AN ACT relating to local boards of education.

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.