By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
Gov. Matt Bevin signed more than half dozen bills into law last week, including ones dealing with traffic violations in work zones and amusement ride safety.
Here’s a look at bills he signed.
- House Bill 244, dealing with double fines for speeding in work zones, says to qualify for a violation there must be signs posted warning of double fines and at least one worker must actually be present for it be effective. The bill further states that the fines shall go to the “Highway Work Zone Safety Fund,” to pay for enhanced law enforcement of traffic laws within highway work zones.
Gov. Bevin (LRC phot)
- HB 257 sets out rules for ride patrons to follow, such as obeying instructions from operators, using all safety devices in the ride, not riding when under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and not throwing items from the ride. Violators can be ejected without getting a refund and refusing to leave could subject them to a criminal trespass charge.
- HB 311 states that food shall be considered misbranded if it is represented as meat or a meat product and it contains any cultured animal tissue produced from in vitro animal cell cultures outside of the organism from which it is derived.
Kentucky Farm Bureau President Mark Haney saluted the signing of HB 311, saying, “As the largest cattle-producing state east of the Mississippi, our farm families provide consumers with high-quality meat products they are accustomed to, and they deserve to know exactly what they are purchasing.”
- HB 316 allows military service members who are called to active duty for at least 90 days to terminate or suspend select services without penalty or fee with proper notice. Those services include Internet, television and cable, athletic club or gym memberships and satellite radio subscriptions.
- HB 197 changes Kentucky statutes regarding industrial hemp to match the federal law, which was recently changed, allowing the state’s industrial hemp business to flourish.
- HB 135 sets guidelines for awarding contracts for public works projects, including that public agencies awarding contracts shall not require or prohibit bidders to adhere to agreements with a labor organization relating to a public works project.
In addition, two bills have become law without the governor’s signature, both involving local boards of education.
- HB 22 lets local school boards vote on who should fill a vacancy, rather than the state Education Commissioner, while
- HB 227 increases their per diem from $75 to $150 and the annual total from $3,000 to $6,000.
Thus far, Bevin has not vetoed any legislation.
