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To amend sections 102.02, 102.06, 109.981, 111.15, | 1 |
119.01, 131.02, 1707.01, 3345.12, 4121.01, | 2 |
4121.03, 4121.12, 4121.121, 4121.122, 4121.125, | 3 |
4121.126, 4121.128, 4121.13, 4121.32, 4121.37, | 4 |
4121.40, 4121.441, 4121.48, 4121.61, 4121.67, | 5 |
4121.70, 4123.25, 4123.29, 4123.291, 4123.311, | 6 |
4123.32, 4123.34, 4123.341, 4123.342, 4123.35, | 7 |
4123.351, 4123.37, 4123.411, 4123.44, 4123.441, | 8 |
4123.47, 4123.50, 4123.511, 4123.512, 4123.66, | 9 |
4123.80, 4123.82, 4123.92, 4125.05, 4127.07, | 10 |
4127.08, 4131.04, 4131.06, 4131.13, 4131.14, | 11 |
4131.16, 4167.02, 4167.07, 4167.08, 4167.09, | 12 |
4167.11, and 4167.14; to enact new section | 13 |
4121.123 and sections 121.52 to 121.56, 4121.75 to | 14 |
4121.79, 4123.321, 4123.442, and 4123.592; to | 15 |
repeal sections 4121.06, 4121.123, and 4121.131 of | 16 |
the Revised Code; to amend Section 4 of Am. Sub. | 17 |
H.B. 516 of the 125th General Assembly, as | 18 |
subsequently amended; and to amend Section 3 of | 19 |
Am. H.B. 67 of the 126th General Assembly, as | 20 |
subsequently amended, to abolish the Workers' | 21 |
Compensation Oversight Commission, the Workers' | 22 |
Compensation Oversight Commission Nominating | 23 |
Committee, and the Services Committee of the | 24 |
Workers' Compensation System; to create the | 25 |
Workers' Compensation Council, Bureau of Workers' | 26 |
Compensation Board of Directors, and specified | 27 |
working committees, to transfer the powers and | 28 |
duties of the Oversight Commission to the Board | 29 |
and the working committees, to make other changes | 30 |
in the Workers' Compensation Law, to make | 31 |
appropriations for the Bureau of Workers' | 32 |
Compensation and the Industrial Commission for the | 33 |
biennium beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June | 34 |
30, 2009, and to provide authorization and | 35 |
conditions for the operation of the Bureau's and | 36 |
the Commission's programs. | 37 |
Section 101.01. That sections 102.02, 102.06, 109.981, | 38 |
111.15, 119.01, 131.02, 1707.01, 3345.12, 4121.01, 4121.03, | 39 |
4121.12, 4121.121, 4121.122, 4121.125, 4121.126, 4121.128, | 40 |
4121.13, 4121.32, 4121.37, 4121.40, 4121.441, 4121.48, 4121.61, | 41 |
4121.67, 4121.70, 4123.25, 4123.29, 4123.291, 4123.311, 4123.32, | 42 |
4123.34, 4123.341, 4123.342, 4123.35, 4123.351, 4123.37, 4123.411, | 43 |
4123.44, 4123.441, 4123.47, 4123.50, 4123.511, 4123.512, 4123.66, | 44 |
4123.80, 4123.82, 4123.92, 4125.05, 4127.07, 4127.08, 4131.04, | 45 |
4131.06, 4131.13, 4131.14, 4131.16, 4167.02, 4167.07, 4167.08, | 46 |
4167.09, 4167.11, and 4167.14 be amended; and new section 4121.123 | 47 |
and sections 121.52, 121.53, 121.54, 121.55, 121.56, 4121.75, | 48 |
4121.76, 4121.77, 4121.78, 4121.79, 4123.321, 4123.442, and | 49 |
4123.592 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows: | 50 |
Sec. 102.02. (A) Except as otherwise provided in division | 51 |
(H) of this section, all of the following shall file with the | 52 |
appropriate ethics commission the disclosure statement described | 53 |
in this division on a form prescribed by the appropriate | 54 |
commission: every person who is elected to or is a candidate for a | 55 |
state, county, or city office and every person who is appointed to | 56 |
fill a vacancy for an unexpired term in such an elective office; | 57 |
all members of the state board of education; the director, | 58 |
assistant directors, deputy directors, division chiefs, or persons | 59 |
of equivalent rank of any administrative department of the state; | 60 |
the president or other chief administrative officer of every state | 61 |
institution of higher education as defined in section 3345.011 of | 62 |
the Revised Code; the executive director and the members of the | 63 |
capitol square review and advisory board appointed or employed | 64 |
pursuant to section 105.41 of the Revised Code; the chief | 65 |
executive officer and the members of the board of each state | 66 |
retirement system; each employee of a state retirement board who | 67 |
is a state retirement system investment officer licensed pursuant | 68 |
to section 1707.163 of the Revised Code; the members of the Ohio | 69 |
retirement study council appointed pursuant to division (C) of | 70 |
section 171.01 of the Revised Code; employees of the Ohio | 71 |
retirement study council, other than employees who perform purely | 72 |
administrative or clerical functions; the administrator of | 73 |
workers' compensation and each | 74 |
workers' compensation | 75 |
bureau of workers' compensation director of investments; the chief | 76 |
investment officer of the bureau of workers' compensation; all | 77 |
members of the board of commissioners on grievances and discipline | 78 |
of the supreme court and the ethics commission created under | 79 |
section 102.05 of the Revised Code; every business manager, | 80 |
treasurer, or superintendent of a city, local, exempted village, | 81 |
joint vocational, or cooperative education school district or an | 82 |
educational service center; every person who is elected to or is a | 83 |
candidate for the office of member of a board of education of a | 84 |
city, local, exempted village, joint vocational, or cooperative | 85 |
education school district or of a governing board of an | 86 |
educational service center that has a total student count of | 87 |
twelve thousand or more as most recently determined by the | 88 |
department of education pursuant to section 3317.03 of the Revised | 89 |
Code; every person who is appointed to the board of education of a | 90 |
municipal school district pursuant to division (B) or (F) of | 91 |
section 3311.71 of the Revised Code; all members of the board of | 92 |
directors of a sanitary district that is established under Chapter | 93 |
6115. of the Revised Code and organized wholly for the purpose of | 94 |
providing a water supply for domestic, municipal, and public use, | 95 |
and that includes two municipal corporations in two counties; | 96 |
every public official or employee who is paid a salary or wage in | 97 |
accordance with schedule C of section 124.15 or schedule E-2 of | 98 |
section 124.152 of the Revised Code; members of the board of | 99 |
trustees and the executive director of the tobacco use prevention | 100 |
and control foundation; members of the board of trustees and the | 101 |
executive director of the southern Ohio agricultural and community | 102 |
development foundation; and every other public official or | 103 |
employee who is designated by the appropriate ethics commission | 104 |
pursuant to division (B) of this section. | 105 |
The disclosure statement shall include all of the following: | 106 |
(1) The name of the person filing the statement and each | 107 |
member of the person's immediate family and all names under which | 108 |
the person or members of the person's immediate family do | 109 |
business; | 110 |
(2)(a) Subject to divisions (A)(2)(b) and (c) of this section | 111 |
and except as otherwise provided in section 102.022 of the Revised | 112 |
Code, identification of every source of income, other than income | 113 |
from a legislative agent identified in division (A)(2)(b) of this | 114 |
section, received during the preceding calendar year, in the | 115 |
person's own name or by any other person for the person's use or | 116 |
benefit, by the person filing the statement, and a brief | 117 |
description of the nature of the services for which the income was | 118 |
received. If the person filing the statement is a member of the | 119 |
general assembly, the statement shall identify the amount of every | 120 |
source of income received in accordance with the following ranges | 121 |
of amounts: zero or more, but less than one thousand dollars; one | 122 |
thousand dollars or more, but less than ten thousand dollars; ten | 123 |
thousand dollars or more, but less than twenty-five thousand | 124 |
dollars; twenty-five thousand dollars or more, but less than fifty | 125 |
thousand dollars; fifty thousand dollars or more, but less than | 126 |
one hundred thousand dollars; and one hundred thousand dollars or | 127 |
more. Division (A)(2)(a) of this section shall not be construed to | 128 |
require a person filing the statement who derives income from a | 129 |
business or profession to disclose the individual items of income | 130 |
that constitute the gross income of that business or profession, | 131 |
except for those individual items of income that are attributable | 132 |
to the person's or, if the income is shared with the person, the | 133 |
partner's, solicitation of services or goods or performance, | 134 |
arrangement, or facilitation of services or provision of goods on | 135 |
behalf of the business or profession of clients, including | 136 |
corporate clients, who are legislative agents. A person who files | 137 |
the statement under this section shall disclose the identity of | 138 |
and the amount of income received from a person who the public | 139 |
official or employee knows or has reason to know is doing or | 140 |
seeking to do business of any kind with the public official's or | 141 |
employee's agency. | 142 |
(b) If the person filing the statement is a member of the | 143 |
general assembly, the statement shall identify every source of | 144 |
income and the amount of that income that was received from a | 145 |
legislative agent during the preceding calendar year, in the | 146 |
person's own name or by any other person for the person's use or | 147 |
benefit, by the person filing the statement, and a brief | 148 |
description of the nature of the services for which the income was | 149 |
received. Division (A)(2)(b) of this section requires the | 150 |
disclosure of clients of attorneys or persons licensed under | 151 |
section 4732.12 of the Revised Code, or patients of persons | 152 |
certified under section 4731.14 of the Revised Code, if those | 153 |
clients or patients are legislative agents. Division (A)(2)(b) of | 154 |
this section requires a person filing the statement who derives | 155 |
income from a business or profession to disclose those individual | 156 |
items of income that constitute the gross income of that business | 157 |
or profession that are received from legislative agents. | 158 |
(c) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2)(c) of | 159 |
this section, division (A)(2)(a) of this section applies to | 160 |
attorneys, physicians, and other persons who engage in the | 161 |
practice of a profession and who, pursuant to a section of the | 162 |
Revised Code, the common law of this state, a code of ethics | 163 |
applicable to the profession, or otherwise, generally are required | 164 |
not to reveal, disclose, or use confidences of clients, patients, | 165 |
or other recipients of professional services except under | 166 |
specified circumstances or generally are required to maintain | 167 |
those types of confidences as privileged communications except | 168 |
under specified circumstances. Division (A)(2)(a) of this section | 169 |
does not require an attorney, physician, or other professional | 170 |
subject to a confidentiality requirement as described in division | 171 |
(A)(2)(c) of this section to disclose the name, other identity, or | 172 |
address of a client, patient, or other recipient of professional | 173 |
services if the disclosure would threaten the client, patient, or | 174 |
other recipient of professional services, would reveal details of | 175 |
the subject matter for which legal, medical, or professional | 176 |
advice or other services were sought, or would reveal an otherwise | 177 |
privileged communication involving the client, patient, or other | 178 |
recipient of professional services. Division (A)(2)(a) of this | 179 |
section does not require an attorney, physician, or other | 180 |
professional subject to a confidentiality requirement as described | 181 |
in division (A)(2)(c) of this section to disclose in the brief | 182 |
description of the nature of services required by division | 183 |
(A)(2)(a) of this section any information pertaining to specific | 184 |
professional services rendered for a client, patient, or other | 185 |
recipient of professional services that would reveal details of | 186 |
the subject matter for which legal, medical, or professional | 187 |
advice was sought or would reveal an otherwise privileged | 188 |
communication involving the client, patient, or other recipient of | 189 |
professional services. | 190 |
(3) The name of every corporation on file with the secretary | 191 |
of state that is incorporated in this state or holds a certificate | 192 |
of compliance authorizing it to do business in this state, trust, | 193 |
business trust, partnership, or association that transacts | 194 |
business in this state in which the person filing the statement or | 195 |
any other person for the person's use and benefit had during the | 196 |
preceding calendar year an investment of over one thousand dollars | 197 |
at fair market value as of the thirty-first day of December of the | 198 |
preceding calendar year, or the date of disposition, whichever is | 199 |
earlier, or in which the person holds any office or has a | 200 |
fiduciary relationship, and a description of the nature of the | 201 |
investment, office, or relationship. Division (A)(3) of this | 202 |
section does not require disclosure of the name of any bank, | 203 |
savings and loan association, credit union, or building and loan | 204 |
association with which the person filing the statement has a | 205 |
deposit or a withdrawable share account. | 206 |
(4) All fee simple and leasehold interests to which the | 207 |
person filing the statement holds legal title to or a beneficial | 208 |
interest in real property located within the state, excluding the | 209 |
person's residence and property used primarily for personal | 210 |
recreation; | 211 |
(5) The names of all persons residing or transacting business | 212 |
in the state to whom the person filing the statement owes, in the | 213 |
person's own name or in the name of any other person, more than | 214 |
one thousand dollars. Division (A)(5) of this section shall not be | 215 |
construed to require the disclosure of debts owed by the person | 216 |
resulting from the ordinary conduct of a business or profession or | 217 |
debts on the person's residence or real property used primarily | 218 |
for personal recreation, except that the superintendent of | 219 |
financial institutions shall disclose the names of all | 220 |
state-chartered savings and loan associations and of all service | 221 |
corporations subject to regulation under division (E)(2) of | 222 |
section 1151.34 of the Revised Code to whom the superintendent in | 223 |
the superintendent's own name or in the name of any other person | 224 |
owes any money, and that the superintendent and any deputy | 225 |
superintendent of banks shall disclose the names of all | 226 |
state-chartered banks and all bank subsidiary corporations subject | 227 |
to regulation under section 1109.44 of the Revised Code to whom | 228 |
the superintendent or deputy superintendent owes any money. | 229 |
(6) The names of all persons residing or transacting business | 230 |
in the state, other than a depository excluded under division | 231 |
(A)(3) of this section, who owe more than one thousand dollars to | 232 |
the person filing the statement, either in the person's own name | 233 |
or to any person for the person's use or benefit. Division (A)(6) | 234 |
of this section shall not be construed to require the disclosure | 235 |
of clients of attorneys or persons licensed under section 4732.12 | 236 |
or 4732.15 of the Revised Code, or patients of persons certified | 237 |
under section 4731.14 of the Revised Code, nor the disclosure of | 238 |
debts owed to the person resulting from the ordinary conduct of a | 239 |
business or profession. | 240 |
(7) Except as otherwise provided in section 102.022 of the | 241 |
Revised Code, the source of each gift of over seventy-five | 242 |
dollars, or of each gift of over twenty-five dollars received by a | 243 |
member of the general assembly from a legislative agent, received | 244 |
by the person in the person's own name or by any other person for | 245 |
the person's use or benefit during the preceding calendar year, | 246 |
except gifts received by will or by virtue of section 2105.06 of | 247 |
the Revised Code, or received from spouses, parents, grandparents, | 248 |
children, grandchildren, siblings, nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, | 249 |
brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, | 250 |
fathers-in-law, mothers-in-law, or any person to whom the person | 251 |
filing the statement stands in loco parentis, or received by way | 252 |
of distribution from any inter vivos or testamentary trust | 253 |
established by a spouse or by an ancestor; | 254 |
(8) Except as otherwise provided in section 102.022 of the | 255 |
Revised Code, identification of the source and amount of every | 256 |
payment of expenses incurred for travel to destinations inside or | 257 |
outside this state that is received by the person in the person's | 258 |
own name or by any other person for the person's use or benefit | 259 |
and that is incurred in connection with the person's official | 260 |
duties, except for expenses for travel to meetings or conventions | 261 |
of a national or state organization to which any state agency, | 262 |
including, but not limited to, any legislative agency or state | 263 |
institution of higher education as defined in section 3345.011 of | 264 |
the Revised Code, pays membership dues, or any political | 265 |
subdivision or any office or agency of a political subdivision | 266 |
pays membership dues; | 267 |
(9) Except as otherwise provided in section 102.022 of the | 268 |
Revised Code, identification of the source of payment of expenses | 269 |
for meals and other food and beverages, other than for meals and | 270 |
other food and beverages provided at a meeting at which the person | 271 |
participated in a panel, seminar, or speaking engagement or at a | 272 |
meeting or convention of a national or state organization to which | 273 |
any state agency, including, but not limited to, any legislative | 274 |
agency or state institution of higher education as defined in | 275 |
section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, pays membership dues, or any | 276 |
political subdivision or any office or agency of a political | 277 |
subdivision pays membership dues, that are incurred in connection | 278 |
with the person's official duties and that exceed one hundred | 279 |
dollars aggregated per calendar year; | 280 |
(10) If the disclosure statement is filed by a public | 281 |
official or employee described in division (B)(2) of section | 282 |
101.73 of the Revised Code or division (B)(2) of section 121.63 of | 283 |
the Revised Code who receives a statement from a legislative | 284 |
agent, executive agency lobbyist, or employer that contains the | 285 |
information described in division (F)(2) of section 101.73 of the | 286 |
Revised Code or division (G)(2) of section 121.63 of the Revised | 287 |
Code, all of the nondisputed information contained in the | 288 |
statement delivered to that public official or employee by the | 289 |
legislative agent, executive agency lobbyist, or employer under | 290 |
division (F)(2) of section 101.73 or (G)(2) of section 121.63 of | 291 |
the Revised Code. | 292 |
A person may file a statement required by this section in | 293 |
person or by mail. A person who is a candidate for elective office | 294 |
shall file the statement no later than the thirtieth day before | 295 |
the primary, special, or general election at which the candidacy | 296 |
is to be voted on, whichever election occurs soonest, except that | 297 |
a person who is a write-in candidate shall file the statement no | 298 |
later than the twentieth day before the earliest election at which | 299 |
the person's candidacy is to be voted on. A person who holds | 300 |
elective office shall file the statement on or before the | 301 |
fifteenth day of April of each year unless the person is a | 302 |
candidate for office. A person who is appointed to fill a vacancy | 303 |
for an unexpired term in an elective office shall file the | 304 |
statement within fifteen days after the person qualifies for | 305 |
office. Other persons shall file an annual statement on or before | 306 |
the fifteenth day of April or, if appointed or employed after that | 307 |
date, within ninety days after appointment or employment. No | 308 |
person shall be required to file with the appropriate ethics | 309 |
commission more than one statement or pay more than one filing fee | 310 |
for any one calendar year. | 311 |
The appropriate ethics commission, for good cause, may extend | 312 |
for a reasonable time the deadline for filing a statement under | 313 |
this section. | 314 |
A statement filed under this section is subject to public | 315 |
inspection at locations designated by the appropriate ethics | 316 |
commission except as otherwise provided in this section. | 317 |
(B) The Ohio ethics commission, the joint legislative ethics | 318 |
committee, and the board of commissioners on grievances and | 319 |
discipline of the supreme court, using the rule-making procedures | 320 |
of Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, may require any class of | 321 |
public officials or employees under its jurisdiction and not | 322 |
specifically excluded by this section whose positions involve a | 323 |
substantial and material exercise of administrative discretion in | 324 |
the formulation of public policy, expenditure of public funds, | 325 |
enforcement of laws and rules of the state or a county or city, or | 326 |
the execution of other public trusts, to file an annual statement | 327 |
on or before the fifteenth day of April under division (A) of this | 328 |
section. The appropriate ethics commission shall send the public | 329 |
officials or employees written notice of the requirement by the | 330 |
fifteenth day of February of each year the filing is required | 331 |
unless the public official or employee is appointed after that | 332 |
date, in which case the notice shall be sent within thirty days | 333 |
after appointment, and the filing shall be made not later than | 334 |
ninety days after appointment. | 335 |
Except for disclosure statements filed by members of the | 336 |
board of trustees and the executive director of the tobacco use | 337 |
prevention and control foundation and members of the board of | 338 |
trustees and the executive director of the southern Ohio | 339 |
agricultural and community development foundation, disclosure | 340 |
statements filed under this division with the Ohio ethics | 341 |
commission by members of boards, commissions, or bureaus of the | 342 |
state for which no compensation is received other than reasonable | 343 |
and necessary expenses shall be kept confidential. Disclosure | 344 |
statements filed with the Ohio ethics commission under division | 345 |
(A) of this section by business managers, treasurers, and | 346 |
superintendents of city, local, exempted village, joint | 347 |
vocational, or cooperative education school districts or | 348 |
educational service centers shall be kept confidential, except | 349 |
that any person conducting an audit of any such school district or | 350 |
educational service center pursuant to section 115.56 or Chapter | 351 |
117. of the Revised Code may examine the disclosure statement of | 352 |
any business manager, treasurer, or superintendent of that school | 353 |
district or educational service center. The Ohio ethics commission | 354 |
shall examine each disclosure statement required to be kept | 355 |
confidential to determine whether a potential conflict of interest | 356 |
exists for the person who filed the disclosure statement. A | 357 |
potential conflict of interest exists if the private interests of | 358 |
the person, as indicated by the person's disclosure statement, | 359 |
might interfere with the public interests the person is required | 360 |
to serve in the exercise of the person's authority and duties in | 361 |
the person's office or position of employment. If the commission | 362 |
determines that a potential conflict of interest exists, it shall | 363 |
notify the person who filed the disclosure statement and shall | 364 |
make the portions of the disclosure statement that indicate a | 365 |
potential conflict of interest subject to public inspection in the | 366 |
same manner as is provided for other disclosure statements. Any | 367 |
portion of the disclosure statement that the commission determines | 368 |
does not indicate a potential conflict of interest shall be kept | 369 |
confidential by the commission and shall not be made subject to | 370 |
public inspection, except as is necessary for the enforcement of | 371 |
Chapters 102. and 2921. of the Revised Code and except as | 372 |
otherwise provided in this division. | 373 |
(C) No person shall knowingly fail to file, on or before the | 374 |
applicable filing deadline established under this section, a | 375 |
statement that is required by this section. | 376 |
(D) No person shall knowingly file a false statement that is | 377 |
required to be filed under this section. | 378 |
(E)(1) Except as provided in divisions (E)(2) and (3) of this | 379 |
section, the statement required by division (A) or (B) of this | 380 |
section shall be accompanied by a filing fee of forty dollars. | 381 |
(2) The statement required by division (A) of this section | 382 |
shall be accompanied by the following filing fee to be paid by the | 383 |
person who is elected or appointed to, or is a candidate for, any | 384 |
of the following offices: | 385 |
For state office, except member of the | 386 | ||||
state board of education | $65 | 387 | |||
For office of member of general assembly | $40 | 388 | |||
For county office | $40 | 389 | |||
For city office | $25 | 390 | |||
For office of member of the state board | 391 | ||||
of education | $25 | 392 | |||
For office of member of a city, local, | 393 | ||||
exempted village, or cooperative | 394 | ||||
education board of | 395 | ||||
education or educational service | 396 | ||||
center governing board | $20 | 397 | |||
For position of business manager, | 398 | ||||
treasurer, or superintendent of a | 399 | ||||
city, local, exempted village, joint | 400 | ||||
vocational, or cooperative education | 401 | ||||
school district or | 402 | ||||
educational service center | $20 | 403 |
(3) No judge of a court of record or candidate for judge of a | 404 |
court of record, and no referee or magistrate serving a court of | 405 |
record, shall be required to pay the fee required under division | 406 |
(E)(1) or (2) or (F) of this section. | 407 |
(4) For any public official who is appointed to a nonelective | 408 |
office of the state and for any employee who holds a nonelective | 409 |
position in a public agency of the state, the state agency that is | 410 |
the primary employer of the state official or employee shall pay | 411 |
the fee required under division (E)(1) or (F) of this section. | 412 |
(F) If a statement required to be filed under this section is | 413 |
not filed by the date on which it is required to be filed, the | 414 |
appropriate ethics commission shall assess the person required to | 415 |
file the statement a late filing fee of ten dollars for each day | 416 |
the statement is not filed, except that the total amount of the | 417 |
late filing fee shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars. | 418 |
(G)(1) The appropriate ethics commission other than the Ohio | 419 |
ethics commission shall deposit all fees it receives under | 420 |
divisions (E) and (F) of this section into the general revenue | 421 |
fund of the state. | 422 |
(2) The Ohio ethics commission shall deposit all receipts, | 423 |
including, but not limited to, fees it receives under divisions | 424 |
(E) and (F) of this section and all moneys it receives from | 425 |
settlements under division (G) of section 102.06 of the Revised | 426 |
Code, into the Ohio ethics commission fund, which is hereby | 427 |
created in the state treasury. All moneys credited to the fund | 428 |
shall be used solely for expenses related to the operation and | 429 |
statutory functions of the commission. | 430 |
(H) Division (A) of this section does not apply to a person | 431 |
elected or appointed to the office of precinct, ward, or district | 432 |
committee member under Chapter 3517. of the Revised Code; a | 433 |
presidential elector; a delegate to a national convention; village | 434 |
or township officials and employees; any physician or psychiatrist | 435 |
who is paid a salary or wage in accordance with schedule C of | 436 |
section 124.15 or schedule E-2 of section 124.152 of the Revised | 437 |
Code and whose primary duties do not require the exercise of | 438 |
administrative discretion; or any member of a board, commission, | 439 |
or bureau of any county or city who receives less than one | 440 |
thousand dollars per year for serving in that position. | 441 |
Sec. 102.06. (A) The appropriate ethics commission shall | 442 |
receive and may initiate complaints against persons subject to | 443 |
this chapter concerning conduct alleged to be in violation of this | 444 |
chapter or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code. All | 445 |
complaints except those by the commission shall be by affidavit | 446 |
made on personal knowledge, subject to the penalties of perjury. | 447 |
Complaints by the commission shall be by affidavit, based upon | 448 |
reasonable cause to believe that a violation has occurred. | 449 |
(B) The appropriate ethics commission shall investigate | 450 |
complaints, may investigate charges presented to it, and may | 451 |
request further information, including the specific amount of | 452 |
income from a source, from any person filing with the commission a | 453 |
statement required by section 102.02 or 102.021 of the Revised | 454 |
Code, if the information sought is directly relevant to a | 455 |
complaint or charges received by the commission pursuant to this | 456 |
section. This information is confidential, except that the | 457 |
commission, in its discretion, may share information gathered in | 458 |
the course of any investigation with, or disclose the information | 459 |
to, the inspector general, any appropriate prosecuting authority, | 460 |
any law enforcement agency, or any other appropriate ethics | 461 |
commission. If the accused person is a member of the public | 462 |
employees retirement board, state teachers retirement board, | 463 |
school employees retirement board, board of trustees of the Ohio | 464 |
police and fire pension fund, or state highway patrol retirement | 465 |
board, or is a | 466 |
compensation | 467 |
appropriate ethics commission, in its discretion, also may share | 468 |
information gathered in the course of an investigation with, or | 469 |
disclose the information to, the attorney general and the auditor | 470 |
of state. The person so requested shall furnish the information to | 471 |
the commission, unless within fifteen days from the date of the | 472 |
request the person files an action for declaratory judgment | 473 |
challenging the legitimacy of the request in the court of common | 474 |
pleas of the county of the person's residence, the person's place | 475 |
of employment, or Franklin county. The requested information need | 476 |
not be furnished to the commission during the pendency of the | 477 |
judicial proceedings. Proceedings of the commission in connection | 478 |
with the declaratory judgment action shall be kept confidential | 479 |
except as otherwise provided by this section. Before the | 480 |
commission proceeds to take any formal action against a person who | 481 |
is the subject of an investigation based on charges presented to | 482 |
the commission, a complaint shall be filed against the person. If | 483 |
the commission finds that a complaint is not frivolous, and there | 484 |
is reasonable cause to believe that the facts alleged in a | 485 |
complaint constitute a violation of section 102.02, 102.021, | 486 |
102.03, 102.04, 102.07, 2921.42, or 2921.43 of the Revised Code, | 487 |
it shall hold a hearing. If the commission does not so find, it | 488 |
shall dismiss the complaint and notify the accused person in | 489 |
writing of the dismissal of the complaint. The commission shall | 490 |
not make a report of its finding unless the accused person | 491 |
requests a report. Upon the request of the accused person, the | 492 |
commission shall make a public report of its finding. The person | 493 |
against whom the complaint is directed shall be given reasonable | 494 |
notice by certified mail of the date, time, and place of the | 495 |
hearing and a statement of the charges and the law directly | 496 |
involved and shall be given the opportunity to be represented by | 497 |
counsel, to have counsel appointed for the person if the person is | 498 |
unable to afford counsel without undue hardship, to examine the | 499 |
evidence against the person, to produce evidence and to call and | 500 |
subpoena witnesses in the person's defense, to confront the | 501 |
person's accusers, and to cross-examine witnesses. The commission | 502 |
shall have a stenographic record made of the hearing. The hearing | 503 |
shall be closed to the public. | 504 |
(C)(1)(a) If, upon the basis of the hearing, the appropriate | 505 |
ethics commission finds by a preponderance of the evidence that | 506 |
the facts alleged in the complaint are true and constitute a | 507 |
violation of section 102.02, 102.021, 102.03, 102.04, 102.07, | 508 |
2921.42, or 2921.43 of the Revised Code, it shall report its | 509 |
findings to the appropriate prosecuting authority for proceedings | 510 |
in prosecution of the violation and to the appointing or employing | 511 |
authority of the accused. If the accused person is a member of the | 512 |
public employees retirement board, state teachers retirement | 513 |
board, school employees retirement board, board of trustees of the | 514 |
Ohio police and fire pension fund, or state highway patrol | 515 |
retirement board, the commission also shall report its findings to | 516 |
the Ohio retirement study council. | 517 |
(b) If the Ohio ethics commission reports its findings to the | 518 |
appropriate prosecuting authority under division (C)(1)(a) of this | 519 |
section and the prosecuting authority has not initiated any | 520 |
official action on those findings within ninety days after | 521 |
receiving the commission's report of them, the commission may | 522 |
publicly comment that no official action has been taken on its | 523 |
findings, except that the commission shall make no comment in | 524 |
violation of the Rules of Criminal Procedure or about any | 525 |
indictment that has been sealed pursuant to any law or those | 526 |
rules. The commission shall make no comment regarding the merits | 527 |
of its findings. As used in division (C)(1)(b) of this section, | 528 |
"official action" means prosecution, closure after investigation, | 529 |
or grand jury action resulting in a true bill of indictment or no | 530 |
true bill of indictment. | 531 |
(2) If the appropriate ethics commission does not find by a | 532 |
preponderance of the evidence that the facts alleged in the | 533 |
complaint are true and constitute a violation of section 102.02, | 534 |
102.021, 102.03, 102.04, 102.07, 2921.42, or 2921.43 of the | 535 |
Revised Code or if the commission has not scheduled a hearing | 536 |
within ninety days after the complaint is filed or has not finally | 537 |
disposed of the complaint within six months after it has been | 538 |
heard, it shall dismiss the complaint and notify the accused | 539 |
person in writing of the dismissal of the complaint. The | 540 |
commission shall not make a report of its finding unless the | 541 |
accused person requests a report. Upon the request of the accused | 542 |
person, the commission shall make a public report of the finding, | 543 |
but in this case all evidence and the record of the hearing shall | 544 |
remain confidential unless the accused person also requests that | 545 |
the evidence and record be made public. Upon request by the | 546 |
accused person, the commission shall make the evidence and the | 547 |
record available for public inspection. | 548 |
(D) The appropriate ethics commission, or a member of the | 549 |
commission, may administer oaths, and the commission may issue | 550 |
subpoenas to any person in the state compelling the attendance of | 551 |
witnesses and the production of relevant papers, books, accounts, | 552 |
and records. The commission shall issue subpoenas to compel the | 553 |
attendance of witnesses and the production of documents upon the | 554 |
request of an accused person. Section 101.42 of the Revised Code | 555 |
shall govern the issuance of these subpoenas insofar as | 556 |
applicable. Upon the refusal of any person to obey a subpoena or | 557 |
to be sworn or to answer as a witness, the commission may apply to | 558 |
the court of common pleas of Franklin county under section 2705.03 | 559 |
of the Revised Code. The court shall hold proceedings in | 560 |
accordance with Chapter 2705. of the Revised Code. The commission | 561 |
or the accused person may take the depositions of witnesses | 562 |
residing within or without the state in the same manner as | 563 |
prescribed by law for the taking of depositions in civil actions | 564 |
in the court of common pleas. | 565 |
(E) At least once each year, the Ohio ethics commission shall | 566 |
report on its activities of the immediately preceding year to the | 567 |
majority and minority leaders of the senate and house of | 568 |
representatives of the general assembly. The report shall indicate | 569 |
the total number of complaints received, initiated, and | 570 |
investigated by the commission, the total number of complaints for | 571 |
which formal hearings were held, and the total number of | 572 |
complaints for which formal prosecution was recommended or | 573 |
requested by the commission. The report also shall indicate the | 574 |
nature of the inappropriate conduct alleged in each complaint and | 575 |
the governmental entity with which any employee or official that | 576 |
is the subject of a complaint was employed at the time of the | 577 |
alleged inappropriate conduct. | 578 |
(F) All papers, records, affidavits, and documents upon any | 579 |
complaint, inquiry, or investigation relating to the proceedings | 580 |
of the appropriate ethics commission shall be sealed and are | 581 |
private and confidential, except as otherwise provided in this | 582 |
section and section 102.07 of the Revised Code. | 583 |
(G)(1) When a complaint or charge is before it, the Ohio | 584 |
ethics commission or the appropriate prosecuting authority, in | 585 |
consultation with the person filing the complaint or charge, the | 586 |
accused, and any other person the commission or prosecuting | 587 |
authority considers necessary, may compromise or settle the | 588 |
complaint or charge with the agreement of the accused. The | 589 |
compromise or settlement may include mediation, restitution, | 590 |
rescission of affected contracts, forfeiture of any benefits | 591 |
resulting from a violation or potential violation of law, | 592 |
resignation of a public official or employee, or any other relief | 593 |
that is agreed upon between the commission or prosecuting | 594 |
authority and the accused. | 595 |
(2) Any settlement agreement entered into under division | 596 |
(G)(1) of this section shall be in writing and be accompanied by a | 597 |
statement of the findings of the commission or prosecuting | 598 |
authority and the reasons for entering into the agreement. The | 599 |
commission or prosecuting authority shall retain the agreement and | 600 |
statement in the commission's or prosecuting authority's office | 601 |
and, in the commission's or prosecuting authority's discretion, | 602 |
may make the agreement, the statement, and any supporting | 603 |
information public, unless the agreement provides otherwise. | 604 |
(3) If a settlement agreement is breached by the accused, the | 605 |
commission or prosecuting authority, in the commission's or | 606 |
prosecuting authority's discretion, may rescind the agreement and | 607 |
reinstitute any investigation, hearing, or prosecution of the | 608 |
accused. No information obtained from the accused in reaching the | 609 |
settlement that is not otherwise discoverable from the accused | 610 |
shall be used in any proceeding before the commission or by the | 611 |
appropriate prosecuting authority in prosecuting the violation. | 612 |
Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, if a | 613 |
settlement agreement is breached, any statute of limitations for a | 614 |
violation of this chapter or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the | 615 |
Revised Code is tolled from the date the complaint or charge is | 616 |
filed until the date the settlement agreement is breached. | 617 |
Sec. 109.981. If a | 618 |
compensation | 619 |
member's fiduciary duty to the bureau of workers' compensation, | 620 |
the attorney general may maintain a civil action against the board | 621 |
member for harm resulting from that breach. Notwithstanding | 622 |
section 4121.128 of the Revised Code, after being informed of an | 623 |
allegation that the entire | 624 |
its fiduciary duty, the | 625 |
independent legal counsel, including legal counsel provided by the | 626 |
627 | |
advise the board and to represent the board. The attorney general | 628 |
may recover damages or be granted injunctive relief, which shall | 629 |
include the enjoinment of specified activities and the removal of | 630 |
the member from the board. Any damages awarded shall be paid to | 631 |
the bureau. The authority to maintain a civil action created by | 632 |
this section is in addition to any authority the attorney general | 633 |
possesses under any other provision of the Revised Code. | 634 |
Sec. 111.15. (A) As used in this section: | 635 |
(1) "Rule" includes any rule, regulation, bylaw, or standard | 636 |
having a general and uniform operation adopted by an agency under | 637 |
the authority of the laws governing the agency; any appendix to a | 638 |
rule; and any internal management rule. "Rule" does not include | 639 |
any guideline adopted pursuant to section 3301.0714 of the Revised | 640 |
Code, any order respecting the duties of employees, any finding, | 641 |
any determination of a question of law or fact in a matter | 642 |
presented to an agency, or any rule promulgated pursuant to | 643 |
Chapter 119., section 4141.14, division (C)(1) or (2) of section | 644 |
5117.02, or section 5703.14 of the Revised Code. "Rule" includes | 645 |
any amendment or rescission of a rule. | 646 |
(2) "Agency" means any governmental entity of the state and | 647 |
includes, but is not limited to, any board, department, division, | 648 |
commission, bureau, society, council, institution, state college | 649 |
or university, community college district, technical college | 650 |
district, or state community college. "Agency" does not include | 651 |
the general assembly, the controlling board, the adjutant | 652 |
general's department, or any court. | 653 |
(3) "Internal management rule" means any rule, regulation, | 654 |
bylaw, or standard governing the day-to-day staff procedures and | 655 |
operations within an agency. | 656 |
(4) "Substantive revision" has the same meaning as in | 657 |
division (J) of section 119.01 of the Revised Code. | 658 |
(B)(1) Any rule, other than a rule of an emergency nature, | 659 |
adopted by any agency pursuant to this section shall be effective | 660 |
on the tenth day after the day on which the rule in final form and | 661 |
in compliance with division (B)(3) of this section is filed as | 662 |
follows: | 663 |
(a) The rule shall be filed in electronic form with both the | 664 |
secretary of state and the director of the legislative service | 665 |
commission; | 666 |
(b) The rule shall be filed in electronic form with the joint | 667 |
committee on agency rule review. Division (B)(1)(b) of this | 668 |
section does not apply to any rule to which division (D) of this | 669 |
section does not apply. | 670 |
An agency that adopts or amends a rule that is subject to | 671 |
division (D) of this section shall assign a review date to the | 672 |
rule that is not later than five years after its effective date. | 673 |
If no review date is assigned to a rule, or if a review date | 674 |
assigned to a rule exceeds the five-year maximum, the review date | 675 |
for the rule is five years after its effective date. A rule with a | 676 |
review date is subject to review under section 119.032 of the | 677 |
Revised Code. This paragraph does not apply to a rule of a state | 678 |
college or university, community college district, technical | 679 |
college district, or state community college. | 680 |
If all filings are not completed on the same day, the rule | 681 |
shall be effective on the tenth day after the day on which the | 682 |
latest filing is completed. If an agency in adopting a rule | 683 |
designates an effective date that is later than the effective date | 684 |
provided for by division (B)(1) of this section, the rule if filed | 685 |
as required by such division shall become effective on the later | 686 |
date designated by the agency. | 687 |
Any rule that is required to be filed under division (B)(1) | 688 |
of this section is also subject to division (D) of this section if | 689 |
not exempted by division (D)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or | 690 |
(8) of this section. | 691 |
If a rule incorporates a text or other material by reference, | 692 |
the agency shall comply with sections 121.71 to 121.76 of the | 693 |
Revised Code. | 694 |
(2) A rule of an emergency nature necessary for the immediate | 695 |
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety shall state | 696 |
the reasons for the necessity. The emergency rule, in final form | 697 |
and in compliance with division (B)(3) of this section, shall be | 698 |
filed in electronic form with the secretary of state, the director | 699 |
of the legislative service commission, and the joint committee on | 700 |
agency rule review. The emergency rule is effective immediately | 701 |
upon completion of the latest filing, except that if the agency in | 702 |
adopting the emergency rule designates an effective date, or date | 703 |
and time of day, that is later than the effective date and time | 704 |
provided for by division (B)(2) of this section, the emergency | 705 |
rule if filed as required by such division shall become effective | 706 |
at the later date, or later date and time of day, designated by | 707 |
the agency. | 708 |
An emergency rule becomes invalid at the end of the ninetieth | 709 |
day it is in effect. Prior to that date, the agency may file the | 710 |
emergency rule as a nonemergency rule in compliance with division | 711 |
(B)(1) of this section. The agency may not refile the emergency | 712 |
rule in compliance with division (B)(2) of this section so that, | 713 |
upon the emergency rule becoming invalid under such division, the | 714 |
emergency rule will continue in effect without interruption for | 715 |
another ninety-day period. | 716 |
(3) An agency shall file a rule under division (B)(1) or (2) | 717 |
of this section in compliance with the following standards and | 718 |
procedures: | 719 |
(a) The rule shall be numbered in accordance with the | 720 |
numbering system devised by the director for the Ohio | 721 |
administrative code. | 722 |
(b) The rule shall be prepared and submitted in compliance | 723 |
with the rules of the legislative service commission. | 724 |
(c) The rule shall clearly state the date on which it is to | 725 |
be effective and the date on which it will expire, if known. | 726 |
(d) Each rule that amends or rescinds another rule shall | 727 |
clearly refer to the rule that is amended or rescinded. Each | 728 |
amendment shall fully restate the rule as amended. | 729 |
If the director of the legislative service commission or the | 730 |
director's designee gives an agency notice pursuant to section | 731 |
103.05 of the Revised Code that a rule filed by the agency is not | 732 |
in compliance with the rules of the legislative service | 733 |
commission, the agency shall within thirty days after receipt of | 734 |
the notice conform the rule to the rules of the commission as | 735 |
directed in the notice. | 736 |
(C) All rules filed pursuant to divisions (B)(1)(a) and (2) | 737 |
of this section shall be recorded by the secretary of state and | 738 |
the director under the title of the agency adopting the rule and | 739 |
shall be numbered according to the numbering system devised by the | 740 |
director. The secretary of state and the director shall preserve | 741 |
the rules in an accessible manner. Each such rule shall be a | 742 |
public record open to public inspection and may be transmitted to | 743 |
any law publishing company that wishes to reproduce it. | 744 |
(D) At least sixty-five days before a board, commission, | 745 |
department, division, or bureau of the government of the state | 746 |
files a rule under division (B)(1) of this section, it shall file | 747 |
the full text of the proposed rule in electronic form with the | 748 |
joint committee on agency rule review, and the proposed rule is | 749 |
subject to legislative review and invalidation under division (I) | 750 |
of section 119.03 of the Revised Code. If a state board, | 751 |
commission, department, division, or bureau makes a substantive | 752 |
revision in a proposed rule after it is filed with the joint | 753 |
committee, the state board, commission, department, division, or | 754 |
bureau shall promptly file the full text of the proposed rule in | 755 |
its revised form in electronic form with the joint committee. The | 756 |
latest version of a proposed rule as filed with the joint | 757 |
committee supersedes each earlier version of the text of the same | 758 |
proposed rule. Except as provided in division (F) of this section, | 759 |
a state board, commission, department, division, or bureau shall | 760 |
also file the rule summary and fiscal analysis prepared under | 761 |
section 121.24 or 127.18 of the Revised Code, or both, in | 762 |
electronic form along with a proposed rule, and along with a | 763 |
proposed rule in revised form, that is filed under this division. | 764 |
As used in this division, "commission" includes the public | 765 |
utilities commission when adopting rules under a federal or state | 766 |
statute. | 767 |
This division does not apply to any of the following: | 768 |
(1) A proposed rule of an emergency nature; | 769 |
(2) A rule proposed under section 1121.05, 1121.06, 1155.18, | 770 |
1163.22, 1349.33, 1707.201, 1733.412, 4123.29, 4123.34, 4123.341, | 771 |
4123.342,
4123.40,
or 4123.411 | 772 |
Revised Code; | 773 |
(3) A rule proposed by an agency other than a board, | 774 |
commission, department, division, or bureau of the government of | 775 |
the state; | 776 |
(4) A proposed internal management rule of a board, | 777 |
commission, department, division, or bureau of the government of | 778 |
the state; | 779 |
(5) Any proposed rule that must be adopted verbatim by an | 780 |
agency pursuant to federal law or rule, to become effective within | 781 |
sixty days of adoption, in order to continue the operation of a | 782 |
federally reimbursed program in this state, so long as the | 783 |
proposed rule contains both of the following: | 784 |
(a) A statement that it is proposed for the purpose of | 785 |
complying with a federal law or rule; | 786 |
(b) A citation to the federal law or rule that requires | 787 |
verbatim compliance. | 788 |
(6) An initial rule proposed by the director of health to | 789 |
impose safety standards and quality-of-care standards with respect | 790 |
to a health service specified in section 3702.11 of the Revised | 791 |
Code, or an initial rule proposed by the director to impose | 792 |
quality standards on a facility listed in division (A)(4) of | 793 |
section 3702.30 of the Revised Code, if section 3702.12 of the | 794 |
Revised Code requires that the rule be adopted under this section; | 795 |
(7) A rule of the state lottery commission pertaining to | 796 |
instant game rules. | 797 |
If a rule is exempt from legislative review under division | 798 |
(D)(5) of this section, and if the federal law or rule pursuant to | 799 |
which the rule was adopted expires, is repealed or rescinded, or | 800 |
otherwise terminates, the rule is thereafter subject to | 801 |
legislative review under division (D) of this section. | 802 |
(E) Whenever a state board, commission, department, division, | 803 |
or bureau files a proposed rule or a proposed rule in revised form | 804 |
under division (D) of this section, it shall also file the full | 805 |
text of the same proposed rule or proposed rule in revised form in | 806 |
electronic form with the secretary of state and the director of | 807 |
the legislative service commission. Except as provided in division | 808 |
(F) of this section, a state board, commission, department, | 809 |
division, or bureau shall file the rule summary and fiscal | 810 |
analysis prepared under section 121.24 or 127.18 of the Revised | 811 |
Code, or both, in electronic form along with a proposed rule or | 812 |
proposed rule in revised form that is filed with the secretary of | 813 |
state or the director of the legislative service commission. | 814 |
(F) Except as otherwise provided in this division, the | 815 |
auditor of state or the auditor of state's designee is not | 816 |
required to file a rule summary and fiscal analysis along with a | 817 |
proposed rule, or proposed rule in revised form, that the auditor | 818 |
of state proposes under section 117.12, 117.19, 117.38, or 117.43 | 819 |
of the Revised Code and files under division (D) or (E) of this | 820 |
section. If, however, the auditor of state or the designee | 821 |
prepares a rule summary and fiscal analysis of the original | 822 |
version of such a proposed rule for purposes of complying with | 823 |
section 121.24 of the Revised Code, the auditor of state or | 824 |
designee shall file the rule summary and fiscal analysis in | 825 |
electronic form along with the original version of the proposed | 826 |
rule filed under division (D) or (E) of this section. | 827 |
Sec. 119.01. As used in sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the | 828 |
Revised Code: | 829 |
(A)(1) "Agency" means, except as limited by this division, | 830 |
any official, board, or commission having authority to promulgate | 831 |
rules or make adjudications in the civil service commission, the | 832 |
division of liquor control, the department of taxation, the | 833 |
industrial commission, the bureau of workers' compensation, the | 834 |
functions of any administrative or executive officer, department, | 835 |
division, bureau, board, or commission of the government of the | 836 |
state specifically made subject to sections 119.01 to 119.13 of | 837 |
the Revised Code, and the licensing functions of any | 838 |
administrative or executive officer, department, division, bureau, | 839 |
board, or commission of the government of the state having the | 840 |
authority or responsibility of issuing, suspending, revoking, or | 841 |
canceling licenses. | 842 |
Except as otherwise provided in division (I) of this section, | 843 |
sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code do not apply to the | 844 |
public utilities commission. Sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the | 845 |
Revised Code do not apply to the utility radiological safety | 846 |
board; to the controlling board; to actions of the superintendent | 847 |
of financial institutions and the superintendent of insurance in | 848 |
the taking possession of, and rehabilitation or liquidation of, | 849 |
the business and property of banks, savings and loan associations, | 850 |
savings banks, credit unions, insurance companies, associations, | 851 |
reciprocal fraternal benefit societies, and bond investment | 852 |
companies; to any action taken by the division of securities under | 853 |
section 1707.201 of the Revised Code; or to any action that may be | 854 |
taken by the superintendent of financial institutions under | 855 |
section 1113.03, 1121.06, 1121.10, 1125.09, 1125.12, 1125.18, | 856 |
1157.01, 1157.02, 1157.10, 1165.01, 1165.02, 1165.10, 1349.33, | 857 |
1733.35, 1733.361, 1733.37, or 1761.03 of the Revised Code. | 858 |
Sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code do not apply to | 859 |
actions of the industrial commission or the bureau of workers' | 860 |
compensation under sections 4123.01 to 4123.94 of the Revised Code | 861 |
with respect to all matters of
adjudication, | 862 |
of the industrial commission, bureau of workers' compensation | 863 |
board of directors, and bureau of workers' compensation under | 864 |
865 | |
4123.341, 4123.342, 4123.40, 4123.411, | 866 |
4127.07, divisions (B), (C), and (E) of section 4131.04, and | 867 |
divisions (B), (C), and (E) of section 4131.14 of the Revised Code | 868 |
with respect to all matters concerning the establishment of | 869 |
premium, contribution, and assessment rates. | 870 |
(2) "Agency" also means any official or work unit having | 871 |
authority to promulgate rules or make adjudications in the | 872 |
department of job and family services, but only with respect to | 873 |
both of the following: | 874 |
(a) The adoption, amendment, or rescission of rules that | 875 |
section 5101.09 of the Revised Code requires be adopted in | 876 |
accordance with this chapter; | 877 |
(b) The issuance, suspension, revocation, or cancellation of | 878 |
licenses. | 879 |
(B) "License" means any license, permit, certificate, | 880 |
commission, or charter issued by any agency. "License" does not | 881 |
include any arrangement whereby a person, institution, or entity | 882 |
furnishes medicaid services under a provider agreement with the | 883 |
department of job and family services pursuant to Title XIX of the | 884 |
"Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C. 301, as | 885 |
amended. | 886 |
(C) "Rule" means any rule, regulation, or standard, having a | 887 |
general and uniform operation, adopted, promulgated, and enforced | 888 |
by any agency under the authority of the laws governing such | 889 |
agency, and includes any appendix to a rule. "Rule" does not | 890 |
include any internal management rule of an agency unless the | 891 |
internal management rule affects private rights and does not | 892 |
include any guideline adopted pursuant to section 3301.0714 of the | 893 |
Revised Code. | 894 |
(D) "Adjudication" means the determination by the highest or | 895 |
ultimate authority of an agency of the rights, duties, privileges, | 896 |
benefits, or legal relationships of a specified person, but does | 897 |
not include the issuance of a license in response to an | 898 |
application with respect to which no question is raised, nor other | 899 |
acts of a ministerial nature. | 900 |
(E) "Hearing" means a public hearing by any agency in | 901 |
compliance with procedural safeguards afforded by sections 119.01 | 902 |
to 119.13 of the Revised Code. | 903 |
(F) "Person" means a person, firm, corporation, association, | 904 |
or partnership. | 905 |
(G) "Party" means the person whose interests are the subject | 906 |
of an adjudication by an agency. | 907 |
(H) "Appeal" means the procedure by which a person, aggrieved | 908 |
by a finding, decision, order, or adjudication of any agency, | 909 |
invokes the jurisdiction of a court. | 910 |
(I) "Rule-making agency" means any board, commission, | 911 |
department, division, or bureau of the government of the state | 912 |
that is required to file proposed rules, amendments, or | 913 |
rescissions under division (D) of section 111.15 of the Revised | 914 |
Code and any agency that is required to file proposed rules, | 915 |
amendments, or rescissions under divisions (B) and (H) of section | 916 |
119.03 of the Revised Code. "Rule-making agency" includes the | 917 |
public utilities commission. "Rule-making agency" does not include | 918 |
any state-supported college or university. | 919 |
(J) "Substantive revision" means any addition to, elimination | 920 |
