KY HB185

Hiring and licensing authorities that conduct criminal background checks must establish a process allowing individuals with convictions to obtain a preliminary determination about whether their conviction will disqualify them before pursuing required training or education

Authorities must post application policies for individuals with criminal backgrounds on their websites, provide notice to applicants within 14 days, and offer in-person, telephone, or video hearings to evaluate applicants

Convictions can only disqualify applicants if directly related to the position sought, with authorities required to consider factors including the nature of the crime, time elapsed, age at offense, rehabilitation evidence, and relationship to job duties

Authorities must provide written findings of fact when denying employment or licensure based on criminal history, with applicants having 10 working days to request a hearing under KRS Chapter 13B

Exempts cities, counties, urban-county governments, charter county governments, consolidated local governments, unified local governments, their political subdivisions, and the Department of Financial Institutions from the preliminary determination requirements