130th Ohio General Assembly
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Sub. H. B. No. 428  As Reported by the Senate Education Committee
As Reported by the Senate Education Committee

127th General Assembly
Regular Session
2007-2008
Sub. H. B. No. 428


Representative Setzer 

Cosponsors: Representatives Evans, Stebelton, Williams, B., Adams, Bacon, Boyd, Brown, Budish, Celeste, Coley, Collier, Combs, DeBose, DeGeeter, Domenick, Fende, Flowers, Goyal, Hagan, J., Hagan, R., Heard, Hite, Hughes, Jones, Luckie, Mandel, McGregor, J., Newcomb, Patton, Sayre, Schlichter, Slesnick, Strahorn, Sykes, Webster, White, Yuko 

Senators Jacobson, Padgett, Cates, Niehaus, Mumper, Roberts, Morano, Sawyer 



A BILL
To amend sections 109.57, 2953.33, 3313.31, 3314.03, 3314.19, 3319.01, 3319.20, 3319.291, 3319.302, 3319.304, 3319.31, 3319.311, 3319.313, 3319.314, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3319.52, 3319.99, 3326.11, 3326.23, 3327.10, 5126.253, 5126.254, 5126.99, and 5153.176 and to enact sections 3314.101, 3314.40, 3314.401, 3314.402, 3314.403, 3314.41, 3314.99, 3319.292, 3319.316, 3319.317, 3319.392, 3319.40, 3326.081, 3326.24, 3326.241, 3326.242, 3326.243, 3326.25, 3326.99, and 5153.99 of the Revised Code regarding the reporting of and discipline for school employee misconduct.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 109.57, 2953.33, 3313.31, 3314.03, 3314.19, 3319.01, 3319.20, 3319.291, 3319.302, 3319.304, 3319.31, 3319.311, 3319.313, 3319.314, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3319.52, 3319.99, 3326.11, 3326.23, 3327.10, 5126.253, 5126.254, 5126.99, and 5153.176 be amended and sections 3314.101, 3314.40, 3314.401, 3314.402, 3314.403, 3314.41, 3314.99, 3319.292, 3319.316, 3319.317, 3319.392, 3319.40, 3326.081, 3326.24, 3326.241, 3326.242, 3326.243, 3326.25, 3326.99, and 5153.99 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 109.57.  (A)(1) The superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall procure from wherever procurable and file for record photographs, pictures, descriptions, fingerprints, measurements, and other information that may be pertinent of all persons who have been convicted of committing within this state a felony, any crime constituting a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses, or any misdemeanor described in division (A)(1)(a) or (A)(10)(a) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, of all children under eighteen years of age who have been adjudicated delinquent children for committing within this state an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult or who have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to committing within this state a felony or an offense of violence, and of all well-known and habitual criminals. The person in charge of any county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution and the person in charge of any state institution having custody of a person suspected of having committed a felony, any crime constituting a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses, or any misdemeanor described in division (A)(1)(a) or (A)(10)(a) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code or having custody of a child under eighteen years of age with respect to whom there is probable cause to believe that the child may have committed an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult shall furnish such material to the superintendent of the bureau. Fingerprints, photographs, or other descriptive information of a child who is under eighteen years of age, has not been arrested or otherwise taken into custody for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, has not been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to committing a felony or an offense of violence, and is not a child with respect to whom there is probable cause to believe that the child may have committed an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult shall not be procured by the superintendent or furnished by any person in charge of any county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution, except as authorized in section 2151.313 of the Revised Code.
(2) Every clerk of a court of record in this state, other than the supreme court or a court of appeals, shall send to the superintendent of the bureau a weekly report containing a summary of each case involving a felony, involving any crime constituting a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses, involving a misdemeanor described in division (A)(1)(a) or (A)(10)(a) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, or involving an adjudication in a case in which a child under eighteen years of age was alleged to be a delinquent child for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult. The clerk of the court of common pleas shall include in the report and summary the clerk sends under this division all information described in divisions (A)(2)(a) to (f) of this section regarding a case before the court of appeals that is served by that clerk. The summary shall be written on the standard forms furnished by the superintendent pursuant to division (B) of this section and shall include the following information:
(a) The incident tracking number contained on the standard forms furnished by the superintendent pursuant to division (B) of this section;
(b) The style and number of the case;
(c) The date of arrest;
(d) The date that the person was convicted of or pleaded guilty to the offense, adjudicated a delinquent child for committing the act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, found not guilty of the offense, or found not to be a delinquent child for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, the date of an entry dismissing the charge, an entry declaring a mistrial of the offense in which the person is discharged, an entry finding that the person or child is not competent to stand trial, or an entry of a nolle prosequi, or the date of any other determination that constitutes final resolution of the case;
(e) A statement of the original charge with the section of the Revised Code that was alleged to be violated;
(f) If the person or child was convicted, pleaded guilty, or was adjudicated a delinquent child, the sentence or terms of probation imposed or any other disposition of the offender or the delinquent child.
If the offense involved the disarming of a law enforcement officer or an attempt to disarm a law enforcement officer, the clerk shall clearly state that fact in the summary, and the superintendent shall ensure that a clear statement of that fact is placed in the bureau's records.
(3) The superintendent shall cooperate with and assist sheriffs, chiefs of police, and other law enforcement officers in the establishment of a complete system of criminal identification and in obtaining fingerprints and other means of identification of all persons arrested on a charge of a felony, any crime constituting a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses, or a misdemeanor described in division (A)(1)(a) or (A)(10)(a) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and of all children under eighteen years of age arrested or otherwise taken into custody for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult. The superintendent also shall file for record the fingerprint impressions of all persons confined in a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution for the violation of state laws and of all children under eighteen years of age who are confined in a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution or in any facility for delinquent children for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, and any other information that the superintendent may receive from law enforcement officials of the state and its political subdivisions.
(4) The superintendent shall carry out Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code with respect to the registration of persons who are convicted of or plead guilty to a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense and with respect to all other duties imposed on the bureau under that chapter.
(5) The bureau shall perform centralized recordkeeping functions for criminal history records and services in this state for purposes of the national crime prevention and privacy compact set forth in section 109.571 of the Revised Code and is the criminal history record repository as defined in that section for purposes of that compact. The superintendent or the superintendent's designee is the compact officer for purposes of that compact and shall carry out the responsibilities of the compact officer specified in that compact.
(B) The superintendent shall prepare and furnish to every county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, community-based correctional facility, halfway house, alternative residential facility, or state correctional institution and to every clerk of a court in this state specified in division (A)(2) of this section standard forms for reporting the information required under division (A) of this section. The standard forms that the superintendent prepares pursuant to this division may be in a tangible format, in an electronic format, or in both tangible formats and electronic formats.
(C)(1) The superintendent may operate a center for electronic, automated, or other data processing for the storage and retrieval of information, data, and statistics pertaining to criminals and to children under eighteen years of age who are adjudicated delinquent children for committing an act that would be a felony or an offense of violence if committed by an adult, criminal activity, crime prevention, law enforcement, and criminal justice, and may establish and operate a statewide communications network to gather and disseminate information, data, and statistics for the use of law enforcement agencies and for other uses specified in this division. The superintendent may gather, store, retrieve, and disseminate information, data, and statistics that pertain to children who are under eighteen years of age and that are gathered pursuant to sections 109.57 to 109.61 of the Revised Code together with information, data, and statistics that pertain to adults and that are gathered pursuant to those sections.
(2) The superintendent or the superintendent's designee shall gather information of the nature described in division (C)(1) of this section that pertains to the offense and delinquency history of a person who has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense for inclusion in the state registry of sex offenders and child-victim offenders maintained pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 2950.13 of the Revised Code and in the internet database operated pursuant to division (A)(13) of that section and for possible inclusion in the internet database operated pursuant to division (A)(11) of that section.
(3) In addition to any other authorized use of information, data, and statistics of the nature described in division (C)(1) of this section, the superintendent or the superintendent's designee may provide and exchange the information, data, and statistics pursuant to the national crime prevention and privacy compact as described in division (A)(5) of this section.
(D) The information and materials furnished to the superintendent pursuant to division (A) of this section and information and materials furnished to any board or person under division (F) or (G) of this section are not public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The superintendent or the superintendent's designee shall gather and retain information so furnished under division (A) of this section that pertains to the offense and delinquency history of a person who has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense for the purposes described in division (C)(2) of this section.
(E) The attorney general shall adopt rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, setting forth the procedure by which a person may receive or release information gathered by the superintendent pursuant to division (A) of this section. A reasonable fee may be charged for this service. If a temporary employment service submits a request for a determination of whether a person the service plans to refer to an employment position has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed in division (A)(1), (3), (4), (5), or (6) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, the request shall be treated as a single request and only one fee shall be charged.
(F)(1) As used in division (F)(2) of this section, "head start agency" means an entity in this state that has been approved to be an agency for purposes of subchapter II of the "Community Economic Development Act," 95 Stat. 489 (1981), 42 U.S.C.A. 9831, as amended.
(2)(a) In addition to or in conjunction with any request that is required to be made under section 109.572, 2151.86, 3301.32, 3301.541, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3327.10, 3701.881, 5104.012, 5104.013, 5123.081, 5126.28, 5126.281, or 5153.111 of the Revised Code or that is made under section 3314.41, 3319.392, or 3326.25 of the Revised Code, the board of education of any school district; the director of mental retardation and developmental disabilities; any county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities; any entity under contract with a county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities; the chief administrator of any chartered nonpublic school; the chief administrator of any home health agency; the chief administrator of or person operating any child day-care center, type A family day-care home, or type B family day-care home licensed or certified under Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code; the administrator of any type C family day-care home certified pursuant to Section 1 of Sub. H.B. 62 of the 121st general assembly or Section 5 of Am. Sub. S.B. 160 of the 121st general assembly; the chief administrator of any head start agency; the executive director of a public children services agency; or an employer a private company described in division (A)(2) of section 3319.391 3314.41, 3319.392, or 3326.25 of the Revised Code; or an employer described in division (J)(2) of section 3327.10 of the Revised Code may request that the superintendent of the bureau investigate and determine, with respect to any individual who has applied for employment in any position after October 2, 1989, or any individual wishing to apply for employment with a board of education may request, with regard to the individual, whether the bureau has any information gathered under division (A) of this section that pertains to that individual. On receipt of the request, the superintendent shall determine whether that information exists and, upon request of the person, board, or entity requesting information, also shall request from the federal bureau of investigation any criminal records it has pertaining to that individual. The superintendent or the superintendent's designee also may request criminal history records from other states or the federal government pursuant to the national crime prevention and privacy compact set forth in section 109.571 of the Revised Code. Within thirty days of the date that the superintendent receives a request, the superintendent shall send to the board, entity, or person a report of any information that the superintendent determines exists, including information contained in records that have been sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, and, within thirty days of its receipt, shall send the board, entity, or person a report of any information received from the federal bureau of investigation, other than information the dissemination of which is prohibited by federal law.
(b) When a board of education is required to receive information under this section as a prerequisite to employment of an individual pursuant to section 3319.39 of the Revised Code, it may accept a certified copy of records that were issued by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and that are presented by an individual applying for employment with the district in lieu of requesting that information itself. In such a case, the board shall accept the certified copy issued by the bureau in order to make a photocopy of it for that individual's employment application documents and shall return the certified copy to the individual. In a case of that nature, a district only shall accept a certified copy of records of that nature within one year after the date of their issuance by the bureau.
(3) The state board of education may request, with respect to any individual who has applied for employment after October 2, 1989, in any position with the state board or the department of education, any information that a school district board of education is authorized to request under division (F)(2) of this section, and the superintendent of the bureau shall proceed as if the request has been received from a school district board of education under division (F)(2) of this section.
(4) When the superintendent of the bureau receives a request for information under section 3319.291 of the Revised Code, the superintendent shall proceed as if the request has been received from a school district board of education under division (F)(2) of this section.
(5) When a recipient of a classroom reading improvement grant paid under section 3301.86 of the Revised Code requests, with respect to any individual who applies to participate in providing any program or service funded in whole or in part by the grant, the information that a school district board of education is authorized to request under division (F)(2)(a) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau shall proceed as if the request has been received from a school district board of education under division (F)(2)(a) of this section.
(G) In addition to or in conjunction with any request that is required to be made under section 3701.881, 3712.09, 3721.121, or 3722.151 of the Revised Code with respect to an individual who has applied for employment in a position that involves providing direct care to an older adult, the chief administrator of a home health agency, hospice care program, home licensed under Chapter 3721. of the Revised Code, adult day-care program operated pursuant to rules adopted under section 3721.04 of the Revised Code, or adult care facility may request that the superintendent of the bureau investigate and determine, with respect to any individual who has applied after January 27, 1997, for employment in a position that does not involve providing direct care to an older adult, whether the bureau has any information gathered under division (A) of this section that pertains to that individual.
