FRANKFORT, Ky. — Over 200 bills became law Monday after being passed this legislative session. However, some laws are in limbo of being carried out because of a lack of funds.
Twenty-two bills that became law ranging from nuclear energy, cancer detection and child abuse are at risk of not being enforced. Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., said legislators did not provide over $153 million to execute them in the state budget.
But, Senate President pro tempore, David Givens, R-Greensburg disagrees. Republican lawmakers argue the executive branch is breeching its constitutional responsibility.
“What citizens need to know about the budget process in Kentucky is the budget is latitude to spend. This is authority for the executive branch granted by us, the legislative branch, to spend up to a level,” Givens said.
Givens said of the 22 bills and two resolutions in limbo, many were passed in a bi-partisan manner, and some were unanimous votes. Some bills include Senate Bill 2, aimed at enhancing school safety, House Bill 271, which would establish a statewide child abuse reporting system and Senate Bill 319, aimed at increasing compensation to victims of crime.
“These are real programs that affect Kentuckians every day. We have to get away from rhetoric and gamesmanship and the sort of things that may make for a really cool ‘drop the mic’ moment. These are things that impact people’s lives every day,” Givens said.
State Senator Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, agrees these are important pieces of legislation. But says it’s the legislative branch’s burden to appropriate funds.
“The Supreme Court has said that the governor cannot issue an appropriation where has no authority to do so. The legislature has to give him the authority to fund the implementation of bills,” Thomas said.
Thomas said Gov. Beshear requested appropriations so the over 20 bills could be implemented. The governor’s office stated lawmakers passed an additional appropriation bill on April 15 but it did not address the bills at risk.
“President Stivers, the Speaker of the House, can get together with the governor and work out something that will bring us back into special session and we can do the appropriation. It’s not that complicated,” Thomas said.
Givens said unless a special session is called, the legislature can’t take any action because of the balance of powers.
“It’s going to take citizens saying to the governor, ‘Governor this is the wrong approach. Let’s go to work and find the funds,’ and he can do that. He has the latitude in this budget,” Givens said.
Governor Beshear’s office sent Spectrum News 1 a statement which said, “Throughout the session, the administration communicated to lawmakers and LRC staff about the fiscal impact of the bills that were passed without the funding… We have consistently said–even if some of these bills represent good public policy–if the legislature does not provide the funding, it does not intend for the executive branch to perform those services.”