To amend sections 1.59, 9.08, 9.314, 9.48, 101.691, 113.40, 125.04, 125.072, 149.38, 149.432, 307.12, 341.42, 505.10, 718.07, 721.15, 753.32, 955.013, 1306.16, 2307.64, 3517.10, 3517.106, 3517.11, 5145.31, and 5703.49 and to enact sections 117.111, 304.01, 304.02, 304.03, and 304.04 of the Revised Code to provide for the use of electronic records and signatures by county offices if specified security procedures are adopted, to require the Auditor of State to audit electronic record security procedures adopted by county offices, to create a single definition of the "internet" to be used throughout the Revised Code, to allow a county or township to participate in contract offerings from the federal government, to modify the law governing payment of state expenses by a financial transaction device, to provide notice to county historical societies and other local entities that county records are being sent to the Ohio Historical Society for potential distribution, to create the Ohio Privacy/Public Access Study Committee, and to amend Section 3.18 of Am. Sub. H.B. 95 of the 125th General Assembly, as subsequently amended, and Section 4 of Am. Sub. H.B. 168 of the 125th General Assembly to delay until July 1, 2005, the effective date of certain sales and use tax sourcing laws that were intended to take effect January 1, 2005, and to authorize vendors to commence destination-based sourcing prior to that effective date.

SECTION 1. That sections 1.59, 9.08, 9.314, 9.48, 101.691, 113.40, 125.04, 125.072, 149.38, 149.432, 307.12, 341.42, 505.10, 718.07, 721.15, 753.32, 955.013, 1306.16, 2307.64, 3517.10, 3517.106, 3517.11, 5145.31, and 5703.49 be amended and section 117.111, 304.01, 304.02, 304.03, and 304.04 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 1.59.  As used in any statute, unless another definition is provided in such that statute or a related statute:

(A) "Child" includes child by adoption.

(B) "Oath" includes affirmation, and "swear" includes affirm.

(C) "Person" includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association.

(D) "Population" means that shown by the most recent regular federal census.

(E) "Property" means real and personal property.

(F) "Rule" includes regulation.

(G) "State," when applied to a part of the United States, includes any state, district, commonwealth, territory, insular possession thereof, and any area subject to the legislative authority of the United States of America. "This state" or "the state" means the state of Ohio.

(H) "United States" includes all the states.

(I) "Will" includes codicil.

(J) "Written" or "in writing" includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures; this provision does not affect any law relating to signatures.

(K) "Internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks, including the graphical subnetwork known as the world wide web.

Sec. 9.08.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Computer," "computer network," "computer system," "computer services," "telecommunications service," and "information service" have the same meanings as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Contractor" means either of the following:

(a) A person who enters into a contract under section 9.06 of the Revised Code.

(b) A person who enters into a contract under section 9.07 of the Revised Code to operate and manage a correctional facility in this state for out-of-state prisoners.

(3) "Private correctional facility" means a correctional facility that is operated by a contractor under a contract pursuant to section 9.06 or 9.07 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Internet" has the same meaning as in section 341.42 of the Revised Code.

(B) No officer or employee of a contractor who is operating and managing a private correctional facility shall provide a prisoner in the private correctional facility access to or permit a prisoner in the private correctional facility to have access to the internet through the use of a computer, computer network, computer system, computer services, telecommunications service, or information service unless both of the following apply:

(1) The prisoner is participating in an approved educational program with direct supervision that requires the use of the internet for training or research purposes.

(2) The provision of and access to the internet is in accordance with rules promulgated by the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to section 5120.62 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) No prisoner in a private correctional facility shall access the internet through the use of a computer, computer network, computer system, computer services, telecommunications service, or information service unless both of the following apply:

(a) The prisoner is participating in an approved educational program with direct supervision that requires the use of the internet for training or research purposes.

(b) The provision of and access to the internet is in accordance with rules promulgated by the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to section 5120.62 of the Revised Code.

(2) Whoever violates division (C)(1) of this section is guilty of improper internet access, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Sec. 9.314.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Contracting authority" has the same meaning as in section 307.92 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks, including the graphical subnetwork called the world wide web.

(3) "Political subdivision" means a municipal corporation, township, county, school district, or other body corporate and politic responsible for governmental activities only in geographic areas smaller than that of the state and also includes a contracting authority.

(4)(3) "Reverse auction" means a purchasing process in which offerors submit proposals in competing to sell services or supplies in an open environment via the internet.

(5)(4) "Services" means the furnishing of labor, time, or effort by a person, not involving the delivery of a specific end product other than a report which, if provided, is merely incidental to the required performance. "Services" does not include services furnished pursuant to employment agreements or collective bargaining agreements.

(6)(5) "Supplies" means all property, including, but not limited to, equipment, materials, other tangible assets, and insurance, but excluding real property or interests in real property.

(B) Whenever any political subdivision that is required by law to purchase services or supplies by competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed proposals determines that the use of a reverse auction is advantageous to the political subdivision, the political subdivision, in accordance with this section and rules the political subdivision shall adopt, may purchase services or supplies by reverse auction.

(C) A political subdivision shall solicit proposals through a request for proposals. The request for proposals shall state the relative importance of price and other evaluation factors. The political subdivision shall give notice of the request for proposals in accordance with the rules it adopts.

(D) As provided in the request for proposals and in the rules a political subdivision adopts, and to ensure full understanding of and responsiveness to solicitation requirements, the political subdivision may conduct discussions with responsible offerors who submit proposals determined to be reasonably susceptible of being selected for award. The political subdivision shall accord offerors fair and equal treatment with respect to any opportunity for discussion regarding any clarification, correction, or revision of their proposals.

(E) A political subdivision may award a contract to the offeror whose proposal the political subdivision determines to be the most advantageous to the political subdivision, taking into consideration factors such as price and the evaluation criteria set forth in the request for proposals. The contract file shall contain the basis on which the award is made.

(F) The rules that a political subdivision adopts under this section may require the provision of a performance bond, or another similar form of financial security, in the amount and in the form specified in the rules.

Sec. 9.48. (A) A county or township may do either any of the following:

(A)(1) Permit one or more other counties or townships to participate in contracts into which it has entered for the acquisition of equipment, materials, supplies, or services, and may charge such participating counties or townships a reasonable fee to cover any additional costs incurred as a result of their participation;

(B)(2) Participate in a joint purchasing program operated by or through a national or state association of political subdivisions in which the purchasing county or township is eligible for membership.

(3) Participate in contract offerings from the federal government that are available to a county or township including, but not limited to, contract offerings from the general services administration.

(B) Acquisition by a county or township of equipment, material, supplies, or services, through participation in a contract of another county or township or participation in an association program under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section, is exempt from any competitive selection requirements otherwise required by law, if the contract in which it is participating was awarded pursuant to a publicly solicited request for a proposal or a competitive selection procedure, and, in the case of participation in a joint purchasing program operated by or through a national or state association of political subdivisions, if the program has employed a competitive selection procedure substantially similar to the procedure that would have been required of the purchasing county or township acting alone of another political subdivision within this state or in another state. Acquisition by a county or township of equipment, materials, supplies, or services pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section is exempt from any competitive selection requirements otherwise required by law. No county or township shall acquire equipment, materials, supplies, or services by participating in a contract under this section if it has received bids for such acquisition, unless its participation enables it to make the acquisition upon the same terms, conditions, and specifications at a lower price.

(C) A county or township that is eligible to participate in a joint purchasing program operated by or through a national or state association of political subdivisions in which the purchasing county or township is eligible for membership may purchase supplies or services from another party, including another political subdivision, instead of through participation in contracts authorized by division (A)(2) of this section if the county or township can purchase those supplies or services from the other party upon equivalent terms, conditions, and specifications but at a lower price than it can through those contracts. Purchases that a county or township makes under this division are exempt from any competitive selection procedures otherwise required by law. A county or township that makes any purchase under this division shall maintain sufficient information regarding the purchase to verify that the county or township satisfied the conditions for making a purchase under this division. Nothing in this division restricts any action taken by a county or township as authorized by division (A)(1) of this section.

Sec. 101.691. (A) Either house of the general assembly or any legislative agency may dispose of any excess or surplus supplies that it possesses by sale, lease, donation, or other transfer, including, but not limited to, sale by public auction over the internet, as defined in section 341.42 of the Revised Code. Nothing in this division prohibits either house of the general assembly or a legislative agency from having the director of administrative services dispose of excess or surplus supplies of that house under sections 125.12 to 125.14 of the Revised Code.

(B) Any proceeds from sales, leases, or other transfers made under division (A) of this section shall be deposited in the house of representatives reimbursement special revenue fund, the senate reimbursement special revenue fund, or a legislative agency special revenue fund identified by the director of the agency, as appropriate.

Sec. 113.40.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Financial transaction device" includes a credit card, debit card, charge card, or prepaid or stored value card, or automated clearinghouse network credit, debit, or e-check entry that includes, but is not limited to, accounts receivable and internet-initiated, point of purchase, and telephone-initiated applications.

(2) "State expenses" includes fees, costs, taxes, assessments, fines, penalties, payments, or any other expense a person owes to a state office under the authority of a state elected official or to a state entity.

(3) "State elected official" means the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer of state, and auditor of state.

(4) "State entity" includes any state department, agency, board, or commission that deposits funds into the state treasury.

(B) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code and subject to division (D) of this section, the board of deposit may adopt a resolution authorizing the acceptance of payments by financial transaction device to pay for state expenses. The resolution shall include all of the following:

(1) A designation of those state elected officials and state entities authorized to accept payments by financial transaction device;

(2) A list of state expenses that may be paid by the use of a financial transaction device;

(3) Specific identification of financial transaction devices that a state elected official or state entity may authorize as acceptable means of payment for state expenses. Division (B)(3) of this section does not require that the same financial transaction devices be accepted for the payment of different types of state expenses.

(4) The amount, if any, authorized as a surcharge or convenience fee under division (E) of this section for persons using a financial transaction device. Division (B)(4) of this section does not require that the same surcharges or convenience fees be applied to the payment of different types of state expenses.

(5) A specific requirement, as provided in division (G) of this section, for the payment of a penalty if a payment made by means of a financial transaction device is returned or dishonored for any reason.

The board of deposit's resolution also shall designate the treasurer of state as the administrative agent to solicit proposals, within guidelines established by the board of deposit in the resolution and in compliance with the procedures provided in division (C) of this section, from financial institutions, issuers of financial transaction devices, and processors of financial transaction devices; to make recommendations about those proposals to the state elected officials; and to assist state offices in implementing the state's financial transaction device acceptance and processing program.

(C) The administrative agent shall follow the procedures provided in this division whenever it plans to contract with financial institutions, issuers of financial transaction devices, or processors of financial transaction devices for the purposes of this section. The administrative agent shall request proposals from at least three financial institutions, issuers of financial transaction devices, or processors of financial transaction devices, as appropriate in accordance with the resolution adopted under division (B) of this section. Prior to sending any financial institution, issuer, or processor a copy of any such request, the administrative agent shall advertise its intent to request proposals in a newspaper of general circulation in the state once a week for two consecutive weeks. The notice shall state that the administrative agent intends to request proposals; specify the purpose of the request; indicate the date, which shall be at least ten days after the second publication, on which the request for proposals will be mailed to financial institutions, issuers, or processors; and require that any financial institution, issuer, or processor, whichever is appropriate, interested in receiving the request for proposals submit written notice of this interest to the administrative agent not later than noon of the day on which the request for proposals will be mailed.

Upon receiving the proposals, the administrative agent shall review them and make a recommendation to the board of deposit regarding which proposals to accept. The board of deposit shall consider the agent's recommendation and review all proposals submitted, and then may choose to contract with any or all of the entities submitting proposals, as appropriate. The board of deposit shall provide any financial institution, issuer, or processor that submitted a proposal, but with which the board does not enter into a contract, notice that its proposal is rejected.

(D) The board of deposit shall send a copy of the resolution adopted under division (B) of this section to each state elected official and state entity authorized to accept payments for state expenses by financial transaction device. After receiving the resolution and before accepting such payments by financial transaction device, such a state elected official or state entity shall provide written notification to the administrative agent of the official's or entity's intent to implement the resolution within the official's or entity's office. Each state office or entity subject to the board's resolution adopted under division (B) of this section shall use only the financial institutions, issuers of financial transaction devices, and processors of financial transaction devices with which the board of deposit contracts, and each such office or entity is subject to the terms of those contracts.

