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1 AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.
2 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
3 SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 156 IS CREATED TO
4 READ AS FOLLOWS:
5 (1) As used in this section:
6 (a) "Department" means the Kentucky Department of Education; and
7 (b) "Principal" means a person who:
8 1. Is the primary administrator and instructional leader of a public
9 school or program;
10 2. Supervises students and school employees; and
11 3. Is selected by the district's superintendent pursuant to KRS 160.345.
12 (2) There is hereby established the principal leadership development practicum to
13 provide all new principals within the first four (4) years of experience in the
14 position with leadership development training. It is the intent of the General
15 Assembly to ensure that a school district or principal incurs no cost for the
16 participation in the practicum and the principal receives a stipend toward the cost
17 of the third year of the practicum. The Kentucky Department of Education shall
18 develop and operate the practicum, subject to the following provisions:
19 (a) The practicum shall operate based on cohorts of new principals and offer
20 four (4) years of leadership development training with specific requirements
21 in each year. The department shall annually establish a calendar for the
22 operation of the practicum;
23 (b) Each year's cohort of new principals shall consist of those people who first
24 became principals by September 1 of each year;
25 (c) The department shall establish the minimum requirements for successful
26 completion of each year, including hours of instruction or specific work
27 products;
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1 (d) The first and second year of the practicum shall provide professional
2 learning and mentorship supports to new principals, subject to the
3 following:
4 1. The mentors shall have significant and successful experience as a
5 principal and may be currently employed in a school district or retired.
6 The mentors shall provide ongoing support to the new principals
7 through the first and second school year with regular personal
8 sessions to provide individualized support to the new principal;
9 2. The mentorship shall also provide the cohort of new principals an
10 opportunity to build a peer support network;
11 3. The professional learning provided by the department shall be aligned
12 to the most recent professional standards adopted by the National
13 Policy Board for Educational Administration and include, at a
14 minimum, the following topics:
15 a. Personnel evaluation and feedback;
16 b. School-based decision making and school councils;
17 c. Implementation of instructional leadership, high-quality
18 instructional materials, and curriculum alignment;
19 d. Assessment and accountability;
20 e. Multitiered systems of support;
21 f. Services for exceptional children and youth; and
22 g. School safety; and
23 4. Professional learning under subparagraph 3. of this paragraph shall
24 utilize any existing trainings required in administrative regulation or
25 statute or developed by the department. Additional professional
26 learning developed by the department shall first be approved by the
27 Kentucky Board of Education;
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1 (e) The third year of the practicum shall require, as funds are available, that
2 the new principal participate in an intensive leadership program during the
3 summer with follow-up sessions throughout the following year. The
4 leadership program shall be established by the department in partnership
5 with the Kentucky Chamber Foundation. A new principal shall be exempted
6 from the requirements of this paragraph if:
7 1. The new principal misses the intensive leadership program during the
8 summer due to illness or an emergency;
9 2. The absence is approved by the superintendent of the school district in
10 which the new principal is employed; and
11 3. The new principal completes an alternative program established by the
12 department; and
13 (f) The fourth year of the practicum shall not be mandatory but shall provide
14 high-level leadership training options for new principals. The department
15 shall establish the standards for training providers and the trainings under
16 this paragraph, including the number of hours required. The department
17 shall maintain a list of training providers who are eligible to provide the
18 high-level leadership training and make it available to new principals; and
19 (g) After the fourth year, each principal shall continue leadership development
20 through the effective instructional leadership program established in
21 Section 2 of this Act.
22 (3) A principal may submit the participant hours of instruction that the principal
23 earns under this section during a year toward the twenty-one (21) participant
24 hours required by the effective instructional leadership program established in
25 Section 2 of this Act. The department shall grant program credit for the verified
26 hours the principal submits.
27 (4) If a person discontinues serving as a principal during the first four (4) years of
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1 service and subsequently returns to a principal position, then that person shall
2 continue the new principal program for the year in which the person was
3 previously participating.
4 (5) The principal leadership development practicum required under this section shall
5 begin on July 1, 2027, for the 2027-2028 school year with a cohort of principals
6 with less than one (1) year of experience in the position. Subsequent cohorts shall
7 be admitted as provided in subsection (2) of this section.
8 (6) The Kentucky Board of Education may promulgate administrative regulations in
9 accordance with KRS Chapter 13A for the operation of the section.
10 Section 2. KRS 156.101 is amended to read as follows:
11 (1) The purpose of this section is to encourage and require the maintenance and
12 development of effective instructional leadership in the public schools of the
13 Commonwealth and to recognize that principals, with the assistance of assistant
14 principals, supervisors of instruction, guidance counselors, and directors of special
15 education, have the primary responsibility for instructional leadership in the schools
16 to which they are assigned.
17 (2) As used in[For the purpose of] this section, "instructional leader" means[shall be
18 defined as] an employee of the public schools of the Commonwealth employed as a
19 principal, assistant principal, supervisor of instruction, guidance counselor, director
20 of special education, or other administrative position deemed by the Education
21 Professional Standards Board to require an administrative certificate.
22 (3) In order to carry out the purpose of this section, the Kentucky Board of Education
23 shall establish a statewide program to improve and maintain the quality[ and
24 effectiveness] of effective instructional leadership in the public schools of the
25 Commonwealth.
26 (4) The effective instructional leadership[instructional leader improvement] program
27 shall contain the following provisions:
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1 (a) Each instructional leader employed by the public schools of the
2 Commonwealth shall participate in a continuing intensive training program
3 designed especially for instructional leaders;
4 (b) Each instructional leader shall annually complete an intensive training
5 program approved by the Kentucky Board of Education to include no fewer
6 than twenty-one (21) participant hours of instruction. Hours completed by
7 participants in the principal leadership development practicum under
8 Section 1 of this Act may be substituted to satisfy this requirement;
9 (c) The Kentucky Board of Education shall prescribe specific criteria for the
10 training program. The Kentucky Department of Education may contract for
11 specific training with qualified agencies or institutions or approve programs
12 offered by training providers, including local district training programs,
13 except that the department shall ensure the requirements of paragraph (d) of
14 this subsection are met; and
15 (d) Annually, each local district superintendent shall report to the Kentucky
16 Department of Education any instructional leader who fails to complete the
17 training requirements of paragraph (b) of this subsection and shall place the
18 leader on probation for one (1) year. The Department of Education shall
19 verify completion of the required training. If the required training for the prior
20 year and the current year is not completed during the probationary period, the
21 Department of Education shall forward the information to the Education
22 Professional Standards Board, which shall revoke the instructional leader's
23 certificate.
