To enact section 9.481 of the Revised Code to generally prohibit political subdivisions from imposing residency requirements on certain employees.

Section 1. That section 9.481 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 9.481. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Political subdivision" has the same meaning as in section 2743.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Volunteer" means a person who is not paid for service or who is employed on less than a permanent full-time basis.

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section, no political subdivision shall require any of its employees, as a condition of employment, to reside in any specific area of the state.

(2)(a) Division (B)(1) of this section does not apply to a volunteer.

(b) To ensure adequate response times by certain employees of political subdivisions to emergencies or disasters while ensuring that those employees generally are free to reside throughout the state, the electors of any political subdivision may file an initiative petition to submit a local law to the electorate, or the legislative authority of the political subdivision may adopt an ordinance or resolution, that requires any individual employed by that political subdivision, as a condition of employment, to reside either in the county where the political subdivision is located or in any adjacent county in this state. For the purposes of this section, an initiative petition shall be filed and considered as provided in sections 731.28 and 731.31 of the Revised Code, except that the fiscal officer of the political subdivision shall take the actions prescribed for the auditor or clerk if the political subdivision has no auditor or clerk, and except that references to a municipal corporation shall be considered to be references to the applicable political subdivision.