Am. Sub. H. B. No. 1 As Passed by the House

Representatives DeWine, White

A BILL

To amend sections 102.03, 2921.01, 2921.43, 3501.05, 1
3501.38, 3503.14, 3513.07, 3513.10, 3513.261, 2
3517.01, 3517.08, 3517.082, 3517.09, 3517.092, 3
3517.10, 3517.102, 3517.103, 3517.104, 3517.105, 4
3517.106, 3517.108, 3517.109, 3517.11, 3517.13, 5
3517.151, 3517.152, 3517.154, 3517.155, 3517.16, 6
3517.17, 3517.20, 3517.23, 3517.992, and 3599.031, 7
to enact new section 3599.03 and sections 8
3501.381, 3517.1011, 3517.1012, 3517.30 to 3517.39 9
and 3599.111, and to repeal section 3599.03 of the 10
Revised Code to revise the Campaign Finance Law. 11

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

       Section 1. That sections 102.03, 2921.01, 2921.43, 3501.05, 12
3501.38, 3503.14, 3513.07, 3513.10, 3513.261, 3517.01, 3517.08, 13
3517.082, 3517.09, 3517.092, 3517.10, 3517.102, 3517.103, 14
3517.104, 3517.105, 3517.106, 3517.108, 3517.109, 3517.11, 15
3517.13, 3517.151, 3517.152, 3517.154, 3517.155, 3517.16, 3517.17, 16
3517.20, 3517.23, 3517.992, and 3599.031 be amended and new 17
section 3599.03 and sections 3501.381, 3517.1011, 3517.1012, 18
3517.30, 3517.31, 3517.32, 3517.33, 3517.34, 3517.35, 3517.36, 19
3517.37, 3517.38, 3517.39, and 3599.111 of the Revised Code be 20
enacted to read as follows: 21

       Sec. 102.03. (A)(1) No present or former public official or 22
employee shall, during public employment or service or for twelve 23
months thereafter, represent a client or act in a representative 24
capacity for any person on any matter in which the public official 25
or employee personally participated as a public official or 26
employee through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, 27
the rendering of advice, investigation, or other substantial 28
exercise of administrative discretion. 29

       (2) For twenty-four months after the conclusion of service, 30
no former commissioner or attorney examiner of the public 31
utilities commission shall represent a public utility, as defined 32
in section 4905.02 of the Revised Code, or act in a representative 33
capacity on behalf of such a utility before any state board, 34
commission, or agency. 35

       (3) For twenty-four months after the conclusion of employment 36
or service, no former public official or employee who personally 37
participated as a public official or employee through decision, 38
approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of advice, 39
the development or adoption of solid waste management plans, 40
investigation, inspection, or other substantial exercise of 41
administrative discretion under Chapter 343. or 3734. of the 42
Revised Code shall represent a person who is the owner or operator 43
of a facility, as defined in section 3734.01 of the Revised Code, 44
or who is an applicant for a permit or license for a facility 45
under that chapter, on any matter in which the public official or 46
employee personally participated as a public official or employee. 47

       (4) For a period of one year after the conclusion of 48
employment or service as a member or employee of the general 49
assembly, no former member or employee of the general assembly 50
shall represent, or act in a representative capacity for, any 51
person on any matter before the general assembly, any committee of 52
the general assembly, or the controlling board. Division (A)(4) of 53
this section does not apply to or affect a person who separates 54
from service with the general assembly on or before December 31, 55
1995. As used in division (A)(4) of this section "person" does not 56
include any state agency or political subdivision of the state. 57

       (5) As used in divisions (A)(1), (2), and (3) of this 58
section, "matter" includes any case, proceeding, application, 59
determination, issue, or question, but does not include the 60
proposal, consideration, or enactment of statutes, rules, 61
ordinances, resolutions, or charter or constitutional amendments. 62
As used in division (A)(4) of this section, "matter" includes the 63
proposal, consideration, or enactment of statutes, resolutions, or 64
constitutional amendments. As used in division (A) of this 65
section, "represent" includes any formal or informal appearance 66
before, or any written or oral communication with, any public 67
agency on behalf of any person. 68

       (6) Nothing contained in division (A) of this section shall 69
prohibit, during such period, a former public official or employee 70
from being retained or employed to represent, assist, or act in a 71
representative capacity for the public agency by which the public 72
official or employee was employed or on which the public official 73
or employee served. 74

       (7) Division (A) of this section shall not be construed to 75
prohibit the performance of ministerial functions, including, but 76
not limited to, the filing or amendment of tax returns, 77
applications for permits and licenses, incorporation papers, and 78
other similar documents. 79

       (B) No present or former public official or employee shall 80
disclose or use, without appropriate authorization, any 81
information acquired by the public official or employee in the 82
course of the public official's or employee's official duties that 83
is confidential because of statutory provisions, or that has been 84
clearly designated to the public official or employee as 85
confidential when that confidential designation is warranted 86
because of the status of the proceedings or the circumstances 87
under which the information was received and preserving its 88
confidentiality is necessary to the proper conduct of government 89
business. 90

       (C) No public official or employee shall participate within 91
the scope of duties as a public official or employee, except 92
through ministerial functions as defined in division (A) of this 93
section, in any license or rate-making proceeding that directly 94
affects the license or rates of any person, partnership, trust, 95
business trust, corporation, or association in which the public 96
official or employee or immediate family owns or controls more 97
than five per cent. No public official or employee shall 98
participate within the scope of duties as a public official or 99
employee, except through ministerial functions as defined in 100
division (A) of this section, in any license or rate-making 101
proceeding that directly affects the license or rates of any 102
person to whom the public official or employee or immediate 103
family, or a partnership, trust, business trust, corporation, or 104
association of which the public official or employee or the public 105
official's or employee's immediate family owns or controls more 106
than five per cent, has sold goods or services totaling more than 107
one thousand dollars during the preceding year, unless the public 108
official or employee has filed a written statement acknowledging 109
that sale with the clerk or secretary of the public agency and the 110
statement is entered in any public record of the agency's 111
proceedings. This division shall not be construed to require the 112
disclosure of clients of attorneys or persons licensed under 113
section 4732.12 or 4732.15 of the Revised Code, or patients of 114
persons certified under section 4731.14 of the Revised Code. 115

       (D) No public official or employee shall use or authorize the 116
use of the authority or influence of office or employment to 117
secure anything of value or the promise or offer of anything of 118
value that is of such a character as to manifest a substantial and 119
improper influence upon the public official or employee with 120
respect to that person's duties. 121

       (E) No public official or employee shall solicit or accept 122
anything of value that is of such a character as to manifest a 123
substantial and improper influence upon the public official or 124
employee with respect to that person's duties. 125

       (F) No person shall promise or give to a public official or 126
employee anything of value that is of such a character as to 127
manifest a substantial and improper influence upon the public 128
official or employee with respect to that person's duties. 129

       (G) In the absence of bribery or another offense under the 130
Revised Code or a purpose to defraud, contributions made to a 131
campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, or 132
political action committee~~, or political contributing entity~~ on 133
behalf of an elected public officer or other public official or 134
employee who seeks elective office shall be considered to accrue 135
ordinarily to the public official or employee for the purposes of 136
divisions (D), (E), and (F) of this section. 137

       As used in this division, "contributions," "campaign 138
committee," "political party," "legislative campaign fund," and 139
"political action committee," ~~and "political contributing entity"~~ 140
have the same meanings as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code. 141

       (H)(1) No public official or employee, except for the 142
president or other chief administrative officer of or a member of 143
a board of trustees of a state institution of higher education as 144
defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, who is required 145
to file a financial disclosure statement under section 102.02 of 146
the Revised Code shall solicit or accept, and no person shall give 147
to that public official or employee, an honorarium. Except as 148
provided in division (H)(2) of this section, this division and 149
divisions (D), (E), and (F) of this section do not prohibit a 150
public official or employee who is required to file a financial 151
disclosure statement under section 102.02 of the Revised Code from 152
accepting and do not prohibit a person from giving to that public 153
official or employee the payment of actual travel expenses, 154
including any expenses incurred in connection with the travel for 155
lodging, and meals, food, and beverages provided to the public 156
official or employee at a meeting at which the public official or 157
employee participates in a panel, seminar, or speaking engagement 158
or provided to the public official or employee at a meeting or 159
convention of a national organization to which any state agency, 160
including, but not limited to, any state legislative agency or 161
state institution of higher education as defined in section 162
3345.011 of the Revised Code, pays membership dues. Except as 163
provided in division (H)(2) of this section, this division and 164
divisions (D), (E), and (F) of this section do not prohibit a 165
public official or employee who is not required to file a 166
financial disclosure statement under section 102.02 of the Revised 167
Code from accepting and do not prohibit a person from promising or 168
giving to that public official or employee an honorarium or the 169
payment of travel, meal, and lodging expenses if the honorarium, 170
expenses, or both were paid in recognition of demonstrable 171
business, professional, or esthetic interests of the public 172
official or employee that exist apart from public office or 173
employment, including, but not limited to, such a demonstrable 174
interest in public speaking and were not paid by any person or 175
other entity, or by any representative or association of those 176
persons or entities, that is regulated by, doing business with, or 177
seeking to do business with the department, division, institution, 178
board, commission, authority, bureau, or other instrumentality of 179
the governmental entity with which the public official or employee 180
serves. 181

       (2) No person who is a member of the board of a state 182
retirement system, a state retirement system investment officer, 183
or an employee of a state retirement system whose position 184
involves substantial and material exercise of discretion in the 185
investment of retirement system funds shall solicit or accept, and 186
no person shall give to that board member, officer, or employee, 187
payment of actual travel expenses, including expenses incurred 188
with the travel for lodging, meals, food, and beverages. 189

       (I) A public official or employee may accept travel, meals, 190
and lodging or expenses or reimbursement of expenses for travel, 191
meals, and lodging in connection with conferences, seminars, and 192
similar events related to official duties if the travel, meals, 193
and lodging, expenses, or reimbursement is not of such a character 194
as to manifest a substantial and improper influence upon the 195
public official or employee with respect to that person's duties. 196
The house of representatives and senate, in their code of ethics, 197
and the Ohio ethics commission, under section 111.15 of the 198
Revised Code, may adopt rules setting standards and conditions for 199
the furnishing and acceptance of such travel, meals, and lodging, 200
expenses, or reimbursement. 201

       A person who acts in compliance with this division and any 202
applicable rules adopted under it, or any applicable, similar 203
rules adopted by the supreme court governing judicial officers and 204
employees, does not violate division (D), (E), or (F) of this 205
section. This division does not preclude any person from seeking 206
an advisory opinion from the appropriate ethics commission under 207
section 102.08 of the Revised Code. 208

       (J) For purposes of divisions (D), (E), and (F) of this 209
section, the membership of a public official or employee in an 210
organization shall not be considered, in and of itself, to be of 211
such a character as to manifest a substantial and improper 212
influence on the public official or employee with respect to that 213
person's duties. As used in this division, "organization" means a 214
church or a religious, benevolent, fraternal, or professional 215
organization that is tax exempt under subsection 501(a) and 216
described in subsection 501(c)(3), (4), (8), (10), or (19) of the 217
"Internal Revenue Code of 1986." This division does not apply to a 218
public official or employee who is an employee of an organization, 219
serves as a trustee, director, or officer of an organization, or 220
otherwise holds a fiduciary relationship with an organization. 221
This division does not allow a public official or employee who is 222
a member of an organization to participate, formally or 223
informally, in deliberations, discussions, or voting on a matter 224
or to use his official position with regard to the interests of 225
the organization on the matter if the public official or employee 226
has assumed a particular responsibility in the organization with 227
respect to the matter or if the matter would affect that person's 228
personal, pecuniary interests. 229

       (K) It is not a violation of this section for a prosecuting 230
attorney to appoint assistants and employees in accordance with 231
division (B) of section 309.06 and section 2921.421 of the Revised 232
Code, for a chief legal officer of a municipal corporation or an 233
official designated as prosecutor in a municipal corporation to 234
appoint assistants and employees in accordance with sections 235
733.621 and 2921.421 of the Revised Code, for a township law 236
director appointed under section 504.15 of the Revised Code to 237
appoint assistants and employees in accordance with sections 238
504.151 and 2921.421 of the Revised Code, or for a coroner to 239
appoint assistants and employees in accordance with division (B) 240
of section 313.05 of the Revised Code. 241

       As used in this division, "chief legal officer" has the same 242
meaning as in section 733.621 of the Revised Code. 243

       Sec. 2921.01. As used in sections 2921.01 to 2921.45 of the 244
Revised Code: 245

       (A) "Public official" means any elected or appointed officer, 246
or employee, or agent of the state or any political subdivision, 247
whether in a temporary or permanent capacity, and includes, but is 248
not limited to, legislators, judges, and law enforcement officers. 249

       (B) "Public servant" means any of the following: 250

       (1) Any public official; 251

       (2) Any person performing ad hoc a governmental function, 252
including, but not limited to, a juror, member of a temporary 253
commission, master, arbitrator, advisor, or consultant; 254

       (3) A person who is a candidate for public office, whether or 255
not the person is elected or appointed to the office for which the 256
person is a candidate. A person is a candidate for purposes of 257
this division if the person has been nominated according to law 258
for election or appointment to public office, or if the person has 259
filed a petition or petitions as required by law to have the 260
person's name placed on the ballot in a primary, general, or 261
special election, or if the person campaigns as a write-in 262
candidate in any primary, general, or special election. 263

       (C) "Party official" means any person who holds an elective 264
or appointive post in a political party in the United States or 265
this state, by virtue of which the person directs, conducts, or 266
participates in directing or conducting party affairs at any level 267
of responsibility. 268

       (D) "Official proceeding" means any proceeding before a 269
legislative, judicial, administrative, or other governmental 270
agency or official authorized to take evidence under oath, and 271
includes any proceeding before a referee, hearing examiner, 272
commissioner, notary, or other person taking testimony or a 273
deposition in connection with an official proceeding. 274

       (E) "Detention" means arrest; confinement in any vehicle 275
subsequent to an arrest; confinement in any public or private 276
facility for custody of persons charged with or convicted of crime 277
in this state or another state or under the laws of the United 278
States or alleged or found to be a delinquent child or unruly 279
child in this state or another state or under the laws of the 280
United States; hospitalization, institutionalization, or 281
confinement in any public or private facility that is ordered 282
pursuant to or under the authority of section 2945.37, 2945.371, 283
2945.38, 2945.39, 2945.40, 2945.401, or 2945.402 of the Revised 284
Code; confinement in any vehicle for transportation to or from any 285
facility of any of those natures; detention for extradition or 286
deportation; except as provided in this division, supervision by 287
any employee of any facility of any of those natures that is 288
incidental to hospitalization, institutionalization, or 289
confinement in the facility but that occurs outside the facility; 290
supervision by an employee of the department of rehabilitation and 291
correction of a person on any type of release from a state 292
correctional institution; or confinement in any vehicle, airplane, 293
or place while being returned from outside of this state into this 294
state by a private person or entity pursuant to a contract entered 295
into under division (E) of section 311.29 of the Revised Code or 296
division (B) of section 5149.03 of the Revised Code. For a person 297
confined in a county jail who participates in a county jail 298
industry program pursuant to section 5147.30 of the Revised Code, 299
"detention" includes time spent at an assigned work site and going 300
to and from the work site. 301

       (F) "Detention facility" means any public or private place 302
used for the confinement of a person charged with or convicted of 303
any crime in this state or another state or under the laws of the 304
United States or alleged or found to be a delinquent child or 305
unruly child in this state or another state or under the laws of 306
the United States. 307

       (G) "Valuable thing or valuable benefit" includes, but is not 308
limited to, a contribution. This inclusion does not indicate or 309
imply that a contribution was not included in those terms before 310
September 17, 1986. 311

       (H) "Campaign committee," "contribution," "political action 312
committee," "legislative campaign fund," and "political party," 313
~~and "political contributing entity"~~ have the same meanings as in 314
section 3517.01 of the Revised Code. 315

       (I) "Provider agreement" and "medical assistance program" 316
have the same meanings as in section 2913.40 of the Revised Code. 317

       Sec. 2921.43. (A) No public servant shall knowingly solicit 318
or accept, and no person shall knowingly promise or give to a 319
public servant, either of the following: 320

       (1) Any compensation, other than as allowed by divisions (G), 321
(H), and (I) of section 102.03 of the Revised Code or other 322
provisions of law, to perform the public servant's official 323
duties, to perform any other act or service in the public 324
servant's public capacity, for the general performance of the 325
duties of the public servant's public office or public employment, 326
or as a supplement to the public servant's public compensation; 327

       (2) Additional or greater fees or costs than are allowed by 328
law to perform the public servant's official duties. 329

       (B) No public servant for the public servant's own personal 330
or business use, and no person for the person's own personal or 331
business use or for the personal or business use of a public 332
servant or party official, shall solicit or accept anything of 333
value in consideration of either of the following: 334

       (1) Appointing or securing, maintaining, or renewing the 335
appointment of any person to any public office, employment, or 336
agency; 337

       (2) Preferring, or maintaining the status of, any public 338
employee with respect to compensation, duties, placement, 339
location, promotion, or other material aspects of employment. 340

       (C) No person for the benefit of a political party, campaign 341
committee, legislative campaign fund, or political action 342
committee~~, or political contributing entity~~ shall coerce any 343
contribution in consideration of either of the following: 344

       (1) Appointing or securing, maintaining, or renewing the 345
appointment of any person to any public office, employment, or 346
agency; 347

       (2) Preferring, or maintaining the status of, any public 348
employee with respect to compensation, duties, placement, 349
location, promotion, or other material aspects of employment. 350

       (D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of soliciting 351
improper compensation, a misdemeanor of the first degree. 352

       (E) A public servant who is convicted of a violation of this 353
section is disqualified from holding any public office, 354
employment, or position of trust in this state for a period of 355
seven years from the date of conviction. 356

       (F) Divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section do not 357
prohibit a person from making voluntary contributions to a 358
political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, or 359
political action committee~~, or political contributing entity~~ or 360
prohibit a political party, campaign committee, legislative 361
campaign fund, or political action committee~~, or political~~ 362
~~contributing entity~~ from accepting voluntary contributions. 363

       Sec. 3501.05. The secretary of state shall do all of the 364
following: 365

       (A) Appoint all members of boards of elections; 366

       (B) Issue instructions by directives and advisories to 367
members of the boards as to the proper methods of conducting 368
elections; 369

       (C) Prepare rules and instructions for the conduct of 370
elections; 371

       (D) Publish and furnish to the boards from time to time a 372
sufficient number of indexed copies of all election laws then in 373
force; 374

       (E) Edit and issue all pamphlets concerning proposed laws or 375
amendments required by law to be submitted to the voters; 376

       (F) Prescribe the form of registration cards, blanks, and 377
records; 378

       (G) Determine and prescribe the forms of ballots and the 379
forms of all blanks, cards of instructions, pollbooks, tally 380
sheets, certificates of election, and forms and blanks required by 381
law for use by candidates, committees, and boards; 382

       (H) Prepare the ballot title or statement to be placed on the 383
ballot for any proposed law or amendment to the constitution to be 384
submitted to the voters of the state; 385

       (I) Certify to the several boards the forms of ballots and 386
names of candidates for state offices, and the form and wording of 387
state referendum questions and issues, as they shall appear on the 388
ballot; 389

       (J) Give final approval to ballot language for any local 390
question or issue approved and transmitted by boards of elections 391
under section 3501.11 of the Revised Code; 392

       (K) Receive all initiative and referendum petitions on state 393
questions and issues and determine and certify to the sufficiency 394
of those petitions; 395

       (L) Require such reports from the several boards as are 396
provided by law, or as the secretary of state considers necessary; 397

       (M) Compel the observance by election officers in the several 398
counties of the requirements of the election laws; 399

       (N)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (N)(2) of 400
this section, investigate the administration of election laws, 401
frauds, and irregularities in elections in any county, and report 402
violations of election laws to the attorney general or prosecuting 403
attorney, or both, for prosecution; 404

       (2) On and after August 24, 1995, report a failure to comply 405
with or a violation of a provision in sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 406
3517.17, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, or 3599.031 of the 407
Revised Code, whenever the secretary of state has or should have 408
knowledge of a failure to comply with or a violation of a 409
provision in one of those sections, by filing a complaint with the 410
Ohio elections commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised 411
Code; 412

       (O) Make an annual report to the governor containing the 413
results of elections, the cost of elections in the various 414
counties, a tabulation of the votes in the several political 415
subdivisions, and other information and recommendations relative 416
to elections the secretary of state considers desirable; 417

       (P) Prescribe and distribute to boards of elections a list of 418
instructions indicating all legal steps necessary to petition 419
successfully for local option elections under sections 4301.32 to 420
4301.41, 4303.29, 4305.14, and 4305.15 of the Revised Code; 421

       (Q) Prescribe a general program to remove ineligible voters 422
from official registration lists by reason of change of residence, 423
which shall be uniform, nondiscriminatory, and in compliance with 424
the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National Voter Registration 425
Act of 1993, including a program that uses the national change of 426
address service provided by the United States postal system 427
through its licensees; 428

       (R) Prescribe a general program for registering voters or 429
updating voter registration information, such as name and 430
residence changes, at designated agencies, the offices of deputy 431
registrars of motor vehicles, public high schools and vocational 432
schools, public libraries, and the offices of county treasurers, 433
and prescribe a program of distribution of voter registration 434
forms through those agencies, the offices of the registrar and 435
deputy registrars of motor vehicles, public high schools and 436
vocational schools, public libraries, and the offices of county 437
treasurers; 438

       (S) To the extent feasible, provide copies, at no cost and 439
upon request, of the voter registration form in post offices in 440
this state; 441

       (T) Adopt rules pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised 442
Code for the purpose of implementing the program for registering 443
voters at designated agencies and the offices of the registrar and 444
deputy registrars of motor vehicles consistent with this chapter; 445

       (U) Specify, by a directive issued not later than thirty-five 446
days prior to the date of an election, the date by which the 447
boards shall complete the canvass of election returns under 448
section 3505.32 or 3513.22 of the Revised Code; 449

       (V) Establish the full-time position of Americans with 450
Disabilities Act coordinator within the office of the secretary of 451
state to do all of the following: 452

       (1) Assist the secretary of state with ensuring that there is 453
equal access to polling places for persons with disabilities; 454

       (2) Assist the secretary of state with ensuring that each 455
voter may cast the voter's ballot in a manner that provides the 456
same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy 457
and independence, as for other voters; 458

       (3) Advise the secretary of state in the development of 459
standards for the certification of voting machines, marking 460
devices, and automatic tabulating equipment. 461

       (W) Exercise the powers and duties prescribed in sections 462
3517.30 to 3517.39 of the Revised Code; 463

       (X) Perform other duties required by law. 464

       Whenever a primary election is held under section 3513.32 of 465
the Revised Code or a special election is held under section 466
3521.03 of the Revised Code to fill a vacancy in the office of 467
representative to congress, the secretary of state shall establish 468
a deadline, notwithstanding any other deadline required under the 469
Revised Code, by which any or all of the following shall occur: 470
the filing of a declaration of candidacy and petitions or a 471
statement of candidacy and nominating petition together with the 472
applicable filing fee; the filing of protests against the 473
candidacy of any person filing a declaration of candidacy or 474
nominating petition; the filing of a declaration of intent to be a 475
write-in candidate; the filing of campaign finance reports; the 476
preparation of, and the making of corrections or challenges to, 477
precinct voter registration lists; the receipt of applications for 478
absent voter's ballots or armed service absent voter's ballots; 479
the supplying of election materials to precincts by boards of 480
elections; the holding of hearings by boards of elections to 481
consider challenges to the right of a person to appear on a voter 482
registration list; and the scheduling of programs to instruct or 483
reinstruct election officers. 484

       In the performance of the secretary of state's duties as the 485
chief election officer, the secretary of state may administer 486
oaths, issue subpoenas, summon witnesses, compel the production of 487
books, papers, records, and other evidence, and fix the time and 488
place for hearing any matters relating to the administration and 489
enforcement of the election laws. 490

       In any controversy involving or arising out of the adoption 491
of registration or the appropriation of funds for registration, 492
the secretary of state may, through the attorney general, bring an 493
action in the name of the state in the court of common pleas of 494
the county where the cause of action arose or in an adjoining 495
county, to adjudicate the question. 496

       In any action involving the laws in Title XXXV of the Revised 497
Code wherein the interpretation of those laws is in issue in such 498
a manner that the result of the action will affect the lawful 499
duties of the secretary of state or of any board of elections, the 500
secretary of state may, on the secretary of state's motion, be 501
made a party. 502

       The secretary of state may apply to any court that is hearing 503
a case in which the secretary of state is a party, for a change of 504
venue as a substantive right, and the change of venue shall be 505
allowed, and the case removed to the court of common pleas of an 506
adjoining county named in the application or, if there are cases 507
pending in more than one jurisdiction that involve the same or 508
similar issues, the court of common pleas of Franklin county. 509

       Public high schools and vocational schools, public libraries, 510
and the office of a county treasurer shall implement voter 511
registration programs as directed by the secretary of state 512
pursuant to this section. 513

       Sec. 3501.38. All declarations of candidacy, nominating 514
petitions, or other petitions presented to or filed with the 515
secretary of state or a board of elections or with any other 516
public office for the purpose of becoming a candidate for any 517
nomination or office or for the holding of an election on any 518
issue shall, in addition to meeting the other specific 519
requirements prescribed in the sections of the Revised Code 520
relating to them, be governed by the following rules: 521

       (A) Only electors qualified to vote on the candidacy or issue 522
which is the subject of the petition shall sign a petition. Each 523
signer shall be a registered elector pursuant to section 3503.11 524
of the Revised Code. The facts of qualification shall be 525
determined as of the date when the petition is filed. 526

       (B) Signatures shall be affixed in ink. Each signer may also 527
print the signer's name, so as to clearly identify the signer's 528
signature. 529

       (C) Each signer shall place on the petition after the 530
signer's name the date of signing and the location of the signer's 531
voting residence, including the street and number if in a 532
municipal corporation or the rural route number, post office 533
address, or township if outside a municipal corporation. The 534
voting address given on the petition shall be the address 535
appearing in the registration records at the board of elections. 536

       (D) No person shall write any name other than the person's 537
own on any petition. No person may authorize another to sign for 538
the person. ~~Where~~If a petition contains the signature of an 539
elector two or more times, only the first signature shall be 540
counted. 541

       (E)(1) On each petition paper, the circulator shall indicate 542
the number of signatures contained on it, and shall sign a 543
statement made under penalty of election falsification that the 544
circulator witnessed the affixing of every signature, that all 545
signers were to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief 546
qualified to sign, and that every signature is to the best of the 547
circulator's knowledge and belief the signature of the person 548
whose signature it purports to be. On the circulator's statement 549
for a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, or 550
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for a person 551
seeking to become a statewide candidate or for a statewide 552
initiative or a statewide referendum petition, the circulator 553
shall identify the name and address of the person employing the 554
circulator to circulate the petition, if any. 555

       (2) As used in division (E) of this section, "statewide 556
candidate" means the joint candidates for the offices of governor 557
and lieutenant governor or a candidate for the office of secretary 558
of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney 559
general. 560

       (F) If a circulator knowingly permits an unqualified person 561
to sign a petition paper or permits a person to write a name other 562
than the person's own on a petition paper, that petition paper is 563
invalid; otherwise, the signature of a person not qualified to 564
sign shall be rejected but shall not invalidate the other valid 565
signatures on the paper. 566

       (G) The circulator of a petition may, before filing it in a 567
public office, strike from it any signature the circulator does 568
not wish to present as a part of the petition. 569

       (H) Any signer of a petition may remove the signer's 570
signature from that petition at any time before the petition is 571
filed in a public office by striking the signer's name from the 572
petition; no signature may be removed after the petition is filed 573
in any public office. 574

       (I)(1) No alterations, corrections, or additions may be made 575
to a petition after it is filed in a public office. 576

       (2) No petition may be withdrawn after it is filed in a 577
public office. Nothing in this division prohibits a person from 578
withdrawing as a candidate as otherwise provided by law. 579

       (J) All declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, or 580
other petitions under this section shall be accompanied by the 581
following statement in boldface capital letters: WHOEVER COMMITS 582
ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE. 583

       (K) All separate petition papers shall be filed at the same 584
time, as one instrument. 585

       (L) If a board of elections distributes for use a petition 586
form for a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, 587
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or any type of 588
question or issue petition that does not satisfy the requirements 589
of law as of the date of that distribution, the board shall not 590
invalidate the petition on the basis that the petition form does 591
not satisfy the requirements of law, if the petition otherwise is 592
valid. Division (L) of this section applies only if the candidate 593
received the petition from the board within ninety days of when 594
the petition is required to be filed. 595

       Sec. 3501.381. (A)(1) Any person who will receive 596
compensation for supervising, managing, or otherwise organizing 597
any effort to obtain signatures for a declaration of candidacy, 598
nominating petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in 599
candidate for a person seeking to become a statewide candidate or 600
for a statewide initiative petition or a statewide referendum 601
petition shall file a statement to that effect with the office of 602
the secretary of state before any signatures are obtained for the 603
petition or before the person is engaged to supervise, manage, or 604
otherwise organize the effort to obtain signatures for the 605
petition, whichever is later. 606

       (2) Any person who will compensate a person for supervising, 607
managing, or otherwise organizing any effort to obtain signatures 608
for a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, or 609
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for a person 610
seeking to become a statewide candidate or for a statewide 611
initiative or a statewide referendum petition shall file a 612
statement to that effect with the office of the secretary of state 613
before any signatures are obtained for the petition or before the 614
person engages a person to supervise, manage, or otherwise 615
organize the effort to obtain signatures for the petition, 616
whichever is later. 617

       (B) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and 618
content of the statements required under division (A) of this 619
section. 620

       (C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty 621
of a misdemeanor of the first degree, and the petition for which a 622
person was compensated for supervising, managing, or otherwise 623
organizing the effort to obtain signatures shall be deemed 624
invalid. 625

       (D) As used in this section, "statewide candidate" means the 626
joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant 627
governor or a candidate for the office of secretary of state, 628
auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general. 629

       Sec. 3503.14. (A) The secretary of state shall prescribe the 630
form and content of the registration and change of residence and 631
change of name form used in this state. The form shall set forth 632
the eligibility requirements needed to qualify as an elector and 633
meet the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 634
1993. The form shall include a space on which the person 635
registering an applicant shall sign the person's name and a space 636
on which the person registering an applicant shall name the 637
employer who is employing that person to register the applicant. 638
No election official or employee of a designated agency who is 639
registering an applicant shall be required to sign the election 640
official's or employee's name or to name the employer who is 641
employing the election official or employee to register an 642
applicant on a form prepared under this section. 643

       (B) Any applicant who is unable to sign ~~his~~the applicant's 644
own name shall make an "X," if possible, which shall be certified 645
by the signing of the name of the applicant by the person filling 646
out the ~~registration~~ form, who shall add ~~his~~the person's own 647
signature. If an applicant is unable to make an "X," hethe 648
applicant shall indicate in some manner that hethe applicant 649
desires to register to vote or to change ~~his~~the applicant's name 650
or residence. The person registering ~~such an~~the applicant shall 651
sign the form and attest that the applicant indicated that hethe 652
applicant desired to register to vote or to change ~~his~~the 653
applicant's name or residence. 654

       (C) No registration and change of residence and change of 655
name form shall be rejected solely on the basis that a person 656
registering an applicant failed to sign the person's name or 657
failed to name the employer who is employing that person to 658
register the applicant as required under division (A) of this 659
section. 660

       (D) As used in this section, "registering an applicant" 661
includes any effort, for compensation, to provide voter 662
registration forms or to assist persons in completing those forms 663
or returning them to the board of elections, the office of the 664
secretary of state, or another appropriate public office. 665

       Sec. 3513.07. The form of declaration of candidacy and 666
petition of a person desiring to be a candidate for a party 667
nomination or a candidate for election to an office or position to 668
be voted for at a primary election shall be substantially as 669
follows: 670

"DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY PARTY PRIMARY ELECTION 671

       I, ........................... (Name of Candidate), the 672
undersigned, hereby declare under penalty of election 673
falsification that my voting residence is in ............... 674
precinct of the ............................. (Township) or (Ward 675
and City or Village) in the county of ................, Ohio; that 676
my voting residence is ............... (Street and Number, if any, 677
or Rural Route and Number) of the ............................. 678
(City or Village) of ................., Ohio; and that I am a 679
qualified elector in the precinct in which my voting residence is 680
located. I am a member of the ........ Party. I hereby declare 681
that I desire to be .................... (a candidate for 682
nomination as a candidate of the Party for election to the office 683
of .............) (a candidate for election to the office or 684
position of ..............) for the ............ in the state, 685
district, (Full term or unexpired term ending ...............) 686
county, city, or village of ..................., at the primary 687
election to be held on the ............. day of ........., ...., 688
and I hereby request that my name be printed upon the official 689
primary election ballot of the said .......... Party as a 690
candidate for ......... (such nomination) or (such election) as 691
provided by law. 692

       I further declare that, if elected to said office or 693
position, I will qualify therefor, and that I will support and 694
abide by the principles enunciated by the ............ Party. 695

       Dated this .......... day of ................., ......... 696

............................. 697

(Signature of candidate) 698

       WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY 699
OF THE FIFTH DEGREE. 700

PETITION OF CANDIDATE 701

       We, the undersigned, qualified electors of the state of Ohio, 702
whose voting residence is in the county, city, village, ward, 703
township, or school district, and precinct set opposite our names, 704
and members of the ....................................... Party, 705
hereby certify that ............................ (Name of 706
candidate) whose declaration of candidacy is filed herewith, is a 707
member of the ............ Party, and is, in our opinion, well 708
qualified to perform the duties of the office or position to which 709
that candidate desires to be elected. 710

Street City, 711

and Village or 712

Signature Number Township Ward Precinct County Date 713

(Must use address on file with the board of elections) 714

.................................................................... 715

.................................................................... 716

.................................................................... 717

       ....................................... (Name of circulator 718
of petition), declares under penalty of election falsification 719
that the circulator of the petition is a qualified elector of the 720
state of Ohio and resides at the address appearing below the 721
signature of that circulator; that the circulator is a member of 722
the ........... Party; that the circulator is the circulator of 723
the foregoing petition paper containing ............. (Number) 724
signatures; that the circulator witnessed the affixing of every 725
signature; that all signers were to the best of the circulator's 726
knowledge and belief qualified to sign; and that every signature 727
is to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief the 728
signature of the person whose signature it purports to be. 729

730

(Signature of circulator) 731

732

(Address of circulator) 733
734
(If petition is for a statewide 735
candidate, the name and address 736
of person employing 737
circulator to circulate 738
petition, if any) 739

       WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY 740
OF THE FIFTH DEGREE." 741

       The secretary of state shall prescribe a form of declaration 742
of candidacy and petition, and the form shall be substantially 743
similar to the declaration of candidacy and petition set forth in 744
this section, that will be suitable for joint candidates for the 745
offices of governor and lieutenant governor. 746

       The petition provided for in this section shall be circulated 747
only by a member of the same political party as the candidate. 748

       Sec. 3513.10. (A) At the time of filing a declaration of 749
candidacy for nomination for any office, or a declaration of 750
intent to be a write-in candidate, each candidate, except joint 751
candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, shall pay a fee 752
as follows: 753

For statewide office $100 754

For court of appeals judge $ 50 755

For court of common pleas judge $ 50 756

For county court judge $ 50 757

For municipal court judge $ 50 758

For district office, including member 759
of the United States house of 760
representatives and member of the 761
general assembly $ 50 762

For county office $ 50 763

For city office $ 20 764

For village office $ 10 765

For township office $ 10 766

For member of state board of education $ 20 767

For member of local, city, or 768
exempted village board of education 769
or educational service center 770
governing board $ 10 771

       At the time of filing a declaration of candidacy or a 772
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the offices 773
of governor and lieutenant governor, the joint candidates shall 774
jointly pay to the secretary of state a fee of one hundred 775
dollars. 776

       (B)(1) At the same time the fee required under division (A) 777
of this section is paid, each candidate shall pay an additional 778
fee as follows: 779

For the joint candidates for governor 780
and lieutenant governor $ 50 781

For statewide office $ 50 782

For district office, including member 783

of the United States house of 784
representatives and member of the 785

general assembly $ 35 786
For member of state board of education $ 35 787

For court of appeals judge $ 30 788
For court of common pleas judge $ 30 789
For county court judge $ 30 790
For municipal court judge $ 30 791
For county office $ 30 792
For city office $ 25 793
For village office $ 20 794

For township office $ 20 795

For member of local, city, ~~county,~~ 796

or exempted village board of education 797

or educational service center 798

governing board $ 20 799

       (2) Whoever seeks to propose a ballot question or issue to be 800
submitted to the electors shall pay the following fee at the time 801
the petition proposing the question or issue is filed: 802

       (a) If the question or issue is to be submitted to the 803
electors throughout the entire state, twenty-five dollars; 804

       (b) If the question or issue is to be submitted to the 805
electors of a county or of a district that consists of all or part 806
of two or more counties but less than the entire state, fifteen 807
dollars; 808

       (c) If the question or issue is to be submitted to the 809
electors of a city, twelve dollars and fifty cents; 810

       (d) If the question or issue is to be submitted to the 811
electors of a village, a township, a local, city, county, or 812
exempted village school district, a precinct, or another district 813
consisting of less than an entire county, ten dollars. 814

       (C) No fee shall be required of candidates filing for the 815
office of delegate or alternate to the national convention of 816
political parties, member of the state central committee of a 817
political party, or member of the county central committee of a 818
political party. 819

       (D) All fees required under division (A) of this section 820
immediately shall be paid by the officer receiving them into the 821
state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund, in the 822
case of fees received by the secretary of state, and into the 823
county treasury to the credit of the county general fund, in the 824
case of fees received by a board of elections. 825

       (E) The officer who receives a fee required under division 826
(B) of this section immediately shall pay the fee to the credit of 827
the Ohio elections commission fund~~, which is hereby~~ created ~~in the~~ 828
~~state treasury. All moneys credited to the fund shall be used~~ 829
~~solely for the purpose of paying expenses related to the operation~~ 830
~~of the Ohio elections commission~~by division (I) of section 831
3517.152 of the Revised Code. 832

       (F)(1) In no case shall a fee paid under this section be 833
returned to a candidate. 834

       (2) Whenever a section of law refers to a filing fee to be 835
paid by a candidate or by a committee proposing a ballot question 836
or issue to be submitted to the electors, that fee includes the 837
fees required under divisions (A) and (B) of this section. 838

       (G) As used in divisions (A) and (B) of this section, 839
"statewide office" means the office of secretary of state, auditor 840
of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, justice and chief 841
justice of the supreme court, and member of the United States 842
senate. 843

       Sec. 3513.261. A nominating petition may consist of one or 844
more separate petition papers, each of which shall be 845
substantially in the form prescribed in this section. If the 846
petition consists of more than one separate petition paper, the 847
statement of candidacy of the candidate or joint candidates named 848
need be signed by the candidate or joint candidates on only one of 849
such separate petition papers, but the statement of candidacy so 850
signed shall be copied on each other separate petition paper 851
before the signatures of electors are placed on it. Each 852
nominating petition containing signatures of electors of more than 853
one county shall consist of separate petition papers each of which 854
shall contain signatures of electors of only one county; provided 855
that petitions containing signatures of electors of more than one 856
county shall not thereby be declared invalid. In case petitions 857
containing signatures of electors of more than one county are 858
filed, the board of elections shall determine the county from 859
which the majority of the signatures came, and only signatures 860
from this county shall be counted. Signatures from any other 861
county shall be invalid. 862

       All signatures on nominating petitions shall be written in 863
ink or indelible pencil. 864

       At the time of filing a nominating petition, the candidate 865
designated in the nominating petition, and joint candidates for 866
governor and lieutenant governor, shall pay to the election 867
officials with whom it is filed the fees specified for the office 868
under divisions (A) and (B) of section 3513.10 of the Revised 869
Code. The fees shall be disposed of by those election officials in 870
the manner that is provided in section 3513.10 of the Revised Code 871
for the disposition of other fees, and in no case shall a fee 872
required under that section be returned to a candidate. 873

       Candidates or joint candidates whose names are written on the 874
ballot, and who are elected, shall pay the same fees under section 875
3513.10 of the Revised Code that candidates who file nominating 876
petitions pay. Payment of these fees shall be a condition 877
precedent to the granting of their certificates of election. 878

       Each nominating petition shall contain a statement of 879
candidacy that shall be signed by the candidate or joint 880
candidates named in it. Such statement of candidacy shall contain 881
a declaration made under penalty of election falsification that 882
the candidate desires to be a candidate for the office named in 883
it, and that the candidate is an elector qualified to vote for the 884
office the candidate seeks. 885

       The form of the nominating petition and statement of 886
candidacy shall be substantially as follows: 887

"STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY 888

       I, ................................... (Name of candidate), 889
the undersigned, hereby declare under penalty of election 890
falsification that my voting residence is in ................ 891
.......... Precinct of the ......................... (Township) or 892
(Ward and City, or Village) in the county of ............... Ohio; 893
that my post-office address is ............................ 894
(Street and Number, if any, or Rural Route and Number) of the 895
............................... (City, Village, or post office) of 896
...................., Ohio; and that I am a qualified elector in 897
the precinct in which my voting residence is located. I hereby 898
declare that I desire to be a candidate for election to the office 899
of .............. in the ........................ (State, 900
District, County, City, Village, Township, or School District) for 901
the ...................................... (Full term or unexpired 902
term ending ................) at the General Election to be held 903
on the ........... day of ..............., .... 904

       I further declare that I am an elector qualified to vote for 905
the office I seek. Dated this ....... day of .............., .... 906

907

(Signature of candidate) 908

       WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY 909
OF THE FIFTH DEGREE. 910

       I, ................................., hereby constitute the 911
persons named below a committee to represent me: 912

Name Residence 913
914
915
916
917
918

NOMINATING PETITION 919

       We, the undersigned, qualified electors of the state of Ohio, 920
whose voting residence is in the County, City, Village, Ward, 921
Township or Precinct set opposite our names, hereby nominate 922
.................... as a candidate for election to the office of 923
........................... in the ............................ 924
(State, District, County, City, Village, Township, or School 925
District) for the ................. (Full term or unexpired term 926
ending ...................) to be voted for at the general 927
election next hereafter to be held, and certify that this person 928
is, in our opinion, well qualified to perform the duties of the 929
office or position to which the person desires to be elected. 930

