130th Ohio General Assembly
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Sub. H. B. No. 347  As Enrolled
(129th General Assembly)
(Substitute House Bill Number 347)



AN ACT
To amend sections 122.12, 122.121, 505.60, and 731.09 and to enact section 731.091 of the Revised Code to authorize the legislative authority of a statutory nonchartered village to be composed of five instead of six members and to authorize the terms of office to be nonstaggered, to restrict the types of competitive events that qualify for state grants based on projected incremental increases in sales tax receipts, and to authorize townships to reimburse officers and employees for out-of-pocket insurance premiums attributable to coverage provided for their immediate dependents.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

SECTION 1. That sections 122.12, 122.121, 505.60, and 731.09 be amended and section 731.091 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 122.12.  As used in this section and in section 122.121 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Endorsing county" means a county that contains a site selected by a site selection organization for one or more games.

(B) "Endorsing municipality" means a municipal corporation that contains a site selected by a site selection organization for one or more games.

(C) "Game support contract" means a joinder undertaking, joinder agreement, or similar contract executed by an endorsing municipality or endorsing county and a site selection organization.

(D) "Game" means a national football league "super bowl," a national collegiate athletic association championship game or match, the national basketball association all-star game, the national hockey league all-star game, the major league baseball all-star game, a national collegiate athletic association bowl championship series game, a world cup soccer game, a national association for stock car auto racing race, the national senior games, the air New Zealand golden oldies world rugby festival, the golden gloves of America, inc., national golden gloves tournament, the USA boxing association national championships, the international boxing association world cup or world championships, or the olympic or international competition of football, auto racing, rugby, cricket, horse racing, mixed martial arts, or any sport that is governed by an international federation and included in at least one of the following:

(1) Olympic games;

(2) Pan American games;

(3) Commonwealth games.

(E) "Joinder agreement" means an agreement entered into by an a local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county, or more than one endorsing municipality or county acting collectively and a site selection organization setting out representations and assurances by each endorsing municipality or endorsing county in connection with the selection of a site in this state for the location of a game.

(F) "Joinder undertaking" means an agreement entered into by an a local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county, or more than one endorsing municipality or county acting collectively and a site selection organization that each endorsing municipality or endorsing county will execute a joinder agreement in the event that the site selection organization selects a site in this state for a game.

(G) "Local organizing committee" means a nonprofit corporation or its successor in interest that:

(1) Has been authorized by an endorsing municipality, endorsing county, or more than one endorsing municipality or county acting collectively to pursue an application and bid on the applicant's behalf to a site selection organization for selection as the site of one or more games; or

(2) With the authorization of an endorsing municipality, endorsing county, or more than one endorsing municipality or county acting collectively, has executed an agreement with a site selection organization regarding a bid to host one or more games.

(H) "Site selection organization" means the national football league, the national collegiate athletic association, the national basketball association, the national hockey league, major league baseball, the federation internationale de football association, the international world games association, the United States olympic committee, the national association for stock car auto racing, the national senior games association, the air New Zealand golden oldies world rugby secretariat, golden gloves of America, inc., the USA boxing association, the international boxing association, or the national or international governing body of a sport that is recognized as such by the United States olympic committee endorsing municipality, endorsing county, or local organizing committee.

Sec. 122.121.  (A) If an a local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county enters into a joinder undertaking with a site selection organization, the local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county may apply to the director of development, on a form and in the manner prescribed by the director, for a grant based on the projected incremental increase in the receipts from the tax imposed under section 5739.02 of the Revised Code within the market area designated under division (C) of this section, for the two-week period that ends at the end of the day after the date on which a game will be held, that is directly attributable, as determined by the director, to the preparation for and presentation of the game. The director shall determine the projected incremental increase in the tax imposed under section 5739.02 of the Revised Code from information certified to the director by the endorsing municipality or the endorsing county including, but not limited to, historical attendance and ticket sales for the game, income statements showing revenue and expenditures for the game in prior years, attendance capacity at the proposed venues, event budget at the proposed venues, and projected lodging room nights based on historical attendance, attendance capacity at the proposed venues, and duration of the game and related activities by using a formula approved by the destination marketing association international for event impact or another formula of similar purpose approved by the director. The local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county is eligible to receive a grant under this section only if the projected incremental increase in receipts from the tax imposed under section 5739.02 of the Revised Code, as determined by the director, exceeds two hundred fifty thousand dollars. The amount of the grant shall be determined by the director not less than fifty per cent of the projected incremental increase in receipts, as determined by the director, but shall not exceed five hundred thousand dollars. The director shall not issue grants with a total value of more than one million dollars in any fiscal year, and shall not issue any grant before July 1, 2013.

