Tell Kentucky House Democrats that the NCFO essential workers must be included!

The Kentucky House Democratic Caucus began hearings to determine who will receive "Essential Worker" bonus pay. They are holding events so that essential workers may tell their stories about the challenges they have had during the pandemic and why they should receive in the bonus pay that Governor Andy Beshear and the caucus are recommending in the upcoming state budget. A portion of the American Rescue Plan Act will go to essential workers.

Kentucky lawmakers heard from the state's nurses, firefighters, truck drivers, grocery store employees and other essential workers Dec. 6 in the first of two public hearings on how to distribute essential-worker bonus pay.

Gov. Beshear has said he wants to use $400 million in federal aid out of more than $2 billion the state is expected to receive in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Rep. Joni Jenkins (D-Louisville) said workers' input on how the coronavirus impacted their profession will be considered by a special workgroup as lawmakers debate how to divvy up the funding.

"The workgroup will be issuing recommendations to the governor about how to use this money and may be part of his budget bill or may be a stand-alone bill when we go back into session in January," Jenkins noted.

According to the Kentucky Center for Statistics, more than three quarters of the state's residents, 1.4 million people, are employed in critical occupations, the third highest in the nation, behind Mississippi and Indiana.

Federal rules issued by the Treasury Department allow states to provide bonus pay up to an additional $13 per hour in addition to a person's regular pay, without exceeding $25,000 dollars per eligible employee.

Rep. Buddy Wheatley (D-Covington) explained bonus pay is available specifically to frontline workers who could not work remotely and who faced health risks due to the nature of their profession.

"All of these groups will have an opportunity to say what they want," Wheatley stated. "We're not going to be able to get everybody to testify. But we have left open the availability of written testimony."

Written comments will be accepted through the end of December. To all NCFO essential workers in Kentucky: SIGN THIS PETITION and share your personal story with the Kentucky House Democratic Caucus. Help get this funding for our members.

Important things to include in the "Comments" section:

1. How you've worked through the pandemic.
2. How your job requires you to be at risk of exposure from the population in Kentucky.
3. How the pandemic has affected you personally.

Be sure to share this with all of your NCFO coworkers!!!