SENATOR Blessing

To amend sections 2151.07, 2301.02, 2301.03, and

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3501.38 and to enact sections 2101.023 and

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2101.024 of the Revised Code to add one judge to

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the Erie County Court of Common Pleas, to

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reallocate jurisdictional responsibilities of

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current judges of the Erie County Court of Common

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Pleas, to create the Domestic

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Relations-Juvenile-Probate Division of the Logan

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County Court of Common Pleas and to add one judge

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to the Logan County Court of Common Pleas to be

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elected in 2004, to specify that a board of

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elections may not invalidate a petition on the

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ground that its form does not satisfy statutory

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requirements, if the board originally distributed

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the petition form and, at the time of

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distribution, it did not satisfy statutory

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requirements, and to amend the version of section

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2301.03 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to

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take effect January 1, 2004, to continue the

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provisions of this act on and after that effective

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date, and to declare an emergency.

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

Section 1. That sections 2151.07, 2301.02, 2301.03, and	22
3501.38 be amended and sections 2101.023 and 2101.024 of the	23
Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:	24

Sec. 2101.023. The judge of the court of common pleas of Erie	25
county who is elected in 2008, and successors, is the successor to	26
the judge of the probate division of that court whose term expires	27
on February 8, 2009, shall be designated as a judge of the court	28
of common pleas, general division, shall have all the powers	29
relating to the general division of the court of common pleas of	30
Erie county, shall be the clerk of the probate court, and shall	31
exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the other judges of the	32
general division of the court of common pleas of Erie county over	33
matters that are within the jurisdiction of the probate division	34
of that court under Chapter 2101., and other provisions, of the	35
Revised Code and all matters that are within the jurisdiction of	36
the general division of that court, as set forth in division	37
(N)(2) of section 2301.03 of the Revised Code.	38

Sec. 2101.024. Effective January 2, 2005, the probate judge	39
of the court of common pleas of Logan county shall have all the	40
powers relating to the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	41
division of the court of common pleas of Logan county, as	42
established pursuant to division (CC)(1) of section 2301.03 of the	43
Revised Code, and shall exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the	44
judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of the	45
court of common pleas of Logan county over matters that are within	46
the jurisdiction of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	47
division, as set forth in division (CC)(1) of section 2301.03 of	48
the Revised Code.	49

Sec. 2151.07.  The juvenile court is a court of record within	50
the court of common pleas. The juvenile court has and shall	51
exercise the powers and jurisdiction conferred in Chapters 2151.	52
and 2152. of the Revised Code.	53

Whenever the juvenile judge of the juvenile court is sick, is	54
absent from the county, or is unable to attend court, or the	55
volume of cases pending in court necessitates it, upon the request	56
of the administrative juvenile judge, the presiding judge of the	57
court of common pleas pursuant to division (CC)(DD) of section	58
2301.03 of the Revised Code shall assign a judge of any division	59
of the court of common pleas of the county to act in the juvenile	60
judge's place or in conjunction with the juvenile judge. If no	61
judge of the court of common pleas is available for that purpose,	62
the chief justice of the supreme court shall assign a judge of the	63
court of common pleas, a juvenile judge, or a probate judge from a	64
different county to act in the place of that juvenile judge or in	65
conjunction with that juvenile judge. The assigned judge shall	66
receive the compensation and expenses for so serving that is	67
provided by law for judges assigned to hold court in courts of	68
common pleas.	69

Sec. 2301.02.  The number of judges of the court of common	70
pleas for each county, the time for the next election of the	71
judges in the several counties, and the beginning of their terms	72
shall be as follows:	73

(A) In Adams, Ashland, Fayette, and Pike counties, one judge,	74
elected in 1956, term to begin February 9, 1957;	75

In Brown, Crawford, Defiance, Highland, Holmes, Morgan,	76
Ottawa, and Union counties, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term	77
to begin February 9, 1955;	78

In Auglaize county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to	79
begin January 9, 1957;	80

In Coshocton, Darke, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Hardin,	81
Jackson, Knox, Logan, Madison, Mercer, Monroe, Morrow, Paulding,	82
Vinton, and Wyandot counties, one judge, to be elected in 1956,	83
term to begin January 1, 1957;	84

In Logan county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	85
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to	86
begin January 2, 2005;	87

In Carroll, Champaign, Clinton, Hocking, Meigs, Pickaway,	88
Preble, Shelby, Van Wert, and Williams counties, one judge, to be	89
elected in 1952, term to begin January 1, 1953;	90

In Harrison and Noble counties, one judge, to be elected in	91
1954, term to begin April 18, 1955;	92

In Henry county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	93
to begin May 9, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin	94
January 1, 2005;	95

In Putnam county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to	96
begin May 9, 1957;	97

In Huron county, one judge, to be elected in 1952, term to	98
begin May 14, 1953;	99

In Perry county, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term to	100
begin July 6, 1956;	101

In Sandusky county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,	102
term to begin February 10, 1955, and one to be elected in 1978,	103
term to begin January 1, 1979;	104

(B) In Allen county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	105
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1958,	106
term to begin January 1, 1959, and the third to be elected in	107
1992, term to begin January 1, 1993;	108

In Ashtabula county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	109
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1960, term to	110
begin January 1, 1961, and one to be elected in 1978, term to	111
begin January 2, 1979;	112

In Athens county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term	113
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1990, term to	114
begin July 1, 1991;	115

In Erie county, twofour judges, one to be elected in 1956,	116
term to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in	117
1970, term to begin January 2, 1971, the third to be elected in	118
2004, term to begin January 2, 2005, and the fourth to be elected	119
in 2008, term to begin February 9, 2009;	120

In Fairfield county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	121
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970,	122
term to begin January 1, 1971, and the third to be elected in	123
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995;	124

In Geauga county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	125
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976,	126
term to begin January 6, 1977;	127

In Greene county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,	128
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	129
term to begin January 1, 1961, the third to be elected in 1978,	130
term to begin January 2, 1979, and the fourth to be elected in	131
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;	132

In Hancock county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	133
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in	134
1978, term to begin January 1, 1979;	135

In Lawrence county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,	136
term to begin February 9, 1955, and the second to be elected in	137
1976, term to begin January 1, 1977;	138

In Marion county, three judges, one to be elected in 1952,	139
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1976,	140
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the third to be elected in	141
1998, term to begin February 9, 1999;	142

In Medina county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	143
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1966,	144
term to begin January 1, 1967, and the third to be elected in	145
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;	146

In Miami county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term	147
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1970, term to	148
begin on January 1, 1971;	149

In Muskingum county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968,	150
term to begin August 9, 1969, one to be elected in 1978, term to	151
begin January 1, 1979, and one to be elected in 2002, term to	152
begin January 2, 2003;	153

In Portage county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	154
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	155
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in	156
1986, term to begin January 2, 1987;	157

In Ross county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	158
to begin February 9, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976,	159
term to begin January 1, 1977;	160

In Scioto county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	161
term to begin February 10, 1955, the second to be elected in 1960,	162
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in	163
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995;	164

In Seneca county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	165
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1986,	166
term to begin January 2, 1987;	167

In Warren county, four judges, one to be elected in 1954,	168
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970,	169
term to begin January 1, 1971, the third to be elected in 1986,	170
term to begin January 1, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in	171
2004, term to begin January 2, 2005;	172

In Washington county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	173
term to begin January 1, 1953, and one to be elected in 1986, term	174
to begin January 1, 1987;	175

In Wood county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968, term	176
beginning January 1, 1969, the second to be elected in 1970, term	177
to begin January 2, 1971, and the third to be elected in 1990,	178
term to begin January 1, 1991;	179

In Belmont and Jefferson counties, two judges, to be elected	180
in 1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	181
respectively;	182

In Clark county, four judges, one to be elected in 1952, term	183
to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1956, term	184
to begin January 2, 1957, the third to be elected in 1986, term to	185
begin January 3, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in 1994, term	186
to begin January 2, 1995.	187

In Clermont county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,	188
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1964,	189
term to begin January 1, 1965, the third to be elected in 1982,	190
term to begin January 2, 1983, and the fourth to be elected in	191
1986, term to begin January 2, 1987;	192

In Columbiana county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	193
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in	194
1956, term to begin January 1, 1957;	195

In Delaware county, two judges, one to be elected in 1990,	196
term to begin February 9, 1991, the second to be elected in 1994,	197
term to begin January 1, 1995;	198

In Lake county, six judges, one to be elected in 1958, term	199
to begin January 1, 1959, the second to be elected in 1960, term	200
to begin January 2, 1961, the third to be elected in 1964, term to	201
begin January 3, 1965, the fourth and fifth to be elected in 1978,	202
terms to begin January 4, 1979, and January 5, 1979, respectively,	203
and the sixth to be elected in 2000, term to begin January 6,	204
2001;	205

In Licking county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	206
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1964, term to	207
begin January 1, 1965, and one to be elected in 1990, term to	208
begin January 1, 1991;	209

In Lorain county, eight judges, two to be elected in 1952,	210
terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953, respectively,	211
one to be elected in 1958, term to begin January 3, 1959, one to	212
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 1, 1969, two to be	213
elected in 1988, terms to begin January 4, 1989, and January 5,	214
1989, respectively, and two to be elected in 1998, terms to begin	215
January 2, 1999, and January 3, 1999, respectively;	216

In Butler county, ten judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	217
to begin January 1, 1957; two to be elected in 1954, terms to	218
begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; one to	219
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 2, 1969; one to be	220
elected in 1986, term to begin January 3, 1987; two to be elected	221
in 1988, terms to begin January 1, 1989, and January 2, 1989,	222
respectively; one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 4,	223
1993; and two to be elected in 2002, terms to begin January 2,	224
2003, and January 3, 2003, respectively;	225

In Richland county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,	226
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	227
term to begin February 9, 1961, the third to be elected in 1968,	228
term to begin January 2, 1969, and the fourth to be elected in	229
2004, term to begin January 3, 2005;	230

In Tuscarawas county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956,	231
term to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in	232
1960, term to begin January 2, 1961;	233

In Wayne county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	234
beginning January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 1968, term to	235
begin January 2, 1969;	236

In Trumbull county, six judges, one to be elected in 1952,	237
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1954,	238
term to begin January 1, 1955, the third to be elected in 1956,	239
term to begin January 1, 1957, the fourth to be elected in 1964,	240
term to begin January 1, 1965, the fifth to be elected in 1976,	241
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the sixth to be elected in	242
1994, term to begin January 3, 1995;	243

(C) In Cuyahoga county, thirty-nine judges; eight to be	244
elected in 1954, terms to begin on successive days beginning from	245
January 1, 1955, to January 7, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	246
respectively; eight to be elected in 1956, terms to begin on	247
successive days beginning from January 1, 1957, to January 8,	248
1957; three to be elected in 1952, terms to begin from January 1,	249
1953, to January 3, 1953; two to be elected in 1960, terms to	250
begin on January 8, 1961, and January 9, 1961, respectively; two	251
to be elected in 1964, terms to begin January 4, 1965, and January	252
5, 1965, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin on	253
January 10, 1967; four to be elected in 1968, terms to begin on	254
successive days beginning from January 9, 1969, to January 12,	255
1969; two to be elected in 1974, terms to begin on January 18,	256
1975, and January 19, 1975, respectively; five to be elected in	257
1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning January 6, 1977,	258
to January 10, 1977; two to be elected in 1982, terms to begin	259
January 11, 1983, and January 12, 1983, respectively; and two to	260
be elected in 1986, terms to begin January 13, 1987, and January	261
14, 1987, respectively;	262

