Report to the People
By: State Senator Ernie Harris

(Frankfort)  With the convening of the General Assembly’s 2002 legislative session last week lawmakers from all corners of Kentucky have returned to Frankfort to ensure the people in their home districts have a voice in the decisions that will help determine the future course of our state.

As your State Senator—your voice in Frankfort—I can tell you that we in the Kentucky State Senate are already moving forward and conducting the people’s business.  Two very important pieces of legislation that I co-sponsored have passed the Senate.  Not a single member of the Senate voted against these two pieces of legislation.

Senate Bill 55 protects unwanted newborns by allowing mothers to give up children at a safe place, such as a hospital or police station, without facing charges of abandonment as long as the infant hasn’t been abused.  Senate Bill 56 extends breast and cervical cancer treatment to several hundred of Kentucky’s working poor.  This legislation will save lives.

Senate committees have also approved my “KY CLEAN” legislation, which would establish an educational campaign aimed at keeping Kentucky litter-free and a bill that increases penalties for any found using the date rape drug in an attempt to sexually abuse someone else.

With so many issues for lawmakers to consider in the in the months to come, it was important that we get the session off to a quick start.  Under the Leadership in the Republican Senate we are doing that.  Our job is to make Kentucky a better place to live and work—a better place to call home. 
 

Though there’s plenty to do at the Capitol, one of my most important goals during this session is continuing to reach out to the people in my district for feedback on the issues we’re considering in Frankfort. To do my job effectively, it's critical that I know where you stand on the issues.

In addition to following news reports on the General Assembly's activity over the next few months, you can stay in touch with the legislative process through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page and the General Assembly’s toll-free phone lines.

For web surfers, the Kentucky Legislature Home Page (www.lrc.state.ky.us) provides information on each of Kentucky’s senators and representatives, including their phone numbers, addresses, and legislative committee assignments.

The page also gives citizens an opportunity to read the bills we’re considering while tracking their journey through the legislative process.

You can also stay in touch with the legislative process in the following ways:
 

• A taped message containing information on legislative committee meetings is available by calling 1-800-633-9650.

• To leave a message for a legislator, call the General Assembly’s toll-free Message Line at 1-800-372-7181. (People with hearing impairments may leave messages for lawmakers by calling the TTY Message Line at 1-800-896-0305.)

• Citizens can write any legislator by sending a letter with the lawmaker’s name to: Legislative Offices, 701 Capital Ave., Frankfort, KY 40601.

• Information on the status of each bill lawmakers consider will be available on the Bill Status Line, 1-888-829-0021.

I encourage you to stay informed on the issues being discussed during the session.  One excellent resource is the Legislative Research Commission website.  The address is www.lrc.state.ky.us. 
I also welcome your input.  You can reach me by calling the toll-free legislative hotline number in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181.