Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB623: AN ACT relating to leave from employment.
Status: In committee, February 19, 2026
Amend KRS 337.415, relating to court-ordered appearances by employees, to define terms; prohibit employers from discharging or retaliating against an employee who is a crime victim when the employee takes leave to attend proceedings associated with the prosecution of the crime; require an employee to give an employer reasonable notice to take leave when practicable; provide guidelines for use of paid leave; require the employer to maintain confidentiality of records and communication with employee crime victim; create a civil cause of action for improper discharge, discrimination, retaliation, and failing to maintain confidentiality; amend KRS 337.990 to establish a civil penalty for employer violations.
What the bill says
An act relating to leave from employment.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to leave from employment. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 337.415 is amended to read as follows: (1) As used in this (b) "Immediate family" means the parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, sibling, spouse, grandparent, or legal guardian of the victim or any person involved in an intimate relationship and residing in the same household with the victim; and (c) "Victim": 1. Means any person who suffers direct or threatened physical, emotional, psychological, or financial harm as a result of the commission or the attempted commission of a crime; and 2. Includes the immediate family of any victim who is a minor or incompetent, or the immediate family of a homicide victim. (2) An[No] employer shall not discharge an employee for taking time off, as required by law, to appear in any duly constituted local, state, or federal court or duly constituted administrative tribunal or hearing[ if such employee, prior to taking such time off, gives notice to the employer that he is required to serve by presenting a copy of the court or administrative certificate to said employer]. (3) An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a victim of a crime because the employee takes leave from work …
Sponsors
- Rachel Roarx (D, HD-038) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : to Economic Development & Workforce Investment (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: Crime Victims, Courts, Personnel And Employment, Local Mandate, Civil Rights, Witnesses, Labor And Industry, Workforce
Common questions
- What is HB623?
- HB623 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to leave from employment.
- What does HB623 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to leave from employment.
- What is the status of HB623?
- In committee as of February 19, 2026. Latest action: to Economic Development & Workforce Investment (H) (February 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB623?
- Rachel Roarx (D, HD-038).
- Where is the official record for HB623?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb623.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.