In Franklin county, twenty-one judges; two to be elected in	263
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	264
respectively; four to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January	265
1, 1957, to January 4, 1957; four to be elected in 1958, terms to	266
begin January 1, 1959, to January 4, 1959; three to be elected in	267
1968, terms to begin January 5, 1969, to January 7, 1969; three to	268
be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning	269
January 5, 1977, to January 7, 1977; one to be elected in 1982,	270
term to begin January 8, 1983; one to be elected in 1986, term to	271
begin January 9, 1987; two to be elected in 1990, terms to begin	272
July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991, respectively; and one to be	273
elected in 1996, term to begin January 2, 1997;	274

In Hamilton county, twenty-one judges; eight to be elected in	275
1966, terms to begin January 1, 1967, January 2, 1967, and from	276
February 9, 1967, to February 14, 1967, respectively; five to be	277
elected in 1956, terms to begin from January 1, 1957, to January	278
5, 1957; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 1, 1965;	279
one to be elected in 1974, term to begin January 15, 1975; one to	280
be elected in 1980, term to begin January 16, 1981; two to be	281
elected at large in the general election in 1982, terms to begin	282
April 1, 1983; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1,	283
1991; and two to be elected in 1996, terms to begin January 3,	284
1997, and January 4, 1997, respectively;	285

In Lucas county, fourteen judges; two to be elected in 1954,	286
terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	287
respectively; two to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January 1,	288
1957, and October 29, 1957, respectively; two to be elected in	289
1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953,	290
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3,	291
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 4, 1969;	292
two to be elected in 1976, terms to begin January 4, 1977, and	293
January 5, 1977, respectively; one to be elected in 1982, term to	294
begin January 6, 1983; one to be elected in 1988, term to begin	295
January 7, 1989; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin January	296
2, 1991; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 2,	297
1993;	298

In Mahoning county, seven judges; three to be elected in	299
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and	300
February 9, 1955, respectively; one to be elected in 1956, term to	301
begin January 1, 1957; one to be elected in 1952, term to begin	302
January 1, 1953; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January	303
2, 1969; and one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1,	304
1991;	305

In Montgomery county, fifteen judges; three to be elected in	306
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and January	307
3, 1955, respectively; four to be elected in 1952, terms to begin	308
January 1, 1953, January 2, 1953, July 1, 1953, July 2, 1953,	309
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3,	310
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 3, 1969;	311
three to be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days	312
beginning January 4, 1977, to January 6, 1977; two to be elected	313
in 1990, terms to begin July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991,	314
respectively; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January	315
1, 1993.	316

In Stark county, eight judges; one to be elected in 1958,	317
term to begin on January 2, 1959; two to be elected in 1954, terms	318
to begin on January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively;	319
two to be elected in 1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and	320
April 16, 1953, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to	321
begin on January 4, 1967; and two to be elected in 1992, terms to	322
begin January 1, 1993, and January 2, 1993, respectively;	323

In Summit county, eleven judges; four to be elected in 1954,	324
terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, January 3, 1955,	325
and February 9, 1955, respectively; three to be elected in 1958,	326
terms to begin January 1, 1959, January 2, 1959, and May 17, 1959,	327
respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin January 4,	328
1967; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 5, 1969;	329
one to be elected in 1990, term to begin May 1, 1991; and one to	330
be elected in 1992, term to begin January 6, 1993.	331

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, in any county	332
having two or more judges of the court of common pleas, in which	333
more than one-third of the judges plus one were previously elected	334
at the same election, if the office of one of those judges so	335
elected becomes vacant more than forty days prior to the second	336
general election preceding the expiration of that judge's term,	337
the office that that judge had filled shall be abolished as of the	338
date of the next general election, and a new office of judge of	339
the court of common pleas shall be created. The judge who is to	340
fill that new office shall be elected for a six-year term at the	341
next general election, and the term of that judge shall commence	342
on the first day of the year following that general election, on	343
which day no other judge's term begins, so that the number of	344
judges that the county shall elect shall not be reduced.	345

Judges of the probate division of the court of common pleas	346
are judges of the court of common pleas but shall be elected	347
pursuant to sections 2101.02 and 2101.021 of the Revised Code,	348
except in Adams, Harrison, Henry, Morgan, Morrow, Noble, and	349
Wyandot counties in which the judge of the court of common pleas	350
elected pursuant to this section also shall serve as judge of the	351
probate division.	352

Sec. 2301.03.  (A) In Franklin county, the judges of the	353
court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953,	354
January 2, 1953, January 5, 1969, January 5, 1977, and January 2,	355
1997, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise	356
the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	357
compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of	358
Franklin county and shall be elected and designated as judges of	359
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They	360
shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all	361
cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all	362
parentage proceedings under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over	363
which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce,	364
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	365
shall be assigned to them. In addition to the judge's regular	366
duties, the judge who is senior in point of service shall serve on	367
the children services board and the county advisory board and	368
shall be the administrator of the domestic relations division and	369
its subdivisions and departments.	370

(B) In Hamilton county:

371

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas, whose term begins	372
on January 1, 1957, and successors, and the judge of the court of	373
common pleas, whose term begins on February 14, 1967, and	374
successors, shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	375
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and	376
jurisdiction conferred by those chapters.	377

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	378
on January 5, 1957, January 16, 1981, and July 1, 1991, and	379
successors, shall be elected and designated as judges of the court	380
of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and shall have	381
assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	382
separation, and annulment cases coming before the court. On or	383
after the first day of July and before the first day of August of	384
1991 and each year thereafter, a majority of the judges of the	385
division of domestic relations shall elect one of the judges of	386
the division as administrative judge of that division. If a	387
majority of the judges of the division of domestic relations are	388
unable for any reason to elect an administrative judge for the	389
division before the first day of August, a majority of the judges	390
of the Hamilton county court of common pleas, as soon as possible	391
after that date, shall elect one of the judges of the division of	392
domestic relations as administrative judge of that division. The	393
term of the administrative judge shall begin on the earlier of the	394
first day of August of the year in which the administrative judge	395
is elected or the date on which the administrative judge is	396
elected by a majority of the judges of the Hamilton county court	397
of common pleas and shall terminate on the date on which the	398
administrative judge's successor is elected in the following year.	399

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the administrative	400
judge of the division of domestic relations shall be the	401
administrator of the domestic relations division and its	402
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	403
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	404
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	405
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	406
including any referees considered necessary by the judges in the	407
discharge of their various duties.	408

The administrative judge of the division of domestic	409
relations also shall designate the title, compensation, expense	410
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	411
personnel of the division, and shall fix the duties of its	412
personnel. The duties of the personnel, in addition to those	413
provided for in other sections of the Revised Code, shall include	414
the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution	415
of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling	416
and conciliation services that may be made available to persons	417
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	418
action pending in the division.	419

The board of county commissioners shall appropriate the sum	420
of money each year as will meet all the administrative expenses of	421
the division of domestic relations, including reasonable expenses	422
of the domestic relations judges and the division counselors and	423
other employees designated to conduct the handling, servicing, and	424
investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	425
separation, and annulment cases, conciliation and counseling, and	426
all matters relating to those cases and counseling, and the	427
expenses involved in the attendance of division personnel at	428
domestic relations and welfare conferences designated by the	429
division, and the further sum each year as will provide for the	430
adequate operation of the division of domestic relations.	431

The compensation and expenses of all employees and the salary	432
and expenses of the judges shall be paid by the county treasurer	433
from the money appropriated for the operation of the division,	434
upon the warrant of the county auditor, certified to by the	435
administrative judge of the division of domestic relations.	436

The summonses, warrants, citations, subpoenas, and other	437
writs of the division may issue to a bailiff, constable, or staff	438
investigator of the division or to the sheriff of any county or	439
any marshal, constable, or police officer, and the provisions of	440
law relating to the subpoenaing of witnesses in other cases shall	441
apply insofar as they are applicable. When a summons, warrant,	442
citation, subpoena, or other writ is issued to an officer, other	443
than a bailiff, constable, or staff investigator of the division,	444
the expense of serving it shall be assessed as a part of the costs	445
in the case involved.	446

(3) The judge of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county	447
whose term begins on January 3, 1997, and the successor to that	448
judge whose term begins on January 3, 2003, shall each be elected	449
and designated for one term only as the drug court judge of the	450
court of common pleas of Hamilton county. The successors to the	451
judge whose term begins on January 3, 2003, shall be elected and	452
designated as judges of the general division of the court of	453
common pleas of Hamilton county and shall not have the authority	454
granted by division (B)(3) of this section. The drug court judge	455
may accept or reject any case referred to the drug court judge	456
under division (B)(3) of this section. After the drug court judge	457
accepts a referred case, the drug court judge has full authority	458
over the case, including the authority to conduct arraignment,	459
accept pleas, enter findings and dispositions, conduct trials,	460
order treatment, and if treatment is not successfully completed	461
pronounce and enter sentence.	462

A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas	463
of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal	464
court may refer to the drug court judge any case, and any	465
companion cases, the judge determines meet the criteria described	466
under divisions (B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section. If the drug	467
court judge accepts referral of a referred case, the case, and any	468
companion cases, shall be transferred to the drug court judge. A	469
judge may refer a case meeting the criteria described in divisions	470
(B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section that involves a violation of a	471
term of probation to the drug court judge, and, if the drug court	472
judge accepts the referral, the referring judge and the drug court	473
judge have concurrent jurisdiction over the case.	474

A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas	475
of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal	476
court may refer a case to the drug court judge under division	477
(B)(3) of this section if the judge determines that both of the	478
following apply:	479

(a) One of the following applies:

480

(i) The case involves a drug abuse offense, as defined in	481
section 2925.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third	482
or fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1,	483
1996, a felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the	484
offense is committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor.	485

(ii) The case involves a theft offense, as defined in section	486
2913.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third or	487
fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1, 1996, a	488
felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the offense is	489
committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor, and the	490
defendant is drug or alcohol dependent or in danger of becoming	491
drug or alcohol dependent and would benefit from treatment.	492

(b) All of the following apply:

493

(i) The case involves a probationable offense or a case in	494
which a mandatory prison term is not required to be imposed.	495

(ii) The defendant has no history of violent behavior.

496

(iii) The defendant has no history of mental illness.

497

(iv) The defendant's current or past behavior, or both, is	498
drug or alcohol driven.	499

(v) The defendant demonstrates a sincere willingness to	500
participate in a fifteen-month treatment process.	501

(vi) The defendant has no acute health condition.

