1. (1) The purpose of the Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center is to serve as a catalyst to change the way decisions are made in government by providing decision-makers a broader context in which to make decisions, taking into consideration the long-term implications of policy, critical trends, and emerging issues which may have a significant impact on the state.

2. (2) At the direction of the board, the center shall:

   1. (a) Establish a statewide scanning program to review information sources and identify emerging issues for the Commonwealth, and regularly provide the program's findings to the legislative and executive branches;
   2. (b) 1. Prepare biennially a report on trends in the Commonwealth and the long-term implications of those trends; 3. 2. As part of the report, sponsor a public forum to review the findings of the trends report and obtain reactions from executive branch agencies, legislative committees, private sector representatives, and the public; Include in the report a record of the trends, long-term implications, and reactions, to be completed by December 31 of even-numbered years and presented to the General Assembly, to the Governor, and to the public; and The biennial trends report shall be given affirmative consideration by the agencies and branches of state government when those agencies and branches are determining budget priorities; 4.
   3. (c) Identify long-term issues significant to the Commonwealth by using a methodology involving a broad spectrum of citizens and establish annual work plans focusing on the priority issues approved by the board. Studies shall include the potential long-term effects of current trends and policies and shall identify future policy options;
   4. (d) Periodically prepare a report on alternative futures facing the Commonwealth for a five (5) or ten (10) year period, or for a period deemed appropriate by the board;
   5. (e) Advise the General Assembly and the Governor of potential long-term effects of government policies;
   6. (f) Develop an information process to inform the public continually on long-term issues, critical trends, and alternative futures;
   7. (g) Develop a database for trend identification.

Effective: June 21, 2001

History: Amended 2001 Ky. Acts ch. 136, sec. 2, effective June 21, 2001. -- Created 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 103, sec. 6, effective July 14, 1992.