Chapter 124 | Department of Administrative Services - Personnel

Section 124.01 | Department of administrative services - personnel definitions.

• Effective: February 18, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 129th General Assembly

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, as used in this chapter:

(A) "Civil service" includes all offices and positions of trust or employment in the service of the state and in the service of the counties, cities, city health districts, general health districts, and city school districts of the state.

(B) "State service" includes all offices and positions in the service of the state and the counties and general health districts of the state. "State service" does not include offices and positions in the service of the cities, city health districts, and city school districts of the state.

(C) "Classified service" means the competitive classified civil service of the state, the several counties, cities, city health districts, general health districts, and city school districts of the state, and civil service townships.

(D) "Appointing authority" means the officer, commission, board, or body having the power of appointment to, or removal from, positions in any office, department, commission, board, or institution.

(E) "Commission" means the municipal civil service commission of any city, except that, when in reference to the commission that serves a city school district, "commission" means the civil service commission determined under section 124.011 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Employee" means any person holding a position subject to appointment, removal, promotion, or reduction by an appointing officer. "Employee" does not include an officer, employee, or governor-appointed director of the nonprofit corporation formed under section 187.01 of the Revised Code.

(G) "Civil service township" means any township with a population of ten thousand or more persons residing within the township and outside any municipal corporation, which has a police or fire department of ten or more full-time paid employees and which has a civil service commission established under division (B) of section 124.40 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Flexible hours employee" means an employee who may work more or less than eight hours on any given day so long as the employee works forty hours in the same week.

(I) "Classification series" means any group of classification titles that have the identical name but different numerical designations, or identical titles except for designated levels of supervision, except for those classification series established by the director of administrative services in accordance with division (A) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code.

(J) "Classification change" means a change in an employee's classification in the job classification plan.

(K) "Service of the state" or "civil service of the state" includes all offices and positions of trust or employment with the government of the state. "Service of the state" and "civil service of the state" do not include offices and positions of trust or employment with state-supported colleges and universities, counties, cities, city health districts, city school districts, general health districts, or civil service townships of the state, or with the nonprofit corporation formed under section 187.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.011 | City school districts - civil service commissions.

• Effective: June 20, 1983
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 137 - 115th General Assembly

(A) When the territory of a city school district is not located in more than one city, the civil service commission of the city in which the district has territory shall serve as the commission for the school district. When the territory of a city school district is located in more than one city, the commission of the city that shall serve as the commission for the school district shall be the commission of the city that is the residence of the greatest number of the pupils of the district.

(B) If the commission determined under division (A) of this section is not the commission of the city that served the district on the effective date of this section, the legislative authority of the city whose commission acted on such date may, on request of the board of education, authorize its commission to continue to serve the district and, if so authorized, the commission shall continue to serve the district.

(C) If due to a change in population or school district territory or any other reason the commission of the city determined under division (A) of this section changes, the legislative authority of the city whose commission served the district prior to the change may, on request of the board of education, authorize its commission to continue to serve the district, and if so authorized, the commission shall continue to serve the district.

Section 124.02 | Director of administrative services and state personnel board of review to serve as state civil service commission.

• Effective: July 1, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 171 - 117th General Assembly

The director of administrative services and the state personnel board of review shall exercise all functions, powers, and duties that formerly were by law devolved upon, vested in and imposed upon the state civil service commission and the offices of commissioners and members and upon their employees, agents, and representatives.

Whenever in any law or rule of this state or any political subdivision, "state civil service commission," "commission," "commissioner" or "member," meaning the state civil service commission or the offices of commissioners or members of said commission, is used, such terms shall be construed as referring to the department of administrative services, the director of administrative services, the state personnel board of review, or the members of the state personnel board of review, as this chapter may require.

Section 124.03 | State personnel board of review - powers and duties.

• Effective: July 17, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

(A) The state personnel board of review shall exercise the following powers and perform the following duties:

(1) Hear appeals, as provided by law, of employees in the classified state service from final decisions of appointing authorities or the director of administrative services relative to reduction in pay or position, job abolishments, layoff, suspension, discharge, assignment or reassignment to a new or different position classification, or refusal of the director, or anybody authorized to perform the director's functions, to reassign an employee to another classification or to reclassify the employee's position with or without a job audit under division (D) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "discharge" includes disability separations.

The state personnel board of review may affirm, disaffirm, or modify the decisions of the appointing authorities or the director, as the case may be, and its decision is final. The decisions of the state personnel board of review shall be consistent with the applicable classification specifications.

The state personnel board of review shall not be deprived of jurisdiction to hear any appeal due to the failure of an appointing authority to file its decision with the board. Any final decision of an appointing authority or of the director not filed in the manner provided in this chapter shall be disaffirmed.

The state personnel board of review may place an exempt employee, as defined in section 124.152 of the Revised Code, into a bargaining unit classification, if the state personnel board of review determines that the bargaining unit classification is the proper classification for that employee. Notwithstanding Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code or instruments and contracts negotiated under it, such placements are at the discretion of the state personnel board of review.

The mere failure of an employee's appointing authority to file a statement with the department of administrative services indicating that the employee is in the unclassified civil service, or the mere late filing of such a statement, does not prevent the state personnel board of review from determining that the employee is in the unclassified civil service. In determining whether an employee is in the unclassified civil service, the state personnel board of review shall consider the inherent nature of the duties of the employee's classification during the two-year period immediately preceding the appointing authority's appealable action relating to the employee.

In any hearing before the state personnel board of review, including any hearing at which a record is taken that may be the basis of an appeal to a court, an employee may be represented by a person permitted to practice before the state personnel board of review who is not an attorney at law as long as the person does not receive any compensation from the employee for the representation.

(2) Hear appeals, as provided by law, of appointing authorities from final decisions of the director relative to the classification or reclassification of any position in the classified state service under the jurisdiction of that appointing authority. The state personnel board of review may affirm, disaffirm, or modify the decisions of the director, and its decision is final. The decisions of the state personnel board of review shall be consistent with the applicable classification specifications.

(3) Exercise the authority provided by section 124.40 of the Revised Code, for appointment, removal, and supervision of municipal and civil service township civil service commissions;

(4) Utilize employees provided by the state employment relations board in the exercise of the powers and performance of the duties and functions of the state personnel board of review under this chapter;

(5) Maintain a journal that shall be open to public inspection, in which it shall keep a record of all of its proceedings and of the vote of each of its members upon every action taken by it;

(6) Adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code relating to the procedure of the state personnel board of review in administering the laws it has the authority or duty to administer and for the purpose of invoking the jurisdiction of the state personnel board of review in hearing appeals of appointing authorities and employees in matters set forth in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section;

(7) Subpoena and require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, public records, and other documentary evidence pertinent to any matter it has authority to investigate, inquire into, or hear in the same manner and to the same extent as provided by division (G) of section 124.09 of the Revised Code. All witness fees shall be paid in the manner set forth in that division.

(B) The state personnel board of review shall exist as a separate entity within the administrative structure of the state employment relations board.

(C) The state personnel board of review shall be funded by general revenue fund appropriations. All moneys received by the state personnel board of review for copies of documents, rule books, and transcriptions shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the training, publications, and grants fund created in section 4117.24 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.04 | Director of administrative services powers, duties, functions.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

In addition to those powers enumerated in Chapters 123. and 125. of the Revised Code and as provided elsewhere by law, the powers, duties, and functions of the department of administrative services not specifically vested in and assigned to, or to be performed by, the state personnel board of review are hereby vested in and assigned to, and shall be performed by, the director of administrative services. These powers, duties, and functions shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following powers, duties, and functions:

(A) To prepare, conduct, and grade all competitive examinations for positions in the classified service of the state;

(B) To prepare, conduct, and grade all noncompetitive examinations for positions in the classified service of the state;

(C) To prepare eligible lists containing the names of persons qualified for appointment to positions in the classified service of the state;

(D) To prepare or amend, in accordance with section 124.14 of the Revised Code, specifications descriptive of duties, responsibilities, requirements, and desirable qualifications of the various classifications of positions in the service of the state;

(E) To allocate and reallocate, upon the motion of the director or upon request of an appointing authority and in accordance with section 124.14 of the Revised Code, any position, office, or employment in the service of the state to the appropriate classification on the basis of the duties, responsibilities, requirements, and qualifications of that position, office, or employment;

(F) To develop and conduct personnel recruitment services and assist appointing authorities in recruiting qualified applicants for positions in the service of the state;

(G) To conduct research on specifications, classifications, and salaries of positions in the service of the state;

(H) To develop and conduct personnel training programs, including supervisory training programs and best practices plans, and to develop merit hiring processes, in cooperation with appointing authorities for positions in the service of the state;

(I) To include periodically in communications sent to state employees both of the following:

(1) Information developed under section 2108.34 of the Revised Code promoting the donation of anatomical gifts under Chapter 2108. of the Revised Code;

(2) Information about the liver or kidney donor and bone marrow donor leave granted under section 124.139 of the Revised Code.

(J) To enter into agreements with universities and colleges for in-service training of officers and employees in the civil service;

(K) To appoint examiners, inspectors, clerks, and other assistants necessary in the exercise of the powers and performance of the duties and functions which the director is by law authorized and required to exercise and perform, and to prescribe the duties of all of those employees;

(L) To maintain a journal, which shall be open to public inspection, in which the director shall keep a record of the director's final decision pertaining to the classification or reclassification of positions in the classified civil service of the state and assignment or reassignment of employees in the classified civil service of the state to specific position classifications;

(M) To delegate any of the powers, functions, or duties granted or assigned to the director under this chapter to any other state agency of this state as the director considers necessary;

(N) To delegate any of the powers, functions, or duties granted or assigned to the director under this chapter to any political subdivision with the concurrence of the legislative authority of the political subdivision.

(O) To administer a state equal employment opportunity program.

Section 124.05 | State personnel board of review organization.

• Effective: September 15, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 483 - 130th General Assembly

The state personnel board of review shall be composed of three members, not more than two of whom shall be affiliated with the same political party, to be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Terms of office shall be for six years, commencing on the ninth day of February and ending on the eighth day of February, except that upon expiration of the term ending February 11, 1975, the new term which succeeds it shall commence on February 12, 1975 and end on February 8, 1981; and upon expiration of the term ending February 12, 1979, the new term which succeeds it shall commence on February 13, 1979 and end on February 8, 1985. Each member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed.

A vacancy in the office of a member of the board shall be filled pursuant to section 3.03 of the Revised Code. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 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 a successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

Each member of the board, before entering upon the duties of office, shall take and subscribe an oath of office and give bond as provided in section 121.11 of the Revised Code.

Any member of the board may be removed from office for any of the causes and in the manner provided in section 3.04 of the Revised Code.

No member of the board shall hold any other office of trust or profit under the government of the United States, the state, or any political subdivision thereof.

Each member of the board shall devote whatever time is necessary to the duties of this office and shall hold no other office of trust or profit. Each member of the board shall receive a salary fixed pursuant to section 124.14 of the Revised Code, payable in the same manner as the salaries of other state officers, and shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.

The governor, at the time of making the original appointment of the members of the board and at the time of making the appointment of any member for a full term thereafter, shall designate one of the members as chairperson. A quorum of the board is a majority of its members and no action of the board is valid without the concurrence of at least a majority of its members.

As used in this section only, "office of trust or profit" means:

(A) A federal or state elective office or an elected office of a political subdivision of the state;

(B) A position on a board or commission of the state that is appointed by the governor;

(C) An office set forth in section 121.03, 121.04, or 121.05 of the Revised Code;

(D) An office of the government of the United States that is appointed by the president of the United States.

Section 124.06 | Civil service appointments and removals to be made in accordance with chapter.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

No person shall be appointed, removed, transferred, laid off, suspended, reinstated, promoted, or reduced as an officer or employee in the civil service, in any manner or by any means other than those prescribed in this chapter, and the rules of the director of administrative services for positions in the service of the state or the municipal or civil service township civil service commission within their respective jurisdictions.

Section 124.07 | Director of administrative services employees, services and facilities.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

(A) The director of administrative services shall appoint examiners, inspectors, clerks, and other assistants as necessary to carry out sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code. The director may designate persons in or out of the service of the state to serve as examiners or assistants under the director's direction. An examiner or assistant shall receive the compensation for each day actually and necessarily spent in the discharge of duties as an examiner or assistant that the director determines; provided that, if the examiner or assistant is in the service of the state or any political subdivision of the state, it shall be a part of the examiner's or assistant's official duties to render those services in connection with an examination without extra compensation.

(B) Each state agency shall pay the cost of the services and facilities furnished to it by the department of administrative services that are necessary to provide and maintain payroll services as prescribed in section 125.21 of the Revised Code and state merit standards as prescribed in sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code for the agency. If a state-supported college or university or a municipal corporation chooses to use the services and facilities furnished by the department that are necessary to provide and maintain the services and standards so prescribed, the state-supported college or university or municipal corporation shall pay the cost of the services and facilities that the department furnishes to it. The charges against a state agency, a state-supported college or university, or a municipal corporation shall be computed on a reasonable cost basis in accordance with procedures prescribed by the director of budget and management. Any moneys the department receives from a state agency, a state-supported college or university, or a municipal corporation under this division that are in excess of the amount necessary to pay the cost of furnishing the department's services and facilities during any fiscal year shall be either refunded to or credited for the ensuing fiscal year to the state agency, the state-supported college or university, or the municipal corporation.

(C) The director of administrative services may enter into an agreement with any county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision to furnish services and facilities of the department in the administration of a merit program or other functions related to human resources that include, but are not limited to, providing competitive examinations for positions in the classified service. The agreement shall provide that the department shall be reimbursed for the reasonable costs of those services and facilities as determined by the director.

(D) All moneys received by the department as reimbursement for a merit program or other human resources services performed and facilities furnished under this section, such as competitive examinations administered, shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the human resources services fund, which is hereby created.

(E) In counties of the state in which are located cities having municipal civil service commissions, the director of administrative services may designate the municipal civil service commission of the largest city within the county as the director's agent for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code, within the county, that the director designates. Each municipal civil service commission designated as an agent of the director shall render to the director, at the end of each month, an itemized statement of the cost incurred by the commission for work done as the agent of the director, and the director, after approving that statement, shall pay the total amount of it to the treasurer of the municipal corporation in the same manner as other expenses of the department of administrative services.

(F) The director of administrative services and the examiners, inspectors, clerks, and assistants referred to in this section shall receive, in addition to their salaries, reimbursement for necessary traveling and other expenses incurred in the actual discharge of their official duties. The director may also incur the necessary expenses for stationery, printing, and other supplies incident to the business of the department.

Section 124.08 | Director of administrative services offices.

• Effective: March 4, 1998
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 60 - 121st General Assembly

The director of administrative services shall maintain suitable offices. The officers of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, at any place where examinations or hearings are directed to be held by the state personnel board of review or the director, shall allow the reasonable use of public buildings and rooms and furnish them with heat and light, for holding such examinations or hearings, and in all proper ways shall facilitate the work of the board and the director in carrying out sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.09 | Civil service powers of director of administrative services.

• Effective: June 30, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

The director of administrative services shall do all of the following:

(A) Prescribe, amend, and enforce administrative rules for the purpose of carrying out the functions, powers, and duties vested in and imposed upon the director by this chapter. Except in the case of rules adopted pursuant to section 124.14 of the Revised Code, the prescription, amendment, and enforcement of rules under this division are subject to approval, disapproval, or modification by the state personnel board of review.

(B) Keep records of the director's proceedings and records of all applications for examinations and all examinations conducted by the director or the director's designee. All of those records, except examinations, proficiency assessments, and recommendations of former employers, shall be open to public inspection under reasonable regulations; provided the governor, or any person designated by the governor, may, for the purpose of investigation, have free access to all of those records, whenever the governor has reason to believe that this chapter, or the administrative rules of the director prescribed under this chapter, are being violated.

(C) Prepare, continue, and keep in the office of the department of administrative services a complete roster of all persons in the classified civil service of the state who are paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management. This roster shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable hours. It shall show in reference to each of those persons, the person's name, address, date of appointment to or employment in the classified civil service of the state, and salary or compensation, the title of the place or office that the person holds, the nature of the duties of that place or office, and, in case of the person's removal or resignation, the date of the termination of that service.

(D) Approve the establishment of all new positions in the civil service of the state and the reestablishment of abolished positions;

(E) Require the abolishment of any position in the civil service of the state that is not filled after a period of twelve months unless it is determined that the position is seasonal in nature or that the vacancy is otherwise justified;

(F) Make investigations concerning all matters touching the enforcement and effect of this chapter and the administrative rules of the director of administrative services prescribed under this chapter. In the course of those investigations, the director or the director's deputy may administer oaths and affirmations and take testimony relative to any matter which the director has authority to investigate.

(G) Have the power to subpoena and require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, public records, and other documentary evidence pertinent to the investigations, inquiries, or hearings on any matter which the director has authority to investigate, inquire into, or hear, and to examine them in relation to any matter which the director has authority to investigate, inquire into, or hear. Fees and mileage shall be allowed to witnesses and, on their certificate, duly audited, shall be paid by the treasurer of state or, in the case of municipal or civil service township civil service commissions, by the county treasurer, for attendance and traveling, as provided in section 119.094 of the Revised Code. All officers in the civil service of the state or any of the political subdivisions of the state and their deputies, clerks, and employees shall attend and testify when summoned to do so by the director or the state personnel board of review. Depositions of witnesses may be taken by the director or the board, or any member of the board, in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in the courts of common pleas. In case any person, in disobedience to any subpoena issued by the director or the board, or any member of the board, or the chief examiner, fails or refuses to attend and testify to any matter regarding which the person may be lawfully interrogated, or produce any documentary evidence pertinent to any investigation, inquiry, or hearing, the court of common pleas of any county, or any judge of the court of common pleas of any county, where the disobedience, failure, or refusal occurs, upon application of the director or the board, or any member of the board, or a municipal or civil service township civil service commission, or any commissioner of such a commission, or their chief examiner, shall compel obedience by attachment proceedings for contempt as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from the court or a refusal to testify in the court.

(H) Make a report to the governor, on or before the first day of January of each year, showing the director's actions, the rules and all exceptions to the rules in force, and any recommendations for the more effectual accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter. The director shall also furnish any special reports to the governor whenever the governor requests them. The reports shall be printed for public distribution under the same regulations as are the reports of other state officers, boards, or commissions.

Section 124.10 | Garnishment actions against state employees and officers.

• Effective: March 30, 1999
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 170 (GA 122), Senate Bill 144 (GA 122)

(A) Any judgment creditor of an employee or officer of the state may maintain against the state a proceeding in garnishment of personal earnings under Chapter 2716. of the Revised Code to subject to the payment of the creditor's or judgment creditor's judgment any salary, wages, or other compensation that is owed or will be owed to the employee or officer of the state in the same manner, to the same extent, and in the same courts as any judgment creditor may subject, under the laws of this state, any salary, wages, or other compensation due a judgment debtor from any employer. In any proceeding of that nature against the state, the order of garnishment of personal earnings shall be served upon the director of administrative services and shall set forth the name of the state agency in which the judgment debtor is employed.

(B) No proceeding in garnishment of personal earnings brought under section 2716.03 of the Revised Code shall be brought against a judgment debtor sooner than thirty days after the time an order and notice of garnishment is served upon the director of administrative services, regardless of who brings the proceeding or who brought the last successful proceeding.

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 January 13, 2023 at 1:40 PM

Section 124.11 | Unclassified service - classified service.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 56 - 131st General Assembly

The civil service of the state and the several counties, cities, civil service townships, city health districts, general health districts, and city school districts of the state shall be divided into the unclassified service and the classified service.

(A) The unclassified service shall comprise the following positions, which shall not be included in the classified service, and which shall be exempt from all examinations required by this chapter:

(1) All officers elected by popular vote or persons appointed to fill vacancies in those offices;

(2) All election officers as defined in section 3501.01 of the Revised Code;

(3)(a) The members of all boards and commissions, and heads of principal departments, boards, and commissions appointed by the governor or by and with the governor's consent;

(b) The heads of all departments appointed by a board of county commissioners;

(c) The members of all boards and commissions and all heads of departments appointed by the mayor, or, if there is no mayor, such other similar chief appointing authority of any city or city school district;

Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(17) or (C) of this section, this chapter does not exempt the chiefs of police departments and chiefs of fire departments of cities or civil service townships from the competitive classified service.

(4) The members of county or district licensing boards or commissions and boards of revision, and not more than five deputy county auditors;

(5) All officers and employees elected or appointed by either or both branches of the general assembly, and employees of the city legislative authority engaged in legislative duties;

(6) All commissioned, warrant, and noncommissioned officers and enlisted persons in the Ohio organized militia, including military appointees in the adjutant general's department;

(7)(a) All presidents, business managers, administrative officers, superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, deans, assistant deans, instructors, teachers, and such employees as are engaged in educational or research duties connected with the public school system, colleges, and universities, as determined by the governing body of the public school system, colleges, and universities;

(b) The library staff of any library in the state supported wholly or in part at public expense.

(8) Four clerical and administrative support employees for each of the elective state officers, four clerical and administrative support employees for each board of county commissioners and one such employee for each county commissioner, and four clerical and administrative support employees for other elective officers and each of the principal appointive executive officers, boards, or commissions, except for civil service commissions, that are authorized to appoint such clerical and administrative support employees;

(9) The deputies and assistants of state agencies authorized to act for and on behalf of the agency, or holding a fiduciary or administrative relation to that agency and those persons employed by and directly responsible to elected county officials or a county administrator and holding a fiduciary or administrative relationship to such elected county officials or county administrator, and the employees of such county officials whose fitness would be impracticable to determine by competitive examination, provided that division (A)(9) of this section shall not affect those persons in county employment in the classified service as of September 19, 1961. Nothing in division (A)(9) of this section applies to any position in a county department of job and family services created pursuant to Chapter 329. of the Revised Code.

(10) Bailiffs, constables, official stenographers, and commissioners of courts of record, deputies of clerks of the courts of common pleas who supervise or who handle public moneys or secured documents, and such officers and employees of courts of record and such deputies of clerks of the courts of common pleas as the appointing authority finds it impracticable to determine their fitness by competitive examination;

(11) Assistants to the attorney general, special counsel appointed or employed by the attorney general, assistants to county prosecuting attorneys, and assistants to city directors of law;

(12) Such teachers and employees in the agricultural experiment stations; such students in normal schools, colleges, and universities of the state who are employed by the state or a political subdivision of the state in student or intern classifications; and such unskilled labor positions as the director of administrative services, with respect to positions in the service of the state, or any municipal civil service commission may find it impracticable to include in the competitive classified service; provided such exemptions shall be by order of the commission or the director, duly entered on the record of the commission or the director with the reasons for each such exemption;

(13) Any physician or dentist who is a full-time employee of the department of mental health and addiction services, the department of developmental disabilities, or an institution under the jurisdiction of either department; and physicians who are in residency programs at the institutions;

(14) Up to twenty positions at each institution under the jurisdiction of the department of mental health and addiction services or the department of developmental disabilities that the department director determines to be primarily administrative or managerial; and up to fifteen positions in any division of either department, excluding administrative assistants to the director and division chiefs, which are within the immediate staff of a division chief and which the director determines to be primarily and distinctively administrative and managerial;

(15) Noncitizens of the United States employed by the state, or its counties or cities, as physicians or nurses who are duly licensed to practice their respective professions under the laws of this state, or medical assistants, in mental or chronic disease hospitals, or institutions;

(16) Employees of the governor's office;

(17) Fire chiefs and chiefs of police in civil service townships appointed by boards of township trustees under section 505.38 or 505.49 of the Revised Code;

(18) Executive directors, deputy directors, and program directors employed by boards of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services under Chapter 340. of the Revised Code, and secretaries of the executive directors, deputy directors, and program directors;

(19) Superintendents, and management employees as defined in section 5126.20 of the Revised Code, of county boards of developmental disabilities;

(20) Physicians, nurses, and other employees of a county hospital who are appointed pursuant to sections 339.03 and 339.06 of the Revised Code;

(21) The executive director of the state medical board, who is appointed pursuant to division (B) of section 4731.05 of the Revised Code;

(22) County directors of job and family services as provided in section 329.02 of the Revised Code and administrators appointed under section 329.021 of the Revised Code;

(23) A director of economic development who is hired pursuant to division (A) of section 307.07 of the Revised Code;

(24) Chiefs of construction and compliance, of operations and maintenance, of worker protection, and of licensing and certification in the division of industrial compliance in the department of commerce;

(25) The executive director of a county transit system appointed under division (A) of section 306.04 of the Revised Code;

(26) Up to five positions at each of the administrative departments listed in section 121.02 of the Revised Code and at the department of taxation, department of the adjutant general, department of education, Ohio board of regents, bureau of workers' compensation, industrial commission, state lottery commission, opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities agency, and public utilities commission of Ohio that the head of that administrative department or of that other state agency determines to be involved in policy development and implementation. The head of the administrative department or other state agency shall set the compensation for employees in these positions at a rate that is not less than the minimum compensation specified in pay range 41 but not more than the maximum compensation specified in pay range 47 of salary schedule E-2 in section 124.152 of the Revised Code. The authority to establish positions in the unclassified service under division (A)(26) of this section is in addition to and does not limit any other authority that an administrative department or state agency has under the Revised Code to establish positions, appoint employees, or set compensation.

(27) Employees of the department of agriculture employed under section 901.09 of the Revised Code;

(28) For cities, counties, civil service townships, city health districts, general health districts, and city school districts, the deputies and assistants of elective or principal executive officers authorized to act for and in the place of their principals or holding a fiduciary relation to their principals;

(29) Employees who receive intermittent or temporary appointments under division (B) of section 124.30 of the Revised Code;

(30) Employees appointed to administrative staff positions for which an appointing authority is given specific statutory authority to set compensation;

(31) Employees appointed to highway patrol cadet or highway patrol cadet candidate classifications;

(32) Employees placed in the unclassified service by another section of the Revised Code.

(B) The classified service shall comprise all persons in the employ of the state and the several counties, cities, city health districts, general health districts, and city school districts of the state, not specifically included in the unclassified service. Upon the creation by the board of trustees of a civil service township civil service commission, the classified service shall also comprise, except as otherwise provided in division (A)(17) or (C) of this section, all persons in the employ of a civil service township police or fire department having ten or more full-time paid employees. The classified service consists of two classes, which shall be designated as the competitive class and the unskilled labor class.

(1) The competitive class shall include all positions and employments in the state and the counties, cities, city health districts, general health districts, and city school districts of the state, and, upon the creation by the board of trustees of a civil service township of a township civil service commission, all positions in a civil service township police or fire department having ten or more full-time paid employees, for which it is practicable to determine the merit and fitness of applicants by competitive examinations. Appointments shall be made to, or employment shall be given in, all positions in the competitive class that are not filled by promotion, reinstatement, transfer, or reduction, as provided in this chapter, and the rules of the director of administrative services, by appointment from those certified to the appointing officer in accordance with this chapter.

(2) The unskilled labor class shall include ordinary unskilled laborers. Vacancies in the labor class for positions in service of the state shall be filled by appointment from lists of applicants registered by the director or the director's designee. Vacancies in the labor class for all other positions shall be filled by appointment from lists of applicants registered by a commission. The director or the commission, as applicable, by rule, shall require an applicant for registration in the labor class to furnish evidence or take tests as the director or commission considers proper with respect to age, residence, physical condition, ability to labor, honesty, sobriety, industry, capacity, and experience in the work or employment for which application is made. Laborers who fulfill the requirements shall be placed on the eligible list for the kind of labor or employment sought, and preference shall be given in employment in accordance with the rating received from that evidence or in those tests. Upon the request of an appointing officer, stating the kind of labor needed, the pay and probable length of employment, and the number to be employed, the director or commission, as applicable, shall certify from the highest on the list double the number to be employed; from this number, the appointing officer shall appoint the number actually needed for the particular work. If more than one applicant receives the same rating, priority in time of application shall determine the order in which their names shall be certified for appointment.

(C) A municipal or civil service township civil service commission may place volunteer firefighters who are paid on a fee-for-service basis in either the classified or the unclassified civil service.

(D)(1) This division does not apply to persons in the unclassified service who have the right to resume positions in the classified service under sections 4121.121, 5119.18, 5120.38, 5120.381, 5120.382, 5123.08, and 5139.02 of the Revised Code or to cities, counties, or political subdivisions of the state.

(2) A person who holds a position in the classified service of the state and who is appointed to a position in the unclassified service shall retain the right to resume the position and status held by the person in the classified service immediately prior to the person's appointment to the position in the unclassified service, regardless of the number of positions the person held in the unclassified service. An employee's right to resume a position in the classified service may only be exercised when an appointing authority demotes the employee to a pay range lower than the employee's current pay range or revokes the employee's appointment to the unclassified service and any of the following apply:

(a) That person held a certified position prior to July 1, 2007, in the classified service within the appointing authority's agency;

(b) That person held a permanent position on or after July 1, 2007, in the classified service within the appointing authority's agency, and was appointed to the position in the unclassified service prior to January 1, 2016;

(c) That person held a permanent position on or after January 1, 2016, in the classified service within the appointing authority's agency, and is within five years from the effective date of the person's appointment in the unclassified service.

(3) An employee forfeits the right to resume a position in the classified service when:

(a) The employee is removed from the position in the unclassified service due to incompetence, inefficiency, dishonesty, drunkenness, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public, neglect of duty, violation of this chapter or the rules of the director of administrative services, any other failure of good behavior, any other acts of misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or conviction of a felony while employed in the civil service; or

(b) Upon transfer to a different agency.

(4) Reinstatement to a position in the classified service shall be to a position substantially equal to that position in the classified service held previously, as certified by the director of administrative services. If the position the person previously held in the classified service has been placed in the unclassified service or is otherwise unavailable, the person shall be appointed to a position in the classified service within the appointing authority's agency that the director of administrative services certifies is comparable in compensation to the position the person previously held in the classified service. Service in the position in the unclassified service shall be counted as service in the position in the classified service held by the person immediately prior to the person's appointment to the position in the unclassified service. When a person is reinstated to a position in the classified service as provided in this division, the person is entitled to all rights, status, and benefits accruing to the position in the classified service during the person's time of service in the position in the unclassified service.

Section 124.12 | Notice of appointment to unclassified position.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

(A) Within ninety days after an appointing authority appoints an employee to an unclassified position in the service of the state, the appointing authority shall notify the department of administrative services of that appointment.

(B) On the date an appointing authority appoints an employee to an unclassified position in the state service, the appointing authority shall provide the employee with written information describing the nature of employment in the unclassified civil service. Within thirty days after the date an appointing authority appoints an employee to an unclassified position in the state service, the appointing authority shall provide the employee with written information describing the duties of that position. Failure of the appointing authority to provide the written information described in this division to the employee does not confer any additional rights upon the employee in any appellate body with jurisdiction over an appeal of the employee.

