Mask requirements in Kentucky schools could be banned if this bill passes

A bill that prohibits mask requirements at Kentucky public schools, colleges, and day care centers — and takes away that decision at the local level — was approved Tuesday by the House.

House Bill 51, introduced by State Rep. Lynn Bechler, R-Marion, was approved by the House of the Representatives with a 56-35 vote. It now goes to the state Senate..

The bill makes masks optional at public schools and lets families make decisions for their student. It says that no state law, regulation, executive order, or school policy shall require wearing facial coverings on any public school premises, on school-sponsored transportation, at a school-sponsored event or at public post-secondary institutions in response to COVID-19.

“Nothing is more local than empowering to moms and dads,” said Bechler.. “HB 51 returns responsibility to parents and empowers them to decide whether or not their children wear a mask in school settings. The legislation also addresses the true issue at hand, clearly stating that no one can put a medical device or complete a medical procedure on a child without parental consent.”

State Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, who voted for the bill, said removing masks mandates have not harmed kids, parents or teachers.

Lawmakers in both parties spoke against the bill, saying that school districts should have local control.

State Rep. Adam Koenig, R-Erlanger, who voted against the bill, said local districts should be able able to make their own decision.

The General Assembly gave districts local control on masks in September when it lifted a statewide mask mandate and let school districts make their own decisions.

Koenig said most school districts in Kentucky already have removed their mask requirement. (Fayette County Schools’ mask mandate is currently in place.)

“I don’t understand why any district still has a mask mandate at this point, “ said Koenig.

The prevalence of COVID-19 in Kentucky continues to thin, Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday.

State Rep. Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, said the school districts she represents would prefer local control.

“I worry that we will have another surge in the fall where masks would be a useful tool,” she said.

State Rep. Angie Hatton, D-Whitesburg, said in Eastern Kentucky, which currently has a higher number of cases than other parts of the state, district officials should make their own decisions on masks.

“Three people that I know and care about in my county died last week,” said Hatton. One was a high school classmate, one was a member of the city commission and one was a 27-year-old mother of a 5-year-old.

This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 5:08 PM.