If a state entity under the authority of a state elected official is directly responsible for collecting one or more state expenses and the state elected official determines not to accept payments by financial transaction device for one or more of those expenses, the office is not required to accept payments by financial transaction device for those expenses, notwithstanding the adoption of a resolution by the board of deposit under division (B) of this section.

Any state entity that prior to the effective date of this section March 18, 1999, accepted financial transaction devices may continue to accept such devices until June 30, 2000, without being subject to any resolution adopted by the board of deposit under division (B) of this section, or any other oversight by the board of the entity's financial transaction device program. Any such entity may use surcharges or convenience fees in any manner the state elected official or other official in charge of the entity determines to be appropriate, and, if the administrative agent consents, may appoint the administrative agent to be the entity's administrative agent for purposes of accepting financial transaction devices. In order to be exempt from the resolution of the board of deposit under division (B) of this section, a state entity shall notify the board in writing within thirty days after the effective date of this section March 18, 1999, that it accepted financial transaction devices prior to the effective date of this section March 18, 1999. Each such notification shall explain how processing costs associated with financial transaction devices are being paid and shall indicate whether surcharge or convenience fees are being passed on to consumers.

(E) The board of deposit may establish a surcharge or convenience fee that may be imposed upon a person making payment by a financial transaction device. The surcharge or convenience fee shall not be imposed unless authorized or otherwise permitted by the rules prescribed under a contract, between the financial institution, issuer, or processor and the administrative agent, governing the use and acceptance of the financial transaction device.

The establishment of a surcharge or convenience fee shall follow the guidelines of the financial institution, issuer of financial transaction devices, or processor of financial transaction devices with which the board of deposit contracts.

If a surcharge or convenience fee is imposed, every state entity accepting payment by a financial transaction device, regardless of whether that entity is subject to a resolution adopted by the board of deposit, shall clearly post a notice in the entity's office, and shall notify each person making a payment by such a device, about the surcharge or fee. Notice to each person making a payment shall be provided regardless of the medium used to make the payment and in a manner appropriate to that medium. Each notice shall include all of the following:

(1) A statement that there is a surcharge or convenience fee for using a financial transaction device;

(2) The total amount of the charge or fee expressed in dollars and cents for each transaction, or the rate of the charge or fee expressed as a percentage of the total amount of the transaction, whichever is applicable;

(3) A clear statement that the surcharge or convenience fee is nonrefundable.

(F) If a person elects to make a payment by a financial transaction device and a surcharge or convenience fee is imposed, the payment of the surcharge or convenience fee is not refundable.

(G) If a person makes payment by a financial transaction device and the payment is returned or dishonored for any reason, the person is liable to the state for the state expense and any reimbursable costs for collection, including banking charges, legal fees, or other expenses incurred by the state in collecting the returned or dishonored payment. The remedies and procedures provided in this section are in addition to any other available civil or criminal remedies provided by law.

(H) No person making any payment by a financial transaction device to a state office shall be relieved from liability for the underlying obligation, except to the extent that the state realizes final payment of the underlying obligation in cash or its equivalent. If final payment is not made by the financial transaction device issuer or other guarantor of payment in the transaction, the underlying obligation survives and the state shall retain all remedies for enforcement that would have applied if the transaction had not occurred.

(I) A state entity or employee who accepts a financial transaction device payment in accordance with this section and any applicable state or local policies or rules is immune from personal liability for the final collection of such payments as specified in section 9.87 of the Revised Code.

(J) The administrative agent, in cooperation with the office of budget and management, may adopt, amend, and rescind rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code to implement this section.

Sec. 117.111. (A) If a county office uses electronic records and electronic signatures under Chapter 1306. of the Revised Code, the auditor of state, in conducting an audit of that office under division (A) or (B) of section 117.11 of the Revised Code, shall inquire into the method, accuracy, and effectiveness of any security procedure adopted by that office under section 304.02 of the Revised Code.

(B) As used in this section, "county office," "electronic," "electronic record," and "electronic signature" have the same meanings as in section 304.01 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 125.04.  (A) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, the department of administrative services shall determine what supplies and services are purchased by or for state agencies. Whenever the department of administrative services makes any change or addition to the lists of supplies and services that it determines to purchase for state agencies, it shall provide a list to the agencies of the changes or additions and indicate when the department will be prepared to furnish each item listed. Except for the requirements of division (B) of section 125.11 of the Revised Code, sections 125.04 to 125.08 and 125.09 to 125.15 of the Revised Code do not apply to or affect the educational institutions of the state. The department shall not include the bureau of workers' compensation in the lists of supplies, equipment, and services purchased and furnished by the department.

Nothing in this division precludes the bureau from entering into a contract with the department for the department to perform services relative to supplies, equipment, and services contained in this division for the bureau.

(B)(1) As used in this division:

(a) "Emergency medical service organization" has the same meaning as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(b) "Political subdivision" means any county, township, municipal corporation, school district, conservancy district, township park district, park district created under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code, regional transit authority, regional airport authority, regional water and sewer district, or port authority. "Political subdivision" also includes any other political subdivision described in the Revised Code that has been approved by the department to participate in the department's contracts under this division.

(c) "Private fire company" has the same meaning as in section 9.60 of the Revised Code.

(2) Subject to division (C) of this section, the department of administrative services may permit a political subdivision, private fire company, or private, nonprofit emergency medical service organization to participate in contracts into which the department has entered for the purchase of supplies and services. The department may charge the entity a reasonable fee to cover the administrative costs the department incurs as a result of participation by the entity in such a purchase contract.

A political subdivision desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a certified copy of an ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority or governing board of the political subdivision. The resolution or ordinance shall request that the political subdivision be authorized to participate in such contracts and shall agree that the political subdivision will be bound by such terms and conditions as the department prescribes and that it will directly pay the vendor under each purchase contract. A private fire company or private, nonprofit emergency medical service organization desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a written request for inclusion in the program signed by the chief officer of the company or organization. The request shall include an agreement to be bound by such terms and conditions as the department prescribes and to make direct payments to the vendor under each purchase contract.

The department shall include in its annual report an estimate of the cost it incurs by permitting political subdivisions, private fire companies, and private, nonprofit emergency medical service organizations to participate in contracts pursuant to this division. The department may require such entities to file a report with the department, as often as it finds necessary, stating how many such contracts the entities participated in within a specified period of time, and any other information the department requires.

(3) Purchases made by a political subdivision under this division are exempt from any competitive selection procedures otherwise required by law. No political subdivision shall make any purchase under this division when bids have been received for such purchase by the subdivision, unless such purchase can be made upon the same terms, conditions, and specifications at a lower price under this division.

(C) A political subdivision as defined in division (B) of this section may purchase supplies or services from another party, including another political subdivision, instead of through participation in contracts described in division (B) of this section if the political subdivision can purchase those supplies or services from the other party upon equivalent terms, conditions, and specifications but at a lower price than it can through those contracts. Purchases that a political subdivision makes under this division are exempt from any competitive selection procedures otherwise required by law. A political subdivision that makes any purchase under this division shall maintain sufficient information regarding the purchase to verify that the political subdivision satisfied the conditions for making a purchase under this division. Nothing in this division restricts any action taken by a county or township as authorized by division (A)(1) of section 9.48 of the Revised Code.

(D) This section does not apply to supplies or services required by the legislative or judicial branches, boards of elections, the capitol square review and advisory board, the adjutant general, to supplies or services purchased by a state agency directly as provided in division (A) or (E) of section 125.05 of the Revised Code, to purchases of supplies or services for the emergency management agency as provided in section 125.023 of the Revised Code, or to purchases of supplies or services for the department of rehabilitation and correction in its operation of the program for the employment of prisoners established under section 5145.16 of the Revised Code that shall be made pursuant to rules adopted by the director of administrative services and the director of rehabilitation and correction in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The rules may provide for the exemption of the program for the employment of prisoners from the requirements of division (A) of this section.

Sec. 125.072.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks, including the graphical subnetwork called the world wide web.

(2) "Reverse, "reverse auction" means a purchasing process in which offerors submit bids in competing to sell services or supplies in an open environment via the internet.

(B) Whenever the director of administrative services determines that the use of a reverse auction is advantageous to the state, the director, in accordance with rules the director shall adopt, may purchase services or supplies by reverse auction.

(C) The director, by rule, may authorize a state agency that is authorized to purchase services or supplies directly to purchase them by reverse auction in the same manner as this section and the rules adopted under this section authorize the director to do so.

Sec. 149.38.  (A) There is hereby created in each county a county records commission, composed of the president of the board of county commissioners as chairman chairperson, the prosecuting attorney, the auditor, the recorder, and the clerk of the court of common pleas. The commission shall appoint a secretary, who may or may not be a member of the commission and who shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The commission may employ an archivist to serve under its direction. The commission shall meet at least once every six months, and upon call of the chairman chairperson.

(B) The functions of the county records commission shall be to provide rules for retention and disposal of records of the county and to review applications for one-time records disposal and schedules of records retention and disposal submitted by county offices. Records may be disposed of by the commission pursuant to the procedure outlined in this section. The commission may, at any time, may review any schedule it has previously approved, and, for good cause shown, may revise that schedule, subject to division (D) of this section.

(C) When the county records commission has approved county records have been approved for disposal, a copy of such records a list of those records shall be sent to the auditor of state. If he the auditor of state disapproves the action by the county commission in whole or in part, he the auditor of state shall so inform the commission within a period of sixty days, and these those records shall not be destroyed. Before public records are to be disposed of, the commission shall inform the Ohio historical society shall be informed and given give the society the opportunity for a period of sixty days to select for its custody such records as it considers to be of continuing historical value. When the Ohio historical society is so informed that public records are to be disposed of, the county records commission also shall notify the county historical society, and any public or quasi-public institutions, agencies, or corporations in the county that have provided the commission with their name and address for these notification purposes, that the Ohio historical society has been so informed and may select records of continuing historical value, including records that may be distributed to any of the notified entities under section 149.31 of the Revised Code.

(D) The rules of the county records commission shall include a rule that requires any receipts, checks, vouchers, or other similar records pertaining to expenditures from the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund created in section 321.261 of the Revised Code, from the real estate assessment fund created in section 325.31 of the Revised Code, or from amounts allocated for the furtherance of justice to the county sheriff under section 325.071 of the Revised Code or to the prosecuting attorney under section 325.12 of the Revised Code to be retained for at least four years.

(E) No person shall knowingly violate the rule adopted under division (D) of this section. Whoever violates that rule is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Sec. 149.432.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Library" means a library that is open to the public, including any of the following:

(a) A library that is maintained and regulated under section 715.13 of the Revised Code;

(b) A library that is created, maintained, and regulated under Chapter 3375. of the Revised Code;

(c) A library that is created and maintained by a public or private school, college, university, or other educational institution;

(d) A library that is created and maintained by a historical or charitable organization, institution, association, or society.

"Library" includes the members of the governing body and the employees of a library.

(2) "Library record" means a record in any form that is maintained by a library and that contains any of the following types of information:

(a) Information that the library requires an individual to provide in order to be eligible to use library services or borrow materials;

(b) Information that identifies an individual as having requested or obtained specific materials or materials on a particular subject;

(c) Information that is provided by an individual to assist a library staff member to answer a specific question or provide information on a particular subject.

"Library record" does not include information that does not identify any individual and that is retained for the purpose of studying or evaluating the use of a library and its materials and services.

(3) Subject to division (B)(5) of this section, "patron information" means personally identifiable information about an individual who has used any library service or borrowed any library materials.

(4) "Internet" has the same meaning as in section 3517.106 of the Revised Code.

(B) A library shall not release any library record or disclose any patron information except in the following situations:

(1) If a library record or patron information pertaining to a minor child is requested from a library by the minor child's parent, guardian, or custodian, the library shall make that record or information available to the parent, guardian, or custodian in accordance with division (B) of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(2) Library records or patron information shall be released in the following situations:

(a) In accordance with a subpoena, search warrant, or other court order;

(b) To a law enforcement officer who is acting in the scope of the officer's law enforcement duties and who is investigating a matter involving public safety in exigent circumstances.

(3) A library record or patron information shall be released upon the request or with the consent of the individual who is the subject of the record or information.

(4) Library records may be released for administrative library purposes, including establishment or maintenance of a system to manage the library records or to assist in the transfer of library records from one records management system to another, compilation of statistical data on library use, and collection of fines and penalties.

(5) A library may release under division (B) of section 149.43 of the Revised Code records that document improper use of the internet at the library so long as any patron information is removed from those records. As used in division (B)(5) of this section, "patron information" does not include information about the age or gender of an individual.

