Kentucky 2022 Regular Session

Kentucky House Bill HB15 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version

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AN ACT relating to civil rights. 1 
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2 
Section 1.   KRS 344.010 is amended to read as follows: 3 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 4 
(1) "Commission" means the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights;[Person" 5 
includes one (1) or more individuals, labor organizations, joint apprenticeship 6 
committees, partnerships, associations, corporations, legal representatives, mutual 7 
companies, joint-stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, trustees, 8 
trustees in bankruptcy, fiduciaries, receivers, or other legal or commercial entity; the 9 
state, any of its political or civil subdivisions or agencies.] 10 
(2) "Commissioner" means a member of the commission;[Commission" means the 11 
Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.] 12 
(3) "Credit transaction" means any open-end or closed-end credit transaction, 13 
whether in the nature of a loan, retail installment transaction, credit card issue or 14 
charge, or otherwise, and whether for personal or business purposes, in which a 15 
service, finance, or interest charge is imposed, or which provides for repayment 16 
in scheduled payments, when the credit is extended in the regular course of 17 
business of any trade or commerce, including but not limited to transactions by 18 
banks, savings and loan associations, or other financial lending institutions of 19 
whatever nature, by stockbrokers, or by a merchant or mercantile establishment 20 
which as part of its ordinary business permits or provides that payment for 21 
purchases of property or services therefrom may be deferred;[Commissioner" 22 
means a member of the commission.] 23 
(4) "Disability" means, with respect to an individual: 24 
(a) A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one (1) or more of 25 
the major life activities of the individual; 26 
(b) A record of such an impairment; or 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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(c) Being regarded as having such an impairment. 1 
 Persons with current or past controlled substances abuse or alcohol abuse problems 2 
and persons excluded from coverage by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 3 
1990, Pub. L. No.[ (P.L.] 101-336, as amended,[)] shall not be considered 4 
individuals with a disability;[ excluded from this section.] 5 
(5) "Discrimination" means any direct or indirect act or practice of exclusion, 6 
distinction, restriction, segregation, limitation, refusal, denial, or any other act or 7 
practice of differentiation or preference in the treatment of a person or persons, or 8 
the aiding, abetting, inciting, coercing, or compelling thereof made unlawful under 9 
this chapter;[.] 10 
(6) "Discriminatory housing practice" means an act that is unlawful under Section 11 
18, 19, 20, 21, or 23 of this Act;[Real property" includes buildings, structures, real 12 
estate, lands, tenements, leaseholds, cooperatives, condominiums, and 13 
hereditaments, corporeal and incorporeal, or any interest in the above.] 14 
(7) (a) "Familial status" means one (1) or more individuals who have not attained 15 
the age of eighteen (18) years and are domiciled with: 16 
1. A parent or another person having legal custody of the individual or 17 
individuals; or 18 
2. The designee of a parent or other person having custody, with the 19 
written permission of the parent or other person. 20 
(b) The protection afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial 21 
status shall apply to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of 22 
securing legal custody of any individual who has not attained the age of 23 
eighteen (18) years;["Housing accommodations" includes improved and 24 
unimproved property and means any building, structure, lot or portion thereof, 25 
which is used or occupied, or is intended, arranged, or designed to be used or 26 
occupied as the home or residence of one (1) or more families, and any vacant 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location thereon 1 
of any such building or structure.] 2 
(8) "Family" includes a single individual;[Real estate operator" means any individual 3 
or combination of individuals, labor organizations, joint apprenticeship committees, 4 
partnerships, associations, corporations, legal representatives, mutual companies, 5 
joint-stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, trustees in bankruptcy, 6 
receivers, or other legal or commercial entity, the county, or any of its agencies, that 7 
is engaged in the business of selling, purchasing, exchanging, renting, or leasing 8 
real estate, or the improvements thereon, including options, or that derives income, 9 
in whole or in part, from the sale, purchase, exchange, rental, or lease of real estate; 10 
or an individual employed by or acting on behalf of any of these.] 11 
(9) "Financial institution" means a bank, banking organization, mortgage company, 12 
insurance company, or other lender to whom application is made for financial 13 
assistance for the purchase, lease, acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, 14 
repair, maintenance, or improvement of real property, or an individual employed 15 
by or acting on behalf of any of these;[Real estate broker" or "real estate salesman" 16 
means any individual, whether licensed or not, who, on behalf of others, for a fee, 17 
commission, salary, or other valuable consideration, or who with the intention or 18 
expectation of receiving or collecting the same, lists, sells, purchases, exchanges, 19 
rents, or leases real estate, or the improvements thereon, including options, or who 20 
negotiates or attempts to negotiate on behalf of others such an activity; or who 21 
advertises or holds himself out as engaged in these activities; or who negotiates or 22 
attempts to negotiate on behalf of others a loan secured by mortgage or other 23 
encumbrance upon a transfer of real estate, or who is engaged in the business of 24 
charging an advance fee or contracting for collection of a fee in connection with a 25 
contract whereby he undertakes to promote the sale, purchase, exchange, rental, or 26 
lease of real estate through its listing in a publication issued primarily for this 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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purpose; or any person employed by or acting on behalf of any of these.] 1 
(10) "Gender identity" means having or being perceived as having a gender identity or 2 
expression, whether or not traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that 3 
person at birth;[Financial institution" means bank, banking organization, mortgage 4 
company, insurance company, or other lender to whom application is made for 5 
financial assistance for the purchase, lease, acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, 6 
repair, maintenance, or improvement of real property, or an individual employed by 7 
or acting on behalf of any of these.] 8 
(11) "Housing accommodations" includes improved and unimproved property and 9 
means any building, structure, lot, or portion thereof which is used or occupied, 10 
or is intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied, as the home or 11 
residence of one (1) or more families, and any vacant land which is offered for 12 
sale or lease for the construction or location thereon of any such building or 13 
structure; 14 
(12) "Licensing agency" means any public or private organization which has as one (1) 15 
of its duties the issuing of licenses or the setting of standards which an individual 16 
must hold or must meet as a condition to practicing a particular trade or profession 17 
or to obtaining certain employment within this Commonwealth[the state] or as a 18 
condition to competing effectively with an individual who does hold a license or 19 
meet the standards;[.] 20 
[(12) "Credit transaction" shall mean any open or closed end credit transaction whether in 21 
the nature of a loan, retail installment transaction, credit card issue or charge, or 22 
otherwise, and whether for personal or for business purposes, in which a service, 23 
finance, or interest charge is imposed, or which provides for repayment in scheduled 24 
