SENATORS Amstutz, Jordan, Mead, Harris, White, Randy Gardner

To amend section 5.01 and to enact sections 5.012 and

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5.013 of the Revised Code to establish

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requirements governing the display and disposal of

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the state flag, to explain the symbolism of the

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state flag, and to adopt an official pledge to the

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state flag.

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

Section 1.  That section 5.01 be amended and sections 5.012	7
and 5.013 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:	8

Sec. 5.01.  The flag of the state shall be pennant shaped	9
burgee-shaped. It shall have three red and two white horizontal	10
stripes that represent the roads and waterways of the state. The	11
union of the flag shall be seventeen five-pointed stars, white in	12
a blue triangular field that represents the state's hills and	13
valleys, the base of which shall be the staff end or vertical edge	14
of the flag, and the apex of which shall be the center of the	15
middle red stripe. The stars shall be grouped around a red disc	16
superimposed upon a white circular "O." The thirteen stars grouped	17
around the "O" represent the original states of the United States	18
and the four stars added to the peak of the triangle symbolize	19
that Ohio was the seventeenth state admitted to the union. The	20
"O" represents the "O" in "Ohio" and suggests the state's	21
nickname, the buckeye state. The proportional dimensions of the	22
flag and of its various parts shall be according to the official	23
design on file in the office of the secretary of state. One state	24
flag of uniform dimensions shall be furnished to each company of	25
the organized militia.	26

Sec. 5.012.  (A) Display of the state flag at all state	27
buildings and public institutions, such as public school buildings	28
and state parks, is encouraged. If the state flag is displayed,	29
it may be flown every day when weather permits and shall be flown	30
from sunrise until sunset on all national and state holidays and	31
on any other days that the governor proclaims. The state flag may	32
be flown at night when properly lighted. When the state flag is	33
displayed outdoors, it shall be flown either from a flagpole or a	34
staff. Any staff from which the state flag is flown shall be at	35
least two and one-half times as long as the state flag.	36

(B) When the state flag and the United States flag are	37
displayed at the same time, the state flag shall not be larger	38
than the United States flag. When the state flag and the United	39
States flag are displayed together against a wall from crossed	40
staffs, the state flag shall be on the left of the United States	41
flag, and the staff supporting the state flag shall be behind the	42
staff supporting the United States flag. When the state flag is	43
flown from the same halyard as the United States flag, the state	44
flag shall be displayed beneath the United States flag. When the	45
state flag is carried in a procession in which the United States	46
flag is unfurled, the state flag shall be displayed on the	47
marching left of the United States flag.	48

(C) The state flag shall be washed or dry cleaned when	49
soiled and may be repaired. When the state flag is damaged beyond	50
repair, it shall be destroyed privately either by cutting it into	51
small pieces and burning it until only ashes remain or by sealing	52
it in a plastic bag or box before discarding it in a trash	53
collection.	54

Sec. 5.013.  "I salute the flag of the state of Ohio and	55
pledge to the buckeye state respect and loyalty" is hereby adopted	56
as the official pledge to the state flag. The pledge shall not	57
replace, preempt, or be recited before the pledge of allegiance to	58
the United States flag.	59

Section 2.  That existing section 5.01 of the Revised Code is	60
hereby repealed.	61