FRANKFORT -- As we hit the home stretch of this 30-day legislative session, we directed our attention to a range of bills that will make a difference in the lives of average Kentuc-kians.

This was essentially our last opportunity to focus on Senate bills. During the last full week of session (March 9-13), each chamber will turn its attention to final passage of legislation already passed by the other, so the Governor can sign or veto the bills during our two-week recess.

We passed legislation this week targeting our veterans and their families. Senate Bill 135, which I sponsored, expands the college tuition waivers to ensure that veterans’ family members are given the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree. Current legislation waives the tuition for the spouse or a child, stepchild or orphan of a qualifying deceased veteran. SB 135 would guarantee sufficient time, with tuition and fees exempt, to complete at least a bachelor’s degree. The maximum number of months for the exemptions would be 45. This is a small token of our appreciation, considering that our military men and women put their lives at risk for our country. We can never do enough for our veterans.

Another important piece of legislation that addresses long-term needs is our ongoing study of Ken-tucky’s criminal code. Senate Joint Resolution 12 would re-authorize our analysis of every law and punishment in the state, including our drug laws.

Enacted in 1974, the current penal code was effective then, but -- like the times -- crimes and offenses have changed. After 35 years, our penal code needs to be updated.

We first approved the study last year, but this is a much tougher task than we had imagined -- in part, because it is the first comprehensive look we have taken at our criminal statutes in more than 30 years. Kentucky taxpayers spend more than a half-billion dollars annually to keep criminals behind bars, and that figure will continue to grow rapidly if we do not take a fresh look at what we are doing and why in terms of crimes and punishment.

Our Interim Committee on Judiciary will investigate: whether the laws on the books are really working; whether the punishments our judges and juries hand down truly fit the crime, and whether we would be better served in many cases by treatment and rehabilitation options, halfway houses, and other alternatives to expensive and often counterproductive incarceration.

Our local governments are also suffering under the strain of jail costs, particularly the cost of inmate health care. To help remedy that problem, we passed Senate Bill 73, which would reduce the medical costs our local jails pay. Under SB 73, jails would only be required to reimburse providers a rate as no greater than Medicaid, instead of the extra 18 percent they currently pay.

Of course, with some criminals it is important to track them even after they have served their time. We took another step toward dealing with those recidivist-risk individuals this week by requiring background checks for anyone who wishes to serve on a school-based decision making council, and banning registered sex offenders, violent offenders, and offenders against children from serving in that role. Because of the statistically high probability that they will re-offend, and because their crimes target our most precious resource — our children — we have to be strict. In any case, sex offenders are banned from school grounds. SB 148 is simply a common sense safety bill.

You may stay in contact with me by calling the Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181, going online at www.lrc.ky.gov or e-mailing me at ray.jones@lrc.ky.gov.

Senator Ray Jones represents Pike, Martin and Johnson counties.