Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 12.010 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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In this chapter, and throughout the Kentucky Revised Statutes where applicable and appropriate unless the context requires otherwise: (1) "Organizational unit" means any unit of organization in the executive branch of the state government that is not an administrative body, including but not limited to any agency, program cabinet, department, bureau, division, section or office; (2) "Department" means that basic unit of administrative organization of state government, by whatever name called, designated by statute or by statutorily authorized executive action as a "department," such organization to be headed by a commissioner; (3) "Division" means a major subdivision of a department established by statute or by statutorily authorized administrative action, such to be headed by a director; (4) "Branch" means a small grouping of logical workforce personnel, such to be headed by a manager; (5) "Section" means a smaller grouping within a branch, such to be headed by a supervisor; (6) "Unit" means the smallest grouping of coordinated employees, such to be headed by a leader; (7) "Office" means a staff support or administrative function and shall be a major subdivision of a program cabinet only, such to be headed by an executive director; (8) "Administrative body" means any multi-member body in the executive branch of the state government, including but not limited to any board, council, commission, committee, authority or corporation, but does not include "branch," "section," "unit" or "office"; (9) "Program cabinet" means a group of departments, or departments and administrative bodies, designated by statute or statutorily authorized executive action as a "program cabinet." Effective: July 15, 1982 History: Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 393, sec. 3, effective July 15, 1982; and ch. 447, sec. 1, effective April 12, 1982. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 74, Art. I, sec. 4. -- Amended 1962 Ky. Acts ch. 106, Art. I, sec. 1. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 4618-69. Legislative Research Commission Note. This section was amended by two 1982 Acts which do not appear to be in conflict and have been compiled together.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1963–2024 · leading case: Greene v. Commonwealth, 349 S.W.3d 892 (Ky. 2011).
Greene v. Commonwealth, 349 S.W.3d 892 (Ky. 2011). · cites it 18× “KRS 12.010 provides definitions for terms relating to administrative organizations and states that they are to be used "throughout the Kentucky Revised Statutes where applicable and appropriate unless the context requires otherwise.”
Pritchett v. Marshall, 375 S.W.2d 253 (Ky. Ct. App. 1963). · cites it 4× “Before 1962 KRS 12.010 defined “department” to mean “any executive or administrative agency of the state named in KRS 12.”
Compton v. Romans, 869 S.W.2d 24 (Ky. 1993). · cites it 4× “" The definition of executive department is limited by KRS 12.010(2) to the highest level of state government: "`Department' means the basic unit of administrative organization of state government, by whatever name called,.”
Strong v. Chandler, 70 S.W.3d 405 (Ky. 2002). “The mission of the Cabinet is to implement long-term strategic planning and implementation that fosters sustainable growth in jobs and incomes and enables communi *408 ties, businesses, governments and individuals to compete in the global marketplace.”
Galloway v. Fletcher, 241 S.W.3d 819 (Ky. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “010, the definitions section for Chapter 12, does not separately define "administrative boards", although "administrative body" is defined at paragraph (8) to include "any multi-member body in the executive branch of the state government, including but not limited to any board,…”
Horn ex rel. Horn v. Commonwealth, 916 S.W.2d 173 (Ky. 1995). “070 because, pursuant to KRS 12.010(2), a department must “be headed by a commissioner,” and the AOC is headed instead by the Chief Justice, as the AOC functions “to serve as the staff for the chief justice.”
Univ. of Kentucky, A/K/A Uk Healthcare v. Sarah R. Moore (Ky. 2019). · cites it 10× “and KRS 12.010. The trial court designated its judgment as final and appealable.”
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Dep't of Revenue v. Sarah R. Moore (Ky. 2019). · cites it 10× “and KRS 12.010. The trial court designated its judgment as final and appealable.”
Horn by Horn v. Com., 916 S.W.2d 173 (Ky. 1995). “070 because, pursuant to KRS 12.010(2), a department must "be headed by a commissioner," and the AOC is headed instead by the Chief Justice, as the AOC functions "to serve as the staff for the chief justice.”
