Call to Order and Roll Call
The 2nd meeting of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary of the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue was held on<Day> Thursday, August 27, 2015, at 10:00 AM, in Room 131 of the Capitol Annex. Representative Denver Butler, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator Wil Schroder, Co-Chair; Representative Denver Butler, Co-Chair; Senator John Schickel; Representatives Thomas Kerr, and Martha Jane King.
Guests: LaDonna Thompson, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Corrections (DOC); Edward Monahan, Public Advocate, Department of Public Advocacy (DPA); Gretchen Hunt, Staff Attorney, Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs (KASAP).
LRC Staff: Zachary Ireland and Amie Elam.
Department of Corrections
Commissioner LaDonna Thompson, Kentucky Department of Corrections, discussed personnel pay increases. She also highlighted the staffing crisis facing DOC.
In response to a question from Chairman Butler, Commissioner Thompson said that many new hires leave after training. Many new hires do not realize they will be working 16 hour shifts with very few off days.
In response to a question from Senator Schickel, Commissioner Thompson said that DOC is requesting $5 million for officer retention plus a raise for probation and parole staff.
Department of Public Advocacy
Public Advocate Edward Monahan testified about social worker program funding subsequent to SB 192. His presentation included an explanation of the role of Alternative Sentencing Workers and the cost savings associated with this program.
In response to a question from Chairman Butler, Mr. Monahan said the starting salary for an Alternative Sentencing Worker is $33,000 annually. This position is geared towards master’s level social workers.
In response to a question from Senator Schroder, Mr. Monahan said DPA is authorized to communicate confidential information with the prosecution with the permission of the client. The program has support from the prosecutors.
Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs
Gretchen Hunt, Staff Attorney, Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, testified about human trafficking in Kentucky. She reviewed Safe Harbor laws, victim resources, and the challenges/gaps facing KASAP.
In response to a question from Representative King, Ms. Hunt said local communities must buy in. People can be trained to lead My Life, My Choice support groups. A task force strategy is extremely effective when addressing human trafficking.
In response to a question from Senator Schroder, Ms. Hunt said big events bring in more people, which could spike numbers in human trafficking, but at the same time they bring increased law enforcement and a level of vigilance that is not there on a normal day.
There being no further business before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:29 a.m.