(B) If the director of development approves an application for an a local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county and that local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county enters into a joinder agreement with a site selection organization, the local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county shall file a copy of the joinder agreement with the director of development, who immediately shall notify the director of budget and management of the filing. Within thirty days after receiving the notice, the director of budget and management shall establish a schedule to disburse from the general revenue fund to such local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county payments that total the amount certified by the director of development under division (A) of this section, but in no event shall the total amount disbursed exceed five hundred thousand dollars, and no disbursement shall be made before July 1, 2013. The payments shall be used exclusively by the local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county to fulfill a portion of its obligations to a site selection organization under game support contracts, which obligations may include the payment of costs relating to the preparations necessary for the conduct of the game, including acquiring, renovating, or constructing facilities; to pay the costs of conducting the game; and to assist the local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county in providing assurances required by a site selection organization sponsoring one or more games.

(C) For the purposes of division (A) of this section, the director of development, in consultation with the tax commissioner, shall designate as a the market area for a game each area in which they determine there is a reasonable likelihood of measurable economic impact directly attributable to the preparation for and presentation of the game and related events, including areas likely to provide venues, accommodations, and services in connection with the game based on the information and the copy of the joinder undertaking provided to the director under divisions (A) and (B) of this section. The director and commissioner shall determine the geographic boundaries of each. The market area shall consist of the combined statistical area, as defined by the United States office of management and budget, in which an endorsing municipality or endorsing county is located. An endorsing municipality or endorsing county that has been selected as the site for a game must be included in a market area for the game.

(D) A local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county shall provide information required by the director of development and tax commissioner to enable the director and commissioner to fulfill their duties under this section, including annual audited statements of any financial records required by a site selection organization and data obtained by the local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or endorsing county relating to attendance at a game and to the economic impact of the game. A local organizing committee, an endorsing municipality, or an endorsing county shall provide an annual audited financial statement if so required by the director and commissioner, not later than the end of the fourth month after the date the period covered by the financial statement ends.

(E) Within sixty thirty days after the game, the local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or the endorsing county shall report to the director of development about the economic impact of the game. The report shall be in the form and substance required by the director, including, but not limited to, a final income statement for the event showing total revenue and expenditures and revenue and expenditures in the market area for the game, and ticket sales for the game and any related activities for which admission was charged. The director of development shall determine, based on the reported information and the exercise of reasonable judgment, the incremental increase in receipts from the tax imposed under section 5739.02 of the Revised Code directly attributable to the game. If the actual incremental increase in such receipts is less than the projected incremental increase in receipts, the director may require the local organizing committee, endorsing municipality, or the endorsing county to refund to the state all or a portion of the grant.

(F) No disbursement may be made under this section if the director of development determines that it would be used for the purpose of soliciting the relocation of a professional sports franchise located in this state.

(G) This section may not be construed as creating or requiring a state guarantee of obligations imposed on an endorsing municipality or endorsing county under a game support contract or any other agreement relating to hosting one or more games in this state.

Sec. 505.60.  (A) As provided in this section and section 505.601 of the Revised Code, the board of township trustees of any township may procure and pay all or any part of the cost of insurance policies that may provide benefits for hospitalization, surgical care, major medical care, disability, dental care, eye care, medical care, hearing aids, prescription drugs, or sickness and accident insurance, or a combination of any of the foregoing types of insurance for township officers and employees. The board of township trustees of any township may negotiate and contract for the purchase of a policy of long-term care insurance for township officers and employees pursuant to section 124.841 of the Revised Code.

If the board procures any insurance policies under this section, the board shall provide uniform coverage under these policies for township officers and full-time township employees and their immediate dependents, and may provide coverage under these policies for part-time township employees and their immediate dependents, from the funds or budgets from which the officers or employees are compensated for services, such policies to be issued by an insurance company duly authorized to do business in this state.

(B) The board may also provide coverage for any or all of the benefits described in division (A) of this section by entering into a contract for group health care services with health insuring corporations holding certificates of authority under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code for township officers and employees and their immediate dependents. If the board so contracts, it shall provide uniform coverage under any such contracts for township officers and full-time township employees and their immediate dependents, from the funds or budgets from which the officers or employees are compensated for services, and may provide coverage under such contracts for part-time township employees and their immediate dependents, from the funds or budgets from which the officers or employees are compensated for services, provided that each officer and employee so covered is permitted to:

(1) Choose between a plan offered by an insurance company and a plan offered by a health insuring corporation, and provided further that the officer or employee pays any amount by which the cost of the plan chosen exceeds the cost of the plan offered by the board under this section;

(2) Change the choice made under this division at a time each year as determined in advance by the board.

