To amend sections 303.02, 309.09, 503.29, 504.04, 504.15, 519.02, 1901.182, 1901.31, 1907.012, 1907.20, 2151.022, 2152.02, 2505.08, 2506.01, 2506.02, 2506.03, 2506.04, 2907.01, and 4301.25, to amend, for the purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses, section 503.29 (503.53), to enact new sections 503.51 and 503.52 and sections 2506.05, 2506.06, 2506.07, 2506.08, 2907.38, and 2907.39, and to repeal sections 503.51, 503.52, 503.53, 503.54, 503.55, 503.56, 503.57, 503.58, 503.59, 503.65, and 503.99 of the Revised Code to grant townships full authority to exercise all powers of local self-government regarding the operation of adult entertainment establishments and to adopt by resolution and enforce within their limits any local police, sanitary, and similar regulations regarding the operation of adult entertainment establishments that are not in conflict with general laws; to require the prosecuting attorney, upon the request of any township that has adopted any resolution of that nature and on behalf of the township, to prosecute and defend on behalf of the township in the trial and argument of any challenge to the validity of the resolution or to prosecute and defend on behalf of the township actions for injunction or nuisance abatement regarding violations of the resolution; to create an expedited appeal from orders, adjudications, or decisions denying an application for, or suspending or revoking, a license or permit to locate or operate such an establishment; to create an expedited appeal in any case in which a court determines there is a threat of restraint of protected expression; and to create the offenses of permitting unlawful operation of viewing booths depicting sexual conduct, permitting a juvenile on the premises of an adult entertainment establishment, and use by a juvenile of false information to enter an adult entertainment establishment.

Section 1. That sections 303.02, 309.09, 503.29, 504.04, 504.15, 519.02, 1901.182, 1901.31, 1907.012, 1907.20, 2151.022, 2152.02, 2505.08, 2506.01, 2506.02, 2506.03, 2506.04, 2907.01, and 4301.25 be amended, section 503.29 (503.53) be amended for the purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses, and new sections 503.51 and 503.52 and sections 2506.05, 2506.06, 2506.07, 2506.08, 2907.38, and 2907.39 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 303.02.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the interest of the public health and safety, the board of county commissioners may regulate by resolution, in accordance with a comprehensive plan, the location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, including tents, cabins, and trailer coaches, percentages of lot areas that may be occupied, set back building lines, sizes of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, the uses of buildings and other structures, including tents, cabins, and trailer coaches, and the uses of land for trade, industry, residence, recreation, or other purposes in the unincorporated territory of the county. Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the interest of the public convenience, comfort, prosperity, or general welfare, the board, by resolution, in accordance with a comprehensive plan, may regulate the location of, set back lines for, and the uses of buildings and other structures, including tents, cabins, and trailer coaches, and the uses of land for trade, industry, residence, recreation, or other purposes in the unincorporated territory of the county, and may establish reasonable landscaping standards and architectural standards excluding exterior building materials in the unincorporated territory of the county. Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the interest of the public convenience, comfort, prosperity, or general welfare, the board may regulate by resolution, in accordance with a comprehensive plan, for nonresidential property only, the height, bulk, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, including tents, cabins, and trailer coaches, percentages of lot areas that may be occupied, sizes of yards, courts, and other open spaces, and the density of population in the unincorporated territory of the county. For all these purposes, the board may divide all or any part of the unincorporated territory of the county into districts or zones of such number, shape, and area as the board determines. All such regulations shall be uniform for each class or kind of building or other structure or use throughout any district or zone, but the regulations in one district or zone may differ from those in other districts or zones.

For any activities permitted and regulated under Chapter 1513. or 1514. of the Revised Code and any related processing activities, the board of county commissioners may regulate under the authority conferred by this section only in the interest of public health or safety.

(B) A board of county commissioners that pursuant to this chapter regulates adult entertainment establishments, as defined in section 2907.39 of the Revised Code, may modify its administrative zoning procedures with regard to adult entertainment establishments as the board determines necessary to ensure that the procedures comply with all applicable constitutional requirements.

Sec. 309.09.  (A) The prosecuting attorney shall be the legal adviser of the board of county commissioners, board of elections, and all other county officers and boards, including all tax-supported public libraries, and any of them may require written opinions or instructions from the prosecuting attorney in matters connected with their official duties. The prosecuting attorney shall prosecute and defend all suits and actions which any such officer or board directs or to which it is a party, and no county officer may employ any other counsel or attorney at the expense of the county, except as provided in section 305.14 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) The prosecuting attorney shall be the legal adviser for all township officers, boards, and commissions, unless, subject to division (B)(2) of this section, the township has adopted a limited home rule government pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code and has not entered into a contract to have the prosecuting attorney serve as the township law director, in which case, subject to division (B)(2) of this section, the township law director, whether serving full-time or part-time, shall be the legal adviser for all township officers, boards, and commissions. When the board of township trustees finds it advisable or necessary to have additional legal counsel, it may employ an attorney other than the township law director or the prosecuting attorney of the county, either for a particular matter or on an annual basis, to represent the township and its officers, boards, and commissions in their official capacities and to advise them on legal matters. No such legal counsel may be employed, except on the order of the board of township trustees, duly entered upon its journal, in which the compensation to be paid for the legal services shall be fixed. The compensation shall be paid from the township fund.

Nothing in this division confers any of the powers or duties of a prosecuting attorney under section 309.08 of the Revised Code upon a township law director.

(2)(a) If any township in the county served by the prosecuting attorney has adopted any resolution regarding the operation of adult entertainment establishments pursuant to the authority that is granted under section 503.52 of the Revised Code or if a resolution of that nature has been adopted under section 503.53 of the Revised Code in a township in the county served by the prosecuting attorney, all of the following apply:

(i) Upon the request of a township in the county that has adopted, or in which has been adopted, a resolution of that nature that is made pursuant to division (E)(1)(c) of section 503.52 of the Revised Code, the prosecuting attorney shall prosecute and defend on behalf of the township in the trial and argument in any court or tribunal of any challenge to the validity of the resolution. If the challenge to the validity of the resolution is before a federal court, the prosecuting attorney may request the attorney general to assist the prosecuting attorney in prosecuting and defending the challenge and, upon the prosecuting attorney's making of such a request, the attorney general shall assist the prosecuting attorney in performing that service if the resolution was drafted in accordance with legal guidance provided by the attorney general as described in division (B)(2) of section 503.52 of the Revised Code. The attorney general shall provide this assistance without charge to the township for which the service is performed. If a township adopts a resolution without the legal guidance of the attorney general, the attorney general is not required to provide assistance as described in this division to a prosecuting attorney.

(ii) Upon the request of a township in the county that has adopted, or in which has been adopted, a resolution of that nature that is made pursuant to division (E)(1)(a) of section 503.52 of the Revised Code, the prosecuting attorney shall prosecute and defend on behalf of the township a civil action to enjoin the violation of the resolution in question.

(iii) Upon the request of a township in the county that has adopted, or in which has been adopted, a resolution of that nature that is made pursuant to division (E)(1)(b) of section 503.52 of the Revised Code, the prosecuting attorney shall prosecute and defend on behalf of the township a civil action under Chapter 3767. of the Revised Code to abate as a nuisance the place in the unincorporated area of the township at which the resolution is being or has been violated. Proceeds from the sale of personal property or contents seized pursuant to the action shall be applied and deposited in accordance with division (E)(1)(b) of section 503.52 of the Revised Code.

(b) The provisions of division (B)(2)(a) of this section apply regarding all townships, including townships that have adopted a limited home rule government pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code, and regardless of whether a township that has so adopted a limited home rule government has entered into a contract with the prosecuting attorney as described in division (B) of section 504.15 of the Revised Code or has appointed a law director as described in division (A) of that section.

The prosecuting attorney shall prosecute and defend in the actions and proceedings described in division (B)(2)(a) of this section without charge to the township for which the services are performed.

(C) Whenever the board of county commissioners employs an attorney other than the prosecuting attorney of the county, without the authorization of the court of common pleas as provided in section 305.14 of the Revised Code, either for a particular matter or on an annual basis, to represent the board in its official capacity and to advise it on legal matters, the board shall enter upon its journal an order of the board in which the compensation to be paid for the legal services shall be fixed. The compensation shall be paid from the county general fund. The total compensation paid, in any year, by the board for legal services under this division shall not exceed the total annual compensation of the prosecuting attorney for that county.

(D) The prosecuting attorney and the board of county commissioners jointly may contract with a board of park commissioners under section 1545.07 of the Revised Code for the prosecuting attorney to provide legal services to the park district the board of park commissioners operates.

(E) The prosecuting attorney may be, in the prosecuting attorney's discretion and with the approval of the board of county commissioners, the legal adviser of a joint fire district created under section 505.371 of the Revised Code at no cost to the district or may be the legal adviser to the district under a contract that the prosecuting attorney and the district enter into, and that the board of county commissioner approves, to authorize the prosecuting attorney to provide legal services to the district.

(F) The prosecuting attorney may be, in the prosecuting attorney's discretion and with the approval of the board of county commissioners, the legal adviser of a joint ambulance district created under section 505.71 of the Revised Code at no cost to the district or may be the legal adviser to the district under a contract that the prosecuting attorney and the district enter into, and that the board of county commissioners approves, to authorize the prosecuting attorney to provide legal services to the district.

(G) The prosecuting attorney may be, in the prosecuting attorney's discretion and with the approval of the board of county commissioners, the legal adviser of a joint emergency medical services district created under section 307.052 of the Revised Code at no cost to the district or may be the legal adviser to the district under a contract that the prosecuting attorney and the district enter into, and that the board of county commissioners approves, to authorize the prosecuting attorney to provide legal services to the district.

(H) The prosecuting attorney may be, in the prosecuting attorney's discretion and with the approval of the board of county commissioners, the legal adviser of a fire and ambulance district created under section 505.375 of the Revised Code at no cost to the district or may be the legal adviser to the district under a contract that the prosecuting attorney and the district enter into, and that the board of county commissioners approves, to authorize the prosecuting attorney to provide legal services to the district.

(I) All money received pursuant to a contract entered into under division (D), (E), (F), (G), or (H) of this section shall be deposited into the prosecuting attorney's legal services fund, which shall be established in the county treasury of each county in which such a contract exists. Moneys in that fund may be appropriated only to the prosecuting attorney for the purpose of providing legal services to a park district, joint fire district, joint ambulance district, joint emergency medical services district, or a fire and ambulance district, as applicable, under a contract entered into under the applicable division.

