Andy Beshear from enforcing Kentucky's school mask mandate, saying Beshear's recent executive order is akin to "tyranny." John Blanton countered that the bill removes a "one-size-fits-all" approach.A federal judge has enjoined Gov. Pamela Stevenson warned the virus is so pervasive that the lack of masking requirements in schools would mean that children are going "into the lion's den." "If we eliminate mask mandates, then we are putting all children and all school personnel at severe risk." is really a life-and-death bill," Democratic Sen. More than 300,000 Kentucky students aren't old enough to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, he said. Morgan McGarvey, the chamber's top-ranking Democrat, said removing blanket masking protections comes when the delta variant is infecting more young Kentuckians. "I think you are asking for fights in school board meetings, where parents are going to be intimidated, where school board members are going to be intimidated," Berg said. Karen Berg said the legislature was abdicating its responsibility. By putting the burden on school boards to decide mask policies, Democratic Sen. Opponents warned that lifting the mask mandate would put children and school staffs at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. "They make the decision of what they think is best for their constituents in their communities." "This bill will give local control back to the districts - not mandating they do, not mandating they don't," said Republican Sen. The governor signed that measure into law, his office said.ĭuring debate on the schools bill, supporters said mask decisions are best left to local boards, to reflect the will of their communities. The funds are aimed at increasing COVID-19 testing for health care providers, schools, health departments and correctional facilities. The legislature also passed a measure to appropriate more than $69 million in federal funds for pandemic-related efforts. Republican lawmakers swiftly overrode that veto as well. It was part of a broad measure addressing medical staffing, vaccines, tests and treatments related to COVID-19.īeshear also vetoed mask provisions in that bill. It also ended a separate state mask mandate for child-care centers.Īnother bill winning final passage Thursday night imposed a prolonged ban on any statewide mask mandate, leaving masking decisions up to local governments and businesses. The school-related bill nullified the state school board's requirement that anyone in public K-12 schools wear a mask. The governor responded by calling the legislature into session. The court cleared the way for laws to take effect limiting the governor's emergency powers to impose virus restrictions. Working late into the night, Republican lawmakers asserted their newfound dominance in shaping Kentucky's pandemic policies - the result of a state Supreme Court ruling last month. "Our hospital situation has never been more dire in my lifetime than it is right now," Beshear said. He noted nearly two-thirds of Kentucky's hospitals face critical staffing shortages, and more than 300 Kentucky National Guard members will be headed to 21 hospitals to assist health care workers. Beshear warned Thursday that only 90 adult intensive care beds were available statewide. The special session comes as Kentucky's hospitals struggle with a record influx of virus cases. National Kentucky Governor Encourages Mask Use And Vaccinations As Delta Variant Spreads The governor previously issued statewide mask mandates and recently said he thought another mask order was needed to confront the current surge. Lawmakers ended the special session soon after that.īeshear's veto message referred to masks as a "safe and effective way" to combat the spread of COVID-19. Republican lawmakers quickly overrode his vetoes, completing their work to end statewide mask mandates. Andy Beshear responded late Thursday night by vetoing portions of the bill nullifying mask mandates for K-12 public schools and child-care centers. The masking provisions sparked emotional debate on the third and final day of the special session called by the Democratic governor to address the pandemic. The GOP-dominated legislature set education policies in response to disruptions caused by the virus, which has forced dozens of school districts to close classrooms. (AP) - Kentucky lawmakers, many not wearing masks, voted Thursday to scrap a statewide mask mandate in public schools and shifted masking decisions to local school boards, acting in a special session as the state's worst COVID-19 surge threatens to overwhelm hospitals. Andy Beshear speaks about the increases in COVID-19 cases in the state and the opening day of the Kentucky State Legislature special session in Frankfort, Ky., Tuesday, Sept.
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