To amend sections 9.24, 9.30, 9.821, 9.822, 9.823, 9.83, 107.40, 109.572, 109.93, 111.18, 118.01, 118.08, 118.17, 118.20, 118.23, 119.07, 120.33, 122.011, 122.17, 122.171, 122.602, 123.10, 123.17, 124.152, 125.01, 125.02, 125.021, 125.022, 125.023, 125.04, 125.041, 125.05, 125.06, 125.07, 125.071, 125.072, 125.073, 125.08, 125.081, 125.082, 125.09, 125.10, 125.11, 125.15, 125.25, 125.45, 125.93, 125.96, 125.97, 125.98, 126.07, 126.08, 126.21, 126.22, 127.14, 127.16, 131.44, 133.01, 133.10, 133.25, 135.35, 135.352, 151.08, 151.40, 152.31, 156.02, 164.03, 164.05, 164.051, 164.08, 164.09, 166.08, 173.04, 173.35, 173.85, 173.86, 176.05, 183.01, 183.021, 183.17, 183.33, 183.34, 183.35, 307.021, 307.695, 307.6910, 307.98, 307.981, 308.04, 317.08, 319.202, 319.54, 321.08, 322.01, 323.151, 323.152, 323.153, 323.154, 325.31, 329.04, 329.05, 329.051, 329.14, 340.03, 709.191, 718.051, 742.301, 1306.20, 1306.21, 1347.06, 1503.05, 1504.02, 1505.07, 1506.01, 1506.99, 1521.01, 1521.20, 1521.21, 1521.22, 1521.23, 1521.24, 1521.25, 1521.26, 1521.27, 1521.28, 1521.29, 1521.99, 1531.06, 1531.35, 1548.06, 1555.08, 1557.03, 1751.60, 2151.43, 2151.49, 2305.234, 2744.05, 2913.40, 2921.42, 2927.023, 2951.02, 3111.04, 3113.06, 3113.07, 3119.022, 3119.023, 3119.27, 3119.29, 3119.30, 3119.54, 3125.12, 3301.0711, 3301.0714, 3301.311, 3301.53, 3302.03, 3302.10, 3310.41, 3313.41, 3313.615, 3313.646, 3313.66, 3313.661, 3313.98, 3314.013, 3314.014, 3314.015, 3314.02, 3314.021, 3314.024, 3314.03, 3314.04, 3314.074, 3314.08, 3314.21, 3314.27, 3317.01, 3317.012, 3317.013, 3317.014, 3317.015, 3317.016, 3317.017, 3317.02, 3317.021, 3317.022, 3317.023, 3317.024, 3317.025, 3317.026, 3317.027, 3317.028, 3317.029, 3317.0216, 3317.0217, 3317.03, 3317.04, 3317.05, 3317.06, 3317.08, 3317.14, 3317.16, 3317.20, 3317.201, 3318.08, 3318.15, 3318.26, 3319.081, 3319.089, 3319.17, 3319.55, 3321.01, 3323.11, 3333.04, 3333.122, 3333.27, 3333.38, 3345.51, 3353.02, 3365.01, 3375.05, 3375.121, 3375.40, 3375.85, 3381.04, 3503.10, 3701.741, 3702.52, 3702.5211, 3702.5212, 3702.5213, 3702.57, 3702.68, 3702.74, 3704.03, 3704.14, 3705.24, 3721.51, 3721.541, 3721.56, 3734.57, 3735.672, 3745.11, 3746.04, 3769.087, 3770.03, 3770.06, 3773.35, 3773.36, 3901.021, 3901.86, 4115.04, 4117.01, 4123.27, 4123.35, 4141.09, 4301.43, 4503.06, 4503.061, 4503.064, 4503.065, 4503.066, 4503.067, 4503.10, 4503.35, 4505.06, 4513.263, 4519.55, 4717.07, 4723.621, 4723.63, 4723.64, 4723.65, 4723.651, 4723.66, 4731.65, 4731.71, 4743.05, 4755.03, 4766.05, 4775.08, 4921.40, 5101.16, 5101.162, 5101.17, 5101.181, 5101.182, 5101.184, 5101.21, 5101.211, 5101.212, 5101.213, 5101.24, 5101.242, 5101.244, 5101.26, 5101.28, 5101.31, 5101.35, 5101.36, 5101.51, 5101.54, 5101.571, 5101.572, 5101.58, 5101.59, 5101.802, 5101.97, 5101.98, 5104.30, 5107.01, 5107.02, 5107.03, 5107.05, 5107.10, 5107.12, 5107.14, 5107.16, 5107.161, 5107.162, 5107.17, 5107.281, 5107.30, 5107.36, 5107.41, 5107.42, 5107.44, 5107.52, 5107.54, 5107.541, 5107.61, 5107.65, 5107.66, 5107.67, 5107.68, 5107.69, 5107.70, 5111.01, 5111.014, 5111.016, 5111.019, 5111.0112, 5111.023, 5111.03, 5111.06, 5111.10, 5111.101, 5111.163, 5111.17, 5111.20, 5111.871, 5111.8814, 5111.915, 5111.941, 5111.95, 5111.96, 5112.03, 5112.08, 5112.341, 5115.12, 5117.10, 5119.611, 5120.03, 5123.01, 5123.043, 5123.045, 5123.051, 5123.19, 5123.196, 5123.198, 5123.20, 5123.211, 5123.38, 5123.41, 5123.51, 5123.99, 5126.038, 5126.042, 5126.046, 5126.055, 5126.057, 5126.06, 5126.11, 5126.12, 5126.15, 5126.18, 5126.19, 5126.25, 5126.40, 5126.42, 5126.43, 5126.45, 5126.47, 5139.27, 5139.271, 5139.43, 5528.54, 5531.10, 5703.57, 5703.80, 5705.28, 5705.281, 5705.29, 5705.30, 5705.31, 5705.32, 5705.321, 5705.37, 5709.68, 5709.882, 5713.34, 5715.36, 5719.041, 5725.151, 5725.24, 5727.45, 5727.84, 5727.85, 5727.87, 5733.12, 5739.02, 5739.033, 5739.12, 5739.21, 5741.02, 5741.03, 5743.01, 5743.20, 5745.02, 5745.05, 5745.13, 5747.03, 5747.122, 5747.46, 5747.47, 5747.48, 5747.50, 5747.501, 5747.51, 5747.52, 5747.53, 5747.54, 5747.55, 5748.01, 5748.02, 5751.20, 5751.21, 5751.23, 5907.15, 6109.21, 6121.04, and 6121.043; to amend, for the purpose of adopting new section numbers as indicated in parentheses, sections 1521.20 (1506.38), 1521.21 (1506.39), 1521.22 (1506.40), 1521.23 (1506.41), 1521.24 (1506.42), 1521.25 (1506.43), 1521.26 (1506.44), 1521.27 (1506.45), 1521.28 (1506.46), 1521.29 (1506.47), 1521.30 (1506.48), 3702.63 (3702.591), 3702.68 (3702.59), 5107.44 (5107.60), 5107.52 (5107.46), 5107.54 (5107.58), 5107.541 (5107.47), 5107.61 (5107.48), 5107.65 (5107.50), 5107.66 (5107.44), 5107.67 (5107.54), 5107.68 (5107.56), 5107.69 (5107.61), 5111.95 (5111.033), and 5111.96 (5111.034); to enact new sections 5107.40, 5107.52, and 5123.16 and sections 122.014, 122.051, 122.071, 122.076, 122.174, 125.011, 126.17, 126.18, 126.19, 126.24, 126.40, 131.51, 183.51, 183.52, 901.261, 3123.23, 3301.162, 3314.027, 3314.19, 3318.47, 3333.50, 3345.02, 4703.071, 4923.26, 5101.541, 5101.573, 5101.574, 5101.575, 5101.591, 5107.04, 5107.45, 5111.0119, 5111.028, 5111.031, 5111.032, 5111.102, 5111.861, 5114.01, 5114.02, 5114.03, 5114.04, 5114.05, 5123.033, 5123.0414, 5123.0415, 5123.161, 5123.162, 5123.163, 5123.164, 5123.165, 5123.166, 5123.167, 5123.168, 5123.169, 5123.605, 5739.029, 5739.213, 5748.022, 5907.16, and 6111.0381; to repeal sections 125.18, 125.30, 125.95, 183.02, 183.27, 183.32, 3310.01, 3310.02, 3310.03, 3310.04, 3310.05, 3310.06, 3310.07, 3310.08, 3310.09, 3310.10, 3310.11, 3310.12, 3310.13, 3310.14, 3310.17, 3314.051, 3318.47, 3318.48, 3318.49, 3319.0810, 3333.29, 3702.68, 4911.021, 5101.213, 5107.40, 5107.43, 5107.50, 5107.58, 5107.60, 5107.62, 5107.64, 5111.161, 5123.16, 5123.182, 5123.199, 5126.035, 5126.036, 5126.053, 5126.431, 5126.44, 5126.451, 5743.331, 5747.61, 5747.62, and 5747.63 of the Revised Code; to amend Section 611.03 of Am. Sub. H.B. 66 of the 126th General Assembly, to amend Sections 227.10, 235.20.20, 235.30.70, and 329.10 of Am. Sub. H.B. 699 of the 126th General Assembly, to amend Section 235.30 of Am. Sub. H.B. 530 of the 126th General Assembly, as subsequently amended, to amend Section 4 of Am. Sub. H.B. 516 of the 125th General Assembly, as subsequently amended, to amend Section 153 of Am. Sub. H.B. 117 of the 121st General Assembly, as subsequently amended, and to amend the version of section 127.16 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2007, to repeal the version of section 3702.68 of the Revised Code that was to have taken effect July 1, 2007, to make operating appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2009, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.

Section 101.01. That sections 9.24, 9.30, 9.821, 9.822, 9.823, 9.83, 107.40, 109.572, 109.93, 111.18, 118.01, 118.08, 118.17, 118.20, 118.23, 119.07, 120.33, 122.011, 122.17, 122.171, 122.602, 123.10, 123.17, 124.152, 125.01, 125.02, 125.021, 125.022, 125.023, 125.04, 125.041, 125.05, 125.06, 125.07, 125.071, 125.072, 125.073, 125.08, 125.081, 125.082, 125.09, 125.10, 125.11, 125.15, 125.25, 125.45, 125.93, 125.96, 125.97, 125.98, 126.07, 126.08, 126.21, 126.22, 127.14, 127.16, 131.44, 133.01, 133.10, 133.25, 135.35, 135.352, 151.08, 151.40, 152.31, 156.02, 164.03, 164.05, 164.051, 164.08, 164.09, 166.08, 173.04, 173.35, 173.85, 173.86, 176.05, 183.01, 183.021, 183.17, 183.33, 183.34, 183.35, 307.021, 307.695, 307.6910, 307.98, 307.981, 308.04, 317.08, 319.202, 319.54, 321.08, 322.01, 323.151, 323.152, 323.153, 323.154, 325.31, 329.04, 329.05, 329.051, 329.14, 340.03, 709.191, 718.051, 742.301, 1306.20, 1306.21, 1347.06, 1503.05, 1504.02, 1505.07, 1506.01, 1506.99, 1521.01, 1521.20, 1521.21, 1521.22, 1521.23, 1521.24, 1521.25, 1521.26, 1521.27, 1521.28, 1521.29, 1521.99, 1531.06, 1531.35, 1548.06, 1555.08, 1557.03, 1751.60, 2151.43, 2151.49, 2305.234, 2744.05, 2913.40, 2921.42, 2927.023, 2951.02, 3111.04, 3113.06, 3113.07, 3119.022, 3119.023, 3119.27, 3119.29, 3119.30, 3119.54, 3125.12, 3301.0711, 3301.0714, 3301.311, 3301.53, 3302.03, 3302.10, 3310.41, 3313.41, 3313.615, 3313.646, 3313.66, 3313.661, 3313.98, 3314.013, 3314.014, 3314.015, 3314.02, 3314.021, 3314.024, 3314.03, 3314.04, 3314.074, 3314.08, 3314.21, 3314.27, 3317.01, 3317.012, 3317.013, 3317.014, 3317.015, 3317.016, 3317.017, 3317.02, 3317.021, 3317.022, 3317.023, 3317.024, 3317.025, 3317.026, 3317.027, 3317.028, 3317.029, 3317.0216, 3317.0217, 3317.03, 3317.04, 3317.05, 3317.06, 3317.08, 3317.14, 3317.16, 3317.20, 3317.201, 3318.08, 3318.15, 3318.26, 3319.081, 3319.089, 3319.17, 3319.55, 3321.01, 3323.11, 3333.04, 3333.122, 3333.27, 3333.38, 3345.51, 3353.02, 3365.01, 3375.05, 3375.121, 3375.40, 3375.85, 3381.04, 3503.10, 3701.741, 3702.52, 3702.5211, 3702.5212, 3702.5213, 3702.57, 3702.68, 3702.74, 3704.03, 3704.14, 3705.24, 3721.51, 3721.541, 3721.56, 3734.57, 3735.672, 3745.11, 3746.04, 3769.087, 3770.03, 3770.06, 3773.35, 3773.36, 3901.021, 3901.86, 4115.04, 4117.01, 4123.27, 4123.35, 4141.09, 4301.43, 4503.06, 4503.061, 4503.064, 4503.065, 4503.066, 4503.067, 4503.10, 4503.35, 4505.06, 4513.263, 4519.55, 4717.07, 4723.621, 4723.63, 4723.64, 4723.65, 4723.651, 4723.66, 4731.65, 4731.71, 4743.05, 4755.03, 4766.05, 4775.08, 4921.40, 5101.16, 5101.162, 5101.17, 5101.181, 5101.182, 5101.184, 5101.21, 5101.211, 5101.212, 5101.213, 5101.24, 5101.242, 5101.244, 5101.26, 5101.28, 5101.31, 5101.35, 5101.36, 5101.51, 5101.54, 5101.571, 5101.572, 5101.58, 5101.59, 5101.802, 5101.97, 5101.98, 5104.30, 5107.01, 5107.02, 5107.03, 5107.05, 5107.10, 5107.12, 5107.14, 5107.16, 5107.161, 5107.162, 5107.17, 5107.281, 5107.30, 5107.36, 5107.41, 5107.42, 5107.44, 5107.52, 5107.54, 5107.541, 5107.61, 5107.65, 5107.66, 5107.67, 5107.68, 5107.69, 5107.70, 5111.01, 5111.014, 5111.016, 5111.019, 5111.0112, 5111.023, 5111.03, 5111.06, 5111.10, 5111.101, 5111.163, 5111.17, 5111.20, 5111.871, 5111.8814, 5111.915, 5111.941, 5111.95, 5111.96, 5112.03, 5112.08, 5112.341, 5115.12, 5117.10, 5119.611, 5120.03, 5123.01, 5123.043, 5123.045, 5123.051, 5123.19, 5123.196, 5123.198, 5123.20, 5123.211, 5123.38, 5123.41, 5123.51, 5123.99, 5126.038, 5126.042, 5126.046, 5126.055, 5126.057, 5126.06, 5126.11, 5126.12, 5126.15, 5126.18, 5126.19, 5126.25, 5126.40, 5126.42, 5126.43, 5126.45, 5126.47, 5139.27, 5139.271, 5139.43, 5528.54, 5531.10, 5703.57, 5703.80, 5705.28, 5705.281, 5705.29, 5705.30, 5705.31, 5705.32, 5705.321, 5705.37, 5709.68, 5709.882, 5713.34, 5715.36, 5719.041, 5725.151, 5725.24, 5727.45, 5727.84, 5727.85, 5727.87, 5733.12, 5739.02, 5739.033, 5739.12, 5739.21, 5741.02, 5741.03, 5743.01, 5743.20, 5745.02, 5745.05, 5745.13, 5747.03, 5747.122, 5747.46, 5747.47, 5747.48, 5747.50, 5747.501, 5747.51, 5747.52, 5747.53, 5747.54, 5747.55, 5748.01, 5748.02, 5751.20, 5751.21, 5751.23, 5907.15, 6109.21, 6121.04, and 6121.043 be amended; sections 1521.20 (1506.38), 1521.21 (1506.39), 1521.22 (1506.40), 1521.23 (1506.41), 1521.24 (1506.42), 1521.25 (1506.43), 1521.26 (1506.44), 1521.27 (1506.45), 1521.28 (1506.46), 1521.29 (1506.47), 1521.30 (1506.48), 3702.63 (3702.591), 3702.68 (3702.59), 5107.44 (5107.60), 5107.52 (5107.46), 5107.54 (5107.58), 5107.541 (5107.47), 5107.61 (5107.48), 5107.65 (5107.50), 5107.66 (5107.44), 5107.67 (5107.54), 5107.68 (5107.56), 5107.69 (5107.61), 5111.95 (5111.033), and 5111.96 (5111.034) be amended for the purpose of adopting new section numbers as indicated in parentheses; and new sections 5107.40, 5107.52, and 5123.16 and sections 122.014, 122.051, 122.071, 122.076, 122.174, 125.011, 126.17, 126.18, 126.19, 126.24, 126.40, 131.51, 183.51, 183.52, 901.261, 3123.23, 3301.162, 3314.027, 3314.19, 3318.47, 3333.50, 3345.02, 4703.071, 4923.26, 5101.541, 5101.573, 5101.574, 5101.575, 5101.591, 5107.04, 5107.45, 5111.0119, 5111.028, 5111.031, 5111.032, 5111.102, 5111.861, 5114.01, 5114.02, 5114.03, 5114.04, 5114.05, 5123.033, 5123.0414, 5123.0415, 5123.161, 5123.162, 5123.163, 5123.164, 5123.165, 5123.166, 5123.167, 5123.168, 5123.169, 5123.605, 5739.029, 5739.213, 5748.022, 5907.16, and 6111.0381 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 9.24. (A) Except as may be allowed under division (F) of this section, no state agency and no political subdivision shall award a contract as described in division (G)(1) of this section for goods, services, or construction, paid for in whole or in part with state funds, to a person against whom a finding for recovery has been issued by the auditor of state on and after January 1, 2001, if the finding for recovery is unresolved.

A contract is considered to be awarded when it is entered into or executed, irrespective of whether the parties to the contract have exchanged any money.

(B) For purposes of this section, a finding for recovery is unresolved unless one of the following criteria applies:

(1) The money identified in the finding for recovery is paid in full to the state agency or political subdivision to whom the money was owed;

(2) The debtor has entered into a repayment plan that is approved by the attorney general and the state agency or political subdivision to whom the money identified in the finding for recovery is owed. A repayment plan may include a provision permitting a state agency or political subdivision to withhold payment to a debtor for goods, services, or construction provided to or for the state agency or political subdivision pursuant to a contract that is entered into with the debtor after the date the finding for recovery was issued.

(3) The attorney general waives a repayment plan described in division (B)(2) of this section for good cause;

(4) The debtor and state agency or political subdivision to whom the money identified in the finding for recovery is owed have agreed to a payment plan established through an enforceable settlement agreement.

(5) The state agency or political subdivision desiring to enter into a contract with a debtor certifies, and the attorney general concurs, that all of the following are true:

(a) Essential services the state agency or political subdivision is seeking to obtain from the debtor cannot be provided by any other person besides the debtor;

(b) Awarding a contract to the debtor for the essential services described in division (B)(5)(a) of this section is in the best interest of the state;

(c) Good faith efforts have been made to collect the money identified in the finding of recovery.

(6) The debtor has commenced an action to contest the finding for recovery and a final determination on the action has not yet been reached.

(C) The attorney general shall submit an initial report to the auditor of state, not later than December 1, 2003, indicating the status of collection for all findings for recovery issued by the auditor of state for calendar years 2001, 2002, and 2003. Beginning on January 1, 2004, the attorney general shall submit to the auditor of state, on the first day of every January, April, July, and October, a list of all findings for recovery that have been resolved in accordance with division (B) of this section during the calendar quarter preceding the submission of the list and a description of the means of resolution. The attorney general shall notify the auditor of state when a judgment is issued against an entity described in division (F)(1) of this section.

(D) The auditor of state shall maintain a database, accessible to the public, listing persons against whom an unresolved finding for recovery has been issued, and the amount of the money identified in the unresolved finding for recovery. The auditor of state shall have this database operational on or before January 1, 2004. The initial database shall contain the information required under this division for calendar years 2001, 2002, and 2003.

Beginning January 15, 2004, the auditor of state shall update the database by the fifteenth day of every January, April, July, and October to reflect resolved findings for recovery that are reported to the auditor of state by the attorney general on the first day of the same month pursuant to division (C) of this section.

(E) Before awarding a contract as described in division (G)(1) of this section for goods, services, or construction, paid for in whole or in part with state funds, a state agency or political subdivision shall verify that the person to whom the state agency or political subdivision plans to award the contract has no unresolved finding for recovery issued against the person. A state agency or political subdivision shall verify that the person does not appear in the database described in division (D) of this section or shall obtain other proof that the person has no unresolved finding for recovery issued against the person.

(F) The prohibition of division (A) of this section and the requirement of division (E) of this section do not apply with respect to the companies or agreements described in divisions (F)(1) and (2) of this section, or in the circumstance described in division (F)(3) of this section.

(1) A bonding company or a company authorized to transact the business of insurance in this state, a self-insurance pool, joint self-insurance pool, risk management program, or joint risk management program, unless a court has entered a final judgment against the company and the company has not yet satisfied the final judgment.

(2) To medicaid provider agreements under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code, provider agreements under the nonfederal medical assistance program established under Chapter 5114. of the Revised Code, or payments or provider agreements under disability assistance medical assistance established under Chapter 5115. of the Revised Code.

(3) When federal law dictates that a specified entity provide the goods, services, or construction for which a contract is being awarded, regardless of whether that entity would otherwise be prohibited from entering into the contract pursuant to this section.

(G)(1) This section applies only to contracts for goods, services, or construction that satisfy the criteria in either division (G)(1)(a) or (b) of this section. This section may apply to contracts for goods, services, or construction that satisfy the criteria in division (G)(1)(c) of this section, provided that the contracts also satisfy the criteria in either division (G)(1)(a) or (b) of this section.

(a) The cost for the goods, services, or construction provided under the contract is estimated to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars.

(b) The aggregate cost for the goods, services, or construction provided under multiple contracts entered into by the particular state agency and a single person or the particular political subdivision and a single person within the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year within which a contract is being entered into by that same state agency and the same single person or the same political subdivision and the same single person, exceeded fifty thousand dollars.

(c) The contract is a renewal of a contract previously entered into and renewed pursuant to that preceding contract.

(2) This section does not apply to employment contracts.

(H) As used in this section:

(1) "State agency" has the same meaning as in section 9.66 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Political subdivision" means a political subdivision as defined in section 9.82 of the Revised Code that has received more than fifty thousand dollars of state money in the current fiscal year or the preceding fiscal year.

(3) "Finding for recovery" means a determination issued by the auditor of state, contained in a report the auditor of state gives to the attorney general pursuant to section 117.28 of the Revised Code, that public money has been illegally expended, public money has been collected but not been accounted for, public money is due but has not been collected, or public property has been converted or misappropriated.

(4) "Debtor" means a person against whom a finding for recovery has been issued.

(5) "Person" means the person named in the finding for recovery.

(6) "State money" does not include funds the state receives from another source and passes through to a political subdivision.

Sec. 9.30.  The appropriate public officer of the state, county, municipal corporation, township, school, or other public body or institution, may acquire the service, product, or commodity of a public utility at the schedule of rates and charges applicable to such service, product, or commodity on file with the public utilities commission, or the applicable charge established by a utility operating its property not for profit, at any location where such public utility service, product, or commodity is not available, from alternate public utilities, without the necessity of advertising to obtain bids, and without notice, irrespective of the amount of money involved. Nothing in this section supersedes sections 125.01 to 125.15 of the Revised Code for the acquisition of telecommunication utility services by state agencies.

Sec. 9.821.  (A) The department of administrative services shall direct and manage for state agencies all risk management and insurance programs authorized under section 9.822 of the Revised Code.

(B) The office of risk management is hereby established within the department of administrative services. The director of administrative services, or a deputy director appointed by the director, shall control and supervise the office.

(C) The office may take any of the following actions that it determines to be in the best interests of the state:

(1) Provide all insurance coverages for the state, including, but not limited to, automobile liability, casualty, property, public liability, and, except as provided in division (C)(6) of this section, fidelity bond insurance bonding. The cost of insurance coverage shall be paid from appropriations made to the state agencies that the office has designated to receive the coverage.

(2) Provide coverage of legal expenses that are necessary and related to the legal defense of claims against the state;

(3) Purchase insurance policies consistent with sections 125.01 to 125.111 of the Revised Code, develop and administer self-insurance programs, or do both;

(4) Consolidate and combine state insurance coverages;

(5) Provide technical services in risk management and insurance to state agencies;

(6)(a) Establish and administer a self-insured fidelity bond program for a particular class or subclass of state officer, employee, or agent, if, prior to the establishment and administration of this program, the director does both of the following:

(i) Holds a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to determine whether fidelity bond insurance for that particular class or subclass of state officer, employee, or agent is available in the voluntary market;

(ii) If, as a result of that hearing, the director determines that fidelity bond insurance for a particular class or subclass of state officer, employee, or agent is unavailable in the voluntary market and that the absence of this insurance threatens the operation of state government and will be detrimental to the general welfare of the citizens of this state, adopts rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to establish standards and procedures governing the establishment, administration, and termination of the fidelity bond program for that particular class or subclass of state officer, employee, or agent.

(b) Division (C)(6)(a) of this section does not apply to any self-insured blanket fidelity bond program that, on September 20, 1993, has been established pursuant to section 9.831 of the Revised Code.

(7) Except as provided in division (C)(6) of this section, adopt Adopt and publish, in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code, necessary rules and procedures governing the administration of the state's insurance and risk management activities.

(D) No state agency, except a state agency exempted under section 125.02 or 125.04 of the Revised Code from the department's purchasing authority, shall purchase any insurance described in this section except as authorized by the department, when the office of risk management determines that the purchase is in the best interest of the state pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and in accordance with terms, conditions, and procurement methods established by the department.

(E) With respect to any civil action, demand, or claim against the state that could be filed in the court of claims, nothing in sections 9.82 to 9.823 of the Revised Code shall be interpreted to permit the settlement or compromise of those civil actions, demands, or claims, except in the manner provided in Chapter 2743. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 9.822.  (A) The department of administrative services through the office of risk management shall establish an insurance plan or plans that may provide for self-insurance or the purchase of insurance, or both, for any of the following purposes:

(1) Insuring state real and personal property against losses occasioned by fire, windstorm, or other accidents and perils;

(2) Insuring the state and its officers and employees against liability resulting from any civil action, demand, or claim against the state or its officers and employees arising out of any act or omission of an officer or employee in the performance of official duties, except acts and omissions for which indemnification is prohibited under section 9.87 of the Revised Code;

(3) Insuring the state through the fidelity bonding of state officers, employees, and agents who are required by law to provide a fidelity bond.

(B)(1) Prior to the establishment of any self-insured fidelity bond program for a particular class or subclass of state officer, employee, or agent authorized pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section, the director of administrative services shall follow the procedures for holding a hearing and adopting rules set forth in division (C)(6)(a) of section 9.821 of the Revised Code.

(2) Division (B)(1) of this section does not apply to any self-insured blanket fidelity bond program that, on September 20, 1993, has been established pursuant to section 9.831 of the Revised Code.

(3) The director shall prepare annually a written report detailing any self-insured fidelity bond program established pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section. The report shall include, but is not limited to, information relating to premiums collected, income from recovery, loss experience, and administrative costs of the program. A copy of the report, together with a copy of those portions of the most recent reports submitted under division (D) of section 9.823 of the Revised Code that pertain to any such self-insured fidelity bond program, shall be submitted to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate by the last day of March of each year.

Sec. 9.823.  (A) All contributions collected by the director of administrative services under division (E) of this section shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the risk management reserve fund, which is hereby created. The fund shall be used to provide insurance and self-insurance for the state under section sections 9.822 and 9.83 of the Revised Code. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to it.

(B) The director, through the office of risk management, shall operate the risk management reserve fund on an actuarially sound basis.

(C) Reserves shall be maintained in the risk management reserve fund in any amount that is necessary and adequate, in the exercise of sound and prudent actuarial judgment, to cover potential liability claims, expenses, fees, or damages. Money in the fund may be applied to the payment of liability claims that are filed against the state in the court of claims and determined in the manner provided for under Chapter 2743. of the Revised Code. The director may procure the services of a qualified actuarial firm for the purpose of recommending the specific amount of money that would be required to maintain adequate reserves for a given period of time.

(D) A report of the amounts reserved and disbursements made from the reserves, together with a written report of a competent property and casualty actuary, shall be submitted, on or before the last day of March for the preceding calendar year, to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate. The actuary shall certify the adequacy of the rates of contributions, the sufficiency of excess insurance, and whether the amounts reserved conform to the requirements of this section, are computed in accordance with accepted loss reserving standards, and are fairly stated in accordance with sound loss reserving principles. The report shall include disbursements made for the administration of the fund, including claims paid, cost of legal representation of state agencies and employees, and fees paid to consultants.

(E) The director shall collect from each state agency or any participating state body its contribution to the risk management reserve fund for the purpose of purchasing insurance or administering self-insurance programs for coverages authorized under section sections 9.822 and 9.83 of the Revised Code. The contribution shall be determined by the director, with the approval of the director of budget and management, and shall be based upon actuarial assumptions and the relative risk and loss experience of each state agency or participating state body. The contribution shall further include a reasonable sum to cover the department's administrative costs.

Sec. 9.83.  (A) The state and any political subdivision may procure a policy or policies of insurance insuring its officers and employees against liability for injury, death, or loss to person or property that arises out of the operation of an automobile, truck, motor vehicle with auxiliary equipment, self-propelling equipment or trailer, aircraft, or watercraft by the officers or employees while engaged in the course of their employment or official responsibilities for the state or the political subdivision. The state is authorized to expend funds to pay judgments that are rendered in any court against its officers or employees and that result from such operation, and is authorized to expend funds to compromise claims for liability against its officers or employees that result from such operation. No insurer shall deny coverage under such a policy, and the state shall not refuse to pay judgments or compromise claims, on the ground that an automobile, truck, motor vehicle with auxiliary equipment, self-propelling equipment or trailer, aircraft, or watercraft was not being used in the course of an officer's or employee's employment or official responsibilities for the state or a political subdivision unless the officer or employee who was operating an automobile, truck, motor vehicle with auxiliary equipment, or self-propelling equipment or trailer is convicted of a violation of section 124.71 of the Revised Code as a result of the same events.

(B) Funds shall be reserved as necessary, in the exercise of sound and prudent actuarial judgment, to cover potential expense, fees, damage, loss, or other liability. The superintendent of insurance office of risk management may recommend or, if the state requests of the superintendent office of risk management, shall recommend, a specific amount for any period of time that, in the superintendent's opinion of the office of risk management, represents such a judgment.

(C) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the department of administrative services to purchase liability insurance for all state vehicles in a single policy of insurance or to cover all state vehicles under a single plan of self-insurance.

(D) Insurance procured by the state pursuant to this section shall be procured as provided in section 125.03 of the Revised Code.

(E) For purposes of liability insurance procured under this section to cover the operation of a motor vehicle by a prisoner for whom the insurance is procured, "employee" includes a prisoner in the custody of the department of rehabilitation and correction who is enrolled in a work program that is established by the department pursuant to section 5145.16 of the Revised Code and in which the prisoner is required to operate a motor vehicle, as defined in section 4509.01 of the Revised Code, and who is engaged in the operation of a motor vehicle in the course of the work program.

(F) There is hereby created in the state treasury the vehicle liability fund. All contributions collected by the director of administrative services under division (I) of this section shall be deposited into the fund. The fund shall be used to provide insurance and self-insurance for the state under this section. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to it risk management reserve fund created in section 9.823 of the Revised Code to the credit of the vehicle liability program.

(G) The director of administrative services, through the office of risk management, shall operate the vehicle liability fund on an actuarially sound basis.

(H) Reserves shall be maintained in the vehicle liability risk management reserve fund to the credit of the vehicle liability program in any amount that is necessary and adequate, in the exercise of sound and prudent actuarial judgment, to cover potential liability claims, expenses, fees, or damages. Money in the fund may be applied to the payment of liability claims that are filed against the state in the court of claims and determined in the manner provided in Chapter 2743. of the Revised Code. The director of administrative services may procure the services of a qualified actuarial firm for the purpose of recommending the specific amount of money that is required to maintain adequate reserves for a specified period of time.

(I)(H) The director of administrative services shall collect from each state agency or any participating state body its contribution to the vehicle liability fund program for the purpose of purchasing insurance or administering self-insurance programs for coverage authorized under this section. The amount of the contribution shall be determined by the director, with the approval of the director of budget and management. It shall be based upon actuarial assumptions and the relative risk and loss experience of each state agency or participating state body. The amount of the contribution also shall include a reasonable sum to cover administrative costs of the department of administrative services. The amounts collected pursuant to this division shall be deposited in the risk management reserve fund to the credit of the vehicle liability program.

Sec. 107.40.  (A) There is hereby created the governor's residence advisory commission. The commission shall provide for the preservation, restoration, acquisition, and conservation of all decorations, objects of art, chandeliers, china, silver, statues, paintings, furnishings, accouterments, and other aesthetic materials that have been acquired, donated, loaned, or otherwise obtained by the state for the governor's residence and that have been approved by the commission. In addition, the commission shall provide for the maintenance of plants that have been acquired, donated, loaned, or otherwise obtained by the state for the governor's residence and that have been approved by the commission.

(B) The commission shall be responsible for the care, provision, repair, and placement of furnishings and other objects and accessories of the grounds and public areas of the first story of the governor's residence and for the care and placement of plants on the grounds. In exercising this responsibility, the commission shall preserve and seek to further establish all of the following:

(1) The authentic ambiance and decor of the historic era during which the governor's residence was constructed;

(2) The grounds as a representation of Ohio's natural ecosystems;

(3) The heritage garden for all of the following purposes:

(a) To preserve, sustain, and encourage the use of native flora throughout the state;

(b) To replicate the state's physiographic regions, plant communities, and natural landscapes;

(c) To serve as an educational garden that demonstrates the artistic, industrial, political, horticultural, and geologic history of the state through the use of plants;

(d) To serve as a reservoir of rare species of plants from the physiographic regions of the state.

These duties shall not affect the obligation of the department of administrative services to provide for the and adopt policies and procedures regarding the use, general maintenance, and operating expenses of the governor's residence.

(C) The commission shall consist of eleven members. One member shall be the director of administrative services or the director's designee, who shall serve during the director's term of office and shall serve as chairperson. One member shall be the director of the Ohio historical society or the director's designee, who shall serve during the director's term of office and shall serve as vice-chairperson. One member shall represent the Columbus landmarks foundation. One member shall represent the Bexley historical society. One member shall be the mayor of the city of Bexley, who shall serve during the mayor's term of office. One member shall be the chief executive officer of the Franklin park conservatory joint recreation district, who shall serve during the term of employment as chief executive officer. The remaining five members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The five members appointed by the governor shall be persons with knowledge of Ohio history, architecture, decorative arts, or historic preservation, and one of those members shall have knowledge of landscape architecture, garden design, horticulture, and plants native to this state.

(D) Of the initial appointees, the representative of the Columbus landmarks foundation shall serve for a term expiring December 31, 1996, and the representative of the Bexley historical society shall serve for a term expiring December 31, 1997. Of the five members appointed by the governor, three shall serve for terms ending December 31, 1998, and two shall serve for terms ending December 31, 1999. Thereafter, each term shall be for four years, commencing on the first day of January and ending on the last day of December. The member having knowledge of landscape architecture, garden design, horticulture, and plants native to this state initially shall be appointed upon the first vacancy on the commission occurring on or after June 30, 2006.

Each member shall hold office from the date of the member's appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the end of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the term. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration of the term until the member's successor takes office.

(E) Six members of the commission constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of six members is required for approval of any action by the commission.

(F) After each initial member of the commission has been appointed, the commission shall meet and select one member as secretary and another as treasurer. Organizational meetings of the commission shall be held at the time and place designated by call of the chairperson. Meetings of the commission may be held anywhere in the state and shall be in compliance with Chapters 121. and 149. of the Revised Code. The commission may adopt, pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code, rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(G) Members of the commission shall serve without remuneration, but shall be compensated for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

(H) All expenses incurred in carrying out this section are payable solely from money accrued under this section or appropriated for these purposes by the general assembly, and the commission shall incur no liability or obligation beyond such money.

(I) The commission may accept any payment for the use of the governor's residence or may accept any donation, gift, bequest, or devise for the governor's residence or as an endowment for the maintenance and care of the garden on the grounds of the governor's residence in furtherance of its duties. Any revenue received by the commission shall be deposited into the governor's residence fund, which is hereby established in the state treasury, for use by the commission in accordance with the performance of its duties. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Title to all property acquired by the commission shall be taken in the name of the state and shall be held for the use and benefit of the commission.

(J) Nothing in this section limits the ability of a person or other entity to purchase decorations, objects of art, chandeliers, china, silver, statues, paintings, furnishings, accouterments, plants, or other aesthetic materials for placement in the governor's residence or on the grounds of the governor's residence or donation to the commission. No such object or plant, however, shall be placed on the grounds or public areas of the first story of the governor's residence without the consent of the commission.

(K) The heritage garden established under this section shall be officially known as "the heritage garden at the Ohio governor's residence."

(L) As used in this section, "heritage garden" means the botanical garden of native plants established at the governor's residence.

Sec. 109.572. (A)(1) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to section 121.08, 3301.32, 3301.541, 3319.39, 5104.012, or 5104.013 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, or a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense;

(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(1)(a) of this section.

(2) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 5123.081 of the Revised Code with respect to an applicant for employment in any position with the department of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, pursuant to section 5126.28 of the Revised Code with respect to an applicant for employment in any position with a county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, or pursuant to section 5126.281 of the Revised Code with respect to an applicant for employment in a direct services position with an entity contracting with a county board for employment, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2903.341, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.04, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code;

(b) An existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(2)(a) of this section.

(3) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 173.27, 173.394, 3712.09, 3721.121, or 3722.151 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check with respect to any person who has applied for employment in a position for which a criminal records check is required by those sections. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.40, 2913.43, 2913.47, 2913.51, 2919.25, 2921.36, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code;

(b) An existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(3)(a) of this section.

(4) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 3701.881 of the Revised Code with respect to an applicant for employment with a home health agency as a person responsible for the care, custody, or control of a child, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.04, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code or a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense;

(b) An existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(4)(a) of this section.

(5) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 5111.95 or 5111.96 5111.032, 5111.033, or 5111.034 of the Revised Code with respect to an applicant for employment with a waiver agency participating in a department of job and family services administered home and community-based waiver program or an independent provider participating in a department administered home and community-based waiver program in a position that involves providing home and community-based waiver services to consumers with disabilities, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or, has pleaded guilty to, or has been found eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.041, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.24, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.40, 2913.43, 2913.47, 2913.48, 2913.49, 2913.51, 2917.11, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2921.13, 2921.36, 2923.02, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2923.32, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.14, 2925.22, 2925.23, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date;

(b) An existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(5)(a) of this section.

(6) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 3701.881 of the Revised Code with respect to an applicant for employment with a home health agency in a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.40, 2913.43, 2913.47, 2913.51, 2919.25, 2921.36, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code;

(b) An existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(6)(a) of this section.

(7) When conducting a criminal records check upon a request pursuant to section 3319.39 of the Revised Code for an applicant who is a teacher, in addition to the determination made under division (A)(1) of this section, the superintendent shall determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense specified in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(8) On a request pursuant to section 2151.86 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense, or felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code;

(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(8)(a) of this section.

(9) When conducting a criminal records check on a request pursuant to section 5104.013 of the Revised Code for a person who is an owner, licensee, or administrator of a child day-care center or type A family day-care home, an authorized provider of a certified type B family day-care home, or an adult residing in a type A or certified type B home, or when conducting a criminal records check or a request pursuant to section 5104.012 of the Revised Code for a person who is an applicant for employment in a center, type A home, or certified type B home, the superintendent, in addition to the determination made under division (A)(1) of this section, shall determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.041, 2913.05, 2913.06, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.32, 2913.33, 2913.34, 2913.40, 2913.41, 2913.42, 2913.43, 2913.44, 2913.441, 2913.45, 2913.46, 2913.47, 2913.48, 2913.49, 2921.11, 2921.13, or 2923.01 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2923.02 or 2923.03 of the Revised Code that relates to a crime specified in this division or division (A)(1)(a) of this section, or a second violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code within five years of the date of application for licensure or certification.

(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses or violations described in division (A)(9)(a) of this section.

(10) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to section 5153.111 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, or a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense;

(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(10)(a) of this section.

(11) On receipt of a request for a criminal records check from an individual pursuant to section 4749.03 or 4749.06 of the Revised Code, accompanied by a completed copy of the form prescribed in division (C)(1) of this section and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in a manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists indicating that the person who is the subject of the request has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony in this state or in any other state. If the individual indicates that a firearm will be carried in the course of business, the superintendent shall require information from the federal bureau of investigation as described in division (B)(2) of this section. The superintendent shall report the findings of the criminal records check and any information the federal bureau of investigation provides to the director of public safety.

(12) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 1322.03, 1322.031, or 4763.05 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check with respect to any person who has applied for a license, permit, or certification from the department of commerce or a division in the department. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following: a violation of section 2913.02, 2913.11, 2913.31, 2913.51, or 2925.03 of the Revised Code; any other criminal offense involving theft, receiving stolen property, embezzlement, forgery, fraud, passing bad checks, money laundering, or drug trafficking, or any criminal offense involving money or securities, as set forth in Chapters 2909., 2911., 2913., 2915., 2921., 2923., and 2925. of the Revised Code; or any existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to those offenses.

(13) Not later than thirty days after the date the superintendent receives the request, completed form, and fingerprint impressions, the superintendent shall send the person, board, or entity that made the request any information, other than information the dissemination of which is prohibited by federal law, the superintendent determines exists with respect to the person who is the subject of the request that indicates that the person previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense listed or described in division (A)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), or (12) of this section, as appropriate. The superintendent shall send the person, board, or entity that made the request a copy of the list of offenses specified in division (A)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), or (12) of this section, as appropriate. If the request was made under section 3701.881 of the Revised Code with regard to an applicant who may be both responsible for the care, custody, or control of a child and involved in providing direct care to an older adult, the superintendent shall provide a list of the offenses specified in divisions (A)(4) and (6) of this section.

(B) The superintendent shall conduct any criminal records check requested under section 121.08, 173.27, 173.394, 1322.03, 1322.031, 2151.86, 3301.32, 3301.541, 3319.39, 3701.881, 3712.09, 3721.121, 3722.151, 4749.03, 4749.06, 4763.05, 5104.012, 5104.013, 5111.95, 5111.96 5111.032, 5111.033, 5111.034, 5123.081, 5126.28, 5126.281, or 5153.111 of the Revised Code as follows:

(1) The superintendent shall review or cause to be reviewed any relevant information gathered and compiled by the bureau under division (A) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code that relates to the person who is the subject of the request, including any relevant information contained in records that have been sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code;

(2) If the request received by the superintendent asks for information from the federal bureau of investigation, the superintendent shall request from the federal bureau of investigation any information it has with respect to the person who is the subject of the request and shall review or cause to be reviewed any information the superintendent receives from that bureau.

(3) The superintendent or the superintendent's designee may request criminal history records from other states or the federal government pursuant to the national crime prevention and privacy compact set forth in section 109.571 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) The superintendent shall prescribe a form to obtain the information necessary to conduct a criminal records check from any person for whom a criminal records check is required by section 121.08, 173.27, 173.394, 1322.03, 1322.031, 2151.86, 3301.32, 3301.541, 3319.39, 3701.881, 3712.09, 3721.121, 3722.151, 4749.03, 4749.06, 4763.05, 5104.012, 5104.013, 5111.95, 5111.96 5111.032, 5111.033, 5111.034, 5123.081, 5126.28, 5126.281, or 5153.111 of the Revised Code. The form that the superintendent prescribes pursuant to this division may be in a tangible format, in an electronic format, or in both tangible and electronic formats.

(2) The superintendent shall prescribe standard impression sheets to obtain the fingerprint impressions of any person for whom a criminal records check is required by section 121.08, 173.27, 173.394, 1322.03, 1322.031, 2151.86, 3301.32, 3301.541, 3319.39, 3701.881, 3712.09, 3721.121, 3722.151, 4749.03, 4749.06, 4763.05, 5104.012, 5104.013, 5111.95, 5111.96 5111.032, 5111.033, 5111.034, 5123.081, 5126.28, 5126.281, or 5153.111 of the Revised Code. Any person for whom a records check is required by any of those sections shall obtain the fingerprint impressions at a county sheriff's office, municipal police department, or any other entity with the ability to make fingerprint impressions on the standard impression sheets prescribed by the superintendent. The office, department, or entity may charge the person a reasonable fee for making the impressions. The standard impression sheets the superintendent prescribes pursuant to this division may be in a tangible format, in an electronic format, or in both tangible and electronic formats.

(3) Subject to division (D) of this section, the superintendent shall prescribe and charge a reasonable fee for providing a criminal records check requested under section 121.08, 173.27, 173.394, 1322.03, 1322.031, 2151.86, 3301.32, 3301.541, 3319.39, 3701.881, 3712.09, 3721.121, 3722.151, 4749.03, 4749.06, 4763.05, 5104.012, 5104.013, 5111.95, 5111.96 5111.032, 5111.033, 5111.034, 5123.081, 5126.28, 5126.281, or 5153.111 of the Revised Code. The person making a criminal records request under section 121.08, 173.27, 173.394, 1322.03, 1322.031, 2151.86, 3301.32, 3301.541, 3319.39, 3701.881, 3712.09, 3721.121, 3722.151, 4749.03, 4749.06, 4763.05, 5104.012, 5104.013, 5111.95, 5111.96, 5123.081, 5126.28, 5126.281, or 5153.111 of the Revised Code shall pay the fee prescribed pursuant to this division. A person making a request under section 3701.881 of the Revised Code for a criminal records check for an applicant who may be both responsible for the care, custody, or control of a child and involved in providing direct care to an older adult shall pay one fee for the request. In the case of a request under section 5111.033 of the Revised Code, the fee shall be paid in the manner specified in that section.

(4) The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation may prescribe methods of forwarding fingerprint impressions and information necessary to conduct a criminal records check, which methods shall include, but not be limited to, an electronic method.

(D) A determination whether any information exists that indicates that a person previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense listed or described in division (A)(1)(a) or (b), (A)(2)(a) or (b), (A)(3)(a) or (b), (A)(4)(a) or (b), (A)(5)(a) or (b), (A)(6)(a) or (b), (A)(7), (A)(8)(a) or (b), (A)(9)(a) or (b), (A)(10)(a) or (b), or (A)(12) of this section that is made by the superintendent with respect to information considered in a criminal records check in accordance with this section is valid for the person who is the subject of the criminal records check for a period of one year from the date upon which the superintendent makes the determination. During the period in which the determination in regard to a person is valid, if another request under this section is made for a criminal records check for that person, the superintendent shall provide the information that is the basis for the superintendent's initial determination at a lower fee than the fee prescribed for the initial criminal records check.

(E) As used in this section:

(1) "Criminal records check" means any criminal records check conducted by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with division (B) of this section.

(2) "Home and community-based waiver services" and "waiver agency" have the same meanings as in section 5111.95 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Independent provider" has the same meaning as in section 5111.96 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Minor drug possession offense" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.

(5)(3) "Older adult" means a person age sixty or older.

Sec. 109.93.  The attorney general education fund is hereby created in the custody of the treasurer of state treasury. The fund shall consist of gifts and grants received by the attorney general for the purposes of the fund. The fund shall be administered by the attorney general and shall be used to support various educational programs. These educational programs may include programs for consumer protection, victims of crime, environmental protection, drug abuse, child abuse, peace officer training, crime prevention, and law. The fund may also be used to pay costs associated with the solicitation of gifts and grants for the purposes of the fund, and the costs of administering the fund. The fund shall not be used to replace money spent by local programs for similar purposes.

Sec. 111.18.  (A) The secretary of state shall keep a record of all fees collected by the secretary of state and, subject to division (B) of section 1309.528 of the Revised Code and except as otherwise provided in the Revised Code, shall pay them into the state treasury to the credit of the corporate and uniform commercial code filing fund created by section 1309.528 of the Revised Code.

(B) The secretary of state may implement alternative payment programs that permit payment of any fee charged by the secretary of state by means other than cash, check, money order, or credit card; an alternative payment program may include, but is not limited to, one that permits a fee to be paid by electronic means of transmission. Fees paid under an alternative payment program shall be deposited to the credit of the secretary of state alternative payment program fund, which is hereby created. The secretary of state alternative payment program fund shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state but shall not be part of the state treasury. Any investment income of the secretary of state alternative payment program fund shall be credited to that fund and used to operate the alternative payment program. Within two working days following the deposit of funds to the credit of the secretary of state alternative payment program fund, the secretary of state shall pay those funds into the state treasury to the credit of the corporate and uniform commercial code filing fund, subject to division (B) of section 1309.401 of the Revised Code and except as otherwise provided in the Revised Code.

The secretary of state shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this division.

Sec. 118.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Advance tax payment notes" means the notes authorized by section 118.24 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Appropriation measure" means any appropriation measure, amendment of an appropriation measure, or supplement to an appropriation measure of a municipal corporation, county, or township referred to in sections 5705.38 and 5705.40 of the Revised Code and any other action of a municipal corporation, county, or township authorizing expenditure of money not previously included in any appropriation measure.

(C) "Bond anticipation notes" means notes issued in anticipation of the issuance of bonds.

(D) "Certificate of estimated resources" means the official certificate of estimated resources of the county budget commission and amendments of the certificate certified to the municipal corporation, county, or township as provided for in Chapter 5705. of the Revised Code.

(E) "Commission" means a financial planning and supervision commission created by section 118.05 of the Revised Code with respect to a municipal corporation, county, or township.

(F) "Construction funds" means proceeds from the sale of debt obligations restricted by law or pursuant to the proceedings for the issuance of such debt obligations to use for permanent improvements as defined in division (E) of section 5705.01 of the Revised Code, including acquisition, construction, or extension of public utilities, and moneys from any other sources restricted to such purpose.

(G) "County auditor" means the county auditor with whom tax budgets of the municipal corporation, county, or township are to be filed in accordance with section 5705.30 of the Revised Code.

(H) "County budget commission" means the county budget commission to which the tax budget of the municipal corporation, county, or township is to be submitted in accordance with section 5705.31 of the Revised Code.

(I) "Current revenue notes" means debt obligations described in section 133.10 or Chapter 5705. of the Revised Code or any other debt obligations issued to obtain funds for current operating expenses.

(J) "Debt limits" means the limitations on net indebtedness provided in sections 133.05, 133.07, and 133.09 of the Revised Code, and also includes the limitation, known as the "indirect debt limit," upon the issuance of unvoted bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness resulting from the ten-mill limitation provided for in section 5705.02 of the Revised Code.

(K) "Debt obligations" means bonds, notes, certificates of indebtedness, bond anticipation notes, current revenue notes, local government fund notes, local communities fund notes, or other obligations issued or incurred in borrowing money, or to renew, refund, fund, or refinance, or issued in exchange for, such obligations, and any interest coupons pertaining thereto other than bonds or other obligations issued under authority of Section 13 of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution.

(L) "Default" means failure to pay the principal of or the interest on a debt obligation, or failure to make other payment to be made to the holder or owner of a debt obligation, in the full amount and at the time provided for in the contractual commitment with respect thereto, unless the time for such payment has been extended by the owner or holder of the debt obligation without penalty or premium and without the effect of subjecting the municipal corporation, county, or township to the initiation of remedies pertaining to such debt obligation or other debt obligations.

(M) "Deficit fund" means the general fund or any special fund that, as at the time indicated, has a deficit balance or a balance that is less than the amount required to be in such fund pursuant to law or pursuant to contractual requirements, demonstrating that over a period of time expenditures charged or chargeable to the fund have exceeded moneys credited to the fund, or that moneys credited to the fund have not been in the amounts required by law or contractual requirements.

(N) "Effective financial accounting and reporting system" means an accounting and reporting system fully in compliance with the requirements prescribed by and pursuant to Chapter 117. of the Revised Code, with such modifications and supplements as are to be provided pursuant to this chapter in order to meet and deal with the fiscal emergency, provide to the auditor of state, the commission, the financial supervisor, and the county budget commission the information needed to carry out their functions, and better ensure the implementation of the financial plan.

(O) "Financial plan" means the financial plan approved by the commission in accordance with section 118.06 of the Revised Code, as it may from time to time be amended in accordance with this chapter.

(P) "Financial supervisor" means the auditor of state.

(Q) "Fiscal emergency" means the existence of fiscal emergency conditions determined as provided in section 118.04 of the Revised Code.

(R) "Fiscal emergency conditions" means any of the events or occurrences described in section 118.03 of the Revised Code.

(S) "Fiscal emergency period" means the period of time commencing on the date when the determination of a fiscal emergency is made by the auditor of state pursuant to section 118.04 of the Revised Code and ending when the determination of termination is made and certified pursuant to section 118.27 of the Revised Code.

(T) "Fiscal watch" means the existence of fiscal watch conditions as determined in accordance with section 118.022 of the Revised Code.

(U) "Fiscal officer" means the fiscal officer of the municipal corporation, county, or township as defined in division (D) of section 5705.01 of the Revised Code.

(V) "Fringe benefits" means expenditures for goods and services furnished to municipal, county, or township officers or employees by the municipal corporation, county, or township, including, but not limited to, such benefits as food, temporary housing, and clothing, and the provision of pension, retirement, disability, hospitalization, health care, insurance, or other benefits to employees requiring the advance payment of money other than directly to employees or other beneficiaries, or the deposit or reservation of money for such purpose.

(W) "General fund" means the fund referred to in division (A) of section 5705.09 of the Revised Code.

(X) "General fund budget" means aggregate revenues available in the general fund during the applicable fiscal year as shown by the certificate of estimated resources.

(Y) "Mayor" means the officer of the municipal corporation designated as such by law or the chief executive officer under the charter of the municipal corporation.

(Z) "Payroll" means compensation due and payable to employees of the municipal corporation, county, or township, other than fringe benefits.

(AA) "Revenue estimates" means the estimates of revenue receipts to the credit of the general fund and special funds as estimated and supplemented, modified, or amended by the municipal corporation, county, or township, or the county budget commission.

(BB) "Special funds" means any of the funds, other than the general fund, referred to in sections 5705.09 and 5705.12 of the Revised Code, and includes any fund created from the issuance of debt obligations pursuant to Section 3 or 12 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, and any fund created in connection with the issuance of debt obligations to provide moneys for the payment of principal or interest, reserves therefor, or reserves or funds for repair, maintenance, or improvements.

(CC) "Tax budget" means the tax budget provided for in section 5705.28 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 118.08.  (A) The members of the financial planning and supervision commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be paid by the commission their necessary and actual expenses incurred while engaged in the business of the commission.

(B) All expenses incurred for services rendered by the financial supervisor for a period of twenty-four months shall be paid by the commission pursuant to an appropriation made by the general assembly for this purpose. Expenses incurred for services rendered by the financial supervisor beyond this period shall be borne by the municipal corporation, county, or township unless the director of budget and management waives the costs and allows payment in accordance with the following:

(1) If the continued performance of the financial supervisor is required for a period of twenty-five to thirty months, the municipal corporation, county, or township is responsible for twenty per cent of the compensation due.

(2) If the continued performance of the financial supervisor is required for a period of thirty-one to thirty-six months, the municipal corporation, county, or township is responsible for fifty per cent of the compensation due.

(3) If the continued performance of the financial supervisor is required for a period of thirty-seven months or more, the municipal corporation, county, or township is responsible for one hundred per cent of the compensation due except as otherwise provided in division (B)(4) of this section.

(4) If the continued performance of the financial supervisor has been required longer than eight fiscal years for any municipal corporation, county, or township declared to be in a fiscal emergency prior to fiscal year 1996, that municipal corporation, county, or township is responsible for fifty per cent of the compensation due in its ninth fiscal year while in fiscal emergency and one hundred per cent of the compensation due in its tenth fiscal year and every fiscal year thereafter while in fiscal emergency.

(C) If the municipal corporation, county, or township fails to make any payment to the financial supervisor as required by this chapter, the financial supervisor may certify to the county auditor the amount due, and that amount shall be withheld from the municipal corporation, county, or township from any fund or funds in the custody of the county auditor for distribution to the municipal corporation, county, or township, except for those reserved for payment of local government fund or local communities fund notes. Upon receiving the certification from the financial supervisor, the county auditor shall draw a voucher for the amount against those fund or funds in favor of the financial supervisor.

Sec. 118.17.  (A) During a fiscal emergency period and with the approval of the financial planning and supervision commission, a municipal corporation, county, or township may issue local government communities fund notes, in anticipation of amounts to be allocated to it pursuant to division (B) of section 5747.50 of the Revised Code or to be apportioned to it under section 5747.51 or 5747.53 of the Revised Code in a future year or years, for a period of no more than eight calendar years. The principal amount of the notes and interest on the notes due and payable in any year shall not exceed fifty per cent of the total amount of local government fund or local communities fund moneys so allocated or apportioned to the municipal corporation, county, or township for the year preceding the year in which the notes are issued. The notes may mature in semiannual or annual installments in such amounts as may be fixed by the commission, and need not mature in substantially equal semiannual or annual installments. The notes of a municipal corporation may be authorized and issued, subject to the approval of the commission, in the manner provided in sections 717.15 and 717.16 of the Revised Code, except that, notwithstanding division (A)(2) of section 717.16 of the Revised Code, the rate or rates of interest payable on the notes shall be the prevailing market rate or rates as determined and approved by the commission, and except that they shall not be issued in anticipation of bonds, shall not constitute general obligations of the municipal corporation, and shall not pledge the full faith and credit of the municipal corporation.

(B) The principal and interest on the notes provided for in this section shall be payable, as provided in this section, solely from the portion of the local government communities fund that would otherwise be apportioned to the municipal corporation, county, or township and shall not be payable from or constitute a pledge of or claim upon, or require the levy, collection, or application of, any unvoted ad valorem property taxes or other taxes, or in any manner occupy any portion of the indirect debt limit.

(C) Local government communities fund notes may be issued only to the extent needed to achieve one or more of the following objectives of the financial plan:

(1) Satisfying any contractual or noncontractual judgments, past due accounts payable, and all past due and payable payroll and fringe benefits to be taken into account under section 118.03 of the Revised Code;

(2) Restoring to construction funds or other restricted funds any money applied from such funds to uses not within the purposes of such funds and which could not be transferred to such use under section 5705.14 of the Revised Code;

(3) Eliminating deficit balances in all deficit funds, including funds that may be used to pay operating expenses.

