As Introduced

130th General Assembly
Regular Session
2013-2014
H. B. No. 488


Representatives Dovilla, Landis 


A BILL
To amend sections 4729.12, 4729.13, 4729.15, 4731.36, 1
4743.04, 5902.02, 5903.03, 5903.10, 5903.11, 2
5903.12, 5903.121, 5907.01, and 5907.04 and to 3
enact sections 3333.164, 3345.42, 3345.43, 4
3345.44, 3345.46, 5903.01, 5903.04, and 5903.05 of 5
the Revised Code to require state institutions of 6
higher education to award credit for military 7
training, and to make other changes regarding 8
state support and benefits for veterans and their 9
spouses.10


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

       Section 1.  That sections 4729.12, 4729.13, 4729.15, 4731.36, 11
4743.04, 5902.02, 5903.03, 5903.10, 5903.11, 5903.12, 5903.121, 12
5907.01, and 5907.04 be amended and sections 3333.164, 3345.42, 13
3345.43, 3345.44, 3345.46, 5903.01, 5903.04, and 5903.05 of the 14
Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:15

       Sec. 3333.164. (A) As used in this section, "state 16
institution of higher education" has the same meaning as in 17
section 3345.011 of the Revised Code. 18

       (B) Not later than December 31, 2014, the chancellor of the 19
Ohio board of regents shall do all of the following with regard to 20
the awarding of college credit for military training, experience, 21
and coursework:22

       (1) Develop a set of standards and procedures for state 23
institutions of higher education to utilize in the granting of 24
college credit for military training, experience, and coursework;25

       (2) Create a military articulation and transfer assurance 26
guide for college credit that is earned through military training, 27
experience, and coursework. The chancellor shall use the current 28
articulation and transfer policy adopted pursuant to section 29
3333.16 of the Revised Code as a model in developing this guide.30

       (3) Create a web site that contains information related to 31
the awarding of college credit for military training, experience, 32
and coursework. The web site shall include both of the following:33

       (a) Standardized resources that address frequently asked 34
questions regarding the awarding of such credit and related 35
issues.36

       (b) A statewide database that shows how specified military 37
training, experience, and coursework translates to college credit.38

       (4) Develop a statewide training program that prepares 39
faculty and staff of state institutions of higher education to 40
evaluate various military training, experience, and coursework and 41
to award appropriate equivalent credit. The training program shall 42
incorporate the best practices of awarding credit for military 43
experiences, including both the recommendations of the American 44
council on education and the standards developed by the council 45
for adult and experiential learning. 46

       (C) Beginning on July 1, 2015, state institutions of higher 47
education shall ensure that appropriate equivalent credit is 48
awarded for military training, experience, and coursework that 49
meet the standards developed by the chancellor pursuant to this 50
section.51

       Sec. 3345.42.  Not later than December 31, 2014, the board of 52
trustees of each state institution of higher education, as defined 53
in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, shall do both of the 54
following:55

       (A) Designate at least one person employed by the institution 56
to serve as the contact person for veterans affairs. This person 57
shall assist and advise veterans on issues related to earning 58
college credit for military training, experience, and coursework. 59

       (B) Adopt a policy regarding the support and assistance the 60
institution will provide to veterans.61

       The chancellor of the Ohio board of regents shall provide 62
guidance to state institutions of higher education in their 63
compliance with this section, including the recommendation of 64
standardized policies on support and assistance to veterans.65

       Sec. 3345.43. (A) Not later than December 31, 2014, and 66
continuing thereafter, each state institution of higher education, 67
as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, shall provide 68
a student who is either a veteran or a service member with 69
priority for course registration.70

       (B) As used in this section:71

       (1) "Service member" means a person who is serving in the 72
armed forces of the United States.73

        (2) "Veteran" means any person who has completed service in 74
the armed forces, including the national guard of any state or a 75
reserve component of the armed forces, and who has been discharged 76
under honorable conditions from the armed forces or who has been 77
transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory service. 78

       Sec. 3345.44. Not later than December 31, 2014, the board of 79
trustees or managing authority of each state institution of higher 80
education, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, 81
shall establish an appeals procedure for students who are veterans 82
for resolving disputes regarding the awarding of college credit 83
for military experience.84

       Sec. 3345.46. (A) On or after December 31, 2014, no state 85
institution of higher education, as defined in section 3345.011 of 86
the Revised Code, shall charge a student who is a veteran or a 87
service member any fee for the evaluation of, transcription of, or 88
application for college credit for military experience. 89

       (B) As used in this section:90

        (1) "Service member" means a person who is serving in the 91
armed forces of the United States.92

        (2) "Veteran" means any person who has completed service in 93
the armed forces, including the national guard of any state or a 94
reserve component of the armed forces, and who has been discharged 95
under honorable conditions from the armed forces or who has been 96
transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory service.97

       Sec. 4729.12.  An identification card issued by the state 98
board of pharmacy under section 4729.08 of the Revised Code 99
entitles the individual to whom it is issued to practice as a 100
pharmacist or as a pharmacy intern in this state until the next 101
annual renewal date.102

       Identification cards shall be renewed annually on the 103
fifteenth day of September, according to the standard renewal 104
procedure of Chapter 4745. of the Revised Code.105