(C) The department shall develop and provide each appointing authority in the service of the state with a general written description of the nature of employment in the unclassified civil service that shall be provided to employees under division (B) of this section.

Section 124.13 | Vacation leave.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 544 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "state employee" means a state employee who does not accrue vacation leave under section 124.134 of the Revised Code.

(B) Each full-time state employee or county department of job and family services employee, including full-time hourly rate employees, after service of one year with the state, or any political subdivision of the state, shall have earned and will be due upon the attainment of the first year of employment, and annually thereafter, eighty hours of vacation leave with full pay. One year of service shall be computed on the basis of twenty-six biweekly pay periods. A full-time state employee, or county department of job and family services employee with eight or more years of service with the state or any political subdivision of the state shall have earned and is entitled to one hundred twenty hours of vacation leave with full pay. A full-time state employee or county department of job and family services employee with fifteen or more years of service with the state or any political subdivision of the state shall have earned and is entitled to one hundred sixty hours of vacation leave with full pay. A full-time state employee or county department of job and family services employee with twenty-five years of service with the state or any political subdivision of the state shall have earned and is entitled to two hundred hours of vacation leave with full pay. Such vacation leave shall accrue to the employee at the rate of three and one-tenth hours each biweekly period for those entitled to eighty hours per year; four and six-tenths hours each biweekly period for those entitled to one hundred twenty hours per year; six and two-tenths hours each biweekly period for those entitled to one hundred sixty hours per year; and seven and seven-tenths hours each biweekly period for those entitled to two hundred hours per year.

The appointing authority of a county department of job and family services may permit all or any part of a person's prior service with any regional council of government established in accordance with Chapter 167. of the Revised Code to be considered service with the state or any political subdivision of the state for the purpose of determining years of service under this division.

(C) Full-time state and county department of job and family services employees who are in active pay status for less than eighty hours in a pay period, and part-time state employees, shall earn vacation leave on a prorated basis. The ratio between the hours worked and the vacation hours earned by these classes of employees shall be the same as the ratio between the hours worked and the vacation hours earned by a full-time state or county department of job and family services employee who works forty hours in a pay period and who has the same amount of service as provided for in this section.

(D) An employee shall take vacation leave during the year in which it accrues and is available for use that equals not less than the amount of vacation leave that the employee accrues and has available to use during that year, except that an appointing authority may permit an employee to carry over vacation leave to the following year. As used in this division, "year" means the twelve-month period that commences on an employee's anniversary date of employment. Employees shall forfeit their right to take or to be paid for any vacation leave to their credit which is in excess of the accrual for three years. Such excess leave shall be eliminated from the employees' leave balance.

(E) Upon separation from state service, an employee shall be entitled to compensation at the employee's current rate of pay for all lawfully accrued and unused vacation leave to the employee's credit at the time of separation up to three years. In case of transfer of an employee from one state agency to another, or between a county and the state, the employee may elect to be compensated at the employee's current rate of pay for accrued and unused vacation leave at the time of transfer by the releasing agency or to retain the accrued and unused vacation leave. In case of death of an employee, such unused vacation leave shall be paid in accordance with section 2113.04 of the Revised Code, or to the employee's estate. Notwithstanding section 325.19 of the Revised Code, county department of job and family services employees shall receive vacation benefits as provided in this section.

Section 124.131 | Vacation leave for employees of institution of higher education transferred to state control.

• Effective: November 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 550 - 114th General Assembly

An employee of a state institution of higher education to whom section 124.13 of the Revised Code is applicable, which is limited in any case to employees thereof in the classified service, who became an employee of such state institution in connection with the transfer thereto or to the state of ownership or control of the institution at which he was employed immediately prior to such transfer, is entitled to have his prior service with such institution counted as service with the state for purposes of computing the amount of his vacation leave under section 124.13 of the Revised Code and the anniversary date of his employment for purposes of section 124.13 of the Revised Code shall, unless deferred under such section, be the anniversary date of such prior service.

Section 124.132 | Disaster service leave.

• Effective: October 17, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly

A state employee who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American red cross or who is a verified team rubicon volunteer may be granted leave from work with pay for not to exceed thirty work days in each year to participate in specialized disaster relief services, upon the request of the American red cross or of team rubicon for the services of that employee and upon the approval of that employee's appointing authority. The appointing authority shall compensate an employee granted leave under this section at the employee's regular rate of pay for those regular work hours during which the employee is absent from work.

Section 124.133 | Experimental leave and benefits program.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

The director of administrative services may establish, by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, an experimental program to be implemented on a limited basis only which grants to employees in the service of the state vacation leave, sick leave, disability leave, personal leave, life insurance, or medical insurance benefits that differ from these benefits as granted by sections 124.13, 124.134, 124.382, 124.385, 124.386, 124.81, and 124.82 of the Revised Code. However, this program shall not reduce the number of hours of vacation leave, sick leave, or personal leave which an employee has accrued as of the effective date of the rule.

Section 124.134 | Vacation leave - employees exempt from collective bargaining.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 45 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Each full-time permanent state employee paid in accordance with section 124.152 of the Revised Code and those employees listed in divisions (B)(2) and (4) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code shall be credited with vacation leave with full pay according to length of service and accruing at a corresponding rate per biweekly pay period, as follows:

Length of Service Per Pay Period	Accrual Rate
Less than 4 years	3.1 hours
4 but less than 9 years	4.6 hours
9 but less than 14 years	6.2 hours
14 but less than 19 years	6.9 hours
19 but less than 24 years	7.7 hours
24 years or more	9.2 hours

Fifty-two weeks equal one year of service.

The amount of an employee's service shall be determined in accordance with the standard specified in section 9.44 of the Revised Code. Credit for prior service, including an increased vacation accrual rate and longevity supplement, shall take effect during the first pay period that begins immediately following the date the director of administrative services approves granting credit for that prior service. No employee, other than an employee who submits proof of prior service within ninety days after the date of the employee's hiring, shall receive any amount of vacation leave for the period prior to the date of the director's approval of the grant of credit for prior service.

Part-time permanent employees who are paid in accordance with section 124.152 of the Revised Code and full-time permanent employees subject to this section who are in active pay status for less than eighty hours in a pay period shall earn vacation leave on a prorated basis. The ratio between the hours worked and the vacation hours earned by these classes of employees shall be the same as the ratio between the hours worked and the vacation hours earned by a full-time permanent employee with the same amount of service as provided for in this section.

Vacation leave is not available for use until it appears on the employee's earning statement and the compensation described in the earning statement is available to the employee.

(B) Employees granted leave under this section shall forfeit their right to take or to be paid for any vacation leave to their credit which is in excess of the accrual for three years. Any excess leave shall be eliminated from the employees' leave balance.

(C) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, beginning in fiscal year 2012, an employee may be paid for up to eighty hours of vacation leave each fiscal year if the employee requested and was denied the use of vacation leave during that fiscal year. No employee shall receive payment for more than eighty hours of denied vacation leave in a single fiscal year. An employee is only eligible to receive payment for vacation leave when the employee's vacation leave credit is at, or will reach in the immediately following pay period, the maximum of the accrual for three years and the employee has been denied the use of vacation leave. An employee is not entitled to receive payment for vacation leave denied in any pay period in which the employee's vacation leave credit is not at, or will not reach in the immediately following pay period, the maximum of accrual for three years. Any vacation leave for which an employee receives payment shall be deducted from the employee's vacation leave balance. No employee is eligible to receive payment for denied vacation leave in either fiscal year 2010 or fiscal year 2011.

(D) The supreme court, general assembly, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and attorney general may establish by policy an alternate payment structure for employees whose vacation leave credit is at, or will reach in the immediately following pay period, the maximum of accrual for three years and the employee has been denied the use of vacation leave. An employee is not entitled to receive payment for vacation leave denied in any pay period in which the employee's vacation leave credit is not at, or will not reach in the immediately following pay period, the maximum of accrual for three years. Any vacation leave for which the employee receives payment shall be deducted from the employee's vacation leave balance.

(E) Except as otherwise provided in this division, upon separation from state service, an employee granted leave under this section is entitled to compensation at the employee's current rate of pay for all unused vacation leave accrued under this section or section 124.13 of the Revised Code to the employee's credit. An employee who separates from state service with less than twelve months of total state service is not entitled to compensation for unused accrued vacation leave. In case of transfer of an employee from one state agency to another, the employee shall retain the unused accrued vacation leave. In case of the death of an employee, the unused accrued vacation leave shall be paid in accordance with section 2113.04 of the Revised Code, or to the employee's estate. An employee serving in a temporary work level who is eligible to receive compensation under this division shall be compensated at the base rate of pay of the employee's normal classification.

(F)(1) Except as provided in division (G) of this section, beginning in December 2023, and every year thereafter, the director shall allow an eligible full-time or part-time employee who is credited with vacation leave under this section to convert a portion of the employee's unused accrued vacation leave to cash in accordance with this division.

(2) To be eligible for the conversion described in division (F)(1) of this section, an employee shall have not less than one hundred hours of unused accrued vacation leave available for use on the last day of the first pay period of November in the year that the employee chooses to make the conversion.

(3) An employee who has not less than two hundred hours of unused accrued vacation leave available for use on the last day of the first pay period of November in the year that the employee chooses to make the conversion is eligible to convert up to eighty hours of unused accrued vacation leave to cash under division (F)(1) of this section. An employee who has not less than one hundred hours of unused accrued vacation leave available for use on the last day of the first pay period of November in the year that the employee chooses to make the conversion is eligible to convert up to forty hours of unused accrued vacation leave to cash under division (F)(1) of this section.

(4) Unused accrued vacation leave converted to cash under division (F)(1) of this section shall be paid to the employee in the first paycheck of December at the base rate of pay for every hour of unused accrued vacation leave that the employee converts. An employee serving in a temporary work level who elects to convert unused accrued vacation leave to cash shall do so at the base rate of pay of the employee's normal classification.

(5) An employee who separates from state service during the year shall not be eligible for the cash benefit provided under division (F) of this section.

(6) The cash benefit set forth in division (F) of this section shall not be subject to contributions to any of the retirement systems, either by the employee or the employer.

(7) The director shall establish procedures to implement this division. The director shall include in the procedures a final date by which an employee must notify the director of the amount of unused accrued vacation leave to be converted to cash. Except as provided in division (B) of this section, an employee's unused accrued vacation leave balance shall automatically carry forward if the employee does not notify the director in accordance with the procedures the director establishes.

(G) Division (F) of this section does not apply to employees of the supreme court, the general assembly, the legislative service commission, the secretary of state, the auditor of state, the treasurer of state, or the attorney general unless the supreme court, the general assembly, the legislative service commission, the secretary of state, the auditor of state, the treasurer of state, or the attorney general decides that the employees of those respective entities should be eligible for the opportunity to convert unused accrued vacation leave pursuant to division (F) of this section and notifies the director in writing on or before the first day of October of the calendar year of the decision to make the employees eligible. The first year that these entities may elect to allow to make the employees eligible is 2023. After notifying the director in writing of the decision that employees of those respective entities are eligible, those employees remain eligible until the respective entity notifies the director in writing on or before the first day of October of the calendar year that the employees are ineligible. If any entity notifies the director of a decision that employees of those entities are ineligible during any calendar year, those employees remain ineligible until the entity notifies the director in writing on or before the first day of October of the calendar year that the employees are eligible. This division does not apply to employees defined as public employees under section 4117.01 of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 28, 2023 at 10:45 AM

Section 124.135 | Jury or trial participation leave - charitable advisory panel leave.

• Effective: June 30, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 126th General Assembly

(A) State employees are entitled to paid leave when summoned for jury duty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(B) State employees are entitled to paid leave when subpoenaed to appear before any court, commission, board, or other legally constituted body authorized by law to compel the attendance of witnesses. This division does not apply if the state employee is a party to the action or proceeding involved or is subpoenaed as a result of secondary employment outside the service of the state.

(C) Each full-time permanent state employee paid in accordance with section 124.152 of the Revised Code and those employees described in divisions (B)(2) and (4) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code also may be entitled, in their appointing authority's discretion, to paid leave when appointed to serve on advisory boards or commissions or when soliciting for charities for which payroll deductions are made.

Section 124.136 | Parental leave and benefits.

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

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Fetal death" has the same meaning as in section 3705.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Stillborn" means that an infant of at least twenty weeks of gestation suffered a fetal death.

(B)(1) Each permanent full-time and permanent part-time employee paid in accordance with section 124.152 of the Revised Code and each employee listed in division (B)(2), (3), or (4) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code who works thirty or more hours per week, and who meets the requirement of division (B)(2)(a) of this section is eligible, upon the birth, stillbirth, or adoption of a child, for a parental leave of absence and parental leave benefits under this section. If the employee takes leave under this section for a stillbirth, the employee is ineligible for leave under section 124.387 of the Revised Code.

(2)(a) To be eligible for leave and benefits under this section, an employee must be one of the following:

(i) A parent, as listed on the birth certificate, of a newly born child;

(ii) A parent, as listed on the fetal death certificate, of a stillborn child;

(iii) A legal guardian of a newly adopted child who resides in the same household as that child.

(b) Employees may elect to receive five thousand dollars for adoption expenses in lieu of receiving the paid leave benefit provided under this section. Such payment may be requested upon placement of the child in the employee's home. If the child is already residing in the home, payment may be requested at the time the adoption is approved.

(3) The average number of regular hours worked, which shall include all hours of holiday pay and other types of paid leave, during the three-month period immediately preceding the day parental leave of absence begins shall be used to determine eligibility and benefits under this section for part-time employees, but such benefits shall not exceed forty hours per week. If an employee has not worked for a three-month period, the number of hours for which the employee has been scheduled to work per week during the employee's period of employment shall be used to determine eligibility and benefits under this section.

(C) Parental leave granted under this section shall not exceed twelve consecutive weeks, which shall include four hundred eighty hours of paid leave for permanent full-time employees and a prorated number of hours of paid leave for permanent part-time employees. Parental leave shall be taken within one year of the birth of the child, delivery of the stillborn child, or placement of the child for adoption. During the leave period, employees shall receive paid leave equal to seventy per cent of their base rate of pay. All of the following apply to employees granted parental leave:

(1) They remain eligible to receive all employer-paid benefits and continue to accrue all other forms of paid leave as if they were in active pay status.

(2) They are ineligible to receive overtime pay, and no portion of their parental leave shall be included in calculating their overtime pay.

(3) They are ineligible to receive holiday pay. A holiday occurring during the leave period shall be counted as one day of parental leave and be paid as such.

(D) Employees receiving parental leave may utilize available sick leave, personal leave, vacation leave, or compensatory time balances in order to supplement the seventy per cent of their base rate of pay received during the parental leave period, in an amount sufficient to give them up to one hundred per cent of their pay for time on parental leave.

Use of parental leave does not affect an employee's eligibility for other forms of paid leave granted under this chapter and does not prohibit an employee from taking leave under the "Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993," 107 Stat. 6, 29 U.S.C.A. 2601, except that parental leave shall be included in any leave time provided under that act. An employee may not receive parental leave under this section after exhausting leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 for the birth of the child, delivery of the stillborn child, or placement of the child for adoption.

(E) Employees receiving disability leave benefits under section 124.385 of the Revised Code prior to becoming eligible for parental leave shall continue to receive disability leave benefits for the duration of their disabling condition or as otherwise provided under the disability leave benefits program. If an employee is receiving disability leave benefits because of pregnancy and these benefits expire prior to the expiration date of any benefits the employee would have been entitled to receive under this section, the employee shall receive parental leave for such additional time.

Last updated September 22, 2023 at 9:31 AM

Section 124.137 | Parental leave benefit fund.

• Effective: December 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 126th General Assembly

There is hereby created in the state treasury the parental leave benefit fund. The director of administrative services shall use moneys credited to the fund solely for the payment of parental leave benefits available to employees paid by warrant of the director of budget and management and for payment of any direct and indirect costs that are attributable to consultants or a third-party administrator and that are necessary to administer this section. All investment earnings of the parental leave fund shall be credited to the fund.

The director of administrative services, in consultation with the director of budget and management, shall determine a rate at which the payrolls of all state agencies with employees paid by warrant of the director of budget and management shall be charged each pay period that is sufficient to cover the costs of administering the parental leave benefit program. The rate shall be based on the total number of such employees and may be adjusted as the director of administrative services, in consultation with the director of budget and management, considers necessary. All money collected from the assessment shall be credited to the parental leave benefit fund.

Section 124.138 | Paid leave and benefits for eligible full-time fire fighters employed by adjutant general.

• Effective: December 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 126th General Assembly

The director of administrative services may establish paid leaves and employee benefits for eligible full-time fire fighters employed by the adjutant general's department that are comparable to paid leaves and employee benefits provided to other full-time permanent employees paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management. Any paid leaves and employee benefits established under this section shall be limited to fire fighters regularly scheduled to work at least one hundred four hours per biweekly pay period and shall be adjusted so that the ratio between the hours worked and the paid leave hours earned shall be the same as the ratio between the hours worked and the paid leave hours earned by full-time permanent employees with the same amount of accrued service. The director of administrative services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing any paid leaves and employee benefits established under this section.

Section 124.139 | Organ donor leave.

• Effective: December 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 126th General Assembly

(A) A full-time state employee shall receive up to two hundred forty hours of leave with pay during each calendar year to use during those hours when the employee is absent from work because of the employee's donation of any portion of an adult liver or because of the employee's donation of an adult kidney.

(B) A full-time state employee shall receive up to fifty-six hours of leave with pay during each calendar year to use during those hours when the employee is absent from work because of the employee's donation of adult bone marrow.

(C) An appointing authority shall compensate a full-time state employee who uses leave granted under division (A) or (B) of this section at the employee's regular rate of pay for those regular work hours during which the employee is absent from work.

(D)(1) The director of administrative services, under section 124.04 of the Revised Code, shall provide information about this section to full-time employees who are paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management.

(2) The appointing authority of full-time employees who are not paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management shall periodically provide information about this section to those employees.

Section 124.1310 | EMT-basic, EMT-I, first responder, paramedic, or volunteer firefighter leave.

• Effective: March 19, 2003
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 115 - 124th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Emergency medical service," "EMT-basic," "EMT-I," "first responder," and "paramedic" have the same meanings as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Volunteer firefighter" has the same meaning as in section 146.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) A state employee who is an EMT-basic, EMT-I, first responder, paramedic, or volunteer firefighter shall receive forty hours of leave with pay each calendar year to use during those hours when the employee is absent from work in order to provide emergency medical service or fire-fighting service. An appointing authority shall compensate an employee who uses leave granted under this section at the employee's regular rate of pay for those regular work hours during which the employee is absent from work.

Section 124.1311 | Veteran funeral honors detail leave.

• Effective: April 7, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 450 - 127th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Funeral honors detail" means a funeral honors detail as described in the "National Defense Authorization Act of 2003," 116 Stat. 2556, 10 U.S.C. 1491.

(2) "State employee" means a state employee who is trained to participate in a funeral honors detail at the funeral of a veteran and who is a retired or active member of the armed forces of the United States or of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard.

(B) A state employee is entitled to a maximum of twenty hours of paid leave for those hours the employee is absent from work in order to participate in a funeral honors detail at the funeral of a veteran.

Section 124.1312 | Caregiver leave.

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

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Foster caregiver" has the same meaning as in section 5103.02 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Kinship caregiver" has the same meaning as in section 5101.85 of the Revised Code.

(B) Each permanent full-time and permanent part-time employee paid in accordance with section 124.152 of the Revised Code and each employee listed in division (B)(2), (3), or (4) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code who works thirty or more hours per week, and who is a foster caregiver or kinship caregiver is eligible, on placement of a child in the employee's home, to a maximum of five days of caregiver leave with full pay in a calendar year. Caregiver leave eligibility begins on the day on which the child is placed with the prospective foster caregiver or kinship caregiver.

(C) The average number of regular hours worked, which shall include all hours of holiday pay and other types of paid leave, during the three-month period immediately preceding the day caregiver leave begins shall be used to determine eligibility for leave under this section for part-time employees. If an employee has not worked for a three-month period, the number of hours for which the employee has been scheduled to work per week during the employee's period of employment shall be used to determine eligibility for leave under this section.

(D) Use of caregiver leave does not affect an employee's eligibility for other forms of paid leave granted under this chapter and does not prohibit an employee from taking leave under the "Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993," 29 U.S.C. 2601, except that caregiver leave shall be included in any leave time provided under that act.

(E) The director of administrative services may adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing caregiver leave established under this section.

Last updated September 9, 2021 at 11:52 AM

Section 124.14 | Job classification - pay ranges.

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

(A)(1) The director of administrative services shall establish, and may modify or rescind, a job classification plan for all positions, offices, and employments in the service of the state. The director shall group jobs within a classification so that the positions are similar enough in duties and responsibilities to be described by the same title, to have the same pay assigned with equity, and to have the same qualifications for selection applied. The director shall assign a classification title to each classification within the classification plan. However, the director shall consider in establishing classifications, including classifications with parenthetical titles, and assigning pay ranges such factors as duties performed only on one shift, special skills in short supply in the labor market, recruitment problems, separation rates, comparative salary rates, the amount of training required, and other conditions affecting employment. The director shall describe the duties, responsibilities, and essential character of the work of the class; establish the essential knowledge, abilities, skills, and qualifications for being employed in each position in the class; and file with the secretary of state a copy of specifications for all of the classifications. The director shall state the required qualifications in terms of experience, training, specific coursework, or other terms, but shall not state qualifications in terms of academic degrees unless the degrees are required by a specific statute or rule. The director shall file new, additional, or revised specifications with the secretary of state before they are used.

An appointing authority may request position-specific minimum qualifications for a position that differ from the minimum qualifications of the classification specification established by the director, provided that the requested qualifications are not stated solely in terms of academic degrees. The director must approve such a request before it may be implemented.

The director shall assign each classification, either on a statewide basis or in particular counties or state institutions, to a pay range established under section 124.15 or section 124.152 of the Revised Code. The director may assign a classification to a pay range on a temporary basis for a period of six months. The director may establish experimental classification plans for some or all employees paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management. Any such experimental classification plan shall include specifications for each classification within the plan and shall specifically address compensation ranges, and methods for advancing within the ranges, for the classifications, which may be assigned to pay ranges other than the pay ranges established under section 124.15 or 124.152 of the Revised Code.

(2) The director of administrative services may reassign to a proper classification those positions that have been assigned to an improper classification. If the compensation of an employee in such a reassigned position exceeds the maximum rate of pay for the employee's new classification, the employee shall be placed in pay step X and shall not receive an increase in compensation until the maximum rate of pay for that classification exceeds the employee's compensation.

(3) The director may reassign an exempt employee, as defined in section 124.152 of the Revised Code, to a bargaining unit classification if the director determines that the bargaining unit classification is the proper classification for that employee. Notwithstanding Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code or instruments and contracts negotiated under it, these placements are at the director's discretion.

(4) The director shall assign related classifications, which form a career progression, to a classification series. The director shall assign each classification in the classification plan a five-digit number, the first four digits of which shall denote the classification series to which the classification is assigned. When a career progression encompasses more than ten classifications, the director shall identify the additional classifications belonging to a classification series. The additional classifications shall be part of the classification series, notwithstanding the fact that the first four digits of the number assigned to the additional classifications do not correspond to the first four digits of the numbers assigned to other classifications in the classification series.

(B) Division (A) of this section and sections 124.15 and 124.152 of the Revised Code do not apply to the following persons, positions, offices, and employments:

(1) Elected officials;

(2) Legislative employees, employees of the legislative service commission, employees in the office of the governor, employees who are in the unclassified civil service and exempt from collective bargaining coverage in the office of the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and attorney general, and employees of the supreme court;

(3) Any position for which the authority to determine compensation is given by law to another individual or entity;

(4) Employees of the bureau of workers' compensation whose compensation the administrator of workers' compensation establishes under division (B) of section 4121.121 of the Revised Code.

(C) The director may employ a consulting agency to aid and assist the director in carrying out this section.

(D)(1) When the director proposes to modify a classification or the assignment of classes to appropriate pay ranges, the director shall notify the appointing authorities of the affected employees before implementing the modification. The director's notice shall include the effective date of the modification. The appointing authorities shall notify the affected employees regarding the modification.

(2) When the director proposes to reclassify any employee in the service of the state so that the employee is adversely affected, the director shall give to the employee affected and to the employee's appointing authority a written notice setting forth the proposed new classification, pay range, and salary. Upon the request of any classified employee in the service of the state who is not serving in a probationary period, the director shall perform a job audit to review the classification of the employee's position to determine whether the position is properly classified. The director shall give to the employee affected and to the employee's appointing authority a written notice of the director's determination whether or not to reclassify the position or to reassign the employee to another classification. An employee or appointing authority desiring a hearing shall file a written request for the hearing with the state personnel board of review within thirty days after receiving the notice. The board shall set the matter for a hearing and notify the employee and appointing authority of the time and place of the hearing. The employee, the appointing authority, or any authorized representative of the employee who wishes to submit facts for the consideration of the board shall be afforded reasonable opportunity to do so. After the hearing, the board shall consider anew the reclassification and may order the reclassification of the employee and require the director to assign the employee to such appropriate classification as the facts and evidence warrant. As provided in division (A)(1) of section 124.03 of the Revised Code, the board may determine the most appropriate classification for the position of any employee coming before the board, with or without a job audit. The board shall disallow any reclassification or reassignment classification of any employee when it finds that changes have been made in the duties and responsibilities of any particular employee for political, religious, or other unjust reasons.

(E)(1) Employees of each county department of job and family services shall be paid a salary or wage established by the board of county commissioners. The provisions of section 124.18 of the Revised Code concerning the standard work week apply to employees of county departments of job and family services. A board of county commissioners may do either of the following:

(a) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, supplement the sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and other benefits of any employee of the county department of job and family services of that county, if the employee is eligible for the supplement under a written policy providing for the supplement;

(b) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, establish alternative schedules of sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, or other benefits for employees not inconsistent with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement covering the affected employees.

(2) Division (E)(1) of this section does not apply to employees for whom the state employment relations board establishes appropriate bargaining units pursuant to section 4117.06 of the Revised Code, except in either of the following situations:

(a) The employees for whom the state employment relations board establishes appropriate bargaining units elect no representative in a board-conducted representation election.

(b) After the state employment relations board establishes appropriate bargaining units for such employees, all employee organizations withdraw from a representation election.

(F)(1) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code, the board of trustees of each state university or college, as defined in section 3345.12 of the Revised Code, shall carry out all matters of governance involving the officers and employees of the university or college, including, but not limited to, the powers, duties, and functions of the department of administrative services and the director of administrative services specified in this chapter. Officers and employees of a state university or college shall have the right of appeal to the state personnel board of review as provided in this chapter.

(2) Each board of trustees shall adopt rules under section 111.15 of the Revised Code to carry out the matters of governance described in division (F)(1) of this section. Until the board of trustees adopts those rules, a state university or college shall continue to operate pursuant to the applicable rules adopted by the director of administrative services under this chapter.

(G)(1) Each board of county commissioners may, by a resolution adopted by a majority of its members, establish a county personnel department to exercise the powers, duties, and functions specified in division (G) of this section. As used in division (G) of this section, "county personnel department" means a county personnel department established by a board of county commissioners under division (G)(1) of this section.

(2)(a) Each board of county commissioners, by a resolution adopted by a majority of its members, may designate the county personnel department of the county to exercise the powers, duties, and functions specified in sections 124.01 to 124.64 and Chapter 325. of the Revised Code with regard to employees in the service of the county, except for the powers and duties of the state personnel board of review, which powers and duties shall not be construed as having been modified or diminished in any manner by division (G)(2) of this section, with respect to the employees for whom the board of county commissioners is the appointing authority or co-appointing authority.

(b) Nothing in division (G)(2) of this section shall be construed to limit the right of any employee who possesses the right of appeal to the state personnel board of review to continue to possess that right of appeal.

(c) Any board of county commissioners that has established a county personnel department may contract with the department of administrative services, in accordance with division (H) of this section, another political subdivision, or an appropriate public or private entity to provide competitive testing services or other appropriate services.

(3) After the county personnel department of a county has been established as described in division (G)(2) of this section, any elected official, board, agency, or other appointing authority of that county, upon written notification to the county personnel department, may elect to use the services and facilities of the county personnel department. Upon receipt of the notification by the county personnel department, the county personnel department shall exercise the powers, duties, and functions as described in division (G)(2) of this section with respect to the employees of that elected official, board, agency, or other appointing authority.

(4) Each board of county commissioners, by a resolution adopted by a majority of its members, may disband the county personnel department.

(5) Any elected official, board, agency, or appointing authority of a county may end its involvement with a county personnel department upon actual receipt by the department of a certified copy of the notification that contains the decision to no longer participate.

(6) A county personnel department, in carrying out its duties, shall adhere to merit system principles with regard to employees of county departments of job and family services, child support enforcement agencies, and public child welfare agencies so that there is no threatened loss of federal funding for these agencies, and the county is financially liable to the state for any loss of federal funds due to the action or inaction of the county personnel department.

(H) County agencies may contract with the department of administrative services for any human resources services, including, but not limited to, establishment and modification of job classification plans, competitive testing services, and periodic audits and reviews of the county's uniform application of the powers, duties, and functions specified in sections 124.01 to 124.64 and Chapter 325. of the Revised Code with regard to employees in the service of the county. Nothing in this division modifies the powers and duties of the state personnel board of review with respect to employees in the service of the county. Nothing in this division limits the right of any employee who possesses the right of appeal to the state personnel board of review to continue to possess that right of appeal.

(I) The director of administrative services shall establish the rate and method of compensation for all employees who are paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management and who are serving in positions that the director of administrative services has determined impracticable to include in the state job classification plan. This division does not apply to elected officials, legislative employees, employees of the legislative service commission, employees who are in the unclassified civil service and exempt from collective bargaining coverage in the office of the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and attorney general, employees of the courts, employees of the bureau of workers' compensation whose compensation the administrator of workers' compensation establishes under division (B) of section 4121.121 of the Revised Code, or employees of an appointing authority authorized by law to fix the compensation of those employees.

(J) The director of administrative services shall set the rate of compensation for all intermittent, seasonal, temporary, emergency, and casual employees in the service of the state who are not considered public employees under section 4117.01 of the Revised Code. Those employees are not entitled to receive employee benefits, unless otherwise required by law. This rate of compensation shall be equitable in terms of the rate of employees serving in the same or similar classifications. This division does not apply to elected officials, legislative employees, employees of the legislative service commission, employees who are in the unclassified civil service and exempt from collective bargaining coverage in the office of the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and attorney general, employees of the courts, employees of the bureau of workers' compensation whose compensation the administrator establishes under division (B) of section 4121.121 of the Revised Code, or employees of an appointing authority authorized by law to fix the compensation of those employees.

