130th Ohio General Assembly
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Sub. H. B. No. 232  As Enrolled
(130th General Assembly)
(Substitute House Bill Number 232)



AN ACT
To amend sections 1701.03, 1705.03, 1705.04, 1705.53, 1785.01, 1785.02, 1785.03, 2152.72, 2305.234, 2305.51, 2317.02, 2921.22, 2925.01, 2951.041, 3107.014, 3701.046, 3701.74, 3709.161, 3721.21, 3923.28, 3923.281, 3923.282, 3923.29, 3923.30, 3963.01, 4723.16, 4725.33, 4729.161, 4731.226, 4731.65, 4732.28, 4734.17, 4734.41, 4755.471, 4757.01, 4757.02, 4757.03, 4757.04, 4757.10, 4757.11, 4757.16, 4757.21, 4757.22, 4757.23, 4757.26, 4757.27, 4757.28, 4757.29, 4757.30, 4757.31, 4757.33, 4757.34, 4757.36, 4757.38, 4757.41, 4757.43, 4758.40, 4758.41, 4758.55, 4758.561, 4758.59, 4758.61, 4769.01, 5101.61, and 5123.61; to enact sections 4755.111, 4757.13, 4757.321, and 4757.37; and to repeal section 4757.12 of the Revised Code to modify the laws governing professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists.

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

SECTION 1. That sections 1701.03, 1705.03, 1705.04, 1705.53, 1785.01, 1785.02, 1785.03, 2152.72, 2305.234, 2305.51, 2317.02, 2921.22, 2925.01, 2951.041, 3107.014, 3701.046, 3701.74, 3709.161, 3721.21, 3923.28, 3923.281, 3923.282, 3923.29, 3923.30, 3963.01, 4723.16, 4725.33, 4729.161, 4731.226, 4731.65, 4732.28, 4734.17, 4734.41, 4755.471, 4757.01, 4757.02, 4757.03, 4757.04, 4757.10, 4757.11, 4757.16, 4757.21, 4757.22, 4757.23, 4757.26, 4757.27, 4757.28, 4757.29, 4757.30, 4757.31, 4757.33, 4757.34, 4757.36, 4757.38, 4757.41, 4757.43, 4758.40, 4758.41, 4758.55, 4758.561, 4758.59, 4758.61, 4769.01, 5101.61, and 5123.61 be amended and sections 4755.111 4757.13, 4757.321, and 4757.37 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 1701.03.  (A) A corporation may be formed under this chapter for any purpose or combination of purposes for which individuals lawfully may associate themselves, except that, if the Revised Code contains special provisions pertaining to the formation of any designated type of corporation other than a professional association, as defined in section 1785.01 of the Revised Code, a corporation of that type shall be formed in accordance with the special provisions.

(B) On and after July 1, 1994, a corporation may be formed under this chapter for the purpose of carrying on the practice of any profession, including, but not limited to, a corporation for the purpose of providing public accounting or certified public accounting services, a corporation for the erection, owning, and conducting of a sanitarium for receiving and caring for patients, medical and hygienic treatment of patients, and instruction of nurses in the treatment of disease and in hygiene, a corporation for the purpose of providing architectural, landscape architectural, professional engineering, or surveying services or any combination of those types of services, and a corporation for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services, as defined in section 1785.01 of the Revised Code, of optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

This chapter does not restrict, limit, or otherwise affect the authority or responsibilities of any agency, board, commission, department, office, or other entity to license, register, and otherwise regulate the professional conduct of individuals or organizations of any kind rendering professional services, as defined in section 1785.01 of the Revised Code, in this state or to regulate the practice of any profession that is within the jurisdiction of the agency, board, commission, department, office, or other entity, notwithstanding that an individual is a director, officer, employee, or other agent of a corporation formed under this chapter and is rendering professional services or engaging in the practice of a profession through a corporation formed under this chapter or that the organization is a corporation formed under this chapter.

(C) Nothing in division (A) or (B) of this section precludes the organization of a professional association in accordance with this chapter and Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code or the formation of a limited liability company under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code with respect to a business, as defined in section 1705.01 of the Revised Code.

(D) No corporation formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services, as defined in section 1785.01 of the Revised Code, of optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code shall control the professional clinical judgment exercised within accepted and prevailing standards of practice of a licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized optometrist, chiropractor, chiropractor practicing acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychologist, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, mechanotherapist, or doctor of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist in rendering care, treatment, or professional advice to an individual patient.

This division does not prevent a hospital, as defined in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code, insurer, as defined in section 3999.36 of the Revised Code, or intermediary organization, as defined in section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, from entering into a contract with a corporation described in this division that includes a provision requiring utilization review, quality assurance, peer review, or other performance or quality standards. Those activities shall not be construed as controlling the professional clinical judgment of an individual practitioner listed in this division.

Sec. 1705.03.  (A) A limited liability company may sue and be sued.

(B) Unless otherwise provided in its articles of organization, a limited liability company may take property of any description or any interest in property of any description by gift, devise, or bequest and may make donations for the public welfare or for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes.

(C) In carrying out the purposes stated in its articles of organization or operating agreement and subject to limitations prescribed by law or in its articles of organization or its operating agreement, a limited liability company may do all of the following:

(1) Purchase or otherwise acquire, lease as lessee or lessor, invest in, hold, use, encumber, sell, exchange, transfer, and dispose of property of any description or any interest in property of any description;

(2) Make contracts;

(3) Form or acquire the control of other domestic or foreign limited liability companies;

(4) Be a shareholder, partner, member, associate, or participant in other profit or nonprofit enterprises or ventures;

(5) Conduct its affairs in this state and elsewhere;

(6) Render in this state and elsewhere a professional service, the kinds of professional services authorized under Chapters 4703. and 4733. of the Revised Code, or a combination of the professional services of optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;

(7) Borrow money;

(8) Issue, sell, and pledge its notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness;

(9) Secure any of its obligations by mortgage, pledge, or deed of trust of all or any of its property;

(10) Guarantee or secure obligations of any person;

(11) Do all things permitted by law and exercise all authority within or incidental to the purposes stated in its articles of organization.

(D) In addition to the authority conferred by division (C) of this section and irrespective of the purposes stated in its articles of organization or operating agreement but subject to any limitations stated in those articles or its operating agreement, a limited liability company may invest funds not currently needed in its business in any securities if the investment does not cause the company to acquire control of another enterprise whose activities and operations are not incidental to the purposes stated in the articles of organization of the company.

(E)(1) No lack of authority or limitation upon the authority of a limited liability company shall be asserted in any action except as follows:

(a) By the state in an action by it against the company;

(b) By or on behalf of the company in an action against a manager, an officer, or any member as a member;

(c) By a member as a member in an action against the company, a manager, an officer, or any member as a member;

(d) In an action involving an alleged improper issue of a membership interest in the company.

(2) Division (E)(1) of this section applies to any action commenced in this state upon any contract made in this state by a foreign limited liability company.

Sec. 1705.04.  (A) One or more persons, without regard to residence, domicile, or state of organization, may form a limited liability company. The articles of organization shall be signed and filed with the secretary of state and shall set forth all of the following:

(1) The name of the company;

(2) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, the period of its duration, which may be perpetual;

(3) Any other provisions that are from the operating agreement or that are not inconsistent with applicable law and that the members elect to set out in the articles for the regulation of the affairs of the company.

The legal existence of the company begins upon the filing of the articles of organization or on a later date specified in the articles of organization that is not more than ninety days after the filing.

(B) If the articles of organization or operating agreement do not set forth the period of the duration of the limited liability company, its duration shall be perpetual.

(C) If a limited liability company is formed under this chapter for the purpose of rendering a professional service, the kinds of professional services authorized under Chapters 4703. and 4733. of the Revised Code, or a combination of the professional services of optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code the following apply:

(1) Each member, employee, or other agent of the company who renders a professional service in this state and, if the management of the company is not reserved to its members, each manager of the company who renders a professional service in this state shall be licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to render in this state the same kind of professional service; if applicable, the kinds of professional services authorized under Chapters 4703. and 4733. of the Revised Code; or, if applicable, any of the kinds of professional services of optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, or doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, or licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

(2) Each member, employee, or other agent of the company who renders a professional service in another state and, if the management of the company is not reserved to its members, each manager of the company who renders a professional service in another state shall be licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to render that professional service in the other state.

(D) Except for the provisions of this chapter pertaining to the personal liability of members, employees, or other agents of a limited liability company and, if the management of the company is not reserved to its members, the personal liability of managers of the company, this chapter does not restrict, limit, or otherwise affect the authority or responsibilities of any agency, board, commission, department, office, or other entity to license, certificate, register, and otherwise regulate the professional conduct of individuals or organizations of any kind rendering professional services in this state or to regulate the practice of any profession that is within the jurisdiction of the agency, board, commission, department, office, or other entity, notwithstanding that the individual is a member or manager of a limited liability company and is rendering the professional services or engaging in the practice of the profession through the limited liability company or that the organization is a limited liability company.

(E) No limited liability company formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services, as defined in section 1785.01 of the Revised Code, of optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code shall control the professional clinical judgment exercised within accepted and prevailing standards of practice of a licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized optometrist, chiropractor, chiropractor practicing acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychologist, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, mechanotherapist, or doctor of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist in rendering care, treatment, or professional advice to an individual patient.

This division does not prevent a hospital, as defined in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code, insurer, as defined in section 3999.36 of the Revised Code, or intermediary organization, as defined in section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, from entering into a contract with a limited liability company described in this division that includes a provision requiring utilization review, quality assurance, peer review, or other performance or quality standards. Those activities shall not be construed as controlling the professional clinical judgment of an individual practitioner listed in this division.

Sec. 1705.53.  Subject to any contrary provisions of the Ohio Constitution, the laws of the state under which a foreign limited liability company is organized govern its organization and internal affairs and the liability of its members. A foreign limited liability company may not be denied a certificate of registration as a foreign limited liability company in this state because of any difference between the laws of the state under which it is organized and the laws of this state. However, a foreign limited liability company that applies for registration under this chapter to render a professional service in this state, as a condition to obtaining and maintaining a certificate of registration, shall comply with the requirements of division (C) of section 1705.04 of the Revised Code and shall comply with the requirements of Chapters 4703. and 4733. of the Revised Code if the kinds of professional services authorized under those chapters are to be rendered or with the requirements of Chapters 4723., 4725., 4729., 4731., 4732., 4734., and 4755., and 4757. of the Revised Code if a combination of the professional services of optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code are to be rendered.

Sec. 1785.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Professional service" means any type of professional service that may be performed only pursuant to a license, certificate, or other legal authorization issued pursuant to Chapter 4701., 4703., 4705., 4715., 4723., 4725., 4729., 4730., 4731., 4732., 4733., 4734., or 4741., sections 4755.04 to 4755.13, or 4755.40 to 4755.56 4755., or 4757. of the Revised Code to certified public accountants, licensed public accountants, architects, attorneys, dentists, nurses, optometrists, pharmacists, physician assistants, doctors of medicine and surgery, doctors of osteopathic medicine and surgery, doctors of podiatric medicine and surgery, practitioners of the limited branches of medicine specified in section 4731.15 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists, psychologists, professional engineers, chiropractors, chiropractors practicing acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, veterinarians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, and marriage and family therapists.

(B) "Professional association" means an association organized under this chapter for the sole purpose of rendering one of the professional services authorized under Chapter 4701., 4703., 4705., 4715., 4723., 4725., 4729., 4730., 4731., 4732., 4733., 4734., or 4741., sections 4755.04 to 4755.13, or 4755.40 to 4755.56 4755., or 4757. of the Revised Code, a combination of the professional services authorized under Chapters 4703. and 4733. of the Revised Code, or a combination of the professional services of optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 1785.02.  An individual or group of individuals each of whom is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to render within this state the same kind of professional service, a group of individuals each of whom is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to render within this state the professional service authorized under Chapter 4703. or 4733. of the Revised Code, or a group of individuals each of whom is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to render within this state the professional service of optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, or doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, or licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code may organize and become a shareholder or shareholders of a professional association. Any group of individuals described in this section who may be rendering one of the professional services as an organization created otherwise than pursuant to this chapter may incorporate under and pursuant to this chapter by amending the agreement establishing the organization in a manner that the agreement as amended constitutes articles of incorporation prepared and filed in the manner prescribed in section 1785.08 of the Revised Code and by otherwise complying with the applicable requirements of this chapter.

Sec. 1785.03.  A professional association may render a particular professional service only through officers, employees, and agents who are themselves duly licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to render the professional service within this state. As used in this section, "employee" does not include clerks, bookkeepers, technicians, or other individuals who are not usually and ordinarily considered by custom and practice to be rendering a particular professional service for which a license, certificate, or other legal authorization is required and does not include any other person who performs all of that person's employment under the direct supervision and control of an officer, agent, or employee who renders a particular professional service to the public on behalf of the professional association.

No professional association formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services, as defined in section 1785.01 of the Revised Code, of optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code shall control the professional clinical judgment exercised within accepted and prevailing standards of practice of a licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized optometrist, chiropractor, chiropractor practicing acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychologist, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, mechanotherapist, or doctor of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist in rendering care, treatment, or professional advice to an individual patient.

This division does not prevent a hospital, as defined in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code, insurer, as defined in section 3999.36 of the Revised Code, or intermediary organization, as defined in section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, from entering into a contract with a professional association described in this division that includes a provision requiring utilization review, quality assurance, peer review, or other performance or quality standards. Those activities shall not be construed as controlling the professional clinical judgment of an individual practitioner listed in this division.

Sec. 2152.72.  (A) This section applies only to a child who is or previously has been adjudicated a delinquent child for an act to which any of the following applies:

(1) The act is a violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2907.02, 2907.03, or 2907.05 of the Revised Code.

(2) The act is a violation of section 2923.01 of the Revised Code and involved an attempt to commit aggravated murder or murder.

(3) The act would be a felony if committed by an adult, and the court determined that the child, if an adult, would be guilty of a specification found in section 2941.141, 2941.144, or 2941.145 of the Revised Code or in another section of the Revised Code that relates to the possession or use of a firearm during the commission of the act for which the child was adjudicated a delinquent child.

(4) The act would be an offense of violence that is a felony if committed by an adult, and the court determined that the child, if an adult, would be guilty of a specification found in section 2941.1411 of the Revised Code or in another section of the Revised Code that relates to the wearing or carrying of body armor during the commission of the act for which the child was adjudicated a delinquent child.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, a public children services agency, private child placing agency, private noncustodial agency, or court, the department of youth services, or another private or government entity shall not place a child in a certified foster home or for adoption until it provides the foster caregivers or prospective adoptive parents with all of the following:

(a) A written report describing the child's social history;

(b) A written report describing all the acts committed by the child the entity knows of that resulted in the child being adjudicated a delinquent child and the disposition made by the court, unless the records pertaining to the acts have been sealed pursuant to section 2151.356 of the Revised Code;

(c) A written report describing any other violent act committed by the child of which the entity is aware;

(d) The substantial and material conclusions and recommendations of any psychiatric or psychological examination conducted on the child or, if no psychological or psychiatric examination of the child is available, the substantial and material conclusions and recommendations of an examination to detect mental and emotional disorders conducted in compliance with the requirements of Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code by an independent social worker, social worker, licensed professional clinical counselor, or licensed professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist licensed under that chapter. The entity shall not provide any part of a psychological, psychiatric, or mental and emotional disorder examination to the foster caregivers or prospective adoptive parents other than the substantial and material conclusions.