from, or other change in a rule, an amendment of a rule, or a | 921 |
rescission of a rule, whether of a substantive or procedural | 922 |
nature, that changes any of the following: | 923 |
(1) That which the rule, amendment, or rescission permits, | 924 |
authorizes, regulates, requires, prohibits, penalizes, rewards, or | 925 |
otherwise affects; | 926 |
(2) The scope or application of the rule, amendment, or | 927 |
rescission. | 928 |
(K) "Internal management rule" means any rule, regulation, or | 929 |
standard governing the day-to-day staff procedures and operations | 930 |
within an agency. | 931 |
Sec. 121.52. There is hereby created in the office of the | 932 |
inspector general the office of deputy inspector general for the | 933 |
bureau of workers' compensation and industrial commission. The | 934 |
inspector general shall appoint the deputy inspector general, and | 935 |
the deputy inspector general shall serve at the pleasure of the | 936 |
inspector general. A person employed as the deputy inspector | 937 |
general shall have the same qualifications as those specified in | 938 |
section 121.49 of the Revised Code for the inspector general. The | 939 |
inspector general shall provide professional and clerical | 940 |
assistance to the deputy inspector general. The inspector general | 941 |
shall certify to the director of budget and management the costs | 942 |
incurred by the deputy inspector general, including the salaries | 943 |
of the employees assisting the deputy inspector general. The | 944 |
director of budget and management shall transfer the amount | 945 |
certified to the deputy inspector general for BWC fund, which is | 946 |
hereby created in the state treasury, from the appropriation made | 947 |
to the bureau of workers' compensation from which expenditures for | 948 |
general administrative purposes are made. The inspector general | 949 |
shall use that fund to pay costs incurred by the deputy inspector | 950 |
general. | 951 |
Sec. 121.53. (A) The deputy inspector general for the bureau | 952 |
of workers' compensation and the industrial commission shall do | 953 |
all of the following: | 954 |
(1) Investigate wrongful acts or omissions that have been | 955 |
committed by or are being committed by officers or employees of | 956 |
the bureau of workers' compensation and the industrial commission; | 957 |
(2) Perform the same duties regarding matters concerning | 958 |
officers or employees of the bureau or the industrial commission | 959 |
as those specified in sections 121.42 and 121.45 of the Revised | 960 |
Code for the inspector general; | 961 |
(3) Investigate any activities that may constitute fraud that | 962 |
allegedly have been or are being committed by a participant in the | 963 |
workers' compensation system; | 964 |
(4) After conducting an investigation for fraud under | 965 |
division (A)(3) of this section, report any suspected acts of | 966 |
fraud to the inspector general; | 967 |
(5) Receive complaints under section 121.55 of the Revised | 968 |
Code alleging that wrongful acts and omissions have been committed | 969 |
or are being committed by an officer or employee of the bureau or | 970 |
industrial commission or alleging activities that may constitute | 971 |
fraud that have been or are being committed by a participant in | 972 |
the workers' compensation system; | 973 |
(6) Determine whether the information contained in complaints | 974 |
received under section 121.55 of the Revised Code allege facts | 975 |
that give reasonable cause to investigate, and, if so, investigate | 976 |
the complaint to determine if there is reasonable cause to believe | 977 |
that an alleged wrongful act or omission has been committed or is | 978 |
being committed by an officer or employee of the bureau or | 979 |
commission or that activities that may constitute fraud have been | 980 |
or are being committed by a participant. | 981 |
(7) Exercise the same powers and duties as those specified in | 982 |
section 121.43 of the Revised Code for the inspector general. | 983 |
(B) All investigations conducted and reports issued by the | 984 |
deputy inspector general are subject to section 121.44 of the | 985 |
Revised Code. | 986 |
(C) If the inspector general receives a report from the | 987 |
deputy inspector general under division (A)(4) of this section, | 988 |
the inspector general shall report the allegation of fraud to the | 989 |
administrator of workers' compensation or the industrial | 990 |
commission only if the inspector general believes that reporting | 991 |
the allegation has the potential to stop fraud. | 992 |
(D) As used in this section and sections 121.54 and 121.55 of | 993 |
the Revised Code, "participant in the workers' compensation | 994 |
system" means any of the following persons or entities: | 995 |
(1) An employer subject to Chapter 4121., 4123., 4125., | 996 |
4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code; | 997 |
(2) A claimant for compensation or benefits under Chapter | 998 |
4121., 4123., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code; | 999 |
(3) A health care provider or managed care organization that | 1000 |
provides services under Chapter 4121., 4123., 4127., or 4131. of | 1001 |
the Revised Code; | 1002 |
(4) A person investing the assets of the funds specified in | 1003 |
Chapters 4121., 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code. | 1004 |
Sec. 121.54. The members of the industrial commission, bureau | 1005 |
of workers' compensation board of directors, workers' compensation | 1006 |
audit committee, workers' compensation actuarial committee, and | 1007 |
workers' compensation investment committee, and the administrator | 1008 |
of workers' compensation, employees of the industrial commission | 1009 |
and the bureau of workers' compensation, and any participant in | 1010 |
the workers' compensation system shall cooperate with and provide | 1011 |
assistance to the deputy inspector general in the performance of | 1012 |
any investigation conducted by the deputy inspector general. In | 1013 |
particular, those persons shall make their premises, equipment, | 1014 |
personnel, books, records, and papers readily available to the | 1015 |
deputy inspector general. In the course of an investigation, the | 1016 |
deputy inspector general may do any of the following: | 1017 |
(A) Question any of those persons employed by the industrial | 1018 |
commission or the administrator and any other person transacting | 1019 |
business with the industrial commission, the board, the audit | 1020 |
committee, the actuarial committee, the investment committee, the | 1021 |
administrator, or the bureau; | 1022 |
(B) Question any participant in the workers' compensation | 1023 |
system; | 1024 |
(C) Inspect and copy any books, records, or papers in the | 1025 |
possession of a person or participant questioned pursuant to | 1026 |
division (A) or (B) of this section, taking care to preserve the | 1027 |
confidentiality of information contained in responses to questions | 1028 |
or the books, records, or papers that are made confidential by | 1029 |
law. | 1030 |
In performing any investigation, the deputy inspector general | 1031 |
shall avoid interfering with the ongoing operations of the | 1032 |
entities being investigated, except insofar as is reasonably | 1033 |
necessary to successfully complete the investigation. | 1034 |
Sec. 121.55. Any person who knows or has reasonable cause to | 1035 |
believe that an officer or employee of the bureau of workers' | 1036 |
compensation or the industrial commission has committed, or is in | 1037 |
the process of committing, a wrongful act or omission, or who | 1038 |
knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a participant in the | 1039 |
workers' compensation system has committed, or is in the process | 1040 |
of committing, an activity that may constitute fraud, may prepare | 1041 |
and file a complaint with the deputy inspector general for the | 1042 |
bureau of workers' compensation and industrial commission. The | 1043 |
person shall include all of the following information in the | 1044 |
complaint: | 1045 |
(A) The identity of the person making the report; | 1046 |
(B) The identity of the officer or employee who allegedly | 1047 |
committed or is committing the wrongful act or omission, or the | 1048 |
participant who allegedly committed or is committing an act that | 1049 |
may constitute fraud; | 1050 |
(C) A description of the wrongful act or omission or the | 1051 |
activity that may constitute fraud; | 1052 |
(D) An explanation of how the person reporting knew or came | 1053 |
to the person's reasonable cause to believe that the officer or | 1054 |
employee committed or is in the process of committing the wrongful | 1055 |
act or omission, or that the participant committed or is | 1056 |
committing an act that may constitute fraud. | 1057 |
The preparation and filing of the complaint described in this | 1058 |
section is in addition to any other report of the wrongful act or | 1059 |
omission or the activity that may constitute fraud that the person | 1060 |
is required by law to make. | 1061 |
The inspector general shall prescribe a form for complaints | 1062 |
under this section. The inspector general shall provide a blank | 1063 |
copy of the form to any person, free of charge. No complaint is | 1064 |
defective, however, because it is not made on the form prescribed | 1065 |
by the inspector general. | 1066 |
Sec. 121.56. At the conclusion of an investigation conducted | 1067 |
by the deputy inspector general for the bureau of workers' | 1068 |
compensation and industrial commission, the deputy inspector | 1069 |
general shall deliver to the board, the administrator, the | 1070 |
commission, and the governor any case for which remedial action is | 1071 |
necessary. The deputy inspector general shall maintain a public | 1072 |
record of its activities to the extent permitted under sections | 1073 |
121.52 to 121.56 of the Revised Code, ensuring that the rights of | 1074 |
the parties involved in each case are protected. The inspector | 1075 |
general shall include in the annual report required under section | 1076 |
121.48 of the Revised Code a summary of the activities of the | 1077 |
deputy inspector general during the previous year. | 1078 |
No person shall disclose any information that is designated | 1079 |
as confidential in accordance with section 121.44 of the Revised | 1080 |
Code or any confidential information that is acquired in the | 1081 |
course of an investigation conducted under section 121.53 of the | 1082 |
Revised Code to any person who is not legally entitled to | 1083 |
disclosure of that information. | 1084 |
Sec. 131.02. (A) Except as otherwise provided in section | 1085 |
4123.37 and division | 1086 |
Code, whenever any amount is payable to the state, the officer, | 1087 |
employee, or agent responsible for administering the law under | 1088 |
which the amount is payable shall immediately proceed to collect | 1089 |
the amount or cause the amount to be collected and shall pay the | 1090 |
amount into the state treasury or into the appropriate custodial | 1091 |
fund in the manner set forth pursuant to section 113.08 of the | 1092 |
Revised Code. Except as otherwise provided in this division, if | 1093 |
the amount is not paid within forty-five days after payment is | 1094 |
due, the officer, employee, or agent shall certify the amount due | 1095 |
to the attorney general, in the form and manner prescribed by the | 1096 |
attorney general, and notify the director of budget and management | 1097 |
thereof. In the case of an amount payable by a student enrolled in | 1098 |
a state institution of higher education, the amount shall be | 1099 |
certified within the later of forty-five days after the amount is | 1100 |
due or the tenth day after the beginning of the next academic | 1101 |
semester, quarter, or other session following the session for | 1102 |
which the payment is payable. The attorney general may assess the | 1103 |
collection cost to the amount certified in such manner and amount | 1104 |
as prescribed by the attorney general. | 1105 |
For the purposes of this section, the attorney general and | 1106 |
the officer, employee, or agent responsible for administering the | 1107 |
law under which the amount is payable shall agree on the time a | 1108 |
payment is due, and that agreed upon time shall be one of the | 1109 |
following times: | 1110 |
(1) If a law, including an administrative rule, of this state | 1111 |
prescribes the time a payment is required to be made or reported, | 1112 |
when the payment is required by that law to be paid or reported. | 1113 |
(2) If the payment is for services rendered, when the | 1114 |
rendering of the services is completed. | 1115 |
(3) If the payment is reimbursement for a loss, when the loss | 1116 |
is incurred. | 1117 |
(4) In the case of a fine or penalty for which a law or | 1118 |
administrative rule does not prescribe a time for payment, when | 1119 |
the fine or penalty is first assessed. | 1120 |
(5) If the payment arises from a legal finding, judgment, or | 1121 |
adjudication order, when the finding, judgment, or order is | 1122 |
rendered or issued. | 1123 |
(6) If the payment arises from an overpayment of money by the | 1124 |
state to another person, when the overpayment is discovered. | 1125 |
(7) The date on which the amount for which an individual is | 1126 |
personally liable under section 5735.35, section 5739.33, or | 1127 |
division (G) of section 5747.07 of the Revised Code is determined. | 1128 |
(8) Upon proof of claim being filed in a bankruptcy case. | 1129 |
(9) Any other appropriate time determined by the attorney | 1130 |
general and the officer, employee, or agent responsible for | 1131 |
administering the law under which the amount is payable on the | 1132 |
basis of statutory requirements or ordinary business processes of | 1133 |
the state agency to which the payment is owed. | 1134 |
(B)(1) The attorney general shall give immediate notice by | 1135 |
mail or otherwise to the party indebted of the nature and amount | 1136 |
of the indebtedness. | 1137 |
(2) If the amount payable to this state arises from a tax | 1138 |
levied under Chapter 5733., 5739., 5741., 5747., or 5751. of the | 1139 |
Revised Code, the notice also shall specify all of the following: | 1140 |
(a) The assessment or case number; | 1141 |
(b) The tax pursuant to which the assessment is made; | 1142 |
(c) The reason for the liability, including, if applicable, | 1143 |
that a penalty or interest is due; | 1144 |
(d) An explanation of how and when interest will be added to | 1145 |
the amount assessed; | 1146 |
(e) That the attorney general and tax commissioner, acting | 1147 |
together, have the authority, but are not required, to compromise | 1148 |
the claim and accept payment over a reasonable time, if such | 1149 |
actions are in the best interest of the state. | 1150 |
(C) The attorney general shall collect the claim or secure a | 1151 |
judgment and issue an execution for its collection. | 1152 |
(D) Each claim shall bear interest, from the day on which the | 1153 |
claim became due, at the rate per annum required by section | 1154 |
5703.47 of the Revised Code. | 1155 |
(E) The attorney general and the chief officer of the agency | 1156 |
reporting a claim, acting together, may do any of the following if | 1157 |
such action is in the best interests of the state: | 1158 |
(1) Compromise the claim; | 1159 |
(2) Extend for a reasonable period the time for payment of | 1160 |
the claim by agreeing to accept monthly or other periodic | 1161 |
payments. The agreement may require security for payment of the | 1162 |
claim. | 1163 |
(3) Add fees to recover the cost of processing checks or | 1164 |
other draft instruments returned for insufficient funds and the | 1165 |
cost of providing electronic payment options. | 1166 |
(F)(1) Except as provided in division (F)(2) of this section, | 1167 |
if the attorney general finds, after investigation, that any claim | 1168 |
due and owing to the state is uncollectible, the attorney general, | 1169 |
with the consent of the chief officer of the agency reporting the | 1170 |
claim, may do the following: | 1171 |
(a) Sell, convey, or otherwise transfer the claim to one or | 1172 |
more private entities for collection; | 1173 |
(b) Cancel the claim or cause it to be canceled. | 1174 |
(2) The attorney general shall cancel or cause to be canceled | 1175 |
an unsatisfied claim on the date that is forty years after the | 1176 |
date the claim is certified. | 1177 |
(3) No initial action shall be commenced to collect any tax | 1178 |
payable to the state that is administered by the tax commissioner, | 1179 |
whether or not such tax is subject to division (B) of this | 1180 |
section, or any penalty, interest, or additional charge on such | 1181 |
tax, after the expiration of the period ending on the later of the | 1182 |
dates specified in divisions (F)(3)(a) and (b) of this section, | 1183 |
provided that such period shall be extended by the period of any | 1184 |
stay to such collection or by any other period to which the | 1185 |
parties mutually agree. If the initial action in aid of execution | 1186 |
is commenced before the later of the dates specified in divisions | 1187 |
(F)(3)(a) and (b) of this section, any and all subsequent actions | 1188 |
may be pursued in aid of execution of judgment for as long as the | 1189 |
debt exists. | 1190 |
(a) Seven years after the assessment of the tax, penalty, | 1191 |
interest, or additional charge is issued. | 1192 |
(b) Four years after the assessment of the tax, penalty, | 1193 |
interest, or additional charge becomes final. For the purposes of | 1194 |
division (F)(3)(b) of this section, the assessment becomes final | 1195 |
at the latest of the following: upon expiration of the period to | 1196 |
petition for reassessment, or if applicable, to appeal a final | 1197 |
determination of the commissioner or decision of the board of tax | 1198 |
appeals or a court, or, if applicable, upon decision of the United | 1199 |
States supreme court. | 1200 |
For the purposes of division (F)(3) of this section, an | 1201 |
initial action to collect a tax debt is commenced at the time when | 1202 |
any action, including any action in aid of execution on a | 1203 |
judgment, commences after a certified copy of the tax | 1204 |
commissioner's entry making an assessment final has been filed in | 1205 |
the office of the clerk of court of common pleas in the county in | 1206 |
which the taxpayer resides or has its principal place of business | 1207 |
in this state, or in the office of the clerk of court of common | 1208 |
pleas of Franklin county, as provided in section 5739.13, 5741.14, | 1209 |
5747.13, or 5751.09 of the Revised Code or in any other applicable | 1210 |
law requiring such a filing. If an assessment has not been issued | 1211 |
and there is no time limitation on the issuance of an assessment | 1212 |
under applicable law, an action to collect a tax debt commences | 1213 |
when the action is filed in the courts of this state to collect | 1214 |
the liability. | 1215 |
(4) If information contained in a claim that is sold, | 1216 |
conveyed, or transferred to a private entity pursuant to this | 1217 |
section is confidential pursuant to federal law or a section of | 1218 |
the Revised Code that implements a federal law governing | 1219 |
confidentiality, such information remains subject to that law | 1220 |
during and following the sale, conveyance, or transfer. | 1221 |
Sec. 1707.01. As used in this chapter: | 1222 |
(A) Whenever the context requires it, "division" or "division | 1223 |
of securities" may be read as "director of commerce" or as | 1224 |
"commissioner of securities." | 1225 |
(B) "Security" means any certificate or instrument, or any | 1226 |
oral, written, or electronic agreement, understanding, or | 1227 |
opportunity, that represents title to or interest in, or is | 1228 |
secured by any lien or charge upon, the capital, assets, profits, | 1229 |
property, or credit of any person or of any public or governmental | 1230 |
body, subdivision, or agency. It includes shares of stock, | 1231 |
certificates for shares of stock, an uncertificated security, | 1232 |
membership interests in limited liability companies, voting-trust | 1233 |
certificates, warrants and options to purchase securities, | 1234 |
subscription rights, interim receipts, interim certificates, | 1235 |
promissory notes, all forms of commercial paper, evidences of | 1236 |
indebtedness, bonds, debentures, land trust certificates, fee | 1237 |
certificates, leasehold certificates, syndicate certificates, | 1238 |
endowment certificates, interests in or under profit-sharing or | 1239 |
participation agreements, interests in or under oil, gas, or | 1240 |
mining leases, preorganization or reorganization subscriptions, | 1241 |
preorganization certificates, reorganization certificates, | 1242 |
interests in any trust or pretended trust, any investment | 1243 |
contract, any life settlement interest, any instrument evidencing | 1244 |
a promise or an agreement to pay money, warehouse receipts for | 1245 |
intoxicating liquor, and the currency of any government other than | 1246 |
those of the United States and Canada, but sections 1707.01 to | 1247 |
1707.45 of the Revised Code do not apply to the sale of real | 1248 |
estate. | 1249 |
(C)(1) "Sale" has the full meaning of "sale" as applied by or | 1250 |
accepted in courts of law or equity, and includes every | 1251 |
disposition, or attempt to dispose, of a security or of an | 1252 |
interest in a security. "Sale" also includes a contract to sell, | 1253 |
an exchange, an attempt to sell, an option of sale, a solicitation | 1254 |
of a sale, a solicitation of an offer to buy, a subscription, or | 1255 |
an offer to sell, directly or indirectly, by agent, circular, | 1256 |
pamphlet, advertisement, or otherwise. | 1257 |
(2) "Sell" means any act by which a sale is made. | 1258 |
(3) The use of advertisements, circulars, or pamphlets in | 1259 |
connection with the sale of securities in this state exclusively | 1260 |
to the purchasers specified in division (D) of section 1707.03 of | 1261 |
the Revised Code is not a sale when the advertisements, circulars, | 1262 |
and pamphlets describing and offering those securities bear a | 1263 |
readily legible legend in substance as follows: "This offer is | 1264 |
made on behalf of dealers licensed under sections 1707.01 to | 1265 |
1707.45 of the Revised Code, and is confined in this state | 1266 |
exclusively to institutional investors and licensed dealers." | 1267 |
(4) The offering of securities by any person in conjunction | 1268 |
with a licensed dealer by use of advertisement, circular, or | 1269 |
pamphlet is not a sale if that person does not otherwise attempt | 1270 |
to sell securities in this state. | 1271 |
(5) Any security given with, or as a bonus on account of, any | 1272 |
purchase of securities is conclusively presumed to constitute a | 1273 |
part of the subject of that purchase and has been "sold." | 1274 |
(6) "Sale" by an owner, pledgee, or mortgagee, or by a person | 1275 |
acting in a representative capacity, includes sale on behalf of | 1276 |
such party by an agent, including a licensed dealer or | 1277 |
salesperson. | 1278 |
(D) "Person," except as otherwise provided in this chapter, | 1279 |
means a natural person, firm, partnership, limited partnership, | 1280 |
partnership association, syndicate, joint-stock company, | 1281 |
unincorporated association, trust or trustee except where the | 1282 |
trust was created or the trustee designated by law or judicial | 1283 |
authority or by a will, and a corporation or limited liability | 1284 |
company organized under the laws of any state, any foreign | 1285 |
government, or any political subdivision of a state or foreign | 1286 |
government. | 1287 |
(E)(1) "Dealer," except as otherwise provided in this | 1288 |
chapter, means every person, other than a salesperson, who engages | 1289 |
or professes to engage, in this state, for either all or part of | 1290 |
the person's time, directly or indirectly, either in the business | 1291 |
of the sale of securities for the person's own account, or in the | 1292 |
business of the purchase or sale of securities for the account of | 1293 |
others in the reasonable expectation of receiving a commission, | 1294 |
fee, or other remuneration as a result of engaging in the purchase | 1295 |
and sale of securities. "Dealer" does not mean any of the | 1296 |
following: | 1297 |
(a) Any issuer, including any officer, director, employee, or | 1298 |
trustee of, or member or manager of, or partner in, or any general | 1299 |
partner of, any issuer, that sells, offers for sale, or does any | 1300 |
act in furtherance of the sale of a security that represents an | 1301 |
economic interest in that issuer, provided no commission, fee, or | 1302 |
other similar remuneration is paid to or received by the issuer | 1303 |
for the sale; | 1304 |
(b) Any licensed attorney, public accountant, or firm of such | 1305 |
attorneys or accountants, whose activities are incidental to the | 1306 |
practice of the attorney's, accountant's, or firm's profession; | 1307 |
(c) Any person that, for the account of others, engages in | 1308 |
the purchase or sale of securities that are issued and outstanding | 1309 |
before such purchase and sale, if a majority or more of the equity | 1310 |
interest of an issuer is sold in that transaction, and if, in the | 1311 |
case of a corporation, the securities sold in that transaction | 1312 |
represent a majority or more of the voting power of the | 1313 |
corporation in the election of directors; | 1314 |
(d) Any person that brings an issuer together with a | 1315 |
potential investor and whose compensation is not directly or | 1316 |
indirectly based on the sale of any securities by the issuer to | 1317 |
the investor; | 1318 |
(e) Any bank; | 1319 |
(f) Any person that the division of securities by rule | 1320 |
exempts from the definition of "dealer" under division (E)(1) of | 1321 |
this section. | 1322 |
(2) "Licensed dealer" means a dealer licensed under this | 1323 |
chapter. | 1324 |
(F)(1) "Salesman" or "salesperson" means every natural | 1325 |
person, other than a dealer, who is employed, authorized, or | 1326 |
appointed by a dealer to sell securities within this state. | 1327 |
(2) The general partners of a partnership, and the executive | 1328 |
officers of a corporation or unincorporated association, licensed | 1329 |
as a dealer are not salespersons within the meaning of this | 1330 |
definition, nor are clerical or other employees of an issuer or | 1331 |
dealer that are employed for work to which the sale of securities | 1332 |
is secondary and incidental; but the division of securities may | 1333 |
require a license from any such partner, executive officer, or | 1334 |
employee if it determines that protection of the public | 1335 |
necessitates the licensing. | 1336 |
(3) "Licensed salesperson" means a salesperson licensed under | 1337 |
this chapter. | 1338 |
(G) "Issuer" means every person who has issued, proposes to | 1339 |
issue, or issues any security. | 1340 |
(H) "Director" means each director or trustee of a | 1341 |
corporation, each trustee of a trust, each general partner of a | 1342 |
partnership, except a partnership association, each manager of a | 1343 |
partnership association, and any person vested with managerial or | 1344 |
directory power over an issuer not having a board of directors or | 1345 |
trustees. | 1346 |
(I) "Incorporator" means any incorporator of a corporation | 1347 |
and any organizer of, or any person participating, other than in a | 1348 |
representative or professional capacity, in the organization of an | 1349 |
unincorporated issuer. | 1350 |
(J) "Fraud," "fraudulent," "fraudulent acts," "fraudulent | 1351 |
practices," or "fraudulent transactions" means anything recognized | 1352 |
on or after July 22, 1929, as such in courts of law or equity; any | 1353 |
device, scheme, or artifice to defraud or to obtain money or | 1354 |
property by means of any false pretense, representation, or | 1355 |
promise; any fictitious or pretended purchase or sale of | 1356 |
securities; and any act, practice, transaction, or course of | 1357 |
business relating to the purchase or sale of securities that is | 1358 |
fraudulent or that has operated or would operate as a fraud upon | 1359 |
the seller or purchaser. | 1360 |
(K) Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever any | 1361 |
classification or computation is based upon "par value," as | 1362 |
applied to securities without par value, the average of the | 1363 |
aggregate consideration received or to be received by the issuer | 1364 |
for each class of those securities shall be used as the basis for | 1365 |
that classification or computation. | 1366 |
(L)(1) "Intangible property" means patents, copyrights, | 1367 |
secret processes, formulas, services, good will, promotion and | 1368 |
organization fees and expenses, trademarks, trade brands, trade | 1369 |
names, licenses, franchises, any other assets treated as | 1370 |
intangible according to generally accepted accounting principles, | 1371 |
and securities, accounts receivable, or contract rights having no | 1372 |
readily determinable value. | 1373 |
(2) "Tangible property" means all property other than | 1374 |
intangible property and includes securities, accounts receivable, | 1375 |
and contract rights, when the securities, accounts receivable, or | 1376 |
contract rights have a readily determinable value. | 1377 |
(M) "Public utilities" means those utilities defined in | 1378 |
sections 4905.02, 4905.03, 4907.02, and 4907.03 of the Revised | 1379 |
Code; in the case of a foreign corporation, it means those | 1380 |
utilities defined as public utilities by the laws of its domicile; | 1381 |
and in the case of any other foreign issuer, it means those | 1382 |
utilities defined as public utilities by the laws of the situs of | 1383 |
its principal place of business. The term always includes | 1384 |
railroads whether or not they are so defined as public utilities. | 1385 |
(N) "State" means any state of the United States, any | 1386 |
territory or possession of the United States, the District of | 1387 |
Columbia, and any province of Canada. | 1388 |
(O) "Bank" means any bank, trust company, savings and loan | 1389 |
association, savings bank, or credit union that is incorporated or | 1390 |
organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the | 1391 |
United States, Canada, or any province of Canada and that is | 1392 |
subject to regulation or supervision by that country, state, or | 1393 |
province. | 1394 |
(P) "Include," when used in a definition, does not exclude | 1395 |
other things or persons otherwise within the meaning of the term | 1396 |
defined. | 1397 |
(Q)(1) "Registration by description" means that the | 1398 |
requirements of section 1707.08 of the Revised Code have been | 1399 |
complied with. | 1400 |
(2) "Registration by qualification" means that the | 1401 |
requirements of sections 1707.09 and 1707.11 of the Revised Code | 1402 |
have been complied with. | 1403 |
(3) "Registration by coordination" means that there has been | 1404 |
compliance with section 1707.091 of the Revised Code. Reference in | 1405 |
this chapter to registration by qualification also includes | 1406 |
registration by coordination unless the context otherwise | 1407 |
indicates. | 1408 |
(R) "Intoxicating liquor" includes all liquids and compounds | 1409 |
that contain more than three and two-tenths per cent of alcohol by | 1410 |
weight and are fit for use for beverage purposes. | 1411 |
(S) "Institutional investor" means any corporation, bank, | 1412 |
insurance company, pension fund or pension fund trust, employees' | 1413 |
profit-sharing fund or employees' profit-sharing trust, any | 1414 |
association engaged, as a substantial part of its business or | 1415 |
operations, in purchasing or holding securities, or any trust in | 1416 |
respect of which a bank is trustee or cotrustee. "Institutional | 1417 |
investor" does not include any business entity formed for the | 1418 |
primary purpose of evading sections 1707.01 to 1707.45 of the | 1419 |
Revised Code. | 1420 |
(T) A reference to a statute of the United States or to a | 1421 |
rule, regulation, or form promulgated by the securities and | 1422 |
exchange commission or by another federal agency means the | 1423 |
statute, rule, regulation, or form as it exists at the time of the | 1424 |
act, omission, event, or transaction to which it is applied under | 1425 |
this chapter. | 1426 |
(U) "Securities and exchange commission" means the securities | 1427 |
and exchange commission established by the Securities Exchange Act | 1428 |
of 1934. | 1429 |
(V)(1) "Control bid" means the purchase of or offer to | 1430 |
purchase any equity security of a subject company from a resident | 1431 |
of this state if either of the following applies: | 1432 |
(a) After the purchase of that security, the offeror would be | 1433 |
directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of more than ten per | 1434 |
cent of any class of the issued and outstanding equity securities | 1435 |
of the issuer. | 1436 |
(b) The offeror is the subject company, there is a pending | 1437 |
control bid by a person other than the issuer, and the number of | 1438 |
the issued and outstanding shares of the subject company would be | 1439 |
reduced by more than ten per cent. | 1440 |
(2) For purposes of division (V)(1) of this section, "control | 1441 |
bid" does not include any of the following: | 1442 |
(a) A bid made by a dealer for the dealer's own account in | 1443 |
the ordinary course of business of buying and selling securities; | 1444 |
(b) An offer to acquire any equity security solely in | 1445 |
exchange for any other security, or the acquisition of any equity | 1446 |
security pursuant to an offer, for the sole account of the | 1447 |
offeror, in good faith and not for the purpose of avoiding the | 1448 |
provisions of this chapter, and not involving any public offering | 1449 |
of the other security within the meaning of Section 4 of Title I | 1450 |
of the "Securities Act of 1933," 48 Stat. 77, 15 U.S.C.A. 77d(2), | 1451 |
as amended; | 1452 |
(c) Any other offer to acquire any equity security, or the | 1453 |
acquisition of any equity security pursuant to an offer, for the | 1454 |
sole account of the offeror, from not more than fifty persons, in | 1455 |
good faith and not for the purpose of avoiding the provisions of | 1456 |
this chapter. | 1457 |
(W) "Offeror" means a person who makes, or in any way | 1458 |
participates or aids in making, a control bid and includes persons | 1459 |
acting jointly or in concert, or who intend to exercise jointly or | 1460 |
in concert any voting rights attached to the securities for which | 1461 |
the control bid is made and also includes any subject company | 1462 |
making a control bid for its own securities. | 1463 |
(X)(1) "Investment adviser" means any person who, for | 1464 |
compensation, engages in the business of advising others, either | 1465 |
directly or through publications or writings, as to the value of | 1466 |
securities or as to the advisability of investing in, purchasing, | 1467 |
or selling securities, or who, for compensation and as a part of | 1468 |
regular business, issues or promulgates analyses or reports | 1469 |
concerning securities. | 1470 |
(2) "Investment adviser" does not mean any of the following: | 1471 |
(a) Any attorney, accountant, engineer, or teacher, whose | 1472 |
performance of investment advisory services described in division | 1473 |
(X)(1) of this section is solely incidental to the practice of the | 1474 |
attorney's, accountant's, engineer's, or teacher's profession; | 1475 |
(b) A publisher of any bona fide newspaper, news magazine, or | 1476 |
business or financial publication of general and regular | 1477 |
circulation; | 1478 |
(c) A person who acts solely as an investment adviser | 1479 |
representative; | 1480 |
(d) A bank holding company, as defined in the "Bank Holding | 1481 |
Company Act of 1956," 70 Stat. 133, 12 U.S.C. 1841, that is not an | 1482 |
investment company; | 1483 |
(e) A bank, or any receiver, conservator, or other | 1484 |
liquidating agent of a bank; | 1485 |
(f) Any licensed dealer or licensed salesperson whose | 1486 |
performance of investment advisory services described in division | 1487 |
(X)(1) of this section is solely incidental to the conduct of the | 1488 |
dealer's or salesperson's business as a licensed dealer or | 1489 |
licensed salesperson and who receives no special compensation for | 1490 |
the services; | 1491 |
(g) Any person, the advice, analyses, or reports of which do | 1492 |
not relate to securities other than securities that are direct | 1493 |
obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or | 1494 |
interest by, the United States, or securities issued or guaranteed | 1495 |
by corporations in which the United States has a direct or | 1496 |
indirect interest, and that have been designated by the secretary | 1497 |
of the treasury as exempt securities as defined in the "Securities | 1498 |
Exchange Act of 1934," 48 Stat. 881, 15 U.S.C. 78c; | 1499 |
(h) Any person that is excluded from the definition of | 1500 |
investment adviser pursuant to section 202(a)(11)(A) to (E) of the | 1501 |
"Investment Advisers Act of 1940," 15 U.S.C. 80b-2(a)(11), or that | 1502 |
has received an order from the securities and exchange commission | 1503 |
under section 202(a)(11)(F) of the "Investment Advisers Act of | 1504 |
1940," 15 U.S.C. 80b-2(a)(11)(F), declaring that the person is not | 1505 |
within the intent of section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers | 1506 |
Act of 1940. | 1507 |
(i) A person who acts solely as a state retirement system | 1508 |
investment officer or as a bureau of workers' compensation chief | 1509 |
investment officer; | 1510 |
(j) Any other person that the division designates by rule, if | 1511 |
the division finds that the designation is necessary or | 1512 |
appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of | 1513 |
investors or clients and consistent with the purposes fairly | 1514 |
intended by the policy and provisions of this chapter. | 1515 |
(Y)(1) "Subject company" means an issuer that satisfies both | 1516 |
of the following: | 1517 |
(a) Its principal place of business or its principal | 1518 |
executive office is located in this state, or it owns or controls | 1519 |
assets located within this state that have a fair market value of | 1520 |
at least one million dollars. | 1521 |
(b) More than ten per cent of its beneficial or record equity | 1522 |
security holders are resident in this state, more than ten per | 1523 |
cent of its equity securities are owned beneficially or of record | 1524 |
by residents in this state, or more than one thousand of its | 1525 |
beneficial or record equity security holders are resident in this | 1526 |
state. | 1527 |
(2) The division of securities may adopt rules to establish | 1528 |
more specific application of the provisions set forth in division | 1529 |
(Y)(1) of this section. Notwithstanding the provisions set forth | 1530 |
in division (Y)(1) of this section and any rules adopted under | 1531 |
this division, the division, by rule or in an adjudicatory | 1532 |
proceeding, may make a determination that an issuer does not | 1533 |
constitute a "subject company" under division (Y)(1) of this | 1534 |
section if appropriate review of control bids involving the issuer | 1535 |
is to be made by any regulatory authority of another jurisdiction. | 1536 |
(Z) "Beneficial owner" includes any person who directly or | 1537 |
indirectly through any contract, arrangement, understanding, or | 1538 |
relationship has or shares, or otherwise has or shares, the power | 1539 |
to vote or direct the voting of a security or the power to dispose | 1540 |
of, or direct the disposition of, the security. "Beneficial | 1541 |
ownership" includes the right, exercisable within sixty days, to | 1542 |
acquire any security through the exercise of any option, warrant, | 1543 |
or right, the conversion of any convertible security, or | 1544 |
otherwise. Any security subject to any such option, warrant, | 1545 |
right, or conversion privilege held by any person shall be deemed | 1546 |
to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of | 1547 |
outstanding securities of the class owned by that person, but | 1548 |
shall not be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing | 1549 |
the percentage of the class owned by any other person. A person | 1550 |
shall be deemed the beneficial owner of any security beneficially | 1551 |
owned by any relative or spouse or relative of the spouse residing | 1552 |
in the home of that person, any trust or estate in which that | 1553 |
person owns ten per cent or more of the total beneficial interest | 1554 |
or serves as trustee or executor, any corporation or entity in | 1555 |
which that person owns ten per cent or more of the equity, and any | 1556 |
affiliate or associate of that person. | 1557 |
(AA) "Offeree" means the beneficial or record owner of any | 1558 |
security that an offeror acquires or offers to acquire in | 1559 |
connection with a control bid. | 1560 |
(BB) "Equity security" means any share or similar security, | 1561 |
or any security convertible into any such security, or carrying | 1562 |
any warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase any such | 1563 |
security, or any such warrant or right, or any other security | 1564 |
that, for the protection of security holders, is treated as an | 1565 |
equity security pursuant to rules of the division of securities. | 1566 |
(CC)(1) "Investment adviser representative" means a | 1567 |
supervised person of an investment adviser, provided that the | 1568 |
supervised person has more than five clients who are natural | 1569 |
persons other than excepted persons defined in division (EE) of | 1570 |
this section, and that more than ten per cent of the supervised | 1571 |
person's clients are natural persons other than excepted persons | 1572 |
defined in division (EE) of this section. "Investment adviser | 1573 |
representative" does not mean any of the following: | 1574 |
(a) A supervised person that does not on a regular basis | 1575 |
solicit, meet with, or otherwise communicate with clients of the | 1576 |
investment adviser; | 1577 |
(b) A supervised person that provides only investment | 1578 |
advisory services described in division (X)(1) of this section by | 1579 |
means of written materials or oral statements that do not purport | 1580 |
to meet the objectives or needs of specific individuals or | 1581 |
accounts; | 1582 |
(c) Any other person that the division designates by rule, if | 1583 |
the division finds that the designation is necessary or | 1584 |
appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of | 1585 |
investors or clients and is consistent with the provisions fairly | 1586 |
intended by the policy and provisions of this chapter. | 1587 |
(2) For the purpose of the calculation of clients in division | 1588 |
(CC)(1) of this section, a natural person and the following | 1589 |
persons are deemed a single client: Any minor child of the natural | 1590 |
person; any relative, spouse, or relative of the spouse of the | 1591 |
natural person who has the same principal residence as the natural | 1592 |
person; all accounts of which the natural person or the persons | 1593 |
referred to in division (CC)(2) of this section are the only | 1594 |
primary beneficiaries; and all trusts of which the natural person | 1595 |
or persons referred to in division (CC)(2) of this section are the | 1596 |
only primary beneficiaries. Persons who are not residents of the | 1597 |
United States need not be included in the calculation of clients | 1598 |
under division (CC)(1) of this section. | 1599 |
(3) If subsequent to March 18, 1999, amendments are enacted | 1600 |
or adopted defining "investment adviser representative" for | 1601 |
purposes of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or additional | 1602 |
rules or regulations are promulgated by the securities and | 1603 |
exchange commission regarding the definition of "investment | 1604 |
adviser representative" for purposes of the Investment Advisers | 1605 |
Act of 1940, the division of securities shall, by rule, adopt the | 1606 |
substance of the amendments, rules, or regulations, unless the | 1607 |
division finds that the amendments, rules, or regulations are not | 1608 |
necessary for the protection of investors or in the public | 1609 |
interest. | 1610 |
(DD) "Supervised person" means a natural person who is any of | 1611 |
the following: | 1612 |
(1) A partner, officer, or director of an investment adviser, | 1613 |
or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar | 1614 |
functions with respect to an investment adviser; | 1615 |
(2) An employee of an investment adviser; | 1616 |
(3) A person who provides investment advisory services | 1617 |
described in division (X)(1) of this section on behalf of the | 1618 |
investment adviser and is subject to the supervision and control | 1619 |
of the investment adviser. | 1620 |
(EE) "Excepted person" means a natural person to whom any of | 1621 |
the following applies: | 1622 |
(1) Immediately after entering into the investment advisory | 1623 |
contract with the investment adviser, the person has at least | 1624 |
seven hundred fifty thousand dollars under the management of the | 1625 |
investment adviser. | 1626 |
(2) The investment adviser reasonably believes either of the | 1627 |
following at the time the investment advisory contract is entered | 1628 |
into with the person: | 1629 |
(a) The person has a net worth, together with assets held | 1630 |
jointly with a spouse, of more than one million five hundred | 1631 |
thousand dollars. | 1632 |
(b) The person is a qualified purchaser as defined in | 1633 |
division (FF) of this section. | 1634 |
(3) Immediately prior to entering into an investment advisory | 1635 |
contract with the investment adviser, the person is either of the | 1636 |
following: | 1637 |
(a) An executive officer, director, trustee, general partner, | 1638 |
or person serving in a similar capacity, of the investment | 1639 |
adviser; | 1640 |
(b) An employee of the investment adviser, other than an | 1641 |
employee performing solely clerical, secretarial, or | 1642 |
administrative functions or duties for the investment adviser, | 1643 |
which employee, in connection with the employee's regular | 1644 |
functions or duties, participates in the investment activities of | 1645 |
the investment adviser, provided that, for at least twelve months, | 1646 |
the employee has been performing such nonclerical, nonsecretarial, | 1647 |
or nonadministrative functions or duties for or on behalf of the | 1648 |
investment adviser or performing substantially similar functions | 1649 |
or duties for or on behalf of another company. | 1650 |
If subsequent to March 18, 1999, amendments are enacted or | 1651 |
adopted defining "excepted person" for purposes of the Investment | 1652 |
Advisers Act of 1940 or additional rules or regulations are | 1653 |
promulgated by the securities and exchange commission regarding | 1654 |
the definition of "excepted person" for purposes of the Investment | 1655 |
Advisers Act of 1940, the division of securities shall, by rule, | 1656 |
adopt the substance of the amendments, rules, or regulations, | 1657 |
unless the division finds that the amendments, rules, or | 1658 |
regulations are not necessary for the protection of investors or | 1659 |
in the public interest. | 1660 |
(FF)(1) "Qualified purchaser" means either of the following: | 1661 |
(a) A natural person who owns not less than five million | 1662 |
dollars in investments as defined by rule by the division of | 1663 |
securities; | 1664 |
(b) A natural person, acting for the person's own account or | 1665 |
accounts of other qualified purchasers, who in the aggregate owns | 1666 |
and invests on a discretionary basis, not less than twenty-five | 1667 |
million dollars in investments as defined by rule by the division | 1668 |
of securities. | 1669 |
(2) If subsequent to March 18, 1999, amendments are enacted | 1670 |
or adopted defining "qualified purchaser" for purposes of the | 1671 |
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or additional rules or regulations | 1672 |
are promulgated by the securities and exchange commission | 1673 |
regarding the definition of "qualified purchaser" for purposes of | 1674 |
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the division of securities | 1675 |
shall, by rule, adopt the amendments, rules, or regulations, | 1676 |
unless the division finds that the amendments, rules, or | 1677 |
regulations are not necessary for the protection of investors or | 1678 |
in the public interest. | 1679 |
(GG)(1) "Purchase" has the full meaning of "purchase" as | 1680 |
applied by or accepted in courts of law or equity and includes | 1681 |
every acquisition of, or attempt to acquire, a security or an | 1682 |
interest in a security. "Purchase" also includes a contract to | 1683 |
purchase, an exchange, an attempt to purchase, an option to | 1684 |
purchase, a solicitation of a purchase, a solicitation of an offer | 1685 |
to sell, a subscription, or an offer to purchase, directly or | 1686 |
indirectly, by agent, circular, pamphlet, advertisement, or | 1687 |
otherwise. | 1688 |
(2) "Purchase" means any act by which a purchase is made. | 1689 |
(3) Any security given with, or as a bonus on account of, any | 1690 |
purchase of securities is conclusively presumed to constitute a | 1691 |
part of the subject of that purchase. | 1692 |
(HH) "Life settlement interest" means the entire interest or | 1693 |
any fractional interest in an insurance policy or certificate of | 1694 |
insurance, or in an insurance benefit under such a policy or | 1695 |
certificate, that is the subject of a life settlement contract. | 1696 |
For purposes of this division, "life settlement contract" | 1697 |
means an agreement for the purchase, sale, assignment, transfer, | 1698 |
devise, or bequest of any portion of the death benefit or | 1699 |
ownership of any life insurance policy or contract, in return for | 1700 |
consideration or any other thing of value that is less than the | 1701 |
expected death benefit of the life insurance policy or contract. | 1702 |
"Life settlement contract" includes a viatical settlement contract | 1703 |
as defined in section 3916.01 of the Revised Code, but does not | 1704 |
include any of the following: | 1705 |
(1) A loan by an insurer under the terms of a life insurance | 1706 |
policy, including, but not limited to, a loan secured by the cash | 1707 |
value of the policy; | 1708 |
(2) An agreement with a bank that takes an assignment of a | 1709 |
life insurance policy as collateral for a loan; | 1710 |
(3) The provision of accelerated benefits as defined in | 1711 |
section 3915.21 of the Revised Code; | 1712 |
(4) Any agreement between an insurer and a reinsurer; | 1713 |
(5) An agreement by an individual to purchase an existing | 1714 |
life insurance policy or contract from the original owner of the | 1715 |
policy or contract, if the individual does not enter into more | 1716 |
than one life settlement contract per calendar year; | 1717 |
(6) The initial purchase of an insurance policy or | 1718 |
certificate of insurance from its owner by a viatical settlement | 1719 |
provider, as defined in section 3916.01 of the Revised Code, that | 1720 |
is licensed under Chapter 3916. of the Revised Code. | 1721 |
(II) "State retirement system" means the public employees | 1722 |
retirement system, Ohio police and fire pension fund, state | 1723 |
teachers retirement system, school employees retirement system, | 1724 |
and state highway patrol retirement system. | 1725 |
(JJ) "State retirement system investment officer" means an | 1726 |
individual employed by a state retirement system as a chief | 1727 |
investment officer, assistant investment officer, or the person in | 1728 |
charge of a class of assets or in a position that is substantially | 1729 |
equivalent to chief investment officer, assistant investment | 1730 |
officer, or person in charge of a class of assets. | 1731 |
(KK) "Bureau of workers' compensation chief investment | 1732 |
officer" means an individual employed by the | 1733 |
of workers' compensation as a chief investment officer or in a | 1734 |
position that is substantially equivalent to a chief investment | 1735 |
officer. | 1736 |
Sec. 3345.12. (A) As used in this section and sections | 1737 |
3345.07 and 3345.11 of the Revised Code, in other sections of the | 1738 |
Revised Code that make reference to this section unless the | 1739 |
context does not permit, and in related bond proceedings unless | 1740 |
otherwise expressly provided: | 1741 |
(1) "State university or college" means each of the state | 1742 |
universities identified in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code | 1743 |
and the northeastern Ohio universities college of medicine, and | 1744 |
includes its board of trustees. | 1745 |
(2) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means | 1746 |
a state university or college, or a community college district, | 1747 |
technical college district, university branch district, or state | 1748 |
community college, and includes the applicable board of trustees | 1749 |
or, in the case of a university branch district, any other | 1750 |
managing authority. | 1751 |
(3) "Housing and dining facilities" means buildings, | 1752 |
structures, and other improvements, and equipment, real estate, | 1753 |
and interests in real estate therefor, to be used for or in | 1754 |
connection with dormitories or other living quarters and | 1755 |
accommodations, or related dining halls or other food service and | 1756 |
preparation facilities, for students, members of the faculty, | 1757 |
officers, or employees of the institution of higher education, and | 1758 |
their spouses and families. | 1759 |
(4) "Auxiliary facilities" means buildings, structures, and | 1760 |
other improvements, and equipment, real estate, and interests in | 1761 |
real estate therefor, to be used for or in connection with student | 1762 |
activity or student service facilities, housing and dining | 1763 |
facilities, dining halls, and other food service and preparation | 1764 |
facilities, vehicular parking facilities, bookstores, athletic and | 1765 |
recreational facilities, faculty centers, auditoriums, assembly | 1766 |
and exhibition halls, hospitals, infirmaries and other medical and | 1767 |
health facilities, research, and continuing education facilities. | 1768 |
(5) "Education facilities" means buildings, structures, and | 1769 |
other improvements, and equipment, real estate, and interests in | 1770 |
real estate therefor, to be used for or in connection with, | 1771 |
classrooms or other instructional facilities, libraries, | 1772 |
administrative and office facilities, and other facilities, other | 1773 |
than auxiliary facilities, to be used directly or indirectly for | 1774 |
or in connection with the conduct of the institution of higher | 1775 |
education. | 1776 |
(6) "Facilities" means housing and dining facilities, | 1777 |
auxiliary facilities, or education facilities, and includes any | 1778 |
one, part of, or any combination of such facilities, and further | 1779 |
includes site improvements, utilities, machinery, furnishings, and | 1780 |
any separate or connected buildings, structures, improvements, | 1781 |
sites, open space and green space areas, utilities or equipment to | 1782 |
be used in, or in connection with the operation or maintenance of, | 1783 |
or supplementing or otherwise related to the services or | 1784 |
facilities to be provided by, such facilities. | 1785 |
(7) "Obligations" means bonds or notes or other evidences of | 1786 |
obligation, including interest coupons pertaining thereto, | 1787 |
authorized to be issued under this section or section 3345.07, | 1788 |
3345.11, 3354.121, 3355.091, 3357.112, or 3358.10 of the Revised | 1789 |
Code. | 1790 |
(8) "Bond service charges" means principal, including any | 1791 |
mandatory sinking fund or redemption requirements for the | 1792 |
retirement of obligations, interest, or interest equivalent and | 1793 |
other accreted amounts, and any call premium required to be paid | 1794 |
on obligations. | 1795 |
(9) "Bond proceedings" means the resolutions, trust | 1796 |
agreement, indenture, and other agreements and credit enhancement | 1797 |
facilities, and amendments and supplements to the foregoing, or | 1798 |
any one or more or combination thereof, authorizing, awarding, or | 1799 |
providing for the terms and conditions applicable to, or providing | 1800 |
for the security or liquidity of, obligations, and the provisions | 1801 |
contained in those obligations. | 1802 |
(10) "Costs of facilities" means the costs of acquiring, | 1803 |
constructing, reconstructing, rehabilitating, remodeling, | 1804 |
renovating, enlarging, improving, equipping, or furnishing | 1805 |
facilities, and the financing thereof, including the cost of | 1806 |
clearance and preparation of the site and of any land to be used | 1807 |
in connection with facilities, the cost of any indemnity and | 1808 |
surety bonds and premiums on insurance, all related direct | 1809 |
administrative expenses and allocable portions of direct costs of | 1810 |
the institution of higher education or state agency, cost of | 1811 |
engineering, architectural services, design, plans, specifications | 1812 |
and surveys, estimates of cost, legal fees, fees and expenses of | 1813 |
trustees, depositories, bond registrars, and paying agents for the | 1814 |
obligations, cost of issuance of the obligations and financing | 1815 |
costs and fees and expenses of financial advisers and consultants | 1816 |
in connection therewith, interest on the obligations from the date | 1817 |
thereof to the time when interest is to be covered by available | 1818 |
receipts or other sources other than proceeds of the obligations, | 1819 |
amounts necessary to establish reserves as required by the bond | 1820 |
proceedings, costs of audits, the reimbursements of all moneys | 1821 |
advanced or applied by or borrowed from the institution or others, | 1822 |
from whatever source provided, including any temporary advances | 1823 |
from state appropriations, for the payment of any item or items of | 1824 |
cost of facilities, and all other expenses necessary or incident | 1825 |
to planning or determining feasibility or practicability with | 1826 |
respect to facilities, and such other expenses as may be necessary | 1827 |
or incident to the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, | 1828 |
rehabilitation, remodeling, renovation, enlargement, improvement, | 1829 |
equipment, and furnishing of facilities, the financing thereof and | 1830 |
the placing of them in use and operation, including any one, part | 1831 |
of, or combination of such classes of costs and expenses. | 1832 |
(11) "Available receipts" means all moneys received by the | 1833 |
institution of higher education, including income, revenues, and | 1834 |
receipts from the operation, ownership, or control of facilities, | 1835 |
grants, gifts, donations, and pledges and receipts therefrom, | 1836 |
receipts from fees and charges, and the proceeds of the sale of | 1837 |
obligations, including proceeds of obligations issued to refund | 1838 |
obligations previously issued, but excluding any special fee, and | 1839 |
receipts therefrom, charged pursuant to division (D) of section | 1840 |
154.21 of the Revised Code. | 1841 |
(12) "Credit enhancement facilities" has the meaning given in | 1842 |
division (H) of section 133.01 of the Revised Code. | 1843 |
(13) "Financing costs" has the meaning given in division (K) | 1844 |
of section 133.01 of the Revised Code. | 1845 |
(14) "Interest" or "interest equivalent" has the meaning | 1846 |
given in division (R) of section 133.01 of the Revised Code. | 1847 |
(B) Obligations issued under section 3345.07 or 3345.11 of | 1848 |
the Revised Code by a state university or college shall be | 1849 |
authorized by resolution of its board of trustees. Obligations | 1850 |
issued by any other institution of higher education shall be | 1851 |
authorized by resolution of its board of trustees, or managing | 1852 |
directors in the case of certain university branch districts, as | 1853 |
