By Melissa Patrick, Kentucky Health News
A bill to prohibit public schools, colleges and universities from requiring masks has passed out of committee and is on its way to the full House.
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| Rep. Lynn Bechler |
The bill conflicts with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order that required students and drivers to wear masks on buses, regardless of their vaccination status. The rule applies to all public transportation conveyances.
The bill, with a committee substitute that drops references to viruses other than Covid-19, passed out of the House Education Committee on a 12-7 vote, with Republicans Adam Koenig of Erlanger and Killian Timoney of Lexington voting "no" with the Democrats.
The bill, with a committee substitute that drops references to viruses other than Covid-19, passed out of the House Education Committee on a 12-7 vote, with Republicans Adam Koenig of Erlanger and Killian Timoney of Lexington voting "no" with the Democrats.
Explaining his "no" vote, Timoney, who works in the Fayette County Public Schools, said his constituents are asking him to do what it takes to keep kids in school rather than at home with non-traditional instruction.
"So for me, this is a mask versus an NTI," he said. "And all the evidence about mask wearing and harms, it's anecdotal. What's not anecdotal is NTI being a detriment. So that's why I'm a no vote...
"So for me, this is a mask versus an NTI," he said. "And all the evidence about mask wearing and harms, it's anecdotal. What's not anecdotal is NTI being a detriment. So that's why I'm a no vote...