Sec. 503.51. As used in sections 503.51 to 503.53 of the Revised Code, "adult arcade," "adult bookstore," "adult novelty store," "adult video store," "adult cabaret," "adult entertainment establishment," "adult motion picture theater," "adult theater," "distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon," "nude or seminude model studio," "nudity," "nude," "state of nudity," "regularly features," "regularly shown," "seminude," "state of seminudity," "sexual encounter establishment," "specified anatomical areas," and "specified sexual activity" have the same meanings as in section 2907.39 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 503.52. (A) Townships have authority to exercise all powers of local self-government regarding the operation of adult entertainment establishments within their limits and to adopt and enforce within their limits any local police, sanitary, and similar regulations regarding the operation of adult entertainment establishments that are not in conflict with general laws. The regulations may include, but are not limited to, antinudity restrictions, limitations on hours of operation, interior configuration requirements, and requirements that adult entertainment establishments and their employees obtain licenses or permits to operate as or to be employed by an adult entertainment establishment. The authority granted under this division shall be exercised by the adoption of resolutions and may include the adoption of resolutions that create one or more criminal offenses and impose criminal penalties related to the operation of adult entertainment establishments or may provide for civil sanction for violations of regulations established under the resolutions. Townships have the same rights, powers, and duties pursuant to the authority granted under this division as municipal corporations have under Section 3, Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution relative to their authority to exercise powers of local self-government and to adopt and enforce within their limits local police, sanitary, and similar regulations, except to the extent that the rights, powers, and duties that the municipal corporations have by their nature clearly are inapplicable to townships and to the exercise by townships of their authority granted under this division. No regulation adopted under authority of this division shall be in conflict with any provision in Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code, or with any rule adopted by the division of liquor control pursuant to that chapter, that regulates establishments that hold a liquor permit.

(B)(1) The authority of a township granted under division (A) of this section applies to all townships. If a township has adopted a limited home rule government pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code, the authority granted under division (A) of this section is in addition to the powers and authority granted to the township under Chapter 504. of the Revised Code.

(2) Upon the request of any township, the attorney general shall provide legal guidance and assistance to the township in developing, formulating, and drafting a resolution regarding the operation of adult entertainment establishments of a type described in division (A) of this section. The attorney general shall provide this service without charge to the township for which the service is performed.

(C) In case of conflict between any resolution enacted by a board of township trustees under the authority granted under division (A) of this section and a municipal ordinance or resolution, the ordinance or resolution enacted by the municipal corporation prevails. In case of conflict between any resolution enacted by a board of township trustees under the authority granted under division (A) of this section and a county resolution, the resolution enacted by the board of township trustees prevails.

(D) All proceeds from criminal and civil sanctions for violation of a regulation established by a township under a resolution adopted under division (A) of this section that are paid to the township shall be applied initially to the payment of costs incurred in the prosecution and enforcement of the resolution, including, but not limited to, court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and other litigation expenses incurred by the county or township.

(E)(1)(a) When it appears that a resolution adopted under division (A) of this section or section 503.53 of the Revised Code is being or is about to be violated, the township in which the violation is taking place may request the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the township is located to prosecute and defend on behalf of the township a civil action to enjoin the violation. If the township does not request the prosecuting attorney to prosecute and defend an action to enjoin the violation, the legal counsel of that township, if other than the prosecuting attorney, may prosecute and defend a civil action to enjoin the violation.

(b) A township may request the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the township is located to prosecute and defend on behalf of the township a civil action under Chapter 3767. of the Revised Code to abate as a nuisance any place in the unincorporated area of the township at which a resolution adopted under division (A) of this section or section 503.53 of the Revised Code is being or has been violated. If the township does not request the prosecuting attorney to prosecute and defend an action under that chapter, the legal counsel of the township, if other than the prosecuting attorney, may prosecute and defend an action under that chapter for that purpose. All proceeds from the sale of personal property or contents seized pursuant to the action shall be applied initially to the payment of costs incurred in the prosecution of the action and the costs associated with the abatement and sale ordered under division (A) of section 3767.06 of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and other litigation expenses incurred by the county or township. Any proceeds remaining after that initial application shall be deposited into the township treasury and credited to the general fund.

(c) If a township has adopted one or more resolutions regarding the operation of adult entertainment establishments pursuant to the authority that is granted under division (A) of this section or if a township resolution of that nature has been adopted under section 503.53 of the Revised Code and the validity of the resolution is challenged, the township may request the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the township is located to prosecute and defend on behalf of the township in the trial and argument in any court or tribunal of the challenge to the validity of the resolution.

(2) Division (E)(1) of this section applies regarding all townships, including townships that have adopted a limited home rule government pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code and regardless of whether a township that has so adopted a limited home rule government has entered into a contract with the prosecuting attorney as described in division (B) of section 504.15 of the Revised Code or has appointed a law director as described in division (A) of that section.

Upon the request of any township in the county served by the prosecuting attorney made pursuant to division (E)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section, the prosecuting attorney shall prosecute and defend in the action or proceeding as requested, as specified in division (B)(2) of section 309.09 of the Revised Code, without charge to the township for which the service is performed.

If a prosecuting attorney is prosecuting and defending a challenge to the validity of a resolution of a township pursuant to a request made pursuant to division (E)(1)(c) of this section and if the challenge is before a federal court, the prosecuting attorney may request the attorney general to assist the prosecuting attorney in prosecuting and defending the challenge, and, upon the prosecuting attorney's making of such a request, the attorney general shall assist the prosecuting attorney in performing that service if the resolution was drafted in accordance with legal guidance provided by the attorney general as described in division (B)(2) of this section. The attorney general shall provide this assistance without charge to the township for which the service is performed. If a township adopts a resolution without the legal guidance of the attorney general, the attorney general is not being required to provide assistance as described in this division to a prosecuting attorney.

Sec. 503.29 503.53.  (A) Resolutions of the type described in division (B)(A) of section 503.65 503.52 of the Revised Code may be proposed by initiative petition by the electors of a township and adopted by election by these electors, under the same circumstances, in the same manner, and subject to the same penalties as provided in sections 731.28 to 731.40 and section 731.99 of the Revised Code for ordinances and other measures of municipal corporations, insofar as those sections are applicable to townships, except as follows:

(A)(1) The board of township trustees shall perform the duties imposed on the legislative authority of the municipal corporation under those sections.

(B)(2) Initiative petitions shall be filed with the township fiscal officer, who shall perform the duties imposed under those sections upon the city auditor or village clerk.

(C)(3) Initiative petitions shall contain the signatures of electors of the township equal in number to at least ten per cent of the total vote cast in the township for the office of governor at the most recent general election for that office.

(D)(4) Each signer of an initiative petition shall be an elector of the township in which the election on the proposed resolution is to be held.

(B) A resolution proposed under division (A) of this section may provide for the following:

(1) Modification of the administrative procedures, including administrative zoning procedures, of the township as those procedures apply to adult entertainment establishments to ensure that constitutional requirements are met;

(2) Criminal and civil sanctions for adult entertainment establishments that violate regulations established by the resolution.

Sec. 504.04.  (A) A township that adopts a limited home rule government may do all of the following by resolution, provided that any of these resolutions, other than a resolution to supply water or sewer services in accordance with sections 504.18 to 504.20 of the Revised Code, may be enforced only by the imposition of civil fines as authorized in this chapter:

(1) Exercise all powers of local self-government within the unincorporated area of the township, other than powers that are in conflict with general laws, except that the township shall comply with the requirements and prohibitions of this chapter, and shall enact no taxes other than those authorized by general law, and except that no resolution adopted pursuant to this chapter shall encroach upon the powers, duties, and privileges of elected township officers or change, alter, combine, eliminate, or otherwise modify the form or structure of the township government unless the change is required or permitted by this chapter;

(2) Adopt and enforce within the unincorporated area of the township local police, sanitary, and other similar regulations that are not in conflict with general laws or otherwise prohibited by division (B) of this section;

(3) Supply water and sewer services to users within the unincorporated area of the township in accordance with sections 504.18 to 504.20 of the Revised Code;

(4) Adopt and enforce within the unincorporated area of the township any resolution of a type described in section 503.52 of the Revised Code.

(B) No resolution adopted pursuant to this chapter shall do any of the following:

(1) Create a criminal offense or impose criminal penalties, except as authorized by division (A) of this section or by section 503.52 of the Revised Code;

(2) Impose civil fines other than as authorized by this chapter;

(3) Establish or revise subdivision regulations, road construction standards, urban sediment rules, or storm water and drainage regulations, except as provided in section 504.21 of the Revised Code;

(4) Establish or revise building standards, building codes, and other standard codes except as provided in section 504.13 of the Revised Code;

(5) Increase, decrease, or otherwise alter the powers or duties of a township under any other chapter of the Revised Code pertaining to agriculture or the conservation or development of natural resources;

(6) Establish regulations affecting hunting, trapping, fishing, or the possession, use, or sale of firearms;

(7) Establish or revise water or sewer regulations, except in accordance with section 504.18, 504.19, or 504.21 of the Revised Code.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as affecting the powers of counties with regard to the subjects listed in divisions (B)(3) to (5) of this section.

(C) Under a limited home rule government, all officers shall have the qualifications, and be nominated, elected, or appointed, as provided in Chapter 505. of the Revised Code, except that the board of township trustees shall appoint a full-time or part-time law director pursuant to section 504.15 of the Revised Code, and except that a five-member board of township trustees approved for the township before September 26, 2003, shall continue to serve as the legislative authority with successive members serving for four-year terms of office until a termination of a limited home rule government under section 504.03 of the Revised Code.

(D) In case of conflict between resolutions enacted by a board of township trustees and municipal ordinances or resolutions, the ordinance or resolution enacted by the municipal corporation prevails. In case of conflict between resolutions enacted by a board of township trustees and any county resolution, the resolution enacted by the board of township trustees prevails.

Sec. 504.15.  (A) Unless the board of township trustees acts as authorized by division (B) of this section, in each township that adopts the limited self-government form of township government, the board of township trustees shall appoint a full-time or part-time township law director, who shall be an attorney licensed to practice law in this state. The board of township trustees shall set the salary of the township law director. The township law director shall be the legal advisor to the board of township trustees, the township administrator, and all other township officers, and any of them may require written opinions or instructions from the township law director in matters connected with their official duties. The Subject to division (E) of section 503.52 of the Revised Code, the township law director shall prosecute and defend all suits and actions that any such officer or board directs or to which an officer or board is a party, and the township law director shall prosecute any violation of a township resolution, as provided in this chapter. The township law director shall review all resolutions as to form prior to their introduction by a township trustee. Additional legal counsel may be employed as provided in division (B) of section 309.09 of the Revised Code.