applicable. Sections 9.96 and 9.98 to 9.983 of the Revised Code | 1854 |
apply to obligations. Obligations may be issued to pay costs of | 1855 |
facilities even if the institution anticipates the possibility of | 1856 |
a future state appropriation to pay all or a portion of such | 1857 |
costs. | 1858 |
(C) Obligations shall be secured by a pledge of and lien on | 1859 |
all or such part of the available receipts of the institution of | 1860 |
higher education as it provides for in the bond proceedings, | 1861 |
excluding moneys raised by taxation and state appropriations. Such | 1862 |
pledge and lien may be made prior to all other expenses, claims, | 1863 |
or payments, excepting any pledge of such available receipts | 1864 |
previously made to the contrary and except as provided by any | 1865 |
existing restrictions on the use thereof, or such pledge and lien | 1866 |
may be made subordinate to such other expenses, claims, or | 1867 |
payments, as provided in the bond proceedings. Obligations may be | 1868 |
additionally secured by covenants of the institution to make, fix, | 1869 |
adjust, collect, and apply such charges, rates, fees, rentals, and | 1870 |
other items of available receipts as will produce pledged | 1871 |
available receipts sufficient to meet bond service charges, | 1872 |
reserve, and other requirements provided for in the bond | 1873 |
proceedings. Notwithstanding this and any other sections of the | 1874 |
Revised Code, the holders or owners of the obligations shall not | 1875 |
be given the right and shall have no right to have excises or | 1876 |
taxes levied by the general assembly for the payment of bond | 1877 |
service charges thereon, and each such obligation shall bear on | 1878 |
its face a statement to that effect and to the effect that the | 1879 |
right to such payment is limited to the available receipts and | 1880 |
special funds pledged to such purpose under the bond proceedings. | 1881 |
All pledged available receipts and funds and the proceeds of | 1882 |
obligations are trust funds and, subject to the provisions of this | 1883 |
section and the applicable bond proceedings, shall be held, | 1884 |
deposited, invested, reinvested, disbursed, applied, and used to | 1885 |
such extent, in such manner, at such times, and for such purposes, | 1886 |
as are provided in the bond proceedings. | 1887 |
(D) The bond proceedings for obligations shall provide for | 1888 |
the purpose thereof and the principal amount or maximum principal | 1889 |
amount, and provide for or authorize the manner of determining the | 1890 |
principal maturity or maturities, the sale price including any | 1891 |
permitted discount, the interest rate or rates, which may be a | 1892 |
variable rate or rates, or the maximum interest rate, the date of | 1893 |
the obligations and the date or dates of payment of interest | 1894 |
thereon, their denominations, the manner of sale thereof, and the | 1895 |
establishment within or without the state of a place or places of | 1896 |
payment of bond service charges. The bond proceedings also shall | 1897 |
provide for a pledge of and lien on available receipts of the | 1898 |
institution of higher education as provided in division (C) of | 1899 |
this section, and a pledge of and lien on such fund or funds | 1900 |
provided in the bond proceedings arising from available receipts, | 1901 |
which pledges and liens may provide for parity with obligations | 1902 |
theretofore or thereafter issued by the institution. The available | 1903 |
receipts so pledged and thereafter received by the institution and | 1904 |
the funds so pledged are immediately subject to the lien of such | 1905 |
pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and | 1906 |
the lien of any such pledge is valid and binding against all | 1907 |
parties having claims of any kind against the institution, | 1908 |
irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof, and | 1909 |
shall create a perfected security interest for all purposes of | 1910 |
Chapter 1309. of the Revised Code, without the necessity for | 1911 |
separation or delivery of funds or for the filing or recording of | 1912 |
the bond proceedings by which such pledge is created or any | 1913 |
certificate, statement, or other document with respect thereto; | 1914 |
and the pledge of such available receipts and funds shall be | 1915 |
effective and the money therefrom and thereof may be applied to | 1916 |
the purposes for which pledged without necessity for any act of | 1917 |
appropriation. | 1918 |
(E) The bond proceedings may contain additional provisions | 1919 |
customary or appropriate to the financing or to the obligations or | 1920 |
to particular obligations, including: | 1921 |
(1) The acquisition, construction, reconstruction, equipment, | 1922 |
furnishing, improvement, operation, alteration, enlargement, | 1923 |
maintenance, insurance, and repair of facilities, and the duties | 1924 |
of the institution of higher education with reference thereto; | 1925 |
(2) The terms of the obligations, including provisions for | 1926 |
their redemption prior to maturity at the option of the | 1927 |
institution of higher education at such price or prices and under | 1928 |
such terms and conditions as are provided in the bond proceedings; | 1929 |
(3) Limitations on the purposes to which the proceeds of the | 1930 |
obligations may be applied; | 1931 |
(4) The rates or rentals or other charges for the use of or | 1932 |
right to use the facilities financed by the obligations, or other | 1933 |
properties the revenues or receipts from which are pledged to the | 1934 |
obligations, and rules for assuring use and occupancy thereof, | 1935 |
including limitations upon the right to modify such rates, | 1936 |
rentals, other charges, or regulations; | 1937 |
(5) The use and expenditure of the pledged available receipts | 1938 |
in such manner and to such extent as shall be determined, which | 1939 |
may include provision for the payment of the expenses of | 1940 |
operation, maintenance, and repair of facilities so that such | 1941 |
expenses, or part thereof, shall be paid or provided as a charge | 1942 |
prior or subsequent to the payment of bond service charges and any | 1943 |
other payments required to be made by the bond proceedings; | 1944 |
(6) Limitations on the issuance of additional obligations; | 1945 |
(7) The terms of any trust agreement or indenture securing | 1946 |
the obligations or under which the same may be issued; | 1947 |
(8) The deposit, investment, and application of funds, and | 1948 |
the safeguarding of funds on hand or on deposit without regard to | 1949 |
Chapter 131. or 135. of the Revised Code, and any bank or trust | 1950 |
company or other financial institution that acts as depository of | 1951 |
any moneys under the bond proceedings shall furnish such | 1952 |
indemnifying bonds or pledge such securities as required by the | 1953 |
bond proceedings or otherwise by the institution of higher | 1954 |
education; | 1955 |
(9) The binding effect of any or every provision of the bond | 1956 |
proceedings upon such officer, board, commission, authority, | 1957 |
agency, department, or other person or body as may from time to | 1958 |
time have the authority under law to take such actions as may be | 1959 |
necessary to perform all or any part of the duty required by such | 1960 |
provision; | 1961 |
(10) Any provision that may be made in a trust agreement or | 1962 |
indenture; | 1963 |
(11) Any other or additional agreements with respect to the | 1964 |
facilities of the institution of higher education, their | 1965 |
operation, the available receipts and funds pledged, and insurance | 1966 |
of facilities and of the institution, its officers and employees. | 1967 |
(F) Such obligations may have the seal of the institution of | 1968 |
higher education or a facsimile thereof affixed thereto or printed | 1969 |
thereon and shall be executed by such officers as are designated | 1970 |
in the bond proceedings, which execution may be by facsimile | 1971 |
signatures. Any obligations may be executed by an officer who, on | 1972 |
the date of execution, is the proper officer although on the date | 1973 |
of such obligations such person was not the proper officer. In | 1974 |
case any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature | 1975 |
appears on any such obligation ceases to be such officer before | 1976 |
delivery thereof, such signature or facsimile is nevertheless | 1977 |
valid and sufficient for all purposes as if the person had | 1978 |
remained such officer until such delivery; and in case the seal of | 1979 |
the institution has been changed after a facsimile of the seal has | 1980 |
been imprinted on such obligations, such facsimile seal continues | 1981 |
to be sufficient as to such obligations and obligations issued in | 1982 |
substitution or exchange therefor. | 1983 |
(G) All such obligations are negotiable instruments and | 1984 |
securities under Chapter 1308. of the Revised Code, subject to the | 1985 |
provisions of the bond proceedings as to registration. The | 1986 |
obligations may be issued in coupon or in registered form, or | 1987 |
both. Provision may be made for the registration of any | 1988 |
obligations with coupons attached thereto as to principal alone or | 1989 |
as to both principal and interest, their exchange for obligations | 1990 |
so registered, and for the conversion or reconversion into | 1991 |
obligations with coupons attached thereto of any obligations | 1992 |
registered as to both principal and interest, and for reasonable | 1993 |
charges for such registration, exchange, conversion, and | 1994 |
reconversion. | 1995 |
(H) Pending preparation of definitive obligations, the | 1996 |
institution of higher education may issue interim receipts or | 1997 |
certificates which shall be exchanged for such definitive | 1998 |
obligations. | 1999 |
(I) Such obligations may be secured additionally by a trust | 2000 |
agreement or indenture between the institution of higher education | 2001 |
and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank | 2002 |
having the powers of a trust company within or without this state | 2003 |
but authorized to exercise trust powers within this state. Any | 2004 |
such agreement or indenture may contain the resolution authorizing | 2005 |
the issuance of the obligations, any provisions that may be | 2006 |
contained in the bond proceedings as authorized by this section, | 2007 |
and other provisions which are customary or appropriate in an | 2008 |
agreement or indenture of such type, including: | 2009 |
(1) Maintenance of each pledge, trust agreement, and | 2010 |
indenture, or other instrument comprising part of the bond | 2011 |
proceedings until the institution of higher education has fully | 2012 |
paid the bond service charges on the obligations secured thereby, | 2013 |
or provision therefor has been made; | 2014 |
(2) In the event of default in any payments required to be | 2015 |
made by the bond proceedings, or any other agreement of the | 2016 |
institution of higher education made as a part of the contract | 2017 |
under which the obligations were issued, enforcement of such | 2018 |
payments or agreement by mandamus, the appointment of a receiver, | 2019 |
suit in equity, action at law, or any combination of the | 2020 |
foregoing; | 2021 |
(3) The rights and remedies of the holders of obligations and | 2022 |
of the trustee, and provisions for protecting and enforcing them, | 2023 |
including limitations on rights of individual holders of | 2024 |
obligations; | 2025 |
(4) The replacement of any obligations that become mutilated | 2026 |
or are destroyed, lost, or stolen; | 2027 |
(5) Such other provisions as the trustee and the institution | 2028 |
of higher education agree upon, including limitations, conditions, | 2029 |
or qualifications relating to any of the foregoing. | 2030 |
(J) Each duty of the institution of higher education and its | 2031 |
officers or employees, undertaken pursuant to the bond proceedings | 2032 |
or any related agreement or lease made under authority of law, is | 2033 |
hereby established as a duty of such institution, and of each such | 2034 |
officer or employee having authority to perform such duty, | 2035 |
specially enjoined by law resulting from an office, trust, or | 2036 |
station within the meaning of section 2731.01 of the Revised Code. | 2037 |
The persons who are at the time the members of the board of | 2038 |
trustees or the managing directors of the institution or its | 2039 |
officers or employees are not liable in their personal capacities | 2040 |
on such obligations, or lease, or other agreement of the | 2041 |
institution. | 2042 |
(K) The authority to issue obligations includes authority to: | 2043 |
(1) Issue obligations in the form of bond anticipation notes | 2044 |
and to renew them from time to time by the issuance of new notes. | 2045 |
Such notes are payable solely from the available receipts and | 2046 |
funds that may be pledged to the payment of such bonds, or from | 2047 |
the proceeds of such bonds or renewal notes, or both, as the | 2048 |
institution of higher education provides in its resolution | 2049 |
authorizing such notes. Such notes may be additionally secured by | 2050 |
covenants of the institution to the effect that it will do such or | 2051 |
all things necessary for the issuance of such bonds or renewal | 2052 |
notes in appropriate amount, and either exchange such bonds or | 2053 |
renewal notes therefor or apply the proceeds thereof to the extent | 2054 |
necessary, to make full payment of the bond service charges on | 2055 |
such notes at the time or times contemplated, as provided in such | 2056 |
resolution. Subject to the provisions of this division, all | 2057 |
references to obligations in this section apply to such | 2058 |
anticipation notes. | 2059 |
(2) Issue obligations to refund, including funding and | 2060 |
retirement of, obligations previously issued to pay costs of | 2061 |
facilities. Such obligations may be issued in amounts sufficient | 2062 |
for payment of the principal amount of the obligations to be so | 2063 |
refunded, any redemption premiums thereon, principal maturities of | 2064 |
any obligations maturing prior to the redemption of any other | 2065 |
obligations on a parity therewith to be so refunded, interest | 2066 |
accrued or to accrue to the maturity date or dates of redemption | 2067 |
of such obligations, and any expenses incurred or to be incurred | 2068 |
in connection with such refunding or the issuance of the | 2069 |
obligations. | 2070 |
(L) Obligations are lawful investments for banks, societies | 2071 |
for savings, savings and loan associations, deposit guarantee | 2072 |
associations, trust companies, trustees, fiduciaries, insurance | 2073 |
companies, including domestic for life and domestic not for life, | 2074 |
trustees or other officers having charge of sinking and bond | 2075 |
retirement or other special funds of political subdivisions and | 2076 |
taxing districts of this state, the commissioners of the sinking | 2077 |
fund, the administrator of workers' compensation in accordance | 2078 |
with the investment policy
| 2079 |
workers' compensation | 2080 |
pursuant to section 4121.12 of the Revised Code, the state | 2081 |
teachers retirement system, the public employees retirement | 2082 |
system, the school employees retirement system, and the Ohio | 2083 |
police and fire pension fund, notwithstanding any other provisions | 2084 |
of the Revised Code or rules adopted pursuant thereto by any state | 2085 |
agency with respect to investments by them, and are also | 2086 |
acceptable as security for the deposit of public moneys. | 2087 |
(M) All facilities purchased, acquired, constructed, or owned | 2088 |
by an institution of higher education, or financed in whole or in | 2089 |
part by obligations issued by an institution, and used for the | 2090 |
purposes of the institution or other publicly owned and controlled | 2091 |
college or university, is public property used exclusively for a | 2092 |
public purpose, and such property and the income therefrom is | 2093 |
exempt from all taxation and assessment within this state, | 2094 |
including ad valorem and excise taxes. The obligations, the | 2095 |
transfer thereof, and the income therefrom, including any profit | 2096 |
made on the sale thereof, are at all times free from taxation | 2097 |
within the state. The transfer of tangible personal property by | 2098 |
lease under authority of this section or section 3345.07, 3345.11, | 2099 |
3354.121, 3355.091, 3357.112, or 3358.10 of the Revised Code is | 2100 |
not a sale as used in Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code. | 2101 |
(N) The authority granted by this section is cumulative with | 2102 |
the authority granted to institutions of higher education under | 2103 |
Chapter 154. of the Revised Code, and nothing in this section | 2104 |
impairs or limits the authority granted by Chapter 154. of the | 2105 |
Revised Code. In any lease, agreement, or commitment made by an | 2106 |
institution of higher education under Chapter 154. of the Revised | 2107 |
Code, it may agree to restrict or subordinate any pledge it may | 2108 |
thereafter make under authority of this section. | 2109 |
(O) Title to lands acquired under this section and sections | 2110 |
3345.07 and 3345.11 of the Revised Code by a state university or | 2111 |
college shall be taken in the name of the state. | 2112 |
(P) Except where costs of facilities are to be paid in whole | 2113 |
or in part from funds appropriated by the general assembly, | 2114 |
section 125.81 of the Revised Code and the requirement for | 2115 |
certification with respect thereto under section 153.04 of the | 2116 |
Revised Code do not apply to such facilities. | 2117 |
(Q) A state university or college may sell or lease lands or | 2118 |
interests in land owned by it or by the state for its use, or | 2119 |
facilities authorized to be acquired or constructed by it under | 2120 |
section 3345.07 or 3345.11 of the Revised Code, to permit the | 2121 |
purchasers or lessees thereof to acquire, construct, equip, | 2122 |
furnish, reconstruct, alter, enlarge, remodel, renovate, | 2123 |
rehabilitate, improve, maintain, repair, or maintain and operate | 2124 |
thereon and to provide by lease or otherwise to such institution, | 2125 |
facilities authorized in section 3345.07 or 3345.11 of the Revised | 2126 |
Code. Such land or interests therein shall be sold for such | 2127 |
appraised value, or leased, and on such terms as the board of | 2128 |
trustees determines. All deeds or other instruments relating to | 2129 |
such sales or leases shall be executed by such officer of the | 2130 |
state university or college as the board of trustees designates. | 2131 |
The state university or college shall hold, invest, or use the | 2132 |
proceeds of such sales or leases for the same purposes for which | 2133 |
proceeds of borrowings may be used under sections 3345.07 and | 2134 |
3345.11 of the Revised Code. | 2135 |
(R) An institution of higher education may pledge available | 2136 |
receipts, to the extent permitted by division (C) of this section | 2137 |
with respect to obligations, to secure the payments to be made by | 2138 |
it under any lease, lease with option to purchase, or | 2139 |
lease-purchase agreement authorized under this section or section | 2140 |
3345.07, 3345.11, 3354.121, 3355.091, 3357.112, or 3358.10 of the | 2141 |
Revised Code. | 2142 |
Sec. 4121.01. (A) As used in sections 4121.01 to 4121.29 of | 2143 |
the Revised Code: | 2144 |
(1) "Place of employment" means every place, whether indoors | 2145 |
or out, or underground, and the premises appurtenant thereto, | 2146 |
where either temporarily or permanently any industry, trade, or | 2147 |
business is carried on, or where any process or operation, | 2148 |
directly or indirectly related to any industry, trade, or | 2149 |
business, is carried on and where any person is directly or | 2150 |
indirectly employed by another for direct or indirect gain or | 2151 |
profit, but does not include any place where persons are employed | 2152 |
in private domestic service or agricultural pursuits which do not | 2153 |
involve the use of mechanical power. | 2154 |
(2) "Employment" means any trade, occupation, or process of | 2155 |
manufacture or any method of carrying on such trade, occupation, | 2156 |
or process of manufacture in which any person may be engaged, | 2157 |
except in such private domestic service or agricultural pursuits | 2158 |
as do not involve the use of mechanical power. | 2159 |
(3) "Employer" means every person, firm, corporation, agent, | 2160 |
manager, representative, or other person having control or custody | 2161 |
of any employment, place of employment, or employee. | 2162 |
(4) "Employee" means every person who may be required or | 2163 |
directed by any employer, in consideration of direct or indirect | 2164 |
gain or profit, to engage in any employment, or to go, or work, or | 2165 |
be at any time in any place of employment. | 2166 |
(5) "Frequenter" means every person, other than an employee, | 2167 |
who may go in or be in a place of employment under circumstances | 2168 |
which render the person other than a trespasser. | 2169 |
(6) "Deputy" means any person employed by the industrial | 2170 |
commission or the bureau of workers' compensation, designated as a | 2171 |
deputy by the commission or the administrator of workers' | 2172 |
compensation, who possesses special, technical, scientific, | 2173 |
managerial, professional, or personal abilities or qualities in | 2174 |
matters within the jurisdiction of the commission or the bureau, | 2175 |
and who may be engaged in the performance of duties under the | 2176 |
direction of the commission or the bureau calling for the exercise | 2177 |
of such abilities or qualities. | 2178 |
(7) "Order" means any decision, rule, regulation, direction, | 2179 |
requirement, or standard, or any other determination or decision | 2180 |
that the bureau is empowered to and does make. | 2181 |
(8) "General order" means an order that applies generally | 2182 |
throughout the state to all persons, employments, or places of | 2183 |
employment, or all persons, employments, or places of employment | 2184 |
of a class under the jurisdiction of the bureau. All other orders | 2185 |
shall be considered special orders. | 2186 |
(9) "Local order" means any ordinance, order, rule, or | 2187 |
determination of the legislative authority of any municipal | 2188 |
corporation, or any trustees, or board or officers of any | 2189 |
municipal corporation upon any matter over which the bureau has | 2190 |
jurisdiction. | 2191 |
(10) "Welfare" means comfort, decency, and moral well-being. | 2192 |
(11) "Safe" or "safety," as applied to any employment or a | 2193 |
place of employment, means such freedom from danger to the life, | 2194 |
health, safety, or welfare of employees or frequenters as the | 2195 |
nature of the employment will reasonably permit, including | 2196 |
requirements as to the hours of labor with relation to the health | 2197 |
and welfare of employees. | 2198 |
(12) "Employee organization" means any labor or bona fide | 2199 |
organization in which employees participate and that exists for | 2200 |
the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers | 2201 |
concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, hours, terms, and | 2202 |
other conditions of employment. | 2203 |
(B) As used in the Revised Code: | 2204 |
(1) "Industrial commission" means the chairperson of the | 2205 |
three-member industrial commission created pursuant to section | 2206 |
4121.02 of the Revised Code when the context refers to the | 2207 |
authority vested in the chairperson as the chief executive officer | 2208 |
of the three-member industrial commission pursuant to divisions | 2209 |
(A), (B), (C), and (D) of section 4121.03 of the Revised Code. | 2210 |
(2) "Industrial commission" means the three-member industrial | 2211 |
commission created pursuant to section 4121.02 of the Revised Code | 2212 |
when the context refers to the authority vested in the | 2213 |
three-member industrial commission pursuant to division (E) of | 2214 |
section 4121.03 of the Revised Code. | 2215 |
(3) "Industrial commission" means the industrial commission | 2216 |
as a state agency when the context refers to the authority vested | 2217 |
in the industrial commission as a state agency. | 2218 |
Sec. 4121.03. (A) The governor shall appoint from among the | 2219 |
members of the industrial commission the chairperson of the | 2220 |
industrial commission. The chairperson shall serve as chairperson | 2221 |
at the pleasure of the governor. The chairperson is the head of | 2222 |
the commission and its chief executive officer. | 2223 |
(B) The chairperson shall appoint, after consultation with | 2224 |
other commission members and obtaining the approval of at least | 2225 |
one other commission member, an executive director of the | 2226 |
commission. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of | 2227 |
the chairperson. The executive director, under the direction of | 2228 |
the chairperson, shall perform all of the following duties: | 2229 |
(1) Act as chief administrative officer for the commission; | 2230 |
(2) Ensure that all commission personnel follow the rules of | 2231 |
the commission; | 2232 |
(3) Ensure that all orders, awards, and determinations are | 2233 |
properly heard and signed, prior to attesting to the documents; | 2234 |
(4) Coordinate, to the fullest extent possible, commission | 2235 |
activities with the bureau of workers' compensation activities; | 2236 |
(5) Do all things necessary for the efficient and effective | 2237 |
implementation of the duties of the commission. | 2238 |
The responsibilities assigned to the executive director of | 2239 |
the commission do not relieve the chairperson from final | 2240 |
responsibility for the proper performance of the acts specified in | 2241 |
this division. | 2242 |
(C) The chairperson shall do all of the following: | 2243 |
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, employ, | 2244 |
promote, supervise, remove, and establish the compensation of all | 2245 |
employees as needed in connection with the performance of the | 2246 |
commission's duties under this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., | 2247 |
and 4131. of the Revised Code and may assign to them their duties | 2248 |
to the extent necessary to achieve the most efficient performance | 2249 |
of its functions, and to that end may establish, change, or | 2250 |
abolish positions, and assign and reassign duties and | 2251 |
responsibilities of every employee of the commission. The civil | 2252 |
service status of any person employed by the commission prior to | 2253 |
November 3, 1989, is not affected by this section. Personnel | 2254 |
employed by the bureau or the commission who are subject to | 2255 |
Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code shall retain all of their rights | 2256 |
and benefits conferred pursuant to that chapter as it presently | 2257 |
exists or is hereafter amended and nothing in this chapter or | 2258 |
Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code shall be construed as | 2259 |
eliminating or interfering with Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code | 2260 |
or the rights and benefits conferred under that chapter to public | 2261 |
employees or to any bargaining unit. | 2262 |
(2) Hire district and staff hearing officers after | 2263 |
consultation with other commission members and obtaining the | 2264 |
approval of at least one other commission member; | 2265 |
(3) Fire staff and district hearing officers when the | 2266 |
chairperson finds appropriate after obtaining the approval of at | 2267 |
least one other commission member; | 2268 |
(4) Maintain the office for the commission in Columbus; | 2269 |
(5) To the maximum extent possible, use electronic data | 2270 |
processing equipment for the issuance of orders immediately | 2271 |
following a hearing, scheduling of hearings and medical | 2272 |
examinations, tracking of claims, retrieval of information, and | 2273 |
any other matter within the commission's jurisdiction, and shall | 2274 |
provide and input information into the electronic data processing | 2275 |
equipment as necessary to effect the success of the claims | 2276 |
tracking system established pursuant to division (B)(15) of | 2277 |
section 4121.121 of the Revised Code; | 2278 |
(6) Exercise all administrative and nonadjudicatory powers | 2279 |
and duties conferred upon the commission by Chapters 4121., 4123., | 2280 |
4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code; | 2281 |
(7) Approve all contracts for special services. | 2282 |
(D) The chairperson is responsible for all administrative | 2283 |
matters and may secure for the commission facilities, equipment, | 2284 |
and supplies necessary to house the commission, any employees, and | 2285 |
files and records under the commission's control and to discharge | 2286 |
any duty imposed upon the commission by law, the expense thereof | 2287 |
to be audited and paid in the same manner as other state expenses. | 2288 |
For that purpose, the chairperson, separately from the budget | 2289 |
prepared by the administrator of workers' compensation, shall | 2290 |
prepare and submit to the office of budget and management a budget | 2291 |
for each biennium according to sections 101.532 and 107.03 of the | 2292 |
Revised Code. The budget submitted shall cover the costs of the | 2293 |
commission and staff and district hearing officers in the | 2294 |
discharge of any duty imposed upon the chairperson, the | 2295 |
commission, and hearing officers by law. | 2296 |
(E) A majority of the commission constitutes a quorum to | 2297 |
transact business. No vacancy impairs the rights of the remaining | 2298 |
members to exercise all of the powers of the commission, so long | 2299 |
as a majority remains. Any investigation, inquiry, or hearing that | 2300 |
the commission may hold or undertake may be held or undertaken by | 2301 |
or before any one member of the commission, or before one of the | 2302 |
deputies of the commission, except as otherwise provided in this | 2303 |
chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code. | 2304 |
Every order made by a member, or by a deputy, when approved and | 2305 |
confirmed by a majority of the members, and so shown on its record | 2306 |
of proceedings, is the order of the commission. The commission may | 2307 |
hold sessions at any place within the state. The commission is | 2308 |
responsible for all of the following: | 2309 |
(1) Establishing the overall adjudicatory policy and | 2310 |
management of the commission under this chapter and Chapters | 2311 |
4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code, except for those | 2312 |
administrative matters within the jurisdiction of the chairperson, | 2313 |
bureau of workers' compensation, and the administrator of workers' | 2314 |
compensation under those chapters; | 2315 |
(2) Hearing appeals and reconsiderations under this chapter | 2316 |
and | 2317 |
(3) Engaging in rulemaking where required by this chapter or | 2318 |
Chapter 4123., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code, adopting all | 2319 |
of those rules, except those rules concerning adjudicatory | 2320 |
matters, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, and, | 2321 |
at the time the commission submits any proposed rules to the joint | 2322 |
committee on agency rule review, submitting a copy of those | 2323 |
proposed rules to the workers' compensation council for its review | 2324 |
of the rules under section 4121.79 of the Revised Code. | 2325 |
Sec. 4121.12. (A) There is hereby created the bureau of | 2326 |
workers'
compensation | 2327 |
consisting of eleven members | 2328 |
the governor | 2329 |
senate. | 2330 |
shall be
| 2331 |
individual's previous vocation, employment, or affiliations, can | 2332 |
be classed as a representative of employees | 2333 |
2334 | |
shall be individuals who, on account of their previous vocation, | 2335 |
employment, or affiliations, can be classed as representatives of | 2336 |
employee | 2337 |
individuals shall be a member of the executive committee of the | 2338 |
largest statewide labor federation; | 2339 |
individuals who, on account of their previous vocation, | 2340 |
employment,
or affiliations, can be classed as | 2341 |
representatives of employers, one of whom represents self-insuring | 2342 |
employers | 2343 |
2344 | |
2345 | |
hundred or more employees, and one of | 2346 |
2347 | |
2348 | |
less than one hundred employees; two members shall be individuals | 2349 |
who, on account of their vocation, employment, or affiliations, | 2350 |
can be classed as investment and securities experts who have | 2351 |
direct experience in the management, analysis, supervision, or | 2352 |
investment of assets, have experience with state workers' | 2353 |
compensation funds or state pension funds, and are residents of | 2354 |
this state; one member who shall be a certified public accountant; | 2355 |
one member who shall be an actuary who is a member in good | 2356 |
standing with the American academy of actuaries or who is an | 2357 |
associate or fellow with the society of actuaries; and one member | 2358 |
shall represent the public and also be an individual
who, | 2359 |
2360 | |
2361 | |
2362 | |
appointment, has received compensation or benefits under this | 2363 |
chapter or Chapter 4123., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code. The | 2364 |
governor shall select the chairperson of the
| 2365 |
shall serve as chairperson at the pleasure of the
governor. | 2366 |
2367 | |
2368 |
| 2369 |
year immediately preceding the member's appointment, shall have | 2370 |
2371 | |
been employed by the bureau of workers'
compensation | 2372 |
2373 | |
or | 2374 |
2375 | |
2376 | |
2377 | |
person, partnership, or corporation that has provided to the | 2378 |
bureau services of a financial or investment nature, including the | 2379 |
management, analysis, supervision, or investment of assets. | 2380 |
(B) The governor shall appoint the initial members to the | 2381 |
board not later than sixty days after the effective date of this | 2382 |
amendment. Of the initial appointments made to the
| 2383 |
board, the governor shall appoint | 2384 |
employees | 2385 |
member who
represents employers | 2386 |
2387 | |
term
ending | 2388 |
effective date of this amendment; one member who represents | 2389 |
2390 | |
organizations, one member who is an investment and securities | 2391 |
expert, and the member who is a certified public accountant to a | 2392 |
term ending | 2393 |
date of this amendment; and one member who represents employers, | 2394 |
one member who represents employee organizations, one member who | 2395 |
is an investment and securities expert, and the member who is an | 2396 |
actuary to a term
ending | 2397 |
the effective date of this amendment. Thereafter, terms of office | 2398 |
shall be for three years, with each term ending on the same day of | 2399 |
the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Each member shall | 2400 |
hold office from the date of the member's appointment until the | 2401 |
end of the term for which the member was appointed. | 2402 |
| 2403 |
2404 | |
2405 | |
2406 | |
2407 | |
2408 | |
2409 | |
Members of the board serve at the pleasure of the governor and may | 2410 |
be removed from the board by the governor. Members may be | 2411 |
reappointed. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring | 2412 |
prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member's | 2413 |
predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for the | 2414 |
remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office | 2415 |
subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until a | 2416 |
successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has | 2417 |
elapsed, whichever occurs first. | 2418 |
(C) | 2419 |
2420 | |
2421 | |
2422 | |
2423 | |
2424 | |
2425 | |
2426 | |
2427 | |
2428 | |
2429 |
| 2430 |
2431 | |
2432 | |
2433 | |
2434 | |
2435 |
| 2436 |
2437 | |
2438 | |
2439 | |
2440 | |
2441 | |
2442 | |
2443 | |
2444 | |
2445 | |
2446 | |
2447 | |
2448 | |
2449 | |
2450 | |
2451 | |
2452 | |
2453 | |
2454 |
| 2455 |
2456 | |
2457 | |
2458 |
| 2459 |
2460 | |
2461 | |
2462 | |
2463 | |
2464 |
| 2465 |
| 2466 |
2467 | |
2468 | |
2469 | |
2470 | |
2471 |
| 2472 |
2473 |
| 2474 |
2475 | |
2476 | |
2477 | |
2478 | |
2479 | |
2480 | |
2481 | |
2482 | |
2483 | |
2484 | |
2485 | |
2486 | |
2487 | |
2488 | |
2489 | |
2490 | |
2491 | |
2492 |
| 2493 |
2494 |
| 2495 |
2496 | |
2497 | |
2498 | |
2499 | |
2500 | |
2501 | |
2502 | |
2503 | |
2504 | |
2505 | |
2506 | |
2507 | |
2508 |
| 2509 |
reasonable and necessary expenses pursuant to section 126.31 of | 2510 |
the Revised Code while engaged in the performance of their duties | 2511 |
as members | 2512 |
2513 | |
2514 | |
basis: | 2515 |
(1) Except as provided in division
| 2516 |
a member shall receive two thousand five hundred dollars during a | 2517 |
month in which the member attends one or more meetings of the | 2518 |
2519 | |
which the member attends no
meeting of the | 2520 |
(2) A member may receive no more than | 2521 |
thirty
thousand | 2522 |
member for attending meetings of the board, regardless of the | 2523 |
number of meetings held by the | 2524 |
the number of meetings in excess of | 2525 |
the member attends. | 2526 |
(3) Except as provided in division (C)(4) of this section, if | 2527 |
a member serves on the workers' compensation audit committee, | 2528 |
workers' compensation actuarial committee, or the workers' | 2529 |
compensation investment committee, the member shall receive two | 2530 |
thousand five hundred dollars during a month in which the member | 2531 |
attends one or more meetings of the committee on which the member | 2532 |
serves and shall receive no payment during any month in which the | 2533 |
member attends no meeting of that committee. | 2534 |
(4) A member may receive no more than thirty thousand dollars | 2535 |
per year to compensate the member for attending meetings of any of | 2536 |
the committees specified in division (C)(3) of this section, | 2537 |
regardless of the number of meetings held by a committee during a | 2538 |
year or the number of committees on which a member serves. | 2539 |
The chairperson of the | 2540 |
dates of the
| 2541 |
of the | 2542 |
4125., 4127., | 2543 |
2544 | |
2545 | |
2546 | |
administrator of workers' compensation shall provide professional | 2547 |
and
clerical assistance to the | 2548 |
board considers appropriate. | 2549 |
| 2550 |
appointed member of the board shall take an oath of office as | 2551 |
required by sections 3.22 and 3.23 of the Revised Code and file in | 2552 |
the office of the secretary of state the bond required under | 2553 |
section 4121.127 of the Revised Code. | 2554 |
(E) The | 2555 |
(1) Establish the overall administrative policy for the | 2556 |
bureau for the purposes of this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4125., | 2557 |
4127., 4131., and 4167. of the Revised Code; | 2558 |
(2) Review progress of the bureau in meeting its cost and | 2559 |
quality objectives and in complying with this chapter and Chapters | 2560 |
4123., 4125., 4127., | 2561 |
| 2562 |
2563 | |
speaker of the house of representatives,
| 2564 |
the workers' compensation council and include all of the following | 2565 |
in that report: | 2566 |
(a) An evaluation of the cost and quality objectives of the | 2567 |
bureau; | 2568 |
(b) A statement of the net assets available for the provision | 2569 |
of compensation and benefits under this chapter and Chapters | 2570 |
4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code as of the last day of | 2571 |
the fiscal year; | 2572 |
(c) A statement of any changes that occurred in the net | 2573 |
assets available, including employer premiums and net investment | 2574 |
income, for the provision of compensation and benefits and payment | 2575 |
of administrative expenses, between the first and last day of the | 2576 |
fiscal year immediately preceding the date of the report; | 2577 |
(d) The following information for each of the six consecutive | 2578 |
fiscal years occurring previous to the report: | 2579 |
(i) A schedule of the net assets available for compensation | 2580 |
and benefits; | 2581 |
(ii) The annual cost of the payment of compensation and | 2582 |
benefits; | 2583 |
(iii) Annual administrative expenses incurred; | 2584 |
(iv) Annual employer premiums allocated for the provision of | 2585 |
compensation and benefits. | 2586 |
(e) A description of any significant changes that occurred | 2587 |
during the six years for which the board provided the information | 2588 |
required under division (E)(3)(d) of this section that affect the | 2589 |
ability of the board to compare that information from year to | 2590 |
year. | 2591 |
| 2592 |
The administrator shall provide access to records of the bureau to | 2593 |
facilitate the review required under this division. | 2594 |
| 2595 |
governor; | 2596 |
| 2597 |
(a) An independent actuarial firm to assist the | 2598 |
board in making recommendations to the administrator regarding | 2599 |
premium rates; | 2600 |
| 2601 |
2602 | |
2603 | |
2604 | |
2605 | |
2606 | |
2607 | |
2608 | |
2609 | |
2610 | |
2611 | |
2612 | |
2613 | |
2614 | |
2615 | |
2616 | |
2617 |
(b) An outside investment counsel to assist the workers' | 2618 |
compensation investment committee in fulfilling its duties; | 2619 |
(c) An independent fiduciary counsel to assist the board in | 2620 |
the performance of its duties. | 2621 |
(7) Approve the investment policy developed by the workers' | 2622 |
compensation investment committee pursuant to section 4121.123 of | 2623 |
the Revised Code if the policy satisfies the requirements | 2624 |
specified in section 4123.442 of the Revised Code. | 2625 |
(8) Review and
publish the | 2626 |
investment policy no less than
annually and | 2627 |
available to interested parties. | 2628 |
(9) Prohibit, on a prospective basis, any specific investment | 2629 |
it finds to be contrary to | 2630 |
2631 |
| 2632 |
2633 | |
2634 | |
2635 |
| 2636 |
| 2637 |
| 2638 |
| 2639 |
| 2640 |
| 2641 |
| 2642 |
| 2643 |
| 2644 |
| 2645 |
2646 | |
2647 |
| 2648 |
2649 | |
to open each investment class and allow the administrator to | 2650 |
invest in an investment class only if the | 2651 |
majority vote, opens that class | 2652 |
(11) After opening a class but prior to the administrator | 2653 |
investing in that class, | 2654 |
establishing due diligence standards for employees of the bureau | 2655 |
to follow when investing in that class and | 2656 |
policies and procedures to review and monitor the performance and | 2657 |
value of each investment class | 2658 |
(12) Submit a report annually on the performance and value of | 2659 |
each investment class to the governor, the president and minority | 2660 |
leader of the senate, and the speaker and minority leader of the | 2661 |
house of representatives. | 2662 |
2663 |
| 2664 |
(a) Administrative rules the administrator submits to it | 2665 |
pursuant to division (B)(5) of section 4121.121 of the Revised | 2666 |
Code for the classification of occupations or industries, for | 2667 |
premium rates and contributions, for the amount to be credited to | 2668 |
the surplus fund, for rules and systems of rating, rate revisions, | 2669 |
and merit rating; | 2670 |
(b) | 2671 |
2672 |
| 2673 |
pursuant to section 4121.37 of the Revised Code; | 2674 |
| 2675 |
partnership program and the qualified health plan system, as | 2676 |
provided in sections 4121.44, 4121.441, and 4121.442 of the | 2677 |
Revised Code; | 2678 |
| 2679 |
Chapter 4167. of the Revised Code regarding the public employment | 2680 |
risk reduction program and the protection of public health care | 2681 |
workers from exposure incidents. | 2682 |
As used in this division, "public health care worker" and | 2683 |
"exposure incident" have the same meanings as in section 4167.25 | 2684 |
of the Revised Code. | 2685 |
| 2686 |
this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4125., 4127., 4131., and 4167. of | 2687 |
the Revised Code; | 2688 |
(15) Meet with the governor on an annual basis to discuss the | 2689 |
administrator's performance of the duties specified in this | 2690 |
chapter and Chapters 4123., 4125., 4127., 4131., and 4167. of the | 2691 |
Revised Code; | 2692 |
(16) Adopt all rules, except those rules concerning | 2693 |
adjudicatory matters, that the board is required to adopt under | 2694 |
this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4125., 4127., and 4131. of the | 2695 |
Revised Code in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code | 2696 |
and, at the time the board submits any proposed rules or any rules | 2697 |
for which the board gives advice and consent to the joint | 2698 |
committee on agency rule review, submit a copy of those rules to | 2699 |
the workers' compensation council for its review of those rules | 2700 |
under section 4121.79 of the Revised Code; | 2701 |
(17) Develop and participate in a bureau of workers' | 2702 |
compensation board of directors education program that consists of | 2703 |
all of the following: | 2704 |
(a) An orientation component for newly appointed members; | 2705 |
(b) A continuing education component for board members who | 2706 |
have served for at least one year; | 2707 |
(c) A curriculum that includes education about each of the | 2708 |
following topics: | 2709 |
(i) Board member duties and responsibilities; | 2710 |
(ii) Compensation and benefits paid pursuant to this chapter | 2711 |
and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code; | 2712 |
(iii) Ethics; | 2713 |
(iv) Governance processes and procedures; | 2714 |
(v) Actuarial soundness; | 2715 |
(vi) Investments; | 2716 |
(vii) Any other subject matter the board believes is | 2717 |
reasonably related to the duties of a board member. | 2718 |
(18) Submit the program developed pursuant to division | 2719 |
(E)(17) of this section to the workers' compensation council for | 2720 |
approval; | 2721 |
(19) Hold all sessions, classes, and other events for the | 2722 |
program developed pursuant to division (E)(17) of this section in | 2723 |
this state. | 2724 |
| 2725 |
(1) Vote to close any investment class; | 2726 |
(2) Create any committees in addition to the workers' | 2727 |
compensation audit committee, the workers' compensation actuarial | 2728 |
committee, and the workers' compensation investment committee that | 2729 |
the board determines are necessary to assist the board in | 2730 |
performing its duties. | 2731 |
(G) The office of a member of the | 2732 |
convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony, a theft offense as | 2733 |
defined in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, or a violation of | 2734 |
section 102.02, 102.03, 102.04, 2921.02, 2921.11, 2921.13, | 2735 |
2921.31, 2921.41, 2921.42, 2921.43, or 2921.44 of the Revised Code | 2736 |
shall be deemed vacant. The vacancy shall be filled in the same | 2737 |
manner as the original appointment. A person who has pleaded | 2738 |
guilty to or been convicted of an offense of that nature is | 2739 |
ineligible to be a member of the | 2740 |
receives a bill of indictment for any of the offenses specified in | 2741 |
this section shall be automatically suspended from the | 2742 |
board pending resolution of the criminal matter. | 2743 |
| 2744 |
2745 | |
2746 | |
2747 | |
2748 |
(H) For the purposes of division (G)(1) of section 121.22 of | 2749 |
the Revised Code, the meeting between the governor and the board | 2750 |
to review the administrator's performance as required under | 2751 |
division (E)(15) of this section shall be considered a meeting | 2752 |
regarding the employment of the administrator. | 2753 |
Sec. 4121.121. (A) There is hereby created the bureau of | 2754 |
workers' compensation, which shall be administered by the | 2755 |
administrator of workers' compensation. A person appointed to the | 2756 |
position of administrator shall possess significant management | 2757 |
experience in effectively managing an organization or | 2758 |
organizations of substantial size and complexity. The governor | 2759 |
shall appoint the administrator as provided in section 121.03 of | 2760 |
the Revised Code, and the administrator shall serve at the | 2761 |
pleasure of the governor. The governor shall fix the | 2762 |
administrator's salary on the basis of the administrator's | 2763 |
experience and the administrator's responsibilities and duties | 2764 |
under this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4125., 4127., 4131., and | 2765 |
4167. of the Revised Code. The governor shall not appoint to the | 2766 |
position of administrator any person who has, or whose spouse has, | 2767 |
given a contribution to the campaign committee of the governor in | 2768 |
an amount greater than one thousand dollars during the two-year | 2769 |
period immediately preceding the date of the appointment of the | 2770 |
administrator. | 2771 |
The administrator shall hold no other public office and shall | 2772 |
devote full time to the duties of administrator. Before entering | 2773 |
upon the duties of the office, the administrator shall take an | 2774 |
oath of office as required by sections 3.22 and 3.23 of the | 2775 |
Revised Code, and shall file in the office of the secretary of | 2776 |
state, a bond signed by the administrator and by surety approved | 2777 |
by the governor, for the sum of fifty thousand dollars payable to | 2778 |
the state, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the | 2779 |
administrator's duties. | 2780 |
(B) The administrator is responsible for the management of | 2781 |
the bureau | 2782 |
administrative duties imposed upon the administrator in this | 2783 |
chapter and Chapters 4123., 4125., 4127., 4131., and 4167. of the | 2784 |
Revised Code, and in the discharge thereof shall do all of the | 2785 |
following: | 2786 |
(1) | 2787 |
2788 | |
2789 | |
exercise all authorities and powers, discretionary and otherwise | 2790 |
that are required of or vested in the bureau or any of its | 2791 |
employees in this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4125., 4127., 4131., | 2792 |
and 4167. of the Revised Code, except the acts and the exercise of | 2793 |
authority and power that is required of and vested in the | 2794 |
2795 | |
directors or the industrial commission pursuant to those chapters. | 2796 |
The treasurer of state shall honor all warrants signed by the | 2797 |
administrator, or by one or more of the administrator's employees, | 2798 |
authorized by the administrator in writing, or bearing the | 2799 |
facsimile signature of the administrator or such employee under | 2800 |
sections 4123.42 and 4123.44 of the Revised Code. | 2801 |
(2) Employ, direct, and supervise all employees required in | 2802 |
connection with the performance of the duties assigned to the | 2803 |
bureau by this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4125., 4127., 4131., | 2804 |
and 4167. of the Revised Code, and may establish job | 2805 |
classification plans and compensation for all employees of the | 2806 |
bureau provided that this grant of authority shall not be | 2807 |
construed as affecting any employee for whom the state employment | 2808 |
relations board has established an appropriate bargaining unit | 2809 |
under section 4117.06 of the Revised Code. All positions of | 2810 |
employment in the bureau are in the classified civil service | 2811 |
except those employees the administrator may appoint to serve at | 2812 |
the administrator's pleasure in the unclassified civil service | 2813 |
pursuant to section 124.11 of the Revised Code. The administrator | 2814 |
shall fix the salaries of employees the administrator appoints to | 2815 |
serve at the administrator's pleasure, including the chief | 2816 |
operating officer, staff physicians, and other senior management | 2817 |
personnel of the bureau and shall establish the compensation of | 2818 |
staff attorneys of the bureau's legal section and their immediate | 2819 |
supervisors, and take whatever steps are necessary to provide | 2820 |
adequate compensation for other staff attorneys. | 2821 |
The administrator may appoint a person who holds a certified | 2822 |
position in the classified service within the bureau to a position | 2823 |
in the unclassified service within the bureau. A person appointed | 2824 |
pursuant to this division to a position in the unclassified | 2825 |
service shall retain the right to resume the position and status | 2826 |
held by the person in the classified service immediately prior to | 2827 |
the person's appointment in the unclassified service, regardless | 2828 |
of the number of positions the person held in the unclassified | 2829 |
service. An employee's right to resume a position in the | 2830 |
classified service may only be exercised when the administrator | 2831 |
demotes the employee to a pay range lower than the employee's | 2832 |
current pay range or revokes the employee's appointment to the | 2833 |
unclassified service. An employee forfeits the right to resume a | 2834 |
position in the classified service when the employee is removed | 2835 |
from the position in the unclassified service due to incompetence, | 2836 |
inefficiency, dishonesty, drunkenness, immoral conduct, | 2837 |
insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public, neglect of | 2838 |
duty, violation of this chapter or Chapter 124., 4123., 4125., | 2839 |
4127., 4131., or 4167. of the Revised Code, violation of the rules | 2840 |
of the director of administrative services or the administrator | 2841 |
2842 | |
other acts of misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, | 2843 |
or conviction of a felony. An employee also forfeits the right to | 2844 |
resume a position in the classified service upon transfer to a | 2845 |
different agency. | 2846 |
Reinstatement to a position in the classified service shall | 2847 |
be to a position substantially equal to that position in the | 2848 |
classified service held previously, as certified by the department | 2849 |
of administrative services. If the position the person previously | 2850 |
held in the classified service has been placed in the unclassified | 2851 |
service or is otherwise unavailable, the person shall be appointed | 2852 |
to a position in the classified service within the bureau that the | 2853 |
director of administrative services certifies is comparable in | 2854 |
compensation to the position the person previously held in the | 2855 |
classified service. Service in the position in the unclassified | 2856 |
service shall be counted as service in the position in the | 2857 |
classified service held by the person immediately prior to the | 2858 |
person's appointment in the unclassified service. When a person is | 2859 |
reinstated to a position in the classified service as provided in | 2860 |
this division, the person is entitled to all rights, status, and | 2861 |
benefits accruing to the position during the person's time of | 2862 |
service in the position in the unclassified service. | 2863 |
(3) Reorganize the work of the bureau, its sections, | 2864 |
departments, and offices to the extent necessary to achieve the | 2865 |
most efficient performance of its functions and to that end may | 2866 |
establish, change, or abolish positions and assign and reassign | 2867 |
duties and responsibilities of every employee of the bureau. All | 2868 |
persons employed by the commission in positions that, after | 2869 |
November 3, 1989, are supervised and directed by the administrator | 2870 |
under this section are transferred to the bureau in their | 2871 |
respective classifications but subject to reassignment and | 2872 |
reclassification of position and compensation as the administrator | 2873 |
determines to be in the interest of efficient administration. The | 2874 |
civil service status of any person employed by the commission is | 2875 |
not affected by this section. Personnel employed by the bureau or | 2876 |
the commission who are subject to Chapter 4117. of the Revised | 2877 |
Code shall retain all of their rights and benefits conferred | 2878 |
pursuant to that chapter as it presently exists or is hereafter | 2879 |
amended and nothing in this chapter or Chapter 4123. of the | 2880 |
Revised Code shall be construed as eliminating or interfering with | 2881 |
Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code or the rights and benefits | 2882 |
conferred under that chapter to public employees or to any | 2883 |
bargaining unit. | 2884 |
(4) Provide offices, equipment, supplies, and other | 2885 |
facilities for the bureau. | 2886 |
(5) Prepare and submit to the | 2887 |
information the
administrator considers pertinent or the | 2888 |
2889 | |
recommendations, in the form of administrative rules, for the | 2890 |
advice and consent of
the | 2891 |
classifications of occupations or industries, for premium rates | 2892 |
and contributions, for the amount to be credited to the surplus | 2893 |
fund, for rules and systems of rating, rate revisions, and merit | 2894 |
rating. The administrator shall obtain, prepare, and submit any | 2895 |
other information the | 2896 |
prompt and efficient discharge of its duties. | 2897 |
(6) Keep the accounts required by division (A) of section | 2898 |
4123.34 of the Revised Code and all other accounts and records | 2899 |
necessary to the collection, administration, and distribution of | 2900 |
the workers' compensation funds and shall obtain the statistical | 2901 |
and other information required by section 4123.19 of the Revised | 2902 |
Code. | 2903 |
(7) Exercise the investment powers vested in the | 2904 |
administrator by section 4123.44 of the Revised Code in accordance | 2905 |
with the investment | 2906 |
policy approved by the | 2907 |
section 4121.12 of the Revised Code and in consultation with the | 2908 |
chief investment officer of the bureau of workers' compensation. | 2909 |
The administrator shall not engage in any prohibited investment | 2910 |
activity specified by the | 2911 |
division | 2912 |
shall not invest in any type of investment specified in divisions | 2913 |
2914 | |
Code. All business shall be transacted, all funds invested, all | 2915 |
warrants for money drawn and payments made, and all cash and | 2916 |
securities and other property held, in the name of the bureau, or | 2917 |
in the name of its nominee, provided that nominees are authorized | 2918 |
by the administrator solely for the purpose of facilitating the | 2919 |
transfer of securities, and restricted to the administrator and | 2920 |
designated employees. | 2921 |
(8) Make contracts for and supervise the construction of any | 2922 |
project or improvement or the construction or repair of buildings | 2923 |
under the control of the bureau. | 2924 |
(9) Purchase supplies, materials, equipment, and services; | 2925 |
make contracts for, operate, and superintend the telephone, other | 2926 |
telecommunication, and computer services for the use of the | 2927 |
bureau; and make contracts in connection with office reproduction, | 2928 |
forms management, printing, and other services. Notwithstanding | 2929 |
sections 125.12 to 125.14 of the Revised Code, the administrator | 2930 |
may transfer surplus computers and computer equipment directly to | 2931 |
an accredited public school within the state. The computers and | 2932 |
computer equipment may be repaired or refurbished prior to the | 2933 |
transfer. | 2934 |
(10) | 2935 |
budget for internal operating purposes for the board's approval. | 2936 |
The administrator also shall, separately from the budget the | 2937 |
industrial commission submits, prepare and submit to the director | 2938 |
of budget and management a
budget for each biennium. The | 2939 |
budgets submitted to the board and the director shall include | 2940 |
estimates of the costs and necessary expenditures of the bureau in | 2941 |
the discharge of any duty imposed by law. | 2942 |
(11) As promptly as possible in the course of efficient | 2943 |
administration, decentralize and relocate such of the personnel | 2944 |
and activities of the bureau as is appropriate to the end that the | 2945 |
receipt, investigation, determination, and payment of claims may | 2946 |
be undertaken at or near the place of injury or the residence of | 2947 |
