To amend sections 1.62, 135.35, 323.78, 349.01, 349.03, 349.04, 349.06, 349.14, 1724.02, 1724.03, 1724.04, 1724.05, 5705.19, and 5722.22 and to enact section 321.343 of the Revised Code to authorize a county with a population greater than 60,000 to organize a county land reutilization corporation, to authorize a county treasurer of a county with such a corporation to utilize the alternative redemption period in actions to foreclose abandoned lands, to immunize a county land reutilization corporation from liability for breach of a common law duty in connection with a parcel of land, to make other changes regarding county land reutilization corporations, to specify that county levies for Ohio state university extension services may be levied in excess of the ten-mill limitation, to authorize levies in excess of the ten-mill limitation for expenses of soil and water conservation districts, and to modify the New Community Authority Law.

SECTION 1.  That sections 1.62, 135.35, 323.78, 349.01, 349.03, 349.04, 349.06, 349.14, 1724.02, 1724.03, 1724.04, 1724.05, 5705.19, and 5722.22 be amended and section 321.343 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 1.62.  As used in the Revised Code, unless the context of a section does not permit the following or unless expressly provided otherwise in a section:

(A) References to particular county officers, boards, commissions, and authorities mean, in the case of a county that has adopted a charter under Article X, Ohio Constitution, the officer, board, commission, or authority of that county designated by or pursuant to the charter to exercise the same powers or perform the same acts, duties, or functions that are to be exercised or performed under the applicable section of the Revised Code by officers, boards, commissions, or authorities of counties that have not adopted a charter. If any section of the Revised Code requires county representation on a board, commission, or authority by more than one county officer, and the charter vests the powers, duties, or functions of each county officer representing the county on the board, commission, or authority in fewer officers or in only a single county officer, the county officers or officer shall succeed to the representation of only one of the county officers on the board, commission, or authority. If any vacancy in the representation of the county on the board, commission, or authority remains, the taxing authority of the county shall adopt a resolution to fill the vacancy.

(B) References to resolutions mean, in the case of a county that has adopted a charter under Article X, Ohio Constitution, the appropriate form of legislation permitted by or pursuant to the charter.

Sec. 135.35.  (A) The investing authority shall deposit or invest any part or all of the county's inactive moneys and shall invest all of the money in the county public library fund when required by section 135.352 of the Revised Code. The following classifications of securities and obligations are eligible for such deposit or investment:

(1) United States treasury bills, notes, bonds, or any other obligation or security issued by the United States treasury, any other obligation guaranteed as to principal or interest by the United States, or any book entry, zero-coupon United States treasury security that is a direct obligation of the United States.

Nothing in the classification of eligible securities and obligations set forth in divisions (A)(2) to (11) of this section shall be construed to authorize any investment in stripped principal or interest obligations of such eligible securities and obligations.

(2) Bonds, notes, debentures, or any other obligations or securities issued by any federal government agency or instrumentality, including but not limited to, the federal national mortgage association, federal home loan bank, federal farm credit bank, federal home loan mortgage corporation, government national mortgage association, and student loan marketing association. All federal agency securities shall be direct issuances of federal government agencies or instrumentalities.

(3) Time certificates of deposit or savings or deposit accounts, including, but not limited to, passbook accounts, in any eligible institution mentioned in section 135.32 of the Revised Code;

(4) Bonds and other obligations of this state or the political subdivisions of this state, provided that such political subdivisions are located wholly or partly within the same county as the investing authority;

(5) No-load money market mutual funds consisting exclusively of obligations described in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section and repurchase agreements secured by such obligations, provided that investments in securities described in this division are made only through eligible institutions mentioned in section 135.32 of the Revised Code;

(6) The Ohio subdivision's fund as provided in section 135.45 of the Revised Code;

(7) Securities lending agreements with any eligible institution mentioned in section 135.32 of the Revised Code that is a member of the federal reserve system or federal home loan bank or with any recognized United States government securities dealer meeting the description in division (J)(1) of this section, under the terms of which agreements the investing authority lends securities and the eligible institution or dealer agrees to simultaneously exchange similar securities or cash, equal value for equal value.

Securities and cash received as collateral for a securities lending agreement are not inactive moneys of the county or moneys of a county public library fund. The investment of cash collateral received pursuant to a securities lending agreement may be invested only in instruments specified by the investing authority in the written investment policy described in division (K) of this section.

(8) Up to twenty-five per cent of the county's total average portfolio in either of the following investments:

(a) Commercial paper notes issued by an entity that is defined in division (D) of section 1705.01 of the Revised Code and that has assets exceeding five hundred million dollars, to which notes all of the following apply:

(i) The notes are rated at the time of purchase in the highest classification established by at least two nationally recognized standard rating services.

(ii) The aggregate value of the notes does not exceed ten per cent of the aggregate value of the outstanding commercial paper of the issuing corporation.

(iii) The notes mature not later than two hundred seventy days after purchase.

(b) Bankers acceptances of banks that are insured by the federal deposit insurance corporation and to which both of the following apply:

(i) The obligations are eligible for purchase by the federal reserve system.

(ii) The obligations mature not later than one hundred eighty days after purchase.

No investment shall be made pursuant to division (A)(8) of this section unless the investing authority has completed additional training for making the investments authorized by division (A)(8) of this section. The type and amount of additional training shall be approved by the auditor of state and may be conducted by or provided under the supervision of the auditor of state.

(9) Up to fifteen per cent of the county's total average portfolio in notes issued by corporations that are incorporated under the laws of the United States and that are operating within the United States, or by depository institutions that are doing business under authority granted by the United States or any state and that are operating within the United States, provided both of the following apply:

(a) The notes are rated in the second highest or higher category by at least two nationally recognized standard rating services at the time of purchase.

(b) The notes mature not later than two years after purchase.

(10) No-load money market mutual funds rated in the highest category at the time of purchase by at least one nationally recognized standard rating service and consisting exclusively of obligations described in division (A)(1), (2), or (6) of section 135.143 of the Revised Code;

(11) Debt interests rated at the time of purchase in the three highest categories by two nationally recognized standard rating services and issued by foreign nations diplomatically recognized by the United States government. All interest and principal shall be denominated and payable in United States funds. The investments made under division (A)(11) of this section shall not exceed in the aggregate one per cent of a county's total average portfolio.

The investing authority shall invest under division (A)(11) of this section in a debt interest issued by a foreign nation only if the debt interest is backed by the full faith and credit of that foreign nation, there is no prior history of default, and the debt interest matures not later than five years after purchase. For purposes of division (A)(11) of this section, a debt interest is rated in the three highest categories by two nationally recognized standard rating services if either the debt interest itself or the issuer of the debt interest is rated, or is implicitly rated, at the time of purchase in the three highest categories by two nationally recognized standard rating services.

(12) A current unpaid or delinquent tax line of credit authorized under division (G) of section 135.341 of the Revised Code, provided that all of the conditions for entering into such a line of credit under that division are satisfied, or bonds and other obligations of a county land reutilization corporation organized under Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code, if the county land reutilization corporation is located wholly or partly within the same county as the investing authority.

(B) Nothing in the classifications of eligible obligations and securities set forth in divisions (A)(1) to (11) of this section shall be construed to authorize investment in a derivative, and no investing authority shall invest any county inactive moneys or any moneys in a county public library fund in a derivative. For purposes of this division, "derivative" means a financial instrument or contract or obligation whose value or return is based upon or linked to another asset or index, or both, separate from the financial instrument, contract, or obligation itself. Any security, obligation, trust account, or other instrument that is created from an issue of the United States treasury or is created from an obligation of a federal agency or instrumentality or is created from both is considered a derivative instrument. An eligible investment described in this section with a variable interest rate payment, based upon a single interest payment or single index comprised of other eligible investments provided for in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section, is not a derivative, provided that such variable rate investment has a maximum maturity of two years. A treasury inflation-protected security shall not be considered a derivative, provided the security matures not later than five years after purchase.

(C) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, any investment made pursuant to this section must mature within five years from the date of settlement, unless the investment is matched to a specific obligation or debt of the county or to a specific obligation or debt of a political subdivision of this state located wholly or partly within the county, and the investment is specifically approved by the investment advisory committee.

(D) The investing authority may also enter into a written repurchase agreement with any eligible institution mentioned in section 135.32 of the Revised Code or any eligible securities dealer pursuant to division (J) of this section, under the terms of which agreement the investing authority purchases and the eligible institution or dealer agrees unconditionally to repurchase any of the securities listed in divisions (B)(1) to (5), except letters of credit described in division (B)(2), of section 135.18 of the Revised Code. The market value of securities subject to an overnight written repurchase agreement must exceed the principal value of the overnight written repurchase agreement by at least two per cent. A written repurchase agreement must exceed the principal value of the overnight written repurchase agreement, by at least two per cent. A written repurchase agreement shall not exceed thirty days, and the market value of securities subject to a written repurchase agreement must exceed the principal value of the written repurchase agreement by at least two per cent and be marked to market daily. All securities purchased pursuant to this division shall be delivered into the custody of the investing authority or the qualified custodian of the investing authority or an agent designated by the investing authority. A written repurchase agreement with an eligible securities dealer shall be transacted on a delivery versus payment basis. The agreement shall contain the requirement that for each transaction pursuant to the agreement the participating institution shall provide all of the following information:

(1) The par value of the securities;

(2) The type, rate, and maturity date of the securities;

(3) A numerical identifier generally accepted in the securities industry that designates the securities.