24 (5) The Kentucky Department of Education shall ensure that training options in human
25 resource management and conflict resolution techniques are available to education
26 leaders throughout the state.
27 (6) This section shall be known as the ["]Effective Instructional Leadership Act.["]
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1 Section 3. KRS 161.027 is amended to read as follows:
2 (1) The Education Professional Standards Board, pursuant to KRS 161.028, shall by
3 administrative regulation establish requirements for a preparation program in
4 institutions of higher education for all new applicants for principal certification and
5 establish criteria for admission to the program.
6 (2) The Education Professional Standards Board and the Council on Postsecondary
7 Education shall evaluate the preparation programs for principals and maintain only
8 those institutional programs that can demonstrate both the quality and the capability
9 to enroll adequate numbers of students to justify the resources necessary for
10 maintenance of a quality program.
11 (3) The Education Professional Standards Board shall develop or select appropriate
12 assessments for applicants seeking certification as principals, including an
13 assessment of the ability to apply knowledge, instructional leadership, management,
14 and supervision skills.
15 (4) The Education Professional Standards Board shall establish the minimum score for
16 successful completion of assessments and shall establish a reasonable fee to be
17 charged applicants for the actual cost of administration of the assessments. The
18 Education Professional Standards Board shall provide for confidentiality of
19 assessment scores.
20 (5) [The Education Professional Standards Board shall develop an internship program
21 which shall provide for the supervision, assistance, and assessment of beginning
22 principals and assistant principals. The internship shall not be required of applicants
23 who have completed, within a ten (10) year period prior to making application, at
24 least two (2) years of successful experience as a principal in a school situation. The
25 Education Professional Standards Board, by administrative regulation, shall
26 establish the internship program.
27 (6) ]The certification of principals shall require the successful completion of the
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1 examinations required by subsection (3) of this section. A one (1) year certificate
2 may be given to a person who has:
3 (a) A comparable certificate from another state; or
4 (b) All other qualifications except the assessments and is selected as a principal or
5 assistant principal in a district where the superintendent certifies to the
6 Education Professional Standards Board that there is a limited number of
7 applicants to meet the requirements.
8 Upon successful completion of the assessments, a certificate shall be issued for an
9 additional four (4) years. A person employed in Kentucky as a principal or assistant
10 principal who was certified in another state and practiced in that state for two (2) or
11 more years is exempt from taking the assessment described in subsection (3)(a) of
12 this section.
13 (6)[(7)] Upon successful completion of the approved preparation program and the
14 assessments, the Education Professional Standards Board shall issue to the
15 applicant a statement of eligibility for internship valid for five (5) years. If the
16 applicant does not gain employment as a principal[participate in an internship
17 program] within the five (5) year period, the applicant shall reestablish eligibility by
18 repeating and passing the assessments in effect at that time or by completing a
19 minimum of six (6) graduate hours, directly related to instructional leadership,
20 management, or supervision, at a regionally or nationally accredited institution. The
21 option for renewal through completion of graduate hours shall be available only for
22 the first reestablishment of eligibility. Upon obtaining employment for an internship
23 position as principal or assistant principal within the period of eligibility, the
24 applicant shall be issued the appropriate one (1) year certificate for the position.
25 (7)[(8)] [All applicants for principal certification, after successfully completing the
26 assessments, shall successfully complete the internship program described in
27 subsection (5) of this section for principal certification. If the principal's or assistant
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1 principal's internship performance is judged to be less than satisfactory pursuant to
2 administrative regulations developed by the Education Professional Standards
3 Board, the applicant for principal certification shall be provided with an opportunity
4 to repeat the internship one (1) time if the applicant is employed by a school district
5 as a principal or assistant principal.
6 (9) ]Following successful completion of the first year of principalship[internship
7 program], the principal certificate shall be extended for four (4) years. Renewal of
8 the certificate shall require the completion of a continuing education requirement as
9 prescribed by the Education Professional Standards Board.
10 Section 4. KRS 156.492 is amended to read as follows:
11 (1) The Kentucky Department of Education may enter into an agreement with any
12 building and construction trade organization to develop a training program for
13 school counselors providing services to students in the Commonwealth. The
14 purpose of the training program shall be to promote building and construction
15 trades and training facilities available to students by making school counselors
16 aware of what is available to students participating in the building and construction
17 trade. The training program shall include information relating to:
18 (a) The pay and benefits available to people who work in the building and
19 construction trades; and
20 (b) Job opportunities, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and pathways within
21 the building and construction trade industry.
22 (2) The participating trade organization shall ensure ample opportunities for school
23 counselors that serve grades seven (7) through twelve (12) to complete the training
24 created under subsection (1) of this section annually and shall bear all costs
25 associated with the training. The participating trade organization may choose to
26 offer professional development opportunities to teachers who serve students in
27 grades seven (7) through twelve (12), if resources are available for this purpose.
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1 (3) The department shall include the training program created in this section on the
2 electronic consumer bulletin board created pursuant to KRS 156.095(8) if requested
3 by the training program.
4 (4) A school counselor serving students in grades seven (7) through twelve (12) may
5 complete four (4) hours of training developed under this section which shall count
6 towards the twenty-one (21) hours required annually pursuant to KRS
7 156.101(4)(b)[2].
8 (5) Local boards of education or school-based decision making councils may
9 incorporate this training as part of the four (4) days of professional development
10 required pursuant to KRS 158.070(3)(a) for teachers who serve students in grades
11 seven (7) through twelve (12) if offered by the participating trade organization.
12 Section 5. KRS 160.160 is amended to read as follows:
13 (1) As used in this section and Sections 7 and 8 of this Act, "large school district"
14 means a school district that has more than three hundred thousand (300,000)
15 inhabitants.
16 (2) Each school district shall be under the management and control of a board of
17 education consisting of five (5) members[, except in counties containing a city of
18 the first class wherein a merger pursuant to KRS 160.041 shall have been
19 accomplished which shall have seven (7) members elected from the divisions and in
20 the manner prescribed by KRS 160.210(5),] to be known as the "Board of
21 Education of ...., Kentucky." Each board of education shall be a body politic and
22 corporate with perpetual succession. It may sue and be sued; make contracts;
23 expend funds necessary for liability insurance premiums and for the defense of any
24 civil action brought against an individual board member in his or her official or
25 individual capacity, or both, on account of an act made in the scope and course of
26 his or her performance of legal duties as a board member; purchase, receive, hold,
27 and sell property; issue its bonds to build and construct improvements; and do all
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1 things necessary to accomplish the purposes for which it is created. Each board of
2 education shall elect a chair[chairman] and vice chair[chairman] from its
3 membership in a manner and for a term prescribed by the board not to exceed two
4 (2) years.