(2) Notwithstanding sections 2151.356 to 2151.358 of the Revised Code, if records of an adjudication that a child is a delinquent child have been sealed pursuant to those sections and an entity knows the records have been sealed, the entity shall provide the foster caregivers or prospective adoptive parents a written statement that the records of a prior adjudication have been sealed.

(C)(1) The entity that places the child in a certified foster home or for adoption shall conduct a psychological examination of the child unless either of the following applies:

(a) An entity is not required to conduct the examination if an examination was conducted no more than one year prior to the child's placement, and division (C)(1)(b) of this section does not apply.

(b) An entity is not required to conduct the examination if a foster caregiver seeks to adopt the foster caregiver's foster child, and an examination was conducted no more than two years prior to the date the foster caregiver seeks to adopt the child.

(2) No later than sixty days after placing the child, the entity shall provide the foster caregiver or prospective adoptive parents a written report detailing the substantial and material conclusions and recommendations of the examination conducted pursuant to this division.

(D)(1) Except as provided in divisions (D)(2) and (3) of this section, the expenses of conducting the examinations and preparing the reports and assessment required by division (B) or (C) of this section shall be paid by the entity that places the child in the certified foster home or for adoption.

(2) When a juvenile court grants temporary or permanent custody of a child pursuant to any section of the Revised Code, including section 2151.33, 2151.353, 2151.354, or 2152.19 of the Revised Code, to a public children services agency or private child placing agency, the court shall provide the agency the information described in division (B) of this section, pay the expenses of preparing that information, and, if a new examination is required to be conducted, pay the expenses of conducting the examination described in division (C) of this section. On receipt of the information described in division (B) of this section, the agency shall provide to the court written acknowledgment that the agency received the information. The court shall keep the acknowledgment and provide a copy to the agency. On the motion of the agency, the court may terminate the order granting temporary or permanent custody of the child to that agency, if the court does not provide the information described in division (B) of this section.

(3) If one of the following entities is placing a child in a certified foster home or for adoption with the assistance of or by contracting with a public children services agency, private child placing agency, or a private noncustodial agency, the entity shall provide the agency with the information described in division (B) of this section, pay the expenses of preparing that information, and, if a new examination is required to be conducted, pay the expenses of conducting the examination described in division (C) of this section:

(a) The department of youth services if the placement is pursuant to any section of the Revised Code including section 2152.22, 5139.06, 5139.07, 5139.38, or 5139.39 of the Revised Code;

(b) A juvenile court with temporary or permanent custody of a child pursuant to section 2151.354 or 2152.19 of the Revised Code;

(c) A public children services agency or private child placing agency with temporary or permanent custody of the child.

The agency receiving the information described in division (B) of this section shall provide the entity described in division divisions (D)(3)(a) to (c) of this section that sent the information written acknowledgment that the agency received the information and provided it to the foster caregivers or prospective adoptive parents. The entity shall keep the acknowledgment and provide a copy to the agency. An entity that places a child in a certified foster home or for adoption with the assistance of or by contracting with an agency remains responsible to provide the information described in division (B) of this section to the foster caregivers or prospective adoptive parents unless the entity receives written acknowledgment that the agency provided the information.

(E) If a child is placed in a certified foster home as a result of an emergency removal of the child from home pursuant to division (D) of section 2151.31 of the Revised Code, an emergency change in the child's case plan pursuant to division (F)(3) of section 2151.412 of the Revised Code, or an emergency placement by the department of youth services pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 5139. of the Revised Code, the entity that places the child in the certified foster home shall provide the information described in division (B) of this section no later than ninety-six hours after the child is placed in the certified foster home.

(F) On receipt of the information described in divisions (B) and (C) of this section, the foster caregiver or prospective adoptive parents shall provide to the entity that places the child in the foster caregiver's or prospective adoptive parents' home a written acknowledgment that the foster caregiver or prospective adoptive parents received the information. The entity shall keep the acknowledgment and provide a copy to the foster caregiver or prospective adoptive parents.

(G) No person employed by an entity subject to this section and made responsible by that entity for the child's placement in a certified foster home or for adoption shall fail to provide the foster caregivers or prospective adoptive parents with the information required by divisions (B) and (C) of this section.

(H) It is not a violation of any duty of confidentiality provided for in the Revised Code or a code of professional responsibility for a person or government entity to provide the substantial and material conclusions and recommendations of a psychiatric or psychological examination, or an examination to detect mental and emotional disorders, in accordance with division (B)(1)(d) or (C) of this section.

(I) As used in this section:

(1) "Body armor" has the same meaning as in section 2941.1411 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Firearm" has the same meaning as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2305.234.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Chiropractic claim," "medical claim," and "optometric claim" have the same meanings as in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Dental claim" has the same meaning as in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code, except that it does not include any claim arising out of a dental operation or any derivative claim for relief that arises out of a dental operation.

(3) "Governmental health care program" has the same meaning as in section 4731.65 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Health care facility or location" means a hospital, clinic, ambulatory surgical facility, office of a health care professional or associated group of health care professionals, training institution for health care professionals, or any other place where medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment is provided to a person.

(5) "Health care professional" means any of the following who provide medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment:

(a) Physicians authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery;

(b) Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code and individuals who hold a certificate of authority issued under that chapter that authorizes the practice of nursing as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, or certified nurse practitioner;

(c) Physician assistants authorized to practice under Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code;

(d) Dentists and dental hygienists licensed under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code;

(e) Physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants, and athletic trainers licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(f) Chiropractors licensed under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(g) Optometrists licensed under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(h) Podiatrists authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice podiatry;

(i) Dietitians licensed under Chapter 4759. of the Revised Code;

(j) Pharmacists licensed under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(k) Emergency medical technicians-basic, emergency medical technicians-intermediate, and emergency medical technicians-paramedic, certified under Chapter 4765. of the Revised Code;

(l) Respiratory care professionals licensed under Chapter 4761. of the Revised Code;

(m) Speech-language pathologists and audiologists licensed under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;

(n) Professional Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, and marriage and family therapists, licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;

(o) Psychologists licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(p) Independent chemical dependency counselors, chemical dependency counselors III, chemical dependency counselors II, and chemical dependency counselors I, licensed under Chapter 4758. of the Revised Code Individuals licensed or certified under Chapter 4758. of the Revised Code who are acting within the scope of their license or certificate as members of the profession of chemical dependency counseling or alcohol and other drug prevention services.

(6) "Health care worker" means a person other than a health care professional who provides medical, dental, or other health-related care or treatment under the direction of a health care professional with the authority to direct that individual's activities, including medical technicians, medical assistants, dental assistants, orderlies, aides, and individuals acting in similar capacities.

(7) "Indigent and uninsured person" means a person who meets all of the following requirements:

(a) The person's income is not greater than two hundred per cent of the current poverty line as defined by the United States office of management and budget and revised in accordance with section 673(2) of the "Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981," 95 Stat. 511, 42 U.S.C. 9902, as amended.

(b) The person is not eligible for the medicaid program or any other governmental health care program.

(c) Either of the following applies:

(i) The person is not a policyholder, certificate holder, insured, contract holder, subscriber, enrollee, member, beneficiary, or other covered individual under a health insurance or health care policy, contract, or plan.

(ii) The person is a policyholder, certificate holder, insured, contract holder, subscriber, enrollee, member, beneficiary, or other covered individual under a health insurance or health care policy, contract, or plan, but the insurer, policy, contract, or plan denies coverage or is the subject of insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings in any jurisdiction.

(8) "Nonprofit health care referral organization" means an entity that is not operated for profit and refers patients to, or arranges for the provision of, health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment by a health care professional or health care worker.

(9) "Operation" means any procedure that involves cutting or otherwise infiltrating human tissue by mechanical means, including surgery, laser surgery, ionizing radiation, therapeutic ultrasound, or the removal of intraocular foreign bodies. "Operation" does not include the administration of medication by injection, unless the injection is administered in conjunction with a procedure infiltrating human tissue by mechanical means other than the administration of medicine by injection. "Operation" does not include routine dental restorative procedures, the scaling of teeth, or extractions of teeth that are not impacted.

(10) "Tort action" means a civil action for damages for injury, death, or loss to person or property other than a civil action for damages for a breach of contract or another agreement between persons or government entities.

(11) "Volunteer" means an individual who provides any medical, dental, or other health-care related diagnosis, care, or treatment without the expectation of receiving and without receipt of any compensation or other form of remuneration from an indigent and uninsured person, another person on behalf of an indigent and uninsured person, any health care facility or location, any nonprofit health care referral organization, or any other person or government entity.

(12) "Community control sanction" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(13) "Deep sedation" means a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which a patient cannot be easily aroused but responds purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation, a patient's ability to independently maintain ventilatory function may be impaired, a patient may require assistance in maintaining a patent airway and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate, and cardiovascular function is usually maintained.

(14) "General anesthesia" means a drug-induced loss of consciousness during which a patient is not arousable, even by painful stimulation, the ability to independently maintain ventilatory function is often impaired, a patient often requires assistance in maintaining a patent airway, positive pressure ventilation may be required because of depressed spontaneous ventilation or drug-induced depression of neuromuscular function, and cardiovascular function may be impaired.

(B)(1) Subject to divisions (F) and (G)(3) of this section, a health care professional who is a volunteer and complies with division (B)(2) of this section is not liable in damages to any person or government entity in a tort or other civil action, including an action on a medical, dental, chiropractic, optometric, or other health-related claim, for injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises from an action or omission of the volunteer in the provision to an indigent and uninsured person of medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment, including the provision of samples of medicine and other medical products, unless the action or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(2) To qualify for the immunity described in division (B)(1) of this section, a health care professional shall do all of the following prior to providing diagnosis, care, or treatment:

(a) Determine, in good faith, that the indigent and uninsured person is mentally capable of giving informed consent to the provision of the diagnosis, care, or treatment and is not subject to duress or under undue influence;

(b) Inform the person of the provisions of this section, including notifying the person that, by giving informed consent to the provision of the diagnosis, care, or treatment, the person cannot hold the health care professional liable for damages in a tort or other civil action, including an action on a medical, dental, chiropractic, optometric, or other health-related claim, unless the action or omission of the health care professional constitutes willful or wanton misconduct;

(c) Obtain the informed consent of the person and a written waiver, signed by the person or by another individual on behalf of and in the presence of the person, that states that the person is mentally competent to give informed consent and, without being subject to duress or under undue influence, gives informed consent to the provision of the diagnosis, care, or treatment subject to the provisions of this section. A written waiver under division (B)(2)(c) of this section shall state clearly and in conspicuous type that the person or other individual who signs the waiver is signing it with full knowledge that, by giving informed consent to the provision of the diagnosis, care, or treatment, the person cannot bring a tort or other civil action, including an action on a medical, dental, chiropractic, optometric, or other health-related claim, against the health care professional unless the action or omission of the health care professional constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(3) A physician or podiatrist who is not covered by medical malpractice insurance, but complies with division (B)(2) of this section, is not required to comply with division (A) of section 4731.143 of the Revised Code.

(C) Subject to divisions (F) and (G)(3) of this section, health care workers who are volunteers are not liable in damages to any person or government entity in a tort or other civil action, including an action upon a medical, dental, chiropractic, optometric, or other health-related claim, for injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises from an action or omission of the health care worker in the provision to an indigent and uninsured person of medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment, unless the action or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(D) Subject to divisions (F) and (G)(3) of this section, a nonprofit health care referral organization is not liable in damages to any person or government entity in a tort or other civil action, including an action on a medical, dental, chiropractic, optometric, or other health-related claim, for injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises from an action or omission of the nonprofit health care referral organization in referring indigent and uninsured persons to, or arranging for the provision of, medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment by a health care professional described in division (B)(1) of this section or a health care worker described in division (C) of this section, unless the action or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(E) Subject to divisions (F) and (G)(3) of this section and to the extent that the registration requirements of section 3701.071 of the Revised Code apply, a health care facility or location associated with a health care professional described in division (B)(1) of this section, a health care worker described in division (C) of this section, or a nonprofit health care referral organization described in division (D) of this section is not liable in damages to any person or government entity in a tort or other civil action, including an action on a medical, dental, chiropractic, optometric, or other health-related claim, for injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises from an action or omission of the health care professional or worker or nonprofit health care referral organization relative to the medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment provided to an indigent and uninsured person on behalf of or at the health care facility or location, unless the action or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(F)(1) Except as provided in division (F)(2) of this section, the immunities provided by divisions (B), (C), (D), and (E) of this section are not available to a health care professional, health care worker, nonprofit health care referral organization, or health care facility or location if, at the time of an alleged injury, death, or loss to person or property, the health care professionals or health care workers involved are providing one of the following:

(a) Any medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment pursuant to a community service work order entered by a court under division (B) of section 2951.02 of the Revised Code or imposed by a court as a community control sanction;

(b) Performance of an operation to which any one of the following applies:

(i) The operation requires the administration of deep sedation or general anesthesia.

(ii) The operation is a procedure that is not typically performed in an office.

(iii) The individual involved is a health care professional, and the operation is beyond the scope of practice or the education, training, and competence, as applicable, of the health care professional.

(c) Delivery of a baby or any other purposeful termination of a human pregnancy.

(2) Division (F)(1) of this section does not apply when a health care professional or health care worker provides medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment that is necessary to preserve the life of a person in a medical emergency.

(G)(1) This section does not create a new cause of action or substantive legal right against a health care professional, health care worker, nonprofit health care referral organization, or health care facility or location.

(2) This section does not affect any immunities from civil liability or defenses established by another section of the Revised Code or available at common law to which a health care professional, health care worker, nonprofit health care referral organization, or health care facility or location may be entitled in connection with the provision of emergency or other medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment.

(3) This section does not grant an immunity from tort or other civil liability to a health care professional, health care worker, nonprofit health care referral organization, or health care facility or location for actions that are outside the scope of authority of health care professionals or health care workers.

(4) This section does not affect any legal responsibility of a health care professional, health care worker, or nonprofit health care referral organization to comply with any applicable law of this state or rule of an agency of this state.

(5) This section does not affect any legal responsibility of a health care facility or location to comply with any applicable law of this state, rule of an agency of this state, or local code, ordinance, or regulation that pertains to or regulates building, housing, air pollution, water pollution, sanitation, health, fire, zoning, or safety.

Sec. 2305.51.  (A)(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Civil Rights" has the same meaning as in section 5122.301 of the Revised Code.

(b) "Mental health client or patient" means an individual who is receiving mental health services from a mental health professional or organization.

(c) "Mental health organization" means an organization that engages one or more mental health professionals to provide mental health services to one or more mental health clients or patients.

(d) "Mental health professional" means an individual who is licensed, certified, or registered under the Revised Code, or otherwise authorized in this state, to provide mental health services for compensation, remuneration, or other personal gain.

(e) "Mental health service" means a service provided to an individual or group of individuals involving the application of medical, psychiatric, psychological, professional counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or nursing principles or procedures to either of the following:

(i) The assessment, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or amelioration of mental, emotional, psychiatric, psychological, or psychosocial disorders or diseases, as described in the most recent edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders published by the American psychiatric association;

(ii) The assessment or improvement of mental, emotional, psychiatric, psychological, or psychosocial adjustment or functioning, regardless of whether there is a diagnosable, pre-existing disorder or disease.

