344.040 Discrimination by employers. It is an unlawful practice for an employer: (1) To fail or refuse to hire, or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of the individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age forty (40) and over, because the person is a qualified individual with a disability, or because the individual is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with any workplace policy concerning smoking; (2) To limit, segregate, or classify employees in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive an individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect status as an employee, because of the individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or age forty (40) and over, because the person is a qualified individual with a disability, or because the individual is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with any workplace policy concerning smoking; or (3) To require as a condition of employment that any employee or applicant for employment abstain from smoking or using tobacco products outside the course of employment, as long as the person complies with any workplace policy concerning smoking. Effective: July 15, 1994 History: Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 378, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1994. – Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 282, sec. 5, effective July 14, 1992. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 388, sec. 2, effective July 13, 1990. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 245, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1980. -- Amended 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 255, sec. 3. -- Created 1966 Ky. Acts ch. 2, Art. 3, sec. 302.
The shame is that not all States have that clause.
For example, in delaware that clause holds for state employees, but is not extended to the private sector.
The reason is because it was an executive order by the Governor, and not a statute enacted by the Legislature.