UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 1 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed AN ACT relating to governmental accountability and declaring an emergency. 1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2 SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 13B IS CREATED TO 3 READ AS FOLLOWS: 4 Any person who has had a permit, certificate, license, or benefit denied, suspended, or 5 revoked due to noncompliance with any executive order or administrative regulation, 6 or to any enforcement action stemming from, COVID-19 restrictions or limitations, 7 social distancing, facemask covering, or related matters, shall be entitled to immediate 8 reinstatement of that permit, certificate, license, or benefit. Any person so aggrieved 9 shall be entitled to bring an action in the Circuit Court where they reside or the 10 Franklin Circuit Court for relief. 11 Section 2. KRS 13A.190 is amended to read as follows: 12 (1) An emergency administrative regulation is an administrative regulation that: 13 (a) An administrative body can clearly demonstrate, through documentary 14 evidence submitted with the filing of the emergency administrative regulation, 15 must be placed into effect immediately in order to: 16 1. Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety, welfare, or the 17 environment; 18 2. Prevent an imminent loss of federal or state funds; 19 3. Meet an imminent deadline for the promulgation of an administrative 20 regulation that is established by state statute or federal law; or 21 4. Comply with an executive order issued under KRS Chapter 39A; and 22 (b) 1. Is temporary in nature and will expire as provided in this section; or 23 2. Is temporary in nature and will be replaced by an ordinary 24 administrative regulation as provided in this section. 25 For the purposes of this section, "imminent" means within two hundred seventy 26 (270) days of the filing of the emergency administrative regulation. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 2 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed (2) An agency's finding of an emergency pursuant to this section shall not be based on 1 the agency's failure to timely process and file administrative regulations through the 2 ordinary administrative regulation process. 3 (3) An emergency administrative regulation: 4 (a) Shall become effective and shall be considered as adopted upon filing; 5 (b) Shall be published in the Administrative Register in accordance with the 6 publication deadline established in KRS 13A.050(3); 7 (c) Shall be subject to the public comment provisions established in KRS 8 13A.270 and 13A.280; 9 (d) 1. May be reviewed at a subsequent meeting of a legislative committee 10 after the filing of the emergency administrative regulation; and 11 2. May, by a vote of the majority of the legislative committee's 12 membership as established by KRS 13A.020(4) and 13A.290(9), be 13 found to be deficient, and the deficiency shall be reported to the 14 Governor and the Attorney General pursuant to KRS 13A.330(2); and 15 (e) May be amended: 16 1. By the promulgating administrative body after receiving public 17 comments as established in KRS 13A.280. The amended after 18 comments version shall: 19 a. Become effective upon filing; and 20 b. Not require a statement of emergency; or 21 2. At a legislative committee meeting as established in KRS 13A.320. The 22 amendment shall be approved as established by KRS 13A.020(4) and 23 KRS 13A.290(9). The amended version shall become effective upon 24 adjournment of the meeting following the procedures established in 25 KRS 13A.331. 26 (4) (a) Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this subsection, emergency 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 3 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed administrative regulations shall expire two hundred seventy (270) days after 1 the date of filing or when the same matter filed as an ordinary administrative 2 regulation filed for review is adopted, whichever occurs first. 3 (b) If an administrative body extends the time for filing a statement of 4 consideration for an ordinary administrative regulation as provided by KRS 5 13A.280(2)(b), an emergency administrative regulation shall remain in effect 6 for two hundred seventy (270) days after the date of filing plus the number of 7 days extended under the provisions of KRS 13A.280(2)(b) or when the same 8 matter filed as an ordinary administrative regulation filed for review is 9 adopted, whichever occurs first. 10 (c) Filing an emergency amended after comments administrative regulation shall 11 not affect the expiration of an emergency regulation as established in 12 paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection. 13 (5) Except as established in subsection (6) of this section, an emergency administrative 14 regulation with the same number or title or governing the same subject matter shall 15 not be filed for a period of two hundred seventy (270) days after it has been initially 16 filed. 