September 9, 2021

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by: admin

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Tags: attention, Care, concerns, education, Health, News, session, special

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Categories: Special needs education

Training, well being care issues get ‘particular’ consideration in particular session | Information

While addressing COVID-19-related concerns is a priority at this week’s special session of the Kentucky General Assembly, lawmakers in the region recognize that the state could long grapple with these issues.

Governor Andy Beshear called the legislature for a special session starting Tuesday to continue the pandemic measures needed to fight COVID-19.

“This is one of the most dangerous times we have seen this entire pandemic where the Delta variant is blowing Kentucky and taking more of our loved ones and neighbors with it,” the governor said.

“It is also increasingly overwhelming our hospitals and closing our schools. We need as many tools as possible to combat this deadly surge, to save lives, keep children away from school and keep our economy going. “

The legislature has agreed to extend the COVID state of emergency.

Danny Carroll, Senator from District 2, R-Benton, said the joint resolution was “necessary to protect federal funding and also protect some of the leeway given to the executive in various areas to address COVID issues” .

“These things were necessary, they were all positive things that will help us get through this immediate crisis,” said Carroll.

When it comes to COVID concerns, both Carroll and District 3 State Rep. Randy Bridges, R-Paducah would like more decision-making at the local level.

“Hopefully we can give more authority to the local counties, counties and cities that were previously one size fits all,” said Bridges. “Nobody knows their area and its needs better than they (local officials).”

Regarding schools, “I think the goal, before we get out of here, obviously with education, is to make some of these decisions on the ground and provide assistance through the Test to Stay program that Senate Law 1 will allow “Said Carroll.

“That should help with a lot of quarantine issues in our schools and some margin they have with COVID until we come back to the session (in January) to get them through that period.”

One way to address the crisis of a growing shortage of health workers, Bridges said, is to relax licensing laws (during the state of emergency) that would make it easier for health care workers licensed in another state to work in Kentucky.

“Right now, the crisis with our hospitals is at the center of attention if we move forward,” said Carroll.

“Kentucky is losing medics left and right. We have a nursing shortage and it goes beyond this immediate crisis. We need to make sure that our vocational schools and our colleges and universities open up more places and expand their programs to ensure that we have not only nurses but other health professionals as well. ”

Carroll said he met with the Baptist Health Paducah administration last week about the battles they are facing.

Carroll said he hoped the problems the state is facing lead to “renewed collaboration between the executive and legislature so that we can achieve some long-term things”.

Follow David Zoeller on Twitter, @DZoeller_TheSun

Follow David Zoeller on Twitter, @DZoeller_TheSun

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