       Each pharmacist and pharmacy intern shall carry the 106
identification card or renewal identification card while engaged 107
in the practice of pharmacy. The license shall be conspicuously 108
exposed at the principal place where the pharmacist or pharmacy 109
intern practices pharmacy.110

       A pharmacist or pharmacy intern who desires to continue in 111
the practice of pharmacy shall file with the board an application 112
in such form and containing such data as the board may require for 113
renewal of an identification card. An application filed under this 114
section may not be withdrawn without the approval of the board. If 115
the board finds that the applicant's card has not been revoked or 116
placed under suspension and that the applicant has paid the 117
renewal fee, has continued pharmacy education in accordance with 118
the rules of the board, and is entitled to continue in the 119
practice of pharmacy, the board shall issue a renewal 120
identification card to the applicant.121

       When an identification card has lapsed for more than sixty 122
days but application is made within three years after the 123
expiration of the card, the applicant shall be issued a renewal 124
identification card without further examination if the applicant 125
meets the requirements of this section and pays the fee designated 126
under division (E)(A)(5) of section 4729.15 of the Revised Code.127

       Sec. 4729.13.  A pharmacist who fails to make application to 128
the state board of pharmacy for a renewal identification card 129
within a period of three years from the expiration of the 130
identification card must pass an examination for registration; 131
except that a pharmacist whose registration has expired, but who 132
has continually practiced pharmacy in another state under a 133
license issued by the authority of that state, may obtain a 134
renewal identification card upon payment to the executive director 135
of the board the fee designated under division (F)(A)(6) of 136
section 4729.15 of the Revised Code. 137

       Sec. 4729.15. The(A) Except as provided in division (B) of 138
this section, the state board of pharmacy shall charge the 139
following fees:140

       (A)(1) For applying for a license to practice as a 141
pharmacist, an amount adequate to cover all rentals, compensation 142
for proctors, and other expenses of the board related to 143
examination except the expenses of procuring and grading the 144
examination, which fee shall not be returned if the applicant 145
fails to pass the examination;146

       (B)(2) For the examination of an applicant for licensure as a 147
pharmacist, an amount adequate to cover any expenses to the board 148
of procuring and grading the examination or any part thereof, 149
which fee shall not be returned if the applicant fails to pass the 150
examination;151

       (C)(3) For issuing a license and an identification card to an 152
individual who passes the examination described in section 4729.07 153
of the Revised Code, an amount that is adequate to cover the 154
expense;155

       (D)(4) For a pharmacist applying for renewal of an 156
identification card within sixty days after the expiration date, 157
ninety-seven dollars and fifty cents, which fee shall not be 158
returned if the applicant fails to qualify for renewal;159

       (E)(5) For a pharmacist applying for renewal of an 160
identification card that has lapsed for more than sixty days, but 161
for less than three years, one hundred thirty-five dollars, which 162
fee shall not be returned if the applicant fails to qualify for 163
renewal;164

       (F)(6) For a pharmacist applying for renewal of an 165
identification card that has lapsed for more than three years, 166
three hundred thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents, which fee 167
shall not be returned if the applicant fails to qualify for 168
renewal;169

       (G)(7) For a pharmacist applying for a license and 170
identification card, on presentation of a pharmacist license 171
granted by another state, three hundred thirty-seven dollars and 172
fifty cents, which fee shall not be returned if the applicant 173
fails to qualify for licensure.174

       (H)(8) For a license and identification card to practice as a 175
pharmacy intern, twenty-two dollars and fifty cents, which fee 176
shall not be returned if the applicant fails to qualify for 177
licensure;178

       (I)(9) For the renewal of a pharmacy intern identification 179
card, twenty-two dollars and fifty cents, which fee shall not be 180
returned if the applicant fails to qualify for renewal;181

       (J)(10) For issuing a replacement license to a pharmacist, 182
twenty-two dollars and fifty cents;183

       (K)(11) For issuing a replacement license to a pharmacy 184
intern, seven dollars and fifty cents;185

       (L)(12) For issuing a replacement identification card to a 186
pharmacist, thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents, or pharmacy 187
intern, seven dollars and fifty cents;188

       (M)(13) For certifying licensure and grades for reciprocal 189
licensure, ten dollars;190

       (N)(14) For making copies of any application, affidavit, or 191
other document filed in the state board of pharmacy office, an 192
amount fixed by the board that is adequate to cover the expense, 193
except that for copies required by federal or state agencies or 194
law enforcement officers for official purposes, no charge need be 195
made;196

       (O)(15) For certifying and affixing the seal of the board, an 197
amount fixed by the board that is adequate to cover the expense, 198
except that for certifying and affixing the seal of the board to a 199
document required by federal or state agencies or law enforcement 200
officers for official purposes, no charge need be made;201

       (P)(16) For each copy of a book or pamphlet that includes 202
laws administered by the state board of pharmacy, rules adopted by 203
the board, and chapters of the Revised Code with which the board 204
is required to comply, an amount fixed by the board that is 205
adequate to cover the expense of publishing and furnishing the 206
book or pamphlet.207

       (B)(1) Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, the fees 208
described in divisions (A)(1) to (13) of this section do not apply 209
to an individual who is on active duty in the armed forces of the 210
United States or to an individual who served in the armed forces 211
of the United States and presents a valid copy of the individual's 212
DD-214 form or an equivalent document issued by the United States 213
department of defense indicating that the individual is an 214
honorably discharged veteran.215