17 (6) If an emergency administrative regulation with the same number or title or 18 governing the same subject matter as an emergency administrative regulation filed 19 within the previous two hundred seventy (270) days is filed, it shall contain a 20 detailed explanation of the manner in which it differs from the previously filed 21 emergency administrative regulation. The detailed explanation shall be included in 22 the statement of emergency required by subsection (7) of this section. 23 (7) Each emergency administrative regulation shall contain a statement of: 24 (a) The nature of the emergency; 25 (b) The reasons why an ordinary administrative regulation is not sufficient; 26 (c) Whether or not the emergency administrative regulation will be replaced by 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 4 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed an ordinary administrative regulation; 1 (d) If the emergency administrative regulation will be replaced by an ordinary 2 administrative regulation, the following statement: "The ordinary 3 administrative regulation (is or is not) identical to this emergency 4 administrative regulation."; 5 (e) If the emergency administrative regulation will not be replaced by an ordinary 6 administrative regulation, the reasons therefor; and 7 (f) If applicable, the explanation required by subsection (6) of this section. 8 (8) (a) An administrative body shall attach the: 9 1. Statement of emergency required by subsection (7) of this section to the 10 front of the original and each copy of a proposed emergency 11 administrative regulation; 12 2. Public hearing and public comment period information required by KRS 13 13A.270(2), regulatory impact analysis, tiering statement, federal 14 mandate comparison, fiscal note, summary of material incorporated by 15 reference if applicable, and other forms or documents required by the 16 provisions of this chapter to the back of the emergency administrative 17 regulation; and 18 3. Documentary evidence submitted justifying the finding of an emergency 19 in accordance with subsection (1) of this section to the back of the 20 emergency regulation if it is: 21 a. No more than four (4) pages in length; and 22 b. Typewritten on white paper, size eight and one-half (8-1/2) by 23 eleven (11) inches, and single-sided. 24 Larger volumes of documentary evidence shall be filed in a separate 25 binder or on a CD-ROM or DVD disc. 26 (b) An administrative body shall file with the regulations compiler: 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 5 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed 1. The original and five (5) copies of the emergency administrative 1 regulation; and 2 2. At the same time as, or prior to, filing the paper version, an electronic 3 version of the emergency administrative regulation and the attachments 4 required by paragraph (a) of this subsection saved as a single document 5 for each emergency administrative regulation in an electronic format 6 approved by the regulations compiler. 7 (c) The original and four (4) copies of each emergency administrative 8 regulation shall be stapled in the top left corner. The fifth copy of each 9 emergency administrative regulation shall not be stapled. The original 10 and the five (5) copies of each emergency administrative regulation shall 11 be grouped together. 12 (9) The statement of emergency shall have a two (2) inch top margin. The number of 13 the emergency administrative regulation shall be typed directly below the heading 14 "Statement of Emergency." The number of the emergency administrative regulation 15 shall be the same number as the ordinary administrative regulation followed by an 16 "E." 17 (10) Each executive department emergency administrative regulation shall be signed by 18 the head of the administrative body and countersigned by the Governor and the 19 Attorney General prior to filing with the Commission. These signatures shall be on 20 the statement of emergency attached to the front of the emergency administrative 21 regulation. 22 (11) If an emergency administrative regulation will be replaced by an ordinary 23 administrative regulation, the ordinary administrative regulation shall be filed at the 24 same time as the emergency administrative regulation that it will replace. 25 (12) If an ordinary administrative regulation that was filed to replace an emergency 26 administrative regulation is withdrawn: 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 6 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed (a) The emergency administrative regulation shall expire on the date the ordinary 1 administrative regulation is withdrawn; and 2 (b) The administrative body shall inform the regulations compiler of the reasons 3 for withdrawal in writing. 4 (13) (a) If an emergency administrative regulation that was intended to be replaced by 5 an ordinary administrative regulation is withdrawn, the emergency 6 administrative regulation shall expire on the date it is withdrawn. 7 (b) If an emergency administrative regulation has been withdrawn, the ordinary 8 administrative regulation that was filed with it shall not expire unless the 9 administrative body informs the regulations compiler that the ordinary 10 administrative regulation is also withdrawn. 11 (c) If an emergency administrative regulation is withdrawn, the administrative 12 body shall inform the regulations compiler of the reasons for withdrawal in 13 writing. 