diff --git a/layers/Dockerfile b/layers/Dockerfile
index e5fe428..d2ab947 100644
--- a/layers/Dockerfile
+++ b/layers/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Make sure to use the amazonlinux version appropriate to python version 
+# Make sure to use the amazonlinux version appropriate to python version
 # of the operating system documented here:
 # https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/lambda-runtimes.html
 FROM amazonlinux:2
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ ARG BUILT_LAYER_NAME
 
 ENV PYTHON_VERSION="3.11.8"
 
-# note that openssl-devel since it is version openssl v3.x.x 
+# note that openssl-devel is version v3.x.x of openssl
 # is not compatiable with python 3.11.8
 # The below installs openssl v1.x.x
 RUN yum install -y tar \
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ RUN cd /opt && \
     rm Python-$PYTHON_VERSION.tgz
 
 #python install
-RUN cd /opt/Python-$PYTHON_VERSION && \ 
+RUN cd /opt/Python-$PYTHON_VERSION && \
     ./configure --enable-optimizations && make altinstall
 
 
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ RUN /opt/Python-$PYTHON_VERSION/python -m venv avenv
 
 COPY requirements/ requirements/
 
-# #ask-sdk-core install
+#ask-sdk-core install
 RUN source avenv/bin/activate && \
     mkdir python && \
-    pip install -r requirements/requirements-dev.txt --target ./python 
+    pip install -r requirements/requirements-dev.txt --target ./python
 
 #bundle dependency for deployment as layer
 RUN zip -r $BUILT_LAYER_NAME python
diff --git a/layers/ask_sdk_core_1_19_0.zip b/layers/ask_sdk_core_1_19_0.zip
deleted file mode 100644
index 8528a59..0000000
Binary files a/layers/ask_sdk_core_1_19_0.zip and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/scripts/cf_layer_orchestration.sh b/scripts/cf_layer_orchestration.sh
index dd80a7e..b431bc1 100644
--- a/scripts/cf_layer_orchestration.sh
+++ b/scripts/cf_layer_orchestration.sh
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 aws s3api put-object --bucket lambda-deployment-bundles \
-    --key layers/ask_sdk_core_most_recent.zip \
+    --key layers/ask_sdk_core_1_19_0.zip \
     --body layers/ask_sdk_core_1_19_0.zip
 
 
 aws cloudformation create-change-set \
     --stack-name alexa-skills-kit-sdk-python-layer \
     --change-set-name tvratings-new-layer-version \
-    --template-body file://templates/ask_lambda_layer.template 
+    --template-body file://templates/ask_lambda_layer.template
 
 aws cloudformation execute-change-set \
     --stack-name alexa-skills-kit-sdk-python-layer \
-    --change-set-name tvratings-new-layer-version 
+    --change-set-name tvratings-new-layer-version
diff --git a/templates/tvratings_alexa_skill.template b/templates/tvratings_alexa_skill.template
index 8b60ba4..7d4e568 100644
--- a/templates/tvratings_alexa_skill.template
+++ b/templates/tvratings_alexa_skill.template
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 AWSTemplateFormatVersion: '2010-09-09'
 
 Description: |
-  Lambda function specification for a custom alexa skill and an s3 bucket for 
+  Lambda function specification for a custom alexa skill and an s3 bucket for
   built aws lambda layers
 
 Parameters:
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Parameters:
 
   alexaSkillsKitLayerVersion:
     Type: String
-    Default: 1
+    Default: 2
 
   functionHandler:
     Type: String
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ Parameters:
     Type: String
     Default: tvratings
 
+  pythonVersion:
+    Type: String
+    Default: python3.11
+
 Resources:
 
 
@@ -58,7 +62,7 @@ Resources:
 
   lambdaPythonFunction:
     Type: AWS::Lambda::Function
-    Properties: 
+    Properties:
 
       Code:
         S3Bucket: !Ref artifactBucket
@@ -69,13 +73,13 @@ Resources:
       FunctionName: !Sub ${projectName}-alexa-skill
       Handler: !Ref functionHandler
 
-      Layers: 
+      Layers:
         - !Sub 'arn:aws:lambda:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:layer:${alexaSkillsKitLayerName}:${alexaSkillsKitLayerVersion}'
 
       MemorySize: !Ref lambdaMemorySize
       PackageType: Zip
       Role: !Sub arn:aws:iam::${AWS::AccountId}:role/${lambdaExecutionRoleName}
-      Runtime: python3.9
+      Runtime: !Ref pythonVersion
       Timeout: !Ref lambdaTimeout
-      TracingConfig: 
+      TracingConfig:
         Mode: Active