{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Huff introduces bicycle helmet, suicide awareness training bills &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"1ha9yJj5qb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/huff-introduces-bicycle-helmet-suicide-awareness-training-bills\/\">Huff introduces bicycle helmet, suicide awareness training bills<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/huff-introduces-bicycle-helmet-suicide-awareness-training-bills\/embed\/#?secret=1ha9yJj5qb\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Huff introduces bicycle helmet, suicide awareness training bills&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"1ha9yJj5qb\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Regina-Huff-T.jpg","thumbnail_width":336,"thumbnail_height":442,"description":"State Representative Regina Huff, R-Williamsburg, has sponsored a bill mandating children wear bicycle helmets and a second bill that would require teachers to undergo suicide awareness training as part of their professional development. Huff said HB-52 and HB-30 have both passed the House of Representatives and are currently under consideration by the Senate. Huff said the helmet bill, known as \u201cTJ\u2019s Bill,\u201d would require children under the age of 12 to wear helmets when riding their bikes. \u201cTJ went over the handlebars of his bike,\u201d Huff said noting studies have shown that helmets are 84 to 89 percent effective in protecting the brain in a bicycle related accident. \u201cIf we keep one child from that devastation, it is worth it,\u201d Huff said noting that out of the 450,000 bicycle-related accidents that occur annually nationwide, 135,000 result in head injuries. In 2016, 54 people in Kentucky died from head injuries sustained while riding a bicycle,\u201d Huff said. Huff said the bill does not call for any type of fine for failure to comply with the law. \u201cWe want to raise awareness,\u201d Huff said of her reason for sponsoring the bill adding that like with seatbelt usage in vehicles, the goal is to make wearing a helmet while riding a bike second nature for people. \u201cPeople never think it can happen to them,\u201d Huff said of a brain injury while riding a bicycle. &nbsp; Suicide awareness Huff\u2019s bill would require teachers to take two hours of their 24 required hours of professional development on suicide awareness, every two years. Huff noted that suicide is the second leading cause of death among students and that teachers are with their students up to seven hours each day. \u201cI want to give them the training to have a conversation and understand the signs of a student who may be contemplating suicide,\u201d said Huff who teaches middle school in the Whitley County School System. Bunch said there are a number of programs that would provide the training for free. \u201cIt is time for this discussion to be out front and prevalent,\u201d Huff said. &nbsp; 2018 session Huff said when it comes to the state pension crisis, she believes any resolution should include upholding the promise that was made to current pension holders and current employees. \u201cWe have to honor our promise,\u201d Huff said. Huff said she still believes tax reform must be a priority. \u201cWe have to go in there and cut the red tape,\u201d Huff said adding that there are a number of tax incentives on the book that should be examined. As to what citizens may see as the session moves forward, Huff said the funding to complete the improvements to Ky. 92 between Williamsburg and Whitley City in McCreary County appears as if it would be included. \u201cA lot of the focus on transportation this biennium is on bridges,\u201d Huff said explaining that there are a significant number of bridges across the state that are no longer weighted to carry school buses. \u201cThere are many bridges in my district that should be looked at,\u201d Huff said. In addition, Huff said welfare reform is an issue that appears to be gaining traction in the legislature. How that may look in its final form remains to be seen, Huff said. The session ends April 13. &nbsp; Re-election Huff, who was first elected to the seat in a special election in 2011, announced that she would be seeking a fourth term in 2018. \u201cI\u2019m excited. I\u2019m at a place where I can make a difference,\u201d said Huff, who serves on the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, along with the Education, Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection committees. \u201cI\u2019m chairwoman for the largest part of the budget, which is education,\u201d Huff said. \u201cI&#8217;m very passionate about education.\u201d Huff said that like with politics across the country, she has seen the legislature become more party driven, especially with the Republicans holding a supermajority in the House of Representatives. From the moment she arrived, Huff said she has worked hard not to be a rubberstamp on legislation. \u201cIf I have a problem with a piece of legislation, I\u2019m not afraid to say so,\u201d Huff said. \u201cI have made every effort for people to know where I stand.\u201d Huff said she has and wants to continue serving her consituents in Whitley and southern Laurel Counties. \u201cI try my best to serve the people. I make every effort to help you,\u201d Huff said. \u201cThat is the only reason I do this job.\u201d"}