Covington Human Rights Commission

11/02/2017

Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission Seeks Nominations and Student Submissions for the 2018 MLK Awards

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2017) - The Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission, part of the Governor’s Office of Minority Empowerment, is seeking nominations for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. awards. Nominations are being sought for the 2018 Adult and Youth Leadership Award as well as submissions from students in the area of artistic expression in essays, visual artwork and poems.
The prestigious Leadership Award recognizes adult and youth leaders in the community whose actions demonstrate distinguished service in promoting King’s ideals to further the goals of diversity and justice for all. The esteemed student awards encourage youth throughout the state to express themselves creatively through essays, visual art and poetry by thinking on this year’s theme “Reflecting on our past in order to build a brighter future.”
The art contest is open to kindergarten through 12th grade students, and the essay and poetry contest is open to fourth through 12th grade students. Student poems, artwork and essays must be received by close of business Nov. 30, 2017. The deadline for receipt of the Leadership Award nominations is Dec. 8, 2017. Leadership awards are segmented by 17 and under for youth and 18 and above for adults. Nominators are required to follow the Leadership Award submission guidelines. All entries must be properly labeled and addressed to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards, 700 Capitol Ave., Suite 146, Frankfort, KY 40601.
Winners will be recognized at the Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Celebration in Frankfort on Jan. 4, 2018. For information, nomination forms and guidelines on all awards, please visit www.ome.ky.gov. You may also call the Governor’s Office Minority Empowerment at (502) 564-2611 or email [email protected].

Our mission is to work for the success of minorities throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky by promoting self-sufficiency through education and training, and ensuring equal access to jobs and economic development thus improving the quality of life for all Kentuckians.

11/02/2017

Open Enrollment Begins Nov. 1 FRANKFORT, KY. (Oct. 27, 2017) – Open Enrollment for 2018 Marketplace health insurance plans at healthcare.gov is quickly approaching. The Health Benefit Exchange (HBE), within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) is working to ensure Kentuckians are prepared, informed and have the resources they need to choose a 2018 health plan.
This year’s open enrollment, which runs from November 1 until December 15, is what’s known as a passive enrollment period. Kentuckians who already have a health plan purchased on the exchange do not have to do anything for their coverage to continue in 2018. Policyholders will have the same plan for 2018 or their coverage will move from their current plan to an available 2018 option that most closely matches their current coverage.
The state-based call center is available at 855-459-6328 to assist Kentuckians with questions about where to go for coverage. The call center can help prescreen for program eligibility and help with questions and information. The HealthCare.gov customer service center is also available. It can be reached by calling 800-318-2596.

10/02/2017

Donate to the Purple Purse Challenge Now

The Purple Purse Challenge starts today, Oct. 2 at 12pm EST and ends Oct. 31. KCADV is one of more than 220 nonprofits urging the public to support survivors of domestic violence and financial abuse this October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, during The Allstate Foundation Purple Purse® Challenge,

Every dollar raised by KCADV during the campaign will go directly to the Purple Purse Emergency Fund, one component of our Economic Empowerment Program that offers emergency assistance to domestic violence survivors when they are struggling to make a monthly payment because of a crisis or unexpected expense (e.g. car repair, eviction, utility shut-off notice or attorney fees.)

To learn more, visit Crowdrise page or join tonight at Blue Stallion Brewing in Lexington for Mission Monday. Blue Stallion will donate 10% of taproom sales to the Purple Purse Challenge.

09/10/2017

Amigos,
The annual National Hispanic Heritage Month kick-off will take place next Thursday, Sept. 14th from 6-7:30 pm in the University Center Ballroom-NKU. Will have live Latino music by Paola Sciaraffia y Continente, food, and dancing will be provided by Asi es Colombia.

Please invite your colleagues, friends and family and RSVP to me. Have a nice weekend! Leo

Leo Calderón
Director
Latino Programs and Services
Northern Kentucky University
Student Union 315
Nunn Drive
Highland Heights, KY 41099
O: 859-572-5821/F: 859-572-1576
Latino.nku.edu

08/23/2017

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/bloomerang-public-cdn/kentuckyrefugeeministries/20638606_1494505133944287_3800641130998243077_n.jpg?blm_aid=756753

08/20/2017

http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article167887472.html

The Lexington council voted unanimously Thursday to move two Confederate statues that have stood in Lexington’s downtown for more than 100 years. Lexington Mayor Jim Gray must return to the council in 30 days with a new site for the statues. More than 50 people spoke at Thursday’s meeting. Only four...

