To amend section 305.03 of the Revised Code to require the coroner to serve as county commissioner whenever two of a county's commissioners are absent because of illness or injury.

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

Sec. 305.03. (A) Whenever any county officer fails to perform the duties of his office for ninety consecutive days, except in case of sickness or injury as provided in divisions (B) and (C) of this section, his THE office shall be deemed vacant.

(B) Whenever any county officer is absent because of sickness or injury, he THE OFFICER shall cause to be filed with the board of county commissioners a physician's certificate of his THE OFFICER'S sickness or injury. If such certificate is not filed with the board within ten days after the expiration of ninety consecutive days of absence, his THE office shall be deemed vacant.

(C) Whenever a county officer files a physician's certificate under division (B) of this section, but continues to be absent for an additional thirty days commencing immediately after the last day on which this certificate may be filed under division (B) of this section, his THE office shall be deemed vacant.

(D) IF AT ANY TIME TWO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN A COUNTY ARE ABSENT AND HAVE FILED A PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION, THE COUNTY CORONER, IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING THE DUTIES OF CORONER, SHALL SERVE AS COUNTY COMMISSIONER UNTIL AT LEAST ONE OF THE ABSENT COMMISSIONERS RETURNS TO OFFICE OR UNTIL THE OFFICE OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE ABSENT COMMISSIONERS IS DEEMED VACANT UNDER THIS SECTION AND THE VACANCY IS FILLED. IF THE CORONER SO REQUESTS, THE CORONER SHALL BE PAID A PER DIEM RATE FOR THE CORONER'S SERVICE AS A COMMISSIONER. THAT PER DIEM RATE SHALL BE THE ANNUAL SALARY SPECIFIED BY LAW FOR A COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF THAT COUNTY WHOSE TERM OF OFFICE BEGAN IN THE SAME YEAR AS THE CORONER'S TERM OF OFFICE BEGAN, DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF DAYS IN THE YEAR.

WHILE THE CORONER IS SERVING AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, THE CORONER SHALL BE CONSIDERED AN ACTING COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND SHALL PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER UNTIL AT LEAST ONE OF THE ABSENT COMMISSIONERS RETURNS TO OFFICE OR UNTIL THE OFFICE OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE ABSENT COMMISSIONERS IS DEEMED VACANT. BEFORE ASSUMING THE OFFICE OF ACTING COUNTY COMMISSIONER, THE CORONER SHALL TAKE AN OATH OF OFFICE AS PROVIDED IN SECTIONS 3.22 AND 3.23 of the Revised Code. THE CORONER'S SERVICE AS AN ACTING COUNTY COMMISSIONER DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE HOLDING OF AN INCOMPATIBLE PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT IN VIOLATION OF ANY STATUTORY OR COMMON LAW PROHIBITION AGAINST THE SIMULTANEOUS HOLDING OF MORE THAN ONE PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYMENT.

THE CORONER SHALL GIVE A NEW BOND IN THE SAME AMOUNT AND SIGNED AND APPROVED AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 305.04 of the Revised Code. THE BOND SHALL BE CONDITIONED FOR THE FAITHFUL DISCHARGE OF THE CORONER'S DUTIES AS ACTING COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE THAT THE COUNTY MAY SUSTAIN BY REASON OF THE CORONER'S FAILURE IN THOSE DUTIES. THE BOND, ALONG WITH THE OATH OF OFFICE AND APPROVAL OF THE PROBATE JUDGE INDORSED ON IT, SHALL BE DEPOSITED AND PAID FOR AS PROVIDED FOR THE BONDS IN SECTION 305.04 of the Revised Code.

(E) Any vacancy declared under this section shall be filled in the manner provided by section 305.02 of the Revised Code.

(F) This section shall not apply to a county officer while in the active military service of the United States.