I joined my fellow lawmakers back in Frankfort last week as we reconvened the 2017 session of the Kentucky General Assembly after a near month-long break following our brief, but rushed, organizational session in early January.
I was proud to join our Democratic Caucus in the House on Thursday in unveiling a legislative agenda calling for a “United Kentucky” to support legislation that will increase job creation, strengthen public education and increase access to health care.
Our agenda seeks to bring Kentuckians together by focusing on legislation that will improve the lives of middle class and working families throughout the Commonwealth. It’s a plan that I believe will not only improve the lives of our constituents, but also bring Democrats and Republicans together to solve some of our state’s toughest issues.
Dennis Keene
The “United Kentucky” agenda also includes an initiative that I will be filing this week to help our urban communities clean up Brownfield sites by offering tax credits to businesses who will develop urban sites that had once become contaminated by hazardous waste, oil and gas or pollution.
In addition, our agenda includes House Bill 264, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rand, which seeks to place the “Work Ready” scholarship program originally approved by both the House and Senate in 2016 into state statute. At first, Gov. Bevin vetoed the Work Ready program, but eventually established it through an executive order, though he greatly limited the number of fields that could be pursued. HB 264 would expand the number of students eligible for the program to its original intent and ensure the successful program our caucus sponsored well past the present administration.
I was pleased to have House Resolution (12) pass the Small Business & Technology Committee.
It is a legislative measure I sponsored to encourage local governments to create easily accessible “E-Commerce Safety Zones.” These areas would increase personal safety for the conduct of in-person, Internet-initiated transactions and decrease the chances of criminal behavior. HR 12 now moves to the House floor for consideration.
If you have questions or concerns about legislation in the weeks ahead, please email me at dennis.keene@lrc.ky.gov or call 1-800-372-7181.
Representative Dennis Keene has served the citizens of the 67th District (Newport, Bellevue, Dayton, Silver Grove, Melbourne, Highland Heights, Southgate, and Wilder) in Campbell County since 2005. He served as chairman of the House Licensing and Occupations Committee for eight years and currently serves on that committee as well as serving on Banking & Insurance and the Natural Resources & Energy Committees. Keene is an economic development advisor for EGC Construction. For more information, visit: www.DennisKeene.com.
