Harper Angel ends second legislative session by passing bills that put Kentuckians first

Senator Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, sums up her second legislative session in one word: "satisfying."

"I'm doing what I came to Frankfort to do, and that's help the people who need it," said Harper Angel, who began her Senate career last year.

Harper Angel successfully sponsored several bills this session, including one she started working on in 2005 -- a bill to address the needs of elderly Kentuckians who care for adults with mental retardation.

ELDERLY CAREGIVERS

"We're establishing a one-stop resource center to assist these elderly citizens," Harper Angel said. The two-year budget includes $400,000 for the center, which will provide aging caregivers with a central resource for information and referral to community programs and resources.

Preliminary results of a study authorized through a bill Harper Angel passed in 2005 indicate that there are over 10,500 adults in Kentucky with mental retardation who live with a parent or caregiver over the age of 60.

OSTEOPOROSIS

In another health-related bill, Harper Angel established a statewide osteoporosis education / prevention program. The budget includes $90,000 a year to hire a nurse and provide educational materials.

"Osteoporosis affects 700,000 Kentuckians and it is four times more likely to strike women," Harper Angel said. "This is a debilitating, costly disease that is entirely preventable."

Thirty-three states have prevention and education programs, Harper Angel said. "The best defense is building strong bones during childhood and adolescence. This bill envisions education programs that will target young girls to improve bone health in the long-term."

The program will also address the needs of older women who already have the disease. "There are steps they can take to avoid the most serious consequences," Harper Angel said.

ELECTRONIC HEALTH NETWORK

A third health initiative for Harper Angel is included in a bill she passed to ensure registries for advanced directives (living wills) and organ donations are part of the electronic health network Kentucky is designing.

"The immediacy of our electronic network will make it possible to place the kind of information that's often needed in emergencies -- advanced directives and organ donations -- only a key stroke away for emergency room doctors," Harper Angel said.

The legislature passed a bill to set up the health network last year. Ultimately it is expected to improve patient care, reduce medical errors and cut health care costs by making it possible to speed comprehensive information on an individual patient or the latest research on a patient's condition to their physician.

SUPPORT FOR ACTORS THEATRE, CENTER FOR WOMEN, FAMILIES

Finally, Harper Angel included $900,000 for Actors Theatre of Louisville and $1 million for the Center for Women and Families for capital improvements in the budget.