As Reported by the Committee of Conference

128th General Assembly Regular Session 2009-2010

Am. Sub. H. B. No. 5

Representatives Okey, Dodd 

Cosponsors: Representatives Garrison, Ujvagi, Garland, Newcomb, Phillips, Murray, Williams, B., DeGeeter, Szollosi, Sayre, Schneider, Yuko, Luckie, Letson, Williams, S., Adams, R., Amstutz, Bacon, Baker, Balderson, Batchelder, Belcher, Blair, Blessing, Book, Boose, Boyd, Bubp, Burke, Carney, Celeste, Chandler, Coley, Combs, Daniels, DeBose, Derickson, Dolan, Domenick, Driehaus, Dyer, Evans, Fende, Foley, Gardner, Gerberry, Goodwin, Goyal, Grossman, Hackett, Hall, Harris, Harwood, Heard, Hite, Hottinger, Jones, Jordan, Koziura, Lehner, Lundy, Maag, Mallory, Mandel, Martin, McClain, McGregor, Mecklenborg, Moran, Morgan, Oelslager, Otterman, Patten, Pillich, Pryor, Ruhl, Sears, Skindell, Slesnick, Snitchler, Stautberg, Stebelton, Stewart, Uecker, Wachtmann, Weddington, Winburn, Yates, Zehringer 

Senators Buehrer, Hughes, Patton, Widener 

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A BILL

To amend sections 3517.01, 3517.10, 3517.106,

1

3517.11, 3517.153, 3517.154, 3517.992, and 3599.03

2

and to enact section 3517.1014 of the Revised Code

3

to permit individuals elected or appointed to

4

state office to establish transition funds to

5

receive donations and to make expenditures for

6

transition activities and inaugural celebrations,

7

to permit a board of elections that conducts a

8

special election on or before August 4, 2010, for

9

the purpose of nominating candidates for

10

congressional office to conduct that election with

11

a limited number of polling places, and to declare

12

an emergency.

13

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

Section 1.  That sections 3517.01, 3517.10, 3517.106,	14
3517.11, 3517.153, 3517.154, 3517.992, and 3599.03 be amended and	15
section 3517.1014 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as	16
follows:	17

Sec. 3517.01.  (A)(1) A political party within the meaning of	18
Title XXXV of the Revised Code is any group of voters that, at the	19
most recent regular state election, polled for its candidate for	20
governor in the state or nominees for presidential electors at	21
least five per cent of the entire vote cast for that office or	22
that filed with the secretary of state, subsequent to any election	23
in which it received less than five per cent of that vote, a	24
petition signed by qualified electors equal in number to at least	25
one per cent of the total vote for governor or nominees for	26
presidential electors at the most recent election, declaring their	27
intention of organizing a political party, the name of which shall	28
be stated in the declaration, and of participating in the	29
succeeding primary election, held in even-numbered years, that	30
occurs more than one hundred twenty days after the date of filing.	31
No such group of electors shall assume a name or designation that	32
is similar, in the opinion of the secretary of state, to that of	33
an existing political party as to confuse or mislead the voters at	34
an election. If any political party fails to cast five per cent of	35
the total vote cast at an election for the office of governor or	36
president, it shall cease to be a political party.	37

(2) A campaign committee shall be legally liable for any	38
debts, contracts, or expenditures incurred or executed in its	39
name.	40

(B) Notwithstanding the definitions found in section 3501.01	41
of the Revised Code, as used in this section and sections 3517.08	42
to 3517.14, 3517.99, and 3517.992 of the Revised Code:	43

(1) "Campaign committee" means a candidate or a combination	44
of two or more persons authorized by a candidate under section	45
3517.081 of the Revised Code to receive contributions and make	46
expenditures.	47

(2) "Campaign treasurer" means an individual appointed by a	48
candidate under section 3517.081 of the Revised Code.	49

(3) "Candidate" has the same meaning as in division (H) of	50
section 3501.01 of the Revised Code and also includes any person	51
who, at any time before or after an election, receives	52
contributions or makes expenditures or other use of contributions,	53
has given consent for another to receive contributions or make	54
expenditures or other use of contributions, or appoints a campaign	55
treasurer, for the purpose of bringing about the person's	56
nomination or election to public office. When two persons jointly	57
seek the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, "candidate"	58
means the pair of candidates jointly. "Candidate" does not include	59
candidates for election to the offices of member of a county or	60
state central committee, presidential elector, and delegate to a	61
national convention or conference of a political party.	62

(4) "Continuing association" means an association, other than	63
a campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund,	64
political contributing entity, or labor organization, that is	65
intended to be a permanent organization that has a primary purpose	66
other than supporting or opposing specific candidates, political	67
parties, or ballot issues, and that functions on a regular basis	68
throughout the year. "Continuing association" includes	69
organizations that are determined to be not organized for profit	70
under subsection 501 and that are described in subsection	71
501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code.	72

(5) "Contribution" means a loan, gift, deposit, forgiveness	73
of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, or transfer of funds	74
or anything of value, including a transfer of funds from an inter	75
vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's estate, and the payment	76
by any person other than the person to whom the services are	77
rendered for the personal services of another person, which	78
contribution is made, received, or used for the purpose of	79
influencing the results of an election. Any loan, gift, deposit,	80
forgiveness of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, or	81
transfer of funds or of anything of value, including a transfer of	82
funds from an inter vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's	83
estate, and the payment by any campaign committee, political	84
action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party,	85
political contributing entity, or person other than the person to	86
whom the services are rendered for the personal services of	87
another person, that is made, received, or used by a state or	88
county political party, other than moneys a state or county	89
political party receives from the Ohio political party fund	90
pursuant to section 3517.17 of the Revised Code and the moneys a	91
state or county political party may receive under sections	92
3517.101, 3517.1012, and 3517.1013 of the Revised Code, shall be	93
considered to be a "contribution" for the purpose of section	94
3517.10 of the Revised Code and shall be included on a statement	95
of contributions filed under that section.	96

"Contribution" does not include any of the following:

97

(a) Services provided without compensation by individuals	98
volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a person;	99

(b) Ordinary home hospitality;

100

(c) The personal expenses of a volunteer paid for by that	101
volunteer campaign worker;	102

(d) Any gift given to a state or county political party	103
pursuant to section 3517.101 of the Revised Code. As used in	104
division (B)(5)(d) of this section, "political party" means only a	105
major political party;	106

(e) Any contribution as defined in section 3517.1011 of the	107
Revised Code that is made, received, or used to pay the direct	108
costs of producing or airing an electioneering communication;	109

(f) Any gift given to a state or county political party for	110
the party's restricted fund under division (A)(2) of section	111
3517.1012 of the Revised Code;	112

(g) Any gift given to a state political party for deposit in	113
a Levin account pursuant to section 3517.1013 of the Revised Code.	114
As used in this division, "Levin account" has the same meaning as	115
in that section.	116

(h) Any donation given to a transition fund under section	117
3517.1014 of the Revised Code.	118

(6) "Expenditure" means the disbursement or use of a	119
contribution for the purpose of influencing the results of an	120
election or of making a charitable donation under division (G) of	121
section 3517.08 of the Revised Code. Any disbursement or use of a	122
contribution by a state or county political party is an	123
expenditure and shall be considered either to be made for the	124
purpose of influencing the results of an election or to be made as	125
a charitable donation under division (G) of section 3517.08 of the	126
Revised Code and shall be reported on a statement of expenditures	127
filed under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. During the thirty	128
days preceding a primary or general election, any disbursement to	129
pay the direct costs of producing or airing a broadcast, cable, or	130
satellite communication that refers to a clearly identified	131
candidate shall be considered to be made for the purpose of	132
influencing the results of that election and shall be reported as	133
an expenditure or as an independent expenditure under section	134
3517.10 or 3517.105 of the Revised Code, as applicable, except	135
that the information required to be reported regarding	136
contributors for those expenditures or independent expenditures	137
shall be the same as the information required to be reported under	138
divisions (D)(1) and (2) of section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code.	139

As used in this division, "broadcast, cable, or satellite	140
communication" and "refers to a clearly identified candidate" have	141
the same meanings as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code.	142

(7) "Personal expenses" includes, but is not limited to,	143
ordinary expenses for accommodations, clothing, food, personal	144
motor vehicle or airplane, and home telephone.	145

(8) "Political action committee" means a combination of two	146
or more persons, the primary or major purpose of which is to	147
support or oppose any candidate, political party, or issue, or to	148
influence the result of any election through express advocacy, and	149
that is not a political party, a campaign committee, a political	150
contributing entity, or a legislative campaign fund. "Political	151
action committee" does not include either of the following:	152

(a) A continuing association that makes disbursements for the	153
direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications	154
and that does not engage in express advocacy;	155

(b) A political club that is formed primarily for social	156
purposes and that consists of one hundred members or less, has	157
officers and periodic meetings, has less than two thousand five	158
hundred dollars in its treasury at all times, and makes an	159
aggregate total contribution of one thousand dollars or less per	160
calendar year.	161

(9) "Public office" means any state, county, municipal,	162
township, or district office, except an office of a political	163
party, that is filled by an election and the offices of United	164
States senator and representative.	165

(10) "Anything of value" has the same meaning as in section	166
1.03 of the Revised Code.	167

(11) "Beneficiary of a campaign fund" means a candidate, a	168
public official or employee for whose benefit a campaign fund	169
exists, and any other person who has ever been a candidate or	170
public official or employee and for whose benefit a campaign fund	171
exists.	172

(12) "Campaign fund" means money or other property, including	173
contributions.	174

(13) "Public official or employee" has the same meaning as in	175
section 102.01 of the Revised Code.	176

(14) "Caucus" means all of the members of the house of	177
representatives or all of the members of the senate of the general	178
assembly who are members of the same political party.	179

(15) "Legislative campaign fund" means a fund that is	180
established as an auxiliary of a state political party and	181
associated with one of the houses of the general assembly.	182

(16) "In-kind contribution" means anything of value other	183
than money that is used to influence the results of an election or	184
is transferred to or used in support of or in opposition to a	185
candidate, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund,	186
political party, political action committee, or political	187
contributing entity and that is made with the consent of, in	188
coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request	189
or suggestion of the benefited candidate, committee, fund, party,	190
or entity. The financing of the dissemination, distribution, or	191
republication, in whole or part, of any broadcast or of any	192
written, graphic, or other form of campaign materials prepared by	193
the candidate, the candidate's campaign committee, or their	194
authorized agents is an in-kind contribution to the candidate and	195
an expenditure by the candidate.	196

(17) "Independent expenditure" means an expenditure by a	197
person advocating the election or defeat of an identified	198
candidate or candidates, that is not made with the consent of, in	199
coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request	200
or suggestion of any candidate or candidates or of the campaign	201
committee or agent of the candidate or candidates. As used in	202
division (B)(17) of this section:	203

(a) "Person" means an individual, partnership, unincorporated	204
business organization or association, political action committee,	205
political contributing entity, separate segregated fund,	206
association, or other organization or group of persons, but not a	207
labor organization or a corporation unless the labor organization	208
or corporation is a political contributing entity.	209

(b) "Advocating" means any communication containing a message	210
advocating election or defeat.	211

(c) "Identified candidate" means that the name of the	212
candidate appears, a photograph or drawing of the candidate	213
appears, or the identity of the candidate is otherwise apparent by	214
unambiguous reference.	215

(d) "Made in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with,	216
or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or the campaign	217
committee or agent of the candidate" means made pursuant to any	218
arrangement, coordination, or direction by the candidate, the	219
candidate's campaign committee, or the candidate's agent prior to	220
the publication, distribution, display, or broadcast of the	221
communication. An expenditure is presumed to be so made when it is	222
any of the following:	223

(i) Based on information about the candidate's plans,	224
projects, or needs provided to the person making the expenditure	225
by the candidate, or by the candidate's campaign committee or	226
agent, with a view toward having an expenditure made;	227

(ii) Made by or through any person who is, or has been,	228
authorized to raise or expend funds, who is, or has been, an	229
officer of the candidate's campaign committee, or who is, or has	230
been, receiving any form of compensation or reimbursement from the	231
candidate or the candidate's campaign committee or agent;	232

(iii) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of section	233
3517.105 of the Revised Code, made by a political party in support	234
of a candidate, unless the expenditure is made by a political	235
party to conduct voter registration or voter education efforts.	236

(e) "Agent" means any person who has actual oral or written	237
authority, either express or implied, to make or to authorize the	238
making of expenditures on behalf of a candidate, or means any	239
person who has been placed in a position with the candidate's	240
campaign committee or organization such that it would reasonably	241
appear that in the ordinary course of campaign-related activities	242
the person may authorize expenditures.	243

(18) "Labor organization" means a labor union; an employee	244
organization; a federation of labor unions, groups, locals, or	245
other employee organizations; an auxiliary of a labor union,	246
employee organization, or federation of labor unions, groups,	247
locals, or other employee organizations; or any other bona fide	248
organization in which employees participate and that exists for	249
the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers	250
concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, hours, and other	251
terms and conditions of employment.	252

(19) "Separate segregated fund" means a separate segregated	253
fund established pursuant to the Federal Election Campaign Act.	254

(20) "Federal Election Campaign Act" means the "Federal	255
Election Campaign Act of 1971," 86 Stat. 11, 2 U.S.C.A. 431, et	256
seq., as amended.	257

(21) "Restricted fund" means the fund a state or county	258
political party must establish under division (A)(1) of section	259
3517.1012 of the Revised Code.	260

(22) "Electioneering communication" has the same meaning as	261
in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code.	262

(23) "Express advocacy" means a communication that contains	263
express words advocating the nomination, election, or defeat of a	264
candidate or that contains express words advocating the adoption	265
or defeat of a question or issue, as determined by a final	266
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.	267

(24) "Political committee" has the same meaning as in section	268
3517.1011 of the Revised Code.	269

(25) "Political contributing entity" means any entity,	270
including a corporation or labor organization, that may lawfully	271
make contributions and expenditures and that is not an individual	272
or a political action committee, continuing association, campaign	273
committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, designated	274
state campaign committee, or state candidate fund. For purposes of	275
this division, "lawfully" means not prohibited by any section of	276
the Revised Code, or authorized by a final judgment of a court of	277
competent jurisdiction.	278

Sec. 3517.10.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in this	279
division, every campaign committee, political action committee,	280
legislative campaign fund, political party, and political	281
contributing entity that made or received a contribution or made	282
an expenditure in connection with the nomination or election of	283
any candidate or in connection with any ballot issue or question	284
at any election held or to be held in this state shall file, on a	285
form prescribed under this section or by electronic means of	286
transmission as provided in this section and section 3517.106 of	287
the Revised Code, a full, true, and itemized statement, made under	288
penalty of election falsification, setting forth in detail the	289
contributions and expenditures, not later than four p.m. of the	290
following dates:	291

