UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 71
Page 1 of 3
XXXX 2/20/2023 4:44 PM Jacketed
AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Ashanti Alert System. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 16.010 is amended to read as follows: 3
As used in KRS 16.010 to 16.199, unless the context requires otherwise: 4
(1) "Board" means the Department of Kentucky State Police Personnel Board; 5
(2) "Cabinet" means the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet; 6
(3) "Cadet Trooper" means an applicant for employment as an officer who is selected 7
by the commissioner to attend the department training program, and who is 8
employed as a trainee; 9
(4) "Civilian" means experts, statisticians, clerks, and other assistants who are not 10
peace officers; 11
(5) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Kentucky State 12
Police; 13
(6) "Continuous service" for participation in and eligibility for the promotional process 14
for each rank of officer commissioned under this chapter means: 15
(a) For sergeant, service as a commissioned Kentucky State Police officer that 16
has not been interrupted by actual separation from the department, whether in 17
the form of resignation, retirement, or termination; 18
(b) For lieutenant, service in grade as a sergeant that has not been interrupted by 19
actual separation from the department, whether in the form of resignation, 20
retirement, termination, or by demotion in accordance with KRS 16.140; and 21
(c) For captain, service in grade as lieutenant that has not been interrupted by 22
actual separation from the department, whether in the form of resignation, 23
retirement, termination, or by demotion in accordance with KRS 16.140; 24
(7) "CVE R Class" means any retired Kentucky State Police commercial vehicle 25
enforcement officer commissioned under KRS 16.187 who has become reemployed 26
with the department on a contractual basis pursuant to KRS 16.196 to 16.199; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 71
Page 2 of 3
XXXX 2/20/2023 4:44 PM Jacketed
(8) "Department" means the Department of Kentucky State Police; 1
(9) "Officer" means any member of the Department of Kentucky State Police, other 2
than an individual employed as a Trooper R Class or CVE R Class, who possesses 3
the powers of a peace officer; 4
(10) "Secretary" means the secretary of Justice and Public Safety Cabinet; [and] 5
(11) "Trooper R Class" means any retired Kentucky State Police officer commissioned 6
under this chapter who has become reemployed with the department on a 7
contractual basis pursuant to KRS 16.196 to 16.199[.]; and 8
(12) "Missing adult" means an individual who is: 9
(a) At or above the age of majority pursuant to KRS 2.015; and 10
(b) Identified by law enforcement as a missing person who may be in immediate 11
danger due to circumstances which indicate an abduction or kidnapping. 12
SECTION 2. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 16 IS CREATED TO 13
READ AS FOLLOWS: 14
(1) The Department of Kentucky State Police, in cooperation with the Transportation 15
Cabinet, the Division of Emergency Management, and the media providers shall 16
create and operate a system to notify the public when any individual is 17
determined to be a missing adult, and the department determines that public 18
notification might aid in the recovery of the individual. The system shall be 19
known as the Kentucky Ashanti Alert System. 20
(2) The system shall utilize existing resources, including but not limited to electronic 21
highway signs, the Amber Alert System, the emergency broadcast system, law 22
enforcement communications systems, and local, regional, and statewide media 23
providers, as authorized and under conditions permitted by the federal 24
government. 25
(3) No public alert using the system shall be issued unless the department, in 26
consultation with the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 71
Page 3 of 3
XXXX 2/20/2023 4:44 PM Jacketed
missing adult was reported, has determined: 1
(a) That the disappearance of the missing adult may not have been voluntary, 2
including an abduction or kidnapping, or that the physical safety of the 3
missing adult may be endangered; 4
(b) That public notification is the most appropriate method of recovering the 5
missing adult in a safe and efficient manner; and 6
(c) The geographic area in which the notification shall be made. 7
(4) If it is determined by the department that public notification shall be initiated, the 8
department shall notify the public and private agencies and organizations that 9
will provide the notification and shall provide those organizations and agencies 10
with the information that the department deems necessary. 11
(5) All law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth shall cooperate with the 12
department in the provision and dissemination of information regarding any 13
missing adult. 14
(6) No law enforcement agency, other than the department, shall activate the 15
notification system specified in this section without the authority of the 16
department. 17
(7) The system shall be operated by all agencies of the Commonwealth within 18
existing budgetary appropriations. 19