To amend sections 123.024, 141.02, 2108.72, 2108.73, 3313.616, 3721.50, 4503.46, 5111.21, 5533.785, 5902.02, 5907.01, 5907.02, 5907.021, 5907.04, 5907.08, 5907.10, 5907.11, 5907.12, 5907.13, 5911.10, 5913.01, 5913.011, 5913.02, 5913.021, 5919.06, 5919.26, 5919.28, 5919.29, 5919.34, 5923.05, and 5924.136, and to repeal sections 5907.023, 5907.05, and 5913.04 of the Revised Code and to amend Section 409.10 of Am. Sub. H.B. 1 of the 128th General Assembly, as subsequently amended, to make changes to the law regarding the Ohio Veterans' Home Agency and the Department of Veterans Services, to allow a DD Form 93, Record of Emergency Data, to satisfy the written declaration requirements for designating a person authorized to direct disposition of human remains, to modify the membership of the Veterans Advisory Committee, to provide publicly employed firefighters and emergency medical technicians with a minimum paid military leave of seventeen 24-hour days, to make changes to the salaries of, and other laws regarding, the Adjutant General and assistant adjutants, and to make an appropriation.

SECTION 1. That sections 123.024, 141.02, 2108.72, 2108.73, 3313.616, 3721.50, 4503.46, 5111.21, 5533.785, 5902.02, 5907.01, 5907.02, 5907.021, 5907.04, 5907.08, 5907.10, 5907.11, 5907.12, 5907.13, 5911.10, 5913.01, 5913.011, 5913.02, 5913.021, 5919.06, 5919.26, 5919.28, 5919.29, 5919.34, 5923.05, and 5924.136 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 123.024.  (A) The department of administrative services shall assign and make available, at state expense, suitable office space in state-owned facilities to accommodate the office operations of the state headquarters of all both of the following:

(1) All veterans organizations in this state that either are incorporated and issued a charter by the congress of the United States or are recognized by the United States department of veterans affairs;

(2) The auxiliary organizations of veterans organizations described in division (A)(1) of this section;

(3) The Ohio veterans' home agency.

(B) The department may situate office space for each auxiliary organization of a veterans organization with or near the office space of that veterans organization.

Sec. 141.02.  (A) The salaries of the adjutant general, the assistant adjutant general for army, the assistant adjutant general for air, and the assistant quartermaster general shall be paid according to divisions (B) and (H) of section 124.15 of the Revised Code.

(B) The adjutant general, the assistant adjutant general for army, the assistant adjutant general for air, and the assistant quartermaster general shall receive the basic allowances for quarters and for subsistence of their rank according to the pay at the time prescribed for the armed forces of the United States, except that the assistant adjutant general for air shall not receive flying pay. The adjutant general shall not receive any flying pay, even if the adjutant general is an officer in the air national guard.

(C) The adjutant general, assistant adjutant general for army, and the assistant adjutant general for air may take a leave of absence from their respective positions without loss of pay for the time they are performing service in the uniformed service as required by their federally recognized officer status. These positions shall not accrue leave as other permanent state employees do but shall accrue leave and record usage of leave as if these positions were those of the administrative department heads listed in section 121.03 of the Revised Code.

(D) If the assistant quartermaster general is a federally recognized officer, the assistant quartermaster general may take a leave of absence from the position without loss of pay for the time the assistant quartermaster general is performing service in the uniformed service as required by the person's federally recognized officer status and the assistant quartermaster general shall not accrue leave as other permanent state employees do but shall accrue leave and record usage of leave as if the assistant quartermaster general were an administrative department head listed in section 121.03 of the Revised Code. If the assistant quartermaster general is not a federally recognized officer, the assistant quartermaster general shall accrue leave as other permanent state employees do.

(E) Notwithstanding Chapter 102. of the Revised Code and any other provision of law, the adjutant general, assistant adjutant general for army, assistant adjutant general for air, and assistant quartermaster general may retain, in addition to any state compensation, any federal pay, allowances, and compensation received because of any federally recognized officer status.

Sec. 2108.72.  (A) The written declaration described in section 2108.70 of the Revised Code shall include all of the following:

(1) The declarant's legal name and present address;

(2) A statement that the declarant, an adult being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily appoints a representative to have the declarant's right of disposition for the declarant's body upon the declarant's death;

(3) A statement that all decisions made by the declarant's representative with respect to the right of disposition are binding;

(4) The name, last known address, and last known telephone number of the representative or, if the representative is a group of persons, the name, last known address, and last known telephone number of each person in the group;

(5) If the declarant chooses to have a successor representative, a statement that if any person or group of persons named as the declarant's representative is disqualified from serving in such position as described in section 2108.75 of the Revised Code, the declarant appoints a successor representative;

(6) If applicable, the name, last known address, and last known telephone number of the successor representative or, if the successor representative is a group of persons, the name, last known address, and last known telephone number of each person in the group;

(7) A space where the declarant may indicate the declarant's preferences regarding how the right of disposition should be exercised, including any religious observances the declarant wishes the person with the right of disposition to consider;

(8) A space where the declarant may indicate one or more sources of funds that may be used to pay for goods and services associated with the exercise of the right of disposition;

(9) A statement that the declarant's written declaration becomes effective on the declarant's death;

(10) A statement that the declarant revokes any written declaration that the declarant executed, in accordance with section 2108.70 of the Revised Code, prior to the execution of the present written declaration.;

(11) A space where the declarant can sign and date the written declaration;

(12) A space where a notary public or two witnesses can sign and date the written declaration as described in section 2108.73 of the Revised Code.

(B) A written declaration may take the following form:

APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISPOSITION OF BODILY REMAINS, FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, AND BURIAL OR CREMATION GOODS AND SERVICES:

I, ................. (legal name and present address of declarant), an adult being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily appoint my representative, named below, to have the right of disposition, as defined in section 2108.70 of the Revised Code, for my body upon my death. All decisions made by my representative with respect to the right of disposition shall be binding.

REPRESENTATIVE:

(If the representative is a group of persons, indicate the name, last known address, and telephone number of each person in the group.)

SUCCESSOR REPRESENTATIVE:

If my representative is disqualified from serving as my representative as described in section 2108.75 of the Revised Code, then I hereby appoint the following person or group of persons to serve as my successor representative.

(If the successor representative is a group of persons, indicate the name, last known address, and telephone number of each person in the group.)

PREFERENCES REGARDING HOW THE RIGHT OF DISPOSITION SHOULD BE EXERCISED, INCLUDING ANY RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES THE DECLARANT WISHES A REPRESENTATIVE OR A SUCCESSOR REPRESENTATIVE TO CONSIDER:

ONE OR MORE SOURCES OF FUNDS THAT COULD BE USED TO PAY FOR GOODS AND SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH AN EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT OF DISPOSITION:

DURATION:

The appointment of my representative and, if applicable, successor representative, becomes effective upon my death.

PRIOR APPOINTMENTS REVOKED:

I hereby revoke any written declaration that I executed in accordance with section 2108.70 of the Ohio Revised Code prior to the date of execution of this written declaration indicated below.

AUTHORIZATION TO ACT:

I hereby agree that any of the following that receives a copy of this written declaration may act under it:

- Cemetery organization;

- Crematory operator;

- Business operating a columbarium;

- Funeral director;

- Embalmer;

- Funeral home;

- Any other person asked to assist with my funeral, burial, cremation, or other manner of final disposition.

MODIFICATION AND REVOCATION - WHEN EFFECTIVE:

Any modification or revocation of this written declaration is not effective as to any party until that party receives actual notice of the modification or revocation.

