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Am. Sub. H. B. No. 361 As Passed by the Senate
As Passed by the Senate
125th General Assembly | Regular Session | 2003-2004 |
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Representatives Flowers, Niehaus, Olman, Reinhard, Faber, Seitz, Allen, Harwood, Martin, Daniels, Strahorn, Carmichael, Beatty, D. Evans, Hagan, Sferra, Sykes
Senators Roberts, Schuler, Blessing, DiDonato, Robert Gardner, Goodman, Mallory
A BILL
To amend sections 2307.64, 2913.01, 4931.40, 4931.41, 4931.43, 4931.44, 4931.45,
4931.46, 4931.47, 4931.48, 4931.49, 4931.50, 4931.55, 4931.99, and 5733.55; to
amend, for the purpose of adopting a new section number as shown
in parentheses, section 4931.55 (4931.75); and to enact sections
4931.60 to 4931.70 of the Revised Code to
facilitate the provision of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 by local governments, by establishing requirements for operation,
administration, and funding;
to permit a wireline telephone company to fund through an existing tax credit nonrecurring rates and charges for an updating or
modernization of the wireline network portion of a
9-1-1 system that is not related to wireless enhanced 9-1-1; and to allow a civil action against certain unauthorized facsimile transmissions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 2307.64, 2913.01, 4931.40, 4931.41, 4931.43, 4931.44,
4931.45, 4931.46, 4931.47, 4931.48, 4931.49, 4931.50, 4931.55, 4931.99, and
5733.55 be amended; section 4931.55 (4931.75) be amended for the
purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in
parentheses; and sections 4931.60, 4931.61, 4931.62, 4931.63,
4931.64, 4931.65, 4931.66, 4931.67, 4931.68, 4931.69,
and 4931.70 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows: Sec. 2307.64. (A)
As used in this section: (1)
"Advertisement" has the same meaning as in section
4931.55 4931.75 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) "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) "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)
"Receiving address" means the string of characters used
to specify a recipient with each receiving address creating a
unique and separate recipient. (11)
"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. 2913.01. As used in this chapter, unless the context
requires
that a term be given a different meaning: (A) "Deception" means knowingly deceiving another or
causing
another to be deceived by any false or misleading
representation,
by withholding information, by preventing another
from acquiring
information, or by any other conduct, act, or
omission that
creates, confirms, or perpetuates a false
impression in another,
including a false impression as to law,
value, state of mind, or
other objective or subjective fact. (B) "Defraud" means to knowingly obtain, by deception,
some
benefit for oneself or another, or to knowingly cause, by
deception, some detriment to another. (C) "Deprive" means to do any of the following: (1) Withhold property of another permanently, or for a
period that appropriates a substantial portion of its value or
use, or with purpose to restore it only upon payment of a reward
or other consideration; (2) Dispose of property so as to make it unlikely that the
owner will recover it; (3) Accept, use, or appropriate money, property, or
services, with purpose not to give proper consideration in return
for the money, property, or services, and without reasonable
justification or excuse for not giving proper consideration. (D) "Owner" means, unless the context requires a different
meaning, any person, other than the actor, who is
the owner of,
who has possession or control of, or who has
any license
or
interest in property or services, even though the ownership,
possession, control, license, or interest is unlawful. (E) "Services" include labor, personal services,
professional services, public utility services including wireless service as defined in division (F)(1) of section 4931.40 of the Revised Code, common carrier
services, and food, drink, transportation, entertainment, and
cable television services
and, for purposes of section 2913.04 of
the Revised Code, include cable services as defined in that
section. (F) "Writing" means any computer software, document,
letter,
memorandum, note, paper, plate, data, film, or other
thing having
in or upon it any written, typewritten, or printed
matter, and any
token, stamp, seal, credit card,
badge, trademark, label, or other
symbol of value, right,
privilege, license, or identification. (G) "Forge" means to fabricate or create, in whole or in
part and by any means, any spurious writing, or to make, execute,
alter, complete, reproduce, or otherwise purport to authenticate
any writing, when the writing in fact is not authenticated by
that
conduct. (H) "Utter" means to issue, publish, transfer, use, put or
send into circulation, deliver, or display. (I) "Coin machine" means any mechanical or electronic
device
designed to do both of the following: (1) Receive a coin, bill, or token made for that purpose; (2) In return for the insertion or deposit of a coin,
bill,
or token, automatically dispense property, provide a
service, or
grant a license. (J) "Slug" means an object that, by virtue of its size,
shape, composition, or other quality, is capable of being
inserted
or deposited in a coin machine as an improper substitute
for a
genuine coin, bill, or token made for that purpose. (K) "Theft offense" means any of the following: (1) A violation of section 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11,
2911.12, 2911.13, 2911.31, 2911.32, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04,
2913.041, 2913.05, 2913.06, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31,
2913.32,
2913.33, 2913.34,
2913.40, 2913.42, 2913.43, 2913.44, 2913.45,
2913.47, former section
2913.47 or 2913.48, or section 2913.51,
2915.05,
or 2921.41 of the Revised Code; (2) A violation of an existing or former municipal
ordinance
or law of this or any other state, or of the United
States,
substantially equivalent to any section listed in
division (K)(1)
of this section or a violation of section 2913.41, 2913.81,
or
2915.06 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996; (3) An offense under an existing or former municipal
ordinance or law of this or any other state, or of the United
States, involving robbery, burglary, breaking and entering,
theft,
embezzlement, wrongful conversion, forgery,
counterfeiting,
deceit, or fraud; (4) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in
committing, any offense under division (K)(1), (2), or (3) of this
section. (L) "Computer services" includes, but is not limited to,
the
use of a computer system, computer network, computer program,
data
that is prepared for computer use, or data that is contained
within a computer system or computer network. (M) "Computer" means an electronic device that performs
logical, arithmetic, and memory functions by the manipulation of
electronic or magnetic impulses. "Computer" includes, but is not
limited to, all input, output, processing, storage, computer
program, or communication facilities that are connected, or
related, in a computer system or network to an electronic
device
of that nature. (N) "Computer system" means a computer and related
devices,
whether connected or unconnected, including, but not
limited to,
data input, output, and storage devices, data
communications
links, and computer programs and data that make
the system capable
of performing specified special purpose data
processing tasks. (O) "Computer network" means a set of related and remotely
connected computers and communication facilities that includes
more than one computer system that has the capability to transmit
among the connected computers and communication facilities
through
the use of computer facilities. (P) "Computer program" means an ordered set of data
representing coded instructions or statements that, when executed
by a computer, cause the computer to process data. (Q) "Computer software" means computer programs,
procedures,
and other documentation associated with the operation
of a
computer system. (R) "Data" means a representation of information,
knowledge,
facts, concepts, or instructions that are being or
have been
prepared in a formalized manner and that are intended
for use in a
computer, computer system, or computer
network. For
purposes
of
section 2913.47 of the Revised Code, "data" has the additional
meaning set forth in division (A) of that section. (S) "Cable television service" means any services provided
by or through the facilities of any cable television system or
other similar closed circuit coaxial cable communications system,
or any microwave or similar transmission service used in
connection with any cable television system or other similar
closed circuit coaxial cable communications system. (T) "Gain access" means to approach, instruct, communicate
with, store data in, retrieve data from, or otherwise make use of
any resources of a computer, computer system, or computer
network,
or any cable service or cable system both as defined in section
2913.04 of the Revised Code. (U) "Credit card" includes, but is not limited to, a card,
code, device, or other means of access to a customer's account
for
the purpose of obtaining money, property, labor, or services
on
credit, or for initiating an electronic fund transfer at a
point-of-sale terminal, an automated teller machine, or a cash
dispensing machine. It also includes a county procurement card issued under section 301.29 of the Revised Code. (V) "Electronic fund transfer" has the same meaning as in
92
Stat. 3728, 15 U.S.C.A. 1693a, as amended. (W) "Rented property" means personal property in which the
right
of possession and use of the property is for a short and
possibly
indeterminate term in return for consideration; the
rentee generally controls
the duration of possession of the
property, within any applicable minimum or
maximum term; and the
amount of consideration generally is determined by the
duration of
possession of the property. (X) "Telecommunication" means the origination,
emission,
dissemination, transmission, or reception of data, images,
signals,
sounds, or other intelligence or equivalence of
intelligence of
any nature over any communications system by any
method,
including, but not limited to, a fiber optic, electronic,
magnetic, optical, digital, or analog method. (Y) "Telecommunications
device" means any instrument,
equipment, machine, or other
device that facilitates
telecommunication, including, but not
limited to, a computer,
computer network, computer chip, computer
circuit, scanner,
telephone, cellular telephone, pager, personal
communications
device, transponder, receiver, radio, modem, or
device that
enables the use of a modem. (Z) "Telecommunications
service" means the providing,
allowing, facilitating, or
generating of any form of
telecommunication through the use of a
telecommunications device
over a telecommunications system. (AA) "Counterfeit
telecommunications device" means a
telecommunications device that,
alone or with another
telecommunications device, has been altered,
constructed,
manufactured, or programmed to acquire, intercept, receive, or
otherwise facilitate the use of a telecommunications service or
information
service without the
authority or consent of the
provider of the telecommunications
service or information service.