14 (14) The administrative regulations compiler shall notify all legislative committees of 15 the number, title, and subject matter of all emergency administrative regulations 16 and shall forward any additional information filed about the emergency 17 administrative regulation requested by a legislative committee. 18 Section 3. KRS 13A.310 is amended to read as follows: 19 (1) Except as provided in KRS 13A.3102 and 13A.3104, an ordinary administrative 20 regulation, once adopted, cannot be withdrawn but shall be repealed if it is desired 21 that it no longer be effective. 22 (2) Except as provided in KRS 13A.3102 and 13A.3104, an ordinary administrative 23 regulation, once adopted, cannot be suspended but shall be repealed if it is desired 24 to suspend its effect. 25 (3) (a) An ordinary administrative regulation shall be repealed only by the 26 promulgation of an administrative regulation that: 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 7 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed 1. Is titled "Repeal of (state number of administrative regulation to be 1 repealed)"; 2 2. Contains the reasons for repeal in the "NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND 3 CONFORMITY" paragraph; 4 3. Includes in the body of the administrative regulation, a citation to the 5 number and title of the administrative regulation or regulations being 6 repealed; and 7 4. Meets the filing and formatting requirements of KRS 13A.220. 8 (b) 1. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of this paragraph, on the effective 9 date of an administrative regulation that repeals an administrative 10 regulation, determined in accordance with KRS 13A.330 or 13A.331, 11 the regulations compiler shall delete the repealed administrative 12 regulation and the repealing administrative regulation from the 13 Kentucky Administrative Regulations Service. 14 2. If the repealing administrative regulation specifies an effective date that 15 is after the administrative regulation would become effective pursuant to 16 KRS 13A.330 or 13A.331, the specified effective date shall be 17 considered the effective date of the repealing administrative regulation. 18 On the specified effective date, the regulations compiler shall delete the 19 repealed administrative regulation and the repealing administrative 20 regulation from the Kentucky Administrative Regulations Service. 21 (c) An administrative body may repeal more than one (1) administrative 22 regulation in an administrative regulation promulgated pursuant to paragraph 23 (a) of this subsection if the administrative regulations being repealed are 24 contained in the same chapter of the Kentucky Administrative Regulations 25 Service. 26 (4) (a) An ordinary administrative regulation may be withdrawn by the promulgating 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 8 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed administrative body at any time prior to its adoption. 1 (b) An ordinary administrative regulation that has been found deficient may be 2 withdrawn by the promulgating administrative body,[ or by] the Governor, or 3 the Attorney General at any time prior to its adoption. 4 (c) Once an ordinary administrative regulation is withdrawn, it shall not be 5 reinstated, except by repromulgation as a totally new matter. 6 (5) (a) An emergency administrative regulation may be withdrawn by the 7 promulgating administrative body at any time prior to its expiration. 8 (b) An emergency administrative regulation that has been found deficient may be 9 withdrawn by the promulgating administrative body,[ or by] the Governor, or 10 the Attorney General at any time prior to its expiration. 11 (6) If an administrative regulation is withdrawn, the administrative body,[ or] the 12 Governor, or the Attorney General shall inform the regulations compiler of the 13 reasons for withdrawal in writing. 14 Section 4. KRS 13A.315 is amended to read as follows: 15 (1) An administrative regulation shall expire and shall not be reviewed by a legislative 16 committee if: 17 (a) It has not been reviewed or approved by the official or administrative body 18 with authority to review or approve; 19 (b) The statement of consideration and, if applicable, the amended after 20 comments version are not filed on or before a deadline specified by this 21 chapter; 22 (c) The administrative body has failed to comply with the provisions of this 23 chapter governing the filing of administrative regulations, the public hearing 24 and public comment period, or the statement of consideration; or 25 (d) The administrative regulation is deferred pursuant to KRS 13A.300(2) more 26 than twelve (12) times. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 9 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed (2) (a) An administrative regulation that has been found deficient by a legislative 1 committee shall be withdrawn immediately if, pursuant to KRS 13A.330, the 2 Governor or the Attorney General has determined that it shall be withdrawn. 3 (b) The Governor or the Attorney General shall notify the regulations compiler 4 in writing and by telephone that he or she has determined that the 5 administrative regulation found deficient shall be withdrawn. 