Kentucky Revised Statutes
Includes enactments through the 2024 Regular Session
Chapter titles, centered headings, section catchlines, and explanatory notes are for informational purposes only and do not constitute any part of the law. For general laws governing construction of statutes, see KRS Chapter 446.
The KRS database was last updated on 11/21/2024
.010 Definitions for KRS 161.020 to 161.134.
.011 Definitions of "classified employee" and "seniority" -- Job classifications and minimum qualifications -- Requirement of written contracts and written personnel policies -- Reduction in force -- Registry of vacant classified employee positions and training -- Review of local board policies by Department of Education.
.017 Education Professional Standards Board to be headed by commissioner of education -- Duties and powers.
.020 Certificates required of school employees -- Filing requirements -- Validity and terms for renewal.
.025 Repealed, 1990.
.027 Preparation program for principals -- Assessment and internship requirements.
.028 Education Professional Standards Board -- Powers and duties regarding the preparation and certification of professional school personnel -- Membership.
.030 Certification authority -- Assessments of beginning teachers and teachers seeking additional certification -- Conditional certificates -- Temporary certificates -- Emeritus and exception certificates.
.031 New teacher induction and mentor programs provided by school districts -- Definitions -- Standards -- Evaluations -- Annual report.
.032 Certification incentive fund -- Purpose of grants -- Eligibility -- Priorities -- Forgivable loan incentive -- Stipend -- Other financial incentives.
.035 Repealed, 1978.
.040 Repealed, 1998.
.042 Status of student teachers -- Responsibility to administrative staff and supervising teachers -- Professional competency requirement for supervising teachers.
.044 Requirements for teachers' aides -- Legal status -- Preference to certified applicants -- Training.
.046 Adjunct instructors.
.048 Legislative findings -- Alternative certification program -- Purpose -- Options -- Testing and eligibility requirements -- Salary schedule.
.049 Professional support teams -- Training program -- Alternate training program.
.050 Repealed, 1950.
.051 Braille requirements for teacher certification of blind and visually impaired students.
.052 Certification of teachers for gifted education.
.053 Certification of teachers of exceptional children/communication disorders.
.060 Repealed, 1950.
.070 Repealed, 1950.
.080 Repealed, 1950.
.090 Repealed, 1950.
.095 Continuing education for teachers -- Extension for military service -- Administrative regulations.
.100 Emergency certificates.
.102 Substitute teaching certificates -- Types -- Conditions.
.110 Repealed, 1978.
.115 Deletion of certificate, certificate endorsement, or subject specialization from official certification record at holder's option -- Restoration of deleted areas of certification.
.120 Disciplinary actions relating to certificates -- Complaint review process -- Superintendent report of school employee whose contract is terminated or not reviewed -- Hearing -- Appeals.
.121 Repealed, 1990.
.1211 Classification of teachers.
.122 Repealed, 1990.
.1221 Out-of-field teaching.
.1222 Repealed, 2024.
.123 Reciprocity certification for out-of-state teachers.
.124 Interstate Agreement on Qualification of Educational Personnel.
.126 Designation of commissioner of education as state official under agreement -- Handling contracts under agreement.
.130 Repealed, 1960.
.131 Legislative findings and goals on national board certification.
.132 Definitions for KRS 161.131 to 161.134 and KRS 157.395 and 161.123.
.133 Teachers' national certification incentive trust fund -- Purposes -- Appropriations.
.134 Preparation for national board certification -- Incentives -- Authority to prorate reimbursements if funds insufficient -- Administrative regulations for mentoring program.
.135 Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact.
.140 Repealed, 1982.
.141 Participation in retirement systems -- State-sponsored insurance program -- Appropriations for retirement and insurance -- Sick leave credit -- Requirements and prohibitions concerning public charter school employees and local school boards -- Employees of education service provider.
.145 Cost of physical examination required for employment of classified personnel.
.148 Use of volunteer personnel -- Criminal records check -- Orientation -- Exception.
.150 Repealed, 1954.
.151 Removal of references to criminal allegations not resulting in charge or conviction from school employee's personnel file -- Nonpreclusion of separate investigation.
.152 Emergency leave for school employees.
.153 Leave for jury duty for teachers and state employees.
.154 Personal leave days for school employees.
.155 Definitions for section -- Salary, benefits, and leave for employee or teacher when victim of assault -- Sick leave for employee or teacher -- Sick leave bank -- Sick leave donation program -- Payment for unused sick leave upon retirement or death.
.156 Repealed, 1972.
.157 Credits allowed transferred employee of Department of Education or Education Professional Standards Board.
.158 Group insurance -- Board's termination of participation in state health plan -- Employees offered coverage in state health plan under federal law eligible for state-funded contribution -- Deductions from salaries.
.159 Adoption of rules and regulations to implement life insurance program.
.160 Repealed, 1942.
.162 Repealed, 1990.
.163 Employees' application form not to require disclosure of religious affiliation.
.164 Political activity prohibited -- Discrimination prohibited -- Instructional materials requirements -- Student not required to advocate for perspective with which he or she does not agree -- Employee not required to engage in training that stereotypes group.