payments, when such credit is extended in the course of the regular course of any 25 
trade or commerce, including but not limited to transactions by banks, savings and 26 
loan associations, or other financial lending institutions of whatever nature, stock 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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brokers, or by a merchant or mercantile establishment which as part of its ordinary 1 
business permits or provides that payment for purchases of property or services 2 
therefrom may be deferred.] 3 
(13) "Local commission" means a local human rights commission created pursuant 4 
to Section 17 of this Act; 5 
(14) "Person" includes one (1) or more individuals, labor organizations, joint 6 
apprenticeship committees, partnerships, associations, corporations, legal 7 
representatives, mutual companies, joint stock companies, limited liability 8 
companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, 9 
fiduciaries, receivers, or other legal or commercial entity, or the Commonwealth 10 
or any of its political or civil subdivisions or agencies;["To rent" means to lease, to 11 
sublease, to let, or otherwise to grant for a consideration the right to occupy 12 
premises not owned by the occupant.] 13 
(15)[(14)] "Real estate broker" or "real estate salesperson" means any individual, 14 
whether licensed or not, who: 15 
(a) On behalf of others, for a fee, commission, salary, or other valuable 16 
consideration, or who with the intention or expectation of receiving or 17 
collecting the same, lists, sells, purchases, exchanges, rents, or leases real 18 
estate, or the improvements thereon, including options; 19 
(b) Negotiates or attempts to negotiate on behalf of others an activity described 20 
in paragraph (a) of this subsection; 21 
(c) Advertises or holds himself or herself out as engaged in activities described 22 
in paragraph (a) of this subsection; 23 
(d) Negotiates or attempts to negotiate on behalf of others a loan secured by a 24 
mortgage or other encumbrance upon a transfer of real estate; 25 
(e) Is engaged in the business of charging an advance fee or contracting for 26 
collection of a fee in connection with a contract whereby he or she 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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undertakes to promote the sale, purchase, exchange, rental, or lease of real 1 
estate through its listing in a publication issued primarily for this purpose; 2 
or 3 
(f) Is employed by or acting on behalf of any person described in paragraphs 4 
(a) to (e) of this subsection;[Family" includes a single individual.] 5 
(16)[(15) (a)] "Real estate operator" means: 6 
(a) Any individual or combination of individuals, labor organizations, joint 7 
apprenticeship committees, partnerships, associations, corporations, legal 8 
representatives, mutual companies, joint stock companies, limited liability 9 
companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, trustees in bankruptcy, 10 
receivers, or other legal or commercial entities, the county, or any of its 11 
agencies, that: 12 
1. Is engaged in the business of selling, purchasing, exchanging, 13 
renting, or leasing real estate, or the improvements thereon, including 14 
options; or  15 
2. Derives income, in whole or in part, from the sale, purchase, 16 
exchange, rental, or lease of real estate; or  17 
(b) An individual employed by or acting on behalf of any individual or entity 18 
described in paragraph (a) of this subsection;["Familial status" means one 19 
(1) or more individuals who have not attained the age of eighteen (18) years 20 
and are domiciled with: 21 
1. A parent or another person having legal custody of the individual or 22 
individuals; or 23 
2. The designee of a parent or other person having custody, with the 24 
written permission of the parent or other person. 25 
(b) The protection afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial status 26 
shall apply to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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custody of any individual who has not attained the age of eighteen (18) years.] 1 
(17)[(16)] "Real estate-related transaction" means: 2 
(a) The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance: 3 
1. For purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a 4 
housing accommodation; or 5 
2. Secured by real estate; or 6 
(b) The selling, brokering, or appraising of real property, except that a person 7 
engaged in the business of furnishing appraisals of real property may take 8 
into consideration factors other than race, color, religion, national origin, 9 
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or familial 10 
status;[Discriminatory housing practice" means an act that is unlawful under 11 
KRS 344.360, 344.367, 344.370, 344.380, or 344.680.] 12 
(18) "Real property" includes buildings, structures, real estate, lands, tenements, 13 
leaseholds, cooperatives, condominiums, and hereditaments, corporeal and 14 
incorporeal, or any interest in them; 15 
(19) "Sexual orientation" means an individual's actual or imputed heterosexuality, 16 
homosexuality, or bisexuality; and 17 
(20) "To rent" means to lease, to sublease, to let, or otherwise to grant for a 18 
consideration the right to occupy premises not owned by the occupant. 19 
Section 2.   KRS 344.020 is amended to read as follows: 20 
(1) The general purposes of this chapter are: 21 
(a) To provide for execution within the Commonwealth[state] of the policies 22 
embodied in the[ Federal] Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352, as 23 
amended[ (78 Stat. 241), Title VIII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1968 24 
(82 Stat. 81)], the Fair Housing Act, Pub. L. No. 90-284, as amended[ (42 25 
U.S.C. 360)], the[ Federal] Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, 26 
Pub. L. No. 90-202, as amended[ (81 Stat. 602)], the Americans with 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No.[ (P.L.] 101-336[)], as amended, and the 1 
Civil Rights Act of 1991, Pub. L. No. 102-166, as amended[ ( P.L. 102-166, 2 
amended by P.L. 102-392)]; 3 
(b) To safeguard all individuals within the Commonwealth[state] from 4 
discrimination because of familial status, race, color, religion, national origin, 5 
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age forty (40) and over, or because of 6 
the person's status as a qualified individual with a disability as defined in[ 7 
KRS 344.010 and] KRS 344.030; thereby to protect their interest in personal 8 
dignity and freedom from humiliation, to make available to the 9 
Commonwealth[state] their full productive capacities, to secure the 10 
Commonwealth[state] against domestic strife and unrest which would menace 11 
its democratic institutions, to preserve the public safety, health, and general 12 
welfare, and to further the interest, rights, and privileges of individuals within 13 
the Commonwealth[state]; and 14 
(c) To establish as the policy of the Commonwealth the safeguarding of the rights 15 
of an individual selling or leasing his primary residence through private sale 16 
without the aid of any real estate operator, broker, or salesperson[salesman] 17 
and without advertising or public display. 18 
(2) This chapter shall be construed to further the general purposes stated in this section 19 
and the special purposes of the particular provision involved. 20 
(3) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as indicating an intent to exclude local 21 
laws on the same subject matter not inconsistent with this chapter. 22 
(4) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to repeal any other law of this 23 
Commonwealth[state] relating to discrimination because of familial status, race, 24 
color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age forty 25 
(40) and over, or because of the person's status as a qualified individual with a 26 
disability as defined in KRS 344.030. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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Section 3.   KRS 344.025 is amended to read as follows: 1 
No provision in KRS Chapter 18A shall be construed to preclude any classified or 2 
unclassified state employee from appealing to the personnel board any action alleged to 3 
be in violation of laws prohibiting discrimination based on an individual's[a person's 4 
