HB 778 KY

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Became Law

Amend KRS 199.462 to prohibit an individual from being approved to provide foster care or relative caregiver services to a child, be considered a fictive kin placement for a child, or to receive a child for adoption if the individual or an adult or minor child living in the individual's is on the adult or juvenile sex offender registry; amend KRS 199.801 related to placement requirements for children in the custody of the state; amend KRS 600.020 to update definitions for "diversion agreement," "eligible youth," and "informal adjustment"; amend KRS 610.030 to establish which individuals shall have access to diversion agreements related to juvenile court cases; amend KRS 610.345 to expand the list of individuals that a judge shall notify when a child is adjudicated guilty of an offense which classifies him or her as a youthful offender to include school superintendents, school directors of pupil personnel, and school resource officers; amend KRS 620.050 to expand the list of individuals or entities that can have access to a report of suspected child abuse, neglect, or dependency; remove certain individuals and entities that could have access to files, reports, notes, photographs, records, electronic and other communications, and working papers used or developed by a children's advocacy center related to child welfare investigations; to allow medical professionals to administer comprehensive urine drug screens on children when they suspect abuse or neglect; allow external child fatality and near fatality review panel to access additional data; amend KRS 620.055 to allow the child fatality and near fatality review panel to compel the attendance of members from an investigating agency to discuss cases in closed session; amend KRS 620.140 to expand the ability for a dependent, neglected, or abused youth to request to have his or her commitment extended or reinstated beyond the age of 18 up to the age of 21; create a new section of KRS Chapter 211 to define and establish requirements for "plan of safe care" and "plan of care safety assessment review" related to substance-exposed infants; create a new section of KRS Chapter 625 related to reporting of involuntarty termination of parental rights; amend KRS 508.090 to define "controlled substance" and "abuse or neglect"; amend KRS 508.100 and 508.110 to conform; amend KRS 508.120 to enhance the penalty of abuse in the third degree if the victim is under 13 years old and suffered serious physical injury as a result of ingesting or inhaling a controlled substance; amend KRS 15.440 to require law enforcement agencies to possess a policies and procedures manual related to pediatric ingestion or inhalation of controlled substances; amend various sections to require continuing education on pediatric ingestion or inhalation of controlled substances for certain professionals.

• N. Wilson Republican · primary
• S. Heavrin Republican · primary
• D. Grossberg Democratic · primary
• S. Stalker Democratic · primary

1. Feb 27, 2026 introduced in House · lower
2. Feb 27, 2026 to Committee on Committees (H) · lower
3. Mar 4, 2026 to Families & Children (H) · lower
4. Mar 12, 2026 reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) · lower
5. Mar 13, 2026 2nd reading, to Rules · lower
6. Mar 13, 2026 floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute · lower
7. Mar 16, 2026 posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 17 2026 · lower
8. Mar 17, 2026 floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute · lower
9. Mar 18, 2026 3rd reading, passed 94-0 with Committee Substitute (1) · lower
10. Mar 19, 2026 received in Senate · upper
11. Mar 19, 2026 to Committee on Committees (S) · upper
12. Mar 20, 2026 to Families & Children (S) · upper
13. Mar 24, 2026 reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) · lower
14. Mar 25, 2026 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill · lower
15. Mar 26, 2026 posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Friday, March 27 2026 · lower
16. Mar 31, 2026 3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1) · lower
17. Mar 31, 2026 received in House · lower
18. Mar 31, 2026 to Rules (H) · lower
19. Mar 31, 2026 posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1) · lower
20. Mar 31, 2026 House concurred in Committee Substitute (1) · lower
21. Mar 31, 2026 passed 88-0 · lower
22. Apr 1, 2026 enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House · lower
23. Apr 1, 2026 enrolled, signed by President of the Senate · upper
24. Apr 1, 2026 delivered to Governor · lower
25. Apr 10, 2026 signed by Governor (Acts Ch.68) · lower