Sec. 304.01. As used in this chapter:

(A) "Agreement" means the bargain of the parties in fact, as found in their language or inferred from other circumstances and from rules, regulations, and procedures given the effect of agreements under laws otherwise applicable to a particular transaction.

(B) "County office" means any officer, department, board, commission, agency, court, or other instrumentality of a county.

(C) "Electronic" means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.

(D) "Electronic record" means a record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means.

(E) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.

(F) "Information" means data, text, images, sounds, codes, computer programs, software, databases, or the like.

(G) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, governmental agency, public corporation, or other legal or commercial entity.

(H) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

(I) "Transaction" means an action or set of actions occurring between two or more persons relating to the conduct of business, commercial, or governmental affairs.

Sec. 304.02. Prior to the use of electronic records and electronic signatures by a county office under Chapter 1306. of the Revised Code, and except as otherwise provided in section 955.013 of the Revised Code, a county office shall adopt, in writing, a security procedure for the purpose of verifying that an electronic signature, record, or performance is that of a specific person or for detecting changes or errors in the information in an electronic record. A security procedure includes, but is not limited to, a procedure that requires the use of algorithms or other codes, identifying words or numbers, encryption, or callback or other acknowledgment procedures.

Sec. 304.03. (A) Whenever any rule or law requires or authorizes the filing of any information, notice, lien, or other document or record with any county office, a filing made by an electronic record shall have the same force and effect as a filing made on paper in all cases where the county office has authorized or agreed to the electronic filing and the filing is made in accordance with applicable rules or an applicable agreement.

(B) Nothing in this section authorizes or shall be construed to authorize the use of a financial transaction device in an electronic transaction for the acceptance of payments for county expenses, except pursuant to section 301.28 or 955.013 of the Revised Code.

(C) As used in this section, "financial transaction device" and "county expenses" have the same meanings as in section 301.28 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 304.04. Nothing in this chapter or Chapter 1306. of the Revised Code requires or shall be construed to require any county office to use or permit the use of electronic records and electronic signatures.

Sec. 307.12.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B), (C), and (E) of this section, when the board of county commissioners finds, by resolution, that the county has personal property, including motor vehicles acquired for the use of county officers and departments, and road machinery, equipment, tools, or supplies, which is not needed for public use, or is obsolete or unfit for the use for which it was acquired, and when the fair market value of the property to be sold under this division is, in the opinion of the board, in excess of two thousand five hundred dollars, the board may do either of the following:

(1) Sell the property at public auction or by sealed bid to the highest bidder. Notice of the time, place, and manner of the sale shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least ten days prior to the sale, and a typewritten or printed notice of the time, place, and manner of the sale shall be posted at least ten days before the sale in the offices of the county auditor and the board of county commissioners.

If a board conducts a sale of property by sealed bid, the form of the bid shall be as prescribed by the board, and each bid shall contain the name of the person submitting it. Bids received shall be opened and tabulated at the time stated in the notice. The property shall be sold to the highest bidder, except that the board may reject all bids and hold another sale, by public auction or sealed bid, in the manner prescribed by this section.

(2) Donate any motor vehicle that does not exceed four thousand five hundred dollars in value to a nonprofit organization exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 501(a) and (c)(3) for the purpose of meeting the transportation needs of participants in the Ohio works first program established under Chapter 5107. of the Revised Code and participants in the prevention, retention, and contingency program established under Chapter 5108. of the Revised Code.

(B) When the board of county commissioners finds, by resolution, that the county has personal property, including motor vehicles acquired for the use of county officers and departments, and road machinery, equipment, tools, or supplies, which is not needed for public use, or is obsolete or unfit for the use for which it was acquired, and when the fair market value of the property to be sold under this division is, in the opinion of the board, two thousand five hundred dollars or less, the board may sell the property by private sale, without advertisement or public notification.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in division (A) or (C) of this section and regardless of the property's value, the board may sell or donate county personal property, including motor vehicles, to the federal government, the state, or any political subdivision of the state without advertisement or public notification.

(C) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in division (A), (B), or (E) of this section and regardless of the property's value, the board of county commissioners may sell personal property, including motor vehicles acquired for the use of county officers and departments, and road machinery, equipment, tools, or supplies, which is not needed for public use, or is obsolete or unfit for the use for which it was acquired, by internet auction. The board shall adopt, during each calendar year, a resolution expressing its intent to sell that property by internet auction. The resolution shall include a description of how the auctions will be conducted and shall specify the number of days for bidding on the property, which shall be no less than fifteen days, including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The resolution shall indicate whether the county will conduct the auction or the board will contract with a representative to conduct the auction and shall establish the general terms and conditions of sale. If a representative is known when the resolution is adopted, the resolution shall provide contact information such as the representative's name, address, and telephone number.

After adoption of the resolution, the board shall publish, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, notice of its intent to sell unneeded, obsolete, or unfit county personal property by internet auction. The notice shall include a summary of the information provided in the resolution and shall be published at least twice. The second and any subsequent notice shall be published not less than ten nor more than twenty days after the previous notice. A similar notice also shall be posted continually throughout the calendar year in a conspicuous place in the offices of the county auditor and the board of county commissioners, and, if the county maintains a website on the internet, the notice shall be posted continually throughout the calendar year at that website.

When property is to be sold by internet auction, the board or its representative may establish a minimum price that will be accepted for specific items and may establish any other terms and conditions for the particular sale, including requirements for pick-up or delivery, method of payment, and sales tax. This type of information shall be provided on the internet at the time of the auction and may be provided before that time upon request after the terms and conditions have been determined by the board or its representative.

(D) When a county officer or department head determines that county-owned personal property under the jurisdiction of the officer or department head, including motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, tools, or supplies, is not of immediate need, the county officer or department head may notify the board of county commissioners, and the board may lease that personal property to any municipal corporation, township, or other political subdivision of the state. The lease shall require the county to be reimbursed under terms, conditions, and fees established by the board, or under contracts executed by the board.

(E) If the board of county commissioners finds, by resolution, that the county has vehicles, equipment, or machinery which is not needed, or is unfit for public use, and the board desires to sell the vehicles, equipment, or machinery to the person or firm from which it proposes to purchase other vehicles, equipment, or machinery, the board may offer to sell the vehicles, equipment, or machinery to that person or firm, and to have the selling price credited to the person or firm against the purchase price of other vehicles, equipment, or machinery.

(F) If the board of county commissioners advertises for bids for the sale of new vehicles, equipment, or machinery to the county, it may include in the same advertisement a notice of the willingness of the board to accept bids for the purchase of county-owned vehicles, equipment, or machinery which is obsolete or not needed for public use, and to have the amount of those bids subtracted from the selling price of the other vehicles, equipment, or machinery as a means of determining the lowest responsible bidder.

(G) If a board of county commissioners determines that county personal property is not needed for public use, or is obsolete or unfit for the use for which it was acquired, and that the property has no value, the board may discard or salvage that property.

(H) As used in this section, "internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks, including the graphical subnetwork called the world wide web.

Sec. 341.42.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "County correctional officer" has the same meaning as in section 341.41 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Computer," "computer network," "computer system," "computer services," "telecommunications service," and "information service" have the same meanings as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks, including the graphical subnetwork called the world wide web.

(4) "County correctional facility" means a county jail, county workhouse, minimum security jail, joint city and county workhouse, municipal-county correctional center, multicounty-municipal correctional center, municipal-county jail or workhouse, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse.

(B) No county correctional officer shall provide a prisoner access to or permit a prisoner to have access to the internet through the use of a computer, computer network, computer system, computer services, telecommunications service, or information service unless both of the following apply:

(1) The prisoner is participating in an approved educational program with direct supervision that requires the use of the internet for training or research purposes.

(2) The provision of and access to the internet is in accordance with rules promulgated by the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to section 5120.62 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) No prisoner in a county correctional facility under the control of a county shall access the internet through the use of a computer, computer network, computer system, computer services, telecommunications service, or information service unless both of the following apply:

(a) The prisoner is participating in an approved educational program with direct supervision that requires the use of the internet for training or research purposes.

(b) The provision of and access to the internet is in accordance with rules promulgated by the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to section 5120.62 of the Revised Code.

(2) Whoever violates division (C)(1) of this section is guilty of improper internet access, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Sec. 505.10.  The board of township trustees may accept, on behalf of the township, the donation by bequest, devise, deed of gift, or otherwise, of any real or personal property for any township use. When the township has property, including motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, and tools, which the board, by resolution, finds is not needed for public use, is obsolete, or is unfit for the use for which it was acquired, the board may sell and convey that property or otherwise dispose of it in accordance with this section. Except as otherwise provided in sections 505.08, 505.101, and 505.102 of the Revised Code, the sale or other disposition of unneeded, obsolete, or unfit for use property shall be made in accordance with one of the following:

(A)(1) If the fair market value of property to be sold is, in the opinion of the board, in excess of two thousand five hundred dollars, the sale shall be by public auction or by sealed bid to the highest bidder. The board shall publish notice of the time, place, and manner of the sale once a week for three weeks in a newspaper published, or of general circulation, in the township, the last of those publications to be at least five days before the date of sale, and shall post a typewritten or printed notice of the time, place, and manner of the sale in the office of the board for at least ten days prior to the sale.

If the board conducts the sale of the property by sealed bid, the form of the bid shall be as prescribed by the board, and each bid shall contain the name of the person submitting it. Bids received shall be opened and tabulated at the time stated in the published and posted notices. The property shall be sold to the highest bidder, except that the board may reject all bids and hold another sale, by public auction or sealed bid, in the manner prescribed by this section.

(2) If the fair market value of property to be sold is, in the opinion of the board, two thousand five hundred dollars or less, the board may sell the property by private sale, without advertisement or public notification.

(3) If the board finds, by resolution, that the township has motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools which are not needed or are unfit for public use, and the board wishes to sell the motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools to the person or firm from which it proposes to purchase other motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools, the board may offer to sell the motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools to that person or firm, and to have the selling price credited to the person or firm against the purchase price of other motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools.

(4) If the board advertises for bids for the sale of new motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools to the township, it may include in the same advertisement a notice of the willingness of the board to accept bids for the purchase of township-owned motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools which are obsolete or not needed for public use, and to have the amount of those bids subtracted from the selling price of the new motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools, as a means of determining the lowest responsible bidder.

(5) When a township has title to real property, the board of township trustees, by resolution, may authorize the transfer and conveyance of that property to any other political subdivision of the state upon such terms as are agreed to between the board and the legislative authority of that political subdivision.

(6) When a township has title to real property and the board of township trustees wishes to sell or otherwise transfer the property, the board, upon a unanimous vote of its members and by resolution, may authorize the transfer and conveyance of that real property to any person upon whatever terms are agreed to between the board and that person.

(7) If the board of township trustees determines that township personal property is not needed for public use, or is obsolete or unfit for the use for which it was acquired, and that the property has no value, the board may discard or salvage that property.

(B) When the board has offered property at public auction under this section and has not received an acceptable offer, the board, by resolution, may enter into a contract, without advertising or bidding, for the sale of that property. The resolution shall specify a minimum acceptable price and the minimum acceptable terms for the contract. The minimum acceptable price shall not be lower than the minimum price established for the public auction.

(C) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in division (A) or (B) of this section and regardless of the property's value, the board may sell personal property, including motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, tools, or supplies, which is not needed for public use, or is obsolete or unfit for the use for which it was acquired, by internet auction. The board shall adopt, during each calendar year, a resolution expressing its intent to sell that property by internet auction. The resolution shall include a description of how the auctions will be conducted and shall specify the number of days for bidding on the property, which shall be no less than fifteen days, including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The resolution shall indicate whether the township will conduct the auction or the board will contract with a representative to conduct the auction and shall establish the general terms and conditions of sale. If a representative is known when the resolution is adopted, the resolution shall provide contact information such as the representative's name, address, and telephone number.

After adoption of the resolution, the board shall publish, in a newspaper of general circulation in the township, notice of its intent to sell unneeded, obsolete, or unfit for use township personal property by internet auction. The notice shall include a summary of the information provided in the resolution and shall be published at least twice. The second and any subsequent notice shall be published not less than ten nor more than twenty days after the previous notice. A clerk also shall post a similar notice throughout the calendar year in a conspicuous place in the board's office, and, if the township maintains a web site on the internet, the notice shall be posted continually throughout the calendar year at that web site.

