As Passed by the House

124th General Assembly
Regular Session
2001-2002
Am. S. B. No. 240


SENATORS Amstutz, Jordan, Mead, Harris, White, Randy Gardner, Austria, Coughlin, Robert Gardner, Hottinger, Mumper, Spada, Wachtmann, Jacobson

REPRESENTATIVES Clancy, Flowers, Young, Buehrer, Cates, Peterson, Trakas, Carmichael, Sykes, Patton, Oakar, Wilson, Reinhard, Latta, Gilb, Hughes, Sulzer, Faber, Niehaus, McGregor, Seitz, Coates, Core, Ogg, Hartnett, Cirelli, Jolivette, Driehaus, Reidelbach, Collier, Schaffer, Williams, Evans, Wolpert, Willamowski, Hagan, Fessler, Manning, Damschroder, Olman, Fedor, White, Webster, Grendell, Schmidt, Roman, Otterman, Boccieri, Calvert, Schneider, Strahorn, Setzer, Latell, Key, Woodard, Brown



A BILL
To amend section 5.01 and to enact sections 5.012 and1
5.013 of the Revised Code to establish requirements2
governing the display and disposal of the state3
flag, to explain the symbolism of the state flag,4
and to adopt an official pledge to the state flag.5


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1.  That section 5.01 be amended and sections 5.0126
and 5.013 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:7

       Sec. 5.01.  The flag of the state shall be pennant shaped8
burgee-shaped. It shall have three red and two white horizontal9
stripes that represent the roads and waterways of the state. The10
union of the flag shall be seventeen five-pointed stars, white in11
a blue triangular field that represents the state's hills and12
valleys, the base of which shall be the staff end or vertical edge13
of the flag, and the apex of which shall be the center of the14
middle red stripe. The stars shall be grouped around a red disc15
superimposed upon a white circular "O." The thirteen stars grouped16
around the "O" represent the original states of the United States17
and the four stars added to the peak of the triangle symbolize18
that Ohio was the seventeenth state admitted to the union. The19
"O" represents the "O" in "Ohio" and suggests the state's20
nickname, the buckeye state. The proportional dimensions of the21
flag and of its various parts shall be according to the official22
design on file in the office of the secretary of state. One state23
flag of uniform dimensions shall be furnished to each company of24
the organized militia.25

       Sec. 5.012.  (A) Display of the state flag at all state26
buildings and public institutions, such as public school buildings27
and state parks, is encouraged. If the state flag is displayed,28
it may be flown every day when weather permits and shall be flown29
from sunrise until sunset on all national and state holidays and30
on any other days that the governor proclaims. The state flag may31
be flown at night when properly lighted. When the state flag is32
displayed outdoors, it shall be flown either from a flagpole or a33
staff. Any staff from which the state flag is flown shall be at34
least two and one-half times as long as the state flag.35

       (B) When the state flag and the United States flag are36
displayed at the same time, the state flag shall not be larger37
than the United States flag. When the state flag and the United38
States flag are displayed together against a wall from crossed39
staffs, the state flag shall be on the left of the United States40
flag, and the staff supporting the state flag shall be behind the41
staff supporting the United States flag. When the state flag is42
flown from the same halyard as the United States flag, the state43
flag shall be displayed beneath the United States flag. When the44
state flag is carried in a procession in which the United States45
flag is unfurled, the state flag shall be displayed on the46
marching left of the United States flag.47

       (C) The state flag shall be washed or dry cleaned when48
soiled and may be repaired. When the state flag is damaged beyond49
repair, it shall be destroyed privately either by cutting it into50
small pieces and burning it until only ashes remain or by sealing51
it in a plastic bag or box before discarding it in a trash52
collection.53

       Sec. 5.013.  "I salute the flag of the state of Ohio and54
pledge to the buckeye state respect and loyalty" is hereby adopted55
as the official pledge to the state flag. The pledge shall not56
replace, preempt, or be recited before the pledge of allegiance to57
the United States flag.58

       Section 2.  That existing section 5.01 of the Revised Code is59
hereby repealed.60