the claimant and for that purpose establish regional offices, in | 2948 |
such places as the administrator considers proper, capable of | 2949 |
discharging as many of the functions of the bureau as is | 2950 |
practicable so as to promote prompt and efficient administration | 2951 |
in the processing of claims. All active and inactive lost-time | 2952 |
claims files shall be held at the service office responsible for | 2953 |
the claim. A claimant, at the claimant's request, shall be | 2954 |
provided with information by telephone as to the location of the | 2955 |
file pertaining to the claimant's claim. The administrator shall | 2956 |
ensure that all service office employees report directly to the | 2957 |
director for their service office. | 2958 |
(12) Provide a written binder on new coverage where the | 2959 |
administrator considers it to be in the best interest of the risk. | 2960 |
The administrator, or any other person authorized by the | 2961 |
administrator, shall grant the binder upon submission of a request | 2962 |
for coverage by the employer. A binder is effective for a period | 2963 |
of thirty days from date of issuance and is nonrenewable. Payroll | 2964 |
reports and premium charges shall coincide with the effective date | 2965 |
of the binder. | 2966 |
(13) Set standards for the reasonable and maximum handling | 2967 |
time of claims payment functions, ensure, by rules, the impartial | 2968 |
and prompt treatment of all claims and employer risk accounts, and | 2969 |
establish a secure, accurate method of time stamping all incoming | 2970 |
mail and documents hand delivered to bureau employees. | 2971 |
(14) Ensure that all employees of the bureau follow the | 2972 |
orders and rules of the commission as such orders and rules relate | 2973 |
to the commission's overall adjudicatory policy-making and | 2974 |
management duties under this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., | 2975 |
and 4131. of the Revised Code. | 2976 |
(15) Manage and operate a data processing system with a | 2977 |
common data base for the use of both the bureau and the commission | 2978 |
and, in consultation with the commission, using electronic data | 2979 |
processing equipment, shall develop a claims tracking system that | 2980 |
is sufficient to monitor the status of a claim at any time and | 2981 |
that lists appeals that have been filed and orders or | 2982 |
determinations that have been issued pursuant to section 4123.511 | 2983 |
or 4123.512 of the Revised Code, including the dates of such | 2984 |
filings and issuances. | 2985 |
(16) Establish and maintain a medical section within the | 2986 |
bureau. The medical section shall do all of the following: | 2987 |
(a) Assist the administrator in establishing standard medical | 2988 |
fees, approving medical procedures, and determining eligibility | 2989 |
and reasonableness of the compensation payments for medical, | 2990 |
hospital, and nursing services, and in establishing guidelines for | 2991 |
payment policies which recognize usual, customary, and reasonable | 2992 |
methods of payment for covered services; | 2993 |
(b) Provide a resource to respond to questions from claims | 2994 |
examiners for employees of the bureau; | 2995 |
(c) Audit fee bill payments; | 2996 |
(d) Implement a program to utilize, to the maximum extent | 2997 |
possible, electronic data processing equipment for storage of | 2998 |
information to facilitate authorizations of compensation payments | 2999 |
for medical, hospital, drug, and nursing services; | 3000 |
(e) Perform other duties assigned to it by the administrator. | 3001 |
(17) Appoint, as the administrator determines necessary, | 3002 |
panels to review and advise the administrator on disputes arising | 3003 |
over a determination that a health care service or supply provided | 3004 |
to a claimant is not covered under this chapter or Chapter 4123., | 3005 |
4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code or is medically unnecessary. | 3006 |
If an individual health care provider is involved in the dispute, | 3007 |
the panel shall consist of individuals licensed pursuant to the | 3008 |
same section of the Revised Code as such health care provider. | 3009 |
(18) Pursuant to section 4123.65 of the Revised Code, approve | 3010 |
applications for the final settlement of claims for compensation | 3011 |
or benefits under this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and | 3012 |
4131. of the Revised Code as the administrator determines | 3013 |
appropriate, except in regard to the applications of self-insuring | 3014 |
employers and their employees. | 3015 |
(19) Comply with section 3517.13 of the Revised Code, and | 3016 |
except in regard to contracts entered into pursuant to the | 3017 |
authority contained in section 4121.44 of the Revised Code, comply | 3018 |
with the competitive bidding procedures set forth in the Revised | 3019 |
Code for all contracts into which the administrator enters | 3020 |
provided that those contracts fall within the type of contracts | 3021 |
and dollar amounts specified in the Revised Code for competitive | 3022 |
bidding and further provided that those contracts are not | 3023 |
otherwise specifically exempt from the competitive bidding | 3024 |
procedures contained in the Revised Code. | 3025 |
(20) Adopt, with the advice and consent of the | 3026 |
3027 |
(21) Prepare and submit to the | 3028 |
information the
administrator considers pertinent or the | 3029 |
3030 | |
recommendations, in the form of administrative rules, for the | 3031 |
advice and consent of the | 3032 |
health partnership program and the qualified health plan system, | 3033 |
as provided in sections 4121.44, 4121.441, and 4121.442 of the | 3034 |
Revised Code. | 3035 |
(22) Adopt all rules, except those rules concerning | 3036 |
adjudicatory matters classifications of occupations or industries, | 3037 |
the overall premium and contribution rates and the revision of | 3038 |
those rates as required under sections 4123.29, 4123.34, and | 3039 |
4123.39 of the Revised Code, and the overall assessment rates | 3040 |
required under this chapter and Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code, | 3041 |
that the administrator is required to adopt under this chapter and | 3042 |
Chapters 4123., 4125., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code in | 3043 |
accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and, at the time | 3044 |
the administrator submits any proposed rules to the joint | 3045 |
committee on agency rule review, submit a copy of those proposed | 3046 |
rules to the workers' compensation council for its review of the | 3047 |
rules under section 4121.79 of the Revised Code. | 3048 |
(C) The administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 3049 |
senate, shall appoint a chief operating officer who has | 3050 |
significant experience in the field of workers' compensation | 3051 |
insurance or other similar insurance industry experience if the | 3052 |
administrator does not possess such experience. The chief | 3053 |
operating officer shall not commence the chief operating officer's | 3054 |
duties until after the senate consents to the chief operating | 3055 |
officer's appointment. The chief operating officer shall serve in | 3056 |
the unclassified civil service of the state. | 3057 |
Sec. 4121.122. (A) The administrator of workers' | 3058 |
compensation, for employees of the bureau of workers' | 3059 |
compensation, and the industrial commission, for employees of the | 3060 |
commission may discipline, suspend, demote or discharge any | 3061 |
employee for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance. In the case | 3062 |
of any deputy administrator, or of any employee assigned to the | 3063 |
investigation or determination of claims, and finding of the | 3064 |
administrator or the commission that such person is not efficient, | 3065 |
impartial, or judicious, if supported by any evidence and not | 3066 |
promoted by personal, political, racial, or religious | 3067 |
discrimination shall be accepted as a fact justifying the action | 3068 |
taken by the administrator or commission. | 3069 |
(B) The administrator and the commission shall jointly adopt, | 3070 |
in the form of a rule, a code of ethics for all employees of the | 3071 |
bureau and the commission and post copies of the rule in a | 3072 |
conspicuous place in every bureau and commission office. | 3073 |
(C) The administrator and the commission shall jointly adopt | 3074 |
rules setting forth procedures designed to eliminate outside | 3075 |
influence on bureau and commission employees, produce an impartial | 3076 |
workers' compensation claims handling process, and avoid | 3077 |
favoritism in the claims handling process. Failure to adopt and | 3078 |
enforce these rules constitutes grounds for removal of the | 3079 |
administrator and the members of the commission. | 3080 |
| 3081 |
3082 | |
3083 | |
3084 | |
3085 | |
3086 | |
3087 | |
3088 | |
3089 | |
3090 |
| 3091 |
3092 | |
3093 | |
3094 | |
3095 | |
3096 | |
3097 | |
3098 |
Sec. 4121.123. (A) There is hereby created the workers' | 3099 |
compensation audit committee consisting of at least three members. | 3100 |
One member shall be the member of the bureau of workers' | 3101 |
compensation board of directors who is a certified public | 3102 |
accountant. The board, by majority vote, shall appoint two | 3103 |
additional members of the board to serve on the audit committee | 3104 |
and may appoint additional members who are not board members, as | 3105 |
the board determines necessary. Members of the audit committee | 3106 |
serve at the pleasure of the board, and the board, by majority | 3107 |
vote, may remove any member except the member of the committee who | 3108 |
is the certified public accountant member of the board. The board, | 3109 |
by majority vote, shall determine how often the audit committee | 3110 |
shall meet and report to the board. If the audit committee meets | 3111 |
on the same day as the board holds a meeting, no member shall be | 3112 |
compensated for more than one meeting held on that day. The audit | 3113 |
committee shall do all of the following: | 3114 |
(1) Recommend to the board an accounting firm to perform the | 3115 |
annual audits required under section 4123.47 of the Revised Code; | 3116 |
(2) Recommend an auditing firm for the board to use when | 3117 |
conducting audits under section 4121.125 of the Revised Code; | 3118 |
(3) Review the results of each annual audit and management | 3119 |
review and, if any problems exist, assess the appropriate course | 3120 |
of action to correct those problems and develop an action plan to | 3121 |
correct those problems; | 3122 |
(4) Monitor the implementation of any action plans created | 3123 |
pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section; | 3124 |
(5) Review all internal audit reports on a regular basis. | 3125 |
(B) There is hereby created the workers' compensation | 3126 |
actuarial committee consisting of at least three members. One | 3127 |
member shall be the member of the board who is an actuary. The | 3128 |
board, by majority vote, shall appoint two additional members of | 3129 |
the board to serve on the actuarial committee and may appoint | 3130 |
additional members who are not board members, as the board | 3131 |
determines necessary. Members of the actuarial committee serve at | 3132 |
the pleasure of the board and the board, by majority vote, may | 3133 |
remove any member except the member of the committee who is the | 3134 |
actuary member of the board. The board, by majority vote, shall | 3135 |
determine how often the actuarial committee shall meet and report | 3136 |
to the board. If the actuarial committee meets on the same day as | 3137 |
the board holds a meeting, no member shall be compensated for more | 3138 |
than one meeting held on that day. The actuarial committee shall | 3139 |
do both of the following: | 3140 |
(1) Recommend actuarial consultants for the board to use for | 3141 |
the funds specified in this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and | 3142 |
4131. of the Revised Code; | 3143 |
(2) Review calculations on rate schedules and performance | 3144 |
prepared by the actuarial consultants with whom the board enters | 3145 |
into a contract. | 3146 |
(C)(1) There is hereby created the workers' compensation | 3147 |
investment committee consisting of at least four members. Two of | 3148 |
the members shall be the members of the board who serve as the | 3149 |
investment and securities experts on the board. The board, by | 3150 |
majority vote, shall appoint two additional members of the board | 3151 |
to serve on the investment committee and may appoint additional | 3152 |
members who are not board members. Each additional member the | 3153 |
board appoints shall have at least one of the following | 3154 |
qualifications: | 3155 |
(a) Experience managing another state's pension funds or | 3156 |
workers' compensation funds; | 3157 |
(b) Represents an employee organization; | 3158 |
(c) Special expertise that the board determines is needed to | 3159 |
make investment decisions. | 3160 |
Members of the investment committee serve at the pleasure of | 3161 |
the board and the board, by majority vote, may remove any member | 3162 |
except the members of the committee who are the investment and | 3163 |
securities expert members of the board. The board, by majority | 3164 |
vote, shall determine how often the investment committee shall | 3165 |
meet and report to the board. If the investment committee meets on | 3166 |
the same day as the board holds a meeting, no member shall be | 3167 |
compensated for more than one meeting held on that day. | 3168 |
(2) The investment committee shall do all of the following: | 3169 |
(a) Develop the investment policy for the administration of | 3170 |
the investment program for the funds specified in this chapter and | 3171 |
Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code in accordance | 3172 |
with the requirements specified in section 4123.442 of the Revised | 3173 |
Code; | 3174 |
(b) Submit the investment policy developed pursuant to | 3175 |
division (C)(2)(a) of this section to the board for approval; | 3176 |
(c) Monitor implementation by the administrator of workers' | 3177 |
compensation and the bureau of workers' compensation chief | 3178 |
investment officer of the investment policy approved by the board; | 3179 |
(d) Recommend outside investment counsel with whom the board | 3180 |
may contract to assist the investment committee in fulfilling its | 3181 |
duties; | 3182 |
(e) Review the performance of the bureau of workers' | 3183 |
compensation chief investment officer and any investment | 3184 |
consultants retained by the administrator to assure that the | 3185 |
investments of the assets of the funds specified in this chapter | 3186 |
and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code are made | 3187 |
in accordance with the investment policy approved by the board and | 3188 |
that the best possible return on investment is achieved. | 3189 |
Sec. 4121.125. (A) The bureau of workers' compensation | 3190 |
3191 | |
recommendations of the workers' compensation actuarial committee, | 3192 |
may contract with one or more outside actuarial firms and other | 3193 |
professional persons, as the | 3194 |
necessary, to assist the | 3195 |
the performance of Ohio's workers' compensation system and in | 3196 |
comparing Ohio's workers' compensation system to other state and | 3197 |
private workers' compensation systems. The | 3198 |
board, actuarial firm or firms, and professional persons shall | 3199 |
make such measurements and comparisons using accepted insurance | 3200 |
industry standards, including, but not limited to, standards | 3201 |
promulgated by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. | 3202 |
(B) The | 3203 |
more outside firms to conduct management and financial audits of | 3204 |
the workers' compensation system, including audits of the reserve | 3205 |
fund belonging to the state insurance fund, and to establish | 3206 |
objective quality management principles and methods by which to | 3207 |
review the performance of the workers' compensation system. | 3208 |
(C) The board shall do all of the following: | 3209 |
(1) Contract to have prepared annually by or under the | 3210 |
supervision of an actuary a report that meets the requirements | 3211 |
specified under division (E) of this section and that consists of | 3212 |
an actuarial valuation of the assets, liabilities, and funding | 3213 |
requirements of the state insurance fund and all other funds | 3214 |
specified in this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of | 3215 |
the Revised Code; | 3216 |
(2) Require that the actuary or person supervised by an | 3217 |
actuary referred to in division (C)(1) of this section complete | 3218 |
the valuation in accordance with the actuarial standards of | 3219 |
practice promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the | 3220 |
American academy of actuaries; | 3221 |
(3) Submit the report referred to in division (C)(1) of this | 3222 |
section to the workers' compensation council and the standing | 3223 |
committees of the house of representatives and the senate with | 3224 |
primary responsibility for workers' compensation legislation not | 3225 |
later than the first day of September following the year for which | 3226 |
the valuation was made; | 3227 |
(4) Have an actuary or a person who provides actuarial | 3228 |
services under the supervision of an actuary, at such time as the | 3229 |
board determines, and at least once during the five-year period | 3230 |
that commences on the effective date of this amendment and once | 3231 |
within each five-year period thereafter, conduct an actuarial | 3232 |
investigation of the experience of employers, the mortality, | 3233 |
service, and injury rate of employees, and the payment of | 3234 |
temporary total disability, permanent partial disability, and | 3235 |
permanent total disability under sections 4123.56 to 4123.58 of | 3236 |
the Revised Code to update the actuarial assumptions used in the | 3237 |
report required by division (C)(1) of this section; | 3238 |
(5) Submit the report required under division (F) of this | 3239 |
section to the council and the standing committees of the house of | 3240 |
representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for | 3241 |
workers' compensation legislation not later than the first day of | 3242 |
November following the fifth year of the period that the report | 3243 |
covers; | 3244 |
(6) Have prepared by or under the supervision of an actuary | 3245 |
an actuarial analysis of any introduced legislation expected to | 3246 |
have a measurable financial impact on the workers' compensation | 3247 |
system; | 3248 |
(7) Submit the report required under division (G) of this | 3249 |
section to the legislative service commission, the standing | 3250 |
committees of the house of representatives and the senate with | 3251 |
primary responsibility for workers' compensation legislation, and | 3252 |
the council not later than sixty days after the date of | 3253 |
introduction of the legislation. | 3254 |
(D) The administrator of workers' compensation and the | 3255 |
industrial commission shall compile information and provide access | 3256 |
to records of the bureau and the industrial commission to the | 3257 |
3258 | |
of both of the following requirements: | 3259 |
(1) Conduct of the measurements and comparisons described in | 3260 |
division (A) of this section; | 3261 |
(2) Conduct of the management and financial audits and | 3262 |
establishment of the principles and methods described in division | 3263 |
(B) of this section. | 3264 |
| 3265 |
pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section shall prepare a report | 3266 |
of the valuation and submit the report to the board. The firm or | 3267 |
person shall include all of the following information in the | 3268 |
report that is required under division (C)(1) of this section: | 3269 |
(1) A summary of the compensation and benefit provisions | 3270 |
evaluated; | 3271 |
(2) A summary of the census data and financial information | 3272 |
used in the valuation; | 3273 |
(3) A description of the actuarial assumptions, actuarial | 3274 |
cost method, and asset valuation method used in the valuation; | 3275 |
(4) A summary of findings that includes a statement of the | 3276 |
actuarial accrued compensation and benefit liabilities and | 3277 |
unfunded actuarial accrued compensation and benefit liabilities; | 3278 |
(5) A schedule showing the effect of any changes in the | 3279 |
compensation and benefit provisions, actuarial assumptions, or | 3280 |
cost methods since the previous annual actuarial valuation report | 3281 |
was submitted to the board. | 3282 |
(F) The actuary or person whom the board designates to | 3283 |
conduct an actuarial investigation under division (C)(4) of this | 3284 |
section shall prepare a report of the actuarial investigation and | 3285 |
shall submit the report to the board. The actuary or person shall | 3286 |
prepare the report and make any recommended changes in actuarial | 3287 |
assumptions in accordance with the actuarial standards of practice | 3288 |
promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the American | 3289 |
academy of actuaries. The actuary or person shall include all of | 3290 |
the following information in the report: | 3291 |
(1) A summary of relevant decrement and economic assumption | 3292 |
experience; | 3293 |
(2) Recommended changes in actuarial assumptions to be used | 3294 |
in subsequent actuarial valuations required by division (C)(1) of | 3295 |
this section; | 3296 |
(3) A measurement of the financial effect of the recommended | 3297 |
changes in actuarial assumptions. | 3298 |
(G) The actuary or person whom the board designates to | 3299 |
conduct the actuarial analysis under division (C)(6) of this | 3300 |
section shall prepare a report of the actuarial analysis and shall | 3301 |
submit that report to the board. The actuary or person shall | 3302 |
complete the analysis in accordance with the actuarial standards | 3303 |
of practice promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the | 3304 |
American academy of actuaries. The actuary or person shall include | 3305 |
all of the following information in the report: | 3306 |
(1) A summary of the statutory changes being evaluated; | 3307 |
(2) A description of or reference to the actuarial | 3308 |
assumptions and actuarial cost method used in the report; | 3309 |
(3) A description of the participant group or groups included | 3310 |
in the report; | 3311 |
(4) A statement of the financial impact of the legislation, | 3312 |
including the resulting increase, if any, in employer premiums, in | 3313 |
actuarial accrued liabilities, and, if an increase in actuarial | 3314 |
accrued liabilities is predicted, the per cent of premium increase | 3315 |
that would be required to amortize the increase in those | 3316 |
liabilities as a level per cent of employer premiums over a period | 3317 |
not to exceed thirty years. | 3318 |
(5) A statement of whether the employer premiums paid to the | 3319 |
bureau of workers' compensation after the proposed change is | 3320 |
enacted are expected to be sufficient to satisfy the funding | 3321 |
objectives established by the board. | 3322 |
(H) The board may, at any time, request an actuary to make | 3323 |
any studies or actuarial valuations to determine the adequacy of | 3324 |
the premium rates established by the administrator in accordance | 3325 |
with sections 4123.29 and 4123.34 of the Revised Code, and may | 3326 |
adjust those rates as recommended by the actuary. | 3327 |
(I) The | 3328 |
auditor, at least once every ten years, conduct a fiduciary | 3329 |
performance audit of the investment program of the bureau of | 3330 |
workers' compensation. That audit shall include an audit of the | 3331 |
investment policies | 3332 |
and investment procedures of the bureau. The | 3333 |
board shall submit a copy of that audit to the auditor of state. | 3334 |
| 3335 |
with the advice and consent of the | 3336 |
shall employ an internal auditor who shall report directly to the | 3337 |
3338 | |
3339 | |
request and review internal audits conducted by the internal | 3340 |
auditor. | 3341 |
| 3342 |
the | 3343 |
and exercise its powers under this section as the administrator | 3344 |
pays other operating expenses of the bureau. | 3345 |
Sec. 4121.126. Except as provided in this chapter, no member | 3346 |
of the bureau of workers' compensation | 3347 |
of directors or employee of the bureau of workers' compensation | 3348 |
shall have any direct or indirect interest in the gains or profits | 3349 |
of any investment made by the administrator of workers' | 3350 |
compensation or shall receive directly or indirectly any pay or | 3351 |
emolument for the member's or employee's services. No member or | 3352 |
person connected with the bureau directly or indirectly, for self | 3353 |
or as an agent or partner of others, shall borrow any of its funds | 3354 |
or deposits or in any manner use the funds or deposits except to | 3355 |
make current and necessary payments that are authorized by the | 3356 |
administrator. No member of the | 3357 |
employee of the bureau shall become an indorser or surety or | 3358 |
become in any manner an obligor for moneys loaned by or borrowed | 3359 |
from the bureau. | 3360 |
The administrator shall make no investments through or | 3361 |
purchases from, or otherwise do any business with, any individual | 3362 |
who is, or any partnership, association, or corporation that is | 3363 |
owned or controlled by, a person who within the preceding three | 3364 |
years was employed by the bureau, a board member of, or an officer | 3365 |
of the | 3366 |
preceding three years was employed by or was an officer holding a | 3367 |
fiduciary, administrative, supervisory, or trust position, or any | 3368 |
other position in which such person would be involved, on behalf | 3369 |
of the person's employer, in decisions or recommendations | 3370 |
affecting the investment policy of the bureau, and in which such | 3371 |
person would benefit by any monetary gain. | 3372 |
Sec. 4121.128. The attorney general shall be the legal | 3373 |
adviser of the bureau of workers' compensation | 3374 |
3375 | |
council. | 3376 |
Sec. 4121.13. The administrator of workers' compensation | 3377 |
shall: | 3378 |
(A) Investigate, ascertain, and declare and prescribe what | 3379 |
hours of labor, safety devices, safeguards, or other means or | 3380 |
methods of protection are best adapted to render the employees of | 3381 |
every employment and place of employment and frequenters of every | 3382 |
place of employment safe, and to protect their welfare as required | 3383 |
by law or lawful orders, and establish and maintain museums of | 3384 |
safety and hygiene in which shall be exhibited safety devices, | 3385 |
safeguards, and other means and methods for the protection of | 3386 |
life, health, safety, and welfare of employees; | 3387 |
(B) Ascertain and fix reasonable standards and prescribe, | 3388 |
modify, and enforce reasonable orders for the adoption of safety | 3389 |
devices, safeguards, and other means or methods of protection to | 3390 |
be as nearly uniform as possible as may be necessary to carry out | 3391 |
all laws and lawful orders relative to the protection of the life, | 3392 |
health, safety, and welfare of employees in employments and places | 3393 |
of employment or frequenters of places of employment; | 3394 |
(C) Ascertain, fix, and order reasonable standards for the | 3395 |
construction, repair, and maintenance of places of employment as | 3396 |
shall render them safe; | 3397 |
(D) Investigate, ascertain, and determine reasonable | 3398 |
classifications of persons, employments, and places of employment | 3399 |
as are necessary to carry out the applicable sections of sections | 3400 |
4101.01 to 4101.16 and 4121.01 to 4121.29 of the Revised Code; | 3401 |
(E) Adopt reasonable and proper rules relative to the | 3402 |
exercise of | 3403 |
proper rules to govern | 3404 |
regulate the mode and manner of all investigations and hearings, | 3405 |
which rules shall not be effective until ten days after their | 3406 |
publication; a copy of the rules shall be delivered at cost to | 3407 |
every citizen making application therefor; | 3408 |
(F) Investigate all cases of | 3409 |
other than fraud, pertaining to the operation of the workers' | 3410 |
compensation system and its several insurance funds and for that | 3411 |
purpose, the administrator has every power of an inquisitorial | 3412 |
nature granted to the industrial commission in this chapter and | 3413 |
Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code; | 3414 |
(G) Do all things convenient and necessary to accomplish the | 3415 |
purposes directed in sections 4101.01 to 4101.16 and 4121.01 to | 3416 |
4121.28 of the Revised Code; | 3417 |
(H) Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede | 3418 |
section 4105.011 of the Revised Code in particular, or Chapter | 3419 |
4105. of the Revised Code in general. | 3420 |
Sec. 4121.32. (A) The rules covering operating procedure and | 3421 |
criteria for decision-making that the administrator of workers' | 3422 |
compensation and the industrial commission are required to adopt | 3423 |
pursuant to section 4121.31 of the Revised Code shall be | 3424 |
supplemented with operating manuals setting forth the procedural | 3425 |
steps in detail for performing each of the assigned tasks of each | 3426 |
section of the bureau of workers' compensation and commission. The | 3427 |
administrator and commission jointly shall adopt such manuals. No | 3428 |
employee may deviate from manual procedures without authorization | 3429 |
of the section chief. | 3430 |
(B) Manuals shall set forth the procedure for the assignment | 3431 |
and transfer of claims within sections and be designed to provide | 3432 |
performance objectives and may require employees to record | 3433 |
sufficient data to reasonably measure the efficiency of functions | 3434 |
in all sections. The bureau's division of research and statistics | 3435 |
shall perform periodic cost-effectiveness analyses which shall be | 3436 |
made available to the general assembly, the governor, and to the | 3437 |
public during normal working hours. | 3438 |
(C) The bureau and commission jointly shall develop, adopt, | 3439 |
and use a policy manual setting forth the guidelines and bases for | 3440 |
decision-making for any decision which is the responsibility of | 3441 |
the bureau, district hearing officers, staff hearing officers, or | 3442 |
the commission. Guidelines shall be set forth in the policy manual | 3443 |
by the bureau and commission to the extent of their respective | 3444 |
jurisdictions for deciding at least the following specific | 3445 |
matters: | 3446 |
(1) Reasonable ambulance services; | 3447 |
(2) Relationship of drugs to injury; | 3448 |
(3) Awarding lump-sum advances for creditors; | 3449 |
(4) Awarding lump-sum advances for attorney's fees; | 3450 |
(5) Placing a claimant into rehabilitation; | 3451 |
(6) Transferring costs of a claim from employer costs to the | 3452 |
statutory surplus fund pursuant to section 4123.343 of the Revised | 3453 |
Code; | 3454 |
(7) Utilization of physician specialist reports; | 3455 |
(8) Determining the percentage of permanent partial | 3456 |
disability, temporary partial disability, temporary total | 3457 |
disability, violations of specific safety requirements, an award | 3458 |
under division (B) of section 4123.57 of the Revised Code, and | 3459 |
permanent total disability. | 3460 |
(D) The bureau shall establish, adopt, and implement policy | 3461 |
guidelines and bases for decisions involving reimbursement issues | 3462 |
including, but not limited to, the adjustment of invoices, the | 3463 |
reduction of payments for future services when an internal audit | 3464 |
concludes that a health care provider was overpaid or improperly | 3465 |
paid for past services, reimbursement fees, or other adjustments | 3466 |
to payments. These policy guidelines and bases for decisions, and | 3467 |
any changes to the guidelines and bases, shall be set forth in a | 3468 |
reimbursement manual and provider bulletins. | 3469 |
| 3470 |
3471 | |
3472 | |
3473 |
(E) With respect to any determination of disability under | 3474 |
Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code, when the physician makes a | 3475 |
determination based upon statements or information furnished by | 3476 |
the claimant or upon subjective evidence, | 3477 |
clearly
indicate this fact in | 3478 |
(F) The administrator shall publish the manuals and make | 3479 |
copies of all manuals available to interested parties at cost. | 3480 |
Sec. 4121.37. The administrator of workers' compensation | 3481 |
having, by virtue of Section 35 of Article II, Ohio Constitution, | 3482 |
the expenditure of the fund therein created for the investigation | 3483 |
and prevention of industrial accidents and diseases, shall, with | 3484 |
the advice and consent of the bureau of workers' compensation | 3485 |
3486 | |
administrator's authority and in the performance of the | 3487 |
administrator's duty, employ a superintendent and the necessary | 3488 |
experts, engineers, investigators, clerks, and stenographers for | 3489 |
the efficient operation of a division of safety and hygiene of the | 3490 |
bureau of workers' compensation, which is hereby created. | 3491 |
The administrator | 3492 |
and consent of the | 3493 |
safety and hygiene fund, which is hereby created in the state | 3494 |
treasury, the portion of the contributions paid by employers, | 3495 |
calculated as though all employers paid premiums based upon | 3496 |
payroll, not to exceed one per cent thereof in any year, as is | 3497 |
necessary for the payment of the salary of the superintendent of | 3498 |
the division of safety and hygiene and the compensation of the | 3499 |
other employees of the division of safety and hygiene, the | 3500 |
expenses of investigations and researches for the prevention of | 3501 |
industrial accidents and diseases, and for operating the long-term | 3502 |
care loan fund program established under section 4121.48 of the | 3503 |
Revised Code. All investment earnings of the fund shall be | 3504 |
credited to the fund. The administrator has the same powers to | 3505 |
invest any of the funds belonging to the fund as are delegated to | 3506 |
the administrator under section 4123.44 of the Revised Code with | 3507 |
respect to the state insurance fund. The superintendent, under the | 3508 |
direction of the administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 3509 |
3510 | |
researches for the prevention of industrial accidents and | 3511 |
diseases, conduct loss prevention programs and courses for | 3512 |
employers, establish and administrate cooperative programs with | 3513 |
employers for the purchase of individual safety equipment for | 3514 |
employees, and print and distribute information as may be of | 3515 |
benefit to employers and employees. The administrator shall pay | 3516 |
from the safety and hygiene fund the salary of the superintendent | 3517 |
of the division of safety and hygiene, the compensation of the | 3518 |
other employees of the division of safety and hygiene, the | 3519 |
expenses necessary or incidental to investigations and researches | 3520 |
for the prevention of industrial accidents and diseases, and the | 3521 |
cost of printing and distributing such information. | 3522 |
The superintendent, under the direction of the administrator, | 3523 |
shall prepare an annual report, addressed to the governor, on the | 3524 |
amount of the expenditures and the purposes for which they have | 3525 |
been made, and the results of the investigations and researches. | 3526 |
The administrator shall include the administrative costs, | 3527 |
salaries, and other expenses of the division of safety and hygiene | 3528 |
as a part of the budget of the bureau of workers' compensation | 3529 |
that is submitted to the director of budget and management and | 3530 |
shall identify those expenditures separately from other bureau | 3531 |
expenditures. | 3532 |
The superintendent shall be a competent person with at least | 3533 |
five years' experience in industrial accident or disease | 3534 |
prevention work. The superintendent and up to six positions in the | 3535 |
division of safety and hygiene as the administrator, with the | 3536 |
advice and
consent of the | 3537 |
are in the unclassified civil service of the state as long as the | 3538 |
administrator, with
the advice and consent of the | 3539 |
3540 | |
superintendent are primarily and distinctively administrative, | 3541 |
managerial, or professional in character. All other full-time | 3542 |
employees of the division of safety and hygiene are in the | 3543 |
classified civil service of the state. | 3544 |
Sec. 4121.40. (A) The administrator of workers' compensation | 3545 |
shall appoint a service director for each service office who shall | 3546 |
have all of the following duties: | 3547 |
(1) Provide each claimant and employer fair, impartial, and | 3548 |
equal treatment; | 3549 |
(2) Recommend any needed improvements for changes in staff | 3550 |
size and accessibility to service offices; | 3551 |
(3) | 3552 |
3553 | |
3554 |
| 3555 |
procedures are carried out by all employees under | 3556 |
director's direction; | 3557 |
| 3558 |
office for information or assistance with respect to claims | 3559 |
processing and coverage. | 3560 |
(B) The administrator shall assign to each service office an | 3561 |
adequate number of investigators and field auditors. | 3562 |
Service directors shall make investigators available to | 3563 |
district hearing officers as needed. | 3564 |
In addition to other duties the administrator may assign to | 3565 |
investigators, they shall, at the service directors' direction, | 3566 |
investigate alleged instances of persons receiving compensation | 3567 |
pursuant to section 4123.58 of the Revised Code and engaging in | 3568 |
remunerative employment that is incompatible with the terms of | 3569 |
that section. | 3570 |
Sec. 4121.441. (A) The administrator of workers' | 3571 |
compensation, with the advice and consent of the bureau of | 3572 |
workers' compensation | 3573 |
shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the | 3574 |
health care partnership program administered by the bureau of | 3575 |
workers' compensation to provide medical, surgical, nursing, drug, | 3576 |
hospital, and rehabilitation services and supplies to an employee | 3577 |
for an injury or occupational disease that is compensable under | 3578 |
this chapter or Chapter 4123., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised | 3579 |
Code. | 3580 |
The rules shall include, but are not limited to, the | 3581 |
following: | 3582 |
(1) Procedures for the resolution of medical disputes between | 3583 |
an employer and an employee, an employee and a provider, or an | 3584 |
employer and a provider, prior to an appeal under section 4123.511 | 3585 |
of the Revised Code. Rules the administrator adopts pursuant to | 3586 |
division (A)(1) of this section may specify that the resolution | 3587 |
procedures shall not be used to resolve disputes concerning | 3588 |
medical services rendered that have been approved through standard | 3589 |
treatment guidelines, pathways, or presumptive authorization | 3590 |
guidelines. | 3591 |
(2) Prohibitions against discrimination against any category | 3592 |
of health care providers; | 3593 |
(3) Procedures for reporting injuries to employers and the | 3594 |
bureau by providers; | 3595 |
(4) Appropriate financial incentives to reduce service cost | 3596 |
and insure proper system utilization without sacrificing the | 3597 |
quality of service; | 3598 |
(5) Adequate methods of peer review, utilization review, | 3599 |
quality assurance, and dispute resolution to prevent, and provide | 3600 |
sanctions for, inappropriate, excessive or not medically necessary | 3601 |
treatment; | 3602 |
(6) A timely and accurate method of collection of necessary | 3603 |
information regarding medical and health care service and supply | 3604 |
costs, quality, and utilization to enable the administrator to | 3605 |
determine the effectiveness of the program; | 3606 |
(7) Provisions for necessary emergency medical treatment for | 3607 |
an injury or occupational disease provided by a health care | 3608 |
provider who is not part of the program; | 3609 |
(8) Discounted pricing for all in-patient and out-patient | 3610 |
medical services, all professional services, and all | 3611 |
pharmaceutical services; | 3612 |
(9) Provisions for provider referrals, pre-admission and | 3613 |
post-admission approvals, second surgical opinions, and other cost | 3614 |
management techniques; | 3615 |
(10) Antifraud mechanisms; | 3616 |
(11) Standards and criteria for the bureau to utilize in | 3617 |
certifying or recertifying a health care provider or a vendor for | 3618 |
participation in the health partnership program; | 3619 |
(12) Standards and criteria for the bureau to utilize in | 3620 |
penalizing or decertifying a health care provider or a vendor from | 3621 |
participation in the health partnership program. | 3622 |
(B) The administrator shall implement the health partnership | 3623 |
program according to the rules the administrator adopts under this | 3624 |
section for the provision and payment of medical, surgical, | 3625 |
nursing, drug, hospital, and rehabilitation services and supplies | 3626 |
to an employee for an injury or occupational disease that is | 3627 |
compensable under this chapter or Chapter 4123., 4127., or 4131. | 3628 |
of the Revised Code. | 3629 |
Sec. 4121.48. (A) The bureau of workers' compensation shall | 3630 |
operate a long-term care loan fund program. The administrator of | 3631 |
workers' compensation may adopt rules, employ personnel, and do | 3632 |
all things necessary for that purpose. | 3633 |
(B) The administrator shall use the long-term care loan fund | 3634 |
program to make loans without interest to employers that are | 3635 |
nursing homes for the purpose of allowing those employers to | 3636 |
purchase, improve, install, or erect sit-to-stand floor lifts, | 3637 |
ceiling lifts, other lifts, and fast electric beds, and to pay for | 3638 |
the education and training of personnel, in order to implement a | 3639 |
facility policy of no manual lifting of residents by employees. | 3640 |
The administrator, with the advice and consent of the bureau | 3641 |
of workers' compensation | 3642 |
may adopt rules establishing criteria for loan eligibility, | 3643 |
maximum loan amounts, loan periods, default penalties, and any | 3644 |
other terms the administrator considers necessary for a loan. | 3645 |
(C) There is hereby created in the state treasury the | 3646 |
long-term care loan fund. The fund shall consist of money the | 3647 |
administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 3648 |
3649 | |
to transfer from the safety and hygiene fund created in section | 3650 |
4121.37 of the Revised Code. The fund shall be used solely for | 3651 |
purposes identified in this section. All investment earnings of | 3652 |
the fund shall be credited to the fund. All money the | 3653 |
administrator receives for payment of a default penalty assessed | 3654 |
or for repayment of any loan made pursuant to this section shall | 3655 |
be credited to the safety and hygiene fund created under section | 3656 |
4121.37 of the Revised Code. | 3657 |
(D) As used in this section | 3658 |
(1) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3701.01 of | 3659 |
the Revised Code; | 3660 |
(2) "Nursing home" has the same meaning as in section 3721.01 | 3661 |
of the Revised Code. | 3662 |
Sec. 4121.61. The administrator of workers' compensation, | 3663 |
with the advice and consent of the bureau of workers' compensation | 3664 |
3665 | |
measures, and make expenditures as it deems necessary to aid | 3666 |
claimants who have sustained compensable injuries or incurred | 3667 |
compensable occupational diseases pursuant to Chapter 4123., | 3668 |
4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code to return to work or to assist | 3669 |
in lessening or removing any resulting handicap. | 3670 |
Sec. 4121.67. The administrator of workers' compensation, | 3671 |
with the advice and consent of the bureau of workers' compensation | 3672 |
3673 |
(A) For the encouragement of reemployment of claimants who | 3674 |
have successfully completed prescribed rehabilitation programs by | 3675 |
payment from the surplus fund established by section 4123.34 of | 3676 |
the Revised Code to employers who employ or re-employ the | 3677 |
claimants. The period or periods of payments shall not exceed six | 3678 |
months in the aggregate, unless the administrator or | 3679 |
administrator's designee determines that the claimant will be | 3680 |
benefited by an extension of payments. | 3681 |
(B) Requiring payment, in the same manner as living | 3682 |
maintenance payments are made pursuant to section 4121.63 of the | 3683 |
Revised Code, to the claimant who completes a rehabilitation | 3684 |
training program and returns to employment, but who suffers a wage | 3685 |
loss compared to the wage the claimant was receiving at the time | 3686 |
of injury. Payments per week shall be sixty-six and two-thirds per | 3687 |
cent of the difference, if any, between the claimant's weekly wage | 3688 |
at the time of injury and the weekly wage received while employed, | 3689 |
up to a maximum payment per week equal to the statewide average | 3690 |
weekly wage. The payments may continue for up to a maximum of two | 3691 |
hundred weeks but shall be reduced by the corresponding number of | 3692 |
weeks in which the claimant receives payments pursuant to division | 3693 |
(B) of section 4123.56 of the Revised Code. | 3694 |
Sec. 4121.70. (A) There is hereby created the | 3695 |
labor-management government advisory council consisting of twelve | 3696 |
members appointed as follows: | 3697 |
(1) The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, | 3698 |
shall appoint three members who, by training and vocation, are | 3699 |
representative of labor and three members who, by training and | 3700 |
vocation, are representative of employers. | 3701 |
(2) Ex officio, the chairpersons of the standing committees | 3702 |
of the house of representatives and the senate to which | 3703 |
legislation concerned with workers' compensation is customarily | 3704 |
referred. A chairperson may designate the vice-chairperson of the | 3705 |
committee to serve instead. | 3706 |
(3) One person who by training and vocation represents labor | 3707 |
and one person who by training and vocation represents employers | 3708 |
of differing political parties appointed by the speaker of the | 3709 |
house of representatives. | 3710 |
(4) One person who by training and vocation represents labor | 3711 |
and one person who by training and vocation represents employers | 3712 |
of differing political parties appointed by the president of the | 3713 |
senate. | 3714 |
(B) Members appointed by the governor shall serve for a term | 3715 |
of six years with each term ending on the same day of the year in | 3716 |
which the member was first appointed, except that each member | 3717 |
shall serve for a period of sixty additional days at the end of | 3718 |
the member's term or until the member's successor is appointed and | 3719 |
qualifies, whichever date occurs first. Of the members first | 3720 |
appointed to the council by the governor, one member each | 3721 |
representing labor and management shall serve an initial term of | 3722 |
two years, one member each representing labor and management shall | 3723 |
serve a term of four years, and the remaining two members shall | 3724 |
serve full six-year terms. The members initially appointed by the | 3725 |
speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the | 3726 |
senate shall serve a term of six years. Thereafter, members shall | 3727 |
be appointed to and serve full six-year terms. Members are | 3728 |
eligible for reappointment to any number of additional terms. | 3729 |
Legislative members shall serve a term that coincides with | 3730 |
the two-year legislative session in which they are first appointed | 3731 |
with each term ending on the thirty-first day of December of the | 3732 |
even-numbered year. Legislative members are eligible for | 3733 |
reappointment. | 3734 |
Vacancies on the council shall be filled in the same manner | 3735 |
as the original appointment. All members of the council shall | 3736 |
serve without additional compensation but shall be reimbursed by | 3737 |
the bureau of workers' compensation for actual and necessary | 3738 |
expenses. | 3739 |
The council shall advise the bureau of workers' compensation | 3740 |
3741 | |
workers' compensation on the quality and effectiveness of | 3742 |
rehabilitation services and make recommendations pertaining to the | 3743 |
bureau's rehabilitation program, including the operation of that | 3744 |
program. | 3745 |
The labor-management government advisory council shall | 3746 |
recommend to the administrator three candidates for the position | 3747 |
of director of rehabilitation. The candidates shall be chosen for | 3748 |
their ability and background in the field of rehabilitation. The | 3749 |
administrator shall select a director from the list of candidates. | 3750 |
Sec. 4121.75. (A) There is hereby created the workers' | 3751 |
compensation council. Members of the council shall be appointed as | 3752 |
follows: | 3753 |
(1) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president | 3754 |
of the senate, not more than two of whom may be members of the | 3755 |
same political party; | 3756 |
(2) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed | 3757 |
by the speaker of the house of representatives, not more than two | 3758 |
of whom may be members of the same political party; | 3759 |
(3) Three members jointly appointed by the president of the | 3760 |
senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, not more | 3761 |
than two of whom shall be members of the same political party, one | 3762 |
of whom shall represent employers, one of whom shall represent | 3763 |
employees, and one of whom shall be either a person who, prior to | 3764 |
the person's appointment, has received compensation or benefits | 3765 |
under this chapter or Chapter 4123., 4127., or 4131. of the | 3766 |
Revised Code or an attorney specializing in the field of workers' | 3767 |
compensation who represents employees who file claims for | 3768 |
compensation and benefits under those chapters. Of these three | 3769 |
members, at least one shall be a person with investment expertise. | 3770 |
(B) The council also shall consist of the chairperson of the | 3771 |
industrial commission and the administrator of workers' | 3772 |
compensation, who shall be nonvoting ex officio members of the | 3773 |
council. | 3774 |
(C) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house | 3775 |
of representatives shall make the initial appointments required | 3776 |
under divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section not later than | 3777 |
thirty days after the effective date of this section. The members | 3778 |
of the council who are appointed from the membership of the senate | 3779 |
and the house of representatives shall serve during their terms as | 3780 |
members of the general assembly. Notwithstanding the adjournment | 3781 |
of the general assembly of which the member is a member or the | 3782 |
expiration of the member's term as a member of such general | 3783 |
assembly, a member shall continue in office subsequent to the | 3784 |
expiration date of the member's term on the council until the | 3785 |
member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days | 3786 |
has elapsed, whichever occurs first. | 3787 |
(D) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house | 3788 |
of representatives shall make the initial appointments required | 3789 |
under division (A)(3) of this section not later than ninety days | 3790 |
after the effective date of this section. Of these initial | 3791 |
appointments to the council, one member shall be appointed for a | 3792 |
term ending one year after the effective date of this section, one | 3793 |
member shall be appointed for a term ending two years after the | 3794 |
effective date of this section, and one member shall be appointed | 3795 |
for a term ending three years after the effective date of this | 3796 |
section. Thereafter, terms shall be for three years, with each | 3797 |
term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that | 3798 |
it succeeds. Each member appointed under division (A)(3) of this | 3799 |
section shall hold office from the date of appointment until the | 3800 |
end of the term for which the appointment was made. Members may be | 3801 |
reappointed. Any member appointed pursuant to division (A)(3) of | 3802 |
this section to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration | 3803 |
of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall | 3804 |
hold office for the remainder of that term. Each member appointed | 3805 |
pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section shall continue in | 3806 |
office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term | 3807 |
until the member's successor takes office or until a period of | 3808 |
sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. | 3809 |
(E) Vacancies shall be filled in the manner prescribed for | 3810 |
original appointments. | 3811 |
Sec. 4121.76. Meetings of the workers' compensation council | 3812 |
shall be called in the manner and at the times prescribed by rules | 3813 |
adopted by the council. A majority of the voting members of the | 3814 |
council constitutes a quorum and no action shall be taken by the | 3815 |
council unless approved by at least five voting members. The | 3816 |
council shall organize by selecting a chairperson, | 3817 |
vice-chairperson, and any other officers as it determines are | 3818 |
necessary. The council shall select the chairperson and | 3819 |
vice-chairperson from the members of the council who also are | 3820 |
members of the general assembly, and each of those members shall | 3821 |
serve as chairperson or vice-chairperson during their terms as | 3822 |
members of the general assembly. The council shall rotate the | 3823 |
selection of the chairperson and vice-chairperson between the two | 3824 |
houses. The council shall adopt rules for the conduct of its | 3825 |
business and the election of its officers, and shall establish an | 3826 |
office in Columbus separate from the offices of the bureau of | 3827 |
workers' compensation and the industrial commission. Each member | 3828 |
of the council, before entering upon the member's official duties | 3829 |
shall take and subscribe to an oath of office, to uphold the | 3830 |
Constitution and laws of the United States and this state and to | 3831 |
perform the duties of the office honestly, faithfully, and | 3832 |
impartially. Members of the council appointed pursuant to division | 3833 |
(A)(3) of section 4121.75 of the Revised Code shall serve without | 3834 |
compensation but shall be reimbursed for their actual and | 3835 |
necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official | 3836 |
duties. Legislative members shall not receive compensation or | 3837 |
expenses. | 3838 |
Sec. 4121.77. The workers' compensation council may do any | 3839 |
of the following: | 3840 |
(A) Appoint a director to manage and direct the duties of the | 3841 |
staff of the council. The director shall be a person who has had | 3842 |
training and experience in areas related to the duties of the | 3843 |
council. | 3844 |
(B) Appoint professional, technical, and clerical employees | 3845 |
as necessary, and employ or hire on a consulting basis persons to | 3846 |
provide actuarial, legal, investment, or other technical services | 3847 |
required for the performance of the council's duties. For purposes | 3848 |
of section 4117.01 of the Revised Code, employees of the council | 3849 |
shall be considered employees of the general assembly. | 3850 |
(C) Fix the compensation of the director and all other | 3851 |
employees of the council; | 3852 |
(D) Require the members of the industrial commission, bureau | 3853 |
of workers' compensation board of directors, workers' compensation | 3854 |
audit committee, workers' compensation actuarial committee, and | 3855 |
workers' compensation investment committee, the administrator of | 3856 |
workers' compensation, and employees of the commission and the | 3857 |
bureau of workers' compensation, and any agency or official of | 3858 |
this state or its political subdivisions to provide the council | 3859 |
with any information necessary to carry out its duties; | 3860 |
(E) Administer oaths and hold public hearings at times and | 3861 |
places within the state as necessary to accomplish the purposes of | 3862 |
sections 4121.75 to 4121.79 of the Revised Code; | 3863 |
(F) Establish regular reporting requirements for any report | 3864 |
that the chairperson of the commission, chairperson of the board, | 3865 |
members of the committees specified in division (D) of this | 3866 |
section, and the administrator are required to submit to the | 3867 |
council; | 3868 |
(G) Request that the auditor of state perform or contract for | 3869 |
the performance of a financial or special audit of the bureau; | 3870 |
(H) Request that the auditor of state perform or contract for | 3871 |
the performance of a special or fiduciary audit of the workers' | 3872 |
compensation system. | 3873 |
Sec. 4121.78. The workers' compensation council shall do all | 3874 |
of the following: | 3875 |
(A) Make an impartial review from time to time of all laws | 3876 |
governing the administration and financing of the workers' | 3877 |
compensation system under this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4125., | 3878 |
4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code and recommend to the general | 3879 |
assembly any changes it may find desirable with respect to | 3880 |
compensation and benefits, sound financing of the cost of paying | 3881 |
compensation and benefits, the prudent investment of funds, and | 3882 |
the improvement of the language, structure, and organization of | 3883 |
the relevant laws governing the workers' compensation system; | 3884 |
(B) Make an annual report to the governor and general | 3885 |
assembly describing its evaluation and recommendations with | 3886 |
respect to the operations of the industrial commission and the | 3887 |
bureau of workers' compensation and the funds specified in this | 3888 |
chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code; | 3889 |
(C) Study all changes to this chapter and Chapters 4123., | 3890 |
4125., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code proposed to the | 3891 |
general assembly and report to the general assembly on their | 3892 |
probable costs, actuarial implications, and desirability as a | 3893 |
matter of public policy; | 3894 |
(D) Review semiannually the investment policy approved by the | 3895 |
bureau of workers' compensation board of directors pursuant to | 3896 |
section 4121.12 of the Revised Code for the operation of the | 3897 |
investment program of the workers' compensation system, including | 3898 |
a review of asset allocation targets and ranges, risk factors, | 3899 |
asset class benchmarks, time horizons, total return objectives, | 3900 |
relative volatility, and performance evaluation guidelines. | 3901 |
(E) Create a report that summarizes the council's findings in | 3902 |
the review conducted pursuant to division (D) of this section and | 3903 |
submit that report to the governor and general assembly not later | 3904 |
than thirty days after completing the review. | 3905 |
(F) Review, as the council determines necessary, all | 3906 |
financial, actuarial, and fiduciary audits performed on the funds | 3907 |
specified in this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of | 3908 |
the Revised Code and the actuarial policies of the bureau of | 3909 |
workers' compensation; | 3910 |
(G) Have prepared by an independent actuary, at least once | 3911 |
every ten years, an actuarial review of the annual actuarial | 3912 |
valuations and quinquennial actuarial investigations prepared by | 3913 |
the bureau of workers' compensation board of directors pursuant to | 3914 |
