Sadly, the bill has become necessary as protesters across the nation have targeted military funerals and burials as a way to get publicity for their cause- whether it be anti-American, anti-war or any other cause. Since HB 333 can not apply to federal property, we also approved a House Concurrent Resolution- HCR 142- that urges the United States Congress to pass similar legislation that would criminalize the disruption of military funerals and memorial services on federal property- including Fort Knox and Fort Campbell here in Kentucky.
We also passed a bill to make absentee voting more convenient by implementing the use of fax machines. House Bill 464 would allow county clerks to fax absentee ballots and absentee ballot applications to qualified voters. Absentee voters include residents of Kentucky who are members of the Armed Forces, dependents of members of the Armed Forces, and citizens residing overseas as well as students who temporarily reside outside the county of their residence and other voters who temporarily reside outside the state but who are still eligible to vote in this state.
Another measure that received unanimous approval by the Kentucky State House of Representatives this week was HB 503, legislation aimed at improving coal mine safety. House Bill 503 includes requirements for mine rescue teams, more self-contained self-rescuer equipment, mine safety inspections, and electronic tracking and communications devices. The bill's provisions also require coal mine operators to report to federal and state authorities any accidents involving serious injury or loss of life with 15 minutes of the accident or after communications become available, or risk being fined between $1000 and $100,000.
The measure would also prohibit anyone from altering a mine accident scene. Mine operators would be required to post emergency, toll-free hotline telephone numbers for reporting accidents or unsafe working conditions. House Bill 503 would also increase the frequency of state inspections of mines for safety compliance to a quarterly inspection of each mine.
The mine safety legislation would also establish a nine-member panel to review and recommend wireless communications and tracking devices for designation by the state commissioner as approved, required mine safety equipment for use in Kentucky mines, as well as to require that miners with approved wireless tracking and communications devices The bill would also require that each underground coal mine in the state have a commissioner-approved plan in place that provides additional self-contained safety and rescue devices and luminescent directional signs for locating oxygen.
We also passed HB 90, legislation that creates a six-month interim drivers license for teenage drivers between the six-month learner's permit and a full license was passed by the House on Monday by a vote of 89-3.
The proposed bill requires at least 60 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night, with a fully licensed driver at least 21 years of age prior to the application for a full license. Driving would be prohibited between the hours of 12 midnight and 6 a.m. for an interim license holder, who would also be prohibited from driving at any time with more than one passenger under the age of 20. Kentucky State Police would be required to attach a sticker to an intermediate license and to update any changes to an interim driver's record.
As we continue to debate and discuss bills during this session, I hope you will never hesitate to contact me regarding the work of the 2006 General Assembly. I can be reached here at home anytime, or through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. Those with hearing impairments may leave messages for me by calling the TTY message Line at 1-800-896-0305. If you have Internet access you can e-mail me at sheldon.baugh@lrc.ky.gov or keep track through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page:http://www.lrc.ky.gov.
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