Call to Order and Roll Call
The 4th meeting of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue was held on<Day> Thursday, September 24, 2015, at 10:00 AM, in Room 149 of the Capitol Annex. Representative Joni L. Jenkins, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator Ralph Alvarado, Co-Chair; Representative Joni L. Jenkins, Co-Chair; Senators Julie Raque Adams, Carroll Gibson, and Denise Harper Angel; Representatives George Brown Jr., Tom Burch, Mary Lou Marzian, Donna Mayfield, Darryl T. Owens, and Addia Wuchner.
Guests: Eileen Rectenwald, Executive Director, Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs; Sherry Currens, Executive Director, Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Tanya Thomas, Executive Director, SpringHaven; Darlene Thomas, President, Board of Directors, Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Jennifer Lainhart, Executive Director, Hope’s Wings Domestic Violence Program; Caroline Ruschell, Executive Director, Kentucky Association of Children’s Advocacy Centers; and Andrew Oliver, Executive Director, Children’s Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass.
LRC Staff: Cindy Murray, James Bondurant, and Benjamin Thompson.
Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs
Ms. Eileen Rectenwald discussed the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs (KASAP) and its budget.
Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Ms. Sherry Currens and Ms. Tanya Thomas discussed the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence (KCADV) and its budget.
In response to questions from Representative Wuchner, Ms. Currens stated that KCADV has about $8.1 million in contract funds, including state and federal funds. Ms. Thomas noted that the faith-based community gives money for basic everyday needs but not enough to sustain a program.
In response to a question from Senator Gibson, Ms. Currens noted that a domestic violence petition is signed by a judge, but there is generally no financial support for the victim in the petition.
In response to a question from Senator Adams, Ms. Currens stated that KCADV is attempting to determine what its federal funds will be for the upcoming biennium.
In response to a question from Representative Owens, Ms. Currens confirmed that KCADV frequently collaborates with KASAP.
In response to a question from Chair Jenkins, Ms. Darlene Thomas said that KCADV has previously made a specific request for facility maintenance. Ms. Thomas stated that KCADV could put together a request for funding to improve facilities.
Hope’s Wings Domestic Violence Program
Ms. Jennifer Lainhart discussed the Hope’s Wings Domestic Violence Program and its budget.
In response to a question from Representative Burch, Ms. Lainhart noted that, for the protection of the victims currently staying in the facility, security is very tight at Hope’s Wings. Ms. Lainhart stated that the facility’s strongest security measure is a close relationship with law enforcement.
In response to a question from Chair Jenkins, Ms. Lainhart confirmed that Hope’s Wings is not a member of the Kentucky Retirement System.
Kentucky Association of Children’s Advocacy Centers
Ms. Caroline Ruschell and Mr. Andrew Oliver discussed the Kentucky Association of Children’s Advocacy Centers (KACAC) and its budget.
In response to questions from Senator Alvarado, Mr. Oliver noted that, in Lexington, KACAC is exploring new partnerships with the University of Kentucky Hospital.
In response to a question from Representative Wuchner, Ms. Ruschell stated that KACAC would have to at the numbers to see if it would have been more beneficial to raise salaries than to have opted into Kentucky Retirement System.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:34 AM.