As Passed by the Senate

129th General Assembly
Regular Session
2011-2012
Am. H. B. No. 188


 Speaker Batchelder 

Cosponsors: Representatives Derickson, Beck, Thompson, Wachtmann, Maag, Stebelton, Amstutz, Adams, R., Combs, Blair, Gardner, Johnson, Boose, Carey, Butler, Grossman, Burke, Stautberg, Duffey, Huffman, Adams, J., Newbold, Hayes, Dovilla, Slaby, Martin, Brenner, Mecklenborg, Gerberry, Fedor, Letson, Patmon, Sprague, Stinziano, Anielski, Antonio, Baker, Balderson, Barnes, Blessing, Bubp, Buchy, Budish, Carney, Celeste, Damschroder, DeGeeter, Fende, Garland, Goodwin, Goyal, Hackett, Hagan, C., Hall, Heard, Henne, Hollington, Hottinger, Kozlowski, Luckie, McClain, McGregor, McKenney, Milkovich, Murray, Peterson, Phillips, Pillich, Ramos, Roegner, Rosenberger, Ruhl, Sears, Slesnick, Sykes, Szollosi, Weddington, Winburn, Yuko 

Senators Faber, Bacon, Beagle, Brown, Cafaro, Coley, Daniels, Gillmor, Grendell, Hite, Hughes, Jones, LaRose, Lehner, Manning, Niehaus, Obhof, Oelslager, Patton, Sawyer, Smith, Stewart, Tavares, Turner, Wagoner, Widener, Wilson 



A BILL
To enact sections 103.61, 103.62, 103.63, 103.64, 1
103.65, 103.66, and 103.67 of the Revised Code to 2
establish the Ohio Constitutional Modernization 3
Commission.4


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

       Section 1. That sections 103.61, 103.62, 103.63, 103.64, 5
103.65, 103.66, and 103.67 of the Revised Code be enacted to read 6
as follows:7

       Sec. 103.61.  The members of the Ohio constitutional 8
modernization commission shall meet for the purpose of:9

       (A) Studying the Constitution of Ohio;10

       (B) Promoting an exchange of experiences and suggestions 11
respecting desired changes in the Constitution;12

       (C) Considering the problems pertaining to the amendment of 13
the Constitution;14

       (D) Making recommendations from time to time to the general 15
assembly for the amendment of the Constitution.16

       A commission recommendation is void unless it receives a 17
two-thirds vote of the membership of the commission.18

       Sec. 103.62.  In the event of a call for a constitutional 19
convention, the Ohio constitutional modernization commission shall 20
report to the general assembly its recommendations with respect to 21
the organization of a convention, and report to the convention its 22
recommendations with respect to amendment of the Constitution.23

       Sec. 103.63.  There is established an Ohio constitutional 24
modernization commission consisting of thirty-two members. Twelve 25
members shall be appointed from the general assembly as follows: 26
three by the president of the senate, three by the minority leader 27
of the senate, three by the speaker of the house of 28
representatives, and three by the minority leader of the house of 29
representatives. Not later than January 1, 2012, and every two 30
years thereafter, the twelve general assembly members shall meet, 31
organize, and elect two co-chairpersons, who shall be from 32
different political parties. The members shall then, by majority 33
vote, appoint twenty commission members, not from the general 34
assembly. All appointments shall end on the first day of January 35
of every even-numbered year, and the commission shall then be 36
re-created in the manner provided above. Members may be 37
reappointed. Vacancies on the commission shall be filled in the 38
manner provided for original appointments.39

       The members of the commission shall serve without 40
compensation, but each member shall be reimbursed for actual and 41
necessary expenses incurred while engaging in the performance of 42
the member's official duties. Membership on the commission does 43
not constitute holding another public office.44

       Sec. 103.64.  The Ohio constitutional modernization 45
commission may receive appropriations and grants, gifts, bequests, 46
and devises and may expend any funds received in such a manner for 47
the purpose of reimbursing members for actual and necessary 48
expenses incurred while engaged in official duties, or for the 49
purpose of meeting expenses incurred in any special research or 50
study relating to the Constitution of Ohio. The commission shall 51
file annually with the auditor of state, on or before the 52
fifteenth day of March, a full report of all grants, gifts, 53
bequests, and devises received during the preceding calendar year, 54
stating the date when each was received and the purpose for which 55
the funds received therefrom were expended.56

       Sec. 103.65.  The Ohio constitutional modernization 57
commission may employ professional, technical, and clerical 58
employees as may be required successfully and efficiently to carry 59
out the purposes of the commission. Funds for the compensation and 60
reimbursement of employees shall be paid from the state treasury 61
out of funds appropriated for the purpose. All disbursements of 62
the commission shall be by voucher approved by one of the 63
co-chairpersons of the commission.64

       Sec. 103.66.  The Ohio constitutional modernization 65
commission shall make its first report to the general assembly not 66
later than January 1, 2013. Thereafter, it shall report at least 67
every two years until its work is completed.68

       Sec. 103.67.  The Ohio constitutional modernization 69
commission shall complete its work on or before July 1, 2021, and 70
shall cease to exist at that time. The terms of all members shall 71
expire July 1, 2021.72