In addition to or in conjunction with any request that is required to be made under section 173.27 of the Revised Code with respect to an individual who has applied for employment in a position that involves providing ombudsperson services to residents of long-term care facilities or recipients of community-based long-term care services, the state long-term care ombudsperson, ombudsperson's designee, or director of health may request that the superintendent investigate and determine, with respect to any individual who has applied for employment in a position that does not involve providing such ombudsperson services, whether the bureau has any information gathered under division (A) of this section that pertains to that applicant.
In addition to or in conjunction with any request that is required to be made under section 173.394 of the Revised Code with respect to an individual who has applied for employment in a position that involves providing direct care to an individual, the chief administrator of a community-based long-term care agency may request that the superintendent investigate and determine, with respect to any individual who has applied for employment in a position that does not involve providing direct care, whether the bureau has any information gathered under division (A) of this section that pertains to that applicant.
On receipt of a request under this division, the superintendent shall determine whether that information exists and, on request of the individual requesting information, shall also request from the federal bureau of investigation any criminal records it has pertaining to the applicant. The superintendent or the superintendent's designee also may request criminal history records from other states or the federal government pursuant to the national crime prevention and privacy compact set forth in section 109.571 of the Revised Code. Within thirty days of the date a request is received, the superintendent shall send to the requester a report of any information determined to exist, including information contained in records that have been sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, and, within thirty days of its receipt, shall send the requester a report of any information received from the federal bureau of investigation, other than information the dissemination of which is prohibited by federal law.
(H) Information obtained by a government entity or person under this section is confidential and shall not be released or disseminated.
(I) The superintendent may charge a reasonable fee for providing information or criminal records under division (F)(2) or (G) of this section.
(J) As used in this section, "sexually oriented offense" and "child-victim oriented offense" have the same meanings as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 2953.33.  (A) Except as provided in division (G) of section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, an order to seal the record of a person's conviction restores the person who is the subject of the order to all rights and privileges not otherwise restored by termination of the sentence or community control sanction or by final release on parole or post-release control.
(B) In any application for employment, license, or other right or privilege, any appearance as a witness, or any other inquiry, except as provided in division (E) of section 2953.32 and in section 3319.292 of the Revised Code, a person may be questioned only with respect to convictions not sealed, bail forfeitures not expunged under section 2953.42 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to June 29, 1988, and bail forfeitures not sealed, unless the question bears a direct and substantial relationship to the position for which the person is being considered.
Sec. 3313.31. (A) All the duties and obligations of the county auditor, county treasurer, or other officer or person relating to the moneys of a school district shall be complied with by dealing with the treasurer of the board of education thereof.
The treasurer shall be the chief fiscal officer of the school district, shall be responsible for the financial affairs of the district, and shall report to and is subject to the direction of the district board of education. Except as otherwise required by law, no treasurer shall be required to verify the accuracy of nonfinancial information or data of the school district.
(B) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, but subject to section 3319.40 of the Revised Code, in all school districts and educational service centers, the treasurer shall direct and assign employees directly engaged in the day-to-day fiscal operations of the district or service center, as those employees are so designated by the board of the district or service center.
Sec. 3314.03.  A copy of every contract entered into under this section shall be filed with the superintendent of public instruction.
(A) Each contract entered into between a sponsor and the governing authority of a community school shall specify the following:
(1) That the school shall be established as either of the following:
(a) A nonprofit corporation established under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code, if established prior to April 8, 2003;
(b) A public benefit corporation established under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code, if established after April 8, 2003;.
(2) The education program of the school, including the school's mission, the characteristics of the students the school is expected to attract, the ages and grades of students, and the focus of the curriculum;
(3) The academic goals to be achieved and the method of measurement that will be used to determine progress toward those goals, which shall include the statewide achievement tests;
(4) Performance standards by which the success of the school will be evaluated by the sponsor;
(5) The admission standards of section 3314.06 of the Revised Code and, if applicable, section 3314.061 of the Revised Code;
(6)(a) Dismissal procedures;
(b) A requirement that the governing authority adopt an attendance policy that includes a procedure for automatically withdrawing a student from the school if the student without a legitimate excuse fails to participate in one hundred five consecutive hours of the learning opportunities offered to the student.
(7) The ways by which the school will achieve racial and ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves;
(8) Requirements for financial audits by the auditor of state. The contract shall require financial records of the school to be maintained in the same manner as are financial records of school districts, pursuant to rules of the auditor of state, and the audits shall be conducted in accordance with section 117.10 of the Revised Code.
(9) The facilities to be used and their locations;
(10) Qualifications of teachers, including a requirement that the school's classroom teachers be licensed in accordance with sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code, except that a community school may engage noncertificated persons to teach up to twelve hours per week pursuant to section 3319.301 of the Revised Code;
(11) That the school will comply with the following requirements:
(a) The school will provide learning opportunities to a minimum of twenty-five students for a minimum of nine hundred twenty hours per school year;.
(b) The governing authority will purchase liability insurance, or otherwise provide for the potential liability of the school;.
(c) The school will be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations, and will not be operated by a sectarian school or religious institution;.
(d) The school will comply with sections 9.90, 9.91, 109.65, 121.22, 149.43, 2151.357, 2151.421, 2313.18, 3301.0710, 3301.0711, 3301.0712, 3301.0715, 3313.472, 3313.50, 3313.536, 3313.608, 3313.6012, 3313.6013, 3313.6014, 3313.643, 3313.648, 3313.66, 3313.661, 3313.662, 3313.666, 3313.667, 3313.67, 3313.671, 3313.672, 3313.673, 3313.69, 3313.71, 3313.716, 3313.718, 3313.80, 3313.96, 3319.073, 3319.313, 3319.314, 3319.315, 3319.321, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3321.01, 3321.13, 3321.14, 3321.17, 3321.18, 3321.19, 3321.191, 3327.10, 4111.17, 4113.52, and 5705.391 and Chapters 117., 1347., 2744., 3365., 3742., 4112., 4123., 4141., and 4167. of the Revised Code as if it were a school district and will comply with section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code in the manner specified in section 3314.17 of the Revised Code;.
(e) The school shall comply with Chapter 102. and section 2921.42 of the Revised Code;.
(f) The school will comply with sections 3313.61, 3313.611, and 3313.614 of the Revised Code, except that for students who enter ninth grade for the first time before July 1, 2010, the requirement in sections 3313.61 and 3313.611 of the Revised Code that a person must successfully complete the curriculum in any high school prior to receiving a high school diploma may be met by completing the curriculum adopted by the governing authority of the community school rather than the curriculum specified in Title XXXIII of the Revised Code or any rules of the state board of education. Beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2010, the requirement in sections 3313.61 and 3313.611 of the Revised Code that a person must successfully complete the curriculum of a high school prior to receiving a high school diploma shall be met by completing the Ohio core curriculum prescribed in division (C) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, unless the person qualifies under division (D) or (F) of that section. Each school shall comply with the plan for awarding high school credit based on demonstration of subject area competency, adopted by the state board of education under division (J) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code.
(g) The school governing authority will submit within four months after the end of each school year a report of its activities and progress in meeting the goals and standards of divisions (A)(3) and (4) of this section and its financial status to the sponsor and the parents of all students enrolled in the school.
(h) The school, unless it is an internet- or computer-based community school, will comply with section 3313.801 of the Revised Code as if it were a school district.
(12) Arrangements for providing health and other benefits to employees;
(13) The length of the contract, which shall begin at the beginning of an academic year. No contract shall exceed five years unless such contract has been renewed pursuant to division (E) of this section.
(14) The governing authority of the school, which shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of the contract;
(15) A financial plan detailing an estimated school budget for each year of the period of the contract and specifying the total estimated per pupil expenditure amount for each such year. The plan shall specify for each year the base formula amount that will be used for purposes of funding calculations under section 3314.08 of the Revised Code. This base formula amount for any year shall not exceed the formula amount defined under section 3317.02 of the Revised Code. The plan may also specify for any year a percentage figure to be used for reducing the per pupil amount of the subsidy calculated pursuant to section 3317.029 of the Revised Code the school is to receive that year under section 3314.08 of the Revised Code.
(16) Requirements and procedures regarding the disposition of employees of the school in the event the contract is terminated or not renewed pursuant to section 3314.07 of the Revised Code;
(17) Whether the school is to be created by converting all or part of an existing public school or is to be a new start-up school, and if it is a converted public school, specification of any duties or responsibilities of an employer that the board of education that operated the school before conversion is delegating to the governing board of the community school with respect to all or any specified group of employees provided the delegation is not prohibited by a collective bargaining agreement applicable to such employees;
(18) Provisions establishing procedures for resolving disputes or differences of opinion between the sponsor and the governing authority of the community school;
(19) A provision requiring the governing authority to adopt a policy regarding the admission of students who reside outside the district in which the school is located. That policy shall comply with the admissions procedures specified in sections 3314.06 and 3314.061 of the Revised Code and, at the sole discretion of the authority, shall do one of the following:
(a) Prohibit the enrollment of students who reside outside the district in which the school is located;
(b) Permit the enrollment of students who reside in districts adjacent to the district in which the school is located;
(c) Permit the enrollment of students who reside in any other district in the state.
(20) A provision recognizing the authority of the department of education to take over the sponsorship of the school in accordance with the provisions of division (C) of section 3314.015 of the Revised Code;
(21) A provision recognizing the sponsor's authority to assume the operation of a school under the conditions specified in division (B) of section 3314.073 of the Revised Code;
(22) A provision recognizing both of the following:
(a) The authority of public health and safety officials to inspect the facilities of the school and to order the facilities closed if those officials find that the facilities are not in compliance with health and safety laws and regulations;
(b) The authority of the department of education as the community school oversight body to suspend the operation of the school under section 3314.072 of the Revised Code if the department has evidence of conditions or violations of law at the school that pose an imminent danger to the health and safety of the school's students and employees and the sponsor refuses to take such action;
(23) A description of the learning opportunities that will be offered to students including both classroom-based and non-classroom-based learning opportunities that is in compliance with criteria for student participation established by the department under division (L)(2) of section 3314.08 of the Revised Code;
(24) The school will comply with section 3302.04 of the Revised Code, including division (E) of that section to the extent possible, except that any action required to be taken by a school district pursuant to that section shall be taken by the sponsor of the school. However, the sponsor shall not be required to take any action described in division (F) of that section.
(25) Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year, the school will open for operation not later than the thirtieth day of September each school year, unless the mission of the school as specified under division (A)(2) of this section is solely to serve dropouts. In its initial year of operation, if the school fails to open by the thirtieth day of September, or within one year after the adoption of the contract pursuant to division (D) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code if the mission of the school is solely to serve dropouts, the contract shall be void.
(B) The community school shall also submit to the sponsor a comprehensive plan for the school. The plan shall specify the following:
(1) The process by which the governing authority of the school will be selected in the future;
(2) The management and administration of the school;
(3) If the community school is a currently existing public school, alternative arrangements for current public school students who choose not to attend the school and teachers who choose not to teach in the school after conversion;
(4) The instructional program and educational philosophy of the school;
(5) Internal financial controls.
(C) A contract entered into under section 3314.02 of the Revised Code between a sponsor and the governing authority of a community school may provide for the community school governing authority to make payments to the sponsor, which is hereby authorized to receive such payments as set forth in the contract between the governing authority and the sponsor. The total amount of such payments for oversight and monitoring of the school shall not exceed three per cent of the total amount of payments for operating expenses that the school receives from the state.
(D) The contract shall specify the duties of the sponsor which shall be in accordance with the written agreement entered into with the department of education under division (B) of section 3314.015 of the Revised Code and shall include the following:
(1) Monitor the community school's compliance with all laws applicable to the school and with the terms of the contract;
(2) Monitor and evaluate the academic and fiscal performance and the organization and operation of the community school on at least an annual basis;
(3) Report on an annual basis the results of the evaluation conducted under division (D)(2) of this section to the department of education and to the parents of students enrolled in the community school;
(4) Provide technical assistance to the community school in complying with laws applicable to the school and terms of the contract;
(5) Take steps to intervene in the school's operation to correct problems in the school's overall performance, declare the school to be on probationary status pursuant to section 3314.073 of the Revised Code, suspend the operation of the school pursuant to section 3314.072 of the Revised Code, or terminate the contract of the school pursuant to section 3314.07 of the Revised Code as determined necessary by the sponsor;
(6) Have in place a plan of action to be undertaken in the event the community school experiences financial difficulties or closes prior to the end of a school year.
(E) Upon the expiration of a contract entered into under this section, the sponsor of a community school may, with the approval of the governing authority of the school, renew that contract for a period of time determined by the sponsor, but not ending earlier than the end of any school year, if the sponsor finds that the school's compliance with applicable laws and terms of the contract and the school's progress in meeting the academic goals prescribed in the contract have been satisfactory. Any contract that is renewed under this division remains subject to the provisions of sections 3314.07, 3314.072, and 3314.073 of the Revised Code.
