'Safer Kentucky' | Louisville lawmakers introduce bill to tackle violent crime. What it would do.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Republican state lawmakers from Louisville introduced a new bill in Frankfort on Friday, aimed at tackling violence. 

The 'Safer Kentucky Act' is comprised of more than 20 policy provisions including a mix of preventative action and heightened penalties for violent crime.

The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, calls for heightened penalties for crimes like attempted murder and carjacking. Violent incidents like these have been on the rise in Louisville in recent years. It also includes provisions regarding fentanyl-related deaths, unlawful camping, juvenile justice court and bail bond organizations.

Bauman called Jefferson County the "epicenter" of the crime epidemic in Kentucky.

"My constituents are fed up," he said. "They don't feel safe in their own homes and neighborhoods. We must do something now before things get ever worse."

The bill was introduced before the Interim Joint Judiciary Committee during a hearing on Friday. It will be filed during the 2024 General Assembly's legislative session, which begins on Jan. 2, 2024.

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Highlights of the bill include:

Targeting Violent Persistent Felony Offenders - “Three Strikes Law"                           

1. Requires life without probation or parole for those convicted of a violent felony that does not qualify as a capital offense if the individual already has two separate violent felony convictions on their criminal record.
2. Allows the death penalty to be used if the third violent felony is a capital offense.

Enhancing the Penalty for Fentanyl Delivery Causing Overdose Death

1. Death by delivery constitutes murder.
2. Allows the death penalty or life without parole for an individual that knowingly sells fentanyl or a fentanyl derivative to another person when the injection, ingestion, inhalation, or other introduction of the fentanyl or fentanyl derivative causes the death of such person. 

Promoting Contraband in Detention Facility

1. Increases the felony class for providing contraband substances within a jail, prison, or other type of detention center to a Class B felony.
2. This included substances such as fentanyl, carfentanil, and fentanyl derivatives.

Regulating Bail Funding Organizations - “Madelynn’s Law”

1. Prevents charitable organizations from furnishing bail of $5,000 or more. 
2. Makes it unlawful to furnish bail regardless of the amount for an offense of domestic violence or for a person being held under a civil court order or warrant pursuant to Casey’s Law.
3. Requires photo identification for any person who posts bail.
4. Requires a charitable bail organization to maintain and make an annual report to the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary and make it publicly available on the organization’s website.

Strengthening Shopkeeper’s Privilege

1. Allows employees and business owners to use a reasonable amount of force necessary to protect themselves, to prohibit the escape of a person detained, or to prevent the loss of goods for sale.
2. Provides civil and criminal immunity for the worker and business owner.

Increasing Penalties for Attempted Murder    

1. Increases the penalties for those who are convicted of attempted murder to require them to serve a minimum of 85 percent of their sentence before they are eligible for early release.
2. Adds attempted murder to the violent offense statute.

Requiring Parents to Attend Juvenile Court Hearings

1. If a violation occurs, a person shall be fined up to $500 and ordered to participate in up to 40 hours of community service.

Mandatory Sentencing for Guns Used in Crimes That Were Possessed in Violation of State Law

1. Prevents a person from being eligible for probation, parole, conditional discharge, conditional release, or any other form of release prior to the completion of their sentence if, in the commission of the offense, they used a firearm which was possessed in a violation of state law, including firearms which are stolen or defaced. 

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