# Kentucky SB 170: AN ACT relating to status offenses. Kentucky SB 170, AN ACT relating to status offenses., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Brandon J. Storm (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-10 (signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 69)) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB170-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky SB 170 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to status offenses. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-06 - Last action: 2026-04-10, signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 69) - Sponsor: Brandon J. Storm (Republican) - Cosponsors: 2 - Subjects: Children And Minors, Courts, Criminal Procedure, Education, Elementary And Secondary, Reports Mandated, Local Mandate - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (126 yes, 3 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 16 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Faster reviews and care in detention: benefit, medium. When a detained status offender is reported, an agency must interview the child within 24 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. If the child stays detained after the hearing, the agency must file a written report within 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. In counties served by a stat… - Stronger limits on locking up status children: benefit, medium. The law bars secure detention for status offenders under age 14. For older youth, secure detention cannot exceed seven days without written court findings and can never exceed 30 days. Agencies must use the least restrictive option near home and avoid limiting movement unless needed for safety. Cou… - Community help for detained teens: benefit, low. People from nonprofit, faith‑based, or community groups may visit children detained as alleged violent‑felony suspects. They can connect youth to trades, arts, sports, mentoring, counseling, and other programs. These groups may also offer transition help after release. - More due‑process before detention on violations: benefit, low. Before detaining a status offender for violating a valid court order, the court must confirm the order was valid and find a violation at the adjudicatory hearing. Within 48 hours after that hearing, not counting weekends and holidays, the court must receive and review a new written agency report on… - New councils to coordinate youth care: benefit, low. The state creates a State Interagency Council and regional councils to plan and improve services for children and transition‑age youth with behavioral health needs. Agencies on the council must sign interagency agreements, and the council can issue rules. The Cabinet must report how many youth with… - Clearer rules for state agency students: benefit, low. Schools may label a child “beyond the control of the school” only after a court finds repeated rule violations and the school files written records of behavior and all interventions. Children referred by a court‑designated worker and admitted to a DJJ day treatment program now count as state agency… - County attorney alerted at 15 absences: cost, medium. Directors of pupil personnel must report two things to the county attorney. They must report K–5 students with 15 or more unexcused absences due to a parent or guardian’s violation. They must also report grade 6–12 habitual truants with 15 or more unexcused days. The county attorney then decides if… - Interstate transfer can allow secure detention: cost, low. When the cabinet has started or plans to start an interstate compact transfer, a status offender may be held in secure detention during that transfer process. - RISE school teams and record sharing: mixed, medium. The law makes RISE teams part of the juvenile justice system in SOAR schools on August 1, 2026. Teams can share student information with listed juvenile agencies under state and federal privacy rules. When a complaint is filed or a child joins SOAR, all schools must provide the written‑requested st… - School SOAR pilot and truancy steps: mixed, medium. The law creates a SOAR pilot in at least ten school districts. It starts August 1, 2026 and runs four years, until July 31, 2030, unless extended. Students in grades 6–12 at selected schools get coordinated help to improve attendance and finish diversions. If a SOAR student reaches 15 unexcused abs… - School-based help for truant students: mixed, medium. Beginning August 1, 2026, selected middle and high schools run the SOAR program with court staff leading it. If a student in grades 6–12 at a SOAR school has five unexcused days in a term, the student and a parent must take part. Each school sets up a RISE team to meet the family, make a written pl… - Stronger diversion before juvenile court: mixed, medium. Before a status offense case starts in court, the parties must meet with a court-designated worker to consider services or a diversion agreement. The worker must do a short intake check to decide next steps. After intake, the worker may take no action, refer a public offense to the county attorney,… - Stronger diversion plans led by court workers: mixed, medium. Before intake, the worker gives you written notice about rights, privacy limits, and the option to have a lawyer. Intake uses evidence‑based screening and, when available, a validated risk and needs assessment. The worker holds a family conference and makes a diversion plan that lasts no more than… - Old family teams and detention law repealed: mixed, medium. The law repeals the statute that created family accountability, intervention, and response teams. It also repeals the prior detention law for adjudicated status offenders. Agencies now follow the new diversion, RISE/SOAR, and detention rules in this Act. - Shorter holds and clear prehearing rules: mixed, medium. If held on a status offense before a detention hearing, a child may be detained no more than 24 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. For public offenses, the cap is 48 hours and placement can be in a secure facility or a Department‑approved nonsecure setting. A child accused of a violent felo… - Clearer terms and penalties in juvenile law: mixed, low. The juvenile code now uses the same meaning of “firearm” as KRS 237.060. Anyone who intentionally violates the juvenile status‑offense chapter is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Brandon J. Storm (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Danny Carroll (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Matt Nunn (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-27 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 89 | 3 | | | 2026-02-24 | Senate | passed | pass | 37 | 0 | | ## Actions (23) - 2026-04-10: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 69) - 2026-03-31: delivered to Governor - 2026-03-31: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate) - 2026-03-27: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-27: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-27: 3rd reading, passed 89-3 (House) - 2026-03-19: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 20 2026 (House) - 2026-03-12: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-03-11: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar (House) - 2026-03-09: to Judiciary (H) (House) - 2026-02-25: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-02-25: received in House (House) - 2026-02-24: passed 37-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendments (2) and (3) (Senate) - 2026-02-24: floor amendment (1) withdrawn (Senate) - 2026-02-24: 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-23: floor amendment (3) filed to Committee Substitute (Senate) - 2026-02-20: floor amendment (1) filed to bill, floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute (Senate) - 2026-02-20: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 24 2026 (Senate) - 2026-02-20: 2nd reading, to Rules (Senate) - 2026-02-19: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-02-11: to Judiciary (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-06: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-06: introduced in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-02-24: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb170/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-02-05: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb170/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergen… (became law) - SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (signed) - HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (signed) - SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (signed) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) - HB 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb170/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb170/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agenc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB197-2026RS) - [SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB133-2026RS) - [HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB869-2026RS) - [SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB324-2026RS) - [SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB66-2026RS) - [HB 826: AN ACT relating to education.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB826-2026RS) - [Kentucky bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky/bills) - [Kentucky state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB170-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).