LIABILITY:

No person who acts in accordance with a properly executed copy of this written declaration shall be liable for damages of any kind associated with the person's reliance on this declaration.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ASSUMPTION OF OBLIGATIONS AND COSTS:

By signing below, the representative, or successor representative, if applicable, acknowledges that he or she, as representative or successor representative, assumes the right of disposition as defined in section 2108.70 of the Revised Code, and understands that he or she is liable for the reasonable costs of exercising the right, including any goods and services that are purchased.

ACCEPTANCE (OPTIONAL):

The undersigned hereby accepts this appointment as representative or successor representative, as applicable, for the right of disposition as defined in section 2108.70 of the Revised Code.

WITNESSES:

I attest that the declarant signed or acknowledged this assignment of the right of disposition under section 2108.70 of the Revised Code in my presence and that the declarant is at least eighteen years of age and appears to be of sound mind and not under or subject to duress, fraud, or undue influence. I further attest that I am not the declarant's representative or successor representative, I am at least eighteen years of age, and I am not related to the declarant by blood, marriage, or adoption.

OR

NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

State of Ohio

County of ............. SS.

On ..............., before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared ................., known to me or satisfactorily proven to be the person whose name is subscribed as the declarant, and who has acknowledged that he or she executed this written declaration under section 2108.70 of the Revised Code for the purposes expressed in that section. I attest that the declarant is at least eighteen years of age and appears to be of sound mind and not under or subject to duress, fraud, or undue influence.

(C) Completion of a federal Record of Emergency Data form, DD Form 93, or its successor form, by a member of the military, is sufficient to constitute a written declaration under section 2108.70 of the Revised Code if section 13a of DD Form 93, entitled "Person Authorized to Direct Disposition," has been properly completed by the member of the military who has subsequently died while under active duty orders as described in 10 U.S.C. 1481.

Sec. 2108.73.  A written declaration executed by a declarant under section 2108.70 of the Revised Code shall be signed and dated by the declarant in the presence of either one of the following:

(A) A notary public who shall make the certification described in section 147.53 of the Revised Code.

(B) Two witnesses who are adults and who are not related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the declarant.

(C) If the written declaration is a DD Form 93, Record of Emergency Data, by whomever the form requires.

Sec. 3313.616.  (A) Notwithstanding the requirements of sections 3313.61, 3313.611, and 3313.612 of the Revised Code, the board of education of any city, exempted village, or local school district or the governing authority of any chartered nonpublic school may grant a high school diploma to any veteran of World War II, the Korean conflict, or the Vietnam conflict who is a resident of this state or who was previously enrolled in any high school in this state if all of the following apply:

(1) The veteran either:

(a) Left a public or nonpublic school located in any state prior to graduation in order to serve in the armed forces of the United States;

(b) Left a public or nonpublic school located in any state prior to graduation due to family circumstances and subsequently entered the armed forces of the United States.

(2) The veteran received an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States.

(3) The veteran has not been granted a diploma as provided in section 3313.61 or 3313.612 of the Revised Code, a diploma of adult education as provided in section 3313.611 of the Revised Code, or a diploma under this section.

(B) Notwithstanding the requirements of sections 3313.61, 3313.611, and 3313.612 of the Revised Code, the board of education of any city, exempted village, or local school district or the governing authority of any chartered nonpublic school may grant a high school diploma to any woman who left high school during World War II, the Korean conflict, or the Vietnam conflict and who is a resident of this state or was previously enrolled in any high school in this state, if both of the following apply:

(1) The woman either:

(a) Left a public or nonpublic school located in any state prior to graduation in order to join the workforce to support her family or to join the war effort;

(b) Left a public or nonpublic school located in any state prior to graduation due to family circumstances and subsequently joined the workforce or war effort.

(2) The woman has not been granted a diploma as provided in section 3313.61 or 3313.612 of the Revised Code, a diploma of adult education as provided in section 3313.611 of the Revised Code, or a diploma under this section.

(C) If a person who would otherwise qualify for a diploma under this section is deceased, the board of education of any school district or the governing authority of any chartered nonpublic school may award such diploma to the person posthumously and may present that diploma to a living relative of the person.

(D) The department of veterans services, in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code, and with the advice and consent of the veterans advisory committee established under division (K)(J) of section 5902.02 of the Revised Code, shall develop and adopt rules to implement this section. Such rules shall include, but not be limited to, rules establishing procedures for application and verification of eligible persons for a diploma under this section.

Sec. 3721.50.  As used in sections 3721.50 to 3721.58 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Franchise permit fee rate" means the amount determined as follows:

(1) Determine the difference between the following:

(a) The total net patient revenue, less medicaid per diem payments, of all nursing homes and hospital long-term care units as shown on cost reports filed under section 5111.26 of the Revised Code for the calendar year immediately preceding the fiscal year for which the franchise permit fee is assessed under section 3721.51 of the Revised Code;

(b) The total net patient revenue, less medicaid per diem payments, of all nursing homes and hospital long-term care units as shown on cost reports filed under section 5111.26 of the Revised Code for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year that immediately precedes the fiscal year for which the franchise permit fee is assessed under section 3721.51 of the Revised Code.

(2) Multiply the amount determined under division (A)(1) of this section by five and five-tenths per cent;

(3) Divide the amount determined under division (A)(2) of this section by the total number of days in the fiscal year for which the franchise permit fee is assessed under section 3721.51 of the Revised Code;

(4) Subtract eleven dollars and ninety-five cents from the amount determined under division (A)(3) of this section;

(5) Add eleven dollars and ninety-five cents to the amount determined under division (A)(4) of this section.

(B) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Hospital long-term care unit" means any distinct part of a hospital in which any of the following beds are located:

(1) Beds registered pursuant to section 3701.07 of the Revised Code as skilled nursing facility beds or long-term care beds;

(2) Beds licensed as nursing home beds under section 3721.02 or 3721.09 of the Revised Code.

(D) "Inpatient days" means all days during which a resident of a nursing facility, regardless of payment source, occupies a bed in the nursing facility that is included in the facility's certified capacity under Title XIX. Therapeutic or hospital leave days for which payment is made under section 5111.26 of the Revised Code are considered inpatient days proportionate to the percentage of the facility's per resident per day rate paid for those days.

(E) "Medicaid" has the same meaning as in section 5111.01 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Medicaid day" means all days during which a resident who is a medicaid recipient occupies a bed in a nursing facility that is included in the facility's certified capacity under Title XIX. Therapeutic or hospital leave days for which payment is made under section 5111.26 of the Revised Code are considered medicaid days proportionate to the percentage of the nursing facility's per resident per day rate for those days.

(G) "Medicare" means the program established by Title XVIII.

(H) "Nursing facility" has the same meaning as in section 5111.20 of the Revised Code.

(I)(1) "Nursing home" means all of the following:

(a) A nursing home licensed under section 3721.02 or 3721.09 of the Revised Code, including any part of a home for the aging licensed as a nursing home;

(b) A facility or part of a facility, other than a hospital, that is certified as a skilled nursing facility under Title XVIII;

(c) A nursing facility, other than a portion of a hospital certified as a nursing facility.

(2) "Nursing home" does not include any of the following:

(a) A county home, county nursing home, or district home operated pursuant to Chapter 5155. of the Revised Code;

(b) A nursing home maintained and operated by the Ohio veterans' home agency department of veterans services under section 5907.01 of the Revised Code;

(c) A nursing home or part of a nursing home licensed under section 3721.02 or 3721.09 of the Revised Code that is certified as an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded under Title XIX.

(J) "Title XIX" means Title XIX of the "Social Security Act," 79 Stat. 286 (1965), 42 U.S.C. 1396, as amended.

(K) "Title XVIII" means Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 79 Stat. 286 (1965), 42 U.S.C. 1395, as amended.