(f) "Knowledgeable person" means an individual who has reason to believe that a mental health client or patient has the intent and ability to carry out an explicit threat of inflicting imminent and serious physical harm to or causing the death of a clearly identifiable potential victim or victims and who is either an immediate family member of the client or patient or an individual who otherwise personally knows the client or patient.

(2) For the purpose of this section, in the case of a threat to a readily identifiable structure, "clearly identifiable potential victim" includes any potential occupant of the structure.

(B) A mental health professional or mental health organization may be held liable in damages in a civil action, or may be made subject to disciplinary action by an entity with licensing or other regulatory authority over the professional or organization, for serious physical harm or death resulting from failing to predict, warn of, or take precautions to provide protection from the violent behavior of a mental health client or patient, only if the client or patient or a knowledgeable person has communicated to the professional or organization an explicit threat of inflicting imminent and serious physical harm to or causing the death of one or more clearly identifiable potential victims, the professional or organization has reason to believe that the client or patient has the intent and ability to carry out the threat, and the professional or organization fails to take one or more of the following actions in a timely manner:

(1) Exercise any authority the professional or organization possesses to hospitalize the client or patient on an emergency basis pursuant to section 5122.10 of the Revised Code;

(2) Exercise any authority the professional or organization possesses to have the client or patient involuntarily or voluntarily hospitalized under Chapter 5122. of the Revised Code;

(3) Establish and undertake a documented treatment plan that is reasonably calculated, according to appropriate standards of professional practice, to eliminate the possibility that the client or patient will carry out the threat, and, concurrent with establishing and undertaking the treatment plan, initiate arrangements for a second opinion risk assessment through a management consultation about the treatment plan with, in the case of a mental health organization, the clinical director of the organization, or, in the case of a mental health professional who is not acting as part of a mental health organization, any mental health professional who is licensed to engage in independent practice;

(4) Communicate to a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the area where each potential victim resides, where a structure threatened by a mental health client or patient is located, or where the mental health client or patient resides, and if feasible, communicate to each potential victim or a potential victim's parent or guardian if the potential victim is a minor or has been adjudicated incompetent, all of the following information:

(a) The nature of the threat;

(b) The identity of the mental health client or patient making the threat;

(c) The identity of each potential victim of the threat.

(C) All of the following apply when a mental health professional or organization takes one or more of the actions set forth in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section:

(1) The mental health professional or organization shall consider each of the alternatives set forth and shall document the reasons for choosing or rejecting each alternative.

(2) The mental health professional or organization may give special consideration to those alternatives which, consistent with public safety, would least abridge the rights of the mental health client or patient established under the Revised Code, including the rights specified in sections 5122.27 to 5122.31 of the Revised Code.

(3) The mental health professional or organization is not required to take an action that, in the exercise of reasonable professional judgment, would physically endanger the professional or organization, increase the danger to a potential victim, or increase the danger to the mental health client or patient.

(4) The mental health professional or organization is not liable in damages in a civil action, and shall not be made subject to disciplinary action by any entity with licensing or other regulatory authority over the professional or organization, for disclosing any confidential information about a mental health client or patient that is disclosed for the purpose of taking any of the actions.

(D) The immunities from civil liability and disciplinary action conferred by this section are in addition to and not in limitation of any immunity conferred on a mental health professional or organization by any other section of the Revised Code or by judicial precedent.

(E) This section does not affect the civil rights of a mental health client or patient under Ohio or federal law.

Sec. 2317.02.  The following persons shall not testify in certain respects:

(A)(1) An attorney, concerning a communication made to the attorney by a client in that relation or concerning the attorney's advice to a client, except that the attorney may testify by express consent of the client or, if the client is deceased, by the express consent of the surviving spouse or the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased client. However, if the client voluntarily reveals the substance of attorney-client communications in a nonprivileged context or is deemed by section 2151.421 of the Revised Code to have waived any testimonial privilege under this division, the attorney may be compelled to testify on the same subject.

The testimonial privilege established under this division does not apply concerning a communication between a client who has since died and the deceased client's attorney if the communication is relevant to a dispute between parties who claim through that deceased client, regardless of whether the claims are by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transaction, and the dispute addresses the competency of the deceased client when the deceased client executed a document that is the basis of the dispute or whether the deceased client was a victim of fraud, undue influence, or duress when the deceased client executed a document that is the basis of the dispute.

(2) An attorney, concerning a communication made to the attorney by a client in that relationship or the attorney's advice to a client, except that if the client is an insurance company, the attorney may be compelled to testify, subject to an in camera inspection by a court, about communications made by the client to the attorney or by the attorney to the client that are related to the attorney's aiding or furthering an ongoing or future commission of bad faith by the client, if the party seeking disclosure of the communications has made a prima-facie showing of bad faith, fraud, or criminal misconduct by the client.

(B)(1) A physician or a dentist concerning a communication made to the physician or dentist by a patient in that relation or the physician's or dentist's advice to a patient, except as otherwise provided in this division, division (B)(2), and division (B)(3) of this section, and except that, if the patient is deemed by section 2151.421 of the Revised Code to have waived any testimonial privilege under this division, the physician may be compelled to testify on the same subject.

The testimonial privilege established under this division does not apply, and a physician or dentist may testify or may be compelled to testify, in any of the following circumstances:

(a) In any civil action, in accordance with the discovery provisions of the Rules of Civil Procedure in connection with a civil action, or in connection with a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code, under any of the following circumstances:

(i) If the patient or the guardian or other legal representative of the patient gives express consent;

(ii) If the patient is deceased, the spouse of the patient or the executor or administrator of the patient's estate gives express consent;

(iii) If a medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or optometric claim, as defined in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code, an action for wrongful death, any other type of civil action, or a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code is filed by the patient, the personal representative of the estate of the patient if deceased, or the patient's guardian or other legal representative.

(b) In any civil action concerning court-ordered treatment or services received by a patient, if the court-ordered treatment or services were ordered as part of a case plan journalized under section 2151.412 of the Revised Code or the court-ordered treatment or services are necessary or relevant to dependency, neglect, or abuse or temporary or permanent custody proceedings under Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code.

(c) In any criminal action concerning any test or the results of any test that determines the presence or concentration of alcohol, a drug of abuse, a combination of them, a controlled substance, or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the patient's whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, urine, or other bodily substance at any time relevant to the criminal offense in question.

(d) In any criminal action against a physician or dentist. In such an action, the testimonial privilege established under this division does not prohibit the admission into evidence, in accordance with the Rules of Evidence, of a patient's medical or dental records or other communications between a patient and the physician or dentist that are related to the action and obtained by subpoena, search warrant, or other lawful means. A court that permits or compels a physician or dentist to testify in such an action or permits the introduction into evidence of patient records or other communications in such an action shall require that appropriate measures be taken to ensure that the confidentiality of any patient named or otherwise identified in the records is maintained. Measures to ensure confidentiality that may be taken by the court include sealing its records or deleting specific information from its records.

(e)(i) If the communication was between a patient who has since died and the deceased patient's physician or dentist, the communication is relevant to a dispute between parties who claim through that deceased patient, regardless of whether the claims are by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transaction, and the dispute addresses the competency of the deceased patient when the deceased patient executed a document that is the basis of the dispute or whether the deceased patient was a victim of fraud, undue influence, or duress when the deceased patient executed a document that is the basis of the dispute.

(ii) If neither the spouse of a patient nor the executor or administrator of that patient's estate gives consent under division (B)(1)(a)(ii) of this section, testimony or the disclosure of the patient's medical records by a physician, dentist, or other health care provider under division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section is a permitted use or disclosure of protected health information, as defined in 45 C.F.R. 160.103, and an authorization or opportunity to be heard shall not be required.

(iii) Division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section does not require a mental health professional to disclose psychotherapy notes, as defined in 45 C.F.R. 164.501.

(iv) An interested person who objects to testimony or disclosure under division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section may seek a protective order pursuant to Civil Rule 26.

(v) A person to whom protected health information is disclosed under division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section shall not use or disclose the protected health information for any purpose other than the litigation or proceeding for which the information was requested and shall return the protected health information to the covered entity or destroy the protected health information, including all copies made, at the conclusion of the litigation or proceeding.

(2)(a) If any law enforcement officer submits a written statement to a health care provider that states that an official criminal investigation has begun regarding a specified person or that a criminal action or proceeding has been commenced against a specified person, that requests the provider to supply to the officer copies of any records the provider possesses that pertain to any test or the results of any test administered to the specified person to determine the presence or concentration of alcohol, a drug of abuse, a combination of them, a controlled substance, or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the person's whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine at any time relevant to the criminal offense in question, and that conforms to section 2317.022 of the Revised Code, the provider, except to the extent specifically prohibited by any law of this state or of the United States, shall supply to the officer a copy of any of the requested records the provider possesses. If the health care provider does not possess any of the requested records, the provider shall give the officer a written statement that indicates that the provider does not possess any of the requested records.

(b) If a health care provider possesses any records of the type described in division (B)(2)(a) of this section regarding the person in question at any time relevant to the criminal offense in question, in lieu of personally testifying as to the results of the test in question, the custodian of the records may submit a certified copy of the records, and, upon its submission, the certified copy is qualified as authentic evidence and may be admitted as evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence. Division (A) of section 2317.422 of the Revised Code does not apply to any certified copy of records submitted in accordance with this division. Nothing in this division shall be construed to limit the right of any party to call as a witness the person who administered the test to which the records pertain, the person under whose supervision the test was administered, the custodian of the records, the person who made the records, or the person under whose supervision the records were made.

(3)(a) If the testimonial privilege described in division (B)(1) of this section does not apply as provided in division (B)(1)(a)(iii) of this section, a physician or dentist may be compelled to testify or to submit to discovery under the Rules of Civil Procedure only as to a communication made to the physician or dentist by the patient in question in that relation, or the physician's or dentist's advice to the patient in question, that related causally or historically to physical or mental injuries that are relevant to issues in the medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or optometric claim, action for wrongful death, other civil action, or claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code.

(b) If the testimonial privilege described in division (B)(1) of this section does not apply to a physician or dentist as provided in division (B)(1)(c) of this section, the physician or dentist, in lieu of personally testifying as to the results of the test in question, may submit a certified copy of those results, and, upon its submission, the certified copy is qualified as authentic evidence and may be admitted as evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence. Division (A) of section 2317.422 of the Revised Code does not apply to any certified copy of results submitted in accordance with this division. Nothing in this division shall be construed to limit the right of any party to call as a witness the person who administered the test in question, the person under whose supervision the test was administered, the custodian of the results of the test, the person who compiled the results, or the person under whose supervision the results were compiled.

(4) The testimonial privilege described in division (B)(1) of this section is not waived when a communication is made by a physician to a pharmacist or when there is communication between a patient and a pharmacist in furtherance of the physician-patient relation.

(5)(a) As used in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section, "communication" means acquiring, recording, or transmitting any information, in any manner, concerning any facts, opinions, or statements necessary to enable a physician or dentist to diagnose, treat, prescribe, or act for a patient. A "communication" may include, but is not limited to, any medical or dental, office, or hospital communication such as a record, chart, letter, memorandum, laboratory test and results, x-ray, photograph, financial statement, diagnosis, or prognosis.

(b) As used in division (B)(2) of this section, "health care provider" means a hospital, ambulatory care facility, long-term care facility, pharmacy, emergency facility, or health care practitioner.

(c) As used in division (B)(5)(b) of this section:

(i) "Ambulatory care facility" means a facility that provides medical, diagnostic, or surgical treatment to patients who do not require hospitalization, including a dialysis center, ambulatory surgical facility, cardiac catheterization facility, diagnostic imaging center, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy center, home health agency, inpatient hospice, birthing center, radiation therapy center, emergency facility, and an urgent care center. "Ambulatory health care facility" does not include the private office of a physician or dentist, whether the office is for an individual or group practice.

(ii) "Emergency facility" means a hospital emergency department or any other facility that provides emergency medical services.

(iii) "Health care practitioner" has the same meaning as in section 4769.01 of the Revised Code.

(iv) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.

(v) "Long-term care facility" means a nursing home, residential care facility, or home for the aging, as those terms are defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code; a residential facility licensed under section 5119.34 of the Revised Code that provides accommodations, supervision, and personal care services for three to sixteen unrelated adults; a nursing facility, as defined in section 5165.01 of the Revised Code; a skilled nursing facility, as defined in section 5165.01 of the Revised Code; and an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities, as defined in section 5124.01 of the Revised Code.

(vi) "Pharmacy" has the same meaning as in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code.

(d) As used in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section, "drug of abuse" has the same meaning as in section 4506.01 of the Revised Code.

(6) Divisions (B)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of this section apply to doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine, doctors of podiatry, and dentists.

(7) Nothing in divisions (B)(1) to (6) of this section affects, or shall be construed as affecting, the immunity from civil liability conferred by section 307.628 of the Revised Code or the immunity from civil liability conferred by section 2305.33 of the Revised Code upon physicians who report an employee's use of a drug of abuse, or a condition of an employee other than one involving the use of a drug of abuse, to the employer of the employee in accordance with division (B) of that section. As used in division (B)(7) of this section, "employee," "employer," and "physician" have the same meanings as in section 2305.33 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) A cleric, when the cleric remains accountable to the authority of that cleric's church, denomination, or sect, concerning a confession made, or any information confidentially communicated, to the cleric for a religious counseling purpose in the cleric's professional character. The cleric may testify by express consent of the person making the communication, except when the disclosure of the information is in violation of a sacred trust and except that, if the person voluntarily testifies or is deemed by division (A)(4)(c) of section 2151.421 of the Revised Code to have waived any testimonial privilege under this division, the cleric may be compelled to testify on the same subject except when disclosure of the information is in violation of a sacred trust.

(2) As used in division (C) of this section:

(a) "Cleric" means a member of the clergy, rabbi, priest, Christian Science practitioner, or regularly ordained, accredited, or licensed minister of an established and legally cognizable church, denomination, or sect.

(b) "Sacred trust" means a confession or confidential communication made to a cleric in the cleric's ecclesiastical capacity in the course of discipline enjoined by the church to which the cleric belongs, including, but not limited to, the Catholic Church, if both of the following apply:

(i) The confession or confidential communication was made directly to the cleric.

(ii) The confession or confidential communication was made in the manner and context that places the cleric specifically and strictly under a level of confidentiality that is considered inviolate by canon law or church doctrine.

(D) Husband or wife, concerning any communication made by one to the other, or an act done by either in the presence of the other, during coverture, unless the communication was made, or act done, in the known presence or hearing of a third person competent to be a witness; and such rule is the same if the marital relation has ceased to exist;

(E) A person who assigns a claim or interest, concerning any matter in respect to which the person would not, if a party, be permitted to testify;

(F) A person who, if a party, would be restricted under section 2317.03 of the Revised Code, when the property or thing is sold or transferred by an executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, heir, devisee, or legatee, shall be restricted in the same manner in any action or proceeding concerning the property or thing.

(G)(1) A school guidance counselor who holds a valid educator license from the state board of education as provided for in section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, a person licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code as a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, social worker, independent social worker, marriage and family therapist or independent marriage and family therapist, or registered under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code as a social work assistant concerning a confidential communication received from a client in that relation or the person's advice to a client unless any of the following applies:

(a) The communication or advice indicates clear and present danger to the client or other persons. For the purposes of this division, cases in which there are indications of present or past child abuse or neglect of the client constitute a clear and present danger.

(b) The client gives express consent to the testimony.

(c) If the client is deceased, the surviving spouse or the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased client gives express consent.

