Volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, emergency medical technician, peace officer, or emergency management agency member absent from employment due to emergency or injury incurred in the line of duty
KRS 337.100
in effect337.100. Volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, emergency medical technician, peace officer, or emergency management agency member absent from employment due to emergency or injury incurred in the line of duty
(1) No employer shall terminate an employee who is a volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, emergency medical technician, peace officer, or a member of an emergency management agency because that employee, when acting as a volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, emergency medical technician, peace officer, or a member of an emergency management agency, is absent or late to the employee's employment in order to respond to an emergency prior to the time the employee is to report to his or her place of employment.
(2) No employer shall terminate an employee who is a volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, emergency medical technician, peace officer, or a member of an emergency management agency because that employee, when acting as a volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, emergency medical technician, peace officer, or a member of an emergency management agency, takes leave following a critical incident pursuant to KRS 15.518 and 95A.292.
(3) An employer may charge any time that an employee who is a volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, emergency medical technician, peace officer, or a member of an emergency management agency loses from employment because of the employee's response to an emergency against the employee's regular pay.
(4) An employer may request an employee who loses time from the employee's employment to respond to an emergency to provide the employer with a written statement from the supervisor or acting supervisor of the volunteer fire department, rescue squad, emergency medical services agency, law enforcement agency, or the director of the emergency management agency stating that the employee responded to an emergency and listing the time and date of the emergency.
(5) No employer shall terminate an employee who is a volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, emergency medical technician, peace officer, or member of an emergency management agency who is absent for a period of no more than twelve
(12) months from the employee's employment because of injuries incurred in the line of duty. The volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, emergency medical technician, peace officer, or member of an emergency management agency shall provide, at the request of his or her employer:
(a) A written statement from the supervisor, acting supervisor, or director of the volunteer fire department, rescue squad, emergency medical services agency, law enforcement agency, or emergency management agency under whose command the employee was on active duty and on assignment with that fire department, rescue squad, emergency medical services agency, law enforcement agency, or emergency management agency when the injury occurred; and
(b) A written statement from at least one (1) licensed and practicing physician stating that the volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, emergency medical technician, peace officer, or member of an emergency management agency is injured and a date for the employee's return to work.
(6) Any employee that is terminated in violation of the provisions of this section may bring a civil action against his or her employer. The employee may seek reinstatement to the employee's former position, payment of back wages, reinstatement of fringe benefits, and where seniority rights are granted, the reinstatement of seniority rights. In order to recover, the employee shall file this action within one (1) year of the date of the violation of this section.
Effective: July 14, 2022
History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 94, sec. 3, effective July 14, 2022. -- Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 30, sec. 1, effective July 12, 2006. -- Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 17, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2002. -- Created 2001 Ky. Acts ch. 162, sec. 1, effective June 21, 2001.
Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=52748Fetched: 10/20/2026