Chapter 109 | Attorney General

Section 109.01 | Election - term.

• Effective: January 9, 1961
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 104th General Assembly

The attorney general shall be elected quadrennially, and shall hold his office for a term of four years. The term of office of the attorney general shall commence on the second Monday of January next after his election.

Section 109.02 | Duties as chief law officer.

• Effective: September 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 21, House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

The attorney general is the chief law officer for the state and all its departments and shall be provided with adequate office space in Columbus. Except as provided in division (E) of section 120.06 and in sections 101.55, 107.13, and 3517.152 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code, no state officer or board, or head of a department or institution of the state shall employ, or be represented by, other counsel or attorneys at law. The attorney general shall appear for the state in the trial and argument of all civil and criminal causes in the supreme court in which the state is directly or indirectly interested. When required by the governor or the general assembly, the attorney general shall appear for the state in any court or tribunal in a cause in which the state is a party, or in which the state is directly interested. Upon the written request of the governor, the attorney general shall prosecute any person indicted for a crime.

Last updated August 7, 2023 at 2:06 PM

Section 109.03 | Appointment of assistant attorney general and chief counsel - duties.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The attorney general may appoint a first assistant attorney general, a chief counsel, and assistant attorneys general, each of whom shall be an attorney at law, to serve for the term for which the attorney general is elected, unless sooner discharged by him, and each shall perform such duties, not otherwise provided by law, as are assigned him by the attorney general.

Section 109.04 | Powers and duties of first assistant attorney general.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

During the absence or disability of the attorney general, or when so directed by the attorney general, including all the rights, privileges, and powers conferred upon the attorney general by sections 2939.10, 2939.11, and 2939.17 of the Revised Code, the first assistant attorney general shall perform the duties of the attorney general.

Section 109.05 | Employees.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The attorney general may appoint such employees as are necessary.

Section 109.06 | Bond.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

Before entering upon the discharge of the duties of office, the attorney general shall give a bond to the state in the sum of five thousand dollars, with a surety authorized to do business in the state, conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of the office of attorney general. Such bond and the oath of office shall be deposited with and kept by the secretary of state in the secretary of state's office.

The first assistant attorney general shall give a bond to the state in the sum of five thousand dollars, and such other employees as are designated by the attorney general shall give a bond to the state in such amounts as the attorney general determines. Such bonds shall be approved by the attorney general, conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of their offices, and shall be deposited with and kept by the secretary of state in the secretary of state's office.

Section 109.07 | Special counsel.

• Effective: May 1, 1992
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 210 - 119th General Assembly

Except under the circumstances described in division (E) of section 120.06 of the Revised Code, the attorney general may appoint special counsel to represent the state in civil actions, criminal prosecutions, or other proceedings in which the state is a party or directly interested. The special counsel shall be paid for their services from funds appropriated by the general assembly for that purpose.

Section 109.08 | Special counsel to collect claims.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

The attorney general may appoint and authorize special counsel to represent the state and any political subdivision in connection with all claims of whatsoever nature which are certified to the attorney general for collection under any law or which the attorney general is authorized to collect.

Such special counsel shall be paid for their services from funds collected by them in an amount approved by the attorney general. In addition to the amount certified, the amounts paid to special counsel may be assessed as collection costs consistent with section 131.02 of the Revised Code and shall be fully recoverable from the party indebted. The amounts assessed as collection costs under this section are in addition to any amounts authorized under section 109.081 of the Revised Code.

The attorney general is authorized to provide to the special counsel the official letterhead stationery of the attorney general. The attorney general may authorize the special counsel to use the letterhead stationery, but only in connection with the collection of such claims arising out of amounts certified by the state and political subdivisions.

The attorney general may adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code as necessary for the implementation of this section and section 109.081 of the Revised Code.

Last updated July 29, 2021 at 3:52 PM

Section 109.081 | Attorney general claims fund.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 227 - 131st General Assembly

Up to eleven per cent of all amounts collected by the attorney general, whether by employees or agents of the attorney general or by special counsel pursuant to section 109.08 of the Revised Code, on claims certified in accordance with section 131.02 of the Revised Code, shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the attorney general claims fund, which is hereby created. The attorney general, after consultation with the director of budget and management, shall determine the exact percentage of those collected amounts that shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the fund. In addition to the amount certified, the amount shall be assessed as a collection cost consistent with section 131.02 of the Revised Code, and is fully recoverable from the party indebted. The amounts assessed as collection costs under this section are in addition to any amounts authorized under section 109.08 of the Revised Code. The attorney general claims fund shall be used for the payment of expenses incurred by the office of the attorney general.

Section 109.082 | Problem resolution officers for tax collection complaints.

• Effective: September 28, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 390 - 126th General Assembly

The attorney general shall appoint one or more problem resolution officers from among the employees of the office of the attorney general. These officers shall receive and review inquiries and complaints concerning collections made pursuant to Chapters 5733., 5739., 5741., 5747., and 5751. of the Revised Code regarding which the taxpayer has been unable to obtain satisfactory information after several attempts to communicate with the employee of the office assigned to the taxpayer's collection case or the employee's immediate supervisor, or the special counsel assigned to the case.

Section 109.09 | Action on official bonds.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When so directed, the attorney general shall bring an action on the official bond of a delinquent officer, and shall also prosecute any officer for an offense against the revenue laws of the state that come to his knowledge. Such action may be brought by him in the court of common pleas of Franklin county, or of any county in which one or more defendants reside, or can be summoned.

Section 109.10 | Proceedings in quo warranto.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The attorney general may prosecute a proceeding in quo warranto in the supreme court of the state, the court of appeals of Franklin county, or the court of appeals of any county wherein a defendant company has a place of business, or the officers or persons made defendants reside or may be found.

Section 109.11 | Attorney general reimbursement fund.

• Effective: April 4, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 288 - 134th General Assembly

There is hereby created in the state treasury the attorney general reimbursement fund that shall be used for the expenses of the office of the attorney general in providing legal services and other services on behalf of the state. Except as otherwise provided in this division, all amounts received by the attorney general as reimbursement for legal services and other services that have been rendered to other state agencies shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the attorney general reimbursement fund. All amounts awarded by a court to the attorney general for attorney's fees, investigation costs, expert witness fees, fines, and all other costs and fees associated with representation provided by the attorney general and all amounts awarded to the attorney general by a court shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the attorney general reimbursement fund. All amounts paid into the state treasury under division (D)(3) of section 2953.32 or division (B)(3) of section 2953.39 of the Revised Code and that are required under that division to be credited to the attorney general reimbursement fund shall be credited to the fund, and the amounts so credited shall be used by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation for expenses related to the sealing or expungement of records.

Last updated February 8, 2024 at 3:05 PM

Section 109.111 | Attorney general court order fund.

• Effective: September 19, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 310 - 121st General Assembly

There is hereby created the attorney general court order fund, which shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state but shall not be part of the state treasury. The fund shall consist of all money collected or received as a result of an order of any court to be received or secured by, or delivered to, the attorney general for transfer, distribution, disbursement, or allocation pursuant to court order. All money in the fund, including investment earnings thereon, shall be used solely to make payment as directed pursuant to court order.

Last updated February 8, 2024 at 3:05 PM

Section 109.112 | Notice of receipt of funds; disposition of funds.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

If the state of Ohio or any agency or officer of the state is named in a court order to be the recipient of any money collected or received by the attorney general under section 109.111 of the Revised Code, the attorney general shall notify the director of budget and management of the amount of money to be collected or received under, and the terms of, the court order. The director, in consultation with the attorney general, shall determine the appropriate distribution of the money to the appropriate custodial fund or funds within the state treasury, consistent with the terms of the order. Upon its collection or receipt, the attorney general shall transfer the money from the attorney general court order fund to the appropriate fund or funds as determined by the director.

Last updated February 8, 2024 at 3:06 PM

Section 109.113 | Large settlements and awards fund.

• Effective: January 1, 2025
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 101 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The large settlements and awards fund is created in the state treasury.

(B) The fund shall consist of:

(1) The proceeds of an award, adjudication, settlement, or compromise of claims collected or received by the office of the attorney general under division (B)(2) of section 109.112 of the Revised Code;

(2) Investment earnings on money in the fund.

(C) Pursuant to Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 22, a specific appropriation shall be made by law before any money may be drawn from this fund.

(D) Appropriations made from this fund shall be consistent with applicable federal or state law.

Last updated February 7, 2024 at 5:19 PM

Section 109.12 | Legal advice to state officers and boards.

• Effective: October 6, 1994
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 571 - 120th General Assembly

The attorney general, when so requested, shall give legal advice to a state officer, board, commission, the warden of a state correctional institution, the superintendent, trustees, or directors of a benevolent institution of the state, and the trustees of the Ohio state university, in all matters relating to their official duties.

Section 109.121 | Real property title review and opinion.

• Effective: November 12, 1969
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 205 - 108th General Assembly

Prior to the acquisition by the state of any right, title, or interest in real property, except highway rights-of-way, evidence of such right, title, or interest shall be submitted to the attorney general for his review and opinion. Such evidence shall be that customarily and generally used in the community in which the real property is situated and may consist of, but not be limited to, attorneys' opinions of title, abstracts of title, title guarantees, or title insurance.

Section 109.122 | Review of entertainment or sponsorship contracts of expositions commission.

• Effective: July 1, 1993
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 152 - 120th General Assembly

(A) The attorney general may review for form, content, and legality and provide legal advice concerning any proposed entertainment or sponsorship contracts of the Ohio expositions commission that the commission provides as required by section 991.03 of the Revised Code.

(B) The commission shall reimburse the attorney general for all legal expenses associated with reviewing proposed entertainment or sponsorship contracts under division (A) of this section.

Section 109.13 | General assembly may require written opinions.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When so required by resolution, the attorney general shall give his written opinion on questions of law to either house of the general assembly.

Section 109.14 | Attorney general shall advise prosecuting attorneys and township law directors.

• Effective: September 20, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 123rd General Assembly

When requested by them, the attorney general shall advise the prosecuting attorneys of the several counties respecting their duties in all complaints, suits, and controversies in which the state is, or may be a party, and shall advise the township law director of a township that has adopted a limited home rule government under Chapter 504. of the Revised Code.

Section 109.15 | Forms of contracts.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The attorney general shall prepare suitable forms of contracts, obligations, and other like instruments of writing for the use of state officers, when requested by the governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, or treasurer of state.

Section 109.16 | Suits may be brought in Franklin county.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The attorney general may prosecute an action, information, or other proceeding in behalf of the state, or in which the state is interested, except prosecutions by indictment, in the proper court of Franklin county, or of any other county in which one or more of the defendants reside or may be found. No civil action, unless elsewhere specially provided, shall be commenced in Franklin county, if one or more of the defendants do not reside or cannot be found therein, unless the attorney general certifies on the writ that he believes the amount in controversy exceeds five hundred dollars.

Section 109.17 | Writs in other counties.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In all cases instituted by the attorney general under sections 109.01 to 109.22, inclusive, of the Revised Code, the writ may be sent by mail to the sheriff of any county, and returned by him in like manner. For such service, the sheriff shall be allowed the same mileage and fees as if the writ had been issued from the court of common pleas or the court of appeals of his county, and made returnable thereto.

Section 109.18 | Service by publication.

• Effective: October 7, 1977
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 42 - 112th General Assembly

If a writ or mesne process in proceedings in quo warranto is returned "not found" by the sheriff of the county in which the company is authorized by law to have its place of business, the clerk of the court in which the information or other proceeding is filed shall issue a notice of the filing and substance thereof, and cause it to be published once a week for six consecutive weeks in a newspaper published in and of general circulation in the county wherein such company is authorized to have its place of business. An affidavit of the publication together with a copy of the notice shall be filed in the office of the clerk. If the defendant company fails to answer or plead to such information or proceeding within thirty days from the filing of the affidavit and copy, judgment shall be given upon the default as if the writ or mesne process had been served and returned.

Section 109.19 | Security for costs and verification of pleadings.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No undertaking or security is required on behalf of the state or an officer thereof, in the prosecution or defense of any action, writ, or proceeding. In an action, writ, or proceeding it is not necessary to verify the pleadings on the part of the state or any officer thereof.

Section 109.20 | Actions to be taken out of their order.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Upon motion of the attorney general, embodying a statement that the public interests require it, a civil action, brought or prosecuted by him on behalf of the state, or an officer, board, or commission thereof, or an action in which the state is a party, shall be taken out of its order upon the docket and assigned for trial at as early a day as practicable.

Section 109.21 | Moneys paid into general revenue fund.

• Effective: January 15, 1998
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 164 - 122nd General Assembly

The attorney general shall pay all moneys collected or received by the attorney general on behalf of the state into the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund.

Section 109.22 | Registers shall be kept.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The attorney general shall keep a register of all actions, demands, complaints, writs, informations, and other proceedings, prosecuted or defended by him, noting therein the proceedings under each, and a register of all official opinions in writing given by him. He shall deliver to his successor the registers, papers, documents, books, and other property belonging to his office .

Section 109.23 | Charitable trust defined.

• Effective: November 19, 1975
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 347 - 111th General Assembly

As used in sections 109.23 to 109.33 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Charitable trust" means any fiduciary relationship with respect to property arising under the law of this state or of another jurisdiction as a result of a manifestation of intention to create it, and subjecting the person by whom the property is held to fiduciary duties to deal with the property within this state for any charitable, religious, or educational purpose.

(B) "Charitable trust" includes the fiduciary relationship, the entity serving as trustee, the status as trustee, the corpus of such trust, or a combination of any or all of such meanings, regardless of the primary meaning of any use of the term, that is necessary in any circumstances to effect the purposes of such sections.

(C) An executor, administrator, guardian, or other conservator of the estate of a decedent, incompetent, or other similarly protected person is, when holding assets in which a charitable trust has a vested or contingent interest and to the extent that such sections are not clearly inapplicable, to be considered a fiduciary of a charitable trust.

(D) The fact that any person sought to be charged with fiduciary duties is a corporation, association, foundation, or any other type of organization that has, under judicial decisions or other statutes, been distinguished from a charitable trust does not provide a presumption against its being a charitable trust as defined in this section.

Section 109.231 | Prohibited administrative acts.

• Effective: September 17, 1971
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 198 - 109th General Assembly

(A) In the administration of any trust which is a "private foundation" as defined in section 509 of the internal revenue code of 1954, a trust for charitable purposes described in section 4947(a)(1) of the internal revenue code of 1954 to the extent that it is treated for federal tax purposes as such a private foundation, or a "split-interest trust" as described in section 4947(a)(2) of the internal revenue code of 1954, the following acts are prohibited:

(1) Engaging in any act of "self-dealing," as defined in section 4941(d) of the internal revenue code of 1954, which would give rise to any liability for any tax imposed by section 4941 of the internal revenue code of 1954;

(2) Retaining any "excess business holdings," as defined in section 4943(c) of the internal revenue code of 1954, which would give rise to any liability for any tax imposed by section 4943 of the internal revenue code of 1954;

(3) Making any investments which would jeopardize the carrying out of any of the exempt purposes of the trust, within the meaning of section 4944 of the internal revenue code of 1954, so as to give rise to any liability for any tax imposed by section 4944 of the internal revenue code of 1954; or

(4) Making any "taxable expenditures," as defined in section 4945(d) of the internal revenue code of 1954, which would give rise to any liability for any tax imposed by section 4945 of the internal revenue code of 1954. The prohibitions of this division do not apply to split-interest trusts, or to amounts thereof, to the extent that such prohibitions are inapplicable thereto by reason of section 4947 of the internal revenue code of 1954.

(B) In the administration of any trust which is a "private foundation" as defined in section 509 of the internal revenue code of 1954, or a trust for charitable purposes described in section 4947(a)(1) of the internal revenue code of 1954 to the extent that it is treated for federal tax purposes as such a private foundation, there shall, for the purposes specified in the governing instrument, be distributed at such time and in such manner, for each taxable year, amounts of income and principal at least sufficient to avoid liability for any tax imposed by section 4942 of the internal revenue code of 1954.

(C) Divisions (A) and (B) of this section express the continuing policy of this state with respect to charitable trust interests and are enacted to assist such trusts in maintaining various tax benefits extended to them, and apply to all trusts described therein, whether or not contrary to the provisions of the governing instrument of such a trust, provided that divisions (A) and (B) of this section do not apply to a trust in existence on the effective date of this section to the extent that the attorney general, the trustor, or any beneficiary of such trust, on or before November 30, 1971, files with the trustee of such trust a written objection to application to such trust of one or more provisions of said divisions, and if the trustee receiving such written objection commences an action on or before December 31, 1971, in the court having jurisdiction over such trust to reform, or to excuse such trust from compliance with, its governing instrument or any other instrument in order to meet the requirements of said divisions. A trustee receiving such written objection shall commence such an action, and the one or more provisions of said divisions specified in such written objection will not apply to such trust unless and until said court determines that their application to such trust is in the best interests of all parties in interest.

(D) No trustee of a trust to which division (A) or (B) of this section is applicable shall be surcharged for a violation of a prohibition or requirement of said divisions, unless he participated in such violation knowing that it was a violation, nor shall such trustee be surcharged if such violation was not willful and was due to reasonable cause, provided that this division does not exonerate a trustee from any responsibility or liability to which he is subject under any other rule of law whether or not duplicated in division (A) or (B) of this section.

(E) As used in this section, "trust" includes a trust or any other organization, other than a corporation, which is a "private foundation" as defined in section 509 of the internal revenue code of 1954, and "trustee" includes any member of the governing body of such organization.

(F) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, nothing in this section impairs the rights and powers of the courts or the attorney general of this state with respect to any trust.

Section 109.232 | Amendment of governing instrument of trust.

• Effective: July 15, 1972
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 533 - 109th General Assembly

(A) The governing instrument of a trust described in division (A) of section 109.231 of the Revised Code may be amended to permit the trust to acquire the characteristics of a trust described in section 664 (D)(1) or (2) of the internal revenue code of 1954, or to conform to the requirements of, or to obtain benefits available under, section 507, 508, or 509 of the internal revenue code of 1954. Such amendment may be made by the trustee with the approval of the attorney general, of the trustor, and, if one or more beneficiaries are named in the governing instrument of such trust, of each named beneficiary. If the trustor is not then living or is not then competent to give such approval, such amendment may be made by the trustee with the approval of the attorney general and, if one or more beneficiaries are named in the governing instrument of such trust, of each named beneficiary. If one or more of said required approvals is not obtained, the trustee may apply to the court having jurisdiction over such trust for approval of such amendment. Said governing instrument may also be amended in any respect and by any method set forth therein or as otherwise provided by law.

(B) Nothing in this section impairs the rights and powers of the courts or the attorney general of this state with respect to any trust.

(C) For the purposes of sections 109.231 and 109.232 of the Revised Code, all references to sections of the internal revenue code of 1954 include all amendments or reenactments thereof.

Section 109.24 | Investigating transactions and relationships of trustees of charitable trust.

• Effective: March 17, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 412 - 116th General Assembly

The powers of the attorney general under sections 109.23 to 109.33 of the Revised Code shall be in addition to and not in limitation of his powers held at common law. The attorney general may investigate transactions and relationships of trustees of a charitable trust for the purpose of determining whether the property held for charitable, religious, or educational purposes has been and is being properly administered in accordance with fiduciary principles as established by the courts and statutes of this state. The attorney general is empowered to require the production of any books or papers which are relevant to the inquiry. Each such request shall be in writing, and shall do all of the following:

(A) Identify the person to whom the request is directed;

(B) State the specific purpose of the investigation;

(C) Describe any books and the papers to be produced with such definiteness and certainty as to permit such material to be fairly identified;

(D) Prescribe a return date which will provide at least ten days' notice within which the books or papers to be produced may be assembled;

(E) State the place where and the time within which any books or papers are to be produced, provided, however, that copies of such books and papers may be produced in lieu of the originals.

No request shall contain any requirement which would be held to be unreasonable or oppressive or which would be privileged from disclosure if contained in a subpoena duces tecum issued by a court of this state pursuant to the Rules of Civil Procedure. If the production of documents required by the request would be unduly burdensome, the person upon whom the request is served, in lieu of producing such books or papers at the place designated in the request, shall make such books or papers available for inspection, copying, or reproduction at the place where such books or papers are kept.

Whenever a request fails to meet the requirements enumerated in this section, any person upon whom the request is served may file a complaint to quash such request in the court of common pleas of the county in which the trust, institution, association, or corporation has its principal place of business in this state. The complaint shall contain a brief statement of facts entitling such person to have such requests quashed. No answer to such complaint is required. Upon the filing of the complaint, the court, on motion of the complainant, shall enter an order fixing a date for a hearing on the complaint and requiring that a copy of the complaint and a notice of the filing and of the date for hearing be given to the attorney general or his assistant in the manner in which summons is required to be served or substituted services required to be made in other cases. On the day fixed for the hearing on the complaint, the court shall determine from the complaint and from such evidence as is submitted by either party whether the person upon whom the request was served is entitled to have the request quashed. The proceeding is a special proceeding, and final orders in the proceeding may be vacated, modified, or reversed on appeal pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure and, to the extent not in conflict with those rules, Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code.

The attorney general shall institute and prosecute a proper action to enforce the performance of any charitable trust, and to restrain the abuse of it whenever he considers such action advisable or if directed to do so by the governor, the supreme court, the general assembly, or either house of the general assembly. Such action may be brought in his own name, on behalf of the state, or in the name of a beneficiary of the trust, in the court of common pleas of any county in which the trust property or any part of it is situated or invested, or in which the trustee resides; provided that in the case of a charitable trust created by, arising as a result of, or funded by a will, such action may be brought in either the court of common pleas of any such county, or the probate division of it, at the election of the attorney general. No such action shall abate or discontinue by virtue of the discontinuance in office of the attorney general in whose name such actions may be brought. This section is intended to allow the attorney general full discretion concerning the manner in which the action is to be prosecuted, including the authority to settle an action when he considers that advisable.

Section 109.25 | Attorney general is necessary party to charitable trust proceedings.

• Effective: November 19, 1975
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 347 - 111th General Assembly

The attorney general is a necessary party to and shall be served with process or with summons by registered mail in all judicial proceedings, the object of which is to:

(A) Terminate a charitable trust or distribute assets;

(B) Depart from the objects or purposes of a charitable trust as the same are set forth in the instrument creating the trust, including any proceeding for the application of the doctrine of cy pres or deviation;

(C) Construe the provisions of an instrument with respect to a charitable trust;

(D) Determine the validity of a will having provisions for a charitable trust.

A judgment rendered in such proceedings without service of process or summons upon the attorney general is void, unenforceable, and shall be set aside upon the attorney general's motion seeking such relief. The attorney general shall intervene in any judicial proceeding affecting a charitable trust when requested to do so by the court having jurisdiction of the proceeding, and may intervene in any judicial proceeding affecting a charitable trust when he determines that the public interest should be protected in such proceeding.

Section 109.26 | Registration of charitable trusts.

• Effective: January 10, 1978
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 659 - 112th General Assembly

Except as provided in this section, every charitable trust established or active in this state shall register with the attorney general. The attorney general shall prepare and maintain a register of such charitable trusts. The following are not required to register under this section:

(A) Charitable remainder trusts created after July 31, 1969, gifts to which are deductible for federal income, gift, or estate tax purposes;

(B) Charitable trusts in which all charitable interests are contingent and will vest only upon conditions which have not occurred;

(C) Decedent's estates;

(D) Such other classes of charitable trusts as the attorney general may exempt from registration by regulation pursuant to section 109.27 of the Revised Code.

County or independent agricultural societies organized under Chapter 1711. of the Revised Code are not charitable trusts.

Every charitable trust shall be registered with the attorney general in accordance with this section within six months after the effective date of this section, November 19, 1975, within six months after the creation of such trust, or within six months after occurrence of an event by reason of which such trust is required to register by this section, whichever is later, provided that all registrations of charitable trusts made prior to November 19, 1975, shall be deemed in full compliance with this section and no further registration shall be required.

No trustee of a charitable trust shall willfully fail to register such charitable trust as required by this section.

Section 109.27 | Administrative rules.

• Effective: November 19, 1975
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 347 - 111th General Assembly

The attorney general shall make such rules subject to the provisions of sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code, as are necessary to administer sections 109.23 to 109.33 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.28 | Inspection of register of charitable trusts.

• Effective: October 14, 1953
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 196 - 100th General Assembly

The register established by section 109.26 shall be open to the inspection of any person at such reasonable times and for such legitimate purposes as the attorney general may determine; provided, however, that any investigation of a chairtable trust shall not be open to public inspection.

Section 109.29 | Courts to furnish information relating to charitable trusts.

• Effective: November 17, 1975
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 347 - 111th General Assembly

The clerk of each court of common pleas or the judge of the probate division thereof, and of each court of appeals shall furnish copies of papers and such information as to the records and files of his office relating to charitable trusts as the attorney general may require.

Section 109.30 | Notice of creation of charitable trust to attorney general and specified persons after probate of will.

• Effective: May 31, 1990
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 346 - 118th General Assembly

After admission to probate of a will creating or purporting to create a charitable trust that must be registered under section 109.26 of the Revised Code, or containing a gift valued in excess of one thousand dollars to any charitable trust, notice shall be given to the attorney general, as well as to the persons specified in division (A)(1) of section 2107.19 of the Revised Code, in accordance with that section. If probate of a will creating or purporting to create any charitable trust is refused by interlocutory order under section 2107.181 of the Revised Code, notice of the further hearing under that section shall be given to the attorney general as well as to the other necessary parties.

Section 109.31 | Trustee's annual report to attorney general.

• Effective: September 10, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 519 - 128th General Assembly

Except as otherwise provided by this section, the trustees of a charitable trust required to register under section 109.26 of the Revised Code shall file annual reports on forms prescribed by the attorney general, on or before the fifteenth day of the fifth month following the close of the trust's taxable year as established for federal tax purposes; or, in lieu of filing those reports, the trustees may file complete copies of all annual federal returns required to be filed by the trust with the internal revenue service for the taxable year, together with all schedules, attachments, and reports due with the return or returns. The federal returns shall be filed with the attorney general at the same time as required by the internal revenue service, taking into account any applicable extension of the federal filing date.

The annual report shall be signed by the trustee who is authorized to sign it. The annual report shall be considered certified by the trustee and the trustee's signature on the report shall have the same effect as though made under oath.

A charitable trust required to register under section 109.26 of the Revised Code is not required to file the reports required by this section if any of the following apply:

(A) It is organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes.

(B) It is an educational institution that normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly organized body of pupils or students in attendance at the place where its educational activities are regularly carried on.

(C) For any taxable year it has gross receipts of less than twenty-five thousand dollars and at the end of which it has gross assets of less than twenty-five thousand dollars.

The attorney general, by rule pursuant to section 109.27 of the Revised Code, may exempt other classes of charitable trusts from the requirements of this section, and may by rule increase monetary limits set forth in division (C) of this section, that require filing with the attorney general's office.

The attorney general may institute judicial proceedings to secure compliance with this section and to secure the proper administration of any trust or other relationship to which this section applies. The willful failure of any trustee to file reports as required by this section may be grounds for judicial removal of the trustee responsible for such failure.

The attorney general shall charge the following fees for filing the annual report:

Assets	Fee
Less than $25,000	$0
$25,000 but less than $100,000	50
$100,000 but less than $500,000	100
$500,000 or more	200

For the purposes of this section, "assets" refers to the total fair market value of the charitable trust's assets at the end of that trust's taxable year as established for federal tax purposes.

Any charitable trust that fails to pay the fee required by this section at the time required shall pay an additional fee of two hundred dollars, except that the attorney general may waive the two-hundred-dollar fee upon a showing that the trustees of the charitable trust failed to pay the fee for filing the annual report at the time required by this section for reasons that were beyond the control of the trustees of the charitable trust or of a designee of the trustees.

This section shall not be subject to section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.32 | Charitable law fund.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

(A) All annual filing fees obtained by the attorney general pursuant to section 109.31 of the Revised Code, all receipts obtained from the sale of the charitable foundations directory, all registration fees received by the attorney general, bond forfeitures, awards of costs and attorney's fees, and civil penalties assessed under Chapter 1716. of the Revised Code, all license fees received by the attorney general under section 2915.08, 2915.081, or 2915.082 of the Revised Code, all fees received by the attorney general under section 2915.15 of the Revised Code, and all filing fees received by the attorney general under divisions (F) and (G) of section 2915.02 of the Revised Code, shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the charitable law fund.

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section, the charitable law fund shall be used insofar as its moneys are available for the expenses of the charitable law section of the office of the attorney general.

(2) All annual license fees that are received by the attorney general under section 2915.08, 2915.081, or 2915.082 of the Revised Code, and all filing fees received by the attorney general under divisions (F) and (G) of section 2915.02 of the Revised Code, that are credited to the fund shall be used by the attorney general, or any law enforcement agency in cooperation with the attorney general, for the purposes specified in division (H) of section 2915.10 of the Revised Code and to administer and enforce Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code.

(3) All fees received by the attorney general under section 2915.15 of the Revised Code that are credited to the fund shall be used for the purposes specified in that section.

(C) The expenses of the charitable law section in excess of moneys available in the charitable law fund shall be paid out of regular appropriations to the office of the attorney general.

Last updated July 23, 2021 at 8:12 AM

Section 109.33 | Employees.

• Effective: April 9, 1986
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 831 - 116th General Assembly

The attorney general may appoint, with salaries fixed pursuant to section 124.15 or 124.152 of the Revised Code, such assistants and may employ such stenographers and clerks as may be necessary to carry out sections 109.23 to 109.33 of the Revised Code. The attorney general may also employ experts for assistance in any specific matter at a reasonable rate of compensation.

Section 109.34 | Notice of transactions by nonprofit health care entity.

• Effective: May 7, 1997
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 242 - 122nd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section and in section 109.35 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Fair market value" means the price that the assets being transferred would bring in a competitive and open market under a fair sale with the buyer and seller acting prudently, knowledgeably, and in their own best interest and a reasonable time being allowed for exposure in the market.

(2) "Nonprofit health care entity" means any of the following that was created for any charitable or social welfare purpose related to health care:

(a) A hospital, as defined in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code, that is owned or operated by a corporation organized under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code or the nonprofit corporation law of another state;

(b) Either of the following that is or has been exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code:

(i) An entity that is or has been granted a certificate of authority under Chapter 1742. of the Revised Code;

(ii) An entity that is authorized or has been authorized to transact business in this state under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code, that is in the business of providing sickness and accident insurance, and that was previously a hospital service association under former Chapter 1739. of the Revised Code or Chapter 669. of the General Code, has merged or otherwise consolidated with a former hospital service association, or any of whose predecessors in interest has merged or otherwise consolidated with a former hospital service association.

(3) "Party" includes a nonprofit health care entity that is the subject of a transaction or proposed transaction, an acquiring person, and the resulting entity, if any.

(4) "Transaction" means a transfer of ownership or control of assets of a nonprofit health care entity, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, lease, gift, joint venture, or other transfer, including any binding obligation in furtherance of the transaction, that is equal to at least twenty per cent of the assets of the entity and occurs in the twenty-four-month period prior to the date notice is submitted to the attorney general in accordance with division (B) of this section. "Transaction" also means a transfer of ownership or control of any assets of a nonprofit health care entity, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, lease, gift, joint venture, or other transfer, including any binding obligation in furtherance of the transaction, if the entity is unable to fulfill its stated or actual purpose without the assets. "Transaction" does not include either of the following:

(a) A transfer of ownership or control of assets of a nonprofit health care entity between nonprofit health care entities and persons exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 501, as amended;

(b) A transfer of ownership or control of assets of a nonprofit health care entity in relation to which the nonprofit health care entity, prior to the effective date of this section, has entered into a consent decree with the attorney general that requires distribution of the charitable assets of the entity to an appropriate health-related charity. The exemption in division (A)(4)(b) of this section does not limit the authority of the attorney general to seek remedies for breaches of fiduciary duty or other violations of law.

(B) A nonprofit health care entity proposing to enter into a transaction shall provide notice of the proposed transaction to the attorney general and obtain written approval of the transaction in accordance with this section. The nonprofit health care entity shall submit the notice on forms provided by the attorney general, and the notice shall include all of the following:

(1) The names and addresses of the parties, including a list of all individuals who are or have been chosen as directors, officers, or board members of the parties;

(2) The terms of the proposed transaction, including a summary of all contracts or other agreements of the parties;

(3) The amount, source, and nature of consideration to be paid to the nonprofit health care entity, its directors, officers, board members, executives, or experts retained by the nonprofit health care entity.

(4) A statement acknowledging that the nonprofit health care entity is under a continuing duty to notify the attorney general of any changes in the information contained in the notice or other documents required by this section and that a violation of this duty may delay approval of the proposed transaction. The statement shall be signed by a representative of the nonprofit health care entity at the time the notice is submitted to the attorney general.

(C) In addition to the notice described in division (B) of this section, the nonprofit health care entity shall submit all of the following:

(1) Audited financial statements for the nonprofit health care entity for the three fiscal years prior to the date the nonprofit health care entity submitted the notice to the attorney general;

(2) A valuation statement prepared by an independent, qualified expert, including an investment banker, actuary, appraiser, certified public accountant, or other expert, that assesses the full and fair market value of the nonprofit health care entity;

(3) Copies of all contracts and other agreements between the parties or their officers, directors, board members, or other fiduciaries, including any contracts or other final agreements relating to the close of the proposed transaction;

(4) Any additional information the attorney general considers necessary to value the nonprofit health care entity's assets as required in rules adopted by the attorney general in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(D) The notice and all other documents or materials submitted pursuant to this section are public records provided they meet the definition set forth in section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(E) Not later than two business days after the discovery of any changes in information contained in the notice or other documents required by this section, the nonprofit health care entity shall provide copies to the attorney general of any documents and other material relevant to the changes. In addition to the ninety-day extension authorized by division (A) of section 109.35 of the Revised Code, the attorney general for good cause may delay approval of the proposed transaction up to thirty days following receipt of the documents and other material relevant to the changes.

(F) Not later than seven days after submitting the notice and other documents required by this section, the nonprofit health care entity shall publish notice of the proposed transaction in at least one daily newspaper of general circulation in the county where the nonprofit health care entity has its principal place of business. The notice shall state the names of the parties and a description of the proposed transaction.

(G) Notwithstanding division (A)(4)(a) of this section, as used in this division, "nonprofit combination" means a transaction between a nonprofit health care entity and another unrelated nonprofit health care entity.

Not less than sixty days before the closing of a nonprofit combination, a nonprofit health care entity that is a party to the combination and is the party to be acquired shall provide notice of the nonprofit combination to the attorney general by submitting the information described in divisions (B)(1) and (3) of this section.

Not later than seven days after the information required by this section is submitted to the attorney general, each of the nonprofit health care entities that is a party to a nonprofit combination shall publish the notice described in division (F) of this section.

Section 109.35 | Approval or disapproval of proposed transactions.

• Effective: May 7, 1997
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 242 - 122nd General Assembly

(A) Not later than sixty days after receipt of a notice and other documents required by section 109.34 of the Revised Code, the attorney general shall approve or disapprove the proposed transaction, except that the attorney general for good cause may extend this period an additional ninety days.

(B) In determining whether to approve or disapprove a proposed transaction, the attorney general shall consider:

(1) Whether the proposed transaction will result in a breach of fiduciary duty, as determined by the attorney general, including conflicts of interest related to payments or benefits to officers, directors, board members, executives, and experts employed or retained by the parties;

(2) Whether the nonprofit health care entity will receive full and fair market value for its charitable or social welfare assets;

(3) Whether the proceeds of the proposed transaction will be used consistent with the nonprofit health care entity's original charitable purpose;

(4) Any other criteria the attorney general considers necessary to determine whether the nonprofit health care entity will receive full and fair market value for its charitable or social welfare assets as required in rules adopted by the attorney general in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(C) The attorney general may retain, at the nonprofit health care entity's expense, one or more independently qualified experts, including an investment banker, actuary, appraiser, certified public accountant, or other expert, as the attorney general considers reasonably necessary to provide assistance in making a decision under this section. The nonprofit health care entity shall promptly reimburse the attorney general for the cost of retaining experts. The cost of retaining an expert shall not exceed an amount that is reasonable and necessary to make a determination under this section. The contract to retain an expert is exempt from Chapter 125. of the Revised Code.

