Kentucky 2025 Regular Session

Kentucky House Bill HB538 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version

                            UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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AN ACT relating to consolidated local governments. 1 
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2 
Section 1.   KRS 67C.111 is amended to read as follows: 3 
(1) All cities other than those of the first class located within the territory of the 4 
consolidated local government, upon the successful passage of the question to 5 
consolidate a city of the first class and its county, shall remain incorporated unless 6 
dissolved in accordance with KRS 81.094 and shall continue to exercise all powers 7 
and perform the functions permitted by the Constitution and general laws of the 8 
Commonwealth of Kentucky applicable to the cities of the class to which they have 9 
been assigned. 10 
(2) (a) After July 15, 2024, with the approval of the consolidated local government's 11 
legislative council, qualified voters within the consolidated local government 12 
may establish new cities within the consolidated local government pursuant to 13 
KRS 81.050 and 81.060. The proposed city must have a population of three 14 
thousand (3,000)[six thousand (6,000)] or greater. This territory shall not be 15 
within any urban services boundary of the consolidated local government nor 16 
shall it include any territory currently incorporated within any existing city. 17 
The approval of the desire to establish a new city shall be in the form of a 18 
resolution by the consolidated local government's legislative council. If the 19 
legislative council does not act upon the request within sixty (60) days of the 20 
receipt of the desire to incorporate a new city, that shall serve as notice of 21 
approval by the legislative council of the incorporation of the new city. 22 
(b) If the petition to form a city is signed by a number of registered and qualified 23 
voters residing in the area proposed to be incorporated which is equal to at 24 
least seventy-five percent (75%) of the total number of votes cast in the area 25 
in the last preceding presidential election, the consolidated local government's 26 
legislative council shall approve the proposed incorporation. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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(c) If the petition to form a city is signed by a number of registered and qualified 1 
voters residing in the area proposed to be incorporated which is less than 2 
seventy-five percent (75%) of the total number of votes cast in the area in the 3 
last preceding presidential election, the consolidated local government's 4 
legislative council may approve the proposed incorporation. 5 
(d) An action of the consolidated local government's legislative council approving 6 
an incorporation passed by the consolidated local government legislative 7 
council shall not be subject to veto by the mayor of the consolidated local 8 
government. 9 
(3) (a) Any proposed annexation by a city in that county shall first receive the 10 
approval of the legislative council of the consolidated local government prior 11 
to the city proceeding under the provisions of KRS Chapter 81A. The city 12 
shall request the approval of the consolidated legislative council by ordinance. 13 
For requests filed after July 15, 2024: 14 
1. If the ordinance is accompanied by a petition in favor of the proposed 15 
annexation signed by a number of registered and qualified voters 16 
residing in the area proposed to be annexed which is equal to at least 17 
seventy-five percent (75%) of the total number of votes cast in the area 18 
in the last preceding presidential election, the consolidated local 19 
government shall approve the proposed annexation; or 20 
2. If the ordinance is accompanied by written consent of the owners of 21 
record of the area to be annexed when that area is vacant or is otherwise 22 
unimproved land and where no persons reside, the consolidated 23 
government legislative council shall approve the proposed annexation. 24 
A city shall not annex vacant or otherwise unimproved land where no 25 
persons reside as set out by this subparagraph more than once every four 26 
(4) calendar years. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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(b) The consolidated legislative council's decision shall be made by ordinance 1 
and within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the request by the affected city. If 2 
an ordinance has not been enacted by the consolidated legislative council 3 
within sixty (60) days, the request for a city to proceed with an annexation 4 
proposal shall be deemed to be approved by the consolidated legislative 5 
council. An ordinance approving annexation passed by the consolidated local 6 
government legislative council shall not be subject to veto by the mayor of the 7 
consolidated local government. 8 
(c) 1. A city in a county containing a consolidated local government shall not 9 
annex commercial real estate primarily for the purpose of obtaining 10 
occupational license taxes, net profits, or gross receipts taxes unless 11 
each owner of record of property within the area to be annexed gives 12 
prior consent in writing to the annexation. 13 
2. a. As used in this paragraph, "commercial real estate" means any 14 
parcel of real estate that is: 15 
i. Lawfully used primarily for sales, retail, wholesale, office, 16 
research, institutional, warehouse, manufacturing, or 17 
industrial purposes; 18 
ii. Lawfully used primarily for multifamily residential purposes 19 