In addition to the objectives set forth in divisions (C)(1) to (3) of this section, local government communities fund notes may be issued and the proceeds of those notes may be used for the purpose of retiring or replacing other moneys used to retire current revenue notes issued pursuant to section 118.23 of the Revised Code to the extent that the proceeds of the current revenue notes have been or are to be used directly or to replace other moneys used to achieve one or more of the objectives of the financial plan specified in divisions (C)(1) to (3) of this section. Upon authorization of the local government communities fund notes by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, county, or township, the proceeds of the local government communities fund notes and the proceeds of any such current revenue notes shall be deemed to be appropriated, to the extent that the proceeds have been or are to be so used, for the purposes for which the revenues anticipated by any such current revenue notes are collected and appropriated within the meaning of section 133.10 of the Revised Code.

(D) The need for an issue of local government communities fund notes for such purposes shall be determined by taking into consideration other money and sources of moneys available therefor under this chapter or other provisions of law, and calculating the respective amounts needed therefor in accordance with section 118.03 of the Revised Code, including the deductions or offsets therein provided, for determining that a fiscal emergency condition exists, and by eliminating any duplication of amounts thereunder. The respective amounts needed to achieve such objectives and the resulting aggregate net amount shall be determined initially by a certification of the fiscal officer as and to the extent approved by the financial supervisor. The principal amount of such notes shall not exceed the aggregate net amount needed for such purposes. The aggregate amount of all issues of such notes shall not exceed three times the average of the allocation or apportionment to the municipal corporation, county, or township of moneys from the local government communities fund in each of the three fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which the notes are issued.

(E) The proceeds of the sale of local government communities fund notes shall be appropriated by the municipal corporation, county, or township for and shall be applied only to the purposes, and in the respective amounts for those purposes, set forth in the certification given pursuant to division (D) of this section, as the purposes and amounts may be modified in the approval by the commission provided for in this section. The proceeds shall be deposited in separate accounts with a fiscal agent designated in the resolution referred to in division (F) of this section and released only for such respective purposes in accordance with the procedures set forth in division (D) of section 118.20 of the Revised Code. Any amounts not needed for such purposes shall be deposited with the fiscal agent designated to receive deposits for payment of the principal of and interest due on the notes.

(F) An application for approval by the financial planning and supervision commission of an issue of local government communities fund notes shall be authorized by a preliminary resolution adopted by the legislative authority. The resolution may authorize the application as a part of the initial submission of the financial plan for approval or as a part of any proposed amendment to an approved financial plan or at any time after the approval of a financial plan, or amendment to a financial plan, that proposes the issue of such notes. The preliminary resolution shall designate a fiscal agent for the deposit of the proceeds of the sale of the notes, and shall contain a covenant of the municipal corporation, county, or township to comply with this chapter and the financial plan.

The commission shall review and evaluate the application and supporting certification and financial supervisor action, and shall thereupon certify its approval or disapproval, or modification and approval, of the application.

The commission shall certify the amounts, maturities, interest rates, and terms of issue of the local government communities fund notes approved by the commission and the purposes to which the proceeds of the sale of the notes will be applied in respective amounts.

The commission shall certify a copy of its approval, of the preliminary resolution, and of the related certification and action of the financial supervisor to the fiscal officer, the financial supervisor, the county budget commission, the county auditor, the county treasurer, and the fiscal agent designated to receive and disburse the proceeds of the sale of the notes.

(G) Upon the sale of any local government communities fund notes issued under this section, the commission shall determine a schedule for the deposit of local government communities fund distributions that are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on the notes with the fiscal agent or trustee designated in the agreement between the municipal corporation, county, or township and the holders of the notes to receive and disburse the distributions. The amounts to be deposited shall be adequate to provide for the payment of principal and interest on the notes when due and to pay all other proper charges, costs, or expenses pertaining thereto.

The amount of the local government communities fund moneys apportioned to the municipal corporation, county, or township that is to be so deposited in each year shall not be included in the tax budget and appropriation measures of the municipal corporation, county, or township, or in certificates of estimated revenues, for that year.

The commission shall certify the schedule to the officers designated in division (F) of this section.

(H) Deposit of amounts with the fiscal agent or trustee pursuant to the schedule determined by the commission shall be made from local government communities fund distributions to or apportioned to the municipal corporation, county, or township as provided in this division. The apportionment of local government communities fund moneys to the municipal corporation, county, or township for any year from the undivided local government communities fund shall be determined as to the municipal corporation, county, or township without regard to the amounts to be deposited with the fiscal agent or trustee in that year in accordance with division (G) of this section. After the amount of the undivided local government communities fund apportioned to the municipal corporation, county, or township for a calendar year is determined, the county auditor and the county treasurer shall withhold from each monthly amount to be distributed to the municipal corporation, county, or township from the undivided local government communities fund, and transmit to the fiscal agent or trustee for deposit, one-twelfth of the amount scheduled for deposit in that year pursuant to division (G) of this section.

(I) If the commission approves the application, the municipal corporation, county, or township may proceed with the issuance of the notes as approved by the commission.

All notes issued under authority of this section are lawful investments for the entities enumerated in division (A)(1) of section 133.03 of the Revised Code and are eligible as security for the repayment of the deposit of public moneys.

Upon the issuance of any notes under this section, the fiscal officer of the municipal corporation, county, or township shall certify the fact of the issuance to the county auditor and shall also certify to the county auditor the last calendar year in which any of the notes are scheduled to mature.

(J) After the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, county, or township has passed an ordinance or resolution authorizing the issuance of local government communities fund notes and subsequent to the commission's preliminary or final approval of the ordinance or resolution, the director of law, prosecuting attorney, or other chief legal officer of the municipal corporation, county, or township shall certify a sample of the form and content of a note to be used to issue the local government communities fund notes to the commission. The commission shall determine whether the sample note is consistent with this section and the ordinance or resolution authorizing the issuance of the local government communities fund notes, and if the sample note is found to be consistent with this section and the ordinance, the commission shall approve the sample note for use by the municipal corporation, county, or township. The form and content of the notes to be used by the municipal corporation, county, or township in issuing the local government communities fund notes may be modified at any time subsequent to the commission's approval of the sample note upon the approval of the commission and the director of law, prosecuting attorney, or other chief legal officer of the municipal corporation, county, or township. The failure of the director of law, prosecuting attorney, or other chief legal officer of the municipal corporation, county, or township to make the certification required by this division shall not subject that legal officer to removal pursuant to the Revised Code or the charter of a municipal corporation. If the director of law, prosecuting attorney, or other chief legal officer fails or refuses to make the certification required by this division, or if any officer of the municipal corporation, county, or township fails or refuses to take any action required by this section or the ordinance or resolution authorizing the issuance or sale of local government communities fund notes, the mayor of the municipal corporation or the board of county commissioners or board of township trustees may cause the commencement of a mandamus action in the supreme court against the director of law, prosecuting attorney, or other chief legal officer to secure the certification required by this division or other action required by this section or the ordinance or resolution. If an adjudication of the matters that could be adjudicated in validation proceedings under section 133.70 of the Revised Code is necessary to a determination of the mandamus action, the mayor, the board of county commissioners, or the board of township trustees or the mayor's or board's legal counsel shall name and cause to be served as defendants to the mandamus action all of the following:

(1) The director of law, prosecuting attorney, or other chief legal officer, or other official of the municipal corporation, county, or township, whose failure or refusal to act necessitated the action;

(2) The municipal corporation, through its mayor, or the board of county commissioners or board of township trustees;

(3) The financial planning and supervision commission, through its chairperson;

(4) The prosecuting attorney and auditor of each county in which the municipal corporation, county, or township is located, in whole or in part;

(5) The auditor of state;

(6) The property owners, taxpayers, citizens of the municipal corporation, county, or township and others having or claiming any right, title, or interest in any property or funds to be affected by the issuance of the local government communities fund notes by the municipal corporation, county, or township, or otherwise affected in any way thereby.

Service upon all defendants described in division (J)(6) of this section shall be by publication three times, with at least six days between each publication, in a newspaper of general circulation in Franklin county and a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties where the municipal corporation, county, or township is located. The publication and the notice shall indicate that the nature of the action is in mandamus, the name of the parties to the action, and that the action may result in the validation of the subject local government communities fund notes. Authorization to commence such an action by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, county, or township is not required.

A copy of the complaint in the mandamus action shall be served personally or by certified mail upon the attorney general. If the attorney general has reason to believe that the complaint is defective, insufficient, or untrue, or if in the attorney general's opinion the issuance of the local government communities fund notes is not lawful or has not been duly authorized, defense shall be made to the complaint as the attorney general considers proper.

(K) The action in mandamus authorized by division (J) of this section shall take priority over all other civil cases pending in the court, except habeas corpus, and shall be determined with the least possible delay. The supreme court may determine that the local government communities fund notes will be consistent with the purpose and effects, including not occupying the indirect debt limit, provided for in this section and will be validly issued and acquired. Such a determination shall include a finding of validation of the subject local government communities fund notes if the court specifically finds that:

(1) The complaint in mandamus, or subsequent pleadings, include appropriate allegations required by division (C) of section 133.70 of the Revised Code, and that the proceeding is in lieu of an action to validate under section 133.70 of the Revised Code;

(2) All parties described in divisions (J)(1) to (6) of this section have been duly served with notice or are otherwise properly before the court;

(3) Notice of the action has been published as required by division (J) of this section;

(4) The effect of validation is required to provide a complete review and determination of the controversy in mandamus, and to avoid duplication of litigation, danger of inconsistent results, or inordinate delay in light of the fiscal emergency, or that a disposition in the mandamus action would, as a practical matter, be dispositive of any subsequent validation proceedings under section 133.70 of the Revised Code.

(L) Any decision that includes a finding of validation has the same effect as a validation order established by an action under section 133.70 of the Revised Code.

(M) Divisions (J) and (K) of this section do not prevent a municipal corporation, county, or township from using section 133.70 of the Revised Code to validate local government communities fund notes by the filing of a petition for validation in the court of common pleas of the county in which the municipal corporation, county, or township is located, in whole or in part.

(N) It is hereby determined by the general assembly that a validation action authorized by section 133.70 of the Revised Code is not an adequate remedy at law with respect to a municipal corporation, county, or township that is a party to a mandamus action pursuant to divisions (J) and (K) of this section and in which a fiscal emergency condition has been determined to exist pursuant to section 118.04 of the Revised Code because of, but not limited to, the following reasons:

(1) It is urgently necessary for such a municipal corporation, county, or township to take prompt action to issue local government communities fund notes for the purposes provided in division (C) of this section;

(2) The potentially ruinous effect upon the fiscal condition of a municipal corporation, county, or township by the passage of the time required to adjudicate such a separate validation action and any appeals thereof;

(3) The reasons stated in division (K)(4) of this section.

Sec. 118.20.  Pursuant to section 118.19 of the Revised Code:

(A) The ordinance or resolution authorizing the debt obligations may provide for the pledge of, and covenants to levy, charge, collect, deposit, and apply ad valorem property taxes, income taxes, excises, utility revenues, local government communities fund receipts, permit and license fees, and any other receipts from taxes, permits, licenses, fines, or other sources of revenue of the municipal corporation, county, or township; accrued and capitalized interest and premium from the proceeds of the sale of the debt obligations, lawfully available for the purpose, to the payment of the debt service and costs of issuing, carrying, redeeming, and retiring such debt obligations; covenants in respect of the establishment, investment, segregation, and maintenance of any funds or reserves in connection with the debt obligations and any other funds of the municipal corporation, county, or township. No pledge may be made in a manner which impairs the contract rights of the holders of any outstanding debt obligations.

(B) The ordinance or resolution authorizing the debt obligations may designate a fiscal agent for the debt obligations, or the fiscal agent may be designated by other ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, county, or township. The fiscal agent may be a purchaser of such debt obligations or other debt obligations of the municipal corporation, county, or township.

(C) The ordinance or resolution authorizing the debt obligations may provide for immediate or periodic deposit of pledged receipts or a portion thereof in one or more separate bank accounts, funds, or other accounts established with the fiscal agent. Provision may be made therein for pledged receipts that are collected by the state, the county, the township, or any agency for the municipal corporation, county, or township to be transferred by the appropriate officer of the state or county or agency having charge of the collection or distribution of such pledged receipts directly to the fiscal agent for deposit under the ordinance or resolution. Such officers of the state and county or agent shall transfer such pledged receipts in accordance with this section and the ordinance. The fiscal agent shall disburse funds so held for payments when due in accordance with the ordinance or resolution, including the transfer of funds to paying agents for the debt obligations at the times and in the amounts required. Until needed for such purposes, the fiscal agent shall invest the funds on behalf of the municipal corporation, county, or township in obligations that are lawful for the investment of public funds of the municipal corporation, county, or township, including provisions for such investments in a municipal charter, in the manner provided for in the ordinance or resolution. Funds held by the fiscal agent and all moneys and securities therein and pledged receipts payable thereto in accordance with the ordinance or resolution are hereby declared to be property of the municipal corporation, county, or township devoted to essential governmental purposes and accordingly shall not be applied to any purpose other than as provided herein and shall not be subject to any order, judgment, lien, execution, attachment, setoff, or counterclaim by any creditor of the municipal corporation, county, or township other than a creditor for whose benefit such fund is established and maintained and who is entitled thereto under and pursuant to this section.

(D) The ordinance or resolution authorizing the debt obligations shall provide that proceeds of the debt obligations shall be deposited with a fiscal agent in a special and separate bank account and held in trust and expended only for the object or purpose for which such debt obligations were issued. A copy of the ordinance or resolution authorizing the debt obligations shall be filed with such fiscal agent at or prior to the time the proceeds are made available to the municipal corporation, county, or township. No moneys shall be withdrawn from such account unless there is filed with such fiscal agent a written requisition of the fiscal officer of the municipal corporation, county, or township or the fiscal officer's authorized deputy, setting forth the item number of the requisition or the account to be charged, the name of the person to whom payment is due, the amount to be paid, a statement to the effect that the obligation in the stated amount has been incurred by the municipal corporation, county, or township and is a proper charge against such account, and such other information as may be required by the ordinance or resolution. Pending such withdrawals, the moneys shall be invested for and on behalf of the municipal corporation, county, or township by the fiscal agent in obligations which are lawful for the investment of public funds of the municipal corporation, county, or township, including provisions for such investments in a municipal charter, in the manner as provided for in the ordinance or resolution.

(E) Amounts held by fiscal agents shall be accounted for in the appropriate special funds of the municipal corporation, county, or township as if held in the treasury of the municipal corporation, county, or township, and the fiscal agents shall provide such information to the municipal corporation, county, or township as is necessary for the purpose.

(F) The ordinance or resolution authorizing the debt obligations may contain covenants of the municipal corporation, county, or township to protect and safeguard the security and rights of the holders of such debt obligations, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such ordinance or resolution may contain covenants as to:

(1) Establishment and maintenance of the funds to be held by fiscal agents as provided in this section and section 118.23 of the Revised Code, the times, amounts, and levels for deposits to such funds, and the obligations in which the proceeds of such funds may be invested pending their use, subject to such limitations on investment of public funds otherwise provided for by law or pursuant to the charter of a municipal corporation;

(2) The appointment, rights, powers, and duties of the fiscal agent, including limiting or abrogating the right of the holders to appoint a trustee pursuant to section 118.21 of the Revised Code and vesting in the fiscal agent all or any of such rights, powers, and duties, in trust;

(3) The execution of a credit agreement with the fiscal agent for the benefit of holders of such debt obligations and for the benefit of any other holders of other debt obligations of the municipal corporation, county, or township then outstanding, provided, however, that such benefit conferred on such holders of such outstanding debt obligations shall not be deemed to restrict, preclude, or otherwise impair any rights that such holders otherwise may assert;

(4) Filings, review, and correction of tax budgets, appropriation measures, annual reports, audits, and other matters of financial record;

(5) Compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the financial plan and other laws applicable to the municipal corporation, county, or township including Chapters 133. and 5705. of the Revised Code, and with further restrictions on the powers, rights, and duties of the municipal corporation, county, or township necessary, appropriate, or desirable for the proper, provident, and efficient management of financial affairs that the municipal corporation, county, or township, with the approval of the commission or, when authorized by the commission, the financial supervisor, determines will assure prompt payment when due of its debt obligations;

(6) Conditions that would give rise to an event of default under the terms of such ordinance and actions and remedies that the fiscal agent may take or assert on behalf of the holders of such debt obligations;

(7) Restrictions on the issuance of other debt obligations.

Sec. 118.23.  (A) This section shall be applicable to current revenue notes approved by the financial planning and supervision commission or, when authorized by the commission, the financial supervisor pursuant to section 118.15 of the Revised Code and issued by a municipal corporation, county, or township pursuant to section 133.10 of the Revised Code and this section during a fiscal emergency period.

(B) In the case of the issuance of such current revenue notes in anticipation of ad valorem property taxes, the county auditors of the counties in which the municipal corporation, county, or township is located, at the time of and from each distribution to the municipality of the proceeds of the anticipated taxes, including any payments from the state pursuant to sections 321.24 and 323.156 of the Revised Code, whether such distribution be in the form of an advance or settlement that would otherwise have been paid to a fund or funds of the municipal corporation, county, or township, shall draw a separate warrant for payment to the county auditor for deposit in a special account to be held and applied pursuant to this section by the county auditor as fiscal agent and entitled "....... (insert name of municipal corporation, county, or township) current tax revenue note retirement account," that portion of such distribution as provided for in the ordinance or resolution authorizing such notes pursuant to this section.

(C) In the case of the issuance of such current revenue notes in anticipation of revenues other than ad valorem property taxes, the ordinance or resolution authorizing such notes shall provide for the times and amounts of deposits with the fiscal agent by the municipal corporation, county, or township of moneys from the revenues anticipated that shall be deposited in a special account to be held and applied by the fiscal agent pursuant to this section and entitled ".......... (insert name of municipal corporation, county, or township) current revenue note retirement account." Such ordinance or resolution may provide for the direct deposit to such account by the auditor of state and the county auditor or county auditors of the receiving counties, as appropriate, of such portions as therein specified of local government communities fund distribution to be made to the municipal corporation, county, or township.

(D) The moneys in the accounts provided for in divisions (B) and (C) of this section are pledged and shall be used, so long as any portion of the debt service on such notes payable from the respective account is unpaid, solely for the purpose of paying such debt service, and for any reserves for debt service provided for in the ordinance or resolution authorizing such debt obligations. If accumulated payments into either account produce an amount less than that needed to make a timely payment of debt service or to such reserves, the full amount needed to make up any such deficiency shall be paid, in the case of the current tax revenue note retirement account, by the county auditor into such account from the last distribution or distributions to the municipal corporation, county, or township of the proceeds of the anticipated taxes to be received prior to the date of such payment, and in the case of the current revenue note retirement account, by the fiscal officer from the anticipated revenues received prior to the date of such payment.

(E) The amounts to be deposited in each respective account pursuant to divisions (B), (C), and (D) of this section must be sufficient, in time and amount, to pay the principal of and interest on current notes payable from such account at their stated payment dates and to develop and maintain the required amounts in any such reserves.

(F) The municipal corporation, county, or township shall not be entitled to receive from the fiscal agent any moneys held in the current tax revenue note retirement account or current revenue note retirement account, except that any surplus moneys remaining in either such account after the payment in full of the debt service on the notes payable therefrom shall be paid to the municipal corporation, county, or township, to be used for any lawful purpose of the municipal corporation, county, or township for which the anticipated revenues themselves might have been used.

(G) Current revenue notes of a municipal corporation, county, or township issued during a fiscal emergency period may mature on or before the thirty-first day of December of the calendar year in which issued, may, when issued in anticipation of the collection of current tax revenues, anticipate one-half of the amount that the budget commission estimates the subdivision will receive from all property taxes that are to be distributed to the subdivision from all settlements of taxes that are to be made in the remainder of that year, other than taxes to be received for the payment of debt charges, and less all advances, and may, if issued during the last two months of the calendar year in which the fiscal emergency period commenced, anticipate one-half the estimated amount of ad valorem property taxes levied in that year for the tax budget of the following year which were authorized to be levied by the municipal charter or otherwise authorized by vote of the electorate of the municipal corporation, county, or township and may mature not later than the thirty-first day of December of the year following the year in which such notes are issued, notwithstanding section 133.10 of the Revised Code.

(H) Pursuant to section 118.19 of the Revised Code, the municipal corporation, county, or township may utilize any of the special provisions of sections 118.20 to 118.22 of the Revised Code in connection with such current revenue notes.

(I) Before any such current revenue notes may be authorized, the municipal corporation, county, or township shall submit to the commission and the commission or, when authorized by the commission, the financial supervisor shall approve:

(1) A schedule of projected revenues and expenses of the municipal corporation, county, or township during the period in which such notes would be outstanding, demonstrating an anticipated cash flow deficit during such period, the amount of such anticipated cash flow deficit, and the necessity for the issuance of such current revenue notes to avoid the occurrence of such a cash flow deficit;

(2) The terms of the proposed notes, including the interest rate or rates to be paid thereon;

(3) The schedule, showing times, amounts, and sources of payment, for deposits into the account from which such notes are to be paid;

(4) Other documents and data required under section 118.15 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 119.07.  Except when a statute prescribes a notice and the persons to whom it shall be given, in all cases in which section 119.06 of the Revised Code requires an agency to afford an opportunity for a hearing prior to the issuance of an order, the agency shall give notice to the party informing him the party of his the party's right to a hearing. Notice shall be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall include the charges or other reasons for the proposed action, the law or rule directly involved, and a statement informing the party that he the party is entitled to a hearing if he the party requests it within thirty days of the time of mailing the notice. The notice shall also inform the party that at the hearing he the party may appear in person, by his the party's attorney, or by such other representative as is permitted to practice before the agency, or may present his the party's position, arguments, or contentions in writing and that at the hearing he the party may present evidence and examine witnesses appearing for and against him the party. A copy of the notice shall be mailed to attorneys or other representatives of record representing the party. This paragraph does not apply to situations in which such section provides for a hearing only when it is requested by the party.

When a statute specifically permits the suspension of a license without a prior hearing, notice of the agency's order shall be sent to the party by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, not later than the business day next succeeding such order. The notice shall state the reasons for the agency's action, cite the law or rule directly involved, and state that the party will be afforded a hearing if he the party requests it within thirty days of the time of mailing the notice. A copy of the notice shall be mailed to attorneys or other representatives of record representing the party.

Whenever a party requests a hearing in accordance with this section and section 119.06 of the Revised Code, the agency shall immediately set the date, time, and place for the hearing and forthwith notify the party thereof. The date set for the hearing shall be within fifteen days, but not earlier than seven days, after the party has requested a hearing, unless otherwise agreed to by both the agency and the party.

When any notice sent by registered or certified mail, as required by sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code, is returned because of failure of delivery the agency shall send the notice by ordinary mail to the party at the party's last known address and shall obtain a certificate of mailing. Service by ordinary mail is complete when the certificate of mailing is obtained. If a notice sent by ordinary mail is returned showing failure of delivery, the agency shall notify the attorneys or other representatives of record representing the party of the failure of delivery and serve a copy of the notice upon them, by ordinary or registered or certified mail; if ordinary mail is used, the agency shall obtain a certificate of mailing. Service upon the attorneys or other representatives of record is complete when the notice is mailed. If there are no attorneys or other representatives of record representing the party, the agency either shall make personal delivery of the notice by an employee or agent of the agency or shall cause a summary of the substantive provisions of the notice to be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the last known place of residence or business address of the party is located. When notice is given by publication, a copy of the newspaper a proof of publication affidavit, with the first publication of the notice marked set forth in the affidavit, shall be mailed by ordinary mail to the party at the party's last known address and the notice shall be deemed received as of the date of the last publication. An employee or agent of the agency may make personal delivery of the notice upon a party at any time.

Refusal of delivery by personal service or by mail is not failure of delivery. Failure of delivery occurs only when, with reasonable diligence, a party cannot be found to make personal service of a notice, or if a mailed notice is returned by the postal authorities marked undeliverable, addressee unknown, or forwarding address unknown or expired. A party's last known address is the mailing address of the party appearing in the records of the agency.

The failure of an agency to give the notices for any hearing required by sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code in the manner provided in this section shall invalidate any order entered pursuant to the hearing.

Sec. 120.33.  (A) In lieu of using a county public defender or joint county public defender to represent indigent persons in the proceedings set forth in division (A) of section 120.16 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners of any county may adopt a resolution to pay counsel who are either personally selected by the indigent person or appointed by the court. The resolution shall include those provisions the board of county commissioners considers necessary to provide effective representation of indigent persons in any proceeding for which counsel is provided under this section. The resolution shall include provisions for contracts with any municipal corporation under which the municipal corporation shall reimburse the county for counsel appointed to represent indigent persons charged with violations of the ordinances of the municipal corporation.

(1) In a county that adopts a resolution to pay counsel, an indigent person shall have the right to do either of the following:

(a) To select the person's own personal counsel to represent the person in any proceeding included within the provisions of the resolution;

(b) To request the court to appoint counsel to represent the person in such a proceeding.

(2) The court having jurisdiction over the proceeding in a county that adopts a resolution to pay counsel shall, after determining that the person is indigent and entitled to legal representation under this section, do either of the following:

(a) By signed journal entry recorded on its docket, enter the name of the lawyer selected by the indigent person as counsel of record;

(b) Appoint counsel for the indigent person if the person has requested the court to appoint counsel and, by signed journal entry recorded on its dockets, enter the name of the lawyer appointed for the indigent person as counsel of record.

(3) The board of county commissioners shall establish a schedule of fees by case or on an hourly basis to be paid to counsel for legal services provided pursuant to a resolution adopted under this section. Prior to establishing the schedule, the board of county commissioners shall request the bar association or associations of the county to submit a proposed schedule. The schedule submitted shall be subject to the review, amendment, and approval of the board of county commissioners.

(4) Counsel selected by the indigent person or appointed by the court at the request of an indigent person in a county that adopts a resolution to pay counsel, except for counsel appointed to represent a person charged with any violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation that has not contracted with the county commissioners for the payment of appointed counsel, shall be paid by the county and shall receive the compensation and expenses the court approves. Each request for payment shall be accompanied by a financial disclosure form and an affidavit of indigency that are completed by the indigent person on forms prescribed by the state public defender. Compensation and expenses shall not exceed the amounts fixed by the board of county commissioners in the schedule adopted pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section. No court shall approve compensation and expenses that exceed the amount fixed pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section.

The fees and expenses approved by the court shall not be taxed as part of the costs and shall be paid by the county. However, if the person represented has, or may reasonably be expected to have, the means to meet some part of the cost of the services rendered to the person, the person shall pay the county an amount that the person reasonably can be expected to pay. Pursuant to section 120.04 of the Revised Code, the county shall pay to the state public defender a percentage of the payment received from the person in an amount proportionate to the percentage of the costs of the person's case that were paid to the county by the state public defender pursuant to this section. The money paid to the state public defender shall be credited to the client payment fund created pursuant to division (B)(5) of section 120.04 of the Revised Code.

The county auditor shall draw a warrant on the county treasurer for the payment of counsel in the amount fixed by the court, plus the expenses the court fixes and certifies to the auditor. The county auditor shall report periodically, but not less than annually, to the board of county commissioners and to the Ohio state public defender commission the amounts paid out pursuant to the approval of the court. The board of county commissioners, after review and approval of the auditor's report, or the county auditor, with permission from and notice to the board of county commissioners, may then certify it to the state public defender for reimbursement. If a request for reimbursement is not accompanied by a financial disclosure form and an affidavit of indigency completed by the indigent person on forms prescribed by the state public defender and the court does not certify by electronic signature as prescribed by the state public defender that a financial disclosure form and affidavit of indigency have been completed by the indigent person and are available for inspection, the state public defender shall not pay the requested reimbursement. If a request for the reimbursement of the cost of counsel in any case is not received by the state public defender within ninety days after the end of the calendar month in which the case is finally disposed of by the court, unless the county has requested and the state public defender has granted an extension of the ninety-day limit, the state public defender shall not pay the requested reimbursement. The state public defender shall also review the report and, in accordance with the standards, guidelines, and maximums established pursuant to divisions (B)(7) and (8) of section 120.04 of the Revised Code, prepare a voucher for fifty per cent of the total cost of each county appointed counsel system in the period of time covered by the certified report and a voucher for fifty per cent of the costs and expenses that are reimbursable under section 120.35 of the Revised Code, if any, or, if the amount of money appropriated by the general assembly to reimburse counties for the operation of county public defender offices, joint county public defender offices, and county appointed counsel systems is not sufficient to pay fifty per cent of the total cost of all of the offices and systems other than costs and expenses that are reimbursable under section 120.35 of the Revised Code, for the lesser amount required by section 120.34 of the Revised Code.

(5) If any county appointed counsel system fails to maintain the standards for the conduct of the system established by the rules of the Ohio public defender commission pursuant to divisions (B) and (C) of section 120.03 or the standards established by the state public defender pursuant to division (B)(7) of section 120.04 of the Revised Code, the Ohio public defender commission shall notify the board of county commissioners of the county that the county appointed counsel system has failed to comply with its rules or the standards of the state public defender. Unless the board of county commissioners corrects the conduct of its appointed counsel system to comply with the rules and standards within ninety days after the date of the notice, the state public defender may deny all or part of the county's reimbursement from the state provided for in division (A)(4) of this section.

(B) In lieu of using a county public defender or joint county public defender to represent indigent persons in the proceedings set forth in division (A) of section 120.16 of the Revised Code, and in lieu of adopting the resolution and following the procedure described in division (A) of this section, the board of county commissioners of any county may contract with the state public defender for the state public defender's legal representation of indigent persons. A contract entered into pursuant to this division may provide for payment for the services provided on a per case, hourly, or fixed contract basis.

(C) If a court appoints an attorney pursuant to this section to represent a petitioner in a postconviction relief proceeding under section 2953.21 of the Revised Code, the petitioner has received a sentence of death, and the proceeding relates to that sentence, the attorney who represents the petitioner in the proceeding pursuant to the appointment shall be certified under Rule 20 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio to represent indigent defendants charged with or convicted of an offense for which the death penalty can be or has been imposed.

Sec. 122.011.  (A) The department of development shall develop and promote plans and programs designed to assure that state resources are efficiently used, economic growth is properly balanced, community growth is developed in an orderly manner, and local governments are coordinated with each other and the state, and for such purposes may do all of the following:

(1) Serve as a clearinghouse for information, data, and other materials that may be helpful or necessary to persons or local governments, as provided in section 122.07 of the Revised Code;

(2) Prepare and activate plans for the retention, development, expansion, and use of the resources and commerce of the state, as provided in section 122.04 of the Revised Code;

(3) Assist and cooperate with federal, state, and local governments and agencies of federal, state, and local governments in the coordination of programs to carry out the functions and duties of the department;

(4) Encourage and foster research and development activities, conduct studies related to the solution of community problems, and develop recommendations for administrative or legislative actions, as provided in section 122.03 of the Revised Code;

(5) Serve as the economic and community development planning agency, which shall prepare and recommend plans and programs for the orderly growth and development of this state and which shall provide planning assistance, as provided in section 122.06 of the Revised Code;

(6) Cooperate with and provide technical assistance to state departments, political subdivisions, regional and local planning commissions, tourist associations, councils of government, community development groups, community action agencies, and other appropriate organizations for carrying out the functions and duties of the department or for the solution of community problems;

(7) Coordinate the activities of state agencies that have an impact on carrying out the functions and duties of the department;

(8) Encourage and assist the efforts of and cooperate with local governments to develop mutual and cooperative solutions to their common problems that relate to carrying out the purposes of this section;

(9) Study existing structure, operations, and financing of regional or local government and those state activities that involve significant relations with regional or local governmental units, recommend to the governor and to the general assembly such changes in these provisions and activities as will improve the operations of regional or local government, and conduct other studies of legal provisions that affect problems related to carrying out the purposes of this section;

(10) Create and operate a division of community development to develop and administer programs and activities that are authorized by federal statute or the Revised Code;

(11) Until October 15, 2007, establish fees and charges, in consultation with the director of agriculture, for purchasing loans from financial institutions and providing loan guarantees under the family farm loan program created under sections 901.80 to 901.83 of the Revised Code;

(12) Provide loan servicing for the loans purchased and loan guarantees provided under section 901.80 of the Revised Code as that section existed prior to October 15, 2007;

(13) Until October 15, 2007, and upon approval by the controlling board under division (A)(3) of section 901.82 of the Revised Code of the release of money to be used for purchasing a loan or providing a loan guarantee, request the release of that money in accordance with division (B) of section 166.03 of the Revised Code for use for the purposes of the fund created by section 166.031 of the Revised Code;

(14) Assess fees related to the federal brownfield revolving loan fund program that is established under the "Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980," 115 Stat. 2356, 42 U.S.C. 9601, as amended, and that is administered by the department.

(B) The director of development may request the attorney general to, and the attorney general, in accordance with section 109.02 of the Revised Code, shall bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction. The director may be sued in the director's official capacity, in connection with this chapter, in accordance with Chapter 2743. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 122.014. If data or other information collected by the department of development indicates that there is a critical workforce shortage in an emerging growth industry in the state, the director of development may notify the governor and the chancellor of the Ohio board of regents of the shortage for the purpose of activating the critical needs rapid response system developed under section 3333.50 of the Revised Code.

Sec.  122.051.  There is hereby created in the state treasury the international trade cooperative projects fund. The fund shall consist of moneys received from private and nonprofit organizations involved in cooperative agreements related to import/export and direct foreign investment activities and cash transfers from other state agencies or any state or local government to encourage, promote, and assist trade and commerce between this state and foreign nations, pursuant to section 122.05 and division (E) of section 122.04 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 122.071. There is hereby created in the state treasury the travel and tourism cooperative projects fund consisting of all grants, gifts, and contributions made to the director of development for marketing and promotion of travel and tourism within this state pursuant to division (F) of section 122.04 and section 122.07 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 122.076. There is hereby created in the state treasury the energy projects fund consisting of nonfederal revenue that is remitted to the director of development for the purpose of energy projects. Money in the fund shall be used by the department of development for energy projects and to pay the costs incurred in administering the energy projects.

Sec. 122.17.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Full-time employee" means an individual who is employed for consideration for at least an average of thirty-five hours a week or who renders any other standard of service generally accepted by custom or specified by contract as full-time employment, or who is employed for consideration for such time or renders such service but is on active duty reserve or Ohio national guard service.

(2) "New employee" means one of the following:

(a) A full-time employee first employed by a taxpayer in the project that is the subject of the agreement after the taxpayer enters into a tax credit agreement with the tax credit authority under this section;

(b) A full-time employee first employed by a taxpayer in the project that is the subject of the tax credit after the tax credit authority approves a project for a tax credit under this section in a public meeting, as long as the taxpayer enters into the tax credit agreement prepared by the department of development after such meeting within sixty days after receiving the agreement from the department. If the taxpayer fails to enter into the agreement within sixty days, "new employee" has the same meaning as under division (A)(2)(a) of this section. A full-time employee may be considered a "new employee" of a taxpayer, despite previously having been employed by a related member of the taxpayer, if all of the following apply:

(i) The related member is a party to the tax credit agreement at the time the employee is first employed with the taxpayer;

(ii) The related member will remain subject to the tax imposed by section 5725.18, 5729.03, 5733.06, or 5747.02 or levied under Chapter 5751. of the Revised Code for the remainder of the term of the tax credit, and the tax credit is taken against liability for that same tax through the remainder of the term of the tax credit; and

(iii) The employee was considered a new employee of the related member prior to employment with the taxpayer.

Under division (A)(2)(a) or (b) of this section, if the tax credit authority determines it appropriate, "new employee" also may include an employee re-hired or called back from lay-off to work in a new facility or on a new product or service established or produced by the taxpayer after entering into the agreement under this section or after the tax credit authority approves the tax credit in a public meeting. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, "new employee" does not include any employee of the taxpayer who was previously employed in this state by a related member of the taxpayer and whose employment was shifted to the taxpayer after the taxpayer entered into the tax credit agreement or after the tax credit authority approved the credit in a public meeting, or any employee of the taxpayer for which the taxpayer has been granted a certificate under division (B) of section 5709.66 of the Revised Code. However, if the taxpayer is engaged in the enrichment and commercialization of uranium or uranium products or is engaged in research and development activities related thereto and if the tax credit authority determines it appropriate, "new employee" may include an employee of the taxpayer who was previously employed in this state by a related member of the taxpayer and whose employment was shifted to the taxpayer after the taxpayer entered into the tax credit agreement or after the tax credit authority approved the credit in a public meeting. "New employee" does not include an employee of the taxpayer who is employed in an employment position that was relocated to a project from other operations of the taxpayer in this state or from operations of a related member of the taxpayer in this state. In addition, "new employee" does not include a child, grandchild, parent, or spouse, other than a spouse who is legally separated from the individual, of any individual who is an employee of the taxpayer and who has a direct or indirect ownership interest of at least five per cent in the profits, capital, or value of the taxpayer. Such ownership interest shall be determined in accordance with section 1563 of the Internal Revenue Code and regulations prescribed thereunder.

(3) "New income tax revenue" means the total amount withheld under section 5747.06 of the Revised Code by the taxpayer during the taxable year, or during the calendar year that includes the tax period, from the compensation of new employees for the tax levied under Chapter 5747. of the Revised Code.

(4) "Related member" has the same meaning as under division (A)(6) of section 5733.042 of the Revised Code without regard to division (B) of that section.

(B) The tax credit authority may make grants under this section to foster job creation in this state. Such a grant shall take the form of a refundable credit allowed against the tax imposed by section 5725.18, 5729.03, 5733.06, or 5747.02 or levied under Chapter 5751. of the Revised Code. The credit shall be claimed for the taxable years or tax periods specified in the taxpayer's agreement with the tax credit authority under division (D) of this section. With respect to taxes imposed under section 5733.06 or 5747.02 or Chapter 5751. of the Revised Code, the credit shall be claimed in the order required under section 5733.98, 5747.98, or 5751.98 of the Revised Code. The amount of the credit available for a taxable year or for a calendar year that includes a tax period equals the new income tax revenue for that year multiplied by the percentage specified in the agreement with the tax credit authority. Any credit granted under this section against the tax imposed by section 5733.06 or 5747.02 of the Revised Code, to the extent not fully utilized against such tax for taxable years ending prior to 2008, shall automatically be converted without any action taken by the tax credit authority to a credit against the tax levied under Chapter 5751. of the Revised Code for tax periods beginning on or after July 1, 2008, provided that the person to whom the credit was granted is subject to such tax. The converted credit shall apply to those calendar years in which the remaining taxable years specified in the agreement end.

(C) A taxpayer or potential taxpayer who proposes a project to create new jobs in this state may apply to the tax credit authority to enter into an agreement for a tax credit under this section. The director of development shall prescribe the form of the application. After receipt of an application, the authority may enter into an agreement with the taxpayer for a credit under this section if it determines all of the following:

(1) The taxpayer's project will create new jobs in this state;

(2) The taxpayer's project is economically sound and will benefit the people of this state by increasing opportunities for employment and strengthening the economy of this state;

(3) Receiving the tax credit is a major factor in the taxpayer's decision to go forward with the project.

(D) An agreement under this section shall include all of the following:

(1) A detailed description of the project that is the subject of the agreement;

(2) The term of the tax credit, which shall not exceed fifteen years, and the first taxable year, or first calendar year that includes a tax period, for which the credit may be claimed;

(3) A requirement that the taxpayer shall maintain operations at the project location for at least twice the number of years as the term of the tax credit;

(4) The percentage, as determined by the tax credit authority, of new income tax revenue that will be allowed as the amount of the credit for each taxable year or for each calendar year that includes a tax period;

(5) A specific method for determining how many new employees are employed during a taxable year or during a calendar year that includes a tax period;

(6) A requirement that the taxpayer annually shall report to the director of development the number of new employees, the new income tax revenue withheld in connection with the new employees, and any other information the director needs to perform the director's duties under this section;

(7) A requirement that the director of development annually shall verify the amounts reported under division (D)(6) of this section, and after doing so shall issue a certificate to the taxpayer stating that the amounts have been verified;

(8)(a) A provision requiring that the taxpayer, except as otherwise provided in division (D)(8)(b) of this section, shall not relocate employment positions from elsewhere in this state to the project site that is the subject of the agreement for the lesser of five years from the date the agreement is entered into or the number of years the taxpayer is entitled to claim the tax credit.

(b) The taxpayer may relocate employment positions from elsewhere in this state to the project site that is the subject of the agreement if the director of development determines both of the following:

(i) That the site from which the employment positions would be relocated is inadequate to meet market and industry conditions, expansion plans, consolidation plans, or other business considerations affecting the taxpayer;

(ii) That the legislative authority of the county, township, or municipal corporation from which the employment positions would be relocated has been notified of the relocation.

For purposes of this section, the movement of an employment position from one political subdivision to another political subdivision shall be considered a relocation of an employment position, but the transfer of an individual employee from one political subdivision to another political subdivision shall not be considered a relocation of an employment position as long as the individual's employment position in the first political subdivision is refilled.

(E) If a taxpayer fails to meet or comply with any condition or requirement set forth in a tax credit agreement, the tax credit authority may amend the agreement to reduce the percentage or term of the tax credit. The reduction of the percentage or term shall take effect (1) in the taxable year immediately following the taxable year in which the authority amends the agreement or the director of development notifies the taxpayer in writing of such failure, or (2) in the first tax period beginning in the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the authority amends the agreement or the director notifies the taxpayer in writing of such failure. If the taxpayer fails to annually report any of the information required by division (D)(6) of this section within the time required by the director, the reduction of the percentage or term may take effect in the current taxable year. If the taxpayer relocates employment positions in violation of the provision required under division (D)(8)(a) of this section, the taxpayer shall not claim the tax credit under section 5733.0610 of the Revised Code for any tax years following the calendar year in which the relocation occurs, or shall not claim the tax credit under section 5725.32, 5729.032, or 5747.058 of the Revised Code for the taxable year in which the relocation occurs and any subsequent taxable years, and shall not claim the tax credit under division (A) of section 5751.50 of the Revised Code for any tax period in the calendar year in which the relocation occurs and any subsequent tax periods.

(F) Projects that consist solely of point-of-final-purchase retail facilities are not eligible for a tax credit under this section. If a project consists of both point-of-final-purchase retail facilities and nonretail facilities, only the portion of the project consisting of the nonretail facilities is eligible for a tax credit and only the new income tax revenue from new employees of the nonretail facilities shall be considered when computing the amount of the tax credit. If a warehouse facility is part of a point-of-final-purchase retail facility and supplies only that facility, the warehouse facility is not eligible for a tax credit. Catalog distribution centers are not considered point-of-final-purchase retail facilities for the purposes of this division, and are eligible for tax credits under this section.

(G) Financial statements and other information submitted to the department of development or the tax credit authority by an applicant or recipient of a tax credit under this section, and any information taken for any purpose from such statements or information, are not public records subject to section 149.43 of the Revised Code. However, the chairperson of the authority may make use of the statements and other information for purposes of issuing public reports or in connection with court proceedings concerning tax credit agreements under this section. Upon the request of the tax commissioner or, if the applicant or recipient is an insurance company, upon the request of the superintendent of insurance, the chairperson of the authority shall provide to the commissioner or superintendent any statement or information submitted by an applicant or recipient of a tax credit in connection with the credit. The commissioner or superintendent shall preserve the confidentiality of the statement or information.

(H) A taxpayer claiming a credit under this section shall submit to the tax commissioner or, if the taxpayer is an insurance company, to the superintendent of insurance, a copy of the director of development's certificate of verification under division (D)(7) of this section with the taxpayer's tax report or return for the taxable year or for the calendar year that includes the tax period. Failure to submit a copy of the certificate with the report or return does not invalidate a claim for a credit if the taxpayer submits a copy of the certificate to the commissioner or superintendent within sixty days after the commissioner or superintendent requests it.

(I) The director of development, after consultation with the tax commissioner and the superintendent of insurance and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section. The rules may provide for recipients of tax credits under this section to be charged fees to cover administrative costs of the tax credit program. The fees collected shall be credited to the tax incentive programs operating fund created in section 122.174 of the Revised Code. At the time the director gives public notice under division (A) of section 119.03 of the Revised Code of the adoption of the rules, the director shall submit copies of the proposed rules to the chairpersons of the standing committees on economic development in the senate and the house of representatives.

(J) For the purposes of this section, a taxpayer may include a partnership, a corporation that has made an election under subchapter S of chapter one of subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code, or any other business entity through which income flows as a distributive share to its owners. A credit received under this section by a partnership, S-corporation, or other such business entity shall be apportioned among may elect to pass the credit received under this section through to the persons to whom the income or profit of the partnership, S-corporation, or other entity is distributed,. The election shall be made on the annual report required under division (D)(6) of this section. The election applies to and is irrevocable for the credit for which the report is submitted. If the election is made, the credit shall be apportioned among those persons in the same proportions as those in which the income or profit is distributed.

(K) If the director of development determines that a taxpayer who has received a credit under this section is not complying with the requirement under division (D)(3) of this section, the director shall notify the tax credit authority of the noncompliance. After receiving such a notice, and after giving the taxpayer an opportunity to explain the noncompliance, the tax credit authority may require the taxpayer to refund to this state a portion of the credit in accordance with the following:

(1) If the taxpayer maintained operations at the project location for at least one and one-half times the number of years of the term of the tax credit, an amount not exceeding twenty-five per cent of the sum of any previously allowed credits under this section;

(2) If the taxpayer maintained operations at the project location for at least the number of years of the term of the tax credit, an amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the sum of any previously allowed credits under this section;

(3) If the taxpayer maintained operations at the project location for less than the number of years of the term of the tax credit, an amount not exceeding one hundred per cent of the sum of any previously allowed credits under this section.

In determining the portion of the tax credit to be refunded to this state, the tax credit authority shall consider the effect of market conditions on the taxpayer's project and whether the taxpayer continues to maintain other operations in this state. After making the determination, the authority shall certify the amount to be refunded to the tax commissioner or superintendent of insurance, as appropriate. If the amount is certified to the commissioner, the commissioner shall make an assessment for that amount against the taxpayer under Chapter 5733., 5747., or 5751. of the Revised Code. If the amount is certified to the superintendent, the superintendent shall make an assessment for that amount against the taxpayer under Chapter 5725. or 5729. of the Revised Code. The time limitations on assessments under those chapters do not apply to an assessment under this division, but the commissioner or superintendent, as appropriate, shall make the assessment within one year after the date the authority certifies to the commissioner or superintendent the amount to be refunded.

(L) On or before the thirty-first day of March each year, the director of development shall submit a report to the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives on the tax credit program under this section. The report shall include information on the number of agreements that were entered into under this section during the preceding calendar year, a description of the project that is the subject of each such agreement, and an update on the status of projects under agreements entered into before the preceding calendar year.

(M) There is hereby created the tax credit authority, which consists of the director of development and four other members appointed as follows: the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives each shall appoint one member who shall be a specialist in economic development; the governor also shall appoint a member who is a specialist in taxation. Of the initial appointees, the members appointed by the governor shall serve a term of two years; the members appointed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall serve a term of four years. Thereafter, terms of office shall be for four years. Initial appointments to the authority shall be made within thirty days after January 13, 1993. Each member shall serve on the authority until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. Members may be reappointed to the authority. Members of the authority shall receive their necessary and actual expenses while engaged in the business of the authority. The director of development shall serve as chairperson of the authority, and the members annually shall elect a vice-chairperson from among themselves. Three members of the authority constitute a quorum to transact and vote on the business of the authority. The majority vote of the membership of the authority is necessary to approve any such business, including the election of the vice-chairperson.

The director of development may appoint a professional employee of the department of development to serve as the director's substitute at a meeting of the authority. The director shall make the appointment in writing. In the absence of the director from a meeting of the authority, the appointed substitute shall serve as chairperson. In the absence of both the director and the director's substitute from a meeting, the vice-chairperson shall serve as chairperson.

(N) For purposes of the credits granted by this section against the taxes imposed under sections 5725.18 and 5729.03 of the Revised Code, "taxable year" means the period covered by the taxpayer's annual statement to the superintendent of insurance.

Sec. 122.171. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Capital investment project" means a plan of investment at a project site for the acquisition, construction, renovation, or repair of buildings, machinery, or equipment, or for capitalized costs of basic research and new product development determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but does not include any of the following:

(a) Payments made for the acquisition of personal property through operating leases;

(b) Project costs paid before January 1, 2002;

(c) Payments made to a related member as defined in section 5733.042 of the Revised Code or to an elected consolidated taxpayer or a combined taxpayer as defined in section 5751.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Eligible business" means a business with Ohio operations satisfying all of the following:

(a) Employed an average of at least one thousand employees in full-time employment positions at a project site during each of the twelve months preceding the application for a tax credit under this section; and

(b) On or after January 1, 2002, has made payments for the capital investment project of either of the following:

(i) At least two hundred million dollars in the aggregate at the project site during a period of three consecutive calendar years including the calendar year that includes a day of the taxpayer's taxable year or tax period with respect to which the credit is granted;

(ii) If the average wage of all full-time employment positions at the project site is greater than four hundred per cent of the federal minimum wage, at least one hundred million dollars in the aggregate at the project site during a period of three consecutive calendar years including the calendar year that includes a day of the taxpayer's taxable year or tax period with respect to which the credit is granted.

(c) Is engaged at the project site primarily as a manufacturer or is providing significant corporate administrative functions;

(d) Has had a capital investment project reviewed and approved by the tax credit authority as provided in divisions (C), (D), and (E) of this section.

(3) "Full-time employment position" means a position of employment for consideration for at least an average of thirty-five hours a week that has been filled for at least one hundred eighty days immediately preceding the filing of an application under this section and for at least one hundred eighty days during each taxable year or each calendar year that includes a tax period with respect to which the credit is granted, or is employed in such position for consideration for such time, but is on active duty reserve or Ohio national guard service.

(4) "Manufacturer" has the same meaning as in section 5739.011 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Project site" means an integrated complex of facilities in this state, as specified by the tax credit authority under this section, within a fifteen-mile radius where a taxpayer is primarily operating as an eligible business.

(6) "Applicable corporation" means a corporation satisfying all of the following:

(a)(i) For the entire taxable year immediately preceding the tax year, the corporation develops software applications primarily to provide telecommunication billing and information services through outsourcing or licensing to domestic or international customers.

(ii) Sales and licensing of software generated at least six hundred million dollars in revenue during the taxable year immediately preceding the tax year the corporation is first entitled to claim the credit provided under division (B) of this section.

(b) For the entire taxable year immediately preceding the tax year, the corporation or one or more of its related members provides customer or employee care and technical support for clients through one or more contact centers within this state, and the corporation and its related members together have a daily average, based on a three-hundred-sixty-five-day year, of at least five hundred thousand successful customer contacts through one or more of their contact centers, wherever located.

(c) The corporation is eligible for the credit under division (B) of this section for the tax year.

(7) "Related member" has the same meaning as in section 5733.042 of the Revised Code as that section existed on the effective date of its amendment by Am. Sub. H.B. 215 of the 122nd general assembly, September 29, 1997.

(8) "Successful customer contact" means a contact with an end user via telephone, including interactive voice recognition or similar means, where the contact culminates in a conversation or connection other than a busy signal or equipment busy.

(9) "Telecommunications" means all forms of telecommunications service as defined in section 5739.01 of the Revised Code, and includes services in wireless, wireline, cable, broadband, internet protocol, and satellite.

(10)(a) "Applicable difference" means the difference between the tax for the tax year under Chapter 5733. of the Revised Code applying the law in effect for that tax year, and the tax for that tax year if section 5733.042 of the Revised Code applied as that section existed on the effective date of its amendment by Am. Sub. H.B. 215 of the 122nd general assembly, September 29, 1997, subject to division (A)(10)(b) of this section.

(b) If the tax rate set forth in division (B) of section 5733.06 of the Revised Code for the tax year is less than eight and one-half per cent, the tax calculated under division (A)(10)(a) of this section shall be computed by substituting a tax rate of eight and one-half per cent for the rate set forth in division (B) of section 5733.06 of the Revised Code for the tax year.

(c) If the resulting difference is negative, the applicable tax difference for the tax year shall be zero.

(B) The tax credit authority created under section 122.17 of the Revised Code may grant tax credits under this section for the purpose of fostering job retention in this state. Upon application by an eligible business and upon consideration of the recommendation of the director of budget and management, tax commissioner, and director of development under division (C) of this section, the tax credit authority may grant to an eligible business a nonrefundable credit against the tax imposed by section 5733.06 or 5747.02 of the Revised Code for a period up to fifteen taxable years and against the tax levied by Chapter 5751. of the Revised Code for a period of up to fifteen calendar years. The credit shall be in an amount not exceeding seventy-five per cent of the Ohio income tax withheld from the employees of the eligible business occupying full-time employment positions at the project site during the calendar year that includes the last day of such business' taxable year or tax period with respect to which the credit is granted. The amount of the credit shall not be based on the Ohio income tax withheld from full-time employees for a calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the minimum investment requirement referred to in division (A)(2)(b) of this section is completed. The credit shall be claimed only for the taxable years or tax periods specified in the eligible business' agreement with the tax credit authority under division (E) of this section, but in no event shall the credit be claimed for a taxable year or tax period terminating before the date specified in the agreement. Any credit granted under this section against the tax imposed by section 5733.06 or 5747.02 of the Revised Code, to the extent not fully utilized against such tax for taxable years ending prior to 2008, shall automatically be converted without any action taken by the tax credit authority to a credit against the tax levied under Chapter 5751. of the Revised Code for tax periods beginning on or after July 1, 2008, provided that the person to whom the credit was granted is subject to such tax. The converted credit shall apply to those calendar years in which the remaining taxable years specified in the agreement end.

The credit computed under this division is in addition to any credit allowed under division (M) of this section which the tax credit authority may also include in the agreement.

Any unused portion of a tax credit may be carried forward for not more than three additional years after the year for which the credit is granted.

(C) A taxpayer that proposes a capital investment project to retain jobs in this state may apply to the tax credit authority to enter into an agreement for a tax credit under this section. The director of development shall prescribe the form of the application. After receipt of an application, the authority shall forward copies of the application to the director of budget and management, the tax commissioner, and the director of development, each of whom shall review the application to determine the economic impact the proposed project would have on the state and the affected political subdivisions and shall submit a summary of their determinations and recommendations to the authority.

(D) Upon review of the determinations and recommendations described in division (C) of this section, the tax credit authority may enter into an agreement with the taxpayer for a credit under this section if the authority determines all of the following:

(1) The taxpayer's capital investment project will result in the retention of full-time employment positions in this state.

(2) The taxpayer is economically sound and has the ability to complete the proposed capital investment project.

(3) The taxpayer intends to and has the ability to maintain operations at the project site for at least twice the term of the credit.

(4) Receiving the credit is a major factor in the taxpayer's decision to begin, continue with, or complete the project.

(5) The political subdivisions in which the project is located have agreed to provide substantial financial support to the project.

(E) An agreement under this section shall include all of the following:

(1) A detailed description of the project that is the subject of the agreement, including the amount of the investment, the period over which the investment has been or is being made, and the number of full-time employment positions at the project site.

(2) The method of calculating the number of full-time employment positions as specified in division (A)(3) of this section.

(3) The term and percentage of the tax credit, and the first year for which the credit may be claimed.

(4) A requirement that the taxpayer maintain operations at the project site for at least twice the number of years as the term of the credit.

(5) A requirement that the taxpayer retain a specified number of full-time employment positions at the project site and within this state for the term of the credit, including a requirement that the taxpayer continue to employ at least one thousand employees in full-time employment positions at the project site during the entire term of any agreement, subject to division (E)(7) of this section.

(6) A requirement that the taxpayer annually report to the director of development the number of full-time employment positions subject to the credit, the amount of tax withheld from employees in those positions, the amount of the payments made for the capital investment project, and any other information the director needs to perform the director's duties under this section.

(7) A requirement that the director of development annually review the annual reports of the taxpayer to verify the information reported under division (E)(6) of this section and compliance with the agreement. Upon verification, the director shall issue a certificate to the taxpayer stating that the information has been verified and identifying the amount of the credit for the taxable year. Unless otherwise specified by the tax credit authority in a resolution and included as part of the agreement, the director shall not issue a certificate for any year in which the total number of filled full-time employment positions for each day of the calendar year divided by three hundred sixty-five is less than ninety per cent of the full-time employment positions specified in division (E)(5) of this section. In determining the number of full-time employment positions, no position shall be counted that is filled by an employee who is included in the calculation of a tax credit under section 122.17 of the Revised Code.

(8)(a) A provision requiring that the taxpayer, except as otherwise provided in division (E)(8)(b) of this section, shall not relocate employment positions from elsewhere in this state to the project site that is the subject of the agreement for the lesser of five years from the date the agreement is entered into or the number of years the taxpayer is entitled to claim the credit.

(b) The taxpayer may relocate employment positions from elsewhere in this state to the project site that is the subject of the agreement if the director of development determines both of the following:

(i) That the site from which the employment positions would be relocated is inadequate to meet market and industry conditions, expansion plans, consolidation plans, or other business considerations affecting the taxpayer;

(ii) That the legislative authority of the county, township, or municipal corporation from which the employment positions would be relocated has been notified of the relocation.

For purposes of this section, the movement of an employment position from one political subdivision to another political subdivision shall be considered a relocation of an employment position unless the movement is confined to the project site. The transfer of an individual employee from one political subdivision to another political subdivision shall not be considered a relocation of an employment position as long as the individual's employment position in the first political subdivision is refilled.

(9) A waiver by the taxpayer of any limitations periods relating to assessments or adjustments resulting from the taxpayer's failure to comply with the agreement.

(F) If a taxpayer fails to meet or comply with any condition or requirement set forth in a tax credit agreement, the tax credit authority may amend the agreement to reduce the percentage or term of the credit. The reduction of the percentage or term shall take effect (1) in the taxable year immediately following the taxable year in which the authority amends the agreement or the director of development notifies the taxpayer in writing of such failure, or (2) in the first tax period beginning in the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the authority amends the agreement or the director notifies the taxpayer in writing of such failure. If the taxpayer fails to annually report any of the information required by division (E)(6) of this section within the time required by the director, the reduction of the percentage or term may take effect in the current taxable year. If the taxpayer relocates employment positions in violation of the provision required under division (D)(8)(a) of this section, the taxpayer shall not claim the tax credit under section 5733.0610 of the Revised Code for any tax years following the calendar year in which the relocation occurs, shall not claim the tax credit under section 5747.058 of the Revised Code for the taxable year in which the relocation occurs and any subsequent taxable years, and shall not claim the tax credit under division (A) of section 5751.50 of the Revised Code for the tax period in which the relocation occurs and any subsequent tax periods.

