‘Rights vs. health.’ Ky. bill prohibiting mask mandates at schools, colleges advances

A bill that prohibits requiring masks at Kentucky public schools, colleges and child care centers advanced Tuesday in the General Assembly.

House Bill 51, introduced by State Rep. Lynn Bechler, R- Marion, was approved by the House Education Committee with a 12-7 vote. It now goes to the full House.

“Masks don’t work,” Bechler said.

Bechler said the bill makes face coverings in Kentucky schools optional. That’s a change from current law because school boards now make the decision.

Bechler said he is bringing the bill forward because of the problems caused by masks, which he said included child suicides, speech delays and health problems. He said facial expressions are needed to communicate.

The bill 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.

The legislation also says that no child-care center shall be refused a license, or have its license revoked, be subject to any fine, or be otherwise penalized for refusing to require wearing masks.

Bechler maintained that children are least likely to get COVID. He said some other states are ending mask mandates and he noted that adults aren’t wearing masks at sporting events.

Bechler said college students and parents of younger students should be able to make their own decisions about wearing masks.

State Rep. Killian Timoney, R-Lexington, an employee of Fayette County Schools, voted no.

Fayette County Schools currently has a mask mandate.

Timoney said masks keep kids going to school in-person so that districts don’t have to return to non-traditional instruction or at home learning.

He said that information about wearing masks being harmful is anecdotal.

“What’s not anecdotal is NTI being a detriment,” Timoney said.

Kentucky school officials, including Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins, have expressed concern about the loss of learning and mental health problems that evolved among students when they learned at home for months during the pandemic.

“There is a lot of dispute within our communities about this. I’ve never really seen in my time here a matter become so divisive in the interest of rights versus health,” said State Rep. C. Ed Massey, R-Hebron, who voted yes.

State Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, was among the lawmakers who said they would be taking away local control by approving the bill. She voted no.

Rob Weber, communications and policy director of the Kentucky Academy of Science, a professional organization for scientists, testified against the bill.

He said recent data in Kentucky showed that people within schools daily are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 than the general public.

Weber said the bill would remove the ability of colleges and schools to be guided by science, and would remove preventative strategies that keeps kids in schools. He said his group was concerned about even more educators leaving the profession if they feel like they are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.

Tuesday afternoon, Scott County Schools officials announced in a Facebook post that on Monday, February 28, 2022, all facilities and grounds of Scott County Schools “will begin operating in a mask-optional environment.”

“The Scott County Board of Education, superintendent, and district leaders have continually monitored local data to maintain in person-instruction, mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and make the best decisions possible for our students and staff. This decision is no different,” the post said.

District officials said they have had ongoing conversations with local public health officials to ensure the best timing for the transition. Local numbers are declining steadily in both the county and in schools, they said. At this time, health officials expect this trend to continue.

Masks will still be required on school buses because its a federal mandate.

Scott County Schools could implement a mask mandate again in the future if necessary, the post said.

This story was originally published February 15, 2022 at 11:34 AM.