"Counterfeit telecommunications device"
includes, but
is not
limited to, a clone telephone, clone microchip, tumbler
telephone,
or tumbler microchip; a wireless scanning device
capable of
acquiring, intercepting, receiving, or otherwise
facilitating the
use of telecommunications service or information service
without
immediate detection; or a device, equipment, hardware, or software
designed for, or capable of, altering or changing the electronic
serial number
in a wireless telephone. (BB)(1) "Information
service" means, subject to division
(BB)(2) of this section, the
offering of a capability for
generating, acquiring, storing,
transforming, processing,
retrieving, utilizing, or making
available information via
telecommunications, including, but not
limited to, electronic
publishing. (2) "Information service" does not include any use of a
capability of a type described in division
(BB)(1) of this section
for the
management, control, or operation of a telecommunications
system
or the management of a telecommunications service. (CC) "Elderly person" means a person who is sixty-five
years
of age or older. (DD) "Disabled adult" means a person who is eighteen years
of age
or older
and has some impairment of body or mind that makes
the person unfit to work
at any substantially remunerative
employment that the person
otherwise would be able to perform and
that will, with reasonable
probability, continue for a period of
at least twelve months
without any present indication of recovery
from the impairment, or who is
eighteen years of age or older and
has been certified as permanently and
totally disabled by an
agency
of this state or the United States that has the function of
so classifying persons. (EE) "Firearm" and "dangerous ordnance" have the same
meanings as
in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code. (FF) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as in section
4501.01
of the Revised Code. (GG) "Dangerous drug" has the same meaning as in section
4729.01
of the Revised Code. (HH) "Drug abuse offense" has the same meaning as in section
2925.01 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4931.40. As used in sections 4931.40 to 4931.54
4931.70 of
the Revised Code: (A) "9-1-1 system" means a system through which
individuals can request emergency service using the telephone
number 9-1-1. (B) "Basic 9-1-1" means a 9-1-1 system in which a caller
provides information on the nature of and the location of an
emergency, and the personnel receiving the call must determine
the appropriate emergency service provider to respond at that
location. (C) "Enhanced 9-1-1" means a 9-1-1 system capable of providing both enhanced wireline 9-1-1 and wireless enhanced 9-1-1. (D) "Enhanced wireline 9-1-1" means a 9-1-1 system in which the
wireline telephone network system, in providing wireline 9-1-1, automatically provides to personnel
receiving the call, immediately on answering the 9-1-1 call,
information on the location and the telephone number from which
the call is being made, and routes the call to emergency service
providers that serve the location from which the call is made and
immediately provides to personnel answering the 9-1-1 call
information on the location and the telephone number from which the call is
being made. (D)(E) "Wireless enhanced 9-1-1"
means a 9-1-1 system that, in providing wireless 9-1-1, has the
capabilities of phase
I and, to the extent available,
phase
II enhanced 9-1-1 services as
described in 47
C.F.R.
20.18 (d) to (h).
(F)(1) "Wireless
service" means federally licensed commercial mobile service as
defined in 47
U.S.C.
332(d) and further defined as commercial
mobile radio service in 47
C.F.R.
20.3, and includes service provided by any wireless, two-way communications
device, including a radio-telephone communications line used in cellular
telephone service or personal communications service, a network radio access
line, or any functional or competitive equivalent of such a radio-telephone
communications or network radio access line. (2) Nothing in sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 of the Revised Code applies to paging or any service that cannot be used to call 9-1-1. (G) "Wireless service
provider" means a facilities-based provider of
wireless service to one or more end users in this state. (H) "Wireless 9-1-1"
means the emergency calling service provided by a 9-1-1
system pursuant to a call originating in the network of a
wireless service provider. (I) "Wireline 9-1-1"
means the emergency calling service provided by a 9-1-1
system pursuant to a call originating in the network of a
wireline service provider. (J) "Wireline service provider" means a
facilities-based provider of wireline service to one or more end-users in this
state. (K) "Wireline
service" means basic local exchange service, as defined in
section 4927.01 of the Revised
Code, that is transmitted by means of interconnected wires or
cables by a wireline service provider authorized by the public utilities
commission. (L) "Wireline telephone network" means the selective router and data base processing systems, trunking and data wiring cross connection points at the public safety answering point, and all other voice and data components of the 9-1-1 system. (M) "Subdivision" means a county, municipal corporation,
township, township fire district, joint fire district, township
police district, joint ambulance district, or joint
emergency medical services district that provides
emergency service within its territory, or that contracts with
another municipal corporation, township, or district or with a
private entity to provide such service; and a state college or
university, port authority, or park district of any kind that
employs law enforcement officers that act as the primary police
force on the grounds of the college or university or port
authority or in the parks operated by the district. (E)(N) "Emergency service" means emergency police law enforcement,
firefighting, ambulance, rescue, and medical service.
(F)(O) "Emergency service provider" means the state highway
patrol and an emergency service department or unit of a
subdivision or that operates in provides emergency service to a subdivision under contract with
the subdivision.
(G)(P) "Public safety answering point" means a facility to
which 9-1-1 system calls for a specific territory are initially
routed for response and where subdivision personnel respond to
specific requests for emergency service by directly dispatching
the appropriate emergency service provider, relaying a message to
the appropriate provider, or transferring the call to the
appropriate provider.
(H)(Q) "Customer premises equipment" means telecommunications
equipment, including telephone instruments, on the premises of a
public safety answering point that is used in answering and
responding to 9-1-1 system calls.
(I)(R) "Municipal corporation in the county" includes any
municipal corporation that is wholly contained in the county and
each municipal corporation located in more than one county that
has a greater proportion of its territory in the county to which
the term refers than in any other county.
(J)(S) "Board of county commissioners" includes the
legislative authority of a county established under Section 3 of
Article X, Ohio Constitution, or Chapter 302. of the Revised
Code.
(K)(T) "Final plan" means a final plan adopted under division
(B) of section 4931.44 of the Revised Code and, except as
otherwise expressly provided, an amended final plan adopted under
section 4931.45 of the Revised Code.
(L)(U) "Subdivision served by a public safety answering
point" means a subdivision that provides emergency service for
any part of its territory that is located within the territory of
a public safety answering point whether the subdivision provides
the emergency service with its own employees or pursuant to a
contract.
(M)(V) A township's population includes only population of
the unincorporated portion of the township.
(N)(W) "Telephone company" means a company engaged in the
business of providing
local
exchange telephone service by making available or furnishing access and a dial
tone to persons within a local calling area for use in originating and
receiving voice grade communications over a switched network operated by the
provider of the service within the area and gaining access to other
telecommunications services. "Telephone company" includes a wireline service provider
and a wireless service provider unless otherwise expressly specified. For purposes of
sections 4931.52 and 4931.53 of the
Revised
Code, "telephone company" means
a wireline service provider.
Sec. 4931.41. (A)(1) A countywide 9-1-1 system shall
include all of the territory of the townships and municipal
corporations in the county and any portion of such a municipal corporation that extends into an adjacent county. (2) The system shall exclude any territory served by a
telephone company wireline service provider that is not capable
of reasonably meeting the
technical and economic requirements of providing the wireline telephone
network portion of the countywide system for that territory. The
system shall exclude from enhanced 9-1-1 service any territory
served by a telephone company wireline service provider that is
not capable of reasonably
meeting the technical and economic requirements of providing the
wireline telephone network portion of an enhanced 9-1-1
service for
that
territory. If a 9-1-1 planning committee and a telephone company
wireline service provider do not agree on whether the telephone
company provider is so capable, the
committee shall notify the public utilities commission, and the
commission shall determine whether the company wireline service
provider is so capable.
