LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Families whose tragedies inspired parts of the Safer Kentucky Act testified before the state's House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
The measure has emerged as a top priority this year in the Republican-dominated House. The proposal cleared the House Judiciary Committee after a long and at times emotional hearing. Lawmakers heard heart-wrenching testimony from people who lost loved ones as a result of violent crimes.
The act has more than 20 provisions aimed at reducing violent crime and increasing penalties for violent offenders.
A key component of the bill is its three-strikes provision. People convicted of three violent felonies would face life in prison. The bill would increase penalties for several other crimes as well.
The Troutt and Luxemburger families both experienced unbelievable tragedy: a child taken away too soon.
Madelynn Troutt was driving home from cheer practice when she was killed in a head on car crash. The driver of the other car was bonded out of jail by the Louisville Bail Project.
Part of the Safer Kentucky Act would regulate bail funding organizations.
It aims to prevent charitable organizations from furnishing bail of $5,000 or more.
"We all know we have to fix the state of Kentucky, this is not for the Republicans or Democrats," Madelynn's brother, Peyton Troutt, said. "It's for us, the people of Kentucky. Now let's take a stand and make our home safer."
Jake Luxemburger, 10, was with his grandmother when a man fleeing from police crashed into their car. Jake was killed in the crash.
The Safer Kentucky Act has a provision, referred to as Jake's Law, to crack down on people fleeing from police.
Both families shared their support for the bill.
Republican Rep. Jason Nemes, one of the leading supporters of the bill, said it was unfair to claim that Kentucky is trying to “incarcerate ourselves out" of the crime problem. He noted that Kentucky has significantly increased the number of treatment beds for people struggling with addiction.
“That is what we are about — recovery, helping folks who need to be recovered," Nemes said. "But we’re also about people who commit violence on our people, putting them away for a long time. That’s what this bill is supposed to do.”
However, the bill has been criticized by some Democratic legislators by saying it's too sweeping of a measure.
"It is not going to deter criminals who are going to do those crimes because we are not addressing any of these underlying reasons for those crimes in this bill,” said Democratic Rep. Nima Kulkarni.
The legislation also seeks to crack down on the prevalence of fentanyl — a powerful synthetic opioid seen as a key factor in the state’s high death toll from drug overdoses. The bill would toughen penalties for knowingly selling fentanyl or a fentanyl derivative that results in a fatal overdose.
The measure also would create a standalone carjacking law and increase penalties for several crimes, including attempted murder. Other provisions aim to crack down on drive-by shootings and would offer both workers and business owners civil and criminal immunity in cases where they tried to prevent theft or protect themselves and their stores.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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