As Introduced

130th General Assembly
Regular Session
2013-2014
H. B. No. 628


Representatives Celebrezze, Antonio 

Cosponsors: Representatives Foley, Barborak, Hagan, R. 



A BILL
To authorize the Inspector General to investigate the 1
Office of the Attorney General to determine 2
whether wrongful acts or omissions have been or 3
are being committed and to declare an emergency.4


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

       Section 1. (A) As used in this section, "wrongful act or 5
omission" has the same meaning as in section 121.41 of the Revised 6
Code.7

       (B) Notwithstanding division (D)(3) of section 121.41 of the 8
Revised Code, the Inspector General shall investigate the 9
management and operation of the Office of the Attorney General to 10
determine whether misconduct or wrongful acts or omissions have 11
been committed or are being committed by the Attorney General or 12
by present or former employees of or contractors with the Office 13
of the Attorney General. In conducting the investigation: 14

       (1) The Inspector General and each deputy inspector general 15
may administer oaths, examine witnesses under oath, and issue 16
subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum to compel the attendance of 17
witnesses and the production of all kinds of books, records, 18
papers, and tangible things. Upon the refusal of a witness to be 19
sworn or to answer any question put to the witness, or if a person 20
disobeys a subpoena, the Inspector General shall apply to the 21
court of common pleas for a contempt order, as in the case of 22
disobedience to the requirements of a subpoena issued from the 23
court of common pleas, or a refusal to testify in the court. 24

       (2) The Inspector General shall identify other state officers 25
and agencies that also are conducting contemporaneous 26
investigations, audits, reviews, or evaluations of the Office of 27
the Attorney General. The Inspector General is entitled to 28
coordinate and manage these investigations, audits, reviews, and 29
evaluations. A state officer or agency that is conducting such an 30
investigation, audit, review, or evaluation shall cooperate with 31
the Inspector General in this regard. The Inspector General and 32
each state officer or agency that is conducting such an 33
investigation, audit, review, or evaluation shall share 34
information and avoid duplication of effort. 35

       (C) At the conclusion of the investigation, the Inspector 36
General shall prepare a detailed final report of the results of 37
the investigation. The Inspector General shall submit the final 38
report to the Governor, to the Speaker of the House of 39
Representatives, and to the President of the Senate. The authority 40
vested in the Inspector General by this section terminates when 41
the final report has been submitted. 42

       (D) The Inspector General may enter into any contracts that 43
are necessary to complete the investigation. The contracts may 44
include contracts for the services of persons who are experts in a 45
particular field and whose expertise is necessary to successful 46
completion of the investigation. 47

       Section 2. This act is hereby declared to be an emergency 48
measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public 49
peace, health, and safety. The reason for such necessity lies in 50
the fact that it is essential that an investigation, conducted and 51
coordinated by the Inspector General, commence as soon as possible 52
to investigate alleged misconduct and wrongful acts and omissions 53
in the Office of the Attorney General. Therefore, this act shall 54
go into immediate effect.55