(F) If a community school fails to open for operation within one year after the contract entered into under this section is adopted pursuant to division (D) of section 3314.02 of the Revised Code or permanently closes prior to the expiration of the contract, the contract shall be void and the school shall not enter into a contract with any other sponsor. A school shall not be considered permanently closed because the operations of the school have been suspended pursuant to section 3314.072 of the Revised Code. Any contract that becomes void under this division shall not count toward any statewide limit on the number of such contracts prescribed by section 3314.013 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3314.101. (A) As used in this section, "license" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(B) If a person who is employed by a community school established under this chapter or by an operator is arrested, summoned, or indicted for an alleged violation of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, if the person holds a license, or an offense listed in division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code, if the person does not hold a license, the chief administrator of the community school in which that person works shall suspend that person from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child during the pendency of the criminal action against the person. If the person who is arrested, summoned, or indicted for an alleged violation of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code is the chief administrator of the community school, the governing authority of the school shall suspend the chief administrator from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child.
(C) When a person who holds a license is suspended in accordance with this section, the chief administrator or governing authority that imposed the suspension promptly shall report the person's suspension to the department of education. The report shall include the offense for which the person was arrested, summoned, or indicted.
Sec. 3314.19.  The sponsor of each community school annually shall provide the following assurances in writing to the department of education not later than ten business days prior to the opening of the school:
(A) That a current copy of the contract between the sponsor and the governing authority of the school entered into under section 3314.03 of the Revised Code has been filed with the state office of community schools established under section 3314.11 of the Revised Code and that any subsequent modifications to that contract will be filed with the office;
(B) That the school has submitted to the sponsor a plan for providing special education and related services to students with disabilities and has demonstrated the capacity to provide those services in accordance with Chapter 3323. of the Revised Code and federal law;
(C) That the school has a plan and procedures for administering the achievement tests and diagnostic assessments prescribed by sections 3301.0710 and 3301.0715 of the Revised Code;
(D) That school personnel have the necessary training, knowledge, and resources to properly use and submit information to all databases maintained by the department for the collection of education data, including the education management information system established under section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code in accordance with methods and timelines established under section 3314.17 of the Revised Code;
(E) That all required information about the school has been submitted to the Ohio education directory system or any successor system;
(F) That the school will enroll at least the minimum number of students required by division (A)(11)(a) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code in the school year for which the assurances are provided;
(G) That all classroom teachers are licensed in accordance with sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code, except for noncertificated persons engaged to teach up to twelve hours per week pursuant to section 3319.301 of the Revised Code;
(H) That the school's fiscal officer is in compliance with section 3314.011 of the Revised Code;
(I) That the school has complied with section sections 3319.39 and 3319.391 of the Revised Code with respect to all employees and that the school has conducted a criminal records check of each of its governing authority members;
(J) That the school holds all of the following:
(1) Proof of property ownership or a lease for the facilities used by the school;
(2) A certificate of occupancy;
(3) Liability insurance for the school, as required by division (A)(11)(b) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code, that the sponsor considers sufficient to indemnify the school's facilities, staff, and governing authority against risk;
(4) A satisfactory health and safety inspection;
(5) A satisfactory fire inspection;
(6) A valid food permit, if applicable.
(K) That the sponsor has conducted a pre-opening site visit to the school for the school year for which the assurances are provided;
(L) That the school has designated a date it will open for the school year for which the assurances are provided that is in compliance with division (A)(25) of section 3314.03 of the Revised Code;
(M) That the school has met all of the sponsor's requirements for opening and any other requirements of the sponsor.
Sec. 3314.40.  (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Conduct unbecoming to the teaching profession" shall be as described in rules adopted by the state board of education.
(2) "Intervention in lieu of conviction" means intervention in lieu of conviction under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code.
(3) "License" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Pre-trial diversion program" means a pre-trial diversion program under section 2935.36 of the Revised Code or a similar diversion program under rules of a court.
(B) The chief administrator of each community school, or the president or chairperson of the governing authority of each community school if division (C) of this section applies, shall promptly submit to the superintendent of public instruction the information prescribed in division (D) of this section when any of the following conditions applies to an employee of the school, or an employee of an operator working in the school, who holds a license issued by the state board of education:
(1) The chief administrator, or president or chairperson, knows that the employee has pleaded guilty to, has been found guilty by a jury or court of, has been convicted of, has been found to be eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for, or has agreed to participate in a pre-trial diversion program for an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(2) The governing authority of the school, or the operator, has initiated termination or nonrenewal proceedings against, has terminated, or has not renewed the contract of the employee because the governing authority or operator has reasonably determined that the employee has committed an act that is unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(3) The employee has resigned under threat of termination or nonrenewal as described in division (B)(2) of this section.
(4) The employee has resigned because of or in the course of an investigation by the governing authority or operator regarding whether the employee has committed an act that is unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(C) If the employee to whom any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section applies is the chief administrator of the community school, the president or chairperson of the governing authority of the school shall make the report required under this section.
(D) If a report is required under this section, the chief administrator, or president or chairperson, shall submit to the superintendent of public instruction the name and social security number of the employee about whom the information is required and a factual statement regarding any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section that apply to the employee.
(E) A determination made by the governing authority or operator as described in division (B)(2) of this section or a termination, nonrenewal, resignation, or other separation described in divisions (B)(2) to (4) of this section does not create a presumption of the commission or lack of the commission by the employee of an act unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(F) No individual required to submit a report under division (B) of this section shall knowingly fail to comply with that division.
(G) An individual who provides information to the superintendent of public instruction in accordance with this section in good faith shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the provision of that information.
Sec. 3314.401.  The governing authority of each community school shall require that the reports of any investigation by the governing authority of the school or by an operator of an employee who works in the school, regarding whether the employee has committed an act or offense for which the chief administrator of the community school or the president or chairperson of the governing authority is required to make a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3314.40 of the Revised Code, be kept in the employee's personnel file. If, after an investigation under division (A) of section 3319.311 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of public instruction determines that the results of that investigation do not warrant initiating action under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, the governing authority shall require the reports of the governing authority's or operator's investigation to be moved from the employee's personnel file to a separate public file.
Sec. 3314.402.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the provisions of sections 3314.40 and 3314.401 of the Revised Code prevail over any conflicting provisions of a collective bargaining agreement or contract for employment entered into after March 30, 2007.
Sec. 3314.403.  (A) As used in this section, "license" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(B) No employee of a community school or an operator working in the school shall do either of the following:
(1) Knowingly make a false report to the chief administrator of the school, or the chief administrator's designee, alleging misconduct by another employee of the school or operator;
(2) Knowingly cause the chief administrator, or the chief administrator's designee, to make a false report of the alleged misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board of education.
(C) Any employee of a community school or an operator working in the school who in good faith reports to the chief administrator of the school, or the chief administrator's designee, information about alleged misconduct committed by another employee of the school or operator shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the reporting of that information.
If the alleged misconduct involves a person who holds a license but the chief administrator is not required to submit a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3314.40 of the Revised Code and the chief administrator, or the chief administrator's designee, in good faith reports the alleged misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board, the chief administrator, or the chief administrator's designee, shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the reporting of that information.
(D)(1) In any civil action brought against a person in which it is alleged and proved that the person violated division (B) of this section, the court shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs that the prevailing party incurred in the civil action or as a result of the false report that was the basis of the violation.
(2) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (B) of this section, if the subject of the false report that was the basis of the violation was charged with any violation of a law or ordinance as a result of the false report, and if the subject of the false report is found not to be guilty of the charges brought against the subject as a result of the false report or those charges are dismissed, the court that sentences the person for the violation of division (B) of this section, as part of the sentence, shall order the person to pay restitution to the subject of the false report, in an amount equal to reasonable attorney's fees and costs that the subject of the false report incurred as a result of or in relation to the charges.
Sec. 3314.41. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Designated official" means the chief administrator of a community school, or the chief administrator's designee.
(2) "Essential school services" means services provided by a private company under contract with a community school that the chief administrator of the school has determined are necessary for the operation of the school and that would need to be provided by employees of the school if the services were not provided by the private company.
(3) "License" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(B) This section applies to any person who is an employee of a private company under contract with a community school to provide essential school services and who will work in the school in a position that does not require a license issued by the state board of education, is not for the operation of a vehicle for pupil transportation, and that involves routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child.
(C) No community school shall permit a person to whom this section applies to work in the school, unless one of the following applies to the person:
(1) The person's employer presents proof of both of the following to the designated official:
(a) That the person has been the subject of a criminal records check conducted in accordance with division (D) of this section within the five-year period immediately prior to the date on which the person will begin working in the school;
(b) That the criminal records check indicates that the person has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense described in division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(2) During any period of time in which the person will have routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child, the designated official has arranged for an employee of the school to be present in the same room with the child or, if outdoors, to be within a thirty-yard radius of the child or to have visual contact with the child.
(D) Any private company that has been hired or seeks to be hired by a community school to provide essential school services may request the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to conduct a criminal records check of any of its employees for the purpose of complying with division (C)(1) of this section. Each request for a criminal records check under this division shall be made to the superintendent of the bureau in the manner prescribed in section 3319.39 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of a request, the bureau shall conduct the criminal records check in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code as if the request had been made under section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
Notwithstanding division (H) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, the private company may share the results of any criminal records check conducted under this division with the designated official for the purpose of complying with division (C)(1) of this section, but in no case shall the designated official release that information to any other person.
Sec. 3314.99. (A) Whoever violates division (F) of section 3314.40 of the Revised Code shall be punished as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(2) The person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if both of the following conditions apply:
(a) The employee who is the subject of the report that the person fails to submit was required to be reported for the commission or alleged commission of an act or offense involving the infliction on a child of any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that constitutes abuse or neglect of the child;
(b) During the period between the violation of division (F) of section 3314.40 of the Revised Code and the conviction of or plea of guilty by the person for that violation, the employee who is the subject of the report that the person fails to submit inflicts on any child attending a school district, educational service center, public or nonpublic school, or county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities where the employee works any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that constitutes abuse or neglect of the child.
(B) Whoever violates division (B) of section 3314.403 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Sec. 3319.01.  Except in an island school district, where the superintendent of an educational service center otherwise may serve as superintendent of the district and except as otherwise provided for any cooperative education school district pursuant to division (B)(2) of section 3311.52 or division (B)(3) of section 3311.521 of the Revised Code, the board of education in each school district and the governing board of each service center shall, at a regular or special meeting held not later than the first day of May of the calendar year in which the term of the superintendent expires, appoint a person possessed of the qualifications provided in this section to act as superintendent, for a term not longer than five years beginning the first day of August and ending on the thirty-first day of July. Such superintendent is, at the expiration of a current term of employment, deemed reemployed for a term of one year at the same salary plus any increments that may be authorized by the board, unless such board, on or before the first day of March of the year in which the contract of employment expires, either reemploys the superintendent for a succeeding term as provided in this section or gives to the superintendent written notice of its intention not to reemploy the superintendent. A superintendent may not be transferred to any other position during the term of the superintendent's employment or reemployment except by mutual agreement by the superintendent and the board. If a vacancy occurs in the office of superintendent, the board shall appoint a superintendent for a term not to exceed five years from the next preceding first day of August.
A board may at any regular or special meeting held during the period beginning on the first day of January of the calendar year immediately preceding the year the contract of employment of a superintendent expires and ending on the first day of March of the year it expires, reemploy such superintendent for a succeeding term for not longer than five years, beginning on the first day of August immediately following the expiration of the superintendent's current term of employment and ending on the thirty-first day of July of the year in which such succeeding term expires. No person shall be appointed to the office of superintendent of a city, or exempted village school district or a service center who does not hold a license designated for being a superintendent issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, unless such person had been employed as a county, city, or exempted village superintendent prior to August 1, 1939. No person shall be appointed to the office of local superintendent who does not hold a license designated for being a superintendent issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, unless such person held or was qualified to hold the position of executive head of a local school district on September 16, 1957. At the time of making such appointment or designation of term, such board shall fix the compensation of the superintendent, which may be increased or decreased during such term, provided such decrease is a part of a uniform plan affecting salaries of all employees of the district, and shall execute a written contract of employment with such superintendent.
Each board shall adopt procedures for the evaluation of its superintendent and shall evaluate its superintendent in accordance with those procedures. An evaluation based upon such procedures shall be considered by the board in deciding whether to renew the superintendent's contract. The establishment of an evaluation procedure shall not create an expectancy of continued employment. Nothing in this section shall prevent a board from making the final determination regarding the renewal or failure to renew of a superintendent's contract.
Termination of a superintendent's contract shall be pursuant to section 3319.16 of the Revised Code.
A board may establish vacation leave for its superintendent. Upon the superintendent's separation from employment a board that has such leave may provide compensation at the superintendent's current rate of pay for all lawfully accrued and unused vacation leave to the superintendent's credit at the time of separation, not to exceed the amount accrued within three years before the date of separation. In case of the death of a superintendent, such unused vacation leave as the board would have paid to this superintendent upon separation shall be paid in accordance with section 2113.04 of the Revised Code, or to the superintendent's estate.
Notwithstanding section 9.481 of the Revised Code, the board of a city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district may require its superintendent, as a condition of employment, to reside within the boundaries of the district.