5 (3)[(2)] No board of education shall participate in any financing of school buildings,
6 school improvements, appurtenances thereto, or furnishing and equipment,
7 including education technology equipment without:
8 (a) First establishing the cost of the project in advance of financing, based on the
9 receipt of advertised, public, and competitive bids for such project, in
10 accordance with KRS Chapter 424; and
11 (b) Establishing the cost of financing in advance of the sale of any bonds,
12 certificates of participation in any leases, or other evidences of financial
13 commitments issued by or on behalf of such board. Any bonds, leases,
14 participations, or other financial arrangements shall not involve a final
15 commitment of the board until the purchaser or lender involved shall have
16 been determined by public advertising in accordance with KRS Chapter 424.
17 (4)[(3)] No board of education shall make a mortgage, lien, or other encumbrance
18 upon any school building owned by the board, or transfer title to any such school
19 building as part of any financing arrangement, without the specific approval of the
20 Department of Education, and without the transaction being entered into pursuant to
21 a detailed plan or procedure specifically authorized by Kentucky statute.
22 (5)[(4)] Without the approval of the Department of Education, no board may lease, as
23 lessee, a building or public facility that has been or is to be financed at the request
24 of the board or on its behalf through the issuance of bonds by another public body
25 or by a nonprofit corporation serving as an agency and instrumentality of the board,
26 or by a leasing corporation. Any lease, participation, or other financial arrangement
27 shall not involve a final commitment of the board unless and until the purchaser or
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1 lender involved in same shall have been determined by public advertising in
2 accordance with KRS Chapter 424. No transaction shall be entered into by the
3 board except upon the basis of public advertising and competitive bidding in
4 accordance with KRS Chapter 424.
5 (6)[(5)] A school district may issue general obligation bonds in accordance with KRS
6 Chapter 66.
7 (7)[(6)] Rental payments due by a board under a lease approved by the Department of
8 Education in accordance with subsection (5)[(4)] of this section, and debt service
9 payments under a general obligation bond issued in accordance with this section,
10 shall be due and payable not less than ten (10) days prior to the interest due date for
11 the bonds, notes, or other debt obligations issued to finance the building or public
12 facility. If a board fails to make a rental payment when due under a lease or a debt
13 service payment when due for a general obligation bond issue, upon notification to
14 the Department of Education by the paying agent, bond registrar, or trustee for the
15 bonds not less than three (3) days prior to the interest due date, the Department of
16 Education shall withhold or intercept any funds then due the board to the extent of
17 the amount of the required payment on the bonds and remit the amount to the
18 paying agent, bond registrar, or trustee as appropriate. Thereafter, the Department
19 of Education shall resolve the matter with the board and adjust remittances to the
20 board to the extent of the amount paid by the Department of Education on the
21 board's behalf.
22 (8)[(7)] Bonds, notes, or leases negotiated to provide education technology shall not
23 be sold for longer than seven (7) years or the useful life of the equipment as
24 established by the state technology master plan, whichever is less.
25 (9)[(8)] Notwithstanding any requirements of public advertising, competitive bidding,
26 or approval by the Department of Education, or any administrative regulation
27 promulgated pursuant to KRS 156.160(1)(o), a local board may authorize the
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1 transfer or sale of the district's real or personal property to another governmental or
2 quasi-governmental agency in exchange for money or a similar type of property that
3 equals or exceeds the fair market value of the district property as determined by an
4 independent appraisal conducted by:
5 (a) An individual or organization not affiliated with the district or its officers or
6 employees, using a generally accepted national or professional standard; or
7 (b) A district's officers or employees using a nationally published valuation of
8 property based on the most recent edition of the publication.
9 Section 6. KRS 160.200 is amended to read as follows:
10 (1) All elections for members of boards of education shall be in even numbered years,
11 for a term of four (4) years[, except as provided in KRS 160.210(5)]. Except as
12 provided in subsection (3) of this section, the elections shall be held at the regular
13 November election.
14 (2) In each even numbered year, there shall be held an election in every county and
15 independent district to fill the membership of the boards of education for the terms
16 that will expire on the first Monday in January following, and the regularly elected
17 members shall hold office for four (4) years and until their successors are elected
18 and have qualified.
19 (3) Any independent school district embracing a designated city may, at the discretion
20 of its board of education, hold its election of board members at its public school
21 building on the first Saturday in May. The election shall be held by three (3)
22 officers appointed by the board of education and the expenses of the election shall
23 be paid from the treasury of the school district. In all other respects the provisions
24 of this chapter relating to holding elections for board members shall apply.
25 (4) [In counties containing a city of the first class, wherein a merger pursuant to KRS
26 160.041 shall have been accomplished, the terms of the members shall be as
27 provided in KRS 160.210(5). Elected members of such boards, excepting those
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1 boards of education representing ten percent (10%) or less of the student population
2 of the county serving at the effective date of such a merger shall continue to serve
3 until their term expires, but no appointments shall be made to fill vacancies. The
4 terms of office of members of boards of education representing ten percent (10%)
5 or less of the student population of the county shall expire on the effective date of
6 the merger.
7 (5) ]As used in this section, "designated city" means a city classified as a city of the
8 fifth class as of January 1, 2014, under the city classification system in effect prior
9 to January 1, 2015. The Department of Education shall, on or before January 1,
10 2015, create an official registry listing the cities that qualify as a "designated city"
11 under this section and shall publish that registry on its website[Web site].
12 Section 7. KRS 160.180 is amended to read as follows:
13 (1) As used in this section, "relative" means father, mother, brother, sister, husband,
14 wife, son, and daughter.
15 (2) A person shall only be eligible for membership on a board of education if the
16 person:
17 (a) Has attained the age of twenty-four (24) years;
18 (b) Has been a citizen of Kentucky for at least three (3) years preceding the
19 election and is a voter of the district for which he or she is elected;
20 (c) Has completed at least the twelfth grade or has been issued a High School
21 Equivalency Diploma, as evidenced by:
22 1. An affidavit signed under penalty of perjury certifying completion of the
23 twelfth grade or the equivalent that has been filed with the nominating
24 petition required by KRS 118.315; or
25 2. A transcript evidencing completion of the twelfth grade or the results of
26 a twelfth grade equivalency examination that has been filed with the
27 nominating petition required by KRS 118.315;
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1 (d) Does not hold any elective federal, state, county, or city office;
2 (e) Is not, at the time of his or her election, directly or indirectly interested in the
3 sale to the board of books, stationery, or any other property, materials,
4 supplies, equipment, or services for which school funds are expended;
5 (f) Has not been removed from membership on a board of education for cause;[
6 and]
7 (g) Does not have a relative employed by the school district, in the case of a
8 person elected after July 13, 1990. This shall not apply to a board member
9 holding office on July 13, 1990, whose relative was not initially hired by the
10 district during the tenure of the board member; and
11 (h) For boards of education of large school districts, is not an employee of a
12 board of education in the Commonwealth whose position requires work on
13 more than one hundred (100) days per year.