status as a qualified individual with a disability,] sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 5 
age, religion,[ or] race, or national origin, or because the person is a qualified individual 6 
with a disability as defined in KRS 344.030, in accordance with this chapter. 7 
Section 4.   KRS 344.040 is amended to read as follows: 8 
(1) It is an unlawful practice for an employer: 9 
(a) To fail or refuse to hire, or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to 10 
discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation, terms, 11 
conditions, or privileges of employment, because of the individual's race, 12 
color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age 13 
forty (40) and over, because the person is a qualified individual with a 14 
disability, or because the individual is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the 15 
individual[person] complies with any workplace policy concerning smoking; 16 
(b) To limit, segregate, or classify employees in any way which would deprive or 17 
tend to deprive an individual of employment opportunities or otherwise 18 
adversely affect status as an employee, because of the individual's race, color, 19 
religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty 20 
(40) and over, because the person is a qualified individual with a disability, or 21 
because the individual is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the 22 
individual[person] complies with any workplace policy concerning smoking; 23 
(c) To fail to make reasonable accommodations for any employee with limitations 24 
related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition who requests 25 
an accommodation, including but not limited to the need to express breast 26 
milk, unless the employer can demonstrate the accommodation would impose 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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an undue hardship on the employer's program, enterprise, or business. The 1 
following shall be required as to reasonable accommodations: 2 
1. An employee shall not be required to take leave from work if another 3 
reasonable accommodation can be provided; 4 
2. The employer and employee shall engage in a timely, good faith, and 5 
interactive process to determine effective reasonable accommodations; 6 
and 7 
3. If the employer has a policy to provide, would be required to provide, is 8 
currently providing, or has provided a similar accommodation to other 9 
classes of employees, then a rebuttable presumption is created that the 10 
accommodation does not impose an undue hardship on the employer; or 11 
(d) To require as a condition of employment that any employee or applicant for 12 
employment abstain from smoking or using tobacco products outside the 13 
course of employment, as long as the individual[person] complies with any 14 
workplace policy concerning smoking. 15 
(2) (a) A difference in employee contribution rates for smokers and nonsmokers in 16 
relation to an employer-sponsored health plan shall not be deemed to be an 17 
unlawful practice in violation of this section. 18 
(b) The offering of incentives or benefits offered by an employer to employees 19 
who participate in a smoking cessation program shall not be deemed to be an 20 
unlawful practice in violation of this section. 21 
(3) (a) An employer shall provide written notice of the right to be free from 22 
discrimination in relation to pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical 23 
conditions, including the right to reasonable accommodations, to: 24 
1. New employees at the commencement of employment; and 25 
2. Existing employees not later than thirty (30) days after June 27, 2019. 26 
(b) An employer shall conspicuously post a written notice of the right to be free 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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from discrimination in relation to pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical 1 
conditions, including the right to reasonable accommodations, at the 2 
employer's place of business in an area accessible to employees. 3 
Section 5.   KRS 344.050 is amended to read as follows: 4 
(1) It is an unlawful practice for an employment agency to fail or refuse to refer for 5 
employment[,] or to otherwise[ to] discriminate against[,] an individual because of[ 6 
his] race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or 7 
age forty (40) and over, or because the person is a qualified individual with a 8 
disability, or to classify or refer for employment an individual because of[on the 9 
basis of disability,] race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, 10 
gender identity, or age[ between] forty (40) and over, or because the person is a 11 
qualified individual with a disability[seventy (70)]. 12 
(2) It is an unlawful practice for a licensing agency to refuse to license, or to bar or 13 
terminate from licensing an individual because of race, color, religion, national 14 
origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty (40) and over, or 15 
because the person is a qualified individual with a disability. 16 
Section 6.   KRS 344.060 is amended to read as follows: 17 
It is an unlawful practice for a labor organization: 18 
(1) To exclude or to expel from its membership[,] or to otherwise[ to] discriminate 19 
against[,] a member, or applicant for membership, because of race, color, religion, 20 
national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty (40) and over, 21 
or because the person is a qualified individual with a disability. 22 
(2) To limit, segregate, or classify its membership, or to classify or fail to refuse to refer 23 
for employment an individual, in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive 24 
an individual of employment opportunities, or would limit such employment 25 
opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the status as an employee or as an 26 
applicant for employment, because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty (40) and over, or because the 1 
person is a qualified individual with a disability. 2 
(3) To cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against an individual in 3 
violation of this section. 4 
Section 7.   KRS 344.070 is amended to read as follows: 5 
It is an unlawful practice for an employer, labor organization, or joint labor-management 6 
committee controlling apprenticeship or other training or retraining, including on-the-job 7 
training programs, to discriminate against an individual because of race, color, religion, 8 
national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty (40) and over, or 9 
because the person is a qualified individual with a disability in admission to or 10 
employment in, any program established to provide apprenticeship or other training. 11 
Section 8.   KRS 344.080 is amended to read as follows: 12 
It is an unlawful practice for an employer, labor organization, licensing agency, or 13 
employment agency to print or publish or cause to be printed or published a notice or 14 
advertisement relating to employment by such an employer or membership in or any 15 
classification or referral for employment by the employment or licensing agency, 16 
indicating any preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination, based on race, 17 
color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty (40) 18 
and over, or because the person is a qualified individual with a disability, except that such 19 
a notice or advertisement may indicate a preference, limitation, or specification based on 20 
religion, national origin, sex, or age forty (40) and over, or because the person is a 21 
qualified individual with a disability, when religion, national origin, sex, or age forty (40) 22 
and over, or because the person is a qualified individual with a disability, is a bona fide 23 
occupational qualification for employment. 24 
Section 9.   KRS 344.100 is amended to read as follows: 25 
[Notwithstanding ]Any[ other] provision of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, 26 
it is not an unlawful practice for an employer to apply different standards of 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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compensation, or different terms, conditions, or privileges of employment pursuant to a 1 