Last updated September 22, 2023 at 9:32 AM

Section 124.141 | Appointment incentive program.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

The director of administrative services may establish, by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, an appointment incentive program that allows an appointing authority to pay to an officer or employee described in division (A)(30) of section 124.11, division (B)(2) of section 124.14, or division (B) of section 126.32 of the Revised Code a salary and benefits package that differs from the salary and benefits otherwise provided by law for that officer or employee, provided that the appointment incentive program established by the director cannot include authority for an appointing authority to provide health care benefits to a covered officer or employee that are different from health care benefits otherwise provided by law for that officer or employee.

Section 124.142 | Compensation of chaplains.

• Effective: December 23, 1986
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 428 - 116th General Assembly

Twenty-five per cent of the compensation paid under section 124.15 or 124.152 of the Revised Code to a person designated as a chaplain or religious services administrator, while serving in a full-time capacity in such position, shall be considered to be a housing allowance. The amount of the housing allowance shall not affect the requirement of section 145.47 of the Revised Code as to the contribution to be made to the employees' savings fund of the public employees retirement system, and the amount of the contributions shall be based on the member's earnable salary, including the housing allowance.

Section 124.15 | Pay ranges and step values.

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

(A) Board and commission members appointed prior to July 1, 1991, shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with the following schedules of rates:

Schedule B

Pay Ranges and Step Values

Range		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
23	Hourly	5.72	5.91	6.10	6.31
	Annually	11897.60	12292.80	12688.00	13124.80
		Step 5	Step 6
	Hourly	6.52	6.75
	Annually	13561.60	14040.00
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
24	Hourly	6.00	6.20	6.41	6.63
	Annually	12480.00	12896.00	13332.80	13790.40
		Step 5	Step 6
	Hourly	6.87	7.10
	Annually	14289.60	14768.00
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
25	Hourly	6.31	6.52	6.75	6.99
	Annually	13124.80	13561.60	14040.00	14539.20
		Step 5	Step 6
	Hourly	7.23	7.41
	Annually	15038.40	15412.80
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
26	Hourly	6.63	6.87	7.10	7.32
	Annually	13790.40	14289.60	14768.00	15225.60
		Step 5	Step 6
	Hourly	7.53	7.77
	Annually	15662.40	16161.60
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
27	Hourly	6.99	7.23	7.41	7.64
	Annually	14534.20	15038.40	15412.80	15891.20
		Step 5	Step 6	Step 7
	Hourly	7.88	8.15	8.46
	Annually	16390.40	16952.00	17596.80
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
28	Hourly	7.41	7.64	7.88	8.15
	Annually	15412.80	15891.20	16390.40	16952.00
		Step 5	Step 6	Step 7
	Hourly	8.46	8.79	9.15
	Annually	17596.80	18283.20	19032.00
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
29	Hourly	7.88	8.15	8.46	8.79
	Annually	16390.40	16952.00	17596.80	18283.20
		Step 5	Step 6	Step 7
	Hourly	9.15	9.58	10.01
	Annually	19032.00	19926.40	20820.80
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
30	Hourly	8.46	8.79	9.15	9.58
	Annually	17596.80	18283.20	19032.00	19926.40
		Step 5	Step 6	Step 7
	Hourly	10.01	10.46	10.99
	Annually	20820.80	21756.80	22859.20
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
31	Hourly	9.15	9.58	10.01	10.46
	Annually	19032.00	19962.40	20820.80	21756.80
		Step 5	Step 6	Step 7
	Hourly	10.99	11.52	12.09
	Annually	22859.20	23961.60	25147.20
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
32	Hourly	10.01	10.46	10.99	11.52
	Annually	20820.80	21756.80	22859.20	23961.60
		Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8
	Hourly	12.09	12.68	13.29	13.94
	Annually	25147.20	26374.40	27643.20	28995.20
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
33	Hourly	10.99	11.52	12.09	12.68
	Annually	22859.20	23961.60	25147.20	26374.40
		Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8
	Hourly	13.29	13.94	14.63	15.35
	Annually	27643.20	28995.20	30430.40	31928.00
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
34	Hourly	12.09	12.68	13.29	13.94
	Annually	25147.20	26374.40	27643.20	28995.20
		Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8
	Hourly	14.63	15.35	16.11	16.91
	Annually	30430.40	31928.00	33508.80	35172.80
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
35	Hourly	13.29	13.94	14.63	15.35
	Annually	27643.20	28995.20	30430.40	31928.00
		Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8
	Hourly	16.11	16.91	17.73	18.62
	Annually	33508.80	35172.80	36878.40	38729.60
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
36	Hourly	14.63	15.35	16.11	16.91
	Annually	30430.40	31928.00	33508.80	35172.80
		Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8
	Hourly	17.73	18.62	19.54	20.51
	Annually	36878.40	38729.60	40643.20	42660.80

Schedule C

Pay Range and Values

Range		Minimum	Maximum
41	Hourly	10.44	15.72
	Annually	21715.20	32697.60
42	Hourly	11.51	17.35
	Annually	23940.80	36088.00
43	Hourly	12.68	19.12
	Annually	26374.40	39769.60
44	Hourly	13.99	20.87
	Annually	29099.20	43409.60
45	Hourly	15.44	22.80
	Annually	32115.20	47424.00
46	Hourly	17.01	24.90
	Annually	35380.80	51792.00
47	Hourly	18.75	27.18
	Annually	39000.00	56534.40
48	Hourly	20.67	29.69
	Annually	42993.60	61755.20
49	Hourly	22.80	32.06
	Annually	47424.00	66684.80

(B) The pay schedule of all employees shall be on a biweekly basis, with amounts computed on an hourly basis.

(C) Part-time employees shall be compensated on an hourly basis for time worked, at the rates shown in division (A) of this section or in section 124.152 of the Revised Code.

(D) The salary and wage rates in division (A) of this section or in section 124.152 of the Revised Code represent base rates of compensation and may be augmented by the provisions of section 124.181 of the Revised Code. In those cases where lodging, meals, laundry, or other personal services are furnished an employee in the service of the state, the actual costs or fair market value of the personal services shall be paid by the employee in such amounts and manner as determined by the director of administrative services and approved by the director of budget and management, and those personal services shall not be considered as a part of the employee's compensation. An appointing authority that appoints employees in the service of the state, with the approval of the director of administrative services and the director of budget and management, may establish payments to employees for uniforms, tools, equipment, and other requirements of the department and payments for the maintenance of them.

The director of administrative services may review collective bargaining agreements entered into under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code that cover employees in the service of the state and determine whether certain benefits or payments provided to the employees covered by those agreements should also be provided to employees in the service of the state who are exempt from collective bargaining coverage and are paid in accordance with section 124.152 of the Revised Code or are listed in division (B)(2) or (4) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code. On completing the review, the director of administrative services, with the approval of the director of budget and management, may provide to some or all of these employees any payment or benefit, except for salary, contained in such a collective bargaining agreement even if it is similar to a payment or benefit already provided by law to some or all of these employees. Any payment or benefit so provided shall not exceed the highest level for that payment or benefit specified in such a collective bargaining agreement. The director of administrative services shall not provide, and the director of budget and management shall not approve, any payment or benefit to such an employee under this division unless the payment or benefit is provided pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement to a state employee who is in a position with similar duties as, is supervised by, or is employed by the same appointing authority as, the employee to whom the benefit or payment is to be provided.

As used in this division, "payment or benefit already provided by law" includes, but is not limited to, bereavement, personal, vacation, administrative, and sick leave, disability benefits, holiday pay, and pay supplements provided under the Revised Code, but does not include wages or salary.

(E) New employees paid in accordance with schedule B of division (A) of this section or schedule E-1 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code shall be employed at the minimum rate established for the range unless otherwise provided. Employees with qualifications that are beyond the minimum normally required for the position and that are determined by the director to be exceptional may be employed in, or may be transferred or promoted to, a position at an advanced step of the range. Further, in time of a serious labor market condition when it is relatively impossible to recruit employees at the minimum rate for a particular classification, the entrance rate may be set at an advanced step in the range by the director of administrative services. This rate may be limited to geographical regions of the state. Appointments made to an advanced step under the provision regarding exceptional qualifications shall not affect the step assignment of employees already serving. However, anytime the hiring rate of an entire classification is advanced to a higher step, all incumbents of that classification being paid at a step lower than that being used for hiring, shall be advanced beginning at the start of the first pay period thereafter to the new hiring rate, and any time accrued at the lower step will be used to calculate advancement to a succeeding step. If the hiring rate of a classification is increased for only a geographical region of the state, only incumbents who work in that geographical region shall be advanced to a higher step. When an employee in the unclassified service changes from one state position to another or is appointed to a position in the classified service, or if an employee in the classified service is appointed to a position in the unclassified service, the employee's salary or wage in the new position shall be determined in the same manner as if the employee were an employee in the classified service. When an employee in the unclassified service who is not eligible for step increases is appointed to a classification in the classified service under which step increases are provided, future step increases shall be based on the date on which the employee last received a pay increase. If the employee has not received an increase during the previous year, the date of the appointment to the classified service shall be used to determine the employee's annual step advancement eligibility date. In reassigning any employee to a classification resulting in a pay range increase or to a new pay range as a result of a promotion, an increase pay range adjustment, or other classification change resulting in a pay range increase, the director shall assign such employee to the step in the new pay range that will provide an increase of approximately four per cent if the new pay range can accommodate the increase. When an employee is being assigned to a classification or new pay range as the result of a class plan change, if the employee has completed a probationary period, the employee shall be placed in a step no lower than step two of the new pay range. If the employee has not completed a probationary period, the employee may be placed in step one of the new pay range. Such new salary or wage shall become effective on such date as the director determines.

(F) If employment conditions and the urgency of the work require such action, the director of administrative services may, upon the application of a department head, authorize payment at any rate established within the range for the class of work, for work of a casual or intermittent nature or on a project basis. Payment at such rates shall not be made to the same individual for more than three calendar months in any one calendar year. Any such action shall be subject to the approval of the director of budget and management as to the availability of funds. This section and sections 124.14 and 124.152 of the Revised Code do not repeal any authority of any department or public official to contract with or fix the compensation of professional persons who may be employed temporarily for work of a casual nature or for work on a project basis.

(G)(1) Except as provided in divisions (G)(2) and (3) of this section, each state employee paid in accordance with schedule B of this section or schedule E-1 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code shall be eligible for advancement to succeeding steps in the range for the employee's class or grade according to the schedule established in this division. Beginning on the first day of the pay period within which the employee completes the prescribed probationary period in the employee's classification with the state, each employee shall receive an automatic salary adjustment equivalent to the next higher step within the pay range for the employee's class or grade.

Except as provided in divisions (G)(2) and (3) of this section, each employee paid in accordance with schedule E-1 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code shall be eligible to advance to the next higher step until the employee reaches the top step in the range for the employee's class or grade, if the employee has maintained satisfactory performance in accordance with criteria established by the employee's appointing authority. Those step advancements shall not occur more frequently than once in any twelve-month period.

When an employee is promoted, the step entry date shall be set to account for a probationary period. When an employee is reassigned to a higher pay range, the step entry date shall be set to allow an employee who is not at the highest step of the range to receive a step advancement one year from the reassignment date. Step advancement shall not be affected by demotion. A promoted employee shall advance to the next higher step of the pay range on the first day of the pay period in which the required probationary period is completed. Step advancement shall become effective at the beginning of the pay period within which the employee attains the necessary length of service. Time spent on authorized leave of absence shall be counted for this purpose.

If determined to be in the best interest of the state service, the director of administrative services may, either statewide or in selected agencies, adjust the dates on which annual step advancements are received by employees paid in accordance with schedule E-1 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code.

(2)(a) There shall be a moratorium on annual step advancements under division (G)(1) of this section beginning June 21, 2009, through June 20, 2011. Step advancements shall resume with the pay period beginning June 21, 2011. Upon the resumption of step advancements, there shall be no retroactive step advancements for the period the moratorium was in effect. The moratorium shall not affect an employee's performance evaluation schedule.

An employee who begins a probationary period before June 21, 2009, shall advance to the next step in the employee's pay range at the end of probation, and then become subject to the moratorium. An employee who is hired, promoted, or reassigned to a higher pay range between June 21, 2009, through June 20, 2011, shall not advance to the next step in the employee's pay range until the next anniversary of the employee's date of hire, promotion, or reassignment that occurs on or after June 21, 2011.

(b) The moratorium under division (G)(2)(a) of this section shall apply to the employees of the secretary of state, the auditor of state, the treasurer of state, and the attorney general, who are subject to this section unless the secretary of state, the auditor of state, the treasurer of state, or the attorney general decides to exempt the office's employees from the moratorium and so notifies the director of administrative services in writing on or before July 1, 2009.

(3) Employees in intermittent positions shall be employed at the minimum rate established for the pay range for their classification and are not eligible for step advancements.

(H) Employees in appointive managerial or professional positions paid in accordance with schedule C of this section or schedule E-2 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code may be appointed at any rate within the appropriate pay range. This rate of pay may be adjusted higher or lower within the respective pay range at any time the appointing authority so desires as long as the adjustment is based on the employee's ability to successfully administer those duties assigned to the employee. Salary adjustments shall not be made more frequently than once in any six-month period under this provision to incumbents holding the same position and classification.

(I) When an employee is assigned to duty outside this state, the employee may be compensated, upon request of the department head and with the approval of the director of administrative services, at a rate not to exceed fifty per cent in excess of the employee's current base rate for the period of time spent on that duty.

(J) Unless compensation for members of a board or commission is otherwise specifically provided by law, the director of administrative services shall establish the rate and method of payment for members of boards and commissions pursuant to the pay schedules listed in section 124.152 of the Revised Code.

(K) Regular full-time employees in positions assigned to classes within the instruction and education administration series under the job classification plans of the director of administrative services, except certificated employees on the instructional staff of Ohio deaf and blind education services, whose positions are scheduled to work on the basis of an academic year rather than a full calendar year, shall be paid according to the pay range assigned by the applicable job classification plan, but only during those pay periods included in the academic year of the school where the employee is located.

(1) Part-time or substitute teachers or those whose period of employment is other than the full academic year shall be compensated for the actual time worked at the rate established by this section.

(2) Employees governed by this division are exempt from sections 124.13 and 124.19 of the Revised Code.

(3) Length of service for the purpose of determining eligibility for step advancements as provided by division (G) of this section and for the purpose of determining eligibility for longevity pay supplements as provided by division (E) of section 124.181 of the Revised Code shall be computed on the basis of one full year of service for the completion of each academic year.

(L) The superintendent of Ohio deaf and blind education services shall, subject to the approval of the director of education and workforce, carry out both of the following:

(1) Annually, between the first day of April and the last day of June, establish for the ensuing fiscal year a schedule of hourly rates for the compensation of each certificated employee on the instructional staff of Ohio deaf and blind education services constructed as follows:

(a) Determine for each level of training, experience, and other professional qualification for which an hourly rate is set forth in the current schedule, the per cent that rate is of the rate set forth in such schedule for a teacher with a bachelor's degree and no experience. If there is more than one such rate for such a teacher, the lowest rate shall be used to make the computation.

(b) Determine which six city, local, and exempted village school districts with territory in Franklin county have in effect on, or have adopted by, the first day of April for the school year that begins on the ensuing first day of July, teacher salary schedules with the highest minimum salaries for a teacher with a bachelor's degree and no experience;

(c) Divide the sum of such six highest minimum salaries by ten thousand five hundred sixty;

(d) Multiply each per cent determined in division (L)(1)(a) of this section by the quotient obtained in division (L)(1)(c) of this section;

(e) One hundred five per cent of each product thus obtained shall be the hourly rate for the corresponding level of training, experience, or other professional qualification in the schedule for the ensuing fiscal year.

(2) Annually, assign each certificated employee on the instructional staff of Ohio deaf and blind education services to an hourly rate on the schedule that is commensurate with the employee's training, experience, and other professional qualifications.

If an employee is employed on the basis of an academic year, the employee's annual salary shall be calculated by multiplying the employee's assigned hourly rate times one thousand seven hundred sixty. If an employee is not employed on the basis of an academic year, the employee's annual salary shall be calculated in accordance with the following formula:

(a) Multiply the number of days the employee is required to work pursuant to the employee's contract by eight;

(b) Multiply the product of division (L)(2)(a) of this section by the employee's assigned hourly rate.

Each employee shall be paid an annual salary in biweekly installments. The amount of each installment shall be calculated by dividing the employee's annual salary by the number of biweekly installments to be paid during the year.

Sections 124.13 and 124.19 of the Revised Code do not apply to an employee who is paid under this division.

As used in this division, "academic year" means the number of days in each school year that the state school for the deaf and the state school for the blind are required to be open for instruction with pupils in attendance. Upon completing an academic year, an employee paid under this division shall be deemed to have completed one year of service. An employee paid under this division is eligible to receive a pay supplement under division (L)(1), (2), or (3) of section 124.181 of the Revised Code for which the employee qualifies, but is not eligible to receive a pay supplement under division (L)(4) or (5) of that section. An employee paid under this division is eligible to receive a pay supplement under division (L)(6) of section 124.181 of the Revised Code for which the employee qualifies, except that the supplement is not limited to a maximum of five per cent of the employee's regular base salary in a calendar year.

(M) Division (A) of this section does not apply to "exempt employees," as defined in section 124.152 of the Revised Code, who are paid under that section.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, when an employee transfers between bargaining units or transfers out of or into a bargaining unit, the director of administrative services shall establish the employee's compensation and adjust the maximum leave accrual schedule as the director deems equitable.

Last updated September 5, 2023 at 5:01 PM

Section 124.151 | Direct deposit of compensation.

• Effective: December 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 126th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "compensation" includes, but is not limited to, wages and salary, travel allowances paid pursuant to section 101.27 of the Revised Code, and benefits paid pursuant to sections 124.13, 124.19, 124.381, 124.382, 124.383, 124.384, 124.385, and 124.386 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) The compensation of any employee who is paid by warrant of the director of budget and management shall be paid by direct deposit. Each such employee shall provide to the appointing authority a written authorization for payment by direct deposit. The authorization shall include the designation of a financial institution equipped to accept direct deposits and the number of the account into which the deposit is to be made. The authorization shall remain in effect until withdrawn in writing by the employee or until dishonored by the financial institution. The director of administrative services shall provide by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the direct deposit in a financial institution of the compensation of an employee who fails to provide to the appointing authority a written authorization for payment by direct deposit.

(2) Division (B)(1) of this section does not apply to an employee who was appointed to the employee's current position before June 5, 2002, who is a public employee as defined in section 4117.01 of the Revised Code, and whose applicable collective bargaining agreement does not require the employee to be paid by direct deposit.

Section 124.152 | Exempt employee salary schedules.

• Effective: July 1, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 23 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, each exempt employee shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with schedule E-1 or schedule E-2 of division (B) of this section.

(2) Each exempt employee who holds a position in the unclassified civil service pursuant to division (A)(26) or (30) of section 124.11 of the Revised Code may be paid a salary or wage in accordance with schedule E-1 or schedule E-2 of division (B) of this section, as applicable.

(B)(1) Each exempt employee who must be paid in accordance with schedule E-1 or schedule E-2 of this section shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with the following schedule of rates as of the pay period that includes July 1, 2021:

Schedule E-1

A	Pay Ranges and Step Values
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8
Range

1	Hourly	12.14	12.69	13.21	13.80
	Annually	25251	26395	27476	28704
2	Hourly	14.73	15.36	16.01	16.72
	Annually	30638	31948	33300	34777
3	Hourly	15.44	16.13	16.84	17.56
	Annually	32115	33550	35027	36524
4	Hourly	16.20	16.93	17.75	18.51
	Annually	33696	35214	36920	38500
5	Hourly	17.00	17.78	18.51	19.33
	Annually	35360	36982	38500	40206
6	Hourly	17.91	18.66	19.47	20.27
	Annually	37252	38812	40497	42161
7	Hourly	19.01	19.72	20.54	21.25	22.07
	Annually	39540	41017	42723	44200	45905
8	Hourly	20.11	21.00	21.90	22.89	23.97
	Annually	41828	43680	45552	47611	49857
9	Hourly	21.45	22.56	23.67	24.85	26.11
	Annually	44616	46924	49233	51688	54308
10	Hourly	23.13	24.41	25.72	27.20	28.64
	Annually	48110	50772	53497	56576	59571
11	Hourly	25.20	26.66	28.20	29.80	31.49
	Annually	52416	55452	58656	61984	65499
12	Hourly	27.80	29.36	30.93	32.64	34.46	36.34	37.82	39.60
	Annually	57824	61068	64334	67891	71676	75587	78665	82368
13	Hourly	30.64	32.32	34.09	35.92	37.95	39.99	41.63	43.59
	Annually	63731	67225	70907	74713	78936	83179	86590	90667
14	Hourly	33.69	35.61	37.52	39.56	41.80	44.13	45.95	48.10
	Annually	70075	74068	78041	82284	86944	91790	95576	100048
15	Hourly	37.02	39.10	41.30	43.57	45.99	48.51	50.50	52.88
	Annually	77001	81328	85904	90625	95659	100900	105040	109990
16	Hourly	40.81	43.08	45.45	48.00	50.63	53.53	55.73	58.34
	Annually	84884	89606	94536	99840	105310	111342	115918	121347
17	Hourly	44.96	47.44	50.10	52.86	55.83	58.94
	Annually	93516	98675	104208	109948	116126	122595
18	Hourly	49.55	52.29	55.24	58.28	61.50	64.94
	Annually	103064	108763	114899	121222	127920	135075

Schedule E-2

Range		Minimum	Maximum
41	Hourly	16.23	48.99
	Annually	33758	101899
42	Hourly	17.89	54.09
	Annually	37211	112507
43	Hourly	19.70	59.56
	Annually	40976	123884
44	Hourly	21.73	65.08
	Annually	45198	135366
45	Hourly	24.01	71.05
	Annually	49941	147784
46	Hourly	26.43	77.65
	Annually	54974	161512
47	Hourly	29.14	84.75
	Annually	60611	176280
48	Hourly	32.14	92.45
	Annually	66851	192296
49	Hourly	35.44	99.83
	Annually	73715	207646

(2) Each exempt employee who must be paid in accordance with schedule E-1 or schedule E-2 of this section shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with the following schedule of rates as of the pay period that includes July 1, 2022:

Schedule E-1

A	Pay Ranges and Step Values
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8
Range

1	Hourly	12.50	13.07	13.61	14.21
	Annually	26000	27185	28308	29556
2	Hourly	15.17	15.82	16.49	17.22
	Annually	31553	32905	34299	35817
3	Hourly	15.90	16.61	17.35	18.09
	Annually	33072	34548	36088	37627
4	Hourly	16.69	17.44	18.28	19.07
	Annually	34715	36275	38022	39665
5	Hourly	17.51	18.31	19.07	19.91
	Annually	36420	38084	39665	41412
6	Hourly	18.45	19.22	20.05	20.88
	Annually	38376	39977	41704	43430
7	Hourly	19.58	20.31	21.16	21.89	22.73
	Annually	40726	42244	44012	45531	47278
8	Hourly	20.71	21.63	22.56	23.58	24.69
	Annually	43076	44990	46924	49046	51355
9	Hourly	22.09	23.24	24.38	25.60	26.89
	Annually	45947	48339	50710	53248	55931
10	Hourly	23.82	25.14	26.49	28.02	29.50
	Annually	49545	52291	55099	58281	61360
11	Hourly	25.96	27.46	29.05	30.69	32.43
	Annually	53996	57116	60424	63835	67454
12	Hourly	28.63	30.24	31.86	33.62	35.49	37.43	38.95	40.79
	Annually	59550	62889	66268	69929	73819	77854	81016	84843
13	Hourly	31.56	33.29	35.11	37.00	39.09	41.19	42.88	44.90
	Annually	65644	69243	73028	76960	81307	85675	89190	93392
14	Hourly	34.70	36.68	38.65	40.75	43.05	45.45	47.33	49.54
	Annually	72176	76294	80392	84760	89544	94536	98446	103043
15	Hourly	38.13	40.27	42.54	44.88	47.37	49.97	52.02	54.47
	Annually	79310	83761	88483	93350	98529	103937	108201	113297
16	Hourly	42.03	44.37	46.81	49.44	52.15	55.14	57.40	60.09
	Annually	87422	92289	97364	102835	108472	114691	119392	124987
17	Hourly	46.31	48.86	51.60	54.45	57.50	60.71
	Annually	96324	101628	107328	113256	119600	126276
18	Hourly	51.04	53.86	56.90	60.03	63.35	66.89
	Annually	106163	112028	118352	124862	131768	139131

Schedule E-2

Range		Minimum	Maximum
41	Hourly	16.23	50.46
	Annually	33758	104956
42	Hourly	17.89	55.71
	Annually	37211	115876
43	Hourly	19.70	61.35
	Annually	40976	127608
44	Hourly	21.73	67.03
	Annually	45198	139422
45	Hourly	24.01	73.18
	Annually	49941	152214
46	Hourly	26.43	79.98
	Annually	54974	166358
47	Hourly	29.14	87.29
	Annually	60611	181563
48	Hourly	32.14	95.22
	Annually	66851	198057
49	Hourly	35.44	102.82
	Annually	73715	213865

(3) Each exempt employee who must be paid in accordance with schedule E-1 or schedule E-2 of this section shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with the following schedule of rates as of the pay period that includes July 1, 2023:

Schedule E-1

A	Pay Ranges and Step Values
		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8
Range
1	Hourly	12.88	13.46	14.02	14.64
	Annually	26790	27996	29161	30451
2	Hourly	15.63	16.29	16.98	17.74
	Annually	32510	33883	35318	36899
3	Hourly	16.38	17.11	17.87	18.63
	Annually	34070	35588	37169	38750
4	Hourly	17.19	17.96	18.83	19.64
	Annually	35755	37356	39166	40851
5	Hourly	18.04	18.86	19.64	20.51
	Annually	37523	39228	40851	42660
6	Hourly	19.00	19.80	20.65	21.51
	Annually	39520	41184	42952	44740
7	Hourly	20.17	20.92	21.79	22.55	23.41
	Annually	41953	43513	45323	46904	48692
8	Hourly	21.33	22.28	23.24	24.29	25.43
	Annually	44366	46342	48339	50523	52894
9	Hourly	22.75	23.94	25.11	26.37	27.70
	Annually	47320	49795	52228	54849	57616
10	Hourly	24.53	25.89	27.28	28.86	30.39
	Annually	51022	53851	56742	60028	63211
11	Hourly	26.74	28.28	29.92	31.61	33.40
	Annually	55619	58822	62233	65748	69472
12	Hourly	29.49	31.15	32.82	34.63	36.55	38.55	40.12	42.01
	Annually	61339	64792	68265	72030	76024	80184	83449	87380
13	Hourly	32.51	34.29	36.16	38.11	40.26	42.43	44.17	46.25
	Annually	67620	71323	75212	79268	83740	88254	91873	96200
14	Hourly	35.74	37.78	39.81	41.97	44.34	46.81	48.75	51.03
	Annually	74339	78582	82804	87297	92227	97364	101400	106142
15	Hourly	39.27	41.48	43.82	46.23	48.79	51.47	53.58	56.10
	Annually	81681	86278	91145	96158	101483	107057	111446	116688
16	Hourly	43.29	45.70	48.21	50.92	53.71	56.79	59.12	61.89
	Annually	90043	95056	100276	105913	111716	118123	122969	128731
17	Hourly	47.70	50.33	53.15	56.08	59.23	62.53	65.97
	Annually	99216	104686	110552	116646	123198	130062	137217
18	Hourly	52.57	55.48	58.61	61.83	65.25	68.90
	Annually	109345	115398	121908	128606	135720	143312
19	Hourly	57.83	61.03	64.47	68.01	71.78	75.79
	Annually	120286	126942	134097	141460	149302	157643

Schedule E-2

Range		Minimum	Maximum
41	Hourly	16.23	51.97
	Annually	33758	108097
42	Hourly	17.89	57.38
	Annually	37211	119350
43	Hourly	19.70	63.19
	Annually	40976	131435
44	Hourly	21.73	69.04
	Annually	45198	143603
45	Hourly	24.01	75.38
	Annually	49941	156790
46	Hourly	26.43	82.38
	Annually	54974	171350
47	Hourly	29.14	89.91
	Annually	60611	187012
48	Hourly	32.14	98.08
	Annually	66851	204006
49	Hourly	35.44	105.90
	Annually	73715	220272

(C) As used in this section:

(1) "Exempt employee" means a permanent full-time or permanent part-time employee paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management whose position is included in the job classification plan established under division (A) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code but who is not considered a public employee for the purposes of Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code. "Exempt employee" also includes a permanent full-time or permanent part-time employee of the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general who has not been placed in an appropriate bargaining unit by the state employment relations board.

(2) "Base rate of pay" means the rate of pay established under schedule E-1 of this section, plus the supplement provided under division (E) of section 124.181 of the Revised Code, plus any supplements enacted into law that are added to schedule E-1 of this section.

(D) Notwithstanding any division of this section to the contrary, or division (E) or (G) of section 124.15 of the Revised Code with respect to requirements for step placement and advancement, no exempt employee other than a captain or equivalent officer in the state highway patrol shall be placed in step value 7 in range 17 of schedule E-1 of division (B)(3) of this section.

Last updated April 21, 2023 at 9:35 AM

Section 124.17 | Employee awards system.

• Effective: October 25, 1995
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly

The director of administrative services may institute an employee awards system designed to encourage all state employees to submit suggestions that will reduce the costs, or improve the quality, of state services. Employee awards granted under the system may be either monetary or nonmonetary. The director shall provide, by rule, reasonable standards for determining the amount, not to exceed five thousand dollars per employee, of any cash award, and for determining the value of any nonmonetary award, that may be given for a suggestion. The department of administrative services shall review each adopted suggestion and determine the amount or type of award, if any, to be given.

In addition to the employees award system, the director may establish a program for the recognition of exemplary performance of employees paid in accordance with section 124.152 of the Revised Code and those employees listed in divisions (B)(2) and (4) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code. The program may include, but is not limited to, cash awards, additional leave, or other provisions as the director considers appropriate, and the director shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to provide for the administration of the program.

Section 124.18 | Standard work week - compensatory time - overtime pay - holidays.

