UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1508
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AN ACT relating to political activity of the Kentucky State Police. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 16.170 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise: 4
(a) "Political activities" includes but is not be limited to: 5
1. Registering to vote and exercising the right to vote; 6
2. Soliciting votes or endorsements on behalf of a political candidate or 7
political campaign; 8
3. Expressing opinions, either publicly or privately, on political subjects 9
and candidates; 10
4. Displaying political signs, pictures, stickers, badges, or buttons; 11
5. Participating in the activities of, or contributing financially to, a 12
political party, political group, candidate, campaign, or any 13
organization that supports a political candidate or campaign; 14
6. Attending or participating in a political convention, caucus, rally, or 15
other political gathering; 16
7. Initiating, circulating, or signing a petition in favor of or opposition to 17
a candidate, public question, or a particular political position or 18
opinion; 19
8. Engaging in fundraising activities for any political party, political 20
organization, political group, candidate, or campaign; 21
9. Acting as a recorder, watcher, challenger, or similar officer at the 22
polls on behalf of a political party, political organization, political 23
group, candidate, or campaign; and 24
10. Becoming a political candidate; and 25
(b) "Political group," "political organization," and "political party" have the 26
same meaning as in KRS 118.015. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1508
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(2) Nothing in this section or other provision of law shall prohibit an[ No] officer of 1
the department or individual employed as a Trooper R Class or CVE R Class from 2
participating in political activities while off duty, out of uniform, and off the 3
premises of his or her usual place of employment. 4
(3) While engaging in any political activity under this section, an officer of the 5
department or individual employed as a Trooper R Class or CVE R Class shall 6
not: 7
(a) Wear a uniform or any part of a uniform that would identify him or her as 8
an officer or trooper; 9
(b) Use any equipment or property of the department; 10
(c) Display or otherwise attempt to cause others to believe the officer or 11
individual is carrying a firearm, star, badge, or other indication of law 12
enforcement authority; 13
(d) Promote himself or herself as an officer of the department or Trooper R 14
Class, CVE R Class, or ISP officer representing the interests of the 15
department; 16
(e) Solicit contributions from department employees or other persons during 17
regular working hours or, if a candidate, ask any subordinate to be a 18
campaign volunteer or contribute to the campaign; or 19
(f) Solicit or receive any political contribution of any kind while on state 20
property, unless the property is rented or leased by a private individual or 21
corporate entity[shall, directly or indirectly, give, solicit or receive, or be in 22
any manner concerned in giving, soliciting or receiving, any assessment, 23
subscription or contribution for any political party or political purpose 24
whatever. No officer or individual employed as a Trooper R Class or CVE R 25
Class shall, orally or by letter, solicit or be in any manner concerned in 26
soliciting any assessment, subscription or contribution for any political party 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1508
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or purpose whatever from any person holding a position in the department. No 1
officer of the department or individual employed as a Trooper R Class or 2
CVE R Class shall take any part in political management or affairs or in 3
political campaigns further than to cast his vote and to express privately his 4
opinion]. 5
(4) Any violation of this section[the provisions hereof] shall be grounds for removal. 6
Section 2. KRS 16.195 is amended to read as follows: 7
For officers governed by KRS 16.186 to 16.195, the following subjects shall be administered 8
in the same manner as provided for state police officers governed by KRS 16.010 to 16.185: 9
(1) Prohibition against requesting or requiring victim of alleged sexual offense to 10
submit to polygraph or other examination, as provided by KRS 16.062; 11
(2) Organization of the department, as provided by KRS 16.040(1); 12
(3) Additional duties of the department, as provided by KRS 16.065; 13
(4) Uniforms, equipment, and facilities, as provided by KRS 16.070; 14
(5) Automobile liability insurance, as provided by KRS 16.075; 15
(6) Bonds of employees, as provided by KRS 16.080; 16
(7) Training school, as provided by KRS 16.090; 17
(8) Officers required to take educational course on AIDS, as provided by KRS 16.095; 18
(9) Travel expenses and per diem allowances, as provided by KRS 16.100; 19
(10) Fees or rewards, as provided by KRS 16.110; 20
(11) Disabled officer on hazardous duty may elect to be retained on payroll, as provided 21
by KRS 16.165. 22
(12) Election of benefits by disabled officer, as provided by KRS 16.167. 23
(13) Restrictions on political activity[ forbidden], as provided by KRS 16.170; and 24
(14) Indemnification of state police officer sued for act or omission in line of duty who 25
suffers financial loss, as provided by KRS 16.185. 26