bona fide seniority or merit system, or a system which measures earnings by quantity or 2 
quality of production or to employees who work in different locations, if the differences 3 
are not the result of an intention to discriminate because of race, color, religion, national 4 
origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty (40) and over, or because the 5 
person is a qualified individual with a disability, nor is it an unlawful practice for an 6 
employer to give and to act upon the results of any professionally developed ability test 7 
provided that the test, its administration, or action upon the results thereof is not 8 
designed, intended, or used to discriminate because of race, color, religion, national 9 
origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty (40) and over, or because the 10 
person is a qualified individual with a disability. 11 
Section 10.   KRS 344.110 is amended to read as follows: 12 
(1) Nothing[ contained] in this chapter requires an employer, employment agency, labor 13 
organization, or joint labor-management committee subject to this chapter to grant 14 
preferential treatment to an individual or to a group because of the race, color, 15 
religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty (40) 16 
and over, or because the person is a qualified individual with a disability, of the 17 
individual or group on account of an imbalance which may exist with respect to the 18 
total number or percentage of individuals[persons] of any race, color, religion, 19 
national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty (40) and over, 20 
or because the person is a qualified individual with a disability, employed by an 21 
employer, referred or classified for employment by an employment agency or labor 22 
organization, admitted to membership or classified by a labor organization, or 23 
admitted to, or employed in, an apprenticeship or other training program, in 24 
comparison with the total number or percentage of individuals[persons] of race, 25 
color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty 26 
(40) and over, or because the person is a qualified individual with a disability, in the 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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Commonwealth[state] or a community, section, or other area, or in the available 1 
workforce in the Commonwealth[state] or a community, section, or other area. 2 
(2) Nothing[ contained] in this chapter shall prohibit: 3 
(a) Minimum hiring ages otherwise provided by law. 4 
(b) State compliance with federal regulations. 5 
(c) Termination of the employment of any person who is unable to perform the 6 
essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. 7 
(d) Any post-job-offer physical or medical examinations of applicants or 8 
employees which an employer requires to determine their ability to perform 9 
the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. 10 
(e) An employer, labor organization, or employment agency from observing the 11 
terms of a bona fide seniority system or any bona fide employee benefit plan 12 
such as a retirement, pension, or insurance plan which is not a subterfuge to 13 
evade the purposes of this chapter, except that no such employee benefit plan 14 
shall excuse the failure to hire any individual. 15 
Section 11.   KRS 344.120 is amended to read as follows: 16 
Except as otherwise provided in KRS 344.140 and 344.145, it is an unlawful practice for 17 
a person to deny an individual the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, 18 
facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public 19 
accommodation, resort, or amusement because[, as defined in KRS 344.130, on the 20 
ground] of the individual's disability, race, color, religion,[ or] national origin, sexual 21 
orientation, or gender identity. 22 
Section 12.   KRS 344.140 is amended to read as follows: 23 
It is an unlawful practice for a person, directly or indirectly, to publish, circulate, issue, 24 
display, or mail, or cause to be published, circulated, issued, displayed, or mailed, a 25 
written, printed, oral, or visual communication, notice, or advertisement, which indicates 26 
that the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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of public accommodation, resort, or amusement will be refused, withheld from, or denied 1 
an individual because[on account] of disability, race, color, religion,[ or] national origin, 2 
sexual orientation, or gender identity, or that the patronage of, or presence at, a place of 3 
public accommodation, resort, or amusement, of an individual, on account of disability, 4 
race, color, religion,[ or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity is 5 
objectionable, unwelcome, unacceptable, or undesirable. 6 
Section 13.   KRS 344.170 is amended to read as follows: 7 
The function of the commission shall be to encourage fair treatment for, to foster mutual 8 
understanding and respect among, and to discourage discrimination against individuals 9 
on the basis of disability, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, 10 
gender identity, or age forty (40) and over[any racial or ethnic group or its members].  11 
Section 14.   KRS 344.180 is amended to read as follows: 12 
The powers and duties of the commission shall be: 13 
(1) To employ an executive director and other necessary personnel within the limits of 14 
funds made available; 15 
(2) To conduct research projects or make studies into and publish reports on 16 
discrimination in Kentucky; 17 
(3) To receive and investigate complaints of discrimination and to recommend ways of 18 
eliminating any injustices occasioned thereby; 19 
(4) To hold public hearings and request the attendance of witnesses; 20 
(5) To cooperate with other organizations, public and private, to discourage 21 
discrimination; 22 
(6) To encourage fair treatment for all persons regardless of disability, race, color, 23 
religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age forty (40) 24 
and over[national ancestry]; and 25 
(7) To make an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly of its 26 
activities under this chapter. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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Section 15.   KRS 344.190 is amended to read as follows: 1 
In the enforcement of this chapter, the commission[ on Human Rights] shall have the 2 
following powers and duties: 3 
(1) To maintain an office in the city of Louisville and other offices within the 4 
Commonwealth[state] as may be deemed necessary;[.] 5 
(2) To meet and exercise its powers at any place within the Commonwealth;[.] 6 
(3) Within the limitations provided by law, to appoint an executive director, attorneys, 7 
hearing examiners, clerks, and other employees and agents as it may deem 8 
necessary. At the direction of the commission, attorneys appointed under this 9 
section may appear for and represent the commission in any court. The commission 10 
may, by written order, delegate the authority given by this subsection to its 11 
executive director, except as that authority relates to the appointment of its 12 
executive director;[.] 13 
(4) To promote the creation of local commissions on human rights, to cooperate with 14 
state, local, and other agencies, both public and private, and individuals, and to 15 
obtain upon request and utilize the services of all governmental departments and 16 
agencies;[.] 17 
(5) To cooperate with the[ United States] Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 18 
created by[ Section 705 of] the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352[ (78 19 
Stat. 241)], in order to achieve the purposes of that act, and with other federal and 20 
local agencies in order to achieve the purposes of that act, and with other federal 21 
and local agencies in order to achieve the purposes of this chapter;[.] 22 
(6) To accept gifts or bequests, grants, or other payments, public or private, to help 23 
finance its activities;[.] 24 
(7) To accept reimbursement pursuant to Section 709(b) of the Civil Rights Act of 25 
1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352,[ (78 Stat. 241)] for services rendered to assist the[ 26 
Federal] Equal Employment Opportunity Commission;[.] 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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(8) To receive, initiate, investigate, seek to conciliate, hold hearings on, and pass upon 1 