931
Street 932
Address 933
or R.F.D. 934
(Must use 935
address on City, 936
file with Village 937
the board of or Date of 938
Signature elections) Township Ward Precinct County Signing 939
940
941
942
943

..........................., declares under penalty of election 944
falsification that such person is a qualified elector of the state 945
of Ohio and resides at the address appearing below such person's 946
signature hereto; that such person is the circulator of the 947
foregoing petition paper containing ................ signatures; 948
that such person witnessed the affixing of every signature; that 949
all signers were to the best of such person's knowledge and belief 950
qualified to sign; and that every signature is to the best of such 951
person's knowledge and belief the signature of the person whose 952
signature it purports to be. 953

954

(Signature of circulator) 955

956

(Address) 957
958
(If petition is for a statewide 959
candidate, the name and address 960
of person employing circulator 961
to circulate petition, if any) 962

       WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY 963
OF THE FIFTH DEGREE." 964

       The secretary of state shall prescribe a form of nominating 965
petition for a group of candidates for the office of member of a 966
board of education, township office, and offices of municipal 967
corporations of under two thousand population. 968

       The secretary of state shall prescribe a form of statement of 969
candidacy and nominating petition, which shall be substantially 970
similar to the form of statement of candidacy and nominating 971
petition set forth in this section, that will be suitable for 972
joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant 973
governor. 974

       If such petition nominates a candidate whose election is to 975
be determined by the electors of a county or a district or 976
subdivision within the county, it shall be filed with the board of 977
such county. If the petition nominates a candidate whose election 978
is to be determined by the voters of a subdivision located in more 979
than one county, it shall be filed with the board of the county in 980
which the major portion of the population of such subdivision is 981
located. 982

       If the petition nominates a candidate whose election is to be 983
determined by the electors of a district comprised of more than 984
one county but less than all of the counties of the state, it 985
shall be filed with the board of elections of the most populous 986
county in such district. If the petition nominates a candidate 987
whose election is to be determined by the electors of the state at 988
large, it shall be filed with the secretary of state. 989

       The secretary of state or a board of elections shall not 990
accept for filing a nominating petition of a person seeking to 991
become a candidate if that person, for the same election, has 992
already filed a declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent 993
to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating petition, or has 994
become a candidate through party nomination at a primary election 995
or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of 996
the Revised Code for any state or county office, if the nominating 997
petition is for a state or county office, or for any municipal or 998
township office, for member of a city, local, or exempted village 999
board of education, or for member of a governing board of an 1000
educational service center, if the nominating petition is for a 1001
municipal or township office, or for member of a city, local, or 1002
exempted village board of education, or for member of a governing 1003
board of an educational service center. 1004

       Sec. 3517.01. (A)(1) A political party within the meaning of 1005
Title XXXV of the Revised Code is any group of voters that, at the 1006
most recent regular state election, polled for its candidate for 1007
governor in the state or nominees for presidential electors at 1008
least five per cent of the entire vote cast for that office or 1009
that filed with the secretary of state, subsequent to any election 1010
in which it received less than five per cent of that vote, a 1011
petition signed by qualified electors equal in number to at least 1012
one per cent of the total vote for governor or nominees for 1013
presidential electors at the most recent election, declaring their 1014
intention of organizing a political party, the name of which shall 1015
be stated in the declaration, and of participating in the 1016
succeeding primary election, held in even-numbered years, that 1017
occurs more than one hundred twenty days after the date of filing. 1018
No such group of electors shall assume a name or designation that 1019
is similar, in the opinion of the secretary of state, to that of 1020
an existing political party as to confuse or mislead the voters at 1021
an election. If any political party fails to cast five per cent of 1022
the total vote cast at an election for the office of governor or 1023
president, it shall cease to be a political party. 1024

       (2) A campaign committee shall be legally liable for any 1025
debts, contracts, or expenditures incurred or executed in its 1026
name. 1027

       (B) Notwithstanding the definitions found in section 3501.01 1028
of the Revised Code, as used in this section,and sections 3517.08 1029
to 3517.14, ~~and section~~ 3517.99, and 3517.992 of the Revised Code: 1030

       (1) "Campaign committee" means an entity that is formed by a 1031
candidate or a combination of two or more persons authorized by a 1032
candidate under section 3517.081 of the Revised Code to receive 1033
contributions and make expenditures and that is legally liable for 1034
any debts, contracts, or expenditures incurred or executed in its 1035
name. 1036

       (2) "Campaign treasurer" means an individual appointed by a 1037
candidate under section 3517.081 of the Revised Code. 1038

       (3) "Candidate" has the same meaning as in division (H) of 1039
section 3501.01 of the Revised Code and also includes any person 1040
who, at any time before or after an election, receives 1041
contributions or makes expenditures or other use of contributions, 1042
has given consent for another to receive contributions or make 1043
expenditures or other use of contributions, or appoints a campaign 1044
treasurer, for the purpose of bringing about the person's 1045
nomination or election to public office. When two persons jointly 1046
seek the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, "candidate" 1047
means the pair of candidates jointly. "Candidate" does not include 1048
candidates for election to the offices of member of a county or 1049
state central committee, presidential elector, and delegate to a 1050
national convention or conference of a political party. 1051

       (4) "Continuing association" means an association, other than 1052
a campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, 1053
~~political contributing entity,~~ or labor organization, that is 1054
intended to be a permanent organization that has a primary purpose 1055
other than supporting or opposing specific candidates, political 1056
parties, or ballot issues, and that functions on a regular basis 1057
throughout the year. "Continuing association" includes 1058
organizations that are determined to be not organized for profit 1059
under subsection 501 and that are described in subsection 1060
501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. 1061

       (5) "Contribution" means a loan, gift, deposit, forgiveness 1062
of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, or transfer of funds 1063
or ~~transfer of~~ anything of value, including a transfer of funds 1064
from an inter vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's estate, 1065
and the payment by any person other than the person to whom the 1066
services are rendered for the personal services of another person, 1067
which contribution is made, received, or used for the purpose of 1068
influencing the results of an election. ~~"Contribution"~~Any loan, 1069
gift, deposit, forgiveness of indebtedness, donation, advance, 1070
payment, or transfer of funds or of anything of value, including a 1071
transfer of funds from an inter vivos or testamentary trust or 1072
decedent's estate, and the payment by any campaign committee, 1073
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political 1074
party, or person other than the person to whom the services are 1075
rendered for the personal services of another person, that is 1076
made, received, or used by a state or county political party, 1077
other than moneys a state or county political party receives from 1078
the Ohio political party fund pursuant to section 3517.17 of the 1079
Revised Code and the moneys a state or county political party may 1080
receive under sections 3517.101 and 3517.1012 of the Revised Code, 1081
shall be considered to be a "contribution" for the purpose of 1082
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code and shall be included on a 1083
statement of contributions filed under that section. 1084

       "Contribution" does not include any of the following: 1085

       (a) Services provided without compensation by individuals 1086
volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a person; 1087

       (b) Ordinary home hospitality; 1088

       (c) The personal expenses of a volunteer paid for by that 1089
volunteer campaign worker; 1090

       (d) Any gift given to a state or county political party 1091
pursuant to section 3517.101 of the Revised Code. As used in 1092
division (B)(5)(d) of this section, "political party" means only a 1093
major political party; 1094

       (e) Any contribution as defined in section 3517.1011 of the 1095
Revised Code that is made, received, or used to pay the direct 1096
costs of producing or airing an electioneering communication; 1097

       (f) Any gift given to a state or county political party for 1098
the party's restricted fund under division (A)(2) of section 1099
3517.1012 of the Revised Code. 1100

       (6) "Expenditure" means the disbursement or use of a 1101
contribution for the purpose of influencing the results of an 1102
election or of making a charitable donation under division (G) of 1103
section 3517.08 of the Revised Code. Any disbursement or use of a 1104
contribution by a state or county political party is an 1105
expenditure and shall be considered either to be made for the 1106
purpose of influencing the results of an election or to be made as 1107
a charitable donation under division (G) of section 3517.08 of the 1108
Revised Code and shall be reported on a statement of expenditures 1109
filed under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. During the thirty 1110
days preceding a primary or general election, any disbursement to 1111
pay the direct costs of producing or airing a broadcast, cable, or 1112
satellite communication that refers to a clearly identified 1113
candidate shall be considered to be made for the purpose of 1114
influencing the results of that election and shall be reported as 1115
an expenditure or as an independent expenditure under section 1116
3517.10 or 3517.105 of the Revised Code, as applicable, except 1117
that the information required to be reported regarding 1118
contributors for those expenditures or independent expenditures 1119
shall be the same as the information required to be reported under 1120
division (D)(1) and (2) of section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. 1121

       As used in this division, "broadcast, cable, or satellite 1122
communication" and "refers to a clearly identified candidate" have 1123
the same meanings as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. 1124

       (7) "Personal expenses" includes, but is not limited to, 1125
ordinary expenses for accommodations, clothing, food, personal 1126
motor vehicle or airplane, and home telephone. 1127

       (8) "Political action committee" means a combination of two 1128
or more persons, the primary or ~~incidental~~major purpose of which 1129
is to support or oppose any candidate, political party, or issue, 1130
or to influence the result of any election through express 1131
advocacy, and that is not a political party, a campaign committee, 1132
~~a political contributing entity,~~ or a legislative campaign fund. 1133
"Political action committee" does not include a continuing 1134
association that makes disbursements for the direct costs of 1135
producing or airing electioneering communications and that does 1136
not engage in express advocacy. 1137

       (9) "Public office" means any state, county, municipal, 1138
township, ~~and~~or district office, except an office of a political 1139
party, that is filled by an election and the offices of United 1140
States senator and ~~congressman~~representative. 1141

       (10) "Anything of value" has the same meaning as in section 1142
1.03 of the Revised Code. 1143

       (11) "Beneficiary of a campaign fund" means a candidate, a 1144
public official or employee for whose benefit a campaign fund 1145
exists, and any other person who has ever been a candidate or 1146
public official or employee and for whose benefit a campaign fund 1147
exists. 1148

       (12) "Campaign fund" means money or other property, including 1149
contributions. 1150

       (13) "Public official or employee" has the same meaning as in 1151
section 102.01 of the Revised Code. 1152

       (14) "Caucus" means all of the members of the house of 1153
representatives or all of the members of the senate of the general 1154
assembly who are members of the same political party. 1155

       (15) "Legislative campaign fund" means a fund that is 1156
established as an auxiliary of a state political party and 1157
associated with one of the houses of the general assembly. 1158

       (16) "In-kind contribution" means anything of value other 1159
than money that is used to influence the results of an election or 1160
is transferred to or used in support of or in opposition to a 1161
candidate, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, 1162
political party, or political action committee~~, or political~~ 1163
~~contributing entity~~ and that is made with the consent of, in 1164
coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request 1165
or suggestion of the benefited candidate, committee, fund, or 1166
party~~, or entity~~. The financing of the dissemination, 1167
distribution, or republication, in whole or part, of any broadcast 1168
or of any written, graphic, or other form of campaign materials 1169
prepared by the candidate, the candidate's campaign committee, or 1170
their authorized agents is an in-kind contribution to the 1171
candidate and an expenditure by the candidate. 1172

       (17) "Independent expenditure" means an expenditure by a 1173
person advocating the election or defeat of an identified 1174
candidate or candidates, that is not made with the consent of, in 1175
coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request 1176
or suggestion of any candidate or candidates or of the campaign 1177
committee or agent of the candidate or candidates. As used in 1178
division (B)(17) of this section: 1179

       (a) "Person" means an individual, partnership, unincorporated 1180
business organization or association, political action committee, 1181
~~political contributing entity,~~ separate segregated fund, 1182
association, or ~~any~~ other organization or group of persons, but 1183
not a labor organization or a corporation ~~unless the labor~~ 1184
~~organization or corporation is a political contributing entity~~. 1185

       (b) "Advocating" means any communication containing a message 1186
advocating election or defeat. 1187

       (c) "Identified candidate" means that the name of the 1188
candidate appears, a photograph or drawing of the candidate 1189
appears, or the identity of the candidate is otherwise apparent by 1190
unambiguous reference. 1191

       (d) "Made in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, 1192
or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or the campaign 1193
committee or agent of the candidate" means made pursuant to any 1194
arrangement, coordination, or direction by the candidate, the 1195
candidate's campaign committee, or the candidate's agent prior to 1196
the publication, distribution, display, or broadcast of the 1197
communication. An expenditure is presumed to be so made when it is 1198
any of the following: 1199

       (i) Based on information about the candidate's plans, 1200
projects, or needs provided to the person making the expenditure 1201
by the candidate, or by the candidate's campaign committee or 1202
agent, with a view toward having an expenditure made; 1203

       (ii) Made by or through any person who is, or has been, 1204
authorized to raise or expend funds, who is, or has been, an 1205
officer of the candidate's campaign committee, or who is, or has 1206
been, receiving any form of compensation or reimbursement from the 1207
candidate or the candidate's campaign committee or agent; 1208

       (iii) ~~Made~~Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of 1209
section 3517.105 of the Revised Code, made by a political party in 1210
support of a candidate, unless the expenditure is made by a 1211
political party to conduct voter registration or voter education 1212
efforts. 1213

       (e) "Agent" means any person who has actual oral or written 1214
authority, either express or implied, to make or to authorize the 1215
making of expenditures on behalf of a candidate, or means any 1216
person who has been placed in a position with the candidate's 1217
campaign committee or organization such that it would reasonably 1218
appear that in the ordinary course of campaign-related activities 1219
the person may authorize expenditures. 1220

       (18) "Labor organization" means a labor union; an employee 1221
organization; a federation of labor unions, groups, locals, or 1222
other employee organizations; an auxiliary of a labor union, 1223
employee organization, or federation of labor unions, groups, 1224
locals, or other employee organizations; or any other bona fide 1225
organization in which employees participate and that exists for 1226
the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers 1227
concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, hours, and other 1228
terms and conditions of employment. 1229

       (19) "Separate segregated fund" means a separate segregated 1230
fund established pursuant to the Federal Election Campaign Act. 1231

       (20) "Federal Election Campaign Act" means the "Federal 1232
Election Campaign Act of 1971," 86 Stat. 11, 2 U.S.C.A. 431, et 1233
seq., as amended. 1234

       (21) ~~"Political contributing entity" means any entity,~~ 1235
~~including a corporation or labor organization, that may lawfully~~ 1236
~~make contributions and expenditures and that is not an individual~~ 1237
~~or a political action committee, continuing association, campaign~~ 1238
~~committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, designated~~ 1239
~~state campaign committee, or state candidate fund. For purposes of~~ 1240
~~division (B)(21) of this section, "lawfully" means not prohibited~~ 1241
~~by any section of the Revised Code, or authorized by a final~~ 1242
~~judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.~~"Restricted fund" 1243
means the fund a state or county political party must establish 1244
under division (A)(1) of section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code. 1245

       (22) "Electioneering communication" has the same meaning as 1246
in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. 1247

       (23) "Express advocacy" means a communication that contains 1248
express words advocating the nomination, election, or defeat of a 1249
candidate or that contains express words advocating the adoption 1250
or defeat of a question or issue, as determined by a final 1251
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. 1252

       (24) "Political committee" has the same meaning as in section 1253
3517.1011 of the Revised Code. 1254

       (25) "Political fundraiser" has the same meaning as in 1255
section 3517.30 of the Revised Code. 1256

       Sec. 3517.08. (A) The personal expenses of a candidate paid 1257
for by the candidate, from the candidate's personal funds, shall 1258
not be considered as a contribution by or an expenditure by the 1259
candidate and shall not be reported under section 3517.10 of the 1260
Revised Code. 1261

       (B)(1) An expenditure by a political action committee ~~or a~~ 1262
~~political contributing entity~~ shall not be considered a 1263
contribution by the political action committee ~~or the political~~ 1264
~~contributing entity~~ or an expenditure by or on behalf of the 1265
candidate if the purpose of the expenditure is to inform only its 1266
members by means of mailed publications of its activities or 1267
endorsements. 1268

       (2) An expenditure by a political party shall not be 1269
considered a contribution by the political party or an expenditure 1270
by or on behalf of the candidate if the purpose of the expenditure 1271
is to inform predominantly the party's members by means of mailed 1272
publications or other direct communication of its activities or 1273
endorsements, or for voter contact such as sample ballots, absent 1274
voter's ballots application mailings, voter registration, or 1275
get-out-the-vote activities. 1276

       (C) An expenditure by a continuing association~~, political~~ 1277
~~contributing entity,~~ or political party shall not be considered a 1278
contribution to any campaign committee or an expenditure by or on 1279
behalf of any campaign committee if the purpose of the expenditure 1280
is for the staff and maintenance of the continuing association's, 1281
~~political contributing entity's,~~ or political party's 1282
headquarters, or for a political poll, survey, index, or other 1283
type of measurement not on behalf of a specific candidate. 1284

       (D) The expenses of maintaining a constituent office paid 1285
for, from the candidate's personal funds, by a candidate who is a 1286
member of the general assembly at the time of the election shall 1287
not be considered a contribution by or an expenditure by or on 1288
behalf of the candidate, and shall not be reported, if the 1289
constituent office is not used for any candidate's campaign 1290
activities. 1291

       (E) The net contribution of each social or fund-raising 1292
activity shall be calculated by totaling all contributions to the 1293
activity minus the expenditures made for the activity. 1294

       (F) An expenditure that purchases goods or services shall be 1295
attributed to an election when the disbursement of funds is made, 1296
rather than at the time the goods or services are used. The 1297
secretary of state, under the procedures of Chapter 119. of the 1298
Revised Code, shall establish rules for the attribution of 1299
expenditures to a candidate when the candidate is a candidate for 1300
more than one office during a reporting period and for 1301
expenditures made in a year in which no election is held. The 1302
secretary of state shall further define by rule those expenditures 1303
that are or are not by or on behalf of a candidate. 1304

       (G) An expenditure for the purpose of a charitable donation 1305
may be made if it is made to an organization that is exempt from 1306
federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in 1307
subsection 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 1308
501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code or is approved by advisory 1309
opinion of the Ohio elections commission as a legitimate 1310
charitable organization. Each expenditure under this division 1311
shall be separately itemized on statements made pursuant to 1312
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. 1313

       Sec. 3517.082. (A) Any corporation, any nonprofit 1314
corporation, or any labor organization may establish, administer, 1315
and solicit contributions from the persons listed in division (B) 1316
of this section, to either or both of the following: 1317

       (1) A political action committee of the corporation or labor 1318
organization with respect to state and local elections; 1319

       (2) A separate segregated fund pursuant to the Federal 1320
Election Campaign Act. 1321

       (B)(1) A corporation and a nonprofit corporation may solicit 1322
contributions from its stockholders, officers, directors, trustees 1323
that are not corporations or labor organizations, and employees. 1324

       (2) A nonprofit corporation also may solicit contributions 1325
from: 1326

       (a) Its members that are not corporations or labor 1327
organizations; 1328

       (b) Officers, directors, trustees that are not corporations 1329
or labor organizations, and employees of any members of the 1330
nonprofit corporation. 1331

       (3) A labor organization may solicit contributions from its 1332
members, officers, and employees. 1333

       (C) A corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor 1334
organization shall report to a political action committee, or to a 1335
separate segregated fund with respect to state and local 1336
elections, the following costs expended by the corporation, 1337
nonprofit corporation, or labor organization that are associated 1338
with establishing, administering, and soliciting contributions to 1339
the political action committee or separate segregated fund 1340
pursuant to division (A) of this section: 1341

       (1) Mailing and printing expenses for direct solicitation of 1342
contributions pursuant to ~~division (D) of~~ this section; 1343

       (2) The portion of an employee's salary or wages attributable 1344
to time hethe employee spends in activities related to 1345
establishing, administering, and soliciting contributions to a 1346
political action committee or separate segregated fund, if that 1347
time exceeds during a reporting period fifty per cent of the time 1348
for which the employee is compensated by the corporation, 1349
nonprofit corporation, or labor organization; 1350

       (3) The cost associated with the purchase, lease, operation, 1351
and use of equipment for activities related to establishing, 1352
administering, and soliciting contributions to a political action 1353
committee or separate segregated fund if during a reporting period 1354
more than fifty per cent of the use of the equipment is for those 1355
activities; 1356

       (4) Professional fees paid by the corporation, nonprofit 1357
corporation, or labor organization for establishing, 1358
administering, and soliciting contributions to a political action 1359
committee or separate segregated fund. 1360

       The political action committee shall itemize the amounts and 1361
purposes of those costs expended by the corporation, nonprofit 1362
corporation, or labor organization and file them as part of the 1363
statement required of political action committees under division 1364
(A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code ~~on a form prescribed by~~ 1365
~~the secretary of state~~. The separate segregated fund with respect 1366
to state and local elections shall file with the secretary of 1367
state a copy of the portion of each report and statement required 1368
under the Federal Election Campaign Act that applies to state and 1369
local elections at the same time that the entire original report 1370
is filed in accordance with that act. 1371

       (D) ~~Solicitations of contributions pursuant to division (B)~~ 1372
~~of this section from employees of a corporation or members and~~ 1373
~~employees of a labor organization other than executive and~~ 1374
~~administrative employees of a corporation or officers and~~ 1375
~~executive and administrative employees of a labor organization~~ 1376
~~shall be in writing and shall not be made more than four times~~ 1377
~~during each calendar year. Any person who solicits any employee of~~ 1378
~~a corporation or member or employee of a labor organization for a~~ 1379
~~contribution to a political action committee established or~~ 1380
~~administered by the corporation or labor organization under~~ 1381
~~division (A)(1) of this section shall inform the employee or~~ 1382
~~member at the time of the solicitation that he may refuse to make~~ 1383
~~a contribution without suffering any reprisal.~~ 1384

       ~~(E) In addition to the laws listed in division (A) of section~~ 1385
~~4117.10 of the Revised Code that prevail over conflicting~~ 1386
~~agreements between employee organizations and public employers,~~ 1387
~~this section prevails over any conflicting provisions of~~ 1388
~~agreements between labor organizations and public employers~~ 1389
~~pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code~~ A corporation, 1390
nonprofit corporation, or labor organization may obtain 1391
contributions for a political action committee or a separate 1392
segregated fund under this section from an individual described in 1393
division (B) of this section from whom the corporation, nonprofit 1394
corporation, or labor organization was not obtaining contributions 1395
before the effective date of this amendment on an automatic basis, 1396
including, but not limited to, a payroll deduction plan, only if 1397
the individual who is contributing to the political action 1398
committee or separate segregated fund affirmatively consents to 1399
the contribution in writing. 1400

       (E) In addition to the laws listed in division (A) of section 1401
4117.10 of the Revised Code that prevail over conflicting 1402
agreements between employee organizations and public employers, 1403
this section prevails over any conflicting provisions of 1404
agreements between labor organizations and public employers that 1405
are entered into on or after the effective date of this amendment 1406
pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code. 1407

       Sec. 3517.09. (A) No person or committee shall solicit, ask, 1408
invite, or demand, directly or indirectly, orally or in writing, a 1409
contribution, subscription, or payment from a candidate for 1410
nomination or election or from the campaign committee of that 1411
candidate, and no person shall solicit, ask, invite, or demand 1412
that a candidate for nomination or election or the campaign 1413
committee of that candidate subscribe to the support of a club or 1414
organization, buy tickets to an entertainment, ball, supper, or 1415
other meeting, or pay for space in a book, program, or 1416
publication. This division does not apply to any of the following: 1417

       (1) Regular advertisements in periodicals having an 1418
established circulation; 1419

       (2) Regular payments to civic, political, fraternal, social, 1420
charitable, or religious organizations of which the candidate was 1421
a member or contributor six months before the candidate's 1422
candidacy; 1423

       (3) Regular party assessments made by a party against its own 1424
candidates. 1425

       (B) No person shall coerce, intimidate, or cause harm to 1426
another person by an act or failure to act, or shall threaten to 1427
coerce, intimidate, or cause harm to another person, because that 1428
other person makes or does not make a contribution to a candidate, 1429
campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, 1430
political action committee, or ~~political contributing entity~~ 1431
electioneering communication committee. 1432

       (C) ~~An employer or labor organization that, directly or~~ 1433
~~through another person, solicits an employee of the employer or a~~ 1434
~~member of the labor organizationfor acontribution to a~~ 1435
~~candidate, campaign committee, political action committee,~~ 1436
~~legislative campaign fund, political party, orpolitical~~ 1437
~~contributing entity shall inform the employee or member at the~~ 1438
~~time of the solicitation that making a contribution is voluntary~~ 1439
~~and that a decision of the employee or member to make a~~ 1440
~~contribution or not to make a contribution will not benefit the~~ 1441
~~employee or member or place the employee or member at a~~ 1442
~~disadvantage with respect to employment by the employer or~~ 1443
~~membership in the labor organization~~An employer or labor 1444
organization, directly or through another person, may obtain 1445
contributions for a candidate, campaign committee, political 1446
action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or 1447
person or political committee making disbursements to pay the 1448
direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications 1449
from an employee or member from whom the employer or labor 1450
organization was not obtaining contributions before the effective 1451
date of this amendment on an automatic basis, including, but not 1452
limited to, a payroll deduction plan, only if the employee or 1453
member who is contributing to the candidate, campaign committee, 1454
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political 1455
party, or person or political committee making disbursements to 1456
pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering 1457
communications affirmatively consents to the contribution in 1458
writing. 1459

       (D) In addition to the laws listed in division (A) of section 1460
4117.10 of the Revised Code that prevail over conflicting 1461
agreements between employee organizations and public employers, 1462
this section prevails over any conflicting provisions of 1463
agreements between labor organizations and public employers that 1464
are entered into on or after the effective date of this amendment 1465
pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code. 1466

       Sec. 3517.092. (A) As used in this section: 1467

       (1) "Appointing authority" has the same meaning as in section 1468
124.01 of the Revised Code. 1469

       (2) "State elected officer" means any person appointed or 1470
elected to a state elective office. 1471

       (3) "State elective office" means any of the offices of 1472
governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of 1473
state, treasurer of state, attorney general, member of the state 1474
board of education, member of the general assembly, and justice 1475
and chief justice of the supreme court. 1476

       (4) "County elected officer" means any person appointed or 1477
elected to a county elective office. 1478

       (5) "County elective office" means any of the offices of 1479
county auditor, county treasurer, clerk of the court of common 1480
pleas, sheriff, county recorder, county engineer, county 1481
commissioner, prosecuting attorney, and coroner. 1482

       (6) "Contribution" includes a contribution to any political 1483
party, campaign committee, political action committee, ~~political~~ 1484
~~contributing entity,~~ or legislative campaign fund. 1485

       (B) No state elected officer, no campaign committee of such 1486
an officer, and no other person or entity shall knowingly solicit 1487
or accept a contribution on behalf of that officer or that 1488
officer's campaign committee from any of the following: 1489

       (1) A state employee whose appointing authority is the state 1490
elected officer; 1491

       (2) A state employee whose appointing authority is authorized 1492
or required by law to be appointed by the state elected officer; 1493

       (3) A state employee who functions in or is employed in or by 1494
the same public agency, department, division, or office as the 1495
state elected officer. 1496

       (C) No candidate for a state elective office, no campaign 1497
committee of such a candidate, and no other person or entity shall 1498
knowingly solicit or accept a contribution on behalf of that 1499
candidate or that candidate's campaign committee from any of the 1500
following: 1501

       (1) A state employee at the time of the solicitation, whose 1502
appointing authority will be the candidate, if elected; 1503

       (2) A state employee at the time of the solicitation, whose 1504
appointing authority will be appointed by the candidate, if 1505
elected, as authorized or required by law; 1506

       (3) A state employee at the time of the solicitation, who 1507
will function in or be employed in or by the same public agency, 1508
department, division, or office as the candidate, if elected. 1509

       (D) No county elected officer, no campaign committee of such 1510
an officer, and no other person or entity shall knowingly solicit 1511
a contribution on behalf of that officer or that officer's 1512
campaign committee from any of the following: 1513

       (1) A county employee whose appointing authority is the 1514
county elected officer; 1515

       (2) A county employee whose appointing authority is 1516
authorized or required by law to be appointed by the county 1517
elected officer; 1518

       (3) A county employee who functions in or is employed in or 1519
by the same public agency, department, division, or office as the 1520
county elected officer. 1521

       (E) No candidate for a county elective office, no campaign 1522
committee of such a candidate, and no other person or entity shall 1523
knowingly solicit a contribution on behalf of that candidate or 1524
that candidate's campaign committee from any of the following: 1525

       (1) A county employee at the time of the solicitation, whose 1526
appointing authority will be the candidate, if elected; 1527

       (2) A county employee at the time of the solicitation, whose 1528
appointing authority will be appointed by the candidate, if 1529
elected, as authorized or required by law; 1530

       (3) A county employee at the time of the solicitation, who 1531
will function in or be employed in or by the same public agency, 1532
department, division, or office as the candidate, if elected. 1533

       (F)(1) No public employee shall solicit a contribution from 1534
any person while the public employee is performing the public 1535
employee's official duties or in those areas of a public building 1536
where official business is transacted or conducted. 1537

       (2) No person shall solicit a contribution from any public 1538
employee while the public employee is performing the public 1539
employee's official duties or is in those areas of a public 1540
building where official business is transacted or conducted. 1541

       (3) As used in division (F) of this section, "public 1542
employee" does not include any person holding an elective office. 1543

       (G) The prohibitions in divisions (B), (C), (D), (E), and (F) 1544
of this section are in addition to the prohibitions in sections 1545
124.57, 3304.22, and 4503.032 of the Revised Code. 1546

       Sec. 3517.10. (A) Except as otherwise provided in this 1547
division, every campaign committee, political action committee, 1548
legislative campaign fund, and political party~~, and political~~ 1549
~~contributing entity~~ that made or received a contribution or made 1550
an expenditure in connection with the nomination or election of 1551
any candidate or in connection with any ballot issue or question 1552
at any election held or to be held in this state shall file, on a 1553
form prescribed under this section,or by electronic means of 1554
transmission as provided in this section and section 3517.106 of 1555
the Revised Code, ~~or, until March 1, 2004, on computer disk as~~ 1556
~~provided in section 3517.106 of the Revised Code,~~ a full, true, 1557
and itemized statement, made under penalty of election 1558
falsification, setting forth in detail the contributions and 1559
expenditures, nonot later than four p.m. of the following dates: 1560

       (1) The twelfth day before the election to reflect 1561
contributions received and expenditures made from the close of 1562
business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed 1563
statement, if any, to the close of business on the twentieth day 1564
before the election; 1565

       (2) The thirty-eighth day after the election to reflect the 1566
contributions received and expenditures made from the close of 1567
business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed 1568
statement, if any, to the close of business on the seventh day 1569
before the filing of the statement; 1570

       (3) The last business day of January of every year to reflect 1571
the contributions received and expenditures made from the close of 1572
business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed 1573
statement, if any, to the close of business on the last day of 1574
December of the previous year; 1575

       (4) The last business day of July of every year to reflect 1576
the contributions received and expenditures made from the close of 1577
business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed 1578
statement, if any, to the close of business on the last day of 1579
June of that year. 1580

       A campaign committee shall only be required to file the 1581
statements prescribed under divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this 1582
section in connection with the nomination or election of the 1583
committee's candidate. 1584

       The statement required under division (A)(1) of this section 1585
shall not be required of any campaign committee, political action 1586
committee, legislative campaign fund, or political party~~, or~~ 1587
~~political contributing entity~~ that has received contributions of 1588
less than one thousand dollars and has made expenditures of less 1589
than one thousand dollars at the close of business on the 1590
twentieth day before the election. Those contributions and 1591
expenditures shall be reported in the statement required under 1592
division (A)(2) of this section. 1593

       If an election to select candidates to appear on the general 1594
election ballot is held within sixty days before a general 1595
election, the campaign committee of a successful candidate in the 1596
earlier election may file the statement required by division 1597
(A)(1) of this section for the general election instead of the 1598
statement required by division (A)(2) of this section for the 1599
earlier election if the pregeneral election statement reflects the 1600
status of contributions and expenditures for the period twenty 1601
days before the earlier election to twenty days before the general 1602
election. 1603

       If a person becomes a candidate less than twenty days before 1604
an election, the candidate's campaign committee is not required to 1605
file the statement required by division (A)(1) of this section. 1606

       No statement under division (A)(3) or (4) of this section 1607
shall be required for any year in which a campaign committee, 1608
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, or 1609
political party~~, or political contributing entity~~ is required to 1610
file a postgeneral election statement under division (A)(2) of 1611
this section. However, such a statement may be filed, at the 1612
option of the campaign committee, political action committee, 1613
legislative campaign fund, or political party~~, or political~~ 1614
~~contributing entity~~. 1615

       No statement under division (A)(3) or (4) of this section 1616
shall be required if the campaign committee, political action 1617
committee, legislative campaign fund, or political party~~, or~~ 1618
~~political contributing entity~~ has no contributions that it has 1619
received and no expenditures that it has made since the last date 1620
reflected in its last previously filed statement. However, the 1621
campaign committee, political action committee, legislative 1622
campaign fund, or political party~~, or political contributing~~ 1623
~~entity~~ shall file a statement to that effect, on a form prescribed 1624
under this section and made under penalty of election 1625
falsification, on the date required in division (A)(3) or (4) of 1626
this section, as applicable. 1627

       The campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall file a 1628
monthly statement of contributions received during each of the 1629
months of July, August, and September in the year of the general 1630
election in which the candidate seeks office. The campaign 1631
committee of a statewide candidate shall file the monthly 1632
statement not later than three business days after the last day of 1633
the month covered by the statement. During the period beginning on 1634
the nineteenth day before the general election in which a 1635
statewide candidate seeks election to office and extending through 1636
the day of that general election, each time the campaign committee 1637
of the joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant 1638
governor or of a candidate for the office of secretary of state, 1639
auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general receives 1640
a contribution from a contributor that causes the aggregate amount 1641
of contributions received from that contributor during that period 1642
to equal or exceed ~~two~~ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars and each 1643
time the campaign committee of a candidate for the office of chief 1644
justice or justice of the supreme court receives a contribution 1645
from a contributor that causes the aggregate amount of 1646
contributions received from that contributor during that period to 1647
exceed ~~five hundred~~ten thousand dollars, the campaign committee 1648
shall file a two-business-day statement reflecting that 1649
contribution. During the period beginning on the nineteenth day 1650
before a primary election in which a candidate for statewide 1651
office seeks nomination to office and extending through the day of 1652
that primary election, each time either the campaign committee of 1653
a statewide candidate in that primary election that files a notice 1654
under division (C)(1) of section 3517.103 of the Revised Code or 1655
the campaign committee of a statewide candidate in that primary 1656
election to which, in accordance with division (D) of section 1657
3517.103 of the Revised Code, the contribution limitations 1658
prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code no longer apply 1659
receives a contribution from a contributor that causes the 1660
aggregate amount of contributions received from that contributor 1661
during that period to exceed ~~two~~ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ 1662
dollars, the campaign committee shall file a two-business-day 1663
statement reflecting that contribution. Contributions reported on 1664
a two-business-day statement required to be filed by a campaign 1665
committee of a statewide candidate in a primary election shall 1666
also be included in the postprimary election statement required to 1667
be filed by that campaign committee under division (A)(2) of this 1668
section. A two-business-day statement required by this paragraph 1669
shall be filed not later than two business days after receipt of 1670
the contribution. The statements required by this paragraph shall 1671
be filed in addition to any other statements required by this 1672
section. 1673

       Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, 1674
and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary 1675
of state prescribes pursuant to divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of 1676
this section and division (H)(1) of section 3517.106 of the 1677
Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by 1678
electronic means of transmission, a campaign committee of a 1679
statewide candidate shall file a two-business-day statement under 1680
the preceding paragraph by electronic means of transmission if the 1681
campaign committee is required to file a ~~preelection~~pre-election, 1682
postelection, or monthly statement of contributions and 1683
expenditures by electronic means of transmission under this 1684
section or section 3517.106 of the Revised Code. 1685

       If a campaign committee or political action committee has no 1686
balance on hand and no outstanding obligations and desires to 1687
terminate itself, it shall file a statement to that effect, on a 1688
form prescribed under this section and made under penalty of 1689
election falsification, with the official with whom it files a 1690
statement under division (A) of this section after filing a final 1691
statement of contributions and a final statement of expenditures, 1692
if contributions have been received or expenditures made since the 1693
period reflected in its last previously filed statement. 1694

       (B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(7) of this 1695
section, each statement required by division (A) of this section 1696
shall contain the following information: 1697

       (1) The full name and address of each campaign committee, 1698
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, or 1699
political party, ~~or political contributing entity,~~ including any 1700
treasurer of the committee, fund, or party, ~~or entity,~~ filing a 1701
contribution and expenditure statement; 1702

       (2)(a) In the case of a campaign committee, the candidate's 1703
full name and address; 1704

       (b) In the case of a political action committee, the 1705
registration number assigned to the committee under division 1706
(D)(1) of this section. 1707

       (3) The date of the election and whether it was or will be a 1708
general, primary, or special election; 1709

       (4) A statement of contributions received, which shall 1710
include the following information: 1711

       (a) The month, day, and year of the contribution; 1712

       (b)(i) The full name and address of each person, political 1713
party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, or political 1714
action committee~~, or political contributing entity~~ from whom 1715
contributions are received and the registration number assigned to 1716
the political action committee under division (D)(1) of this 1717
section. The requirement of filing the full address does not apply 1718
to any statement filed by a state or local committee of a 1719
political party, to a finance committee of such committee, or to a 1720
committee recognized by a state or local committee as its 1721
fund-raising auxiliary. Notwithstanding division (F)~~(1)~~ of this 1722
section, the requirement of filing the full address shall be 1723
considered as being met if the address filed is the same address 1724
the contributor provided under division (E)(1) of this section. 1725

       (ii) If a political action committee, legislative campaign 1726
fund, or political party that is required to file campaign finance 1727
statements by electronic means of transmission under section 1728
3517.106 of the Revised Code or a campaign committee of a 1729
statewide candidate or candidate for the office of member of the 1730
general assembly receives a contribution from an individual that 1731
exceeds one hundred dollars, the name of the individual's current 1732
employer, if any, or, if the individual is self-employed, the 1733
individual's occupation and the name of the individual's business, 1734
if any; 1735

       (iii) If a campaign committee of a statewide candidate or 1736
candidate for the office of member of the general assembly 1737
receives a contribution transmitted pursuant to section 3599.031 1738
of the Revised Code from amounts deducted from the wages and 1739
salaries of two or more employees that exceeds in the aggregate 1740
one hundred dollars during any one filing period under division 1741
(A)(1), (2), or (3), or (4) of this section, the full name of the 1742
employees' employer and the full name of the labor organization of 1743
which the employees are members, if any. 1744

       (c) A description of the contribution received, if other than 1745
money; 1746

       (d) The value in dollars and cents of the contribution; 1747

       (e) A separately itemized account of all contributions and 1748
expenditures regardless of the amount, except a receipt of a 1749
contribution from a person in the sum of twenty-five dollars or 1750
less at one social or fund-raising activity and a receipt of a 1751
contribution transmitted pursuant to section 3599.031 of the 1752
Revised Code from amounts deducted from the wages and salaries of 1753
employees if the contribution from the amount deducted from the 1754
wages and salary of any one employee is twenty-five dollars or 1755
less aggregated in a calendar year. An account of the total 1756
contributions from each social or fund-raising activity shall 1757
include a description of and the value of each in-kind 1758
contribution received at that activity from any person who made 1759
one or more such contributions whose aggregate value exceeded two 1760
hundred fifty dollars and shall be listed separately, together 1761
with the expenses incurred and paid in connection with that 1762
activity. A campaign committee, political action committee, 1763
legislative campaign fund, or political party~~, or political~~ 1764
~~contributing entity~~ shall keep records of contributions from each 1765
person in the amount of twenty-five dollars or less at one social 1766
or fund-raising activity and contributions from amounts deducted 1767
under section 3599.031 of the Revised Code from the wages and 1768
salary of each employee in the amount of twenty-five dollars or 1769
less aggregated in a calendar year. No continuing association that 1770
is recognized by a state or local committee of a political party 1771
as an auxiliary of the party and that makes a contribution from 1772
funds derived solely from regular dues paid by members of the 1773
auxiliary shall be required to list the name or address of any 1774
members who paid those dues. 1775

       Contributions that are other income shall be itemized 1776
separately from all other contributions. The information required 1777
under division (B)(4) of this section shall be provided for all 1778
other income itemized. As used in this paragraph, "other income" 1779
means a loan, investment income, or interest income. 1780

       (f) In the case of a campaign committee of a state elected 1781
officer, if a person doing business with the state elected officer 1782
in the officer's official capacity makes a contribution to the 1783
campaign committee of that officer, the information required under 1784
division (B)(4) of this section in regard to that contribution, 1785
which shall be filed together with and considered a part of the 1786
committee's statement of contributions as required under division 1787
(A) of this section but shall be filed on a separate form provided 1788
by the secretary of state. As used in this division ~~(B)(4)(f) of~~ 1789
~~this section~~: 1790

       (i) "State elected officer" has the same meaning as in 1791
section 3517.092 of the Revised Code. 1792

       (ii) "Person doing business" means a person or an officer of 1793
an entity who enters into one or more contracts with a state 1794
elected officer or anyone authorized to enter into contracts on 1795
behalf of that officer to receive payments for goods or services, 1796
if the payments total, in the aggregate, more than five thousand 1797
dollars during a calendar year. 1798

       (g) In the case of a contributor who is an individual, the 1799
age of the contributor. 1800

       (h) In the case of a contribution received through the 1801
efforts of a political fundraiser, the fact that the contribution 1802
was received through those efforts and the identity of that 1803
political fundraiser. 1804

       (5) A statement of expenditures which shall include the 1805
following information: 1806

       (a) The month, day, and year of the expenditure; 1807

       (b) The full name and address of each person, political 1808
party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, or political 1809
action committee~~, or political contributing entity~~ to whom the 1810
expenditure was made and the registration number assigned to the 1811
political action committee under division (D)(1) of this section; 1812

       (c) The object or purpose for which the expenditure was made; 1813

       (d) The amount of each expenditure. 1814

       (C)(1) The statement of contributions and expenditures shall 1815
be signed by the person completing the form. If a statement of 1816
contributions and expenditures is filed by electronic means of 1817
transmission pursuant to this section or section 3517.106 of the 1818
Revised Code, the electronic signature of the person who executes 1819
the statement and transmits the statement by electronic means of 1820
transmission, as provided in division (H) of section 3517.106 of 1821
the Revised Code, shall be attached to or associated with the 1822
statement and shall be binding on all persons and for all purposes 1823
under the campaign finance reporting law as if the signature had 1824
been handwritten in ink on a printed form. 1825

