AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Fire Commission.

UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 1 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Fire Commission. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 95A.020 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) As used in this section, "chief fire officer" means an individual who plays an 4
essential role in the administrative structure of his or her fire department. 5
(2) There is h ereby created the Kentucky Fire Commission, hereinafter called 6
"commission," which shall be attached to the Kentucky Community and Technical 7
College System for administrative purposes only. 8
(3) (a) The commission shall include male, female, and racial mino rity 9
representation. 10
(b) No more than three (3) appointed members shall reside in the same 11
congressional district. 12
(4) The commission shall be composed of eighteen (18)[fourteen (14)] members who 13
are[,] residents of the State of Kentucky [,] and appointed by the Governor , as 14
applicable. These members should be persons well qualified by experience or 15
education in the field of fire protection or related fields. 16
(5) The membership of the commission shall include: 17
(a) One (1) member of a fire department formed under KRS Chapter 75 or 273 18
who is: 19
1. Not a chief fire officer; 20
2. Not a career employee of any department other than the one from which 21
he or she is nominated; and 22
3. Selected from a list of at least t hree (3) names submitted by the 23
Kentucky Firefighters Association; 24
(b) One (1) member of a volunteer fire department who is: 25
1. Not a chief fire officer; 26
2. Not a career employee of any fire department other than the one from 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 2 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
which he or she is nominated; and 1
3. Selected from a list of at least three (3) names submitted by the 2
Kentucky Firefighters Association; 3
(c) One (1) member of a fire department formed under KRS Chapter 95 selected 4
from a list of at least[list] three (3) names submitted by the Kentucky 5
Professional Firefighters; 6
(d) One (1) chief fire officer of a paid fire department selected from a list of at 7
least three (3) names submitted by the Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs; 8
(e) One (1) licensed physician with experience in emergency medicine; 9
(f) A chief fire officer of a volunteer fire department who is not a career member 10
of any other department, selected from a list of at least three (3) names 11
submitted by the Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs; 12
(g) One (1) member of a fire department for med under KRS Chapter 67 or 75, or 13
a fire department in a county containing an urban -county government created 14
pursuant to KRS Chapter 67A, who is selected from a list of at least three (3) 15
names submitted by the Kentucky Professional Firefighters; 16
(h) The director of Homeland Security or his or her designee; 17
(i) One (1) mayor or other officer of a Kentucky city providing fire services 18
under KRS Chapter 95 selected from a list of at least three (3) names 19
submitted by the Kentucky League of Cities; 20
(j) One (1) county judge/executive or other officer of a Kentucky county selected 21
from a list of at least three (3) names submitted by the Kentucky Association 22
of Counties; 23
(k) One (1) representative of a Kentucky building, industry, or safety association; 24
(l) One (1) representative of the general public who is not an employee of any 25
government or governmental agency; 26
(m) The state fire marshal or his or her designee;[ and] 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 3 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
(n) One (1) officer of a fire -based emergency medical service selected from a list 1
of at least three (3) names submitted by the executive director of the Kentucky 2
Board of Emergency Medical Services; 3
(o) The president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System or 4
his or her designee; 5
(p) The president of the Kentucky Firefighters Assoc iation or his or her 6
designee; 7
(q) The president of the Kentucky Professional Firefighters or his or her 8
designee; and 9
(r) The president of the Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs or his or her 10
designee. 11
(6) [The vice president of administrative services of the Kentucky Community and 12
Technical College System, president of the Kentucky Firefighters Association, 13
president of th e Kentucky Professional Firefighters, and president of the Kentucky 14
Association of Fire Chiefs, or their designees, shall serve as nonvoting ex officio 15
members of the commission. 16
(7) ]The members of the commission who are firefighters shall possess a minim um of 17
five (5) years of fire service experience and shall be certified with the following: 18
(a) One hundred fifty (150) hours of training for volunteer firefighters; or 19
(b) Four hundred (400) hours of training for professional firefighters. 20
(7)[(8)] The Ken tucky Firefighters Association, Kentucky Professional Firefighters, 21
Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs, Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical 22
Services Association, Kentucky League of Cities, and Kentucky Association of 23
Counties shall submit their lists of n ominees by November 15 of each year as 24
vacancies occur.[ 25
(9) The Governor shall appoint members of the commission to staggered terms not to 26
exceed four (4) years. However, initial appointments shall be appointed as follows: 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 4 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
(a) Four (4) members shall serve for two (2) year terms ending November 30, 1
2021; 2
(b) Five (5) members shall serve three (3) year terms ending November 30, 2022; 3
and 4
(c) Five (5) members shall serve four (4) year terms ending November 30, 2023.] 5
(8) (a)[(10) After the expiration of the i nitial appointments, ] Appointive members 6
shall be appointed by the Governor under subsection (5)(a) to (g), (i) to (l), 7
and (n) of this section for a term of four (4) years. 8
(b) The terms of the members set out in subsection (5)(h), (m), and (o) to (r) of 9
this section shall be concurrent with and by virtue of his or her office. 10
(c) Any member chosen by the Governor to fill a vacancy created otherwise than 11
by expiration of term shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member 12
he or she is chosen to succeed. 13
(9)[(11)] When vacancies occur other than by expiration of term and nominations are 14
required, the Governor may request a new list or select an appointee from a 15
previously submitted list. Appointive members shall not serve more than two (2) 16
consecutive four (4) year terms. 17
(10)[(12)] A majority of the voting members appointed to the commission shall 18
constitute a quorum. The commission shall: 19
(a) Meet at least four (4) times per year upon call of the chair, or upon the written 20
request of any five (5) members; and 21
(b) Annually elect a chair, vice chair, and secretary in accordance with KRS 22
95A.030. 23
(11)[(13)] A member of the commission who misses three (3) regular meetings, without 24
the approval of the chairman, in one (1) year shall be deemed to have r esigned from 25
the commission and his or her position shall be deemed to be vacant. As used in this 26
subsection, a "year" begins when the first meeting is missed and ends three hundred 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 5 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
sixty-five (365) days later or when the third meeting is missed, whichever occurs 1
first. The Governor shall appoint a similarly qualified person to fill the vacancy 2
within ninety (90) days of the vacancy occurring. The failure of a commission 3
member to attend a special or emergency meeting shall not result in any penalty. A 4
person removed under this subsection shall not be reappointed to the commission 5
for at least ten (10) years after removal. 6
(12)[(14)] Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services 7
but shall be allowed their actual and necessary exp enses incurred in the 8
performance of their functions. 9
Section 2. KRS 95A.262 is amended to read as follows: 10
(1) (a) The Kentucky Fire Commission shall, in cooperation with the Cabinet for 11
Health and Family Services, deve lop and implement a continuing program to 12
inoculate every paid and volunteer firefighter in Kentucky against hepatitis A 13
and B. 14
(b) The program shall be funded from revenues allocated to the Firefighters 15
Foundation Program fund pursuant to KRS 136.392 and 42.190, not to exceed 16
five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) per fiscal year. 17
(c) Program funds in excess of the costs of inoculating firefighters under 18
paragraph (a) of this subsection may be used to reimburse firefighters for 19
out-of-pocket expenses f or cancer screenings under subsection (16)(h) of 20
this section. 21
(2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the Kentucky Fire 22
Commission shall allot on an annual basis a share of the funds accruing to and 23
appropriated for volunteer fire department aid to volunteer fire departments in 24
cities of all classes, fire protection districts organized pursuant to KRS 25
Chapter 75, county districts established under authority of KRS 67.083, and 26
volunteer fire departments created as nonprofit corporation s pursuant to KRS 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 6 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
Chapter 273. 1
(b) The commission shall allot eleven thousand dollars ($11,000) annually to 2
each qualifying department. 3
(c) Any qualifying department which fails to participate satisfactorily in the 4
Kentucky fire incident reporting system as described in KRS 304.13-380 shall 5
forfeit annually five hundred dollars ($500) of its allotment. 6
(d) If two (2) or more qualified volunteer fire departments, as defined in KRS 7
95A.500 to 95A.560, merge after January 1, 2000, then the allotment shall be 8
in accordance with the provisions of KRS 95A.500 to 95A.560. 9