08/20/2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/kentucky-man-transgender-wife-sue-amazon-for-workplace-bias/2017/08/09/8b35e72c-7d15-11e7-b2b1-aeba62854dfa_story.html?utm_term=.ffb444fc482a

A Kentucky man and his transgender wife sued Amazon on Wednesday, alleging that they endured sustained discrimination and harassment during a year as co-workers at the mammoth online retailer’s warehouse in northern Kentucky.

06/29/2017

From the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights:

Cold Spring doctor finds hate sign over drug rehab center
A hate sign was planted in a Cold Spring doctor& #39;s yard in a community divided over plans for a drug treatment center.

Check out this story on cincinnati.com: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/campbellcounty/2017/06/26/cold-spring-doctor-finds-hate-signs-over-drug-rehab-center/428081001/

06/24/2017

New state laws go into effect June 29

Laws taking effect that day include measures on the following topics:

Adult education. HB 195 creates an alternative to the GED program by requiring the Kentucky Adult Education Program to create college and career readiness programs for those seeking high school equivalency diplomas. At least one program must be a test that meets current college and career readiness standards.

Bible literacy. HB 128 allows schools to offer an elective course on the Bible that teaches biblical content, poetry, narratives and their impact today.

Caregivers. SB 129 allows hospital patients to legally designate someone as a “lay caregiver” for the purpose of providing after-care to the patient when he or she returns home. The lay caregiver can be someone age 18 or older who is a relative, partner, friend or someone else who is close to the patient and willing to provide non-medical care at the patient’s home.

Charter schools. HB 520 will allow publicly funded charter schools to operate in Kentucky starting with the 2017-18 school year. The charter schools could be authorized by local school boards, which would establish charter schools by contract. The schools would then be governed by independent boards.

Coal fields. HB 156 creates the Kentucky Coal Fields Endowment Authority which will use coal severance dollars to fund infrastructure, economic development, public health and more in the east and west Kentucky coal regions.

Emergency vehicles. HB 74 only allows white light to be emitted from motor vehicle headlamps, although non-halogen headlamps will be allowed to emit a slight blue tint if they were factory-installed. The intent of the bill is to make it easier for motorist to distinguish emergency vehicles from other vehicles.

Fentanyl and other opioids. HB 333 will create stronger penalties for trafficking in any amount of he**in, fentanyl, carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives, define prescribing authority, and allow the state to investigate prescribing irregularities and report those instances to appropriate authorities.

Fish and wildlife. SB 83 requires the state to identify areas where deer and elk pose a “significant threat” to human safety by causing automobile accidents or pose a significant threat to agriculture. The state may then take necessary steps (including, but not limited to, special hunts) to reduce the deer and elk populations in those areas.

Hate crimes. HB 14 will allow an attack on a first responder such as a police officer, firefighter or rescue squad member to be considered a hate crime during the sentencing phase for certain crimes.

Hospitals. SB 42 allows law enforcement to arrest someone for fourth-degree assault in any part of a hospital without a warrant if the officer has probable cause that the crime was committed. Such arrests were previously restricted to hospital emergency rooms.

Juvenile offenders. SB 195 creates a process for expungement of felony juvenile records two years after the offender reaches adulthood or is unconditionally released from commitment to the state. Expungement will not be granted to those whose felony record includes violent and/or s*xual offenses or those who have proceedings pending against him or her.

Local school boards. HB 277 allows individuals to serve on a local board of education if they have an aunt, uncle, son-in-law or daughter-in-law employed by the school district. State law previously precluded someone from serving on a local school board if any of those relatives were employed by the district.

Nuclear power. SB 11 allows construction of nuclear power in Kentucky after vetting of proposals by the federal and state governments.

Playground safety. HB 38 bans registered s*x offenders from public playgrounds unless they have advanced written permission to be on site by the government body (city council, etc.) that oversees the playground.

Primary care agreements. SB 79 allows patients to enter into contracts with their primary care provider that spell out services to be provided for an agreed-upon fee and period of time. The “direct primary care membership agreement” will not require a patient to forfeit private insurance or Medicaid.

Religious freedom. SB 17 specifies in statute that Kentucky public school and public colleges and university students have the legal right to express their religious and political views in their school work, artwork, speeches, and in other ways.

School calendars. SB 50 allows school districts to use a “variable student instructional year,” requiring the same hours of instruction required by existing law but allowing for fewer school days than the minimum of 170 days required by existing law. Districts could begin using the variable schedule in the 2018-19 school year if their first day of instruction is on or after the Monday closest to Aug. 26.