14 (3) (a) A member of a board of education shall be subject to removal from office
15 pursuant to KRS 415.050 and 415.060 if, after the election the member:
16 1. Becomes interested in any contract with or claims against the board, of
17 the kind mentioned in subsection (2)(e) of this section;
18 2. Moves his or her residence from the division for which he or she was
19 chosen;
20 3. Attempts to influence the employment of any school employee, except
21 the superintendent or school board attorney;
22 4. Is convicted of a felony;
23 5. Performs acts of malfeasance in performance of duties prescribed by
24 law;
25 6. Willfully misuses, converts, or misappropriates public property or funds;
26 or
27 7. Does anything that would render the member ineligible for reelection.
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1 (b) In accordance with KRS 7.410, the Office of Education Accountability shall
2 have the duty and responsibility to investigate current local board of education
3 members for allegations of conduct prohibited by paragraph (a) of this
4 subsection. After review and investigation, the Office of Education
5 Accountability shall refer appropriate matters to the Attorney General.
6 (4) A member of a board of education shall be eligible for reelection unless he or she
7 becomes disqualified.
8 (5) The annual in-service training requirements for all members of boards of education
9 in office as of December 31, 2014, shall be as follows:
10 (a) Twelve (12) hours for members with zero to three (3) years of experience;
11 (b) Eight (8) hours for members with four (4) to seven (7) years of experience;
12 and
13 (c) Four (4) hours for members with eight (8) or more years of experience.
14 The Kentucky Board of Education shall identify the criteria for fulfilling this
15 requirement.
16 (6) (a) For all members of boards of education who begin their initial service on or
17 after January 1, 2015, the in-service training requirements shall be:
18 1. Twelve (12) hours for members with zero to eight (8) years of
19 experience each year, which shall include a minimum of:
20 a. One (1) hour of ethics training each year; and
21 b. One (1) hour of open meetings and open records training within
22 the first twelve (12) months of initial service and at least once
23 every four (4) years thereafter; and
24 2. Eight (8) hours for members with more than eight (8) years of
25 experience each year, which shall include a minimum of:
26 a. One (1) hour of ethics training each year; and
27 b. One (1) hour of open meetings and open records training at least
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1 once every four (4) years.
2 (b) Training topics for members under this subsection with less than two (2) years
3 of consecutive service shall include three (3) hours of finance and one (1)
4 hour of superintendent evaluation within the first two (2) years of service. The
5 Kentucky Board of Education shall identify criteria for fulfilling this
6 requirement.
7 Section 8. KRS 160.210 is amended to read as follows:
8 (1) In independent school districts, the members of the school board shall be elected
9 from the district at large. In county school districts, members shall be elected from
10 divisions.
11 (2) The board of education of each county school district shall[, not later than July 1,
12 1940,] divide its district into five (5) divisions containing integral voting precincts
13 and as equal in population insofar as is practicable. In[ first] dividing the county
14 district into divisions the board shall, if more than one (1) of its members reside in
15 one (1) division, determine by lot which member from that division shall represent
16 that division, and which members shall represent the divisions in which no member
17 resides. The members so determined to represent divisions in which no member
18 resides shall be considered the members from those divisions until their terms
19 expire, and thereafter the members from those divisions shall be nominated and
20 elected as provided in KRS 160.200 and 160.220 to 160.250.
21 (3) Any changes made in division boundary lines shall be to make divisions as equal in
22 population and containing integral voting precincts insofar as is practical. No
23 change may be made in division boundary lines less than five (5) years after the last
24 change in any division lines, except in case of merger of districts, a change in
25 territory due to annexation, or to allow compliance with KRS 117.055(2).
26 (4) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, if one
27 hundred (100) residents of a county school district division petition the
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1 Kentucky Board of Education stating that the school district divisions are not
2 divided as nearly equal in population as can reasonably be expected, the chief
3 state school officer shall cause an investigation to determine the validity of the
4 petition, the investigation to be completed within thirty (30) days after receipt
5 of the petition.
6 (b) If the investigation reveals the school district to be unequally divided
7 according to population, the Kentucky Board of Education, upon the
8 recommendation of the chief state school officer, shall order the local board of
9 education to make changes in school district divisions as are necessary to
10 equalize population within the five (5) school divisions.
11 (c) If any board fails to comply with the order of the Kentucky Board of
12 Education within thirty (30) days or prior to August 1 in any year in which
13 any members of the board are to be elected, members shall be elected from
14 the district at large until the order of the Kentucky Board of Education has
15 been complied with.
16 (d) No change shall be made in the boundary of any division under the provisions
17 of this subsection after August 1 in the year in which a member of the school
18 board is to be elected from any division.
19 (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section:[, ]
20 (a) In large school districts[counties containing a city of the first class wherein a
21 merger pursuant to KRS 160.041 shall have been accomplished], there shall
22 be five (5)[ Seven (7)] divisions as equal in population as is practicable, with
23 members elected from divisions. To be eligible to be elected from a division,
24 a candidate shall[must] reside in that division. The county school district
25 divisions[, based upon 1970 United States Census Bureau Reports on total
26 population by census tracts] for Jefferson County, Kentucky, shall be as
27 provided in Section 9 of this Act[follows: Division One shall include census
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1 tracts 1-28; Division Two shall include census tracts 29-35, 47-53, 57-74, 80-
2 84, 93, 129, 130; Division Three shall include census tracts 75-79, 85-88, 98-
3 106, 107.01, 108; Division Four shall include census tracts 121.01, 123-128;
4 Division Five shall include census tracts 36-46, 56, 90, 120, 121.02, 122;
5 Division Six shall include census tracts 54, 55, 91, 92, 94, 95, 110.02, 113,
6 114, 117.01, 117.02, 118, 119; Division Seven shall include census tracts 89,
7 96, 97, 107.02, 109, 110.01, 111, 112, 115, 116, 117.03, 131, 132.]; and
8 (b) The terms of the members[ to be elected], KRS 160.044 notwithstanding,
9 shall be four (4) years[ and the election for the initial four (4) year terms shall