502

(vii) If the defendant is incarcerated, the county prosecutor	503
approves of the referral.	504

(4) If the administrative judge of the court of common pleas	505
of Hamilton county determines that the volume of cases pending	506
before the drug court judge does not constitute a sufficient	507
caseload for the drug court judge, the administrative judge, in	508
accordance with the Rules of Superintendence for Courts of Common	509
Pleas, shall assign individual cases to the drug court judge from	510
the general docket of the court. If the assignments so occur, the	511
administrative judge shall cease the assignments when the	512
administrative judge determines that the volume of cases pending	513
before the drug court judge constitutes a sufficient caseload for	514
the drug court judge.	515

(C) In Lorain county, the judges of the court of common pleas	516
whose terms begin on January 3, 1959, January 4, 1989, and January	517
2, 1999, and successors, shall have the same qualifications,	518
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	519
compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of	520
Lorain county and shall be elected and designated as the judges of	521
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They	522
shall have all of the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all	523
cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all	524
parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court has	525
jurisdiction, and all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	526
separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them, except	527
cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other	528
judge of the court of common pleas.	529

(D) In Lucas county:

530

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	531
on January 1, 1955, and January 3, 1965, and successors, shall	532
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	533
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	534
the court of common pleas of Lucas county and shall be elected and	535
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	536
domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	537
separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them.	538

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	539
point of service, shall be considered as the presiding judge of	540
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and	541
shall be charged exclusively with the assignment and division of	542
the work of the division and the employment and supervision of all	543
other personnel of the domestic relations division.	544

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	545
on January 5, 1977, and January 2, 1991, and successors shall have	546
the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	547
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	548
the court of common pleas of Lucas county, shall be elected and	549
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	550
division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	551
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and	552
jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. In addition to the	553
judge's regular duties, the judge of the court of common pleas,	554
juvenile division, senior in point of service, shall be the	555
administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and	556
departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment,	557
and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in	558
handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including	559
any referees considered necessary by the judges of the division in	560
the discharge of their various duties.	561

The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division,	562
senior in point of service, also shall designate the title,	563
compensation, expense allowance, hours, leaves of absence, and	564
vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix the duties	565
of the personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	566
addition to other statutory duties include the handling,	567
servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and	568
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	569
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	570
action pending in the division.	571

(3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas,	572
division of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the	573
juvenile division is sick, absent, or unable to perform that	574
judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in that	575
judge's division necessitates it, the duties shall be performed by	576
the judges of the other of those divisions.	577

(E) In Mahoning county:

578

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began	579
on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same	580
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	581
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	582
common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated	583
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	584
relations, and shall be assigned all the divorce, dissolution of	585
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	586
court. In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	587
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, shall be	588
the administrator of the domestic relations division and its	589
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	590
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	591
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	592
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	593
including any referees considered necessary in the discharge of	594
the various duties of the judge's office.	595

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	596
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	597
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	598
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	599
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	600
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	601
legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling and	602
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	603
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	604
action pending in the division.	605

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began	606
on January 2, 1969, and successors, shall have the same	607
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	608
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	609
common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated	610
as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and	611
shall be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and	612
2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions	613
conferred by those chapters. In addition to the judge's regular	614
duties, the judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division,	615
shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its	616
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	617
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	618
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile	619
cases, including any referees considered necessary by the judge in	620
the discharge of the judge's various duties.	621

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	622
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	623
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	624
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	625
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	626
servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and	627
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	628
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	629
action pending in the division.	630

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	631
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	632
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties, or the volume of	633
cases pending in that judge's division necessitates it, that	634
judge's duties shall be performed by another judge of the court of	635
common pleas.	636

(F) In Montgomery county:

637

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	638
on January 2, 1953, and January 4, 1977, and successors, shall	639
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	640
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	641
the court of common pleas of Montgomery county and shall be	642
elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas,	643
division of domestic relations. These judges shall have assigned	644
to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation,	645
and annulment cases.	646

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	647
point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the assignment	648
and division of the work of the division and shall have charge of	649
the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division	650
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	651
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	652
including any necessary referees, except those employees who may	653
be appointed by the judge, junior in point of service, under this	654
section and sections 2301.12, 2301.18, and 2301.19 of the Revised	655
Code. The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	656
point of service, also shall designate the title, compensation,	657
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	658
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties.	659

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	660
on January 1, 1953, and January 1, 1993, and successors, shall	661
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	662
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	663
the court of common pleas of Montgomery county, shall be elected	664
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	665
division, and shall be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of,	666
the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the	667
Revised Code.	668

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	669
court of common pleas, juvenile division, senior in point of	670
service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	671
its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	672
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	673
juvenile division, including any necessary referees, who are	674
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases.	675
The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate the	676
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence,	677
and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	678
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	679
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	680
investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and	681
conciliation services that are available upon request to persons,	682
whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the	683
division.	684

If one of the judges of the court of common pleas, division	685
of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the court of common	686
pleas, juvenile division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform	687
that judge's duties or the volume of cases pending in that judge's	688
division necessitates it, the duties of that judge may be	689
performed by the judge or judges of the other of those divisions.	690

(G) In Richland county, the judge of the court of common	691
pleas whose term begins on January 1, 1957, and successors, shall	692
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	693
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	694
judges of the court of common pleas of Richland county and shall	695
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	696
division of domestic relations. That judge shall have all of the	697
powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters	698
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings	699
over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce,	700
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	701
shall be assigned to that judge, except in cases that for some	702
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of	703
common pleas.	704

(H) In Stark county, the judges of the court of common pleas	705
whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, January 2, 1959, and January	706
1, 1993, and successors, shall have the same qualifications,	707
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	708
compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Stark	709
county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court	710
of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have	711
all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under	712
Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage	713
proceedings over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and	714
all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and	715
annulment cases, except cases that are assigned to some other	716
judge of the court of common pleas for some special reason, shall	717
be assigned to the judges.	718

The judge of the division of domestic relations, second most	719
senior in point of service, shall have charge of the employment	720
and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in	721
handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, dissolution of	722
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, and necessary	723
referees required for the judge's respective court.	724

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	725
point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the	726
administration of sections 2151.13, 2151.16, 2151.17, and 2152.71	727
of the Revised Code and with the assignment and division of the	728
work of the division and the employment and supervision of all	729
other personnel of the division, including, but not limited to,	730
that judge's necessary referees, but excepting those employees who	731
may be appointed by the judge second most senior in point of	732
service. The senior judge further shall serve in every other	733
position in which the statutes permit or require a juvenile judge	734
to serve.	735

(I) In Summit county:

736

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	737
on January 4, 1967, and January 6, 1993, and successors, shall	738
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	739
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	740
the court of common pleas of Summit county and shall be elected	741
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	742
domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic	743
relations shall have assigned to them and hear all divorce,	744
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	745
that come before the court. Except in cases that are subject to	746
the exclusive original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the	747
judges of the division of domestic relations shall have assigned	748
to them and hear all cases pertaining to paternity, custody,	749
visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental rights	750
and responsibilities for the care of children and all post-decree	751
proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of those	752
matters. The judges of the division of domestic relations shall	753
have assigned to them and hear all proceedings under the uniform	754
interstate family support act contained in Chapter 3115. of the	755
Revised Code.	756

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	757
point of service, shall be the administrator of the domestic	758
relations division and its subdivisions and departments and shall	759
have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the	760
personnel of the division, including any necessary referees, who	761
are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	762
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases.	763
That judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense	764
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	765
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	766
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	767
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	768
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	769
of any counseling and conciliation services that are available	770
upon request to all persons, whether or not they are parties to an	771
action pending in the division.	772

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	773
on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same	774
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	775
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	776
common pleas of Summit county, shall be elected and designated as	777
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall	778
be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, the juvenile judge as	779
provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code. Except	780
in cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction	781
of the juvenile court, the judge of the juvenile division shall	782
not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be	783
assigned, any case pertaining to paternity, custody, visitation,	784
child support, or the allocation of parental rights and	785
responsibilities for the care of children or any post-decree	786
proceeding arising from any case pertaining to any of those	787
matters. The judge of the juvenile division shall not have	788
jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any	789
proceeding under the uniform interstate family support act	790
contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code.	791

The juvenile judge shall be the administrator of the juvenile	792
division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have	793
charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the	794
personnel of the juvenile division, including any necessary	795
referees, who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating	796
juvenile cases. The judge also shall designate the title,	797
compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and	798
vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	799
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	800
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	801
investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and	802
conciliation services that are available upon request to persons,	803
whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the	804
division.	805

(J) In Trumbull county, the judges of the court of common	806
pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1977,	807
and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the	808
same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as	809
other judges of the court of common pleas of Trumbull county and	810
shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common	811
pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the	812
powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters	813
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings	814
over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce,	815
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	816
shall be assigned to them, except cases that for some special	817
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	818
pleas.	819

(K) In Butler county:

820

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	821
on January 1, 1957, and January 4, 1993, and successors, shall	822
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	823
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	824
the court of common pleas of Butler county and shall be elected	825
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	826
domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic	827
relations shall have assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of	828
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	829
court, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned	830
to some other judge of the court of common pleas. The judge senior	831
in point of service shall be charged with the assignment and	832
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	833
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	834
division.	835

The judge senior in point of service also shall designate the	836
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence,	837
and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	838
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	839
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	840
investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	841
separation, and annulment cases and providing any counseling and	842
conciliation services that the division makes available to	843
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	844
pending in the division, who request the services.	845

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	846
on January 3, 1987, and January 2, 2003, and successors, shall	847
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	848
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	849
the court of common pleas of Butler county, shall be elected and	850
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	851
division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	852
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and	853
jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court	854
of common pleas, juvenile division, who is senior in point of	855
service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	856
its subdivisions and departments. The judge, senior in point of	857
service, shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and	858
supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are	859
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases,	860
including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the	861
discharge of the judge's various duties.	862

The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate	863
the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of	864
absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall	865
fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to	866
other statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and	867
investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling and	868
conciliation services that the division makes available to	869
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	870
pending in the division, who request the services.	871

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	872
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	873
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of	874
cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties	875
of that judge shall be performed by the other judges of the	876
domestic relations and juvenile divisions.	877

(L)(1) In Cuyahoga county, the judges of the court of common	878
pleas whose terms begin on January 8, 1961, January 9, 1961,	879
January 18, 1975, January 19, 1975, and January 13, 1987, and	880
successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	881
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as	882
other judges of the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county and	883
shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common	884
pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the	885
powers relating to all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	886
separation, and annulment cases, except in cases that are assigned	887
to some other judge of the court of common pleas for some special	888
reason.	889

(2) The administrative judge is administrator of the domestic	890
relations division and its subdivisions and departments and has	891
the following powers concerning division personnel:	892

(a) Full charge of the employment, assignment, and	893
supervision;	894

(b) Sole determination of compensation, duties, expenses,	895
allowances, hours, leaves, and vacations.	896

(3) "Division personnel" include persons employed or referees	897
engaged in hearing, servicing, investigating, counseling, or	898
conciliating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation	899
and annulment matters.	900

(M) In Lake county:

901

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	902
on January 2, 1961, and successors, shall have the same	903
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	904
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	905
common pleas of Lake county and shall be elected and designated as	906
judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	907
relations. The judge shall be assigned all the divorce,	908
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	909
coming before the court, except in cases that for some special	910
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	911
pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	912
of the work of the division and with the employment and	913
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	914
division.	915

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	916
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	917
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	918
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	919
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	920
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	921
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	922
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	923
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	924
services.	925

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	926
on January 4, 1979, and successors, shall have the same	927
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	928
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	929
common pleas of Lake county, shall be elected and designated as	930
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall	931
be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	932
the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions conferred by	933
those chapters. The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile	934
division, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	935
its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of	936
the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of	937
the juvenile division who are engaged in handling, servicing, or	938
investigating juvenile cases, including any referees whom the	939
judge considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's various	940
duties.	941

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	942
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	943
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	944
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include	945
the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and	946
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	947
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	948
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	949
services.	950

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	951
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	952
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of	953
cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties	954
of that judge shall be performed by the other judges of the	955
domestic relations and juvenile divisions.	956

(N) In Erie county, the:

957

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	958
on January 2, 1971, and the successors to that judge whose terms	959
begin before January 2, 2007, shall have the same qualifications,	960
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	961
compensation as the other judge of the court of common pleas of	962
Erie county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the	963
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge	964
shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and shall	965
be assigned all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the	966
Revised Code, parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court	967
has jurisdiction, and divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	968
separation, and annulment cases, except cases that for some	969
special reason are assigned to some other judge.	970