(d) The client voluntarily testifies, in which case the school guidance counselor or person licensed or registered under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code may be compelled to testify on the same subject.

(e) The court in camera determines that the information communicated by the client is not germane to the counselor-client, marriage and family therapist-client, or social worker-client relationship.

(f) A court, in an action brought against a school, its administration, or any of its personnel by the client, rules after an in-camera inspection that the testimony of the school guidance counselor is relevant to that action.

(g) The testimony is sought in a civil action and concerns court-ordered treatment or services received by a patient as part of a case plan journalized under section 2151.412 of the Revised Code or the court-ordered treatment or services are necessary or relevant to dependency, neglect, or abuse or temporary or permanent custody proceedings under Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code.

(2) Nothing in division (G)(1) of this section shall relieve a school guidance counselor or a person licensed or registered under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code from the requirement to report information concerning child abuse or neglect under section 2151.421 of the Revised Code.

(H) A mediator acting under a mediation order issued under division (A) of section 3109.052 of the Revised Code or otherwise issued in any proceeding for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, or the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children, in any action or proceeding, other than a criminal, delinquency, child abuse, child neglect, or dependent child action or proceeding, that is brought by or against either parent who takes part in mediation in accordance with the order and that pertains to the mediation process, to any information discussed or presented in the mediation process, to the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the parents' children, or to the awarding of parenting time rights in relation to their children;

(I) A communications assistant, acting within the scope of the communication assistant's authority, when providing telecommunications relay service pursuant to section 4931.06 of the Revised Code or Title II of the "Communications Act of 1934," 104 Stat. 366 (1990), 47 U.S.C. 225, concerning a communication made through a telecommunications relay service. Nothing in this section shall limit the obligation of a communications assistant to divulge information or testify when mandated by federal law or regulation or pursuant to subpoena in a criminal proceeding.

Nothing in this section shall limit any immunity or privilege granted under federal law or regulation.

(J)(1) A chiropractor in a civil proceeding concerning a communication made to the chiropractor by a patient in that relation or the chiropractor's advice to a patient, except as otherwise provided in this division. The testimonial privilege established under this division does not apply, and a chiropractor may testify or may be compelled to testify, in any civil action, in accordance with the discovery provisions of the Rules of Civil Procedure in connection with a civil action, or in connection with a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code, under any of the following circumstances:

(a) If the patient or the guardian or other legal representative of the patient gives express consent.

(b) If the patient is deceased, the spouse of the patient or the executor or administrator of the patient's estate gives express consent.

(c) If a medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or optometric claim, as defined in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code, an action for wrongful death, any other type of civil action, or a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code is filed by the patient, the personal representative of the estate of the patient if deceased, or the patient's guardian or other legal representative.

(2) If the testimonial privilege described in division (J)(1) of this section does not apply as provided in division (J)(1)(c) of this section, a chiropractor may be compelled to testify or to submit to discovery under the Rules of Civil Procedure only as to a communication made to the chiropractor by the patient in question in that relation, or the chiropractor's advice to the patient in question, that related causally or historically to physical or mental injuries that are relevant to issues in the medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or optometric claim, action for wrongful death, other civil action, or claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code.

(3) The testimonial privilege established under this division does not apply, and a chiropractor may testify or be compelled to testify, in any criminal action or administrative proceeding.

(4) As used in this division, "communication" means acquiring, recording, or transmitting any information, in any manner, concerning any facts, opinions, or statements necessary to enable a chiropractor to diagnose, treat, or act for a patient. A communication may include, but is not limited to, any chiropractic, office, or hospital communication such as a record, chart, letter, memorandum, laboratory test and results, x-ray, photograph, financial statement, diagnosis, or prognosis.

(K)(1) Except as provided under division (K)(2) of this section, a critical incident stress management team member concerning a communication received from an individual who receives crisis response services from the team member, or the team member's advice to the individual, during a debriefing session.

(2) The testimonial privilege established under division (K)(1) of this section does not apply if any of the following are true:

(a) The communication or advice indicates clear and present danger to the individual who receives crisis response services or to other persons. For purposes of this division, cases in which there are indications of present or past child abuse or neglect of the individual constitute a clear and present danger.

(b) The individual who received crisis response services gives express consent to the testimony.

(c) If the individual who received crisis response services is deceased, the surviving spouse or the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased individual gives express consent.

(d) The individual who received crisis response services voluntarily testifies, in which case the team member may be compelled to testify on the same subject.

(e) The court in camera determines that the information communicated by the individual who received crisis response services is not germane to the relationship between the individual and the team member.

(f) The communication or advice pertains or is related to any criminal act.

(3) As used in division (K) of this section:

(a) "Crisis response services" means consultation, risk assessment, referral, and on-site crisis intervention services provided by a critical incident stress management team to individuals affected by crisis or disaster.

(b) "Critical incident stress management team member" or "team member" means an individual specially trained to provide crisis response services as a member of an organized community or local crisis response team that holds membership in the Ohio critical incident stress management network.

(c) "Debriefing session" means a session at which crisis response services are rendered by a critical incident stress management team member during or after a crisis or disaster.

(L)(1) Subject to division (L)(2) of this section and except as provided in division (L)(3) of this section, an employee assistance professional, concerning a communication made to the employee assistance professional by a client in the employee assistance professional's official capacity as an employee assistance professional.

(2) Division (L)(1) of this section applies to an employee assistance professional who meets either or both of the following requirements:

(a) Is certified by the employee assistance certification commission to engage in the employee assistance profession;

(b) Has education, training, and experience in all of the following:

(i) Providing workplace-based services designed to address employer and employee productivity issues;

(ii) Providing assistance to employees and employees' dependents in identifying and finding the means to resolve personal problems that affect the employees or the employees' performance;

(iii) Identifying and resolving productivity problems associated with an employee's concerns about any of the following matters: health, marriage, family, finances, substance abuse or other addiction, workplace, law, and emotional issues;

(iv) Selecting and evaluating available community resources;

(v) Making appropriate referrals;

(vi) Local and national employee assistance agreements;

(vii) Client confidentiality.

(3) Division (L)(1) of this section does not apply to any of the following:

(a) A criminal action or proceeding involving an offense under sections 2903.01 to 2903.06 of the Revised Code if the employee assistance professional's disclosure or testimony relates directly to the facts or immediate circumstances of the offense;

(b) A communication made by a client to an employee assistance professional that reveals the contemplation or commission of a crime or serious, harmful act;

(c) A communication that is made by a client who is an unemancipated minor or an adult adjudicated to be incompetent and indicates that the client was the victim of a crime or abuse;

(d) A civil proceeding to determine an individual's mental competency or a criminal action in which a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity is entered;

(e) A civil or criminal malpractice action brought against the employee assistance professional;

(f) When the employee assistance professional has the express consent of the client or, if the client is deceased or disabled, the client's legal representative;

(g) When the testimonial privilege otherwise provided by division (L)(1) of this section is abrogated under law.

Sec. 2921.22.  (A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, no person, knowing that a felony has been or is being committed, shall knowingly fail to report such information to law enforcement authorities.

(2) No person, knowing that a violation of division (B) of section 2913.04 of the Revised Code has been, or is being committed or that the person has received information derived from such a violation, shall knowingly fail to report the violation to law enforcement authorities.

(B) Except for conditions that are within the scope of division (E) of this section, no physician, limited practitioner, nurse, or other person giving aid to a sick or injured person shall negligently fail to report to law enforcement authorities any gunshot or stab wound treated or observed by the physician, limited practitioner, nurse, or person, or any serious physical harm to persons that the physician, limited practitioner, nurse, or person knows or has reasonable cause to believe resulted from an offense of violence.

(C) No person who discovers the body or acquires the first knowledge of the death of a person shall fail to report the death immediately to a physician whom the person knows to be treating the deceased for a condition from which death at such time would not be unexpected, or to a law enforcement officer, an ambulance service, an emergency squad, or the coroner in a political subdivision in which the body is discovered, the death is believed to have occurred, or knowledge concerning the death is obtained.

(D) No person shall fail to provide upon request of the person to whom a report required by division (C) of this section was made, or to any law enforcement officer who has reasonable cause to assert the authority to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, any facts within the person's knowledge that may have a bearing on the investigation of the death.

(E)(1) As used in this division, "burn injury" means any of the following:

(a) Second or third degree burns;

(b) Any burns to the upper respiratory tract or laryngeal edema due to the inhalation of superheated air;

(c) Any burn injury or wound that may result in death;

(d) Any physical harm to persons caused by or as the result of the use of fireworks, novelties and trick noisemakers, and wire sparklers, as each is defined by section 3743.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) No physician, nurse, or limited practitioner who, outside a hospital, sanitarium, or other medical facility, attends or treats a person who has sustained a burn injury that is inflicted by an explosion or other incendiary device or that shows evidence of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or criminal manner shall fail to report the burn injury immediately to the local arson, or fire and explosion investigation, bureau, if there is a bureau of this type in the jurisdiction in which the person is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law enforcement authorities.

(3) No manager, superintendent, or other person in charge of a hospital, sanitarium, or other medical facility in which a person is attended or treated for any burn injury that is inflicted by an explosion or other incendiary device or that shows evidence of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or criminal manner shall fail to report the burn injury immediately to the local arson, or fire and explosion investigation, bureau, if there is a bureau of this type in the jurisdiction in which the person is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law enforcement authorities.

(4) No person who is required to report any burn injury under division (E)(2) or (3) of this section shall fail to file, within three working days after attending or treating the victim, a written report of the burn injury with the office of the state fire marshal. The report shall comply with the uniform standard developed by the state fire marshal pursuant to division (A)(15) of section 3737.22 of the Revised Code.

(5) Anyone participating in the making of reports under division (E) of this section or anyone participating in a judicial proceeding resulting from the reports is immune from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed as a result of such actions. Notwithstanding section 4731.22 of the Revised Code, the physician-patient relationship is not a ground for excluding evidence regarding a person's burn injury or the cause of the burn injury in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted under division (E) of this section.

(F)(1) Any doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, hospital intern or resident, registered or licensed practical nurse, psychologist, social worker, independent social worker, social work assistant, licensed professional clinical counselor, or licensed professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a patient or client has been the victim of domestic violence, as defined in section 3113.31 of the Revised Code, shall note that knowledge or belief and the basis for it in the patient's or client's records.

(2) Notwithstanding section 4731.22 of the Revised Code, the doctor-patient privilege shall not be a ground for excluding any information regarding the report containing the knowledge or belief noted under division (F)(1) of this section, and the information may be admitted as evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence.

(G) Divisions (A) and (D) of this section do not require disclosure of information, when any of the following applies:

(1) The information is privileged by reason of the relationship between attorney and client; doctor and patient; licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist and client; licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist and client; member of the clergy, rabbi, minister, or priest and any person communicating information confidentially to the member of the clergy, rabbi, minister, or priest for a religious counseling purpose of a professional character; husband and wife; or a communications assistant and those who are a party to a telecommunications relay service call.

(2) The information would tend to incriminate a member of the actor's immediate family.

(3) Disclosure of the information would amount to revealing a news source, privileged under section 2739.04 or 2739.12 of the Revised Code.

(4) Disclosure of the information would amount to disclosure by a member of the ordained clergy of an organized religious body of a confidential communication made to that member of the clergy in that member's capacity as a member of the clergy by a person seeking the aid or counsel of that member of the clergy.

(5) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired by the actor in the course of the actor's duties in connection with a bona fide program of treatment or services for drug dependent persons or persons in danger of drug dependence, which program is maintained or conducted by a hospital, clinic, person, agency, or services provider certified pursuant to section 5119.36 of the Revised Code.

(6) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired by the actor in the course of the actor's duties in connection with a bona fide program for providing counseling services to victims of crimes that are violations of section 2907.02 or 2907.05 of the Revised Code or to victims of felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "counseling services" include services provided in an informal setting by a person who, by education or experience, is competent to provide those services.

(H) No disclosure of information pursuant to this section gives rise to any liability or recrimination for a breach of privilege or confidence.

(I) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of failure to report a crime. Violation of division (A)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Violation of division (A)(2) or (B) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(J) Whoever violates division (C) or (D) of this section is guilty of failure to report knowledge of a death, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(K)(1) Whoever negligently violates division (E) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(2) Whoever knowingly violates division (E) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Sec. 2925.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Administer," "controlled substance," "controlled substance analog," "dispense," "distribute," "hypodermic," "manufacturer," "official written order," "person," "pharmacist," "pharmacy," "sale," "schedule I," "schedule II," "schedule III," "schedule IV," "schedule V," and "wholesaler" have the same meanings as in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Drug dependent person" and "drug of abuse" have the same meanings as in section 3719.011 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Drug," "dangerous drug," "licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs," and "prescription" have the same meanings as in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code.

(D) "Bulk amount" of a controlled substance means any of the following:

(1) For any compound, mixture, preparation, or substance included in schedule I, schedule II, or schedule III, with the exception of controlled substance analogs, marihuana, cocaine, L.S.D., heroin, and hashish and except as provided in division (D)(2) or (5) of this section, whichever of the following is applicable:

(a) An amount equal to or exceeding ten grams or twenty-five unit doses of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a schedule I opiate or opium derivative;

(b) An amount equal to or exceeding ten grams of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of raw or gum opium;

(c) An amount equal to or exceeding thirty grams or ten unit doses of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a schedule I hallucinogen other than tetrahydrocannabinol or lysergic acid amide, or a schedule I stimulant or depressant;

(d) An amount equal to or exceeding twenty grams or five times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range specified in a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a schedule II opiate or opium derivative;

(e) An amount equal to or exceeding five grams or ten unit doses of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of phencyclidine;

(f) An amount equal to or exceeding one hundred twenty grams or thirty times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range specified in a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a schedule II stimulant that is in a final dosage form manufactured by a person authorized by the "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act," 52 Stat. 1040 (1938), 21 U.S.C.A. 301, as amended, and the federal drug abuse control laws, as defined in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code, that is or contains any amount of a schedule II depressant substance or a schedule II hallucinogenic substance;

(g) An amount equal to or exceeding three grams of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a schedule II stimulant, or any of its salts or isomers, that is not in a final dosage form manufactured by a person authorized by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the federal drug abuse control laws.

(2) An amount equal to or exceeding one hundred twenty grams or thirty times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range specified in a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a schedule III or IV substance other than an anabolic steroid or a schedule III opiate or opium derivative;

(3) An amount equal to or exceeding twenty grams or five times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range specified in a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a schedule III opiate or opium derivative;

(4) An amount equal to or exceeding two hundred fifty milliliters or two hundred fifty grams of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a schedule V substance;

(5) An amount equal to or exceeding two hundred solid dosage units, sixteen grams, or sixteen milliliters of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a schedule III anabolic steroid.

(E) "Unit dose" means an amount or unit of a compound, mixture, or preparation containing a controlled substance that is separately identifiable and in a form that indicates that it is the amount or unit by which the controlled substance is separately administered to or taken by an individual.

(F) "Cultivate" includes planting, watering, fertilizing, or tilling.

(G) "Drug abuse offense" means any of the following:

(1) A violation of division (A) of section 2913.02 that constitutes theft of drugs, or a violation of section 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.041, 2925.05, 2925.06, 2925.11, 2925.12, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, 2925.24, 2925.31, 2925.32, 2925.36, or 2925.37 of the Revised Code;

(2) A violation of an existing or former law of this or any other state or of the United States that is substantially equivalent to any section listed in division (G)(1) of this section;

(3) An offense under an existing or former law of this or any other state, or of the United States, of which planting, cultivating, harvesting, processing, making, manufacturing, producing, shipping, transporting, delivering, acquiring, possessing, storing, distributing, dispensing, selling, inducing another to use, administering to another, using, or otherwise dealing with a controlled substance is an element;

(4) A conspiracy to commit, attempt to commit, or complicity in committing or attempting to commit any offense under division (G)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.