section 4121.125 of the Revised Code, including a review of the | 3915 |
actuarial assumptions and methods, the data underlying the | 3916 |
valuations and investigations, and the adequacy of employer | 3917 |
premium rates to amortize its unfunded actuarial liability, if | 3918 |
any, and to support the payment of compensation and benefits | 3919 |
pursuant to this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of | 3920 |
the Revised Code; | 3921 |
(H) Submit to the governor and the general assembly a report | 3922 |
summarizing the review required under division (G) of this | 3923 |
section; | 3924 |
(I) Have conducted by an independent auditor at least once | 3925 |
every ten years a fiduciary performance audit of the workers' | 3926 |
compensation system, and require the administrator of workers' | 3927 |
compensation to pay the costs associated with that audit; | 3928 |
(J) Review all proposed rules submitted to the council | 3929 |
pursuant to sections 4121.03, 4121.12, and 4121.121 of the Revised | 3930 |
Code, provide each member of the council a copy of those rules, | 3931 |
and submit any recommendations concerning whether those rules | 3932 |
should be approved to the joint committee on agency rule review. | 3933 |
Sec. 4121.79. The compensation of all employees of the | 3934 |
workers' compensation council and other expenses of the council | 3935 |
shall be paid upon vouchers approved by the director and the | 3936 |
chairperson of the council. | 3937 |
The administrator of workers' compensation shall pay the | 3938 |
annual expenses of the council. The council shall prepare and | 3939 |
submit to the administrator on or before the thirtieth day of June | 3940 |
of each year an itemized estimate of the amounts necessary to pay | 3941 |
the expenses of the council during the following year. | 3942 |
The council shall establish policies and procedures for | 3943 |
purchasing goods and services on a competitive basis and | 3944 |
maintaining tangible personal property. The policies and | 3945 |
procedures shall be designed to safeguard the use of funds | 3946 |
received by the council. An audit performed under Chapter 117. of | 3947 |
the Revised Code shall include a determination of the council's | 3948 |
compliance with those policies and procedures. | 3949 |
The council is not subject to Chapter 123., 124., 125., 126., | 3950 |
or 127. of the Revised Code. | 3951 |
Sec. 4123.25. (A) No employer shall knowingly misrepresent | 3952 |
to the bureau of workers' compensation the amount or | 3953 |
classification of payroll upon which the premium under this | 3954 |
chapter is based. Whoever violates this division shall be liable | 3955 |
to the state in an amount determined by the administrator of | 3956 |
workers' compensation for not more than ten times the amount of | 3957 |
the difference between the premium paid and the amount the | 3958 |
employer should have paid. The liability to the state under this | 3959 |
division may be enforced in a civil action in the name of the | 3960 |
state, and all sums collected under this division shall be paid | 3961 |
into the state insurance fund. | 3962 |
(B) No self-insuring employer shall knowingly misrepresent | 3963 |
the amount of paid compensation paid by such employer for purposes | 3964 |
of the assessments provided under this chapter and Chapter 4121. | 3965 |
of the Revised Code as required by section 4123.35 of the Revised | 3966 |
Code. Whoever violates this division is liable to the state in an | 3967 |
amount determined by the self-insuring employers evaluation board | 3968 |
pursuant to division (C) of section 4123.352 of the Revised Code | 3969 |
or for an amount the board determines that is not more than ten | 3970 |
times the amount of the difference between the assessment paid and | 3971 |
the amount of the assessment that should have been paid. The | 3972 |
liability to the state under this division may be enforced in a | 3973 |
civil action in the name of the state and all sums collected under | 3974 |
this division shall be paid into the self-insurance assessment | 3975 |
fund created pursuant to division (K) of section 4123.35 of the | 3976 |
Revised Code. | 3977 |
(C) The administrator of workers' compensation, with the | 3978 |
advice and consent of the bureau of workers' compensation | 3979 |
3980 | |
establishing criteria for determining both of the following: | 3981 |
(1) The amount of the penalty assessed against an employer | 3982 |
for a violation of division (A) of this section; | 3983 |
(2) Acts or omissions that do not constitute a violation of | 3984 |
division (A) or (B) of this section. | 3985 |
Sec. 4123.29. (A) The administrator of workers' | 3986 |
compensation, subject to the approval of the bureau of workers' | 3987 |
compensation | 3988 |
of the following: | 3989 |
(1) Classify occupations or industries with respect to their | 3990 |
degree of hazard and determine the risks of the different classes | 3991 |
according to the categories the national council on compensation | 3992 |
insurance establishes that are applicable to employers in this | 3993 |
state; | 3994 |
(2) Fix the rates of premium of the risks of the classes | 3995 |
based upon the total payroll in each of the classes of occupation | 3996 |
or industry sufficiently large to provide a fund for the | 3997 |
compensation provided for in this chapter and to maintain a state | 3998 |
insurance fund from year to year. The administrator shall set the | 3999 |
rates at a level that assures the solvency of the fund. Where the | 4000 |
payroll cannot be obtained or, in the opinion of the | 4001 |
administrator, is not an adequate measure for determining the | 4002 |
premium to be paid for the degree of hazard, the administrator | 4003 |
may determine the rates of premium upon such other basis, | 4004 |
consistent with insurance principles, as is equitable in view of | 4005 |
the degree of hazard, and whenever in this chapter reference is | 4006 |
made to payroll or expenditure of wages with reference to fixing | 4007 |
premiums, the reference shall be construed to have been made also | 4008 |
to such other basis for fixing the rates of premium as the | 4009 |
administrator may determine under this section. | 4010 |
The administrator in setting or revising rates shall furnish | 4011 |
to employers an adequate explanation of the basis for the rates | 4012 |
set. | 4013 |
(3) Develop and make available to employers who are paying | 4014 |
premiums to the state insurance fund alternative premium plans. | 4015 |
Alternative premium plans shall include retrospective rating | 4016 |
plans. The administrator may make available plans under which an | 4017 |
advanced deposit may be applied against a specified deductible | 4018 |
amount per claim. | 4019 |
(4)(a) Offer to insure the obligations of employers under | 4020 |
this chapter under a plan that groups, for rating purposes, | 4021 |
employers, and pools the risk of the employers within the group | 4022 |
provided that the employers meet all of the following conditions: | 4023 |
| 4024 |
an organization that has been in existence for at least two years | 4025 |
prior to the date of application for group coverage; | 4026 |
| 4027 |
that of obtaining group workers' compensation under this division; | 4028 |
| 4029 |
substantially similar such that the risks which are grouped are | 4030 |
substantially homogeneous; | 4031 |
| 4032 |
hundred members or the aggregate workers' compensation premiums of | 4033 |
the members, as determined by the administrator, are expected to | 4034 |
exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars during the coverage | 4035 |
period; | 4036 |
| 4037 |
the organization will substantially improve accident prevention | 4038 |
and claims handling for the employers in the group; | 4039 |
| 4040 |
workers' compensation coverage has an industrial insurance account | 4041 |
in good standing with the bureau of workers' compensation such | 4042 |
that at the time the agreement is processed no outstanding | 4043 |
premiums, penalties, or assessments are due from any of the | 4044 |
employers. | 4045 |
(b) If an organization sponsors more than one employer group | 4046 |
to participate in group plans established under this section, that | 4047 |
organization may submit a single application that supplies all of | 4048 |
the information necessary for each group of employers that the | 4049 |
organization wishes to sponsor. | 4050 |
(c) In providing employer group plans under division (A)(4) | 4051 |
of this section, the administrator shall consider an employer | 4052 |
group as a single employing entity for purposes of retrospective | 4053 |
rating. No employer may be a member of more than one group for the | 4054 |
purpose of obtaining workers' compensation coverage under this | 4055 |
division. | 4056 |
(d) At the time the administrator revises premium rates | 4057 |
pursuant to this section and section 4123.34 of the Revised Code, | 4058 |
if the premium rate of an employer who participates in a group | 4059 |
plan established under this section changes from the rate | 4060 |
established for the previous year, the administrator, in addition | 4061 |
to sending the invoice with the rate revision to that employer, | 4062 |
shall send a copy of that invoice to the third-party administrator | 4063 |
that administers the group plan for that employer's group. | 4064 |
(e) In providing employer group plans under division (A)(4) | 4065 |
of this section, the administrator shall establish a program | 4066 |
designed to mitigate the impact of a significant claim that would | 4067 |
come into the experience of a private, state fund group-rated | 4068 |
employer for the first time and be a contributing factor in that | 4069 |
employer being excluded from a group-rated plan. The administrator | 4070 |
shall establish eligibility criteria and requirements that such | 4071 |
employers must satisfy in order to participate in this program. | 4072 |
For purposes of this program, the administrator shall establish a | 4073 |
discount on premium rates applicable to employers who qualify for | 4074 |
the program. | 4075 |
(f) In no event shall division (A)(4) of this section be | 4076 |
construed as granting to an employer status as a self-insuring | 4077 |
employer. | 4078 |
(g) The administrator shall develop classifications of | 4079 |
occupations or industries that are sufficiently distinct so as not | 4080 |
to group employers in classifications that unfairly represent the | 4081 |
risks of employment with the employer. | 4082 |
(5) Generally promote employer participation in the state | 4083 |
insurance fund through the regular dissemination of information to | 4084 |
all classes of employers describing the advantages and benefits of | 4085 |
opting to make premium payments to the fund. To that end, the | 4086 |
administrator shall regularly make employers aware of the various | 4087 |
workers' compensation premium packages developed and offered | 4088 |
pursuant to this section. | 4089 |
(6) Make available to every employer who is paying premiums | 4090 |
to the state insurance fund a program whereby the employer or the | 4091 |
employer's agent pays to the claimant or on behalf of the claimant | 4092 |
the first five thousand dollars of a compensable workers' | 4093 |
compensation medical-only claim filed by that claimant that is | 4094 |
related to the same injury or occupational disease. If an employer | 4095 |
elects to enter the program, the administrator shall not reimburse | 4096 |
the employer for such amounts paid and shall not charge the first | 4097 |
five thousand dollars of any medical-only claim paid by an | 4098 |
employer to the employer's experience or otherwise use it in merit | 4099 |
rating or determining the risks of any employer for the purpose of | 4100 |
payment of premiums under this chapter. A certified health care | 4101 |
provider shall extend to an employer who participates in this | 4102 |
program the same rates for services rendered to an employee of | 4103 |
that employer as the provider bills the administrator for the same | 4104 |
type of medical claim processed by the bureau. If an employer | 4105 |
elects to enter the program and the employer fails to pay a bill | 4106 |
for a medical-only claim included in the program, the employer | 4107 |
shall be liable for that bill and the employee for whom the | 4108 |
employer failed to pay the bill shall not be liable for that bill. | 4109 |
The administrator shall adopt rules to implement and administer | 4110 |
division (A)(6) of this section. | 4111 |
(B) The administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 4112 |
4113 |
(1) Grant an employer who makes the employer's semiannual | 4114 |
premium payment at least one month prior to the last day on which | 4115 |
the payment may be made without penalty, a discount as the | 4116 |
administrator fixes from time to time; | 4117 |
(2) Levy a minimum annual administrative charge upon risks | 4118 |
where semiannual premium reports develop a charge less than the | 4119 |
administrator considers adequate to offset administrative costs of | 4120 |
processing. | 4121 |
Sec. 4123.291. (A) An adjudicating committee appointed by | 4122 |
the administrator of workers' compensation to hear any matter | 4123 |
specified in divisions (B)(1) to (7) of this section and shall | 4124 |
hear the matter within sixty days of the date on which an employer | 4125 |
files the request, protest, or petition. An employer desiring to | 4126 |
file a request, protest, or petition regarding any matter | 4127 |
specified in divisions (B)(1) to (7) of this section shall file | 4128 |
the request, protest, or petition to the adjudicating committee on | 4129 |
or before twenty-four months after the administrator sends notice | 4130 |
of the determination about which the employer is filing the | 4131 |
request, protest, or petition. | 4132 |
(B) An employer who is adversely affected by a decision of an | 4133 |
adjudicating committee appointed by the administrator may appeal | 4134 |
the decision of the committee to the administrator or the | 4135 |
administrator's designee. The employer shall file the appeal in | 4136 |
writing within thirty days after the employer receives the | 4137 |
decision of the adjudicating committee. The administrator or the | 4138 |
designee shall hear the appeal and hold a hearing, provided that | 4139 |
the decision of the adjudicating committee relates to one of the | 4140 |
following: | 4141 |
(1) An employer request for a waiver of a default in the | 4142 |
payment of premiums pursuant to section 4123.37 of the Revised | 4143 |
Code; | 4144 |
(2) An employer request for the settlement of liability as a | 4145 |
noncomplying employer under section 4123.75 of the Revised Code; | 4146 |
(3) An employer petition objecting to the assessment of a | 4147 |
premium pursuant to section 4123.37 of the Revised Code and the | 4148 |
rules adopted pursuant to that section; | 4149 |
(4) An employer request for the abatement of penalties | 4150 |
assessed pursuant to section 4123.32 of the Revised Code and the | 4151 |
rules adopted pursuant to that section; | 4152 |
(5) An employer protest relating to an audit finding or a | 4153 |
determination of a manual classification, experience rating, or | 4154 |
transfer or combination of risk experience; | 4155 |
(6) Any decision relating to any other risk premium matter | 4156 |
under Chapters 4121., 4123., and 4131. of the Revised Code; | 4157 |
(7) An employer petition objecting to the amount of security | 4158 |
required under division (C) of section 4125.05 of the Revised Code | 4159 |
and the rules adopted pursuant to that section. | 4160 |
(C) The bureau of workers' compensation board of directors, | 4161 |
based upon recommendations of the workers' compensation actuarial | 4162 |
committee, shall establish the policy for all adjudicating | 4163 |
committee procedures, including, but not limited to, specific | 4164 |
criteria for manual premium rate adjustment. | 4165 |
Sec. 4123.311. (A) The administrator of workers' | 4166 |
compensation may do all of the following: | 4167 |
(1) Utilize direct deposit of funds by electronic transfer | 4168 |
for all disbursements the administrator is authorized to pay under | 4169 |
this chapter and Chapters 4121., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised | 4170 |
Code; | 4171 |
(2) Require any payee to provide a written authorization | 4172 |
designating a financial institution and an account number to which | 4173 |
a payment made according to division (A)(1) of this section is to | 4174 |
be credited, notwithstanding division (B) of section 9.37 of the | 4175 |
Revised Code; | 4176 |
(3) Contract with an agent to do both of the following: | 4177 |
(a) Supply debit cards for claimants to access payments made | 4178 |
to them pursuant to this chapter and Chapters 4121., 4127., and | 4179 |
4131. of the Revised Code; | 4180 |
(b) Credit the debit cards described in division (A)(3)(a) of | 4181 |
this section with the amounts specified by the administrator | 4182 |
pursuant to this chapter and Chapters 4121., 4127., and 4131. of | 4183 |
the Revised Code by utilizing direct deposit of funds by | 4184 |
electronic transfer. | 4185 |
(4) Enter into agreements with financial institutions to | 4186 |
credit the debit cards described in division (A)(3)(a) of this | 4187 |
section with the amounts specified by the administrator pursuant | 4188 |
to this chapter and Chapters 4121., 4127., and 4131. of the | 4189 |
Revised Code by utilizing direct deposit of funds by electronic | 4190 |
transfer. | 4191 |
(B) The administrator shall inform claimants about the | 4192 |
administrator's utilization of direct deposit of funds by | 4193 |
electronic transfer under this section and section 9.37 of the | 4194 |
Revised Code, furnish debit cards to claimants as appropriate, and | 4195 |
provide claimants with instructions regarding use of those debit | 4196 |
cards. | 4197 |
(C) The administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 4198 |
bureau of workers' compensation | 4199 |
directors, shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of | 4200 |
the Revised Code regarding utilization of the direct deposit of | 4201 |
funds by electronic transfer under this section and section 9.37 | 4202 |
of the Revised Code. | 4203 |
Sec. 4123.32. The administrator of workers' compensation, | 4204 |
with the advice and consent of the bureau of workers' compensation | 4205 |
4206 | |
respect to the collection, maintenance, and disbursements of the | 4207 |
state insurance fund including all of the following: | 4208 |
(A) | 4209 |
4210 | |
4211 | |
4212 | |
4213 | |
4214 | |
4215 | |
4216 |
| 4217 |
collected from any employer entitles the employer to the benefits | 4218 |
of this chapter for the remainder of the six months and also for | 4219 |
an additional adjustment period of two months, and, thereafter, if | 4220 |
the employer pays the premium due at the close of any six-month | 4221 |
period, coverage shall be extended for an additional eight-month | 4222 |
period beginning from the end of the six-month period for which | 4223 |
the employer pays the premium due; | 4224 |
| 4225 |
any employer's report of estimated or actual expenditure of wages | 4226 |
and the determination and adjustment of proper premiums and the | 4227 |
payment of those premiums by the employer for or during any period | 4228 |
less than eight months and notwithstanding any payment or | 4229 |
determination of premium made when exceptional conditions or | 4230 |
circumstances in the judgment of the administrator justify the | 4231 |
action; | 4232 |
| 4233 |
necessary to safeguard the fund and that are just in the | 4234 |
circumstances, covering the rates to be applied where one employer | 4235 |
takes over the occupation or industry of another or where an | 4236 |
employer first makes application for state insurance, and the | 4237 |
administrator may require that if any employer transfers a | 4238 |
business in whole or in part or otherwise reorganizes the | 4239 |
business, the successor in interest shall assume, in proportion to | 4240 |
the extent of the transfer, as determined by the administrator, | 4241 |
the employer's account and shall continue the payment of all | 4242 |
contributions due under this chapter; | 4243 |
| 4244 |
(1) If, within two months immediately after the expiration of | 4245 |
the six-month period, an employer fails to file a report of the | 4246 |
employer's actual payroll expenditures for the period, the premium | 4247 |
found to be due from the employer for the period shall be | 4248 |
increased in an amount equal to one per cent of the premium, but | 4249 |
the increase shall not be less than three nor more than fifteen | 4250 |
dollars; | 4251 |
(2) The premium determined by the administrator to be due | 4252 |
from an employer shall be payable on or before the end of the | 4253 |
coverage period established by the premium security deposit, or | 4254 |
within the time specified by the administrator if the period for | 4255 |
which the advance premium has been paid is less than eight months. | 4256 |
If an employer fails to pay the premium when due, the | 4257 |
administrator may add a late fee penalty of not more than thirty | 4258 |
dollars to the premium plus an additional penalty amount as | 4259 |
follows: | 4260 |
(a) For a premium from sixty-one to ninety days past due, the | 4261 |
prime interest rate, multiplied by the premium due; | 4262 |
(b) For a premium from ninety-one to one hundred twenty days | 4263 |
past due, the prime interest rate plus two per cent, multiplied by | 4264 |
the premium due; | 4265 |
(c) For a premium from one hundred twenty-one to one hundred | 4266 |
fifty days past due, the prime interest rate plus four per cent, | 4267 |
multiplied by the premium due; | 4268 |
(d) For a premium from one hundred fifty-one to one hundred | 4269 |
eighty days past due, the prime interest rate plus six per cent, | 4270 |
multiplied by the premium due; | 4271 |
(e) For a premium from one hundred eighty-one to two hundred | 4272 |
ten days past due, the prime interest rate plus eight per cent, | 4273 |
multiplied by the premium due; | 4274 |
(f) For each additional thirty-day period or portion thereof | 4275 |
that a premium remains past due after it has remained past due for | 4276 |
more than two hundred ten days, the prime interest rate plus eight | 4277 |
per cent, multiplied by the premium due. | 4278 |
(3) Notwithstanding the interest rates specified in division | 4279 |
4280 | |
amount assessed under division | 4281 |
fifteen per cent of the premium due. | 4282 |
(4) An employer may appeal a late fee penalty or additional | 4283 |
penalty to an adjudicating committee pursuant to section 4123.291 | 4284 |
of the Revised Code. | 4285 |
For purposes of division | 4286 |
interest rate" means the average bank prime rate, and the | 4287 |
administrator shall determine the prime interest rate in the same | 4288 |
manner as a county auditor determines the average bank prime rate | 4289 |
under section 929.02 of the Revised Code. | 4290 |
(5) If the employer files an appropriate payroll report, | 4291 |
within the time provided by law or within the time specified by | 4292 |
the administrator if the period for which the employer paid an | 4293 |
estimated premium is less than eight months, the employer shall | 4294 |
not be in default and division
| 4295 |
apply if the employer pays the premiums within fifteen days after | 4296 |
being first notified by the administrator of the amount due. | 4297 |
(6) Any deficiencies in the amounts of the premium security | 4298 |
deposit paid by an employer for any period shall be subject to an | 4299 |
interest charge of six per cent per annum from the date the | 4300 |
premium obligation is incurred. In determining the interest due on | 4301 |
deficiencies in premium security deposit payments, a charge in | 4302 |
each case shall be made against the employer in an amount equal to | 4303 |
interest at the rate of six per cent per annum on the premium | 4304 |
security deposit due but remaining unpaid sixty days after notice | 4305 |
by the administrator. | 4306 |
(7) Any interest charges or penalties provided for in | 4307 |
divisions
| 4308 |
the employer's account for rating purposes in the same manner as | 4309 |
premiums. | 4310 |
| 4311 |
of instituting coverage under this chapter, shall submit a premium | 4312 |
security deposit. The deposit shall be calculated equivalent to | 4313 |
thirty per cent of the semiannual premium obligation of the | 4314 |
employer based upon the employer's estimated expenditure for wages | 4315 |
for the ensuing six-month period plus thirty per cent of an | 4316 |
additional adjustment period of two months but only up to a | 4317 |
maximum of one thousand dollars and not less than ten dollars. The | 4318 |
administrator shall review the security deposit of every employer | 4319 |
who has submitted a deposit which is less than the | 4320 |
one-thousand-dollar maximum. The administrator may require any | 4321 |
such employer to submit additional money up to the maximum of one | 4322 |
thousand dollars that, in the administrator's opinion, reflects | 4323 |
the employer's current payroll expenditure for an eight-month | 4324 |
period. | 4325 |
(F) A rule providing that each employer, on the occasion of | 4326 |
instituting coverage under this chapter, shall submit an | 4327 |
application for coverage that completely provides all of the | 4328 |
information required for the administrator to establish coverage | 4329 |
for that employer, and that the employer's failure to provide all | 4330 |
of the information completely may be grounds for the administrator | 4331 |
to deny coverage for that employer. | 4332 |
(G) A rule providing that, in addition to any other remedies | 4333 |
permitted in this chapter, the administrator may discontinue an | 4334 |
employer's coverage if the employer fails to pay the premium due | 4335 |
on or before the premium's due date. | 4336 |
(H) A rule providing that if after a final adjudication it is | 4337 |
determined that an employer has failed to pay an obligation, | 4338 |
billing, account, or assessment that is greater than one thousand | 4339 |
dollars on or before its due date, the administrator may | 4340 |
discontinue the employer's coverage in addition to any other | 4341 |
remedies permitted in this chapter, and that the administrator | 4342 |
shall not discontinue an employer's coverage pursuant to division | 4343 |
(N) of this section prior to a final adjudication regarding the | 4344 |
employer's failure to pay such obligation, billing, account, or | 4345 |
assessment on or before its due date. | 4346 |
(I) As used in divisions (G) and (H) of this section: | 4347 |
(1) "Employer" has the same meaning as in division (B) of | 4348 |
section 4123.01 of the Revised Code except that "employer" does | 4349 |
not include the state, a state hospital, or a state university or | 4350 |
college. | 4351 |
(2) "State university or college" has the same meaning as in | 4352 |
section 3345.12 of the Revised Code and also includes the Ohio | 4353 |
agricultural research and development center and the Ohio state | 4354 |
university cooperative extension service. | 4355 |
(3) "State hospital" means the Ohio state university hospital | 4356 |
and its ancillary facilities and the medical university of Ohio at | 4357 |
Toledo hospital. | 4358 |
Sec. 4123.321. The bureau of workers' compensation board of | 4359 |
directors, based upon recommendations of the workers' compensation | 4360 |
actuarial committee, shall adopt a rule with respect to the | 4361 |
collection, maintenance, and disbursements of the state insurance | 4362 |
fund providing that in the event there is developed as of any | 4363 |
given rate revision date a surplus of earned premium over all | 4364 |
losses that, in the judgment of the board, is larger than is | 4365 |
necessary adequately to safeguard the solvency of the fund, the | 4366 |
board may return such excess surplus to the subscribers to the | 4367 |
fund in either the form of cash refunds or a reduction of | 4368 |
premiums, regardless of when the premium obligations have accrued. | 4369 |
Sec. 4123.34. It shall be the duty of the bureau of workers' | 4370 |
compensation board of directors and the administrator of workers' | 4371 |
compensation to safeguard and maintain the solvency of the state | 4372 |
insurance fund and all other funds specified in this chapter and | 4373 |
Chapters 4121., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code. The | 4374 |
administrator | 4375 |
powers and discretion conferred upon the administrator in section | 4376 |
4123.29 of the Revised Code, shall fix and maintain, with the | 4377 |
advice and consent of the | 4378 |
4379 | |
lowest possible rates of premium consistent with the maintenance | 4380 |
of a solvent state insurance fund and the creation and maintenance | 4381 |
of a reasonable surplus, after the payment of legitimate claims | 4382 |
for injury, occupational disease, and death that the administrator | 4383 |
authorizes to be paid from the state insurance fund for the | 4384 |
benefit of injured, diseased, and the dependents of killed | 4385 |
employees. In establishing rates, the administrator shall take | 4386 |
into account the necessity of ensuring sufficient money is set | 4387 |
aside in the premium payment security fund to cover any defaults | 4388 |
in premium obligations. The administrator shall observe all of the | 4389 |
following requirements in fixing the rates of premium for the | 4390 |
risks of occupations or industries: | 4391 |
(A) The administrator shall keep an accurate account of the | 4392 |
money paid in premiums by each of the several classes of | 4393 |
occupations or industries, and the losses on account of injuries, | 4394 |
occupational disease, and death of employees thereof, and also | 4395 |
keep an account of the money received from each individual | 4396 |
employer and the amount of losses incurred against the state | 4397 |
insurance fund on account of injuries, occupational disease, and | 4398 |
death of the employees of the employer. | 4399 |
(B) Ten per cent of the money paid into the state insurance | 4400 |
fund shall be set aside for the creation of a surplus until the | 4401 |
surplus amounts to the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, after | 4402 |
which time, whenever necessary in the judgment of the | 4403 |
administrator to guarantee a solvent state insurance fund, a sum | 4404 |
not exceeding five per cent of all the money paid into the state | 4405 |
insurance fund shall be credited to the surplus fund. A revision | 4406 |
of basic rates shall be made annually on the first day of July. | 4407 |
Notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, one | 4408 |
hundred eighty days after the effective date on which | 4409 |
self-insuring employers first may elect under division (D) of | 4410 |
section 4121.66 of the Revised Code to directly pay for | 4411 |
rehabilitation expenses, the administrator shall calculate the | 4412 |
deficit, if any, in the portion of surplus fund that is used for | 4413 |
reimbursement to self-insuring employers for all expenses other | 4414 |
than handicapped reimbursement under section 4123.343 of the | 4415 |
Revised Code. | 4416 |
4417 | |
4418 | |
4419 | |
4420 | |
4421 | |
The administrator, from time to time, may determine whether the | 4422 |
surplus fund has such a deficit and may assess all self-insuring | 4423 |
employers who participated in the portion of the surplus fund | 4424 |
during the accrual of the deficit and who during that time period | 4425 |
have not made the election under division (D) of section 4121.66 | 4426 |
of the Revised Code the amount the administrator determines | 4427 |
necessary to reduce the deficit. | 4428 |
Revisions of basic rates shall be in accordance with the | 4429 |
oldest four of the last five calendar years of the combined | 4430 |
accident and occupational disease experience of the administrator | 4431 |
in the administration of this chapter, as shown by the accounts | 4432 |
kept as provided in this section, excluding the experience of | 4433 |
employers that are no longer active if the administrator | 4434 |
determines that the inclusion of those employers would have a | 4435 |
significant negative impact on the remainder of the employers in a | 4436 |
particular manual classification; and the administrator shall | 4437 |
adopt rules, with the advice and
consent of the | 4438 |
4439 | |
shall be to make an equitable distribution of losses among the | 4440 |
several classes of occupation or industry, which rules shall be | 4441 |
general in their application. | 4442 |
(C) The administrator may apply that form of rating system | 4443 |
4444 | |
rate or individually rate the risk more equitably, predicated upon | 4445 |
the basis of its individual industrial accident and occupational | 4446 |
disease experience, and may encourage and stimulate accident | 4447 |
prevention. The administrator shall develop fixed and equitable | 4448 |
rules controlling the rating system, which rules shall conserve to | 4449 |
each risk the basic principles of workers' compensation insurance. | 4450 |
(D) The administrator, from the money paid into the state | 4451 |
insurance fund, shall set aside into an account of the state | 4452 |
insurance fund titled a premium payment security fund sufficient | 4453 |
money to pay for any premiums due from an employer and uncollected | 4454 |
that are in excess of the employer's premium security deposit. | 4455 |
The fund shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state. | 4456 |
All investment earnings of the fund shall be deposited in the | 4457 |
fund. Disbursements from the fund shall be made by the bureau of | 4458 |
workers' compensation upon order of the administrator to the state | 4459 |
insurance fund. The use of the moneys held by the premium payment | 4460 |
security fund is restricted to reimbursement to the state | 4461 |
insurance fund of premiums due and uncollected in excess of an | 4462 |
employer's premium security deposit. The moneys constituting the | 4463 |
premium payment security fund shall be maintained without regard | 4464 |
to or reliance upon any other fund. This section does not prevent | 4465 |
the deposit or investment of the premium payment security fund | 4466 |
with any other fund created by this chapter, but the premium | 4467 |
payment security fund is separate and distinct for every other | 4468 |
purpose and a strict accounting thereof shall be maintained. | 4469 |
(E) The administrator may grant discounts on premium rates | 4470 |
for employers who meet either of the following requirements: | 4471 |
(1) Have not incurred a compensable injury for one year or | 4472 |
more and who maintain an employee safety committee or similar | 4473 |
organization or make periodic safety inspections of the workplace. | 4474 |
(2) Successfully complete a loss prevention program | 4475 |
prescribed by the superintendent of the division of safety and | 4476 |
hygiene and conducted by the division or by any other person | 4477 |
approved by the superintendent. | 4478 |
(F)(1) In determining the premium rates for the construction | 4479 |
industry the administrator shall calculate the employers' premiums | 4480 |
based upon the actual remuneration construction industry employees | 4481 |
receive from construction industry employers, provided that the | 4482 |
amount of remuneration the administrator uses in calculating the | 4483 |
premiums shall not exceed an average weekly wage equal to one | 4484 |
hundred fifty per cent of the statewide average weekly wage as | 4485 |
defined in division (C) of section 4123.62 of the Revised Code. | 4486 |
(2) Division (F)(1) of this section shall not be construed as | 4487 |
affecting the manner in which benefits to a claimant are awarded | 4488 |
under this chapter. | 4489 |
(3) As used in division (F) of this section, "construction | 4490 |
industry" includes any activity performed in connection with the | 4491 |
erection, alteration, repair, replacement, renovation, | 4492 |
installation, or demolition of any building, structure, highway, | 4493 |
or bridge. | 4494 |
Sec. 4123.341. The administrative costs of the industrial | 4495 |
commission, the bureau of workers' compensation | 4496 |
4497 | |
compensation shall be those costs and expenses that are incident | 4498 |
to the discharge of the duties and performance of the activities | 4499 |
of
the industrial commission, the | 4500 |
the bureau under this chapter and
Chapters 4121. | 4501 |
4127., 4131., and 4167. of the Revised Code, and all such costs | 4502 |
shall be borne by the state and by other employers amenable to | 4503 |
this chapter as follows: | 4504 |
(A) In addition to the contribution required of the state | 4505 |
under sections 4123.39 and 4123.40 of the Revised Code, the state | 4506 |
shall contribute the sum determined to be necessary under section | 4507 |
4123.342 of the Revised Code. | 4508 |
(B) The director of budget and management may allocate the | 4509 |
state's share of contributions in the manner | 4510 |
most equitably apportions the costs. | 4511 |
(C) The counties and taxing districts therein shall | 4512 |
contribute such sum as may be required under section 4123.342 of | 4513 |
the Revised Code. | 4514 |
(D) The private employers shall contribute the sum required | 4515 |
under section 4123.342 of the Revised Code. | 4516 |
Sec. 4123.342. (A) The administrator of workers' | 4517 |
compensation shall allocate among counties and taxing districts | 4518 |
therein as a class, the state and its instrumentalities as a | 4519 |
class, private employers who are insured under the private fund as | 4520 |
a class, and self-insuring employers as a class their fair shares | 4521 |
of the administrative costs which are to be borne by such | 4522 |
employers under division (D) of section 4123.341 of the Revised | 4523 |
Code, separately allocating to each class those costs solely | 4524 |
attributable to the activities of the industrial commission, and | 4525 |
those costs solely attributable to the activities of the bureau of | 4526 |
workers'
compensation | 4527 |
the bureau of workers' compensation in respect of the class, | 4528 |
allocating to any combination of classes those costs attributable | 4529 |
to the activities of the industrial commission, | 4530 |
4531 | |
allocating to all four classes those costs attributable to the | 4532 |
activities of the industrial
commission, | 4533 |
board, and bureau in respect of all classes. The administrator | 4534 |
shall separately calculate each employer's assessment in the | 4535 |
class, except self-insuring employers, on the basis of the | 4536 |
following three factors: payroll, paid compensation, and paid | 4537 |
medical costs of the employer for those costs solely attributable | 4538 |
to the activities of the | 4539 |
bureau. The administrator shall separately calculate each | 4540 |
employer's assessment in the class, except self-insuring | 4541 |
employers, on the basis of the following three factors: payroll, | 4542 |
paid compensation, and paid medical costs of the employer for | 4543 |
those costs solely attributable to the activities of the | 4544 |
industrial commission. The administrator shall separately | 4545 |
calculate each self-insuring employer's assessment in accordance | 4546 |
with section 4123.35 of the Revised Code for those costs solely | 4547 |
attributable to the activities of the | 4548 |
and the bureau. The administrator shall separately calculate each | 4549 |
self-insuring employer's assessment in accordance with section | 4550 |
4123.35 of the Revised Code for those costs solely attributable to | 4551 |
the activities of the industrial commission. In a timely manner, | 4552 |
the industrial commission shall provide to the administrator, the | 4553 |
information necessary for the administrator to allocate and | 4554 |
calculate, with the approval of the chairperson of the industrial | 4555 |
commission, for each class of employer as described in this | 4556 |
division, the costs solely attributable to the activities of the | 4557 |
industrial commission. | 4558 |
(B) The administrator shall divide the administrative cost | 4559 |
assessments collected by the administrator into two administrative | 4560 |
assessment accounts within the state insurance fund. One of the | 4561 |
administrative assessment accounts shall consist of the | 4562 |
administrative cost assessment collected by the administrator for | 4563 |
the industrial commission. The other administrative assessment | 4564 |
account shall consist of the administrative cost assessments | 4565 |
collected by the administrator for the bureau and the | 4566 |
4567 | |
invest the administrative cost assessments in these accounts on | 4568 |
behalf of the bureau and the industrial commission as authorized | 4569 |
in section 4123.44 of the Revised Code. In a timely manner, the | 4570 |
administrator shall provide to the industrial commission the | 4571 |
information and reports the commission deems necessary for the | 4572 |
commission to monitor the receipts and the disbursements from the | 4573 |
administrative assessment account for the industrial commission. | 4574 |
(C) The administrator or the administrator's designee shall | 4575 |
transfer moneys as necessary from the administrative assessment | 4576 |
account identified for the bureau and the | 4577 |
4578 | |
the use of the bureau and the | 4579 |
necessary and upon the authorization of the industrial commission, | 4580 |
the administrator or the administrator's designee shall transfer | 4581 |
moneys from the administrative assessment account identified for | 4582 |
the industrial commission to the industrial commission operating | 4583 |
fund created under section 4121.021 of the Revised Code. To the | 4584 |
extent that the moneys collected by the administrator in any | 4585 |
fiscal biennium of the state equal the sum appropriated by the | 4586 |
general assembly for administrative costs of the industrial | 4587 |
commission, | 4588 |
biennium, the moneys shall be paid into the workers' compensation | 4589 |
fund and the industrial commission operating fund of the state and | 4590 |
any remainder shall be retained in the state insurance fund and | 4591 |
applied to reduce the amount collected during the next biennium. | 4592 |
Sections 4123.41, 4123.35, and 4123.37 of the Revised Code apply | 4593 |
to the collection of assessments from public and private employers | 4594 |
respectively, except that for boards of county hospital trustees | 4595 |
that are self-insuring employers, only those provisions applicable | 4596 |
to the collection of assessments for private employers apply. | 4597 |
Sec. 4123.35. (A) Except as provided in this section, every | 4598 |
employer mentioned in division (B)(2) of section 4123.01 of the | 4599 |
Revised Code, and every publicly owned utility shall pay | 4600 |
semiannually in the months of January and July into the state | 4601 |
insurance fund the amount of annual premium the administrator of | 4602 |
workers' compensation fixes for the employment or occupation of | 4603 |
the employer, the amount of which premium to be paid by each | 4604 |
employer to be determined by the classifications, rules, and rates | 4605 |
made and published by the administrator. The employer shall pay | 4606 |
semiannually a further sum of money into the state insurance fund | 4607 |
as may be ascertained to be due from the employer by applying the | 4608 |
rules of the administrator, and a receipt or certificate | 4609 |
certifying that payment has been made, along with a written notice | 4610 |
as is required in section 4123.54 of the Revised Code, shall be | 4611 |
mailed immediately to the employer by the bureau of workers' | 4612 |
compensation. The receipt or certificate is prima-facie evidence | 4613 |
of the payment of the premium, and the proper posting of the | 4614 |
notice constitutes the employer's compliance with the notice | 4615 |
requirement mandated in section 4123.54 of the Revised Code. | 4616 |
The bureau of workers' compensation shall verify with the | 4617 |
secretary of state the existence of all corporations and | 4618 |
organizations making application for workers' compensation | 4619 |
coverage and shall require every such application to include the | 4620 |
employer's federal identification number. | 4621 |
An employer as defined in division (B)(2) of section 4123.01 | 4622 |
of the Revised Code who has contracted with a subcontractor is | 4623 |
liable for the unpaid premium due from any subcontractor with | 4624 |
respect to that part of the payroll of the subcontractor that is | 4625 |
for work performed pursuant to the contract with the employer. | 4626 |
Division (A) of this section providing for the payment of | 4627 |
premiums semiannually does not apply to any employer who was a | 4628 |
subscriber to the state insurance fund prior to January 1, 1914, | 4629 |
or who may first become a subscriber to the fund in any month | 4630 |
other than January or July. Instead, the semiannual premiums shall | 4631 |
be paid by those employers from time to time upon the expiration | 4632 |
of the respective periods for which payments into the fund have | 4633 |
been made by them. | 4634 |
The administrator shall adopt rules to permit employers to | 4635 |
make periodic payments of the semiannual premium due under this | 4636 |
division. The rules shall include provisions for the assessment of | 4637 |
interest charges, where appropriate, and for the assessment of | 4638 |
penalties when an employer fails to make timely premium payments. | 4639 |
An employer who timely pays the amounts due under this division is | 4640 |
entitled to all of the benefits and protections of this chapter. | 4641 |
Upon receipt of payment, the bureau immediately shall mail a | 4642 |
receipt or certificate to the employer certifying that payment has | 4643 |
been made, which receipt is prima-facie evidence of payment. | 4644 |
Workers' compensation coverage under this chapter continues | 4645 |
uninterrupted upon timely receipt of payment under this division. | 4646 |
Every public employer, except public employers that are | 4647 |
self-insuring employers under this section, shall comply with | 4648 |
sections 4123.38 to 4123.41, and 4123.48 of the Revised Code in | 4649 |
regard to the contribution of moneys to the public insurance fund. | 4650 |
(B) Employers who will abide by the rules of the | 4651 |
administrator and who may be of sufficient financial ability to | 4652 |
render certain the payment of compensation to injured employees or | 4653 |
the dependents of killed employees, and the furnishing of medical, | 4654 |
surgical, nursing, and hospital attention and services and | 4655 |
medicines, and funeral expenses, equal to or greater than is | 4656 |
provided for in sections 4123.52, 4123.55 to 4123.62, and 4123.64 | 4657 |
to 4123.67 of the Revised Code, and who do not desire to insure | 4658 |
the payment thereof or indemnify themselves against loss sustained | 4659 |
by the direct payment thereof, upon a finding of such facts by the | 4660 |
administrator, may be granted the privilege to pay individually | 4661 |
compensation, and furnish medical, surgical, nursing, and hospital | 4662 |
services and attention and funeral expenses directly to injured | 4663 |
employees or the dependents of killed employees, thereby being | 4664 |
granted status as a self-insuring employer. The administrator may | 4665 |
charge employers who apply for the status as a self-insuring | 4666 |
employer a reasonable application fee to cover the bureau's costs | 4667 |
in connection with processing and making a determination with | 4668 |
respect to an application. | 4669 |
All employers granted status as self-insuring employers shall | 4670 |
demonstrate sufficient financial and administrative ability to | 4671 |
assure that all obligations under this section are promptly met. | 4672 |
The administrator shall deny the privilege where the employer is | 4673 |
unable to demonstrate the employer's ability to promptly meet all | 4674 |
the obligations imposed on the employer by this section. | 4675 |
(1) The administrator shall consider, but is not limited to, | 4676 |
the following factors, where applicable, in determining the | 4677 |
employer's ability to meet all of the obligations imposed on the | 4678 |
employer by this section: | 4679 |
(a) The employer employs a minimum of five hundred employees | 4680 |
in this state; | 4681 |
(b) The employer has operated in this state for a minimum of | 4682 |
two years, provided that an employer who has purchased, acquired, | 4683 |
or otherwise succeeded to the operation of a business, or any part | 4684 |
thereof, situated in this state that has operated for at least two | 4685 |
years in this state, also shall qualify; | 4686 |
(c) Where the employer previously contributed to the state | 4687 |
insurance fund or is a successor employer as defined by bureau | 4688 |
rules, the amount of the buyout, as defined by bureau rules; | 4689 |
(d) The sufficiency of the employer's assets located in this | 4690 |
state to insure the employer's solvency in paying compensation | 4691 |
directly; | 4692 |
(e) The financial records, documents, and data, certified by | 4693 |
a certified public accountant, necessary to provide the employer's | 4694 |
full financial disclosure. The records, documents, and data | 4695 |
include, but are not limited to, balance sheets and profit and | 4696 |
loss history for the current year and previous four years. | 4697 |
(f) The employer's organizational plan for the administration | 4698 |
of the workers' compensation law; | 4699 |
(g) The employer's proposed plan to inform employees of the | 4700 |
change from a state fund insurer to a self-insuring employer, the | 4701 |
procedures the employer will follow as a self-insuring employer, | 4702 |
and the employees' rights to compensation and benefits; and | 4703 |
(h) The employer has either an account in a financial | 4704 |
institution in this state, or if the employer maintains an account | 4705 |
with a financial institution outside this state, ensures that | 4706 |
workers' compensation checks are drawn from the same account as | 4707 |
payroll checks or the employer clearly indicates that payment will | 4708 |
be honored by a financial institution in this state. | 4709 |
The administrator may waive the requirements of divisions | 4710 |
(B)(1)(a) and (b) of this section and the requirement of division | 4711 |
(B)(1)(e) of this section that the financial records, documents, | 4712 |
and data be certified by a certified public accountant. The | 4713 |
administrator shall adopt rules establishing the criteria that an | 4714 |
employer shall meet in order for the administrator to waive the | 4715 |
requirement of division (B)(1)(e) of this section. Such rules may | 4716 |
require additional security of that employer pursuant to division | 4717 |
(E) of section 4123.351 of the Revised Code. | 4718 |
The administrator shall not grant the status of self-insuring | 4719 |
employer to the state, except that the administrator may grant the | 4720 |
status of self-insuring employer to a state institution of higher | 4721 |
education, excluding its hospitals, that meets the requirements of | 4722 |
division (B)(2) of this section. | 4723 |
(2) When considering the application of a public employer, | 4724 |
except for a board of county commissioners described in division | 4725 |
(G) of section 4123.01 of the Revised Code, a board of a county | 4726 |
hospital, or a publicly owned utility, the administrator shall | 4727 |
verify that the public employer satisfies all of the following | 4728 |
requirements as the requirements apply to that public employer: | 4729 |
(a) For the two-year period preceding application under this | 4730 |
section, the public employer has maintained an unvoted debt | 4731 |
capacity equal to at least two times the amount of the current | 4732 |
annual premium established by the administrator under this chapter | 4733 |
for that public employer for the year immediately preceding the | 4734 |
year in which the public employer makes application under this | 4735 |
section. | 4736 |
(b) For each of the two fiscal years preceding application | 4737 |
under this section, the unreserved and undesignated year-end fund | 4738 |
balance in the public employer's general fund is equal to at least | 4739 |
five per cent of the public employer's general fund revenues for | 4740 |
the fiscal year computed in accordance with generally accepted | 4741 |
accounting principles. | 4742 |
(c) For the five-year period preceding application under this | 4743 |
section, the public employer, to the extent applicable, has | 4744 |
complied fully with the continuing disclosure requirements | 4745 |
established in rules adopted by the United States securities and | 4746 |
exchange commission under 17 C.F.R. 240.15c 2-12. | 4747 |
(d) For the five-year period preceding application under this | 4748 |
section, the public employer has not had its local government fund | 4749 |
distribution withheld on account of the public employer being | 4750 |
indebted or otherwise obligated to the state. | 4751 |
(e) For the five-year period preceding application under this | 4752 |
section, the public employer has not been under a fiscal watch or | 4753 |
fiscal emergency pursuant to section 118.023, 118.04, or 3316.03 | 4754 |
of the Revised Code. | 4755 |
(f) For the public employer's fiscal year preceding | 4756 |
application under this section, the public employer has obtained | 4757 |
an annual financial audit as required under section 117.10 of the | 4758 |
Revised Code, which has been released by the auditor of state | 4759 |
within seven months after the end of the public employer's fiscal | 4760 |
year. | 4761 |
(g) On the date of application, the public employer holds a | 4762 |
debt rating of Aa3 or higher according to Moody's investors | 4763 |
service, inc., or a comparable rating by an independent rating | 4764 |
agency similar to Moody's investors service, inc. | 4765 |
(h) The public employer agrees to generate an annual | 4766 |
accumulating book reserve in its financial statements reflecting | 4767 |
an actuarially generated reserve adequate to pay projected claims | 4768 |
under this chapter for the applicable period of time, as | 4769 |
determined by the administrator. | 4770 |
(i) For a public employer that is a hospital, the public | 4771 |
employer shall submit audited financial statements showing the | 4772 |
hospital's overall liquidity characteristics, and the | 4773 |
administrator shall determine, on an individual basis, whether the | 4774 |
public employer satisfies liquidity standards equivalent to the | 4775 |
liquidity standards of other public employers. | 4776 |
(j) Any additional criteria that the administrator adopts by | 4777 |
rule pursuant to division (E) of this section. | 4778 |
The administrator shall not approve the application of a | 4779 |
public employer, except for a board of county commissioners | 4780 |
described in division (G) of section 4123.01 of the Revised Code, | 4781 |
a board of a county hospital, or publicly owned utility, who does | 4782 |
not satisfy all of the requirements listed in division (B)(2) of | 4783 |
this section. | 4784 |
(C) A board of county commissioners described in division (G) | 4785 |
of section 4123.01 of the Revised Code, as an employer, that will | 4786 |
abide by the rules of the administrator and that may be of | 4787 |
sufficient financial ability to render certain the payment of | 4788 |
compensation to injured employees or the dependents of killed | 4789 |
employees, and the furnishing of medical, surgical, nursing, and | 4790 |
hospital attention and services and medicines, and funeral | 4791 |
expenses, equal to or greater than is provided for in sections | 4792 |
4123.52, 4123.55 to 4123.62, and 4123.64 to 4123.67 of the Revised | 4793 |
Code, and that does not desire to insure the payment thereof or | 4794 |
indemnify itself against loss sustained by the direct payment | 4795 |
thereof, upon a finding of such facts by the administrator, may be | 4796 |
granted the privilege to pay individually compensation, and | 4797 |
furnish medical, surgical, nursing, and hospital services and | 4798 |
attention and funeral expenses directly to injured employees or | 4799 |
the dependents of killed employees, thereby being granted status | 4800 |
as a self-insuring employer. The administrator may charge a board | 4801 |
of county commissioners described in division (G) of section | 4802 |
4123.01 of the Revised Code that applies for the status as a | 4803 |
self-insuring employer a reasonable application fee to cover the | 4804 |
bureau's costs in connection with processing and making a | 4805 |
determination with respect to an application. All employers | 4806 |
granted such status shall demonstrate sufficient financial and | 4807 |
administrative ability to assure that all obligations under this | 4808 |
section are promptly met. The administrator shall deny the | 4809 |
privilege where the employer is unable to demonstrate the | 4810 |
employer's ability to promptly meet all the obligations imposed on | 4811 |
the employer by this section. The administrator shall consider, | 4812 |
but is not limited to, the following factors, where applicable, in | 4813 |
determining the employer's ability to meet all of the obligations | 4814 |
imposed on the board as an employer by this section: | 4815 |
(1) The board as an employer employs a minimum of five | 4816 |
hundred employees in this state; | 4817 |
(2) The board has operated in this state for a minimum of two | 4818 |
years; | 4819 |
(3) Where the board previously contributed to the state | 4820 |
insurance fund or is a successor employer as defined by bureau | 4821 |
rules, the amount of the buyout, as defined by bureau rules; | 4822 |
(4) The sufficiency of the board's assets located in this | 4823 |
state to insure the board's solvency in paying compensation | 4824 |
directly; | 4825 |
(5) The financial records, documents, and data, certified by | 4826 |
a certified public accountant, necessary to provide the board's | 4827 |
full financial disclosure. The records, documents, and data | 4828 |
include, but are not limited to, balance sheets and profit and | 4829 |
loss history for the current year and previous four years. | 4830 |
(6) The board's organizational plan for the administration of | 4831 |
the workers' compensation law; | 4832 |
(7) The board's proposed plan to inform employees of the | 4833 |
proposed self-insurance, the procedures the board will follow as a | 4834 |
self-insuring employer, and the employees' rights to compensation | 4835 |
and benefits; | 4836 |
(8) The board has either an account in a financial | 4837 |
institution in this state, or if the board maintains an account | 4838 |
with a financial institution outside this state, ensures that | 4839 |
workers' compensation checks are drawn from the same account as | 4840 |
payroll checks or the board clearly indicates that payment will be | 4841 |
honored by a financial institution in this state; | 4842 |
(9) The board shall provide the administrator a surety bond | 4843 |
in an amount equal to one hundred twenty-five per cent of the | 4844 |
projected losses as determined by the administrator. | 4845 |
(D) The administrator shall require a surety bond from all | 4846 |
self-insuring employers, issued pursuant to section 4123.351 of | 4847 |
the Revised Code, that is sufficient to compel, or secure to | 4848 |
injured employees, or to the dependents of employees killed, the | 4849 |
payment of compensation and expenses, which shall in no event be | 4850 |
less than that paid or furnished out of the state insurance fund | 4851 |
in similar cases to injured employees or to dependents of killed | 4852 |
employees whose employers contribute to the fund, except when an | 4853 |
employee of the employer, who has suffered the loss of a hand, | 4854 |
arm, foot, leg, or eye prior to the injury for which compensation | 4855 |
is to be paid, and thereafter suffers the loss of any other of the | 4856 |
members as the result of any injury sustained in the course of and | 4857 |
arising out of the employee's employment, the compensation to be | 4858 |
paid by the self-insuring employer is limited to the disability | 4859 |
suffered in the subsequent injury, additional compensation, if | 4860 |
any, to be paid by the bureau out of the surplus created by | 4861 |
section 4123.34 of the Revised Code. | 4862 |