When property is to be sold by internet auction, the board or its representative may establish a minimum price that will be accepted for specific items and may establish any other terms and conditions for the particular sale, including requirements for pick-up or delivery, method of payment, and sales tax. This type of information shall be provided on the internet at the time of the auction and may be provided before that time upon request after the terms and conditions have been determined by the board or its representative.

As used in this section, "internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks, including the graphical subnetwork called the world wide web.

Sec. 718.07.  As used in this section, "internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks, including the graphical subnetwork known as the world wide web.

On and after January 1, 2002, each municipal corporation that imposes a tax on income shall make electronic versions of any rules or ordinances governing the tax available to the public through the internet, including, but not limited to, ordinances or rules governing the rate of tax; payment and withholding of taxes; filing any prescribed returns, reports, or other documents; dates for filing or paying taxes, including estimated taxes; penalties, interest, assessment, and other collection remedies; rights of taxpayers to appeal; and procedures for filing appeals. On and after that date, any municipal corporation that requires taxpayers to file income tax returns, reports, or other documents shall make blanks of such returns, reports, or documents, and any instructions pertaining thereto, available to the public electronically through the internet. Electronic versions of rules, ordinances, blanks, and instructions shall be made available either by posting them on the electronic site established by the tax commissioner under section 5703.49 of the Revised Code or by posting them on an electronic site established by the municipal corporation that is accessible through the internet. If a municipal corporation establishes such an electronic site, the municipal corporation shall incorporate an electronic link between that site and the site established pursuant to section 5703.49 of the Revised Code, and shall provide to the tax commissioner the uniform resource locator of the site established pursuant to this division.

Sec. 721.15.  (A) Personal property not needed for municipal purposes, the estimated value of which is less than one thousand dollars, may be sold by the board or officer having supervision or management of that property. If the estimated value of that property is one thousand dollars or more, it shall be sold only when authorized by an ordinance of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation and approved by the board, officer, or director having supervision or management of that property. When so authorized, the board, officer, or director shall make a written contract with the highest and best bidder after advertisement for not less than two or more than four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipal corporation, or with a board of county commissioners upon such lawful terms as are agreed upon, as provided by section 721.27 of the Revised Code.

(B) When the legislative authority finds, by resolution, that the municipal corporation has vehicles, equipment, or machinery which is obsolete, or is not needed or is unfit for public use, that the municipal corporation has need of other vehicles, equipment, or machinery of the same type, and that it will be in the best interest of the municipal corporation that the sale of obsolete, unneeded, or unfit vehicles, equipment, or machinery be made simultaneously with the purchase of the new vehicles, equipment, or machinery of the same type, the legislative authority may offer to sell, or authorize a board, officer, or director of the municipal corporation having supervision or management of the property to offer to sell, those vehicles, equipment, or machinery and to have the selling price credited against the purchase price of other vehicles, equipment, or machinery and to consummate the sale and purchase by a single contract with the lowest and best bidder to be determined by subtracting from the selling price of the vehicles, equipment, or machinery to be purchased by the municipal corporation the purchase price offered for the municipally-owned vehicles, equipment, or machinery. When the legislative authority or the authorized board, officer, or director of a municipal corporation advertises for bids for the sale of new vehicles, equipment, or machinery to the municipal corporation, they may include in the same advertisement a notice of willingness to accept bids for the purchase of municipally-owned vehicles, equipment, or machinery which is obsolete, or is not needed or is unfit for public use, and to have the amount of those bids subtracted from the selling price as a means of determining the lowest and best bidder.

(C) If the legislative authority of the municipal corporation determines that municipal personal property is not needed for public use, or is obsolete or unfit for the use for which it was acquired, and that the property has no value, the legislative authority may discard or salvage that property.

(D) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in division (A) or (B) of this section and regardless of the property's value, the legislative authority of a municipal corporation may sell personal property, including motor vehicles acquired for the use of municipal officers and departments, and road machinery, equipment, tools, or supplies, which is not needed for public use, or is obsolete or unfit for the use for which it was acquired, by internet auction. The legislative authority shall adopt, during each calendar year, a resolution expressing its intent to sell that property by internet auction. The resolution shall include a description of how the auctions will be conducted and shall specify the number of days for bidding on the property, which shall be no less than fifteen days, including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The resolution shall indicate whether the municipal corporation will conduct the auction or the legislative authority will contract with a representative to conduct the auction and shall establish the general terms and conditions of sale. If a representative is known when the resolution is adopted, the resolution shall provide contact information such as the representative's name, address, and telephone number.

After adoption of the resolution, the legislative authority shall publish, in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation, notice of its intent to sell unneeded, obsolete, or unfit municipal personal property by internet auction. The notice shall include a summary of the information provided in the resolution and shall be published at least twice. The second and any subsequent notice shall be published not less than ten nor more than twenty days after the previous notice. A similar notice also shall be posted continually throughout the calendar year in a conspicuous place in the offices of the village clerk or city auditor, and the legislative authority, and, if the municipal corporation maintains a website on the internet, the notice shall be posted continually throughout the calendar year at that website.

When the property is to be sold by internet auction, the legislative authority or its representative may establish a minimum price that will be accepted for specific items and may establish any other terms and conditions for the particular sale, including requirements for pick-up or delivery, method of payment, and sales tax. This type of information shall be provided on the internet at the time of the auction and may be provided before that time upon request after the terms and conditions have been determined by the legislative authority or its representative.

As used in this section, "internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks, including the graphical subnetwork called the world wide web.

Sec. 753.32.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Municipal correctional officer" has the same meaning as in section 753.31 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Computer," "computer network," "computer system," "computer services," "telecommunications service," and "information service" have the same meanings as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Internet" has the same meaning as in section 341.42 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Municipal correctional facility" means a municipal jail, municipal workhouse, minimum security jail, joint city and county workhouse, municipal-county correctional center, multicounty-municipal correctional center, municipal-county jail or workhouse, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse.

(B) No municipal correctional officer shall provide a prisoner access to or permit a prisoner to have access to the internet through the use of a computer, computer network, computer system, computer services, telecommunications service, or information service unless both of the following apply:

(1) The prisoner is participating in an approved educational program with direct supervision that requires the use of the internet for training or research purposes.

(2) The provision of and access to the internet is in accordance with rules promulgated by the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to section 5120.62 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) No prisoner in a municipal correctional facility under the control of a municipal corporation shall access the internet through the use of a computer, computer network, computer system, computer services, telecommunications service, or information service unless both of the following apply:

(a) The prisoner is participating in an approved educational program with direct supervision that requires the use of the internet for training or research purposes.

(b) The provision of and access to the internet is in accordance with rules promulgated by the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to section 5120.62 of the Revised Code.

(2) Whoever violates division (C)(1) of this section is guilty of improper internet access, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Sec. 955.013.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Financial, "financial transaction device" has the same meaning as in section 301.28 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks, including the graphical subnetwork called the world wide web.

(B) A county auditor may establish procedures and take actions that are necessary to allow for either or both of the following:

(1) The registration of dogs and kennels under this chapter via the internet;

(2) The payment of dog and kennel registration fees under this chapter by financial transaction devices, including payment by financial transaction devices via the internet.

Sec. 1306.16.  (A) A provision of a nonelectronic contract involving a consumer and to which a state agency or a county office is not a party that authorizes the conducting of a transaction or any part of a transaction by electronic means is unenforceable against the consumer, unless the consumer separately signs the provision.

(B) A consumer's agreement to conduct a transaction or a part of a transaction electronically shall not be inferred solely from the fact that the consumer has used electronic means to pay an account or register a purchase or warranty.

(C) Divisions (A) and (B) of this section apply to every transaction described in those divisions notwithstanding any other provision of sections 1306.01 to 1306.23 of the Revised Code this chapter. This section shall not be varied by agreement.

(D) For purposes of this section, both of the following apply:

(1) "Consumer" means an individual who is involved in a transaction primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.

(2) "State agency" means every organized body, office, or agency established by the laws of the state for the exercise of any function of state government.

(3) "County office" means any officer, department, board, commission, agency, court, or other instrumentality of a county.

Sec. 2307.64. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Advertisement" has the same meaning as in section 4931.55 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Computer," "computer network," "computer program," "computer services," and "telecommunications device" have the same meanings as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Electronic mail" means an electronic message that is transmitted between two or more telecommunications devices or electronic devices capable of receiving electronic messages, whether or not the message is converted to hard copy format after receipt, and whether or not the message is viewed upon the transmission or stored for later retrieval. "Electronic mail" includes electronic messages that are transmitted through a local, regional, or global computer network.

(4) "Electronic mail advertisement" means electronic mail containing an advertisement.

(5) "Electronic mail service provider" means any person that is an intermediary in sending and receiving electronic mail and that provides to users of electronic mail services the ability to send or receive electronic mail. "Electronic mail service provider" includes an internet service provider.

(6) "Internet" has the same meaning as in section 341.42 of the Revised Code.

(7) "Originating address" means the string of characters used to specify the source of any electronic mail message.

(8)(7) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code, but when a person is not an individual, the person responsible for transmitting or causing to be transmitted an electronic mail advertisement is the particular division of the partnership, corporation, or other business entity actually responsible for the transmission of the electronic mail advertisement.

(9)(8) "Pre-existing business relationship" means that there was a business transaction between the initiator and the recipient of a commercial electronic mail message during the five-year period preceding the receipt of that message. A pre-existing business relationship includes a transaction involving the free provision of information, goods, or services requested by the recipient. A pre-existing business relationship does not exist after a recipient requests to be removed from the distribution lists of an initiator pursuant to division (B) of this section and a reasonable amount of time has expired since that request.

(10)(9) "Receiving address" means the string of characters used to specify a recipient with each receiving address creating a unique and separate recipient.

(11)(10) "Recipient" means a person who receives an electronic mail advertisement at any one of the following receiving addresses:

(a) A receiving address furnished by an electronic mail service provider that bills for furnishing and maintaining that receiving address to a mailing address within this state;

(b) A receiving address ordinarily accessed from a computer located within this state;

(c) A receiving address ordinarily accessed by a person domiciled within this state;

(d) Any other receiving address with respect to which the obligations imposed by this section can be imposed consistent with the United States Constitution.

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(3) of this section, a person that transmits or causes to be transmitted to a recipient an electronic mail advertisement shall clearly and conspicuously provide to the recipient, within the body of the electronic mail advertisement, both of the following:

(a) The person's name and complete residence or business address and the electronic mail address of the person transmitting the electronic mail advertisement;

(b) A notice that the recipient may decline to receive from the person transmitting or causing to be transmitted the electronic mail advertisement any additional electronic mail advertisements and a detailed procedure for declining to receive any additional electronic mail advertisements at no cost. The notice shall be of the same size of type as the majority of the text of the message and shall not require that the recipient provide any information other than the receiving address.

(2) If the recipient of an electronic mail advertisement uses the procedure contained in the notice described in division (B)(1)(b) of this section to decline to receive any additional electronic mail advertisements, the person that transmitted or caused to be transmitted the original electronic mail advertisement, within a reasonable period of time, shall cease transmitting or causing to be transmitted to the receiving address any additional electronic mail advertisements.

(3) A person does not violate division (B) of this section if the person transmits or causes to be transmitted to the recipient an electronic mail advertisement when any of the following apply:

(a) The person has a pre-existing business or personal relationship with the recipient.

(b) The recipient has consented or has agreed as a condition of service to receive the electronic mail advertisement.

(c) The recipient receives the electronic mail advertisement because another recipient forwarded the advertisement to that recipient via an internet web site or another recipient made a direct referral of that recipient to receive the advertisement.

(C) No person shall use a computer, a computer network, or the computer services of an electronic mail service provider to transmit an electronic mail advertisement in contravention of the authority granted by, or in violation of the policies related to electronic mail advertisements set by, the electronic mail service provider if the electronic mail service provider has provided the person notice of those policies. For the purposes of this division, notice of those policies shall be deemed sufficient if an electronic mail service provider maintains an easily accessible web page containing its policies regarding electronic mail advertisements and can demonstrate that notice was supplied via electronic means between the sending and receiving computers.

(D) No electronic mail service provider shall be liable for transmitting another person's electronic mail advertisement through its service in violation of this section, or shall be liable for any action it voluntarily takes in good faith to block the receipt or transmission through its service of any electronic mail advertisement that it believes is, or will be sent, in violation of this section.

