The year for Marsy’s Law has started with a bang. Our bill sponsors, Sen. Westerfield and Rep. Benvenuti have filed bills (one is the Constitutional Amendment, the other is a supporting statutory revision) in both chambers of the Kentucky legislature. We intend to carefully work them both as we move forward, with the support of our incredible legislators, advocates, law enforcement community and many other supporters. 

The actual bills can be found at the links here:

HB 169 (BR 948) – R. Benvenuti III, S. Lee,K. Bratcher, D. Meade 

AN ACT relating to crime victims’ rights.
Repeal and reenact or repeal, reenact, and amend various sections of the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights to change statutory definition of “victim”; require that restitution to the victim be made when possible; repeal KRS 421.540; provide for a delayed contingent effective date of November 6, 2018, upon ratification of a proposed constitutional amendment providing protection of crime victims’ rights.

HB 171 (BR 947) – R. Benvenuti III, S. Lee,K. Bratcher, D. Meade 

AN ACT proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to crime victims’ rights.
Propose to amend the Constitution of Kentucky to create a crime victims’ bill of rights; provide ballot language to submit to voters.

SB 15 (BR 6) – W. Westerfield, J. Adams, J. Carpenter, D. Carroll, C. Embry Jr., P. Hornback, A. Kerr, D. Parrett, D. Thayer, M. Wilson

AN ACT proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to crime victims’ rights.
Propose to amend the Constitution of Kentucky to create a crime victims’ bill of rights; submit to voters.

SB 115 (BR 961) – W. Westerfield

AN ACT relating to crime victims’ rights.
Repeal and reenact or repeal, reenact, and amend various sections of the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights to change statutory definition of “victim”; require that restitution to the victim be made when possible; repeal KRS 421.540; provide for a delayed contingent effective date of November 6, 2018, upon ratification of a proposed constitutional amendment providing protection of crime victims’ rights.

Kentucky can’t turn its back on crime victims any longer. They deserve the same level of legal protection as offenders. Marsy’s Law will provide this Constitutional protection to those who have already suffered enough. 

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