Senate Bill 181

Actions | Amendments
Last Action 04/01/25: signed by Governor
Title AN ACT relating to children.
Bill Documents Current/Final
Introduced
Fiscal Impact Statement Fiscal Note
Bill Request Number 1477
Sponsor L. Tichenor
Summary of Original Version Create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to define terms; direct each local board of education to designate one or more programs or applications as a traceable communication system that shall be the exclusive means for school district employees and volunteers to communicate electronically with students; provide that a parent may submit written consent for a designated school district employee or volunteer to communicate electronically with a student outside of the traceable communication system; exclude communications between a parent that is a school district employee or volunteer and his or her own children; establish a mandatory duty to report violations for school employees and volunteers; require principals, superintendents, and the commissioner of education to notify parents of allegations of unauthorized electronic communication involving their children; require principals, superintendents, and the commissioner of education to report alleged violations to the Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB); require principals, superintendents, the commissioner of education, and EPSB to investigate designated allegations of unauthorized electronic communication; establish the methods of disciplinary action for a violation; amend KRS 161.120 to provide that the identity of complainants alleging unauthorized electronic communication, sexual contact, or other sexual misconduct that are dismissed and minors invovled in the complaint to remain confidential; provide that EPSB will have 120 days to conduct the initial review of complaints alleging unauthorized electronic communication, sexual contact, or other sexual misconduct.
Index Headings of Original Version Fiscal Note - Electronic communication with students, restrictions
Education, Elementary and Secondary - Electronic communication with students, restrictions
State Agencies - Education Professional Standards Board, disciplinary actions, sexual misconduct procedures
State Employees - School district personnel, electronic communication with students, restrictions
Teachers - Complaint review, sexual misconduct and unauthorized electronic communication, 120 day period
Teachers - School district personnel, electronic communication with students, restrictions
Children and Minors - Electronic communication by school district personnel with students, restrictions
Boards and Commissions - Local boards of education, electronic communication policy, traceable communication system
Jump to Proposed Amendments Senate Floor Amendment 1
House Committee Substitute 1
House Committee Amendment 1
Votes Vote History

Actions

Top | Amendments
02/14/25
  • introduced in Senate
  • to Committee on Committees (S)
02/19/25
  • to Families & Children (S)
03/04/25
  • reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
  • floor amendment (1) filed
03/05/25
  • 2nd reading, to Rules
  • posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 06, 2025
03/06/25
  • 3rd reading, passed 37-0 with Floor Amendment (1)
  • received in House
  • to Committee on Committees (H)
03/13/25
  • taken from Committee on Committees (H)
  • 1st reading
  • returned to Committee on Committees (H)
03/14/25
  • taken from Committee on Committees (H)
  • 2nd reading
  • returned to Committee on Committees (H)
03/27/25
  • taken from Committee on Committees (H)
  • to Families & Children (H)
  • reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
  • taken from Rules
  • placed in the Orders of the Day
03/28/25
  • 3rd reading, passed 100-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
  • received in Senate
  • to Rules (S)
  • posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
  • Senate concurred in House Committee Substitute (1) and committee amendment (1-title)
  • passed 38-0
  • enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
  • enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
  • delivered to Governor
04/01/25
  • signed by Governor

Proposed Amendments

Top | Actions
Amendment Senate Floor Amendment 1
Sponsor L. Tichenor
Summary Retain original provisions and require each principal to provide parents written or electronic notification within the first 10 days of the school year of each electronic school notification and communication program designated within the traceable communication system.
Index Headings Children and Minors - Tracible communication system, notice and instructions to parents within 10 days of school year
Education, Elementary and Secondary - Tracible communication system, notice and instructions to parents within 10 days of school year
Parental Rights - School communication, traceable communication system, notice and instructions to parents
Boards and Commissions - Local boards of education, traceable communication systems, notification to parents

Amendment House Committee Substitute 1
Summary Retain original provisions, except define "family member"; require an investigation if a report alleges a school or district volunteer participated in unauthorized electronic communication; exclude family members from the requirement for consent by a parent for electronic communication; amend KRS 158.1415 to exclude age-appropriate child sexual abuse instruction from the prohibition of human sexuality instruction for students in the fifth grade or lower; amend KRS 620.040 to establish a timeline to require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to physically locate a child who has been reported to be at risk of harm or an immediate safety concern; amend KRS 605.120 to require that the report by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services that tracks and analyzes data on relative and fictive kin caregiver placement be done annually and posted to the cabinet website for public access.
Index Headings Courts - Relative and fictive kin care program, program reporting requirements
Education, Elementary and Secondary - Age-appropriate child sexual abuse instruction, fifth grade and below, authorization
Education, Elementary and Secondary - School and district employees and volunteers, electronic communication with students, restrictions
Education, Elementary and Secondary - School and district volunteers, electronic communication with students, restrictions
Guardians - Relative and fictive kin care program, program reporting requirements
Parental Rights - Relative and fictive kin care program, program reporting requirements
Courts, Family - Relative and fictive kin care program, program reporting requirements
Children and Minors - Age-appropriate child sexual abuse instruction, fifth grade and below, authorization
Children and Minors - Relative and fictive kin care program, program reporting requirements
Children and Minors - School and district volunteers, electronic communication, restrictions

Amendment House Committee Amendment 1
Sponsor S. Heavrin
Summary Make title amendment.
Index Headings Title Amendments - SB 181/GA

Last updated: 4/1/2025 2:25 PM (EDT)