(e) Administrative regulations for determin ing qualifications shall be based on 10
the number of both paid firefighters and volunteer firemen within a volunteer 11
fire department, the amount of equipment, housing facilities available, and 12
any other matters or standards that will best effect the purposes of the 13
volunteer fire department aid law. A qualifying department shall: 14
1. Include at least twelve (12) firefighters; 15
2. Have a chief; 16
3. Have at least one (1) operational fire apparatus or one (1) on order; and 17
4. Have at least fifty percent (50%) of it s firefighters who have completed 18
at least one -half (1/2) of one hundred fifty (150) training hours, or as 19
otherwise established by the commission under KRS 95A.240(6), 20
toward certification within the first six (6) months of the first year of the 21
department's application for certification, and there shall be a plan to 22
complete the one hundred fifty (150) training hours, or as otherwise 23
established by the commission by KRS 95A.240(6), within the second 24
year. 25
These personnel, equipment, and training requirem ents shall not be made 26
more stringent by the promulgation of administrative regulations. 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 7 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
(f) No allotment shall exceed the total value of the funds, equipment, lands, and 1
buildings made available to the local fire units from any source whatever for 2
the year in which the allotment is made. 3
(g) A portion of the funds provided for above may be used to purchase group or 4
blanket health insurance and shall be used to purchase workers' compensation 5
insurance, and the remaining funds shall be distributed as provide d in this 6
section. 7
(3) There shall be allotted two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) of the insurance 8
premium surcharge proceeds accruing to the Firefighters Foundation Program fund 9
that shall be allocated each fiscal year of the biennium to the firefigh ters training 10
center fund, which is hereby created and established, for the purposes of 11
constructing new or upgrading existing training centers for firefighters. If any 12
moneys in the training center fund remain uncommitted, unobligated, or 13
unexpended at th e close of the first fiscal year of the biennium, then such moneys 14
shall be carried forward to the second fiscal year of the biennium, and shall be 15
reallocated to and for the use of the training center fund, in addition to the second 16
fiscal year's allocation of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000). Prior to funding 17
any project pursuant to this subsection, a proposed project shall be approved by the 18
Kentucky Fire Commission as provided in subsection (4) of this section and shall 19
comply with state laws applicable to capital construction projects. 20
(4) Applications for funding low-interest loans and firefighters' training centers shall be 21
submitted to the Kentucky Fire Commission for their recommendation, approval, 22
disapproval, or modification. The commission shall review applications 23
periodically, and shall, subject to funds available, recommend which applications 24
shall be funded and at what levels, together with any terms and conditions the 25
commission deems necessary. 26
(5) Any department or entity eligible fo r and receiving funding pursuant to this section 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 8 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
shall have a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of its personnel certified as recognized 1
by the Kentucky Fire Commission. 2
(6) Upon the written request of any department, the Kentucky Fire Commission shall 3
make available a certified training program in a county of which such department is 4
located. 5
(7) The commission shall reimburse the Kentucky Community and Technical College 6
System for salaries and other costs of administering funds as set out in this 7
section, and the reimbursement shall be considered a part of the reimbursement 8
described in KRS 95A.240(3). The reimbursement set out in this subsection and 9
all other reimbursements associated with administering the fund shall not 10
collectively exceed five percent (5%) of the total appropriation to the fund for that 11
year as set out in KRS 95A.240(3) [The amount of reimbursement for any given 12
year for costs incurred by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System 13
for administering these funds, including but not li mited to the expenses and costs of 14
commission operations, shall be determined by the commission and shall not 15
exceed five percent (5%) of the total amount of moneys accruing to the Firefighters 16
Foundation Program fund which are allotted for the purposes sp ecified in this 17
section during any fiscal year]. 18
(8) The commission shall withhold from the general distribution of funds under 19
subsection (2) of this section an amount which it deems sufficient to reimburse 20
volunteer fire departments for equipment lost or damaged beyond repair due to 21
hazardous material incidents. 22