       (2) The person filing the statement, under penalty of 1826
election falsification, shall include with it a list of each 1827
anonymous contribution, the circumstances under which it was 1828
received, and the reason it cannot be attributed to a specific 1829
donor. 1830

       (3) Each statement of a campaign committee of a candidate who 1831
holds public office shall contain a designation of each 1832
contributor who is an employee in any unit or department under the 1833
candidate's direct supervision and control. In a space provided in 1834
the statement, the person filing the statement shall affirm that 1835
each such contribution was voluntarily made. 1836

       (4) A campaign committee that did not receive contributions 1837
or make expenditures in connection with the nomination or election 1838
of its candidate shall file a statement to that effect, on a form 1839
prescribed under this section and made under penalty of election 1840
falsification, on the date required in division (A)(2) of this 1841
section. 1842

       (5) The campaign committee of any person who attempts to 1843
become a candidate and who, for any reason, does not become 1844
certified in accordance with Title XXXV of the Revised Code for 1845
placement on the official ballot of a primary, general, or special 1846
election to be held in this state, and who, at any time prior to 1847
or after an election, receives contributions or makes 1848
expenditures, or has given consent for another to receive 1849
contributions or make expenditures, for the purpose of bringing 1850
about the person's nomination or election to public office, shall 1851
file the statement or statements prescribed by this section and a 1852
termination statement, if applicable. ~~This paragraph~~Division 1853
(C)(5) of this section does not apply to any person with respect 1854
to an election to the offices of member of a county or state 1855
central committee, presidential elector, or delegate to a national 1856
convention or conference of a political party. 1857

       (6)(a) The statements required to be filed under this section 1858
shall specify the balance in the hands of the campaign committee, 1859
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, or 1860
political party~~, or political contributing entity~~ and the 1861
disposition intended to be made of that balance. 1862

       (b) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form for all 1863
statements required to be filed under this section and shall 1864
furnish the forms to the boards of elections in the several 1865
counties. The boards of elections shall supply printed copies of 1866
those forms without charge. The secretary of state shall prescribe 1867
the appropriate methodology, protocol, and data file structure for 1868
statements required or permitted to be filed by electronic means 1869
of transmission under division (A) of this section ~~and~~, divisions 1870
(E), (F), and (G) of section 3517.106, division (D) of section 1871
3517.1011, and division (B) of section 3517.1012 of the Revised 1872
Code ~~and for statements permitted to be filed on computer disk~~ 1873
~~under division (F) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code~~. 1874
Subject to division (A) of this section ~~and~~, divisions (E), (F), 1875
and (G) of section 3517.106, division (D) of section 3517.1011, 1876
and division (B) of section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code, the 1877
statements required to be stored on computer by the secretary of 1878
state under division (B) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code 1879
shall be filed in whatever format the secretary of state considers 1880
necessary to enable the secretary of state to store the 1881
information contained in the statements on computer. Any such 1882
format shall be of a type and nature that is readily available to 1883
whoever is required to file the statements in that format. 1884

       (c) The secretary of state shall assess the need for training 1885
regarding the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic 1886
means of transmission and regarding associated technologies for 1887
candidates, campaign committees, political action committees, 1888
legislative campaign funds, or political parties, ~~political~~ 1889
~~contributing entities, or~~for individuals, partnerships, or other 1890
entities, or for persons or political committees making 1891
disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing 1892
electioneering communications, required or permitted to file 1893
statements by electronic means of transmission under this section 1894
or section 3517.105 or, 3517.106, 3517.1011, or 3517.1012 of the 1895
Revised Code. If, in the opinion of the secretary of state, 1896
training in these areas is necessary, the secretary of state shall 1897
arrange for the provision of voluntary training programs for 1898
candidates, campaign committees, political action committees, 1899
legislative campaign funds, or political parties, ~~political~~ 1900
~~contributing entities, and~~for individuals, partnerships, and 1901
other entities, or for persons or political committees making 1902
disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing 1903
electioneering communications, as appropriate. 1904

       (7) Each monthly statement and each two-business-day 1905
statement required by division (A) of this section shall contain 1906
the information required by divisions (B)(1) to (4), (C)(2), and, 1907
if appropriate, (C)(3) of this section. Each statement shall be 1908
signed as required by division (C)(1) of this section. 1909

       (D)(1) Prior to receiving a contribution or making an 1910
expenditure, every campaign committee, political action committee, 1911
legislative campaign fund, or political party~~, or political~~ 1912
~~contributing entity~~ shall appoint a treasurer and shall file, on a 1913
form prescribed by the secretary of state, a designation of that 1914
appointment, including the full name and address of the treasurer 1915
and of the campaign committee, political action committee, 1916
legislative campaign fund, or political party~~, or political~~ 1917
~~contributing entity~~. That designation shall be filed with the 1918
official with whom the campaign committee, political action 1919
committee, legislative campaign fund, or political party~~, or~~ 1920
~~political contributing entity~~ is required to file statements under 1921
section 3517.11 of the Revised Code. The name of a campaign 1922
committee shall include at least the last name of the campaign 1923
committee's candidate. The secretary of state shall assign a 1924
registration number to each political action committee that files 1925
a designation of the appointment of a treasurer under this 1926
division ~~(D)(1) of this section~~ if the political action committee 1927
is required by division (A)(1) of section 3517.11 of the Revised 1928
Code to file the statements prescribed by this section with the 1929
secretary of state. 1930

       (2) The treasurer appointed under division (D)(1) of this 1931
section shall keep a strict account of all contributions, from 1932
whom received and the purpose for which they were disbursed. 1933

       (3)(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 3517.108 of 1934
the Revised Code, a campaign committee shall deposit all monetary 1935
contributions received by the committee into an account separate 1936
from a personal or business account of the candidate or campaign 1937
committee. 1938

       (b) A political action committee shall deposit all monetary 1939
contributions received by the committee into an account separate 1940
from all other funds. 1941

       (c) A state or county political party may establish a state 1942
candidate fund that is separate from an account that contains the 1943
public moneys received from the Ohio political party fund under 1944
section 3517.17 of the Revised Code and from all other funds. A 1945
state or county political party may deposit into its state 1946
candidate fund any amounts of monetary contributions that are made 1947
to or accepted by the political party subject to the applicable 1948
limitations, if any, prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised 1949
Code. A state or county political party shall deposit all other 1950
monetary contributions received by the party into one or more 1951
accounts that are separate from its state candidate fund and from 1952
its account that contains the public moneys received from the Ohio 1953
political party fund under section 3517.17 of the Revised Code. 1954

       (d) Each state political party shall have only one 1955
legislative campaign fund for each house of the general assembly. 1956
Each such fund shall be separate from any other funds or accounts 1957
of that state party. A legislative campaign fund is authorized to 1958
receive contributions and make expenditures for the primary 1959
purpose of furthering the election of candidates who are members 1960
of that political party to the house of the general assembly with 1961
which that legislative campaign fund is associated. Each 1962
legislative campaign fund shall be administered and controlled in 1963
a manner designated by the caucus. As used in this division 1964
~~(D)(3)(d) of this section~~, "caucus" has the same meaning as in 1965
section 3517.01 of the Revised Code and includes, as an ex officio 1966
member, the chairperson of the state political party with which 1967
the caucus is associated or that chairperson's designee. 1968

       (4) Every expenditure in excess of twenty-five dollars shall 1969
be vouched for by a receipted bill, stating the purpose of the 1970
~~expenditures~~expenditure, that shall be filed with the statement 1971
of expenditures. A canceled check with a notation of the purpose 1972
of the expenditure is a receipted bill for purposes of division 1973
(D)(4) of this section. 1974

       (5) The secretary of state or the board of elections, as the 1975
case may be, shall issue a receipt for each statement filed under 1976
this section and shall preserve a copy of the receipt for a period 1977
of at least six years. All statements filed under this section 1978
shall be open to public inspection in the office where they are 1979
filed and shall be carefully preserved for a period of at least 1980
six years after the year in which they are filed. 1981

       (6) The secretary of state, by rule adopted pursuant to 1982
section 3517.23 of the Revised Code, shall prescribe ~~the~~both of 1983
the following: 1984

       (a) The manner of immediately acknowledging, with date and 1985
time received, and preserving the receipt of statements that are 1986
transmitted by electronic means of transmission to the secretary 1987
of state pursuant to this section or section 3517.106, 3517.1011, 1988
or 3517.1012 of the Revised Code ~~and the~~; 1989

       (b) The manner of preserving the contribution and 1990
expenditure, contribution and disbursement, or deposit and 1991
disbursement information in ~~those~~the statements described in 1992
division (D)(6)(a) of this section. The secretary of state shall 1993
preserve the contribution and expenditure, contribution and 1994
disbursement, or deposit and disbursement information in those 1995
statements for at least ten years after the year in which they are 1996
filed by electronic means of transmission. 1997

       (7) The secretary of state, pursuant to division (I) of 1998
section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, shall make available online 1999
to the public through the internet the contribution and 2000
expenditure, contribution and disbursement, or deposit and 2001
disbursement information in all statements, all addenda, 2002
amendments, or other corrections to statements, and all amended 2003
statements filed with the secretary of state by electronic or 2004
other means of transmission under this section, division (B)(2)(b) 2005
or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105, or section 3517.106, 3517.1011, 2006
3517.1012, or 3517.11 of the Revised Code. The secretary of state 2007
may remove the information from the internet after a reasonable 2008
period of time. 2009

       (E)(1) Any person, political party, campaign committee, 2010
legislative campaign fund, or political action committee~~, or~~ 2011
~~political contributing entity~~ that makes a contribution in 2012
connection with the nomination or election of any candidate or in 2013
connection with any ballot issue or question at any election held 2014
or to be held in this state shall provide its full name and 2015
address to the recipient of the contribution, and to the political 2016
fundraiser through which the contribution was raised, if any, at 2017
the time the contribution is made. The political action committee 2018
also shall provide the registration number assigned to the 2019
committee under division (D)(1) of this section to the recipient 2020
of the contribution at the time the contribution is made. 2021

       (2) Any individual who makes a contribution that exceeds one 2022
hundred dollars to a political action committee, legislative 2023
campaign fund, or political party or to a campaign committee of a 2024
statewide candidate or candidate for the office of member of the 2025
general assembly shall provide the name of the individual's 2026
current employer, if any, or, if the individual is self-employed, 2027
the individual's occupation and the name of the individual's 2028
business, if any, to the recipient of the contribution at the time 2029
the contribution is made. Sections 3599.39 and 3599.40 of the 2030
Revised Code do not apply to division (E)(2) of this section. 2031

       (3) If a campaign committee shows that it has exercised its 2032
best efforts to obtain, maintain, and submit the information 2033
required under divisions (B)(4)(b)(ii) and (iii) of this section, 2034
that committee is considered to have met the requirements of those 2035
divisions. A campaign committee shall not be considered to have 2036
exercised its best efforts unless, in connection with written 2037
solicitations, it regularly includes a written request for the 2038
information required under division (B)(4)(b)(ii) of this section 2039
from the contributor or the information required under division 2040
(B)(4)(b)(iii) of this section from whoever transmits the 2041
contribution. 2042

       (4) Any check that a political action committee uses to make 2043
a contribution or an expenditure shall contain the full name and 2044
address of the committee and the registration number assigned to 2045
the committee under division (D)(1) of this section. 2046

       (5) Any political fundraiser that raises contributions for, 2047
at the request of, for the benefit of, or on behalf of a campaign 2048
committee, political party, political action committee, or 2049
legislative campaign fund shall provide to the campaign committee, 2050
political party, political action committee, or legislative 2051
campaign fund the identity of each contributor and the amount of 2052
each contribution raised through the efforts of the political 2053
fundraiser. 2054

       (F) As used in this section: 2055

       (1) ~~"Address"~~(a) Except as otherwise provided in division 2056
(F)(1) of this section, "address" means all of the following if 2057
they exist: apartment number, street, road, or highway name and 2058
number, rural delivery route number, city or village, state, and 2059
zip code as used in a person's post-office address, but not 2060
post-office box. 2061

       If(b) Except as otherwise provided in division (F)(1) of 2062
this section, if an address is required in this section, a 2063
post-office box and office, room, or suite number may be included 2064
in addition to, but not in lieu of, an apartment, street, road, or 2065
highway name and number. 2066

       If(c) If an address is required in this section, a campaign 2067
committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, 2068
or political party~~, or political contributing entity~~ may use the 2069
business or residence address of its treasurer or deputy 2070
treasurer. The post-office box number of the campaign committee, 2071
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, or 2072
political party~~, or political contributing entity~~ may be used in 2073
addition to that address. 2074

       (d) For the sole purpose of a campaign committee's reporting 2075
of contributions on a statement of contributions received under 2076
division (B)(4) of this section, "address" has one of the 2077
following meanings at the option of the campaign committee: 2078

       (i) The same meaning as in division (F)(1)(a) of this 2079
section; 2080

       (ii) All of the following, if they exist: the contributor's 2081
post-office box number and city or village, state, and zip code as 2082
used in the contributor's post-office address. 2083

       (e) As used with regard to the reporting under this section 2084
of any expenditure, "address" means all of the following if they 2085
exist: apartment number, street, road, or highway name and number, 2086
rural delivery route number, city or village, state, and zip code 2087
as used in a person's post-office address, or post-office box. If 2088
an address concerning any expenditure is required in this section, 2089
a campaign committee, political action committee, legislative 2090
campaign fund, or political party may use the business or 2091
residence address of its treasurer or deputy treasurer or its 2092
post-office box number. 2093

       (2) "Statewide candidate" means the joint candidates for the 2094
offices of governor and lieutenant governor or a candidate for the 2095
office of secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of 2096
state, attorney general, member of the state board of education, 2097
chief justice of the supreme court, or justice of the supreme 2098
court. 2099

       (G) An independent expenditure shall be reported whenever and 2100
in the same manner that an expenditure is required to be reported 2101
under this section and shall be reported pursuant to division 2102
(B)(2)(a) or (C)(2)(a) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code. 2103

       (H)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (H)(2) of 2104
this section, if, during the combined ~~preelection~~pre-election and 2105
postelection reporting periods for an election, a campaign 2106
committee has received contributions of five hundred dollars or 2107
less and has made expenditures in the total amount of five hundred 2108
dollars or less, it may file a statement to that effect, under 2109
penalty of election falsification, in lieu of the statement 2110
required by division (A)(2) of this section. The statement shall 2111
indicate the total amount of contributions received and the total 2112
amount of expenditures made during those combined reporting 2113
periods. 2114

       (2) In the case of a successful candidate at a primary 2115
election, if either the total contributions received by or the 2116
total expenditures made by the candidate's campaign committee 2117
during the preprimary, postprimary, pregeneral, and postgeneral 2118
election periods combined equal more than five hundred dollars, 2119
the campaign committee may file the statement under division 2120
(H)(1) of this section only for the primary election. The first 2121
statement that the campaign committee files in regard to the 2122
general election shall reflect all contributions received and all 2123
expenditures made during the preprimary and postprimary election 2124
periods. 2125

       (3) Divisions (H)(1) and (2) of this section do not apply if 2126
a campaign committee receives contributions or makes expenditures 2127
prior to the first day of January of the year of the election at 2128
which the candidate seeks nomination or election to office or if 2129
the campaign committee does not file a termination statement with 2130
its postprimary election statement in the case of an unsuccessful 2131
primary election candidate or with its postgeneral election 2132
statement in the case of other candidates. 2133

       (I) In the case of a contribution made by a partner of a 2134
partnership or an owner or a member of another unincorporated 2135
business from any funds of the partnership or other unincorporated 2136
business, all of the following apply: 2137

       (1) The recipient of the contribution shall report the 2138
contribution by listing both the partnership or other 2139
unincorporated business and the name of the partner or, owner, or 2140
member making the contribution. 2141

       (2) For purposes of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, the 2142
contribution shall be considered to have been made by the partner 2143
or, owner, or member reported under division (I)(1) of this 2144
section. 2145

       (3) No contribution from a partner of a partnership or an 2146
owner or a member of another unincorporated business shall be 2147
accepted from any funds of the partnership or other unincorporated 2148
business unless the recipient reports the contribution under 2149
division (I)(1) of this section. 2150

       (4) No partnership or other unincorporated business shall 2151
make a contribution or contributions solely in the name of the 2152
partnership or other unincorporated business. 2153

       (5) As used in division (I) of this section, "partnership or 2154
other unincorporated business" includes, but is not limited to, a 2155
cooperative, a sole proprietorship, a general partnership, a 2156
limited partnership, a limited partnership association, a limited 2157
liability partnership, and a limited liability company. 2158

       (J) A candidate shall have only one campaign committee at any 2159
given time for all of the offices for which the person is a 2160
candidate or holds office. 2161

       (K)(1) In addition to filing a designation of appointment of 2162
a treasurer under division (D)(1) of this section, the campaign 2163
committee of any candidate for an elected municipal office that 2164
pays an annual amount of compensation of five thousand dollars or 2165
less, the campaign committee of any candidate for member of a 2166
board of education except member of the state board of education, 2167
or the campaign committee of any candidate for township trustee or 2168
township clerk may sign, under penalty of election falsification, 2169
a certificate attesting that the committee will not accept 2170
contributions during an election period that exceed in the 2171
aggregate two thousand dollars from all contributors and one 2172
hundred dollars from any one individual, and that the campaign 2173
committee will not make expenditures during an election period 2174
that exceed in the aggregate two thousand dollars. 2175

       The certificate shall be on a form prescribed by the 2176
secretary of state and shall be filed not later than ten days 2177
after the candidate files a declaration of candidacy and petition, 2178
a nominating petition, or a declaration of intent to be a write-in 2179
candidate. 2180

       (2) Except as otherwise provided in division (K)(3) of this 2181
section, a campaign committee that files a certificate under 2182
division (K)(1) of this section is not required to file the 2183
statements required by division (A) of this section. 2184

       (3) If, after filing a certificate under division (K)(1) of 2185
this section, a campaign committee exceeds any of the limitations 2186
described in that division during an election period, the 2187
certificate is void and thereafter the campaign committee shall 2188
file the statements required by division (A) of this section. If 2189
the campaign committee has not previously filed a statement, then 2190
on the first statement the campaign committee is required to file 2191
under division (A) of this section after the committee's 2192
certificate is void, the committee shall report all contributions 2193
received and expenditures made from the time the candidate filed 2194
the candidate's declaration of candidacy and petition, nominating 2195
petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate. 2196

       (4) As used in division (K) of this section, "election 2197
period" means the period of time beginning on the day a person 2198
files a declaration of candidacy and petition, nominating 2199
petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate 2200
through the day of the election at which the person seeks 2201
nomination to office if the person is not elected to office, or, 2202
if the candidate was nominated in a primary election, the day of 2203
the election at which the candidate seeks office. 2204

       ~~(L) Notwithstanding division (B)(4) of this section, a~~ 2205
~~political contributing entity that receives contributions from the~~ 2206
~~dues, membership fees, or other assessments of its members or from~~ 2207
~~its officers, shareholders, and employees may report the aggregate~~ 2208
~~amount of contributions received from those contributors and the~~ 2209
~~number of individuals making those contributions, for each filing~~ 2210
~~period identified under divisions (A)(1), (2), and (3) of this~~ 2211
~~section. Division (B)(4) of this section applies to a political~~ 2212
~~contributing entity with regard to contributions it receives from~~ 2213
~~all other contributors.~~ 2214

       Sec. 3517.102. (A) Except as otherwise provided in section 2215
3517.103 of the Revised Code, as used in this section and sections 2216
3517.103 and 3517.104 of the Revised Code: 2217

       (1) "Candidate" has the same meaning as in section 3517.01 of 2218
the Revised Code but includes only candidates for the offices of 2219
governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of 2220
state, treasurer of state, attorney general, member of the state 2221
board of education, member of the general assembly, chief justice 2222
of the supreme court, and justice of the supreme court. 2223

       (2) "Statewide candidate" or "any one statewide candidate" 2224
means the joint candidates for the offices of governor and 2225
lieutenant governor or a candidate for the office of secretary of 2226
state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, 2227
member of the state board of education, chief justice of the 2228
supreme court, or justice of the supreme court. 2229

       (3) "Senate candidate" means a candidate for the office of 2230
state senator. 2231

       (4) "House candidate" means a candidate for the office of 2232
state representative. 2233

       (5)(a) "Primary election period" for a candidate begins on 2234
the beginning date of the candidate's pre-filing period specified 2235
in division (A)(9) of section 3517.109 of the Revised Code and 2236
ends on the day of the primary election. 2237

       (b) In regard to any candidate, the "general election period" 2238
begins on the day after the primary election immediately preceding 2239
the general election at which the candidate seeks an office 2240
specified in division (A)(1) of this section and ends on the 2241
thirty-first day of December following that general election. 2242

       (6) "State candidate fund" means the state candidate fund 2243
established by a state or county political party under division 2244
(D)(3)(c) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. 2245

       (7) "Postgeneral election statement" means the statement 2246
filed under division (A)(2) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code 2247
by the campaign committee of a candidate after the general 2248
election in which the candidate ran for office or filed by 2249
legislative campaign fund after the general election in an 2250
even-numbered year. 2251

       (8) "Contribution" means any contribution that is required to 2252
be reported in the statement of contributions under section 2253
3517.10 of the Revised Code. 2254

       (9)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(9)(b) of 2255
this section and in division (F) of section 3517.103 and division 2256
(B)(3)(b) of section 3517.1010 of the Revised Code, "designated 2257
state campaign committee" means: 2258

       ~~(a)~~(i) In the case of contributions to or from a state 2259
political party, a campaign committee of a statewide candidate, 2260
statewide officeholder, senate candidate, house candidate, or 2261
member of the general assembly. 2262

       ~~(b)~~(ii) In the case of contributions to or from a county 2263
political party, a campaign committee of a ~~statewide candidate,~~ 2264
~~statewide officeholder,~~ senate candidate or house candidate whose 2265
candidacy is to be submitted to some or all of the electors in 2266
that county, or member of the general assembly whose district 2267
contains all or part of that county. 2268

       ~~(c)~~(iii) In the case of contributions to or from a 2269
legislative campaign fund, a campaign committee of any of the 2270
following: 2271

       ~~(i)~~(I) A senate or house candidate who, if elected, will be a 2272
member of the same party that established the legislative campaign 2273
fund and the same house with which the legislative campaign fund 2274
is associated; 2275

       ~~(ii)~~(II) A state senator or state representative who is a 2276
member of the same party that established the legislative campaign 2277
fund and the same house with which the legislative campaign fund 2278
is associated. 2279

       (b) A campaign committee is no longer a "designated state 2280
campaign committee" after the campaign committee's candidate 2281
changes the designation of treasurer required to be filed under 2282
division (D)(1) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code to indicate 2283
that the person intends to be a candidate for, or becomes a 2284
candidate for nomination or election to, any office that, if 2285
elected, would not qualify that candidate's campaign committee as 2286
a "designated state campaign committee" under division (A)(9)(a) 2287
of this section. 2288

       (B)(1)(a) No individual who is seven years of age or older 2289
shall make a contribution or contributions aggregating more than: 2290

       ~~(a) Two~~(i) Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to the campaign 2291
committee of any one statewide candidate in a primary election 2292
period or in a general election period; 2293

       ~~(b) Two~~(ii) Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to the 2294
campaign committee of any one senate candidate in a primary 2295
election period or in a general election period; 2296

       ~~(c) Two~~(iii) Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to the 2297
campaign committee of any one house candidate in a primary 2298
election period or in a general election period; 2299

       ~~(d) Five~~(iv) Ten thousand dollars to ~~any one~~a county 2300
political party of the county in which the individual's designated 2301
Ohio residence is located for the ~~1party's~~party's state candidate 2302
fund orin a calendar year; 2303

       (v) Fifteen thousand dollars to any one legislative campaign 2304
fund in a calendar year; 2305

       ~~(e) Fifteen~~(vi) Thirty thousand dollars to any one state 2306
political party for the party's state candidate fund in a calendar 2307
year; 2308

       ~~(f) Five~~(vii) Ten thousand dollars to any one political 2309
action committee in a calendar year; 2310

       ~~(g) Five thousand dollars to any one political contributing~~ 2311
~~entity in a calendar year~~. 2312

       (b) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions 2313
to the state candidate fund of a county political party of any 2314
county other than the county in which the individual's designated 2315
Ohio residence is located. 2316

       (c) No individual who is under seven years of age shall make 2317
any contribution. 2318

       (2)(a) Subject to division (D)(1) of this section, no 2319
political action committee shall make a contribution or 2320
contributions aggregating more than: 2321

       ~~(a) Two~~(i) Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to the campaign 2322
committee of any one statewide candidate in a primary election 2323
period or in a general election period; 2324

       ~~(b) Two~~(ii) Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to the 2325
campaign committee of any one senate candidate in a primary 2326
election period or in a general election period; 2327

       ~~(c) Two~~(iii) Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to the 2328
campaign committee of any one house candidate in a primary 2329
election period or in a general election period; 2330

       ~~(d) Five~~(iv) Fifteen thousand dollars ~~to any one county~~ 2331
~~political party for the party's state candidate fund or~~ to any one 2332
legislative campaign fund in a calendar year; 2333

       ~~(e) Fifteen~~(v) Thirty thousand dollars to any one state 2334
political party for the party's state candidate fund in a calendar 2335
year; 2336

       ~~(f) Two~~(vi) Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to another 2337
political action committee ~~or to a political contributing entity~~ 2338
in a calendar year. This division does not apply to a political 2339
action committee that makes a contribution to a political action 2340
committee ~~or to a political contributing entity~~ affiliated with 2341
it. For purposes of this division, a political action committee is 2342
affiliated with another political action committee ~~or with a~~ 2343
~~political contributing entity~~ if they are both established, 2344
financed, maintained, or controlled by, or if they are, the same 2345
corporation, organization, labor organization, continuing 2346
association, or other person, including any parent, subsidiary, 2347
division, or department of that corporation, organization, labor 2348
organization, continuing association, or other person. 2349

       (b) No political action committee shall make a contribution 2350
or contributions to a county political party for the party's state 2351
candidate fund. 2352

       (3) No campaign committee shall make a contribution or 2353
contributions aggregating more than: 2354

       (a) ~~Two~~Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to the campaign 2355
committee of any one statewide candidate in a primary election 2356
period or in a general election period; 2357

       (b) ~~Two~~Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to the campaign 2358
committee of any one senate candidate in a primary election period 2359
or in a general election period; 2360

       (c) ~~Two~~Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to the campaign 2361
committee of any one house candidate in a primary election period 2362
or in a general election period; 2363

       (d) ~~Two~~Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to any one 2364
political action committee in a calendar year; 2365

       ~~(e) Two thousand five hundred dollars to any one political~~ 2366
~~contributing entity in a calendar year~~. 2367

       (4)(a) Subject to division (D)(3) of this section, no 2368
political party shall make a contribution or contributions 2369
aggregating more than ~~two~~ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to any 2370
one political action committee ~~or to any one political~~ 2371
~~contributing entity~~ in a calendar year. 2372

       (b) No county political party shall make a contribution or 2373
contributions to another county political party. 2374

       (5) No(a) Subject to division (B)(5)(b) of this section, no 2375
campaign committee, other than a designated state campaign 2376
committee, shall make a contribution or contributions aggregating 2377
in a calendar year more than: 2378

       ~~(a) Fifteen~~(i) Thirty thousand dollars to any one state 2379
political party for the party's state candidate fund; 2380

       ~~(b) Five~~(ii) Fifteen thousand dollars to any one legislative 2381
campaign fund; 2382

       ~~(c) Five~~(iii) Ten thousand dollars to any one county 2383
political party for the party's state candidate fund. 2384

       (b) No campaign committee shall make a contribution or 2385
contributions to a county political party for the party's state 2386
candidate fund unless one of the following applies: 2387

       (i) The campaign committee's candidate will appear on a 2388
ballot in that county. 2389

       (ii) The campaign committee's candidate is the holder of an 2390
elected public office that represents all or part of the 2391
population of that county at the time the contribution is made. 2392

       (6)(a) No state candidate fund of a county political party 2393
shall make a contribution or contributions, except a contribution 2394
or contributions to a designated state campaign committee, in a 2395
primary election period or a general election period, aggregating 2396
more than: 2397

       (i) ~~Two~~Two hundred fifty thousand dollars to the campaign 2398
committee of any one statewide candidate; 2399

       (ii) Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to the campaign 2400
committee of any one senate candidate; 2401

       ~~(ii) Two~~(iii) Ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars to the 2402
campaign committee of any one house candidate. 2403

       (b)(i) No state candidate fund of a state or county political 2404
party shall make a transfer or a contribution or transfers or 2405
contributions of cash or cash equivalents to a designated state 2406
campaign committee in a primary election period or in a general 2407
election period aggregating more than: 2408

       (I) Five hundred thousand dollars to the campaign committee 2409
of any one statewide candidate; 2410

       (II) One hundred thousand dollars to the campaign committee 2411
of any one senate candidate; 2412

       (III) Fifty thousand dollars to the campaign committee of any 2413
one house candidate. 2414

       (ii) No legislative campaign fund shall make a transfer or a 2415
contribution or transfers or contributions of cash or cash 2416
equivalents to a designated state campaign committee aggregating 2417
more than: 2418

       (I) Fifty thousand dollars in a primary election period or 2419
one hundred thousand dollars in a general election period to the 2420
campaign committee orof any one senate candidate; 2421

       (II) Twenty-five thousand dollars in a primary election 2422
period or fifty thousand dollars in a general election period to 2423
the campaign committee of any one house candidate. 2424

       (iii) As used in divisions (B)(6)(b) and (C)(6)~~(a) and (b)~~ of 2425
this section, "transfer or contribution of cash or cash 2426
equivalents" does not include any in-kind contributions. 2427

       (c) A county political party that has no state candidate fund 2428
and that is located in a county having a population of less than 2429
one hundred fifty thousand may make one or more contributions from 2430
other accounts to any one statewide candidate or to any one 2431
designated state campaign committee that do not exceed, in the 2432
aggregate, two thousand five hundred dollars in any primary 2433
election period or general election period. As used in this 2434
division, "other accounts" does not include ~~either~~ an account that 2435
contains the public moneys received from the Ohio political party 2436
fund under section 3517.17 of the Revised Code ~~or the county~~ 2437
~~political party's operating account~~. 2438

       (d) No legislative campaign fund shall make a contribution, 2439
other than to a designated state campaign committee or to the 2440
state candidate fund of a political party. 2441

       ~~(7) Subject to division (D)(1) of this section, no political~~ 2442
~~contributing entity shall make a contribution or contributions~~ 2443
~~aggregating more than:~~ 2444

       ~~(a) Two thousand five hundred dollars to the campaign~~ 2445
~~committee of any one statewide candidate in a primary election~~ 2446
~~period or in a general election period;~~ 2447

       ~~(b) Two thousand five hundred dollars to the campaign~~ 2448
~~committee of any one senate candidate in a primary election period~~ 2449
~~or in a general election period;~~ 2450

       ~~(c) Two thousand five hundred dollars to the campaign~~ 2451
~~committee of any one house candidate in a primary election period~~ 2452
~~or in a general election period;~~ 2453

       ~~(d) Five thousand dollars to any one county political party~~ 2454
~~for the party's state candidate fund or to any one legislative~~ 2455
~~campaign fund in a calendar year;~~ 2456

       ~~(e) Fifteen thousand dollars to any one state political party~~ 2457
~~for the party's state candidate fund in a calendar year;~~ 2458

       ~~(f) Two thousand five hundred dollars to another political~~ 2459
~~contributing entity or to a political action committee in a~~ 2460
~~calendar year. This division does not apply to a political~~ 2461
~~contributing entity that makes a contribution to a political~~ 2462
~~contributing entity or to a political action committee affiliated~~ 2463
~~with it. For purposes of this division, a political contributing~~ 2464
~~entity is affiliated with another political contributing entity or~~ 2465
~~with a political action committee if they are both established,~~ 2466
~~financed, maintained, or controlled by, or if they are, the same~~ 2467
~~corporation, organization, labor organization, continuing~~ 2468
~~association, or other person, including any parent, subsidiary,~~ 2469
~~division, or department of that corporation, organization, labor~~ 2470
~~organization, continuing association, or other person.~~ 2471

       (C)(1)(a) Subject to division (D)(1) of this section, no 2472
campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall accept aany of 2473
the following: 2474

       (i) A contribution or contributions from any individual who 2475
is under seven years of age; 2476

       (ii) A contribution or contributions aggregating more than 2477
~~two~~ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars from any one individual who 2478
is seven years of age or older, from any one political action 2479
committee, ~~from any onepoliticalcontributing entity~~, or from 2480
any one other campaign committee in a primary election period or 2481
in a general election period; 2482

       (iii) A contribution or contributions aggregating more than 2483
two hundred fifty thousand dollars from any one state candidate 2484
fund of a county political party in a primary election period or 2485
in a general election period. 2486

       (b) No campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall 2487
accept a contribution or contributions aggregating more than two 2488
thousand five hundred dollars in a primary election period or in a 2489
general election period from a county political party that has no 2490
state candidate fund and that is located in a county having a 2491
population of less than one hundred fifty thousand. 2492

       (c) No campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall 2493
accept contributions aggregating more than five hundred thousand 2494
dollars in a primary election period or in a general election 2495
period from any combination of county political party state 2496
candidate funds. 2497

       (2)(a) Subject to division (D)(1) of this section and except 2498
for a designated state campaign committee, no campaign committee 2499
of a senate candidate shall accept aeither of the following: 2500

       (i) A contribution or contributions from any individual who 2501
is under seven years of age; 2502

       (ii) A contribution or contributions aggregating more than 2503
~~two~~ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars from any one individual who 2504
is seven years of age or older, from any one political action 2505
committee, ~~from any one political contributing entity,~~ from any 2506
one state candidate fund of a county political party, or from any 2507
one other campaign committee in a primary election period or in a 2508
general election period. 2509

       (b) No campaign committee of a senate candidate shall accept 2510
a contribution or contributions aggregating more than two thousand 2511
five hundred dollars in a primary election period or in a general 2512
election period from a county political party that has no state 2513
candidate fund and that is located in a county having a population 2514
of less than one hundred fifty thousand. 2515

       (3)(a) Subject to division (D)(1) of this section and except 2516
for a designated state campaign committee, no campaign committee 2517
of a house candidate shall accept aeither of the following: 2518

       (i) A contribution or contributions from any individual who 2519
is under seven years of age; 2520

       (ii) A contribution or contributions aggregating more than 2521
~~two~~ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars from any one individual who 2522
is seven years of age or older, from any one political action 2523
committee, ~~from any one political contributing entity,~~ from any 2524
one state candidate fund of a county political party, or from any 2525
one other campaign committee in a primary election period or in a 2526
general election period. 2527

       (b) No campaign committee of a house candidate shall accept a 2528
contribution or contributions aggregating more than two thousand 2529
five hundred dollars in a primary election period or in a general 2530
election period from a county political party that has no state 2531
candidate fund and that is located in a county having a population 2532
of less than one hundred fifty thousand. 2533

       (4)(a)(i) Subject to division ~~(D)(1)~~(C)(4)(a)(ii) of this 2534
section and except for a designated state campaign committee, no 2535
county political party shall accept a contribution or 2536
contributions from any individual who is under seven years of age, 2537
or a contribution or contributions for the party's state candidate 2538
fund aggregating more than ~~five~~ten thousand dollars from any one 2539
individual,whose designated Ohio residence is located within that 2540
county and who is seven years of age or older or from any one 2541
~~political action committee, from any one political contributing~~ 2542
~~entity, or from any one campaign committee, other than a~~ 2543
~~designated state~~ campaign committee, in a calendar year. 2544

       (ii) Subject to division (D)(1) of this section, no county 2545
political party shall accept a contribution or contributions for 2546
the party's state candidate fund from any individual whose 2547
designated Ohio residence is located outside of that county and 2548
who is seven years of age or older, from any campaign committee 2549
unless the campaign committee's candidate will appear on a ballot 2550
in that county or unless the campaign committee's candidate is the 2551
holder of an elected public office that represents all or part of 2552
the population of that county at the time the contribution is 2553
accepted, or from any political action committee. 2554

       (iii) No county political party shall accept a contribution 2555
or contributions from any other county political party. 2556

       (b) Subject to division (D)(1) of this section, no state 2557
political party shall accept aeither of the following: 2558

       (i) A contribution or contributions from any individual who 2559
is under seven years of age; 2560

       (ii) A contribution or contributions for the party's state 2561
candidate fund aggregating more than ~~fifteen~~thirty thousand 2562
dollars from any one individual who is seven years of age or 2563
older, from any one political action committee, ~~from any one~~ 2564
~~political contributing entity,~~ or from any one campaign committee, 2565
other than a designated state campaign committee, in a calendar 2566
year. 2567

       (5) Subject to division (D)(1) of this section, no 2568
legislative campaign fund shall accept aeither of the following: 2569

       (a) A contribution or contributions from any individual who 2570
is under seven years of age; 2571

       (b) A contribution or contributions aggregating more than 2572
~~five~~fifteen thousand dollars from any one individual who is seven 2573
years of age or older, from any one political action committee, 2574
~~from any one political contributing entity,~~ or from any one 2575
campaign committee, other than a designated state campaign 2576
committee, in a calendar year. 2577

       (6)(a) No designated state campaign committee shall accept a 2578
transfer or contribution of cash or cash equivalents from a state 2579
candidate fund of a state ~~or county~~ political party aggregating in 2580
a primary election period or a general election period more than: 2581

       (i) Five hundred thousand dollars, in the case of a campaign 2582
committee of a statewide candidate; 2583

       (ii) One hundred thousand dollars, in the case of a campaign 2584
committee of a senate candidate; 2585

       (iii) Fifty thousand dollars, in the case of a campaign 2586
committee of a house candidate. 2587

       (b) No designated state campaign committee shall accept a 2588
transfer or contribution of cash or cash equivalents from a 2589
legislative ~~candidate~~campaign fund aggregating more than: 2590

       (i) Fifty thousand dollars in a primary election period or 2591
one hundred thousand dollars in a general election period, in the 2592
case of a campaign committee of a senate candidate; 2593

       (ii) Twenty-five thousand dollars in a primary election 2594
period or fifty thousand dollars in a general election period, in 2595
the case of a campaign committee of a house candidate. 2596

       (c) No campaign committee of a candidate for the office of 2597
member of the general assembly, including a designated state 2598
campaign committee, shall accept a transfer or contribution of 2599
cash or cash equivalents from any one or combination of state 2600
candidate funds of county political parties aggregating in a 2601
primary election period or a general election period more than: 2602

       (i) One hundred thousand dollars, in the case of a campaign 2603
committee of a senate candidate; 2604

       (ii) Fifty thousand dollars, in the case of a campaign 2605
committee of a house candidate. 2606

       (7)(a) Subject to division (D)(3) of this section, no 2607
political action committee ~~and no political contributing entity~~ 2608
shall accept aeither of the following: 2609

       (i) A contribution or contributions from any individual who 2610
is under seven years of age; 2611

       (ii) A contribution or contributions aggregating more than 2612
~~five~~ten thousand dollars from any one individual who is seven 2613
years of age or older, ~~or more than two thousand five hundred~~ 2614
~~dollars~~ from any one campaign committee, or from any one political 2615
party in a calendar year. 2616

       (b) Subject to division (D)(1) of this section, no political 2617
action committee shall accept a contribution or contributions 2618
aggregating more than ~~two~~ten thousand ~~five hundred~~ dollars from 2619
another political action committee ~~or from a political~~ 2620
~~contributing entity~~ in a calendar year. ~~Subject to division (D)(1)~~ 2621
~~of this section, no political contributing entity shall accept a~~ 2622
~~contribution or contributions aggregating more than two thousand~~ 2623
~~five hundred dollars from another political contributing entity or~~ 2624
~~from a political action committee in a calendar year.~~ This 2625
division does not apply to a political action committee or 2626
~~political contributing entity~~ that accepts a contribution from a 2627
political action committee ~~or political contributing entity~~ 2628
affiliated with it. For purposes of this division, a political 2629
action committee is affiliated with another political action 2630
committee ~~or political contributing entity~~ if they are 2631
established, financed, maintained, or controlled by the same 2632
corporation, organization, labor organization, continuing 2633
association, or other person, including any parent, subsidiary, 2634
division, or department of that corporation, organization, labor 2635
organization, continuing association, or other person. 2636

       (D)(1)~~(a)~~ For purposes of the limitations prescribed in 2637
division (B)(2) of this section and the limitations prescribed in 2638
divisions (C)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (7)(b) of this section, 2639
whichever is applicable, all contributions made by and all 2640
contributions accepted from political action committees that are 2641
established, financed, maintained, or controlled by the same 2642
corporation, organization, labor organization, continuing 2643
association, or other person, including any parent, subsidiary, 2644
division, or department of that corporation, organization, labor 2645
organization, continuing association, or other person, are 2646
considered to have been made by or accepted from a single 2647
political action committee. 2648

       ~~(b) For purposes of the limitations prescribed in division~~ 2649
~~(B)(7) of this section and the limitations prescribed in divisions~~ 2650
~~(C)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (7)(b) of this section, whichever~~ 2651
~~is applicable, all contributions made by and all contributions~~ 2652
~~accepted from political contributing entities that are~~ 2653
~~established, financed, maintained, or controlled by, or that are,~~ 2654
~~the same corporation, organization, labor organization, continuing~~ 2655
~~association, or other person, including any parent, subsidiary,~~ 2656
~~division, or department of that corporation, organization, labor~~ 2657
~~organization, continuing association, or other person, are~~ 2658
~~considered to have been made by or accepted from a single~~ 2659
~~political contributing entity.~~ 2660

       (2) As used in divisions (B)(1)~~(f)~~(a)(vii), (B)(3)(d), 2661
(B)(4), and (C)(7) of this section, "political action committee" 2662
does not include a political action committee that is organized to 2663
support or oppose a ballot issue or question and that makes no 2664
contributions to or expenditures on behalf of a political party, 2665
campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, or political action 2666
committee~~, or political contributing entity. As used in divisions~~ 2667
~~(B)(1)(g), (B)(3)(e), (B)(4), and (C)(7) of this section,~~ 2668
~~"political contributing entity" does not include a political~~ 2669
~~contributing entity that is organized to support or oppose a~~ 2670
~~ballot issue or question and that makes no contributions to or~~ 2671
~~expenditures on behalf of a political party, campaign committee,~~ 2672
~~legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or~~ 2673
~~political contributing entity~~. 2674