(H) "Felony drug abuse offense" means any drug abuse offense that would constitute a felony under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United States.

(I) "Harmful intoxicant" does not include beer or intoxicating liquor but means any of the following:

(1) Any compound, mixture, preparation, or substance the gas, fumes, or vapor of which when inhaled can induce intoxication, excitement, giddiness, irrational behavior, depression, stupefaction, paralysis, unconsciousness, asphyxiation, or other harmful physiological effects, and includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(a) Any volatile organic solvent, plastic cement, model cement, fingernail polish remover, lacquer thinner, cleaning fluid, gasoline, or other preparation containing a volatile organic solvent;

(b) Any aerosol propellant;

(c) Any fluorocarbon refrigerant;

(d) Any anesthetic gas.

(2) Gamma Butyrolactone;

(3) 1,4 Butanediol.

(J) "Manufacture" means to plant, cultivate, harvest, process, make, prepare, or otherwise engage in any part of the production of a drug, by propagation, extraction, chemical synthesis, or compounding, or any combination of the same, and includes packaging, repackaging, labeling, and other activities incident to production.

(K) "Possess" or "possession" means having control over a thing or substance, but may not be inferred solely from mere access to the thing or substance through ownership or occupation of the premises upon which the thing or substance is found.

(L) "Sample drug" means a drug or pharmaceutical preparation that would be hazardous to health or safety if used without the supervision of a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs, or a drug of abuse, and that, at one time, had been placed in a container plainly marked as a sample by a manufacturer.

(M) "Standard pharmaceutical reference manual" means the current edition, with cumulative changes if any, of references that are approved by the state board of pharmacy.

(N) "Juvenile" means a person under eighteen years of age.

(O) "Counterfeit controlled substance" means any of the following:

(1) Any drug that bears, or whose container or label bears, a trademark, trade name, or other identifying mark used without authorization of the owner of rights to that trademark, trade name, or identifying mark;

(2) Any unmarked or unlabeled substance that is represented to be a controlled substance manufactured, processed, packed, or distributed by a person other than the person that manufactured, processed, packed, or distributed it;

(3) Any substance that is represented to be a controlled substance but is not a controlled substance or is a different controlled substance;

(4) Any substance other than a controlled substance that a reasonable person would believe to be a controlled substance because of its similarity in shape, size, and color, or its markings, labeling, packaging, distribution, or the price for which it is sold or offered for sale.

(P) An offense is "committed in the vicinity of a school" if the offender commits the offense on school premises, in a school building, or within one thousand feet of the boundaries of any school premises, regardless of whether the offender knows the offense is being committed on school premises, in a school building, or within one thousand feet of the boundaries of any school premises.

(Q) "School" means any school operated by a board of education, any community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, or any nonpublic school for which the state board of education prescribes minimum standards under section 3301.07 of the Revised Code, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities, or training provided by the school is being conducted at the time a criminal offense is committed.

(R) "School premises" means either of the following:

(1) The parcel of real property on which any school is situated, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities, or training provided by the school is being conducted on the premises at the time a criminal offense is committed;

(2) Any other parcel of real property that is owned or leased by a board of education of a school, the governing authority of a community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, or the governing body of a nonpublic school for which the state board of education prescribes minimum standards under section 3301.07 of the Revised Code and on which some of the instruction, extracurricular activities, or training of the school is conducted, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities, or training provided by the school is being conducted on the parcel of real property at the time a criminal offense is committed.

(S) "School building" means any building in which any of the instruction, extracurricular activities, or training provided by a school is conducted, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities, or training provided by the school is being conducted in the school building at the time a criminal offense is committed.

(T) "Disciplinary counsel" means the disciplinary counsel appointed by the board of commissioners on grievances and discipline of the supreme court under the Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio.

(U) "Certified grievance committee" means a duly constituted and organized committee of the Ohio state bar association or of one or more local bar associations of the state of Ohio that complies with the criteria set forth in Rule V, section 6 of the Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio.

(V) "Professional license" means any license, permit, certificate, registration, qualification, admission, temporary license, temporary permit, temporary certificate, or temporary registration that is described in divisions (W)(1) to (36) of this section and that qualifies a person as a professionally licensed person.

(W) "Professionally licensed person" means any of the following:

(1) A person who has obtained a license as a manufacturer of controlled substances or a wholesaler of controlled substances under Chapter 3719. of the Revised Code;

(2) A person who has received a certificate or temporary certificate as a certified public accountant or who has registered as a public accountant under Chapter 4701. of the Revised Code and who holds an Ohio permit issued under that chapter;

(3) A person who holds a certificate of qualification to practice architecture issued or renewed and registered under Chapter 4703. of the Revised Code;

(4) A person who is registered as a landscape architect under Chapter 4703. of the Revised Code or who holds a permit as a landscape architect issued under that chapter;

(5) A person licensed under Chapter 4707. of the Revised Code;

(6) A person who has been issued a certificate of registration as a registered barber under Chapter 4709. of the Revised Code;

(7) A person licensed and regulated to engage in the business of a debt pooling company by a legislative authority, under authority of Chapter 4710. of the Revised Code;

(8) A person who has been issued a cosmetologist's license, hair designer's license, manicurist's license, esthetician's license, natural hair stylist's license, managing cosmetologist's license, managing hair designer's license, managing manicurist's license, managing esthetician's license, managing natural hair stylist's license, cosmetology instructor's license, hair design instructor's license, manicurist instructor's license, esthetics instructor's license, natural hair style instructor's license, independent contractor's license, or tanning facility permit under Chapter 4713. of the Revised Code;

(9) A person who has been issued a license to practice dentistry, a general anesthesia permit, a conscious intravenous sedation permit, a limited resident's license, a limited teaching license, a dental hygienist's license, or a dental hygienist's teacher's certificate under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code;

(10) A person who has been issued an embalmer's license, a funeral director's license, a funeral home license, or a crematory license, or who has been registered for an embalmer's or funeral director's apprenticeship under Chapter 4717. of the Revised Code;

(11) A person who has been licensed as a registered nurse or practical nurse, or who has been issued a certificate for the practice of nurse-midwifery under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(12) A person who has been licensed to practice optometry or to engage in optical dispensing under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(13) A person licensed to act as a pawnbroker under Chapter 4727. of the Revised Code;

(14) A person licensed to act as a precious metals dealer under Chapter 4728. of the Revised Code;

(15) A person licensed as a pharmacist, a pharmacy intern, a wholesale distributor of dangerous drugs, or a terminal distributor of dangerous drugs under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(16) A person who is authorized to practice as a physician assistant under Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code;

(17) A person who has been issued a certificate to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, a limited branch of medicine, or podiatry under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;

(18) A person licensed as a psychologist or school psychologist under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(19) A person registered to practice the profession of engineering or surveying under Chapter 4733. of the Revised Code;

(20) A person who has been issued a license to practice chiropractic under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(21) A person licensed to act as a real estate broker or real estate salesperson under Chapter 4735. of the Revised Code;

(22) A person registered as a registered sanitarian under Chapter 4736. of the Revised Code;

(23) A person licensed to operate or maintain a junkyard under Chapter 4737. of the Revised Code;

(24) A person who has been issued a motor vehicle salvage dealer's license under Chapter 4738. of the Revised Code;

(25) A person who has been licensed to act as a steam engineer under Chapter 4739. of the Revised Code;

(26) A person who has been issued a license or temporary permit to practice veterinary medicine or any of its branches, or who is registered as a graduate animal technician under Chapter 4741. of the Revised Code;

(27) A person who has been issued a hearing aid dealer's or fitter's license or trainee permit under Chapter 4747. of the Revised Code;

(28) A person who has been issued a class A, class B, or class C license or who has been registered as an investigator or security guard employee under Chapter 4749. of the Revised Code;

(29) A person licensed and registered to practice as a nursing home administrator under Chapter 4751. of the Revised Code;

(30) A person licensed to practice as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;

(31) A person issued a license as an occupational therapist or physical therapist under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(32) A person who is licensed as a licensed professional clinical counselor or, licensed professional counselor, licensed as a social worker or, independent social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist, or registered as a social work assistant under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;

(33) A person issued a license to practice dietetics under Chapter 4759. of the Revised Code;

(34) A person who has been issued a license or limited permit to practice respiratory therapy under Chapter 4761. of the Revised Code;

(35) A person who has been issued a real estate appraiser certificate under Chapter 4763. of the Revised Code;

(36) A person who has been admitted to the bar by order of the supreme court in compliance with its prescribed and published rules.

(X) "Cocaine" means any of the following:

(1) A cocaine salt, isomer, or derivative, a salt of a cocaine isomer or derivative, or the base form of cocaine;

(2) Coca leaves or a salt, compound, derivative, or preparation of coca leaves, including ecgonine, a salt, isomer, or derivative of ecgonine, or a salt of an isomer or derivative of ecgonine;

(3) A salt, compound, derivative, or preparation of a substance identified in division (X)(1) or (2) of this section that is chemically equivalent to or identical with any of those substances, except that the substances shall not include decocainized coca leaves or extraction of coca leaves if the extractions do not contain cocaine or ecgonine.

(Y) "L.S.D." means lysergic acid diethylamide.

(Z) "Hashish" means the resin or a preparation of the resin contained in marihuana, whether in solid form or in a liquid concentrate, liquid extract, or liquid distillate form.

(AA) "Marihuana" has the same meaning as in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code, except that it does not include hashish.

(BB) An offense is "committed in the vicinity of a juvenile" if the offender commits the offense within one hundred feet of a juvenile or within the view of a juvenile, regardless of whether the offender knows the age of the juvenile, whether the offender knows the offense is being committed within one hundred feet of or within view of the juvenile, or whether the juvenile actually views the commission of the offense.

(CC) "Presumption for a prison term" or "presumption that a prison term shall be imposed" means a presumption, as described in division (D) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code, that a prison term is a necessary sanction for a felony in order to comply with the purposes and principles of sentencing under section 2929.11 of the Revised Code.

(DD) "Major drug offender" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(EE) "Minor drug possession offense" means either of the following:

(1) A violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996;

(2) A violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code as it exists on and after July 1, 1996, that is a misdemeanor or a felony of the fifth degree.

(FF) "Mandatory prison term" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(GG) "Adulterate" means to cause a drug to be adulterated as described in section 3715.63 of the Revised Code.

(HH) "Public premises" means any hotel, restaurant, tavern, store, arena, hall, or other place of public accommodation, business, amusement, or resort.

(II) "Methamphetamine" means methamphetamine, any salt, isomer, or salt of an isomer of methamphetamine, or any compound, mixture, preparation, or substance containing methamphetamine or any salt, isomer, or salt of an isomer of methamphetamine.

(JJ) "Lawful prescription" means a prescription that is issued for a legitimate medical purpose by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs, that is not altered or forged, and that was not obtained by means of deception or by the commission of any theft offense.

(KK) "Deception" and "theft offense" have the same meanings as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2951.041.  (A)(1) If an offender is charged with a criminal offense, including but not limited to a violation of section 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, or 2919.21 of the Revised Code, and the court has reason to believe that drug or alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged or that, at the time of committing that offense, the offender had a mental illness or was a person with intellectual disability and that the mental illness or status as a person with intellectual disability was a factor leading to the offender's criminal behavior, the court may accept, prior to the entry of a guilty plea, the offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction. The request shall include a statement from the offender as to whether the offender is alleging that drug or alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged or is alleging that, at the time of committing that offense, the offender had a mental illness or was a person with intellectual disability and that the mental illness or status as a person with intellectual disability was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged. The request also shall include a waiver of the defendant's right to a speedy trial, the preliminary hearing, the time period within which the grand jury may consider an indictment against the offender, and arraignment, unless the hearing, indictment, or arraignment has already occurred. The court may reject an offender's request without a hearing. If the court elects to consider an offender's request, the court shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the offender is eligible under this section for intervention in lieu of conviction and shall stay all criminal proceedings pending the outcome of the hearing. If the court schedules a hearing, the court shall order an assessment of the offender for the purpose of determining the offender's eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction and recommending an appropriate intervention plan.

If the offender alleges that drug or alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged, the court may order that the offender be assessed by an addiction services provider certified pursuant to section 5119.36 of the Revised Code or a properly credentialed professional for the purpose of determining the offender's eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction and recommending an appropriate intervention plan. The addiction services provider or the properly credentialed professional shall provide a written assessment of the offender to the court.

(2) The victim notification provisions of division (C) of section 2930.08 of the Revised Code apply in relation to any hearing held under division (A)(1) of this section.

(B) An offender is eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction if the court finds all of the following:

(1) The offender previously has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony offense of violence or previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any felony that is not an offense of violence and the prosecuting attorney recommends that the offender be found eligible for participation in intervention in lieu of treatment under this section, previously has not been through intervention in lieu of conviction under this section or any similar regimen, and is charged with a felony for which the court, upon conviction, would impose a community control sanction on the offender under division (B)(2) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code or with a misdemeanor.

(2) The offense is not a felony of the first, second, or third degree, is not an offense of violence, is not a violation of division (A)(1) or (2) of section 2903.06 of the Revised Code, is not a violation of division (A)(1) of section 2903.08 of the Revised Code, is not a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to that division, and is not an offense for which a sentencing court is required to impose a mandatory prison term, a mandatory term of local incarceration, or a mandatory term of imprisonment in a jail.

(3) The offender is not charged with a violation of section 2925.02, 2925.04, or 2925.06 of the Revised Code, is not charged with a violation of section 2925.03 of the Revised Code that is a felony of the first, second, third, or fourth degree, and is not charged with a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is a felony of the first, second, or third degree.

(4) If an offender alleges that drug or alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged, the court has ordered that the offender be assessed by an addiction services provider certified pursuant to section 5119.36 of the Revised Code or a properly credentialed professional for the purpose of determining the offender's eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction and recommending an appropriate intervention plan, the offender has been assessed by an addiction services provider of that nature or a properly credentialed professional in accordance with the court's order, and the addiction services provider or properly credentialed professional has filed the written assessment of the offender with the court.

(5) If an offender alleges that, at the time of committing the criminal offense with which the offender is charged, the offender had a mental illness or was a person with intellectual disability and that the mental illness or status as a person with intellectual disability was a factor leading to that offense, the offender has been assessed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, independent social worker, or licensed professional clinical counselor, or independent marriage and family therapist for the purpose of determining the offender's eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction and recommending an appropriate intervention plan.

(6) The offender's drug usage, alcohol usage, mental illness, or intellectual disability, whichever is applicable, was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged, intervention in lieu of conviction would not demean the seriousness of the offense, and intervention would substantially reduce the likelihood of any future criminal activity.

(7) The alleged victim of the offense was not sixty-five years of age or older, permanently and totally disabled, under thirteen years of age, or a peace officer engaged in the officer's official duties at the time of the alleged offense.

(8) If the offender is charged with a violation of section 2925.24 of the Revised Code, the alleged violation did not result in physical harm to any person, and the offender previously has not been treated for drug abuse.

(9) The offender is willing to comply with all terms and conditions imposed by the court pursuant to division (D) of this section.

