KRS § 83A.060 — KY Code / Title IX / Chapter 83A / Section 83A.060
83A.060 Enactment of ordinances
Status: in_force

83A.060 Enactment of ordinances.

(1) Each ordinance shall embrace only one (1) subject and shall have a title that shall

clearly state the subject.

(2) Each ordinance shall be introduced in writing and shall have an enacting clause

styled "Be it ordained by the City of ________:".

(3) No ordinance shall be amended by reference to its title only, and ordinances to

amend shall set out in full the amended ordinance or section indicating any text

being added by a single solid line drawn underneath it. Text that is intended to be

removed shall be marked at the beginning with an opening bracket and at the end

with a closing bracket. The text between the brackets shall be stricken through with

a single solid line.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, no ordinance shall be enacted

until it has been read on two (2) separate days. The reading of an ordinance may be

satisfied by stating the title and reading a summary rather than the full text.

(5) A city legislative body may adopt the provisions of any local, statewide, or

nationally recognized standard code and codifications of entire bodies of local

legislation by an ordinance that identifies the subject matter by title, source, and

date and incorporates the adopted provisions by reference without setting them out

in full, if a copy accompanies the adopting ordinance and is made a part of the

permanent records of the city.

(6) Unless otherwise provided by statute, a majority of a legislative body shall

constitute a quorum and a vote of a majority of a quorum shall be sufficient to take

action.

(7) In an emergency, upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the membership, a

city legislative body may suspend the requirements of second reading and

publication to provide for an ordinance to become effective by naming and

describing the emergency in the ordinance. Publication requirements of subsection

(9) of this section shall be complied with within ten (10) days of the enactment of

the emergency ordinance.

(8) Every action of the city legislative body shall be made a part of the permanent

records of the city and on passage of an ordinance the vote of each member of the

city legislative body shall be entered on the official record of the meeting. The

legislative body shall provide by ordinance for the maintenance and safekeeping of

the permanent records of the city. The person assigned this responsibility and the

presiding officer shall sign the official record of each meeting. All ordinances

adopted in a city shall, at the end of each month, be indexed and maintained in the

following manner:

(a) The city budget, appropriations of money, and tax levies shall be maintained

and indexed so that each fiscal year is kept separate from other years.

(b) All other city ordinances shall be kept in the minute book or an ordinance

book in the order adopted and indexed in a composite index or maintained in a

code of ordinances.

(9) Except in cities of the first class, a charter county government, and as provided in

subsection (7) of this section, no ordinance shall be enforceable until published

pursuant to KRS Chapter 424. Ordinances may be published in full or in summary

as designated by the legislative body. If the legislative body elects to publish an

ordinance in summary, the summary shall be prepared or certified by an attorney

licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and shall include the

following:

(a) The title of the ordinance;

(b) A brief narrative setting forth the main points of the ordinance in a way

reasonably calculated to inform the public in a clear and understandable

manner of the meaning of the ordinance; and

(c) The full text of each section that imposes taxes or fees.

Ordinances that include descriptions of real property may include a sketch,

drawing, or map, including common landmarks, such as streets or roads in lieu of

metes and bounds descriptions.

(10) A city may specify by ordinance additional requirements for adoption of ordinances

in greater detail than contained herein, but a city shall not lessen or reduce the

substantial requirements of this section or any other statute relating to adoption of

ordinances.

(11) At least once every five (5) years, each city shall cause all ordinances in the

composite index or code of ordinances to be examined for consistency with state

law and with one another and to be revised to eliminate redundant, obsolete,

inconsistent, and invalid provisions.

(12) The legislative body may adopt municipal orders. Orders shall be in writing and

may be adopted only at an official meeting. Orders may be amended by a

subsequent municipal order or ordinance. All orders adopted shall be maintained in

an official order book.

(13) In lieu of an ordinance, a municipal order may be used for matters relating to the

internal operation and functions of the municipality and to appoint or remove or

approve appointment or removal of members of boards, commissions, and other

agencies over which the city has control.

(14) All ordinances, and orders of the city may be proved by the signature of the city

clerk; and when the ordinances are placed in a printed composite index or code of

ordinances by authority of the city, the printed copy shall be received in evidence

by any state court without further proof of the ordinances.

(15) For anything said in debate, legislative body members shall be entitled to the same

immunities and protections allowed to members of the General Assembly.