{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Legislative Update from 82nd Rep. Regina Huff &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"eJnBpHlBGk\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/legislative-update-from-82nd-rep-regina-huff\/\">Legislative Update from 82nd Rep. Regina Huff<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/legislative-update-from-82nd-rep-regina-huff\/embed\/#?secret=eJnBpHlBGk\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Legislative Update from 82nd Rep. Regina Huff&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"eJnBpHlBGk\" 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\/03\/Regina-Bunch.jpg","thumbnail_width":336,"thumbnail_height":342,"description":"(Editor&#8217;s note; This legislative update was submitted by 82nd Rep. Regina Huff on March 30) Frankfort, like most of the world, is not the same place it was two weeks ago when the governor announced the state\u2019s first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus.\u00a0 However, we have a duty to this Commonwealth to take care of the business that we are constitutionally mandated to do, and have met to ensure we achieve that required objective. Along with the the constitutional mandate of crafting a budget, the pandemic has brought many needs to the table to be addressed by the General Assembly. Most, if not all, schools in the state are now closed to traditional classes until the end of April, and likely longer. Childcare centers are closing by order of the governor, who over the past few weeks has also restricted service at restaurants, movie theaters, gyms and other businesses, as well as public gatherings, all in response to his declared state of emergency to address the virus known as COVID-19. We, the members of the General Assembly, went to work quickly to address issues that the virus has created, and to assure the public that the state will be doing all we can to assist during this time. To get an idea of the seriousness of this pandemic, and the unimaginable steps to combat the spread of the virus, not even the state\u2019s primary election and the Kentucky Derby, both held historically in May, have been able to withstand cautionary changes in response to the public health emergency: the election is now postponed\u00a0until June 23, and the Derby\u2014held continuously each year on the first Saturday in May since 1946 \u2013 is rescheduled for\u00a0Sept. 5. All of this comes as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 both nationally and here in Kentucky continues to mount, with public officials at the state and federal levels working diligently to keep ahead of its spread. Government action to slow the damage caused by the virus has been reassuring so far, with more safeguards planned during what remains a very fluid situation. The Kentucky House for its part this has passed two COVID-19 relief bills: an amended Senate Bill 177, which would provide relief to schools, certified public school teachers, and students affected by interruptions to the school year. This bill gives unlimited NTI days and provides schools with the security that SEEK funding will be calculated at the previous year\u2019s rate. We have also confirmed that all schools will be exempt from federal and state testing requirements for this year. I was instrumental in crafting this legislation for our schools. It was important that administrations, as well as families, have some clarity of what the rest of the school year holds, especially the assessment component. I also want to commend the local school district employees for their stellar reaction to the changes that came quickly, without much warning. The faculty and staff of each school have been impressive in their efforts to maintain that students continue to have the opportunity to receive assistance on the curriculum if needed, created various means of instruction, crafted content implementation, as well as the preparation and delivery of food across the districts. I have enjoyed all the resources shared on Facebook, as well as the many Facebook live instructional videos. We are blessed to have exceptional education communities in the House of Representatives, 82nd District. I am grateful and blessed that my grandchildren are receiving their education in such high quality schools systems.\u00a0 Along with education, we also were able to address needs in the business community. SB 150, was amended by the House to provide economic relief for Kentucky workers, businesses, and taxpayers. Each bill contains an emergency clause, requiring relief provisions to take effect immediately after the bills are signed by the governor or otherwise become law. The measures each moved to the Senate on Thursday on an 84-0 vote, with final passage given to SB 177 in the Senate that evening, the bill was improved on and given final passage on Thursday. Help at the federal level is also on the way. Congress this week acted swiftly to pass a massive coronavirus relief package \u2014 signed by President Trump \u2014 that includes provisions for paid emergency leave and other help for Americans affected by the virus. Another phase of federal relief \u2013 direct payments to Americans \u2013 is in the works, as is a trillion-dollar federal business stimulus package now in negotiations. There is no denying that Kentuckians are dealing with a situation that most of us have never experienced in our lifetime and will hopefully never experience again. COVID-19 is dangerous, expensive, and expected to stick around for at least several more weeks or months. It is the hope of the Kentucky House that government action taken to date, at both the state and federal levels to slow some of the damage caused by the virus, offers some reassurance to citizens of the Commonwealth, and beyond. Work on state budget matters also continued\u00a0through Thursday\u00a0at the State Capitol. Again, some say we shouldn\u2019t have been in session at all this week, and that point of view is understandable. The reason we continued to meet is that a number of us believed passing a state Executive Branch budget is imperative, and we moved closer to that goal with Senate passage of the budget bill\u00a0Thursday afternoon. I have received a lot of correspondence regarding the Senate\u2019s action within the budget process. I understand your concerns, and wholeheartedly agree with each of you. Further, I would never support their attempt to hold hostage the TRS system. There is absolutely no justification for their actions and I have been adamant that there would not be support in the House for their budget.\u00a0 Once the budget was returned to the House, we overwhelmingly voiced that we would not concur with the Senate\u2019s changes. I have worked hard to ensure that the 82nd district has a voice at the [&hellip;]"}