An addition of a class or change of definition of coverage to the plan offered under this division by the board may be made at any time that it is determined by the board to be in the best interest of the township. If the total cost to the township of the revised plan for any trustee's coverage does not exceed that cost under the plan in effect during the prior policy year, the revision of the plan does not cause an increase in that trustee's compensation.

(C) Any township officer or employee may refuse to accept any coverage authorized by this section without affecting the availability of such coverage to other township officers and employees.

(D) If any township officer or employee is denied coverage under a health care plan procured under this section or if any township officer or employee elects not to participate in the township's health care plan, the township may reimburse the officer or employee for each out-of-pocket premium attributable to the coverage provided for the officer or employee and their immediate dependents for insurance benefits described in division (A) of this section that the officer or employee otherwise obtains, but not to exceed an amount equal to the average premium paid by the township for its officers and employees under any health care plan it procures under this section.

(E) The board may provide the benefits authorized under this section, without competitive bidding, by contributing to a health and welfare trust fund administered through or in conjunction with a collective bargaining representative of the township employees.

The board may also provide the benefits described in this section through an individual self-insurance program or a joint self-insurance program as provided in section 9.833 of the Revised Code.

(F) If a board of township trustees fails to pay one or more premiums for a policy, contract, or plan of insurance or health care services authorized under this section and the failure causes a lapse, cancellation, or other termination of coverage under the policy, contract, or plan, it may reimburse a township officer or employee for, or pay on behalf of the officer or employee, any expenses incurred that would have been covered under the policy, contract, or plan.

(G) As used in this section and section 505.601 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Part-time township employee" means a township employee who is hired with the expectation that the employee will work not more than one thousand five hundred hours in any year.

(2) "Premium" does not include any deductible or health care costs paid directly by a township officer or employee.

Sec. 731.09.  The (A) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) or (C) of this section, the legislative power of each village shall be vested in, and exercised by, a legislative authority, composed of six members, who shall be elected by the electors of the village at large, for terms of four years. At the municipal election held in the year 1961 two members shall be elected for terms of two years and four members shall be elected for terms of four years. Except in villages where a primary election was held in 1961 for the nomination of candidates for member of the legislative authority, the four candidates who receive the greatest number of votes cast shall be elected for terms of four years, and the two candidates who receive the next greatest number of the votes cast shall be elected for terms of two years.

All candidates nominated prior to June 8, 1961, except by primary election, shall have their names grouped together on the election ballot regardless of whether their nominating petition or declaration of candidacy designated that they were candidates for a two-year or a four-year term.

At the municipal election in 1963 and quadrennially thereafter, two members shall be elected for terms of four years.

At the municipal election in 1965 and quadrennially thereafter, four members shall be elected for terms of four years.

Beginning with the year 1964, all members of village council shall hold office for a term of four years.

(B) The legislative authority of a village may adopt an ordinance or resolution that, if approved by a majority of the electors voting on the issue, would reduce the number of members of the legislative authority to five. A certified copy of the ordinance or resolution shall be filed with the board of elections no later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the next election at which members of the legislative authority are to be elected.

(C) The electors may propose a reduction in the number of members of the legislative authority from six to five by initiative petition in accordance with the procedure set forth in section 731.28 of the Revised Code.

(D) If a majority of the votes cast on the question proposed under division (B) or (C) of this section is in the affirmative, the legislative authority shall be composed of five members, who shall be elected at large, for terms of four years. If members of the legislative authority have staggered terms of office as required by this section, the decrease in number of members shall be implemented as necessary over the next two municipal elections at which members of the legislative authority would be elected. If the legislative authority has adopted an ordinance or resolution to eliminate staggered terms of office under section 731.091 of the Revised Code, the five members shall be elected as set forth in division (B)(2) of that section.

Sec. 731.091. (A) The legislative authority of a village may, by the adoption of an ordinance or resolution to eliminate staggered terms of office, determine that all members of the legislative authority shall be elected at the same municipal election as provided for in this section.

(B) At the regular municipal election occurring not less than ninety days after the certification of the ordinance or resolution to the board of elections eliminating staggered terms of office, the following apply:

(1) If there are six members of the legislative authority, three members shall be elected at the next regular municipal election for two year nonstaggered terms and all members of the legislative authority shall be elected to four year nonstaggered terms at all following municipal elections.

(2) If there are five members of the legislative authority, three members shall be elected at the next municipal election for two year terms and all members shall be elected to four year nonstaggered terms at all following municipal elections.

SECTION 2. That existing sections 122.12, 122.121, 505.60, and 731.09 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

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