The superintendent shall be the executive officer for the board. The Subject to section 3319.40 of the Revised Code, the superintendent shall direct and assign teachers and other employees of the district or service center, except as provided in division (B) of section 3313.31 and section 3319.04 of the Revised Code;. The superintendent shall assign the pupils to the proper schools and grades, provided that the assignment of a pupil to a school outside of the pupil's district of residence is approved by the board of the district of residence of such pupil; and. The superintendent shall perform such other duties as the board determines.
The board of education of any school district may contract with the governing board of the educational service center from which it otherwise receives services to conduct searches and recruitment of candidates for the superintendent position authorized under this section.
Sec. 3319.20. (A) Whenever an employee of a board of education, other than an employee who is a license holder to whom section 3319.52 of the Revised Code applies, is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony, a violation of section 2907.04 or 2907.06 or of division (A) or (B) of section 2907.07 of the Revised Code, an offense of violence, theft offense, or drug abuse offense that is not a minor misdemeanor, or a violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation that is substantively comparable to a felony or to a violation or offense of that nature, or if the employee has been found to be eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction or has agreed to participate in a pre-trial diversion program for one of those offenses, the prosecutor in the case, on forms prescribed and furnished by the state board of education, shall notify the employing board of education of the employee's name and residence address, the fact that the employee was convicted of or, pleaded guilty to, has been found eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for, or has agreed to a diversion program for the specified offense, the section of the Revised Code or the municipal ordinance violated, and the sentence imposed by the court.
The (B) In the case of a conviction or guilty plea, the prosecutor shall give the notification required by this section no earlier than the fifth day following the expiration of the period within which the employee may file a notice of appeal from the judgment of the trial court under Appellate Rule 4(B) and no later than the eighth day following the expiration of that period. The notification also shall indicate whether the employee appealed the conviction, and, if applicable, the court in which the appeal will be heard. If the employee is permitted, by leave of court pursuant to Appellate Rule 5, to appeal the judgment of the trial court subsequent to the expiration of the period for filing a notice of appeal under Appellate Rule 4(B), the prosecutor promptly shall notify the employing board of education of the appeal and the court in which the appeal will be heard.
(C) In the case of a finding of eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction or an agreement to participate in a pre-trial diversion program, the prosecutor shall give the notification required by this section by a deadline prescribed by the state board.
(D) As used in this section, "theft offense" has the same meaning as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, "drug:
(1) "Drug abuse offense" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code, and "prosecutor".
(2) "Intervention in lieu of conviction" means intervention in lieu of conviction under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code.
(3) "Pre-trial diversion program" means a pre-trial diversion program under section 2935.36 of the Revised Code or a similar diversion program under rules of a court.
(4) "Prosecutor" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.
(5) "Theft offense" has the same meaning as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3319.291.  (A) The state board of education shall require each of the following persons, at the times prescribed by division (A) of this section, to submit two complete sets of fingerprints and written permission that authorizes the superintendent of public instruction to forward the fingerprints to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation pursuant to division (F) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code and that authorizes that bureau to forward the fingerprints to the federal bureau of investigation for purposes of obtaining any criminal records that the federal bureau maintains on the person:
(1) Any person initially applying for any certificate, license, or permit described in this chapter or in division (B) of section 3301.071 or in section 3301.074 of the Revised Code at the time that application is made;
(2) Any person applying for renewal of any certificate, license, or permit described in division (A)(1) of this section at the time that application is made;
(3) Any person who is teaching under a professional teaching certificate issued under former section 3319.22 or under section 3319.222 of the Revised Code upon a date prescribed by the state board that is not later than five years after the date that the certificate was issued or renewed;
(4) Any person who is teaching under a permanent teaching certificate issued under former section 3319.22 or under section 3319.222 of the Revised Code upon a date prescribed by the state board and every five years thereafter.
(B) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, prior to issuing or renewing any certificate, license, or permit described in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section and in the case of a person required to submit fingerprints and written permission under division (A)(3) or (4) of this section, the state board or the superintendent of public instruction shall request the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to investigate and determine whether the bureau has any information, gathered pursuant to division (A) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, pertaining to any person submitting fingerprints and written permission under this section and to obtain any criminal records that the federal bureau of investigation has on the person.
(C) The state board or the superintendent of public instruction may choose not to request any information required by division (B) of this section if the person applying for the issuance or renewal of a certificate, license, or permit described in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section or the person required to submit fingerprints and written permission under division (A)(3) or (4) of this section provides proof that a criminal records check was conducted on the person as a condition of employment pursuant to section 3319.39 of the Revised Code within the immediately preceding year. The state board or the superintendent of public instruction may accept a certified copy of records that were issued by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and that are presented by a person applying for the issuance or renewal of a certificate, license, or permit described in this section in lieu of requesting that information under division (B) of this section if the records were issued by the bureau within the immediately preceding year.
(D)(1) If a person described in division (A)(3) or (4) of this section fails to submit fingerprints and written permission by the date specified in the applicable division, and the state board or the superintendent of public instruction does not apply division (C) of this section to the person, the superintendent shall prepare a written notice stating that if the person does not submit the fingerprints and written permission within fifteen days after the date the notice was mailed, the person's professional or permanent teaching certificate will be inactivated. The superintendent shall send the notification by regular mail to the person's last known residence address or last known place of employment, as indicated in the department of education's records, or both.
If the person fails to submit the fingerprints and written permission within fifteen days after the date the notice was mailed, the superintendent of public instruction, on behalf of the state board, shall issue a written order inactivating the person's professional or permanent teaching certificate. The inactivation shall remain in effect until the person submits the fingerprints and written permission. The superintendent shall send the order by regular mail to the person's last known residence address or last known place of employment, as indicated in the department's records, or both. The order shall state the reason for the inactivation and shall explain that the inactivation remains in effect until the person complies with division (A) of this section.
The inactivation of a professional or permanent teaching certificate under division (D)(1) of this section does not constitute a suspension or revocation of the certificate by the state board under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code and the state board and the superintendent of public instruction need not provide the person with an opportunity for a hearing with respect to the inactivation.
(2) If a person whose professional or permanent teaching certificate has been inactivated under division (D)(1) of this section submits fingerprints and written permission as required by division (A) of this section, the superintendent of public instruction, on behalf of the state board, shall issue a written order reactivating the certificate. The superintendent shall send the order to the person by regular mail.
Sec. 3319.292. As used in this section, "license" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
The state board of education and the department of education may question an applicant for issuance or renewal of any license with respect to any criminal offense committed or alleged to have been committed by the applicant. If the record of a conviction, plea of guilty, bail forfeiture, or other disposition of a criminal offense committed or alleged to have been committed by the applicant has been sealed or expunged, the state board and the department need not assert or demonstrate that its questioning with respect to the offense bears a direct and substantial relationship to the issuance or renewal of the license or to the position in which the applicant will work under the license.
Any questions regarding a record of a conviction, plea of guilty, bail forfeiture, or other disposition of a criminal offense committed or alleged to have been committed by the applicant that has been sealed or expunged and the responses of the applicant to such questions shall not be a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3319.302. It is the intent of the general assembly that the state board of education shall administer this section without adopting any rules for its implementation.
Unless the provisions of division (B) or, (C), or (F) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code apply to an applicant, the state board of education shall issue a one-year conditional teaching permit for teaching in grades seven to twelve to any applicant who meets the following conditions:
(A) Holds a bachelor's degree;
(B) Has successfully completed a basic skills test as prescribed by the state board;
(C) Has completed either as part of the applicant's degree program or separate from it the equivalent of at least fifteen semester hours of coursework in the teaching area or subject area in which licensure under this section is sought;
(D) Has completed the equivalent of a total of six semester hours of additional coursework within the past five years with a grade point average of at least 2.5 out of 4.0, or its equivalent, in the areas of the teaching or subject area described in division (C) of this section, characteristics of student learning, diversity of learners, planning for instruction, instruction strategies, learning environments, communication, assessment, or student support and that coursework has been approved by the school district, community school, chartered nonpublic school, or nonprofit or for-profit entity operating an alternative school under section 3313.533 of the Revised Code that will employ the applicant. The coursework may have been completed through classes developed and offered by regional professional development providers, such as special education regional resource centers, regional professional development centers, educational service centers, local educational agencies, professional organizations, and institutions of higher education, provided the coursework is taken for credit in collaboration with a college or university that has a teacher education program approved by the state board.
(E) The applicant has entered into a written agreement with the school district; community school; chartered nonpublic school; or nonprofit or for profit entity operating an alternative school under section 3313.533 of the Revised Code that will employ the applicant and the department of education under which the district, school, or entity will provide for the applicant a structured mentoring program in the areas listed in division (D) of this section that is aligned with the performance expectations prescribed by state board rule for entry-year teachers.
(F) The applicant agrees to complete while employed under the one-year teaching permit the equivalent of an additional three semester hours of coursework in the teaching area or subject area in which the individual is teaching and for which the individual will seek an alternative educator license pursuant to division (G) of this section. The individual's mentor prescribed in division (E) of this section shall assist the individual in selecting coursework to satisfy the requirement prescribed in this division. The coursework may be completed through classes offered by regional professional development providers, such as special education regional resource centers, regional professional development centers, educational service centers, local educational agencies, professional organizations, and institutions of higher education, if the coursework is taken for credit in collaboration with a college or university that has a teacher education program approved by the state board.
(G) The applicant agrees to seek at the conclusion of the year in which the individual is employed under the one-year teaching permit issued under this section an alternative educator license issued under section 3319.26 of the Revised Code in the teaching area or subject area in which the individual has been teaching and plans to continue to teach. The applicant shall not be reemployed by the school district; community school; chartered nonpublic school; or nonprofit or for profit entity operating an alternative school under section 3313.533 of the Revised Code or be employed by another such district, school, or entity unless that alternative educator license is issued to the applicant prior to the beginning of the next school year.
(H) The applicant pays the fee established under section 3319.51 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3319.304.  Unless the provisions of division (B) or, (C), or (F) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code apply to an applicant, the state board of education shall issue a one-year conditional teaching permit in the area of intervention specialist, as defined by rule of the state board, to any applicant who meets the following conditions:
(A) Holds a bachelor's degree;
(B) Has successfully completed a basic skills test as prescribed by the state board;
(C) Has completed either as part of the applicant's degree program or separate from it the equivalent of at least fifteen semester hours of coursework in the principles and practices of teaching exceptional children, including such topics as child and adolescent development, diagnosis and assessment of children with disabilities, curriculum design and instruction, applied behavioral analysis, and how to best teach students from culturally diverse backgrounds with different learning styles;
(D) The applicant has entered into a written agreement with the department of education and the school district, community school, or nonprofit or for profit entity operating an alternative school under section 3313.533 of the Revised Code that will employ the applicant under which the district, school, or entity will provide for the applicant a structured mentoring program in the teaching of exceptional children that is aligned with the performance expectations prescribed by state board rule for entry-year teachers.
(E) The applicant agrees to complete while employed under the one-year teaching permit the equivalent of an additional three semester hours of coursework in the content and methods of teaching reading. The coursework may be completed through classes offered by regional professional development providers, such as special education regional resource centers, regional professional development centers, educational service centers, local educational agencies, professional organizations, and institutions of higher education, if the coursework is taken for credit in collaboration with a college or university that has a teacher education program approved by the state board.
(F) The applicant agrees to seek at the conclusion of the year in which the individual is employed under the one-year teaching permit issued under this section an alternative educator license issued under section 3319.26 of the Revised Code in the area of intervention specialist. The applicant shall not be reemployed by the school district, community school, or nonprofit or for profit entity operating an alternative school under section 3313.533 of the Revised Code or be employed by another such district, school, or entity unless that alternative educator license is issued to the applicant prior to the beginning of the next school year.
(G) The applicant pays the fee established under section 3319.51 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3319.31.  (A) As used in this section and sections 3123.41 to 3123.50 and 3319.311 of the Revised Code, "license" means a certificate, license, or permit described in this chapter or in division (B) of section 3301.071 or in section 3301.074 of the Revised Code.
(B) For any of the following reasons, the state board of education, in accordance with Chapter 119. and section 3319.311 of the Revised Code, may refuse to issue a license to an applicant; may limit a license it issues to an applicant; may suspend, revoke, or limit a license that has been issued to any person; or may revoke a license that has been issued to any person and has expired:
(1) Engaging in an immoral act, incompetence, negligence, or conduct that is unbecoming to the applicant's or person's position;
(2) A plea of guilty to, a finding of guilt by a jury or court of, or a conviction of any of the following:
(a) A felony other than a felony listed in division (C) of this section;
(b) A violation of section 2907.04 or 2907.06 or division (A) or (B) of section 2907.07 of the Revised Code;
(c) An offense of violence other than an offense of violence listed in division (C) of this section;
(d)(c) A theft offense, as defined in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, other than a theft offense listed in division (C) of this section;
(e)(d) A drug abuse offense, as defined in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code, that is not a minor misdemeanor, other than a drug abuse offense listed in division (C) of this section;
(f)(e) A violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation that is substantively comparable to an offense listed in divisions (B)(2)(a) to (e)(d) of this section.