(B) The board of township trustees may enter into a contract with the prosecuting attorney of the county to have the prosecuting attorney serve as the township law director, with the consent of the board of county commissioners.

(C) Nothing in this section confers any of the powers or duties of a prosecuting attorney under section 309.08 of the Revised Code upon a township law director.

(D) Nothing in this section limits or affects the operation of division (E) of section 503.52 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 519.02.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the interest of the public health and safety, the board of township trustees may regulate by resolution, in accordance with a comprehensive plan, the location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, including tents, cabins, and trailer coaches, percentages of lot areas that may be occupied, set back building lines, sizes of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, the uses of buildings and other structures, including tents, cabins, and trailer coaches, and the uses of land for trade, industry, residence, recreation, or other purposes in the unincorporated territory of the township. Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the interest of the public convenience, comfort, prosperity, or general welfare, the board by resolution, in accordance with a comprehensive plan, may regulate the location of, set back lines for, and the uses of buildings and other structures, including tents, cabins, and trailer coaches, and the uses of land for trade, industry, residence, recreation, or other purposes in the unincorporated territory of the township, and may establish reasonable landscaping standards and architectural standards excluding exterior building materials in the unincorporated territory of the township. Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the interest of the public convenience, comfort, prosperity, or general welfare, the board may regulate by resolution, in accordance with a comprehensive plan, for nonresidential property only, the height, bulk, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, including tents, cabins, and trailer coaches, percentages of lot areas that may be occupied, sizes of yards, courts, and other open spaces, and the density of population in the unincorporated territory of the township. For all these purposes, the board may divide all or any part of the unincorporated territory of the township into districts or zones of such number, shape, and area as the board determines. All such regulations shall be uniform for each class or kind of building or other structure or use throughout any district or zone, but the regulations in one district or zone may differ from those in other districts or zones.

For any activities permitted and regulated under Chapter 1513. or 1514. of the Revised Code and any related processing activities, the board of township trustees may regulate under the authority conferred by this section only in the interest of public health or safety.

(B) A board of township trustees that pursuant to this chapter regulates adult entertainment establishments, as defined in section 2907.39 of the Revised Code, may modify its administrative zoning procedures with regard to adult entertainment establishments as the board determines necessary to ensure that the procedures comply with all applicable constitutional requirements.

Sec. 1901.182.  In addition to other jurisdiction granted a municipal court in the Revised Code, a municipal court has jurisdiction over violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code. For procedural purposes, a case in which a person is charged with a violation of a township resolution shall be treated as a civil case, except as otherwise provided in the Revised Code and except that a violation of a township resolution that is adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 of the Revised Code and that creates a criminal offense or imposes criminal penalties shall be treated as a criminal case.

Sec. 1901.31.  The clerk and deputy clerks of a municipal court shall be selected, be compensated, give bond, and have powers and duties as follows:

(A) There shall be a clerk of the court who is appointed or elected as follows:

(1)(a) Except in the Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Toledo, Hamilton county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, if the population of the territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand at the regular municipal election immediately preceding the expiration of the term of the present clerk, the clerk shall be nominated and elected by the qualified electors of the territory in the manner that is provided for the nomination and election of judges in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code.

The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(b) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the clerk of courts of Hamilton county shall be the clerk of the municipal court and may appoint an assistant clerk who shall receive the compensation, payable out of the treasury of Hamilton county in semimonthly installments, that the board of county commissioners prescribes. The clerk of courts of Hamilton county, acting as the clerk of the Hamilton county municipal court and assuming the duties of that office, shall receive compensation at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to the annual compensation that is received for the performance of the duties of the clerk of courts of Hamilton county, as provided in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(c) In the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts, the clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code and assistant clerks as the judges of the municipal court determine are necessary, all of whom shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county, acting as the clerks of the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts and assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(d) of this section, in the Akron municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Akron for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(e) of this section, in the Barberton municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Barberton for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(f) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(f) of this section, in the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Cuyahoga Falls for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(g) of this section, in the Toledo municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Toledo for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(2)(a) Except for the Alliance, Auglaize county, Brown county, Columbiana county, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown municipal courts, in a municipal court for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand, the clerk shall be appointed by the court, and the clerk shall hold office until the clerk's successor is appointed and qualified.

(b) In the Alliance, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown municipal courts, the clerk shall be elected for a term of office as described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section.

(c) In the Auglaize county and Brown county municipal courts, the clerks of courts of Auglaize county and Brown county shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Auglaize county and Brown county municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code, and assistant clerks as the judge of the court determines are necessary, all of whom shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerks of courts of Auglaize county and Brown county, acting as the clerks of the Auglaize county and Brown county municipal courts and assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(d) In the Columbiana county municipal court, the clerk of courts of Columbiana county shall be the clerk of the municipal court, may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch office that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code, and may appoint any assistant clerks that the judges of the court determine are necessary. All of the chief deputy clerks and assistant clerks shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerk of courts of Columbiana county, acting as the clerk of the Columbiana county municipal court and assuming the duties of that office, shall receive compensation payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(3) During the temporary absence of the clerk due to illness, vacation, or other proper cause, the court may appoint a temporary clerk, who shall be paid the same compensation, have the same authority, and perform the same duties as the clerk.

(B) Except in the Hamilton county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, if a vacancy occurs in the office of the clerk of the Alliance, Lorain, Massillon, or Youngstown municipal court or occurs in the office of the clerk of a municipal court for which the population of the territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand because the clerk ceases to hold the office before the end of the clerk's term or because a clerk-elect fails to take office, the vacancy shall be filled, until a successor is elected and qualified, by a person chosen by the residents of the territory of the court who are members of the county central committee of the political party by which the last occupant of that office or the clerk-elect was nominated. Not less than five nor more than fifteen days after a vacancy occurs, those members of that county central committee shall meet to make an appointment to fill the vacancy. At least four days before the date of the meeting, the chairperson or a secretary of the county central committee shall notify each such member of that county central committee by first class mail of the date, time, and place of the meeting and its purpose. A majority of all such members of that county central committee constitutes a quorum, and a majority of the quorum is required to make the appointment. If the office so vacated was occupied or was to be occupied by a person not nominated at a primary election, or if the appointment was not made by the committee members in accordance with this division, the court shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy. A successor shall be elected to fill the office for the unexpired term at the first municipal election that is held more than one hundred twenty days after the vacancy occurred.

(C)(1) In a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, the Brown county, the Columbiana county, and the Lorain municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand, the clerk of the municipal court shall receive the annual compensation that the presiding judge of the court prescribes, if the revenue of the court for the preceding calendar year, as certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer of the municipal corporation in which the court is located or, in the case of a county-operated municipal court, the county auditor, is equal to or greater than the expenditures, including any debt charges, for the operation of the court payable under this chapter from the city treasury or, in the case of a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury for that calendar year, as also certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer. If the revenue of a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, the Brown county, the Columbiana county, and the Lorain municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand for the preceding calendar year as so certified is not equal to or greater than those expenditures for the operation of the court for that calendar year as so certified, the clerk of a municipal court shall receive the annual compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. As used in this division, "revenue" means the total of all costs and fees that are collected and paid to the city treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury by the clerk of the municipal court under division (F) of this section and all interest received and paid to the city treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury in relation to the costs and fees under division (G) of this section.

(2) In a municipal court, other than the Hamilton county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is one hundred thousand or more, and in the Lorain municipal court, the clerk of the municipal court shall receive annual compensation in a sum equal to eighty-five per cent of the salary of a judge of the court.

(3) The compensation of a clerk described in division (C)(1) or (2) of this section is payable in semimonthly installments from the same sources and in the same manner as provided in section 1901.11 of the Revised Code.

(D) Before entering upon the duties of the clerk's office, the clerk of a municipal court shall give bond of not less than six thousand dollars to be determined by the judges of the court, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the clerk's duties.

(E) The clerk of a municipal court may do all of the following: administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue executions upon any judgment rendered in the court, including a judgment for unpaid costs; issue, sign, and attach the seal of the court to all writs, process, subpoenas, and papers issuing out of the court; and approve all bonds, sureties, recognizances, and undertakings fixed by any judge of the court or by law. The clerk may refuse to accept for filing any pleading or paper submitted for filing by a person who has been found to be a vexatious litigator under section 2323.52 of the Revised Code and who has failed to obtain leave to proceed under that section. The clerk shall do all of the following: file and safely keep all journals, records, books, and papers belonging or appertaining to the court; record the proceedings of the court; perform all other duties that the judges of the court may prescribe; and keep a book showing all receipts and disbursements, which book shall be open for public inspection at all times.

The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a docket, and other records that the court, by rule, requires, all of which shall be the public records of the court. In the docket, the clerk shall enter, at the time of the commencement of an action, the names of the parties in full, the names of the counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under proper dates, the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint, issuing of summons or other process, returns, and any subsequent pleadings. The clerk also shall enter all reports, verdicts, orders, judgments, and proceedings of the court, clearly specifying the relief granted or orders made in each action. The court may order an extended record of any of the above to be made and entered, under the proper action heading, upon the docket at the request of any party to the case, the expense of which record may be taxed as costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the party demanding the record, upon order of the court.

(F) The clerk of a municipal court shall receive, collect, and issue receipts for all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other moneys payable to the office or to any officer of the court. The clerk shall each month disburse to the proper persons or officers, and take receipts for, all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other moneys that the clerk collects. Subject to sections 3375.50 and 4511.193 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court and except for the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay all fines received for violation of municipal ordinances into the treasury of the municipal corporation the ordinance of which was violated and shall pay all fines received for violation of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the treasury of the township the resolution of which was violated. Subject to sections 1901.024 and 4511.193 of the Revised Code, in the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay fifty per cent of the fines received for violation of municipal ordinances and fifty per cent of the fines received for violation of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the treasury of the county. Subject to sections 3375.50, 3375.53, 4511.19, and 5503.04 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court, the clerk shall pay all fines collected for the violation of state laws into the county treasury. Except in a county-operated municipal court, the clerk shall pay all costs and fees the disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in the Revised Code into the city treasury. The clerk of a county-operated municipal court shall pay the costs and fees the disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in the Revised Code into the county treasury. Moneys deposited as security for costs shall be retained pending the litigation. The clerk shall keep a separate account of all receipts and disbursements in civil and criminal cases, which shall be a permanent public record of the office. On the expiration of the term of the clerk, the clerk shall deliver the records to the clerk's successor. The clerk shall have other powers and duties as are prescribed by rule or order of the court.