6 (c) The written withdrawal of an administrative regulation governed by the 7 provisions of this subsection shall be made in a letter to the regulations 8 compiler in the following format: "Pursuant to KRS 13A.330, I have 9 determined that (administrative regulation number and title) shall be 10 (withdrawn, or withdrawn and amended to conform to the finding of 11 deficiency, as applicable). The administrative regulation, (administrative 12 regulation number and title), is hereby withdrawn." 13 (d) An administrative regulation governed by the provisions of this subsection 14 shall be considered withdrawn upon receipt by the regulations compiler of the 15 written withdrawal. 16 Section 5. KRS 13A.330 is amended to read as follows: 17 (1) (a) If a filed ordinary administrative regulation has been found deficient, the 18 legislative committee shall transmit to the Governor, the Attorney General, 19 and the regulations compiler: 20 1. A copy of the finding of deficiency and other relevant findings, 21 recommendations, or comments; and 22 2. A request that the Governor and the Attorney General determine 23 whether the administrative regulation shall: 24 a. Be withdrawn; 25 b. Be amended at a legislative committee meeting pursuant to KRS 26 13A.320 to conform to the finding of deficiency; or 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 10 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed c. Become effective pursuant to the provisions of this section 1 notwithstanding the finding of deficiency. 2 (b) The Governor and the Attorney General shall transmit his or her 3 determination to the Commission and the regulations compiler. If the 4 Governor and the Attorney General cannot concur in their determination, 5 the administrative regulation shall be withdrawn. 6 (c) A filed ordinary administrative regulation that has been found deficient shall 7 be considered as adopted and become effective after: 8 1. a. The review period established in this chapter has been completed; 9 and 10 b. The regulations compiler has received the Governor's and the 11 Attorney General's determination that the administrative 12 regulation shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this 13 section notwithstanding the finding of deficiency; or 14 2. The legislative committee that found the filed administrative regulation 15 deficient subsequently determines that it is not deficient in accordance 16 with KRS 13A.335, provided that this determination was made prior to 17 receipt by the regulations compiler of the Governor's and the Attorney 18 General's determination. 19 (2) (a) If an emergency administrative regulation has been found deficient, the 20 legislative committee finding it deficient shall transmit to the Governor, the 21 Attorney General, and the regulations compiler: 22 1. A copy of the finding of deficiency and other relevant findings, 23 recommendations, or comments; and 24 2. A request that the Governor and the Attorney General determine 25 whether the emergency administrative regulation shall: 26 a. Be withdrawn; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 11 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed b. Be amended at a legislative committee meeting pursuant to KRS 1 13A.320 to conform to the finding of deficiency; or 2 c. Remain effective as established in KRS 13A.190(4) 3 notwithstanding the finding of deficiency. 4 (b) The Governor and the Attorney General shall transmit his or her 5 determination to the Commission and the regulations compiler. 6 (c) The legislative committee that found the emergency administrative regulation 7 deficient may subsequently determine that it is not deficient in accordance 8 with KRS 13A.335. 9 (3) If an effective ordinary administrative regulation has been found deficient by a 10 legislative committee, the legislative committee shall transmit to the Governor and 11 the Attorney General a copy of its finding of deficiency and other findings, 12 recommendations, or comments it deems appropriate. 13 Section 6. KRS 13A.335 is amended to read as follows: 14 (1) (a) A filed administrative regulation found deficient by a legislative committee 15 shall not be considered deficient if: 16 1. A subsequent amendment of that administrative regulation is filed with 17 the Commission by the administrative body; 18 2. The legislative committee that found the administrative regulation 19 deficient approves a motion that the subsequent amendment corrects the 20 deficiency; and 21 3. Any legislative committee that reviews the administrative regulation 22 under the provisions of KRS Chapter 13A finds that the administrative 23 regulation is not deficient. 24 (b) A filed administrative regulation found deficient by the Administrative 25 Regulation Review Subcommittee shall not be considered deficient if: 26 1. The administrative regulation is amended to correct the deficiency at a 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 12 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed meeting of the legislative committee to which it was assigned by the 1 Commission; 2 2. That legislative committee does not determine that the administrative 3 regulation is deficient for any other reason; and 4 3. The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee approves a 5 motion that the deficiency has been corrected and that the administrative 6 regulation should not be considered deficient. 