CHAPTER 103
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CHAPTER 103
( HB 380 )
AN ACT relating to the certification of peace officers.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 15 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
(1) Any person who is at least twenty (20) years of age shall be eligible to be employed by a law enforcement
agency for the purpose of attending a basic training course as defined in KRS 15.310 if he or she will be
twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of becoming certified under KRS 15.380 to 15.404.
(2) The Kentucky Law Enforcement Council shall allow a person employed under subsection (1) of this section
to attend a basic training course as defined in KRS 15.310 if the person will be twenty-one (21) years of age
by the conclusion of the basic training course.
SECTION 2. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 67C IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
(1) Any person who is at least twenty (20) years of age shall be eligible to be employed by a consolidated local
government police force for the purpose of attending a basic training course as defined in KRS 15.310 if he
or she will be twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of becoming certified under KRS 15.380 to 15.404.
(2) The Kentucky Law Enforcement Council shall allow a person employed under subsection (1) of this section
to attend a basic training course as defined in KRS 15.310 if the person will be twenty-one (21) years of age
by the conclusion of the basic training course.
SECTION 3. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 95 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
(1) Any person who is at least twenty (20) years of age shall be eligible to be employed by an urban-county
government police force for the purpose of attending a basic training course as defined in KRS 15.310 if he
or she will be twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of becoming certified under KRS 15.380 to 15.404.
(2) The Kentucky Law Enforcement Council shall allow a person employed under subsection (1) of this section
to attend a basic training course as defined in KRS 15.310 if the person will be twenty-one (21) years of age
by the conclusion of the basic training course.
Section 4. KRS 15.386 is amended to read as follows:
The following certification categories shall exist:
(1) "Precertification status" means that the officer is currently employed or appointed by an agency and:
(a) Meets or exceeds all those minimum qualifications set forth in KRS 15.382, but has not successfully
completed a basic training course, except those peace officers covered by KRS 15.400. Upon the
council's verification that the minimum qualifications have been met and approval from the employing
agency, the officer shall have full peace officer powers as authorized under the statute under which he
or she was appointed or employed. If an officer fails to successfully complete a basic training course
within one (1) year of employment, his or her enforcement powers shall automatically terminate, unless
that officer is actively enrolled and participating in a basic training course or, after having begun a basic
training course, is on an approved extension of time due to injury or extenuating circumstances; or
(b) Does not meet the minimum qualifications set forth in KRS 15.382 because the officer has yet to
attain twenty-one (21) years of age. This precertification status is for the purpose of attending a basic
training course only;
(2) "Certification status" means that:
(a) Unless the certification is in revoked status or inactive status, the officer is currently employed or
appointed by an agency and has met all training requirements. The officer shall have full peace officer
powers as authorized under the statute under which he or she was appointed or employed; or
(b) For those officers that were employed at twenty (20) years of age and were precertified for the
purpose of attending a basic training course, upon the council's verification that all minimum
qualifications have been met, successful completion of a basic training course, and approval from ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2
the employing agency, the officer shall have full peace officer powers as authorized by the statute
under which he or she was appointed or employed;
(3) (a) "Inactive status" means that unless the certification is in revoked status:
1. The person has been separated on or after December 1, 1998, from the agency by which he or
she was employed or appointed and has no peace officer powers; or
2. The person is on military active duty for a period exceeding three hundred sixty-five (365) days.
(b) The person may remain on inactive status. A person who is on inactive status and who returns to a
peace officer position shall have certification status restored if he or she meets the requirements of KRS
15.400(1) or (2) or has successfully completed a basic training course approved and recognized by the
council, has not committed an act for which his or her certified status may be revoked pursuant to KRS
15.391 and successfully completes in-service training as prescribed by the council, as follows:
1. If the person has been on inactive status for a period of less than three (3) years, and the person
was not in training deficiency status at the time of separation, he or she shall complete:
a. The twenty-four (24) hour legal update Penal Code course;
b. The sixteen (16) hour legal update constitutional procedure course; and
c. The mandatory training course approved by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council,
pursuant to KRS 15.334, for the year in which he or she returns to certification status; or
2. If the person has been on inactive status for a period of three (3) years or more, or the person was
in training deficiency status at the time of separation, he or she shall complete:
a. The twenty-four (24) hour legal update Penal Code course;
b. The sixteen (16) hour legal update constitutional procedure course;
c. The mandatory training course approved by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council,
pursuant to KRS 15.334, for the year in which he or she returns to certification status; and
d. One (1) of the following forty (40) hour courses which is most appropriate for the officer's
duty assignment:
i. Basic officer skills;
ii. Orientation for new police chiefs; or
iii. Mandatory duties of the sheriff.
(c) A person returning from inactive to active certification after June 26, 2007, under KRS 15.380 to
15.404, shall meet the following minimum qualifications:
1. Be a citizen of the United States;
2. Possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle;
3. Be fingerprinted for a criminal background check;
4. Not have been convicted of any felony; a misdemeanor under KRS 510.120, 510.130, or
510.140; a second or subsequent offense under KRS 510.148; or a criminal attempt, conspiracy,
facilitation, or solicitation to commit any degree of rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, or sexual
misconduct;
5. Not be prohibited by federal or state law from possessing a firearm;
6. Have received and read the Kentucky Law Enforcement Officers Code of Ethics as established
by the council;
7. Have not received a dishonorable discharge, bad conduct discharge, or general discharge under
other than honorable conditions, if having served in any branch of the Armed Forces of the
United States;
8. Have been interviewed by the employing agency; and
9. Not have had certification as a peace officer permanently revoked in another state; CHAPTER 103
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(4) "Training deficiency status" means that unless the certification is in revoked status or inactive status, the
officer is currently employed or appointed by an agency and has failed to meet all in-service training
requirements. The officer's enforcement powers shall automatically terminate, and he or she shall not exercise
peace officer powers in the Commonwealth until he or she has corrected the in-service training deficiency;
(5) "Revoked status" means that the officer has no enforcement powers and his or her certification has been
revoked by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council under KRS 15.391; and
(6) "Denied status" means that a person does not meet the requirements to achieve precertification status or
certification status.
The design of a certificate may be changed periodically. When a new certificate is produced, it shall be distributed
free of charge to each currently certified peace officer.
Signed by Governor March 24, 2023.