A three-strikes law for violent felonies, provisions that could limit or eliminate street camping, and the creation of a carjacking statute are among the many changes that the so-called Safer Kentucky Act could usher in.
Louisville Republican Rep. Jason Nemes says the bill, largely centered around issues related to crime in Kentucky's largest city, focuses on people who have refused treatment or proven to be repeat offenders.
"We've done a lot and will continue to do a lot to address drug addicts and other underlying causes of crime," he said, citing the state's large number of treatment beds. "But this bill is about putting people who are going to continue to commit crime, getting them off our streets. We are not going to be compassionate to those people."
While the bill has and continues to undergo changes, civil rights groups are sounding the alarm about a number of policies being considered. Kungu Njuguna, a policy strategist with the ACLU of Kentucky, said many are counterproductive.
"The three-strikes-you're-out is very problematic. We've seen that done back in the 90s. Doesn't work. We have a drug-induced homicide portion of the bill that people who distribute fentanyl are now subject to murder. That won't help our overdose rates and it won't make us safer. And the homeless provisions, those camping provisions, are also very, very problematic," he told reporters.
Sponsors predict the omnibus bill will see revisions along the way, but are doubtful any one provision will be a major sticking point.
