Children
Senate bill could spare kinship care families in Kentucky from making a costly decision
FRANKFORT — When Kentuckians learn that a grandchild, nephew, niece or other young relative is being removed from an unsafe home, some families make a decision that later robs them of needed resources.? That could change under a bill that passed unanimously out of the Senate Families and Children Committee Tuesday.? Many people who step […]
No cell phones in class for Kentucky public school students if advancing bill becomes law
FRANKFORT — Legislation prohibiting Kentucky public school students from using their cell phones during class is a step closer to becoming law.? The House Education Committee gave bipartisan approval Tuesday to House Bill 383, which would require local school boards to adopt policies banning students from using cell phones during “instructional time.” A few committee […]
Knowingly owning child sex dolls one step closer to being a felony in Kentucky
In a move that Edgewood Republican Rep. Stephanie Dietz said will help “protect our children from predators and exploitation,” the Kentucky House on Monday passed her bill to ban child sex dolls. House Bill 207 would make it a Class D felony to knowingly own or sell a child sex doll — defined as a […]
Child care costs far outpace wages, but dependent care tax credit stuck at 2001 rate
The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Wednesday evening to assist low-income families through an expansion of the child tax credit and the bill now awaits approval in the Senate. But some organizations are also highlighting a separate tax credit for child and dependent care, which they say is not providing adequate assistance to families […]
Youngest Kentuckians increasingly fall victim to accidental overdoses
Kentucky’s youngest children continue to be at risk of drug overdoses from accidental ingestion — with the number of fatalities and the strength of the drug, or combination of drugs, increasing. Eight children died from ingesting drugs and another 47 suffered an overdose in fiscal year 2022 among cases reviewed by the Child Fatality and […]
Kentucky pharmacies could continue vaccinating children under bill headed to full House
FRANKFORT — A House bill that would allow Kentucky pharmacies to continue administering vaccines to children ages 5-17 with parental or guardian consent passed unanimously out of a committee Thursday.? House Bill 274 is “not a mandate” to get vaccinated at a pharmacy, sponsor and pharmacist Rep. Danny Bentley, R-Russell, told members of the House […]
Despite increase, House budget won’t save Kentucky child care from ‘cliff,’ advocates say
FRANKFORT — Faith Lutheran Learning Center, a child care provider in Lexington, is already operating on a budget deficit.? And while the GOP budget that came out of the House Thursday does some good for child care, center director Charla Heersche said it’s not enough to keep her out of the red. COVID-era federal dollars […]
Bill criminalizing child sex dolls, deep fake child porn advances in Kentucky legislature?
FRANKFORT — Knowingly owning or selling? child sex dolls would become a felony in Kentucky under a Republican bill that unanimously passed a House committee Wednesday.? The bill also criminalizes the use of artificial intelligence to create child pornography or to create fake images that use real children as the source, said the sponsor, Rep. […]
Kentucky bills to watch that focus on children’s welfare in 2024
Kentucky’s youth face a plethora of challenges that stand between them and their ability to thrive fully.? Some bills filed during the 2024 legislative session would address key issues surrounding child abuse, neglect and more.? Here are a few pieces of legislation to watch.? A Senate bill that would exempt diapers from the sales tax […]
Child tax credit expansion, business incentives combined in new congressional tax plan
WASHINGTON — Leading members of Congress released a bipartisan, bicameral tax proposal Tuesday, promising a middle-path deal to help low-income families and provide incentives for businesses as Trump-era tax breaks expire. The framework led by top tax policy leaders U.S. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri would raise […]
Kentucky Senate committee ponders coming crisis in child care
FRANKFORT — In a year when Kentucky’s child care providers are looking to the legislature for a financial lifeline, a Senate committee heard an overview Tuesday of what its chairman called “one of the most pressing issues” facing the General Assembly . Several members of the Senate Families and Children Committee, including chairman Danny Carroll, […]
Abortion foe Sen. Westerfield proposes sweeping new supports for Kentucky families
A Republican legislator from Western Kentucky has filed a sweeping measure to provide more support for families through a major financial boost to child care, education, housing, health services and other measures aimed at pregnant individuals and women with children. Senate Bill 34, filed Tuesday by Sen. Whitney Westerfield, carries a $551 million price tag […]