No investing authority shall enter into a written repurchase agreement under the terms of which the investing authority agrees to sell securities owned by the county to a purchaser and agrees with that purchaser to unconditionally repurchase those securities.

(E) No investing authority shall make an investment under this section, unless the investing authority, at the time of making the investment, reasonably expects that the investment can be held until its maturity. The investing authority's written investment policy shall specify the conditions under which an investment may be redeemed or sold prior to maturity.

(F) No investing authority shall pay a county's inactive moneys or moneys of a county public library fund into a fund established by another subdivision, treasurer, governing board, or investing authority, if that fund was established by the subdivision, treasurer, governing board, or investing authority for the purpose of investing or depositing the public moneys of other subdivisions. This division does not apply to the payment of public moneys into either of the following:

(1) The Ohio subdivision's fund pursuant to division (A)(6) of this section;

(2) A fund created solely for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, owning, leasing, or operating municipal utilities pursuant to the authority provided under section 715.02 of the Revised Code or Section 4 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution.

For purposes of division (F) of this section, "subdivision" includes a county.

(G) The use of leverage, in which the county uses its current investment assets as collateral for the purpose of purchasing other assets, is prohibited. The issuance of taxable notes for the purpose of arbitrage is prohibited. Contracting to sell securities not owned by the county, for the purpose of purchasing such securities on the speculation that bond prices will decline, is prohibited.

(H) Any securities, certificates of deposit, deposit accounts, or any other documents evidencing deposits or investments made under authority of this section shall be issued in the name of the county with the county treasurer or investing authority as the designated payee. If any such deposits or investments are registrable either as to principal or interest, or both, they shall be registered in the name of the treasurer.

(I) The investing authority shall be responsible for the safekeeping of all documents evidencing a deposit or investment acquired under this section, including, but not limited to, safekeeping receipts evidencing securities deposited with a qualified trustee, as provided in section 135.37 of the Revised Code, and documents confirming the purchase of securities under any repurchase agreement under this section shall be deposited with a qualified trustee, provided, however, that the qualified trustee shall be required to report to the investing authority, auditor of state, or an authorized outside auditor at any time upon request as to the identity, market value, and location of the document evidencing each security, and that if the participating institution is a designated depository of the county for the current period of designation, the securities that are the subject of the repurchase agreement may be delivered to the treasurer or held in trust by the participating institution on behalf of the investing authority.

Upon the expiration of the term of office of an investing authority or in the event of a vacancy in the office for any reason, the officer or the officer's legal representative shall transfer and deliver to the officer's successor all documents mentioned in this division for which the officer has been responsible for safekeeping. For all such documents transferred and delivered, the officer shall be credited with, and the officer's successor shall be charged with, the amount of moneys evidenced by such documents.

(J)(1) All investments, except for investments in securities described in divisions (A)(5) and, (6), and (12) of this section, shall be made only through a member of the national association of securities dealers, through a bank, savings bank, or savings and loan association regulated by the superintendent of financial institutions, or through an institution regulated by the comptroller of the currency, federal deposit insurance corporation, or board of governors of the federal reserve system.

(2) Payment for investments shall be made only upon the delivery of securities representing such investments to the treasurer, investing authority, or qualified trustee. If the securities transferred are not represented by a certificate, payment shall be made only upon receipt of confirmation of transfer from the custodian by the treasurer, governing board, or qualified trustee.

(K)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (K)(2) of this section, no investing authority shall make an investment or deposit under this section, unless there is on file with the auditor of state a written investment policy approved by the investing authority. The policy shall require that all entities conducting investment business with the investing authority shall sign the investment policy of that investing authority. All brokers, dealers, and financial institutions, described in division (J)(1) of this section, initiating transactions with the investing authority by giving advice or making investment recommendations shall sign the investing authority's investment policy thereby acknowledging their agreement to abide by the policy's contents. All brokers, dealers, and financial institutions, described in division (J)(1) of this section, executing transactions initiated by the investing authority, having read the policy's contents, shall sign the investment policy thereby acknowledging their comprehension and receipt.

(2) If a written investment policy described in division (K)(1) of this section is not filed on behalf of the county with the auditor of state, the investing authority of that county shall invest the county's inactive moneys and moneys of the county public library fund only in time certificates of deposits or savings or deposit accounts pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section, no-load money market mutual funds pursuant to division (A)(5) of this section, or the Ohio subdivision's fund pursuant to division (A)(6) of this section.

(L)(1) The investing authority shall establish and maintain an inventory of all obligations and securities acquired by the investing authority pursuant to this section. The inventory shall include a description of each obligation or security, including type, cost, par value, maturity date, settlement date, and any coupon rate.

(2) The investing authority shall also keep a complete record of all purchases and sales of the obligations and securities made pursuant to this section.

(3) The investing authority shall maintain a monthly portfolio report and issue a copy of the monthly portfolio report describing such investments to the county investment advisory committee, detailing the current inventory of all obligations and securities, all transactions during the month that affected the inventory, any income received from the obligations and securities, and any investment expenses paid, and stating the names of any persons effecting transactions on behalf of the investing authority.

(4) The monthly portfolio report shall be a public record and available for inspection under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(5) The inventory and the monthly portfolio report shall be filed with the board of county commissioners.

(M) An investing authority may enter into a written investment or deposit agreement that includes a provision under which the parties agree to submit to nonbinding arbitration to settle any controversy that may arise out of the agreement, including any controversy pertaining to losses of public moneys resulting from investment or deposit. The arbitration provision shall be set forth entirely in the agreement, and the agreement shall include a conspicuous notice to the parties that any party to the arbitration may apply to the court of common pleas of the county in which the arbitration was held for an order to vacate, modify, or correct the award. Any such party may also apply to the court for an order to change venue to a court of common pleas located more than one hundred miles from the county in which the investing authority is located.

For purposes of this division, "investment or deposit agreement" means any agreement between an investing authority and a person, under which agreement the person agrees to invest, deposit, or otherwise manage, on behalf of the investing authority, a county's inactive moneys or moneys in a county public library fund, or agrees to provide investment advice to the investing authority.

(N) An investment held in the county portfolio on September 27, 1996, that was a legal investment under the law as it existed before September 27, 1996, may be held until maturity, or if the investment does not have a maturity date the investment may be held until five years from September 27, 1996, regardless of whether the investment would qualify as a legal investment under the terms of this section as amended.

Sec. 321.343. A county treasurer of a county in which a county land reutilization corporation has been organized under Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code may enter into an agreement with the county land reutilization corporation for the benefit of the holders of debt obligations of the corporation for the repayment of which will be pledged the penalties and interest on current year unpaid taxes and current year delinquent taxes, as defined in and available under section 321.341 of the Revised Code. The pledge agreement may include, without limitation, a pledge by the county treasurer of and a grant of a security interest in the penalties and interest deposited into the county land reutilization fund to the payment of debt service on the debt obligations and a covenant of the county treasurer to continue to make the special tax advances authorized under section 321.341 of the Revised Code when the debt obligations remain outstanding if necessary to generate from the penalties and interest at least the amount needed to pay the debt service on the debt obligations when due. The penalties and interest so pledged and so deposited are immediately subject to the pledge and security interest without any physical delivery thereof or further act. The pledge and security interest are valid, binding, and enforceable against all parties having claims of any kind against the county land reutilization corporation or the county treasurer, irrespective of notice thereof, and such pledge and grant of a security interest creates a perfected security interest for all purposes of Chapter 1309. of the Revised Code, without the necessity for separation or delivery or possession of the pledged penalties and interest, or for the filing or recording of the document by which the pledge and security interest are created. The penalties and interest so deposited may be applied to the purposes for which pledged without necessity for any act of appropriation. The performance under this pledge agreement is expressly determined and declared to be a duty specifically enjoined by law upon the county treasurer and each officer and employee having authority to perform the duty of the county treasurer resulting from an office, trust, or station, within the meaning of section 2731.01 of the Revised Code, enforceable by writ of mandamus.

Sec. 323.78.  Notwithstanding anything in Chapters 323., 5721., and 5723. of the Revised Code, if the county treasurer of a county having a population of more than one million two hundred thousand as of the most recent decennial census in which a county land reutilization operates, in any petition for foreclosure of abandoned lands, elects to invoke the alternative redemption period, then upon any adjudication of foreclosure by any court or the board of revision in any proceeding under section 323.25, sections 323.65 to 323.79, or section 5721.18 of the Revised Code, the following apply:

(A) Unless otherwise ordered by a motion of the court or board of revision, the petition shall assert, and any notice of final hearing shall include, that upon foreclosure of the parcel, the equity of redemption in any parcel by its owner shall be forever terminated after the expiration of the alternative redemption period, that the parcel thereafter may be sold at sheriff's sale either by itself or together with other parcels as permitted by law; or that the parcel may, by order of the court or board of revision, be transferred directly to a municipal corporation, township, county, school district, or county land reutilization corporation without appraisal and without a sale, free and clear of all impositions and any other liens on the property, which shall be deemed forever satisfied and discharged.