       (3) For purposes of the limitations prescribed in divisions 2675
(B)(4) and (C)(7)(a) of this section, all contributions made by 2676
and all contributions accepted from a national political party, a 2677
state political party, and a county political party are considered 2678
to have been made by or accepted from a single political party and 2679
shall be combined with each other to determine whether the 2680
limitations have been exceeded. 2681

       (E)(1) If a legislative campaign fund has kept a total amount 2682
of contributions exceeding one hundred fifty thousand dollars at 2683
the close of business on the seventh day before the postgeneral 2684
election statement is required to be filed under section 3517.10 2685
of the Revised Code, the legislative campaign fund shall comply 2686
with division (E)(2) of this section. 2687

       (2)(a) Any legislative campaign fund that has kept a total 2688
amount of contributions in excess of the amount specified in 2689
division (E)(1) of this section at the close of business on the 2690
seventh day before the postgeneral election statement is required 2691
to be filed under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code shall 2692
dispose of the excess amount in the manner prescribed in division 2693
(E)(2)~~(c)~~(b)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section not later than 2694
ninety days after the day the postgeneral election statement is 2695
required to be filed under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. 2696
Any legislative campaign fund that is required to dispose of an 2697
excess amount of contributions under this division shall file a 2698
statement on the ninetieth day after the postgeneral election 2699
statement is required to be filed under section 3517.10 of the 2700
Revised Code indicating the total amount of contributions the fund 2701
has at the close of business on the seventh day before the 2702
postgeneral election statement is required to be filed under 2703
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code and that the excess 2704
contributions were disposed of pursuant to this division and 2705
~~divisions~~division (E)(2)(b) ~~and (c)~~ of this section. The 2706
statement shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state 2707
and shall contain any additional information the secretary of 2708
state considers necessary. 2709

       (b) ~~There is hereby created in the state treasury the Ohio~~ 2710
~~elections commission fund. All moneys credited to the fund shall~~ 2711
~~be used solely for the purpose of paying expenses related to the~~ 2712
~~operation of the Ohio elections commission.~~ 2713

       ~~(c)~~ Any legislative campaign fund that is required to dispose 2714
of an excess amount of contributions under division (E)(2) of this 2715
section shall dispose of that excess amount by doing any of the 2716
following: 2717

       (i) Giving the amount to the treasurer of state for deposit 2718
into the state treasury to the credit of the Ohio elections 2719
commission fund created by division (I) of section 3517.152 of the 2720
Revised Code; 2721

       (ii) Giving the amount to individuals who made contributions 2722
to that legislative campaign fund as a refund of all or part of 2723
their contributions; 2724

       (iii) Giving the amount to a corporation that is exempt from 2725
federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in 2726
subsection 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. 2727

       (F)(1) No legislative campaign fund shall fail to file a 2728
statement required by division (E) of this section. 2729

       (2) No legislative campaign fund shall fail to dispose of 2730
excess contributions as required by division (E) of this section. 2731

       (G) Nothing in this section shall affect, be used in 2732
determining, or supersede a limitation on campaign contributions 2733
as provided for in the Federal Election Campaign Act. 2734

       Sec. 3517.103. (A)(1) For purposes of this section: 2735

       ~~(1)~~(a) "Statewide candidate" means the joint candidates for 2736
the offices of governor and lieutenant governor or a candidate for 2737
the office of secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of 2738
state, attorney general, or member of the state board of 2739
education. 2740

       ~~(2)~~(b)(i) "Personal funds" means contributions to the 2741
campaign committee of a candidate by the candidate or by the 2742
candidate's spouse, parents, children, sons-in-law, 2743
daughters-in-law, brothers, sisters, grandparents, mother-in-law, 2744
father-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, or grandparents by 2745
marriage. 2746

       ~~(3)~~(ii) A loan obtained by, guaranteed by, or for the benefit 2747
of a statewide candidate, senate candidate, or house candidate 2748
shall be considered "personal funds" subject to the provisions of 2749
this section and section 3517.1010 of the Revised Code to the 2750
extent that the loan is obtained or guaranteed by the candidate or 2751
is for the benefit of the candidate and is obtained or guaranteed 2752
by the candidate's spouse, parents, children, sons-in-law, 2753
daughters-in-law, brothers, sisters, grandparents, mother-in-law, 2754
father-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, or grandparents by 2755
marriage. A loan that is obtained or guaranteed and that is for 2756
the benefit of a statewide candidate, senate candidate, or house 2757
candidate shall not be considered "personal funds" for the 2758
purposes of this section and section 3517.1010 of the Revised Code 2759
but shall be considered to be a "contribution" for the purposes of 2760
this chapter if the loan is obtained or guaranteed by anyone other 2761
than the candidate or the candidate's spouse, parents, children, 2762
sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers, sisters, grandparents, 2763
mother-in-law, father-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, or 2764
grandparents by marriage. 2765

       (iii) When a debt or other obligation incurred by a committee 2766
or by a candidate on behalf of the candidate's committee described 2767
in division (C)(1) or (2) of this section is to be paid from 2768
"personal funds," those funds are considered to be expended when 2769
the debt or other obligation is incurred, regardless of when it is 2770
paid. 2771

       ~~(4)~~(2) For purposes of ~~Chapter 3517. of the Revised Code~~this 2772
chapter, a candidate is an "opponent" when the candidate has 2773
indicated on the candidate's most recently filed designation of 2774
treasurer that the candidate seeks the same office at the same 2775
primary or general election as another candidate whose campaign 2776
committee has filed a personal funds notice required by division 2777
(C)(1) or (2) of this section. 2778

       (B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of 2779
this section, no statewide candidate or candidate for the office 2780
of member of the general assembly shall make an expenditure of 2781
personal funds to influence the results of an election for that 2782
candidate's nomination or election to office unless the personal 2783
funds are first deposited into the campaign fund of that 2784
candidate's campaign committee. 2785

       (2) A statewide candidate or candidate for the office of 2786
member of the general assembly may make an expenditure of personal 2787
funds without first depositing those funds into the campaign 2788
committee's funds as long as the aggregate total of those 2789
expenditures does not exceed five hundred dollars at any time 2790
during an election period. After the candidate's campaign 2791
committee reimburses the candidate for any direct expenditure of 2792
personal funds, the amount that was reimbursed is no longer 2793
included in the aggregate total of expenditures of personal funds 2794
subject to the five-hundred-dollar limit. 2795

       (C)(1) If the campaign committee of any statewide candidate 2796
has received or expended or expects to expend more than one 2797
hundred thousand dollars of personal funds during a primary 2798
election period or one hundred fifty thousand dollars of personal 2799
funds during a general election period, the campaign committee 2800
shall file a personal funds notice in the manner provided in 2801
division (C)(3) of this section indicating that the committee has 2802
received or expended or expects to expend more than that amount. 2803
For the purpose of this division, a joint team of candidates for 2804
governor and lieutenant governor shall be considered a single 2805
candidate and their personal funds shall be combined. 2806

       (2) If the campaign committee of any senate candidate or 2807
house candidate has received or expended or expects to expend more 2808
than twenty-five thousand dollars of personal funds during a 2809
primary election period or twenty-five thousand dollars of 2810
personal funds during a general election period, the campaign 2811
committee shall file a personal funds notice in the manner 2812
provided in division (C)(3) of this section indicating that the 2813
committee has received or expended or expects to expend more than 2814
that amount. 2815

       (3) The personal funds notice required in divisions (C)(1) 2816
and (2) of this section and the declaration of no limits required 2817
under division (D)(2) of this section shall be on a form 2818
prescribed by the secretary of state. The personal funds notice 2819
required in divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section shall be 2820
filed not later than the earlier of the following times: 2821

       (a) One hundred twenty days before a primary election, in the 2822
case of personal funds received, expended, or expected to be 2823
expended during a primary election period, or not later than one 2824
hundred twenty days before a general election, in the case of 2825
personal funds received, expended, or expected to be expended 2826
during a general election period; 2827

       (b) Two business days after the candidate's campaign 2828
committee receives or makes an expenditure of personal funds or 2829
the candidate makes an expenditure of personal funds on behalf of 2830
the candidate's campaign committee during that election period 2831
that exceed, in the aggregate, the amount specified in division 2832
(C)(1) or (2) of this section. 2833

       The personal funds notice required under divisions (C)(1) and 2834
(2) of this section and the declaration of no limits required 2835
under division (D)(2) of this section shall be filed wherever the 2836
campaign committee files statements of contributions and 2837
expenditures under section 3517.11 of the Revised Code. The board 2838
of elections shall send to the secretary of state a copy of any 2839
personal funds notice or declaration of no limits filed by the 2840
campaign committee of a senate candidate or house candidate under 2841
division (C)(3) or (D)(2) of this section. 2842

       (D)(1) Whenever a campaign committee files a notice under 2843
division (C)(1) or (2) of this section, and the campaign committee 2844
of an opponent files a declaration of no limits pursuant to 2845
division (D)(2) of this section within thirty days of the filing 2846
of the personal funds notice under division (C)(1) or (2) of this 2847
section, the contribution limitations prescribed in section 2848
3517.102 of the Revised Code no longer apply to the campaign 2849
committee of the candidate's opponent. 2850

       (2) No campaign committee of a candidate described in 2851
division (D)(1) of this section shall accept any contribution or 2852
contributions from a contributor that exceed the limitations 2853
prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code until the 2854
committee files a declaration that the committee will accept 2855
contributions that exceed those limitations. This declaration 2856
shall be filed not later than thirty days after a candidate's 2857
opponent has filed a personal funds notice pursuant to division 2858
(C)(1) or (2) of section 3517.103 of the Revised Code, shall be 2859
referred to as the "declaration of no limits," and shall list all 2860
of the following: 2861

       (a) The amount of cash on hand in the candidate's campaign 2862
fund at the end of the day immediately preceding the day on which 2863
the candidate's campaign committee files the declaration of no 2864
limits; 2865

       (b) The value and description of all campaign assets worth 2866
five hundred dollars or more available to the candidate at the end 2867
of the day immediately preceding the day on which the candidate's 2868
campaign committee files the declaration of no limits. 2869

       (3) A candidate who was not an opponent of a candidate who 2870
filed the personal funds notice required under division (C)(3) of 2871
this section on the date the personal funds notice was filed may 2872
file the declaration of no limits pursuant to division (D)(2) of 2873
this section within thirty days after becoming an opponent of the 2874
candidate who filed the personal funds notice. 2875

       (4) If the candidate whose campaign committee filed a 2876
personal funds notice under division (C)(1) or (2) of this section 2877
fails to file a declaration of candidacy for the office listed on 2878
the designation of treasurer filed under division (D) of section 2879
3517.10 of the Revised Code or files a declaration of candidacy or 2880
nominating petition for that office and dies or withdraws, both of 2881
the following apply to the campaign committee of that candidate's 2882
opponent if the opponent has filed a declaration of no limits 2883
pursuant to division (D) of this section: 2884

       (a) No contribution from a contributor may thereafter be 2885
accepted that, when added to the aggregate total of all 2886
contributions received by that committee from that contributor 2887
during the primary election period or general election period, 2888
whichever is applicable, would cause that committee to exceed the 2889
contribution limitations prescribed in section 3517.102 of the 2890
Revised Code for the applicable election period. 2891

       (b) The statement of primary-day finances or the year-end 2892
statement required to be filed under division (E) of section 2893
3517.1010 of the Revised Code shall be filed not later than 2894
fourteen days after the date the candidate's opponent fails to 2895
file a declaration of candidacy or nominating petition by the 2896
appropriate filing deadline, or dies or withdraws. For purposes of 2897
calculating permitted funds under division (A)~~(7)~~(4) of section 2898
3517.1010 of the Revised Code, the primary or general election 2899
period, whichever is applicable, shall be considered to have ended 2900
on the filing deadline, in the case of an opponent who fails to 2901
file a declaration of candidacy or nominating petition, or on the 2902
date of the opponent's death or withdrawal. In such an event, the 2903
filing of a statement of primary-day finances or year-end finances 2904
and the disposing of any excess funds as required under division 2905
(B) of section 3517.1010 of the Revised Code satisfies the 2906
candidate's obligation to file such a statement for that election 2907
period. 2908

       (E)(1) No campaign committee shall fail to file a personal 2909
funds notice as required under division (C)(1) or (2) of this 2910
section. 2911

       (2) No campaign committee shall accept any contribution in 2912
excess of the contribution limitations prescribed in section 2913
3517.102 of the Revised Code: 2914

       (a) Unless a declaration of no limits has been filed under 2915
division (D)(2) of this section; 2916

       (b) In violation of division (D)(4) of this section once the 2917
candidate who filed a personal funds notice under division (C)(3) 2918
of this section fails to file a declaration of candidacy or 2919
nominating petition or that candidate dies or withdraws. 2920

       (3) No campaign committee that violates division (E)(1) of 2921
this section shall expend any personal funds in excess of the 2922
amount specified in division (C)(1) or (2) of this section, 2923
whichever is appropriate to the committee. 2924

       (4) The candidate of any campaign committee that violates 2925
division (E) of this section shall forfeit the candidate's 2926
nomination, if the candidate was nominated, or the office to which 2927
the candidate was elected, if the candidate was elected to office. 2928

       (F)(1) Whenever a campaign committee files a notice under 2929
division (C)(1) or (2) of this section or whenever the 2930
contribution limitations prescribed in section 3517.102 of the 2931
Revised Code do not apply to a campaign committee under division 2932
(D)(1) of this section, that committee is not a designated state 2933
campaign committee for the purpose of the limitations prescribed 2934
in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code with regard to 2935
contributions made by that campaign committee to a legislative 2936
campaign fund or to a state candidate fund of a state or county 2937
political party. 2938

       (2) Division (F)(1) of this section no longer applies to a 2939
campaign committee after both of the following occur: 2940

       (a) The primary or general election period during which the 2941
contribution limitations prescribed in section 3517.102 of the 2942
Revised Code did not apply after being removed pursuant to 2943
division (D) of this section has expired; 2944

       (b) When the campaign committee has disposed of all excess 2945
funds and excess aggregate contributions as required under section 2946
3517.1010 of the Revised Code. 2947

       Sec. 3517.104. (A) In January of each odd-numbered year, the 2948
secretary of state, in accordance with this division and division 2949
(B) of this section, shall adjust each amount specified in section 2950
3517.102 and in division (B)(4)(e) of section 3517.10 of the 2951
Revised Code. The adjustment shall be based on the yearly average 2952
of the previous two years of the Consumer Price Index for All 2953
Urban Consumers or its successive equivalent, as determined by the 2954
United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, or 2955
its successor in responsibility, for all items, Series A. Using 2956
the 1996 yearly average as the base year, the secretary of state 2957
shall compare the most current average consumer price index with 2958
that determined in the preceding odd-numbered year, and shall 2959
determine the percentage increase or decrease. The percentage 2960
increase or decrease shall be multiplied by the actual dollar 2961
figure for each office or entity specified in section 3517.102 of 2962
the Revised Code and by each actual dollar figure specified in 2963
division (B)(4)(e) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code as 2964
determined in the previous odd-numbered year, and the product 2965
shall be added to or subtracted from its corresponding actual 2966
dollar figure, as necessary, for that previous odd-numbered year. 2967
~~The~~ 2968

       The resulting amount shall be rounded ~~to the nearest five~~ 2969
~~hundred dollars if the calculations are made regarding the amounts~~ 2970
~~specified in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code or~~ to the 2971
nearest twenty-five dollars if the calculations are made regarding 2972
the amounts specified in division (B)(4)(e) of section 3517.10 of 2973
the Revised Code. 2974

       If the calculations are made regarding the amounts specified 2975
in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, the resulting amount 2976
shall not be rounded. If that resulting amount is less than one 2977
hundred dollars, the secretary of state shall retain a record of 2978
the resulting amount and the manner in which it was calculated, 2979
but shall not make an adjustment unless the resulting amount, when 2980
added to the resulting amount calculated in each prior 2981
odd-numbered year since the last adjustment was made, equals or 2982
exceeds one hundred dollars. 2983

       (B)(1) The secretary of state shall calculate the adjustment 2984
under division (A) of this section and shall report the 2985
calculations and necessary materials to the auditor of state, on 2986
or before the thirty-first day of January of each odd-numbered 2987
year. The secretary of state shall base the adjustment on the most 2988
current consumer price index that is described in division (A) of 2989
this section and that is in effect as of the first day of January 2990
of each odd-numbered year. 2991

       (2) The calculations made by the secretary of state under 2992
divisions (A) and (B)(1) of this section shall be certified by the 2993
auditor of state on or before the fifteenth day of February of 2994
each odd-numbered year. 2995

       (3) On or before the twenty-fifth day of February of each 2996
odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall prepare a report 2997
setting forth the maximum contribution limitations under section 2998
3517.102 of the Revised Code, the maximum amounts, if any, of 2999
contributions permitted to be kept under that section, and the 3000
amounts required under division (B)(4)(e) of section 3517.10 of 3001
the Revised Code for reporting contributions and in-kind 3002
contributions at social or fund-raising activities and 3003
contributions from amounts deducted from an employee's wages and 3004
salary, as calculated and certified pursuant to divisions (A) and 3005
(B)(1) and (2) of this section. The report and all documents 3006
relating to the calculations contained in the report are public 3007
records. The report shall contain an indication of the period in 3008
which the limitations, the maximum contribution amounts, and the 3009
reporting amounts apply, a summary of how the limitations, the 3010
maximum contribution amounts, and the reporting amounts were 3011
calculated, and a statement that the report and all related 3012
documents are available for inspection and copying at the office 3013
of the secretary of state. 3014

       (4) On or before the twenty-fifth day of February of each 3015
odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall transmit the 3016
report to the general assembly, and shall send the report by mail 3017
to the board of elections of each county. 3018

       (5) The secretary of state shall send the report by mail to 3019
each person who files a declaration of candidacy or nominating 3020
petition with the secretary of state for the office of governor, 3021
lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, 3022
treasurer of state, attorney general, member of the state board of 3023
education, chief justice of the supreme court, or justice of the 3024
supreme court. The report shall be mailed on or before the tenth 3025
day after the filing. 3026

       (6) A board of elections shall send the report by mail to 3027
each person who files a declaration of candidacy or nominating 3028
petition with the board for the office of state representative or 3029
state senator. The report shall be mailed on or before the tenth 3030
day after the filing. 3031

       Sec. 3517.105. (A)(1) As used in this section, "public 3032
political advertising" means advertising to the general public 3033
through a broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, poster, yard 3034
sign, or outdoor advertising facility, by direct mail, or by any 3035
other means of advertising to the general public. 3036

       (2) For purposes of this section and section 3517.20 of the 3037
Revised Code, a person is a member of a political action committee 3038
if the person makes one or more contributions to that political 3039
action committee~~, and a person is a member of a political~~ 3040
~~contributing entity if the person makes one or more contributions~~ 3041
~~to, or pays dues, membership fees, or other assessments to, that~~ 3042
~~political contributing entity~~. 3043

       (B)(1) Whenever a candidate, a campaign committee, a 3044
political action committee ~~or political contributing entity~~ with 3045
ten or more members, or a legislative campaign fund makes an 3046
independent expenditure, or whenever a political action committee 3047
~~or political contributing entity~~ with fewer than ten members makes 3048
an independent expenditure in excess of one hundred dollars for a 3049
local candidate, in excess of two hundred fifty dollars for a 3050
candidate for the office of member of the general assembly, or in 3051
excess of five hundred dollars for a statewide candidate, for the 3052
purpose of financing communications advocating the election or 3053
defeat of an identified candidate or solicits without the 3054
candidate's express consent a contribution for or against an 3055
identified candidate through public political advertising, a 3056
statement shall appear or be presented in a clear and conspicuous 3057
manner in the advertising that does both of the following: 3058

       (a) Clearly indicates that the communication or public 3059
political advertising is not authorized by the candidate or the 3060
candidate's campaign committee; 3061

       (b) Clearly identifies the candidate, campaign committee, 3062
political action committee, ~~political contributing entity,~~ or 3063
legislative campaign fund that has paid for the communication or 3064
public political advertising in accordance with section 3517.20 of 3065
the Revised Code. 3066

       (2)(a) Whenever any campaign committee, legislative campaign 3067
fund, political action committee, ~~political contributing entity,~~ 3068
or political party makes an independent expenditure in support of 3069
or opposition to any candidate, the committee, ~~entity,~~ fund, or 3070
party shall report the independent expenditure and identify the 3071
candidate on a statement prescribed by the secretary of state and 3072
filed by the committee, ~~entity,~~ fund, or ~~political~~ party as part 3073
of its statement of contributions and expenditures pursuant to 3074
division (A) of section 3517.10 and division (A) of section 3075
3517.11 of the Revised Code. 3076

       (b) Whenever any individual, partnership, or other entity, 3077
except a corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, 3078
legislative campaign fund, political action committee, ~~political~~ 3079
~~contributing entity,~~ or political party, makes one or more 3080
independent expenditures in support of or opposition to any 3081
candidate, the individual, partnership, or other entity shall file 3082
with the secretary of state in the case of a statewide candidate, 3083
or with the board of elections in the county in which the 3084
candidate files the candidate's petitions for nomination or 3085
election for district or local office, not later than the dates 3086
specified in divisions (A)(1), (2), ~~and~~ (3), and (4) of section 3087
3517.10 of the Revised Code, and, except as otherwise provided in 3088
that section, a statement itemizing all independent expenditures 3089
made during the period since the close of business on the last day 3090
reflected in the last previously filed such statement, if any. The 3091
statement shall be made on a form prescribed by the secretary of 3092
state or shall be filed by electronic means of transmission 3093
pursuant to division (G) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code 3094
as authorized or required by that division. The statement shall 3095
indicate the date and the amount of each independent expenditure 3096
and the candidate on whose behalf it was made and shall be made 3097
under penalty of election falsification. 3098

       (C)(1) Whenever a corporation, labor organization, campaign 3099
committee, political action committee with ten or more members, or 3100
legislative campaign fund makes an independent expenditure, or 3101
whenever a political action committee with fewer than ten members 3102
makes an independent expenditure in excess of one hundred dollars 3103
for a local ballot issue or question, or in excess of five hundred 3104
dollars for a statewide ballot issue or question, for the purpose 3105
of financing communications advocating support of or opposition to 3106
an identified ballot issue or question or solicits without the 3107
express consent of the ballot issue committee a contribution for 3108
or against an identified ballot issue or question through public 3109
political advertising, a statement shall appear or be presented in 3110
a clear and conspicuous manner in the advertising that does both 3111
of the following: 3112

       (a) Clearly indicates that the communication or public 3113
political advertising is not authorized by the identified ballot 3114
issue committee; 3115

       (b) Clearly identifies the corporation, labor organization, 3116
campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, or political action 3117
committee that has paid for the communication or public political 3118
advertising in accordance with section 3517.20 of the Revised 3119
Code. 3120

       (2)(a) Whenever any corporation, labor organization, campaign 3121
committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or 3122
political action committee makes an independent expenditure in 3123
support of or opposition to any ballot issue or question, the 3124
corporation or labor organization shall report the independent 3125
expenditure in accordance with division (C) of section 3599.03 of 3126
the Revised Code, and the campaign committee, fund, party, or 3127
political action committee shall report the independent 3128
expenditure and identify the ballot issue or question on a 3129
statement prescribed by the secretary of state and filed by the 3130
campaign committee, fund, ~~political~~ party, or political action 3131
committee as part of its statement of contributions and 3132
expenditures pursuant to division (A) of section 3517.10 and 3133
division (A) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code. 3134

       (b) Whenever any individual, partnership, or other entity, 3135
except a corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, 3136
legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or 3137
political party, makes one or more independent expenditures in 3138
excess of one hundred dollars in support of or opposition to any 3139
ballot issue or question, the individual, partnership, or other 3140
entity shall file with the secretary of state in the case of a 3141
statewide ballot issue or question, or with the board of elections 3142
in the county that certifies the issue or question for placement 3143
on the ballot in the case of a district or local issue or 3144
question, not later than the dates specified in ~~division~~divisions 3145
(A)(1), (2), ~~and~~ (3), and (4) of section 3517.10 of the Revised 3146
Code, and, except as otherwise provided in that section, a 3147
statement itemizing all independent expenditures made during the 3148
period since the close of business on the last day reflected in 3149
the last previously filed such statement, if any. The statement 3150
shall be made on a form prescribed by the secretary of state or 3151
shall be filed by electronic means of transmission pursuant to 3152
division (G) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code as authorized 3153
or required by that division. The statement shall indicate the 3154
date and the amount of each independent expenditure and the ballot 3155
issue or question in support of or opposition to which it was made 3156
and shall be made under penalty of election falsification. 3157

       (3) No person, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, 3158
political action committee, corporation, labor organization, or 3159
other organization or association shall use or cause to be used a 3160
false or fictitious name in making an independent expenditure in 3161
support of or opposition to any candidate or any ballot issue or 3162
question. A name is false or fictitious if the person, campaign 3163
committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, 3164
corporation, labor organization, or other organization or 3165
association does not actually exist or operate, if the 3166
corporation, labor organization, or other organization or 3167
association has failed to file a fictitious name or other 3168
registration with the secretary of state, if it is required to do 3169
so, or if the person, campaign committee, legislative campaign 3170
fund, or political action committee has failed to file a 3171
designation of the appointment of a treasurer, if it is required 3172
to do so by division (D)(1) of section 3517.10 of the Revised 3173
Code. 3174

       (D) Any expenditure by a political party for the purpose of 3175
financing communications advocating the election or defeat of a 3176
candidate for judicial office shall be deemed to be an independent 3177
expenditure subject to the provisions of this section. 3178

       Sec. 3517.106. (A) As used in this section: 3179

       (1) "Statewide office" means any of the offices of governor, 3180
lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, 3181
treasurer of state, attorney general, chief justice of the supreme 3182
court, and justice of the supreme court. 3183

       (2) "Addendum to a statement" includes an amendment or other 3184
correction to that statement. 3185

       (B)(1) The secretary of state shall store on computer the 3186
information contained in statements of contributions and 3187
expenditures and monthly statements required to be filed under 3188
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code and in statements of 3189
independent expenditures required to be filed under section 3190
3517.105 of the Revised Code by any of the following: 3191

       ~~(1)~~(a) The campaign committees of candidates for statewide 3192
office; 3193

       ~~(2)~~(b) The political action committees ~~and political~~ 3194
~~contributing entities~~ described in division (A)(1) of section 3195
3517.11 of the Revised Code; 3196

       ~~(3)~~(c) Legislative campaign funds; 3197

       ~~(4)~~(d) State political parties; 3198

       ~~(5)~~(e) Individuals, partnerships, corporations, labor 3199
organizations, or other entities that make independent 3200
expenditures in support of or opposition to a statewide candidate 3201
or a statewide ballot issue or question; 3202

       ~~(6)~~(f) The campaign committees of candidates for the office 3203
of member of the general assembly; 3204

       (g) County political parties, with respect to their state 3205
candidate funds. 3206

       (2) The secretary of state shall store on computer the 3207
information contained in disclosure of electioneering 3208
communications statements required to be filed under section 3209
3517.1011 of the Revised Code. 3210

       (3) The secretary of state shall store on computer the 3211
information contained in deposit and disbursement statements 3212
required to be filed with the office of the secretary of state 3213
under section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code. 3214

       (C)(1) The secretary of state shall make available to the 3215
campaign committees, political action committees, ~~political~~ 3216
~~contributing entities,~~ legislative campaign funds, political 3217
parties, individuals, partnerships, corporations, labor 3218
organizations, and other entities described in division (B) of 3219
this section, and to members of the news media and other 3220
interested persons, for a reasonable fee, computer programs that 3221
are compatible with the secretary of state's method of storing the 3222
information contained in the statements. 3223

       (2) The secretary of state shall make the information 3224
required to be stored under division (B) of this section available 3225
on computer at the secretary of state's office so that, to the 3226
maximum extent feasible, individuals may obtain at the secretary 3227
of state's office any part or all of that information for any 3228
given year, subject to the limitation expressed in division (D) of 3229
this section. 3230

       (D) The secretary of state shall keep the information stored 3231
on computer under division (B) of this section for at least six 3232
years. 3233

       (E)(1) Subject to division (L) of this section and subject to 3234
the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified 3235
the successful operation of any system the secretary of state 3236
prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and 3237
divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised 3238
Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic 3239
means of transmission, the campaign committee of each candidate 3240
for statewide office may file the statements prescribed by section 3241
3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission 3242
or, if the total amount of the contributions received or the total 3243
amount of the expenditures made by the campaign committee for the 3244
applicable reporting period as specified in division (A) of 3245
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars, 3246
shall file those statements by electronic means of transmission. 3247

       Except as otherwise provided in this division, within five 3248
business days after a statement filed by a campaign committee of a 3249
candidate for statewide office is received by the secretary of 3250
state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary 3251
of state shall make available online to the public through the 3252
internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the 3253
contribution and expenditure information in that statement. The 3254
secretary of state shall not make available online to the public 3255
through the internet any contribution or expenditure information 3256
contained in a statement for any candidate until the secretary of 3257
state is able to make available online to the public through the 3258
internet the contribution and expenditure information for all 3259
candidates for a particular office, or until the applicable filing 3260
deadline for that statement has passed, whichever is sooner. As 3261
soon as the secretary of state has available all of ~~that~~the 3262
contribution and expenditure information for all candidates for a 3263
particular office, or as soon as the applicable filing deadline 3264
for a statement has passed, whichever is sooner, the secretary of 3265
state shall simultaneously make available online to the public 3266
through the internet the information for all candidates for a 3267
~~particular~~that office. 3268

       If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is 3269
found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the 3270
statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division 3271
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the campaign 3272
committee shall file by electronic means of transmission any 3273
addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary 3274
to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the 3275
secretary of state under that division, an amended statement. 3276

       Within five business days after the secretary of state 3277
receives from a campaign committee of a candidate for statewide 3278
office an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by 3279
electronic or other means of transmission under this division or 3280
division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the 3281
secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure 3282
information in the addendum or amended statement available online 3283
to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of 3284
this section. 3285

       (2) Subject ~~to division (E)(3) of this section and subject~~ to 3286
the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified 3287
the successful operation of any system the secretary of state 3288
prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and 3289
divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised 3290
Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic 3291
means of transmission, a political action committee ~~and a~~ 3292
~~political contributing entity~~ described in division (B)~~(2)~~(1)(b) 3293
of this section, a legislative campaign fund, and a state 3294
political party may file the statements prescribed by section 3295
3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission 3296
or, if the total amount of the contributions received or the total 3297
amount of the expenditures made by the political action committee, 3298
legislative campaign fund, or state political party for the 3299
applicable reporting period as specified in division (A) of 3300
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars, 3301
shall file those statements by electronic means of transmission. 3302

       Within five business days after a statement filed by a 3303
political action committee ~~or a political contributing entity~~ 3304
described in division (B)~~(2)~~(1)(b) of this section, a legislative 3305
campaign fund, or a state political party is received by the 3306
secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, 3307
the secretary of state shall make available online to the public 3308
through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, 3309
the contribution and expenditure information in that statement. 3310

       If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is 3311
found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the 3312
statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division 3313
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the political 3314
action committee, ~~political contributing entity,~~ legislative 3315
campaign fund, or state political party shall file by electronic 3316
means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides 3317
the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, 3318
if required by the secretary of state under that division, an 3319
amended statement. 3320

       Within five business days after the secretary of state 3321
receives from a political action committee ~~or a political~~ 3322
~~contributing entity~~ described in division (B)~~(2)~~(1)(b) of this 3323
section, a legislative campaign fund, or a state political party 3324
an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic 3325
or other means of transmission under this division or division 3326
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of 3327
state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in 3328
the addendum or amended statement available online to the public 3329
through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section. 3330

       (3) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, 3331
tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the 3332
secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this 3333
section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of 3334
the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by 3335
electronic means of transmission, ~~a political action committee and~~ 3336
~~a political contributing entity described in division (B)(2) of~~ 3337
~~this section, a legislative campaign fund, and~~ a ~~state~~county 3338
political party shall file the statements prescribed by section 3339
3517.10 of the Revised Code with respect to its state candidate 3340
fund by electronic means of transmission ~~if the total amount of~~ 3341
~~the contributions received or the total amount of the expenditures~~ 3342
~~made by the political action committee, political contributing~~ 3343
~~entity, legislative campaign fund, or political party for the~~ 3344
~~applicable reporting period as specified in division (A) of~~ 3345
~~section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars~~ 3346
to the office of the secretary of state. 3347

       Within five business days after a statement filed by a 3348
~~political action committee or a political contributing entity~~ 3349
~~described in division (B)(2) of this section, a legislative~~ 3350
~~campaign fund, or a state~~county political party with respect to 3351
its state candidate fund is received by the secretary of state by 3352
electronic ~~or other~~ means of transmission, the secretary of state 3353
shall make available online to the public through the internet, as 3354
provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and 3355
expenditure information in that statement. 3356

       If a statement ~~filed by electronic means of transmission~~ is 3357
found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the 3358
statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division 3359
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, ~~the political~~ 3360
~~action committee, political contributing entity, legislative~~ 3361
~~campaign fund, or state~~a county political party shall file by 3362
electronic means of transmission any addendum to the statement 3363
that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the 3364
statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that 3365
division, an amended statement. 3366

       Within five business days after the secretary of state 3367
receives from a ~~political action committee or a political~~ 3368
~~contributing entity described in division (B)(2) of this section,~~ 3369
~~a legislative campaign fund, or a state~~county political party an 3370
addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or 3371
~~other~~ means of transmission under this division or division 3372
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of 3373
state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in 3374
the addendum or amended statement available online to the public 3375
through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section. 3376

       (F)(1) Subject to division ~~(F)(4)~~(L) of this section and 3377
subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and 3378
verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of 3379
state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and 3380
divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised 3381
Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic 3382
means of transmission ~~or on computer disk~~, a campaign committee of 3383
a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly or a 3384
campaign committee of a candidate for the office of judge of a 3385
court of appeals may file the statements prescribed by section 3386
3517.10 of the Revised Code in accordance with division (A)(2) of 3387
section 3517.11 of the Revised Code or by electronic means of 3388
transmission to the office of the secretary of state or, ~~until~~ 3389
~~March 1, 2004, on computer disk with the appropriate board of~~ 3390
~~elections specified in division (A)(2) of section 3517.11 of the~~ 3391
~~Revised Code~~if the total amount of the contributions received by 3392
the campaign committee for the applicable reporting period as 3393
specified in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code 3394
exceeds ten thousand dollars, shall file those statements by 3395
electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of 3396
state. 3397

       Except as otherwise provided in this division, within five 3398
business days after a statement filed by a campaign committee of a 3399
candidate for the office of member of the general assembly or a 3400
campaign committee of a candidate for the office of judge of a 3401
court of appeals is received by the secretary of state by 3402
electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state 3403
shall make available online to the public through the internet, as 3404
provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and 3405
expenditure information in that statement. The secretary of state 3406
shall not make available online to the public through the internet 3407
any contribution or expenditure information contained in a 3408
statement for any candidate until the secretary of state is able 3409
to make available online to the public through the internet the 3410
contribution and expenditure information for all candidates for a 3411
particular office, or until the applicable filing deadline for 3412
that statement has passed, whichever is sooner. As soon as the 3413
secretary of state has available all of ~~that~~the contribution and 3414
expenditure information for all candidates for a particular 3415
office, or as soon as the applicable filing deadline for a 3416
statement has passed, whichever is sooner, the secretary of state 3417
shall simultaneously make available online to the public through 3418
the internet the information for all candidates for ~~a particular~~ 3419
that office. 3420

       If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission or 3421
~~on computer disk~~ is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the 3422
examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy 3423
pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised 3424
Code, the campaign committee shall file by electronic means of 3425
transmission to the office of the secretary of state~~, or, until~~ 3426
~~March 1, 2004, on computer disk with the appropriate board of~~ 3427
~~elections if the original statement was filed on computer disk,~~ 3428
any addendum to the statement that provides the information 3429
necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by 3430
the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement. 3431

       Within five business days after the secretary of state 3432
receives from a campaign committee of a candidate for the office 3433
of member of the general assembly or a campaign committee of a 3434
candidate for the office of judge of a court of appeals an 3435
addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or 3436
other means of transmission under this division or division 3437
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of 3438
state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in 3439
the addendum or amended statement available online to the public 3440
through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section. 3441

       (2) ~~Until March 1, 2004, if a campaign committee of a~~ 3442
~~candidate for the office of member of the general assembly files a~~ 3443
~~statement of contributions and expenditures, an addendum to the~~ 3444
~~statement, or an amended statement by electronic means of~~ 3445
~~transmission or on computer disk pursuant to division (F)(1) of~~ 3446
~~this section, the campaign committee shall file as prescribed by~~ 3447
~~section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with the appropriate board of~~ 3448
~~elections specified in division (A)(2) of section 3517.11 of the~~ 3449
~~Revised Code a printed version of the statement, addendum, or~~ 3450
~~amended statement filed by electronic means of transmission or on~~ 3451
~~computer disk, in the format that the secretary of state shall~~ 3452
~~prescribe.~~ 3453

        If a statement, addendum, or amended statement is not filed 3454
by electronic means of transmission ~~or on computer disk~~to the 3455
office of the secretary of state but is filed by printed version 3456
only under division (A)(2) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code 3457
with the appropriate board of elections, the campaign committee of 3458
a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly or a 3459
campaign committee of a candidate for the office of judge of a 3460
court of appeals shall file two copies of the printed version of 3461
the statement, addendum, or amended statement with the ~~appropriate~~ 3462
board of elections. The board of elections shall send one of those 3463
copies by overnight delivery service to the secretary of state 3464
before the close of business on the day the board of elections 3465
receives the statement, addendum, or amended statement. 3466

       ~~(3)(a) Subject to division (F)(4) of this section and subject~~ 3467
~~to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified~~ 3468
~~the successful operation of any system the secretary of state~~ 3469
~~prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and~~ 3470
~~divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised~~ 3471
~~Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic~~ 3472
~~means of transmission or on computer disk, the secretary of state~~ 3473
~~shall assess, and a campaign committee of a candidate for the~~ 3474
~~office of member of the general assembly shall pay, a fee as~~ 3475
~~provided in this division if the campaign committee has not filed~~ 3476
~~the campaign finance statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of~~ 3477
~~the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission or on~~ 3478
~~computer disk pursuant to division (F)(1) of this section. The fee~~ 3479
~~shall be calculated on the total contributions received for the~~ 3480
~~applicable reporting period specified in division (A) of section~~ 3481
~~3517.10 of the Revised Code as follows:~~ 3482

       ~~(i) No fee for total contributions up to and including ten~~ 3483
~~thousand dollars;~~ 3484

       ~~(ii) A fee of fifty dollars for total contributions of over~~ 3485
~~ten thousand dollars up to and including twenty-five thousand~~ 3486
~~dollars;~~ 3487

       ~~(iii) A fee of one hundred fifty dollars for total~~ 3488
~~contributions over twenty-five thousand dollars up to and~~ 3489
~~including fifty thousand dollars;~~ 3490

       ~~(iv) A fee of two hundred dollars for total contributions~~ 3491
~~over fifty thousand dollars.~~ 3492

       ~~(b) No campaign committee of a candidate for the office of~~ 3493
~~member of the general assembly shall be required to pay the fee~~ 3494
~~prescribed by division (F)(3)(a) of this section in connection~~ 3495
~~with the filing of an addendum to a statement of contributions and~~ 3496
~~expenditures or in connection with the filing of an amended~~ 3497
~~statement.~~ 3498

       ~~(c) The fee prescribed by division (F)(3)(a) of this section~~ 3499
~~shall be made payable to the secretary of state and shall be~~ 3500
~~collected by the appropriate board of elections at the time the~~ 3501
~~campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the~~ 3502
~~general assembly files the statement of contributions and~~ 3503
~~expenditures. The fee shall be sent along with the statement,~~ 3504
~~before the close of business on the day it is received, to the~~ 3505
~~secretary of state by overnight delivery service.~~ 3506

       ~~(4) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented,~~ 3507
~~tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the~~ 3508
~~secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this~~ 3509
~~section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of~~ 3510
~~the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by~~ 3511
~~electronic means of transmission, on and after March 1, 2004, a~~ 3512
~~campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the~~ 3513
~~general assembly shall file the statements prescribed by section~~ 3514
~~3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission to~~ 3515
~~the secretary of state if the total amount of the contributions~~ 3516
~~received by the campaign committee for the applicable reporting~~ 3517
~~period as specified in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the~~ 3518
~~Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars.~~ 3519

       ~~Except as otherwise provided in this division, within five~~ 3520
~~business days after a statement filed by a campaign committee of a~~ 3521
~~candidate for the office of member of the general assembly is~~ 3522
~~received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of~~ 3523
~~transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online~~ 3524
~~to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of~~ 3525
~~this section, the contribution and expenditure information in that~~ 3526
~~statement. The secretary of state shall not make available online~~ 3527
~~to the public through the internet any contribution or expenditure~~ 3528
~~information contained in a statement for any candidate until the~~ 3529
~~secretary of state is able to make available online to the public~~ 3530
~~through the internet the contribution and expenditure information~~ 3531
~~for all candidates for a particular office. As soon as the~~ 3532
~~secretary of state has available all of that information, the~~ 3533
~~secretary of state shall simultaneously make available online to~~ 3534
~~the public through the internet the information for all candidates~~ 3535
~~for a particular office.~~ 3536

       ~~If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is~~ 3537
~~found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the~~ 3538
~~statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division~~ 3539
~~(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the campaign~~ 3540
~~committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general~~ 3541
~~assembly shall file by electronic means of transmission any~~ 3542
~~addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary~~ 3543
~~to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the~~ 3544
~~secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.~~ 3545

       ~~Within five business days after the secretary of state~~ 3546
~~receives from a campaign committee of a candidate for the office~~ 3547
~~of member of the general assembly an addendum to the statement or~~ 3548
~~an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission~~ 3549
~~under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of~~ 3550
~~the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the~~ 3551
~~contribution and expenditure information in the addendum or~~ 3552
~~amended statement available online to the public through the~~ 3553
~~internet as provided in division (I) of this section.~~ 3554