(1) The twelfth day before the election to reflect	292
contributions received and expenditures made from the close of	293
business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed	294
statement, if any, to the close of business on the twentieth day	295
before the election;	296

(2) The thirty-eighth day after the election to reflect the	297
contributions received and expenditures made from the close of	298
business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed	299
statement, if any, to the close of business on the seventh day	300
before the filing of the statement;	301

(3) The last business day of January of every year to reflect	302
the contributions received and expenditures made from the close of	303
business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed	304
statement, if any, to the close of business on the last day of	305
December of the previous year;	306

(4) The last business day of July of every year to reflect	307
the contributions received and expenditures made from the close of	308
business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed	309
statement, if any, to the close of business on the last day of	310
June of that year.	311

A campaign committee shall only be required to file the	312
statements prescribed under divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this	313
section in connection with the nomination or election of the	314
committee's candidate.	315

The statement required under division (A)(1) of this section	316
shall not be required of any campaign committee, political action	317
committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or	318
political contributing entity that has received contributions of	319
less than one thousand dollars and has made expenditures of less	320
than one thousand dollars at the close of business on the	321
twentieth day before the election. Those contributions and	322
expenditures shall be reported in the statement required under	323
division (A)(2) of this section.	324

If an election to select candidates to appear on the general	325
election ballot is held within sixty days before a general	326
election, the campaign committee of a successful candidate in the	327
earlier election may file the statement required by division	328
(A)(1) of this section for the general election instead of the	329
statement required by division (A)(2) of this section for the	330
earlier election if the pregeneral election statement reflects the	331
status of contributions and expenditures for the period twenty	332
days before the earlier election to twenty days before the general	333
election.	334

If a person becomes a candidate less than twenty days before	335
an election, the candidate's campaign committee is not required to	336
file the statement required by division (A)(1) of this section.	337

No statement under division (A)(3) of this section shall be	338
required for any year in which a campaign committee, political	339
action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or	340
political contributing entity is required to file a postgeneral	341
election statement under division (A)(2) of this section. However,	342
a statement under division (A)(3) of this section may be filed, at	343
the option of the campaign committee, political action committee,	344
legislative campaign fund, political party, or political	345
contributing entity.	346

No campaign committee of a candidate for the office of chief	347
justice or justice of the supreme court, and no campaign committee	348
of a candidate for the office of judge of any court in this state,	349
shall be required to file a statement under division (A)(4) of	350
this section.	351

Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph and in the	352
next paragraph of this section, the only campaign committees	353
required to file a statement under division (A)(4) of this section	354
are the campaign committee of a statewide candidate and the	355
campaign committee of a candidate for county office. The campaign	356
committee of a candidate for any other nonjudicial office is	357
required to file a statement under division (A)(4) of this section	358
if that campaign committee receives, during that period,	359
contributions exceeding ten thousand dollars.	360

No statement under division (A)(4) of this section shall be	361
required of a campaign committee, a political action committee, a	362
legislative campaign fund, a political party, or a political	363
contributing entity for any year in which the campaign committee,	364
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political	365
party, or political contributing entity is required to file a	366
postprimary election statement under division (A)(2) of this	367
section. However, a statement under division (A)(4) of this	368
section may be filed at the option of the campaign committee,	369
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political	370
party, or political contributing entity.	371

No statement under division (A)(3) or (4) of this section	372
shall be required if the campaign committee, political action	373
committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or	374
political contributing entity has no contributions that it has	375
received and no expenditures that it has made since the last date	376
reflected in its last previously filed statement. However, the	377
campaign committee, political action committee, legislative	378
campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity	379
shall file a statement to that effect, on a form prescribed under	380
this section and made under penalty of election falsification, on	381
the date required in division (A)(3) or (4) of this section, as	382
applicable.	383

The campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall file a	384
monthly statement of contributions received during each of the	385
months of July, August, and September in the year of the general	386
election in which the candidate seeks office. The campaign	387
committee of a statewide candidate shall file the monthly	388
statement not later than three business days after the last day of	389
the month covered by the statement. During the period beginning on	390
the nineteenth day before the general election in which a	391
statewide candidate seeks election to office and extending through	392
the day of that general election, each time the campaign committee	393
of the joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant	394
governor or of a candidate for the office of secretary of state,	395
auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general receives	396
a contribution from a contributor that causes the aggregate amount	397
of contributions received from that contributor during that period	398
to equal or exceed ten thousand dollars and each time the campaign	399
committee of a candidate for the office of chief justice or	400
justice of the supreme court receives a contribution from a	401
contributor that causes the aggregate amount of contributions	402
received from that contributor during that period to exceed ten	403
thousand dollars, the campaign committee shall file a	404
two-business-day statement reflecting that contribution. During	405
the period beginning on the nineteenth day before a primary	406
election in which a candidate for statewide office seeks	407
nomination to office and extending through the day of that primary	408
election, each time either the campaign committee of a statewide	409
candidate in that primary election that files a notice under	410
division (C)(1) of section 3517.103 of the Revised Code or the	411
campaign committee of a statewide candidate in that primary	412
election to which, in accordance with division (D) of section	413
3517.103 of the Revised Code, the contribution limitations	414
prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code no longer apply	415
receives a contribution from a contributor that causes the	416
aggregate amount of contributions received from that contributor	417
during that period to exceed ten thousand dollars, the campaign	418
committee shall file a two-business-day statement reflecting that	419
contribution. Contributions reported on a two-business-day	420
statement required to be filed by a campaign committee of a	421
statewide candidate in a primary election shall also be included	422
in the postprimary election statement required to be filed by that	423
campaign committee under division (A)(2) of this section. A	424
two-business-day statement required by this paragraph shall be	425
filed not later than two business days after receipt of the	426
contribution. The statements required by this paragraph shall be	427
filed in addition to any other statements required by this	428
section.	429

Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested,	430
and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary	431
of state prescribes pursuant to divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of	432
this section and division (H)(1) of section 3517.106 of the	433
Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by	434
electronic means of transmission, a campaign committee of a	435
statewide candidate shall file a two-business-day statement under	436
the preceding paragraph by electronic means of transmission if the	437
campaign committee is required to file a pre-election,	438
postelection, or monthly statement of contributions and	439
expenditures by electronic means of transmission under this	440
section or section 3517.106 of the Revised Code.	441

If a campaign committee or political action committee has no	442
balance on hand and no outstanding obligations and desires to	443
terminate itself, it shall file a statement to that effect, on a	444
form prescribed under this section and made under penalty of	445
election falsification, with the official with whom it files a	446
statement under division (A) of this section after filing a final	447
statement of contributions and a final statement of expenditures,	448
if contributions have been received or expenditures made since the	449
period reflected in its last previously filed statement.	450

(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(7) of this	451
section, each statement required by division (A) of this section	452
shall contain the following information:	453

(1) The full name and address of each campaign committee,	454
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political	455
party, or political contributing entity, including any treasurer	456
of the committee, fund, party, or entity, filing a contribution	457
and expenditure statement;	458

(2)(a) In the case of a campaign committee, the candidate's	459
full name and address;	460

(b) In the case of a political action committee, the	461
registration number assigned to the committee under division	462
(D)(1) of this section.	463

(3) The date of the election and whether it was or will be a	464
general, primary, or special election;	465

(4) A statement of contributions received, which shall	466
include the following information:	467

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

468

(b)(i) The full name and address of each person, political	469
party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political	470
action committee, or political contributing entity from whom	471
contributions are received and the registration number assigned to	472
the political action committee under division (D)(1) of this	473
section. The requirement of filing the full address does not apply	474
to any statement filed by a state or local committee of a	475
political party, to a finance committee of such committee, or to a	476
committee recognized by a state or local committee as its	477
fund-raising auxiliary. Notwithstanding division (F) of this	478
section, the requirement of filing the full address shall be	479
considered as being met if the address filed is the same address	480
the contributor provided under division (E)(1) of this section.	481

(ii) If a political action committee, political contributing	482
entity, legislative campaign fund, or political party that is	483
required to file campaign finance statements by electronic means	484
of transmission under section 3517.106 of the Revised Code or a	485
campaign committee of a statewide candidate or candidate for the	486
office of member of the general assembly receives a contribution	487
from an individual that exceeds one hundred dollars, the name of	488
the individual's current employer, if any, or, if the individual	489
is self-employed, the individual's occupation and the name of the	490
individual's business, if any;	491

(iii) If a campaign committee of a statewide candidate or	492
candidate for the office of member of the general assembly	493
receives a contribution transmitted pursuant to section 3599.031	494
of the Revised Code from amounts deducted from the wages and	495
salaries of two or more employees that exceeds in the aggregate	496
one hundred dollars during any one filing period under division	497
(A)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section, the full name of the	498
employees' employer and the full name of the labor organization of	499
which the employees are members, if any.	500

(c) A description of the contribution received, if other than	501
money;	502

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

503

(e) A separately itemized account of all contributions and	504
expenditures regardless of the amount, except a receipt of a	505
contribution from a person in the sum of twenty-five dollars or	506
less at one social or fund-raising activity and a receipt of a	507
contribution transmitted pursuant to section 3599.031 of the	508
Revised Code from amounts deducted from the wages and salaries of	509
employees if the contribution from the amount deducted from the	510
wages and salary of any one employee is twenty-five dollars or	511
less aggregated in a calendar year. An account of the total	512
contributions from each social or fund-raising activity shall	513
include a description of and the value of each in-kind	514
contribution received at that activity from any person who made	515
one or more such contributions whose aggregate value exceeded two	516
hundred fifty dollars and shall be listed separately, together	517
with the expenses incurred and paid in connection with that	518
activity. A campaign committee, political action committee,	519
legislative campaign fund, political party, or political	520
contributing entity shall keep records of contributions from each	521
person in the amount of twenty-five dollars or less at one social	522
or fund-raising activity and contributions from amounts deducted	523
under section 3599.031 of the Revised Code from the wages and	524
salary of each employee in the amount of twenty-five dollars or	525
less aggregated in a calendar year. No continuing association that	526
is recognized by a state or local committee of a political party	527
as an auxiliary of the party and that makes a contribution from	528
funds derived solely from regular dues paid by members of the	529
auxiliary shall be required to list the name or address of any	530
members who paid those dues.	531

Contributions that are other income shall be itemized	532
separately from all other contributions. The information required	533
under division (B)(4) of this section shall be provided for all	534
other income itemized. As used in this paragraph, "other income"	535
means a loan, investment income, or interest income.	536

(f) In the case of a campaign committee of a state elected	537
officer, if a person doing business with the state elected officer	538
in the officer's official capacity makes a contribution to the	539
campaign committee of that officer, the information required under	540
division (B)(4) of this section in regard to that contribution,	541
which shall be filed together with and considered a part of the	542
committee's statement of contributions as required under division	543
(A) of this section but shall be filed on a separate form provided	544
by the secretary of state. As used in this division:	545

(i) "State elected officer" has the same meaning as in	546
section 3517.092 of the Revised Code.	547

(ii) "Person doing business" means a person or an officer of	548
an entity who enters into one or more contracts with a state	549
elected officer or anyone authorized to enter into contracts on	550
behalf of that officer to receive payments for goods or services,	551
if the payments total, in the aggregate, more than five thousand	552
dollars during a calendar year.	553

(5) A statement of expenditures which shall include the	554
following information:	555

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

556

(b) The full name and address of each person, political	557
party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political	558
action committee, or political contributing entity to whom the	559
expenditure was made and the registration number assigned to the	560
political action committee under division (D)(1) of this section;	561

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

562

(d) The amount of each expenditure.

563

(C)(1) The statement of contributions and expenditures shall	564
be signed by the person completing the form. If a statement of	565
contributions and expenditures is filed by electronic means of	566
transmission pursuant to this section or section 3517.106 of the	567
Revised Code, the electronic signature of the person who executes	568
the statement and transmits the statement by electronic means of	569
transmission, as provided in division (H) of section 3517.106 of	570
the Revised Code, shall be attached to or associated with the	571
statement and shall be binding on all persons and for all purposes	572
under the campaign finance reporting law as if the signature had	573
been handwritten in ink on a printed form.	574

(2) The person filing the statement, under penalty of	575
election falsification, shall include with it a list of each	576
anonymous contribution, the circumstances under which it was	577
received, and the reason it cannot be attributed to a specific	578
donor.	579

(3) Each statement of a campaign committee of a candidate who	580
holds public office shall contain a designation of each	581
contributor who is an employee in any unit or department under the	582
candidate's direct supervision and control. In a space provided in	583
the statement, the person filing the statement shall affirm that	584
each such contribution was voluntarily made.	585

(4) A campaign committee that did not receive contributions	586
or make expenditures in connection with the nomination or election	587
of its candidate shall file a statement to that effect, on a form	588
prescribed under this section and made under penalty of election	589
falsification, on the date required in division (A)(2) of this	590
section.	591

(5) The campaign committee of any person who attempts to	592
become a candidate and who, for any reason, does not become	593
certified in accordance with Title XXXV of the Revised Code for	594
placement on the official ballot of a primary, general, or special	595
election to be held in this state, and who, at any time prior to	596
or after an election, receives contributions or makes	597
expenditures, or has given consent for another to receive	598
contributions or make expenditures, for the purpose of bringing	599
about the person's nomination or election to public office, shall	600
file the statement or statements prescribed by this section and a	601
termination statement, if applicable. Division (C)(5) of this	602
section does not apply to any person with respect to an election	603
to the offices of member of a county or state central committee,	604
presidential elector, or delegate to a national convention or	605
conference of a political party.	606

(6)(a) The statements required to be filed under this section	607
shall specify the balance in the hands of the campaign committee,	608
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political	609
party, or political contributing entity and the disposition	610
intended to be made of that balance.	611

(b) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form for all	612
statements required to be filed under this section and shall	613
furnish the forms to the boards of elections in the several	614
counties. The boards of elections shall supply printed copies of	615
those forms without charge. The secretary of state shall prescribe	616
the appropriate methodology, protocol, and data file structure for	617
statements required or permitted to be filed by electronic means	618
of transmission under division (A) of this section, divisions (E),	619
(F), and (G) of section 3517.106, division (D) of section	620
3517.1011, division (B) of section 3517.1012, and division (C) of	621
section 3517.1013, and divisions (D) and (I) of section 3517.1014	622
of the Revised Code. Subject to division (A) of this section,	623
divisions (E), (F), and (G) of section 3517.106, division (D) of	624
section 3517.1011, division (B) of section 3517.1012, and division	625
(C) of section 3517.1013, and divisions (D) and (I) of section	626
3517.1014 of the Revised Code, the statements required to be	627
stored on computer by the secretary of state under division (B) of	628
section 3517.106 of the Revised Code shall be filed in whatever	629
format the secretary of state considers necessary to enable the	630
secretary of state to store the information contained in the	631
statements on computer. Any such format shall be of a type and	632
nature that is readily available to whoever is required to file	633
the statements in that format.	634