The committee shall ascertain whether such disagreement exists
before making its implementation proposal under division (A) of
section 4931.43 of the Revised Code. The commission's
determination shall be in the form of an order. No final plan
shall require a telephone company wireline service provider to
provide the wireline telephone
network portion of a 9-1-1 system that the commission has
determined the company provider is not reasonably capable of
providing. (B) A countywide 9-1-1 system may be a basic or enhanced
9-1-1 system, or a combination of the two, and shall be for the
purpose of providing both wireline 9-1-1 and wireless 9-1-1. (C) Every emergency service provider that provides
emergency service within the territory of a countywide 9-1-1
system shall participate in the countywide system. (D)(1) Each public safety answering point shall be operated
by a subdivision and shall be operated constantly. (2) A subdivision that operates a public safety answering point
shall pay all of the costs associated with establishing,
equipping, furnishing, operating, and maintaining that facility
and shall allocate those costs among itself and the subdivisions
served by the answering point based on the allocation formula in
a final plan. The telephone company wireline service provider
or other entity that
provides or maintains the customer premises equipment shall bill
the operating subdivision for the cost of providing such
equipment, or its maintenance.
A wireless service provider and a subdivision operating a public safety answering point may enter into a service agreement for providing wireless enhanced 9-1-1 pursuant to a final plan adopted under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 of the Revised Code. (E) Except to the extent provided in a final plan that
provides for funding of a 9-1-1 system in part through charges
imposed under section 4931.51 of the Revised Code, each
subdivision served by a public safety answering point shall pay
the subdivision that operates the answering point the amount
computed in accordance with the allocation formula set forth in
the final plan. (F) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
purchase or other acquisition, installation, and maintenance of
the telephone network for a 9-1-1 system and the purchase or
other acquisition, the installation, and maintenance of customer
premises equipment at a public safety answering point made in
compliance with a final plan or an agreement under section
4931.48 of the Revised Code, including customer premises equipment
used to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1, are not subject to
any requirement of competitive bidding. (G) Each emergency service provider participating in a
countywide 9-1-1 system shall maintain a telephone number in
addition to 9-1-1. (H) Whenever a final plan provides for the implementation
of basic 9-1-1 service, the planning committee shall so notify
the public utilities commission, which shall determine whether
the telephone companies wireline service providers serving the
territory covered by the plan
are capable of reasonably meeting the technical and economic
requirements of providing the wireline telephone network portion of an
enhanced 9-1-1 system. The determination shall be made solely
for purposes of division (C)(2) of section
4931.47 of the Revised
Code. (I) If the public safety answering point personnel
reasonably determine that a 9-1-1 call is not an emergency, the
personnel shall provide the caller with
the telephone number of
the an appropriate emergency service provider subdivision agency as applicable. (J) A final plan
adopted under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 of the Revised Code, or an agreement under section 4931.48 of the Revised Code, may provide that,
by further agreement included in the plan or agreement, the state highway patrol or
one or more public safety answering points of another
9-1-1 system is the public safety answering point or points for the
provision of wireline or wireless 9-1-1 for all or part of the territory of the 9-1-1 system established under the plan or agreement. In that event, the
subdivision for which the wireline or wireless 9-1-1 is provided as named in the agreement shall be deemed the
subdivision operating the public safety answering point or points for
purposes of sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 of the
Revised Code, except that, for the
purpose of division (D)(2) of
this section, that subdivision shall pay only so much of the costs
of establishing, equipping, furnishing, operating,
or maintaining any such public safety answering point as are specified in the
agreement with the patrol or other system. (K) A final plan for the provision of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 shall provide that any wireless 9-1-1 calls routed to a state highway patrol-operated public safety answering point by default, due to a wireless service provider so routing all such calls of its subscribers without prior permission, are instead to be routed as provided under the plan. Upon the implementation of countywide wireless enhanced 9-1-1 pursuant to a final plan, the state highway patrol shall cease any functioning as a public safety answering point providing wireless 9-1-1 within the territory covered by the countywide 9-1-1 system so established, unless the patrol functions as a public safety answering point providing wireless enhanced 9-1-1 pursuant to an agreement included in the plan as authorized under division (J) of this section. Sec. 4931.43. (A) The 9-1-1 planning committee shall
prepare a proposal on the implementation of a countywide 9-1-1
system and shall hold a public meeting on the proposal to explain
the system to and receive comments from public officials. At
least thirty but not more than sixty days before the meeting, the
committee shall send a copy of the implementation proposal and
written notice of the meeting: (1) By certified mail, to the board of county
commissioners, the legislative authority of each municipal
corporation in the county, and to the board of trustees of each
township in the county; and (2) To the board of trustees, directors, or park
commissioners of each subdivision that will be served by a public
safety answering point under the plan. (B) The proposal and the final plan adopted by the
committee shall specify: (1) Which telephone companies serving
customers in the
county and, as authorized in division (A)(1) of section 4931.41 of the Revised Code, in an adjacent county will participate in the 9-1-1 system; (2) The location and number of public safety answering
points; how they will be connected to a company's telephone
network; from what geographic territory each will receive 9-1-1
calls; whether basic or enhanced 9-1-1 service will be provided
within such territory; what subdivisions will be served by the
answering point; and whether an answering point will respond to
calls by directly dispatching an emergency service provider, by
relaying a message to the appropriate provider, or by
transferring the call to the appropriate provider; (3) What Which subdivision will establish, equip, furnish,
operate, and maintain each a particular public safety answering point; (4) A projection of the initial cost of establishing,
equipping, and furnishing and of the annual cost of the first
five years of operating and maintaining each public safety
answering point; (5) Whether the cost of establishing, equipping,
furnishing, operating, or maintaining each public safety
answering point should be funded through charges imposed under
section 4931.51 of the Revised Code or will be allocated among
the subdivisions served by the answering point and, if any such
cost is to be allocated, the formula for so allocating it; (6) How each emergency service provider will respond to a
misdirected call. (C) Following the meeting required by this section, the
9-1-1 planning committee may modify the implementation proposal
and, no later than nine months after the resolution authorized by
section 4931.41 4931.42 of the Revised Code is adopted, may adopt, by majority
vote, adopt a final plan for implementing a countywide 9-1-1
system. If a planning committee and telephone company wireline
service provider do not
agree on whether the telephone company wireline service provider
is capable of providing
the wireline telephone network as described under division (A) of
section
4931.41 of the Revised Code and the planning committee refers
that question to the public utilities commission, the commission
may extend the nine-month deadline established by this division
to twelve months. Immediately on completion of the plan, the
committee shall send a copy of the final plan: (1) By certified mail to the board of county commissioners
of the county, to the legislative authority of each municipal
corporation in the county, and to the board of township trustees
of each township in the county; and (2) To the board of trustees, directors, or park
commissioners of each subdivision that will be served by a public
safety answering point under the plan. (D) If the committee has not adopted a final plan on or
before the deadline in division (C) of this section, the
committee shall cease to exist. A new 9-1-1 planning committee
may be convened in the manner established in section 4931.42 of
the Revised Code to develop an implementation proposal and final
plan in accordance with the requirements of sections 4931.42 to
4931.44 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4931.44. (A) Within sixty days after receipt of the
final plan pursuant to division (C) of section 4931.43 of the
Revised Code, the board of county commissioners of the county and
the legislative authority of each municipal corporation in the
county and of each township whose territory is proposed to be
included in a countywide 9-1-1 system shall act by resolution to
approve or disapprove the plan, except that, with respect to a
final plan that provides for funding of the 9-1-1 system in part
through charges imposed under section 4931.51 of the Revised
Code, the board of county commissioners shall not act by
resolution to approve or disapprove the plan until after a
resolution adopted under section 4931.51 of the Revised Code has
become effective as provided in division (D) of that section. A
municipal corporation or township whose territory is proposed to
be included in the system includes any municipal corporation or
township in which a part of its territory is excluded pursuant to
division (A)(2) of section 4931.41 of the Revised Code. Each
such authority shall immediately shall notify the board
of county
commissioners in writing of its approval or disapproval of the
final plan. Failure by a board or legislative authority to
notify the board of county commissioners of approval or
disapproval within such sixty-day period shall be deemed
disapproval by such the board or authority. (B) As used in this division, "county's population"
excludes the population of any municipal corporation or township
that, under the plan, is completely excluded from 9-1-1 service
in the county's final plan. A countywide plan will become is
effective if all of the following entities approve the plan in
accordance with this section: (1) The board of county commissioners; (2) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation
that contains at least thirty per cent of the county's
population, if any; (3) The legislative authorities of municipal corporations
and townships that contain at least sixty per cent of the
county's population or, if the plan has been approved by a
municipal corporation that contains at least sixty per cent of
the county's population, by the legislative authorities of
municipal corporations and townships that contain at least
seventy-five per cent of the county's population. (C) After a countywide plan approved in accordance with
this section is adopted, all of the telephone companies and
subdivisions included in the plan are subject to the specific
requirements of the plan and to sections 4931.40 to
4931.54 4931.70 of
the Revised Code.
