AN ACT relating to historic preservation.
     Create new sections of KRS Chapter 381 relating to the disposition of historic or prehistoric human remains; declare public policy of the Commonwealth regarding historic or prehistoric human remains; define terms relating to the disposition of historic or prehistoric human remains; establish property confirmation process by which property owners or developers verify whether property contains known human remains; authorize the Kentucky Heritage Council to promulgate administrative regulations related to the disposition of historic and prehistoric human remains; prohibit the issuance of building permits under KRS Chapter 198B until the property owner or developer has completed the preconditions relating to human remains; formulate the procedures and requirements for a human remains outcome review; prescribe the procedures and requirements for an adverse effects determination; list prohibited actions subject to the penalties prescribed in KRS 381.990 regarding the disposition of human remains; establish the procedures and requirements for a human remains disposition agreement between the Kentucky Heritage Council and a property owner or developer; authorize the Kentucky Heritage Council to establish a plan for the disposition of human remains if a human remains disposition agreement cannot be reached; create an emergency inspection process for unforeseen human remains or unforeseen adverse effects on human remains; allow property owners or developers to appeal in specified ways when aggrieved by decisions of the Kentucky Heritage Council; exempt from human remains disposition process actions taken under KRS 381.755 or KRS Chapter 72, surface coal mining conducted in accordance with a permit issued under KRS Chapter 350, archaeological investigations and data recovery projects conducted under relevant portions of the Federal National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, and archaeological surveys; amend KRS 381.990 to create the offense of intentional desecration of human remains; levy fines of not less than $1,000 and not more than $2,000 for each act of intentional desecration of human remains; declare that intentional desecration of human remains is a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class D felony for each subsequent offense; amend KRS 164.715 to state that no person shall willfully injure, destroy, or deface any human remains found on any property when protected under this Act; make technical corrections to conform; amend KRS 171.313 to require the Kentucky Historical Society to cooperate in the processes established under this Act; make technical corrections to conform; amend KRS 171.381 to require the Kentucky Heritage Council to develop and control the system for disposition of human remains under this Act; make technical corrections; require the state historic preservation officer to coordinate and administer the system for the disposition of historic and prehistoric human remains established under this Act; make technical corrections to conform.

     Feb 7-introduced in House
     Feb 8-to Licensing and Occupations (H)
     Feb 14-posted in committee
     Feb 16-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
     Feb 17-2nd reading, to Rules
     Feb 22-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 23, 2005