As Reported by the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee

128th General Assembly Regular Session 2009-2010

S. B. No. 113

Senator Patton 

Cosponsors: Senators Goodman, Kearney 

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A BILL

To enact section 4511.111 of the Revised Code to

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authorize the use of traffic signs warning of the

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presence of a child with a disability.

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

Section 1. That section 4511.111 of the Revised Code be	4
enacted to read as follows:	5

Sec. 4511.111.  (A) Upon request by a local authority, the	6
department of transportation shall place and maintain on a state	7
highway a warning sign advising of the presence of a deaf or blind	8
child if the department considers the sign necessary for public	9
safety and welfare. The director of transportation shall establish	10
guidelines and procedures as necessary to implement this section	11
and may require supporting information, including medical	12
verification of the child's disability and proof of the child's	13
residence near the state highway.	14

(B)(1) The legislative authority of a local authority shall	15
establish a program for the placement on any street or highway	16
under its jurisdiction of warning signs advising of the presence	17
of a deaf or blind child. The program shall include a form	18
allowing the parent or guardian of a deaf or blind child to	19
request the placement of a warning sign and a process for the	20
appropriate traffic or engineering personnel to approve or	21
disapprove with an explanation, the placement of the sign based on	22
public safety and welfare considerations. The form may require the	23
parent or guardian to provide medical verification of the child's	24
disability and may require the parent or guardian to notify the	25
local authority in writing when the family moves, the child no	26
longer lives at home, the child's disability improves, or the	27
child reaches a specified age indicative of personal safety	28
awareness.	29

(2) If a parent or guardian submits a request to a local	30
authority and the request is for placement of a warning sign on a	31
state highway, the local authority shall forward the request to	32
the department of transportation in accordance with the procedures	33
established under division (A) of this section.	34