(9) Moneys withheld pursuant to subsection (8) of this section shall be distributed only 23
under the following terms and conditions: 24
(a) A volunteer fire department has lost or damaged beyond repair items of 25
personal protective clothing or equipment d ue to that equipment having been 26
lost or damaged as a result of an incident in which a hazardous material (as 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 9 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
defined in any state or federal statute or regulation) was the causative agent of 1
the loss; 2
(b) The volunteer fire department has made application in writing to the 3
commission for reimbursement in a manner approved by the commission and 4
the loss and the circumstances thereof have been verified by the commission; 5
(c) The loss of or damage to the equipment has not been reimbursed by the 6
person respons ible for the hazardous materials incident or by any other 7
person; 8
(d) The commission has determined that the volunteer fire department does not 9
have the fiscal resources to replace the equipment; 10
(e) The commission has determined that the equipment sought to be replaced is 11
immediately necessary to protect the lives of the volunteer firefighters of the 12
fire department; 13
(f) The fire department has agreed in writing to subrogate all claims for and 14
rights to reimbursement for the lost or damaged equipment to th e 15
Commonwealth to the extent that the Commonwealth provides reimbursement 16
to the department; and 17
(g) The department has shown to the satisfaction of the commission that it has 18
made reasonable attempts to secure reimbursement for its losses from the 19
person responsible for the hazardous materials incident and has been 20
unsuccessful in the effort. 21
(10) If a volunteer fire department has met all of the requirements of subsection (9) of 22
this section, the commission may authorize a reimbursement of equipment losse s 23
not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or the actual amount of the loss, 24
whichever is less. 25
(11) Moneys which have been withheld during any fiscal year which remain unexpended 26
at the end of the fiscal year shall be distributed in the normal manner required by 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 10 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
subsection (2) of this section during the following fiscal year. 1
(12) No volunteer fire department may receive funding for equipment losses more than 2
once during any fiscal year. 3
(13) The commission shall make reasonable efforts to secure reimb ursement from the 4
responsible party for any moneys awarded to a fire department pursuant to this 5
section. 6
(14) The commission, in accordance with the procedures in subsection (4) of this 7
section, may make low-interest loans, and the interest thereon shall not exceed three 8
percent (3%) annually or the amount needed to sustain operating expenses of the 9
loan fund, whichever is less, to volunteer fire departments for the purposes of major 10
equipment purchases and facility construction. Loans shall be made to departments 11
which achieve the training standards necessary to qualify for volunteer fire 12
department aid allotted p ursuant to subsection (2) of this section, and which do not 13
have other sources of funds at rates which are favorable given their financial 14
resources. The proceeds of loan payments shall be returned to the loan fund for the 15
purpose of providing future loans . If a department does not make scheduled loan 16
payments, the commission may withhold any grants payable to the department 17
pursuant to subsection (2) of this section until the department is current on its 18
payments. Money in the low -interest loan fund shall be used only for the purposes 19
specified in this subsection. Any funds remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal 20
year shall be carried forward to the next fiscal year for the purposes of the fund. 21
(15) Each fiscal year there shall be allotted one million dollars ($1,000,000) from the 22
fund established in KRS 95A.220 to be used by the commission to conduct training-23
related activities. 24
(16) If funding is available from the fund established in KRS 95A.220, the Kentucky 25
Fire Commission may implement the following: 26
(a) A program to prepare emergency service personnel for handling potential 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 11 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
man-made and non -man-made threats. The commission shall work in 1
conjunction with the state fire marshal and other appropriate agencies and 2
associations to identify and make ma ps of gas transmission and hazardous 3
liquids pipelines in the state; 4
(b) A program to provide and maintain a mobile test facility in each training 5
region established by the Kentucky Fire Commission with equipment to 6
administer Comprehensive Physical Aptitu de Tests (CPAT) to ascertain a 7
firefighter's ability to perform the physical requirements necessary to be an 8
effective and safe firefighter; 9