        (2) The state board of pharmacy may establish limits with 216
respect to the individuals for whom fees are not applicable under 217
division (B)(1) of this section. 218

       Sec. 4731.36.  (A) Sections 4731.01 to 4731.47 of the Revised 219
Code shall not prohibit service in case of emergency, domestic 220
administration of family remedies, or provision of assistance to 221
another individual who is self-administering drugs.222

       Sections 4731.01 to 4731.47 of the Revised Code shall not 223
apply to any of the following:224

       (1) A commissioned medical officer of the armed forces of the225
United States armed forces, as defined in section 5903.11 of the 226
Revised Code, or an employee of the veterans administration of the 227
United States or the United States public health service in the 228
discharge of the officer's or employee's professional duties;229

       (2) A dentist authorized under Chapter 4715. of the Revised 230
Code to practice dentistry when engaged exclusively in the 231
practice of dentistry or when administering anesthetics in the 232
practice of dentistry;233

       (3) A physician or surgeon in another state or territory who 234
is a legal practitioner of medicine or surgery therein when 235
providing consultation to an individual holding a certificate to 236
practice issued under this chapter who is responsible for the 237
examination, diagnosis, and treatment of the patient who is the 238
subject of the consultation, if one of the following applies:239

       (a) The physician or surgeon does not provide consultation in 240
this state on a regular or frequent basis.241

       (b) The physician or surgeon provides the consultation 242
without compensation of any kind, direct or indirect, for the 243
consultation.244

       (c) The consultation is part of the curriculum of a medical 245
school or osteopathic medical school of this state or a program 246
described in division (A)(2) of section 4731.291 of the Revised 247
Code.248

       (4) A physician or surgeon in another state or territory who 249
is a legal practitioner of medicine or surgery therein and 250
provided services to a patient in that state or territory, when 251
providing, not later than one year after the last date services 252
were provided in another state or territory, follow-up services in 253
person or through the use of any communication, including oral, 254
written, or electronic communication, in this state to the patient 255
for the same condition;256

       (5) A physician or surgeon residing on the border of a 257
contiguous state and authorized under the laws thereof to practice 258
medicine and surgery therein, whose practice extends within the 259
limits of this state. Such practitioner shall not either in person 260
or through the use of any communication, including oral, written, 261
or electronic communication, open an office or appoint a place to 262
see patients or receive calls within the limits of this state.263

       (6) A board, committee, or corporation engaged in the conduct 264
described in division (A) of section 2305.251 of the Revised Code 265
when acting within the scope of the functions of the board, 266
committee, or corporation;267

       (7) The conduct of an independent review organization 268
accredited by the superintendent of insurance under section 269
3922.13 of the Revised Code for the purpose of external reviews 270
conducted under Chapter 3922. of the Revised Code.271

       As used in division (A)(1) of this section, "armed forces of 272
the United States" means the army, air force, navy, marine corps, 273
coast guard, and any other military service branch that is 274
designated by congress as a part of the armed forces of the United 275
States.276

       (B)(1) Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, this 277
chapter does not apply to a person who holds a current, 278
unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery or 279
osteopathic medicine and surgery in another state when the person, 280
pursuant to a written agreement with an athletic team located in 281
the state in which the person holds the license, provides medical 282
services to any of the following while the team is traveling to or 283
from or participating in a sporting event in this state:284

       (a) A member of the athletic team;285

       (b) A member of the athletic team's coaching, communications, 286
equipment, or sports medicine staff;287

       (c) A member of a band or cheerleading squad accompanying the 288
athletic team;289

       (d) The athletic team's mascot.290

       (2) In providing medical services pursuant to division (B)(1) 291
of this section, the person shall not provide medical services at 292
a health care facility, including a hospital, an ambulatory 293
surgical facility, or any other facility in which medical care, 294
diagnosis, or treatment is provided on an inpatient or outpatient 295
basis.296

       (C) Sections 4731.51 to 4731.61 of the Revised Code do not 297
apply to any graduate of a podiatric school or college while 298
performing those acts that may be prescribed by or incidental to 299
participation in an accredited podiatric internship, residency, or 300
fellowship program situated in this state approved by the state 301
medical board.302

       (D) This chapter does not apply to an oriental medicine 303
practitioner or acupuncturist who complies with Chapter 4762. of 304
the Revised Code.305

       (E) This chapter does not prohibit the administration of 306
drugs by any of the following:307

       (1) An individual who is licensed or otherwise specifically 308
authorized by the Revised Code to administer drugs;309

       (2) An individual who is not licensed or otherwise 310
specifically authorized by the Revised Code to administer drugs, 311
but is acting pursuant to the rules for delegation of medical 312
tasks adopted under section 4731.053 of the Revised Code;313

       (3) An individual specifically authorized to administer drugs 314
pursuant to a rule adopted under the Revised Code that is in 315
effect on April 10, 2001, as long as the rule remains in effect, 316
specifically authorizing an individual to administer drugs.317