Sec. 4503.46.  (A) For the purposes of this section, "prisoner of war" means any regularly appointed, enrolled, enlisted, or inducted member of the military forces of the United States who was captured, separated, and incarcerated by an enemy of the United States at any time, and any regularly appointed, enrolled, or enlisted member of the military forces of Great Britain, France, any of the countries that comprised the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, or any of the countries that comprised the former Yugoslavia who was a citizen of the United States at the time of such appointment, enrollment, or enlistment, and was captured, separated, and incarcerated by an enemy of this country during World War II.

(B) Any person who has been a prisoner of war, or the spouse of such person, may apply to the registrar of motor vehicles for the registration of one passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, or other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar the person or spouse owns or leases. The application shall be accompanied by written evidence in the form of a record of separation, a letter from one of the armed forces of the United States or other country as provided in division (A) of this section, or other evidence as the registrar may require by rule, that the applicant or the applicant's spouse was a prisoner of war and was honorably discharged or is presently residing in this state on active duty with one of the branches of the armed forces of the United States, or was a prisoner of war and was honorably discharged or received an equivalent discharge or release from one of the armed forces of such other country. No person is eligible to receive special license plates under this section if the person or the person's spouse currently has registered one vehicle and obtained license plates under this section.

Upon receipt of an application for registration of a motor vehicle under this section, and presentation of satisfactory evidence of such prisoner-of-war status, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the appropriate vehicle registration and a set of license plates. In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed thereon, the license plates shall be inscribed with the words "FORMER POW." The license plates shall be issued without payment of any registration fee or service fee as required by division (B) of section 4503.04 and sections 4503.10 and 4503.102 of the Revised Code, and without payment of any applicable county, township, or municipal motor vehicle tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code.

(C) The spouse of a deceased former prisoner of war who has not remarried, if the deceased person received or was eligible to receive special license plates issued under division (B) of this section, may apply to the registrar for the registration of the spouse's personal motor vehicle without the payment of any fee or tax as provided by division (B) of this section. The application for registration shall be accompanied by documentary evidence of the deceased person's status as a former prisoner of war and by any other evidence that the registrar requires by rule.

Upon receipt of an application for registration under this division and presentation of satisfactory evidence as required by this division and by the registrar, the registrar shall issue to the spouse the appropriate vehicle registration and a set of license plates as provided in division (B) of this section.

(D) No person who is not a former prisoner of war, or the spouse of such person, or the spouse of a deceased former prisoner of war who has not remarried shall willfully and falsely represent that the person is such a former prisoner of war or spouse, for the purpose of obtaining license plates under this section.

(E) No person shall own or lease a motor vehicle bearing license plates issued under this section unless the person is eligible to be issued the license plates.

(F) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

Sec. 5111.21.  (A) In order to be eligible for medicaid payments, the operator of a nursing facility or intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded shall do all of the following:

(1) Enter into a provider agreement with the department as provided in section 5111.22, 5111.671, or 5111.672 of the Revised Code;

(2) Apply for and maintain a valid license to operate if so required by law;

(3) Subject to division (B) of this section, comply with all applicable state and federal laws and rules.

(B) A state rule that requires the operator of an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded to have received approval of a plan for the proposed facility pursuant to section 5123.042 of the Revised Code as a condition of the operator being eligible for medicaid payments for the facility does not apply if, under section 5123.193 or 5123.197 of the Revised Code, a residential facility license was obtained or modified for the facility without obtaining approval of such a plan.

(C)(1) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, the operator of a nursing facility that elects to obtain and maintain eligibility for payments under the medicaid program shall qualify all of the facility's medicaid-certified beds in the medicare program established by Title XVIII. The director of job and family services may adopt rules under section 5111.02 of the Revised Code to establish the time frame in which a nursing facility must comply with this requirement.

(2) The Ohio veteran's home agency department of veterans services is not required to qualify all of the medicaid-certified beds in a nursing facility the agency maintains and operates under section 5907.01 of the Revised Code in the medicare program.

Sec. 5533.785.  That portion of the road known as state route number five hundred twenty-eight, commencing at the intersection of that road and United States route number three hundred twenty-two in Geauga county and extending in a northerly direction to the boundary of Geauga county and Lake county, shall be known as the "Staff Sgt. Sean Landrus Memorial Highway."

The director of transportation may erect suitable markers along the highway indicating its name.

Sec. 5902.02.  The duties of the director of veterans services shall include the following:

(A) Furnishing the veterans service commissions of all counties of the state copies of the state laws, rules, and legislation relating to the operation of the commissions and their offices;

(B) Upon application, assisting the general public in obtaining records of vital statistics pertaining to veterans or their dependents;

(C) Adopting rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code pertaining to minimum qualifications for hiring, certifying, and accrediting county veterans service officers, pertaining to their required duties, and pertaining to revocation of the certification of county veterans service officers;

(D) Adopting rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the education, training, certification, and duties of veterans service commissioners and for the revocation of the certification of a veterans service commissioner;

(E) Developing and monitoring programs and agreements enhancing employment and training for veterans in single or multiple county areas;

(F) Developing and monitoring programs and agreements to enable county veterans service commissions to address homelessness, indigency, and other veteran-related issues individually or jointly;

(G) Developing and monitoring programs and agreements to enable state agencies, individually or jointly, that provide services to veterans, including the veterans' homes operated under Chapter 5907. of the Revised Code and the director of job and family services, to address homelessness, indigency, employment, and other veteran-related issues;

(H) Establishing and providing statistical reporting formats and procedures for county veterans service commissions;

(I) Publishing annually, promulgating change notices for, and distributing a listing of county veterans service officers, county veterans service commissioners, state directors of veterans affairs, and national and state service officers of accredited veterans organizations and their state headquarters. The listing shall include the expiration dates of commission members' terms of office and the organizations they represent; the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of county veterans service officers and state directors of veterans affairs; and the addresses and telephone numbers of the Ohio offices and headquarters of state and national veterans service organizations.

(J) Publishing, by the first day of April of each odd-numbered year, a directory of the laws of this state dealing with veterans, as enacted through the conclusion of the previous session of the general assembly, and distributing the publication to each county veterans service office and the state headquarters of each congressionally chartered veterans organization in the state;

(K) Establishing a veterans advisory committee to advise and assist the department of veterans services in its duties. Members shall include a member of the military officers association of America who is a resident of this state, a state representative of congressionally chartered veterans organizations referred to in section 5901.02 of the Revised Code, a representative of any other congressionally chartered state veterans organization that has at least one veterans service commissioner in the state, three representatives of the Ohio state association of county veterans service commissioners, who shall have a combined vote of one, three representatives of the state association of county veterans service officers, who shall have a combined vote of one, one representative of the county commissioners association of Ohio, who shall be a county commissioner not from the same county as any of the other county representatives, a representative of the advisory committee on women veterans, a representative of a labor organization, and a representative of the office of the attorney general. The department of veterans services shall submit to the advisory committee proposed rules for the committee's operation. The committee may review and revise these proposed rules prior to submitting them to the joint committee on agency rule review.

(L)(K) Adopting, with the advice and assistance of the veterans advisory committee, policy and procedural guidelines that the veterans service commissions shall adhere to in the development and implementation of rules, policies, procedures, and guidelines for the administration of Chapter 5901. of the Revised Code. The department of veterans services shall adopt no guidelines or rules regulating the purposes, scope, duration, or amounts of financial assistance provided to applicants pursuant to sections 5901.01 to 5901.15 of the Revised Code. The director of veterans services may obtain opinions from the office of the attorney general regarding rules, policies, procedures, and guidelines of the veterans service commissions and may enforce compliance with Chapter 5901. of the Revised Code.

