Task forces named to make recommendations for Kentucky’s next legislative session

Before lawmakers return to Frankfort for the next legislative session, special committees and task forces will meet during the interim. 

Starting next month, the groups will explore specific policy issues. Each task force will be composed of 10 legislators.

The task forces will submit findings and recommendations to the Legislative Research Commission by Dec. 4. The General Assembly will convene in January. 

Per a Senate Majority Caucus press release, the special committees are: 

• The Task Force on Local Government Annexation, co-chaired by Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson, and Rep. Jonathan Dixon, R-Corydon, will study required city annexation methods and effects of city annexation on areas like  taxation, economic development, utility services, police protection, fire protection and emergency services from the perspective of local governments and their residents. The task force will eventually recommend changes to statutes. 
• The Lottery Trust Fund Task Force, co-chaired by Sen. Matthew Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, and Rep. Bobby McCool, R-Van Lear, will review budget trends and use of the lottery trust fund as well as evaluate scholarships and grant programs performance. The task force will examine expected scholarship and grant needs and compare the system with other states. 
• The Multimodal Freight Transportation System Improvement Task Force, co-chaired by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, and House Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles, R-Owensboro, will review ports, freight and air terminals to review, correct, secure and expand economic development opportunities and the state of the current freight transportation system. 
•  The Jail and Corrections Reform Task Force, co-chaired by Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, and Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, will study existing jail and correctional facilities as well as possible realignment and closure. Other areas the task force will review include the management of Kentucky’s incarcerated population, personnel and other costs, pretrial and post-conviction incarceration data and more. 
• The Kentucky Health and Human Services Delivery System Task Force, co-chaired by Sen. Steve Meredith, R-Leitchfield, and House Speaker Pro Tem David Meade, R-Stanford, will study the structure, operations and administration in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The task force will determine if or how services may be more effective and efficient for Kentuckians as well as examine the state’s benefits cliff and build upon work of the prior benefits cliff task force.  
• The Certificate of Need Task Force, co-chaired by Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, and Rep. Russell Webber, R-Shepherdsville, will review the state’s CON program and examine the need to maintain or change it for each covered health service. Findings or recommendations will be made to LRC to then be referred to the appropriate committee. 
• The Task Force on School and Campus Security, co-chaired by Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, and Rep. Scott Lewis, R-Hartford, will examine access to mental health services in school districts and determine if federal funding is available for them.