On or after January 2, 2007, the judge of the court of common	971
pleas who is elected in 2006 shall be the successor to the judge	972
of the domestic relations division whose term expires on January	973
1, 2007, shall be designated as judge of the court of common	974
pleas, juvenile division, and shall be the juvenile judge as	975
provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the	976
powers and jurisdictions conferred by those chapters.	977

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas, general division,	978
whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, the judge of	979
the court of common pleas, general division whose term begins on	980
January 2, 2005, and successors, and the judge of the court of	981
common pleas, general division, whose term begins February 9,	982
2009, and successors, shall have assigned to them, in addition to	983
all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the general	984
division of the court of common pleas, all divorce, dissolution of	985
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	986
court, and all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the	987
probate court under Chapter 2101., and other provisions, of the	988
Revised Code.	989

(O) In Greene county:

990

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	991
on January 1, 1961, and successors, shall have the same	992
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	993
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	994
common pleas of Greene county and shall be elected and designated	995
as the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	996
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	997
marriage, legal separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support	998
enforcement, and domestic violence cases and all other cases	999
related to domestic relations, except cases that for some special	1000
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	1001
pleas.	1002

The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	1003
of the work of the division and with the employment and	1004
supervision of all other personnel of the division. The judge also	1005
shall designate the title, compensation, hours, leaves of absence,	1006
and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	1007
duties. The duties of the personnel of the division, in addition	1008
to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing,	1009
and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1010
separation, and annulment cases and the provision of counseling	1011
and conciliation services that the division considers necessary	1012
and makes available to persons who request the services, whether	1013
or not the persons are parties in an action pending in the	1014
division. The compensation for the personnel shall be paid from	1015
the overall court budget and shall be included in the	1016
appropriations for the existing judges of the general division of	1017
the court of common pleas.	1018

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	1019
on January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the same	1020
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	1021
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	1022
common pleas of Greene county, shall be elected and designated as	1023
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and, on or	1024
after January 1, 1995, shall be the juvenile judge as provided in	1025
Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and	1026
jurisdiction conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court	1027
of common pleas, juvenile division, shall be the administrator of	1028
the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments. The	1029
judge shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and	1030
supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are	1031
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases,	1032
including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the	1033
discharge of the judge's various duties.	1034

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1035
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	1036
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1037
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include	1038
the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and	1039
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the court	1040
makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties	1041
to an action pending in the court, who request the services.	1042

(3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas,	1043
general division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform that	1044
judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the	1045
general division necessitates it, the duties of that judge of the	1046
general division shall be performed by the judge of the division	1047
of domestic relations and the judge of the juvenile division.	1048

(P) In Portage county, the judge of the court of common	1049
pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall	1050
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1051
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1052
judges of the court of common pleas of Portage county and shall be	1053
elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	1054
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	1055
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	1056
cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some	1057
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of	1058
common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and	1059
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	1060
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	1061
division.	1062

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1063
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1064
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1065
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	1066
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	1067
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	1068
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1069
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1070
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1071
services.	1072

(Q) In Clermont county, the judge of the court of common	1073
pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall	1074
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1075
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1076
judges of the court of common pleas of Clermont county and shall	1077
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	1078
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	1079
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	1080
cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some	1081
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of	1082
common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and	1083
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	1084
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	1085
division.	1086

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1087
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1088
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1089
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	1090
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	1091
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	1092
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1093
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1094
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1095
services.	1096

(R) In Warren county, the judge of the court of common pleas,	1097
whose term begins January 1, 1987, and successors, shall have the	1098
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1099
and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court	1100
of common pleas of Warren county and shall be elected and	1101
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1102
domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce,	1103
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	1104
coming before the court, except in cases that for some special	1105
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	1106
pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	1107
of the work of the division and with the employment and	1108
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	1109
division.	1110

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1111
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1112
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1113
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	1114
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	1115
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	1116
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1117
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1118
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1119
services.	1120

(S) In Licking county, the judge of the court of common	1121
pleas, whose term begins January 1, 1991, and successors, shall	1122
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1123
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1124
judges of the court of common pleas of Licking county and shall be	1125
elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	1126
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	1127
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	1128
cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code,	1129
all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of	1130
parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and	1131
the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal	1132
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree	1133
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings,	1134
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to	1135
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be	1136
charged with the assignment and division of the work of the	1137
division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel	1138
of the division.	1139

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1140
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1141
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1142
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	1143
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	1144
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	1145
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	1146
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	1147
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1148
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1149
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1150
parenting time, and visitation and providing any counseling and	1151
conciliation services that the division makes available to	1152
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	1153
pending in the division, who request the services.	1154

(T) In Allen county, the judge of the court of common pleas,	1155
whose term begins January 1, 1993, and successors, shall have the	1156
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1157
and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court	1158
of common pleas of Allen county and shall be elected and	1159
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1160
domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce,	1161
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	1162
all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all	1163
proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental	1164
rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the	1165
designation for the children of a place of residence and legal	1166
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree	1167
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings,	1168
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to	1169
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be	1170
charged with the assignment and division of the work of the	1171
division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel	1172
of the division.	1173

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1174
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1175
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1176
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	1177
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	1178
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	1179
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	1180
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	1181
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1182
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1183
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1184
parenting time, and visitation, and providing any counseling and	1185
conciliation services that the division makes available to	1186
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	1187
pending in the division, who request the services.	1188

(U) In Medina county, the judge of the court of common pleas	1189
whose term begins January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the	1190
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1191
and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	1192
common pleas of Medina county and shall be elected and designated	1193
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	1194
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	1195
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising	1196
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving	1197
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1198
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1199
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1200
parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings	1201
and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in	1202
cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge	1203
of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the	1204
assignment and division of the work of the division and with the	1205
employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.	1206

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1207
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1208
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1209
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	1210
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	1211
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	1212
legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter	1213
3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child	1214
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1215
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1216
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1217
visitation, and providing counseling and conciliation services	1218
that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the	1219
persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who	1220
request the services.	1221

(V) In Fairfield county, the judge of the court of common	1222
pleas whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall	1223
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1224
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1225
judges of the court of common pleas of Fairfield county and shall	1226
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	1227
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	1228
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	1229
cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code,	1230
all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of	1231
parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and	1232
the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal	1233
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree	1234
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings,	1235
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to	1236
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge also has	1237
concurrent jurisdiction with the probate-juvenile division of the	1238
court of common pleas of Fairfield county with respect to and may	1239
hear cases to determine the custody of a child, as defined in	1240
section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of	1241
another court of this state, cases that are commenced by a parent,	1242
guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section 2151.011	1243
of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a parent of the	1244
child to pay child support for that child when the request for	1245
that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution	1246
of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil	1247
action involving an allegation of domestic violence, an action for	1248
support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, or an action that	1249
is within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the	1250
probate-juvenile division of the court of common pleas of	1251
Fairfield county and that involves an allegation that the child is	1252
an abused, neglected, or dependent child, and post-decree	1253
proceedings and matters arising from those types of cases.	1254

The judge of the domestic relations division shall be charged	1255
with the assignment and division of the work of the division and	1256
with the employment and supervision of the personnel of the	1257
division.	1258

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1259
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1260
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1261
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	1262
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	1263
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	1264
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	1265
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	1266
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1267
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1268
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1269
parenting time, and visitation, and providing any counseling and	1270
conciliation services that the division makes available to	1271
persons, regardless of whether the persons are parties to an	1272
action pending in the division, who request the services. When the	1273
judge hears a case to determine the custody of a child, as defined	1274
in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of	1275
another court of this state or a case that is commenced by a	1276
parent, guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section	1277
2151.011 of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a	1278
parent of the child to pay child support for that child when the	1279
request for that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce,	1280
dissolution of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a	1281
criminal or civil action involving an allegation of domestic	1282
violence, an action for support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised	1283
Code, or an action that is within the exclusive original	1284
jurisdiction of the probate-juvenile division of the court of	1285
common pleas of Fairfield county and that involves an allegation	1286
that the child is an abused, neglected, or dependent child, the	1287
duties of the personnel of the domestic relations division also	1288
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of those types	1289
of cases.	1290

(W)(1) In Clark county, the judge of the court of common	1291
pleas whose term begins on January 2, 1995, and successors, shall	1292
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1293
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	1294
the court of common pleas of Clark county and shall be elected and	1295
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, domestic	1296
relations division. The judge shall have all the powers relating	1297
to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152.	1298
of the Revised Code and all parentage proceedings under Chapter	1299
3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court has	1300
jurisdiction shall be assigned to the judge of the division of	1301
domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1302
separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support enforcement, and	1303
other cases related to domestic relations shall be assigned to the	1304
domestic relations division, and the presiding judge of the court	1305
of common pleas shall assign the cases to the judge of the	1306
domestic relations division and the judges of the general	1307
division.	1308

(2) In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of	1309
the division of domestic relations shall serve on the children	1310
services board and the county advisory board.	1311

(3) If the judge of the court of common pleas of Clark	1312
county, division of domestic relations, is sick, absent, or unable	1313
to perform that judge's judicial duties or if the presiding judge	1314
of the court of common pleas of Clark county determines that the	1315
volume of cases pending in the division of domestic relations	1316
necessitates it, the duties of the judge of the division of	1317
domestic relations shall be performed by the judges of the general	1318
division or probate division of the court of common pleas of Clark	1319
county, as assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of	1320
that court, and the judges so assigned shall act in conjunction	1321
with the judge of the division of domestic relations of that	1322
court.	1323

(X) In Scioto county, the judge of the court of common pleas	1324
whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall have the	1325
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1326
and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	1327
common pleas of Scioto county and shall be elected and designated	1328
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	1329
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	1330
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising	1331
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving	1332
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1333
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1334
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1335
parenting time, visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and	1336
matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in cases	1337
that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the	1338
court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the	1339
assignment and division of the work of the division and with the	1340
employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.	1341

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1342
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1343
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1344
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	1345
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	1346
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	1347
legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter	1348
3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child	1349
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1350
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1351
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1352
visitation, and providing counseling and conciliation services	1353
that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the	1354
persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who	1355
request the services.	1356

(Y) In Auglaize county, the judge of the probate and juvenile	1357
divisions of the Auglaize county court of common pleas also shall	1358
be the administrative judge of the domestic relations division of	1359
the court and shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	1360
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	1361
court. The judge shall have all powers as administrator of the	1362
domestic relations division and shall have charge of the personnel	1363
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	1364
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	1365
including any referees considered necessary for the discharge of	1366
the judge's various duties.	1367

(Z)(1) In Marion county, the judge of the court of common	1368
pleas whose term begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to	1369
that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	1370
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the	1371
other judges of the court of common pleas of Marion county and	1372
shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common	1373
pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as	1374
otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the	1375
successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to	1376
juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	1377
the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	1378
Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1379
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	1380
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1381
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1382
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1383
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	1384
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge	1385
and the successors to that judge. Except as provided in division	1386
(Z)(2) of this section and notwithstanding any other provision of	1387
any section of the Revised Code, on and after February 9, 2003,	1388
the judge of the court of common pleas of Marion county whose term	1389
begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to that judge,	1390
shall have all the powers relating to the probate division of the	1391
court of common pleas of Marion county in addition to the powers	1392
previously specified in this division, and shall exercise	1393
concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of	1394
that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of	1395
the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other	1396
provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of	1397
the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of that court	1398
otherwise specified in division (Z)(1) of this section.	1399

(2) The judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	1400
division of the court of common pleas of Marion county or the	1401
judge of the probate division of the court of common pleas of	1402
Marion county, whichever of those judges is senior in total length	1403
of service on the court of common pleas of Marion county,	1404
regardless of the division or divisions of service, shall serve as	1405
the clerk of the probate division of the court of common pleas of	1406
Marion county.	1407

