The Governor released his budget this past week and many state agencies are looking at reduced funding. The Division of Forestry was able to retain some funds but is still faced with the possibility of closing down the two Nurseries or eliminating a number of positions in the proposed budget. The legislature will now review the budget and make appropriate changes and then work to settle the differences. We continue to urge members to contact legislators and make them aware of the need to keep our state Nurseries and adequate funding for the Division of Forestry to assist landowners with managing their forests and fighting forest fires.
KFIA had a meeting this past week concerning Workers Compensation and logging. The meeting involved a number of agencies involved with enforcement of safety and work comp laws, logging representatives, insurance companies, legislators and representatives from the Certified Logger Program in western Kentucky. Currently no specific legislation is proposed but the discussion centered on the possibility of loggers participating in some type of certified safety program such as the current certified logger program, being able to get a discount on their premium if the safety program is field checked and properly audited. A follow-up meeting is planned with some of the key players and those who set rates to see if something can be moved forward.
Bills of interest are listed below:
House Bill 282 Posed an eminent danger to employers of suspending the exclusive remedy of workers compensation and negating the current system has been withdrawn by the sponsor. This was a result of a large number of calls from the business community and no longer stands a chance of passage.
House Bill 38 - Would create a Small Business Economic Development Tax Credit program for those businesses with fewer than 150 employees. The bill would allow a tax credit of up to $25,000 for those businesses that added at least one full time position and invested a minimum of $5,000 in capital expenditures. This could offer help to small business and is currently in the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee.
House Bill 98 - Creates new sections of KRS Chapter 247 to define agricultural facilities, products and equipment to impose penalties for agro-terrorism that would include replacement costs. KFIA has worked with bill sponsor Representative Mike Denham (Mason/Fleming Counties) to make sure that timber and logging equipment is included in the bill. This will increase protections for the wood industry when dealing with criminal acts designed to stop legal harvesting. The bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.
Go to the LRC website at www.lrc.state.ky.us to see complete information on all legislation. You can contact and find your legislator from the LRC website or call 800-372-7181 to leave a message or 502-564-8100 to speak directly to your legislator. |
