Kentucky

The state, a political subdivision, or an agent of the state or a political subdivision will not be held legally responsible for a personal injury or property damage sustained by an emergency or disaster volunteer. The state or a political subdivision can maintain liability insurance for acts related to this section. This section does not limit a person's right to workers' compensation. Click to Learn More

A registered disaster or emergency response volunteer or worker, who provides their services within the scope of their role, will be defended by the Attorney General if a civil action is brought due to the volunteer or worker acting or failing to act. Click to Learn More

An individual owning or controlling real estate, who, voluntarily and without compensation, allows it to be used to shelter people during an actual, impending, or mock disaster or emergency will not be held legally responsible for death, injury, or damage to a person's property while on their real estate. Click to Learn More

A professional architect or engineer, who, voluntarily and without compensation, provides their services at the scene of a declared emergency at the request of a public official, will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. This section only applies for during or within 90 days after the end of a disaster. Click to Learn More

An individual prescribed, directly or by a standing order, naloxone by a licensed health care provider and who, in good faith, administers naloxone will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible is acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

An emergency management worker, who holds a license or certificate to practice a profession in another state, will be considered license in Kentucky for the period of the aid request. They can be disciplined by the appropriate Kentucky licensing board for acting with extreme carelessness. This section is limited to aid pursuant to a mutual aid agreement. Click to Learn More

The state, a political subdivision, an employee of the state or a political subdivision, a disaster and emergency services organization, or a volunteer or member of a disaster and emergency services organization, who, in good faith, complies, or attempts to comply, with orders or regulations related to an emergency or disaster, will not be held legally responsible for damage to property or injury to a person. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

A paramedic or first responder, who provides emergency care at the scene of an emergency without proper medical equipment, will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with intent to cause harm. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

An individual or organization that donates food or a nonprofit that distributes the food at no charge will not be held legally responsible for the condition of the food. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

A fire department, who performs their duties outside the limits of their fire district, will still be considered agents of Kentucky and will not be held legally responsible for damages caused by acting or failing to act. This section applies while the fire department is answering or returning from a fire or reported fire. Click to Learn More

An individual, who, in good faith and without compensation, provides emergency care by the use of an AED, will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. This section also applies to a licensed physician who is involved with the placement of the AED. Click to Learn More

An individual, who, in good faith and without compensation, provides emergency care by the use of an epi pen, will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. This section also applies to a health care provider who prescribes, a pharmacist who dispenses, an entity who stores, and an individual who trains the use of an epi pen. Click to Learn More

A licensed physician, nurse, EMT, a person certified to perform CPR, or an employee of a board of education, who, without compensation, provides emergency care at the scene of an emergency without proper medical equipment, will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with intent to cause harm. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

An employee of a county or city, who provides emergency management aid outside of their home jurisdiction, will receive the same powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities in the outside jurisdiction. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, the Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction can issue emergency elevator mechanic licenses. An elevator mechanic must apply for this within 5 days of the declaration. This license is valid for up to 45 days. Click to Learn More

An out-of-state licensed emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, or paramedic can provide aid in Kentucky during mass causalities or disasters and must follow the scope of practice of a similarly licensed Kentucky provider. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, an out-of-state licensed nurse, who is in Kentucky to provide aid, is not required to follow licensing requirements of Kentucky. Click to Learn More

An emergency management worker, who holds a license or certificate to practice a profession in another state, will be considered license in Kentucky for the period of the aid request. They can be disciplined by the appropriate Kentucky licensing board for acting with extreme carelessness. This section is limited to aid pursuant to a mutual aid agreement. Click to Learn More

An emergency responder, who holds a license, certificate, or permit in another jurisdiction, will be considered licensed, certified, or permitted in Kentucky as long as they act within the scope of practice of a similarly licensed professional from Kentucky. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, in coordination with the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, can limit or change volunteer health practitioners' scope of practice, areas they can practice, and the type of practitioners allowed to practice. Click to Learn More

An employee of a county or city, who provides emergency management aid outside of their home jurisdiction, will receive the same powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities in the outside jurisdiction. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, the Governor can declare emergency authority for pharmacists for up to 30 days. Emergency authority allows a pharmacist to dispense up to 30 days of emergency supply medication, administer immunization to children per official protocols, operate a temporary pharmacy, and dispense drugs as needed to prevent or treat the disease responsible for the declaration. Click to Learn More

An out-of-state licensed emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, or paramedic can provide aid in Kentucky during mass causalities or disasters and must follow the scope of practice of a similarly licensed Kentucky provider. Click to Learn More

An out-of-state licensed volunteer health practitioner must follow the scope of practice of a similarly licensed practitioner licensed in Kentucky. Click to Learn More

An emergency responder, who holds a license, certificate, or permit in another jurisdiction, will be considered licensed, certified, or permitted in Kentucky as long as they act within the scope of practice of a similarly licensed professional from Kentucky. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, in coordination with the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, can limit or change volunteer health practitioners' scope of practice, areas they can practice, and the type of practitioners allowed to practice. Click to Learn More

An employee of a county or city, who provides emergency management aid outside of their home jurisdiction, will receive the same powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities in the outside jurisdiction. Click to Learn More

An employer cannot terminate an employee, who is an emergency volunteer, if the employee is late or absent due to their duties as an emergency volunteer. An employer can request a written statement from the supervisor of the emergency volunteer and charge any lost time against the employee. Click to Learn More

A state employee, who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red Cross, is entitled to leave with regular pay and without loss to seniority, pay, vacation time, sick leave, or earned overtime accumulation to participate in disaster relief operations upon request of the American Red Cross and with approval of the employing agency. Leave will be granted only for services related to a disaster, designated as level III or higher by the American Red Cross This is limited to 30 work days in a 12 month period either consecutively or nonconsecutively . Click to Learn More

A law enforcement officer, firefighter, or an emergency medical services personnel, who is injured or killed while performing their duties, is entitled to workers' compensation. Click to Learn More

Emergency management personnel, paid or volunteer, who are injured or killed while performing their duties, are entitled to workers' compensation from Kentucky. This section is limited to aid pursuant to a mutual aid agreement. Click to Learn More

An employer cannot terminate an employee, who is an emergency volunteer, if they are absent for up to 12 months due to injury that was incurred while providing their services as an emergency volunteer. An employer can request a written statement from the supervisor of the emergency volunteer and a licensed physician. Click to Learn More

A member of a rescue squad organization, who is injured or killed while performing their duties, is entitled to workers' compensation. This does not include when they are engaged in fundraising, performing law enforcement activities except for traffic control at an accident scene, firefighting, or hazardous material response. Click to Learn More

Local emergency management personnel and workers, paid or volunteer, who are injured or killed while performing their duties, are entitled to workers' compensation. This does not include when they are engaged in fundraising or hazardous material response. Click to Learn More

An employee of a county or city, who provides emergency management aid outside of their home jurisdiction, will receive the same powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities in the outside jurisdiction. Click to Learn More