(c) The secretary of state shall assess the need for training	635
regarding the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic	636
means of transmission and regarding associated technologies for	637
candidates, campaign committees, political action committees,	638
legislative campaign funds, political parties, or political	639
contributing entities, for individuals, partnerships, or other	640
entities, or for persons making disbursements to pay the direct	641
costs of producing or airing electioneering communications, or for	642
treasurers of transition funds, required or permitted to file	643
statements by electronic means of transmission under this section	644
or section 3517.105, 3517.106, 3517.1011, 3517.1012, or 3517.1013,	645
or 3517.1014 of the Revised Code. If, in the opinion of the	646
secretary of state, training in these areas is necessary, the	647
secretary of state shall arrange for the provision of voluntary	648
training programs for candidates, campaign committees, political	649
action committees, legislative campaign funds, political parties,	650
or political contributing entities, for individuals, partnerships,	651
and other entities, or for persons making disbursements to pay the	652
direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications,	653
or for treasurers of transition funds, as appropriate.	654

(7) Each monthly statement and each two-business-day	655
statement required by division (A) of this section shall contain	656
the information required by divisions (B)(1) to (4), (C)(2), and,	657
if appropriate, (C)(3) of this section. Each statement shall be	658
signed as required by division (C)(1) of this section.	659

(D)(1) Prior to receiving a contribution or making an	660
expenditure, every campaign committee, political action committee,	661
legislative campaign fund, political party, or political	662
contributing entity shall appoint a treasurer and shall file, on a	663
form prescribed by the secretary of state, a designation of that	664
appointment, including the full name and address of the treasurer	665
and of the campaign committee, political action committee,	666
legislative campaign fund, political party, or political	667
contributing entity. That designation shall be filed with the	668
official with whom the campaign committee, political action	669
committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or	670
political contributing entity is required to file statements under	671
section 3517.11 of the Revised Code. The name of a campaign	672
committee shall include at least the last name of the campaign	673
committee's candidate. If two or more candidates are the	674
beneficiaries of a single campaign committee under division (B) of	675
section 3517.081 of the Revised Code, the name of the campaign	676
committee shall include at least the last name of each candidate	677
who is a beneficiary of that campaign committee. The secretary of	678
state shall assign a registration number to each political action	679
committee that files a designation of the appointment of a	680
treasurer under this division if the political action committee is	681
required by division (A)(1) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code	682
to file the statements prescribed by this section with the	683
secretary of state.	684

(2) The treasurer appointed under division (D)(1) of this	685
section shall keep a strict account of all contributions, from	686
whom received and the purpose for which they were disbursed.	687

(3)(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 3517.108 of	688
the Revised Code, a campaign committee shall deposit all monetary	689
contributions received by the committee into an account separate	690
from a personal or business account of the candidate or campaign	691
committee.	692

(b) A political action committee shall deposit all monetary	693
contributions received by the committee into an account separate	694
from all other funds.	695

(c) A state or county political party may establish a state	696
candidate fund that is separate from an account that contains the	697
public moneys received from the Ohio political party fund under	698
section 3517.17 of the Revised Code and from all other funds. A	699
state or county political party may deposit into its state	700
candidate fund any amounts of monetary contributions that are made	701
to or accepted by the political party subject to the applicable	702
limitations, if any, prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised	703
Code. A state or county political party shall deposit all other	704
monetary contributions received by the party into one or more	705
accounts that are separate from its state candidate fund and from	706
its account that contains the public moneys received from the Ohio	707
political party fund under section 3517.17 of the Revised Code.	708

(d) Each state political party shall have only one	709
legislative campaign fund for each house of the general assembly.	710
Each such fund shall be separate from any other funds or accounts	711
of that state party. A legislative campaign fund is authorized to	712
receive contributions and make expenditures for the primary	713
purpose of furthering the election of candidates who are members	714
of that political party to the house of the general assembly with	715
which that legislative campaign fund is associated. Each	716
legislative campaign fund shall be administered and controlled in	717
a manner designated by the caucus. As used in this division,	718
"caucus" has the same meaning as in section 3517.01 of the Revised	719
Code and includes, as an ex officio member, the chairperson of the	720
state political party with which the caucus is associated or that	721
chairperson's designee.	722

(4) Every expenditure in excess of twenty-five dollars shall	723
be vouched for by a receipted bill, stating the purpose of the	724
expenditure, that shall be filed with the statement of	725
expenditures. A canceled check with a notation of the purpose of	726
the expenditure is a receipted bill for purposes of division	727
(D)(4) of this section.	728

(5) The secretary of state or the board of elections, as the	729
case may be, shall issue a receipt for each statement filed under	730
this section and shall preserve a copy of the receipt for a period	731
of at least six years. All statements filed under this section	732
shall be open to public inspection in the office where they are	733
filed and shall be carefully preserved for a period of at least	734
six years after the year in which they are filed.	735

(6) The secretary of state, by rule adopted pursuant to	736
section 3517.23 of the Revised Code, shall prescribe both of the	737
following:	738

(a) The manner of immediately acknowledging, with date and	739
time received, and preserving the receipt of statements that are	740
transmitted by electronic means of transmission to the secretary	741
of state pursuant to this section or section 3517.106, 3517.1011,	742
3517.1012, or 3517.1013, or 3517.1014 of the Revised Code;	743

(b) The manner of preserving the contribution and	744
expenditure, contribution and disbursement, deposit and	745
disbursement, or gift and disbursement, or donation and	746
disbursement information in the statements described in division	747
(D)(6)(a) of this section. The secretary of state shall preserve	748
the contribution and expenditure, contribution and disbursement,	749
deposit and disbursement, or gift and disbursement, or donation	750
and disbursement information in those statements for at least ten	751
years after the year in which they are filed by electronic means	752
of transmission.	753

(7) The secretary of state, pursuant to division (I) of	754
section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, shall make available online	755
to the public through the internet the contribution and	756
expenditure, contribution and disbursement, deposit and	757
disbursement, or gift and disbursement, or donation and	758
disbursement information in all statements, all addenda,	759
amendments, or other corrections to statements, and all amended	760
statements filed with the secretary of state by electronic or	761
other means of transmission under this section, division (B)(2)(b)	762
or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105, or section 3517.106, 3517.1011,	763
3517.1012, 3517.1013, 3517.1014, or 3517.11 of the Revised Code.	764
The secretary of state may remove the information from the	765
internet after a reasonable period of time.	766

(E)(1) Any person, political party, campaign committee,	767
legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or	768
political contributing entity that makes a contribution in	769
connection with the nomination or election of any candidate or in	770
connection with any ballot issue or question at any election held	771
or to be held in this state shall provide its full name and	772
address to the recipient of the contribution at the time the	773
contribution is made. The political action committee also shall	774
provide the registration number assigned to the committee under	775
division (D)(1) of this section to the recipient of the	776
contribution at the time the contribution is made.	777

(2) Any individual who makes a contribution that exceeds one	778
hundred dollars to a political action committee, political	779
contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or political party	780
or to a campaign committee of a statewide candidate or candidate	781
for the office of member of the general assembly shall provide the	782
name of the individual's current employer, if any, or, if the	783
individual is self-employed, the individual's occupation and the	784
name of the individual's business, if any, to the recipient of the	785
contribution at the time the contribution is made. Sections	786
3599.39 and 3599.40 of the Revised Code do not apply to division	787
(E)(2) of this section.	788

(3) If a campaign committee shows that it has exercised its	789
best efforts to obtain, maintain, and submit the information	790
required under divisions (B)(4)(b)(ii) and (iii) of this section,	791
that committee is considered to have met the requirements of those	792
divisions. A campaign committee shall not be considered to have	793
exercised its best efforts unless, in connection with written	794
solicitations, it regularly includes a written request for the	795
information required under division (B)(4)(b)(ii) of this section	796
from the contributor or the information required under division	797
(B)(4)(b)(iii) of this section from whoever transmits the	798
contribution.	799

(4) Any check that a political action committee uses to make	800
a contribution or an expenditure shall contain the full name and	801
address of the committee and the registration number assigned to	802
the committee under division (D)(1) of this section.	803

(F) As used in this section:

804

(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (F)(1) of	805
this section, "address" means all of the following if they exist:	806
apartment number, street, road, or highway name and number, rural	807
delivery route number, city or village, state, and zip code as	808
used in a person's post-office address, but not post-office box.	809

(b) Except as otherwise provided in division (F)(1) of this	810
section, if an address is required in this section, a post-office	811
box and office, room, or suite number may be included in addition	812
to, but not in lieu of, an apartment, street, road, or highway	813
name and number.	814

(c) If an address is required in this section, a campaign	815
committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund,	816
political party, or political contributing entity may use the	817
business or residence address of its treasurer or deputy	818
treasurer. The post-office box number of the campaign committee,	819
political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political	820
party, or political contributing entity may be used in addition to	821
that address.	822

(d) For the sole purpose of a campaign committee's reporting	823
of contributions on a statement of contributions received under	824
division (B)(4) of this section, "address" has one of the	825
following meanings at the option of the campaign committee:	826

(i) The same meaning as in division (F)(1)(a) of this	827
section;	828

(ii) All of the following, if they exist: the contributor's	829
post-office box number and city or village, state, and zip code as	830
used in the contributor's post-office address.	831

(e) As used with regard to the reporting under this section	832
of any expenditure, "address" means all of the following if they	833
exist: apartment number, street, road, or highway name and number,	834
rural delivery route number, city or village, state, and zip code	835
as used in a person's post-office address, or post-office box. If	836
an address concerning any expenditure is required in this section,	837
a campaign committee, political action committee, legislative	838
campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity	839
may use the business or residence address of its treasurer or	840
deputy treasurer or its post-office box number.	841

(2) "Statewide candidate" means the joint candidates for the	842
offices of governor and lieutenant governor or a candidate for the	843
office of secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of	844
state, attorney general, member of the state board of education,	845
chief justice of the supreme court, or justice of the supreme	846
court.	847

(3) "Candidate for county office" means a candidate for the	848
office of county auditor, county treasurer, clerk of the court of	849
common pleas, judge of the court of common pleas, sheriff, county	850
recorder, county engineer, county commissioner, prosecuting	851
attorney, or coroner.	852

(G) An independent expenditure shall be reported whenever and	853
in the same manner that an expenditure is required to be reported	854
under this section and shall be reported pursuant to division	855
(B)(2)(a) or (C)(2)(a) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code.	856

(H)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (H)(2) of	857
this section, if, during the combined pre-election and	858
postelection reporting periods for an election, a campaign	859
committee has received contributions of five hundred dollars or	860
less and has made expenditures in the total amount of five hundred	861
dollars or less, it may file a statement to that effect, under	862
penalty of election falsification, in lieu of the statement	863
required by division (A)(2) of this section. The statement shall	864
indicate the total amount of contributions received and the total	865
amount of expenditures made during those combined reporting	866
periods.	867

(2) In the case of a successful candidate at a primary	868
election, if either the total contributions received by or the	869
total expenditures made by the candidate's campaign committee	870
during the preprimary, postprimary, pregeneral, and postgeneral	871
election periods combined equal more than five hundred dollars,	872
the campaign committee may file the statement under division	873
(H)(1) of this section only for the primary election. The first	874
statement that the campaign committee files in regard to the	875
general election shall reflect all contributions received and all	876
expenditures made during the preprimary and postprimary election	877
periods.	878

(3) Divisions (H)(1) and (2) of this section do not apply if	879
a campaign committee receives contributions or makes expenditures	880
prior to the first day of January of the year of the election at	881
which the candidate seeks nomination or election to office or if	882
the campaign committee does not file a termination statement with	883
its postprimary election statement in the case of an unsuccessful	884
primary election candidate or with its postgeneral election	885
statement in the case of other candidates.	886

(I) In the case of a contribution made by a partner of a	887
partnership or an owner or a member of another unincorporated	888
business from any funds of the partnership or other unincorporated	889
business, all of the following apply:	890

(1) The recipient of the contribution shall report the	891
contribution by listing both the partnership or other	892
unincorporated business and the name of the partner, owner, or	893
member making the contribution.	894

(2) In reporting the contribution, the recipient of the	895
contribution shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon the	896
information provided by the partnership or other unincorporated	897
business, provided that the information includes one of the	898
following:	899

(a) The name of each partner, owner, or member as of the date	900
of the contribution or contributions, and a statement that the	901
total contributions are to be allocated equally among all of the	902
partners, owners, or members; or	903

(b) The name of each partner, owner, or member as of the date	904
of the contribution or contributions who is participating in the	905
contribution or contributions, and a statement that the	906
contribution or contributions are to be allocated to those	907
individuals in accordance with the information provided by the	908
partnership or other unincorporated business to the recipient of	909
the contribution.	910

(3) For purposes of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, the	911
contribution shall be considered to have been made by the partner,	912
owner, or member reported under division (I)(1) of this section.	913

(4) No contribution from a partner of a partnership or an	914
owner or a member of another unincorporated business shall be	915
accepted from any funds of the partnership or other unincorporated	916
business unless the recipient reports the contribution under	917
division (I)(1) of this section together with the information	918
provided under division (I)(2) of this section.	919

(5) No partnership or other unincorporated business shall	920
make a contribution or contributions solely in the name of the	921
partnership or other unincorporated business.	922

(6) As used in division (I) of this section, "partnership or	923
other unincorporated business" includes, but is not limited to, a	924
cooperative, a sole proprietorship, a general partnership, a	925
limited partnership, a limited partnership association, a limited	926
liability partnership, and a limited liability company.	927

(J) A candidate shall have only one campaign committee at any	928
given time for all of the offices for which the person is a	929
candidate or holds office.	930

(K)(1) In addition to filing a designation of appointment of	931
a treasurer under division (D)(1) of this section, the campaign	932
committee of any candidate for an elected municipal office that	933
pays an annual amount of compensation of five thousand dollars or	934
less, the campaign committee of any candidate for member of a	935
board of education except member of the state board of education,	936
or the campaign committee of any candidate for township trustee or	937
township fiscal officer may sign, under penalty of election	938
falsification, a certificate attesting that the committee will not	939
accept contributions during an election period that exceed in the	940
aggregate two thousand dollars from all contributors and one	941
hundred dollars from any one individual, and that the campaign	942
committee will not make expenditures during an election period	943
that exceed in the aggregate two thousand dollars.	944

The certificate shall be on a form prescribed by the	945
secretary of state and shall be filed not later than ten days	946
after the candidate files a declaration of candidacy and petition,	947
a nominating petition, or a declaration of intent to be a write-in	948
candidate.	949

