KRS 48.025: Local, state, and federal tax dollars and resources not to be used to advocate

for or against public question on ballot -- Penalties -- Exemptions.

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Local" means and includes any city, county, urban -county government,

consolidated local government, unified local government, charter county

government, school district, or special district; and

(b) "Resources" means any:

1. Moneys appropriated by the General Assembly;

2. Items of value, facilities, materials, a nd other physical resources derived

from local, state, or federal tax dollars, including but not limited to

computers, copiers, printers, paper, office supplies, and buildings;

3. Digital resources derived from or supported by local, state, or federal tax

dollars, including but not limited to any official website, email account,

or social media account;

4. Classified and unclassified employees, and other human resources

within the scope of their state employment; or

5. Employees and other human resources wi thin the scope of their school

district employment; and

(c) "School district" means any:

1. County school district as defined in KRS 160.010;

2. Independent school district as defined in KRS 160.020; or

3. Regional educational cooperative organization formed by local boards

of education or other public educational institutions listed in KRS

161.220(4), for the purpose of providing educational servi ces to the

participating organizations.

(2) Local, state, and federal tax dollars and resources shall not be used to advocate for

or against any public question that appears on the ballot.

(3) Any person who violates subsection (2) of this section shall be:

(a) Fined five hundred dollars ($500) for the first offense;

(b) Fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the second offense; and

(c) Guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) for

each subsequent offense.

(4) This section sha ll not prohibit a public employee who is not otherwise prohibited

under another provision of law from advocating for or against a public question

appearing on the ballot on his or her personal time using nongovernment resources.

(5) This section shall not apply to:

(a) Educational television operating in accordance with KRS Chapter 168, so

long as equal opportunity is given to both sides of the public question; or

(b) An association advocating for or against a ballot initiative that directly applies

to its members, so long as no funds authorized or appropriated by local, state,

or federal tax dollars or resources are expended for that purpose.