involving five (5) or more dwelling units; or 20 
iii. Zoned as a business or commercial use by a planning unit 21 
under the provisions of KRS Chapter 100. 22 
b. "Commercial real estate" does not include single-family residential 23 
units such as condominiums, townhouses, manufactured homes, or 24 
homes or lots in a subdivision when sold, or residential units 25 
otherwise conveyed on a unit-by-unit basis, even if those units are 26 
part of a larger building or parcel of real estate containing more 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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than four (4) residential units. 1 
(4) The adoption of a consolidated local government in a county containing a city 2 
of the first class shall not prevent the merger or dissolution of any existing 3 
cities as provided by law or the merger of any remaining cities with the newly 4 
consolidated local government. 5 
Section 2.   KRS 65.003 is amended to read as follows: 6 
(1) (a) The governing body of each city, county, urban-county, consolidated local 7 
government, and charter county, shall adopt, by ordinance, a code of ethics 8 
which shall apply to all elected officials of the city, county, urban-county, 9 
consolidated local government, or charter county, and to appointed officials 10 
and employees of the city, county, urban-county, consolidated local 11 
government, or charter county government, or agencies created jointly, as 12 
specified in the code of ethics. The elected officials of a city, county, or 13 
consolidated local government to which a code of ethics shall apply include 14 
the mayor, county judge/executive, members of the governing body, county 15 
clerk, county attorney, sheriff, jailer, coroner, surveyor, and constable but do 16 
not include members of any school board. Agencies created jointly may 17 
include planning or administrative commissions or boards. Candidates for the 18 
local government elective offices specified in this subsection shall comply 19 
with the annual financial disclosure statement filing requirements contained in 20 
the code of ethics. 21 
(b) The boards, officers, and employees of special purpose governmental entities 22 
shall be subject to a code of ethics as provided in KRS 65A.070. As used in 23 
this section, special purpose governmental entity has the same meaning as in 24 
KRS 65A.010. 25 
(2) Any city, county, or consolidated local government may enter into a memorandum 26 
of agreement or an interlocal agreement with one (1) or more other cities, counties, 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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or consolidated local governments for joint adoption of a code of ethics which shall 1 
apply to all elected officials of the cities, counties, or consolidated local 2 
governments, and to appointed officials and employees as specified by each of the 3 
cities, counties, or consolidated local governments which enters into the agreement. 4 
Interlocal agreements shall be executed pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act 5 
in KRS 65.210 to 65.300. The interlocal agreement or memorandum of agreement 6 
may provide for but shall not be limited to: 7 
(a) The provision of administrative services relating to the implementation of a 8 
code of ethics; 9 
(b) The creation of a regional ethics board which serves independently to provide 10 
advice to member governments and their officials and provides for the 11 
enforcement of locally adopted codes of ethics; and 12 
(c) Contracting by a memorandum of agreement with an area development 13 
district for the provision of administrative services relating to the 14 
implementation of a code of ethics. 15 
 Candidates for the city, county, or consolidated local government elective offices 16 
specified in this subsection shall comply with the annual financial disclosure 17 
statement filing requirements contained in the code of ethics. 18 
(3) Each code of ethics adopted as provided by subsection (1) or (2) of this section, or 19 
amended as provided by subsection (4) of this section, shall include but not be 20 
limited to provisions which set forth: 21 
(a) Standards of conduct for elected and appointed officials and employees; 22 
(b) Requirements for creation of financial disclosure statements, which shall be 23 
filed annually by all candidates for the city, county, or consolidated local 24 
government elective offices specified in subsection (1) of this section, elected 25 
officials of each city, county, or consolidated local government, and other 26 
officials or employees of the city, county, or consolidated local government, 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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as specified in the code of ethics, and which shall be filed with the person or 1 
group responsible for enforcement of the code of ethics; 2 
(c) A policy on the employment of members of the families of officials or 3 
employees of the city, county, or consolidated local government, as specified 4 
in the code of ethics; and 5 
(d) The designation of a person or group who shall be responsible for 6 
enforcement of the code of ethics, including maintenance of financial 7 
disclosure statements, all of which shall be available for public inspection, 8 
receipt of complaints alleging possible violations of the code of ethics, 9 
issuance of opinions in response to inquiries relating to the code of ethics, 10 
investigation of possible violations of the code of ethics, and imposition of 11 
penalties provided in the code of ethics. 12 
(4) The code of ethics ordinance adopted by a city, county, or consolidated local 13 
