OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

KRS tit. L, ch. 519

in effect

KRS 519.010 Definitions for chapter

519.010. Definitions for chapter The following definitions apply in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Benefit" means gain or advantage to the beneficiary or to a third person pursuant to the desire or consent of the beneficiary; (2) "Emergency response" means a response by two (2) or more first responders to a reported incident that: (a) Is of such an emergent nature that the exemptions provided under KRS 189.940 would apply; and (b) Jeopardizes or could jeopardize public safety; (3) "First responder" means: (a) Peace officer; (b) Fire personnel; (c) Paid or volunteer emergency medical services personnel certified or licensed pursuant to KRS Chapter 311A; or (d) Private not-for-profit organization personnel providing fire, rescue, or emergency medical services; (4) "Governmental function" means any activity which a public servant is legally authorized to undertake on behalf of the governmental unit which he or she serves; (5) "Public record" includes all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, discs, diskettes, recordings, magnetic or electronic images, optical images or other documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics, which are prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, received or retained by a public agency. "Public record" shall not include any records owned by a private person or corporation that are not related to functions, activities, programs, or operations funded by state or local authority; and (6) "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; (b) Any person exercising the functions of any public officer or employee; (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. Effective: July 14, 2022 History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 148, sec. 1, effective July 14, 2022. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 150, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1986. -- Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 112, sec. 1, effective July 13, 1984. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 163, effective January 1, 1975.

KRS 519.020 Obstructing governmental operations

519.020. Obstructing governmental operations (1) A person is guilty of obstructing governmental operations when he intentionally obstructs, impairs or hinders the performance of a governmental function by using or threatening to use violence, force or physical interference. (2) This section shall not apply to: (a) Any means of avoiding compliance with the law without affirmative interference with governmental functions; or (b) The obstruction, impairment or hindrance of unlawful action by a public servant; or (c) The obstruction, impairment or hindrance of an arrest. (3) Obstructing governmental operations is a Class A misdemeanor. Effective: January 1, 1975 History: Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 164, effective January 1, 1975.

KRS 519.022 Impeding a first responder

519.022. Impeding a first responder (1) As used in this section: (a) "First responder" has the same meaning as in KRS 507.070, and includes a probation or parole officer, university police officer, and airport police officer; and (b) "Harass" means to intentionally engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which causes or is intended to cause substantial emotional distress in the first responder and serves no legitimate purpose. (2) A person is guilty of impeding a first responder when, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from another person he or she knows or reasonably should know is a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of his or her duties, the person knowingly violates the verbal warning and approaches or remains within twenty-five (25) feet of the first responder with the intent to: (a) Impede or interfere with the first responder's ability to perform the first responder's duties; (b) Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or (c) Harass the first responder. (3) Impeding a first responder is a: (a) Class B misdemeanor for the first offense; (b) Class A misdemeanor for a second or third offense; and (c) Class D felony for each subsequent offense. Effective: July 15, 2026 History: Created 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 96, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2026.

KRS 519.030 Compounding a crime

519.030. Compounding a crime (1) A person is guilty of compounding a crime when: (a) He solicits, accepts or agrees to accept any benefit upon an agreement or understanding that he will refrain from initiating a prosecution for a crime; or (b) He confers, offers, or agrees to confer any benefit upon another person upon agreement or understanding that such other person will refrain from initiating a prosecution for a crime. (2) In any prosecution under this section, it is a defense that the benefit did not exceed an amount which the defendant reasonably believed to be due as restitution or indemnification for harm caused by the offense. (3) Compounding a crime is a Class A misdemeanor. Effective: January 1, 1975 History: Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 165, effective January 1, 1975.

KRS 519.040 Falsely reporting an incident

519.040. Falsely reporting an incident (1) A person is guilty of falsely reporting an incident when the person: (a) Knowingly causes a false alarm of fire or other emergency to be transmitted to or within any organization, official or volunteer, that deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property, and the false report results in an emergency response; or (b) Reports to law enforcement authorities an offense or incident within their official concern knowing that it did not occur; or (c) Furnishes law enforcement authorities with information allegedly relating to an offense or incident within their official concern when the person knows he or she has no information relating to such offense or incident; or (d) Knowingly gives false information to any law enforcement officer with intent to implicate another; or (e) Initiates or circulates a report or warning of an alleged occurrence or impending occurrence of a fire or other emergency under circumstances likely to cause public inconvenience or alarm when the person knows the information reported, conveyed, or circulated is false or baseless, and the false report results in an emergency response. (2) (a) Falsely reporting an incident under subsection (1)(b), (c), or (d) of this section is a Class A misdemeanor. (b) Falsely reporting an incident under subsection (1)(a) or (e) of this section is a Class D felony. (3) Any violation under this section may be prosecuted in any county where: (a) The defendant resides; (b) The false report was communicated; or (c) There was an emergency response to the false report. (4) (a) The court, in imposing a sentence on a defendant who has been convicted of any offense under this section, shall order restitution to: 1. Any agency or organization for the reasonable costs of the emergency response incurred by that agency or organization resulting from the false report; and 2. Any person who suffered damages caused by the agency or organization that provided an emergency response. (b) An order of restitution under this subsection shall, for the purpose of enforcement, be treated as a civil judgment. Effective: July 14, 2022 History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 148, sec. 2, effective July 14, 2022. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 166, effective January 1, 1975.

