Safer Kentucky Act may have unintended consequences WCHS
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ASHLAND,KY(WCHS)—TheSaferKentuckyActisnowlaw,followingavetoandavetooverridebytheGeneralAssembly.ThegoalofthebillistostrengthenKentucky’scriminallaw,butinstead,itmayhavesomeunintendedconsequences.
“FromwhatIhavereadandunderstandIbelievethatiswhatisgoingtohappen,”saidLynnChilders,ExecutiveDirectorofCARES,anonprofitthattakescareoftheneedsofthehomelessinEasternKentucky.
ShehasmixedfeelingsabouttheSaferKentuckyAct.
“Iftheyaregoingtomakeencampmentsorcampingoutillegalthatisgoingtocriminalizehomelessness,”saidChilders.
GovernorAndyBeshearvetoedthebill,buttheGeneralAssemblyvotedtooverridetheveto.
“Hethinksthatwedon’thavethecapacityinourprisons.Wedon’thavethemoneytopayforit,andthatwearecriminalizinghomelessness.All3ofthosearecompletelyfalse,”saidRepresentativeJaredBauman,(R)Louisville,thebillsponsor.
“Ithinkitishardtotreateverybodyunderonelaw,especiallywhenyoudon’tknowt
