As Introduced

128th General Assembly
Regular Session
2009-2010
S. B. No. 31


Senator Patton 



A BILL
To amend section 2317.02 of the Revised Code to 1
create a testimonial privilege for communications 2
between a representative of an employee 3
organization and a bargaining unit member.4


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

       Section 1. That section 2317.02 of the Revised Code be 5
amended to read as follows:6

       Sec. 2317.02.  The following persons shall not testify in7
certain respects:8

       (A)(1) An attorney, concerning a communication made to the9
attorney by a client in that relation or the attorney's advice to10
a client, except that the attorney may testify by express consent11
of the client or, if the client is deceased, by the express12
consent of the surviving spouse or the executor or administrator13
of the estate of the deceased client. However, if the client 14
voluntarily testifies or is deemed by section 2151.421 of the 15
Revised Code to have waived any testimonial privilege under this 16
division, the attorney may be compelled to testify on the same 17
subject.18

       The testimonial privilege established under this division 19
does not apply concerning a communication between a client who has 20
since died and the deceased client's attorney if the communication 21
is relevant to a dispute between parties who claim through that 22
deceased client, regardless of whether the claims are by testate 23
or intestate succession or by inter vivos transaction, and the 24
dispute addresses the competency of the deceased client when the 25
deceased client executed a document that is the basis of the 26
dispute or whether the deceased client was a victim of fraud, 27
undue influence, or duress when the deceased client executed a 28
document that is the basis of the dispute.29

       (2) An attorney, concerning a communication made to the 30
attorney by a client in that relationship or the attorney's advice 31
to a client, except that if the client is an insurance company, 32
the attorney may be compelled to testify, subject to an in camera 33
inspection by a court, about communications made by the client to 34
the attorney or by the attorney to the client that are related to 35
the attorney's aiding or furthering an ongoing or future 36
commission of bad faith by the client, if the party seeking 37
disclosure of the communications has made a prima facie showing of 38
bad faith, fraud, or criminal misconduct by the client.39

       (B)(1) A physician or a dentist concerning a communication40
made to the physician or dentist by a patient in that relation or41
the physician's or dentist's advice to a patient, except as42
otherwise provided in this division, division (B)(2), and division43
(B)(3) of this section, and except that, if the patient is deemed44
by section 2151.421 of the Revised Code to have waived any45
testimonial privilege under this division, the physician may be46
compelled to testify on the same subject.47

       The testimonial privilege established under this division48
does not apply, and a physician or dentist may testify or may be49
compelled to testify, in any of the following circumstances:50

       (a) In any civil action, in accordance with the discovery51
provisions of the Rules of Civil Procedure in connection with a52
civil action, or in connection with a claim under Chapter 4123. of53
the Revised Code, under any of the following circumstances:54

       (i) If the patient or the guardian or other legal55
representative of the patient gives express consent;56

       (ii) If the patient is deceased, the spouse of the patient or 57
the executor or administrator of the patient's estate gives58
express consent;59

       (iii) If a medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim,60
or optometric claim, as defined in section 2305.113 of the Revised61
Code, an action for wrongful death, any other type of civil62
action, or a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code is63
filed by the patient, the personal representative of the estate of64
the patient if deceased, or the patient's guardian or other legal65
representative.66

       (b) In any civil action concerning court-ordered treatment or 67
services received by a patient, if the court-ordered treatment or 68
services were ordered as part of a case plan journalized under69
section 2151.412 of the Revised Code or the court-ordered70
treatment or services are necessary or relevant to dependency,71
neglect, or abuse or temporary or permanent custody proceedings72
under Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code.73

       (c) In any criminal action concerning any test or the results 74
of any test that determines the presence or concentration of 75
alcohol, a drug of abuse, a combination of them, a controlled 76
substance, or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the 77
patient's whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, urine, or 78
other bodily substance at any time relevant to the criminal 79
offense in question.80