(3) On and after February 9, 2003, all references in law to	1408
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or	1409
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect	1410
to Marion county, as being references to both "the probate	1411
division" and "the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division"	1412
and as being references to both "the judge of the probate	1413
division" and "the judge of the domestic relations-	1414
juvenile-probate division." On and after February 9, 2003, all	1415
references in law to "the clerk of the probate court" shall be	1416
construed, with respect to Marion county, as being references to	1417
the judge who is serving pursuant to division (Z)(2) of this	1418
section as the clerk of the probate division of the court of	1419
common pleas of Marion county.	1420

(AA) In Muskingum county, the judge of the court of common	1421
pleas whose term begins on January 2, 2003, and successors, shall	1422
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1423
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1424
judges of the court of common pleas of Muskingum county and shall	1425
be elected and designated as the judge of the court of common	1426
pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned	1427
and hear all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation,	1428
and annulment cases and all proceedings under the uniform	1429
interstate family support act contained in Chapter 3115. of the	1430
Revised Code. Except in cases that are subject to the exclusive	1431
original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the judge shall be	1432
assigned and hear all cases pertaining to paternity, visitation,	1433
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1434
responsibilities for the care of children, and the designation for	1435
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, and all	1436
post-decree proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of	1437
those matters.	1438

(BB) In Henry county, the judge of the court of common pleas	1439
whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, shall have	1440
the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1441
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judge	1442
of the court of common pleas of Henry county and shall be elected	1443
and designated as the judge of the court of common pleas, division	1444
of domestic relations. The judge shall have all of the powers	1445
relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapter 2151. or	1446
2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings arising under	1447
Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court	1448
has jurisdiction, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1449
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	1450
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1451
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1452
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1453
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	1454
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge,	1455
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to the	1456
other judge of the court of common pleas.	1457

(CC)(1) In Logan county, the judge of the court of common	1458
pleas whose term begins January 2, 2005, and the successors to	1459
that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	1460
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the	1461
other judges of the court of common pleas of Logan county and	1462
shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common	1463
pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as	1464
otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the	1465
successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to	1466
juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	1467
the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	1468
Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1469
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	1470
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1471
for the care of children and designation for the children of a	1472
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1473
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	1474
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge	1475
and the successors to that judge. Notwithstanding any other	1476
provision of any section of the Revised Code, on and after January	1477
2, 2005, the judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county	1478
whose term begins on January 2, 2005, and the successors to that	1479
judge, shall have all the powers relating to the probate division	1480
of the court of common pleas of Logan county in addition to the	1481
powers previously specified in this division and shall exercise	1482
concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of	1483
that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of	1484
the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other	1485
provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of	1486
the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of that court	1487
otherwise specified in division (CC)(1) of this section.	1488

(2) The judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	1489
division of the court of common pleas of Logan county or the	1490
probate judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county who is	1491
elected as the administrative judge of the probate division of the	1492
court of common pleas of Logan county pursuant to Rule 4 of the	1493
Rules of Superintendence shall be the clerk of the probate	1494
division and juvenile division of the court of common pleas of	1495
Logan county. The clerk of the court of common pleas who is	1496
elected pursuant to section 2303.01 of the Revised Code shall keep	1497
all of the journals, records, books, papers, and files pertaining	1498
to the domestic relations cases.	1499

(3) On and after January 2, 2005, all references in law to	1500
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or	1501
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect	1502
to Logan county, as being references to both "the probate	1503
division" and the "domestic relations-juvenile-probate division"	1504
and as being references to both "the judge of the probate	1505
division" and the "judge of the domestic	1506
relations-juvenile-probate division." On and after January 2,	1507
2005, all references in law to "the clerk of the probate court"	1508
shall be construed, with respect to Logan county, as being	1509
references to the judge who is serving pursuant to division	1510
(CC)(2) of this section as the clerk of the probate division of	1511
the court of common pleas of Logan county.	1512

(DD) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1513
domestic relations, or juvenile judge, of any of the counties	1514
mentioned in this section is sick, absent, or unable to perform	1515
that judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the	1516
judge's division necessitates it, the duties of that judge shall	1517
be performed by another judge of the court of common pleas of that	1518
county, assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of the	1519
court of common pleas of that county to act in place of or in	1520
conjunction with that judge, as the case may require.	1521

Sec. 3501.38.  All declarations of candidacy, nominating	1522
petitions, or other petitions presented to or filed with the	1523
secretary of state or a board of elections or with any other	1524
public office for the purpose of becoming a candidate for any	1525
nomination or office or for the holding of an election on any	1526
issue shall, in addition to meeting the other specific	1527
requirements prescribed in the sections of the Revised Code	1528
relating to them, be governed by the following rules:	1529

(A) Only electors qualified to vote on the candidacy or issue	1530
which is the subject of the petition shall sign a petition. Each	1531
signer shall be a registered elector pursuant to section 3503.11	1532
of the Revised Code. The facts of qualification shall be	1533
determined as of the date when the petition is filed.	1534

(B) Signatures shall be affixed in ink. Each signer may also	1535
print the signer's name, so as to clearly identify the signer's	1536
signature.	1537

(C) Each signer shall place on the petition after the	1538
signer's name the date of signing and the location of the signer's	1539
voting residence, including the street and number if in a	1540
municipal corporation or the rural route number, post office	1541
address, or township if outside a municipal corporation. The	1542
voting address given on the petition shall be the address	1543
appearing in the registration records at the board of elections.	1544

(D) No person shall write any name other than the person's	1545
own on any petition. No person may authorize another to sign for	1546
the person. Where a petition contains the signature of an elector	1547
two or more times, only the first signature shall be counted.	1548

(E) On each petition paper, the circulator shall indicate the	1549
number of signatures contained on it, and shall sign a statement	1550
made under penalty of election falsification that the circulator	1551
witnessed the affixing of every signature, that all signers were	1552
to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief qualified to	1553
sign, and that every signature is to the best of the circulator's	1554
knowledge and belief the signature of the person whose signature	1555
it purports to be.	1556

(F) If a circulator knowingly permits an unqualified person	1557
to sign a petition paper or permits a person to write a name other	1558
than the person's own on a petition paper, that petition paper is	1559
invalid; otherwise, the signature of a person not qualified to	1560
sign shall be rejected but shall not invalidate the other valid	1561
signatures on the paper.	1562

(G) The circulator of a petition may, before filing it in a	1563
public office, strike from it any signature the circulator does	1564
not wish to present as a part of the petition.	1565

(H) Any signer of a petition may remove the signer's	1566
signature from that petition at any time before the petition is	1567
filed in a public office by striking the signer's name from the	1568
petition; no signature may be removed after the petition is filed	1569
in any public office.	1570

(I)(1) No alterations, corrections, or additions may be made	1571
to a petition after it is filed in a public office.	1572

(2) No petition may be withdrawn after it is filed in a	1573
public office. Nothing in this division prohibits a person from	1574
withdrawing as a candidate as otherwise provided by law.	1575

(J) All declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, or	1576
other petitions under this section shall be accompanied by the	1577
following statement in boldface capital letters: WHOEVER COMMITS	1578
ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE.	1579

(K) All separate petition papers shall be filed at the same	1580
time, as one instrument.	1581

(L) If a board of elections distributes for use a petition	1582
form for a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition,	1583
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or any type of	1584
question or issue petition that does not satisfy the requirements	1585
of law as of the date of that distribution, and if that petition	1586
form is subsequently filed with the board within ninety days of	1587
when the petition is required to be filed, the board shall not	1588
invalidate the petition on the basis that the petition form does	1589
not satisfy the requirements of law, if the petition otherwise is	1590
valid. Division (L) of this section does not apply if the	1591
candidate fails to file the petition with the board within ninety	1592
days of when the petition is required to be filed.	1593

Section 2. That existing sections 2151.07, 2301.02, 2301.03,	1594
and 3501.38 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.	1595

Section 3. That the version of section 2301.03 of the Revised	1596
Code that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2004, be amended	1597
to read as follows:	1598

Sec. 2301.03.  (A) In Franklin county, the judges of the	1599
court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953,	1600
January 2, 1953, January 5, 1969, January 5, 1977, and January 2,	1601
1997, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise	1602
the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	1603
compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of	1604
Franklin county and shall be elected and designated as judges of	1605
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They	1606
shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all	1607
cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all	1608
parentage proceedings under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over	1609
which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce,	1610
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	1611
shall be assigned to them. In addition to the judge's regular	1612
duties, the judge who is senior in point of service shall serve on	1613
the children services board and the county advisory board and	1614
shall be the administrator of the domestic relations division and	1615
its subdivisions and departments.	1616

(B) In Hamilton county:

1617

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas, whose term begins	1618
on January 1, 1957, and successors, and the judge of the court of	1619
common pleas, whose term begins on February 14, 1967, and	1620
successors, shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	1621
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and	1622
jurisdiction conferred by those chapters.	1623

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	1624
on January 5, 1957, January 16, 1981, and July 1, 1991, and	1625
successors, shall be elected and designated as judges of the court	1626
of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and shall have	1627
assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1628
separation, and annulment cases coming before the court. On or	1629
after the first day of July and before the first day of August of	1630
1991 and each year thereafter, a majority of the judges of the	1631
division of domestic relations shall elect one of the judges of	1632
the division as administrative judge of that division. If a	1633
majority of the judges of the division of domestic relations are	1634
unable for any reason to elect an administrative judge for the	1635
division before the first day of August, a majority of the judges	1636
of the Hamilton county court of common pleas, as soon as possible	1637
after that date, shall elect one of the judges of the division of	1638
domestic relations as administrative judge of that division. The	1639
term of the administrative judge shall begin on the earlier of the	1640
first day of August of the year in which the administrative judge	1641
is elected or the date on which the administrative judge is	1642
elected by a majority of the judges of the Hamilton county court	1643
of common pleas and shall terminate on the date on which the	1644
administrative judge's successor is elected in the following year.	1645

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the administrative	1646
judge of the division of domestic relations shall be the	1647
administrator of the domestic relations division and its	1648
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	1649
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	1650
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	1651
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	1652
including any referees considered necessary by the judges in the	1653
discharge of their various duties.	1654

The administrative judge of the division of domestic	1655
relations also shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1656
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1657
personnel of the division, and shall fix the duties of its	1658
personnel. The duties of the personnel, in addition to those	1659
provided for in other sections of the Revised Code, shall include	1660
the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution	1661
of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling	1662
and conciliation services that may be made available to persons	1663
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	1664
action pending in the division.	1665

The board of county commissioners shall appropriate the sum	1666
of money each year as will meet all the administrative expenses of	1667
the division of domestic relations, including reasonable expenses	1668
of the domestic relations judges and the division counselors and	1669
other employees designated to conduct the handling, servicing, and	1670
investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1671
separation, and annulment cases, conciliation and counseling, and	1672
all matters relating to those cases and counseling, and the	1673
expenses involved in the attendance of division personnel at	1674
domestic relations and welfare conferences designated by the	1675
division, and the further sum each year as will provide for the	1676
adequate operation of the division of domestic relations.	1677

The compensation and expenses of all employees and the salary	1678
and expenses of the judges shall be paid by the county treasurer	1679
from the money appropriated for the operation of the division,	1680
upon the warrant of the county auditor, certified to by the	1681
administrative judge of the division of domestic relations.	1682

