Create a new section of KRS 78.510 to 78.852 to allow employers participating in the County Employees Retirement System (CERS) to make a one-time election to offer members who work in hazardous positions who are hired on or after January 1, 2014, but prior to July 1, 2027, so that, in lieu of continued participation in the hybrid cash balance plan (Tier III benefits), these members receive the benefits provided to members in a hazardous position who began participating immediately prior to January 1, 2014 (Tier II benefits); allow for employers in CERS to make a one-time election to opt in to the benefit change by July 1, 2027; allow members who are employed by an employer that makes a one-time election to make a one-time election to opt into the benefit change within 30 days of the employer election and allow a member to pay the costs to convert any other Tier III benefit service in a hazardous position to Tier II benefit service; provide that all new hires after July 1, 2027, in hazardous positions for any employer that makes a one-time election receive Tier II benefits; require that accumulated contributions in the hybrid cash balance plan remain in the member's account; provide that any member eligible to make a one-time irrevocable election to change their benefits shall not have the option to change or make a new election under any circumstances relating to a change in employment or reemployment with a participating employer; amend KRS 61.5955 to exempt members who are participating in Tier II benefits based upon an election of an employer pursuant to this Act; amend KRS 61.680 to allow members who have Tier II and Tier III service to consolidate that service for the purpose of determining eligibility and amount of benefits; amend KRS 78.510 to add December 31, 2013, to the definition of "membership date" for members whose benefit tier changes pursuant to this Act; amend KRS 78.5520 to allow members to pay the cost of converting any other Tier III service in a hazardous position to Tier II service and allow employers to pay the cost of converting any Tier III service that could be converted to Tier II service on behalf of the employee; amend KRS 78.635 to require employers who make a one-time irrevocable election to pay an additional actuarially accrued liability contribution that is sufficient to fund the conversion of benefits; amend KRS 78.640 to allow a member's accumulated employer credit attributable to service converted to Tier II benefits to be transferred to the retirement allowance account; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2027.
Amend KRS 78.5522 to allow for the 5 year service requirement for disability retirement to be waived for a person who works in a nonhazardous position that could be certified as a hazardous position who is injured in line of duty resulting in an incapacity to continue as an employee in the position that could be certified as hazardous; allow certain persons whose last day of paid employment was on or after January 1, 2022, but prior to the effective date of this Act to apply for disability benefits; RETROACTIVE.
This bill amends Kentucky law to clarify how public school districts must publish their annual financial statements and school report cards. It requires school superintendents to make these documents available either in the largest county newspaper, on the district's website, or as printed copies at the main public library. If the district chooses to post documents online or at the library, it must also publish a notice in the newspaper telling the public where to find them. The amendment also ensures all financial statements are prepared using consistent accounting methods across different school systems.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to create the physician recruitment and retention program to provide loan repayment to eligible medical students; define terms; specify the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority may provide awards to eligible students; require 10 years of qualified medical service; require repayment if services are not rendered; specify that failure to meet repayment obligations may be cause for revocation of a medical license at the discretion of the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.
This bill creates a new section in Kentucky law to clarify how the titles of legislative acts should be interpreted. It directly affects the General Assembly and state courts by establishing rules for determining whether a bill contains an appropriation or declares an emergency. The key provision states that including terms like "appropriation" or "declaring an emergency" in a bill's title does not automatically mean the bill contains those elements. Instead, courts and legislative rules will determine the actual content of a bill, and justifications for declaring an emergency in a bill's text will only be used for emergency purposes, not to indicate broader legislative intent.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to make legislative findings, provide a teacher bill of rights, and require each local school board to provide a copy of the teacher bill of rights to all teachers and post the teacher bill of rights in all public school buildings containing instructional space for students.
Amend KRS 15.519 to make game wardens employed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources subject to the same requirements for entering or accessing private open land as other law enforcement officers; amend KRS 150.090 to conform; amend KRS 235.310 to make boating enforcement officers employed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources subject to the same requirements for entering or accessing private open land as other law enforcement officers.
This bill directs the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to designate a specific section of Kentucky Route 93 in Lyon County as the "Sean Robert King Share the Road Memorial Highway." The designated stretch runs from Poplar Creek Road to Kentucky Route 819 and honors Sean Robert King, a cyclist who was killed on that road in 2023. The legislation requires the Transportation Cabinet to install appropriate signage within 30 days of the bill's effective date. This measure is intended to commemorate King's life and promote roadway safety awareness for motorists and cyclists.
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 367 to establish definitions; allow a customer of utility that provides electric, gas, water, or sewer services to opt out of having a smart meter installed if the customer owns the premises where the meter will be installed; establish procedures to opt out of the smart meter or request an analog meter; require utilities that furnish water, electric, gas, or sewer services to maintain sufficient quantities of meters for customer demand; require the retail electric supplier to give the customer 30 days' notice and give the customer 30 days to respond; require installation of the selected meter no later than 30 days after the selection; prohibit retail provider of electric, water, sewer, or gas service from charging the customer for the installation of the meter or imposing a surcharge or fee for opting out of having the smart meter installed; establish a process of obtaining a refund for a utility for improper charges through the Office of the Attorney General, Office of Rate Intervention; allow a customer to request a refund for any fees or damages incurred after January 1, 2015; require the utility and the fire district to send reports on fires involving meters; require a warning label on the meter and certification of the meter; provide for civil action; establish liability for harm caused by electromagnetic frequency radiation; prohibit the use of the meter to collect data accessed by third parties or any use of data that is not for the provision of utility service; require compensation for use of the meter to create a wireless network; require the utility to provide radiation protection at the customer's request; affirm a customer's private right of action and that the damages from a smart meter installation does not reduce the customer's outstanding balance to a utility service provider; RETROACTIVE.
Amend KRS 26A.090 to define terms; remove the definition for the court facilities standards committee; amend KRS 26A.107 to establish the duties of the Administrative Office of the Courts relating to assessments of court facilities and construction; create a new section of KRS Chapter 26A to establish the Court Facilities Construction Standards Board; establish the membership and duties of the board; establish a Local Project Development Board; establish the membership and duties of the board; establish the duties and responsibilities of all state and local parties related to construction of court facilities; create a new section of KRS Chapter 26A to establish payment of debt service on bonds issued by a local government for the construction of a court facility and payment of operational costs; create a new section of KRS Chapter 26A to establish duties of a local government for maintenance of new court facilities; establish duties of the Administrative Office of the Courts for reporting of maintenance activity and facility conditions; amend various sections of KRS Chapter 26A to establish the applicability of the duties and requirements related to court facilities projects under construction or for which authority has been given by the General Assembly prior to and on or after the effective date of the Act, and to conform; provide that provisions of this Act applying to new projects shall only apply to all projects authorized after the effective date of the Act, and do not affect, impair, or modify existing projects; EMERGENCY; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2026.
Amend KRS 456.010 to define "school violence"; amend KRS 456.030 to allow a victim of school violence to file a petition for an interpersonal protective order; amend various sections of KRS Chapter 456 to conform.
This bill limits the number of students from outside a school district who can enroll in that district's virtual school programs. It requires districts to set a policy for nonresident enrollment and allows them to charge tuition fees for students who do not live in the district. The law establishes enrollment caps, starting with a statewide limit of 1% of total student enrollment and a district-specific limit of 10% of each district's student enrollment, with specific exceptions for military dependents, siblings, and students with medical needs. School districts must report enrollment data to the state, and the department will monitor and enforce these limits, with a provision that districts must stop accepting nonresident virtual students after June 30, 2028, unless further permission is granted.
