Pre-filed bill would establish basic income program in Kentucky

By Bryce Shreve

Original article: https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2021/11/01/attica-scott-prefiles-universal-basic-income-bill-kylege?cid=id-app15_m-share_s-web_cmp-app_launch_august2020_c-producer_posts_po-organic

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill pre-filed in Kentucky’s general assembly aims to establish universal basic income (UBI) in the Commonwealth.

What You Need To Know

• State Rep. Attica Scott pre-filed a bill to establish UBI in Kentucky

• The bill would give some of the lowest earners in Kentucky $1,000 per month

• Kentucky’s general assembly could consider the measure when the legislative session begins in January 2022

• Scott is running for John Yarmuth’s seat in Congress

Bill Request 322 was filed last week by Rep. Attica Scott (D-Louisville), who is also running for retiring Congressman John Yarmuth’s seat.

You can read the full pre-filed bill here.

The bill would establish a fund granting UBI to some of the lowest-earning Kentuckians. Those making less than the median per capita income of their county would get $1,000 per month, while those making up to double that would get $500. The income would not be taxable and would be excluded from each taxpayer’s adjusted gross income.

As a concept, UBI is nothing new. A similar program implemented in Stockton, California saw moderate success. Stockton’s program gave randomly selected low-earning residents $500 a month for two years with no strings attached.

Also, former presidential candidate Andrew Yang featured UBI as a key campaign point during his unsuccessful bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination. Still a supporter of UBI, Yang has since left the Democratic party and is registered as an independent.

If passed, money from Kentucky’s budget, along with grants, gifts and federal funds, would cover the UBI payments.

Kentucky’s 2022 Legislative Session begins January 4.