State Rep. Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, said Tuesday that he has donated $2,000 of his salary from the recent special session to the Carol Martin Gatton Academy for Mathematics and Science at Western Kentucky University.

According to a news release, Richards was instrumental in the establishment and funding of the academy when he was Kentucky House speaker.

The academy is a residential program for high school juniors and seniors from the state who are gifted in science and mathematics.

Richards said the remainder of the money will be returned by waiving salary and expenses for legislative work days until the amount is fully paid.

Richards returned money for an unwarranted special session of $1,318.33 in 2007.

He also called for the legislature to pass an amendment to the Kentucky Constitution similar to the one adopted by the Kentucky House in 2003 while he was speaker. It would provide that members remain in session without receiving a salary or expenses until a budget is adopted.