(M)(L) Receiving copies of form DD214 filed in accordance with the director's guidelines adopted under division (L) of this section from members of veterans service commissions appointed under section 5901.02 and from county veterans service officers employed under section 5901.07 of the Revised Code;

(N)(M) Developing and maintaining and improving a resource, such as a telephone answering point or a web site, by means of which veterans and their dependents, through a single portal, can access multiple sources of information and interaction with regard to the rights of, and the benefits available to, veterans and their dependents. The director of veterans services may enter into agreements with state and federal agencies, with agencies of political subdivisions, with state and local instrumentalities, and with private entities as necessary to make the resource as complete as is possible.

(O)(N) Planning, organizing, advertising, and conducting outreach efforts, such as conferences and fairs, at which veterans and their dependents may meet, learn about the organization and operation of the department of veterans services and of veterans service commissions, and obtain information about the rights of, and the benefits and services available to, veterans and their dependents;

(P)(O) Advertising, in print, on radio and television, and otherwise, the rights of, and the benefits and services available to, veterans and their dependents;

(Q)(P) Developing and advocating improved benefits and services for, and improved delivery of benefits and services to, veterans and their dependents;

(R)(Q) Searching for, identifying, and reviewing statutory and administrative policies that relate to veterans and their dependents and reporting to the general assembly statutory and administrative policies that should be consolidated in whole or in part within the organization of the department of veterans services to unify funding, delivery, and accounting of statutory and administrative policy expressions that relate particularly to veterans and their dependents;

(S)(R) Encouraging veterans service commissions to innovate and otherwise to improve efficiency in delivering benefits and services to veterans and their dependents and to report successful innovations and efficiencies to the director of veterans services;

(T)(S) Publishing and encouraging adoption of successful innovations and efficiencies veterans service commissions have achieved in delivering benefits and services to veterans and their dependents;

(U)(T) Establishing advisory committees, in addition to the veterans advisory committee established under division (K) of this section, on veterans issues;

(V)(U) Developing and maintaining a relationship with the United States department of veterans affairs, seeking optimal federal benefits and services for Ohio veterans and their dependents, and encouraging veterans service commissions to maximize the federal benefits and services to which veterans and their dependents are entitled;

(W)(V) Developing and maintaining relationships with the several veterans organizations, encouraging the organizations in their efforts at assisting veterans and their dependents, and advocating for adequate state subsidization of the organizations;

(X)(W) Requiring the several veterans organizations that receive funding from the state annually to report to the director of veterans services and prescribing the form and content of the report;

(Y)(X) Investigating complaints against county veterans services commissioners and county veterans service officers if the director reasonably believes the investigation to be appropriate and necessary;

(Z)(Y) Taking any other actions required by this chapter.

Sec. 5907.01. (A) As used in this chapter:

(1) "Armed forces of the United States" has the same meaning as in section 5903.11 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Domiciliary" means a separate area within the Ohio veterans' home providing domiciliary care.

(3) "Domiciliary care" means providing shelter, food, and necessary medical care on an ambulatory self-care basis to eligible veterans who do not need the nursing services provided in nursing homes.

(4) "Nursing home" means a nursing home within a veterans' home has the same meaning as in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code.

(2)(5) "Veterans' home" means a veterans' home operated by the Ohio veterans' home agency Veteran" has the same meaning as in section 5901.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) There is are hereby established the Ohio veterans' home agency as part of homes within the department of veterans services. The agency department shall maintain and operate state veterans' and nursing homes for honorably discharged veterans as administered under the state veterans' home programs defined in Title 38 of the United States Code.

Sec. 5907.02.  The director of veterans services shall govern the Ohio veterans' home agency homes and have charge and custody of the agency's homes' facilities. The director shall govern, conduct, and care for veterans' homes, the property of the homes, and the veterans residing in the home homes.

All supplies for the agency veterans' homes shall be purchased as provided in sections 125.04 to 125.15 of the Revised Code.

The director shall appoint a superintendent of the Ohio veterans' home agency homes upon any terms that are proper, and the superintendent, with the advice and consent of the director, shall employ aides, assistants, and employees, and perform other duties that may be assigned to the superintendent by the director or become necessary in the carrying out of the superintendent's duties. The superintendent shall be responsible directly to the director.

Subject to section 5907.021 of the Revised Code, the superintendent may appoint one or more employees at each veterans' home as veterans' home police officers authorized to act on the grounds of that home. The superintendent shall provide to those employees a copy of the rules that apply to their appointment. The rules shall specify whether or not the police officers may carry a firearm.

Subject to section 5907.021 of the Revised Code, the superintendent shall appoint a chief of police of the Ohio veterans' home agency, determine the number of officers and other personnel required by each veterans' home, and establish salary schedules and other conditions of employment for veterans' homes police officers. The chief of police shall serve at the pleasure of the superintendent and shall appoint recommend appointment of officers and other personnel as the veterans' homes may require, subject to the rules and limits that the superintendent establishes regarding qualifications, salary ranges, and the number of personnel. The superintendent, with the approval of the director, may purchase or otherwise acquire any police apparatus, equipment, or materials, including a police communication system and vehicles, that the veterans' homes police officers may require. The superintendent may send one or more of the officers or employees nominated by the police chief to a school of instruction designed to provide additional training or skills related to their work assignment at their veterans' home. The superintendent may send those officers or employees to the Ohio peace officer training academy that the superintendent considers appropriate.

The director shall make an annual report to the governor as to all expenditures and as to the management of the Ohio veterans' home agency.

Sec. 5907.021.  (A) As used in this section, "felony" has the same meaning as in section 109.511 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) The superintendent of the Ohio veterans' home agency homes shall not appoint a person as a chief of police of the agency or an employee as a Ohio veterans' home police officer on a permanent basis, on a temporary basis, for a probationary term, or on other than a permanent basis if the person or employee previously has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony.

(2)(a) The superintendent shall terminate the employment of a chief of police or the employment as a veterans' home police officer of an employee appointed as a veterans' home police officer if that chief of police or employee does either of the following:

(i) Pleads guilty to a felony;

(ii) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code in which the chief of police or employee agrees to surrender the certificate awarded to that chief of police or employee under section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(b) The superintendent shall suspend from employment a chief of police or from employment as a veterans' home police officer an employee appointed as a veterans' home police officer if that chief of police or employee is convicted, after trial, of a felony. If the chief of police or the employee files an appeal from that conviction and the conviction is upheld by the highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the chief of police or the employee does not file a timely appeal, the superintendent shall terminate the employment of that chief of police or that employee as a veterans' home police officer. If the chief of police or the employee files an appeal that results in that chief of police's or that employee's acquittal of the felony or conviction of a misdemeanor, or in the dismissal of the felony charge against that chief of police or that employee, the superintendent shall reinstate that chief of police or that employee as a veterans' home police officer. A chief of police or an employee who is reinstated as a veterans' home police officer under division (B)(2)(b) of this section shall not receive any back pay unless the conviction of that chief of police or that employee of the felony was reversed on appeal, or the felony charge was dismissed, because the court found insufficient evidence to convict the chief of police or the employee of the felony.

(3) Division (B) of this section does not apply regarding an offense that was committed prior to January 1, 1997.

(4) The suspension from employment, or the termination of the employment, of a chief of police or a veterans' home police officer under division (B)(2) of this section shall be in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 5907.04.  Subject to the following paragraph, all members of the armed forces veterans, who served in the regular or volunteer forces of the United States or the Ohio national guard or members of the naval militia during the war with Spain, the Philippine insurrection, the China relief expedition, the Indian war, the Mexican expedition, World War I, World War II, or during the period beginning June 25, 1950 and ending July 19, 1953, known as the Korean conflict, or during the period beginning August 5, 1964, and ending July 1, 1973, known as the Vietnam conflict, during a period of conflict as determined by the United States department of veterans affairs or any person who is awarded either the armed forces expeditionary medal established by presidential executive order 10977 dated December 4, 1961, or the Vietnam service medal established by presidential executive order 11231 dated July 8, 1965, who have been honorably discharged or separated under honorable conditions therefrom, or any discharged members of the Polish and Czechoslovakian armed forces who served in armed conflict with an enemy of the United States in World War I or World War II who have been citizens of the United States for at least ten years, provided that the above-mentioned persons have been citizens of this state for five consecutive years one year or more at the date of making application for admission, are disabled by disease, wounds, or otherwise, and are by reason of such disability incapable of earning their living, and all members of the Ohio national guard or naval militia who have lost an arm or leg, or their sight, or become permanently disabled from any cause, while in the line and discharge of duty, and are not able to support themselves, may be admitted to a veterans' home under such rules as the director of veterans services adopts.