       (F) The exemptions described in divisions (A)(3), (4), and 318
(5) of this section do not apply to a physician or surgeon whose 319
certificate to practice issued under this chapter is under 320
suspension or has been revoked or permanently revoked by action of 321
the state medical board.322

       Sec. 4743.04.  (A) The renewal of a license or other 323
authorization to practice a trade or profession issued under Title 324
XLVII of the Revised Code is subject to the provisions of section 325
5903.10 of the Revised Code relating to service in the armed 326
forces of the United States or a reserve component of the armed 327
forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard or 328
the national guard of any other state.329

       (B) Continuing education requirements applicable to the 330
licensees under Title XLVII of the Revised Code are subject to the 331
provisions of section 5903.12 of the Revised Code relating to 332
active duty military service.333

       (C) A department, agency, or office of this state or of any 334
political subdivision of this state that issues a license or 335
certificate to practice a trade or profession may, pursuant to 336
rules adopted by the department, agency, or office, issue a 337
temporary license or certificate to practice the trade or 338
profession to a person whose spouse is on active military duty in 339
this state.340

       (D) The issuance of a license or other authorization to 341
practice a trade or profession issued under Title XLVII of the 342
Revised Code is subject to the provisions of section 5903.03 of 343
the Revised Code relating to service in the armed forces of the 344
United States or a reserve component of the armed forces of the 345
United States, including the Ohio national guard or the national 346
guard of any other state.347

       Sec. 5902.02.  The duties of the director of veterans 348
services shall include the following: 349

       (A) Furnishing the veterans service commissions of all 350
counties of the state copies of the state laws, rules, and 351
legislation relating to the operation of the commissions and their 352
offices; 353

       (B) Upon application, assisting the general public in 354
obtaining records of vital statistics pertaining to veterans or 355
their dependents; 356

       (C) Adopting rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised 357
Code pertaining to minimum qualifications for hiring, certifying, 358
and accrediting county veterans service officers, pertaining to 359
their required duties, and pertaining to revocation of the 360
certification of county veterans service officers; 361

       (D) Adopting rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised 362
Code for the education, training, certification, and duties of 363
veterans service commissioners and for the revocation of the 364
certification of a veterans service commissioner; 365

       (E) Developing and monitoring programs and agreements 366
enhancing employment and training for veterans in single or 367
multiple county areas; 368

       (F) Developing and monitoring programs and agreements to 369
enable county veterans service commissions to address 370
homelessness, indigency, and other veteran-related issues 371
individually or jointly; 372

       (G) Developing and monitoring programs and agreements to 373
enable state agencies, individually or jointly, that provide 374
services to veterans, including the veterans' homes operated under 375
Chapter 5907. of the Revised Code and the director of job and 376
family services, to address homelessness, indigency, employment, 377
and other veteran-related issues; 378

       (H) Establishing and providing statistical reporting formats 379
and procedures for county veterans service commissions; 380

       (I) Publishing electronically a listing of county veterans 381
service offices and county veterans service commissioners. The 382
listing shall include the expiration dates of commission members' 383
terms of office and the organizations they represent; the names, 384
addresses, and telephone numbers of county veterans service 385
offices; and the addresses and telephone numbers of the Ohio 386
offices and headquarters of state and national veterans service 387
organizations. 388

       (J) Establishing a veterans advisory committee to advise and 389
assist the department of veterans services in its duties. Members 390
shall include a member of the national guard association of the 391
United States who is a resident of this state, a member of the 392
military officers association of America who is a resident of this 393
state, a state representative of congressionally chartered 394
veterans organizations referred to in section 5901.02 of the 395
Revised Code, a representative of any other congressionally 396
chartered state veterans organization that has at least one 397
veterans service commissioner in the state, three representatives 398
of the Ohio state association of county veterans service 399
commissioners, who shall have a combined vote of one, three 400
representatives of the state association of county veterans 401
service officers, who shall have a combined vote of one, one 402
representative of the county commissioners association of Ohio, 403
who shall be a county commissioner not from the same county as any 404
of the other county representatives, a representative of the 405
advisory committee on women veterans, a representative of a labor 406
organization, and a representative of the office of the attorney 407
general. The department of veterans services shall submit to the 408
advisory committee proposed rules for the committee's operation. 409
The committee may review and revise these proposed rules prior to 410
submitting them to the joint committee on agency rule review. 411

       (K) Adopting, with the advice and assistance of the veterans 412
advisory committee, policy and procedural guidelines that the 413
veterans service commissions shall adhere to in the development 414
and implementation of rules, policies, procedures, and guidelines 415
for the administration of Chapter 5901. of the Revised Code. The 416
department of veterans services shall adopt no guidelines or rules 417
regulating the purposes, scope, duration, or amounts of financial 418
assistance provided to applicants pursuant to sections 5901.01 to 419
5901.15 of the Revised Code. The director of veterans services may 420
obtain opinions from the office of the attorney general regarding 421
rules, policies, procedures, and guidelines of the veterans 422
service commissions and may enforce compliance with Chapter 5901. 423
of the Revised Code. 424

       (L) Receiving copies of form DD214 filed in accordance with 425
the director's guidelines adopted under division (L) of this 426
section from members of veterans service commissions appointed 427
under section 5901.02 and from county veterans service officers 428
employed under section 5901.07 of the Revised Code; 429