(c) A program to provide defensive driving training tactics to firefighters. The 10
commission shall purchase, instruc t in the use of, and maintain mobile 11
equipment in each of the training regions, and fund expenses related to 12
equipment replacement; 13
(d) A program to annually evaluate equipment adequacy and to provide for 14
annual physical examinations for instructors, adequ ate protective clothing and 15
personal equipment to meet NFPA guidelines, and to establish procedures for 16
replacing this equipment as needed; 17
(e) A program to establish a rotational expansion and replacement program for 18
mobile fleet equipment currently used for training and recertification of fire 19
departments; 20
(f) A program to expand and update current emergency medical services, 21
emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced 22
emergency medical technician, and paramedic training and certif ication 23
instruction; 24
(g) A program to purchase thermal vision and other technical devices to comply 25
with the provisions of KRS 95A.400 to 95A.440; and 26
(h) A program to reimburse firefighters for out -of-pocket expenses for cancer 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 12 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
screenings in accordance with subsection (1) of this section. The commission 1
may promulgate administrative regulations pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A to: 2
1. Establish a periodic cap and maximum on the reimbursement to the 3
firefighter seeking reimbursement; 4
2. Establish which cancer sc reening tests are eligible for reimbursement, 5
provided that only cancer screening tests approved by the United States 6
Food and Drug Administration for cancer detection in humans may be 7
reimbursed; 8
3. Determine eligibility requirements for participants, whi ch in the 9
discretion of the commission may also include retired firefighters; and 10
4. Establish any other policy to effect the purposes of this program. 11
Section 3. KRS 95A.400 is amended to read as follows: 12
The Thermal Vi sion and Technical Innovation Grant Program, which is administered 13
pursuant to KRS 95A.400 to 95A.440 and appropriations for the Thermal Vision and 14
Technical Innovation Grant Program in the state budget, is designed to: 15
(1) Reduce and prevent the loss of l ife by creating better equipped firefighters 16
throughout the Commonwealth; and 17
(2) Upgrade the capabilities of local firefighters by providing financial assistance to be 18
used to purchase thermal vision and other technical devices. 19
Section 4. KRS 95A.410 is amended to read as follows: 20
The commission shall have overall responsibility for policy, guidance, administration, 21
implementation, and proper utilization of the Thermal Vision and Technical Innovation 22
Grant Program. The commission, with the advice of the grant[advisory] committee, shall 23
make determinations relating to Thermal Vision and Technical Innovation Grant 24
Program applications and releasing equipment to fire departments. 25
Section 5. KRS 95A.420 is amended to read as follows: 26
As used in[For the purposes of] KRS 95A.400 to 95A.440:[, ] 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 13 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
(a) "Automated external defibrillator" has the same meaning as in KRS 1
311.666; 2
(b) "Gas monitor" means a portable device that detects and measures the 3
concentration of one (1) or more gases, and includes four (4) gas monitors 4
and multi-gas monitors; 5
(c) "Technical device" means an: 6
1. Automated external defibrillator; 7
2. Gas monitor; or 8
3. Thermal vision device; and 9
(d) "Thermal vision device" means any portable electronic device that displays a 10
visible image from the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. 11
Section 6. KRS 95A.430 is amended to read as follows: 12
The commission shall: 13
(1) Create the necessary application forms, any necessary supporting documents, 14
compliance documents, or reporting documents for the Thermal Vision and 15
Technical Innovation Grant Program as may be necessary by promulgating 16
administrative regulations in accordance with[under] KRS Chapter 13A; 17
(2) Make a determination of the characteristics of the most cost -effective technical 18
devices[thermal vision systems] for use by fire departments participating in the 19
Thermal Vision and Technical Innovation Grant Program; 20
(3) Make a determination of the manufacturer or manufacturers of technical[thermal 21
vision] devices to be purchased by the Thermal Vision and Technical Innovation 22
Grant Program; 23
(4) Make a determination of the most cost -effective purchase mechanism and price, 24
under KRS Chapter 45A, for technical devices[thermal vision systems]; 25
(5) Accept and process applications for the purchase of technical devices [thermal 26
vision systems] through th e Thermal Vision and Technical Innovation Grant 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 14 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
Program; 1
(6) Award eligible fire departments grants equal to fifty percent (50%), but not to 2
