summary
Introduced
02/12/2026
02/12/2026
In Committee
03/09/2026
03/09/2026
Crossed Over
03/09/2026
03/09/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amend KRS 160.145, relating to unauthorized electronic communicating in schools, to expand existing definitions and define "private electronic communication," "qualified school volunteer," and "commercial, nonprofit, or local government affiliation"; limit the scope of unauthorized electronic communication to private electronic communication, and exclude designated types of communication from the scope of the requirement to obtain written parental consent prior to communicating outside of the traceable communication system; include designated Kentucky Department of Education and educational cooperative employees assigned to a school district to the scope of the requirement to obtain written consent; limit the scope of school volunteers subject to this section to qualified school volunteers; specify that the requirement to obtain written parental consent only applies to students enrolled within the same school district as the school district employee or qualified school volunteer; allow a local school district more flexibility in disciplinary actions arising from a violation of this section; allow a written parental consent form to designate more than 1 school district employee or qualified school volunteer; provide that the written consent may be revoked by the parent who filed the consent; require notice of the revocation to be sent to the identified school district employee or qualified school volunteer; prohibit a school or school district from refusing to accept parental consent forms; prohibit requiring parental consent forms under this section as a requirement for a student to participate in an academic, athletic, or extracurricular opportunity; provide an emergency exception to allow a school district employee or qualified school volunteer to communicate electronically without prior written parental consent if the individual discloses the communication after the fact; provide exceptions to allow a school district employee or qualified school volunteer to communicate electronically without prior written parental consent during and in direct relation to a fieldtrip or work-based learning opportunity; provide exceptions to permit a school district employee or qualified school volunteer to communicate electronically without prior written parental consent if the communication is directly related to a commercial, nonprofit, or local government affiliation that has been previously disclosed; permit school district employees to notify a school district of a commercial, nonprofit, or local government affiliation; require reasonable belief to trigger a duty to report unauthorized electronic communication; require parental notification for all material phases of an investigation of or disciplinary actions arising from unauthorized electronic communication with students; permit a school district to reconsider allowing previously prohibited volunteers; EMERGENCY.
AI Summary
This bill modifies existing Kentucky law regarding electronic communication between school personnel and students, aiming to provide clearer guidelines and parental control. It expands the definition of "unauthorized electronic communication" to specifically refer to "private electronic communication," which involves direct one-on-one or group conversations only accessible to participants, and excludes certain types of communication like virtual instruction or academic feedback. The bill introduces the term "qualified school volunteer" to define specific non-employee adults who may interact with students, and clarifies that the requirement for written parental consent before communicating outside of the school's designated traceable communication system only applies to students within the same school district as the employee or volunteer. It also includes certain Kentucky Department of Education and educational cooperative employees assigned to a school district under the consent requirement. The bill grants local school districts more flexibility in disciplinary actions for violations, allows parental consent forms to cover multiple school personnel, and permits parents to revoke consent with notice to the involved parties. Importantly, schools cannot refuse parental consent forms or require them for student participation in academic, athletic, or extracurricular activities. The bill also establishes emergency exceptions, allowing communication without prior consent if disclosed afterward, during field trips or work-based learning, or if directly related to a previously disclosed commercial, nonprofit, or local government affiliation. It requires a reasonable belief to trigger a duty to report unauthorized communication and mandates parental notification for all significant phases of investigations and disciplinary actions related to such communication. Finally, the bill allows school districts to reconsider previously prohibited volunteers.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (8)
J.T. Payne (R)*,
Jennifer Decker (R),
Patrick Flannery (R),
Daniel Grossberg (D),
Tony Hampton (R),
Kimberly Holloway (R),
Bobby McCool (R),
Steven Rudy (R),
Last Action
to Committee on Committees (S) (on 03/09/2026)
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/hb67.html |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb67/bill.pdf |
| Vote History for HB67 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb67/vote_history.pdf |
| House Floor Amendment 1 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/HB67/HFA1.pdf |
| House Committee Substitute 1 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/HB67/HCS1.pdf |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb67/orig_bill.pdf |
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