summary
Introduced
01/22/2026
01/22/2026
In Committee
03/05/2026
03/05/2026
Crossed Over
03/05/2026
03/05/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amend KRS 160.180 to require that members of a local board of education not be ineligible for employment in the school district pursuant to KRS 160.380(5); create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to require candidates or nominees for membership on a local board to hold a certificate issued by the Kentucky Department of Education certifying that the candidate or nominee is eligible for membership on the board to appear on the ballot, be certified as a write-in candidate, or be appointed; require individuals applying for a certificate to submit to and pay for a national and state criminal background check, submit a CA/N check and provide other supporting documentation to establish eligibility; provide that records collected pursuant to this section shall be used for the sole purpose of determining a candidate's qualification and shall be exempt from KRS 61.870 to 61.884; direct the department to issue a certificate to individuals that apply for a certificate and are eligible for membership on a board of education; amend KRS 160.190 to remove the requirement that evidence of twelfth grade completion be filed with an application for appointment to the membership on a board of education and instead require that appointed members hold a certificate of qualification issued by the department; amend KRS 117.265 to require a certificate of qualification issued by the department to be filed with a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate; create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to direct the Kentucky Board of Education to adopt a code of ethics for members of boards of education; establish a complaint investigation and resolution process for allegations of violations of the code of ethics; require a determination by the Kentucky Board of Education of clear and convincing evidence that a violation occurred to issue a written public reprimand; require written public reprimands to be entered into the minutes of the next local board of education meeting; direct the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate necessary administrative regulations; provide that existing members shall not be subject to removal on the basis of ineligibility for employment in a school district during their current terms; provide that Sections 1 to 4 of this Act take effect on January 1, 2027.
AI Summary
This bill, effective January 1, 2027, aims to strengthen the qualifications and ethical standards for members of local boards of education by requiring candidates to obtain a certificate of qualification from the Kentucky Department of Education before appearing on a ballot, being certified as a write-in candidate, or being appointed. To receive this certificate, individuals must undergo and pay for national and state criminal background checks, a CA/N (Child Abuse and Neglect) check, and provide other necessary documentation to prove their eligibility, with these records being confidential and used solely for qualification purposes. The bill also removes the previous requirement for evidence of twelfth-grade completion to be filed with an application for appointment, replacing it with the new certificate requirement. Furthermore, it directs the Kentucky Board of Education to establish a code of ethics for board members, along with a process for investigating and resolving alleged violations, which could lead to a public reprimand if clear and convincing evidence of a violation is found. Importantly, current board members will not be removed from office during their existing terms for being ineligible for employment in the school district, though they will need to meet the new qualification requirements to be re-elected.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (6)
Ryan Bivens (R)*,
George Brown (D),
John Hodgson (R),
Kevin Jackson (R),
J.T. Payne (R),
Timmy Truett (R),
Last Action
to Committee on Committees (S) (on 03/05/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb469.html |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb469/bill.pdf |
| Vote History for HB469 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb469/vote_history.pdf |
| House Committee Substitute 1 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/HB469/HCS1.pdf |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb469/orig_bill.pdf |
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