Gov. Bevin files motion urging court to fully decide constitutionality of Pension Reform Law

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ)- Gov. Bevin’s legal team filed a motion Friday urging the court to resolve whether the 2018 pension reform legislation, Senate Bill 151, violates the inviolable contract and the Contracts Clause of the Kentucky Constitution.

The motion follows the lawsuit filed by Attorney General Andy Beshear attacking the pension reform bill and the June 20, 2018, opinion in Franklin Circuit Court, which invalidated SB 151 on two legislative-process issues but failed to address the more substantive issues of the case, including any impact the bill could have on the inviolable contract.

The motion was filed to ensure that the constitutionality of Senate Bill 151 can be determined once and for all, rather than through a piecemeal approach that could potentially add many additional months to the litigation proceedings. Gov. Bevins team urged the court to rule now on the inviolable contract issue so that a single appeal, concerning both the legislative-process and constitutionality questions of SB 151, can be made to the Kentucky Supreme Court as soon as possible.

In an April 19th hearing in the case, the court stated that it is very important to have a full record for our Supreme Court to review when it getsup there. Acting on the courts statement, the motion filed today hopes to ensure that the record will include a full ruling on all of the issues in the SB 151 case.

To view a copy of the motion, click here.