10 be as follows: The election of the members from Divisions Two, Four and
11 Seven shall be held at the next regular November election following the
12 effective date of the merger pursuant to KRS 160.041, and the election of the
13 members from Divisions One, Three, Five and Six shall be held at the regular
14 November election two (2) years thereafter].
15 (6) [In counties containing cities of the first class, ]Responsibility for the establishment
16 and[or] the changing of school board division boundaries of large school districts
17 shall be with the county[local] board of education, subject to the review and
18 approval of the county board of elections. Where division and census tract
19 boundaries do not coincide with existing election precinct boundaries, school board
20 divisions shall be redrawn to comply with precinct boundaries. In no instance shall
21 precinct boundaries be redrawn nor shall a precinct be divided to accommodate the
22 drawing of school board division lines. [Precinct boundaries nearest existing school
23 board division boundaries shall become the new division boundary. ]All changes
24 under this section[statute] shall be completed on or before[ January 1, 1979, and on
25 or before] January 1 in any[ succeeding] year in which a member of the[ school]
26 board is to be elected from any division. A record of all changes in division lines
27 shall be kept in the offices of the county board of education and the county board of
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1 elections. The board of education shall publish all changes pursuant to KRS
2 Chapter 424. A copy of the newspaper in which the notice is published shall be
3 filed with the chief state school officer within ten (10) days following its
4 publication.
5 SECTION 9. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 160 IS CREATED TO
6 READ AS FOLLOWS:
7 (1) The divisions for the Jefferson County Board of Education shall be based upon
8 the precinct identification codes and precinct boundaries maintained by the
9 Jefferson County Clerk’s Office as of March 19, 2026. The divisions shall be
10 composed of the following territory in Jefferson County that is part of the
11 Jefferson County School District:
12 (a) Division One shall consist of the following territory:
13 G140 G141 G143 G144 G145 G146 G150
14 G156 G161 G169 G174 G177 G186 G189
15 G190 G191 G192 G193 J173 J174 K110
16 K111 K112 K113 K114 K116 K117 K122
17 K123 K125 K140 K142 K150 K155 K159
18 K160 K161 K162 K163 K164 K165 K167
19 K169 K170 K171 K172 K173 K176 K177
20 K178 K179 L169 L170 L171 L172 L173
21 L174 L175 L176 L195 L203 L204 L205
22 L206 L207 L208 L216 L217 L218 L219
23 L220 M107 M110 M121 M129 M181 M185
24 M186 M188 M189 M191 M192 M193 M194
25 M195 M196 M197 M198 M199 M201 M202
26 M203 N101 N102 N103 N104 N105 N106
27 N107 N115 N117 N128 N134 N135 N136
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1 N145 N147 N148 N152 N157 N162 N163
O105
2 N164 N165 N167 N171 N173 N179 O135
O152
3 O107 O112 O117 O119 O121 O127
C138
4 O136 O145 O146 O147 O150 O151 D137
D149
5 O153 O154 D159
D167
6 (b) Division Two shall consist of the following territory: E155
E183
7 C123 C124 C128 C130 C131 C137 G160
G173
8 D114 D116 D117 D120 D122 D132 G184
H117
9 D139 D141 D142 D146 D147 D148 L168
L183
10 D150 D151 D155 D156 D157 D158 L193
L209
11 D160 D161 D163 D164 D165 D166 M176
N153
12 E139 E141 E142 E143 E144 E154 Q138
Q162
13 E157 E162 E171 E173 E175 E176 Q169
14 E185 E188 E189 G157 G158 G159 Vetoed and Overridden
15 G163 G164 G165 G170 G171 G172
16 G178 G179 G180 G181 G182 G183
17 G185 G187 G188 G194 G195 G196
18 H120 H121 H164 K153 L165 L167
19 L177 L178 L179 L180 L181 L182
20 L184 L186 L187 L188 L189 L192
21 L194 L196 L197 L198 L199 L201
22 L210 L211 L212 L213 L215 M159
23 M177 M178 M179 M210 M213 N151
24 N170 N174 N177 N181 Q107 Q137
25 Q140 Q142 Q146 Q150 Q151 Q156
26 Q163 Q164 Q165 Q166 Q167 Q168
27 V101 V106 V133 V134
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1 (c) Division Three shall consist of the following territory:
2 B153 B158 B159 B161 B172 B183 B191
D152
3 B192 B193 B198 B199 B201 B202 D173
E194
4 D153 D154 D168 D169 D171 D172 E202
F145
5 E145 E181 E190 E191 E192 E193 F167
F180
6 E195 E196 E197 E198 E199 E201 G175
S126
7 E203 E204 E205 E206 E207 F106 S144
S168
8 F151 F152 F153 F158 F163 F164 S175
V107
9 F169 F170 F171 F172 F176 F179 V114
V126
10 F184 F188 F189 F190 F191 F192 V138
V145
11 G176 N130 N178 S116 S118 S125
A154
12 S128 S129 S130 S139 S140 S143 C108
C129
13 S153 S160 S161 S165 S166 S167 C157
H155
14 S169 S170 S171 S172 S173 S174 H176
15 S176 S177 S178 S179 V104 V105 Vetoed and Overridden
16 V108 V109 V110 V111 V112 V113
17 V116 V118 V120 V121 V123 V125
18 V127 V129 V130 V131 V136 V137
19 V139 V140 V141 V142 V143 V144
20 V146
21 (d) Division Four shall consist of the following territory:
22 A146 A147 A148 A149 A150 A151
23 C101 C102 C103 C104 C105 C106
24 C109 C110 C111 C113 C115 C126
25 C134 C152 C153 C154 C155 C156
26 H123 H124 H125 H126 H130 H154
27 H163 H165 H166 H167 H168 H171
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1 H177 H178 H180 H181 H182 H185 I169
J120
2 J105 J108 J111 J113 J117 J119 J170
K135
3 J140 J163 J165 J166 J168 J169 K156
K180
4 J171 J172 K118 K119 K131 K134 M180
N155
5 K137 K141 K143 K151 K152 K154 N169
O113
6 K157 K158 K166 K168 K174 K175 O149
Q161
7 L166 L185 M123 M124 M131 M168
A118
8 M182 M183 M184 M211 M212 N154 A128
A152
9 N156 N158 N160 N161 N166 N168 B162
B177
10 N172 N175 N176 N180 O109 O111 B195
H173
11 O124 O126 O130 O131 O138 O148 I135
I153
12 Q103 Q127 Q148 Q153 Q154 Q155 I162
I170
13 Q170 J123
J153
14 (e) Division Five shall consist of the following territory:
Vetoed and Overridden
15 A107 A108 A111 A113 A114 A115
16 A119 A121 A124 A125 A126 A127
17 A129 A134 A136 A139 A142 A145
18 A153 B124 B134 B149 B154 B160
19 B163 B166 B168 B169 B173 B175
20 B184 B187 B188 B189 B190 B194
21 B196 B197 H138 H144 H147 H169
22 H175 H183 H184 I126 I130 I133
23 I141 I144 I145 I146 I151 I152
24 I154 I157 I158 I159 I160 I161
25 I163 I164 I165 I166 I167 I168
26 I171 I172 I173 I174 I175 J122
27 J135 J137 J138 J145 J150 J152
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1 J156 J157 J158 J159 J160 J162 J164
2 O141 O144 Q109 Q115 Q125 Q132 Q141
3 Q143 Q144 Q145 Q171 Q172
4 (2) If any precinct or part of a precinct that is part of Jefferson County School
5 District is not identified in subsection (1) of this section, the county board of
6 elections shall add that territory to a contiguous division. All actions taken by the
7 county board of elections under this subsection shall be to ensure that minimal
8 changes are made that allow the divisions to fall within a five percent (5%)
9 population deviation.
