The pace of visitors and legislation has begun to quicken in Frankfort. Senate committees are beginning to hear House bills, and we are witnessing the successful passage of bills as they begin to be laid upon the governor’s desk.

One of those bills is Senate Bill 1, the School Safety and Resiliency Act. It creates Kentucky’s first school safety marshal, expands the use of school resource officers, creates a statewide anonymous safety tip line, and aims to have one counselor with mental health training for every 250 students in a school.

Other bills laid upon the Governor’s desk include:

— Senate Bill 4 would require mandatory electronic filing of all candidates’ campaign finance reports.

— Senate Bill 31, a bill I personally sponsored, would ensure that children in out-of-home care have visitation opportunities with siblings who have been placed in different homes.

— Senate Bill 32 would create a certification process for water well driller’s assistants

— Senate Bill 77 would allow people to join Kentucky’s organ donor registry via the Internet.

The Senate continued to pass several bills that are now hopeful of House approval.

Senate Bill 2 would allow a broader representation of elected judges to hear cases which affect the entire Commonwealth and its constituency rather than two circuit judges who are elected only by the residents of Franklin County.

We also passed another pro-life bill known as the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. Senate Bill 227 requires medical professionals to take all appropriate steps necessary to preserve the life and health of an infant who is born alive after a failed abortion. This commonsense bill is another legislative stride to protect life here in Kentucky.

Senate Bill 6 requires disclosure of executive agency lobbyist compensation. It also prohibits compensation contingent in awarding of a government contract.

Senate Bill 60 moves the candidate filing deadline from the last Tuesday in January to the first Friday following the first Monday in January. This change would eliminate the perception that state lawmakers do not do much until the filing deadline has passed.

Senate Bill 57 would expand the number of Kentuckians eligible to have low-level felonies expunged from their criminal records.

Senate Bill 205 would reform Kentucky’s guardian ad litem system. It would do this by creating the Office of Child and Family Advocacy and consequently drawing down more federal funds for the new structure.

Thank you for your continued feedback and support. It is an honor to represent you in Frankfort, and I look forward to continued discussions on a number of issues facing our district and the Commonwealth.

Please feel free to call me about any public policy issue toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or e-mail me at Ralph.Alvarado@lrc.ky.gov. You can also review the legislature’s work online at www.legislature.ky.gov.

Sen. Ralph Alvarado (R-Winchester) represents the 28th State Senate District which includes Clark and Montgomery counties and the eastern portion of Fayette County.