       (G)~~(1)~~ Subject ~~to division (G)(2) of this section and subject~~ 3555
to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified 3556
the successful operation of any system the secretary of state 3557
prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and 3558
divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised 3559
Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic 3560
means of transmission, any individual, partnership, or other 3561
entity that makes independent expenditures in support of or 3562
opposition to a statewide candidate or a statewide ballot issue or 3563
question as provided in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3564
3517.105 of the Revised Code may file the statement specified in 3565
that division by electronic means of transmission or, if the total 3566
amount of independent expenditures made during the reporting 3567
period under that division exceeds ten thousand dollars, shall 3568
file the statement specified in that division by electronic means 3569
of transmission. 3570

       Within five business days after a statement filed by an 3571
individual, partnership, or other entity is received by the 3572
secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, 3573
the secretary of state shall make available online to the public 3574
through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, 3575
the expenditure information in that statement. 3576

       If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is 3577
found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the 3578
statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division 3579
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the individual, 3580
partnership, or other entity shall file by electronic means of 3581
transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the 3582
information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if 3583
required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended 3584
statement. 3585

       Within five business days after the secretary of state 3586
receives from an individual, partnership, or other entity 3587
described in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105 3588
of the Revised Code an addendum to the statement or an amended 3589
statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this 3590
division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised 3591
Code, the secretary of state shall make the expenditure 3592
information in the addendum or amended statement available online 3593
to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of 3594
this section. 3595

       ~~(2) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented,~~ 3596
~~tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the~~ 3597
~~secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this~~ 3598
~~section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of~~ 3599
~~the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by~~ 3600
~~electronic means of transmission, any individual, partnership, or~~ 3601
~~other entity that makes independent expenditures in support of or~~ 3602
~~opposition to a statewide candidate or a statewide ballot issue or~~ 3603
~~question as provided in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section~~ 3604
~~3517.105 of the Revised Code shall file the statement specified in~~ 3605
~~that division by electronic means of transmission if the total~~ 3606
~~amount of the independent expenditures made during the reporting~~ 3607
~~period under that division exceeds ten thousand dollars.~~ 3608

       ~~Within five business days after a statement filed by an~~ 3609
~~individual, partnership, or other entity is received by the~~ 3610
~~secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission,~~ 3611
~~the secretary of state shall make available online to the public~~ 3612
~~through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section,~~ 3613
~~the expenditure information in that statement.~~ 3614

       ~~If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is~~ 3615
~~found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the~~ 3616
~~statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division~~ 3617
~~(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the individual,~~ 3618
~~partnership, or other entity shall file by electronic means of~~ 3619
~~transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the~~ 3620
~~information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if~~ 3621
~~required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended~~ 3622
~~statement.~~ 3623

       ~~Within five business days after the secretary of state~~ 3624
~~receives from an individual, partnership, or other entity~~ 3625
~~described in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105~~ 3626
~~of the Revised Code an addendum to the statement or an amended~~ 3627
~~statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this~~ 3628
~~division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised~~ 3629
~~Code, the secretary of state shall make the expenditure~~ 3630
~~information in the addendum or amended statement available online~~ 3631
~~to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of~~ 3632
~~this section.~~ 3633

       (H)(1) The secretary of state, by rule adopted pursuant to 3634
section 3517.23 of the Revised Code, shall prescribe one or more 3635
techniques by which a person who executes and transmits by 3636
electronic means a statement of contributions and expenditures, a 3637
statement of independent expenditures, a disclosure of 3638
electioneering communications statement, or a deposit and 3639
disbursement statement, an addendum to ~~either statement~~any of 3640
those statements, an amended statement of contributions and 3641
expenditures, or an amended statement of independent expenditures, 3642
an amended disclosure of electioneering communications statement, 3643
or an amended deposit and disbursement statement, under this 3644
section or section 3517.10 or, 3517.105, 3517.1011, or 3517.1012 3645
of the Revised Code shall electronically sign the statement, 3646
addendum, or amended statement. Any technique prescribed by the 3647
secretary of state pursuant to this division shall create an 3648
electronic signature that satisfies all of the following: 3649

       (a) It is unique to the signer. 3650

       (b) It objectively identifies the signer. 3651

       (c) It involves the use of a signature device or other means 3652
or method that is under the sole control of the signer and that 3653
cannot be readily duplicated or compromised. 3654

       (d) It is created and linked to the electronic record to 3655
which it relates in a manner that, if the record or signature is 3656
intentionally or unintentionally changed after signing, the 3657
electronic signature is invalidated. 3658

       (2) An electronic signature prescribed by the secretary of 3659
state under division (H)(1) of this section shall be attached to 3660
or associated with the statement of contributions and 3661
expenditures, the statement of independent expenditures, the 3662
disclosure of electioneering communications statement, or the 3663
deposit and disbursement statement, the addendum to ~~either~~ 3664
~~statement~~any of those statements, the amended statement of 3665
contributions and expenditures, or the amended statement of 3666
independent expenditures, the amended disclosure of electioneering 3667
communications statement, or the amended deposit and disbursement 3668
statement that is executed and transmitted by electronic means by 3669
the person to whom the electronic signature is attributed. The 3670
electronic signature that is attached to or associated with the 3671
statement, addendum, or amended statement under this division 3672
shall be binding on all persons and for all purposes under the 3673
campaign finance reporting law as if the signature had been 3674
handwritten in ink on a printed form ~~of the statement, addendum,~~ 3675
~~or amended statement~~. 3676

       (I) The secretary of state shall make the contribution and 3677
expenditure, the contribution and disbursement, or the deposit and 3678
disbursement information in all statements, all addenda to the 3679
statements, and all amended statements that are filed with the 3680
secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission 3681
under this section or section 3517.10, 3517.105, 3517.1011, 3682
3517.1012, or 3517.11 of the Revised Code available online to the 3683
public by any means that are searchable, viewable, and accessible 3684
through the internet. 3685

       (J)(1) As used in this division, "library" means a library 3686
that is open to the public and that is one of the following: 3687

       (a) A library that is maintained and regulated under section 3688
715.13 of the Revised Code; 3689

       (b) A library that is created, maintained, and regulated 3690
under Chapter 3375. of the Revised Code. 3691

       (2) The secretary of state shall notify all libraries of the 3692
location on the internet at which the contribution and 3693
expenditure, contribution and disbursement, or deposit and 3694
disbursement information in campaign finance statements required 3695
to be made available online to the public through the internet 3696
pursuant to division (I) of this section may be accessed. 3697

       If that location is part of ~~the graphical subnetwork called~~ 3698
the world wide web and if the secretary of state has notified a 3699
library of that world wide web location as required by this 3700
division, the library shall include a link to that world wide web 3701
location on each internet-connected computer it maintains that is 3702
accessible to the public. 3703

       (3) If the system the secretary of state prescribes for the 3704
filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of 3705
transmission pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and 3706
divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised 3707
Code includes filing those statements through the internet via an 3708
~~interactive location on the graphical subnetwork called~~ the world 3709
wide web, the secretary of state shall notify all libraries of the 3710
world wide web location at which those statements may be filed. 3711

       If those statements may be filed through the internet via an 3712
~~interactive location on the graphical subnetwork called~~ the world 3713
wide web and if the secretary of state has notified a library of 3714
that world wide web location as required by this division, the 3715
library shall include a link to that world wide web location on 3716
each internet-connected computer it maintains that is accessible 3717
to the public. 3718

       (K) It is an affirmative defense to a complaint or charge 3719
brought against any campaign committee, political action 3720
committee, legislative campaign fund, or political party, 3721
~~political contributing entity, or~~any individual, partnership, or 3722
other entity, or any person or political committee making 3723
disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing 3724
electioneering communications, for the failure to file by 3725
electronic means of transmission a campaign finance statement as 3726
required by this section or section 3517.10 or, 3517.105, 3727
3517.1011, or 3517.1012 of the Revised Code that all of the 3728
following apply to the campaign committee, political action 3729
committee, legislative campaign fund, or political party, 3730
~~political contributing entity, or~~the individual, partnership, or 3731
other entity, or the person or political committee making 3732
disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing 3733
electioneering communications, that failed to so file ~~the required~~ 3734
~~statement~~: 3735

       (1) The campaign committee, political action committee, 3736
legislative campaign fund, or political party, ~~political~~ 3737
~~contributing entity, or~~the individual, partnership, or other 3738
entity, or the person or political committee making disbursements 3739
to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering 3740
communications attempted to file by electronic means of 3741
transmission the required statement prior to the deadline set 3742
forth in the applicable section. 3743

       (2) The campaign committee, political action committee, 3744
legislative campaign fund, or political party, ~~political~~ 3745
~~contributing entity, or~~the individual, partnership, or other 3746
entity, or the person or political committee making disbursements 3747
to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering 3748
communications was unable to file by electronic means of 3749
transmission due to an expected or unexpected shutdown of the 3750
whole or part of the electronic campaign finance statement-filing 3751
system, such as for maintenance or because of hardware, software, 3752
or network connection failure. 3753

       (3) The campaign committee, political action committee, 3754
legislative campaign fund, or political party, ~~political~~ 3755
~~contributing entity, or~~the individual, partnership, or other 3756
entity, or the person or political committee making disbursements 3757
to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering 3758
communications filed by electronic means of transmission the 3759
required statement within a reasonable period of time after being 3760
unable to so file it under the circumstance described in division 3761
(K)(2) of this section. 3762

       (L)(1) The secretary of state shall adopt rules pursuant to 3763
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to permit a campaign committee of 3764
a candidate for statewide office that makes expenditures of less 3765
than twenty-five thousand dollars during the filing period or a 3766
campaign committee for the office of member of the general 3767
assembly or the office of judge of a court of appeals that would 3768
otherwise be required to file campaign finance statements by 3769
electronic means of transmission under division (E) or (F) of this 3770
section to file those statements by paper with the office of the 3771
secretary of state. Those rules shall provide for all of the 3772
following: 3773

       (a) An eligible campaign committee that wishes to file a 3774
campaign finance statement by paper instead of by electronic means 3775
of transmission shall file the statement on paper with the office 3776
of the secretary of state not sooner than twenty-four hours after 3777
the end of the filing period set forth in section 3517.10 of the 3778
Revised Code that is covered by the applicable statement. 3779

       (b) The statement shall be accompanied by a fee, the amount 3780
of which the secretary of state shall determine by rule. The 3781
amount of the fee established under this division shall not exceed 3782
the data entry and data verification costs the secretary of state 3783
will incur to convert the information on the statement to an 3784
electronic format as required under division (I) of this section. 3785

       (c) The secretary of state shall arrange for the information 3786
in campaign finance statements filed pursuant to division (L) of 3787
this section to be made available online to the public through the 3788
internet in the same manner, and at the same times, as information 3789
is made available under divisions (E), (F), and (I) of this 3790
section for candidates whose campaign committees file those 3791
statements by electronic means of transmission. 3792

       (d) The candidate of an eligible campaign committee that 3793
intends to file a campaign finance statement pursuant to division 3794
(L) of this section shall file an affidavit indicating that the 3795
candidate's campaign committee intends to so file and stating that 3796
filing the statement by electronic means of transmission would 3797
constitute a hardship for the candidate or for the eligible 3798
campaign committee. 3799

       (e) An eligible campaign committee that files a campaign 3800
finance statement on paper pursuant to division (L) of this 3801
section shall review the contribution and information made 3802
available online by the secretary of state with respect to that 3803
paper filing and shall notify the secretary of state of any errors 3804
with respect to that filing that appear in the data made available 3805
on that web site. 3806

       (f) If an eligible campaign committee whose candidate has 3807
filed an affidavit in accordance with rules adopted under division 3808
(L)(1)(d) of this section subsequently fails to file that 3809
statement on paper by the applicable deadline established in rules 3810
adopted under division (L)(1)(a) of this section, penalties for 3811
the late filing of the campaign finance statement shall apply to 3812
that campaign committee for each day after that paper filing 3813
deadline, as if the campaign committee had filed the statement 3814
after the applicable deadline set forth in division (A) of section 3815
3517.10 of the Revised Code. 3816

       (2) The process for permitting campaign committees that would 3817
otherwise be required to file campaign finance statements by 3818
electronic means of transmission to file those statements on paper 3819
with the office of the secretary of state that is required to be 3820
developed under division (L)(1) of this section shall be in effect 3821
and available for use by eligible campaign committees for all 3822
campaign finance statements that are required to be filed on or 3823
after June 30, 2005. Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised 3824
Code to the contrary, if the process the secretary of state is 3825
required to develop under division (L)(1) of this section is not 3826
in effect and available for use on and after June 30, 2005, all 3827
penalties for the failure of campaign committees to file campaign 3828
finance statements by electronic means of transmission shall be 3829
suspended until such time as that process is in effect and 3830
available for use. 3831

       (3) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the 3832
contrary, any eligible campaign committee that files campaign 3833
finance statements on paper with the office of the secretary of 3834
state pursuant to division (L)(1) of this section shall be deemed 3835
to have filed those campaign finance statements by electronic 3836
means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state. 3837

       Sec. 3517.108. (A) As used in divisions (A) and (B) of this 3838
section: 3839

       (1) "Candidate" has the same meaning as in section 3517.01 of 3840
the Revised Code but includes only candidates for the offices of 3841
governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of 3842
state, treasurer of state, attorney general, member of the state 3843
board of education, member of the general assembly, chief justice 3844
of the supreme court, and justice of the supreme court. 3845

       (2) A "general election period" begins on the day after the 3846
primary election immediately preceding the general election at 3847
which a candidate seeks an office specified in division (A)(1) of 3848
this section and ends on the thirty-first day of December 3849
following that general election. 3850

       (3) A "primary election period" begins on the first day of 3851
January of the year following the year in which the general 3852
election was held for the office that the candidate seeks, 3853
including any mid-term election, and ends on the day of the 3854
primary election. 3855

       (B) Whenever the campaign committee of a candidate has unpaid 3856
debt at the end of a primary election period or at the end of a 3857
general election period, the committee may accept additional 3858
contributions during the immediately following election period up 3859
to the applicable limitation prescribed under section 3517.102 of 3860
the Revised Code from any individual, political action committee, 3861
~~political contributing entity,~~ or other campaign committee who, 3862
during the primary or general election period for which debt 3863
remains unpaid, has contributed less than the contribution 3864
limitations prescribed under section 3517.102 of the Revised Code 3865
applicable to that individual, political action committee, 3866
~~political contributing entity,~~ or other campaign committee. Any 3867
additional contribution that a campaign committee accepts under 3868
this division shall count toward the applicable limitations 3869
prescribed under section 3517.102 of the Revised Code for that 3870
primary or general election period at the end of which the debt 3871
remains unpaid, and shall not count toward the applicable 3872
limitations for any other primary or general election period if 3873
all of the following conditions apply: 3874

       (1) The campaign committee reports, on the statement required 3875
to be filed under division (A)(2) of section 3517.10 of the 3876
Revised Code, all debt remaining unpaid at the end of the election 3877
period. The committee shall also file a separate statement, on a 3878
form prescribed by the secretary of state, at the same time that 3879
the committee is required to file a statement of contributions and 3880
expenditures under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. The 3881
separate statement shall include the name and address of each 3882
contributor who makes an additional contribution under division 3883
(B) of this section, how the contribution was applied to pay the 3884
unpaid debt as required by division (B)(3) of this section, and 3885
the balance of the unpaid debt after each contribution was applied 3886
to it. 3887

       (2) The additional contributions are accepted only during the 3888
primary or general election period, whichever is applicable, 3889
immediately following the election period covered in the statement 3890
filed under division (B)(1) of this section. 3891

       (3) All additional contributions made under division (B) of 3892
this section are used by the campaign committee that receives them 3893
only to pay the debt of the committee reported under division 3894
(B)(1) of this section. 3895

       (4) The campaign committee maintains a separate account for 3896
all additional contributions made under division (B) of this 3897
section, and uses moneys in that account only to pay the unpaid 3898
debt reported under division (B)(1) of this section and to 3899
administer the account. 3900

       (5) The campaign committee stops accepting additional 3901
contributions after funds sufficient to repay the unpaid debt 3902
reported under division (B)(1) of this section have been raised 3903
and promptly disposes of any contributions received that exceed 3904
the amount of the unpaid debt by returning the excess 3905
contributions to the contributors or by giving the excess 3906
contributions to an organization that is exempt from federal 3907
income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in 3908
subsection 501(c)(3), (4), (8), (10), or (19) of the Internal 3909
Revenue Code. 3910

       Sec. 3517.109. (A) As used in this section: 3911

       (1) "Candidate" has the same meaning as in section 3517.01 of 3912
the Revised Code but includes only candidates for the offices of 3913
governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of 3914
state, treasurer of state, attorney general, member of the state 3915
board of education, and member of the general assembly. 3916

       (2) "Statewide candidate" means the joint candidates for the 3917
offices of governor and lieutenant governor or a candidate for the 3918
office of secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of 3919
state, attorney general, and member of the state board of 3920
education. 3921

       (3) "Senate candidate" means a candidate for the office of 3922
state senator. 3923

       (4) "House candidate" means a candidate for the office of 3924
state representative. 3925

       (5) "State office" means the offices of governor, lieutenant 3926
governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of 3927
state, attorney general, member of the state board of education, 3928
and member of the general assembly. 3929

       (6) "Aggregate contribution" means the total of all 3930
contributions from a contributor during the pre-filing period. 3931

       (7) "Allowable aggregate contribution" means all of the 3932
following: 3933

       (a) In the case of a contribution from a contributor whose 3934
contributions are subject to the contribution limits described in 3935
division (B)(1), (2), (3), or (6)(a)~~, or (7)~~ of section 3517.102 3936
of the Revised Code, that portion of the amount of the 3937
contributor's aggregate contribution that does not exceed the 3938
preprimary contribution limit applicable to that contributor. 3939

       (b) In the case of a contribution or contributions from a 3940
contributor whose contributions are not subject to the 3941
contribution limits described in divisions (B)(1), (2), (3), or 3942
(6)(a)~~, or (7)~~ of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, the total 3943
of the following: 3944

       (i) That portion of the aggregate contribution that was 3945
received as in-kind services; 3946

       (ii) That portion of the aggregate contribution that was 3947
received as cash and does not exceed the applicable preprimary 3948
cash transfer or contribution limits described in division 3949
(B)(6)(b) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code. 3950

       (8) "Excess aggregate contribution" means, for each 3951
contributor, the amount by which that contributor's aggregate 3952
contribution exceeds that contributor's allowable aggregate 3953
contribution. 3954

       (9) "Pre-filing period" means the period of time ending on 3955
the day that the candidacy petitions are due for the state office 3956
for which the candidate has filed and beginning on the latest date 3957
of the following: 3958

       (a) The first day of January of the year following the 3959
general election in which that state office was last on the 3960
ballot; 3961

       (b) The first day of January of the year following the 3962
general election in which the candidate was last a candidate for 3963
any office; 3964

       (c) The first day of the month following the primary election 3965
in which the candidate was last a candidate for any office. 3966

       (10) "Filing date" means the last date on which a candidacy 3967
petition may be filed for an office. 3968

       (11) "Applicable carry-in limit" means thirty-five thousand 3969
dollars if the candidate is a house candidate or a candidate for 3970
the state board of education, one hundred thousand dollars if the 3971
candidate is a senate candidate, and two hundred thousand dollars 3972
if the candidate is a statewide candidate other than a candidate 3973
for the state board of education. 3974

       (12) "Campaign asset" means prepaid, purchased, or donated 3975
assets available to the candidate on the date of the filing 3976
deadline for the office the candidate is seeking that will be 3977
consumed or depleted in the course of the candidate's election 3978
campaign, including, but not limited to, postage, prepaid rent for 3979
campaign headquarters, prepaid radio, television, and newspaper 3980
advertising, and other prepaid consulting and personal services. 3981

       (13) "Permitted funds" means the sum of the following: 3982

       (a) The total of the allowable aggregate contribution of each 3983
contributor; 3984

       (b) The applicable carry-in limit. 3985

       (14) "Excess funds" means the amount by which the sum of the 3986
total cash on hand and total reported campaign assets exceeds 3987
permitted funds. 3988

       (15) "Covered candidate" means both of the following: 3989

       (a) A candidate who, during the pre-filing period, accepts or 3990
has a campaign committee that accepts contributions on the 3991
candidate's behalf for the purpose of nominating or electing the 3992
candidate to any office not subject to the contribution limits 3993
prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code; 3994

       (b) A person who, during the pre-filing period, accepts or 3995
has a campaign committee that accepts contributions on the 3996
person's behalf prior to the person deciding upon or announcing 3997
the office for which the person will become a candidate for 3998
nomination or election. 3999

       (B) Each candidate who files for state office, not later than 4000
the filing date for that office, shall dispose of any excess 4001
funds. Each covered candidate who files for state office, not 4002
later than the filing date for that office, shall dispose of any 4003
excess aggregate contributions. 4004

       (C) Any campaign committee that is required to dispose of 4005
excess funds or excess aggregate contributions under division (B) 4006
of this section shall dispose of that excess amount or amounts by 4007
doing any of the following: 4008

       (1) Giving the amount to the treasurer of state for deposit 4009
into the state treasury to the credit of the Ohio elections 4010
commission fund created by division (I) of section 3517.152 of the 4011
Revised Code; 4012

       (2) Giving the amount to individuals who made contributions 4013
to that campaign committee as a refund of all or part of their 4014
contributions; 4015

       (3) Giving the amount to a corporation that is exempt from 4016
federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in 4017
subsection 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. 4018

       (D)(1) Subject to division (D)(2) of this section, no 4019
candidate or covered candidate shall appear on the ballot, even if 4020
certified to appear on the ballot, unless the candidate's or 4021
covered candidate's campaign committee has disposed of excess 4022
funds, excess aggregate contributions, or both as required by 4023
divisions (B) and (C) of this section. 4024

       (2) If the excess aggregate contributions accepted by a 4025
covered candidate or a covered candidate's campaign committee 4026
aggregate a total of less than five thousand dollars from all 4027
contributors, that candidate shall not be prohibited from 4028
appearing on the ballot under division (D)(1) of this section. 4029

       (E)(1) The campaign committee of each candidate required to 4030
dispose of excess funds under this section shall file a report, on 4031
a form prescribed by the secretary of state, with the official or 4032
board with which the candidate is required to file statements 4033
under section 3517.11 of the Revised Code. The report shall be 4034
filed by the seventh day following the filing deadline for the 4035
office the candidate is seeking, shall indicate the amount of 4036
excess funds disposed of, and shall describe the manner in which 4037
the campaign committee disposed of the excess amount. 4038

       (2) In addition to the information required to be included in 4039
a report filed under division (E)(1) of this section, the campaign 4040
committee of each covered candidate required to dispose of excess 4041
aggregate contributions under this section shall include in that 4042
report the source and amount of each excess aggregate contribution 4043
disposed of and shall describe the manner in which the campaign 4044
committee disposed of the excess amount. 4045

       (F)(1) Each campaign committee of a candidate who has filed a 4046
declaration of candidacy or a nominating petition for a state 4047
office, not later than seven days after the ~~date of the~~ filing 4048
~~deadline~~date for the office the candidate is seeking, shall file 4049
a declaration of filing-day finances, on a form prescribed by the 4050
secretary of state, with the official or board with which the 4051
candidate is required to file statements under section 3517.11 of 4052
the Revised Code. 4053

       (2) A declaration of filing-day finances shall list all of 4054
the following: 4055

       (a) The amount of cash on hand in the candidate's campaign 4056
fund on the ~~date of the~~ filing ~~deadline~~date for the office the 4057
candidate is seeking. 4058

       (b) The value and description of all campaign assets worth 4059
five hundred dollars or more available to the candidate on the 4060
~~date of the~~ filing date. Assets purchased by the campaign shall be 4061
valued at actual cost, and in-kind contributions shall be valued 4062
at market value. 4063

       (c) The total of all aggregate contributions; 4064

       (d) The total of all allowable aggregate contributions; 4065

       (e) The applicable carry-in limit, if any. 4066

       (3) In addition to the information required to be included in 4067
a report of filing-day finances filed under division (F)(1) of 4068
this section, the campaign committee of each covered candidate 4069
shall include both of the following in that report: 4070

       (a) The total of all excess aggregate contributions; 4071

       (b) For each contributor, if any, for whom there is an excess 4072
aggregate contribution, the name, address, aggregate contribution, 4073
and excess aggregate contribution. 4074

       (G) A campaign committee of a candidate is not required to 4075
file a declaration of filing-day finances under division (F) of 4076
this section if all of the following apply: 4077

       (1) The campaign committee has not accepted, during the 4078
pre-filing period, any aggregate contribution greater than the 4079
applicable amount. 4080

       (2) The campaign committee had less than the carry-in amount 4081
in cash on hand at the beginning of the pre-filing period. 4082

       (3) The candidate files a declaration, on a form prescribed 4083
by the secretary of state, with the official or board with which 4084
the candidate is required to file statements under section 3517.11 4085
of the Revised Code not later than seven days after the ~~date of~~ 4086
~~the~~ filing ~~deadline~~date for the office that candidate is seeking, 4087
stating that the candidate's campaign committee has not accepted 4088
aggregate contributions as described in division (G)(1) of this 4089
section and has less than the carry-in amount in cash on hand as 4090
described in division (G)(2) of this section. 4091

       Sec. 3517.1011. (A) As used in this section: 4092

       (1) "Address" has the same meaning as in section 3517.10 of 4093
the Revised Code. 4094

       (2) "Broadcast, cable, or satellite communication" means a 4095
communication that is publicly distributed by a television 4096
station, radio station, cable television system, or satellite 4097
system. 4098

       (3) "Contribution" means any loan, gift, deposit, forgiveness 4099
of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, or transfer of funds 4100
or of anything of value, including a transfer of funds from an 4101
inter vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's estate, and the 4102
payment by any person other than the person to whom the services 4103
are rendered for the personal services of another person, that is 4104
made, received, or used to pay the direct costs of producing or 4105
airing electioneering communications. 4106

       (4)(a) "Coordinated electioneering communication" means any 4107
electioneering communication that is made pursuant to any 4108
arrangement, coordination, or direction by a candidate or a 4109
candidate's campaign committee, by an officer, agent, employee, or 4110
consultant of a candidate or a candidate's campaign committee, or 4111
by a former officer, former agent, former employee, or former 4112
consultant of a candidate or a candidate's campaign committee 4113
prior to the airing, broadcasting, or cablecasting of the 4114
communication. An electioneering communication is presumed to be a 4115
"coordinated electioneering communication" when it is either of 4116
the following: 4117

       (i) Based on information about a candidate's plans, projects, 4118
or needs provided to the person or political committee making the 4119
disbursement by the candidate or the candidate's campaign 4120
committee, by an officer, agent, employee, or consultant of the 4121
candidate or the candidate's campaign committee, or by a former 4122
officer, former agent, former employee, or former consultant of 4123
the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee, with a view 4124
toward having the communication made; 4125

       (ii) Made by or through any person who is, or has been, 4126
authorized to raise or expend funds on behalf of a candidate or 4127
the candidate's campaign committee, who is, or has been, an 4128
officer, agent, employee, or consultant of the candidate or of the 4129
candidate's campaign committee, or who is, or has been, receiving 4130
any form of compensation or reimbursement from the candidate or 4131
the candidate's campaign committee or from an officer, agent, 4132
employee, or consultant of the candidate or of the candidate's 4133
campaign committee. 4134

       (b) An electioneering communication shall not be presumed to 4135
be a "coordinated electioneering communication" under division 4136
(A)(4)(a)(ii) of this section if the communication is made through 4137
any person who provides a service that does not affect the content 4138
of the communication, such as communications placed through the 4139
efforts of a media buyer, unless that person also affects the 4140
content of the communication. 4141

       (5) "Disclosure date" means both of the following: 4142

       (a) The first date during any calendar year by which a person 4143
or political committee makes disbursements for the direct costs of 4144
producing or airing electioneering communications aggregating in 4145
excess of ten thousand dollars; 4146

       (b) The same day of the week of each remaining week in the 4147
same calendar year as the day of the week of the initial 4148
disclosure date established under division (A)(5)(a) of this 4149
section, if, during that remaining week, the person or political 4150
committee makes disbursements for the direct costs of producing or 4151
airing electioneering communications aggregating in excess of one 4152
dollar. 4153

       (6)(a) "Electioneering communication" means any broadcast, 4154
cable, or satellite communication that refers to a clearly 4155
identified candidate and that is made during either of the 4156
following periods of time: 4157

       (i) If the person becomes a candidate before the day of the 4158
primary election at which candidates will be nominated for 4159
election to that office, between the date that the person becomes 4160
a candidate and the thirtieth day prior to that primary election, 4161
and between the date of the primary election and the thirtieth day 4162
prior to the general election at which a candidate will be elected 4163
to that office; 4164

       (ii) If the person becomes a candidate after the day of the 4165
primary election at which candidates were nominated for election 4166
to that office, between the date of the primary election and the 4167
thirtieth day prior to the general election at which a candidate 4168
will be elected to that office. 4169

       (b) "Electioneering communication" does not include any of 4170
the following: 4171

       (i) A communication that is publicly disseminated through a 4172
means of communication other than a broadcast, cable, or satellite 4173
television or radio station. For example, "electioneering 4174
communication" does not include communications appearing in print 4175
media, including a newspaper or magazine, handbill, brochure, 4176
bumper sticker, yard sign, poster, billboard, and other written 4177
materials, including mailings; communications over the internet, 4178
including electronic mail; or telephone communications. 4179

       (ii) A communication that appears in a news story, 4180
commentary, public service announcement, bona fide news 4181
programming, or editorial distributed through the facilities of 4182
any broadcast, cable, or satellite television or radio station, 4183
unless those facilities are owned or controlled by any political 4184
party, political committee, or candidate; 4185

        (iii) A communication that constitutes an expenditure or an 4186
independent expenditure under section 3517.01 of the Revised Code; 4187

       (iv) A communication that constitutes a candidate debate or 4188
forum or that solely promotes a candidate debate or forum and is 4189
made by or on behalf of the person sponsoring the debate or forum. 4190

       (7) "Filing date" has the same meaning as in section 3517.109 4191
of the Revised Code. 4192

       (8) "Immigration and Nationality Act" means the Immigration 4193
and Nationality Act, 110 Stat. 309 (1996), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., 4194
as amended. 4195

       (9) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the 4196
Revised Code and includes any political organization considered 4197
exempt from income taxation under section 527 of the Internal 4198
Revenue Code. 4199

       (10) "Political committee" means any of the following: 4200

       (a) Any committee, club, association, or other group of 4201
persons that receives contributions aggregating in excess of one 4202
thousand dollars during a calendar year or that makes expenditures 4203
aggregating in excess of one thousand dollars during a calendar 4204
year; 4205

       (b) Any separate segregated fund; 4206

       (c) Any state, county, or local committee of a political 4207
party that does any of the following: 4208

       (i) Receives contributions aggregating in excess of five 4209
thousand dollars during a calendar year; 4210

       (ii) Makes payments that do not constitute contributions or 4211
expenditures aggregating in excess of five thousand dollars during 4212
a calendar year; 4213

       (iii) Makes contributions or expenditures aggregating in 4214
excess of one thousand dollars during a calendar year. 4215

       (11) "Publicly distributed" means aired, broadcast, 4216
cablecast, or otherwise disseminated for a fee. 4217

       (12) "Refers to a clearly identified candidate" means that 4218
the candidate's name, nickname, photograph, or drawing appears, or 4219
the identity of the candidate is otherwise apparent through an 4220
unambiguous reference to the person such as "the chief justice," 4221
"the governor," "member of the Ohio senate," "member of the Ohio 4222
house of representatives," "county auditor," "mayor," or "township 4223
trustee" or through an unambiguous reference to the person's 4224
status as a candidate. 4225

       (B) For the purposes of this section, a person or political 4226
committee shall be considered to have made a disbursement if the 4227
person or political committee has entered into a contract to make 4228
the disbursement. 4229

       (C) Any person or political committee intending to make a 4230
disbursement or disbursements for the direct costs of producing or 4231
airing electioneering communications, prior to making the first 4232
disbursement for the direct costs of producing or airing an 4233
electioneering communication, shall file a notice with the office 4234
of the secretary of state that the person or political committee 4235
is intending to make such disbursements. 4236

       (D)(1) Every person or political committee that makes a 4237
disbursement or disbursements for the direct costs of producing 4238
and airing electioneering communications aggregating in excess of 4239
ten thousand dollars during any calendar year shall file, within 4240
twenty-four hours of each disclosure date, a disclosure of 4241
electioneering communications statement containing the following 4242
information: 4243

       (a) The full name and address of the person or political 4244
committee making the disbursement, of any person sharing or 4245
exercising direction or control over the activities of the person 4246
or political committee making the disbursement, and of the 4247
custodian of the books and accounts of the person or political 4248
committee making the disbursement; 4249

       (b) The principal place of business of the person or 4250
political committee making the disbursement, if not an individual; 4251

       (c) The amount of each disbursement of more than one dollar 4252
during the period covered by the statement and the identity of the 4253
person to whom the disbursement was made; 4254

       (d) The nominations or elections to which the electioneering 4255
communications pertain and the names, if known, of the candidates 4256
identified or to be identified; 4257

       (e) If the disbursements were paid out of a segregated bank 4258
account that consists of funds contributed solely by individuals 4259
who are United States citizens or nationals or lawfully admitted 4260
for permanent residence as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the 4261
Immigration and Nationality Act directly to the account for 4262
electioneering communications, the information specified in 4263
division (D)(2) of this section for all contributors who 4264
contributed an aggregate amount of two hundred dollars or more to 4265
the segregated bank account and whose contributions were used for 4266
making the disbursement or disbursements required to be reported 4267
under division (D) of this section during the period covered by 4268
the statement. Nothing in this division prohibits or shall be 4269
construed to prohibit the use of funds in such a segregated bank 4270
account for a purpose other than electioneering communications. 4271

       (f) If the disbursements were paid out of funds not described 4272
in division (D)(1)(e) of this section, the information specified 4273
in division (D)(2) of this section for all contributors who 4274
contributed an aggregate amount of two hundred dollars or more to 4275
the person or political committee making the disbursement and 4276
whose contributions were used for making the disbursement or 4277
disbursements required to be reported under division (D) of this 4278
section during the period covered by the statement. 4279

       (2) For each contributor for which information is required to 4280
be reported under division (D)(1)(e) or (f) of this section, all 4281
of the following shall be reported: 4282

       (a) The month, day, and year that the contributor made the 4283
contribution or contributions aggregating two hundred dollars or 4284
more; 4285

       (b)(i) The full name and address of the contributor, and, if 4286
the contributor is a political action committee, the registration 4287
number assigned to the political action committee under division 4288
(D)(1) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code; 4289

       (ii) If the contributor is an individual, the name of the 4290
individual's current employer, if any, or, if the individual is 4291
self-employed, the individual's occupation and the name of the 4292
individual's business, if any; 4293

       (iii) If the contribution is transmitted pursuant to section 4294
3599.031 of the Revised Code from amounts deducted from the wages 4295
and salaries of two or more employees that exceed in the aggregate 4296
one hundred dollars during the period specified in division 4297
(D)(1)(e) or (f) of this section, as applicable, the full name of 4298
the employees' employer and the full name of the labor 4299
organization of which the employees are members, if any. 4300

       (c) A description of the contribution, if other than money; 4301

       (d) The value in dollars and cents of the contribution. 4302

       (3) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, 4303
tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the 4304
secretary of state prescribes pursuant to divisions (C)(6)(b) and 4305
(D)(6) of section 3517.10 and division (H)(1) of section 3517.106 4306
of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements 4307
by electronic means of transmission, a person or political 4308
committee shall file the disclosure of electioneering 4309
communications statement prescribed under divisions (D)(1) and (2) 4310
of this section by electronic means of transmission to the office 4311
of the secretary of state. 4312

       Within five business days after the secretary of state 4313
receives a disclosure of electioneering communications statement 4314
under this division, the secretary of state shall make available 4315
online to the public through the internet, as provided in division 4316
(I) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, the contribution and 4317
disbursement information in that statement. 4318

       If a filed disclosure of electioneering communications 4319
statement is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after its 4320
examination for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division 4321
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the person or 4322
political committee shall file by electronic means of transmission 4323
to the office of the secretary of state any addendum, amendment, 4324
or other correction to the statement that provides the information 4325
necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by 4326
the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement. 4327

       Within five business days after the secretary of state 4328
receives an addendum, amendment, or other correction to a 4329
disclosure of electioneering communications statement or an 4330
amended statement by electronic means of transmission under this 4331
division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised 4332
Code, the secretary of state shall make the contribution and 4333
disbursement information in the addendum, amendment, or other 4334
correction to the statement or amended statement available online 4335
to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of 4336
section 3517.106 of the Revised Code. 4337

       (E)(1) Any person who makes a contribution for the purpose of 4338
funding the direct costs of producing or airing an electioneering 4339
communication under this section shall provide the person's full 4340
name and address to the recipient of the contribution at the time 4341
the contribution is made. 4342

       (2) Any individual who makes a contribution or contributions 4343
aggregating two hundred dollars or more for the purpose of funding 4344
the direct costs of producing or airing an electioneering 4345
communication under this section shall provide the name of the 4346
individual's current employer, if any, or, if the individual is 4347
self-employed, the individual's occupation and the name of the 4348
individual's business, if any, to the recipient of the 4349
contribution at the time the contribution is made. 4350

       (F) In each electioneering communication, a statement shall 4351
appear or be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner that does 4352
both of the following: 4353

       (1) Clearly indicates that the electioneering communication 4354
is not authorized by the candidate or the candidate's campaign 4355
committee; 4356

       (2) Clearly identifies the person or political committee 4357
making the disbursement for the electioneering communication in 4358
accordance with section 3517.20 of the Revised Code. 4359

       (G) Any coordinated electioneering communication is an 4360
in-kind contribution, subject to the applicable contribution 4361
limits prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, to the 4362
candidate by the person or political committee making 4363
disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing the 4364
communication. 4365

       (H) No person or political committee shall make, during the 4366
thirty days preceding a primary election or during the thirty days 4367
preceding a general election, any broadcast, cable, or satellite 4368
communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate using 4369
any contributions received from a corporation or labor 4370
organization. 4371

       Sec. 3517.1012. (A)(1) Each state and county political party 4372
shall establish a restricted fund that is separate from all other 4373
accounts of the political party. 4374

       (2) A state or county political party shall deposit into its 4375
restricted fund all public moneys received from the Ohio political 4376
party fund under section 3517.17 of the Revised Code and all gifts 4377
that are made to or accepted by the political party from a 4378
corporation or labor organization subject to the applicable 4379
limitations prescribed in division (X) of section 3517.13 of the 4380
Revised Code. A state or county political party may deposit into 4381
its restricted fund any gifts that are made to or accepted by the 4382
political party from a source other than a corporation or labor 4383
organization. 4384

       (3) Moneys in a state or county political party's restricted 4385
fund may be disbursed to pay costs incurred for any of the 4386
purposes specified in division (A) of section 3517.18 of the 4387
Revised Code. 4388

       (B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, a state or 4389
county political party shall file deposit and disbursement 4390
statements, in the same manner as the party is required to file 4391
statements of contributions and expenditures under section 3517.10 4392
of the Revised Code, regarding all deposits made into, and all 4393
disbursements made from, the party's restricted fund. Deposit and 4394
disbursement statements filed in accordance with this division by 4395
a county political party shall be filed by electronic means of 4396
transmission to the office of the secretary of state at the times 4397
specified in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code 4398
for the filing of statements of contributions and expenditures if 4399
the county political party accepts gifts from a corporation or 4400
labor organization under division (A)(2) of this section. 4401

       Sec. 3517.11. (A)(1) Campaign committees of candidates for 4402
statewide ~~offices~~office or the state board of education, 4403
political action committees ~~or political contributing entities~~ 4404
that make contributions to campaign committees of candidates that 4405
are required to file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 4406
of the Revised Code with the secretary of state, political action 4407
committees ~~or political contributing entities~~ that make 4408
contributions to campaign committees of candidates for member of 4409
the general assembly, political action committees ~~or political~~ 4410
~~contributing entities~~ that make contributions to state and 4411
national political parties and to legislative campaign funds, 4412
political action committees ~~or political contributing entities~~ 4413
that receive contributions or make expenditures in connection with 4414
a statewide ballot issue, political action committees ~~or political~~ 4415
~~contributing entities~~ that make contributions to other political 4416
action committees ~~or political contributing entities~~, political 4417
parties, and campaign committees, except as set forth in division 4418
(A)(3) of this section, legislative campaign funds, and state and 4419
national political parties shall file the statements prescribed by 4420
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with the secretary of state. 4421

       (2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (F) of 4422
section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, campaign committees of 4423
candidates for all other offices shall file the statements 4424
prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with the board 4425
of elections where their candidates are required to file their 4426
petitions or other papers for nomination or election. 4427

       (b) A campaign committee of a candidate for office of member 4428
of the general assembly or a campaign committee of a candidate for 4429
the office of judge of a court of appeals shall file two copies of 4430
the printed version of any statement, addendum, or amended 4431
statement if the committee does not file ~~by electronic means of~~ 4432
~~transmission or on computer disk~~ pursuant to division (F)(1) or 4433
(L) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code but files by printed 4434
version only with the appropriate board of elections. The board of 4435
elections shall send one of those copies by overnight delivery 4436
service to the secretary of state before the close of business on 4437
the day the board of elections receives the statement, addendum, 4438
or amended statement. 4439

       (3) Political action committees ~~or political contributing~~ 4440
~~entities~~ that only contribute to a county political party, 4441
contribute to campaign committees of candidates whose nomination 4442
or election is to be submitted only to electors within a county, 4443
subdivision, or district, excluding candidates for member of the 4444
general assembly, and receive contributions or make expenditures 4445
in connection with ballot questions or issues to be submitted only 4446
to electors within a county, subdivision, or district shall file 4447
the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code 4448
with the board of elections in that county or in the county 4449
contained in whole or part within the subdivision or district 4450
having a population greater than that of any other county 4451
contained in whole or part within that subdivision or district, as 4452
the case may be. 4453

       (4) ~~County~~Except as otherwise provided in division (E)(3) of 4454
section 3517.106 of the Revised Code with respect to state 4455
candidate funds, county political parties shall file the 4456
statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with 4457
the board of elections of their respective counties. 4458