10 Section 10. KRS 160.042 is amended to read as follows:
11 (1) Upon a merger under the provisions of KRS 160.040 and 160.041 of an
12 independent school district in a city of the first class with a county school district in
13 counties containing a city of the first class, the members of the county board of
14 education of the merged county school district, shall be elected pursuant to KRS
15 160.200 and 160.210.
16 (2) Each member of the respective boards of education at the time of the merger of the
17 districts, may continue to hold office until the expiration of his or her term of office,
18 [except as provided in KRS 160.200(4); ]but any vacancy occurring among such
19 members for any reason shall not be filled.
20 Section 11. KRS 160.240 is amended to read as follows:
21 [(1) ]The general election laws shall apply to all elections of school board members[.
22 (2) In school districts embracing designated cities, the expense of the election shall be
23 paid by the city from its general funds. In all other districts the expense shall be
24 paid by the fiscal court out of its general funds.
25 (3) As used in this section, "designated city" has the same meaning as in KRS
26 160.020].
27 Section 12. KRS 304.48-250 is amended to read as follows:
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1 (1) If the assets of a liability self-insurance group are at any time insufficient to enable
2 the group to discharge its legal liabilities, other obligations, and to maintain the
3 required reserves under this subtitle, the group shall immediately levy an
4 assessment upon its members for the amount necessary to make up the deficiency.
5 (2) If there is a deficiency in any fund year, the deficiency shall be made up
6 immediately, from the following:
7 (a) Surplus from a fund year other than the current fund year after prior notice of
8 the transfer has been given to the commissioner;
9 (b) Administrative funds;
10 (c) Assessment of membership; or
11 (d) Alternate methods as the commissioner may direct or approve.
12 (3) If a liability self-insurance group fails to assess its members within thirty (30) days
13 to make up a deficit, the commissioner shall order it to do so. This subsection shall
14 not apply to liability self-insurance groups formed by governmental entities which
15 do not have joint and several liability.
16 (4) If a liability self-insurance group fails to make the required assessment of its
17 members within thirty (30) days after the commissioner orders it to do so, or if the
18 deficiency is not fully made up within sixty (60) days after the date on which the
19 assessment is made, or within a longer period of time as may be permitted by the
20 commissioner, the group shall be determined to be insolvent and may be placed in
21 delinquency proceedings as an insurer pursuant to Subtitle 33 of this chapter.
22 (5) (a) Governmental entities that:
23 1. Participate or have participated in a liability self-insurance group
24 authorized by this subtitle; and
25 2. Are assessed by the liability self-insurance group to cover an accrued
26 deficit;
27 may finance the payment of the assessment over a period not to exceed twenty
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1 (20) years.
2 (b) Financing obtained pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection may be
3 accomplished by:
4 1. The issuance of bonds, notes, or other obligations; or
5 2. A lease, installment payment agreement, or other similar agreement.
6 (c) If the governmental entity fails to make a scheduled payment on the financing
7 obtained pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection, any payments due to
8 that governmental entity shall be withheld or intercepted using the process
9 established in KRS 160.160(7)[(6)].
10 (6) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, all other provisions of the
11 Kentucky Revised Statutes applying to any financing obtained by a governmental
12 entity shall apply.
13 Section 13. KRS 304.50-055 is amended to read as follows:
14 (1) As used in this section, "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" or
15 "NRSRO" means a credit rating agency approved by the United States Securities
16 and Exchange Commission to provide assessments of the creditworthiness of
17 financial instruments.
18 (2) A workers' compensation self-insured group shall establish plans for premium
19 payment, determination and collection of assessments, and for declaration and
20 payment of dividends or other disbursements, which shall be filed for prior
21 approval with the commissioner. Any change in the plans for premium payment,
22 assessments, or dividends shall be filed for prior approval with the commissioner.
23 Approval of plans for assessments and dividends does not constitute approval of
24 any particular assessment or dividend by the commissioner.
25 (3) Prior to the inception of each group member's self-insurance year, the trustees shall
26 collect from that member at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the estimated
27 premium for the ensuing year, except that in the case of a self-insured group formed
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1 by governmental entities twenty-five percent (25%) of the estimated premium for
2 the ensuing year shall be collected no later than thirty (30) days after the beginning
3 of the self-insured group's self-insurance year. The balance of the estimated
4 premium shall be collected in either quarterly or monthly installments as set forth in
5 the enabling documents described in KRS 304.50-030(2)(b) or 304.50-060(2)(b).
6 Each group member's payroll shall be audited annually and an adjustment to
7 premium shall be made accordingly.
8 (4) A disbursement from a workers' compensation self-insured group fund shall be for
9 a purpose related to the self-insured group. A dividend shall not be approved or
10 paid until at least thirty-six (36) months after the expiration of the self-insurance
11 year and shall be paid from surplus funds not required for payment of claims or
12 other liabilities. The dividends shall be paid or credited to members according to the
13 reasonable classifications the trustees may establish. A dividend shall not be paid
14 which unfairly discriminates between members of the same classifications. A
15 dividend plan shall specify whether past group members are eligible for the
16 dividend. Payment of a dividend under a dividend plan shall not be made unless the
17 self-insured group has notified the commissioner of its intent to make a dividend
18 payment at least thirty (30) days prior to the payment, and the commissioner has not
19 disapproved the payment within that time.