       (M) Developing and maintaining and improving a resource, such 430
as a telephone answering point or a web site, by means of which 431
veterans and their dependents, through a single portal, can access 432
multiple sources of information and interaction with regard to the 433
rights of, and the benefits available to, veterans and their 434
dependents. The director of veterans services may enter into 435
agreements with state and federal agencies, with agencies of 436
political subdivisions, with state and local instrumentalities, 437
and with private entities as necessary to make the resource as 438
complete as is possible. 439

       (N) Planning, organizing, advertising, and conducting 440
outreach efforts, such as conferences and fairs, at which veterans 441
and their dependents may meet, learn about the organization and 442
operation of the department of veterans services and of veterans 443
service commissions, and obtain information about the rights of, 444
and the benefits and services available to, veterans and their 445
dependents; 446

       (O) Advertising, in print, on radio and television, and 447
otherwise, the rights of, and the benefits and services available 448
to, veterans and their dependents; 449

       (P) Developing and advocating improved benefits and services 450
for, and improved delivery of benefits and services to, veterans 451
and their dependents; 452

       (Q) Searching for, identifying, and reviewing statutory and 453
administrative policies that relate to veterans and their 454
dependents and reporting to the general assembly statutory and 455
administrative policies that should be consolidated in whole or in 456
part within the organization of the department of veterans 457
services to unify funding, delivery, and accounting of statutory 458
and administrative policy expressions that relate particularly to 459
veterans and their dependents; 460

       (R) Encouraging veterans service commissions to innovate and 461
otherwise to improve efficiency in delivering benefits and 462
services to veterans and their dependents and to report successful 463
innovations and efficiencies to the director of veterans services; 464

       (S) Publishing and encouraging adoption of successful 465
innovations and efficiencies veterans service commissions have 466
achieved in delivering benefits and services to veterans and their 467
dependents; 468

       (T) Establishing advisory committees, in addition to the 469
veterans advisory committee established under division (K) of this 470
section, on veterans issues;471

       (U) Developing and maintaining a relationship with the United 472
States department of veterans affairs, seeking optimal federal 473
benefits and services for Ohio veterans and their dependents, and 474
encouraging veterans service commissions to maximize the federal 475
benefits and services to which veterans and their dependents are 476
entitled; 477

       (V) Developing and maintaining relationships with the several 478
veterans organizations, encouraging the organizations in their 479
efforts at assisting veterans and their dependents, and advocating 480
for adequate state subsidization of the organizations; 481

       (W) Requiring the several veterans organizations that receive 482
funding from the state annually, not later than the thirtieth day 483
of July, to report to the director of veterans services and 484
prescribing the form and content of the report;485

       (X) Reviewing the reports submitted to the director under 486
division (W) of this section within thirty days of receipt and 487
informing the veterans organization of any deficiencies that exist 488
in the organization's report and that funding will not be released 489
until the deficiencies have been corrected and a satisfactory 490
report submitted;491

        (Y) Advising the director of budget and management when a 492
report submitted to the director under division (W) of this 493
section has been reviewed and determined to be satisfactory;494

        (Z) Furnishing copies of all reports that the director of 495
veterans services has determined have been submitted 496
satisfactorily under division (W) of this section to the 497
chairperson of the finance committees of the general assembly;498

       (AA) Investigating complaints against county veterans 499
services commissioners and county veterans service officers if the 500
director reasonably believes the investigation to be appropriate 501
and necessary;502

       (BB) Developing and maintaining a web site that is accessible 503
by veterans and their dependents and provides a link to the web 504
site of each state agency that issues a license, certificate, or 505
other authorization permitting an individual to engage in an 506
occupation or occupational activity;507

       (CC) Encouraging state agencies to conduct outreach efforts 508
through which veterans and their dependents can learn about 509
available job and education benefits;510

       (DD) Informing state agencies about changes in statutes and 511
rules that affect veterans and their dependents;512

       (EE) Assisting licensing agencies in adopting rules under 513
section 5903.03 of the Revised Code;514

       (FF) Taking any other actions required by this chapter.515

       Sec. 5903.01. As used in this chapter:516

       "Armed forces" means the armed forces of the United States, 517
including the army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, or 518
any reserve components of those forces; the national guard of any 519
state; the commissioned corps of the United States public health 520
service; the merchant marine service during wartime; such other 521
service as may be designated by congress; or the Ohio organized 522
militia when engaged in full-time national guard duty for a period 523
of more than thirty days.524

       "License" means a license, certificate, permit, or other 525
authorization issued or conferred by a licensing agency under 526
which a licensee may engage in a profession, occupation, or 527
occupational activity.528

       "Licensee" means a person to whom all of the following apply:529

       (A) The person has been issued a license by a licensing 530
agency.531

       (B) The person has been a member of the armed forces.532

       (C) The person has served on active duty, whether inside or 533
outside the United States, for a period in excess of thirty-one 534
days.535

       "Licensing agency" means any state department, division, 536
board, commission, agency, or other state governmental unit 537
authorized by the Revised Code to issue a license.538

       "Member" means any person who is serving in the armed forces.539

       "Merchant marine" includes the United States army transport 540
service and the United States naval transport service.541