(E) In addition to the requirements of this section, the | 4863 |
administrator shall make and publish rules governing the manner of | 4864 |
making application and the nature and extent of the proof required | 4865 |
to justify a finding of fact by the administrator as to granting | 4866 |
the status of a self-insuring employer, which rules shall be | 4867 |
general in their application, one of which rules shall provide | 4868 |
that all self-insuring employers shall pay into the state | 4869 |
insurance fund such amounts as are required to be credited to the | 4870 |
surplus fund in division (B) of section 4123.34 of the Revised | 4871 |
Code. The administrator may adopt rules establishing requirements | 4872 |
in addition to the requirements described in division (B)(2) of | 4873 |
this section that a public employer shall meet in order to qualify | 4874 |
for self-insuring status. | 4875 |
Employers shall secure directly from the bureau central | 4876 |
offices application forms upon which the bureau shall stamp a | 4877 |
designating number. Prior to submission of an application, an | 4878 |
employer shall make available to the bureau, and the bureau shall | 4879 |
review, the information described in division (B)(1) of this | 4880 |
section, and public employers shall make available, and the bureau | 4881 |
shall review, the information necessary to verify whether the | 4882 |
public employer meets the requirements listed in division (B)(2) | 4883 |
of this section. An employer shall file the completed application | 4884 |
forms with an application fee, which shall cover the costs of | 4885 |
processing the application, as established by the administrator, | 4886 |
by rule, with the bureau at least ninety days prior to the | 4887 |
effective date of the employer's new status as a self-insuring | 4888 |
employer. The application form is not deemed complete until all | 4889 |
the required information is attached thereto. The bureau shall | 4890 |
only accept applications that contain the required information. | 4891 |
(F) The bureau shall review completed applications within a | 4892 |
reasonable time. If the bureau determines to grant an employer the | 4893 |
status as a self-insuring employer, the bureau shall issue a | 4894 |
statement, containing its findings of fact, that is prepared by | 4895 |
the bureau and signed by the administrator. If the bureau | 4896 |
determines not to grant the status as a self-insuring employer, | 4897 |
the bureau shall notify the employer of the determination and | 4898 |
require the employer to continue to pay its full premium into the | 4899 |
state insurance fund. The administrator also shall adopt rules | 4900 |
establishing a minimum level of performance as a criterion for | 4901 |
granting and maintaining the status as a self-insuring employer | 4902 |
and fixing time limits beyond which failure of the self-insuring | 4903 |
employer to provide for the necessary medical examinations and | 4904 |
evaluations may not delay a decision on a claim. | 4905 |
(G) The administrator shall adopt rules setting forth | 4906 |
procedures for auditing the program of self-insuring employers. | 4907 |
The bureau shall conduct the audit upon a random basis or whenever | 4908 |
the bureau has grounds for believing that a self-insuring employer | 4909 |
is not in full compliance with bureau rules or this chapter. | 4910 |
The administrator shall monitor the programs conducted by | 4911 |
self-insuring employers, to ensure compliance with bureau | 4912 |
requirements and for that purpose, shall develop and issue to | 4913 |
self-insuring employers standardized forms for use by the | 4914 |
self-insuring employer in all aspects of the self-insuring | 4915 |
employers' direct compensation program and for reporting of | 4916 |
information to the bureau. | 4917 |
The bureau shall receive and transmit to the self-insuring | 4918 |
employer all complaints concerning any self-insuring employer. In | 4919 |
the case of a complaint against a self-insuring employer, the | 4920 |
administrator shall handle the complaint through the | 4921 |
self-insurance division of the bureau. The bureau shall maintain a | 4922 |
file by employer of all complaints received that relate to the | 4923 |
employer. The bureau shall evaluate each complaint and take | 4924 |
appropriate action. | 4925 |
The administrator shall adopt as a rule a prohibition against | 4926 |
any self-insuring employer from harassing, dismissing, or | 4927 |
otherwise disciplining any employee making a complaint, which rule | 4928 |
shall provide for a financial penalty to be levied by the | 4929 |
administrator payable by the offending self-insuring employer. | 4930 |
(H) For the purpose of making determinations as to whether to | 4931 |
grant status as a self-insuring employer, the administrator may | 4932 |
subscribe to and pay for a credit reporting service that offers | 4933 |
financial and other business information about individual | 4934 |
employers. The costs in connection with the bureau's subscription | 4935 |
or individual reports from the service about an applicant may be | 4936 |
included in the application fee charged employers under this | 4937 |
section. | 4938 |
(I) The administrator, notwithstanding other provisions of | 4939 |
this chapter, may permit a self-insuring employer to resume | 4940 |
payment of premiums to the state insurance fund with appropriate | 4941 |
credit modifications to the employer's basic premium rate as such | 4942 |
rate is determined pursuant to section 4123.29 of the Revised | 4943 |
Code. | 4944 |
(J) On the first day of July of each year, the administrator | 4945 |
shall calculate separately each self-insuring employer's | 4946 |
assessments for the safety and hygiene fund, administrative costs | 4947 |
pursuant to section 4123.342 of the Revised Code, and for the | 4948 |
portion of the surplus fund under division (B) of section 4123.34 | 4949 |
of the Revised Code that is not used for handicapped | 4950 |
reimbursement, on the basis of the paid compensation attributable | 4951 |
to the individual self-insuring employer according to the | 4952 |
following calculation: | 4953 |
(1) The total assessment against all self-insuring employers | 4954 |
as a class for each fund and for the administrative costs for the | 4955 |
year that the assessment is being made, as determined by the | 4956 |
administrator, divided by the total amount of paid compensation | 4957 |
for the previous calendar year attributable to all amenable | 4958 |
self-insuring employers; | 4959 |
(2) Multiply the quotient in division (J)(1) of this section | 4960 |
by the total amount of paid compensation for the previous calendar | 4961 |
year that is attributable to the individual self-insuring employer | 4962 |
for whom the assessment is being determined. Each self-insuring | 4963 |
employer shall pay the assessment that results from this | 4964 |
calculation, unless the assessment resulting from this calculation | 4965 |
falls below a minimum assessment, which minimum assessment the | 4966 |
administrator shall determine on the first day of July of each | 4967 |
year with the advice and consent of the bureau of workers' | 4968 |
compensation
| 4969 |
event, the self-insuring employer shall pay the minimum | 4970 |
assessment. | 4971 |
In determining the total amount due for the total assessment | 4972 |
against all self-insuring employers as a class for each fund and | 4973 |
the administrative assessment, the administrator shall reduce | 4974 |
proportionately the total for each fund and assessment by the | 4975 |
amount of money in the self-insurance assessment fund as of the | 4976 |
date of the computation of the assessment. | 4977 |
The administrator shall calculate the assessment for the | 4978 |
portion of the surplus fund under division (B) of section 4123.34 | 4979 |
of the Revised Code that is used for handicapped reimbursement in | 4980 |
the same manner as set forth in divisions (J)(1) and (2) of this | 4981 |
section except that the administrator shall calculate the total | 4982 |
assessment for this portion of the surplus fund only on the basis | 4983 |
of those self-insuring employers that retain participation in the | 4984 |
handicapped reimbursement program and the individual self-insuring | 4985 |
employer's proportion of paid compensation shall be calculated | 4986 |
only for those self-insuring employers who retain participation in | 4987 |
the handicapped reimbursement program. The administrator, as the | 4988 |
administrator determines appropriate, may determine the total | 4989 |
assessment for the handicapped portion of the surplus fund in | 4990 |
accordance with sound actuarial principles. | 4991 |
The administrator shall calculate the assessment for the | 4992 |
portion of the surplus fund under division (B) of section 4123.34 | 4993 |
of the Revised Code that under division (D) of section 4121.66 of | 4994 |
the Revised Code is used for rehabilitation costs in the same | 4995 |
manner as set forth in divisions (J)(1) and (2) of this section, | 4996 |
except that the administrator shall calculate the total assessment | 4997 |
for this portion of the surplus fund only on the basis of those | 4998 |
self-insuring employers who have not made the election to make | 4999 |
payments directly under division (D) of section 4121.66 of the | 5000 |
Revised Code and an individual self-insuring employer's proportion | 5001 |
of paid compensation only for those self-insuring employers who | 5002 |
have not made that election. | 5003 |
The administrator shall calculate the assessment for the | 5004 |
portion of the surplus fund under division (B) of section 4123.34 | 5005 |
of the Revised Code that is used for reimbursement to a | 5006 |
self-insuring employer under division (H) of section 4123.512 of | 5007 |
the Revised Code in the same manner as set forth in divisions | 5008 |
(J)(1) and (2) of this section except that the administrator shall | 5009 |
calculate the total assessment for this portion of the surplus | 5010 |
fund only on the basis of those self-insuring employers that | 5011 |
retain participation in reimbursement to the self-insuring | 5012 |
employer under division (H) of section 4123.512 of the Revised | 5013 |
Code and the individual self-insuring employer's proportion of | 5014 |
paid compensation shall be calculated only for those self-insuring | 5015 |
employers who retain participation in reimbursement to the | 5016 |
self-insuring employer under division (H) of section 4123.512 of | 5017 |
the Revised Code. | 5018 |
An employer who no longer is a self-insuring employer in this | 5019 |
state or who no longer is operating in this state, shall continue | 5020 |
to pay assessments for administrative costs and for the portion of | 5021 |
the surplus fund under division (B) of section 4123.34 of the | 5022 |
Revised Code that is not used for handicapped reimbursement, based | 5023 |
upon paid compensation attributable to claims that occurred while | 5024 |
the employer was a self-insuring employer within this state. | 5025 |
(K) There is hereby created in the state treasury the | 5026 |
self-insurance assessment fund. All investment earnings of the | 5027 |
fund shall be deposited in the fund. The administrator shall use | 5028 |
the money in the self-insurance assessment fund only for | 5029 |
administrative costs as specified in section 4123.341 of the | 5030 |
Revised Code. | 5031 |
(L) Every self-insuring employer shall certify, in affidavit | 5032 |
form subject to the penalty for perjury, to the bureau the amount | 5033 |
of the self-insuring employer's paid compensation for the previous | 5034 |
calendar year. In reporting paid compensation paid for the | 5035 |
previous year, a self-insuring employer shall exclude from the | 5036 |
total amount of paid compensation any reimbursement the | 5037 |
self-insuring employer receives in the previous calendar year from | 5038 |
the surplus fund pursuant to section 4123.512 of the Revised Code | 5039 |
for any paid compensation. The self-insuring employer also shall | 5040 |
exclude from the paid compensation reported any amount recovered | 5041 |
under section 4123.931 of the Revised Code and any amount that is | 5042 |
determined not to have been payable to or on behalf of a claimant | 5043 |
in any final administrative or judicial proceeding. The | 5044 |
self-insuring employer shall exclude such amounts from the paid | 5045 |
compensation reported in the reporting period subsequent to the | 5046 |
date the determination is made. The administrator shall adopt | 5047 |
rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, that | 5048 |
provide for all of the following: | 5049 |
(1) Establishing the date by which self-insuring employers | 5050 |
must submit such information and the amount of the assessments | 5051 |
provided for in division (J) of this section for employers who | 5052 |
have been granted self-insuring status within the last calendar | 5053 |
year; | 5054 |
(2) If an employer fails to pay the assessment when due, the | 5055 |
administrator may add a late fee penalty of not more than five | 5056 |
hundred dollars to the assessment plus an additional penalty | 5057 |
amount as follows: | 5058 |
(a) For an assessment from sixty-one to ninety days past due, | 5059 |
the prime interest rate, multiplied by the assessment due; | 5060 |
(b) For an assessment from ninety-one to one hundred twenty | 5061 |
days past due, the prime interest rate plus two per cent, | 5062 |
multiplied by the assessment due; | 5063 |
(c) For an assessment from one hundred twenty-one to one | 5064 |
hundred fifty days past due, the prime interest rate plus four per | 5065 |
cent, multiplied by the assessment due; | 5066 |
(d) For an assessment from one hundred fifty-one to one | 5067 |
hundred eighty days past due, the prime interest rate plus six per | 5068 |
cent, multiplied by the assessment due; | 5069 |
(e) For an assessment from one hundred eighty-one to two | 5070 |
hundred ten days past due, the prime interest rate plus eight per | 5071 |
cent, multiplied by the assessment due; | 5072 |
(f) For each additional thirty-day period or portion thereof | 5073 |
that an assessment remains past due after it has remained past due | 5074 |
for more than two hundred ten days, the prime interest rate plus | 5075 |
eight per cent, multiplied by the assessment due. | 5076 |
(3) An employer may appeal a late fee penalty and penalty | 5077 |
assessment to the administrator. | 5078 |
For purposes of | 5079 |
interest rate" means the average bank prime rate, and the | 5080 |
administrator shall determine the prime interest rate in the same | 5081 |
manner as a county auditor determines the average bank prime rate | 5082 |
under section 929.02 of the Revised Code. | 5083 |
The administrator shall include any assessment and penalties | 5084 |
that remain unpaid for previous assessment periods in the | 5085 |
calculation and collection of any assessments due under this | 5086 |
division or division (J) of this section. | 5087 |
(M) As used in this section, "paid compensation" means all | 5088 |
amounts paid by a self-insuring employer for living maintenance | 5089 |
benefits, all amounts for compensation paid pursuant to sections | 5090 |
4121.63, 4121.67, 4123.56, 4123.57, 4123.58, 4123.59, 4123.60, and | 5091 |
4123.64 of the Revised Code, all amounts paid as wages in lieu of | 5092 |
such compensation, all amounts paid in lieu of such compensation | 5093 |
under a nonoccupational accident and sickness program fully funded | 5094 |
by the self-insuring employer, and all amounts paid by a | 5095 |
self-insuring employer for a violation of a specific safety | 5096 |
standard pursuant to Section 35 of Article II, Ohio Constitution | 5097 |
and section 4121.47 of the Revised Code. | 5098 |
(N) Should any section of this chapter or Chapter 4121. of | 5099 |
the Revised Code providing for self-insuring employers' | 5100 |
assessments based upon compensation paid be declared | 5101 |
unconstitutional by a final decision of any court, then that | 5102 |
section of the Revised Code declared unconstitutional shall revert | 5103 |
back to the section in existence prior to November 3, 1989, | 5104 |
providing for assessments based upon payroll. | 5105 |
(O) The administrator may grant a self-insuring employer the | 5106 |
privilege to self-insure a construction project entered into by | 5107 |
the self-insuring employer that is scheduled for completion within | 5108 |
six years after the date the project begins, and the total cost of | 5109 |
which is estimated to exceed one hundred million dollars or, for | 5110 |
employers described in division (R) of this section, if the | 5111 |
construction project is estimated to exceed twenty-five million | 5112 |
dollars. The administrator may waive such cost and time criteria | 5113 |
and grant a self-insuring employer the privilege to self-insure a | 5114 |
construction project regardless of the time needed to complete the | 5115 |
construction project and provided that the cost of the | 5116 |
construction project is estimated to exceed fifty million dollars. | 5117 |
A self-insuring employer who desires to self-insure a construction | 5118 |
project shall submit to the administrator an application listing | 5119 |
the dates the construction project is scheduled to begin and end, | 5120 |
the estimated cost of the construction project, the contractors | 5121 |
and subcontractors whose employees are to be self-insured by the | 5122 |
self-insuring employer, the provisions of a safety program that is | 5123 |
specifically designed for the construction project, and a | 5124 |
statement as to whether a collective bargaining agreement | 5125 |
governing the rights, duties, and obligations of each of the | 5126 |
parties to the agreement with respect to the construction project | 5127 |
exists between the self-insuring employer and a labor | 5128 |
organization. | 5129 |
A self-insuring employer may apply to self-insure the | 5130 |
employees of either of the following: | 5131 |
(1) All contractors and subcontractors who perform labor or | 5132 |
work or provide materials for the construction project; | 5133 |
(2) All contractors and, at the administrator's discretion, a | 5134 |
substantial number of all the subcontractors who perform labor or | 5135 |
work or provide materials for the construction project. | 5136 |
Upon approval of the application, the administrator shall | 5137 |
mail a certificate granting the privilege to self-insure the | 5138 |
construction project to the self-insuring employer. The | 5139 |
certificate shall contain the name of the self-insuring employer | 5140 |
and the name, address, and telephone number of the self-insuring | 5141 |
employer's representatives who are responsible for administering | 5142 |
workers' compensation claims for the construction project. The | 5143 |
self-insuring employer shall post the certificate in a conspicuous | 5144 |
place at the site of the construction project. | 5145 |
The administrator shall maintain a record of the contractors | 5146 |
and subcontractors whose employees are covered under the | 5147 |
certificate issued to the self-insured employer. A self-insuring | 5148 |
employer immediately shall notify the administrator when any | 5149 |
contractor or subcontractor is added or eliminated from inclusion | 5150 |
under the certificate. | 5151 |
Upon approval of the application, the self-insuring employer | 5152 |
is responsible for the administration and payment of all claims | 5153 |
under this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code for the | 5154 |
employees of the contractor and subcontractors covered under the | 5155 |
certificate who receive injuries or are killed in the course of | 5156 |
and arising out of employment on the construction project, or who | 5157 |
contract an occupational disease in the course of employment on | 5158 |
the construction project. For purposes of this chapter and Chapter | 5159 |
4121. of the Revised Code, a claim that is administered and paid | 5160 |
in accordance with this division is considered a claim against the | 5161 |
self-insuring employer listed in the certificate. A contractor or | 5162 |
subcontractor included under the certificate shall report to the | 5163 |
self-insuring employer listed in the certificate, all claims that | 5164 |
arise under this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code in | 5165 |
connection with the construction project for which the certificate | 5166 |
is issued. | 5167 |
A self-insuring employer who complies with this division is | 5168 |
entitled to the protections provided under this chapter and | 5169 |
Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code with respect to the employees of | 5170 |
the contractors and subcontractors covered under a certificate | 5171 |
issued under this division for death or injuries that arise out | 5172 |
of, or death, injuries, or occupational diseases that arise in the | 5173 |
course of, those employees' employment on that construction | 5174 |
project, as if the employees were employees of the self-insuring | 5175 |
employer, provided that the self-insuring employer also complies | 5176 |
with this section. No employee of the contractors and | 5177 |
subcontractors covered under a certificate issued under this | 5178 |
division shall be considered the employee of the self-insuring | 5179 |
employer listed in that certificate for any purposes other than | 5180 |
this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code. Nothing in | 5181 |
this division gives a self-insuring employer authority to control | 5182 |
the means, manner, or method of employment of the employees of the | 5183 |
contractors and subcontractors covered under a certificate issued | 5184 |
under this division. | 5185 |
The contractors and subcontractors included under a | 5186 |
certificate issued under this division are entitled to the | 5187 |
protections provided under this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the | 5188 |
Revised Code with respect to the contractor's or subcontractor's | 5189 |
employees who are employed on the construction project which is | 5190 |
the subject of the certificate, for death or injuries that arise | 5191 |
out of, or death, injuries, or occupational diseases that arise in | 5192 |
the course of, those employees' employment on that construction | 5193 |
project. | 5194 |
The contractors and subcontractors included under a | 5195 |
certificate issued under this division shall identify in their | 5196 |
payroll records the employees who are considered the employees of | 5197 |
the self-insuring employer listed in that certificate for purposes | 5198 |
of this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code, and the | 5199 |
amount that those employees earned for employment on the | 5200 |
construction project that is the subject of that certificate. | 5201 |
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary under this chapter | 5202 |
and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code, the administrator shall | 5203 |
exclude the payroll that is reported for employees who are | 5204 |
considered the employees of the self-insuring employer listed in | 5205 |
that certificate, and that the employees earned for employment on | 5206 |
the construction project that is the subject of that certificate, | 5207 |
when determining those contractors' or subcontractors' premiums or | 5208 |
assessments required under this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the | 5209 |
Revised Code. A self-insuring employer issued a certificate under | 5210 |
this division shall include in the amount of paid compensation it | 5211 |
reports pursuant to division (L) of this section, the amount of | 5212 |
paid compensation the self-insuring employer paid pursuant to this | 5213 |
division for the previous calendar year. | 5214 |
Nothing in this division shall be construed as altering the | 5215 |
rights of employees under this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the | 5216 |
Revised Code as those rights existed prior to September 17, 1996. | 5217 |
Nothing in this division shall be construed as altering the rights | 5218 |
devolved under sections 2305.31 and 4123.82 of the Revised Code as | 5219 |
those rights existed prior to September 17, 1996. | 5220 |
As used in this division, "privilege to self-insure a | 5221 |
construction project" means privilege to pay individually | 5222 |
compensation, and to furnish medical, surgical, nursing, and | 5223 |
hospital services and attention and funeral expenses directly to | 5224 |
injured employees or the dependents of killed employees. | 5225 |
(P) A self-insuring employer whose application is granted | 5226 |
under division (O) of this section shall designate a safety | 5227 |
professional to be responsible for the administration and | 5228 |
enforcement of the safety program that is specifically designed | 5229 |
for the construction project that is the subject of the | 5230 |
application. | 5231 |
A self-insuring employer whose application is granted under | 5232 |
division (O) of this section shall employ an ombudsperson for the | 5233 |
construction project that is the subject of the application. The | 5234 |
ombudsperson shall have experience in workers' compensation or the | 5235 |
construction industry, or both. The ombudsperson shall perform all | 5236 |
of the following duties: | 5237 |
(1) Communicate with and provide information to employees who | 5238 |
are injured in the course of, or whose injury arises out of | 5239 |
employment on the construction project, or who contract an | 5240 |
occupational disease in the course of employment on the | 5241 |
construction project; | 5242 |
(2) Investigate the status of a claim upon the request of an | 5243 |
employee to do so; | 5244 |
(3) Provide information to claimants, third party | 5245 |
administrators, employers, and other persons to assist those | 5246 |
persons in protecting their rights under this chapter and Chapter | 5247 |
4121. of the Revised Code. | 5248 |
A self-insuring employer whose application is granted under | 5249 |
division (O) of this section shall post the name of the safety | 5250 |
professional and the ombudsperson and instructions for contacting | 5251 |
the safety professional and the ombudsperson in a conspicuous | 5252 |
place at the site of the construction project. | 5253 |
(Q) The administrator may consider all of the following when | 5254 |
deciding whether to grant a self-insuring employer the privilege | 5255 |
to self-insure a construction project as provided under division | 5256 |
(O) of this section: | 5257 |
(1) Whether the self-insuring employer has an organizational | 5258 |
plan for the administration of the workers' compensation law; | 5259 |
(2) Whether the safety program that is specifically designed | 5260 |
for the construction project provides for the safety of employees | 5261 |
employed on the construction project, is applicable to all | 5262 |
contractors and subcontractors who perform labor or work or | 5263 |
provide materials for the construction project, and has as a | 5264 |
component, a safety training program that complies with standards | 5265 |
adopted pursuant to the "Occupational Safety and Health Act of | 5266 |
1970," 84 Stat. 1590, 29 U.S.C.A. 651, and provides for continuing | 5267 |
management and employee involvement; | 5268 |
(3) Whether granting the privilege to self-insure the | 5269 |
construction project will reduce the costs of the construction | 5270 |
project; | 5271 |
(4) Whether the self-insuring employer has employed an | 5272 |
ombudsperson as required under division (P) of this section; | 5273 |
(5) Whether the self-insuring employer has sufficient surety | 5274 |
to secure the payment of claims for which the self-insuring | 5275 |
employer would be responsible pursuant to the granting of the | 5276 |
privilege to self-insure a construction project under division (O) | 5277 |
of this section. | 5278 |
(R) As used in divisions (O), (P), and (Q), "self-insuring | 5279 |
employer" includes the following employers, whether or not they | 5280 |
have been granted the status of being a self-insuring employer | 5281 |
under division (B) of this section: | 5282 |
(1) A state institution of higher education; | 5283 |
(2) A school district; | 5284 |
(3) A county school financing district; | 5285 |
(4) An educational service center; | 5286 |
(5) A community school established under Chapter 3314. of the | 5287 |
Revised Code. | 5288 |
(S) As used in this section: | 5289 |
(1) "Unvoted debt capacity" means the amount of money that a | 5290 |
public employer may borrow without voter approval of a tax levy; | 5291 |
(2) "State institution of higher education" means the state | 5292 |
universities listed in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, | 5293 |
community colleges created pursuant to Chapter 3354. of the | 5294 |
Revised Code, university branches created pursuant to Chapter | 5295 |
3355. of the Revised Code, technical colleges created pursuant to | 5296 |
Chapter 3357. of the Revised Code, and state community colleges | 5297 |
created pursuant to Chapter 3358. of the Revised Code. | 5298 |
Sec. 4123.351. (A) The administrator of workers' | 5299 |
compensation shall require every self-insuring employer to pay a | 5300 |
contribution, calculated under this section, to the self-insuring | 5301 |
employers' guaranty fund established pursuant to this section. The | 5302 |
fund shall provide for payment of compensation and benefits to | 5303 |
employees of the self-insuring employer in order to cover any | 5304 |
default in payment by that employer. | 5305 |
(B) The bureau of workers' compensation shall operate the | 5306 |
self-insuring employers' guaranty fund for self-insuring | 5307 |
employers. The administrator annually shall establish the | 5308 |
contributions due from self-insuring employers for the fund at | 5309 |
rates as low as possible but such as will assure sufficient moneys | 5310 |
to guarantee the payment of any claims against the fund. The | 5311 |
bureau's operation of the fund is not subject to sections 3929.10 | 5312 |
to 3929.18 of the Revised Code or to regulation by the | 5313 |
superintendent of insurance. | 5314 |
(C) If a self-insuring employer defaults, the bureau shall | 5315 |
recover the amounts paid as a result of the default from the | 5316 |
self-insuring employers' guaranty fund. If a self-insuring | 5317 |
employer defaults and is in compliance with this section for the | 5318 |
payment of contributions to the fund, such self-insuring employer | 5319 |
is entitled to the immunity conferred by section 4123.74 of the | 5320 |
Revised Code for any claim arising during any period the employer | 5321 |
is in compliance with this section. | 5322 |
(D)(1) There is hereby established a self-insuring employers' | 5323 |
guaranty fund, which shall be in the custody of the treasurer of | 5324 |
state and which shall be separate from the other funds established | 5325 |
and administered pursuant to this chapter. The fund shall consist | 5326 |
of contributions and other payments made by self-insuring | 5327 |
employers under this section. All investment earnings of the fund | 5328 |
shall be credited to the fund. The bureau shall make disbursements | 5329 |
from the fund pursuant to this section. | 5330 |
(2) The administrator | 5331 |
powers to invest any of the surplus or reserve belonging to the | 5332 |
fund as are delegated to | 5333 |
4123.44 of the Revised Code with respect to the state insurance | 5334 |
fund. The administrator shall apply interest earned solely to the | 5335 |
reduction of assessments for contributions from self-insuring | 5336 |
employers and to the payments required due to defaults. | 5337 |
(3) If the | 5338 |
board of directors determines that reinsurance of the risks of the | 5339 |
fund is necessary to assure solvency of the
fund, | 5340 |
may: | 5341 |
(a) Enter into contracts for the purchase of reinsurance | 5342 |
coverage of the risks of the fund with any company or agency | 5343 |
authorized by law to issue contracts of reinsurance; | 5344 |
(b) | 5345 |
reinsurance from the fund; | 5346 |
(c) Include the costs of reinsurance as a liability and | 5347 |
estimated liability of the fund. | 5348 |
(E) The administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 5349 |
5350 | |
pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the | 5351 |
implementation of this section, including a rule, notwithstanding | 5352 |
division (C) of this section, requiring self-insuring employers to | 5353 |
provide security in addition to the contribution to the | 5354 |
self-insuring employers' guaranty fund required by this section. | 5355 |
The additional security required by the rule, as the administrator | 5356 |
determines appropriate, shall be sufficient and adequate to | 5357 |
provide for financial assurance to meet the obligations of | 5358 |
self-insuring employers under this chapter and Chapter 4121. of | 5359 |
the Revised Code. | 5360 |
(F) The purchase of coverage under this section by | 5361 |
self-insuring employers is valid notwithstanding the prohibitions | 5362 |
contained in division (A) of section 4123.82 of the Revised Code | 5363 |
and is in addition to the indemnity contracts that self-insuring | 5364 |
employers may purchase pursuant to division (B) of section 4123.82 | 5365 |
of the Revised Code. | 5366 |
(G) The administrator, on behalf of the self-insuring | 5367 |
employers' guaranty fund, has the rights of reimbursement and | 5368 |
subrogation and shall collect from a defaulting self-insuring | 5369 |
employer or other liable person all amounts | 5370 |
has paid or reasonably expects to pay from the fund on account of | 5371 |
the defaulting self-insuring employer. | 5372 |
(H) The assessments for contributions, the administration of | 5373 |
the self-insuring employers' guaranty fund, the investment of the | 5374 |
money in the fund, and the payment of liabilities incurred by the | 5375 |
fund do not create any liability upon the state. | 5376 |
Except for a gross abuse of discretion, neither the | 5377 |
5378 | |
administrator shall incur any obligation or liability respecting | 5379 |
the assessments for contributions, the administration of the | 5380 |
self-insuring employers' guaranty fund, the investment of the | 5381 |
fund, or the payment of liabilities therefrom. | 5382 |
Sec. 4123.37. In this section "amenable employer" | 5383 |
5384 | |
in division | 5385 |
Code. | 5386 |
If the administrator of workers' compensation finds that any | 5387 |
person, firm, or private corporation, including any public service | 5388 |
corporation, is, or has been at any time after January 1, 1923, an | 5389 |
amenable employer and has not complied with section 4123.35 of the | 5390 |
Revised Code the administrator shall determine the period during | 5391 |
which the person, firm, or corporation was an amenable employer | 5392 |
and shall forthwith give notice of the determination to the | 5393 |
employer. Within twenty days thereafter the employer shall furnish | 5394 |
the bureau with the payroll covering the period included in the | 5395 |
determination and, if the employer is an amenable employer at the | 5396 |
time of the determination, shall pay a premium security deposit | 5397 |
for the eight months next succeeding the date of the determination | 5398 |
and shall pay into the state insurance fund the amount of premium | 5399 |
applicable to such payroll. | 5400 |
If the employer does not furnish the payroll and pay the | 5401 |
applicable premium and premium security deposit within the twenty | 5402 |
days, the administrator shall forthwith make an assessment of the | 5403 |
premium due from the employer for the period the administrator | 5404 |
determined the employer to be an amenable employer including the | 5405 |
premium security deposit according to section 4123.32 of the | 5406 |
Revised Code if the employer is an amenable employer at the time | 5407 |
of the determination, basing the assessment upon the information | 5408 |
in the possession of the administrator. | 5409 |
The administrator shall give to the employer assessed written | 5410 |
notice of the assessment. The notice shall be mailed to the | 5411 |
employer at | 5412 |
business by certified mail. Unless the employer to whom the notice | 5413 |
of assessment is directed files with the bureau within twenty days | 5414 |
after receipt thereof, a petition in writing, verified under oath | 5415 |
by the employer, or | 5416 |
knowledge of the facts, setting forth with particularity the items | 5417 |
of the assessment objected to, together with the reason for the | 5418 |
objections, the assessment shall become conclusive and the amount | 5419 |
thereof shall be due and payable from the employer so assessed to | 5420 |
the state insurance fund. When a petition objecting to an | 5421 |
assessment is filed the bureau shall assign a time and place for | 5422 |
the hearing of the same and shall notify the petitioner thereof by | 5423 |
certified mail. When an employer files a petition the assessment | 5424 |
made by the administrator shall become due and payable ten days | 5425 |
after notice of the finding made at the hearing has been sent by | 5426 |
certified mail to the party assessed. An appeal may be taken from | 5427 |
any finding to the court of common pleas of Franklin county upon | 5428 |
the execution by the party assessed of a bond to the state in | 5429 |
double the amount found due and ordered paid by the bureau | 5430 |
conditioned that the party will pay any judgment and costs | 5431 |
rendered against it for the premium. | 5432 |
When no petition objecting to an assessment is filed or when | 5433 |
a finding is made affirming or modifying an assessment after | 5434 |
hearing, a certified copy of the assessment as affirmed or | 5435 |
modified may be filed by the administrator in the office of the | 5436 |
clerk of the court of common pleas in any county in which the | 5437 |
employer has property or in which the employer has a place of | 5438 |
business. The clerk, immediately upon the filing of the | 5439 |
assessment, shall enter a judgment for the state against the | 5440 |
employer in the amount shown on the assessment. The judgment may | 5441 |
be filed by the clerk in a loose leaf book entitled "special | 5442 |
judgments for state insurance fund." The judgment shall bear the | 5443 |
same rate of interest, have the same effect as other judgments, | 5444 |
and be given the same preference allowed by law on other judgments | 5445 |
rendered for claims for taxes. An assessment or judgment under | 5446 |
this section shall not be a bar to the adjustment of the | 5447 |
employer's account upon the employer furnishing | 5448 |
payroll records to the bureau. | 5449 |
The administrator, for good cause shown, may waive a default | 5450 |
in the payment of premium where the default is of less than sixty | 5451 |
days' duration, and upon payment by the employer of the premium | 5452 |
for the period, | 5453 |
are entitled to all of the benefits and immunities provided by | 5454 |
this chapter. | 5455 |
Sec. 4123.411. (A) For the purpose of carrying out sections | 5456 |
4123.412 to 4123.418 of the Revised Code, the administrator of | 5457 |
workers' compensation, with the advice and consent of the bureau | 5458 |
of workers' compensation | 5459 |
shall levy an assessment against all employers at a rate, of at | 5460 |
least five but not to exceed ten cents per one hundred dollars of | 5461 |
payroll, such rate to be determined annually for each employer | 5462 |
group listed in divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section, which | 5463 |
will produce an amount no greater than the amount the | 5464 |
administrator estimates to be necessary to carry out such sections | 5465 |
for the period for which the assessment is levied. In the event | 5466 |
the amount produced by the assessment is not sufficient to carry | 5467 |
out such sections the additional amount necessary shall be | 5468 |
provided from the income produced as a result of investments made | 5469 |
pursuant to section 4123.44 of the Revised Code. | 5470 |
Assessments shall be levied according to the following | 5471 |
schedule: | 5472 |
(1) Private fund employers, except self-insuring | 5473 |
employers--in January and July of each year upon gross payrolls of | 5474 |
the preceding six months; | 5475 |
(2) Counties and taxing district employers therein, except | 5476 |
county hospitals that are self-insuring employers--in January of | 5477 |
each year upon gross payrolls of the preceding twelve months; | 5478 |
(3) The state as an employer--in January, April, July, and | 5479 |
October of each year upon gross payrolls of the preceding three | 5480 |
months. | 5481 |
Amounts assessed in accordance with this section shall be | 5482 |
collected from each employer as prescribed in rules the | 5483 |
administrator adopts. | 5484 |
The moneys derived from the assessment provided for in this | 5485 |
section shall be credited to the disabled workers' relief fund | 5486 |
created by section 4123.412 of the Revised Code. The administrator | 5487 |
shall establish by rule classifications of employers within | 5488 |
divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section and shall determine rates | 5489 |
for each class so as to fairly apportion the costs of carrying out | 5490 |
sections 4123.412 to 4123.418 of the Revised Code. | 5491 |
(B) For all injuries and disabilities occurring on or after | 5492 |
January 1, 1987, the administrator, for the purposes of carrying | 5493 |
out sections 4123.412 to 4123.418 of the Revised Code, shall levy | 5494 |
an assessment against all employers at a rate per one hundred | 5495 |
dollars of payroll, such rate to be determined annually for each | 5496 |
classification of employer in each employer group listed in | 5497 |
divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section, which will produce an | 5498 |
amount no greater than the amount the administrator estimates to | 5499 |
be necessary to carry out such sections for the period for which | 5500 |
the assessment is levied. The administrator annually shall | 5501 |
establish the contributions due from employers for the disabled | 5502 |
workers' relief fund at rates as low as possible but that will | 5503 |
assure sufficient moneys to guarantee the payment of any claims | 5504 |
against that fund. | 5505 |
Amounts assessed in accordance with this division shall be | 5506 |
billed at the same time premiums are billed and credited to the | 5507 |
disabled workers' relief fund created by section 4123.412 of the | 5508 |
Revised Code. The administrator shall determine the rates for each | 5509 |
class in the same manner as | 5510 |
for premiums pursuant to section 4123.29 of the Revised Code. | 5511 |
(C) For a self-insuring employer, the bureau of workers' | 5512 |
compensation shall pay to employees who are participants | 5513 |
regardless of the date of injury, any amounts due to the | 5514 |
participants under section 4123.414 of the Revised Code and shall | 5515 |
bill the self-insuring employer, semiannually, for all amounts | 5516 |
paid to a participant. | 5517 |
Sec. 4123.44. The | 5518 |
compensation | 5519 |
administrator of workers' compensation, and the bureau of workers' | 5520 |
compensation chief investment officer are the trustees of the | 5521 |
state insurance fund. The administrator | 5522 |
in accordance with sections 4121.126 and 4121.127 of the Revised | 5523 |
Code and the investment | 5524 |
5525 | |
5526 | |
and in consultation with the bureau of workers' compensation chief | 5527 |
investment officer, may invest any of the surplus or reserve | 5528 |
belonging to the state insurance fund. The administrator and the | 5529 |
bureau of workers' compensation chief investment officer shall not | 5530 |
deviate from the investment policy approved by the board without | 5531 |
the approval of the workers' compensation investment committee and | 5532 |
the board. | 5533 |
The administrator shall not invest in any type of investment | 5534 |
specified in divisions | 5535 |
5536 |
The administrator and other fiduciaries shall discharge their | 5537 |
duties with respect to the funds with the care, skill, prudence, | 5538 |
and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a | 5539 |
prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such | 5540 |
matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like | 5541 |
character and with like aims, and by diversifying the investments | 5542 |
of the assets of the funds so as to minimize the risk of large | 5543 |
losses, unless under the circumstances it is clearly prudent not | 5544 |
to do so. | 5545 |
To facilitate investment of the funds, the administrator may | 5546 |
establish a partnership, trust, limited liability company, | 5547 |
corporation, including a corporation exempt from taxation under | 5548 |
the Internal Revenue Code, 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1, as | 5549 |
amended, or any other legal entity authorized to transact business | 5550 |
in this state. | 5551 |
When reporting on the performance of investments, the | 5552 |
administrator shall comply with the performance presentation | 5553 |
standards established by the association for investment management | 5554 |
and research. | 5555 |
All investments shall be purchased at current market prices | 5556 |
and the evidences of title to the investments shall be placed in | 5557 |
the custody of the treasurer of state, who is hereby designated as | 5558 |
custodian, or in the custody of the treasurer of state's | 5559 |
authorized agent. Evidences of title of the investments so | 5560 |
purchased may be deposited by the treasurer of state for | 5561 |
safekeeping with an authorized agent selected by the treasurer of | 5562 |
state who is a qualified trustee under section 135.18 of the | 5563 |
Revised Code. The treasurer of state or the agent shall collect | 5564 |
the principal, dividends, distributions, and interest as they | 5565 |
become due and payable and place them when collected into the | 5566 |
state insurance fund. | 5567 |
The treasurer of state shall pay for investments purchased by | 5568 |
the administrator on receipt of written or electronic instructions | 5569 |
from the administrator or the administrator's designated agent | 5570 |
authorizing the purchase, and pending receipt of the evidence of | 5571 |
title of the investment by the treasurer of state or the treasurer | 5572 |
of state's authorized agent. The administrator may sell | 5573 |
investments held by the administrator, and the treasurer of state | 5574 |
or the treasurer of state's authorized agent shall accept payment | 5575 |
from the purchaser and deliver evidence of title of the investment | 5576 |
to the purchaser, on receipt of written or electronic instructions | 5577 |
from the administrator or the administrator's designated agent | 5578 |
authorizing the sale, and pending receipt of the moneys for the | 5579 |
investments. The amount received shall be placed in the state | 5580 |
insurance fund. The administrator and the treasurer of state may | 5581 |
enter into agreements to establish procedures for the purchase and | 5582 |
sale of investments under this division and the custody of the | 5583 |
investments. | 5584 |
No purchase or sale of any investment shall be made under | 5585 |
this section, except as authorized by the administrator. | 5586 |
Any statement of financial position distributed by the | 5587 |
administrator shall include the fair value, as of the statement | 5588 |
date, of all investments held by the administrator under this | 5589 |
section. | 5590 |
When in the judgment of the administrator it is necessary to | 5591 |
provide available funds for the payment of compensation or | 5592 |
benefits under this chapter, the administrator may borrow money | 5593 |
from any available source and pledge as security a sufficient | 5594 |
amount of bonds or other securities in which the state insurance | 5595 |
fund is invested. The aggregate unpaid amount of loans existing at | 5596 |
any one time for money so borrowed shall not exceed ten million | 5597 |
dollars. The bonds or other securities so pledged as security for | 5598 |
such loans to the administrator shall be the sole security for the | 5599 |
payment of the principal and interest of any such loan. The | 5600 |
administrator shall not be personally liable for the payment of | 5601 |
the principal or the interest of any such loan. No such loan shall | 5602 |
be made for a longer period of time than one year. Such loans may | 5603 |
be renewed but no one renewal shall be for a period in excess of | 5604 |
one year. Such loans shall bear such rate of interest as the | 5605 |
administrator determines and in negotiating the loans, the | 5606 |
administrator shall endeavor to secure as favorable interest rates | 5607 |
and terms as circumstances will permit. | 5608 |
The treasurer of state may deliver to the person or | 5609 |
governmental agency making such loan, the bonds or other | 5610 |
securities which are to be pledged by the administrator as | 5611 |
security for such loan, upon receipt by the treasurer of state of | 5612 |
an order of the administrator authorizing such loan. Upon payment | 5613 |
of any such loan by the administrator, the bonds or other | 5614 |
securities pledged as security therefor shall be returned to the | 5615 |
treasurer of state as custodian of such bonds. | 5616 |
The administrator may pledge with the treasurer of state such | 5617 |
amount of bonds or other securities in which the state insurance | 5618 |
fund is invested as is reasonably necessary as security for any | 5619 |
certificates issued, or paid out, by the treasurer of state upon | 5620 |
any warrants drawn by the administrator. | 5621 |
The administrator may secure investment information services, | 5622 |
consulting services, and other like services to facilitate | 5623 |
investment of the surplus and reserve belonging to the state | 5624 |
insurance fund. The administrator shall pay the expense of | 5625 |
securing such services from the state insurance fund. | 5626 |
Sec. 4123.441. (A) The | 5627 |
compensation, with the advice and consent of the bureau of | 5628 |
workers' compensation | 5629 |
shall employ a person or designate an employee of the bureau of | 5630 |
workers' compensation who is designated as a chartered financial | 5631 |
analyst by the CFA institute and who is licensed by the division | 5632 |
of securities in the department of commerce as a bureau of | 5633 |
workers' compensation chief investment officer to be the chief | 5634 |
investment officer for the bureau of workers' compensation. After | 5635 |
ninety days after | 5636 |
2005, the bureau of workers' compensation may not employ a bureau | 5637 |
of workers' compensation chief investment officer, as defined in | 5638 |
section 1707.01 of the Revised Code, who does not hold a valid | 5639 |
bureau of workers' compensation chief investment officer license | 5640 |
issued by the division of securities in the department of | 5641 |
commerce. The | 5642 |
of securities of the department of commerce in writing of its | 5643 |
designation and of any change in its designation within ten | 5644 |
calendar days after the designation or change. | 5645 |
(B) The bureau of workers' compensation chief investment | 5646 |
officer shall reasonably supervise employees of the bureau who | 5647 |
handle investment of assets of funds specified in this chapter and | 5648 |
Chapters 4121., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code with a view | 5649 |
toward preventing violations of Chapter 1707. of the Revised Code, | 5650 |
the "Commodity Exchange Act," 42 Stat. 998, 7 U.S.C. 1, the | 5651 |
"Securities Act of 1933," 48 Stat. 74, 15 U.S.C. 77a, the | 5652 |
"Securities Exchange Act of 1934," 48 Stat. 881, 15 U.S.C. 78a, | 5653 |
and the rules and regulations adopted under those statutes. This | 5654 |
duty of reasonable supervision shall include the adoption, | 5655 |
implementation, and enforcement of written policies and procedures | 5656 |
reasonably designed to prevent employees of the bureau who handle | 5657 |
investment of assets of the funds specified in this chapter and | 5658 |
Chapters 4121., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code, from | 5659 |
misusing material, nonpublic information in violation of those | 5660 |
laws, rules, and regulations. | 5661 |
For purposes of this division, no bureau of workers' | 5662 |
compensation chief investment officer shall be considered to have | 5663 |
failed to satisfy the officer's duty of reasonable supervision if | 5664 |
the officer has done all of the following: | 5665 |
(1) Adopted and implemented written procedures, and a system | 5666 |
for applying the procedures, that would reasonably be expected to | 5667 |
prevent and detect, insofar as practicable, any violation by | 5668 |
employees handling investments of assets of the funds specified in | 5669 |
this chapter and Chapters 4121., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised | 5670 |
Code; | 5671 |
(2) Reasonably discharged the duties and obligations | 5672 |
incumbent on the bureau of workers' compensation chief investment | 5673 |
officer by reason of the established procedures and the system for | 5674 |
applying the procedures when the officer had no reasonable cause | 5675 |
to believe that there was a failure to comply with the procedures | 5676 |
and systems; | 5677 |
(3) Reviewed, at least annually, the adequacy of the policies | 5678 |
and procedures established pursuant to this section and the | 5679 |
effectiveness of their implementation. | 5680 |
(C) The bureau of workers' compensation chief investment | 5681 |
officer shall establish and maintain a policy to monitor and | 5682 |
evaluate the effectiveness of securities transactions executed on | 5683 |
behalf of the bureau. | 5684 |
Sec. 4123.442. When developing the investment policy for the | 5685 |
investment of the assets of the funds specified in this chapter | 5686 |
and Chapters 4121., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code, the | 5687 |
workers' compensation investment committee shall do all of the | 5688 |
following: | 5689 |
(A) Specify the asset allocation targets and ranges, risk | 5690 |
factors, asset class benchmarks, time horizons, total return | 5691 |
objectives, and performance evaluation guidelines; | 5692 |
(B) Prohibit investing the assets of those funds, directly or | 5693 |
indirectly, in vehicles that target any of the following: | 5694 |
(1) Coins; | 5695 |
(2) Artwork; | 5696 |
(3) Horses; | 5697 |
(4) Jewelry or gems; | 5698 |
(5) Stamps; | 5699 |
(6) Antiques; | 5700 |
(7) Artifacts; | 5701 |
(8) Collectibles; | 5702 |
(9) Memorabilia; | 5703 |
(10) Similar unregulated investments that are not commonly | 5704 |
part of an institutional portfolio, that lack liquidity, and that | 5705 |
lack readily determinable valuation. | 5706 |
(C) Specify that the administrator of workers' compensation | 5707 |
may invest in an investment class only if the bureau of workers' | 5708 |
compensation board of directors, by a majority vote, opens that | 5709 |
class; | 5710 |
(D) Prohibit investing the assets of those funds in any class | 5711 |
of investments the board, by majority vote, closed, or any | 5712 |
specific investment in which the board prohibits the administrator | 5713 |
from investing; | 5714 |
(E) Not specify in the investment policy that the | 5715 |
administrator or employees of the bureau of workers' compensation | 5716 |
are prohibited from conducting business with an investment | 5717 |
management firm, any investment management professional associated | 5718 |
with that firm, any third party solicitor associated with that | 5719 |
firm, or any political action committee controlled by that firm or | 5720 |
controlled by an investment management professional of that firm | 5721 |
based on criteria that are more restrictive than the restrictions | 5722 |
described in divisions (Y) and (Z) of section 3517.13 of the | 5723 |
Revised Code. | 5724 |
Sec. 4123.47. (A) The administrator of workers' compensation | 5725 |
shall have actuarial audits of the state insurance fund and all | 5726 |
other funds specified in this chapter and Chapters 4121., 4127., | 5727 |
and 4131. of the Revised Code made at least once each year. The | 5728 |
audits shall be made and certified by recognized insurance | 5729 |
actuaries who shall be selected | 5730 |
the bureau of workers' compensation board of directors. The audits | 5731 |
shall cover the premium rates, classifications, and all other | 5732 |
matters involving the administration of the state insurance fund | 5733 |
and all other funds specified in this chapter and Chapters 4121., | 5734 |
4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code. The expense of the audits | 5735 |
shall be paid from the state insurance fund. The administrator | 5736 |
shall make copies of the audits available to the workers' | 5737 |
compensation audit committee at no charge and to the public at | 5738 |
cost. | 5739 |
(B) The auditor of state annually shall conduct an audit of | 5740 |
the administration of this chapter by the industrial commission | 5741 |
and the bureau of workers' compensation and the safety and hygiene | 5742 |
fund. The cost of the audit shall be charged to the administrative | 5743 |
costs of the bureau as defined in section 4123.341 of the Revised | 5744 |
Code. The audit shall include audits of all fiscal activities, | 5745 |
claims processing and handling, and employer premium collections. | 5746 |
The auditor shall prepare a report of the audit together with | 5747 |
recommendations and transmit copies of the report to the | 5748 |
industrial commission, the | 5749 |
5750 | |
general assembly. The auditor shall make copies of the report | 5751 |
available to the public at cost. | 5752 |
(C) The administrator may retain the services of a recognized | 5753 |
actuary on a consulting basis for the purpose of evaluating the | 5754 |
actuarial soundness of premium rates and classifications and all | 5755 |
other matters involving the administration of the state insurance | 5756 |
fund. The expense of services provided by the actuary shall be | 5757 |
paid from the state insurance fund. | 5758 |
Sec. 4123.50. (A) Each member of a firm, and the president, | 5759 |
secretary, general manager, or managing agent of each private | 5760 |
corporation, including any public service corporation mentioned in | 5761 |
section 4123.01 of the Revised Code or publicly owned utility, | 5762 |
shall cause the firm or corporation to comply with section 4123.35 | 5763 |
of the Revised Code and, for self-insuring employers, to comply | 5764 |
with the assessment based upon paid compensation provisions of | 5765 |
this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code. No person | 5766 |
mentioned in section 4123.01 of the Revised Code and no member of | 5767 |
the firms and no officer of the corporations or publicly owned | 5768 |
utilities referred to in this section shall fail to comply with | 5769 |
section 4123.35 of the Revised Code and, for self-insuring | 5770 |
employers, to comply with the assessment based upon paid | 5771 |
compensation provisions of this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the | 5772 |
Revised Code. All fines collected for a violation of this section | 5773 |
shall be paid to the general fund of the political subdivision | 5774 |
where the case is prosecuted. | 5775 |
(B) The administrator of workers' compensation, with the | 5776 |
advice and consent of the bureau of workers' compensation | 5777 |
5778 | |
governing treatment of employers found in violation of division | 5779 |
(A) of this section. The rules shall cover enforcement and | 5780 |
prosecution procedures and methods and grounds for settlement of | 5781 |
liability of a noncomplying employer. | 5782 |
Sec. 4123.511. (A) Within seven days after receipt of any | 5783 |
claim under this chapter, the bureau of workers' compensation | 5784 |
shall notify the claimant and the employer of the claimant of the | 5785 |
receipt of the claim and of the facts alleged therein. If the | 5786 |
bureau receives from a person other than the claimant written or | 5787 |
facsimile information or information communicated verbally over | 5788 |
the telephone indicating that an injury or occupational disease | 5789 |
has occurred or been contracted which may be compensable under | 5790 |
this chapter, the bureau shall notify the employee and the | 5791 |
employer of the information. If the information is provided | 5792 |
