To amend section 2921.36 of the Revised Code to enhance the penalty for illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a detention facility or a Mental Health or Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities institution.

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

Sec. 2921.36. (A) No person shall knowingly convey, or attempt to convey, onto the grounds of a detention facility or of an institution that is under the control of the department of mental health or the department of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, any of the following items:

(1) Any deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance, as defined in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code, or any part of or ammunition for use in such a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance;

(2) Any drug of abuse, as defined in section 3719.011 of the Revised Code;

(3) Any intoxicating liquor, as defined in section 4301.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any person who conveys or attempts to convey an item onto the grounds of a detention facility or of an institution under the control of the department of mental health or the department of mental retardation and developmental disabilities pursuant to the written authorization of the person in charge of the detention facility or the institution and in accordance with the written rules of the detention facility or the institution.

(C) No person shall knowingly deliver, or attempt to deliver, to any person who is confined in a detention facility or to any patient in an institution under the control of the department of mental health or the department of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, any item listed in division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.

(D) No person shall knowingly deliver, or attempt to deliver, cash to any person who is confined in a detention facility.

(E)(1) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (A)(1) of this section that the weapon or dangerous ordnance in question was being transported in a motor vehicle for any lawful purpose, that it was not on the actor's person, and, if the weapon or dangerous ordnance in question was a firearm, that it was unloaded and was being carried in a closed package, box, or case or in a compartment that can be reached only by leaving the vehicle.

(2) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (C) of this section that the actor was not otherwise prohibited by law from delivering the item to the confined person or the patient and that either of the following applies:

(a) The actor was permitted by the written rules of the detention facility or the institution to deliver the item to the confined person or the patient.

(b) The actor was given written authorization by the person in charge of the detention facility or the institution to deliver the item to the confined person or the patient.

(F)(1) Whoever violates division (A)(1) of this section or commits a violation of division (C) of this section involving an item listed in division (A)(1) of this section is guilty of illegal conveyance of weapons onto the grounds of a detention facility or a mental health or mental retardation and developmental disabilities institution, a felony of the fourth degree. If the offender is an officer or employee of the department of rehabilitation and correction, the court shall impose a mandatory prison term.

(2) Whoever violates division (A)(2) of this section or commits a violation of division (C) of this section involving any drug of abuse is guilty of illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a detention facility or a mental health or mental retardation and developmental disabilities institution, a felony of the fourth THIRD degree if the offender is an officer or employee of the facility or institution or a felony of the fifth degree if the offender is not such an officer or employee. If the offender is an officer or employee of the department of rehabilitation and correction OR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES, the court shall impose a mandatory prison term.

(3) Whoever violates division (A)(3) of this section or commits a violation of division (C) of this section involving any intoxicating liquor is guilty of illegal conveyance of intoxicating liquor onto the grounds of a detention facility or a mental health or mental retardation and developmental disabilities institution, a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(4) Whoever violates division (D) of this section is guilty of illegal conveyance of cash onto the grounds of a detention facility, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (D) of this section, illegal conveyance of cash onto the grounds of a detention facility is a felony of the fifth degree.