{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-163.525","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 163.525","heading":"Telecommunications Access Program -- Distribution of specialized","body":"telecommunications equipment -- Authority for administrative regulations.\n(1) As used in this section and KRS 163.527:\n(a) \"Specialized telecommunications equipment\" means devices such a s, but not\nlimited to, telecommunications devices for the deaf, amplified phones, loud\nringers, visual alert signalers, tactile signalers, captioned telephones, and\nappropriate wireless devices; and\n(b) \"Telecommunications Access Program\" means the program  to furnish\nspecialized telecommunications equipment to deaf, hard -of-hearing, and\nspeech-impaired persons in order that they may have equal access to\ntelecommunications services through the telecommunications relay service\nestablished pursuant to KRS 278. 548. The program shall include maintenance\nand repair of the equipment.\n(2) (a) On or before July 1, 1995, the Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing\nshall establish a program to distribute specialized telecommunications\nequipment to any deaf, hard -of-hearing, or speech -impaired person qualified\nto receive the equipment pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.\n(b) Prior to the establishment of the Telecommunications Access Program, the\nCommission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing shall initiate an inve stigation,\nconduct public hearings, and solicit the advice and counsel of deaf, hard -of-\nhearing, and speech-impaired persons and the organizations serving them.\n(c) The Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing may contract with any\nperson, public, or private organization to provide part or all components of the\nTelecommunications Access Program, if applicable statutory procurement\nprovisions are followed. The Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing\nmay use assistance from public agencies of the state o r federal government or\nfrom private organizations to accomplish the purposes of this section. The\nKentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing shall enter into\nmemoranda of agreement with the Public Service Commission for\ncoordination and oversight of funding and operations to meet the objectives of\nthis section and KRS 278.5499. The Commission on the Deaf and Hard of\nHearing may also enter into memoranda of agreement with other state\nagencies to accomplish the purposes of this section.\n(3) Factors to determine a person's eligibility to receive specialized telecommunications\nequipment shall include, but not be limited to:\n(a) Kentucky residency;\n(b) Attainment of at least five (5) years of age; and\n(c) Certification as deaf, hard of hearing, or sever ely speech -impaired by a\nlicensed physician, audiologist, speech pathologist, advanced practice\nregistered nurse, or by any other method recognized by the Commission on the\nDeaf and Hard of Hearing. Certification implies that the individual cannot use\nthe telephone for communication without adaptive equipment.\n(4) No more than one (1) piece of specialized telecommunications equipment shall be\nprovided to a person qualified to receive the equipment pursuant to subsection (3)\nof this section. However, a malfu nctioning piece of specialized telecommunications\nequipment originally distributed by the program may be returned for repair or\nreplacement. The Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing may prioritize\ndistribution of the specialized telecommunications equipment on the basis of need.\n(5) The Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing shall establish procedures for\napplication and distribution of specialized telecommunications equipment by the\npromulgation of administrative regulations in accordance with pr ovisions of KRS\nChapter 13A.","path":["KRS Chapter 163"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=4153","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:51:13Z","sha256":"1c8e94bff21c90affdddec6d1fe863cb854972b7e4c45b1349e985a6dbdb928f","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-163.520","next":"us-ky/krs-163.527"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}