All resourcesState guide · KY
Kentucky background check laws
A practitioner-grade reference to Kentucky pre-employment background screening: lookback caps, ban-the-box scope, salary-history limits, cannabis testing rules, and the statutes the SafestHires compliance team applies on every order routed to KY.
The four levers at a glance
| Lookback period | 7 years (FCRA default) |
| Ban-the-Box scope | Public sector (Executive Order 2017-064) |
| Salary history | Local — Louisville Metro |
| Cannabis testing | Medical only (eff. 2025) |
Lookback period
Kentucky follows the FCRA window.
Ban-the-Box and Fair Chance rules
Governor Bevin's 2017 executive order removed the conviction question from initial state-agency applications.
Salary history
Louisville Metro Government applies to its own hiring; no statewide rule.
Cannabis & drug testing
SB 47 (2023) created a medical-cannabis program effective Jan 1, 2025. Employer drug-free workplace rights preserved.
Governing statutes & references
- KRS §61.300 (state hiring)
- SB 47 (2023)
- Exec. Order 2017-064
SafestHires compliance note
KSP record-access pathway under KRS §17.150 for licensure roles.