complaints alleging violations of this chapter;[.] 2 
(9) At any time after a complaint is filed, to require answers to interrogatories, compel 3 
the attendance of witnesses, examine witnesses under oath or affirmation in person 4 
or by deposition, and require the production of documents relevant to the complaint. 5 
The commission may make rules authorizing any member or individual designated 6 
to exercise these powers in the performance of official duties;[.] 7 
(10) To furnish technical assistance requested by persons subject to this chapter to 8 
further their compliance with this chapter or an order issued thereunder;[.] 9 
(11) To make studies appropriate to effectuate the purposes and policies of this chapter 10 
and to make the results thereof available to the public;[.] 11 
(12) To render annual written reports to the Governor and the General 12 
Assembly[Legislature]. The reports may contain recommendations of the 13 
commission for legislative or other action to effectuate the purposes and policies of 14 
this chapter;[.] 15 
(13) To create local or statewide advisory agencies that in its judgment will aid in 16 
effectuating the purpose of this chapter. The commission may empower these 17 
agencies: 18 
(a) To study and report on problems of discrimination because of disability, race, 19 
color, religion,[ or] national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 20 
or age forty (40) and over;[,] 21 
(b) To foster, through community effort or otherwise, goodwill among the groups 22 
and elements of the population of the Commonwealth;[state,] and 23 
(c) To make recommendations to the commission for the development of policies 24 
and practices that will aid in carrying out the purposes of this chapter. 25 
Members of these agencies[such committees] shall serve without pay but 26 
shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in such service. The commission 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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may make provision for technical and clerical assistance to the 1 
agencies;[committees.] 2 
(14) To[ adopt,] promulgate administrative[, amend, and rescind] regulations to 3 
effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, including regulations 4 
requiring the posting of notices prepared or approved by the commission; and[.] 5 
(15) To purchase liability insurance for the protection of all members of the commission 6 
to protect them from liability arising in the course of pursuing their duties as 7 
members of the commission and for all full-time employees to protect them from 8 
liability arising in the course or scope of their employment. This insurance shall be 9 
purchased with money contained in the agency appropriated budget. 10 
Section 16.   KRS 344.300 is amended to read as follows: 11 
(1) City, county, urban-county, consolidated local, unified local, and charter county 12 
governments[Cities and counties] are authorized to adopt and enforce ordinances, 13 
orders, and resolutions prohibiting all forms of discrimination, including 14 
discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, familial status,[ or] 15 
national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age, and to prescribe 16 
penalties for violations thereof, such penalties being in addition to the remedial 17 
orders and enforcement herein authorized. 18 
(2) City, county, urban-county, consolidated local, unified local, and charter county 19 
governments[Cities and counties] may adopt and enforce ordinances, orders, and 20 
resolutions prohibiting discrimination; no ordinance, order, or resolution shall 21 
attempt to exempt more transactions from its coverage than are exempted by KRS 22 
344.362 and 344.365. 23 
Section 17.   KRS 344.310 is amended to read as follows: 24 
Any city,[ or] county, urban-county, consolidated local, unified local, or charter county 25 
government, or one (1) or more of those local governments[cities and counties] acting 26 
jointly, may create a local human rights commission[ (hereinafter a "local commission")]: 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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(1) To provide for execution within its jurisdiction of the policies embodied in this 1 
chapter and the[ Federal] Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352, as 2 
amended[ (78 Stat. 241)]; and 3 
(2) To safeguard all individuals within its jurisdiction from discrimination because of 4 
race, color, religion,[ or] national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or 5 
age. 6 
Section 18.   KRS 344.360 is amended to read as follows: 7 
(1) It is an unlawful housing practice for a real estate operator, or for a real estate 8 
broker, real estate salesperson[salesman], or any person employed by or acting on 9 
behalf of any of these: 10 
(a)[(1)] To refuse to sell, exchange, rent, or lease, or otherwise deny to or 11 
withhold, real property from any person because of race, color, religion, sex, 12 
sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, disability, or national 13 
origin; 14 
(b)[(2)] To discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, 15 
sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, disability, or national 16 
origin in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale, exchange, rental, or 17 
lease of real property or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection 18 
therewith; 19 
(c)[(3)] To refuse to receive or transmit a bona fide offer to purchase, rent, or 20 
lease real property from any person because of race, color, religion, sex, 21 
sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, disability, or national 22 
origin; 23 
(d)[(4)] To refuse to negotiate for the sale, rental, or lease of real property to any 24 
person because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender 25 
identity, familial status, disability, or national origin; 26 
(e)[(5)] To represent to any person that real property is not available for 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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inspection, sale, rental, or lease when it is so available, or to refuse to permit 1 
any person to inspect real property because of[ his] race, color, religion, sex, 2 
sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, disability, or national 3 
origin; 4 
(f)[(6)] To make, print, circulate, post, or mail or cause to be printed, circulated, 5 
posted, or mailed an advertisement or sign, or to use a form of application for 6 
the purchase, rental, or lease of real property, or to make a record of inquiry in 7 
connection with the prospective purchase, rental, or lease of real property, 8 
which indicates, directly or indirectly, a limitation, specification, or 9 
discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender 10 
identity, familial status, disability, or national origin or an intent to make such 11 
a limitation, specification, or discrimination; 12 
(g)[(7)] To offer, solicit, accept, use, or retain a listing of real property for sale, 13 
rental, or lease with the understanding that any person may be discriminated 14 
against in the sale, rental, or lease of that real property or in the furnishing of 15 
facilities or services in connection therewith because of[ his] race, color, 16 
religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, disability, or 17 
national origin; 18 
(h)[(8)] To otherwise deny to or withhold real property from any person because 19 
of[ his] race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, familial 20 
status, disability, or national origin; 21 
(i)[(9)] To discriminate in the sale or rental, or to otherwise make unavailable or 22 
deny, a housing accommodation to any buyer or renter because of a disability 23 
of: 24 
1. [(a)] That buyer or renter; 25 
2. [(b)] A person residing in or intending to reside in that housing 26 
accommodation after it is so sold, rented, or made available; or 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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3. [(c)] Any person associated with that buyer or renter; or 1 
(j)[ (10)] To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges 2 
of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in 3 
connection with such housing accommodation, because of a disability of: 4 