(G) All moneys paid into a municipal court shall be noted on the record of the case in which they are paid and shall be deposited in a state or national bank, or a domestic savings and loan association, as defined in section 1151.01 of the Revised Code, that is selected by the clerk. Any interest received upon the deposits shall be paid into the city treasury, except that, in a county-operated municipal court, the interest shall be paid into the treasury of the county in which the court is located.

On the first Monday in January of each year, the clerk shall make a list of the titles of all cases in the court that were finally determined more than one year past in which there remains unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or any part of a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the costs in the case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to the parties who are entitled to the moneys or to their attorneys of record. All the moneys remaining unclaimed on the first day of April of each year shall be paid by the clerk to the city treasurer, except that, in a county-operated municipal court, the moneys shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which the court is located. The treasurer shall pay any part of the moneys at any time to the person who has the right to the moneys upon proper certification of the clerk.

(H) Deputy clerks may be appointed by the clerk and shall receive the compensation, payable in semimonthly installments out of the city treasury, that the clerk may prescribe, except that the compensation of any deputy clerk of a county-operated municipal court shall be paid out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located. Each deputy clerk shall take an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform the duties appertaining to the office of the clerk. The clerk may require any of the deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.

(I) For the purposes of this section, whenever the population of the territory of a municipal court falls below one hundred thousand but not below ninety thousand, and the population of the territory prior to the most recent regular federal census exceeded one hundred thousand, the legislative authority of the municipal corporation may declare, by resolution, that the territory shall be considered to have a population of at least one hundred thousand.

(J) The clerk or a deputy clerk shall be in attendance at all sessions of the municipal court, although not necessarily in the courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors and receive verdicts.

Sec. 1907.012.  In addition to other jurisdiction granted a county court in the Revised Code, a county court has jurisdiction over violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code. For procedural purposes, a case in which a person is charged with the violation of a township resolution shall be treated as a civil case, except as otherwise provided in the Revised Code and except that a violation of a township resolution that is adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 of the Revised Code and that creates a criminal offense or imposes criminal penalties shall be treated as a criminal case.

Sec. 1907.20.  (A) The clerk of courts shall be the clerk of the county court, except that the board of county commissioners, with the concurrence of the county court judges, may appoint a clerk for each county court judge, who shall serve at the pleasure of the board and shall receive compensation as set by the board, payable in semimonthly installments from the treasury of the county. An appointed clerk, before entering upon the duties of the office, shall give bond of not less than five thousand dollars, as determined by the board of county commissioners, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the clerk's duties.

The clerks of courts of common pleas, when acting as the clerks of county courts, and upon assuming their county court duties, shall receive compensation at one-fourth the rate prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to the annual compensation received for the performance of the duties of the clerk of a court of common pleas as provided in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(B) The clerk of a county court shall have general powers to administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue executions upon any judgment rendered in the county court, including a judgment for unpaid costs, power to issue and sign all writs, process, subpoenas, and papers issuing out of the court, and to attach the seal of the court to them, and power to approve all bonds, sureties, recognizances, and undertakings fixed by any judge of the court or by law. The clerk shall file and safely keep all journals, records, books, and papers belonging or appertaining to the court, record its proceedings, perform all other duties that the judges of the court may prescribe, and keep a book showing all receipts and disbursements, which shall be open for public inspection at all times. The clerk may refuse to accept for filing any pleading or paper submitted for filing by a person who has been found to be a vexatious litigator under section 2323.52 of the Revised Code and who has failed to obtain leave to proceed under that section.

The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a docket as prescribed by the court, which shall be furnished by the board of county commissioners, and such other records as the court, by rule, requires, all of which shall be the public records of the court. In the docket, the clerk shall enter at times of the commencement of an action, the names of the parties in full, the names of the counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under proper dates, the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint, issuing of summons or other process, returns, and pleadings subsequent thereto. The clerk also shall enter all reports, verdicts, orders, judgments, and proceedings of the court, clearly specifying the relief granted or orders made in each action. The court may order an extended record of any of the above to be made and entered, under the proper action heading, upon the docket at the request of any party to the case, the expense of which may be taxed as costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the party demanding the extended record, upon order of the court.

(C) The clerk of a county court shall receive and collect all costs, fees, fines, penalties, bail, and other moneys payable to the office or to any officer of the court and issue receipts therefor, and shall each month disburse the costs, fees, fines, penalties, bail, and other moneys to the proper persons or officers and take receipts therefor. Subject to sections 3375.51, 3375.53, 4511.19, 4511.193, and 5503.04 of the Revised Code and all other statutes that require a different distribution of fines, fines received for violations of municipal ordinances shall be paid into the treasury of the municipal corporation whose ordinance was violated, fines received for violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code shall be paid into the treasury of the township whose resolution was violated, and fines collected for the violation of state laws shall be paid into the county treasury. Moneys deposited as security for costs shall be retained pending the litigation.

The clerk shall keep a separate account of all receipts and disbursements in civil and criminal cases. The separate account shall be a permanent public record of the office. On the expiration of a clerk's term, those records shall be delivered to the clerk's successor.

The clerk shall have such other powers and duties as are prescribed by rule or order of the court.

(D) All moneys paid into a county court shall be noted on the record of the case in which they are paid and shall be deposited in a state or national bank selected by the clerk. On the first Monday in January of each year, the clerk shall make a list of the titles of all cases in the county court that were finally determined more than one year past in which there remains unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or any part of a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the costs in the case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to the parties entitled to them or to their attorneys of record. All the moneys remaining unclaimed on the first day of April of each year shall be paid by the clerk to the county treasurer. Any part of the moneys shall be paid by the county treasurer at any time to the person having the right to them, upon proper certification of the clerk.

(E)(1) In county court districts having appointed clerks, deputy clerks may be appointed by the board of county commissioners. Clerks and deputy clerks shall receive such compensation payable in semimonthly installments out of the county treasury as the board may prescribe. Each deputy clerk shall take an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform the duties appertaining to the office of the clerk. The clerk may require any of the deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.

(2) A clerk of courts acting as clerk of the county court may appoint deputy clerks to perform the duties pertaining to the office of clerk of the county court. Each deputy clerk shall take an oath of office before entering upon the deputy clerk's duties, and the clerk of courts may require the deputy clerk to give bond of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.

(3) The clerk or a deputy clerk of a county court shall be in attendance at all sessions of the court, although not necessarily in the courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors and receive verdicts.

(F)(1) In county court districts having appointed clerks, the board of county commissioners may order the establishment of one or more branch offices of the clerk and, with the concurrence of the county judges, may appoint a special deputy clerk to administer each branch office. Each special deputy clerk shall take an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform any one or more of the duties appertaining to the office of clerk, as the board prescribes. Special deputy clerks shall receive such compensation payable in semimonthly installments out of the county treasury as the board may prescribe. The board may require any of the special deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.

The board of county commissioners may authorize the clerk of the county court to operate one or more branch offices, to divide the clerk's time between the offices, and to perform duties appertaining to the office of clerk in locations that the board prescribes.

(2) A clerk of courts acting as clerk of the county court may establish one or more branch offices for the clerk's duties as clerk of the county court and, with the concurrence of the county court judges, may appoint a special deputy clerk to administer each branch office. Each special deputy clerk shall take an oath of office before entering upon the deputy clerk's duties and, when so qualified, may perform any of the duties pertaining to the office of clerk, as the clerk of courts prescribes. The clerk of courts may require any of the special deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.

(G) The clerk of courts of the county shall fix the compensation of deputy clerks and special deputy clerks appointed by the clerk pursuant to this section. Those personnel shall be paid and be subject to the same requirements as other employees of the clerk under the provisions of section 325.17 of the Revised Code insofar as that section is applicable.

Sec. 2151.022.  As used in this chapter, "unruly child" includes any of the following:

(A) Any child who does not submit to the reasonable control of the child's parents, teachers, guardian, or custodian, by reason of being wayward or habitually disobedient;

(B) Any child who is an habitual truant from school and who previously has not been adjudicated an unruly child for being an habitual truant;

(C) Any child who behaves in a manner as to injure or endanger the child's own health or morals or the health or morals of others;

(D) Any child who violates a law, other than division (C) of section 2907.39, division (A) of section 2923.211, or section 2151.87 of the Revised Code, that is applicable only to a child.

Sec. 2152.02.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Act charged" means the act that is identified in a complaint, indictment, or information alleging that a child is a delinquent child.

(B) "Admitted to a department of youth services facility" includes admission to a facility operated, or contracted for, by the department and admission to a comparable facility outside this state by another state or the United States.

(C)(1) "Child" means a person who is under eighteen years of age, except as otherwise provided in divisions (C)(2) to (6) of this section.

(2) Subject to division (C)(3) of this section, any person who violates a federal or state law or a municipal ordinance prior to attaining eighteen years of age shall be deemed a "child" irrespective of that person's age at the time the complaint with respect to that violation is filed or the hearing on the complaint is held.

(3) Any person who, while under eighteen years of age, commits an act that would be a felony if committed by an adult and who is not taken into custody or apprehended for that act until after the person attains twenty-one years of age is not a child in relation to that act.

(4) Any person whose case is transferred for criminal prosecution pursuant to section 2152.12 of the Revised Code shall be deemed after the transfer not to be a child in the transferred case.

(5) Any person whose case is transferred for criminal prosecution pursuant to section 2152.12 of the Revised Code and who subsequently is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony in that case, and any person who is adjudicated a delinquent child for the commission of an act, who has a serious youthful offender dispositional sentence imposed for the act pursuant to section 2152.13 of the Revised Code, and whose adult portion of the dispositional sentence is invoked pursuant to section 2152.14 of the Revised Code, shall be deemed after the transfer or invocation not to be a child in any case in which a complaint is filed against the person.