(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (K)(3) of this	950
section, a campaign committee that files a certificate under	951
division (K)(1) of this section is not required to file the	952
statements required by division (A) of this section.	953

(3) If, after filing a certificate under division (K)(1) of	954
this section, a campaign committee exceeds any of the limitations	955
described in that division during an election period, the	956
certificate is void and thereafter the campaign committee shall	957
file the statements required by division (A) of this section. If	958
the campaign committee has not previously filed a statement, then	959
on the first statement the campaign committee is required to file	960
under division (A) of this section after the committee's	961
certificate is void, the committee shall report all contributions	962
received and expenditures made from the time the candidate filed	963
the candidate's declaration of candidacy and petition, nominating	964
petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate.	965

(4) As used in division (K) of this section, "election	966
period" means the period of time beginning on the day a person	967
files a declaration of candidacy and petition, nominating	968
petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate	969
through the day of the election at which the person seeks	970
nomination to office if the person is not elected to office, or,	971
if the candidate was nominated in a primary election, the day of	972
the election at which the candidate seeks office.	973

(L) A political contributing entity that receives	974
contributions from the dues, membership fees, or other assessments	975
of its members or from its officers, shareholders, and employees	976
may report the aggregate amount of contributions received from	977
those contributors and the number of individuals making those	978
contributions, for each filing period under divisions (A)(1), (2),	979
(3), and (4) of this section, rather than reporting information as	980
required under division (B)(4) of this section, including, when	981
applicable, the name of the current employer, if any, of a	982
contributor whose contribution exceeds one hundred dollars or, if	983
such a contributor is self-employed, the contributor's occupation	984
and the name of the contributor's business, if any. Division	985
(B)(4) of this section applies to a political contributing entity	986
with regard to contributions it receives from all other	987
contributors.	988

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

989

(1) "Statewide office" means any of the offices of governor,	990
lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state,	991
treasurer of state, attorney general, chief justice of the supreme	992
court, and justice of the supreme court.	993

(2) "Addendum to a statement" includes an amendment or other	994
correction to that statement.	995

(B)(1) The secretary of state shall store on computer the	996
information contained in statements of contributions and	997
expenditures and monthly statements required to be filed under	998
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code and in statements of	999
independent expenditures required to be filed under section	1000
3517.105 of the Revised Code by any of the following:	1001

(a) The campaign committees of candidates for statewide	1002
office;	1003

(b) The political action committees and political	1004
contributing entities described in division (A)(1) of section	1005
3517.11 of the Revised Code;	1006

(c) Legislative campaign funds;

1007

(d) State political parties;

1008

(e) Individuals, partnerships, corporations, labor	1009
organizations, or other entities that make independent	1010
expenditures in support of or opposition to a statewide candidate	1011
or a statewide ballot issue or question;	1012

(f) The campaign committees of candidates for the office of	1013
member of the general assembly;	1014

(g) County political parties, with respect to their state	1015
candidate funds.	1016

(2) The secretary of state shall store on computer the	1017
information contained in disclosure of electioneering	1018
communications statements required to be filed under section	1019
3517.1011 of the Revised Code.	1020

(3) The secretary of state shall store on computer the	1021
information contained in deposit and disbursement statements	1022
required to be filed with the office of the secretary of state	1023
under section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code.	1024

(4) The secretary of state shall store on computer the gift	1025
and disbursement information contained in statements required to	1026
be filed with the office of the secretary of state under section	1027
3517.1013 of the Revised Code.	1028

(5) The secretary of state shall store on computer the	1029
information contained in donation and disbursement statements	1030
required to be filed with the office of the secretary of state	1031
under section 3517.1014 of the Revised Code.	1032

(C)(1) The secretary of state shall make available to the	1033
campaign committees, political action committees, political	1034
contributing entities, legislative campaign funds, political	1035
parties, individuals, partnerships, corporations, labor	1036
organizations, treasurers of transition funds, and other entities	1037
described in division (B) of this section, and to members of the	1038
news media and other interested persons, for a reasonable fee,	1039
computer programs that are compatible with the secretary of	1040
state's method of storing the information contained in the	1041
statements.	1042

(2) The secretary of state shall make the information	1043
required to be stored under division (B) of this section available	1044
on computer at the secretary of state's office so that, to the	1045
maximum extent feasible, individuals may obtain at the secretary	1046
of state's office any part or all of that information for any	1047
given year, subject to the limitation expressed in division (D) of	1048
this section.	1049

(D) The secretary of state shall keep the information stored	1050
on computer under division (B) of this section for at least six	1051
years.	1052

(E)(1) Subject to division (L) of this section and subject to	1053
the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified	1054
the successful operation of any system the secretary of state	1055
prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and	1056
divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised	1057
Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic	1058
means of transmission, the campaign committee of each candidate	1059
for statewide office may file the statements prescribed by section	1060
3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission	1061
or, if the total amount of the contributions received or the total	1062
amount of the expenditures made by the campaign committee for the	1063
applicable reporting period as specified in division (A) of	1064
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars,	1065
shall file those statements by electronic means of transmission.	1066

Except as otherwise provided in this division, within five	1067
business days after a statement filed by a campaign committee of a	1068
candidate for statewide office is received by the secretary of	1069
state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary	1070
of state shall make available online to the public through the	1071
internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the	1072
contribution and expenditure information in that statement. The	1073
secretary of state shall not make available online to the public	1074
through the internet any contribution or expenditure information	1075
contained in a statement for any candidate until the secretary of	1076
state is able to make available online to the public through the	1077
internet the contribution and expenditure information for all	1078
candidates for a particular office, or until the applicable filing	1079
deadline for that statement has passed, whichever is sooner. As	1080
soon as the secretary of state has available all of the	1081
contribution and expenditure information for all candidates for a	1082
particular office, or as soon as the applicable filing deadline	1083
for a statement has passed, whichever is sooner, the secretary of	1084
state shall simultaneously make available online to the public	1085
through the internet the information for all candidates for that	1086
office.	1087

If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is	1088
found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the	1089
statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division	1090
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the campaign	1091
committee shall file by electronic means of transmission any	1092
addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary	1093
to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the	1094
secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.	1095

Within five business days after the secretary of state	1096
receives from a campaign committee of a candidate for statewide	1097
office an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by	1098
electronic or other means of transmission under this division or	1099
division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the	1100
secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure	1101
information in the addendum or amended statement available online	1102
to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of	1103
this section.	1104

(2) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented,	1105
tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the	1106
secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this	1107
section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of	1108
the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by	1109
electronic means of transmission, a political action committee and	1110
a political contributing entity described in division (B)(1)(b) of	1111
this section, a legislative campaign fund, and a state political	1112
party may file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the	1113
Revised Code by electronic means of transmission or, if the total	1114
amount of the contributions received or the total amount of the	1115
expenditures made by the political action committee, political	1116
contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or state political	1117
party for the applicable reporting period as specified in division	1118
(A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand	1119
dollars, shall file those statements by electronic means of	1120
transmission.	1121

Within five business days after a statement filed by a	1122
political action committee or a political contributing entity	1123
described in division (B)(1)(b) of this section, a legislative	1124
campaign fund, or a state political party is received by the	1125
secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission,	1126
the secretary of state shall make available online to the public	1127
through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section,	1128
the contribution and expenditure information in that statement.	1129

If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is	1130
found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the	1131
statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division	1132
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the political	1133
action committee, political contributing entity, legislative	1134
campaign fund, or state political party shall file by electronic	1135
means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides	1136
the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or,	1137
if required by the secretary of state under that division, an	1138
amended statement.	1139

Within five business days after the secretary of state	1140
receives from a political action committee or a political	1141
contributing entity described in division (B)(1)(b) of this	1142
section, a legislative campaign fund, or a state political party	1143
an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic	1144
or other means of transmission under this division or division	1145
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of	1146
state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in	1147
the addendum or amended statement available online to the public	1148
through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.	1149

(3) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented,	1150
tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the	1151
secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this	1152
section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of	1153
the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by	1154
electronic means of transmission, a county political party shall	1155
file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised	1156
Code with respect to its state candidate fund by electronic means	1157
of transmission to the office of the secretary of state.	1158

Within five business days after a statement filed by a county	1159
political party with respect to its state candidate fund is	1160
received by the secretary of state by electronic means of	1161
transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online	1162
to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of	1163
this section, the contribution and expenditure information in that	1164
statement.	1165

If a statement is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after	1166
the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy	1167
pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised	1168
Code, a county political party shall file by electronic means of	1169
transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the	1170
information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if	1171
required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended	1172
statement.	1173

Within five business days after the secretary of state	1174
receives from a county political party an addendum to the	1175
statement or an amended statement by electronic means of	1176
transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section	1177
3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the	1178
contribution and expenditure information in the addendum or	1179
amended statement available online to the public through the	1180
internet as provided in division (I) of this section.	1181

(F)(1) Subject to division (L) of this section and subject to	1182
the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified	1183
the successful operation of any system the secretary of state	1184
prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and	1185
divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised	1186
Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic	1187
means of transmission, a campaign committee of a candidate for the	1188
office of member of the general assembly or a campaign committee	1189
of a candidate for the office of judge of a court of appeals may	1190
file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised	1191
Code in accordance with division (A)(2) of section 3517.11 of the	1192
Revised Code or by electronic means of transmission to the office	1193
of the secretary of state or, if the total amount of the	1194
contributions received by the campaign committee for the	1195
applicable reporting period as specified in division (A) of	1196
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars,	1197
shall file those statements by electronic means of transmission to	1198
the office of the secretary of state.	1199

Except as otherwise provided in this division, within five	1200
business days after a statement filed by a campaign committee of a	1201
candidate for the office of member of the general assembly or a	1202
campaign committee of a candidate for the office of judge of a	1203
court of appeals is received by the secretary of state by	1204
electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state	1205
shall make available online to the public through the internet, as	1206
provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and	1207
expenditure information in that statement. The secretary of state	1208
shall not make available online to the public through the internet	1209
any contribution or expenditure information contained in a	1210
statement for any candidate until the secretary of state is able	1211
to make available online to the public through the internet the	1212
contribution and expenditure information for all candidates for a	1213
particular office, or until the applicable filing deadline for	1214
that statement has passed, whichever is sooner. As soon as the	1215
secretary of state has available all of the contribution and	1216
expenditure information for all candidates for a particular	1217
office, or as soon as the applicable filing deadline for a	1218
statement has passed, whichever is sooner, the secretary of state	1219
shall simultaneously make available online to the public through	1220
the internet the information for all candidates for that office.	1221

If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is	1222
found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the	1223
statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division	1224
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the campaign	1225
committee shall file by electronic means of transmission to the	1226
office of the secretary of state any addendum to the statement	1227
that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the	1228
statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that	1229
division, an amended statement.	1230

Within five business days after the secretary of state	1231
receives from a campaign committee of a candidate for the office	1232
of member of the general assembly or a campaign committee of a	1233
candidate for the office of judge of a court of appeals an	1234
addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or	1235
other means of transmission under this division or division	1236
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of	1237
state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in	1238
the addendum or amended statement available online to the public	1239
through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.	1240

(2) If a statement, addendum, or amended statement is not	1241
filed by electronic means of transmission to the office of the	1242
secretary of state but is filed by printed version only under	1243
division (A)(2) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code with the	1244
appropriate board of elections, the campaign committee of a	1245
candidate for the office of member of the general assembly or a	1246
campaign committee of a candidate for the office of judge of a	1247
court of appeals shall file two copies of the printed version of	1248
the statement, addendum, or amended statement with the board of	1249
elections. The board of elections shall send one of those copies	1250
by certified mail to the secretary of state before the close of	1251
business on the day the board of elections receives the statement,	1252
addendum, or amended statement.	1253

(G) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented,	1254
tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the	1255
secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this	1256
section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of	1257
the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by	1258
electronic means of transmission, any individual, partnership, or	1259
other entity that makes independent expenditures in support of or	1260
opposition to a statewide candidate or a statewide ballot issue or	1261
question as provided in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section	1262
3517.105 of the Revised Code may file the statement specified in	1263
that division by electronic means of transmission or, if the total	1264
amount of independent expenditures made during the reporting	1265
period under that division exceeds ten thousand dollars, shall	1266
file the statement specified in that division by electronic means	1267
of transmission.	1268

Within five business days after a statement filed by an	1269
individual, partnership, or other entity is received by the	1270
secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission,	1271
the secretary of state shall make available online to the public	1272
through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section,	1273
the expenditure information in that statement.	1274

If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is	1275
found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the	1276
statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division	1277
(B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the individual,	1278
partnership, or other entity shall file by electronic means of	1279
transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the	1280
information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if	1281
required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended	1282
statement.	1283

Within five business days after the secretary of state	1284
receives from an individual, partnership, or other entity	1285
described in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105	1286
of the Revised Code an addendum to the statement or an amended	1287
statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this	1288
division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised	1289
Code, the secretary of state shall make the expenditure	1290
information in the addendum or amended statement available online	1291
to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of	1292
this section.	1293

(H)(1) The secretary of state, by rule adopted pursuant to	1294
section 3517.23 of the Revised Code, shall prescribe one or more	1295
techniques by which a person who executes and transmits by	1296
electronic means a statement of contributions and expenditures, a	1297
statement of independent expenditures, a disclosure of	1298
electioneering communications statement, a deposit and	1299
disbursement statement, or a gift and disbursement statement, or a	1300
donation and disbursement statement, an addendum to any of those	1301
statements, an amended statement of contributions and	1302
expenditures, an amended statement of independent expenditures,	1303
an amended disclosure of electioneering communications statement,	1304
an amended deposit and disbursement statement, or an amended gift	1305
and disbursement statement, or an amended donation and	1306
disbursement statement, under this section or section 3517.10,	1307
3517.105, 3517.1011, 3517.1012, or 3517.1013, or 3517.1014 of the	1308
Revised Code shall electronically sign the statement, addendum,	1309
or amended statement. Any technique prescribed by the secretary	1310
of state pursuant to this division shall create an electronic	1311
signature that satisfies all of the following:	1312

(a) It is unique to the signer.

1313

(b) It objectively identifies the signer.