(B) After the expiration of the alternative redemption period following an adjudication of foreclosure, by order of the court or board of revision, any equity of redemption is forever extinguished, and the parcel may be transferred individually or in lots with other tax-foreclosed properties to a municipal corporation, township, county, school district, or county land reutilization corporation without appraisal and without a sale, upon which all impositions and any other liens subordinate to liens for impositions due at the time the deed to the property is conveyed to a purchaser or transferred to a community development organization, county land reutilization corporation, municipal corporation, county, township, or school district, shall be deemed satisfied and discharged. Other than the order of the court or board of revision so ordering the transfer of the parcel, no further act of confirmation or other order shall be required for such a transfer, or for the extinguishment of any right of redemption.

(C) Upon the expiration of the alternative redemption period in cases to which the alternative redemption period has been ordered, if no community development organization, county land reutilization corporation, municipal corporation, county, township, or school district has requested title to the parcel, the court or board of revision may order the property sold as otherwise provided in Chapters 323. and 5721. of the Revised Code, and, failing any bid at any such sale, the parcel shall be forfeited to the state and otherwise disposed of pursuant to Chapter 5723. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 349.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "New community" means a community or an addition to an existing community planned pursuant to this chapter so that it includes facilities for the conduct of industrial, commercial, residential, cultural, educational, and recreational activities, and designed in accordance with planning concepts for the placement of utility, open space, and other supportive facilities.

In the case of a new community authority established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, "new community" may mean a community or development of property planned under this chapter in relation to an existing community so that the community includes facilities for the conduct of community activities, and is designed in accordance with planning concepts for the placement of utility, open space, and other supportive facilities for the community.

(B) "New community development program" means a program for the development of a new community characterized by well-balanced and diversified land use patterns and which includes land acquisition and land development, the acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance of community facilities, and the provision of services authorized in this chapter.

In the case of a new community authority established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, a new community development program may take into account any existing community in relation to which a new community is developed for purposes of being characterized by well-balanced and diversified land use patterns.

(C) "New community district" means the area of land described by the developer in the petition as set forth in division (A) of section 349.03 of the Revised Code for development as a new community and any lands added to the district by amendment of the resolution establishing the community authority.

(D) "New community authority" means a body corporate and politic in this state, established pursuant to section 349.03 of the Revised Code and governed by a board of trustees as provided in section 349.04 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Developer" means any person, organized for carrying out a new community development program who owns or controls, through leases of at least seventy-five years' duration, options, or contracts to purchase, the land within a new community district, or any municipal corporation, county, or port authority that owns the land within a new community district, or has the ability to acquire such land, either by voluntary acquisition or condemnation in order to eliminate slum, blighted, and deteriorated or deteriorating areas and to prevent the recurrence thereof. In the case of a new community authority established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, "developer" may mean a person, municipal corporation, county, or port authority that controls land within a new community district through leases of at least forty years' duration.

(F) "Organizational board of commissioners" means, if the new community district is located in only one county, the board of county commissioners of such county; if located in more than one county, a board consisting of the members of the board of county commissioners of each of the counties in which the district is located, provided that action of such board shall require a majority vote of the members of each separate board of county commissioners; or, if more than half of the new community district is located within the boundaries of the most populous municipal corporation of a county, the legislative authority of the municipal corporation.

(G) "Land acquisition" means the acquisition of real property and interests in real property as part of a new community development program.

(H) "Land development" means the process of clearing and grading land, making, installing, or constructing water distribution systems, sewers, sewage collection systems, steam, gas, and electric lines, roads, streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, storm drainage facilities, and other installations or work, whether within or without the new community district, and the construction of community facilities.

(I)(1) "Community facilities" means all real property, buildings, structures, or other facilities, including related fixtures, equipment, and furnishings, to be owned, operated, financed, constructed, and maintained under this chapter, including public, community, village, neighborhood, or town buildings, centers and plazas, auditoriums, day care centers, recreation halls, educational facilities, hospital facilities as defined in section 140.01 of the Revised Code, recreational facilities, natural resource facilities, including parks and other open space land, lakes and streams, cultural facilities, community streets, pathway and bikeway systems, pedestrian underpasses and overpasses, lighting facilities, design amenities, or other community facilities, and buildings needed in connection with water supply or sewage disposal installations or steam, gas, or electric lines or installation.

(2) In the case of a new community authority established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, "community facilities" may mean, in addition to the facilities authorized in division (I)(1) of this section, any community facilities that are owned, operated, financed, constructed, or maintained for, relating to, or in furtherance of community activities, including, but not limited to, town buildings or other facilities, health care facilities including, but limited to, hospital facilities, and off-street parking facilities.

(J) "Cost" as applied to a new community development program means all costs related to land acquisition and land development, the acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of community facilities and offices of the community authority, and of providing furnishings and equipment therefor, financing charges including interest prior to and during construction and for the duration of the new community development program, planning expenses, engineering expenses, administrative expenses including working capital, and all other expenses necessary and incident to the carrying forward of the new community development program.

(K) "Income source" means any and all sources of income to the community authority, including community development charges of which the new community authority is the beneficiary as provided in section 349.07 of the Revised Code, rentals, user fees and other charges received by the new community authority, any gift or grant received, any moneys received from any funds invested by or on behalf of the new community authority, and proceeds from the sale or lease of land and community facilities.

(L) "Community development charge" means a:

(1) A dollar amount which shall be determined on the basis of the assessed valuation of real property or interests in real property in a new community district sold, leased, or otherwise conveyed by the developer or the new community authority, the income of the residents of such property subject to such charge under section 349.07 of the Revised Code, if such property is devoted to residential uses or to the profits of any business, a uniform fee on each parcel of such real property originally sold, leased, or otherwise conveyed by the developer or new community authority, or any combination of the foregoing bases.

(2) For a new community authority that is established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, "community development charge" includes, in addition to the charges authorized in division (L)(1) of this section, a charge determined on the basis of all or a part of the income of the residents of real property within the new community district if such property is devoted to residential uses, or all or a part of the profits, gross receipts, or other revenues of any business operating in the new community district.

(M) "Proximate city" means any city that, as of the date of filing of the petition under section 349.03 of the Revised Code, is the most populous city of with the greatest population located in the county in which the proposed new community district is located, is the most populous city of with the greatest population located in an adjoining county if any portion of such city is within five miles of any part of the boundaries of such district, or exercises extraterritorial subdivision authority under section 711.09 of the Revised Code with respect to any part of such district.

(N) "Community activities" means cultural, educational, governmental, recreational, residential, industrial, commercial, distribution and research activities, or any combination thereof that includes residential activities.

Sec. 349.03.  (A) Proceedings for the organization of a new community authority shall be initiated by a petition filed by the developer in the office of the clerk of the board of county commissioners of one of the counties in which all or part of the proposed new community district is located. Such petition shall be signed by the developer and may be signed by each proximate city. The legislative authorities of each such proximate city shall act in behalf of such city. Such petition shall contain:

(1) The name of the proposed new community authority;

(2) The address where the principal office of the authority will be located or the manner in which the location will be selected;

(3) A map and a full and accurate description of the boundaries of the new community district together with a description of the properties within such boundaries, if any, which will not be included in the new community district. Unless the district is wholly contained within municipalities, the total acreage included in such district shall not be less than one thousand acres, all of which acreage shall be owned by, or under the control through leases of at least seventy-five years duration, options, or contracts to purchase, of the developer, if the developer is a private entity. Such acreage shall be developable as one functionally interrelated community. In the case of a new community authority established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, such leases may be of not less than forty years' duration, and the acreage may be developable so that the community is one functionally interrelated community.

(4) A statement setting forth the zoning regulations proposed for zoning the area within the boundaries of the new community district for comprehensive development as a new community, and if the area has been zoned for such development, a certified copy of the applicable zoning regulations therefor;

(5) A current plan indicating the proposed development program for the new community district, the land acquisition and land development activities, community facilities, and services which it is proposed to be undertaken by the new community authority will undertake under such program and, the proposed method of financing such activities and services, including a description of the bases, timing, and manner of collecting any proposed community development charges, and the projected total residential population of, and employment within, the new community;

(6) A suggested number of members, consistent with section 349.04 of the Revised Code, for the board of trustees;

(7) A preliminary economic feasibility analysis, including the area development pattern and demand, location and proposed new community district size, present and future socio-economic conditions, public services provision, financial plan, and the developer's management capability;

(8) A statement that the development will comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

Upon the filing of such petition, the organizational board of commissioners shall determine whether such petition complies with the requirements of this section as to form and substance. The board in subsequent proceedings may at any time permit the petition to be amended in form and substance to conform to the facts by correcting any errors in the description of the proposed new community district or in any other particular.

