BRIBERY AND CORRUPT INFLUENCES

KRS tit. L, ch. 521

in effect

KRS 521.010 Definitions

521.010. Definitions The following definitions apply in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Public servant" means: (a) Any public officer or employee of the state or of any political subdivision thereof or of any governmental instrumentality within the state; or (b) Any person exercising the functions of any such public officer or employee; or (c) Any person participating as advisor, consultant or otherwise in performing a governmental function, but not including witnesses; or (d) Any person elected, appointed or designated to become a public servant although not yet occupying that position. (2) "Pecuniary benefit" means benefit in the form of money, property, commercial interests or anything else the primary significance of which is economic gain. Effective: January 1, 1975 History: Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 182, effective January 1, 1975.

KRS 521.020 Bribery of public servant

521.020. Bribery of public servant (1) A person is guilty of bribery of a public servant when: (a) He offers, confers, or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a public servant with the intent to influence the public servant's vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action in his official capacity as a public servant; or (b) While a public servant, he solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit upon an agreement or understanding that his vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action as a public servant will thereby be influenced. (2) It is a defense under this section if a person confers or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a public servant as a result of conduct of the public servant which constitutes extortion or coercion. (3) It is no defense to a prosecution under this section that the person sought to be influenced was not qualified to act in the desired way because he had not yet assumed office, lacked jurisdiction, or for any other reason. (4) Bribery of a public servant is a Class C felony. Effective: July 15, 1994 History: Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 477, sec. 5, effective July 15, 1994. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 183, effective January 1, 1975.

KRS 521.030 Soliciting unlawful compensation

521.030. Soliciting unlawful compensation (1) A public servant is guilty of soliciting unlawful compensation when he requests a pecuniary benefit for the performance of an official action knowing that he was required to perform that action without compensation or at a level of compensation lower than that requested. (2) Solicitation of unlawful compensation is a Class B misdemeanor. Effective: January 1, 1975 History: Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 184, effective January 1, 1975.

KRS 521.040 Unlawful compensation for assistance in public matters

521.040. Unlawful compensation for assistance in public matters (1) A person is guilty of unlawful compensation for assistance in public matters when: (a) While a public servant, he solicits, accepts or agrees to accept compensation for advice or other assistance in preparing a bill, contract, claim or other transaction or proposal as to which he knows that he is likely to have an official discretion to exercise; or (b) He offers, pays or agrees to pay compensation to a public servant for advice or other assistance in preparing or promoting a bill, contract, claim or other transaction with knowledge that acceptance by the public servant is unlawful. (2) Unlawful compensation for assistance in public matters is a Class A misdemeanor. Effective: January 1, 1975 History: Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 185, effective January 1, 1975.

KRS 521.050 Providing a pecuniary benefit for bribery of a public servant

521.050. Providing a pecuniary benefit for bribery of a public servant (1) A person is guilty of providing a pecuniary benefit for bribery of a public servant when, while not engaging in the bribery directly, he intentionally provides the pecuniary benefit to the person who offers or accepts the bribe. (2) It is a defense under this section if a person provides the pecuniary benefit, confers, or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a public servant as a result of conduct of the public servant which constitutes extortion or coercion. (3) It is no defense to a prosecution under this section that the person sought to be influenced was not qualified to act in the desired way because he had not yet assumed office, because he lacked jurisdiction, or for any other reason. (4) Providing a pecuniary benefit for bribery of a public servant is a Class C felony. Effective: July 15, 1994 History: Created 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 477, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1994.

KRS 521.060 Offer or acceptance of donations to sheriff's office -- Exemption from charges of bribery

521.060. Offer or acceptance of donations to sheriff's office -- Exemption from charges of bribery (1) If a sheriff responds to an offer to receive a donation of money or goods made available to the sheriff's office, then that action in itself shall not constitute a violation of KRS 521.030. If a sheriff accepts a donation of money or goods in accordance with the provisions of KRS 61.310, that acceptance in itself shall not constitute a violation of KRS 521.020 or 521.040. (2) The offering of a donation of money or goods to the office of the sheriff in accordance with the provisions of KRS 61.310 shall not in itself constitute a violation of KRS 521.020 or KRS 521.040. Effective: June 20, 2005 History: Created 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 103, sec. 2, effective June 20, 2005.

Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/chapter.aspx?id=39387Fetched: 10/20/2026