government may be amended but shall not be repealed. 14 
(5) (a) Within twenty-one (21) days of the adoption of the code of ethics required by 15 
this section, each city, county, or consolidated local government shall deliver 16 
a copy of the ordinance by which the code was adopted and proof of 17 
publication in accordance with KRS Chapter 424 to the Department for Local 18 
Government. The Department for Local Government shall maintain the 19 
ordinances as public records and shall maintain a list of city, county, or 20 
consolidated local governments which have adopted a code of ethics and a list 21 
of those which have not adopted a code of ethics. 22 
(b) Within twenty-one (21) days of the amendment of a code of ethics required by 23 
this section, each city, county, or consolidated local government shall: 24 
1. Deliver a copy of the ordinance by which the code was amended and 25 
proof of publication in accordance with KRS Chapter 424 to the 26 
Department for Local Government, which shall maintain the amendment 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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with the ordinance by which the code was adopted; and 1 
2. Deliver a copy of the ordinance by which the code was amended to the 2 
governing body of each special purpose governmental entity that 3 
follows that establishing entity's code of ethics pursuant to KRS 4 
65A.070. 5 
(c) For ordinances adopting or amending a code of ethics under this section, cities 6 
of the first class and consolidated local governments shall comply with the 7 
publication requirements of KRS 83A.060(9), notwithstanding the exception 8 
contained in that statute. 9 
(6) If a city, county, or consolidated local government fails to comply with the 10 
requirements of this section, the Department for Local Government shall notify all 11 
state agencies, including area development districts, which deliver services or 12 
payments of money from the Commonwealth to the city, county, or consolidated 13 
local government. Those agencies shall suspend delivery of all services or payments 14 
to the city, county, or consolidated local government which fails to comply with the 15 
requirements of this section. The Department for Local Government shall 16 
immediately notify those same agencies when the city, county, or consolidated local 17 
government is in compliance with the requirements of this section, and those 18 
agencies shall reinstate the delivery of services or payments to the city, county, or 19 
consolidated local government. 20 
(7) Notwithstanding KRS 67C.103(14)(e), a simple majority of the legislative council 21 
of a consolidated local government may delegate its authority to issue 22 
administrative subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the 23 
production of documents relevant to possible violations of the code of ethics to the 24 
person or a majority of the group responsible for enforcement of a code of ethics. 25 
Subpoenas shall be served in the same manner as subpoenas for witnesses in civil 26 
cases. Compliance with the subpoenas shall be enforceable by the Circuit Court. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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Any failure to obey an order of the court may be punished by the court as contempt 1 
thereof. 2 
(8) (a) In a consolidated local government, an ethics commission shall be 3 
responsible for enforcement of the code of ethics of the consolidated local 4 
government and shall consist of seven (7) members chosen as follows: 5 
1. Before January 1, 2029: 6 
a. Three (3) members appointed by the mayor of the consolidated 7 
local government; and 8 
b. Four (4) members appointed by the legislative council of the 9 
consolidated local government with two (2) being appointed by 10 
each of the largest two (2) political caucuses of the legislative 11 
council. 12 
2. On and after January 1, 2029: 13 
a. One (1) member appointed by the chief audit executive of the 14 
office of internal audit of the consolidated local government;  15 
b. Two (2) members appointed by the mayor of the consolidated 16 
local government; and 17 
c. Four (4) members appointed by the legislative council of the 18 
consolidated local government with two (2) being appointed by 19 
each of the largest two (2) political caucuses of the legislative 20 
council. 21 
(b) No more than three (3) members of the ethics commission shall be members 22 
of the same political party. The terms of the members shall be for four (4) 23 
years. 24 
Section 3.   KRS 67C.103 is amended to read as follows: 25 
(1) The legislative authority of a consolidated local government, except as otherwise 26 
specified in KRS 67C.101 to 67C.137, shall be vested in a consolidated local 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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government council. The members of the council shall be nominated and elected by 1 
district. There shall be only one (1) council member elected from each council 2 
district. 3 
(2) There shall be twenty-six (26) council districts. The initial boundaries, population, 4 
and numerical designation of the council districts shall be as specified by KRS 5 
67C.135. The population of the council districts shall be as nearly equal as is 6 
reasonably possible. Any changes made to alter the boundaries of council districts 7 
shall be based on the population of the county as determined by the most recent 8 
United States Census or official census estimates as provided by the United States 9 
Bureau of the Census.  10 
(3) Following the official publication of each decennial census by the United States 11 