Sec. 4931.45. (A) A An amended final plan may be amended to expand is required for any of the following purposes: (1) Expanding
the territory included in the countywide 9-1-1 system, to upgrade; (2) Upgrading
any part or all of a system from basic 9-1-1 to enhanced wireline 9-1-1
service, to adjust; (3) Adjusting the territory served by a public safety
answering point, to represcribe; (4) Represcribing the funding of public safety
answering points as between the alternatives set forth in
division (B)(5) of section 4931.43 of the Revised Code, or to
make; (5) Providing for wireless enhanced 9-1-1; (6) Adding a telephone company as a participant in a countywide
9-1-1 system after the implementation of wireline 9-1-1 or wireless
enhanced 9-1-1; (7) Providing that the state highway patrol or one or more public safety
answering points of another 9-1-1 system function as a public
safety answering point or points for the provision of wireline or wireless 9-1-1 for all or part of the
territory of the system established under the final plan, as contemplated under division (J) of section 4931.41 of the Revised Code; (8) Making any other necessary adjustments to the plan only by
convening a new 9-1-1 planning committee, and adopting an amended
final plan. The convening of a new 9-1-1 planning committee and
the proposal and adoption of an amended final plan shall be made
in the same manner required for the convening of an initial
committee and adoption of an original proposed and final plan
under sections 4931.42 to 4931.44 of the Revised Code. Adoption The adoption of an amended final plan under this division shall be subject
to, and accomplished in the manner of the adoption of an initial final plan
under, sections 4931.42 to 4931.44 of the Revised Code, including the requirements for the
convening of a 9-1-1 planning committee and development of a proposed plan
prior to the adoption of the final plan.
However, a final plan is deemed amended for the purpose
described in division (A)(6) of
this section upon the filing, with the board of county
commissioners of the county that approved the final plan for the
countywide 9-1-1 system, of a written letter of intent by the
entity to be added as a participant in the 9-1-1 system. The
entity shall send written notice of the filing to all
subdivisions and telephone companies participating in the
system. Further, adoption
of any resolution under section 4931.51 of the Revised Code
pursuant to a final plan that both has been adopted and provides
for funding through charges imposed under that section is not an
amendment of a final plan for the purpose of this division. (B) When a final plan is amended to expand the territory
that receives 9-1-1 service or to upgrade a 9-1-1 system from
basic to enhanced 9-1-1 service for a purpose described in division (A)(1), (2), or (6) of this section, sections
4931.47 and 5733.55 of the Revised Code apply with respect to the
telephone company's recovery receipt of the nonrecurring and recurring
rates and charges for the wireline telephone network portion of the 9-1-1
system. Sec. 4931.46. (A) Within three years from the date a an
initial
final plan becomes effective under division (B) of section
4931.44 of the Revised Code, the telephone companies wireline
service providers designated
in the plan shall have installed the wireline telephone network portion
of
the 9-1-1 system according to the terms, conditions,
requirements, and specifications set forth in that plan. (B)(1) Upon installation of a countywide 9-1-1 system, the
board of county commissioners may direct the county engineer to
erect and maintain at the county boundaries on county roads and
state and interstate highways, signs indicating the availability
of a countywide 9-1-1 system. Any sign erected by a county under
this section shall be erected in accordance with and meet the
specifications established under division (B)(2) of this section.
All expenses incurred in erecting and maintaining the signs shall
be paid by the county. (2) The director of transportation shall develop design
specifications for signs giving notice of the availability of a
countywide 9-1-1 system. The director also shall establish
standards for the erection of the signs and, in accordance with
federal law and regulations and recognized engineering practices,
specify those locations where the signs shall not be erected.
Sec. 4931.47. (A) In accordance with Chapters 4901.,
4903., 4905., 4909., and 4931. of the Revised Code, the public
utilities commission shall determine the just, reasonable, and
compensatory rates, tolls, classifications, charges, or rentals
to be observed and charged for the wireline telephone network portion of a
basic and or enhanced 9-1-1 system, and each telephone company that is a wireline service provider
participating in the system shall be subject to such chapters, to
the extent they apply, as to the service provided by its portion
of the wireline telephone network for the system as described in the final plan or
to be installed pursuant to agreements under section 4931.48 of
the Revised Code, and as to the rates, tolls, classifications,
charges, or rentals to be observed and charged for that service. (B) Only the customers of a participating telephone
company described in division (A) of this section that are served within the area covered by a 9-1-1 system
shall pay the recurring rates for the maintenance and operation
of the company's portion of the wireline telephone network in providing 9-1-1 service of the system. Such rates
shall be computed by dividing the total monthly recurring rates
set forth in a telephone the company's schedule as filed in
accordance with section 4905.30 of the Revised Code, by the total
number of residential and business customer access lines, or
their equivalent, within the area served. Each residential and
business customer within the area served shall pay the recurring
rates based on the number of its residential and business
customer access lines or their equivalent. No company may shall
include such amount on any customer's bill until the company has
completed its portion of the wireline telephone network in accordance with
the terms, conditions, requirements, and specifications of the
final plan or an agreement made under section 4931.48 of the
Revised Code. (C)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(2) of
this section, a participating telephone company described in division
(A) of this section may receive through the credit authorized by
section 5733.55 of the Revised Code the total nonrecurring charges for its portion of the wireline telephone
network used in providing 9-1-1 service, of the system and the total nonrecurring
charges for any updating or modernization of that wireline
telephone network in accordance with the terms, conditions,
requirements, and specifications of the final plan or pursuant
to agreements under section 4931.48 of the
Revised
Code, as such charges are set forth in the
schedule filed by a the telephone company in accordance with section
4905.30 of the Revised Code, on completion of the installation of
the network in accordance with the terms, conditions,
requirements, and specifications of the final plan or pursuant to
section 4931.48 of the Revised Code shall be recovered by the
company through the credit authorized by section 5733.55 of the
Revised Code. However, that portion, updating, or modernization shall not be for or include the provision of wireless 9-1-1. As applicable, the receipt of permissible charges shall occur only upon the
completion of the
installation of the network or the completion of the updating or
modernization. (2) The credit shall not be allowed under division (C)(1) of this section for the upgrading of a
system from basic to enhanced wireline 9-1-1 service when if both of the following apply: (a) The telephone company received the credit for the wireline
telephone network portion of the basic 9-1-1 system now proposed
to be upgraded; and. (b) At the time the final plan or agreement pursuant to
section 4931.48 of the Revised Code calling for the basic 9-1-1
system was agreed to, the telephone company was capable of
reasonably meeting the technical and economic requirements of
providing the wireline telephone network portion of an enhanced 9-1-1
system within the territory proposed to be upgraded, as
determined by the public utilities commission under division (A)
or (H) of section 4931.41 or division (C) of section 4931.48 of
the Revised Code. (3) When If the credit is not allowed under division (C)(2)
of this section, the total nonrecurring charges for the wireline telephone
network used in providing 9-1-1 service, as set forth in the
schedule filed by a telephone company in accordance with section
4905.30 of the Revised Code, on completion of the installation of
the network in accordance with the terms, conditions,
requirements, and specifications of the final plan or pursuant to
section 4931.48 of the Revised Code, shall be paid by the
municipal corporations and townships with any territory in the
area in which such upgrade from basic to enhanced 9-1-1 service
is made. (D) Where If customer premises equipment for a public safety
answering point is supplied by a telephone company that is
required to file a schedule under section 4905.30 of the Revised
Code pertaining to customer premises equipment, the recurring and
nonrecurring rates and charges for the installation and
maintenance of the equipment specified in the schedule shall
apply.
Sec. 4931.48. (A) If a final plan is disapproved under
division (B) of section 4931.44 of the Revised Code, by
resolution, the legislative authority of a municipal corporation
or township that contains at least thirty per cent of the
county's population may establish within its boundaries, or the
legislative authorities of a group of municipal corporations or
townships each of which is contiguous with at least one other
such municipal corporation or township in the group, together
containing at least thirty per cent of the county's population,
may jointly establish within their boundaries a 9-1-1 system.
