FRANKFORT, Ky. — Attorney General Daniel Cameron today released two advisories providing an overview of the scope and effect of two proposed amendments to the Commonwealth’s Constitution, on which Kentuckians will vote in the upcoming General Election. Constitutional Amendment #1 would authorize the General Assembly to make certain adjustments to when the legislature meets. Constitutional Amendment #2 would clearly establish that Kentucky’s Constitution does not provide a right to abortion or require the public funding of abortion.
Under current state law, if the General Assembly needs to meet for a longer period or later in the year after it adjourns, only the Governor can convene and determine the purpose of a special session. In the advisory regarding Constitutional Amendment #1, Attorney General Cameron explains that voting yes on this amendment would allow the General Assembly and the Governor to determine when the legislature meets.
Constitutional Amendment #1 does not take away the Governor’s power to call a special session or make the legislature’s job full-time instead of part-time.
Constitutional Amendment #2 adds the following language to Kentucky’s Constitution, “To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.”
In the advisory related to Constitutional Amendment #2, Attorney General Cameron explains that this amendment does not ban abortion in Kentucky. Instead, it allows decisions regarding regulating abortions, like other public policy matters, to be made “by the elected representatives of the General Assembly.”
This proposed amendment does not limit the General Assembly’s ability to modify Kentucky’s abortion laws, which currently permit abortion when necessary to protect the life of the mother or if there is risk of serious, permanent impairment to one of her life-sustaining organs.
To read the advisory regarding Constitutional Amendment #1, click here, and to view the advisory related to Constitutional Amendment #2, click here.