Bill > HB681

This bill creates a new legal provision in Kentucky that allows law enforcement officers to enter vacant and abandoned properties without prior notice to secure the property and remove unauthorized occupants. The bill defines a law enforcement officer as a member of a city, county, or local police unit, including sheriffs and their deputies. Property will be considered vacant and abandoned if no legal resident has occupied it for 45 consecutive days and two or more indicators suggest abandonment, such as overgrown vegetation, accumulated mail or trash, disconnected utilities, lack of window coverings or furniture, visible hazardous conditions or vandalism, or statements from neighbors or delivery personnel. Critically, the bill provides criminal and civil immunity to law enforcement officers who act in good faith when entering and securing such properties, protecting them from potential legal repercussions. This legislation aims to address issues of property abandonment and unauthorized occupation by giving law enforcement clear guidelines and protections when dealing with such situations.

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https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/25RS/hb681.html