Bureau of the Census for the area embraced by a consolidated local government, the 12 
council shall adopt an ordinance, if necessary, to redistrict the council districts. A 13 
redistricting ordinance shall ensure that council districts: 14 
(a) Are composed of units no smaller than precincts, and each individual 15 
precinct composes the same territory as it did at the time of redistricting in 16 
response to the most recent decennial census; 17 
(b) Not be drawn in a manner as to contain two (2) or more actively serving 18 
council persons in the same district; 19 
(c) Provide for the distribution of population [among the council districts ]as 20 
nearly equal as is reasonably possible without altering a precinct or its 21 
boundaries as established in response to the most recent decennial census; 22 
[. ] 23 
(d) Are[Every council district shall be] compact and contiguous; and  24 
(e) [shall ]Respect existing neighborhood, community, and city boundaries 25 
whenever possible. 26 
(4) The consolidated local government council members shall serve for a term of four 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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(4) years beginning on the first Monday in January following their election, except 1 
that the initial election of council members shall be in a manner as to provide for 2 
staggered terms for council members. At the initial election of the members of a 3 
consolidated local government council, those representing even-numbered districts 4 
shall be elected for a two (2) year term. Those representing odd-numbered districts 5 
shall be elected for a four (4) year term. Thereafter, all council members shall be 6 
elected for four (4) year terms. 7 
(5) The members of a consolidated local government council shall be nominated and 8 
elected from the district in which they reside in nonpartisan elections. After the 9 
initial terms of office of the first elected council members, council members shall 10 
be elected in the same election years as other local government officials as 11 
regulated by the regular election laws of the Commonwealth and as provided in 12 
subsection (4) of this section. 13 
(6) No person shall be eligible to serve as a member of a consolidated local government 14 
council unless he or she is at least eighteen (18) years old, a qualified voter, and a 15 
resident within the territory of the consolidated local government and the district 16 
that he or she seeks to represent for at least one (1) year immediately prior to the 17 
person's election. A council member shall continue to reside within the district from 18 
which he or she was elected throughout the term of office. 19 
(7) The presiding officer of a consolidated local government council shall be a 20 
president who shall be chosen annually by a majority vote of the entire council from 21 
among its members at the first meeting of the council in January. The council 22 
president has the right to introduce any resolution or recommend any ordinance and 23 
shall be entitled to vote on all matters. 24 
(8) The consolidated local government council shall upon notice meet within seven (7) 25 
days after its members have taken office, and shall thereafter hold at least one (1) 26 
regular meeting per month. No newspaper notice shall be required for regular or 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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special meetings of the consolidated local government council. However, notice of 1 
all meetings of the council and all meetings of committees of the council shall be 2 
held pursuant to KRS 61.805 to 61.850. 3 
(9) A majority of the members of the consolidated local government council shall 4 
constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day. The 5 
consolidated local government council may enforce the attendance of members by 6 
rules or ordinances with appropriate fines. The mayor or two-thirds (2/3) of the 7 
entire membership of the council may call a special meeting at any time. Meetings 8 
shall be held in such places in the county as are provided by ordinance, and the 9 
place of meetings shall not be changed except by an ordinance for which two-thirds 10 
(2/3) of the members of the consolidated local government council have voted. 11 
(10) The council shall determine its own rules and order of business, and keep and 12 
provide a public record of its proceedings. The council shall provide for the 13 
publication of all ordinances in a composite code of ordinances. 14 
(11) Council ordinances that prescribe penalties for their violation shall be enforced 15 
through the entire area of the consolidated local government unless: 16 
(a) Otherwise provided by statute; or 17 
(b) The legislative body of any city within the consolidated local government area 18 
has adopted an ordinance pertaining to the same subject matter that is the 19 
same as or more stringent than the standards set forth in the consolidated local 20 
government's ordinance. 21 
(12) (a) In the case of a vacancy on the consolidated local government council by 22 
reason of death, resignation, or removal, a nonpartisan election shall be held 23 
to fill the unexpired term, unless paragraph (c) of this subsection applies. The 24 
county clerk shall be responsible for administering the election. The election 25 
shall proceed as follows: 26 
1. The presiding officer of the council shall declare the position vacant and 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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issue a writ of election within twenty-four (24) hours of the occurrence 1 
of the vacancy; 2 
