Criminal Justice

Amend KRS 527.010 to define "domestic abuse offense," "domestic violence protective order," and "physical force"; create new sections of KRS Chapter 527 to create the crimes of possession of a firearm by a convicted domestic abuser and possession of a firearm by the subject of a domestic violence protective order; require the surrender of firearm by individuals subject to protective orders or convicted of specified crimes; amend KRS 403.740 and 456.060 to require courts to inform the subject of a domestic violence order or an interpersonal protective order of the firearm possession prohibition.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 411 to establish a cause of action for a person who was wrongfully convicted of a felony in the Commonwealth; specify amounts of damages that may be awarded to claimants; establish the wrongful conviction compensation fund.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 200 to define terms; establish procedures for a child charged with a public offense to determine if the child is a high acuity youth; establish procedures for securing a treatment plan and dispute resolution through a review process and the court if the parties cannot agree to a plan; require a 24-hour protocol for health facilities, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the courts to direct care; establish reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care of a child by psychiatric hospitals and pediatric teaching hospitals; establish procedures for discharge and transfer of the child from an inpatient admission under specific circumstances; amend KRS 15A.305 to include a mental health facility operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice as an identified facility for the detention and treatment of children; direct the operation of 2 female-only facilities with authority to increase as population increases; direct reimbursement rates for local governments lodging juveniles to be set by administrative regulation; amend KRS 600.020 to remove and add defined terms; amend KRS 610.265 to remove beginning date that is past; amend KRS 610.340 to enable release of information in specific circumstances; amend various sections of KRS to conform; authorize the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to construct a high acuity youth mental health facility, subject to funding; direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide clinical services; direct the Department of Juvenile Justice to continue to implement the plan to return to a regional model of detention.

Amend KRS 510.060, relating to rape in the third degree, to prohibit a school employee from engaging in sexual intercourse with a student enrolled in an elementary or secondary school with whom he or she comes into contact with as a result of that employment; amend KRS 510.090, relating to sodomy in the third degree, to prohibit a school employee from engaging in deviate sexual intercourse with a student enrolled in an elementary or secondary school with whom he or she comes into contact with as a result of that employment; amend KRS 510.110, relating to sexual abuse in the first degree, to prohibit a school employee from subjecting a student to sexual contact, engaging in masturbation in the student's presence, or engaging in masturbation while using the internet, telephone, or other electronic communication with a student who can see or hear the school employee masturbate; amend KRS 510.010 to define "school employee"; amend various sections of the Kentucky Revised Statutes to conform and make technical corrections.

Amend KRS 186.417 to require that felony offenders released from county jails and local correctional facilities be issued personal identification cards or operator's licenses under certain conditions.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 532 to allow evidence relevant to sentencing to be introduced by the Commonwealth and evidence in mitigation or support of leniency to be introduced by the defendant during sentencing hearings in non-felony cases.

Amend KRS 61.7991 to add state and federal prosecutors and public defenders to the definition of "covered person"; authorize standing for a civil action for injunctive or declaratory relief for unauthorized disclosure; provide that the removal of information does not apply to financial disclosures required under KRS Chapter 61.

Propose to amend Section 145 of the Constitution of Kentucky to restore the voting rights of persons convicted of certain felonies after completion of imprisonment, probation, or parole; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.

Amend KRS 431.066 to limit the use of money bail to certain high-risk defendants and create a preventive detention process for defendants of select risk levels and charge types; create a new section of KRS Chapter 431 to establish a preventive detention hearing process and define the limited circumstances in which money bail may be imposed; amend various other sections to conform; repeal KRS 431.021, relating to guaranteed arrest bond certificates.

HB 324 requires all Kentucky law enforcement officers to complete at least eight hours of crisis intervention and de-escalation training during their basic law enforcement certification. It also mandates that all certified peace officers undergo this training at least once every two years. The bill applies to every law enforcement agency and officer in Kentucky, administered by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council. This requirement is part of broader training standards that also cover domestic violence, sexual assault response, and human trafficking investigations.