The summonses, warrants, citations, subpoenas, and other	1683
writs of the division may issue to a bailiff, constable, or staff	1684
investigator of the division or to the sheriff of any county or	1685
any marshal, constable, or police officer, and the provisions of	1686
law relating to the subpoenaing of witnesses in other cases shall	1687
apply insofar as they are applicable. When a summons, warrant,	1688
citation, subpoena, or other writ is issued to an officer, other	1689
than a bailiff, constable, or staff investigator of the division,	1690
the expense of serving it shall be assessed as a part of the costs	1691
in the case involved.	1692

(3) The judge of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county	1693
whose term begins on January 3, 1997, and the successor to that	1694
judge whose term begins on January 3, 2003, shall each be elected	1695
and designated for one term only as the drug court judge of the	1696
court of common pleas of Hamilton county. The successors to the	1697
judge whose term begins on January 3, 2003, shall be elected and	1698
designated as judges of the general division of the court of	1699
common pleas of Hamilton county and shall not have the authority	1700
granted by division (B)(3) of this section. The drug court judge	1701
may accept or reject any case referred to the drug court judge	1702
under division (B)(3) of this section. After the drug court judge	1703
accepts a referred case, the drug court judge has full authority	1704
over the case, including the authority to conduct arraignment,	1705
accept pleas, enter findings and dispositions, conduct trials,	1706
order treatment, and if treatment is not successfully completed	1707
pronounce and enter sentence.	1708

A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas	1709
of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal	1710
court may refer to the drug court judge any case, and any	1711
companion cases, the judge determines meet the criteria described	1712
under divisions (B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section. If the drug	1713
court judge accepts referral of a referred case, the case, and any	1714
companion cases, shall be transferred to the drug court judge. A	1715
judge may refer a case meeting the criteria described in divisions	1716
(B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section that involves a violation of a	1717
condition of a community control sanction to the drug court judge,	1718
and, if the drug court judge accepts the referral, the referring	1719
judge and the drug court judge have concurrent jurisdiction over	1720
the case.	1721

A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas	1722
of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal	1723
court may refer a case to the drug court judge under division	1724
(B)(3) of this section if the judge determines that both of the	1725
following apply:	1726

(a) One of the following applies:

1727

(i) The case involves a drug abuse offense, as defined in	1728
section 2925.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third	1729
or fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1,	1730
1996, a felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the	1731
offense is committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor.	1732

(ii) The case involves a theft offense, as defined in section	1733
2913.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third or	1734
fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1, 1996, a	1735
felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the offense is	1736
committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor, and the	1737
defendant is drug or alcohol dependent or in danger of becoming	1738
drug or alcohol dependent and would benefit from treatment.	1739

(b) All of the following apply:

1740

(i) The case involves an offense for which a community	1741
control sanction may be imposed or is a case in which a mandatory	1742
prison term or a mandatory jail term is not required to be	1743
imposed.	1744

(ii) The defendant has no history of violent behavior.

1745

(iii) The defendant has no history of mental illness.

1746

(iv) The defendant's current or past behavior, or both, is	1747
drug or alcohol driven.	1748

(v) The defendant demonstrates a sincere willingness to	1749
participate in a fifteen-month treatment process.	1750

(vi) The defendant has no acute health condition.

1751

(vii) If the defendant is incarcerated, the county prosecutor	1752
approves of the referral.	1753

(4) If the administrative judge of the court of common pleas	1754
of Hamilton county determines that the volume of cases pending	1755
before the drug court judge does not constitute a sufficient	1756
caseload for the drug court judge, the administrative judge, in	1757
accordance with the Rules of Superintendence for Courts of Common	1758
Pleas, shall assign individual cases to the drug court judge from	1759
the general docket of the court. If the assignments so occur, the	1760
administrative judge shall cease the assignments when the	1761
administrative judge determines that the volume of cases pending	1762
before the drug court judge constitutes a sufficient caseload for	1763
the drug court judge.	1764

(5) As used in division (B) of this section, "community	1765
control sanction," "mandatory prison term," and "mandatory jail	1766
term" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised	1767
Code.	1768

(C) In Lorain county, the judges of the court of common pleas	1769
whose terms begin on January 3, 1959, January 4, 1989, and January	1770
2, 1999, and successors, shall have the same qualifications,	1771
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	1772
compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of	1773
Lorain county and shall be elected and designated as the judges of	1774
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They	1775
shall have all of the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all	1776
cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all	1777
parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court has	1778
jurisdiction, and all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1779
separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them, except	1780
cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other	1781
judge of the court of common pleas.	1782

(D) In Lucas county:

1783

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	1784
on January 1, 1955, and January 3, 1965, and successors, shall	1785
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1786
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	1787
the court of common pleas of Lucas county and shall be elected and	1788
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	1789
domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1790
separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them.	1791

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	1792
point of service, shall be considered as the presiding judge of	1793
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and	1794
shall be charged exclusively with the assignment and division of	1795
the work of the division and the employment and supervision of all	1796
other personnel of the domestic relations division.	1797

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	1798
on January 5, 1977, and January 2, 1991, and successors shall have	1799
the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1800
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	1801
the court of common pleas of Lucas county, shall be elected and	1802
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	1803
division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	1804
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and	1805
jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. In addition to the	1806
judge's regular duties, the judge of the court of common pleas,	1807
juvenile division, senior in point of service, shall be the	1808
administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and	1809
departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment,	1810
and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in	1811
handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including	1812
any referees considered necessary by the judges of the division in	1813
the discharge of their various duties.	1814

The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division,	1815
senior in point of service, also shall designate the title,	1816
compensation, expense allowance, hours, leaves of absence, and	1817
vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix the duties	1818
of the personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	1819
addition to other statutory duties include the handling,	1820
servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and	1821
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	1822
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	1823
action pending in the division.	1824

(3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas,	1825
division of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the	1826
juvenile division is sick, absent, or unable to perform that	1827
judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in that	1828
judge's division necessitates it, the duties shall be performed by	1829
the judges of the other of those divisions.	1830

(E) In Mahoning county:

1831

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began	1832
on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same	1833
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	1834
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	1835
common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated	1836
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	1837
relations, and shall be assigned all the divorce, dissolution of	1838
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	1839
court. In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	1840
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, shall be	1841
the administrator of the domestic relations division and its	1842
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	1843
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	1844
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	1845
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	1846
including any referees considered necessary in the discharge of	1847
the various duties of the judge's office.	1848

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1849
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1850
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1851
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	1852
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	1853
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	1854
legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling and	1855
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	1856
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	1857
action pending in the division.	1858

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began	1859
on January 2, 1969, and successors, shall have the same	1860
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	1861
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	1862
common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated	1863
as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and	1864
shall be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and	1865
2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions	1866
conferred by those chapters. In addition to the judge's regular	1867
duties, the judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division,	1868
shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its	1869
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	1870
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	1871
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile	1872
cases, including any referees considered necessary by the judge in	1873
the discharge of the judge's various duties.	1874

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1875
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	1876
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1877
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	1878
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	1879
servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and	1880
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	1881
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	1882
action pending in the division.	1883

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1884
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	1885
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties, or the volume of	1886
cases pending in that judge's division necessitates it, that	1887
judge's duties shall be performed by another judge of the court of	1888
common pleas.	1889

(F) In Montgomery county:

1890

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	1891
on January 2, 1953, and January 4, 1977, and successors, shall	1892
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1893
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	1894
the court of common pleas of Montgomery county and shall be	1895
elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas,	1896
division of domestic relations. These judges shall have assigned	1897
to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation,	1898
and annulment cases.	1899

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	1900
point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the assignment	1901
and division of the work of the division and shall have charge of	1902
the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division	1903
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	1904
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	1905
including any necessary referees, except those employees who may	1906
be appointed by the judge, junior in point of service, under this	1907
section and sections 2301.12, 2301.18, and 2301.19 of the Revised	1908
Code. The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	1909
point of service, also shall designate the title, compensation,	1910
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	1911
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties.	1912

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	1913
on January 1, 1953, and January 1, 1993, and successors, shall	1914
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1915
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	1916
the court of common pleas of Montgomery county, shall be elected	1917
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	1918
division, and shall be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of,	1919
the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the	1920
Revised Code.	1921

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	1922
court of common pleas, juvenile division, senior in point of	1923
service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	1924
its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	1925
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	1926
juvenile division, including any necessary referees, who are	1927
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases.	1928
The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate the	1929
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence,	1930
and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	1931
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	1932
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	1933
investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and	1934
conciliation services that are available upon request to persons,	1935
whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the	1936
division.	1937

If one of the judges of the court of common pleas, division	1938
of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the court of common	1939
pleas, juvenile division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform	1940
that judge's duties or the volume of cases pending in that judge's	1941
division necessitates it, the duties of that judge may be	1942
performed by the judge or judges of the other of those divisions.	1943

(G) In Richland county, the judge of the court of common	1944
pleas whose term begins on January 1, 1957, and successors, shall	1945
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1946
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1947
judges of the court of common pleas of Richland county and shall	1948
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	1949
division of domestic relations. That judge shall have all of the	1950
powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters	1951
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings	1952
over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce,	1953
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	1954
shall be assigned to that judge, except in cases that for some	1955
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of	1956
common pleas.	1957

(H) In Stark county, the judges of the court of common pleas	1958
whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, January 2, 1959, and January	1959
1, 1993, and successors, shall have the same qualifications,	1960
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	1961
compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Stark	1962
county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court	1963
of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have	1964
all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under	1965
Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage	1966
proceedings over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and	1967
all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and	1968
annulment cases, except cases that are assigned to some other	1969
judge of the court of common pleas for some special reason, shall	1970
be assigned to the judges.	1971

The judge of the division of domestic relations, second most	1972
senior in point of service, shall have charge of the employment	1973
and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in	1974
handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, dissolution of	1975
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, and necessary	1976
referees required for the judge's respective court.	1977

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	1978
point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the	1979
administration of sections 2151.13, 2151.16, 2151.17, and 2152.71	1980
of the Revised Code and with the assignment and division of the	1981
work of the division and the employment and supervision of all	1982
other personnel of the division, including, but not limited to,	1983
that judge's necessary referees, but excepting those employees who	1984
may be appointed by the judge second most senior in point of	1985
service. The senior judge further shall serve in every other	1986
position in which the statutes permit or require a juvenile judge	1987
to serve.	1988

(I) In Summit county:

1989

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	1990
on January 4, 1967, and January 6, 1993, and successors, shall	1991
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1992
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	1993
the court of common pleas of Summit county and shall be elected	1994
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	1995
domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic	1996
relations shall have assigned to them and hear all divorce,	1997
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	1998
that come before the court. Except in cases that are subject to	1999
the exclusive original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the	2000
judges of the division of domestic relations shall have assigned	2001
to them and hear all cases pertaining to paternity, custody,	2002
visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental rights	2003
and responsibilities for the care of children and all post-decree	2004
proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of those	2005
matters. The judges of the division of domestic relations shall	2006
have assigned to them and hear all proceedings under the uniform	2007
interstate family support act contained in Chapter 3115. of the	2008
Revised Code.	2009

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	2010
point of service, shall be the administrator of the domestic	2011
relations division and its subdivisions and departments and shall	2012
have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the	2013
personnel of the division, including any necessary referees, who	2014
are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	2015
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases.	2016
That judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense	2017
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	2018
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	2019
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	2020
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	2021
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	2022
of any counseling and conciliation services that are available	2023
upon request to all persons, whether or not they are parties to an	2024
action pending in the division.	2025