At any time while considering a proposed transaction under this section, the attorney general may request any additional information from the nonprofit health care entity that the attorney general considers appropriate to the valuation of the entity's charitable or social welfare assets. The nonprofit health care entity shall provide the information not later than ten days after the date of the request. The attorney general for good cause may delay approval of the proposed transaction up to thirty days, in addition to the ninety-day extension authorized by division (A) of this section, following receipt of documents and other material containing the information requested.

(D) The attorney general shall approve or disapprove a proposed transaction on the basis of the criteria set forth in division (B) of this section. Once a proposed transaction is approved, any substantial alteration is a new transaction subject to approval by the attorney general.

The nonprofit health care entity may resubmit a notice and other documents seeking approval of a proposed transaction disapproved by the attorney general but may not submit a notice and other documents that are identical or substantially similar to the original submission.

If the attorney general disapproves the proposed transaction, the nonprofit health care entity may appeal the disapproval pursuant to division (H) of this section.

(E) If the attorney general approves the proposed transaction, the nonprofit health care entity shall hold a public hearing to receive comment on the proposed use of the proceeds of the transaction. The hearing shall be held in the county where the nonprofit health care entity has its principal place of business not later than forty-five days after receipt of written notice of the attorney general's approval.

At least thirty days prior to the date set for the hearing, the nonprofit health care entity shall publish notice of the hearing in at least one daily newspaper of general circulation in the county where the nonprofit health care entity has its principal place of business. The notice shall include a statement that a transaction has been approved by the attorney general, the names of the parties, a description of the proposed transaction, and the date, time, and place of the hearing.

(F)(1) The proceeds of an approved transaction shall be dedicated and transferred to one or more existing or new charitable organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(a) and described in section 501(c)(3) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 501, as amended.

(2) The attorney general may authorize a dedication and transfer to a person exempt from taxation under section 501(a) and described in section 501(c)(4) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 501, as amended, if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The attorney general determines that the dedication and transfer is necessary to ensure effective management and monetization of the equity ownership, if any, in the nonprofit health care entity;

(b) The person described in division (F)(2) of this section agrees to all of the following conditions:

(i) The person described in division (F)(2) of this section will receive from the nonprofit health care entity only the amount of proceeds of the transaction as are necessary to fund the level of activity necessary to preserve the person's tax-exempt status;

(ii) No proceeds of the transaction, or any other funds or resources controlled by the person described in division (F)(2) of this section, will be disbursed for campaign contributions, lobbying expenditures, or other political activity;

(iii) The person described in division (F)(2) of this section agrees to abide by any requirements imposed on persons exempt from taxation under section 501(a) and described in section 501(c)(3) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 501, as amended, that the attorney general determines appropriate.

(G)(1) No nonprofit health care entity shall enter into a transaction subject to this section without the approval of the attorney general granted in accordance with this section.

(2) No person who is an officer, director, board member, or other fiduciary of a nonprofit health care entity shall receive anything of substantial value that relates to a transaction described in this section and section 109.34 of the Revised Code and is of such a character as to manifest a substantial and improper influence on the person with respect to the person's duties.

(3) The attorney general may institute and prosecute a civil or criminal action to enforce this section and section 109.34 of the Revised Code in the court of common pleas of the county in which the nonprofit health care entity has its principal place of business or the Franklin county court of common pleas. In addition to any civil remedies that exist under common law or the Revised Code, a court may rescind the transaction, grant injunctive relief, assess a civil penalty in an amount not exceeding ten million dollars, or impose any combination of these remedies.

(H) A nonprofit health care entity that is a party to a proposed transaction that has been disapproved by the attorney general may appeal the disapproval only by following the procedure set forth in this division. The disapproval may be appealed to the court of common pleas of the county in which the nonprofit health entity has its principal place of business. The court of common pleas may reverse, vacate, or modify the attorney general's decision to disapprove a transaction if the court finds that the decision was unlawful or unreasonable. This appeal shall proceed as an appeal de novo. To bring an appeal under this division, a nonprofit health care entity shall file a notice of appeal with the court and the attorney general not later than fifteen days after the entity's receipt of notice of the attorney general's disapproval of the transaction. Not later than thirty days after receipt of the notice of appeal, the attorney general shall prepare and certify to the court of common pleas a complete record of all of the documents submitted by the nonprofit health care entity to the attorney general and any documents generated by consultants at the request of the attorney general or other materials produced by the attorney general as part of the attorney general's determination of whether to approve or disapprove the transaction.

The judgment of the court of common pleas is final unless reversed, vacated, or modified on appeal. An appeal may be taken by either the nonprofit health care entity or the attorney general, shall proceed as in the case of appeals in civil actions, and shall be pursuant to the rules of appellate procedure and, to the extent not in conflict with those rules, Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code.

(I)(1) The powers of the attorney general under this section and section 109.34 of the Revised Code are in addition to the attorney general's powers held at common law and under sections 109.23 to 109.33 of the Revised Code.

This section and section 109.34 of the Revised Code do not limit or otherwise affect any of the following:

(a) Any other civil or criminal right, claim, or defense that the attorney general or parties may assert under common law or the Revised Code;

(b) The authority of the attorney general to institute and prosecute an action to enforce sections 109.23 to 109.33 of the Revised Code;

(c) The authority of the attorney general to investigate and prosecute violations of any state or federal antitrust law.

(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant to the attorney general any authority of the superintendent of insurance under Title XVII or Title XXXIX of the Revised Code relating to the superintendent's review of an entity described in division (A)(2)(b) of section 109.34 of the Revised Code.

(3) Nothing in this section or section 109.34 of the Revised Code shall be construed to limit the independent authority of the attorney general to protect charitable trusts and charitable assets in this state.

Section 109.36 | Defense of officers and employees definitions.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

As used in this section and sections 109.361 to 109.366 of the Revised Code:

(A)(1) "Officer or employee" means any of the following:

(a) A person who, at the time a cause of action against the person arises, is serving in an elected or appointed office or position with the state or is employed by the state.

(b) A person that, at the time a cause of action against the person, partnership, or corporation arises, is rendering medical, nursing, dental, podiatric, optometric, physical therapeutic, psychiatric, or psychological services pursuant to a personal services contract or purchased service contract with a department, agency, or institution of the state.

(c) A person that, at the time a cause of action against the person, partnership, or corporation arises, is rendering peer review, utilization review, or drug utilization review services in relation to medical, nursing, dental, podiatric, optometric, physical therapeutic, psychiatric, or psychological services pursuant to a personal services contract or purchased service contract with a department, agency, or institution of the state.

(d) A person who, at the time a cause of action against the person arises, is rendering medical, nursing, dental, podiatric, optometric, physical therapeutic, psychiatric, or psychological services to patients in a state institution operated by the department of mental health and addiction services pursuant to an agreement with the department.

(2) "Officer or employee" does not include any person elected, appointed, or employed by any political subdivision of the state.

(B) "State" means the state of Ohio, including but not limited to, the general assembly, the supreme court, courts of appeals, the offices of all elected state officers, and all departments, boards, offices, commissions, agencies, institutions, and other instrumentalities of the state of Ohio. "State" does not include political subdivisions.

(C) "Political subdivisions" of the state means municipal corporations, townships, counties, school districts, and all other bodies corporate and politic responsible for governmental activities only in geographical areas smaller than that of the state.

(D) "Employer" means the general assembly, the supreme court, courts of appeals, any office of an elected state officer, or any department, board, office, commission, agency, institution, or other instrumentality of the state of Ohio that employs or contracts with an officer or employee or to which an officer or employee is elected or appointed.

Section 109.361 | Defense of state officer or employee in civil action.

• Effective: May 1, 1992
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 210 - 119th General Assembly

Upon the receipt of a written request by any officer or employee, the attorney general, except as provided in section 109.362 of the Revised Code, except under the circumstances described in division (E) of section 120.06 of the Revised Code, and except for civil actions in which the state is the plaintiff, shall represent and defend the officer or employee in any civil action instituted against the officer or employee. All expenses and court costs, including the reasonable compensation of special counsel, incurred by the attorney general in the defense of an officer or employee shall be paid by the employer that employed the officer or employee at the time the alleged act or omission occurred.

The defense of the officer or employee may be rendered by the attorney general, an assistant attorney general, or any special counsel appointed by the attorney general, who, in addition to providing the defense of the officer or employee, may file counterclaims and cross-claims and engage in third-party practice on behalf of the officer or employee. If the officer or employee recovers any money pursuant to any counterclaim or cross-claim so filed, the officer or employee, to the extent of the recovery on the counterclaim or cross-claim, shall reimburse the attorney general for all expenses and court costs, including the reasonable compensation of assistant attorneys general and special counsel, incurred in bringing the counterclaim or cross-claim. The officer or employee shall cooperate fully with the attorney general's defense. Sections 109.36 to 109.366 of the Revised Code do not deprive any officer or employee of the right to select counsel of his own choice or settle his case at his own expense at any time, and, except under the circumstances described in division (E) of section 120.06 of the Revised Code, do not prohibit the attorney general from entering his appearance in a case to protect the interest of the state even though no request for the appearance has been made by the officer or employee.

Section 109.362 | Investigation as to whether action was manifestly outside scope of duties or with malicious purpose or in bad faith.

• Effective: March 13, 1980
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 76 - 113th General Assembly

(A) Prior to undertaking any defense under section 109.361 of the Revised Code, the attorney general shall conduct an investigation of the facts to determine whether the requirements of this section have been met. If the attorney general determines that any officer who holds an elective state office was acting manifestly outside the scope of his official responsibilities or that any other officer or employee was acting manifestly outside the scope of his employment or official responsibilities, with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner, the attorney general shall not represent and defend the officer or employee. An initial determination to represent and defend the officer or employee does not prohibit a later determination that the requirements of this section have not been met.

(B) The attorney general shall also deny a request for representation upon a determination that the requesting officer or employee is covered by a policy of insurance purchased by the state requiring the insurer to provide counsel in the action and that the amount of the claim against the officer or employee is not in excess of the amount of coverage under the policy of insurance. If the amount of the claim against the officer or employee is in excess of the amount of coverage under the policy of insurance, the state is not the plaintiff, and the officer or employee is not otherwise prohibited by this section from being represented and defended by the attorney general, the attorney general shall represent and defend the officer or employee for the amount of the claim in excess of the amount of coverage.

(C) If the attorney general denies representation to an employee or officer who makes a request in accordance with the provisions of section 109.361 of the Revised Code, the attorney general shall notify the requesting officer or employee in writing of the denial setting forth the reasons for the denial within a reasonable time after the attorney general's receipt of the written request from the officer or employee.

Section 109.363 | Employer to provide written report and information.

• Effective: March 13, 1980
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 76 - 113th General Assembly

The employer of the defendant officer or employee shall provide the attorney general with a written report indicating the present or former position, job title, or classification of the officer or employee with the state and, citing pertinent facts, whether in its opinion the officer or employee meets the requirements of section 109.362 of the Revised Code. In addition, the employer shall provide any additional information that is requested by the attorney general.

Section 109.364 | Denial of representation.

• Effective: March 13, 1980
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 76 - 113th General Assembly

If the attorney general denies representation to an officer or employee who made a request for representation under section 109.361 of the Revised Code, the officer or employee may, upon the termination of the action for which he requested the representation, commence an action in the court of claims against the employer pursuant to sections 2743.01 to 2743.20 of the Revised Code for the reasonable expenses incurred in providing his own defense.

An action brought pursuant to this section shall be commenced no later than two years after the cause of action arising under this section accrues. A cause of action arising under this section accrues upon the conclusion of the civil action instituted against the officer or employee for which the attorney general denied the officer's or employee's request for representation if the time for filing an appeal in the action lapses without the filing of an appeal or upon the conclusion of the final appeal in the civil action instituted against the officer or employee for which the attorney general denied the officer's or employee's request for representation if an appeal is filed in the action.

If the court of claims finds that the officer or employee was entitled to have the attorney general represent and defend him under section 109.361 of the Revised Code, the court shall enter judgment against the employer in favor of the officer or employee in the amount of the reasonable expenses incurred by the officer or employee in providing his own defense and in bringing the action authorized by this section. The reasonable expenses may include, but are not limited to, payment of court costs, attorney's fees, investigative costs, and expert witness fees.

Section 109.365 | Information obtained is privileged.

• Effective: March 13, 1980
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 76 - 113th General Assembly

Information obtained by the attorney general pursuant to his investigation to determine whether to defend an officer or employee is privileged and is not admissible as evidence against the officer or employee in any legal action or proceeding and no reference to the information may be made in any trial or hearing. The decision of the attorney general to defend or not defend an officer or employee is not admissible as evidence in any trial or hearing. This section does not apply to any trial or hearing to determine the right of an officer or employee to reimbursement pursuant to section 109.364 of the Revised Code or to any trial or hearing held as a result of an action filed pursuant to division (F) of section 9.87 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.366 | Administrative rules.

• Effective: March 13, 1980
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 76 - 113th General Assembly

The attorney general may promulgate any rules that are necessary for the implementation of sections 109.36 to 109.366 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.37 | Legal representation of correctional employee.

• Effective: April 7, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 130 - 127th General Assembly

(A) An employee of the department of rehabilitation and correction may be represented in a criminal proceeding by an attorney selected pursuant to division (B) of this section when all of the following apply:

(1) The employee used deadly force that resulted in the death of another.

(2) The use of deadly force occurred within the scope and in the course of the employee's assigned duties.

(3) The employee's use of deadly force is being investigated by a prosecuting attorney or other criminal investigating authority for possible criminal charges.

(B) When all of the conditions set forth in division (A) of this section apply, the employee may submit a request for legal representation to the director of rehabilitation and correction. If the director determines that all of the conditions in that division apply, and if the director considers the requested legal representation to be appropriate, the director may approve the request and submit it to the attorney general. Upon receipt of the request, the attorney general shall furnish the employee the names of three attorneys who are admitted to the practice of law in this state and are experienced in the defense of criminal charges. The employee may select one of the attorneys to represent the employee until the grand jury concludes its proceedings or the case is disposed of before the grand jury concludes its proceedings.

(C) An attorney who represents an employee pursuant to division (B) of this section shall be paid at the usual rate for like services in the community in which the criminal proceedings occur or at the usual rate paid to special counsel under section 109.07 of the Revised Code, as the attorney general decides. The department of rehabilitation and correction shall pay the attorney's compensation and all reasonable expenses and court costs incurred in the defense of the employee. The attorney general may adopt rules concerning the compensation of attorneys pursuant to this division.

(D) If a criminal investigation described in division (A)(3) of this section of an employee results in an indictment based on the employee's use of deadly force, an attorney who represents the employee pursuant to division (B) of this section may continue to represent the employee in the criminal proceeding on any terms to which the attorney and employee mutually agree. Subject to section 9.871 of the Revised Code, neither the attorney general nor the department of rehabilitation and correction is obligated to provide the employee with legal representation or to pay attorney's fees, expenses, or court costs incurred by the employee following the indictment of the employee.

(E) If an employee is represented by an attorney as described in division (B) of this section and if the employee is subsequently convicted of or pleads guilty to a criminal offense based on the employee's use of deadly force, the attorney general or the department of rehabilitation and correction may seek to recover, including by means of a civil action, from the employee the costs of legal representation paid by the department pursuant to division (B) of this section.

Section 109.38 | Solicitor general.

• Effective: April 4, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 288 - 134th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created, as a section within the office of the attorney general, an office of the solicitor general. The attorney general shall set the duties of the solicitor general.

(B) There is hereby created, as a section within the office of the attorney general, a Tenth Amendment center. The center shall actively monitor federal executive orders, federal statutes, and federal regulations for potential abuse or overreach, including assertion of power inconsistent with the United States Constitution. The center shall have at least one attorney dedicated to the center whose primary job responsibility is to monitor federal executive orders, federal statutes, and federal regulations for possible overreach. If the center determines a federal executive order, federal statute, or federal regulation is not supported by law, the center shall prepare and make a recommendation to the office of the solicitor general. The solicitor general shall advise the attorney general about possible causes of action. Regarding such actions, the attorney general has discretion to act on the attorney general's own initiative or based on the recommendation of the solicitor general.

(C) The attorney general shall provide adequate office space, staff, equipment, and materials to the office of the solicitor general and to the Tenth Amendment center.

Last updated March 9, 2023 at 5:05 PM

Section 109.40 | Compilation of statutes relative to obscenity.

• Effective: November 5, 1959
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 24 - 103rd General Assembly

The attorney general shall compile all statutes relative to obscenity in a convenient pamphlet or paper and may distribute this compilation, without charge, to such sheriffs, police chiefs, county prosecutors, city prosecutors, mayors, constables, judges of the courts of common pleas, county court judges, municipal judges, and other interested parties, as may request such distribution, and make available a reasonable number of such compilations to fill such requests.

The attorney general shall, from time to time, supplement and keep the compilation current and he may, upon request, distribute such supplemental material in the manner provided in this section.

Section 109.41 | Claiming escheated property.

• Effective: January 1, 1975
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 800 - 110th General Assembly

Whenever any state begins procedure to escheat property of any person who is an Ohio citizen, corporation, firm, or resident, or whose last known address was in Ohio, on the ground that the property has been abandoned, or on any other grounds, the attorney general may, after making diligent effort to notify the owner of the property and failing in the same, act as attorney in fact for the Ohio owner to claim the property. Upon taking custody of the property, the attorney general shall deposit same in the general fund of Ohio, or if the property be in kind, the attorney general shall cause the same to be sold pursuant to section 2113.40 of the Revised Code, and deposit the proceeds of the sale in the general fund. Claims to the property shall thereafter be made in the manner provided for in Chapter 2743. of the Revised Code.

Section 109.42 | Compilation of laws relative to victim's rights.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 16 (GA 135), House Bill 33 (GA 135)

(A) The attorney general shall prepare and make available a compilation of all constitutional provisions and statutes relative to victim's rights in which the attorney general lists and explains the constitutional provisions and statutes in the form of a victim's bill of rights. The attorney general shall make the compilation available to all sheriffs, marshals, municipal corporation and township police departments, constables, and other law enforcement agencies, to all prosecuting attorneys, city directors of law, village solicitors, and other similar chief legal officers of municipal corporations, and to organizations that represent or provide services for victims of crime. The victim's bill of rights set forth in the compilation shall contain a description of all of the rights of victims that are provided for in the Ohio Constitution, or in Chapter 2930. or any other section of the Revised Code and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) The right of a victim and a victim's representative, if applicable, to attend a proceeding before a grand jury, in a juvenile delinquency case, or in a criminal case without being discharged from the victim's or victim's representative's employment, having the victim's or victim's representative's employment terminated, having the victim's or victim's representative's pay decreased or withheld, or otherwise being punished, penalized, or threatened as a result of time lost from regular employment because of the victim's or victim's representative's attendance at the proceeding, as set forth in section 2151.211, 2930.18, 2939.121, or 2945.451 of the Revised Code;

(2) The potential availability pursuant to section 2151.359 or 2152.61 of the Revised Code of a forfeited recognizance to pay damages caused by a child when the delinquency of the child or child's violation of probation or community control is found to be proximately caused by the failure of the child's parent or guardian to subject the child to reasonable parental authority or to faithfully discharge the conditions of probation or community control;

(3) The availability of awards of reparations pursuant to sections 2743.51 to 2743.72 of the Revised Code for injuries caused by criminal offenses;

(4) The opportunity to obtain a court order, pursuant to section 2945.04 of the Revised Code, to prevent or stop the commission of the offense of intimidation of a crime victim or witness or an offense against the person or property of the complainant, or of the complainant's ward or child;

(5) The right of the victim and the victim's representative pursuant to the Ohio Constitution and sections 2151.38, 2929.20, 2930.10, 2930.16, and 2930.17 of the Revised Code to receive notice of a pending motion for judicial release or other early release of the person who committed the offense against the victim, to make a statement orally, in writing, or both at the court hearing on the motion, and to be notified of the court's decision on the motion;

(6) The right of the victim and the victim's representative, if applicable, pursuant to the Ohio Constitution and section 2930.16, 2967.12, 2967.26, 2967.271, or 5139.56 of the Revised Code to receive notice of any pending commutation, pardon, parole, transitional control, discharge, other form of authorized release, post-release control, or supervised release for the person who committed the offense against the victim or any application for release of that person and to send a written statement relative to the victimization and the pending action to the adult parole authority or the release authority of the department of youth services;

(7) The right of the victim to bring a civil action pursuant to sections 2969.01 to 2969.06 of the Revised Code to obtain money from the offender's profit fund;

(8) The right, pursuant to section 3109.09 of the Revised Code, to maintain a civil action to recover compensatory damages not exceeding ten thousand dollars and costs from the parent of a minor who willfully damages property through the commission of an act that would be a theft offense, as defined in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, if committed by an adult;

(9) The right, pursuant to section 3109.10 of the Revised Code, to maintain a civil action to recover compensatory damages not exceeding ten thousand dollars and costs from the parent of a minor who willfully and maliciously assaults a person;

(10) The right of the victim, pursuant to section 2152.20, 2152.203, 2929.18, 2929.28, or 2929.281 of the Revised Code, to receive restitution from an offender or a delinquent child;

(11) The right of a victim of domestic violence, including domestic violence in a dating relationship as defined in section 3113.31 of the Revised Code, to seek the issuance of a civil protection order pursuant to that section, the right of a victim of a violation of section 2903.14, 2909.06, 2909.07, 2911.12, 2911.211, or 2919.22 of the Revised Code, a violation of a substantially similar municipal ordinance, or an offense of violence who is a family or household member of the offender at the time of the offense to seek the issuance of a temporary protection order pursuant to section 2919.26 of the Revised Code, and the right of both types of victims to be accompanied by a victim advocate during court proceedings;

(12) The right of a victim of a sexually oriented offense or of a child-victim oriented offense that is committed by a person who is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or is adjudicated a delinquent child for committing the offense and who is in a category specified in division (B) of section 2950.10 of the Revised Code to receive, pursuant to that section, notice that the person has registered with a sheriff under section 2950.04, 2950.041, or 2950.05 of the Revised Code and notice of the person's name, the person's residence that is registered, and the offender's school, institution of higher education, or place of employment address or addresses that are registered, the person's photograph, and a summary of the manner in which the victim must make a request to receive the notice. As used in this division, "sexually oriented offense" and "child-victim oriented offense" have the same meanings as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.

(13) The right of a victim of certain sexually violent offenses committed by an offender who also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a sexually violent predator specification and who is sentenced to a prison term pursuant to division (A)(3) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code, of a victim of a violation of division (A)(1)(b) of section 2907.02 of the Revised Code committed on or after January 2, 2007, by an offender who is sentenced for the violation pursuant to division (B)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code, of a victim of an attempted rape committed on or after January 2, 2007, by an offender who also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification of the type described in section 2941.1418, 2941.1419, or 2941.1420 of the Revised Code and is sentenced for the violation pursuant to division (B)(2)(a), (b), or (c) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code, and of a victim of an offense that is described in division (B)(3)(a), (b), (c), or (d) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code and is committed by an offender who is sentenced pursuant to one of those divisions to receive, pursuant to section 2930.16 of the Revised Code, notice of a hearing to determine whether to modify the requirement that the offender serve the entire prison term in a state correctional facility, whether to continue, revise, or revoke any existing modification of that requirement, or whether to terminate the prison term. As used in this division, "sexually violent offense" and "sexually violent predator specification" have the same meanings as in section 2971.01 of the Revised Code.

(14) The right of a victim of a sexually oriented offense to information regarding the status of the sexual assault examination kit collected from the victim pursuant to section 109.68 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1)(a) A prosecuting attorney, assistant prosecuting attorney, city director of law, assistant city director of law, village solicitor, assistant village solicitor, or similar chief legal officer of a municipal corporation or an assistant of any of those officers who prosecutes an offense committed in this state, upon first contact with the victim of the offense, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents, shall give the victim, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents a copy of the victim's rights request form created under section 2930.04 of the Revised Code, or a similar form that, at a minimum, contains all the required information listed in that section, and the compilation prepared pursuant to division (A) of this section and explain, upon request, the information in the form and compilation to the victim, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents. The victim may receive either through the online version of the compilation published to the attorney general's web site, or as a paper copy, upon request.

(b) A law enforcement agency that investigates a criminal offense or delinquent act committed in this state shall give the victim of the criminal offense or delinquent act, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents a copy of the form and compilation prepared pursuant to division (A) of this section at one of the following times:

(i) Upon first contact with the victim, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents, a peace officer from the law enforcement agency investigating the criminal offense or delinquent act against the victim shall determine whether the victim has access to the internet and whether the victim would prefer to access the victim's rights compilation online or if the victim requires a paper copy. The peace officer may give the victim a paper copy upon first contact, if requested, or the peace officer may provide the victim with the attorney general's telephone number to access the compilation at a later time. The attorney general shall provide a web site address at which a printable version of the victim's rights compilation that can be downloaded and printed locally may be found. The attorney general shall provide limited paper copies of the victim's rights compilation upon request to law enforcement agencies that order copies directly from the attorney general and to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to provide to victims who do not have internet access or who would prefer a paper copy. The attorney general shall create a page within the attorney general's web site that is easy to access and navigate that contains the entire content of the victim's rights compilation and a link to the web site address at which a printable version of the victim's rights compilation may be found.

(ii) If the circumstances of the criminal offense or delinquent act and the condition of the victim, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents indicate that the victim, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents will not be able to understand the significance of the form and compilation upon first contact with the agency, and if the agency anticipates that it will have an additional contact with the victim, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents, upon the agency's second contact with the victim, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents.

If the agency does not give the victim, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents a copy of the form and compilation upon first contact with them and does not have a second contact with the victim, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents, the agency shall mail a copy of the form and compilation to the victim, the victim's family, or the victim's dependents at their last known address.

(c)(i) The attorney general shall create an information card that contains all of the following:

(I) An outline list of victim's rights contained in the Ohio Constitution and Revised Code;

(II) A reference to the victim's rights request form;

(III) The attorney general's crime victim's services office telephone number, electronic mailing address, web site address, and contact address, and a description of how to access victim's rights information;

(IV) The Ohio crime victim's justice center's telephone number, electronic mailing address, and contact address, and the web site address for accessing the center's victim's rights toolkit.

(ii) Upon first contact with the victim, the law enforcement agency shall provide the victim with the information card.

(2) A law enforcement agency, a prosecuting attorney or assistant prosecuting attorney, or a city director of law, assistant city director of law, village solicitor, assistant village solicitor, or similar chief legal officer of a municipal corporation that distributes a copy of the form and compilation prepared pursuant to division (A) of this section shall not be required to distribute a copy of an information card or other printed material provided by the clerk of the court of claims pursuant to section 2743.71 of the Revised Code but may provide the compilation along with the information cards or other printed materials provided by the clerk of the court of claims under section 2743.71 of the Revised Code.

(C) The cost of printing and distributing the form and compilation prepared pursuant to division (A) of this section shall be paid out of the reparations fund, created pursuant to section 2743.191 of the Revised Code, in accordance with division (D) of that section.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Criminal offense," "delinquent act," and "victim's representative" have the same meanings as in section 2930.01 of the Revised Code;

(2) "Victim advocate" has the same meaning as in section 2919.26 of the Revised Code.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Last updated September 11, 2023 at 9:52 AM

Section 109.43 | Public records training programs - model public records policy.

• Effective: November 2, 2018
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 34 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Designee" means a designee of the elected official in the public office if that elected official is the only elected official in the public office involved or a designee of all of the elected officials in the public office if the public office involved includes more than one elected official.

(2) "Elected official" means an official elected to a local or statewide office. "Elected official" does not include the chief justice or a justice of the supreme court, a judge of a court of appeals, court of common pleas, municipal court, or county court, or a clerk of any of those courts.

(3) "Future official" means a person who has received a certificate of election to a local or statewide office under section 3505.38 of the Revised Code but has not yet taken office. As used in this division, "local or statewide office" does not include the office of the chief justice or a justice of the supreme court, a judge of a court of appeals, court of common pleas, municipal court, or county court, or a clerk of any of those courts.

(4) "Public office" has the same meaning as in section 149.011 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Public record" has the same meaning as in section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(B) The attorney general shall develop, provide, and certify training programs and seminars for all elected officials or their appropriate designees, and for all future officials who choose to satisfy the training requirement before taking office, in order to enhance the officials' knowledge of the duty to provide access to public records as required by section 149.43 of the Revised Code and to enhance their knowledge of the open meetings laws set forth in section 121.22 of the Revised Code. The training shall be three hours for every term of office for which the elected official or future official was appointed or elected to the public office involved. The training shall provide elected officials or their appropriate designees and future officials with guidance in developing and updating their offices' policies as required under section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The successful completion by an elected official, by an elected official's appropriate designee, or by a future official of the training requirements established by the attorney general under this section shall satisfy the education requirements imposed under division (E) of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(C) The attorney general shall not charge any elected official, the appropriate designee of any elected official, or any future official any fee for attending the training programs and seminars that the attorney general conducts under this section. The attorney general may allow the attendance of any other interested persons at any of the training programs or seminars that the attorney general conducts under this section and shall not charge the person any fee for attending the training program or seminar.

(D) In addition to developing, providing, and certifying training programs and seminars as required under division (B) of this section, the attorney general may contract with one or more other state agencies, political subdivisions, or other public or private entities to conduct the training programs and seminars for elected officials, their appropriate designees, and future officials under this section. The contract may provide for the attendance of any other interested persons at any of the training programs or seminars conducted by the contracting state agency, political subdivision, or other public or private entity. The contracting state agency, political subdivision, or other public or private entity may charge an elected official, an elected official's appropriate designee, a future official, or an interested person a registration fee for attending the training program or seminar conducted by that contracting agency, political subdivision, or entity pursuant to a contract entered into under this division. The attorney general shall determine a reasonable amount for the registration fee based on the actual and necessary expenses associated with the training programs and seminars. If the contracting state agency, political subdivision, or other public or private entity charges an elected official, an elected official's appropriate designee, or a future official a registration fee for attending the training program or seminar conducted pursuant to a contract entered into under this division by that contracting agency, political subdivision, or entity, the public office for which the elected official or future official was appointed or elected to represent may use the public office's own funds to pay for the cost of the registration fee.

(E) The attorney general shall develop and provide to all public offices a model public records policy for responding to public records requests in compliance with section 149.43 of the Revised Code in order to provide guidance to public offices in developing their own public record policies for responding to public records requests in compliance with that section.

(F) The attorney general may provide any other appropriate training or educational programs about Ohio's "Sunshine Laws," sections 121.22, 149.38, 149.381, and 149.43 of the Revised Code, as may be developed and offered by the attorney general or by the attorney general in collaboration with one or more other state agencies, political subdivisions, or other public or private entities.

(G) The auditor of state, in the course of an annual or biennial audit of a public office pursuant to Chapter 117. of the Revised Code, shall audit the public office for compliance with this section and division (E) of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.46 | Domestic violence program fund.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "domestic violence program" means any of the following:

(1) The nonprofit state domestic violence coalition designated by the family and youth services bureau of the United States department of health and human services;

(2) A program operated by a nonprofit entity the primary purpose of which is to provide a broad range of services to victims of domestic violence that may include, but are not limited to, hotlines, emergency shelters, victim advocacy and support, justice systems advocacy, individual and group counseling for adults and children, or transitional service and education to prevent domestic violence. The program may provide some or all of the services described in this division.

(B)(1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the domestic violence program fund consisting of money appropriated to the fund by the general assembly or donated to the fund. The attorney general shall administer the domestic violence program fund. The attorney general may not use more than five per cent of the moneys appropriated or deposited into the fund to pay costs associated with administering the fund, and shall use at least ninety-five per cent of the moneys appropriated or deposited into the fund for the purpose of providing funding to domestic violence programs under this section.

(2) The attorney general shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that shall establish procedures for domestic violence programs to apply to the attorney general for funding from the domestic violence program fund and procedures for the attorney general to distribute money out of the fund to domestic violence programs.

(C)(1) Priority of funding from the domestic violence program fund shall be given to the domestic violence programs in existence on and after July 1, 2017.

(2) A domestic violence program that receives funds from the domestic violence program fund shall use the funds received for the following purposes:

(a) To provide training and technical assistance to service providers, if the program that receives the funds is the nonprofit state domestic violence coalition specified in division (A)(1) of this section;

(b) To provide services to victims of domestic violence, including, but not limited to, education to prevent domestic violence, if the program that receives the funds is a nonprofit entity described in division (A)(2) of this section. Funds received under this division may also be used for general operating support, including capital improvements and primary prevention and risk reduction programs for the general population.

Section 109.51 | Bureau of criminal identification and investigation created.

• Effective: September 24, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 105th General Assembly

There is hereby created in the office of the attorney general, a bureau of criminal identification and investigation to be located at the site of the London correctional institution. The attorney general shall appoint a superintendent of said bureau. The superintendent shall appoint, with the approval of the attorney general, such assistants as are necessary to carry out the functions and duties of the bureau as contained in sections 109.51 to 109.63, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Section 109.511 | Felony conviction precludes or terminates employment.

• Effective: January 1, 2004
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 490 - 124th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "felony" means any of the following:

(1) An offense committed in this state that is a felony under the law of this state;

(2) An offense committed in a state other than this state, or under the law of the United States, that, if committed in this state, would be a felony under the law of this state.

(B) The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall not appoint or employ any person as an investigator or a special agent on a permanent basis, on a temporary basis, for a probationary term, or on other than a permanent basis if the person previously has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony.

(C)(1) The superintendent shall terminate the employment of an investigator or a special agent who does either of the following:

(a) Pleads guilty to a felony;

(b) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code in which the investigator or special agent agrees to surrender the certificate awarded to the investigator or special agent under section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(2) The superintendent shall suspend from employment an investigator or a special agent who is convicted, after trial, of a felony. If the investigator or special agent files an appeal from that conviction and the conviction is upheld by the highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the investigator or special agent does not file a timely appeal, the superintendent shall terminate the employment of that investigator or special agent. If the investigator or special agent files an appeal that results in that investigator's or special agent's acquittal of the felony or conviction of a misdemeanor, or in the dismissal of the felony charge against the investigator or special agent, the superintendent shall reinstate that investigator or special agent. An investigator or a special agent who is reinstated under this division shall not receive any back pay unless that investigator's or special agent's conviction of the felony was reversed on appeal, or the felony charge was dismissed, because the court found insufficient evidence to convict the investigator or special agent of the felony.

(D) This section does not apply regarding an offense that was committed prior to January 1, 1997.

(E) The suspension from employment or the termination of the employment of an investigator or a special agent under division (C) of this section shall be in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Section 109.52 | Operation and maintenance of bureau.

• Effective: September 24, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 105th General Assembly

The bureau of criminal identification and investigation may operate and maintain a criminal analysis laboratory and mobile units thereof, create a staff of investigators and technicians skilled in the solution and control of crimes and criminal activity, keep statistics and other necessary data, assist in the prevention of crime, and engage in such other activities as will aid law enforcement officers in solving crimes and controlling criminal activity.

Section 109.521 | Bureau of criminal identification and investigation asset forfeiture and cost reimbursement fund.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 227 - 131st General Assembly

There is hereby created in the state treasury the bureau of criminal identification and investigation asset forfeiture and cost reimbursement fund. All amounts awarded to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation as a result of shared federal and state asset forfeiture and state and local moneys designated as restitution for reimbursement of the costs of investigations and all amounts received by the bureau under section 2981.13 of the Revised Code shall be deposited into this fund. The moneys in this fund shall be used in accordance with federal and state asset forfeiture rules, regulations, and laws. Interest earned on the money in this fund shall be credited to the fund.

Section 109.53 | Equipment of bureau.

• Effective: September 24, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 105th General Assembly

The bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall be supplied with furniture, fixtures, apparatus, vehicles, and materials necessary to carry out the functions and duties of the bureau as contained in sections 109.51 to 109.63, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Section 109.54 | Cooperation of other governmental agencies.