Upon the determination of the organizational board of commissioners that a sufficient petition has been filed in accordance with this section, the board shall fix the time and place of a hearing on the petition for the establishment of the proposed new community authority. Such hearing shall be held not less than ninety-five nor more than one hundred fifteen days after the petition filing date, except that if the petition has been signed by all proximate cities, such hearing shall be held not less than thirty nor more than forty-five days after the petition filing date. The clerk of the board of county commissioners with which the petition was filed shall give notice thereof by publication once each week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in any county of which a portion is within the proposed new community district. Such clerk shall also give written notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing and furnish a certified copy of the petition to the clerk of the legislative authority of each proximate city which has not signed such petition. In the event that the legislative authority of a proximate city which did not sign the petition does not approve by ordinance, resolution, or motion the establishment of the proposed new community authority and does not deliver such ordinance, resolution, or motion to the clerk of the board of county commissioners with which the petition was filed within ninety days following the date of the first publication of the notice of the public hearing, the organizational board of commissioners shall cancel such public hearing and terminate the proceedings for the establishment of the new community authority.

Upon the hearing, if the organizational board of commissioners determines by resolution that the proposed new community district will be conducive to the public health, safety, convenience, and welfare, and is intended to result in the development of a new community, the board shall by its resolution, entered of record in its journal and the journal of the board of county commissioners with which the petition was filed, declare the new community authority to be organized and a body politic and corporate with the corporate name designated in the resolution, and define the boundary of the new community district. In addition, the resolution shall provide the method of selecting the board of trustees of the new community authority and fix the surety for their bonds in accordance with section 349.04 of the Revised Code.

If the organizational board of commissioners finds that the establishment of the district will not be conducive to the public health, safety, convenience, or welfare, or is not intended to result in the development of a new community, it shall reject the petition thereby terminating the proceedings for the establishment of the new community authority.

(B) At any time after the creation of a new community authority, the developer may file an application with the clerk of the board of county commissioners of the county in which the original petition was filed, setting forth a general description of territory it desires to add or to delete from such district, that such change will be conducive to the public health, safety, convenience, and welfare, and will be consistent with the development of a new community and will not jeopardize the plan of the new community. If the developer is not a municipal corporation, port authority, or county, all of such an addition to such a district shall be owned by, or under the control through leases of at least seventy-five years duration, options, or contracts to purchase, of the developer. In the case of a new community authority established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, such leases may be of not less than forty years' duration. Upon the filing of the application, the organizational board of commissioners shall follow the same procedure as required by this section in relation to the petition for the establishment of the proposed new community.

(C) If all or any part of the new community district is annexed to one or more existing municipal corporations, their legislative authorities may appoint persons to replace any appointed citizen member of the board of trustees. The number of such trustees to be replaced by the municipal corporation shall be the number, rounded to the lowest integer, bearing the proportionate relationship to the number of existing appointed citizen members as the acreage of the new community district within such municipal corporation bears to the total acreage of the new community district. If any such municipal corporation chooses to replace an appointed citizen member, it shall do so by ordinance, the term of the trustee being replaced shall terminate thirty days from the date of passage of such ordinance, and the trustee to be replaced shall be determined by lot. Each newly appointed member shall assume the term of his the member's predecessor.

Sec. 349.04.  The following method of selecting a board of trustees is deemed to be a compelling state interest. Within ten days after the new community authority has been established, as provided in section 349.03 of the Revised Code, an initial board of trustees shall be appointed as follows; the organizational board of commissioners shall appoint by resolution at least three, but not more than six, citizen members of the board of trustees to represent the interests of present and future residents of the new community district and one member to serve as a representative of local government, and the developer shall appoint a number of members equal to the number of citizen members to serve as representatives of the developer. Members In the case of a new community authority established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, the citizen members may represent present and future employers within the new community district and any present or future residents of the district.

Members shall serve two-year overlapping terms, with two of each of the initial citizen and developer members appointed to serve initial one year terms. The organizational board of commissioners shall by further resolution adopted within one year of such resolution establishing such initial board of trustees adopt a method for selection of successor members thereof which determines the projected total population of the projected new community and meets the following criteria:

(A) The appointed citizen members shall be replaced by elected citizen members according to a schedule established by the organizational board of commissioners calculated to achieve one such replacement each time the new community district gains a proportion, having a numerator of one and a denominator of twice the number of citizen members, of its projected total population until such time as all of the appointed citizen members are replaced.

(B) Representatives of the developer shall be replaced by elected citizen members according to a schedule established by the organizational board of commissioners calculated to achieve one such replacement each time the new community district gains a proportion, having a numerator of one and a denominator equal to the number of developer members, of its projected total population until such time as all of the developer's representatives are replaced.

(C) The representative of local government shall be replaced by an elected citizen member at the time the new community district gains three-quarters of its projected total population.

Elected citizen members of the board of trustees shall be elected by a majority of the residents of the new community district voting at elections held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in December of each year. Each citizen member except an appointed citizen member shall be a qualified elector who resides within the new community district. Citizen In the case of a new community authority established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, the organizational board of directors, by resolution, may adopt an alternative method of selection of successor members of the board of trustees. If the alternative method provides for the election of citizen members, the elections may be held at the times and in the manner provided in a resolution of the organizational board of commissioners, and the elected citizen members shall be qualified electors who resides in the new community district.

Citizen members shall not be employees of or have financial interest in the developer. If a vacancy occurs in the office of a member other than a member appointed by the developer, the organizational board of commissioners may appoint a successor member for the remainder of the unexpired term. Any appointed member of the board of trustees may at any time be removed by the organizational board of commissioners for misfeasance, nonfeasance, or malfeasance in office. Members appointed by the developer may also at any time be removed by the developer without a showing of cause.

Each member of the board of trustees, before entering upon his official duties, shall take and subscribe to an oath before an officer authorized to administer oaths in Ohio that he the member will honestly and faithfully perform the duties of his the member's office. Such oath shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the board of county commissioners in which the petition was filed. Upon taking the oath, the board of trustees shall elect one of its number as chairman chairperson and another as vice-chairman vice-chairperson, and shall appoint suitable persons as secretary and treasurer who need not be members of the board. The treasurer shall be the fiscal officer of the authority. The board shall adopt by-laws governing the administration of the affairs of the new community authority. Each member of the board shall post a bond for the faithful performance of his official duties and give surety therefor in such amount, but not less than ten thousand dollars, as the resolution creating such board shall prescribe.

All of the powers of the new community authority shall be exercised by its board of trustees, but without relief of such responsibility, such powers may be delegated to committees of the board or its officers and employees in accordance with its by-laws. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum, and a concurrence of a majority of a quorum in any matter within the board's duties is sufficient for its determination, provided a quorum is present when such concurrence is had and a majority of those members constituting such quorum are trustees not appointed by the developer. All trustees shall be empowered to vote on all matters within the authority of the board of trustees, and no vote by a member appointed by the developer shall be construed to give rise to civil or criminal liability for conflict of interest on the part of public officials.

Sec. 349.06.  In furtherance of the purposes of this chapter, a new community authority may:

(A) Acquire by purchase, lease, gift, or otherwise, on such terms and in such manner as it considers proper, real and personal property or any estate, interest, or right therein, within or without the new community district;

(B) Improve, maintain, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of real and personal property and community facilities, on such terms and in such manner as it considers proper;

(C) Landscape and otherwise aesthetically improve areas within the new community district, including but not limited to maintenance, landscaping and other community improvement services;

(D) Provide, engage in, or otherwise sponsor recreational, educational, health, social, vocational, cultural, beautification, and amusement activities and related services primarily for residents of the district;. In the case of a new community authority established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, such activities and services may be for residents of, visitors to, employees working within, or employers operating businesses in the district, or any combination thereof.