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	2026
on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same	2027
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	2028
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	2029
common pleas of Summit county, shall be elected and designated as	2030
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall	2031
be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, the juvenile judge as	2032
provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code. Except	2033
in cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction	2034
of the juvenile court, the judge of the juvenile division shall	2035
not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be	2036
assigned, any case pertaining to paternity, custody, visitation,	2037
child support, or the allocation of parental rights and	2038
responsibilities for the care of children or any post-decree	2039
proceeding arising from any case pertaining to any of those	2040
matters. The judge of the juvenile division shall not have	2041
jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any	2042
proceeding under the uniform interstate family support act	2043
contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code.	2044

The juvenile judge shall be the administrator of the juvenile	2045
division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have	2046
charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the	2047
personnel of the juvenile division, including any necessary	2048
referees, who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating	2049
juvenile cases. The judge also shall designate the title,	2050
compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and	2051
vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	2052
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	2053
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	2054
investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and	2055
conciliation services that are available upon request to persons,	2056
whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the	2057
division.	2058

(J) In Trumbull county, the judges of the court of common	2059
pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1977,	2060
and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the	2061
same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as	2062
other judges of the court of common pleas of Trumbull county and	2063
shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common	2064
pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the	2065
powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters	2066
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings	2067
over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce,	2068
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	2069
shall be assigned to them, except cases that for some special	2070
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	2071
pleas.	2072

(K) In Butler county:

2073

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	2074
on January 1, 1957, and January 4, 1993, and successors, shall	2075
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	2076
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	2077
the court of common pleas of Butler county and shall be elected	2078
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	2079
domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic	2080
relations shall have assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of	2081
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	2082
court, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned	2083
to some other judge of the court of common pleas. The judge senior	2084
in point of service shall be charged with the assignment and	2085
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	2086
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	2087
division.	2088

The judge senior in point of service also shall designate the	2089
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence,	2090
and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	2091
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	2092
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	2093
investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	2094
separation, and annulment cases and providing any counseling and	2095
conciliation services that the division makes available to	2096
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	2097
pending in the division, who request the services.	2098

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	2099
on January 3, 1987, and January 2, 2003, and successors, shall	2100
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	2101
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	2102
the court of common pleas of Butler county, shall be elected and	2103
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	2104
division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	2105
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and	2106
jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court	2107
of common pleas, juvenile division, who is senior in point of	2108
service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	2109
its subdivisions and departments. The judge, senior in point of	2110
service, shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and	2111
supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are	2112
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases,	2113
including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the	2114
discharge of the judge's various duties.	2115

The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate	2116
the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of	2117
absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall	2118
fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to	2119
other statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and	2120
investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling and	2121
conciliation services that the division makes available to	2122
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	2123
pending in the division, who request the services.	2124

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	2125
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	2126
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of	2127
cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties	2128
of that judge shall be performed by the other judges of the	2129
domestic relations and juvenile divisions.	2130

(L)(1) In Cuyahoga county, the judges of the court of common	2131
pleas whose terms begin on January 8, 1961, January 9, 1961,	2132
January 18, 1975, January 19, 1975, and January 13, 1987, and	2133
successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	2134
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as	2135
other judges of the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county and	2136
shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common	2137
pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the	2138
powers relating to all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	2139
separation, and annulment cases, except in cases that are assigned	2140
to some other judge of the court of common pleas for some special	2141
reason.	2142

(2) The administrative judge is administrator of the domestic	2143
relations division and its subdivisions and departments and has	2144
the following powers concerning division personnel:	2145

(a) Full charge of the employment, assignment, and	2146
supervision;	2147

(b) Sole determination of compensation, duties, expenses,	2148
allowances, hours, leaves, and vacations.	2149

(3) "Division personnel" include persons employed or referees	2150
engaged in hearing, servicing, investigating, counseling, or	2151
conciliating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation	2152
and annulment matters.	2153

(M) In Lake county:

2154

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	2155
on January 2, 1961, and successors, shall have the same	2156
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	2157
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	2158
common pleas of Lake county and shall be elected and designated as	2159
judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	2160
relations. The judge shall be assigned all the divorce,	2161
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	2162
coming before the court, except in cases that for some special	2163
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	2164
pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	2165
of the work of the division and with the employment and	2166
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	2167
division.	2168

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	2169
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	2170
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	2171
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	2172
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	2173
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	2174
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	2175
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	2176
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	2177
services.	2178

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	2179
on January 4, 1979, and successors, shall have the same	2180
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	2181
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	2182
common pleas of Lake county, shall be elected and designated as	2183
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall	2184
be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	2185
the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions conferred by	2186
those chapters. The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile	2187
division, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	2188
its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of	2189
the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of	2190
the juvenile division who are engaged in handling, servicing, or	2191
investigating juvenile cases, including any referees whom the	2192
judge considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's various	2193
duties.	2194

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	2195
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	2196
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	2197
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include	2198
the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and	2199
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	2200
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	2201
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	2202
services.	2203

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	2204
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	2205
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of	2206
cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties	2207
of that judge shall be performed by the other judges of the	2208
domestic relations and juvenile divisions.	2209

(N) In Erie county, the:

2210

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	2211
on January 2, 1971, and the successors to that judge whose terms	2212
begin before January 2, 2007, shall have the same qualifications,	2213
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	2214
compensation as the other judge of the court of common pleas of	2215
Erie county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the	2216
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge	2217
shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and shall	2218
be assigned all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the	2219
Revised Code, parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court	2220
has jurisdiction, and divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	2221
separation, and annulment cases, except cases that for some	2222
special reason are assigned to some other judge.	2223

On or after January 2, 2007, the judge of the court of common	2224
pleas who is elected in 2006 shall be the successor to the judge	2225
of the domestic relations division whose term expires on January	2226
1, 2007, shall be designated as judge of the court of common	2227
pleas, juvenile division, and shall be the juvenile judge as	2228
provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the	2229
powers and jurisdictions conferred by those chapters.	2230

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas, general division,	2231
whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, the judge of	2232
the court of common pleas, general division whose term begins on	2233
January 2, 2005, and successors, and the judge of the court of	2234
common pleas, general division, whose term begins February 9,	2235
2009, and successors, shall have assigned to them, in addition to	2236
all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the general	2237
division of the court of common pleas, all divorce, dissolution of	2238
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	2239
court, and all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the	2240
probate court under Chapter 2101., and other provisions, of the	2241
Revised Code.	2242

(O) In Greene county:

2243

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	2244
on January 1, 1961, and successors, shall have the same	2245
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	2246
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	2247
common pleas of Greene county and shall be elected and designated	2248
as the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	2249
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	2250
marriage, legal separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support	2251
enforcement, and domestic violence cases and all other cases	2252
related to domestic relations, except cases that for some special	2253
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	2254
pleas.	2255

The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	2256
of the work of the division and with the employment and	2257
supervision of all other personnel of the division. The judge also	2258
shall designate the title, compensation, hours, leaves of absence,	2259
and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	2260
duties. The duties of the personnel of the division, in addition	2261
to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing,	2262
and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	2263
separation, and annulment cases and the provision of counseling	2264
and conciliation services that the division considers necessary	2265
and makes available to persons who request the services, whether	2266
or not the persons are parties in an action pending in the	2267
division. The compensation for the personnel shall be paid from	2268
the overall court budget and shall be included in the	2269
appropriations for the existing judges of the general division of	2270
the court of common pleas.	2271

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	2272
on January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the same	2273
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	2274
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	2275
common pleas of Greene county, shall be elected and designated as	2276
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and, on or	2277
after January 1, 1995, shall be the juvenile judge as provided in	2278
Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and	2279
jurisdiction conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court	2280
of common pleas, juvenile division, shall be the administrator of	2281
the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments. The	2282
judge shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and	2283
supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are	2284
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases,	2285
including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the	2286
discharge of the judge's various duties.	2287

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	2288
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	2289
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	2290
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include	2291
the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and	2292
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the court	2293
makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties	2294
to an action pending in the court, who request the services.	2295

(3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas,	2296
general division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform that	2297
judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the	2298
general division necessitates it, the duties of that judge of the	2299
general division shall be performed by the judge of the division	2300
of domestic relations and the judge of the juvenile division.	2301

(P) In Portage county, the judge of the court of common	2302
pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall	2303
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	2304
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	2305
judges of the court of common pleas of Portage county and shall be	2306
elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	2307
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	2308
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	2309
cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some	2310
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of	2311
common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and	2312
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	2313
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	2314
division.	2315

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	2316
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	2317
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	2318
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	2319
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	2320
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	2321
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	2322
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	2323
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	2324
services.	2325

(Q) In Clermont county, the judge of the court of common	2326
pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall	2327
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	2328
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	2329
judges of the court of common pleas of Clermont county and shall	2330
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	2331
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	2332
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	2333
cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some	2334
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of	2335
common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and	2336
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	2337
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	2338
division.	2339

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	2340
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	2341
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	2342
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	2343
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	2344
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	2345
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	2346
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	2347
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	2348
services.	2349

(R) In Warren county, the judge of the court of common pleas,	2350
whose term begins January 1, 1987, and successors, shall have the	2351
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	2352
and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court	2353
of common pleas of Warren county and shall be elected and	2354
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of	2355
domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce,	2356
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	2357
coming before the court, except in cases that for some special	2358
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	2359
pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	2360
of the work of the division and with the employment and	2361
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	2362
division.	2363

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	2364
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	2365
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	2366
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	2367
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	2368
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	2369
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	2370
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	2371
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	2372
services.	2373

(S) In Licking county, the judge of the court of common	2374
pleas, whose term begins January 1, 1991, and successors, shall	2375
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	2376
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	2377
judges of the court of common pleas of Licking county and shall be	2378
elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	2379
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	2380
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	2381
cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code,	2382
all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of	2383
parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and	2384
the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal	2385
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree	2386
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings,	2387
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to	2388
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be	2389
charged with the assignment and division of the work of the	2390
division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel	2391
of the division.	2392

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	2393
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	2394
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	2395
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	2396
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	2397
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	2398
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	2399
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	2400
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	2401
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	2402
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	2403
parenting time, and visitation and providing any counseling and	2404
conciliation services that the division makes available to	2405
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	2406
pending in the division, who request the services.	2407

(T) In Allen county, the judge of the court of common pleas,	2408
whose term begins January 1, 1993, and successors, shall have the	2409
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	2410
and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court	2411
of common pleas of Allen county and shall be elected and	2412
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of	2413
domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce,	2414
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	2415
all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all	2416
proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental	2417
rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the	2418
designation for the children of a place of residence and legal	2419
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree	2420
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings,	2421
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to	2422
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be	2423
charged with the assignment and division of the work of the	2424
division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel	2425
of the division.	2426

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	2427
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	2428
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	2429
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	2430
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	2431
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	2432
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	2433
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	2434
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	2435
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	2436
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	2437
parenting time, and visitation, and providing any counseling and	2438
conciliation services that the division makes available to	2439
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	2440
pending in the division, who request the services.	2441

(U) In Medina county, the judge of the court of common pleas	2442
whose term begins January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the	2443
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	2444
and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	2445
common pleas of Medina county and shall be elected and designated	2446
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	2447
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	2448
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising	2449
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving	2450
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	2451
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	2452
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	2453
parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings	2454
and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in	2455
cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge	2456
of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the	2457
assignment and division of the work of the division and with the	2458
employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.	2459

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	2460
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	2461
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	2462
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	2463
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	2464
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	2465
legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter	2466
3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child	2467
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	2468
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	2469
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	2470
visitation, and providing counseling and conciliation services	2471
that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the	2472
persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who	2473
request the services.	2474