1. [(a)] That person;[ or] 5 
2. [(b)] A person residing in or intending to reside in that housing 6 
accommodation after it is sold, rented, or made available; or 7 
3. [(c)] Any person associated with that person. 8 
(2)[(11)] For purposes of this section, discrimination includes: 9 
(a) A refusal to permit, at the expense of the disabled person, reasonable 10 
modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by a person, if 11 
the modifications may be necessary to afford the person full enjoyment of the 12 
premises; except that, in the case of a rental, the landlord may, where it is 13 
reasonable to do so, condition permission for a modification on the renter 14 
agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed 15 
before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted;[.] 16 
(b) A refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or 17 
services, when the accommodations may be necessary to afford the person 18 
equal opportunity to use and enjoy a housing accommodation; or 19 
(c) In connection with the design and construction of covered multifamily 20 
housing accommodations for first occupancy after January 1, 1993, a failure to 21 
design and construct those housing accommodations in a manner ensuring that 22 
they have at least one (1) entrance on an accessible route unless impractical to 23 
do so because of the terrain or unusual characteristics of the site. Housing 24 
accommodations with a building entrance on an accessible route shall comply 25 
with the following requirements: 26 
1. The public use and common use portions of the hous ing 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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accommodations shall be readily accessible to and usable by disabled 1 
persons; 2 
2. All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises 3 
within the housing accommodations shall be sufficiently wide to allow 4 
passage by disabled persons in wheelchairs; and 5 
3. All premises within the housing accommodations shall contain the 6 
following features of adaptive design: 7 
a. An accessible route into and through the housing accommodation; 8 
b. Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other 9 
environmental controls in accessible locations; 10 
c. Reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of 11 
grab bars; and 12 
d. Usable kitchens and bathrooms so that an individual in a 13 
wheelchair can maneuver about the space. 14 
(3)[(12)] Compliance with the appropriate requirements of the American National 15 
Standard for buildings and facilities providing accessibility and usability for 16 
physically disabled persons, [(]commonly cited as "ANSI A117.1 - 1986,"[)] 17 
suffices to satisfy the requirements of subsection (2)[(11)](c)3. of this section. 18 
(4)[(13)] As used in subsection (2)[(11)] of this section, the term "covered multifamily 19 
housing accommodation" means: 20 
(a) Buildings consisting of four (4) or more units if the buildings have one (1) or 21 
more elevators; and 22 
(b) Ground floor units in other buildings consisting of two (2) or more units. 23 
(5)[(14)] Nothing in this section requires that a housing accommodation be made 24 
available to an individual whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the 25 
health or safety of other individuals or whose tenancy would result in substantial 26 
physical damage to the property of others. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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Section 19.   KRS 344.367 is amended to read as follows: 1 
It is an unlawful practice for a person in the business of insuring against hazards to refuse 2 
to enter into, or discriminate in the terms, conditions, or privileges of, a contract of 3 
insurance against hazards to a housing accommodation because of the race, color, 4 
religion, national origin, familial status, disability,[ or] sex, sexual orientation, or gender 5 
identity of persons owning[,] or residing in or near the housing accommodation. 6 
Section 20.   KRS 344.370 is amended to read as follows: 7 
It is an unlawful practice for a financial institution or for any person or other entity whose 8 
business includes engaging in real estate-related transactions: 9 
(1) To discriminate against an individual because of the race, color, religion,[ or] 10 
national origin, familial status, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 11 
or age of the individual or the present or prospective owner, tenant, or occupant of 12 
the real property or of a member, stockholder, director, officer, employee, or 13 
representative of any of these, in the granting, withholding, extending, modifying, 14 
or renewing the rates, terms, conditions, privileges, or other provisions of financial 15 
assistance or in the extension of services in connection therewith; 16 
(2) To use a form of application for financial assistance or to make or keep a record or 17 
inquiry in connection with applications for financial assistance which indicate, 18 
directly or indirectly, a limitation, specification, or discrimination as to race, color, 19 
religion, national origin, familial status, disability, sex, sexual orientation, or 20 
gender identity,[national origin] or an intent to make such a limitation, 21 
specification, or discrimination; or 22 
(3) To discriminate by refusing to give full recognition, because of sex, to the income 23 
of each spouse or the total income and expenses of both spouses where both 24 
spouses become or are prepared to become joint or several obligors in real estate 25 
transactions[; or 26 
(4) As used in this section, the term "real estate-related transaction" means any of the 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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following: 1 
(a) The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance; 2 
1. For purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a 3 
housing accommodation; or 4 
2. Secured by real estate. 5 
(b) The selling, brokering, or appraising of real property except that a person 6 
engaged in the business of furnishing appraisals of real property may take into 7 
consideration factors other than race, color, religion, national origin, sex, 8 
disability, or familial status]. 9 
Section 21.   KRS 344.380 is amended to read as follows: 10 
It is an unlawful practice for a real estate operator, a real estate broker, a real estate 11 
salesperson[salesman], a financial institution, an employee of any of these, or any other 12 
person, for the purpose of inducing a real estate transaction from which a person may 13 
benefit financially: 14 
(1) To represent that a change has occurred or will or may occur in the composition 15 
with respect to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 16 
disability, familial status, or national origin of the owners or occupants in the block, 17 
neighborhood, or area in which the real property is located; 18 
(2) To represent that this change will or may result in the lowering of property values, 19 
an increase in criminal or antisocial behavior, or a decline in the quality of schools 20 
in the block, neighborhood, or area in which the real property is located; or 21 
(3) To induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any dwelling by 22 
representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a 23 
person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, 24 
gender identity, disability, familial status, or national origin. 25 
Section 22.   KRS 344.400 is amended to read as follows: 26 
(1) It shall be an unlawful practice for any person, whether acting for himself or 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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another, in connection with any credit transaction because of race, color, religion, 1 
national origin,[ or] sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity to:  2 
(a) Deny credit to any person;  3 
(b) Increase the charges or fees for or collateral required to secure any credit 4 
extended to any person;  5 
(c) Restrict the amount or use of credit extended or impose different terms or 6 
conditions with respect to the credit extended to any person or any item or 7 
service related thereto; or 8 
(d) Attempt to do any of the unlawful practices defined in this section.  9 
(2) The provisions of this section shall not prohibit any party to a credit transaction 10 
