For Immediate Release
April 03, 2003
Contact: Rusty Cheuvront or Terry Sebastian (502) 564-2611  

Gov. Patton vetoes HB 132, to hold press conference on HB 390

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Gov. Paul Patton today vetoed House Bill 132. In his veto message, Patton said the bill violates Section 51 of Kentucky’s Constitution that requires that laws enacted by the General Assembly must not relate to more than one subject.   

In addition, Gov. Patton will hold a press conference at noon today in room 110 of the Capitol to announce his decision on House Bill 390.  

- 30 -

VETO MESSAGE FROM THE
GOVERNOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
VETO OF HB 132 

I, Paul E. Patton, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, pursuant to the authority vested in me by Section 88 of the Kentucky Constitution, do hereby veto House Bill 132 entitled, “An Act relating to the public good and declaring an emergency.” This bill contains a variety of amendments including amendments relating to county officials, the executive branch ethics code and amendments to KRS Chapter 164, which change residency requirements for gubernatorial appointees to the Board of Regents for each of Kentucky’s public universities. 

HB 132 is violative of Section 51 of Kentucky’s Constitution, which requires that laws enacted by the General Assembly must not relate to more than one subject, which must be expressed in the title to the bill.  Further the provisions of the bill appear inconsistent and in parts retroactive, as they relate to state universities, which by law must be expressly stated. For these reasons, and in light of the ambiguity of the legislation and pending litigation regarding its intent, I am exercising my veto authority over HB 132.