• Effective: June 20, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 130 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The bureau of criminal identification and investigation may investigate any criminal activity in this state that is of statewide or intercounty concern when requested by local authorities and may aid federal authorities, when requested, in their investigation of any criminal activity in this state. The bureau may investigate any criminal activity in this state related to the conduct of elections when requested by the secretary of state. The bureau may investigate any criminal activity in this state involving drug abuse or illegal drug distribution prohibited under Chapter 3719. or 4729. of the Revised Code or any violation of section 2915.02 of the Revised Code. The superintendent and any agent of the bureau may participate, as the director of an organized crime task force established under section 177.02 of the Revised Code or as a member of the investigatory staff of a task force established under that section, in an investigation of organized criminal activity anywhere within this state under sections 177.01 to 177.03 of the Revised Code.

(B) The bureau may provide any trained investigative personnel and specialized equipment that are requested by any sheriff or chief of police, by the authorized designee of any sheriff or chief of police, or by any other authorized law enforcement officer to aid and assist the officer in the investigation and solution of any crime or the control of any criminal activity occurring within the officer's jurisdiction. This assistance shall be furnished by the bureau without disturbing or impairing any of the existing law enforcement authority or the prerogatives of local law enforcement authorities or officers. Investigators provided pursuant to this section, or engaged in an investigation pursuant to section 109.83 of the Revised Code, may go armed in the same manner as sheriffs and regularly appointed police officers under section 2923.12 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) The bureau shall obtain recording equipment that can be used to record depositions of the type described in division (A) of section 2152.81 and division (A) of section 2945.481 of the Revised Code, or testimony of the type described in division (D) of section 2152.81 and division (D) of section 2945.481 or in division (C) of section 2937.11 of the Revised Code, shall obtain closed circuit equipment that can be used to televise testimony of the type described in division (C) or (D) of section 2152.81 and division (C) of section 2945.481 or in division (B) of section 2937.11 of the Revised Code, and shall provide the equipment, upon request, to any court for use in recording any deposition or testimony of one of those types or in televising the testimony in accordance with the applicable division.

(2) The bureau shall obtain the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of persons who are experienced in questioning children in relation to an investigation of a violation of section 2905.03, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.23, 2907.24, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, or 2919.22 of the Revised Code or an offense of violence and shall maintain a list of those names, addresses, and telephone numbers. The list shall include a classification of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers by appellate district. Upon request, the bureau shall provide any county sheriff, chief of police, prosecuting attorney, village solicitor, city director of law, or similar chief legal officer with the name, address, and telephone number of any person contained in the list.

Section 109.541 | Powers and duties of bureau.

• Effective: October 16, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 480 - 121st General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Investigator" means an officer or employee of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation described in section 109.54 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) An investigator, while providing assistance to a law enforcement officer pursuant to division (B) of section 109.54 of the Revised Code, has the same arrest authority as a peace officer of the law enforcement agency served by the law enforcement officer requesting the assistance. The investigator may exercise this arrest authority only in connection with the investigation or activities for which the investigator's assistance was requested.

(C)(1) No state official shall command, order, or direct an investigator to perform any duty or service that is not authorized by law. The power and duties conferred by this section on the bureau of criminal identification and investigation are supplementary to, and in no way a limitation on, the power and duties of sheriffs or other peace officers of the state or a political subdivision of the state.

(2) An investigator, pursuant to the policy established by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation under division (D)(1) of this section, may render emergency assistance to any peace officer who has arrest authority under section 2935.03 of the Revised Code if both of the following apply:

(a) There is a threat of imminent physical harm to the peace officer, a threat of physical harm to another person, or any serious emergency situation.

(b) The peace officer requests emergency assistance, or it appears to the investigator that the peace officer is unable to request emergency assistance and that the circumstances reasonably indicate that emergency assistance is appropriate.

(D)(1) The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section, shall establish a policy specifying the manner and procedures by which an investigator may render emergency assistance to a peace officer pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section.

(2) An investigator who renders assistance to a law enforcement officer pursuant to division (B) of section 109.54 of the Revised Code or renders emergency assistance to any peace officer pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section and under the policy established under division (D)(1) of this section shall be considered to be engaged in the investigator's regular employment for the purpose of compensation, retirement benefits, indemnification rights, workers' compensation, and any other rights or benefits to which the investigator may be entitled incident to the investigator's regular employment.

(3) An investigator who renders emergency assistance to a peace officer pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section and under the policy established under division (D)(1) of this section has the same authority as the peace officer to whom the assistance is rendered.

(4) An investigator who renders emergency assistance to a peace officer pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section and under the policy established under division (D)(1) of this section retains personal immunity from liability as described in sections 9.85 to 9.87 of the Revised Code, the right to defense under sections 109.36 to 109.366 of the Revised Code, and the right to indemnification under section 9.87 of the Revised Code. This section does not affect the provisions of section 2743.02 of the Revised Code that pertain to the commencement of a civil action against a state officer or employee.

Section 109.542 | Investigative personnel are peace officers.

• Effective: August 29, 2002
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 427 - 124th General Assembly

If an officer or employee of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation is investigative personnel of the bureau and has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting to the officer's or employee's satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace officer basic training program, both of the following apply:

(A) The officer or employee shall be considered a peace officer during the term of the officer's or employee's appointment or employment with the bureau in that capacity for the purposes of maintaining a current and valid basic training certificate pursuant to rules adopted under section 109.74 of the Revised Code.

(B) Sections 109.71 to 109.77 of the Revised Code apply to the officer or employee as if the officer or employee was included in the definition of "peace officer" set forth in section 109.71 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.55 | Coordination of law enforcement work and crime prevention activities.

• Effective: April 9, 1985
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 321 - 115th General Assembly

The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall recommend cooperative policies for the coordination of the law enforcement work and crime prevention activities of all state and local agencies and officials having law enforcement duties to promote cooperation between such agencies and officials, to secure effective and efficient law enforcement, to eliminate duplication of work, and to promote economy of operation in such agencies.

In formulating and recommending cooperative policies, the superintendent shall emphasize the provisions of section 2901.30 of the Revised Code.

The superintendent shall develop procedures and forms to implement section 2901.30 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.56 | Training local law enforcement officers in crime prevention, detection, and solution.

• Effective: September 24, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 105th General Assembly

The bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall, where practicable, assist in training local law enforcement officers in crime prevention, detection, and solution when requested by local authorities, and, where practicable, furnish instruction to sheriffs, chiefs of police, and other law officers in the establishment of efficient local bureaus of identification in their districts.

Section 109.57 | Duties of superintendent.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 147 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall procure from wherever procurable and file for record photographs, pictures, descriptions, fingerprints, measurements, and other information that may be pertinent of all persons who have been convicted of committing within this state a felony, any crime constituting a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses, or any misdemeanor described in division (A)(1)(a), (A)(4)(a), or (A)(6)(a) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, of all children under eighteen years of age who have been adjudicated delinquent children for committing within this state an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult or who have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to committing within this state a felony or an offense of violence, and of all well-known and habitual criminals. The person in charge of any county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution and the person in charge of any state institution having custody of a person suspected of having committed a felony, any crime constituting a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses, or any misdemeanor described in division (A)(1)(a), (A)(4)(a), or (A)(6)(a) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code or having custody of a child under eighteen years of age with respect to whom there is probable cause to believe that the child may have committed an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult shall furnish such material to the superintendent of the bureau. Fingerprints, photographs, or other descriptive information of a child who is under eighteen years of age, has not been arrested or otherwise taken into custody for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence who is not in any other category of child specified in this division, if committed by an adult, has not been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to committing a felony or an offense of violence, and is not a child with respect to whom there is probable cause to believe that the child may have committed an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult shall not be procured by the superintendent or furnished by any person in charge of any county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution, except as authorized in section 2151.313 of the Revised Code.

(2) Every clerk of a court of record in this state, other than the supreme court or a court of appeals, shall send to the superintendent of the bureau a weekly report containing a summary of each case involving a felony, involving any crime constituting a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses, involving a misdemeanor described in division (A)(1)(a), (A)(4)(a), or (A)(6)(a) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, or involving an adjudication in a case in which a child under eighteen years of age was alleged to be a delinquent child for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult. The clerk of the court of common pleas shall include in the report and summary the clerk sends under this division all information described in divisions (A)(2)(a) to (f) of this section regarding a case before the court of appeals that is served by that clerk. The summary shall be written on the standard forms furnished by the superintendent pursuant to division (B) of this section and shall include the following information:

(a) The incident tracking number contained on the standard forms furnished by the superintendent pursuant to division (B) of this section;

(b) The style and number of the case;

(c) The date of arrest, offense, summons, or arraignment;

(d) The date that the person was convicted of or pleaded guilty to the offense, adjudicated a delinquent child for committing the act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, found not guilty of the offense, or found not to be a delinquent child for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, the date of an entry dismissing the charge, an entry declaring a mistrial of the offense in which the person is discharged, an entry finding that the person or child is not competent to stand trial, or an entry of a nolle prosequi, or the date of any other determination that constitutes final resolution of the case;

(e) A statement of the original charge with the section of the Revised Code that was alleged to be violated;

(f) If the person or child was convicted, pleaded guilty, or was adjudicated a delinquent child, the sentence or terms of probation imposed or any other disposition of the offender or the delinquent child.

If the offense involved the disarming of a law enforcement officer or an attempt to disarm a law enforcement officer, the clerk shall clearly state that fact in the summary, and the superintendent shall ensure that a clear statement of that fact is placed in the bureau's records.

(3) The superintendent shall cooperate with and assist sheriffs, chiefs of police, and other law enforcement officers in the establishment of a complete system of criminal identification and in obtaining fingerprints and other means of identification of all persons arrested on a charge of a felony, any crime constituting a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses, or a misdemeanor described in division (A)(1)(a), (A)(4)(a), or (A)(6)(a) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and of all children under eighteen years of age arrested or otherwise taken into custody for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult. The superintendent also shall file for record the fingerprint impressions of all persons confined in a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution for the violation of state laws and of all children under eighteen years of age who are confined in a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution or in any facility for delinquent children for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, and any other information that the superintendent may receive from law enforcement officials of the state and its political subdivisions.

(4) The superintendent shall carry out Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code with respect to the registration of persons who are convicted of or plead guilty to a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense and with respect to all other duties imposed on the bureau under that chapter.

(5) The bureau shall perform centralized recordkeeping functions for criminal history records and services in this state for purposes of the national crime prevention and privacy compact set forth in section 109.571 of the Revised Code and is the criminal history record repository as defined in that section for purposes of that compact. The superintendent or the superintendent's designee is the compact officer for purposes of that compact and shall carry out the responsibilities of the compact officer specified in that compact.

(6) The superintendent shall, upon request, assist a county coroner in the identification of a deceased person through the use of fingerprint impressions obtained pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section or collected pursuant to section 109.572 or 311.41 of the Revised Code.

(B) The superintendent shall prepare and furnish to every county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution and to every clerk of a court in this state specified in division (A)(2) of this section standard forms for reporting the information required under division (A) of this section. The standard forms that the superintendent prepares pursuant to this division may be in a tangible format, in an electronic format, or in both tangible formats and electronic formats.

(C)(1) The superintendent may operate a center for electronic, automated, or other data processing for the storage and retrieval of information, data, and statistics pertaining to criminals and to children under eighteen years of age who are adjudicated delinquent children for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, criminal activity, crime prevention, law enforcement, and criminal justice, and may establish and operate a statewide communications network to be known as the Ohio law enforcement gateway to gather and disseminate information, data, and statistics for the use of law enforcement agencies and for other uses specified in this division. The superintendent may gather, store, retrieve, and disseminate information, data, and statistics that pertain to children who are under eighteen years of age and that are gathered pursuant to sections 109.57 to 109.61 of the Revised Code together with information, data, and statistics that pertain to adults and that are gathered pursuant to those sections.

(2) The superintendent or the superintendent's designee shall gather information of the nature described in division (C)(1) of this section that pertains to the offense and delinquency history of a person who has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense for inclusion in the state registry of sex offenders and child-victim offenders maintained pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 2950.13 of the Revised Code and in the internet database operated pursuant to division (A)(13) of that section and for possible inclusion in the internet database operated pursuant to division (A)(11) of that section.

(3) In addition to any other authorized use of information, data, and statistics of the nature described in division (C)(1) of this section, the superintendent or the superintendent's designee may provide and exchange the information, data, and statistics pursuant to the national crime prevention and privacy compact as described in division (A)(5) of this section.

(4) The Ohio law enforcement gateway shall contain the name, confidential address, and telephone number of program participants in the address confidentiality program established under sections 111.41 to 111.47 of the Revised Code.

(5) The attorney general may adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing guidelines for the operation of and participation in the Ohio law enforcement gateway. The rules may include criteria for granting and restricting access to information gathered and disseminated through the Ohio law enforcement gateway. The attorney general shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that grant access to information in the gateway regarding an address confidentiality program participant under sections 111.41 to 111.47 of the Revised Code to only chiefs of police, village marshals, county sheriffs, county prosecuting attorneys, and a designee of each of these individuals. The attorney general shall permit an office of a county coroner, the state medical board, and board of nursing to access and view, but not alter, information gathered and disseminated through the Ohio law enforcement gateway.

The attorney general may appoint a steering committee to advise the attorney general in the operation of the Ohio law enforcement gateway that is comprised of persons who are representatives of the criminal justice agencies in this state that use the Ohio law enforcement gateway and is chaired by the superintendent or the superintendent's designee.

(D)(1) The following are not public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code:

(a) Information and materials furnished to the superintendent pursuant to division (A) of this section;

(b) Information, data, and statistics gathered or disseminated through the Ohio law enforcement gateway pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section;

(c) Information and materials furnished to any board or person under division (F) or (G) of this section.

(2) The superintendent or the superintendent's designee shall gather and retain information so furnished under division (A) of this section that pertains to the offense and delinquency history of a person who has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense for the purposes described in division (C)(2) of this section.

(E)(1) The attorney general shall adopt rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and subject to division (E)(2) of this section, setting forth the procedure by which a person may receive or release information gathered by the superintendent pursuant to division (A) of this section. A reasonable fee may be charged for this service. If a temporary employment service submits a request for a determination of whether a person the service plans to refer to an employment position has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed or described in division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, the request shall be treated as a single request and only one fee shall be charged.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division or division (E)(3) or (4) of this section, a rule adopted under division (E)(1) of this section may provide only for the release of information gathered pursuant to division (A) of this section that relates to the conviction of a person, or a person's plea of guilty to, a criminal offense or to the arrest of a person as provided in division (E)(3) of this section. The superintendent shall not release, and the attorney general shall not adopt any rule under division (E)(1) of this section that permits the release of, any information gathered pursuant to division (A) of this section that relates to an adjudication of a child as a delinquent child, or that relates to a criminal conviction of a person under eighteen years of age if the person's case was transferred back to a juvenile court under division (B)(2) or (3) of section 2152.121 of the Revised Code and the juvenile court imposed a disposition or serious youthful offender disposition upon the person under either division, unless either of the following applies with respect to the adjudication or conviction:

(a) The adjudication or conviction was for a violation of section 2903.01 or 2903.02 of the Revised Code.

(b) The adjudication or conviction was for a sexually oriented offense, the juvenile court was required to classify the child a juvenile offender registrant for that offense under section 2152.82, 2152.83, or 2152.86 of the Revised Code, that classification has not been removed, and the records of the adjudication or conviction have not been sealed or expunged pursuant to sections 2151.355 to 2151.358 or sealed or expunged pursuant to section 2953.32 of the Revised Code.

(3) A rule adopted under division (E)(1) of this section may provide for the release of information gathered pursuant to division (A) of this section that relates to the arrest of a person who is eighteen years of age or older when the person has not been convicted as a result of that arrest if any of the following applies:

(a) The arrest was made outside of this state.

(b) A criminal action resulting from the arrest is pending, and the superintendent confirms that the criminal action has not been resolved at the time the criminal records check is performed.

(c) The bureau cannot reasonably determine whether a criminal action resulting from the arrest is pending, and not more than one year has elapsed since the date of the arrest.

(4) A rule adopted under division (E)(1) of this section may provide for the release of information gathered pursuant to division (A) of this section that relates to an adjudication of a child as a delinquent child if not more than five years have elapsed since the date of the adjudication, the adjudication was for an act that would have been a felony if committed by an adult, the records of the adjudication have not been sealed or expunged pursuant to sections 2151.355 to 2151.358 of the Revised Code, and the request for information is made under division (F) of this section or under section 109.572 of the Revised Code. In the case of an adjudication for a violation of the terms of community control or supervised release, the five-year period shall be calculated from the date of the adjudication to which the community control or supervised release pertains.

(F)(1) As used in division (F)(2) of this section, "head start agency" means an entity in this state that has been approved to be an agency for purposes of subchapter II of the "Community Economic Development Act," 95 Stat. 489 (1981), 42 U.S.C.A. 9831, as amended.

(2)(a) In addition to or in conjunction with any request that is required to be made under section 109.572, 2151.86, 3301.32, 3301.541, division (C) of section 3310.58, or section 3319.39, 3319.391, 3327.10, 3740.11, 5104.013, 5123.081, or 5153.111 of the Revised Code or that is made under section 3314.41, 3319.392, 3326.25, or 3328.20 of the Revised Code, the board of education of any school district; the director of developmental disabilities; any county board of developmental disabilities; any provider or subcontractor as defined in section 5123.081 of the Revised Code; the chief administrator of any chartered nonpublic school; the chief administrator of a registered private provider that is not also a chartered nonpublic school; the chief administrator of any home health agency; the chief administrator of or person operating any child care center, type A family child care home, or type B family child care home licensed under Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code; the chief administrator of or person operating any authorized private before and after school care program; the chief administrator of any head start agency; the executive director of a public children services agency; a private company described in section 3314.41, 3319.392, 3326.25, or 3328.20 of the Revised Code; or an employer described in division (J)(2) of section 3327.10 of the Revised Code may request that the superintendent of the bureau investigate and determine, with respect to any individual who has applied for employment in any position after October 2, 1989, or any individual wishing to apply for employment with a board of education may request, with regard to the individual, whether the bureau has any information gathered under division (A) of this section that pertains to that individual. On receipt of the request, subject to division (E)(2) of this section, the superintendent shall determine whether that information exists and, upon request of the person, board, or entity requesting information, also shall request from the federal bureau of investigation any criminal records it has pertaining to that individual. The superintendent or the superintendent's designee also may request criminal history records from other states or the federal government pursuant to the national crime prevention and privacy compact set forth in section 109.571 of the Revised Code. Within thirty days of the date that the superintendent receives a request, subject to division (E)(2) of this section, the superintendent shall send to the board, entity, or person a report of any information that the superintendent determines exists, including information contained in records that have been sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, and, within thirty days of its receipt, subject to division (E)(2) of this section, shall send the board, entity, or person a report of any information received from the federal bureau of investigation, other than information the dissemination of which is prohibited by federal law.

(b) When a board of education or a registered private provider is required to receive information under this section as a prerequisite to employment of an individual pursuant to division (C) of section 3310.58 or section 3319.39 of the Revised Code, it may accept a certified copy of records that were issued by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and that are presented by an individual applying for employment with the district in lieu of requesting that information itself. In such a case, the board shall accept the certified copy issued by the bureau in order to make a photocopy of it for that individual's employment application documents and shall return the certified copy to the individual. In a case of that nature, a district or provider only shall accept a certified copy of records of that nature within one year after the date of their issuance by the bureau.

(c) Notwithstanding division (F)(2)(a) of this section, in the case of a request under section 3319.39, 3319.391, or 3327.10 of the Revised Code only for criminal records maintained by the federal bureau of investigation, the superintendent shall not determine whether any information gathered under division (A) of this section exists on the person for whom the request is made.

(3) The state board of education or the department of education and workforce may request, with respect to any individual who has applied for employment after October 2, 1989, in any position with the state board or the department of education and workforce, any information that a school district board of education is authorized to request under division (F)(2) of this section, and the superintendent of the bureau shall proceed as if the request has been received from a school district board of education under division (F)(2) of this section.

(4) When the superintendent of the bureau receives a request for information under section 3319.291 of the Revised Code, the superintendent shall proceed as if the request has been received from a school district board of education and shall comply with divisions (F)(2)(a) and (c) of this section.

(G) In addition to or in conjunction with any request that is required to be made under section 3712.09, 3721.121, or 3740.11 of the Revised Code with respect to an individual who has applied for employment in a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult or adult resident, the chief administrator of a home health agency, hospice care program, home licensed under Chapter 3721. of the Revised Code, or adult day-care program operated pursuant to rules adopted under section 3721.04 of the Revised Code may request that the superintendent of the bureau investigate and determine, with respect to any individual who has applied after January 27, 1997, for employment in a position that does not involve providing direct care to an older adult or adult resident, whether the bureau has any information gathered under division (A) of this section that pertains to that individual.

In addition to or in conjunction with any request that is required to be made under section 173.27 of the Revised Code with respect to an individual who has applied for employment in a position that involves providing ombudsman services to residents of long-term care facilities or recipients of community-based long-term care services, the state long-term care ombudsman, the director of aging, a regional long-term care ombudsman program, or the designee of the ombudsman, director, or program may request that the superintendent investigate and determine, with respect to any individual who has applied for employment in a position that does not involve providing such ombudsman services, whether the bureau has any information gathered under division (A) of this section that pertains to that applicant.

In addition to or in conjunction with any request that is required to be made under section 173.38 of the Revised Code with respect to an individual who has applied for employment in a direct-care position, the chief administrator of a provider, as defined in section 173.39 of the Revised Code, may request that the superintendent investigate and determine, with respect to any individual who has applied for employment in a position that is not a direct-care position, whether the bureau has any information gathered under division (A) of this section that pertains to that applicant.

In addition to or in conjunction with any request that is required to be made under section 3712.09 of the Revised Code with respect to an individual who has applied for employment in a position that involves providing direct care to a pediatric respite care patient, the chief administrator of a pediatric respite care program may request that the superintendent of the bureau investigate and determine, with respect to any individual who has applied for employment in a position that does not involve providing direct care to a pediatric respite care patient, whether the bureau has any information gathered under division (A) of this section that pertains to that individual.

On receipt of a request under this division, the superintendent shall determine whether that information exists and, on request of the individual requesting information, shall also request from the federal bureau of investigation any criminal records it has pertaining to the applicant. The superintendent or the superintendent's designee also may request criminal history records from other states or the federal government pursuant to the national crime prevention and privacy compact set forth in section 109.571 of the Revised Code. Within thirty days of the date a request is received, subject to division (E)(2) of this section, the superintendent shall send to the requester a report of any information determined to exist, including information contained in records that have been sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, and, within thirty days of its receipt, shall send the requester a report of any information received from the federal bureau of investigation, other than information the dissemination of which is prohibited by federal law.

(H) Information obtained by a government entity or person under this section is confidential and shall not be released or disseminated.

(I) The superintendent may charge a reasonable fee for providing information or criminal records under division (F)(2) or (G) of this section.

(J) As used in this section:

(1) "Pediatric respite care program" and "pediatric care patient" have the same meanings as in section 3712.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Sexually oriented offense" and "child-victim oriented offense" have the same meanings as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Registered private provider" means a nonpublic school or entity registered with the department of education and workforce under section 3310.41 of the Revised Code to participate in the autism scholarship program or section 3310.58 of the Revised Code to participate in the Jon Peterson special needs scholarship program.

Last updated August 29, 2024 at 8:47 AM

Section 109.571 | National crime prevention and privacy compact.

• Effective: April 7, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 53 - 125th General Assembly

The "national crime prevention and privacy compact" is hereby ratified, enacted into law, and entered into by the state of Ohio as a party to the compact with any other state that has legally joined in the compact as follows:

NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION AND PRIVACY COMPACT

The contracting states agree to the following:

Overview

(a) This compact organizes an electronic information sharing system among the federal government and the states to exchange criminal history records for noncriminal justice purposes authorized by federal or state law, such as background checks for governmental licensing and employment.

(b) Under this compact, the FBI and the party states agree to maintain detailed databases of their respective criminal history records, including arrests and dispositions, and to make them available to the federal government and to party states for authorized purposes. The FBI shall also manage the federal data facilities that provide a significant part of the infrastructure for the system.

Article I

As used in this compact:

(1) "Attorney general" means the attorney general of the United States.

(2) "Compact officer" means:

(A) With respect to the federal government, an official so designated by the director of the FBI; and

(B) With respect to a party state, the chief administrator of the state's criminal history record repository or a designee of the chief administrator who is a regular full-time employee of the repository.

(3) "Council" means the compact council established under Article VI of the compact.

(4)(A) "Criminal history records" means information collected by criminal justice agencies on individuals consisting of identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, or other formal criminal charges, and any disposition arising therefrom, including acquittal, sentencing, correctional supervision, or release.

(B) "Criminal history records" does not include identification information such as fingerprint records if the information does not indicate involvement of the individual with the criminal justice system.

(5) "Criminal history record repository" means the state agency designated by the governor or other appropriate executive official or the legislature of a state to perform centralized recordkeeping functions for criminal history records and services in the state.

(6) "Criminal justice" includes activities relating to the detection, apprehension, detention, pretrial release, post-trial release, prosecution, adjudication, correctional supervision, or rehabilitation of accused persons or criminal offenders. The administration of criminal justice includes criminal identification activities and the collection, storage, and dissemination of criminal history records.

(7) "Criminal justice agency" means courts and a governmental agency or any subunit of a governmental agency that performs the administration of criminal justice pursuant to a statute or executive order and allocates a substantial part of its annual budget to the administration of criminal justice. "Criminal justice agency" also includes federal and state inspectors general offices.

(8) "Criminal justice services" means services provided by the FBI to criminal justice agencies in response to a request for information about a particular individual or as an update to information previously provided for criminal justice purposes.

(9) "Criterion offense" means any felony or misdemeanor offense not included on the list of nonserious offenses published periodically by the FBI.

(10) "Direct access" means access to the national identification index by computer terminal or other automated means not requiring the assistance of or intervention by any other party or agency.

(11) "Executive order" means an order of the president of the United States or the chief executive officer of a state that has the force of law and that is promulgated in accordance with applicable law.

(12) "FBI" means the federal bureau of investigation.

(13) "Interstate identification system" or "III system" means the cooperative federal-state system for the exchange of criminal history records and includes the national identification index, the national fingerprint file, and, to the extent of their participation in that system, the criminal history record repositories of the states and the FBI.

(14) "National fingerprint file" means a database of fingerprints, or other uniquely personal identifying information, relating to an arrested or charged individual maintained by the FBI to provide positive identification of record subjects indexed in the III system.

(15) "National identification index" means an index maintained by the FBI consisting of names, identifying numbers, and other descriptive information relating to record subjects about whom there are criminal history records in the III system.

(16) "National indices" means the national identification index and the national fingerprint file.

(17) "Nonparty state" means a state that has not ratified this compact.

(18) "Noncriminal justice purposes" means uses of criminal history records for purposes authorized by federal or state law other than purposes relating to criminal justice activities, including employment suitability, licensing determinations, immigration and naturalization matters, and national security clearances.

(19) "Party state" means a state that has ratified this compact.

(20) "Positive identification" means a determination, based upon a comparison of fingerprints or other equally reliable biometric identification techniques, that the subject of a record search is the same person as the subject of a criminal history record or records indexed in the III system. Identifications based solely upon a comparison of subject's names or other nonunique identification characteristics or numbers, or combinations thereof, shall not constitute positive identification.

(21) "Sealed record information" means both of the following:

(A) With respect to adults, that portion of a record that is not available for criminal justice uses, not supported by fingerprints or other accepted means of positive identification, or subject to restrictions on dissemination for noncriminal justice purposes pursuant to a court order related to a particular subject or pursuant to a federal or state statute that requires action on a sealing petition filed by a particular record subject;

(B) With respect to juveniles, whatever each state determines is a sealed record under its own law and procedure.

(22) "State" means any state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Article II

The purposes of this compact are to do all of the following:

(1) Provide a legal framework for the establishment of a cooperative federal-state system for the interstate and federal-state exchange of criminal history records for noncriminal justice uses;

(2) Require the FBI to permit use of the national identification index and the national fingerprint file by each party state, and to provide, in a timely fashion, federal and state criminal history records to requesting states, in accordance with the terms of this compact and with rules, procedures, and standards established by the council under Article VI;

(3) Require party states to provide information and records for the national identification index and the national fingerprint file and to provide criminal history records, in a timely fashion, to criminal history record repositories of other states and the federal government for noncriminal justice purposes, in accordance with the terms of this compact and with rules, procedures, and standards established by the council under Article VI;

(4) Provide for the establishment of a council to monitor III system operations and to prescribe system rules and procedures for the effective and proper operation of the III system for noncriminal justice purposes;

(5) Require the FBI and each party state to adhere to III system standards concerning record dissemination and use, response times, system security, data quality, and other duly established standards, including those that enhance the accuracy and privacy of such records.

Article III

(a) The director of the FBI shall do all of the following:

(1) Appoint an FBI compact officer who shall do all of the following:

(A) Administer this compact within the department of justice and among federal agencies and other agencies and organizations that submit search requests to the FBI pursuant to Article V(c);

(B) Ensure that compact provisions and rules, procedures, and standards prescribed by the council under Article VI are complied with by the department of justice and the federal agencies and other agencies and organizations referred to in Article III(1)(A);

(C) Regulate the use of records received by means of the III system from party states when those records are supplied by the FBI directly to other federal agencies;

(2) Provide to federal agencies and to state criminal history record repositories criminal history records maintained in its database for the noncriminal justice purposes described in Article IV, including both of the following:

(A) Information from nonparty states;

(B) Information from party states that is available from the FBI through the III system, but is not available from the party state through the III system;

(3) Provide a telecommunications network and maintain centralized facilities for the exchange of criminal history records for both criminal justice purposes and the noncriminal justice purposes described in Article IV, and ensure that the exchange of criminal history records for criminal justice purposes has priority over exchange for noncriminal justice purposes;

(4) Modify or enter into user agreements with nonparty state criminal history record repositories to require them to establish record request procedures conforming to those prescribed in Article V.

(b) Each party state shall do all of the following:

(1) Appoint a compact officer who shall do all of the following:

(A) Administer this compact within that state;

(B) Ensure that the compact provisions and rules, procedures, and standards established by the council under Article VI are complied with in the state;

(C) Regulate the in-state use of records received by means of the III system from the FBI or from other party states;

(2) Establish and maintain a criminal history record repository, which shall provide both of the following:

(A) Information and records for the national identification index and the national fingerprint file;

(B) The state's III system-indexed criminal history records for noncriminal justice purposes described in Article IV;

(3) Participate in the national fingerprint file;

(4) Provide and maintain telecommunications links and related equipment necessary to support the services set forth in this compact.

(c) In carrying out their responsibilities under this compact, the FBI and each party state shall comply with the III system rules, procedures, and standards duly established by the council concerning record dissemination and use, response times, data quality, system security, accuracy, privacy protection, and other aspects of III system operation.

(d)(1) Use of the III system for noncriminal justice purposes authorized in this compact shall be managed so as not to diminish the level of services provided in support of criminal justice purposes.

(2) Administration of compact provisions shall not reduce the level of service available to authorized noncriminal justice users on the effective date of this compact.

Article IV

(a) To the extent authorized by section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the 'Privacy Act of 1974'), the FBI shall provide on request criminal history records (excluding sealed records) to state criminal history record repositories for noncriminal justice purposes allowed by federal statute, federal executive order, or a state statute that has been approved by the attorney general and that authorizes national indices checks.

(b) The FBI, to the extent authorized by section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the 'Privacy Act of 1974') and state criminal history record repositories, shall provide criminal history records (excluding sealed records) to criminal justice agencies and other governmental or nongovernmental agencies for noncriminal justice purposes allowed by federal statute, federal executive order, or a state statute that has been approved by the attorney general, that authorizes national indices checks.

(c) Any record obtained under this compact may be used only for the official purposes for which the record was requested. Each compact officer shall establish procedures, consistent with this compact, and with rules, procedures, and standards established by the council under Article VI, which procedures shall protect the accuracy and privacy of the records, and shall do all of the following:

(1) Ensure that records obtained under this compact are used only by authorized officials for authorized purposes;

(2) Require that subsequent record checks are requested to obtain current information whenever a new need arises;

(3) Ensure that record entries that may not legally be used for a particular noncriminal justice purpose are deleted from the response and, if no information authorized for release remains, an appropriate 'no record' response is communicated to the requesting official.

Article V

(a) Subject fingerprints or other approved forms of positive identification shall be submitted with all requests for criminal history record checks for noncriminal justice purposes.

(b) Each request for a criminal history record check utilizing the national indices made under any approved state statute shall be submitted through that state's criminal history record repository. A state criminal history record repository shall process an interstate request for noncriminal justice purposes through the national indices only if the request is transmitted through another state criminal history record repository or the FBI.

(c) Each request for criminal history record checks utilizing the national indices made under federal authority shall be submitted through the FBI or, if the state criminal history record repository consents to process fingerprint submissions, through the criminal history record repository in the state in which the request originated. Direct access to the national identification index by entities other than the FBI or state criminal history record repositories shall not be permitted for noncriminal justice purposes.

(d) A state criminal history record repository for the FBI may charge a fee, in accordance with applicable law, for handling a request involving fingerprint processing for noncriminal justice purposes and may not charge a fee for providing criminal history records in response to an electric request for a record that does not involve a request to process fingerprints.

(e)(1) If a state criminal history record repository cannot positively identify the subject of a record request made for noncriminal justice purposes, the request, together with fingerprints or other approved identifying information, shall be forwarded to the FBI for a search of the national indices.

(2) If, with respect to a request forwarded by a state criminal history record repository under paragraph (1), the FBI positively identifies the subject as having a III system-indexed record or records, the FBI shall so advise the state criminal history repository; and the state criminal history record repository shall be entitled to obtain the additional criminal history record information from the FBI or other state criminal history record repositories.

Article VI

(a)(1) There is established a council to be known as the 'compact council,' which shall have the authority to promulgate rules and procedures governing the use of the III system for noncriminal justice purposes, not to conflict with the FBI administration of the III system for criminal justice purposes.

(2) The council shall do all of the following:

(A) Continue in existence as long as this compact remains in effect;

(B) Be located, for administrative purposes, within the FBI;

(C) Be organized and hold its first meeting as soon as practicable after the effective date of this compact.

(b) The council shall be composed of fifteen members, each of whom shall be appointed by the attorney general as follows:

(1) Nine members, each of whom shall serve a two-year term, who shall be selected from among the compact officers of party states based on the recommendation of the compact officers of all party states, except that, in the absence of the requisite number of compact officers available to serve, the chief administrators of the criminal history record repositories of nonparty states shall be eligible to serve on an interim basis;

(2) Two at-large members, nominated by the director of the FBI, each of whom shall serve a three-year term, of whom one shall be a representative of the criminal justice agencies of the federal government and may not be employed by the FBI; and one shall be a representative of the noncriminal justice agencies of the federal government;

(3) Two at-large members, nominated by the chairman of the council, once the chairman is elected pursuant to Article VI(c), each of whom shall serve a three-year term, of whom one shall be a representative of state or local criminal justice agencies; and one shall be a representative of state or local noncriminal justice agencies;

(4) One member, who shall serve a three-year term, and who shall simultaneously be a member of the FBI's advisory policy board on criminal justice information services, nominated by the membership of that policy board;

(5) One member, nominated by the director of the FBI, who shall serve a three-year term, and who shall be an employee of the FBI.

(c)(1) From its membership, the council shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman of the council, respectively. Both the chairman and the vice chairman shall be a compact officer, unless there is no compact officer on the council who is willing to serve, in which case the chairman may be an at-large member; and shall serve a two-year term and may be reelected to only one additional two-year term.

(2) The vice chairman of the council shall serve as the chairman of the council in the absence of the chairman.