       "Veteran" means any person who has completed service in the 542
armed forces, including the national guard of any state, or a 543
reserve component of the armed forces, who has been discharged 544
under honorable conditions from the armed forces or who has been 545
transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory service.546

       Sec. 5903.03.  (A) As used in this section:547

       (1) "License" and "licensing agency" have the meanings 548
defined in section 5903.12 of the Revised Code.549

       (2) "Military, "military program of training" means a 550
training program of the armed forces of the United States or a 551
reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, 552
including the Ohio national guard or the national guard of any 553
other state.554

       (B) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the 555
contrary, a licensing agency shall consider an applicant for a 556
license:557

       (1) To have met the educational requirement for that license 558
if the applicant has completed a military program of training and 559
has been awarded a military primary specialty at a level that is 560
substantially equivalent to or exceeds the educational requirement 561
for that license; and562

       (2) To have met the experience requirement for that license 563
if the applicant has served in that military primary specialty 564
under honorable conditions for a period of time that is 565
substantially equivalent to or exceeds the experience requirement 566
for that license.567

       (C) Each licensing agency, not later than June 30, 2014, 568
shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code regarding 569
which military programs of training, military primary specialties, 570
and lengths of service are substantially equivalent to or exceed 571
the educational and experience requirements for each license that 572
agency issues.573

       Sec. 5903.04.  Each licensing agency shall adopt rules under 574
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to establish and implement all of 575
the following:576

       (A) A process to obtain from each applicant documentation and 577
additional information necessary to determine if the applicant is 578
a member or veteran, or the spouse or surviving spouse of a member 579
or veteran;580

       (B) A process to record, track, and monitor applications that 581
have been received from a member, veteran, or the spouse or 582
surviving spouse of a member or veteran; and583

       (C) A process to prioritize and expedite certification or 584
licensing for each applicant who is a member, veteran, or the 585
spouse or a surviving spouse of a member or veteran.586

       In establishing these processes, the licensing agency shall 587
include any special accommodations that may be appropriate for 588
applicants facing imminent deployment.589

       Sec. 5903.05. A licensing agency shall apply for approval to 590
the state approving agency at the Ohio department of veterans 591
services as required under 38 U.S.C. 3672(a) to enable an eligible 592
person or veteran to receive education benefits through the United 593
States department of veterans affairs.594

       Sec. 5903.10.  (A) A holder of an expired license or 595
certificate from this state or any political subdivision or agency 596
of the state to practice a trade or profession shall be granted a 597
renewal of the license or certificate by the issuing board or 598
authority at the usual cost without penalty and without 599
re-examination if not otherwise disqualified because of mental or 600
physical disability and if either of the following applies:601

       (1) The license or certificate was not renewed because of the 602
holder's service in the armed forces of the United States or a 603
reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, 604
including the Ohio national guard or the national guard of any 605
other state.606

       (2) The license or certificate was not renewed because the 607
holder's spouse served in the armed forces of the United States or 608
a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, 609
including the Ohio national guard or the national guard of any 610
other state, and the service resulted in the holder's absence from 611
this state. 612

       (B) A renewal shall not be granted under division (A) of this 613
section unless the holder or the holder's spouse, whichever is 614
applicable, has presented satisfactory evidence of the service 615
member's discharge under honorable conditions or release under 616
honorable conditions from active duty or national guard duty 617
within six months after the discharge or release.618

       Sec. 5903.11.  (A) Any federally funded employment and 619
training program administered by any state agency including, but 620
not limited to, the "Workforce Investment Act of 1998," 112 Stat. 621
936, codified in scattered sections of 29 U.S.C., as amended, 622
shall include a veteran priority system to provide maximum 623
employment and training opportunities to veterans and eligible 624
persons within each targeted group as established by federal law 625
and state and federal policy in the service area. Disabled 626
veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, other veterans, and 627
eligible persons shall receive preference over nonveterans within 628
each targeted group in the provision of employment and training 629
services available through these programs as required by this 630
section.631

       (B) Each state agency shall refer qualified applicants to job 632
openings and training opportunities in programs described in 633
division (A) of this section in the following order of priority:634

       (1) Special disabled veterans;635

       (2) Veterans of the Vietnam era;636

       (3) Disabled veterans;637

       (4) All other veterans;638

       (5) Other eligible persons;639

       (6) Nonveterans.640

       (C) Each state agency providing employment and training 641
services to veterans and eligible persons under programs described 642
in division (A) of this section shall submit an annual written 643
report to the speaker of the house of representatives and the 644
president of the senate on the services that it provides to 645
veterans and eligible persons. Each such agency shall report 646
separately on all entitlement programs, employment or training 647
programs, and any other programs that it provides to each class of 648
persons described in divisions (B)(1) to (6) of this section. Each 649
such agency shall also report on action taken to ensure compliance 650
with statutory requirements. Compliance and reporting procedures 651
shall be in accordance with the reporting procedures then in 652
effect for all employment and training programs described in 653
division (A) of this section, with the addition of veterans as a 654
separate reporting module.655

       (D) All state agencies that administer federally funded 656
employment and training programs described in division (A) of this 657
section for veterans and eligible persons shall do all of the 658
following:659

       (1) Ensure that veterans are treated with courtesy and 660
respect at all state governmental facilities;661

       (2) Give priority in referral to jobs to qualified veterans 662
and other eligible persons;663

