Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear on Wednesday signed into law a series of bill designed to grow the workforce in the Commonwealth and lower unnecessary barriers to employment.
One of the bills signed was House Bill 320 sponsored by Representative Chris Freeland of Benton. The bill supports the trucking industry by allowing drivers from out-of-state who hold an operator's license and a commercial driver's instruction permit to get licensed in Kentucky just by taking the skills test here.
Freeland said, "HB 320 places us on a level playing field with neighboring states and eliminates an unnecessary burden to attracting the men and women we need to drive trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles. This is a common-sense piece of legislation and a win-win for our commonwealth. I want to thank the Governor for recognizing the need and look forward to working with the Kentucky State Police as they implement the change."
Another bill would lower barriers for military spouses seeking occupational licenses in Kentucky. One seeks to address the nursing shortage with public-private partnerships to create scholarships for nursing students. A bill was signed that would allow school systems to hire candidates for positions requiring a high school diploma or equivalent and help those candidates get a GED at no cost. Beshear also signed a bill that opens up Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship eligibility to students not eligible for Federal Pell Grants.
Photo courtesy of Governor Beshear's flickr