A person veteran who served in the armed forces of the United States as defined in division (E)(7) of section 5903.11 of the Revised Code is eligible for admission to a veterans' home under the preceding paragraph only if the person has the characteristics defined in division (B)(1) of section 5901.01 of the Revised Code.

The superintendent of the Ohio veterans' home agency shall promptly and diligently pursue the establishment of the eligibility for medical assistance under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code of all persons admitted to a veterans' home and all residents of a home who appear to qualify and shall promptly and diligently pursue and maintain the certification of each home's compliance with federal laws and regulations governing participation in the medical assistance program to include as large as possible a part of the home's bed capacity.

Veterans' homes may reserve a bed during the temporary absence of a resident or patient from the home, including a nursing home within it, under conditions prescribed by the director, to include hospitalization for an acute condition, visits with relatives and friends, and participation in therapeutic programs outside the home. A home shall not reserve a bed for more than thirty days, except that absences for more than thirty days due to hospitalization may be authorized.

Sec. 5907.08.  When a resident of a veterans' home becomes dangerous to the community due to a mental illness, the superintendent of the Ohio veterans' home agency homes shall file with the probate judge of the county in which the home is located substantially the following affidavit:

"The State of Ohio, .......... county, ss. ..........., superintendent of the Ohio veterans' home agency homes, being duly sworn, says that the superintendent believes that ............, a resident of the veterans' home located in .......... county, has a mental illness; that, in consequence of the resident's mental illness, the resident's being at large is dangerous to the community, and that the resident was received into the home from ............ county, on the ...... day of ........., .....

Sec. 5907.10. (A) The Ohio veterans' home agency homes shall maintain and operate a nursing home as part of each veterans' home for the benefit of honorably discharged veterans admitted to a veterans' home under this chapter. The nursing homes are subject to sections 3721.01 to 3721.09 and 3721.99 of the Revised Code.

(B) The nursing home within the veterans' home located in Sandusky shall be known as "The Robert T. Secrest Nursing Home."

Sec. 5907.11.  (A) The superintendent of the Ohio veterans' home agency homes, with the approval of the director of veterans services, may establish a local fund for each veterans' home to be used for the entertainment and welfare of the residents of the home. Each fund shall be designated as the residents' benefit fund and shall be operated for the exclusive benefit of the residents of the associated home. Each fund shall receive all revenue from the sale of commissary items at the associated home and shall receive all moneys received as donations by the associated home from any source.

(B) The residents' benefit funds also may be used to receive and disburse any donations made for events sponsored by the Ohio veterans hall of fame.

(C) The superintendent, subject to the approval of the director, shall establish rules for the operation of the residents' benefit funds.

Sec. 5907.12.  The director superintendent of veterans services the Ohio veterans' homes may utilize the services of volunteers to assist in attending to and caring for residents, assisting in resident activities, caring for veterans' homes' buildings and grounds, and participating in any other services that accomplish any of the director's superintendent's purposes related to veterans' homes. All volunteer programs are subject to the director's superintendent's approval. The director superintendent may recruit, train, and supervise the services of community volunteers or volunteer groups for volunteer programs. The director superintendent may designate volunteers as state employees for the purpose of motor vehicle accident liability insurance under section 9.83 of the Revised Code and for the purpose of indemnification from liability incurred in the performance of their duties under section 9.87 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 5907.13.  Residents of veterans' homes may be assessed a fee to pay a portion of the expenses of their support, dependent upon their ability to pay. Subject to controlling board approval, the director of veterans services shall adopt rules for determining a resident's ability to pay. Each resident shall furnish the director required statements of income, assets, debts, and expenses that the director requires.

All fees contributed by the residents under this section shall be deposited into an interest-bearing account in a public depository in accordance with section 135.18 of the Revised Code. All of these fees shall be paid to the treasurer of state within thirty days after the end of the month of receipt, together with all interest credited to the account to date. The treasurer of state shall credit eighty per cent of these fees and of this interest to the Ohio veterans' homes operating fund and twenty per cent of these fees and of this interest to the Ohio veterans' homes fund.

The fee for each resident shall be based upon the level of care provided to the resident by the resident's home. The director shall determine authorized levels of care for residents. The assessment for each resident shall not exceed the difference between the total per diem amount collected by the state for maintenance from all sources on the resident's behalf and the average annual per diem cost for the resident's maintenance, computed in accordance with veterans administration regulations.

Sec. 5911.10.  If any armory erected or purchased by the state becomes vacant because of the deactivation of the organizations quartered in that armory, the governor and the adjutant general may lease that armory for periods not to exceed one year; or, when authorized by an act of the general assembly, may sell that armory or lease it for a period of years.

The proceeds from the sale or lease of such an armory, or from the sale or lease of other facilities and land owned by the adjutant general, shall be credited to the armory improvements fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury. The moneys in the fund shall be used to support Ohio army national guard facility and maintenance expenses as the adjutant general directs. Any fund expenditure related to the construction, acquisition, lease, or financing of a capital asset is subject to approval by the controlling board. Investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the general revenue fund.

Sec. 5913.01.  (A) The adjutant general is the commander and administrative head of the Ohio organized militia. The adjutant general shall:

(1) Be provided offices and shall keep them open during usual business hours;

(2) Have and maintain custody of all military records, correspondence, and other documents of the Ohio organized militia;

(3) Superintend the preparation of all returns and reports required by the United States from the state on military matters;

(4) Keep a roster of all officers of the Ohio organized militia, including retired officers;

(5) Whenever necessary, cause the military provisions of the Revised Code and the orders, regulations, pamphlets, circulars, and memorandums of the adjutant general's department to be printed and distributed to the organizations of the Ohio organized militia;

(6) Prepare and issue all necessary Ohio organized militia forms and attest to all commissions issued to officers of the Ohio organized militia;

(7) Have a seal, and all copies of orders, records, and papers in the adjutant general's office certified and authenticated with that seal shall be competent evidence in like manner as if the originals were produced. All orders issued from the adjutant general's office shall bear a duplicate of the seal.

(8) Keep and preserve the arms, ordnance, equipment, and all other military property belonging to the state or issued to the state by the federal government and issue any regulations necessary to keep, preserve, and repair the property as conditions demand;

(9) Issue adjutant general's property to the units of the Ohio organized militia as the necessity of the service or organizational or allowance tables requires;

(10) Submit an annual report to the governor at such time as the governor requires of the transaction of the adjutant general's department, setting forth the strength and condition of the Ohio organized militia and other matters that the adjutant general chooses;

(11) Command the state area command joint force headquarters of the Ohio national guard.

(B) The adjutant general shall issue and distribute all orders issued in the name of the governor as the commander in chief of the Ohio organized militia and perform the duties that the governor directs and other duties prescribed by law.

(C) The adjutant general may enter into cooperative agreements, contractual arrangements, or agreements for the acceptance of grants with the United States or any agency or department of the United States, other states, any department or political subdivision of this state, or any person or body politic, to accomplish the purposes of the adjutant general's department. The adjutant general shall cooperate with, and not infringe upon, the rights of other state departments, divisions, boards, commissions, and agencies, political subdivisions, and other public officials and public and private agencies when the interests of the adjutant general's department and those other entities overlap.