20 (5) The formula to be used for collection of assessments shall be determined by the
21 trustees and approved by the commissioner. Assessments shall be fair and equitable
22 and shall not unfairly discriminate between members of the same classification.
23 (6) A trustee, fiscal agent, or service organization shall not utilize an asset of the self-
24 insured group for a purpose unrelated to workers' compensation. The trustees shall
25 maintain cash or cash equivalent accounts as may be prudently necessary to pay
26 expenses without having to liquidate long-term investments.
27 (7) The trustees may invest funds in:
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1 (a) United States Government bonds, United States Treasury notes, Treasury
2 bills, or other direct obligations guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the
3 United States Government or its agencies;
4 (b) Tax exempt and taxable obligations issued by any state or any of its agencies,
5 counties, cities, municipalities, districts, political subdivisions, or other legal
6 authorities within the United States of America with a minimum rating of
7 "BBB" by any NRSRO, except that no less than fifty percent (50%) of the
8 investments made under this paragraph shall be in obligations issued by the
9 Commonwealth, its agencies, or a county, city district, municipality, political
10 subdivision, or other legal authority within the Commonwealth;
11 (c) Investment share accounts in a savings and loan association in the
12 Commonwealth whose deposits are insured by a federal agency;
13 (d) Certificates of deposit if issued by a duly chartered commercial bank;
14 (e) 1. At the time of purchase, equity securities actively traded on the New
15 York or NASDAQ Stock Exchanges or other registered national
16 securities exchanges with no individual equity holding comprising
17 greater than ten percent (10%) of the equity portion of the portfolio
18 reflected on the most recent quarterly or annual statement of financial
19 condition on file with the commissioner.
20 2. An investment in an individual equity holding shall not represent at the
21 time of purchase more than five percent (5%) of the total market value
22 of the security.
23 3. At the time of purchase, investments in equity securities shall not exceed
24 twenty percent (20%) of the total market value of the investment
25 portfolio of the self-insured group reflected on the most recent quarterly
26 or annual statement of financial condition on file with the commissioner;
27 (f) Corporate bonds if:
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1 1. The bond is issued, assumed, or guaranteed by a solvent institution
2 created or existing under the laws of the United States, or a state,
3 province, district, or territory;
4 2. At the time of purchase, the corporate bond investments do not exceed
5 twenty-five percent (25%) of the total market value of the investment
6 portfolio reflected on the most recent quarterly or annual statement of
7 financial condition on file with the commissioner; and
8 3. The bond has a minimum rating of "BBB" by any NRSRO;
9 (g) At the time of purchase, mutual funds and exchange traded funds if the
10 investments do not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total market value of
11 the investment portfolio reflected on the most recent quarterly or annual
12 statement of financial condition on file with the commissioner; and
13 (h) Asset-backed securities if:
14 1. The bond is issued, assumed, or guaranteed by a solvent institution
15 created or existing under the laws of the United States, or a state,
16 province, district, or territory;
17 2. The asset-backed security investments do not exceed ten percent (10%)
18 of the total market value of the investment portfolio reflected on the
19 most recent quarterly or annual statement of financial condition on file
20 with the commissioner; and
21 3. The bond has a minimum rating of "BBB" by any NRSRO.
22 (8) Of the aggregate investments made by the trustees of the self-insured group under
23 this section:
24 (a) Not less than fifty percent (50%) of the total market value of the entire
25 investment portfolio shall be held in cash, cash equivalents, or securities as
26 described in subsection (7)(a) to (d) of this section; and
27 (b) A minimum of five percent (5%) of the total investment portfolio value shall
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1 be maintained in cash or cash equivalent accounts or United States Treasury
2 and Federal Agency Securities with a remaining maturity of one (1) year or
3 less.
4 (9) In the event that any security investment authorized by subsection (7) of this section
5 is downgraded below "BBB," the workers' compensation self-insurance group shall
6 divest itself of that investment as prudently as possible without incurring
7 unnecessary losses.
8 (10) The commissioner may permit variation from the requirements of this section for
9 good cause.
10 (11) (a) Governmental entities that:
11 1. Participate or have participated in a workers' compensation self-insured
12 group authorized by this subtitle; and
13 2. Are assessed by the workers' compensation self-insured group to cover
14 an accrued deficit;
15 may finance the payment of the assessment over a period not to exceed twenty
16 (20) years.
17 (b) Financing obtained pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection may be
18 accomplished by:
19 1. The issuance of bonds, notes, or other obligations; or
20 2. A lease, installment payment agreement, or other similar agreement.
21 (c) If the governmental entity fails to make a scheduled payment on the financing
22 obtained pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection, any payments due to
23 that governmental entity shall be withheld or intercepted using the process
24 established in KRS 160.160(7)[(6)].
25 (12) Except as provided in subsection (11) of this section, all other provisions of the
26 Kentucky Revised Statutes applying to any financing obtained by a governmental
27 entity shall apply.
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1 SECTION 14. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 164 IS CREATED TO
2 READ AS FOLLOWS:
3 (1) There is established a Center of American Civics at the University of Kentucky.
4 The board of trustees for the University of Kentucky may rename the center
5 consistent with its philanthropic naming governance procedures.
6 (2) The center shall:
7 (a) Foster a deeper understanding of the structures and institutions of federal,
8 state, and local government;
9 (b) Further the understanding of the principles and philosophies that
10 contributed to the foundation and development of the United States and the
11 Commonwealth of Kentucky;
12 (c) Promote civil discourse and constructive debate;
13 (d) Enhance education in the fields of politics, economics, philosophy, law,
14 American history, American government, rule of law, and other related
15 fields as appropriate, with a focus on the rights and responsibilities of
16 American citizenship; fundamental democratic principles; and the ways in
17 which those principles are expressed in and through our federal, state, and
18 local institutions;
19 (e) Provide nonpartisan resources to students, faculty, state government
20 agencies, educators, and the general public regarding civic affairs;
21 (f) Foster civic engagement through full and fair discussions that promote civil
22 dialogue among those holding conflicting points of view; and
23 (g) Assist in ensuring that the University of Kentucky serves as a robust
24 marketplace of ideas for all students and faculty.