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

(A) Forty hours shall be the standard work week for all employees whose salary or wage is paid in whole or in part by the state or by any state-supported college or university. When any employee whose salary or wage is paid in whole or in part by the state or by any state-supported college or university is required by an authorized administrative authority to be in an active pay status more than forty hours in any calendar week, the employee shall be compensated for such time over forty hours, except as otherwise provided in this section, at one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay. The use of sick leave or any leave used in lieu of sick leave shall not be considered to be active pay status for the purposes of earning overtime or compensatory time by employees whose wages are paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management. A flexible-hours employee is not entitled to compensation for overtime work unless the employee's authorized administrative authority required the employee to be in active pay status for more than forty hours in a calendar week, regardless of the number of hours the employee works on any day in the same calendar week.

Such compensation for overtime work shall be paid no later than at the conclusion of the next succeeding pay period.

If the employee elects to take compensatory time off in lieu of overtime pay for any overtime worked, such compensatory time shall be granted by the employee's administrative superior, on a time and one-half basis, at a time mutually convenient to the employee and the administrative superior. Compensatory time is not available for use until it appears on the employee's earning statement and the compensation described in the earning statement is available to the employee.

An employee may accrue compensatory time to a maximum of two hundred forty hours, except that public safety employees and other employees who meet the criteria established in the "Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938," 52 Stat. 1060, 29 U.S.C.A. 207, 213, as amended, may accrue a maximum of four hundred eighty hours of compensatory time. An employee shall be paid at the employee's regular rate of pay for any hours of compensatory time accrued in excess of these maximum amounts if the employee has not used the compensatory time within three hundred sixty-five days after it is granted, if the employee transfers to another agency of the state, or if a change in the employee's status exempts the employee from the payment of overtime compensation. Upon the termination of employment, any employee with accrued but unused compensatory time shall be paid for that time at a rate that is the greater of the employee's final regular rate of pay or the employee's average regular rate of pay during the employee's last three years of employment with the state.

No overtime, as described in this section, can be paid unless it has been authorized by the authorized administrative authority. Employees may be exempted from the payment of compensation as required by this section only under the criteria for exemption from the payment of overtime compensation established in the "Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938," 52 Stat. 1060, 29 U.S.C.A. 207, 213, as amended. With the approval of the director of administrative services, the appointing authority may establish a policy to grant compensatory time or to pay compensation to employees in the service of the state who are exempt from overtime compensation. With the approval of the board of county commissioners, a county human services department may establish a policy to grant compensatory time or to pay compensation to employees of the department who are exempt from overtime compensation.

(B)(1) An employee, whose salary or wage is paid in whole or in part by the state, shall be paid for the holidays declared in section 124.19 of the Revised Code and shall not be required to work on those holidays, unless, in the opinion of the employee's responsible administrative authority, failure to work on those holidays would impair the public service.

(2) An employee paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management who is scheduled to work on the first day of January, the commemoration of memorial day, the fourth day of July, the fourth Thursday in November, or the twenty-fifth day of December and who does not report to work the day before, the day of, or the day after the holiday due to an illness of the employee or of a member of the employee's immediate family shall not receive holiday pay as provided by this division, unless the employee can provide documentation of extenuating circumstances that prohibited the employee from so reporting to work. If the employee works a shift between the employee's scheduled shift and the holiday, the employee shall be paid for the holiday.

(3) An employee also shall not be paid for a holiday unless the employee was in active pay status on the scheduled work day immediately preceding the holiday, except that an employee need not be in active pay status on that work day in order to be paid for the holiday if the employee is participating in a mandatory or voluntary cost savings day under section 124.392 of the Revised Code.

(4) If any of the holidays declared in section 124.19 of the Revised Code falls on Saturday, the Friday immediately preceding shall be observed as the holiday. If any of the holidays declared in section 124.19 of the Revised Code falls on Sunday, the Monday immediately succeeding shall be observed as the holiday. Employees whose work schedules are based on the requirements of a seven-days-a-week work operation shall observe holidays on the actual days specified in section 124.19 of the Revised Code.

(5) If an employee's work schedule is other than Monday through Friday, the employee shall be entitled to eight hours of holiday pay for holidays observed on the employee's day off regardless of the day of the week on which they are observed.

(6) A full-time permanent employee is entitled to a minimum of eight hours of pay for each holiday regardless of the employee's work shift and work schedule. A flexible-hours employee, who is normally scheduled to work in excess of eight hours on a day on which a holiday falls, either shall be required to work an alternate schedule for that week or shall receive additional holiday pay for the hours the employee is normally scheduled to work. Such an alternate schedule may require a flexible-hours employee to work five shifts consisting of eight hours each during the week including the holiday, and, in that case, the employee shall receive eight hours of holiday pay for the day the holiday is observed.

(7) Except as provided under section 124.392 of the Revised Code, part-time permanent employees shall receive four hours of holiday pay regardless of the employee's work shift and work schedule.

(8) When an employee who is eligible for overtime pay under this section is required by the employee's responsible administrative authority to work on the day observed as a holiday, the employee shall be entitled to pay for such time worked at one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay in addition to the employee's regular pay, or to be granted compensatory time off at time and one-half thereafter, at the employee's option. Payment at such rate shall be excluded in the calculation of hours in active pay status.

(C) Each appointing authority may designate the number of employees in an agency who are flexible-hours employees. The appointing authority may establish for each flexible-hours employee a specified minimum number of hours to be worked each day that is consistent with the "Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938," 52 Stat. 1060, 29 U.S.C.A. 207, 213, as amended.

(D) This section shall be uniformly administered for employees as defined in section 124.01 of the Revised Code and by the personnel departments of state-supported colleges and universities for employees of state-supported colleges and universities. If employees are not paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management, the political subdivision shall determine whether the use of sick leave shall be considered to be active pay status for purposes of those employees earning overtime or compensatory time.

(E) Policies relating to the payment of overtime pay or the granting of compensatory time off shall be adopted by the chief administrative officer of the house of representatives for employees of the house of representatives, by the clerk of the senate for employees of the senate, and by the director of the legislative service commission for all other legislative employees.

(F) As used in this section, "regular rate of pay" means the base rate of pay an employee receives plus any pay supplements received pursuant to section 124.181 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.181 | Pay supplements - shift differentials.

• Effective: July 1, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 390 - 131st General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in divisions (M) and (P) of this section, any employee paid in accordance with schedule B of section 124.15 or schedule E-1 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code is eligible for the pay supplements provided in this section upon application by the appointing authority substantiating the employee's qualifications for the supplement and with the approval of the director of administrative services except as provided in division (E) of this section.

(B)(1) In computing any of the pay supplements provided in this section for an employee paid in accordance with schedule B of section 124.15 of the Revised Code, the classification salary base shall be the minimum hourly rate of the pay range, provided in that section, in which the employee is assigned at the time of computation.

(2) In computing any of the pay supplements provided in this section for an employee paid in accordance with schedule E-1 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code, the classification salary base shall be the minimum hourly rate of the pay range, provided in that section, in which the employee is assigned at the time of computation.

(C) The effective date of any pay supplement, except as provided in section 124.183 of the Revised Code or unless otherwise provided in this section, shall be determined by the director.

(D) The director shall, by rule, establish standards regarding the administration of this section.

(E)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, beginning on the first day of the pay period within which the employee completes five years of total service with the state government or any of its political subdivisions, each employee in positions paid in accordance with schedule B of section 124.15 of the Revised Code or in accordance with schedule E-1 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code shall receive an automatic salary adjustment equivalent to two and one-half per cent of the classification salary base, to the nearest whole cent. Each employee shall receive thereafter an annual adjustment equivalent to one-half of one per cent of the employee's classification salary base, to the nearest whole cent, for each additional year of qualified employment until a maximum of ten per cent of the employee's classification salary base is reached. The granting of longevity adjustments shall not be affected by promotion, demotion, or other changes in classification held by the employee, nor by any change in pay range for the employee's class or grade. Longevity pay adjustments shall become effective at the beginning of the pay period within which the employee completes the necessary length of service, except that when an employee requests credit for prior service, the effective date of the prior service credit and of any longevity adjustment shall be the first day of the pay period following approval of the credit by the director of administrative services. No employee, other than an employee who submits proof of prior service within ninety days after the date of the employee's hiring, shall receive any longevity adjustment for the period prior to the director's approval of a prior service credit. Time spent on authorized leave of absence shall be counted for this purpose.

(2) An employee who has retired in accordance with the provisions of any retirement system offered by the state and who is employed by the state or any political subdivision of the state on or after June 24, 1987, shall not have prior service with the state or any political subdivision of the state counted for the purpose of determining the amount of the salary adjustment provided under this division.

(3) There shall be a moratorium on employees' receipt under this division of credit for service with the state government or any of its political subdivisions during the period from July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2005. In calculating the number of years of total service under this division, no credit shall be included for service during the moratorium. The moratorium shall apply to the employees of the secretary of state, the auditor of state, the treasurer of state, and the attorney general, who are subject to this section unless the secretary of state, the auditor of state, the treasurer of state, or the attorney general decides to exempt the office's employees from the moratorium and so notifies the director of administrative services in writing on or before July 1, 2003.

If an employee is exempt from the moratorium, receives credit for a period of service during the moratorium, and takes a position with another entity in the state government or any of its political subdivisions, either during or after the moratorium, and if that entity's employees are or were subject to the moratorium, the employee shall continue to retain the credit. However, if the moratorium is in effect upon the taking of the new position, the employee shall cease receiving additional credit as long as the employee is in the position, until the moratorium expires.

(F) When an exceptional condition exists that creates a temporary or a permanent hazard for one or more positions in a class paid in accordance with schedule B of section 124.15 of the Revised Code or in accordance with schedule E-1 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code, a special hazard salary adjustment may be granted for the time the employee is subjected to the hazardous condition. All special hazard conditions shall be identified for each position and incidence from information submitted to the director on an appropriate form provided by the director and categorized into standard conditions of: some unusual hazard not common to the class; considerable unusual hazard not common to the class; and exceptional hazard not common to the class.

(1) A hazardous salary adjustment of five per cent of the employee's classification salary base may be applied in the case of some unusual hazardous condition not common to the class for those hours worked, or a fraction of those hours worked, while the employee was subject to the unusual hazard condition.

(2) A hazardous salary adjustment of seven and one-half per cent of the employee's classification salary base may be applied in the case of some considerable hazardous condition not common to the class for those hours worked, or a fraction of those hours worked, while the employee was subject to the considerable hazard condition.

(3) A hazardous salary adjustment of ten per cent of the employee's classification salary base may be applied in the case of some exceptional hazardous condition not common to the class for those hours worked, or a fraction of those hours worked, when the employee was subject to the exceptional hazard condition.

(4) Each claim for temporary hazard pay shall be submitted as a separate payment and shall be subject to an administrative audit by the director as to the extent and duration of the employee's exposure to the hazardous condition.

(G) When a full-time employee whose salary or wage is paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management and who also is eligible for overtime under the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938," 52 Stat. 1060, 29 U.S.C.A. 207, 213, as amended, is ordered by the appointing authority to report back to work after termination of the employee's regular work schedule and the employee reports, the employee shall be paid for such time. The employee shall be entitled to four hours at the employee's total rate of pay or overtime compensation for the actual hours worked, whichever is greater. This division does not apply to work that is a continuation of or immediately preceding an employee's regular work schedule.

(H) When a certain position or positions paid in accordance with schedule B of section 124.15 of the Revised Code or in accordance with schedule E-1 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code require the ability to speak or write a language other than English, a special pay supplement may be granted to attract bilingual individuals, to encourage present employees to become proficient in other languages, or to retain qualified bilingual employees. The bilingual pay supplement provided in this division may be granted in the amount of five per cent of the employee's classification salary base for each required foreign language and shall remain in effect as long as the bilingual requirement exists.

(I) The director of administrative services may establish a shift differential for employees. The differential shall be paid to employees in positions working in other than the regular or first shift. In those divisions or agencies where only one shift prevails, no shift differential shall be paid regardless of the hours of the day that are worked. The director and the appointing authority shall designate which positions shall be covered by this division.

(J) An appointing authority may assign an employee to work in a higher level position for a continuous period of more than two weeks but no more than two years. The employee's pay shall be established at a rate that is approximately four per cent above the employee's current base rate for the period the employee occupies the position, provided that this temporary assignment is approved by the director. Employees paid under this division shall continue to receive any of the pay supplements due them under other divisions of this section based on the step one base rate for their normal classification.

(K) If a certain position, or positions, within a class paid in accordance with schedule B of section 124.15 of the Revised Code or in accordance with schedule E-1 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code are mandated by state or federal law or regulation or other regulatory agency or other certification authority to have special technical certification, registration, or licensing to perform the functions which are under the mandate, a special professional achievement pay supplement may be granted. This special professional achievement pay supplement shall not be granted when all incumbents in all positions in a class require a license as provided in the classification description published by the department of administrative services; to licensees where no special or extensive training is required; when certification is granted upon completion of a stipulated term of in-service training; when an appointing authority has required certification; or any other condition prescribed by the director.

(1) Before this supplement may be applied, evidence as to the requirement must be provided by the agency for each position involved, and certification must be received from the director as to the director's concurrence for each of the positions so affected.

(2) The professional achievement pay supplement provided in this division shall be granted in an amount up to ten per cent of the employee's classification salary base and shall remain in effect as long as the mandate exists.

(L) Those employees assigned to teaching supervisory, principal, assistant principal, or superintendent positions who have attained a higher educational level than a basic bachelor's degree may receive an educational pay supplement to remain in effect as long as the employee's assignment and classification remain the same.

(1) An educational pay supplement of two and one-half per cent of the employee's classification salary base may be applied upon the achievement of a bachelor's degree plus twenty quarter hours of postgraduate work.

(2) An educational pay supplement of an additional five per cent of the employee's classification salary base may be applied upon achievement of a master's degree.

(3) An educational pay supplement of an additional two and one-half per cent of the employee's classification salary base may be applied upon achievement of a master's degree plus thirty quarter hours of postgraduate work.

(4) An educational pay supplement of five per cent of the employee's classification salary base may be applied when the employee is performing as a master teacher.

(5) An educational pay supplement of five per cent of the employee's classification salary base may be applied when the employee is performing as a special education teacher.

(6) Those employees in teaching supervisory, principal, assistant principal, or superintendent positions who are responsible for specific extracurricular activity programs shall receive overtime pay for those hours worked in excess of their normal schedule, at their straight time hourly rate up to a maximum of five per cent of their regular base salary in any calendar year.

(M)(1) A state agency, board, or commission may establish a supplementary compensation schedule for those licensed physicians employed by the agency, board, or commission in positions requiring a licensed physician. The supplementary compensation schedule, together with the compensation otherwise authorized by this chapter, shall provide for the total compensation for these employees to range appropriately, but not necessarily uniformly, for each classification title requiring a licensed physician, in accordance with a schedule approved by the state controlling board. The individual salary levels recommended for each such physician employed shall be approved by the director. Notwithstanding section 124.11 of the Revised Code, such personnel are in the unclassified civil service.

(2) The director of administrative services may approve supplementary compensation for the director of health, if the director is a licensed physician, in accordance with a supplementary compensation schedule approved under division (M)(1) of this section or in accordance with another supplementary compensation schedule the director of administrative services considers appropriate. The supplementary compensation shall not exceed twenty per cent of the director of health's base rate of pay.

(N) Notwithstanding sections 117.28, 117.30, 117.33, 117.36, 117.42, and 131.02 of the Revised Code, the state shall not institute any civil action to recover and shall not seek reimbursement for overpayments made in violation of division (E) of this section or division (C) of section 9.44 of the Revised Code for the period starting after June 24, 1987, and ending on October 31, 1993.

(O) Employees of the office of the treasurer of state who are exempt from collective bargaining coverage may be granted a merit pay supplement of up to one and one-half per cent of their step rate. The rate at which this supplement is granted shall be based on performance standards established by the treasurer of state. Any supplements granted under this division shall be administered on an annual basis.

(P) Intermittent employees appointed under section 124.30 of the Revised Code are not eligible for the pay supplements provided by this section.

Section 124.182 | Professional development fund.

• Effective: December 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 126th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created in the state treasury the professional development fund. The director of administrative services shall use moneys credited to the fund to pay for programs that provide professional development opportunities for employees who are exempt from collective bargaining coverage and paid by warrant of the director of budget and management. The director of administrative services shall identify by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code programs for which payments from the fund shall be made. The fund also shall be used to pay any direct and indirect costs that are attributable to consultants or a third-party administrator and that are necessary to administer this section. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to it.

(B) The director of administrative services, in consultation with the director of budget and management, shall determine a rate at which the payrolls of all participating state agencies with employees paid by warrant of the director of budget and management shall be charged each pay period that is sufficient to cover the costs of administering the programs paid for with the moneys credited to the professional development fund. The rate shall be based on the total number of those employees and may be adjusted as the director of administrative services, in consultation with the director of budget and management, considers necessary. All moneys collected from the charge shall be credited to the professional development fund.

(C) If the director of administrative services determines that additional appropriation amounts are necessary, the director may request that the director of budget and management increase the appropriation amounts. The additional appropriation amounts are hereby appropriated.

Section 124.183 | One-time pay supplements.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "active payroll" means conditions under which an employee is in active pay status or eligible to receive pay for an approved leave of absence including, but not limited to, occupational injury leave, disability leave, or workers' compensation.

(B)(1) Each full-time permanent employee paid under schedule E-1 or E-2 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code who is in active payroll status on July 1, 2015, and August 1, 2015, shall receive a one-time pay supplement of seven hundred and fifty dollars in the earnings statement the employee receives in the pay period that includes August 21, 2015.

(2) Each full-time permanent employee who is in active payroll status on July 1, 2015, and August 1, 2015, who is exempt from collective bargaining, and who is not covered by division (B)(1) of this section shall receive a one-time pay supplement of seven hundred and fifty dollars in the earnings statement the employee receives in the pay period that includes August 21, 2015.

(3) Each less than full-time employee paid under schedule E-1 or E-2 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code who is in active payroll status on July 1, 2015, and August 1, 2015, shall receive a one-time pay supplement of three hundred and seventy-five dollars in the earnings statement the employee receives in the pay period that includes August 21, 2015.

(4) An employee who is not in active payroll status on July 1, 2015, and August 1, 2015, due to military leave or an absence taken under the Family and Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq., as amended, is eligible to receive the one-time pay supplement pursuant to the terms of this section.

(C) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a one-time pay supplement under this section shall not be subject to withholding for deposit into any state retirement system. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a one-time pay supplement under this section shall not be used for calculation purposes in determining an employee's retirement benefits in any state retirement system.

(D) This section does not apply to employees of the supreme court, the general assembly, the legislative service commission, the secretary of state, the auditor of state, the treasurer of state, or the attorney general unless the supreme court, the general assembly, the legislative service commission, the secretary of state, the auditor of state, the treasurer of state, or the attorney general decides that the employees of those respective entities should be eligible for the one-time pay supplement and notifies the director of administrative services in writing on or before July 10, 2015, of the decision to participate in the one-time pay supplement.

Section 124.19 | State holidays - university holidays.

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

(A) State holidays shall be the first day of January, the third Monday in January, the third Monday in February, the day designated in the "Act of June 28, 1968," 82 Stat. 250, 5 U.S.C. 6103, as amended, for the commemoration of Memorial day, the nineteenth day of June, the fourth day of July, the first Monday in September, the second Monday in October, the eleventh day of November, the fourth Thursday in November, the twenty-fifth day of December, and any day appointed and recommended by the governor of this state or the president of the United States. Employees shall be paid for these holidays as specified in section 124.18 of the Revised Code.

(B) The board of trustees of a community college, technical college, state community college, or state university or college as defined in division (A)(1) of section 3345.12 of the Revised Code may, for all employees of the college or university, observe on days other than those specified in division (A) of this section any of the holidays otherwise observed on the third Monday in January, the third Monday in February, and the second Monday in October.

Last updated August 4, 2021 at 10:51 AM

Section 124.20 | Classification rules - record keeping.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

The director of administrative services, with the approval of the state personnel board of review, shall adopt rules:

(A) For appointment, promotions, transfers, layoffs, suspensions, reductions, reinstatements, and removals in and examinations and registrations for offices and positions in the civil service of the state. Appointing authorities with officers or employees in the civil service of the state shall submit personnel action information to the department of administrative services as the director requires.

(B) For maintaining and keeping records of the efficiency of officers and employees in the civil service of the state in accordance with sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code.

Due notice of the contents of those rules and of all changes shall be given to appointing authorities affected by those rules, and those rules also shall be available for public distribution.

Section 124.21 | Civil service districts.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

The director of administrative services may divide the state into civil service districts, and establish an officer in each of such districts. The director may place in charge of each such district an assistant whose duties and compensation shall be determined and fixed by the rules of the director.

Section 124.22 | Educational and citizenship requirements for civil service examinations.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

Rules establishing educational requirements as a condition of taking a civil service examination shall only be adopted with respect to positions for which educational requirements are expressly imposed by a section of the Revised Code or federal requirements or for which the director determines that the educational requirements are job-related. An applicant for a civil service examination must be a United States citizen or have a valid permanent resident card.

Section 124.23 | Examinations.

• Effective: September 28, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 490 - 129th General Assembly

(A) All applicants for positions and places in the classified service shall be subject to examination, except for applicants for positions as professional or certified service and paraprofessional employees of county boards of developmental disabilities, who shall be hired in the manner provided in section 124.241 of the Revised Code.

(B) Any examination administered under this section shall be public and be open to all citizens of the United States and those persons who have legally declared their intentions of becoming United States citizens. For examinations administered for positions in the service of the state, the director of administrative services or the director's designee may determine certain limitations as to citizenship, age, experience, education, health, habit, and moral character.

(C)(1) Any person who has completed service in the uniformed services, who has been honorably discharged from the uniformed services or transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory service, and who is a resident of this state and any member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard, who has completed more than one hundred eighty days of active duty service pursuant to an executive order of the president of the United States or an act of the congress of the United States may file with the director a certificate of service or honorable discharge, and, upon this filing, the person shall receive additional credit of twenty per cent of the person's total grade given in the examination in which the person receives a passing grade. A person who receives an additional credit under division (C)(1) of this section shall not receive an additional credit under division (C)(2) of this section.

(2) A member in good standing of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard, who successfully completes the member's initial entry-level training shall receive a credit of fifteen per cent of the person's total grade given in the examination in which the person receives a passing grade.

(3) As used in this division, "service in the uniformed services" and "uniformed services" have the same meanings as in the "Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994," 108 Stat. 3149, 38 U.S.C.A. 4303.

(D) An examination may include an evaluation of such factors as education, training, capacity, knowledge, manual dexterity, and physical or psychological fitness. An examination shall consist of one or more tests in any combination. Tests may be written, oral, physical, demonstration of skill, or an evaluation of training and experiences and shall be designed to fairly test the relative capacity of the persons examined to discharge the particular duties of the position for which appointment is sought. Tests may include structured interviews, assessment centers, work simulations, examinations of knowledge, skills, and abilities, and any other acceptable testing methods. If minimum or maximum requirements are established for any examination, they shall be specified in the examination announcement.

(E) Except as otherwise provided in sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code, when a position in the classified service of the state is to be filled, an examination shall be administered. The director of administrative services shall have control of all examinations administered for positions in the service of the state and all other examinations the director administers as provided in section 124.07 of the Revised Code, except as otherwise provided in sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code. The director shall, by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, prescribe the notification method that is to be used by an appointing authority to notify the director that a position in the classified service of the state is to be filled. In addition to the positions described in section 124.30 of the Revised Code, the director may, with sufficient justification from the appointing authority, allow the appointing authority to fill the position by noncompetitive examination. The director shall establish, by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, standards that the director shall use to determine what serves as sufficient justification from an appointing authority to fill a position by noncompetitive examination.

(F) No questions in any examination shall relate to political or religious opinions or affiliations. No credit for seniority, efficiency, or any other reason shall be added to an applicant's examination grade unless the applicant achieves at least the minimum passing grade on the examination without counting that extra credit.

(G) Except as otherwise provided in sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code, the director of administrative services or the director's designee shall give reasonable notice of the time, place, and general scope of every competitive examination for appointment that the director or the director's designee administers for positions in the classified service of the state. The director or the director's designee shall post notices via electronic media of every examination to be conducted for positions in the classified civil service of the state. The electronic notice shall be posted on the director's internet site on the world wide web for a minimum of one week preceding any examination involved.

Section 124.231 | Special examinations for legally blind or legally deaf persons.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "legally blind person" means any person who qualifies as being blind under any Ohio or federal statute, or any rule adopted thereunder. As used in this section, "legally deaf person" means any person who qualifies as being deaf under any Ohio or federal statute, or any rule adopted thereunder.

(B) When an examination is to be administered under sections 124.01 to 124.31 of the Revised Code, the director of administrative services or the director's designee shall whenever practicable arrange for special examinations to be administered to legally blind or legally deaf persons applying for positions in the classified service of the state to ensure that the abilities of such applicants are properly assessed and that such applicants are not subject to discrimination because they are legally blind or legally deaf persons.

Section 124.24 | Examinations for employees engaged in mineral resource safety.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding sections 124.01 to 124.64 and Chapter 145. of the Revised Code, the examinations of applicants for the positions of deputy mine inspector, superintendent of rescue stations, assistant superintendent of rescue stations, electrical inspectors, and mine chemists in the division of mineral resources management, department of natural resources, as provided in Chapters 1561., 1563., 1565., and 1567. of the Revised Code shall be provided for, conducted, and administered by the chief of the division of mineral resources management.

From the returns of the examinations the chief shall prepare eligible lists of the persons whose general average standing upon examinations for such grade or class is not less than the minimum fixed by rules adopted under section 1561.05 of the Revised Code and who are otherwise eligible. All appointments to a position shall be made from that eligible list in the same manner as appointments are made from eligible lists prepared by the director of administrative services. Any person upon being appointed to fill one of the positions provided for in this division, from any such eligible list, shall have the same standing, rights, privileges, and status as other state employees in the classified service.

(B) Notwithstanding sections 124.01 to 124.64 and Chapter 145. of the Revised Code, the examinations of applicants for the position of gas storage well inspector in the division of oil and gas resources management, department of natural resources, as provided in Chapter 1571. of the Revised Code shall be provided for, conducted, and administered by the chief of the division of oil and gas resources management.

From the returns of the examinations, the chief shall prepare an eligible list of the persons whose general average standing upon examinations for that position is not less than the minimum fixed by rules adopted under section 1571.014 of the Revised Code and who are otherwise eligible. An appointment to the position shall be made from that eligible list in the same manner as appointments are made from eligible lists prepared by the director of administrative services. Any person, upon being appointed to fill the position provided for in this division from any such eligible list, shall have the same standing, rights, privileges, and status as other state employees in the classified service.

Section 124.241 | Professional employees and registered service employees of county board of developmental disabilities.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

As used in this section, "professional employee" has the same meaning as in section 5126.20 of the Revised Code and "registered service employee" means a service employee, as defined in section 5126.20 of the Revised Code, who is registered under section 5126.25 of the Revised Code.

County boards of developmental disabilities may hire professional employees and registered service employees in the classified service on the basis of the candidates' qualifications rather than on the basis of the results of a civil service examination, as described in division (D) of section 124.23 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.25 | Formal application for examination.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

The director of administrative services shall require persons applying for an examination for original appointment in the service of the state to file with the director or the director's designee, within reasonable time prior to the examination, a formal application, in which the applicant shall state the applicant's name, address, and such other information as may reasonably be required concerning the applicant's education and experience. No inquiry shall be made as to religious or political affiliations or as to racial or ethnic origin of the applicant, except as necessary to gather equal employment opportunity or other statistics that, when compiled, will not identify any specific individual.

Blank forms for applications shall be furnished by the director or the director's designee without charge to any person requesting the same. The director or the director's designee may require in connection with such application such certificate of persons having knowledge of the applicant as the good of the service demands. The director or the director's designee may refuse to appoint or examine an applicant, or, after an examination, refuse to certify the applicant as eligible, who is found to lack any of the established preliminary requirements for the examination, who is addicted to the habitual use of intoxicating liquors or drugs to excess, who has a pattern of poor work habits and performance with previous employers, who has been convicted of a felony, who has been guilty of infamous or notoriously disgraceful conduct, who has been dismissed from either branch of the civil service for delinquency or misconduct, or who has made false statements of any material fact, or practiced, or attempted to practice, any deception or fraud in the application or examination, in establishing eligibility, or securing an appointment.

Section 124.26 | Eligibility lists; veteran's preference; expiration of list.

• Effective: September 28, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 490, House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

From the returns of examinations for positions in the service of the state, the director of administrative services or the director's designee shall prepare an eligible list of the persons whose general average standing upon examinations for the class or position is not less than the minimum fixed by the rules of the director, and who are otherwise eligible. Those persons shall take rank upon the eligible list as candidates in the order of their relative excellence as determined by the examination without reference to priority of the time of examination. If two or more applicants receive the same mark in an open competitive examination, priority in the time of filing the application with the director or the director's designee shall determine the order in which their names shall be placed on the eligible list, except that applicants eligible for the veteran's or the reserve component member's preference under section 124.23 of the Revised Code shall receive priority in rank on the eligible list over nonveterans and nonmembers of the reserve component on the list with a rating equal to that of the veteran or reserve component member. Ties among veterans or among reserve component members shall be decided by priority of filing the application. A tie between a veteran and a reserve component member shall be decided in favor of the veteran.

An eligible list expires upon the filling or closing of the position. An expired eligible list may be used to fill a position of the same classification within the same appointing authority for which the list was created. But, in no event shall an expired list be used more than one year past its expiration date.

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 124.27 | Appointments from eligible lists - probation.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

(A) Appointments to all positions in the classified civil service, that are not filled by promotion, transfer, or reduction, as provided in sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code and the rules of the director prescribed under those sections, shall be made only from those persons whose names take rank order on an eligible list, and no employment, except as provided in those sections, shall be otherwise given in the classified civil service. The appointing authority shall appoint in the following manner: each time a selection is made, it shall be from one of the names that ranks in the top ten names on the eligible list or the top twenty-five per cent of the eligible list, whichever is greater. In the event that ten or fewer names are on the eligible list, the appointing authority may select any of the listed candidates. Each person who qualifies for the veteran's preference under section 124.23 of the Revised Code, who is a resident of this state, and whose name is on the eligible list for a position is entitled to preference in original appointment to any such competitive position in the classified civil service of the state over all other persons who are eligible for those appointments and who are standing on the relevant eligible list with a rating equal to that of the person qualifying for the veteran's preference.