Veterans. SB 117 allows a veteran with a bachelor’s degree in any field to receive a provisional certificate to teach public elementary or secondary school if he or she has an academic major or passing assessment score in the area in which he or she seeks certification. After completing a required teaching internship, the veteran will receive a professional teaching certificate.

06/11/2017

Tenant, Housing Authority of Covington Settle Dispute Before Human Rights Commission: The Kentucky Human Rights Commission issued its May rulings on Friday, including a case involving the Housing Authority of Covington and a tenant.
In the case of Victoria Bandy v. Housing Authority of Covington:
Victoria Bandy in January 2017 complained to the commission alleging her landlord discriminated against her on the basis of the protected class of s*x or gender in the area of housing.
This would be a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act fair housing law section and the U.S. Fair Housing Act.
Bandy claimed after making some phone calls for police protection when she believed she and her family had their physical safety threatened in a matter of domestic affairs, the Housing Authority of Covington moved to evict her as a tenant.
The Housing Authority of Covington denied the allegations and asserted it did not attempt to evict Bandy based on s*x.
Before the commission made a determination, the parties chose to resolve the complaint with a conciliation agreement
The landlord agreed to dismiss the eviction. Bandy agreed the activities of all household members and guests or any other persons on the premises under the resident’s control are the responsibility of the leaseholder. The housing authority agreed it does not have a policy against individuals calling the police for protection and that tenants will not be evicted because they have made calls to the police. Bandy agreed she is responsible for paying the balance of her rent.
The agreement does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing, including but not limited to, any violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, KRS Chapter 344 et. seq. or Federal Fair Housing act as amended, 42 USC 3601 et seq., all of which are specifically denied. The parties acknowledge that these conciliations are a compromise of disputed claims

Source: Victoria Stephens
Communications Director
Kentucky Commission on Human Rights

05/26/2017

Webinar Series: HB 309 Mandatory Reporting/Referral Requirements For Professionals: Domestic/Dating Violence, Child Abuse, and Vulnerable Adult Abuse

This two-hour webinar will increase the knowledge, skills and awareness of professionals
about changes in the domestic violence mandatory reporting statute. This session
will also cover mandatory reporting statutes for child abuse and vulnerable adult
abuse.
HB 309 amends KRS 209A and requires professionals – including law enforcement,
licensed mental health professionals, and health care workers – to provide a suspected
victim of domestic violence and abuse or dating violence and abuse with educational
materials related to domestic violence and abuse or dating violence and abuse. The
law goes into effect across Kentucky on June 29, 2017.
Webinars will be offered each Friday in June and July 2017.
Workshop Objectives:
• Present an overview of new mandatory reporting requirements affected by HB 309;
• Review existing requirements regarding child abuse and vulnerable adult abuse;
• Expand understanding of domestic violence services and resources;
• Provide information on how to use screening tools and make referrals to reduce risk/
harm from domestic violence.

For Questions Contact:
Isela Arras, Director of Training, KCADV
[email protected]
502-209-5382, ext. 12

05/19/2017

Nominate someone for the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame today before the deadline of May 31

There’s still time. Nominate someone for the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame today. The deadline is Wednesday, May 31.

The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights is calling for nominations to the state Civil Rights Hall of Fame 2017 inductions.

Please help by nominating one or more of your favorite Kentucky civil or human rights advocates who have worked to further Kentucky in the area of fair treatment and equal opportunity.

The inductions ceremony will be held in the fall on a date and at a location to be announced. Find it attached or visit the website at www.kchr.ky.gov to find it on the home page.

Nominees may be people from current or past eras, either living or deceased, who have dedicated themselves to helping others in Kentucky and beyond gain fair treatment, equality, improved quality of life, and human and civil rights, in general. Included are advocates who have worked to make life better by dedicating themselves to helping in a variety of ways members of the protected classes of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act. Protected classes are race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, and family status in housing. Nominees for the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame will have shown exemplary leadership and achievements in human or civil rights in Kentucky.

Members of the public age 18 and older may make a nomination for a person they believe should be inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame. The inductees will be selected by an independent panel of judges from throughout the state of Kentucky.

Mail the completed nomination materials to Cynthia Fox, Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, 332 West Broadway, Louisville, Ky., 40202. For more information about making a nomination or to receive help with completing a nomination form, call Cynthia Fox at 502.566.9963 or email her at [email protected].

The Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame was established in 2000 to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, which is now 57 years old, and is the state authority that enforces the Kentucky Civil Rights Act and other laws that prohibit discrimination. Since 2000, the commission has held periodic inductions to its Hall of Fame to honor Kentucky men and women who have helped achieve or further equality and fair treatment for others, through work, advocacy, activism, or volunteerism.