1314

(c) It involves the use of a signature device or other means	1315
or method that is under the sole control of the signer and that	1316
cannot be readily duplicated or compromised.	1317

(d) It is created and linked to the electronic record to	1318
which it relates in a manner that, if the record or signature is	1319
intentionally or unintentionally changed after signing, the	1320
electronic signature is invalidated.	1321

(2) An electronic signature prescribed by the secretary of	1322
state under division (H)(1) of this section shall be attached to	1323
or associated with the statement of contributions and	1324
expenditures, the statement of independent expenditures, the	1325
disclosure of electioneering communications statement, the deposit	1326
and disbursement statement, or the gift and disbursement	1327
statement, or the donation and disbursement statement, the	1328
addendum to any of those statements, the amended statement of	1329
contributions and expenditures, the amended statement of	1330
independent expenditures, the amended disclosure of	1331
electioneering communications statement, the amended deposit and	1332
disbursement statement, or the amended gift and disbursement	1333
statement, or the amended donation and disbursement statement that	1334
is executed and transmitted by electronic means by the person to	1335
whom the electronic signature is attributed. The electronic	1336
signature that is attached to or associated with the statement,	1337
addendum, or amended statement under this division shall be	1338
binding on all persons and for all purposes under the campaign	1339
finance reporting law as if the signature had been handwritten in	1340
ink on a printed form.	1341

(I) The secretary of state shall make the contribution and	1342
expenditure, the contribution and disbursement, the deposit and	1343
disbursement, or the gift and disbursement, or the donation and	1344
disbursement information in all statements, all addenda to the	1345
statements, and all amended statements that are filed with the	1346
secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission	1347
under this section or section 3517.10, 3517.105, 3517.1011,	1348
3517.1012, 3517.1013, 3517.1014, or 3517.11 of the Revised Code	1349
available online to the public by any means that are searchable,	1350
viewable, and accessible through the internet.	1351

(J)(1) As used in this division, "library" means a library	1352
that is open to the public and that is one of the following:	1353

(a) A library that is maintained and regulated under section	1354
715.13 of the Revised Code;	1355

(b) A library that is created, maintained, and regulated	1356
under Chapter 3375. of the Revised Code.	1357

(2) The secretary of state shall notify all libraries of the	1358
location on the internet at which the contribution and	1359
expenditure, contribution and disbursement, deposit and	1360
disbursement, or gift and disbursement, or donation and	1361
disbursement information in campaign finance statements required	1362
to be made available online to the public through the internet	1363
pursuant to division (I) of this section may be accessed.	1364

If that location is part of the world wide web and if the	1365
secretary of state has notified a library of that world wide web	1366
location as required by this division, the library shall include a	1367
link to that world wide web location on each internet-connected	1368
computer it maintains that is accessible to the public.	1369

(3) If the system the secretary of state prescribes for the	1370
filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of	1371
transmission pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and	1372
divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised	1373
Code includes filing those statements through the internet via the	1374
world wide web, the secretary of state shall notify all libraries	1375
of the world wide web location at which those statements may be	1376
filed.	1377

If those statements may be filed through the internet via the	1378
world wide web and if the secretary of state has notified a	1379
library of that world wide web location as required by this	1380
division, the library shall include a link to that world wide web	1381
location on each internet-connected computer it maintains that is	1382
accessible to the public.	1383

(K) It is an affirmative defense to a complaint or charge	1384
brought against any campaign committee, political action	1385
committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign	1386
fund, or political party, any individual, partnership, or other	1387
entity, or any person making disbursements to pay the direct costs	1388
of producing or airing electioneering communications, or any	1389
treasurer of a transition fund, for the failure to file by	1390
electronic means of transmission a campaign finance statement as	1391
required by this section or section 3517.10, 3517.105, 3517.1011,	1392
3517.1012, or 3517.1013, or 3517.1014 of the Revised Code that all	1393
of the following apply to the campaign committee, political	1394
action committee, political contributing entity, legislative	1395
campaign fund, or political party, the individual, partnership,	1396
or other entity, or the person making disbursements to pay the	1397
direct costs of producing or airing electioneering	1398
communications, or the treasurer of a transition fund that failed	1399
to so file:	1400

(1) The campaign committee, political action committee,	1401
political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or	1402
political party, the individual, partnership, or other entity, or	1403
the person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of	1404
producing or airing electioneering communications, or the	1405
treasurer of a transition fund attempted to file by electronic	1406
means of transmission the required statement prior to the deadline	1407
set forth in the applicable section.	1408

(2) The campaign committee, political action committee,	1409
political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or	1410
political party, the individual, partnership, or other entity, or	1411
the person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of	1412
producing or airing electioneering communications, or the	1413
treasurer of a transition fund was unable to file by electronic	1414
means of transmission due to an expected or unexpected shutdown of	1415
the whole or part of the electronic campaign finance	1416
statement-filing system, such as for maintenance or because of	1417
hardware, software, or network connection failure.	1418

(3) The campaign committee, political action committee,	1419
political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or	1420
political party, the individual, partnership, or other entity, or	1421
the person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of	1422
producing or airing electioneering communications, or the	1423
treasurer of a transition fund filed by electronic means of	1424
transmission the required statement within a reasonable period of	1425
time after being unable to so file it under the circumstance	1426
described in division (K)(2) of this section.	1427

(L)(1) The secretary of state shall adopt rules pursuant to	1428
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to permit a campaign committee of	1429
a candidate for statewide office that makes expenditures of less	1430
than twenty-five thousand dollars during the filing period or a	1431
campaign committee for the office of member of the general	1432
assembly or the office of judge of a court of appeals that would	1433
otherwise be required to file campaign finance statements by	1434
electronic means of transmission under division (E) or (F) of this	1435
section to file those statements by paper with the office of the	1436
secretary of state. Those rules shall provide for all of the	1437
following:	1438

(a) An eligible campaign committee that wishes to file a	1439
campaign finance statement by paper instead of by electronic means	1440
of transmission shall file the statement on paper with the office	1441
of the secretary of state not sooner than twenty-four hours after	1442
the end of the filing period set forth in section 3517.10 of the	1443
Revised Code that is covered by the applicable statement.	1444

(b) The statement shall be accompanied by a fee, the amount	1445
of which the secretary of state shall determine by rule. The	1446
amount of the fee established under this division shall not exceed	1447
the data entry and data verification costs the secretary of state	1448
will incur to convert the information on the statement to an	1449
electronic format as required under division (I) of this section.	1450

(c) The secretary of state shall arrange for the information	1451
in campaign finance statements filed pursuant to division (L) of	1452
this section to be made available online to the public through the	1453
internet in the same manner, and at the same times, as information	1454
is made available under divisions (E), (F), and (I) of this	1455
section for candidates whose campaign committees file those	1456
statements by electronic means of transmission.	1457

(d) The candidate of an eligible campaign committee that	1458
intends to file a campaign finance statement pursuant to division	1459
(L) of this section shall file a notice indicating that the	1460
candidate's campaign committee intends to so file and stating that	1461
filing the statement by electronic means of transmission would	1462
constitute a hardship for the candidate or for the eligible	1463
campaign committee.	1464

(e) An eligible campaign committee that files a campaign	1465
finance statement on paper pursuant to division (L) of this	1466
section shall review the contribution and information made	1467
available online by the secretary of state with respect to that	1468
paper filing and shall notify the secretary of state of any errors	1469
with respect to that filing that appear in the data made available	1470
on that web site.	1471

(f) If an eligible campaign committee whose candidate has	1472
filed a notice in accordance with rules adopted under division	1473
(L)(1)(d) of this section subsequently fails to file that	1474
statement on paper by the applicable deadline established in rules	1475
adopted under division (L)(1)(a) of this section, penalties for	1476
the late filing of the campaign finance statement shall apply to	1477
that campaign committee for each day after that paper filing	1478
deadline, as if the campaign committee had filed the statement	1479
after the applicable deadline set forth in division (A) of section	1480
3517.10 of the Revised Code.	1481

(2) The process for permitting campaign committees that would	1482
otherwise be required to file campaign finance statements by	1483
electronic means of transmission to file those statements on paper	1484
with the office of the secretary of state that is required to be	1485
developed under division (L)(1) of this section shall be in effect	1486
and available for use by eligible campaign committees for all	1487
campaign finance statements that are required to be filed on or	1488
after June 30, 2005. Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised	1489
Code to the contrary, if the process the secretary of state is	1490
required to develop under division (L)(1) of this section is not	1491
in effect and available for use on and after June 30, 2005, all	1492
penalties for the failure of campaign committees to file campaign	1493
finance statements by electronic means of transmission shall be	1494
suspended until such time as that process is in effect and	1495
available for use.	1496

(3) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the	1497
contrary, any eligible campaign committee that files campaign	1498
finance statements on paper with the office of the secretary of	1499
state pursuant to division (L)(1) of this section shall be deemed	1500
to have filed those campaign finance statements by electronic	1501
means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state.	1502

Sec. 3517.1014. (A) As used in this section:

1503

(1) "Donation" means a gift, subscription, loan, advance, or	1504
deposit of money, or anything of value that is specifically	1505
designated and used to defray any costs incurred for transition	1506
activities and inaugural celebrations and that is not used for the	1507
purpose of directly influencing the election of any candidate for	1508
any office.	1509

(2) "Costs incurred for transition activities and inaugural	1510
celebrations" means legitimate and verifiable costs that are	1511
incurred for ordinary and necessary activities associated with	1512
either of the following:	1513

(a) The transfer of power or authority from one officeholder	1514
to another following a general or special election or appointment	1515
to office;	1516

(b) Ceremonies, events, or activities commemorating the	1517
commencement of a term or the commencement of an unexpired term of	1518
an officeholder.	1519

"Costs incurred for transition activities and inaugural	1520
celebrations" includes, but is not limited to, costs incurred for	1521
office expenses; salaries for transition personnel; consulting	1522
fees; and food, beverages, and entertainment at an inaugural	1523
celebration.	1524

(3) "Officeholder" means a person who has been or who may	1525
have been elected to any elective office other than a judicial	1526
office or who has been appointed to any elective office other	1527
than a judicial office.	1528

(B)(1)(a) An officeholder may establish a transition fund to	1529
receive donations and to pay costs incurred for transition	1530
activities and inaugural celebrations. The officeholder shall	1531
file a statement with the secretary of state establishing the	1532
fund and designating a treasurer for the fund. The secretary of	1533
state shall specify, by rule, the form of the statement.	1534

(b) The treasurer shall terminate the transition fund not	1535
later than one hundred twenty days after the fund is established.	1536
Donations may be accepted for and deposited into a transition	1537
fund, and disbursements may be made from a transition fund, only	1538
during the fund's existence. Costs incurred for transition	1539
activities and inaugural celebrations that are to be paid for	1540
with moneys from the fund shall be incurred only during the	1541
fund's existence.	1542

(2) An officeholder may establish a transition fund:

1543

(a) The day after the day of the election at which the	1544
person seeks election to office, if, based on the number of	1545
ballots outstanding for that election and the unofficial results	1546
of the election, it is mathematically possible for the person to	1547
have been elected to that office;	1548

(b) After the person has been appointed to fill a vacancy in	1549
an unexpired term of an elective office.	1550

(3)(a) An officeholder who is elected at a general election	1551
or who may be elected at a general election and who wishes to	1552
establish a transition fund shall establish that fund not later	1553
than the last day of December of the year in which the election	1554
was held.	1555

(b) An officeholder who is appointed and who wishes to	1556
establish a transition fund shall establish that fund not later	1557
than forty-five days after the day the person is appointed to	1558
office.	1559

(c) An officeholder who is elected at a special election or	1560
who may be elected at a special election and who wishes to	1561
establish a transition fund shall establish that fund not later	1562
than forty-five days after the day of the special election.	1563

(C)(1)(a) Any campaign committee and any person, including a	1564
for-profit corporation, may make a donation to a transition fund.	1565

(b) No campaign committee or person shall make a donation or	1566
donations to a transition fund of an officeholder for the joint	1567
offices of governor and lieutenant governor aggregating more than	1568
ten thousand dollars.	1569

(c) No campaign committee or person shall make a donation or	1570
donations to a transition fund of any officeholder other than an	1571
officeholder for the joint offices of governor and lieutenant	1572
governor aggregating more than two thousand five hundred dollars.	1573

(2) No officeholder shall accept a donation unless both of	1574
the following apply:	1575

(a) The officeholder has established a transition fund under	1576
division (B) of this section; and	1577

(b) The donation is deposited to the credit of that fund.

1578

(3)(a) No officeholder for the joint offices of governor and	1579
lieutenant governor or treasurer of a transition fund for the	1580
joint offices of governor and lieutenant governor shall accept a	1581
donation or donations from any one campaign committee or any one	1582
person aggregating more than ten thousand dollars.	1583

(b) No officeholder other than an officeholder for the joint	1584
offices of governor and lieutenant governor and no treasurer of a	1585
transition fund for any officeholder other than an officeholder	1586
for the joint offices of governor and lieutenant governor shall	1587
accept a donation or donations from any one campaign committee or	1588
any one person aggregating more than two thousand five hundred	1589
dollars.	1590

(D)(1)(a) The treasurer of a transition fund shall keep a	1591
strict account of all donations to the fund and all disbursements	1592
from the fund.	1593

(b) The treasurer of a transition fund shall deposit all	1594
monetary donations received by the transition fund into a separate	1595
bank or financial institution account established solely for the	1596
transition fund.	1597

(2) The treasurer of a transition fund shall file, by	1598
electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of	1599
state, a full, true, and itemized statement describing each	1600
donation received and each disbursement made from the fund not	1601
later than four p.m. of the following dates:	1602

(a) The fifteenth day of January of the calendar year	1603
following the general election at which the officeholder was	1604
elected, or, if the officeholder was elected at a special election	1605
or appointed to office, the sixty-fifth day after the transition	1606
fund is created, to reflect donations received and disbursements	1607
made from the creation of the transition fund to the close of	1608
business on the fifth day before the statement is required to be	1609
filed;	1610

(b) The fifteenth day of each subsequent month of the fund's	1611
existence, to reflect donations received and disbursements made	1612
from the close of business on the last day reflected in the last	1613
previously filed statement to the close of business on the fifth	1614
day before the statement is required to be filed.	1615

(3) Each statement required under division (D)(2) of this	1616
section shall contain the following information:	1617

(a) The full name and address of the treasurer filing the	1618
statement and the full name and address of the officeholder who	1619
is the beneficiary of the transition fund;	1620

(b) The balance in the transition fund brought forward from	1621
the most recently filed statement, if any;	1622

(c) A statement of donations received, which shall include	1623
all of the following:	1624

(i) The month, day, and year on which each donation was	1625
received;	1626

(ii) The full name and street address of each donor;

1627

(iii) The nature of each donation, if other than money;

1628

(iv) The value of each donation in dollars and cents; and

1629

(v) If applicable, the name of the donor's current employer,	1630
or, if the donor is self-employed, the donor's occupation and the	1631
name of the donor's business.	1632

(d) A statement of disbursements, which shall include all of	1633
the following:	1634

(i) The name and address of the recipient of each	1635
disbursement;	1636

(ii) The date of each disbursement;

1637

(iii) The amount of each disbursement;

1638

(iv) The purpose for which each disbursement was made; and

1639

(v) The date the transition fund incurred the cost for which	1640
the disbursement was made.	1641

(e) The balance remaining in the fund.

