KRS 45A.488: Restrictions on requirements relating to labor organizations in bid

specifications and other contract documents -- Grants, tax abatements, and tax

credits -- Exemption for threat to public health or safety.

(1) A public agency awarding a contra ct for a public works project shall not in the bid

specifications, project agreements, or other contract documents:

(a) Require or give preference to a bidder, offeror, or contractor in any contractor

tier to enter into or adhere to an agreement with a lab or organization relating

to the public works contract or any other public works project; or

(b) Prohibit a bidder, offeror, or contractor in any contractor tier from entering

into or adhering to an agreement with a labor organization relating to the

public works project or any other public works project.

(2) A public agency shall not award a grant, tax abatement, or tax credit that is

conditioned upon a requirement that a person awarded the grant, tax abatement, or

tax credit include a term described in sub section (1) of this section in a contract

document for any public works project that is the subject of the grant, tax

abatement, or tax credit.

(3) This section does not do any of the following:

(a) Prohibit a public agency from awarding a contract, grant, tax abatement, or tax

credit to a private owner, bidder, or contractor in any contractor tier who is

party to an agreement with a labor organization if being or becoming a party

or adhering to an agreement with a labor organization is not a condition for

award of the contract, grant, tax abatement, or tax credit;

(b) Prohibit a contractor in any contractor tier from voluntarily entering into or

complying with an agreement entered into with a labor union in regard to a

contract with a public agency or funde d in whole or in part from a grant, tax

abatement, or tax credit from a public agency;

(c) Prohibit employers or other parties from entering into agreements or engaging

in any other activity protected by the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C.

secs. 151 et seq.; or

(d) Interfere with labor relations of parties that are not regulated under the

National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. secs. 151 et seq.

(4) A public agency may exempt a particular project, contract in any contractor tier,

grant, tax abatemen t, or tax credit from the requirements of any or all of the

provisions of this section if the public agency finds, after public notice and hearing,

that special circumstances require an exemption to avert an imminent threat to

public health or safety. A fi nding of special circumstances under this subsection

may not be based on the possibility or presence of a labor dispute concerning:

(a) The use of contractors at any contractor tier who are not signatories to, or

otherwise do not adhere to, agreements with one (1) or more labor

organizations; or

(b) Employees on the project who are not members of, or affiliated with, a labor

organization.