Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB657: AN ACT relating to professional licensing background checks.
Status: Signed into law, March 27, 2026
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 319, 319A, 334A, 335.010 to 335.160, and 335.500 to 335.599, relating to psychologists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists, social workers, and professional counselors, to require a national and state background check for applicants seeking an initial license, reinstatement of a license, or authorization to practice in another state in accordance with a compact; provide that the results of a national and state criminal background check shall not be distributed by the board except to any applicant upon request or as evidence in a legal proceeding; provide that the fee charged by the Department of Kentucky State Police shall be an amount no greater than the actual cost of processing the request and conducting the background check; require the boards to review criminal background checks for every Kentucky licensee seeking to practice in another state before the board makes a determination on whether the person is eligible to apply for compact privileges; provide that boards shall not require a criminal background check solely for the purpose of renewing a license; and require boards to promulgate administrative regulations to implement this Act.
What the bill says
An act relating to professional licensing background checks.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to professional licensing background checks. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 319 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) The board shall require a national and state criminal background investigation for every: (a) Applicant seeking an initial license issued by the board permitting the applicant to engage in a profession authorized by the board; (b) Applicant seeking to reinstate a license; and (c) Kentucky credential holder who applies for authorization to engage in the practice of psychology outside this Commonwealth in accordance with the IPC. (2) The criminal background investigation under subsection (1) of this section shall be by means of a fingerprint check by the Department of Kentucky State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to the following requirements: (a) The board shall require each applicant described in subsection (1) of this section to provide a complete and legible set of fingerprints to the Department of Kentucky State Police for submission to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal background check after a state criminal background check is conducted; (b) The results of the national and state criminal background check shall be sent to the board for the screening of applicants; (c) The results of a national and state …
Sponsors
- Stephanie Dietz (R, HD-065) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 6)
- : delivered to Governor
- : enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
- : enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
- : received in House
- : 3rd reading, passed 36-1
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- : to Licensing & Occupations (S)
Votes
- Floor Vote: 36 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: Police, State, Occupations And Professions, Boards And Commissions, Compacts, Interstate, Background Checks
Common questions
- What is HB657?
- HB657 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to professional licensing background checks.
- What does HB657 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to professional licensing background checks.
- What is the status of HB657?
- Signed into law as of March 27, 2026. Latest action: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 6) (March 27, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB657?
- Stephanie Dietz (R, HD-065).
- Where is the official record for HB657?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb657.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.