(E) A recipient of an electronic mail advertisement transmitted in violation of division (B) of this section may bring a civil action against a person who transmitted that advertisement or caused it to be transmitted. In that action, the recipient may recover the following:

(1) One hundred dollars for each violation, not to exceed a total of fifty thousand dollars;

(2) Reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and other costs of bringing the action.

(F) An electronic mail service provider whose authority or policy has been contravened in violation of division (C) of this section may bring a civil action against a person who transmitted that advertisement or caused it to be transmitted. In that action, the electronic mail service provider may recover the following:

(1)(a) Fifty dollars for each violation of division (C) of this section, not to exceed fifty thousand dollars;

(b) If a violation of division (C) of this section is a willful or knowing violation, the court may increase the amount recoverable to an amount not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars.

(c) If a violation of division (C) of this section is accompanied by a violation of division (H) of this section, there shall be no limit on the amount that may be recovered pursuant to this section.

(2) Reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and other costs of bringing the action.

(G) In addition to any recovery that is allowed under divisions (E) or (F) of this section, the recipient of an electronic mail advertisement transmitted in violation of division (B) of this section or the electronic mail service provider of an advertisement transmitted in violation of division (C) of this section may apply to the court of common pleas of the county in which the recipient resides or the service provider is located for an order enjoining the person who transmitted or caused to be transmitted that electronic mail advertisement from transmitting or causing to be transmitted to the recipient any additional electronic mail advertisement.

(H) No person shall use a computer, a computer network, a computer program, or the computer services of an electronic mail service provider with the intent to forge an originating address or other routing information, in any manner, in connection with the transmission of an electronic mail advertisement through or into the network of an electronic mail service provider or its subscribers. Each use of a computer, a computer network, a computer program, or the computer services of an electronic mail service provider in violation of this division constitutes a separate offense. A person who violates this division is guilty of forgery under section 2913.31 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3517.10.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in this division, every campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, and political contributing entity that made or received a contribution or made an expenditure in connection with the nomination or election of any candidate or in connection with any ballot issue or question at any election held or to be held in this state shall file, on a form prescribed under this section, by electronic means of transmission as provided in this section and section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, or, until March 1, 2004, on computer disk as provided in section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, a full, true, and itemized statement, made under penalty of election falsification, setting forth in detail the contributions and expenditures, no later than four p.m. of the following dates:

(1) The twelfth day before the election to reflect contributions received and expenditures made from the close of business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed statement, if any, to the close of business on the twentieth day before the election;

(2) The thirty-eighth day after the election to reflect the contributions received and expenditures made from the close of business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed statement, if any, to the close of business on the seventh day before the filing of the statement;

(3) The last business day of January of every year to reflect the contributions received and expenditures made from the close of business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed statement, if any, to the close of business on the last day of December of the previous year.

A campaign committee shall only be required to file the statements prescribed under divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section in connection with the nomination or election of the committee's candidate.

The statement required under division (A)(1) of this section shall not be required of any campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity that has received contributions of less than one thousand dollars and has made expenditures of less than one thousand dollars at the close of business on the twentieth day before the election. Those contributions and expenditures shall be reported in the statement required under division (A)(2) of this section.

If an election to select candidates to appear on the general election ballot is held within sixty days before a general election, the campaign committee of a successful candidate in the earlier election may file the statement required by division (A)(1) of this section for the general election instead of the statement required by division (A)(2) of this section for the earlier election if the pregeneral election statement reflects the status of contributions and expenditures for the period twenty days before the earlier election to twenty days before the general election.

If a person becomes a candidate less than twenty days before an election, the candidate's campaign committee is not required to file the statement required by division (A)(1) of this section.

No statement under division (A)(3) of this section shall be required for any year in which a campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity is required to file a postgeneral election statement under division (A)(2) of this section. However, such a statement may be filed, at the option of the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity.

No statement under division (A)(3) of this section shall be required if the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity has no contributions that it has received and no expenditures that it has made since the last date reflected in its last previously filed statement. However, the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity shall file a statement to that effect, on a form prescribed under this section and made under penalty of election falsification, on the date required in division (A)(3) of this section.

The campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall file a monthly statement of contributions received during each of the months of July, August, and September in the year of the general election in which the candidate seeks office. The campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall file the monthly statement not later than three business days after the last day of the month covered by the statement. During the period beginning on the nineteenth day before the general election in which a statewide candidate seeks election to office and extending through the day of that general election, each time the campaign committee of the joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor or of a candidate for the office of secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general receives a contribution from a contributor that causes the aggregate amount of contributions received from that contributor during that period to equal or exceed two thousand five hundred dollars and each time the campaign committee of a candidate for the office of chief justice or justice of the supreme court receives a contribution from a contributor that causes the aggregate amount of contributions received from that contributor during that period to exceed five hundred dollars, the campaign committee shall file a two-business-day statement reflecting that contribution. During the period beginning on the nineteenth day before a primary election in which a candidate for statewide office seeks nomination to office and extending through the day of that primary election, each time either the campaign committee of a statewide candidate in that primary election that files a notice under division (C)(1) of section 3517.103 of the Revised Code or the campaign committee of a statewide candidate in that primary election to which, in accordance with division (D) of section 3517.103 of the Revised Code, the contribution limitations prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code no longer apply receives a contribution from a contributor that causes the aggregate amount of contributions received from that contributor during that period to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars, the campaign committee shall file a two-business-day statement reflecting that contribution. Contributions reported on a two-business-day statement required to be filed by a campaign committee of a statewide candidate in a primary election shall also be included in the postprimary election statement required to be filed by that campaign committee under division (A)(2) of this section. A two-business-day statement required by this paragraph shall be filed not later than two business days after receipt of the contribution. The statements required by this paragraph shall be filed in addition to any other statements required by this section.

Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of this section and division (H)(1) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, a campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall file a two-business-day statement under the preceding paragraph by electronic means of transmission if the campaign committee is required to file a preelection, postelection, or monthly statement of contributions and expenditures by electronic means of transmission under this section or section 3517.106 of the Revised Code.

If a campaign committee or political action committee has no balance on hand and no outstanding obligations and desires to terminate itself, it shall file a statement to that effect, on a form prescribed under this section and made under penalty of election falsification, with the official with whom it files a statement under division (A) of this section after filing a final statement of contributions and a final statement of expenditures, if contributions have been received or expenditures made since the period reflected in its last previously filed statement.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(7) of this section, each statement required by division (A) of this section shall contain the following information:

(1) The full name and address of each campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity, including any treasurer of the committee, fund, party, or entity, filing a contribution and expenditure statement;

(2)(a) In the case of a campaign committee, the candidate's full name and address;

(b) In the case of a political action committee, the registration number assigned to the committee under division (D)(1) of this section.

(3) The date of the election and whether it was or will be a general, primary, or special election;

(4) A statement of contributions received, which shall include the following information:

(a) The month, day, and year of the contribution;

(b)(i) The full name and address of each person, political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or political contributing entity from whom contributions are received and the registration number assigned to the political action committee under division (D)(1) of this section. The requirement of filing the full address does not apply to any statement filed by a state or local committee of a political party, to a finance committee of such committee, or to a committee recognized by a state or local committee as its fund-raising auxiliary. Notwithstanding division (F)(1) of this section, the requirement of filing the full address shall be considered as being met if the address filed is the same address the contributor provided under division (E)(1) of this section.

(ii) If a campaign committee of a statewide candidate or candidate for the office of member of the general assembly receives a contribution from an individual that exceeds one hundred dollars, the name of the individual's current employer, if any, or, if the individual is self-employed, the individual's occupation;

(iii) If a campaign committee of a statewide candidate or candidate for the office of member of the general assembly receives a contribution transmitted pursuant to section 3599.031 of the Revised Code from amounts deducted from the wages and salaries of two or more employees that exceeds in the aggregate one hundred dollars during any one filing period under division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section, the full name of the employees' employer and the full name of the labor organization of which the employees are members, if any.

(c) A description of the contribution received, if other than money;

(d) The value in dollars and cents of the contribution;

(e) A separately itemized account of all contributions and expenditures regardless of the amount, except a receipt of a contribution from a person in the sum of twenty-five dollars or less at one social or fund-raising activity and a receipt of a contribution transmitted pursuant to section 3599.031 of the Revised Code from amounts deducted from the wages and salaries of employees if the contribution from the amount deducted from the wages and salary of any one employee is twenty-five dollars or less aggregated in a calendar year. An account of the total contributions from each social or fund-raising activity shall include a description of and the value of each in-kind contribution received at that activity from any person who made one or more such contributions whose aggregate value exceeded two hundred fifty dollars and shall be listed separately, together with the expenses incurred and paid in connection with that activity. A campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity shall keep records of contributions from each person in the amount of twenty-five dollars or less at one social or fund-raising activity and contributions from amounts deducted under section 3599.031 of the Revised Code from the wages and salary of each employee in the amount of twenty-five dollars or less aggregated in a calendar year. No continuing association that is recognized by a state or local committee of a political party as an auxiliary of the party and that makes a contribution from funds derived solely from regular dues paid by members of the auxiliary shall be required to list the name or address of any members who paid those dues.

Contributions that are other income shall be itemized separately from all other contributions. The information required under division (B)(4) of this section shall be provided for all other income itemized. As used in this paragraph, "other income" means a loan, investment income, or interest income.

(f) In the case of a campaign committee of a state elected officer, if a person doing business with the state elected officer in the officer's official capacity makes a contribution to the campaign committee of that officer, the information required under division (B)(4) of this section in regard to that contribution, which shall be filed together with and considered a part of the committee's statement of contributions as required under division (A) of this section but shall be filed on a separate form provided by the secretary of state. As used in division (B)(4)(f) of this section:

(i) "State elected officer" has the same meaning as in section 3517.092 of the Revised Code.

(ii) "Person doing business" means a person or an officer of an entity who enters into one or more contracts with a state elected officer or anyone authorized to enter into contracts on behalf of that officer to receive payments for goods or services, if the payments total, in the aggregate, more than five thousand dollars during a calendar year.

(5) A statement of expenditures which shall include the following information:

(a) The month, day, and year of the expenditure;

(b) The full name and address of each person, political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or political contributing entity to whom the expenditure was made and the registration number assigned to the political action committee under division (D)(1) of this section;

(c) The object or purpose for which the expenditure was made;

(d) The amount of each expenditure.

(C)(1) The statement of contributions and expenditures shall be signed by the person completing the form. If a statement of contributions and expenditures is filed by electronic means of transmission pursuant to this section or section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, the electronic signature of the person who executes the statement and transmits the statement by electronic means of transmission, as provided in division (H) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, shall be attached to or associated with the statement and shall be binding on all persons and for all purposes under the campaign finance reporting law as if the signature had been handwritten in ink on a printed form.

(2) The person filing the statement, under penalty of election falsification, shall include with it a list of each anonymous contribution, the circumstances under which it was received, and the reason it cannot be attributed to a specific donor.

(3) Each statement of a campaign committee of a candidate who holds public office shall contain a designation of each contributor who is an employee in any unit or department under the candidate's direct supervision and control. In a space provided in the statement, the person filing the statement shall affirm that each such contribution was voluntarily made.

(4) A campaign committee that did not receive contributions or make expenditures in connection with the nomination or election of its candidate shall file a statement to that effect, on a form prescribed under this section and made under penalty of election falsification, on the date required in division (A)(2) of this section.

(5) The campaign committee of any person who attempts to become a candidate and who, for any reason, does not become certified in accordance with Title XXXV of the Revised Code for placement on the official ballot of a primary, general, or special election to be held in this state, and who, at any time prior to or after an election, receives contributions or makes expenditures, or has given consent for another to receive contributions or make expenditures, for the purpose of bringing about the person's nomination or election to public office, shall file the statement or statements prescribed by this section and a termination statement, if applicable. This paragraph does not apply to any person with respect to an election to the offices of member of a county or state central committee, presidential elector, or delegate to a national convention or conference of a political party.

(6)(a) The statements required to be filed under this section shall specify the balance in the hands of the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity and the disposition intended to be made of that balance.

(b) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form for all statements required to be filed under this section and shall furnish the forms to the boards of elections in the several counties. The boards of elections shall supply printed copies of those forms without charge. The secretary of state shall prescribe the appropriate methodology, protocol, and data file structure for statements required or permitted to be filed by electronic means of transmission under division (A) of this section and divisions (E), (F), and (G) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code and for statements permitted to be filed on computer disk under division (F) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code. Subject to division (A) of this section and divisions (E), (F), and (G) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, the statements required to be stored on computer by the secretary of state under division (B) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code shall be filed in whatever format the secretary of state considers necessary to enable the secretary of state to store the information contained in the statements on computer. Any such format shall be of a type and nature that is readily available to whoever is required to file the statements in that format.

