KRS 15.112: Unit of Election Investigations and Security -- Duties -- Report --

Construction.

(1) There is hereby established a Unit of Election Investigations and Security within the

Office of the Attorney General, which shall enforce state election laws in

accordance with KRS 15.243 and:

(a) Receive complaints from election officials or any other person alleging a

violation of the state election law;

(b) Review notices and reports of an alleged violation of the state election law

and conduct investigatio ns of any incidents that it determines require further

investigation;

(c) Initiate independent inquiries or conduct preliminary investigations into any

alleged violation of the state election law in any jurisdiction of this state that it

determines requires investigation;

(d) Employ investigators to conduct any investigations;

(e) Oversee the voter fraud hotline; and

(f) For purposes of investigation, have the authority to receive sworn statements

and issue subpoenas to compel the production of records and other

documents.

(2) If the unit determines there may be a violation of any criminal law or state election

law, it shall inform the Attorney General or refer the findings of its investigation to

the appropriate Commonwealth's or county attorney for further investigation or

prosecution.

(3) The unit shall submit a report by July 1 of each year to the Legislative Research

Commission, which provides detailed information on investigations of alleged

violations of the state election laws during the prior calendar year and includes:

(a) The total number of complaints received, independent investigations initiated,

and complaints referred to another agency for further investigation or

prosecution; and

(b) For each alleged violation investigated:

1. The law allegedly violated and the nature of the violation reported;

2. The county in which the alleged violation occurred;

3. Whether the alleged violation was referred to another agency and, if so,

to which agency; and

4. The current status of the investigation or resulting criminal case, unless

the investigation is open.

(4) All reports of alleged election law violations made by election officials or any other

person to the Secretary of State or the State Board of Elections shall be forwarded

to the Unit of Election Investigations and Security.

(5) This section shall not be construed to limit or restrict the jurisdiction of any other

office or agency of the state empowered by law to investigate, act upon, or dis pose

of alleged state election law violations.