(B) All original and promotional appointments in the classified civil service, including appointments made pursuant to section 124.30 of the Revised Code, but not intermittent appointments, shall be for a probationary period, not less than sixty days nor more than one year, to be fixed by the rules of the director for appointments in the civil service of the state, except as provided in section 124.231 of the Revised Code, and except for original appointments to a police department as a police officer or to a fire department as a firefighter which shall be for a probationary period of one year. No appointment or promotion is final until the appointee has satisfactorily served the probationary period. If the service of the probationary employee is unsatisfactory, the employee may be removed or reduced at any time during the probationary period. If the appointing authority decides to remove a probationary employee in the service of the state, the appointing authority shall communicate the removal to the director. A probationary employee duly removed or reduced in position for unsatisfactory service does not have the right to appeal the removal or reduction under section 124.34 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.271 | Provisional employees.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

Any employee in the classified service of the state or any county, city, city health district, general health district, or city school district who is appointed to a position under section 124.30 of the Revised Code, and either demonstrates merit and fitness for the position by successfully completing the probationary period for the position or remains in the position for a period of six months of continuous service, whichever period is longer, shall become a permanent appointee in the classified service at the conclusion of that period.

Section 124.29 | Authority for temporary furloughs.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding any provision of sections 124.321 to 124.328 of the Revised Code to the contrary, if the operation of an appointing authority is dependent on funds from the federal government and those funds are not available or have not been received by the appointing authority, the director of administrative services may authorize an appointing authority to temporarily furlough an employee of the appointing authority.

(B) The director shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section.

Section 124.30 | Filling classified positions in civil service without competition.

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

(A) Classified positions in the civil service may be filled without competition as follows:

(1) Whenever there are urgent reasons for filling a vacancy in any position in the classified civil service and the director of administrative services is unable to certify to the appointing authority, upon its request, a list of persons eligible for appointment to the position after a competitive examination, the appointing authority may fill the position by noncompetitive examination.

A temporary appointment may be made without regard to the rules of sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the temporary appointment may not continue longer than one hundred twenty days, and in no case shall successive temporary appointments be made. A temporary appointment longer than one hundred twenty days may be made if necessary by reason of sickness, disability, or other approved leave of absence of regular officers or employees, in which case it may continue during the period of sickness, disability, or other approved leave of absence, subject to the rules of the director.

(2) In case of a vacancy in a position in the classified civil service where peculiar and exceptional qualifications of a scientific, managerial, professional, or educational character are required, and upon satisfactory evidence that for specified reasons competition in this special case is impracticable and that the position can best be filled by a selection of some designated person of high and recognized attainments in those qualities, the director may suspend the provisions of sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code that require competition in this special case, but no suspension shall be general in its application. All such cases of suspension shall be reported in the annual report of the director with the reasons for each suspension. The director shall suspend the provisions when either of the following applies:

(a) The director of job and family services provides the certification under section 5101.051 of the Revised Code that a position with the department of job and family services can best be filled if the provisions are suspended;

(b) The medicaid director provides the certification under section 5160.051 of the Revised Code that a position with the department of medicaid can best be filled if the provisions are suspended.

(3) The acceptance or refusal by an eligible person of a temporary appointment shall not affect the person's standing on the eligible list for permanent appointment, nor shall the period of temporary service be counted as a part of the probationary service in case of subsequent appointment to a permanent position.

(B) Persons who receive temporary or intermittent appointments are in the unclassified civil service and serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority.

Section 124.301 | Waive residency for job and family services employee.

• Effective: July 1, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 470 - 123rd General Assembly

The director of administrative services shall waive any residency requirement for the civil service established by a rule adopted under division (A) of section 124.09 of the Revised Code if the director of job and family services provides the director certification under section 5101.051 of the Revised Code that a position with the department of job and family services can best be filled if the residency requirement is waived.

Section 124.31 | Promotions.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

Vacancies in positions in the classified civil service of the state shall be filled insofar as practicable by promotions. The director of administrative services shall provide in the director's rules for keeping a record of efficiency for each employee in the classified civil service of the state, and for making promotions in the classified civil service of the state on the basis of merit and by conduct and capacity in office.

Section 124.32 | Transfers - reinstatements.

• Effective: September 15, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 483 - 130th General Assembly

(A) A person holding an office or position in the classified service may be transferred to a similar position in another office, department, or institution having the same pay and similar duties, but no transfer shall be made as follows:

(1) From an office or position in one class to an office or position in another class;

(2) To an office or position for original entrance to which there is required by sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code, or the rules adopted pursuant to those sections, an examination involving essential tests or qualifications or carrying a salary different from or higher than those required for original entrance to an office or position held by the person proposed to be transferred.

No person in the classified civil service of the state may be transferred without the consent of the director of administrative services.

(B) Any person holding an office or position in the classified service who has been separated from the service without delinquency or misconduct on the person's part may be reinstated within one year from the date of that separation to a vacancy in the same office or in a similar position in the same department, except that a person in the classified service of the state only may be reinstated with the consent of the director of administrative services. But, if that separation is due to injury or physical or psychiatric disability, the person shall be reinstated in the same office held or in a similar position to that held at the time of separation, within sixty days after written application for reinstatement, if the person passes a physical or psychiatric examination made by a licensed physician, a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife showing that the person has recovered from the injury or physical or psychiatric disability, if the application for reinstatement is filed within two years from the date of separation, and if the application is not filed after the date of service eligibility retirement. The physician, physician assistant, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse-midwife shall be designated by the appointing authority and shall complete any written documentation of the physical or psychiatric examination.

Section 124.321 | Reduction in work force - layoffs - job abolishment.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

(A) Whenever it becomes necessary for an appointing authority to reduce its work force, the appointing authority shall lay off employees or abolish their positions in accordance with sections 124.321 to 124.327 of the Revised Code. If the affected work force is in the service of the state, the reduction shall also be in compliance with the rules of the director of administrative services.

(B)(1) Employees may be laid off as a result of a lack of funds within an appointing authority. For appointing authorities that employ persons whose salary or wage is paid by warrant of the director of budget and management, the director of budget and management shall be responsible for determining, consistent with the rules adopted under division (B)(3) of this section, whether a lack of funds exists. For appointing authorities that employ persons whose salary or wage is paid other than by warrant of the director of budget and management, the appointing authority itself shall determine whether a lack of funds exists.

(2) As used in this division, a "lack of funds" means an appointing authority has a current or projected deficiency of funding to maintain current, or to sustain projected, levels of staffing and operations. This section does not require any transfer of money between funds in order to offset a deficiency or projected deficiency of funding for programs funded by the federal government, special revenue accounts, or proprietary accounts. Whenever a program receives funding through a grant or similar mechanism, a lack of funds shall be presumed for the positions assigned to and the employees who work under the grant or similar mechanism if, for any reason, the funding is reduced or withdrawn.

(3) The director of budget and management shall adopt rules, under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, for agencies whose employees are paid by warrant of the director of budget and management, for determining whether a lack of funds exists.

(C)(1) Employees may be laid off as a result of lack of work within an appointing authority. For appointing authorities whose employees are paid by warrant of the director of budget and management, the director of administrative services shall determine, consistent with the rules adopted under division (F) of this section, whether a lack of work exists. All other appointing authorities shall themselves determine whether a lack of work exists.

(2) As used in this division, a "lack of work" means an appointing authority has a current or projected decrease in workload that requires a reduction of current or projected staffing levels in its organization or structure. The determination of a lack of work shall indicate the current or projected decrease in workload and whether the current or projected staffing levels of the appointing authority will be excessive.

(D)(1) Employees may be laid off as a result of abolishment of positions. As used in this division, "abolishment" means the deletion of a position or positions from the organization or structure of an appointing authority.

For purposes of this division, an appointing authority may abolish positions for any one or any combination of the following reasons: as a result of a reorganization for the efficient operation of the appointing authority, for reasons of economy, or for lack of work.

(2)(a) Reasons of economy permitting an appointing authority to abolish a position and to lay off the holder of that position under this division shall be determined at the time the appointing authority proposes to abolish the position. The reasons of economy shall be based on the appointing authority's estimated amount of savings with respect to salary, benefits, and other matters associated with the abolishment of the position, except that the reasons of economy associated with the position's abolishment instead may be based on the appointing authority's estimated amount of savings with respect to salary and benefits only, if:

(i) Either the appointing authority's operating appropriation has been reduced by an executive or legislative action, or the appointing authority has a current or projected deficiency in funding to maintain current or projected levels of staffing and operations; and

(ii) In the case of a position in the service of the state, it files a notice of the position's abolishment with the director of administrative services within one year of the occurrence of the applicable circumstance described in division (D)(2)(a)(i) of this section.

(b) The following principles apply when a circumstance described in division (D)(2)(a)(i) of this section would serve to authorize an appointing authority to abolish a position and to lay off the holder of the position under this division based on the appointing authority's estimated amount of savings with respect to salary and benefits only:

(i) The position's abolishment shall be done in good faith and not as a subterfuge for discipline.

(ii) If a circumstance affects a specific program only, the appointing authority only may abolish a position within that program.

(iii) If a circumstance does not affect a specific program only, the appointing authority may identify a position that it considers appropriate for abolishment based on the reasons of economy.

(3) Each appointing authority shall determine itself whether any position should be abolished. An appointing authority abolishing any position in the service of the state shall file a statement of rationale and supporting documentation with the director of administrative services prior to sending the notice of abolishment.

If an abolishment results in a reduction of the work force, the appointing authority shall follow the procedures for laying off employees, subject to the following modifications:

(a) The employee whose position has been abolished shall have the right to fill an available vacancy within the employee's classification.

(b) If the employee whose position has been abolished has more retention points than any other employee serving in the same classification, the employee with the fewest retention points shall be displaced.

(c) If the employee whose position has been abolished has the fewest retention points in the classification, the employee shall have the right to fill an available vacancy in a lower classification in the classification series.

(d) If the employee whose position has been abolished has the fewest retention points in the classification, the employee shall displace the employee with the fewest retention points in the next or successively lower classification in the classification series.

(E) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the displacement procedure described in section 124.324 of the Revised Code for employees to displace other employees during a layoff, the director of administrative services or a county appointing authority may establish a paper lay-off process under which employees who are to be laid off or displaced may be required, before the date of their paper layoff, to preselect their options for displacing other employees.

(F) The director of administrative services shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the determination of lack of work within an appointing authority, for the abolishment of positions by an appointing authority, and for the implementation of this section as it relates to positions in the service of the state.

Section 124.322 | Layoff procedures.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

Whenever a reduction in the work force is necessary, the appointing authority of an agency shall decide in which classification or classifications the layoff or layoffs will occur and the number of employees to be laid off within each affected classification. The director of administrative services shall adopt rules, under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, establishing a method for determining layoff procedures and an order of layoff of, and the displacement and recall of, laid-off state and county employees.

The order of layoff in those rules shall be based in part on length of service and may include efficiency in service, appointment type, or similar other factors the director considers appropriate. If the director establishes relative efficiency as a criterion to be used in determining order of layoff for state and county employees, credit for efficiency may be other than ten per cent of total retention points.

Section 124.323 | Layoff order.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

Employees shall be laid off in the order set forth in this section within the primary appointment categories of part-time probationary, part-time permanent, full-time probationary, and full-time permanent. Whenever a reduction in force is necessary within each of the primary appointment categories, first part-time probationary, then part-time permanent, then full-time probationary, and then full-time permanent employees shall be laid off.

Section 124.324 | Layoff displacement rights.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

(A) A laid-off employee has the right to displace the employee with the fewest retention points in the following order:

(1) Within the classification from which the employee was laid off;

(2) Within the classification series from which the employee was laid off;

(3) Within the classification the employee held immediately prior to holding the classification from which the employee was laid off, except that the employee may not displace employees in a classification if the employee does not meet the minimum qualifications of the classification or if the employee last held the classification more than three years prior to the date on which the employee was laid off.

If, after exercising displacement rights, an employee is subject to further layoff action, the employee's displacement rights shall be in accordance with the classification from which the employee was first laid off.

The director of administrative services shall verify the calculation of the retention points of all employees in the service of the state in an affected classification in accordance with section 124.325 of the Revised Code.

(B) Following the order of layoff, an employee laid off in the classified civil service shall displace another employee within the same appointing authority or independent institution and layoff jurisdiction in the following manner:

(1) Each laid-off employee possessing more retention points shall displace the employee with the fewest retention points in the next lower classification or successively lower classification in the same classification series.

(2) Any employee displaced by an employee possessing more retention points shall displace the employee with the fewest retention points in the next lower classification or successively lower classification in the same classification series. This process shall continue, if necessary, until the employee with the fewest retention points in the lowest classification of the classification series of the same appointing authority or independent institution has been reached and, if necessary, laid off.

(C) Employees shall notify the appointing authority of their intention to exercise their displacement rights, within five days after receiving notice of layoff. This division does not apply if the director of administrative services has established a paper lay-off process pursuant to division (E) of section 124.321 of the Revised Code that includes a different notification requirement for employees exercising their displacement rights under that process.

(D) No employee shall displace an employee for whose position or classification there are certain position-specific minimum qualifications, as established by the appointing authority and reviewed for validity by the department of administrative services, or as established by bona fide occupational qualification, unless the employee desiring to displace another employee possesses the requisite position-specific minimum qualifications for the position or classification.

(E) If an employee exercising displacement rights must displace an employee in another county within the same layoff district, the displacement shall not be construed to be a transfer.

(F) The director of administrative services shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the implementation of this section as it relates to positions in the service of the state.

Section 124.325 | Retention points for continuous service and efficiency.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

(A) Retention points to reflect the length of continuous service and efficiency in service for all employees affected by a layoff shall be verified by the director of administrative services for positions in the service of the state.

(B) An employee's length of continuous service will be carried from one layoff jurisdiction to another so long as no break in service occurs between transfers or appointments.

(C) If two or more employees have an identical number of retention points, employees having the shortest period of continuous service shall be laid off first.

(D)(1) As used in this division, "affected employee" means a city employee who becomes a county employee, or a county employee who becomes a city employee, as the result of any of the following:

(a) The merger of a city and a county office;

(b) The merger of city and county functions or duties;

(c) The transfer of functions or duties between a city and county.

(2) For purposes of this section, the new employer of any affected employee shall treat the employee's prior service with a former employer as if it had been served with the new employer.

(E) The director of administrative services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to establish a system for the assignment of retention points for each employee in the service of the state in a classification affected by a layoff and for determining, in those instances where employees in the service of the state have identical retention points, which employee shall be laid off first.

Section 124.326 | Layoff jurisdictions.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The order of layoff and displacement shall apply within layoff jurisdictions. Each of the layoff jurisdictions, as defined in this section, is autonomous, and layoff, displacement, reinstatement, and reemployment procedures shall apply only within the jurisdiction affected by the layoff.

(B) The layoff jurisdictions are as follows:

(1) District layoff jurisdiction: the order of layoff shall be followed on a district-wide basis within each state agency, board, commission, or independent institution. The director of administrative services shall establish layoff districts for state agencies, boards, and commissions.

(2) County jurisdiction: within county agencies, the order of layoff shall be followed within each county appointing authority.

(3) University and college jurisdiction: each state-supported college and university is a separate, indivisible layoff jurisdiction throughout which the order of layoff shall be followed, except that a branch campus outside the layoff district of its main campus shall be considered a separate layoff jurisdiction. For purposes of division (B)(3) of this section, the Ohio agriculture research and development center shall be considered a branch campus of the Ohio state university.

The layoff jurisdiction described in division (B)(3) of this section shall not apply to employees who:

(a) Are laid off for a temporary period of up to one hundred ten consecutive days; or

(b) Have specialized skills, knowledge, or training necessary for the performance of their job.

A state-supported college or university may adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to provide for the layoff of employees who are not subject to the lay-off jurisdiction described in division (B)(3) of this section but instead are subject to the lay-off jurisdiction described in division (B)(1) of this section.

(C) As used in this section, "independent institution" means an institution under the control of a managing officer or board of trustees with the power to appoint or remove employees as provided by statute.

Section 124.327 | Layoff lists - reinstatement - reemployment.

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

(A) Employees who have been laid off or have, by virtue of exercising their displacement rights, been displaced to a lower classification in their classification series, shall be placed on appropriate layoff lists. Those employees with the most retention points within each category of order of layoff, as established in section 124.323 of the Revised Code, shall be placed at the top of the layoff list to be followed by employees ranked in descending total retention order. Laid-off employees shall be placed on layoff lists for each classification in the classification series equal to or lower than the classification in which the employee was employed at the time of layoff.

(B) An employee who is laid off retains reinstatement rights in the agency from which the employee was laid off. Reinstatement rights continue for one year from the date of layoff. During this one-year period, in any layoff jurisdiction in which an appointing authority has an employee on a layoff list, the appointing authority shall not hire or promote anyone into a position within that classification until all laid-off persons on a layoff list for that classification who are qualified to perform the duties of the position are reinstated or decline the position when it is offered.

For an exempt employee, as defined in section 124.152 of the Revised Code, who has reinstatement rights into a bargaining unit classification, the exempt employee's recall jurisdiction shall be the counties in which the exempt employee indicates willingness to accept reinstatement as determined by the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

(C) Each laid-off or displaced employee, in addition to reinstatement rights within the employee's appointing authority, has the right to reemployment with any other state agency, board, commission, or independent institution described in division (B)(1) of section 124.326 of the Revised Code, if the employee meets all applicable position-specific minimum qualifications developed by the other agency, board, commission, or independent institution and reviewed for validity by the department of administrative services or, in the absence of position-specific minimum qualifications so developed and reviewed, meets the qualifications described in the applicable classification, but only in the same classification from which the employee was initially laid off or displaced. Layoff lists for each appointing authority must be exhausted before other jurisdiction reemployment layoff lists are used.

(D) Any employee accepting or declining reinstatement to the same classification and same appointment type from which the employee was laid off or displaced shall be removed from the appointing authority's layoff list.

(E) Any employee accepting or declining reemployment to the same classification and the same appointment type from which the employee was laid off or displaced shall be removed from the layoff list for the jurisdiction in which the employee accepted or declined that reemployment as determined under division (C) of this section.

(F) An employee who does not exercise the option to displace under section 124.324 of the Revised Code shall only be entitled to reinstatement or reemployment in the classification from which the employee was displaced or laid off.

(G) Except as otherwise provided in this division, an employee who declines reinstatement to a classification lower in the classification series than the classification from which the employee was laid off or displaced, thereafter is only entitled to reinstatement to a classification higher, up to and including the classification from which the employee was laid off or displaced, in the classification series than the classification that was declined. This division does not apply when an employee, who was a full-time employee at the time of layoff or displacement, declines reinstatement in a part-time position.

(H) Any employee reinstated or reemployed under this section shall not serve a probationary period upon reinstatement or reemployment, except that an employee laid off during an original or promotional probationary period shall begin a new probationary period.

(I) For the purposes of this section, employees whose salary or wage is not paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management shall be placed on layoff lists of their appointing authority only.

(J) A state agency shall notify an employee recalled from layoff of the offer of reinstatement or reemployment either by certified letter or, if the agency has record of an internet identifier of record associated with the employee, by ordinary mail and by that internet identifier of record. As used in this division, "internet identifier of record" has the same meaning as in section 9.312 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.328 | Layoff, displacement appeals.

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

A classified employee may appeal a layoff, or a displacement that is the result of a layoff, to the state personnel board of review. The appeal shall be filed or postmarked no later than ten days after receipt of the layoff notice or after the date the employee is displaced. In cases involving the laying off of classified employees, the affected employee or appointing authority may appeal the decision of the state personnel board of review to the court of common pleas in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.33 | Transfers - appeal - reimbursement of expenses.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

An employee holding a position in the classified service may be temporarily transferred from the employee's original position to a similar position for a period not to exceed thirty days, or for a longer period not to exceed ninety days if agreed to by the employee and employer.

No employee shall be temporarily transferred more than once during any six-month period without the approval of the director of administrative services, if the employee is in the service of the state, or otherwise without the approval of a commission. The director, by rule, shall set guidelines concerning procedures to be followed by all appointing authorities when making a temporary transfer and list those classifications where the nature of the employment is such that systematic changes in the location of an employee's work assignments are necessary for the efficient operation of an office, department, or institution.

If the director or a commission approves a second temporary transfer within any six-month period and the employee objects to the transfer because the employee does not hold a position listed in the director's rules as one requiring systematic changes in the employee's work assignment or because it is not necessary for the efficient operation of the office, department, or institution, the employee may appeal that transfer to the state personnel board of review. If the board finds that the position held by the employee is not by its nature subject to systematic changes or that a temporary transfer is not necessary for the efficient operation of the office, department, or institution, it shall not approve the transfer. If the board finds that the temporary transfer is necessary for the efficient operation of the office, department, or institution or that the position is by its nature subject to systematic changes, it shall approve the transfer.

Any employee who is temporarily transferred from the employee's original position to a similar position in excess of twenty miles from the employee's place of residence shall be reimbursed, by the appointing authority requesting the transfer, for all actual and necessary expenses incurred during the temporary transfer.

An appointing authority, with the approval of the director of administrative services, if the employee is in the service of the state, or otherwise with the approval of a commission, may permanently transfer an employee in the classified civil service from the employee's original position to a similar position in another office, department, or institution. For purposes of this section, a "permanent transfer" means any transfer in excess of thirty days unless the employee and the employer agree to a longer period not to exceed ninety days. The appointing authority requesting the permanent transfer shall notify the employee and the director or commission in writing of the request to transfer. If the director or commission determines that the transfer is not necessary for the efficient operation of the office, department, or institution, the director or commission shall not approve the transfer and shall notify the appointing authority and the employee in writing that transfer is not approved. If the director or commission finds that the transfer is necessary for the efficient operation of the office, department, or institution, the director or commission shall notify the appointing authority and the employee, in writing, that the transfer is approved, including in that notification a statement whether the transfer will require a permanent change of residence for the employee.

If the employee consents to the transfer and is in agreement with the statement concerning a permanent change of residence, the appointing authority of the office, department, or institution receiving the employee shall reimburse the employee for actual and necessary travel and living expenses or, if the move requires a permanent change of residence, actual and necessary expenses of moving to the new location and provide a per diem allowance not to exceed thirty days for living expenses until the employee's residence can be moved to the new location.

If the employee does not wish to be transferred or feels that the decision regarding the need for a permanent change of residence has been unfair, the employee, within ten days after receipt of the notice, may appeal the transfer to the state personnel board of review, but, pending determination of the appeal, the employee shall not refuse the transfer.

In such an appeal, the appointing authority of the office, department, or institution receiving the employee shall be required to show that the permanent transfer is necessary for the efficient operation of the office, department, or institution. If the state personnel board of review finds that the transfer is necessary for the efficient operation of the office, department, or institution and if the employee is transferred, the appointing authority of the office, department, or institution receiving the employee shall reimburse the employee for the actual and necessary expenses of moving to the new location and shall pay the employee a per diem allowance not to exceed thirty days for living expenses until the employee's residence can be moved to the new location.

If the state personnel board of review finds that the transfer is not necessary for the efficient operation of the office, department, or institution and if the employee has moved to the new location pending the appeal, the appointing authority of the receiving office, department, or institution shall pay the actual and necessary expenses of the employee of moving to the new location and actual and necessary expenses for returning the employee to the employee's previous location.

Section 124.34 | Reduction in pay or position - suspension - removal.

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

(A) The tenure of every officer or employee in the classified service of the state and the counties, civil service townships, cities, city health districts, general health districts, and city school districts of the state, holding a position under this chapter, shall be during good behavior and efficient service. No officer or employee shall be reduced in pay or position, fined, suspended, or removed, or have the officer's or employee's longevity reduced or eliminated, except as provided in section 124.32 of the Revised Code, and for incompetency, inefficiency, unsatisfactory performance, dishonesty, drunkenness, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public, neglect of duty, violation of any policy or work rule of the officer's or employee's appointing authority, violation of this chapter or the rules of the director of administrative services or the commission, any other failure of good behavior, any other acts of misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or conviction of a felony while employed in the civil service. The denial of a one-time pay supplement or a bonus to an officer or employee is not a reduction in pay for purposes of this section.

This section does not apply to any modifications or reductions in pay or work week authorized by section 124.392, 124.393, or 124.394 of the Revised Code.

An appointing authority may require an employee who is suspended to report to work to serve the suspension. An employee serving a suspension in this manner shall continue to be compensated at the employee's regular rate of pay for hours worked. The disciplinary action shall be recorded in the employee's personnel file in the same manner as other disciplinary actions and has the same effect as a suspension without pay for the purpose of recording disciplinary actions.

A finding by the appropriate ethics commission, based upon a preponderance of the evidence, that the facts alleged in a complaint under section 102.06 of the Revised Code constitute a violation of Chapter 102., section 2921.42, or section 2921.43 of the Revised Code may constitute grounds for dismissal. Failure to file a statement or falsely filing a statement required by section 102.02 of the Revised Code may also constitute grounds for dismissal. The tenure of an employee in the career professional service of the department of transportation is subject to section 5501.20 of the Revised Code.

Conviction of a felony while employed in the civil service is a separate basis for reducing in pay or position, suspending, or removing an officer or employee, even if the officer or employee has already been reduced in pay or position, suspended, or removed for the same conduct that is the basis of the felony. An officer or employee may not appeal to the state personnel board of review or the commission any disciplinary action taken by an appointing authority as a result of the officer's or employee's conviction of a felony. If an officer or employee removed under this section is reinstated as a result of an appeal of the removal, any conviction of a felony that occurs during the pendency of the appeal is a basis for further disciplinary action under this section upon the officer's or employee's reinstatement.

A person convicted of a felony while employed in the civil service immediately forfeits the person's status as a classified employee in any public employment on and after the date of the conviction for the felony. If an officer or employee is removed under this section as a result of being convicted of a felony or is subsequently convicted of a felony that involves the same conduct that was the basis for the removal, the officer or employee is barred from receiving any compensation after the removal notwithstanding any modification or disaffirmance of the removal, unless the conviction for the felony is subsequently reversed or annulled.

Any person removed for conviction of a felony is entitled to a cash payment for any accrued but unused sick, personal, and vacation leave as authorized by law. If subsequently reemployed in the public sector, the person shall qualify for and accrue these forms of leave in the manner specified by law for a newly appointed employee and shall not be credited with prior public service for the purpose of receiving these forms of leave.

As used in this division, "felony" means any of the following:

(1) A felony that is an offense of violence as defined in section 2901.01 of the Revised Code;

(2) A felony that is a felony drug abuse offense as defined in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code;

(3) A felony under the laws of this or any other state or the United States that is a crime of moral turpitude;

(4) A felony involving dishonesty, fraud, or theft;

(5) A felony that is a violation of section 2921.05, 2921.32, or 2921.42 of the Revised Code.

(B) In case of a reduction, a suspension of more than forty work hours in the case of an employee exempt from the payment of overtime compensation, a suspension of more than twenty-four work hours in the case of an employee required to be paid overtime compensation, a fine of more than forty hours' pay in the case of an employee exempt from the payment of overtime compensation, a fine of more than twenty-four hours' pay in the case of an employee required to be paid overtime compensation, or removal, except for the reduction or removal of a probationary employee, the appointing authority shall serve the employee with a copy of the order of reduction, fine, suspension, or removal, which order shall state the reasons for the action.

Within ten days following the date on which the order is served or, in the case of an employee in the career professional service of the department of transportation, within ten days following the filing of a removal order, the employee, except as otherwise provided in this section, may file an appeal of the order in writing with the state personnel board of review or the commission. For purposes of this section, the date on which an order is served is the date of hand delivery of the order or the date of delivery of the order by certified United States mail, whichever occurs first. If an appeal is filed, the board or commission shall forthwith notify the appointing authority and shall hear, or appoint a trial board to hear, the appeal within thirty days from and after its filing with the board or commission. The board, commission, or trial board may affirm, disaffirm, or modify the judgment of the appointing authority. However, in an appeal of a removal order based upon a violation of a last chance agreement, the board, commission, or trial board may only determine if the employee violated the agreement and thus affirm or disaffirm the judgment of the appointing authority.

In cases of removal or reduction in pay for disciplinary reasons, either the appointing authority or the officer or employee may appeal from the decision of the state personnel board of review or the commission, and any such appeal shall be to the court of common pleas in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

(C) In the case of the suspension for any period of time, or a fine, demotion, or removal, of a chief of police, a chief of a fire department, or any member of the police or fire department of a city or civil service township, who is in the classified civil service, the appointing authority shall furnish the chief or member with a copy of the order of suspension, fine, demotion, or removal, which order shall state the reasons for the action. The order shall be filed with the municipal or civil service township civil service commission. Within ten days following the filing of the order, the chief or member may file an appeal, in writing, with the commission. If an appeal is filed, the commission shall forthwith notify the appointing authority and shall hear, or appoint a trial board to hear, the appeal within thirty days from and after its filing with the commission, and it may affirm, disaffirm, or modify the judgment of the appointing authority. An appeal on questions of law and fact may be had from the decision of the commission to the court of common pleas in the county in which the city or civil service township is situated. The appeal shall be taken within thirty days from the finding of the commission.

(D) A violation of division (A)(7) of section 2907.03 of the Revised Code is grounds for termination of employment of a nonteaching employee under this section.

(E) The director shall adopt a rule in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to define the term "unsatisfactory performance" as it is used in this section with regard to employees in the service of the state.

(F) As used in this section, "last chance agreement" means an agreement signed by both an appointing authority and an officer or employee of the appointing authority that describes the type of behavior or circumstances that, if it occurs, will automatically lead to removal of the officer or employee without the right of appeal to the state personnel board of review or the appropriate commission.

Last updated August 7, 2023 at 2:17 PM

Section 124.341 | Violation or misuse - whistleblower protection.

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

(A) If an employee in the classified or unclassified civil service becomes aware in the course of employment of a violation of state or federal statutes, rules, or regulations or the misuse of public resources, and the employee's supervisor or appointing authority has authority to correct the violation or misuse, the employee may file a written report identifying the violation or misuse with the supervisor or appointing authority. In addition to or instead of filing a written report with the supervisor or appointing authority, the employee may file a written report with the office of internal audit created under section 126.45 of the Revised Code or file a complaint with the auditor of state's fraud-reporting system under section 117.103 of the Revised Code.

If the employee reasonably believes that a violation or misuse of public resources is a criminal offense, the employee, in addition to or instead of filing a written report or complaint with the supervisor, appointing authority, the office of internal audit, or the auditor of state's fraud-reporting system, may report it to a prosecuting attorney, director of law, village solicitor, or similar chief legal officer of a municipal corporation, to a peace officer, as defined in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code, or, if the violation or misuse of public resources is within the jurisdiction of the inspector general, to the inspector general in accordance with section 121.46 of the Revised Code. In addition to that report, if the employee reasonably believes the violation or misuse is also a violation of Chapter 102., section 2921.42, or section 2921.43 of the Revised Code, the employee may report it to the appropriate ethics commission.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, no officer or employee in the classified or unclassified civil service shall take any disciplinary action against an employee in the classified or unclassified civil service for making any report or filing a complaint as authorized by division (A) of this section, including, without limitation, doing any of the following:

(1) Removing or suspending the employee from employment;

(2) Withholding from the employee salary increases or employee benefits to which the employee is otherwise entitled;

(3) Transferring or reassigning the employee;

(4) Denying the employee promotion that otherwise would have been received;

(5) Reducing the employee in pay or position.

