Kentucky Senate trims board size, updates CASA statutes to aid rural programs; SB17 passes
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Summary
The Senate passed SB17 to lower minimum CASA board membership, allow some cabinet employees to serve as volunteers except those in DCBS, update a national organization reference, and rename the state association; the bill passed unanimously after committee substitute and title amendment.
The Kentucky Senate on Jan. 27 passed Senate Bill 17, updating statutes that govern court-appointed special advocate (CASA) programs across the Commonwealth.
Senator Morrill of Laurel, sponsor of the committee substitute, told the chamber the measure modernizes statutes last revised in 2004 and makes four primary changes to improve implementation in rural areas. "It reduces the minimum required board members down from 15 to 12," Morrill said, adding this "will help our rural regions and rural programs where it's hard to find 15 board members due to population size." She also said the bill "removes the prohibition on cabinet employees serving as CASA volunteers or being employees" while preserving a bar on Department for Community Based Services staff who "never touch a dependency, neglect or abuse case." Morrill said the measure removes an outdated national organization name while continuing to require the Kentucky CASA Network to monitor compliance with national standards, and it formally updates the state association's name to the Kentucky CASA Network, which she said has been recognized since 2015.
The clerk called the roll following the sponsor's explanation; the chamber recorded 33 yays, no nays, and Senate Bill 17 as amended was declared passed. After passage, the body adopted a senate committee title amendment.
Advocates and lawmakers have pointed to CASA expansion across Kentucky — Morrill noted CASA operated in roughly 30 counties in 2004 and is now in 99 counties — as the rationale for easing administrative requirements. Supporters said lowering the board-membership minimum and clarifying employee-exclusion rules will ease recruitment and allow more volunteers to serve in sparsely populated areas.
The bill's statutory references include prior provisions in the Kentucky Revised Statutes governing CASA programs; the sponsor said changes were reviewed with former victims and stakeholders to preserve the law's intent while improving implementation. The measure will now proceed as prescribed by legislative process for enrollment and final filing.
The action on SB17 was procedural and resulted in formal passage; no amendments altering the bill's substantive provisions were recorded beyond the committee substitute and the adopted title amendment.