The funds made available by the United States for the exclusive use of the department shall be expended only by the department and only for the purposes for which the federal funds were appropriated. In accepting federal funds, the department agrees to abide by the terms and conditions of the grant or cooperative agreement and further agrees to expend the federal funds in accordance with the laws and regulations of the United States.

Sec. 5913.011.  The adjutant general of Ohio is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with the federal department of health, education and welfare social security administration for the purpose of securing social security benefits, under the national social security act, for those employees of the Ohio national guard who are paid from federal funds, and for whom the federal congress appropriates funds to cover employer's share of social security payments.

Sec. 5913.02.  (A) The military staff of the governor may consist of any of the following:

(1)(A) An adjutant general in the grade of major general, who shall perform the duties of quartermaster general;

(2)(B) An assistant adjutant general for army in the grade of major general;

(3)(C) An assistant adjutant general for air in the grade of major general;

(4)(D) An assistant quartermaster general in the grade of colonel or brigadier general or any retired officer who has appropriate qualifications for the position, as determined by the adjutant general and the governor.

All persons named in divisions (A)(1) to (4)(D) of this section shall be appointed by the governor and shall hold office during the governor's pleasure.

(B) The governor's military staff also shall include four aides-de-camp, who shall be appointed by the governor and hold office during the governor's pleasure.

Sec. 5913.021.  (A) The adjutant general at the time of appointment shall be a federally recognized officer in the Ohio national guard in the grade of colonel or above.

(B) The assistant adjutant general for army at the time of appointment shall be a federally recognized officer in the Ohio army national guard in the grade of colonel or above.

(C) The assistant adjutant general for air at the time of appointment shall be a federally recognized officer in the Ohio air national guard in the grade of colonel or above.

(D) The assistant quartermaster general at the time of appointment shall be a federally recognized officer in the Ohio army national guard in the grade of lieutenant colonel or above brigadier general, or any retired officer who has appropriate qualifications for the position, as determined by the adjutant general and the governor.

(E) The adjutant general, the assistant adjutant general for army, the assistant adjutant general for air, and the assistant quartermaster general at the time of appointment shall each have not less than ten years' commissioned service in the armed forces of the United States, not less than five years of that service being in the Ohio national guard, and shall at all times during their tenure of office be federally recognized officers of the Ohio national guard.

(F) The provisions of this section relative to federal recognition shall be suspended during any period of emergency when the majority of the units of the Ohio national guard are in the federal service. In that event, retired officers of the Ohio national guard shall be eligible to serve as adjutant general, assistant adjutant general for army, assistant adjutant general for air, and assistant quartermaster general for the duration of such emergency or until a majority of the units of the Ohio national guard are released from federal service.

Sec. 5919.06.  Persons shall be commissioned as officers of the Ohio national guard shall be selected only from the following classes: officers or enlisted men of the national guard; officers, active or retired, reserve officers, and former officers of the armed forces of the United States; persons who hold certificates of eligibility for commission; enlisted men and former enlisted men of the armed forces of the United States who have received an honorable discharge; graduates of the United States military, naval, and air force academies; graduates of the reserve officer training corps; and for the technical branches and services, such other civilians as may be specially qualified for duty therein as provided under army, air force, and national guard regulations.

Sec. 5919.26.  The adjutant general shall provide by order the reports to be made by the officers of the Ohio national guard, which requirements shall, as far as practicable, be upon similar blanks and in similar form to the reports required under the regulations of the government for the armed forces of the United States.

Sec. 5919.28.  The system of tactics, field exercises, and training and evaluation for the United States army or air force shall be the system of tactics, field exercises, and training and evaluation for the Ohio national guard.

Sec. 5919.29.  (A) The governor as commander in chief may order individuals and units of the Ohio national guard to perform any training or duty authorized under the "Act of August 10, 1956," 70A Stat. 596, 32 U.S.C.A. 101 to 716, and under regulations prescribed by the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the secretary of the army, the secretary of the air force, or the chief of the national guard bureau.

(B) When ordered by the governor to perform training or duty under this section or section 5923.12 of the Revised Code, members of the Ohio national guard shall have the protections afforded to persons on federal active duty by the "The Soldiers and Sailors Service Members Civil Relief Act of 1940," 54 Stat. 1178 Pub. L. No. 108-189, 50 App. U.S.C.A. 501-548 and 560-591596, and by the "Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994," 108 Stat. 3149, 38 U.S.C.A. 4301 to 4333.

Sec. 5919.34.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Academic term" means any one of the following:

(a) Fall term, which consists of fall semester or fall quarter, as appropriate;

(b) Winter term, which consists of winter semester, winter quarter, or spring semester, as appropriate;

(c) Spring term, which consists of spring quarter;

(d) Summer term, which consists of summer semester or summer quarter, as appropriate.

(2) "Eligible applicant" means any individual to whom all of the following apply:

(a) The individual does not possess a baccalaureate degree.

(b) The individual has enlisted, re-enlisted, or extended current enlistment in the Ohio national guard or is an individual to which division (F) of this section applies.

(c) The individual is actively enrolled as a full-time or part-time student for at least six three credit hours of course work in a semester or quarter in a two-year or four-year degree-granting program at an institution of higher education or in a diploma-granting program at an institution of higher education that is a school of nursing.

(d) The individual has not accumulated ninety-six eligibility units under division (E) of this section.

(3) "Institution of higher education" means an Ohio institution of higher education that is state-assisted, that is nonprofit and has received a certificate of authorization from the Ohio board of regents pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code, that is a private institution exempt from regulation under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code as prescribed in section 3333.046 of the Revised Code, or that holds a certificate of registration and program authorization issued by the state board of career colleges and schools pursuant to section 3332.05 of the Revised Code.

(4) "State university" has the same meaning as in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) There is hereby created a scholarship program to be known as the Ohio national guard scholarship program. For the fiscal year 2000, the number of participants in the program for the fall term is limited to the equivalent of two thousand five hundred full-time participants; the number of participants in the program for the winter term is limited to the equivalent of two thousand five hundred full-time participants; the number of participants in the program for the spring term is limited to the equivalent of one thousand six hundred seventy-five full-time participants; and the number of participants in the program for the summer term is limited to the equivalent of six hundred full-time participants. Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section for the fiscal year 2001 and succeeding fiscal years, the number of participants in the program for the fall term is limited to the equivalent of three thousand five hundred full-time participants; the number of participants in the program for the winter term is limited to the equivalent of three thousand five hundred full-time participants; the number of participants in the program for the spring term is limited to the equivalent of two thousand three hundred forty-five full-time participants; and the number of participants in the program for the summer term is limited to the equivalent of eight hundred full-time participants.

(2) After the application deadline for any academic term in fiscal year 2001, the adjutant general may request the controlling board, if sufficient appropriated funds are available, to approve the following number of additional participants for that term:

(a) For the fall or winter academic term, up to the equivalent of five hundred additional full-time participants;

(b) For the spring academic term, up to the equivalent of three hundred seventy-five additional full-time participants;

(c) For the summer academic term, up to the equivalent of one hundred twenty-five additional full-time participants.

(C) If the adjutant general estimates that appropriations and any funds in the Ohio national guard scholarship reserve fund are insufficient to pay for all scholarships applied for under this section and likely to be used during an academic term are inadequate for all eligible applicants for that academic term to receive scholarships, the adjutant general shall promptly inform all applicants not receiving scholarships for that academic term of the next academic term that appropriations will be adequate for the scholarships. Any such eligible applicant may again apply for a scholarship beginning that academic term if the applicant is in compliance with all requirements established by this section and the adjutant general for the program. The adjutant general shall process all applications for scholarships for each academic term in the order in which they are received. The scholarships shall be made without regard to financial need. At no time shall one person be placed in priority over another because of sex, race, or religion.