(C) An employee in the classified or unclassified civil service shall make a reasonable effort to determine the accuracy of any information reported under division (A) of this section. The employee is subject to disciplinary action, including suspension or removal, as determined by the employee's appointing authority, for purposely, knowingly, or recklessly reporting false information under division (A) of this section.

(D) If an appointing authority takes any disciplinary or retaliatory action against a classified or unclassified employee as a result of the employee's having filed a report or complaint under division (A) of this section, the employee's sole and exclusive remedy, notwithstanding any other provision of law, is to file an appeal with the state personnel board of review within thirty days after receiving actual notice of the appointing authority's action. If the employee files such an appeal, the board shall immediately notify the employee's appointing authority and shall hear the appeal. The board may affirm or disaffirm the action of the appointing authority or may issue any other order as is appropriate. The order of the board is appealable in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(E) As used in this section:

(1) "Purposely," "knowingly," and "recklessly" have the same meanings as in section 2901.22 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Appropriate ethics commission" has the same meaning as in section 102.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Inspector general" means the inspector general appointed under section 121.48 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.35 | Refusal to testify constitutes unfitness.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

In any hearing on the question of fitness and continued employment of any person holding a position, job, or office under the authority of this state, the fact that he, being called before a duly authorized tribunal, or in an investigation under authority of law, refuses to testify concerning his membership in an organization which advocates overthrow of the government of the United States or of this state, by force, violence or other unlawful means on the ground that his answers might tend to incriminate him, shall constitute unfitness of such person for holding such position, job or office.

Section 124.36 | Cause for removal - teacher terminations.

• Effective: October 1, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 525 - 129th General Assembly

It shall be sufficient cause for the removal of any public employees including teachers in the public schools or any state supported educational institution when such public employee or teacher advocates or willfully retains membership in an organization which advocates overthrow of the government of the United States or of the state, by force, violence or other unlawful means.

The procedure for the termination of a contract of a teacher under the provisions of this section shall be in the manner set forth in section 3311.82 or 3319.16 of the Revised Code. The procedure for the removal of all other public employees under the provisions of this section shall be the same as is provided in section 124.34 of the Revised Code, except that the decision of the state personnel board of review or the municipal civil service commission shall be subject to appeal to the court of common pleas of the county in which such public employees are employed to determine the sufficiency of the cause of removal. Such appeal shall be taken within ten days from the finding of the board or commission.

Section 124.37 | Police and fire departments reduction in work force - layoffs - job abolishment.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

When it becomes necessary in a police or fire department, through lack of work or funds, or for causes other than those outlined in section 124.34 of the Revised Code, to reduce the force in such department, the youngest employee in point of service shall be first laid off. Should a position in the police or fire department once abolished or made unnecessary be found necessary to be re-created or re-established within three years from the date of abolishment, or should a vacancy occur through death, resignation, or any other cause within three years from the date of the abolishment of the position or layoff, the oldest employee in point of service of those laid off shall be entitled to the position, providing he was at the date of his separation a regular and permanent employee. If any employee, laid off as prescribed in this section, enters into the active service of the army, navy, marine corps, or other armed service of the United States, the period such employee serves therein shall not be considered in the determination of the three years stipulated as a maximum time within which reinstatements shall be made; such three-year period shall be computed exclusive of the time the employee spent in the armed services. When a position above the rank of patrolman in the police department and above the rank of regular fireman in the fire department is abolished, and the incumbent has been permanently appointed, he shall be demoted to the next lower rank and the youngest officer in point of service in the next lower rank shall be demoted, and so on down until the youngest person in point of service has been reached, who shall be laid off.

Section 124.38 | Sick leave.

• Effective: September 24, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 316 - 129th General Assembly

Each of the following shall be entitled for each completed eighty hours of service to sick leave of four and six-tenths hours with pay:

(A) Employees in the various offices of the county, municipal, and civil service township service, other than superintendents and management employees, as defined in section 5126.20 of the Revised Code, of county boards of developmental disabilities;

(B) Employees of any state college or university;

(C) Any employee of any board of education for whom sick leave is not provided by section 3319.141 of the Revised Code, provided that the employee is not a substitute, adult education instructor who is scheduled to work the full-time equivalent of less than one hundred twenty days per school year, or a person who is employed on an as-needed, seasonal, or intermittent basis.

Employees may use sick leave, upon approval of the responsible administrative officer of the employing unit, for absence due to personal illness, pregnancy, injury, exposure to contagious disease that could be communicated to other employees, and illness, injury, or death in the employee's immediate family. Unused sick leave shall be cumulative without limit. When sick leave is used, it shall be deducted from the employee's credit on the basis of one hour for every one hour of absence from previously scheduled work.

The previously accumulated sick leave of an employee who has been separated from the public service shall be placed to the employee's credit upon the employee's re-employment in the public service, provided that the re-employment takes place within ten years of the date on which the employee was last terminated from public service. This ten-year period shall be tolled for any period during which the employee holds elective public office, whether by election or by appointment.

An employee who transfers from one public agency to another shall be credited with the unused balance of the employee's accumulated sick leave up to the maximum of the sick leave accumulation permitted in the public agency to which the employee transfers.

The appointing authorities of the various offices of the county service may permit all or any part of a person's accrued but unused sick leave acquired during service with any regional council of government established in accordance with Chapter 167. of the Revised Code to be credited to the employee upon a transfer as if the employee were transferring from one public agency to another under this section.

The appointing authority of each employing unit shall require an employee to furnish a satisfactory written, signed statement to justify the use of sick leave. If medical attention is required, a certificate stating the nature of the illness from a licensed physician shall be required to justify the use of sick leave. Falsification of either a written, signed statement or a physician's certificate shall be grounds for disciplinary action, including dismissal.

This section does not interfere with existing unused sick leave credit in any agency of government where attendance records are maintained and credit has been given employees for unused sick leave.

Notwithstanding this section or any other section of the Revised Code, any appointing authority of a county office, department, commission, board, or body may, upon notification to the board of county commissioners, establish alternative schedules of sick leave for employees of the appointing authority for whom the state employment relations board has not established an appropriate bargaining unit pursuant to section 4117.06 of the Revised Code, as long as the alternative schedules are not inconsistent with the provisions of at least one collective bargaining agreement covering other employees of that appointing authority, if such a collective bargaining agreement exists. If no such collective bargaining agreement exists, an appointing authority may, upon notification to the board of county commissioners, establish an alternative schedule of sick leave for its employees that does not diminish the sick leave benefits granted by this section.

Section 124.381 | Occupational injury leave program.

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

(A)(1)(a) An employee in the service of the state may be eligible to receive salary continuation not to exceed four hundred eighty hours at the employee's total rate of pay for absence as a result of injury incurred during the performance of, or arising out of, state employment. When an eligible employee's absence as a result of such an injury extends beyond four hundred eighty hours, the employee immediately becomes subject to sections 124.382 and 124.385 of the Revised Code regarding sick leave and disability leave benefits.

An employee is ineligible to receive salary continuation until the date of implementation is established in the rules adopted under division (C)(1) of this section.

(b) Employees of the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, supreme court, general assembly, or legislative service commission are not subject to division (A)(1)(a) of this section unless the relevant appointing authority notifies the director of administrative services in writing of the intent to have all of the appointing authority's employees participate in salary continuation. The relevant appointing authority also may discontinue salary continuation for all of its employees by providing written notice of the discontinuation to the director.

Participation in salary continuation is subject to rules adopted under division (C)(1) of this section.

(2) Each employee of the department of rehabilitation and correction, the department of mental health and addiction services, the department of developmental disabilities, the department of veterans services, or the Ohio schools for the deaf and blind, and each employee of the department of youth services as established in division (A) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code who sustains a qualifying physical condition inflicted by a ward of these agencies during the time the employee is lawfully carrying out the assigned duties of the employee's position shall be paid occupational injury leave at the employee's total rate of pay during the period the employee is disabled as a result of that qualifying physical condition, but in no case to exceed nine hundred sixty hours, in lieu of workers' compensation. Pay made according to this division shall not be charged to the employee's accumulation of sick leave credit. In any case when an employee's disability as a result of such a qualifying physical condition extends beyond nine hundred sixty hours, the employee immediately becomes subject to sections 124.382 and 124.385 of the Revised Code regarding sick leave and disability leave benefits.

(B) An employee who is receiving salary continuation or occupational injury leave under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section is not eligible for other paid leave, including holiday pay, while receiving benefits under either division. While an employee is receiving salary continuation or occupational injury leave under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section, vacation leave credit ceases to accrue to the employee under section 124.134 of the Revised Code, but sick leave credit and personal leave credit continue to accrue to the employee under sections 124.382 and 124.386 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) The director of administrative services shall adopt rules for the administration of both the salary continuation program and the occupational injury leave program. The rules shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for determining a disability, for filing a claim for leave under this section, and for allowing or denying claims for the leave.

(2) The director also may adopt rules for the payment of health benefits while an employee is on workers' compensation leave.

(D) An appointing authority may apply to the director of administrative services to grant salary continuation under division (A)(1) of this section or occupational injury leave under division (A)(2) of this section to law enforcement personnel employed by the agency.

Section 124.382 | Sick leave credit - misuse of sick leave.

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

(A) As used in this section and sections 124.383, 124.386, 124.387, and 124.388 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Pay period" means the fourteen-day period of time during which the payroll is accumulated, as determined by the director of administrative services.

(2) "Active pay status" means the conditions under which an employee is eligible to receive pay, and includes, but is not limited to, vacation leave, sick leave, personal leave, bereavement leave, and administrative leave.

(3) "No pay status" means the conditions under which an employee is ineligible to receive pay and includes, but is not limited to, leave without pay, leave of absence, and disability leave.

(4) "Disability leave" means the leave granted pursuant to section 124.385 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Full-time permanent employee" means an employee whose regular hours of duty total eighty hours in a pay period in a state agency and whose appointment is not for a limited period of time.

(6) "Base rate of pay" means the rate of pay established under schedule B or C of section 124.15 of the Revised Code or under schedule E-1 or schedule E-2 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code, plus any supplement provided under section 124.181 of the Revised Code, plus any supplements enacted into law which are added to schedule B or C of section 124.15 of the Revised Code or to schedule E-1 or schedule E-2 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code.

(7) "Part-time permanent employee" means an employee whose regular hours of duty total less than eighty hours in a pay period in a state agency and whose appointment is not for a limited period of time.

(B) Each full-time permanent and part-time permanent employee whose salary or wage is paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management shall be credited with sick leave of three and one-tenth hours for each completed eighty hours of service, excluding overtime hours worked. Sick leave is not available for use until it appears on the employee's earning statement and the compensation described in the earning statement is available to the employee.

(C) Any sick leave credit provided pursuant to division (B) of this section, remaining as of the last day of the pay period preceding the first paycheck the employee receives in December, shall be converted pursuant to section 124.383 of the Revised Code.

(D) Employees may use sick leave, provided a credit balance is available, upon approval of the responsible administrative officer of the employing unit, for absence due to personal illness, pregnancy, injury, exposure to contagious disease that could be communicated to other employees, and illness, injury, or death in the employee's immediate family. When sick leave is used, it shall be deducted from the employee's credit on the basis of absence from previously scheduled work in such increments of an hour and at such a compensation rate as the director of administrative services determines. The appointing authority of each employing unit may require an employee to furnish a satisfactory, signed statement to justify the use of sick leave.

If, after having utilized the credit provided by this section, an employee utilizes sick leave that was accumulated prior to November 15, 1981, compensation for such sick leave used shall be at a rate as the director determines.

(E)(1) The previously accumulated sick leave balance of an employee who has been separated from the public service, for which separation payments pursuant to section 124.384 of the Revised Code have not been made, shall be placed to the employee's credit upon the employee's reemployment in the public service, if the reemployment takes place within ten years of the date on which the employee was last terminated from public service.

(2) The previously accumulated sick leave balance of an employee who has separated from a school district shall be placed to the employee's credit upon the employee's appointment as an unclassified employee of the state department of education and workforce, if all of the following apply:

(a) The employee accumulated the sick leave balance while employed by the school district.

(b) The employee did not receive any separation payments for the sick leave balance.

(c) The employee's employment with the department takes place within ten years after the date on which the employee separated from the school district.

(F) An employee who transfers from one public agency to another shall be credited with the unused balance of the employee's accumulated sick leave.

(G) The director of administrative services shall establish procedures to uniformly administer this section. No sick leave may be granted to a state employee upon or after the employee's retirement or termination of employment.

(H) As used in this division, "active payroll" means conditions under which an employee is in active pay status or eligible to receive pay for an approved leave of absence, including, but not limited to, occupational injury leave, disability leave, or workers' compensation.

(1) Employees who are in active payroll status on June 18, 2011, shall receive a one-time credit of additional sick leave in the pay period that begins on July 1, 2011. Full-time employees shall receive the lesser of either a one-time credit of thirty-two hours of additional sick leave or a one-time credit of additional sick leave equivalent to half the hours of personal leave the employee lost during the moratorium established under either division (A) of section 124.386 of the Revised Code or pursuant to a rule of the director of administrative services. Part-time employees shall receive a one-time credit of sixteen hours of additional sick leave.

(2) Employees who are not in active payroll status due to military leave or an absence taken in accordance with the federal "Family and Medical Leave Act" are eligible to receive the one-time additional sick leave credit.

(3) The one-time additional sick leave credit does not apply to employees of the supreme court, general assembly, legislative service commission, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general unless the supreme court, general assembly, legislative service commission, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general participated in the moratorium under division (H) or (I) of section 124.386 of the Revised Code and notifies in writing the director of administrative services on or before June 1, 2011, of the decision to participate in the one-time additional sick leave credit. Written notice under this division shall be signed by the appointing authority for employees of the supreme court, general assembly, or legislative service commission, as the case may be.

Last updated September 5, 2023 at 5:05 PM

Section 124.383 | Options with respect to sick leave credit remaining at end of year.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The director of administrative services shall allow a full-time or part-time employee who is credited with sick leave pursuant to division (B) of section 124.382 of the Revised Code to elect one of the following options with respect to sick leave credit remaining at the end of the year:

(1) Carry forward the balance;

(2) Receive a cash benefit as established by the director. An employee serving in a temporary work level who elects to convert unused sick leave credit to cash shall do so at the base rate of pay of the employee's normal classification.

(3) Carry forward a portion of the balance and receive a cash benefit for the remainder. The cash benefit shall be calculated in the manner specified in division (A)(2) of this section.

(B) The director of administrative services shall establish procedures to allow employees to indicate the option that will be selected. Included within the procedures shall be the final date by which notification is to be made to the director concerning the option selected. Failure to comply with the date will result in the automatic carry forward of unused balances.

(C) Cash benefits shall be paid in the first pay the employee receives in December.

(D) Balances carried forward are excluded from further cash benefits provided under this section.

(E) An employee who separates during the year shall not be eligible for cash benefits provided under this section.

Section 124.384 | Accumulated sick leave.

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

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, employees whose salaries or wages are paid by warrant of the director of budget and management and who have accumulated sick leave under section 124.38 or 124.382 of the Revised Code shall be paid for a percentage of their accumulated balances, upon separation for any reason, including death but excluding retirement, at their last base rate of pay at the rate of one hour of pay for every two hours of accumulated balances. An employee who retires in accordance with any retirement plan offered by the state shall be paid upon retirement for each hour of the employee's accumulated sick leave balance at a rate of fifty-five per cent of the employee's last base rate of pay.

An employee serving in a temporary work level who elects to convert unused sick leave to cash shall do so at the base rate of pay of the employee's normal classification. If an employee dies, the employee's unused sick leave shall be paid in accordance with section 2113.04 of the Revised Code or to the employee's estate.

In order to be eligible for the payment authorized by this section, an employee shall have at least one year of state service and shall request all or a portion of that payment no later than three years after separation from state service. No person is eligible to receive all or a portion of the payment authorized by this section at any time later than three years after the person's separation from state service.

(B) A person initially employed on or after July 5, 1987, by a state agency in which the employees' salaries or wages are paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management shall receive payment under this section only for sick leave accumulated while employed by state agencies in which the employees' salaries or wages are paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management. Additionally, a person initially employed on or after July 5, 1987, but before October 1, 2017, by the state department of education and workforce as an unclassified employee shall receive payment under this section for sick leave placed to the employee's credit under division (E)(2) of section 124.382 of the Revised Code.

(C) For employees paid in accordance with section 124.152 of the Revised Code and those employees listed in divisions (B)(2) and (4) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code, the director of administrative services, with the approval of the director of budget and management, may establish a plan for early payment of accrued sick leave and vacation leave.

Last updated September 5, 2023 at 5:07 PM

Section 124.385 | Disability leave benefits.

• Effective: July 17, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1, House Bill 16 - 128th General Assembly

(A) An employee is eligible for disability leave benefits under this section if the employee has completed one year of continuous state service immediately prior to the date of the disability and if any of the following applies:

(1) The employee is a full-time permanent employee and is eligible for sick leave credit pursuant to division (B) of section 124.382 of the Revised Code.

(2) The employee is a part-time permanent employee who has worked at least fifteen hundred hours within the twelve-month period immediately preceding the date of disability and is eligible for sick leave credit under division (B) of section 124.382 of the Revised Code.

(3) The employee is a full-time permanent or part-time permanent employee, is on disability leave or leave of absence for medical reasons, and would be eligible for sick leave credit pursuant to division (B) of section 124.382 of the Revised Code except that the employee is in no pay status due to the employee's medical condition.

(B) The director of administrative services, by rule adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall establish a disability leave program. The rule shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(1) Procedures to be followed for determining disability;

(2) Provisions for the allowance of disability leave due to illness or injury;

(3) Provisions for the continuation of service credit for employees granted disability leave, including service credit towards retirement, as provided by the applicable statute;

(4) The establishment of a minimum level of benefit and of a waiting period before benefits begin;

(5) Provisions setting a maximum length of benefit and requiring that employees eligible to apply for disability retirement shall do so prior to completing the first six months of their period of disability. The director's rules shall indicate those employees required to apply for disability retirement. If an employee is approved to receive disability retirement, the employee shall receive the retirement benefit and a supplement payment that equals a percentage of the employee's base rate of pay and that, when added to the retirement benefit, equals no more than the percentage of pay received by employees after the first six months of disability. This supplemental payment shall not be considered earnable salary, compensation, or salary, and is not subject to contributions, under Chapter 145., 742., 3307., 3309., or 5505. of the Revised Code.

(6) Provisions that allow employees to utilize available sick leave, personal leave, compensatory time, or vacation leave balances to supplement the benefits payable under this section. The balances used to supplement the benefits, plus any amount contributed by the state as provided in division (D) of this section, shall be paid at the employee's base rate of pay in an amount sufficient to give employees up to one hundred per cent of pay for time on disability.

(7) Procedures for appealing denial of payment of a claim, including the following:

(a) A maximum of thirty days to file an appeal by the employee;

(b) A maximum of fifteen days for the parties to select a third-party opinion pursuant to division (F) of this section, unless an extension is agreed to by the parties;

(c) A maximum of thirty days for the third party to render an opinion.

(8) Provisions for approving leave of absence for medical reasons where an employee is in no pay status because the employee has used all the employee's sick leave, personal leave, vacation leave, and compensatory time;

(9) Provisions for precluding the payment of benefits if the injury for which the benefits are sought is covered by a workers' compensation plan;

(10) Provisions for precluding the payment of benefits in order to ensure that benefits are provided in a consistent manner.

(C) Except as provided in division (B)(6) of this section, time off for an employee granted disability leave is not chargeable to any other leave granted by other sections of the Revised Code.

(D) While an employee is on an approved disability leave, the employee shall be responsible for paying the employee's share of retirement contributions and the employer's share shall be paid by the state.

(E) The approval for disability leave shall be made by the director, upon recommendation by the appointing authority. The director may delegate to any appointing authority the authority to approve disability benefits for a standard recovery period.

(F) If a request for disability leave is denied based on a medical determination, the director shall obtain a medical opinion from a third party. The decision of the third party is binding.

(G) The rule adopted by the director under division (B) of this section shall not deny disability leave benefits for an illness or injury to an employee who is a veteran of the United States armed forces because the employee contracted the illness or received the injury in the course of or as a result of military service and the illness or injury is or may be covered by a compensation plan administered by the United States department of veterans affairs.

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 124.386 | Personal leave.

• Effective: December 22, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 340 - 131st General Assembly

(A) Each full-time permanent employee paid in accordance with section 124.152 of the Revised Code and those full-time permanent employees listed in divisions (B)(2) and (4) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code shall be credited with thirty-two hours of personal leave each year. Each part-time permanent employee paid in accordance with section 124.152 of the Revised Code and those part-time permanent employees listed in divisions (B)(2) and (4) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code shall receive a pro-rated personal leave credit as determined by rule of the director of administrative services. The credit shall be made to each eligible employee in the first pay the employee receives in December. Employees, upon giving reasonable notice to the responsible administrative officer of the appointing authority, may use personal leave for absence due to mandatory court appearances, legal or business matters, family emergencies, unusual family obligations, medical appointments, weddings, religious holidays not listed in section 124.19 of the Revised Code, or any other matter of a personal nature. Personal leave may not be used on a holiday when an employee is scheduled to work.

Personal leave is not available for use until it appears on the employee's earning statement and the compensation described in the earning statement is available to the employee.

There shall be a moratorium on personal leave accrual beginning with the credit employees would have received in December 2009, except as otherwise provided in divisions (H)(1) and (2) of this section. Personal leave accrual shall resume with employees receiving credit in December 2011 and there shall be no retroactive grant of credit for the period the moratorium was in effect.

(B) When personal leave is used by an employee of either house of the general assembly or an employee of a legislative agency, it shall be deducted from the unused balance of the employee's personal leave in the manner prescribed by the employee's administrative authority. When personal leave is used by an employee described in division (A) of this section who is not an employee of either house of the general assembly or of a legislative agency, it shall be deducted from the unused balance of the employee's personal leave on the basis of absence in such increments of an hour as the director of administrative services determines. Compensation for personal leave shall be equal to the employee's base rate of pay.

(C) A newly appointed full-time permanent employee or a non-full-time employee who receives a full-time permanent appointment shall be credited with personal leave of thirty-two hours, less one and two-tenths hours for each pay period that has elapsed following the first paycheck the employee receives in December, until the first day of the pay period during which the appointment was effective.

(D) The director of administrative services shall allow employees to elect one of the following options with respect to the unused balance of personal leave:

(1) Carry forward the balance. The maximum credit that shall be available to an employee at any one time is forty hours.

(2) Convert the balance to accumulated sick leave, to be used in the manner provided by section 124.382 of the Revised Code;

(3) Receive a cash benefit. The cash benefit shall equal one hour of the employee's base rate of pay for every hour of unused credit that is converted. An employee serving in a temporary work level who elects to convert unused personal leave to cash shall do so at the base rate of pay of the employee's normal classification. Such cash benefit shall not be subject to contributions to any of the retirement systems, either by the employee or the employer.

There shall be a moratorium on the payment for conversion of unused personal leave until December 2011, except as otherwise provided in divisions (H)(1) and (2) of this section.

(E) A full-time permanent employee who separates from state service or becomes ineligible to be credited with leave under this section shall receive a reduction of personal leave credit of one and two-tenths hours for each pay period that remains beginning with the first pay period following the date of separation or the effective date of the employee's ineligibility until the pay period preceding the next base pay period. After calculation of the reduction of an employee's personal leave credit, the employee is entitled to compensation for any remaining personal leave credit at the employee's current base rate of pay. If the reduction results in a number of hours less than zero, the cash equivalent value of such number of hours shall be deducted from any compensation that remains payable to the employee, or from the cash conversion value of any vacation or sick leave that remains credited to the employee. An employee serving in a temporary work level who is eligible to receive compensation under this section shall be compensated at the base rate of pay of the employee's normal classification.

(F) An employee who transfers from one public agency to another public agency in which the employee is eligible for the credit provided under this section shall be credited with the unused balance of personal leave.

(G) The director of administrative services shall establish procedures to uniformly administer this section. No personal leave may be granted to a state employee upon or after retirement or termination of employment.

(H)(1) The moratoria imposed under divisions (A) and (D)(3) of this section shall apply to employees of the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and attorney general who are subject to this section unless the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general decides to exempt the office's employees from the moratoria and so notifies the director of administrative services in writing on or before November 1, 2009.

(2) The moratoria imposed under divisions (A) and (D)(3) of this section do not apply to employees of the supreme court, the general assembly, and the legislative service commission who are subject to this section, unless the supreme court, general assembly, or legislative service commission decides to include those employees in the moratoria and so notifies the director of administrative services in writing on or before November 1, 2009. Written notice shall be signed by the appointing authority for employees of the supreme court, general assembly, or legislative service commission as the case may be.

Section 124.387 | Bereavement leave.

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

(A) As used in this section, "stillborn" has the same meaning as in section 124.136 of the Revised Code.

(B) Each full-time permanent and part-time permanent employee whose salary or wage is paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management shall be granted three days of bereavement leave with pay due to the death of a member of the employee's immediate family.

(C) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, an employee described in division (B) of this section may use bereavement leave under this section when the employee is the parent of a miscarried or stillborn child. An employee using bereavement leave based on a miscarriage shall provide appropriate medical documentation of the miscarriage. An employee using bereavement leave based on a stillbirth shall provide a copy of the fetal death certificate.

(D) The bereavement leave described in this section begins within one of the following time periods:

(1) Not more than five calendar days after the immediate family member's death;

(2) Not more than five days before or five days after the date of the immediate family member's funeral.

(E) An employee who takes bereavement leave granted under this section on the basis of a stillbirth is ineligible for parental leave or benefits under section 124.136 of the Revised Code based on the same stillbirth.

(F) Compensation for bereavement leave shall be equal to the employee's base rate of pay.

Last updated September 22, 2023 at 9:32 AM

Section 124.388 | Administrative leave.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

(A) An appointing authority may, in its discretion, place an employee on administrative leave with pay. Administrative leave with pay is to be used only in circumstances where the health or safety of an employee or of any person or property entrusted to the employee's care could be adversely affected. Compensation for administrative leave with pay shall be equal to the employee's base rate of pay. The length of administrative leave with pay is solely at the discretion of the appointing authority, but shall not exceed the length of the situation for which the leave was granted. An appointing authority may also grant administrative leave with pay of two days or less for employees who are moved in accordance with section 124.33 of the Revised Code.

(B) An appointing authority may, in its discretion, place an employee on administrative leave without pay for a period not to exceed two months, if the employee has been charged with a violation of law that is punishable as a felony. If the employee subsequently does not plead guilty to or is not found guilty of a felony with which the employee is charged or any other felony, the appointing authority shall pay the employee at the employee's base rate of pay, plus interest, for the period the employee was on the unpaid administrative leave.

Section 124.389 | Employee exchange program.

• Effective: December 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 126th General Assembly

The director of administrative services may establish an employee exchange program for employees whose salary or wage is paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management. The director of administrative services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to provide for the administration of the program.

Section 124.39 | Unused sick leave.

• Effective: October 25, 1995
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly

As used in this section, "retirement" means disability or service retirement under any state or municipal retirement system in this state.

(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(3) of this section, an employee of a state college or university may elect, at the time of retirement from active service and with ten or more years of service with the state or any of its political subdivisions, to be paid in cash for one-fourth of the value of the employee's accrued but unused sick leave credit. Such payment shall be based on the employee's rate of pay at the time of retirement. Payment for sick leave on this basis shall be considered to eliminate all sick leave credit accrued by the employee at that time. Such payment shall be made only once to any employee. The maximum payment which may be made under this division shall be for one-fourth of one hundred twenty days.

(2) A state college or university may adopt a policy allowing an employee to receive payment for more than one-fourth the value of the employee's unused sick leave or for more than the aggregate value of thirty days of the employee's unused sick leave, or allowing the number of years of service to be less than ten.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of division (A)(1) of this section, any employee who retired from the university of Cincinnati on or after September 25, 1978, and on or before November 15, 1981, may be paid in cash for up to one-half of the value of the employee's accrued but unused sick leave credit up to a maximum of sixty days if the employee otherwise meets the service and other requirements necessary to receive such payment and if any such payment has deducted from it any amount previously paid to the employee from the employee's accrued but unused sick leave credit at the time of the employee's retirement.

(B) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, an employee of a political subdivision covered by section 124.38 or 3319.141 of the Revised Code may elect, at the time of retirement from active service with the political subdivision, and with ten or more years of service with the state, any political subdivisions, or any combination thereof, to be paid in cash for one-fourth the value of the employee's accrued but unused sick leave credit. The payment shall be based on the employee's rate of pay at the time of retirement and eliminates all sick leave credit accrued but unused by the employee at the time payment is made. An employee may receive one or more payments under this division, but the aggregate value of accrued but unused sick leave credit that is paid shall not exceed, for all payments, the value of thirty days of accrued but unused sick leave.

(C) A political subdivision may adopt a policy allowing an employee to receive payment for more than one-fourth the value of the employee's unused sick leave or for more than the aggregate value of thirty days of the employee's unused sick leave, or allowing the number of years of service to be less than ten. The political subdivision may also adopt a policy permitting an employee to receive payment upon a termination of employment other than retirement or permitting more than one payment to any employee.

Notwithstanding section 325.17 or any other section of the Revised Code authorizing any appointing authority of a county office, department, commission, or board to set compensation, any modification of the right provided by division (B) of this section, and any policy adopted under division (C) of this section, shall only apply to a county office, department, commission, or board if it is adopted in one of the following ways:

(1) By resolution of the board of county commissioners for any office, department, commission, or board that receives at least one-half of its funding from the county general revenue fund;

(2) By order of any appointing authority of a county office, department, commission, or board that receives less than one-half of its funding from the county general revenue fund. Such office, department, commission, or board shall provide written notice to the board of county commissioners of such order.

(3) As part of a collective bargaining agreement.

A political subdivision may adopt policies similar to the provisions contained in sections 124.382 to 124.386 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.391 | Donation of paid leave program.

• Effective: December 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 126th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "paid leave" means sick leave, personal leave, or vacation leave.

(B) The director of administrative services may establish a program under which an employee paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management may donate that employee's accrued but unused paid leave to another employee paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management who has no accrued but unused paid leave and who has a critical need for it because of circumstances such as a serious illness or the serious illness of a member of the employee's immediate family.