       (B)(1) The official with whom petitions and other papers for 4459
nomination or election to public office are filed shall furnish 4460
each candidate at the time of that filing a copy of sections 4461
3517.01, 3517.08 to 3517.11, 3517.13 to 3517.993, 3599.03, and 4462
3599.031 of the Revised Code and any other materials that the 4463
secretary of state may require. Each candidate receiving the 4464
materials shall acknowledge their receipt in writing. 4465

       (2) On or before the tenth day before the dates on which 4466
statements are required to be filed by section 3517.10 of the 4467
Revised Code, every candidate subject to the provisions of this 4468
section and sections 3517.10 and 3517.106 of the Revised Code 4469
shall be notified of the requirements and applicable penalties of 4470
those sections. The secretary of state, by certified mail, return 4471
receipt requested, shall notify all candidates required to file 4472
those statements with the secretary of state's office. The board 4473
of elections of every county shall notify by first class mail any 4474
candidate who has personally appeared at the office of the board 4475
on or before the tenth day before the statements are required to 4476
be filed and signed a form, to be provided by the secretary of 4477
state, attesting that the candidate has been notified of the 4478
candidate's obligations under the campaign finance law. The board 4479
shall forward the completed form to the secretary of state. The 4480
board shall use certified mail, return receipt requested, to 4481
notify all other candidates required to file those statements with 4482
it. 4483

       (3)(a) Any statement required to be filed under sections 4484
3517.081 to 3517.17 of the Revised Code that is found to be 4485
incomplete or inaccurate by the officer to whom it is submitted 4486
shall be accepted on a conditional basis, and the person who filed 4487
it shall be notified by certified mail as to the incomplete or 4488
inaccurate nature of the statement. The secretary of state may 4489
examine statements filed for candidates for the office of member 4490
of the general assembly and candidates for the office of judge of 4491
a court of appeals for completeness and accuracy. The secretary of 4492
state shall examine for completeness and accuracy statements that 4493
campaign committees of candidates for the office of member of the 4494
general assembly and campaign committees of candidates for the 4495
office of judge of a court of appeals file ~~by electronic means of~~ 4496
~~transmission~~ pursuant to division (F) or (L) of section 3517.106 4497
of the Revised Code. If an officer at the board of elections where 4498
a statement filed for a candidate for the office of member of the 4499
general assembly or for a candidate for the office of judge of a 4500
court of appeals was submitted finds the statement to be 4501
incomplete or inaccurate, the officer shall immediately notify the 4502
secretary of state of its incomplete or inaccurate nature. If 4503
either an officer at the board of elections or the secretary of 4504
state finds a statement filed for a candidate for the office of 4505
member of the general assembly or for a candidate for the office 4506
of judge of a court of appeals to be incomplete or inaccurate, 4507
only the secretary of state shall send the notification as to the 4508
incomplete or inaccurate nature of the statement. 4509

       Within twenty-one days after receipt of the notice, in the 4510
case of a pre-election statement, a postelection statement, a 4511
monthly statement, or an annual statement, or a semiannual 4512
statement prescribed by section 3517.10, an annual statement 4513
prescribed by section 3517.101, or a statement prescribed by 4514
division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105 or section 4515
3517.107 of the Revised Code, the recipient shall file an 4516
addendum, amendment, or other correction to the statement 4517
providing the information necessary to complete or correct the 4518
statement. The secretary of state may require that, in lieu of 4519
filing an addendum, amendment, or other correction to a statement 4520
that is filed by electronic means of transmission to the office of 4521
the secretary of state ~~or on computer disk with the appropriate~~ 4522
~~board of elections~~ pursuant to section 3517.106 of the Revised 4523
Code, the recipient of the notice described in this division file 4524
by electronic means of transmission~~, or, until March 1, 2004, on~~ 4525
~~computer disk with the appropriate board of elections if the~~ 4526
~~original statement was filed on computer disk,~~ an amended 4527
statement that incorporates the information necessary to complete 4528
or correct the statement. ~~The~~ 4529

       The secretary of state shall determine by rule when an 4530
addendum, amendment, or other correction to aany of the following 4531
or when an amended statement of any of the following shall be 4532
filed: 4533

       (i) A two-business-day statement prescribed by section 4534
3517.10 of the Revised Code ~~or an amended two-business-day~~ 4535
~~statement shall be filed~~; 4536

       (ii) A disclosure of electioneering communications statement 4537
prescribed by division (D) of section 3517.1011 of the Revised 4538
Code; 4539

       (iii) A deposit and disbursement statement prescribed under 4540
division (B) of section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code. An 4541

       An addendum, amendment, or other correction to a statement 4542
that is filed by electronic means of transmission ~~or on computer~~ 4543
~~disk~~ pursuant to section 3517.106 of the Revised Code shall be 4544
filed in the same manner as the statement. ~~The~~ 4545

       The provisions of sections 3517.10 ~~and~~, 3517.106, 3517.1011, 4546
and 3517.1012 of the Revised Code pertaining to the filing of 4547
statements of contributions and expenditures ~~and~~, statements of 4548
independent expenditures, disclosure of electioneering 4549
communications statements, and deposit and disbursement statements 4550
by electronic means of transmission ~~or on computer disk~~ apply to 4551
the filing of addenda, amendments, or other corrections to those 4552
statements by electronic means of transmission ~~or, until March 1,~~ 4553
~~2004, on computer disk~~ and the filing of amended statements by 4554
electronic means of transmission ~~or, until March 1, 2004, on~~ 4555
~~computer disk~~. 4556

       (b) Within five business days after the secretary of state 4557
receives, by electronic or other means of transmission, an 4558
addendum, amendment, or other correction to a statement or an 4559
amended statement under division (B)(3)(a) of this section, the 4560
secretary of state, pursuant to divisions (E), (F), (G), and (I) 4561
of section 3517.106 or division (D) of section 3517.1011 of the 4562
Revised Code, shall make the contribution and expenditure, 4563
contribution and disbursement, or deposit and disbursement 4564
information in that addendum, amendment, correction, or amended 4565
statement available online to the public through the internet. 4566

       (4)(a) The secretary of state or the board of elections shall 4567
examine all statements for compliance with sections 3517.08 to 4568
3517.17 of the Revised Code. 4569

       (b) The secretary of state may contract with an individual or 4570
entity not associated with the secretary of state and experienced 4571
in interpreting the campaign finance law of this state to conduct 4572
examinations of statements filed by any statewide candidate, as 4573
defined in section 3517.103 of the Revised Code. 4574

       (c) The examination shall be conducted by a person or entity 4575
qualified to conduct it. The results of the examination shall be 4576
available to the public, and, when the examination is conducted by 4577
an individual or entity not associated with the secretary of 4578
state, the results of the examination shall be reported to the 4579
secretary of state. 4580

       (C)(1) In the event of a failure to file or a late filing of 4581
a statement required to be filed under sections 3517.081 to 4582
3517.17 of the Revised Code, or if a filed statement or any 4583
addendum, amendment, or other correction to ~~the~~a statement or any 4584
amended statement, if an addendum, amendment, or other correction 4585
or an amended statement is required to be filed, is incomplete or 4586
inaccurate or appears to disclose a failure to comply with or a 4587
violation of law, the official whose duty it is to examine the 4588
statement shall promptly file a complaint with the Ohio elections 4589
commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised Code if the law 4590
is one over which the commission has jurisdiction to hear 4591
complaints, or the official shall promptly report the failure or 4592
violation to the board of elections and the board shall promptly 4593
report it to the prosecuting attorney in accordance with division 4594
(J) of section 3501.11 of the Revised Code. If the official files 4595
a complaint with the commission, the commission shall proceed in 4596
accordance with sections 3517.154 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code. 4597

       (2) For purposes of division (C)(1) of this section, a 4598
statement or an addendum, amendment, or other correction to a 4599
statement or an amended statement required to be filed under 4600
sections 3517.081 to 3517.17 of the Revised Code is incomplete or 4601
inaccurate under this section if the statement or, addendum, 4602
amendment, other correction, or amended statement fails to 4603
disclose substantially all contributions that are received ~~from a~~ 4604
~~source and that~~or deposits that are made that are required to be 4605
reported under sections 3517.10, 3517.107, ~~and~~ 3517.108, 4606
3517.1011, and 3517.1012 of the Revised Code or if the statement 4607
or, addendum, amendment, other correction, or amended statement 4608
fails to disclose at least ninety per cent of the total 4609
contributions received or deposits made or of the total 4610
expenditures or disbursements made during the reporting period. 4611

       (D) No certificate of nomination or election shall be issued 4612
to a person, and no person elected to an office shall enter upon 4613
the performance of the duties of that office, until that person or 4614
that person's campaign committee, as appropriate, has fully 4615
complied with this section and sections 3517.08, 3517.081, 4616
3517.10, and 3517.13 of the Revised Code. 4617

       Sec. 3517.13. (A)(1) No campaign committee ~~for~~of a 4618
statewide candidate ~~whose candidacy for nomination or election was~~ 4619
~~submitted to electors throughout the entire state~~ shall fail to 4620
file a complete and accurate statement required under division 4621
(A)(1) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. 4622

       (2) No campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall fail 4623
to file a complete and accurate monthly statement, and no campaign 4624
committee of a statewide candidate or a candidate for the office 4625
of chief justice or justice of the supreme court shall fail to 4626
file a complete and accurate two-business-day statement, as 4627
required under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. 4628

        As used in this division, "statewide candidate" has the same 4629
meaning as in division (F)(2) of section 3517.10 of the Revised 4630
Code. 4631

       (B) No campaign committee ~~for a candidate whose candidacy for~~ 4632
~~nomination or election was submitted to electors within a county~~ 4633
~~or district~~ shall fail to file a complete and accurate statement 4634
required under division (A)(1) of section 3517.10 of the Revised 4635
Code. 4636

       (C) No campaign committee shall fail to file a complete and 4637
accurate statement required under division (A)(2) of section 4638
3517.10 of the Revised Code. 4639

       (D) No campaign committee shall fail to file a complete and 4640
accurate statement required under division (A)(3) or (4) of 4641
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. 4642

       (E) No person other than a campaign committee shall knowingly 4643
fail to file a statement required under section 3517.10 or 4644
3517.107 of the Revised Code. 4645

       (F) No person shall make cash contributions to any person 4646
totaling more than one hundred dollars in each primary, special, 4647
or general election. 4648

       (G)(1) No person shall knowingly conceal or misrepresent 4649
contributions given or received, expenditures made, or any other 4650
information required to be reported by a provision in sections 4651
3517.08 to 3517.13 and 3517.17 of the Revised Code. 4652

       (2)(a) No person shall make a contribution to a campaign 4653
committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, 4654
political party, or ~~political contributing entity~~person or 4655
political committee making disbursements to pay the direct costs 4656
of producing or airing electioneering communications in the name 4657
of another person. 4658

       (b) A person does not make a contribution in the name of 4659
another when either of the following applies: 4660

       (i) An individual makes a contribution from a partnership or 4661
other unincorporated business account, if the contribution is 4662
reported by listing both the name of the partnership or other 4663
unincorporated business and the name of the partner or owner 4664
making the contribution as required under division (I) of section 4665
3517.10 of the Revised Code. 4666

       (ii) A person makes a contribution in that person's spouse's 4667
name or in both of their names. 4668

       (H) No person within this state, publishing a newspaper or 4669
other periodical, shall charge a campaign committee for political 4670
advertising a rate in excess of the rate such person would charge 4671
if the campaign committee were a general rate advertiser whose 4672
advertising was directed to promoting its business within the same 4673
area as that encompassed by the particular office that the 4674
candidate of the campaign committee is seeking. The rate shall 4675
take into account the amount of space used, as well as the type of 4676
advertising copy submitted by or on behalf of the campaign 4677
committee. All discount privileges otherwise offered by a 4678
newspaper or periodical to general rate advertisers shall be 4679
available upon equal terms to all campaign committees. 4680

       No person within this state, operating a radio or television 4681
station or network of stations in this state, shall charge a 4682
campaign committee for political broadcasts a rate that exceeds: 4683

       (1) During the forty-five days preceding the date of a 4684
primary election and during the sixty days preceding the date of a 4685
general or special election in which the candidate of the campaign 4686
committee is seeking office, the lowest unit charge of the station 4687
for the same class and amount of time for the same period; 4688

       (2) At any other time, the charges made for comparable use of 4689
~~such~~that station by its other users. 4690

       (I) Subject to divisions (K), (L), (M), and (N) of this 4691
section, no agency or department of this state or any political 4692
subdivision shall award any contract, other than one let by 4693
competitive bidding or a contract incidental to such contract or 4694
which is by force account, for the purchase of goods costing more 4695
than five hundred dollars or services costing more than five 4696
hundred dollars to any individual, partnership, association, 4697
including, without limitation, a professional association 4698
organized under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code, estate, or 4699
trust if the individual has made or the individual's spouse has 4700
made, or any partner, shareholder, administrator, executor, or 4701
trustee, or the ~~spouses~~spouse of any of them has made, as an 4702
individual, within the two previous calendar years, one or more 4703
contributions totaling in excess of one thousand dollars to the 4704
holder of the public office having ultimate responsibility for the 4705
award of the contract or to the public officer's campaign 4706
committee. 4707

       (J) Subject to divisions (K), (L), (M), and (N) of this 4708
section, no agency or department of this state or any political 4709
subdivision shall award any contract, other than one let by 4710
competitive bidding or a contract incidental to such contract or 4711
which is by force account, for the purchase of goods costing more 4712
than five hundred dollars or services costing more than five 4713
hundred dollars to a corporation or business trust, except a 4714
professional association organized under Chapter 1785. of the 4715
Revised Code, if an owner of more than twenty per cent of the 4716
corporation or business trust or the spouse of ~~such~~that person, 4717
has made, as an individual, within the two previous calendar 4718
years, taking into consideration only owners for all of ~~such~~that 4719
period, one or more contributions totaling in excess of one 4720
thousand dollars to the holder of a public office having ultimate 4721
responsibility for the award of the contract or to the public 4722
officer's campaign committee. 4723

       (K) For purposes of divisions (I) and (J) of this section, if 4724
a public officer who is responsible for the award of a contract is 4725
appointed by the governor, whether or not the appointment is 4726
subject to the advice and consent of the senate, excluding members 4727
of boards, commissions, committees, authorities, councils, boards 4728
of trustees, task forces, and other such entities appointed by the 4729
governor, the office of the governor is considered to have 4730
ultimate responsibility for the award of the contract. 4731

       (L) For purposes of divisions (I) and (J) of this section, if 4732
a public officer who is responsible for the award of a contract is 4733
appointed by the elected chief executive officer of a municipal 4734
corporation, or appointed by the elected chief executive officer 4735
of a county operating under an alternative form of county 4736
government or county charter, excluding members of boards, 4737
commissions, committees, authorities, councils, boards of 4738
trustees, task forces, and other such entities appointed by the 4739
chief executive officer, the office of the chief executive officer 4740
is considered to have ultimate responsibility for the award of the 4741
contract. 4742

       (M)(1) Divisions (I) and (J) of this section do not apply to 4743
contracts awarded by the board of commissioners of the sinking 4744
fund, municipal legislative authorities, boards of education, 4745
boards of county commissioners, boards of township trustees, or 4746
other boards, commissions, committees, authorities, councils, 4747
boards of trustees, task forces, and other such entities created 4748
by law, by the supreme court or courts of appeals, by county 4749
courts consisting of more than one judge, courts of common pleas 4750
consisting of more than one judge, or municipal courts consisting 4751
of more than one judge, or by a division of any court if the 4752
division consists of more than one judge. ~~Division (M)(1) of this~~ 4753
~~section~~This division shall apply to the specified entity only if 4754
the members of the entity act collectively in the award of a 4755
contract for goods or services. 4756

       (2) Divisions (I) and (J) of this section do not apply to 4757
actions of the controlling board. 4758

       (N)(1) Divisions (I) and (J) of this section apply to 4759
contributions made to the holder of a public office having 4760
ultimate responsibility for the award of a contract, or to the 4761
public officer's campaign committee, during the time the person 4762
holds the office and during any time such person was a candidate 4763
for the office. ~~These~~Those divisions do not apply to 4764
contributions made to, or to the campaign committee of, a 4765
candidate for or holder of the office other than the holder of the 4766
office at the time of the award of the contract. 4767

       (2) Divisions (I) and (J) of this section do not apply to 4768
contributions of a partner, shareholder, administrator, executor, 4769
trustee, or owner of more than twenty per cent of a corporation or 4770
business trust made before the person held any of those positions 4771
or after the person ceased to hold any of those positions in the 4772
partnership, association, estate, trust, corporation, or business 4773
trust whose eligibility to be awarded a contract is being 4774
determined, nor to contributions of the person's spouse made 4775
before the person held any of those positions, after the person 4776
ceased to hold any of those positions, before the two were 4777
married, or after the granting of a decree of divorce, dissolution 4778
of marriage, or ~~nullity~~annulment, or after the granting of an 4779
order in an action brought solely for legal separation. ~~These~~ 4780
Those divisions do not apply to contributions of the spouse of an 4781
individual whose eligibility to be awarded a contract is being 4782
determined made before the two were married, or after the granting 4783
of a decree of divorce, dissolution of marriage, or ~~nullity~~ 4784
annulment, or after the granting of an order in an action brought 4785
solely for legal separation. 4786

       (O) No beneficiary of a campaign fund or other person shall 4787
convert for personal use, and no person shall knowingly give to a 4788
beneficiary of a campaign fund or any other person, for the 4789
beneficiary's or any other person's personal use, anything of 4790
value from the beneficiary's campaign fund, including, without 4791
limitation, payments to a beneficiary for services the beneficiary 4792
personally performs, except as reimbursement for any of the 4793
following: 4794

       (1) Legitimate and verifiable prior campaign expenses 4795
incurred by the beneficiary; 4796

       (2) Legitimate and verifiable, ordinary, and necessary prior 4797
expenses incurred by the beneficiary in connection with duties as 4798
the holder of a public office, including, without limitation, 4799
expenses incurred through participation in nonpartisan or 4800
bipartisan events if the participation of the holder of a public 4801
office would normally be expected; 4802

       (3) Legitimate and verifiable ordinary and necessary prior 4803
expenses incurred by the beneficiary while doing any of the 4804
following: 4805

       (a) ~~Engaged~~Engaging in activities in support of or 4806
opposition to a candidate other than the beneficiary, political 4807
party, or ballot issue; 4808

       (b) Raising funds for a political party, political action 4809
committee, ~~political contributing entity,~~ legislative campaign 4810
fund, campaign committee, or other candidate; 4811

       (c) Participating in the activities of a political party, 4812
political action committee, ~~political contributing entity,~~ 4813
legislative campaign fund, or campaign committee; or 4814

       (d) Attending a political party convention or other political 4815
meeting. 4816

       For purposes of this division, an expense is incurred 4817
whenever a beneficiary has either made payment or is obligated to 4818
make payment, as by the use of a credit card or other credit 4819
procedure or by the use of goods or services received on account. 4820

       (P) No beneficiary of a campaign fund shall knowingly accept, 4821
and no person shall knowingly give to the beneficiary of a 4822
campaign fund, reimbursement for an expense under division (O) of 4823
this section to the extent that the expense previously was 4824
reimbursed or paid from another source of funds. If an expense is 4825
reimbursed under division (O) of this section and is later paid or 4826
reimbursed, wholly or in part, from another source of funds, the 4827
beneficiary shall repay the reimbursement received under division 4828
(O) of this section to the extent of the payment made or 4829
reimbursement received from the other source. 4830

       (Q) No candidate or public official or employee shall accept 4831
for personal or business use anything of value from a political 4832
party, political action committee, ~~political contributing entity,~~ 4833
legislative campaign fund, or campaign committee other than the 4834
candidate's or public official's or employee's own campaign 4835
committee, and no person shall knowingly give to a candidate or 4836
public official or employee anything of value from a political 4837
party, political action committee, ~~political contributing entity,~~ 4838
legislative campaign fund, or such a campaign committee, except 4839
for the following: 4840

       (1) Reimbursement for legitimate and verifiable, ordinary, 4841
and necessary prior expenses not otherwise prohibited by law 4842
incurred by the candidate or public official or employee while 4843
engaged in any legitimate activity of the political party, 4844
political action committee, ~~political contributing entity,~~ 4845
legislative campaign fund, or such campaign committee. Without 4846
limitation, reimbursable expenses under this division include 4847
those incurred while doing any of the following: 4848

       (a) ~~Engaged~~Engaging in activities in support of or 4849
opposition to another candidate, political party, or ballot issue; 4850

       (b) Raising funds for a political party, legislative campaign 4851
fund, campaign committee, or another candidate; or 4852

       (c) Attending a political party convention or other political 4853
meeting. 4854

       (2) Compensation not otherwise prohibited by law for actual 4855
and valuable personal services rendered under a written contract 4856
to the political party, political action committee, ~~political~~ 4857
~~contributing entity,~~ legislative campaign fund, or such campaign 4858
committee for any legitimate activity of the political party, 4859
political action committee, ~~political contributing entity,~~ 4860
legislative campaign fund, or such campaign committee. 4861

       Reimbursable expenses under this division do not include, and 4862
it is a violation of this division for a candidate or public 4863
official or employee to accept, or for any person to knowingly 4864
give to a candidate or public official or employee from a 4865
political party, political action committee, ~~political~~ 4866
~~contributing entity,~~ legislative campaign fund, or campaign 4867
committee other than the candidate's or public official's or 4868
employee's own campaign committee, anything of value for 4869
activities primarily related to the candidate's or public 4870
official's or employee's own campaign for election, except for 4871
contributions to the candidate's or public official's or 4872
employee's campaign committee. 4873

       For purposes of this division, an expense is incurred 4874
whenever a candidate or public official or employee has either 4875
made payment or is obligated to make payment, as by the use of a 4876
credit card or other credit procedure, or by the use of goods or 4877
services on account. 4878

       (R)(1) Division (O) or (P) of this section does not prohibit 4879
a campaign committee from making direct advance or post payment 4880
from contributions to vendors for goods and services for which 4881
reimbursement is permitted under division (O) of this section, 4882
except that no campaign committee shall pay its candidate or other 4883
beneficiary for services personally performed by the candidate or 4884
other beneficiary. 4885

       (2) If any expense that may be reimbursed under division (O), 4886
(P), or (Q) of this section is part of other expenses that may not 4887
be paid or reimbursed, the separation of the two types of expenses 4888
for the purpose of allocating for payment or reimbursement those 4889
expenses that may be paid or reimbursed may be by any reasonable 4890
accounting method, considering all of the surrounding 4891
circumstances. 4892

       (3) For purposes of divisions (O), (P), and (Q) of this 4893
section, mileage allowance at a rate not greater than that allowed 4894
by the internal revenue service at the time the travel occurs may 4895
be paid instead of reimbursement for actual travel expenses 4896
allowable. 4897

       (S)(1) As used in division (S) of this section: 4898

       (a) "State elective office" has the same meaning as in 4899
section 3517.092 of the Revised Code. 4900

       (b) "Federal office" means a federal office as defined in the 4901
Federal Election Campaign Act. 4902

       (c) "Federal campaign committee" means a principal campaign 4903
committee or authorized committee as defined in the Federal 4904
Election Campaign Act. 4905

       (2) No person who is a candidate for state elective office 4906
and who previously sought nomination or election to a federal 4907
office shall transfer any funds or assets from that person's 4908
federal campaign committee for nomination or election to the 4909
federal office to that person's campaign committee as a candidate 4910
for state elective office. 4911

       (3) No campaign committee of a person who is a candidate for 4912
state elective office and who previously sought nomination or 4913
election to a federal office shall accept any funds or assets from 4914
that person's federal campaign committee for that person's 4915
nomination or election to the federal office. 4916

       (T)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(6)(c) of 4917
section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, a state or county political 4918
party shall not disburse moneys from any account other than a 4919
state candidate fund to make contributions to any of the 4920
following: 4921

       (a) A state candidate fund; 4922

       (b) A legislative campaign fund; 4923

       (c) A campaign committee of a candidate for the office of 4924
governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of 4925
state, treasurer of state, attorney general, member of the state 4926
board of education, or member of the general assembly. 4927

       (2) No state candidate fund, legislative campaign fund, or 4928
campaign committee of a candidate for any office described in 4929
division (T)(1)(c) of this section shall knowingly accept a 4930
contribution in violation of division (T)(1) of this section. 4931

       (U) No person shall fail to file the statement required under 4932
section 3517.12 of the Revised Code. 4933

       (V) No campaign committee shall fail to file a statement 4934
required under division (K)(3) of section 3517.10 of the Revised 4935
Code. 4936

       (W)(1) No foreign national shall, directly or indirectly 4937
through any other person or entity, make a contribution, 4938
expenditure, or independent expenditure or promise, either 4939
expressly or implicitly, to make a contribution, expenditure, or 4940
independent expenditure in support of or opposition to a candidate 4941
for any elective office in this state, including an office of a 4942
political party. 4943

       (2) No candidate, campaign committee, political action 4944
committee, ~~political contributing entity,~~ legislative campaign 4945
fund, state candidate fund, political party, or separate 4946
segregated fund shall solicit or accept a contribution, 4947
expenditure, or independent expenditure from a foreign national. 4948
The secretary of state may direct any candidate, committee, fund, 4949
~~entity,~~ or party that accepts a contribution, expenditure, or 4950
independent expenditure in violation of this division to return 4951
the contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure or, if 4952
it is not possible to return the contribution, expenditure, or 4953
independent expenditure, then to return instead the value of it, 4954
to the contributor. 4955

       (3) As used in division (W) of this section, "foreign 4956
national" has the same meaning as in section 441e(b) of the 4957
Federal Election Campaign Act. 4958

       (X)(1) No state or county political party shall transfer any 4959
moneys from its restricted fund to any account of the political 4960
party into which contributions may be made or from which 4961
contributions or expenditures may be made. 4962

       (2)(a) No state or county political party shall deposit a 4963
contribution or contributions that it receives into its restricted 4964
fund. 4965

       (b) No state or county political party shall make a 4966
contribution or an expenditure from its restricted fund. 4967

       (3)(a) No corporation or labor organization shall make a gift 4968
or gifts from the corporation's or labor organization's money or 4969
property aggregating more than ten thousand dollars to any one 4970
state or county political party for the party's restricted fund in 4971
a calendar year. 4972

       (b) No state or county political party shall accept a gift or 4973
gifts for the party's restricted fund aggregating more than ten 4974
thousand dollars from any one corporation or labor organization in 4975
a calendar year. 4976

       (4) No state or county political party shall transfer any 4977
moneys in the party's restricted fund to any other state or county 4978
political party. 4979

       (5) No state or county political party shall knowingly fail 4980
to file a statement required under section 3517.1012 of the 4981
Revised Code. 4982

       Sec. 3517.151. (A) On and after January 1, 1996, complaints 4983
with respect to acts or failures to act under the sections listed 4984
in division (A) of section 3517.153 of the Revised Code shall be 4985
filed with the Ohio elections commission created under section 4986
3517.152 of the Revised Code. 4987

       (B)(1) If a complaint filed with the Ohio elections 4988
commission created under section 3517.152 of the Revised Code 4989
alleges an act or failure to act that occurred before August 24, 4990
1995, and the commission imposes a fine, sections 3517.99 and 4991
3517.991 of the Revised Code, and not sections 3517.992 and 4992
3517.993 of the Revised Code, shall apply. 4993

       (2) If a complaint filed with the Ohio elections commission 4994
created under section 3517.152 of the Revised Code alleges an act 4995
or failure to act that is a violation of section 3517.13 of the 4996
Revised Code, former divisions (A) to (R) of that section apply to 4997
the act or failure to act if it occurred before August 24, 1995, 4998
former divisions (A) to (U) of that section apply to the act or 4999
failure to act if it occurs on or after August 24, 1995, but 5000
before July 13, 1998, former divisions (A) to (V) of that section 5001
apply to the act or failure to act if it occurs on or after July 5002
13, 1998, but before ~~the effective date of this amendment~~December 5003
22, 1999, ~~and~~former divisions (A) to (W) of that section apply to 5004
the act or failure to act if it occurs on or after ~~the effective~~ 5005
~~date of this amendment~~December 22, 1999, but before the effective 5006
date of this amendment, and divisions (A) to (X) of that section 5007
apply to the act or failure to act if it occurs on or after the 5008
effective date of this amendment. 5009

       (C) The Ohio elections commission created under section 5010
3517.14 of the Revised Code is abolished at the close of business 5011
on December 31, 1995. 5012

       Sec. 3517.152. (A)(1) There is hereby created the Ohio 5013
elections commission consisting of seven members. 5014

       Not later than forty-five days after August 24, 1995, the 5015
speaker of the house of representatives and the leader in the 5016
senate of the political party of which the speaker is a member 5017
shall jointly submit to the governor a list of five persons who 5018
are affiliated with that political party. Not later than 5019
forty-five days after August 24, 1995, the two legislative leaders 5020
in the two houses of the general assembly of the major political 5021
party of which the speaker is not a member shall jointly submit to 5022
the governor a list of five persons who are affiliated with the 5023
major political party of which the speaker is not a member. Not 5024
later than fifteen days after receiving each list, the governor 5025
shall appoint three persons from each list to the commission. The 5026
governor shall appoint one person from each list to a term that 5027
ends on December 31, 1996, one person from each list to a term 5028
that ends on December 31, 1997, and one person from each list to a 5029
term that ends on December 31, 1998. 5030

       Not later than thirty days after the governor appoints these 5031
six members, they shall, by a majority vote, appoint to the 5032
commission a seventh member, who shall not be affiliated with a 5033
political party. If the six members fail to appoint the seventh 5034
member within this thirty-day period, the chief justice of the 5035
supreme court, not later than thirty days after the end of the 5036
period during which the six members were required to appoint a 5037
member, shall appoint the seventh member, who shall not be 5038
affiliated with a political party. The seventh member shall be 5039
appointed to a term that ends on December 31, 2001. Terms of the 5040
initial members appointed under this division begin on January 1, 5041
1996. 5042

       (2) If a vacancy occurs in the position of the seventh 5043
member, who is not affiliated with a political party, the six 5044
remaining members by a majority vote shall appoint, not later than 5045
forty-five days after the date of the vacancy, the seventh member 5046
of the commission, who shall not be affiliated with a political 5047
party. If these members fail to appoint the seventh member within 5048
this forty-five-day period, the chief justice of the supreme 5049
court, within fifteen days after the end of this period, shall 5050
appoint the seventh member, who shall not be affiliated with a 5051
political party. If a vacancy occurs in any of the other six 5052
positions on the commission, the legislative leaders of the 5053
political party from whose list of persons the member being 5054
replaced was appointed shall submit to the governor, not later 5055
than thirty days after the date of the vacancy, a list of three 5056
persons who are affiliated with that political party. Not later 5057
than fifteen days after receiving the list, the governor, with the 5058
advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint one person from 5059
the list to the commission. 5060

       (3) At no time shall more than six members of the commission 5061
be affiliated with a political party, and, of these six members, 5062
not more than three shall be affiliated with the same political 5063
party. 5064

       (4) In making appointments to the commission, the governor 5065
shall take into consideration the various geographic areas of this 5066
state and shall appoint members so that those areas are 5067
represented on the commission in a balanced manner, to the extent 5068
feasible. 5069

       (5) Members of the commission shall be registered electors 5070
and shall be of good moral character. 5071

       (B) Each member of the Ohio elections commission shall hold 5072
office from the date of the member's appointment until the end of 5073
the term for which the member was appointed. A member appointed to 5074
fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for 5075
which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for 5076
the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office 5077
subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the 5078
member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days 5079
has elapsed, whichever occurs first. After the initial terms of 5080
office provided for in division (A)(1) of this section, terms of 5081
office shall be for five years. 5082

       (C) A vacancy in the Ohio elections commission may be caused 5083
by death, resignation, or three absences from commission meetings 5084
in a calendar year if those absences are caused by reasons 5085
declared invalid by a vote of five members of the remaining 5086
members of the commission. 5087

       (D) Each member of the Ohio elections commission while in the 5088
performance of the business of the commission shall be entitled to 5089
receive compensation at the rate of twenty-five thousand dollars 5090
per year. Members shall be reimbursed for expenses actually and 5091
necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. 5092

       (E) No member of the Ohio elections commission shall serve 5093
more than one full term unless the terms served are served 5094
nonconsecutively. 5095

       (F)(1) No member of the Ohio elections commission shall do or 5096
be any of the following: 5097

       (a) Hold, or be a candidate for, a public office; 5098

       (b) Serve on a committee supporting or opposing a candidate 5099
or ballot question or issue; 5100

       (c) Be an officer of the state central committee, a county 5101
central committee, or a district, city, township, or other 5102
committee of a political party or an officer of the executive 5103
committee of the state central committee, a county central 5104
committee, or a district, city, township, or other committee of a 5105
political party; 5106

       (d) Be a legislative agent as defined in section 101.70 of 5107
the Revised Code or an executive agency lobbyist as defined in 5108
section 121.60 of the Revised Code; 5109

       (e) Solicit or be involved in soliciting contributions on 5110
behalf of a candidate, campaign committee, political party, or 5111
political action committee~~, or political contributing entity~~; 5112

       (f) Be in the unclassified service under section 124.11 of 5113
the Revised Code; 5114

       (g) Be a person or employee described in divisions (C)(1) to 5115
(15) of section 4117.01 of the Revised Code. 5116

       (2) No member or employee of the commission shall make a 5117
contribution to, or for the benefit of, a campaign committee or 5118
committee in support of or opposition to a ballot question or 5119
issue, a political party, a legislative campaign fund, or a 5120
political action committee~~, or a political contributing entity~~. 5121

       (G)(1) The members of the Ohio elections commission shall 5122
elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson. At no time shall the 5123
chairperson and vice-chairperson be affiliated with the same 5124
political party. The chairperson shall serve in that capacity for 5125
one year and shall not serve as chairperson more than twice during 5126
a term as a member of the commission. No two successive 5127
chairpersons shall be affiliated with the same political party. 5128

       (2) The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson 5129
or upon the written request of a majority of the members. The 5130
meetings and hearings of the commission or a panel of the 5131
commission under sections 3517.153 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code 5132
are subject to section 121.22 of the Revised Code. 5133

       (3) The commission shall adopt rules for its procedures in 5134
accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. Five of the 5135
seven members constitute a quorum. Except as otherwise provided in 5136
this section and in sections 3517.154 to 3517.157 of the Revised 5137
Code, no action shall be taken without the concurrence of a 5138
majority of the members. 5139

       (H)(1) The Ohio elections commission shall employ the 5140
technical, professional, and clerical employees that are necessary 5141
for it to carry out its duties. 5142

       (2)(a) Notwithstanding section 109.02 of the Revised Code, 5143
the commission shall employ a full-time attorney, and, as needed, 5144
one or more investigatory attorneys to conduct investigations for 5145
the commission or a panel of the commission. The commission may 5146
employ or contract for the services of additional attorneys, as 5147
needed. The full-time attorney shall do all of the following: 5148

       (i) Serve as the commission's attorney in regard to all legal 5149
matters, including representing the commission at appeals from a 5150
final determination of the commission, except that the full-time 5151
attorney shall not perform the duties that an investigatory 5152
attorney is required or requested to perform or that another 5153
attorney the commission employs or contracts with for services is 5154
required or requested to perform, and shall not represent the 5155
commission in any legal proceeding in which the commission is a 5156
named party; 5157

       (ii) At the request of the commission or a panel of the 5158
commission, be present at a hearing held under sections 3517.154 5159
to 3517.156 of the Revised Code to rule on the admissibility of 5160
evidence and to advise on the conduct of procedure; 5161

       (iii) Perform other duties as required by rule of the 5162
commission. 5163

       (b) An attorney employed by or under contract with the 5164
commission shall be licensed to practice law in this state. 5165

       (3)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (H)(3)(b) of 5166
this section, at least five members of the commission shall agree 5167
on the employment of a person, a majority of the members shall 5168
agree on the discharge of an employee, and a person employed by 5169
the commission shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. 5170

       (b) At least five of the seven members shall agree on the 5171
discharge of an investigatory attorney. 5172

       (I) There is hereby created in the state treasury the Ohio 5173
elections commission fund. All moneys credited to the fund shall 5174
be used solely for the purpose of paying expenses related to the 5175
operation of the Ohio elections commission. 5176

       Sec. 3517.154. (A)(1) The full-time attorney for the Ohio 5177
elections commission shall review each complaint filed with the 5178
commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised Code, shall 5179
determine the nature of the complaint, and, unless division 5180
(A)(2)(a) of this section requires that the complaint receive an 5181
automatic expedited hearing, shall make a recommendation to the 5182
commission for its disposition, in accordance with this section. 5183
The attorney shall make the determination and the recommendation, 5184
if required, not later than one business day after the complaint 5185
is filed. 5186

       (2)(a) If the attorney determines that the complaint sets 5187
forth a violation of division (B) of section 3517.21 or division 5188
(B) of section 3517.22 of the Revised Code and that the complaint 5189
is filed during one of the periods of time specified in division 5190
(B)(1) of section 3517.156 of the Revised Code, or that the 5191
complaint sets forth a violation of section 3517.103 of the 5192
Revised Code or a violation described in division (D) of section 5193
3517.1010 of the Revised Code, the complaint shall receive an 5194
automatic expedited hearing under section 3517.156 of the Revised 5195
Code. 5196

       (b) If the attorney determines that the complaint sets forth 5197
a failure to comply with or a violation of division (G), (I), (J), 5198
(O), (P), or (Q) of section 3517.13, division (A) of section 5199
3517.21, or division (A) of section 3517.22 of the Revised Code 5200
and that the complaint is filed during one of the periods of time 5201
specified in division (B)(1) of section 3517.156 of the Revised 5202
Code, the attorney shall recommend to the commission that the 5203
complaint receive an expedited hearing under section 3517.156 of 5204
the Revised Code, and the complaint shall receive such a hearing. 5205

       (c) If the attorney determines that the complaint sets forth 5206
a failure to comply with or a violation of a section of the 5207
Revised Code over which the commission has jurisdiction to hear 5208
complaints other than the sections described in divisions 5209
(A)(2)(a) and (b) of this section, and unless the attorney makes a 5210
determination as provided for in division (A)(3) of this section, 5211
the attorney shall recommend to the commission that the complaint 5212
be submitted to the commission under section 3517.155 of the 5213
Revised Code. After the attorney makes that recommendation, the 5214
attorney shall notify all parties to the complaint of the 5215
attorney's recommendation. 5216

       (3)(a) If a complaint sets forth a failure to comply with or 5217
a violation of a section of the Revised Code over which the 5218
commission has jurisdiction to hear complaints other than the 5219
sections described in divisions (A)(2)(a) and (b) of this section 5220
and if the complaint is filed during one of the periods of time 5221
specified in division (B)(1) of section 3517.156 of the Revised 5222
Code, the attorney may determine that the complaint should receive 5223
an expedited hearing under that section. The attorney shall make 5224
that determination by considering one or more of the following: 5225

       (i) The number of prior failures to comply with or violations 5226
of Title XXXV of the Revised Code that the person or entity 5227
against whom the complaint has been brought has committed and any 5228
prior penalties the commission has imposed on the person or 5229
entity; 5230

       (ii) If the complaint involves a statement required to be 5231
filed under section 3517.10, division (E) of section 3517.102, or 5232
section 3517.103, 3517.105, 3517.107, 3517.108, or 3517.109, 5233
3517.1011, or 3517.1012 of the Revised Code or an addendum 5234
required to be filed under section 3517.11 of the Revised Code 5235
that is filed late, how late the filing is and how much time has 5236
elapsed between the deadline for filing the statement or addendum 5237
and the filing of the complaint; 5238

       (iii) If the complaint involves contributions orand 5239
expenditures, contributions and disbursements, or deposits and 5240
disbursements required to be reported under section 3517.10, 5241
division (E) of section 3517.102, or section 3517.105, 3517.107, 5242
3517.108, or 3517.109, 3517.1011, or 3517.1012 of the Revised Code 5243
that are either not reported or reported late, the number of 5244
contributions orand expenditures, contributions and 5245
disbursements, or deposits and disbursements not reported or how 5246
late they were reported; 5247

       (iv) If the complaint involves contributions required to be 5248
reported by a campaign committee under section 3517.10, division 5249
(E) of section 3517.102, or section 3517.105, 3517.107, 3517.108, 5250
or 3517.109 of the Revised Code that are not reported, whether any 5251
of the contributors of the contributions not reported have a 5252
personal or professional relationship with the campaign 5253
committee's candidate; 5254

       (v) If the complaint involves a statement required to be 5255
filed under section 3517.10, division (E) of section 3517.102, or 5256
section 3517.103, 3517.105, 3517.107, 3517.108, or 3517.109, 5257
3517.1011, or 3517.1012 of the Revised Code that is incomplete, 5258
the degree to which it is incomplete; 5259

       (vi) If the complaint involves the receipt of contributions 5260
in violation of section 3599.03 of the Revised Code, the dollar 5261
amount and number of contributions received in violation of that 5262
section; 5263

       (vii) If the complaint involves a failure to make the 5264
identification or a misstatement of the identification required 5265
under section 3517.105 or 3517.20 of the Revised Code, whether the 5266
failure or misstatement was purposely made; 5267

       (viii) If the complaint sets forth a failure to comply with 5268
or a violation of a section of the Revised Code described in 5269
division (A)(2)(c) of this section, whether the person or entity 5270
against whom the complaint has been made has committed more than 5271
one such failure or violation within a reasonable amount of time, 5272
or whether the cumulative nature of the failures or violations 5273
indicates a systematic disregard for the law. 5274

       (b) Prior to making a determination under division (A)(3)(a) 5275
of this section that the complaint should receive an expedited 5276
hearing under section 3517.156 of the Revised Code, the attorney 5277
shall take into consideration the number of panels of the 5278
commission that have cases pending before them and the number of 5279
cases pending before the panels and shall not make a determination 5280
that will place an undue burden on a panel of the commission. 5281

       (c) If the attorney determines that the complaint should 5282
receive an expedited hearing under section 3517.156 of the Revised 5283
Code, the attorney shall recommend to the commission that the 5284
complaint receive an expedited hearing, and, if a majority of the 5285
members of the commission agrees with the recommendation, the 5286
complaint shall receive an expedited hearing under that section. 5287