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Admin. Off. of the Courts v. Patricia Greene (Ky. 2011). · cites it 9× “KRS 12.010 31 provides definitions for terms relating to administrative organizations and states that they are to be used "throughout the Kentucky Revised Statutes where applicable and appropriate unless the context requires otherwise.”
Univ. of Kentucky v. Amelia Long (Ky. Ct. App. 2024). “237(1)(a) defines an “agency” as “an organizational unit or administrative body in the executive branch of state government as defined in KRS 12.010[.]” In University of Kentucky v.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 12.010(1) — 4 cases
Greene v. Commonwealth, 349 S.W.3d 892 (Ky. 2011). “KRS 12.010 provides definitions for terms relating to administrative organizations and states that they are to be used "throughout the Kentucky Revised Statutes where applicable and appropriate unless the context requires otherwise.”
Univ. of Kentucky, A/K/A Uk Healthcare v. Sarah R. Moore (Ky. 2019). “and KRS 12.010. The trial court designated its judgment as final and appealable.”
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Dep't of Revenue v. Sarah R. Moore (Ky. 2019). “and KRS 12.010. The trial court designated its judgment as final and appealable.”
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Admin. Off. of the Courts v. Patricia Greene (Ky. 2011). “KRS 12.010 31 provides definitions for terms relating to administrative organizations and states that they are to be used "throughout the Kentucky Revised Statutes where applicable and appropriate unless the context requires otherwise.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 12.010(2) — 5 cases
Greene v. Commonwealth, 349 S.W.3d 892 (Ky. 2011). “KRS 12.010 provides definitions for terms relating to administrative organizations and states that they are to be used "throughout the Kentucky Revised Statutes where applicable and appropriate unless the context requires otherwise.”
Compton v. Romans, 869 S.W.2d 24 (Ky. 1993). “" The definition of executive department is limited by KRS 12.010(2) to the highest level of state government: "`Department' means the basic unit of administrative organization of state government, by whatever name called,.”
Horn ex rel. Horn v. Commonwealth, 916 S.W.2d 173 (Ky. 1995). “070 because, pursuant to KRS 12.010(2), a department must “be headed by a commissioner,” and the AOC is headed instead by the Chief Justice, as the AOC functions “to serve as the staff for the chief justice.”
Horn by Horn v. Com., 916 S.W.2d 173 (Ky. 1995). “070 because, pursuant to KRS 12.010(2), a department must "be headed by a commissioner," and the AOC is headed instead by the Chief Justice, as the AOC functions "to serve as the staff for the chief justice.”
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Admin. Off. of the Courts v. Patricia Greene (Ky. 2011). “KRS 12.010 31 provides definitions for terms relating to administrative organizations and states that they are to be used "throughout the Kentucky Revised Statutes where applicable and appropriate unless the context requires otherwise.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 12.010(8) — 3 cases
Compton v. Romans, 869 S.W.2d 24 (Ky. 1993). “" The definition of executive department is limited by KRS 12.010(2) to the highest level of state government: "`Department' means the basic unit of administrative organization of state government, by whatever name called,.”
Univ. of Kentucky, A/K/A Uk Healthcare v. Sarah R. Moore (Ky. 2019). “and KRS 12.010. The trial court designated its judgment as final and appealable.”
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Dep't of Revenue v. Sarah R. Moore (Ky. 2019). “and KRS 12.010. The trial court designated its judgment as final and appealable.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 12.010(9) — 3 cases
Strong v. Chandler, 70 S.W.3d 405 (Ky. 2002). “The mission of the Cabinet is to implement long-term strategic planning and implementation that fosters sustainable growth in jobs and incomes and enables communi *408 ties, businesses, governments and individuals to compete in the global marketplace.”
Univ. of Kentucky, A/K/A Uk Healthcare v. Sarah R. Moore (Ky. 2019). “and KRS 12.010. The trial court designated its judgment as final and appealable.”
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Dep't of Revenue v. Sarah R. Moore (Ky. 2019). “and KRS 12.010. The trial court designated its judgment as final and appealable.”
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