7 (c) A filed administrative regulation found deficient by a legislative committee 8 with subject matter jurisdiction shall not be considered deficient if the 9 legislative committee: 10 1. Reconsiders the administrative regulation and its finding of deficiency; 11 and 12 2. Approves a motion that the administrative regulation is not deficient. 13 (d) If an amendment to an effective administrative regulation is going through the 14 KRS Chapter 13A promulgation process and is found deficient by a 15 legislative committee, the administrative regulation shall not be considered 16 deficient if the: 17 1. Administrative regulation was found deficient due to the amendment; 18 2. Promulgating administrative body has withdrawn the proposed 19 amendment of the existing administrative regulation; and 20 3. Regulations compiler has not received the Governor's or the Attorney 21 General's determination pursuant to KRS 13A.330. 22 (2) If an effective administrative regulation is found deficient by a legislative 23 committee, the administrative regulation shall not be considered deficient if the 24 legislative committee: 25 (a) Reconsiders the administrative regulation and its finding of deficiency; and 26 (b) Approves a motion that the administrative regulation is not deficient. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 13 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed (3) (a) If an administrative regulation has been found deficient by a legislative 1 committee, the regulations compiler shall add the following notice to the 2 administrative regulation: "This administrative regulation was found deficient 3 by the [name of legislative committee] on [date]." This notice shall be the last 4 section of the administrative regulation. 5 (b) If an administrative regulation has been found deficient by a legislative 6 committee, subsequent amendments of that administrative regulation filed 7 with the Commission shall contain the notice provided in paragraph (a) of this 8 subsection. 9 (c) If an administrative regulation that has been found deficient by a legislative 10 committee has subsequently been determined not to be deficient under the 11 provisions of this section, the regulations compiler shall delete the notice 12 required by paragraph (a) of this subsection. 13 Section 7. KRS 13A.336 is amended to read as follows: 14 (1) (a) After the last regularly scheduled meeting of the Administrative Regulation 15 Review Subcommittee in a calendar year, but by the thirty-first day of 16 December of that calendar year, the staff of the Administrative Regulation 17 Review Subcommittee shall submit a report to the co-chairs of that 18 subcommittee regarding administrative regulations that were found deficient 19 by any legislative committee of the Commission during that calendar year. 20 (b) The report in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall contain: 21 1. Effective administrative regulations that were found deficient; and 22 2. Administrative regulations filed with the Commission that were found 23 deficient. 24 (2) The report shall not contain any administrative regulation that was found deficient 25 and: 26 (a) Has been withdrawn; or 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 14 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed (b) Is no longer considered deficient under KRS 13A.335. 1 (3) The report shall contain at least the following information for each administrative 2 regulation in the report: 3 (a) Administrative regulation number and title; 4 (b) Name of the promulgating agency; 5 (c) Date of deficiency determination; 6 (d) Name of the legislative committee that made the deficiency determination; 7 (e) Effective date, if it is in effect; 8 (f) The finding of deficiency and any other findings, recommendations, or 9 comments sent to the Governor and the Attorney General; and 10 (g) If applicable under KRS 13A.330, the Governor's and Attorney General's 11 determination regarding the deficiency, if received by the Commission. 12 (4) The first page of the report required by subsection (1) of this section shall contain 13 the following text, in fourteen (14) point font or larger: 14 "To ratify the deficiency findings listed in this report, a co-chair or other legislator 15 may request that Legislative Research Commission staff prepare a bill: 16 (a) Declaring that one (1) or more administrative regulations listed in the report 17 shall be void; or 18 (b) Amending the relevant subject matter statutes in conformity with the findings 19 of deficiency." 20 Section 8. KRS 13B.120 is amended to read as follows: 21 (1) In making the final order, the agency head shall consider the record including the 22 recommended order and any exceptions duly filed to a recommended order. 