1642

(E)(1) No treasurer of a transition fund shall knowingly fail	1643
to file a statement required to be filed under this section.	1644

(2) No treasurer of a transition fund shall knowingly fail to	1645
report, or shall knowingly misrepresent, a donation required to be	1646
reported on a statement required to be filed under this section.	1647

(3) No treasurer of a transition fund shall knowingly fail to	1648
report, or shall knowingly misrepresent, a disbursement required	1649
to be reported on a statement required to be filed under this	1650
section.	1651

(F) Upon request, the secretary of state shall issue a	1652
receipt for each statement filed under this section. The secretary	1653
of state shall maintain a record of the filing for at least ten	1654
years. All statements filed under this section shall be open to	1655
public inspection in the office in which they are filed.	1656

(G)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (H)(1) or (2)	1657
of this section, no treasurer of a transition fund shall make a	1658
disbursement from the fund for a purpose other than to pay costs	1659
incurred for transition activities and inaugural celebrations.	1660

(2) No treasurer of a transition fund shall make a	1661
disbursement from the fund to make a contribution to a campaign	1662
committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund,	1663
political party, or political contributing entity.	1664

(3) No treasurer of a transition fund shall make a	1665
disbursement from the fund to reimburse any personal expenses of	1666
the beneficiary of the transition fund, except to reimburse the	1667
beneficiary of the transition fund for costs incurred for	1668
transition activities and inaugural celebrations.	1669

(4) No treasurer of a transition fund shall make a	1670
disbursement from the fund for the purpose of influencing the	1671
results of any election.	1672

(H)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (H)(2) of	1673
this section, after the payment of all costs incurred for	1674
transition activities and inaugural celebrations, the treasurer	1675
of the transition fund shall dispose of any money or assets	1676
remaining in the transition fund prior to terminating the fund by	1677
doing either of the following:	1678

(a) Giving the amount, pro rata, to all persons who made	1679
donations to that transition fund as a refund of all or part of	1680
their donations;	1681

(b) Giving the amount to a corporation that is exempt from	1682
federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in	1683
subsection 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.	1684

(2) If, upon the completion of the canvass of election	1685
returns for the election at which the beneficiary of a transition	1686
fund seeks election to office, it is determined that the	1687
beneficiary has not been elected to that office, within thirty	1688
days after the completion of the canvass the treasurer of the	1689
beneficiary's transition fund shall dispose of all assets	1690
remaining in the transition fund in the manner provided in	1691
division (H)(1) of this section.	1692

(3) In disposing of assets under division (H)(1) or (2) of	1693
this section, the treasurer of a transition fund shall not refund	1694
to any campaign committee any donation received from that campaign	1695
committee.	1696

(I)(1) Not later than one hundred twenty days after a	1697
transition fund has been established, the treasurer of the	1698
transition fund shall file a final statement of donations and	1699
disbursements under division (D) of this section that shall	1700
include the disbursements made under division (H)(1) of this	1701
section, as applicable. The final statement shall be filed with a	1702
termination statement that meets the requirements of division	1703
(I)(3) of this section.	1704

(2) Not later than thirty-five days after a determination	1705
that the beneficiary of a transition fund has not been elected to	1706
office under division (H)(2) of this section, the treasurer of the	1707
transition fund shall file a final statement of donations and	1708
disbursements under division (D) of this section that shall	1709
include the disbursements made under division (H)(2) of this	1710
section, as applicable. The final statement shall be filed with a	1711
termination statement that meets the requirements of division	1712
(I)(3) of this section.	1713

(3) The secretary of state shall specify, by rule, the form	1714
of the termination statement required to be filed under division	1715
(I)(1) or (2) of this section. The rule shall require that a copy	1716
of all available statements from the bank or other financial	1717
institution that held transition fund moneys be filed with the	1718
termination statement. The bank or financial institution	1719
statements shall contain a zero balance confirming that all	1720
transition fund moneys were disposed of prior to the termination	1721
of the transition fund. If final bank or financial institution	1722
statements are not available at the time of the filing of the	1723
termination statement, the rule shall require the treasurer of the	1724
transition fund to do both of the following:	1725

(a) State in the termination statement that all transition	1726
fund moneys were disposed of prior to the termination of the	1727
transition fund;	1728

(b) File with the secretary of state copies of the final bank	1729
or financial institution statements within five days after the	1730
treasurer receives those statements from the bank or financial	1731
institution.	1732

(4) Upon the filing of a termination statement, the	1733
transition fund shall cease to exist.	1734

Sec. 3517.11.  (A)(1) Campaign committees of candidates for	1736
statewide office or the state board of education, political action	1737
committees or political contributing entities that make	1738
contributions to campaign committees of candidates that are	1739
required to file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of	1740
the Revised Code with the secretary of state, political action	1741
committees or political contributing entities that make	1742
contributions to campaign committees of candidates for member of	1743
the general assembly, political action committees or political	1744
contributing entities that make contributions to state and	1745
national political parties and to legislative campaign funds,	1746
political action committees or political contributing entities	1747
that receive contributions or make expenditures in connection with	1748
a statewide ballot issue, political action committees or political	1749
contributing entities that make contributions to other political	1750
action committees or political contributing entities, political	1751
parties, and campaign committees, except as set forth in division	1752
(A)(3) of this section, legislative campaign funds, and state and	1753
national political parties shall file the statements prescribed by	1754
section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with the secretary of state.	1755

(2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (F) of	1756
section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, campaign committees of	1757
candidates for all other offices shall file the statements	1758
prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with the board	1759
of elections where their candidates are required to file their	1760
petitions or other papers for nomination or election.	1761

(b) A campaign committee of a candidate for office of member	1762
of the general assembly or a campaign committee of a candidate for	1763
the office of judge of a court of appeals shall file two copies of	1764
the printed version of any statement, addendum, or amended	1765
statement if the committee does not file pursuant to division	1766
(F)(1) or (L) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code but files by	1767
printed version only with the appropriate board of elections. The	1768
board of elections shall send one of those copies by certified	1769
mail to the secretary of state before the close of business on	1770
the day the board of elections receives the statement, addendum,	1771
or amended statement.	1772

(3) Political action committees or political contributing	1773
entities that only contribute to a county political party,	1774
contribute to campaign committees of candidates whose nomination	1775
or election is to be submitted only to electors within a county,	1776
subdivision, or district, excluding candidates for member of the	1777
general assembly, and receive contributions or make expenditures	1778
in connection with ballot questions or issues to be submitted only	1779
to electors within a county, subdivision, or district shall file	1780
the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code	1781
with the board of elections in that county or in the county	1782
contained in whole or part within the subdivision or district	1783
having a population greater than that of any other county	1784
contained in whole or part within that subdivision or district, as	1785
the case may be.	1786

(4) Except as otherwise provided in division (E)(3) of	1787
section 3517.106 of the Revised Code with respect to state	1788
candidate funds, county political parties shall file the	1789
statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with	1790
the board of elections of their respective counties.	1791

(B)(1) The official with whom petitions and other papers for	1792
nomination or election to public office are filed shall furnish	1793
each candidate at the time of that filing a copy of sections	1794
3517.01, 3517.08 to 3517.11, 3517.13 to 3517.993, 3599.03, and	1795
3599.031 of the Revised Code and any other materials that the	1796
secretary of state may require. Each candidate receiving the	1797
materials shall acknowledge their receipt in writing.	1798

(2) On or before the tenth day before the dates on which	1799
statements are required to be filed by section 3517.10 of the	1800
Revised Code, every candidate subject to the provisions of this	1801
section and sections 3517.10 and 3517.106 of the Revised Code	1802
shall be notified of the requirements and applicable penalties of	1803
those sections. The secretary of state, by certified mail, return	1804
receipt requested, shall notify all candidates required to file	1805
those statements with the secretary of state's office. The board	1806
of elections of every county shall notify by first class mail any	1807
candidate who has personally appeared at the office of the board	1808
on or before the tenth day before the statements are required to	1809
be filed and signed a form, to be provided by the secretary of	1810
state, attesting that the candidate has been notified of the	1811
candidate's obligations under the campaign finance law. The board	1812
shall forward the completed form to the secretary of state. The	1813
board shall use certified mail, return receipt requested, to	1814
notify all other candidates required to file those statements with	1815
it.	1816

(3)(a) Any statement required to be filed under sections	1817
3517.081 to 3517.17 of the Revised Code that is found to be	1818
incomplete or inaccurate by the officer to whom it is submitted	1819
shall be accepted on a conditional basis, and the person who filed	1820
it shall be notified by certified mail as to the incomplete or	1821
inaccurate nature of the statement. The secretary of state may	1822
examine statements filed for candidates for the office of member	1823
of the general assembly and candidates for the office of judge of	1824
a court of appeals for completeness and accuracy. The secretary of	1825
state shall examine for completeness and accuracy statements that	1826
campaign committees of candidates for the office of member of the	1827
general assembly and campaign committees of candidates for the	1828
office of judge of a court of appeals file pursuant to division	1829
(F) or (L) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code. If an officer	1830
at the board of elections where a statement filed for a candidate	1831
for the office of member of the general assembly or for a	1832
candidate for the office of judge of a court of appeals was	1833
submitted finds the statement to be incomplete or inaccurate, the	1834
officer shall immediately notify the secretary of state of its	1835
incomplete or inaccurate nature. If either an officer at the board	1836
of elections or the secretary of state finds a statement filed for	1837
a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly or	1838
for a candidate for the office of judge of a court of appeals to	1839
be incomplete or inaccurate, only the secretary of state shall	1840
send the notification as to the incomplete or inaccurate nature of	1841
the statement.	1842

Within twenty-one days after receipt of the notice, in the	1843
case of a pre-election statement, a postelection statement, a	1844
monthly statement, an annual statement, or a semiannual statement	1845
prescribed by section 3517.10, an annual statement prescribed by	1846
section 3517.101, or a statement prescribed by division (B)(2)(b)	1847
or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105 or section 3517.107 of the	1848
Revised Code, the recipient shall file an addendum, amendment, or	1849
other correction to the statement providing the information	1850
necessary to complete or correct the statement. The secretary of	1851
state may require that, in lieu of filing an addendum, amendment,	1852
or other correction to a statement that is filed by electronic	1853
means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state	1854
pursuant to section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, the recipient of	1855
the notice described in this division file by electronic means of	1856
transmission an amended statement that incorporates the	1857
information necessary to complete or correct the statement.	1858

The secretary of state shall determine by rule when an	1859
addendum, amendment, or other correction to any of the following	1860
or when an amended statement of any of the following shall be	1861
filed:	1862

(i) A two-business-day statement prescribed by section	1863
3517.10 of the Revised Code;	1864

(ii) A disclosure of electioneering communications statement	1865
prescribed by division (D) of section 3517.1011 of the Revised	1866
Code;	1867

(iii) A deposit and disbursement statement prescribed under	1868
division (B) of section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code;	1869

(iv) A gift and disbursement statement prescribed under	1870
section 3517.1013 of the Revised Code;	1871

(v) A donation and disbursement statement prescribed under	1872
section 3517.1014 of the Revised Code.	1873

An addendum, amendment, or other correction to a statement	1874
that is filed by electronic means of transmission pursuant to	1875
section 3517.106 of the Revised Code shall be filed in the same	1876
manner as the statement.	1877

The provisions of sections 3517.10, 3517.106, 3517.1011,	1878
3517.1012, and 3517.1013, and 3517.1014 of the Revised Code	1879
pertaining to the filing of statements of contributions and	1880
expenditures, statements of independent expenditures, disclosure	1881
of electioneering communications statements, deposit and	1882
disbursement statements, and gift and disbursement statements,	1883
and donation and disbursement statements by electronic means of	1884
transmission apply to the filing of addenda, amendments, or other	1885
corrections to those statements by electronic means of	1886
transmission and the filing of amended statements by electronic	1887
means of transmission.	1888

(b) Within five business days after the secretary of state	1889
receives, by electronic or other means of transmission, an	1890
addendum, amendment, or other correction to a statement or an	1891
amended statement under division (B)(3)(a) of this section, the	1892
secretary of state, pursuant to divisions (E), (F), (G), and (I)	1893
of section 3517.106 or division (D) of section 3517.1011 of the	1894
Revised Code, shall make the contribution and expenditure,	1895
contribution and disbursement, deposit and disbursement, or gift	1896
and disbursement, or donation and disbursement information in that	1897
addendum, amendment, correction, or amended statement available	1898
online to the public through the internet.	1899

(4)(a) The secretary of state or the board of elections shall	1900
examine all statements for compliance with sections 3517.08 to	1901
3517.17 of the Revised Code.	1902

(b) The secretary of state may contract with an individual or	1903
entity not associated with the secretary of state and experienced	1904
in interpreting the campaign finance law of this state to conduct	1905
examinations of statements filed by any statewide candidate, as	1906
defined in section 3517.103 of the Revised Code.	1907

(c) The examination shall be conducted by a person or entity	1908
qualified to conduct it. The results of the examination shall be	1909
available to the public, and, when the examination is conducted by	1910
an individual or entity not associated with the secretary of	1911
state, the results of the examination shall be reported to the	1912
secretary of state.	1913

(C)(1) In the event of a failure to file or a late filing of	1914
a statement required to be filed under sections 3517.081 to	1915
3517.17 of the Revised Code, or if a filed statement or any	1916
addendum, amendment, or other correction to a statement or any	1917
amended statement, if an addendum, amendment, or other correction	1918
or an amended statement is required to be filed, is incomplete or	1919
inaccurate or appears to disclose a failure to comply with or a	1920
violation of law, the official whose duty it is to examine the	1921
statement shall promptly file a complaint with the Ohio elections	1922
commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised Code if the law	1923
is one over which the commission has jurisdiction to hear	1924
complaints, or the official shall promptly report the failure or	1925
violation to the board of elections and the board shall promptly	1926
report it to the prosecuting attorney in accordance with division	1927
(J) of section 3501.11 of the Revised Code. If the official files	1928
a complaint with the commission, the commission shall proceed in	1929
accordance with sections 3517.154 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code.	1930

(2) For purposes of division (C)(1) of this section, a	1931
statement or an addendum, amendment, or other correction to a	1932
statement or an amended statement required to be filed under	1933
sections 3517.081 to 3517.17 of the Revised Code is incomplete or	1934
inaccurate under this section if the statement, addendum,	1935
amendment, other correction, or amended statement fails to	1936
disclose substantially all contributions or, gifts, or donations	1937
that are received or deposits that are made that are required to	1938
be reported under sections 3517.10, 3517.107, 3517.108,	1939
3517.1011, 3517.1012, and 3517.1013, and 3517.1014 of the Revised	1940
Code or if the statement, addendum, amendment, other correction,	1941
or amended statement fails to disclose at least ninety per cent of	1942
the total contributions or, gifts, or donations received or	1943
deposits made or of the total expenditures or disbursements made	1944
during the reporting period.	1945

