Why Can't They Keep It Simple?

As of today there have been 177 bills filed in the House. Here are some, between 25 and 50 that have snagged my attention.

I like this one, I would have been a little happier if age and sexual orientation had been included as a basis for prohibiting wage differentials.

HB 33/LM (BR 175) - M. Marzian
AN ACT relating to wage discrimination. Amend KRS 337.423 to prohibit wage discrimination on the basis of sex, race, or national origin by prohibiting wage differentials for employees who perform equivalent jobs; provide exceptions for wage differentials based on seniority or merit systems, systems that measure wages by quantity or quality of production, and factors other than sex, race, or national origin; amend KRS 337.420 to define equivalent jobs as those that are equal under the federal Equal Pay Act, or jobs that are dissimilar but equivalent in skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions; and amend KRS 337.425 to require promulgation of administrative regulations on or before July 1, 2010 to specify criteria for determining jobs that are dominated by employees of a particular sex, race, or national origin, and acceptable methodology for determining equivalent skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2011.

The gotcha in this bill is that “nothing in this section may be interpreted to authorize expression by students that are a …..violation of school policies”. But have faith that any budding high school journalist can find the weasel words to skirt this little provision. So let’s hear it for free speech.

HB 43 (BR 63) - B. Yonts
AN ACT relating to high school newspapers. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to provide that public high school student journalists have right to exercise freedom of speech and press in school-sponsored media; direct that student journalists are responsible for determining content of school-sponsored media; provide limitations for content determined by high school students; provide that school boards are immune from civil and criminal liability based on student expression in school-sponsored media; require local board adoption of student freedom of expression policy.

We have all dated that psycho, regardless of gender, that we never, ever, under any circumstance want to be anywhere near again.

HB 48/LM/CI (BR 218) - J. Jenkins
AN ACT relating to dating violence. Amend KRS 403.720 to include dating partners among the class of persons allowed to obtain domestic violence protective orders; amend KRS 431.005 to reference the definition of "unmarried couple" in KRS 403.720.

Let’s not make someone the victim of a crime twice.

HB 49/LM (BR 220) - J. Jenkins
AN ACT relating to employment. Amend KRS 337.415, relating to court-ordered appearances by employees, to define terms; prohibit employers from discharging or retaliating against an employee who is a crime victim when the employee takes leave to attend proceedings associated with the crime; require employee to give employer reasonable notice to take leave when practicable; provide guidelines for use of paid leave time; require employer to maintain confidentiality of records and communications with employee crime victim; create a penalty for failing to maintain confidentiality.

I like the idea of extending voting time. The only question I have is how much is this going to cost and who is going to pay it?

HB 50/LM (BR 187) - D. Owens, L. Clark
AN ACT relating to early voting. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 117 to allow early voting by requiring in-person absentee voting to be conducted for at least 12 working days before the Sunday prior to election day; require this voting to be held in the county clerk's office or other place designated by the county board of elections and approved by the State Board of Elections; amend various sections of KRS Chapter 117 to conform

Why don’t we just make a simple law that says; when you are driving a moving vehicle, any moving vehicle, and on a cell phone the police can pull you over, confiscate the phone and fine you a $100.00.

HB 41/LM (BR 135) - D. Floyd, T. Burch
AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. Create a new section of KRS 189 to define terms; prohibit the use of a personal communication device without the use of a hands-free device by the operator of a motor vehicle, and provide limited exceptions; amend KRS 189.990 to provide for period ending January 1, 2010 during which courtesy warnings will be issued for a violation of Section 1 and set a fine of between $20 and $100 for a violation of Section 1 on or after January 1, 2010.

HB 41/LM (BR 135) - D. Floyd, T. Burch
AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. Create a new section of KRS 189 to define terms; prohibit the use of a personal communication device without the use of a hands-free device by the operator of a motor vehicle, and provide limited exceptions; amend KRS 189.990 to provide for period ending January 1, 2010 during which courtesy warnings will be issued for a violation of Section 1 and set a fine of between $20 and $100 for a violation of Section 1 on or after January 1, 2010.

Let me simplify this for the dense among you. Gambling – BAD IDEA. Gambling won’t raise the money the proponents promise, and it creates a new set of social problems. This is just what we need, like the lottery, another tax on people that can’t do math. And it’s an EMERGENCY people.

HB 32/LM/CI (BR 73) - T. Burch
AN ACT relating to video lottery terminals, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.

I can always count on Stan Lee to come up with a WTF moment for me. OK, no one wants a sex offender near their kids, but why make a big deal out of Halloween? Why not just say stay away from any activity with a minor? Keep it simple, if you are a sex offender stay the hell away from kids.

I bet Stan has something against Wiccans and Halloween.


HB 38/LM/CI (BR 149) - S. Lee, C. Embry Jr.
AN ACT relating to sexual offenders. Amend KRS 17.545 to prohibit a person required to register as a sexual offender, for an offense committed against a victim who was a minor, from residing in specified areas and from participating in any Halloween activity with a minor.

I’ll buy this is valid if they reduce the drinking age for a 17 year old in the military.

HB 39 (BR 134) - D. Floyd
AN ACT relating to motor vehicle operator's licenses. Create a new section of KRS 186.400 to 186.650 to exempt 17-year olds who have enlisted in the military from the requirement to obtain an intermediate license; amend KRS 186.412, 186.450, 186.452, and 186.454 to conform and to clarify that individuals over the age of 18 are exempt from graduated driver's licensing provisions.

And one final question why is the only bill in this post that is an emergency is the gambling bill?