exceed the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000), of the agreed price for the 3
purchase of technical devices[thermal vision systems]; 4
(7) Require recipients of technical[thermal vision] devices purchased through the 5
Thermal Vision and Technical Innovation Grant Program to file any reports 6
deemed necessary by the commission concerning usage, maintenance, or property 7
accounting or loss with the commission; and 8
(8) Maintain these reports for evaluation by the commission. 9
Section 7. KRS 95A.440 is amended to read as follows: 10
(1) All fire departments formed under KRS Chapter 65, 75, 95, or 273 shall be eligible 11
to receive grants through the Thermal Vision and Technical Innovation Grant 12
Program. These fire departments may make application for a grant to purchase 13
technical[thermal vision] devices through the Thermal Vision and Technical 14
Innovation Grant Program to the commission. The application shall be made on 15
forms provided by the commission. 16
(2) A fire department that receives a grant through the Thermal Vision and Technical 17
Innovation Grant Program shall not make another application to the commission 18
for a grant for a period of two (2) years. 19
(3) Fire departments receiving grants for the purchase of technical[thermal vision] 20
devices through the Thermal Vision and Technical Innovation Grant Program shall 21
comply with all administrative regula tions concerning reporting requirements 22
established by the commission. Failure to comply with these reporting requirements 23
shall disqualify a fire department from participation in the Thermal Vision and 24
Technical Innovation Grant Program for a period of five (5) years. 25
Section 8. KRS 95A.055 is amended to read as follows: 26
(1) As used in this section: 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 15 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
(a) "Fire district" means any fire protection district or volunteer fire department 1
district operating under KRS Chapter 75 with the higher of annual receipts 2
from all sources or annual expenditures of less than one hundred thousand 3
dollars ($100,000); and 4
(b) "Nonprofit fire department" means any fire department incorporated under 5
KRS Chapter 273. 6
(2) If a fire district's ann ual revenues or expenditures equals or exceeds one hundred 7
thousand dollars ($100,000) for two (2) consecutive fiscal years, then the fire 8
district shall, for the next reporting period and any subsequent reporting period for 9
which it exceeds that amount, b e considered a special purpose governmental entity 10
as defined in KRS 65A.010 and shall comply with KRS Chapter 65A until its 11
annual revenues or expenditures are less than one hundred thousand dollars 12
($100,000), whereupon it may again qualify as a fire department under this section. 13
(3) Each fire district shall for each fiscal year beginning on and after July 1, 2016, 14
annually submit to the commission the information required by this section. The 15
information shall be submitted at the time and in the form an d format required by 16
the commission. The information submitted shall include at a minimum the 17
following: 18
(a) Administrative information: 19
1. The name, address, and, if applicable, the term and appointing authority 20
for each board member of the governing body of the fire district; 21
2. The fiscal year of the fire district; 22
3. The Kentucky Revised Statute and, if applicable, the local government 23
ordinance under which the fire district was established; the date of 24
establishment; the establishing entity; and the statute or statutes, local 25
government ordinance, or interlocal agreemen t under which the fire 26
district operates, if different from the statute or statutes, ordinance, or 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 16 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
agreement under which it was established; 1
4. The mailing address and telephone number and, if applicable, the Web 2
site uniform resource locator (URL) of the fire district; 3
5. The operational boundaries and service area of the fire district and the 4
services provided by the fire district; 5
6. A listing of the taxes or fees imposed and collected by the fire district, 6
including the rates or amounts charged for the reporting period and the 7
statutory or other source of authority for the levy of the tax or fee; 8
7. The primary contact for the fire district for purposes of communication 9
with the commission; 10
8. The code of ethics that applies to the fire district, and whe ther the fire 11
district has adopted additional ethics provisions; 12
9. A listing of all federal, state, and local governmental entities that have 13
oversight authority over the fire district or to which the fire district 14
submits reports, data, or information; and 15
10. Any other related administrative information required by the 16
commission; and 17
(b) Financial information including budgets and financial expenditure 18
information that are designed to ensure that all public funds received by the 19