For this that purpose, the municipal corporation or township may enter
into an agreement, and the contiguous municipal corporations or
townships may jointly enter into an agreement with a one or more telephone
company providing service in the municipal corporations or
townships to provide for the telephone network portion of the
system companies. (B) If no resolution has been adopted to convene a 9-1-1
planning committee under section 4931.42 of the Revised Code, but
not sooner than eighteen months after the effective date of such
section, by resolution, the legislative authority of any
municipal corporation in the county may establish within its
boundaries, or the legislative authorities of a group of
municipal corporations and townships each of which is contiguous
to at least one of the other such municipal corporations or
townships in the group may jointly establish within their
boundaries, a 9-1-1 system. The For that purpose, the municipal corporation, or
contiguous municipal corporations and townships, may enter into
an agreement with a one or more telephone company serving customers
within the boundaries of the municipal corporation or contiguous
municipal corporations and townships, to provide for the
telephone network portion of a 9-1-1 system companies. (C) Whenever a telephone company that is a wireline service provider and one or more municipal
corporations and townships enter into an agreement under division (A) or (B) of this
section to provide for the wireline telephone network portion of a basic
9-1-1 system, the telephone company shall so notify the public
utilities commission, which shall determine whether the telephone
company is capable of reasonably meeting the technical and
economic requirements of providing the wireline telephone network for an
enhanced system within the territory served by the company and
covered by the agreement. The determination shall be made solely
for the purposes of division (C)(2) of section 4931.47 of the
Revised Code. (D) Within three years from the date of entering into an initial
agreement described under division (A) or (B)(C) of this section, the
telephone company shall have installed the wireline telephone network
portion of the 9-1-1 system according to the terms, conditions,
requirements, and specifications set forth in the agreement. (E) The A telephone company that is a wireline service provider shall recover the cost of
installing the wireline telephone network system pursuant to agreements
made under this section as provided in section sections 4931.47 of the Revised Code, as authorized under section and 5733.55 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4931.49. (A)(1) The state, the state highway patrol, or
a subdivision participating in a 9-1-1 system established under sections
4931.40 to 4931.70 of the Revised Code and any officer,
agent, or employee, or independent contractor of the state, the state highway patrol, or such a
participating subdivision is not liable in damages in a civil
action for injuries, death, or loss to persons or property
arising from any act or omission, except willful or wanton
misconduct, in connection with developing, adopting, or approving
any final plan or any agreement made under section 4931.48 of the
Revised Code or otherwise bringing into operation a the 9-1-1 system
pursuant to those provisions sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 of the Revised Code. (2) The Ohio 9-1-1
council, the wireless 9-1-1 advisory board, and any member of
that council or board are not liable in damages in a civil
action for injuries, death, or loss to persons or property
arising from any act or omission, except willful or wanton
misconduct, in connection with the development or operation of a
9-1-1 system established under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 of
the Revised Code. (B) Except as otherwise provided in sections 701.02 and
section 4765.49 of the Revised Code, an individual who gives emergency
instructions through a 9-1-1 system established under sections
4931.40 to 4931.54 4931.70 of the Revised Code, and the
principals for
whom the person acts, including both employers and independent
contractors, public and private, and an individual who follows
emergency instructions and the principals for whom that person
acts, including both employers and independent contractors,
public and private, are not liable in damages in a civil action
for injuries, death, or loss to persons or property arising from
the issuance or following of emergency instructions, except where
the issuance or following of the instructions constitutes willful
or wanton misconduct. (C) A Except for willful or wanton misconduct, a telephone company, and any other installer,
maintainer, or provider, through the sale or otherwise, of
customer premises equipment, and their respective officers,
directors, employees, agents, and suppliers are not liable in
damages in a civil action for injuries, death, or loss to persons
or property incurred by any person resulting from such an
entity's or its officers', directors', employees', agents', or
suppliers' participation in or acts or omissions in connection
with that participation participating in or developing, maintaining, or operating a 9-1-1 system, whether that system is
established pursuant to sections 4931.40 to 4931.54 4931.70 of
the
Revised Code or otherwise in accordance with the telephone
company's schedules regarding 9-1-1 systems filed with the public
utilities commission pursuant to section 4905.30 of the Revised
Code by a telephone company that is a wireline service provider. (D) No person shall knowingly use the telephone number of
the a 9-1-1 system established under sections 4931.40 to
4931.70 of the Revised Code to report an emergency if the person knows
that no
emergency exists. (E) No person shall knowingly use a 9-1-1
system for a purpose other than obtaining emergency
service. (F) No person shall disclose or use, for any purpose other
than for the 9-1-1 system, any information concerning telephone
numbers, addresses, or names obtained from the data base that
serves the public safety answering point of a 9-1-1 system
established under sections 4931.40 to 4931.54 4931.70 of the
Revised
Code, except that for any of the following purposes or under any of the following
circumstances: (1) For the purpose of the 9-1-1 system; (2) For the purpose of responding to an emergency call to an emergency
service provider; (3) In the circumstance of the inadvertent disclosure of such information
due solely to technology of the wireline telephone network portion of the
9-1-1 system not allowing access to the data base to be restricted to 9-1-1
specific answering lines at a public safety answering point; (4) In the circumstance of assistance given by a telephone company may disclose or use such information that is a wireline service provider to
assist a public utility or municipal utility in handling customer calls in
times of public emergency or service outages. The charge, terms, and
conditions for the disclosure or use of such information by the telephone
company for the purpose of such assistance shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the public utilities
commission. In no event shall such information be disclosed or used for any
purpose not permitted by this division.
Sec. 4931.50. (A) The attorney general, upon request of the public utilities
commission or on the attorney general's own initiative,
shall begin proceedings against a
subdivision or telephone company that is a wireline service provider to enforce compliance with sections 4931.40
to
4931.54 4931.70 of the Revised Code, or with the terms,
conditions, requirements, or
specifications of a final plan or of an agreement under section 4931.48 of the
Revised Code as to wireline or wireless 9-1-1. (B) The attorney general, upon the
attorney general's own initiative, or any prosecutor, upon
the prosecutor's initiative, shall begin proceedings against a
subdivision as to wireline or wireless 9-1-1
to enforce compliance
with sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 of the
Revised Code
or with the terms, conditions, requirements, or
specifications of a final plan or of an agreement under section
4931.48 of the Revised Code as to wireline
or wireless 9-1-1.
Sec. 4931.60. There is hereby created within the public utilities commission the 9-1-1 service program, headed by an Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator in the unclassified civil service pursuant to division (A)(9) of section 124.11 of the Revised Code. The coordinator shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the commission chairperson and shall report directly to the chairperson. Upon the effective date of this section, the chairperson shall appoint an interim coordinator and, upon submission of a list of nominees by the Ohio 9-1-1 council pursuant to section 4931.69 of the Revised Code, shall consider those nominees in making the final appointment and in appointing any subsequent coordinator. The chairperson may request the council to submit additional nominees and may reject any of the nominees. The chairperson shall fix the compensation of the coordinator. The chairperson shall evaluate the performance of the coordinator after considering the evaluation and recommendations of the council under section 4931.68 of the Revised Code. The Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator shall
administer the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund as specified in sections 4931.63 and 4931.64 of the
Revised Code and otherwise carry out
the coordinator's duties under sections 4931.60 to 4931.70 of the Revised Code. The chairperson may establish additional duties of the coordinator based on a list of recommended duties submitted by the Ohio 9-1-1 council pursuant to section 4931.68 of the Revised Code. The chairperson may
assign one or more commission employees to assist the coordinator in
carrying out the coordinator's duties. Sec. 4931.61. (A) Beginning on the first day of the third month following
the effective date of this section and ending December 31, 2008,
there is hereby imposed,
on each wireless telephone number of a wireless service
subscriber who has a billing address in this state, a wireless
9-1-1 charge of thirty-two cents per month. The subscriber shall pay
the wireless 9-1-1 charge for each such wireless
telephone number assigned to the subscriber. Each wireless
service provider and each reseller of wireless service shall collect the
wireless 9-1-1 charge
as a specific line item on each subscriber's monthly bill. The line item shall be expressly designated "State/Local Wireless-E911 Costs ($0.32/billed number)." If a provider bills a subscriber for any wireless enhanced 9-1-1 costs that the provider may incur, the charge or amount is not to appear in the same line item as the state/local line item. If the charge or amount is to appear in its own, separate line item on the bill, the charge or amount shall be expressly designated "[Name of Provider] Federal Wireless-E911 Costs." For any subscriber of prepaid wireless service, a wireless service provider or reseller shall collect the wireless 9-1-1 charge in any of the following manners: (1) At the point of sale. For purposes of prepaid wireless services, point of sale includes the purchasing of additional minutes by the subscriber along with any necessary activation of those minutes. (2) If the subscriber has a positive account balance on the last day of the month and has used the service during that month, by reducing that balance not later than the end of the first week of the following month by the amount of the charge or an equivalent number of air time minutes; (3) By dividing the total earned prepaid wireless telephone revenue from sales within this state received by the wireless service provider or reseller during the month by fifty, multiplying the quotient by thirty-two cents, and remitting this amount pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 4931.62 of the Revised Code. (B) The wireless 9-1-1 charge shall be
exempt from state or local taxation. Sec. 4931.62. (A)(1) Beginning with the second month
following the month in which the wireless 9-1-1 charge
is first imposed under section 4931.61 of the Revised Code, a wireless
service provider or reseller of wireless service, not later than the last day
of each month,
shall remit the full amount of all wireless 9-1-1
charges it collected for the second preceding calendar month to
the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, with the exception of charges equivalent to the
amount authorized as a billing and collection fee under division
(A)(2) of this section. In doing so, the provider or reseller may remit the requisite amount in any reasonable manner consistent with its existing operating or technological capabilities, such as by customer address, location associated with the wireless telephone number, or another allocation method based on comparable, relevant data. If the
wireless service provider or reseller receives a partial payment for a bill
from a wireless service subscriber, the wireless service
provider or reseller shall apply the payment first against the amount the
subscriber owes the wireless service provider or reseller and shall remit to
the coordinator such lesser amount, if any, as results from that
invoice. (2) A wireless service provider or reseller of wireless service may retain
as a billing
and collection fee two per cent of the total wireless 9-1-1 charges it collects in any month and shall account to
the coordinator for the amount retained. (B) Each subscriber on which a wireless 9-1-1 charge is imposed under
division (A) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code is liable to the state for the amount of the charge.
