Heath: Committee Work Continues on COVID-19 Issues

With the first full month of interim joint committee meetings behind us, this week I want to share some insight we gained during the last few meetings. You may remember from previous updates that the legislature uses the time between sessions to gather information and prepare for the upcoming session. The interim also gives us a chance to look into state programs and agencies to make sure they are serving Kentuckians as they should be. The legislative branch is responsible for holding state government accountable to the taxpayers who fund it and the people it serves. While we will not convene again until January 5, we are already working on legislation that we will consider. Keep reading for just a few examples of what our interim joint committees looked at during the last week of June, check out the Legislative Record on the Legislative Research Commission’s website (www.legislature.ky.gov) for a more detailed report.

Health and Welfare: Committee members heard from the Kentucky Hospital Association and other groups about how our hospitals and other health care providers have fared under the pandemic. The first thing they did was dispel the myth that hospitals were profiting from COVID. While some hospitals had COVID cases, all elective medical procedures were postponed, and hospitals were forced to lay off staff and cut budgets in order to remain open. Committee members also heard about the two field hospitals opened by the state to deal with COVID cases. The Kentucky National Guard built and operated one at the Louisville Fairgrounds, while the University of Kentucky contracted with an outside provider to open one on the university’s campus. Because the number of virus cases requiring hospitalization never reached capacity, neither hospital treated a single patient. Legislators also discussed how telehealth expanded during the shutdown. The expansion of telehealth allowed health care providers to treat patients over the phone, increasing access and limiting the risk of exposure. We have talked a great deal about telehealth over the past 20 years and I have heard a lot of positive comments from health care providers and patients over the past few weeks. It will not work in every situation but may provide a powerful tool in some.

Local Government: The Department for Local Government testified about how the state will allocate $300 million in federal funding from the CARES Act. This is a onetime grant designed to reimburse city and county governments for costs associated with COVID-19, so it is critical that they are allocated appropriately and not approved for new programs that will require long term funding. According to the federal government, eligible reimbursements can include but are not limited to: the purchase of personal protective equipment for health and safety employees; expenses for communication and enforcement by governments for COVID-19-related public health orders; expenses for food delivery to nursing homes and vulnerable populations; improvements necessary for public employees to telework to comply with public health precautions; expenses for disinfection of public spaces and facilities; and payroll expenses for public safety, public health, health care, human services and similar employees who dedicated substantial time to mitigating or responding to the public health emergency.

Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology: Committee members heard from child care providers and employers about how COVID-19 has impacted them and what needs to be done to help them remain safe as they reopen. We all recognize that Kentucky parents struggled to find quality child care prior to the pandemic, which makes it even more critical that the state work with child care providers to make reopening as straight forward as possible. Many centers reopened under COVID guidelines on June 15, but the mandates are taking their toll on centers, particularly those that are privately owned or operated by a church or other nonprofit. The most eye-opening testimony came from the owner of a child care center, who shared insight based on her center. According to her, the newly mandated group size reductions have resulted in 20 fewer child care slots and a 22.4 percent reduction in revenue. At the same time, her personnel costs have increased about 20 percent to meet the staffing requirements of each class coverage. Thousands of working Kentuckians need child care to return to work, and they need to know that their children are safe and learning. According to the Child Care Council of Kentucky, before COVID-19 there were 165,314 child care slots. Unfortunately, after polling members there are concerns that between 11 and 15 percent may close as a result of the pandemic and the state’s shutdown.

Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection: Members of the Interim Joint Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection heard testimony concerning government overreach during the COVID-19 outbreak from the Beshear Administration with relation to religious entities. The Commonwealth Policy Center testified about religious freedom. In the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the center advised churches to heed the leadership of the Governor and public health experts, promoting cooperation by doing their part in slowing the spread of the virus. However, since the beginning of the virus spread, the center feels that there have been serious inconsistencies in government policy and unequal treatment toward churches. It was difficult for all of us to hear the executive order deeming churches nonessential when the Governor deemed grocery stores, home improvement centers, liquor stores, and abortion clinics as essential. Religious freedom is fundamental to who we are as a people. It is guaranteed in both the state and federal constitutions. Kentucky was one of only ten states that banned all in-person worship services.

I hope you know that I always welcome your comments and concerns on any issues impacting our Commonwealth, even while we are not in session. As always, I can be reached at home anytime or through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at Richard.Heath@lrc.ky.gov. You can also keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at www.lrc.ky.gov.