| Last Action | 03/05/26: to Committee on Committees (S) |
|---|---|
| Title | AN ACT relating to local boards of education. |
| Bill Documents |
Current
Introduced |
| Bill Request Number | 1593 |
| Sponsors | R. Bivens, G. Brown Jr., J. Hodgson, K. Jackson, J. Payne, T. Truett |
| Summary of Original Version | Amend KRS 160.180 to require that members of a local board of education not be ineligible for employment in the school district pursuant to KRS 160.380(5); create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to require candidates or nominees for membership on a local board to hold a certificate issued by the Kentucky Department of Education certifying that the candidate or nominee is eligible for membership on the board to appear on the ballot, be certified as a write-in candidate, or be appointed; require individuals applying for a certificate to submit to and pay for a national and state criminal background check, submit a CA/N check and provide other supporting documentation to establish eligibility; provide that records collected pursuant to this section shall be used for the sole purpose of determining a candidate's qualification and shall be exempt from KRS 61.870 to 61.884; direct the department to issue a certificate to individuals that apply for a certificate and are eligible for membership on a board of education; amend KRS 160.190 to remove the requirement that evidence of twelfth grade completion be filed with an application for appointment to the membership on a board of education and instead require that appointed members hold a certificate of qualification issued by the department; amend KRS 117.265 to require a certificate of qualification issued by the department to be filed with a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate; create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to direct the Kentucky Board of Education to adopt a code of ethics for members of boards of education; establish a complaint investigation and resolution process for allegations of violations of the code of ethics; require a determination by the Kentucky Board of Education of clear and convincing evidence that a violation occurred to issue a written public reprimand; require written public reprimands to be entered into the minutes of the next local board of education meeting; direct the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate necessary administrative regulations; provide that existing members shall not be subject to removal on the basis of ineligibility for employment in a school district during their current terms; provide that Sections 1 to 4 of this Act take effect on January 1, 2027. |
| Index Headings of Original Version |
Administrative Regulations And Proceedings - Kentucky Board of Education, local board of education ethics code Boards And Commissions - Kentucky Board of Education, local board of education ethics code and investigation of violations Public Ethics - Local boards of education, code of ethics Education, Elementary And Secondary - Local board of education, candidates, certification of qualification for membership, requirement Education, Elementary And Secondary - Local boards of education, code of ethics for board membership, enforcement Effective Dates, Delayed - Local boards of education, certification of candidate qualification, January 1, 2027 Elections And Voting - Local board of education, candidates, certification of qualification for membership, requirement |
| Jump to Proposed Amendments | House Committee Substitute 1 |
| Votes | Vote History |
| 01/22/26 |
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|---|---|
| 01/30/26 |
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| 02/25/26 |
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| 02/26/26 |
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| 03/02/26 |
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| 03/04/26 |
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| 03/05/26 |
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| Amendment | House Committee Substitute 1 |
|---|---|
| Summary | Delete original provisions; amend KRS 160.180 to require that members of a local board of education not be ineligible for employment in the school district pursuant to KRS 160.380(5); create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to require the county clerk to receive from candidates or nominees for membership on a local board a national and state criminal background check, a clear CA/N check, and other supporting documentation to establish eligibility; provide that records collected be used for the sole purpose of determining a candidate's qualification and shall be exempt from the Open Records Act; amend KRS 160.190 to remove the requirement that evidence of twelfth grade completion be filed with an application for appointment to the membership on a board of education and instead require that appointed members meet the qualifications for office; amend KRS 117.265 to require write-in candidate to prove qualification for office; provide that existing members shall not be subject to removal on the basis of ineligibility for employment in a school district during their current terms; provide that Sections 1 to 4 of this Act take effect on January 1, 2027. |
| Index Headings |
Boards And Commissions - Local board of education, candidates, qualification for membership, proof requirement Children And Minors - Local board of education, candidates, qualification for membership, proof requirement Education, Elementary And Secondary - Local board of education, candidates, qualification for membership, proof requirement Effective Dates, Delayed - Local boards of education, proof off candidate qualification, January 1, 2027 Elections And Voting - Candidate qualifications, local board of education, requirement to prove qualification Public Officers And Employees - County Clerks, proof of candidate qualification for board of education membership, responsibility |
Last updated: 3/9/2026 7:15 PM (EDT)