       (d) In any criminal action against a physician or dentist. In 81
such an action, the testimonial privilege established under this 82
division does not prohibit the admission into evidence, in83
accordance with the Rules of Evidence, of a patient's medical or84
dental records or other communications between a patient and the85
physician or dentist that are related to the action and obtained86
by subpoena, search warrant, or other lawful means. A court that87
permits or compels a physician or dentist to testify in such an88
action or permits the introduction into evidence of patient89
records or other communications in such an action shall require90
that appropriate measures be taken to ensure that the91
confidentiality of any patient named or otherwise identified in92
the records is maintained. Measures to ensure confidentiality that 93
may be taken by the court include sealing its records or deleting 94
specific information from its records.95

       (e)(i) If the communication was between a patient who has 96
since died and the deceased patient's physician or dentist, the 97
communication is relevant to a dispute between parties who claim 98
through that deceased patient, regardless of whether the claims 99
are by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos 100
transaction, and the dispute addresses the competency of the 101
deceased patient when the deceased patient executed a document 102
that is the basis of the dispute or whether the deceased patient 103
was a victim of fraud, undue influence, or duress when the 104
deceased patient executed a document that is the basis of the 105
dispute.106

       (ii) If neither the spouse of a patient nor the executor or 107
administrator of that patient's estate gives consent under 108
division (B)(1)(a)(ii) of this section, testimony or the 109
disclosure of the patient's medical records by a physician, 110
dentist, or other health care provider under division (B)(1)(e)(i) 111
of this section is a permitted use or disclosure of protected 112
health information, as defined in 45 C.F.R. 160.103, and an 113
authorization or opportunity to be heard shall not be required.114

       (iii) Division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section does not require 115
a mental health professional to disclose psychotherapy notes, as 116
defined in 45 C.F.R. 164.501.117

       (iv) An interested person who objects to testimony or 118
disclosure under division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section may seek a 119
protective order pursuant to Civil Rule 26.120

       (v) A person to whom protected health information is 121
disclosed under division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section shall not 122
use or disclose the protected health information for any purpose 123
other than the litigation or proceeding for which the information 124
was requested and shall return the protected health information to 125
the covered entity or destroy the protected health information, 126
including all copies made, at the conclusion of the litigation or 127
proceeding.128

       (2)(a) If any law enforcement officer submits a written129
statement to a health care provider that states that an official130
criminal investigation has begun regarding a specified person or131
that a criminal action or proceeding has been commenced against a132
specified person, that requests the provider to supply to the133
officer copies of any records the provider possesses that pertain134
to any test or the results of any test administered to the135
specified person to determine the presence or concentration of136
alcohol, a drug of abuse, a combination of them, a controlled 137
substance, or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the 138
person's whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine at 139
any time relevant to the criminal offense in question, and that 140
conforms to section 2317.022 of the Revised Code, the provider, 141
except to the extent specifically prohibited by any law of this 142
state or of the United States, shall supply to the officer a copy 143
of any of the requested records the provider possesses. If the 144
health care provider does not possess any of the requested 145
records, the provider shall give the officer a written statement 146
that indicates that the provider does not possess any of the 147
requested records.148

       (b) If a health care provider possesses any records of the149
type described in division (B)(2)(a) of this section regarding the150
person in question at any time relevant to the criminal offense in151
question, in lieu of personally testifying as to the results of152
the test in question, the custodian of the records may submit a153
certified copy of the records, and, upon its submission, the154
certified copy is qualified as authentic evidence and may be155
admitted as evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence.156
Division (A) of section 2317.422 of the Revised Code does not157
apply to any certified copy of records submitted in accordance158
with this division. Nothing in this division shall be construed to 159
limit the right of any party to call as a witness the person who160
administered the test to which the records pertain, the person161
under whose supervision the test was administered, the custodian162
of the records, the person who made the records, or the person163
under whose supervision the records were made.164

       (3)(a) If the testimonial privilege described in division165
(B)(1) of this section does not apply as provided in division166
(B)(1)(a)(iii) of this section, a physician or dentist may be167
compelled to testify or to submit to discovery under the Rules of168
Civil Procedure only as to a communication made to the physician169
or dentist by the patient in question in that relation, or the170
physician's or dentist's advice to the patient in question, that171
related causally or historically to physical or mental injuries172
that are relevant to issues in the medical claim, dental claim,173
chiropractic claim, or optometric claim, action for wrongful174
death, other civil action, or claim under Chapter 4123. of the175
Revised Code.176

