Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB248: AN ACT relating to hospital police departments.
Status: In committee, March 16, 2026
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 216B to allow certain hospitals licensed under that chapter to establish hospital police departments; provide each hospital police officer with full general police powers, including the power to arrest, in performing his or her duties; specify the qualifications each officer shall have at the time of his or her employment; provide for the appointment or promotion to the ranks and grades of the department; prohibit persons from falsely representing themselves to be an officer; establish a citizen complaint and investigation process for complaints against an officer alleging misconduct.
What the bill says
An act relating to hospital police departments.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to hospital police departments. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 216B IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, a hospital licensed under this chapter is authorized to: (a) Establish a police department and appoint hospital police officers and other employees for the hospital; (b) Prescribe distinctive uniforms for the police officers of the hospital; and (c)_ Designate and operate emergency vehicles. (2) Police officers appointed by a hospital under Sections 1 to 7 of this Act shall take an appropriate oath of office, in form or manner consistent with the Constitution of Kentucky, and shall serve at the pleasure of the hospital. (3) Sections 1 to 7 of this Act shall not apply to any hospital licensed under this chapter that is owned or operated by a public postsecondary educational institution or its affiliated corporations, the Commonwealth, any city, county, charter county government, urban-county government, consolidated local government, unified local government, or any political subdivision thereof. SECTION 2. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 216B IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) (a) Police officers appointed by a hospital under Sections 1 to 7 of this Act shall be peace officers and conservators of …
Sponsors
- Wade Williams (R, HD-004) · primary sponsor
- Beverly Chester-Burton (D, HD-044)
Latest actions
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 84-4
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 12 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- : reassigned to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (H)
- : to Judiciary (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 252 (March 13, 2026): 84 yea, 4 nay, passed
Subjects: Hospitals And Health Facilities, Peace Officers And Law Enforcement, Public Safety
Common questions
- What is HB248?
- HB248 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to hospital police departments.
- What does HB248 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to hospital police departments.
- What is the status of HB248?
- In committee as of March 16, 2026. Latest action: to Committee on Committees (S) (March 16, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB248?
- Wade Williams (R, HD-004), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB248?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb248.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.