(3) A judicial finding of eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code, or agreeing to participate in a pre-trial diversion program under section 2935.36 of the Revised Code, or a similar diversion program under rules of a court, for any offense listed in division (B)(2) or (C) of this section;
(4) Failure to comply with section 3314.40, 3319.313, 3326.24, or 5126.253 of the Revised Code.
(C) Upon learning of a plea of guilty to, a finding of guilt by a jury or court of, or a conviction of any of the offenses listed in this division by a person who holds a current or expired license or is an applicant for a license or renewal of a license, the state board or the superintendent of public instruction, if the state board has delegated the duty pursuant to division (D) of this section, shall by a written order revoke the person's license or deny issuance or renewal of the license to the person. The state board or the superintendent shall revoke a license that has been issued to a person to whom this division applies and has expired in the same manner as a license that has not expired.
Revocation of a license or denial of issuance or renewal of a license under this division is effective immediately at the time and date that the board or superintendent issues the written order and is not subject to appeal in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. Revocation of a license or denial of issuance or renewal of license under this division remains in force during the pendency of an appeal by the person of the plea of guilty, finding of guilt, or conviction that is the basis of the action taken under this division.
The state board or superintendent shall take the action required by this division for a violation of division (B)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of section 2919.22 of the Revised Code; a violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.041, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.15, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2905.11, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.24, 2907.241, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.311, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2907.33, 2907.34, 2909.02, 2909.22, 2909.23, 2909.24, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2913.44, 2917.01, 2917.02, 2917.03, 2917.31, 2917.33, 2919.12, 2919.121, 2919.13, 2921.02, 2921.03, 2921.04, 2921.05, 2921.11, 2921.34, 2921.41, 2923.122, 2923.123, 2923.161, 2923.17, 2923.21, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.041, 2925.05, 2925.06, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, 2925.24, 2925.32, 2925.36, 2925.37, 2927.24, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code; a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996; a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date; felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code; or a violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation that is substantively comparable to an offense listed in this paragraph.
(D) The state board may delegate to the superintendent of public instruction the authority to revoke a person's license or to deny issuance or renewal of a license to a person under division (C) or (F) of this section.
(E)(1) If the plea of guilty, finding of guilt, or conviction that is the basis of the action taken under division (B)(2) or (C) of this section, or under the version of division (F) of section 3319.311 of the Revised Code in effect prior to the effective date of this amendment, is overturned on appeal, upon exhaustion of the criminal appeal, the clerk of the court that overturned the plea, finding, or conviction or, if applicable, the clerk of the court that accepted an appeal from the court that overturned the plea, finding, or conviction, shall notify the state board that the plea, finding, or conviction has been overturned. Within thirty days after receiving the notification, the state board shall initiate proceedings to reconsider the revocation or denial of the person's license in accordance with division (E)(2) of this section. In addition, the person whose license was revoked or denied may file with the state board a petition for reconsideration of the revocation or denial along with appropriate court documents.
(2) Upon receipt of a court notification or a petition and supporting court documents under division (E)(1) of this section, the state board, after offering the person an opportunity for an adjudication hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall determine whether the person committed the act in question in the prior criminal action against the person that is the basis of the revocation or denial and may continue the revocation or denial, may reinstate the person's license, with or without limits, or may grant the person a new license, with or without limits. The decision of the board shall be based on grounds for revoking, denying, suspending, or limiting a license adopted by rule under division (G) of this section and in accordance with the evidentiary standards the board employs for all other licensure hearings. The decision of the board under this division is subject to appeal under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(3) A person whose license is revoked or denied under division (C) of this section shall not apply for any license if the plea of guilty, finding of guilt, or conviction that is the basis of the revocation or denial, upon completion of the criminal appeal, either is upheld or is overturned but the state board continues the revocation or denial under division (E)(2) of this section and that continuation is upheld on final appeal.
(F) The state board may take action under division (B) of this section, and the state board or the superintendent shall take the action required under division (C) of this section, on the basis of substantially comparable conduct occurring in a jurisdiction outside this state or occurring before a person applies for or receives any license.
(D)(G) The state board may adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to carry out this section and section 3319.311 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3319.311.  (A)(1) The state board of education, or the superintendent of public instruction on behalf of the board, may investigate any information received about a person that reasonably appears to be a basis for action under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, including information received pursuant to section 3314.40, 3319.291, 3319.313, 3326.24, 5126.253, or 5153.176 of the Revised Code. The Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, the board shall contract with the office of the Ohio attorney general to conduct any investigation of that nature. The board shall pay for the costs of the contract only from moneys in the state board of education licensure fund established under section 3319.51 of the Revised Code. All Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, all information received pursuant to section 3314.40, 3319.291, 3319.313, 3326.24, 5126.253, or 5153.176 of the Revised Code, and all information obtained during an investigation is confidential and is not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code. If an investigation is conducted under this division regarding information received about a person and no action is taken against the person under this section or section 3319.31 of the Revised Code within two years of the completion of the investigation, all records of the investigation shall be expunged.
(2) In the case of a person about whom the board has learned of a plea of guilty to, finding of guilt by a jury or court of, or a conviction of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, or substantially comparable conduct occurring in a jurisdiction outside this state, the board or the superintendent of public instruction need not conduct any further investigation and shall take the action required by division (C) or (F) of that section. Except as provided in division (G) of this section, all information obtained by the board or the superintendent of public instruction pertaining to the action is a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.
(B) The superintendent of public instruction shall review the results of each investigation of a person conducted under division (A)(1) of this section and shall determine, on behalf of the state board, whether the results warrant initiating action under division (B) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code. The superintendent shall advise the board of such determination at a meeting of the board. Within fourteen days of the next meeting of the board, any member of the board may ask that the question of initiating action under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code be placed on the board's agenda for that next meeting. Prior to initiating that action against any person, the person's name and any other personally identifiable information shall remain confidential.
(C) The board shall take no action against a person under division (B) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code without providing the person with written notice of the charges and with an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(D) For purposes of an investigation under division (A)(1) of this section or a hearing under division (C) of this section or under division (E)(2) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, the board, or the superintendent on behalf of the board, may administer oaths, order the taking of depositions, issue subpoenas, and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, accounts, papers, records, documents, and testimony. The issuance of subpoenas under this division may be by certified mail or personal delivery to the person.
(E) The superintendent, on behalf of the board, may enter into a consent agreement with a person against whom action is being taken under division (B) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code. The board may adopt rules governing the superintendent's action under this division.
(F) The board automatically may suspend any license without a prior hearing if the license holder is convicted of or pleads guilty to one or more of the following offenses or a violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation or a law of another state that is substantially comparable to one of the following offenses: aggravated murder; murder; aggravated arson; aggravated robbery; aggravated burglary; voluntary manslaughter; felonious assault; kidnapping; rape; sexual battery; gross sexual imposition; or unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. A suspension under this division is effective on the date of the conviction or guilty plea.
For a suspension under this division, the board, in accordance with section 119.07 of the Revised Code, shall issue a written order of suspension to the license holder by certified mail or in person and shall afford the person a hearing upon request. If the person does not request a hearing within the time limits established by that section, the board shall enter a final order revoking the person's license. An order of suspension under this division is not subject to suspension by a court during the pendency of an appeal filed under section 119.12 of the Revised Code.
An order of suspension under this division shall remain in effect, unless reversed on appeal, until the final order of the board, issued pursuant to this section and Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, becomes effective. The board shall issue a final order within sixty days of the date of an order of suspension under this division or a hearing on an order of suspension, whichever is later. If the board fails to issue a final order by that deadline, the order of suspension is dissolved. No dissolution of an order of suspension under this division shall invalidate a subsequent final order of the board.
(G) No surrender of a license shall be effective until the board takes action to accept the surrender unless the surrender is pursuant to a consent agreement entered into under division (E) of this section.
(G) The name of any person who is not required to report information under section 3314.40, 3319.313, 3326.24, 5126.253, or 5153.176 of the Revised Code, but who in good faith provides information to the state board or superintendent of public instruction about alleged misconduct committed by a person who holds a license or has applied for issuance or renewal of a license, shall be confidential and shall not be released. Any such person shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the provision of that information.
(H)(1) No person shall knowingly make a false report to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board of education alleging misconduct by an employee of a public or chartered nonpublic school or an employee of the operator of a community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code.
(2)(a) In any civil action brought against a person in which it is alleged and proved that the person violated division (H)(1) of this section, the court shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs that the prevailing party incurred in the civil action or as a result of the false report that was the basis of the violation.
(b) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (H)(1) of this section, if the subject of the false report that was the basis of the violation was charged with any violation of a law or ordinance as a result of the false report, and if the subject of the false report is found not to be guilty of the charges brought against the subject as a result of the false report or those charges are dismissed, the court that sentences the person for the violation of division (H)(1) of this section, as part of the sentence, shall order the person to pay restitution to the subject of the false report, in an amount equal to reasonable attorney's fees and costs that the subject of the false report incurred as a result of or in relation to the charges.
Sec. 3319.313. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Conduct unbecoming to the teaching profession" shall be as described in rules adopted by the state board of education.
(2) "Intervention in lieu of conviction" means intervention in lieu of conviction under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code.
(3) "License" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Pre-trial diversion program" means a pre-trial diversion program under section 2935.36 of the Revised Code or a similar diversion program under rules of a court.
(B) The board of education superintendent of each school district, the governing board of and each educational service center or the president of the district or service center board, if division (C)(1) of this section applies, and the chief administrator of each chartered nonpublic school or the president or chairperson of the governing authority of the nonpublic school, if division (C)(2) of this section applies, shall promptly submit to the superintendent of public instruction the information prescribed in division (C)(D) of this section when any of the following conditions apply applies to an employee of the district, service center, or nonpublic school who holds a license issued by the state board of education:
(1) The board of education, governing board, or superintendent, chief administrator, president, or chairperson knows that the employee has pleaded guilty to, has been found guilty by a jury or court of, or has been convicted of, has been found to be eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for, or has agreed to participate in a pre-trial diversion program for an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code;
(2) The district board of education, service center governing board, or nonpublic school chief administrator or governing authority has initiated termination or nonrenewal proceedings against, has terminated, or has not renewed the contract of the employee because the board of education, governing board, or chief administrator has reasonably determined that the employee has committed an act that is unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code;
(3) The employee has resigned under threat of termination or nonrenewal as described in division (B)(2) of this section;
(4) The employee has resigned because of or in the course of an investigation by the board of education, governing board, or chief administrator regarding whether the employee has committed an act that is unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(C)(1) If the employee to whom any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section applies is the superintendent or treasurer of a school district or educational service center, the president of the board of education of the school district or of the governing board of the educational service center shall make the report required under this section.
(2) If the employee to whom any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section applies is the chief administrator of a chartered nonpublic school, the president or chairperson of the governing authority of the chartered nonpublic school shall make the report required under this section.
(D) If a report is required under this section, the board of education, governing board, or superintendent, chief administrator, president, or chairperson shall submit to the superintendent of public instruction the name and social security number of the employee about whom the information is required and a factual statement regarding any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section that apply applies to the employee.
(D)(E) A determination made by the board of education, governing board, or chief administrator, or governing authority as described in division (B)(2) of this section or a termination, nonrenewal, resignation, or other separation described in divisions (B)(2) to (4) of this section does not create a presumption of the commission or lack of the commission by the employee of an act unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(F) No individual required to submit a report under division (B) of this section shall knowingly fail to comply with that division.
(G) An individual who provides information to the superintendent of public instruction in accordance with this section in good faith shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the provision of that information.
Sec. 3319.314.  The board of education of each school district, the governing board of each educational service center, and the chief administrator of each chartered nonpublic school shall require that the reports of any investigation by the district board of education, service center governing board, or nonpublic school chief administrator of an employee regarding whether the employee has committed an act or offense for which the board of education, governing board, district or service center superintendent or board president or nonpublic school chief administrator or governing authority president or chairperson is required to make a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3319.313 of the Revised Code be kept in the employee's personnel file. If, after an investigation under division (A) of section 3319.311 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of public instruction determines that the results of that investigation do not warrant initiating action under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, the board of education, governing board, or chief administrator shall require the reports of the board's or chief administrator's investigation to be moved from the employee's personnel file to a separate public file.
Sec. 3319.316.  The department of education, on behalf of the state board of education, shall be a participating public office for purposes of the retained applicant fingerprint database established under section 109.5721 of the Revised Code and shall receive notification from the bureau of criminal identification and investigation of the arrest or conviction of persons to whom the state board has issued a license, as defined in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3319.317.  (A) As used in this section, "license" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(B) No employee of a school district or educational service center shall do either of the following:
(1) Knowingly make a false report to the district or service center superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, alleging misconduct by another employee of the district or service center;
(2) Knowingly cause the district or service center superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, to make a false report of the alleged misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board of education.
(C) Any employee of a school district or educational service center who in good faith reports to the district or service center superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, information about alleged misconduct committed by another employee of the district or service center shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the reporting of that information.
