As Introduced

129th General Assembly
Regular Session
2011-2012
S. B. No. 179


Senator Wilson 

Cosponsors: Senators Sawyer, Tavares, Kearney, Schaffer 

A BILL
To amend section 1505.11 and to enact sections 1
1505.12, 1505.13, and 4503.515 of the Revised Code 2
to create the "Ohio Geology" license plate and to 3
require the Ohio Geology Advisory Council to 4
establish and administer a grant program utilizing 5
the contributions that are paid by persons who 6
obtain the license plate.7


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

       Section 1.  That section 1505.11 be amended and sections 8
1505.12, 1505.13, and 4503.515 of the Revised Code be enacted to 9
read as follows:10

       Sec. 1505.11. (A) There is hereby created in the department 11
of natural resources the Ohio geology advisory council consisting 12
of seven members to be appointed by the governor with the advice 13
and consent of the senate. No more than four of the members shall 14
be of the same political party. Members shall be persons who have 15
a demonstrated interest in Ohio geology and mineral resources and 16
whose expertise reflects the various responsibilities of the 17
division of geological survey. The council shall include at least 18
one representative from each of the following: the oil and gas 19
industry, the industrial minerals industry, the coal industry, 20
hydrogeology interests, environmental geology interests, and an 21
institution of higher education in this state. The chief of the 22
division may participate in the deliberations of the council, but 23
shall not vote.24

       Within ninety days after the effective date of this section25
May 3, 1990, the governor shall make initial appointments to the 26
council. Of the initial appointments, three shall be for a term 27
ending one year after the effective date of this sectionMay 3, 28
1990, three shall be for a term ending two years after the 29
effective date of this sectionMay 3, 1990, and one shall be for a 30
term ending three years after the effective date of this section31
May 3, 1990. Thereafter, terms of office shall be for three years, 32
with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the 33
term that it succeeds. Members may be reappointed. The governor 34
may remove any member at any time for inefficiency, neglect of 35
duty, or malfeasance in office. Vacancies shall be filled in the 36
manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to 37
fill a vacancy prior to the expiration date of the term for which 38
histhe member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a 39
member for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in 40
office subsequent to the expiration date of histhe member's term 41
until histhe member's successor takes office or until a period of 42
sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.43

       Serving as an appointed member on the council does not 44
constitute holding a public office or position of employment under 45
the laws of this state and does not constitute grounds for removal 46
of public officers or employees from their offices or positions of 47
employment.48

       Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be 49
reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the 50
performance of their official duties from moneys appropriated to 51
the division.52

       The council annually shall select from its members a chairman53
chairperson and a vice-chairmanvice-chairperson. The council 54
shall hold at least one meeting each calendar quarter and shall 55
keep a record of its proceedings, which shall be open to public 56
inspection. Special meetings may be called by the chairman57
chairperson and shall be called upon the written request of two or 58
more members. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum. The 59
division shall furnish clerical, technical, legal, and other 60
services required by the council in the performance of its duties.61

       (B) The council shall do all of the following:62

       (A)(1) Advise the chief of the division of geological survey 63
in carrying out the duties of the division under this chapter;64

       (B)(2) Recommend policy and legislation with respect to 65
geology, resource analysis, and management that will promote the 66
economic and industrial development of the state while minimizing 67
threats to the natural environment of the state;68

       (C)(3) Review and make recommendations on the development of 69
plans and programs for long-term, comprehensive geologic mapping 70
and analysis throughout the state;71

       (D)(4) Recommend ways to enhance cooperation among 72
governmental agencies having an interest in Ohio geology to 73
encourage wise use and management of the geology and mineral 74
resources of the state. To this end, the council shall request 75
nonvoting representation from appropriate governmental agencies;76

       (5) Establish and administer the grant program as described 77
in section 1505.12 of the Revised Code.78

       Sec. 1505.12.  The Ohio geology advisory council shall 79
establish a grant program utilizing the contributions that are 80
paid to the bureau of motor vehicles by persons who obtain "Ohio 81
geology" license plates pursuant to section 4503.515 of the 82
Revised Code and are deposited into the "Ohio geology" license 83
plate fund created by section 1505.13 of the Revised Code. The 84
primary purpose of the program shall be the awarding of grants by 85
the council to geology departments of colleges and universities 86
located in this state for graduate level research conducted at 87
locations of geological interest in this state. Subject to the 88
amount of money in the fund, the secondary purpose of the program 89
shall be to provide materials such as rock and mineral kits to 90
elementary and secondary schools in this state to assist students 91
at those schools in the study of geology.92

       The council shall award grants at least annually and, in its 93
discretion, may award grants on a more frequent basis.94

       Sec. 1505.13.  There is hereby created in the state treasury 95
the "Ohio geology" license plate fund. The fund shall consist of 96
the contributions that are paid to the bureau of motor vehicles by 97
applicants who choose to obtain "Ohio geology" license plates 98
pursuant to section 4503.515 of the Revised Code.99

       The contributions deposited into the fund shall be used by 100
the Ohio geology advisory council in the manner described in 101
section 1505.12 of the Revised Code.102

       Sec. 4503.515.  (A) The owner or lessee of any passenger car, 103
noncommercial motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or other 104
vehicle of a class approved by the registrar of motor vehicles may 105
apply to the registrar for the registration of the vehicle and 106
issuance of "Ohio geology" license plates. The application may be 107
combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under 108
section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of 109
the completed application and compliance by the applicant with 110
divisions (B) and (C) of this section, the registrar shall issue 111
to the applicant the appropriate vehicle registration and a set of 112
"Ohio geology" license plates and a validation sticker, or a 113
validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the 114
Revised Code.115

       In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed 116
on the license plates, "Ohio geology" license plates shall bear an 117
appropriate logo and words selected by the Ohio geology advisory 118
council and approved by the registrar. "Ohio geology" license 119
plates shall display county identification stickers that identify 120
the county of registration by name or number.121

       (B) "Ohio geology" license plates and a validation sticker, 122
or validation sticker alone, shall be issued upon receipt of an 123
application for registration of a motor vehicle under this 124
section; payment of the regular license tax as prescribed under 125
section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, any applicable motor vehicle 126
license tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, any 127
applicable additional fee prescribed by section 4503.40 or 4503.42 128
of the Revised Code, an additional fee of fifteen dollars, and a 129
contribution as provided in division (C) of this section; and 130
compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the 131
registration of motor vehicles.132

       (C) For each application for registration and registration 133
renewal notice the registrar receives under this section, the 134
registrar shall collect a contribution of fifteen dollars. The 135
registrar shall transmit this contribution to the treasurer of 136
state for deposit into the state treasury to the credit of the 137
"Ohio geology" license plate fund created by section 1505.13 of 138
the Revised Code.139

       The registrar shall transmit the additional fee of ten 140
dollars, the purpose of which is to compensate the bureau of motor 141
vehicles for the additional services required in the issuing of 142
"Ohio geology" license plates, to the treasurer of state for 143
deposit into the state treasury to the credit of the state bureau 144
of motor vehicles fund created by section 4501.25 of the Revised 145
Code.146

       Section 2.  That existing section 1505.11 of the Revised Code 147
is hereby repealed.148