(E) Fix, alter, impose, collect and receive service and user fees, rentals, and other charges to cover all costs in carrying out the new community development program;

(F) Adopt, modify, and enforce reasonable rules and regulations governing the use of community facilities;

(G) Employ such managers, administrative officers, agents, engineers, architects, attorneys, contractors, sub-contractors, and employees as may be appropriate in the exercise of the rights, powers and duties conferred upon it, prescribe the duties and compensation for such persons, require bonds to be given by any such persons and by officers of the authority for the faithful performance of their duties, and fix the amount and surety therefor; and pay the same;

(H) Sue and be sued in its corporate name;

(I) Make and enter into all contracts and agreements and execute all instruments relating to a new community development program, including contracts with the developer and other persons or entities related thereto for land acquisition and land development; acquisition, construction, and maintenance of community facilities; the provision of community services and management and coordinating services; with federal, state, interstate, regional, and local agencies and political subdivisions or combinations thereof in connection with the financing of such program, and with any municipal corporation or other public body, or combination thereof, providing for the acquisition, construction, improvement, extension, maintenance or operation of joint lands or facilities or for the provision of any services or activities relating to and in furtherance of a new community development program, including the creation of or participation in a regional transit authority created pursuant to the Revised Code;

(J) Apply for and accept grants, loans or commitments of guarantee or insurance including any guarantees of community authority bonds and notes, from the United States, the state, or other public body or other sources, and provide any consideration which may be required in order to obtain such grants, loans or contracts of guarantee or insurance. Such loans or contracts of guarantee or insurance may be evidenced by the issuance of bonds as provided in section 349.08 of the Revised Code;

(K) Procure insurance against loss to it by reason of damage to its properties resulting from fire, theft, accident, or other casualties, or by reason of its liability for any damages to persons or property occurring in the construction or operation of facilities or areas under its jurisdiction or the conduct of its activities;

(L) Maintain such funds or reserves as it considers necessary for the efficient performance of its duties;

(M) Enter agreements with the boards of education of any school districts in which all or part of the new community district lies, whereby the community authority may acquire property for, may construct and equip, and may sell, lease, dedicate, with or without consideration, or otherwise transfer lands, schools, classrooms, or other facilities, whether or not within the new community district, from the authority to the school district for school and related purposes;

(N) Prepare plans for acquisition and development of lands and facilities, and enter into agreements with city, county, or regional planning commissions to perform or obtain all or any part of planning services for the new community district;

(O) Engage in planning for the new community district, which may be predominantly residential and open space, and prepare or approve a development plan or plans therefor, and engage in land acquisitions and land development in accordance with such plan or plans;

(P) Issue new community authority bonds and notes and community authority refunding bonds, payable solely from the income source provided in section 349.08 of the Revised Code, unless the bonds are refunded by refunding bonds, for the purpose of paying any part of the cost as applied to the new community development program or parts thereof;

(Q) Enforce any covenants running with the land of which the new community authority is the beneficiary, including but not limited to the collection by any and all appropriate means of any community improvement development charge deemed to be a covenant running with the land and enforceable by the new community authority pursuant to section 349.07 of the Revised Code; and to waive, reduce, or terminate any community development charge of which it is the beneficiary to the extent not needed for any of the purposes provided in section 349.07 of the Revised Code, the procedure for which shall be provided in such covenants, and if new community authority bonds have been issued pledging any such community improvement development charge, to the extent not prohibited in the resolution authorizing the issuance of such new community authority bonds or the trust agreement or indenture of mortgage securing the bonds;

(R) Appropriate for its use, under sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code, any land, easement, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, or other property in the new community district required by the authority for community facilities. The authority may not so appropriate any land, easement, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, or other property that is not included in the new community district.

(S) In the case of a new community authority established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, enter into any agreements as may be necessary, appropriate, or useful to support a new community development program, including, but not limited to, cooperative agreements or other agreements with political subdivisions for services, materials, or products; for the administration, calculation, or collection of community development charges; or for sharing of revenue derived from community development charges, community facilities, or other sources. The agreements may be made with or without consideration as the parties determine.

Sec. 349.14.  Except as provided in section 349.03 of the Revised Code, or as otherwise provided in a resolution adopted by the organizational board of commissioners, of a new community authority established on or after the effective date of this amendment and before January 1, 2012, a new community authority organized under this chapter may be dissolved only on the vote of a majority of the voters of the new community district at a special election called by the board of trustees on the question of dissolution. Such an election may be called only after the board has determined that the new community development program has been completed, when no community authority bonds or notes are outstanding, and other legal indebtedness of the authority has been discharged or provided for, and only after there has been filed with the board of trustees a petition requesting such election, signed by a number of qualified electors residing in the new community district equal to not less than eight per cent of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor in the new community district at the most recent general election at which a governor was elected. If a majority of the votes cast favor dissolution, the board of trustees shall, by resolution, declare the authority dissolved and thereupon the community authority shall be dissolved. A certified copy of the resolution shall, within fifteen days after its adoption, be filed with the clerk of the board of county commissioners of the county in which the petition for the organization of the new community authority was filed.

Upon dissolution of a new community authority, the powers thereof shall cease to exist. Any property of the new community authority which is located within the corporate limits of a municipality shall vest in that municipal corporation and all other property of the community authority shall vest in the county in which said property is located. Any funds of the community authority at the time of dissolution shall be transferred to the municipal corporation and county in which the new community district is located in the proportion to the assessed valuation of taxable real property of the new community authority within such municipal corporation and county as said valuation appears on the current assessment rolls.

Sec. 1724.02.  In furtherance of the purposes set forth in section 1724.01 of the Revised Code, a community improvement corporation shall have the following powers:

(A)(1) To borrow money for any of the purposes of the community improvement corporation by means of loans, lines of credit, or any other financial instruments or securities, including the issuance of its bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured, and to secure the same by mortgage, pledge, deed of trust, or other lien on its property, franchises, rights, and privileges of every kind and nature or any part thereof or interest therein; and

(2) If the community improvement corporation is a county land reutilization corporation, the corporation may request, by resolution:

(a) That the board of county commissioners of the county served by the corporation pledge a specifically identified source or sources of revenue pursuant to division (C) of section 307.78 of the Revised Code as security for such borrowing by the corporation; and

(b)(i) If the land subject to reutilization is located within an unincorporated area of the county, that the board of county commissioners issue notes under section 307.082 of the Revised Code for the purpose of constructing public infrastructure improvements and take other actions as the board determines are in the interest of the county and are authorized under sections 5709.78 to 5709.81 of the Revised Code or bonds or notes under section 5709.81 of the Revised Code for the refunding purposes set forth in that section; or

(ii) If the land subject to reutilization is located within the corporate boundaries of a municipal corporation, that the municipal corporation issue bonds for the purpose of constructing public infrastructure improvements and take such other actions as the municipal corporation determines are in its interest and are authorized under sections 5709.40 to 5709.43 of the Revised Code.

(B) To make loans to any person, firm, partnership, corporation, joint stock company, association, or trust, and to establish and regulate the terms and conditions with respect to any such loans; provided that an economic development corporation shall not approve any application for a loan unless and until the person applying for said loan shows that the person has applied for the loan through ordinary banking or commercial channels and that the loan has been refused by at least one bank or other financial institution. Nothing in this division shall preclude a county land reutilization corporation from making revolving loans to community development corporations, private entities, or groups any person for the purposes contained in the corporation's plan under section 1724.10 of the Revised Code.

(C) To purchase, receive, hold, manage, lease, lease-purchase, or otherwise acquire and to sell, convey, transfer, lease, sublease, or otherwise dispose of real and personal property, together with such rights and privileges as may be incidental and appurtenant thereto and the use thereof, including but not restricted to, any real or personal property acquired by the community improvement corporation from time to time in the satisfaction of debts or enforcement of obligations, and to enter into contracts with third parties, including the federal government, the state, any political subdivision, or any other entity. A county land reutilization corporation shall not acquire an interest in real property if such acquisition causes the percentage of unoccupied real property held by the corporation to become less than seventy-five per cent of all real property held by the corporation for reutilization, reclamation, or rehabilitation. For the purposes of this division, "unoccupied" has the same meaning as in section 323.65 of the Revised Code.

(D) To acquire the good will, business, rights, real and personal property, and other assets, or any part thereof, or interest therein, of any persons, firms, partnerships, corporations, joint stock companies, associations, or trusts, and to assume, undertake, or pay the obligations, debts, and liabilities of any such person, firm, partnership, corporation, joint stock company, association, or trust; to acquire, reclaim, manage, or contract for the management of improved or unimproved and underutilized real estate for the purpose of constructing industrial plants, other business establishments, or housing thereon, or causing the same to occur, for the purpose of assembling and enhancing utilization of the real estate, or for the purpose of disposing of such real estate to others in whole or in part for the construction of industrial plants, other business establishments, or housing; and to acquire, reclaim, manage, contract for the management of, construct or reconstruct, alter, repair, maintain, operate, sell, convey, transfer, lease, sublease, or otherwise dispose of industrial plants, business establishments, or housing.

(E) To acquire, subscribe for, own, hold, sell, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge, or otherwise dispose of the stock, shares, bonds, debentures, notes, or other securities and evidences of interest in, or indebtedness of, any person, firm, corporation, joint stock company, association, or trust, and while the owner or holder thereof, to exercise all the rights, powers, and privileges of ownership, including the right to vote therein, provided that no tax revenue, if any, received by a community improvement corporation shall be used for such acquisition or subscription.

(F) To mortgage, pledge, or otherwise encumber any property acquired pursuant to the powers contained in divisions (C), (D), or (E) of this section.

(G) Nothing in this section shall limit the right of a community improvement corporation to become a member of or a stockholder in a corporation formed under Chapter 1726. of the Revised Code.

(H) To serve as an agent for grant applications and for the administration of grants, or to make applications as principal for grants for county land reutilization corporations.

(I) To exercise the powers enumerated under Chapter 5722. of the Revised Code on behalf of a county that organizes or contracts with a county land reutilization corporation.

(J) To engage in code enforcement and nuisance abatement, including, but not limited to, cutting grass and weeds, boarding up vacant or abandoned structures, and demolishing condemned structures on properties that are subject to a delinquent tax or assessment lien, or property for which a municipal corporation or township has contracted with a county land reutilization corporation to provide code enforcement or nuisance abatement assistance.