If a wireless service provider or reseller fails to collect the charge under that division from a subscriber of prepaid wireless service, or fails to bill any other subscriber for the charge, the wireless service provider or reseller is liable to the state
for the amount not collected or billed. If a wireless service provider or reseller
collects charges under that division and fails to remit the money
to the coordinator, the wireless service provider or reseller is liable to the
state for any amount collected and not remitted. (C)(1) If the public utilities commission has reason to believe that a wireless service provider or reseller has failed to bill, collect, or remit the wireless 9-1-1 charge as required by divisions (A)(1) and (B) of this section or has retained more than the amount authorized under division (A)(2) of this section, and after written notice to the provider or reseller, the commission may audit the provider or reseller for the sole purpose of making such a determination. The audit may be of a sample of the provider's or reseller's billings, collections, remittances, or retentions for a representative period, and the commission shall make a good faith effort to reach agreement with the provider or reseller in selecting that sample.
(2) Upon written notice to the wireless service provider or reseller, the commission, by order after completion of the audit, may make an assessment against the provider or reseller if, pursuant to the audit, the commission determines that the provider or reseller has failed to bill, collect, or remit the wireless 9-1-1 charge as required by divisions (A)(1) and (B) of this section or has retained more than the amount authorized under division (A)(2) of this section. The assessment shall be in the amount of any remittance that was due and unpaid on the date notice of the audit was sent by the commission to the provider or reseller or, as applicable, in the amount of the excess amount under division (A)(2) of this section retained by the provider or reseller as of that date. (3) The portion of any assessment not paid within sixty days after the date of service by the commission of the assessment notice under division (C)(2) of this section shall bear interest from that date until paid at the rate per annum prescribed by section 5703.47 of the Revised Code. That interest may be collected by making an assessment under division (C)(2) of this section. An assessment under this division and any interest due shall be remitted in the same manner as the wireless 9-1-1 charge.
(4) An assessment is final and due and payable and shall be remitted to the commission unless the assessed party petitions for rehearing under section 4903.10 of the Revised Code. The proceedings of the commission specified in division (C)(4) of this section are subject to and governed by Chapter 4903. of the Revised Code, except that the court of appeals of Franklin county has exclusive, original jurisdiction to review, modify, or vacate an order of the commission under division (C)(2) of this section. The court shall hear and determine such appeal in the same manner and under the same standards as the Ohio supreme court hears and determines appeals under Chapter 4903. of the Revised Code. The judgment of the court of appeals is final and conclusive unless reversed, vacated, or modified on appeal. Such an appeal may be made by the commission or the person to whom the order under division (C)(2) of this section was issued and shall proceed as in the case of appeals in civil actions as provided in Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code.
(5) After an assessment becomes final, if any portion of the assessment remains unpaid, including accrued interest, a certified copy of the commission's entry making the assessment final may be filed in the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas in the county in which the place of business of the assessed party is located. If the party maintains no place of business in this state, the certified copy of the entry may be filed in the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas of Franklin county. Immediately upon the filing, the clerk shall enter a judgment for the state against the assessed party in the amount shown on the entry. The judgment may be filed by the clerk in a loose-leaf book entitled "special judgments for wireless 9-1-1 charges" and shall have the same effect as other judgments. The judgment shall be executed upon the request of the commission. (6) An assessment under this division does not discharge a subscriber's liability to reimburse the provider or reseller for the wireless 9-1-1 charge. If, after the date of service of the audit notice under division (C)(1) of this section, a subscriber pays a wireless 9-1-1 charge for the period covered by the assessment, the payment shall be credited against the assessment. (7) All money collected by the commission under this division shall be paid to the treasurer of state, for deposit to the credit of the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund. Sec. 4931.63. (A) There is hereby created the
wireless 9-1-1 administrative fund in the state treasury. A sufficient
percentage, determined by the chairperson of the public utilities commission but not to exceed four per cent through the first full fiscal year and two
per cent thereafter, of the periodic remittances of the wireless 9-1-1 charge under section
4931.62 of the Revised
Code shall be deposited to the credit of
the fund, to be used by the commission to cover such
nonpayroll costs and, at the discretion of the commission such payroll costs, of
the commission as are incurred in
assisting the coordinator in carrying out sections 4931.60 to 4931.70 of the
Revised Code and in conducting audits under division (C) of section 4931.62 of the Revised Code. In addition, the compensation of the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, and any expenses of the coordinator in carrying out those sections, shall be paid from the fund. (B) There is hereby
created the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund, which shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state but
shall not be part of the state treasury. The periodic remittances of the wireless 9-1-1 charge remaining after the
deposit required by division
(A) of this section shall be
deposited to the credit of the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund. The treasurer of state shall deposit or invest the moneys
in this fund in accordance with
Chapter 135. of the
Revised Code and any other provision of
law governing public moneys of the state as defined in section
135.01 of the Revised
Code. The treasurer of state shall
credit the interest earned to the fund. The
treasurer of state shall disburse money from the fund solely upon order
of the coordinator as authorized under section
4931.64 of the
Revised Code. Annually, until the fund is depleted, the treasurer of state
shall certify to the coordinator the amount of moneys in the
treasurer of state's custody belonging to the fund. Sec. 4931.64. (A) Prior to the first disbursement under this section and annually thereafter not later than the twenty-fifth day of January, until the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund is depleted, the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator shall do both of the following for the purposes of division (B) of this section: (1) Determine, for a county that has adopted a final plan under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 of the Revised Code for the provision of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 within the territory covered by the countywide 9-1-1 system established under the plan, the number of wireless telephone numbers assigned to wireless service subscribers that have billing addresses within the county. That number shall be adjusted between any two counties so that the number of wireless telephone numbers assigned to wireless service subscribers who have billing addresses within any portion of a municipal corporation that territorially lies primarily in one of the two counties but extends into the other county is added to the number already determined for that primary county and subtracted for the other county. (2) Determine each county's proportionate share of the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund for the ensuing calendar year on the basis set forth in division (B) of this section; estimate the ensuing calendar year's fund balance; compute each such county's estimated proceeds for the ensuing calendar year based on its proportionate share and the estimated fund balance; and certify such amount of proceeds to the county auditor of each such county.
(B) The Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, in accordance with this division and not later than the last day of each month, shall disburse the amount credited as remittances to the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund during the second preceding month, plus any accrued interest on the fund. Such a disbursement shall be paid to each county treasurer. The amount to be so disbursed monthly to a particular county shall be a proportionate share of the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund balance based on the ratio between the following: (1) The number of wireless telephone numbers determined for the county by the coordinator pursuant to division (A) of this section; (2) The total number of wireless telephone numbers assigned to subscribers who have billing addresses within this state. To the extent that the fund balance permits, the disbursements to each county shall total at least twenty-five thousand dollars annually.
(C)(1) Each county that has not adopted a final plan for the provision of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 of the Revised Code shall be deemed as having done so for the purposes of making the determinations and disbursements under divisions (A)(1) and (2) and (B) of this section through the third full calendar year following the effective date of this section.