.165 Recruitment of minority teachers.
.166 Training program for Kentucky Virtual High School on-line coaches.
.167 Program to encourage persons to enter Kentucky teaching profession -- Reports.
.168 Certified employee granted leave of absence for active military service -- Medical insurance -- Contribution to retirement system to be retroactive -- Credit given -- Exclusions.
.170 Teachers to enforce course of study and use of books -- Removal for failure.
.175 Teachers involved in illegal use of controlled substances.
.180 Supervision of pupils' conduct.
.185 Certified or classified staff member to accompany students on school-sponsored or endorsed trips -- Exceptions.
.190 Abuse of teacher, classified employee, or school administrator prohibited.
.195 Notice to teacher of student's history of physically abusive conduct or carrying a concealed weapon.
.200 Records to be kept by teachers -- Exceptions.
.210 Reports to be made by teachers.
.212 Educators Employment Liability Insurance Program -- Fund.
.220 Definitions for KRS 161.220 to 161.716 and 161.990.
.230 Retirement system -- Purpose -- Name.
.235 Repealed, 2022.
.240 Repealed, 1964
.250 Board of trustees to control retirement -- Membership -- Appeals -- Trustee education program -- Public disclosure of meeting notices and agendas and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report -- Administrative regulations for authorized benefit improvements.
.260 Election of members of board of trustees.
.270 Vacancies, how filled.
.280 Oath of board members.
.290 Meetings, compensation, and expenses of board members.
.300 Quorum.
.310 Administrative regulations -- Rules, regulations, and policies of participating employers to conform to chapter -- Retirement incentives.
.320 Record of proceedings -- Annual report.
.330 Cost of administration, how paid -- Office space.
.340 Officers of board -- Personnel of system -- Contracting for services and commodities -- Liability insurance -- Leave balances.
.350 Repealed, 1946.
.360 Repealed, 1956.
.370 Treasurer, auditor, and legal adviser of board -- Annual audit of Teachers' Retirement System.
.380 Duties of treasurer -- Custodian of securities.
.390 Actuarial data to be kept.
.400 Duties of actuary -- Actuarial investigations, valuations, and analyses.
.410 Repealed, 1964.
.420 Funds and accounts of retirement system.
.430 Investment of funds -- Standards of conduct -- Investment procurement policy -- Proxy voting guidelines.
.440 Assignment of interest to funds.
.450 Repealed, 1996.
.460 Conflict of interest -- Trustees, employees, members of General Assembly, public servants.
.470 Membership -- Forfeiture of service credit -- Termination of membership -- Forfeiture of benefits -- Reinstatement -- Payment of accumulated account balance.
.480 Statement of member -- Designation of beneficiaries.
.490 Investigation of statement.
.500 Service credit.
.505 Repealed, 1976.
.507 Prior service credit for veterans -- Credit for military service and uniformed service by active contributing member.
.510 Repealed, 2000.
.515 Out-of-state service credit -- Contribution -- Kentucky Peace Corps and federal Peace Corps service credit -- Retirement factor.
.516 Repealed, 1962.
.520 Payment of survivor's benefit on death.
.522 Survivors of certain members retired for disability may elect annuity.
.525 Death of member eligible to retire -- Options of beneficiary -- Monthly minimum allowance to surviving spouse.
.530 Restoration of forfeited account -- Exception.
.540 Members' contributions -- Picked-up contributions.
.545 Contributions and service credit for substitute service, part-time service, or leave of absence -- Contributions not to be picked up -- Purchases of service credit for leaves of absence for health, child-rearing, and educational improvement reasons.
.546 Repealed, 1996.
.5461 Purchase of service credit with rolled-over or transferred retirement funds.
.5465 Member with twenty years' service credit may purchase five years' service credit -- Exceptions.
.547 Member having service as legislator may purchase four years' credit in the retirement system.
.548 Purchase of service credit by individual who served in a regional community program for mental health and individuals with an intellectual disability.
.549 Purchase of service credit by individual who was employed at a Federal Head Start agency.
.550 Contribution to system by employers and state -- Contributions to pension, medical insurance, and life insurance funds.
.553 Funding of past statutory benefit improvements -- Schedules for appropriations -- Cost-of-living increases.
.555 Employer contributions for members employed in positions established under federal educational acts.
.556 Employer contributions for members employed by regional educational cooperatives.
.560 Deduction and forwarding of teachers' contributions -- Reporting requirements -- Picked-up employee contributions -- Correction of omitted member contributions.
.565 Reduction and pick-up of contributions by university faculty members.
.567 Authorization for optional retirement plan for designated employees of certain public universities.
.568 Eligibility to participate in optional retirement plan -- Election to change from optional retirement plan to Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System.
.569 Effect of election to participate -- Payment of benefits -- Taxation and attachment of benefits -- Employer contributions.
.570 Repealed, 1964.
.580 Individual accounts to be kept -- Other data -- Summary plan description -- Publication -- Recipients.
.585 Member's account confidential -- Release of certain information from accounts of current or former legislators -- Medical records on file confidential -- Production of records in response to a subpoena or court order.
