HB246 • 2026

AN ACT relating to animal control officers.

Children Crime Technology

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: S. Witten
Last action: 2026-03-03
Official status: 03/03/26: to Committee on Committees (S)
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT relating to animal control officers.

What This Bill Does

AN ACT relating to animal control officers.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HCS1

House Committee Substitute 1

Retain original provisions; provide that the training shall not create or impose additional duties on animal control officers; provide civil immunity to an animal control officer and the employing unit of local government who acts in good faith; allow units of local government to opt out of the training.

Plain English: UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 246/HCS 1 Page 1 of 2 HB024630.100 - 1416 - XXXX 3/2/2026 4:36 PM House Committee Substitute AN ACT relating to animal control officers.

UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 246/HCS 1 Page 1 of 2 HB024630.100 - 1416 - XXXX 3/2/2026 4:36 PM House Committee Substitute AN ACT relating to animal control officers.
1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2 SECTION 1.
A NEW SECTION OF KRS 258.095 TO 258.500 IS CREATED 3 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 4 (1) The board shall provide comprehensive evidence -informed training for animal 5 control officers on child abuse and neglect recognition and reporti ng that 6 encompasses child physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect.
7 (2) The training may be provided in person or by utilizing currently available 8 technology and shall cover, at a minimum, current information regarding the 9 connection between anima l abuse as a predictor crime with a statistically 10 significant correlation to active or future instances of interpersonal violence such 11 as child abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse, and sexual assault.

Bill History

2026-03-03 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
2026-03-02 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
3rd reading, passed 85-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
2026-02-25 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
2nd reading, to Rules posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, February 26 2026
2026-02-24 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
2026-01-15 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
to Local Government (H)
2026-01-08 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)

Official Summary Text

AN ACT relating to animal control officers.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 246/GA
Page 1 of 2
HB024610.100 - 1416 - XXXX 3/2/2026 4:38 PM GA
AN ACT relating to animal control officers. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS 258.095 TO 258.500 IS CREATED 3
TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 4
(1) The board shall provide comprehensive evidence -informed training for animal 5
control officers on child abuse and neglect recognition and reporting that 6
encompasses child physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect. 7
(2) The training may be provided in person or by utilizing currently available 8
technology and shall cover, at a minimum, current information regarding the 9
connection between animal abuse as a pred ictor crime with a statistically 10
significant correlation to active or future instances of interpersonal violence such 11
as child abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse, and sexual assault. 12
(3) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section: 13
(a) All animal control officers shall complete the training by January 31, 2027; 14
and 15
(b) Animal control officers employed, appointed, or contracted with on or after 16
January 31, 2027, shall complete the training within one hundred twenty 17
(120) days of being employed, appointed, or contracted. 18
(4) This section shall not expand, modify, or create additional reporting obligations 19
for an animal control officer beyond those required under KRS 209.030 or 20
620.030 or other applicable law. 21
(5) (a) An animal control officer who, in the course of performing official duties, 22
has reasonable cause to believe that a child or vulnerable adult is abused, 23
neglected, or exploited shall satisfy any obligation arising under this section 24
by making a report in accordance with KRS 209.030 or 620.030 or other 25
applicable law. 26
(b) This section shall not require an animal control officer to conduct an 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 246/GA
Page 2 of 2
HB024610.100 - 1416 - XXXX 3/2/2026 4:38 PM GA
independent investigation or assessment beyond the officer's statutory 1
authority relating to animal control. 2
(6) An animal control officer and the employing unit of local government shall not 3
be subject to civil liability for any good -faith act or omission related to the 4
recognition or reporting of suspected abuse or neglect pursuant to this section. 5
(7) A unit of local government that employs, appoints, or contracts with an animal 6
control officer may opt out of the training un der this section by providing written 7
notice to the board by December 31, 2026. A unit of local government that opts 8
out under this subsection may subsequently opt in by providing written notice to 9
the board. 10
Section 2. This Act may be cited as Kyan's Law. 11