from considering the credit history of any individual applicant.  11 
(3) The provisions of this section shall not prohibit any party to a credit transaction 12 
from considering the application of Kentucky law on dower and[,] curtesy or[,] 13 
descent and distribution to the particular case or from taking reasonable action 14 
thereon.  15 
Section 23.   KRS 344.680 is amended to read as follows: 16 
It shall be unlawful to deny any person access to, or membership or participation in, any 17 
multiple listing service, real estate brokers' organization, or other service, organization, or 18 
facility relating to the business of selling or renting housing accommodations, or to 19 
discriminate against a person in the terms or conditions of access, membership, or 20 
participation, on account of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 21 
disability, familial status, or national origin. 22 
Section 24.   KRS 18A.095 is amended to read as follows: 23 
(1) A classified employee with status shall not be dismissed, demoted, suspended, or 24 
otherwise penalized except for cause. 25 
(2) Prior to dismissal, a classified employee with status shall be notified in writing of 26 
the intent to dismiss him. The notice shall also state: 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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(a) The specific reasons for dismissal including: 1 
1. The statutory or regulatory violation; 2 
2. The specific action or activity on which the intent to dismiss is based; 3 
3. The date, time, and place of such action or activity; and 4 
4. The name of the parties involved; 5 
(b) That the employee has the right to appear personally, or with counsel if he has 6 
retained counsel, to reply to the head of the cabinet or agency or his designee; 7 
and 8 
(c) Whether the employee is placed on administrative leave by the appointing 9 
authority with pay upon receiving the intent to dismiss letter prior to the 10 
agency's final action. 11 
(3) The Personnel Cabinet shall prescribe and distribute a form to be completed and 12 
forwarded by an employee who wishes to appear before the head of the cabinet or 13 
agency or his designee, to each appointing authority. The form shall be attached to 14 
every notice of intent to dismiss and shall contain written instructions explaining: 15 
(a) The right granted an employee under the provisions of this section relating to 16 
pretermination hearings; and 17 
(b) The time limits and procedures to be followed by all parties in pretermination 18 
hearings. 19 
(4) No later than five (5) working days after receipt of the notice of intent to dismiss, 20 
excluding the day he receives the notice, the employee may request to appear, 21 
personally or with counsel if he has retained counsel, to reply to the head of the 22 
cabinet or agency or his designee. 23 
(5) Unless waived by the employee, the appearance shall be scheduled within six (6) 24 
working days after receipt of an employee's request to appear before the head of the 25 
cabinet or agency or his designee, excluding the day his request is received. 26 
(6) No later than five (5) working days after the employee appears before the head of 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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the cabinet or agency or his designee, excluding the day of the appearance, the 1 
cabinet head or agency or his designee shall: 2 
(a) Determine whether to dismiss the employee or to alter, modify, or rescind the 3 
intent to dismiss; and 4 
(b) Notify the employee in writing of the decision. 5 
(7) If the cabinet or agency head or his designee determines that the employee shall be 6 
dismissed or otherwise penalized, the employee shall be notified in writing of: 7 
(a) The effective date of his dismissal or other penalization; 8 
(b) The specific reason for this action, including: 9 
1. The statutory or regulatory violation; 10 
2. The specific action or activity on which the dismissal or other 11 
penalization is based; 12 
3. The date, time, and place of the action or activity; and 13 
4. The name of the parties involved; and 14 
(c) That he may appeal the dismissal or other penalization to the board within 15 
sixty (60) days after receipt of this notification, excluding the day he receives 16 
notice. 17 
(8) A classified employee with status who is demoted, suspended, or otherwise 18 
penalized shall be notified in writing of: 19 
(a) The demotion, suspension, or other penalization; 20 
(b) The effective date of the demotion, suspension, or other penalization; 21 
(c) The specific reason for the action including: 22 
1. The statutory or regulatory violation; 23 
2. The specific action or activity on which the demotion, suspension, or 24 
other penalization is based; 25 
3. The date, time, and place of the action or activity; and 26 
4. The name of the parties involved; and 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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(d) That he or she has the right to appeal to the board within sixty (60) days, 1 
excluding the day that he or she received notification of the personnel action. 2 
(9) Any unclassified employee who is dismissed, demoted, suspended, or otherwise 3 
penalized for cause may, within thirty (30) days after the dismissal, demotion, 4 
suspension, or other form of penalization, appeal to the board for review thereof. 5 
(10) (a) An employee whose position is reallocated shall be notified in writing by the 6 
appointing authority of: 7 
1. The reallocation; and 8 
2. His right to request reconsideration by the secretary within ten (10) 9 
working days of receipt of the notice, excluding the day he receives 10 
notification. 11 
(b) He shall be provided with a form prescribed by the secretary on which to 12 
request reconsideration. 13 
(c) The employee shall file a written request for reconsideration of the 14 
reallocation of his position with the secretary in a manner and form prescribed 15 
by the secretary and shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard 16 
thereon by the secretary. The secretary shall make a determination within sixty 17 
(60) days after the request has been filed by an employee. After 18 
reconsideration of the request by the secretary, the employee may appeal to the 19 
board. 20 
(11) Any state employee, applicant for employment, or eligible on a register may appeal 21 
to the board on the grounds that his right to inspect or copy records, including 22 
preliminary and other supporting documentation, relating to him has been denied, 23 
abridged, or impeded by a public agency. The board shall conduct a hearing to 24 
determine whether the records related to the employee, applicant, or eligible, and 25 
whether his right to inspect or copy these records was denied, abridged, or impeded. 26 
If the board determines that the records related to the employee and that the right to 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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inspect or copy these records has been denied, abridged, or impeded, the board shall 1 
order the public agency to make them available for inspection and copying and shall 2 
charge the cost of the hearing to the public agency. A state employee, an applicant 3 
for employment, and an eligible on a register shall not have the right to inspect or to 4 
copy any examination materials. 5 
(12) Any classified employee may appeal to the board an action alleged to be based on 6 
discrimination due to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, 7 
gender identity, disability, or age forty (40) and above. Nothing in this section shall 8 
be construed to preclude any classified or unclassified employee from filing with 9 
the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights a complaint alleging discrimination on 10 
the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender 11 
identity, disability, or age in accordance with KRS Chapter 344. 12 
(13) When an eligible's name is removed from a register, the secretary shall notify the 13 
eligible of his action and the reasons therefor, together with his right of appeal. An 14 
eligible's name shall be restored to the register upon presentation of reasons 15 
satisfactory to the secretary or in accordance with the decision of the board. 16 
(14) (a) Any employee, applicant for employment, or eligible on a register, who 17 