       (b) If the testimonial privilege described in division (B)(1) 177
of this section does not apply to a physician or dentist as178
provided in division (B)(1)(c) of this section, the physician or179
dentist, in lieu of personally testifying as to the results of the180
test in question, may submit a certified copy of those results,181
and, upon its submission, the certified copy is qualified as182
authentic evidence and may be admitted as evidence in accordance183
with the Rules of Evidence. Division (A) of section 2317.422 of184
the Revised Code does not apply to any certified copy of results185
submitted in accordance with this division. Nothing in this186
division shall be construed to limit the right of any party to187
call as a witness the person who administered the test in188
question, the person under whose supervision the test was189
administered, the custodian of the results of the test, the person190
who compiled the results, or the person under whose supervision191
the results were compiled.192

       (4) The testimonial privilege described in division (B)(1) of 193
this section is not waived when a communication is made by a194
physician to a pharmacist or when there is communication between a195
patient and a pharmacist in furtherance of the physician-patient196
relation.197

       (5)(a) As used in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section,198
"communication" means acquiring, recording, or transmitting any199
information, in any manner, concerning any facts, opinions, or200
statements necessary to enable a physician or dentist to diagnose,201
treat, prescribe, or act for a patient. A "communication" may202
include, but is not limited to, any medical or dental, office, or203
hospital communication such as a record, chart, letter,204
memorandum, laboratory test and results, x-ray, photograph,205
financial statement, diagnosis, or prognosis.206

       (b) As used in division (B)(2) of this section, "health care207
provider" means a hospital, ambulatory care facility, long-term208
care facility, pharmacy, emergency facility, or health care209
practitioner.210

       (c) As used in division (B)(5)(b) of this section:211

       (i) "Ambulatory care facility" means a facility that provides212
medical, diagnostic, or surgical treatment to patients who do not213
require hospitalization, including a dialysis center, ambulatory214
surgical facility, cardiac catheterization facility, diagnostic215
imaging center, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy center, home216
health agency, inpatient hospice, birthing center, radiation217
therapy center, emergency facility, and an urgent care center.218
"Ambulatory health care facility" does not include the private219
office of a physician or dentist, whether the office is for an220
individual or group practice.221

       (ii) "Emergency facility" means a hospital emergency222
department or any other facility that provides emergency medical223
services.224

       (iii) "Health care practitioner" has the same meaning as in225
section 4769.01 of the Revised Code.226

       (iv) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of227
the Revised Code.228

       (v) "Long-term care facility" means a nursing home,229
residential care facility, or home for the aging, as those terms230
are defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code; an adult care231
facility, as defined in section 3722.01 of the Revised Code; a232
nursing facility or intermediate care facility for the mentally233
retarded, as those terms are defined in section 5111.20 of the234
Revised Code; a facility or portion of a facility certified as a235
skilled nursing facility under Title XVIII of the "Social Security236
Act," 49 Stat. 286 (1965), 42 U.S.C.A. 1395, as amended.237

       (vi) "Pharmacy" has the same meaning as in section 4729.01 of238
the Revised Code.239

       (d) As used in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section, 240
"drug of abuse" has the same meaning as in section 4506.01 of the 241
Revised Code.242

       (6) Divisions (B)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of this section243
apply to doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine,244
doctors of podiatry, and dentists.245

       (7) Nothing in divisions (B)(1) to (6) of this section246
affects, or shall be construed as affecting, the immunity from247
civil liability conferred by section 307.628 of the Revised Code 248
or the immunity from civil liability conferred by section 2305.33 249
of the Revised Code upon physicians who report an employee's use 250
of a drug of abuse, or a condition of an employee other than one251
involving the use of a drug of abuse, to the employer of the252
employee in accordance with division (B) of that section. As used253
in division (B)(7) of this section, "employee," "employer," and254
"physician" have the same meanings as in section 2305.33 of the255
Revised Code.256