(D) No certificate of nomination or election shall be issued	1946
to a person, and no person elected to an office shall enter upon	1947
the performance of the duties of that office, until that person or	1948
that person's campaign committee, as appropriate, has fully	1949
complied with this section and sections 3517.08, 3517.081,	1950
3517.10, and 3517.13 of the Revised Code.	1951

Sec. 3517.153.  (A) Upon the filing of a complaint with the	1952
Ohio elections commission, which shall be made by affidavit of any	1953
person, on personal knowledge, and subject to the penalties for	1954
perjury, or upon the filing of a complaint made by the secretary	1955
of state or an official at the board of elections, setting forth a	1956
failure to comply with or a violation of any provision in sections	1957
3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.17, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03,	1958
or 3599.031 of the Revised Code, the commission shall proceed in	1959
accordance with sections 3517.154 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code.	1960

(B) The commission shall prescribe the form for complaints	1961
made under division (A) of this section. The secretary of state	1962
and boards of elections shall furnish the information that the	1963
commission requests. The commission or a member of the commission	1964
may administer oaths, and the commission may issue subpoenas to	1965
any person in the state compelling the attendance of witnesses and	1966
the production of relevant papers, books, accounts, and reports.	1967
Section 101.42 of the Revised Code governs the issuance of	1968
subpoenas insofar as applicable. Upon the refusal of any person to	1969
obey a subpoena or to be sworn or to answer as a witness, the	1970
commission may apply to the court of common pleas of Franklin	1971
county under section 2705.03 of the Revised Code. The court shall	1972
hold proceedings in accordance with Chapter 2705. of the Revised	1973
Code.	1974

(C) No prosecution shall commence for a violation of a	1975
provision in sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.17, 3517.18,	1976
3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, or 3599.031 of the Revised Code	1977
unless a complaint has been filed with the commission under this	1978
section and all proceedings of the commission or a panel of the	1979
commission, as appropriate, under sections 3517.154 to 3517.157 of	1980
the Revised Code are completed.	1981

(D) The commission may recommend legislation and render	1982
advisory opinions concerning sections 3517.08, 3517.082, 3517.092,	1983
3517.102, 3517.103, 3517.105, 3517.1014, 3517.13, 3517.18, 3517.20	1984
to 3517.22, 3599.03, and 3599.031 of the Revised Code for persons	1985
over whose acts it has or may have jurisdiction. When the	1986
commission renders an advisory opinion relating to a specific set	1987
of circumstances involving any of those sections stating that	1988
there is no violation of a provision in those sections, the person	1989
to whom the opinion is directed or a person who is similarly	1990
situated may reasonably rely on the opinion and is immune from	1991
criminal prosecution and a civil action, including, without	1992
limitation, a civil action for removal from public office or	1993
employment, based on facts and circumstances covered by the	1994
opinion.	1995

(E) The commission shall establish a web site on which it	1996
shall post, at a minimum, all decisions and advisory opinions	1997
issued by the commission and copies of each election law as it is	1998
amended by the general assembly. The commission shall update the	1999
web site regularly to reflect any changes to those decisions and	2000
advisory opinions and any new decisions and advisory opinions.	2001

Sec. 3517.154.  (A)(1) The full-time attorney for the Ohio	2002
elections commission shall review each complaint filed with the	2003
commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised Code, shall	2004
determine the nature of the complaint, and, unless division	2005
(A)(2)(a) of this section requires that the complaint receive an	2006
automatic expedited hearing, shall make a recommendation to the	2007
commission for its disposition, in accordance with this section.	2008
The attorney shall make the determination and the recommendation,	2009
if required, not later than one business day after the complaint	2010
is filed.	2011

(2)(a) If the attorney determines that the complaint sets	2012
forth a violation of division (B) of section 3517.21 or division	2013
(B) of section 3517.22 of the Revised Code and that the complaint	2014
is filed during one of the periods of time specified in division	2015
(B)(1) of section 3517.156 of the Revised Code, or that the	2016
complaint sets forth a violation of section 3517.103 of the	2017
Revised Code or a violation described in division (D) of section	2018
3517.1010 of the Revised Code, the complaint shall receive an	2019
automatic expedited hearing under section 3517.156 of the Revised	2020
Code.	2021

(b) If the attorney determines that the complaint sets forth	2022
a failure to comply with or a violation of division (G), (I), (J),	2023
(O), (P), or (Q) of section 3517.13, division (A) of section	2024
3517.21, or division (A) of section 3517.22 of the Revised Code	2025
and that the complaint is filed during one of the periods of time	2026
specified in division (B)(1) of section 3517.156 of the Revised	2027
Code, the attorney shall recommend to the commission that the	2028
complaint receive an expedited hearing under section 3517.156 of	2029
the Revised Code, and the complaint shall receive such a hearing.	2030

(c) If the attorney determines that the complaint sets forth	2031
a failure to comply with or a violation of a section of the	2032
Revised Code over which the commission has jurisdiction to hear	2033
complaints other than the sections described in divisions	2034
(A)(2)(a) and (b) of this section, and unless the attorney makes a	2035
determination as provided for in division (A)(3) of this section,	2036
the attorney shall recommend to the commission that the complaint	2037
be submitted to the commission under section 3517.155 of the	2038
Revised Code. After the attorney makes that recommendation, the	2039
attorney shall notify all parties to the complaint of the	2040
attorney's recommendation.	2041

(3)(a) If a complaint sets forth a failure to comply with or	2042
a violation of a section of the Revised Code over which the	2043
commission has jurisdiction to hear complaints other than the	2044
sections described in divisions (A)(2)(a) and (b) of this section	2045
and if the complaint is filed during one of the periods of time	2046
specified in division (B)(1) of section 3517.156 of the Revised	2047
Code, the attorney may determine that the complaint should receive	2048
an expedited hearing under that section. The attorney shall make	2049
that determination by considering one or more of the following:	2050

(i) The number of prior failures to comply with or violations	2051
of Title XXXV of the Revised Code that the person or entity	2052
against whom the complaint has been brought has committed and any	2053
prior penalties the commission has imposed on the person or	2054
entity;	2055

(ii) If the complaint involves a statement required to be	2056
filed under section 3517.10, division (E) of section 3517.102, or	2057
section 3517.103, 3517.105, 3517.107, 3517.108, 3517.109,	2058
3517.1011, or 3517.1012, or 3517.1014 of the Revised Code or an	2059
addendum required to be filed under section 3517.11 of the Revised	2060
Code that is filed late, how late the filing is and how much time	2061
has elapsed between the deadline for filing the statement or	2062
addendum and the filing of the complaint;	2063

(iii) If the complaint involves contributions and	2064
expenditures, contributions and disbursements, deposits and	2065
disbursements, or gifts and disbursements, or donations and	2066
disbursements required to be reported under section 3517.10,	2067
division (E) of section 3517.102, or section 3517.105, 3517.107,	2068
3517.108, 3517.109, 3517.1011, 3517.1012, or 3517.1013, or	2069
3517.1014 of the Revised Code that are either not reported or	2070
reported late, the number of contributions and expenditures,	2071
contributions and disbursements, deposits and disbursements, or	2072
gifts and disbursements, or donations and disbursements not	2073
reported or how late they were reported;	2074

(iv) If the complaint involves contributions required to be	2075
reported by a campaign committee under section 3517.10, division	2076
(E) of section 3517.102, or section 3517.105, 3517.107, 3517.108,	2077
or 3517.109 of the Revised Code that are not reported, whether any	2078
of the contributors of the contributions not reported have a	2079
personal or professional relationship with the campaign	2080
committee's candidate;	2081

(v) If the complaint involves a statement required to be	2082
filed under section 3517.10, division (E) of section 3517.102, or	2083
section 3517.103, 3517.105, 3517.107, 3517.108, 3517.109,	2084
3517.1011, 3517.1012, or 3517.1013, or 3517.1014 of the Revised	2085
Code that is incomplete, the degree to which it is incomplete;	2086

(vi) If the complaint involves the receipt of contributions	2087
in violation of section 3599.03 of the Revised Code, the dollar	2088
amount and number of contributions received in violation of that	2089
section;	2090

(vii) If the complaint involves a failure to make the	2091
identification or a misstatement of the identification required	2092
under section 3517.105 or 3517.20 of the Revised Code, whether the	2093
failure or misstatement was purposely made;	2094

(viii) If the complaint sets forth a failure to comply with	2095
or a violation of a section of the Revised Code described in	2096
division (A)(2)(c) of this section, whether the person or entity	2097
against whom the complaint has been made has committed more than	2098
one such failure or violation within a reasonable amount of time,	2099
or whether the cumulative nature of the failures or violations	2100
indicates a systematic disregard for the law.	2101

(b) Prior to making a determination under division (A)(3)(a)	2102
of this section that the complaint should receive an expedited	2103
hearing under section 3517.156 of the Revised Code, the attorney	2104
shall take into consideration the number of panels of the	2105
commission that have cases pending before them and the number of	2106
cases pending before the panels and shall not make a determination	2107
that will place an undue burden on a panel of the commission.	2108

(c) If the attorney determines that the complaint should	2109
receive an expedited hearing under section 3517.156 of the Revised	2110
Code, the attorney shall recommend to the commission that the	2111
complaint receive an expedited hearing, and, if a majority of the	2112
members of the commission agrees with the recommendation, the	2113
complaint shall receive an expedited hearing under that section.	2114

(4) The attorney may join two or more complaints if the	2115
attorney determines that the allegations in each complaint are of	2116
the same or similar character, are based on the same act or	2117
failure to act, or are based on two or more acts or failures to	2118
act constituting parts of a common scheme or plan. If one	2119
complaint contains two or more allegations, the attorney may	2120
separate the allegations if they are not of the same or similar	2121
character, if they are not based on the same act or failure to	2122
act, or if they are not based on two or more acts or failures to	2123
act constituting parts of a common scheme or plan. If the attorney	2124
separates the allegations in a complaint, the attorney may make	2125
separate recommendations under division (A)(2) or (3) of this	2126
section for each allegation.	2127

(B) Whenever a person or other entity files a complaint with	2128
the commission setting forth a failure to comply with or a	2129
violation of a section of the Revised Code as described in	2130
division (A)(2)(c) of this section and the complaint is filed	2131
during one of the periods of time specified in division (B)(1) of	2132
section 3517.156 of the Revised Code, the person or entity may	2133
request an expedited hearing under that section at the time the	2134
complaint is filed. The attorney for the commission shall inform	2135
the members of the commission of that request at the time the	2136
attorney makes a recommendation under division (A) of this	2137
section. The commission may grant the request for an expedited	2138
hearing under this division if it determines that an expedited	2139
hearing is practicable.	2140

Sec. 3517.992.  This section establishes penalties only with	2141
respect to acts or failures to act that occur on and after August	2142
24, 1995.	2143

(A)(1) A candidate whose campaign committee violates division	2144
(A), (B), (C), (D), or (V) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code,	2145
or a treasurer of a campaign committee who violates any of those	2146
divisions, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars for	2147
each day of violation.	2148

(2) Whoever violates division (E) or (X)(5) of section	2149
3517.13 or division (E)(1) of section 3517.1014 of the Revised	2150
Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars for each day	2151
of violation.	2152

(B) A political party that violates division (F)(1) of	2153
section 3517.101 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than	2154
one hundred dollars for each day of violation.	2155

(C) Whoever violates division (F)(2) of section 3517.101 or,	2156
division (G) of section 3517.13, or division (E)(2) or (3) of	2157
section 3517.1014 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than	2158
ten thousand dollars or, if the offender is a person who was	2159
nominated or elected to public office, shall forfeit the	2160
nomination or the office to which the offender was elected, or	2161
both.	2162

(D) Whoever violates division (F) of section 3517.13 of the	2163
Revised Code shall be fined not more than three times the amount	2164
contributed.	2165

(E) Whoever violates division (H) of section 3517.13 of the	2166
Revised Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.	2167

(F) Whoever violates division (O), (P), or (Q) of section	2168
3517.13 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the	2169
first degree.	2170

(G) A state or county committee of a political party that	2171
violates division (B)(1) of section 3517.18 of the Revised Code	2172
shall be fined not more than twice the amount of the improper	2173
expenditure.	2174

(H) A state or county political party that violates division	2175
(G) of section 3517.101 of the Revised Code shall be fined not	2176
more than twice the amount of the improper expenditure or use.	2177

(I)(1) Any individual who violates division (B)(1) of section	2178
3517.102 of the Revised Code and knows that the contribution the	2179
individual makes violates that division shall be fined an amount	2180
equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the	2181
amount permitted by that division.	2182

(2) Any political action committee that violates division	2183
(B)(2) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an	2184
amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of	2185
the amount permitted by that division.	2186

(3) Any campaign committee that violates division (B)(3) or	2187
(5) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an	2188
amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of	2189
the amount permitted by that division.	2190

(4)(a) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division	2191
(B)(6) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an	2192
amount equal to three times the amount transferred or contributed	2193
in excess of the amount permitted by that division, as applicable.	2194

(b) Any state political party, county political party, or	2195
state candidate fund of a state political party or county	2196
political party that violates division (B)(6) of section 3517.102	2197
of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times	2198
the amount transferred or contributed in excess of the amount	2199
permitted by that division, as applicable.	2200

(c) Any political contributing entity that violates division	2201
(B)(7) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an	2202
amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of	2203
the amount permitted by that division.	2204

(5) Any political party that violates division (B)(4) of	2205
section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount	2206
equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the	2207
amount permitted by that division.	2208

(6) Notwithstanding divisions (I)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5)	2209
of this section, no violation of division (B) of section 3517.102	2210
of the Revised Code occurs, and the secretary of state shall not	2211
refer parties to the Ohio elections commission, if the amount	2212
transferred or contributed in excess of the amount permitted by	2213
that division meets either of the following conditions:	2214

(a) It is completely refunded within five business days after	2215
it is accepted.	2216

(b) It is completely refunded on or before the tenth business	2217
day after notification to the recipient of the excess transfer or	2218
contribution by the board of elections or the secretary of state	2219
that a transfer or contribution in excess of the permitted amount	2220
has been received.	2221

(J)(1) Any campaign committee that violates division (C)(1),	2222
(2), (3), or (6) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be	2223
fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess	2224
of the amount permitted by that division.	2225

(2)(a) Any county political party that violates division	2226
(C)(4)(a)(ii) or (iii) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code	2227
shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted.	2228