(c) The secretary of state shall assess the need for training regarding the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission and regarding associated technologies for candidates, campaign committees, political action committees, legislative campaign funds, political parties, political contributing entities, or individuals, partnerships, or other entities required or permitted to file statements by electronic means of transmission under this section or section 3517.105 or 3517.106 of the Revised Code. If, in the opinion of the secretary of state, training in these areas is necessary, the secretary of state shall arrange for the provision of voluntary training programs for candidates, campaign committees, political action committees, legislative campaign funds, political parties, political contributing entities, and individuals, partnerships, and other entities.

(7) Each monthly statement and each two-business-day statement required by division (A) of this section shall contain the information required by divisions (B)(1) to (4), (C)(2), and, if appropriate, (C)(3) of this section. Each statement shall be signed as required by division (C)(1) of this section.

(D)(1) Prior to receiving a contribution or making an expenditure, every campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity shall appoint a treasurer and shall file, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, a designation of that appointment, including the full name and address of the treasurer and of the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity. That designation shall be filed with the official with whom the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity is required to file statements under section 3517.11 of the Revised Code. The name of a campaign committee shall include at least the last name of the campaign committee's candidate. The secretary of state shall assign a registration number to each political action committee that files a designation of the appointment of a treasurer under division (D)(1) of this section if the political action committee is required by division (A)(1) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code to file the statements prescribed by this section with the secretary of state.

(2) The treasurer appointed under division (D)(1) of this section shall keep a strict account of all contributions, from whom received and the purpose for which they were disbursed.

(3)(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 3517.108 of the Revised Code, a campaign committee shall deposit all monetary contributions received by the committee into an account separate from a personal or business account of the candidate or campaign committee.

(b) A political action committee shall deposit all monetary contributions received by the committee into an account separate from all other funds.

(c) A state or county political party may establish a state candidate fund that is separate from an account that contains the public moneys received from the Ohio political party fund under section 3517.17 of the Revised Code and from all other funds. A state or county political party may deposit into its state candidate fund any amounts of monetary contributions that are made to or accepted by the political party subject to the applicable limitations, if any, prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code. A state or county political party shall deposit all other monetary contributions received by the party into one or more accounts that are separate from its state candidate fund and from its account that contains the public moneys received from the Ohio political party fund under section 3517.17 of the Revised Code.

(d) Each state political party shall have only one legislative campaign fund for each house of the general assembly. Each such fund shall be separate from any other funds or accounts of that state party. A legislative campaign fund is authorized to receive contributions and make expenditures for the primary purpose of furthering the election of candidates who are members of that political party to the house of the general assembly with which that legislative campaign fund is associated. Each legislative campaign fund shall be administered and controlled in a manner designated by the caucus. As used in division (D)(3)(d) of this section, "caucus" has the same meaning as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code and includes, as an ex officio member, the chairperson of the state political party with which the caucus is associated or that chairperson's designee.

(4) Every expenditure in excess of twenty-five dollars shall be vouched for by a receipted bill, stating the purpose of the expenditures, that shall be filed with the statement of expenditures. A canceled check with a notation of the purpose of the expenditure is a receipted bill for purposes of division (D)(4) of this section.

(5) The secretary of state or the board of elections, as the case may be, shall issue a receipt for each statement filed under this section and shall preserve a copy of the receipt for a period of at least six years. All statements filed under this section shall be open to public inspection in the office where they are filed and shall be carefully preserved for a period of at least six years after the year in which they are filed.

(6) The secretary of state, by rule adopted pursuant to section 3517.23 of the Revised Code, shall prescribe the manner of immediately acknowledging, with date and time received, and preserving the receipt of statements that are transmitted by electronic means of transmission to the secretary of state pursuant to this section or section 3517.106 of the Revised Code and the manner of preserving the contribution and expenditure information in those statements. The secretary of state shall preserve the contribution and expenditure information in those statements for at least ten years after the year in which they are filed by electronic means of transmission.

(7) The secretary of state, pursuant to division (I) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, shall make available online to the public through the internet the contribution and expenditure information in all statements, all addenda, amendments, or other corrections to statements, and all amended statements filed with the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission under this section, division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105, or section 3517.106 or 3517.11 of the Revised Code. The secretary of state may remove the information from the internet after a reasonable period of time.

(E)(1) Any person, political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or political contributing entity that makes a contribution in connection with the nomination or election of any candidate or in connection with any ballot issue or question at any election held or to be held in this state shall provide its full name and address to the recipient of the contribution at the time the contribution is made. The political action committee also shall provide the registration number assigned to the committee under division (D)(1) of this section to the recipient of the contribution at the time the contribution is made.

(2) Any individual who makes a contribution that exceeds one hundred dollars to a campaign committee of a statewide candidate or candidate for the office of member of the general assembly shall provide the name of the individual's current employer, if any, or, if the individual is self-employed, the individual's occupation to the recipient of the contribution at the time the contribution is made. Sections 3599.39 and 3599.40 of the Revised Code do not apply to division (E)(2) of this section.

(3) If a campaign committee shows that it has exercised its best efforts to obtain, maintain, and submit the information required under divisions (B)(4)(b)(ii) and (iii) of this section, that committee is considered to have met the requirements of those divisions. A campaign committee shall not be considered to have exercised its best efforts unless, in connection with written solicitations, it regularly includes a written request for the information required under division (B)(4)(b)(ii) of this section from the contributor or the information required under division (B)(4)(b)(iii) of this section from whoever transmits the contribution.

(4) Any check that a political action committee uses to make a contribution or an expenditure shall contain the full name and address of the committee and the registration number assigned to the committee under division (D)(1) of this section.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) "Address" means all of the following if they exist: apartment number, street, road, or highway name and number, rural delivery route number, city or village, state, and zip code as used in a person's post-office address, but not post-office box. If an address is required in this section, a post-office box and office, room, or suite number may be included in addition to but not in lieu of an apartment, street, road, or highway name and number. If an address is required in this section, a campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity may use the business or residence address of its treasurer or deputy treasurer. The post-office box number of the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity may be used in addition to that address.

(2) "Statewide candidate" means the joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor or a candidate for the office of secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, member of the state board of education, chief justice of the supreme court, or justice of the supreme court.

(3) "Internet" has the same meaning as in section 3517.106 of the Revised Code.

(G) An independent expenditure shall be reported whenever and in the same manner that an expenditure is required to be reported under this section and shall be reported pursuant to division (B)(2)(a) or (C)(2)(a) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code.

(H)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (H)(2) of this section, if, during the combined preelection and postelection reporting periods for an election, a campaign committee has received contributions of five hundred dollars or less and has made expenditures in the total amount of five hundred dollars or less, it may file a statement to that effect, under penalty of election falsification, in lieu of the statement required by division (A)(2) of this section. The statement shall indicate the total amount of contributions received and the total amount of expenditures made during those combined reporting periods.

(2) In the case of a successful candidate at a primary election, if either the total contributions received by or the total expenditures made by the candidate's campaign committee during the preprimary, postprimary, pregeneral, and postgeneral election periods combined equal more than five hundred dollars, the campaign committee may file the statement under division (H)(1) of this section only for the primary election. The first statement that the campaign committee files in regard to the general election shall reflect all contributions received and all expenditures made during the preprimary and postprimary election periods.

(3) Divisions (H)(1) and (2) of this section do not apply if a campaign committee receives contributions or makes expenditures prior to the first day of January of the year of the election at which the candidate seeks nomination or election to office or if the campaign committee does not file a termination statement with its postprimary election statement in the case of an unsuccessful primary election candidate or with its postgeneral election statement in the case of other candidates.

(I) In the case of a contribution made by a partnership or unincorporated business, all of the following apply:

(1) The recipient of the contribution shall report the contribution by listing both the partnership or unincorporated business and the name of the partner or owner making the contribution.

(2) For purposes of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, the contribution shall be considered to have been made by the partner or owner reported under division (I)(1) of this section.

(3) No contribution from a partnership or unincorporated business shall be accepted unless the recipient reports the contribution under division (I)(1) of this section.

(J) A candidate shall have only one campaign committee at any given time for all of the offices for which the person is a candidate or holds office.

(K)(1) In addition to filing a designation of appointment of a treasurer under division (D)(1) of this section, the campaign committee of any candidate for an elected municipal office that pays an annual amount of compensation of five thousand dollars or less, the campaign committee of any candidate for member of a board of education except member of the state board of education, or the campaign committee of any candidate for township trustee or township clerk may sign, under penalty of election falsification, a certificate attesting that the committee will not accept contributions during an election period that exceed in the aggregate two thousand dollars from all contributors and one hundred dollars from any one individual, and that the campaign committee will not make expenditures during an election period that exceed in the aggregate two thousand dollars.

The certificate shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and shall be filed not later than ten days after the candidate files a declaration of candidacy and petition, a nominating petition, or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (K)(3) of this section, a campaign committee that files a certificate under division (K)(1) of this section is not required to file the statements required by division (A) of this section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.

(3) If, after filing a certificate under division (K)(1) of this section, a campaign committee exceeds any of the limitations described in that division during an election period, the certificate is void and thereafter the campaign committee shall file the statements required by division (A) of this section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. If the campaign committee has not previously filed a statement, then on the first statement the campaign committee is required to file under division (A) of this section 3517.10 of the Revised Code after the committee's certificate is void, the committee shall report all contributions received and expenditures made from the time the candidate filed the candidate's declaration of candidacy and petition, nominating petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate.

(4) As used in division (K) of this section, "election period" means the period of time beginning on the day a person files a declaration of candidacy and petition, nominating petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate through the day of the election at which the person seeks nomination to office if the person is not elected to office, or, if the candidate was nominated in a primary election, the day of the election at which the candidate seeks office.

(L) Notwithstanding division (B)(4) of this section, a political contributing entity that receives contributions from the dues, membership fees, or other assessments of its members or from its officers, shareholders, and employees may report the aggregate amount of contributions received from those contributors and the number of individuals making those contributions, for each filing period identified under divisions (A)(1), (2), and (3) of this section. Division (B)(4) of this section applies to a political contributing entity with regard to contributions it receives from all other contributors.

Sec. 3517.106.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks, including the graphical subnetwork called the world wide web.

(2) "Statewide office" means any of the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, chief justice of the supreme court, and justice of the supreme court.

(3)(2) "Addendum to a statement" includes an amendment or other correction to that statement.

(B) The secretary of state shall store on computer the information contained in statements of contributions and expenditures and monthly statements required to be filed under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code and in statements of independent expenditures required to be filed under section 3517.105 of the Revised Code by any of the following:

(1) The campaign committees of candidates for statewide office;

(2) The political action committees and political contributing entities described in division (A)(1) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code;

(3) Legislative campaign funds;

(4) State political parties;

(5) Individuals, partnerships, corporations, labor organizations, or other entities that make independent expenditures in support of or opposition to a statewide candidate or a statewide ballot issue or question;

(6) The campaign committees of candidates for the office of member of the general assembly.

(C)(1) The secretary of state shall make available to the campaign committees, political action committees, political contributing entities, legislative campaign funds, political parties, individuals, partnerships, corporations, labor organizations, and other entities described in division (B) of this section, and to members of the news media and other interested persons, for a reasonable fee, computer programs that are compatible with the secretary of state's method of storing the information contained in the statements.

(2) The secretary of state shall make the information required to be stored under division (B) of this section available on computer at the secretary of state's office so that, to the maximum extent feasible, individuals may obtain at the secretary of state's office any part or all of that information for any given year, subject to the limitation expressed in division (D) of this section.

(D) The secretary of state shall keep the information stored on computer under division (B) of this section for at least six years.

(E)(1) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, the campaign committee of each candidate for statewide office may file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission or, if the total amount of the contributions received or the total amount of the expenditures made by the campaign committee for the applicable reporting period as specified in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars, shall file those statements by electronic means of transmission.

Except as otherwise provided in this division, within five business days after a statement filed by a campaign committee of a candidate for statewide office is received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and expenditure information in that statement. The secretary of state shall not make available online to the public through the internet any contribution or expenditure information contained in a statement for any candidate until the secretary of state is able to make available online to the public through the internet the contribution and expenditure information for all candidates for a particular office. As soon as the secretary of state has available all of that information, the secretary of state shall simultaneously make available online to the public through the internet the information for all candidates for a particular office.