(2) For each county described in division (C)(1) of this section and through the third full calendar year following the effective date of this section, the coordinator shall retain in the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund an amount equal to what would be the county's disbursements under division (B) of this section if it had adopted such a final plan, plus any related accrued interest, to be set aside for that county until the board of county commissioners notifies the coordinator that a final plan for the provision of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 has been adopted, but not beyond the end of such third year. Provided notification is made prior to the end of that third year, the coordinator shall disburse and pay to the county treasurer, not later than the last day of the month following the month the notification is made, the total amount so set aside for the county plus any related accrued interest. After the end of the third full calendar year following the effective date of this section, any money and interest so retained and not disbursed as authorized under this division shall be available for disbursement only as provided in division (B) of this section.
(D) Immediately upon receipt by a county treasurer of a disbursement under division (B) or (C) of this section, the county shall disburse, in accordance with the allocation formula set forth in the final plan, the amount the county so received to any other subdivisions in the county that pay the costs of a public safety answering point providing wireless enhanced 9-1-1 under the plan.
(E) Nothing in sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 of the Revised Code affects the authority of a subdivision operating or served by a public safety answering point of a 9-1-1 system to use, as provided in the final plan for the system or in an agreement under section 4931.48 of the Revised Code, any other authorized revenue of the subdivision for the purposes of providing basic or enhanced 9-1-1. Sec. 4931.65. (A) A countywide 9-1-1
system receiving a disbursement under section 4931.64 of the
Revised Code shall provide countywide
wireless enhanced 9-1-1 in accordance with sections 4931.40 to
4931.70 of the Revised Code beginning as soon as
reasonably possible after receipt of the first disbursement
or, if that service is
already implemented, shall continue to provide such service. Except as provided in divisions (B) and (C) of this section,
disbursement shall be used solely for
the purpose of paying either or both of the following: (1) Any costs of designing, upgrading, purchasing,
leasing, programming, installing, testing, or maintaining the
necessary data, hardware, software, and trunking required for
the public safety answering point or points of the 9-1-1
system to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1, which
costs are incurred before or on or after the effective date of this
section and consist of such additional costs of the 9-1-1 system
over and above any costs incurred to provide wireline
9-1-1. On or after the provision of technical and operational standards pursuant to division (D)(1) of section 4931.68 of the Revised Code, a subdivision shall consider the standards before incurring any costs described in this division. (2) Any costs of training the staff of the
public safety answering point or points to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1, which costs are incurred before or on or
after the effective date of this section and consist of such
additional costs of the 9-1-1 system over and above any costs
incurred to provide wireline 9-1-1. (B) Beginning one year following the imposition of the wireless 9-1-1 charge under section 4931.61 of the Revised Code, a subdivision that certifies to the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator that it has paid the costs described in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section and is providing countywide wireless enhanced 9-1-1 may use disbursements received under section 4931.64 of the Revised Code to pay any of its personnel costs of one or more public safety answering points providing countywide wireless enhanced 9-1-1. (C) After receiving its April 2009, disbursement under section 4931.64 of the Revised Code, a subdivision may use any remaining balance of disbursements it received under that section to pay any of its costs of providing countywide wireless 9-1-1, including the personnel costs of one or more public safety answering points providing that service. (D) The costs described in divisions
(A), (B), and (C) of this section
may include any such costs payable pursuant to an agreement
under division (J) of section
4931.41 of the Revised Code. Sec. 4931.66. (A)(1) A wireless service provider,
the state highway patrol as described in division (J) of section 4931.41 of the Revised Code, and each subdivision operating one or more public safety
answering points for a countywide system providing wireless
9-1-1, shall provide the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator with such
information as the coordinator requests for the purposes of
carrying out the coordinator's duties under sections 4931.60 to
4931.70 of the Revised
Code, including, but not
limited to, duties regarding the collection of the wireless
9-1-1 charge and regarding the provision of a report
or recommendation under section
4931.70 of the Revised Code. (2) A wireless service provider shall provide an official, employee, agent, or representative of a subdivision operating a public safety answering
point, or of the state highway patrol as described in division (J) of section 4931.41 of the Revised Code, with such technical, service, and location information as
the official, employee, agent, or representative requests for the purpose of providing
wireless 9-1-1. (3) A subdivision operating one or more public safety
answering points of a 9-1-1 system, and a telephone company,
shall provide to the
Ohio 9-1-1 council such information as the
council requires for the purpose of making any recommendation or report pursuant to division (D)(2) of section 4931.68 of the Revised Code. (B)(1) Any information
provided under division (A) of
this section that consists of trade secrets as defined in
section 1333.61 of the Revised Code or of information
regarding the customers, revenues, expenses, or network information of a
telephone
company shall be confidential and
does not constitute a public record for the purpose of section
149.43 of the Revised Code. (2) The public utilities commission, the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, and any official, employee,
agent, or representative of the commission, of the state highway patrol as described in division (J) of section 4931.41 of the Revised Code, or of a subdivision
operating a public safety answering point, while acting or
claiming to act in the capacity of the commission or coordinator or such official, employee,
agent, or representative, shall not disclose any information
provided under division (A) of
this section regarding a telephone company's
customers, revenues, expenses, or network information. Nothing in
division (B)(2) of this section
precludes any such information from being aggregated and
included in any report required under section 4931.70 or division
(D)(2) of section 4931.69 of
the Revised Code, provided the aggregated
information does not identify the number of any particular
company's customers or the amount of its revenues
or expenses or identify a particular company as to any network
information. Sec. 4931.67. The public utilities commission, after consultation with the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, shall adopt rules in accordance
with Chapter 119. of the
Revised Code to carry out sections
4931.60 to 4931.70 of the
Revised
Code, including rules prescribing the
necessary accounting for a wireless service provider's or reseller's billing
and collection fee under division
(A)(2) of section 4931.62 of
the Revised Code and rules establishing a
fair and reasonable process for recommending the amount of the
wireless 9-1-1 charge as authorized under division
(B) of section 4931.70 of the
Revised
Code. The amount of the wireless 9-1-1 charge shall be prescribed only by act of the general assembly. Sec. 4931.68. (A) There is hereby
created the Ohio 9-1-1 council,
consisting of eleven members as follows: the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator; a designee of the department of public safety, selected by the director of public safety; and nine members appointed by the governor. In
appointing the nine members, the governor shall select one
representative of public safety communications officials in this
state, one representative of administrators of 9-1-1 service in
this state, one representative of countywide 9-1-1 systems in
this state, three representatives of wireline service providers in this
state, and three representatives of wireless service providers
in this state. For each such appointment, the governor shall
consider a nominee proposed, respectively, by the
Ohio chapter of the association
of public-safety communications officials, the
Ohio chapter of the national
emergency number association, the county commissioners
association of Ohio; and nominees proposed, respectively, by the
Ohio telecom association and the wireless operators of
Ohio; or any successor
organization of each such entity. Initial appointments shall be made not later than thirty
days after the effective date of this section. Nothing in this section shall prevent the governor from rejecting any of the
nominees or requesting that a nominating entity under this
division submit the names of alternative nominees for
consideration. (B) The term of the
initial appointee to the council representing public safety
communications officials and the terms of one of the initial appointees representing wireline service providers and one representing wireless service providers shall expire on
January 31, 2007. The term of
the initial appointee to the council representing administrators of 9-1-1 service and the terms of another one of the initial appointees representing wireline service providers and another representing wireless service providers shall expire on
January 31, 2008. The term of
the initial appointee to the council representing countywide
9-1-1 systems and the terms of another one of the initial appointees representing wireline service providers and another representing wireless service providers shall expire on
January 31, 2009. Thereafter,
terms of appointed members shall be for three years, with each
term ending on the same day of the same month as the term it
succeeds. Each council member shall hold office from the date
of the member's appointment until the end of the term for which
the member was appointed. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original
appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring
prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member's
predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for the
remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office after
the expiration date of the member's term until the member's
successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has
elapsed, whichever occurs first. Appointed members shall serve
without compensation and shall not be reimbursed for expenses. (C) The council shall
select a chairperson from among the appointed members. Each member shall have
one vote in all deliberations of the council, except that the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator shall not be eligible to vote on a matter described in division (D)(3) of this section. A
majority of the voting members constitutes a quorum. (D) The duties of the
council shall consist of all of the following: (1) Arbitrating or establishing relative to 9-1-1 systems in this state nondiscriminatory, competitively neutral,
and uniform
technical and operational standards consistent with recognized industry standards and federal law. This authority does not include authority to prescribe the technology that a telephone company or reseller uses to deliver 9-1-1 calls. (2) Including for the purpose of the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator reporting to the general assembly, conducting research and making recommendations or reports regarding any wireline and wireless 9-1-1 issues, any improvements in the provision of service by 9-1-1 systems in this state, or any
legislation or policies concerning such systems; (3) Regarding the position of Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, submitting names of nominees and recommended duties as authorized under section 4931.60 of the Revised Code and, at least biennially, conducting and submitting with recommendations to the public utilities commission a performance evaluation of the coordinator. (E) The council is not
an agency, as defined in section 101.82 of the Revised Code, for purposes of sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code. Sec. 4931.69.