(10) The offender is not charged with an offense that would result in the offender being disqualified under Chapter 4506. of the Revised Code from operating a commercial motor vehicle or would subject the offender to any other sanction under that chapter.

(C) At the conclusion of a hearing held pursuant to division (A) of this section, the court shall enter its determination as to whether the offender is eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction and as to whether to grant the offender's request. If the court finds under division (B) of this section that the offender is eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction and grants the offender's request, the court shall accept the offender's plea of guilty and waiver of the defendant's right to a speedy trial, the preliminary hearing, the time period within which the grand jury may consider an indictment against the offender, and arraignment, unless the hearing, indictment, or arraignment has already occurred. In addition, the court then may stay all criminal proceedings and order the offender to comply with all terms and conditions imposed by the court pursuant to division (D) of this section. If the court finds that the offender is not eligible or does not grant the offender's request, the criminal proceedings against the offender shall proceed as if the offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction had not been made.

(D) If the court grants an offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction, the court shall place the offender under the general control and supervision of the county probation department, the adult parole authority, or another appropriate local probation or court services agency, if one exists, as if the offender was subject to a community control sanction imposed under section 2929.15, 2929.18, or 2929.25 of the Revised Code. The court shall establish an intervention plan for the offender. The terms and conditions of the intervention plan shall require the offender, for at least one year from the date on which the court grants the order of intervention in lieu of conviction, to abstain from the use of illegal drugs and alcohol, to participate in treatment and recovery support services, and to submit to regular random testing for drug and alcohol use and may include any other treatment terms and conditions, or terms and conditions similar to community control sanctions, which may include community service or restitution, that are ordered by the court.

(E) If the court grants an offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction and the court finds that the offender has successfully completed the intervention plan for the offender, including the requirement that the offender abstain from using illegal drugs and alcohol for a period of at least one year from the date on which the court granted the order of intervention in lieu of conviction, the requirement that the offender participate in treatment and recovery support services, and all other terms and conditions ordered by the court, the court shall dismiss the proceedings against the offender. Successful completion of the intervention plan and period of abstinence under this section shall be without adjudication of guilt and is not a criminal conviction for purposes of any disqualification or disability imposed by law and upon conviction of a crime, and the court may order the sealing of records related to the offense in question in the manner provided in sections 2953.31 to 2953.36 of the Revised Code.

(F) If the court grants an offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction and the offender fails to comply with any term or condition imposed as part of the intervention plan for the offender, the supervising authority for the offender promptly shall advise the court of this failure, and the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the offender failed to comply with any term or condition imposed as part of the plan. If the court determines that the offender has failed to comply with any of those terms and conditions, it shall enter a finding of guilty and shall impose an appropriate sanction under Chapter 2929. of the Revised Code. If the court sentences the offender to a prison term, the court, after consulting with the department of rehabilitation and correction regarding the availability of services, may order continued court-supervised activity and treatment of the offender during the prison term and, upon consideration of reports received from the department concerning the offender's progress in the program of activity and treatment, may consider judicial release under section 2929.20 of the Revised Code.

(G) As used in this section:

(1) "Community control sanction" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Intervention in lieu of conviction" means any court-supervised activity that complies with this section.

(3) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Mental illness" and "psychiatrist" have the same meanings as in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Person with intellectual disability" means a person having significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficiencies in adaptive behavior, manifested during the developmental period.

(6) "Psychologist" has the same meaning as in section 4732.01 of the Revised Code.

(H) Whenever the term "mentally retarded person" is used in any statute, rule, contract, grant, or other document, the reference shall be deemed to include a "person with intellectual disability," as defined in this section.

Sec. 3107.014.  (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, only an individual who meets all of the following requirements may perform the duties of an assessor under sections 3107.031, 3107.032, 3107.082, 3107.09, 3107.101, 3107.12, 5103.0324, and 5103.152 of the Revised Code:

(1) The individual must be in the employ of, appointed by, or under contract with a court, public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency;

(2) The individual must be one of the following:

(a) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;

(b) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(c) A student working to earn a four-year, post-secondary degree, or higher, in a social or behavior science, or both, who conducts assessor's duties under the supervision of a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code or a psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code. Beginning July 1, 2009, a student is eligible under this division only if the supervising licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, or psychologist has completed training in accordance with rules adopted under section 3107.015 of the Revised Code.

(d) A civil service employee engaging in social work without a license under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code, as permitted by division (A)(5) of section 4757.41 of the Revised Code;

(e) A former employee of a public children services agency who, while so employed, conducted the duties of an assessor;

(f) An employee of a court or public children services agency who is employed to conduct the duties of an assessor.

(3) The individual must complete training in accordance with rules adopted under section 3107.015 of the Revised Code.

(B) An individual in the employ of, appointed by, or under contract with a court prior to September 18, 1996, to conduct adoption investigations of prospective adoptive parents may perform the duties of an assessor under sections 3107.031, 3107.032, 3107.082, 3107.09, 3107.101, 3107.12, 5103.0324, and 5103.152 of the Revised Code if the individual complies with division (A)(3) of this section regardless of whether the individual meets the requirement of division (A)(2) of this section.

(C) A court, public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency may employ, appoint, or contract with an assessor in the county in which a petition for adoption is filed and in any other county or location outside this state where information needed to complete or supplement the assessor's duties may be obtained. More than one assessor may be utilized for an adoption.

(D) Not later than January 1, 2008, the department of job and family services shall develop and maintain an assessor registry. The registry shall list all individuals who are employed, appointed by, or under contract with a court, public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency and meet the requirements of an assessor as described in this section. A public children services agency, private child placing agency, private noncustodial agency, court, or any other person may contact the department to determine if an individual is listed in the assessor registry. An individual listed in the assessor registry shall immediately inform the department when that individual is no longer employed, appointed by, or under contract with a court, public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency to perform the duties of an assessor as described in this section. The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code necessary for the implementation, contents, and maintenance of the registry, and any sanctions related to the provision of information, or the failure to provide information, that is needed for the proper operation of the assessor registry.

Sec. 3701.046. The director of health is authorized to make grants for women's health services from funds appropriated for that purpose by the general assembly.

None of the funds received through grants for women's health services shall be used to provide abortion services. None of the funds received through these grants shall be used for counseling for or referrals for abortion, except in the case of a medical emergency. These funds shall be distributed by the director to programs that the department of health determines will provide services that are physically and financially separate from abortion-providing and abortion-promoting activities, and that do not include counseling for or referrals for abortion, other than in the case of medical emergency.

These women's health services include and are limited to the following: pelvic examinations and laboratory testing; breast examinations and patient education on breast cancer; screening for cervical cancer; screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV screening; voluntary choice of contraception, including abstinence and natural family planning; patient education and pre-pregnancy counseling on the dangers of smoking, alcohol, and drug use during pregnancy; education on sexual coercion and violence in relationships; and prenatal care or referral for prenatal care. These health care services shall be provided in a medical clinic setting by persons authorized under Chapter. 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery; authorized under Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code to practice as a physician assistant; licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse; or licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code as a social worker, independent social worker, licensed professional clinical counselor, or licensed professional counselor.

The director shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code specifying reasonable eligibility standards that must be met to receive the state funding and provide reasonable methods by which a grantee wishing to be eligible for federal funding may comply with these requirements for state funding without losing its eligibility for federal funding.

Each applicant for these funds shall provide sufficient assurance to the director of all of the following:

(A) The program shall not discriminate in the provision of services based on an individual's religion, race, national origin, handicapping condition, age, sex, number of pregnancies, or marital status;

(B) The program shall provide services without subjecting individuals to any coercion to accept services or to employ any particular methods of family planning;

(C) Acceptance of services shall be solely on a voluntary basis and may not be made a prerequisite to eligibility for, or receipt of, any other service, assistance from, or participation in, any other program of the service provider;

(D) Any charges for services provided by the program shall be based on the patient's ability to pay and priority in the provision of services shall be given to persons from low-income families.

In distributing these grant funds, the director shall give priority to grant requests from local departments of health for women's health services to be provided directly by personnel of the local department of health. The director shall issue a single request for proposals for all grants for women's health services. The director shall send a notification of this request for proposals to every local department of health in this state and shall place a notification on the department's web site. The director shall allow at least thirty days after issuing this notification before closing the period to receive applications.

After the closing date for receiving grant applications, the director shall first consider grant applications from local departments of health that apply for grants for women's health services to be provided directly by personnel of the local department of health. Local departments of health that apply for grants for women's health services to be provided directly by personnel of the local department of health need not provide all the listed women's health services in order to qualify for a grant. However, in prioritizing awards among local departments of health that qualify for funding under this paragraph, the director may consider, among other reasonable factors, the comprehensiveness of the women's health services to be offered, provided that no local department of health shall be discriminated against in the process of awarding these grant funds because the applicant does not provide contraception.

If funds remain after awarding grants to all local departments of health that qualify for the priority, the director may make grants to other applicants. Awards to other applicants may be made to those applicants that will offer all eight of the listed women's health services or that will offer all of the services except contraception. No applicant shall be discriminated against in the process of awarding these grant funds because the applicant does not provide contraception.

Sec. 3701.74.  (A) As used in this section and section 3701.741 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Ambulatory care facility" means a facility that provides medical, diagnostic, or surgical treatment to patients who do not require hospitalization, including a dialysis center, ambulatory surgical facility, cardiac catheterization facility, diagnostic imaging center, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy center, home health agency, inpatient hospice, birthing center, radiation therapy center, emergency facility, and an urgent care center. "Ambulatory care facility" does not include the private office of a physician or dentist, whether the office is for an individual or group practice.

(2) "Chiropractor" means an individual licensed under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic.

(3) "Emergency facility" means a hospital emergency department or any other facility that provides emergency medical services.

(4) "Health care practitioner" means all of the following:

(a) A dentist or dental hygienist licensed under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code;

(b) A registered or licensed practical nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(c) An optometrist licensed under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(d) A dispensing optician, spectacle dispensing optician, contact lens dispensing optician, or spectacle-contact lens dispensing optician licensed under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(e) A pharmacist licensed under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(f) A physician;

(g) A physician assistant authorized under Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code to practice as a physician assistant;

(h) A practitioner of a limited branch of medicine issued a certificate under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;

(i) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(j) A chiropractor;

(k) A hearing aid dealer or fitter licensed under Chapter 4747. of the Revised Code;

(l) A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;

(m) An occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(n) A physical therapist or physical therapy assistant licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(o) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, social worker, or independent social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist licensed, or a social work assistant registered, under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;

(p) A dietitian licensed under Chapter 4759. of the Revised Code;

(q) A respiratory care professional licensed under Chapter 4761. of the Revised Code;

(r) An emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical technician-intermediate, or emergency medical technician-paramedic certified under Chapter 4765. of the Revised Code.

(5) "Health care provider" means a hospital, ambulatory care facility, long-term care facility, pharmacy, emergency facility, or health care practitioner.

(6) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.

(7) "Long-term care facility" means a nursing home, residential care facility, or home for the aging, as those terms are defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code; a residential facility licensed under section 5119.34 of the Revised Code that provides accommodations, supervision, and personal care services for three to sixteen unrelated adults; a nursing facility, as defined in section 5165.01 of the Revised Code; a skilled nursing facility, as defined in section 5165.01 of the Revised Code; and an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities, as defined in section 5124.01 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Medical record" means data in any form that pertains to a patient's medical history, diagnosis, prognosis, or medical condition and that is generated and maintained by a health care provider in the process of the patient's health care treatment.

(9) "Medical records company" means a person who stores, locates, or copies medical records for a health care provider, or is compensated for doing so by a health care provider, and charges a fee for providing medical records to a patient or patient's representative.

(10) "Patient" means either of the following:

(a) An individual who received health care treatment from a health care provider;

(b) A guardian, as defined in section 1337.11 of the Revised Code, of an individual described in division (A)(10)(a) of this section.

(11) "Patient's personal representative" means a minor patient's parent or other person acting in loco parentis, a court-appointed guardian, or a person with durable power of attorney for health care for a patient, the executor or administrator of the patient's estate, or the person responsible for the patient's estate if it is not to be probated. "Patient's personal representative" does not include an insurer authorized under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code to do the business of sickness and accident insurance in this state, a health insuring corporation holding a certificate of authority under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code, or any other person not named in this division.

(12) "Pharmacy" has the same meaning as in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code.

(13) "Physician" means a person authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery.

(14) "Authorized person" means a person to whom a patient has given written authorization to act on the patient's behalf regarding the patient's medical record.

(B) A patient, a patient's personal representative, or an authorized person who wishes to examine or obtain a copy of part or all of a medical record shall submit to the health care provider a written request signed by the patient, personal representative, or authorized person dated not more than one year before the date on which it is submitted. The request shall indicate whether the copy is to be sent to the requestor, physician or chiropractor, or held for the requestor at the office of the health care provider. Within a reasonable time after receiving a request that meets the requirements of this division and includes sufficient information to identify the record requested, a health care provider that has the patient's medical records shall permit the patient to examine the record during regular business hours without charge or, on request, shall provide a copy of the record in accordance with section 3701.741 of the Revised Code, except that if a physician, psychologist, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, or chiropractor who has treated the patient determines for clearly stated treatment reasons that disclosure of the requested record is likely to have an adverse effect on the patient, the health care provider shall provide the record to a physician, psychologist, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, or chiropractor designated by the patient. The health care provider shall take reasonable steps to establish the identity of the person making the request to examine or obtain a copy of the patient's record.

(C) If a health care provider fails to furnish a medical record as required by division (B) of this section, the patient, personal representative, or authorized person who requested the record may bring a civil action to enforce the patient's right of access to the record.

(D)(1) This section does not apply to medical records whose release is covered by section 173.20 or 3721.13 of the Revised Code, by Chapter 1347. or 5122. of the Revised Code, by 42 C.F.R. part 2, "Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records," or by 42 C.F.R. 483.10.

(2) Nothing in this section is intended to supersede the confidentiality provisions of sections 2305.24, 2305.25, 2305.251, and 2305.252 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3709.161.  (A) The board of health of a city or general health district may procure a policy or policies of insurance insuring the members of the board, the health commissioner, and the employees of the board against liability on account of damage or injury to persons and property resulting from any act or omission that occurs in the individual's official capacity as a member or employee of the board or resulting solely out of such membership or employment.

(B)(1) As used in this division, "health care professional" means all of the following:

(a) A dentist or dental hygienist licensed under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code;

(b) A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(c) A person licensed under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code to practice as a pharmacist;

(d) A person authorized under Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code to practice as a physician assistant;

(e) A person authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatry;

(f) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(g) A veterinarian licensed under Chapter 4741. of the Revised Code;

(h) A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;

(i) An occupational therapist, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, or athletic trainer licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(j) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, or social worker licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;

(k) A dietician dietitian licensed under Chapter 4759. of the Revised Code.

(2) The board of health of a city or general health district may purchase liability insurance for a health care professional with whom the board contracts for the provision of health care services against liability on account of damage or injury to persons and property arising from the health care professional's performance of services under the contract. The policy shall be purchased from an insurance company licensed to do business in this state, if such a policy is available from such a company. The board of health of a city or general health district shall report the cost of the liability insurance policy and subsequent increases in the cost to the director of health on a form prescribed by the director.

Sec. 3721.21.  As used in sections 3721.21 to 3721.34 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Long-term care facility" means either of the following:

(1) A nursing home as defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code;

(2) A facility or part of a facility that is certified as a skilled nursing facility or a nursing facility under Title XVIII or XIX of the "Social Security Act."

