Bill > SB163

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Section 25 of the Kentucky Constitution to completely prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude in all circumstances, removing the current language that allows these practices as a punishment for crime. The bill requires the proposed amendment to be submitted to Kentucky voters for ratification or rejection at the next regular election where members of the General Assembly will be elected. To ensure voter awareness, the Secretary of State must publish the full text of the proposed amendment and information about the upcoming vote in a newspaper of general circulation no later than the first Tuesday in August before the election. The Secretary of State is also required to certify the amendment's text to each county clerk, who will then include the full question and proposed amendment on both paper and electronic ballots. This bill represents a significant step in eliminating a constitutional provision that historically allowed for forced labor as a criminal punishment, aligning Kentucky's constitution with broader principles of human rights and dignity.

Government Affairs

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/25RS/sb163.html