FRANKFORT — Legislative leaders have met to discuss a schedule for the General Assembly's first off-year session but apparently cannot agree on a timetable.

        House Speaker Jody Richards said he and Senate President David Williams have agreed on a tentative schedule.

        Mr. Williams declined to comment on details of his discussion with Mr. Richards, saying the two alone didn't have authority to set the legislative calendar.

        Under the constitutional amendment approved by the voters for a 30-day session in odd-numbered years, the session will be in two phases with the first one beginning Jan. 2.

        Mr. Richards said this phase will probably last four days and involve primarily the election of officers and assignment of committee memberships.

        The General Assembly will then break until Feb. 6. But between the two phases, interim legislative committees will be authorized to meet to study bills that have been filed during early January, Mr. Richards said.

        Also during this time, legislators will not be paid their regular session salaries but will be paid only for the days they report to Frankfort for authorized committee meetings.

        Mr. Richards said he and Mr. Williams plan for the legislature to meet every weekday, even on what are traditionally legislative holidays, until March 12.

        That would leave one more day in the 30-day session. Mr. Richards said the final day will probably be used March 23 — a week before the March 30 deadline — when lawmakers will consider any vetoes by Gov. Paul Patton.

        Mr. Williams said the only thing he and Mr. Richards officially agreed to was to call a meeting of the Legislative Research Commission for Nov. 29.

        The major issues to be considered during the session include proposals from Mr. Patton on workers' compensation and litter control. If Mr. Patton makes specific proposals on those issues soon, Mr. Williams said he would be open to approving meetings of interim committees that handle those issues before the end of the year.

Children's adds research space
West Chester flexes muscle
Best bet to find flu shot: stores
'Night of Fright' and fire
Cabaret theater coming to Newport complex
New United Way leader familiar face in Tristate
RAMSEY: Living history
Christian school's 2nd campus takes root, thrives
Mason gains another chunk
MCNUTT: Community art
HOWARD: Neighborhoods
Buckeye Egg facing fifth contempt filing
Court limits adult kids' ability to sue over parents' wrongful death
Covington man indicted in death of neighbor
Driver's condition critical after head-on crash
Elections panel to hear charge
Excellence rocks at Anderson H.S. rally
Fairfield assistant principal resigns over dispute with boss
Family says mutilated man was looking for cars
General Assembly schedule undecided
Justin to stay with Ohio couple trying to adopt
Licensure board drops complaint about review
Louisville firm weighs starting a water taxi
Man found fatally shot was accused of having sex with a minor
Pardon asked for preacher
Politicking banned at Baptist meetings
Some criticize plan to move mentally retarded
Teen-ager hit while in jail, suit alleges
Thousands send gifts across globe
Unfinished business haunts Bosnia anniversary gathering
Voting problems subject of hearings
Witnesses contradict police over shooting
Woman convicted in mother's death
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report