2. The writ shall be signed by the presiding officer, shall designate the day 3 
for holding the election, and shall be delivered to the sheriff; 4 
3. Candidates for the unexpired term shall file petitions of nomination with 5 
the county clerk not later than ten (10) days following the declaration of 6 
vacancy. The election shall be held sixty (60) days after the declaration 7 
of vacancy on the next Tuesday which is not a federal holiday under 5 8 
U.S.C. sec. 6103(a), unless paragraph (b) of this subsection applies. The 9 
petition for nomination shall contain the signatures of two (2) registered 10 
voters of the council district and shall meet the requirements of KRS 11 
118.315(2); and 12 
4. The successful candidate elected to fill an unexpired term in the office 13 
of consolidated local government council member shall take office 14 
immediately upon certification of the election results and administration 15 
of the oath of office. 16 
(b) If the unexpired term will not end on the first Monday in January following 17 
the next regular election, and if less than three (3) months intervene before 18 
that regular election, the unexpired term shall be filled on the date set for the 19 
regular election. Candidates for full terms shall be grouped together, and 20 
candidates for unexpired terms shall be grouped together, under appropriate 21 
headings, so that the voter may easily distinguish the candidates for full terms 22 
from the candidates for unexpired terms. 23 
(c) If the unexpired term will end on the first Monday in January following the 24 
next regular election, and if less than three (3) months intervene before that 25 
regular election, the presiding officer of the council shall appoint a qualified 26 
person to fill the vacancy and serve the remainder of the term. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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(d) The order of the names on the ballot for the candidates shall be determined by 1 
lot at a public drawing to be held in the office of the county clerk at 4 p.m., 2 
standard time, ten (10) days following the declaration of vacancy. 3 
(13) All legislative powers of a consolidated local government are vested in the 4 
consolidated local government council. The term "legislative power" is to be 5 
construed broadly and shall include the power to: 6 
(a) Enact ordinances, orders, and resolutions, and override a veto of the mayor by 7 
a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the membership of the legislative council; 8 
(b) Review the budgets of and appropriate money to the consolidated local 9 
government; 10 
(c) Adopt a budget ordinance; 11 
(d) Levy taxes, subject to the limitations of the Constitution and the laws of the 12 
Commonwealth of Kentucky; 13 
(e) Establish standing and temporary committees; and 14 
(f) Make independent audits and investigations concerning the affairs of the 15 
consolidated local government and any board or commission that: 16 
1. Is composed of members who are appointed by the mayor and approved 17 
by the legislative council; or 18 
2. Has a budget that is equal to or greater than one million dollars 19 
($1,000,000.00), except that this subparagraph shall not apply to any fee 20 
officer elected within the consolidated local government. 21 
(14) (a) The consolidated local government council shall establish a Government 22 
Oversight and Audit Committee. This committee shall be: 23 
1. Composed of members from each of the two (2) largest political 24 
caucuses in the legislative council; 25 
2. Appointed by the chairs of their respective caucuses; and 26 
3. Composed on the basis of the proportion of each of the two (2) caucuses' 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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total membership as compared to the total membership of the legislative 1 
council. Any fractional proportions shall be rounded in the favor of the 2 
smallest caucus' membership on the committee. 3 
(b) The committee shall have the power to: 4 
1. Compel testimony and the submission of work papers or documents; 5 
2. Issue subpoenas to compel any officer, appointee, or former officer or 6 
appointee to a board or commission described in subsection (13)(f) of 7 
this section or any department or division of the consolidated local 8 
government to appear before the committee and to compel the 9 
submission to the committee of any work papers or documents pertinent 10 
to an independent audit or investigation. Any subpoenas issued or 11 
testimony compelled shall be subject to any relevant statutes concerning 12 
privacy. Testimony subject to KRS 61.810 shall only be taken in 13 
executive session. The right to privacy or the requirement that testimony 14 
be taken in executive session may be waived by the person or entity 15 
being subpoenaed or compelled to testify; 16 
3. Petition the appropriate Circuit Court to compel obedience by 17 
proceedings for contempt as in the case of disobedience of a subpoena 18 
issued from the Circuit Court or a refusal to testify therein, if any officer 19 
or appointee fails or refuses to testify or furnish the work papers or 20 
documents subpoenaed; 21 
4. Administer oaths to witnesses appearing before the committee when the 22 
committee deems the administration of an oath necessary and advisable 23 
as provided by law. This decision to administer oaths shall be taken by a 24 
majority vote of the committee of the legislative council; and 25 
5. Recommend the removal of any appointee to a board or commission 26 
described in subsection (13)(f) of this section. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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(c) The legislative council of the consolidated local government shall adopt by 1 
