World

Kentucky lawmakers to attend anti-harassment training

Kentucky lawmakers to attend anti-harassment training

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2016, file photo, Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, talks with Assemblyman Ken Cooley, D-Rancho Cordova, at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. Assembly lawmakers including Melendez and Cooley met in November to discuss ways of improving their policies for preventing and responding to sexual harassment since nearly 150 women signed a letter in mid-October saying such behavior is pervasive at the Capitol but women don't report it because they fear retaliation. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

FRANKFORT: Kentucky lawmakers must attend training to prevent sexual harassment, one day after the House speaker temporarily ceded power while investigators probe a secret sexual harassment settlement signed by four Republicans.

Jeff Hoover had announced he would resign as speaker two months ago shortly after acknowledging he secretly settled a sexual harassment claim outside of court with a woman who worked for the House Republican Caucus. But Tuesday, Hoover did not resign, instead authorizing House Speaker Pro Tempore David Osborne to preside over the chamber 'until further notice.' Meanwhile, Hoover and others must attend mandatory anti-harassment training on Wednesday, part of reforms put in place several years ago after some state workers sued a former Democratic state representative for sexual harassment.