If the alleged misconduct involves a person who holds a license but the district or service center superintendent is not required to submit a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3319.313 of the Revised Code and the district or service center superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, in good faith reports the alleged misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board, the district or service center superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the reporting of that information.
(D) No employee of a chartered nonpublic school shall do either of the following:
(1) Knowingly make a false report to the chief administrator of the school, or the chief administrator's designee, alleging misconduct by another employee of the school;
(2) Knowingly cause the chief administrator, or the chief administrator's designee, to make a false report of the alleged misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board.
(E) Any employee of a chartered nonpublic school who in good faith reports to the chief administrator of the school, or the chief administrator's designee, information about alleged misconduct committed by another employee of the school shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the reporting of that information.
If the alleged misconduct involves a person who holds a license but the chief administrator is not required to submit a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3319.313 of the Revised Code and the chief administrator, or the chief administrator's designee, in good faith reports the alleged misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board, the chief administrator, or the chief administrator's designee, shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the reporting of that information.
(F)(1) In any civil action brought against a person in which it is alleged and proved that the person violated division (B) or (D) of this section, the court shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs that the prevailing party incurred in the civil action or as a result of the false report that was the basis of the violation.
(2) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (B) or (D) of this section, if the subject of the false report that was the basis of the violation was charged with any violation of a law or ordinance as a result of the false report, and if the subject of the false report is found not to be guilty of the charges brought against the subject as a result of the false report or those charges are dismissed, the court that sentences the person for the violation of division (B) or (D) of this section, as part of the sentence, shall order the person to pay restitution to the subject of the false report, in an amount equal to reasonable attorney's fees and costs that the subject of the false report incurred as a result of or in relation to the charges.
Sec. 3319.39.  (A)(1) Except as provided in division (F)(2)(b) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, the appointing or hiring officer of the board of education of a school district, the governing board of an educational service center, or of a chartered nonpublic school shall request the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to conduct a criminal records check with respect to any applicant who has applied to the school district, educational service center, or school for employment in any position. The appointing or hiring officer shall request that the superintendent include information from the federal bureau of investigation in the criminal records check, unless all of the following apply to the applicant:
(a) The applicant is applying to be an instructor of adult education.
(b) The duties of the position for which the applicant is applying do not involve routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child or, if the duties do involve such interaction or responsibility, during any period of time in which the applicant, if hired, has such interaction or responsibility, another employee of the school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school will be present in the same room with the child or, if outdoors, will be within a thirty-yard radius of the child or have visual contact with the child.
(c) The applicant presents proof that the applicant has been a resident of this state for the five-year period immediately prior to the date upon which the criminal records check is requested or provides evidence that within that five-year period the superintendent has requested information about the applicant from the federal bureau of investigation in a criminal records check.
(2) A person required by division (A)(1) of this section to request a criminal records check shall provide to each applicant a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, provide to each applicant a standard impression sheet to obtain fingerprint impressions prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code, obtain the completed form and impression sheet from each applicant, and forward the completed form and impression sheet to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation at the time the person requests a criminal records check pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section.
(3) An applicant who receives pursuant to division (A)(2) of this section a copy of the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and a copy of an impression sheet prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of that section and who is requested to complete the form and provide a set of fingerprint impressions shall complete the form or provide all the information necessary to complete the form and shall provide the impression sheet with the impressions of the applicant's fingerprints. If an applicant, upon request, fails to provide the information necessary to complete the form or fails to provide impressions of the applicant's fingerprints, the board of education of a school district, governing board of an educational service center, or governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school shall not employ that applicant for any position.
(B)(1) Except as provided in rules adopted by the department of education in accordance with division (E) of this section and as provided in division (B)(3) of this section, no board of education of a school district, no governing board of an educational service center, and no governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school shall employ a person if the person previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:
(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense, or felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code;
(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, another state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses or violations described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section.
(2) A board, governing board of an educational service center, or a governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school may employ an applicant conditionally until the criminal records check required by this section is completed and the board or governing authority receives the results of the criminal records check. If the results of the criminal records check indicate that, pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section, the applicant does not qualify for employment, the board or governing authority shall release the applicant from employment.
(3) No board and no governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school shall employ a teacher who previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(C)(1) Each board and each governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school shall pay to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the fee prescribed pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code for each criminal records check conducted in accordance with that section upon the request pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section of the appointing or hiring officer of the board or governing authority.
(2) A board and the governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school may charge an applicant a fee for the costs it incurs in obtaining a criminal records check under this section. A fee charged under this division shall not exceed the amount of fees the board or governing authority pays under division (C)(1) of this section. If a fee is charged under this division, the board or governing authority shall notify the applicant at the time of the applicant's initial application for employment of the amount of the fee and that, unless the fee is paid, the board or governing authority will not consider the applicant for employment.
(D) The report of any criminal records check conducted by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code and pursuant to a request under division (A)(1) of this section is not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall not be made available to any person other than the applicant who is the subject of the criminal records check or the applicant's representative, the board or governing authority requesting the criminal records check or its representative, and any court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with the denial of employment to the applicant.
(E) The department of education shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section, including rules specifying circumstances under which the board or governing authority may hire a person who has been convicted of an offense listed in division (B)(1) or (3) of this section but who meets standards in regard to rehabilitation set by the department.
(F) Any person required by division (A)(1) of this section to request a criminal records check shall inform each person, at the time of the person's initial application for employment, of the requirement to provide a set of fingerprint impressions and that a criminal records check is required to be conducted and satisfactorily completed in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code if the person comes under final consideration for appointment or employment as a precondition to employment for the school district, educational service center, or school for that position.
(G) As used in this section:
(1) "Applicant" means a person who is under final consideration for appointment or employment in a position with a board of education, governing board of an educational service center, or a chartered nonpublic school, except that "applicant" does not include a person already employed by a board or chartered nonpublic school who is under consideration for a different position with such board or school.
(2) "Teacher" means a person holding an educator license or permit issued under section 3319.22 or 3319.301 of the Revised Code and teachers in a chartered nonpublic school.
(3) "Criminal records check" has the same meaning as in section 109.572 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Minor drug possession offense" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.
(H) If the board of education of a local school district adopts a resolution requesting the assistance of the educational service center in which the local district has territory in conducting criminal records checks of substitute teachers and substitutes for other district employees under this section, the appointing or hiring officer of such educational service center shall serve for purposes of this section as the appointing or hiring officer of the local board in the case of hiring substitute teachers and other substitute employees for employment in the local district.
Sec. 3319.391. (A)(1) This division section applies to any person hired by a school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school in any position that does not require a "license" issued by the state board of education, as defined in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, and is not for the operation of a vehicle for pupil transportation.
(A) For each person to whom this division section applies who is hired on or after the effective date of this section November 14, 2007, the employer shall request a criminal records check in accordance with section 3319.39 of the Revised Code and shall request a subsequent criminal records check by the fifth day of September every five years fifth year thereafter. For each person to whom this division applies who is hired prior to that date November 14, 2007, the employer shall request a criminal records check by a date prescribed by the department of education and shall request a subsequent criminal records check by the fifth day of September every five years fifth year thereafter.
(2) This division applies to any person hired to work in a school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school, in any position that does not require a "license" issued by the state board of education, as defined in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, and is not for the operation of a vehicle for pupil transportation, and who is employed by a private company under contract with the district, service center, or chartered nonpublic school to provide services.
For each person to whom this division applies who is hired on or after the effective date of this section , the employer shall request a criminal records check prior to the person's hiring and every five years thereafter. For each person to whom this division applies who is hired prior to that date, the employer shall request a criminal records check by a date prescribed by the department and every five years thereafter.
(B) Each request for a criminal records check under this section shall be made to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in the manner prescribed in section 3319.39 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of a request, the bureau shall conduct the criminal records check in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code as if the request had been made under section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(C) Any person who is the subject of a criminal records check under this section and has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense described in division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code shall not be hired or shall be released from employment, as applicable, unless the person meets the rehabilitation standards adopted by the department under division (E) of that section.
Sec. 3319.392. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Designated official" means the superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, in the case of a school district or educational service center and the chief administrator, or the chief administrator's designee, in the case of a chartered nonpublic school.
(2) "Essential school services" means services provided by a private company under contract with a school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school that the district or service center superintendent or the chief administrator of the chartered nonpublic school has determined are necessary for the operation of the district, service center, or chartered nonpublic school and that would need to be provided by employees of the district, service center, or chartered nonpublic school if the services were not provided by the private company.
(3) "License" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(B) This section applies to any person who is an employee of a private company under contract with a school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school to provide essential school services and who will work in the district, service center, or chartered nonpublic school in a position that does not require a license issued by the state board of education, is not for the operation of a vehicle for pupil transportation, and that involves routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child.
(C) No school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school shall permit a person to whom this section applies to work in the district, service center, or chartered nonpublic school, unless one of the following applies to the person:
(1) The person's employer presents proof of both of the following to the designated official:
(a) That the person has been the subject of a criminal records check conducted in accordance with division (D) of this section within the five-year period immediately prior to the date on which the person will begin working in the district, service center, or chartered nonpublic school;
(b) That the criminal records check indicates that the person has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense described in division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(2) During any period of time in which the person will have routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child, the designated official has arranged for an employee of the district, service center, or chartered nonpublic school to be present in the same room with the child or, if outdoors, to be within a thirty-yard radius of the child or to have visual contact with the child.
(D) Any private company that has been hired or seeks to be hired by a school district, educational service center, or chartered nonpublic school to provide essential school services may request the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to conduct a criminal records check of any of its employees for the purpose of complying with division (C)(1) of this section. Each request for a criminal records check under this division shall be made to the superintendent of the bureau in the manner prescribed in section 3319.39 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of a request, the bureau shall conduct the criminal records check in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code as if the request had been made under section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
Notwithstanding division (H) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, the private company may share the results of any criminal records check conducted under this division with the designated official for the purpose of complying with division (C)(1) of this section, but in no case shall the designated official release that information to any other person.
Sec. 3319.40. (A) As used in this section, "license" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(B) If a person who is employed by a school district or chartered nonpublic school is arrested, summoned, or indicted for an alleged violation of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, if the person holds a license, or an offense listed in division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code, if the person does not hold a license, the superintendent of the district or the chief administrative officer of the chartered nonpublic school shall suspend that person from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child during the pendency of the criminal action against the person. If the person who is arrested, summoned, or indicted for an alleged violation of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code is a person whose duties are assigned by the district treasurer under division (B) of section 3313.31 of the Revised Code, the treasurer shall suspend the person from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child. If the person who is arrested, summoned, or indicted for an alleged violation of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code is the superintendent or treasurer of the district, the district board shall suspend the superintendent or treasurer from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child. If the person who is arrested, summoned, or indicted for an alleged violation of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code is the chief administrative officer of the chartered nonpublic school, the governing authority of the chartered nonpublic school shall suspend the chief administrative officer from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child.
(C) When a person who holds a license is suspended in accordance with this section, the superintendent, treasurer, board of education, chief administrative officer, or governing authority that imposed the suspension promptly shall report the person's suspension to the department of education. The report shall include the offense for which the person was arrested, summoned, or indicted.
Sec. 3319.52.  (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Intervention in lieu of conviction" means intervention in lieu of conviction under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code.
(2) "License" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(2)(3) "Pre-trial diversion program" means a pre-trial diversion program under section 2935.36 of the Revised Code or a similar diversion program under rules of a court.
(4) "Prosecutor" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) If there is any judicial finding of guilt or any conviction or a judicial finding of eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction against a license holder, or if a license holder agrees to participate in a pre-trial diversion program, for any of the offenses listed in divisions division (B)(2)(a) to (f) or (C) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, the prosecutor in the case, on forms that the state board of education shall prescribe and furnish, promptly shall notify the board and, if known, any school district or chartered nonpublic school employing the license holder of the license holder's name and residence address, and the fact that the license holder pleaded guilty to or, was convicted of, has been found eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for, or has agreed to a diversion program for the offense.
Sec. 3319.99. (A) Whoever violates division (A) of section 3319.151 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(B) Whoever violates division (H)(1) of section 3319.311 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(C) Whoever violates division (F) of section 3319.313 of the Revised Code shall be punished as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(2) of this section, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(2) The person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if both of the following conditions apply:
(a) The employee who is the subject of the report that the person fails to submit was required to be reported for the commission or alleged commission of an act or offense involving the infliction on a child of any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that constitutes abuse or neglect of the child;
(b) During the period between the violation of division (F) of section 3319.313 of the Revised Code and the conviction of or plea of guilty by the person for that violation, the employee who is the subject of the report that the person fails to submit inflicts on any child attending a school district, educational service center, public or nonpublic school, or county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities where the employee works any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that constitutes abuse or neglect of the child.