believes that he has been discriminated against, may appeal to the board. 18 
(b) Any applicant whose application for admission to an open-competitive 19 
examination has been rejected shall be notified of this rejection and the 20 
reasons therefor and may appeal to the board for reconsideration of his 21 
qualifications and for admission to the examination. Applicants may be 22 
conditionally admitted to an examination by the secretary pending 23 
reconsideration by the board. 24 
(c) Any applicant who has taken an examination may appeal to the board for a 25 
review of his rating in any part of the examination to assure that uniform 26 
rating procedures have been applied equally and fairly. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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(d) An appeal to the board by applicants or eligibles under subsections (11) and 1 
(13) of this section and under this subsection shall be filed in writing with the 2 
executive director not later than thirty (30) calendar days after the notification 3 
of the action in question was mailed. 4 
(15) An evaluation may be appealed to the board if an employee has complied with the 5 
review procedure established in KRS 18A.110(7)(j). 6 
(16) (a) Appeals to the board shall be in writing on an appeal form prescribed by the 7 
board. Appeal forms shall be available at the employee's place of work. The 8 
Personnel Cabinet shall be responsible for the distribution of these forms. 9 
(b) The appeal form shall be attached to any notice, or copy of any notice, of 10 
dismissal, demotion, suspension, fine, involuntary transfer, or other 11 
penalization, reallocation, or notice of any other action an employee may 12 
appeal under the provisions of this section. The appeal form shall instruct the 13 
employee to state whether he is a classified or unclassified employee, his full 14 
name, his appointing authority, work station address and telephone number, 15 
and, if he has retained counsel at the time he files an appeal, the name, 16 
address, and telephone number of his attorney. 17 
(c) The form shall also instruct a classified employee to state the action he is 18 
appealing in a short, plain, concise statement of the facts. The form shall 19 
instruct an unclassified employee to make a short, plain, concise statement of 20 
the reason for the appeal and the cause given for his dismissal. 21 
(d) Upon receipt of the appeal by the board, the appointing authority and the 22 
Personnel Cabinet shall be notified and the board shall schedule a hearing. 23 
(17) All administrative hearings conducted by the board shall be conducted in 24 
accordance with KRS Chapter 13B. 25 
(18) (a) The board may deny a hearing to an employee who has failed to file an appeal 26 
within the time prescribed by this section; and to an unclassified employee 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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who has failed to state the reasons for the appeal and the cause for which he 1 
has been dismissed. The board may deny any appeal after a preliminary 2 
hearing if it lacks jurisdiction to grant relief. The board shall notify the 3 
employee of its denial in writing and shall inform the employee of his right to 4 
appeal the denial under the provisions of KRS 18A.100. 5 
(b) Any investigation by the board of any matter related to an appeal filed by an 6 
employee shall be conducted only upon notice to the employee, the 7 
employee's counsel, and the appointing authority. All parties to the appeal 8 
shall have access to information produced by the investigations and the 9 
information shall be presented at the hearing. 10 
(19) Each appeal shall be decided individually, unless otherwise agreed by the parties 11 
and the board. The board shall not: 12 
(a) Employ class action procedures; or 13 
(b) Conduct test representative cases. 14 
(20) Board members shall abstain from public comment about a pending or impending 15 
proceeding before the board. This shall not prohibit board members from making 16 
public statements in the course of their official duties or from explaining for public 17 
information the procedures of the board. 18 
(21) An appeal to the board may be heard by the full board or one (1) or more of the 19 
following: Its executive director, its general counsel, any nonelected member of the 20 
board, or any hearing officer secured by the board pursuant to KRS 13B.030. 21 
(22) (a) If the board finds that the action complained of was taken by the appointing 22 
authority in violation of laws prohibiting favor for, or discrimination against, 23 
or bias with respect to, his political or religious opinions or affiliations or 24 
ethnic origin, or in violation of laws prohibiting discrimination because of 25 
such individual's sex or age or disability, the appointing authority shall 26 
immediately reinstate the employee to his former position or a position of like 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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status and pay, without loss of pay for the period of his penalization, or 1 
otherwise make the employee whole unless the order is stayed by the board or 2 
the court on appeal. 3 
(b) If the board finds that the action complained of was taken without just cause, 4 
the board shall order the immediate reinstatement of the employee to his 5 
former position or a position of like status and pay, without loss of pay for the 6 
period of his penalization, or otherwise make the employee whole unless the 7 
order is stayed by the board or the court on appeal. 8 
(c) If the board finds that the action taken by the appointing authority was 9 
excessive or erroneous in view of all the surrounding circumstances, the board 10 
shall direct the appointing authority to alter, modify, or rescind the 11 
disciplinary action. 12 
(d) In all other cases, the board shall direct the appointing authority to rescind the 13 
action taken or otherwise grant specific relief or dismiss the appeal. 14 
(23) If a final order of the board is appealed, a court shall award reasonable attorney fees 15 
to an employee who prevails by a final adjudication on the merits as provided by 16 
KRS 453.260. This award shall not include attorney fees attributable to the hearing 17 
before the board. 18 
(24) When any employee is dismissed and not ordered reinstated after the appeal, the 19 
board in its discretion may direct that his name be placed on an appropriate 20 
reemployment list for employment in any similar position other than the one from 21 
which he had been removed. 22 
(25) After a final decision has been rendered by the board or court, an employee who 23 
prevails in his appeal shall be credited with the amount of leave time used for time 24 
spent at his hearing before the board or court. Employees who had an insufficient 25 
amount of leave time shall be credited with leave time equal to the amount of time 26 
spent at their hearings before the board or court. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 97 
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(26) If the appointing authority appeals the final order of the board, unless the board 1 
rules otherwise, the reinstated employee shall remain in his former position, or a 2 
position of like status or pay, until the conclusion of the appeals process, at which 3 
time the appointing authority shall take action in accordance with the court order. 4 
(27) After a final decision in a contested case has been rendered by the last 5 
administrative or judicial body to which the case has been appealed, the board shall 6 
make the decision available to the public in electronic format on its Web site and 7 
shall organize the decisions according to the statutory basis for which the appeal 8 
was based. 9 
(28) For the purposes of subsections (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7) of this section, the 10 
word "agency" means any agency not assigned to a cabinet for organizational 11 
purposes. 12 
(29) Notwithstanding any other prescribed limitation of action, an employee that has 13 
been penalized, but has not received a written notice of his or her right to appeal as 14 
provided in this section, shall file his or her appeal with the Personnel Board within 15 
one (1) year from the date of the penalization or from the date that the employee 16 
reasonably should have known of the penalization. 17