(d)(1) The council shall meet at least once each year at the call of the chairman. Each meeting of the council shall be open to the public. The council shall provide prior public notice in the federal register of each meeting of the council, including the matters to be addressed at the meeting.

(2) A majority of the council or any committee of the council shall constitute a quorum of the council or of such committee, respectively, for the conduct of business. A lesser number may meet to hold hearings, take testimony, or conduct any business not requiring a vote.

(e) The council shall make available for public inspection and copying at the council office with the FBI, and shall publish in the federal register, any rules, procedures, or standards established by the council.

(f) The council may request from the FBI any reports, studies, statistics, or other information or materials that the council determines to be necessary to enable the council to perform its duties under this compact. The FBI, to the extent authorized by law, may provide such assistance or information upon such a request.

(g) The chairman may establish committees as necessary to carry out this compact and may prescribe their membership, responsibilities, and duration.

Article VII

This compact shall take effect upon being entered into by two or more states as between those states and the federal government. Upon subsequent entering into this compact by additional states, it shall become effective among those states and the federal government and each party state that has previously ratified it. When ratified, this compact shall have the full force and effect of law within the ratifying jurisdictions. The form of ratification shall be in accordance with the laws of the executing state.

Article VIII

(a) Administration of this compact shall not interfere with the management and control of the director of the FBI over the FBI's collection and dissemination of criminal history records and the advisory function of the FBI's advisory policy board chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) for all purposes other than noncriminal justice.

(b) Nothing in this compact shall require the FBI to obligate or expend funds beyond those appropriated to the FBI.

(c) Nothing in this compact shall diminish or lessen the obligations, responsibilities, and authorities of any state, whether a party state or a nonparty state, or of any criminal history record repository or other subdivision or component thereof, under the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1973 (Public Law 92-544), or regulations and guidelines promulgated thereunder, including the rules and procedures promulgated by the council under Article VI(a), regarding the use and dissemination of criminal history records and information.

Article IX

(a) This compact shall bind each party state until renounced by the party state.

(b) Any renunciation of this compact by a party state shall be effected in the same manner by which the party state ratified this compact and shall become effective one hundred and eighty days after written notice of renunciation is provided by the party state to each other party state and to the federal government.

Article X

The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any participating state, or to the Constitution of the United States, or the applicability of any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this compact to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability of the remainder of this compact to any government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If a portion of this compact is held contrary to the constitution of any party state, all other portions of this compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining party states and in full force and effect as to the party states affected, as to all other provisions.

Article XI

(a) The council shall do both of the following:

(1) Have initial authority to make determinations with respect to any dispute regarding all of the following:

(A) Interpretation of this compact;

(B) Any rule or standard established by the council pursuant to Article V;

(C) Any dispute or controversy between any parties to this compact;

(2) Hold a hearing concerning any dispute described in paragraph (1) at a regularly scheduled meeting of the council and only render a decision based upon a majority vote of the members of the council. The decision shall be published pursuant to the requirements of Article VI(e).

(b) The FBI shall exercise immediate and necessary action to preserve the integrity of the III system, maintain system policy and standards, protect the accuracy and privacy of records, and to prevent abuses, until the council holds a hearing on such matters.

(c) The FBI or a party state may appeal any decision of the council to the attorney general, and thereafter may file suit in the appropriate district court of the United States, which shall have original jurisdiction of all cases or controversies arising under this compact. Any suit arising under this compact and initiated in a state court shall be removed to the appropriate district court of the United States in the manner provided by section 1446 of title 28, United States Code, or other statutory authority.

Section 109.572 | Criminal records check.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to section 121.08, 3301.32, 3301.541, or 3319.39 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.041, 2903.06, 2903.08, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2905.11, 2905.32, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.19, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2923.17, 2923.21, 2923.42, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.041, 2925.05, 2925.06, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, 2925.24, 2925.31, 2925.32, 2925.36, 2925.37, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, or a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense;

(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(1)(a) of this section;

(c) If the request is made pursuant to section 3319.39 of the Revised Code for an applicant who is a teacher, any offense specified under section 9.79 of the Revised Code or in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(2) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 3712.09 or 3721.121 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check with respect to any person who has applied for employment in a position for which a criminal records check is required by those sections. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.40, 2913.43, 2913.47, 2913.51, 2919.25, 2921.36, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code;

(b) An existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(2)(a) of this section.

(3) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 173.27, 173.38, 173.381, 3740.11, 5119.34, 5164.34, 5164.341, 5164.342, 5123.081, or 5123.169 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check of the person for whom the request is made. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of, has pleaded guilty to, or (except in the case of a request pursuant to section 5164.34, 5164.341, or 5164.342 of the Revised Code) has been found eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for any of the following, regardless of the date of the conviction, the date of entry of the guilty plea, or (except in the case of a request pursuant to section 5164.34, 5164.341, or 5164.342 of the Revised Code) the date the person was found eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction:

(a) A violation of section 959.13, 959.131, 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.041, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.15, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, 2903.34, 2903.341, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2905.32, 2905.33, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.24, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2907.33, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2909.04, 2909.22, 2909.23, 2909.24, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.05, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.32, 2913.40, 2913.41, 2913.42, 2913.43, 2913.44, 2913.441, 2913.45, 2913.46, 2913.47, 2913.48, 2913.49, 2913.51, 2917.01, 2917.02, 2917.03, 2917.31, 2919.12, 2919.121, 2919.123, 2919.124, 2919.22, 2919.23, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2921.03, 2921.11, 2921.12, 2921.13, 2921.21, 2921.24, 2921.32, 2921.321, 2921.34, 2921.35, 2921.36, 2921.51, 2923.12, 2923.122, 2923.123, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2923.162, 2923.21, 2923.32, 2923.42, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.041, 2925.05, 2925.06, 2925.09, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.14, 2925.22, 2925.23, 2925.24, 2925.36, 2925.55, 2925.56, 2927.12, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code;

(b) Felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code;

(c) A violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996;

(d) A violation of section 2923.01, 2923.02, or 2923.03 of the Revised Code when the underlying offense that is the object of the conspiracy, attempt, or complicity is one of the offenses listed in divisions (A)(3)(a) to (c) of this section;

(e) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in divisions (A)(3)(a) to (d) of this section.

(4) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 2151.86 or 2151.904 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 959.13, 2151.421, 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.041, 2903.06, 2903.08, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.15, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, 2903.32, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2905.32, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.19, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2909.22, 2909.23, 2909.24, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2913.49, 2917.01, 2917.02, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2923.17, 2923.21, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.041, 2925.05, 2925.06, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, 2925.24, 2925.31, 2925.32, 2925.36, 2925.37, 2927.12, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense, two or more OVI or OVUAC violations committed within the three years immediately preceding the submission of the application or petition that is the basis of the request, or felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, or a violation of Chapter 2919. of the Revised Code that is a felony;

(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(4)(a) of this section.

(5) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to section 5104.013 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2151.421, 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.22, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2905.11, 2905.32, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.19, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.24, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2909.04, 2909.05, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.041, 2913.05, 2913.06, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.32, 2913.33, 2913.34, 2913.40, 2913.41, 2913.42, 2913.43, 2913.44, 2913.441, 2913.45, 2913.46, 2913.47, 2913.48, 2913.49, 2917.01, 2917.02, 2917.03, 2917.31, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.224, 2919.225, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2921.03, 2921.11, 2921.13, 2921.14, 2921.34, 2921.35, 2923.01, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense, a violation of section 2923.02 or 2923.03 of the Revised Code that relates to a crime specified in this division, or a second violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code within five years of the date of application for licensure or certification.

(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses or violations described in division (A)(5)(a) of this section.

(6) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to section 5153.111 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, or a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense;

(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(6)(a) of this section.

(7) On receipt of a request for a criminal records check from an individual pursuant to section 4749.03 or 4749.06 of the Revised Code, accompanied by a completed copy of the form prescribed in division (C)(1) of this section and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in a manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists indicating that the person who is the subject of the request has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal offense in this state or in any other state. If the individual indicates that a firearm will be carried in the course of business, the superintendent shall require information from the federal bureau of investigation as described in division (B)(2) of this section. Subject to division (F) of this section, the superintendent shall report the findings of the criminal records check and any information the federal bureau of investigation provides to the director of public safety.

(8) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 1321.37, 1321.53, or 4763.05 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check with respect to any person who has applied for a license, permit, or certification from the department of commerce or a division in the department. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal offense in this state, any other state, or the United States.

(9) On receipt of a request for a criminal records check from the treasurer of state under section 113.041 of the Revised Code or from an individual under section 928.03, 4701.08, 4715.101, 4717.061, 4725.121, 4725.501, 4729.071, 4729.53, 4729.90, 4729.92, 4730.101, 4730.14, 4730.28, 4731.081, 4731.15, 4731.171, 4731.222, 4731.281, 4731.531, 4732.091, 4734.202, 4740.061, 4741.10, 4747.051, 4751.20, 4751.201, 4751.21, 4753.061, 4755.70, 4757.101, 4759.061, 4760.032, 4760.06, 4761.051, 4762.031, 4762.06, 4774.031, 4774.06, 4776.021, 4778.04, 4778.07, 4779.091, or 4783.04 of the Revised Code, accompanied by a completed form prescribed under division (C)(1) of this section and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal offense in this state or any other state. Subject to division (F) of this section, the superintendent shall send the results of a check requested under section 113.041 of the Revised Code to the treasurer of state and shall send the results of a check requested under any of the other listed sections to the licensing board specified by the individual in the request.

(10) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 124.74, 718.131, 1121.23, 1315.141, 1733.47, or 1761.26 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal offense under any existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States.

(11) On receipt of a request for a criminal records check from an appointing or licensing authority under section 3772.07 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed under division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner prescribed in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to any offense under any existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that makes the person ineligible for appointment or retention under section 3772.07 of the Revised Code or that is a disqualifying offense as defined in that section or substantially equivalent to a disqualifying offense, as applicable.

(12) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 2151.33 or 2151.412 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check with respect to any person for whom a criminal records check is required under that section. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.40, 2913.43, 2913.47, 2913.51, 2919.25, 2921.36, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code;

(b) An existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(12)(a) of this section.

(13) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 3796.12 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in a manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a disqualifying offense as specified in rules adopted under section 9.79 and division (B)(2)(b) of section 3796.03 of the Revised Code if the person who is the subject of the request is an administrator or other person responsible for the daily operation of, or an owner or prospective owner, officer or prospective officer, or board member or prospective board member of, an entity seeking a license from the department of commerce under Chapter 3796. of the Revised Code.

(14) On receipt of a request required by section 3796.13 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in a manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a disqualifying offense as specified in rules adopted under division (B)(14)(a) of section 3796.03 of the Revised Code if the person who is the subject of the request is seeking employment with an entity licensed by the department of commerce under Chapter 3796. of the Revised Code.

(15) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 4768.06 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed under division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists indicating that the person who is the subject of the request has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal offense in this state or in any other state.

(16) On receipt of a request pursuant to division (B) of section 4764.07 or division (A) of section 4735.143 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed under division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists indicating that the person who is the subject of the request has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal offense in any state or the United States.

(17) On receipt of a request for a criminal records check under section 147.022 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed under division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner prescribed in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to any criminal offense under any existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States.

(18) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to division (F) of section 2915.081 or division (E) of section 2915.082 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed under division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists indicating that the person who is the subject of the request has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to any offense that is a violation of Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code or to any offense under any existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to such an offense.

(19) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 3775.03 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed under division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section and shall request information from the federal bureau of investigation to determine whether any information exists indicating that the person who is the subject of the request has been convicted of any offense under any existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is a disqualifying offense as defined in section 3772.07 of the Revised Code.

(B) Subject to division (F) of this section, the superintendent shall conduct any criminal records check to be conducted under this section as follows:

(1) The superintendent shall review or cause to be reviewed any relevant information gathered and compiled by the bureau under division (A) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code that relates to the person who is the subject of the criminal records check, including, if the criminal records check was requested under section 113.041, 121.08, 124.74, 173.27, 173.38, 173.381, 718.131, 928.03, 1121.23, 1315.141, 1321.37, 1321.53, 1733.47, 1761.26, 2151.86, 3301.32, 3301.541, 3319.39, 3740.11, 3712.09, 3721.121, 3772.07, 3775.03, 3796.12, 3796.13, 4729.071, 4729.53, 4729.90, 4729.92, 4749.03, 4749.06, 4763.05, 4764.07, 4768.06, 5104.013, 5164.34, 5164.341, 5164.342, 5123.081, 5123.169, or 5153.111 of the Revised Code, any relevant information contained in records that have been sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code;

(2) If the request received by the superintendent asks for information from the federal bureau of investigation, the superintendent shall request from the federal bureau of investigation any information it has with respect to the person who is the subject of the criminal records check, including fingerprint-based checks of national crime information databases as described in 42 U.S.C. 671 if the request is made pursuant to section 2151.86 or 5104.013 of the Revised Code or if any other Revised Code section requires fingerprint-based checks of that nature, and shall review or cause to be reviewed any information the superintendent receives from that bureau. If a request under section 3319.39 of the Revised Code asks only for information from the federal bureau of investigation, the superintendent shall not conduct the review prescribed by division (B)(1) of this section.

(3) The superintendent or the superintendent's designee may request criminal history records from other states or the federal government pursuant to the national crime prevention and privacy compact set forth in section 109.571 of the Revised Code.

(4) The superintendent shall include in the results of the criminal records check a list or description of the offenses listed or described in the relevant provision of division (A) of this section. The superintendent shall exclude from the results any information the dissemination of which is prohibited by federal law.

(5) The superintendent shall send the results of the criminal records check to the person to whom it is to be sent not later than the following number of days after the date the superintendent receives the request for the criminal records check, the completed form prescribed under division (C)(1) of this section, and the set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section:

(a) If the superintendent is required by division (A) of this section (other than division (A)(3) of this section) to conduct the criminal records check, thirty;

(b) If the superintendent is required by division (A)(3) of this section to conduct the criminal records check, sixty.

(C)(1) The superintendent shall prescribe a form to obtain the information necessary to conduct a criminal records check from any person for whom a criminal records check is to be conducted under this section. The form that the superintendent prescribes pursuant to this division may be in a tangible format, in an electronic format, or in both tangible and electronic formats.

(2) The superintendent shall prescribe standard impression sheets to obtain the fingerprint impressions of any person for whom a criminal records check is to be conducted under this section. Any person for whom a records check is to be conducted under this section shall obtain the fingerprint impressions at a county sheriff's office, municipal police department, or any other entity with the ability to make fingerprint impressions on the standard impression sheets prescribed by the superintendent. The office, department, or entity may charge the person a reasonable fee for making the impressions. The standard impression sheets the superintendent prescribes pursuant to this division may be in a tangible format, in an electronic format, or in both tangible and electronic formats.

(3) Subject to division (D) of this section, the superintendent shall prescribe and charge a reasonable fee for providing a criminal records check under this section. The person requesting the criminal records check shall pay the fee prescribed pursuant to this division. In the case of a request under section 1121.23, 1155.03, 1163.05, 1315.141, 1733.47, 1761.26, 2151.33, 2151.412, or 5164.34 of the Revised Code, the fee shall be paid in the manner specified in that section.

(4) The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation may prescribe methods of forwarding fingerprint impressions and information necessary to conduct a criminal records check, which methods shall include, but not be limited to, an electronic method.

(D) The results of a criminal records check conducted under this section, other than a criminal records check specified in division (A)(7) of this section, are valid for the person who is the subject of the criminal records check for a period of one year from the date upon which the superintendent completes the criminal records check. If during that period the superintendent receives another request for a criminal records check to be conducted under this section for that person, the superintendent shall provide the results from the previous criminal records check of the person at a lower fee than the fee prescribed for the initial criminal records check.

(E) When the superintendent receives a request for information from a registered private provider, the superintendent shall proceed as if the request was received from a school district board of education under section 3319.39 of the Revised Code. The superintendent shall apply division (A)(1)(c) of this section to any such request for an applicant who is a teacher.

(F)(1) Subject to division (F)(2) of this section, all information regarding the results of a criminal records check conducted under this section that the superintendent reports or sends under division (A)(7) or (9) of this section to the director of public safety, the treasurer of state, or the person, board, or entity that made the request for the criminal records check shall relate to the conviction of the subject person, or the subject person's plea of guilty to, a criminal offense.

(2) Division (F)(1) of this section does not limit, restrict, or preclude the superintendent's release of information that relates to the arrest of a person who is eighteen years of age or older, to an adjudication of a child as a delinquent child, or to a criminal conviction of a person under eighteen years of age in circumstances in which a release of that nature is authorized under division (E)(2), (3), or (4) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code pursuant to a rule adopted under division (E)(1) of that section.

(G) As used in this section:

(1) "Criminal records check" means any criminal records check conducted by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with division (B) of this section.

(2) "Minor drug possession offense" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "OVI or OVUAC violation" means a violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to section 4511.19 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Registered private provider" means a nonpublic school or entity registered with the department of education and workforce under section 3310.41 of the Revised Code to participate in the autism scholarship program or section 3310.58 of the Revised Code to participate in the Jon Peterson special needs scholarship program.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 11:50 AM

Section 109.573 | DNA laboratory - databases.

• Effective: March 23, 2015
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 316 - 130th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "DNA" means human deoxyribonucleic acid.

(2) "DNA analysis" means a laboratory analysis of a DNA specimen to identify DNA characteristics and to create a DNA record.

(3) "DNA database" means a collection of DNA records from forensic casework or from crime scenes, specimens from anonymous and unidentified sources, and records collected pursuant to sections 2152.74 and 2901.07 of the Revised Code and a population statistics database for determining the frequency of occurrence of characteristics in DNA records.

(4) "DNA record" means the objective result of a DNA analysis of a DNA specimen, including representations of DNA fragment lengths, digital images of autoradiographs, discrete allele assignment numbers, and other DNA specimen characteristics that aid in establishing the identity of an individual.

(5) "DNA specimen" includes human blood cells or physiological tissues or body fluids.

(6) "Unidentified person database" means a collection of DNA records, and, on and after May 21, 1998, of fingerprint and photograph records, of unidentified human corpses, human remains, or living individuals.

(7) "Relatives of missing persons database" means a collection of DNA records of persons related by consanguinity to a missing person.

(8) "Law enforcement agency" means a police department, the office of a sheriff, the state highway patrol, a county prosecuting attorney, or a federal, state, or local governmental body that enforces criminal laws and that has employees who have a statutory power of arrest.

(9) "Administration of criminal justice" means the performance of detection, apprehension, detention, pretrial release, post-trial release, prosecution, adjudication, correctional supervision, or rehabilitation of accused persons or criminal offenders. "Administration of criminal justice" also includes criminal identification activities and the collection, storage, and dissemination of criminal history record information.

(B)(1) The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation may do all of the following:

(a) Establish and maintain a state DNA laboratory to perform DNA analyses of DNA specimens;

(b) Establish and maintain a DNA database;

(c) Establish and maintain an unidentified person database to aid in the establishment of the identity of unknown human corpses, human remains, or living individuals;

(d) Establish and maintain a relatives of missing persons database for comparison with the unidentified person database to aid in the establishment of the identity of unknown human corpses, human remains, and living individuals.

(2) If the bureau of criminal identification and investigation establishes and maintains a DNA laboratory and a DNA database, the bureau may use or disclose information regarding DNA records for the following purposes:

(a) The bureau may disclose information to a law enforcement agency for the administration of criminal justice.

(b) The bureau shall disclose pursuant to a court order issued under section 3111.09 of the Revised Code any information necessary to determine the existence of a parent and child relationship in an action brought under sections 3111.01 to 3111.18 of the Revised Code.

(c) The bureau may use or disclose information from the population statistics database for identification research and protocol development or for quality control purposes.

(3) If the bureau of criminal identification and investigation establishes and maintains a relatives of missing persons database, all of the following apply:

(a) If a person has disappeared and has been continuously absent from the person's place of last domicile for a thirty-day or longer period of time without being heard from during the period, persons related by consanguinity to the missing person may submit to the bureau a DNA specimen, the bureau may include the DNA record of the specimen in the relatives of missing persons database, and, if the bureau does not include the DNA record of the specimen in the relatives of missing persons database, the bureau shall retain the DNA record for future reference and inclusion as appropriate in that database.

(b) The bureau shall not charge a fee for the submission of a DNA specimen pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of this section.

(c) If the DNA specimen submitted pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of this section is collected by withdrawing blood from the person or a similarly invasive procedure, a physician, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, duly licensed clinical laboratory technician, or other qualified medical practitioner shall conduct the collection procedure for the DNA specimen submitted pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of this section and shall collect the DNA specimen in a medically approved manner. If the DNA specimen is collected by swabbing for buccal cells or a similarly noninvasive procedure, division (B)(3)(c) of this section does not require that the DNA specimen be collected by a qualified medical practitioner of that nature. No later than fifteen days after the date of the collection of the DNA specimen, the person conducting the DNA specimen collection procedure shall cause the DNA specimen to be forwarded to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with procedures established by the superintendent of the bureau under division (H) of this section. The bureau may provide the specimen vials, mailing tubes, labels, postage, and instruction needed for the collection and forwarding of the DNA specimen to the bureau.

(d) The superintendent, in the superintendent's discretion, may compare DNA records in the relatives of missing persons database with the DNA records in the unidentified person database.

(4) If the bureau of criminal identification and investigation establishes and maintains an unidentified person database and if the superintendent of the bureau identifies a matching DNA record for the DNA record of a person or deceased person whose DNA record is contained in the unidentified person database, the superintendent shall inform the coroner who submitted or the law enforcement agency that submitted the DNA specimen to the bureau of the match and, if possible, of the identity of the unidentified person.

(5) The bureau of criminal identification and investigation may enter into a contract with a qualified public or private laboratory to perform DNA analyses, DNA specimen maintenance, preservation, and storage, DNA record keeping, and other duties required of the bureau under this section. A public or private laboratory under contract with the bureau shall follow quality assurance and privacy requirements established by the superintendent of the bureau.

(C) The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall establish procedures for entering into the DNA database the DNA records submitted pursuant to sections 2152.74 and 2901.07 of the Revised Code and for determining an order of priority for entry of the DNA records based on the types of offenses committed by the persons whose records are submitted and the available resources of the bureau.

(D) When a DNA record is derived from a DNA specimen provided pursuant to section 2152.74 or 2901.07 of the Revised Code, the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall attach to the DNA record personal identification information that identifies the person from whom the DNA specimen was taken. The personal identification information may include the subject person's fingerprints and any other information the bureau determines necessary. The DNA record and personal identification information attached to it shall be used only for the purpose of personal identification or for a purpose specified in this section.

(E) DNA records, DNA specimens, fingerprints, and photographs that the bureau of criminal identification and investigation receives pursuant to this section and sections 313.08, 2152.74, 2901.07, and 2933.82 of the Revised Code and personal identification information attached to a DNA record are not public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(F) The bureau of criminal identification and investigation may charge a reasonable fee for providing information pursuant to this section to any law enforcement agency located in another state.

(G)(1) No person who because of the person's employment or official position has access to a DNA specimen, a DNA record, or other information contained in the DNA database that identifies an individual shall knowingly disclose that specimen, record, or information to any person or agency not entitled to receive it or otherwise shall misuse that specimen, record, or information.

(2) No person without authorization or privilege to obtain information contained in the DNA database that identifies an individual person shall purposely obtain that information.

(H) The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall establish procedures for all of the following:

(1) The forwarding to the bureau of DNA specimens collected pursuant to division (H) of this section and sections 313.08, 2152.74, 2901.07, and 2933.82 of the Revised Code and of fingerprints and photographs collected pursuant to section 313.08 of the Revised Code;

(2) The collection, maintenance, preservation, and analysis of DNA specimens;

(3) The creation, maintenance, and operation of the DNA database;

(4) The use and dissemination of information from the DNA database;

(5) The creation, maintenance, and operation of the unidentified person database;

(6) The use and dissemination of information from the unidentified person database;

(7) The creation, maintenance, and operation of the relatives of missing persons database;

(8) The use and dissemination of information from the relatives of missing persons database;

(9) The verification of entities requesting DNA records and other DNA information from the bureau and the authority of the entity to receive the information;

(10) The operation of the bureau and responsibilities of employees of the bureau with respect to the activities described in this section.

(I) In conducting DNA analyses of DNA specimens, the state DNA laboratory and any laboratory with which the bureau has entered into a contract pursuant to division (B)(5) of this section shall give DNA analyses of DNA specimens that relate to ongoing criminal investigations or prosecutions or that are forwarded by law enforcement agencies pursuant to divisions (B)(2)(a) and (b) of section 2933.82 of the Revised Code priority over DNA analyses of DNA specimens that relate to applications made pursuant to section 2953.73 of the Revised Code. The state DNA laboratory and any laboratory under contract with the bureau to perform DNA analyses shall consider the period of time remaining under section 2901.13 of the Revised Code for commencing the prosecution of a criminal offense related to the DNA specimens as well as other relevant factors in prioritizing DNA analysis of the DNA specimens forwarded by law enforcement agencies pursuant to division (B)(2)(a) or (b) of section 2933.82 of the Revised Code.

(J) The attorney general may develop procedures for entering into the national DNA index system the DNA records submitted pursuant to division (B)(1) of section 2901.07 of the Revised Code.

Last updated January 31, 2022 at 3:50 PM

Section 109.574 | Volunteers have unsupervised access to children definitions.

• Effective: March 22, 2001
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 187 - 123rd General Assembly

As used in sections 109.574 to 109.577 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Organization or entity" means a religious, charitable, scientific, educational, athletic, or service institution or organization or local government entity that provides care, treatment, education, training, instruction, supervision, or recreation to children.

(B) "Unsupervised access to a child" means that the person in question has access to a child and that either of the following applies:

(1) No other person eighteen years of age or older is present in the same room with the child.

(2) If outdoors, no other person eighteen years of age or older is within a thirty-yard radius of the child or has visual contact with the child.

Section 109.575 | Information provided by volunteers having access to children.

• Effective: March 22, 2001
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 187 - 123rd General Assembly

At the time of a person's initial application to an organization or entity to be a volunteer in a position in which the person on a regular basis will have unsupervised access to a child, the organization or entity shall inform the person that, at any time, the person might be required to provide a set of impressions of the person's fingerprints and a criminal records check might be conducted with respect to the person. Not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section, each organization or entity shall notify each current volunteer who is in a position in which the person on a regular basis has unsupervised access to a child that, at any time, the volunteer might be required to provide a set of impressions of the volunteer's fingerprints and a criminal records check might be conducted with respect to the volunteer.

Section 109.576 | Notice of volunteer's conviction.

• Effective: March 22, 2001
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 187 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) If a person has applied to an organization or entity to be a volunteer in a position in which the person on a regular basis has unsupervised access to a child, if the organization or entity subjects the person to a criminal records check, if the report of the results of the criminal records check indicates that the person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses described in division (A)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, and if the organization or entity accepts the person as a volunteer in a position in which the person on a regular basis has unsupervised access to a child, the organization or entity shall notify the parent or guardian of each child for whom it provides services that the volunteer has been convicted of one or more of those offenses but that, nonetheless, the person will be serving the organization or entity in that position. The notification required by this division shall be in writing, and the organization or entity shall send the notice to the parent or guardian on the date the organization or entity commences providing services to the child or on the date the organization or entity decides to accept the person as a volunteer after receiving the report of the results of the criminal records check, whichever is later.

(B) If a person is serving an organization or entity as a volunteer in a position in which the person on a regular basis has unsupervised access to a child, if the organization or entity subjects the person to a criminal records check, if the report of the results of the criminal records check indicates that the person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses described in division (A)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, and if the organization or entity retains the person as a volunteer in the same position or in any other position in which the person on a regular basis has unsupervised access to a child, the organization or entity shall notify the parent or guardian of each child for whom it provides services that the volunteer has been convicted of one or more of those offenses but that, nonetheless, the person will be retained by the organization or entity in that position. The notification required by this division shall be in writing, and the organization or entity shall send the notice to the parent or guardian on the date the organization or entity commences providing services to the child or on the date the organization or entity decides to retain the person after receiving the report of the results of the criminal records check, whichever is later.

(C) A notification to a parent or guardian of a child that is required by division (A) or (B) of this section shall identify by name the person who is accepted or retained as a volunteer in a position in which the person on a regular basis has unsupervised access to a child, shall state the fact that the person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more of the offenses described in division (A)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, but shall not identify the offense or offenses in question.

(D) Divisions (A) to (C) of this section apply regarding any criminal records check performed by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation pursuant to section 109.57, section 109.572, or rules adopted under division (E) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, any criminal records check performed in any manner by the organization or entity or any of its officers or employees, or any criminal records check performed in any manner by any person upon the request of the organization or entity or any of its officers or employees.

Section 109.577 | Immunity from civil liability.

• Effective: March 22, 2001
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 187 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) If an organization or entity uses a volunteer in a position in which the person on a regular basis has unsupervised access to a child and if the volunteer has been subjected to a criminal records check performed by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation pursuant to section 109.57, section 109.572, or rules adopted under division (E) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, the organization or entity, and its officials and employees, are immune from civil liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed for any death or any injury or loss to person or property that is caused by any act or omission of the volunteer and that results from or is related to the volunteer having unsupervised access to a child on a regular basis. This immunity does not apply to a person, organization, or entity that has immunity from civil liability in accordance with section 9.86, 2744.02, or 2744.03 of the Revised Code for the good faith compliance, attempted compliance, or failure to comply.

(B) This section does not create a new cause of action or substantive legal right against a person, organization, or entity and does not affect any immunities from civil liability or defenses established by another section of the Revised Code or available at common law, to which a person, organization, or entity may be entitled under circumstances not covered by this section.

Section 109.578 | Criminal records check.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 227 - 131st General Assembly

(A) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 505.381, 737.081, 737.221, or 4765.301 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(1) A felony;

(2) A violation of section 2909.03 of the Revised Code;

(3) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section.

(B) Subject to division (E) of this section, the superintendent shall conduct any criminal records check pursuant to division (A) of this section as follows:

(1) The superintendent shall review or cause to be reviewed any relevant information gathered and compiled by the bureau under division (A) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code that relates to the person who is the subject of the request, including any relevant information contained in records that have been sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code.

(2) If the request received by the superintendent asks for information from the federal bureau of investigation, the superintendent shall request from the federal bureau of investigation any information it has with respect to the person who is the subject of the request and shall review or cause to be reviewed any information the superintendent receives from that bureau.

(C)(1) The superintendent shall prescribe a form to obtain the information necessary to conduct a criminal records check from any person for whom a criminal records check is requested pursuant to section 505.381, 737.081, 737.221, or 4765.301 of the Revised Code. The form that the superintendent prescribes pursuant to this division may be in a tangible format, in an electronic format, or in both tangible and electronic formats.

(2) The superintendent shall prescribe standard impression sheets to obtain the fingerprint impressions of any person for whom a criminal records check is requested pursuant to section 505.381, 737.081, 737.221, or 4765.301 of the Revised Code. Any person for whom a records check is requested pursuant to any of those sections shall obtain the fingerprint impressions at a county sheriff's office, a municipal police department, or any other entity with the ability to make fingerprint impressions on the standard impression sheets prescribed by the superintendent. The office, department, or entity may charge the person a reasonable fee for making the impressions. The standard impression sheets the superintendent prescribes pursuant to this division may be in a tangible format, in an electronic format, or in both tangible and electronic formats.

(3) Subject to division (D) of this section, the superintendent shall prescribe and charge a reasonable fee for providing a criminal records check requested under section 505.381, 737.081, 737.221, or 4765.301 of the Revised Code. The person making the criminal records request shall pay the fee prescribed pursuant to this division.

(4) The superintendent may prescribe methods of forwarding fingerprint impressions and information necessary to conduct a criminal records check. The methods shall include, but are not limited to, an electronic method.

(D) A determination whether any information exists that indicates that a person previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense listed or described in division (A) of this section and that the superintendent made with respect to information considered in a criminal records check in accordance with this section is valid for the person who is the subject of the criminal records check for a period of one year from the date upon which the superintendent makes the determination. During the period in which the determination in regard to a person is valid, if another request under this section is made for a criminal records check for that person, the superintendent shall provide the information that is the basis for the superintendent's initial determination at a lower fee than the fee prescribed for the initial criminal records check.

(E)(1) Subject to division (E)(2) of this section, all information regarding the results of a criminal records check conducted under this section that the superintendent reports or sends under this section to the person, board, or entity that made the request for the criminal records check shall relate to the conviction of the subject person, or the subject person's plea of guilty to, a criminal offense.

(2) Division (E)(1) of this section does not limit, restrict, or preclude the superintendent's release of information that relates to the arrest of a person who is eighteen years of age or older, to an adjudication of a child as a delinquent child, or to a criminal conviction of a person under eighteen years of age in circumstances in which a release of that nature is authorized under division (E)(2), (3), or (4) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code pursuant to a rule adopted under division (E)(1) of that section.

(F) As used in this section, "criminal records check" means any criminal records check conducted by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with division (B) of this section.

Section 109.579 | Criminal records check.

• Effective: September 29, 2005
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 66 - 126th General Assembly

(A) On receipt of a request pursuant to division (B) of section 4123.444 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal offense involving theft, receiving stolen property, embezzlement, forgery, fraud, passing bad checks, money laundering, drug trafficking, or any criminal offense involving money or securities, as set forth in Chapters 2909., 2911., 2913., 2915., 2921., 2923., and 2925. of the Revised Code or other law of this state, or the laws of any other state or of the United States that are substantially equivalent to those offenses.

(B) The superintendent shall conduct a criminal records check pursuant to division (A) of this section as follows:

(1) The superintendent shall review or cause to be reviewed any relevant information gathered and compiled by the bureau under division (A) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code that relates to the person who is the subject of the request, including any relevant information contained in records that have been sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code.

(2) If the request received by the superintendent asks for information from the federal bureau of investigation, the superintendent shall request from the federal bureau of investigation any information it has with respect to the person who is the subject of the request. The superintendent shall review or cause to be reviewed any information that the superintendent receives from the federal bureau of investigation.

(3) The superintendent shall forward the results of a criminal records check conducted pursuant to this division to the administrator of workers' compensation.

(C)(1) The superintendent shall prescribe a form to obtain the information necessary to conduct a criminal records check from any person for whom a criminal records check is requested pursuant to division (B) of section 4123.444 of the Revised Code. The form that the superintendent prescribes pursuant to this division may be in a tangible format, in an electronic format, or in both tangible and electronic formats.

(2) The superintendent shall prescribe standard impression sheets to obtain the fingerprint impressions of any person for whom a criminal records check is requested pursuant to section 4123.444 of the Revised Code. Any person for whom the administrator requests the superintendent to conduct a criminal records check pursuant to that section shall have the person's fingerprint impressions made at a county sheriff's office, a municipal police department, or any other entity with the ability to make fingerprint impressions on the standard impression sheets prescribed by the superintendent. The office, department, or entity may charge the person a reasonable fee for making the impressions. The standard impression sheets the superintendent prescribes pursuant to this division may be in a tangible format, in an electronic format, or in both tangible and electronic formats.

(3) The superintendent may prescribe methods of forwarding fingerprint impressions and information necessary to conduct a criminal records check. The methods shall include, but are not limited to, electronic methods.

(D) A determination whether any information exists that indicates that a person previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense listed or described in division (A) of this section that the superintendent makes pursuant to information considered in a criminal records check under this section is valid for the person who is the subject of that criminal records check for a period of one year after the date the superintendent makes that determination.

(E) The superintendent shall prescribe and charge a reasonable fee for providing a criminal records check requested under section 4123.444 of the Revised Code. If another request for a criminal records check is made under this section for a person for whom a valid determination under division (D) of this section is available, the superintendent shall provide the determination for a reduced fee.

Section 109.5721 | Retained applicant fingerprint database.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Employment" includes volunteer service.

(2) "Independent provider" has the same meaning as in section 5164.341 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Licensure" means the authorization, evidenced by a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other authority that is issued or conferred by a public office, to engage in a profession, occupation, or occupational activity, to be a foster caregiver, or to have control of and operate certain specific equipment, machinery, or premises over which a public office has jurisdiction.