       (4) The attorney may join two or more complaints if the 5288
attorney determines that the allegations in each complaint are of 5289
the same or similar character, are based on the same act or 5290
failure to act, or are based on two or more acts or failures to 5291
act constituting parts of a common scheme or plan. If one 5292
complaint contains two or more allegations, the attorney may 5293
separate the allegations if they are not of the same or similar 5294
character, if they are not based on the same act or failure to 5295
act, or if they are not based on two or more acts or failures to 5296
act constituting parts of a common scheme or plan. If the attorney 5297
separates the allegations in a complaint, the attorney may make 5298
separate recommendations under division (A)(2) or (3) of this 5299
section for each allegation. 5300

       (B) Whenever a person or other entity files a complaint with 5301
the commission setting forth a failure to comply with or a 5302
violation of a section of the Revised Code as described in 5303
division (A)(2)(c) of this section and the complaint is filed 5304
during one of the periods of time specified in division (B)(1) of 5305
section 3517.156 of the Revised Code, the person or entity may 5306
request an expedited hearing under that section at the time the 5307
complaint is filed. The attorney for the commission shall inform 5308
the members of the commission of that request at the time the 5309
attorney makes a recommendation under division (A) of this 5310
section. The commission may grant the request for an expedited 5311
hearing under this division if it determines that an expedited 5312
hearing is practicable. 5313

       Sec. 3517.155. (A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in 5314
division (B) of this section, the Ohio elections commission shall 5315
hold its first hearing on a complaint filed with it, other than a 5316
complaint that receives an expedited hearing under section 5317
3517.156 of the Revised Code, not later than ninety business days 5318
after the complaint is filed unless the commission has good cause 5319
to hold the hearing after that time, in which case it shall hold 5320
the hearing not later than one hundred eighty business days after 5321
the complaint is filed. At the hearing, the commission shall 5322
determine whether or not the failure to act or the violation 5323
alleged in the complaint has occurred and shall do only one of the 5324
following, except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this 5325
section or in division (B) of section 3517.151 of the Revised 5326
Code: 5327

       (a) Enter a finding that good cause has been shown not to 5328
impose a fine or not to refer the matter to the appropriate 5329
prosecutor; 5330

       (b) Impose a fine under section 3517.993 of the Revised Code; 5331

       (c) Refer the matter to the appropriate prosecutor; 5332

       (d) Direct the secretary of state or appropriate board of 5333
elections with the authority to certify a candidate to the ballot 5334
to remove a candidate's name from the ballot if the candidate is 5335
barred from the ballot under division (D) of section 3517.1010 of 5336
the Revised Code. 5337

       (2) As used in division (A) of this section, "appropriate 5338
prosecutor" means a prosecutor as defined in section 2935.01 of 5339
the Revised Code and either of the following: 5340

       (a) In the case of a failure to comply with or a violation of 5341
law involving a campaign committee or the committee's candidate, a 5342
political party, a legislative campaign fund, or a political 5343
action committee, ~~or a political contributing entity,~~ that is 5344
required to file a statement of contributions and expenditures 5345
with the secretary of state under division (A) of section 3517.11 5346
of the Revised Code, the prosecutor of Franklin county; 5347

       (b) In the case of a failure to comply with or a violation of 5348
law involving any other campaign committee or committee's 5349
candidate, or any other political party or political action 5350
committee, either of the following as determined by the 5351
commission: 5352

       (i) The prosecutor of Franklin county; 5353

       (ii) The prosecutor of the county in which the candidacy or 5354
ballot question or issue is submitted to the electors or, if it is 5355
submitted in more than one county, the most populous of those 5356
counties. 5357

       (B) If the commission decides that the evidence is 5358
insufficient for it to determine whether or not the failure to act 5359
or the violation alleged in the complaint has occurred, the 5360
commission, by the affirmative vote of five members, may request 5361
that an investigatory attorney investigate the complaint. Upon 5362
that request, an investigatory attorney shall make an 5363
investigation in order to produce sufficient evidence for the 5364
commission to decide the matter. If the commission requests an 5365
investigation under this division, for good cause shown by the 5366
investigatory attorney, the commission may extend by sixty days 5367
the deadline for holding its first hearing on the complaint as 5368
required in division (A) of this section. 5369

       (C) The commission shall take one of the actions required 5370
under division (A) of this section not later than thirty days 5371
after the close of all the evidence presented. 5372

       (D)(1) The commission shall make any finding of a failure to 5373
comply with or a violation of law in regard to a complaint that 5374
alleges a violation of division (D) of section 3517.1010, division 5375
(A) or (B) of section 3517.21, or division (A) or (B) of section 5376
3517.22 of the Revised Code by clear and convincing evidence. The 5377
commission shall make any finding of a failure to comply with or a 5378
violation of law in regard to any other complaint by a 5379
preponderance of the evidence. 5380

       (2) If the commission finds a violation of division (B) of 5381
section 3517.21 or division (B) of section 3517.22 of the Revised 5382
Code, it shall refer the matter to the appropriate prosecutor 5383
under division (A)(1)(c) of this section and shall not impose a 5384
fine under division (A)(1)(b) of this section or section 3517.993 5385
of the Revised Code. 5386

       (E) In an action before the commission or a panel of the 5387
commission, if the allegations of the complainant are not proved, 5388
and the commission takes the action described in division 5389
(A)(1)(a) of this section or a panel of the commission takes the 5390
action described in division (C)(1) of section 3517.156 of the 5391
Revised Code, the commission or a panel of the commission may find 5392
that the complaint is frivolous, and, if the commission or panel 5393
so finds, the commission shall order the complainant to pay 5394
reasonable attorney's fees and to pay the costs of the commission 5395
or panel as determined by a majority of the members of the 5396
commission. The costs paid to the commission or panel under this 5397
division shall be deposited into the Ohio elections commission 5398
fund. 5399

       Sec. 3517.16. (A) There is hereby created in the state 5400
treasury the Ohio political party fund. All moneys received as a 5401
result of individuals exercising the checkoff option on their 5402
state income tax returns provided for in section 5747.081 of the 5403
Revised Code shall be deposited in ~~this~~the fund. The tax 5404
commissioner shall pay money from the fund ~~only~~ to the auditor of 5405
state and to political parties in the manner described in division 5406
(B) of this section. 5407

       (B)(1) The auditor of state annually shall submit a report to 5408
the tax commissioner estimating the costs that the auditor of 5409
state will incur during that year in conducting audits under 5410
section 3517.17 of the Revised Code. The tax commissioner shall 5411
pay to the auditor of state, from the Ohio political party fund, 5412
moneys sufficient to pay the auditor of state's estimated costs of 5413
the audits referred to in this division. 5414

       (2) After the costs of audits are deducted under division 5415
(B)(1) of this section, the tax commissioner shall pay any moneys 5416
remaining in the fund only to political parties qualifying for it 5417
them under division (B) of section 3517.17 of the Revised Code. 5418

       Sec. 3517.17. (A) At the beginning of each calendar quarter, 5419
after the costs of audits are deducted under division (B)(1) of 5420
section 3517.16 of the Revised Code, the tax commissioner shall 5421
divide any remaining moneys that have accrued in the Ohio 5422
political party fund during the previous quarter ~~shall be divided~~ 5423
equally among all qualified political parties in the following 5424
manner. Of the public moneys to which a party is entitled: 5425

       (1) One-half shall be paid to the treasurer of the state 5426
executive committee of the party; 5427

       (2) One-half shall be distributed to the treasurer of each 5428
county executive committee of the various counties in accordance 5429
with the ratio that the number of checkoffs in each county bears 5430
to the total number of checkoffs, as determined by the tax 5431
commissioner. 5432

       Each party treasurer receiving public moneys from the Ohio 5433
political party fund shall deposit those moneys into the party's 5434
restricted fund created under section 3517.1012 of the Revised 5435
Code, shall expend and maintain ~~such~~those moneys ~~in an account~~ 5436
~~separate from all other assets of the political party~~subject to 5437
the requirements of that section and section 3517.18 of the 5438
Revised Code, and shall file deposit and disbursement statements 5439
~~of contributions and expenditures~~ as required by ~~sections 3517.10~~ 5440
~~and 3517.11~~division (B) of section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code. 5441
~~Each treasurer of a state executive committee who files such a~~ 5442
~~statement shall file it with the secretary of state and each~~ 5443
~~treasurer of a county executive committee who files such a~~ 5444
~~statement shall file it with the appropriate board of elections.~~ 5445
~~All such statements filed shall clearly indicate the amounts of~~ 5446
~~public moneys received and the manner of their expenditure.~~ The 5447
auditor of state shall annually audit the deposit and disbursement 5448
statements of the state committee of a political party that ~~has~~ 5449
~~received~~is eligible to receive public moneys collected during the 5450
previous year, to ascertain that ~~such~~all moneys in the party's 5451
restricted fund are expended in accordance with law. The auditor 5452
of state shall audit the deposit and disbursement statements of 5453
each county committee of such a political party to ascertain that 5454
all moneys in the party's restricted fund are expended in 5455
accordance with law at the time of the public office audit of that 5456
county under Chapter 117. of the Revised Code. 5457

       (B) Only major political parties, as defined in section 5458
3501.01 of the Revised Code, may apply for public moneys from the 5459
Ohio political party fund. At the end of each even-numbered 5460
calendar year, the secretary of state shall announce the names of 5461
all such political parties, indicating that they may apply to 5462
receive such moneys during the ensuing two years. Any political 5463
party named at this time may, not later than the last day of 5464
January of the ensuing odd-numbered year, make application with 5465
the tax commissioner to receive public moneys. NoA political 5466
party that fails to make a timely application shall not receive 5467
public moneys during that two-year period. The tax commissioner 5468
shall prescribe an appropriate application form. Moneys from the 5469
fund shall be provided during the appropriate two-year period to 5470
each political party that makes a timely application in accordance 5471
with this division. 5472

       Sec. 3517.20. (A)(1) As used in ~~division (A) of~~ this 5473
section: 5474

       (a) "Political publication for or against a candidate" means 5475
a notice, placard, advertisement, sample ballot, brochure, flyer, 5476
direct mailer, or ~~any~~ other form of general publication that is 5477
designed to promote the nomination, election, or defeat of a 5478
candidate. 5479

       (b) "Political publication for or against an issue" means a 5480
notice, placard, advertisement, sample ballot, brochure, flyer, 5481
direct mailer, or ~~any~~ other form of general publication that is 5482
designed to promote the adoption or defeat of a ballot issue or 5483
question or to influence the voters in an election. 5484

       (c) "Public political advertising" means newspapers, 5485
magazines, outdoor advertising facilities, direct mailings, or 5486
other similar types of general public political advertising, or 5487
flyers, handbills, or other nonperiodical printed matter. 5488

       (d) "Statewide candidate" has the same meaning as in section 5489
3517.102 of the Revised Code. 5490

       (e) "Legislative candidate" means a candidate for the office 5491
of member of the general assembly. 5492

       (f) "Local candidate" means a candidate for an elective 5493
office of a political subdivision of this state. 5494

       (g) "Legislative campaign fund" has the same meaning as in 5495
section 3517.01 of the Revised Code. 5496

       (h) "Limited political action committee" means a political 5497
action committee of fewer than ten members. 5498

       (i) ~~"Limited political contributing entity" means a political~~ 5499
~~contributing entity of fewer than ten members.~~ 5500

       ~~(j)~~ "Designated amount" means one hundred dollars in the case 5501
of a local candidate or a local ballot issue, two hundred fifty 5502
dollars in the case of a legislative candidate, or five hundred 5503
dollars in the case of a statewide candidate or a statewide ballot 5504
issue. 5505

       ~~(k)~~(j) "To issue" includes to print, post, distribute, 5506
reproduce for distribution, or cause to be issued, printed, 5507
posted, distributed, or reproduced for distribution. 5508

       (k) "Telephone bank" means more than five hundred telephone 5509
calls of an identical or substantially similar nature within any 5510
thirty-day period, whether those telephone calls are made by 5511
individual callers or by recording. 5512

       (2) No candidate, campaign committee, legislative campaign 5513
fund, political party, or other entity, except a political action 5514
committee ~~or political contributing entity~~, shall issue a form of 5515
political publication for or against a candidate, or shall make an 5516
expenditure for the purpose of financing political communications 5517
in support of or opposition to a candidate through public 5518
political advertising, unless the name and residence or business 5519
address of the candidate or the chairperson, treasurer, or 5520
secretary of the campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, 5521
political party, or other entity that issues or otherwise is 5522
responsible for that political publication or that makes an 5523
expenditure for that political communication appears in a 5524
conspicuous place on that political publication or is contained 5525
within that political communication. 5526

       (3) No limited political action committee ~~or limited~~ 5527
~~political contributing entity~~ shall do either of the following 5528
unless the name and residence or business address of the 5529
chairperson, treasurer, or secretary of the limited political 5530
action committee ~~or limited political contributing entity~~ involved 5531
appears in a conspicuous place in the political publication for or 5532
against a candidate described in division (A)(3)(a) of this 5533
section or is contained within the political communication 5534
described in division (A)(3)(b) of this section: 5535

       (a) Issue a form of political publication for or against a 5536
candidate that costs in excess of the designated amount or that is 5537
issued in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the 5538
request or suggestion of, a candidate, a campaign committee, a 5539
legislative campaign fund, a political party, a political action 5540
committee with ten or more members, ~~a political contributing~~ 5541
~~entity with ten or more members,~~ or a limited political action 5542
committee ~~or limited political contributing entity~~ that spends in 5543
excess of the designated amount on a related or the same or 5544
similar political publication for or against a candidate; 5545

       (b) Make an expenditure in excess of the designated amount in 5546
support of or opposition to a candidate or make an expenditure in 5547
cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or 5548
suggestion of, a candidate, a campaign committee, a legislative 5549
campaign fund, a political party, a political action committee 5550
with ten or more members, ~~a political contributing entity with ten~~ 5551
~~or more members,~~ or a limited political action committee or 5552
~~limited political contributing entity~~ that spends in excess of the 5553
designated amount in support of or opposition to the same 5554
candidate, for the purpose of financing political communications 5555
in support of or opposition to that candidate through public 5556
political advertising. 5557

       (4) No political action committee with ten or more members 5558
~~and no political contributing entity with ten or more members~~ 5559
shall issue a form of political publication for or against a 5560
candidate, or shall make an expenditure for the purpose of 5561
financing political communications in support of or opposition to 5562
a candidate through public political advertising, unless the name 5563
and residence or business address of the chairperson, treasurer, 5564
or secretary of the political action committee ~~or political~~ 5565
~~contributing entity~~ that issues or otherwise is responsible for 5566
that political publication or that makes an expenditure for that 5567
political communication through public political advertising 5568
appears in a conspicuous place in that political publication or is 5569
contained within that political communication. 5570

       (5) No corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, 5571
legislative campaign fund, political party, or other entity, 5572
except a political action committee, shall issue a form of 5573
political publication for or against an issue, or shall make an 5574
expenditure for the purpose of financing political communications 5575
in support of or opposition to a ballot issue or question through 5576
public political advertising, unless the name and residence or 5577
business address of the chairperson, treasurer, or secretary of 5578
the corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, 5579
legislative campaign fund, political party, or other entity that 5580
issues or otherwise is responsible for that political publication 5581
or that makes an expenditure for that political communication 5582
through public political advertising appears in a conspicuous 5583
place in that political publication or is contained within that 5584
political communication. 5585

       (6) No limited political action committee shall do either of 5586
the following unless the name and residence or business address of 5587
the chairperson, treasurer, or secretary of the limited political 5588
action committee involved appears in a conspicuous place in the 5589
political publication for or against a ballot issue described in 5590
division (A)(6)(a) of this section or is contained within the 5591
political communication described in division (A)(6)(b) of this 5592
section: 5593

       (a) Issue a form of political publication for or against a 5594
ballot issue that costs in excess of the designated amount or that 5595
is issued in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the 5596
request or suggestion of, a candidate, a campaign committee, a 5597
legislative campaign fund, a political party, a political action 5598
committee with ten or more members, or a limited political action 5599
committee that spends in excess of the designated amount for a 5600
related or the same or similar political publication for or 5601
against an issue; 5602

       (b) Make an expenditure in excess of the designated amount in 5603
support of or opposition to a ballot issue or make an expenditure 5604
in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request 5605
or suggestion of, a candidate, a campaign committee, a legislative 5606
campaign fund, a political party, a political action committee 5607
with ten or more members, or a limited political action committee 5608
that spends in excess of the designated amount in support of or 5609
opposition to the same ballot issue, for the purpose of financing 5610
political communications in support of or opposition to that 5611
ballot issue through public political advertising. 5612

       (7) No political action committee with ten or more members 5613
shall issue a form of political publication for or against an 5614
issue, or shall make an expenditure for the purpose of financing 5615
political communications in support of or opposition to a ballot 5616
issue or question through public political advertising, unless the 5617
name and residence or business address of the chairperson, 5618
treasurer, or secretary of the political action committee that 5619
issues or otherwise is responsible for that political publication 5620
or that makes an expenditure for that political communication 5621
appears in a conspicuous place in that political publication or is 5622
contained within that political communication. 5623

       (8) The disclaimer "paid political advertisement" is not 5624
sufficient to meet the requirements of this section. 5625

       (9) If the political publication described in division (A) of 5626
this section is issued by the regularly constituted central or 5627
executive committee of a political party that is organized as 5628
provided in ~~Chapter 3517. of the Revised Code~~this chapter, it 5629
shall be sufficiently identified if it bears the name of the 5630
committee and its chairperson or treasurer. 5631

       (10) If more than one piece of printed matter or printed 5632
political communications are mailed as a single packet, the 5633
requirements of division (A) of this section are met if one of the 5634
pieces of printed matter or printed political communications in 5635
the packet contains the name and residence or business address of 5636
the chairperson, treasurer, or secretary of the organization or 5637
entity that issues or is responsible for the printed matter or 5638
other printed political communications. 5639

       (11) This section does not apply to the transmittal of 5640
personal correspondence that is not reproduced by machine for 5641
general distribution. 5642

       (12) The secretary of state, by rule, may exempt from the 5643
requirements of this section, printed matter and certain other 5644
kinds of printed communications such as campaign buttons, 5645
balloons, pencils, or similar items, the size or nature of which 5646
makes it unreasonable to add an identification or disclaimer. 5647

       (13) The disclaimer or identification described in division 5648
(A) of this section, when paid for by a campaign committee, shall 5649
be identified by the words "paid for by" followed by the name and 5650
address of the campaign committee and the appropriate officer of 5651
the committee, identified by name and title. The identification or 5652
disclaimer may use reasonable abbreviations for common terms such 5653
as "treasurer" or "committee". 5654

       (B)(1) No candidate, campaign committee, legislative campaign 5655
fund, political contributing entity, political party, political 5656
action committee, limited political action committee, ~~political~~ 5657
~~contributing entity, limited political contributing entity,~~ or 5658
other entity shall utter or cause to be uttered, over the 5659
broadcasting facilities of any radio or television station within 5660
this state, any communication that is designed to promote the 5661
nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate, or the adoption or 5662
defeat of an issue or to influence the voters in an election, 5663
unless the speaker identifies the speaker with the speaker's name 5664
and residence address or unless the communication identifies the 5665
chairperson, treasurer, or secretary of the organization 5666
responsible for the communication with the name and residence or 5667
business address of that officer, except that communications by 5668
radio need not broadcast the residence or business address of the 5669
officer. However, a radio station, for a period of at least six 5670
months, shall keep the residence or business address on file and 5671
divulge it to any person upon request. 5672

       No person operating a broadcast station or an organ of 5673
printed media shall broadcast or print a paid political 5674
communication that does not contain the identification required by 5675
this section. 5676

       (2) Division (B) of this section does not apply to any 5677
communications made on behalf of a radio or television station or 5678
network by any employee of such radio or television station or 5679
network while acting in the course of the employee's employment. 5680

       (3) No candidate or entity described in division (B)(1) of 5681
this section shall use or cause to be used a false, fictitious, or 5682
fraudulent name or address in the making or issuing of a 5683
publication or communication included within the provisions of 5684
this section. 5685

       (C) No candidate, campaign committee, legislative campaign 5686
fund, political party, political action committee, limited 5687
political action committee, or other person or entity shall 5688
conduct a telephone bank for the purpose of promoting the 5689
nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate or the adoption or 5690
defeat of an issue or to influence the voters in an election, 5691
unless the call includes a disclaimer that identifies the name of 5692
the candidate, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, 5693
political party, political action committee, limited political 5694
action committee, or other person or entity paying for the 5695
telephone bank. 5696

       (D) Before a prosecution may commence under this section, a 5697
complaint shall be filed with the Ohio elections commission under 5698
section 3517.153 of the Revised Code. After the complaint is 5699
filed, the commission shall proceed in accordance with sections 5700
3517.154 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code. 5701

       Sec. 3517.23. The secretary of state shall adopt rules in 5702
accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that are 5703
necessary for the administration and enforcement of sections 5704
3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, and 5705
3599.031 of the Revised Code and shall provide each candidate, 5706
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political 5707
party, and ~~political contributing entity~~person or political 5708
committee making disbursements to pay the direct costs of 5709
producing or airing electioneering communications with written 5710
instructions and explanations in order to ensure compliance with 5711
sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.17, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 5712
3599.03, and 3599.031 of the Revised Code. 5713

       Sec. 3517.30. As used in this section and sections 3517.31 5714
to 3517.39 of the Revised Code: 5715

       (A) "Aggrieved party" means a party entitled to resort to a 5716
remedy. 5717

       (B) "Campaign committee," "candidate," "contribution," 5718
"legislative campaign fund," and "political action committee" have 5719
the same meanings as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code. 5720

       (C) "Compensation" has the same meaning as in section 101.70 5721
of the Revised Code. 5722

       (D) "Employer" means any campaign committee, political party, 5723
political action committee, or legislative campaign fund that, 5724
directly or indirectly, engages a political fundraiser. 5725

       (E) "Engage" means to make any arrangement, and "engagement" 5726
means an arrangement, whereby a person is employed or retained for 5727
compensation to raise contributions for, at the request of, for 5728
the benefit of, or on behalf of an employer. 5729

       (F) "Expenditure" means any of the following that is made 5730
for, at the request of, for the benefit of, or on behalf of a 5731
candidate, or that is made for the purpose of raising 5732
contributions for, at the request of, for the benefit of, or on 5733
behalf of a campaign committee, political party, political action 5734
committee, or legislative campaign fund: 5735

       (1) A payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, 5736
reimbursement, or gift of money, real estate, or anything of 5737
value, including, not but limited to, food and beverages, 5738
entertainment, lodging, transportation, or honoraria; 5739

       (2) A contract, promise, or agreement to make an expenditure, 5740
whether or not legally enforceable; 5741

       (3) The purchase, sale, or gift of services or any other 5742
thing of value. 5743

       "Expenditure" does not include a contribution, gift, or grant 5744
to a foundation or other charitable organization that is exempt 5745
from federal income taxation under subsection 501(c)(3) of the 5746
Internal Revenue Code. "Expenditure" also does not includethe 5747
purchase, sale, or gift of services or any other thing of value 5748
that is available to the general public on the same terms as it is 5749
available to the persons referred to in division (F) of this 5750
section, or an offer or sale of securities to any such person that 5751
is governed by regulation D, 17 C.F.R. 2301.501 to 2301.508, 5752
adopted under the authority of the "Securities Act of 1933," 48 5753
Stat. 74, 15 U.S.C.A. 77a et. seq., or that is governed by a 5754
comparable provision understate law. 5755

       (G) "Financial transaction" means a transaction or activity 5756
that is conducted or undertaken for profit and arises from the 5757
joint ownership or the ownership or part ownership in common of 5758
any real or personal property or any commercial or business 5759
enterprise of whatever form or nature between the following: 5760

       (1) A political fundraiser, the political fundraiser's 5761
employer, or a member of the immediate family of the political 5762
fundraiser or the political fundraiser's employer; and 5763

       (2) Any candidate, campaign committee, political party, 5764
political action committee, or legislative campaign fund. 5765

       "Financial transaction" does not include any transaction or 5766
activity described in division (G) of this section if it is 5767
available to the general public on the same terms, or if it is an 5768
offer or sale of securities to any person referred to in division 5769
(G)(2) of this section that is governed by regulation D, 17 C.F.R. 5770
2301.501 to 2301.508, adopted under the authority of the 5771
"Securities Act of 1933," 48 Stat. 74, 15 U.S.C.A. 77a et. seq., 5772
or that is governed by a comparable provision under state law. 5773

       (H) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 101.70 of the 5774
Revised Code and also includes a campaign committee, political 5775
party, political action committee, and legislative campaign fund. 5776

       (I) "Political fundraiser" means any person engaged in 5777
raising contributions for a campaign committee, political party, 5778
political action committee, or legislative campaign fund for 5779
compensation. 5780

       Sec. 3517.31. (A) No person shall knowingly fail to register 5781
as required under section 3517.32 of the Revised Code. 5782

       (B) No person shall knowingly fail to keep a receipt or 5783
maintain a record that section 3517.33 of the Revised Code 5784
requires the person to keep or maintain. 5785

       (C) No person shall knowingly fail to file a statement that 5786
section 3517.33 or 3517.34 of the Revised Code requires the person 5787
to file. 5788

       (D) No person shall knowingly file a false statement that 5789
section 3517.33 or 3517.34 of the Revised Code requires the person 5790
to file. 5791

       Sec. 3517.32. (A) Each political fundraiser and each 5792
employer shall file with the secretary of state, within ten days 5793
following the engagement of the political fundraiser, an initial 5794
registration statement showing all of the following: 5795

       (1) The name, business address, and occupation of the 5796
political fundraiser; 5797

       (2) The name and business address of the employer or of the 5798
real party in interest on whose behalf the political fundraiser is 5799
acting, if it is different from the employer. For the purposes of 5800
division (A)(2) of this section, if a trade association or other 5801
charitable or fraternal organization that is exempt from federal 5802
income taxation under subsection 501(c) of the Internal Revenue 5803
Code is the employer, the statement need not list the names and 5804
business addresses of every member of the association or 5805
organization, as long as the name and business address of the 5806
association or organization itself is listed. 5807

       (3) A brief description of the nomination or election to 5808
which the engagement relates, if any; 5809

       (4) The name of the candidate, office, or issue to which the 5810
engagement relates, if any. 5811

       (B) In addition to the initial registration statement 5812
required by division (A) of this section, each political 5813
fundraiser and employer shall file with the secretary of state, 5814
not later than the last day of January, May, and September of each 5815
year, an updated registration statement that confirms the 5816
continuing existence of each engagement described in the initial 5817
registration statement and that lists the specific nomination or 5818
election and the candidate, office, or issue regarding which the 5819
political fundraiser seeks to raise contributions for the 5820
employer, if any, under the engagement during the period covered 5821
by the updated statement. The updated registration statement shall 5822
be accompanied by any statement of political fundraising required 5823
to be filed by section 3517.33 of the Revised Code and any 5824
statement of the details of financial transactions required to be 5825
filed by section 3517.34 of the Revised Code. 5826

       (C) If a political fundraiser is engaged by more than one 5827
employer, the political fundraiser shall file a separate initial 5828
and updated registration statement for each engagement. If an 5829
employer engages more than one political fundraiser, the employer 5830
need file only one updated registration statement under division 5831
(B) of this section, which shall contain the information required 5832
by that division regarding all of the political fundraisers 5833
engaged by the employer. 5834

       (D)(1) A change in any information required by division 5835
(A)(1) or (2) or (B) of this section shall be reflected in the 5836
next updated registration statement filed under division (B) of 5837
this section. 5838

       (2) Within thirty days following the termination of an 5839
engagement, the political fundraiser who was employed under the 5840
engagement shall send written notification of the termination to 5841
the secretary of state. 5842

       (E) A registration fee of twenty-five dollars shall be 5843
charged for filing an initial registration statement. All money 5844
collected from this fee shall be deposited into the general 5845
revenue fund of the state. 5846

       (F) Upon initial registration pursuant to this section, a 5847
political fundraiser shall be issued a card by the secretary of 5848
state showing that the political fundraiser is registered. The 5849
registration card and the political fundraiser's registration 5850
shall be valid from the date of their issuance until the 5851
thirty-first day of January of the year following the year in 5852
which the initial registration was filed. 5853

       (G) The secretary of state shall be responsible for reviewing 5854
each registration statement filed with the secretary of state 5855
under this section and for determining whether it contains all of 5856
the required information. If the secretary of state determines 5857
that the registration statement does not contain all of the 5858
required information or that a political fundraiser or employer 5859
has failed to file a registration statement, the secretary of 5860
state shall send written notification by certified mail to the 5861
person who filed the registration statement regarding the 5862
deficiency in it or to the person who failed to file the 5863
registration statement regarding the failure. Any person so 5864
notified by the secretary of state shall file, not later than 5865
fifteen days after receiving the notice, a registration statement 5866
or an amended registration statement that contains all of the 5867
required information. If any person who receives a notice under 5868
this division fails to file a registration statement or an amended 5869
registration statement within this fifteen-day period, the 5870
secretary of state shall assess a late filing fee equal to twelve 5871
dollars and fifty cents per day, up to a maximum fee of one 5872
hundred dollars, upon that person. The secretary of state may 5873
waive the late filing fee for good cause shown. 5874

       (H) On or before the fifteenth day of March of each year, the 5875
secretary of state shall publish, in the manner and form that the 5876
secretary of state determines, a report containing statistical 5877
information on the registration statements filed with the 5878
secretary of state under this section during the preceding year. 5879

       (I) If an employer who engages a political fundraiser is the 5880
recipient of a contract, grant, lease, or other financial 5881
arrangement pursuant to which funds of the state are distributed 5882
or allocated, any aggrieved party may consider the failure of the 5883
employer or the political fundraiser to comply with this section 5884
as a breach of a material condition of the contract, grant, lease, 5885
or other financial arrangement. 5886

       (J) State officials may require certification from any 5887
political fundraiser or employer seeking the award of a contract, 5888
grant, lease, or other financial arrangement described in division 5889
(I) of this section that the political fundraiser or employer is 5890
in compliance with this section. 5891

       Sec. 3517.33. (A) Each political fundraiser and each 5892
employer shall file with the secretary of state, with the updated 5893
registration statement required by division (B) of section 3517.32 5894
of the Revised Code, a statement of political fundraising as 5895
specified in division (B) of this section. A political fundraiser 5896
shall file a separate statement of political fundraising for each 5897
employer that engages the political fundraiser. 5898

       (B)(1) In addition to the information required by divisions 5899
(B)(2) and (3) of this section, a political fundraiser's statement 5900
of political fundraising shall include all of the following: 5901

       (a) The total amount of expenditures made by the political 5902
fundraiser during the reporting period covered by the statement; 5903

       (b) The total amount of contributions made to or for the 5904
benefit of the employer during the reporting period through the 5905
efforts of the political fundraiser; 5906

       (c) The identity of each contributor who made a contribution 5907
to or for the benefit of the employer during the reporting period 5908
through the efforts of the political fundraiser, and the amount of 5909
each contribution. 5910

       (2) If, during a reporting period covered by a statement of 5911
political fundraising, an employer or any political fundraiser the 5912
employer engaged made, either separately or in combination with 5913
each other, expenditures for, at the request of, for the benefit 5914
of, or on behalf of a particular candidate, campaign committee, 5915
political party, political action committee, or legislative 5916
campaign fund, the employer or political fundraiser shall state in 5917
the employer's or political fundraiser's statement of political 5918
fundraising all of the following: 5919

       (a) The name of the candidate, campaign committee, political 5920
party, political action committee, or legislative campaign fund 5921
for whom, at whose request, for whose benefit, or on whose behalf 5922
the expenditures were made; 5923

       (b) The total amount of the expenditures made; 5924

       (c) A brief description of the expenditures made; 5925

       (d) The approximate date the expenditures were made; 5926

       (e) The nomination or election and the candidate, office, or 5927
issue for which the political fundraiser is raising contributions, 5928
if any; 5929

       (f) The identity of the client on whose behalf the 5930
expenditures were made. 5931

       As used in division (B)(2) of this section, "expenditures" 5932
does not include expenditures made by a political fundraiser as 5933
payment for meals and other food and beverages. 5934

       (3) If, during a reporting period covered by a statement of 5935
political fundraising, a political fundraiser made expenditures as 5936
payment for meals and other food and beverages, other than for 5937
meals and other food and beverages provided at a meeting at which 5938
the political fundraiser participated in a panel, seminar, or 5939
speaking engagement or at a meeting or convention of a national 5940
organization to which any state agency, including, but not limited 5941
to, any legislative agency or state institution of higher 5942
education as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, pays 5943
membership dues, that, when added to the amount of previous 5944
payments made for meals and other food and beverages by that 5945
political fundraiser during that same calendar year, exceeded a 5946
total of fifty dollars for, at the request of, for the benefit of, 5947
or on behalf of a particular candidate, campaign committee, 5948
political party, political action committee, or legislative 5949
campaign fund, then the political fundraiser and its employer 5950
shall state in the political fundraiser's or employer's statement 5951
of political fundraising all of the following: 5952

        (a) The name of the candidate, campaign committee, political 5953
party, political action committee, or legislative campaign fund 5954
for whom, at whose request, for whose benefit, or on whose behalf 5955
the expenditures were made; 5956

        (b) The total amount of the expenditures made; 5957

        (c) A brief description of the expenditures made; 5958

        (d) The approximate date the expenditures were made; 5959

        (e) The nomination or election and the candidate, office, or 5960
issue for which the political fundraiser is raising contributions, 5961
if any; 5962

        (f) The identity of the client on whose behalf the 5963
expenditures were made. 5964

       (4) In addition to the information required by divisions 5965
(B)(2) and (3) of this section, a statement of political 5966
fundraising filed by an employer shall show the total amount of 5967
expenditures made by the employer during the period covered by the 5968
statement. As used in division (B)(4) of this section, 5969
"expenditures" does not include the expenses of maintaining office 5970
facilities or the compensation paid to political fundraisers 5971
engaged to raise contributions. 5972

       No employer shall be required to show, under division (B)(4) 5973
of this section, any expenditure on a statement of political 5974
fundraising if the expenditure is reported on a statement of 5975
political fundraising under division (B)(1), (2), or (3) of this 5976
section by a political fundraiser engaged by the employer. 5977

       (C) Any statement of political fundraising required to be 5978
filed under this section shall be filed at the times specified in 5979
section 3517.32 of the Revised Code. Each statement shall cover 5980
contributions raised, if applicable, and expenditures made during 5981
the four-calendar-month period that ended on the last day of the 5982
month immediately preceding the month in which the statement is 5983
required to be filed. 5984

       (D) If it is impractical or impossible for a political 5985
fundraiser or employer to determine exact dollar amounts or values 5986
of expenditures, reporting of good faith estimates, based on 5987
reasonable accounting procedures, constitutes compliance with the 5988
expenditure reporting requirements of this section. 5989

       (E) Political fundraisers and employers shall retain receipts 5990
or maintain records for all contributions and expenditures that 5991
they are required to report under this section. These receipts or 5992
records shall be maintained for a period ending on the 5993
thirty-first day of December of the second calendar year after the 5994
year in which the contribution was received or the expenditure was 5995
made. 5996

       (F)(1) At least ten days before the date on which the 5997
statement of political fundraising is filed, each employer or 5998
political fundraiser who is required to file the statement with 5999
the information required under division (B)(2) or (3) of this 6000
section shall deliver a copy of the statement, or the portion 6001
showing the expenditure, to the candidate, campaign committee, 6002
political party, political action committee, or legislative 6003
campaign fund for whom, at whose request, for whose benefit, or on 6004
whose behalf the expenditure was made. 6005

       (2) If, during a reporting period covered by a statement of 6006
political fundraising filed with the information required under 6007
division (B)(2) of this section, an employer or any political 6008
fundraiser the employer engaged made, either separately or in 6009
combination with each other, either directly or indirectly, 6010
expenditures for an honorarium or for transportation, lodging, or 6011
food and beverages purchased for consumption on the premises in 6012
which the food and beverages were sold for, at the request of, for 6013
the benefit of, or on behalf of any of the candidates, campaign 6014
committees, political parties, political action committees, or 6015
legislative campaign funds referred to in division (B)(2) of this 6016
section, the employer or political fundraiser shall deliver to the 6017
candidate, campaign committee, political party, political action 6018
committee, or legislative campaign fund a statement that contains 6019
all of the nondisputed information prescribed in division (B)(2) 6020
of this section with respect to the expenditures described in 6021
division (F)(2) of this section. The statement shall be delivered 6022
to the candidate, campaign committee, political party, political 6023
action committee, or legislative campaign fund for whom, at whose 6024
request, for whose benefit, or on whose behalf those expenditures 6025
were made on the same day in which a copy of a statement or of a 6026
portion showing an expenditure is delivered under division (F)(1) 6027
of this section. 6028

       (3) An employer is not required to show, under division 6029
(F)(2) of this section, any expenditure on a statement of 6030
political fundraising if the expenditure is shown, under division 6031
(F)(2) of this section, on a statement delivered by a political 6032
fundraiser engaged by the employer. An employer is not required to 6033
deliver to itself, under division (F)(1) or (2) of this section, a 6034
statement or portion showing an expenditure when the employer is 6035
the campaign committee, political party, political action 6036
committee, or legislative campaign fund for whom, at whose 6037
request, for whose benefit, or on whose behalf the expenditure was 6038
made. 6039

       Sec. 3517.34. (A) Each political fundraiser who has had any 6040
financial transaction with or for the benefit of a candidate, 6041
campaign committee, political party, political action committee, 6042
or legislative campaign fund shall describe the details of the 6043
transaction, including the name of the candidate, campaign 6044
committee, political party, political action committee, or 6045
legislative campaign fund, the purpose and nature of the 6046
transaction, and the date it was made or entered into, in a 6047
statement filed with the secretary of state with the updated 6048
registration statement required by division (B) of section 3517.32 6049
of the Revised Code. The statement shall be filed at the times 6050
specified in section 3517.32 of the Revised Code. Each statement 6051
shall describe each financial transaction that occurred during the 6052
four-calendar-month period that ended on the last day of the month 6053
immediately preceding the month in which the statement is required 6054
to be filed. 6055

       (B) Each employer who has had any financial transaction with 6056
or for the benefit of a candidate, campaign committee, political 6057
party, political action committee, or legislative campaign fund 6058
shall describe the details of the transaction, including the name 6059
of the candidate, campaign committee, political party, political 6060
action committee, or legislative campaign fund, the purpose and 6061
nature of the transaction, and the date it was made or entered 6062
into, in a statement filed with the secretary of state with the 6063
updated registration statement required by division (B) of section 6064
3517.32 of the Revised Code. The statement shall be filed at the 6065
times specified in section 3517.32 of the Revised Code. Each 6066
statement shall describe each financial transaction that occurred 6067
during the four-calendar-month period that ended on the last day 6068
of the month immediately preceding the month in which the 6069
statement is required to be filed. 6070

       (C) At least ten days before the date on which the statement 6071
of the details of financial transactions is filed, each political 6072
fundraiser or employer who is required to file the statement under 6073
this section shall deliver a copy of it to the candidate, campaign 6074
committee, political party, political action committee, or 6075
legislative campaign fund with whom or for whose benefit the 6076
transaction was made. 6077

       (D) An employer is not required to file any statement under 6078
this section or to deliver a copy of any statement under this 6079
section to a candidate, campaign committee, political party, 6080
political action committee, or legislative campaign fund with whom 6081
or for whose benefit the transaction was made if the financial 6082
transaction to which the statement pertains is reported by a 6083
political fundraiser engaged by the employer. 6084

       Sec. 3517.35. If a dispute arises between a candidate, 6085
campaign committee, political party, political action committee, 6086
or legislative campaign fund and an employer or political 6087
fundraiser with respect to a contribution, expenditure, or 6088
financial transaction alleged in a statement to be filed under 6089
section 3517.33 or 3517.34 of the Revised Code, the candidate, 6090
campaign committee, political party, political action committee, 6091
legislative campaign fund, employer, or political fundraiser may 6092
file a complaint with the Ohio ethics commission. The commission 6093
shall proceed to investigate the complaint as though it were filed 6094
under section 102.06 of the Revised Code. 6095

       The complaint shall be filed at least three days prior to the 6096
time the statement is required to be filed with the secretary of 6097
state. The time for including a disputed contribution, 6098
expenditure, or financial transaction in any statement of 6099
political fundraising or statement of the details of financial 6100
transactions shall be extended pending the final decision of the 6101
commission. This extension does not extend the time for filing the 6102
nondisputed portions of either type of statement. The commission 6103
shall notify the parties of its final decision by certified mail. 6104
If the commission decides that the disputed contribution, 6105
expenditure, or financial transaction should be reported, the 6106
employer or political fundraiser shall include the matter in an 6107
amended statement and file the amended statement not later than 6108
ten days after receiving notice of the decision of the commission 6109
by certified mail. 6110

       An employer or political fundraiser who files a false 6111
statement of political fundraising or false statement of the 6112
details of financial transactions is liable in a civil action to 6113
any candidate, campaign committee, political party, political 6114
action committee, or legislative campaign fund that sustains 6115
damage as a result of the filing or publication of the statement. 6116

       Sec. 3517.36. (A) Sections 3517.32 and 3517.33 of the 6117
Revised Code do not apply to efforts to influence political 6118
fundraising by any of the following: 6119

       (1) News or editorial statements published in bona fide 6120
newspapers, journals, or magazines, or broadcast over radio or 6121
television; 6122

       (2) The gathering and furnishing of information and news by 6123
bona fide reporters, correspondents, or news bureaus to news media 6124
described in division (A)(1) of this section; 6125

       (3) Publications primarily designed for and distributed to 6126
members of bona fide associations or charitable or fraternal 6127
nonprofit corporations. 6128

       (B) Nothing in sections 3517.30 to 3517.39 of the Revised 6129
Code prohibits a candidate, campaign committee, political party, 6130
political action committee, or legislative campaign fund from 6131
soliciting or accepting a contribution from or an expenditure by 6132
any person if the contribution or expenditure is reported in 6133
accordance with sections 3517.10 to 3517.13 of the Revised Code. 6134

       (C) Nothing in sections 3517.30 to 3517.39 of the Revised 6135
Code shall affect or be construed to affect the duty of persons to 6136
file campaign finance statements under sections 3517.10 to 3517.13 6137
of the Revised Code. 6138

       Sec. 3517.37. No person shall engage any political 6139
fundraiser for compensation that is contingent in any way on the 6140
amount of contributions raised, and no person shall accept any 6141
engagement as a political fundraiser for compensation that is 6142
contingent in any way on the amount of contributions raised. 6143

