26RS HB 657

House Bill 657

Actions

Last Action	02/18/26: to Committee on Committees (H)
Title	AN ACT relating to professional licensing background checks.
Bill Documents	Introduced
Bill Request Number	2120
Sponsor	S. Dietz
Summary of Original Version	Create new sections of KRS Chapter 319, 319A, 334A, 335.010 to 335.160, and 335.500 to 335.599, relating to psychologists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists, social workers, and professional counselors, to require a national and state background check for applicants seeking an initial license, reinstatement of a license, or authorization to practice in another state in accordance with a compact; provide that the results of a national and state criminal background check shall not be distributed by the board except to any applicant upon request or as evidence in a legal proceeding; provide that the fee charged by the Department of Kentucky State Police shall be an amount no greater than the actual cost of processing the request and conducting the background check; require the boards to review criminal background checks for every Kentucky licensee seeking to practice in another state before the board makes a determination on whether the person is eligible to apply for compact privileges; provide that boards shall not require a criminal background check solely for the purpose of renewing a license; and require boards to promulgate administrative regulations to implement this Act.
Index Headings of Original Version	Background Checks - Social workers and professional counselors, requirement Background Checks - Occupational therapist, requirement Background Checks - Psychologist, requirement Background Checks - Speech-language pathologists and audiologists, requirement Boards And Commissions - Speech-language pathologists and audiologists, background checks, professional license, requirement Boards And Commissions - Occupational therapy background checks, professional license, requirement Boards And Commissions - Psychology, background checks, professional license, requirement Boards And Commissions - Social workers and professional counselors, background checks, professional license, requiredment Compacts, Interstate - Background checks, professional licenses, requirement Occupations And Professions - Speech-language pathologists and audiologists, background checks, professional license, requirement Occupations And Professions - Occupational therapy background checks, professional license, requirement Occupations And Professions - Psychology, background checks, professional license, requirement Occupations And Professions - Social workers and professional counselors, background checks, professional license, requiredment Police, State - Background checks, professional licenses, requirement