(A) There is hereby created the wireless 9-1-1 advisory board, consisting of the Ohio 9-1-1 council appointee that represents public safety communications officials and five members appointed by the governor as
follows: one of the council appointees that represents wireless service providers in this state, whose council term expires after the council term of the council appointee representing public safety communications officials, one noncouncil representative of wireless service providers in this state, one noncouncil representative of public safety communications officials in this state, and two noncouncil representatives of municipal and county governments in this state. (B) The terms of the advisory
board members who are also council members shall be concurrent with their terms as members of the council, as prescribed under division (B) of section 4931.68 of the Revised Code. The terms of the initial noncouncil appointee to the
advisory board who represents wireless service providers and of one of the initial noncouncil appointees who represents municipal and county government shall expire on January 31, 2009. The terms of the initial noncouncil appointee to the advisory board representing public safety communications officials and of the other initial noncouncil appointee representing municipal and county government shall expire on January 31, 2010. Thereafter, terms of the noncouncil appointees shall be for three years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as the term it succeeds.
The conditions of holding office, manner of filling vacancies, and other matters concerning service by any member of the advisory board shall be the same as set forth for council members under division (B) of section 4931.68 of the Revised Code. (C) The Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator
shall appoint the chairperson of the advisory board. Each member of the board shall be a voting member and
shall have one vote in all deliberations of the board. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum. (D)(1) The advisory board shall make a recommendation to the coordinator regarding the amount of the wireless 9-1-1 charge to be included in the report required by division
(B) of section 4931.70 of the
Revised Code and shall consult with the
coordinator regarding that report. (2) The advisory board shall make recommendations to and consult with the public utilities commission and the coordinator regarding any rules to be adopted under section 4931.67 of the
Revised Code. (E) The advisory board
is not an agency, as defined in section 101.82 of the Revised Code, for purposes of sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code. Sec. 4931.70. On the first day of November preceding the 2007-2009 budget biennium, the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator
shall submit a report to the general assembly, in accordance with section 101.68 of the Revised Code, that contains both
of the following: (A) A review of the
implementation and provision of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 in this state and
a description of how moneys disbursements from the wireless
government assistance fund have been used. In preparing the
report, the coordinator shall consult with the wireless 9-1-1
advisory board. (B) The coordinator's recommendation for the coming budget biennium of any change in the amount of the wireless 9-1-1 charge and the basis for that recommendation. The recommendation shall reflect the
minimum amount necessary during the coming budget biennium, given
any balance in the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund to
be carried over to that biennium and the projected revenue from
the charge, to fully cover the costs described in division (A) of section
4931.65 of the Revised Code as projected for that
biennium. The amount also shall reflect the minimum amount
necessary for the wireless 9-1-1 charge to cover the
costs described in division (A)
of section 4931.63 of the
Revised Code as projected for the
biennium, given the wireless 9-1-1 administrative fund balance
to be carried over. In making a recommendation under this division, the
coordinator shall consider any recommendation of the wireless 9-1-1
advisory board. Sec. 4931.55 4931.75. (A) As used in this section: (1) "Advertisement" means a message or material intended
to cause the sale of realty, goods, or services. (2) "Facsimile device" means a device that electronically
or telephonically receives and copies onto paper reasonable
reproductions or facsimiles of documents and photographs through
connection with a telephone network. (3) "Pre-existing business relationship" does not include
transmitting an advertisement to the owner's or lessee's
facsimile device. (B)(1) No person shall transmit an advertisement to a
facsimile device unless the person has received prior permission
from the owner or, if the device is leased, from the lessee of
the device to which the message is to be sent to transmit the
advertisement; or the person has a pre-existing business
relationship with such owner or lessee. Division (B)(1) of this section does not apply to a person who transmits an advertisement to a facsimile device located on residential premises.
(2) No person shall transmit an advertisement to a facsimile device located on residential premises unless the person has received prior written permission from the owner or, if the device is leased, from the lessee of the device to which the message is to be sent to transmit the advertisement. In addition to any other penalties or remedies, a recipient of an advertisement transmitted in violation of division (B)(2) of this section may bring a civil action against the person who transmitted that advertisement or caused it to be transmitted. In that action, the recipient may recover one thousand dollars for each violation. (C) When requested by the owner or lessee, the
transmission shall occur between seven p.m. and five a.m. This section applies to all such advertisements intended to
be so transmitted within this state. Sec. 4931.99. (A) Whoever violates division (D) of section
4931.49 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the
fourth degree. (B) Whoever violates section 4931.25, 4931.26, 4931.27,
4931.30, or 4931.31 of the Revised Code is guilty of a
misdemeanor of the third degree. (C) Whoever violates section 4931.28 of the Revised Code
is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree. (D) Whoever violates section 4931.29 or division (B) of
section 4931.35 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor in
the first degree. (E) Whoever violates division (E) or (F) of
section 4931.49 or division (B)(2) of section 4931.66
of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of
the fourth degree on a first offense and a felony of the
fifth degree on each subsequent offense. (F) Whoever violates section 4931.55 4931.75 of the Revised
Code
is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor
of
the first degree on each subsequent offense.
Sec. 5733.55. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "9-1-1 system" has the same meaning as in section 4931.40 of the Revised Code.
(2) "Nonrecurring 9-1-1 charges" means nonrecurring charges approved by the public utilities commission for the telephone network portion of a 9-1-1 system pursuant to section 4931.47 of the Revised Code.
(3) "Eligible nonrecurring 9-1-1 charges" means all nonrecurring 9-1-1 charges for a 9-1-1 system, except both of the following:
(a) Charges for a system that was not established pursuant to a plan adopted under section 4931.44 of the Revised Code or an agreement under section 4931.48 of the Revised Code;
(b) Charges for that part of a system established pursuant to such a plan or agreement that are excluded from the credit by division (C)(2) of section 4931.47 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Telephone company" has the same meaning as in section 5727.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) Beginning in tax year 2005, a telephone company shall be allowed a nonrefundable credit against the tax imposed by section 5733.06 of the Revised Code equal to the amount of its eligible nonrecurring 9-1-1 charges. The credit shall be claimed for the company's taxable year that covers the period in which the 9-1-1 service for which the credit is claimed becomes available for use. The credit shall be claimed in the order required by section 5733.98 of the Revised Code. If the credit exceeds the total taxes due under section 5733.06 of the Revised Code for the tax year, the tax commissioner shall credit the excess against taxes due under that section for succeeding tax years until the full amount of the credit is granted.
(C) After the last day a return, with any extensions, may be filed by any telephone company that is eligible to claim a credit under this section, the commissioner shall determine whether the sum of the credits allowed for prior tax years commencing with tax year 2005 plus the sum of the credits claimed for the current tax year exceeds fifteen million dollars. If it does, the credits allowed under this section for the current tax year shall be reduced by a uniform percentage such that the sum of the credits allowed for the current tax year do not exceed fifteen million dollars claimed by all telephone companies for all tax years. Thereafter, no credit shall be granted under this section, except for the remaining portions of any credits allowed under division (B) of this section.
(D) A telephone company that is entitled to carry forward a credit against its public utility excise tax liability under section 5727.39 of the Revised Code is entitled to carry forward any amount of that credit remaining after its last public utility excise tax payment for the period of July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004, and claim that amount as a credit against its corporation franchise tax liability under this section. Nothing in this section authorizes a telephone company to claim a credit under this section for any eligible nonrecurring 9-1-1 charges for which it has already claimed a credit under this section or section 5727.39 of the Revised Code.
Section 2. That existing sections 2307.64, 2913.01, 4931.40, 4931.41, 4931.43,
4931.44, 4931.45, 4931.46, 4931.47, 4931.48, 4931.49, 4931.50, 4931.55,
4931.99, and 5733.55 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
Section 3. This act is subject to the referendum and, therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 1c takes effect on the ninety-first day after it is filed with the Secretary of State. If, however, a referendum petition is filed, this act unless rejected at the referendum, takes effect at the earliest time permitted by law.
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