(B) "Residential care facility" has the same meaning as in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Abuse" means knowingly causing physical harm or recklessly causing serious physical harm to a resident by physical contact with the resident or by use of physical or chemical restraint, medication, or isolation as punishment, for staff convenience, excessively, as a substitute for treatment, or in amounts that preclude habilitation and treatment.

(D) "Neglect" means recklessly failing to provide a resident with any treatment, care, goods, or service necessary to maintain the health or safety of the resident when the failure results in serious physical harm to the resident. "Neglect" does not include allowing a resident, at the resident's option, to receive only treatment by spiritual means through prayer in accordance with the tenets of a recognized religious denomination.

(E) "Misappropriation" means depriving, defrauding, or otherwise obtaining the real or personal property of a resident by any means prohibited by the Revised Code, including violations of Chapter 2911. or 2913. of the Revised Code.

(F) "Resident" includes a resident, patient, former resident or patient, or deceased resident or patient of a long-term care facility or a residential care facility.

(G) "Physical restraint" has the same meaning as in section 3721.10 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Chemical restraint" has the same meaning as in section 3721.10 of the Revised Code.

(I) "Nursing and nursing-related services" means the personal care services and other services not constituting skilled nursing care that are specified in rules the director of health shall adopt in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(J) "Personal care services" has the same meaning as in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code.

(K)(1) Except as provided in division (K)(2) of this section, "nurse aide" means an individual who provides nursing and nursing-related services to residents in a long-term care facility, either as a member of the staff of the facility for monetary compensation or as a volunteer without monetary compensation.

(2) "Nurse aide" does not include either of the following:

(a) A licensed health professional practicing within the scope of the professional's license;

(b) An individual providing nursing and nursing-related services in a religious nonmedical health care institution, if the individual has been trained in the principles of nonmedical care and is recognized by the institution as being competent in the administration of care within the religious tenets practiced by the residents of the institution.

(L) "Licensed health professional" means all of the following:

(1) An occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(2) A physical therapist or physical therapy assistant licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(3) A physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatry;

(4) A physician assistant authorized under Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code to practice as a physician assistant;

(5) A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(6) A social worker or independent social worker licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code or a social work assistant registered under that chapter;

(7) A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;

(8) A dentist or dental hygienist licensed under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code;

(9) An optometrist licensed under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(10) A pharmacist licensed under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(11) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(12) A chiropractor licensed under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(13) A nursing home administrator licensed or temporarily licensed under Chapter 4751. of the Revised Code;

(14) A licensed professional counselor or licensed professional clinical counselor licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;

(15) A marriage and family therapist or independent marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

(M) "Religious nonmedical health care institution" means an institution that meets or exceeds the conditions to receive payment under the medicare program established under Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act" for inpatient hospital services or post-hospital extended care services furnished to an individual in a religious nonmedical health care institution, as defined in section 1861(ss)(1) of the "Social Security Act," 79 Stat. 286 (1965), 42 U.S.C. 1395x(ss)(1), as amended.

(N) "Competency evaluation program" means a program through which the competency of a nurse aide to provide nursing and nursing-related services is evaluated.

(O) "Training and competency evaluation program" means a program of nurse aide training and evaluation of competency to provide nursing and nursing-related services.

Sec. 3923.28.  (A) Every policy of group sickness and accident insurance providing hospital, surgical, or medical expense coverage for other than specific diseases or accidents only, and delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1979, and that provides coverage for mental or emotional disorders, shall provide benefits for services on an outpatient basis for each eligible person under the policy who resides in this state for mental or emotional disorders, or for evaluations, that are at least equal to five hundred fifty dollars in any calendar year or twelve-month period. The

(1) The services shall be legally performed by or under the clinical supervision of a any of the following:

(a) A physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery; a

(b) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code; a

(c) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, or independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code; or a

(d) A clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse practitioner licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code whose nursing specialty is mental health, whether.

(2) The services may be performed in an office, in a hospital, or in a community mental health facility so long as the hospital or community mental health facility is approved by the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations, the council on accreditation for children and family services, or the commission on accreditation of rehabilitation accreditation commission facilities.

(B) Outpatient benefits offered under division (A) of this section shall be subject to reasonable contract limitations and may be subject to reasonable deductibles and co-insurance costs. Persons entitled to such benefit under more than one service or insurance contract may be limited to a single five-hundred-fifty-dollar outpatient benefit for services under all contracts.

(C) In order to qualify for participation under division (A) of this section, every facility specified in such division shall have in effect a plan for utilization review and a plan for peer review and every person specified in such division shall have in effect a plan for peer review. Such plans shall have the purpose of ensuring high quality patient care and effective and efficient utilization of available health facilities and services.

(D) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an insurer to pay benefits which are greater than usual, customary, and reasonable.

(E)(1) Services performed under the clinical supervision of a health care professional identified in division (A)(1) of this section, in order to be reimbursable under the coverage required in division (A) of this section, shall meet both of the following requirements:

(a) The services shall be performed in accordance with a treatment plan that describes the expected duration, frequency, and type of services to be performed;

(b) The plan shall be reviewed and approved by the health care professional every three months.

(2) Payment of benefits for services reimbursable under division (E)(1) of this section shall not be restricted to services described in the treatment plan or conditioned upon standards of clinical supervision that are more restrictive than standards of a health care professional described in division (A)(1) of this section, which at least equal the requirements of division (E)(1) of this section.

(F) The benefits provided by this section for mental and emotional disorders shall not be reduced by the cost of benefits provided pursuant to section 3923.281 of the Revised Code for diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental illnesses. This section does not apply to benefits for diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental illnesses.

Sec. 3923.281.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Biologically based mental illness" means schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoia and other psychotic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder, as these terms are defined in the most recent edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders published by the American psychiatric association.

(2) "Policy of sickness and accident insurance" has the same meaning as in section 3923.01 of the Revised Code, but excludes any hospital indemnity, medicare supplement, long-term care, disability income, one-time-limited-duration policy of not longer than six months, supplemental benefit, or other policy that provides coverage for specific diseases or accidents only; any policy that provides coverage for workers' compensation claims compensable pursuant to Chapters 4121. and 4123. of the Revised Code; and any policy that provides coverage to medicaid recipients.

(B) Notwithstanding section 3901.71 of the Revised Code, and subject to division (E) of this section, every policy of sickness and accident insurance shall provide benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of biologically based mental illnesses on the same terms and conditions as, and shall provide benefits no less extensive than, those provided under the policy of sickness and accident insurance for the treatment and diagnosis of all other physical diseases and disorders, if both of the following apply:

(1) The biologically based mental illness is clinically diagnosed by a physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery; a psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code; a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, or independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code; or a clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse practitioner licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code whose nursing specialty is mental health.

(2) The prescribed treatment is not experimental or investigational, having proven its clinical effectiveness in accordance with generally accepted medical standards.

(C) Division (B) of this section applies to all coverages and terms and conditions of the policy of sickness and accident insurance, including, but not limited to, coverage of inpatient hospital services, outpatient services, and medication; maximum lifetime benefits; copayments; and individual and family deductibles.

(D) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting a sickness and accident insurance company from taking any of the following actions:

(1) Negotiating separately with mental health care providers with regard to reimbursement rates and the delivery of health care services;

(2) Offering policies that provide benefits solely for the diagnosis and treatment of biologically based mental illnesses;

(3) Managing the provision of benefits for the diagnosis or treatment of biologically based mental illnesses through the use of pre-admission screening, by requiring beneficiaries to obtain authorization prior to treatment, or through the use of any other mechanism designed to limit coverage to that treatment determined to be necessary;

(4) Enforcing the terms and conditions of a policy of sickness and accident insurance.

(E) An insurer that offers any policy of sickness and accident insurance is not required to provide benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of biologically based mental illnesses pursuant to division (B) of this section if all of the following apply:

(1) The insurer submits documentation certified by an independent member of the American academy of actuaries to the superintendent of insurance showing that incurred claims for diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental illnesses for a period of at least six months independently caused the insurer's costs for claims and administrative expenses for the coverage of all other physical diseases and disorders to increase by more than one per cent per year.

(2) The insurer submits a signed letter from an independent member of the American academy of actuaries to the superintendent of insurance opining that the increase described in division (E)(1) of this section could reasonably justify an increase of more than one per cent in the annual premiums or rates charged by the insurer for the coverage of all other physical diseases and disorders.

(3) The superintendent of insurance makes the following determinations from the documentation and opinion submitted pursuant to divisions (E)(1) and (2) of this section:

(a) Incurred claims for diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental illnesses for a period of at least six months independently caused the insurer's costs for claims and administrative expenses for the coverage of all other physical diseases and disorders to increase by more than one per cent per year.

(b) The increase in costs reasonably justifies an increase of more than one per cent in the annual premiums or rates charged by the insurer for the coverage of all other physical diseases and disorders.

Any determination made by the superintendent under this division is subject to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3923.282. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Biologically based mental illness" means schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoia and other psychotic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder, as these terms are defined in the most recent edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders published by the American psychiatric association.

(2) "Plan of health coverage" includes any private or public employer group self-insurance plan that provides payment for health care benefits for other than specific diseases or accidents only, which benefits are not provided by contract with a sickness and accident insurer or health insuring corporation.

(B) Notwithstanding section 3901.71 of the Revised Code, and subject to division (F) of this section, each plan of health coverage shall provide benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of biologically based mental illnesses on the same terms and conditions as, and shall provide benefits no less extensive than, those provided under the plan of health coverage for the treatment and diagnosis of all other physical diseases and disorders, if both of the following apply:

(1) The biologically based mental illness is clinically diagnosed by a physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery; a psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code; a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, or independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code; or a clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse practitioner licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code whose nursing specialty is mental health.

(2) The prescribed treatment is not experimental or investigational, having proven its clinical effectiveness in accordance with generally accepted medical standards.

(C) Division (B) of this section applies to all coverages and terms and conditions of the plan of health coverage, including, but not limited to, coverage of inpatient hospital services, outpatient services, and medication; maximum lifetime benefits; copayments; and individual and family deductibles.

(D) This section does not apply to a plan of health coverage if federal law supersedes, preempts, prohibits, or otherwise precludes its application to such plans. This section does not apply to long-term care, hospital indemnity, disability income, or medicare supplement plans of health coverage, or to any other supplemental benefit plans of health coverage.

(E) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting an employer from taking any of the following actions in connection with a plan of health coverage:

(1) Negotiating separately with mental health care providers with regard to reimbursement rates and the delivery of health care services;

(2) Managing the provision of benefits for the diagnosis or treatment of biologically based mental illnesses through the use of pre-admission screening, by requiring beneficiaries to obtain authorization prior to treatment, or through the use of any other mechanism designed to limit coverage to that treatment determined to be necessary;

(3) Enforcing the terms and conditions of a plan of health coverage.

(F) An employer that offers a plan of health coverage is not required to provide benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of biologically based mental illnesses in combination with benefits for the treatment and diagnosis of all other physical diseases and disorders as described in division (B) of this section if both of the following apply:

(1) The employer submits documentation certified by an independent member of the American academy of actuaries to the superintendent of insurance showing that incurred claims for diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental illnesses for a period of at least six months independently caused the employer's costs for claims and administrative expenses for the coverage of all other physical diseases and disorders to increase by more than one per cent per year.

(2) The superintendent of insurance determines from the documentation and opinion submitted pursuant to division (F) of this section, that incurred claims for diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental illnesses for a period of at least six months independently caused the employer's costs for claims and administrative expenses for the coverage of all other physical diseases and disorders to increase by more than one per cent per year.

Any determination made by the superintendent under this division is subject to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3923.29.  (A)(1) Every policy of group sickness and accident insurance providing hospital, surgical, or medical expense coverage for other than specific diseases or accidents only, and delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1979, shall provide for each eligible person under the policy who resides in this state, outpatient, inpatient, and intermediate primary care benefits for alcoholism that are at least equal to five hundred fifty dollars in any calendar year or twelve-month period. The

(2) The services shall be legally performed by or under the clinical supervision of a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist, whether any of the following:

(a) A physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery;

(b) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(c) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code whose practice includes chemical dependency counseling;

(d) An independent chemical dependency counselor licensed under Chapter 4758. of the Revised Code;

(e) A clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse practitioner licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code whose nursing specialty is mental health.

(3) The services may be performed in an office, in a hospital, in a community mental health facility, or in an alcoholism treatment facility so long as the hospital, community mental health facility, or alcoholism treatment facility is approved by the joint commission on accreditation of hospitals, the council on accreditation, or the commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities or certified by the department of mental health and addiction services.

(B) The benefits mandated by division (A) of this section shall be subject to reasonable contract limitations and may be subject to reasonable deductibles and co-insurance costs. Persons entitled to such benefit under more than one service or insurance contract may be limited to a single five hundred fifty dollar benefit for services under all contracts.

(C) For an eligible person, who receives treatment for alcoholism from an approved or certified alcoholism treatment facility, to remain entitled to the benefits mandated by division (A) of this section, a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist health care professional identified in division (A)(2) of this section shall every three months certify that such person needs to continue utilizing such treatment.

(D) In order to qualify for participation under division (A) of this section, every facility specified in such division shall have in effect a plan for utilization review and a plan for peer review and every person specified in such division shall have in effect a plan for peer review. Such plans shall have the purpose of ensuring high quality patient care and effective and efficient utilization of available health facilities and services. Such person or facility shall also have in effect a program of rehabilitation or a program of rehabilitation and detoxification.

(E) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an insurer to pay benefits which are greater than usual, customary, and reasonable.

Sec. 3923.30.  Every person, the state and any of its instrumentalities, any county, township, school district, or other political subdivisions and any of its instrumentalities, and any municipal corporation and any of its instrumentalities, which provides payment for health care benefits for any of its employees resident in this state, which benefits are not provided by contract with an insurer qualified to provide sickness and accident insurance, or a health insuring corporation, shall include the following benefits in its plan of health care benefits commencing on or after January 1, 1979:

(A) If such plan of health care benefits provides payment for the treatment of mental or nervous disorders, then such plan shall provide benefits for services on an outpatient basis for each eligible employee and dependent for mental or emotional disorders, or for evaluations, that are at least equal to the following:

(1) Payments not less than five hundred fifty dollars in a twelve-month period, for services legally performed by or under the clinical supervision of a any of the following:

(a) A physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery; a

(b) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code; a

(c) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, or independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code; or a

(d) An independent chemical dependency counselor licensed under Chapter 4758. of the Revised Code;

(e) A clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse practitioner licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code whose nursing specialty is mental health, whether.

The services may be performed in an office, in a hospital, or in a community mental health facility, or in an alcoholism treatment facility so long as the hospital or, community mental health facility, or alcoholism treatment facility is approved by the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations, the council on accreditation for children and family services, or the commission on accreditation of rehabilitation accreditation commission facilities or certified by the department of mental health and addiction services;

(2) Such benefit shall be subject to reasonable limitations, and may be subject to reasonable deductibles and co-insurance costs.

(3) In order to qualify for participation under this division, every facility specified in this division shall have in effect a plan for utilization review and a plan for peer review and every person specified in this division shall have in effect a plan for peer review. Such plans shall have the purpose of ensuring high quality patient care and effective and efficient utilization of available health facilities and services.

