Safe at Home program participants use the substitute address when interacting with state and local government agencies. When presented an authorization card, state and local government agencies must accept the substitute address as the participant's address when creating a public record. The substitute address may be used in place of the participant's home, work, school, or mailing address. Generally, agencies cannot require the participant to disclose her or his real address. However, some agencies may have a bona fide need to know your physical address. If they have been granted a limited exemption from the Secretary of State's Office, they may require you to provide a physical address, but are prohibited from publicly publishing or privately disclosing that information to anyone.
State and Local Agencies
Safe at Home Laws require state and local government agencies to accept a Safe at Home participant's substitute address when presented with a current Safe at Home authorization card. Please contact the Safe at Home coordinator with any questions about the requirements and agency compliance.
Public Schools
Public schools are exempt – Known and Not Public. School districts have the participant's physical address to determine eligibility of enrollment in the district but are required to use the Safe at Home address on all public records.
Law Enforcement
Law enforcement agencies are not excluded from accepting a participant's substitute address. The substitute address must be used as the participant's home, work, or school address on new records created by a law enforcement agency. Those include incident reports, citations, witness statements, or arrest reports.
Service of Process
The Secretary of State's Office serves as the participant's legal agent for service of process. Staff can accept service on behalf of the program participant with any process, notice, or demand. Service can be accepted by mail or in-person but must include the participant's name and substitute address.
Real Estate
Real estate holdings are exempt from the program. If a participant purchases real estate, the address will be publicly available.
Guidance to Agencies and Local Jurisdictions with regard to bona fide need exemptions as they relate to the Safe at Home Program.
Pursuant to KRS 14.304 (7) the Secretary of State has determined that the following are bona fide administrative or statutory needs, and thus are exempt from subsection (7); except with regard to the exemption therein to KRS 61.870 and KRS 61.884. Further subsection (10) of KRS 14.304 still applies in all instances.
In effect, this means the following agencies can collect and record a physical address for a Safe At Home enrollee, but only for the purpose specified here; and
such information cannot be made publicly available, be subject to Open Records Requests, or disclosed to a third party, including another government organization.
School Districts:
- For the purpose of determining residency in the district
- Establishing bus service to Safe at Home enrollees
County Clerks:
- Registration of voters
- Registration of vehicle titles
State Board of Elections:
- Registration of voters
- Determination of voting precinct
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet:
- For issuance of driver's licenses
- Police data sharing when necessary
Secretary of State's office
- Enroll Safe at Home participants
- Creation or maintenance of new business
All municipal and county utility providers
Any State or Local government employing a Safe at Home enrollee.