(6) The juvenile court has jurisdiction over a person who is adjudicated a delinquent child or juvenile traffic offender prior to attaining eighteen years of age until the person attains twenty-one years of age, and, for purposes of that jurisdiction related to that adjudication, except as otherwise provided in this division, a person who is so adjudicated a delinquent child or juvenile traffic offender shall be deemed a "child" until the person attains twenty-one years of age. If a person is so adjudicated a delinquent child or juvenile traffic offender and the court makes a disposition of the person under this chapter, at any time after the person attains eighteen years of age, the places at which the person may be held under that disposition are not limited to places authorized under this chapter solely for confinement of children, and the person may be confined under that disposition, in accordance with division (F)(2) of section 2152.26 of the Revised Code, in places other than those authorized under this chapter solely for confinement of children.

(D) "Chronic truant" means any child of compulsory school age who is absent without legitimate excuse for absence from the public school the child is supposed to attend for seven or more consecutive school days, ten or more school days in one school month, or fifteen or more school days in a school year.

(E) "Community corrections facility," "public safety beds," "release authority," and "supervised release" have the same meanings as in section 5139.01 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Delinquent child" includes any of the following:

(1) Any child, except a juvenile traffic offender, who violates any law of this state or the United States, or any ordinance of a political subdivision of the state, that would be an offense if committed by an adult;

(2) Any child who violates any lawful order of the court made under this chapter or under Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code other than an order issued under section 2151.87 of the Revised Code;

(3) Any child who violates division (C) of section 2907.39 or division (A) of section 2923.211 of the Revised Code;

(4) Any child who is a habitual truant and who previously has been adjudicated an unruly child for being a habitual truant;

(5) Any child who is a chronic truant.

(G) "Discretionary serious youthful offender" means a person who is eligible for a discretionary SYO and who is not transferred to adult court under a mandatory or discretionary transfer.

(H) "Discretionary SYO" means a case in which the juvenile court, in the juvenile court's discretion, may impose a serious youthful offender disposition under section 2152.13 of the Revised Code.

(I) "Discretionary transfer" means that the juvenile court has discretion to transfer a case for criminal prosecution under division (B) of section 2152.12 of the Revised Code.

(J) "Drug abuse offense," "felony drug abuse offense," and "minor drug possession offense" have the same meanings as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.

(K) "Electronic monitoring" and "electronic monitoring device" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(L) "Economic loss" means any economic detriment suffered by a victim of a delinquent act or juvenile traffic offense as a direct and proximate result of the delinquent act or juvenile traffic offense and includes any loss of income due to lost time at work because of any injury caused to the victim and any property loss, medical cost, or funeral expense incurred as a result of the delinquent act or juvenile traffic offense. "Economic loss" does not include non-economic loss or any punitive or exemplary damages.

(M) "Firearm" has the same meaning as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

(N) "Juvenile traffic offender" means any child who violates any traffic law, traffic ordinance, or traffic regulation of this state, the United States, or any political subdivision of this state, other than a resolution, ordinance, or regulation of a political subdivision of this state the violation of which is required to be handled by a parking violations bureau or a joint parking violations bureau pursuant to Chapter 4521. of the Revised Code.

(O) A "legitimate excuse for absence from the public school the child is supposed to attend" has the same meaning as in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code.

(P) "Mandatory serious youthful offender" means a person who is eligible for a mandatory SYO and who is not transferred to adult court under a mandatory or discretionary transfer.

(Q) "Mandatory SYO" means a case in which the juvenile court is required to impose a mandatory serious youthful offender disposition under section 2152.13 of the Revised Code.

(R) "Mandatory transfer" means that a case is required to be transferred for criminal prosecution under division (A) of section 2152.12 of the Revised Code.

(S) "Mental illness" has the same meaning as in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code.

(T) "Mentally retarded person" has the same meaning as in section 5123.01 of the Revised Code.

(U) "Monitored time" and "repeat violent offender" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(V) "Of compulsory school age" has the same meaning as in section 3321.01 of the Revised Code.

(W) "Public record" has the same meaning as in section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(X) "Serious youthful offender" means a person who is eligible for a mandatory SYO or discretionary SYO but who is not transferred to adult court under a mandatory or discretionary transfer.

(Y) "Sexually oriented offense," "habitual sex offender," "juvenile offender registrant," "sexual predator," "presumptive registration-exempt sexually oriented offense," "registration-exempt sexually oriented offense," "child-victim oriented offense," "habitual child-victim offender," and "child-victim predator" have the same meanings as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.

(Z) "Traditional juvenile" means a case that is not transferred to adult court under a mandatory or discretionary transfer, that is eligible for a disposition under sections 2152.16, 2152.17, 2152.19, and 2152.20 of the Revised Code, and that is not eligible for a disposition under section 2152.13 of the Revised Code.

(AA) "Transfer" means the transfer for criminal prosecution of a case involving the alleged commission by a child of an act that would be an offense if committed by an adult from the juvenile court to the appropriate court that has jurisdiction of the offense.

(BB) "Category one offense" means any of the following:

(1) A violation of section 2903.01 or 2903.02 of the Revised Code;

(2) A violation of section 2923.02 of the Revised Code involving an attempt to commit aggravated murder or murder.

(CC) "Category two offense" means any of the following:

(1) A violation of section 2903.03, 2905.01, 2907.02, 2909.02, 2911.01, or 2911.11 of the Revised Code;

(2) A violation of section 2903.04 of the Revised Code that is a felony of the first degree;

(3) A violation of section 2907.12 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to September 3, 1996.

(DD) "Non-economic loss" means nonpecuniary harm suffered by a victim of a delinquent act or juvenile traffic offense as a result of or related to the delinquent act or juvenile traffic offense, including, but not limited to, pain and suffering; loss of society, consortium, companionship, care, assistance, attention, protection, advice, guidance, counsel, instruction, training, or education; mental anguish; and any other intangible loss.

Sec. 2505.08.  In the case of an administrative-related appeal other than an expedited appeal brought under sections 2506.05 to 2506.08 of the Revised Code, within forty days after the filing of a notice of appeal or the obtaining of a leave to appeal, as described in section 2505.04 of the Revised Code, the administrative officer, agency, board, department, tribunal, commission, or other instrumentality whose final order is being appealed shall prepare and file in the court to which the appeal is taken, a complete transcript of all the original papers, testimony, and evidence offered, heard, and taken into consideration in issuing the final order. The costs of the transcript shall be taxed as part of the costs of the appeal.

Sec. 2506.01.  Every (A) Except as otherwise provided in sections 2506.05 to 2506.08 of the Revised Code, and except as modified by this section and sections 2506.02 to 2506.04 of the Revised Code, every final order, adjudication, or decision of any officer, tribunal, authority, board, bureau, commission, department, or other division of any political subdivision of the state may be reviewed by the court of common pleas of the county in which the principal office of the political subdivision is located as provided in Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code, except as modified by this chapter.

(B) The appeal provided in this chapter section is in addition to any other remedy of appeal provided by law.

A (C) As used in this chapter, "final order, adjudication, or decision" means an order, adjudication, or decision that determines rights, duties, privileges, benefits, or legal relationships of a person, but does not include any order, adjudication, or decision from which an appeal is granted by rule, ordinance, or statute to a higher administrative authority if a right to a hearing on such appeal is provided, or any order, adjudication, or decision that is issued preliminary to or as a result of a criminal proceeding.

Sec. 2506.02.  Within forty days after filing the a notice of appeal in relation to a final order, adjudication, or decision covered by division (A) of section 2506.01 of the Revised Code, the officer or body from which the appeal is taken, upon the filing of a praecipe by the appellant, shall prepare and file in the court to which the appeal is taken, a complete transcript of all the original papers, testimony, and evidence offered, heard, and taken into consideration in issuing the final order, adjudication, or decision appealed from. The costs of such the transcript shall be taxed as a part of the costs of the appeal.

Sec. 2506.03.  (A) The hearing of such an appeal taken in relation to a final order, adjudication, or decision covered by division (A) of section 2506.01 of the Revised Code shall proceed as in the trial of a civil action, but the court shall be confined to the transcript as filed pursuant to under section 2506.02 of the Revised Code unless it appears, on the face of that transcript or by affidavit filed by the appellant, that one of the following applies:

(1) The transcript does not contain a report of all evidence admitted or profferred proffered by the appellant;.

(2) The appellant was not permitted to appear and be heard in person, or by his the appellant's attorney, in opposition to the final order, adjudication, or decision appealed from, and to do any of the following:

(a) Present his the appellant's position, arguments, and contentions;

(b) Offer and examine witnesses and present evidence in support;

(c) Cross-examine witnesses purporting to refute his the appellant's position, arguments, and contentions;

(d) Offer evidence to refute evidence and testimony offered in opposition to his the appellant's position, arguments, and contentions;

(e) Proffer any such evidence into the record, if the admission of it is denied by the officer or body appealed from.

(3) The testimony adduced was not given under oath;.

(4) The appellant was unable to present evidence by reason of a lack of the power of subpoena by the officer or body appealed from, or the refusal, after request, of such that officer or body to afford the appellant opportunity to use the power of subpoena when possessed by the officer or body;.

(5) The officer or body failed to file with the transcript, conclusions of fact supporting the final order, adjudication, or decision appealed from.

(B) If any circumstance described in divisions (A)(1) to (5) of this section applies, the court shall hear the appeal upon the transcript and such additional evidence as may be introduced by any party. At the hearing, any party may call, as if on cross-examination, any witness who previously gave testimony in opposition to such that party.

Sec. 2506.04.  The If an appeal is taken in relation to a final order, adjudication, or decision covered by division (A) of section 2506.01 of the Revised Code, the court may find that the order, adjudication, or decision is unconstitutional, illegal, arbitary arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable, or unsupported by the preponderance of substantial, reliable, and probative evidence on the whole record. Consistent with its findings, the court may affirm, reverse, vacate, or modify the order, adjudication, or decision, or remand the cause to the officer or body appealed from with instructions to enter an order, adjudication, or decision consistent with the findings or opinion of the court. The judgment of the court may be appealed by any party on questions of law as provided in the Rules of Appellate Procedure and, to the extent not in conflict with those rules, Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2506.05. (A)(1) Except as modified by this section and sections 2506.06 to 2506.08 of the Revised Code, every final order, adjudication, or decision of any officer, tribunal, authority, board, bureau, commission, department, or other division of any political subdivision of the state denying an application for, or suspending or revoking, a license or permit to locate or operate an adult entertainment establishment, as defined in section 2907.39 of the Revised Code or as similarly defined by a political subdivision, may be reviewed by the court of common pleas of the county in which the principal office of the political subdivision is located as provided in Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code.