(G) Financial statements and other information submitted to the department of development or the tax credit authority by an applicant for or recipient of a tax credit under this section, and any information taken for any purpose from such statements or information, are not public records subject to section 149.43 of the Revised Code. However, the chairperson of the authority may make use of the statements and other information for purposes of issuing public reports or in connection with court proceedings concerning tax credit agreements under this section. Upon the request of the tax commissioner, the chairperson of the authority shall provide to the commissioner any statement or other information submitted by an applicant for or recipient of a tax credit in connection with the credit. The commissioner shall preserve the confidentiality of the statement or other information.

(H) A taxpayer claiming a tax credit under this section shall submit to the tax commissioner a copy of the director of development's certificate of verification under division (E)(7) of this section with the taxpayer's tax report or return for the taxable year or for the calendar year that includes the tax period. Failure to submit a copy of the certificate with the report or return does not invalidate a claim for a credit if the taxpayer submits a copy of the certificate to the commissioner within sixty days after the commissioner requests it.

(I) For the purposes of this section, a taxpayer may include a partnership, a corporation that has made an election under subchapter S of chapter one of subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code, or any other business entity through which income flows as a distributive share to its owners. A tax credit received under this section by a partnership, S-corporation, or other such business entity shall be apportioned among may elect to pass the credit received under this section through to the persons to whom the income or profit of the partnership, S-corporation, or other entity is distributed,. The election shall be made on the annual report required under division (E)(6) of this section. The election applies to and is irrevocable for the credit for which the report is submitted. If the election is made, the credit shall be apportioned among those persons in the same proportions as those in which the income or profit is distributed.

(J) If the director of development determines that a taxpayer that received a tax credit under this section is not complying with the requirement under division (E)(4) of this section, the director shall notify the tax credit authority of the noncompliance. After receiving such a notice, and after giving the taxpayer an opportunity to explain the noncompliance, the authority may terminate the agreement and require the taxpayer to refund to the state all or a portion of the credit claimed in previous years, as follows:

(1) If the taxpayer maintained operations at the project site for less than the term of the credit, the amount required to be refunded shall not exceed the amount of any tax credits previously allowed and received under this section.

(2) If the taxpayer maintained operations at the project site longer than the term of the credit but less than one and one-half times the term of the credit, the amount required to be refunded shall not exceed fifty per cent of the sum of any tax credits previously allowed and received under this section.

(3) If the taxpayer maintained operations at the project site for at least one and one-half times the term of the credit but less than twice the term of the credit, the amount required to be refunded shall not exceed twenty-five per cent of the sum of any tax credits previously allowed and received under this section.

In determining the portion of the credit to be refunded to this state, the authority shall consider the effect of market conditions on the taxpayer's project and whether the taxpayer continues to maintain other operations in this state. After making the determination, the authority shall certify the amount to be refunded to the tax commissioner. The commissioner shall make an assessment for that amount against the taxpayer under Chapter 5733., 5747., or 5751. of the Revised Code. The time limitations on assessments under those chapters do not apply to an assessment under this division, but the commissioner shall make the assessment within one year after the date the authority certifies to the commissioner the amount to be refunded.

If the director of development determines that a taxpayer that received a tax credit under this section has reduced the number of employees agreed to under division (E)(5) of this section by more than ten per cent, the director shall notify the tax credit authority of the noncompliance. After receiving such notice, and after providing the taxpayer an opportunity to explain the noncompliance, the authority may amend the agreement to reduce the percentage or term of the tax credit. The reduction in the percentage or term shall take effect in the taxable year, or in the calendar year that includes the tax period, in which the authority amends the agreement.

(K) The director of development, after consultation with the tax commissioner and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section. The rules may provide for recipients of tax credits under this section to be charged fees to cover administrative costs of the tax credit program. The fees collected shall be credited to the tax incentive programs operating fund created in section 122.174 of the Revised Code. At the time the director gives public notice under division (A) of section 119.03 of the Revised Code of the adoption of the rules, the director shall submit copies of the proposed rules to the chairpersons of the standing committees on economic development in the senate and the house of representatives.

(L) On or before the thirty-first day of March of each year, the director of development shall submit a report to the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives on the tax credit program under this section. The report shall include information on the number of agreements that were entered into under this section during the preceding calendar year, a description of the project that is the subject of each such agreement, and an update on the status of projects under agreements entered into before the preceding calendar year.

(M)(1) A nonrefundable credit shall be allowed to an applicable corporation and its related members in an amount equal to the applicable difference. The credit is in addition to the credit granted to the corporation or related members under division (B) of this section. The credit is subject to divisions (B) to (E) and division (J) of this section.

(2) A person qualifying as an applicable corporation under this section for a tax year does not necessarily qualify as an applicable corporation for any other tax year. No person is entitled to the credit allowed under division (M) of this section for the tax year immediately following the taxable year during which the person fails to meet the requirements in divisions (A)(6)(a)(i) and (A)(6)(b) of this section. No person is entitled to the credit allowed under division (M) of this section for any tax year for which the person is not eligible for the credit provided under division (B) of this section.

Sec. 122.174.  There is hereby created in the state treasury the tax incentive programs operating fund. Money collected pursuant to division (I) of section 121.17, division (K) of section 122.171, division (C) of section 3735.672, and division (C) of section 5709.68 of the Revised Code shall be credited to the fund. The director of development shall use money in the fund to pay expenses related to the administration of the tax credit programs authorized by sections 122.17, 122.171, 3735.672, and 5709.68 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 122.602.  (A) There is hereby created in the department of development the capital access loan program to assist participating financial institutions in making program loans to eligible businesses that face barriers in accessing working capital and obtaining fixed asset financing. In administering the program, the director of development may do any of the following:

(1) Receive and accept grants, gifts, and contributions of money, property, labor, and other things of value to be held, used, and applied only for the purpose for which the grants, gifts, and contributions are made, from individuals, private and public corporations, the United States or any agency of the United States, the state or any agency of the state, or any political subdivision of the state;

(2) Agree to repay any contribution of money or return any property contributed or the value of that property at the times, in the amounts, and on the terms and conditions, excluding the payment of interest, that the director consents to at the time a contribution is made; and evidence obligations by notes, bonds, or other written instruments;

(3) Adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to carry out the purposes of the program specified in sections 122.60 to 122.605 of the Revised Code;

(4) Engage in all other acts, and enter into contracts and execute all instruments, necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes specified in sections 122.60 to 122.605 of the Revised Code.

(B) The director shall determine the eligibility of a financial institution to participate in the program and may set a limit on the number of financial institutions that may participate in the program.

(C) To be considered eligible by the director to participate in the program, a financial institution shall enter into a participation agreement with the department that sets out the terms and conditions under which the department will deposit moneys from the fund into the financial institution's program reserve account, specifies the criteria for loan qualification under the program, and contains any additional terms the director considers necessary.

(D) After receiving the certification required under division (C) of section 122.603 of the Revised Code, the director may disburse moneys from the fund to a participating financial institution for deposit in its program reserve account if the director determines that the capital access loan involved meets all of the following criteria:

(1) It will be made to an eligible business.

(2) It will be used by the eligible business for a project, activity, or enterprise that fosters economic development.

(3) It will not be made in order to enroll in the program prior debt that is not covered under the program and that is owed or was previously owed by an eligible business to the financial institution.

(4) It will not be utilized for a project or development related to the on-site construction or purchase of residential housing.

(5) It will not be used to finance passive real estate ownership.

(6) It conforms to the requirements of divisions (E), (F), (G), (H), and (I) of this section, and to the rules adopted by the director under division (A)(3) of this section.

(E) The director shall not approve a capital access loan to an eligible business that exceeds two hundred fifty thousand dollars for working capital or five hundred thousand dollars for the purchase of fixed assets. An eligible business may apply for the maximum amount of both working capital and the purchase of fixed assets in the same capital access loan.

(F) A financial institution may apply to the director for the approval of a capital access loan to any business that is owned or operated by a person that has previously defaulted under any state financial assistance program.

(G) Eligible businesses that apply for a capital access loan shall comply with section 9.66 of the Revised Code.

(H) A financial institution may apply to the director for the approval of a capital access loan that refinances a nonprogram loan made by another financial institution.

(I) The director shall not approve a capital access loan that refinances a nonprogram loan made by the same financial institution, unless the amount of the refinanced loan exceeds the existing debt, in which case only the amount exceeding the existing debt is eligible for a loan under the program.

(J) The director shall not approve any capital access loan made after June 30, 2007, or enter into a participation agreement with any financial institution after that date.

Sec. 123.10. (A) The director of administrative services shall regulate the rate of tolls to be collected on the public works of the state, and shall fix all rentals and collect all tolls, rents, fines, commissions, fees, and other revenues arising from any source in the public works, including the sale, construction, purchase, or rental of property, except that the director shall not collect a commission or fee from a real estate broker or the private owner when real property is leased or rented to the state.

(B) There is hereby created in the state treasury the state architect's fund which shall consist of money received by the department of administrative services under division (A) of this section, fees paid under section 123.17 of the Revised Code, transfers of money to the fund authorized by the general assembly, and such amount of the investment earnings of the administrative building fund created in division (C) of this section as the director of budget and management determines to be appropriate and in excess of the amounts required to meet estimated federal arbitrage rebate requirements. Money in the fund shall be used by the department of administrative services for the following purposes:

(1) To pay personnel and other administrative expenses of the department;

(2) To pay the cost of conducting evaluations of public works;

(3) To pay the cost of building design specifications;

(4) To pay the cost of providing project management services;

(5) To pay the cost of operating the local administration competency certification program prescribed by section 123.17 of the Revised Code;

(6) Any other purposes that the director of administrative services determines to be necessary for the department to execute its duties under this chapter.

(C) There is hereby created in the state treasury the administrative building fund which shall consist of proceeds of obligations authorized to pay the cost of capital facilities. Except as provided in division (B) of this section, all investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund. The fund shall be used to pay the cost of capital facilities designated by or pursuant to an act of the general assembly. The director of budget and management shall approve and provide a voucher for payments of amounts from the fund that represent the portion of investment earnings to be rebated or to be paid to the federal government in order to maintain the exclusion from gross income for federal income tax purposes on interest on those obligations pursuant to section 148(f) of the Internal Revenue Code.

As used in this division, "capital facilities" has the same meaning as under section 152.09 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 123.17. (A) As used in this section, "institution of higher education" means a state university or college, as defined in section 3345.12 of the Revised Code, or a state community college.

(B) Not later than December 30, 2005, the state architect shall establish a local administration competency certification program to certify institutions of higher education to administer capital facilities projects pursuant to section 3345.51 of the Revised Code without the supervision, control, or approval of the department of administrative services. The program shall offer instruction in the administration of capital facilities projects for employees of institutions of higher education who are responsible for such administration and who are selected by their employing institutions to participate in the program.

(C) The program shall provide instruction about the provisions of Chapters 9., 123., and 153. of the Revised Code and any rules or policies adopted by the department regarding the planning, design, and construction of capital facilities, including all of the following:

(1) The planning, design, and construction process;

(2) Contract requirements;

(3) Construction management;

(4) Project management.

(D) The state architect shall award local administration competency certification to any institution of higher education if all of the following apply:

(1) The institution applied for certification on a form and in a manner prescribed by the state architect.

(2) The state architect determines that a sufficient number of the institution's employees, representing a sufficient number of employee classifications, responsible for the administration of capital facilities projects have successfully completed the certification program to ensure that any capital facilities project undertaken by the institution will be administered successfully and in accordance with all provisions of the Revised Code, and the board of trustees of the institution provides written assurance to the state architect that the institution will select new employees to participate in the certification program as necessary to compensate for employee turnover.

(3) The state architect determines that the employees of the institution enrolled in the program demonstrate successful completion of the competency certification training and a satisfactory level of knowledge of and competency in the requirements for administering capital facilities projects.

(4) The institution pays the fee prescribed by division (F) of this section.

(5)(4) The board of trustees of the institution provides written assurance to the state architect that the institution will conduct biennial audits of the institution's administration of capital facilities projects in accordance with division (C) of section 3345.51 of the Revised Code.

(6)(5) The board of trustees of the institution agrees in writing to indemnify and hold harmless the state and the department for any claim of injury, loss, or damage that results from the institution's administration of a capital facilities project.

(E) Local administration competency certification granted under this section shall remain in effect for as long as the state architect determines that both of the following apply:

(1) The institution of higher education maintains a sufficient number of employees responsible for the administration of capital facilities projects who have successfully completed the certification program and have demonstrated a satisfactory level of knowledge of and competency in the requirements for administering capital facilities projects;

(2) The institution is performing the biennial audits prescribed in division (C) of section 3345.51 of the Revised Code.

If the state architect determines that an institution of higher education has failed to comply with the conditions of division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, the state architect shall revoke the institution's certification and shall notify the board of trustees of the institution in writing of the revocation.

(F) The state architect shall establish, subject to the approval of the director of budget and management, the amount of the fee required to be paid by any institution of higher education that seeks certification under this section. The amount of the fees shall be set to cover the costs to implement this section, including the costs for materials and the competency certification training sessions. Any fees received under this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the state architect's fund established under section 123.10 of the Revised Code.

(G) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an institution that administers a capital facilities project under section 3345.51 of the Revised Code from requesting guidance or other services from the department of administrative services.

Sec. 124.152.  (A)(1) Except as provided in divisions (A)(2) and (3) of this section, each exempt employee shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with schedule E-1 or schedule E-2 of division (B), (C), or (D) of this section, as applicable.

(2) Each exempt employee who holds a position in the unclassified civil service pursuant to division (A)(26) or (30) of section 124.11 of the Revised Code may be paid a salary or wage in accordance with schedule E-1, schedule E-1 for step seven only, or schedule E-2 of division (B) or, (C), (D), (E), (F), or (G) of this section, as applicable.

(3)(a) Except as provided in division (A)(3)(b) of this section, each exempt employee who was paid a salary or wage at step 7 in the employee's pay range on June 28, 2003, in accordance with the applicable schedule E-1 of former section 124.152 of the Revised Code and who continued to be so paid on June 29, 2003, shall be paid a salary or wage in the corresponding pay range in schedule E-1 for step seven only of division (C)(E), (F), or (G) of this section, as applicable, for as long as the employee remains in the position the employee held as of July 1, 2003.

(b) Except as provided in division (A)(3)(c) of this section, if an exempt employee who is being paid a salary or wage in accordance with schedule E-1 for step seven only of division (C)(E), (F), or (G) of this section, as applicable, moves to another position, the employee shall not receive a salary or wage for that position or any other position in the future in accordance with that schedule.

(c) If an exempt employee who is being paid a salary or wage in accordance with schedule E-1 for step seven only of division (C)(E), (F), or (G) of this section, as applicable, moves to another position assigned to pay range 12 or above, the appointing authority has the discretion to may assign the employee to be paid a salary or wage in the appropriate pay range for that position in accordance with the applicable schedule E-1 for step seven only, provided that the appointing authority so notifies the director of administrative services in writing at the time the employee is appointed to that position.

(B) Beginning on the first day of the pay period that includes July 1, 2006, each exempt employee who must be paid in accordance with schedule E-1 or schedule E-2 of this section shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with the following schedule of rates:

Schedule E-1

Schedule E-2

(C) Beginning on the first day of the pay period that includes July 1, 2007, each exempt employee who must be paid in accordance with schedule E-1 or schedule E-2 of this section shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with the following schedule of rates:

(D) Beginning on the first day of the pay period that includes July 1, 2008, each exempt employee who must be paid in accordance with schedule E-1 or schedule E-2 of this section shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with the following schedule of rates:

(E) Beginning on the first day of the pay period that includes July 1, 2006, each exempt employee who must be paid in accordance with schedule E-1 for step seven only shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with the following schedule of rates:

Schedule E-1 for Step Seven Only

(D)(F) Beginning on the first day of the pay period that includes July 1, 2007, each exempt employee who must be paid in accordance with schedule E-1 for step seven only shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with the following schedule of rates:

(G) Beginning on the first day of the pay period that includes July 1, 2008, each exempt employee who must be paid in accordance with salary schedule E-1 for step seven only shall be paid a salary or wage in accordance with the following schedule of rates:

(H) As used in this section, "exempt employee" means a permanent full-time or permanent part-time employee paid directly by warrant of the director of budget and management whose position is included in the job classification plan established under division (A) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code but who is not considered a public employee for the purposes of Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code. As used in this section, "exempt employee" also includes a permanent full-time or permanent part-time employee of the secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general who has not been placed in an appropriate bargaining unit by the state employment relations board.

Sec. 125.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Order" means a copy of a contract or a statement of the nature of a contemplated expenditure, a description of the property or supplies to be purchased or service to be performed, other than a service performed by officers and regular employees of the state, and per diem of the national guard, and the total sum of the expenditure to be made therefor, if the sum is fixed and ascertained, otherwise the estimated sum thereof, and an authorization to pay for the contemplated expenditure, signed by the person instructed and authorized to pay upon receipt of a proper invoice.

(B) "Information technology" means technologies and services used for information processing, including, but not limited to, software, computing hardware, communications technologies, and related services.

(C) "Invoice" means an itemized listing showing delivery of the supplies or performance of the service described in the order, and the date of the purchase or rendering of the service, or an itemization of the things done, material supplied, or labor furnished, and the sum due pursuant to the contract or obligation.

(C)(D) "Products" means materials, manufacturer's supplies, merchandise, goods, wares, and foodstuffs.

(D)(E) "Produced" means the manufacturing, processing, mining, developing, and making of a thing into a new article with a distinct character in use through the application of input, within the state, of Ohio products, labor, skill, or other services. "Produced" does not include the mere assembling or putting together of non-Ohio products or materials.

(E)(F) "Ohio products" means products that are mined, excavated, produced, manufactured, raised, or grown in the state by a person where the input of Ohio products, labor, skill, or other services constitutes no less than twenty-five per cent of the manufactured cost. With respect to mined products, such products shall be mined or excavated in this state.

(F)(G) "Purchase" means to buy, rent, lease, lease purchase, or otherwise acquire supplies or services. "Purchase" also includes all functions that pertain to the obtaining of supplies or services, including description of requirements, selection and solicitation of sources, preparation and award of contracts, all phases of contract administration, and receipt and acceptance of the supplies and services and payment for them.

(H) "Purchasing authority" means the department of administrative services or the office of information technology as set forth in section 125.011 of the Revised Code.

(G)(I) "Services" means the furnishing of labor, time, or effort by a person, not involving the delivery of a specific end product other than a report which, if provided, is merely incidental to the required performance. "Services" does not include services furnished pursuant to employment agreements or collective bargaining agreements.

(H)(J) "Supplies" means all property, including, but not limited to, equipment, materials, other tangible assets, and insurance, but excluding real property or an interest in real property.

(I)(K) "Competitive selection" means any of the following procedures for making purchases:

(1) Competitive sealed bidding under section 125.07 of the Revised Code;

(2) Competitive sealed proposals under section 125.071 of the Revised Code;

(3) Reverse auctions under section 125.072 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 125.011.  Except for information technology supplies and services, the department of administrative services shall be the purchasing authority for all supplies and services for the purposes of and subject to the limitations of sections 125.01 to 125.11, 125.15, and 125.25 of the Revised Code. The office of information technology shall be the purchasing authority for information technology supplies and services in accordance with section 126.17 of the Revised Code for the purposes of and subject to the limitations of sections 125.01 to 125.11, 125.15, and 125.25 of the Revised Code. The department of administrative services and the office of information technology shall consult with each other to promote consistency when adopting any rules under sections 125.01 to 125.11, 125.15, and 125.25 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 125.02.  Except as to the adjutant general, the capital square review and advisory board, the department of rehabilitation and correction as specified in division (D) of section 125.04 of the Revised Code, the general assembly, the bureau of workers' compensation, and institutions administered by boards of trustees, the department of administrative services a purchasing authority may purchase supplies and services for the use of state agencies.

So far as possible, the department of administrative services purchasing authority shall make all purchases from the department of rehabilitation and correction in the exercise of the functions of the department of rehabilitation and correction in the management of state institutions.

The department of administrative services purchasing authority shall prescribe uniform rules governing forms of specifications, advertisements for proposals, the opening of bids, the making of awards and contracts, and the purchase of supplies and performance of work.

Nothing in this section precludes the bureau from entering into a contract with the department of administrative services a purchasing authority for the department purchasing authority to purchase supplies, or services for the use of the bureau.

Sec. 125.021. (A) Except as to the military department, the general assembly, the bureau of workers' compensation, the industrial commission, and institutions administered by boards of trustees, the office of information technology may contract for, operate, and superintend telephone, other telecommunication, and computer services for state agencies. Nothing in this division precludes the bureau or the commission from contracting with the office to authorize the office to contract for, operate, or superintend those services for the bureau or the commission.

(B)(1) As used in this division:

(a)(1) "Active duty" means active duty pursuant to an executive order of the president of the United States, an act of the congress of the United States, or section 5919.29 or 5923.21 of the Revised Code.

(b)(2) "Immediate family" means a person's spouse residing in the person's household, brothers and sisters of the whole or of the half blood, children, including adopted children and stepchildren, parents, and grandparents.

(2)(B) The office of information technology may enter into a contract to purchase bulk long distance telephone services and make them available at cost, or may make bulk long distance telephone services available at cost under any existing contract the office has entered into, to members of the immediate family of persons deployed on active duty so that those family members can communicate with the persons so deployed. If the office enters into contracts under division (B)(2) of this section, it shall do so in accordance with sections 125.01 to 125.11 of the Revised Code and in a nondiscriminatory manner that does not place any potential vendor at a competitive disadvantage.

(3)(C) If the office decides to exercise either option under division (B)(2) of this section, it shall adopt, and may amend, rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement that division.

Sec. 125.022.  The department of administrative services A purchasing authority may enter into cooperative purchasing agreements with one or more other states or groups of states or with any political subdivision of this state described in division (B) of section 125.04 of the Revised Code for the purpose of purchasing services or supplies produced from or containing recycled materials for the use of state agencies.

Sec. 125.023.  During the period of an emergency as defined in section 5502.21 of the Revised Code, the department of administrative services purchasing authority may suspend, with regard to the emergency management agency established in section 5502.22 of the Revised Code or any other state agency participating in recovery activities as defined in section 5502.21 of the Revised Code, the purchasing and contracting requirements contained in sections 125.02 to 125.111 of the Revised Code and any of the requirements of Chapter 153. of the Revised Code that otherwise would apply to the agency. The director of public safety or the executive director of the emergency management agency shall make the request for the suspension of these requirements to the department of administrative services and the office of information technology concurrently with the request to the governor or the president of the United States for the declaration of an emergency. The governor also shall include in any proclamation the governor issues declaring an emergency language requesting the suspension of those requirements during the period of the emergency.

Sec. 125.04.  (A) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, the department of administrative services purchasing authorities shall determine what supplies and services are purchased by or for state agencies. Whenever the department of administrative services a purchasing authority makes any change or addition to the lists of supplies and services that it determines to purchase for state agencies, it shall provide a list to the agencies of the changes or additions and indicate when the department purchasing authority will be prepared to furnish each item listed. Except for the requirements of division (B) of section 125.11 of the Revised Code, sections 125.04 to 125.08 and 125.09 to 125.15 of the Revised Code do not apply to or affect the educational institutions of the state. The department purchasing authorities shall not include the bureau of workers' compensation in the lists of supplies, equipment, and services purchased and furnished by the department purchasing authorities.

Nothing in this division precludes the bureau from entering into a contract with the department purchasing authorities for the department purchasing authorities to perform services relative to supplies, equipment, and services contained in this division for the bureau.

(B)(1) As used in this division:

(a) "Emergency medical service organization" has the same meaning as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(b) "Political subdivision" means any county, township, municipal corporation, school district, conservancy district, township park district, park district created under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code, regional transit authority, regional airport authority, regional water and sewer district, or port authority. "Political subdivision" also includes any other political subdivision described in the Revised Code that has been approved by the department to participate in the department's contracts under this division.

(c) "Private fire company" has the same meaning as in section 9.60 of the Revised Code.

(2) Subject to division (C) of this section, the department of administrative services a purchasing authority may permit a political subdivision, private fire company, or private, nonprofit emergency medical service organization to participate in contracts into which the department purchasing authority has entered for the purchase of supplies and services. The department purchasing authority may charge the entity a reasonable fee to cover the administrative costs the department purchasing authority incurs as a result of participation by the entity in such a purchase contract.

A political subdivision desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department purchasing authority a certified copy of an ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority or governing board of the political subdivision. The resolution or ordinance shall request that the political subdivision be authorized to participate in such contracts and shall agree that the political subdivision will be bound by such terms and conditions as the department purchasing authority prescribes and that it will directly pay the vendor under each purchase contract. A private fire company or private, nonprofit emergency medical service organization desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department purchasing authority a written request for inclusion in the program signed by the chief officer of the company or organization. The request shall include an agreement to be bound by such terms and conditions as the department purchasing authority prescribes and to make direct payments to the vendor under each purchase contract.

The department purchasing authority shall include in its annual report an estimate of the cost it incurs by permitting political subdivisions, private fire companies, and private, nonprofit emergency medical service organizations to participate in contracts pursuant to this division. The department purchasing authority may require such entities to file a report with the department purchasing authority, as often as it finds necessary, stating how many such contracts the entities participated in within a specified period of time, and any other information the department purchasing authority requires.

(3) Purchases made by a political subdivision under this division are exempt from any competitive selection procedures otherwise required by law. No political subdivision shall make any purchase under this division when bids have been received for such purchase by the subdivision, unless such purchase can be made upon the same terms, conditions, and specifications at a lower price under this division.

(C) A political subdivision as defined in division (B) of this section may purchase supplies or services from another party, including another political subdivision, instead of through participation in contracts described in division (B) of this section if the political subdivision can purchase those supplies or services from the other party upon equivalent terms, conditions, and specifications but at a lower price than it can through those contracts. Purchases that a political subdivision makes under this division are exempt from any competitive selection procedures otherwise required by law. A political subdivision that makes any purchase under this division shall maintain sufficient information regarding the purchase to verify that the political subdivision satisfied the conditions for making a purchase under this division. Nothing in this division restricts any action taken by a county or township as authorized by division (A)(1) of section 9.48 of the Revised Code.

(D) This section does not apply to supplies or services required by the legislative or judicial branches, boards of elections, the capitol square review and advisory board, the adjutant general, to supplies or services purchased by a state agency directly as provided in division (A) or (E) of section 125.05 of the Revised Code, to purchases of supplies or services for the emergency management agency as provided in section 125.023 of the Revised Code, or to purchases of supplies or services for the department of rehabilitation and correction in its operation of the program for the employment of prisoners established under section 5145.16 of the Revised Code that shall be made pursuant to rules adopted by the director of administrative services and the director of rehabilitation and correction in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The rules may provide for the exemption of the program for the employment of prisoners from the requirements of division (A) of this section.

Sec. 125.041.  Nothing in sections 125.02, 125.03 to 125.08, 125.12 to 125.16, 125.18, 125.31 to 125.76, or 125.831, or 126.17 of the Revised Code shall be construed as limiting the attorney general, auditor of state, secretary of state, or treasurer of state in any of the following:

(A) Purchases for less than the dollar amounts for the purchase of supplies or services determined pursuant to division (D) of section 125.05 of the Revised Code;

(B) Purchases that equal or exceed the dollar amounts for the purchase of supplies or services determined pursuant to division (D) of section 125.05 of the Revised Code with the approval of the controlling board, if that approval is required by section 127.16 of the Revised Code;

(C) The final determination of the nature or quantity making any purchase of supplies or services to be purchased pursuant to section 125.06 of the Revised Code;

(D) The final determination and disposal of excess and surplus supplies;

(E) The inventory of state property;

(F) The purchase of printing;

(G) Activities related to information technology development and use;

(H) The fleet management program.

Sec. 125.05.  Except as provided in division (E) of this section, no state agency shall purchase any supplies or services except as provided in divisions (A) to (C) of this section.

(A) Subject to division (D) of this section, a state agency may, without competitive selection, make any purchase of services that cost fifty thousand dollars or less or any purchase of supplies that cost twenty-five thousand dollars or less. The agency, at its determination, may make the purchase directly or may make the purchase from or through the department of administrative services, whichever the agency determines proper purchasing authority. The department purchasing authority shall establish written procedures to assist state agencies when they make direct purchases. If the agency makes the purchase directly, it shall make the purchase by a term contract whenever possible.

(B) Subject to division (D) of this section, a state agency wanting to purchase services that cost more than fifty thousand dollars or supplies that cost more than twenty-five thousand dollars shall, unless otherwise authorized by law, make the purchase from or through the department proper purchasing authority. The department purchasing authority shall make the purchase by competitive selection under section 125.07 of the Revised Code. If the director of administrative services purchasing authority determines that it is not possible or not advantageous to the state for the department purchasing authority to make the purchase, the department purchasing authority shall grant the agency a release and permit under section 125.06 of the Revised Code to make the purchase. Section 127.16 of the Revised Code does not apply to purchases the department purchasing authority makes under this section.

(C) An agency that has been granted a release and permit to make a purchase may make the purchase without competitive selection if after making the purchase the cumulative purchase threshold as computed under division (F) of section 127.16 of the Revised Code would:

(1) Be exceeded and the controlling board approves the purchase;

(2) Not be exceeded and the department of administrative services purchasing authority approves the purchase.

(D) Not later than January 31, 1997, the amounts specified in divisions (A) and (B) of this section and, not later than the thirty-first day of January of each second year thereafter, any amounts computed by adjustments made under this division, shall be increased or decreased by the average percentage increase or decrease in the consumer price index prepared by the United States bureau of labor statistics (U.S. City Average for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: "All Items 1982-1984=100") for the twenty-four calendar month period prior to the immediately preceding first day of January over the immediately preceding twenty-four calendar month period, as reported by the bureau. The director of administrative services shall make this determination and adjust the appropriate amounts accordingly.

(E) If the eTech Ohio commission, the department of education, or the Ohio education computer network determines that it can purchase software services or supplies for specified school districts at a price less than the price for which the districts could purchase the same software services or supplies for themselves, the commission, department, or network shall certify that fact to the department of administrative services office of information technology and, acting as an agent for the specified school districts, shall make that purchase without following the provisions in divisions (A) to (D) of this section.

Sec. 125.06.  The department of administrative services A purchasing authority may, pursuant to division (B) of section 125.05 of the Revised Code and subject to such rules as the director of administrative services particular purchasing authority may adopt, issue a release and permit to the agency to secure supplies or services. A release and permit shall specify the supplies or services to which it applies, the time during which it is operative, and the reason for its issuance. A release and permit for computer services information technology services shall also specify the type of services to be rendered, the number and type of machines to be employed, and may specify the amount of such services to be performed. One copy of every release and permit shall be filed with the agency to which it is issued, and one copy shall be retained by the department purchasing authority.

Sec. 125.07.  The department of administrative services A purchasing authority, in making a purchase by competitive selection pursuant to division (B) of section 125.05 of the Revised Code, shall give notice in the following manner:

(A) The department purchasing authority shall advertise the intended purchases by notice that is posted by mail or electronic means and that is for the benefit of competing persons producing or dealing in the supplies or services to be purchased, including, but not limited to, the persons whose names appear on the appropriate list provided for in section 125.08 of the Revised Code. The notice may be in the form of the bid or proposal document or of a listing in a periodic bulletin, or in any other form the director of administrative services purchasing authority considers appropriate to sufficiently notify qualified competing persons of the intended purchases.

(B) The notice required under division (A) of this section shall include the time and place where bids or proposals will be accepted and opened, or, when bids are made in a reverse auction, the time when bids will be accepted; the conditions under which bids or proposals will be received; the terms of the proposed purchases; and an itemized list of the supplies or services to be purchased and the estimated quantities or amounts of them.

(C) The posting of the notice required under division (A) of this section shall be completed by the number of days the director purchasing authority determines preceding the day when the bids or proposals will be opened or accepted.

(D) The department purchasing authority also shall maintain, in a public place in its office, a bulletin board upon which it shall post and maintain a copy of the notice required under division (A) of this section for at least the number of days the director purchasing authority determines under division (C) of this section preceding the day of the opening or acceptance of the bids or proposals. The failure to so additionally post the notice shall invalidate all proceedings had and any contract entered into pursuant to the proceedings.

Sec. 125.071.  (A) In accordance with rules the director of administrative services purchasing authority shall adopt, the director purchasing authority may make purchases by competitive sealed proposal whenever the director purchasing authority determines that the use of competitive sealed bidding is not possible or not advantageous to the state.

(B) Proposals shall be solicited through a request for proposals. The request for proposals shall state the relative importance of price and other evaluation factors. Notice of the request for proposals shall be given in accordance with rules the director shall adopt.

(C) Proposals shall be opened so as to avoid disclosure of contents to competing offerors.

In order to ensure fair and impartial evaluation, proposals and related documents submitted in response to a request for proposals are not available for public inspection and copying under section 149.43 of the Revised Code until after the award of the contract.

(D) As provided in the request for proposals, and under rules the director purchasing authority shall adopt, discussions may be conducted with responsible offerors who submit proposals determined to be reasonably susceptible of being selected for award for the purpose of ensuring full understanding of, and responsiveness to, solicitation requirements. Offerors shall be accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to any opportunity for discussion regarding any clarification, correction, or revision of proposals. No disclosure of any information derived from proposals submitted by competing offerors shall occur when discussions are conducted.

(E) Award may be made to the offeror whose proposal is determined to be the most advantageous to this state, taking into consideration factors such as price and the evaluation criteria set forth in the request for proposals. The contract file shall contain the basis on which the award is made.

Sec. 125.072.  (A) As used in this section, "reverse auction" means a purchasing process in which offerors submit bids in competing to sell services or supplies in an open environment via the internet.

(B) Whenever the director of administrative services a purchasing authority determines that the use of a reverse auction is advantageous to the state, the director purchasing authority, in accordance with rules the director purchasing authority shall adopt, may purchase services or supplies by reverse auction.

(C) The director purchasing authority, by rule, may authorize a state agency that is authorized to purchase services or supplies directly to purchase them by reverse auction in the same manner as this section and the rules adopted under this section authorize the director purchasing authority to do so.

Sec. 125.073. (A) The department of administrative services purchasing authorities shall actively promote and accelerate the use of electronic procurement, including reverse auctions as defined by section 125.072 of the Revised Code, by implementing the relevant recommendations concerning electronic procurement from the "2000 Management Improvement Commission Report to the Governor" when exercising its statutory powers.

(B) Beginning July 1, 2004, the department of administrative services shall annually on or before the first day of July report to the committees in each house of the general assembly dealing with finance indicating the effectiveness of electronic procurement. Beginning July 1, 2008, the office of information technology shall annually on or before the last day of December, report to the committees in each house of the general assembly dealing with finance indicating the effectiveness during the prior fiscal year of electronic procurement of information technology supplies and services.

Sec. 125.08.  (A) The department of administrative services may divide the state into purchasing districts wherein supplies or services are to be delivered and shall describe those districts on all applications for the notification list provided for in this section.

Any person may have that person's name and address, or the name and address of an agent, placed on the competitive selection notification list of the department of administrative services by sending to the department the person's name and address, together with a list of the supplies or services described in the manner prescribed by the department produced or dealt in by the person with a request for such listing, a list of the districts in which the person desires to participate, and all other information the director of administrative services may prescribe. The director of administrative services shall provide the lists to the office of information technology. Whenever any name and address together with a list of the supplies or services produced or dealt in is so listed, the department purchasing authorities shall post notice, as provided in division (A) of section 125.07 of the Revised Code, for the benefit of the persons listed on the notification list that are qualified Ohio business enterprises, which shall include Ohio penal industries as defined by rule of the director of administrative services, or have a significant Ohio presence in this state's economy, except that, in those circumstances in which the director purchasing authority considers it in the best interest of this state, the director purchasing authority shall post notice, as provided in division (A) of section 125.07 of the Revised Code, for the benefit of all persons listed on the notification list. The department purchasing authority need only provide competitive selection documents for a proposed contract to persons who specifically request the documents.

The director may remove a person from the notification list and place the person on an inactive list if the person fails to respond to any notices of proposed purchases that appear in four consecutive bulletins or other forms of notification that list those notices. Upon written request to the director by the person so removed, the director may return the person to the notification list if the person provides sufficient evidence regarding intent to offer bids or proposals to the state. The director shall not remove any person from the list without notice to the person. The notice may be a part of the notices of proposed purchase.

(B) Any person who is certified by the equal employment opportunity coordinator of the department of administrative services in accordance with the rules adopted under division (B)(1) of section 123.151 of the Revised Code as a minority business enterprise may have that person's name placed on a special minority business enterprise notification list to be used in connection with contracts awarded under section 125.081 of the Revised Code. The minority business enterprise notification list shall be used for bidding on contracts set aside for minority business enterprises only. In all other respects, the list shall be maintained and used in the same manner and according to the same procedures as the notification list provided for under division (A) of this section, except that a firm shall not be removed from the list unless the coordinator determines that the firm is no longer a minority business enterprise. A minority business enterprise may have its name placed on both the notification lists provided for in this section.

(C) The director of administrative services may require an annual registration fee for the listings provided for in division (A) or (B) of this section. This fee shall not be more than ten dollars. The department may charge a fee for any compilation of descriptions of supplies or services. This fee shall be reasonable and shall not exceed the cost required to maintain the notification lists and provide for the distribution of the proposed purchase to the persons whose names appear on the lists.

Sec. 125.081.  (A) From the purchases that the department of administrative services is purchasing authorities are required by law to make through competitive selection, the director of administrative services each purchasing authority shall select a number of such purchases, the aggregate value of which equals approximately fifteen per cent of the estimated total value of all such purchases to be made in the current fiscal year. The director purchasing authority shall set aside the purchases selected for competition only by minority business enterprises, as defined in division (E)(1) of section 122.71 of the Revised Code. The competitive selection procedures for such purchases set aside shall be the same as for all other purchases the department purchasing authority is required to make through competitive selection, except that only minority business enterprises certified by the equal employment opportunity coordinator of the department of administrative services in accordance with the rules adopted under division (B)(1) of section 123.151 of the Revised Code and listed by the director under division (B) of section 125.08 of the Revised Code shall be qualified to compete.

(B) To the extent that any agency of the state, other than the department of administrative services, the office of information technology, the legislative and judicial branches, boards of elections, and the adjutant general, is authorized to make purchases, the agency shall set aside a number of purchases, the aggregate value of which equals approximately fifteen per cent of the aggregate value of such purchases for the current fiscal year for competition by minority business enterprises only. The procedures for such purchases shall be the same as for all other such purchases made by the agency, except that only minority business enterprises certified by the equal employment opportunity coordinator in accordance with rules adopted under division (B)(1) of section 123.151 of the Revised Code shall be qualified to compete.

(C) In the case of purchases set aside under division (A) or (B) of this section, if no bid is submitted by a minority business enterprise, the purchase shall be made according to usual procedures. The contracting agency shall from time to time set aside such additional purchases for which only minority business enterprises may compete, as are necessary to replace those purchases previously set aside for which no minority business enterprises bid and to ensure that, in any fiscal year, the aggregate amount of contracts awarded to minority business enterprises will equal approximately fifteen per cent of the total amount of contracts awarded by the agency.

(D) The provisions of this section shall not preclude any minority business enterprise from competing for any other state purchases that are not specifically set aside for minority business enterprises.

(E) No funds of any state agency shall be expended in any fiscal year for any purchase for which competitive selection is required, until the director of the department of administrative services certifies purchasing authorities certify to the equal employment opportunity coordinator, the clerk of the senate, and the clerk of the house of representatives of the general assembly that approximately fifteen per cent of the aggregate amount of the projected expenditure for such purchases in the fiscal year has been set aside as provided for in this section.

(F) Any person who intentionally misrepresents self as owning, controlling, operating, or participating in a minority business enterprise for the purpose of obtaining contracts, subcontracts, or any other benefits under this section shall be guilty of theft by deception as provided for in section 2913.02 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 125.082.  (A) When purchasing equipment, materials, or supplies, the general assembly; the offices of all elected state officers; all departments, boards, offices, commissions, agencies, institutions, including, without limitation, state-supported institutions of higher education, and other instrumentalities of this state; the supreme court; all courts of appeals; and all courts of common pleas, may purchase recycled products in accordance with the guidelines adopted under division (B) of this section if the products are available and meet the performance specifications of the procuring entities. Purchases of recycled products shall comply with any rules adopted under division (C) of this section.

(B) The director of administrative services purchasing authorities shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing guidelines for the procurement of recycled products pursuant to division (A) of this section. To the extent practicable, the guidelines shall do all of the following:

(1) Be consistent with and substantially equivalent to any relevant regulations adopted by the administrator of the United States environmental protection agency pursuant to the "Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976," 90 Stat. 2806, 42 U.S.C.A. 6921, as amended;

(2) Establish the minimum percentage of recycled materials the various products shall contain in order to be considered "recycled" for the purposes of division (A) of this section;

(3) So far as practicable and economically feasible, incorporate specifications for recycled-content materials to promote the use and purchase of recycled products by state agencies.

(C) The director purchasing authorities may adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing a maximum percentage by which the cost of recycled products purchased under division (A) of this section may exceed the cost of comparable products made of virgin materials.

(D) The department of administrative services, the office of information technology, and the department of natural resources annually shall prepare and submit to the governor, president of the senate, and speaker of the house of representatives a report that describes, so far as practicable, the value and types of recycled products that are purchased with moneys disbursed from the state treasury by the general assembly; the offices of all elected state officers; and all departments, boards, offices, commissions, agencies, and institutions of this state.

Sec. 125.09.  (A) Pursuant to section 125.07 of the Revised Code, the department of administrative services a purchasing authority may prescribe such conditions under which competitive sealed bids will be received and terms of the proposed purchase as it considers necessary; provided, that all such conditions and terms shall be reasonable and shall not unreasonably restrict competition, and bidders may bid upon all or any item of the supplies or services listed in such notice. Those bidders claiming the preference for United States and Ohio products outlined in this chapter shall designate in their bids either that the product to be supplied is an Ohio product or that under the rules established by the director of administrative services purchasing authority they qualify as having a significant Ohio economic presence.

(B) The department purchasing authority may require that each bidder provide sufficient information about the energy efficiency or energy usage of the bidder's product or service.

(C) The director of administrative services purchasing authority shall, by rule adopted pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, prescribe criteria and procedures for use by all state agencies in giving preference to United States and Ohio products as required by division (B) of section 125.11 of the Revised Code. The rules shall extend to:

(1) Criteria for determining that a product is produced or mined in the United States rather than in another country or territory;

(2) Criteria for determining that a product is produced or mined in Ohio;

(3) Information to be submitted by bidders as to the nature of a product and the location where it is produced or mined;

(4) Criteria and procedures to be used by the director purchasing authorities to qualify bidders located in states bordering Ohio who might otherwise be excluded from being awarded a contract by operation of this section and section 125.11 of the Revised Code. The criteria and procedures shall recognize the level and regularity of interstate commerce between Ohio and the border states and provide that the non-Ohio businesses may qualify for award of a contract as long as they are located in a state that imposes no greater restrictions than are contained in this section and section 125.11 of the Revised Code upon persons located in Ohio selling products or services to agencies of that state. The criteria and procedures shall also provide that a non-Ohio business shall not bid on a contract for state printing in this state if the business is located in a state that excludes Ohio businesses from bidding on state printing contracts in that state.

(5) Criteria and procedures to be used to qualify bidders whose manufactured products, except for mined products, are produced in other states or in North America, but the bidders have a significant Ohio economic presence in terms of the number of employees or capital investment a bidder has in this state. Bidders with a significant Ohio economic presence shall qualify for award of a contract on the same basis as if their products were produced in this state.

(6) Criteria and procedures for the director purchasing authority to grant waivers of the requirements of division (B) of section 125.11 of the Revised Code on a contract-by-contract basis where compliance with those requirements would result in the state agency paying an excessive price for the product or acquiring a disproportionately inferior product;

(7) Such other requirements or procedures reasonably necessary to implement the system of preferences established pursuant to division (B) of section 125.11 of the Revised Code.

In adopting the rules required under this division, the director purchasing authority shall, to the maximum extent possible, conform to the requirements of the federal "Buy America Act," 47 Stat. 1520, (1933), 41 U.S.C.A. 10a-10d, as amended, and to the regulations adopted thereunder.

Sec. 125.10.  (A) The department of administrative services A purchasing authority may require that all competitive sealed bids, competitive sealed proposals, and bids received in a reverse auction be accompanied by a performance bond or other cash surety acceptable to the director of administrative services purchasing authority, in the sum and with the sureties it prescribes, payable to the state, and conditioned that the person submitting the bid or proposal, if that person's bid or proposal is accepted, will faithfully execute the terms of the contract and promptly make deliveries of the supplies purchased.

(B) A sealed copy of each competitive sealed bid or competitive sealed proposal shall be filed with the department purchasing authority prior to the time specified in the notice for opening of the bids or proposals. All competitive sealed bids and competitive sealed proposals shall be publicly opened in the office of the department purchasing authority at the time specified in the notice. A representative of the auditor of state shall be present at the opening of all competitive sealed bids and competitive sealed proposals, and shall certify the opening of each competitive sealed bid and competitive sealed proposal. No competitive sealed bid or competitive sealed proposal shall be considered valid unless it is so certified.

Sec. 125.11.  (A) Subject to division (B) of this section, contracts awarded pursuant to a reverse auction under section 125.072 of the Revised Code or pursuant to competitive sealed bidding, including contracts awarded under section 125.081 of the Revised Code, shall be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder on each item in accordance with section 9.312 of the Revised Code. When the contract is for meat products as defined in section 918.01 of the Revised Code or poultry products as defined in section 918.21 of the Revised Code, only those bids received from vendors offering products from establishments on the current list of meat and poultry vendors established and maintained by the director of administrative services under section 125.17 of the Revised Code shall be eligible for acceptance. The department of administrative services purchasing authority may accept or reject any or all bids in whole or by items, except that when the contract is for services or products available from a qualified nonprofit agency pursuant to sections 125.60 to 125.6012 or 4115.31 to 4115.35 of the Revised Code, the contract shall be awarded to that agency.

(B) Prior to awarding a contract under division (A) of this section, the department of administrative services purchasing authority or the state agency responsible for evaluating a contract for the purchase of products shall evaluate the bids received according to the criteria and procedures established pursuant to divisions (C)(1) and (2) of section 125.09 of the Revised Code for determining if a product is produced or mined in the United States and if a product is produced or mined in this state. The department purchasing authority or other state agency shall first remove bids that offer products that have not been or that will not be produced or mined in the United States. From among the remaining bids, the department purchasing authority or other state agency shall select the lowest responsive and responsible bid, in accordance with section 9.312 of the Revised Code, from among the bids that offer products that have been produced or mined in this state where sufficient competition can be generated within this state to ensure that compliance with these requirements will not result in an excessive price for the product or acquiring a disproportionately inferior product. If there are two or more qualified bids that offer products that have been produced or mined in this state, it shall be deemed that there is sufficient competition to prevent an excessive price for the product or the acquiring of a disproportionately inferior product.

(C) Division (B) of this section applies to contracts for which competitive bidding is waived by the controlling board.

(D) Division (B) of this section does not apply to the purchase by the division of liquor control of spirituous liquor.

(E) The director of administrative services shall publish in the form of a model act for use by counties, townships, municipal corporations, or any other political subdivision described in division (B) of section 125.04 of the Revised Code, a system of preferences for products mined and produced in this state and in the United States and for Ohio-based contractors. The model act shall reflect substantial equivalence to the system of preferences in purchasing and public improvement contracting procedures under which the state operates pursuant to this chapter and section 153.012 of the Revised Code. To the maximum extent possible, consistent with the Ohio system of preferences in purchasing and public improvement contracting procedures, the model act shall incorporate all of the requirements of the federal "Buy America Act," 47 Stat. 1520 (1933), 41 U.S.C. 10a to 10d, as amended, and the rules adopted under that act.

Before and during the development and promulgation of the model act, the director shall consult with appropriate statewide organizations representing counties, townships, and municipal corporations so as to identify the special requirements and concerns these political subdivisions have in their purchasing and public improvement contracting procedures. The director shall promulgate the model act by rule adopted pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and shall revise the act as necessary to reflect changes in this chapter or section 153.012 of the Revised Code.

The director shall make available copies of the model act, supporting information, and technical assistance to any township, county, or municipal corporation wishing to incorporate the provisions of the act into its purchasing or public improvement contracting procedure.

Sec. 125.15.  All state agencies required to secure any equipment, materials, supplies, or services from the department of administrative services a purchasing authority shall make acquisition in the manner and upon forms prescribed by the director of administrative services that purchasing authority and shall reimburse the department purchasing authority for the equipment, materials, supplies, or services, including a reasonable sum to cover the department's administrative costs, whenever reimbursement is required by the department purchasing authority. The money so paid shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the general services fund for use by the department of administrative services or the information technology fund for use by the office of information technology, as appropriate. Those funds are hereby created.

Sec. 125.25. (A) The director of administrative services A purchasing authority may debar a vendor from consideration for contract awards upon a finding based upon a reasonable belief that the vendor has done any of the following:

(1) Abused the selection process by repeatedly withdrawing bids or proposals before purchase orders or contracts are issued or failing to accept orders based upon firm bids;

(2) Failed to substantially perform a contract according to its terms, conditions, and specifications within specified time limits;

(3) Failed to cooperate in monitoring contract performance by refusing to provide information or documents required in a contract, failed to respond to complaints to the vendor, or accumulated repeated justified complaints regarding performance of a contract;

(4) Attempted to influence a public employee to breach ethical conduct standards or to influence a contract award;

(5) Colluded to restrain competition by any means;

(6) Been convicted of a criminal offense related to the application for or performance of any public or private contract, including, but not limited to, embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property, and any other offense that directly reflects on the vendor's business integrity;

(7) Been convicted under state or federal antitrust laws;

(8) Deliberately or willfully submitted false or misleading information in connection with the application for or performance of a public contract;

(9) Violated any other responsible business practice or performed in an unsatisfactory manner as determined by the director a purchasing authority;

(10) Through the default of a contract or through other means had a determination of unresolved finding for recovery by the auditor of state under section 9.24 of the Revised Code;

(11) Acted in such a manner as to be debarred from participating in a contract with any governmental agency.

(B) When the director a purchasing authority reasonably believes that grounds for debarment exist, the director purchasing authority shall send the vendor a notice of proposed debarment indicating the grounds for the proposed debarment and the procedure for requesting a hearing on the proposed debarment. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. If the vendor does not respond with a request for a hearing in the manner specified in Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the director purchasing authority shall issue the debarment decision without a hearing and shall notify the vendor of the decision by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(C) The director purchasing authority shall determine the length of the debarment period and may rescind the debarment at any time upon notification to the vendor. During the period of debarment, the vendor is not eligible to participate in any state contract. After the debarment period expires, the vendor shall be eligible to be awarded contracts by state agencies.

(D) The director, through the office of information technology and the office of procurement department of administrative services, shall maintain a list of all vendors currently debarred under this section.

Sec. 125.45.  The department of administrative services shall maintain facilities to perform office reproduction services for all boards, commissions, or departments except for the bureau of workers' compensation. Upon written application to the department of administrative services, permission may be granted to a board, commission, or department to perform such services outside the central facility and such permission shall state the extent of the services which the department, board, or commission shall perform.

Office reproduction services using stencils, masters, or plates are restricted to duplicating equipment not larger than seventeen by twenty-two inches. Not to exceed five thousand press impressions shall be produced of any such order except that up to one thousand production copies may be produced of any item consisting of multiple pages and except that over five thousand, but not more than ten thousand, press impressions may be produced if the director of administrative services determines that there is an emergency due to the timing of service delivery or another factor that may cause financial hardship to the state.

Nothing in this section precludes the bureau from entering into a contract with the department of administrative services for the department to perform office reproduction services for the bureau.

Neither the department nor any other No state agency, other than the department of administrative services, shall perform printing or office reproduction services for political subdivisions.

Sec. 125.93.  The state forms management program shall do each of the following:

(A) Assist state agencies in establishing internal forms management capabilities;

(B) Study, develop, coordinate, and initiate forms of interagency and common administrative usage, and establish basic design and specification criteria to standardize state forms;

(C) Assist state agencies to design economical forms;

(D)(C) Assist, train, and instruct state agencies and their forms management representatives in forms management techniques, and provide direct forms management assistance to new state agencies as they are created;

(E) Maintain a central forms repository of all state forms to facilitate standardization of the forms, eliminate redundant forms, and provide a central source of information on forms usage and availability.

Sec. 125.96.  The director of administrative services may adopt, amend, or rescind rules necessary to carry out the powers and duties imposed upon the state forms management program and state agencies by sections 125.92 to 125.98 of the Revised Code. The director shall adopt, and may amend or rescind, rules providing each of the following:

(A) After a date to be determined by the state forms management program, no state agency shall utilize any form, other than a form subject to division (B) of section 125.95 of the Revised Code, the management of which has not been delegated to the agency by the program under division (A) of that section or been approved by the program.

(B) The notice required by section 125.97 of the Revised Code shall appear in a standard place and a standard manner on each form to which the notice applies, and shall include specified indicia of approval by the state forms management program.

(C) Any form required by a state agency on an emergency basis may be given interim approval by the state forms management program if the form is accompanied by a letter from the director or other head of the agency setting forth the nature of the emergency and requesting interim approval.

Sec. 125.97.  All forms, other than those forms subject to division (B) of section 125.95 of the Revised Code, used to obtain information from private business, agriculture, or local governments, except those forms used by the tax commissioner for administration of taxes and programs, shall contain a conspicuous notice on the first page setting forth the authorization for the form and stating whether providing the information sought is required or voluntary, and any penalties that apply to failure to provide the information.

Sec. 125.98.  (A) Each state agency shall appoint a forms management representative, who may be from existing personnel. The appointee shall cooperate with, and provide other necessary assistance to, the director of administrative services and the state forms management program in implementing the program. A forms management representative shall do all of the following:

(1) Manage the agency's forms management program and cooperate with and provide other necessary assistance to the director of administrative services in implementing the state forms management program;

(2) Monitor the use and reproduction of all forms to ensure that all policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards established by the agency and the director of administrative services are followed;

(3) Ensure that every form used by the agency is presented to the state forms management program for registration prior to its reproduction;

(4) Maintain a master forms file history file, in numeric order, of all agency forms;

(5) Verify and update the all historical information on all forms in the agency's central forms repository database.

(B) Any state agency, as defined in section 1.60 of the Revised Code, not included within the definition of a state agency in section 125.91 of the Revised Code may elect to participate in the state forms management program. The program may provide to any such agency any service required or authorized by sections 125.92 to 125.98 of the Revised Code to be performed for a state agency.

Sec. 126.07.  No Except as provided in division (B) of section 126.21 of the Revised Code, no contract, agreement, or obligation involving the expenditure of money chargeable to an appropriation, nor any resolution or order for the expenditure of money chargeable to an appropriation, shall be valid and enforceable unless the director of budget and management first certifies that there is a balance in the appropriation not already obligated to pay existing obligations, in an amount at least equal to the portion of the contract, agreement, obligation, resolution, or order to be performed in the current fiscal year. Any written contract or agreement entered into by the state shall contain a clause stating that the obligations of the state are subject to this section.

The chief administrative officer of a state agency is responsible for the preaudit and approval of expenditures and other transactions of the agency. In order to make initiate the making of a payment from the state treasury, the person in a state agency who requests that the payment be made shall first submit to the director chief administrative officer of the agency all invoices, claims, vouchers, and other evidentiary matter documentation related to the payment. If the director approves payment to be made, the director shall draw a warrant as provided in section 126.35 of the Revised Code. The chief administrative officer shall examine each voucher and all other documentation required to support the voucher and determine whether they meet all the requirements established by the director of budget and management for making the payment. If they do meet those requirements, the chief administrative officer shall certify to the director the approval of the chief administrative officer for payment.

Prior to drawing a warrant as provided in section 126.35 of the Revised Code, the director may review and audit the voucher, any documentation accompanying the voucher, and any other documentation related to the transaction that the director may require to determine if the transaction is in accordance with law. The director shall not approve payment to be made if the director finds that there is not an unobligated balance in the appropriation for the payment, that the payment is not for a valid claim against the state that is legally due, or that insufficient evidentiary matter documentation has been submitted. If the director does not approve payment, the director shall notify the agency of the reasons the director has not given approval.

In approving payments to be made under this section, the director, upon receipt of certification from the director of job and family services pursuant to section 4141.231 of the Revised Code, shall withhold from amounts otherwise payable to a person who is the subject of the director of jobs and family services' certification, the amount certified to be due and unpaid to the director of job and family services, and shall approve for payment to the director of job and family services, the amount withheld.

As used in this section and in section 126.21 of the Revised Code, "chief administrative officer" means either of the following:

(A) The director of the agency or, in the case of a state agency without a director, the equivalent officer of that agency;

(B) The designee of the chief administrative officer for the purposes of such sections.

Sec. 126.08.  The director of budget and management may exercise control over the financial transactions of state agencies, including approving, disapproving, voiding, or invalidating encumbrances or transactions, except those in the judicial and legislative branches, by:

(A) Requiring encumbrancing documents or any other financial information to be submitted to the director, where such submission is prescribed by law or where the director considers such submission necessary to evaluate the legality of a proposed an expenditure, and by approving or disapproving any encumbrance requested, except that the director shall not disapprove any encumbrancing document submitted by the attorney general, auditor of state, secretary of state, or treasurer of state unless there is an insufficient unobligated balance in the appropriation or the encumbrance does not meet all other legal requirements. Those portions of an appropriation that are encumbered are not available for expenditure for any purpose other than that indicated on the encumbrancing document. If any requirements of the director regarding the submission of encumbrancing documents or other financial information are not complied with, or if any encumbrancing document is disapproved in whole or in part, the director shall notify the submitting agency thereof and shall not authorize payment unless the reasons for disapproval are corrected.

(B) Requiring the allocation and allotment of any appropriation by quarter or by any other period of time.

(C) Reporting to the attorney general for such action, civil or criminal, as the attorney general considers necessary, all facts showing improper payment of public money or misappropriation of public property;

(D) By adopting rules for carrying into effect any powers granted by this chapter.

Sec. 126.17.  (A) There is hereby established the position of state chief information officer, who shall be appointed by the director of budget and management and subject to removal at the pleasure of the director. The state chief information officer shall report to the director of budget and management and shall be an assistant director of the office of budget and management in addition to the assistant director created in section 121.05 of the Revised Code. There is the office of information technology in the office of budget and management. The office of information technology shall be supervised by the state chief information officer, subject to the authority of the director of budget and management. The state chief information officer shall have all authority granted to the office of information technology, and the exercise of that authority shall be subject to the approval of the director of budget and management.

(B) The state chief information officer shall annually submit a report to the governor regarding the statewide superintendence of information technology and implementation of statewide information technology policy.

