AN ACT relating to hazardous duty coverage in the Kentucky Employees Retirement System.

HB 251 expands eligibility for hazardous duty retirement coverage in Kentucky's state retirement system to include forensic lab and crime scene personnel from the Kentucky State Police. The bill amends KRS 61.592 to specifically define these roles as "hazardous positions" due to their routine exposure to chemicals, narcotics, and biohazardous materials at crime scenes or in labs. This change means these employees will now qualify for the same retirement benefits (including 8% employee contributions and employer matching) as other hazardous duty workers like police officers and firefighters. The bill directly affects Kentucky State Police forensic technicians and crime scene investigators by adding them to the list of positions eligible for this specialized retirement coverage.