(D)(1) Except as provided in division (I) of this section, for each academic term that an eligible applicant is approved for a scholarship under this section and either remains a current member in good standing of the Ohio national guard or is eligible for a scholarship under division (F)(1) of this section, the institution of higher education in which the applicant is enrolled shall, if the applicant's enlistment obligation extends beyond the end of that academic term or if division (F)(1) of this section applies, be paid on the applicant's behalf the applicable one of the following amounts:

(a) If the institution is state-assisted, an amount equal to one hundred per cent of the institution's tuition charges;

(b) If the institution is a nonprofit private institution or a private institution exempt from regulation under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code as prescribed in section 3333.046 of the Revised Code, an amount equal to one hundred per cent of the average tuition charges of all state universities;

(c) If the institution is an institution that holds a certificate of registration from the state board of career colleges and schools, the lesser of the following:

(i) An amount equal to one hundred per cent of the total instructional and general charges of the institution;

(ii) An amount equal to one hundred per cent of the average tuition charges of all state universities.

(2) An eligible applicant's scholarship shall not be reduced by the amount of that applicant's benefits under "the Montgomery G.I. Bill Act of 1984," Pub. L. No. 98-525, 98 Stat. 2553 (1984).

(3) An eligible non-prior service applicant's scholarship shall be reduced by the amount of the applicant's tuition benefits under "The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008," 110 Pub. L. No. 252, 122 Stat. 2323 (2008). An eligible prior service applicant's scholarship shall be reduced by the amount of the applicant's tuition benefits under "The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008" unless the applicant qualified for one hundred per cent tuition under that act and transfers the federal benefits under that act's portability provisions.

(E) A scholarship recipient under this section shall be entitled to receive scholarships under this section for the number of quarters or semesters it takes the recipient to accumulate ninety-six eligibility units as determined under divisions (E)(1) to (3) of this section.

(1) To determine the maximum number of semesters or quarters for which a recipient is entitled to a scholarship under this section, the adjutant general shall convert a recipient's credit hours of enrollment for each academic term into eligibility units in accordance with the following table:

(2) A scholarship recipient under this section may continue to apply for scholarships under this section until the recipient has accumulated ninety-six eligibility units.

(3) If a scholarship recipient withdraws from courses prior to the end of an academic term so that the recipient's enrollment for that academic term is less than six three credit hours, no scholarship shall be paid on behalf of that person for that academic term. Except as provided in division (F)(3) of this section, if a scholarship has already been paid on behalf of the person for that academic term, the adjutant general shall add to that person's accumulated eligibility units the number of eligibility units for which the scholarship was paid.

(F) This division applies to any eligible applicant called into active duty on or after September 11, 2001. As used in this division, "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.

(1) An For a period of up to five years from when an individual's enlistment obligation in the Ohio national guard ends, an individual to whom this division applies is eligible for scholarships under this section for those academic terms that were missed or could have been missed as a result of the individual's call into active duty. Scholarships shall not be paid for the academic term in which an eligible applicant's enlistment obligation ends unless an applicant is eligible under this division for a scholarship for such academic term due to previous active duty.

(2) When an individual to whom this division applies withdraws or otherwise fails to complete courses, for which scholarships have been awarded under this section, because the individual was called into active duty, the institution of higher education shall grant the individual a leave of absence from the individual's education program and shall not impose any academic penalty for such withdrawal or failure to complete courses. Division (F)(2) of this section applies regardless of whether or not the scholarship amount was paid to the institution of higher education.

(3) If an individual to whom this division applies withdraws or otherwise fails to complete courses because the individual was called into active duty, and if scholarships for those courses have already been paid, either:

(a) The adjutant general shall not add to that person's accumulated eligibility units calculated under division (E) of this section the number of eligibility units for the academic courses or term for which the scholarship was paid and the institution of higher education shall repay the scholarship amount to the state.

(b) The adjutant general shall add to that individual's accumulated eligibility units calculated under division (E) of this section the number of eligibility units for the academic courses or term for which the scholarship was paid if the institution of higher education agrees to permit the individual to complete the remainder of the academic courses in which the individual was enrolled at the time the individual was called into active duty.

(4) No individual who is discharged from the Ohio national guard under other than honorable conditions shall be eligible for scholarships under this division.

(G) A scholarship recipient under this section who fails to complete the term of enlistment, re-enlistment, or extension of current enlistment the recipient was serving at the time a scholarship was paid on behalf of the recipient under this section is liable to the state for repayment of a percentage of all Ohio national guard scholarships paid on behalf of the recipient under this section, plus interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum calculated from the dates the scholarships were paid. This percentage shall equal the percentage of the current term of enlistment, re-enlistment, or extension of enlistment a recipient has not completed as of the date the recipient is discharged from the Ohio national guard.

The attorney general may commence a civil action on behalf of the adjutant general to recover the amount of the scholarships and the interest provided for in this division and the expenses incurred in prosecuting the action, including court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. A scholarship recipient is not liable under this division if the recipient's failure to complete the term of enlistment being served at the time a scholarship was paid on behalf of the recipient under this section is due to the recipient's death; discharge from the national guard due to disability; or the recipient's enlistment, for a term not less than the recipient's remaining term in the national guard, in the active component of the United States armed forces or the active reserve component of the United States armed forces.

(H) On or before the first day of each academic term, the adjutant general shall provide an eligibility roster to each institution of higher education at which one or more scholarship recipients have applied for enrollment. The institution shall use the roster to certify the actual full-time or part-time enrollment of each scholarship recipient listed as enrolled at the institution and return the roster to the adjutant general within thirty days after the first day of the academic term. The adjutant general shall report to the chancellor of the Ohio board of regents the number of students in the Ohio national guard scholarship program at each institution of higher education. The Ohio board of regents chancellor shall provide for payment of the appropriate number and amount of scholarships to each institution of higher education pursuant to division (D) of this section. If an institution of higher education fails to certify the actual enrollment of a scholarship recipient listed as enrolled at the institution within thirty days of the end of an academic term, the institution shall not be eligible to receive payment from the Ohio national guard scholarship program or from the individual enrollee. The adjutant general shall report on a quarterly basis to the director of budget and management, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the senate the number of Ohio national guard scholarship recipients and a projection of the cost of the program for the remainder of the biennium.

(I) The chancellor of the Ohio board of regents and the adjutant general may adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the administration and fiscal management of the Ohio national guard scholarship program and the procedure by which the Ohio board of regents chancellor and the department of the adjutant general may modify the amount of scholarships a member receives based on the amount of other state financial aid a member receives.

(J) Notwithstanding division (A) of section 127.14 of the Revised Code, the controlling board shall not transfer all or part of any appropriation for the Ohio national guard scholarship program.

Sec. 5923.05.  (A)(1) Permanent public employees who are members of the Ohio organized militia or members of other reserve components of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard, are entitled to a leave of absence from their respective positions without loss of pay for the time they are performing service in the uniformed services, for periods of up to one month, for each calendar year in which they are performing service in the uniformed services.

(2) As used in this section:

(a) "Calendar year" means the year beginning on the first day of January and ending on the last day of December.

(b) "Month" means twenty-two eight-hour work days or one hundred seventy-six hours, or for a public safety employee, seventeen twenty-four-hour days or four hundred eight hours, within one calendar year.

(c) "Permanent public employee" means any person holding a position in public employment that requires working a regular schedule of twenty-six consecutive biweekly pay periods, or any other regular schedule of comparable consecutive pay periods, which is not limited to a specific season or duration. "Permanent public employee" does not include student help; intermittent, seasonal, or external interim employees; or individuals covered by personal services contracts.

(d) "State agency" means any department, bureau, board, commission, office, or other organized body established by the constitution or laws of this state for the exercise of any function of state government, the general assembly, all legislative agencies, the supreme court, the court of claims, and the state-supported institutions of higher education.