       (3) Give priority in referral to and enrollment in training 664
programs to qualified veterans and other eligible persons;665

       (4) Give preferential treatment to special disabled veterans 666
in the provision of all needed state services;667

       (5) Provide information and effective referral assistance to 668
veterans and other eligible persons regarding needed benefits and 669
services that may be obtained through other agencies.670

       (E) As used in this section:671

       (1) "Special disabled veteran" means a veteran who is 672
entitled to, or who but for the receipt of military pay would be 673
entitled to, compensation under any law administered by the 674
department of veterans affairs for a disability rated at thirty 675
per cent or more or a person who was discharged or released from 676
active duty because of a service-connected disability.677

       (2) "Veteran of the Vietnam era" means an eligible veteran 678
who served on active duty for a period of more than one hundred 679
eighty days, any part of which occurred from August 5, 1964, 680
through May 7, 1975, and was discharged or released therefrom with 681
other than a dishonorable discharge or a person who was discharged 682
or released from active duty for a service-connected disability if 683
any part of the active duty was performed from August 5, 1964, 684
through May 7, 1975.685

       (3) "Disabled veteran" means a veteran who is entitled to, or 686
who but for the receipt of military retirement pay would be 687
entitled to compensation, under any law administered by the 688
department of veterans affairs and who is not a special disabled 689
veteran.690

       (4) "Eligible veteran" means a person who served on active 691
duty for more than one hundred eighty days and was discharged or 692
released from active duty with other than a dishonorable discharge 693
or a person who was discharged or released from active duty 694
because of a service-connected disability.695

       (5) "Other eligible person" means one of the following:696

       (a) The spouse of any person who died of a service-connected 697
disability;698

       (b) The spouse of any member of the armed forces serving on 699
active duty who at the time of the spouse's application for 700
assistance under any program described in division (A) of this 701
section is listed pursuant to the "Act of September 6, 1966," 80 702
Stat. 629, 37 U.S.C.A. 556, and the regulations issued pursuant 703
thereto, as having been in one or more of the following categories 704
for a total of ninety or more days:705

       (i) Missing in action;706

       (ii) Captured in line of duty by a hostile force;707

       (iii) Forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a 708
foreign government or power.709

       (c) The spouse of any person who has a total disability 710
permanent in nature resulting from a service-connected disability 711
or the spouse of a veteran who died while such a disability was in 712
existence.713

       (6) "Veteran" means either of the following:714

       (a) Any persona veteran as defined in section 5903.01 of the 715
Revised Code who was a member of the armed forces of the United 716
States for a period of one hundred eighty days or more or; a 717
person who was discharged or released from active duty because of 718
a service-connected disability;719

       (b) Aor a person who served as a member of the United States 720
merchant marine and to whom either of the following applies:721

       (i)(a) The person has an honorable report of separation from 722
active duty military service, form DD214 or DD215.; or723

       (ii)(b) The person served in the United States merchant 724
marine between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, and died 725
on active duty while serving in a war zone during that period of 726
service.727

       (7) "Armed forces of the United States" means the army, air 728
force, navy, marine corps, coast guard, and any other military 729
service branch that is designated by congress as a part of the 730
armed forces of the United States.731

       (8) "Employment program" means a program which provides 732
referral of individuals to employer job openings in the federal, 733
state, or private sector.734

       (9)(8) "Training program" means any program that upgrades the 735
employability of qualified applicants.736

       (10)(9) "Entitlement program" means any program that enlists 737
specific criteria in determining eligibility, including but not 738
limited to the existence in special segments of the general 739
population of specific financial needs.740

       (11)(10) "Targeted group" means a group of persons designated 741
by federal law or regulations or by state law to receive special 742
assistance under an employment and training program described in 743
division (A) of this section.744

       (12) "United States merchant marine" includes the United 745
States army transport service and the United States naval 746
transport service.747

       Sec. 5903.12.  (A) As used in this section:748

       (1) "Continuing education" means continuing education 749
required of a licensee by law and includes, but is not limited to, 750
the continuing education required of licensees under sections 751
3737.881, 3781.10, 4701.11, 4715.141, 4715.25, 4717.09, 4723.24, 752
4725.16, 4725.51, 4730.14, 4730.49, 4731.281, 4734.25, 4735.141, 753
4736.11, 4741.16, 4741.19, 4751.07, 4755.63, 4757.33, 4759.06, 754
4761.06, and 4763.07 of the Revised Code.755

       (2) "License" means a license, certificate, permit, or other 756
authorization issued or conferred by a licensing agency under 757
which a licensee may engage in a profession, occupation, or 758
occupational activity.759

       (3) "Licensee" means a person to whom all of the following 760
apply:761

       (a) The person has been issued a license by a licensing 762
agency.763

       (b) The person has been a member of the armed forces of the 764
United States, the Ohio national guard, the Ohio military reserve, 765
the Ohio naval militia, the national guard of any other state, or 766
a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.767

       (c) The person has served on active duty, whether inside or 768
outside the United States, for a period in excess of thirty-one 769
days.770

       (4) "Licensing agency" means any state department, division, 771
board, commission, agency, or other state governmental unit 772
authorized by the Revised Code to issue a license.773