(4) "Participating public office" means a public office that requires a fingerprint background check as a condition of employment with, licensure by, or approval for adoption by the public office and that elects to receive notice under division (D) of this section in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general. "Participating public office" also means the department of medicaid if it elects to receive notices under division (D) of this section regarding independent providers.

(5) "Public office" has the same meaning as in section 117.01 of the Revised Code.

(6) "Participating private party" means any person or private entity that is allowed to request a criminal records check pursuant to division (A)(2) or (3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code.

(B) Within six months after August 15, 2007, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall establish and maintain a database of fingerprints of individuals on whom the bureau has conducted criminal records checks for either of the following purposes:

(1) To determine the individual's eligibility for employment with, licensure by, or approval for adoption by a public office or participating private party;

(2) To determine whether an applicant for a medicaid provider agreement as an independent provider is ineligible for the medicaid provider agreement because of section 5164.341 of the Revised Code.

(C) The superintendent shall maintain the database separate and apart from other records maintained by the bureau. The database shall be known as the retained applicant fingerprint database.

(D) When the superintendent receives information that an individual whose name is in the retained applicant fingerprint database has been arrested for, convicted of, or pleaded guilty to any offense, the superintendent shall promptly notify the following of the individual's arrest, conviction, or guilty plea:

(1) Any participating public office or participating private party that employs, licensed, or approved the individual;

(2) The department of medicaid if the individual is an independent provider.

(E)(1) A participating public office or participating private party that receives a notification under division (D) of this section, and its employees and officers, shall use the information contained in the notification solely to determine the individual's continued eligibility for the following:

(a) Employment with the participating public office or participating private party;

(b) Licensure by the participating public office;

(c) Approval for adoption by the participating public office;

(d) A medicaid provider agreement as an independent provider.

(2) Except as provided in division (E) of section 5164.341 of the Revised Code, information contained in the notification is confidential and not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code and a participating public office or participating private party, and its employees and officers, shall not disclose that information to any person for any purpose not specified in division (E)(1) of this section.

(F) If an individual has submitted fingerprint impressions for employment with, licensure by, or approval for adoption by a participating public office or participating private party and seeks employment with, licensure by, or approval for adoption by another participating public office or participating private party, the other participating public office or participating private party shall reprint the individual. If an individual has been reprinted, the superintendent shall update that individual's information accordingly.

(G) The bureau of criminal identification and investigation and the participating public office or participating private party shall use information contained in the retained applicant fingerprint database and in the notice described in division (D) of this section only for the purpose of this section. This information is otherwise confidential and not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(H) The attorney general shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the operation and maintenance of the database. The rules shall provide for, but not be limited to, both of the following:

(1) The expungement or sealing of records of the following:

(a) Individuals who are deceased;

(b) Individuals who are no longer employed, granted licensure, or approved for adoption by the participating public office or participating private party that required submission of the individual's fingerprints;

(c) Individuals who are no longer independent providers.

(2) The terms under which a public office or participating private party may elect to receive notification under division (D) of this section, including payment of any reasonable fee that may be charged for the purpose.

(I) No public office or employee of a public office shall be considered negligent in a civil action solely because the public office did not elect to be a participating public office.

(J)(1) No person shall knowingly use information contained in or received from the retained applicant fingerprint database for purposes not authorized by this section.

(2) No person shall knowingly use information contained in or received from the retained applicant fingerprint database with the intent to harass or intimidate another person.

(3) Whoever violates division (J)(1) or (2) of this section is guilty of unlawful use of retained applicant fingerprint database records. A violation of division (J)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. A violation of division (J)(2) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Section 109.58 | Standard fingerprint impression sheet.

• Effective: December 31, 1997
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 342 - 122nd General Assembly

The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall prepare standard impression sheets on which fingerprints may be made in accordance with the fingerprint system of identification. The impression sheets may provide for other descriptive matter that the superintendent may prescribe. The superintendent shall furnish the impression sheets to each sheriff, chief of police, and person in charge of every county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution within the state. Upon the request of the board of education of a school district or of the principal or chief administrative officer of a nonpublic school, the superintendent shall provide standard impression sheets to the district or school for use in their fingerprinting programs under section 3313.96 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.59 | Fingerprint impressions and other descriptive measurements.

• Effective: October 6, 1994
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 571 - 120th General Assembly

The sheriff, chief of police, or other person in charge of each prison, workhouse, or state correctional institution shall send to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, on forms furnished by the superintendent of the bureau, any fingerprint impressions and other descriptive measurements that the superintendent may require. The information shall be filed, classified, and preserved by the bureau.

Section 109.60 | Forwarding fingerprints and descriptions to bureau - annual methamphetamine report.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 227 - 131st General Assembly

(A)(1) The sheriffs of the several counties and the chiefs of police of cities, immediately upon the arrest of any person for any felony, on suspicion of any felony, for a crime constituting a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses, or for any misdemeanor described in division (A)(1)(a), (A)(8)(a) , or (A)(10)(a) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, and immediately upon the arrest or taking into custody of any child under eighteen years of age for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult or upon probable cause to believe that a child of that age may have committed an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, shall take the person's or child's fingerprints, or cause the same to be taken, according to the fingerprint system of identification on the forms furnished by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, and immediately shall forward copies of the completed forms, any other description that may be required, and the history of the offense committed to the bureau to be classified and filed and to the clerk of the court having jurisdiction over the prosecution of the offense or over the adjudication relative to the act.

(2) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, if a person or child has not been arrested and first appears before a court or magistrate in response to a summons, or if a sheriff or chief of police has not taken, or caused to be taken, a person's or child's fingerprints in accordance with division (A)(1) of this section by the time of the arraignment or first appearance of the person or child, the court shall order the person or child to appear before the sheriff or chief of police within twenty-four hours to have the person's or child's fingerprints taken. The sheriff or chief of police shall take the person's or child's fingerprints, or cause the fingerprints to be taken, according to the fingerprint system of identification on the forms furnished by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and, immediately after the person's or child's arraignment or first appearance, forward copies of the completed forms, any other description that may be required, and the history of the offense committed to the bureau to be classified and filed and to the clerk of the court.

(3) Every court with jurisdiction over a case involving a person or child with respect to whom division (A)(1) or (2) of this section requires a sheriff or chief of police to take the person's or child's fingerprints shall inquire at the time of the person's or child's sentencing or adjudication whether or not the person or child has been fingerprinted pursuant to division (A)(1) or (2) of this section for the original arrest or court appearance upon which the sentence or adjudication is based. If the person or child was not fingerprinted for the original arrest or court appearance upon which the sentence or adjudication is based, the court shall take the person's or child's fingerprints or shall order the person or child to appear before the sheriff or chief of police within twenty-four hours to have the person's or child's fingerprints taken. If the court orders the person or child to appear before the sheriff or chief of police to have the person's or child's fingerprints taken, the sheriff or chief of police shall take the person's or child's fingerprints, or cause the fingerprints to be taken, according to the fingerprint system of identification on the forms furnished by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and immediately forward copies of the completed forms, any other description that may be required, and the history of the offense committed to the bureau to be classified and filed and to the clerk of the court.

(4) If a person or child is in the custody of a law enforcement agency or a detention facility, as defined in section 2921.01 of the Revised Code, and the chief law enforcement officer or chief administrative officer of the detention facility discovers that a warrant has been issued or a bill of information has been filed alleging the person or child to have committed an offense or act other than the offense or act for which the person or child is in custody, and the other alleged offense or act is one for which fingerprints are to be taken pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section, the law enforcement agency or detention facility shall take the fingerprints of the person or child, or cause the fingerprints to be taken, according to the fingerprint system of identification on the forms furnished by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and immediately forward copies of the completed forms, any other description that may be required, and the history of the offense committed to the bureau to be classified and filed and to the clerk of the court that issued the warrant or with which the bill of information was filed.

(5) If an accused is found not guilty of the offense charged or a nolle prosequi is entered in any case, or if any accused child under eighteen years of age is found not to be a delinquent child for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult or not guilty of the felony or offense of violence charged or a nolle prosequi is entered in that case, the fingerprints and description shall be given to the accused upon the accused's request.

(6) The superintendent shall compare the description received with those already on file in the bureau, and, if the superintendent finds that the person arrested or taken into custody has a criminal record or a record as a delinquent child for having committed an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult or is a fugitive from justice or wanted by any jurisdiction in this or another state, the United States, or a foreign country for any offense, the superintendent at once shall inform the arresting officer, the officer taking the person into custody, or the chief administrative officer of the county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution in which the person or child is in custody of that fact and give appropriate notice to the proper authorities in the jurisdiction in which the person is wanted, or, if that jurisdiction is a foreign country, give appropriate notice to federal authorities for transmission to the foreign country. The names, under which each person whose identification is filed is known, shall be alphabetically indexed by the superintendent.

(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to a violator of a city ordinance unless the officers have reason to believe that the violator is a past offender or the crime is one constituting a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses, or unless it is advisable for the purpose of subsequent identification. This section does not apply to any child under eighteen years of age who was not arrested or otherwise taken into custody for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult or upon probable cause to believe that a child of that age may have committed an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, except as provided in section 2151.313 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) For purposes of division (C) of this section, a law enforcement agency shall be considered to have arrested a person if any law enforcement officer who is employed by, appointed by, or serves that agency arrests the person. As used in division (C) of this section:

(a) "Illegal methamphetamine manufacturing laboratory" has the same meaning as in section 3745.13 of the Revised Code.

(b) "Methamphetamine or a methamphetamine product" means methamphetamine, any salt, isomer, or salt of an isomer of methamphetamine, or any compound, mixture, preparation, or substance containing methamphetamine or any salt, isomer, or salt of an isomer of methamphetamine.

(2) Each law enforcement agency that, in any calendar year, arrests any person for a violation of section 2925.04 of the Revised Code that is based on the manufacture of methamphetamine or a methamphetamine product, a violation of section 2925.041 of the Revised Code that is based on the possession of chemicals sufficient to produce methamphetamine or a methamphetamine product, or a violation of any other provision of Chapter 2925. or 3719. of the Revised Code that is based on the possession of chemicals sufficient to produce methamphetamine or a methamphetamine product shall prepare an annual report covering the calendar year that contains the information specified in division (C)(3) of this section relative to all arrests for violations of those sections committed under those circumstances during that calendar year and relative to illegal methamphetamine manufacturing laboratories, dump sites, and chemical caches as specified in that division and shall send the annual report, not later than the first day of March in the calendar year following the calendar year covered by the report, to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.

The law enforcement agency shall write any annual report prepared and filed under this division on the standard forms furnished by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation pursuant to division (C)(4) of this section. The annual report shall be a statistical report, and nothing in the report or in the information it contains shall identify, or enable the identification of, any person who was arrested and whose arrest is included in the information contained in the report. The annual report in the possession of the bureau and the information it contains are public records for the purpose of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(3) The annual report prepared and filed by a law enforcement agency under division (C)(2) of this section shall contain all of the following information for the calendar year covered by the report:

(a) The total number of arrests made by the agency in that calendar year for a violation of section 2925.04 of the Revised Code that is based on the manufacture of methamphetamine or a methamphetamine product, a violation of section 2925.041 of the Revised Code that is based on the possession of chemicals sufficient to produce methamphetamine or a methamphetamine product, or a violation of any other provision of Chapter 2925. or 3719. of the Revised Code that is based on the possession of chemicals sufficient to produce methamphetamine or a methamphetamine product;

(b) The total number of illegal methamphetamine manufacturing laboratories at which one or more of the arrests reported under division (C)(3)(a) of this section occurred, or that were discovered in that calendar year within the territory served by the agency but at which none of the arrests reported under division (C)(3)(a) of this section occurred;

(c) The total number of dump sites and chemical caches that are, or that are reasonably believed to be, related to illegal methamphetamine manufacturing and that were discovered in that calendar year within the territory served by the agency.

(4) The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall prepare and furnish to each law enforcement agency in this state standard forms for making the annual reports required by division (C)(2) of this section. The standard forms that the superintendent prepares pursuant to this division may be in a tangible format, in an electronic format, or in both a tangible format and an electronic format.

(5) The annual report required by division (C)(2) of this section is separate from, and in addition to, any report, materials, or information required under division (A) of this section or under any other provision of sections 109.57 to 109.62 of the Revised Code.

Last updated May 4, 2022 at 8:50 AM

Section 109.61 | Sheriff or chief of police to forward information to bureau.

• Effective: January 1, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 2 - 122nd General Assembly

Each sheriff or chief of police shall furnish the bureau of criminal identification and investigation with descriptions, fingerprints, photographs, and measurements of the following:

(A)(1) Persons arrested who in that sheriff's or chief of police's judgment are wanted for serious offenses, are fugitives from justice, or in whose possession at the time of arrest are found goods or property reasonably believed to have been stolen;

(2) Children arrested or otherwise taken into custody who in that sheriff's or chief of police's judgment are under eighteen years of age and have committed an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult.

(B) All persons in whose possession are found burglar outfits, burglar tools, or burglar keys, or who have in their possession high power explosives reasonably believed to be intended to be used for unlawful purposes;

(C) Persons who are in possession of infernal machines or other contrivances in whole or in part and reasonably believed by the sheriff or chief of police to be intended to be used for unlawful purposes;

(D) All persons carrying concealed firearms or other deadly weapons reasonably believed to be carried for unlawful purposes;

(E) All persons who have in their possession inks, dies, paper, or other articles necessary in the making of counterfeit bank notes or in the alteration of bank notes, or dies, molds, or other articles necessary in the making of counterfeit money and reasonably believed to be intended to be used by them for those types of unlawful purposes.

Section 109.62 | Cooperation with interstate, national, and international system of criminal identification and investigation.

• Effective: September 24, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 105th General Assembly

The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall co-operate with bureaus in other states and with the federal bureau of investigation to develop and carry on a complete interstate, national, and international system of criminal identification and investigation.

Section 109.63 | Superintendent may testify.

• Effective: September 24, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 105th General Assembly

The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and his assistants employed in accordance with section 109.51 of the Revised Code may testify in any court in this state to the same extent as any law enforcement officer in this state.

Section 109.64 | Periodic information bulletin concerning missing children who may be present in state.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

The bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall prepare a periodic information bulletin concerning missing children whom it determines may be present in this state. The bureau shall compile the bulletin from information contained in the national crime information center computer. The bulletin shall indicate the names and addresses of these minors who are the subject of missing children cases and other information that the superintendent of the bureau considers appropriate. The bulletin shall contain a reminder to law enforcement agencies of their responsibilities under section 2901.30 of the Revised Code.

The bureau shall send a copy of each periodic information bulletin to the missing children clearinghouse established under section 109.65 of the Revised Code for use in connection with its responsibilities under division (E) of that section. Upon receipt of each periodic information bulletin from the bureau, the missing children clearinghouse shall send a copy of the bulletin to each sheriff, marshal, police department of a municipal corporation, police force of a township police district or joint police district, and township constable in this state, to the board of education of each school district in this state, and to each nonpublic school in this state. The bureau shall provide a copy of the bulletin, upon request, to other persons or entities. The superintendent of the bureau, with the approval of the attorney general, may establish a reasonable fee for a copy of a bulletin provided to persons or entities other than law enforcement agencies in this or other states or of the federal government, the department of education and workforce, governmental entities of this state, and libraries in this state. The superintendent shall deposit all such fees collected into the missing children fund created by section 109.65 of the Revised Code.

As used in this section, "missing children," "information," and "minor" have the same meanings as in section 2901.30 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 11:58 AM

Section 109.65 | Missing children clearinghouse - missing children fund.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "minor," "missing child," and "missing children" have the same meanings as in section 2901.30 of the Revised Code.

(B) There is hereby created within the office of the attorney general the missing children clearinghouse. The attorney general shall administer the clearinghouse. The clearinghouse is established as a central repository of information to coordinate and improve the availability of information regarding missing children, which information shall be collected and disseminated by the clearinghouse to assist in the location of missing children. The clearinghouse shall act as an information repository separate from and in addition to law enforcement agencies within this state.

(C) The missing children clearinghouse may perform any of the following functions:

(1) The establishment of services to aid in the location of missing children that include, but are not limited to, any of the following services:

(a) Assistance in the preparation and dissemination of flyers identifying and describing missing children and their abductors;

(b) The development of informational forms for the reporting of missing children that may be used by parents, guardians, and law enforcement officials to facilitate the location of a missing child;

(c) The provision of assistance to public and private organizations, boards of education, nonpublic schools, preschools, child care facilities, and law enforcement agencies in planning and implementing voluntary programs to fingerprint children.

(2) The establishment and operation of a toll-free telephone line for supplemental reports of missing children and reports of sightings of missing children;

(3) Upon the request of any person or entity and upon payment of any applicable fee established by the attorney general under division (H) of this section, the provision to the person or entity who makes the request of a copy of any information possessed by the clearinghouse that was acquired or prepared pursuant to division (E)(3) of this section;

(4) The performance of liaison services between individuals and public and private agencies regarding procedures for handling and responding to missing children reports;

(5) The participation as a member in any networks of other missing children centers or clearinghouses;

(6) The creation and operation of an intrastate network of communication designed for the speedy collection and processing of information concerning missing children.

(D) If a board of education is notified by school personnel that a missing child is attending any school under the board's jurisdiction, or if the principal or chief administrative officer of a nonpublic school is notified by school personnel that a missing child is attending that school, the board or the principal or chief administrative officer immediately shall give notice of that fact to the missing children clearinghouse and to the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the area where the missing child resides.

(E)(1) The attorney general, in cooperation with the department of job and family services, shall establish a "missing child educational program" within the missing children clearinghouse that shall perform the functions specified in divisions (E)(1) to (3) of this section. The program shall operate under the supervision and control of the attorney general in accordance with procedures that the attorney general shall develop to implement divisions (E)(1) to (3) of this section. The attorney general shall cooperate with the department of education and workforce in developing and disseminating information acquired or prepared pursuant to division (E)(3) of this section.

(2) Upon the request of any board of education in this state or any nonpublic school in this state, the missing child educational program shall provide to the board or school a reasonable number of copies of the information acquired or prepared pursuant to division (E)(3) of this section.

Upon the request of any board of education in this state or any nonpublic school in this state that, pursuant to section 3313.96 of the Revised Code, is developing an information program concerning missing children issues and matters, the missing child educational program shall provide to the board or nonpublic school assistance in developing the information program. The assistance may include, but is not limited to, the provision of any or all of the following:

(a) If the requesting entity is a board of education of a school district, sample policies on missing and exploited children issues to assist the board in complying with section 3313.205 of the Revised Code;

(b) Suggested safety curricula regarding missing children issues, including child safety and abduction prevention issues;

(c) Assistance in developing, with local law enforcement agencies, prosecuting attorneys, boards of education, school districts, and nonpublic schools, cooperative programs for fingerprinting children;

(d) Other assistance to further the goals of the program.

(3) The missing child educational program shall acquire or prepare informational materials relating to missing children issues and matters. These issues and matters include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) The types of missing children;

(b) The reasons why and how minors become missing children, the potential adverse consequences of a minor becoming a missing child, and, in the case of minors who are considering running away from home or from the care, custody, and control of their parents, parent who is the residential parent and legal custodian, guardian, legal custodian, or another person responsible for them, alternatives that may be available to address their concerns and problems;

(c) Offenses under federal law that could relate to missing children and other provisions of federal law that focus on missing children;

(d) Offenses under the Revised Code that could relate to missing children, including, but not limited to, kidnapping, abduction, unlawful restraint, child stealing, interference with custody, endangering children, domestic violence, abuse of a child and contributing to the dependency, neglect, unruliness, or delinquency of a child, sexual offenses, drug offenses, prostitution offenses, and obscenity offenses, and other provisions of the Revised Code that could relate to missing children;

(e) Legislation being considered by the general assembly, legislatures of other states, the congress of the United States, and political subdivisions in this or any other state to address missing children issues;

(f) Sources of information on missing children issues;

(g) State, local, federal, and private systems for locating and identifying missing children;

(h) Law enforcement agency programs, responsibilities, and investigative techniques in missing children matters;

(i) Efforts on the community level in this and other states, concerning missing children issues and matters, by governmental entities and private organizations;

(j) The identification of private organizations that, among their primary objectives, address missing children issues and matters;

(k) How to avoid becoming a missing child and what to do if one becomes a missing child;

(l) Efforts that schools, parents, and members of a community can undertake to reduce the risk that a minor will become a missing child and to quickly locate or identify a minor if he becomes a missing child, including, but not limited to, fingerprinting programs.

(F) Each year the missing children clearinghouse shall issue a report describing its performance of the functions specified in division (E) of this section and shall provide a copy of the report to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the governor, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, and the director of job and family services.

(G) Any state agency or political subdivision of this state that operates a missing children program or a clearinghouse for information about missing children shall coordinate its activities with the missing children clearinghouse.

(H) The attorney general shall determine a reasonable fee to be charged for providing to any person or entity other than a state or local law enforcement agency of this or any other state, a law enforcement agency of the United States, a board of education of a school district in this state, a nonpublic school in this state, a governmental entity in this state, or a public library in this state, pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section, copies of any information acquired or prepared pursuant to division (E)(3) of this section. The attorney general shall collect the fee prior to sending or giving copies of any information to any person or entity for whom or which this division requires the fee to be charged and shall deposit the fee into the missing children fund created by division (I) of this section.

(I) There is hereby created in the state treasury the missing children fund that shall consist of all moneys awarded to the state by donation, gift, or bequest, all other moneys received for purposes of this section, and all fees collected pursuant to this section or section 109.64 of the Revised Code. The attorney general shall use the moneys in the missing children fund only for purposes of the office of the attorney general acquiring or preparing information pursuant to division (E)(3) of this section.

(J) The failure of the missing children clearinghouse to undertake any function or activity authorized in this section does not create a cause of action against the state.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 12:03 PM

Section 109.66 | Publication of statistical data on trafficking in persons.

• Effective: June 27, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 262 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The attorney general, with assistance from the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, annually shall publish statistical data on violations of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code. The first annual publication of this data shall occur one year after the effective date of this section.

(B) Each state agency and each agency of each political subdivision that investigates violations of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code or acts of human trafficking shall collect and submit to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation on or before a date to be determined by the attorney general the following information relevant to those violations or acts:

(1) The number of investigations, arrests, prosecutions, and successful convictions of persons for a violation of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code;

(2) The estimated number and demographic characteristics of persons violating that section, as well as those persons who purchase or receive a commercial sex act, sexually explicit performance, labor, or services from victims of violations of that section;

(3) Statistics on the number of victims of violations of that section and statistics on the nationality, age, method of recruitment, and country, state, or city of origin of the victims of violations of that section;

(4) Trafficking routes and trafficking patterns used in violations of that section;

(5) Methods of transportation used in violations of that section;

(6) Social and economic factors that contribute to and foster the demand for all forms of exploitation of persons that leads to trafficking in persons.

(C) As used in this section:

(1) "Commercial sex act" means any sex act on account of which anything of value is directly or indirectly given, promised to, or received by any person.

(2) "Labor" means work of economic or financial value.

(3) "Services" means an ongoing relationship between persons in which a person performs activities at the behest of, under the supervision of, or for the benefit of another person.

(4) "Sexually explicit performance" means a live, public, private, photographed, recorded, or videotaped act intended to sexually arouse, satisfy the sexual desires of, or appeal to the prurient interests of any person.

(5) "Human trafficking" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.67 | Public awareness publications on elder fraud and financial exploitation of the elderly.

• Effective: March 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 158 - 132nd General Assembly

The attorney general shall distribute at least six public awareness publications each year that provide general information on elder fraud and financial exploitation of the elderly. The awareness publications must include information on all of the following:

(A) Warning signs that may signal that fraud or financial exploitation are occurring;

(B) Methods for reporting elder fraud or financial exploitation including a list of agencies that handle those reports;

(C) Services and resources that may be available to prevent or remedy elder fraud or financial exploitation.

Section 109.68 | Establishment of statewide sexual assault examination kit tracking system.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "victim" means a person from whom a sexual assault examination kit was collected.

(B) In consultation with the attorney general's advisory group on sexual assault examination kit tracking, the attorney general shall develop recommendations for establishing a statewide sexual assault examination kit tracking system. Based on those recommendations, the attorney general shall create, operate, and maintain the statewide tracking system and shall identify and allocate money for that purpose from the appropriate funds available to the attorney general.

(C) The attorney general may contract with state or private entities, including private software and technology providers, for the creation, operation, and maintenance of the statewide tracking system. The tracking system shall do all of the following:

(1) Track the status of sexual assault examination kits from the collection site through the criminal justice process, including the initial collection at medical facilities, inventory and storage by law enforcement agencies, analysis at crime laboratories, and storage or destruction after completion of analysis;

(2) Allow all entities that receive, maintain, store, or preserve sexual assault examination kits to update the status and location of the kits;

(3) Allow individuals to anonymously access the statewide tracking system regarding the location and status of their sexual assault examination kit.

(D)(1) A victim may request the following from the appropriate official with custody of the kit:

(a) Information regarding the testing date and results of the kit;

(b) Whether a DNA profile was obtained from the kit;

(c) Whether a match was found to that DNA profile in state or federal databases;

(d) The estimated destruction date of the kit.

The victim is entitled to receive this information in writing, by electronic mail, or by telephone, as designated by the victim.

(2) A victim who has requested information regarding the tracking of the victim's sexual assault examination kit shall be informed by the appropriate official with custody of the kit when there is any change in the status of the case, including if the case has been closed or reopened.

(3) A victim may request written notification from the appropriate official with custody of the kit notice of the destruction or disposal date of the kit and shall receive that notice not later than sixty days before the date of the intended destruction or disposal.

(4) A victim may request further preservation of the sexual assault examination kit or its probative contents beyond the intended destruction or disposal date as provided under section 2933.82 of the Revised Code, for a period of up to thirty years.

(5) In responding to a victim's request under divisions (D)(1) to (4) of this section, the appropriate official with custody of the kit also shall provide the victim with information about the victim's right to apply for an award of reparations pursuant to section 2743.56 of the Revised Code.

(E) Not later than one year after creation of the statewide tracking system, all entities in the chain of custody of sexual assault examination kits shall participate in the system.

(F) The attorney general may adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to facilitate the implementation of the statewide sexual assault examination kit tracking system pursuant to this section. Except as provided in division (B)(3) of this section, information contained in the statewide tracking system is confidential and not subject to public disclosure.

Last updated September 22, 2023 at 9:25 AM

Section 109.69 | Reciprocity agreement.

• Effective: March 23, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 234 - 130th General Assembly

(A)(1) The attorney general shall negotiate and enter into a reciprocity agreement with any other license-issuing state under which a concealed handgun license that is issued by the other state is recognized in this state, except as provided in division (B) of this section, if the attorney general determines that both of the following apply:

(a) The eligibility requirements imposed by that license-issuing state for that license are substantially comparable to the eligibility requirements for a concealed handgun license issued under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code.

(b) That license-issuing state recognizes a concealed handgun license issued under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code.

(2) A reciprocity agreement entered into under division (A)(1) of this section also may provide for the recognition in this state of a concealed handgun license issued on a temporary or emergency basis by the other license-issuing state, if the eligibility requirements imposed by that license-issuing state for the temporary or emergency license are substantially comparable to the eligibility requirements for a concealed handgun license issued under section 2923.125 or 2923.1213 of the Revised Code and if that license-issuing state recognizes a concealed handgun license issued under section 2923.1213 of the Revised Code.

(3) The attorney general shall not negotiate any agreement with any other license-issuing state under which a concealed handgun license issued by the other state is recognized in this state other than as provided in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section.

(B)(1) If, on or after the effective date of this amendment , a person who is a resident of this state has a valid concealed handgun license that was issued by another license-issuing state that has entered into a reciprocity agreement with the attorney general under division (A)(1) of this section or the attorney general determines that the eligibility requirements imposed by that license-issuing state for that license are substantially comparable to the eligibility requirements for a concealed handgun license issued under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code, the license issued by the other license-issuing state shall be recognized in this state, shall be accepted and valid in this state, and grants the person the same right to carry a concealed handgun in this state as a person who was issued a concealed handgun license under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code.

(2) If, on or after the effective date of this amendment , a person who is a resident of this state has a valid concealed handgun license that was issued by another license-issuing state that has not entered into a reciprocity agreement with the attorney general under division (A)(1) of this section, the license issued by the other license-issuing state shall be recognized in this state, shall be accepted and valid in this state, and grants the person the same right to carry a concealed handgun in this state as a person who was issued a concealed handgun license under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code for a period of six months after the person became a resident of this state. After that six-month period, if the person wishes to obtain a concealed handgun license, the person shall apply for a concealed handgun license pursuant to section 2923.125 of the Revised Code.

(3) If, on or after the effective date of this amendment , a person who is not a resident of this state has a valid concealed handgun license that was issued by another license-issuing state, regardless of whether the other license-issuing state has entered into a reciprocity agreement with the attorney general under division (A)(1) of this section, and the person is temporarily in this state, during the time that the person is temporarily in this state the license issued by the other license-issuing state shall be recognized in this state, shall be accepted and valid in this state, and grants the person the same right to carry a concealed handgun in this state as a person who was issued a concealed handgun license under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code.

(C) The attorney general shall publish each determination described in division (B)(1) of this section that the attorney general makes in the same manner that written agreements entered into under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section are published.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Handgun," "concealed handgun license," and "valid concealed handgun license" have the same meanings as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

(2) "License-issuing state" means a state other than this state that, pursuant to law, provides for the issuance of a license to carry a concealed handgun.

Section 109.71 | Ohio peace officer training commission created - definitions.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 98 - 135th General Assembly

There is hereby created in the office of the attorney general the Ohio peace officer training commission. The commission shall consist of ten members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate and selected as follows: one member representing the public; one member who represents a fraternal organization representing law enforcement officers; two members who are incumbent sheriffs; two members who are incumbent chiefs of police; one member from the bureau of criminal identification and investigation; one member from the state highway patrol; one member who is the special agent in charge of a field office of the federal bureau of investigation in this state; and one member from the department of education and workforce, trade and industrial education services, law enforcement training.

This section does not confer any arrest authority or any ability or authority to detain a person, write or issue any citation, or provide any disposition alternative, as granted under Chapter 2935. of the Revised Code.

Pursuant to division (A)(9) of section 101.82 of the Revised Code, the commission is exempt from the requirements of sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code.

As used in sections 109.71 to 109.801 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Peace officer" means:

(1) A deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, member of the organized police department of a township or municipal corporation, member of a township police district or joint police district police force, member of a police force employed by a metropolitan housing authority under division (D) of section 3735.31 of the Revised Code, or township constable, who is commissioned and employed as a peace officer by a political subdivision of this state or by a metropolitan housing authority, and whose primary duties are to preserve the peace, to protect life and property, and to enforce the laws of this state, ordinances of a municipal corporation, resolutions of a township, or regulations of a board of county commissioners or board of township trustees, or any of those laws, ordinances, resolutions, or regulations;

(2) A police officer who is employed by a railroad company and appointed and commissioned by the secretary of state pursuant to sections 4973.17 to 4973.22 of the Revised Code;

(3) Employees of the department of taxation engaged in the enforcement of Chapter 5743. of the Revised Code and designated by the tax commissioner for peace officer training for purposes of the delegation of investigation powers under section 5743.45 of the Revised Code;

(4) An undercover drug agent;

(5) Enforcement agents of the department of public safety whom the director of public safety designates under section 5502.14 of the Revised Code;

(6) An employee of the department of natural resources who is a natural resources law enforcement staff officer designated pursuant to section 1501.013, a natural resources officer appointed pursuant to section 1501.24, a forest-fire investigator appointed pursuant to section 1503.09, or a wildlife officer designated pursuant to section 1531.13 of the Revised Code;

(7) An employee of a park district who is designated pursuant to section 511.232 or 1545.13 of the Revised Code;

(8) An employee of a conservancy district who is designated pursuant to section 6101.75 of the Revised Code;

(9) A police officer who is employed by a hospital that employs and maintains its own proprietary police department or security department, and who is appointed and commissioned by the secretary of state pursuant to sections 4973.17 to 4973.22 of the Revised Code;

(10) Veterans' homes police officers designated under section 5907.02 of the Revised Code;

(11) A police officer who is employed by a qualified nonprofit corporation police department pursuant to section 1702.80 of the Revised Code;

(12) A state university law enforcement officer appointed under section 3345.04 of the Revised Code or a person serving as a state university law enforcement officer on a permanent basis on June 19, 1978, who has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace officer basic training program;

(13) A special police officer employed by the department of mental health and addiction services pursuant to section 5119.08 of the Revised Code or the department of developmental disabilities pursuant to section 5123.13 of the Revised Code;

(14) A member of a campus police department appointed under section 1713.50 of the Revised Code;

(15) A member of a police force employed by a regional transit authority under division (Y) of section 306.35 of the Revised Code;

(16) Investigators appointed by the auditor of state pursuant to section 117.091 of the Revised Code and engaged in the enforcement of Chapter 117. of the Revised Code;

(17) A special police officer designated by the superintendent of the state highway patrol pursuant to section 5503.09 of the Revised Code or a person who was serving as a special police officer pursuant to that section on a permanent basis on October 21, 1997, and who has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace officer basic training program;

(18) A special police officer employed by a port authority under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code or a person serving as a special police officer employed by a port authority on a permanent basis on May 17, 2000, who has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace officer basic training program;

(19) A special police officer employed by a municipal corporation who has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission for satisfactory completion of an approved peace officer basic training program and who is employed on a permanent basis on or after March 19, 2003, at a municipal airport, or other municipal air navigation facility, that has scheduled operations, as defined in section 119.3 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 14 C.F.R. 119.3, as amended, and that is required to be under a security program and is governed by aviation security rules of the transportation security administration of the United States department of transportation as provided in Parts 1542. and 1544. of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended;

(20) A police officer who is employed by an owner or operator of an amusement park that has an average yearly attendance in excess of six hundred thousand guests and that employs and maintains its own proprietary police department or security department, and who is appointed and commissioned by a judge of the appropriate municipal court or county court pursuant to section 4973.17 of the Revised Code;

(21) A police officer who is employed by a bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or credit unions, who has been appointed and commissioned by the secretary of state pursuant to sections 4973.17 to 4973.22 of the Revised Code, and who has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of a state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace officer basic training program;

(22) An investigator, as defined in section 109.541 of the Revised Code, of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation who is commissioned by the superintendent of the bureau as a special agent for the purpose of assisting law enforcement officers or providing emergency assistance to peace officers pursuant to authority granted under that section;

(23) A state fire marshal law enforcement officer appointed under section 3737.22 of the Revised Code or a person serving as a state fire marshal law enforcement officer on a permanent basis on or after July 1, 1982, who has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace officer basic training program;

(24) A gaming agent employed under section 3772.03 of the Revised Code;

(25) An employee of the state board of pharmacy designated by the executive director of the board pursuant to section 4729.04 of the Revised Code to investigate violations of Chapters 2925., 3715., 3719., 3796., 4729., and 4752. of the Revised Code and rules adopted thereunder.

(B) "Undercover drug agent" has the same meaning as in division (B)(2) of section 109.79 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Crisis intervention training" means training in the use of interpersonal and communication skills to most effectively and sensitively interview victims of rape.

(D) "Missing children" has the same meaning as in section 2901.30 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Tactical medical professional" means an EMT, EMT-basic, AEMT, EMT-I, paramedic, nurse, or physician who is trained and certified in a nationally recognized tactical medical training program that is equivalent to "tactical combat casualty care" (TCCC) and "tactical emergency medical support" (TEMS) and who functions in the tactical or austere environment while attached to a law enforcement agency of either this state or a political subdivision of this state.

(F) "EMT-basic," "EMT-I," and "paramedic" have the same meanings as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code and "EMT" and "AEMT" have the same meanings as in section 4765.011 of the Revised Code.

(G) "Nurse" means any of the following:

(1) Any person who is licensed to practice nursing as a registered nurse by the board of nursing;

(2) Any certified nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, or certified nurse-midwife who holds a certificate of authority issued by the board of nursing under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(3) Any person who is licensed to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse by the board of nursing pursuant to Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code.

