summary
Introduced
02/27/2026
02/27/2026
In Committee
03/12/2026
03/12/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amend KRS 199.462 to prohibit an individual from being approved to provide foster care or relative caregiver services to a child, be considered a fictive kin placement for a child, or to receive a child for adoption if the individual or an adult or minor child living in the individual's is on the adult or juvenile sex offender registry; amend KRS 199.801 related to placement requirements for children in the custody of the state; amend KRS 600.020 to update definitions for "diversion agreement," "eligible youth," and "informal adjustment"; amend KRS 610.030 to establish which individuals shall have access to diversion agreements related to juvenile court cases; amend KRS 610.345 to expand the list of individuals that a judge shall notify when a child is adjudicated guilty of an offense which classifies him or her as a youthful offender to include school superintendents, school directors of pupil personnel, and school resource officers; amend KRS 620.050 to expand the list of individuals or entities that can have access to a report of suspected child abuse, neglect, or dependency; remove certain individuals and entities that could have access to files, reports, notes, photographs, records, electronic and other communications, and working papers used or developed by a children's advocacy center related to child welfare investigations; to allow medical professionals to administer comprehensive urine drug screens on children when they suspect abuse or neglect; allow external child fatality and near fatality review panel to access additional data; amend KRS 620.055 to allow the child fatality and near fatality review panel to compel the attendance of members from an investigating agency to discuss cases in closed session; amend KRS 620.140 to expand the ability for a dependent, neglected, or abused youth to request to have his or her commitment extended or reinstated beyond the age of 18 up to the age of 21; create a new section of KRS Chapter 211 to define and establish requirements for "plan of safe care" and "plan of care safety assessment review" related to substance-exposed infants; create a new section of KRS Chapter 625 related to reporting of involuntarty termination of parental rights; amend KRS 508.090 to define "controlled substance" and "abuse or neglect"; amend KRS 508.100 and 508.110 to conform; amend KRS 508.120 to enhance the penalty of abuse in the third degree if the victim is under 13 years old and suffered serious physical injury as a result of ingesting or inhaling a controlled substance; amend KRS 15.440 to require law enforcement agencies to possess a policies and procedures manual related to pediatric ingestion or inhalation of controlled substances; amend various sections to require continuing education on pediatric ingestion or inhalation of controlled substances for certain professionals.
AI Summary
This bill makes several changes to child welfare laws, including prohibiting individuals with certain sex offender registry statuses from providing foster care, becoming fictive kin placements (individuals not related by blood or marriage but with a significant emotional bond to a child), or adopting children, and also extends the age up to which a dependent, neglected, or abused youth can request their commitment be extended to 21 years old. It also updates definitions for terms like "diversion agreement" (an agreement to hold a child accountable without a formal court record) and "eligible youth" (a young person committed to the state who is seeking to extend their commitment), and expands who can access these diversion agreements. The bill mandates notification to school officials, including superintendents and school resource officers, when a child is adjudicated guilty of certain offenses or is involved in domestic violence or protective order cases, and allows medical professionals to administer comprehensive urine drug screens on children when abuse or neglect is suspected. It also grants the external child fatality and near fatality review panel (a group that reviews deaths and near-deaths of children to identify systemic improvements) access to additional data and the ability to compel attendance from investigating agencies during closed sessions. Furthermore, the bill establishes requirements for a "plan of safe care" for substance-exposed infants, which are babies exposed to alcohol or drugs prenatally, and creates new reporting requirements for the involuntary termination of parental rights. Finally, it enhances penalties for child abuse, particularly when a child under 13 is seriously injured by ingesting or inhaling a controlled substance, requires law enforcement agencies to have policies on pediatric controlled substance ingestion/inhalation, and mandates continuing education on this topic for various professionals.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute (on 03/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
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