25 (3) In order to carry out the purposes set forth in subsection (2) of this section, the
26 provost of the University of Kentucky may:
27 (a) Name an executive director and otherwise establish governance structure
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1 for the center;
2 (b) Develop academic guidelines, course offerings, potential internships and
3 other relevant experiences for students and the general public;
4 (c) Facilitate events, including sponsoring public lectures;
5 (d) Develop a partnership between the center and the Patterson School of
6 Diplomacy at the University of Kentucky; and
7 (e) Take other actions as appropriate.
8 (4) The center may be physically housed in the J. David Rosenberg College of Law
9 on the campus of the University of Kentucky.
10 (5) The center shall operate as an independent academic unit within the University
11 of Kentucky.
12 (6) Any funds appropriated to the center shall not supplant any existing state funding
13 or private or external donations to the University of Kentucky. Appropriated
14 funds and all private and external donations to the center may only be used for
15 operation of the center in conformance with this section.
16 SECTION 15. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 164 IS CREATED TO
17 READ AS FOLLOWS:
18 (1) The McConnell Center shall be redesignated as an independent academic unit
19 within the University of Louisville. The University of Louisville shall provide
20 adequate administrative space for the center if space does not currently exist.
21 (2) The center shall pursue all of the following goals:
22 (a) Promote the McConnell Center’s core principles of leadership, scholarship,
23 and service;
24 (b) Prepare top undergraduate students to become future leaders;
25 (c) Offer civic education programs for teachers, students, and the public; and
26 (d) Conduct strategic leadership development for the United States Army.
27 (3) In order to carry out the purposes set forth in subsection (b), the center is
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1 authorized to:
2 (a) Hire faculty and staff;
3 (b) Enroll students;
4 (c) Develop and offer courses in new undergraduate major and minor
5 programs;
6 (d) Offer general education and honors courses;
7 (e) Provide and facilitate internships and other relevant experiences for
8 students and the general public;
9 (f) Hold events, including sponsoring public lectures; and
10 (g) Take other actions as appropriate, subject to the supervision of the president
11 of the University of Louisville.
12 (4) The president of the University of Louisville shall appoint a director of the
13 McConnell Center. The director shall:
14 (a) Report to the president of the University of Louisville;
15 (b) Make all faculty and staff hiring decisions; and
16 (c) Operate the center in accordance with the policies and procedures of the
17 University of Louisville.
18 (5) Faculty of the center may be awarded tenure subject to the tenure policies of the
19 University of Louisville as adopted by the board of trustees and shall not be
20 required to gain joint appointment in another division of the University of
21 Louisville.
22 (6) Beginning September 1, 2027, and by each September 1 thereafter, the director
23 shall develop and provide an annual strategic plan for the center to the president
24 of the University of Louisville and the advisory board.
25 (7) Funds appropriated to the center shall not supplant any existing state funding or
26 private or external donations to the University of Louisville. Appropriated funds
27 and all private and external donations to the center may only be used for the
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1 direct operation of the center.
2 SECTION 16. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 164 IS CREATED TO
3 READ AS FOLLOWS:
4 The McConnell Center at the University of Louisville and the Center of American
5 Civics at the University of Kentucky shall develop materials and curricula for a degree
6 program that meets the requirements of this section and distribute the materials and
7 curricula developed to each public institution of higher education in this state. The
8 curricula shall be for a course of instruction that is three (3) semester hours, or the
9 equivalent, in American government or American history that provides a
10 comprehensive overview of the major events and turning points of American history
11 and government and, at a minimum, includes:
12 (1) An understanding of the United States Constitution in its entirety;
13 (2) An understanding of the Declaration of Independence in its entirety;
14 (3) An understanding of a minimum of five (5) essays from the Federalist Papers in
15 their entirety as selected by the course instructor;
16 (4) An understanding of the Emancipation Proclamation in its entirety;
17 (5) An understanding of the Gettysburg Address in its entirety; and
18 (6) Other documents foundational to the American Civil Rights movement.
19 Section 17. Notwithstanding any other statute to the contrary, for any large
20 school district that has seven board of education members on the effective date of this
21 section of this Act, the term of those members shall terminate on December 31, 2026. All
22 five elected members established under Section 8 of this Act shall be elected at the next
23 regular election following the effective date of this section of this Act. Within ten days of
24 January 1, 2027, the superintendent of the school district shall call a meeting of the newly
25 elected board of education for the purpose of organizing the board of education.
26 Notwithstanding the standard term of office for members of a board of education, the
27 members initially elected for Division Four and Division Five established in Section 9 of
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1 this Act shall be for a two year term with subsequent terms being a standard four year
2 term. Members initially elected for Divisions One, Two, and Three established in Section
3 9 of this Act shall be for a standard four year term.
4 Section 18. (1) Notwithstanding any statute to the contrary, for any large
5 school district that has seven board of education members on the effective date of this
6 section of this Act, the assignment of the seven members to the five divisions shall be as
7 provided under this section until the five members elected under Section 17 of this Act
8 take office.
9 (2) For any division in which:
10 (a) Only one current board of education member resides, that member shall
11 represent that division;
12 (b) Two or more current board of education members reside, the member
13 representing that division shall be selected by drawing lots among those resident
14 members; and
15 (c) No current board of education member resides, the member representing that
16 division shall be selected by drawing lots among those members not already representing
17 another division.
18 (3) Any remaining member shall represent the district at large for the remainder
19 of his or her term.
20 (4) Any further setting of divisions or setting of the member representing a
21 division shall be conducted in accordance with Section 8 of this Act and as otherwise
22 provided for in statute.
23 Section 19. Notwithstanding the eligibility requirements established in
24 subsection (2)(h) of Section 7 of this Act, a person who was elected or appointed to a
25 board of education prior to the effective date of Section 7 of this Act shall remain eligible
26 for the office for the remainder of the term to which he or she was elected or appointed.
27 The person shall not be subsequently eligible to serve a new term on a board of
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1 education, or eligible to be a candidate for election or appointment to a new term on a
2 board of education, unless that person meets all the requirements of Section 7 of this Act.
3 Section 20. By November 1, 2026, the Kentucky Department of Education shall
4 submit to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the appropriate interim
5 joint committees a plan for the implementation of each year of the practicum described in
6 Section 1 of this Act that includes any minimum requirements for successful completion
7 that the department will require and any statutory amendments the department needs for
8 implementation of the practicum.
9 Section 21. Whereas timely elections and appointments are critically important
10 to the operation of large school districts, an emergency is declared to exist, and Sections
11 5 to 13 and Sections 17 to 19 of this Act take effect upon its passage and approval by the
12 Governor or upon its otherwise becoming a law.
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SB000490.100 - 1215 - XXXX 4/14/2026 1:59 PM Vetoed and OverriddenEvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.