LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a controversial crime bill known as the "Safer Kentucky Act."

In part, House Bill 5 would overhaul key parts of the state's criminal code, including adding crimes like carjacking, to Kentucky's list of violent offenses.

In his veto message on Tuesday, Beshear said he agrees with that part of the bill, but argues the measure should be a separate bill. Instead, the governor said, it was grouped into one bill that would also create new penalties for certain offenses, including for homeless people who sleep in public places, and increase jail costs for the state.

Beshear also questioned part of the bill that would limit the ability to pay for excess jail and prison costs by capping necessary government expenses.

"In 13 of the 18 years from fiscal years 2002 to 2019, the Department of Corrections needed necessary government expenses funding, and in 10 of those years it needed more than $5,000,000 of necessary government expense funds," Besehar wrote. "Restricting these funds will also delay or eliminate the department's ability to pay county fiscal courts for housing state inmates, which will also increase under House Bill 5.

"Despite the tremendous fiscal impact House Bill 5 would have on the Department of Corrections and county governments, the General Assembly provided no fiscal impact analysis with the bill."

The legislation was given final passage by the House of Representatives late last month, which voted 75-23 in favor after a tense floor debate. The Senate had already approved the bill and sent it back to the House with some changes. 

Republican lawmakers pushed the bill they said would would make Kentuckians safer. The GOP holds a super majority, and they still have time to override Beshear's veto when the legislature reconvenes on April 12 and 15.

In a statement, Rep. Jared Bauman, R-District 28, said he disagreed with the governor's decision to veto the bill.

"I hoped that he would take this opportunity to do the right thing as we work to address public safety, a fundamental obligation of government and an issue that unites Kentuckians regardless of where they live," Bauman said, in part. 

Democratic Louisville lawmakers have heavily criticized the legislation on the House floor, in part, for making street camping illegal and threatening homeless people with jail time if they continue to sleep in public places like sidewalks and under overpasses.

The bill seeks to overhaul key parts of the state’s criminal code, including creating a “three strikes” law for violent felony offenders, setting spending limits for charitable bail organizations and adding more crimes, such as carjacking, to Kentucky’s list of violent offenses.

The crime bill is backed by law enforcement groups that include the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police and the Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Association. But it has generated stiff opposition from advocates for the homeless and others that argue the legislation is too broad, will cost Kentucky taxpayers $1 billion over the next decade, and isn’t supported by accurate data. 

The most recent comprehensive report of crime in Kentucky found that serious crime fell by 9.21% in 2022 and homicides dropped by 33%. However, WDRB News reporting has cast doubt on the accuracy of data from the Louisville Metro Police Department and, by extension, the overall state data. An update to the report is expected later this year.

Louisville representatives also noted that violent crimes are statistically down this year and it will be extremely costly to keep more people incarcerated. 

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