(C) The state chief information officer shall lead, oversee, and direct state agency activities related to information technology development and use. In that regard, the state chief information officer shall do all of the following:

(1) Coordinate and superintend statewide efforts to promote common use and development of technology by state agencies. The office of information technology shall establish policies and standards that govern and direct state agency participation in statewide programs and initiatives.

(2) Establish policies and standards for the acquisition and use of information technology by state agencies, including, but not limited to, hardware, software, technology services, and security, with which state agencies shall comply;

(3) Establish criteria and review processes to identify state agency information technology projects that require alignment or oversight. As appropriate, the state chief information officer shall provide the director of budget and management with notice and advice regarding the appropriate allocation of resources for those projects. The state chief information officer may prescribe the form and manner by which state agencies must provide, and may require state agencies to provide, information to fulfill the state chief information officer's alignment and oversight role.

(D) The office of information technology has the authority for the purchase of information technology supplies and services for state agencies consistent with sections 125.01, 125.011, 125.02, 125.023, 125.04, 125.05, 125.06, 125.07, 125.071, 125.072, 125.081, 125.09, 125.10, 125.11, 125.15, and 125.25 of the Revised Code.

(E) The office of information technology may make contracts for, operate, and superintend technology supplies and services for state agencies in accordance with this chapter.

(F) The office of information technology may establish cooperative agreements with federal and local government agencies and state agencies that are not under the authority of the governor for the provision of technology services and the development of technology projects.

(G) As used in this section, "state agency" includes every organized body, office, or agency established by the laws of the state for the exercise of any function of state government, other than any state-supported institution of higher education, the office of the auditor of state, treasurer of state, secretary of state, or attorney general, the public employees retirement system, the Ohio police and fire pension fund, the state teachers retirement system, the school employees retirement system, the state highway patrol retirement system, the general assembly or any legislative agency, or the courts or any judicial agency.

(H) There is hereby created in the state treasury the IT governance fund for the purpose of carrying out the office of information technology's responsibilities described in this section. The fund shall consist of revenues generated from payroll charges, billed services, administrative assessments, and other revenues designated to support the responsibilities described in this section.

Sec. 126.18.  (A) The office of information technology shall do both of the following:

(1) Create a business reply form that is capable of containing information that a private business is required to provide to state agencies on a regular basis. The office of information technology shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code specifying the information that the form shall contain. State agencies shall use the business reply form to obtain information from private businesses.

(2) Maintain the Ohio business gateway, as defined in section 718.051 of the Revised Code.

In creating the business reply form described in division (A)(1) of this section, the office of information technology may consider the recommendations of interested parties from the small business community who have direct knowledge of and familiarity with the current state reporting requirements that apply to, and the associated forms that are filed by, small businesses.

(B) The office of information technology shall establish procedures by which state agencies may share the information that is collected through the form established under division (A) of this section. These procedures shall provide that information that has been designated as confidential by any state agency shall not be made available to the other state agencies having access to the business reply form.

(C) The office of information technology may report to the director of budget and management and to the committees having jurisdiction over finance and state government affairs in the house of representatives and the senate on the progress of state agencies in complying with division (A)(1) of this section. The office of information technology may recommend a five per cent reduction in the future appropriations of any state agency that has failed to comply with that division without good cause.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "State agency" has the same meaning as defined in section 126.17 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Form" has the same meaning as defined in section 125.91 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 126.19.  (A) There is established the multi-agency radio communications system (MARCS). The system shall be a computer and communications network to provide voice and data communications statewide maintained by the office of information technology. MARCS shall supply a communications backbone for statewide public safety uses in a single system shared by several state agencies. The system shall provide mobile voice, data, vehicle location services, and computer-aided dispatching. The office of information technology shall promote MARCS as a statewide interoperable communications system for public safety agencies at all levels of government. Subject to the approval of the MARCS steering committee, the office of information technology may make MARCS available to agencies for uses not related to public safety.

(B) There is hereby established a MARCS steering committee consisting of the designees of the state chief information officer; the directors of public safety, health, natural resources, transportation, rehabilitation and correction, and youth services; and a designee not from a state agency who shall be appointed by the state chief information officer. The state chief information officer or the officer's designee shall chair the committee. The committee shall provide assistance to the office of information technology for effective and efficient implementation of the MARCS system as well as develop policies for the ongoing management of the system. Upon dates prescribed by the state chief information officer, the MARCS steering committee shall report to the state chief information officer on the progress of MARCS implementation and the development of policies related to the system. The MARCS steering committee may permit secondary uses of MARCS not related to public safety so long as those secondary uses do not interfere with the system's primary use for public safety.

Sec. 126.21.  (A) The director of budget and management shall do all of the following:

(1) Keep all necessary accounting records;

(2) Prescribe and maintain the accounting system of the state and establish appropriate accounting procedures and charts of accounts;

(3) Establish procedures for the use of written, electronic, optical, or other communications media for approving and reviewing payment vouchers;

(4) Reconcile, in the case of any variation between the amount of any appropriation and the aggregate amount of items of the appropriation, with the advice and assistance of the state agency affected by it and the legislative service commission, totals so as to correspond in the aggregate with the total appropriation. In the case of a conflict between the item and the total of which it is a part, the item shall be considered the intended appropriation.

(5) Evaluate on an ongoing basis and, if necessary, recommend improvements to the internal controls used in state agencies;

(6) Authorize the establishment of petty cash accounts. The director of budget and management may withdraw approval for any petty cash account and require the officer in charge to return to the state treasury any unexpended balance shown by the officer's accounts to be on hand. Any officer who is issued a warrant for petty cash shall render a detailed account of the expenditures of the petty cash and shall report when requested the balance of petty cash on hand at any time.

(7) Process orders, invoices, vouchers, claims, and payrolls and prepare financial reports and statements;

(8) Perform extensions, reviews, and compliance checks prior to or after approving a payment as the director considers necessary;

(9) Issue the official comprehensive annual financial report of the state. The report shall cover all funds of the state reporting entity and shall include basic financial statements and required supplementary information prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and other information as the director provides. All state agencies, authorities, institutions, offices, retirement systems, and other component units of the state reporting entity as determined by the director shall furnish the director whatever financial statements and other information the director requests for the report, in the form, at the times, covering the periods, and with the attestation the director prescribes. The information for state institutions of higher education, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, shall be submitted to the director chancellor by the Ohio board of regents. The board shall establish a due date by which each such institution shall submit the information to the board, but no such date shall be later than one hundred twenty days after the end of the state fiscal year unless a later date is approved by the director.

(B) In addition to the director's duties under division (A) of this section, the director of budget and management may establish and administer one or more state payment card programs that permit or require state agencies to use a payment card to purchase equipment, materials, supplies, or services in accordance with guidelines issued by the director. The chief administrative officer of a state agency that uses a payment card for such purposes shall ensure that purchases made with the card are made in accordance with the guidelines issued by the director and do not exceed the unexpended, unencumbered, unobligated balance in the appropriation to be charged for the purchase. State agencies may only participate in only those state payment card programs that the director establishes pursuant to this section.

(C) In addition to the director's duties under divisions (A) and (B) of this section, the director may enter into any contract or agreement necessary for and incidental to the performance of the director's duties or the duties of the office of budget and management.

Sec. 126.22.  The director of budget and management may:

(A) Perform accounting services for and design and implement accounting systems with state agencies;

(B) Provide other accounting services, including the maintenance and periodic auditing of the financial records of and submission of vouchers by state agencies, provision of assistance in the analysis of the financial position of state agencies, and preparation and submission of reports;

(C) Change any accounting code appearing in appropriations acts of the general assembly.

Sec. 126.24. The OAKS support organization fund is hereby created in the state treasury for the purpose of paying the operating expenses of the state's enterprise resource planning system. The fund shall consist of cash transfers from the accounting and budgeting fund and the human resources services fund, and other revenues designated to support the operating costs of the Ohio administrative knowledge system. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

Sec. 126.40. There is hereby created in the state treasury the forgery recovery fund. The fund shall consist of all moneys collected by the attorney general from the resolution of cases of fraud or forgery involving warrants issued by the director of the office of budget and management. The director shall use the fund to pay costs associated with the reissue of state warrants to payees whose warrants were fraudulently redeemed.

Sec. 127.14.  The controlling board may, at the request of any state agency or the director of budget and management, authorize, with respect to the provisions of any appropriation act:

(A) Transfers of all or part of an appropriation within but not between state agencies, except such transfers as the director of budget and management is authorized by law to make, provided that no transfer shall be made by the director for the purpose of effecting new or changed levels of program service not authorized by the general assembly;

(B) Transfers of all or part of an appropriation from one fiscal year to another;

(C) Transfers of all or part of an appropriation within or between state agencies made necessary by administrative reorganization or by the abolition of an agency or part of an agency;

(D) Transfers of all or part of cash balances in excess of needs from any fund of the state to the general revenue fund or to such other fund of the state to which the money would have been credited in the absence of the fund from which the transfers are authorized to be made, except that the controlling board may not authorize such transfers from the accrued leave liability fund, auto registration distribution fund, budget stabilization fund, development bond retirement fund, facilities establishment fund, gasoline excise tax fund, general revenue fund, higher education improvement fund, highway improvement bond retirement fund, highway obligations bond retirement fund, highway capital improvement fund, highway operating fund, horse racing tax fund, improvements bond retirement fund, library and local government support libraries fund, liquor control fund, local government communities fund, local transportation improvement program fund, mental health facilities improvement fund, Ohio fairs fund, parks and recreation improvement fund, public improvements bond retirement fund, school district income tax fund, state agency facilities improvement fund, state and local government highway distribution fund, state highway safety fund, state lottery fund, undivided liquor permit fund, Vietnam conflict compensation bond retirement fund, volunteer fire fighters' dependents fund, waterways safety fund, wildlife fund, workers' compensation fund, or any fund not specified in this division that the director of budget and management determines to be a bond fund or bond retirement fund;

(E) Transfers of all or part of those appropriations included in the emergency purposes account of the controlling board;

(F) Temporary transfers of all or part of an appropriation or other moneys into and between existing funds, or new funds, as may be established by law when needed for capital outlays for which notes or bonds will be issued;

(G) Transfer or release of all or part of an appropriation to a state agency requiring controlling board approval of such transfer or release as provided by law;

(H) Temporary transfer of funds included in the emergency purposes appropriation of the controlling board. Such temporary transfers may be made subject to conditions specified by the controlling board at the time temporary transfers are authorized. No transfers shall be made under this division for the purpose of effecting new or changed levels of program service not authorized by the general assembly.

As used in this section, "request" means an application by a state agency or the director of budget and management seeking some action by the controlling board.

When authorizing the transfer of all or part of an appropriation under this section, the controlling board may authorize the transfer to an existing appropriation item and the creation of and transfer to a new appropriation item.

Whenever there is a transfer of all or part of funds included in the emergency purposes appropriation by the controlling board, pursuant to division (E) of this section, the state agency or the director of budget and management receiving such transfer shall keep a detailed record of the use of the transferred funds. At the earliest scheduled meeting of the controlling board following the accomplishment of the purposes specified in the request originally seeking the transfer, or following the total expenditure of the transferred funds for the specified purposes, the state agency or the director of budget and management shall submit a report on the expenditure of such funds to the board. The portion of any appropriation so transferred which is not required to accomplish the purposes designated in the original request to the controlling board shall be returned to the proper appropriation of the controlling board at this time.

Notwithstanding any provisions of law providing for the deposit of revenues received by a state agency to the credit of a particular fund in the state treasury, whenever there is a temporary transfer of funds included in the emergency purposes appropriation of the controlling board pursuant to division (H) of this section, revenues received by any state agency receiving such a temporary transfer of funds shall, as directed by the controlling board, be transferred back to the emergency purposes appropriation.

The board may delegate to the director of budget and management authority to approve transfers among items of appropriation under division (A) of this section.

Sec. 127.16.  (A) Upon the request of either a state agency or the director of budget and management and after the controlling board determines that an emergency or a sufficient economic reason exists, the controlling board may approve the making of a purchase without competitive selection as provided in division (B) of this section.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no state agency, using money that has been appropriated to it directly, shall:

(1) Make any purchase from a particular supplier, that would amount to fifty thousand dollars or more when combined with both the amount of all disbursements to the supplier during the fiscal year for purchases made by the agency and the amount of all outstanding encumbrances for purchases made by the agency from the supplier, unless the purchase is made by competitive selection or with the approval of the controlling board;

(2) Lease real estate from a particular supplier, if the lease would amount to seventy-five thousand dollars or more when combined with both the amount of all disbursements to the supplier during the fiscal year for real estate leases made by the agency and the amount of all outstanding encumbrances for real estate leases made by the agency from the supplier, unless the lease is made by competitive selection or with the approval of the controlling board.

(C) Any person who authorizes a purchase in violation of division (B) of this section shall be liable to the state for any state funds spent on the purchase, and the attorney general shall collect the amount from the person.

(D) Nothing in division (B) of this section shall be construed as:

(1) A limitation upon the authority of the director of transportation as granted in sections 5501.17, 5517.02, and 5525.14 of the Revised Code;

(2) Applying to medicaid provider agreements under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code or payments or provider agreements under the disability medical assistance program established under Chapter 5115. of the Revised Code;

(3) Applying to the purchase of examinations from a sole supplier by a state licensing board under Title XLVII of the Revised Code;

(4) Applying to entertainment contracts for the Ohio state fair entered into by the Ohio expositions commission, provided that the controlling board has given its approval to the commission to enter into such contracts and has approved a total budget amount for such contracts as agreed upon by commission action, and that the commission causes to be kept itemized records of the amounts of money spent under each contract and annually files those records with the clerk of the house of representatives and the clerk of the senate following the close of the fair;

(5) Limiting the authority of the chief of the division of mineral resources management to contract for reclamation work with an operator mining adjacent land as provided in section 1513.27 of the Revised Code;

(6) Applying to investment transactions and procedures of any state agency, except that the agency shall file with the board the name of any person with whom the agency contracts to make, broker, service, or otherwise manage its investments, as well as the commission, rate, or schedule of charges of such person with respect to any investment transactions to be undertaken on behalf of the agency. The filing shall be in a form and at such times as the board considers appropriate.

(7) Applying to purchases made with money for the per cent for arts program established by section 3379.10 of the Revised Code;

(8) Applying to purchases made by the rehabilitation services commission of services, or supplies, that are provided to persons with disabilities, or to purchases made by the commission in connection with the eligibility determinations it makes for applicants of programs administered by the social security administration;

(9) Applying to payments by the department of job and family services under section 5111.13 of the Revised Code for group health plan premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost-sharing expenses;

(10) Applying to any agency of the legislative branch of the state government;

(11) Applying to agreements or contracts entered into under section 5101.11, 5101.20, 5101.201, 5101.21, or 5101.214 of the Revised Code;

(12) Applying to purchases of services by the adult parole authority under section 2967.14 of the Revised Code or by the department of youth services under section 5139.08 of the Revised Code;

(13) Applying to dues or fees paid for membership in an organization or association;

(14) Applying to purchases of utility services pursuant to section 9.30 of the Revised Code;

(15) Applying to purchases made in accordance with rules adopted by the department of administrative services of motor vehicle, aviation, or watercraft fuel, or emergency repairs of such vehicles;

(16) Applying to purchases of tickets for passenger air transportation;

(17) Applying to purchases necessary to provide public notifications required by law or to provide notifications of job openings;

(18) Applying to the judicial branch of state government;

(19) Applying to purchases of liquor for resale by the division of liquor control;

(20) Applying to purchases of motor courier and freight services made in accordance with department of administrative services rules;

(21) Applying to purchases from the United States postal service and purchases of stamps and postal meter replenishment from vendors at rates established by the United States postal service;

(22) Applying to purchases of books, periodicals, pamphlets, newspapers, maintenance subscriptions, and other published materials;

(23) Applying to purchases from other state agencies, including state-assisted institutions of higher education;

(24) Limiting the authority of the director of environmental protection to enter into contracts under division (D) of section 3745.14 of the Revised Code to conduct compliance reviews, as defined in division (A) of that section;

(25) Applying to purchases from a qualified nonprofit agency pursuant to sections 125.60 to 125.6012 or 4115.31 to 4115.35 of the Revised Code;

(26) Applying to payments by the department of job and family services to the United States department of health and human services for printing and mailing notices pertaining to the tax refund offset program of the internal revenue service of the United States department of the treasury;

(27) Applying to contracts entered into by the department of mental retardation and developmental disabilities under sections section 5123.18, 5123.182, and 5123.199 of the Revised Code;

(28) Applying to payments made by the department of mental health under a physician recruitment program authorized by section 5119.101 of the Revised Code;

(29) Applying to contracts entered into with persons by the director of commerce for unclaimed funds collection and remittance efforts as provided in division (F) of section 169.03 of the Revised Code. The director shall keep an itemized accounting of unclaimed funds collected by those persons and amounts paid to them for their services.

(30) Applying to purchases made by a state institution of higher education in accordance with the terms of a contract between the vendor and an inter-university purchasing group comprised of purchasing officers of state institutions of higher education;

(31) Applying to the department of job and family services' purchases of health assistance services under the children's health insurance program part I provided for under section 5101.50 of the Revised Code or the children's health insurance program part II provided for under section 5101.51 of the Revised Code;

(32) Applying to payments by the attorney general from the reparations fund to hospitals and other emergency medical facilities for performing medical examinations to collect physical evidence pursuant to section 2907.28 of the Revised Code;

(33) Applying to contracts with a contracting authority or administrative receiver under division (B) of section 5126.056 of the Revised Code;

(34) Applying to reimbursements paid to the United States department of veterans affairs for pharmaceutical and patient supply purchases made on behalf of the Ohio veterans' home agency;

(35) Applying to agreements entered into with terminal distributors of dangerous drugs under section 5110.20 of the Revised Code.

(E) Notwithstanding division (B)(1) of this section, the cumulative purchase threshold shall be seventy-five thousand dollars for the departments of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, mental health, rehabilitation and correction, and youth services.

(F) When determining whether a state agency has reached the cumulative purchase thresholds established in divisions (B)(1), (B)(2), and (E) of this section, all of the following purchases by such agency shall not be considered:

(1) Purchases made through competitive selection or with controlling board approval;

(2) Purchases listed in division (D) of this section;

(3) For the purposes of the thresholds of divisions (B)(1) and (E) of this section only, leases of real estate.

(G) As used in this section, "competitive selection," "purchase," "supplies," and "services" have the same meanings as in section 125.01 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 131.44.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Surplus revenue" means the excess, if any, of the total fund balance over the required year-end balance.

(2) "Total fund balance" means the sum of the unencumbered balance in the general revenue fund on the last day of the preceding fiscal year plus the balance in the budget stabilization fund.

(3) "Required year-end balance" means the sum of the following:

(a) Five per cent of the general revenue fund revenues for the preceding fiscal year;

(b) "Ending fund balance," which means one-half of one per cent of general revenue fund revenues for the preceding fiscal year;

(c) "Carryover balance," which means, with respect to a fiscal biennium, the excess, if any, of the estimated general revenue fund appropriation and transfer requirement for the second fiscal year of the biennium over the estimated general revenue fund revenue for that fiscal year;

(d) "Capital appropriation reserve," which means the amount, if any, of general revenue fund capital appropriations made for the current biennium that the director of budget and management has determined will be encumbered or disbursed;

(e) "Income tax reduction impact reserve," which means an amount equal to the reduction projected by the director of budget and management in income tax revenue in the current fiscal year attributable to the previous reduction in the income tax rate made by the tax commissioner pursuant to division (B) of section 5747.02 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Estimated general revenue fund appropriation and transfer requirement" means the most recent adjusted appropriations made by the general assembly from the general revenue fund and includes both of the following:

(a) Appropriations made and transfers of appropriations from the first fiscal year to the second fiscal year of the biennium in provisions of acts of the general assembly signed by the governor but not yet effective;

(b) Transfers of appropriation from the first fiscal year to the second fiscal year of the biennium approved by the controlling board.

(5) "Estimated general revenue fund revenue" means the most recent such estimate available to the director of budget and management.

(B)(1) Not later than the thirty-first day of July each year, the director of budget and management shall determine the surplus revenue that existed on the preceding thirtieth day of June and transfer from the general revenue fund, to the extent of the unobligated, unencumbered balance on the preceding thirtieth day of June in excess of one-half of one per cent of the general revenue fund revenues in the preceding fiscal year, the following:

(a) First, to the budget stabilization fund, any amount necessary for the balance of the budget stabilization fund to equal five per cent of the general revenue fund revenues of the preceding fiscal year;

(b) Then, to the income tax reduction fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury, an amount equal to the surplus revenue.

(2) Not later than the thirty-first day of July each year, the director shall determine the percentage that the balance in the income tax reduction fund is of the amount of revenue that the director estimates will be received from the tax levied under section 5747.02 of the Revised Code in the current fiscal year without regard to any reduction under division (B) of that section. If that percentage exceeds thirty-five one hundredths of one per cent, the director shall certify the percentage to the tax commissioner not later than the thirty-first day of July.

(C) The director of budget and management shall transfer money in the income tax reduction fund to the general revenue fund, the local government communities fund, and the library and local government support libraries fund, and the local government revenue assistance fund as necessary to offset revenue reductions resulting from the reductions in taxes required under division (B) of section 5747.02 of the Revised Code in the respective amounts and percentages prescribed by divisions division (A)(1), (2), and (4) of section 5747.03 and divisions (A) and (B) of section 133.51 of the Revised Code as if the amount transferred had been collected as taxes under Chapter 5747. of the Revised Code. If no reductions in taxes are made under that division that affect revenue received in the current fiscal year, the director shall not transfer money from the income tax reduction fund to the general revenue fund, the local government communities fund, and the library and local government support libraries fund, and the local government revenue assistance fund.

Sec. 131.51.  (A) Beginning January 2008, on or before the fifth day of each month, the director of budget and management shall credit to the local communities fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury, three and sixty-five one hundredths per cent of total tax revenue credited to the general revenue fund during the preceding month. In determining the total tax revenue credited to the general revenue fund during the preceding month, the director shall include amounts transferred from that fund during the preceding month pursuant to divisions (A) and (B) of this section. Money shall be distributed from the local communities fund as required under section 5747.50 of the Revised Code during the same month in which it is credited to the fund.

(B) Beginning January 2008, on or before the fifth day of each month, the director of budget and management shall credit to the local libraries fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury, two and two-tenths per cent of the total tax revenue credited to the general revenue fund during the preceding month. In determining the total tax revenue credited to the general revenue fund during the preceding month, the director shall include amounts transferred from that fund during the preceding month pursuant to divisions (A) and (B) of this section. Money shall be distributed from the local libraries fund as required under section 5747.47 of the Revised Code during the same month in which it is credited to the fund.

(C) The director of budget and management shall develop a schedule identifying the specific tax revenue sources to be used to make the monthly transfers required under divisions (A) and (B) of this section. The director may, from time to time, revise the schedule as the director considers necessary.

Sec. 133.01.  As used in this chapter, in sections 9.95, 9.96, and 2151.655 of the Revised Code, in other sections of the Revised Code that make reference to this chapter unless the context does not permit, and in related proceedings, unless otherwise expressly provided:

(A) "Acquisition" as applied to real or personal property includes, among other forms of acquisition, acquisition by exercise of a purchase option, and acquisition of interests in property, including, without limitation, easements and rights-of-way, and leasehold and other lease interests initially extending or extendable for a period of at least sixty months.

(B) "Anticipatory securities" means securities, including notes, issued in anticipation of the issuance of other securities.

(C) "Board of elections" means the county board of elections of the county in which the subdivision is located. If the subdivision is located in more than one county, "board of elections" means the county board of elections of the county that contains the largest portion of the population of the subdivision or that otherwise has jurisdiction in practice over and customarily handles election matters relating to the subdivision.

(D) "Bond retirement fund" means the bond retirement fund provided for in section 5705.09 of the Revised Code, and also means a sinking fund or any other special fund, regardless of the name applied to it, established by or pursuant to law or the proceedings for the payment of debt charges. Provision may be made in the applicable proceedings for the establishment in a bond retirement fund of separate accounts relating to debt charges on particular securities, or on securities payable from the same or common sources, and for the application of moneys in those accounts only to specified debt charges on specified securities or categories of securities. Subject to law and any provisions in the applicable proceedings, moneys in a bond retirement fund or separate account in a bond retirement fund may be transferred to other funds and accounts.

(E) "Capitalized interest" means all or a portion of the interest payable on securities from their date to a date stated or provided for in the applicable legislation, which interest is to be paid from the proceeds of the securities.

(F) "Chapter 133. securities" means securities authorized by or issued pursuant to or in accordance with this chapter.

(G) "County auditor" means the county auditor of the county in which the subdivision is located. If the subdivision is located in more than one county, "county auditor" means the county auditor of the county that contains the highest amount of the tax valuation of the subdivision or that otherwise has jurisdiction in practice over and customarily handles property tax matters relating to the subdivision. In the case of a county that has adopted a charter, "county auditor" means the officer who generally has the duties and functions provided in the Revised Code for a county auditor.

(H) "Credit enhancement facilities" means letters of credit, lines of credit, stand-by, contingent, or firm securities purchase agreements, insurance, or surety arrangements, guarantees, and other arrangements that provide for direct or contingent payment of debt charges, for security or additional security in the event of nonpayment or default in respect of securities, or for making payment of debt charges to and at the option and on demand of securities holders or at the option of the issuer or upon certain conditions occurring under put or similar arrangements, or for otherwise supporting the credit or liquidity of the securities, and includes credit, reimbursement, marketing, remarketing, indexing, carrying, interest rate hedge, and subrogation agreements, and other agreements and arrangements for payment and reimbursement of the person providing the credit enhancement facility and the security for that payment and reimbursement.

(I) "Current operating expenses" or "current expenses" means the lawful expenditures of a subdivision, except those for permanent improvements and for payments of debt charges of the subdivision.

(J) "Debt charges" means the principal, including any mandatory sinking fund deposits and mandatory redemption payments, interest, and any redemption premium, payable on securities as those payments come due and are payable. The use of "debt charges" for this purpose does not imply that any particular securities constitute debt within the meaning of the Ohio Constitution or other laws.

(K) "Financing costs" means all costs and expenses relating to the authorization, including any required election, issuance, sale, delivery, authentication, deposit, custody, clearing, registration, transfer, exchange, fractionalization, replacement, payment, and servicing of securities, including, without limitation, costs and expenses for or relating to publication and printing, postage, delivery, preliminary and final official statements, offering circulars, and informational statements, travel and transportation, underwriters, placement agents, investment bankers, paying agents, registrars, authenticating agents, remarketing agents, custodians, clearing agencies or corporations, securities depositories, financial advisory services, certifications, audits, federal or state regulatory agencies, accounting and computation services, legal services and obtaining approving legal opinions and other legal opinions, credit ratings, redemption premiums, and credit enhancement facilities. Financing costs may be paid from any moneys available for the purpose, including, unless otherwise provided in the proceedings, from the proceeds of the securities to which they relate and, as to future financing costs, from the same sources from which debt charges on the securities are paid and as though debt charges.

(L) "Fiscal officer" means the following, or, in the case of absence or vacancy in the office, a deputy or assistant authorized by law or charter to act in the place of the named officer, or if there is no such authorization then the deputy or assistant authorized by legislation to act in the place of the named officer for purposes of this chapter, in the case of the following subdivisions:

(1) A county, the county auditor;

(2) A municipal corporation, the city auditor or village clerk or clerk-treasurer, or the officer who, by virtue of a charter, has the duties and functions provided in the Revised Code for the city auditor or village clerk or clerk-treasurer;

(3) A school district, the treasurer of the board of education;

(4) A regional water and sewer district, the secretary of the board of trustees;

(5) A joint township hospital district, the treasurer of the district;

(6) A joint ambulance district, the clerk of the board of trustees;

(7) A joint recreation district, the person designated pursuant to section 755.15 of the Revised Code;

(8) A detention facility district or a district organized under section 2151.65 of the Revised Code or a combined district organized under sections 2152.41 and 2151.65 of the Revised Code, the county auditor of the county designated by law to act as the auditor of the district;

(9) A township, a fire district organized under division (C) of section 505.37 of the Revised Code, or a township police district, the fiscal officer of the township;

(10) A joint fire district, the clerk of the board of trustees of that district;

(11) A regional or county library district, the person responsible for the financial affairs of that district;

(12) A joint solid waste management district, the fiscal officer appointed by the board of directors of the district under section 343.01 of the Revised Code;

(13) A joint emergency medical services district, the person appointed as fiscal officer pursuant to division (D) of section 307.053 of the Revised Code;

(14) A fire and ambulance district, the person appointed as fiscal officer under division (B) of section 505.375 of the Revised Code;

(15) A subdivision described in division (MM)(17) of this section, the officer who is designated by law as or performs the functions of its chief fiscal officer.

(M) "Fiscal year" has the same meaning as in section 9.34 of the Revised Code.

(N) "Fractionalized interests in public obligations" means participations, certificates of participation, shares, or other instruments or agreements, separate from the public obligations themselves, evidencing ownership of interests in public obligations or of rights to receive payments of, or on account of, principal or interest or their equivalents payable by or on behalf of an obligor pursuant to public obligations.

(O) "Fully registered securities" means securities in certificated or uncertificated form, registered as to both principal and interest in the name of the owner.

(P) "Fund" means to provide for the payment of debt charges and expenses related to that payment at or prior to retirement by purchase, call for redemption, payment at maturity, or otherwise.

(Q) "General obligation" means securities to the payment of debt charges on which the full faith and credit and the general property taxing power, including taxes within the tax limitation if available to the subdivision, of the subdivision are pledged.

(R) "Interest" or "interest equivalent" means those payments or portions of payments, however denominated, that constitute or represent consideration for forbearing the collection of money, or for deferring the receipt of payment of money to a future time.

(S) "Internal Revenue Code" means the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 1 et seq., as amended, and includes any laws of the United States providing for application of that code.

(T) "Issuer" means any public issuer and any nonprofit corporation authorized to issue securities for or on behalf of any public issuer.

(U) "Legislation" means an ordinance or resolution passed by a majority affirmative vote of the then members of the taxing authority unless a different vote is required by charter provisions governing the passage of the particular legislation by the taxing authority.

(V) "Mandatory sinking fund redemption requirements" means amounts required by proceedings to be deposited in a bond retirement fund for the purpose of paying in any year or fiscal year by mandatory redemption prior to stated maturity the principal of securities that is due and payable, except for mandatory prior redemption requirements as provided in those proceedings, in a subsequent year or fiscal year.

(W) "Mandatory sinking fund requirements" means amounts required by proceedings to be deposited in a year or fiscal year in a bond retirement fund for the purpose of paying the principal of securities that is due and payable in a subsequent year or fiscal year.

(X) "Net indebtedness" has the same meaning as in division (A) of section 133.04 of the Revised Code.

(Y) "Obligor," in the case of securities or fractionalized interests in public obligations issued by another person the debt charges or their equivalents on which are payable from payments made by a public issuer, means that public issuer.

(Z) "One purpose" relating to permanent improvements means any one permanent improvement or group or category of permanent improvements for the same utility, enterprise, system, or project, development or redevelopment project, or for or devoted to the same general purpose, function, or use or for which self-supporting securities, based on the same or different sources of revenues, may be issued or for which special assessments may be levied by a single ordinance or resolution. "One purpose" includes, but is not limited to, in any case any off-street parking facilities relating to another permanent improvement, and:

(1) Any number of roads, highways, streets, bridges, sidewalks, and viaducts;

(2) Any number of off-street parking facilities;

(3) In the case of a county, any number of permanent improvements for courthouse, jail, county offices, and other county buildings, and related facilities;

(4) In the case of a school district, any number of facilities and buildings for school district purposes, and related facilities.

(AA) "Outstanding," referring to securities, means securities that have been issued, delivered, and paid for, except any of the following:

(1) Securities canceled upon surrender, exchange, or transfer, or upon payment or redemption;

(2) Securities in replacement of which or in exchange for which other securities have been issued;

(3) Securities for the payment, or redemption or purchase for cancellation prior to maturity, of which sufficient moneys or investments, in accordance with the applicable legislation or other proceedings or any applicable law, by mandatory sinking fund redemption requirements, mandatory sinking fund requirements, or otherwise, have been deposited, and credited for the purpose in a bond retirement fund or with a trustee or paying or escrow agent, whether at or prior to their maturity or redemption, and, in the case of securities to be redeemed prior to their stated maturity, notice of redemption has been given or satisfactory arrangements have been made for giving notice of that redemption, or waiver of that notice by or on behalf of the affected security holders has been filed with the subdivision or its agent for the purpose.

(BB) "Paying agent" means the one or more banks, trust companies, or other financial institutions or qualified persons, including an appropriate office or officer of the subdivision, designated as a paying agent or place of payment of debt charges on the particular securities.

(CC) "Permanent improvement" or "improvement" means any property, asset, or improvement certified by the fiscal officer, which certification is conclusive, as having an estimated life or period of usefulness of five years or more, and includes, but is not limited to, real estate, buildings, and personal property and interests in real estate, buildings, and personal property, equipment, furnishings, and site improvements, and reconstruction, rehabilitation, renovation, installation, improvement, enlargement, and extension of property, assets, or improvements so certified as having an estimated life or period of usefulness of five years or more. The acquisition of all the stock ownership of a corporation is the acquisition of a permanent improvement to the extent that the value of that stock is represented by permanent improvements. A permanent improvement for parking, highway, road, and street purposes includes resurfacing, but does not include ordinary repair.

(DD) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and also includes any federal, state, interstate, regional, or local governmental agency, any subdivision, and any combination of those persons.

(EE) "Proceedings" means the legislation, certifications, notices, orders, sale proceedings, trust agreement or indenture, mortgage, lease, lease-purchase agreement, assignment, credit enhancement facility agreements, and other agreements, instruments, and documents, as amended and supplemented, and any election proceedings, authorizing, or providing for the terms and conditions applicable to, or providing for the security or sale or award of, public obligations, and includes the provisions set forth or incorporated in those public obligations and proceedings.

(FF) "Public issuer" means any of the following that is authorized by law to issue securities or enter into public obligations:

(1) The state, including an agency, commission, officer, institution, board, authority, or other instrumentality of the state;

(2) A taxing authority, subdivision, district, or other local public or governmental entity, and any combination or consortium, or public division, district, commission, authority, department, board, officer, or institution, thereof;

(3) Any other body corporate and politic, or other public entity.

(GG) "Public obligations" means both of the following:

(1) Securities;

(2) Obligations of a public issuer to make payments under installment sale, lease, lease purchase, or similar agreements, which obligations bear interest or interest equivalent.

(HH) "Refund" means to fund and retire outstanding securities, including advance refunding with or without payment or redemption prior to maturity.

(II) "Register" means the books kept and maintained by the registrar for registration, exchange, and transfer of registered securities.

(JJ) "Registrar" means the person responsible for keeping the register for the particular registered securities, designated by or pursuant to the proceedings.

(KK) "Securities" means bonds, notes, certificates of indebtedness, commercial paper, and other instruments in writing, including, unless the context does not admit, anticipatory securities, issued by an issuer to evidence its obligation to repay money borrowed, or to pay interest, by, or to pay at any future time other money obligations of, the issuer of the securities, but not including public obligations described in division (GG)(2) of this section.

(LL) "Self-supporting securities" means securities or portions of securities issued for the purpose of paying costs of permanent improvements to the extent that receipts of the subdivision, other than the proceeds of taxes levied by that subdivision, derived from or with respect to the improvements or the operation of the improvements being financed, or the enterprise, system, project, or category of improvements of which the improvements being financed are part, are estimated by the fiscal officer to be sufficient to pay the current expenses of that operation or of those improvements or enterprise, system, project, or categories of improvements and the debt charges payable from those receipts on securities issued for the purpose. Until such time as the improvements or increases in rates and charges have been in operation or effect for a period of at least six months, the receipts therefrom, for purposes of this definition, shall be those estimated by the fiscal officer, except that those receipts may include, without limitation, payments made and to be made to the subdivision under leases or agreements in effect at the time the estimate is made. In the case of an operation, improvements, or enterprise, system, project, or category of improvements without at least a six-month history of receipts, the estimate of receipts by the fiscal officer, other than those to be derived under leases and agreements then in effect, shall be confirmed by the taxing authority.

(MM) "Subdivision" means any of the following:

(1) A county, including a county that has adopted a charter under Article X, Ohio Constitution;

(2) A municipal corporation, including a municipal corporation that has adopted a charter under Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution;

(3) A school district;

(4) A regional water and sewer district organized under Chapter 6119. of the Revised Code;

(5) A joint township hospital district organized under section 513.07 of the Revised Code;

(6) A joint ambulance district organized under section 505.71 of the Revised Code;

(7) A joint recreation district organized under division (C) of section 755.14 of the Revised Code;

(8) A detention facility district organized under section 2152.41, a district organized under section 2151.65, or a combined district organized under sections 2152.41 and 2151.65 of the Revised Code;

(9) A township police district organized under section 505.48 of the Revised Code;

(10) A township;

(11) A joint fire district organized under section 505.371 of the Revised Code;

(12) A county library district created under section 3375.19 or a regional library district created under section 3375.28 of the Revised Code;

(13) A joint solid waste management district organized under section 343.01 or 343.012 of the Revised Code;

(14) A joint emergency medical services district organized under section 307.052 of the Revised Code;

(15) A fire and ambulance district organized under section 505.375 of the Revised Code;

(16) A fire district organized under division (C) of section 505.37 of the Revised Code;

(17) Any other political subdivision or taxing district or other local public body or agency authorized by this chapter or other laws to issue Chapter 133. securities.

(NN) "Taxing authority" means in the case of the following subdivisions:

(1) A county, a county library district, or a regional library district, the board or boards of county commissioners, or other legislative authority of a county that has adopted a charter under Article X, Ohio Constitution, but with respect to such a library district acting solely as agent for the board of trustees of that district;

(2) A municipal corporation, the legislative authority;

(3) A school district, the board of education;

(4) A regional water and sewer district, a joint ambulance district, a joint recreation district, a fire and ambulance district, or a joint fire district, the board of trustees of the district;

(5) A joint township hospital district, the joint township hospital board;

(6) A detention facility district or a district organized under section 2151.65 of the Revised Code, a combined district organized under sections 2152.41 and 2151.65 of the Revised Code, or a joint emergency medical services district, the joint board of county commissioners;

(7) A township, a fire district organized under division (C) of section 505.37 of the Revised Code, or a township police district, the board of township trustees;

(8) A joint solid waste management district organized under section 343.01 or 343.012 of the Revised Code, the board of directors of the district;

(9) A subdivision described in division (MM)(17) of this section, the legislative or governing body or official.

(OO) "Tax limitation" means the "ten-mill limitation" as defined in section 5705.02 of the Revised Code without diminution by reason of section 5705.313 of the Revised Code or otherwise, or, in the case of a municipal corporation or county with a different charter limitation on property taxes levied to pay debt charges on unvoted securities, that charter limitation. Those limitations shall be respectively referred to as the "ten-mill limitation" and the "charter tax limitation."

(PP) "Tax valuation" means the aggregate of the valuations of property subject to ad valorem property taxation by the subdivision on the real property, personal property, and public utility property tax lists and duplicates most recently certified for collection, and shall be calculated without deductions of the valuations of otherwise taxable property exempt in whole or in part from taxation by reason of exemptions of certain amounts of taxable value under division (C) of section 5709.01 or, tax reductions under section 323.152 of the Revised Code, or similar laws now or in the future in effect.

For purposes of section 133.06 of the Revised Code, "tax valuation" shall not include the valuation of tangible personal property used in business, telephone or telegraph property, interexchange telecommunications company property, or personal property owned or leased by a railroad company and used in railroad operations listed under or described in section 5711.22, division (B) or (F) of section 5727.111, or section 5727.12 of the Revised Code.

(QQ) "Year" means the calendar year.

(RR) "Administrative agent," "agent," "commercial paper," "floating rate interest structure," "indexing agent," "interest rate hedge," "interest rate period," "put arrangement," and "remarketing agent" have the same meanings as in section 9.98 of the Revised Code.

(SS) "Sales tax supported" means obligations to the payment of debt charges on which an additional sales tax or additional sales taxes have been pledged by the taxing authority of a county pursuant to section 133.081 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 133.10.  (A) In anticipation of the collection of current property tax revenues in and for any fiscal year, the taxing authority of any subdivision may issue securities, but the aggregate principal amount of such securities shall not exceed one-half of the amount that the budget commission estimates the subdivision will receive from property taxes in that fiscal year and prior to the last day of the sixth month following the month in which the securities are issued, other than taxes to be received for the payment of debt charges or allocated to debt charges on securities issued pursuant to division (C) of this section, and less all advances. When a partial, semiannual, or final property tax settlement is delayed, securities may also be issued in anticipation of the receipt of property taxes levied or collected for debt charges to the extent necessary to meet such debt charges but not in excess of such estimated receipts, less all advances. The securities issued pursuant to this division (A) shall mature not later than the last day of the sixth month following the month in which the securities are issued and in any case not later than the last day of the fiscal year in which they are issued.

(B) In anticipation of the collection of current revenues in and for any fiscal year from any source or combination of sources, including distributions of any federal or state moneys, other than the proceeds of property taxes levied by the subdivision, the taxing authority of any subdivision may issue securities, but the aggregate principal amount of such securities shall not exceed one-half of the amount estimated by the fiscal officer to be received by the subdivision from such sources during the remainder of such fiscal year, less advances and prior collections.

(C) In anticipation of the collection of current property tax revenues in and for any fiscal year, the taxing authority of a county, municipal corporation, township, or school district may issue securities, but the aggregate principal amount of those securities and of any securities issued pursuant to division (A) of this section outstanding at the time of issuance shall not exceed one-half of the amount that the budget commission estimates the subdivision will receive from all property taxes that are to be distributed to the subdivision from all settlements of taxes that are to be made in the remainder of that fiscal year, other than taxes to be received for the payment of debt charges, and less all advances.

(D) When the tax settlement scheduled under division (B) of section 321.24 of the Revised Code is delayed pursuant to division (E) of that section, the taxing authority of a school district may issue property tax anticipation securities against the taxes to be included in that settlement, but the aggregate principal amount of all securities outstanding against those taxes shall not exceed ninety per cent of the amount estimated to be received from that settlement by the budget commission, other than taxes to be received for the payment of debt charges, and less all advances. The securities issued pursuant to this division (D) shall mature on or before the next ensuing thirty-first day of August.

(E) This division applies to all securities authorized by this section.

(1) The amounts from the sources anticipated needed to pay debt charges and financing costs shall be considered appropriated for that purpose, and other appropriations from those sources by the taxing authority shall be limited to the balance available after deducting the amount to pay those debt charges and financing costs. The portions of those amounts as received and to be applied to those debt charges shall be deposited and set aside in an account for the purpose in the bond retirement fund in the amounts and at the times required to pay those debt charges as provided for by the authorizing legislation or otherwise provided by law.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (H) of this section, the securities shall not be issued prior to the first day and, except as otherwise provided in divisions (A) and (D) of this section, shall mature not later than the last day of the fiscal year for which the revenues are anticipated.

(3) The proceeds of the principal amount of the securities shall be used only for the purposes for which the amounts anticipated were levied, collected, distributed, and appropriated, and for financing costs related to those securities.

(4) Property taxes include distributions from the state in payment of credits against or partial exemptions from, or reduction of, property taxes.

(5) If for any reason debt charges on securities authorized by this section are not paid by the subdivision in the fiscal year when due, the taxing authority of the subdivision shall include in its next annual appropriation measure an amount sufficient to pay those debt charges, and the county auditor and county treasurer shall withhold, in a custodial account, amounts due the subdivision from the sources anticipated until such amount is accumulated by those officers and they directly pay or provide, through the paying agent or otherwise, for the payment of those debt charges.

(F) The authority to issue securities under divisions (A) and (B) of this section may be exercised by any board of library trustees of a public library, or board of park commissioners of a township, to which the budget commission has allotted a share of the local government communities fund under section 5747.51 of the Revised Code or of the library and local government support libraries fund under section 5707.051 of the Revised Code.

(G) The taxing authority of a school district issuing securities under division (A), (C), or (D) of this section shall in the legislation authorizing the securities affirm the levy of, or covenant to levy, the anticipated property taxes to be collected in the following year.

(H) The taxing authority of a school district may issue securities authorized by this section on or after the tenth day preceding the first day of the fiscal year for which the revenues are anticipated; provided, that if the taxing authority of a school district issues securities authorized by this section prior to the first day of the fiscal year for which the revenues are anticipated:

(1) None of the proceeds received by the school district from the sale of the securities shall be considered available for appropriation prior to the first day of the fiscal year for which the revenues are anticipated; and

(2) None of the proceeds received by the school district from the sale of the securities shall be expended prior to the first day of the fiscal year for which the revenues are anticipated.

Sec. 133.25.  (A) After the issuance of general obligation securities or of securities to which section 133.24 of the Revised Code applies, the taxing authority of the subdivision shall include in its annual tax budget, and levy a property tax in a sufficient amount, with any other moneys available for the purpose, to pay the debt charges on the securities payable from property taxes. The necessary property tax rate shall be included in the fiscal year tax budget that is certified by the subdivision to the county budget commission, and, if within the ten-mill limitation, shall be without diminution by reason of section 5705.313 of the Revised Code or any similar provisions.

(B) If the taxing authority determines it to be necessary or appropriate, and if not prohibited by other law, legislation relating to Chapter 133. securities may, or that legislation may provide for proceedings that may, contain or provide for any one or more or combination of the following:

(1) The pledge to the payment of debt charges of, and related covenants to levy, charge, collect, deposit, and apply, receipts of the subdivision lawfully available for the purpose, referred to in this division (B) as pledged receipts, including, without limitation, ad valorem property taxes as permitted by law, income taxes, excises, utility and service revenues, local government communities fund, school foundation, and moneys described in Section 5a of Article XII, Ohio Constitution, and any other receipts from taxes, excises, permits, licenses, fines, or other sources of revenue of or of revenue distributions to the subdivision, and covenants for the establishment, investment, segregation, and maintenance of any funds or reserves in connection with the securities. No pledge or covenant may be made that impairs the express contract rights of the holders of outstanding securities of the subdivision.

(2) Designation of a bank or trust company authorized to exercise corporate trust powers in this state as a fiscal agent for the securities, which fiscal agent may be a purchaser of any securities and fiscal agent for any other securities of the subdivision, and provision for the periodic deposit of pledged receipts in one or more separate bank accounts, funds, or other accounts established with the fiscal agent, including provision for pledged receipts collected or paid by the state or another subdivision to be transferred, by the appropriate officer of the state or other subdivision having charge of the distribution of the pledged receipts to the subdivision, directly to the fiscal agent for such deposit, which officers shall transfer such pledged receipts in accordance with this division and the legislation. The fiscal agent shall disburse moneys so held in accordance with the legislation, including the transfer of moneys to paying agents or to persons providing credit enhancement facilities at the times and in the amounts required. Until needed for that purpose, and subject to any limitations in the legislation, the fiscal agent shall either deposit such moneys on behalf of the subdivision in an institution that is eligible to become a public depository pursuant to section 135.03 of the Revised Code or invest the moneys on behalf of the subdivision in obligations that are under applicable law lawful for the investment of the particular moneys. Divisions (D), (E), and (G) of section 135.04 and sections 135.08 and 135.09 of the Revised Code do not apply to any such deposits or investments. Amounts so held and received by a fiscal agent shall be accounted for in the appropriate special funds of the subdivision as if held in the treasury of the subdivision, and the fiscal agent shall provide such information to the subdivision and to the auditor of state as is necessary for the purpose.

(3) Covenants of the subdivision and other provisions to protect and safeguard the security and rights of the holders of the securities and of the providers of any credit enhancement facilities and provisions for defeasance, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such covenants and provisions as to:

(a) Establishment and maintenance of the funds to be held by a fiscal agent as provided in this division, the times, amounts, and levels for deposit to such funds, and the obligations in which the proceeds of such funds may be invested pending their use, subject to limitations on investment of public funds otherwise provided for by law or charter or by the legislation;

(b) The appointment, rights, powers, and duties of the fiscal agent, and vesting in the fiscal agent all or any of those rights, powers, and duties in trust;

(c) Compliance with the provisions of this chapter and other laws applicable to the payment of debt charges on securities of the subdivision, including Chapter 5705. of the Revised Code;

(d) Conditions that would give rise to an event of default under the terms of the legislation, and actions and remedies that any fiscal agent may take or assert on behalf of the holders of the securities.

(4) As rights and remedies of the holders of securities, in addition to any other rights and remedies under law, but subject to the terms of the legislation and of any credit enhancement facility, provision that if the subdivision defaults in the payment of debt charges on the securities and such default continues for a period of thirty days, or if the subdivision fails or refuses to comply with the requirements of this chapter or the applicable proceedings, or defaults in any contract made with the holders of those securities, the holders of not less than twenty-five per cent in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that issue may appoint a trustee, who may be the fiscal agent, to represent those holders for the purposes provided in this division (B)(4). That trustee may, and upon written request of the holders of not less than twenty-five per cent in principal amount of those securities then outstanding shall, in its own name exercise all or any of the powers of such holders under division (B)(3) of this section and in addition may:

(a) Bring action for payment of any debt charges then due on the securities;

(b) By mandamus or other action or proceeding enforce all rights of the holders of the securities, including any right to require the subdivision to assess, levy, charge, collect, and apply pledged receipts adequate to carry out the provisions of the legislation and any agreement with those holders and to perform its duties under the legislation and this chapter;

(c) Bring action upon the securities;

(d) By action, require the subdivision to account as if it were the trustee of an express trust for the holders of the securities;

(e) By action, enjoin any acts or things that may be unlawful or in violation of the rights of the holders of those securities;

(f) Except in the case of securities payable from a property tax, declare all securities of the issue due and payable, and if all defaults are subsequently corrected, then, with the consent of the holders of not less than ten per cent in principal amount of those securities then outstanding, rescind and annul that declaration and its consequences.

In addition to the foregoing, the trustee shall have all of the powers necessary or appropriate for the exercise of any functions specifically set forth in this section or the legislation or incident to the general representation of the holders of those securities in the enforcement and protection of their rights.

(5) Contracts or other arrangements for credit enhancement facilities, which may be with a fiscal agent. The costs of or under credit enhancement facilities may be paid from any moneys of the subdivision lawfully available for the purpose. The credit enhancement facility may be for the benefit of holders of the particular securities and of any other securities of the subdivision. Any such benefit conferred with respect to other securities shall not be deemed to restrict, preclude, or otherwise impair any rights that those holders otherwise may assert.

(C) Unless otherwise provided in the proceedings, the holders of not less than ten per cent in principal amount of the particular securities at the time outstanding, whether or not then due and payable or reduced to judgment and either on their own behalf or on behalf of all persons similarly situated, may:

(1) By mandamus, mandatory or other injunction, or any other order, writ, process, or decree, or by any other action or proceeding, enforce all contractual or other rights of such holders, including any right to require the subdivision to assess, levy, charge, collect, and apply the pledged receipts pledged to carry out the provisions of any agreement with such holders and perform its duties under the legislation and this chapter;

(2) In the case of default in payment of debt charges on their securities, commence an action upon their securities to require the subdivision to account as if it were the trustee of an express trust for those holders or to enjoin any acts or things that may be unlawful or in violation of the rights of those holders.

(D) The state pledges to and agrees with the holders of Chapter 133. securities that the state will not, by enacting any law or adopting any rule, repeal, revoke, repudiate, limit, alter, stay, suspend, or otherwise reduce, rescind, or impair the power or duty of a subdivision to exercise, perform, carry out, and fulfill its responsibilities or covenants under this chapter or legislation or agreements as to its Chapter 133. securities, including a credit enhancement facility, passed or entered into pursuant to this chapter, or repeal, revoke, repudiate, limit, alter, stay, suspend, or otherwise reduce, rescind, or impair the rights and remedies of any such holders fully to enforce such responsibilities, covenants, and agreements or to enforce the pledge and agreement of the state contained in this division, or otherwise exercise any sovereign power materially impairing or materially inconsistent with the provisions of such legislation, covenants, and agreements. The general assembly determines and declares that the provisions of this chapter and the powers and duties of subdivisions authorized and imposed under this chapter are proper, reasonable, and appropriate means by which the state can and should exercise and has exercised its duties and powers under the Ohio Constitution, and that those provisions are necessary and in the public interest and a proper means to better provide for the security for, and market reception for the purchase of, those securities. This pledge and agreement shall be of no force and effect as to securities that are not outstanding. This pledge and agreement by the state may be temporarily suspended upon the declaration of martial law in the subdivision in the event of circumstances deriving directly out of a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or major conflagration or flood but not a snowstorm or civil disturbance, or out of military invasions or civil insurrections, but not strikes or crises created by financial or economic events. Payment for securities by the original and subsequent holders shall be deemed conclusive evidence of valuable consideration received by the state and subdivision for this pledge and agreement, and any action by the state contrary to or inconsistent with this division is void as applied to those securities. The state hereby grants any such benefited holder the right to sue the state and enforce this pledge and agreement, and waives all rights of defense based on sovereign immunity or sovereign power in such an action or suit, it being expressly determined and declared that the continued integrity of the contract of any such holder is essential to the continued right of the subdivision to issue and pay debt charges on securities as a subdivision of the state. Nothing in this division requires the state to continue any particular level of appropriations of moneys, or precludes the state from authorizing the subdivision to exercise, or the subdivision from exercising, subject to approval of the tax commissioner, any power provided by law to seek application of laws then in effect under the bankruptcy provisions of the United States Constitution but in any case providing for debt charges as provided in section 133.36 of the Revised Code, or to preclude the state from further exercise of any of its powers and responsibilities under the Ohio Constitution.

(E) Moneys and investments held by the subdivision or a paying agent or a fiscal agent, and all receipts of the subdivision, needed and allocated to payment of debt charges or payments by the subdivision under credit enhancement facilities, are property of the subdivision devoted to essential governmental purposes and accordingly shall not be applied to any purpose other than as provided in this chapter and in the legislation, and shall not be subject to any order, judgment, lien, execution, attachment, setoff, or counterclaim by any creditor or judgment creditor, as a result of a tort judgment or otherwise, of the subdivision other than the holders of the securities or the provider of the credit enhancement facility who are entitled thereto pursuant to this chapter and the legislation.

Sec. 135.35.  (A) The investing authority shall deposit or invest any part or all of the county's inactive moneys and shall invest all of the money in the county library and local government support libraries fund when required by section 135.352 of the Revised Code. The following classifications of securities and obligations are eligible for such deposit or investment:

(1) United States treasury bills, notes, bonds, or any other obligation or security issued by the United States treasury, any other obligation guaranteed as to principal or interest by the United States, or any book entry, zero-coupon United States treasury security that is a direct obligation of the United States.

Nothing in the classification of eligible securities and obligations set forth in divisions (A)(2) to (11) of this section shall be construed to authorize any investment in stripped principal or interest obligations of such eligible securities and obligations.

(2) Bonds, notes, debentures, or any other obligations or securities issued by any federal government agency or instrumentality, including but not limited to, the federal national mortgage association, federal home loan bank, federal farm credit bank, federal home loan mortgage corporation, government national mortgage association, and student loan marketing association. All federal agency securities shall be direct issuances of federal government agencies or instrumentalities.

(3) Time certificates of deposit or savings or deposit accounts, including, but not limited to, passbook accounts, in any eligible institution mentioned in section 135.32 of the Revised Code;

(4) Bonds and other obligations of this state or the political subdivisions of this state, provided that such political subdivisions are located wholly or partly within the same county as the investing authority;

(5) No-load money market mutual funds consisting exclusively of obligations described in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section and repurchase agreements secured by such obligations, provided that investments in securities described in this division are made only through eligible institutions mentioned in section 135.32 of the Revised Code;

(6) The Ohio subdivision's fund as provided in section 135.45 of the Revised Code;

(7) Securities lending agreements with any eligible institution mentioned in section 135.32 of the Revised Code that is a member of the federal reserve system or federal home loan bank or with any recognized United States government securities dealer meeting the description in division (J)(1) of this section, under the terms of which agreements the investing authority lends securities and the eligible institution or dealer agrees to simultaneously exchange similar securities or cash, equal value for equal value.

Securities and cash received as collateral for a securities lending agreement are not inactive moneys of the county or moneys of a county library and local government support libraries fund. The investment of cash collateral received pursuant to a securities lending agreement may be invested only in instruments specified by the investing authority in the written investment policy described in division (K) of this section.

(8) Up to twenty-five per cent of the county's total average portfolio in either of the following investments:

(a) Commercial paper notes issued by an entity that is defined in division (D) of section 1705.01 of the Revised Code and that has assets exceeding five hundred million dollars, to which notes all of the following apply:

(i) The notes are rated at the time of purchase in the highest classification established by at least two nationally recognized standard rating services.

(ii) The aggregate value of the notes does not exceed ten per cent of the aggregate value of the outstanding commercial paper of the issuing corporation.

(iii) The notes mature not later than two hundred seventy days after purchase.

(b) Bankers acceptances of banks that are insured by the federal deposit insurance corporation and to which both of the following apply:

(i) The obligations are eligible for purchase by the federal reserve system.

(ii) The obligations mature not later than one hundred eighty days after purchase.

No investment shall be made pursuant to division (A)(8) of this section unless the investing authority has completed additional training for making the investments authorized by division (A)(8) of this section. The type and amount of additional training shall be approved by the auditor of state and may be conducted by or provided under the supervision of the auditor of state.

(9) Up to fifteen per cent of the county's total average portfolio in notes issued by corporations that are incorporated under the laws of the United States and that are operating within the United States, or by depository institutions that are doing business under authority granted by the United States or any state and that are operating within the United States, provided both of the following apply:

(a) The notes are rated in the second highest or higher category by at least two nationally recognized standard rating services at the time of purchase.

(b) The notes mature not later than two years after purchase.

(10) No-load money market mutual funds rated in the highest category at the time of purchase by at least one nationally recognized standard rating service and consisting exclusively of obligations described in division (A)(1), (2), or (6) of section 135.143 of the Revised Code;

(11) Debt interests rated at the time of purchase in the three highest categories by two nationally recognized standard rating services and issued by foreign nations diplomatically recognized by the United States government. All interest and principal shall be denominated and payable in United States funds. The investments made under division (A)(11) of this section shall not exceed in the aggregate one per cent of a county's total average portfolio.

The investing authority shall invest under division (A)(11) of this section in a debt interest issued by a foreign nation only if the debt interest is backed by the full faith and credit of that foreign nation, there is no prior history of default, and the debt interest matures not later than five years after purchase. For purposes of division (A)(11) of this section, a debt interest is rated in the three highest categories by two nationally recognized standard rating services if either the debt interest itself or the issuer of the debt interest is rated, or is implicitly rated, at the time of purchase in the three highest categories by two nationally recognized standard rating services.

