KYPCIS Bill Moves Forward Following Unanimous House Passage

The Kentucky House of Representatives unanimously voted to pass House Bill 68 Thursday, providing another significant step forward for the Kentucky Post-Critical Incident Seminar.

HB 68 establishes the Law Enforcement Professional Development and Wellness Program, the umbrella under which KYPCIS will operate at the Department of Criminal Justice Training.

Bill sponsor, Rep. Ken Fleming (R-Jefferson, Oldham) informed the House that the both the Appropriations and Revenue Committee as well as the Judiciary Committee passed HB 68 unanimously, but the bill was brought to the house floor to express its importance.

“This bill establishes a vehicle to provide mental health and wellness support to our law enforcement officers who encounter a tragic event, such as a shooting or witnessing a horrific crime,” Fleming said. “This program … takes a holistic approach in healing not only the officer, but their family as well.”

Fleming shared how, in his position at a mental health center, he often has seen how traumatic events affect individuals suffering through the aftermath.

“The men and women who wear the gray, the blue and the brown uniforms need this resource,” he said. “We don’t think much of not returning to our loved ones. These officers have a higher degree of not returning home because their life is on the line. … One in four officers have suicide ideation. These officers need to know they have resources for them to cope.

The bill will now move on for consideration in the Senate.

A special thanks to all the bill’s sponsors: Ken Fleming, John Blanton, Robert Benvenuti III, McKenzie Cantrell, Daniel Elliott, Joseph Fischer, Al Gentry, Jeff Greer, Regina Huff, DJ Johnson, Chad McCoy, Reginald Meeks, Michael Meredith, Suzanne Miles, Jerry Miller, C. Wesley Morgan, Jason Petrie, Brandon Reed, Jody Richards, Sal Santoro, John Sims Jr. and Russell Webber.

DOCJT also is grateful for the support of Gov. Matthew Bevin, Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary John Tilley, Deputy Secretary Jonathan Grate and other JPSC staff, the Fraternal Order of Police, Kentucky Association of Counties, Kentucky League of Cities and multiple other professional law enforcement organizations.

For more on Kentucky Post-Critical Incident Seminars, please visit www.kypcis.com. For the full text of HB 68, please visit http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/18RS/HB68.htm.