KRS § 70.290 Employment contract for deputy sheriff or peace officer -- Reimbursement of law enforcement agency when deputy or peace officer accepts employment with another agency.
AI-assisted research summary: Some law enforcement agencies may require certain new deputy sheriffs or peace officers to sign up to a five-year employment contract, and later hiring agencies must reimburse initial hiring costs if the officer moves.
70.290 Employment contract for deputy sheriff or peace officer -- Reimbursement of law enforcement agency when deputy or peace officer accepts employment with another agency. (1) (a) City and county law enforcement agencies, including sheriff's offices, may, as a condition of employment, require a newly appointed deputy sheriff or peace officer who will participate in the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Fund Program, authorized by KRS 15.410 to 15.510, to enter into an employment contract for a period of no longer than five (5) years from the date of graduation from the Department of Criminal Justice Training, or other training approved by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council. (b) If a deputy sheriff or peace officer who has entered into a contract authorized under this subsection accepts employment as a peace officer with another law enforcement agency, including a local school board that has established a police department under KRS 158.471, that law enforcement agency shall reimburse the law enforcement agency that initially hired the deputy sheriff or peace officer for the actual costs incurred and expended by the law enforcement agency that initially hired the deputy sheriff or peace officer which are associated with the initial hiring of that officer, including but not limited to the application process, training costs, equipment costs, salary and fringe benefits. The law enforcement agency that initially hired the deputy sheriff or peace officer shall be reimbursed for the costs from the time of the deputy sheriff or peace officer's initial application until graduation from the Department of Criminal Justice Training. (c) 1. For contracts entered into before June 29, 2017, the amount of reimbursement authorized by this subsection shall be prorated based upon the percentage of time that the deputy sheriff or peace officer completed of his or her employment contract. The amount of reimbursement authorized by this subsection after the pro rata amount is calculated shall be reduced by the cost of the training provided by the Department of Criminal Justice Training for the subject officer. 2. For contracts entered into on or after June 29, 2017, the amount of reimbursement authorized by this subsection shall not be prorated, and shall be for the full amount as calculated in paragraph (b) of this subsection. (2) If a peace officer, including a university police officer, who has been employed by a state law enforcement agency for five (5) years or less accepts employment as a peace officer with a city or local law enforcement agency, including a local school board that has established a police department under KRS 158.471, that city or local law enforcement agency shall reimburse the state law enforcement agency that initially hired the peace officer for the costs expended with the initial hiring of that officer, including but not limited to the application process, training costs, equipment costs, salary and fringe benefits. The state law enforcement agency that initially hired the peace officer shall be reimbursed for the costs incurred and expended from the time of the peace officer's initial application until graduation from a Kentucky Law Enforcement Council-approved training academy. Effective: June 29, 2023 History: Amended 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 69, sec. 2, effective June 29, 2023. -- Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 88, sec. 1, effective June 29, 2017. -- Created 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 305, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2002.