Bluegrass Institute releases policy brief on ‘Safer Kentucky Act’

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Contact: Jim Waters @ (270) 320-4376

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – The Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, a free market think tank, today released a policy brief summarizing and analyzing House Bill 5, the “Safer Kentucky Act” currently being debated in the Kentucky General Assembly.

The omnibus legislation, as introduced, covers many different areas, including fentanyl, firearms, protecting law enforcement, juveniles, offender re-entry, homelessness, charitable bail organizations, intimidating participants in the legal process and punishing violent crime generally.

“Legal experts say this legislation, in its introduced form, expands the reach of the Kentucky criminal code in a variety of ways,” noted Bluegrass Institute President Jim Waters. “It creates new offenses, broadens elements, raises offense levels, increases sentences, reduces sentencing discretion, and restricts opportunities for early release.”

A summary and analysis of each part of the bill is contained in the Bluegrass Institute’s publication, “The Safer Kentucky Act: A Summary and Analysis,”which is offered as informational tool.

“Our concern amongst the discussion and debate of this legislation is that policymakers and their constituents – as well as all stakeholders – know what the bill actually says, how it will change penalties and, in some cases, create new crimes,” Waters added.

For more information, please contact Bluegrass Institute president Jim Waters at jwaters@freedomkentucky.com or 270.320.4376 (cell).