If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the campaign committee shall file by electronic means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.

Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from a campaign committee of a candidate for statewide office an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.

(2) Subject to division (E)(3) of this section and subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, a political action committee and a political contributing entity described in division (B)(2) of this section, a legislative campaign fund, and a state political party may file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission.

Within five business days after a statement filed by a political action committee or a political contributing entity described in division (B)(2) of this section, a legislative campaign fund, or a state political party is received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and expenditure information in that statement.

If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or state political party shall file by electronic means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.

Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from a political action committee or a political contributing entity described in division (B)(2) of this section, a legislative campaign fund, or a state political party an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.

(3) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, a political action committee and a political contributing entity described in division (B)(2) of this section, a legislative campaign fund, and a state political party shall file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission if the total amount of the contributions received or the total amount of the expenditures made by the political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or political party for the applicable reporting period as specified in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars.

Within five business days after a statement filed by a political action committee or a political contributing entity described in division (B)(2) of this section, a legislative campaign fund, or a state political party is received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and expenditure information in that statement.

If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or state political party shall file by electronic means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.

Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from a political action committee or a political contributing entity described in division (B)(2) of this section, a legislative campaign fund, or a state political party an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.

(F)(1) Subject to division (F)(4) of this section and subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission or on computer disk, a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly may file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state or, until March 1, 2004, on computer disk with the appropriate board of elections specified in division (A)(2) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code.

Except as otherwise provided in this division, within five business days after a statement filed by a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly is received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and expenditure information in that statement. The secretary of state shall not make available online to the public through the internet any contribution or expenditure information contained in a statement for any candidate until the secretary of state is able to make available online to the public through the internet the contribution and expenditure information for all candidates for a particular office. As soon as the secretary of state has available all of that information, the secretary of state shall simultaneously make available online to the public through the internet the information for all candidates for a particular office.

If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission or on computer disk is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the campaign committee shall file by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state, or, until March 1, 2004, on computer disk with the appropriate board of elections if the original statement was filed on computer disk, any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.

Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.

(2) Until March 1, 2004, if a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly files a statement of contributions and expenditures, an addendum to the statement, or an amended statement by electronic means of transmission or on computer disk pursuant to division (F)(1) of this section, the campaign committee shall file as prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with the appropriate board of elections specified in division (A)(2) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code a printed version of the statement, addendum, or amended statement filed by electronic means of transmission or on computer disk, in the format that the secretary of state shall prescribe. If a statement, addendum, or amended statement is not filed by electronic means of transmission or on computer disk but is filed by printed version only, the campaign committee shall file two copies of the printed version of the statement, addendum, or amended statement with the appropriate board of elections. The board of elections shall send one of those copies by overnight delivery service to the secretary of state before the close of business on the day the board of elections receives the statement, addendum, or amended statement.

(3)(a) Subject to division (F)(4) of this section and subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission or on computer disk, the secretary of state shall assess, and a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly shall pay, a fee as provided in this division if the campaign committee has not filed the campaign finance statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission or on computer disk pursuant to division (F)(1) of this section. The fee shall be calculated on the total contributions received for the applicable reporting period specified in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code as follows:

(i) No fee for total contributions up to and including ten thousand dollars;

(ii) A fee of fifty dollars for total contributions of over ten thousand dollars up to and including twenty-five thousand dollars;

(iii) A fee of one hundred fifty dollars for total contributions over twenty-five thousand dollars up to and including fifty thousand dollars;

(iv) A fee of two hundred dollars for total contributions over fifty thousand dollars.

(b) No campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly shall be required to pay the fee prescribed by division (F)(3)(a) of this section in connection with the filing of an addendum to a statement of contributions and expenditures or in connection with the filing of an amended statement.

(c) The fee prescribed by division (F)(3)(a) of this section shall be made payable to the secretary of state and shall be collected by the appropriate board of elections at the time the campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly files the statement of contributions and expenditures. The fee shall be sent along with the statement, before the close of business on the day it is received, to the secretary of state by overnight delivery service.

(4) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, on and after March 1, 2004, a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly shall file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission to the secretary of state if the total amount of the contributions received by the campaign committee for the applicable reporting period as specified in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars.

Except as otherwise provided in this division, within five business days after a statement filed by a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly is received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and expenditure information in that statement. The secretary of state shall not make available online to the public through the internet any contribution or expenditure information contained in a statement for any candidate until the secretary of state is able to make available online to the public through the internet the contribution and expenditure information for all candidates for a particular office. As soon as the secretary of state has available all of that information, the secretary of state shall simultaneously make available online to the public through the internet the information for all candidates for a particular office.

If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly shall file by electronic means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.

Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.

(G)(1) Subject to division (G)(2) of this section and subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, any individual, partnership, or other entity that makes independent expenditures in support of or opposition to a statewide candidate or a statewide ballot issue or question as provided in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code may file the statement specified in that division by electronic means of transmission.

Within five business days after a statement filed by an individual, partnership, or other entity is received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the expenditure information in that statement.

If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the individual, partnership, or other entity shall file by electronic means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.

Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from an individual, partnership, or other entity described in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.

(2) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, any individual, partnership, or other entity that makes independent expenditures in support of or opposition to a statewide candidate or a statewide ballot issue or question as provided in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code shall file the statement specified in that division by electronic means of transmission if the total amount of the independent expenditures made during the reporting period under that division exceeds ten thousand dollars.

Within five business days after a statement filed by an individual, partnership, or other entity is received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the expenditure information in that statement.

If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the individual, partnership, or other entity shall file by electronic means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.

Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from an individual, partnership, or other entity described in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.

(H)(1) The secretary of state, by rule adopted pursuant to section 3517.23 of the Revised Code, shall prescribe one or more techniques by which a person who executes and transmits by electronic means a statement of contributions and expenditures, a statement of independent expenditures, an addendum to either statement, an amended statement of contributions and expenditures, or an amended statement of independent expenditures under this section or section 3517.10 or 3517.105 of the Revised Code shall electronically sign the statement, addendum, or amended statement. Any technique prescribed by the secretary of state pursuant to this division shall create an electronic signature that satisfies all of the following:

(a) It is unique to the signer.

(b) It objectively identifies the signer.

(c) It involves the use of a signature device or other means or method that is under the sole control of the signer and that cannot be readily duplicated or compromised.

(d) It is created and linked to the electronic record to which it relates in a manner that, if the record or signature is intentionally or unintentionally changed after signing, the electronic signature is invalidated.

(2) An electronic signature prescribed by the secretary of state under division (H)(1) of this section shall be attached to or associated with the statement of contributions and expenditures, the statement of independent expenditures, the addendum to either statement, the amended statement of contributions and expenditures, or the amended statement of independent expenditures that is executed and transmitted by electronic means by the person to whom the electronic signature is attributed. The electronic signature that is attached to or associated with the statement, addendum, or amended statement under this division shall be binding on all persons and for all purposes under the campaign finance reporting law as if the signature had been handwritten in ink on a printed form of the statement, addendum, or amended statement.

(I) The secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in all statements, all addenda to the statements, and all amended statements that are filed with the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission under this section or section 3517.10, 3517.105, or 3517.11 of the Revised Code available online to the public by any means that are searchable, viewable, and accessible through the internet.

(J)(1) As used in this division, "library" means a library that is open to the public and that is one of the following:

(a) A library that is maintained and regulated under section 715.13 of the Revised Code;

(b) A library that is created, maintained, and regulated under Chapter 3375. of the Revised Code.

(2) The secretary of state shall notify all libraries of the location on the internet at which the contribution and expenditure information in campaign finance statements required to be made available online to the public through the internet pursuant to division (I) of this section may be accessed.

If that location is part of the graphical subnetwork called the world wide web and if the secretary of state has notified a library of that world wide web location as required by this division, the library shall include a link to that world wide web location on each internet-connected computer it maintains that is accessible to the public.

(3) If the system the secretary of state prescribes for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code includes filing those statements through the internet via an interactive location on the graphical subnetwork called the world wide web, the secretary of state shall notify all libraries of the world wide web location at which those statements may be filed.

If those statements may be filed through the internet via an interactive location on the graphical subnetwork called the world wide web and if the secretary of state has notified a library of that world wide web location as required by this division, the library shall include a link to that world wide web location on each internet-connected computer it maintains that is accessible to the public.

(K) It is an affirmative defense to a complaint or charge brought against any campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, political contributing entity, or individual, partnership, or other entity for the failure to file by electronic means of transmission a campaign finance statement as required by this section or section 3517.10 or 3517.105 of the Revised Code that all of the following apply to the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, political contributing entity, or individual, partnership, or other entity that failed to file the required statement:

(1) The campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, political contributing entity, or individual, partnership, or other entity attempted to file by electronic means of transmission the required statement prior to the deadline set forth in the applicable section.

(2) The campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, political contributing entity, or individual, partnership, or other entity was unable to file by electronic means of transmission due to an expected or unexpected shutdown of the whole or part of the electronic campaign finance statement-filing system, such as for maintenance or because of hardware, software, or network connection failure.

(3) The campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, political contributing entity, or individual, partnership, or other entity filed by electronic means of transmission the required statement within a reasonable period of time after being unable to so file it under the circumstance described in division (K)(2) of this section.

Sec. 3517.11.  (A)(1) Campaign committees of candidates for statewide offices or the state board of education, political action committees or political contributing entities that make contributions to campaign committees of candidates that are required to file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with the secretary of state, political action committees or political contributing entities that make contributions to campaign committees of candidates for member of the general assembly, political action committees or political contributing entities that make contributions to state and national political parties and to legislative campaign funds, political action committees or political contributing entities that receive contributions or make expenditures in connection with a statewide ballot issue, political action committees or political contributing entities that make contributions to other political action committees or political contributing entities, political parties, and campaign committees, except as set forth in division (A)(3) of this section, legislative campaign funds, and state and national political parties shall file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with the secretary of state.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (F) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, campaign committees of candidates for all other offices shall file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with the board of elections where their candidates are required to file their petitions or other papers for nomination or election.

A campaign committee of a candidate for office of member of the general assembly shall file two copies of the printed version of any statement, addendum, or amended statement if the committee does not file by electronic means of transmission or on computer disk pursuant to division (F)(1) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code but files by printed version only with the appropriate board of elections. The board of elections shall send one of those copies by overnight delivery service to the secretary of state before the close of business on the day the board of elections receives the statement, addendum, or amended statement.

(3) Political action committees or political contributing entities that only contribute to a county political party, contribute to campaign committees of candidates whose nomination or election is to be submitted only to electors within a county, subdivision, or district, excluding candidates for member of the general assembly, and receive contributions or make expenditures in connection with ballot questions or issues to be submitted only to electors within a county, subdivision, or district shall file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with the board of elections in that county or in the county contained in whole or part within the subdivision or district having a population greater than that of any other county contained in whole or part within that subdivision or district, as the case may be.

(4) County political parties shall file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with the board of elections of their respective counties.

(B)(1) The official with whom petitions and other papers for nomination or election to public office are filed shall furnish each candidate at the time of that filing a copy of sections 3517.01, 3517.08 to 3517.11, 3517.13 to 3517.993, 3599.03, and 3599.031 of the Revised Code and any other materials that the secretary of state may require. Each candidate receiving the materials shall acknowledge their receipt in writing.

(2) On or before the tenth day before the dates on which statements are required to be filed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code, every candidate subject to the provisions of this section and sections 3517.10 and 3517.106 of the Revised Code shall be notified of the requirements and applicable penalties of those sections. The secretary of state, by certified mail, return receipt requested, shall notify all candidates required to file those statements with the secretary of state's office. The board of elections of every county shall notify by first class mail any candidate who has personally appeared at the office of the board on or before the tenth day before the statements are required to be filed and signed a form, to be provided by the secretary of state, attesting that the candidate has been notified of the candidate's obligations under the campaign finance law. The board shall forward the completed form to the secretary of state. The board shall use certified mail, return receipt requested, to notify all other candidates required to file those statements with it.