If the director of administrative services establishes a leave donation program under this division, the director shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to provide for the administration of the program. These rules shall include, but not be limited to, provisions that identify the circumstances under which leave may be donated and that specify the amount, types, and value of leave that may be donated.

(C) At the discretion of the appropriate legislative authority, a county may implement a leave donation program, as provided in this section, for all county agencies or for one or more designated agencies within the county.

Section 124.392 | Exempt employees cost savings program.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Exempt employee" has the same meaning as in section 124.152 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Fiscal emergency" means a fiscal emergency declared by the governor under section 126.05 of the Revised Code.

(B) The director of administrative services may establish a voluntary cost savings program for exempt employees.

(C) The director of administrative services shall establish a mandatory cost savings program applicable to exempt employees. Subject to division (C)(1) of this section, the program may include, but is not limited to, a loss of pay or loss of holiday pay as determined by the director. The program may be administered differently among exempt employees based on their classifications, appointment categories, appointing authorities, or other relevant distinctions.

(1) Each full-time exempt employee shall participate in the program for a total of eighty hours of mandatory cost savings in both fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2011. Each part-time exempt employee shall participate in the program by not receiving holiday pay during both fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2011. Each employee of the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and attorney general shall participate in the program unless the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general decides to exempt the officer's employees from the program and so notifies the director of administrative services in writing on or before July 1, 2009.

After July 1, 2009, the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general may decide to begin participation in the program for eighty hours or less and shall notify the director of administrative services in writing. The secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general and the director shall mutually agree upon an implementation date.

(2) After June 30, 2011, the director of administrative services, in consultation with the director of budget and management, may implement mandatory cost savings days applicable to exempt employees in the event of a fiscal emergency. Each employee of the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and attorney general shall participate in the mandatory cost savings days unless the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general decides to exempt the officer's employees from the mandatory cost savings days and so notifies the director of administrative services in the manner the director of administrative services prescribes by rule adopted under this section.

(D) The director shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to provide for the administration of the voluntary cost savings program and the mandatory cost savings program.

(E) Cost savings days provided pursuant to this section or by a labor-management contract or agreement shall be considered remuneration for purposes of section 4141.31 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.393 | Mandatory cost savings program applicable to exempt employees.

• Effective: June 19, 2020
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 481 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Exempt employee" means a permanent full-time or permanent part-time county, township, or municipal corporation employee who is not subject to a collective bargaining agreement between a public employer and an exclusive representative.

(2) "Fiscal emergency" means any of the following:

(a) A fiscal emergency declared by the governor under section 126.05 of the Revised Code.

(b) A fiscal watch or fiscal emergency has been declared or determined under section 118.023 or 118.04 of the Revised Code.

(c) Lack of funds as defined in section 124.321 of the Revised Code.

(d) Reasons of economy as described in section 124.321 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Lack of work" has the same meaning as in section 124.321 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) A county, township, or municipal corporation appointing authority may establish a mandatory cost savings program applicable to its exempt employees. Each exempt employee shall participate in the program of mandatory cost savings for not more than eighty hours, as determined by the appointing authority, in each of state fiscal years 2010 to 2013. The program may include, but is not limited to, a loss of pay or loss of holiday pay. The program may be administered differently among employees based on their classifications, appointment categories, or other relevant distinctions.

(2) After June 30, 2013, a county, township, or municipal corporation appointing authority may implement mandatory cost savings days as described in division (B)(1) of this section that apply to its exempt employees in the event of a fiscal emergency.

(C) A county, township, or municipal corporation appointing authority shall issue guidelines concerning how the appointing authority will implement the cost savings program.

(D)(1) A county, township, or municipal corporation appointing authority may establish a mandatory cost savings program applicable to its exempt employees in the event of a fiscal emergency or lack of work due to COVID-19. Each exempt employee shall participate in the program of mandatory cost savings for not more than one hundred sixty hours, as determined by the appointing authority, in state fiscal year 2021. The program may include, but is not limited to, a loss of pay or loss of holiday pay. The program may be administered differently among employees based on their classifications, appointment categories, or other relevant distinctions.

(2) A county, township, or municipal corporation appointing authority that establishes a mandatory cost savings program under division (D)(1) of this section shall issue guidelines concerning how the appointing authority will implement the cost savings program.

Section 124.394 | Modified work week schedule program.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Exempt employee" means a permanent full-time or permanent part-time county employee, township, or municipal corporation who is not subject to a collective bargaining agreement between a public employer and an exclusive representative.

(2) "Fiscal emergency" means any of the following:

(a) A fiscal emergency declared by the governor under section 126.05 of the Revised Code.

(b) A fiscal watch or a fiscal emergency declared or determined by the auditor of state under section 118.023 or 118.04 of the Revised Code.

(c) Lack of funds as defined in section 124.321 of the Revised Code.

(d) Reasons of economy as described in section 124.321 of the Revised Code.

(B) A county, township, or municipal corporation appointing authority may establish a modified work week schedule program applicable to its exempt employees. Each exempt employee shall participate in any established modified work week schedule program in each of state fiscal years 2012 and 2013. The program may provide for a reduction from the usual number of hours worked during a week by exempt employees immediately before the establishment of the program by the appointing authority. The reduction in hours may include any number of hours so long as the reduction is not more than fifty per cent of the usual hours worked by exempt employees immediately before the establishment of the program. The program may be administered differently among employees based on classifications, appointment categories, or other relevant distinctions.

(C) After June 30, 2013, a county, township, or municipal corporation appointing authority may implement a modified work week schedule program as described in division (B) of this section that applies to its exempt employees in the event of a fiscal emergency.

Section 124.40 | Civil service commissions in municipalities and townships.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The mayor or other chief appointing authority of each city in the state shall appoint three persons, one for a term of two years, one for a term of four years, and one for a term of six years, who shall constitute the municipal civil service commission of that city and of the city school district and city health district in which that city is located. Each alternate year thereafter the mayor or other chief appointing authority shall appoint one person, as successor of the member whose term expires, to serve six years. A vacancy shall be filled by the mayor or other chief appointing authority for the unexpired term. At the time of any appointment, not more than two commissioners shall be adherents of the same political party.

The municipal civil service commission shall prescribe, amend, and enforce rules not inconsistent with this chapter for the classification of positions in the civil service of the city and city school district, and all the positions in the city health district; for examinations for and resignations from those positions; for appointments, promotions, removals, transfers, layoffs, suspensions, reductions, and reinstatements with respect to those positions; and for standardizing those positions and maintaining efficiency in them. The commission's rules shall authorize each appointing authority of a city, city school district, or city health district to develop and administer in a manner it devises an evaluation system for the employees it appoints. The commission shall exercise all other powers and perform all other duties with respect to the civil service of the city, city school district, and city health district, as prescribed in this chapter and conferred upon the director of administrative services and the state personnel board of review with respect to the civil service of the state; and all authority granted to the director and the board with respect to the service under their jurisdiction shall, except as otherwise provided by this chapter, be held to be granted to the commission with respect to the service under its jurisdiction. The procedure applicable to reductions, suspensions, and removals, as provided for in section 124.34 of the Revised Code, shall govern the civil service of cities.

The expense and salaries of a municipal civil service commission shall be determined by the legislative authority of the city and a sufficient sum of money shall be appropriated each year to carry out this chapter in the city.

All persons who are employed by a city school district, city health district, or city health department when a municipal civil service commission having jurisdiction over them is appointed, or when they become subject to civil service by extension of civil service to include new classifications of employees, shall continue to hold their positions until removed in accordance with the civil service laws.

If the appointing authority of any city fails to appoint a civil service commission or commissioner, as provided by law, within sixty days after the appointing authority has the power to so appoint, or after a vacancy exists, the state personnel board of review shall make the appointment, and the appointee shall hold office until the expiration of the term of the appointing authority of the city. If any municipal civil service commission fails to prepare and submit rules or regulations in accordance with this chapter, the board shall forthwith make those rules or regulations. This chapter shall in all respects, except as provided in this section, be in full force in cities with a civil service commission.

Each municipal civil service commission shall make reports from time to time, as the board requires, of the manner in which the law and the rules and regulations under it have been and are being administered, and the results of their administration, in the city, city school district, and city health district. A copy of the annual report of each municipal civil service commission shall be filed in the office of the board as a public record.

Whenever the board has reason to believe that a municipal civil service commission is violating or is failing to perform the duties imposed upon it by law, or that any member of a municipal civil service commission is willfully or through culpable negligence violating the law or failing to perform official duties as a member of the commission, it shall institute an investigation, and if, in the judgment of the board, it finds any such violation or failure to perform the duties imposed by law, it shall make a report of the violation or failure in writing to the chief executive authority of the city, which report shall be a public record.

Upon the receipt of a report from the board charging the municipal civil service commission with violating or failing to perform the duties imposed upon it by law, or charging any member of the commission with willfully or through culpable negligence violating the law or failing to perform official duties as a member of the commission, along with the evidence on which the report is based, the chief executive authority of the city shall forthwith remove the municipal civil service commissioner or commissioners. In all cases of removal of a municipal civil service commissioner by the chief executive authority of any city, an appeal may be had to the court of common pleas, in the county in which the city is situated, to determine the sufficiency of the cause of removal. The appeal shall be taken within ten days from the decision of the chief executive authority. If the court disaffirms the judgment of the chief executive authority, the commissioner shall be reinstated to the commissioner's former position on the commission.

The chief executive authority of a city with a municipal civil service commission may remove at any time any commissioner for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, having first given to the commissioner a copy of the charges and an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel in defense.

The mayor has the exclusive right to suspend the chief of the police department or the chief of the fire department for incompetence, gross neglect of duty, gross immorality, habitual drunkenness, failure to obey orders given by the proper authority, or any other reasonable and just cause. If either the chief of police or the chief of the fire department is so suspended, the mayor forthwith shall certify that fact, together with the cause of the suspension, to the municipal civil service commission. Within five days from the date of receipt of the notice, the commission shall proceed to hear the charges and render judgment on them. The judgment may affirm, disaffirm, or modify the judgment of the mayor, and an appeal may be had from the decision of the commission to the court of common pleas as provided in section 124.34 of the Revised Code to determine the sufficiency of the cause of removal.

(B) The board of trustees of a township that has a population of ten thousand or more persons residing within the township and outside any municipal corporation and that has a police or fire department of ten or more full-time paid employees may appoint three persons to constitute the township civil service commission. Of the initial appointments made to the commission, one shall be for a term ending two years after the date of initial appointment, one shall be for a term ending four years after that date, and one shall be for a term ending six years after that date. Thereafter, terms of office shall be for six years, each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term which it succeeds. Each member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for 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 that term. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until a successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. At the time of any appointment, not more than two commissioners shall be adherents of the same political party.

The board of township trustees shall determine the compensation and expenses to be paid to the members of the township civil service commission. The powers and duties conferred on municipal civil service commissions and the supervisory authority of the state personnel board of review under division (A) of this section shall be applicable to the civil service commission of a civil service township.

The board of township trustees has the exclusive right to suspend the chief of the police or fire department of the township in the same manner as provided in division (A) of this section for municipal chiefs.

The jurisdiction of the township civil service commission is limited to employees of the township fire or police department and then only if the department has ten or more full-time paid employees, and it does not extend to any other township employees.

Section 124.41 | Police department qualifications - police cadet program.

• Effective: March 31, 2003
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 245 - 124th General Assembly

No person shall be eligible to receive an original appointment to a police department, as a police officer, subject to the civil service laws of this state, unless the person has reached the age of twenty-one and has, not more than one hundred twenty days prior to the date of such appointment, passed a physical examination, given by a licensed physician, a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife, certifying that the applicant is free of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and showing that the applicant meets the physical requirements necessary to perform the duties of a police officer as established by the civil service commission having jurisdiction over the appointment. The appointing authority shall, prior to making any such appointment, file with the Ohio police and fire pension fund a copy of the report or findings of the licensed physician, physician assistant, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse-midwife. The professional fee for such physical examination shall be paid by the civil service commission. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person is eligible to receive an original appointment when the person is thirty-five years of age or older, and no person can be declared disqualified as over age prior to that time. The maximum age limitation established by this section does not apply to a city in which an ordinance establishes a different maximum age limitation for an original appointment to the police department or to a civil service township in which a resolution adopted by the board of trustees of the township establishes a different maximum age limitation for an original appointment to the police department.

Nothing in this section shall prevent a municipal corporation or a civil service township from establishing a police cadet program and employing persons as police cadets at age eighteen for the purposes of training persons to become police officers. The board of trustees of a civil service township may establish by resolution such a cadet program. A person participating in a municipal or township police cadet program shall not be permitted to carry or use any firearm in the performance of the person's duties, except that the person may be taught the proper use of firearms as part of the person's training.

Section 124.411 | Police department appointment from annexed territory.

• Effective: March 2, 1992
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 228 - 119th General Assembly

Notwithstanding section 124.41 of the Revised Code, the appointing authority of a municipal corporation that has been incorporated pursuant to Chapter 707, of the Revised Code may grant an original appointment to a police department, as a policewoman or policeman, to a person who was employed on the date of incorporation as a full-time police officer of a township all or part of which was included in the corporation limits of the municipal corporation.

Section 124.42 | Firefighter qualifications.

• Effective: September 28, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 509 - 129th General Assembly

No person shall be eligible to receive an original appointment as a firefighter in a fire department, subject to the civil service laws of this state, unless the person has reached the age of eighteen and has, not more than one hundred twenty days prior to receiving such appointment, passed a physical examination, given by a licensed physician, a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife, certifying that the applicant is free of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and showing that the person meets the physical requirements necessary to perform the duties of a firefighter as established by the civil service commission having jurisdiction over the appointment. The appointing authority shall, prior to making any such appointment, file with the Ohio police and fire pension fund a copy of the report or findings of said licensed physician, physician assistant, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse-midwife. The professional fee for such physical examination shall be paid by the civil service commission. No person shall be eligible to receive an original appointment on and after the person's forty-first birthday.

Notwithstanding this section, a municipal council may enact an ordinance providing that a person between the age of eighteen and forty may receive an original appointment to the fire department, or the board of trustees of a civil service township may do so by resolution. Nothing in this section shall prevent a municipal corporation or civil service township from establishing a fire cadet program and employing persons as fire cadets at age eighteen for the purpose of training persons to become firefighters. The board of trustees of a civil service township may establish by resolution such a cadet program. A person participating in a municipal or township fire cadet program shall not be permitted to carry or use any firearm in the performance of the person's duties.

Section 124.43 | Separate examinations and eligibility lists for police and firemen.

• Effective: August 9, 1974
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 513 - 110th General Assembly

Separate examinations shall be given and separate eligibility lists maintained by municipal and civil service township civil service commissions for original appointments to and promotions in fire and police departments in cities and civil service townships. No person may be transferred from one list to the other. Appointments and promotions in the departments shall be only from the separate eligible lists maintained for each of the departments. Transfers of personnel from one department to the other are hereby prohibited.

Section 124.44 | Police department promotions.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

No positions above the rank of patrol officer in the police department shall be filled by original appointment. Vacancies in positions above the rank of patrol officer in a police department shall be filled by promotion from among persons holding positions in a rank lower than the position to be filled. No position above the rank of patrol officer in a police department shall be filled by any person unless the person has first passed a competitive promotional examination. Promotion shall be by successive ranks insofar as practicable, and no person in a police department shall be promoted to a position in a higher rank who has not served at least twelve months in the next lower rank. A municipal civil service commission may require a period of service of longer than twelve months for promotion to the rank immediately above the rank of patrol officer.

No competitive promotional examination shall be held unless there are at least two persons eligible to compete. Whenever a municipal or civil service township civil service commission determines that there are less than two persons holding positions in the rank next lower than the position to be filled, who are eligible and willing to compete, the commission shall allow the persons holding positions in the then next lower rank who are eligible, to compete with the persons holding positions in the rank lower than the position to be filled.

An increase in the salary or other compensation of anyone holding a position in a police department, beyond that fixed for the rank in which that position is classified, shall be deemed a promotion, except as provided in section 124.491 of the Revised Code.

If a vacancy occurs in a position above the rank of patrol officer in a police department, and there is no eligible list for such rank, the municipal or civil service township civil service commission shall, within sixty days of that vacancy, hold a competitive promotional examination. After the examination has been held and an eligible list established, the commission shall forthwith certify to the appointing officer the name of the person on the list receiving the highest rating. Upon the certification, the appointing officer shall appoint the person so certified within thirty days from the date of the certification. If there is a list, the commission shall, when there is a vacancy, immediately certify the name of the person on the list having the highest rating, and the appointing authority shall appoint that person within thirty days from the date of the certification.

No credit for seniority, efficiency, or any other reason shall be added to an applicant's examination grade unless the applicant achieves at least the minimum passing grade on the examination without counting that extra credit.

Section 124.45 | Fire department promotions.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

Vacancies in positions above the rank of regular fire fighter in a fire department shall be filled by competitive promotional examinations, and promotions shall be by successive ranks as provided in this section and sections 124.46 to 124.49 of the Revised Code. Positions in which those vacancies occur shall be called promoted ranks.

When a vacancy occurs in the promoted rank immediately above the rank of regular fire fighter, no person shall be eligible to take the examination unless the person has served forty-eight months, not including the person's probationary period, in the rank of regular fire fighter, provided that, in those cases when there are less than two persons in the rank of regular fire fighter who have served forty-eight months, not including the person's probationary period, in that rank and who are willing to take the examination, this service requirement does not apply.

When a vacancy occurs in a promoted rank, other than the promoted rank immediately above the rank of regular fire fighter, no person shall be eligible to take the examination unless the person has served twelve months in the rank from which the promotion is to be made, provided that, in those cases when there are less than two persons in that next lower rank who have served twelve months in that rank and who are willing to take the examination, the twelve-month service requirement shall not apply. If the nonapplication of the twelve-month service requirement to persons in the next lower rank does not produce two persons eligible and willing to compete, the same method shall be followed by going to successively lower ranks until two or more persons are eligible and willing to compete in an examination for the vacancy. If this process of searching successively lower ranks reaches the rank of regular fire fighter, the forty-eight-month service requirement applies, provided that, in those cases when that application still fails to produce two persons who are eligible and willing to compete, the forty-eight-month service requirement does not apply. If two persons are unwilling to compete for the examination, the one person who is willing to compete shall be appointed to fill the vacancy after passing a qualifying examination.

Promotional examinations for positions within a fire department shall relate to those matters that test the ability of the person examined to discharge the particular duties of the position sought, shall include a written testing component, and, in examinations for positions requiring the operation of machines or equipment, may include practical demonstration tests of the operation of those machines or equipment as a part of the examination.

Those persons who compete in a promotional examination in accordance with the rules of the civil service commission shall have added to their grade credit for seniority. Credit for seniority shall be given as follows: one point shall be added for each of the first four years of service, and six-tenths of a point shall be added for each year for the next ten years of service. In computing the credit for seniority, half of the credit specified in this paragraph shall be given for a half year of service. Credit for seniority shall be based only on service in the municipal or civil service township fire department and the service provided for in the next succeeding paragraph.

When service in a municipal or civil service township fire department is interrupted by service in the armed forces of the United States, seniority credit shall be granted in promotional examinations for the time so served. No additional credit for military service shall be allowed in promotional examinations.

Credit for efficiency may be given as an added credit, shall be ten per cent of the member's efficiency rating for the last year, and shall be based on the record of efficiency maintained in the fire department in the manner established by the civil service commission, provided the efficiency shall be graded by three ranking officers of the fire department familiar with the work of the member. In those cases when three such officers do not exist, the ranking officers or officer familiar with the work of the member shall grade the efficiency.

No credit for seniority, efficiency, or any other reason shall be added to an applicant's grade unless the applicant achieves at least the minimum passing grade on the examination without counting that extra credit.

After the grading of examination papers, any participant in the examination who considers the participant's examination papers to have been erroneously graded shall have the right to appeal to the commission, and the appeal shall be heard by the commission.

The public notice of a holding of a promotional examination for a position or positions in a fire department shall, unless waived by all persons eligible to participate, be published not less than thirty days prior to the examination and shall contain a description of the source material from which the examination questions are prepared. The source material shall be readily accessible to the examinee. Failure to comply with this requirement shall make void the pursuant examination. This paragraph does not prohibit the use of questions having answers based on experience in the fire service within the fire department in which the promotional examination is being given.

Section 124.46 | Fire department eligibility lists.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

The names of the examinees who have passed the examination shall be placed on the eligible list in accordance with their grades. The examinee receiving the highest grade shall be placed first on the list. If two or more examinees receive the same grade, seniority in the fire department service shall determine the order of their names. The person having the highest position on the list shall be appointed in the case of a vacancy. Eligible lists established as provided in this section shall continue for two years. If a vacancy occurs prior to the expiration of the two-year period, the list shall continue for the purpose of filling the vacancy until the vacancy has been filled.

If an eligible list exists and a vacancy occurs that may be filled from that list, the vacancy shall be filled within a period of not more than ten days from the date of the vacancy.

Section 124.47 | Fire department special positions.

• Effective: August 9, 1974
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 513 - 110th General Assembly

Within any rank, the municipal council or board of trustees of a civil service township may establish such special positions having special duties with preferential pay as the council or board deems necessary, but the holding of any such special positions shall not establish eligibility to the next higher rank to the exclusion of other persons in the same rank who do not hold such special positions. No special position established by council or the board within a rank in a fire department shall be filled without promotional examination in the same manner as promotions from rank to rank.

Section 124.48 | Fire department vacancies.

• Effective: July 1, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

Whenever a vacancy occurs in a promoted rank in a fire department and no eligible list for that rank exists, the appointing authority shall certify the fact to the civil service commission. The civil service commission, within sixty days of the vacancy, shall conduct a competitive promotional examination. After the examination has been held, an eligible list shall be established, and the civil service commission shall certify to the appointing authority the name of the person on the list receiving the highest grade. Upon the certification, the appointing authority shall appoint the person so certified within ten days.

When an eligible list exists and a vacancy occurs in a position for which the list was established, the appointing authority shall certify the fact to the civil service commission. The person standing highest on the list shall be certified to the appointing authority, and that person shall be appointed within ten days.

Section 124.49 | Fire department probationary period.

• Effective: August 9, 1974
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 513 - 110th General Assembly

All promotional appointments in a fire department may be for a probationary period to be fixed by the rules of the civil service commission and not to exceed six months. No promotion shall be deemed final until the appointee has satisfactorily served his probationary period. At the end of the probationary period the appointing authority shall transmit to the civil service commission a record of the employee's service, and if such service is satisfactory the appointee shall continue in his promoted rank. If at the end of the probationary period the appointee's service is unsatisfactory, he shall be reduced to the rank held at the time he was appointed to the higher rank. In all cases of unsatisfactory probationary periods in the fire department, the appointing authority shall, at the end of the probationary period, furnish the employee with a written notice of unsatisfactory probation and a detailed statement of the basis for such finding. Within ten days thereafter such employee may appeal from the decision or order of the appointing authority to the municipal or civil service township civil service commission, and the commission shall hear, or appoint a trial board to hear, such employee's appeal within thirty days from its filing with the commission. An appeal to determine the sufficiency of the cause of demotion may be had from the decision of the commission to the court of common pleas of the county in which the municipality or township is situated. The appeal shall be taken within twenty days from the decision of the commission.

Section 124.491 | Authorized educational achievement of police officer or firefighter.

• Effective: August 26, 1977
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 112th General Assembly

The legislative authority of a municipal corporation may, by ordinance, adopt a plan granting an increase in salary for authorized educational achievement attained prior to original appointment or during service by a policeman or fireman. Such a plan shall define the areas of education which qualify, set standards, and shall be applied uniformly among members of the police or fire department. Such areas of education shall be related to law enforcement and firefighting, respectively. Only successful completion of a qualified course of education shall be required. In the event of a dispute as to the application of such plan, the municipal civil service commission shall hear and determine the issue upon request. Such a salary increase may raise the total compensation of a policeman or fireman above the salary to which he would otherwise be entitled by his rank and years of service. An increase in salary granted under this section shall not be deemed a promotion and shall not invoke the promotion procedures otherwise required by sections 124.44 to 124.49 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.50 | Reinstatement after separation due to injury or physical disability incurred in the performance of duty.

• Effective: March 31, 2003
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 245 - 124th General Assembly

Any person holding an office or position under the classified service in a fire department or a police department who is separated therefrom due to injury or physical disability incurred in the performance of duty shall be reinstated immediately, or one suffering injury or physical disability incurred other than in the performance of duty may be reinstated, upon filing with the chief of the fire department or the chief of the police department, a written application for reinstatement, to the office or position held at the time of such separation, after passing a physical examination showing that the person has recovered from the injury or other physical disability. The physical examination shall be made by a licensed physician, a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife within two weeks after application for reinstatement has been made, provided such application for reinstatement is filed within five years from the date of separation from the department, and further provided that such application shall not be filed after the date of service eligibility retirement. The physician, physician assistant, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse-midwife shall be designated by the firefighters' pension board or the police officers' pension board and shall complete any written documentation of the physical examination.

Any person holding an office or position under the classified service in a fire department or a police department, who resigns therefrom, may be reinstated to the rank of firefighter or police officer, upon the filing of a written application for reinstatement with the municipal or civil service township civil service commission and a copy thereof with the chief of the fire department or chief of the police department, and upon passing a physical examination disclosing that the person is physically fit to perform the duties of the office of firefighter or police officer, the application for reinstatement shall be filed within one year from the date of resignation. Any person reinstated pursuant to the authority of this paragraph shall not receive credit for seniority earned prior to resignation and reinstatement, and shall not be entitled to reinstatement to a position above the rank of regular firefighter or patrol officer, regardless of the position the person may have held at the time of resignation.

Section 124.51 | Secretary of police - secretary of fire.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

In any city which by action of its legislative authority establishes the position of secretary of police or the position of secretary of fire, neither such position, if filled by a member of the uniform rank by assignment, shall be subject to competitive examination, notwithstanding section 124.44 of the Revised Code. The status within the uniform ranks of such member while so serving in such assignment shall remain unchanged and, notwithstanding the compensation fixed for such position, he shall not acquire any right to promotion other than such rights to promotion which apply to the rank held at the time of assignment.

Section 124.52 | Police department traffic control unit head exempt from civil service.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

In any city with a population of seven hundred thousand or more as shown by the last federal census, which by action of the legislative authority establishes within the police department a unit assigned to the control of traffic, a member of the police department of said city who is appointed the head of such unit by whatever title designated, shall not be subject to competitive examination, notwithstanding section 124.44 of the Revised Code. The status within the uniform ranks of such member while serving as the head of such traffic unit shall remain unchanged and notwithstanding the compensation fixed for such position, he shall not acquire any right to promotion other than such rights to promotion which apply to the rank held at the time of appointment as head of such traffic control unit.

Section 124.53 | Superintendent of buildings - superintendent of fire equipment exempt from civil service.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

In any city which, by action of its legislative authority, establishes the position of superintendent of buildings or the position of superintendent of fire equipment, and appoints to either position a member of the uniform rank by assignment, such member is not subject to competitive examination, notwithstanding section 124.44 of the Revised Code. The status within the uniform ranks of such member while so serving in such assignment shall remain unchanged and, notwithstanding the compensation fixed for such position, he shall not acquire any right to promotion other than such rights to promotion which apply to the rank held at the time of assignment.

Section 124.54 | Boards of education to share cost of civil service administration.

• Effective: June 20, 1983
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 137 - 115th General Assembly

Where a municipal civil service commission serves a city school district whose territory is located in more than one city, the board of education of such district shall, by resolution, appropriate each year, to be paid into the treasury of the municipal civil service commission's city, an amount sufficient to meet the portion of the board of education's cost of civil service administration. The amount shall be mutually agreed to by the school board and the commission or if agreement cannot be reached, it shall be determined by the ratio of the number of employees of such board in the classified service to the entire number of employees in the classified service in all political divisions served by the commission.

Where a municipal civil service commission serves a city school district whose territory is not located in more than one city, the board of education of such district may appropriate such an amount to be paid to the city's treasury.

Section 124.56 | Investigation of violations.

• Effective: August 9, 1974
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 513 - 110th General Assembly

When the state personnel board of review or a municipal or civil service township civil service commission has reason to believe that any officer, board, commission, head of a department, or person having the power of appointment, layoff, suspension, or removal, has abused such power by making an appointment, layoff, reduction, suspension, or removal of an employee under his or their jurisdiction in violation of this chapter of the Revised Code, the board or commission shall make an investigation, and if it finds that a violation of this chapter, or the intent and spirit of this chapter has occurred, it shall make a report to the governor, or in the case of a municipal or township office or employee, the commission shall make a report to the mayor or other chief appointing authority, or in the case of a civil service township, the commission shall make a report to the board of township trustees, who may remove forthwith such guilty officer, board, commission, head of department, or person. The officer or employee shall first be given an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel in his own defense. The action of removal by the governor, mayor, or other chief appointing authority is final except as otherwise provided in this chapter of the Revised Code.

Section 124.57 | Prohibition against partisan political activity.

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

(A) No officer or employee in the classified service of the state, the several counties, cities, and city school districts of the state, or the civil service townships of the state shall directly or indirectly, orally or by letter, solicit or receive, or be in any manner concerned in soliciting or receiving, any assessment, subscription, or contribution for any political party or for any candidate for public office; nor shall any person solicit directly or indirectly, orally or by letter, or be in any manner concerned in soliciting, any such assessment, contribution, or payment from any officer or employee in the classified service of the state, the several counties, cities, or city school districts of the state, or the civil service townships of the state; nor shall any officer or employee in the classified service of the state, the several counties, cities, and city school districts of the state, or the civil service townships of the state be an officer in any political organization or take part in politics other than to vote as the officer or employee pleases and to express freely political opinions.

(B)(1) Nothing in division (A) of this section prohibits an officer or employee described in that division from serving as a precinct election official under section 3501.22 of the Revised Code.

(2) Nothing in division (A) of this section prohibits an employee of OSU extension whose position is transferred from the unclassified civil service to the classified civil service and who also holds the office of president of a city legislative authority from completing the existing term of office as president.

Section 124.58 | Fraud or false representation in examinations.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

No person or officer shall willfully or corruptly, by himself or in co-operation with one or more persons, defeat, deceive, or obstruct any person in respect of his right of examination, appointment, or employment according to sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code, or to any rules or regulations prescribed pursuant to such sections; or willfully or corruptly, falsely mark, grade, estimate, or report upon the examination or proper standing of any person examined, registered, or certified pursuant to such sections, or aid in so doing; or willfully or corruptly make any false representations concerning the same, or concerning the person examined; or willfully or corruptly furnish to any person any special or secret information for the purpose of either improving or injuring the prospects or chances of any person so examined, registered, or certified; or to be examined, registered, or certified, or personate any other person, or permit or aid in any manner any person to personate him, in connection with any examination, registration, appointment, application, or request to be examined, registered, or appointed; or shall furnish any false information about himself, or any other person, in connection with any examination, registration, appointment, application, or request to be examined, registered, or appointed.