(K) To charge fees or exchange in-kind goods or services for services rendered to political subdivisions and other persons or entities for whom services are rendered.

(L) To employ and provide compensation for an executive director who shall manage the operations of a county land reutilization corporation and employ others for the benefit of the corporation as approved and funded by the board of directors. No employee of the corporation is or shall be deemed to be an employee of the political subdivision for whose benefit the corporation is organized solely because the employee is employed by the corporation;

(M) To purchase tax certificates at auction, negotiated sale, or from a third party who purchased and is a holder of one or more tax certificates issued pursuant to sections 5721.30 to 5721.43 of the Revised Code;

(N) To be assigned a mortgage on real property from a mortgagee in lieu of acquiring such real property subject to a mortgage.

(O) To do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of section 1724.01 of the Revised Code and the powers especially created for a community improvement corporation in Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, contracting with the federal government, the state or any political subdivision, and any other party, whether nonprofit or for-profit.

The powers enumerated in this chapter shall not be construed to limit the general powers of a community improvement corporation. The powers granted under this chapter are in addition to those powers granted by any other chapter of the Revised Code, but, as to a county land reutilization corporation, shall be used only for the purposes enumerated under division (B)(2) of section 1724.01 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 1724.03. (A) After the articles of incorporation have been filed, and at the first meeting of the board of directors of a county land reutilization corporation, the board shall adopt regulations for the government of the corporation, the conduct of its affairs, and the management of its property, consistent with law and the articles. The content of the regulations shall be governed by section 1702.11 of the Revised Code to the extent not inconsistent with this chapter.

(B) The board of directors of a county land reutilization corporation shall be composed of at least five, seven, or nine members, including the county treasurer, at least two of the members of the board of county commissioners, one representative of the largest municipal corporation, based on the population according to the most recent federal decennial census, that is located in the county, one representative of a township with a population of at least ten thousand in the unincorporated area of the township according to the most recent federal decennial census, if such a township exists in the county, and two any remaining members selected by the treasurer and the county commissioners who are members of the corporation's board and approved by a majority of the chief executive officers of all municipal corporations the majority of the territory of which is located in the county. The treasurer and county commissioners who are members of the board of directors shall establish the process by which such approval shall be obtained. The failure, refusal, or inability of any chief executive officer to respond in writing to any request for approval of the members selected by the treasurer and county commissioners within fourteen days shall be deemed an approval by the chief executive officer. Any such failure, refusal, or inability to respond shall not prevent the corporation from exercising its powers and authority under this chapter. At least one board member shall have private sector or nonprofit experience in rehabilitation or real estate acquisitions. A county treasurer and the county commissioners each may appoint a representative, as a director of the corporation, to act for the officer at any of the meetings of the corporation. Except as may otherwise be authorized by the regulations of the corporation, all members of the board of directors shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses.

Sec. 1724.04.  A county having a population of more than one million two hundred thousand sixty thousand as of the most recent decennial census that elects under section 5722.02 of the Revised Code to adopt and implement the procedures set forth in sections 5722.02 to 5722.15 of the Revised Code may organize a county land reutilization corporation under this chapter and Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code for the purpose of exercising the powers granted to a county under Chapter 5722. of the Revised Code. The county treasurer of the county for the benefit of which the corporation is being organized shall be the incorporator of the county land reutilization corporation. The form of the articles of incorporation of the corporation shall be approved by resolution of the board of county commissioners of the county.

When the articles of incorporation of any community improvement corporation, or any amendment, amended articles, merger, or consolidation which provides for the creation of such a corporation, are deposited for filing and recording in the office of the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall submit them to the attorney general for examination. If such articles, amendment, amended articles, merger, or consolidation, are found by the attorney general to be in accordance with Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code, and not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States and of this state, the attorney general shall endorse thereon the attorney general's approval and deliver them to the secretary of state, who shall file and record them pursuant to section 1702.07 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 1724.05.  Each community improvement corporation shall prepare an annual financial report that conforms to rules prescribed by the auditor of state pursuant to section 117.20 of the Revised Code, that is prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles, and that is certified by the board of directors of the corporation or its treasurer or other chief fiscal officer to the best knowledge and belief of those persons certifying the report. The financial report shall be filed with the auditor of state within one hundred twenty days following the last day of the corporation's fiscal year, unless the auditor of state extends that deadline. The auditor of state may establish terms and conditions for granting any extension of that deadline. The financial report shall be published on the corporation's web site, or if the corporation does not have a web site, on the web site of the county in which the corporation is located.

Each community improvement corporation shall submit to audits by the auditor of state, the scope and frequency of which shall be in accordance with section 117.11 of the Revised Code as if the corporation were a public office subject to that section. However, a community improvement corporation may request in accordance with section 115.56 of the Revised Code, as if the corporation were a public office subject to that section, the performance of any of those audits by an independent certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants.

The auditor of state is authorized to receive and file the annual financial reports required by this section and the reports of all audits performed in accordance with this section. The auditor of state shall analyze those annual financial reports and the reports of those audits to determine whether the activities of a community improvement corporation involved are in accordance with this chapter.

Sec. 5705.19.  This section does not apply to school districts or county school financing districts.

The taxing authority of any subdivision at any time and in any year, by vote of two-thirds of all the members of the taxing authority, may declare by resolution and certify the resolution to the board of elections not less than seventy-five days before the election upon which it will be voted that the amount of taxes that may be raised within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient to provide for the necessary requirements of the subdivision and that it is necessary to levy a tax in excess of that limitation for any of the following purposes:

(A) For current expenses of the subdivision, except that the total levy for current expenses of a detention facility district or district organized under section 2151.65 of the Revised Code shall not exceed two mills and that the total levy for current expenses of a combined district organized under sections 2151.65 and 2152.41 of the Revised Code shall not exceed four mills;

(B) For the payment of debt charges on certain described bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness of the subdivision issued subsequent to January 1, 1925;

(C) For the debt charges on all bonds, notes, and certificates of indebtedness issued and authorized to be issued prior to January 1, 1925;

(D) For a public library of, or supported by, the subdivision under whatever law organized or authorized to be supported;

(E) For a municipal university, not to exceed two mills over the limitation of one mill prescribed in section 3349.13 of the Revised Code;

(F) For the construction or acquisition of any specific permanent improvement or class of improvements that the taxing authority of the subdivision may include in a single bond issue;

(G) For the general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads, and bridges in municipal corporations, counties, or townships;

(H) For parks and recreational purposes;

(I) For the purpose of providing and maintaining fire apparatus, appliances, buildings, or sites therefor, or sources of water supply and materials therefor, or the establishment and maintenance of lines of fire alarm telegraph, or the payment of permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighters or firefighting companies to operate the same, including the payment of the firefighter employers' contribution required under section 742.34 of the Revised Code, or the purchase of ambulance equipment, or the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company;

(J) For the purpose of providing and maintaining motor vehicles, communications, other equipment, buildings, and sites for such buildings used directly in the operation of a police department, or the payment of salaries of permanent police personnel, including the payment of the police officer employers' contribution required under section 742.33 of the Revised Code, or the payment of the costs incurred by townships as a result of contracts made with other political subdivisions in order to obtain police protection, or the provision of ambulance or emergency medical services operated by a police department;

(K) For the maintenance and operation of a county home or detention facility;

(L) For community mental retardation and developmental disabilities programs and services pursuant to Chapter 5126. of the Revised Code, except that the procedure for such levies shall be as provided in section 5705.222 of the Revised Code;

(M) For regional planning;

(N) For a county's share of the cost of maintaining and operating schools, district detention facilities, forestry camps, or other facilities, or any combination thereof, established under section 2151.65 or 2152.41 of the Revised Code or both of those sections;

(O) For providing for flood defense, providing and maintaining a flood wall or pumps, and other purposes to prevent floods;

(P) For maintaining and operating sewage disposal plants and facilities;

(Q) For the purpose of purchasing, acquiring, constructing, enlarging, improving, equipping, repairing, maintaining, or operating, or any combination of the foregoing, a county transit system pursuant to sections 306.01 to 306.13 of the Revised Code, or of making any payment to a board of county commissioners operating a transit system or a county transit board pursuant to section 306.06 of the Revised Code;

(R) For the subdivision's share of the cost of acquiring or constructing any schools, forestry camps, detention facilities, or other facilities, or any combination thereof, under section 2151.65 or 2152.41 of the Revised Code or both of those sections;

(S) For the prevention, control, and abatement of air pollution;

(T) For maintaining and operating cemeteries;

(U) For providing ambulance service, emergency medical service, or both;

(V) For providing for the collection and disposal of garbage or refuse, including yard waste;

(W) For the payment of the police officer employers' contribution or the firefighter employers' contribution required under sections 742.33 and 742.34 of the Revised Code;

(X) For the construction and maintenance of a drainage improvement pursuant to section 6131.52 of the Revised Code;

(Y) For providing or maintaining senior citizens services or facilities as authorized by section 307.694, 307.85, 505.70, or 505.706 or division (EE) of section 717.01 of the Revised Code;

(Z) For the provision and maintenance of zoological park services and facilities as authorized under section 307.76 of the Revised Code;

(AA) For the maintenance and operation of a free public museum of art, science, or history;

(BB) For the establishment and operation of a 9-1-1 system, as defined in section 4931.40 of the Revised Code;

(CC) For the purpose of acquiring, rehabilitating, or developing rail property or rail service. As used in this division, "rail property" and "rail service" have the same meanings as in section 4981.01 of the Revised Code. This division applies only to a county, township, or municipal corporation.