KRS 519.050 Impersonating a public servant

519.050. Impersonating a public servant (1) A person is guilty of impersonating a public servant, other than a peace officer, if he pretends to be a public servant, other than a peace officer, or to represent a public agency, other than a law enforcement agency, or act with the authority or approval of a public agency, other than a law enforcement agency, with intent to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense to his prejudice. (2) Impersonating a public servant, other than a peace officer, is a Class A misdemeanor. Effective: July 15, 1998 History: Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 606, sec. 163, effective July 15, 1998. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 420, sec. 1, effective July 14, 1992. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 167, effective January 1, 1975.

KRS 519.055 Impersonating a peace officer

519.055. Impersonating a peace officer (1) A person is guilty of impersonating a peace officer if he pretends to be a peace officer, or to represent a law enforcement agency or act with the authority or approval of law enforcement agency, with intent to induce another to submit to the pretended official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon the pretense to his prejudice. (2) Impersonating a peace officer is a Class D felony. (3) As used in this section, the phrase "peace officer" means a peace officer as defined in KRS 446.010. Effective: July 15, 1998 History: Created 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 606, sec. 164, effective July 15, 1998.

KRS 519.060 Tampering with public records

519.060. Tampering with public records (1) A person is guilty of tampering with public records when: (a) He knowingly makes a false entry in or falsely alters any public record; or (b) Knowing he lacks the authority to do so, he intentionally destroys, mutilates, conceals, removes, or otherwise impairs the availability of any public records; or (c) Knowing he lacks the authority to retain it, he intentionally refuses to deliver up a public record in his possession upon proper request of a public servant lawfully entitled to receive such record for examination or other purposes. (2) Tampering with public records is a Class D felony. Effective: July 14, 1992 History: Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 16, sec. 1, effective July 14, 1992. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 168, effective January 1, 1975.

KRS 519.070 Tampering with a prisoner monitoring device

519.070. Tampering with a prisoner monitoring device (1) A person is guilty of tampering with a prisoner monitoring device when he or she intentionally alters, disables, deactivates, tampers with, removes, damages, or destroys any device used to facilitate electronic monitoring or supervision of a person who is on probation or parole, or has been ordered to wear a device as a condition of pretrial release. (2) Tampering with a prisoner monitoring device is a Class D felony. Effective: July 12, 2006 History: Created 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 182, sec. 36, effective July 12, 2006.

KRS 519.080 Definitions for KRS 519.080 to 519.084

519.080. Definitions for KRS 519.080 to 519.084 As used in KRS 519.080 to 519.084: (1) "Conspire" means to engage in activity constituting a criminal conspiracy as defined in KRS 506.040; (2) "Facilitates" means to engage in activity constituting criminal facilitation as defined in KRS 506.080; (3) "General Assembly" means the Legislative Research Commission, House of Representatives, Senate, or any committee, subcommittee, interim joint committee, working group, or task force thereof; (4) "Legislative building" means the Capitol, Capitol Annex, or other structure used by the General Assembly for conducting its business; and (5) "Person" means any person other than a legislator, legislative staff member, or legislative officer of the House of Representatives or Senate. Effective: June 27, 2025 History: Created 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 123, sec. 1, effective June 27, 2025.

KRS 519.082 Interference with a legislative proceeding in the first degree

519.082. Interference with a legislative proceeding in the first degree (1) A person is guilty of interference with a legislative proceeding in the first degree when, with the intent to disrupt, impede, or prevent the General Assembly from conducting business, he or she: (a) Knowingly engages in, conspires to engage in, or facilitates another person engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in any legislative building; and (b) The conduct disrupts, impedes, or prevents the General Assembly from conducting business. (2) Interference with a legislative proceeding in the first degree is: (a) A Class A misdemeanor; and (b) A Class D felony for a third or subsequent offense. (3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit: (a) Assembly in traditional public forums, including but not limited to the Capitol rotunda and outdoor areas of the Capitol grounds; or (b) Attendance at legislative meetings. Effective: June 27, 2025 History: Created 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 123, sec. 2, effective June 27, 2025.

KRS 519.084 Interference with a legislative proceeding in the second degree

519.084. Interference with a legislative proceeding in the second degree (1) A person is guilty of interference with a legislative proceeding in the second degree when, with the intent to disrupt, impede, or prevent the General Assembly from conducting business, he or she knowingly: (a) Enters into or remains inside, conspires to enter into or remain inside, or facilitates another person entering into or remaining inside a chamber or gallery of the General Assembly, or another room inside a legislative building that is set aside or designated for the use of the members of the General Assembly; or (b) Obstructs or impedes, conspires to obstruct or impede, or facilitates another person obstructing or impeding a legislator, legislative officer, or legislative staff member's ingress, egress, or movement within a legislative building. (2) Interference with a legislative proceeding in the second degree is a Class B misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense. (3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit: (a) Assembly in traditional public forums, including but not limited to the Capitol rotunda and outdoor areas of the Capitol grounds; or (b) Attendance at legislative meetings. Effective: June 27, 2025 History: Created 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 123, sec. 3, effective June 27, 2025.

Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/chapter.aspx?id=39385Fetched: 10/20/2026