resolution any process or procedures deemed necessary for the administration 2 
of subpoenas and oaths. 3 
(d) The legislative council of the consolidated local government may only act to 4 
remove an appointee to a board or commission described in subsection (13)(f) 5 
of this section upon the recommendation of the Government Oversight and 6 
Audit Committee. 7 
(e) The Government Oversight and Audit Committee shall have the power to 8 
issue subpoenas or administer oaths. Except as provided in KRS 65.003(7), 9 
the legislative council of the consolidated local government shall not delegate 10 
those powers to any other entity or entities not a part of the legislative council 11 
of the consolidated local government. 12 
(15) Any regulation or other lawful instrument issued: 13 
(a) By a board that is operating under the provisions of KRS Chapter 109 or 14 
212; and 15 
(b) That is applicable to individuals residing or businesses operating within the 16 
jurisdiction of the consolidated local government as relates to these 17 
individuals' or business's conduct; 18 
 shall expire within thirty (30) days of its issuance if not approved by the 19 
consolidated local government council. 20 
(16) The consolidated local government council shall be known as the legislative council 21 
of ...................../................... County Metro Government, which shall be a 22 
combination of the names of the largest city in existence in the county on the date 23 
of the adoption of the consolidated local government and the county. 24 
SECTION 4.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 67C IS CREATED T O 25 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 26 
(1) There shall be an office of internal audit within the consolidated local 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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government that shall be separate from any other agency or department of the 1 
consolidated local government. The office shall report directly to the mayor and 2 
the legislative council. The office shall have a sufficient budget to conduct the 3 
activities and fulfill the responsibilities set out by this section and by any 4 
ordinances passed by the consolidated local government council. 5 
(2) The office of internal audit shall be authorized to conduct financial and 6 
performance audits and reviews of all departments, offices, boards, and activities 7 
of the consolidated local government and have any other duties, powers, and 8 
authorities as set out by ordinance. 9 
(3) The office of internal audit shall be headed by a chief audit executive, which 10 
shall be an elected position. The chief audit executive shall:  11 
(a) 1. Be at least twenty-one (21) years old; 12 
2. A qualified voter; and 13 
3. A resident of the territory encompassing the consolidated local 14 
government for a period of at least one (1) year prior to his or her 15 
election;  16 
(b) Continue to reside within the geographic boundary of the consolidated local 17 
government throughout his or her term of office; and  18 
(c) Have any additional qualifications as determined by ordinance of the 19 
consolidated local government council. 20 
(4) The chief audit executive shall be nominated and elected in nonpartisan elections 21 
for a term of four (4) years in the same election years as other local government 22 
officials as regulated by the regular election laws of the Commonwealth.  23 
(5) The chief audit executive: 24 
(a) Shall assume office on the first Monday in January following his or her 25 
election and shall serve until a successor qualifies; and 26 
(b) May serve for consecutive terms, but shall not serve more than three (3) 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	25 RS BR 1345 
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terms cumulatively. 1 
(6) The chief audit executive may be removed for cause. The consolidated local 2 
government council shall sit as a court, under oath, when charges are preferred 3 
by the mayor or by any four (4) members of the consolidated local government 4 
council. No council member shall sit as a member when the council commences a 5 
removal hearing. 6 
(7) If a vacancy occurs in the office of chief audit executive, then it shall be filled in 7 
accordance with Section 152 of the Constitution of Kentucky. If an appointment 8 
is required, it shall be made by the mayor and shall be approved by resolution of 9 
the consolidated local government council. 10 
Section 5.   The terms of the ethics commission members currently serving in a 11 
consolidated local government shall end on December 31, 2025. In making new 12 
appointments set forth in subsection (8) of Section 2 of this Act, the mayor shall appoint 13 
one member for a four year term and two members for a two year term, and the two 14 
largest political caucuses each appoint one member for a four year term and one member 15 
for a two year term. On December 31, 2028, the term of one (1) member appointed by the 16 
mayor shall expire, as determined by the mayor, and a new member shall be appointed by 17 
the chief audit executive of the office of internal audit of the consolidated local 18 
government as set out in Section 2 of this Act. 19 
Section 6.   The effective date of Section 4 of this Act shall be November 1, 20 
2027. The term of any chief audit executive serving by appointment prior to the effective 21 
date of Section 4 of this Act shall end on the first Monday in January 2029 when the first 22 
elected chief audit executive takes office and is qualified after the November 2028 23 
regular election. 24