As part of the second week of the 2016 General Assembly, members of the Kentucky House have undergone anti-harassment training.
The annual exercise stirs memories of previous sexual harassment allegations.
This is the first anti-harassment training session since last summer when the state settled two sexual harassment lawsuits against two current and one former representative and the Legislative Research Commission.
The training was conducted by Arthur Lucas of the State Personnel Cabinet.
“What we’re trying to do is just make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to talking about harassment and discrimination,” said Lucas.
Lucas told House members the session would focus on all forms of verbal, non verbal, and physical harassment.
Louisville Representative Joni Jenkins characterized the current environment in the house as ‘going smoothly.’
“I think past incidents have made it fresh in people’s minds about keeping mindful of what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate,” Jenkins said.
Northern Kentucky Representative Addia Wuchner says the presentation was quick and to the point.
Former House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark believes previous sexual harassment cases in his chamber are in the past, “It’s behind us now, we’ve got to move forward."
"It was an experience that hopefully we never have to experience again in the Kentucky general assembly,” added Clark.
Senate President Robert Stivers says anti-harassment training in his chamber came immediately after this year’s ethics session.
Similar training for some 200 LRC employees concluded last week.
