Kentucky Revised Statutes Title XIII. Education § 160.145.Definitions; designated traceable communication systems as exclusive electronic communications method; parental authorization for exceptions; report of unauthorized electronic communication; disciplinary penalties; notification and investigation of report

(a) “Family member” means a parent, brother, sister, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, or grandparent;

(b) “Parent” means a parent, legal guardian, or other person or agency responsible for a student;

(c) “School district employee or volunteer” means a school administrator, classified or certified employee of a school district, school volunteer, nonfaculty coach or assistant coach, student teacher, or sponsor of an extracurricular program or activity;

(d) “Traceable communication system” means one (1) or more electronic school notification and communication programs or applications that:

(e) “Unauthorized electronic communication”:

(3)(a) Except as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section, a school district employee or volunteer shall not communicate electronically with a student:

(b) A school district employee that violates paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with:

(c) A school volunteer that violates paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be prohibited from future school volunteer opportunities.

(a) Shall be filed in the administrative office of the student's school prior to any electronic communication being sent from a school district employee or volunteer to a student outside of the traceable communication system;

(b) Shall designate a single, specific school district employee or volunteer per each consent form that may communicate with the student outside of the traceable communication system and shall not be transferable to any other school district employee or volunteer;

(c) May be revoked by a parent at any time;

(d) May establish terms limiting electronic communication with a student, including a term requiring that a parent be included as a direct party to all electronic communications sent to the student outside of the traceable communication system or establishing an expiration for the term of the consent. Any electronic communication with a student outside of the traceable communication system shall comply with all terms of the written consent; and

(e) Shall not authorize a school district employee to engage in inappropriate or sexual electronic communication with a student or be used as a basis of a defense for a school district employee that engages in inappropriate or sexual electronic communication.

(6)(a) A school district employee or volunteer that receives a report alleging that another school district employee participated in unauthorized electronic communication shall immediately notify the supervising principal. If the subject of the report is the principal, the employee shall immediately notify the superintendent of the school district. If the subject of the report is the superintendent, the employee shall immediately notify the commissioner of education and the chair of the local board of education.

(b) A school district employee that violates paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with:

(7)(a) Upon receipt of a report alleging that a school district employee or volunteer participated in unauthorized electronic communication, the commissioner of education, a principal, or a superintendent shall immediately:

(b) A principal or superintendent who violates paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with KRS 156.132 and 161.120.