(e) "Service in the uniformed services" means the performance of duty, on a voluntary or involuntary basis, in a uniformed service, under competent authority, and includes active duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, inactive duty for training, full-time national guard duty, and performance of duty or training by a member of the Ohio organized militia pursuant to Chapter 5923. of the Revised Code. "Service in the uniformed services" includes also the period of time for which a person is absent from a position of public or private employment for the purpose of an examination to determine the fitness of the person to perform any duty described in this division.

(f) "Uniformed services" means the armed forces, the Ohio organized militia when engaged in active duty for training, inactive duty training, or full-time national guard duty, the commissioned corps of the public health service, and any other category of persons designated by the president of the United States in time of war or emergency.

(g) "Public safety employee" means a permanent public employee who is employed as a fire fighter or emergency medical technician.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, any permanent public employee who is employed by a political subdivision, who is entitled to the leave provided under division (A) of this section, and who is called or ordered to the uniformed services for longer than a month, for each calendar year in which the employee performed service in the uniformed services, because of an executive order issued by the president of the United States, because of an act of congress, or because of an order to perform duty issued by the governor pursuant to section 5919.29 of the Revised Code is entitled, during the period designated in the order or act, to a leave of absence and to be paid, during each monthly pay period of that leave of absence, the lesser of the following:

(1) The difference between the permanent public employee's gross monthly wage or salary as a permanent public employee and the sum of the permanent public employee's gross uniformed pay and allowances received that month;

(2) Five hundred dollars.

(C) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, any permanent public employee who is employed by a state agency, who is entitled to the leave provided under division (A) of this section, and who is called or ordered to the uniformed services for longer than a month, for each calendar year in which the employee performed service in the uniformed services, because of an executive order issued by the president of the United States, because of an act of congress, or because of an order to perform duty issued by the governor pursuant to section 5919.29 or 5923.21 of the Revised Code is entitled, during the period designated in the order or act, to a leave of absence and to be paid, during each monthly pay period of that leave of absence, the difference between the permanent public employee's gross monthly wage or salary as a permanent public employee and the sum of the permanent public employee's gross uniformed pay and allowances received that month.

(D) No permanent public employee shall receive payments under division (B) or (C) of this section if the sum of the permanent public employee's gross uniformed pay and allowances received in a pay period exceeds the employee's gross wage or salary as a permanent public employee for that period or if the permanent public employee is receiving pay under division (A) of this section.

(E) Any political subdivision of the state, as defined in section 2744.01 of the Revised Code, may elect to pay any of its permanent public employees who are entitled to the leave provided under division (A) of this section and who are called or ordered to the uniformed services for longer than one month, for each calendar year in which the employee performed service in the uniformed services, because of an executive order issued by the president or an act of congress, such payments, in addition to those payments required by division (B) of this section, as may be authorized by the legislative authority of the political subdivision.

(F) Each permanent public employee who is entitled to leave provided under division (A) of this section shall submit to the permanent public employee's appointing authority the published order authorizing the call or order to the uniformed services or a written statement from the appropriate military commander authorizing that service, prior to being credited with that leave.

(G) Any permanent public employee of a political subdivision whose employment is governed by a collective bargaining agreement with provision for the performance of service in the uniformed services shall abide by the terms of that collective bargaining agreement with respect to the performance of that service, except that no collective bargaining agreement may afford fewer rights and benefits than are conferred under this section.

Sec. 5924.136.  (A) The following persons of the organized militia may administer oaths for the purposes of military administration, including military justice, and affidavits may be taken for those purposes before those persons who shall have the general powers of a notary public:

(1) The state judge advocate and all assistant state judge advocates;

(2) All law specialists;

(3) All summary courts-martial;

(4) All adjutants, assistant adjutants, acting adjutants, and personnel adjutants;

(5) All commanding officers of the naval militia;

(6) All legal officers;

(7) The president, military judge, trial counsel, and assistant trial counsel for all general and special courts-martial;

(8) The president and counsel for the court of any court of inquiry;

(9) All officers designated to take a deposition;

(10) All persons detailed to conduct an investigation; and

(11) All other persons designated by regulations of the governor adjutant general.

(B) Officers on the state reserve list and state retired list shall not be authorized to administer oaths as provided in this section unless they are on active duty in or with the organized militia under orders of the governor as prescribed in this code.

(C) The signature without seal of any such person, together with the title of his the person's office, is prima-facie evidence of his the person's authority.

SECTION 2. That existing sections 123.024, 141.02, 2108.72, 2108.73, 3313.616, 3721.50, 4503.46, 5111.21, 5533.785, 5902.02, 5907.01, 5907.02, 5907.021, 5907.04, 5907.08, 5907.10, 5907.11, 5907.12, 5907.13, 5911.10, 5913.01, 5913.011, 5913.02, 5913.021, 5919.06, 5919.26, 5919.28, 5919.29, 5919.34, 5923.05, and 5924.136, and sections 5907.023, 5907.05, and 5913.04 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. That Section 409.10 of Am. Sub. H.B. 1 of the 128th General Assembly, as amended by Am. Sub. H.B. 48 of the 128th General Assembly, be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 409.10. DVS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES

General Revenue Fund

General Services Fund Group

Federal Special Revenue Fund Group

State Special Revenue Fund Group

Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Fund Group

VETERANS' HOMES OPERATIONS

The foregoing appropriation item 900321, Veterans' Homes Operations, shall be used by the Department of Veterans Services to carry out its responsibilities under this section and Chapter 5902. of the Revised Code. On the effective date of this section, or as soon as possible thereafter, the Director of Budget and Management may cancel any existing encumbrances against appropriation item 900100, Personal Services, and 900200, Maintenance, and may reestablish the encumbrances in appropriation item 900321, Veterans' Homes Operations. The Director may also transfer appropriation to reestablish such encumbrances in different appropriation items within the agency as the Director determines necessary. The Director may also transfer any unencumbered or unallotted balances to the appropriate line item to be used for the same purposes. The reestablished encumbrances are hereby appropriated.

PERSIAN GULF, AFGHANISTAN, AND IRAQ CONFLICTS COMPENSATION

The foregoing appropriation item 900641, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation, shall be used by the Department of Veterans Services to provide all or part of the moneys required to pay the compensation established by Section 2r of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution. Eligible costs are those costs of paying compensation to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts to which the proceeds of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Fund (7041) are to be applied, together with the expenses of administering Section 2r of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution. If the Director of Veterans Services determines that additional appropriations are necessary for this purpose, the Director shall certify to the Director of Budget and Management the estimated amount of the additional appropriation needed in appropriation item 900641. Upon receipt of the estimated amount, the Director of Budget and Management shall increase the appropriation in appropriation item 900641. These increased amounts are hereby appropriated.

Amounts advanced to the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Fund (7041) for the purpose of defraying the cost of administration or compensation with the explicit expectation of reimbursement from the proceeds of obligations paid into Fund 7041 may also be reimbursed from Fund 7041.

An amount equal to the unexpended, unencumbered portion of the foregoing appropriation item 900641, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation, at the end of fiscal year 2010 is hereby reappropriated to the Department of Veterans Services for the same purpose for fiscal year 2011.

SECTION 4. That existing Section 409.10 of Am. Sub. H.B. 1 of the 128th General Assembly, as amended by Am. Sub. H.B. 48 of the 128th General Assembly, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 5. The sections of law contained in this act, and the items of which they are composed, are not subject to the referendum. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 1d and section 1.471 of the Revised Code, the sections of law contained in this act, and the items of which they are composed, go into immediate effect when this act becomes law.

SECTION 6.  Section 5907.021 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Am. Sub. H.B. 490 and H.B. 675 of the 124th General Assembly. The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the composite is the resulting version of the section in effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in this act.