(D) Whoever violates division (B) or (D) of section 3319.317 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Sec. 3326.081. (A) As used in this section, "license" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(B) If a person who is employed by a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school established under this chapter is arrested, summoned, or indicted for an alleged violation of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, if the person holds a license, or an offense listed in division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code, if the person does not hold a license, the chief administrative officer of the school shall suspend that person from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child during the pendency of the criminal action against the person. If the person who is arrested, summoned, or indicted for an alleged violation of an offense listed in division (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code is the chief administrative officer of the school, the governing body of the school shall suspend the chief administrative officer from all duties that require the care, custody, or control of a child.
(C) When a person who holds a license is suspended in accordance with this section, the chief administrative officer or governing body that imposed the suspension promptly shall report the person's suspension to the department of education. The report shall include the offense for which the person was arrested, summoned, or indicted.
Sec. 3326.11. Each science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school established under this chapter and its governing body shall comply with sections 9.90, 9.91, 109.65, 121.22, 149.43, 2151.357, 2151.421, 2313.18, 2921.42, 2921.43, 3301.0712, 3301.0714, 3301.0715, 3313.14, 3313.15, 3313.16, 3313.18, 3313.201, 3313.26, 3313.472, 3313.48, 3313.481, 3313.482, 3313.50, 3313.536, 3313.608, 3313.6012, 3313.6013, 3313.6014, 3313.61, 3313.611, 3313.614, 3313.615, 3313.643, 3313.648, 3313.66, 3313.661, 3313.662, 3313.666, 3313.667, 3313.67, 3313.671, 3313.672, 3313.673, 3313.69, 3313.71, 3313.716, 3313.718, 3313.80, 3313.801, 3313.96, 3319.073, 3319.21, 3319.313, 3319.314, 3319.315, 3319.32, 3319.321, 3319.35, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3319.45, 3321.01, 3321.13, 3321.14, 3321.17, 3321.18, 3321.19, 3321.191, 3327.10, 4111.17, 4113.52, and 5705.391 and Chapters 102., 117., 1347., 2744., 3307., 3309., 3365., 3742., 4112., 4123., 4141., and 4167. of the Revised Code as if it were a school district.
Sec. 3326.23.  The governing body of each science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school annually shall provide the following assurances in writing to the department of education not later than ten business days prior to the opening of the school:
(A) That the school has a plan for providing special education and related services to students with disabilities and has demonstrated the capacity to provide those services in accordance with Chapter 3323. of the Revised Code and federal law;
(B) That the school has a plan and procedures for administering the achievement tests and diagnostic assessments prescribed by sections 3301.0710 and 3301.0715 of the Revised Code;
(C) That school personnel have the necessary training, knowledge, and resources to properly use and submit information to all databases maintained by the department for the collection of education data, including the education management information system established under section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code;
(D) That all required information about the school has been submitted to the Ohio education directory system or any successor system;
(E) That all classroom teachers are licensed in accordance with sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code or are engaged to teach pursuant to section 3319.301 of the Revised Code;
(F) That the school's treasurer is in compliance with section 3326.21 of the Revised Code;
(G) That the school has complied with section sections 3319.39 and 3319.391 of the Revised Code with respect to all employees and that the school has conducted a criminal records check of each of its governing body members;
(H) That the school holds all of the following:
(1) Proof of property ownership or a lease for the facilities used by the school;
(2) A certificate of occupancy;
(3) Liability insurance for the school, as required by section 3326.11 of the Revised Code;
(4) A satisfactory health and safety inspection;
(5) A satisfactory fire inspection;
(6) A valid food permit, if applicable.
(I) That the governing body has conducted a pre-opening site visit to the school for the school year for which the assurances are provided;
(J) That the school has designated a date it will open for the school year for which the assurances are provided;
(K) That the school has met all of the governing body's requirements for opening and any other requirements of the governing body.
Sec. 3326.24.  (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Conduct unbecoming to the teaching profession" shall be as described in rules adopted by the state board of education.
(2) "Intervention in lieu of conviction" means intervention in lieu of conviction under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code.
(3) "License" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Pre-trial diversion program" means a pre-trial diversion program under section 2935.36 of the Revised Code or a similar diversion program under rules of a court.
(B) The chief administrative officer of each science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school, or the president or chairperson of the governing body of the school, if division (C) of this section applies, shall promptly submit to the superintendent of public instruction the information prescribed in division (D) of this section when any of the following conditions applies to an employee of the school who holds a license issued by the state board of education:
(1) The chief administrative officer, president, or chairperson knows that the employee has pleaded guilty to, has been found guilty by a jury or court of, has been convicted of, has been found to be eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for, or has agreed to participate in a pre-trial diversion program for an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(2) The governing body of the school has initiated termination or nonrenewal proceedings against, has terminated, or has not renewed the contract of the employee because the governing body has reasonably determined that the employee has committed an act that is unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(3) The employee has resigned under threat of termination or nonrenewal as described in division (B)(2) of this section.
(4) The employee has resigned because of or in the course of an investigation by the governing body regarding whether the employee has committed an act that is unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(C) If the employee to whom any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section applies is the chief administrative officer of a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics school, the president or chairperson of the governing body of the school shall make the report required under this section.
(D) If a report is required under this section, the chief administrative officer, president, or chairperson shall submit to the superintendent of public instruction the name and social security number of the employee about whom the information is required and a factual statement regarding any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section that applies to the employee.
(E) A determination made by the governing body as described in division (B)(2) of this section or a termination, nonrenewal, resignation, or other separation described in divisions (B)(2) to (4) of this section does not create a presumption of the commission or lack of the commission by the employee of an act unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(F) No individual required to submit a report under division (B) of this section shall knowingly fail to comply with that division.
(G) An individual who provides information to the superintendent of public instruction in accordance with this section in good faith shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the provision of that information.
Sec. 3326.241.  The governing body of each science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school shall require that the reports of any investigation by the governing body of an employee regarding whether the employee has committed an act or offense for which the chief administrative officer of the school or the president or chairperson of the governing body is required to make a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3314.40 of the Revised Code be kept in the employee's personnel file. If, after an investigation under division (A) of section 3319.311 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of public instruction determines that the results of that investigation do not warrant initiating action under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, the governing body shall require the reports of the investigation to be moved from the employee's personnel file to a separate public file.
Sec. 3326.242.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the provisions of sections 3326.24 and 3326.241 of the Revised Code prevail over any conflicting provisions of a collective bargaining agreement or contract for employment entered into after March 30, 2007.
Sec. 3326.243.  (A) As used in this section, "license" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(B) No employee of a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school shall do either of the following:
(1) Knowingly make a false report to the chief administrative officer of the school, or the chief administrative officer's designee, alleging misconduct by another employee of the school;
(2) Knowingly cause the chief administrative officer, or the chief administrative officer's designee, to make a false report of the alleged misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board of education.
(C) Any employee of a STEM school who in good faith reports to the chief administrative officer of the school, or the chief administrative officer's designee, information about alleged misconduct committed by another employee of the school shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the reporting of that information.
If the alleged misconduct involves a person who holds a license but the chief administrative officer is not required to submit a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 3326.24 of the Revised Code and the chief administrative officer, or the chief administrative officer's designee, in good faith reports the alleged misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction or the state board, the chief administrative officer, or the chief administrative officer's designee, shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the reporting of that information.
(D)(1) In any civil action brought against a person in which it is alleged and proved that the person violated division (B) of this section, the court shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs that the prevailing party incurred in the civil action or as a result of the false report that was the basis of the violation.
(2) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (B) of this section, if the subject of the false report that was the basis of the violation was charged with any violation of a law or ordinance as a result of the false report, and if the subject of the false report is found not to be guilty of the charges brought against the subject as a result of the false report or those charges are dismissed, the court that sentences the person for the violation of division (B) of this section, as part of the sentence, shall order the person to pay restitution to the subject of the false report, in an amount equal to reasonable attorney's fees and costs that the subject of the false report incurred as a result of or in relation to the charges.
Sec. 3326.25. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Designated official" means the chief administrative officer of a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school, or the chief administrative officer's designee.
(2) "Essential school services" means services provided by a private company under contract with a STEM school that the chief administrative officer of the school has determined are necessary for the operation of the school and that would need to be provided by employees of the school if the services were not provided by the private company.
(3) "License" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(B) This section applies to any person who is an employee of a private company under contract with a STEM school to provide essential school services and who will work in the school in a position that does not require a license issued by the state board of education, is not for the operation of a vehicle for pupil transportation, and that involves routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child.
(C) No STEM school shall permit a person to whom this section applies to work in the school, unless one of the following applies to the person:
(1) The person's employer presents proof of both of the following to the designated official:
(a) That the person has been the subject of a criminal records check conducted in accordance with division (D) of this section within the five-year period immediately prior to the date on which the person will begin working in the school;
(b) That the criminal records check indicates that the person has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense described in division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(2) During any period of time in which the person will have routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child, the designated official has arranged for an employee of the school to be present in the same room with the child or, if outdoors, to be within a thirty-yard radius of the child or to have visual contact with the child.
(D) Any private company that has been hired or seeks to be hired by a STEM school to provide essential school services may request the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to conduct a criminal records check of any of its employees for the purpose of complying with division (C)(1) of this section. Each request for a criminal records check under this division shall be made to the superintendent of the bureau in the manner prescribed in section 3319.39 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of a request, the bureau shall conduct the criminal records check in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code as if the request had been made under section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
Notwithstanding division (H) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code, the private company may share the results of any criminal records check conducted under this division with the designated official for the purpose of complying with division (C)(1) of this section, but in no case shall the designated official release that information to any other person.
Sec. 3326.99. (A) Whoever violates division (F) of section 3326.24 of the Revised Code shall be punished as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(2) The person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if both of the following conditions apply:
(a) The employee who is the subject of the report that the person fails to submit was required to be reported for the commission or alleged commission of an act or offense involving the infliction on a child of any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that constitutes abuse or neglect of the child;
(b) During the period between the violation of division (F) of section 3326.24 of the Revised Code and the conviction of or plea of guilty by the person for that violation, the employee who is the subject of the report that the person fails to submit inflicts on any child attending a school district, educational service center, public or nonpublic school, or county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities where the employee works any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that constitutes abuse or neglect of the child.
(B) Whoever violates division (B) of section 3326.243 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Sec. 3327.10.  (A) No person shall be employed as driver of a school bus or motor van, owned and operated by any school district or educational service center or privately owned and operated under contract with any school district or service center in this state, who has not received a certificate from the educational service center governing board in case such person is employed by a service center or by a local school district under the supervision of the service center governing board, or by the superintendent of schools, in case such person is employed by the board of a city or exempted village school district, certifying that such person is at least eighteen years of age and is of good moral character and is qualified physically and otherwise for such position. The service center governing board or the superintendent, as the case may be, shall provide for an annual physical examination that conforms with rules adopted by the state board of education of each driver to ascertain the driver's physical fitness for such employment. Any certificate may be revoked by the authority granting the same on proof that the holder has been guilty of failing to comply with division (D)(1) of this section, or upon a conviction or a guilty plea for a violation, or any other action, that results in a loss or suspension of driving rights. Failure to comply with such division may be cause for disciplinary action or termination of employment under division (C) of section 3319.081, or section 124.34 of the Revised Code.
(B) No person shall be employed as driver of a school bus or motor van not subject to the rules of the department of education pursuant to division (A) of this section who has not received a certificate from the school administrator or contractor certifying that such person is at least eighteen years of age, is of good moral character, and is qualified physically and otherwise for such position. Each driver shall have an annual physical examination which conforms to the state highway patrol rules, ascertaining the driver's physical fitness for such employment. The examination shall be performed by one of the following:
(1) A person licensed under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code or by another state to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery;
(2) A physician assistant;
(3) A certified nurse practitioner;
(4) A clinical nurse specialist;
(5) A certified nurse-midwife.
Any written documentation of the physical examination shall be completed by the individual who performed the examination.
Any certificate may be revoked by the authority granting the same on proof that the holder has been guilty of failing to comply with division (D)(2) of this section.
(C) Any person who drives a school bus or motor van must give satisfactory and sufficient bond except a driver who is an employee of a school district and who drives a bus or motor van owned by the school district.
(D) No person employed as driver of a school bus or motor van under this section who is convicted of a traffic violation or who has had the person's commercial driver's license suspended shall drive a school bus or motor van until the person has filed a written notice of the conviction or suspension, as follows:
(1) If the person is employed under division (A) of this section, the person shall file the notice with the superintendent, or a person designated by the superintendent, of the school district for which the person drives a school bus or motor van as an employee or drives a privately owned and operated school bus or motor van under contract.
(2) If employed under division (B) of this section, the person shall file the notice with the employing school administrator or contractor, or a person designated by the administrator or contractor.
(E) In addition to resulting in possible revocation of a certificate as authorized by divisions (A) and (B) of this section, violation of division (D) of this section is a minor misdemeanor.