       Sec. 3517.38. (A) The secretary of state shall keep on file 6144
the statements required by sections 3517.32, 3517.33, and 3517.34 6145
of the Revised Code. These statements are public records and open 6146
to public inspection, and the secretary of state shall computerize 6147
them so that the information contained in them is readily 6148
accessible to the general public. The secretary of state shall 6149
provide copies of the statements to the general public on request 6150
and may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the cost of copying 6151
and delivering the statements. 6152

       (B) Not later than the last day of February and October of 6153
each year, the secretary of state shall compile from the 6154
registration statements filed with it a complete and updated list 6155
of registered political fundraisers and their employers, and shall 6156
provide copies of the list to the general public upon request and 6157
may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the cost of copying and 6158
delivering the list. 6159

       (C) The secretary of state shall prescribe and make available 6160
an appropriate form for the filings required by sections 3517.32, 6161
3517.33, and 3517.34 of the Revised Code. The form shall contain 6162
the following notice in boldface type: "ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY 6163
FILES A FALSE STATEMENT IS GUILTY OF FALSIFICATION UNDER SECTION 6164
2921.13 OF THE REVISED CODE, WHICH IS A MISDEMEANOR OF THE FIRST 6165
DEGREE." 6166

       (D) The secretary of state may adopt rules as necessary to 6167
implement sections 3517.30 to 3517.39 of the Revised Code. Any 6168
rules secretary of state adopts shall be adopted in accordance 6169
with section 111.15 of the Revised Code. 6170

       (E) The secretary of state shall publish a handbook that 6171
explains in clear and concise language sections 3517.30 to 3517.39 6172
of the Revised Code and make it available free of charge to 6173
political fundraisers, employers, and any other interested 6174
persons. 6175

       Sec. 3517.39. The attorney general and any assistant or 6176
special counsel designated by the attorney general may investigate 6177
compliance with sections 3517.30 to 3517.38 of the Revised Code in 6178
connection with statements required to be filed under those 6179
sections and, in the event of an apparent violation, shall report 6180
the findings of any such investigation to the prosecuting attorney 6181
of Franklin county, who shall institute appropriate proceedings. 6182

       Sec. 3517.992. This section establishes penalties only with 6183
respect to acts or failures to act that occur on and after August 6184
24, 1995. 6185

       (A)(1) A candidate whose campaign committee violates division 6186
(A), (B), (C), (D), or (V) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code, 6187
or a treasurer of a campaign committee who violates any of those 6188
divisions, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars for 6189
each day of violation. 6190

       (2) Whoever violates division (E) or (X)(5) of section 6191
3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one 6192
hundred dollars for each day of violation. 6193

       (B) A political party that violates division (F)(1) of 6194
section 3517.101 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than 6195
one hundred dollars for each day of violation. 6196

       (C) Whoever violates division (F)(2) of section 3517.101 or 6197
division (G) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined 6198
not more than ten thousand dollars or, if the offender is a person 6199
who was nominated or elected to public office, shall forfeit the 6200
nomination or the office to which the offender was elected, or 6201
both. 6202

       (D) Whoever violates division (F) of section 3517.13 of the 6203
Revised Code shall be fined not more than three times the amount 6204
contributed. 6205

       (E) Whoever violates division (H) of section 3517.13 of the 6206
Revised Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars. 6207

       (F) Whoever violates division (O), (P), or (Q) of section 6208
3517.13 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the 6209
first degree. 6210

       (G) A state or county committee of a political party that 6211
violates division (B)(1) of section 3517.18 of the Revised Code 6212
shall be fined not more than twice the amount of the improper 6213
expenditure. 6214

       (H) A state or county political party that violates division 6215
(G) of section 3517.101 of the Revised Code shall be fined not 6216
more than twice the amount of the improper expenditure or use. 6217

       (I)(1) Any individual who violates division (B)(1) of section 6218
3517.102 of the Revised Code and knows that the contribution the 6219
individual makes violates that division shall be fined an amount 6220
equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the 6221
amount permitted by that division. 6222

       (2) Any political action committee that violates division 6223
(B)(2) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an 6224
amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of 6225
the amount permitted by that division. 6226

       (3) Any campaign committee that violates division (B)(3) or 6227
(5) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an 6228
amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of 6229
the amount permitted by that division. 6230

       (4)(a) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division 6231
(B)(6) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an 6232
amount equal to three times the amount transferred or contributed 6233
in excess of the amount permitted by that division, as applicable. 6234

       (b) Any state political party, county political party, or 6235
state candidate fund of a state political party or county 6236
political party that violates division (B)(6) of section 3517.102 6237
of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times 6238
the amount transferred or contributed in excess of the amount 6239
permitted by that division, as applicable. 6240

       ~~(c) Any political contributing entity that violates division~~ 6241
~~(B)(7) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an~~ 6242
~~amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of~~ 6243
~~the amount permitted by that division.~~ 6244

       (5) Any political party that violates division (B)(4) of 6245
section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount 6246
equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the 6247
amount permitted by that division. 6248

       (6) Notwithstanding divisions (I)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) 6249
of this section, no violation of division (B) of section 3517.102 6250
of the Revised Code occurs, and the secretary of state shall not 6251
refer parties to the Ohio elections commission, if the amount 6252
transferred or contributed in excess of the amount permitted by 6253
that division meets either of the following conditions: 6254

       (a) It is completely refunded within five business days after 6255
it is accepted. 6256

       (b) It is completely refunded on or before the tenth business 6257
day after notification to the recipient of the excess transfer or 6258
contribution by the board of elections or the secretary of state 6259
that a transfer or contribution in excess of the permitted amount 6260
has been received. 6261

       (J)(1) Any campaign committee that violates division (C)(1), 6262
(2), (3), or (6) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be 6263
fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess 6264
of the amount permitted by that division. 6265

       (2)(a) Any ~~state or~~ county political party that violates 6266
division (C)(4)(a)(ii) or (iii) of section 3517.102 of the Revised 6267
Code shall be fined an amount ~~from its state candidate fund~~ equal 6268
to three times the amount accepted. 6269

       (b) Any county political party that violates division 6270
(C)(4)(a)(i) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be 6271
fined an amount from its state candidate fund equal to three times 6272
the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that 6273
division. 6274

       (c) Any state political party that violates division 6275
(C)(4)(b) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined 6276
an amount from its state candidate fund equal to three times the 6277
amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that 6278
division. 6279

       (3) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division 6280
(C)(5) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an 6281
amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the 6282
amount permitted by that division. 6283

       (4) Any political action committee ~~or political contributing~~ 6284
~~entity~~ that violates division (C)(7) of section 3517.102 of the 6285
Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the 6286
amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that 6287
division. 6288

       (5) Notwithstanding divisions (J)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of 6289
this section, no violation of division (C) of section 3517.102 of 6290
the Revised Code occurs, and the secretary of state shall not 6291
refer parties to the Ohio elections commission, if the amount 6292
transferred or contributed in excess of the amount permitted to be 6293
accepted by that division meets either of the following 6294
conditions: 6295

       (a) It is completely refunded within five business days after 6296
its acceptance. 6297

       (b) It is completely refunded on or before the tenth business 6298
day after notification to the recipient of the excess transfer or 6299
contribution by the board of elections or the secretary of state 6300
that a transfer or contribution in excess of the permitted amount 6301
has been received. 6302

       (K)(1) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division 6303
(F)(1) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined 6304
twenty-five dollars for each day of violation. 6305

       (2) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division 6306
(F)(2) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall give to the 6307
treasurer of state for deposit into the state treasury to the 6308
credit of the Ohio elections commission fund all excess 6309
contributions not disposed of as required by division (E) of 6310
section 3517.102 of the Revised Code. 6311

       (L) Whoever violates section 3517.105 of the Revised Code 6312
shall be fined one thousand dollars. 6313

       (M)(1) Whoever solicits a contribution in violation of 6314
section 3517.092 or violates division (B) of section 3517.09 of 6315
the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. 6316

       (2) Whoever knowingly accepts a contribution in violation of 6317
division (B) or (C) of section 3517.092 of the Revised Code shall 6318
be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in 6319
violation of either of those divisions and shall return to the 6320
contributor any amount so accepted. Whoever unknowingly accepts a 6321
contribution in violation of division (B) or (C) of section 6322
3517.092 of the Revised Code shall return to the contributor any 6323
amount so accepted. 6324

       (N) Whoever violates division (S) of section 3517.13 of the 6325
Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the 6326
amount of funds transferred or three times the value of the assets 6327
transferred in violation of that division. 6328

       (O) Any campaign committee that accepts a contribution or 6329
contributions in violation of section 3517.108 of the Revised 6330
Code, uses a contribution in violation of that section, or fails 6331
to dispose of excess contributions in violation of that section 6332
shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted, 6333
used, or kept in violation of that section. 6334

       (P) Any political party, state candidate fund, legislative 6335
candidate fund, or campaign committee that violates division (T) 6336
of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount 6337
equal to three times the amount contributed or accepted in 6338
violation of that section. 6339

       (Q) A treasurer of a committee or another person who violates 6340
division (U) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined 6341
not more than two hundred fifty dollars. 6342

       (R) Whoever violates division (I) or (J) of section 3517.13 6343
of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one thousand 6344
dollars. Whenever a person is found guilty of violating division 6345
(I) or (J) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code, the contract 6346
awarded in violation of either of those divisions shall be 6347
rescinded if its terms have not yet been performed. 6348

       (S) A candidate whose campaign committee violates or a 6349
treasurer of a campaign committee who violates section 3517.081 of 6350
the Revised Code, and a candidate whose campaign committee 6351
violates, or a treasurer of a campaign committee, or another 6352
person who violates, division (C) of section 3517.10 of the 6353
Revised Code, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars. 6354

       (T) A candidate whose campaign committee violates or a 6355
treasurer of a committee who violates division (B) of section 6356
3517.09 of the Revised Code, or a candidate whose campaign 6357
committee violates,or a treasurer of a campaign committee, or 6358
another person who violates division (C), of section 3517.09 of 6359
the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one thousand 6360
dollars. 6361

       (U) Whoever violates section 3517.20 of the Revised Code 6362
shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars. 6363

       (V) Whoever violates section 3517.21 or 3517.22 of the 6364
Revised Code shall be imprisoned for not more than six months or 6365
fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both. 6366

       (W) A campaign committee that is required to file a 6367
declaration of no limits under division (D)(2) of section 3517.103 6368
of the Revised Code that, before filing that declaration, accepts 6369
a contribution or contributions that exceed the limitations 6370
prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, shall return 6371
that contribution or those contributions to the contributor. 6372

       (X) Any campaign committee that fails to file the declaration 6373
of filing-day finances required by division (F) of section 6374
3517.109 or the declaration of primary-day finances or declaration 6375
of year-end finances required by division (E) of section 3517.1010 6376
of the Revised Code shall be fined twenty-five dollars for each 6377
day of violation. 6378

       (Y) Any campaign committee that fails to dispose of excess 6379
funds or excess aggregate contributions under division (B) of 6380
section 3517.109 of the Revised Code in the manner required by 6381
division (C) of that section or under division (B) of section 6382
3517.1010 of the Revised Code in the manner required by division 6383
(C) of that section shall give to the treasurer of state for 6384
deposit into the Ohio elections commission fund created under 6385
division ~~(E)(2)(b)~~(I) of section ~~3517.102~~3517.152 of the Revised 6386
Code all funds not disposed of pursuant to those divisions. 6387

       (Z) Any individual, campaign committee, political action 6388
committee, ~~political contributing entity,~~ legislative campaign 6389
fund, political party, or other entity that violates any provision 6390
of sections 3517.09 to 3517.12 of the Revised Code for which no 6391
penalty is provided for under any other division of this section 6392
shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars. 6393

       (AA)(1) Whoever knowingly violates division (W)(1) of section 6394
3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to 6395
three times the amount contributed, expended, or promised in 6396
violation of that division or ten thousand dollars, whichever 6397
amount is greater. 6398

       (2) Whoever knowingly violates division (W)(2) of section 6399
3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to 6400
three times the amount solicited or accepted in violation of that 6401
division or ten thousand dollars, whichever amount is greater. 6402

       (BB) Whoever knowingly violates division (C) or (D) of 6403
section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than 6404
ten thousand dollars plus not more than one thousand dollars for 6405
each day of violation. 6406

       (CC)(1) Subject to division (CC)(2) of this section, whoever 6407
violates division (H) of section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code 6408
shall be fined an amount up to three times the amount disbursed 6409
for the direct costs of airing the communication made in violation 6410
of that division. 6411

       (2) Whoever has been ordered by the Ohio elections commission 6412
or by a court of competent jurisdiction to cease making 6413
communications in violation of division (H) of section 3517.1011 6414
of the Revised Code who again violates that division shall be 6415
fined an amount equal to three times the amount disbursed for the 6416
direct costs of airing the communication made in violation of that 6417
division. 6418

       (DD)(1) Any corporation or labor organization that violates 6419
division (X)(3)(a) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be 6420
fined an amount equal to three times the amount given in excess of 6421
the amount permitted by that division. 6422

       (2) Any state or county political party that violates 6423
division (X)(3)(b) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be 6424
fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess 6425
of the amount permitted by that division. 6426

       (EE)(1) Whoever violates division (A), (B), or (C) of section 6427
3517.31 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the 6428
fourth degree. 6429

       (2) Whoever violates division (D) of section 3517.31 or 6430
section 3517.37 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of 6431
the first degree. 6432

       Sec. 3599.03. (A)(1) Except to carry on activities specified 6433
in sections 3517.082 and 3517.1011, division (A)(2) of section 6434
3517.1012, and section 3599.031 of the Revised Code and except as 6435
provided in divisions (D), (E), and (F) of this section, no 6436
corporation, no nonprofit corporation, and no labor organization, 6437
directly or indirectly, shall pay or use, or offer, advise, 6438
consent, or agree to pay or use, the corporation's money or 6439
property, or the labor organization's money, including dues, 6440
initiation fees, or other assessments paid by members, or 6441
property, for or in aid of or opposition to a political party, a 6442
candidate for election or nomination to public office, a political 6443
action committee including a political action committee of the 6444
corporation or labor organization, a legislative campaign fund, or 6445
any organization that supports or opposes any such candidate, or 6446
for any partisan political purpose, shall violate any law 6447
requiring the filing of an affidavit or statement respecting such 6448
use of those funds, or shall pay or use the corporation's or labor 6449
organization's money for the expenses of a social fund-raising 6450
event for its political action committee if an employee's or labor 6451
organization member's right to attend such an event is predicated 6452
on the employee's or member's contribution to the corporation's or 6453
labor organization's political action committee. 6454

       (2) Whoever violates division (A)(1) of this section shall be 6455
fined not less than five hundred nor more than five thousand 6456
dollars. 6457

       (B)(1) No officer, stockholder, attorney, or agent of a 6458
corporation or nonprofit corporation, no member, including an 6459
officer, attorney, or agent, of a labor organization, and no 6460
candidate, political party official, or other individual shall 6461
knowingly aid, advise, solicit, or receive money or other property 6462
in violation of division (A)(1) of this section. 6463

       (2) Whoever violates division (B)(1) of this section shall be 6464
fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more 6465
than one year, or both. 6466

       (C) A corporation, a nonprofit corporation, or a labor 6467
organization may use its funds or property for or in aid of or 6468
opposition to a proposed or certified ballot issue. Such use of 6469
funds or property shall be reported on a form prescribed by the 6470
secretary of state. Reports of contributions in connection with 6471
statewide ballot issues shall be filed with the secretary of 6472
state. Reports of contributions in connection with local issues 6473
shall be filed with the board of elections of the most populous 6474
county of the district in which the issue is submitted or to be 6475
submitted to the electors. Reports made pursuant to this division 6476
shall be filed by the times specified in divisions (A)(1) and (2) 6477
of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. 6478

       (D)(1) Any gift made pursuant to section 3517.101 of the 6479
Revised Code does not constitute a violation of this section or of 6480
any other section of the Revised Code. 6481

       (2) Any gift made pursuant to division (A)(2) of section 6482
3517.1012 of the Revised Code does not constitute a violation of 6483
this section. 6484

       (E) Any compensation or fees paid by a financial institution 6485
to a state political party for services rendered pursuant to 6486
division (B) of section 3517.19 of the Revised Code do not 6487
constitute a violation of this section or of any other section of 6488
the Revised Code. 6489

       (F) (1) The use by a nonprofit corporation of its money or 6490
property for communicating information for a purpose specified in 6491
division (A) of this section is not a violation of that division 6492
if the stockholders, members, donors, trustees, or officers of the 6493
nonprofit corporation are the predominant recipients of the 6494
communication. 6495

       (2) The placement of a campaign sign on the property of a 6496
corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor organization is not a 6497
use of property in violation of division (A) of this section by 6498
that corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor organization. 6499

       (G) In addition to the laws listed in division (A) of section 6500
4117.10 of the Revised Code that prevail over conflicting 6501
agreements between employee organizations and public employers, 6502
this section prevails over any conflicting provisions of 6503
agreements between labor organizations and public employers that 6504
are entered into on or after the effective date of this section 6505
pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code. 6506

       (H) As used in this section, "labor organization" has the 6507
same meaning as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code. 6508

       Sec. 3599.031. (A) Notwithstanding any ~~section~~provision of 6509
the Revised Code to the contrary and subject to ~~divisions (C) and~~ 6510
~~(H)~~division (C) of section 3517.09 of the Revised Code and 6511
division (B) of this section, any employer may deduct from the 6512
wages and salaries of its employees amounts for an account 6513
described in division ~~(C)~~(B) of this section, a separate 6514
segregated fund, a political action committee of the employer, a 6515
political action committee of a labor organization of the 6516
employer's employees, a political action committee of an 6517
association of which the employer is a member, a political party, 6518
a person or political committee making disbursements to pay the 6519
direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications, 6520
or a ballot issue that the employee by written authorization may 6521
designate and shall transmit any amounts so deducted as a separate 6522
written authorization described in division ~~(C)~~(B) of this section 6523
shall direct. Any authorization authorizing a deduction from an 6524
employee's wages or salary may be on a form that is used to apply 6525
for or authorize membership in or authorize payment of dues or 6526
fees to any organization, but the authorization for a deduction 6527
shall be stated and signed separately from the application for 6528
membership or the authorization for the payment of dues or fees. 6529
The employer either may deduct from the amount to be so 6530
transmitted a uniform amount determined by the employer to be 6531
necessary to defray the actual cost of making such deduction and 6532
transmittal, or may utilize its own funds in an amount it 6533
determines is necessary to defray the actual administrative cost, 6534
including making the deduction and transmittal. 6535

       (B) ~~Any person who solicits an employee to authorize a~~ 6536
~~deduction from his wages or salary pursuant to division (A) of~~ 6537
~~this section shall inform the employee at the time of the~~ 6538
~~solicitation that he may refuse to authorize a deduction, and that~~ 6539
~~he may at any time revoke his authorization, without suffering any~~ 6540
~~reprisal.~~ 6541

       ~~(C)~~ If an employer establishes a separate account in the name 6542
of an employee for the purpose of depositing into the account 6543
amounts deducted from the wages and salary of the employee 6544
pursuant to division (A) of this section or amounts directly given 6545
by the employee to the employer for the support of a candidate, a 6546
separate segregated fund, a political action committee of the 6547
employer, a political action committee of a labor organization of 6548
the employer's employees, a political action committee of an 6549
association of which the employer is a member, a political party, 6550
a legislative campaign fund, a person or political committee 6551
making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or 6552
airing electioneering communications, or a ballot issue, the 6553
employee shall sign a written authorization designating the 6554
recipient of a disbursement from that account. The written 6555
authorization required under this division is separate and 6556
distinct from a written authorization required under division (A) 6557
of this section. The authorization required under this division 6558
shall clearly identify and designate the candidate, separate 6559
segregated fund, political action committee of the employer, 6560
political action committee of a labor organization of the 6561
employer's employees, political action committee of an association 6562
of which the employer is a member, political party, a legislative 6563
campaign fund, person or political committee making disbursements 6564
to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering 6565
communications, or ballot issue that is to receive any 6566
disbursement from the account established pursuant to this 6567
division. No person shall designate the recipient of a 6568
disbursement from the account except the employee from whose 6569
account the disbursement is made. No employer shall make a 6570
disbursement from the account of an employee established under 6571
this division unless the employer has received the written 6572
authorization required under this division. 6573

       ~~(D)~~(C) An employer shall furnish the recipient of any amount 6574
transmitted pursuant to this section with the employer's full name 6575
and the full name of the labor organization of which the employee 6576
whose amount is being transmitted is a member, if any. An employer 6577
shall keep and maintain the authorization forms of all its 6578
employees from whose wages and salaries any amounts were deducted 6579
pursuant to division (A) of this section and the authorizations of 6580
disbursements from accounts established under division ~~(C)~~(B) of 6581
this section for a period of at least six years after the year in 6582
which the deductions and disbursements were made. 6583

       ~~(E)~~(D) An employee who has made an authorization pursuant to 6584
division (A) or ~~(C)~~(B) of this section may revoke that 6585
authorization at any time. A revocation of the authorization does 6586
not affect any deduction already made from an employee's wages and 6587
salary or any amounts already transmitted or disbursed under this 6588
section. 6589

       ~~(F)~~(E) For purposes of this section and for the purpose of 6590
the information required to be filed under division (B)(4)(b)(iii) 6591
of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code: 6592

       (1) If an employer is a corporation, each subsidiary of a 6593
parent corporation shall be considered an entity separate and 6594
distinct from any other subsidiary and separate and distinct from 6595
the parent corporation. 6596

       (2) Each national, regional, state, and local affiliate of a 6597
labor organization shall be considered a distinct entity. 6598

       ~~(G)~~(F) Whoever violates division ~~(C)~~(B) of this section shall 6599
be fined not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars 6600
for each disbursement made in violation of that division. 6601

       ~~(H) No public employer shall deduct from the wages and~~ 6602
~~salaries of its employees any amounts for the support of any~~ 6603
~~candidate, separate segregated fund, political action committee,~~ 6604
~~legislative campaign fund, political party, or ballot issue.~~ 6605

       ~~(I) In addition to the laws listed in division (A) of section~~ 6606
~~4117.10 of the Revised Code that prevail over conflicting~~ 6607
~~agreements between employee organizations and public employers,~~ 6608
~~this section prevails over any conflicting provisions of~~ 6609
~~agreements between labor organizations and public employers~~ 6610
~~entered into pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code.~~ 6611

       ~~(J)~~(G) In addition to the laws listed in division (A) of 6612
section 4117.10 of the Revised Code that prevail over conflicting 6613
agreements between employee organizations and public employers, 6614
this section prevails over any conflicting provisions of 6615
agreements between labor organizations and public employers that 6616
are entered into on or after the effective date of this amendment 6617
pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code. 6618

       (H) As used in this section: 6619

       (1) "~~Labor~~Electioneering communication ," "legislative 6620
campaign fund," "labor organization," "political action 6621
committee," "political committee," and "separate segregated fund" 6622
have the same meanings as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code. 6623

       (2) "Public employer" means an employer that is the state or 6624
a state agency, authority, commission, or board, a political 6625
subdivision of the state, a school district or state institution 6626
of higher learning, a public or special district, or any other 6627
public employer. 6628

       (3) "Employee" includes only an employee who is a resident of 6629
or is employed in this state. 6630

       Sec. 3599.111. (A) As used in this section, "registering a 6631
voter" or "registering voters" includes any effort, for 6632
compensation, to provide voter registration forms or to assist 6633
persons in completing those forms or returning them to the board 6634
of elections, the office of the secretary of state, or other 6635
appropriate public office. 6636

       (B) No person shall receive compensation on a fee per 6637
signature or fee per volume basis for circulating any declaration 6638
of candidacy, nominating petition, declaration of intent to be a 6639
write-in candidate, initiative petition, referendum petition, 6640
recall petition, or any other election-related petition that is 6641
filed with or transmitted to a board of elections, the office of 6642
the secretary of state, or other appropriate public office. 6643

       (C) No person shall receive compensation on a fee per 6644
registration or fee per volume basis for registering a voter. 6645

       (D) Compensation for collecting signatures on 6646
election-related petitions and for registering voters shall be 6647
paid solely on the basis of time worked. 6648

       (E)(1) Whoever violates division (B) or (C) of this section 6649
is guilty of election falsification under section 3599.36 of the 6650
Revised Code. 6651

       (2) Whoever violates division (D) of this section is guilty 6652
of a felony of the fifth degree. 6653

       Section 2. That existing sections 102.03, 2921.01, 2921.43, 6654
3501.05, 3501.38, 3503.14, 3513.07, 3513.10, 3513.261, 3517.01, 6655
3517.08, 3517.082, 3517.09, 3517.092, 3517.10, 3517.102, 3517.103, 6656
3517.104, 3517.105, 3517.106, 3517.108, 3517.109, 3517.11, 6657
3517.13, 3517.151, 3517.152, 3517.154, 3517.155, 3517.16, 3517.17, 6658
3517.20, 3517.23, 3517.992, and 3599.031 and section        Sec. 3599.03. of 6659
the Revised Code are hereby repealed. 6660

       Section 3. (A) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) 6661
of this section, no person or political committee intending to 6662
make a disbursement or disbursements for the direct costs of 6663
producing or airing electioneering communications under this act 6664
shall make those disbursements using any contributions that the 6665
person or political committee received before the effective date 6666
of this act. 6667

       (B) Any person or political committee intending to make a 6668
disbursement or disbursements for the direct costs of producing or 6669
airing electioneering communications under this act who wishes to 6670
make those disbursements using contributions that the person or 6671
political committee received before the effective date of this act 6672
shall, in the first disclosure of electioneering communications 6673
statement that the person or political committee is required to 6674
file, report the contributor information specified in division 6675
(D)(1)(e) or (f) of section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code for each 6676
contribution that was received before the effective date of this 6677
act and that the person or political committee uses to make a 6678
disbursement that is included in that statement. 6679

       (C) As used in this section, "contribution," "electioneering 6680
communication," "person," and "political committee" have the same 6681
meanings as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. 6682

       Section 4. (A) A county political party that has a state 6683
candidate fund, established under division (D)(3)(c) of section 6684
3517.10 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to the effective 6685
date of this act, in existence on that effective date shall, not 6686
later than 4 p.m. on that effective date, disburse any moneys in 6687
the fund in accordance with the versions of sections 3517.08 to 6688
3517.13 of the Revised Code that were in effect prior to that 6689
effective date. Any state candidate fund of a county political 6690
party in existence on the effective date of this act shall be 6691
abolished not later than 4 p.m. on that effective date. 6692

       (B) No county political party that establishes a state 6693
candidate fund under division (D)(3)(c) of section 3517.10 of the 6694
Revised Code as amended by this act shall transfer into that fund 6695
any moneys that were in a state candidate fund of a county 6696
political party established under that section as it existed prior 6697
to the effective date of this act. 6698

       Section 5. No moneys in any fund or account of a political 6699
party that was not subject to disclosure under the version of 6700
Chapter 3517. of the Revised Code that was in effect prior to the 6701
effective date of this act shall be disbursed, transferred into 6702
another fund or account of the political party, or otherwise used 6703
by that political party on or after the effective date of this act 6704
unless the contributors of those moneys are disclosed prior to 6705
that effective date in accordance with section 3517.10 of the 6706
Revised Code. 6707

       Section 6. In the first statement of contributions and 6708
expenditures that a campaign committee, political party, political 6709
action committee, political contributing entity, or legislative 6710
campaign fund files after the effective date of this act, 6711
information regarding the political fundraiser through which a 6712
contribution was received, if any, shall only be required to be 6713
reported for contributions received on or after the effective date 6714
of this act. 6715

       Section 7. Section 3513.10 of the Revised Code is presented 6716
in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Am. 6717
Sub. H.B. 117 and Am. Sub. S.B. 9 of the 121st General Assembly. 6718
The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division 6719
(B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be 6720
harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds 6721
that the composite is the resulting version of the section in 6722
effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in 6723
this act. 6724

       Section 8. Notwithstanding section 1.50 of the Revised Code, 6725
every provision of this act is so interconnected with every other 6726
provision and the general scope of the entire act that if any 6727
provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or 6728
circumstance is held invalid, the entire act shall be invalid. 6729

Section 1. That sections 102.03, 2921.01, 2921.43, 3501.05,	12
3501.38, 3503.14, 3513.07, 3513.10, 3513.261, 3517.01, 3517.08,	13
3517.082, 3517.09, 3517.092, 3517.10, 3517.102, 3517.103,	14
3517.104, 3517.105, 3517.106, 3517.108, 3517.109, 3517.11,	15
3517.13, 3517.151, 3517.152, 3517.154, 3517.155, 3517.16, 3517.17,	16
3517.20, 3517.23, 3517.992, and 3599.031 be amended and new	17
section 3599.03 and sections 3501.381, 3517.1011, 3517.1012,	18
3517.30, 3517.31, 3517.32, 3517.33, 3517.34, 3517.35, 3517.36,	19
3517.37, 3517.38, 3517.39, and 3599.111 of the Revised Code be	20
enacted to read as follows:	21

Sec. 102.03. (A)(1) No present or former public official or	22
employee shall, during public employment or service or for twelve	23
months thereafter, represent a client or act in a representative	24
capacity for any person on any matter in which the public official	25
or employee personally participated as a public official or	26
employee through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation,	27
the rendering of advice, investigation, or other substantial	28
exercise of administrative discretion.	29

(2) For twenty-four months after the conclusion of service,	30
no former commissioner or attorney examiner of the public	31
utilities commission shall represent a public utility, as defined	32
in section 4905.02 of the Revised Code, or act in a representative	33
capacity on behalf of such a utility before any state board,	34
commission, or agency.	35

(3) For twenty-four months after the conclusion of employment	36
or service, no former public official or employee who personally	37
participated as a public official or employee through decision,	38
approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of advice,	39
the development or adoption of solid waste management plans,	40
investigation, inspection, or other substantial exercise of	41
administrative discretion under Chapter 343. or 3734. of the	42
Revised Code shall represent a person who is the owner or operator	43
of a facility, as defined in section 3734.01 of the Revised Code,	44
or who is an applicant for a permit or license for a facility	45
under that chapter, on any matter in which the public official or	46
employee personally participated as a public official or employee.	47

(4) For a period of one year after the conclusion of	48
employment or service as a member or employee of the general	49
assembly, no former member or employee of the general assembly	50
shall represent, or act in a representative capacity for, any	51
person on any matter before the general assembly, any committee of	52
the general assembly, or the controlling board. Division (A)(4) of	53
this section does not apply to or affect a person who separates	54
from service with the general assembly on or before December 31,	55
1995. As used in division (A)(4) of this section "person" does not	56
include any state agency or political subdivision of the state.	57

(5) As used in divisions (A)(1), (2), and (3) of this	58
section, "matter" includes any case, proceeding, application,	59
determination, issue, or question, but does not include the	60
proposal, consideration, or enactment of statutes, rules,	61
ordinances, resolutions, or charter or constitutional amendments.	62
As used in division (A)(4) of this section, "matter" includes the	63
proposal, consideration, or enactment of statutes, resolutions, or	64
constitutional amendments. As used in division (A) of this	65
section, "represent" includes any formal or informal appearance	66
before, or any written or oral communication with, any public	67
agency on behalf of any person.	68

(6) Nothing contained in division (A) of this section shall	69
prohibit, during such period, a former public official or employee	70
from being retained or employed to represent, assist, or act in a	71
representative capacity for the public agency by which the public	72
official or employee was employed or on which the public official	73
or employee served.	74

(7) Division (A) of this section shall not be construed to	75
prohibit the performance of ministerial functions, including, but	76
not limited to, the filing or amendment of tax returns,	77
applications for permits and licenses, incorporation papers, and	78
other similar documents.	79

(B) No present or former public official or employee shall	80
disclose or use, without appropriate authorization, any	81
information acquired by the public official or employee in the	82
course of the public official's or employee's official duties that	83
is confidential because of statutory provisions, or that has been	84
clearly designated to the public official or employee as	85
confidential when that confidential designation is warranted	86
because of the status of the proceedings or the circumstances	87
under which the information was received and preserving its	88
confidentiality is necessary to the proper conduct of government	89
business.	90

(C) No public official or employee shall participate within	91
the scope of duties as a public official or employee, except	92
through ministerial functions as defined in division (A) of this	93
section, in any license or rate-making proceeding that directly	94
affects the license or rates of any person, partnership, trust,	95
business trust, corporation, or association in which the public	96
official or employee or immediate family owns or controls more	97
than five per cent. No public official or employee shall	98
participate within the scope of duties as a public official or	99
employee, except through ministerial functions as defined in	100
division (A) of this section, in any license or rate-making	101
proceeding that directly affects the license or rates of any	102
person to whom the public official or employee or immediate	103
family, or a partnership, trust, business trust, corporation, or	104
association of which the public official or employee or the public	105
official's or employee's immediate family owns or controls more	106
than five per cent, has sold goods or services totaling more than	107
one thousand dollars during the preceding year, unless the public	108
official or employee has filed a written statement acknowledging	109
that sale with the clerk or secretary of the public agency and the	110
statement is entered in any public record of the agency's	111
proceedings. This division shall not be construed to require the	112
disclosure of clients of attorneys or persons licensed under	113
section 4732.12 or 4732.15 of the Revised Code, or patients of	114
persons certified under section 4731.14 of the Revised Code.	115

(D) No public official or employee shall use or authorize the	116
use of the authority or influence of office or employment to	117
secure anything of value or the promise or offer of anything of	118
value that is of such a character as to manifest a substantial and	119
improper influence upon the public official or employee with	120
respect to that person's duties.	121

(E) No public official or employee shall solicit or accept	122
anything of value that is of such a character as to manifest a	123
substantial and improper influence upon the public official or	124
employee with respect to that person's duties.	125

(F) No person shall promise or give to a public official or	126
employee anything of value that is of such a character as to	127
manifest a substantial and improper influence upon the public	128
official or employee with respect to that person's duties.	129

(G) In the absence of bribery or another offense under the	130
Revised Code or a purpose to defraud, contributions made to a	131
campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, or	132
political action committee~~, or political contributing entity~~ on	133
behalf of an elected public officer or other public official or	134
employee who seeks elective office shall be considered to accrue	135
ordinarily to the public official or employee for the purposes of	136
divisions (D), (E), and (F) of this section.	137

As used in this division, "contributions," "campaign	138
committee," "political party," "legislative campaign fund," and	139
"political action committee," ~~and "political contributing entity"~~	140
have the same meanings as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code.	141

(H)(1) No public official or employee, except for the	142
president or other chief administrative officer of or a member of	143
a board of trustees of a state institution of higher education as	144
defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, who is required	145
to file a financial disclosure statement under section 102.02 of	146
the Revised Code shall solicit or accept, and no person shall give	147
to that public official or employee, an honorarium. Except as	148
provided in division (H)(2) of this section, this division and	149
divisions (D), (E), and (F) of this section do not prohibit a	150
public official or employee who is required to file a financial	151
disclosure statement under section 102.02 of the Revised Code from	152
accepting and do not prohibit a person from giving to that public	153
official or employee the payment of actual travel expenses,	154
including any expenses incurred in connection with the travel for	155
lodging, and meals, food, and beverages provided to the public	156
official or employee at a meeting at which the public official or	157
employee participates in a panel, seminar, or speaking engagement	158
or provided to the public official or employee at a meeting or	159
convention of a national organization to which any state agency,	160
including, but not limited to, any state legislative agency or	161
state institution of higher education as defined in section	162
3345.011 of the Revised Code, pays membership dues. Except as	163
provided in division (H)(2) of this section, this division and	164
divisions (D), (E), and (F) of this section do not prohibit a	165
public official or employee who is not required to file a	166
financial disclosure statement under section 102.02 of the Revised	167
Code from accepting and do not prohibit a person from promising or	168
giving to that public official or employee an honorarium or the	169
payment of travel, meal, and lodging expenses if the honorarium,	170
expenses, or both were paid in recognition of demonstrable	171
business, professional, or esthetic interests of the public	172
official or employee that exist apart from public office or	173
employment, including, but not limited to, such a demonstrable	174
interest in public speaking and were not paid by any person or	175
other entity, or by any representative or association of those	176
persons or entities, that is regulated by, doing business with, or	177
seeking to do business with the department, division, institution,	178
board, commission, authority, bureau, or other instrumentality of	179
the governmental entity with which the public official or employee	180
serves.	181

(2) No person who is a member of the board of a state	182
retirement system, a state retirement system investment officer,	183
or an employee of a state retirement system whose position	184
involves substantial and material exercise of discretion in the	185
investment of retirement system funds shall solicit or accept, and	186
no person shall give to that board member, officer, or employee,	187
payment of actual travel expenses, including expenses incurred	188
with the travel for lodging, meals, food, and beverages.	189

(I) A public official or employee may accept travel, meals,	190
and lodging or expenses or reimbursement of expenses for travel,	191
meals, and lodging in connection with conferences, seminars, and	192
similar events related to official duties if the travel, meals,	193
and lodging, expenses, or reimbursement is not of such a character	194
as to manifest a substantial and improper influence upon the	195
public official or employee with respect to that person's duties.	196
The house of representatives and senate, in their code of ethics,	197
and the Ohio ethics commission, under section 111.15 of the	198
Revised Code, may adopt rules setting standards and conditions for	199
the furnishing and acceptance of such travel, meals, and lodging,	200
expenses, or reimbursement.	201

A person who acts in compliance with this division and any	202
applicable rules adopted under it, or any applicable, similar	203
rules adopted by the supreme court governing judicial officers and	204
employees, does not violate division (D), (E), or (F) of this	205
section. This division does not preclude any person from seeking	206
an advisory opinion from the appropriate ethics commission under	207
section 102.08 of the Revised Code.	208

(J) For purposes of divisions (D), (E), and (F) of this	209
section, the membership of a public official or employee in an	210
organization shall not be considered, in and of itself, to be of	211
such a character as to manifest a substantial and improper	212
influence on the public official or employee with respect to that	213
person's duties. As used in this division, "organization" means a	214
church or a religious, benevolent, fraternal, or professional	215
organization that is tax exempt under subsection 501(a) and	216
described in subsection 501(c)(3), (4), (8), (10), or (19) of the	217
"Internal Revenue Code of 1986." This division does not apply to a	218
public official or employee who is an employee of an organization,	219
serves as a trustee, director, or officer of an organization, or	220
otherwise holds a fiduciary relationship with an organization.	221
This division does not allow a public official or employee who is	222
a member of an organization to participate, formally or	223
informally, in deliberations, discussions, or voting on a matter	224
or to use his official position with regard to the interests of	225
the organization on the matter if the public official or employee	226
has assumed a particular responsibility in the organization with	227
respect to the matter or if the matter would affect that person's	228
personal, pecuniary interests.	229

(K) It is not a violation of this section for a prosecuting	230
attorney to appoint assistants and employees in accordance with	231
division (B) of section 309.06 and section 2921.421 of the Revised	232
Code, for a chief legal officer of a municipal corporation or an	233
official designated as prosecutor in a municipal corporation to	234
appoint assistants and employees in accordance with sections	235
733.621 and 2921.421 of the Revised Code, for a township law	236
director appointed under section 504.15 of the Revised Code to	237
appoint assistants and employees in accordance with sections	238
504.151 and 2921.421 of the Revised Code, or for a coroner to	239
appoint assistants and employees in accordance with division (B)	240
of section 313.05 of the Revised Code.	241

As used in this division, "chief legal officer" has the same	242
meaning as in section 733.621 of the Revised Code.	243

Sec. 2921.01. As used in sections 2921.01 to 2921.45 of the	244
Revised Code:	245

(A) "Public official" means any elected or appointed officer,	246
or employee, or agent of the state or any political subdivision,	247
whether in a temporary or permanent capacity, and includes, but is	248
not limited to, legislators, judges, and law enforcement officers.	249

(2) Any person performing ad hoc a governmental function,	252
including, but not limited to, a juror, member of a temporary	253
commission, master, arbitrator, advisor, or consultant;	254

(3) A person who is a candidate for public office, whether or	255
not the person is elected or appointed to the office for which the	256
person is a candidate. A person is a candidate for purposes of	257
this division if the person has been nominated according to law	258
for election or appointment to public office, or if the person has	259
filed a petition or petitions as required by law to have the	260
person's name placed on the ballot in a primary, general, or	261
special election, or if the person campaigns as a write-in	262
candidate in any primary, general, or special election.	263

(C) "Party official" means any person who holds an elective	264
or appointive post in a political party in the United States or	265
this state, by virtue of which the person directs, conducts, or	266
participates in directing or conducting party affairs at any level	267
of responsibility.	268

(D) "Official proceeding" means any proceeding before a	269
legislative, judicial, administrative, or other governmental	270
agency or official authorized to take evidence under oath, and	271
includes any proceeding before a referee, hearing examiner,	272
commissioner, notary, or other person taking testimony or a	273
deposition in connection with an official proceeding.	274

(E) "Detention" means arrest; confinement in any vehicle	275
subsequent to an arrest; confinement in any public or private	276
facility for custody of persons charged with or convicted of crime	277
in this state or another state or under the laws of the United	278
States or alleged or found to be a delinquent child or unruly	279
child in this state or another state or under the laws of the	280
United States; hospitalization, institutionalization, or	281
confinement in any public or private facility that is ordered	282
pursuant to or under the authority of section 2945.37, 2945.371,	283
2945.38, 2945.39, 2945.40, 2945.401, or 2945.402 of the Revised	284
Code; confinement in any vehicle for transportation to or from any	285
facility of any of those natures; detention for extradition or	286
deportation; except as provided in this division, supervision by	287
any employee of any facility of any of those natures that is	288
incidental to hospitalization, institutionalization, or	289
confinement in the facility but that occurs outside the facility;	290
supervision by an employee of the department of rehabilitation and	291
correction of a person on any type of release from a state	292
correctional institution; or confinement in any vehicle, airplane,	293
or place while being returned from outside of this state into this	294
state by a private person or entity pursuant to a contract entered	295
into under division (E) of section 311.29 of the Revised Code or	296
division (B) of section 5149.03 of the Revised Code. For a person	297
confined in a county jail who participates in a county jail	298
industry program pursuant to section 5147.30 of the Revised Code,	299
"detention" includes time spent at an assigned work site and going	300
to and from the work site.	301

(F) "Detention facility" means any public or private place	302
used for the confinement of a person charged with or convicted of	303
any crime in this state or another state or under the laws of the	304
United States or alleged or found to be a delinquent child or	305
unruly child in this state or another state or under the laws of	306
the United States.	307