(DD) For the purpose of acquiring property for, constructing, operating, and maintaining community centers as provided for in section 755.16 of the Revised Code;

(EE) For the creation and operation of an office or joint office of economic development, for any economic development purpose of the office, and to otherwise provide for the establishment and operation of a program of economic development pursuant to sections 307.07 and 307.64 of the Revised Code, or to the extent that the expenses of a county land reutilization corporation organized under Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code are found by the board of county commissioners to constitute the promotion of economic development, for the payment of such operations and expenses;

(FF) For the purpose of acquiring, establishing, constructing, improving, equipping, maintaining, or operating, or any combination of the foregoing, a township airport, landing field, or other air navigation facility pursuant to section 505.15 of the Revised Code;

(GG) For the payment of costs incurred by a township as a result of a contract made with a county pursuant to section 505.263 of the Revised Code in order to pay all or any part of the cost of constructing, maintaining, repairing, or operating a water supply improvement;

(HH) For a board of township trustees to acquire, other than by appropriation, an ownership interest in land, water, or wetlands, or to restore or maintain land, water, or wetlands in which the board has an ownership interest, not for purposes of recreation, but for the purposes of protecting and preserving the natural, scenic, open, or wooded condition of the land, water, or wetlands against modification or encroachment resulting from occupation, development, or other use, which may be styled as protecting or preserving "greenspace" in the resolution, notice of election, or ballot form. Except as otherwise provided in this division, land is not acquired for purposes of recreation, even if the land is used for recreational purposes, so long as no building, structure, or fixture used for recreational purposes is permanently attached or affixed to the land. Except as otherwise provided in this division, land that previously has been acquired in a township for these greenspace purposes may subsequently be used for recreational purposes if the board of township trustees adopts a resolution approving that use and no building, structure, or fixture used for recreational purposes is permanently attached or affixed to the land. The authorization to use greenspace land for recreational use does not apply to land located in a township that had a population, at the time it passed its first greenspace levy, of more than thirty-eight thousand within a county that had a population, at that time, of at least eight hundred sixty thousand.

(II) For the support by a county of a crime victim assistance program that is provided and maintained by a county agency or a private, nonprofit corporation or association under section 307.62 of the Revised Code;

(JJ) For any or all of the purposes set forth in divisions (I) and (J) of this section. This division applies only to a township.

(KK) For a countywide public safety communications system under section 307.63 of the Revised Code. This division applies only to counties.

(LL) For the support by a county of criminal justice services under section 307.45 of the Revised Code;

(MM) For the purpose of maintaining and operating a jail or other detention facility as defined in section 2921.01 of the Revised Code;

(NN) For purchasing, maintaining, or improving, or any combination of the foregoing, real estate on which to hold agricultural fairs. This division applies only to a county.

(OO) For constructing, rehabilitating, repairing, or maintaining sidewalks, walkways, trails, bicycle pathways, or similar improvements, or acquiring ownership interests in land necessary for the foregoing improvements;

(PP) For both of the purposes set forth in divisions (G) and (OO) of this section.

(QQ) For both of the purposes set forth in divisions (H) and (HH) of this section. This division applies only to a township.

(RR) For the legislative authority of a municipal corporation, board of county commissioners of a county, or board of township trustees of a township to acquire agricultural easements, as defined in section 5301.67 of the Revised Code, and to supervise and enforce the easements.

(SS) For both of the purposes set forth in divisions (BB) and (KK) of this section. This division applies only to a county.

(TT) For the maintenance and operation of a facility that is organized in whole or in part to promote the sciences and natural history under section 307.761 of the Revised Code.

(UU) For the creation and operation of a county land reutilization corporation and for any programs or activities of the corporation found by the board of directors of the corporation to be consistent with the purposes for which the corporation is organized;

(VV) For construction and maintenance of improvements and expenses of soil and water conservation district programs under Chapter 1515. of the Revised Code;

(WW) For the Ohio cooperative extension service fund created under section 3335.35 of the Revised Code for the purposes prescribed under section 3335.36 of the Revised Code for the benefit of the citizens of a county. This division applies only to a county.

The resolution shall be confined to the purpose or purposes described in one division of this section, to which the revenue derived therefrom shall be applied. The existence in any other division of this section of authority to levy a tax for any part or all of the same purpose or purposes does not preclude the use of such revenues for any part of the purpose or purposes of the division under which the resolution is adopted.

The resolution shall specify the amount of the increase in rate that it is necessary to levy, the purpose of that increase in rate, and the number of years during which the increase in rate shall be in effect, which may or may not include a levy upon the duplicate of the current year. The number of years may be any number not exceeding five, except as follows:

(1) When the additional rate is for the payment of debt charges, the increased rate shall be for the life of the indebtedness.

(2) When the additional rate is for any of the following, the increased rate shall be for a continuing period of time:

(a) For the current expenses for a detention facility district, a district organized under section 2151.65 of the Revised Code, or a combined district organized under sections 2151.65 and 2152.41 of the Revised Code;

(b) For providing a county's share of the cost of maintaining and operating schools, district detention facilities, forestry camps, or other facilities, or any combination thereof, established under section 2151.65 or 2152.41 of the Revised Code or under both of those sections.

(3) When the additional rate is for either of the following, the increased rate may be for a continuing period of time:

(a) For the purposes set forth in division (I), (J), (U), or (KK) of this section;

(b) For the maintenance and operation of a joint recreation district.

(4) When the increase is for the purpose or purposes set forth in division (D), (G), (H), (CC), or (PP) of this section, the tax levy may be for any specified number of years or for a continuing period of time, as set forth in the resolution.

(5) When the additional rate is for the purpose described in division (Z) of this section, the increased rate shall be for any number of years not exceeding ten.

A levy for one of the purposes set forth in division (G), (I), (J), or (U) of this section may be reduced pursuant to section 5705.261 or 5705.31 of the Revised Code. A levy for one of the purposes set forth in division (G), (I), (J), or (U) of this section may also be terminated or permanently reduced by the taxing authority if it adopts a resolution stating that the continuance of the levy is unnecessary and the levy shall be terminated or that the millage is excessive and the levy shall be decreased by a designated amount.

A resolution of a detention facility district, a district organized under section 2151.65 of the Revised Code, or a combined district organized under both sections 2151.65 and 2152.41 of the Revised Code may include both current expenses and other purposes, provided that the resolution shall apportion the annual rate of levy between the current expenses and the other purpose or purposes. The apportionment need not be the same for each year of the levy, but the respective portions of the rate actually levied each year for the current expenses and the other purpose or purposes shall be limited by the apportionment.

Whenever a board of county commissioners, acting either as the taxing authority of its county or as the taxing authority of a sewer district or subdistrict created under Chapter 6117. of the Revised Code, by resolution declares it necessary to levy a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of constructing, improving, or extending sewage disposal plants or sewage systems, the tax may be in effect for any number of years not exceeding twenty, and the proceeds of the tax, notwithstanding the general provisions of this section, may be used to pay debt charges on any obligations issued and outstanding on behalf of the subdivision for the purposes enumerated in this paragraph, provided that any such obligations have been specifically described in the resolution.

The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of the resolution is necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election.

When the electors of a subdivision have approved a tax levy under this section, the taxing authority of the subdivision may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and issue anticipation notes in accordance with section 5705.191 or 5705.193 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 5722.22.  A county land reutilization corporation shall is not be liable for damages arising from a, or subject to equitable remedies, for breach of a common law duty, or for violation of sections 3737.87 to 3737.891 of the Revised Code or Chapter 3704., 3734., 3745., 3746., 3750., 3751., 3752., 6101., or 6111. of the Revised Code or any rule adopted or order, permit, license, variance, or plan approval issued under any of those chapters that is or was committed by another person in connection with a parcel of land acquired by the county land reutilization corporation.