(B) Nothing in the classifications of eligible obligations and securities set forth in divisions (A)(1) to (11) of this section shall be construed to authorize investment in a derivative, and no investing authority shall invest any county inactive moneys or any moneys in a county library and local government support libraries fund in a derivative. For purposes of this division, "derivative" means a financial instrument or contract or obligation whose value or return is based upon or linked to another asset or index, or both, separate from the financial instrument, contract, or obligation itself. Any security, obligation, trust account, or other instrument that is created from an issue of the United States treasury or is created from an obligation of a federal agency or instrumentality or is created from both is considered a derivative instrument. An eligible investment described in this section with a variable interest rate payment, based upon a single interest payment or single index comprised of other eligible investments provided for in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section, is not a derivative, provided that such variable rate investment has a maximum maturity of two years. A treasury inflation-protected security shall not be considered a derivative, provided the security matures not later than five years after purchase.

(C) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, any investment made pursuant to this section must mature within five years from the date of settlement, unless the investment is matched to a specific obligation or debt of the county or to a specific obligation or debt of a political subdivision of this state located wholly or partly within the county, and the investment is specifically approved by the investment advisory committee.

(D) The investing authority may also enter into a written repurchase agreement with any eligible institution mentioned in section 135.32 of the Revised Code or any eligible securities dealer pursuant to division (J) of this section, under the terms of which agreement the investing authority purchases and the eligible institution or dealer agrees unconditionally to repurchase any of the securities listed in divisions (B)(1) to (5), except letters of credit described in division (B)(2), of section 135.18 of the Revised Code. The market value of securities subject to an overnight written repurchase agreement must exceed the principal value of the overnight written repurchase agreement by at least two per cent. A written repurchase agreement must exceed the principal value of the overnight written repurchase agreement, by at least two per cent. A written repurchase agreement shall not exceed thirty days, and the market value of securities subject to a written repurchase agreement must exceed the principal value of the written repurchase agreement by at least two per cent and be marked to market daily. All securities purchased pursuant to this division shall be delivered into the custody of the investing authority or the qualified custodian of the investing authority or an agent designated by the investing authority. A written repurchase agreement with an eligible securities dealer shall be transacted on a delivery versus payment basis. The agreement shall contain the requirement that for each transaction pursuant to the agreement the participating institution shall provide all of the following information:

(1) The par value of the securities;

(2) The type, rate, and maturity date of the securities;

(3) A numerical identifier generally accepted in the securities industry that designates the securities.

No investing authority shall enter into a written repurchase agreement under the terms of which the investing authority agrees to sell securities owned by the county to a purchaser and agrees with that purchaser to unconditionally repurchase those securities.

(E) No investing authority shall make an investment under this section, unless the investing authority, at the time of making the investment, reasonably expects that the investment can be held until its maturity. The investing authority's written investment policy shall specify the conditions under which an investment may be redeemed or sold prior to maturity.

(F) No investing authority shall pay a county's inactive moneys or moneys of a county library and local government support libraries fund into a fund established by another subdivision, treasurer, governing board, or investing authority, if that fund was established by the subdivision, treasurer, governing board, or investing authority for the purpose of investing or depositing the public moneys of other subdivisions. This division does not apply to the payment of public moneys into either of the following:

(1) The Ohio subdivision's fund pursuant to division (A)(6) of this section;

(2) A fund created solely for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, owning, leasing, or operating municipal utilities pursuant to the authority provided under section 715.02 of the Revised Code or Section 4 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution.

For purposes of division (F) of this section, "subdivision" includes a county.

(G) The use of leverage, in which the county uses its current investment assets as collateral for the purpose of purchasing other assets, is prohibited. The issuance of taxable notes for the purpose of arbitrage is prohibited. Contracting to sell securities not owned by the county, for the purpose of purchasing such securities on the speculation that bond prices will decline, is prohibited.

(H) Any securities, certificates of deposit, deposit accounts, or any other documents evidencing deposits or investments made under authority of this section shall be issued in the name of the county with the county treasurer or investing authority as the designated payee. If any such deposits or investments are registrable either as to principal or interest, or both, they shall be registered in the name of the treasurer.

(I) The investing authority shall be responsible for the safekeeping of all documents evidencing a deposit or investment acquired under this section, including, but not limited to, safekeeping receipts evidencing securities deposited with a qualified trustee, as provided in section 135.37 of the Revised Code, and documents confirming the purchase of securities under any repurchase agreement under this section shall be deposited with a qualified trustee, provided, however, that the qualified trustee shall be required to report to the investing authority, auditor of state, or an authorized outside auditor at any time upon request as to the identity, market value, and location of the document evidencing each security, and that if the participating institution is a designated depository of the county for the current period of designation, the securities that are the subject of the repurchase agreement may be delivered to the treasurer or held in trust by the participating institution on behalf of the investing authority.

Upon the expiration of the term of office of an investing authority or in the event of a vacancy in the office for any reason, the officer or the officer's legal representative shall transfer and deliver to the officer's successor all documents mentioned in this division for which the officer has been responsible for safekeeping. For all such documents transferred and delivered, the officer shall be credited with, and the officer's successor shall be charged with, the amount of moneys evidenced by such documents.

(J)(1) All investments, except for investments in securities described in divisions (A)(5) and (6) of this section, shall be made only through a member of the national association of securities dealers, through a bank, savings bank, or savings and loan association regulated by the superintendent of financial institutions, or through an institution regulated by the comptroller of the currency, federal deposit insurance corporation, or board of governors of the federal reserve system.

(2) Payment for investments shall be made only upon the delivery of securities representing such investments to the treasurer, investing authority, or qualified trustee. If the securities transferred are not represented by a certificate, payment shall be made only upon receipt of confirmation of transfer from the custodian by the treasurer, governing board, or qualified trustee.

(K)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (K)(2) of this section, no investing authority shall make an investment or deposit under this section, unless there is on file with the auditor of state a written investment policy approved by the investing authority. The policy shall require that all entities conducting investment business with the investing authority shall sign the investment policy of that investing authority. All brokers, dealers, and financial institutions, described in division (J)(1) of this section, initiating transactions with the investing authority by giving advice or making investment recommendations shall sign the investing authority's investment policy thereby acknowledging their agreement to abide by the policy's contents. All brokers, dealers, and financial institutions, described in division (J)(1) of this section, executing transactions initiated by the investing authority, having read the policy's contents, shall sign the investment policy thereby acknowledging their comprehension and receipt.

(2) If a written investment policy described in division (K)(1) of this section is not filed on behalf of the county with the auditor of state, the investing authority of that county shall invest the county's inactive moneys and moneys of the county library and local government support libraries fund only in time certificates of deposits or savings or deposit accounts pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section, no-load money market mutual funds pursuant to division (A)(5) of this section, or the Ohio subdivision's fund pursuant to division (A)(6) of this section.

(L)(1) The investing authority shall establish and maintain an inventory of all obligations and securities acquired by the investing authority pursuant to this section. The inventory shall include a description of each obligation or security, including type, cost, par value, maturity date, settlement date, and any coupon rate.

(2) The investing authority shall also keep a complete record of all purchases and sales of the obligations and securities made pursuant to this section.

(3) The investing authority shall maintain a monthly portfolio report and issue a copy of the monthly portfolio report describing such investments to the county investment advisory committee, detailing the current inventory of all obligations and securities, all transactions during the month that affected the inventory, any income received from the obligations and securities, and any investment expenses paid, and stating the names of any persons effecting transactions on behalf of the investing authority.

(4) The monthly portfolio report shall be a public record and available for inspection under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(5) The inventory and the monthly portfolio report shall be filed with the board of county commissioners.

(M) An investing authority may enter into a written investment or deposit agreement that includes a provision under which the parties agree to submit to nonbinding arbitration to settle any controversy that may arise out of the agreement, including any controversy pertaining to losses of public moneys resulting from investment or deposit. The arbitration provision shall be set forth entirely in the agreement, and the agreement shall include a conspicuous notice to the parties that any party to the arbitration may apply to the court of common pleas of the county in which the arbitration was held for an order to vacate, modify, or correct the award. Any such party may also apply to the court for an order to change venue to a court of common pleas located more than one hundred miles from the county in which the investing authority is located.

For purposes of this division, "investment or deposit agreement" means any agreement between an investing authority and a person, under which agreement the person agrees to invest, deposit, or otherwise manage, on behalf of the investing authority, a county's inactive moneys or moneys in a county library and local government support libraries fund, or agrees to provide investment advice to the investing authority.

(N) An investment held in the county portfolio on September 27, 1996, that was a legal investment under the law as it existed before September 27, 1996, may be held until maturity, or if the investment does not have a maturity date the investment may be held until five years from September 27, 1996, regardless of whether the investment would qualify as a legal investment under the terms of this section as amended.

Sec. 135.352.  The investment authority shall invest all moneys in the county library and local government support libraries fund that are not distributed due to an appeal of the budget commission's allocation of such fund. Interest earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund and distributed in accordance with section 5747.48 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 151.08.  This section applies to obligations as defined in this section.

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Capital facilities" or "capital improvement projects" means the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, planning, and equipping of roads and bridges, waste water treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal facilities, flood control systems, and storm water and sanitary collection, storage, and treatment facilities, including real property, interests in real property, facilities, and equipment related or incidental to those facilities.

(2) "Costs of capital facilities" include related direct administrative expenses and allocable portions of direct costs of the Ohio public works commission and the local subdivision.

(3) "Local subdivision" means any county, municipal corporation, township, sanitary district, or regional water and sewer district.

(4) "Obligations" means obligations as defined in section 151.01 of the Revised Code issued to pay costs of capital facilities.

(B)(1) The issuing authority shall issue obligations to pay costs of financing or assisting in the financing of the capital improvement projects of local subdivisions pursuant to Section 2m of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, section 151.01 of the Revised Code, and this section. Not more than one hundred twenty million dollars principal amount of obligations, plus the principal amount of obligations that in any prior fiscal years could have been, but were not, issued within that one-hundred-twenty-million dollar fiscal year limit, may be issued in any fiscal year. Not more than one billion two hundred million dollars principal amount of obligations pursuant to Section 2m of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution may be issued for the purposes of this section and division (B)(2) of section 164.09 of the Revised Code.

(2) The issuing authority shall issue obligations to pay costs of financing or assisting in the financing of the capital improvement projects of local subdivisions pursuant to Section 2p of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, section 151.01 of the Revised Code, and this section. Not more than one hundred twenty million dollars in principal amount of such obligations may be issued in any of the first five fiscal years of issuance and not more than one hundred fifty million dollars in principal amount of such obligations may be issued in any of the next five fiscal years, plus in each case the principal amount of such obligations that in any prior fiscal year could have been but were not issued within those fiscal year limits. No obligations shall be issued for the purposes of this section pursuant to Section 2p of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, until at least one billion one hundred ninety-nine million five hundred thousand dollars aggregate principal amount of obligations have been issued pursuant to Section 2m of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution. Not more than one billion three hundred fifty million dollars principal amount of obligations may be issued pursuant to Section 2p of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution for the purposes of this section.

(C) Net proceeds of obligations shall be deposited into the state capital improvements fund created by section 164.08 of the Revised Code.

(D) There is hereby created in the state treasury the "state capital improvements bond service fund." All moneys received by the state and required by the bond proceedings, consistent with this section and section 151.01 of the Revised Code, to be deposited, transferred, or credited to the bond service fund, and all other moneys transferred or allocated to or received for the purposes of that fund, shall be deposited and credited to the bond service fund, subject to any applicable provisions of the bond proceedings but without necessity for any act of appropriation. During the period beginning with the date of the first issuance of obligations and continuing during the time that any obligations are outstanding in accordance with their terms, so long as moneys in the bond service fund are insufficient to pay debt service when due on those obligations payable from that fund (except the principal amounts of bond anticipation notes payable from the proceeds of renewal notes or bonds anticipated) and due in the particular fiscal year, a sufficient amount of revenues of the state is committed and, without necessity for further act of appropriation, shall be paid to the bond service fund for the purpose of paying that debt service when due.

Sec. 151.40. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Bond proceedings" includes any trust agreements, and any amendments or supplements to them, as authorized by this section.

(2) "Costs of revitalization projects" includes related direct administrative expenses and allocable portions of the direct costs of those projects of the department of development or the environmental protection agency.

(3) "Issuing authority" means the treasurer of state.

(4) "Obligations" means obligations as defined in section 151.01 of the Revised Code issued to pay the costs of projects for revitalization purposes as referred to in division (A)(2) of Section 2o of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution.

(5) "Pledged liquor profits" means all receipts of the state representing the gross profit on the sale of spirituous liquor, as referred to in division (B)(4) of section 4301.10 of the Revised Code, after paying all costs and expenses of the division of liquor control and providing an adequate working capital reserve for the division of liquor control as provided in that division, but excluding the sum required by the second paragraph of section 4301.12 of the Revised Code, as it was in effect on May 2, 1980, to be paid into the state treasury.

(6) "Pledged receipts" means, as and to the extent provided in bond proceedings:

(a) Pledged liquor profits. The pledge of pledged liquor profits to obligations is subject to the priority of the pledge of those profits to obligations issued and to be issued pursuant to Chapter 166. of the Revised Code.

(b) Moneys accruing to the state from the lease, sale, or other disposition or use of revitalization projects or from the repayment, including any interest, of loans or advances made from net proceeds;

(c) Accrued interest received from the sale of obligations;

(d) Income from the investment of the special funds;

(e) Any gifts, grants, donations, or pledges, and receipts therefrom, available for the payment of debt service;

(f) Additional or any other specific revenues or receipts lawfully available to be pledged, and pledged, pursuant to further authorization by the general assembly, to the payment of debt service.

(B)(1) The issuing authority shall issue obligations of the state to pay costs of revitalization projects pursuant to division (B)(2) of Section 2o of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, section 151.01 of the Revised Code as applicable to this section, and this section. The issuing authority, upon the certification to it by the clean Ohio council of the amount of moneys needed in and for the purposes of the clean Ohio revitalization fund created by section 122.658 of the Revised Code, shall issue obligations in the amount determined by the issuing authority to be required for those purposes. Not more than two hundred million dollars principal amount of obligations issued under this section for revitalization purposes may be outstanding at any one time. Not more than fifty million dollars principal amount of obligations, plus the principal amount of obligations that in any prior fiscal year could have been, but were not issued within the fifty-million-dollar fiscal year limit, may be issued in any fiscal year.

(2) The provisions and authorizations in section 151.01 of the Revised Code apply to the obligations and the bond proceedings except as otherwise provided or provided for in those obligations and bond proceedings.

(C) Net proceeds of obligations shall be deposited in the clean Ohio revitalization fund created in section 122.658 of the Revised Code.

(D) There is hereby created the revitalization projects bond service fund, which shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state, but shall be separate and apart from and not a part of the state treasury. All money received by the state and required by the bond proceedings, consistent with section 151.01 of the Revised Code and this section, to be deposited, transferred, or credited to the bond service fund, and all other money transferred or allocated to or received for the purposes of that fund, shall be deposited and credited to the bond service fund, subject to any applicable provisions of the bond proceedings, but without necessity for any act of appropriation. During the period beginning with the date of the first issuance of obligations and continuing during the time that any obligations are outstanding in accordance with their terms, so long as moneys in the bond service fund are insufficient to pay debt service when due on those obligations payable from that fund, except the principal amounts of bond anticipation notes payable from the proceeds of renewal notes or bonds anticipated, and due in the particular fiscal year, a sufficient amount of pledged receipts is committed and, without necessity for further act of appropriation, shall be paid to the bond service fund for the purpose of paying that debt service when due.

(E) The issuing authority may pledge all, or such portion as the issuing authority determines, of the pledged receipts to the payment of the debt service charges on obligations issued under this section, and for the establishment and maintenance of any reserves, as provided in the bond proceedings, and make other provisions in the bond proceedings with respect to pledged receipts as authorized by this section, which provisions are controlling notwithstanding any other provisions of law pertaining to them.

(F) The issuing authority may covenant in the bond proceedings, and such covenants shall be controlling notwithstanding any other provision of law, that the state and applicable officers and state agencies, including the general assembly, so long as any obligations issued under this section are outstanding, shall maintain statutory authority for and cause to be charged and collected wholesale or retail prices for spirituous liquor sold by the state or its agents so that the available pledged receipts are sufficient in time and amount to meet debt service payable from pledged liquor profits and for the establishment and maintenance of any reserves and other requirements provided for in the bond proceedings.

(G) Obligations may be further secured, as determined by the issuing authority, by a trust agreement between the state and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having its principal a place of business within the state. Any trust agreement may contain the resolution or order authorizing the issuance of the obligations, any provisions that may be contained in any bond proceedings, and other provisions that are customary or appropriate in an agreement of that type, including, but not limited to:

(1) Maintenance of each pledge, trust agreement, or other instrument comprising part of the bond proceedings until the state has fully paid or provided for the payment of debt service on the obligations secured by it;

(2) In the event of default in any payments required to be made by the bond proceedings, enforcement of those payments or agreements by mandamus, the appointment of a receiver, suit in equity, action at law, or any combination of them;

(3) The rights and remedies of the holders or owners of obligations and of the trustee and provisions for protecting and enforcing them, including limitations on rights of individual holders and owners.

(H) The obligations shall not be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit, revenue, and taxing power of the state shall not be pledged to the payment of debt service on them. The holders or owners of the obligations shall have no right to have any moneys obligated or pledged for the payment of debt service except as provided in this section and in the applicable bond proceedings. The rights of the holders and owners to payment of debt service are limited to all or that portion of the pledged receipts, and those special funds, pledged to the payment of debt service pursuant to the bond proceedings in accordance with this section, and each obligation shall bear on its face a statement to that effect.

Sec. 152.31.  The Ohio building authority may construct and operate capital facilities for the housing of branches and agencies of state government, municipal corporations, counties, or other governmental entities, in any municipal corporation when the municipal corporation and the authority agree on a location and all of the following occur:

(A) Two or more of such agencies or governmental entities submit to the authority an application requesting the authority to construct and operate capital facilities and expressing their intent to become the initial tenants of the capital facilities and to thereby occupy all of its available office space;

(B) Any municipal corporation, county, township, or other governmental entities joining in the submission of an application pursuant to division (A) of this section further submits a lease committing it to occupy, for a period equal to the greater of twenty consecutive years from the date of initial occupancy or the term of any bonds issued by the authority for the capital facilities, the capital facilities that, through the application, it expressed its intent to initially occupy, and obligating it to pay such rent as the authority determines to be appropriate. Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, any governmental entity may enter into such a lease and any such lease is legally sufficient to obligate the governmental entity for the term stated therein. Any such lease shall constitute an agreement described in division (E) of section 152.24 of the Revised Code.

If rental payments required by a lease established pursuant to this division are not paid in accordance with the provision of such a lease, the funds which would otherwise be apportioned to the lessees from the county undivided local government communities fund, pursuant to sections 5747.51 to 5747.53 of the Revised Code, shall be reduced by the amount of rent payable to the authority. The county treasurer shall immediately pay the amount of such reductions to the authority.

All rents charged by the authority for occupancy of such a capital facility shall be fixed and expended pursuant to section 152.16 of the Revised Code. Any lease with the department of administrative services with respect to such a capital facility may provide for rental payments that satisfy the requirements of section 152.16 of the Revised Code, but the amount of any rentals paid by other tenants in the capital facility pursuant to leases with the authority shall be credited against such rental payments of the department of administrative services. Any lease with the department of administrative services or a using state agency may provide for the payment of rental payments that satisfy the requirements of section 152.16 of the Revised Code prior to initial occupancy of such capital facility. In the process of inviting bids and awarding contracts, the authority shall be guided by the procedures set forth in sections 153.01 to 153.20 of the Revised Code. Any provision of sections 152.21, 152.22, and 152.26 of the Revised Code that applies to capital facilities described in section 152.19 of the Revised Code also applies to the capital facilities described in this section unless it is inconsistent with this section.

Sec. 156.02.  The director of administrative services may contract with an energy services company, contractor, architect, professional engineer, or other person experienced in the design and implementation of energy conservation measures for a report containing an analysis and recommendations pertaining to the implementation of energy conservation measures that would significantly reduce energy consumption and operating costs in any buildings owned by the state and, upon request of its board of trustees or managing authority, any building owned by an institution of higher education as defined in section 3345.12 of the Revised Code. The report shall include estimates of all costs of such measures, including the costs of design, engineering, installation, maintenance, repairs, and debt service, and estimates of the amounts by which energy consumption and operating costs would be reduced.

Sec. 164.03.  For the purpose of allocating the funds made available to finance public infrastructure capital improvement projects of local subdivisions through the issuance of general obligations of the state of Ohio pursuant to Section 2k or, 2m, or 2p of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, the state is divided into the following districts:

District one. Cuyahoga county shall constitute district one.

District two. Hamilton county shall constitute district two.

District three. Franklin county shall constitute district three.

District four. Montgomery county shall constitute district four.

District five. Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Williams, and Wood counties shall constitute district five.

District six. Mahoning and Trumbull counties shall constitute district six.

District seven. Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, and Portage counties shall constitute district seven.

District eight. Summit county shall constitute district eight.

District nine. Lorain, Huron, and Medina counties shall constitute district nine.

District ten. Butler, Clermont, Clinton, and Warren counties shall constitute district ten.

District eleven. Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Madison, Miami, Preble, and Union counties shall constitute district eleven.

District twelve. Lucas county shall constitute district twelve.

District thirteen. Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Logan, Mercer, Putnam, Shelby, and Van Wert counties shall constitute district thirteen.

District fourteen. Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, and Tuscarawas counties shall constitute district fourteen.

District fifteen. Adams, Brown, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton counties shall constitute district fifteen.

District sixteen. Ashland, Crawford, Hardin, Marion, Richland, Seneca, Wayne, and Wyandot counties shall constitute district sixteen.

District seventeen. Delaware, Fairfield, Knox, Licking, Morrow, and Pickaway counties shall constitute district seventeen.

District eighteen. Athens, Belmont, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, and Washington counties shall constitute district eighteen.

District nineteen. Stark county shall constitute district nineteen.

Sec. 164.05.  (A) The director of the Ohio public works commission shall do all of the following:

(1) Approve requests for financial assistance from district public works integrating committees and enter into agreements with one or more local subdivisions to provide loans, grants, and local debt support and credit enhancements for a capital improvement project if the director determines that:

(a) The project is an eligible project pursuant to this chapter;

(b) The financial assistance for the project has been properly approved and requested by the district committee of the district which includes the recipient of the loan or grant;

(c) The amount of the financial assistance, when added to all other financial assistance provided during the fiscal year for projects within the district, does not exceed that district's allocation of money from the state capital improvements fund for that fiscal year;

(d) The district committee has provided such documentation and other evidence as the director may require that the district committee has satisfied the requirements of section 164.06 or 164.14 of the Revised Code;

(e) The portion of a district's annual allocation which the director approves in the form of loans and local debt support and credit enhancements for eligible projects is consistent with divisions (E) and (F) of this section.

(2) Authorize payments to local subdivisions or their contractors for costs incurred for capital improvement projects which have been approved pursuant to this chapter. All requests for payments shall be submitted to the director on forms and in accordance with procedures specified in rules adopted by the director pursuant to division (A)(4) of this section.

(3) Retain the services of or employ financial consultants, engineers, accountants, attorneys, and such other employees as the director determines are necessary to carry out the director's duties under this chapter and fix the compensation for their services;

(4) Adopt rules establishing the procedures for making applications, reviewing, approving, and rejecting projects for which assistance is authorized under this chapter, and any other rules needed to implement the provisions of this chapter. Such rules shall be adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(5) Provide information and other assistance to local subdivisions and district public works integrating committees in developing their requests for financial assistance for capital improvements under this chapter and encourage cooperation and coordination of requests and the development of multisubdivision and multidistrict projects in order to maximize the benefits that may be derived by districts from each year's allocation;

(6) Require local subdivisions, to the extent practicable, to use Ohio products, materials, services, and labor in connection with any capital improvement project financed in whole or in part under this chapter;

(7) Notify the director of budget and management of all approved projects, and supply all information necessary to track approved projects through the state accounting system;

(8) Appoint the administrator of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission;

(9) Do all other acts, enter into contracts, and execute all instruments necessary or appropriate to carry out this chapter;

(10) Develop a standardized methodology for evaluating capital improvement needs which will be used by local subdivisions in preparing the plans required by division (C) of section 164.06 of the Revised Code. The director shall develop this methodology not later than July 1, 1991.

(11) Establish a program to provide local subdivisions with technical assistance in preparing project applications. The program shall be designed to assist local subdivisions that lack the financial or technical resources to prepare project applications on their own.

(B) When the director of the Ohio public works commission decides to conditionally approve or disapprove projects, the director's decisions and the reasons for which they are made shall be made in writing. These written decisions shall be conclusive for the purposes of the validity and enforceability of such determinations.

(C) Fees, charges, rates of interest, times of payment of interest and principal, and other terms, conditions, and provisions of and security for financial assistance provided pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be such as the director determines to be appropriate. If any payments required by a loan agreement entered into pursuant to this chapter are not paid, the funds which would otherwise be apportioned to the local subdivision from the county undivided local government communities fund, pursuant to sections 5747.51 to 5747.53 of the Revised Code, may, at the direction of the director of the Ohio public works commission, be reduced by the amount payable. The county treasurer shall, at the direction of the director, pay the amount of such reductions to the state capital improvements revolving loan fund. The director may renegotiate a loan repayment schedule with a local subdivision whose payments from the county undivided local government communities fund could be reduced pursuant to this division, but such a renegotiation may occur only one time with respect to any particular loan agreement.

(D) Grants approved for the repair and replacement of existing infrastructure pursuant to this chapter shall not exceed ninety per cent of the estimated total cost of the capital improvement project. Grants approved for new or expanded infrastructure shall not exceed fifty per cent of the estimated cost of the new or expansion elements of the capital improvement project. A local subdivision share of the estimated cost of a capital improvement may consist of any of the following:

(1) The reasonable value, as determined by the director or the administrator, of labor, materials, and equipment that will be contributed by the local subdivision in performing the capital improvement project;

(2) Moneys received by the local subdivision in any form from an authority, commission, or agency of the United States for use in performing the capital improvement project;

(3) Loans made to the local subdivision under this chapter;

(4) Engineering costs incurred by the local subdivision in performing engineering activities related to the project.

A local subdivision share of the cost of a capital improvement shall not include any amounts awarded to it from the local transportation improvement program fund created in section 164.14 of the Revised Code.

(E) The following portion of a district public works integrating committee's annual allocation share pursuant to section 164.08 of the Revised Code may be awarded to subdivisions only in the form of interest-free, low-interest, market rate of interest, or blended-rate loans:

(F) The following portion of a district public works integrating committee's annual allocation pursuant to section 164.08 of the Revised Code shall be awarded to subdivisions in the form of local debt supported and credit enhancements:

(G) For the period commencing on March 29, 1988 and ending on June 30, 1993, for the period commencing July 1, 1993, and ending June 30, 1999, and for each five-year period thereafter, the total amount of financial assistance awarded under sections 164.01 to 164.08 of the Revised Code for capital improvement projects located wholly or partially within a county shall be equal to at least thirty per cent of the amount of what the county would have been allocated from the obligations authorized to be sold under this chapter during each period, if such amounts had been allocable to each county on a per capita basis.

(H) The amount of the annual allocations made pursuant to divisions (B)(1) and (6) of section 164.08 of the Revised Code which can be used for new or expanded infrastructure is limited as follows:

(I) The following portion of a district public works integrating committee's annual allocation share pursuant to section 164.08 of the Revised Code shall be awarded to subdivisions in the form of interest-free, low-interest, market rate of interest, or blended-rate loans, or local debt support and credit enhancements:

(J) No project shall be approved under this section unless the project is designed to have a useful life of at least seven years. In addition, the average useful life of all projects for which grants or loans are awarded in each district during a program year shall not be less than twenty years.

Sec. 164.051.  (A) The administrator of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission shall review projects submitted to him the administrator by subcommittees of district public works integrating committees in accordance with section 164.06 of the Revised Code. If he the administrator determines that a project satisfies the criteria of division (B) of that section, while taking into consideration the special needs of villages and townships, the administrator shall recommend to the Ohio small government capital improvements commission that the project be approved. If he the administrator determines that a project should not be approved or that a decision on the project should be delayed, such determinations and an explanation should also be sent to the Ohio small government capital improvements commission for final resolution.

(B) With respect to projects which the Ohio small government capital improvements commission approves, the administrator is authorized to:

(1) Enter into agreements to provide financial assistance in the form of loans, grants, or local debt support and credit enhancements to villages or townships with populations in the unincorporated areas of the township of less than five thousand;

(2) Authorize payments to such villages or townships or their contractors for the costs incurred for capital improvement projects which have been approved in accordance with this chapter. All requests for payments shall be submitted to the administrator on forms and in accordance with procedures specified in rules adopted pursuant to division (A)(4) of section 164.05 of the Revised Code.

(3) Notify the director of budget and management of all approved projects, and supply all information necessary to track the approved projects through the state accounting system.

(4) Do all other acts and enter into contracts and execute all instruments necessary or appropriate to carry out this section.

(C) Fees, charges, rates of interest, times of payment of interest and principal, and other terms, conditions, and provisions of and security for financial assistance provided pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be such as the administrator determines to be appropriate. If any payments required by a loan agreement entered into pursuant to this section are not paid, the funds which would otherwise be apportioned to the local subdivision from the county undivided local government communities fund, pursuant to sections 5747.51 to 5747.53 of the Revised Code, may, at the direction of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission, be reduced by the amount payable. The county treasurer shall, at the direction of the commission, pay the amount of such reductions to the state capital improvements revolving loan fund. Subject to the approval of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission, the administrator may renegotiate a loan repayment schedule with a local subdivision whose payments from the county undivided local government communities fund could be reduced pursuant to this division, but such a renegotiation may occur only one time with respect to any particular loan agreement.

Sec. 164.08.  (A) Except as provided in sections 151.01 and 151.08 or section 164.09 of the Revised Code, the net proceeds of obligations issued and sold by the treasurer of state pursuant to section 164.09 of the Revised Code before September 30, 2000, or pursuant to sections 151.01 and 151.08 of the Revised Code, for the purpose of financing or assisting in the financing of the cost of public infrastructure capital improvement projects of local subdivisions, as provided for in Section 2k or, 2m, or 2p of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, and this chapter, shall be paid into the state capital improvements fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury. Investment earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(B) Each program year the amount of obligations authorized by the general assembly in accordance with sections 151.01 and 151.08 or section 164.09 of the Revised Code, excluding the proceeds of refunding or renewal obligations, shall be allocated by the director of the Ohio public works commission as follows:

(1) First, twelve million dollars of the amount of obligations authorized shall be allocated to provide financial assistance to villages and to townships with populations in the unincorporated areas of the township of less than five thousand persons, for capital improvements in accordance with section 164.051 and division (D) of section 164.06 of the Revised Code. As used in division (B)(1) of this section, "capital improvements" includes resurfacing and improving roads.

(2) Following the allocation required by division (B)(1) of this section, the director may allocate two million five hundred thousand dollars of the authorized obligations to provide financial assistance to local subdivisions for capital improvement projects which in the judgment of the director of the Ohio public works commission are necessary for the immediate preservation of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the local subdivision requesting assistance.

(3) For the second, third, fourth, and fifth years that obligations are authorized and are available for allocation under this chapter, one million dollars shall be allocated to the sewer and water fund created in section 1525.11 of the Revised Code. Money from this allocation shall be transferred to that fund when needed to support specific payments from that fund.

(4) For program years twelve and fourteen that obligations are authorized and available for allocation under this chapter, two million dollars each program year shall be allocated to the small county capital improvement program for use in providing financial assistance under division (F) of section 164.02 of the Revised Code.

(5) After the allocation required by division (B)(3) of this section is made, the director shall determine the amount of the remaining obligations authorized to be issued and sold that each county would receive if such amounts were allocated on a per capita basis each year. If a county's per capita share for the year would be less than three hundred thousand dollars, the director shall allocate to the district in which that county is located an amount equal to the difference between three hundred thousand dollars and the county's per capita share.

(6) After making the allocation required by division (B)(5) of this section, the director shall allocate the remaining amount to each district on a per capita basis.

(C)(1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the state capital improvements revolving loan fund, into which shall be deposited all repayments of loans made to local subdivisions for capital improvements pursuant to this chapter. Investment earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(2) There may also be deposited in the state capital improvements revolving loan fund moneys obtained from federal or private grants, or from other sources, which are to be used for any of the purposes authorized by this chapter. Such moneys shall be allocated each year in accordance with division (B)(6) of this section.

(3) Moneys deposited into the state capital improvements revolving loan fund shall be used to make loans for the purpose of financing or assisting in the financing of the cost of capital improvement projects of local subdivisions.

(4) Investment earnings credited to the state capital improvements revolving loan fund that exceed the amounts required to meet estimated federal arbitrage rebate requirements shall be used to pay costs incurred by the public works commission in administering this section. Investment earnings credited to the state capital improvements revolving loan fund that exceed the amounts required to pay for the administrative costs and estimated rebate requirements shall be allocated to each district on a per capita basis.

(5) Each program year, loan repayments received and on deposit in the state capital improvements revolving loan fund shall be allocated as follows:

(a) Each district public works integrating committee shall be allocated an amount equal to the sum of all loan repayments made to the state capital improvements revolving loan fund by local subdivisions that are part of the district. Moneys not used in a program year may be used in the next program year in the same manner and for the same purpose as originally allocated.

(b) Loan repayments made pursuant to projects approved under division (B)(1) of this section shall be used to make loans in accordance with section 164.051 and division (D) of section 164.06 of the Revised Code. Allocations for this purpose made pursuant to division (C)(5) of this section shall be in addition to the allocation provided in division (B)(1) of this section.

(c) Loan repayments made pursuant to projects approved under division (B)(2) of this section shall be used to make loans in accordance with division (B)(2) of this section. Allocations for this purpose made pursuant to division (C)(5) of this section shall be in addition to the allocation provided in division (B)(2) of this section.

(d) Loans made from the state capital improvements revolving loan fund shall not be limited in their usage by divisions (E), (F), (G), (H), and (I) of section 164.05 of the Revised Code.

(D) Investment earnings credited to the state capital improvements fund that exceed the amounts required to meet estimated federal arbitrage rebate requirements shall be used to pay costs incurred by the public works commission in administering sections 164.01 to 164.12 of the Revised Code.

(E) The director of the Ohio public works commission shall notify the director of budget and management of the amounts allocated pursuant to this section and such information shall be entered into the state accounting system. The director of budget and management shall establish appropriation line items as needed to track these allocations.

(F) If the amount of a district's allocation in a program year exceeds the amount of financial assistance approved for the district by the commission for that year, the remaining portion of the district's allocation shall be added to the district's allocation pursuant to division (B) of this section for the next succeeding year for use in the same manner and for the same purposes as it was originally allocated, except that any portion of a district's allocation which was available for use on new or expanded infrastructure pursuant to division (H) of section 164.05 of the Revised Code shall be available in succeeding years only for the repair and replacement of existing infrastructure.

(G) When an allocation based on population is made by the director pursuant to division (B) of this section, the director shall use the most recent decennial census statistics, and shall not make any reallocations based upon a change in a district's population.

Sec. 164.09.  (A) The issuer is authorized to issue and sell, as provided in this section and in amounts from time to time authorized by the general assembly, general obligations of this state for the purpose of financing or assisting in the financing of the costs of public infrastructure capital improvements for local subdivisions. The full faith and credit, revenues, and taxing power of the state are and shall be pledged to the timely payment of bond service charges on outstanding obligations, all in accordance with Section 2k or 2m of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution and sections 164.09 to 164.12 of the Revised Code, excluding from that pledge fees, excises, or taxes relating to the registration, operation, or use of vehicles on the public highways, or to fuels used for propelling those vehicles, and so long as such obligations are outstanding there shall be levied and collected excises and taxes, excluding those excepted above, in amounts sufficient to pay the bond service charges on such obligations and costs relating to credit facilities.

(B)(1) The total principal amount of obligations issued pursuant to Section 2k of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution shall not exceed one billion two hundred million dollars, and not more than one hundred twenty million dollars in principal amount of obligations may be issued in any calendar year, all determined as provided in sections 164.09 to 164.12 of the Revised Code.

(2) The total principal amount of obligations issued for the purposes of this section pursuant to Section 2m of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, shall not exceed one billion two hundred million dollars. Not more than one hundred twenty million dollars in principal amount of such obligations, plus the principal amount of such obligations that in any prior fiscal years could have been but were not issued within the one-hundred-twenty-million-dollar fiscal year limit, may be issued in any fiscal year. No obligations shall be issued for the purposes of this section pursuant to Section 2m of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, until at least one billion one hundred ninety-nine million five hundred thousand dollars aggregate principal amount of obligations have been issued pursuant to Section 2k of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution. The amounts specified under division (B)(2) of this section shall be determined as provided in sections 164.09 to 164.12 of the Revised Code.

(C) Each issue of obligations shall be authorized by order of the issuer. The bond proceedings shall provide for the principal amount or maximum principal amount of obligations of an issue, and shall provide for or authorize the manner or agency for determining the principal maturity or maturities, not exceeding the earlier of thirty years from the date of issuance of the particular obligations or thirty years from the date the debt represented by the particular obligations was originally contracted, the interest rate or rates, the date of and the dates of payment of interest on the obligations, their denominations, and the establishment within or without the state of a place or places of payment of bond service charges. Sections 9.96 and 9.98 to 9.983 of the Revised Code are applicable to the obligations. The purpose of the obligations may be stated in the bond proceedings as "financing or assisting in the financing of local subdivisions capital improvement projects."

(D) The proceeds of the obligations, except for any portion to be deposited in special funds, or in escrow funds for the purpose of refunding outstanding obligations, all as may be provided in the bond proceedings, shall be deposited to the state capital improvements fund established by section 164.08 of the Revised Code.

(E) The issuer may appoint paying agents, bond registrars, securities depositories, and transfer agents, and may retain the services of financial advisers and accounting experts, and retain or contract for the services of marketing, remarketing, indexing, and administrative agents, other consultants, and independent contractors, including printing services, as are necessary in the issuer's judgment to carry out sections 164.01 to 164.12 of the Revised Code. Financing costs are payable, as provided in the bond proceedings, from the proceeds of the obligations, from special funds, or from other moneys available for the purpose.

(F) The bond proceedings, including any trust agreement, may contain additional provisions customary or appropriate to the financing or to the obligations or to particular obligations, including but not limited to:

(1) The redemption of obligations prior to maturity at the option of the state or of the holder or upon the occurrence of certain conditions at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as are provided in the bond proceedings;

(2) The form of and other terms of the obligations;

(3) The establishment, deposit, investment, and application of special funds, and the safeguarding of moneys on hand or on deposit, without regard to Chapter 131. or 135. of the Revised Code, but subject to any special provisions of this section with respect to particular funds or moneys, and provided that any bank or trust company that acts as a depository of any moneys in special funds may furnish such indemnifying bonds or may pledge such securities as required by the issuer;

(4) Any or every provision of the bond proceedings binding upon the issuer and such state agency or local subdivision, officer, board, commission, authority, agency, department, or other person or body as may from time to time have the authority under law to take such actions as may be necessary to perform all or any part of the duty required by such provision;

(5) The maintenance of each pledge, any trust agreement, or other instrument comprising part of the bond proceedings until the state has fully paid or provided for the payment of the bond service charges on the obligations or met other stated conditions;

(6) In the event of default in any payments required to be made by the bond proceedings, or any other agreement of the issuer made as a part of a contract under which the obligations were issued or secured, the enforcement of such payments or agreements by mandamus, suit in equity, action at law, or any combination of the foregoing;

(7) The rights and remedies of the holders of obligations and of the trustee under any trust agreement, and provisions for protecting and enforcing them, including limitations on rights of individual holders of obligations;

(8) The replacement of any obligations that become mutilated or are destroyed, lost, or stolen;

(9) Provision for the funding, refunding, or advance refunding or other provision for payment of obligations which will then no longer be outstanding for purposes of this section or of the bond proceedings;

(10) Any provision that may be made in bond proceedings or a trust agreement, including provision for amendment of the bond proceedings;

(11) Such other provisions as the issuer determines, including limitations, conditions, or qualifications relating to any of the foregoing;

(12) Any other or additional agreements with the holders of the obligations relating to the obligations or the security for the obligations.

(G) The great seal of the state or a facsimile of that seal may be affixed to or printed on the obligations. The obligations requiring signature by the issuer shall be signed by or bear the facsimile signature of the issuer as provided in the bond proceedings. Any obligations may be signed by the person who, on the date of execution, is the authorized signer although on the date of such obligations such person was not the issuer. In case the person whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature appears on any obligation ceases to be the issuer before delivery of the obligation, such signature or facsimile is nevertheless valid and sufficient for all purposes as if the person had remained the member until such delivery, and in case the seal to be affixed to or printed on obligations has been changed after the seal has been affixed to or a facsimile of the seal has been printed on the obligations, that seal or facsimile seal shall continue to be sufficient as to those obligations and obligations issued in substitution or exchange therefor.

(H) The obligations are negotiable instruments and securities under Chapter 1308. of the Revised Code, subject to the provisions of the bond proceedings as to registration. Obligations may be issued in coupon or in fully registered form, or both, as the issuer determines. Provision may be made for the registration of any obligations with coupons attached as to principal alone or as to both principal and interest, their exchange for obligations so registered, and for the conversion or reconversion into obligations with coupons attached of any obligations registered as to both principal and interest, and for reasonable charges for such registration, exchange, conversion, and reconversion. Pending preparation of definitive obligations, the issuer may issue interim receipts or certificates which shall be exchanged for such definitive obligations.

(I) Obligations may be sold at public sale or at private sale, and at such price at, above, or below par, as determined by the issuer in the bond proceedings.

(J) In the discretion of the issuer, obligations may be secured additionally by a trust agreement between the state and a corporate trustee which may be any trust company or bank having its principal a place of business within the state. Any trust agreement may contain the order authorizing the issuance of the obligations, any provisions that may be contained in the bond proceedings, and other provisions that are customary or appropriate in an agreement of the type.

(K) Except to the extent that their rights are restricted by the bond proceedings, any holder of obligations, or a trustee under the bond proceedings, may by any suitable form of legal proceedings protect and enforce any rights under the laws of this state or granted by the bond proceedings. Such rights include the right to compel the performance of all duties of the issuer and the state. Each duty of the issuer and the issuer's employees, and of each state agency and local public entity and its officers, members, or employees, undertaken pursuant to the bond proceedings, is hereby established as a duty of the issuer, and of each such agency, local subdivision, officer, member, or employee having authority to perform such duty, specifically enjoined by the law and resulting from an office, trust, or station within the meaning of section 2731.01 of the Revised Code. The persons who are at the time the issuer, or the issuer's employees, are not liable in their personal capacities on any obligations or any agreements of or with the issuer relating to obligations or under the bond proceedings.

(L) Obligations are lawful investments for banks, societies for savings, savings and loan associations, deposit guarantee associations, trust companies, trustees, fiduciaries, insurance companies, including domestic for life and domestic not for life, trustees or other officers having charge of sinking and bond retirement or other special funds of political subdivisions and taxing districts of this state, the commissioners of the sinking fund, the administrator of workers' compensation, the state teachers retirement system, the public employees retirement system, the school employees retirement system, and the Ohio police and fire pension fund, notwithstanding any other provisions of the Revised Code or rules adopted pursuant thereto by any state agency with respect to investments by them, and are also acceptable as security for the deposit of public moneys.

(M) Unless otherwise provided in any applicable bond proceedings, moneys to the credit of or in the special funds established by or pursuant to this section may be invested by or on behalf of the issuer only in notes, bonds, or other direct obligations of the United States or of any agency or instrumentality of the United States, in obligations of this state or any political subdivision of this state, in certificates of deposit of any national bank located in this state and any bank, as defined in section 1101.01 of the Revised Code, subject to inspection by the superintendent of financial institutions, in the Ohio subdivision's fund established pursuant to section 135.45 of the Revised Code, in no-front-end-load money market mutual funds consisting exclusively of direct obligations of the United States or of an agency or instrumentality of the United States, and in repurchase agreements, including those issued by any fiduciary, secured by direct obligations of the United States or an agency or instrumentality of the United States, and in collective investment funds established in accordance with section 1111.14 of the Revised Code and consisting exclusively of direct obligations of the United States or of an agency or instrumentality of the United States, notwithstanding division (A)(1)(c) of that section. The income from investments shall be credited to such special funds or otherwise as the issuer determines in the bond proceedings, and the investments may be sold or exchanged at such times as the issuer determines or authorizes.

(N) Unless otherwise provided in any applicable bond proceedings, moneys to the credit of or in a special fund shall be disbursed on the order of the issuer, provided that no such order is required for the payment from the bond service fund or other special fund when due of bond service charges or required payments under credit facilities.

(O) The issuer may covenant in the bond proceedings, and any such covenants shall be controlling notwithstanding any other provision of law, that the state and the applicable officers and agencies of the state, including the general assembly, so long as any obligations are outstanding in accordance with their terms, shall maintain statutory authority for and cause to be charged and collected taxes, excises, and other receipts of the state so that the receipts to the bond service fund shall be sufficient in amounts to meet bond service charges and for the establishment and maintenance of any reserves and other requirements, including payment of financing costs, provided for in the bond proceedings.

(P) The obligations, and the transfer of, and the interest and other income from, including any profit made on the sale, transfer, or other disposition of, the obligations shall at all times be free from taxation, direct or indirect, within the state.

(Q) Unless a judicial action or proceeding challenging the validity of obligations is commenced by personal service on the treasurer of state prior to the initial delivery of an issue of the obligations, the obligations of that issue and the bond proceedings pertaining to that issue are incontestable and those obligations shall be conclusively considered to be and to have been issued, secured, payable, sold, executed, and delivered, and the bond proceedings relating to them taken, in conformity with law if all of the following apply to the obligations:

(1) They state that they are issued under the provisions of this section and comply on their face with those provisions;

(2) They are issued within the limitations prescribed by this section;

(3) Their purchase price has been paid in full;

(4) They state that all the bond proceedings were held in compliance with law, which statement creates a conclusive presumption that the bond proceedings were held in compliance with all laws, including section 121.22 of the Revised Code, where applicable, and rules.

(R) This section applies only with respect to obligations issued and delivered before September 30, 2000.

Sec. 166.08.  (A) As used in this chapter:

(1) "Bond proceedings" means the resolution, order, trust agreement, indenture, lease, and other agreements, amendments and supplements to the foregoing, or any one or more or combination thereof, authorizing or providing for the terms and conditions applicable to, or providing for the security or liquidity of, obligations issued pursuant to this section, and the provisions contained in such obligations.

(2) "Bond service charges" means principal, including mandatory sinking fund requirements for retirement of obligations, and interest, and redemption premium, if any, required to be paid by the state on obligations.

(3) "Bond service fund" means the applicable fund and accounts therein created for and pledged to the payment of bond service charges, which may be, or may be part of, the economic development bond service fund created by division (S) of this section including all moneys and investments, and earnings from investments, credited and to be credited thereto.

(4) "Issuing authority" means the treasurer of state, or the officer who by law performs the functions of such officer.

(5) "Obligations" means bonds, notes, or other evidence of obligation including interest coupons pertaining thereto, issued pursuant to this section.

(6) "Pledged receipts" means all receipts of the state representing the gross profit on the sale of spirituous liquor, as referred to in division (B)(4) of section 4301.10 of the Revised Code, after paying all costs and expenses of the division of liquor control and providing an adequate working capital reserve for the division of liquor control as provided in that division, but excluding the sum required by the second paragraph of section 4301.12 of the Revised Code, as in effect on May 2, 1980, to be paid into the state treasury; moneys accruing to the state from the lease, sale, or other disposition, or use, of project facilities, and from the repayment, including interest, of loans made from proceeds received from the sale of obligations; accrued interest received from the sale of obligations; income from the investment of the special funds; and any gifts, grants, donations, and pledges, and receipts therefrom, available for the payment of bond service charges.

(7) "Special funds" or "funds" means, except where the context does not permit, the bond service fund, and any other funds, including reserve funds, created under the bond proceedings, and the economic development bond service fund created by division (S) of this section to the extent provided in the bond proceedings, including all moneys and investments, and earnings from investment, credited and to be credited thereto.

(B) Subject to the limitations provided in section 166.11 of the Revised Code, the issuing authority, upon the certification by the director of development to the issuing authority of the amount of moneys or additional moneys needed in the facilities establishment fund, the loan guarantee fund, the innovation Ohio loan fund, the innovation Ohio loan guarantee fund, or the research and development loan fund for the purpose of paying, or making loans for, allowable costs from the facilities establishment fund, allowable innovation costs from the innovation Ohio loan fund, or allowable costs from the research and development loan fund, or needed for capitalized interest, for funding reserves, and for paying costs and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance, carrying, securing, paying, redeeming, or retirement of the obligations or any obligations refunded thereby, including payment of costs and expenses relating to letters of credit, lines of credit, insurance, put agreements, standby purchase agreements, indexing, marketing, remarketing and administrative arrangements, interest swap or hedging agreements, and any other credit enhancement, liquidity, remarketing, renewal, or refunding arrangements, all of which are authorized by this section, or providing moneys for the loan guarantee fund or the innovation Ohio loan guarantee fund, as provided in this chapter or needed for the purposes of funds established in accordance with or pursuant to sections 122.35, 122.42, 122.54, 122.55, 122.56, 122.561, 122.57, and 122.80 of the Revised Code which are within the authorization of Section 13 of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, shall issue obligations of the state under this section in the required amount; provided that such obligations may be issued to satisfy the covenants in contracts of guarantee made under section 166.06 or 166.15 of the Revised Code, notwithstanding limitations otherwise applicable to the issuance of obligations under this section. The proceeds of such obligations, except for the portion to be deposited in special funds, including reserve funds, as may be provided in the bond proceedings, shall as provided in the bond proceedings be deposited by the director of development to the facilities establishment fund, the loan guarantee fund, the innovation Ohio loan guarantee fund, the innovation Ohio loan fund, or the research and development loan fund. Bond proceedings for project financing obligations may provide that the proceeds derived from the issuance of such obligations shall be deposited into such fund or funds provided for in the bond proceedings and, to the extent provided for in the bond proceedings, such proceeds shall be deemed to have been deposited into the facilities establishment fund and transferred to such fund or funds. The issuing authority may appoint trustees, paying agents, and transfer agents and may retain the services of financial advisors, accounting experts, and attorneys, and retain or contract for the services of marketing, remarketing, indexing, and administrative agents, other consultants, and independent contractors, including printing services, as are necessary in the issuing authority's judgment to carry out this section. The costs of such services are allowable costs payable from the facilities establishment fund or the research and development loan fund or allowable innovation costs payable from the innovation Ohio loan fund.

(C) The holders or owners of such obligations shall have no right to have moneys raised by taxation obligated or pledged, and moneys raised by taxation shall not be obligated or pledged, for the payment of bond service charges. Such holders or owners shall have no rights to payment of bond service charges from any moneys accruing to the state from the lease, sale, or other disposition, or use, of project facilities, or from payment of the principal of or interest on loans made, or fees charged for guarantees made, or from any money or property received by the director, treasurer of state, or the state under Chapter 122. of the Revised Code, or from any other use of the proceeds of the sale of the obligations, and no such moneys may be used for the payment of bond service charges, except for accrued interest, capitalized interest, and reserves funded from proceeds received upon the sale of the obligations and except as otherwise expressly provided in the applicable bond proceedings pursuant to written directions by the director. The right of such holders and owners to payment of bond service charges is limited to all or that portion of the pledged receipts and those special funds pledged thereto pursuant to the bond proceedings in accordance with this section, and each such obligation shall bear on its face a statement to that effect.

(D) Obligations shall be authorized by resolution or order of the issuing authority and the bond proceedings shall provide for the purpose thereof and the principal amount or amounts, and shall provide for or authorize the manner or agency for determining the principal maturity or maturities, not exceeding twenty-five years from the date of issuance, the interest rate or rates or the maximum interest rate, the date of the obligations and the dates of payment of interest thereon, their denomination, and the establishment within or without the state of a place or places of payment of bond service charges. Sections 9.98 to 9.983 of the Revised Code are applicable to obligations issued under this section, subject to any applicable limitation under section 166.11 of the Revised Code. The purpose of such obligations may be stated in the bond proceedings in terms describing the general purpose or purposes to be served. The bond proceedings also shall provide, subject to the provisions of any other applicable bond proceedings, for the pledge of all, or such part as the issuing authority may determine, of the pledged receipts and the applicable special fund or funds to the payment of bond service charges, which pledges may be made either prior or subordinate to other expenses, claims, or payments, and may be made to secure the obligations on a parity with obligations theretofore or thereafter issued, if and to the extent provided in the bond proceedings. The pledged receipts and special funds so pledged and thereafter received by the state are immediately subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and the lien of any such pledges is valid and binding against all parties having claims of any kind against the state or any governmental agency of the state, irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof, and shall create a perfected security interest for all purposes of Chapter 1309. of the Revised Code, without the necessity for separation or delivery of funds or for the filing or recording of the bond proceedings by which such pledge is created or any certificate, statement or other document with respect thereto; and the pledge of such pledged receipts and special funds is effective and the money therefrom and thereof may be applied to the purposes for which pledged without necessity for any act of appropriation. Every pledge, and every covenant and agreement made with respect thereto, made in the bond proceedings may therein be extended to the benefit of the owners and holders of obligations authorized by this section, and to any trustee therefor, for the further security of the payment of the bond service charges.

(E) The bond proceedings may contain additional provisions as to:

(1) The redemption of obligations prior to maturity at the option of the issuing authority at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as are provided in the bond proceedings;

(2) Other terms of the obligations;

(3) Limitations on the issuance of additional obligations;

(4) The terms of any trust agreement or indenture securing the obligations or under which the same may be issued;

(5) The deposit, investment and application of special funds, and the safeguarding of moneys on hand or on deposit, without regard to Chapter 131. or 135. of the Revised Code, but subject to any special provisions of this chapter, with respect to particular funds or moneys, provided that any bank or trust company which acts as depository of any moneys in the special funds may furnish such indemnifying bonds or may pledge such securities as required by the issuing authority;

(6) Any or every provision of the bond proceedings being binding upon such officer, board, commission, authority, agency, department, or other person or body as may from time to time have the authority under law to take such actions as may be necessary to perform all or any part of the duty required by such provision;

(7) Any provision that may be made in a trust agreement or indenture;

(8) Any other or additional agreements with the holders of the obligations, or the trustee therefor, relating to the obligations or the security therefor, including the assignment of mortgages or other security obtained or to be obtained for loans under section 122.43, 166.07, or 166.16 of the Revised Code.

(F) The obligations may have the great seal of the state or a facsimile thereof affixed thereto or printed thereon. The obligations and any coupons pertaining to obligations shall be signed or bear the facsimile signature of the issuing authority. Any obligations or coupons may be executed by the person who, on the date of execution, is the proper issuing authority although on the date of such bonds or coupons such person was not the issuing authority. If the issuing authority whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature appears on any such obligation or coupon ceases to be the issuing authority before delivery thereof, such signature or facsimile is nevertheless valid and sufficient for all purposes as if the former issuing authority had remained the issuing authority until such delivery; and if the seal to be affixed to obligations has been changed after a facsimile of the seal has been imprinted on such obligations, such facsimile seal shall continue to be sufficient as to such obligations and obligations issued in substitution or exchange therefor.

(G) All obligations are negotiable instruments and securities under Chapter 1308. of the Revised Code, subject to the provisions of the bond proceedings as to registration. The obligations may be issued in coupon or in registered form, or both, as the issuing authority determines. Provision may be made for the registration of any obligations with coupons attached thereto as to principal alone or as to both principal and interest, their exchange for obligations so registered, and for the conversion or reconversion into obligations with coupons attached thereto of any obligations registered as to both principal and interest, and for reasonable charges for such registration, exchange, conversion, and reconversion.

(H) Obligations may be sold at public sale or at private sale, as determined in the bond proceedings.

Obligations issued to provide moneys for the loan guarantee fund or the innovation Ohio loan guarantee fund may, as determined by the issuing authority, be sold at private sale, and without publication of a notice of sale.

(I) Pending preparation of definitive obligations, the issuing authority may issue interim receipts or certificates which shall be exchanged for such definitive obligations.

(J) In the discretion of the issuing authority, obligations may be secured additionally by a trust agreement or indenture between the issuing authority and a corporate trustee which may be any trust company or bank having its principal a place of business within the state. Any such agreement or indenture may contain the resolution or order authorizing the issuance of the obligations, any provisions that may be contained in any bond proceedings, and other provisions which are customary or appropriate in an agreement or indenture of such type, including, but not limited to:

(1) Maintenance of each pledge, trust agreement, indenture, or other instrument comprising part of the bond proceedings until the state has fully paid the bond service charges on the obligations secured thereby, or provision therefor has been made;

(2) In the event of default in any payments required to be made by the bond proceedings, or any other agreement of the issuing authority made as a part of the contract under which the obligations were issued, enforcement of such payments or agreement by mandamus, the appointment of a receiver, suit in equity, action at law, or any combination of the foregoing;

(3) The rights and remedies of the holders of obligations and of the trustee, and provisions for protecting and enforcing them, including limitations on rights of individual holders of obligations;

(4) The replacement of any obligations that become mutilated or are destroyed, lost, or stolen;

(5) Such other provisions as the trustee and the issuing authority agree upon, including limitations, conditions, or qualifications relating to any of the foregoing.

(K) Any holders of obligations or trustees under the bond proceedings, except to the extent that their rights are restricted by the bond proceedings, may by any suitable form of legal proceedings, protect and enforce any rights under the laws of this state or granted by such bond proceedings. Such rights include the right to compel the performance of all duties of the issuing authority, the director of development, or the division of liquor control required by this chapter or the bond proceedings; to enjoin unlawful activities; and in the event of default with respect to the payment of any bond service charges on any obligations or in the performance of any covenant or agreement on the part of the issuing authority, the director of development, or the division of liquor control in the bond proceedings, to apply to a court having jurisdiction of the cause to appoint a receiver to receive and administer the pledged receipts and special funds, other than those in the custody of the treasurer of state, which are pledged to the payment of the bond service charges on such obligations or which are the subject of the covenant or agreement, with full power to pay, and to provide for payment of bond service charges on, such obligations, and with such powers, subject to the direction of the court, as are accorded receivers in general equity cases, excluding any power to pledge additional revenues or receipts or other income or moneys of the issuing authority or the state or governmental agencies of the state to the payment of such principal and interest and excluding the power to take possession of, mortgage, or cause the sale or otherwise dispose of any project facilities.

Each duty of the issuing authority and the issuing authority's officers and employees, and of each governmental agency and its officers, members, or employees, undertaken pursuant to the bond proceedings or any agreement or lease, lease-purchase agreement, or loan made under authority of this chapter, and in every agreement by or with the issuing authority, is hereby established as a duty of the issuing authority, and of each such officer, member, or employee having authority to perform such duty, specifically enjoined by the law resulting from an office, trust, or station within the meaning of section 2731.01 of the Revised Code.