Section 124.59 | Payment for appointment or promotion.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

No applicant for appointment or promotion in the classified service shall, directly or indirectly, pay or promise to pay any money or other valuable thing, nor shall he ask or receive any recommendation or assistance from any person, upon the consideration of any political service to be rendered, for or on account of his appointment or promotion, or proposed appointment or promotion.

Section 124.60 | Abuse of power for political reasons.

• Effective: June 13, 1975
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 111th General Assembly

No officer or employee of the state or the several counties, cities, and city school districts thereof, or civil service townships, shall appoint, promote, reduce, suspend, lay off, discharge, or in any manner change the official rank or compensation of any officer or employee in the classified service, or promise or threaten to do so, or harass, discipline, or coerce any such officer or employee, for giving, withholding, or refusing to support any party.

Section 124.61 | Abuse of political authority or influence.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

No person who holds any public office, or who has been nominated for, or who seeks a nomination or appointment to any public office, shall corruptly use or promise to use, either directly or indirectly, any official authority or influence in order to secure or aid any person in securing for himself or another any office or employment in the classified service, or any promotion or increase of salary therein, as a reward for political influence or service. Nor shall any person, by means of threats or coercion, induce or seek to induce anyone in the classified service to resign his position or to waive his right to certification, appointment, or promotion.

Section 124.62 | Violations of civil service rules or statutes.

• Effective: August 9, 1974
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 513 - 110th General Assembly

After a rule has been duly established and published by the director of administrative services or by any municipal or civil service township civil service commission according to this chapter, no person shall make an appointment to office or select a person for employment contrary to such rule, or willfully refuse or neglect to comply with or to conform to the sections of this chapter, or willfully violate any of the sections. If any person who is convicted of violating this section holds any public office or place of public employment, such office or position shall by virtue of such conviction be rendered vacant.

Section 124.63 | Taxpayer's suit.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

The right of any taxpayer to bring an action to restrain the payment of compensation to any person appointed to or holding any office or place of employment in violation of sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code, shall not be limited or denied by reason of the fact that said office or place of employment has been classified as, or determined to be classified as, not subject to competitive examination; provided any judgment or injunction granted or made in any such action shall be prospective only, and shall not affect payments already made or due to such persons by the proper disbursing officers, in accordance with the civil service rules in force at the times of such payments.

Section 124.64 | Prosecutions for violations of civil service rules or statutes.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

Prosecutions for the violation of sections 124.01 to 124.64 of the Revised Code, or the rules and regulations of the director of administrative services established in conformity thereto, shall be instituted by the attorney general or by the director acting through special counsel, or by the county prosecutor for the county in which the offense is alleged to have been committed. Prosecutions for violations of such sections and the rules and regulations of any municipal civil service commission by any officer or employee of such city, city school district, or city health district, shall be instituted by such municipal civil service commission through the legal department of the city or by such municipal civil service commission acting through special counsel.

Section 124.70 | No residency requirement for higher education employees.

• Effective: October 25, 1995
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly

No state institution of higher education shall prohibit, and nothing in this chapter prohibits, an employee in the classified civil service of the institution from residing outside this state. As used in this section, "state institution of higher education" has the meaning given in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.71 | Unauthorized operation of motor vehicles.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

No person shall willfully operate a motor vehicle, motor vehicle with auxiliary equipment, or self-propelling equipment or trailers owned or to be operated by the state or a political subdivision, without reasonable cause to believe that the specific use or operation is one that is properly authorized. Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.

Section 124.74 | Criminal records check for employees with access to federal tax information.

• Effective: March 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 51 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) Division (B) of this section applies to any of the following individuals:

(1) An employee in the service of the state;

(2) A prospective employee for a position in the service of the state;

(3) A contractor of a state agency, board, or commission;

(4) A contractor, employee, or prospective employee of a board of county commissioners or a county department of job and family services, child support enforcement agency, or public children services agency.

(B) If an individual described in division (A) of this section has or, in the case of a prospective employee, will have access to or the use of federal tax information, the head of the state or county agency, department, board, or commission with which the individual is employed, will be employed, or is contracted shall request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation conduct a criminal records check based on the individual's fingerprints in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code. The head of the agency, department, board, or commission shall request that criminal record information from the federal bureau of investigation be obtained as part of the criminal records check.

Such an individual, and the agency, department, board, or commission with which the individual is employed, will be employed, or is contracted, shall also comply with any separate request by the federal bureau of investigation to conduct a national criminal records check.

(C) A state or county agency, department, board, or commission may adopt any rules or policies necessary to implement this section.

Section 124.81 | Insurance benefits.

• Effective: September 27, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 377 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (F) of this section, the department of administrative services in consultation with the superintendent of insurance shall negotiate with and, in accordance with the competitive selection procedures of Chapter 125. of the Revised Code, contract with one or more insurance companies authorized to do business in this state, for the issuance of one of the following:

(1) A policy of group life insurance covering all state employees who are paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management, including elected state officials;

(2) A combined policy, or coordinated policies of one or more insurance companies or health insuring corporations in combination with one or more insurance companies providing group life and health, medical, hospital, dental, or surgical insurance, or any combination thereof, covering all such employees;

(3) A policy that may include, but is not limited to, hospitalization, surgical, major medical, dental, vision, and medical care, disability, hearing aids, prescription drugs, group life, life, sickness, and accident insurance, group legal services, or a combination of the above benefits for some or all of the employees paid in accordance with section 124.152 of the Revised Code and for some or all of the employees listed in divisions (B)(2) and (4) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code, and their immediate dependents.

(B) The department of administrative services in consultation with the superintendent of insurance shall negotiate with and, in accordance with the competitive selection procedures of Chapter 125. of the Revised Code, contract with one or more insurance companies authorized to do business in this state, for the issuance of a policy of group life insurance covering all municipal and county court judges. The amount of such coverage shall be an amount equal to the aggregate salary set forth for each municipal court judge in sections 141.04 and 1901.11 of the Revised Code, and set forth for each county court judge in sections 141.04 and 1907.16 of the Revised Code.

(C) If a state employee uses all accumulated sick leave and then goes on an extended medical disability, the policyholder shall continue at no cost to the employee the coverage of the group life insurance for such employee for the period of such extended leave, but not beyond three years.

(D) If a state employee insured under a group life insurance policy as provided in division (A) of this section is laid off pursuant to section 124.32 of the Revised Code, such employee by request to the policyholder, made no later than the effective date of the layoff, may elect to continue the employee's group life insurance for the one-year period through which the employee may be considered to be on laid-off status by paying the policyholder through payroll deduction or otherwise twelve times the monthly premium computed at the existing average rate for the group life case for the amount of the employee's insurance thereunder at the time of the employee's layoff. The policyholder shall pay the premiums to the insurance company at the time of the next regular monthly premium payment for the actively insured employees and furnish the company appropriate data as to such laid-off employees. At the time an employee receives written notice of a layoff, the policyholder shall also give such employee written notice of the opportunity to continue group life insurance in accordance with this division. When such laid-off employee is reinstated for active work before the end of the one-year period, the employee shall be reclassified as insured again as an active employee under the group and appropriate refunds for the number of full months of unearned premium payment shall be made by the policyholder.

(E) This section does not affect the conversion rights of an insured employee when the employee's group insurance terminates under the policy.

(F) Notwithstanding division (A) of this section, the department may provide benefits equivalent to those that may be paid under a policy issued by an insurance company, or the department may, to comply with a collectively bargained contract, enter into an agreement with a jointly administered trust fund which receives contributions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement entered into between this state, or any of its political subdivisions, and any collective bargaining representative of the employees of this state or any political subdivision for the purpose of providing for self-insurance of all risk in the provision of fringe benefits similar to those that may be paid pursuant to division (A) of this section, and the jointly administered trust fund may provide through the self-insurance method specific fringe benefits as authorized by the rules of the board of trustees of the jointly administered trust fund. Amounts from the fund may be used to pay direct and indirect costs that are attributable to consultants or a third-party administrator and that are necessary to administer this section. Benefits provided under this section include, but are not limited to, hospitalization, surgical care, major medical care, disability, dental care, vision care, medical care, hearing aids, prescription drugs, group life insurance, sickness and accident insurance, group legal services, or a combination of the above benefits, for the employees and their immediate dependents.

(G) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, any public employer, including the state, and any of its political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, any county, county hospital, municipal corporation, township, park district, school district, state institution of higher education, public or special district, state agency, authority, commission, or board, or any other branch of public employment, and any collective bargaining representative of employees of the state or any political subdivision may agree in a collective bargaining agreement that any mutually agreed fringe benefit including, but not limited to, hospitalization, surgical care, major medical care, disability, dental care, vision care, medical care, hearing aids, prescription drugs, group life insurance, sickness and accident insurance, group legal services, or a combination thereof, for employees and their dependents be provided through a mutually agreed upon contribution to a jointly administered trust fund. Amounts from the fund may be used to pay direct and indirect costs that are attributable to consultants or a third-party administrator and that are necessary to administer this section. The amount, type, and structure of fringe benefits provided under this division is subject to the determination of the board of trustees of the jointly administered trust fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, competitive bidding does not apply to the purchase of fringe benefits for employees under this division through a jointly administered trust fund.

Last updated July 8, 2022 at 8:29 AM

Section 124.82 | Health insurance benefits.

• Effective: October 17, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, the department of administrative services, in consultation with the superintendent of insurance, shall, in accordance with competitive selection procedures of Chapter 125. of the Revised Code, contract with an insurance company or a health plan in combination with an insurance company, authorized to do business in this state, for the issuance of a policy or contract of health, medical, hospital, dental, vision, or surgical benefits, or any combination of those benefits, covering state employees who are paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management, including elected state officials. The department may fulfill its obligation under this division by exercising its authority under division (A)(2) of section 124.81 of the Revised Code.

(B) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, the department may, in addition, in consultation with the superintendent of insurance, negotiate and contract with health insuring corporations holding a certificate of authority under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code, in their approved service areas only, for issuance of a contract or contracts of health care services, covering state employees who are paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management, including elected state officials. The department may enter into contracts with one or more insurance carriers or health plans to provide the same plan of benefits, provided that:

(1) The employee be permitted to exercise the option as to which plan the employee will select under division (A) or (B) of this section, at a time that shall be determined by the department;

(2) The health insuring corporations do not refuse to accept the employee, or the employee and the employee's family, if the employee exercises the option to select care provided by the corporations;

(3) The employee may choose participation in only one of the plans sponsored by the department;

(4) The director of health examines and certifies to the department that the quality and adequacy of care rendered by the health insuring corporations meet at least the standards of care provided by hospitals and physicians in that employee's community, who would be providing such care as would be covered by a contract awarded under division (A) of this section.

(C) All or any portion of the cost, premium, or charge for the coverage in divisions (A) and (B) of this section may be paid in such manner or combination of manners as the department determines and may include the proration of health care costs, premiums, or charges for part-time employees.

(D) Notwithstanding divisions (A) and (B) of this section, the department may provide benefits equivalent to those that may be paid under a policy or contract issued by an insurance company or a health plan pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section.

(E) This section does not prohibit the state office of collective bargaining from entering into an agreement with an employee representative for the purposes of providing fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, hospitalization, surgical care, major medical care, disability, dental care, vision care, medical care, hearing aids, prescription drugs, group life insurance, sickness and accident insurance, group legal services or other benefits, or any combination of those benefits, to employees paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management through a jointly administered trust fund. The employer's contribution for the cost of the benefit care shall be mutually agreed to in the collectively bargained agreement. The amount, type, and structure of fringe benefits provided under this division is subject to the determination of the board of trustees of the jointly administered trust fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, competitive bidding does not apply to the purchase of fringe benefits for employees under this division when those benefits are provided through a jointly administered trust fund.

(F) Members of state boards or commissions may be covered by any policy, contract, or plan of benefits or services described in division (A) or (B) of this section. Board or commission members who are appointed for a fixed term and who are compensated on a per meeting basis, or paid only for expenses, or receive a combination of per diem payments and expenses shall pay the entire amount of the premiums, costs, or charges for that coverage.

Section 124.821 | Health care spending account fund.

• Effective: July 17, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

The health care spending account fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The director of administrative services shall use money in the fund to make payments with regard to the participation of state employees in flexible spending accounts for certain nonreimbursed medical and dental expenses under section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code. All investment earnings on money in the fund shall be credited to the fund.

Section 124.822 | Dependent care spending account fund.

• Effective: July 17, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

The dependent care spending account fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The director of administrative services shall use money in the fund to make payments with regard to the participation of state employees in flexible spending accounts for work-related dependent care expenses under section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code. All investment earnings on money in the fund shall be credited to the fund.

Section 124.823 | Medical savings account pilot program.

• Effective: December 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 126th General Assembly

The department of administrative services shall establish a pilot program under which it includes medical savings accounts as part of any package of health care benefit options offered to state employees and state elected officials paid by warrant of the director of budget and management. Except for the provisions in divisions (A) and (B) of section 3924.64 of the Revised Code concerning designation of an administrator, a medical savings account established as part of the program is subject to sections 3924.64 to 3924.74 of the Revised Code.

The department is not required to offer the medical savings account option to any state employee who is covered under a collective bargaining agreement entered into pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, but a medical savings account option may be part of a package of health care benefit options offered pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The department may limit enrollment in the medical savings account program and may require state employees enrolled in it to contribute to their medical savings accounts. The department shall make both individual and family coverage available through the accounts. The program shall not increase the cost of providing health insurance to state employees. The department may end the program at any time not sooner than two years after it is established, except that the department may not end the program prior to providing six months' notice to the speaker of the house of representatives, president of the senate, minority leader of the house and minority leader of the senate, and the chairs of the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with primary responsibility for health and insurance legislation.

A state employee who chooses the medical savings account option shall have any state health, medical, hospital, dental, surgical, and vision benefits for which the employee is eligible provided through the medical savings account. The department, under section 124.81 or 124.82 of the Revised Code, shall contract for or otherwise provide a high-deductible policy or contract through which those benefits can be paid.

The employee for whom a medical savings account is opened shall at the time the account is opened choose an administrator from a list of administrators designated by the department, one of which may be the insurer from which the department purchases the high-deductible policy or contract. If the employee fails to choose an administrator, the department shall designate an administrator.

If an elected state official whose term commenced prior to the establishment of the program elects to participate in the medical savings account program, participation shall commence at the beginning of the term following establishment of the program.

Section 124.824 | Elections by death benefit fund recipient.

• Effective: October 17, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "death benefit fund recipient" means any recipient of a death benefit paid under section 742.63 of the Revised Code except a parent who receives a death benefit paid under division (E) of that section.

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided under division (B)(3) of this section, a death benefit fund recipient may elect to participate in any health, medical, hospital, dental, surgical, or vision benefit the department of administrative services contracts for under section 124.82 of the Revised Code or otherwise provides for the benefit of state employees who are paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management. Receiving benefits under this section does not make the death benefit fund recipient a state employee. A death benefit fund recipient who elects to participate in a benefit under this section shall file the election form developed by the director of administrative services under division (D) of this section with the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, which serves as the trustees of the Ohio public safety officers death benefit fund pursuant to section 742.62 of the Revised Code.

The board of trustees shall forward the election form to the department after the board has approved an application for benefits under section 742.63 of the Revised Code.

(2) A parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a death benefit fund recipient who is under eighteen years of age or who is a surviving child entitled to extended benefits under division (H)(3) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code due to disability may file the election form required by division (B)(1) of this section on the death benefit fund recipient's behalf.

(3) A death benefit fund recipient is ineligible to participate in a health, medical, hospital, dental, surgical, or vision benefit under division (B)(1) of this section if the recipient is either of the following:

(a) An employee paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management who is eligible to participate in those benefits pursuant to section 124.82 of the Revised Code;

(b) Eligible to enroll in the medicare program established by Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 79 Stat. 291 (1965), 42 U.S.C. 1395c, as amended.

(C) For each death benefit fund recipient who elects to participate in health, medical, hospital, dental, surgical, or vision benefits under division (B) of this section, the department shall notify the board of trustees of the amount of the cost for the applicable benefits that shall be withheld from benefits paid to a death benefit fund recipient under section 742.63 of the Revised Code and forwarded to the department. The amount withheld from the death benefit fund recipient shall be the percentage of the cost of those benefits that would be paid by a state employee. The board of trustees shall pay the department the remaining cost of those benefits plus any applicable administrative costs from appropriations made for that purpose.

(D) The director of administrative services shall prescribe procedures for the administration of benefits for death benefit fund recipients under this section, including the development of required forms for death benefit fund recipients to enroll, disenroll, or re-enroll in benefits under this section. The director shall provide the required election forms developed under this division to the board of trustees and shall notify the board of trustees of a death benefit recipient's enrollment, disenrollment, or re-enrollment in benefits under this section. The director shall notify the board of trustees when the department terminates the benefits a death benefit fund recipient has elected under division (B) of this section.

(E) The board of trustees shall provide any information that the department requires to provide benefits under this section to the department, a designated third-party administrator, or both, including information regarding the identities, ages, and family relationships of death benefit fund recipients.

Section 124.825 | Coverage for tobacco cessation.

• Effective: September 18, 2020
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 11 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Cost-sharing requirement" means any expenditure required by or on behalf of an individual receiving health care benefits provided under section 124.82 of the Revised Code. "Cost-sharing requirement" includes deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, or similar charges. "Cost-sharing requirement" does not include premiums, balance billing amounts for non-network providers, or spending for noncovered services.

(2) "Step therapy protocol" has the same meaning as in section 3901.83 of the Revised Code.

(B) Notwithstanding section 3901.71 of the Revised Code or any other provision of the Revised Code, the health care benefits provided under section 124.82 of the Revised Code to state employees shall include coverage of both of the following, subject to division (E) of this section:

(1) All tobacco cessation medications approved by the United States food and drug administration;

(2) All forms of tobacco cessation services recommended by the United States preventive services task force, including individual, group, and telephone counseling and any combination thereof.

(C) None of the following conditions shall be imposed with respect to the coverage required by this section:

(1) Counseling requirements for tobacco cessation medication;

(2) Except as provided in division (C)(4) of this section, limits on the duration of services, including annual or lifetime limits on the number of covered attempts to quit using tobacco;

(3) Cost-sharing requirements;

(4) Prior authorization requirements, step therapy protocols, or any other utilization management requirements, except that prior authorization may be required for either of the following:

(a) Treatment that exceeds the duration recommended in the United States public health service clinical practice guidelines on treating tobacco use and dependence;

(b) Services associated with more than two attempts to quit using tobacco within a twelve-month period.

(D) The health care benefits provided under section 124.82 of the Revised Code may cover tobacco cessation services in addition to the services that must be covered under this section or may exclude coverage of additional tobacco cessation services.

(E) The director of health shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish standards and procedures for approving the forms of tobacco cessation medications and services that must be covered under this section. The rules shall also establish standards and procedures for updating the approved forms of tobacco cessation medications and services that must be covered under this section when the approved forms are modified by the United States food and drug administration, United States public health service, or United States preventive services task force.

(F) Each insurance company or health plan providing health care benefits under section 124.82 of the Revised Code to state employees shall do both of the following:

(1) Inform state employees of the coverage required by this section;

(2) Market the coverage required by this section to state employees.

Section 124.83 | Disability and income protection - state employee disability leave benefit fund.

• Effective: October 25, 1995
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly

(A) The department of administrative services shall do one of the following:

(1) In consultation with the superintendent of insurance, in accordance with the competitive selection procedures of Chapter 125. of the Revised Code, periodically contract with an insurance company for the issuance of a policy of disability and income protection pursuant to, and covering all state employees who are eligible under, section 124.385 of the Revised Code;

(2) Provide disability and income protection pursuant to, and covering all state employees who are eligible under, section 124.385 of the Revised Code.

(B) All or any portion of the cost, premium, or charges for the coverage provided for under division (A) of this section or other programs for disabled state workers may be paid by the state and credited to the state employee disability leave benefit fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury. All income derived from the investment of the fund shall accrue to the fund. Amounts from the fund may be used to pay direct and indirect costs that are attributable to consultants or a third-party administrator and that are necessary to administer the disability leave programs created under sections 124.381 and 124.385 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.84 | Long-term care insurance - state employees.

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

(A) The department of administrative services, in consultation with the superintendent of insurance and subject to division (D) of this section, may negotiate and contract with one or more insurance companies or health insuring corporations authorized to operate or do business in this state for the purchase of a policy of long-term care insurance covering all state employees who are paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management, including elected state officials. Any policy purchased under this division shall be negotiated and entered into in accordance with the competitive selection procedures specified in Chapter 125. of the Revised Code. As used in this section, "long-term care insurance" has the same meaning as in section 3923.41 of the Revised Code.

(B) Any elected state official or state employee paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management may elect to participate in any long-term care insurance policy purchased under division (A) of this section. All or any portion of the premium charged may be paid by the state. Participation in the policy may include the dependents and family members of the elected state official or state employee.

If a participant in a long-term care insurance policy leaves employment, the participant and the participant's dependents and family members may, at their election, continue to participate in a policy established under this section. The manner of payment and the portion of premium charged the participant, dependent, and family member shall be established pursuant to division (E) of this section.

(C) Any long-term care insurance policy purchased under this section or section 124.841 or 145.581 of the Revised Code shall provide for all of the following with respect to the premiums charged for the policy:

(1) They shall be set at the entry age of the official or employee when first covered by the policy and shall not increase except as a class during coverage under the policy.

(2) They shall be based on the class of all officials or employees covered by the policy.

(3) They shall continue, pursuant to section 145.581 of the Revised Code, after the retirement of the official or employee who is covered under the policy, at the rate in effect on the date of the official's or employee's retirement.

(D) Prior to entering into a contract with an insurance company or health insuring corporation for the purchase of a long-term care insurance policy under this section, the department shall request the superintendent of insurance to certify the financial condition of the company or corporation. The department shall not enter into the contract if, according to that certification, the company or corporation is insolvent, is determined by the superintendent to be potentially unable to fulfill its contractual obligations, or is placed under an order of rehabilitation or conservation by a court of competent jurisdiction or under an order of supervision by the superintendent.

(E) The department shall adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code governing long-term care insurance purchased under this section. All or any portion of the premium charged the participants, dependents, and family members shall be paid in such manner or combination of manners as the department determines.

Section 124.841 | Long-term care insurance - political subdivision employees.

• Effective: August 31, 2004
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 185 - 125th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Long-term care insurance" has the same meaning as in section 3923.41 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Political subdivision" has the same meaning as in section 9.833 of the Revised Code.

(B) Any political subdivision may negotiate with and may contract with one or more insurance companies or health insuring corporations authorized to operate or do business in this state for the purchase of a policy of long-term care insurance covering all elected officials and employees of the political subdivision. The contract may be entered into without competitive bidding. Any elected official or employee of a political subdivision may elect to participate in any long-term care insurance policy that the political subdivision purchases under this division.

(C) Any long-term care insurance policy entered into under this section is subject to division (C) of section 124.84 of the Revised Code.

(D) All or any portion of the premium charged may be paid by the political subdivision. The political subdivision shall establish a manner or manners of payment for participants and the political subdivision.

Section 124.86 | Employee educational development fund.

• Effective: July 17, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

There is hereby created in the state treasury the employee educational development fund, to be used to pay the state administrative costs of any education program undertaken pursuant to specific collective bargaining agreements identified in uncodified law governing expenditure of the fund. The director of administrative services shall establish, and shall obtain the approval of the director of budget and management for, a charge for each such program that is sufficient only to recover those costs. All money collected from such a charge shall be deposited to the credit of the fund, and all interest earned on the fund shall accrue to the fund. The director of administrative services shall administer the fund in accordance with the respective collective bargaining agreements and may adopt rules for the purpose of this administration.

Section 124.87 | State employee health benefit fund.

• Effective: September 13, 2018
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 292 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) There is hereby established in the state treasury the state employee health benefit fund for the sole purpose of enabling the department of administrative services to provide state employees with any benefits specified in divisions (A) and (B) of section 124.82 of the Revised Code.

(B) The fund shall be under the supervision of the department. The department shall be responsible, under approved bonds, for all moneys coming into, and paid out of, the fund in accordance with this section and shall ensure that the fund is actuarially sound. Amounts from the fund may be used to pay direct and indirect costs that are attributable to consultants or third-party administrators and that are necessary to administer this section.

(C) In carrying out its duties and responsibilities, the department shall do the following:

(1) Adopt rules with regard to the administration of the fund;

(2) With respect to benefits specified in divisions (A) and (B) of section 124.82 of the Revised Code, enter into a contract with a health insuring corporation operating in accordance with Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code, a company authorized to do the business of sickness and accident insurance under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code, or a professional claim administrator, to serve as administrator of that portion of the fund set aside to provide those benefits. As used in this division, a "professional claim administrator" means any person that has experience in the handling of insurance claims and has been determined by the department to be fully qualified, financially sound, and capable of meeting all of the service requirements of the contract of administration under such criteria as may be established by rules adopted by the department. With respect to the benefits specified in divisions (A) and (B) of section 124.82 of the Revised Code, if the fund is the secondary payor of these benefits, the amount the professional claim administrator may pay is limited to an amount that will yield a benefit no greater than the amount that would have been paid if the fund were the primary payor of these benefits.

(3) Adopt rules governing the conditions under which an employee may participate in or withdraw from the fund, and the procedure by which the employee is to contribute to the fund;

(4) Adopt rules to ensure that the fund is actuarially sound;

(5) Adopt rules to ensure the integrity of the fund, and to ensure that the fund be used solely for the purpose specified in division (A) of this section.

The department shall adopt all rules pursuant to this section in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(D) Amounts withheld from employees, amounts contributed by the state or from federal funds, and all amounts contributed by any state authority, shall be credited to the fund. All other income, including the income derived from any dividends and distributions, interest earned, premium rate adjustments, or other refunds, shall also be credited to the fund. Any amounts remaining in the fund after all premiums or subscription charges, and other expenses have been paid, shall be retained in the fund as a special reserve for adverse fluctuation.

(E) All income derived from the investment of the fund shall accrue to the fund.

(F) The department shall have prepared every year, by a competent actuary familiar with health and life insurance, a report showing a complete actuarial evaluation of the fund and the adequacy of the rates of contribution, which report shall contain recommendations the actuary considers advisable. The department at any time may request the actuary to make any studies or evaluations to determine the adequacy of the rates of contribution, and those rates may be adjusted by the department, as recommended by the actuary, effective as of the first of any fiscal year thereafter.

Section 124.88 | State employee assistance program.

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

(A) The employee assistance program is hereby established in the department of administrative services for the purpose of referring state employees paid by warrant of the director of budget and management who are in need of medical, social, or other services to providers of those services.

(B) Records of the identity, diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of any person that are maintained in connection with the employee assistance program created in division (A) of this section are not public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall be disclosed only as provided in division (C) of this section.

(C)(1) Records described in division (B) of this section may be disclosed with the prior written consent of the person who is the subject of the record.

(2) Records described in division (B) of this section may be disclosed with or without the prior written consent of the person who is the subject of the record under the following conditions:

(a) To medical personnel to the extent necessary to meet a bona fide medical emergency;

(b) To qualified personnel for the purpose of conducting scientific research, management audits, financial audits, or program evaluation, but the personnel shall not directly or indirectly identify any person who is the subject of the record in any report of the research, audit, or evaluation or in any other manner;

(c) If authorized by an appropriate order of a court of competent jurisdiction granted after a showing of good cause. In determining good cause, the court shall weigh the public interest and the need for disclosure against injury to the person who is the subject of the record and to the employee assistance program. Upon granting such an order, the court shall, in determining the extent to which the disclosure of all or any part of any record is necessary, impose appropriate safeguards against unauthorized disclosure.

(D) Except as authorized by a court order described in division (C)(2)(c) of this section, no record described in division (B) of this section may be used to initiate or substantiate criminal charges against the person who is the subject of the record or to conduct any investigation of such a person.

Section 124.90 | Waiver of federal law concerning discrimination in employment.

• Effective: February 2, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 286 - 114th General Assembly

(A) Any municipal corporation may, by a two-thirds vote of its legislative authority, waive, suspend, or alter any of the provisions of this chapter as they apply to that municipal corporation if such waiver, suspension, or alteration is necessary for the municipal corporation to comply with any federal law or any rules adopted pursuant to federal law concerning discrimination in employment.

(B) Any municipal corporation that has adopted the provisions of this chapter as part of its charter may, by a two-thirds vote of its legislative authority, waive, suspend, or alter any of the provisions of this chapter so adopted if such waiver, suspension, or alteration is necessary for the municipal corporation to comply with any federal law or any rules adopted pursuant to federal law concerning discrimination in employment.

(C) A municipal corporation may not under this section make any waiver, suspension, or alteration of provisions of this chapter that relate to matters of promotions within the municipal civil service.

Section 124.91 | Annual survey on diversity within agency workforce.

• Effective: October 17, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly

The director of administrative services annually shall conduct a survey on diversity within each state agency's workforce at the time of the survey. Not later than December 31, 2020, and not later than the thirty-first day of December of each year thereafter, the director shall issue a report on the results of the surveys with the governor and the general assembly in accordance with section 101.68 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.93 | Discrimination by health insuring corporation against physician.

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

(A) As used in this section, "physician" means any person who holds a valid license to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery issued under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code.

(B) No health insuring corporation that, on or after July 1, 1993, enters into or renews a contract with the department of administrative services under section 124.82 of the Revised Code, because of a physician's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or military status as defined in section 4112.01 of the Revised Code, age, or ancestry, shall refuse to contract with that physician for the provision of health care services under section 124.82 of the Revised Code.

Any health insuring corporation that violates this division is deemed to have engaged in an unlawful discriminatory practice as defined in section 4112.02 of the Revised Code and is subject to Chapter 4112. of the Revised Code.

(C) Each health insuring corporation that, on or after July 1, 1993, enters into or renews a contract with the department of administrative services under section 124.82 of the Revised Code and that refuses to contract with a physician for the provision of health care services under that section shall provide that physician with a written notice that clearly explains the reason or reasons for the refusal. The notice shall be sent to the physician by regular mail within thirty days after the refusal.

Any health insuring corporation that fails to provide notice in compliance with this division is deemed to have engaged in an unfair and deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance as defined in section 3901.21 of the Revised Code and is subject to sections 3901.19 to 3901.26 of the Revised Code.

Section 124.99 | Penalty.

• Effective: December 4, 1973
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 174 - 110th General Assembly

(A) Whoever violates section 124.62 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned not more than six months, or both.