       (C)(1) A cleric, when the cleric remains accountable to the 257
authority of that cleric's church, denomination, or sect, 258
concerning a confession made, or any information confidentially 259
communicated, to the cleric for a religious counseling purpose in 260
the cleric's professional character. The cleric may testify by261
express consent of the person making the communication, except262
when the disclosure of the information is in violation of a sacred263
trust and except that, if the person voluntarily testifies or is 264
deemed by division (A)(4)(c) of section 2151.421 of the Revised 265
Code to have waived any testimonial privilege under this division, 266
the cleric may be compelled to testify on the same subject except 267
when disclosure of the information is in violation of a sacred 268
trust.269

       (2) As used in division (C) of this section:270

        (a) "Cleric" means a member of the clergy, rabbi, priest, 271
Christian Science practitioner, or regularly ordained, accredited, 272
or licensed minister of an established and legally cognizable 273
church, denomination, or sect.274

        (b) "Sacred trust" means a confession or confidential 275
communication made to a cleric in the cleric's ecclesiastical 276
capacity in the course of discipline enjoined by the church to 277
which the cleric belongs, including, but not limited to, the 278
Catholic Church, if both of the following apply:279

        (i) The confession or confidential communication was made 280
directly to the cleric.281

        (ii) The confession or confidential communication was made in 282
the manner and context that places the cleric specifically and 283
strictly under a level of confidentiality that is considered 284
inviolate by canon law or church doctrine.285

       (D) Husband or wife, concerning any communication made by one 286
to the other, or an act done by either in the presence of the287
other, during coverture, unless the communication was made, or act288
done, in the known presence or hearing of a third person competent289
to be a witness; and such rule is the same if the marital relation290
has ceased to exist;291

       (E) A person who assigns a claim or interest, concerning any292
matter in respect to which the person would not, if a party, be293
permitted to testify;294

       (F) A person who, if a party, would be restricted under295
section 2317.03 of the Revised Code, when the property or thing is296
sold or transferred by an executor, administrator, guardian,297
trustee, heir, devisee, or legatee, shall be restricted in the298
same manner in any action or proceeding concerning the property or299
thing.300

       (G)(1) A school guidance counselor who holds a valid educator 301
license from the state board of education as provided for in 302
section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, a person licensed under303
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code as a professional clinical304
counselor, professional counselor, social worker, independent305
social worker, marriage and family therapist or independent 306
marriage and family therapist, or registered under Chapter 4757. 307
of the Revised Code as a social work assistant concerning a 308
confidential communication received from a client in that relation 309
or the person's advice to a client unless any of the following 310
applies:311

       (a) The communication or advice indicates clear and present312
danger to the client or other persons. For the purposes of this313
division, cases in which there are indications of present or past314
child abuse or neglect of the client constitute a clear and315
present danger.316

       (b) The client gives express consent to the testimony.317

       (c) If the client is deceased, the surviving spouse or the318
executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased client319
gives express consent.320

       (d) The client voluntarily testifies, in which case the321
school guidance counselor or person licensed or registered under322
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code may be compelled to testify on323
the same subject.324

       (e) The court in camera determines that the information325
communicated by the client is not germane to the counselor-client, 326
marriage and family therapist-client, or social worker-client 327
relationship.328

       (f) A court, in an action brought against a school, its329
administration, or any of its personnel by the client, rules after330
an in-camera inspection that the testimony of the school guidance331
counselor is relevant to that action.332

       (g) The testimony is sought in a civil action and concerns333
court-ordered treatment or services received by a patient as part334
of a case plan journalized under section 2151.412 of the Revised335
Code or the court-ordered treatment or services are necessary or336
relevant to dependency, neglect, or abuse or temporary or337
permanent custody proceedings under Chapter 2151. of the Revised338
Code.339

       (2) Nothing in division (G)(1) of this section shall relieve340
a school guidance counselor or a person licensed or registered341
under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code from the requirement to342
report information concerning child abuse or neglect under section343
2151.421 of the Revised Code.344

       (H) A mediator acting under a mediation order issued under345
division (A) of section 3109.052 of the Revised Code or otherwise346
issued in any proceeding for divorce, dissolution, legal347
separation, annulment, or the allocation of parental rights and348
responsibilities for the care of children, in any action or349
proceeding, other than a criminal, delinquency, child abuse, child350
neglect, or dependent child action or proceeding, that is brought351
by or against either parent who takes part in mediation in352
accordance with the order and that pertains to the mediation353
process, to any information discussed or presented in the354
mediation process, to the allocation of parental rights and355
responsibilities for the care of the parents' children, or to the356
awarding of parenting time rights in relation to their children;357