The person who is at the time the issuing authority, or the issuing authority's officers or employees, are not liable in their personal capacities on any obligations issued by the issuing authority or any agreements of or with the issuing authority.

(L) The issuing authority may authorize and issue obligations for the refunding, including funding and retirement, and advance refunding with or without payment or redemption prior to maturity, of any obligations previously issued by the issuing authority. Such obligations may be issued in amounts sufficient for payment of the principal amount of the prior obligations, any redemption premiums thereon, principal maturities of any such obligations maturing prior to the redemption of the remaining obligations on a parity therewith, interest accrued or to accrue to the maturity dates or dates of redemption of such obligations, and any allowable costs including expenses incurred or to be incurred in connection with such issuance and such refunding, funding, and retirement. Subject to the bond proceedings therefor, the portion of proceeds of the sale of obligations issued under this division to be applied to bond service charges on the prior obligations shall be credited to an appropriate account held by the trustee for such prior or new obligations or to the appropriate account in the bond service fund for such obligations. Obligations authorized under this division shall be deemed to be issued for those purposes for which such prior obligations were issued and are subject to the provisions of this section pertaining to other obligations, except as otherwise provided in this section; provided that, unless otherwise authorized by the general assembly, any limitations imposed by the general assembly pursuant to this section with respect to bond service charges applicable to the prior obligations shall be applicable to the obligations issued under this division to refund, fund, advance refund or retire such prior obligations.

(M) The authority to issue obligations under this section includes authority to issue obligations in the form of bond anticipation notes and to renew the same from time to time by the issuance of new notes. The holders of such notes or interest coupons pertaining thereto shall have a right to be paid solely from the pledged receipts and special funds that may be pledged to the payment of the bonds anticipated, or from the proceeds of such bonds or renewal notes, or both, as the issuing authority provides in the resolution or order authorizing such notes. Such notes may be additionally secured by covenants of the issuing authority to the effect that the issuing authority and the state will do such or all things necessary for the issuance of such bonds or renewal notes in appropriate amount, and apply the proceeds thereof to the extent necessary, to make full payment of the principal of and interest on such notes at the time or times contemplated, as provided in such resolution or order. For such purpose, the issuing authority may issue bonds or renewal notes in such principal amount and upon such terms as may be necessary to provide funds to pay when required the principal of and interest on such notes, notwithstanding any limitations prescribed by or for purposes of this section. Subject to this division, all provisions for and references to obligations in this section are applicable to notes authorized under this division.

The issuing authority in the bond proceedings authorizing the issuance of bond anticipation notes shall set forth for such bonds an estimated interest rate and a schedule of principal payments for such bonds and the annual maturity dates thereof, and for purposes of any limitation on bond service charges prescribed under division (A) of section 166.11 of the Revised Code, the amount of bond service charges on such bond anticipation notes is deemed to be the bond service charges for the bonds anticipated thereby as set forth in the bond proceedings applicable to such notes, but this provision does not modify any authority in this section to pledge receipts and special funds to, and covenant to issue bonds to fund, the payment of principal of and interest and any premium on such notes.

(N) Obligations issued under this section are lawful investments for banks, societies for savings, savings and loan associations, deposit guarantee associations, trust companies, trustees, fiduciaries, insurance companies, including domestic for life and domestic not for life, trustees or other officers having charge of sinking and bond retirement or other special funds of political subdivisions and taxing districts of this state, the commissioners of the sinking fund of the state, the administrator of workers' compensation, the state teachers retirement system, the public employees retirement system, the school employees retirement system, and the Ohio police and fire pension fund, notwithstanding any other provisions of the Revised Code or rules adopted pursuant thereto by any governmental agency of the state with respect to investments by them, and are also acceptable as security for the deposit of public moneys.

(O) Unless otherwise provided in any applicable bond proceedings, moneys to the credit of or in the special funds established by or pursuant to this section may be invested by or on behalf of the issuing authority only in notes, bonds, or other obligations of the United States, or of any agency or instrumentality of the United States, obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States, obligations of this state or any political subdivision of this state, and certificates of deposit of any national bank located in this state and any bank, as defined in section 1101.01 of the Revised Code, subject to inspection by the superintendent of banks. If the law or the instrument creating a trust pursuant to division (J) of this section expressly permits investment in direct obligations of the United States or an agency of the United States, unless expressly prohibited by the instrument, such moneys also may be invested in no-front-end-load money market mutual funds consisting exclusively of obligations of the United States or an agency of the United States and in repurchase agreements, including those issued by the fiduciary itself, secured by obligations of the United States or an agency of the United States; and in common trust funds established in accordance with section 1111.20 of the Revised Code and consisting exclusively of any such securities, notwithstanding division (A)(4) of that section. The income from such investments shall be credited to such funds as the issuing authority determines, and such investments may be sold at such times as the issuing authority determines or authorizes.

(P) Provision may be made in the applicable bond proceedings for the establishment of separate accounts in the bond service fund and for the application of such accounts only to the specified bond service charges on obligations pertinent to such accounts and bond service fund and for other accounts therein within the general purposes of such fund. Unless otherwise provided in any applicable bond proceedings, moneys to the credit of or in the several special funds established pursuant to this section shall be disbursed on the order of the treasurer of state, provided that no such order is required for the payment from the bond service fund when due of bond service charges on obligations.

(Q) The issuing authority may pledge all, or such portion as the issuing authority determines, of the pledged receipts to the payment of bond service charges on obligations issued under this section, and for the establishment and maintenance of any reserves, as provided in the bond proceedings, and make other provisions therein with respect to pledged receipts as authorized by this chapter, which provisions are controlling notwithstanding any other provisions of law pertaining thereto.

(R) The issuing authority may covenant in the bond proceedings, and any such covenants are controlling notwithstanding any other provision of law, that the state and applicable officers and governmental agencies of the state, including the general assembly, so long as any obligations are outstanding, shall:

(1) Maintain statutory authority for and cause to be charged and collected wholesale and retail prices for spirituous liquor sold by the state or its agents so that the pledged receipts are sufficient in amount to meet bond service charges, and the establishment and maintenance of any reserves and other requirements provided for in the bond proceedings, and, as necessary, to meet covenants contained in contracts of guarantee made under section 166.06 of the Revised Code;

(2) Take or permit no action, by statute or otherwise, that would impair the exemption from federal income taxation of the interest on the obligations.

(S) There is hereby created the economic development bond service fund, which shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state but shall be separate and apart from and not a part of the state treasury. All moneys received by or on account of the issuing authority or state agencies and required by the applicable bond proceedings, consistent with this section, to be deposited, transferred, or credited to a bond service fund or the economic development bond service fund, and all other moneys transferred or allocated to or received for the purposes of the fund, shall be deposited and credited to such fund and to any separate accounts therein, subject to applicable provisions of the bond proceedings, but without necessity for any act of appropriation. During the period beginning with the date of the first issuance of obligations and continuing during such time as any such obligations are outstanding, and so long as moneys in the pertinent bond service funds are insufficient to pay all bond services charges on such obligations becoming due in each year, a sufficient amount of the gross profit on the sale of spirituous liquor included in pledged receipts are committed and shall be paid to the bond service fund or economic development bond service fund in each year for the purpose of paying the bond service charges becoming due in that year without necessity for further act of appropriation for such purpose and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Chapter 4301. of the Revised Code. The economic development bond service fund is a trust fund and is hereby pledged to the payment of bond service charges to the extent provided in the applicable bond proceedings, and payment thereof from such fund shall be made or provided for by the treasurer of state in accordance with such bond proceedings without necessity for any act of appropriation.

(T) The obligations, the transfer thereof, and the income therefrom, including any profit made on the sale thereof, shall at all times be free from taxation within the state.

Sec. 173.04.  (A) As used in this section, "respite care" means short-term, temporary care or supervision provided to a person who has Alzheimer's disease in the absence of the person who normally provides that care or supervision.

(B) The director of aging shall develop and disseminate new training materials or disseminate existing may provide for the development and dissemination of Alzheimer's disease training materials for licensed physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, administrators of health care programs, social workers, and other health care and social service personnel who participate or assist in the care or treatment of persons who have Alzheimer's disease.

(C) To the extent funds are available, the director shall administer respite care programs and other supportive services for persons who have Alzheimer's disease and their families or care givers. Respite care programs shall be approved by the director and shall be provided for the following purposes:

(1) Giving persons who normally provide care or supervision for a person who has Alzheimer's disease relief from the stresses and responsibilities that result from providing such care;

(2) Preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care and enabling persons who have Alzheimer's disease to remain at home as long as possible.

(D) The director may provide services under this section to persons with Alzheimer's disease and their families regardless of the age of the persons with Alzheimer's disease.

(E) The director shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing respite care programs and other supportive services, the distribution of funds, and the purpose for which funds may be utilized under this section.

(F) The director may create an Alzheimer's disease task force to advise the director on the rights of persons with Alzheimer's disease and on the development and evaluation of education and training programs, home care programs, respite care programs, and long-term care initiatives as they relate to Alzheimer's disease. If a task force is created, the members shall include representatives of the Alzheimer's disease association and other organizations the director considers appropriate.

Sec. 173.35.  (A) As used in this section, "PASSPORT administrative agency" means an entity under contract with the department of aging to provide administrative services regarding the PASSPORT program created under section 173.40 of the Revised Code.

(B) The department of aging shall administer the residential state supplement program under which the state supplements the supplemental security income payments received by aged, blind, or disabled adults under Title XVI of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A., as amended. Residential state supplement payments shall be used for the provision of accommodations, supervision, and personal care services to supplemental security income recipients who the department determines are at risk of needing institutional care.

(C) For an individual to be eligible for residential state supplement payments, all of the following must be the case:

(1) Except as provided by division (G) of this section, the individual must reside in one of the following:

(a) An adult foster home certified under section 173.36 of the Revised Code;

(b) A home or facility, other than a nursing home or nursing home unit of a home for the aging, licensed by the department of health under Chapter 3721. or 3722. of the Revised Code and certified in accordance with standards established by the director of aging under division (D)(2) of this section;

(c) A community alternative home licensed under section 3724.03 of the Revised Code and certified in accordance with standards established by the director of aging under division (D)(2) of this section;

(d) A residential facility as defined in division (A)(1)(d)(ii) of section 5119.22 of the Revised Code licensed by the department of mental health and certified in accordance with standards established by the director of aging under division (D)(2) of this section;

(e) An apartment or room used to provide community mental health housing services certified by the department of mental health under section 5119.611 of the Revised Code and approved by a board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services under division (A)(14) of section 340.03 of the Revised Code and certified in accordance with standards established by the director of aging under division (D)(2) of this section.

(2) Effective July 1, 2000, a PASSPORT administrative agency must have determined that the environment in which the individual will be living while receiving the payments is appropriate for the individual's needs. If the individual is eligible for supplemental security income payments or social security disability insurance benefits because of a mental disability, the PASSPORT administrative agency shall refer the individual to a community mental health agency for the community mental health agency to issue in accordance with section 340.091 of the Revised Code a recommendation on whether the PASSPORT administrative agency should determine that the environment in which the individual will be living while receiving the payments is appropriate for the individual's needs. Division (C)(2) of this section does not apply to an individual receiving residential state supplement payments on June 30, 2000, until the individual's first eligibility redetermination after that date.

(3) The individual satisfies all eligibility requirements established by rules adopted under division (D) of this section.

(D)(1) The directors of aging and job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code as necessary to implement the residential state supplement program.

To the extent permitted by Title XVI of the "Social Security Act," and any other provision of federal law, the director of job and family services shall adopt rules establishing standards for adjusting the eligibility requirements concerning the level of impairment a person must have so that the amount appropriated for the program by the general assembly is adequate for the number of eligible individuals. The rules shall not limit the eligibility of disabled persons solely on a basis classifying disabilities as physical or mental. The director of job and family services also shall adopt rules that establish eligibility standards for aged, blind, or disabled individuals who reside in one of the homes or facilities specified in division (C)(1) of this section but who, because of their income, do not receive supplemental security income payments. The rules may provide that these individuals may include individuals who receive other types of benefits, including, social security disability insurance benefits provided under Title II of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 401, as amended. Notwithstanding division (B) of this section, such payments may be made if funds are available for them.

The director of aging shall adopt rules establishing the method to be used to determine the amount an eligible individual will receive under the program. The amount the general assembly appropriates for the program shall be a factor included in the method that department establishes.

(2) The director of aging shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing standards for certification of living facilities described in division (C)(1) of this section.

The directors of aging and mental health shall enter into an agreement to certify facilities that apply for certification and meet the standards established by the director of aging under this division.

(E) The county department of job and family services of the county in which an applicant for the residential state supplement program resides shall determine whether the applicant meets income and resource requirements for the program.

(F) The department of aging shall maintain a waiting list of any individuals eligible for payments under this section but not receiving them because moneys appropriated to the department for the purposes of this section are insufficient to make payments to all eligible individuals. An individual may apply to be placed on the waiting list even though the individual does not reside in one of the homes or facilities specified in division (C)(1) of this section at the time of application. The Individuals on the waiting list who reside in a community setting not required to be licensed or certified shall have their eligibility for the payments assessed before other individuals on the waiting list.

The director of aging, by rules adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall specify procedures and requirements for placing an individual on the waiting list. Individuals on the waiting list who reside in a community setting not required to be licensed or certified shall have their eligibility for the payments assessed before other individuals on the waiting list.

The director may adopt rules giving priority to individuals placed on the waiting list on or after July 1, 2006, who receive supplemental security income benefits under Title XVI of the "Social Security Act," 86 Stat. 1475 (1972), 42 U.S.C. 1381, as amended. The rules shall not affect the place on the waiting list of any person who was on the list on July 1, 2006.

(G) An individual in a licensed or certified living arrangement receiving state supplementation on November 15, 1990, under former section 5101.531 of the Revised Code shall not become ineligible for payments under this section solely by reason of the individual's living arrangement as long as the individual remains in the living arrangement in which the individual resided on November 15, 1990.

(H) The department of aging shall notify each person denied approval for payments under this section of the person's right to a hearing. On request, the hearing shall be provided by the department of job and family services in accordance with section 5101.35 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 173.85.  (A) The Ohio's best Rx program fund is hereby created. The fund shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state, but shall not be part of the state treasury. The fund shall consist of the following:

(1) Manufacturer payments made by participating manufacturers pursuant to agreements entered into under section 173.81 of the Revised Code;

(2) Administrative fees, if an administrative fee is determined by the department of aging in rules adopted under section 173.83 of the Revised Code;

(3) Any amounts donated to the fund and accepted by the department;

(4) The fund's investment earnings.

(B) Money in the Ohio's best Rx program fund shall be used to make payments under section 173.801 of the Revised Code and to make transfers to the Ohio's best Rx administration fund in accordance with section 173.86 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 173.86.  (A) The Ohio's best Rx administration fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The treasurer of state director of budget and management shall transfer from the Ohio's best Rx program fund to the Ohio's best Rx administration fund amounts equal to the following:

(1) Amounts resulting from application of the program administration percentage, if a program administration percentage is determined by the department of aging in rules adopted under section 173.83 of the Revised Code;

(2) The amount of the administrative fees charged Ohio's best Rx participants, if an administrative fee is determined by the department of aging in rules adopted under section 173.83 of the Revised Code;

(3) The amount of any donations credited to the Ohio's best Rx program fund;

(4) The amount of investment earnings credited to the Ohio's best Rx program fund.

The treasurer of state director of budget and management shall make the transfers in accordance with a schedule developed by the treasurer of state director and the department of aging.

(B) The department of aging shall use money in the Ohio's best Rx administration fund to pay the administrative costs of the Ohio's best Rx program, including, but not limited to, costs associated with contracted services, staff, outreach activities, computers and network services, and the Ohio's best Rx program council. If the fund includes an amount that exceeds the amount necessary to pay the administrative costs of the program, the department may use the excess amount to pay the cost of subsidies provided to Ohio's best Rx program participants under any subsidy program established pursuant to section 173.861 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 176.05.  (A)(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the rate of wages payable for the various occupations covered by sections 4115.03 to 4115.16 of the Revised Code to persons employed on a project who are not any of the following shall be determined according to this section:

(a) Qualified volunteers;

(b) Persons required to participate in Work-eligible individuals assigned to a work participation activity, developmental activity, or alternative work activity under sections 5107.40 to 5107.69 section 5107.42 of the Revised Code except those engaged in paid employment or subsidized employment pursuant to the activity;

(c) Food stamp benefit recipients required to participate in employment and training activities established by rules adopted under section 5101.54 of the Revised Code.

An association representing the general contractors or subcontractors that engage in the business of residential construction in a certain locality shall negotiate with the applicable building and construction trades council in that locality an agreement or understanding that sets forth the residential prevailing rate of wages, payable on projects in that locality, for each of the occupations employed on those projects.

(2) Notwithstanding any residential prevailing rate of wages established prior to July 1, 1995, if, by October 1, 1995, the parties are unable to agree under division (A)(1) of this section as to the rate of wages payable for each occupation covered by sections 4115.03 to 4115.16 of the Revised Code, the director of commerce shall establish the rate of wages payable for each occupation.

(3) The residential prevailing rate of wages established under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section shall not be equal to or greater than the prevailing rate of wages determined by the director pursuant to sections 4115.03 to 4115.16 of the Revised Code for any of the occupations covered by those sections.

(B) Except for the prevailing rate of wages determined by the director pursuant to sections 4115.03 to 4115.16 of the Revised Code, those sections and section 4115.99 of the Revised Code apply to projects.

(C) The residential prevailing rate of wages established under division (A) of this section is not payable to any individual or member of that individual's family who provides labor in exchange for acquisition of the property for homeownership or who provides labor in place of or as a supplement to any rental payments for the property.

(D) For the purposes of this section:

(1) "Project" means any construction, rehabilitation, remodeling, or improvement of residential housing, whether on a single or multiple site for which a person, as defined in section 1.59 of the Revised Code, or municipal corporation, county, or township receives financing, that is financed in whole or in part from state moneys or pursuant to this chapter, section 133.51 or 307.698 of the Revised Code, or Chapter 174. or 175. of the Revised Code, except for any of the following:

(a) The single-family mortgage revenue bonds homeownership program under Chapter 175. of the Revised Code, including owner-occupied dwellings of one to four units;

(b) Projects consisting of fewer than six units developed by any entity that is not a nonprofit organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(c) Projects of fewer than twenty-five units developed by any nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(d) Programs undertaken by any municipal corporation, county, or township, including lease-purchase programs, using mortgage revenue bond financing;

(e) Any individual project, that is sponsored or developed by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, for which the federal government or any of its agencies furnishes by loan, grant, low-income housing tax credit, or insurance more than twelve per cent of the costs of the project. For purposes of division (D)(2)(e) of this section, the value of the low-income housing tax credits shall be calculated as the proceeds from the sale of the tax credits, less the costs of the sale.

As used in division (D)(1)(e) of this section, "sponsored" means that a general partner of a limited partnership owning the project or a managing member of a limited liability company owning the project is either a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a person, as defined in section 1.59 of the Revised Code, or a limited liability company in which such a nonprofit organization maintains controlling interest. For purposes of this division, a general partner of a limited partnership that is a nonprofit organization described under this division is not required to be the sole general partner in the limited partnership, and a managing member of a limited liability company that is a nonprofit organization described under this division is not required to be the sole managing member in the limited liability company.

Nothing in division (D)(1)(e) of this section shall be construed as permitting unrelated projects to be combined for the sole purpose of determining the total percentage of project costs furnished by the federal government or any of its agencies.

(2) A "project" is a "public improvement" and the state or a political subdivision that undertakes or participates in the financing of a project is a "public authority," as both of the last two terms are defined in section 4115.03 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Qualified volunteers" are volunteers who are working without compensation for a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that is providing housing or housing assistance only to families and individuals in a county whose incomes are not greater than one hundred forty per cent of the median income of that county as determined under section 174.04 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 183.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Tobacco master settlement agreement" means the settlement agreement (and related documents) entered into on November 23, 1998 by the state and leading United States tobacco product manufacturers.

(B) "Net amounts credited to the tobacco master settlement agreement fund" means all amounts credited to the tobacco master settlement agreement fund during a fiscal year, minus all amounts required to be transferred under section 183.02 of the Revised Code to the education facilities trust fund, the education facilities endowment fund, and the income tax reduction fund during the fiscal year. In addition, in fiscal year 2000, "net amounts credited to the tobacco master settlement agreement fund" does not include amounts credited to the tobacco use prevention and cessation trust fund, law enforcement improvements trust fund, and southern Ohio agricultural and community development trust fund from the first payment received that year.

(C) "Southern Ohio" includes any county in this state where tobacco has traditionally been grown.

Sec. 183.021.  (A) No money from the tobacco master settlement agreement fund, as that fund existed prior to the repeal of section 183.02 of the Revised Code by .... of the 127th General Assembly, shall be expended to do any of the following:

(1) Hire an executive agency lobbyist, as defined under section 121.60 of the Revised Code, or a legislative agent, as defined under section 101.70 of the Revised Code;

(2) Support or oppose candidates, ballot questions, referendums, or ballot initiatives.

(B) Nothing in this section prohibits any of the following from advocating on behalf of the specific objectives of a program funded under this chapter:

(1) The members of the board of trustees, executive director, or employees of the tobacco use prevention and control foundation;

(2) The members of the board of trustees, executive director, or employees of the southern Ohio agricultural and community development foundation;

(3) The members or employees of the third frontier commission or the members of the third frontier advisory board.

Sec. 183.17.  The fiscal year of the southern Ohio agricultural and community development foundation shall be the same as the fiscal year of the state.

Within ninety days after the end of each fiscal year, the foundation shall submit to the governor and the general assembly both of the following:

(A) A report of the activities of the foundation during the preceding fiscal year. The report shall also contain an independent evaluation of the progress being made by the foundation in carrying out its duties.

(B) A financial report of the foundation for the preceding year, which shall include both:

(1) Information on the amount and percentage of overhead and administrative expenditures compared to programmatic expenditures;

(2) An independent auditor's report on the basic financial statements and required supplementary information of the foundation. Such financial statements shall be prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles prescribed for governmental entities.

On or before July 1, 2010, the foundation shall report to the governor and the general assembly on the progress that the foundation has made in replacing the production of tobacco in southern Ohio with the production of other agricultural products and in mitigating the adverse economic impact of reduced tobacco production in the region. If the foundation concludes that a need for additional funding still exists, the foundation may request that provision be made for a portion of the payments credited to the tobacco master settlement agreement fund to continue to be transferred to the southern Ohio agricultural and community development trust fund.

Sec. 183.33.  No money shall be appropriated or transferred from the general revenue fund to the tobacco master settlement agreement fund, tobacco use prevention and cessation trust fund, tobacco use prevention and control endowment fund, law enforcement improvements trust fund, southern Ohio agricultural and community development trust fund, southern Ohio agricultural and community development foundation endowment fund, Ohio's public health priorities trust fund, biomedical research and technology transfer trust fund, education facilities trust fund, education facilities endowment fund, or education technology trust fund. In addition, no money shall be otherwise appropriated or transferred from the general revenue fund for the use of the tobacco use prevention and control foundation or the southern Ohio agricultural and community development foundation.

Sec. 183.34. There is hereby created in the state treasury the tobacco settlement oversight, administration, and enforcement fund, to which shall be credited consist of amounts transferred under division (I) of section 183.02 of the Revised Code prior to the repeal of that section by ..... of the 127th general assembly. The attorney general shall use the fund to pay costs incurred in the oversight, administration, and enforcement of the tobacco master settlement agreement.

Sec. 183.35. There is hereby created in the state treasury the tobacco settlement enforcement fund, to which shall be credited consist of amounts transferred under division (J) of section 183.02 of the Revised Code prior to the repeal of that section by ..... of the 127th general assembly. The tax commissioner shall use the fund to pay costs incurred in the enforcement of divisions (F) and (G) of section 5743.03 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 183.51. (A) As used in this section and in the applicable bond proceedings unless otherwise provided:

(1) "Bond proceedings" means the resolutions, orders, indentures, purchase and sale and trust and other agreements including any amendments or supplements to them, and credit enhancement facilities, and amendments and supplements to them, or any one or more or combination of them, authorizing, awarding, or providing for the terms and conditions applicable to or providing for the security or liquidity of, the particular obligations, and the provisions contained in those obligations.

(2) "Bond service fund" means the bond service fund created in the bond proceedings for the obligations.

(3) "Capital facilities" means, as applicable, capital facilities or projects as referred to in sections 151.03, 151.04, 152.09, 152.33, 154.20, or 154.22 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Cost of capital facilities" has the same meaning as in section 151.01, 152.09, or 154.01 of the Revised Code, as applicable.

(5) "Credit enhancement facilities," "financing costs," and "interest" or "interest equivalent" have the same meanings as in section 133.01 of the Revised Code.

(6) "Debt service" means principal, including any mandatory sinking fund or redemption requirements for retirement of obligations, interest and other accreted amounts, interest equivalent, and any redemption premium, payable on obligations. If not prohibited by the applicable bond proceedings, "debt service" may include costs relating to credit enhancement facilities that are related to and represent, or are intended to provide a source of payment of or limitation on, other debt service.

(7) "Improvement fund" means, as applicable, the school building program assistance fund created in section 3318.25 of the Revised Code, the higher education improvement fund created in section 154.21 of the Revised Code, the mental health facilities improvement fund created in section 154.20 of the Revised Code, the parks and recreation improvement fund created in section 154.22 of the Revised Code, the administrative building fund created in section 123.10 of the Revised Code, and the adult correctional building fund referred to in section 5120.105 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Issuing authority" means the Ohio tobacco settlement financing authority created in section 183.52 of the Revised Code.

(9) "Net proceeds" means amounts received from the sale of obligations, excluding amounts used to refund or retire outstanding obligations, amounts required to be deposited into special funds pursuant to the applicable bond proceedings, and amounts to be used to pay financing costs.

(10) "Obligations" means bonds, notes, or other evidences of obligation of the issuing authority, including any appertaining interest coupons, issued by the issuing authority under this section and Section 2i of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, for the purpose of providing funds to the state, in exchange for the assignment and sale described in division (B) of this section, for the purpose of paying costs of capital facilities for: (a) housing branches and agencies of state government, including but not limited to facilities for housing state agencies, for a system of common schools throughout the state, and for use as state correctional facilities or county, multicounty, municipal-county, and multicounty-municipal jail facilities or workhouses; (b) state-supported or state-assisted institutions of higher education; (c) mental hygiene and retardation; and (d) parks and recreation.

(11) "Pledged receipts" means, as and to the extent provided for in the applicable bond proceedings:

(a) Pledged tobacco settlement receipts;

(b) Accrued interest received from the sale of obligations;

(c) Income from the investment of the special funds;

(d) Additional or any other specific revenues or receipts lawfully available to be pledged, and pledged, pursuant to the bond proceedings, including but not limited to amounts received under credit enhancement facilities, to the payment of debt service.

(12) "Pledged tobacco settlement receipts" means all amounts received by the issuing authority pursuant to division (B) of this section.

(13) "Principal amount" means the aggregate of the amount as stated or provided for in the applicable bond proceedings as the amount on which interest or interest equivalent on particular obligations is initially calculated. "Principal amount" does not include any premium paid to the issuing authority by the initial purchaser of the obligations. "Principal amount" of a capital appreciation bond, as defined in division (C) of section 3334.01 of the Revised Code, means its original face amount and not its accreted value, and "principal amount" of a zero coupon bond, as defined in division (J) of section 3334.01 of the Revised Code, means the discounted offering price at which the bond is initially sold to the public, disregarding any purchase price discount to the original purchaser, if provided in or for pursuant to the bond proceedings.

(14) "Special funds" or "funds," unless the context indicates otherwise, means the bond service fund, and any other funds, including any reserve funds, created under the bond proceedings and stated to be special funds in those proceedings, including moneys and investments, and earnings from investments, credited and to be credited to the particular fund. "Special funds" does not include any improvement fund or investment earnings on amounts in any improvement fund, or other funds created by the bond proceedings that are not stated by those proceedings to be special funds.

(B) The state may assign and sell to the issuing authority, and the issuing authority may accept and purchase, all or a portion of the amounts to be received by the state under the tobacco master settlement agreement for a purchase price payable by the issuing authority to the state consisting of the net proceeds of obligations and any residual interest, if any. Any such assignment and sale shall be irrevocable in accordance with its terms during the period any obligations secured by amounts so assigned and sold are outstanding under the applicable bond proceedings, and shall constitute a contractual obligation to the holders or owners of those obligations. Any such assignment and sale shall also be treated as an absolute transfer and true sale for all purposes, and not as a pledge or other security interest. The characterization of any such assignment and sale as a true sale and absolute transfer shall not be negated or adversely affected by only a portion of the amounts to be received under the tobacco master settlement agreement being transferred, the acquisition or retention by the state of a residual interest, the participation of any state officer or employee as a member or officer of, or providing staff support to, the issuing authority, any responsibility of an officer or employee of the state for collecting the amounts to be received under the tobacco master settlement agreement or otherwise enforcing that agreement or retaining any legal title to or interest in any portion of the amounts to be received under that agreement for the purpose of these collection activities, any characterization of the issuing authority or its obligations for purposes of accounting, taxation, or securities regulation, or by any other factors whatsoever. A true sale shall exist under this section regardless of whether the issuing authority has any recourse against the state or any other term of the bond proceedings or the treatment or characterization of the transfer as a financing for any purpose. Upon and following the assignment and sale, the state shall not have any right, title, or interest in the portion of the receipts under the tobacco master settlement agreement so assigned and sold, other than any residual interest that may be described in the applicable bond proceedings for those obligations, and that portion, if any, shall be the property of the issuing authority and not of the state, and shall be paid directly to the issuing authority, and shall be owned, received, held, and disbursed by the issuing authority and not by the state, and the state shall: (1) not agree to any amendment of the tobacco master settlement agreement that materially and adversely affects the issuing authority's ability to receive the portion of the receipts under the tobacco master settlement agreement assigned and sold to the issuing authority, (2) enforce by the attorney general in the manner and as otherwise set forth in any bond proceedings the rights of the issuing authority to receive the receipts under the tobacco master settlement agreement assigned and sold to the issuing authority to the full extent permitted by the tobacco master settlement agreement, (3) not limit or alter the rights of the issuing authority to fulfill the terms of its agreements with the holders or owners of obligations outstanding under the bond proceedings, (4) not in any way impair the rights and remedies of the holders or owners of obligations outstanding under the bond proceedings or the security for those obligations; provided, that nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude the state from regulating or permitting the regulation of smoking or from taxing and regulating the sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products; and (5) not fail to enforce Chapter 1346. of the Revised Code. Nothing in this section shall be construed as in any way modifying or limiting the responsibility and power of the attorney general to administer, protect, and discharge all duties, rights, and obligations of the state under the tobacco master settlement agreement or Chapter 1346. of the Revised Code.

The governor and the director of budget and management, in consultation with the attorney general, on behalf of the state, and any member or officer of the issuing authority as authorized by that issuing authority, on behalf of the issuing authority, may take any action and execute any documents, including any purchase and sale agreements, necessary to effect the assignment and sale and the acceptance of the assignment and title to the receipts including, providing irrevocable direction to the escrow agent acting under the tobacco master settlement agreement to transfer directly to the issuing authority the amounts to be received under that agreement that are subject to such assignment and sale. Any purchase and sale agreement or other bond proceedings may contain the terms and conditions established by the state and the issuing authority to carry out and effectuate the purposes of this section, including, without limitation, covenants binding the state in favor of the issuing authority and its assignees and the owners of the obligations. Any such purchase and sale agreement shall be sufficient to effectuate such purchase and sale without regard to any other laws governing other property sales or financial transactions by the state.

Not later than two years following the date on which there are no longer any obligations outstanding under the bond proceedings, all assets of the issuing authority shall vest in the state, the issuing authority shall execute any necessary assignments or instruments, including any assignment of any right, title, or ownership to the state for receipt of amounts under the tobacco master settlement agreement, and the issuing authority shall be dissolved.

(C) The issuing authority is authorized to issue and to sell obligations as provided in this section. The aggregate principal amount of obligations issued under this section shall not exceed six billion dollars, exclusive of obligations issued under divisions (N)(1) of this section to refund, renew, or advance refund other obligations issued or incurred. At least seventy-five per cent of the aggregate net proceeds of the obligations issued under the authority of this section, exclusive of obligations issued to refund, renew, or advance refund other obligations, shall be paid to the state for deposit into the school building program assistance fund created in section 3318.25 of the Revised Code.

(D) Each issue of obligations shall be authorized by resolution or order of the issuing authority. The bond proceedings shall provide for or authorize the manner for determining the principal amount or maximum principal amount of obligations of an issue, the principal maturity or maturities, the interest rate or rates, the date of and the dates of payment of interest on the obligations, their denominations, and the place or places of payment of debt service which may be within or outside the state. Unless otherwise provided by law, the latest principal maturity may not be later than the earlier of the thirty-first day of December of the fiftieth calendar year after the year of issuance of the particular obligations or of the fiftieth calendar year after the year in which the original obligation to pay was issued or entered into. Sections 9.96, 9.98, 9.981, 9.982, and 9.983 of the Revised Code apply to the obligations.

The purpose of the obligations may be stated in the bond proceedings in general terms, such as, as applicable, "paying costs of capital facilities for a system of common schools," "paying costs of facilities for state-supported and state-assisted institutions of higher education," "paying the cost of capital facilities for housing of branches and agencies of state government, including capital facilities for the purpose of housing personnel, equipment, or functions, or any combination thereof that the state agencies are responsible for housing," "paying costs of capital facilities for use as state correctional facilities or county, multicounty, municipal-county, and multicounty-municipal jail facilities or workhouses, or as single county or district community-based correctional facilities," "paying costs of capital facilities for mental hygiene and retardation," and "paying costs of capital facilities for parks and recreation." Unless otherwise provided in the bond proceedings, the net proceeds from the issuance of the obligations shall be paid to the state for deposit into the applicable improvement fund. Notwithstanding division (B)(4) of section 3318.38 of the Revised Code, net proceeds of obligations deposited into the school building program assistance fund created in section 3318.25 of the Revised Code may be used to pay basic project costs under section 3318.38 of the Revised Code at the times determined by the Ohio school facilities commission without regard to whether those expenditures are in proportion to the state's and the school district's respective shares of that basic project cost. As used in the preceding sentence, "Ohio school facilities commission" and "basic project costs" have the same meanings as in section 3318.01 of the Revised Code.

(E) The issuing authority may, without need for any other approval, appoint or provide for the appointment of paying agents, bond registrars, securities depositories, credit enhancement providers or counterparties, clearing corporations, and transfer agents, and retain or contract for the services of underwriters, investment bankers, financial advisers, accounting experts, marketing, remarketing, indexing, and administrative agents, other consultants, and independent contractors, including printing services, as are necessary in the judgment of the issuing authority to carry out the issuing authority's functions under this section and section 183.52 of the Revised Code. The issuing authority also may without need for any other approval retain or contract for the services of attorneys and other professionals for that purpose. Financing costs are payable, as may be provided in the bond proceedings, from the proceeds of the obligations, from special funds, or from other moneys available for the purpose, including as to future financing costs, from the pledged receipts.

(F) The issuing authority may irrevocably pledge and assign all, or such portion as the issuing authority determines, of the pledged receipts to the payment of the debt service charges on obligations issued under this section, and for the establishment and maintenance of any reserves, as provided in the bond proceedings, and make other provisions in the bond proceedings with respect to pledged receipts as authorized by this section, which provisions are controlling notwithstanding any other provisions of law pertaining to them. Any and all pledged receipts received by the issuing authority and required by the bond proceedings, consistent with this section, to be deposited, transferred, or credited to the bond service fund, and all other money transferred or allocated to or received for the purposes of that fund, shall be deposited and credited to the bond service fund created in the bond proceedings for the obligations, subject to any applicable provisions of those bond proceedings, but without necessity for any act of appropriation. Those pledged receipts shall immediately be subject to the lien of that pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and shall not be subject to other court judgments. The lien of the pledge of those pledged receipts shall be valid and binding against all parties having claims of any kind against the issuing authority, irrespective of whether those parties have notice thereof. The pledge shall create a perfected security interest for all purposes of Chapter 1309. of the Revised Code and a perfected lien for purposes of any other interest, all without the necessity for separation or delivery of funds or for the filing or recording of the applicable bond proceedings by which that pledge is created or any certificate, statement, or other document with respect thereto. The pledge of the pledged receipts shall be effective and the money therefrom and thereof may be applied to the purposes for which pledged.

(G) The issuing authority may covenant in the bond proceedings, and such covenants shall be controlling, and shall be binding upon the state if and when made, notwithstanding any other provision of law, that (1) the state and applicable officers and state agencies, including the general assembly, so long as any obligations issued under this section are outstanding, shall maintain statutory authority for, and cause to be collected and paid directly to the issuing authority or its assignee, the pledged receipts for the payment of debt service on obligations and for the establishment and maintenance of any reserves and other requirements provided for in the bond proceedings, (2) the state shall enforce by the attorney general, in the manner and as otherwise set forth in any bond proceedings, the provisions of the tobacco master settlement agreement that require payment of amounts to the state that have been assigned and sold to the issuing authority, and (3) the state shall not fail to enforce Chapter 1346. of the Revised Code.

(H) Obligations may be further secured, as determined by the issuing authority, by an indenture or a trust agreement between the issuing authority and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having a place of business within the state. Any indenture or trust agreement may contain the resolution or order authorizing the issuance of the obligations, any provisions that may be contained in any bond proceedings, and other provisions that are customary or appropriate in an agreement of that type, including, but not limited to:

(1) Maintenance of each pledge, indenture, trust agreement, or other instrument comprising part of the bond proceedings until the issuing authority has fully paid or provided for the payment of debt service on the obligations secured by it;

(2) In the event of default in any payments required to be made by the bond proceedings, enforcement of those payments or agreements by mandamus, the appointment of a receiver, suit in equity, action at law, or any combination of them;

(3) The rights and remedies of the holders or owners of obligations and of the trustee and provisions for protecting and enforcing them, including limitations on rights of individual holders and owners.

(I) The bond proceedings may contain additional provisions customary or appropriate to the financing or to the obligations or to particular obligations including, but not limited to, provisions for:

(1) The redemption of obligations prior to maturity at the option of the issuing authority or of the holder or upon the occurrence of certain conditions, and at a particular price or prices and under particular terms and conditions;

(2) The form of and other terms of the obligations;

(3) The establishment, deposit, investment, and application of special funds, and the safeguarding of moneys on hand or on deposit, in lieu of the applicability of provisions of Chapter 131. or 135. of the Revised Code, but subject to any special provisions of this section with respect to the application of particular funds or moneys. Any financial institution that acts as a depository of any moneys in special funds or other funds under the bond proceedings may furnish indemnifying bonds or pledge securities as required by the issuing authority.

(4) Any or every provision of the bond proceedings being binding upon the issuing authority and upon such governmental agency or entity, officer, board, authority, agency, department, institution, district, or other person or body as may from time to time be authorized to take actions as may be necessary to perform all or any part of the duty required by the provision;

(5) The maintenance of each pledge or instrument comprising part of the bond proceedings until the issuing authority has fully paid or provided for the payment of the debt service on the obligations or met other stated conditions;

(6) In the event of default in any payments required to be made by the bond proceedings, or by any other agreement of the issuing authority made as part of a contract under which the obligations were issued or secured, including a credit enhancement facility, the enforcement of those payments by mandamus, a suit in equity, an action at law, or any combination of those remedial actions;

(7) The rights and remedies of the holders or owners of obligations or of book-entry interests in them, and of third parties under any credit enhancement facility, and provisions for protecting and enforcing those rights and remedies, including limitations on rights of individual holders or owners;

(8) The replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen obligations;

(9) The funding, refunding, or advance refunding, or other provision for payment, of obligations that will then no longer be outstanding for purposes of this section or of the applicable bond proceedings;

(10) Amendment of the bond proceedings;

(11) Payment of the expenses of the enforcement activity of the attorney general and others referred to in division (G)(2) of this section from the amounts received by the state under the tobacco master settlement agreement assigned and sold to the issuing authority under division (B) of this section;

(12) Any other or additional agreements with the owners of obligations, and such other provisions as the issuing authority determines, including limitations, conditions, or qualifications, relating to any of the foregoing or the activities of the issuing authority in connection therewith.

The issuing authority shall not, and shall covenant in the bond proceedings that it shall not, be authorized to and shall not file a voluntary petition under the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. 101 et seq., as amended, or voluntarily commence any similar bankruptcy proceeding under state law including, without limitation, consenting to the appointment of a receiver or trustee or making a general or specific assignment for the benefit of creditors, and neither any public officer or any organization, entity, or other person shall authorize the issuing authority to be or become a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code or take any of those actions under the United States Bankruptcy Code or state law. The state hereby covenants, and the issuing authority shall covenant, with the holders or owners of the obligations, that the state shall not permit the issuing authority to file a voluntary petition under the United States Bankruptcy Code or take any of those actions under the United States Bankruptcy Code or state law during the period obligations are outstanding and for any additional period for which the issuing authority covenants in the bond proceedings, which additional period may, but need not, be a period of three hundred sixty-seven days or more.

(J) The obligations requiring execution by or for the issuing authority shall be signed as provided in the bond proceedings, and may bear the official seal of the issuing authority or a facsimile thereof. Any obligation may be signed by the individual who, on the date of execution, is the authorized signer even though, on the date of the obligations, that individual is not an authorized signer. In case the individual whose signature or facsimile signature appears on any obligation ceases to be an authorized signer before delivery of the obligation, that signature or facsimile is nevertheless valid and sufficient for all purposes as if that individual had remained the authorized signer until delivery.

(K) Obligations are investment securities under Chapter 1308. of the Revised Code. Obligations may be issued in bearer or in registered form, registrable as to principal alone or as to both principal and interest, or both, or in certificated or uncertificated form, as the issuing authority determines. Provision may be made for the exchange, conversion, or transfer of obligations and for reasonable charges for registration, exchange, conversion, and transfer. Pending preparation of final obligations, the issuing authority may provide for the issuance of interim instruments to be exchanged for the final obligations.

(L) Obligations may be sold at public sale or at private sale, in such manner, and at such price at, above, or below par, all as determined by and provided by the issuing authority in the bond proceedings.

(M) Except to the extent that rights are restricted by the bond proceedings, any owner of obligations or provider of or counterparty to a credit enhancement facility may by any suitable form of legal proceedings protect and enforce any rights relating to obligations or that facility under the laws of this state or granted by the bond proceedings. Those rights include the right to compel the performance of all applicable duties of the issuing authority and the state. Each duty of the issuing authority and that issuing authority's officers, staff, and employees, and of each state entity or agency, or using district or using institution, and its officers, members, staff, or employees, undertaken pursuant to the bond proceedings, is hereby established as a duty of the entity or individual having authority to perform that duty, specifically enjoined by law and resulting from an office, trust, or station within the meaning of section 2731.01 of the Revised Code. The individuals who are from time to time the issuing authority, members or officers of the issuing authority, or those members' designees acting pursuant to section 183.52 of the Revised Code, or the issuing authority's officers, staff, or employees, are not liable in their personal capacities on any obligations or otherwise under the bond proceedings.

(N)(1) Subject to any applicable limitations in division (C) of this section, the issuing authority may also authorize and provide for the issuance of:

(a) Obligations in the form of bond anticipation notes, and may authorize and provide for the renewal of those notes from time to time by the issuance of new notes. The holders of notes or appertaining interest coupons have the right to have debt service on those notes paid solely from the moneys and special funds, and all or any portion of the pledged receipts, that are or may be pledged to that payment, including the proceeds of bonds or renewal notes or both, as the issuing authority provides in the bond proceedings authorizing the notes. Notes may be additionally secured by covenants of the issuing authority to the effect that the issuing authority will do all things necessary for the issuance of bonds or renewal notes in such principal amount and upon such terms as may be necessary to provide moneys to pay when due the debt service on the notes, and apply their proceeds to the extent necessary, to make full and timely payment of debt service on the notes as provided in the applicable bond proceedings. In the bond proceedings authorizing the issuance of bond anticipation notes the issuing authority shall set forth for the bonds anticipated an estimated schedule of annual principal payments the latest of which shall be no later than provided in division (D) of this section. While the notes are outstanding there shall be deposited, as shall be provided in the bond proceedings for those notes, from the sources authorized for payment of debt service on the bonds, amounts sufficient to pay the principal of the bonds anticipated as set forth in that estimated schedule during the time the notes are outstanding, which amounts shall be used solely to pay the principal of those notes or of the bonds anticipated.

(b) Obligations for the refunding, including funding and retirement, and advance refunding, with or without payment or redemption prior to maturity, of any obligations previously issued under this section and any bonds or notes previously issued for the purpose of paying costs of capital facilities for: (i) state-supported or state-assisted institutions of higher education as authorized by sections 151.01 and 151.04 of the Revised Code, pursuant to Sections 2i and 2n of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution; (ii) housing branches and agencies of state government, including but not limited to facilities for housing state agencies as authorized by section 152.09 of the Revised Code, pursuant to Section 2i of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, for a system of common schools throughout the state as authorized by sections 151.01 and 151.03 of the Revised Code, pursuant to Sections 2i and 2n of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, and for use as state correctional facilities or county, multicounty, municipal-county, and multicounty-municipal jail facilities or workhouses as authorized by section 152.33 of the Revised Code, pursuant to Section 2i of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution; (iii) mental hygiene and retardation as authorized by sections 154.01 and 154.20 of the Revised Code, pursuant to Section 2i of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution; and (iv) parks and recreation as authorized by sections 154.01 and 154.22 of the Revised Code, pursuant to Section 2i of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution. Refunding obligations may be issued in amounts sufficient to pay or to provide for repayment of the principal amount, including principal amounts maturing prior to the redemption of the remaining prior obligations or bonds or notes, any redemption premium, and interest accrued or to accrue to the maturity or redemption date or dates, payable on the prior obligations or bonds or notes, and related financing costs and any expenses incurred or to be incurred in connection with that issuance and refunding. Subject to the applicable bond proceedings, the portion of the proceeds of the sale of refunding obligations issued under division (N)(1)(b) of this section to be applied to debt service on the prior obligations or bonds or notes shall be credited to an appropriate separate account in the bond service fund and held in trust for the purpose by the issuing authority or by a corporate trustee, and may be invested as provided in the bond proceedings. Obligations authorized under this division shall be considered to be issued for those purposes for which the prior obligations or bonds or notes were issued.

(2) The principal amount of refunding, advance refunding, or renewal obligations issued pursuant to division (N) of this section shall be in addition to the amount authorized in division (C) of this section.

(O) Obligations are lawful investments for banks, savings and loan associations, credit union share guaranty corporations, trust companies, trustees, fiduciaries, insurance companies, including domestic for life and domestic not for life, trustees or other officers having charge of sinking and bond retirement or other special funds of the state and political subdivisions and taxing districts of this state, notwithstanding any other provisions of the Revised Code or rules adopted pursuant to those provisions by any state agency with respect to investments by them, and are also acceptable as security for the repayment of the deposit of public moneys. The exemptions from taxation in Ohio as provided for in particular sections of the Ohio Constitution and section 5709.76 of the Revised Code apply to the obligations.

(P)(1) Unless otherwise provided or provided for in any applicable bond proceedings, moneys to the credit of or in a special fund shall be disbursed on the order of the issuing authority. No such order is required for the payment, from the bond service fund or other special fund, when due of debt service or required payments under credit enhancement facilities.

(2) Payments received by the issuing authority under interest rate hedges entered into as credit enhancement facilities under this section shall be deposited as provided in the applicable bond proceedings.

(Q) The obligations shall not be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit, revenue, and taxing power of the state shall not be pledged to the payment of debt service on them. The holders or owners of the obligations shall have no right to have any moneys obligated or pledged for the payment of debt service except as provided in this section and in the applicable bond proceedings. The rights of the holders and owners to payment of debt service are limited to all or that portion of the pledged receipts, and those special funds, pledged to the payment of debt service pursuant to the bond proceedings in accordance with this section, and each obligation shall bear on its face a statement to that effect.

(R) Each bond service fund is a trust fund and is hereby pledged to the payment of debt service on the applicable obligations. Payment of that debt service shall be made or provided for by the issuing authority in accordance with the bond proceedings without necessity for any act of appropriation. The bond proceedings may provide for the establishment of separate accounts in the bond service fund and for the application of those accounts only to debt service on specific obligations, and for other accounts in the bond service fund within the general purposes of that fund.

(S) Subject to the bond proceedings pertaining to any obligations then outstanding in accordance with their terms, the issuing authority may in the bond proceedings pledge all, or such portion as the issuing authority determines, of the moneys in the bond service fund to the payment of debt service on particular obligations, and for the establishment and maintenance of any reserves for payment of particular debt service.

(T)(1) Unless otherwise provided in any applicable bond proceedings, moneys to the credit of special funds may be invested by or on behalf of the issuing authority only in one or more of the following:

(a) Notes, bonds, or other direct obligations of the United States or of any agency or instrumentality of the United States, or in no-front-end-load money market mutual funds consisting exclusively of those obligations, or in repurchase agreements, including those issued by any fiduciary, secured by those obligations, or in collective investment funds consisting exclusively of those obligations;

(b) Obligations of this state or any political subdivision of this state;

(c) Certificates of deposit of any national bank located in this state and any bank, as defined in section 1101.01 of the Revised Code, subject to inspection by the superintendent of financial institutions;

(d) The treasurer of state's pooled investment program under section 135.45 of the Revised Code;

(e) Other investment agreements or repurchase agreements that are consistent with the ratings on the obligations.

(2) The income from investments referred to in division (T)(1) of this section shall be credited to special funds or otherwise as the issuing authority determines in the bond proceedings. Those investments may be sold or exchanged at times as the issuing authority determines, provides for, or authorizes.

(U) The treasurer of state shall have responsibility for keeping records, making reports, and making payments, relating to any arbitrage rebate requirements under the applicable bond proceedings.

Sec. 183.52.  (A) There is hereby created a body, both corporate and politic, constituting an agency and instrumentality of this state and performing essential functions of the state, to be known as the Ohio tobacco settlement financing authority, which in that name may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, and exercise all other authority vested in that authority by this section and section 183.51 of the Revised Code. The authority is created for the sole purpose of purchasing and receiving any assignment of the tobacco settlement receipts and issuing obligations, all as provided for in section 183.51 of the Revised Code, to provide financing of essential functions and facilities. The property of the authority and its income and operations shall be exempt from taxation involving the state or by the state and any political subdivision of the state. All income of the authority, after the payment of necessary expenses, shall accrue to the state.

(B) The authority shall consist of, in each case ex officio, the governor, the director of budget and management, the tax commissioner, the treasurer of state, the attorney general, and the auditor of state. The governor shall serve as the chair of the authority, the director of budget and management shall serve as its secretary, and the authority shall have such other officers as it determines, who may but need not be members of the authority. Four members of the authority constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of four members is necessary for any action taken by vote of the authority. No vacancy in the membership of the authority shall impair the rights of a quorum by such vote to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the authority. Each of the members above identified may designate an employee or officer of their office to attend meetings of the authority when that member is absent or unable for any reason to attend and that designee, when present, shall be counted in determining whether a quorum is present at any meeting and may vote and participate in all proceedings and actions of the authority. A designee may not execute or cause a facsimile signature to be placed on any obligation. That designation shall be in writing, executed by the designating member, and be filed with the secretary of the authority. A designation may be changed from time to time by a similar written designation. The authority may delegate to such of its members, officers, employees, or staff as it determines those powers and duties as it deems appropriate. No member of the authority or designee shall, by reason of being or serving as a member of the authority, be required to abstain from action in any other capacity as an incumbent of a state office or position or from any action as a member of the authority in any matter affecting or in any way pertaining to both that office or position and the authority, or for any purpose be deemed to be disqualified from either such office or position or as a member of the authority by reason of so acting or to have violated any law by reason thereof. The authority may adopt and alter bylaws and rules for the conduct of its affairs, including provisions for meetings, and for the manner in which its powers and functions are to be exercised and embodied, and may adopt and alter at will an official seal to be affixed to official documents, provided that the failure to affix any such seal shall not affect the legality of such documents. Members of the authority shall receive no added compensation for their services as such members but may be reimbursed, as determined by the authority, for their necessary and actual expenses incurred in the conduct of the authority's business. The office of budget and management shall provide staff support to the authority.

Notwithstanding the existence of common management, the authority shall be treated and accounted for as a separate and independent legal entity with its separate purposes as set forth in this section and section 183.51 of the Revised Code. The assets, liabilities, and funds of the authority shall not be consolidated or commingled with those of the state, and contracts entered into by the authority shall be entered into in the name of the authority and not in the name of the state.

(C) In connection with the exercise of its powers pursuant to this section and section 183.51 of the Revised Code, the authority may enter into contracts and execute all instruments necessary or incidental to the performance of the issuing authority's duties and the execution of the issuing authority's powers and do all other acts necessary or proper to the fulfillment of the issuing authority's purposes and to carry out the powers expressly granted in this section and section 183.51 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 307.021.  (A) It is hereby declared to be a public purpose and function of the state, and a matter of urgent necessity, that the state acquire, construct, or renovate capital facilities for use as county, multicounty, municipal-county, and multicounty-municipal jail facilities or workhouses, as single-county or district community-based correctional facilities authorized under section 2301.51 of the Revised Code, as minimum security misdemeanant jails under sections 341.34 and 753.21 of the Revised Code, and as single-county or joint-county juvenile facilities authorized under section 2151.65 of the Revised Code in order to comply with constitutional standards and laws for the incarceration of alleged and convicted offenders against state and local laws, and for use as county family court centers. For these purposes, counties and municipal corporations are designated as state agencies to perform duties of the state in relation to such facilities, workhouses, jails, and centers, and such facilities, workhouses, jails, and centers are designated as state capital facilities. The Ohio building authority is authorized to issue revenue obligations under sections 152.09 to 152.33 of the Revised Code to pay all or part of the cost of such state capital facilities as are designated by law.

The office of the sheriff, due to its responsibilities concerning alleged and convicted offenders against state laws, is designated as the state agency having jurisdiction over such jail, workhouse, community-based correctional, or county minimum security misdemeanant jail capital facilities in any one county or over any district community-based correctional facilities. The corrections commission, due to its responsibilities in relation to such offenders, is designated as the state agency having jurisdiction over any such multicounty, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail, workhouse, or correctional capital facilities. The office of the chief of police or marshal of a municipal corporation, due to its responsibilities concerning certain alleged and convicted criminal offenders, is designated as the state agency having jurisdiction over any such municipal corporation minimum security misdemeanant jail capital facilities in the municipal corporation. The juvenile court, as defined in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, is designated as the branch of state government having jurisdiction over any such family court center or single-county or joint-county juvenile capital facilities. It is hereby determined and declared that such capital facilities are for the purpose of housing such state agencies, their functions, equipment, and personnel.

(B) The capital facilities provided for in this section may be included in capital facilities in which one or more governmental entities are participating or in which other facilities of the county or counties, or any municipal corporations, are included pursuant to section 152.31 or 152.33 of the Revised Code or in an agreement between any county or counties and any municipal corporation or municipal corporations for participating in the joint construction, acquisition, or improvement of public works, public buildings, or improvements benefiting the parties in the same manner as set forth in section 153.61 of the Revised Code.

(C) A county or counties or a municipal corporation or municipal corporations may contribute to the cost of capital facilities authorized under this section.

(D) A county or counties, and any municipal corporations, shall lease capital facilities described in this section that are constructed, reconstructed, otherwise improved, or financed by the Ohio building authority pursuant to sections 152.09 to 152.33 of the Revised Code for the use of the county or counties and any municipal corporations, and may enter into other agreements ancillary to the construction, reconstruction, improvement, financing, leasing, or operation of such capital facilities, including, but not limited to, any agreements required by the applicable bond proceedings authorized by sections 152.09 to 152.33 of the Revised Code.

Such lease may obligate the county or counties and any municipal corporation, as using state agencies under Chapter 152. of the Revised Code, to occupy and operate such capital facilities for such period of time as may be specified by law and to pay such rent as the authority determines to be appropriate. Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, any county or counties or municipal corporation may enter into such a lease, and any such lease is legally sufficient to obligate the political subdivision for the term stated in the lease. Any such lease constitutes an agreement described in division (E) of section 152.24 of the Revised Code.

(E) If rental payments required from the county or counties or municipal corporation by a lease established pursuant to this section are not paid in accordance with such lease, the funds which otherwise would be apportioned to the lessees from the county undivided local government communities fund, pursuant to sections 5747.51 to 5747.53 of the Revised Code, shall be reduced by the amount of rent payable to the authority. The county treasurer immediately shall pay the amount of such reductions to the authority.

(F) Any lease of capital facilities authorized by this section, the rentals of which are payable in whole or in part from appropriations made by the general assembly, is governed by division (D) of section 152.24 of the Revised Code. Such rentals constitute available receipts as defined in section 152.09 of the Revised Code and may be pledged for the payment of bond service charges as provided in section 152.10 of the Revised Code.

(G) Any provision of section 152.21, 152.22, or 152.26 of the Revised Code that applies to buildings and facilities described in section 152.19 of the Revised Code also applies to the buildings and facilities described in this section, unless it is inconsistent with this section.

Sec. 307.695.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Arena" means any structure designed and constructed for the purpose of providing a venue for public entertainment and recreation by the presentation of concerts, sporting and athletic events, and other events and exhibitions, including facilities intended to house or provide a site for one or more athletic or sports teams or activities, spectator facilities, parking facilities, walkways, and auxiliary facilities, real and personal property, property rights, easements, leasehold estates, and interests that may be appropriate for, or used in connection with, the operation of the arena.

(2) "Convention center" means any structure expressly designed and constructed for the purposes of presenting conventions, public meetings, and exhibitions and includes parking facilities that serve the center and any personal property used in connection with any such structure or facilities.

(3) "Eligible county" means a county having a population of at least four hundred thousand but not more than eight hundred thousand according to the 2000 federal decennial census and that directly borders the geographic boundaries of another state.

(4) "Entity" means a nonprofit corporation, a municipal corporation, a port authority created under Chapter 4582. of the Revised Code, or a convention facilities authority created under Chapter 351. of the Revised Code.

(5) "Lodging taxes" means excise taxes levied under division (A)(1), (A)(2), or (C) of section 5739.09 of the Revised Code and the revenues arising therefrom.

(6) "Nonprofit corporation" means a nonprofit corporation that is organized under the laws of this state and that includes within the purposes for which it is incorporated the authorization to lease and operate facilities such as a convention center or an arena or a combination of an arena and convention center.

