Call to Order and Roll Call
The 4th meeting of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Protection of the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue was held on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at 10:00 AM, in Room 169 of the Capitol Annex. Representative Jill York, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator Rick Girdler, Co-Chair; Representative Jill York, Co-Chair; Senators Perry B. Clark, Denise Harper Angel, and Alice Forgy Kerr; Representatives Jim Gooch Jr., Steve Riggs, Diane St. Onge, Tommy Turner, and Ken Upchurch.
Guests: Don Parkinson, Secretary, Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet (TAHC); Regina Stivers, Deputy Secretary, TAHC; Laura Prewitt, Executive Director, Kentucky Horse Park, TAHC; Kristen Branscum, Commissioner, Department of Tourism, TAHC; Representative Dan Johnson; Gregory Johnson, Commissioner, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, TAHC; Chris Reece, Executive Director, Office of Finance, TAHC; Charles Snavely, Secretary, Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC); and Bruce Scott, Deputy Secretary, EEC.
LRC Staff: Sara Rome, Greg Troutman, and Jennifer Luttrell.
Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet Budget Update
Secretary Parkinson provided a brief update on the budget of the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet (TAHC).
In response to questions from Rep. St. Onge, Secretary Parkinson stated that the cabinet is looking at starting a yearly event at the Kentucky Horse Park (KHP) beginning in 2019. Ms. Prewitt stated that the annual three day equestrian event will no longer be named for Rolex after 2019, as the new named sponsor is Land Rover. Ms. Prewitt noted that the KHP polo fields are not up to professional standard, which creates difficulty when attempting to lure polo teams for exhibitions.
In response to questions from Rep. Riggs, Secretary Parkinson noted that Asbury University spent $50,000 creating a training program for film workers to assist in bringing film business to the state. Secretary Parkinson noted that the cabinet has granted incentives to 25 film projects in 2017.
In response to questions from Sen. Kerr, Commissioner Branscum said that the cabinet is attempting to bring more attention to Kentucky's regional cuisine because culinary tourism is a big business.
In response to a question from Rep. Johnson, Commissioner Johnson said that Asian Carp sells for $.15 to $.17 per steak. Secretary Parkinson noted that about five million pounds of Asian Carp are removed from Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley every year. Secretary Parkinson noted that the cabinet's goal is to remove around seventeen million pounds from Kentucky waterways per year.
In response to questions from Chair York, Deputy Secretary Stivers noted that the cabinet leases marinas to private companies. Secretary Parkinson stated that the Berea Artisan Center sits on interstate-75. Secretary Parkinson stated that the welcome centers on the southern edge of the state on interstate-75 and interstate-65 both need to be rebuilt.
Energy and Environment Cabinet Budget Update
Secretary Snavely provided a brief update on the budget of the Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC).
In response to questions from Rep. St. Onge, Secretary Snavely stated that two thousand tons of radioactive fracking waste from other states was brought in to Kentucky and dumped in a solid waste landfill in Estill County. Deputy Secretary Scott said that there is a plan in place to remove the radioactive waste.
In response to a question from Rep. Riggs, Secretary Snavely noted that it is easier to get into the natural gas business than it is to get into the coal business. Secretary Snavely said that Kentucky just doesn't have as much natural gas in the ground as other states and the economics make it less attractive to businesses.
In response to a question from Rep. St. Onge, Deputy Secretary Scott said the cabinet uses drones for a variety of scientific purposes.
There being no further business before the subcommittee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:55 AM.