(2) In addition to appeals brought pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section, a court of common pleas may hear appeals under this section and sections 2506.06 to 2506.08 of the Revised Code in cases in which the court determines that there is a threat of restraint of expression protected or presumptively protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or under Section 11 of Article I, Ohio Constitution.

(B) An appellant seeking to have an appeal heard under this section shall designate it as an expedited appeal by inserting the words "Expedited Appeal Requested" in conspicuous typeface in the caption of the notice of appeal.

(C) In an appeal under this section, if the political subdivision does not object to the expedited appeal within three days after receiving notice of the filing of the notice of appeal or if, over the objection of the political subdivision, the court determines that there is a threat of restraint of expression protected or presumptively protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution or under Section 11 of Article I of the Ohio Constitution, the court shall conduct a hearing as promptly as is practicable and render a decision in a prompt and expeditious manner consistent with the United States Constitution and the Ohio Constitution. If the court denies the request for an expedited appeal, the appeal shall be heard in accordance with sections 2506.01 to 2506.04 of the Revised Code.

(D) The appeal provided in this section is in addition to any other remedy of appeal provided by law.

Sec. 2506.06. Within five days after receiving notice of the filing of a notice of appeal under section 2506.05 of the Revised Code, the officer or body from which the appeal is taken, upon the filing of a praecipe by the appellant, shall prepare and file in the court to which the appeal is taken, a complete transcript of all the original papers, testimony, and evidence offered, heard, and taken into consideration in issuing the final order, adjudication, or decision appealed from. The costs of the transcript shall be taxed as a part of the costs of the appeal.

Sec. 2506.07. (A) The hearing of an appeal taken under section 2506.05 of the Revised Code shall proceed as in the trial of a civil action, but the court shall be confined to the transcript as filed under section 2506.06 of the Revised Code unless it appears on the face of that transcript or by affidavit filed by the appellant that one or more of the following applies:

(1) The transcript does not contain a report of all evidence admitted or proffered by the appellant.

(2) The appellant was not permitted to appear and be heard in person, or by the appellant's attorney, in opposition to the final order, adjudication, or decision appealed from and to do any of the following:

(a) Present the appellant's position, arguments, and contentions;

(b) Offer and examine witnesses and present evidence in support;

(c) Cross-examine witnesses purporting to refute the appellant's position, arguments, and contentions;

(d) Offer evidence to refute evidence and testimony offered in opposition to the appellant's position, arguments, and contentions;

(e) Proffer any evidence offered pursuant to division (A)(2)(d) of this section into the record if the admission of it is denied by the officer or body appealed from.

(3) The testimony adduced was not given under oath.

(4) The appellant was unable to present evidence because of a lack of the power of subpoena by the officer or body appealed from or because of the refusal after request of that officer or body to afford the appellant opportunity to use the power of subpoena when possessed by the officer or body.

(5) The officer or body failed to file with the transcript conclusions of fact supporting the final order, adjudication, or decision appealed from.

(B) If any circumstance described in divisions (A)(1) to (5) of this section applies, the court shall hear the appeal upon the transcript and additional evidence as may be introduced by any party. At the hearing, any party may call, as if on cross-examination, any witness who previously gave testimony in opposition to that party.

Sec. 2506.08. If an appeal is taken under section 2506.05 of the Revised Code, the court may find that the order, adjudication, or decision is unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable, or unsupported by the preponderance of substantial, reliable, and probative evidence on the whole record. Consistent with its findings, the court may affirm, reverse, vacate, or modify the order, adjudication, or decision, or remand the cause to the officer or body appealed from with instructions to enter an order, adjudication, or decision consistent with the findings or opinion of the court. If the order, adjudication, or decision is remanded to the officer or body appealed from with those instructions, the officer or body shall enter the consistent order, adjudication, or decision within five days after that remand. The judgment of the court may be appealed by any party on questions of law as provided in the Rules of Appellate Procedure and, to the extent not in conflict with those rules, Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2907.01.  As used in sections 2907.01 to 2907.37 2907.38 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Sexual conduct" means vaginal intercourse between a male and female; anal intercourse, fellatio, and cunnilingus between persons regardless of sex; and, without privilege to do so, the insertion, however slight, of any part of the body or any instrument, apparatus, or other object into the vaginal or anal cavity of another. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete vaginal or anal intercourse.

(B) "Sexual contact" means any touching of an erogenous zone of another, including without limitation the thigh, genitals, buttock, pubic region, or, if the person is a female, a breast, for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying either person.

(C) "Sexual activity" means sexual conduct or sexual contact, or both.

(D) "Prostitute" means a male or female who promiscuously engages in sexual activity for hire, regardless of whether the hire is paid to the prostitute or to another.

(E) "Harmful to juveniles" means that quality of any material or performance describing or representing nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse in any form to which all of the following apply:

(1) The material or performance, when considered as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest in sex of juveniles.

(2) The material or performance is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable for juveniles.

(3) The material or performance, when considered as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, and scientific value for juveniles.

(F) When considered as a whole, and judged with reference to ordinary adults or, if it is designed for sexual deviates or other specially susceptible group, judged with reference to that group, any material or performance is "obscene" if any of the following apply:

(1) Its dominant appeal is to prurient interest;

(2) Its dominant tendency is to arouse lust by displaying or depicting sexual activity, masturbation, sexual excitement, or nudity in a way that tends to represent human beings as mere objects of sexual appetite;

(3) Its dominant tendency is to arouse lust by displaying or depicting bestiality or extreme or bizarre violence, cruelty, or brutality;

(4) Its dominant tendency is to appeal to scatological interest by displaying or depicting human bodily functions of elimination in a way that inspires disgust or revulsion in persons with ordinary sensibilities, without serving any genuine scientific, educational, sociological, moral, or artistic purpose;

(5) It contains a series of displays or descriptions of sexual activity, masturbation, sexual excitement, nudity, bestiality, extreme or bizarre violence, cruelty, or brutality, or human bodily functions of elimination, the cumulative effect of which is a dominant tendency to appeal to prurient or scatological interest, when the appeal to such an interest is primarily for its own sake or for commercial exploitation, rather than primarily for a genuine scientific, educational, sociological, moral, or artistic purpose.

(G) "Sexual excitement" means the condition of human male or female genitals when in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.

(H) "Nudity" means the showing, representation, or depiction of human male or female genitals, pubic area, or buttocks with less than a full, opaque covering, or of a female breast with less than a full, opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple, or of covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.

(I) "Juvenile" means an unmarried person under the age of eighteen.

(J) "Material" means any book, magazine, newspaper, pamphlet, poster, print, picture, figure, image, description, motion picture film, phonographic record, or tape, or other tangible thing capable of arousing interest through sight, sound, or touch and includes an image or text appearing on a computer monitor, television screen, liquid crystal display, or similar display device or an image or text recorded on a computer hard disk, computer floppy disk, compact disk, magnetic tape, or similar data storage device.

(K) "Performance" means any motion picture, preview, trailer, play, show, skit, dance, or other exhibition performed before an audience.

(L) "Spouse" means a person married to an offender at the time of an alleged offense, except that such person shall not be considered the spouse when any of the following apply:

(1) When the parties have entered into a written separation agreement authorized by section 3103.06 of the Revised Code;

(2) During the pendency of an action between the parties for annulment, divorce, dissolution of marriage, or legal separation;

(3) In the case of an action for legal separation, after the effective date of the judgment for legal separation.

(M) "Minor" means a person under the age of eighteen.

(N) "Mental health client or patient" has the same meaning as in section 2305.51 of the Revised Code.

(O) "Mental health professional" has the same meaning as in section 2305.115 of the Revised Code.

(P) "Sado-masochistic abuse" means flagellation or torture by or upon a person or the condition of being fettered, bound, or otherwise physically restrained.

Sec. 2907.38. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Commercial establishment" means an entity that is open to the public and to which either of the following applies:

(a) It has a substantial or significant portion of its stock in trade of the sale, rental, or viewing of visual materials or performances depicting sexual conduct.

(b) It has as a principal business purpose the sale, rental, or viewing of visual materials or performances depicting sexual conduct.

(2) "Visual materials or performances" means films, videos, CD-ROM discs, streaming video, or other motion pictures.

(B) No person who has custody, control, or supervision of a commercial establishment, with knowledge of the character of the visual material or performance involved, shall knowingly permit the use of, or offer the use of, viewing booths, stalls, or partitioned portions of a room located in the commercial establishment for the purpose of viewing visual materials or performances depicting sexual conduct unless both of the following apply:

(1) The inside of each booth, stall, or partitioned room is visible from, and at least one side of each booth, stall, or partitioned room is open to, a continuous and contiguous main aisle or hallway that is open to the public areas of the commercial establishment and is not obscured by any curtain, door, or other covering or enclosure.

(2) No booth, stall, or partitioned room is designed, constructed, pandered, or allowed to be used for the purpose of encouraging or facilitating nudity or sexual activity on the part of or between patrons or members of the public, and no booth, stall, or partitioned room has any aperture, hole, or opening for the purpose of encouraging or facilitating nudity or sexual activity.

(C) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that either of the following applies to the involved visual materials or performances:

(1) The visual materials or performances depicting sexual conduct are disseminated or presented for a bona fide medical, scientific, educational, religious, governmental, judicial, or other proper purpose and by or to a physician, psychologist, sociologist, scientist, teacher, person pursuing bona fide studies or research, librarian, member of the clergy, prosecutor, judge, or other person having a proper interest in the visual materials or performances.

(2) The visual materials or performances depicting sexual conduct, taken as a whole, would be found by a reasonable person to have serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value or are presented or disseminated in good faith for a serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific purpose and are not pandered for their prurient appeal.

(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of permitting unlawful operation of viewing booths depicting sexual conduct, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Sec. 2907.39. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Adult arcade" means any place to which the public is permitted or invited in which coin-operated, slug-operated, or electronically, electrically, or mechanically controlled still or motion picture machines, projectors, or other image-producing devices are regularly maintained to show images to five or fewer persons per machine at any one time, and in which the images so displayed are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon matter exhibiting or describing specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

(2)(a) "Adult bookstore," "adult novelty store," or "adult video store" means a commercial establishment that, for any form of consideration, has as a significant or substantial portion of its stock-in-trade in, derives a significant or substantial portion of its revenues from, devotes a significant or substantial portion of its interior business or advertising to, or maintains a substantial section of its sales or display space for the sale or rental of any of the following:

(i) Books, magazines, periodicals, or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, compact discs, slides, or other visual representations, that are characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas;

(ii) Instruments, devices, or paraphernalia that are designed for use or marketed primarily for stimulation of human genital organs or for sadomasochistic use or abuse of self or others.