(7) "Project" means acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, renovating, rehabilitating, expanding, adding to, equipping, furnishing or otherwise improving an arena, a convention center, or a combination of an arena and convention center. For purposes of this section, a project is a permanent improvement for one purpose under Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.

(8) "Project revenues" means money received by an eligible county, other than money from taxes or from the proceeds of securities secured by taxes, in connection with, derived from, related to, or resulting from a project, including, but not limited to, rentals and other payments received under a lease or agreement with respect to the project, ticket charges or surcharges for admission to events at a project, charges or surcharges for parking for events at a project, charges for the use of a project or any portion of a project, including suites and seating rights, the sale of naming rights for the project or a portion of the project, unexpended proceeds of any county revenue bonds issued for the project, and any income and profit from the investment of the proceeds of any such revenue bonds or any project revenues.

(9) "Chapter 133. securities," "debt charges," "general obligation," "legislation," "one purpose," "outstanding," "permanent improvement," "person," and "securities" have the meanings given to those terms in section 133.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) A board of county commissioners may enter into an agreement with a convention and visitors' bureau operating in the county under which:

(1) The bureau agrees to construct and equip a convention center in the county and to pledge and contribute from the tax revenues received by it under division (A) of section 5739.09 of the Revised Code, not more than such portion thereof that it is authorized to pledge and contribute for the purpose described in division (C) of this section; and

(2) The board agrees to levy a tax under division (C) of section 5739.09 of the Revised Code and pledge and contribute the revenues therefrom for the purpose described in division (C) of this section.

(C) The purpose of the pledges and contributions described in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section is payment of principal, interest, and premium, if any, on bonds and notes issued by or for the benefit of the bureau to finance the construction and equipping of a convention center. The pledges and contributions provided for in the agreement shall be for the period stated in the agreement. Revenues determined from time to time by the board to be needed to cover the real and actual costs of administering the tax imposed by division (C) of section 5739.09 of the Revised Code may not be pledged or contributed. The agreement shall provide that any such bonds and notes shall be secured by a trust agreement between the bureau or other issuer acting for the benefit of the bureau and a corporate trustee that is a trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the state, and the trust agreement shall pledge or assign to the retirement of the bonds or notes, all moneys paid by the county under this section. A tax the revenues from which are pledged under an agreement entered into by a board of county commissioners under this section shall not be subject to diminution by initiative or referendum, or diminution by statute, unless provision is made therein for an adequate substitute therefor reasonably satisfactory to the trustee under the trust agreement that secures the bonds and notes.

(D) A pledge of money by a county under division (B) of this section shall not be indebtedness of the county for purposes of Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.

(E) If the terms of the agreement so provide, the board of county commissioners may acquire and lease real property to the convention bureau as the site of the convention center. The lease shall be on such terms as are set forth in the agreement. The purchase and lease are not subject to the limitations of sections 307.02 and 307.09 of the Revised Code.

(F) In addition to the authority granted to a board of county commissioners under divisions (B) to (E) of this section, a board of county commissioners in a county with a population of one million two hundred thousand or more, or a county with a population greater than four hundred thousand but less than five hundred thousand, may establish and provide local funding options for constructing and equipping a convention center.

(G) The board of county commissioners of an eligible county may undertake, finance, operate, and maintain a project. The board may lease a project to an entity on terms that the board determines to be in the best interest of the county and in furtherance of the public purpose of the project; the lease may be for a term of thirty-five years or less and may provide for an option of the entity to renew the lease for a term of thirty-five years or less. The board may enter into an agreement with an entity with respect to a project on terms that the board determines to be in the best interest of the county and in furtherance of the public purpose of the project. To the extent provided for in an agreement or a lease with an entity, the board may authorize the entity to administer on behalf of the board any contracts for the project. The board may enter into an agreement providing for the sale to a person of naming rights to a project or portion of a project, for a period, for consideration, and on other terms and conditions that the board determines to be in the best interest of the county and in furtherance of the public purpose of the project. The board may enter into an agreement with a person owning or operating a professional athletic or sports team providing for the use by that person of a project or portion of a project for that team's offices, training, practices, and home games for a period, for consideration, and on other terms and conditions that the board determines to be in the best interest of the county and in furtherance of the public purpose of the project. The board may establish ticket charges or surcharges for admission to events at a project, charges or surcharges for parking for events at a project, and charges for the use of a project or any portion of a project, including suites and seating rights, and may, as necessary, enter into agreements related thereto with persons for a period, for consideration, and on other terms and conditions that the board determines to be in the best interest of the county and in furtherance of the public purpose of the project. A lease or agreement authorized by this division is not subject to sections 307.02, 307.09, and 307.12 of the Revised Code.

(H) Notwithstanding any contrary provision in Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code, after adopting a resolution declaring it to be in the best interest of the county to undertake a project as described in division (G) of this section, the board of county commissioners of an eligible county may adopt a resolution enacting or increasing any lodging taxes within the limits specified in Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code with respect to those lodging taxes and amending any prior resolution under which any of its lodging taxes have been imposed in order to provide that those taxes, after deducting the real and actual costs of administering the taxes and any portion of the taxes returned to any municipal corporation or township as provided in division (A)(1) of section 5739.09 of the Revised Code, shall be used by the board for the purposes of undertaking, financing, operating, and maintaining the project, including paying debt charges on any securities issued by the board under division (I) of this section, or to make contributions to the convention and visitors' bureau operating within the county, or to promote, advertise, and market the region in which the county is located, all as the board may determine and make appropriations for from time to time, subject to the terms of any pledge to the payment of debt charges on outstanding general obligation securities or special obligation securities authorized under division (I) of this section. A resolution adopted under division (H) of this section shall be adopted not earlier than January 15, 2007, and not later than January 15, 2008.

A resolution adopted under division (H) of this section may direct the board of elections to submit the question of enacting or increasing lodging taxes, as the case may be, to the electors of the county at a special election held on the date specified by the board in the resolution, provided that the election occurs not less than seventy-five days after a certified copy of the resolution is transmitted to the board of elections and no later than January 15, 2008. A resolution submitted to the electors under this division shall not go into effect unless it is approved by a majority of those voting upon it. A resolution adopted under division (H) of this section that is not submitted to the electors of the county for their approval or disapproval is subject to a referendum as provided in sections 305.31 to 305.41 of the Revised Code.

A resolution adopted under division (H) of this section takes effect upon its adoption, unless the resolution is submitted to the electors of the county for their approval or disapproval, in which case the resolution takes effect on the date the board of county commissioners receives notification from the board of elections of the affirmative vote. Lodging taxes received after the effective date of the resolution may be used for the purposes described in division (H) of this section, except that lodging taxes that have been pledged to the payment of debt charges on any bonds or notes issued by or for the benefit of a convention and visitors' bureau under division (C) of this section shall be used exclusively for that purpose until such time as the bonds or notes are no longer outstanding under the trust agreement securing those bonds or notes.

(I)(1) The board of county commissioners of an eligible county may issue the following securities of the county for the purpose of paying costs of the project, refunding any outstanding county securities issued for that purpose, refunding any outstanding bonds or notes issued by or for the benefit of the bureau under division (C) of this section, or for any combination of those purposes:

(a) General obligation securities issued under Chapter 133. of the Revised Code. The resolution authorizing these securities may include covenants to appropriate annually from lawfully available lodging taxes, and to continue to levy and collect those lodging taxes in, amounts necessary to meet the debt charges on those securities.

(b) Special obligation securities issued under Chapter 133. of the Revised Code that are secured only by lawfully available lodging taxes and any other taxes and revenues pledged to pay the debt charges on those securities, except ad valorem property taxes. The resolution authorizing those securities shall include a pledge of and covenants to appropriate annually from lawfully available lodging taxes and any other taxes and revenues pledged for such purpose, and to continue to collect any of those revenues pledged for such purpose and to levy and collect those lodging taxes and any other taxes pledged for such purpose, in amounts necessary to meet the debt charges on those securities. The pledge is valid and binding from the time the pledge is made, and the lodging taxes so pledged and thereafter received by the county are immediately subject to the lien of the pledge without any physical delivery of the lodging taxes or further act. The lien of any pledge is valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the county, regardless of whether such parties have notice of the lien. Neither the resolution nor any trust agreement by which a pledge is created or further evidenced is required to be filed or recorded except in the records of the board. The special obligation securities shall contain a statement on their face to the effect that they are not general obligation securities, and, unless paid from other sources, are payable from the pledged lodging taxes.

(c) Revenue securities authorized under section 133.08 of the Revised Code and issued under Chapter 133. of the Revised Code that are secured only by lawfully available project revenues pledged to pay the debt charges on those securities.

(2) The securities described in division (I)(1) of this section are subject to Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.

(3) Section 133.34 of the Revised Code, except for division (A) of that section, applies to the issuance of any refunding securities authorized under this division. In lieu of division (A) of section 133.34 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners shall establish the maturity date or dates, the interest payable on, and other terms of refunding securities as it considers necessary or appropriate for their issuance, provided that the final maturity of refunding securities shall not exceed by more than ten years the final maturity of any bonds refunded by refunding securities.

(4) The board may not repeal, rescind, or reduce all or any portion of any lodging taxes pledged to the payment of debt charges on any outstanding special obligation securities authorized under this division, and no portion of any lodging taxes that is pledged, or that the board has covenanted to levy, collect, and appropriate annually to pay debt charges on any outstanding securities authorized under this division is subject to repeal, rescission, or reduction by the electorate of the county.

Sec. 307.6910. (A) As used in this section, "contracting subdivision" means any political subdivision or taxing district that enters into an agreement with a board of county commissioners as authorized by this section.

(B) A board of county commissioners may enter into an agreement with the legislative authority of one or more political subdivisions or taxing districts located wholly or partially within the territorial boundaries of the county providing for both of the following:

(1) Authorization for the board of county commissioners to receive funds due the political subdivision or taxing district from the county treasury, other than funds raised by taxes levied by the political subdivision or taxing district, including, but not limited to, the political subdivision's or taxing district's share of the undivided local government communities fund, provided those received funds may lawfully be applied to the purpose for which money is owed to the county;

(2) The crediting of the funds so received by the county against money owed to it by the political subdivision or taxing district.

The agreement shall be in writing and include the signature of an authorized officer or representative of the county and of the political subdivision or taxing district.

(C) Upon entering into an agreement, the board of county commissioners shall cause two copies of the agreement, certified by an authorized officer or representative of the county and of the contracting subdivision, to be transmitted to the county auditor. The county auditor shall forward one copy of the agreement to the county treasurer and shall present the other copy of the agreement to the county budget commission. The county budget commission shall give effect to the agreement in determining or revising the amounts to be credited to the funds of the county and the contracting subdivision in the official or amended official certificate of estimated resources under sections 5705.35 and 5705.36 of the Revised Code.

(D) The county auditor may rely on the certified agreement entered into under division (B) of this section for the purpose of making a certification under division (D) of section 5705.41 of the Revised Code for a county contract or order of money incurred on behalf of the contracting subdivision if the county auditor finds that the amount credited to the county under division (B)(2) of this section is available in the amount and at the time necessary to meet the obligation.

(E) The county auditor and county treasurer, in carrying out their statutory duties regarding the crediting and distribution of money to the funds of the parties to agreements entered into under this section, shall give effect to any such agreements certified to the county auditor under this section. A certified agreement shall not affect the time at which moneys otherwise would be available by law to the parties to the agreement.

(F) The terms of an agreement entered into under this section may be enforced in the court of common pleas of the county that is a party to the agreement in an action for a writ of mandamus. For purposes of that action, it shall be deemed that the legislative authority of the contracting subdivision has a duty to allow payments to the county as specified in the agreement, that the board of county commissioners of the county has a duty to receive those payments in the manner specified in the agreement, and that those duties are specifically enjoined by law and result from an office, trust, or station.

Sec. 307.98.  Boards As used in this section, "county grantee" has the same meaning as in section 5101.21 of the Revised Code.

Each board of county commissioners may and each other county grantee of the county shall jointly enter into one or more written fiscal grant agreements with the director of job and family services in accordance with section 5101.21 of the Revised Code. If a board enters into a fiscal agreement, the The board of county commissioners shall enter into the agreement on behalf of the county family services agencies, other than a county family services agency that is a county signer as defined in section 5101.21 of the Revised Code grantee.

Sec. 307.981.  (A)(1) As used in the Revised Code:

(a) "County family services agency" means all of the following:

(i) A child support enforcement agency;

(ii) A county department of job and family services;

(iii) A public children services agency.

(b) "Family services duty" means a duty state law requires or allows a county family services agency to assume, including financial and general administrative duties. "Family services duty" does not include a duty funded by the United States department of labor.

(2) As used in sections 307.981 to 307.989 of the Revised Code, "private entity" means an entity other than a government entity.

(B) To the extent permitted by federal law, including, when applicable, subpart F of 5 C.F.R. part 900, and subject to any limitations established by the Revised Code, including division (H) of this section, a board of county commissioners may designate any private or government entity within this state to serve as any of the following:

(1) A child support enforcement agency;

(2) A county department of job and family services;

(3) A public children services agency;

(4) A county department of job and family services and one other of those county family services agencies;

(5) All three of those county family services agencies.

(C) To the extent permitted by federal law, including, when applicable, subpart F of 5 C.F.R. part 900, and subject to any limitations of the Revised Code, including division (H) of this section, a board of county commissioners may change the designation it makes under division (B) of this section by designating another private or government entity.

(D) If a designation under division (B) or (C) of this section constitutes a change from the designation in a fiscal grant agreement between the director of job and family services and the board under sections 307.98 and 5101.21 of the Revised Code, the director may require that the director and board amend the fiscal grant agreement and that the board provide the director written assurances that the newly designated private or government entity will meet or exceed all requirements of the family services duties the entity is to assume.

(E) Not less than sixty days before a board of county commissioners designates an entity under division (B) or (C) of this section, the board shall notify the director of job and family services and publish notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of the board's intention to make the designation and reasons for the designation.

(F) A board of county commissioners shall enter into a written contract with each entity it designates under division (B) or (C) of this section specifying the entity's responsibilities and standards the entity is required to meet.

(G) This section does not require a board of county commissioners to abolish the child support enforcement agency, county department of job and family services, or public children services agency serving the county on October 1, 1997, and designate a different private or government entity to serve as the county's child support enforcement agency, county department of job and family services, or public children services agency.

(H) If a county children services board appointed under section 5153.03 of the Revised Code serves as a public children services agency for a county, the board of county commissioners may not redesignate the public children services agency unless the board of county commissioners does all of the following:

(1) Notifies the county children services board of its intent to redesignate the public children services agency. In its notification, the board of county commissioners shall provide the county children services board a written explanation of the administrative, fiscal, or performance considerations causing the board of county commissioners to seek to redesignate the public children services agency.

(2) Provides the county children services board an opportunity to comment on the proposed redesignation before the redesignation occurs;

(3) If the county children services board, not more than sixty days after receiving the notice under division (H)(1) of this section, notifies the board of county commissioners that the county children services board has voted to oppose the redesignation, votes unanimously to proceed with the redesignation.

Sec. 308.04.  Within sixty days after a regional airport authority has been created under section 308.03 of the Revised Code, the board of trustees for such regional airport authority shall be appointed as provided in the resolution creating it.

Each member of the board of trustees, before entering upon his the member's official duties, shall take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation that he the member will honestly, faithfully, and impartially perform the duties of his office, and that he the member will not be interested directly or indirectly in any contract let by the regional airport authority. Any contract let by the regional airport authority in which a member of the board of trustees is directly or indirectly interested is void and unenforceable.

After each member of the board has taken the oath as prescribed by this section the board shall meet and organize by electing one of its members as president and another as vice-president, who shall hold their respective offices until the next annual meeting of the board as provided in its bylaws. At each annual meeting thereafter the board shall elect from its membership a president and a vice-president who shall serve for a term of one year.

The board shall appoint and fix the compensation of a secretary-treasurer, who shall not be a member of the board and who shall serve at the pleasure of the board.

Sec. 317.08. (A) Except as provided in divisions (C) and (D) of this section, the county recorder shall keep six separate sets of records as follows:

(1) A record of deeds, in which shall be recorded all deeds and other instruments of writing for the absolute and unconditional sale or conveyance of lands, tenements, and hereditaments; all notices as provided in sections 5301.47 to 5301.56 of the Revised Code; all judgments or decrees in actions brought under section 5303.01 of the Revised Code; all declarations and bylaws, and all amendments to declarations and bylaws, as provided in Chapter 5311. of the Revised Code; affidavits as provided in sections 5301.252 and 5301.56 of the Revised Code; all certificates as provided in section 5311.17 of the Revised Code; all articles dedicating archaeological preserves accepted by the director of the Ohio historical society under section 149.52 of the Revised Code; all articles dedicating nature preserves accepted by the director of natural resources under section 1517.05 of the Revised Code; all agreements for the registration of lands as archaeological or historic landmarks under section 149.51 or 149.55 of the Revised Code; all conveyances of conservation easements and agricultural easements under section 5301.68 of the Revised Code; all instruments extinguishing agricultural easements under section 901.21 or 5301.691 of the Revised Code or pursuant to terms of such an easement granted to a charitable organization under section 5301.68 of the Revised Code; all instruments or orders described in division (B)(2)(b) of section 5301.56 of the Revised Code; all no further action letters issued under section 122.654 or 3746.11 of the Revised Code; all covenants not to sue issued under section 3746.12 of the Revised Code, including all covenants not to sue issued pursuant to section 122.654 of the Revised Code; any restrictions on the use of property contained in a no further action letter issued under section 122.654 of the Revised Code, any restrictions on the use of property identified pursuant to division (C)(3)(a) of section 3746.10 of the Revised Code, and any restrictions on the use of property contained in a deed or other instrument as provided in division (E) or (F) of section 3737.882 of the Revised Code; any easement executed or granted under section 3734.22, 3734.24, 3734.25, or 3734.26 of the Revised Code; any environmental covenant entered into in accordance with sections 5301.80 to 5301.92 of the Revised Code; all memoranda of trust, as described in division (A) of section 5301.255 of the Revised Code, that describe specific real property; and all agreements entered into under division (A) of section 1521.26 1506.44 of the Revised Code;

(2) A record of mortgages, in which shall be recorded all of the following:

(a) All mortgages, including amendments, supplements, modifications, and extensions of mortgages, or other instruments of writing by which lands, tenements, or hereditaments are or may be mortgaged or otherwise conditionally sold, conveyed, affected, or encumbered;

(b) All executory installment contracts for the sale of land executed after September 29, 1961, that by their terms are not required to be fully performed by one or more of the parties to them within one year of the date of the contracts;

(c) All options to purchase real estate, including supplements, modifications, and amendments of the options, but no option of that nature shall be recorded if it does not state a specific day and year of expiration of its validity;

(d) Any tax certificate sold under section 5721.33 of the Revised Code, or memorandum of it, that is presented for filing of record.

(3) A record of powers of attorney, including all memoranda of trust, as described in division (A) of section 5301.255 of the Revised Code, that do not describe specific real property;

(4) A record of plats, in which shall be recorded all plats and maps of town lots, of the subdivision of town lots, and of other divisions or surveys of lands, any center line survey of a highway located within the county, the plat of which shall be furnished by the director of transportation or county engineer, and all drawings and amendments to drawings, as provided in Chapter 5311. of the Revised Code;

(5) A record of leases, in which shall be recorded all leases, memoranda of leases, and supplements, modifications, and amendments of leases and memoranda of leases;

(6) A record of declarations executed pursuant to section 2133.02 of the Revised Code and durable powers of attorney for health care executed pursuant to section 1337.12 of the Revised Code.

(B) All instruments or memoranda of instruments entitled to record shall be recorded in the proper record in the order in which they are presented for record. The recorder may index, keep, and record in one volume unemployment compensation liens, internal revenue tax liens and other liens in favor of the United States as described in division (A) of section 317.09 of the Revised Code, personal tax liens, mechanic's liens, agricultural product liens, notices of liens, certificates of satisfaction or partial release of estate tax liens, discharges of recognizances, excise and franchise tax liens on corporations, broker's liens, and liens provided for in sections 1513.33, 1513.37, 3752.13, 5111.022, and 5311.18 of the Revised Code.

The recording of an option to purchase real estate, including any supplement, modification, and amendment of the option, under this section shall serve as notice to any purchaser of an interest in the real estate covered by the option only during the period of the validity of the option as stated in the option.

(C) In lieu of keeping the six separate sets of records required in divisions (A)(1) to (6) of this section and the records required in division (D) of this section, a county recorder may record all the instruments required to be recorded by this section in two separate sets of record books. One set shall be called the "official records" and shall contain the instruments listed in divisions (A)(1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) and (D) of this section. The second set of records shall contain the instruments listed in division (A)(4) of this section.

(D) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, the county recorder shall keep a separate set of records containing all corrupt activity lien notices filed with the recorder pursuant to section 2923.36 of the Revised Code and a separate set of records containing all medicaid fraud lien notices filed with the recorder pursuant to section 2933.75 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 319.202.  Before the county auditor indorses any real property conveyance or manufactured or mobile home conveyance presented to the auditor pursuant to section 319.20 of the Revised Code or registers any manufactured or mobile home conveyance pursuant to section 4503.061 of the Revised Code, the grantee or the grantee's representative shall submit in triplicate a statement, prescribed by the tax commissioner, and other information as the county auditor may require, declaring the value of real property or manufactured or mobile home conveyed, except that when the transfer is exempt under division (F)(G)(3) of section 319.54 of the Revised Code only a statement of the reason for the exemption shall be required. Each statement submitted under this section shall contain the information required under divisions (A) and (B) of this section.

(A) Each statement submitted under this section shall either:

(1) Contain an affirmation by the grantee that the grantor has been asked by the grantee or the grantee's representative whether to the best of the grantor's knowledge either the preceding or the current year's taxes on the real property or the current or following year's taxes on the manufactured or mobile home conveyed will be reduced under division (A) of section 323.152 or under section 4503.065 of the Revised Code and that the grantor indicated that to the best of the grantor's knowledge the taxes will not be so reduced; or

(2) Be accompanied by a sworn or affirmed instrument stating:

(a) To the best of the grantor's knowledge the real property or the manufactured or mobile home that is the subject of the conveyance is eligible for and will receive a reduction in taxes for or payable in the current year under division (A) of section 323.152 or under section 4503.065 of the Revised Code and that the reduction or reductions will be reflected in the grantee's taxes;

(b) The estimated amount of such reductions that will be reflected in the grantee's taxes;

(c) That the grantor and the grantee have considered and accounted for the total estimated amount of such reductions to the satisfaction of both the grantee and the grantor. The auditor shall indorse the instrument, return it to the grantee or the grantee's representative, and provide a copy of the indorsed instrument to the grantor or the grantor's representative.

(B) Each statement submitted under this section shall either:

(1) Contain an affirmation by the grantee that the grantor has been asked by the grantee or the grantee's representative whether to the best of the grantor's knowledge the real property conveyed qualified for the current agricultural use valuation under section 5713.30 of the Revised Code either for the preceding or the current year and that the grantor indicated that to the best of the grantor's knowledge the property conveyed was not so qualified; or

(2) Be accompanied by a sworn or affirmed instrument stating:

(a) To the best of the grantor's knowledge the real property conveyed was qualified for the current agricultural use valuation under section 5713.30 of the Revised Code either for the preceding or the current year;

(b) To the extent that the property will not continue to qualify for the current agricultural use valuation either for the current or the succeeding year, that the property will be subject to a recoupment charge equal to the tax savings in accordance with section 5713.34 of the Revised Code;

(c) That the grantor and the grantee have considered and accounted for the total estimated amount of such recoupment, if any, to the satisfaction of both the grantee and the grantor. The auditor shall indorse the instrument, forward it to the grantee or the grantee's representative, and provide a copy of the indorsed instrument to the grantor or the grantor's representative.

(C) The grantor shall pay the fee required by division (F)(G)(3) of section 319.54 of the Revised Code; and, in the event the board of county commissioners of the county has levied a real property or a manufactured home transfer tax pursuant to Chapter 322. of the Revised Code, the amount required by the real property or manufactured home transfer tax so levied. If the conveyance is exempt from the fee provided for in division (F)(G)(3) of section 319.54 of the Revised Code and the tax, if any, levied pursuant to Chapter 322. of the Revised Code, the reason for such exemption shall be shown on the statement. "Value" means, in the case of any deed or certificate of title not a gift in whole or part, the amount of the full consideration therefor, paid or to be paid for the real estate or manufactured or mobile home described in the deed or title, including the amount of any mortgage or vendor's lien thereon. If property sold under a land installment contract is conveyed by the seller under such contract to a third party and the contract has been of record at least twelve months prior to the date of conveyance, "value" means the unpaid balance owed to the seller under the contract at the time of the conveyance, but the statement shall set forth the amount paid under such contract prior to the date of conveyance. In the case of a gift in whole or part, "value" means the estimated price the real estate or manufactured or mobile home described in the deed or certificate of title would bring in the open market and under the then existing and prevailing market conditions in a sale between a willing seller and a willing buyer, both conversant with the property and with prevailing general price levels. No person shall willfully falsify the value of property conveyed.

(D) The auditor shall indorse each conveyance on its face to indicate the amount of the conveyance fee and compliance with this section. The auditor shall retain the original copy of the statement of value, forward to the tax commissioner one copy on which shall be noted the most recent assessed value of the property, and furnish one copy to the grantee or the grantee's representative.

(E) In order to achieve uniform administration and collection of the transfer fee required by division (F)(G)(3) of section 319.54 of the Revised Code, the tax commissioner shall adopt and promulgate rules for the administration and enforcement of the levy and collection of such fee.

Sec. 319.54.  (A) On all moneys collected by the county treasurer on any tax duplicate of the county, other than estate tax duplicates, and on all moneys received as advance payments of personal property and classified property taxes, the county auditor, on settlement with the treasurer and tax commissioner, on or before the date prescribed by law for such settlement or any lawful extension of such date, shall be allowed as compensation for the county auditor's services the following percentages:

(1) On the first one hundred thousand dollars, two and one-half per cent;

(2) On the next two million dollars, eight thousand three hundred eighteen ten-thousandths of one per cent;

(3) On the next two million dollars, six thousand six hundred fifty-five ten-thousandths of one per cent;

(4) On all further sums, one thousand six hundred sixty-three ten-thousandths of one per cent.

If any settlement is not made on or before the date prescribed by law for such settlement or any lawful extension of such date, the aggregate compensation allowed to the auditor shall be reduced one per cent for each day such settlement is delayed after the prescribed date. No penalty shall apply if the auditor and treasurer grant all requests for advances up to ninety per cent of the settlement pursuant to section 321.34 of the Revised Code. The compensation allowed in accordance with this section on settlements made before the dates prescribed by law, or the reduced compensation allowed in accordance with this section on settlements made after the date prescribed by law or any lawful extension of such date, shall be apportioned ratably by the auditor and deducted from the shares or portions of the revenue payable to the state as well as to the county, townships, municipal corporations, and school districts.

(B) For the purpose of compensating county auditors for the expenses associated with the increased number of applications for reductions in real property taxes under sections 323.152 and 4503.065 of the Revised Code that results from the amendment of those sections by ....... of the 127th general assembly, there shall be paid from the general revenue fund to each county auditor each year an amount equal to one per cent of the total annual amount of property tax relief reimbursement paid to that county under sections 323.156 and 4503.068 of the Revised Code.

(C) From all moneys collected by the county treasurer on any tax duplicate of the county, other than estate tax duplicates, and on all moneys received as advance payments of personal property and classified property taxes, there shall be paid into the county treasury to the credit of the real estate assessment fund created by section 325.31 of the Revised Code, an amount to be determined by the county auditor, which shall not exceed the following percentages:

(1) On the first one hundred thousand dollars, three and one-half per cent;

(2) On the next three million dollars, one and three-eighths per cent;

(3) On the next three million dollars, one per cent;

(4) On all further sums not exceeding one hundred fifty million dollars, three-quarters of one per cent;

(5) On amounts exceeding one hundred fifty million dollars, six-tenths of one per cent.

Such compensation shall be apportioned ratably by the auditor and deducted from the shares or portions of the revenue payable to the state as well as to the county, townships, municipal corporations, and school districts.

(C)(D) Each county auditor shall receive four per cent of the amount of tax collected and paid into the county treasury, on property omitted and placed by the county auditor on the tax duplicate.

(D)(E) On all estate tax moneys collected by the county treasurer, the county auditor, on settlement semiannually with the tax commissioner, shall be allowed, as compensation for the auditor's services under Chapter 5731. of the Revised Code, the following percentages:

(1) Four per cent on the first one hundred thousand dollars;

(2) One-half of one per cent on all additional sums.

Such percentages shall be computed upon the amount collected and reported at each semiannual settlement, and shall be for the use of the general fund of the county.

(E)(F) On all cigarette license moneys collected by the county treasurer, the county auditor, on settlement semiannually with the treasurer, shall be allowed as compensation for the auditor's services in the issuing of such licenses one-half of one per cent of such moneys, to be apportioned ratably and deducted from the shares of the revenue payable to the county and subdivisions, for the use of the general fund of the county.

(F)(G) The county auditor shall charge and receive fees as follows:

(1) For deeds of land sold for taxes to be paid by the purchaser, five dollars;

(2) For the transfer or entry of land, lot, or part of lot, or the transfer or entry on or after January 1, 2000, of a used manufactured home or mobile home as defined in section 5739.0210 of the Revised Code, fifty cents for each transfer or entry, to be paid by the person requiring it;

(3) For receiving statements of value and administering section 319.202 of the Revised Code, one dollar, or ten cents for each one hundred dollars or fraction of one hundred dollars, whichever is greater, of the value of the real property transferred or, for sales occurring on or after January 1, 2000, the value of the used manufactured home or used mobile home, as defined in section 5739.0210 of the Revised Code, transferred, except no fee shall be charged when the transfer is made:

(a) To or from the United States, this state, or any instrumentality, agency, or political subdivision of the United States or this state;

(b) Solely in order to provide or release security for a debt or obligation;

(c) To confirm or correct a deed previously executed and recorded;

(d) To evidence a gift, in trust or otherwise and whether revocable or irrevocable, between husband and wife, or parent and child or the spouse of either;

(e) On sale for delinquent taxes or assessments;

(f) Pursuant to court order, to the extent that such transfer is not the result of a sale effected or completed pursuant to such order;

(g) Pursuant to a reorganization of corporations or unincorporated associations or pursuant to the dissolution of a corporation, to the extent that the corporation conveys the property to a stockholder as a distribution in kind of the corporation's assets in exchange for the stockholder's shares in the dissolved corporation;

(h) By a subsidiary corporation to its parent corporation for no consideration, nominal consideration, or in sole consideration of the cancellation or surrender of the subsidiary's stock;

(i) By lease, whether or not it extends to mineral or mineral rights, unless the lease is for a term of years renewable forever;

(j) When the value of the real property or the manufactured or mobile home or the value of the interest that is conveyed does not exceed one hundred dollars;

(k) Of an occupied residential property, including a manufactured or mobile home, being transferred to the builder of a new residence or to the dealer of a new manufactured or mobile home when the former residence is traded as part of the consideration for the new residence or new manufactured or mobile home;

(l) To a grantee other than a dealer in real property or in manufactured or mobile homes, solely for the purpose of, and as a step in, the prompt sale of the real property or manufactured or mobile home to others;

(m) To or from a person when no money or other valuable and tangible consideration readily convertible into money is paid or to be paid for the real estate or manufactured or mobile home and the transaction is not a gift;

(n) Pursuant to division (B) of section 317.22 of the Revised Code, or section 2113.61 of the Revised Code, between spouses or to a surviving spouse pursuant to section 5302.17 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to April 4, 1985, between persons pursuant to section 5302.17 or 5302.18 of the Revised Code on or after April 4, 1985, to a person who is a surviving, survivorship tenant pursuant to section 5302.17 of the Revised Code on or after April 4, 1985, or pursuant to section 5309.45 of the Revised Code;

(o) To a trustee acting on behalf of minor children of the deceased;

(p) Of an easement or right-of-way when the value of the interest conveyed does not exceed one thousand dollars;

(q) Of property sold to a surviving spouse pursuant to section 2106.16 of the Revised Code;

(r) To or from an organization exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 1, as amended, provided such transfer is without consideration and is in furtherance of the charitable or public purposes of such organization;

(s) Among the heirs at law or devisees, including a surviving spouse, of a common decedent, when no consideration in money is paid or to be paid for the real property or manufactured or mobile home;

(t) To a trustee of a trust, when the grantor of the trust has reserved an unlimited power to revoke the trust;

(u) To the grantor of a trust by a trustee of the trust, when the transfer is made to the grantor pursuant to the exercise of the grantor's power to revoke the trust or to withdraw trust assets;

(v) To the beneficiaries of a trust if the fee was paid on the transfer from the grantor of the trust to the trustee or if the transfer is made pursuant to trust provisions which became irrevocable at the death of the grantor;

(w) To a corporation for incorporation into a sports facility constructed pursuant to section 307.696 of the Revised Code;

(x) Between persons pursuant to section 5302.18 of the Revised Code.

The auditor shall compute and collect the fee. The auditor shall maintain a numbered receipt system, as prescribed by the tax commissioner, and use such receipt system to provide a receipt to each person paying a fee. The auditor shall deposit the receipts of the fees on conveyances in the county treasury daily to the credit of the general fund of the county.

The real property transfer fee provided for in division (F)(G)(3) of this section shall be applicable to any conveyance of real property presented to the auditor on or after January 1, 1968, regardless of its time of execution or delivery.

The transfer fee for a used manufactured home or used mobile home shall be computed by and paid to the county auditor of the county in which the home is located immediately prior to the transfer.

Sec. 321.08.  The county treasurer shall enter on his the treasurer's account each day the money received for advance payments of taxes and taxes charged on the general and special duplicates of the current year in the following manner:

(A) Collections of estate tax to be credited to the "undivided estate tax fund;"

(B) Collections of classified property taxes, including interest and penalties thereon, shall be credited to the county library and local government support libraries fund and distributed in accordance with section 5747.48 of the Revised Code;

(C) Collections of other taxes and assessments of whatever kind to be credited to the undivided general tax fund.

Sec. 322.01.  As used in sections 322.01 to 322.07 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Value" means, in the case of any deed not a gift in whole or part, the amount of the full consideration therefor, paid or to be paid for the real estate described in the deed, including the amount of any liens thereon, with the following exceptions:

(1) The amount owed on a debt secured by a mortgage which has been of record at least twelve months prior to the date of the conveyance and which is assumed by the purchaser;

(2) The difference between the full amount of consideration and the unpaid balance owed to the seller at the time of the conveyance of property to a third party under a land installment contract that has been of record at least twelve months prior to the date of conveyance.

(B) "Value" means, in the case of a manufactured or mobile home that is not a gift in whole or in part, the amount of the full consideration paid or to be paid for the home, including the amounts of any liens thereon.

(C) "Value" means, in the case of a gift in whole or part, the estimated price the real estate described in the deed, or the manufactured or mobile home, would bring in the open market and under the then existing and prevailing market conditions in a sale between a willing seller and a willing buyer, both conversant with the property and with prevailing general price levels.

(D) "Deed" means any deed, instrument, or writing by which any real property or any interest in real property is granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed except that it does not include any deed, instrument, or writing which grants, assigns, transfers, or otherwise conveys any real property or interests in real property exempted from the fee required by division (F)(G)(3) of section 319.54 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Manufactured home" has the same meaning as in division (C)(4) of section 3781.06 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Mobile home" has the same meaning as in division (O) of section 4501.01 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 323.151.  As used in sections 323.151 to 323.159 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Homestead" means either of the following:

(1) A dwelling, including a unit in a multiple-unit dwelling and a manufactured home or mobile home taxed as real property pursuant to division (B) of section 4503.06 of the Revised Code, owned and occupied as a home by an individual whose domicile is in this state and who has not acquired ownership from a person, other than the individual's spouse, related by consanguinity or affinity for the purpose of qualifying for the real property tax reduction provided in section 323.152 of the Revised Code.

(2) A unit in a housing cooperative that is occupied as a home, but not owned, by an individual whose domicile is in this state.

The homestead shall include so much of the land surrounding it, not exceeding one acre, as is reasonably necessary for the use of the dwelling or unit as a home. An owner includes a holder of one of the several estates in fee, a vendee in possession under a purchase agreement or a land contract, a mortgagor, a life tenant, one or more tenants with a right of survivorship, tenants in common, and a settlor of a revocable inter vivos trust holding the title to a homestead occupied by the settlor as of right under the trust. The tax commissioner shall adopt rules for the uniform classification and valuation of real property or portions of real property as homesteads.

(B) "Sixty-five years of age or older" means a person who has attained age sixty-four prior to the first day of January of the year of application for reduction in real estate taxes.

(C) "Total income" means the adjusted gross income of the owner and the owner's spouse for the year preceding the year in which application for a reduction in taxes is made, as determined under the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 1, as amended, adjusted as follows:

(1) Subtract the amount of disability benefits included in adjusted gross income, but not to exceed fifty-two hundred dollars;

(2) Add old age and survivors benefits received pursuant to the "Social Security Act" that are not included in adjusted gross income;

(3) Add retirement, pension, annuity, or other retirement payments or benefits not included in adjusted gross income;

(4) Add tier I and tier II railroad retirement benefits received pursuant to the "Railroad Retirement Act," 50 Stat. 307, 45 U.S.C.A. 228;

(5) Add interest on federal, state, and local government obligations;

(6) For a person who received the homestead exemption for a prior year on the basis of being permanently and totally disabled and whose current application for the exemption is made on the basis of age, subtract the following amount:

(a) If the person received disability benefits that were not included in adjusted gross income in the year preceding the first year in which the person applied for the exemption on the basis of age, subtract an amount equal to the disability benefits the person received in that preceding year, to the extent included in total income in the current year and not subtracted under division (C)(1) of this section in the current year;

(b) If the person received disability benefits that were included in adjusted gross income in the year preceding the first year in which the person applied for the exemption on the basis of age, subtract an amount equal to the amount of disability benefits that were subtracted pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section in that preceding year, to the extent included in total income in the current year and not subtracted under division (C)(1) of this section in the current year.

Disability benefits that are paid by the department of veterans affairs or a branch of the armed forces of the United States on account of an injury or disability shall not be included in total income.

(D) "Old age and survivors benefits received pursuant to the 'Social Security Act'" or "tier I railroad retirement benefits received pursuant to the 'Railroad Retirement Act'" means:

(1) For those persons receiving the homestead exemption for the first time for tax years 1976 and earlier, old age benefits payable under the social security or railroad retirement laws in effect on December 31, 1975, except in those cases where a change in social security or railroad retirement benefits would result in a reduction in income.

(2) For those persons receiving the homestead exemption for the first time for tax years 1977 and thereafter, old age benefits payable under the social security or railroad retirement laws in effect on the last day of the calendar year prior to the year for which the homestead exemption is first received, or, if no such benefits are payable that year, old age benefits payable the first succeeding year in which old age benefits under the social security or railroad retirement laws are payable, except in those cases where a change in social security or railroad retirement benefits results in a reduction in income.

(3) The lesser of:

(a) Survivors benefits payable under the social security or railroad retirement laws in effect on the last day of the calendar year prior to the year for which the homestead exemption is first received, or, if no such benefits are payable that year, survivors benefits payable the first succeeding year in which survivors benefits are payable; or

(b) Old age benefits of the deceased spouse, as determined under division (D)(1) or (2) of this section, upon which the surviving spouse's survivors benefits are based under the social security or railroad retirement laws, except in those cases where a change in benefits would cause a reduction in income.

Survivors benefits are those described in division (D)(3)(b) of this section only if the deceased spouse received old age benefits in the year in which the deceased spouse died. If the deceased spouse did not receive old age benefits in the year in which the deceased spouse died, then survivors benefits are those described in division (D)(3)(a) of this section.

(E) "Permanently and totally disabled" means a person who has, on the first day of January of the year of application for reduction in real estate taxes, some impairment in body or mind that makes the person unable to work at any substantially remunerative employment that the person is reasonably able to perform and that will, with reasonable probability, continue for an indefinite period of at least twelve months without any present indication of recovery therefrom or has been certified as permanently and totally disabled by a state or federal agency having the function of so classifying persons.

(F)(D) "Housing cooperative" means a housing complex of at least two hundred fifty units that is owned and operated by a nonprofit corporation that issues a share of the corporation's stock to an individual, entitling the individual to live in a unit of the complex, and collects a monthly maintenance fee from the individual to maintain, operate, and pay the taxes of the complex.

Sec. 323.152.  In addition to the reduction in taxes required under section 319.302 of the Revised Code, taxes shall be reduced as provided in divisions (A) and (B) of this section.

(A)(1) Division (A) of this section applies to any of the following:

(a) A person who is permanently and totally disabled;

(b) A person who is sixty-five years of age or older;

(c) A person who is the surviving spouse of a deceased person who was permanently and totally disabled or sixty-five years of age or older and who applied and qualified for a reduction in taxes under this division in the year of death, provided the surviving spouse is at least fifty-nine but not sixty-five or more years of age on the date the deceased spouse dies.

(2) Real property taxes on a homestead owned and occupied, or a homestead in a housing cooperative occupied, by a person to whom division (A) of this section applies shall be reduced for each year for which the owner obtains a certificate of reduction from the county auditor under section 323.154 of the Revised Code or for which the occupant obtains a certificate of reduction in accordance with section 323.159 of the Revised Code. The reduction shall equal the amount obtained by multiplying the tax rate for the tax year for which the certificate is issued by the reduction in taxable value shown in the following schedule:

(3) Each calendar year, the tax commissioner shall adjust the foregoing schedule by completing the following calculations in September of each year:

(a) Determine the percentage increase in the gross domestic product deflator determined by the bureau of economic analysis of the United States department of commerce from the first day of January of the preceding calendar year to the last day of December of the preceding calendar year;

(b) Multiply that percentage increase by each of the total income amounts, and by each dollar amount by which taxable value is reduced, for the current tax year;

(c) Add the resulting product to each of the total income amounts, and to each of the dollar amounts by which taxable value is reduced, for the current tax year;

(d)(i) Except as provided in division (A)(3)(d)(ii) of this section, round the resulting sum to the nearest multiple of one hundred dollars;

(ii) If rounding the resulting sum to the nearest multiple of one hundred dollars under division (A)(3)(d)(i) of this section does not increase the dollar amounts by which taxable value is reduced, the resulting sum instead shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of ten dollars.

The commissioner shall certify the amounts resulting from the adjustment to each county auditor not later than the first day of December each year. The certified amounts apply to the following tax year. The commissioner shall not make the adjustment in any calendar year in which the amounts resulting from the adjustment would be less than the total income amounts, or less than the dollar amounts by which taxable value is reduced, for the current tax year greater of the reduction granted for tax year 2006, if the taxpayer received a reduction for tax year 2006, or the product of the following:

(a) Twenty-five thousand dollars of the true value of the property in money;

(b) The assessment percentage established by the tax commissioner under division (B) of section 5715.01 of the Revised Code, not to exceed thirty-five per cent;

(c) The effective tax rate on residential/agricultural real property, where "effective tax rate" is defined as in division (B)(3) of section 319.301 of the Revised Code, and where "residential/agricultural real property" is defined as in section 5713.041 of the Revised Code.

(B) To provide a partial exemption, real property taxes on any homestead, and manufactured home taxes on any manufactured or mobile home on which a manufactured home tax is assessed pursuant to division (D)(2) of section 4503.06 of the Revised Code, shall be reduced for each year for which the owner obtains a certificate of reduction from the county auditor under section 323.154 of the Revised Code. The amount of the reduction shall equal two and one-half per cent of the amount of taxes to be levied on the homestead or the manufactured or mobile home after applying section 319.301 of the Revised Code.

(C) The reductions granted by this section do not apply to special assessments or respread of assessments levied against the homestead, and if there is a transfer of ownership subsequent to the filing of an application for a reduction in taxes, such reductions are not forfeited for such year by virtue of such transfer.

(D) The reductions in taxable value referred to in this section shall be applied solely as a factor for the purpose of computing the reduction of taxes under this section and shall not affect the total value of property in any subdivision or taxing district as listed and assessed for taxation on the tax lists and duplicates, or any direct or indirect limitations on indebtedness of a subdivision or taxing district. If after application of sections 5705.31 and 5705.32 of the Revised Code, including the allocation of all levies within the ten-mill limitation to debt charges to the extent therein provided, there would be insufficient funds for payment of debt charges not provided for by levies in excess of the ten-mill limitation, the reduction of taxes provided for in sections 323.151 to 323.159 of the Revised Code shall be proportionately adjusted to the extent necessary to provide such funds from levies within the ten-mill limitation.

(E) No reduction shall be made on the taxes due on the homestead of any person convicted of violating division (C) or (D) of section 323.153 of the Revised Code for a period of three years following the conviction.

Sec. 323.153.  (A) To obtain a reduction in real property taxes under division (A) or (B) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code or in manufactured home taxes under division (B) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code, the owner shall file an application with the county auditor of the county in which the owner's homestead is located.

To obtain a reduction in real property taxes under division (A) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code, the occupant of a homestead in a housing cooperative shall file an application with the nonprofit corporation that owns and operates the housing cooperative, in accordance with this paragraph. Not later than the first day of March each year, the corporation shall obtain applications from the county auditor's office and provide one to each new occupant. Not later than the first day of May, any occupant who may be eligible for a reduction in taxes under division (A) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code shall submit the completed application to the corporation. Not later than the fifteenth day of May, the corporation shall file all completed applications, and the information required by division (B) of section 323.159 of the Revised Code, with the county auditor of the county in which the occupants' homesteads are located. Continuing applications shall be furnished to an occupant in the manner provided in division (C)(4) of this section.

(1) An application for reduction based upon a physical disability shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by a physician, and an application for reduction based upon a mental disability shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by a physician or psychologist licensed to practice in this state, attesting to the fact that the applicant is permanently and totally disabled. The certificate shall be in a form that the tax commissioner requires and shall include the definition of permanently and totally disabled as set forth in section 323.151 of the Revised Code. An application for reduction based upon a disability certified as permanent and total by a state or federal agency having the function of so classifying persons shall be accompanied by a certificate from that agency. Such an

An application for a reduction under division (A) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code constitutes a continuing application for a reduction in taxes for each year in which the dwelling is the applicant's homestead and the amount of the reduction in taxable value to which the applicant is entitled does not exceed either the amount or percentage of the reduction to which the applicant was entitled for the year in which the application was first filed.

(2) An application for a reduction in taxes under division (B) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code shall be filed only if the homestead or manufactured or mobile home was transferred in the preceding year or did not qualify for and receive the reduction in taxes under that division for the preceding tax year. The application for homesteads transferred in the preceding year shall be incorporated into any form used by the county auditor to administer the tax law in respect to the conveyance of real property pursuant to section 319.20 of the Revised Code or of used manufactured homes or used mobile homes as defined in section 5739.0210 of the Revised Code. The owner of a manufactured or mobile home who has elected under division (D)(4) of section 4503.06 of the Revised Code to be taxed under division (D)(2) of that section for the ensuing year may file the application at the time of making that election. The application shall contain a statement that failure by the applicant to affirm on the application that the dwelling on the property conveyed is the applicant's homestead prohibits the owner from receiving the reduction in taxes until a proper application is filed within the period prescribed by division (A)(3) of this section. Such an application constitutes a continuing application for a reduction in taxes for each year in which the dwelling is the applicant's homestead.

(3) Failure to receive a new application filed under division (A)(1) or (2) or notification under division (C) of this section after a certificate of reduction has been issued under section 323.154 of the Revised Code, or failure to receive a new application filed under division (A)(1) or notification under division (C) of this section after a certificate of reduction has been issued under section 323.159 of the Revised Code, is prima-facie evidence that the original applicant is entitled to the reduction in taxes calculated on the basis of the information contained in the original application. The original application and any subsequent application, including any late application, shall be in the form of a signed statement and shall be filed after the first Monday in January and not later than the first Monday in June. The original application and any subsequent application for a reduction in real property taxes shall be filed in the year for which the reduction is sought. The original application and any subsequent application for a reduction in manufactured home taxes shall be filed in the year preceding the year for which the reduction is sought. The statement shall be on a form, devised and supplied by the tax commissioner, which shall require no more information than is necessary to establish the applicant's eligibility for the reduction in taxes and the amount of the reduction, and, for a certificate of reduction issued under section 323.154 of the Revised Code, shall include an affirmation by the applicant that ownership of the homestead was not acquired from a person, other than the applicant's spouse, related to the owner by consanguinity or affinity for the purpose of qualifying for the real property or manufactured home tax reduction provided for in division (A) or (B) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code. The form shall contain a statement that conviction of willfully falsifying information to obtain a reduction in taxes or failing to comply with division (C) of this section results in the revocation of the right to the reduction for a period of three years. In the case of an application for a reduction in taxes under division (A) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code, the form shall contain a statement that signing the application constitutes a delegation of authority by the applicant to the county auditor to examine any financial records relating to income earned by the applicant as stated on the application for the purpose of determining a possible violation of division (D) or (E) of this section.

(B) A late application for a tax reduction for the year preceding the year in which an original application is filed, or for a reduction in manufactured home taxes for the year in which an original application is filed, may be filed with the original application. If the county auditor determines the information contained in the late application is correct, the auditor shall determine the amount of the reduction in taxes to which the applicant would have been entitled for the preceding tax year had the applicant's application been timely filed and approved in that year.

The amount of such reduction shall be treated by the auditor as an overpayment of taxes by the applicant and shall be refunded in the manner prescribed in section 5715.22 of the Revised Code for making refunds of overpayments. On the first day of July of each year, the county auditor shall certify the total amount of the reductions in taxes made in the current year under this division to the tax commissioner, who shall treat the full amount thereof as a reduction in taxes for the preceding tax year and shall make reimbursement to the county therefor in the manner prescribed by section 323.156 of the Revised Code, from money appropriated for that purpose.

(C)(1) If, in any year after an application has been filed under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section, the owner does not qualify for a reduction in taxes on the homestead or on the manufactured or mobile home set forth on such application, or qualifies for a reduction in taxes that is to be based upon a reduction in taxable value less than either the percentage or amount of the reduction in taxable value to which the owner was entitled in the year the application was filed, the owner shall notify the county auditor that the owner is not qualified for a reduction in taxes or file a new application under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section.

(2) If, in any year after an application has been filed under division (A)(1) of this section, the occupant of a homestead in a housing cooperative does not qualify for a reduction in taxes on the homestead, the occupant shall notify the county auditor that the occupant is not qualified for a reduction in taxes or file a new application under division (A)(1) of this section.

(3) If the county auditor or county treasurer discovers that the owner of property not entitled to the reduction in taxes under division (B) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code failed to notify the county auditor as required by division (C)(1) of this section, a charge shall be imposed against the property in the amount by which taxes were reduced under that division for each tax year the county auditor ascertains that the property was not entitled to the reduction and was owned by the current owner. Interest shall accrue in the manner prescribed by division (B) of section 323.121 or division (G)(2) of section 4503.06 of the Revised Code on the amount by which taxes were reduced for each such tax year as if the reduction became delinquent taxes at the close of the last day the second installment of taxes for that tax year could be paid without penalty. The county auditor shall notify the owner, by ordinary mail, of the charge, of the owner's right to appeal the charge, and of the manner in which the owner may appeal. The owner may appeal the imposition of the charge and interest by filing an appeal with the county board of revision not later than the last day prescribed for payment of real and public utility property taxes under section 323.12 of the Revised Code following receipt of the notice and occurring at least ninety days after receipt of the notice. The appeal shall be treated in the same manner as a complaint relating to the valuation or assessment of real property under Chapter 5715. of the Revised Code. The charge and any interest shall be collected as other delinquent taxes.

(4) Each year during January, the county auditor shall furnish by ordinary mail a continuing application to each person issued a certificate of reduction under section 323.154 or 323.159 of the Revised Code with respect to a reduction in taxes under division (A) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code. The continuing application shall be used to report changes in total income that would have the effect of increasing or decreasing the reduction in taxable value to which the person is entitled, changes in ownership or occupancy of the homestead, including changes in or revocation of a revocable inter vivos trust, changes in disability, and other changes in the information earlier furnished the auditor relative to the reduction in taxes on the property. The continuing application shall be returned to the auditor not later than the first Monday in June; provided, that if such changes do not affect the status of the homestead exemption or the amount of the reduction to which the owner is entitled under division (A) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code or to which the occupant is entitled under section 323.159 of the Revised Code, the application does not need to be returned.

(5) Each year during February, the county auditor, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, shall furnish by ordinary mail an original application to the owner, as of the first day of January of that year, of a homestead or a manufactured or mobile home that transferred during the preceding calendar year and that qualified for and received a reduction in taxes under division (B) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code for the preceding tax year. In order to receive the reduction under that division, the owner shall file the application with the county auditor not later than the first Monday in June. If the application is not timely filed, the auditor shall not grant a reduction in taxes for the homestead for the current year, and shall notify the owner that the reduction in taxes has not been granted, in the same manner prescribed under section 323.154 of the Revised Code for notification of denial of an application. Failure of an owner to receive an application does not excuse the failure of the owner to file an original application. The county auditor is not required to furnish an application under this paragraph for any homestead for which application has previously been made on a form incorporated into any form used by the county auditor to administer the tax law in respect to the conveyance of real property or of used manufactured homes or used mobile homes, and an owner who previously has applied on such a form is not required to return an application furnished under this paragraph.

(D) No person shall knowingly make a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a reduction in the person's real property or manufactured home taxes under section 323.152 of the Revised Code.

(E) No person shall knowingly fail to notify the county auditor of changes required by division (C) of this section that have the effect of maintaining or securing a reduction in taxable value of homestead property or a reduction in taxes in excess of the reduction allowed under section 323.152 of the Revised Code.

(F) No person shall knowingly make a false statement or certification attesting to any person's physical or mental condition for purposes of qualifying such person for tax relief pursuant to sections 323.151 to 323.159 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 323.154.  On or before the day the county auditor has completed the duties imposed by sections 319.30 to 319.302 of the Revised Code, the auditor shall issue a certificate of reduction in taxes in triplicate for each person who has complied with section 323.153 of the Revised Code and whose homestead, as defined in division (A)(1) of section 323.151 of the Revised Code, or manufactured or mobile home the auditor finds is entitled to a reduction in real property or manufactured home taxes for that year under section 323.152 of the Revised Code. Except as provided in section 323.159 of the Revised Code, in the case of a homestead entitled to a reduction under division (A) of that section, the certificate shall state the taxable value of the homestead on the first day of January of that year, the amount of the reduction in taxable value and the total reduction in taxes for that year under that section, the tax rate that is applicable against such homestead for that year, and any other information the tax commissioner requires. In the case of a homestead or a manufactured or mobile home entitled to a reduction under division (B) of that section, the certificate shall state the total amount of the reduction in taxes for that year under that section and any other information the tax commissioner requires. The certificate for reduction in taxes shall be on a form approved by the commissioner. Upon issuance of such a certificate, the county auditor shall forward one copy and the original to the county treasurer and retain one copy. The county auditor also shall record the amount of reduction in taxes in the appropriate column on the general tax list and duplicate of real and public utility property and on the manufactured home tax list.

If an application, late application, or continuing application is not approved, or if the county auditor otherwise determines that a homestead or a manufactured or mobile home does not qualify for a reduction in taxes under division (A) or (B) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code, the auditor shall notify the applicant of the reasons for denial not later than the first Monday in October. If an applicant believes that the application for reduction has been improperly denied or that the reduction is for less than that to which the applicant is entitled, the applicant may file an appeal with the county board of revision not later than the date of closing of the collection for the first half of real and public utility property taxes or manufactured home taxes. The appeal shall be treated in the same manner as a complaint relating to the valuation or assessment of real property under Chapter 5715. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 325.31.  (A) On the first business day of each month, and at the end of the officer's term of office, each officer named in section 325.27 of the Revised Code shall pay into the county treasury, to the credit of the general county fund, on the warrant of the county auditor, all fees, costs, penalties, percentages, allowances, and perquisites collected by the officer's office during the preceding month or part thereof for official services, except the fees allowed the county auditor by division (B)(C) of section 319.54 of the Revised Code, which shall be paid into the county treasury to the credit of the real estate assessment fund hereby created.

(B) Moneys to the credit of the real estate assessment fund may be expended, upon appropriation by the board of county commissioners, for the purpose of defraying one or more of the following:

(1) The cost incurred by the county auditor in assessing real estate pursuant to Chapter 5713. of the Revised Code and manufactured and mobile homes pursuant to Chapter 4503. of the Revised Code;

(2) At the county auditor's discretion, costs and expenses incurred by the county auditor in preparing the list of real and public utility property, in administering laws related to the taxation of real property and the levying of special assessments on real property, including administering reductions under Chapters 319. and 323. and section 4503.065 of the Revised Code, and to support assessments of real property in any administrative or judicial proceeding;

(3) At the county auditor's discretion, the expenses incurred by the county board of revision under Chapter 5715. of the Revised Code;

(4) At the county auditor's discretion, the expenses incurred by the county auditor for geographic information systems, mapping programs, and technological advances in those or similar systems or programs;

(5) At the county auditor's discretion, expenses incurred by the county auditor in compiling the general tax list of tangible personal property and administering tangible personal property taxes under Chapters 5711. and 5719. of the Revised Code;

(6) At the county auditor's discretion, costs, expenses, and fees incurred by the county auditor in the administration of estate taxes under Chapter 5731. of the Revised Code and the amounts incurred under section 5731.41 of the Revised Code.

Any expenditures made from the real estate assessment fund shall comply with rules that the tax commissioner adopts under division (O) of section 5703.05 of the Revised Code. Those rules shall include a requirement that a copy of any appraisal plans, progress of work reports, contracts, or other documents required to be filed with the tax commissioner shall be filed also with the board of county commissioners.

The board of county commissioners shall not transfer moneys required to be deposited in the real estate assessment fund to any other fund. Following an assessment of real property pursuant to Chapter 5713. of the Revised Code, or an assessment of a manufactured or mobile home pursuant to Chapter 4503. of the Revised Code, any moneys not expended for the purpose of defraying the cost incurred in assessing real estate or manufactured or mobile homes or for the purpose of defraying the expenses described in divisions (B)(2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of this section, and thereby remaining to the credit of the real estate assessment fund, shall be apportioned ratably and distributed to those taxing authorities that contributed to the fund. However, no such distribution shall be made if the amount of such unexpended moneys remaining to the credit of the real estate assessment fund does not exceed five thousand dollars.

(C) None of the officers named in section 325.27 of the Revised Code shall collect any fees from the county. Each of such officers shall, at the end of each calendar year, make and file a sworn statement with the board of county commissioners of all such fees, costs, penalties, percentages, allowances, and perquisites which have been due in the officer's office and unpaid for more than one year prior to the date such statement is required to be made.

