Gov. Beshear says special session likely to respond to recent natural disasters
'We just need firm numbers. Our budget office is working on those now,' Gov. Beshear said at a Team Kentucky briefing on Thursday, May 29.
The decision is not set in stone, but the costs associated with storm cleanup from the deadly tornadoes this month and even possibly April's flooding could require lawmakers to return to Frankfort to create a 'SAFE fund.'
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Gov. Beshear says special session likely to respond to recent natural disasters
'What the SAFE fund does is help those counties. Help them with the dollars they have to put out until they get the FEMA reimbursement, whichever level it's going to be, because counties hit by major natural disasters simply can't afford it,' Beshear said.
The governor said it's still going to be a few weeks before his office has hard numbers to present to lawmakers of the overall ask for a SAFE fund, and he said he's also likely to request access to more money in emergency funding, something the legislature increased to $100 million in the most recent session after Beshear voiced concern.
'Those dollars can't be used to help counties with their fiscal liquidity issues,' Beshear explained.
Beshear said he expects to reach that funding cap. Senate President Robert Stivers shared this statement with FOX 56 on the governor's possible request.
'When the executive and legislative branches work together in good faith, state government is better equipped to serve our constituents. During the last session, we doubled the Governor's emergency funding authority to $100 million and made it immediately accessible.
If additional funding is needed, the General Assembly stands ready to act when appropriately engaged, whether during the upcoming session on January 6 or sooner through a constitutionally called special session.
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The legislature has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to act quickly when there is a legitimate and urgent need. A targeted relief package could be passed in as little as three days if that need is demonstrated and communicated.'
'I don't have any set date. And certainly, before we would set any date, we'd talk to the General Assembly. I'm not going to call a special session unless leadership is for it. I want to make sure that if we do it, it's successful. And that they feel like they have enough information to be confident in it,' Beshear said.
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