Kentucky Revised Statutes Title XIII. Education § 161.340.Officers of board; personnel of system; contracting for services and commodities; liability insurance; leave balances

(1)(a) The board of trustees shall elect from its membership a chairperson and a vice chairperson on an annual basis as prescribed by the administrative regulations of the board of trustees. The chairperson shall not serve more than four (4) consecutive years as chairperson or vice chairperson of the board. The vice chairperson shall not serve more than four (4) consecutive years as chairperson or vice chairperson of the board. A trustee who has served four (4) consecutive years as chairperson or vice chairperson of the board may be elected chairperson or vice chairperson of the board after an absence of two (2) years from the position.

(b) The board of trustees shall employ an executive secretary by means of a contract not to exceed a period of four (4) years and fix the compensation and other terms of employment for this position without limitation of the provisions of KRS Chapters 18A, 45A, 56, and KRS 64.640. The executive secretary shall be the chief administrative officer of the board. The executive secretary, at the time of employment, shall be a graduate of a four (4) year college or university, and shall possess qualifications as the board of trustees may require. The executive secretary shall not have held by appointment or election an elective public office within the five (5) year period next preceding the date of employment.

(3)(a) Except as provided by KRS 161.430(7), the board shall contract for actuarial, auditing, legal, medical, investment counseling, and other professional or technical services, insurance, and commodities, as are required to carry out the obligations of the board in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, subject to KRS Chapters 45, 45A, 56, and 57 but without the limitations provided by KRS Chapters 12 and 13B.

(b) The board shall provide for legal counsel and other legal services as may be required in defense of trustees, officers, and employees of the system who may be subjected to civil action arising from the performance of their legally assigned duties if counsel and services are not provided by the Attorney General. The hourly rate of reimbursement for any contract for legal services under this paragraph shall not exceed the maximum hourly rate provided in the Legal Services Duties and Maximum Rate Schedule promulgated by the Government Contract Review Committee established pursuant to KRS 45A.705, unless a higher rate is specifically approved by the secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet or his or her designee.