(b) "Adult bookstore," "adult novelty store," or "adult video store" includes a commercial establishment as defined in section 2907.38 of the Revised Code. An establishment may have other principal business purposes that do not involve the offering for sale, rental, or viewing of materials exhibiting or describing specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas and still be categorized as an adult bookstore, adult novelty store, or adult video store. The existence of other principal business purposes does not exempt an establishment from being categorized as an adult bookstore, adult novelty store, or adult video store so long as one of its principal business purposes is offering for sale or rental, for some form of consideration, such materials that exhibit or describe specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

(3) "Adult cabaret" means a nightclub, bar, juice bar, restaurant, bottle club, or similar commercial establishment, whether or not alcoholic beverages are served, that regularly features any of the following:

(a) Persons who appear in a state of nudity or seminudity;

(b) Live performances that are characterized by the exposure of specified anatomical areas or specified sexual activities;

(c) Films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions that are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

(4) "Adult entertainment" means the sale, rental, or exhibition, for any form of consideration, of books, films, video cassettes, magazines, periodicals, or live performances that are characterized by an emphasis on the exposure or display of specified anatomical areas or specified sexual activity.

(5) "Adult entertainment establishment" means an adult arcade, adult bookstore, adult novelty store, adult video store, adult cabaret, adult motion picture theater, adult theater, nude or seminude model studio, or sexual encounter establishment. An establishment in which a medical practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, or similar professional person licensed by the state engages in medically approved and recognized therapy, including, but not limited to, massage therapy, as regulated pursuant to section 4731.15 of the Revised Code, is not an "adult entertainment establishment."

(6) "Adult motion picture theater" means a commercial establishment where films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or similar photographic reproductions that are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas are regularly shown for any form of consideration.

(7) "Adult theater" means a theater, concert hall, auditorium, or similar commercial establishment that, for any form of consideration, regularly features persons who appear in a state of nudity or seminudity or live performances that are characterized by their emphasis upon the exposure of specified anatomical areas or specified sexual activities.

(8) "Distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon" means the dominant or principal character and theme of the object described by this phrase. For instance, when the phrase refers to films "that are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas," the films so described are those whose dominant or principal character and theme are the exhibition or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

(9)(a) "Nude or seminude model studio" means any place where a person, who regularly appears in a state of nudity or seminudity, is provided for money or any other form of consideration to be observed, sketched, drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by other persons.

(b) A modeling class or studio is not a nude or seminude model studio and is not subject to this chapter if it is operated in any of the following ways:

(i) By a college or university supported entirely or partly by taxation;

(ii) By a private college or university that maintains and operates educational programs, the credits for which are transferable to a college or university supported entirely or partly by taxation;

(iii) In a structure that has no sign visible from the exterior of the structure and no other advertising indicating that a person appearing in a state of nudity or seminudity is available for viewing, if in order to participate in a class in the structure, a student must enroll at least three days in advance of the class and if not more than one nude or seminude model is on the premises at any one time.

(10) "Nudity," "nude," or "state of nudity" means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva, anus, anal cleft, or cleavage with less than a fully opaque covering; or the showing of the female breasts with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple.

(11) "Regularly features" or "regularly shown" means a consistent or substantial course of conduct, such that the films or performances exhibited constitute a substantial portion of the films or performances offered as a part of the ongoing business of the adult entertainment establishment.

(12) "Seminude" or "state of seminudity" means a state of dress in which opaque clothing covers not more than the genitals, pubic region, and nipple of the female breast, as well as portions of the body covered by supporting straps or devices.

(13)(a) "Sexual encounter establishment" means a business or commercial establishment that, as one of its principal business purposes, offers for any form of consideration a place where either of the following occur:

(i) Two or more persons may congregate, associate, or consort for the purpose of engaging in specified sexual activities.

(ii) Two or more persons appear nude or seminude for the purpose of displaying their nude or seminude bodies for their receipt of consideration or compensation in any type or form.

(b) An establishment where a medical practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, or similar professional person licensed by the state engages in medically approved and recognized therapy, including, but not limited to, massage therapy, as regulated pursuant to section 4731.15 of the Revised Code, is not a "sexual encounter establishment."

(14) "Specified anatomical areas" means the cleft of the buttocks, anus, male or female genitals, or the female breast.

(15) "Specified sexual activity" means any of the following:

(a) Sex acts, normal or perverted, or actual or simulated, including intercourse, oral copulation, masturbation, or sodomy;

(b) Excretory functions as a part of or in connection with any of the activities described in division (A)(15)(a) of this section.

(B) No person knowingly shall allow an individual, including, but not limited to, a patron, customer, or employee, who is under eighteen years of age on the premises of an adult entertainment establishment.

(C) No individual who is under eighteen years of age knowingly shall show or give false information concerning the individual's name or age, or other false identification, for the purpose of gaining entrance to an adult entertainment establishment.

(D) A person shall not be found guilty of a violation of division (B) of this section if the person raises as an affirmative defense and if the jury or, in a nonjury trial, the court finds the person has established by a preponderance of the evidence, all of the following:

(1) The individual gaining entrance to the adult entertainment establishment exhibited to an operator, employee, agent, or independent contractor of the adult entertainment establishment a driver's or commercial driver's license or an identification card issued under sections 4507.50 and 4507.52 of the Revised Code showing that the individual was then at least eighteen years of age.

(2) The operator, employee, agent, or independent contractor made a bona fide effort to ascertain the true age of the individual gaining entrance to the adult entertainment establishment by checking the identification presented, at the time of entrance, to ascertain that the description on the identification compared with the appearance of the individual and that the identification had not been altered in any way.

(3) The operator, employee, agent, or independent contractor had reason to believe that the individual gaining entrance to the adult entertainment establishment was at least eighteen years of age.

(E) In any criminal action in which the affirmative defense described in division (D) of this section is raised, the registrar of motor vehicles or the deputy registrar who issued a driver's or commercial driver's license or an identification card under sections 4507.50 and 4507.52 of the Revised Code shall be permitted to submit certified copies of the records, in the registrar's or deputy registrar's possession, of the issuance of the license or identification card in question, in lieu of the testimony of the personnel of the bureau of motor vehicles in the action.

(F)(1) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of permitting a juvenile on the premises of an adult entertainment establishment, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Each day a person violates this division constitutes a separate offense.

(2) Whoever violates division (C) of this section is guilty of use by a juvenile of false information to enter an adult entertainment establishment, a delinquent act that would be a misdemeanor of the fourth degree if committed by an adult.

Sec. 4301.25.  (A) The liquor control commission may suspend or revoke any permit issued under this chapter or Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code for the violation of any of the applicable restrictions of either chapter or of any lawful rule of the commission, for other sufficient cause, and for the following causes:

(1) Conviction of the holder or the holder's agent or employee for violating division (B) of section 2907.39 of the Revised Code or a section of this chapter or Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code or for a felony;

(2) The entry of a judgment pursuant to division (D) or (E) of section 3767.05 of the Revised Code against a permit holder or the holder's agent or employee finding the existence of a nuisance at a liquor permit premises or finding the existence of a nuisance as a result of the operation of a liquor permit premises;

(3) Making any false material statement in an application for a permit;

(4) Assigning, transferring, or pledging a permit contrary to the rules of the commission;

(5) Selling or promising to sell beer or intoxicating liquor to a wholesale or retail dealer who is not the holder of a proper permit at the time of the sale or promise;

(6) Failure of the holder of a permit to pay an excise tax together with any penalties imposed by the law relating to that failure and for violation of any rule of the department of taxation in pursuance of the tax and penalties.

(B) The liquor control commission shall revoke a permit issued pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code upon the conviction of the holder of the permit of a violation of division (C)(1) of section 2913.46 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) When the commission considers the length of a suspension of a permit, it may consider the volume of the business of the permit holder, so that the length of the suspension is in proportion to the seriousness of the offense and the permit holder's business in order that the suspension serve as a penalty and a deterrent. Evidence as to the volume of business of the permit holder may be offered by the permit holder or subpoenaed by the commission.

(2) When the commission considers the length of a proposed suspension of a permit and the proposed suspension results from an offense that was committed during a compliance check as defined in section 4301.635 of the Revised Code, the commission may consider whether trickery, deceit, or deception was used in the conduct of the compliance check.

Section 2. That existing sections 303.02, 309.09, 503.29, 504.04, 504.15, 519.02, 1901.182, 1901.31, 1907.012, 1907.20, 2151.022, 2152.02, 2505.08, 2506.01, 2506.02, 2506.03, 2506.04, 2907.01, and 4301.25 and sections 503.51, 503.52, 503.53, 503.54, 503.55, 503.56, 503.57, 503.58, 503.59, 503.65, and 503.99 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

Section 3. In enacting new sections 503.51 and 503.52 and sections 2907.38 and 2907.39 of the Revised Code, the General Assembly makes the following statement of intent and findings:

(A)(1) Adult entertainment establishments require special supervision from the public safety agencies of this state in order to protect and preserve the health, safety, morals, and welfare of the patrons and employees of the businesses as well as the citizens of this state.

(2) The General Assembly finds that adult entertainment establishments are frequently used for unlawful sexual activities, including prostitution and sexual liaisons of a casual nature.

(3) The concern over sexually transmitted diseases is a legitimate health concern of this state that demands reasonable regulation of adult entertainment establishments by the state in the specified manner, and expanded authority for reasonable regulation of adult entertainment establishments by local governments, in order to protect the health and well-being of the citizens.

(4) Minimal regulations enacted by local governments or the state are a legitimate and reasonable means of accountability to ensure that operators of adult entertainment establishments comply with reasonable regulations and to ensure that operators do not knowingly allow their establishments to be used as places of illegal sexual activity or solicitation.

(5) There is convincing documented evidence that adult entertainment establishments, because of their very nature, have a deleterious effect on both the existing businesses around them and the surrounding residential areas adjacent to them and cause increased crime, particularly in the overnight hours, and the downgrading of property values.