.590 Service credit at retirement.
.595 Credit upon service retirement.
.597 Installment payments for purchase of service credit by active contributing members.
.600 Retirement conditions -- Consolidation of accounts -- Applications and forms -- Surviving spouse.
.603 Repealed, 2008.
.605 Resumption of employment by retired member -- Continuation of retirement allowance -- Individuals who retire and are reemployed -- Waiver of annuity -- Part-time, substitute teaching, and nonteaching employment.
.607 Employment in position covered by other Kentucky retirement system.
.608 Computation of benefits of member who has an account with another state system.
.610 Repealed, 1964.
.611 Supplemental retirement benefit plan -- Purpose -- Administration -- Eligibility -- Payments.
.612 Membership of individuals providing part-time and substitute services -- Service credit -- Participation in benefits.
.614 Court-ordered back salary and reinstatement.
.615 Limited defined contribution plan -- Purpose -- Administration -- Eligibility -- Payments.
.620 Retirement allowances for university and nonuniversity retirees -- Amount -- Increases -- Payments for adult dependents.
.623 Use of unused sick-leave days to determine service credit -- Applicability to individuals becoming members on or after July 1, 2008 -- Maximum amount.
.624 Responsibilities of members.
.625 Repealed, 1964.
.630 Benefit options -- Change in benefit option by retiree -- Beneficiary redesignation after retirement.
.633 Foundational component for persons who became nonuniversity members on or after January 1, 2022 -- Valuation assessment -- Adjustments to maintain funding level and contain costs -- Construction.
.634 Foundational component for persons who became university members on or after January 1, 2022 -- Valuation assessment -- Adjustments to maintain funding level and contain costs -- Construction.
.635 Supplemental component for persons who became nonuniversity members on or after January 1, 2022 -- Benefit -- Contributions -- Election upon termination of employment and upon retirement -- Plans authorized under Internal Revenue Code.
.636 Supplemental component for persons who became university members on or after January 1, 2022 -- Benefit -- Contributions -- Election upon termination of employment and upon retirement -- Plans authorized under Internal Revenue Code.
.640 Payment of annuities -- Payroll deductions -- Electronic fund transfer, exception.
.643 Records and annual reports for annuitants employed by school districts or agencies -- Penalty for noncompliance -- System may require more frequent reporting.
.650 Death of retired member -- Payment to beneficiaries -- Effect of divorce decree -- Failure to designate beneficiary.
.655 Life insurance benefit -- Assignment of benefit.
.660 Repealed, 1964.
.661 Disability retirement.
.662 Status of disabled teachers and superintendents.
.663 Disability retirement with less than required years of service.
.670 Repealed, 1964.
.675 Hospital and medical benefits and health insurance coverage for eligible recipients of retirement allowances from Teachers' Retirement System -- Applicability to individuals becoming members on or after July 1, 2008 -- Health insurance supplement payments -- Coverage for spouses, dependents, and disabled children of retirees -- Exemption from premium tax.
.677 Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System insurance trust fund.
.680 Mistake in payment -- Correction of error -- Collection of overpayments.
.690 Falsifying record prohibited.
.695 Use and acceptance of electronic signatures.
.700 Funds exempt from taxation and process -- Taxability after December 31, 1997 -- Benefits not considered marital property -- Qualified domestic relations order.
.705 Repealed, 1992.
.710 Local system merged with state system.
.712 Repealed, 1996.
.714 Inviolable contract.
.715 Repealed, 1976.
.716 Federal laws take precedence over Kentucky statutes pertaining to Teachers' Retirement System.
.720 Definitions for teachers' tenure law.
.721 Superintendent eligible for continuing contract status.
.730 Limited or continuing contract with teachers required.
.740 Eligibility for continuing service status -- Limited status employee on approved military leave -- Transfer of teachers -- Reinstatement after service in Armed Forces -- District-level administrative position in county with consolidated local government.
.750 Nonrenewal of limited contracts.
.760 Notice of salary to be paid to teacher -- Increases -- Reductions in responsibility.
.765 Procedures for demotion of administrative personnel -- Appeal.
.770 Leaves of absence.
.780 Termination of contract by teacher or superintendent -- Resignation binding as of date of acceptance.
.790 Termination of contract by board -- Administrative hearing tribunal -- Sanctions.
.795 Investigation of and records that school employee acted improperly relating to statewide assessment program -- Certain records to be expunged.
.800 Suspension of contracts on reducing number of teachers.
.810 Continuance of status in case of annexation or consolidation of schools.
.821 Repealed, 1978.
.822 Repealed, 1978.
.823 Repealed, 1978.
.824 Repealed, 1978.
.825 Repealed, 1978.
.826 Repealed, 1978.
.827 Repealed, 1978.
.828 Repealed, 1978.
.829 Repealed, 1978.
.830 Repealed, 1978.
.831 Repealed, 1978.
.832 Repealed, 1978.
.833 Repealed, 1978.
.834 Repealed, 1978.
.835 Repealed, 1978.
.836 Repealed, 1978.
.837 Repealed, 1978.
.841 Repealed, 1990.
.990 Penalties.