The Kentucky Senate has passed a bill authorizing $132.5 million in bonding for a cancer research center at the University of Kentucky. UK will raise an additional $132.5 million to fund the project.
This is the second piece of legislation passed by both chambers in the 2015 General Assembly.
Bill sponsor Representative Alice Forgy Kerr said the cancer research center will help create a healthier Kentucky.
“The life expectancy of our states is lower than that of citizens in other states and we know that that is unacceptable and we have to do something about that," stated Kerr.
Governor Steve Beshear has indicated he will sign the bill into law.The Senate also took action on another, more controversial bond bill on Tuesday. The House’s $3.3 billion bond proposal to shore up the ailing Teacher’s Retirement System was given a first reading in the Senate—opening up the possibility that it would be heard in committee.