KRS 16.198: Appointment, salary, benefits, conditions of employment, and number of

individuals employed as a Trooper R Class or a CVE R Class -- Administrative

regulations.

The appointment, salary, benefits, and number of individuals employed as a Tro oper R

Class and CVE R class shall be as follows:

(1) The commissioner may appoint CVE R Class employees. CVE R Class employees

shall serve on a contractual basis for a term of one (1) year, and the contract may be

renewed annually, by agreement of the par ties, for no more than nine (9) additional

one (1) year terms. A CVE R Class employee shall be required to pass a physical

fitness test every three (3) years.

(2) The commissioner may appoint Trooper R Class employees who shall serve on a

contractual basis for a term of one (1) year. The contract may be renewed on an

annual basis upon the agreement of both parties. A Trooper R Class employee shall

be required to pass a physical fitness test every three (3) years.

(3) The compensation for Trooper R Class emp loyees and CVE R Class employees

shall be established by administrative regulation promulgated pursuant to KRS

Chapter 13A.

(4) (a) All appointments of individuals employed as a Trooper R Class and CVE R

Class shall be based upon agency need as determined by the commissioner.

(b) Work stations for individuals employed as a Trooper R Class and CVE R

Class shall be determined by agency need with consideration given to the

applicant's stated preference.

(c) Merit of individuals employed as a Trooper R Class and CVE R Class shall be

determined by the applicant's work performance history.

(d) Fitness of individuals employed as a Trooper R Class and CVE R Class shall

be determined by the applicant's ability to adhere to the agency standards set

by the commissioner under this chapter.

(5) The number of individuals employed as a Trooper R Class and CVE R Class by the

department shall not:

(a) Exceed one hundred (100); or

(b) Be counted in the total employee cap for the department.

(6) All individuals employed as a Trooper R Class and CVE R Class shall be assigned

the job duties of trooper or commercial vehicle enforcement officer and shall not be

placed in any supervisory positions.

(7) Notwithstanding any provision of KRS 16.505 to 16.652, KRS 18A.005 to

18A.228, and KRS 61.510 to 61.705 to the contrary:

(a) Individuals employed as a Trooper R Class and CVE R Class shall continue to

receive all retirement and health insurance benefits provided by the systems

administered by Kentucky Retirement Systems to which they were entitled

upon retiring from the department as a commissioned officer under this

chapter;

(b) Individuals employed as a Trooper R Class and CVE R Class shall not be

eligible to receive health insurance coverage or benefits through the

department and shall not be eligible to participate in the State Police

Retirement System or the Kentucky Employees Retirement System; and

(c) The department shall not pay health insurance contributions to the state health

insurance plan for individuals employed as a Trooper R Class or CVE R

Class.

(8) The department shall promulgate administrative regulations, pursuant to KRS

Chapter 13A, to establish vacation, bereavement, and sick leave for Trooper R

Class and CVE R Class employees, at the same level as an officer with less than

five (5) years of service, and holiday pay for Trooper R Class and CVE R Class

employees.

(9) Individuals employed as a Trooper R Class or CVE R Class shall be employed on a

contractual basis and shall be provided due process pursuant to KRS 16.140 or

16.192 for any disciplinary action imposed by the commissioner. A decision by the

commissioner to not renew a contract shall not be considered a disciplinary ac tion

for purposes of this section.

(10) The provisions of this section shall not eliminate or reduce any requirements under

KRS 61.637 for the department to pay employer contributions to the retirement

systems or to reimburse the retirement systems for the cost of retiree health, on any

individual employed as a Trooper R Class or CVE R Class.