SECTION 2.  That existing sections 1.62, 135.35, 323.78, 349.01, 349.03, 349.04, 349.06, 349.14, 1724.02, 1724.03, 1724.04, 1724.05, 5705.19, and 5722.22 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. (A) The Governor is hereby authorized to execute a Governor's Deed in the name of the State conveying to Amamata, LLC (the "Grantee"), and its successors and assigns, all of the state's right, title, and interest in the following described real estate:

Situated in Section 26, Township 2, Range 7 of the Miami River Survey, the City of Dayton, the County of Montgomery, the State of Ohio, being a 9.6252 acre portion of a 33.5 acre tract as conveyed to the State of Ohio as recorded in Deed Book 169, Page 585, and being a 14.1731 acre portion of a 21.25 acre tract as conveyed to the State of Ohio as recorded in Deed Book 169, Page 583, being a 1.1817 acres portion of a 24.36 acre tract of land conveyed to the Trustees of the Southern Ohio Lunatic Asylum as recorded in Deed Book N-3, Page 233, being a 0.7258 acre portion of a 10.544 acre tract as conveyed to the State of Ohio as recorded in Deed Book 138, Page 125, being all of a parcel as conveyed to the State of Ohio Department of Public Works for the Use Of The Department of Public Welfare Dayton State Hospital as recorded in Deed Book 1326, Page 247, being a part of a 8.500 acre tract as conveyed to Board of County Commissioners of Montgomery County of Dayton Ohio, as record in Microfiche 74-217C08, being all of a 0.77 acre tract as conveyed to the State of Ohio Department of Mental Health as recorded in Microfiche 01-703A01, being all of a 4.67 acre tract as conveyed to the State of Ohio as recorded in Deed Book 1603, Page 323, and being a portion of City of Dayton Lot Number 61376, 61381, 61378, of the revised and consecutive numbers of lots on the plat of the City of Dayton and more particularly bounded and described as follows:

Commencing at a capped 5/8" Iron Pin found stamped "Woolpert" at the Southeast corner of a 2.881 acre tract being Parcel 2 of the Wilmington Woods Plat as recorded in Plat Book 134, Page 3-3A;

Thence with the east line of a 8.338 acre parcel as conveyed to Barry K. Humphreys as recorded in Microfiche 01-0590A04, and the west line of a 24.36 acre tract of land conveyed to the Trustees of the Southern Ohio Lunatic Asylum as recorded in Deed Book N-3, Page 233, South 0°32'15" West a distance of 108.09 feet to a capped 5/8" Iron Pin found stamped "LJB".

Thence with the east line of the said 8.338 acre tract, and the north line of a 2.36 acre tract as conveyed to the State of Ohio as record in Deed Book U-2, Page 40, South 49°49'38" West, 275.99 feet to a 5/8" Iron Pin set.

Thence with the east line of the said 8.338 acre tract, and the west line of the said 2.36 acre tract, the east line of a 11.579 acre tract as conveyed to Hospice of Dayton as recorded in Microfiche 94-0448C08, the west line of a 10.544 acre parcel as conveyed to the State of Ohio as record in Deed Book 138, Page 125, South 3°24'08" East, 956.68 feet to a 5/8" Iron Pin set and being the True Point of Beginning for the herein described 39.524 Acre tract.

Thence with the south line of the said 1.544 acre tract South 88°52'07" East a distance of 808.89 feet to a 5/8" Iron Pin set.

Thence across said 10.544 acre tract and across said 24.07 acre tract North 1°07'00" East a distance of 1013.05 feet to a 5/8" Iron Pin set.

Thence across said 24.07 acre tract and with the north line of a 21.25 acre tract as conveyed to the State of Ohio as recorded in Deed Book 169, Page 583, South 89°15'53" East a distance of 507. 35 feet to a 5/8" Iron Pin set at the northeast corner of the said 21.25 acre tract.

Thence with the west line of a 33.5 acre parcel as conveyed to the State of Ohio as recorded in Deed Book 169, Page 585, South 1°07'55" West a distance of 141.74 feet to a 5/8" Iron Pin set.

Thence across said 33.5 acre tract South 89°11'12" East a distance of 468.08 feet to a 5/8" Iron Pin set

Thence across said 33.5 acre tract South 0°48'28" West a distance of 253.08 feet to a 5/8" Iron Pin set.

Thence with the north line of a 4.67 acre parcel as conveyed to The Board of Education of The Dayton City School District as recorded in Deed Book 1605, Page 39, North 89°24'38" West a distance of 192.40 feet to a 5/8" Iron Pin set.

Thence with the west line of the said 4.67 acre parcel South 0°48'28" West, a distance of 1351.49 feet to the north east corner of a parcel conveyed to The City of Dayton by deed of record in Deed Book 1071, Page 529, to a point.

Thence with the north line of the said City of Dayton parcel North 87°57'48" West a distance of 709.72 feet to the northwest corner of said tract.

Thence with the west line of the said City of Dayton parcel South 1°07'00" West a distance of 131.13 feet to the northeast corner of Henry Manning Plat Section Two Subdivision, and the south east corner of a 8.500 acre parcel as conveyed to Board of County Commissioners of Montgomery County of Dayton Ohio as recorded in Microfiche 74-217C08.

Thence with the northerly line of the said subdivision, and the southerly line of the said 8.500 acre parcel North 89°20'46" West a distance of 498.09 feet to a point.

Thence across the south line of the said 8.500 acre parcel North 0°38'54" West a distance of 30.30 feet to a ¾" Pipe found.

Thence across the south line of the said 8.500 acre parcel South 89°12'17" East a distance of 205.07 feet to a point.

Thence across the south line of the said 8.500 acre parcel North 77°59'30" East a distance of 220.73 feet to a point.

Thence across the south line of the said 8.500 acre parcel North 0°57'00" East a distance of 417.54 Feet to a point on the north line of the said 8.500 acre parcel.

Thence with the north line of the said 8.500 acre parcel North 89°05'05" West a distance of 881.17 feet to the northwest corner of the said 8.500 acre parcel.

Thence with the west line of the said 8.500 acre parcel the east line of a 0.77 acre parcel as conveyed to the State of Ohio Department of Mental Health as recorded in Microfiche 01-703A01, South 1°00'10" West a distance of 108.00 feet to a point.

Thence with the south line of the said 0.77 acre parcel and with a curve to the left bearing South 78°35'40" West a chord distance of 133.98 feet, a radius of 310.58 feet , and an arc length of 133.98 feet, to a point on the right-of-way of Irving Avenue.

Thence along Irving Avenue North 40°57'51" West a distance of 80.29 feet to a point.

Thence along Irving Avenue with a curve to the left bearing North 1°34'43" East a chord distance of 105.02 feet, a radius of 185.36 feet, and a arc length of 106.48 feet to a point.

Thence along the south line of a 11.579 acre parcel as conveyed to Hospice of Dayton as recorded in Microfiche 94-0448C08, North 75°56'29" East a distance of 80.44 feet to a 5/8" capped Iron Pin found stamped "LJB".

Thence along the south line of a 11.579 acre parcel as conveyed to Hospice of Dayton as recorded in Microfiche 94-0448C08, North 2°07'59" East a distance of 53.05 feet to a 5/8" capped Iron Pin found stamped "LJB".

Thence along the south line of a 11.579 acre parcel as conveyed to Hospice of Dayton as recorded in Microfiche 94-0448C08, North 87°45'10" East a distance of 176.85 feet to a point.

Thence along the east line of the said 11.579 acre parcel North 3°24'08" West a distance of 282.14 feet to the True Point of Beginning, containing 39.5238 acres more or less. Subject to all easements, agreements and right of ways of record.

The basis of bearings for this description is the easterly line of Parcel 2, South 0°32'15" West, as recorded in the Wilmington Woods Plat as recorded in Plat Book 134, page 3A.

All iron pins set in the above boundary description are 5/8" (O.D.) 30" long with a plastic cap stamped "LJB".

The above description was prepared by the State of Ohio Department of Administrative Services, General Services Division, Department of Real Estate and Planning and based on a survey made by LJB Inc., project number SV22969.

This description may be modified to a final form if modifications are needed.

(B) Consideration for the conveyance of the real estate described in division (A) of this section shall be One Million Seven Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($1,700,000.00).

(C) The real estate described in division (A) of this section shall be sold as an entire tract and not in parcels.

(D) Upon payment of the purchase price, the Auditor of State, with the assistance of the Attorney General, shall prepare a deed to the real estate described in division (A) of this section. The deed shall state the consideration and shall be executed by the Governor in the name of the state, countersigned by the Secretary of State, sealed with the Great Seal of the State, presented in the Office of the Auditor of State for recording, and delivered to the Grantee. The Grantee shall present the deed for recording in the Office of the Montgomery County Recorder.

(E) The Grantee shall pay all costs associated with the purchase and conveyance of the real estate described in division (A) of this section, including recordation costs of the deed.

(F) The proceeds of the conveyance of the real estate described in division (A) of this section shall be deposited into the Department of Mental Health Trust Fund created by section 5119.18 of the Revised Code except to the extent that any of the proceeds are determined to be necessary to retire any bond issued by the State of Ohio for the facilities located on the real estate described in division (A) of this section, in which case such amounts determined necessary to retire such bonds shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the Mental Health Facilities Improvement Fund (Fund 033), created by division (F) of section 154.20 of the Revised Code, to retire such bonds, and any of the proceeds remaining after payment of all interest, principal, and charges for the issuance and retirement of the bonds shall be credited to the Department of Mental Health Trust Fund.

(G) This section shall expire two years after its effective date.