Sec. 329.04.  (A) The county department of job and family services shall have, exercise, and perform the following powers and duties:

(1) Perform any duties assigned by the state department of job and family services regarding the provision of public family services, including the provision of the following services to prevent or reduce economic or personal dependency and to strengthen family life:

(a) Services authorized by a Title IV-A program, as defined in section 5101.80 of the Revised Code;

(b) Social services authorized by Title XX of the "Social Security Act" and provided for by section 5101.46 or 5101.461 of the Revised Code;

(c) If the county department is designated as the child support enforcement agency, services authorized by Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act" and provided for by Chapter 3125. of the Revised Code. The county department may perform the services itself or contract with other government entities, and, pursuant to division (C) of section 2301.35 and section 2301.42 of the Revised Code, private entities, to perform the Title IV-D services.

(d) Duties assigned under section 5111.98 of the Revised Code.

(2) Administer disability financial assistance, as required by the state department of job and family services under section 5115.03 of the Revised Code;

(3) Administer disability medical assistance, as required by the state department of job and family services under section 5115.13 of the Revised Code;

(4) Administer burials insofar as the administration of burials was, prior to September 12, 1947, imposed upon the board of county commissioners and if otherwise required by state law;

(5) Cooperate with state and federal authorities in any matter relating to family services and to act as the agent of such authorities;

(6) Submit an annual account of its work and expenses to the board of county commissioners and to the state department of job and family services at the close of each fiscal year;

(7) Exercise any powers and duties relating to family services duties or workforce development activities imposed upon the county department of job and family services by law, by resolution of the board of county commissioners, or by order of the governor, when authorized by law, to meet emergencies during war or peace;

(8) Determine the eligibility for medical assistance of recipients of aid under Title XVI of the "Social Security Act";

(9) If assigned by the state director of job and family services under section 5101.515 of the Revised Code, determine applicants' eligibility for health assistance under the children's health insurance program part II;

(10) Enter into a plan of cooperation with the board of county commissioners under section 307.983, consult with the board in the development of the transportation work plan developed under section 307.985, establish with the board procedures under section 307.986 for providing services to children whose families relocate frequently, and comply with the contracts the board enters into under sections 307.981 and 307.982 of the Revised Code that affect the county department;

(11) For the purpose of complying with a fiscal grant agreement the board of county commissioners enters into under section sections 307.98 and 5101.21 of the Revised Code, exercise the powers and perform the duties the fiscal grant agreement assigns to the county department;

(12) If the county department is designated as the workforce development agency, provide the workforce development activities specified in the contract required by section 330.05 of the Revised Code;

(13) Perform administrative functions of the nonfederal medical assistance program, as required under section 5114.05 of the Revised Code.

(B) The powers and duties of a county department of job and family services are, and shall be exercised and performed, under the control and direction of the board of county commissioners. The board may assign to the county department any power or duty of the board regarding family services duties and workforce development activities. If the new power or duty necessitates the state department of job and family services changing its federal cost allocation plan, the county department may not implement the power or duty unless the United States department of health and human services approves the changes.

Sec. 329.05.  The county department of job and family services may administer or assist in administering any state or local family services duty in addition to those mentioned in section 329.04 of the Revised Code, supported wholly or in part by public funds from any source provided by agreement between the board of county commissioners and the officer, department, board, or agency in which the administration of such activity is vested. Such officer, department, board, or agency may enter into such agreement and confer upon the county department of job and family services, to the extent and in particulars specified in the agreement, the performance of any duties and the exercise of any powers imposed upon or vested in such officer, board, department, or agency, with respect to the administration of such activity. Such agreement shall be in the form of a resolution of the board of county commissioners, accepted in writing by the other party to the agreement, and filed in the office of the county auditor, and when so filed, shall have the effect of transferring the exercise of the powers and duties to which the agreement relates and shall exempt the other party from all further responsibility for the exercise of the powers and duties so transferred, during the life of the agreement.

Such agreement shall be coordinated and not conflict with a fiscal grant agreement entered into under section sections 307.98 and 5101.21, a contract entered into under section 307.981 or 307.982, a plan of cooperation entered into under section 307.983, a regional plan of cooperation entered into under section 307.984, a transportation work plan developed under section 307.985, or procedures for providing services to children whose families relocate frequently established under section 307.986 of the Revised Code. It may be revoked at the option of either party, by a resolution or order of the revoking party filed in the office of the auditor. Such revocation shall become effective at the end of the fiscal year occurring at least six months following the filing of the resolution or order. In the absence of such an express revocation so filed, the agreement shall continue indefinitely.

This section does not permit a county department of job and family services to manage or control hospitals, humane societies, detention facilities, jails or probation departments of courts, or veterans service commissions.

Sec. 329.051.  The county department of job and family services shall make voter registration applications as prescribed by the secretary of state under section 3503.10 of the Revised Code available to persons who are applying for, receiving assistance from, or participating in any of the following:

(A) The disability financial assistance program established under Chapter 5115. of the Revised Code;

(B) The disability medical assistance program established under Chapter 5115. of the Revised Code;

(C) The medical assistance program established under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code;

(D) The Ohio works first program established under Chapter 5107. of the Revised Code;

(E) The prevention, retention, and contingency program established under Chapter 5108. of the Revised Code;

(F) The nonfederal medical assistance program established under Chapter 5114. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 329.14.  (A) An individual whose household income does not exceed one two hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty line is eligible to participate in an individual development account program established by the county department of job and family services of the county in which the individual resides. An eligible individual seeking to be a participant in the program shall enter into an agreement with the fiduciary organization administering the program. The agreement shall specify the terms and conditions of uses of funds deposited, financial documentation required to be maintained by the participant, expectations and responsibilities of the participant, and services to be provided by the fiduciary organization.

(B) A participant may deposit earned income, as defined in 26 U.S.C. 911(d)(2), as amended, into the account. The fiduciary organization may deposit into the account an amount not exceeding twice four times the amount deposited by the participant except that a fiduciary organization may not, pursuant to an agreement with an employer, deposit an amount into an account held by a participant who is employed by the employer. An account may have no more than ten thousand dollars in it at any time.

(C) Notwithstanding eligibility requirements established in or pursuant to Chapter 5107., 5108., or 5111. of the Revised Code, to the extent permitted by federal statutes and regulations, money in an individual development account, including interest, is exempt from consideration in determining whether the participant or a member of the participant's assistance group is eligible for assistance under Chapter 5107., 5108., or 5111. of the Revised Code and the amount of assistance the participant or assistance group is eligible to receive.

(D)(1) Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, an individual development account program participant may use money in the account only for the following purposes:

(a) Postsecondary educational expenses paid directly from the account to an eligible education institution or vendor;

(b) Qualified acquisition expenses of a principal residence, as defined in 26 U.S.C. 1034, as amended, paid directly from the account to the person or government entity to which the expenses are due;

(c) Qualified business capitalization expenses made in accordance with a qualified business plan that has been approved by a financial institution or by a nonprofit microenterprise program having demonstrated business expertise and paid directly from the account to the person to whom the expenses are due.

(2) A fiduciary organization shall permit a participant to withdraw money deposited by the participant if it is needed to deal with a personal emergency of the participant or a member of the participant's family or household. Withdrawal shall result in the loss of any matching funds in an amount equal to the amount of the withdrawal.

(3) Regardless of the reason for the withdrawal, a withdrawal from an individual development account may be made only with the approval of the fiduciary organization.

Sec. 340.03.  (A) Subject to rules issued by the director of mental health after consultation with relevant constituencies as required by division (A)(11) of section 5119.06 of the Revised Code, with regard to mental health services, the board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services shall:

(1) Serve as the community mental health planning agency for the county or counties under its jurisdiction, and in so doing it shall:

(a) Evaluate the need for facilities and community mental health services;

(b) In cooperation with other local and regional planning and funding bodies and with relevant ethnic organizations, assess the community mental health needs, set priorities, and develop plans for the operation of facilities and community mental health services;

(c) In accordance with guidelines issued by the director of mental health after consultation with board representatives, develop and submit to the department of mental health, no later than six months prior to the conclusion of the fiscal year in which the board's current plan is scheduled to expire, a community mental health plan listing community mental health needs, including the needs of all residents of the district now residing in state mental institutions and severely mentally disabled adults, children, and adolescents; all children subject to a determination made pursuant to section 121.38 of the Revised Code; and all the facilities and community mental health services that are or will be in operation or provided during the period for which the plan will be in operation in the service district to meet such needs.

The plan shall include, but not be limited to, a statement of which of the services listed in section 340.09 of the Revised Code the board intends to make available. The board must include crisis intervention services for individuals in an emergency situation in the plan and explain how the board intends to make such services available. The plan must also include an explanation of how the board intends to make any payments that it may be required to pay under section 5119.62 of the Revised Code, a statement of the inpatient and community-based services the board proposes that the department operate, an assessment of the number and types of residential facilities needed, such other information as the department requests, and a budget for moneys the board expects to receive. The board shall also submit an allocation request for state and federal funds. Within sixty days after the department's determination that the plan and allocation request are complete, the department shall approve or disapprove the plan and request, in whole or in part, according to the criteria developed pursuant to section 5119.61 of the Revised Code. The department's statement of approval or disapproval shall specify the inpatient and the community-based services that the department will operate for the board.

Eligibility for state and federal funding shall be contingent upon an approved plan or relevant part of a plan. The department may provide state and federal funding for services included in a plan only if the services are for individuals whose focus of provided as treatment or prevention is of a mental disorder according to the edition of the American psychiatric association's diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders that is current at the time the funding is provided. This shall include such services for individuals who have a mental disorder and a co-occurring substance use disorder, substance-induced disorder, chronic dementing organic mental disorder, mental retardation, or developmental disability. The department may not provide state or federal funding under a plan for a service for individuals whose focus of treatment or prevention is solely, except that the department may not provide state or federal funding for a service provided as treatment or prevention of any of the following, even if it appears in the manual as a mental disorder: a substance use disorder, substance-induced disorder, chronic dementing organic mental disorder, mental retardation, or developmental disability. In the case of an individual who requires services for the treatment or prevention of both one or more mental disorders for which the department may provide funding and one or more mental disorders for which the department may not provide funding, the department may provide funding only for the portion of the services for which funding is permitted by this section.

If the director disapproves all or part of any plan, the director shall inform the board of the reasons for the disapproval and of the criteria that must be met before the plan may be approved. The director shall provide the board an opportunity to present its case on behalf of the plan. The director shall give the board a reasonable time in which to meet the criteria, and shall offer the board technical assistance to help it meet the criteria.

If the approval of a plan remains in dispute thirty days prior to the conclusion of the fiscal year in which the board's current plan is scheduled to expire, the board or the director may request that the dispute be submitted to a mutually agreed upon third-party mediator with the cost to be shared by the board and the department. The mediator shall issue to the board and the department recommendations for resolution of the dispute. Prior to the conclusion of the fiscal year in which the current plan is scheduled to expire, the director, taking into consideration the recommendations of the mediator, shall make a final determination and approve or disapprove the plan, in whole or in part.

If a board determines that it is necessary to amend a plan or an allocation request that has been approved under division (A)(1)(c) of this section, the board shall submit a proposed amendment to the director. The director may approve or disapprove all or part of the amendment. If the director does not approve all or part of the amendment within thirty days after it is submitted, the amendment or part of it shall be considered to have been approved. The director shall inform the board of the reasons for disapproval of all or part of an amendment and of the criteria that must be met before the amendment may be approved. The director shall provide the board an opportunity to present its case on behalf of the amendment. The director shall give the board a reasonable time in which to meet the criteria, and shall offer the board technical assistance to help it meet the criteria.

The board shall implement the plan approved by the department.

(d) Receive, compile, and transmit to the department of mental health applications for state reimbursement;

(e) Promote, arrange, and implement working agreements with social agencies, both public and private, and with judicial agencies.

(2) Investigate, or request another agency to investigate, any complaint alleging abuse or neglect of any person receiving services from a community mental health agency as defined in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code, or from a residential facility licensed under section 5119.22 of the Revised Code. If the investigation substantiates the charge of abuse or neglect, the board shall take whatever action it determines is necessary to correct the situation, including notification of the appropriate authorities. Upon request, the board shall provide information about such investigations to the department.

(3) For the purpose of section 5119.611 of the Revised Code, cooperate with the director of mental health in visiting and evaluating whether the services of a community mental health agency satisfy the certification standards established by rules adopted under that section;

(4) In accordance with criteria established under division (G) of section 5119.61 of the Revised Code, review and evaluate the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of services provided through its community mental health plan and submit its findings and recommendations to the department of mental health;

(5) In accordance with section 5119.22 of the Revised Code, review applications for residential facility licenses and recommend to the department of mental health approval or disapproval of applications;

(6) Audit, in accordance with rules adopted by the auditor of state pursuant to section 117.20 of the Revised Code, at least annually all programs and services provided under contract with the board. In so doing, the board may contract for or employ the services of private auditors. A copy of the fiscal audit report shall be provided to the director of mental health, the auditor of state, and the county auditor of each county in the board's district.

(7) Recruit and promote local financial support for mental health programs from private and public sources;

(8)(a) Enter into contracts with public and private facilities for the operation of facility services included in the board's community mental health plan and enter into contracts with public and private community mental health agencies for the provision of community mental health services that are listed in section 340.09 of the Revised Code and included in the board's community mental health plan. The board may not contract with a community mental health agency to provide community mental health services included in the board's community mental health plan unless the services are certified by the director of mental health under section 5119.611 of the Revised Code. Section 307.86 of the Revised Code does not apply to contracts entered into under this division. In contracting with a community mental health agency, a board shall consider the cost effectiveness of services provided by that agency and the quality and continuity of care, and may review cost elements, including salary costs, of the services to be provided. A utilization review process shall be established as part of the contract for services entered into between a board and a community mental health agency. The board may establish this process in a way that is most effective and efficient in meeting local needs. In the case of a contract with a community mental health facility, as defined in section 5111.023 of the Revised Code, to provide services listed in division (B) of that section, the contract shall provide for the facility to be paid in accordance with the contract entered into between the departments of job and family services and mental health under section 5111.91 of the Revised Code and any rules adopted under division (A) of section 5119.61 of the Revised Code.

If either the board or a facility or community mental health agency with which the board contracts under division (A)(8)(a) of this section proposes not to renew the contract or proposes substantial changes in contract terms, the other party shall be given written notice at least one hundred twenty days before the expiration date of the contract. During the first sixty days of this one hundred twenty-day period, both parties shall attempt to resolve any dispute through good faith collaboration and negotiation in order to continue to provide services to persons in need. If the dispute has not been resolved sixty days before the expiration date of the contract, either party may notify the department of mental health of the unresolved dispute. The director may require both parties to submit the dispute to a third party with the cost to be shared by the board and the facility or community mental health agency. The third party shall issue to the board, the facility or agency, and the department recommendations on how the dispute may be resolved twenty days prior to the expiration date of the contract, unless both parties agree to a time extension. The director shall adopt rules establishing the procedures of this dispute resolution process.

(b) With the prior approval of the director of mental health, a board may operate a facility or provide a community mental health service as follows, if there is no other qualified private or public facility or community mental health agency that is immediately available and willing to operate such a facility or provide the service:

(i) In an emergency situation, any board may operate a facility or provide a community mental health service in order to provide essential services for the duration of the emergency;

(ii) In a service district with a population of at least one hundred thousand but less than five hundred thousand, a board may operate a facility or provide a community mental health service for no longer than one year;

(iii) In a service district with a population of less than one hundred thousand, a board may operate a facility or provide a community mental health service for no longer than one year, except that such a board may operate a facility or provide a community mental health service for more than one year with the prior approval of the director and the prior approval of the board of county commissioners, or of a majority of the boards of county commissioners if the district is a joint-county district.

The director shall not give a board approval to operate a facility or provide a community mental health service under division (A)(8)(b)(ii) or (iii) of this section unless the director determines that it is not feasible to have the department operate the facility or provide the service.

The director shall not give a board approval to operate a facility or provide a community mental health service under division (A)(8)(b)(iii) of this section unless the director determines that the board will provide greater administrative efficiency and more or better services than would be available if the board contracted with a private or public facility or community mental health agency.

The director shall not give a board approval to operate a facility previously operated by a person or other government entity unless the board has established to the director's satisfaction that the person or other government entity cannot effectively operate the facility or that the person or other government entity has requested the board to take over operation of the facility. The director shall not give a board approval to provide a community mental health service previously provided by a community mental health agency unless the board has established to the director's satisfaction that the agency cannot effectively provide the service or that the agency has requested the board take over providing the service.

The director shall review and evaluate a board's operation of a facility and provision of community mental health service under division (A)(8)(b) of this section.

Nothing in division (A)(8)(b) of this section authorizes a board to administer or direct the daily operation of any facility or community mental health agency, but a facility or agency may contract with a board to receive administrative services or staff direction from the board under the direction of the governing body of the facility or agency.

(9) Approve fee schedules and related charges or adopt a unit cost schedule or other methods of payment for contract services provided by community mental health agencies in accordance with guidelines issued by the department as necessary to comply with state and federal laws pertaining to financial assistance;

(10) Submit to the director and the county commissioners of the county or counties served by the board, and make available to the public, an annual report of the programs under the jurisdiction of the board, including a fiscal accounting;

(11) Establish, to the extent resources are available, a community support system, which provides for treatment, support, and rehabilitation services and opportunities. The essential elements of the system include, but are not limited to, the following components in accordance with section 5119.06 of the Revised Code:

(a) To locate persons in need of mental health services to inform them of available services and benefits mechanisms;

(b) Assistance for clients to obtain services necessary to meet basic human needs for food, clothing, shelter, medical care, personal safety, and income;

(c) Mental health care, including, but not limited to, outpatient, partial hospitalization, and, where appropriate, inpatient care;

(d) Emergency services and crisis intervention;

(e) Assistance for clients to obtain vocational services and opportunities for jobs;

(f) The provision of services designed to develop social, community, and personal living skills;

(g) Access to a wide range of housing and the provision of residential treatment and support;

(h) Support, assistance, consultation, and education for families, friends, consumers of mental health services, and others;

(i) Recognition and encouragement of families, friends, neighborhood networks, especially networks that include racial and ethnic minorities, churches, community organizations, and meaningful employment as natural supports for consumers of mental health services;

(j) Grievance procedures and protection of the rights of consumers of mental health services;

(k) Case management, which includes continual individualized assistance and advocacy to ensure that needed services are offered and procured.

(12) Designate the treatment program, agency, or facility for each person involuntarily committed to the board pursuant to Chapter 5122. of the Revised Code and authorize payment for such treatment. The board shall provide the least restrictive and most appropriate alternative that is available for any person involuntarily committed to it and shall assure that the services listed in section 340.09 of the Revised Code are available to severely mentally disabled persons residing within its service district. The board shall establish the procedure for authorizing payment for services, which may include prior authorization in appropriate circumstances. The board may provide for services directly to a severely mentally disabled person when life or safety is endangered and when no community mental health agency is available to provide the service.

(13) Establish a method for evaluating referrals for involuntary commitment and affidavits filed pursuant to section 5122.11 of the Revised Code in order to assist the probate division of the court of common pleas in determining whether there is probable cause that a respondent is subject to involuntary hospitalization and what alternative treatment is available and appropriate, if any;

(14) Ensure that apartments or rooms built, subsidized, renovated, rented, owned, or leased by the board or a community mental health agency have been approved as meeting minimum fire safety standards and that persons residing in the rooms or apartments are receiving appropriate and necessary services, including culturally relevant services, from a community mental health agency. This division does not apply to residential facilities licensed pursuant to section 5119.22 of the Revised Code.

(15) Establish a mechanism for involvement of consumer recommendation and advice on matters pertaining to mental health services in the alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health service district;

(16) Perform the duties under section 3722.18 of the Revised Code required by rules adopted under section 5119.61 of the Revised Code regarding referrals by the board or mental health agencies under contract with the board of individuals with mental illness or severe mental disability to adult care facilities and effective arrangements for ongoing mental health services for the individuals. The board is accountable in the manner specified in the rules for ensuring that the ongoing mental health services are effectively arranged for the individuals.

(B) The board shall establish such rules, operating procedures, standards, and bylaws, and perform such other duties as may be necessary or proper to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(C) A board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services may receive by gift, grant, devise, or bequest any moneys, lands, or property for the benefit of the purposes for which the board is established, and may hold and apply it according to the terms of the gift, grant, or bequest. All money received, including accrued interest, by gift, grant, or bequest shall be deposited in the treasury of the county, the treasurer of which is custodian of the alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services funds to the credit of the board and shall be available for use by the board for purposes stated by the donor or grantor.

(D) No board member or employee of a board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services shall be liable for injury or damages caused by any action or inaction taken within the scope of the board member's official duties or the employee's employment, whether or not such action or inaction is expressly authorized by this section, section 340.033, or any other section of the Revised Code, unless such action or inaction constitutes willful or wanton misconduct. Chapter 2744. of the Revised Code applies to any action or inaction by a board member or employee of a board taken within the scope of the board member's official duties or employee's employment. For the purposes of this division, the conduct of a board member or employee shall not be considered willful or wanton misconduct if the board member or employee acted in good faith and in a manner that the board member or employee reasonably believed was in or was not opposed to the best interests of the board and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful.

(E) The meetings held by any committee established by a board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services shall be considered to be meetings of a public body subject to section 121.22 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 709.191.  In lieu of making any of the payments required by section 709.19 of the Revised Code and for any proposed annexation which does not require payments under that section, the legislative authority of a municipal corporation which proposes to annex unincorporated territory of a township may enter into an agreement with the board of township trustees of the township in which the territory to be annexed is located, whereby the municipal corporation agrees to make an annual payment to the township to compensate for lost tax revenues. The agreement shall set forth the amount of the annual payment and the number of payments to be made.

If a municipal corporation fails to make an annual payment pursuant to an agreement entered into under this section, the board of township trustees shall notify the county budget commission in writing of the amount owed by the municipal corporation to the township. The county budget commission shall reduce the amount apportioned to the municipal corporation from the undivided local government communities fund pursuant to section 5747.51 or 5747.53 of the Revised Code by the amount of the payment due the township under the municipal-township agreement and shall increase, by an amount equal to this reduction, the amount apportioned to the township from the undivided local government communities fund.

Sec. 718.051. (A) As used in this section, "Ohio business gateway" means the online computer network system, initially created maintained by the department of administrative services office of information technology under section 125.30 126.18 of the Revised Code, that allows private businesses to electronically file business reply forms with state agencies and includes any successor electronic filing and payment system.

(B) Notwithstanding section 718.05 of the Revised Code, on and after January 1, 2005, any taxpayer that is subject to any municipal corporation's tax on the net profit from a business or profession and has received an extension to file the federal income tax return shall not be required to notify the municipal corporation of the federal extension and shall not be required to file any municipal income tax return until the last day of the month to which the due date for filing the federal return has been extended, provided that, on or before the date for filing the municipal income tax return, the person notifies the tax commissioner of the federal extension through the Ohio business gateway. An extension of time to file is not an extension of the time to pay any tax due.

(C) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, a taxpayer subject to any municipal corporation's tax on the net profit from a business or profession may file any municipal income tax return or estimated municipal income return, and may make payment of amounts shown to be due on such returns, by using the Ohio business gateway.

(D)(1) As used in this division, "qualifying wages" has the same meaning as in section 718.03 of the Revised Code.

(2) Any employer may report the amount of municipal income tax withheld from qualifying wages paid on or after January 1, 2007, and may make remittance of such amounts, by using the Ohio business gateway.

(E) Nothing in this section affects the due dates for filing employer withholding tax returns.

(F) No municipal corporation shall be required to pay any fee or charge for the operation or maintenance of the Ohio business gateway.

(G) The use of the Ohio business gateway by municipal corporations, taxpayers, or other persons pursuant to this section does not affect the legal rights of municipalities or taxpayers as otherwise permitted by law. This state shall not be a party to the administration of municipal income taxes or to an appeal of a municipal income tax matter, except as otherwise specifically provided by law.

(H)(1) The tax commissioner shall adopt rules establishing:

(a) The format of documents to be used by taxpayers to file returns and make payments through the Ohio business gateway; and

(b) The information taxpayers must submit when filing municipal income tax returns through the Ohio business gateway.

(2) The commissioner shall consult with the Ohio business gateway steering committee before adopting the rules described in division (H)(1) of this section.

(I) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting or removing the ability of any municipal corporation to administer, audit, and enforce the provisions of its municipal income tax.

Sec. 742.301.  Each employer shall promptly pay the amount due on the accrued liability on the dates fixed by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund. Upon certification by the board that payment of an employer's accrued liability has not been paid within thirty days following the date a payment is due, a penalty of five per cent of the amount due shall be assessed against such employer. If the payment and penalty have not been paid within ninety days following the date a payment is due, annual interest at six per cent shall be assessed against the payment and penalty from the date that the payment is due.

Upon certification by the board to the superintendent of liquor control or the county auditor of an amount due from any employer who is subject to this chapter by reason of such employer's delinquency in making payments on the accrued liability, the amount due shall be withheld from the employer from liquor control permit fees to be distributed to that employer according to Chapter 4301. of the Revised Code or from the local government communities fund allocated for distribution to that employer by the county budget commission in accordance with Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of the certification from the board, the superintendent or county auditor shall provide for payment against such funds in favor of the Ohio police and fire pension fund for the certified amount due and any penalty and interest thereon.

Sec. 901.261. The director of agriculture, in conducting investigations, inquiries, or hearings, may assess the party to an action that is brought before the department of agriculture pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code the actual costs incurred by the department for depositions, investigations, issuance and service of subpoenas, witness fees, employment of a stenographer and hearing officer, and the production of books, accounts, papers, records, documents, and testimony if the applicable hearing officer determines that the party to the action has failed to comply with any chapter of the Revised Code or any rule adopted under any of those chapters that is administered by the director or if the hearing officer determines that the action was frivolous conduct by the party. Assessment of costs under this section may be appealed to a court of competent jurisdiction.

Sec. 1306.20.  (A) Subject to section 1306.11 of the Revised Code, each state agency shall determine if, and the extent to which, it will send and receive electronic records and electronic signatures to and from other persons and otherwise create, generate, communicate, store, process, use, and rely upon electronic records and electronic signatures.

(B)(1) Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, a state agency may waive a requirement in the Revised Code, other than a requirement in sections 1306.01 to 1306.15 of the Revised Code, that relates to any of the following:

(a) The method of posting or displaying records;

(b) The manner of sending, communicating, or transmitting records;

(c) The manner of formatting records.

(2) A state agency may exercise its authority to waive a requirement under division (B)(1) of this section only if the following apply:

(a) The requirement relates to a matter over which the state agency has jurisdiction;

(b) The waiver is consistent with criteria set forth in rules adopted by the state agency. The criteria, to the extent reasonable under the circumstances, shall contain standards to facilitate the use of electronic commerce by persons under the jurisdiction of the state agency consistent with rules adopted by the department of administrative services pursuant to division (A) of section 1306.21 of the Revised Code.

(C) If a state agency creates, uses, receives, or retains electronic records, both of the following apply:

(1) Any rules adopted by a state agency relating to electronic records shall be consistent with rules adopted by the department of administrative services office of information technology pursuant to division (A) of section 1306.21 of the Revised Code.

(2) Each state agency shall create, use, receive, and retain electronic records in accordance with section 149.40 of the Revised Code.

(D) If a state agency creates, uses, or receives electronic signatures, the state agency shall create, use, or receive the signatures in accordance with rules adopted by the department of administrative services office of information technology pursuant to division (A) of section 1306.21 of the Revised Code.

(E)(1) To the extent a state agency retains an electronic record, the state agency may retain a record in a format that is different from the format in which the record was originally created, used, sent, or received only if it can be demonstrated that the alternative format used accurately and completely reflects the record as it was originally created, used, sent, or received.

(2) If a state agency in retaining any set of electronic records pursuant to division (E)(1) of this section alters the format of the records, the state agency shall create a certificate of authenticity for each set of records that is altered.

(3) The department of administrative services office of information technology, in consultation with the state archivist, shall adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code that establish the methods for creating certificates of authenticity pursuant to division (E)(2) of this section.

(F) Whenever any rule of law requires or authorizes the filing of any information, notice, lien, or other document or record with any state agency, a filing made by an electronic record shall have the same force and effect as a filing made on paper in all cases where the state agency has authorized or agreed to such electronic filing and the filing is made in accordance with applicable rules or agreement.

(G) Nothing in sections 1306.01 to 1306.23 of the Revised Code shall be construed to require any state agency to use or permit the use of electronic records and electronic signatures.

(H)(1) Notwithstanding division (C)(1) or (D) of this section, any state agency that, prior to the effective date of this section September 14, 2000, used or permitted the use of electronic records or electronic signatures pursuant to laws enacted, rules adopted, or agency policies adopted before the effective date of this section September 14, 2000, may use or permit the use of electronic records or electronic signatures pursuant to those previously enacted laws, adopted rules, or adopted policies for a period of two years after the effective date of this section September 14, 2000.

(2) Subject to division (H)(3) of this section, after the two-year period described in division (H)(1) of this section has concluded, all state agencies that use or permit the use of electronic records or electronic signatures before the effective date of this section September 14, 2000, shall only use or permit the use of electronic records or electronic signatures consistent with rules adopted by the department of administrative services office of information technology pursuant to division (A) of section 1306.21 of the Revised Code.

(3) After the two-year period described in division (H)(1) of this section has concluded, the department of administrative services office of information technology may permit a state agency to use electronic records or electronic signatures that do not comply with division (H)(2) of this section, if the state agency files a written request with the department office of information technology.

(I) For the purposes of this section, "state agency" means every organized body, office, or agency established by the laws of the state for the exercise of any function of state government, but does not include the general assembly, any legislative agency, the supreme court, the other courts of record in this state, or any judicial agency.

Sec. 1306.21.  (A) With regard to state agency use of electronic records or electronic signatures, the department of administrative services office of information technology, in consultation with the state archivist, shall adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code setting forth all of the following:

(1) The minimum requirements for the method of creation, maintenance, and security of electronic records and electronic signatures;

(2) If electronic records must be signed by electronic means, all of the following:

(a) The type of electronic signature required;

(b) The manner and format in which the electronic signature must be affixed to the electronic record;

(c) The identity of, or criteria that must be met by, any third party used by the person filing a document to facilitate the process.

(3) Control processes and procedures as appropriate to ensure adequate preservation, disposition, integrity, security, confidentiality, and auditability of electronic records;

(4) Any other required attributes for electronic records that are specified for corresponding nonelectronic records or are reasonably necessary under the circumstances.

(B)(1) The department of administrative services office of information technology may adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code to ensure consistency and interoperability among state agencies with regard to electronic transactions, electronic signatures, and security procedures.

(2) If the department of administrative services office of information technology adopts rules pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section, the department shall consider consistency in applications and interoperability with governmental agencies of this state, agencies of other states, the federal government, and nongovernmental persons to the extent practicable when adopting rules pursuant to that division.

(C) With regard to electronic transactions, electronic signatures, and security procedures, the department of administrative services office of information technology may publish recommendations for governmental agencies and nongovernmental persons to promote consistency and interoperability among nongovernmental persons, agencies of this state and other states, and the federal government.

(D) For purposes of this section, "state agency" has the same meaning as in section 1306.20 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 1347.06.  The director of administrative services office of information technology shall adopt, amend, and rescind rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the purposes of administering and enforcing the provisions of this chapter that pertain to state agencies.

A state or local agency that, or an officer or employee of a state or local agency who, complies in good faith with a rule applicable to the agency is not subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability under this chapter.

Sec. 1503.05.  (A) The chief of the division of forestry may sell timber and other forest products from the state forest and state forest nurseries whenever the chief considers such a sale desirable and, with the approval of the attorney general and the director of natural resources, may sell portions of the state forest lands when such a sale is advantageous to the state.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a timber sale agreement shall not be executed unless the person or governmental entity bidding on the sale executes and files a surety bond conditioned on completion of the timber sale in accordance with the terms of the agreement in an amount equal to twenty-five per cent of the highest value cutting section. All bonds shall be given in a form prescribed by the chief and shall run to the state as obligee.

The chief shall not approve any bond until it is personally signed and acknowledged by both principal and surety, or as to either by the attorney in fact thereof, with a certified copy of the power of attorney attached. The chief shall not approve the bond unless there is attached a certificate of the superintendent of insurance that the company is authorized to transact a fidelity and surety business in this state.

In lieu of a bond, the bidder may deposit any of the following:

(1) Cash in an amount equal to the amount of the bond;

(2) United States government securities having a par value equal to or greater than the amount of the bond;

(3) Negotiable certificates of deposit or irrevocable letters of credit issued by any bank organized or transacting business in this state having a par value equal to or greater than the amount of the bond.

The cash or securities shall be deposited on the same terms as bonds. If one or more certificates of deposit are deposited in lieu of a bond, the chief shall require the bank that issued any of the certificates to pledge securities of the aggregate market value equal to the amount of the certificate or certificates that is in excess of the amount insured by the federal deposit insurance corporation. The securities to be pledged shall be those designated as eligible under section 135.18 of the Revised Code. The securities shall be security for the repayment of the certificate or certificates of deposit.

Immediately upon a deposit of cash, securities, certificates of deposit, or letters of credit, the chief shall deliver them to the treasurer of state, who shall hold them in trust for the purposes for which they have been deposited. The treasurer of state is responsible for the safekeeping of the deposits. A bidder making a deposit of cash, securities, certificates of deposit, or letters of credit may withdraw and receive from the treasurer of state, on the written order of the chief, all or any portion of the cash, securities, certificates of deposit, or letters of credit upon depositing with the treasurer of state cash, other United States government securities, or other negotiable certificates of deposit or irrevocable letters of credit issued by any bank organized or transacting business in this state, equal in par value to the par value of the cash, securities, certificates of deposit, or letters of credit withdrawn.

A bidder may demand and receive from the treasurer of state all interest or other income from any such securities or certificates as it becomes due. If securities so deposited with and in the possession of the treasurer of state mature or are called for payment by their issuer, the treasurer of state, at the request of the bidder who deposited them, shall convert the proceeds of the redemption or payment of the securities into other United States government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, or cash as the bidder designates.

When the chief finds that a person or governmental agency has failed to comply with the conditions of the person's or governmental agency's bond, the chief shall make a finding of that fact and declare the bond, cash, securities, certificates, or letters of credit forfeited. The chief thereupon shall certify the total forfeiture to the attorney general, who shall proceed to collect the amount of the bond, cash, securities, certificates, or letters of credit.

In lieu of total forfeiture, the surety, at its option, may cause the timber sale to be completed or pay to the treasurer of state the cost thereof.

All moneys collected as a result of forfeitures of bonds, cash, securities, certificates, and letters of credit under this section shall be credited to the state forest fund created in this section.

(C) The chief may grant easements and leases on portions of the state forest lands and state forest nurseries under terms that are advantageous to the state, and the chief may grant mineral rights on a royalty basis on those lands and nurseries, with the approval of the attorney general and the director.

(D) All moneys received from the sale of state forest lands, or in payment for easements or leases on or as rents from those lands or from state forest nurseries, shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the state forest fund, which is hereby created. In addition, all moneys received from federal grants, payments, and reimbursements, from the sale of reforestation tree stock, from the sale of forest products, other than standing timber, and from the sale of minerals taken from the state forest lands and state forest nurseries, together with royalties from mineral rights, shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the state forest fund. Any other revenues derived from the operation of the state forests and related facilities or equipment also shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the state forest fund, as shall contributions received for the issuance of Smokey Bear license plates under section 4503.574 of the Revised Code and any other moneys required by law to be deposited in the fund.

The state forest fund shall not be expended for any purpose other than the administration, operation, maintenance, development, or utilization of the state forests, forest nurseries, and forest programs, for facilities or equipment incident to them, or for the further purchase of lands for state forest or forest nursery purposes and, in the case of contributions received pursuant to section 4503.574 of the Revised Code, for fire prevention purposes.

All moneys received from the sale of standing timber taken from state forest lands and state forest nurseries shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the forestry holding account redistribution fund, which is hereby created. The moneys shall remain in the fund until they are redistributed in accordance with this division.

The redistribution shall occur at least once each year. To begin the redistribution, the chief first shall determine the amount of all standing timber sold from state forest lands and state forest nurseries, together with the amount of the total sale proceeds, in each county, in each township within the county, and in each school district within the county. The chief next shall determine the amount of the direct costs that the division of forestry incurred in association with the sale of that standing timber. The amount of the direct costs shall be subtracted from the amount of the total sale proceeds and shall be transferred from the forestry holding account redistribution fund to the state forest fund.

The remaining amount of the total sale proceeds equals the net value of the standing timber that was sold. The chief shall determine the net value of standing timber sold from state forest lands and state forest nurseries in each county, in each township within the county, and in each school district within the county and shall send to each county treasurer a copy of the determination at the time that moneys are paid to the county treasurer under this division.

Twenty-five per cent of the net value of standing timber sold from state forest lands and state forest nurseries located in a county shall be transferred from the forestry holding account redistribution fund to the state forest fund. Ten per cent of that net value shall be transferred from the forestry holding account redistribution fund to the general revenue fund. The remaining sixty-five per cent of the net value shall be transferred from the forestry holding account redistribution fund and paid to the county treasurer for the use of the general fund of that county.

The county auditor shall do all of the following:

(1) Retain for the use of the general fund of the county one-fourth of the amount received by the county under division (D) of this section;

(2) Pay into the general fund of any township located within the county and containing such lands and nurseries one-fourth of the amount received by the county from standing timber sold from lands and nurseries located in the township;

(3) Request the board of education of any school district located within the county and containing such lands and nurseries to identify which fund or funds of the district should receive the moneys available to the school district under division (D)(3) of this section. After receiving notice from the board, the county auditor shall pay into the fund or funds so identified one-half of the amount received by the county from standing timber sold from lands and nurseries located in the school district, distributed proportionately as identified by the board.

The division of forestry shall not supply logs, lumber, or other forest products or minerals, taken from the state forest lands or state forest nurseries, to any other agency or subdivision of the state unless payment is made therefor in the amount of the actual prevailing value thereof. This section is applicable to the moneys so received.

Sec. 1504.02.  (A) The division of real estate and land management shall do all of the following:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in the Revised Code, coordinate and conduct all real estate functions for the department of natural resources, including at least acquisitions by purchase, lease, gift, devise, bequest, appropriation, or otherwise; grants through sales, leases, exchanges, easements, and licenses; inventories of land; and other related general management duties;

(2) Assist the department and its divisions by providing department-wide planning, including at least master planning, comprehensive planning, capital improvements planning, and special purpose planning such as trails coordination and planning under section 1519.03 of the Revised Code;

(3) On behalf of the director of natural resources, administer the coastal management program established under sections 1506.01 to 1506.03 and 1506.05 to 1506.09 of the Revised Code and consult with and provide coordination among state agencies, political subdivisions, the United States and agencies of it, and interstate, regional, and areawide agencies to assist the director in executing the director's duties and responsibilities under that program and to assist the department as the lead agency for the development and implementation of the program;

(4) On behalf of the director, administer sections 1506.10 and 1506.11 and sections 1506.31 to 1506.36 of the Revised Code;

(5) Cooperate with the United States and agencies of it and with political subdivisions in administering federal recreation moneys under the "Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965," 78 Stat. 897, 16 U.S.C.A. 4601-8, as amended; prepare and distribute the statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan; and administer the state recreational vehicle fund created in section 4519.11 of the Revised Code;

(6)(4)(a) Support the geographic information system needs for the department as requested by the director, which shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(i) Assisting in the training and education of department resource managers, administrators, and other staff in the application and use of geographic information system technology;

(ii) Providing technical support to the department in the design, preparation of data, and use of appropriate geographic information system applications in order to help solve resource related problems and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of department delivered services;

(iii) Creating, maintaining, and documenting spatial digital data bases for the division and for other divisions as assigned by the director.

(b) Provide information to and otherwise assist government officials, planners, and resource managers in understanding land use planning and resource management;

(c) Provide continuing assistance to local government officials and others in natural resource digital data base development and in applying and utilizing the geographic information system for land use planning, current agricultural use value assessment, development reviews, coastal management, and other resource management activities;

(d) Coordinate and administer the remote sensing needs of the department, including the collection and analysis of aerial photography, satellite data, and other data pertaining to land, water, and other resources of the state;

(e) Prepare and publish maps and digital data relating to the state's land use and land cover over time on a local, regional, and statewide basis;

(f) Locate and distribute hard copy maps, digital data, aerial photography, and other resource data and information to government agencies and the public.

(7)(5) Prepare special studies and execute any other duties, functions, and responsibilities requested by the director.

(B) The division may do any of the following:

(1) Coordinate such environmental matters concerning the department and the state as are necessary to comply with the "National Environmental Policy Act of 1969," 83 Stat. 852, 42 U.S.C.A. 4321, as amended, the "Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968," 82 Stat. 1098, 31 U.S.C.A. 6506, and the "Federal Water Pollution Control Act," 91 Stat. 1566 (1977), 33 U.S.C.A. 1251, as amended, and regulations adopted under those acts;

(2) With the approval of the director, coordinate and administer compensatory mitigation grant programs and other programs for streams and wetlands as approved in accordance with certifications and permits issued under sections 401 and 404 of the "Federal Water Pollution Control Act", 91 Stat. 1566(1977), 33 U.S.C.A. 1251, as amended, by the environmental protection agency and the United States army corps of engineers;

(3) Administer any state or federally funded grant program that is related to natural resources and recreation as considered necessary by the director.

Sec. 1505.07. (A) Subject to the limitation limitations set forth in division (B) of this section and in section 1505.08 of the Revised Code, the director of natural resources, with the approval of the director of environmental protection, the attorney general, and the governor, may issue permits and make leases to parties making application for permission to take and remove sand, gravel, stone, and other minerals or substances from and under the bed of Lake Erie, either upon a royalty or rental basis, as he the director of natural resources determines to be best for the state. Permits shall be issued for terms of not less than one year nor more than ten years, and leases shall be for a term of years or until the economic extraction of the mineral or other substance covered thereby has been completed. Such taking and removal shall be within certain fixed boundaries that do not conflict with the rights of littoral owners. Upon request from the holder of a permit, it shall be canceled, but in the case of any permit or lease, any equipment or buildings owned by the permittee or lessee shall be held as security by the director of natural resources for payment of all rentals or royalties due the state at the time of cancellation.

(B) The director of natural resources shall not issue any permit or make any lease under division (A) of this section to take or remove oil or natural gas from and under the bed of Lake Erie.

(C) No person shall remove sand, gravel, stone, or other minerals or substances from and under the bed of Lake Erie without first obtaining a permit or lease therefor from the director.

(D) The director of natural resources may, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, adopt, amend, and rescind rules for the administration, implementation, and enforcement of this section.

Sec. 1506.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Coastal area" means the waters of Lake Erie, the islands in the lake, and the lands under and adjacent to the lake, including transitional areas, wetlands, and beaches. The coastal area extends in Lake Erie to the international boundary line between the United States and Canada and landward only to the extent necessary to include shorelands, the uses of which have a direct and significant impact on coastal waters as determined by the director of natural resources.

(B) "Coastal management program" means the comprehensive action of the state and its political subdivisions cooperatively to preserve, protect, develop, restore, or enhance the resources of the coastal area and to ensure wise use of the land and water resources of the coastal area, giving attention to natural, cultural, historic, and aesthetic values; agricultural, recreational, energy, and economic needs; and the national interest. "Coastal management program" includes the establishment of objectives, policies, standards, and criteria concerning, without limitation, protection of air, water, wildlife, rare and endangered species, wetlands and natural areas, and other natural resources in the coastal area; management of coastal development and redevelopment; preservation and restoration of historic, cultural, and aesthetic coastal features; and public access to the coastal area for recreation purposes.

(C) "Coastal management program document" means a comprehensive statement consisting of, without limitation, text, maps, and illustrations that is adopted by the director in accordance with this chapter, describes the objectives, policies, standards, and criteria of the coastal management program for guiding public and private uses of lands and waters in the coastal area, lists the governmental agencies, including, without limitation, state agencies, involved in implementing the coastal management program, describes their applicable policies and programs, and cites the statutes and rules under which they may adopt and implement those policies and programs.

(D) "Person" means any agency of this state, any political subdivision of this state or of the United States, and any legal entity defined as a person under section 1.59 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Director" means the director of natural resources or the director's designee.

(F) "Permanent structure" means any residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, or agricultural building, any mobile home as defined in division (O) of section 4501.01 of the Revised Code, any manufactured home as defined in division (C)(4) of section 3781.06 of the Revised Code, and any septic system that receives sewage from a single-family, two-family, or three-family dwelling, but does not include any recreational vehicle as defined in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code.

(G) "State agency" or "agency of the state" has the same meaning as "agency" as defined in section 111.15 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Coastal flood hazard area" means any territory within the coastal area that has been identified as a flood hazard area under the "Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973," 87 Stat. 975, 42 U.S.C.A. 4002, as amended.

(I) "Coastal erosion area" means any territory included in Lake Erie coastal erosion areas identified by the director under section 1506.06 of the Revised Code.

(J) "Conservancy district" means a conservancy district that is established under Chapter 6101. of the Revised Code.

(K) "Park board" means the board of park commissioners of a park district that is created under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code.

(L) "Erosion control structure" means a structure that is designed solely and specifically to reduce or control erosion of the shore along or near Lake Erie, including, without limitation, revetments, seawalls, bulkheads, certain breakwaters, and similar structures.

(M) "Shore structure" includes, but is not limited to, beaches; groins; revetments; bulkheads; seawalls; breakwaters; certain dikes designated by the chief of the division of water; piers; docks; jetties; wharves; marinas; boat ramps; any associated fill or debris used as part of the construction of shore structures that may affect shore erosion, wave action, or inundation; and fill or debris that is placed along or near the shore, including bluffs, banks, or beach ridges, for the purpose of stabilizing slopes.

Sec. 1521.20 1506.38.  The chief director of the division of water natural resources shall act as the erosion agent of the state for the purpose of cooperating with the secretary of the army, acting through the chief of engineers of the United States army corps of engineers in the department of defense. The chief director shall cooperate with the secretary in carrying out, and may conduct, investigations and studies of conditions along the shorelines of Lake Erie and of the bays and projections therefrom, and of the islands therein, within the territorial waters of the state, with a view to devising and perfecting economical and effective methods and works for preventing, correcting, and controlling shore erosion and damage therefrom and controlling the inundation of improved property by the waters of Lake Erie, its bays, and associated inlets.

Sec. 1521.21 1506.39.  The chief director of the division of water natural resources, in the discharge of the chief's director's duties under sections 1507.20 1506.38 to 1507.30 1506.48 of the Revised Code, may call to the chief's director's assistance, temporarily, any engineers or other employees in any state department, or in the Ohio state university or other educational institutions financed wholly or in part by the state, for the purpose of devising the most effective and economical methods of controlling shore erosion and damage from it and controlling the inundation of improved property by the waters of Lake Erie and its bays and associated inlets.

Such engineers and employees shall not receive any additional compensation over that which they receive from the departments or institutions by which they are employed, but they shall be reimbursed for their actual necessary expenses incurred while working under the direction of the chief director on erosion and inundation projects.

Sec. 1521.22 1506.40. No person shall construct a beach, groin, or other structure to control erosion, wave action, or inundation along or near the Ohio shoreline of Lake Erie, including related islands, bays, and inlets, without first obtaining a shore structure permit from the chief of the division director of water. The natural resources.

The application for a shore structure permit shall include detailed plans and specifications prepared by a professional engineer registered under Chapter 4733. of the Revised Code. An applicant shall provide appropriate evidence of compliance with any applicable provisions of this chapter and Chapters 1505. and 1506. 1521. of the Revised Code, as determined by the chief director. A temporary shore structure permit may be issued by the chief or an authorized representative of the chief director if it is determined necessary to safeguard life, health, or property.

Each application or reapplication for a permit under this section shall be accompanied by a non-refundable fee as the chief director shall prescribe by rule.

If the application is approved, the chief director shall issue a permit to the applicant authorizing construction of the project. If requested in writing by the applicant within thirty days of issuance of a notice of disapproval of the application, the chief director shall conduct an adjudication hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, except sections 119.12 and 119.121 of the Revised Code. After reviewing the record of the hearing, the chief director shall issue a final order approving the application, disapproving it, or approving it conditioned on the making of specified revisions in the plans and specifications.

The chief director, by rule, shall limit the period during which a construction permit issued under this section is valid and shall establish reapplication requirements governing a construction permit that expires before construction is completed.

In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the chief director shall adopt, and may amend or rescind, such rules as are necessary for the administration, implementation, and enforcement of this section.

Sec. 1521.23 1506.41.  All moneys derived from the granting of permits and leases under section 1505.07 of the Revised Code for the removal of sand, gravel, stone, gas, oil, and other minerals and substances from and under the bed of Lake Erie and from applications for shore structure permits submitted under section 1521.22 1506.40 of the Revised Code shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the permit and lease fund, which is hereby created. Notwithstanding any section of the Revised Code relating to the distribution or crediting of fines for violations of the Revised Code, all fines imposed under division (A) of section 1505.99 of the Revised Code and under division (C) of section 1521.99 1506.99 of the Revised Code shall be paid into that fund. The fund shall be administered by the department of natural resources for the protection of Lake Erie shores and waters; investigation and control of erosion; the planning, development, and construction of facilities for recreational use of Lake Erie; implementation of section 1521.22 1506.40 of the Revised Code; preparation of the state shore erosion plan under section 1521.29 1506.47 of the Revised Code; and state administration of Lake Erie coastal erosion areas under sections 1506.06 and 1506.07 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 1521.24 1506.42.  The state, acting through the chief director of the division of water natural resources, subject to section 1521.28 1506.46 of the Revised Code, may enter into agreements with counties, townships, municipal corporations, park boards, and conservancy districts, other political subdivisions, or any state departments or divisions for the purpose of constructing and maintaining projects to control erosion along the Ohio shoreline of Lake Erie and in any rivers and bays that are connected with Lake Erie and any other watercourses that flow into Lake Erie. Such projects also may be constructed on any Lake Erie island that is situated within the boundaries of the state.

The cost of such shore erosion projects that are for the benefit of public littoral property shall be prorated on the basis of two-thirds of the total cost to the state through appropriations made to the division department of water natural resources and one-third of the cost to the counties, townships, municipal corporations, park boards, conservancy districts, or other political subdivisions.

If a shore erosion emergency is declared by the governor, the state, acting through the chief director, may spend whatever state funds are available to alleviate shore erosion, without participation by any political subdivision, regardless of whether the project will benefit public or private littoral property.

A board of county commissioners, acting for the county over which it has jurisdiction, may enter into and carry out agreements with the chief director for the construction and maintenance of projects to control shore erosion. In providing the funds for the county's proportionate share of the cost of constructing and maintaining the projects referred to in this section, the board shall be governed by and may issue and refund bonds in accordance with Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.

A municipal corporation or a township, acting through the legislative authority or the board of township trustees, may enter into and carry out agreements with the chief director for the purpose of constructing and maintaining projects to control shore erosion. In providing the funds for the municipal corporation's or township's proportionate share of the cost of constructing and maintaining the projects referred to in this section, a municipal corporation or township may issue and refund bonds in accordance with Chapter 133. of the Revised Code. The contract shall be executed on behalf of the municipal corporation or township by the mayor, city manager, or other chief executive officer who has the authority to act for the municipal corporation or township.

Conservancy districts may enter into and carry out agreements with the chief director, in accordance with the intent of this section, under the powers conferred upon conservancy districts under Chapter 6101. of the Revised Code.

Park boards may enter into and carry out agreements with the chief director, in accordance with the intent of this section, and issue bonds for that purpose under the powers conferred upon park districts under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code.

The chief director shall approve and supervise all projects that are to be constructed in accordance with this section. The chief director shall not proceed with the construction of any project until all funds that are to be paid by the county, township, municipal corporation, park board, or conservancy district, in accordance with the terms of the agreement entered into between the chief director and the county, township, municipal corporation, park board, or conservancy district, are in the chief's director's possession and deposited in the shore erosion fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury. If the chief director finds it to be in the best interests of the state to construct projects as set forth in this section by the state itself, without the financial contribution of counties, townships, municipal corporations, park boards, or conservancy districts, the chief director may construct the projects.

In deciding whether to assist a county or municipal corporation in constructing and maintaining a project under this section, the state, acting through the chief director, shall consider, among other factors, whether the county or municipal corporation has adopted or is in the process of adopting a Lake Erie coastal erosion area resolution or ordinance under division (D) of section 1506.07 of the Revised Code.

All projects constructed by the state in conformity with sections 1521.20 1506.38 to 1521.28 1506.46 of the Revised Code shall be constructed subject to sections 153.01 to 153.20 of the Revised Code, except that the state architect and engineer is not required to prepare the plans and specifications for those projects.

Sec. 1521.25 1506.43.  The chief director of the division of water natural resources may enter into a contract with any county, township, municipal corporation, conservancy district, or park board that has an agreement with the state in accordance with section 1521.24 1506.42 of the Revised Code for the construction of a shore erosion project. No contract shall be let until all money that is to be paid by the political subdivision entering into the agreement has been deposited in the shore erosion fund created in that section 1521.24 of the Revised Code, and no contract shall be valid until approved by the director of natural resources.

Sec. 1521.26 1506.44.  (A) A board of county commissioners may use a loan obtained under division (C) of this section to provide financial assistance to any person who owns real property in a coastal erosion area, as defined in section 1506.01 of the Revised Code, and who has received a permit under section 1521.22 1506.40 of the Revised Code to construct an erosion control structure in that coastal erosion area. The board shall enter into an agreement with the person that complies with all of the following requirements:

(1) The agreement shall identify the person's real property for which the erosion control structure is being constructed and shall include a legal description of that property and a reference to the volume and page of the deed record in which the title of that person to that property is recorded.

(2) In accordance with rules adopted by the Ohio water development authority under division (V) of section 6121.04 of the Revised Code for the purposes of division (C) of this section and pursuant to an agreement between the board and the authority under that division, the board shall agree to cause payments to be made by the authority to the contractor hired by the person to construct an erosion control structure in amounts not to exceed the total amount specified in the agreement between the board and the person.

(3) The person shall agree to pay to the board, or to the authority as the assignee pursuant to division (C) of this section, the total amount of the payments plus administrative or other costs of the board or the authority at times, in installments, and bearing interest as specified in the agreement.

The agreement may contain additional provisions that the board determines necessary to safeguard the interests of the county or to comply with an agreement entered into under division (C) of this section.

(B) Upon entering into an agreement under division (A) of this section, the board shall do all of the following:

(1) Cause the agreement to be recorded in the county deed records in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the real property is situated. Failure to record the agreement does not affect the validity of the agreement or the collection of any amounts due under the agreement.

(2) Establish by resolution an erosion control repayment fund into which shall be deposited all amounts collected under division (B)(3) of this section. Moneys in that fund shall be used by the board for the repayment of the loan and for administrative or other costs of the board or the authority as specified in an agreement entered into under division (C) of this section. If the amount of money in the fund is inadequate to repay the loan when due, the board of county commissioners, by resolution, may advance money from any other fund in order to repay the loan if that use of the money from the other fund is not in conflict with law. If the board so advances money in order to repay the loan, the board subsequently shall reimburse each fund from which the board advances money with moneys from the erosion control repayment fund.

(3) Bill and collect all amounts when due under the agreement entered into under division (A) of this section. The board shall certify amounts not paid when due to the county auditor, who shall enter the amounts on the real property tax list and duplicate against the property identified under division (A)(1) of this section. The amounts not paid when due shall be a lien on that property from the date on which the amounts are placed on the tax list and duplicate and shall be collected in the same manner as other taxes.

(C) A board may apply to the authority for a loan for the purpose of entering into agreements under division (A) of this section. The loan shall be for an amount and on the terms established in an agreement between the board and the authority. The board may assign any agreements entered into under division (A) of this section to the authority in order to provide for the repayment of the loan and may pledge any lawfully available revenues to the repayment of the loan, provided that no moneys raised by taxation shall be obligated or pledged by the board for the repayment of the loan. Any agreement with the authority pursuant to this division is not subject to Chapter 133. of the Revised Code or any requirements or limitations established in that chapter.

(D) The authority, as assignee of any agreement pursuant to division (C) of this section, may enforce and compel the board and the county auditor by mandamus pursuant to Chapter 2731. of the Revised Code to comply with division (B) of this section in a timely manner.

(E) The construction of an erosion control structure by a contractor hired by an individual homeowner, group of individual homeowners, or homeowners association that enters into an agreement with a board under division (A) of this section is not a public improvement, as defined in section 4115.03 of the Revised Code, and is not subject to competitive bidding or public bond laws.

Sec. 1521.27 1506.45.  The state, or any county, township, municipal corporation, conservancy district, or park board that has entered into a contract under section 1521.25 1506.43 of the Revised Code, may acquire lands by gift or devise, purchase, or appropriation. In case of appropriation, the proceedings shall be instituted in the name of the state or the political subdivision and shall be conducted in the manner provided for the appropriation of private property by the state or the political subdivision insofar as those proceedings are applicable. Either the fee or any lesser interest may be acquired as the state or the political subdivision considers advisable.

Sec. 1521.28 1506.46.  Any action taken by the chief director of the division of water natural resources under sections 1521.20 1506.38 to 1521.30 1506.48 of the Revised Code shall not be deemed in conflict with certain powers and duties conferred upon and delegated to federal agencies and to municipal corporations under Section 7 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, or as provided by sections 721.04 to 721.11 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 1521.29 1506.47.  The chief director of the division of water natural resources, in cooperation with appropriate offices and divisions, including the division of geological survey, may prepare a plan for the management of shore erosion in the state along Lake Erie, its bays, and associated inlets, revise the plan whenever it can be made more effective, and make the plan available for public inspection. In the preparation of the plan, the chief director may employ such existing plans as are available.

The chief director also may establish a program to provide technical assistance on shore erosion control measures to municipal corporations, counties, townships, conservancy districts, park boards, and shoreline property owners.

Sec. 1521.30 1506.48.  Upon application of any owner of real property damaged or destroyed by shore erosion, the county auditor of the county in which the real property is situated shall cause a reappraisal to be made and shall place the property on the tax list at its true value in money.

Whenever the county auditor finds that ninety per cent or more of the area of any littoral parcel of land appearing upon the tax duplicate has been eroded and lies within the natural boundaries of Lake Erie and that the remainder of the parcel, if any, has no taxable value, the auditor may certify that finding to the county board of revision. Upon consideration thereof, the board may authorize removal of the parcel from the tax duplicate and cancellation of all current and delinquent taxes, assessments, interest, and penalties charged against the parcel.

Sec. 1506.99.  (A) Whoever violates division (A) of section 1506.09 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars for each offense.

(B) Whoever violates division (K) of section 1506.32 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(C) Whoever violates sections 1506.38 to 1506.48 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for each offense. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.

Sec. 1521.01.  As used in sections 1521.01 to 1521.05, and 1521.13 to 1521.18, and 1521.20 to 1521.30 of the Revised Code: