130th Ohio General Assembly
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S. B. No. 179  As Introduced
As Introduced

129th General Assembly
Regular Session
2011-2012
S. B. No. 179


Senator Wilson 

Cosponsors: Senators Sawyer, Tavares, Kearney, Schaffer 



A BILL
To amend section 1505.11 and to enact sections 1505.12, 1505.13, and 4503.515 of the Revised Code to create the "Ohio Geology" license plate and to require the Ohio Geology Advisory Council to establish and administer a grant program utilizing the contributions that are paid by persons who obtain the license plate.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1.  That section 1505.11 be amended and sections 1505.12, 1505.13, and 4503.515 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 1505.11.  (A) There is hereby created in the department of natural resources the Ohio geology advisory council consisting of seven members to be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. No more than four of the members shall be of the same political party. Members shall be persons who have a demonstrated interest in Ohio geology and mineral resources and whose expertise reflects the various responsibilities of the division of geological survey. The council shall include at least one representative from each of the following: the oil and gas industry, the industrial minerals industry, the coal industry, hydrogeology interests, environmental geology interests, and an institution of higher education in this state. The chief of the division may participate in the deliberations of the council, but shall not vote.
Within ninety days after the effective date of this section May 3, 1990, the governor shall make initial appointments to the council. Of the initial appointments, three shall be for a term ending one year after the effective date of this section May 3, 1990, three shall be for a term ending two years after the effective date of this section May 3, 1990, and one shall be for a term ending three years after the effective date of this section May 3, 1990. Thereafter, terms of office shall be for three years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Members may be reappointed. The governor may remove any member at any time for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy prior to the expiration date of the term for which his the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of his the member's term until his the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.
Serving as an appointed member on the council does not constitute holding a public office or position of employment under the laws of this state and does not constitute grounds for removal of public officers or employees from their offices or positions of employment.
Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties from moneys appropriated to the division.
The council annually shall select from its members a chairman chairperson and a vice-chairman vice-chairperson. The council shall hold at least one meeting each calendar quarter and shall keep a record of its proceedings, which shall be open to public inspection. Special meetings may be called by the chairman chairperson and shall be called upon the written request of two or more members. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum. The division shall furnish clerical, technical, legal, and other services required by the council in the performance of its duties.
(B) The council shall do all of the following:
(A)(1) Advise the chief of the division of geological survey in carrying out the duties of the division under this chapter;
(B)(2) Recommend policy and legislation with respect to geology, resource analysis, and management that will promote the economic and industrial development of the state while minimizing threats to the natural environment of the state;
(C)(3) Review and make recommendations on the development of plans and programs for long-term, comprehensive geologic mapping and analysis throughout the state;
(D)(4) Recommend ways to enhance cooperation among governmental agencies having an interest in Ohio geology to encourage wise use and management of the geology and mineral resources of the state. To this end, the council shall request nonvoting representation from appropriate governmental agencies;
(5) Establish and administer the grant program as described in section 1505.12 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 1505.12.  The Ohio geology advisory council shall establish a grant program utilizing the contributions that are paid to the bureau of motor vehicles by persons who obtain "Ohio geology" license plates pursuant to section 4503.515 of the Revised Code and are deposited into the "Ohio geology" license plate fund created by section 1505.13 of the Revised Code. The primary purpose of the program shall be the awarding of grants by the council to geology departments of colleges and universities located in this state for graduate level research conducted at locations of geological interest in this state. Subject to the amount of money in the fund, the secondary purpose of the program shall be to provide materials such as rock and mineral kits to elementary and secondary schools in this state to assist students at those schools in the study of geology.
The council shall award grants at least annually and, in its discretion, may award grants on a more frequent basis.
Sec. 1505.13.  There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Ohio geology" license plate fund. The fund shall consist of the contributions that are paid to the bureau of motor vehicles by applicants who choose to obtain "Ohio geology" license plates pursuant to section 4503.515 of the Revised Code.
The contributions deposited into the fund shall be used by the Ohio geology advisory council in the manner described in section 1505.12 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4503.515.  (A) The owner or lessee of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar of motor vehicles may apply to the registrar for the registration of the vehicle and issuance of "Ohio geology" license plates. The application may be combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of the completed application and compliance by the applicant with divisions (B) and (C) of this section, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the appropriate vehicle registration and a set of "Ohio geology" license plates and a validation sticker, or a validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code.
In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed on the license plates, "Ohio geology" license plates shall bear an appropriate logo and words selected by the Ohio geology advisory council and approved by the registrar. "Ohio geology" license plates shall display county identification stickers that identify the county of registration by name or number.
(B) "Ohio geology" license plates and a validation sticker, or validation sticker alone, shall be issued upon receipt of an application for registration of a motor vehicle under this section; payment of the regular license tax as prescribed under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, any applicable motor vehicle license tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, any applicable additional fee prescribed by section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, an additional fee of fifteen dollars, and a contribution as provided in division (C) of this section; and compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the registration of motor vehicles.
(C) For each application for registration and registration renewal notice the registrar receives under this section, the registrar shall collect a contribution of fifteen dollars. The registrar shall transmit this contribution to the treasurer of state for deposit into the state treasury to the credit of the "Ohio geology" license plate fund created by section 1505.13 of the Revised Code.
The registrar shall transmit the additional fee of ten dollars, the purpose of which is to compensate the bureau of motor vehicles for the additional services required in the issuing of "Ohio geology" license plates, to the treasurer of state for deposit into the state treasury to the credit of the state bureau of motor vehicles fund created by section 4501.25 of the Revised Code.
Section 2.  That existing section 1505.11 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.
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