fire districts are being responsibly used. The commission shall, through the 20
promulgation of an administrative regulation, establish the specific financial 21
information that shall be filed to meet the requirements of this paragraph. 22
(4) The commission shall review the reports requ ired for fire districts by this section 23
and, if the commission finds that a report submitted does not comply with the 24
requirements established by this section and regulations promulgated hereunder, the 25
commission shall notify the fire district in writing. The notification shall include a 26
description of the specific deficiencies identified, and shall describe the process the 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 17 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
fire district shall follow to correct the deficiencies, including the time within which 1
a response must be provided. 2
(5) The commission shall ensure that every fire district or nonprofit fire department 3
shall at least once every twelve (12) months be subject to a financial review that 4
shall include procedures developed by the commission and approved by the Auditor 5
of Public Accounts in ad vance. Subsequent changes to these procedures shall also 6
be approved by the Auditor of Public Accounts prior to the period in which they are 7
performed. 8
(6) The commission may require any fire district or nonprofit fire department with the 9
higher of annual receipts from all sources or annual expenditures equal to or greater 10
than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) but less than five hundred thousand 11
dollars ($500,000) to once every four (4) years be subject to an independent audit in 12
the manner specified in KRS 65A.030(2). 13
(7) The commission shall ensure that every fire district or nonprofit fire department 14
with the higher of annual receipts from all sources or annual expenditures equal to 15
or greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for two ( 2) consecutive 16
fiscal years is audited annually in the manner specified in KRS 65A.030(2) until its 17
annual revenues or expenditures are less than five hundred thousand dollars 18
($500,000). 19
(8) The Auditor of Public Accounts may, upon request, examine and re view the reports 20
and all related work papers and documents relating to a financial review or audit 21
under this section. 22
(9) If a fire district or nonprofit fire department fails to comply with this section or 23
KRS 75.430, then the commission may withhold: 24
(a) Incentive pay to qualified firefighters under KRS 95A.250; 25
(b) Volunteer fire department aid, funds used to purchase workers' compensation 26
insurance for fire districts and nonprofit fire departments, and the low -interest 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 18 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
loans under KRS 95A.262; 1
(c) Funds from the Thermal Vision and Technical Innovation Grant Program 2
under KRS 95A.400 to 95A.440; and 3
(d) Any other funds that the commission controls. 4
(10) The commission shall report any irregularities relating to the finances or operations 5
of a fire distri ct or nonprofit fire department that it identifies to the Attorney 6
General and Auditor of Public Accounts, and the commission may notify any other 7
public official with jurisdiction over fire districts or nonprofit fire departments for 8
further investigation and follow-up. 9
(11) The commission may prescribe corrective actions to bring fire districts or nonprofit 10
fire departments that are, as of July 15, 2016, not in compliance with KRS Chapter 11
65A into compliance with this section. Any sanctions imposed by the Department 12
for Local Government prior to July 15, 2016, shall be lifted upon notification by the 13
commission to the department that the fire district or nonprofit fire department in 14
question has complied with the corrective actions prescribed by the commission. 15
(12) The information reported by fire districts or nonprofit fire departments under this 16
section shall be considered public records under KRS 61.872 to 61.884. The 17
commission shall prominently post on its Web site the availability of the 18
information required by this section and shall provide contact information and 19
procedures for obtaining copies of the information. 20
(13) The commission shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance 21
with[under] KRS Chapter 13A as soon as practicable after Ju ly 15, 2016, to 22
implement this section and KRS 75.430. 23
(14) By October 1, 2016, and on or before each October 1 thereafter, the commission 24
shall file an annual report with the Legislative Research Commission detailing the 25
compliance of the fire districts o r nonprofit fire departments required to report 26
under this section with subsection (3) of this section. The Legislative Research 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 419/EN
Page 19 of 19
HB041920.100 - 1592 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:47 PM Engrossed
Commission shall refer the report to the Interim Joint Committee on Local 1
Government for review. 2