(H) "Physician" means a person who is licensed pursuant to Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.

(I) "County correctional officer" has the same meaning as in section 341.41 of the Revised Code.

(J)(1) "Fire investigator" means an employee of a fire department charged with investigating fires and explosions who has been authorized, in accordance with sections 737.27 and 3737.24 of the Revised Code, to perform the duties of investigating the origin and cause of fires and explosions using the scientific method to investigate elements of the event including the circumstances, actions, persons, means, and motives that resulted in the fire or explosion or the report of a fire or explosion within this state.

(2) "Fire investigator" does not include a person who is acting as a fire investigator on behalf of an insurance company or any other privately owned or operated enterprise.

(K) "Fire department" means a fire department of the state or an instrumentality of the state or of a municipal corporation, township, joint fire district, or other political subdivision.

Last updated August 28, 2024 at 4:21 PM

Section 109.72 | Members - organization.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

Ohio peace officer training commission member terms shall be for three years, commencing on the twentieth day of September and ending on the nineteenth day of September. Each member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term to which the member was appointed. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of such term. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. An interim chairperson shall be appointed by the governor until such time as the commission elects a permanent chairperson.

Any member of the commission appointed pursuant to section 109.71 of the Revised Code as an incumbent sheriff, incumbent chief of police, representative of the state highway patrol, state department of education and workforce, federal bureau of investigation, and bureau of criminal identification and investigation, shall immediately, upon termination of holding such office, cease to be a member of the commission, and a successor shall be appointed.

The commission shall meet at least four times each year. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson and shall be called by the chairperson at the request of the attorney general or upon the written request of five members of the commission. The commission may establish its own requirements as to quorum and its own procedures with respect to the conduct of its meetings and other affairs; provided, that all recommendations by the commission to the attorney general pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code shall require the affirmative vote of five members of the commission.

Membership on the commission does not constitute the holding of an office, and members of the commission shall not be required to take and file oaths of office before serving on the commission. The commission shall not exercise any portion of the sovereign power of the state.

The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

No member of the commission shall be disqualified from holding any public office or employment, nor shall the member forfeit any such office or employment, by reason of appointment to the commission, notwithstanding any general, special, or local law, ordinance, or city charter to the contrary.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 12:08 PM

Section 109.73 | Rule recommendations.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 98 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The Ohio peace officer training commission shall recommend rules to the attorney general with respect to all of the following:

(1) The approval, or revocation of approval, of peace officer training schools administered by the state, counties, municipal corporations, public school districts, technical college districts, and the department of natural resources;

(2) Minimum courses of study, attendance requirements, and equipment and facilities to be required at approved state, county, municipal, and department of natural resources peace officer training schools;

(3) Minimum qualifications for instructors at approved state, county, municipal, and department of natural resources peace officer training schools;

(4) The requirements of minimum basic training that peace officers appointed to probationary terms shall complete before being eligible for permanent appointment, which requirements shall include training in the handling of the offense of domestic violence, other types of domestic violence-related offenses and incidents, and protection orders and consent agreements issued or approved under section 2919.26 or 3113.31 of the Revised Code; crisis intervention training; and training in the handling of missing children and child abuse and neglect cases; and training in handling violations of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code; and the time within which such basic training shall be completed following appointment to a probationary term;

(5) The requirements of minimum basic training that peace officers not appointed for probationary terms but appointed on other than a permanent basis shall complete in order to be eligible for continued employment or permanent appointment, which requirements shall include training in the handling of the offense of domestic violence, other types of domestic violence-related offenses and incidents, and protection orders and consent agreements issued or approved under section 2919.26 or 3113.31 of the Revised Code, crisis intervention training, and training in the handling of missing children and child abuse and neglect cases, and training in handling violations of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code, and the time within which such basic training shall be completed following appointment on other than a permanent basis;

(6) Categories or classifications of advanced in-service training programs for peace officers, including programs in the handling of the offense of domestic violence, other types of domestic violence-related offenses and incidents, and protection orders and consent agreements issued or approved under section 2919.26 or 3113.31 of the Revised Code, in crisis intervention, and in the handling of missing children and child abuse and neglect cases, and in handling violations of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code, and minimum courses of study and attendance requirements with respect to such categories or classifications;

(7) Permitting persons, who are employed as members of a campus police department appointed under section 1713.50 of the Revised Code; who are employed as police officers by a qualified nonprofit corporation police department pursuant to section 1702.80 of the Revised Code; who are appointed and commissioned as bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or credit unions police officers, as railroad police officers, or as hospital police officers pursuant to sections 4973.17 to 4973.22 of the Revised Code; or who are appointed and commissioned as amusement park police officers pursuant to section 4973.17 of the Revised Code, to attend approved peace officer training schools, including the Ohio peace officer training academy, and to receive certificates of satisfactory completion of basic training programs, if the private college or university that established the campus police department; qualified nonprofit corporation police department; bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or credit unions; railroad company; hospital; or amusement park sponsoring the police officers pays the entire cost of the training and certification and if trainee vacancies are available;

(8) Permitting undercover drug agents to attend approved peace officer training schools, other than the Ohio peace officer training academy, and to receive certificates of satisfactory completion of basic training programs, if, for each undercover drug agent, the county, township, or municipal corporation that employs that undercover drug agent pays the entire cost of the training and certification;

(9)(a) The requirements for basic training programs for bailiffs and deputy bailiffs of courts of record of this state and for criminal investigators employed by the state public defender that those persons shall complete before they may carry a firearm while on duty;

(b) The requirements for any training received by a bailiff or deputy bailiff of a court of record of this state or by a criminal investigator employed by the state public defender prior to June 6, 1986, that is to be considered equivalent to the training described in division (A)(9)(a) of this section.

(10) Establishing minimum qualifications and requirements for certification for dogs utilized by law enforcement agencies;

(11) Establishing minimum requirements for certification of persons who are employed as correction officers in a full-service jail, five-day facility, or eight-hour holding facility or who provide correction services in such a jail or facility;

(12) Establishing requirements for the training of humane society agents under section 1717.061 of the Revised Code, including, without limitation, a requirement that the agents receive instruction on traditional animal husbandry methods and training techniques, including customary owner-performed practices;

(13) Permitting tactical medical professionals to attend approved peace officer training schools, including the Ohio peace officer training academy, to receive training of the type described in division (A)(14) of this section and to receive certificates of satisfactory completion of training programs described in that division;

(14) The requirements for training programs that tactical medical professionals shall complete to qualify them to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.771 of the Revised Code, which requirements shall include at least the firearms training specified in division (A) of section 109.748 of the Revised Code;

(15) Procedures and requirements for a portion of basic training that peace officers complete in proper interactions with civilians during traffic stops and other in-person encounters as specified in division (B)(4) of section 109.803 of the Revised Code and including the topics of instruction listed for active duty peace officers under divisions (B)(4)(a) to (d) of that section;

(16) Permitting county correctional officers to attend approved peace officer training schools, including the Ohio peace officer training academy, to receive training of the type described in division (A)(17) of this section, and to receive certificates of satisfactory completion of basic training programs described in that division;

(17) The requirements for basic training programs that county correctional officers shall complete to qualify them to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.772 of the Revised Code, which requirements shall include the firearms training specified in section 109.773 of the Revised Code;

(18) Permitting fire investigators to attend approved peace officer training schools, including the Ohio peace officer training academy, to receive training of the type described in division (A)(19) of this section, and to receive certificates of satisfactory completion of training programs described in that division;

(19) The requirements for training programs that fire investigators shall complete to qualify them to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.774 of the Revised Code, which requirements shall include at least the firearms training specified in division (A) of section 109.7481 of the Revised Code.

(B) The commission shall appoint an executive director, with the approval of the attorney general, who shall hold office during the pleasure of the commission. The executive director shall perform such duties assigned by the commission. The executive director shall receive a salary fixed pursuant to Chapter 124. of the Revised Code and reimbursement for expenses within the amounts available by appropriation. The executive director may appoint officers, employees, agents, and consultants as the executive director considers necessary, prescribe their duties, and provide for reimbursement of their expenses within the amounts available for reimbursement by appropriation and with the approval of the commission.

(C) The commission may do all of the following:

(1) Recommend studies, surveys, and reports to be made by the executive director regarding the carrying out of the objectives and purposes of sections 109.71 to 109.77 of the Revised Code;

(2) Visit and inspect any peace officer training school that has been approved by the executive director or for which application for approval has been made;

(3) Make recommendations, from time to time, to the executive director, the attorney general, and the general assembly regarding the carrying out of the purposes of sections 109.71 to 109.77 of the Revised Code;

(4) Report to the attorney general from time to time, and to the governor and the general assembly at least annually, concerning the activities of the commission;

(5) Establish fees for the services the commission offers under sections 109.71 to 109.79 of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, fees for training, certification, and testing;

(6) Perform such other acts as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the powers and duties of the commission as set forth in sections 109.71 to 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(D) In establishing the requirements, under division (A)(12) of this section, the commission may consider any portions of the curriculum for instruction on the topic of animal husbandry practices, if any, of the Ohio state university college of veterinary medicine. No person or entity that fails to provide instruction on traditional animal husbandry methods and training techniques, including customary owner-performed practices, shall qualify to train a humane society agent for appointment under section 1717.06 of the Revised Code.

(E)(1) As used in this division, "license" has the same meaning as in section 4796.01 of the Revised Code, except that it includes a certificate of completion of a training program required under sections 109.71 to 109.804 of the Revised Code. "License" does not include a certificate of completion of a firearm basic training program under division (B)(1) of section 109.78 of the Revised Code or a certificate of completion of any firearm requalification training program.

(2) Notwithstanding any requirement for a license issued by the commission, the commission shall issue a license in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an individual if either of the following applies:

(a) The individual holds a license in another state.

(b) The individual has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter in the same profession, occupation, or occupational activity as the profession, occupation, or occupational activity for which the license is required in this state in a state that does not require such a license.

Last updated August 28, 2024 at 4:22 PM

Section 109.731 | Prescribed forms.

• Effective: March 21, 2017
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 199 - 131st General Assembly

(A)(1) The attorney general shall prescribe, and shall make available to sheriffs an application form that is to be used under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code by a person who applies for a concealed handgun license and an application form that is to be used under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code by a person who applies for the renewal of a license of that nature. The attorney general shall design the form to enable applicants to provide the information that is required by law to be collected, and shall update the form as necessary. Burdens or restrictions to obtaining a concealed handgun license that are not expressly prescribed in law shall not be incorporated into the form. The attorney general shall post a printable version of the form on the web site of the attorney general and shall provide the address of the web site to any person who requests the form.

(2) The Ohio peace officer training commission shall prescribe, and shall make available to sheriffs, all of the following:

(a) A form for the concealed handgun license that is to be issued by sheriffs to persons who qualify for a concealed handgun license under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code and that conforms to the following requirements:

(i) It has space for the licensee's full name, residence address, and date of birth and for a color photograph of the licensee.

(ii) It has space for the date of issuance of the license, its expiration date, its county of issuance, the name of the sheriff who issues the license, and the unique combination of letters and numbers that identify the county of issuance and the license given to the licensee by the sheriff in accordance with division (A)(2)(c) of this section.

(iii) It has space for the signature of the licensee and the signature or a facsimile signature of the sheriff who issues the license.

(iv) It does not require the licensee to include serial numbers of handguns, other identification related to handguns, or similar data that is not pertinent or relevant to obtaining the license and that could be used as a de facto means of registration of handguns owned by the licensee.

(b) A series of three-letter county codes that identify each county in this state;

(c) A procedure by which a sheriff shall give each concealed handgun license, replacement concealed handgun license, or renewal concealed handgun license and each concealed handgun license on a temporary emergency basis or replacement license on a temporary emergency basis the sheriff issues under section 2923.125 or 2923.1213 of the Revised Code a unique combination of letters and numbers that identifies the county in which the license was issued and that uses the county code and a unique number for each license the sheriff of that county issues;

(d) A form for a concealed handgun license on a temporary emergency basis that is to be issued by sheriffs to persons who qualify for such a license under section 2923.1213 of the Revised Code, which form shall conform to all the requirements set forth in divisions (A)(2)(a)(i) to (iv) of this section and shall additionally conspicuously specify that the license is issued on a temporary emergency basis and the date of its issuance.

(B)(1) The Ohio peace officer training commission, in consultation with the attorney general, shall prepare a pamphlet that does all of the following, in everyday language:

(a) Explains the firearms laws of this state;

(b) Instructs the reader in dispute resolution and explains the laws of this state related to that matter;

(c) Provides information to the reader regarding all aspects of the use of deadly force with a firearm, including, but not limited to, the steps that should be taken before contemplating the use of, or using, deadly force with a firearm, possible alternatives to using deadly force with a firearm, and the law governing the use of deadly force with a firearm.

(2) The attorney general shall consult with and assist the commission in the preparation of the pamphlet described in division (B)(1) of this section and, as necessary, shall recommend to the commission changes in the pamphlet to reflect changes in the law that are relevant to it. The attorney general shall publish the pamphlet on the web site of the attorney general and shall provide the address of the web site to any person who requests the pamphlet.

(3) The attorney general shall create and maintain a section on the attorney general's web site that provides information on firearms laws of this state specifically applicable to members of the armed forces of the United States and a link to the pamphlet described in division (B)(1) of this section.

(C) The Ohio peace officer training commission shall maintain statistics with respect to the issuance, renewal, suspension, revocation, and denial of concealed handgun licenses under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code and the suspension of processing of applications for those licenses, and with respect to the issuance, suspension, revocation, and denial of concealed handgun licenses on a temporary emergency basis under section 2923.1213 of the Revised Code, as reported by the sheriffs pursuant to division (C) of section 2923.129 of the Revised Code. Not later than the first day of March in each year, the commission shall submit a statistical report to the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives indicating the number of concealed handgun licenses that were issued, renewed, suspended, revoked, and denied under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code in the previous calendar year, the number of applications for those licenses for which processing was suspended in accordance with division (D)(3) of that section in the previous calendar year, and the number of concealed handgun licenses on a temporary emergency basis that were issued, suspended, revoked, or denied under section 2923.1213 of the Revised Code in the previous calendar year. Nothing in the statistics or the statistical report shall identify, or enable the identification of, any individual who was issued or denied a license, for whom a license was renewed, whose license was suspended or revoked, or for whom application processing was suspended. The statistics and the statistical report are public records for the purpose of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(D) As used in this section, "concealed handgun license" and "handgun" have the same meanings as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.74 | Attorney general may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations.

• Effective: December 2, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 670 - 121st General Assembly

The attorney general, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, has discretion to adopt and promulgate any or all of the rules and regulations recommended by the Ohio peace officer training commission to the attorney general pursuant to section 109.73 of the Revised Code. When the attorney general promulgates any rule or regulation recommended by the commission, the attorney general shall transmit a certified copy thereof to the secretary of state.

Section 109.741 | Rules governing training of peace officers in handling of missing children and child abuse and neglect cases.

• Effective: April 5, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 571 - 126th General Assembly

The attorney general shall adopt, in accordance with Chapter 119. or pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, rules governing the training of peace officers in the handling of missing children, missing persons, and child abuse and neglect cases. The rules shall specify the amount of that training necessary for the satisfactory completion of basic training programs at approved peace officer training schools, other than the Ohio peace officer training academy and the time within which a peace officer is required to receive that training, if the peace officer is appointed as a peace officer before receiving that training.

Section 109.742 | Rules governing training of peace officers in crisis intervention.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

The attorney general shall adopt, in accordance with Chapter 119. or pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, rules governing the training of peace officers in crisis intervention. The rules shall specify the amount of training necessary for the satisfactory completion of basic training programs at approved peace officer training schools, other than the Ohio peace officer training academy.

Section 109.743 | Administrative rules.

• Effective: December 2, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 670 - 121st General Assembly

The attorney general shall adopt, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code or pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, rules governing firearms requalification programs that are required by section 109.801 of the Revised Code. At a minimum, the rules shall prohibit a firearms requalification program from being used to fulfill the requirements of section 109.801 of the Revised Code until after the program is approved by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission pursuant to section 109.75 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.744 | Rules governing training of peace officers in handling of offense of domestic violence.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

The attorney general shall adopt, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code or pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, rules governing the training of peace officers in the handling of the offense of domestic violence, other types of domestic violence-related offenses and incidents, and protection orders and consent agreements issued or approved under section 2919.26 or 3113.31 of the Revised Code. The provisions of the rules shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) A specified amount of training that is necessary for the satisfactory completion of basic training programs at approved peace officer training schools, other than the Ohio peace officer training academy;

(B) A requirement that the training include, but not be limited to, training in all of the following:

(1) All recent amendments to domestic violence-related laws;

(2) Notifying a victim of domestic violence of the victim's rights;

(3) Processing protection orders and consent agreements issued or approved under section 2919.26 or 3113.31 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.745 | Training for investigating and handling crime of trafficking in persons.

• Effective: June 27, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 262 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The attorney general shall provide training for peace officers in investigating and handling violations of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code. The training shall include all of the following:

(1) Identifying violations of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code;

(2) Methods used in identifying victims of violations of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code who are citizens of the United States or a foreign country, including preliminary interviewing techniques and appropriate questioning methods;

(3) Methods for prosecuting persons who violate section 2905.32 of the Revised Code;

(4) Methods of increasing effective collaboration with nongovernmental organizations and other social service organizations in the course of a criminal action regarding a violation of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code;

(5) Methods for protecting the rights of victims of violations of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code, including the need to consider human rights and the special needs of women and children who are victims of violations of that section and to treat victims as victims rather than as criminals;

(6) Methods for promoting the safety of victims of violations of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code, including the training of peace officers to quickly recognize victims of a violation of any of those sections who are citizens of the United States or citizens of a foreign country.

(B) Any organization, person, or other governmental agency with an interest and expertise in trafficking in persons may submit information or materials to the attorney general regarding the development and presentation of the training required under this section. The attorney general, in developing the training required by this section, shall consider any information submitted pursuant to this division.

Section 109.746 | Public awareness programs regarding trafficking in persons.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The attorney general may prepare public awareness programs that are designed to educate potential victims of violations of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code and their families of the risks of becoming a victim of a violation of that section. The attorney general may prepare these programs with assistance from the department of health, the department of mental health and addiction services, the department of job and family services, and the department of education and workforce.

(B) Any organization, person, or other governmental agency with an interest and expertise in trafficking in persons may submit information or materials to the attorney general regarding the preparation of the programs and materials permitted under this section. The attorney general, in developing the programs and materials permitted by this section, shall consider any information submitted pursuant to this division.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 12:11 PM

Section 109.747 | Rules governing training of peace officers on companion animal encounters and companion animal behavior.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

The attorney general shall adopt, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code or pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, rules governing the training of peace officers on companion animal encounters and companion animal behavior. The provisions of the rules shall include all of the following:

(A) A specified amount of training that is necessary for satisfactory completion of basic training programs at approved peace officer training schools, other than the Ohio peace officer training academy;

(B) The time within which a peace officer is required to receive that training, if the peace officer is appointed as a peace officer before receiving that training;

(C) A requirement that the training include training in all of the following:

(1) Handling companion animal-related calls or unplanned encounters with companion animals, with an emphasis on canine-related incidents and the use of nonlethal methods and tools in handling an encounter with a canine;

(2) Identifying and understanding companion animal behavior;

(3) State laws and municipal ordinances related to companion animals;

(4) Avoiding a companion animal attack;

(5) Using nonlethal methods to defend against a companion animal attack.

(D) As used in this section, "companion animal" has the same meaning as in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.748 | Rules governing the training of tactical medical professionals to carry firearms.

• Effective: June 1, 2018
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 79 - 132nd General Assembly

The attorney general shall adopt, in accordance with Chapter 119. or pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, the following rules:

(A) Rules governing the training of tactical medical professionals to qualify them to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.771 of the Revised Code. The rules shall specify the amount of training necessary for the satisfactory completion of training programs at approved peace officer training schools, other than the Ohio peace officer training academy. The rules shall include all of the following:

(1) For all such professionals, a requirement that the professional shall receive firearms training through a program approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission and training in any additional subjects deemed necessary by the Ohio peace officer training commission.

(2) For such professionals seeking certification to carry a rifle or carbine, a requirement that, in addition to the training described in division (A)(1) of this section, the professional shall receive training with respect to the carrying and use of rifles and carbines through a program approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission.

(B) Rules authorizing and governing the attendance of tactical medical professionals at approved peace officer training schools, including the Ohio peace officer training academy, to receive training to qualify them to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.771 of the Revised Code, and the certification of the professionals upon their satisfactory completion of training programs providing that training.

Section 109.749 | Training materials on restraining or confining pregnant children or women.

• Effective: April 12, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 133rd General Assembly

The attorney general shall provide training materials to law enforcement, court, and corrections officials on the provisions of sections 2152.75 and 2901.10 of the Revised Code to train employees on proper implementation of the requirements of those sections.

Section 109.7410 | Rules governing training of peace officers interacting with individuals with dementia.

• Effective: April 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 23 - 134th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "dementia" includes Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder.

(B) The attorney general, in consultation with the departments of aging and job and family services, shall adopt, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code or pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, rules governing the training of peace officers in identifying and interacting with individuals with dementia. The rules shall specify both of the following:

(1) The amount of dementia-related training, which shall be determined in accordance with guidance from the Ohio peace officer training commission, if needed, that is necessary for satisfactory completion of basic training programs at approved peace officer training schools. The amount of dementia-related training determined under division (B)(1) of this section shall not exceed two hours.

(2) The amount of dementia-related training, which shall be determined in accordance with guidance from the Ohio peace officer training commission, if needed, that may be credited for continuing professional training. The amount of dementia-related training determined under division (B)(2) of this section shall not exceed one hour.

(C) The dementia-related training required under this section shall include instruction in all of the following:

(1) Identifying individuals with dementia, including psychiatric and behavioral symptoms of dementia;

(2) Respectful and effective communication techniques for communicating with individuals with dementia and their caregivers;

(3) Techniques for addressing the behavioral symptoms of dementia, including alternatives to physical restraint;

(4) Identifying and reporting incidents of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals with dementia to the appropriate county department of job and family services in accordance with section 5101.63 of the Revised Code;

(5) Protocols for contacting caregivers when an individual with dementia is found wandering or during an emergency or crisis situation;

(6) Local resources available for individuals with dementia;

(7) Local and national organizations that assist peace officers with locating missing and wandering individuals with dementia and returning them to their caregivers.

Last updated January 31, 2023 at 12:51 PM

Section 109.7481 | Rules governing training of fire investigators to carry firearms.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 98 - 135th General Assembly

The attorney general shall adopt, in accordance with Chapter 119. or pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, the following rules:

(A) Rules governing the training of fire investigators to qualify them to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.774 of the Revised Code. The rules shall specify the amount of training necessary for the satisfactory completion of training programs at approved peace officer training schools, other than the Ohio peace officer training academy. The rules shall include all of the following:

(1) For all such investigators, a requirement that the investigator shall receive firearms training through a program approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission and training in any additional subjects deemed necessary by the Ohio peace officer training commission;

(2) For such investigators seeking certification to carry a rifle or carbine, a requirement that, in addition to the training described in division (A)(1) of this section, the investigator shall receive training with respect to the carrying and use of rifles and carbines through a program approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission.

(B) Rules authorizing and governing the attendance of fire investigators at approved peace officer training schools, including the Ohio peace officer training academy, to receive training to qualify them to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.774 of the Revised Code, and the certification of the investigators upon their satisfactory completion of training programs providing that training.

Last updated September 19, 2024 at 9:28 AM

Section 109.75 | Powers and duties of peace officer training commission executive director.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 98 - 135th General Assembly

The executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission, on behalf of the commission, shall have the following powers and duties, which shall be exercised with the general advice of the commission and only in accordance with section 109.751 of the Revised Code and the rules adopted pursuant to that section, and with the rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to sections 109.74, 109.741, 109.742, and 109.743 of the Revised Code:

(A) To approve peace officer training schools and firearms requalification programs administered by the state, counties, municipal corporations, and the department of natural resources, to issue certificates of approval to approved schools, and to revoke an approval or certificate;

(B) To certify, as qualified, instructors at approved peace officer training schools, to issue appropriate certificates to these instructors, and to revoke for good cause shown certificates of these instructors;

(C) To certify, as qualified, commanders at approved peace officer training schools, to issue appropriate certificates to these commanders, and to revoke for good cause shown certificates of these commanders. As used in this division, "commander" means the director or other head of an approved peace officer training school.

(D) To certify peace officers and sheriffs who have satisfactorily completed basic training programs and to issue appropriate certificates to these peace officers and sheriffs;

(E) To cause studies and surveys to be made relating to the establishment, operation, and approval of state, county, and municipal peace officer training schools;

(F) To consult and cooperate with state, county, and municipal peace officer training schools for the development of advanced in-service training programs for peace officers;

(G) To consult and cooperate with universities, colleges, and institutes for the development of specialized courses of study in the state for peace officers in police science and police administration;

(H) To consult and cooperate with other departments and agencies of the state and federal government concerned with peace officer training;

(I) To perform any other acts that may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the executive director's powers and duties as set forth in sections 109.71 to 109.77 of the Revised Code;

(J) To report to the commission at each regular meeting of the commission and at any other times that the commission may require;

(K) To certify persons who have satisfactorily completed approved training programs for correction officers in full-service jails, five-day facilities, or eight-hour holding facilities or approved training programs for others who provide correction services in those jails or facilities and to issue appropriate certificates to those persons;

(L) To maintain any records associated with the powers and duties set forth in this section. Certification examinations, either before or after completion, are not public records for purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code, but the results of such examinations are public records under that section;

(M) To certify tactical medical professionals who have satisfactorily completed approved training programs that qualify them to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.771 of the Revised Code and to issue appropriate certificates to such professionals;

(N) To certify county correctional officers who have satisfactorily completed approved basic training programs that qualify them to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.772 of the Revised Code and to issue appropriate certificates to such county correctional officers;

(O) To certify fire investigators who have satisfactorily completed approved training programs that qualify them to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.774 of the Revised Code and to issue appropriate certificates to such investigators.

Last updated August 28, 2024 at 4:23 PM

Section 109.751 | Attendance of undercover drug agents, bailiffs, deputy bailiffs or public defender investigators at basic training programs.

• Effective: September 14, 2016
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 293 - 131st General Assembly

(A) The executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission shall neither approve nor issue a certificate of approval to a peace officer training school pursuant to section 109.75 of the Revised Code unless the school agrees to permit, in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to division (C) of this section, undercover drug agents to attend its basic training programs. The executive director shall revoke approval, and the certificate of approval of, a peace officer training school that does not permit, in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to division (C) of this section, undercover drug agents to attend its basic training programs.

This division does not apply to peace officer training schools for employees of conservancy districts who are designated pursuant to section 6101.75 of the Revised Code or for a natural resources law enforcement staff officer, forest-fire investigators, wildlife officers, or natural resources officers of the department of natural resources.

(B)(1) A peace officer training school is not required to permit an undercover drug agent, a bailiff or deputy bailiff of a court of record of this state, or a criminal investigator employed by the state public defender to attend its basic training programs if either of the following applies:

(a) In the case of the Ohio peace officer training academy, the employer county, township, municipal corporation, court, or state public defender or the particular undercover drug agent, bailiff, deputy bailiff, or criminal investigator has not paid the tuition costs of training in accordance with section 109.79 of the Revised Code;

(b) In the case of other peace officer training schools, the employing county, township, municipal corporation, court, or state public defender fails to pay the entire cost of the training and certification.

(2) A training school shall not permit a bailiff or deputy bailiff of a court of record of this state or a criminal investigator employed by the state public defender to attend its basic training programs unless the employing court of the bailiff or deputy bailiff or the state public defender, whichever is applicable, has authorized the bailiff, deputy bailiff, or investigator to attend the school.

(C) The attorney general shall adopt, in accordance with Chapter 119. or pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, rules governing the attendance of undercover drug agents at approved peace officer training schools, other than the Ohio peace officer training academy, and the certification of the agents upon their satisfactory completion of basic training programs.

Section 109.752 | Sheriff attending peace officer basic training programs.

• Effective: December 2, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 670 - 121st General Assembly

Any sheriff may attend and be awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting to the satisfactory completion of any state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace officer basic training program that has been approved by the executive director under section 109.75 of the Revised Code or is offered at the Ohio peace officer training academy.

Section 109.76 | Peace officers not exempted from civil service.

• Effective: August 26, 1977
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 112th General Assembly

Nothing in sections 109.71 to 109.77 of the Revised Code shall be construed to except any peace officer, or other officer or employee from the provisions of Chapter 124. of the Revised Code.

Section 109.761 | Reports of appointment to peace officer training commission.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

(A)(1) Each agency or entity that appoints or employs one or more peace officers shall report to the Ohio peace officer training commission all of the following that occur on or after February 20, 2002:

(a) The appointment or employment of any person to serve the agency or entity as a peace officer in any full-time, part-time, reserve, auxiliary, or other capacity;

(b) The termination, resignation, felony conviction, death, or guilty plea as specified in division (F) of section 109.77 of the Revised Code of any person who has been appointed to or employed by the agency or entity as a peace officer in any full-time, part-time, reserve, auxiliary, or other capacity and is serving the agency or entity in any of those peace officer capacities.

(2) An agency or entity shall make each report required by this division not later than ten days after the occurrence of the event being reported. The agency or entity shall make the report in the manner and format prescribed by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission.

(B) Each agency or entity that appoints or employs one or more peace officers or state highway patrol troopers shall annually provide to the Ohio peace officer training commission a roster of all persons who have been appointed to or employed by the agency or entity as peace officers or troopers in any full-time, part-time, reserve, auxiliary, or other capacity and are serving, or during the year covered by the report have served, the agency or entity in any of those peace officer or trooper capacities. The agency or entity shall provide the roster in the manner and format, and by the date, prescribed by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission.

(C) The Ohio peace officer training commission shall prescribe the manner and format of making reports under division (A) of this section and providing annual rosters under division (B) of this section and shall prescribe the date by which the annual rosters must be provided.

Section 109.77 | Certificate of completion of basic training program necessary for appointment.

• Effective: September 14, 2016
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 293 - 131st General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Felony" has the same meaning as in section 109.511 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Companion animal" has the same meaning as in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Notwithstanding any general, special, or local law or charter to the contrary, and except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall receive an original appointment on a permanent basis as any of the following unless the person previously has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace officer basic training program:

(a) A peace officer of any county, township, municipal corporation, regional transit authority, or metropolitan housing authority;

(b) A natural resources law enforcement staff officer, forest-fire investigator, wildlife officer, or natural resources officer of the department of natural resources;

(c) An employee of a park district under section 511.232 or 1545.13 of the Revised Code;

(d) An employee of a conservancy district who is designated pursuant to section 6101.75 of the Revised Code;

(e) A state university law enforcement officer;

(f) A special police officer employed by the department of mental health and addiction services pursuant to section 5119.08 of the Revised Code or the department of developmental disabilities pursuant to section 5123.13 of the Revised Code;

(g) An enforcement agent of the department of public safety whom the director of public safety designates under section 5502.14 of the Revised Code;

(h) A special police officer employed by a port authority under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code;

(i) A special police officer employed by a municipal corporation at a municipal airport, or other municipal air navigation facility, that has scheduled operations, as defined in section 119.3 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 14 C.F.R. 119.3, as amended, and that is required to be under a security program and is governed by aviation security rules of the transportation security administration of the United States department of transportation as provided in Parts 1542. and 1544. of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended;

(j) A gaming agent employed under section 3772.03 of the Revised Code.

(2) Every person who is appointed on a temporary basis or for a probationary term or on other than a permanent basis as any of the following shall forfeit the appointed position unless the person previously has completed satisfactorily or, within the time prescribed by rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, satisfactorily completes a state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace officer basic training program for temporary or probationary officers and is awarded a certificate by the director attesting to the satisfactory completion of the program:

(a) A peace officer of any county, township, municipal corporation, regional transit authority, or metropolitan housing authority;

(b) A natural resources law enforcement staff officer, park officer, forest officer, preserve officer, wildlife officer, or state watercraft officer of the department of natural resources;

(c) An employee of a park district under section 511.232 or 1545.13 of the Revised Code;

(d) An employee of a conservancy district who is designated pursuant to section 6101.75 of the Revised Code;

(e) A special police officer employed by the department of mental health and addiction services pursuant to section 5119.08 of the Revised Code or the department of developmental disabilities pursuant to section 5123.13 of the Revised Code;

(f) An enforcement agent of the department of public safety whom the director of public safety designates under section 5502.14 of the Revised Code;

(g) A special police officer employed by a port authority under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code;

(h) A special police officer employed by a municipal corporation at a municipal airport, or other municipal air navigation facility, that has scheduled operations, as defined in section 119.3 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 14 C.F.R. 119.3, as amended, and that is required to be under a security program and is governed by aviation security rules of the transportation security administration of the United States department of transportation as provided in Parts 1542. and 1544. of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended.

(3) For purposes of division (B) of this section, a state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace officer basic training program, regardless of whether the program is to be completed by peace officers appointed on a permanent or temporary, probationary, or other nonpermanent basis, shall include training in the handling of the offense of domestic violence, other types of domestic violence-related offenses and incidents, protection orders and consent agreements issued or approved under section 2919.26 or 3113.31 of the Revised Code, crisis intervention training, and training on companion animal encounters and companion animal behavior. The requirement to complete training in the handling of the offense of domestic violence, other types of domestic violence-related offenses and incidents, and protection orders and consent agreements issued or approved under section 2919.26 or 3113.31 of the Revised Code does not apply to any person serving as a peace officer on March 27, 1979, and the requirement to complete training in crisis intervention does not apply to any person serving as a peace officer on April 4, 1985. Any person who is serving as a peace officer on April 4, 1985, who terminates that employment after that date, and who subsequently is hired as a peace officer by the same or another law enforcement agency shall complete training in crisis intervention as prescribed by rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to section 109.742 of the Revised Code. No peace officer shall have employment as a peace officer terminated and then be reinstated with intent to circumvent this section.

(4) Division (B) of this section does not apply to any person serving on a permanent basis on March 28, 1985, as a park officer, forest officer, preserve officer, wildlife officer, or state watercraft officer of the department of natural resources or as an employee of a park district under section 511.232 or 1545.13 of the Revised Code, to any person serving on a permanent basis on March 6, 1986, as an employee of a conservancy district designated pursuant to section 6101.75 of the Revised Code, to any person serving on a permanent basis on January 10, 1991, as a preserve officer of the department of natural resources, to any person employed on a permanent basis on July 2, 1992, as a special police officer by the department of mental health and addiction services pursuant to section 5119.08 of the Revised Code or by the department of developmental disabilities pursuant to section 5123.13 of the Revised Code, to any person serving on a permanent basis on May 17, 2000, as a special police officer employed by a port authority under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code, to any person serving on a permanent basis on March 19, 2003, as a special police officer employed by a municipal corporation at a municipal airport or other municipal air navigation facility described in division (A)(19) of section 109.71 of the Revised Code, to any person serving on a permanent basis on June 19, 1978, as a state university law enforcement officer pursuant to section 3345.04 of the Revised Code and who, immediately prior to June 19, 1978, was serving as a special police officer designated under authority of that section, or to any person serving on a permanent basis on September 20, 1984, as a liquor control investigator, known after June 30, 1999, as an enforcement agent of the department of public safety, engaged in the enforcement of Chapters 4301. and 4303. of the Revised Code.

(5) Division (B) of this section does not apply to any person who is appointed as a regional transit authority police officer pursuant to division (Y) of section 306.35 of the Revised Code if, on or before July 1, 1996, the person has completed satisfactorily an approved state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace officer basic training program and has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of such an approved program and if, on July 1, 1996, the person is performing peace officer functions for a regional transit authority.

