Like many states, Kentucky is joining the federal government in adopting legislation designed to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to WFPL, some of what the state-level legislation seeks to do includes an extension of unemployment benefits to self-employed workers and contractors who were previously ineligible; it also extends unemployment access to full-time workers who were reduced to part-time hours; and it waives the seven-day waiting period before a laid-off worker can apply for benefits while expanding the look-back period for determining benefits. The bill also permits restaurants to sell liquor by the drink with food take-out orders and to sell grocery items to customers; and it waives several business fees and penalties.
Meanwhile, the relief bill eases privacy rules for health care providers, allowing them to be able to contact patients remotely instead of in-person, WFPL reported, and allows for conference call and video meetings for local governments.
Joining Cincinnati Edition to talk about Kentucky's legislation is State Rep. Rachel Roberts (D-Newport), who was the only Democrat from the House to serve on the conference committee that drafted the General Assembly's legislation language.
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