verbally over the telephone, the person providing the information | 5793 |
shall provide written verification of the information to the | 5794 |
bureau according to division (E) of section 4123.84 of the Revised | 5795 |
Code. The receipt of the information in writing or facsimile, or | 5796 |
if initially by telephone, the subsequent written verification, | 5797 |
and the notice by the bureau shall be considered an application | 5798 |
for compensation under section 4123.84 or 4123.85 of the Revised | 5799 |
Code, provided that the conditions of division (E) of section | 5800 |
4123.84 of the Revised Code apply to information provided verbally | 5801 |
over the telephone. Upon receipt of a claim, the bureau shall | 5802 |
advise the claimant of the claim number assigned and the | 5803 |
claimant's right to representation in the processing of a claim or | 5804 |
to elect no representation. If the bureau determines that a claim | 5805 |
is determined to be a compensable lost-time claim, the bureau | 5806 |
shall notify the claimant and the employer of the availability of | 5807 |
rehabilitation services. No bureau or industrial commission | 5808 |
employee shall directly or indirectly convey any information in | 5809 |
derogation of this right. This section shall in no way abrogate | 5810 |
the bureau's responsibility to aid and assist a claimant in the | 5811 |
filing of a claim and to advise the claimant of the claimant's | 5812 |
rights under the law. | 5813 |
The administrator of workers' compensation shall assign all | 5814 |
claims and investigations to the bureau service office from which | 5815 |
investigation and determination may be made most expeditiously. | 5816 |
The bureau shall investigate the facts concerning an injury | 5817 |
or occupational disease and ascertain such facts in whatever | 5818 |
manner is most appropriate and may obtain statements of the | 5819 |
employee, employer, attending physician, and witnesses in whatever | 5820 |
manner is most appropriate. | 5821 |
The administrator | 5822 |
and consent of the bureau of workers'
compensation | 5823 |
5824 | |
specified medical conditions that have a historical record of | 5825 |
being allowed whenever included in a claim. The administrator may | 5826 |
grant immediate allowance of any medical condition identified in | 5827 |
those rules upon the filing of a claim involving that medical | 5828 |
condition and may make immediate payment of medical bills for any | 5829 |
medical condition identified in those rules that is included in a | 5830 |
claim. If an employer contests the allowance of a claim involving | 5831 |
any medical condition identified in those rules, and the claim is | 5832 |
disallowed, payment for the medical condition included in that | 5833 |
claim shall be charged to and paid from the surplus fund created | 5834 |
under section 4123.34 of the Revised Code. | 5835 |
(B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, | 5836 |
in claims other than those in which the employer is a | 5837 |
self-insuring employer, if the administrator determines under | 5838 |
division (A) of this section that a claimant is or is not entitled | 5839 |
to an award of compensation or benefits, the administrator shall | 5840 |
issue an order no later than twenty-eight days after the sending | 5841 |
of the notice under division (A) of this section, granting or | 5842 |
denying the payment of the compensation or benefits, or both as is | 5843 |
appropriate to the claimant. Notwithstanding the time limitation | 5844 |
specified in this division for the issuance of an order, if a | 5845 |
medical examination of the claimant is required by statute, the | 5846 |
administrator promptly shall schedule the claimant for that | 5847 |
examination and shall issue an order no later than twenty-eight | 5848 |
days after receipt of the report of the examination. The | 5849 |
administrator shall notify the claimant and the employer of the | 5850 |
claimant and their respective representatives in writing of the | 5851 |
nature of the order and the amounts of compensation and benefit | 5852 |
payments involved. The employer or claimant may appeal the order | 5853 |
pursuant to division (C) of this section within fourteen days | 5854 |
after the date of the receipt of the order. The employer and | 5855 |
claimant may waive, in writing, their rights to an appeal under | 5856 |
this division. | 5857 |
(2) Notwithstanding the time limitation specified in division | 5858 |
(B)(1) of this section for the issuance of an order, if the | 5859 |
employer certifies a claim for payment of compensation or | 5860 |
benefits, or both, to a claimant, and the administrator has | 5861 |
completed the investigation of the claim, the payment of benefits | 5862 |
or compensation, or both, as is appropriate, shall commence upon | 5863 |
the later of the date of the certification or completion of the | 5864 |
investigation and issuance of the order by the administrator, | 5865 |
provided that the administrator shall issue the order no later | 5866 |
than the time limitation specified in division (B)(1) of this | 5867 |
section. | 5868 |
(3) If an appeal is made under division (B)(1) or (2) of this | 5869 |
section, the administrator shall forward the claim file to the | 5870 |
appropriate district hearing officer within seven days of the | 5871 |
appeal. In contested claims other than state fund claims, the | 5872 |
administrator shall forward the claim within seven days of the | 5873 |
administrator's receipt of the claim to the industrial commission, | 5874 |
which shall refer the claim to an appropriate district hearing | 5875 |
officer for a hearing in accordance with division (C) of this | 5876 |
section. | 5877 |
(C) If an employer or claimant timely appeals the order of | 5878 |
the administrator issued under division (B) of this section or in | 5879 |
the case of other contested claims other than state fund claims, | 5880 |
the commission shall refer the claim to an appropriate district | 5881 |
hearing officer according to rules the commission adopts under | 5882 |
section 4121.36 of the Revised Code. The district hearing officer | 5883 |
shall notify the parties and their respective representatives of | 5884 |
the time and place of the hearing. | 5885 |
The district hearing officer shall hold a hearing on a | 5886 |
disputed issue or claim within forty-five days after the filing of | 5887 |
the appeal under this division and issue a decision within seven | 5888 |
days after holding the hearing. The district hearing officer shall | 5889 |
notify the parties and their respective representatives in writing | 5890 |
of the order. Any party may appeal an order issued under this | 5891 |
division pursuant to division (D) of this section within fourteen | 5892 |
days after receipt of the order under this division. | 5893 |
(D) Upon the timely filing of an appeal of the order of the | 5894 |
district hearing officer issued under division (C) of this | 5895 |
section, the commission shall refer the claim file to an | 5896 |
appropriate staff hearing officer according to its rules adopted | 5897 |
under section 4121.36 of the Revised Code. The staff hearing | 5898 |
officer shall hold a hearing within forty-five days after the | 5899 |
filing of an appeal under this division and issue a decision | 5900 |
within seven days after holding the hearing under this division. | 5901 |
The staff hearing officer shall notify the parties and their | 5902 |
respective representatives in writing of the staff hearing | 5903 |
officer's order. Any party may appeal an order issued under this | 5904 |
division pursuant to division (E) of this section within fourteen | 5905 |
days after receipt of the order under this division. | 5906 |
(E) Upon the filing of a timely appeal of the order of the | 5907 |
staff hearing officer issued under division (D) of this section, | 5908 |
the commission or a designated staff hearing officer, on behalf of | 5909 |
the commission, shall determine whether the commission will hear | 5910 |
the appeal. If the commission or the designated staff hearing | 5911 |
officer decides to hear the appeal, the commission or the | 5912 |
designated staff hearing officer shall notify the parties and | 5913 |
their respective representatives in writing of the time and place | 5914 |
of the hearing. The commission shall hold the hearing within | 5915 |
forty-five days after the filing of the notice of appeal and, | 5916 |
within seven days after the conclusion of the hearing, the | 5917 |
commission shall issue its order affirming, modifying, or | 5918 |
reversing the order issued under division (D) of this section. The | 5919 |
commission shall notify the parties and their respective | 5920 |
representatives in writing of the order. If the commission or the | 5921 |
designated staff hearing officer determines not to hear the | 5922 |
appeal, within fourteen days after the filing of the notice of | 5923 |
appeal, the commission or the designated staff hearing officer | 5924 |
shall issue an order to that effect and notify the parties and | 5925 |
their respective representatives in writing of that order. | 5926 |
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter and Chapters | 5927 |
4121., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code, any party may appeal | 5928 |
an order issued under this division to the court pursuant to | 5929 |
section 4123.512 of the Revised Code within sixty days after | 5930 |
receipt of the order, subject to the limitations contained in that | 5931 |
section. | 5932 |
(F) Every notice of an appeal from an order issued under | 5933 |
divisions (B), (C), (D), and (E) of this section shall state the | 5934 |
names of the claimant and employer, the number of the claim, the | 5935 |
date of the decision appealed from, and the fact that the | 5936 |
appellant appeals therefrom. | 5937 |
(G) All of the following apply to the proceedings under | 5938 |
divisions (C), (D), and (E) of this section: | 5939 |
(1) The parties shall proceed promptly and without | 5940 |
continuances except for good cause; | 5941 |
(2) The parties, in good faith, shall engage in the free | 5942 |
exchange of information relevant to the claim prior to the conduct | 5943 |
of a hearing according to the rules the commission adopts under | 5944 |
section 4121.36 of the Revised Code; | 5945 |
(3) The administrator is a party and may appear and | 5946 |
participate at all administrative proceedings on behalf of the | 5947 |
state insurance fund. However, in cases in which the employer is | 5948 |
represented, the administrator shall neither present arguments nor | 5949 |
introduce testimony that is cumulative to that presented or | 5950 |
introduced by the employer or the employer's representative. The | 5951 |
administrator may file an appeal under this section on behalf of | 5952 |
the state insurance fund; however, except in cases arising under | 5953 |
section 4123.343 of the Revised Code, the administrator only may | 5954 |
appeal questions of law or issues of fraud when the employer | 5955 |
appears in person or by representative. | 5956 |
(H) Except as provided in section 4121.63 of the Revised Code | 5957 |
and
division | 5958 |
claimant or on behalf of a claimant as a result of any order | 5959 |
issued under this chapter shall commence upon the earlier of the | 5960 |
following: | 5961 |
(1) Fourteen days after the date the administrator issues an | 5962 |
order under division (B) of this section, unless that order is | 5963 |
appealed; | 5964 |
(2) The date when the employer has waived the right to appeal | 5965 |
a decision issued under division (B) of this section; | 5966 |
(3) If no appeal of an order has been filed under this | 5967 |
section or to a court under section 4123.512 of the Revised Code, | 5968 |
the expiration of the time limitations for the filing of an appeal | 5969 |
of an order; | 5970 |
(4) The date of receipt by the employer of an order of a | 5971 |
district hearing officer, a staff hearing officer, or the | 5972 |
industrial commission issued under division (C), (D), or (E) of | 5973 |
this section. | 5974 |
(I) | 5975 |
chapter or
Chapter 4121., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code | 5976 |
5977 |
(1) The date of the issuance of the staff hearing officer's | 5978 |
order under division (D) of this section; | 5979 |
(2) The date of the final administrative or judicial | 5980 |
determination. | 5981 |
(J) The administrator shall charge the compensation payments | 5982 |
made in accordance with division (H) of this section or medical | 5983 |
benefits payments made in accordance with division (I) of this | 5984 |
section to an employer's experience immediately after the employer | 5985 |
has exhausted the employer's administrative appeals as provided in | 5986 |
this section or has waived the employer's right to an | 5987 |
administrative appeal under division (B) of this section, subject | 5988 |
to the adjustment specified in division (H) of section 4123.512 of | 5989 |
the Revised Code. | 5990 |
(K) Upon the final administrative or judicial determination | 5991 |
under this section or section 4123.512 of the Revised Code of an | 5992 |
appeal of an order to pay compensation, if a claimant is found to | 5993 |
have received compensation pursuant to a prior order which is | 5994 |
reversed upon subsequent appeal, the claimant's employer, if a | 5995 |
self-insuring employer, or the bureau, shall withhold from any | 5996 |
amount to which the claimant becomes entitled pursuant to any | 5997 |
claim, past, present, or future, under Chapter 4121., 4123., | 5998 |
4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code, the amount of previously paid | 5999 |
compensation to the claimant which, due to reversal upon appeal, | 6000 |
the claimant is not entitled, pursuant to the following criteria: | 6001 |
(1) No withholding for the first twelve weeks of temporary | 6002 |
total disability compensation pursuant to section 4123.56 of the | 6003 |
Revised Code shall be made; | 6004 |
(2) Forty per cent of all awards of compensation paid | 6005 |
pursuant to sections 4123.56 and 4123.57 of the Revised Code, | 6006 |
until the amount overpaid is refunded; | 6007 |
(3) Twenty-five per cent of any compensation paid pursuant to | 6008 |
section 4123.58 of the Revised Code until the amount overpaid is | 6009 |
refunded; | 6010 |
(4) If, pursuant to an appeal under section 4123.512 of the | 6011 |
Revised Code, the court of appeals or the supreme court reverses | 6012 |
the allowance of the claim, then no amount of any compensation | 6013 |
will be withheld. | 6014 |
The administrator and self-insuring employers, as | 6015 |
appropriate, are subject to the repayment schedule of this | 6016 |
division only with respect to an order to pay compensation that | 6017 |
was properly paid under a previous order, but which is | 6018 |
subsequently reversed upon an administrative or judicial appeal. | 6019 |
The administrator and self-insuring employers are not subject to, | 6020 |
but may utilize, the repayment schedule of this division, or any | 6021 |
other lawful means, to collect payment of compensation made to a | 6022 |
person who was not entitled to the compensation due to fraud as | 6023 |
determined by the administrator or the industrial commission. | 6024 |
| 6025 |
issue a decision or the commission fails to refuse to hear an | 6026 |
appeal within the time periods required by this section, payments | 6027 |
to a claimant shall cease until the staff hearing officer or | 6028 |
commission issues a decision or hears the appeal, unless the | 6029 |
failure was due to the fault or neglect of the employer or the | 6030 |
employer agrees that the payments should continue for a longer | 6031 |
period of time. | 6032 |
| 6033 |
section 4123.522 of the Revised Code, no appeal is timely filed | 6034 |
under this section unless the appeal is filed with the time limits | 6035 |
set forth in this section. | 6036 |
| 6037 |
commission or who is not by law given access to the contents of a | 6038 |
claims file shall have a file in the person's possession. | 6039 |
| 6040 |
which an emergency or disaster is declared, the industrial | 6041 |
commission and hearing officers of the commission may waive the | 6042 |
time frame within which claims and appeals of claims set forth in | 6043 |
this section must be filed upon a finding that the applicant was | 6044 |
unable to comply with a filing deadline due to an emergency or a | 6045 |
disaster. | 6046 |
As used in this division: | 6047 |
(1) "Emergency" means any occasion or instance for which the | 6048 |
governor of Ohio or the president of the United States publicly | 6049 |
declares an emergency and orders state or federal assistance to | 6050 |
save lives and protect property, the public health and safety, or | 6051 |
to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe. | 6052 |
(2) "Disaster" means any natural catastrophe or fire, flood, | 6053 |
or explosion, regardless of the cause, that causes damage of | 6054 |
sufficient magnitude that the governor of Ohio or the president of | 6055 |
the United States, through a public declaration, orders state or | 6056 |
federal assistance to alleviate damage, loss, hardship, or | 6057 |
suffering that results from the occurrence. | 6058 |
Sec. 4123.512. (A) The claimant or the employer may appeal | 6059 |
an order of the industrial commission made under division (E) of | 6060 |
section 4123.511 of the Revised Code in any injury or occupational | 6061 |
disease case, other than a decision as to the extent of disability | 6062 |
to the court of common pleas of the county in which the injury was | 6063 |
inflicted or in which the contract of employment was made if the | 6064 |
injury occurred outside the state, or in which the contract of | 6065 |
employment was made if the exposure occurred outside the state. If | 6066 |
no common pleas court has jurisdiction for the purposes of an | 6067 |
appeal by the use of the jurisdictional requirements described in | 6068 |
this division, the appellant may use the venue provisions in the | 6069 |
Rules of Civil Procedure to vest jurisdiction in a court. If the | 6070 |
claim is for an occupational disease, the appeal shall be to the | 6071 |
court of common pleas of the county in which the exposure which | 6072 |
caused the disease occurred. Like appeal may be taken from an | 6073 |
order of a staff hearing officer made under division (D) of | 6074 |
section 4123.511 of the Revised Code from which the commission has | 6075 |
refused to hear an appeal. The appellant shall file the notice of | 6076 |
appeal with a court of common pleas within sixty days after the | 6077 |
date of the receipt of the order appealed from or the date of | 6078 |
receipt of the order of the commission refusing to hear an appeal | 6079 |
of a staff hearing officer's decision under division (D) of | 6080 |
section 4123.511 of the Revised Code. The filing of the notice of | 6081 |
the appeal with the court is the only act required to perfect the | 6082 |
appeal. | 6083 |
If an action has been commenced in a court of a county other | 6084 |
than a court of a county having jurisdiction over the action, the | 6085 |
court, upon notice by any party or upon its own motion, shall | 6086 |
transfer the action to a court of a county having jurisdiction. | 6087 |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, if | 6088 |
the commission determines under section 4123.522 of the Revised | 6089 |
Code that an employee, employer, or their respective | 6090 |
representatives have not received written notice of an order or | 6091 |
decision which is appealable to a court under this section and | 6092 |
which grants relief pursuant to section 4123.522 of the Revised | 6093 |
Code, the party granted the relief has sixty days from receipt of | 6094 |
the order under section 4123.522 of the Revised Code to file a | 6095 |
notice of appeal under this section. | 6096 |
(B) The notice of appeal shall state the names of the | 6097 |
claimant and the employer, the number of the claim, the date of | 6098 |
the order appealed from, and the fact that the appellant appeals | 6099 |
therefrom. | 6100 |
The administrator of workers' compensation, the claimant, and | 6101 |
the employer shall be parties to the appeal and the court, upon | 6102 |
the application of the commission, shall make the commission a | 6103 |
party. The party filing the appeal shall serve a copy of the | 6104 |
notice of appeal on the administrator at the central office of the | 6105 |
bureau of workers' compensation in Columbus. The administrator | 6106 |
shall notify the employer that if the employer fails to become an | 6107 |
active party to the appeal, then the administrator may act on | 6108 |
behalf of the employer and the results of the appeal could have an | 6109 |
adverse effect upon the employer's premium rates. | 6110 |
(C) The attorney general or one or more of the attorney | 6111 |
general's assistants or special counsel designated by the attorney | 6112 |
general shall represent the administrator and the commission. In | 6113 |
the event the attorney general or the attorney general's | 6114 |
designated assistants or special counsel are absent, the | 6115 |
administrator or the commission shall select one or more of the | 6116 |
attorneys in the employ of the administrator or the commission as | 6117 |
the administrator's attorney or the commission's attorney in the | 6118 |
appeal. Any attorney so employed shall continue the representation | 6119 |
during the entire period of the appeal and in all hearings thereof | 6120 |
except where the continued representation becomes impractical. | 6121 |
(D) Upon receipt of notice of appeal, the clerk of courts | 6122 |
shall provide notice to all parties who are appellees and to the | 6123 |
commission. | 6124 |
The claimant shall, within thirty days after the filing of | 6125 |
the notice of appeal, file a petition containing a statement of | 6126 |
facts in ordinary and concise language showing a cause of action | 6127 |
to participate or to continue to participate in the fund and | 6128 |
setting forth the basis for the jurisdiction of the court over the | 6129 |
action. Further pleadings shall be had in accordance with the | 6130 |
Rules of Civil Procedure, provided that service of summons on such | 6131 |
petition shall not be required and provided that the claimant may | 6132 |
not dismiss the complaint without the employer's consent if the | 6133 |
employer is the party that filed the notice of appeal to court | 6134 |
pursuant to this section. The clerk of the court shall, upon | 6135 |
receipt thereof, transmit by certified mail a copy thereof to each | 6136 |
party named in the notice of appeal other than the claimant. Any | 6137 |
party may file with the clerk prior to the trial of the action a | 6138 |
deposition of any physician taken in accordance with the | 6139 |
provisions of the Revised Code, which deposition may be read in | 6140 |
the trial of the action even though the physician is a resident of | 6141 |
or subject to service in the county in which the trial is had. The | 6142 |
bureau of workers' compensation shall pay the cost of the | 6143 |
stenographic deposition filed in court and of copies of the | 6144 |
stenographic deposition for each party from the surplus fund and | 6145 |
charge the costs thereof against the unsuccessful party if the | 6146 |
claimant's right to participate or continue to participate is | 6147 |
finally sustained or established in the appeal. In the event the | 6148 |
deposition is taken and filed, the physician whose deposition is | 6149 |
taken is not required to respond to any subpoena issued in the | 6150 |
trial of the action. The court, or the jury under the instructions | 6151 |
of the court, if a jury is demanded, shall determine the right of | 6152 |
the claimant to participate or to continue to participate in the | 6153 |
fund upon the evidence adduced at the hearing of the action. | 6154 |
(E) The court shall certify its decision to the commission | 6155 |
and the certificate shall be entered in the records of the court. | 6156 |
Appeals from the judgment are governed by the law applicable to | 6157 |
the appeal of civil actions. | 6158 |
(F) The cost of any legal proceedings authorized by this | 6159 |
section, including an attorney's fee to the claimant's attorney to | 6160 |
be fixed by the trial judge, based upon the effort expended, in | 6161 |
the event the claimant's right to participate or to continue to | 6162 |
participate in the fund is established upon the final | 6163 |
determination of an appeal, shall be taxed against the employer or | 6164 |
the commission if the commission or the administrator rather than | 6165 |
the employer contested the right of the claimant to participate in | 6166 |
the fund. The attorney's fee shall not exceed forty-two hundred | 6167 |
dollars. | 6168 |
(G) If the finding of the court or the verdict of the jury is | 6169 |
in favor of the claimant's right to participate in the fund, the | 6170 |
commission and the administrator shall thereafter proceed in the | 6171 |
matter of the claim as if the judgment were the decision of the | 6172 |
commission, subject to the power of modification provided by | 6173 |
section 4123.52 of the Revised Code. | 6174 |
(H) An appeal from an order issued under division (E) of | 6175 |
section 4123.511 of the Revised Code or any action filed in court | 6176 |
in a case in which an award of compensation or benefits has been | 6177 |
made shall not stay the payment of compensation or benefits under | 6178 |
the award or payment of compensation or benefits for subsequent | 6179 |
periods of total disability during the pendency of the appeal. If, | 6180 |
in a final administrative or judicial action, it is determined | 6181 |
that payments of compensation or benefits, or both, made to or on | 6182 |
behalf of a claimant should not have been made, the amount thereof | 6183 |
shall be charged to the
surplus fund under division | 6184 |
section 4123.34 of the Revised Code. In the event the employer is | 6185 |
a state risk, the amount shall not be charged to the employer's | 6186 |
experience, and the administrator shall adjust the employer's | 6187 |
account accordingly. In the event the employer is a self-insuring | 6188 |
employer, the self-insuring employer shall deduct the amount from | 6189 |
the paid compensation the self-insuring employer reports to the | 6190 |
administrator under division (L) of section 4123.35 of the Revised | 6191 |
Code. | 6192 |
A self-insuring employer may elect to pay compensation and | 6193 |
benefits under this section directly to an employee or an | 6194 |
employee's dependents by filing an application with the bureau of | 6195 |
workers' compensation not more than one hundred eighty days and | 6196 |
not less than ninety days before the first day of the employer's | 6197 |
next six-month coverage period. If the self-insuring employer | 6198 |
timely files the application, the application is effective on the | 6199 |
first day of the employer's next six-month coverage period, | 6200 |
provided that the administrator shall compute the employer's | 6201 |
assessment for the surplus fund due with respect to the period | 6202 |
during which that application was filed without regard to the | 6203 |
filing of the application. On and after the effective date of the | 6204 |
employer's election, the self-insuring employer shall pay directly | 6205 |
to an employee or to an employee's dependents compensation and | 6206 |
benefits under this section regardless of the date of the injury | 6207 |
or occupational disease, and the employer shall receive no money | 6208 |
or credits from the surplus fund on account of those payments and | 6209 |
shall not be required to pay any amounts into the surplus fund on | 6210 |
account of this section. The election made under this division is | 6211 |
irrevocable. | 6212 |
All actions and proceedings under this section which are the | 6213 |
subject of an appeal to the court of common pleas or the court of | 6214 |
appeals shall be preferred over all other civil actions except | 6215 |
election causes, irrespective of position on the calendar. | 6216 |
This section applies to all decisions of the commission or | 6217 |
the administrator on November 2, 1959, and all claims filed | 6218 |
thereafter are governed by sections 4123.511 and 4123.512 of the | 6219 |
Revised Code. | 6220 |
Any action pending in common pleas court or any other court | 6221 |
on January 1, 1986, under this section is governed by former | 6222 |
sections 4123.514, 4123.515, 4123.516, and 4123.519 and section | 6223 |
4123.522 of the Revised Code. | 6224 |
Sec. 4123.592. If an injury to an employee causes the | 6225 |
employee's death, and the incident that resulted in the employee's | 6226 |
injury occurred through no fault of the employee, the employee's | 6227 |
employer, or another employee of the employee's employer, death | 6228 |
benefits shall be paid from the surplus fund created under section | 6229 |
4123.34 of the Revised Code in accordance with sections 4123.59, | 6230 |
4123.60, and 4123.61 of the Revised Code. The administrator of | 6231 |
workers' compensation shall not charge the payment of those | 6232 |
benefits to the experience of the employee's employer. | 6233 |
The administrator annually shall submit to the general | 6234 |
assembly a report evaluating the actuarial impact of the payment | 6235 |
of benefits made pursuant to this section. | 6236 |
Sec. 4123.66. (A) In addition to the compensation provided | 6237 |
for in this chapter, the administrator of workers' compensation | 6238 |
shall disburse and pay from the state insurance fund the amounts | 6239 |
for medical, nurse, and hospital services and medicine as the | 6240 |
administrator deems proper and, in case death ensues from the | 6241 |
injury or occupational disease, the administrator shall disburse | 6242 |
and pay from the fund reasonable funeral expenses in an amount not | 6243 |
to exceed fifty-five hundred dollars. The bureau of workers' | 6244 |
compensation shall reimburse anyone, whether dependent, volunteer, | 6245 |
or otherwise, who pays the funeral expenses of any employee whose | 6246 |
death ensues from any injury or occupational disease as provided | 6247 |
in this section. The administrator may adopt rules, with the | 6248 |
advice and consent of the bureau of workers' compensation | 6249 |
6250 | |
furnishing medical, nurse, and hospital service and medicine to | 6251 |
injured or disabled employees entitled thereto, and for the | 6252 |
payment therefor. In case an injury or industrial accident that | 6253 |
injures an employee also causes damage to the employee's | 6254 |
eyeglasses, artificial teeth or other denture, or hearing aid, or | 6255 |
in the event an injury or occupational disease makes it necessary | 6256 |
or advisable to replace, repair, or adjust the same, the bureau | 6257 |
shall disburse and pay a reasonable amount to repair or replace | 6258 |
the same. | 6259 |
(B)(1) If an employer or a welfare plan has provided to or on | 6260 |
behalf of an employee any benefits or compensation for an injury | 6261 |
or occupational disease and that injury or occupational disease is | 6262 |
determined compensable under this chapter, the employer or a | 6263 |
welfare plan may request that the administrator reimburse the | 6264 |
employer or welfare plan for the amount the employer or welfare | 6265 |
plan paid to or on behalf of the employee in compensation or | 6266 |
benefits. The administrator shall reimburse the employer or | 6267 |
welfare plan for the compensation and benefits paid if, at the | 6268 |
time the employer or welfare plan provides the benefits or | 6269 |
compensation to or on behalf of employee, the injury or | 6270 |
occupational disease had not been determined to be compensable | 6271 |
under this chapter and if the employee was not receiving | 6272 |
compensation or benefits under this chapter for that injury or | 6273 |
occupational disease. The administrator shall reimburse the | 6274 |
employer or welfare plan in the amount that the administrator | 6275 |
would have paid to or on behalf of the employee under this chapter | 6276 |
if the injury or occupational disease originally would have been | 6277 |
determined compensable under this chapter. If the employer is a | 6278 |
merit-rated employer, the administrator shall adjust the amount of | 6279 |
premium next due from the employer according to the amount the | 6280 |
administrator pays the employer. The administrator shall adopt | 6281 |
rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, to | 6282 |
implement this division. | 6283 |
(2) As used in this division, "welfare plan" has the same | 6284 |
meaning as in division (1) of 29 U.S.C.A. 1002. | 6285 |
Sec. 4123.80. No agreement by an employee to waive an | 6286 |
employee's rights to compensation under this chapter is valid, | 6287 |
except that: | 6288 |
(A) An employee who is blind may waive the compensation that | 6289 |
may become due to the employee for injury or disability in cases | 6290 |
where the injury or disability may be directly caused by or due to | 6291 |
the employee's blindness. The administrator of workers' | 6292 |
compensation, with the advice and consent of the bureau of | 6293 |
workers' compensation | 6294 |
adopt and enforce rules governing the employment of such persons | 6295 |
and the inspection of their places of employment. | 6296 |
(B) An employee may waive the employee's rights to | 6297 |
compensation or benefits as authorized pursuant to division (C)(3) | 6298 |
of section 4123.01 or section 4123.15 of the Revised Code. | 6299 |
No agreement by an employee to pay any portion of the premium | 6300 |
paid by the employee's employer into the state insurance fund is | 6301 |
valid. | 6302 |
Sec. 4123.82. (A) All contracts and agreements are void | 6303 |
which undertake to indemnify or insure an employer against loss or | 6304 |
liability for the payment of compensation to workers or their | 6305 |
dependents for death, injury, or occupational disease occasioned | 6306 |
in the course of the workers' employment, or which provide that | 6307 |
the insurer shall pay the compensation, or which indemnify the | 6308 |
employer against damages when the injury, disease, or death arises | 6309 |
from the failure to comply with any lawful requirement for the | 6310 |
protection of the lives, health, and safety of employees, or when | 6311 |
the same is occasioned by the willful act of the employer or any | 6312 |
of | 6313 |
that the insurer shall pay any such damages. No license or | 6314 |
authority to enter into any such agreements or issue any such | 6315 |
policies of insurance shall be granted or issued by any public | 6316 |
authority in this state. Any corporation organized or admitted | 6317 |
under the laws of this state to transact liability insurance as | 6318 |
defined in section 3929.01 of the Revised Code may by amendment of | 6319 |
its articles of incorporation or by original articles of | 6320 |
incorporation, provide therein for the authority and purpose to | 6321 |
make insurance in states, territories, districts, and counties, | 6322 |
other than the state of Ohio, and in the state of Ohio in respect | 6323 |
of contracts permitted by division (B) of this section, | 6324 |
indemnifying employers against loss or liability for payment of | 6325 |
compensation to workers and employees and their dependents for | 6326 |
death, injury, or occupational disease occasioned in the course of | 6327 |
the employment and to insure and indemnify employers against loss, | 6328 |
expense, and liability by risk of bodily injury or death by | 6329 |
accident, disability, sickness, or disease suffered by workers and | 6330 |
employees for which the employer may be liable or has assumed | 6331 |
liability. | 6332 |
(B) Notwithstanding division (A) of this section: | 6333 |
(1) No contract because of that division is void which | 6334 |
undertakes to indemnify a self-insuring employer against all or | 6335 |
part of such employer's loss in excess of at least fifty thousand | 6336 |
dollars from any one disaster or event arising out of the | 6337 |
employer's liability under this chapter, but no insurance | 6338 |
corporation shall, directly or indirectly, represent an employer | 6339 |
in the settlement, adjudication, determination, allowance, or | 6340 |
payment of claims. The superintendent of insurance shall enforce | 6341 |
this prohibition by such disciplinary orders directed against the | 6342 |
offending insurance corporation as the superintendent of insurance | 6343 |
deems appropriate in the circumstances and the administrator of | 6344 |
workers' compensation shall enforce this prohibition by such | 6345 |
disciplinary orders directed against the offending employer as the | 6346 |
administrator deems appropriate in the circumstances, which orders | 6347 |
may include revocation of the insurance corporation's right to | 6348 |
enter into indemnity contracts and revocation of the employer's | 6349 |
status as a self-insuring employer. | 6350 |
(2) The administrator may enter into a contract of indemnity | 6351 |
with any such employer upon such terms, payment of such premium, | 6352 |
and for such amount and form of indemnity as the administrator | 6353 |
determines and the | 6354 |
board of directors may procure reinsurance of the liability of the | 6355 |
public and private funds under this chapter, or any part of the | 6356 |
liability in respect of either or both of the funds, upon such | 6357 |
terms and premiums or other payments from the fund or funds as the | 6358 |
administrator deems prudent in the maintenance of a solvent fund | 6359 |
or funds from year to year. When making the finding of fact which | 6360 |
the administrator is required by section 4123.35 of the Revised | 6361 |
Code to make with respect to the financial ability of an employer, | 6362 |
no contract of indemnity, or the ability of the employer to | 6363 |
procure such a contract, shall be considered as increasing the | 6364 |
financial ability of the employer. | 6365 |
Sec. 4123.92. Upon the request of the industrial commission | 6366 |
or the administrator of workers' compensation, the attorney | 6367 |
general, or under
| 6368 |
prosecuting attorney of any county in cases arising within the | 6369 |
county, shall institute and prosecute the necessary actions or | 6370 |
proceedings for the enforcement of this chapter, or for the | 6371 |
recovery of any money due the state insurance fund, or any | 6372 |
penalty, and shall defend in like manner all suits, actions, or | 6373 |
proceedings brought against the administrator, the bureau of | 6374 |
workers' compensation | 6375 |
industrial commission, or the
members of the | 6376 |
board, or industrial commission in their official capacity. | 6377 |
Sec. 4125.05. (A) Not later than thirty days after | 6378 |
6379 | |
thirty days after the formation of a professional employer | 6380 |
organization, whichever date occurs later, a professional employer | 6381 |
organization operating in this state shall register with the | 6382 |
administrator of the bureau of workers' compensation on forms | 6383 |
provided by the administrator. Following initial registration, | 6384 |
each professional employer organization shall register with the | 6385 |
administrator annually on or before the thirty-first day of | 6386 |
December. | 6387 |
(B) Initial registration and each annual registration renewal | 6388 |
shall include all of the following: | 6389 |
(1) A list of each of the professional employer | 6390 |
organization's client employers current as of the date of | 6391 |
registration for purposes of initial registration or current as of | 6392 |
the date of annual registration renewal, or within fourteen days | 6393 |
of adding or releasing a client, that includes the client | 6394 |
employer's name, address, federal tax identification number, and | 6395 |
bureau of workers' compensation risk number; | 6396 |
(2) A fee as determined by the administrator; | 6397 |
(3) The name or names under which the professional employer | 6398 |
organization conducts business; | 6399 |
(4) The address of the professional employer organization's | 6400 |
principal place of business and the address of each office it | 6401 |
maintains in this state; | 6402 |
(5) The professional employer organization's taxpayer or | 6403 |
employer identification number; | 6404 |
(6) A list of each state in which the professional employer | 6405 |
organization has operated in the preceding five years, and the | 6406 |
name, corresponding with each state, under which the professional | 6407 |
employer organization operated in each state, including any | 6408 |
alternative names, names of predecessors, and if known, successor | 6409 |
business entities. | 6410 |
(C)(1) The administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 6411 |
bureau of
workers' compensation | 6412 |
directors, shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of | 6413 |
the Revised Code to require, except as otherwise specified in | 6414 |
division (C)(2) of this section, a professional employer | 6415 |
organization to provide security in the form of a bond or letter | 6416 |
of credit assignable to the Ohio bureau of workers' compensation | 6417 |
not to exceed an amount equal to the premiums and assessments | 6418 |
incurred for the two most recent payroll periods, prior to any | 6419 |
discounts or dividends, to meet the financial obligations of the | 6420 |
professional employer organization pursuant to this chapter and | 6421 |
Chapters 4121. and 4123. of the Revised Code. | 6422 |
(2) As an alternative to providing security in the form of a | 6423 |
bond or letter of credit, the administrator shall permit a | 6424 |
professional employer organization to make periodic payments of | 6425 |
prospective premiums and assessments to the bureau or to submit | 6426 |
proof of being certified by either a nationally recognized | 6427 |
organization that certifies professional employer organizations or | 6428 |
by a government entity approved by the administrator. | 6429 |
(3) A professional employer organization may appeal the | 6430 |
amount of the security required pursuant to rules adopted under | 6431 |
division (C)(1) of this section in accordance with section | 6432 |
4123.291 of the Revised Code. | 6433 |
(D) Notwithstanding division (C) of this section, a | 6434 |
professional employer organization that qualifies for | 6435 |
self-insurance or retrospective rating under section 4123.29 or | 6436 |
4123.35 of the Revised Code shall abide by the financial | 6437 |
disclosure and security requirements pursuant to those sections | 6438 |
and the rules adopted under those sections in place of the | 6439 |
requirements specified in division (C) of this section or | 6440 |
specified in rules adopted pursuant to that division. | 6441 |
(E) Except to the extent necessary for the administrator to | 6442 |
administer the statutory duties of the administrator and for | 6443 |
employees of the state to perform their official duties, all | 6444 |
records, reports, client lists, and other information obtained | 6445 |
from a professional employer organization under divisions (A) and | 6446 |
(B) of this section are confidential and shall be considered trade | 6447 |
secrets and shall not be published or open to public inspection. | 6448 |
(F) The list described in division (B)(1) of this section | 6449 |
shall be considered a trade secret. | 6450 |
(G) The administrator shall establish the fee described in | 6451 |
division (B)(2) of this section in an amount that does not exceed | 6452 |
the cost of the administration of the initial and renewal | 6453 |
registration process. | 6454 |
Sec. 4127.07. Every employer shall contribute to the public | 6455 |
work-relief employees' compensation fund the amount of money | 6456 |
determined by the administrator of workers' compensation, with the | 6457 |
advice and consent of the bureau of workers' compensation | 6458 |
6459 | |
made in whole or in part out of any relief funds or any other | 6460 |
available public funds, regardless of the manner in which the | 6461 |
funds were raised. The officer of any employer having charge of | 6462 |
the expenditures of funds for relief purposes, shall set aside and | 6463 |
maintain as a special fund out of which contributions to the | 6464 |
work-relief employees' compensation fund may be made, an amount | 6465 |
equal to the percentage of the work-relief funds as the | 6466 |
administrator determines on an actuarial basis as is reasonably | 6467 |
necessary to cover the premium obligations of the employer. The | 6468 |
manner of determining the contributions and classifications of | 6469 |
employers, shall be the same as is provided in sections 4123.39 to | 6470 |
4123.41 and 4123.48 of the Revised Code, and such sections shall | 6471 |
apply in so far as they are applicable to the employers, but rates | 6472 |
of premium shall be applied to insure solvency of the public | 6473 |
work-relief employees' compensation fund at all times. | 6474 |
The state relief commission or any other state agency having | 6475 |
supervision or control of work-relief employees, either directly | 6476 |
or through agencies, shall file reports and make payments of | 6477 |
premiums out of any fund under its control or supervision, in the | 6478 |
amount and manner, and at the time, as is determined by the | 6479 |
administrator; and the furnishing of the reports and the payment | 6480 |
of the premiums by the state agency, for work-relief employees, | 6481 |
shall relieve the state of the obligations set forth in sections | 6482 |
4123.40, 4123.41, and 4123.48 of the Revised Code, with respect to | 6483 |
contributing to the public work-relief employees' compensation | 6484 |
fund for work-relief employees. | 6485 |
Sec. 4127.08. The administrator of workers' compensation, | 6486 |
under special circumstances and with the advice and consent of the | 6487 |
bureau of workers'
compensation | 6488 |
directors, may adjust the rate of disbursements of compensation of | 6489 |
benefits, which shall not in any instance exceed the maximum | 6490 |
reimbursable relief award established by the state which the | 6491 |
claimant would
have been entitled to had | 6492 |
injured. | 6493 |
Sec. 4131.04. (A) For the purpose of sections 4131.01 to | 6494 |
4131.06 of the Revised Code, each subscriber shall pay premiums | 6495 |
upon the basis and at the intervals determined by the | 6496 |
administrator of workers' compensation, with the advice and | 6497 |
consent
of the bureau of workers' compensation | 6498 |
6499 |
(B) The administrator shall fix and maintain for each class | 6500 |
of occupation and type of mining the lowest possible rates of | 6501 |
premiums consistent with the maintenance of a solvent fund and the | 6502 |
creation and maintenance of a reasonable surplus after providing | 6503 |
for payment to maturity of all liabilities insured pursuant to the | 6504 |
federal act. | 6505 |
(C) The administrator may adjust the rates of premium at any | 6506 |
time. Each adjustment order shall become effective on the date | 6507 |
prescribed by | 6508 |
(D) The administrator, by rule, may prescribe procedures for | 6509 |
subscription, payroll reporting, premium payment, termination of | 6510 |
subscription, reinstatement, and all other matters pertinent to | 6511 |
subscriber participation in the coal-workers pneumoconiosis fund. | 6512 |
(E) In addition to premiums required to be paid into the | 6513 |
fund, the administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 6514 |
6515 | |
an additional premium for the cost of administering the fund. The | 6516 |
additional premium shall be paid by each subscriber as a part of | 6517 |
the subscriber's total premium payment. | 6518 |
Sec. 4131.06. (A) The collection of premiums, the | 6519 |
administration and investment of the coal-workers pneumoconiosis | 6520 |
fund, and the payment of benefits therefrom shall not create any | 6521 |
liability upon the state. | 6522 |
(B) Except for a gross abuse of discretion, the industrial | 6523 |
commission and the individual members thereof, the bureau of | 6524 |
workers'
compensation | 6525 |
the individual members thereof, and the administrator of workers' | 6526 |
compensation shall not incur any obligation or liability | 6527 |
respecting the collection of premiums, the administration or | 6528 |
investment of the fund, or the payment of benefits therefrom. | 6529 |
Sec. 4131.13. (A) For the relief of persons who are entitled | 6530 |
to receive benefits by virtue of the federal act, there is hereby | 6531 |
established a marine industry fund, which shall be separate from | 6532 |
the funds established and administered pursuant to Chapter 4123. | 6533 |
of the Revised Code. The marine industry fund shall consist of | 6534 |
premiums and other payments thereto by marine industry employers | 6535 |
who apply to the bureau of workers' compensation for permission to | 6536 |
subscribe to the fund to insure the payment of benefits required | 6537 |
by the federal act. | 6538 |
By rule, the administrator of workers' compensation shall | 6539 |
establish criteria for the acceptance or rejection of applications | 6540 |
by marine industry employers who apply to subscribe to the fund. | 6541 |
(B) The marine industry fund shall be in the custody of the | 6542 |
treasurer of state. The bureau shall make disbursements from the | 6543 |
fund to those persons entitled to payment therefrom and in the | 6544 |
amounts required pursuant to the federal act. The auditor of state | 6545 |
annually shall complete a fiscal audit of the fund. All investment | 6546 |
earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund. | 6547 |
(C) The administrator shall have the same powers to invest | 6548 |
any of the surplus or reserve belonging to the marine industry | 6549 |
fund as are delegated to him under section 4123.44 of the Revised | 6550 |
Code with respect to the state insurance fund. | 6551 |
(D) If the | 6552 |
board of directors determines that reinsurance of the risks of the | 6553 |
marine industry fund is necessary to assure solvency of the fund, | 6554 |
6555 |
(1) Enter into contracts for the purchase of reinsurance | 6556 |
coverage of the risks of the fund with any company or agency | 6557 |
authorized by law to issue contracts of reinsurance; | 6558 |
(2) | 6559 |
reinsurance from the fund; | 6560 |
(3) Include the costs of reinsurance as a liability and | 6561 |
estimated liability of the fund. | 6562 |
(E) For the purpose of maintaining the solvency of the marine | 6563 |
industry fund, the administrator may borrow money from the state | 6564 |
insurance fund as is necessary. Money borrowed from the state | 6565 |
insurance fund shall be repaid from the marine industry fund | 6566 |
together with an appropriate interest rate not to exceed the | 6567 |
average yield of fixed income investments of the state insurance | 6568 |
fund for the six-month period ended on the last day of the month | 6569 |
preceding the month in which the money is borrowed. Loans made | 6570 |
pursuant to this division are a proper investment of the surplus | 6571 |
or reserve of the state insurance fund. | 6572 |
(F) In no event shall any of the assets of any of the funds | 6573 |
created and administered pursuant to Chapter 4123. of the Revised | 6574 |
Code be disbursed in payment of any cost or obligation of or | 6575 |
insured by the marine industry fund. This division shall not be | 6576 |
construed to prohibit as a proper investment loans made from the | 6577 |
state insurance fund to the marine industry fund pursuant to | 6578 |
division (E) of this section. | 6579 |
Sec. 4131.14. (A) For the purpose of sections 4131.11 to | 6580 |
4131.16 of the Revised Code, each subscriber shall pay premiums | 6581 |
upon the basis and at the intervals determined by the | 6582 |
administrator of workers' compensation, with the advice and | 6583 |
consent
of the bureau of workers' compensation | 6584 |
6585 |
(B) The administrator shall fix and maintain for each class | 6586 |
of occupation and type of business the lowest possible rates of | 6587 |
premiums consistent with the maintenance of a solvent fund and the | 6588 |
creation and maintenance of a reasonable surplus after providing | 6589 |
for payment to maturity of all liabilities insured pursuant to the | 6590 |
federal act. The administrator, by rule, may provide for merit | 6591 |
rating of subscribers. | 6592 |
(C) The administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 6593 |
6594 | |
time. Each adjustment order is effective on the date prescribed by | 6595 |
the administrator. | 6596 |
(D) The administrator, by rule adopted pursuant to Chapter | 6597 |
119. of the Revised Code, may prescribe procedures for | 6598 |
subscription, payroll reporting, premium payment, payment of an | 6599 |
advance security deposit by subscribers to secure payments of | 6600 |
premiums when due, termination of subscription, reinstatement, and | 6601 |
all other matters pertinent to subscriber participation in the | 6602 |
marine industry fund. | 6603 |
(E) In addition to premiums required to be paid into the | 6604 |
fund, the administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 6605 |
6606 | |
an additional premium for the cost of administering the fund. The | 6607 |
additional premium shall be paid by each subscriber as a part of | 6608 |
the subscriber's total premium payment. | 6609 |
Sec. 4131.16. (A) The collection of premiums, the | 6610 |
administration and investment of the marine industry fund, and the | 6611 |
payment of benefits therefrom shall not create any liability upon | 6612 |
the state. | 6613 |
(B) Except for a gross abuse of discretion, the industrial | 6614 |
commission and the individual members thereof, the bureau of | 6615 |
workers' compensation
| 6616 |
the individual members thereof, and the administrator of workers' | 6617 |
compensation shall not incur any obligation or liability | 6618 |
respecting the collection of premiums, the administration or | 6619 |
investment of the fund, or the payment of benefits therefrom. | 6620 |
Sec. 4167.02. (A) The administrator of worker's compensation | 6621 |
shall operate and enforce the public employment risk reduction | 6622 |
program created by this chapter. | 6623 |
(B) The administrator shall do all of the following: | 6624 |
(1) Adopt rules, with the advice and consent of the bureau of | 6625 |
workers' compensation | 6626 |
in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, for the | 6627 |
administration and enforcement of this chapter, including rules | 6628 |
covering standards the administrator shall follow in issuing an | 6629 |
emergency temporary Ohio employment risk reduction standard under | 6630 |
section 4167.08 of the Revised Code and a temporary variance and a | 6631 |
variance from an Ohio employment risk reduction standard or part | 6632 |
thereof under section 4167.09 of the Revised Code; | 6633 |
(2) Do all things necessary and appropriate for the | 6634 |
administration and enforcement of this chapter. | 6635 |
(C) In carrying out the responsibilities of this chapter, the | 6636 |
administrator may use, with the consent of any federal, state, or | 6637 |
local agency, the services, facilities, and personnel of such | 6638 |
agency, with or without reimbursement, and may retain or contract | 6639 |
with experts, consultants, and organizations for services or | 6640 |
personnel on such terms as the administrator determines | 6641 |
appropriate. | 6642 |
Sec. 4167.07. (A) The administrator of workers' | 6643 |
compensation, with the advice and consent of the bureau of | 6644 |
workers' compensation | 6645 |
shall adopt rules that establish employment risk reduction | 6646 |
standards. Except as provided in division (B) of this section, in | 6647 |
adopting these rules, the administrator shall do both of the | 6648 |
following: | 6649 |
(1) By no later than July 1, 1994, adopt as a rule and an | 6650 |
Ohio employment risk reduction standard every federal occupational | 6651 |
safety and health standard then adopted by the United States | 6652 |
secretary of labor pursuant to the "Occupational Safety and Health | 6653 |
Act of 1970," 84 Stat. 1590, 29 U.S.C.A. 651, as amended; | 6654 |
(2) By no later than one hundred twenty days after the United | 6655 |
States secretary of labor adopts, modifies, or revokes any federal | 6656 |
occupational safety and health standard, by rule do one of the | 6657 |
following: | 6658 |
(a) Adopt the federal occupational safety and health standard | 6659 |
as a rule and an Ohio employment risk reduction standard; | 6660 |
(b) Amend the existing rule and Ohio employment risk | 6661 |
reduction standard to conform to the modification of the federal | 6662 |
occupational safety and health standard; | 6663 |
(c) Rescind the existing rule and Ohio employment risk | 6664 |
reduction standard that corresponds to the federal occupational | 6665 |
safety and health standard the United States secretary of labor | 6666 |
revoked. | 6667 |
(B) The administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 6668 |
bureau of workers' compensation | 6669 |
directors, may decline to adopt any federal occupational safety | 6670 |
and health standard as a rule and an Ohio employment risk | 6671 |
reduction standard or to modify or rescind any existing rule and | 6672 |
Ohio employment risk reduction standard to conform to any federal | 6673 |
occupational safety and health standard modified or revoked by the | 6674 |
United States secretary of labor or may adopt as a rule and an | 6675 |
Ohio employment risk reduction standard any occupational safety | 6676 |
and health standard that is not covered under the federal law or | 6677 |
that differs from one adopted or modified by the United States | 6678 |
secretary of labor, if the administrator determines that existing | 6679 |
rules and Ohio employment risk reduction standards provide | 6680 |
protection at least as effective as that which would be provided | 6681 |
by the existing, new, or modified federal occupational safety and | 6682 |
health standard or if the administrator determines that local | 6683 |
conditions warrant a different standard from that of the existing | 6684 |
federal occupational safety and health standard or from standards | 6685 |
the United States secretary of labor adopts, modifies, or revokes. | 6686 |
(C) In adopting, modifying, or rescinding any rule or Ohio | 6687 |
employment risk reduction standard dealing with toxic materials or | 6688 |
harmful physical agents, the administrator, with the advice and | 6689 |
consent of the bureau of workers' compensation | 6690 |
6691 |
(1) Set the employment risk reduction standard to most | 6692 |
adequately assure, to the extent technologically feasible and on | 6693 |
the basis of the best available evidence, that no public employee | 6694 |
will suffer material impairment of health or functional capacity | 6695 |
as a result of the hazards dealt with by the rule or Ohio | 6696 |
employment risk reduction standard for the period of the public | 6697 |
employee's working life; | 6698 |
(2) Base the development of these rules and Ohio employment | 6699 |
risk reduction standards on research, demonstrations, experiments, | 6700 |
and other information as is appropriate and upon the technological | 6701 |
feasibility of the rule and standard, using the latest available | 6702 |
scientific data in the field and the experience gained in the | 6703 |
workplace under this chapter and other health and safety laws, to | 6704 |
establish the highest degree of safety and health for the public | 6705 |
employee; | 6706 |
(3) Whenever practicable, express the rule and Ohio | 6707 |
employment risk reduction standard in terms of objective criteria | 6708 |
and of the performance desired; | 6709 |
(4) Prescribe the use of labels or other appropriate forms of | 6710 |
warning as are necessary to ensure that public employees are | 6711 |
apprised of all hazards to which they are exposed, relevant | 6712 |
symptoms and appropriate emergency treatment, and proper | 6713 |
conditions and precautions of safe use or exposure where | 6714 |
appropriate; | 6715 |
(5) Prescribe suitable protective equipment and control | 6716 |
procedures to be used in connection with the hazards; | 6717 |
(6) Provide for measuring or monitoring public employee | 6718 |
exposure in a manner necessary for the protection of the public | 6719 |
employees; | 6720 |
(7) Where appropriate, prescribe the type and frequency of | 6721 |
