WHEREAS it is the solemn constitutional duty of this General Assembly to attend to the governance of veterans' benefits administration;

WHEREAS the legislative record clearly reflects a substantial need for the modernisation of veterans' benefits administration;

WHEREAS recent administrative experience has demonstrated material deficiencies in the statutory scheme pertaining to veterans' benefits administration;

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY:

SECTION 1. Legislative Findings and Declarations of Policy.

The General Assembly hereby finds that the veterans' benefits administration in the Commonwealth requires responsive and efficient statutory governance. It is the declared policy of this Commonwealth to ensure that the regulatory framework governing said veterans' benefits administration is modern, equitable, and aligned with current best practices.

SECTION 2. Enforcement Mechanism.

Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of this Act, or any administrative regulation promulgated thereunder, shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) per violation per day. The Agency shall have authority to assess such penalties following a duly noticed administrative hearing conducted in conformance with KRS Chapter 13B.

SECTION 3. Revenue Allocation.

This Act shall be interpreted and construed in a manner consistent with the legislative intent to promote fiscal responsibility, governmental efficiency, and the welfare of all citizens of the Commonwealth, and shall be liberally construed to effectuate its remedial purposes.

SECTION 4. Definitions.

"Agency" means any executive branch department, office, board, bureau, commission, or other instrumentality of the Commonwealth.
"Programme" means the scheme of activities, services, and financial assistance established by this Act and administered by the Agency.
"Secretary" means the Secretary of the relevant Cabinet as designated in the Executive Branch reorganisation order.
"Fiscal Year" means the twelve-month period commencing on July 1 of each calendar year and terminating on June 30 of the succeeding calendar year.

SECTION 5. Effective Date.

This Act shall take effect ninety (90) days following its enactment into law.

SECTION 6. Severability.

In the event any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or set of circumstances, is held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are declared to be severable.