(C) No person, after September 20, 1984, shall receive an original appointment on a permanent basis as a veterans' home police officer designated under section 5907.02 of the Revised Code unless the person previously has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of an approved police officer basic training program. Every person who is appointed on a temporary basis or for a probationary term or on other than a permanent basis as a veterans' home police officer designated under section 5907.02 of the Revised Code shall forfeit that position unless the person previously has completed satisfactorily or, within one year from the time of appointment, satisfactorily completes an approved police officer basic training program.

(D) No bailiff or deputy bailiff of a court of record of this state and no criminal investigator who is employed by the state public defender shall carry a firearm, as defined in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code, while on duty unless the bailiff, deputy bailiff, or criminal investigator has done or received one of the following:

(1) Has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission, which certificate attests to satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, or municipal basic training program for bailiffs and deputy bailiffs of courts of record and for criminal investigators employed by the state public defender that has been recommended by the Ohio peace officer training commission;

(2) Has successfully completed a firearms training program approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission prior to employment as a bailiff, deputy bailiff, or criminal investigator;

(3) Prior to June 6, 1986, was authorized to carry a firearm by the court that employed the bailiff or deputy bailiff or, in the case of a criminal investigator, by the state public defender and has received training in the use of firearms that the Ohio peace officer training commission determines is equivalent to the training that otherwise is required by division (D) of this section.

(E)(1) Before a person seeking a certificate completes an approved peace officer basic training program, the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission shall request the person to disclose, and the person shall disclose, any previous criminal conviction of or plea of guilty of that person to a felony.

(2) Before a person seeking a certificate completes an approved peace officer basic training program, the executive director shall request a criminal history records check on the person. The executive director shall submit the person's fingerprints to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, which shall submit the fingerprints to the federal bureau of investigation for a national criminal history records check.

Upon receipt of the executive director's request, the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and the federal bureau of investigation shall conduct a criminal history records check on the person and, upon completion of the check, shall provide a copy of the criminal history records check to the executive director. The executive director shall not award any certificate prescribed in this section unless the executive director has received a copy of the criminal history records check on the person to whom the certificate is to be awarded.

(3) The executive director of the commission shall not award a certificate prescribed in this section to a person who has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony or who fails to disclose any previous criminal conviction of or plea of guilty to a felony as required under division (E)(1) of this section.

(4) The executive director of the commission shall revoke the certificate awarded to a person as prescribed in this section, and that person shall forfeit all of the benefits derived from being certified as a peace officer under this section, if the person, before completion of an approved peace officer basic training program, failed to disclose any previous criminal conviction of or plea of guilty to a felony as required under division (E)(1) of this section.

(F)(1) Regardless of whether the person has been awarded the certificate or has been classified as a peace officer prior to, on, or after October 16, 1996, the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission shall revoke any certificate that has been awarded to a person as prescribed in this section if the person does either of the following:

(a) Pleads guilty to a felony committed on or after January 1, 1997;

(b) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor committed on or after January 1, 1997, pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code in which the person agrees to surrender the certificate awarded to the person under this section.

(2) The executive director of the commission shall suspend any certificate that has been awarded to a person as prescribed in this section if the person is convicted, after trial, of a felony committed on or after January 1, 1997. The executive director shall suspend the certificate pursuant to division (F)(2) of this section pending the outcome of an appeal by the person from that conviction to the highest court to which the appeal is taken or until the expiration of the period in which an appeal is required to be filed. If the person files an appeal that results in that person's acquittal of the felony or conviction of a misdemeanor, or in the dismissal of the felony charge against that person, the executive director shall reinstate the certificate awarded to the person under this section. If the person files an appeal from that person's conviction of the felony and the conviction is upheld by the highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the person does not file a timely appeal, the executive director shall revoke the certificate awarded to the person under this section.

(G)(1) If a person is awarded a certificate under this section and the certificate is revoked pursuant to division (E)(4) or (F) of this section, the person shall not be eligible to receive, at any time, a certificate attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of a peace officer basic training program.

(2) The revocation or suspension of a certificate under division (E)(4) or (F) of this section shall be in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(H)(1) A person who was employed as a peace officer of a county, township, or municipal corporation of the state on January 1, 1966, and who has completed at least sixteen years of full-time active service as such a peace officer, or equivalent service as determined by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission, may receive an original appointment on a permanent basis and serve as a peace officer of a county, township, or municipal corporation, or as a state university law enforcement officer, without complying with the requirements of division (B) of this section.

(2) Any person who held an appointment as a state highway trooper on January 1, 1966, may receive an original appointment on a permanent basis and serve as a peace officer of a county, township, or municipal corporation, or as a state university law enforcement officer, without complying with the requirements of division (B) of this section.

(I) No person who is appointed as a peace officer of a county, township, or municipal corporation on or after April 9, 1985, shall serve as a peace officer of that county, township, or municipal corporation unless the person has received training in the handling of missing children and child abuse and neglect cases from an approved state, county, township, or municipal police officer basic training program or receives the training within the time prescribed by rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to section 109.741 of the Revised Code.

(J) No part of any approved state, county, or municipal basic training program for bailiffs and deputy bailiffs of courts of record and no part of any approved state, county, or municipal basic training program for criminal investigators employed by the state public defender shall be used as credit toward the completion by a peace officer of any part of the approved state, county, or municipal peace officer basic training program that the peace officer is required by this section to complete satisfactorily.

(K) This section does not apply to any member of the police department of a municipal corporation in an adjoining state serving in this state under a contract pursuant to section 737.04 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 26, 2023 at 9:23 AM

Section 109.771 | Authority of tactical medical professionals to carry firearms.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 131 - 134th General Assembly

(A) A tactical medical professional may carry firearms while on duty in the same manner, to the same extent, and in the same areas as a law enforcement officer of the law enforcement agency the professional is serving, if all of the following apply:

(1) The law enforcement agency that the tactical medical professional is serving has specifically authorized the professional to carry firearms while on duty.

(2) The tactical medical professional has done or received one of the following:

(a) The professional has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission, which certificate attests to satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, or municipal basic training program or a program at the Ohio peace officer training academy that qualifies the professional to carry firearms while on duty and that conforms to the rules adopted under section 109.748 of the Revised Code.

(b) Prior to or during employment as a tactical medical professional and prior to June 1, 2018, the professional has successfully completed a firearms training program, other than one described in division (A)(2)(a) of this section, that was approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission.

(B) A tactical medical professional to whom division (A) of this section applies and who is carrying one or more firearms under authority of that division has protection from potential civil or criminal liability for any conduct occurring while carrying the firearm or firearms to the same extent as a law enforcement officer of the law enforcement agency the professional is serving has such protection.

(C) The executive director of the commission shall issue a certificate of completion of a training program required under this section in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an individual if either of the following applies:

(1) The individual holds a certificate of completion of such a program in another state.

(2) The individual has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a tactical medical professional who carries a firearm while on duty in a state that does not require completion of such a training program.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 7:37 AM

Section 109.772 | Authority of county correctional officer to carry firearms.

• Effective: April 4, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 16, Senate Bill 288 - 134th General Assembly

(A) A county correctional officer may carry firearms while on duty in the same manner, to the same extent, and in the same areas as a law enforcement officer of the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the place at which the county jail, county workhouse, minimum security jail, joint city and county workhouse, municipal-county correctional center, multicounty-municipal correctional center, municipal-county jail or workhouse, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse is located, if all of the following apply:

(1) The person in charge of the county jail, county workhouse, minimum security jail, joint city and county workhouse, municipal-county correctional center, multicounty-municipal correctional center, municipal-county jail or workhouse, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse has specifically authorized the county correctional officer to carry firearms while on duty.

(2) The county correctional officer has done or received one of the following:

(a) The county correctional officer has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission, which certificate attests to satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, or municipal basic training program or a program at the Ohio peace officer training academy that qualifies the county correctional officer to carry firearms while on duty and that conforms to the rules adopted under section 109.773 of the Revised Code.

(b) Prior to or during employment as a county correctional officer and prior to the effective date of this section, the county correctional officer has successfully completed a firearms training program, other than one described in division (A)(2)(a) of this section, that was approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission.

(B) A county correctional officer to whom division (A) of this section applies and who is carrying one or more firearms under authority of that division has protection from potential civil or criminal liability for any conduct occurring while carrying the firearm or firearms to the same extent as a law enforcement officer of the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the place at which the county jail, county workhouse, minimum security jail, joint city and county workhouse, municipal-county correctional center, multicounty-municipal correctional center, municipal-county jail or workhouse, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse is located has such protection.

Last updated February 16, 2023 at 6:06 PM

Section 109.773 | Rules governing the attendance of county correctional officers at peace officer training schools.

• Effective: April 4, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 16, Senate Bill 288 - 134th General Assembly

The attorney general shall adopt, in accordance with Chapter 119. or pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, rules authorizing and governing the attendance of county correctional officers at approved peace officer training schools, including the Ohio peace officer training academy, to receive training to qualify them to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.771 of the Revised Code, and the certification of the county correctional officers upon their satisfactory completion of training programs providing that training.

Last updated March 1, 2023 at 2:43 PM

Section 109.774 | Qualifications for fire investigators to carry firearms.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 98 - 135th General Assembly

(A) A fire investigator may carry firearms while on duty if all of the following apply:

(1) The state fire marshal, if the fire investigator is employed by the state; the legislative authority of the municipal corporation served by a fire department, if the fire investigator is employed by a municipal fire department; or the chief of the fire department of the township, the chief of the fire department of the joint fire district, or the fire prevention officer in a township or village where no fire department is established that the fire investigator is serving has specifically authorized the investigator to carry firearms while on duty.

(2) The fire investigator has done or received one of the following:

(a) The investigator has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission, which certificate attests to satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, or municipal basic training program or a program at the Ohio peace officer training academy that qualifies the investigator to carry firearms while on duty and that conforms to the rules adopted under section 109.7481 of the Revised Code.

(b) Prior to or during employment as a fire investigator and prior to the effective date of this section, the investigator has successfully completed a firearms training program, other than one described in division (A)(2)(a) of this section, that was approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission.

(B) A fire investigator to whom division (A) of this section applies and who is carrying one or more firearms under authority of that division has protection from potential civil or criminal liability for any conduct occurring while carrying the firearm or firearms to the same extent as a law enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency has such protection.

Last updated September 19, 2024 at 9:44 AM

Section 109.78 | Certification of special police, security guards, or persons otherwise privately employed in a police capacity.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 131 - 134th General Assembly

(A) The executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission, on behalf of the commission and in accordance with rules promulgated by the attorney general, shall certify persons who have satisfactorily completed approved training programs designed to qualify persons for positions as special police, security guards, or persons otherwise privately employed in a police capacity and issue appropriate certificates to such persons. Application for approval of a training program designed to qualify persons for such positions shall be made to the commission. An application for approval shall be submitted to the commission with a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars, which fee shall be refunded if the application is denied. Such programs shall cover only duties and jurisdiction of such security guards and special police privately employed in a police capacity when such officers do not qualify for training under section 109.71 of the Revised Code. A person attending an approved basic training program administered by the state shall pay to the agency administering the program the cost of the person's participation in the program as determined by the agency. A person attending an approved basic training program administered by a county or municipal corporation shall pay the cost of the person's participation in the program, as determined by the administering subdivision, to the county or the municipal corporation. A person who is issued a certificate for satisfactory completion of an approved basic training program shall pay to the commission a fee of fifteen dollars. A duplicate of a lost, spoliated, or destroyed certificate may be issued upon application and payment of a fee of fifteen dollars. Such certificate or the completion of twenty years of active duty as a peace officer shall satisfy the educational requirements for appointment or commission as a special police officer or special deputy of a political subdivision of this state.

(B)(1) The executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission, on behalf of the commission and in accordance with rules promulgated by the attorney general, shall certify basic firearms training programs, and shall issue certificates to class A, B, or C licensees or prospective class A, B, or C licensees under Chapter 4749. of the Revised Code and to registered or prospective employees of such class A, B, or C licensees who have satisfactorily completed a basic firearms training program of the type described in division (A)(1) of section 4749.10 of the Revised Code.

Application for approval of a basic firearms training program shall be made to the commission. An application shall be submitted to the commission with a fee of one hundred dollars, which fee shall be refunded if the application is denied.

A person who is issued a certificate for satisfactory completion of an approved basic firearms training program shall pay a fee of ten dollars to the commission. A duplicate of a lost, spoliated, or destroyed certificate may be issued upon application and payment of a fee of five dollars.

(2) The executive director, on behalf of the commission and in accordance with rules promulgated by the attorney general, also shall certify firearms requalification training programs and instructors for the annual requalification of class A, B, or C licensees under Chapter 4749. of the Revised Code and registered or prospective employees of such class A, B, or C licensees who are authorized to carry a firearm under section 4749.10 of the Revised Code. Application for approval of a training program or instructor for such purpose shall be made to the commission. Such an application shall be submitted to the commission with a fee of fifty dollars, which fee shall be refunded if the application is denied.

(3) The executive director, upon request, also shall review firearms training received within three years prior to November 23, 1985, by any class A, B, or C licensee or prospective class A, B, or C licensee, or by any registered or prospective employee of any class A, B, or C licensee under Chapter 4749. of the Revised Code to determine if the training received is equivalent to a basic firearms training program that includes twenty hours of handgun training and five hours of training in the use of other firearms, if any other firearm is to be used. If the executive director determines the training was received within the three-year period and that it is equivalent to such a program, the executive director shall issue written evidence of approval of the equivalency training to the licensee or employee.

(C) There is hereby established in the state treasury the peace officer private security fund, which shall be used by the Ohio peace officer training commission to administer the training program to qualify persons for positions as special police, security guards, or other private employment in a police capacity, as described in division (A) of this section, and the training program in basic firearms and the training program for firearms requalification, both as described in division (B) of this section. All fees paid to the commission by applicants for approval of a training program designed to qualify persons for such private police positions, basic firearms training program, or a firearms requalification training program or instructor, as required by division (A) or (B) of this section, by persons who satisfactorily complete a private police training program or a basic firearms training program, as required by division (A) or (B) of this section, or by persons who satisfactorily requalify in firearms use, as required by division (B)(2) of section 4749.10 of the Revised Code, shall be transmitted to the treasurer of state for deposit in the fund. The fund shall be used only for the purpose set forth in this division.

(D)(1) Subject to division (D)(2) of this section, no public or private educational institution or superintendent of the state highway patrol shall employ a person as a special police officer, as a security guard, or for a similar law enforcement or security position, who has not received a certificate of having satisfactorily completed an approved basic peace officer training program, unless the person has completed twenty years of active duty as a peace officer.

(2) Division (D)(1) of this section does not apply to a person who is employed by a school district board of education or governing body of a community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code, or chartered nonpublic school and who has been authorized by a board or governing body to voluntarily go armed within a school safety zone within which the board or governing body has authority, if both of the following apply with respect to the employment and person:

(a) The person is within the category of persons authorized to go armed within a school safety zone specified under division (D)(1)(d) of section 2923.122 of the Revised Code.

(b) The person is not being employed as a special police officer or security officer.

(E) The general assembly, in amending division (D) of this section pursuant to H.B. 99 of the 134th general assembly, hereby declares that the purpose of those amendments is to expressly overrule the decision of the Ohio Supreme Court in the case Gabbard v. Madison Local School Dist. Bd. of Edn., Slip Opinion No. 2021-Ohio-2067.

(F) The executive director of the commission shall issue a certificate of completion of a training program required under division (A) of this section in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an individual if either of the following applies:

(1) The individual holds a certificate of completion of such a program in another state.

(2) The individual has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter in the same profession, occupation, or occupational activity as the profession, occupation, or occupational activity for which the certificate is required in this state in a state that does not require completion of such a training program.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 7:36 AM

Section 109.79 | Ohio peace officer training academy.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 98 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The Ohio peace officer training commission shall establish and conduct a training school for law enforcement officers of any political subdivision of the state or of the state public defender's office. The school shall be known as the Ohio peace officer training academy. No bailiff or deputy bailiff of a court of record of this state and no criminal investigator employed by the state public defender shall be permitted to attend the academy for training unless the employing court of the bailiff or deputy bailiff or the state public defender, whichever is applicable, has authorized the bailiff, deputy bailiff, or investigator to attend the academy.

The Ohio peace officer training commission shall develop the training program, which shall include courses in both the civil and criminal functions of law enforcement officers, a course in crisis intervention with six or more hours of training, training in the handling of missing children and child abuse and neglect cases, and training on companion animal encounters and companion animal behavior, and shall establish rules governing qualifications for admission to the academy. The commission may require competitive examinations to determine fitness of prospective trainees, so long as the examinations or other criteria for admission to the academy are consistent with the provisions of Chapter 124. of the Revised Code.

The Ohio peace officer training commission shall determine tuition costs sufficient in the aggregate to pay the costs of operating the academy. Tuition paid by a political subdivision of the state or by the state public defender's office shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the peace officer training academy fee fund, which is hereby established. The attorney general shall use money in the fund to pay costs associated with operation of the academy. The costs of acquiring and equipping the academy shall be paid from appropriations made by the general assembly to the Ohio peace officer training commission for that purpose, from gifts or grants received for that purpose, or from fees for goods related to the academy.

The Ohio peace officer training commission shall create a gaming-related curriculum for gaming agents. The Ohio peace officer training commission shall use money distributed to the Ohio peace officer training academy from the Ohio law enforcement training fund to first support the academy's training programs for gaming agents and gaming-related curriculum. The Ohio peace officer training commission may utilize existing training programs in other states that specialize in training gaming agents.

The law enforcement officers, during the period of their training, shall receive compensation as determined by the political subdivision that sponsors them or, if the officer is a criminal investigator employed by the state public defender, as determined by the state public defender. The political subdivision may pay the tuition costs of the law enforcement officers they sponsor and the state public defender may pay the tuition costs of criminal investigators of that office who attend the academy.

If trainee vacancies exist, the academy may train and issue certificates of satisfactory completion to peace officers who are employed by a campus police department pursuant to section 1713.50 of the Revised Code, by a qualified nonprofit corporation police department pursuant to section 1702.80 of the Revised Code, or by a railroad company, who are amusement park police officers appointed and commissioned by a judge of the appropriate municipal court or county court pursuant to section 4973.17 of the Revised Code, or who are bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or credit unions, or hospital police officers appointed and commissioned by the secretary of state pursuant to sections 4973.17 to 4973.22 of the Revised Code, provided that no such officer shall be trained at the academy unless the officer meets the qualifications established for admission to the academy and the qualified nonprofit corporation police department; bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or credit unions; railroad company; hospital; or amusement park or the private college or university that established the campus police department prepays the entire cost of the training. A qualified nonprofit corporation police department; bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or credit unions; railroad company; hospital; or amusement park or a private college or university that has established a campus police department is not entitled to reimbursement from the state for any amount paid for the cost of training the bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or credit unions peace officers; the railroad company's peace officers; or the peace officers of the qualified nonprofit corporation police department, campus police department, hospital, or amusement park.

The academy shall permit investigators employed by the state medical board to take selected courses that the board determines are consistent with its responsibilities for initial and continuing training of investigators as required under sections 4730.26 and 4731.05 of the Revised Code. The board shall pay the entire cost of training that investigators receive at the academy.

The academy shall permit tactical medical professionals and fire investigators to attend training courses at the academy that are designed to qualify the professionals and investigators to carry firearms while on duty under sections 109.771 and 109.774 of the Revised Code and that provide training comparable to training mandated under the rules required by division (A) of section 109.748 and division (A) of section 109.7481 of the Revised Code. The executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission may certify tactical medical professionals and fire investigators who satisfactorily complete the training courses. The law enforcement agency served by a tactical medical professional or the political subdivision served by a fire investigator who attends the academy may pay the tuition costs of the professional or investigator.

The academy shall permit county correctional officers to attend training courses at the academy that are designed to qualify the county correctional officers to carry firearms while on duty under section 109.772 of the Revised Code and that provide training mandated under the rules required by section 109.773 of the Revised Code. The executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission may certify county correctional officers who satisfactorily complete the training courses. The county jail, county workhouse, minimum security jail, joint city and county workhouse, municipal-county correctional center, multicounty-municipal correctional center, municipal-county jail or workhouse, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse served by the county correctional officer who attends the academy may pay the tuition costs of the county correctional officer.

(B) As used in this section:

(1) "Law enforcement officers" include any undercover drug agent, any bailiff or deputy bailiff of a court of record, and any criminal investigator who is employed by the state public defender.

(2) "Undercover drug agent" means any person who:

(a) Is employed by a county, township, or municipal corporation for the purposes set forth in division (B)(2)(b) of this section but who is not an employee of a county sheriff's department, of a township constable, or of the police department of a municipal corporation or township;

(b) In the course of the person's employment by a county, township, or municipal corporation, investigates and gathers information pertaining to persons who are suspected of violating Chapter 2925. or 3719. of the Revised Code, and generally does not wear a uniform in the performance of the person's duties.

(3) "Crisis intervention training" has the same meaning as in section 109.71 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Missing children" has the same meaning as in section 2901.30 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Companion animal" has the same meaning as in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.

Last updated August 28, 2024 at 4:25 PM

Section 109.80 | Basic training course for sheriffs - continuing education.

• Effective: December 2, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 670, House Bill 351 - 121st General Assembly

(A) The Ohio peace officer training commission shall develop and conduct a basic training course lasting at least three weeks for appointed and newly elected sheriffs appointed or elected on or after January 1, 1988, and shall establish criteria for what constitutes successful completion of the course. The basic training course shall include instruction in contemporary law enforcement, criminal investigations, the judicial process, civil rules, corrections, and other topics relevant to the duties and operations of the office of sheriff. The commission shall offer the course every four years within six months after the general election of sheriffs in each county and at other times when it is needed to permit sheriffs to attend within six months after appointment or election. The course shall be conducted by the Ohio peace officer training academy. The council shall provide that not less than two weeks of the course conducted within six months after the general election of sheriffs in each county shall be conducted prior to the first Monday in January next after that general election.

(B) The attorney general shall appoint a continuing education committee, consisting of not fewer than five nor more than seven members, including but not limited to, members of the Ohio peace officer training commission and sheriffs. The commission and the committee jointly shall determine the type of continuing education required for sheriffs to complete the requirements of division (E) of section 311.01 of the Revised Code and shall establish criteria for what constitutes successful completion of the requirement. The committee shall approve the courses that sheriffs may attend to complete the continuing education requirement and shall publish an approved list of those courses. The commission shall maintain a list of approved training schools that sheriffs may attend to complete the continuing education requirement. Upon request, the committee may approve courses other than those courses conducted as part of a certified law enforcement manager program.

(C) Upon presentation of evidence by a sheriff that because of medical disability or for other good cause that the sheriff is unable to complete the basic or continuing education requirement, the commission may waive the requirement until the disability or cause terminates.

(D) As used in this section, "newly elected sheriff" means a person who did not hold the office of sheriff of a county on the date the person was elected sheriff of that county.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Section 109.801 | Annual firearms requalification program.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 98 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Each year, any of the following persons who are authorized to carry firearms in the course of their official duties shall complete successfully a firearms requalification program approved by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to section 109.743 of the Revised Code: any peace officer, sheriff, chief of police of an organized police department of a municipal corporation or township, chief of police of a township police district or joint police district police force, superintendent of the state highway patrol, state highway patrol trooper, or chief of police of a university or college police department; any parole or probation officer who carries a firearm in the course of official duties; any county correctional officer; the house of representatives sergeant at arms if the house of representatives sergeant at arms has arrest authority pursuant to division (E)(1) of section 101.311 of the Revised Code; any assistant house of representatives sergeant at arms; the senate sergeant at arms; any assistant senate sergeant at arms; any tactical medical professional; any fire investigator; or any employee of the department of youth services who is designated pursuant to division (A)(2) of section 5139.53 of the Revised Code as being authorized to carry a firearm while on duty as described in that division.

(2) No person listed in division (A)(1) of this section shall carry a firearm during the course of official duties if the person does not comply with division (A)(1) of this section.

(B) The hours that a sheriff spends attending a firearms requalification program required by division (A) of this section are in addition to the sixteen hours of continuing education that are required by division (E) of section 311.01 of the Revised Code.

(C) As used in this section, "firearm" has the same meaning as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

Last updated August 28, 2024 at 4:26 PM

Section 109.803 | Continuing professional training for peace officers and troopers.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Subject to divisions (A)(2) and (B) of this section, every appointing authority shall require each of its appointed peace officers and troopers to complete twenty-four hours of continuing professional training each calendar year. Twenty-four hours is intended to be a minimum requirement, and appointing authorities are encouraged to exceed the twenty-four hour minimum. A minimum of twenty-four hours of continuing professional training shall be reimbursed each calendar year and a maximum of forty hours of continuing professional training may be reimbursed each calendar year.

(2) An appointing authority may submit a written request to the peace officer training commission that requests for a calendar year because of emergency circumstances an extension of the time within which one or more of its appointed peace officers or troopers must complete the required minimum number of hours of continuing professional training set by the commission, as described in division (A)(1) of this section. A request made under this division shall set forth the name of each of the appointing authority's peace officers or troopers for whom an extension is requested, identify the emergency circumstances related to that peace officer or trooper, include documentation of those emergency circumstances, and set forth the date on which the request is submitted to the commission. A request shall be made under this division not later than the fifteenth day of December in the calendar year for which the extension is requested.

Upon receipt of a written request made under this division, the executive director of the commission shall review the request and the submitted documentation. If the executive director of the commission is satisfied that emergency circumstances exist for any peace officer or trooper for whom a request was made under this division, the executive director may approve the request for that peace officer or trooper and grant an extension of the time within which that peace officer or trooper must complete the required minimum number of hours of continuing professional training set by the commission. An extension granted under this division may be for any period of time the executive director believes to be appropriate, and the executive director shall specify in the notice granting the extension the date on which the extension ends. Not later than thirty days after the date on which a request is submitted to the commission, for each peace officer and trooper for whom an extension is requested, the executive director either shall approve the request and grant an extension or deny the request and deny an extension and shall send to the appointing authority that submitted the request written notice of the executive director's decision.

If the executive director grants an extension of the time within which a particular appointed peace officer or trooper of an appointing authority must complete the required minimum number of hours of continuing professional training set by the commission, the appointing authority shall require that peace officer or trooper to complete the required minimum number of hours of training not later than the date on which the extension ends.

(B) With the advice of the Ohio peace officer training commission, the attorney general shall adopt in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code rules setting forth minimum standards for continuing professional training for peace officers and troopers and governing the administration of continuing professional training programs for peace officers and troopers. The rules adopted by the attorney general under division (B) of this section shall do all of the following:

(1) Allow peace officers and troopers to earn credit for up to four hours of continuing professional training for time spent while on duty providing drug use prevention education training that utilizes evidence-based curricula to students in school districts, community schools established under Chapter 3314., STEM schools established under Chapter 3326., and college-preparatory boarding schools established under Chapter 3328. of the Revised Code.

(2) Allow a peace officer or trooper appointed by a law enforcement agency to earn hours of continuing professional training for other peace officers or troopers appointed by the law enforcement agency by providing drug use prevention education training under division (B)(1) of this section so that hours earned by the peace officer or trooper providing the training in excess of four hours may be applied to offset the number of continuing professional training hours required of another peace officer or trooper appointed by that law enforcement agency.

(3) Prohibit the use of continuing professional training hours earned under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section from being used to offset any mandatory hands-on training requirement.

(4) Require a peace officer to complete training on proper interactions with civilians during traffic stops and other in-person encounters, which training shall have an online offering and shall include all of the following topics:

(a) A person's rights during an interaction with a peace officer, including all of the following:

(i) When a peace officer may require a person to exit a vehicle;

(ii) Constitutional protections from illegal search and seizure;

(iii) The rights of a passenger in a vehicle who has been pulled over for a traffic stop;

(iv) The right for a citizen to record an encounter with a peace officer.

(b) Proper actions for interacting with a civilian and methods for diffusing a stressful encounter with a civilian;

(c) Laws regarding questioning and detention by peace officers, including any law requiring a person to present proof of identity to a peace officer, and the consequences for a person's or officer's failure to comply with those laws;

(d) Any other requirements and procedures necessary for the proper implementation of this section.

(C) The attorney general shall transmit a certified copy of any rule adopted under this section to the secretary of state.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 109.71 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Trooper" means an individual appointed as a state highway patrol trooper under section 5503.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Appointing authority" means any agency or entity that appoints a peace officer or trooper.

Last updated September 22, 2023 at 9:26 AM

Section 109.804 | Chief of police training course; equivalency; deferral.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 131 - 134th General Assembly

(A)(1) The Ohio peace officer training commission shall develop and conduct a chief of police training course lasting forty hours for newly appointed chiefs of police appointed on or after January 1, 2018. The commission shall determine the course topics, which shall include diversity training with an emphasis on historical perspectives and community-police relations, and shall establish criteria for what constitutes successful completion of the course. The commission shall conduct the course at the Ohio peace officer training academy and shall offer the course at least semiannually.

(2) The executive director of the commission shall issue a certificate of completion of a training program required under this section in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to a newly appointed chief of police if either of the following applies:

(a) The person holds a certificate of completion of such a program in another state.

(b) The person has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a chief of police in a state that does not require completion of such a training program.

(B) A newly appointed chief of police may request an equivalency exemption from a portion of the forty hours of the chief of police training course by submitting to the Ohio peace officer training commission, not more than ten calendar days following the person's appointment as a chief of police, evidence of training or qualification in the subject area of the exempted portion.

(C) Upon presentation of evidence by a newly appointed chief of police that because of a medical disability or other good cause the newly appointed chief of police is unable to complete the chief of police training course, the Ohio peace officer training commission may defer the requirement for the newly appointed chief of police to complete the chief of police training course until the disability or cause terminates.

(D) A newly appointed chief of police appointed on or after January 1, 2018, shall attend a chief of police training course conducted by the Ohio peace officer training commission pursuant to division (A) of this section not later than six months after the person's appointment as a chief of police. While attending the chief of police training course, a newly appointed chief of police shall receive compensation in the same manner and amounts as if carrying out the powers and duties of the office of chief of police. The costs of conducting the chief of police training course shall be paid from state funds appropriated to the attorney general. The cost of meals, lodging, and travel of a newly appointed chief of police attending the chief of police training course shall be paid from the budget of the entity for which the newly appointed chief of police was appointed.

(E) As used in this section:

"Newly appointed chief of police" means a person appointed chief of police under section 505.49, 737.05, or 737.15 of the Revised Code or any administrative official that is responsible for the daily administration and supervision of peace officers in a law enforcement agency who did not hold the office of chief of police on the date the person was appointed chief of police.

"Law enforcement agency" means a municipal or township police department, or any other entity authorized by statute to appoint peace officers to enforce criminal laws and who have the statutory power of arrest. "Law enforcement agency" does not include a county sheriff's office, the state highway patrol, or the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 7:40 AM

Section 109.81 | Antitrust cases - appointment of special counsel.

• Effective: July 1, 1993
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 152 - 120th General Assembly

(A) The attorney general shall act as the attorney at law in any antitrust case for the state. He may act as the attorney at law in any antitrust case for any political subdivision of the state, for the governing body of any political subdivision of the state, or, as parens patriae, for any natural person residing in the state. The attorney general shall do all things necessary under the laws of any state or the federal government to properly conduct any antitrust case in which he acts as attorney at law, including the bringing of an action for equitable relief or for the recovery of damages.

(B) The attorney general may appoint special counsel to act as attorney at law in any antitrust case described in division (A) of this section. A special counsel appointed under this section shall be paid in either or both of the following ways:

(1) At an hourly rate determined by the attorney general;

(2) At a percentage determined by the attorney general of the monetary relief or economic benefit recovered from conducting the antitrust case.

Section 109.82 | Antitrust section - fund.

• Effective: July 1, 1992
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 351 - 119th General Assembly

There is hereby created in the office of the attorney general a section of antitrust. Ten per cent of all recoveries obtained by the attorney general pursuant to section 109.81 of the Revised Code by settlement or by judgment in any court and the full amount of all related civil penalties, attorney's fees, and reimbursements of investigative, litigation, or expert witness costs shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the attorney general antitrust fund, which is hereby created. The fund shall be used for expenses of the antitrust section. The expenses of the antitrust section in excess of the money available in the fund shall be paid out of the regular appropriation to the office of the attorney general.

Section 109.83 | Investigating organized criminal activity.

• Effective: January 1, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 2 - 122nd General Assembly

(A) When directed by the governor or general assembly, the attorney general may investigate any organized criminal activity in this state. When it appears to the attorney general, as a result of an investigation conducted pursuant to this division, that there is cause to prosecute for the commission of a crime, the attorney general shall refer the evidence to the prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction of the matter, to a regular grand jury drawn and impaneled pursuant to sections 2939.01 to 2939.24 of the Revised Code, or to a special grand jury drawn and impaneled pursuant to section 2939.17 of the Revised Code. When the crime or the elements of the crime were committed in two or more counties, the referral shall be to the prosecuting attorney, the regular grand jury, or a special grand jury of the county in which the most significant portion of the crime or the elements of the crime occurred or, if it is not possible to determine that county, the county with the largest population. When evidence is referred directly to a grand jury pursuant to this section, the attorney general and any assistant or special counsel designated by the attorney general has the exclusive right to appear at any time before the grand jury to give information relative to a legal matter cognizable by it, or to advise upon a legal matter when required, and may exercise all rights, privileges, and powers of prosecuting attorneys in such cases.

(B)(1) When information is referred to the attorney general by an organized crime task force or the organized crime investigations commission pursuant to section 177.03 of the Revised Code, the attorney general shall review the information so referred and upon a determination that there is cause to prosecute for the commission of a crime, the attorney general either shall refer the information as evidence to a regular or special grand jury in the manner described in, and in the county determined in accordance with the provisions of, division (A) of this section or shall initiate a criminal action or proceeding in a court of proper jurisdiction. If an indictment is returned by a grand jury pursuant to a referral made under this division, the attorney general has sole responsibility to prosecute the accused offender.

(2) The attorney general, and any assistant or special counsel designated by the attorney general who appears under this division in any county for the prosecution of any crime has the same powers and authority as a prosecuting attorney, including, but not limited to, powers relating to attendance before the courts and grand juries of the county, preparation and trial of indictments for crimes, and representation of the state in any criminal proceeding, in any civil proceeding related to the crime, or in any appeal from a criminal case or from a civil case related to the crime in any court of this state.

(C) When proceeding under the authority of this section, the attorney general may appear for the state in any court or tribunal of proper jurisdiction for the purpose of conducting investigations under division (A) of this section, or for the purpose of conducting criminal proceedings, civil proceedings, or any other proceeding that is necessary to promote and safeguard the public interests of the citizens of this state.

(D) This section shall not be construed to prevent the attorney general and prosecuting attorneys or special prosecutors from cooperating in the investigation and prosecution of offenses under this section. However, in cases in which information was referred to the attorney general by an organized crime task force because the office of a prosecuting attorney was implicated by an investigation conducted by the task force, the attorney general shall not inform the implicated prosecutor of the investigation or referral and shall not cooperate with the prosecutor on the matter.

(E) As used in this section, "organized criminal activity" has the same meaning as in section 177.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.84 | Investigation and prosecution of violation of workers compensation law.

• Effective: November 3, 1989
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 118th General Assembly

(A) Upon the written request of the governor, the industrial commission, the administrator of workers' compensation, or upon the attorney general's becoming aware of criminal or improper activity related to Chapter 4121. or 4123. of the Revised Code, the attorney general shall investigate any criminal or civil violation of law related to Chapter 4121. or 4123. of the Revised Code.

(B) When it appears to the attorney general, as a result of an investigation under division (A) of this section, that there is cause to prosecute for the commission of a crime or to pursue a civil remedy, he may refer the evidence to the prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction of the matter, or to a regular grand jury drawn and impaneled pursuant to sections 2939.01 to 2939.24 of the Revised Code, or to a special grand jury drawn and impaneled pursuant to section 2939.17 of the Revised Code, or he may initiate and prosecute any necessary criminal or civil actions in any court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction in this state. When proceeding under this section, the attorney general has all rights, privileges, and powers of prosecuting attorneys, and any assistant or special counsel designated by him for that purpose has the same authority.

