KRS 164.952: Employment of retired police officers -- Eligible individuals -- Benefits.

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Police officer" has the same meaning as "police officer" in KRS 15.420, as

"police officer" in KRS 164.950 to 164.980, and as " officer" in KRS 16.010;

and

(b) "Postsecondary institution" means any public institution of postsecondary

education authorized to establish a police department pursuant to KRS

164.950 to 164.980 that participates in the Kentucky Employees Retirement

System.

(2) A postsecondary institution may employ individuals as police officers under this

section who have retired from the Kentucky Employees Retirement System, the

County Employees Retirement System, or the State Police Retirement System.

(3) To be eligible for employment under this section, an individual shall have:

(a) Participated in the Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund under KRS

15.410 to 15.510, retired as a commissioned officer pursuant to KRS Chapter

16, or retired as a police officer from a postsecondary institution;

(b) Retired with at least twenty (20) years of service credit;

(c) Been separated from service for the period required by KRS 61.637 and

78.5540 so that the member's retirement is not voided;

(d) Retired with no administrative charges pending; and

(e) Retired with no preexisting agreement between the individual and the

postsecondary institution prior to the individual's retirement for the individual

to return to work for the postsecondary institution.

(4) Individuals employed under this section shall:

(a) Serve for a term not to exceed one (1) year. The one (1) year employment

term may be renewed annually at the discretion of the employing

postsecondary institution;

(b) Receive compensation according to the standard procedures applicable to the

employing postsecondary institution; and

(c) Be employed based upon need as determined by the employing postsecondary

institution.

(5) Notwithstanding any provisions of KRS 16.505 to 16.652, 18A.225 to 18A.2287,

61.510 to 61.705, or 78.510 to 78.852 to the contrary:

(a) Individuals employed under this section shall continue to receive all

retirement and health insurance benefits to which they were entitled upon

retiring in the applicable system administered by Kentucky Retirement

Systems;

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this subsection, individuals employed

under this section shall not be eligible to receive health insurance coverage

through the employing postsecondary institution;

(c) The postsecondary insti tution shall not pay any employer contributions or

retiree health expense reimbursements to the Kentucky Retirement Systems

required by KRS 61.637(17) or 78.5540(4) for individuals employed under

this section;

(d) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of thi s subsection, the postsecondary

institution shall not pay any insurance contributions to the state health

insurance plan, as provided by KRS 18A.225 to 18A.2287, for individuals

employed under this section; and

(e) Effective August 1, 2026, the governing b ody of the postsecondary institution

may by action of the governing body provide or authorize provision of health

insurance coverage for individuals employed under this section, subject to the

terms and conditions established by the postsecondary institution.

(6) Individuals employed under this section shall be subject to any legislative due

process provisions applicable to police officers of the employing postsecondary

institution. A decision not to renew a one (1) year appointment term under this

section shall not be considered a disciplinary action or deprivation subject to due

process.