Staff Reporter

The Kentucky General Assembly convened at the beginning of the month. Bills entered for legislative consideration could have great effects on Kentucky if enacted. That includes several proposed bills pertaining to the state's legal system.

If one new bill is approved by both the Kentucky House and Senate, the rules governing concealed deadly weapons could change. Two House Republicans, Joseph Fisher of Campbell county and Mike Harmon of Boyle and Washington counties, proposed a bill that could lead to lifetime permission to carry a concealed deadly weapon. If the bill passes, persons can pay an extra fee for a lifetime license to carry such weapons--- a license that expires upon death of its holder or if it is otherwise revoked.

There is also a bill filed in the Senate pertaining to concealed deadly weapons. Northern Kentucky Republican Jack Westwood proposed a bill that would allow anyone to carry a concealed deadly weapon in their vehicle or boat as long as it's stored in a box or compartment normally installed on the vehicle by the manufacturer.

In addition to bills that could affect legal actions and behaviors in Kentucky, there are bills being considered by our state legislators that could affect what happens after a crime is committed. For instance, one Senate bill provides options for those who are victims of identity theft in the state. While the bill doesn't detail what happens to identity theft offenders, it does provide that victims can obtain a judgment from the circuit court authenticating their victimization. The bill, proposed by Democrat David Boswell, would allow those targeted by identity theft to seek such a judgment regardless of whether or not they know who has abused their identity.

Jefferson county Democrat Tom Burch proposed a House bill that could affect the sentencing of crimes. Crimes that are currently considered "capital offenses" would no longer be designated as such if Burch's bill becomes law. That is because this bill proposes the abolition of the death penalty. If the bill passes, a court with jurisdiction over someone sentenced to death will then sentence that person to life in prison without the possibility of probation or parole.

As state legislatures consider and vote on proposed bills, it will be interesting to see what changes are in store for Kentucky. Bills involving crime and punishment could become laws with effects our Kentucky's legal system. For information on these and other new bills at the Kentucky General Assembly, you can visit http://www.lrc.ky.gov.