       (I) A communications assistant, acting within the scope of358
the communication assistant's authority, when providing359
telecommunications relay service pursuant to section 4931.35 of360
the Revised Code or Title II of the "Communications Act of 1934,"361
104 Stat. 366 (1990), 47 U.S.C. 225, concerning a communication362
made through a telecommunications relay service. Nothing in this363
section shall limit the obligation of a communications assistant364
to divulge information or testify when mandated by federal law or365
regulation or pursuant to subpoena in a criminal proceeding.366

       Nothing in this section shall limit any immunity or privilege367
granted under federal law or regulation.368

       (J)(1) A chiropractor in a civil proceeding concerning a369
communication made to the chiropractor by a patient in that370
relation or the chiropractor's advice to a patient, except as371
otherwise provided in this division. The testimonial privilege372
established under this division does not apply, and a chiropractor373
may testify or may be compelled to testify, in any civil action,374
in accordance with the discovery provisions of the Rules of Civil375
Procedure in connection with a civil action, or in connection with376
a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code, under any of the377
following circumstances:378

       (a) If the patient or the guardian or other legal379
representative of the patient gives express consent.380

       (b) If the patient is deceased, the spouse of the patient or381
the executor or administrator of the patient's estate gives382
express consent.383

       (c) If a medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or384
optometric claim, as defined in section 2305.113 of the Revised385
Code, an action for wrongful death, any other type of civil386
action, or a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code is387
filed by the patient, the personal representative of the estate of388
the patient if deceased, or the patient's guardian or other legal389
representative.390

       (2) If the testimonial privilege described in division (J)(1) 391
of this section does not apply as provided in division (J)(1)(c) 392
of this section, a chiropractor may be compelled to testify or to 393
submit to discovery under the Rules of Civil Procedure only as to 394
a communication made to the chiropractor by the patient in 395
question in that relation, or the chiropractor's advice to the396
patient in question, that related causally or historically to397
physical or mental injuries that are relevant to issues in the398
medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or optometric399
claim, action for wrongful death, other civil action, or claim400
under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code.401

       (3) The testimonial privilege established under this division 402
does not apply, and a chiropractor may testify or be compelled to 403
testify, in any criminal action or administrative proceeding.404

       (4) As used in this division, "communication" means405
acquiring, recording, or transmitting any information, in any406
manner, concerning any facts, opinions, or statements necessary to407
enable a chiropractor to diagnose, treat, or act for a patient. A408
communication may include, but is not limited to, any409
chiropractic, office, or hospital communication such as a record,410
chart, letter, memorandum, laboratory test and results, x-ray,411
photograph, financial statement, diagnosis, or prognosis.412

       (K)(1) Except as provided under division (K)(2) of this 413
section, a critical incident stress management team member 414
concerning a communication received from an individual who 415
receives crisis response services from the team member, or the 416
team member's advice to the individual, during a debriefing 417
session.418

        (2) The testimonial privilege established under division 419
(K)(1) of this section does not apply if any of the following are 420
true:421

        (a) The communication or advice indicates clear and present 422
danger to the individual who receives crisis response services or 423
to other persons. For purposes of this division, cases in which 424
there are indications of present or past child abuse or neglect of 425
the individual constitute a clear and present danger.426

        (b) The individual who received crisis response services 427
gives express consent to the testimony.428

       (c) If the individual who received crisis response services 429
is deceased, the surviving spouse or the executor or administrator 430
of the estate of the deceased individual gives express consent.431

        (d) The individual who received crisis response services 432
voluntarily testifies, in which case the team member may be 433
compelled to testify on the same subject.434

        (e) The court in camera determines that the information 435
communicated by the individual who received crisis response 436
services is not germane to the relationship between the individual 437
and the team member.438

       (f) The communication or advice pertains or is related to any 439
criminal act.440

       (3) As used in division (K) of this section:441

       (a) "Crisis response services" means consultation, risk 442
assessment, referral, and on-site crisis intervention services 443
provided by a critical incident stress management team to 444
individuals affected by crisis or disaster.445