(b) Any county political party that violates division	2229
(C)(4)(a)(i) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be	2230
fined an amount from its state candidate fund equal to three times	2231
the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that	2232
division.	2233

(c) Any state political party that violates division	2234
(C)(4)(b) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined	2235
an amount from its state candidate fund equal to three times the	2236
amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that	2237
division.	2238

(3) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division	2239
(C)(5) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an	2240
amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the	2241
amount permitted by that division.	2242

(4) Any political action committee or political contributing	2243
entity that violates division (C)(7) of section 3517.102 of the	2244
Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the	2245
amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that	2246
division.	2247

(5) Notwithstanding divisions (J)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of	2248
this section, no violation of division (C) of section 3517.102 of	2249
the Revised Code occurs, and the secretary of state shall not	2250
refer parties to the Ohio elections commission, if the amount	2251
transferred or contributed in excess of the amount permitted to be	2252
accepted by that division meets either of the following	2253
conditions:	2254

(a) It is completely refunded within five business days after	2255
its acceptance.	2256

(b) It is completely refunded on or before the tenth business	2257
day after notification to the recipient of the excess transfer or	2258
contribution by the board of elections or the secretary of state	2259
that a transfer or contribution in excess of the permitted amount	2260
has been received.	2261

(K)(1) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division	2262
(F)(1) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined	2263
twenty-five dollars for each day of violation.	2264

(2) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division	2265
(F)(2) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall give to the	2266
treasurer of state for deposit into the state treasury to the	2267
credit of the Ohio elections commission fund all excess	2268
contributions not disposed of as required by division (E) of	2269
section 3517.102 of the Revised Code.	2270

(L) Whoever violates section 3517.105 of the Revised Code	2271
shall be fined one thousand dollars.	2272

(M)(1) Whoever solicits a contribution in violation of	2273
section 3517.092 or violates division (B) of section 3517.09 of	2274
the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.	2275

(2) Whoever knowingly accepts a contribution in violation of	2276
division (B) or (C) of section 3517.092 of the Revised Code shall	2277
be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in	2278
violation of either of those divisions and shall return to the	2279
contributor any amount so accepted. Whoever unknowingly accepts a	2280
contribution in violation of division (B) or (C) of section	2281
3517.092 of the Revised Code shall return to the contributor any	2282
amount so accepted.	2283

(N) Whoever violates division (S) of section 3517.13 of the	2284
Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the	2285
amount of funds transferred or three times the value of the assets	2286
transferred in violation of that division.	2287

(O) Any campaign committee that accepts a contribution or	2288
contributions in violation of section 3517.108 of the Revised	2289
Code, uses a contribution in violation of that section, or fails	2290
to dispose of excess contributions in violation of that section	2291
shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted,	2292
used, or kept in violation of that section.	2293

(P) Any political party, state candidate fund, legislative	2294
candidate fund, or campaign committee that violates division (T)	2295
of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount	2296
equal to three times the amount contributed or accepted in	2297
violation of that section.	2298

(Q) A treasurer of a committee or another person who violates	2299
division (U) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined	2300
not more than two hundred fifty dollars.	2301

(R) Whoever violates division (I) or (J) of section 3517.13	2302
of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one thousand	2303
dollars. Whenever a person is found guilty of violating division	2304
(I) or (J) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code, the contract	2305
awarded in violation of either of those divisions shall be	2306
rescinded if its terms have not yet been performed.	2307

(S) A candidate whose campaign committee violates or a	2308
treasurer of a campaign committee who violates section 3517.081 of	2309
the Revised Code, and a candidate whose campaign committee	2310
violates or a treasurer of a campaign committee or another person	2311
who violates division (C) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code,	2312
shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.	2313

(T) A candidate whose campaign committee violates or a	2314
treasurer of a committee who violates division (B) of section	2315
3517.09 of the Revised Code, or a candidate whose campaign	2316
committee violates or a treasurer of a campaign committee or	2317
another person who violates division (C) of section 3517.09 of the	2318
Revised Code shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars.	2319

(U) Whoever violates section 3517.20 of the Revised Code	2320
shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.	2321

(V) Whoever violates section 3517.21 or 3517.22 of the	2322
Revised Code shall be imprisoned for not more than six months or	2323
fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both.	2324

(W) A campaign committee that is required to file a	2325
declaration of no limits under division (D)(2) of section 3517.103	2326
of the Revised Code that, before filing that declaration, accepts	2327
a contribution or contributions that exceed the limitations	2328
prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, shall return	2329
that contribution or those contributions to the contributor.	2330

(X) Any campaign committee that fails to file the declaration	2331
of filing-day finances required by division (F) of section	2332
3517.109 or the declaration of primary-day finances or declaration	2333
of year-end finances required by division (E) of section 3517.1010	2334
of the Revised Code shall be fined twenty-five dollars for each	2335
day of violation.	2336

(Y)(1) Any campaign committee that fails to dispose of excess	2337
funds or excess aggregate contributions under division (B) of	2338
section 3517.109 of the Revised Code in the manner required by	2339
division (C) of that section or under division (B) of section	2340
3517.1010 of the Revised Code in the manner required by division	2341
(C) of that section shall give to the treasurer of state for	2342
deposit into the Ohio elections commission fund created under	2343
division (I) of section 3517.152 of the Revised Code all funds not	2344
disposed of pursuant to those divisions.	2345

(2) Any treasurer of a transition fund that fails to dispose	2346
of assets remaining in the transition fund as required under	2347
division (H)(1) or (2) of section 3517.1014 of the Revised Code	2348
shall give to the treasurer of state for deposit into the Ohio	2349
elections commission fund all assets not disposed of pursuant to	2350
that division.	2351

(Z) Any individual, campaign committee, political action	2352
committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign	2353
fund, political party, treasurer of a transition fund, or other	2354
entity that violates any provision of sections 3517.09 to 3517.12	2355
of the Revised Code for which no penalty is provided for under any	2356
other division of this section shall be fined not more than one	2357
thousand dollars.	2358

(AA)(1) Whoever knowingly violates division (W)(1) of section	2359
3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to	2360
three times the amount contributed, expended, or promised in	2361
violation of that division or ten thousand dollars, whichever	2362
amount is greater.	2363

(2) Whoever knowingly violates division (W)(2) of section	2364
3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to	2365
three times the amount solicited or accepted in violation of that	2366
division or ten thousand dollars, whichever amount is greater.	2367

(BB) Whoever knowingly violates division (C) or (D) of	2368
section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than	2369
ten thousand dollars plus not more than one thousand dollars for	2370
each day of violation.	2371

(CC)(1) Subject to division (CC)(2) of this section, whoever	2372
violates division (H) of section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code	2373
shall be fined an amount up to three times the amount disbursed	2374
for the direct costs of airing the communication made in violation	2375
of that division.	2376

(2) Whoever has been ordered by the Ohio elections commission	2377
or by a court of competent jurisdiction to cease making	2378
communications in violation of division (H) of section 3517.1011	2379
of the Revised Code who again violates that division shall be	2380
fined an amount equal to three times the amount disbursed for the	2381
direct costs of airing the communication made in violation of that	2382
division.	2383

(DD)(1) Any corporation or labor organization that violates	2384
division (X)(3)(a) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be	2385
fined an amount equal to three times the amount given in excess of	2386
the amount permitted by that division.	2387

(2) Any state or county political party that violates	2388
division (X)(3)(b) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be	2389
fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess	2390
of the amount permitted by that division.	2391

(EE)(1) Any campaign committee or person who violates	2392
division (C)(1)(b) or (c) of section 3517.1014 of the Revised Code	2393
shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount donated	2394
in excess of the amount permitted by that division.	2395

(2) Any officeholder or treasurer of a transition fund who	2396
violates division (C)(3)(a) or (b) of section 3517.1014 of the	2397
Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the	2398
amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that	2399
division.	2400

Sec. 3599.03.  (A)(1) Except to carry on activities specified	2401
in sections 3517.082 and 3517.1011, division (A)(2) of section	2402
3517.1012, division (B) of section 3517.1013, division (C)(1) of	2403
section 3517.1014, and section 3599.031 of the Revised Code and	2404
except as provided in divisions (D), (E), and (F) of this section,	2405
no corporation, no nonprofit corporation, and no labor	2406
organization, directly or indirectly, shall pay or use, or offer,	2407
advise, consent, or agree to pay or use, the corporation's money	2408
or property, or the labor organization's money, including dues,	2409
initiation fees, or other assessments paid by members, or	2410
property, for or in aid of or opposition to a political party, a	2411
candidate for election or nomination to public office, a political	2412
action committee including a political action committee of the	2413
corporation or labor organization, a legislative campaign fund, or	2414
any organization that supports or opposes any such candidate, or	2415
for any partisan political purpose, shall violate any law	2416
requiring the filing of an affidavit or statement respecting such	2417
use of those funds, or shall pay or use the corporation's or labor	2418
organization's money for the expenses of a social fund-raising	2419
event for its political action committee if an employee's or labor	2420
organization member's right to attend such an event is predicated	2421
on the employee's or member's contribution to the corporation's or	2422
labor organization's political action committee.	2423

(2) Whoever violates division (A)(1) of this section shall be	2424
fined not less than five hundred nor more than five thousand	2425
dollars.	2426

(B)(1) No officer, stockholder, attorney, or agent of a	2427
corporation or nonprofit corporation, no member, including an	2428
officer, attorney, or agent, of a labor organization, and no	2429
candidate, political party official, or other individual shall	2430
knowingly aid, advise, solicit, or receive money or other property	2431
in violation of division (A)(1) of this section.	2432

(2) Whoever violates division (B)(1) of this section shall be	2433
fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more	2434
than one year, or both.	2435

(C) A corporation, a nonprofit corporation, or a labor	2436
organization may use its funds or property for or in aid of or	2437
opposition to a proposed or certified ballot issue. Such use of	2438
funds or property shall be reported on a form prescribed by the	2439
secretary of state. Reports of contributions in connection with	2440
statewide ballot issues shall be filed with the secretary of	2441
state. Reports of contributions in connection with local issues	2442
shall be filed with the board of elections of the most populous	2443
county of the district in which the issue is submitted or to be	2444
submitted to the electors. Reports made pursuant to this division	2445
shall be filed by the times specified in divisions (A)(1) and (2)	2446
of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.	2447

(D)(1) Any gift made pursuant to section 3517.101 of the	2448
Revised Code does not constitute a violation of this section or of	2449
any other section of the Revised Code.	2450

(2) Any gift made pursuant to division (A)(2) of section	2451
3517.1012 of the Revised Code does not constitute a violation of	2452
this section.	2453

(3) Any gift made pursuant to division (B) of section	2454
3517.1013 of the Revised Code does not constitute a violation of	2455
this section.	2456

(4) Any donation made pursuant to division (C)(1) of section	2457
3517.1014 of the Revised Code does not constitute a violation of	2458
this section.	2459

(E) Any compensation or fees paid by a financial institution	2460
to a state political party for services rendered pursuant to	2461
division (B) of section 3517.19 of the Revised Code do not	2462
constitute a violation of this section or of any other section of	2463
the Revised Code.	2464

(F)(1) The use by a nonprofit corporation of its money or	2465
property for communicating information for a purpose specified in	2466
division (A) of this section is not a violation of that division	2467
if the stockholders, members, donors, trustees, or officers of the	2468
nonprofit corporation are the predominant recipients of the	2469
communication.	2470

(2) The placement of a campaign sign on the property of a	2471
corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor organization is not a	2472
use of property in violation of division (A) of this section by	2473
that corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor organization.	2474

(3) The use by a corporation or labor organization of its	2475
money or property for communicating information for a purpose	2476
specified in division (A) of this section is not a violation of	2477
that division if it is not a communication made by mass broadcast	2478
such as radio or television or made by advertising in a newspaper	2479
of general circulation but is a communication sent exclusively to	2480
members, employees, officers, or trustees of that labor	2481
organization or shareholders, employees, officers, or directors of	2482
that corporation or to members of the immediate families of any	2483
such individuals or if the communication intended to be so sent	2484
exclusively is unintentionally sent as well to a de minimis number	2485
of other individuals.	2486

(G) In addition to the laws listed in division (A) of section	2487
4117.10 of the Revised Code that prevail over conflicting	2488
agreements between employee organizations and public employers,	2489
this section prevails over any conflicting provisions of	2490
agreements between labor organizations and public employers that	2491
are entered into on or after the effective date of this section	2492
March 31, 2005, pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code.	2493

(H) As used in this section, "labor organization" has the	2494
same meaning as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code.	2495

Section 2.  That existing sections 3517.01, 3517.10,	2496
3517.106, 3517.11, 3517.153, 3517.154, 3517.992, and 3599.03 of	2497
the Revised Code are hereby repealed.	2498

Section 3. (A) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised	2499
Code to the contrary, a board of elections that conducts a special	2500
election on or before August 4, 2010, for the purpose of	2501
nominating candidates for the office of congressional	2502
representative may conduct that election using a limited number of	2503
polling places. A board of elections that decides to conduct the	2504
election using a limited number of polling places shall do all of	2505
the following:	2506

(1) Send a notification, by mail, to each address at which an	2507
elector of that county who is eligible to vote in the special	2508
election resides to inform the elector of the special election and	2509
of the elector's designated polling place for that special	2510
election and include with that notification an absent voter's	2511
ballot application;	2512

(2) Establish not more than four polling places at which	2513
electors in the county may cast a ballot in the special election;	2514
and	2515

(3) Permit individuals who are eligible to cast a provisional	2516
ballot to cast those ballots at the office of the board of	2517
elections;	2518

(4) The notification sent under division (A)(1) of this	2519
section shall include the following statement, which shall appear	2520
clearly and conspicuously on the face of the notification "If you	2521
are a member of the <political party conducting the primary	2522
election> or support the principles of the <political party	2523
conducting the primary election> and wish to vote in that party's	2524
congressional primary election, your voting location for that	2525
primary election will be <insert polling location>."	2526

(B) A board of elections that conducts a special election	2527
pursuant to division (A) of this section shall not be required to	2528
send a notice, prior to the next regular state election, to any	2529
elector that resides at an address to which a notice is sent under	2530
division (A) of this section to inform the elector of the	2531
elector's proper precinct polling location for that regular state	2532
election.	2533

(C) This section expires, effective August 14, 2010.

2534

Section 4. Section 3 of this act is hereby declared to be an	2535
emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the	2536
public peace, health, and safety. The reason for such necessity is	2537
that the costs of conducting a special election in each precinct	2538
polling place in a congressional district will be prohibitive,	2539
considering the budgetary situation of both state and local	2540
governments. Therefore, Section 3 of this act shall go into	2541
immediate effect.	2542