(3)(a) Any statement required to be filed under sections 3517.081 to 3517.17 of the Revised Code that is found to be incomplete or inaccurate by the officer to whom it is submitted shall be accepted on a conditional basis, and the person who filed it shall be notified by certified mail as to the incomplete or inaccurate nature of the statement. The secretary of state may examine statements filed for candidates for the office of member of the general assembly for completeness and accuracy. The secretary of state shall examine for completeness and accuracy statements that campaign committees of candidates for the office of member of the general assembly file by electronic means of transmission pursuant to division (F) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code. If an officer at the board of elections where a statement filed for a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly was submitted finds the statement to be incomplete or inaccurate, the officer shall immediately notify the secretary of state of its incomplete or inaccurate nature. If either an officer at the board of elections or the secretary of state finds a statement filed for a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly to be incomplete or inaccurate, only the secretary of state shall send the notification as to the incomplete or inaccurate nature of the statement.

Within twenty-one days after receipt of the notice, in the case of a pre-election statement, a postelection statement, a monthly statement, or an annual statement prescribed by section 3517.10, an annual statement prescribed by section 3517.101, or a statement prescribed by division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105 or section 3517.107 of the Revised Code, the recipient shall file an addendum, amendment, or other correction to the statement providing the information necessary to complete or correct the statement. The secretary of state may require that, in lieu of filing an addendum, amendment, or other correction to a statement that is filed by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state or on computer disk with the appropriate board of elections pursuant to section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, the recipient of the notice described in this division file by electronic means of transmission, or, until March 1, 2004, on computer disk with the appropriate board of elections if the original statement was filed on computer disk, an amended statement that incorporates the information necessary to complete or correct the statement. The secretary of state shall determine by rule when an addendum, amendment, or other correction to a two-business-day statement prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code or an amended two-business-day statement shall be filed. An addendum, amendment, or other correction to a statement that is filed by electronic means of transmission or on computer disk pursuant to section 3517.106 of the Revised Code shall be filed in the same manner as the statement. The provisions of sections 3517.10 and 3517.106 of the Revised Code pertaining to the filing of statements of contributions and expenditures and statements of independent expenditures by electronic means of transmission or on computer disk apply to the filing of addenda, amendments, or other corrections to those statements by electronic means of transmission or, until March 1, 2004, on computer disk and the filing of amended statements by electronic means of transmission or, until March 1, 2004, on computer disk.

(b) Within five business days after the secretary of state receives, by electronic or other means of transmission, an addendum, amendment, or other correction to a statement or an amended statement under division (B)(3)(a) of this section, the secretary of state, pursuant to divisions (E), (F), (G), and (I) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, shall make the contribution and expenditure information in that addendum, amendment, correction, or amended statement available online to the public through the internet. As used in this division, "internet" has the same meaning as in section 3517.106 of the Revised Code.

(4)(a) The secretary of state or the board of elections shall examine all statements for compliance with sections 3517.08 to 3517.17 of the Revised Code.

(b) The secretary of state may contract with an individual or entity not associated with the secretary of state and experienced in interpreting the campaign finance law of this state to conduct examinations of statements filed by any statewide candidate, as defined in section 3517.103 of the Revised Code.

(c) The examination shall be conducted by a person or entity qualified to conduct it. The results of the examination shall be available to the public, and, when the examination is conducted by an individual or entity not associated with the secretary of state, the results of the examination shall be reported to the secretary of state.

(C)(1) In the event of a failure to file or a late filing of a statement required to be filed under sections 3517.081 to 3517.17 of the Revised Code or if a filed statement or any addendum to the statement, if an addendum is required to be filed, is incomplete or inaccurate or appears to disclose a failure to comply with or a violation of law, the official whose duty it is to examine the statement shall promptly file a complaint with the Ohio elections commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised Code if the law is one over which the commission has jurisdiction to hear complaints, or the official shall promptly report the failure or violation to the board of elections and the board shall promptly report it to the prosecuting attorney in accordance with division (J) of section 3501.11 of the Revised Code. If the official files a complaint with the commission, the commission shall proceed in accordance with sections 3517.154 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code.

(2) For purposes of division (C)(1) of this section, a statement or an addendum to a statement required to be filed under sections 3517.081 to 3517.17 of the Revised Code is incomplete or inaccurate under this section if the statement or addendum fails to disclose substantially all contributions that are received from a source and that are required to be reported under sections 3517.10, 3517.107, and 3517.108 of the Revised Code or if the statement or addendum fails to disclose at least ninety per cent of the total contributions received or of the total expenditures made during the reporting period.

(D) No certificate of nomination or election shall be issued to a person, and no person elected to an office shall enter upon the performance of the duties of that office, until that person or that person's campaign committee, as appropriate, has fully complied with this section and sections 3517.08, 3517.081, 3517.10, and 3517.13 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 5145.31.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Computer,", "computer," "computer network," "computer system," "computer services," "telecommunications service," and "information service" have the same meanings as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Internet" has the same meaning as in section 341.42 of the Revised Code.

(B) No officer or employee of a correctional institution under the control or supervision of the department of rehabilitation and correction shall provide a prisoner access to or permit a prisoner to have access to the internet through the use of a computer, computer network, computer system, computer services, telecommunications service, or information service unless both of the following apply:

(1) The prisoner is participating in an approved educational program with direct supervision that requires the use of the internet for training or research purposes.

(2) The provision of and access to the internet is in accordance with rules promulgated by the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to section 5120.62 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) No prisoner in a correctional institution under the control or supervision of the department of rehabilitation and correction shall access the internet through the use of a computer, computer network, computer system, computer services, telecommunications service, or information service unless both of the following apply:

(a) The prisoner is participating in an approved educational program with direct supervision that requires the use of the internet for training or research purposes.

(b) The provision of and access to the internet is in accordance with rules promulgated by the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to section 5120.62 of the Revised Code.

(2) Whoever violates division (C)(1) of this section is guilty of improper internet access, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Sec. 5703.49.  (A) As used in this section, "internet" means the international computer network of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched data networks, including the graphical subnetwork known as the world wide web.

(B) On or before December 31, 2001, the tax commissioner shall establish an electronic site accessible through the internet. The tax commissioner shall provide access on the site for each municipal corporation that has not established its own electronic site to post documents or information required under section 718.07 of the Revised Code. The tax commissioner shall provide electronic links for each municipal corporation that establishes a site under that section and for which a uniform resource locator has been provided to the tax commissioner. The tax commissioner is not responsible for the accuracy of the posted information, and is not liable for any inaccurate or outdated information provided by a municipal corporation. The tax commissioner may adopt rules governing the format and means of submitting such documents or information and other matters necessary to implement this section. The tax commissioner may charge municipal corporations a fee to defray the cost of establishing and maintaining the electronic site established under this section.

(C)(B) The tax commissioner shall deposit any fees received under this section to the credit of the municipal internet site fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury. The commissioner shall use the fund for costs of establishing and maintaining the electronic site established under this section.

SECTION 2. That existing sections 1.59, 9.08, 9.314, 9.48, 101.691, 113.40, 125.04, 125.072, 149.38, 149.432, 307.12, 341.42, 505.10, 718.07, 721.15, 753.32, 955.013, 1306.16, 2307.64, 3517.10, 3517.106, 3517.11, 5145.31, and 5703.49 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. (A) There is hereby created the Ohio Privacy/Public Record Access Study Committee consisting of twenty-three members. The President of the Senate shall appoint three members, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members, the Governor shall appoint sixteen members, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint one member. Of the three members appointed by the President of the Senate, two shall represent the Senate majority caucus, and one shall represent the Senate minority caucus. Of the three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two shall represent the House majority caucus, and one shall represent the House minority caucus. Of the sixteen members appointed by the Governor, one shall represent the newspaper industry, one shall be in broadcasting, one shall be an attorney in private practice who specializes in public records law, one shall be a local elected official with responsibility for public records, one shall represent law enforcement agencies, one shall be an attorney from the Attorney General's office who specializes in public records law, one shall represent the insurance industry in Ohio, one shall represent the media, one shall represent an information services company, one shall represent realtors, one shall represent the credit industry, one shall represent the legal records industry, one shall represent the financial services industry, one shall be a consumers' advocate, one shall represent the Ohio Historical Society or be the Records Information Management System Administrator from the Department of Administrative Services, and one shall represent the public. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint a judge or other representative of the judicial branch.

(B) The Committee shall study all of the following:

(1) The concerns associated with the dissemination of personal information contained in public records, including, but not limited to, identity theft, misuse, harassment, and fraud;

(2) The legitimate uses of personal information contained in public records by businesses, governments, the legal community, and others, including, but not limited to, its use in combating identity theft and fraud;

(3) The costs to state and local governments associated with placing restrictions on access to personal information contained in public records;

(4) The impact, including costs, on legitimate businesses, law enforcement, the legal community, government agencies, and others of access restrictions placed on personal information contained in public records;

(5) The impact of protecting the disclosure of personal information contained in public records through the sealing of documents by court rule;

(6) Electronic, internet, and bulk access to personal information contained in public records;

(7) Current and potential future misuse, fraud, harassment, and identify theft prevention and detection efforts, including programs to educate the public on ways to avoid becoming victims, as well as procedures to streamline recovery;

(8) Existing criminal and civil penalties for misuse of personal information contained in public records and an examination of whether those penalties should be increased as a deterrent.

(C) The Committee shall develop a unified approach to preventing theft, fraud, and the misuse of personal information contained in public records while maintaining access and use of public records for lawful purposes. The Committee shall consult with the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Technology and the Courts on issues relating to access to and use of court records and shall make use of work product and recommendations developed by the Advisory Committee with regard to access to and use of court records.

(D) The Committee shall submit a report of its findings to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court not later than twelve months after the appointment of all of the members of the Committee. The report shall be approved by a majority of the members of the Committee and shall include a detailed statement of the Committee's findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

(E) Any vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

(F) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representative shall designate co-chairpersons of the Committee when the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoint the members to the Committee.

(G) All meetings of the Committee are public meetings and shall be open to the public at all times. A member of the Committee must be present in person at a meeting that is open to the public in order to be considered present or to vote at the meeting and for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. The committee shall promptly prepare, file, and maintain the minutes of the committee meetings, and the committee minutes shall be public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The committee shall give reasonable notice of committee meetings so that any person may determine the time and place of all scheduled meetings. The committee shall not hold a meeting unless it gives at least twenty-four hours' advance notice to the news media organizations that have requested notification of the Committee's meetings.

SECTION 4. That Section 3.18 of Am. Sub. H.B. 95 of the 125th General Assembly, as amended by Sub. H.B. 127 of the 125th General Assembly, be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 3.18. The amendments of section 5739.033 of the Revised Code in Sections 3.16 and 3.17 of Am. Sub. H.B. 95 of the 125th General Assembly provide for or are essential to the implementation of a tax levy. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 1d, those Sections amendments are not subject to the referendum and go into effect January 1, 2005 July 1, 2005.

SECTION 5. That existing Section 3.18 of Am. Sub. H.B. 95 of the 125th General Assembly, as amended by Sub. H.B. 127 of the 125th General Assembly, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 6. That Section 4 of Am. Sub. H.B. 168 of the 125th General Assembly be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 4. Notwithstanding Section 3 of Am. Sub. S.B. 143 of the 124th General Assembly, as subsequently amended by Section 8 of Sub. S.B. 47 of the 125th General Assembly and Section 134.14 of Am. Sub. H.B. 95 of the 125th General Assembly, the enactment of section 5741.05 of the Revised Code by Am. Sub. S.B. 143 of the 124th General Assembly shall take effect January July 1, 2005. The General Assembly intends by enacting this section to clarify that the operation of section 5741.05 of the Revised Code was to be coordinated with the revised effective dates to amended section 5739.033 of the Revised Code that were made by Sub. S.B. 47 of the 125th General Assembly and Sub. H.B. 127 of the 125th General Assembly.

SECTION 7. That existing Section 4 of Am. Sub. H.B. 168 of the 125th General Assembly is hereby repealed.

SECTION 8. (A) For sales made on or after January 1, 2005, but before July 1, 2005, a vendor licensed under section 5739.17 of the Revised Code may source sales in accordance with the version of section 5739.033 of the Revised Code that, under this act, takes effect July 1, 2005, as long as the vendor complies with that section.

(B) If a vendor sources sales under division (A) of this section, the vendor shall continue from that point forward to source all of its sales in compliance with the version of section 5739.033 of the Revised Code that, under this act, takes effect July 1, 2005.

SECTION 9. Sections 4 to 9 of this act, and the items of which they are composed, provide for or are essential to implementation of a tax levy. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 1d, Sections 4 to 9 of this act, and the items of which they are composed, are not subject to the referendum and go into immediate effect when this act becomes law.