2026 Regular Session - Day 55 - SB 122 | Rep. Nick Wilson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Senate Bill 122, also known as the Family Preservation and Accountability Act, is an act that we passed unanimously last year in the House and many of you co-sponsored. And upon the recommendation of some circuit court judges, rather than creating a new separate statute related just to caretakers as the original bill did, this bill amends KRS 533.010, which is the current statute that sets forth factors that judges must consider in determining what services a person should receive while on probation and if they should receive probation or be incarcerated. In the last 25 years, Appalachia has struggled greatly with the opioid epidemic, especially the family unit has been affected greatly. In the last 10 or 15 years, we have fought back against the opioid epidemic with great success, including successful programs that implement rehab, inpatient, outpatient counseling, job training, vocational and educational training. We're looking at adding family classes and parenting classes to that. This act is important because we've seen examples of these programs changing lives of mothers in prison and we want to offer it before prison on probation. Mr. Speaker, could the clerk please report House Floor Amendment 1. Mr. Clerk, please report House Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 122. I yield to the gentleman from Jefferson 33 for a friendly floor amendment. Mr. Speaker, I truly believe that sometimes folks want to get clean and they want to be parents and they simply don't know how and this bill will allow them to gain access to that knowledge and ability. I move for passage of Senate Bill 122 as amended by House Floor Amendment 1.