(C) The attorney general shall be reimbursed by the bureau of workers' compensation for all actual and necessary costs incurred in conducting investigations requested by the governor, the commission, or the administrator and all actual and necessary costs in conducting the prosecution arising out of such investigation.

Section 109.85 | Investigation and prosecution of violation of medicaid law.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) Upon the written request of the governor, the general assembly, the auditor of state, the medicaid director, the director of health, or the director of budget and management, or upon the attorney general's becoming aware of criminal or improper activity related to Chapter 3721. and the medicaid program, the attorney general shall investigate any criminal or civil violation of law related to Chapter 3721. of the Revised Code or the medicaid program.

(B) When it appears to the attorney general, as a result of an investigation under division (A) of this section, that there is cause to prosecute for the commission of a crime or to pursue a civil remedy, the attorney general may refer the evidence to the prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction of the matter, or to a regular grand jury drawn and impaneled pursuant to sections 2939.01 to 2939.24 of the Revised Code, or to a special grand jury drawn and impaneled pursuant to section 2939.17 of the Revised Code, or the attorney general may initiate and prosecute any necessary criminal or civil actions in any court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction in this state. When proceeding under this section, the attorney general, and any assistant or special counsel designated by the attorney general for that purpose, have all rights, privileges, and powers of prosecuting attorneys. The attorney general shall have exclusive supervision and control of all investigations and prosecutions initiated by the attorney general under this section. The forfeiture provisions of Chapter 2981. of the Revised Code apply in relation to any such criminal action initiated and prosecuted by the attorney general.

(C) Nothing in this section shall prevent a county prosecuting attorney from investigating and prosecuting criminal activity related to Chapter 3721. of the Revised Code and the medicaid program. The forfeiture provisions of Chapter 2981. of the Revised Code apply in relation to any prosecution of criminal activity related to the medicaid program undertaken by the prosecuting attorney.

Section 109.86 | Investigation and prosecution of patient abuse or neglect.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The attorney general shall investigate any activity the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe is in violation of section 2903.34 of the Revised Code. Upon written request of the governor, the general assembly, the auditor of state, or the director of health, job and family services, aging, mental health and addiction services, or developmental disabilities, the attorney general shall investigate any activity these persons believe is in violation of section 2903.34 of the Revised Code. If after an investigation the attorney general has probable cause to prosecute for the commission of a crime, the attorney general shall refer the evidence to the prosecuting attorney, director of law, or other similar chief legal officer having jurisdiction over the matter. If the prosecuting attorney decides to present the evidence to a grand jury, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the attorney general in writing of the decision within thirty days after referral of the matter and shall present the evidence prior to the discharge of the next regular grand jury. If the director of law or other chief legal officer decides to prosecute the case, the director or officer shall notify the attorney general in writing of the decision within thirty days and shall initiate prosecution within sixty days after the matter was referred to the director or officer.

(B) If the prosecuting attorney, director of law, or other chief legal officer fails to notify the attorney general or to present evidence or initiate prosecution in accordance with division (A) of this section, the attorney general may present the evidence to a regular grand jury drawn and impaneled pursuant to sections 2939.01 to 2939.24 of the Revised Code, or to a special grand jury drawn and impaneled pursuant to section 2939.17 of the Revised Code, or the attorney general may initiate and prosecute any action in any court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction in this state. The attorney general, and any assistant or special counsel designated by the attorney general, have all the powers of a prosecuting attorney, director of law, or other chief legal officer when proceeding under this section. Nothing in this section shall limit or prevent a prosecuting attorney, director of law, or other chief legal officer from investigating and prosecuting criminal activity committed against a resident or patient of a care facility.

Section 109.87 | Acts or practices in violation of federal telemarketing laws.

• Effective: March 2, 2022
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 54 - 134th General Assembly

(A)(1) Unless otherwise defined in this section, the terms that are used in this section have the same meanings as in the applicable federal act or rule.

(2) As used in this section:

(a) "Federal act or rule" means the "Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act," 108 Stat. 1545 to 1551, 15 U.S.C. 6101 to 6108, the "Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991," 105 Stat. 2395, 47 U.S.C. 227, any amendment or reenactment of either of those acts, any rule adopted or issued pursuant to either of those acts, or any amendment of that rule.

(b) "Voice service provider" means any entity originating, carrying, or terminating voice calls through time-division multiplexing, voice over internet protocol, including interconnected or one-way voice over internet protocol, or commercial mobile radio service.

(c) "Voice service" means any service that is interconnected with the public switched telephone network, directly or as an intermediary, and that furnishes voice communications to an end user using resources from the North American numbering plan or any successor to the North American numbering plan adopted by the federal communications commission under the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. 251(e)(1), and includes both of the following:

(i) A transmission from a telephone facsimile machine, computer, or other device to a telephone facsimile machine.

(ii) Without limitation, any service that enables real-time, two-way voice communications, including any service that requires internet protocol-compatible customer premises equipment out-bound calling, whether or not the service is one-way or two-way voice over internet protocol.

(d)(i) "Text message" means a message consisting of text, images, sounds, or other information that is transmitted to or from a device that is identified as the receiving or transmitting device by means of a ten-digit telephone number or N-1-1 service code and includes a short message service and a multimedia message service.

(ii) "Text message" does not include a real-time, two-way voice or video communication or a message sent over an internet protocol-enabled messaging service to another user of the same messaging service, except a message described in division (A)(2)(d)(i) of this section.

(e) "Text messaging service" means a service that enables the transmission or receipt of a text message, including a service provided as part of or in connection with a voice service.

(B)(1) No person, entity, merchant, seller, or telemarketer shall engage in any act or practice in violation of any provision of a federal act or rule.

(2)(a) No person shall provide substantial assistance or support to any person, entity, merchant, seller, or telemarketer when that person knows or consciously avoids knowing that the other person, entity, merchant, seller, or telemarketer is engaged in any act or practice that violates any provision of a federal act or rule.

(b) For purposes of division (B)(2)(a) of this section, "substantial assistance or support" does not include the provision of a voice service to a third party by a voice service provider if one or more of the following is true :

(i) The voice service provider is not designated as a non-cooperative carrier by the consortium registered with the federal communications commission pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 64.1203.

(ii) The network of the voice service provider does not originate the voice service or text messaging service.

(iii) The network of the voice service provider is not the first domestic provider handling the voice service or text messaging service that originates outside of the United States.

(3) The attorney general, in any proceedings under this section, shall recognize any exemptions recognized by the federal communications commission under the "Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991," 105 Stat. 2395, 47 U.S.C. 227, any amendment or reenactment of that act, any rule adopted or issued pursuant to that act, or any amendment of that rule.

(C)(1) If the attorney general, as a result of complaints or the attorney general's own inquiries, has reason to believe that a person has engaged, is engaging, or is preparing to engage in a violation of this section or any provision of a federal act or rule, the attorney general may investigate the alleged violation. For purposes of an investigation under division (C)(1) of this section, the attorney general may administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, adduce evidence, and require the production of any relevant matter.

(2) If the matter to be produced under division (C)(1) of this section is located outside this state, the attorney general may designate any representative, including any official of the state in which the matter is located, to inspect the matter on the behalf of the attorney general. The person subpoenaed may make the matter available to the attorney general at a convenient location within the state or pay the reasonable and necessary expenses for the attorney general or the attorney general's representative to examine the matter at the place where it is located, provided that those expenses shall not be charged to a party that subsequently is not found to have engaged in a violation of this section or any provision of a federal act or rule.

(3) A person subpoenaed under division (C)(1) of this section may file a motion to extend the day on which the subpoena is to be returned or to modify or quash the subpoena, for good cause shown, in the court of common pleas of Franklin county or of the county in this state in which the person resides or in which the person's principal place of business is located. The person may file the motion not later than twenty days after the service of the subpoena.

(4) A person subpoenaed under division (C)(1) of this section shall comply with the terms of the subpoena unless the parties agree to modify the terms of the subpoena or unless the court has modified or quashed the subpoena, extended the day on which the subpoena is to be returned, or issued any other order with respect to the subpoena prior to the day on which the subpoena is to be returned. If a person fails without lawful excuse to testify or to produce relevant matter pursuant to a subpoena, the attorney general may apply to the court of common pleas of the county in which the person subpoenaed resides or in which the person's principal place of business is located for an order that compels compliance with the subpoena.

(5) If an individual subpoenaed under division (C)(1) of this section refuses to testify or to produce relevant matter pursuant to the subpoena on the ground that the testimony or matter may incriminate the individual, the attorney general may request the court to order the individual to provide the testimony or matter. With the exception of a prosecution for perjury or a civil action for damages under division (D)(1) of this section, an individual who complies with a court order to provide testimony or matter, after asserting a privilege against self-incrimination to which the individual is entitled by law, shall not be subjected to a criminal proceeding or a civil penalty or forfeiture on the basis of the testimony or matter required to be disclosed or testimony or matter discovered through that testimony or matter required to be disclosed.

(6) In conducting an investigation under this section, the attorney general shall not publicly disclose the identity of persons, entities, merchants, sellers, or telemarketers investigated or the facts developed in the investigation unless this information has become a matter of public record in enforcement proceedings or if those being investigated have consented in writing to public disclosure.

(7) In conducting an investigation under this section, the attorney general shall cooperate with state and local officials of other states and officials of the federal government in the administration of comparable laws and regulations.

(8) The attorney general may do either of the following:

(a) During an investigation under division (C) of this section, afford the person who is the subject of the investigation, in a manner considered appropriate to that person, an opportunity to cease and desist from any suspected violation of this section or any provision of a federal act or rule. The attorney general may suspend the investigation during the period that the attorney general permits the person to cease and desist from that suspected violation. The suspension of the investigation or the affording of an opportunity to cease and desist shall not prejudice or prohibit any further investigation by the attorney general under division (C) of this section.

(b) Terminate an investigation under division (C) of this section upon acceptance of a written assurance of voluntary compliance from a person who is suspected of a violation of this section or any provision of a federal act or rule. The acceptance of an assurance under division (C)(8)(b) of this section may be conditioned upon an undertaking to reimburse or to take other appropriate corrective action with respect to identifiable telephone service subscribers who are damaged by an alleged violation of this section or any provision of a federal act or rule. An assurance of compliance given by a person under division (C)(8)(b) of this section is not evidence of a violation of this section or any provision of a federal act or rule. The attorney general, at any time, may reopen an investigation terminated by the acceptance of an assurance of voluntary compliance, if the attorney general believes that further proceedings are in the public interest. Evidence of a violation of an assurance of voluntary compliance is prima-facie evidence of an act or practice in violation of this section or the applicable provision of a federal act or rule if the evidence is presented after the violation in a civil action brought under division (D)(1) of this section. An assurance of voluntary compliance may be filed with the court and if approved by the court, entered as a consent judgment in the action.

(9) The procedures that are available to the attorney general under division (C) of this section are cumulative and concurrent, and the exercise of one procedure by the attorney general does not preclude or require the exercise of any other procedure.

(D)(1) If, by the attorney general's own inquiries or as a result of complaints or an investigation conducted under division (C) of this section, the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe that a person has engaged or is engaging in a violation of any provision of this section or of a federal act or rule, the attorney general, subject to division (D)(3) or (4) of this section, may bring in the appropriate court of common pleas of this state or in the appropriate district court of the United States, but not in both courts, a civil action against the alleged violator for injunctive relief , damages, and civil penalties pursuant to the federal act or rule, on behalf of the residents of this state who have been subjected to acts or practices in violation of this section. The attorney general may bring the action under this section or under the applicable federal act or rule, but the attorney general shall not plead a violation of both this section and the applicable federal act or rule in the action.

(2) On the motion of the attorney general or on its own motion, a court may impose a civil penalty of five hundred dollars for each violation of the provision of this section or of the federal act or rule that is the subject of the action. If the court finds the defendant willfully or knowingly committed the violation, the court may impose a civil penalty of one thousand five hundred dollars for each violation of the provision of this section or of the federal act or rules that is the subject of the action. An award of damages or civil penalties may be recovered under this section or under the applicable federal act or rule, but an award of damages or civil penalties shall not be recovered under both this section and the applicable federal act or rule.

(3) If a civil action has been instituted by or on behalf of the federal trade commission or the federal communications commission for a violation of any provision of an applicable federal act or rule, the attorney general, during the pendency of that action, shall not institute any civil action under division (D)(1) of this section against any defendant that is named in the complaint in the civil action that has been instituted by or on behalf of the federal trade commission or the federal communications commission, whichever is applicable, for any violation that is alleged in that complaint.

(4) If a civil action that has been instituted by or on behalf of the federal trade commission or the federal communications commission for a violation of any provision of an applicable federal act or rule affecting the residents of this state is litigated to its conclusion and the federal trade commission or the federal communications commission recovers an award of damages or civil penalties or obtains any relief under the applicable federal act or rule, the attorney general shall not institute any civil action under division (D)(1) of this section for any violation within the same time period that is alleged in the civil action that was instituted as described in division (D)(4) of this section and in which the federal trade commission or federal communications commission has recovered the damages or civil penalties or obtained the relief.

(5) No action may be brought by the attorney general under this section for damages or a civil penalty more than five years after the occurrence of the violation.

(E) Any civil action that the attorney general brings in a federal court under division (D)(1) of this section shall comply with the applicable provisions of the federal act or rule the violation of which is the subject of the action.

(F) The attorney general shall deposit any civil penalties that are imposed under division (D)(2) of this section to the credit of the telemarketing fraud enforcement fund created under section 4719.17 of the Revised Code, to be used to pay the costs of the office of the attorney general in investigating any violation of, and in enforcing, any federal act or rule or this section or for any other purpose as set forth under section 4719.17 of the Revised Code.

(G) A violation of division (B)(1) or (2) of this section that involves a consumer transaction as defined in section 1345.01 of the Revised Code shall be considered an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of section 1345.02 of the Revised Code. All powers and remedies available to the attorney general to enforce sections 1345.01 to 1345.13 of the Revised Code are available to the attorney general to enforce this section.

Last updated December 10, 2021 at 12:11 PM

Section 109.88 | Investigation, prosecution of telecommunications and telemarketing fraud.

• Effective: March 2, 2022
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 54 - 134th General Assembly

(A) If the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe that a person or enterprise has engaged in, is engaging in, or is preparing to engage in a violation of any provision of section 2913.04 or 2913.05 of the Revised Code, the attorney general may investigate the alleged violation.

(B) For purposes of an investigation under division (A) of this section, the attorney general may issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum. The attorney general may compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of records and papers of all kinds and descriptions that are relevant to the investigation, including, but not limited to, any books, accounts, documents, and memoranda pertaining to the subject of the investigation. Upon the failure of any person to comply with any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued by the attorney general under this section, the attorney general may apply to the court of common pleas in Franklin county or in any county in which an element of the crime occurred for a contempt order as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from the court of common pleas or a refusal to testify on a subpoena. A subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued by the attorney general under this section to a provider of electronic communication services or remote computing services shall be subject to the limitations set forth in the "Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986," 18 U.S.C. 2703.

(C) Any information gathered by the attorney general during the course of the investigation that is in the possession of the attorney general, a prosecuting attorney, a law enforcement agency, or a special prosecutor is a confidential law enforcement investigatory record for purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code. No provision contained in this section affects or limits any right of discovery granted to any person under the Revised Code, the Rules of Criminal Procedure, or the Rules of Juvenile Procedure.

(D) In order to initiate a criminal proceeding under this section, the attorney general shall first present in writing any evidence of a violation of section 2913.04 or 2913.05 of the Revised Code to the prosecuting attorney of a county in which the action may be brought. If within forty-five days the prosecuting attorney has not presented the case to a grand jury, the attorney general may prosecute the case with all of the rights, privileges, and powers conferred by law on a prosecuting attorney, including the power to appear before a grand jury, to interrogate witnesses before a grand jury, and to handle a case that comes out of a grand jury to its procedural conclusion, including an indictment, plea, trial, sentencing, diversion, and appeal. These powers of the attorney general shall be in addition to any other applicable powers of the attorney general.

Last updated December 10, 2021 at 12:14 PM

Section 109.89 | Access and use of national precursor log exchange information.

• Effective: March 20, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 334 - 129th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "pseudoephedrine product," "ephedrine product," "national precursor log exchange," and "exchange" have the same meanings as in section 3715.05 of the Revised Code.

(B) The attorney general may enter into a contract or memorandum of understanding with the national association of drug diversion investigators or its successor organization and, if the attorney general determines it to be appropriate, a person to whom the authority to administer the national precursor log exchange has been delegated. The contract or memorandum shall govern the attorney general's access to and use of information from the exchange and the responsibilities of each party to the contract or memorandum relative to the access and use of the information.

(C) In furtherance of the purpose of the contract or memorandum of understanding as described in division (B) of this section, the contract or memorandum shall include terms that do all of the following:

(1) Authorize the attorney general to obtain real-time access to information from the national precursor log exchange;

(2) Authorize the attorney general to receive, on a weekly basis, a report regarding sales of pseudoephedrine products and ephedrine products in this state as monitored by the exchange, the specific content of which shall be identified in the contract or memorandum;

(3) Authorize the attorney general to disseminate any information obtained pursuant to division (C)(1) or (2) of this section to other state and local law enforcement officers as determined to be appropriate by the attorney general;

(4) Specify that neither the attorney general nor any local or state law enforcement officer is to be charged a fee for access to or use of the national precursor log exchange or information from the exchange authorized by this section or by the contract or memorandum;

(5) Require all parties to the contract or memorandum to comply with federal and state laws governing the confidentiality of patient-specific information;

(6) Specify how the contract or memorandum may be amended or revoked.

Section 109.90 | Collaboration in establishment and administration of drug take-back program.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The attorney general shall collaborate with the state board of pharmacy and director of mental health and addiction services in the establishment and administration of a drug take-back program, as provided under section 4729.69 of the Revised Code. The office of the attorney general is solely responsible for the costs incurred in the establishment and administration of the program.

(B) The attorney general may accept grants, gifts, or donations for purposes of the program. Money received under this division or section 5119.49 or 4729.69 of the Revised Code shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the drug take-back program fund, which is hereby created. Money credited to the fund shall be used solely for purposes of the program.

Section 109.91 | Crime victims assistance office - state victims assistance advisory council.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 343 - 134th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby established within the office of the attorney general the crime victims assistance office.

(B) There is hereby established the state victims assistance advisory council. The council shall consist of a chairperson, to be appointed by the attorney general, three ex officio members, and twenty-one members to be appointed by the attorney general as follows: one member who represents the Ohio victim-witness association; three members who represent local victim assistance programs, including one from a municipally operated program and one from a county-operated program; one member who represents the interests of elderly victims; one member who represents the interests of individuals with mental illness; one member who is a board member of any statewide or local organization that exists primarily to aid victims of domestic violence or who is an employee of, or counselor for, such an organization; one member who is a board member of any statewide or local organization that exists primarily to aid victims of sexual violence or who is an employee of or a counselor for an organization that exists primarily to aid victims of sexual violence; one member who is a board member or employee of any statewide organization that exists primarily to provide no cost legal representation to crime victims to seek enforcement of crime victims' rights during criminal proceedings; one member who is an employee of an agency that provides services to individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; one member of a victim service disability agency; one employee from a statewide forensic nursing organization; one member who is an employee or officer of a county probation department or a probation department operated by the department of rehabilitation and correction; one member who is a county prosecuting attorney; one member who is a city law director; one member who is a county sheriff; one member who is a member or officer of a township or municipal police department; one member who is a court of common pleas judge; one member who is a municipal court judge or county court judge; and two members who are private citizens and are not government employees.

The council shall include the following ex officio, nonvoting members: the attorney general, one member of the senate to be designated by the president of the senate, and one member of the house of representatives to be designated by the speaker of the house.

Members of the council shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel and other necessary expenses that are incurred in the conduct of their official duties as members of the council. The chairperson and members of the council appointed by the attorney general shall serve at the pleasure of the attorney general. The attorney general shall serve on the council until the end of the term of office that qualified the attorney general for membership on the council. The member of the senate and the member of the house of representatives shall serve at the pleasure of the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, respectively.

(C) The victims assistance advisory council shall perform all of the following duties:

(1) Advise the crime victims assistance office in determining crime and delinquency victim service needs, determining crime and delinquency victim policies for the state, and improving and exercising leadership in the quality of crime and delinquency victim programs in the state;

(2) Review and recommend to the crime victims assistance office the victim assistance programs that should be considered for the receipt of state financial assistance pursuant to section 109.92 of the Revised Code. The financial assistance allocation recommendations of the council shall be based on the following priorities:

(a) Programs in existence on July 1, 1985, shall be given first priority;

(b) Programs offering or proposing to offer the broadest range of services and referrals to the community served, including medical, psychological, financial, educational, vocational, and legal services that were not in existence on July 1, 1985, shall be given second priority;

(c) Other qualified programs shall be given last priority.

(3) Provide advice and counsel to the attorney general in determining the needs of victims of domestic violence and developing a policy for the attorney general in the administration of the domestic violence program fund created under section 109.46 of the Revised Code;

(4) Make recommendations to the attorney general in the distribution of domestic violence program funds under section 109.46 of the Revised Code.

(D) As used in this section and section 109.92 of the Revised Code, "victim assistance program" includes, but is not limited to a program that provides at least one of the following:

(1) Services to victims of any offense of violence or delinquent act that would be an offense of violence if committed by an adult;

(2) Financial assistance or property repair services to victims of crime or delinquent acts;

(3) Assistance to victims of crime or delinquent acts in judicial proceedings;

(4) Assistance to victims of crime or delinquent acts under the operation of any political subdivision of the state or a branch of the criminal justice system set forth in division (B)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of section 5502.61 of the Revised Code;

(5) Technical assistance to persons or organizations that provide services to victims of crime or delinquent acts under the operation of a branch of the criminal justice system set forth in division (B)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of section 5502.61 of the Revised Code.

A victim assistance program does not include the program for the reparation of crime victims established pursuant to Chapter 2743. of the Revised Code.

Last updated March 9, 2023 at 3:27 PM

Section 109.92 | State financial assistance to victim assistance programs that operate in state.

• Effective: July 1, 2000
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 153 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) Appropriations may be made by the general assembly to the office of the attorney general for the purpose of providing state financial assistance to victim assistance programs that operate in the state. All amounts so appropriated shall be used to provide financial assistance to victim assistance programs in accordance with section 109.91 of the Revised Code and this section. The program for the provision of such financial assistance shall be administered by the crime victims assistance office established pursuant to section 109.91 of the Revised Code.

(B) A victim assistance program may apply to the crime victims assistance office for state financial assistance out of funds appropriated to the office of the attorney general for that purpose by the general assembly. Each application for such financial assistance shall include all of the following information:

(1) Evidence that the program is incorporated in this state as a nonprofit corporation or is a program established by a unit of state or local government;

(2) The proposed budget of the program for the period during which the financial assistance is sought;

(3) A summary of services offered by the program;

(4) An estimate of the number of persons served by the program.

(C) Within thirty days of receipt of an application for financial assistance from a victim assistance program in accordance with division (B) of this section, the crime victims assistance office, based in part on the recommendations of the victim assistance advisory board made pursuant to section 109.91 of the Revised Code, shall notify the program in writing whether it is eligible for financial assistance and, if eligible, estimate the amount that will be made available to the program and the time when the financial assistance will be made available.

(D) Each victim assistance program that receives any financial assistance pursuant to this section shall use the financial assistance only to provide the services identified in its application for such assistance as being services it offered and to cover a reasonable cost of administration of the program. Each victim assistance program that receives any such financial assistance shall make a good faith effort to minimize its costs of administration.

Section 109.921 | Rape crisis program trust fund.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Rape crisis program" means any of the following:

(a) The nonprofit state sexual assault coalition designated by the center for injury prevention and control of the federal centers for disease control and prevention;

(b) A victim witness assistance program operated by a prosecuting attorney;

(c) A program operated by a government-based or nonprofit entity that provides a full continuum of services to victims of sexual assault, including hotlines, victim advocacy, and support services from the onset of the need for services through the completion of healing, that does not provide medical services, and that may refer victims to physicians for medical care but does not engage in or refer for services for which the use of genetic services funds is prohibited by section 3701.511 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Sexual assault" means any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, or former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code;

(b) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States that is or was substantially equivalent to any section listed in division (A)(2)(a) of this section.

(B) There is hereby created in the state treasury the rape crisis program trust fund, consisting of money paid into the fund pursuant to sections 307.515 and 311.172 of the Revised Code and any money appropriated to the fund by the general assembly or donated to the fund. The attorney general shall administer the fund. The attorney general may use not more than five per cent of the money deposited or appropriated into the fund to pay costs associated with administering this section and shall use at least ninety-five per cent of the money deposited or appropriated into the fund for the purpose of providing funding to rape crisis programs under this section.

(C)(1) The attorney general shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish procedures for rape crisis programs to apply to the attorney general for funding out of the rape crisis program trust fund and procedures for the attorney general to distribute money out of the fund to rape crisis programs.

(2) The attorney general may decide upon an application for funding out of the rape crisis program trust fund without a hearing. A decision of the attorney general to grant or deny funding is final and not appealable under Chapter 119. or any other provision of the Revised Code.

(D) A rape crisis program that receives funding out of the rape crisis program trust fund shall use the money received only for the following purposes:

(1) If the program is the nonprofit state sexual assault coalition, to provide training and technical assistance to service providers;

(2) If the program is a victim witness assistance program, to provide victims of sexual assault with hotlines, victim advocacy, or support services;

(3) If the program is a government-based or nonprofit entity that provides a full continuum of services to victims of sexual assault, to provide those services and education to prevent sexual assault.

Section 109.93 | Attorney general education fund.

• Effective: September 29, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 119 - 127th General Assembly

The attorney general education fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of gifts and grants received by the attorney general for the purposes of the fund. The fund shall be administered by the attorney general and shall be used to support various educational programs. These educational programs may include programs for consumer protection, victims of crime, environmental protection, drug abuse, child abuse, peace officer training, crime prevention, and law. The fund may also be used to pay costs associated with the solicitation of gifts and grants for the purposes of the fund, and the costs of administering the fund. The fund shall not be used to replace money spent by local programs for similar purposes.

Section 109.94 | Attorney general may issue identity fraud passport to victim.

• Effective: September 16, 2005
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 48 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The attorney general, in cooperation with any law enforcement agency, may issue an identity fraud passport to a person who is a victim in this state of identity fraud or identity fraud against an elderly person or disabled adult and has filed a police report with any law enforcement agency citing that the person is a victim of a violation of section 2913.49 of the Revised Code. Once a police report of that nature has been filed with any law enforcement agency, the victim may apply for an identity fraud passport through any law enforcement agency. The law enforcement agency shall send a copy of the police report and the application for an identity fraud passport to the attorney general. The attorney general shall process the application and supporting police report and may issue the victim of identity fraud or identity fraud against an elderly person or disabled adult an identity fraud passport in the form of a card or certificate.

(B)(1) A victim of identity fraud or identity fraud against an elderly person or disabled adult may present the victim's identity fraud passport issued by the attorney general in accordance with division (A) of this section to both of the following:

(a) A law enforcement agency to help prevent the victim's arrest or detention for offenses committed by someone other than the victim who is using the victim's identity;

(b) Any of the victim's creditors to aid in the creditors' investigation and establishment of whether fraudulent charges were made against accounts in the victim's name or whether accounts were opened using the victim's identity.

(2) Acceptance of the identity fraud passport presented by the victim to a law enforcement agency or creditors pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section is at the discretion of the law enforcement agency or creditor. A law enforcement agency or creditor may consider the surrounding circumstances and available information regarding the offense of identity fraud pertaining to the victim.

(C)(1) Subject to its use for statistical purposes pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section, an application made with the attorney general pursuant to division (A) of this section, including any supporting documentation, is not a public record pursuant to section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The attorney general may provide access to the applications and supporting documentation filed with the attorney general's office to other criminal justice agencies in this or another state.

(2) The attorney general shall maintain statistics with respect to the number of applications for identity fraud passports submitted, and the number of identity fraud passports issued, pursuant to division (A) of this section. Not later than the first day of November in each year, the attorney general shall submit a statistical report to the governor, the president and minority leader of the senate, and the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives indicating the number of applications for identity fraud passports submitted, and the number of identity fraud passports issued, pursuant to division (A) of this section in the previous fiscal year. Nothing in the statistics maintained or the statistical report submitted by the attorney general pursuant to this division shall identify, or enable the identification of, any individual who applied for, was issued, or was denied an identity fraud passport. The statistics and the statistical report are public records for the purpose of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Section 109.941 | Technical assistance regarding identity fraud crimes.

• Effective: September 1, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 46 - 127th General Assembly

The attorney general shall cooperate with and provide technical assistance to any local law enforcement agency in the state, upon that agency's request, with respect to enforcement of identity fraud crimes.

Section 109.95 | Criminal proceedings for election fraud.

• Effective: May 2, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly

Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary pertaining to prosecutorial authority, the attorney general may initiate criminal proceedings for election fraud under section 3599.42 of the Revised Code which results from a violation of any provision of Title XXXV of the Revised Code, other than Chapter 3517. of the Revised Code, involving voting, an initiative or referendum petition process, or the conducting of an election, by presenting evidence of criminal violations in question to the prosecuting attorney of any county in which the violations may be prosecuted. If the prosecuting attorney does not prosecute the violations within a reasonable time or requests the attorney general to do so, the attorney general may proceed with the prosecution of the violations with all of the rights, privileges, and powers conferred by law on a prosecuting attorney, including, but not limited to, the power to appear before a grand jury and to interrogate witnesses before a grand jury.

Section 109.97 | Capital case status report.

• Effective: January 30, 1998
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 18 - 122nd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Commutation," "pardon," "prisoner," and "state correctional institution" have the same meanings as in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Individual's present legal status" means whichever of the following circumstances apply on the thirty-first day of December of the calendar year covered by a capital case status report described in divisions (B) and (C) of this section to an individual who was sentenced to death pursuant to sections 2929.02 to 2929.04 or section 2929.06 of the Revised Code for an aggravated murder committed on or after October 19, 1981:

(a) The individual was executed in accordance with section 2949.22 of the Revised Code for the aggravated murder, or the individual otherwise is deceased.

(b) The individual continues to be confined in a state correctional institution waiting for the execution of the sentence of death.

(c) The individual has been released from confinement in a state correctional institution pursuant to a pardon granted in connection with the aggravated murder, or the individual has been granted a commutation in connection with the aggravated murder and has been released from confinement or is serving a prison term or sentence of imprisonment pursuant to the commutation.

(d) The individual has had the sentence of death vacated or reversed on appeal or pursuant to division (C) of section 2929.05 of the Revised Code or otherwise has been relieved of the sentence of death by a court of this state or the United States.

(e) The individual has had the sentence of death vacated as described in section 2929.06 of the Revised Code or otherwise, the individual has been resentenced pursuant to that section or otherwise to a sentence other than a sentence of death, and the individual is a prisoner serving a prison term or sentence of imprisonment in a state correctional institution.

(f) The individual is confined in a correctional institution of another state or the United States for the commission of another offense or has been executed in accordance with a sentence of death imposed by a court of another state or the United States for the commission of another offense.

(g) The individual has escaped from confinement in a state correctional institution or a correctional institution of another state or the United States and currently is at-large.

(B) The attorney general annually shall prepare or cause to be prepared a capital case status report that pertains to all individuals who were sentenced to death pursuant to sections 2929.02 to 2929.04 or section 2929.06 of the Revised Code for an aggravated murder committed on or after October 19, 1981, and that contains for each of those individuals the information described in division (C)(1) of this section. The attorney general shall file a copy of each annual capital case status report with the governor, the chief justice of the supreme court, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives no later than the first day of April of the calendar year following the calendar year covered by the report. Each annual capital case status report shall be a public record subject to inspection and copying in accordance with section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) An annual capital case status report prepared pursuant to division (B) of this section shall contain all of the following information that pertains as of the thirty-first day of December of the calendar year covered by the report to each individual who was sentenced to death pursuant to sections 2929.02 to 2929.04 or 2929.06 of the Revised Code for an aggravated murder committed on or after October 19, 1981:

(a) A citation to and brief summary of the facts of each case in which the individual was sentenced to death pursuant to sections 2929.02 to 2929.04 or section 2929.06 of the Revised Code for an aggravated murder committed on or after October 19, 1981;

(b) A statement as to the individual's present legal status;

(c) A summary history of the individual's legal actions to vacate, reverse, or otherwise be relieved from the sentence of death described in division (C)(1)(a) of this section, including, but not limited to, motions to vacate the sentence of death, appeals, petitions for postconviction relief, and petitions for habeas corpus relief filed with a court of this state or a court of the United States under section 2929.05, 2953.21, or another section of the Revised Code, the Ohio Constitution, federal statutes, or the United States Constitution;

(d) Any other information that the attorney general determines is relevant, including, but not limited to, a tentatively scheduled date for the execution of the individual's sentence of death in accordance with section 2949.22 of the Revised Code.

(2) In each annual capital case status report prepared pursuant to division (B) of this section, the attorney general shall set forth or cause to be set forth the information described in division (C)(1) of this section in the form that the attorney general considers most appropriate to present that information, including, but not limited to, charts, tables, graphs, and narrative summaries.

(D) All officers and employees of the government of this state and its political subdivisions shall cooperate, upon request of the attorney general, in providing information that facilitates the attorney general in the performance of the attorney general's responsibilities under this section.

Section 109.98 | Civil action against state retirement board member for breach of fiduciary duty.

• Effective: September 29, 2005
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 66 - 126th General Assembly

As used in this section, "state retirement board" means the public employees retirement board, board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, school employees retirement board, state teachers retirement board, and state highway patrol retirement board.

If a member of a state retirement board breaches the member's fiduciary duty to the retirement system, the attorney general may maintain a civil action against the board member for harm resulting from that breach. Notwithstanding sections 145.10, 742.09, 3307.13, 3309.13, and 5505.23 of the Revised Code, after being informed of an allegation that the entire board has breached its fiduciary duty, the state retirement board may retain independent legal counsel, including legal counsel provided by the board's fiduciary insurance carrier, to advise the board and to represent the board.

The attorney general may recover damages or be granted injunctive relief, which shall include the enjoinment of specified activities and the removal of the member from the board. Any damages awarded shall be paid to the retirement system. The authority to maintain a civil action created by this section is in addition to any authority the attorney general possesses under any other provision of the Revised Code.

Section 109.981 | Civil action against workers' compensation oversight commission member.

• Effective: September 10, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 100 - 127th General Assembly

If a member of the bureau of workers' compensation board of directors breaches the member's fiduciary duty to the bureau of workers' compensation, the attorney general may maintain a civil action against the board member for harm resulting from that breach. Notwithstanding section 4121.128 of the Revised Code, after being informed of an allegation that the entire board has breached its fiduciary duty, the board may retain independent legal counsel, including legal counsel provided by the board's fiduciary insurance carrier, to advise the board and to represent the board. The attorney general may recover damages or be granted injunctive relief, which shall include the enjoinment of specified activities and the removal of the member from the board. Any damages awarded shall be paid to the bureau. The authority to maintain a civil action created by this section is in addition to any authority the attorney general possesses under any other provision of the Revised Code.

Section 109.99 | Penalty.

• Effective: May 7, 1997
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 242 - 122nd General Assembly

(A) Whoever violates section 109.26 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than ten thousand dollars or be imprisoned not less than one month nor more than one year, or both.

(B) Whoever violates division (G)(1) of section 109.573 of the Revised Code is guilty of unlawful disclosure of DNA database information, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(C) Whoever violates division (G)(2) of section 109.573 of the Revised Code is guilty of unlawful possession of DNA database information, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(D)(1) Whoever violates division (G)(1) of section 109.35 of the Revised Code is guilty of entering into a transaction involving a nonprofit health care entity without the approval of the attorney general, a felony of the third degree.

(2) Whoever violates division (G)(2) of section 109.35 of the Revised Code is guilty of receiving improper compensation relating to a transaction involving a nonprofit health care entity, a felony of the third degree.