Safer Kentucky Act, which punishes homelessness, will take effect soon Louisville Public Media
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Lastmonth’sSupremeCourtdecisiononacaseinvolvingthecityofGrantsPass,Oregon,heldthatpeopleexperiencinghomelessnesscanbearrestedforoutdoorcampingevenwhentheyhavenootheroptions.
Thefederaldecisiondoesn’trequirelocalgovernmentstoenforcebansonoutdoorcampingbutinKentucky,they’llhaveto.That’sduetotheSaferKentuckyAct,whichmakesstreetcampingaclassBmisdemeanoranda$250fineonrepeatoffenses.
RepublicanstateRepresentativeJasonNemesfromMiddletown,whocosponsoredtheSaferKentuckyAct,calledtheprovisionsfocusedonhomelessness“affectionatetowardsthehomelesspopulation.”
“IfwecontinuedownthepathinLouisville,thenwe’regoingtobecomeSanFrancisco.AndtheRepublicanmajorityisnotgoingtoletthathappen,”hesaid.
Nemessaidit’sapushtoprotectpropertyownersandensurepublicsafety.Theaimistogetpeopleexperiencinghomelessnessintocourt-ordereddiversionprograms,whichwouldbeuptoajudge,hesaid.
“Iftheydogetthecharges,we