       (5) "Reporting period" means the period of time during which 774
a licensee must complete the number of hours of continuing 775
education required of the licensee by law.776

       (B) A licensee may submit an application to a licensing 777
agency, stating that the licensee requires an extension of the 778
current reporting period because the licensee has served on active 779
duty as described in division (A)(3)(c) of this section during the 780
current or a prior reporting period. The licensee shall submit 781
proper documentation certifying the active duty service and the 782
length of that active duty service. Upon receiving the application 783
and proper documentation, the licensing agency shall extend the 784
current reporting period by an amount of time equal to the total 785
number of months that the licensee spent on active duty during the 786
current reporting period. For purposes of this division, any 787
portion of a month served on active duty shall be considered one 788
full month.789

       Sec. 5903.121. A "licensing agency," as defined in section 790
5903.12 of the Revised Code, shall consider relevant education, 791
training, or service completed by a licensee as a member of the 792
armed forces of the United States or reserve components thereof, 793
the Ohio national guard, the Ohio military reserve, the Ohio naval 794
militia, or the national guard of any other state in determining 795
whether a licensee has fulfilled required continuing education.796

       Sec. 5907.01. (A) As used in this chapter:797

       (1) "Armed forces of the United States" has the same meaning 798
as in section 5903.11 of the Revised Codemeans the army, air 799
force, navy, marine corps, coast guard, and any other military 800
service branch that is designated by congress as a part of the 801
armed forces of the United States.802

       (2) "Domiciliary" means a separate area within the Ohio 803
veterans' home providing domiciliary care.804

       (3) "Domiciliary care" means providing shelter, food, and 805
necessary medical care on an ambulatory self-care basis to 806
eligible veterans who do not need the nursing services provided in 807
nursing homes.808

       (4) "Nursing home" has the same meaning as in section 3721.01 809
of the Revised Code.810

       (5) "Veteran" has the same meaning as in section 5901.01 of 811
the Revised Code.812

       (B) There are hereby established the Ohio veterans' homes 813
within the department of veterans services. The department shall 814
maintain and operate state veterans' homes as administered under 815
the state veterans' home programs defined in Title 38 of the 816
United States Code.817

       Sec. 5907.04. SubjectAs used in this section, "armed forces 818
of the United States" means the army, air force, navy, marine 819
corps, coast guard, and any other military service branch that is 820
designated by congress as a part of the armed forces of the United 821
States.822

       Subject to the following paragraph, all veterans, who served 823
during a period of conflict as determined by the United States 824
department of veterans affairs or any person who is awarded either 825
the armed forces expeditionary medal established by presidential 826
executive order 10977 dated December 4, 1961, or the Vietnam 827
service medal established by presidential executive order 11231 828
dated July 8, 1965, who have been honorably discharged or 829
separated under honorable conditions therefrom, or any discharged 830
members of the Polish and Czechoslovakian armed forces who served 831
in armed conflict with an enemy of the United States in World War 832
II who have been citizens of the United States for at least ten 833
years, provided that the above-mentioned persons have been 834
citizens of this state for one year or more at the date of making 835
application for admission, are disabled by disease, wounds, or 836
otherwise, and are by reason of such disability incapable of 837
earning their living, and all members of the Ohio national guard 838
or naval militia who have lost an arm or leg, or their sight, or 839
become permanently disabled from any cause, while in the line and 840
discharge of duty, and are not able to support themselves, may be 841
admitted to a veterans' home under such rules as the director of 842
veterans services adopts.843

       A veteran who served in the armed forces of the United States 844
as defined in division (E)(7) of section 5903.11 of the Revised 845
Code is eligible for admission to a veterans' home under the 846
preceding paragraph only if the person has the characteristics 847
defined in division (B)(1) of section 5901.01 of the Revised Code. 848

        Veterans' homes may reserve a bed during the temporary 849
absence of a resident or patient from the home, including a 850
nursing home within it, under conditions prescribed by the 851
director, to include hospitalization for an acute condition, 852
visits with relatives and friends, and participation in 853
therapeutic programs outside the home. A home shall not reserve a 854
bed for more than thirty days, except that absences for more than 855
thirty days due to hospitalization may be authorized.856

       Section 2.  That existing sections 4729.12, 4729.13, 4729.15, 857
4731.36, 4743.04, 5902.02, 5903.03, 5903.10, 5903.11, 5903.12, 858
5903.121, 5907.01, and 5907.04 of the Revised Code are hereby 859
repealed.860

       Section 3.  The Director of Veterans Services shall implement 861
divisions (BB) to (EE) of section 5902.02 of the Revised Code not 862
later than December 31, 2014.863

       Section 4.  A licensing agency that is required to adopt 864
rules under section 5903.04 of the Revised Code shall adopt 865
initial rules not later than December 31, 2014.866

       Section 5. State agencies that are required to apply for 867
approval to the State Approving Agency at the Ohio Department of 868
Veterans Services under section 5903.05 of the Revised Code shall 869
do so initially not later than December 31, 2014. 870

       Section 6.  Section 4731.36 of the Revised Code is presented 871
in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Sub. 872
H.B. 251 and Sub. S.B. 141 of the 129th General Assembly. The 873
General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of 874
section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be 875
harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds 876
that the composite is the resulting version of the section in 877
effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in 878
this act.879