To amend, for the purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses, section 122.98 (122.971) and to enact new section 122.98 and section 122.981 of the Revised Code to create the Ohio Aerospace Advisory Council.

Section 1. That section 122.98 (122.971) be amended for the purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses, and new section 122.98 and section 122.981 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 122.98 122.971.  (A) The Ohio steel industry advisory council shall do all of the following:

(1) Conduct an examination of existing federal and Ohio laws which currently affect the production and consumption of Ohio steel, problems which the Ohio steel industry currently faces, including foreign competition and the economic climate for the Ohio steel industry, and other matters relevant to the future of the steel industry in this state;

(2) Submit an annual report, no later than the first day of October of each year, to the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, the president and minority leader of the senate, and the chairpersons of the standing committees of the house of representatives and senate to which matters concerning commerce and labor are normally referred. The report shall propose methods to expand the use of Ohio steel within the state, the United States, and the world; identify problems facing the Ohio steel industry discovered during the council's activities; and make recommendations to modify state statutes or rules.

(3) Upon request, advise state and local government officials on questions and matters affecting the steel industry;

(4) Work closely with the Ohio steel futures program.

(B) The director of development shall transmit copies of all requests for information and assistance from the steel futures program and copies of program evaluations conducted by that program to the council. The council may make recommendations to the steel futures program regarding research and development and funding of programs to be undertaken by the steel futures program.

Sec. 122.98. (A) There is hereby created the Ohio aerospace advisory council, which shall consist of eleven members. The director of development or the director's designee shall be a member of the council and shall serve as its chairperson. The governor's science and technology advisor or the advisor's designee shall be a member of the council. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives each shall appoint one member from their respective houses to serve as members of the council.

The governor shall appoint seven members of the council, with the advice and consent of the senate, as follows: one member, who shall serve as a nonvoting member, shall be an employee of the United States air force who is assigned to the Wright-Patterson air force base; one member, who shall serve as a nonvoting member, shall be an employee of the national aeronautics and space administration who is assigned to the John H. Glenn research center; and five members shall be employees or former employees of private enterprises whose primary business is the manufacture or sale of products in the aerospace industry, or individuals who are faculty members of a state institution of higher education as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code. The members appointed by the governor shall be individuals who are knowledgeable in at least one of the following fields: aerospace technology, national defense issues associated with aerospace technology, or issues facing private enterprises that conduct business in the aerospace industry. No more than four members appointed by the governor shall be members of the same political party.

(B) The terms of office of the council's members appointed by the governor shall be three years from the date of appointment. The terms of office of the council's legislative members shall be for the biennial session of the general assembly in which they are appointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as provided for original appointments. Members may be reappointed.

(C) The council shall meet at least once each six months or more frequently upon the call of the chairperson or upon the request of six or more members. Six members of the council constitute a quorum, but the council shall take no official action without the affirmative vote of at least five members. The council may elect officers in addition to the chairperson as it considers necessary.

(D) The department of development, as requested by the council, shall provide the council with meeting space, staff services, and other technical assistance. The department shall assist the council with the costs of production and distribution of council reports from the general operating budget of the department. If the council determines, by a majority vote of its entire membership, to have any study conducted by a third party, the funds for the study shall be derived from contributions from the aerospace industry or other interested parties.

Sec. 122.981. (A) The Ohio aerospace advisory council may do any of the following:

(1) Conduct an examination of existing and proposed laws, rules, and policies of this state or the United States that affect or may affect the growth and viability of the aerospace industry in this state and the status of federal installations in this state associated with the aerospace industry; an examination of problems that the aerospace industry in this state faces at any particular time, including problems arising from foreign competition or the economic climate in this state; and an examination of other matters relevant to the future of the aerospace industry in this state;

(2) Upon request, advise state and local government officials on questions and matters affecting the aerospace industry in this state.

(B) The council shall submit an annual report no later than the first day of October of each year to the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, the president and minority leader of the senate, and the chairpersons of the standing committees of the house of representatives and senate to which matters concerning economic development are normally referred. The report shall describe the council's activities during the previous year. The report may propose methods to expand the aerospace industry in this state; identify problems facing the aerospace industry in this state that were discovered during the council's activities; and make recommendations to modify state statutes, rules, or policies.

Section 2. That existing section 122.98 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.

Section 3. The Governor shall make initial appointments to the Ohio Aerospace Advisory Council as required by new section 122.98 of the Revised Code, as enacted by this act, no later than ninety days after the effective date of this act. The Governor shall appoint two of those initial members to serve a term of one year, two of them to serve a term of two years, and three of them to serve a term of three years. Thereafter, members appointed by the Governor shall serve the term specified in division (B) of new section 122.98 of the Revised Code.