(F)(1) Not later than thirty days after June 30, 2007, each owner of a school bus or motor van shall obtain the complete driving record for each person who is currently employed or otherwise authorized to drive the school bus or motor van. An owner of a school bus or motor van shall not permit a person to operate the school bus or motor van for the first time before the owner has obtained the person's complete driving record. Thereafter, the owner of a school bus or motor van shall obtain the person's driving record not less frequently than semiannually if the person remains employed or otherwise authorized to drive the school bus or motor van. An owner of a school bus or motor van shall not permit a person to resume operating a school bus or motor van, after an interruption of one year or longer, before the owner has obtained the person's complete driving record.
(2) The owner of a school bus or motor van shall not permit a person to operate the school bus or motor van for six years after the date on which the person pleads guilty to or is convicted of a violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(3) An owner of a school bus or motor van shall not permit any person to operate such a vehicle unless the person meets all other requirements contained in rules adopted by the state board of education prescribing qualifications of drivers of school buses and other student transportation.
(G) No superintendent of a school district, educational service center, community school, or public or private employer shall permit the operation of a vehicle used for pupil transportation within this state by an individual unless both of the following apply:
(1) Information pertaining to that driver has been submitted to the department of education, pursuant to procedures adopted by that department. Information to be reported shall include the name of the employer or school district, name of the driver, driver license number, date of birth, date of hire, status of physical evaluation, and status of training.
(2) The most recent criminal records check required by division (J) of this section, including information from the federal bureau of investigation, has been completed and received by the superintendent or public or private employer.
(H) A person, school district, educational service center, community school, nonpublic school, or other public or nonpublic entity that owns a school bus or motor van, or that contracts with another entity to operate a school bus or motor van, may impose more stringent restrictions on drivers than those prescribed in this section, in any other section of the Revised Code, and in rules adopted by the state board.
(I) For qualified drivers who, on July 1, 2007, are employed by the owner of a school bus or motor van to drive the school bus or motor van, any instance in which the driver was convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance prior to two years prior to July 1, 2007, shall not be considered a disqualifying event with respect to division (F) of this section.
(J)(1) This division applies to persons hired by a school district, educational service center, community school, chartered nonpublic school, or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code to operate a vehicle used for pupil transportation.
For each person to whom this division applies who is hired on or after the effective date of this amendment November 14, 2007, the employer shall request a criminal records check in accordance with section 3319.39 of the Revised Code and every six years thereafter. For each person to whom this division applies who is hired prior to that date, the employer shall request a criminal records check by a date prescribed by the department of education and every six years thereafter.
(2) This division applies to persons hired by a public or private employer not described in division (J)(1) of this section to operate a vehicle used for pupil transportation.
For each person to whom this division applies who is hired on or after the effective date of this amendment November 14, 2007, the employer shall request a criminal records check prior to the person's hiring and every six years thereafter. For each person to whom this division applies who is hired prior to that date, the employer shall request a criminal records check by a date prescribed by the department and every six years thereafter.
(3) Each request for a criminal records check under division (J) of this section shall be made to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in the manner prescribed in section 3319.39 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of a request, the bureau shall conduct the criminal records check in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code as if the request had been made under section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(K) Any person who is the subject of a criminal records check under division (J) of this section and has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense described in division (B)(1) (C) of section 3319.39 3319.31 of the Revised Code shall not be hired or shall be released from employment, as applicable, unless the person meets the rehabilitation standards adopted by the department under division (E) of that section.
Sec. 5126.253.  (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Conduct unbecoming to the teaching profession" shall be as described in rules adopted by the state board of education.
(2) "Intervention in lieu of conviction" means intervention in lieu of conviction under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code.
(3) "License" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Pre-trial diversion program" means a pre-trial diversion program under section 2935.36 of the Revised Code or a similar diversion program under rules of a court.
(B) Each The superintendent of each county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities or the president of the board, if division (C) of this section applies, shall promptly submit to the superintendent of public instruction the information prescribed in division (C)(D) of this section when any of the following conditions apply applies to an employee of the board who holds a license issued by the state board of education:
(1) The board superintendent or president knows that the employee has pleaded guilty to, has been found guilty by a jury or court of, or has been convicted of, has been found to be eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for, or has agreed to participate in a pre-trial diversion program for an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code;.
(2) The board has initiated termination or nonrenewal proceedings against, has terminated, or has not renewed the contract of the employee because the board has reasonably determined that the employee has committed an act unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code;.
(3) The employee has resigned under threat of termination or nonrenewal as described in division (B)(2) of this section;.
(4) The employee has resigned because of or in the course of an investigation by the board regarding whether the employee has committed an act unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(C) If the employee to whom any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section applies is the superintendent of a county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, the president of the board shall make the report required under this section.
(D) If a report is required under this section, the board superintendent or president shall submit to the superintendent of public instruction the name and social security number of the employee about whom information is required and a factual statement regarding any of the conditions prescribed in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section that apply applies to the employee.
(D)(E) A determination made by the board as described in division (B)(2) of this section or a termination, nonrenewal, resignation, or other separation described in divisions (B)(2) to (4) of this section does not create a presumption of the commission or lack of the commission by the employee of an act unbecoming to the teaching profession or an offense described in division (B)(2) or (C) of section 3319.31 or division (B)(1) of section 3319.39 of the Revised Code.
(F) No individual required to submit a report under division (B) of this section shall knowingly fail to comply with that division.
(G) An individual who provides information to the superintendent of public instruction in accordance with this section in good faith shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the provision of that information.
Sec. 5126.254.  Each The superintendent of each county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities shall require that the reports of any investigation by the board of an employee regarding whether the employee has committed an act or offense for which the board superintendent is required to make a report to the superintendent of public instruction under section 5126.253 of the Revised Code be kept in the employee's personnel file. If, after an investigation under division (A) of section 3319.311 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of public instruction determines that the results of that investigation do not warrant initiating action under section 3319.31 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of the county board shall require the reports of the board's investigation to be moved from the employee's personnel file to a separate public file.
Sec. 5126.99. (A) Whoever violates division (B) of section 5126.044 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(B) Whoever violates division (F) of section 5126.253 of the Revised Code shall be punished as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(2) The person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if both of the following conditions apply:
(a) The employee who is the subject of the report that the person fails to submit was required to be reported for the commission or alleged commission of an act or offense involving the infliction on a child of any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that constitutes abuse or neglect of the child;
(b) During the period between the violation of division (F) of section 5126.253 of the Revised Code and the conviction of or plea of guilty by the person for that violation, the employee who is the subject of the report that the person fails to submit inflicts on any child attending a school district, educational service center, public or nonpublic school, or county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities where the employee works any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that constitutes abuse or neglect of the child.
Sec. 5153.176.  As used in this section, "license" has the same meaning as in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(A) Notwithstanding division (H)(1) of section 2151.421, section 5153.17, or any other section of the Revised Code pertaining to confidentiality, the director of a public children services agency shall promptly provide to the superintendent of public instruction information regarding the agency's investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect made pursuant to section 2151.421 of the Revised Code involving a person who holds a license issued by the state board of education where the agency has determined that child abuse or neglect occurred and that abuse or neglect is related to the person's duties and responsibilities under the license. The information provided by the agency director shall include the following:
(1) A summary of the nature of the allegations contained in the report of which the person is the subject and the final disposition of the investigation conducted in response to that report or, if the investigation is not complete, the status of the investigation;
(2) Upon written request of the superintendent of public instruction, the additional information described in division (C) of this section regarding the agency's investigation of the report, unless the prosecuting attorney of the county served by the agency determines that such information may not be released pursuant to division (B) of this section.
(B) Upon receipt of a written request from the superintendent of public instruction for the additional information described in division (C) of this section, the director of the public children services agency shall determine if the prosecuting attorney of the county served by the public children services agency intends to prosecute the subject of the report based on the allegations contained in the report. If the prosecuting attorney intends to prosecute the subject of the report, the prosecuting attorney shall determine the information described in division (C) of this section that may be released, if any, and shall provide the director with written authorization to release the information so determined. The agency director shall provide the superintendent of public instruction with any information described in division (C) of this section that the prosecuting attorney determines may be released, but in no case shall the agency director provide any information that the prosecuting attorney determines shall not be released. If the prosecuting attorney does not intend to prosecute the subject of the report, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the director of that fact and the agency director shall provide all of the information described in division (C) of this section to the superintendent of public instruction.
(C) In accordance with division (B) of this section, the public children services agency director shall provide information to the superintendent of public instruction regarding the public children services agency's investigation of the report described in division (A) of this section, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) The following information about the alleged child victim of the abuse or neglect:
(a) Full name;
(b) Date of birth;
(c) Address and telephone number;
(d) Grade level;
(e) Name and contact information of the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian;
(f) Name and contact information of any medical facility that provided treatment to the child, if the child was injured in connection with the abuse or neglect and if that information is available;
(g) A summary of interviews with the child or, if an entity other than the agency conducted the interviews, the contact information for that entity. The summary shall include an accounting of the facts and circumstances of the alleged abuse or neglect, including, but not limited to, the time and place that the abuse or neglect occurred.
(h) Copies of any written correspondence between the child and the alleged perpetrator of the abuse or neglect that was used by the agency to determine that abuse or neglect occurred, the release of which is not otherwise prohibited by law.
(2) The following information about the alleged perpetrator of the abuse or neglect:
(a) Full name;
(b) Date of birth;
(c) Address and telephone number;
(d) Name of school district and school building that employed the alleged perpetrator at the time the report was made;
(e) Name and contact information of any medical facility that provided treatment to the alleged perpetrator, if the alleged perpetrator was injured in connection with the abuse or neglect and if that information is available;
(f) A summary of interviews with the alleged perpetrator or, if an entity other than the agency conducted the interviews, the contact information for that entity. The summary shall include an accounting of the facts and circumstances of the alleged abuse or neglect, including, but not limited to, the time and place that the abuse or neglect occurred.
(g) Copies of any written correspondence between the alleged child victim and the alleged perpetrator that was used by the agency to determine that abuse or neglect occurred, the release of which is not otherwise prohibited by law;
(h) If the alleged perpetrator has been the subject of any previous reports made pursuant to section 2151.421 of the Revised Code where the agency determined that physical or sexual child abuse occurred, a summary of the chronology of those reports; the final disposition of the investigations conducted in response to those reports, or if an investigation is not complete, the status of that investigation; and any underlying documentation concerning those reports.
(3) The following information about each person, other than the alleged child victim and the alleged perpetrator, whom the agency has determined to be important to the investigation, except that the information shall not be provided about the person who made the report unless that person grants written permission for the agency director to release the information:
(a) Full name;
(b) Address and telephone number;
(c) If the person has been interviewed regarding the alleged abuse or neglect, a summary of those interviews or, if an entity other than the agency conducted the interviews, the contact information for such entity.
(D) Upon provision of any information to the superintendent of public instruction under this section, the public children services agency director shall notify the superintendent of both of the following:
(1) That the information is confidential;
(2) That unauthorized dissemination of the information is a violation of division (H)(2) of section 2151.421 and section 3319.311 of the Revised Code and any person who permits or encourages unauthorized dissemination of the information is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree pursuant to section 2151.99 of the Revised Code.
If the agency director determines that the superintendent of public instruction or any person involved in the conduct of an investigation under section 3319.311 of the Revised Code committed, caused, permitted, or encouraged the unauthorized dissemination of any information provided under this section, the agency director shall provide written notification of the unauthorized dissemination to the prosecuting attorney of the county or the village solicitor, city director of law, or similar chief legal officer of the municipal corporation in which the unauthorized dissemination occurred. A copy of the notification shall be retained in the investigative record maintained by the public children services agency.
(E) The public children services agency director shall include documentation of the information provided to the superintendent of public instruction under this section in the investigative record maintained by the public children services agency. The documentation shall include the following:
(1) A list of the information provided;
(2) The date the information was provided;
(3) If the superintendent of public instruction designates a person to receive the information on the superintendent's behalf, the name of that person;
(4) The reason for providing the information;
(5) If written authorization to provide the information is required from the prosecuting attorney under division (B) of this section, a copy of that authorization.
(F) An employee No director of a public children services agency shall knowingly fail to comply with division (A) or (C) of this section.
(G) A director of a public children services agency who provides information to the superintendent of public instruction in accordance with this section in good faith shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed for injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of the provision of that information.
(G)(H) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, the provisions of this section prevail over any conflicting provisions of a collective bargaining agreement or contract for employment entered into after the effective date of this section March 30, 2007.
Sec. 5153.99. Whoever violates division (F) of section 5153.176 of the Revised Code shall be punished as follows:
(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(B) The person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if, during the period between the violation and the conviction of or plea of guilty by the person for that violation, the license holder who is the subject of the investigation about which the person fails to provide information inflicts on any child attending a school district, educational service center, public or nonpublic school, or county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities where the license holder works any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that constitutes abuse or neglect of the child.
Section 2.  That existing sections 109.57, 2953.33, 3313.31, 3314.03, 3314.19, 3319.01, 3319.20, 3319.291, 3319.302, 3319.304, 3319.31, 3319.311, 3319.313, 3319.314, 3319.39, 3319.391, 3319.52, 3319.99, 3326.11, 3326.23, 3327.10, 5126.253, 5126.254, 5126.99, and 5153.176 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
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