(V) In Fairfield county, the judge of the court of common	2475
pleas whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall	2476
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	2477
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	2478
judges of the court of common pleas of Fairfield county and shall	2479
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	2480
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	2481
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	2482
cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code,	2483
all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of	2484
parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and	2485
the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal	2486
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree	2487
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings,	2488
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to	2489
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge also has	2490
concurrent jurisdiction with the probate-juvenile division of the	2491
court of common pleas of Fairfield county with respect to and may	2492
hear cases to determine the custody of a child, as defined in	2493
section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of	2494
another court of this state, cases that are commenced by a parent,	2495
guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section 2151.011	2496
of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a parent of the	2497
child to pay child support for that child when the request for	2498
that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution	2499
of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil	2500
action involving an allegation of domestic violence, an action for	2501
support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, or an action that	2502
is within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the	2503
probate-juvenile division of the court of common pleas of	2504
Fairfield county and that involves an allegation that the child is	2505
an abused, neglected, or dependent child, and post-decree	2506
proceedings and matters arising from those types of cases.	2507

The judge of the domestic relations division shall be charged	2508
with the assignment and division of the work of the division and	2509
with the employment and supervision of the personnel of the	2510
division.	2511

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	2512
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	2513
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	2514
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	2515
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	2516
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	2517
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	2518
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	2519
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	2520
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	2521
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	2522
parenting time, and visitation, and providing any counseling and	2523
conciliation services that the division makes available to	2524
persons, regardless of whether the persons are parties to an	2525
action pending in the division, who request the services. When the	2526
judge hears a case to determine the custody of a child, as defined	2527
in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of	2528
another court of this state or a case that is commenced by a	2529
parent, guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section	2530
2151.011 of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a	2531
parent of the child to pay child support for that child when the	2532
request for that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce,	2533
dissolution of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a	2534
criminal or civil action involving an allegation of domestic	2535
violence, an action for support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised	2536
Code, or an action that is within the exclusive original	2537
jurisdiction of the probate-juvenile division of the court of	2538
common pleas of Fairfield county and that involves an allegation	2539
that the child is an abused, neglected, or dependent child, the	2540
duties of the personnel of the domestic relations division also	2541
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of those types	2542
of cases.	2543

(W)(1) In Clark county, the judge of the court of common	2544
pleas whose term begins on January 2, 1995, and successors, shall	2545
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	2546
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	2547
the court of common pleas of Clark county and shall be elected and	2548
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, domestic	2549
relations division. The judge shall have all the powers relating	2550
to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152.	2551
of the Revised Code and all parentage proceedings under Chapter	2552
3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court has	2553
jurisdiction shall be assigned to the judge of the division of	2554
domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	2555
separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support enforcement, and	2556
other cases related to domestic relations shall be assigned to the	2557
domestic relations division, and the presiding judge of the court	2558
of common pleas shall assign the cases to the judge of the	2559
domestic relations division and the judges of the general	2560
division.	2561

(2) In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of	2562
the division of domestic relations shall serve on the children	2563
services board and the county advisory board.	2564

(3) If the judge of the court of common pleas of Clark	2565
county, division of domestic relations, is sick, absent, or unable	2566
to perform that judge's judicial duties or if the presiding judge	2567
of the court of common pleas of Clark county determines that the	2568
volume of cases pending in the division of domestic relations	2569
necessitates it, the duties of the judge of the division of	2570
domestic relations shall be performed by the judges of the general	2571
division or probate division of the court of common pleas of Clark	2572
county, as assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of	2573
that court, and the judges so assigned shall act in conjunction	2574
with the judge of the division of domestic relations of that	2575
court.	2576

(X) In Scioto county, the judge of the court of common pleas	2577
whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall have the	2578
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	2579
and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	2580
common pleas of Scioto county and shall be elected and designated	2581
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	2582
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	2583
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising	2584
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving	2585
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	2586
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	2587
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	2588
parenting time, visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and	2589
matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in cases	2590
that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the	2591
court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the	2592
assignment and division of the work of the division and with the	2593
employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.	2594

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	2595
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	2596
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	2597
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	2598
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	2599
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	2600
legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter	2601
3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child	2602
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	2603
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	2604
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	2605
visitation, and providing counseling and conciliation services	2606
that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the	2607
persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who	2608
request the services.	2609

(Y) In Auglaize county, the judge of the probate and juvenile	2610
divisions of the Auglaize county court of common pleas also shall	2611
be the administrative judge of the domestic relations division of	2612
the court and shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	2613
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	2614
court. The judge shall have all powers as administrator of the	2615
domestic relations division and shall have charge of the personnel	2616
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	2617
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	2618
including any referees considered necessary for the discharge of	2619
the judge's various duties.	2620

(Z)(1) In Marion county, the judge of the court of common	2621
pleas whose term begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to	2622
that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	2623
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the	2624
other judges of the court of common pleas of Marion county and	2625
shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common	2626
pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as	2627
otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the	2628
successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to	2629
juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	2630
the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	2631
Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	2632
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	2633
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	2634
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	2635
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	2636
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	2637
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge	2638
and the successors to that judge. Except as provided in division	2639
(Z)(2) of this section and notwithstanding any other provision of	2640
any section of the Revised Code, on and after February 9, 2003,	2641
the judge of the court of common pleas of Marion county whose term	2642
begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to that judge,	2643
shall have all the powers relating to the probate division of the	2644
court of common pleas of Marion county in addition to the powers	2645
previously specified in this division, and shall exercise	2646
concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of	2647
that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of	2648
the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other	2649
provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of	2650
the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of that court	2651
otherwise specified in division (Z)(1) of this section.	2652

(2) The judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	2653
division of the court of common pleas of Marion county or the	2654
judge of the probate division of the court of common pleas of	2655
Marion county, whichever of those judges is senior in total length	2656
of service on the court of common pleas of Marion county,	2657
regardless of the division or divisions of service, shall serve as	2658
the clerk of the probate division of the court of common pleas of	2659
Marion county.	2660

(3) On and after February 9, 2003, all references in law to	2661
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or	2662
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect	2663
to Marion county, as being references to both "the probate	2664
division" and "the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division"	2665
and as being references to both "the judge of the probate	2666
division" and "the judge of the domestic relations-	2667
juvenile-probate division." On and after February 9, 2003, all	2668
references in law to "the clerk of the probate court" shall be	2669
construed, with respect to Marion county, as being references to	2670
the judge who is serving pursuant to division (Z)(2) of this	2671
section as the clerk of the probate division of the court of	2672
common pleas of Marion county.	2673

(AA) In Muskingum county, the judge of the court of common	2674
pleas whose term begins on January 2, 2003, and successors, shall	2675
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	2676
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	2677
judges of the court of common pleas of Muskingum county and shall	2678
be elected and designated as the judge of the court of common	2679
pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned	2680
and hear all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation,	2681
and annulment cases and all proceedings under the uniform	2682
interstate family support act contained in Chapter 3115. of the	2683
Revised Code. Except in cases that are subject to the exclusive	2684
original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the judge shall be	2685
assigned and hear all cases pertaining to paternity, visitation,	2686
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	2687
responsibilities for the care of children, and the designation for	2688
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, and all	2689
post-decree proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of	2690
those matters.	2691

(BB) In Henry county, the judge of the court of common pleas	2692
whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, shall have	2693
the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	2694
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judge	2695
of the court of common pleas of Henry county and shall be elected	2696
and designated as the judge of the court of common pleas, division	2697
of domestic relations. The judge shall have all of the powers	2698
relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapter 2151. or	2699
2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings arising under	2700
Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court	2701
has jurisdiction, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	2702
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	2703
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	2704
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	2705
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	2706
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	2707
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge,	2708
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to the	2709
other judge of the court of common pleas.	2710

(CC)(1) In Logan county, the judge of the court of common	2711
pleas whose term begins January 2, 2005, and the successors to	2712
that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	2713
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the	2714
other judges of the court of common pleas of Logan county and	2715
shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common	2716
pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as	2717
otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the	2718
successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to	2719
juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	2720
the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	2721
Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	2722
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	2723
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	2724
for the care of children and designation for the children of a	2725
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	2726
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	2727
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge	2728
and the successors to that judge. Notwithstanding any other	2729
provision of any section of the Revised Code, on and after January	2730
2, 2005, the judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county	2731
whose term begins on January 2, 2005, and the successors to that	2732
judge, shall have all the powers relating to the probate division	2733
of the court of common pleas of Logan county in addition to the	2734
powers previously specified in this division and shall exercise	2735
concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of	2736
that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of	2737
the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other	2738
provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of	2739
the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of that court	2740
otherwise specified in division (CC)(1) of this section.	2741

(2) The judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	2742
division of the court of common pleas of Logan county or the	2743
probate judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county who is	2744
elected as the administrative judge of the probate division of the	2745
court of common pleas of Logan county pursuant to Rule 4 of the	2746
Rules of Superintendence shall be the clerk of the probate	2747
division and the juvenile division of the court of common pleas of	2748
Logan county. The clerk of the court of common pleas who is	2749
elected pursuant to section 2303.01 of the Revised Code shall keep	2750
all of the journals, records, books, papers, and files pertaining	2751
to domestic relations cases.	2752

(3) On and after January 2, 2005, all references in law to	2753
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or	2754
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect	2755
to Logan county, as being references to both "the probate	2756
division" and the "domestic relations-juvenile-probate division"	2757
and as being references to both "the judge of the probate	2758
division" and the "judge of the domestic	2759
relations-juvenile-probate division." On and after January 2,	2760
2005, all references in law to "the clerk of the probate court"	2761
shall be construed, with respect to Logan county, as being	2762
references to the judge who is serving pursuant to division	2763
(CC)(2) of this section as the clerk of the probate division of	2764
the court of common pleas of Logan county.	2765

(DD) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	2766
domestic relations, or juvenile judge, of any of the counties	2767
mentioned in this section is sick, absent, or unable to perform	2768
that judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the	2769
judge's division necessitates it, the duties of that judge shall	2770
be performed by another judge of the court of common pleas of that	2771
county, assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of the	2772
court of common pleas of that county to act in place of or in	2773
conjunction with that judge, as the case may require.	2774

Section 4. That the existing version of section 2301.03 of	2775
the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2004,	2776
is hereby repealed.	2777

Section 5. Sections 3 and 4 of this act take effect January	2778
1, 2004.	2779

Section 6.  Section 2301.02 of the Revised Code is presented	2780
in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Sub.	2781
H.B. 26 and Am. Sub. H.B. 95 of the 125th General Assembly. The	2782
General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of	2783
section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be	2784
harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds	2785
that the composite is the resulting version of the section in	2786
effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in	2787
this act.	2788

Section 7.  Section 2301.03 of the Revised Code is presented	2789
in Section 3 of this act as a composite of the section as amended	2790
by Sub. H.B. 26 of the 125th General Assembly and Am. Sub. H.B.	2791
490 and Am. Sub. H.B. 530, both of the 124th General Assembly. The	2792
General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of	2793
section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be	2794
harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds	2795
that the composite is the resulting version of the section in	2796
effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in	2797
Section 3 of this act.	2798

Section 8. This act is hereby declared to be an emergency	2799
measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public	2800
peace, health, and safety. The reason for this necessity is that	2801
it is crucial that this act be enacted into law at the earliest	2802
possible time to enable candidates for the new judicial position	2803
in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas that is created by this	2804
act to timely file their declarations of candidacy and statements	2805
of candidacy and nominating petitions. Therefore, this act shall	2806
go into immediate effect.	2807