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A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the establishment of the Gun Violence 1
Prevention Task Force. 2
WHEREAS, gun violence is an epidemic plaguing every state in the country; and 3
WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States passed the Bipartisan Safer 4
Communities Act in 2022 in an effort to reduce gun crime; and 5
WHEREAS, both Democrats and Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader 6
Mitch McConnell, supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, demonstrating that 7
preventing gun violence is an area where legislators can reach a bipartisan consensus; and 8
WHEREAS, Kentucky has one of the nation's highest rates of gun violence; and 9
WHEREAS, the rate of gun deaths in Kentucky has increased 38 percent from 2013 10
to 2022, with 826 Kentuckians dying from gun violence in an average year; and 11
WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes that gun violence is a serious 12
problem in Kentucky, as evidenced by the passage of House Bill 5 and Senate Bill 20 13
during the 2024 Regular Session; and 14
WHEREAS, the General Assembly has a sacred obligation to ensure that citizens of 15
the Commonwealth can live in peace and freedom, which includes the freedom to live 16
without fear of gun violence; and 17
WHEREAS, the General Assembly can accomplish that goal without interfering 18
with the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms; 19
NOW, THEREFORE, 20
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 21
Section 1. The Legislative Research Commission is hereby directed to create 22
the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to study the causes of gun violence and to 23
examine ways to prevent gun violence in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Gun 24
Violence Prevention Task Force shall: 25
(1) Study the causes and contributing factors to gun violence in the 26
Commonwealth of Kentucky; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 949
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(2) Review data on both fatal and nonfatal gun-related incidents in Kentucky; 1
(3) Collect data to examine the impact of gun violence on the Medicaid budget; 2
(4) Examine existing laws in the Commonwealth that address the issue of gun 3
violence and assess their effectiveness; 4
(5) Review studies and legislative action by other states and the federal 5
government on the causes and costs of gun violence; 6
(6) Identify existing resources to prevent gun violence; 7
(7) Recommend new laws, or changes to existing law, to reduce the rate of gun 8
violence; and 9
(8) Take any other action the task force deems necessary to study the issue of gun 10
violence in the Commonwealth. 11
Section 2. The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force shall be composed of the 12
following members, with final membership of the task force being subject to the 13
consideration and approval of the Legislative Research Commission: 14
(1) Three members of the House of Representatives, including two members 15
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be 16
designated to serve as co-chair, and one member of the minority party in the House of 17
Representatives appointed by the Minority Floor Leader in the House of Representatives; 18
(2) Three members of the Senate, including two members appointed by the 19
President of the Senate, one of whom shall be designated to serve as co-chair, and one 20
member of the minority party in the Senate appointed by the Minority Floor Leader in the 21
Senate; 22
(3) The secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet; 23
(4) The commissioner of the Department of Kentucky State Police; 24
(5) The commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice; 25
(6) The commissioner of the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental 26
and Intellectual Disabilities; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 949
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(7) One representative from the Department for Medicaid Services; 1
(8) The commissioner of the Department for Public Health; 2
(9) The public advocate; and 3
(10) Ten members to be appointed by the Legislative Research Commission as 4
follows: 5
(a) One member representing research or educational institutions that study gun 6
violence; 7
(b) One member representing the Kentucky Center for School Safety; 8
(c) One member representing hospitals and the medical field; 9
(d) One member representing owners of gun stores; 10
(e) One member representing community- or faith-based organizations; 11
(f) One licensed clinical social worker who has experience in suicide prevention; 12
(g) One member representing victims of gun violence; 13
(h) One member representing survivors of domestic violence and abuse; 14
(i) One member of the Commonwealth's Attorneys Association from a list of 15
three nominees recommended by the Attorney General; and 16
(j) One member representing law enforcement. 17
Section 3. The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force shall meet at least once per 18
month during the 2025 Interim of the General Assembly and shall submit its findings, 19
legislative recommendations, or a memorandum to the Legislative Research Commission 20
no later than December 1, 2025. If legislative recommendations are submitted, the 21
Legislative Research Commission may refer the recommendations to the appropriate 22
committee or committees of jurisdiction in advance of the 2026 Regular Session of the 23
General Assembly. 24
Section 4. Provisions of this Resolution to the contrary notwithstanding, the 25
Legislative Research Commission shall have the authority to alternatively assign the 26
issues identified herein to an interim joint committee or subcommittee thereof, and to 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 949
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designate a study completion date. 1