(6) The General Assembly desires to minimize and control these adverse effects by regulating adult entertainment establishments in the specified manner and by expanding the authority of local governments to regulate adult entertainment establishments and, by minimizing and controlling these adverse effects, to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizenry; protect the citizens from increased crime; preserve the quality of life; preserve the property values and character of surrounding neighborhoods; and deter the spread of urban blight.

(7) The General Assembly has determined that current local zoning and other locational criteria do not adequately protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state and that expanded local government authority to regulate adult entertainment establishments is necessary.

(8) It is not the intent of the General Assembly in enacting this act to suppress, or authorize the suppression of, any speech activities protected by the First Amendment but to enact content-neutral statutes that expand local government authority to address the secondary effects of adult entertainment establishments.

(9) It is not the intent of the General Assembly to condone or legitimize the distribution of obscene material, and the General Assembly recognizes that state and federal law prohibits the distribution of obscene materials and expects and encourages state law enforcement officials to enforce state obscenity statutes against any such illegal activities in this state.

(B) It is the intent of the General Assembly in enacting new sections 503.51 and 503.52 and sections 2907.38 and 2907.39 of the Revised Code to regulate in the specified manner, and to expand the authority of local governments to regulate, adult entertainment establishments in order to promote the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the citizens of this state and establish reasonable regulations to prevent the deleterious secondary effects of adult entertainment establishments within this state. The provisions of new sections 503.51 and 503.52 and sections 2907.38 and 2907.39 of the Revised Code have neither the purpose nor effect of imposing a limitation or restriction on the content of any communicative materials, including sexually oriented materials. Similarly, it is not the intent nor effect of the General Assembly in enacting new sections 503.51 and 503.52 and sections 2907.38 and 2907.39 of the Revised Code to restrict or deny, or authorize the restriction or denial of, access by adults to sexually oriented materials protected by the First Amendment, or to deny, or authorize the denial of, access by the distributors and exhibitors of adult entertainment and adult materials to their intended market. Neither is it the intent nor effect of the General Assembly in enacting new sections 503.51 and 503.52 and sections 2907.38 and 2907.39 of the Revised Code to condone or legitimize the distribution or exhibition of obscene material.

(C) Based on evidence concerning the adverse secondary effects of adult uses on communities presented in hearings and in reports made available to the legislature and on findings incorporated in the cases of City of Littleton, Colorado v. Z.J. Gifts D-4, L.L.C. (2004), 541 U.S. 774, City of Erie v. Pap's A.M. (2000), 529 U.S. 277; Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Inc. (1991), 501 U.S. 560; City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc. (1986), 475 U.S. 41; Young v. American Mini Theatres (1976), 426 U.S. 50; California v. LaRue (1972), 409 U.S. 109; DLS, Inc. v. City of Chattanooga (6th Cir. 1997) 107 F.3d 403; East Brooks Books, Inc. v. City of Memphis, (6th Cir. 1995), 48 F.3d 220; Harris v. Fitchville Township Trustees (N.D. Ohio 2000), 99 F. Supp.2d 837; Bamon Corp. v. City of Dayton (S.D. Ohio 1990), 730 F. Supp. 90, aff'd (6th Cir. 1991), 923 F.2d 470; Broadway Books v. Roberts (E.D. Tenn. 1986), 642 F. Supp. 486; Bright Lights, Inc. v. City of Newport (E.D. Ky. 1993), 830 F. Supp. 378; Richland Bookmart v. Nichols (6th Cir. 1998), 137 F.3d 435; Deja Vu v. Metro Government (6th Cir. 1999), 1999 U.S. App. LEXIS 535; Threesome Entertainment v. Strittmather (N.D. Ohio 1998), 4 F.Supp.2d 710; J.L. Spoons, Inc. v. City of Brunswick (N.D. Ohio 1999), 49 F. Supp.2d 1032; Triplett Grille, Inc. v. City of Akron (6th Cir. 1994) 40 F.3d 129; Nightclubs, Inc. v. City of Paducah (6th Cir. 2000), 202 F.3d 884; O'Connor v. City and County of Denver (10th Cir. 1990), 894 F.2d 1210; Deja Vu of Nashville, Inc., et al. v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (6th Cir. 2001), 2001 U.S. App. LEXIS 26007; State of Ohio ex rel. Rothal v. Smith (Ohio C.P. 2002), Summit C.P. No. CV 01094594; Z.J. Gifts D-2, L.L.C. v. City of Aurora (10th Cir. 1998), 136 F.3d 683; Connection Distrib. Co. v. Reno (6th Cir. 1998), 154 F.3d 281; Sundance Assocs. v. Reno (10th Cir. 1998), 139 F.3d 804; American Library Association v. Reno (D.C. Cir. 1994), 33 F.3d 78; American Target Advertising, Inc. v. Giani (10th Cir. 2000), 199 F.3d 1241; and other cases and on reports of secondary effects occurring in and around adult entertainment establishments in Phoenix, Arizona (1984); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1980); Houston, Texas (1983); Indianapolis, Indiana (1984); Amarillo, Texas (1977); Garden Grove, California (1991); Los Angeles, California (1977); Whittier, California (1978); Austin, Texas (1986); Seattle, Washington (1989); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (1986); Cleveland, Ohio (1977); Dallas, Texas (1997); St. Croix County, Wisconsin (1993); Bellevue, Washington (1998); Newport News, Virginia (1996); Tucson, Arizona (1990); St. Paul, Minnesota (1988); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (1986 and 1992); Beaumont, Texas (1982); New York, New York (1994); Ellicottville, New York (1998); Des Moines, Iowa (1984); Islip, New York (1980); Adams County, Colorado (1987); Manatee County, Florida (1987); New Hanover County, North Carolina (1989); Las Vegas, Nevada (1978); Cattaraugas County, New York (1998); Cleburne, Texas (1997); Dallas, Texas (1997); El Paso, Texas (1986); New York Times Square study (1994); Report to ACLJ on the Secondary Impacts of Sex Oriented Businesses (1996); the findings from the Report of the Attorney General's Working Group On The Regulation Of Sexually Oriented Businesses (June 6, 1989, State of Minnesota); and on testimony to Congress in 136 Cong. Rec. S. 8987; 135 Cong. Rec. S. 14519; 135 Cong. Rec. S. 5636, 134 Cong. Rec. E. 3750; and also on findings from the paper entitled "Stripclubs According to Strippers: Exposing Workplace Sexual Violence," by Kelly Holsopple, Program Director, Freedom and Justice Center for Prostitution Resources, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and from "Sexually Oriented Businesses: An Insider's View," by David Sherman, presented to the Michigan House Committee on Ethics and Constitutional Law, Jan. 12, 2000; and from various other police reports, testimony, newspaper reports, and other documentary evidence, the General Assembly finds:

(1) Adult entertainment establishments lend themselves to ancillary unlawful and unhealthy activities that are presently uncontrolled by the operators of the establishments. Further, there is presently no statewide mechanism, and no general or comprehensive grant of authority enabling local governments, to make the owners of these establishments responsible for the activities that occur on their premises.

(2) Certain employees of adult entertainment establishments, as defined in section 2907.39 of the Revised Code as adult theaters and cabarets, engage in a higher incidence of certain types of illicit sexual behavior than employees of other establishments.

(3) Sexual acts, including masturbation and oral and anal sex, occur at adult entertainment establishments, especially those that provide private or semiprivate booths or cubicles for viewing films, videos, or live sex shows. The "couch dances" or "lap dances" that frequently occur in adult entertainment establishments featuring live nude or seminude dancers constitute or may constitute the offense of "engaging in prostitution" under section 2907.25 of the Revised Code.

(4) Offering and providing such space encourages such activities, which creates unhealthy conditions.

(5) Persons frequent certain adult theaters, adult arcades, and other adult entertainment establishments for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity within the premises of those adult entertainment establishments.

(6) Numerous communicable diseases may be spread by activities occurring in sexually oriented businesses, including, but not limited to, syphilis, gonorrhea, human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV-AIDS), genital herpes, hepatitis salmonella, campylobacter and shigella infections, chlamydial, myoplasmal and ureoplasmal infections, trichomoniasis, and chancroid.

(7) Since 1981 and to the present, there has been an increasing cumulative number of reported cases of AIDS caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States: 600 in 1982, 2,200 in 1983, 4,600 in 1984, 8,555 in 1985, and 253,448 through December 31, 1992.

(8) A total of 10,255 AIDS cases had been reported in Ohio as of January 1999. Ohio has required HIV case reporting since 1990, and the reported information shows 7,969 people living with (HIV) (4,213) and (AIDS) (3,756) in the state.

(9) Since 1981 and to the present, there have been an increasing cumulative number of persons testing positive for the HIV antibody test in Ohio.

(10) The number of cases of early (less than one year) syphilis in the Unites States reported annually has risen. 33,613 cases were reported in 1982, and 45,200 cases were reported through November 1990.

(11) The number of cases of gonorrhea in the United States reported annually remains at a high level, with over one-half million cases being reported in 1990.

(12) The Surgeon General of the United States in his report of October 22, 1986, has advised the American public that AIDS and HIV infection may be transmitted through sexual contact, intravenous drug abuse, and exposure to infected blood and blood components, and from an infected mother to her newborn.

(13) According to the best scientific evidence, AIDS and HIV infection, as well as syphilis and gonorrhea, are principally transmitted by sexual acts.

(14) Sanitary conditions in some adult entertainment establishments are unhealthy, in part, because the activities conducted there are unhealthy, and, in part, because of the unregulated nature of the activities and the failure of the owners and the operators of the facilities to self-regulate those activities and maintain those facilities.

(15) The findings noted in divisions (C)(1) to (14) of this section raise substantial governmental concerns.

(16) Adult entertainment establishments have operational characteristics that should subject them to reasonable government regulation in order to protect those substantial governmental concerns.

(17) The enactment of new sections 503.51 and 503.52 and sections 2907.38 and 2907.39 of the Revised Code will promote the general welfare, health, morals, and safety of the citizens of this state.

Section 4.  Section 303.02 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Sub. H.B. 411 and Am. Sub. S.B. 18 of the 125th General Assembly. Section 519.02 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Sub. H.B. 411 and Am. Sub. S.B. 18 of the 125th General Assembly. Section 2151.022 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Am. Sub. S.B. 179 and Sub. S.B. 218 of the 123rd General Assembly. The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the composite is the resulting version of the section in effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in this act.