As Introduced

129th General Assembly
Regular Session
2011-2012
H. B. No. 344


Representative Barnes 

Cosponsors: Representatives Huffman, Patmon, Antonio, Foley, Hagan, R. 

A BILL
To enact section 122.86 of the Revised Code to 1
establish the Ohio International Initiative by 2
creating the "SellOhio Global Initiative" within 3
the Department of Development and the Global 4
Initiative on International Relations within the 5
General Assembly to create new, untapped global 6
markets for Ohio businesses and thereby promote 7
job creation, and to make an appropriation.8


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

       Section 1.  That section 122.86 of the Revised Code be 9
enacted to read as follows:10

       Sec. 122.86.  There is hereby established the Ohio 11
international initiative for the purpose of encouraging executive 12
and legislative efforts to promote internationally the state of 13
Ohio and its economy, diplomacy, and humanity and to align Ohio 14
government, market, and industry forces to increase Ohio 15
businesses' access to global market opportunities, thereby 16
enhancing their competitive advantage in world markets and 17
promoting job creation in Ohio.18

       (A) Within the general assembly, there is hereby created the 19
global initiative on international relations. The global 20
initiative shall, through diplomatic efforts, advance and promote 21
Ohio's education, economy, diplomacy, humanity, and legislative 22
initiatives and build and manage reciprocal relationships with 23
foreign governments as is consistent with the new integrated 24
principle of the global economy. For purposes of this section, 25
"education" includes both public and private institutions of 26
higher education.27

       The global initiative on international relations shall 28
consist of not less than twenty eligible members of the general 29
assembly, each of whom shall hold the title "Ohio ambassador." 30
Eligible general assembly members are those individuals who serve 31
on any of the following house or senate committees: agriculture 32
and natural resources, economic development and small business, 33
education, or the agriculture and natural resources or higher 34
education subcommittee of the finance and appropriations committee 35
or, if no committee bears any of such names, the standing 36
committees designated to have jurisdiction over such matters. 37
Appointment as an Ohio ambassador is not the holding of a public 38
office for the purposes of Article II, Section 4, Ohio 39
Constitution. Ohio ambassadors shall not be paid for their 40
service, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in 41
carrying out their duties under this section. For purposes of such 42
reimbursement, the initiative may seek federal grants available 43
for the purpose of promoting reciprocal commerce. Such grants 44
shall be deposited to the credit of the Ohio ambassador fund, 45
which is hereby created in the state treasury, to be used for the 46
purposes of this division. The fund may also consist of money 47
directed to the fund by the director of development under division 48
(D) of this section.49

       Members of the house of representatives shall be appointed to 50
the global initiative on international relations by the speaker of 51
the house, and members of the senate shall be appointed by the 52
president of the senate. Members will serve on the initiative at 53
the pleasure of the speaker and president, respectively. The total 54
number of Ohio ambassadors that may be appointed shall be 55
determined on the basis of need, as influenced by the size and 56
number of global economic regions identified by the director of 57
development.58

       (B) Within the department of development, there is hereby 59
created the SellOhio global initiative. The initiative shall 60
facilitate Ohio businesses' entry or expansion into foreign 61
markets, thereby enhancing Ohio businesses' competitive advantage 62
in world markets and promoting job creation in Ohio. The director 63
of development shall certify individuals as "Ohio business 64
consulates," who the director determines are qualified to provide 65
assistance to Ohio businesses seeking to enter or enhance their 66
presence in foreign markets. Such assistance may include helping 67
Ohio businesses establish relationships with foreign businesses, 68
market or industry trade groups, or regulatory authorities; 69
serving as a broker or intermediary in business transactions; 70
providing information or advice regarding foreign languages and 71
local business and social customs; or promoting Ohio businesses 72
generally. Consulates shall report their activities and 73
accomplishments to the director at intervals and in a manner to be 74
determined by the director.75

       The director shall certify consulates for Ohio's chief 76
industries and shall establish standards for certification. The 77
standards shall ensure that consulates are market or industry 78
experts and will ethically assist Ohio businesses' entry into or 79
expansion in foreign markets or industries. The director shall 80
maintain a list of certified consulates and their contact 81
information on the department of development's web site. The 82
director shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code 83
to administer this section. Certification under this section does 84
not, in and of itself, cause an individual to be an employee or 85
agent of any state agency, and no individual shall receive 86
compensation from any state agency for services performed as a 87
consulate.88

       An agreement shall be required for Ohio business consulates 89
to legally bind Ohio businesses with respect to certain issues to 90
be determined by the director of development and the attorney 91
general, including the license or sale of intellectual property, 92
trademarks, and copyrights.93

       (C) The Ohio international initiative, through the individual 94
efforts of the global initiative on international relations and 95
the SellOhio global initiative, shall strive to achieve the 96
following goals:97

       (1) Facilitating logistics for Ohio businesses seeking to use 98
foreign ports and for foreign businesses seeking to use Ohio 99
ports;100

       (2) Enhancing industry development for Ohio's chief 101
twenty-five industries, as determined by the director of 102
development;103

       (3) Promoting reciprocal trade activities, such as trade 104
shows;105

       (4) Holding an annual industry-sponsored reception in the 106
District of Columbia, hosting government and business 107
representatives from key foreign nations;108

       (5) Enhancing and promoting Ohio's industry of partial 109
manufacturing; 110

       (6) Attraction of foreign investment to Ohio; and111

       (7) Educational exchange.112

       (D) The director of development shall publish an Ohio 113
international trade booklet, which shall list businesses in Ohio 114
that could be suppliers to international markets, arranged 115
according to each industry's North American industry 116
classification system. The booklet shall be published and updated 117
as often as the director finds desirable. The costs of publishing 118
the booklet may be paid by fees charged to businesses requesting 119
to be listed in the booklet and from any other fund available for 120
the purpose. If fees paid by such businesses exceed the costs of 121
publication, the director may direct that the excess shall be 122
deposited in the Ohio ambassador fund created by division (A) of 123
this section.124

       (E) The director shall develop and publish a form on which an 125
Ohio ambassador or Ohio business consulate may share information 126
regarding, and report to the director, contacts established by the 127
ambassador or consulate in foreign countries. 128

       Section 2. On the effective date of this act, or as soon as 129
possible thereafter, the Director of Budget and Management shall 130
transfer $2,000,000 of the fiscal year 2012 appropriation in 131
General Revenue Fund appropriation item 195432, Global Markets, to 132
General Revenue Fund appropriation item 195445, SellOhio Global 133
Initiative. The amount transferred shall be used for the purposes 134
of the SellOhio Global Initiative as set forth in section 122.86 135
of the Revised Code.136