medical examinations or other tests the public employer shall make | 6722 |
available, at the cost of the public employer, to the public | 6723 |
employees exposed to the hazards in order to determine any adverse | 6724 |
effect from the exposure. | 6725 |
(D) In determining the priority for adopting rules and Ohio | 6726 |
employment risk reduction standards under this section, the | 6727 |
administrator shall give due regard to the urgency of need and | 6728 |
recommendations of the department of health regarding that need | 6729 |
for mandatory employment risk reduction standards for particular | 6730 |
trades, crafts, occupations, services, and workplaces. | 6731 |
(E)(1) Except for rules adopted under division (A) of this | 6732 |
section, the administrator, with the advice and consent of the | 6733 |
bureau of workers' compensation | 6734 |
directors, shall adopt all rules under this section in accordance | 6735 |
with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, provided that | 6736 |
notwithstanding that chapter, the administrator may delay the | 6737 |
effective date of any rule or Ohio employment risk reduction | 6738 |
standard for the period the administrator determines necessary to | 6739 |
ensure that affected public employers and public employees will be | 6740 |
informed of the adoption, modification, or rescission of the rule | 6741 |
and Ohio employment risk reduction standard and have the | 6742 |
opportunity to familiarize themselves with the specific | 6743 |
requirements of the rule and standard. In no case, however, shall | 6744 |
the administrator delay the effective date of a rule adopted | 6745 |
pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code in excess of ninety | 6746 |
days beyond the otherwise required effective date. | 6747 |
(2) In regard to the rules for which the administrator does | 6748 |
not have to comply with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the | 6749 |
administrator shall file two certified copies of the rules and | 6750 |
Ohio employment risk reduction standards adopted with the | 6751 |
secretary of state and the director of the legislative service | 6752 |
commission. | 6753 |
Sec. 4167.08. (A) In the event of an emergency or unusual | 6754 |
situation, the administrator of workers' compensation shall issue | 6755 |
an emergency temporary Ohio employment risk reduction standard to | 6756 |
take immediate effect upon publication in newspapers of general | 6757 |
circulation in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo if the | 6758 |
administrator finds both of the following: | 6759 |
(1) Public employees are exposed to grave danger from | 6760 |
exposure to substances or agents determined to be toxic or | 6761 |
physically harmful or from new hazards; | 6762 |
(2) The emergency temporary Ohio employment risk reduction | 6763 |
standard is necessary to protect employees from the danger. | 6764 |
(B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section | 6765 |
an emergency temporary Ohio employment risk reduction standard | 6766 |
issued by the administrator under division (A) of this section | 6767 |
shall be in effect no longer than fifteen days, unless the | 6768 |
6769 | |
approves the emergency temporary Ohio employment risk reduction | 6770 |
standard as issued by the administrator, in which case, the | 6771 |
emergency temporary Ohio employment risk reduction standard shall | 6772 |
be in effect no longer than one hundred twenty days after the date | 6773 |
the administrator issues it. | 6774 |
(2) The administrator may renew an emergency temporary Ohio | 6775 |
employment risk reduction standard that has been approved by the | 6776 |
6777 | |
time period not to exceed one hundred days if the administrator | 6778 |
finds that the conditions identified in divisions (A)(1) and (2) | 6779 |
of this section continue to exist. | 6780 |
On or before the expiration date of the emergency temporary | 6781 |
Ohio employment risk reduction standard or renewal thereof, if the | 6782 |
conditions identified in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section | 6783 |
continue to exist, the administrator, with the advice and consent | 6784 |
of the | 6785 |
employment risk reduction standard pursuant to section 4167.07 of | 6786 |
the Revised Code as a rule to replace the emergency temporary Ohio | 6787 |
employment risk reduction standard. | 6788 |
Sec. 4167.09. (A) Any public employer affected by a proposed | 6789 |
rule or Ohio employment risk reduction standard or any provision | 6790 |
of a standard proposed under section 4167.07 or 4167.08 of the | 6791 |
Revised Code may apply to the administrator of workers' | 6792 |
compensation for an order granting a temporary variance from the | 6793 |
standard or provision. The application for the order and any | 6794 |
extension of the order shall contain a reasonable application fee, | 6795 |
as determined by the bureau of workers' compensation | 6796 |
6797 | |
information: | 6798 |
(1) A specification of the Ohio public employment risk | 6799 |
reduction standard or provision of it from which the public | 6800 |
employer seeks the temporary variance; | 6801 |
(2) A representation by the public employer, supported by | 6802 |
representations from qualified persons having firsthand knowledge | 6803 |
of the facts represented, that the public employer is unable to | 6804 |
comply with the Ohio employment risk reduction standard or | 6805 |
provision of it and a detailed statement of the reasons for the | 6806 |
inability to comply; | 6807 |
(3) A statement of the steps that the public employer has | 6808 |
taken and will take, with dates specified, to protect employees | 6809 |
against the hazard covered by the standard; | 6810 |
(4) A statement of when the public employer expects to be | 6811 |
able to comply fully with the Ohio employment risk reduction | 6812 |
standard and what steps the public employer has taken and will | 6813 |
take, with dates specified, to come into full compliance with the | 6814 |
standard; | 6815 |
(5) A certification that the public employer has informed the | 6816 |
public employer's public employees of the application by giving a | 6817 |
copy of the application to the public employee representative, if | 6818 |
any, and by posting a statement giving a summary of the | 6819 |
application and specifying where a copy of the application may be | 6820 |
examined at the place or places where notices to public employees | 6821 |
are normally posted, and by any other appropriate means of public | 6822 |
employee notification. The public employer also shall inform the | 6823 |
public employer's public employees of their rights to a hearing | 6824 |
under section 4167.15 of the Revised Code. The certification also | 6825 |
shall contain a description of how public employees have been | 6826 |
informed of the application and of their rights to a hearing. | 6827 |
(B) The administrator shall issue an order providing for a | 6828 |
temporary variance if the public employer files an application | 6829 |
that meets the requirements of division (A) of this section and | 6830 |
establishes that all of the following pertaining to the public | 6831 |
employer are true: | 6832 |
(1) The public employer is unable to comply with the Ohio | 6833 |
employment risk reduction standard or a provision of it by its | 6834 |
effective date because of the unavailability of professional or | 6835 |
technical personnel or of materials and equipment needed to come | 6836 |
into compliance with the Ohio employment risk reduction standard | 6837 |
or provision of it or because necessary construction or alteration | 6838 |
of facilities cannot be completed by the effective date of the | 6839 |
standard. | 6840 |
(2) The public employer is taking all available steps to | 6841 |
safeguard the public employer's public employees against the | 6842 |
hazards covered by the Ohio employment risk reduction standard. | 6843 |
(3) The public employer has an effective program for coming | 6844 |
into compliance with the Ohio employment risk reduction standard | 6845 |
as quickly as practicable. | 6846 |
(4) The granting of the variance will not create an imminent | 6847 |
danger of death or serious physical harm to public employees. | 6848 |
(C)(1) If the administrator issues an order providing for a | 6849 |
temporary variance under division (B) of this section, the | 6850 |
administrator shall prescribe the practices, means, methods, | 6851 |
operations, and processes that the public employer must adopt and | 6852 |
use while the order is in effect and state in detail the public | 6853 |
employer's program for coming into compliance with the Ohio | 6854 |
employment risk reduction standard. The administrator may issue | 6855 |
the order only after providing notice to affected public employees | 6856 |
and their public employee representative, if any, and an | 6857 |
opportunity for a hearing pursuant to section 4167.15 of the | 6858 |
Revised Code, provided that the administrator may issue one | 6859 |
interim order granting a temporary order to be effective until a | 6860 |
decision on a hearing is made. Except as provided in division | 6861 |
(C)(2) of this section, no temporary variance may be in effect for | 6862 |
longer than the period needed by the public employer to achieve | 6863 |
compliance with the Ohio employment risk reduction standard or one | 6864 |
year, whichever is shorter. | 6865 |
(2) The administrator may renew an order issued under | 6866 |
division (C) of this section up to two times provided that the | 6867 |
requirements of divisions (A), (B), and (C)(1) of this section and | 6868 |
section 4167.15 of the Revised Code are met and the public | 6869 |
employer files an application for renewal with the administrator | 6870 |
at least ninety days prior to the expiration date of the order. | 6871 |
(D) Any public employer affected by an Ohio employment risk | 6872 |
reduction standard or any provision of it proposed, adopted, or | 6873 |
otherwise issued under section 4167.07 or 4167.08 of the Revised | 6874 |
Code may apply to the administrator for an order granting a | 6875 |
variance from the standard or provision. The administrator shall | 6876 |
provide affected public employees and their public employee | 6877 |
representative, if any, notice of the application and shall | 6878 |
provide an opportunity for a hearing pursuant to section 4167.15 | 6879 |
of the Revised Code. The administrator shall issue the order | 6880 |
granting the variance if the public employer files an application | 6881 |
that meets the requirements of division (B) of this section, and | 6882 |
after an opportunity for a hearing pursuant to section 4167.15 of | 6883 |
the Revised Code, and if the public employer establishes to the | 6884 |
satisfaction of the administrator that the conditions, practices, | 6885 |
means, methods, operations, or processes used or proposed to be | 6886 |
used by the public employer will provide employment and places of | 6887 |
employment to the public employer's public employees that are as | 6888 |
safe and healthful as those that would prevail if the public | 6889 |
employer complied with the Ohio employment risk reduction | 6890 |
standard. The administrator shall prescribe in the order granting | 6891 |
the variance the conditions the public employer must maintain, and | 6892 |
the practices, means, methods, operations, and processes the | 6893 |
public employer must adopt and utilize in lieu of the Ohio | 6894 |
employment risk reduction standard that would otherwise apply. The | 6895 |
administrator may modify or revoke the order upon application of | 6896 |
the public employer, public employee, or public employee | 6897 |
representative, or upon the administrator's own motion in the | 6898 |
manner prescribed for the issuance of an order under this division | 6899 |
at any time during six months after the date of issuance of the | 6900 |
order. | 6901 |
Sec. 4167.11. (A) In order to further the purposes of this | 6902 |
chapter, the administrator of workers' compensation shall develop | 6903 |
and maintain, for public employers and public employees, an | 6904 |
effective program of collection, compilation, and analysis of | 6905 |
employment risk reduction statistics. | 6906 |
(B) To implement and maintain division (A) of this section, | 6907 |
the administrator, with the advice and consent of the bureau of | 6908 |
workers' compensation | 6909 |
shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised | 6910 |
Code that extend to all of the following: | 6911 |
(1) Requiring each public employer to make, keep, and | 6912 |
preserve, and make available to the administrator, reports and | 6913 |
records regarding the public employer's activities, as determined | 6914 |
by the rule that are necessary or appropriate for the enforcement | 6915 |
of this chapter or for developing information regarding the causes | 6916 |
and prevention of occupational accidents and illnesses. The rule | 6917 |
shall prescribe which of these reports and records shall or may be | 6918 |
furnished to public employees and public employee representatives. | 6919 |
(2) Requiring every public employer, through posting of | 6920 |
notices or other appropriate means, to keep their public employees | 6921 |
informed of public employees' rights and obligations under this | 6922 |
chapter, including the provisions of applicable Ohio employment | 6923 |
risk reduction standards; | 6924 |
(3) Requiring public employers to maintain accurate records | 6925 |
of public employee exposure to potentially toxic materials, | 6926 |
carcinogenic materials, and harmful physical agents that are | 6927 |
required to be monitored or measured under rules adopted under the | 6928 |
guidelines of division (C) of section 4167.07 of the Revised Code. | 6929 |
The rule shall provide public employees or public employee | 6930 |
representatives an opportunity to observe the monitoring or | 6931 |
measuring, and to have access on request to the records thereof, | 6932 |
and may provide public employees or public employee | 6933 |
representatives an opportunity to participate in and to undertake | 6934 |
their own monitoring or measuring. The rules also shall permit | 6935 |
each current or former public employee to have access to the | 6936 |
records that indicate their own exposure to toxic materials, | 6937 |
carcinogenic materials, or harmful agents. | 6938 |
(C) The administrator shall obtain any information under | 6939 |
division (B) of this section with a minimum burden upon the public | 6940 |
employer and shall, to the maximum extent feasible, reduce | 6941 |
unnecessary duplication of efforts in obtaining the information. | 6942 |
Sec. 4167.14. (A) Any court of common pleas has | 6943 |
jurisdiction, upon petition of the administrator of workers' | 6944 |
compensation, to restrain any conditions or practices in any | 6945 |
places of employment that present a danger that could reasonably | 6946 |
be expected to cause death or serious harm or contribute | 6947 |
significantly to occupationally related illness immediately or | 6948 |
before the imminence of the danger can be eliminated through the | 6949 |
enforcement procedures provided in this chapter. Any order issued | 6950 |
under this section may require that steps be taken as necessary to | 6951 |
avoid, correct, or remove the imminent danger and prohibit the | 6952 |
employment or presence of any individual in locations or under | 6953 |
conditions where the imminent danger exists, except individuals | 6954 |
whose presence is necessary to avoid, correct, or remove the | 6955 |
imminent danger. | 6956 |
(B) Upon the filing of a petition under division (A) of this | 6957 |
section, the court of common pleas may grant injunctive relief or | 6958 |
a temporary restraining order pending the outcome of an | 6959 |
enforcement proceeding pursuant to this chapter, except that no | 6960 |
temporary restraining order issued without notice is effective for | 6961 |
a period longer than five calendar days. | 6962 |
(C) If the administrator or the administrator's designee | 6963 |
responsible for inspections determines that the imminent danger as | 6964 |
described in division (A) of this section is such that immediate | 6965 |
action is necessary, and further determines that there is not | 6966 |
sufficient time in light of the nature, severity, and imminence of | 6967 |
the danger to seek and obtain a temporary restraining order or | 6968 |
injunction, the administrator or the administrator's designee | 6969 |
immediately shall file a petition with the court under division | 6970 |
(A) of this section and issue an order requiring action to be | 6971 |
taken as is necessary to avoid, correct, or remove the imminent | 6972 |
danger. | 6973 |
The administrator, with the advice and consent of the bureau | 6974 |
of workers' compensation | 6975 |
shall adopt rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised | 6976 |
Code, to permit a public employer expeditious informal | 6977 |
reconsideration of any order issued by the administrator under | 6978 |
this division. Unless the administrator reverses an order pursuant | 6979 |
to the informal reconsideration, the order remains in effect | 6980 |
pending the court's determination under this section. If the | 6981 |
administrator modifies an order pursuant to the informal | 6982 |
reconsideration, the administrator shall provide the court with | 6983 |
whom the administrator filed the petition under this section with | 6984 |
a copy of the modified order. The modified order remains in effect | 6985 |
pending the court's determination under this section. | 6986 |
Section 101.02. That existing sections 102.02, 102.06, | 6987 |
109.981, 111.15, 119.01, 131.02, 1707.01, 3345.12, 4121.01, | 6988 |
4121.03, 4121.12, 4121.121, 4121.122, 4121.125, 4121.126, | 6989 |
4121.128, 4121.13, 4121.32, 4121.37, 4121.40, 4121.441, 4121.48, | 6990 |
4121.61, 4121.67, 4121.70, 4123.25, 4123.29, 4123.291, 4123.311, | 6991 |
4123.32, 4123.34, 4123.341, 4123.342, 4123.35, 4123.351, 4123.37, | 6992 |
4123.411, 4123.44, 4123.441, 4123.47, 4123.50, 4123.511, 4123.512, | 6993 |
4123.66, 4123.80, 4123.82, 4123.92, 4125.05, 4127.07, 4127.08, | 6994 |
4131.04, 4131.06, 4131.13, 4131.14, 4131.16, 4167.02, 4167.07, | 6995 |
4167.08, 4167.09, 4167.11, and 4167.14 of the Revised Care are | 6996 |
hereby repealed. | 6997 |
Section 105.01. That sections 4121.06, 4121.123, and 4121.131 | 6998 |
of the Revised Code are hereby repealed. | 6999 |
Section 201.10. All items in this section are hereby | 7000 |
appropriated out of any moneys in the state treasury to the credit | 7001 |
of the designated fund. For all appropriations made in this act, | 7002 |
those in the first column are for fiscal year 2008, and those in | 7003 |
the second column are for fiscal year 2009. | 7004 |
FND | AI | AI TITLE | Appropriations | 7005 |
7006 |
Workers' Compensation Fund Group | 7007 |
023 | 855-401 | William Green Lease Payments to OBA | $ | 20,436,600 | $ | 20,686,500 | 7008 | ||||
023 | 855-407 | Claims, Risk & Medical Management | $ | 140,367,719 | $ | 140,367,719 | 7009 | ||||
023 | 855-408 | Fraud Prevention | $ | 11,772,551 | $ | 11,772,551 | 7010 | ||||
023 | 855-409 | Administrative Services | $ | 122,962,388 | $ | 122,962,388 | 7011 | ||||
023 | 855-410 | Attorney General Payments | $ | 4,444,085 | $ | 4,444,085 | 7012 | ||||
822 | 855-606 | Coal Workers' Fund | $ | 91,894 | $ | 91,894 | 7013 | ||||
823 | 855-608 | Marine Industry | $ | 53,952 | $ | 53,952 | 7014 | ||||
825 | 855-605 | Disabled Workers Relief Fund | $ | 488,282 | $ | 492,500 | 7015 | ||||
826 | 855-609 | Safety & Hygiene Operating | $ | 20,734,750 | $ | 20,734,750 | 7016 | ||||
826 | 855-610 | Safety Grants Program | $ | 4,000,000 | $ | 4,000,000 | 7017 | ||||
829 | 855-604 | Long Term Care Loan Program | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 2,000,000 | 7018 | ||||
TOTAL WCF Workers' Compensation | 7019 | ||||||||||
Fund Group | $ | 327,352,221 | $ | 327,606,339 | 7020 |
Federal Special Revenue Fund Group | 7021 |
349 | 855-601 | OSHA Enforcement | $ | 1,604,140 | $ | 1,604,140 | 7022 | ||||
TOTAL FED Federal Special Revenue Fund Group | $ | 1,604,140 | $ | 1,604,140 | 7023 | ||||||
TOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS | $ | 328,956,361 | $ | 329,210,479 | 7024 |
WILLIAM GREEN LEASE PAYMENTS | 7025 |
The foregoing appropriation item 855-401, William Green Lease | 7026 |
Payments to OBA, shall be used for lease payments to the Ohio | 7027 |
Building Authority, and these appropriations shall be used to meet | 7028 |
all payments at the times they are required to be made during the | 7029 |
period from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2009, by the Bureau of | 7030 |
Workers' Compensation to the Ohio Building Authority pursuant to | 7031 |
leases and agreements made under Chapter 152. of the Revised Code | 7032 |
and Section 6 of Am. Sub. H.B. 743 of the 118th General Assembly. | 7033 |
Of the amounts received in Fund 023, appropriation item 855-401, | 7034 |
William Green Lease Payments to OBA, up to $41,123,100 shall be | 7035 |
restricted for lease rental payments to the Ohio Building | 7036 |
Authority. If it is determined that additional appropriations are | 7037 |
necessary for such purpose, such amounts are hereby appropriated. | 7038 |
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, | 7039 |
all tenants of the William Green Building not funded by the | 7040 |
Workers' Compensation Fund (Fund 023) shall pay their fair share | 7041 |
of the costs of lease payments to the Workers' Compensation Fund | 7042 |
(Fund 023) by intrastate transfer voucher. | 7043 |
WORKERS' COMPENSATION FRAUD UNIT | 7044 |
The Workers' Compensation Section Fund (Fund 195) shall | 7045 |
receive payments from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation at the | 7046 |
beginning of each quarter of each fiscal year to fund expenses of | 7047 |
the Workers' Compensation Fraud Unit of the Attorney General's | 7048 |
Office. Of the foregoing appropriation item 855-410, Attorney | 7049 |
General Payments, $796,346 in fiscal year 2008 and $796,346 in | 7050 |
fiscal year 2009 shall be used to provide these payments. | 7051 |
SAFETY AND HYGIENE | 7052 |
Notwithstanding section 4121.37 of the Revised Code, the | 7053 |
Administrator of Workers' Compensation shall transfer moneys from | 7054 |
the State Insurance Fund so that appropriation item 855-609, | 7055 |
Safety and Hygiene Operating, is provided $20,734,750 in fiscal | 7056 |
year 2008 and $20,734,750 in fiscal year 2009. | 7057 |
OSHA ON-SITE CONSULTATION PROGRAM | 7058 |
The Bureau of Workers' Compensation may designate a portion | 7059 |
of appropriation item 855-609, Safety and Hygiene Operating, to be | 7060 |
used to match federal funding for the federal Occupational Safety | 7061 |
and Health Administration's (OSHA) on-site consultation program. | 7062 |
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION | 7063 |
The Bureau of Workers' Compensation and the Rehabilitation | 7064 |
Services Commission shall enter into an interagency agreement for | 7065 |
the provision of vocational rehabilitation services and staff to | 7066 |
mutually eligible clients. The bureau shall provide $605,407 in | 7067 |
fiscal year 2008 and $605,407 in fiscal year 2009 from the State | 7068 |
Insurance Fund to fund vocational rehabilitation services and | 7069 |
staff in accordance with the interagency agreement. | 7070 |
FUND BALANCE | 7071 |
Any unencumbered cash balance in excess of $45,000,000 in the | 7072 |
Workers' Compensation Fund (Fund 023) on the thirtieth day of June | 7073 |
of each fiscal year shall be used to reduce the administrative | 7074 |
cost rate charged to employers to cover appropriations for Bureau | 7075 |
of Workers' Compensation operations. | 7076 |
HOLDING ACCOUNT | 7077 |
On July 1, 2007, or as soon as possible thereafter, the | 7078 |
Director of Budget and Management shall transfer the remaining | 7079 |
cash balance in the Camera Center Fund (Fund R46) to the | 7080 |
Administrative Fund (Fund 023). After the transfer, the Camera | 7081 |
Center Fund is abolished. | 7082 |
Section ___. Notwithstanding division (D) of section 4121.03, | 7083 |
division (B)(10) of section 4121.121, and section 101.532 of the | 7084 |
Revised Code regarding the requirement that the budget for the | 7085 |
bureau of workers' compensation and the budget for the industrial | 7086 |
commission be enacted in separate bills, all items in this section | 7087 |
are hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the state treasury to | 7088 |
the credit of the designated fund. For all appropriations made in | 7089 |
this section, those in the first column are for fiscal year 2008, | 7090 |
and those in the second column are for fiscal year 2009. | 7091 |
Appropriations | 7092 |
FND | AI | AI TITLE | FY 2008 | FY 2009 | 7093 |
7094 |
Workers' Compensation Fund Group | 7095 |
5W3 | 845-321 | Operating Expenses | $ | 51,778,924 | $ | 51,778,924 | 7096 | ||||
5W3 | 845-402 | Rent - William Green Building | $ | 6,299,960 | $ | 6,299,960 | 7097 | ||||
5W3 | 845-410 | Attorney General Payments | $ | 3,558,634 | $ | 3,558,634 | 7098 | ||||
821 | 845-605 | Program Support | $ | 161,847 | $ | 161,847 | 7099 | ||||
TOTAL WCF Workers' Compensation | 7100 | ||||||||||
Fund Group | $ | 61,799,365 | $ | 61,799,365 | 7101 | ||||||
TOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS | $ | 61,799,365 | $ | 61,799,365 | 7102 |
RENT - WILLIAM GREEN BUILDING | 7103 |
The foregoing appropriation item 845-402, Rent - William | 7104 |
Green Building, shall be used for rent and operating expenses for | 7105 |
the space occupied by the Industrial Commission in the William | 7106 |
Green Building. | 7107 |
PROGRAM SUPPORT | 7108 |
The foregoing appropriation item 845-605, Program Support, | 7109 |
shall be used for any expense related to revenues collected and | 7110 |
deposited in Fund 821, such as the purchase of copiers, copier | 7111 |
maintenance and related supplies, coin copier expense, coin | 7112 |
changer purchases, expenses related to conferences that produce | 7113 |
revenue, publications that produce revenue, and replacement of | 7114 |
furniture and equipment. | 7115 |
Section 303.10. Law contained in the main operating | 7116 |
appropriations act of the 127th General Assembly that applies | 7117 |
generally to the appropriations made in that act also applies | 7118 |
generally to the appropriations made in this act. | 7119 |
Section 403.03. That Section 4 of Am. Sub. H.B. 516 of the | 7120 |
125th General Assembly, as amended by Am. Sub. H.B. 66 and Sub. | 7121 |
S.B. 124 of the 126th General Assembly, be amended to read as | 7122 |
follows: | 7123 |
Sec. 4. The following agencies shall be retained pursuant to | 7124 |
division (D) of section 101.83 of the Revised Code and shall | 7125 |
expire on December 31, 2010: | 7126 |
REVISED CODE OR | 7127 | ||||
UNCODIFIED | 7128 | ||||
AGENCY NAME | SECTION | 7129 |
Administrator, Interstate Compact on Mental Health | 5119.50 | 7130 | ||
Administrator, Interstate Compact on | 5103.20 | 7131 | ||
Placement of Children | 7132 | |||
Advisory Board of Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives | 107.12 | 7133 | ||
Advisory Boards to the EPA for Air Pollution | 121.13 | 7134 | ||
Advisory Boards to the EPA for Water Pollution | 121.13 | 7135 | ||
Advisory Committee of the State Veterinary Medical Licensing Board | 4741.03(D)(3) | 7136 | ||
Advisory Committee on Livestock Exhibitions | 901.71 | 7137 | ||
Advisory Council on Amusement Ride Safety | 1711.51 | 7138 | ||
Advisory Board of Directors for Prison Labor | 5145.162 | 7139 | ||
Advisory Council for Each Wild, Scenic, or Recreational River Area | 1517.18 | 7140 | ||
Advisory Councils or Boards for State Departments | 107.18 or 121.13 | 7141 | ||
Advisory Group to the Ohio Water Resources Council | 1521.19(C) | 7142 | ||
Alzheimer's Disease Task Force | 173.04(F) | 7143 | ||
AMBER Alert Advisory Committee | 5502.521 | 7144 | ||
Apprenticeship Council | 4139.02 | 7145 | ||
Armory Board of Control | 5911.09 | 7146 | ||
Automated Title Processing Board | 4505.09(C)(1) | 7147 | ||
Banking Commission | 1123.01 | 7148 | ||
Board of Directors of the Ohio Health Reinsurance Program | 3924.08 | 7149 | ||
Board of Voting Machine Examiners | 3506.05(B) | 7150 | ||
Brain Injury Advisory Committee | 3304.231 | 7151 | ||
Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board | 105.41 | 7152 | ||
Child Support Guideline Advisory Council | 3119.024 | 7153 | ||
Children's Trust Fund Board | 3109.15 | 7154 | ||
Citizens Advisory Committee (BMV) | 4501.025 | 7155 | ||
Citizen's Advisory Councils (Dept. of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities) | 5123.092 | 7156 | ||
Clean Ohio Trail Advisory Board | 1519.06 | 7157 | ||
Coastal Resources Advisory Council | 1506.12 | 7158 | ||
Commission on African-American Males | 4112.12 | 7159 | ||
Commission on Hispanic-Latino Affairs | 121.31 | 7160 | ||
Commission on Minority Health | 3701.78 | 7161 | ||
Committee on Prescriptive Governance | 4723.49 | 7162 | ||
Commodity Advisory Commission | 926.32 | 7163 | ||
Community Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Trust Fund Advisory Council | 5123.353 | 7164 | ||
Community Oversight Council | 3311.77 | 7165 | ||
Compassionate Care Task Force | Section 3, H.B. 474, 124th GA | 7166 | ||
Continuing Education Committee (for Sheriffs) | 109.80 | 7167 | ||
Coordinating Committee, Agricultural Commodity Marketing Programs | 924.14 | 7168 | ||
Council on Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services | 3793.09 | 7169 | ||
Council on Unreclaimed Strip Mined Lands | 1513.29 | 7170 | ||
Council to Advise on the Establishment and Implementation of the Birth Defects Information System | 3705.34 | 7171 | ||
County Sheriffs' Standard Car-Marking and Uniform Commission | 311.25 | 7172 | ||
Credit Union Council | 1733.329 | 7173 | ||
Criminal Sentencing Advisory Committee | 181.22 | 7174 | ||
Day-Care Advisory Council | 5104.08 | 7175 | ||
Dentist Loan Repayment Advisory Board | 3702.92 | 7176 | ||
Development Financing Advisory Council | 122.40 | 7177 | ||
Education Commission of the States (Interstate Compact for Education) | 3301.48 | 7178 | ||
Electrical Safety Inspector Advisory Committee | 3783.08 | 7179 | ||
Emergency Response Commission | 3750.02 | 7180 | ||
Engineering Experiment Station Advisory Committee | 3335.27 | 7181 | ||
Environmental Education Council | 3745.21 | 7182 | ||
EPA Advisory Boards or Councils | 121.13 | 7183 | ||
Farmland Preservation Advisory Board | 901.23 | 7184 | ||
Financial Planning & Supervision Commission for Municipal Corporation, County, or Township | 118.05 | 7185 | ||
Financial Planning & Supervision Commission for School District | 3316.05 | 7186 | ||
Forestry Advisory Council | 1503.40 | 7187 | ||
Governance Authority for a State University or College | 3345.75 | 7188 | ||
Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness, Wellness, & Sports | 3701.77 | 7189 | ||
Governor's Council on People with Disabilities | 3303.41 | 7190 | ||
Governor's Residence Advisory Commission | 107.40 | 7191 | ||
Great Lakes Commission (Great Lakes Basin Compact) | 6161.01 | 7192 | ||
Gubernatorial Transition Committee | 107.29 | 7193 | ||
Head Start Partnership Study Council | Section 41.35, H.B. 95, 125th GA | 7194 | ||
Hemophilia Advisory Subcommittee | 3701.0210 | 7195 | ||
Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee | 175.25 | 7196 | ||
Industrial Commission Nominating Council | 4121.04 | 7197 | ||
Industrial Technology and Enterprise Advisory Council | 122.29 | 7198 | ||
Infant Hearing Screening Subcommittee | 3701.507 | 7199 | ||
Insurance Agent Education Advisory Council | 3905.483 | 7200 | ||
Interagency Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs | 121.32(J) | 7201 | ||
Interstate Mining Commission (Interstate Mining Compact) | 1514.30 | 7202 | ||
Interstate Rail Passenger Advisory Council (Interstate High Speed Intercity Rail Passenger Network Compact) | 4981.35 | 7203 | ||
Joint Council on MR/DD | 101.37 | 7204 | ||
Joint Select Committee on Volume Cap | 133.021 | 7205 | ||
Labor-Management Government Advisory Council | 4121.70 | 7206 | ||
Legal Rights Service Commission | 5123.60 | 7207 | ||
Legislative Task Force on Redistricting, Reapportionment, and Demographic Research | 103.51 | 7208 | ||
Maternal and Child Health Council | 3701.025 | 7209 | ||
Medically Handicapped Children's Medical Advisory Council | 3701.025 | 7210 | ||
Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Commission (Ohio members) | 4981.361 | 7211 | ||
Military Activation Task Force | 5902.15 | 7212 | ||
Milk Sanitation Board | 917.03 | 7213 | ||
Mine Subsidence Insurance Governing Board | 3929.51 | 7214 | ||
Minority Development Financing Board | 122.72 | 7215 | ||
Multi-Agency Radio Communications Systems Steering Committee | Sec. 21, H.B. 790, 120th GA | 7216 | ||
Multidisciplinary Council | 3746.03 | 7217 | ||
Muskingum River Advisory Council | 1501.25 | 7218 | ||
National Museum of Afro-American History and Culture Planning Committee | 149.303 | 7219 | ||
Ohio Advisory Council for the Aging | 173.03 | 7220 | ||
Ohio Aerospace & Defense Advisory Council | 122.98 | 7221 | ||
Ohio Arts Council | 3379.02 | 7222 | ||
Ohio Business Gateway Steering Committee | 5703.57 | 7223 | ||
Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission | 4767.05 | 7224 | ||
Ohio Civil Rights Commission Advisory Agencies and Conciliation Councils | 4112.04(B) | 7225 | ||
Ohio Commercial Insurance Joint Underwriting Association Board Of Governors | 3930.03 | 7226 | ||
Ohio Commercial Market Assistance Plan Executive Committee | 3930.02 | 7227 | ||
Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management | 179.02 | 7228 | ||
Ohio Commission to Reform Medicaid | Section 59.29, H.B. 95, 125th GA | 7229 | ||
Ohio Community Service Council | 121.40 | 7230 | ||
Ohio Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision | 5149.22 | 7231 | ||
Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission | 3383.02 | 7232 | ||
Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council | 5123.35 | 7233 | ||
Ohio Expositions Commission | 991.02 | 7234 | ||
Ohio Family and Children First Cabinet Council | 121.37 | 7235 | ||
Ohio Geology Advisory Council | 1505.11 | 7236 | ||
Ohio Grape Industries Committee | 924.51 | 7237 | ||
Ohio Hepatitis C Advisory Commission | 3701.92 | 7238 | ||
Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board | 149.301 | 7239 | ||
Ohio Historical Society Board of Trustees | 149.30 | 7240 | ||
Ohio Judicial Conference | 105.91 | 7241 | ||
Ohio Lake Erie Commission | 1506.21 | 7242 | ||
Ohio Medical Malpractice Commission | Section 4, S.B. 281, 124th GA and Section 3, S.B. 86, 125th GA | 7243 | ||
Ohio Medical Quality Foundation | 3701.89 | 7244 | ||
Ohio Parks and Recreation Council | 1541.40 | 7245 | ||
Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission | 109.71 | 7246 | ||
Ohio Public Defender Commission | 120.01 | 7247 | ||
Ohio Public Library Information Network Board | Sec. 69, H.B. 117, 121st GA, as amended by H.B. 284, 121st GA | 7248 | ||
Ohio Quarter Horse Development Commission | 3769.086 | 7249 | ||
Ohio Small Government Capital Improvements Commission | 164.02 | 7250 | ||
Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission | 1515.02 | 7251 | ||
Ohio Standardbred Development Commission | 3769.085 | 7252 | ||
Ohio Steel Industry Advisory Council | 122.97 | 7253 | ||
Ohio Teacher Education and Licensure Advisory Council | 3319.28(D) | 7254 | ||
Ohio Thoroughbred Racing Advisory Committee | 3769.084 | 7255 | ||
Ohio Tuition Trust Authority | 3334.03 | 7256 | ||
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Committee | 3337.10 | 7257 | ||
Ohio Vendors Representative Committee | 3304.34 | 7258 | ||
Ohio War Orphans Scholarship Board | 5910.02 | 7259 | ||
Ohio Water Advisory Council | 1521.031 | 7260 | ||
Ohio Water Resources Council | 1521.19 | 7261 | ||
Ohioana Library Association, Martha Kinney Cooper Memorial | 3375.62 | 7262 | ||
Oil and Gas Commission | 1509.35 | 7263 | ||
Operating Committee, Agricultural Commodity Marketing Programs | 924.07 | 7264 | ||
Organized Crime Investigations Commission | 177.01 | 7265 | ||
Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee of the Dept. of Job and Family Services | 5111.81 | 7266 | ||
Physician Loan Repayment Advisory Board | 3702.81 | 7267 | ||
Power Siting Board | 4906.02 | 7268 | ||
Prequalification Review Board | 5525.07 | 7269 | ||
Private Water Systems Advisory Council | 3701.346 | 7270 | ||
Public Employment Risk Reduction Advisory Commission | 4167.02 | 7271 | ||
Public Health Council | 3701.33 | 7272 | ||
Public Utilities Commission Nominating Council | 4901.021 | 7273 | ||
Public Utility Property Tax Study Committee | 5727.85 | 7274 | ||
Radiation Advisory Council | 3748.20 | 7275 | ||
Reclamation Commission | 1513.05 | 7276 | ||
Recreation and Resources Commission | 1501.04 | 7277 | ||
Recycling and Litter Prevention Advisory Council | 1502.04 | 7278 | ||
Rehabilitation Services Commission Consumer Advisory Committee | 3304.24 | 7279 | ||
Savings & Loans Associations & Savings Banks Board | 1181.16 | 7280 | ||
Schools and Ministerial Lands Divestiture Committee | 501.041 | 7281 | ||
Second Chance Trust Fund Advisory Committee | 2108.17 | 7282 | ||
7283 | ||||
Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Council | 3704.19 | 7284 | ||
Solid Waste Management Advisory Council | 3734.51 | 7285 | ||
State Agency Coordinating Group | 1521.19 | 7286 | ||
State Board of Emergency Medical Services Subcommittees | 4765.04 | 7287 | ||
State Council of Uniform State Laws | 105.21 | 7288 | ||
State Committee for the Purchase of Products and Services Provided by Persons with Severe Disabilities | 4115.32 | 7289 | ||
State Criminal Sentencing Commission | 181.21 | 7290 | ||
State Fire Commission | 3737.81 | 7291 | ||
State Racing Commission | 3769.02 | 7292 | ||
State Victims Assistance Advisory Committee | 109.91 | 7293 | ||
Student Tuition Recovery Authority | 3332.081 | 7294 | ||
Tax Credit Authority | 122.17 | 7295 | ||
Technical Advisory Committee to Assist the Director of the Ohio Coal Development Office | 1551.35 | 7296 | ||
Technical Advisory Council on Oil and Gas | 1509.38 | 7297 | ||
Transportation Review Advisory Council | 5512.07 | 7298 | ||
Unemployment Compensation Review Commission | 4141.06 | 7299 | ||
Unemployment Compensation Advisory Council | 4141.08 | 7300 | ||
Utility Radiological Safety Board | 4937.02 | 7301 | ||
Vehicle Management Commission | 125.833 | 7302 | ||
Veterans Advisory Committee | 5902.02(K) | 7303 | ||
Volunteer Fire Fighters' Dependents Fund Boards (Private and Public) | 146.02 | 7304 | ||
Water and Sewer Commission | 1525.11(C) | 7305 | ||
Waterways Safety Council | 1547.73 | 7306 | ||
Wildlife Council | 1531.03 | 7307 | ||
7308 | ||||
7309 |
Section 403.04. That existing Section 4 of Am. Sub. H.B. 516 | 7310 |
of the 125th General Assembly, as amended by Am. Sub. H.B. 66 and | 7311 |
Sub. S.B. 124 of the 126th General Assembly, is hereby repealed. | 7312 |
Section 403.10. That Section 3 of Am. H.B. 67 of the 126th | 7313 |
General Assembly, as amended by Am. Sub. H.B. 66 of the 126th | 7314 |
General Assembly, be amended to read as follows: | 7315 |
Sec. 3. All items in this section are hereby appropriated | 7316 |
out of any moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the | 7317 |
designated fund. For all appropriations made in this act, those in | 7318 |
the first column are for fiscal year 2006, and those in the second | 7319 |
column are for fiscal year 2007. | 7320 |
FND | AI | AI TITLE | Appropriations | 7321 |
7322 |
Workers' Compensation Fund Group | 7323 |
023 | 855-401 | William Green Lease Payments to OBA | $ | 19,736,600 | $ | 20,125,900 | 7324 | ||||
023 | 855-407 | Claims, Risk & Medical Management | $ | 140,052,037 | $ | 140,052,037 | 7325 | ||||
023 | 855-408 | Fraud Prevention | $ | 11,713,797 | $ | 11,713,797 | 7326 | ||||
023 | 855-409 | Administrative Services | $ | 119,246,553 | $ | 119,246,553 | 7327 | ||||
023 | 855-410 | Attorney General Payments | $ | 4,314,644 | $ | 4,314,644 | 7328 | ||||
822 | 855-606 | Coal Workers' Fund | $ | 91,894 | $ | 91,894 | 7329 | ||||
823 | 855-608 | Marine Industry | $ | 53,952 | $ | 53,952 | 7330 | ||||
825 | 855-605 | Disabled Workers Relief Fund | $ | 693,764 | $ | 693,764 | 7331 | ||||
826 | 855-609 | Safety & Hygiene Operating | $ | 20,130,820 | $ | 20,130,820 | 7332 | ||||
826 | 855-610 | Safety Grants Program | $ | 4,000,000 | $ | 4,000,000 | 7333 | ||||
TOTAL WCF Workers' Compensation | 7334 | ||||||||||
Fund Group | $ | 320,034,061 | $ | 320,423,361 | 7335 |
Federal Special Revenue Fund Group | 7336 |
349 | 855-601 | OSHA Enforcement | $ | 1,527,750 | $ | 1,604,140 | 7337 | ||||
TOTAL FED Federal Special Revenue Fund Group | $ | 1,527,750 | $ | 1,604,140 | 7338 | ||||||
TOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS | $ | 321,561,811 | $ | 322,027,501 | 7339 |
WILLIAM GREEN LEASE PAYMENTS | 7340 |
The foregoing appropriation item 855-401, William Green Lease | 7341 |
Payments to OBA, shall be used for lease payments to the Ohio | 7342 |
Building Authority, and these appropriations shall be used to meet | 7343 |
all payments at the times they are required to be made during the | 7344 |
period from July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2007, by the Bureau of | 7345 |
Workers' Compensation to the Ohio Building Authority pursuant to | 7346 |
leases and agreements made under Chapter 152. of the Revised Code | 7347 |
and Section 6 of Am. Sub. H.B. 743 of the 118th General Assembly. | 7348 |
Of the amounts received in Fund 023, appropriation item 855-401, | 7349 |
William Green Lease Payments to OBA, up to $39,862,500 shall be | 7350 |
restricted for lease rental payments to the Ohio Building | 7351 |
Authority. If it is determined that additional appropriations are | 7352 |
necessary for such purpose, such amounts are hereby appropriated. | 7353 |
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, | 7354 |
all tenants of the William Green Building not funded by the | 7355 |
Workers' Compensation Fund (Fund 023) shall pay their fair share | 7356 |
of the costs of lease payments to the Workers' Compensation Fund | 7357 |
(Fund 023) by intrastate transfer voucher. | 7358 |
| 7359 |
| 7360 |
7361 | |
7362 | |
7363 | |
7364 | |
7365 | |
7366 | |
7367 | |
7368 |
WORKERS' COMPENSATION FRAUD UNIT | 7369 |
The Workers' Compensation Section Fund (Fund 195) shall | 7370 |
receive payments from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation at the | 7371 |
beginning of each quarter of each fiscal year to fund expenses of | 7372 |
the Workers' Compensation Fraud Unit of the Attorney General's | 7373 |
Office. Of the foregoing appropriation item 855-410, Attorney | 7374 |
General Payments, $773,151 in fiscal year 2006 and $773,151 in | 7375 |
fiscal year 2007 shall be used to provide these payments. | 7376 |
SAFETY AND HYGIENE | 7377 |
Notwithstanding section 4121.37 of the Revised Code, the | 7378 |
Administrator of Workers' Compensation shall transfer moneys from | 7379 |
the State Insurance Fund so that appropriation item 855-609, | 7380 |
Safety and Hygiene Operating, is provided $20,130,820 in fiscal | 7381 |
year 2006 and $20,130,820 in fiscal year 2007. | 7382 |
LONG-TERM CARE LOAN FUND | 7383 |
Upon the request of the Administrator of the Bureau of | 7384 |
Workers' Compensation and with the advice and consent of the | 7385 |
Bureau of Workers' Compensation Oversight Commission, the Director | 7386 |
of Budget and Management shall transfer cash in the amounts | 7387 |
requested from the Safety and Hygiene Operating Fund (Fund 826) to | 7388 |
the Long-Term Care Loan Fund (Fund 829) created in section 4121.48 | 7389 |
of the Revised Code. The amounts transferred are hereby | 7390 |
appropriated. | 7391 |
OSHA ON-SITE CONSULTATION PROGRAM | 7392 |
The Bureau of Workers' Compensation may designate a portion | 7393 |
of appropriation item 855-609, Safety and Hygiene Operating, to be | 7394 |
used to match federal funding for the federal Occupational Safety | 7395 |
and Health Administration's (OSHA) on-site consultation program. | 7396 |
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION | 7397 |
The Bureau of Workers' Compensation and the Rehabilitation | 7398 |
Services Commission shall enter into an interagency agreement for | 7399 |
the provision of vocational rehabilitation services and staff to | 7400 |
mutually eligible clients. The bureau shall provide $587,774 in | 7401 |
fiscal year 2006 and $605,407 in fiscal year 2007 from the State | 7402 |
Insurance Fund to fund vocational rehabilitation services and | 7403 |
staff in accordance with the interagency agreement. | 7404 |
FUND BALANCE | 7405 |
Any unencumbered cash balance in excess of $45,000,000 in the | 7406 |
Workers' Compensation Fund (Fund 023) on the thirtieth day of June | 7407 |
of each fiscal year shall be used to reduce the administrative | 7408 |
cost rate charged to employers to cover appropriations for Bureau | 7409 |
of Workers' Compensation operations. | 7410 |
OSHA ENFORCEMENT FUND TRANSFER | 7411 |
On July 1, 2005, or as soon thereafter as possible, the | 7412 |
Director of Budget and Management shall transfer the OSHA | 7413 |
Enforcement Fund (Fund 349) from the Department of Commerce to the | 7414 |
Bureau of Workers' Compensation. At the request of the Director of | 7415 |
the Department of Commerce, the Director of Budget and Management | 7416 |
may cancel encumbrances in this fund from appropriation item | 7417 |
800-626, OSHA Enforcement, within the budget of the Department of | 7418 |
Commerce, and reestablish those encumbrances or parts of those | 7419 |
encumbrances in fiscal year 2006 for the same purpose and to the | 7420 |
same vendor to appropriation item 855-601, OSHA Enforcement, | 7421 |
within the budget of the Bureau of Workers' Compensation. As | 7422 |
determined by the Director of Budget and Management, the | 7423 |
appropriation authority necessary to reestablish encumbrances or | 7424 |
parts of encumbrances in fiscal year 2006 for the Bureau of | 7425 |
Workers' Compensation is hereby granted. | 7426 |
Section 403.11. That existing Section 3 of Am. H.B. 67 of the | 7427 |
126th General Assembly, as amended by Am. Sub. H.B. 66 of the | 7428 |
126th General Assembly, is hereby repealed. | 7429 |
Section 512.10. The governor shall not appoint any individual | 7430 |
who is a member of the Workers' Compensation Oversight Commission | 7431 |
on the effective date of this section to serve as a member of the | 7432 |
Bureau of Workers' Compensation Board of Directors. The Oversight | 7433 |
Commission is hereby abolished on the date the Governor appoints | 7434 |
the last member to the Board in accordance with this section. The | 7435 |
Board shall supersede the Oversight Commission and its members and | 7436 |
succeed to and have and perform all the duties, powers, and | 7437 |
obligations pertaining to the duties, powers, and obligations of | 7438 |
the Oversight Commission and its members. For the purpose of the | 7439 |
institution, conduct, and completion of matters relating to its | 7440 |
succession, the Board is deemed to be the continuation of and | 7441 |
successor under law to the Oversight Commission and its members. | 7442 |
All rules, actions, determinations, commitments, resolutions, | 7443 |
decisions, and agreements pertaining to those duties, powers, | 7444 |
obligations, functions, and rights in force or in effect on the | 7445 |
effective date of this section shall continue in force and effect | 7446 |
subject to any further lawful action thereon by the Board. | 7447 |
Wherever the Oversight Commission or its members are referred to | 7448 |
in any provision of law, or in any agreement or document that | 7449 |
pertains to those duties, powers, obligations, functions, and | 7450 |
rights, the reference is to the Board. | 7451 |
All authorized obligations and supplements thereto of the | 7452 |
Oversight Commission and its members pertaining to the duties, | 7453 |
powers, and obligations transferred are binding on the Board, and | 7454 |
nothing in this act impairs the obligations or rights thereunder | 7455 |
or under any contract. The abolition of the Oversight Commission | 7456 |
and the transfer of the Oversight Commission's duties, powers, and | 7457 |
obligations do not affect the validity of agreements or | 7458 |
obligations made by the Oversight Commission or its members | 7459 |
pursuant to Chapters 4121., 4123., 4125., 4127., 4131., and 4167. | 7460 |
of the Revised Code or any other provisions of law. | 7461 |
In connection with the transfer of duties, powers, | 7462 |
obligations, functions, and rights and abolition of the Oversight | 7463 |
Commission, all real property and interest therein, documents, | 7464 |
books, money, papers, records, machinery, furnishings, office | 7465 |
equipment, furniture, and all other property over which the | 7466 |
Oversight Commission has control pertaining to the duties, powers, | 7467 |
and obligations transferred and the rights of the Oversight | 7468 |
Commission to enforce or receive any of the aforesaid is | 7469 |
automatically transferred to the Board without necessity for | 7470 |
further action on the part of the Board. Additionally, all | 7471 |
appropriations or reappropriations made to the Oversight | 7472 |
Commission for the purposes of the performance of its duties, | 7473 |
powers, and obligations, are transferred to the Board to the | 7474 |
extent of the remaining unexpended or unencumbered balance | 7475 |
thereof, whether allocated or unallocated, and whether obligated | 7476 |
or unobligated. | 7477 |
Section 512.20. The Bureau of Workers' Compensation Board of | 7478 |
Directors shall appoint the members of the Workers' Compensation | 7479 |
Audit Committee, Workers' Compensation Actuarial Committee, and | 7480 |
the Workers' Compensation Investment Committee in accordance with | 7481 |
section 4121.123 of the Revised Code, as enacted by this act, not | 7482 |
later than ninety days after the effective date of this section. | 7483 |
Section 512.30. On the effective date of this section, the | 7484 |
Workers' Compensation Oversight Commission Nominating Committee | 7485 |
and the Services Committee of the Workers' Compensation System are | 7486 |
hereby abolished. | 7487 |
Section 512.40. On the effective date of section 4121.122 of | 7488 |
the Revised Code, as amended by this act, the Internal Security | 7489 |
Committee is hereby abolished. | 7490 |
Section 512.45. The Workers' Compensation Council shall | 7491 |
contract with an independent actuary to have that actuary perform | 7492 |
an actuarial valuation of the assets, liabilities, and funding | 7493 |
requirements of the funds specified in Chapters 4121., 4123., | 7494 |
4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code. The actuary with whom the | 7495 |
Council contracts under this section shall prepare a report of the | 7496 |
valuation in accordance with the standards of practice promulgated | 7497 |
by the Actuarial Standards Board of the American Academy of | 7498 |
Actuaries and shall submit that report to the Council. The actuary | 7499 |
shall include all of the following information in the report: | 7500 |
(A) A summary of the compensation and benefit provisions | 7501 |
evaluated; | 7502 |
(B) A summary of the census data and financial information | 7503 |
used in the valuation; | 7504 |
(C) A description of the actuarial assumptions, actuarial | 7505 |
cost method, and asset valuation method used in the valuation; | 7506 |
(D) A summary of the findings that includes a statement of | 7507 |
the actuarial accrued compensation and benefit liabilities and | 7508 |
unfounded actuarial accrued compensation and benefit liabilities. | 7509 |
The Council shall submit to the governor and the general | 7510 |
assembly a report summarizing the valuation required under this | 7511 |
section not later than two years after the effective date of | 7512 |
section 4121.75 of the Revised Code, as enacted by this act. | 7513 |
Section 512.50. (A) The Administrator of Workers' | 7514 |
Compensation shall commission a reputable outside consulting firm | 7515 |
that the Bureau of Workers' Compensation has not retained to | 7516 |
conduct similar reports over the five years prior to the effective | 7517 |
date of this section to perform a comprehensive review of the base | 7518 |
rate of premiums paid by employers and of all of the rating | 7519 |
programs used by the Administrator to determine an employer's | 7520 |
premium rate under Chapters 4121., 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the | 7521 |
Revised Code. In conducting the review required under this | 7522 |
section, the Administrator shall do all of the following: | 7523 |
(1) Compare the rates and programs used in this state to the | 7524 |
rates and programs used in other states; | 7525 |
(2) Study the effect of the rates in reducing the number and | 7526 |
severity of workers' compensation claims in this state; | 7527 |
(3) Study the effect that saving money has had on safety in | 7528 |
workplaces in this state; | 7529 |
(4) Identify methods of rate setting and reserving that the | 7530 |
Administrator could use to make the rate setting and reserving | 7531 |
process more transparent for employers and employees. | 7532 |
(B) The Administrator shall commission a reputable outside | 7533 |
consulting firm that the Bureau has not retained to conduct | 7534 |
similar reports over the five years prior to the effective date of | 7535 |
this section to perform a comprehensive review of the adequacy of | 7536 |
the Surplus Fund created under section 4123.34 of the Revised Code | 7537 |
and the general reserving methods used for the State Insurance | 7538 |
Fund and all other funds specified in Chapters 4121., 4123., | 7539 |
4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code. | 7540 |
(C) The Administrator shall provide a summary of the reviews | 7541 |
required under this section and shall present recommendations | 7542 |
based on the review to the General Assembly and the Bureau of | 7543 |
Workers' Compensation Board of Directors not later than two years | 7544 |
after the effective date of this section. | 7545 |
(D) This section of law, as enacted by this act, is subject | 7546 |
to the referendum. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, | 7547 |
Section 1c and section 1.471 of the Revised Code, this section | 7548 |
takes effect on the ninety-first day after this act is filed with | 7549 |
the Secretary of State. If, however, a referendum petition is | 7550 |
filed against this section of law as enacted by this act, this | 7551 |
section of law as enacted, unless rejected at the referendum, | 7552 |
takes effect at the earliest time permitted by law. | 7553 |
Section 512.60. The Administrator of Workers' Compensation | 7554 |
shall not place a limit on the length of time that an employer may | 7555 |
participate in the Bureau of Workers' Compensation Drug Free | 7556 |
Workplace Program until the Administrator adopts rules in | 7557 |
accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the purpose | 7558 |
of establishing the length of time that an employer may | 7559 |
participate in that program. | 7560 |
Section 512.70. The Administrator of Workers' Compensation | 7561 |
shall not use the Micro Insurance Reserve Analysis System to | 7562 |
determine the reserves for use in establishing premium rates | 7563 |
assessed for the purposes of Chapter 4121., 4123., 4127., or 4131. | 7564 |
of the Revised Code after June 30, 2007. A contract between the | 7565 |
Administrator and a vendor for the System in existence on the | 7566 |
effective date of this section shall expire in accordance with the | 7567 |
terms of the contract, and the Administrator shall not renew or | 7568 |
extend that contract. | 7569 |
Section 603.10. The items of law contained in this act, and | 7570 |
their applications, are severable. If any item of law contained in | 7571 |
this act, or if any application of any item of law contained in | 7572 |
this act, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other | 7573 |
items of law contained in this act and their applications that can | 7574 |
be given effect without the invalid item of law or application. | 7575 |
Section 606.10. An item that composes the whole or part of an | 7576 |
uncodified section contained in this act has no effect after June | 7577 |
30, 2009, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. | 7578 |
Section 609.03. Except as otherwise specifically provided in | 7579 |
this act, the codified sections of law amended or enacted in this | 7580 |
act, and the items of law of which the codified sections of law | 7581 |
amended or enacted in this act are composed, are subject to the | 7582 |
referendum. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, | 7583 |
Section 1c and section 1.471 of the Revised Code, the codified | 7584 |
sections of law amended or enacted by this act, and the items of | 7585 |
law of which the codified sections of law as amended or enacted by | 7586 |
this act are composed, take effect on the ninety-first day after | 7587 |
this act is filed with the Secretary of State. If, however, a | 7588 |
referendum petition is filed against any such codified section of | 7589 |
law as amended or enacted by this act, or against any item of law | 7590 |
of which any such codified section of law as amended or enacted by | 7591 |
this act is composed, the codified section of law as amended or | 7592 |
enacted, or item of law, unless rejected at the referendum, takes | 7593 |
effect at the earliest time permitted by law. | 7594 |
Section 609.05. Except as otherwise specifically provided in | 7595 |
this act, the repeal by this act of a codified section of law is | 7596 |
subject to the referendum. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, | 7597 |
Article II, Section 1c and section 1.471 of the Revised Code, the | 7598 |
repeal by this act of a codified section of law takes effect on | 7599 |
the ninety-first day after this act is filed with the Secretary of | 7600 |
State. If, however, a referendum petition is filed against any | 7601 |
such repeal, the repeal, unless rejected at the referendum, takes | 7602 |
effect at the earliest time permitted by law. | 7603 |
Section 612.03. The codified section of law amended or | 7604 |
enacted by this act that is listed in this section, and the items | 7605 |
of law of which such section as amended or enacted by this act are | 7606 |
composed, are not subject to the referendum. Therefore, under Ohio | 7607 |
Constitution, Article II, Section 1d and section 1.471 of the | 7608 |
Revised Code, such section as amended or enacted by this act, and | 7609 |
the items of law of which such section as amended or enacted by | 7610 |
this act are composed, go into immediate effect when this act | 7611 |
becomes law. | 7612 |
Section 4121.12 of the Revised Code. | 7613 |
Section 612.09. The repeal and reenactment of section | 7614 |
4121.123 of the Revised Code is not subject to the referendum. | 7615 |
Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 1d and | 7616 |
section 1.471 of the Revised Code, section 4121.123 of the Revised | 7617 |
Code takes effect sixty days after the effective date of this | 7618 |
section. | 7619 |
Section 615.03. Except as otherwise provided in Section | 7620 |
512.50 of this act, the uncodified sections of law contained in | 7621 |
this act, and the items of law of which the uncodified sections of | 7622 |
law contained in this act are composed, are not subject to the | 7623 |
referendum. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, | 7624 |
Section 1d and section 1.471 of the Revised Code, the uncodified | 7625 |
sections of law contained in this act, and the items of law of | 7626 |
which the uncodified sections of law contained in this act are | 7627 |
composed, go into immediate effect when this act becomes law. | 7628 |
Section 618.03. Section 4 of Am. Sub. H.B. 516 of the 125th | 7629 |
General Assembly is presented in this act as a composite of the | 7630 |
section as amended by both Am. Sub. H.B. 66 and Sub. S.B. 124 of | 7631 |
the 126th General Assembly. The General Assembly, applying the | 7632 |
principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised | 7633 |
Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of | 7634 |
simultaneous operation, finds that the composite is the resulting | 7635 |
version of the section in effect prior to the effective date of | 7636 |
the section as presented in this act. | 7637 |