23 (2) The agency head may accept the recommended order of the hearing officer and 24 adopt it as the agency's final order, or it may reject or modify, in whole or in part, 25 the recommended order, or it may remand the matter, in whole or in part, to the 26 hearing officer for further proceedings as appropriate. If the agency head rejects or 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 15 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed modifies, in whole or part, the recommended order, and the agency head's action 1 increases a penalty, sustains violations not found by the hearing officer, imposes 2 additional conditions on any permit, certificate, license, or benefit, or denies, 3 revokes, or suspends a permit, certificate, license, or benefit, in a manner more 4 adverse to the applicant, licensee, or permittee than that recommended by the 5 hearing officer, the agency head shall transmit his or her action to the Attorney 6 General for review, who may accept, reject, or modify the agency head's action. 7 (3) The final order in an administrative hearing shall be in writing and stated in the 8 record. If the final order differs from the recommended order, it shall include 9 separate statements of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The final order shall 10 also include the effective date of the order and a statement advising parties fully of 11 available appeal rights. 12 (4) Except as otherwise required by federal law, the agency head shall render a final 13 order in an administrative hearing within ninety (90) days after: 14 (a) The receipt of the official record of the hearing in which there was no hearing 15 officer submitting a recommended order under KRS 13B.110; or 16 (b) The hearing officer submits a recommended order to the agency head, unless 17 the matter is remanded to the hearing officer for further proceedings. 18 (5) Unless waived by the party, a copy of the final order shall be transmitted to each 19 party or to his attorney of record in the same manner as provided in KRS 13B.050. 20 (6) This section shall not apply to disposition pursuant to KRS 13B.070(3). 21 (7) If, pursuant to statute, an agency may review the final order of another agency, the 22 review is deemed to be a continuous proceeding as if before a single agency. The 23 final order of the first agency is treated as a recommended order and the second 24 agency functions as though it were reviewing a recommended order in accordance 25 with this section. 26 Section 9. KRS 13B.150 is amended to read as follows: 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 16 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed (1) Except as provided in KRS 452.005, review of a final order shall be conducted by 1 the court without a jury and shall be confined to the record, unless there is fraud or 2 misconduct involving a party engaged in administration of this chapter. For 3 purposes of this section, misconduct shall include violating appropriation 4 restrictions placed upon the agency by the General Assembly. The court, upon 5 request, may hear oral argument and receive written briefs. Challenges to the 6 constitutionality of a final order shall be reviewed in accordance with KRS 452.005. 7 (2) The court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the agency as to the weight of 8 the evidence on questions of fact. The court may affirm the final order or it may 9 reverse the final order, in whole or in part, and remand the case for further 10 proceedings if it finds the agency's final order is: 11 (a) In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions; 12 (b) In excess of the statutory authority of the agency; 13 (c) Without support of substantial evidence on the whole record; 14 (d) Arbitrary, capricious, or characterized by abuse of discretion; 15 (e) Based on an ex parte communication which substantially prejudiced the rights 16 of any party and likely affected the outcome of the hearing; 17 (f) Prejudiced by a failure of the person conducting a proceeding to be 18 disqualified pursuant to KRS 13B.040(2); or 19 (g) Deficient as otherwise provided by law. 20 (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and in the event of allegations of 21 appropriation restriction violations by an aggrieved party, the court conducting 22 the judicial review shall determine, in addition to whether there was such a 23 violation, whether the violation is willful and intentional. Evidence that the 24 agency head was aware of the restriction and failed to comply with that 25 restriction is sufficient evidence of willful intent. If the court determines that a 26 violation was willful, it shall order the head of the agency taking the action and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1091 Page 17 of 17 XXXX 1/7/2025 11:29 AM Jacketed any administrative official participating in the appropriation restriction violation 1 removed from office, and that person shall be prohibited from holding any other 2 office of trust or profit within the Commonwealth for a period of ten (10) years 3 following that finding. 4 Section 10. Sections 1, 5, and 6 of this Act apply retroactively to any 5 administrative matter that is pending or on appeal in any court on the effective date of 6 this Act. 7 Section 11. Whereas immediate governmental accountability is of paramount 8 importance to the citizens of the Commonwealth, an emergency is declared to exist, and 9 this Act takes effect upon its passage and approval by the Governor or upon its otherwise 10 becoming a law. 11