at least one additional parent to school-based decision making councils.

Education Funding:

-Kentucky PTA is concerned that 18 years ago(1989) state funding for K-12 education was higher than it is today (2008).

-Funding to support the recommendations listed for involving families and community in improving student achievement in the Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner's Parents Advisory Council Report entitle "The Missing Piece of the Proficiency Puzzle," presented to KDE June 2007.

-Funding to support nurses in all schools.

-Full funding for full day kindergarten.

-Full funding for preschool which provides the flexibility necessary to allow districts to serve "at risk" three-year-old children if all eligible "at risk" four-year-old children are served.

-Full funding for Family Resource and Youth Service Centers (FRYSC).

-Full funding for the School Facilities Construction Programs based on current needs assessments.

-Oppose the use of public funds for non-public schools, including vouchers, tax credits, and student transportation.

-Increased funding for Gifted & Talented students.

-Fund technology to meet the state's education technology goals.

School Based Employee Compensation:

-Support compensation for employees that will include, but is not limited to, and increase in salaries and health benefits.

Health and Safety Issues:

-Support emphasis on the importance of nutrition education, encourage the implementation of a comprehensive nutrition program in Kentucky schools and support increased physical activities during the school day.

-Support legislation that would require children who weight less than 80 pounds and are less that 4 feet 9 inches tall to be in a booster seat while in a car.

-Support legislation that addresses the prevention, intervention and elimination of bullying on school property.

-Support an increased cigarette tax and taxing of other tobacco products.

Position Statement:

Education Funding:  Kentucky PTA believes that the state must fully fund all programs it mandates to local school districts either by legislation or regulation.

Kentucky Legislative 2008 Session Toll-Free Numbers

Bill Status Line                1-866-840-2835

Legislative Message Line   1-800-372-7181

Calendar (Meetings) Line    1-800-633-9650

TTY Message Line              1-800-896-0305

En Espanol                            1-866-840-6574

In addition to these legislative priorities and position statement, Kentucky PTA has a legislative platform and resolutions approved regularly by delegates at its annual conventions. These voted positions, voted positions of National PTA, and the PTA Mission and Purposes guide Kentucky PTA in its determination of which issues to support, which to oppose, and when to take a neutral position.

For more information on these legislative priorities and position statements and other PTA positions, contact the Kentucky PTA Offices:

Kentucky PTA

P.O. Box 654

Frankfort, KY  40602-0654

502-226-6607  Fax: 502-226-6610

ky_office@pta.org

www.kypta.org

You can contact your representative for information and/or concerns.

Kentucky Senator for Oldham County:

          Sen. Ernie Harris

          O:  (502) 564-8100, ext. 605          H:  (502) 241-8307

          E-mail:  http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Mailform/S026.htm

Kentucky Representative for Oldham County:

          Rep. David Osborne,  R-Prospect

          O:  (502) 564-8100, ext. 679          H:  (502) 228-3201

          E-mail:  david.osborne@lrc.ky.gov

                                    OR

          Rep. Rick Rand,   D-Bedford

          O:  (502) 255-3286 or (502) 564-8100, ext. 619      H:  (502) 255-3392

          E-mail:  rick.rand@lrc.ky.gov

2007 EDUCATION BILLS

House Bill 64 –Anti-Bullying Law

             Schools and public districts would be required to have policies and procedures for dealing with harassment, intimidation and bullying.  

 House Bill 14 and House Bill 21:

             Would require the program of studies and related documents used in Kentucky public schools to exclusively use abbreviations A.D. and B.C. for dates and time. 

House Bill 95:

            Would prohibit school districts from starting school before the fourth Monday in August. 

House Bill 195:

            Would remove writing portfolios from the state's Commonwealth Accountability Testing System, but continue them at elementary school as an instructional tool.

House Bill 30:

            Would establish Students with Special Needs Scholarship Program to permit students with learning disabilities to transfer to public or private schools, and have state funding follow them.  The home districts would pay for transportation.

House Bill 97:

            Would require Kentucky public schools to provide 30 minutes of daily structured physical activity for students, with elementary schools, starting in 2007-2008, middle schools in 2008-2009, and high schools in 2009-2010.

House Bill 101:

            Would require all preserves teachers to complete a civics-education course as a condition of certification starting in the 2008-2009 school year.

House Bill 50:

            Would increase the maximum annual expenses for school board members to $3000 from $2000.

Senate Bill 49:

            Would require all schools be provided with a school-resource officer.

Senate Bill 46:

            Would allow students to use a portion of their Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship money during high school for "dual credit" courses.

Additional Bills concerning children:

Senate Bill 45:  Underage Drinking

            Would suspend the driver's license of anyone younger that 21 convicted of possession of- or attempting to purchase- alcoholic beverages.  The suspension would be three months for the first offense, six months to a year for  subsequent offenses.

House Bill 169:  Bicycle Helmets

            Would require anyone younger that 16 to wear a helmet while riding a bike.

House Bill 53:  Booster Seats

            Would require children too large for child car seats but too small to be properly secured by seat belts to be restrained by booster seats while riding in cars.

House Bill 143:

            Would require girls in both public and private middle schools to be vaccinated against a virus that causes cervical cancer.

House Bill on minimum wage:

            There are several proposed bills concerning the minimum hourly wage.

For additional legislative information, please visit these sites:

Legislative Research Commission - www.lrc.ky.gov

Kentucky Youth Advocates – www.Kyyouth.org