       (b) "Critical incident stress management team member" or 446
"team member" means an individual specially trained to provide 447
crisis response services as a member of an organized community or 448
local crisis response team that holds membership in the Ohio 449
critical incident stress management network.450

       (c) "Debriefing session" means a session at which crisis 451
response services are rendered by a critical incident stress 452
management team member during or after a crisis or disaster.453

       (L)(1) Subject to division (L)(2) of this section and except454
as provided in division (L)(3) of this section, an employee455
assistance professional, concerning a communication made to the456
employee assistance professional by a client in the employee457
assistance professional's official capacity as an employee458
assistance professional.459

        (2) Division (L)(1) of this section applies to an employee460
assistance professional who meets either or both of the following461
requirements:462

        (a) Is certified by the employee assistance certification463
commission to engage in the employee assistance profession;464

        (b) Has education, training, and experience in all of the465
following:466

        (i) Providing workplace-based services designed to address467
employer and employee productivity issues;468

        (ii) Providing assistance to employees and employees'469
dependents in identifying and finding the means to resolve470
personal problems that affect the employees or the employees'471
performance;472

       (iii) Identifying and resolving productivity problems473
associated with an employee's concerns about any of the following474
matters: health, marriage, family, finances, substance abuse or475
other addiction, workplace, law, and emotional issues;476

       (iv) Selecting and evaluating available community resources;477

        (v) Making appropriate referrals;478

        (vi) Local and national employee assistance agreements;479

        (vii) Client confidentiality.480

        (3) Division (L)(1) of this section does not apply to any of 481
the following:482

        (a) A criminal action or proceeding involving an offense483
under sections 2903.01 to 2903.06 of the Revised Code if the484
employee assistance professional's disclosure or testimony relates485
directly to the facts or immediate circumstances of the offense;486

        (b) A communication made by a client to an employee487
assistance professional that reveals the contemplation or488
commission of a crime or serious, harmful act;489

        (c) A communication that is made by a client who is an490
unemancipated minor or an adult adjudicated to be incompetent and491
indicates that the client was the victim of a crime or abuse;492

       (d) A civil proceeding to determine an individual's mental493
competency or a criminal action in which a plea of not guilty by494
reason of insanity is entered;495

        (e) A civil or criminal malpractice action brought against496
the employee assistance professional;497

        (f) When the employee assistance professional has the express 498
consent of the client or, if the client is deceased or disabled, 499
the client's legal representative;500

        (g) When the testimonial privilege otherwise provided by501
division (L)(1) of this section is abrogated under law.502

       (M)(1) Except as provided in division (M)(2) of this section 503
and subject to division (M)(3) of this section, a representative 504
of an employee organization, in any civil, criminal, or 505
administative action or proceeding, concerning a communication 506
between the representative and a bargaining unit member made 507
while the representative was acting in a representative capacity 508
on behalf of the employee organization.509

       (2) The testimonial privilege established under division 510
(M)(1) of this section does not apply, and a representative of an 511
employee organization may testify, under any of the following 512
circumstances:513

       (a) If and to the extent the testimony appears necessary to 514
prevent the commission of a crime that is likely to create a 515
clear, imminent risk of serious physical harm to or death of 516
another person;517

       (b) In a civil or criminal action against the representative 518
in the representative's personal or representative capacity, 519
against the employee organization or an affiliate of the employee 520
organization, or against any representative of the employee 521
organization in the representative's representative capacity;522

       (c) If required to do so by court order;523

       (d) With the express consent of the bargaining unit member, 524
the guardian or other legal representative of the bargaining unit 525
member, or if the bargaining unit member is deceased, the spouse, 526
executor, or administrator of the bargaining unit member.527

       (3) If there is a conflict between division (M)(1) or (2) of 528
this section and any federal or state labor law with regard to a 529
specific situation, the provisions of the federal or state labor 530
law shall control.531

       (4) As used in division (M) of this section, "employee 532
organization" means any labor union or bona fide organization in 533
which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in 534
whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, 535
labor disputes, wages, hours, terms, and other conditions of 536
employment.537

       Section 2. That existing section 2317.02 of the Revised Code 538
is hereby repealed.539