(4) Such payment for benefits shall not be greater than usual, customary, and reasonable.

(5)(a) Services performed by or under the clinical supervision of a health care professional identified in division (A)(1) of this section, in order to be reimbursable under the coverage required in division (A) of this section, shall meet both of the following requirements:

(i) The services shall be performed in accordance with a treatment plan that describes the expected duration, frequency, and type of services to be performed;

(ii) The plan shall be reviewed and approved by the health care professional every three months.

(b) Payment of benefits for services reimbursable under division (A)(5)(a) of the section shall not be restricted to services described in the treatment plan or conditioned upon standards of a licensed physician or licensed psychologist, which at least equal the requirements of division (A)(5)(a) of this section.

(B) Payment for benefits for alcoholism treatment for outpatient, inpatient, and intermediate primary care for each eligible employee and dependent that are at least equal to the following:

(1) Payments not less than five hundred fifty dollars in a twelve-month period for services legally performed by or under the clinical supervision of a health care professional identified in division (A)(1) of this section, whether performed in an office, or in a hospital or, in a community mental health facility, or in an alcoholism treatment facility so long as the hospital, community mental health facility, or alcoholism treatment facility is approved by the joint commission on accreditation of hospitals, the council on accreditation, or the commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities or certified by the department of mental health and addiction services;

(2) The benefits provided under this division shall be subject to reasonable limitations and may be subject to reasonable deductibles and co-insurance costs.

(3) A health care professional shall every three months certify a patient's need for continued services performed by such facilities.

(4) In order to qualify for participation under this division, every facility specified in this division shall have in effect a plan for utilization review and a plan for peer review and every person specified in this division shall have in effect a plan for peer review. Such plans shall have the purpose of ensuring high quality patient care and efficient utilization of available health facilities and services. Such person or facilities shall also have in effect a program of rehabilitation or a program of rehabilitation and detoxification.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require reimbursement for benefits which is greater than usual, customary, and reasonable.

(C) The benefits provided by division (A) of this section for mental and emotional disorders shall not be reduced by the cost of benefits provided pursuant to section 3923.282 of the Revised Code for diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental illness. This section does not apply to benefits for diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental illnesses.

Sec. 3963.01. As used in this chapter:

(A) "Affiliate" means any person or entity that has ownership or control of a contracting entity, is owned or controlled by a contracting entity, or is under common ownership or control with a contracting entity.

(B) "Basic health care services" has the same meaning as in division (A) of section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, except that it does not include any services listed in that division that are provided by a pharmacist or nursing home.

(C) "Contracting entity" means any person that has a primary business purpose of contracting with participating providers for the delivery of health care services.

(D) "Credentialing" means the process of assessing and validating the qualifications of a provider applying to be approved by a contracting entity to provide basic health care services, specialty health care services, or supplemental health care services to enrollees.

(E) "Edit" means adjusting one or more procedure codes billed by a participating provider on a claim for payment or a practice that results in any of the following:

(1) Payment for some, but not all of the procedure codes originally billed by a participating provider;

(2) Payment for a different procedure code than the procedure code originally billed by a participating provider;

(3) A reduced payment as a result of services provided to an enrollee that are claimed under more than one procedure code on the same service date.

(F) "Electronic claims transport" means to accept and digitize claims or to accept claims already digitized, to place those claims into a format that complies with the electronic transaction standards issued by the United States department of health and human services pursuant to the "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," 110 Stat. 1955, 42 U.S.C. 1320d, et seq., as those electronic standards are applicable to the parties and as those electronic standards are updated from time to time, and to electronically transmit those claims to the appropriate contracting entity, payer, or third-party administrator.

(G) "Enrollee" means any person eligible for health care benefits under a health benefit plan, including an eligible recipient of medicaid, and includes all of the following terms:

(1) "Enrollee" and "subscriber" as defined by section 1751.01 of the Revised Code;

(2) "Member" as defined by section 1739.01 of the Revised Code;

(3) "Insured" and "plan member" pursuant to Chapter 3923. of the Revised Code;

(4) "Beneficiary" as defined by section 3901.38 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Health care contract" means a contract entered into, materially amended, or renewed between a contracting entity and a participating provider for the delivery of basic health care services, specialty health care services, or supplemental health care services to enrollees.

(I) "Health care services" means basic health care services, specialty health care services, and supplemental health care services.

(J) "Material amendment" means an amendment to a health care contract that decreases the participating provider's payment or compensation, changes the administrative procedures in a way that may reasonably be expected to significantly increase the provider's administrative expenses, or adds a new product. A material amendment does not include any of the following:

(1) A decrease in payment or compensation resulting solely from a change in a published fee schedule upon which the payment or compensation is based and the date of applicability is clearly identified in the contract;

(2) A decrease in payment or compensation that was anticipated under the terms of the contract, if the amount and date of applicability of the decrease is clearly identified in the contract;

(3) An administrative change that may significantly increase the provider's administrative expense, the specific applicability of which is clearly identified in the contract;

(4) Changes to an existing prior authorization, precertification, notification, or referral program that do not substantially increase the provider's administrative expense;

(5) Changes to an edit program or to specific edits if the participating provider is provided notice of the changes pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 3963.04 of the Revised Code and the notice includes information sufficient for the provider to determine the effect of the change;

(6) Changes to a health care contract described in division (B) of section 3963.04 of the Revised Code.

(K) "Participating provider" means a provider that has a health care contract with a contracting entity and is entitled to reimbursement for health care services rendered to an enrollee under the health care contract.

(L) "Payer" means any person that assumes the financial risk for the payment of claims under a health care contract or the reimbursement for health care services provided to enrollees by participating providers pursuant to a health care contract.

(M) "Primary enrollee" means a person who is responsible for making payments for participation in a health care plan or an enrollee whose employment or other status is the basis of eligibility for enrollment in a health care plan.

(N) "Procedure codes" includes the American medical association's current procedural terminology code, the American dental association's current dental terminology, and the centers for medicare and medicaid services health care common procedure coding system.

(O) "Product" means one of the following types of categories of coverage for which a participating provider may be obligated to provide health care services pursuant to a health care contract:

(1) A health maintenance organization or other product provided by a health insuring corporation;

(2) A preferred provider organization;

(3) Medicare;

(4) Medicaid;

(5) Workers' compensation.

(P) "Provider" means a physician, podiatrist, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist, psychologist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, occupational therapist, massage therapist, physical therapist, licensed professional counselor, licensed professional clinical counselor, hearing aid dealer, orthotist, prosthetist, home health agency, hospice care program, pediatric respite care program, or hospital, or a provider organization or physician-hospital organization that is acting exclusively as an administrator on behalf of a provider to facilitate the provider's participation in health care contracts. "Provider" does not mean a pharmacist, pharmacy, nursing home, or a provider organization or physician-hospital organization that leases the provider organization's or physician-hospital organization's network to a third party or contracts directly with employers or health and welfare funds.

(Q) "Specialty health care services" has the same meaning as in section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, except that it does not include any services listed in division (B) of section 1751.01 of the Revised Code that are provided by a pharmacist or a nursing home.

(R) "Supplemental health care services" has the same meaning as in division (B) of section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, except that it does not include any services listed in that division that are provided by a pharmacist or nursing home.

Sec. 4723.16.  (A) An individual whom the board of nursing licenses, certificates, or otherwise legally authorizes to engage in the practice of nursing as a registered nurse or as a licensed practical nurse may render the professional services of a registered or licensed practical nurse within this state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not preclude an individual of that nature from rendering professional services as a registered or licensed practical nurse through another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the board of nursing adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional association described in division (A) of this section may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services of the following individuals who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice their respective professions:

(1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed practical nurses under this chapter;

(5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code;

(7) Occupational therapists who are licensed to practice occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code;

(8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;

(9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;

(10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a code of ethics applicable to a nurse that prohibits a registered or licensed practical nurse from engaging in the practice of nursing as a registered nurse or as a licensed practical nurse in combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychology, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage in the practice of nursing as a registered nurse or as a licensed practical nurse.

Sec. 4725.33.  (A) An individual whom the state board of optometry licenses to engage in the practice of optometry may render the professional services of an optometrist within this state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not preclude an optometrist from rendering professional services as an optometrist through another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the state board of optometry adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional association described in division (A) of this section may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services of the following individuals who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice their respective professions:

(1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code;

(7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code;

(8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;

(8)(9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;

(10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a code of ethics applicable to an optometrist that prohibits an optometrist from engaging in the practice of optometry in combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice chiropractic, acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage in the practice of optometry.

Sec. 4729.161.  (A) An individual registered with the state board of pharmacy to engage in the practice of pharmacy may render the professional services of a pharmacist within this state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not preclude an individual of that nature from rendering professional services as a pharmacist through another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the state board of pharmacy adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional association described in division (A) of this section may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services of the following individuals who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice their respective professions:

(1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code;

(7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code;

(8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;

(9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;

(10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a code of ethics applicable to a pharmacist that prohibits a pharmacist from engaging in the practice of pharmacy in combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage in the practice of pharmacy.

Sec. 4731.226.  (A)(1) An individual whom the state medical board licenses, certificates, or otherwise legally authorizes to engage in the practice of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery may render the professional services of a doctor of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery within this state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. Division (A)(1) of this section does not preclude an individual of that nature from rendering professional services as a doctor of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery through another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the state medical board adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(2) An individual whom the state medical board authorizes to engage in the practice of mechanotherapy may render the professional services of a mechanotherapist within this state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. Division (A)(2) of this section does not preclude an individual of that nature from rendering professional services as a mechanotherapist through another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the state medical board adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional association described in division (A) of this section may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services of the following individuals who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice their respective professions:

(1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code;

(7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code;

(8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;

(9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for their respective practices under this chapter;

(10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

(C) Division (B) of this section shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a code of ethics described in division (B)(18) of section 4731.22 of the Revised Code that prohibits either of the following:

(1) A doctor of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery from engaging in the doctor's authorized practice in combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage in the practice of optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or mechanotherapy, professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery.

(2) A mechanotherapist from engaging in the practice of mechanotherapy in combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage in the practice of optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage in the practice of mechanotherapy.

Sec. 4731.65.  As used in sections 4731.65 to 4731.71 of the Revised Code:

(A)(1) "Clinical laboratory services" means either of the following:

(a) Any examination of materials derived from the human body for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any disease or impairment or for the assessment of health;

(b) Procedures to determine, measure, or otherwise describe the presence or absence of various substances or organisms in the body.

(2) "Clinical laboratory services" does not include the mere collection or preparation of specimens.

(B) "Designated health services" means any of the following:

(1) Clinical laboratory services;

(2) Home health care services;

(3) Outpatient prescription drugs.

(C) "Fair market value" means the value in arms-length transactions, consistent with general market value and:

(1) With respect to rentals or leases, the value of rental property for general commercial purposes, not taking into account its intended use;

(2) With respect to a lease of space, not adjusted to reflect the additional value the prospective lessee or lessor would attribute to the proximity or convenience to the lessor if the lessor is a potential source of referrals to the lessee.

(D) "Governmental health care program" means any program providing health care benefits that is administered by the federal government, this state, or a political subdivision of this state, including the medicare program, health care coverage for public employees, health care benefits administered by the bureau of workers' compensation, and the medicaid program.

(E)(1) "Group practice" means a group of two or more holders of certificates under this chapter legally organized as a partnership, professional corporation or association, limited liability company, foundation, nonprofit corporation, faculty practice plan, or similar group practice entity, including an organization comprised of a nonprofit medical clinic that contracts with a professional corporation or association of physicians to provide medical services exclusively to patients of the clinic in order to comply with section 1701.03 of the Revised Code and including a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional association described in division (B) of section 4731.226 of the Revised Code formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services of optometrists who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice optometry under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice chiropractic or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code, psychologists who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice psychology under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice nursing under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized for their respective practices under this chapter, and licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code to which all of the following apply:

(a) Each physician who is a member of the group practice provides substantially the full range of services that the physician routinely provides, including medical care, consultation, diagnosis, or treatment, through the joint use of shared office space, facilities, equipment, and personnel.

(b) Substantially all of the services of the members of the group are provided through the group and are billed in the name of the group and amounts so received are treated as receipts of the group.

(c) The overhead expenses of and the income from the practice are distributed in accordance with methods previously determined by members of the group.

(d) The group practice meets any other requirements that the state medical board applies in rules adopted under section 4731.70 of the Revised Code.

(2) In the case of a faculty practice plan associated with a hospital with a medical residency training program in which physician members may provide a variety of specialty services and provide professional services both within and outside the group, as well as perform other tasks such as research, the criteria in division (E)(1) of this section apply only with respect to services rendered within the faculty practice plan.

(F) "Home health care services" and "immediate family" have the same meanings as in the rules adopted under section 4731.70 of the Revised Code.

(G) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.

(H) A "referral" includes both of the following:

(1) A request by a holder of a certificate under this chapter for an item or service, including a request for a consultation with another physician and any test or procedure ordered by or to be performed by or under the supervision of the other physician;

(2) A request for or establishment of a plan of care by a certificate holder that includes the provision of designated health services.

(I) "Third-party payer" has the same meaning as in section 3901.38 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4732.28.  (A) An individual whom the state board of psychology licenses, certificates, or otherwise legally authorizes to engage in the practice of psychology may render the professional services of a psychologist within this state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not preclude an individual of that nature from rendering professional services as a psychologist through another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the state board of psychology adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional association described in division (A) of this section may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services of the following individuals who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice their respective professions:

(1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology under this chapter;

(4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code;

(7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code;

(8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;

(9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;

(10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a code of ethics applicable to a psychologist that prohibits a psychologist from engaging in the practice of psychology in combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage in the practice of psychology.

Sec. 4734.17.  (A) An individual whom the state chiropractic board licenses to engage in the practice of chiropractic or certifies to practice acupuncture may render the professional services of a chiropractor or chiropractor certified to practice acupuncture within this state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not preclude a chiropractor from rendering professional services as a chiropractor or chiropractor certified to practice acupuncture through another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the state chiropractic board adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional association described in division (A) of this section may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services of the following individuals who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice their respective professions:

(1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry, under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic or acupuncture under this chapter;

(3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code;

(7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code;

(8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;

(9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;

(10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of any code of ethics established or adopted under section 4734.16 of the Revised Code that prohibits an individual from engaging in the practice of chiropractic or acupuncture in combination with an individual who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise authorized for the practice of optometry, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also licensed under this chapter to engage in the practice of chiropractic.

Sec. 4734.41.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Chemical dependency" means either of the following:

(a) The chronic and habitual use of alcoholic beverages to the extent that the user no longer can control the use of alcohol or endangers the user's health, safety, or welfare or that of others;

(b) The use of a controlled substance as defined in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code, a harmful intoxicant as defined in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code, or a dangerous drug as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code, to the extent that the user becomes physically or psychologically dependent on the substance, intoxicant, or drug or endangers the user's health, safety, or welfare or that of others.

(2) "Mental illness" means a recognized psychiatric or psychological condition, disorder, or syndrome that has been diagnosed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed professional clinical counselor, or independent social worker as a condition, disorder, or syndrome that may pose a danger to the person diagnosed or others or may prevent the person from practicing the person's profession according to acceptable and prevailing standards of care.

(B) The state chiropractic board shall establish a chemical dependency and mental illness monitoring program. The program shall be made available to any individual under the board's jurisdiction who has a chemical dependency or mental illness and meets the board's eligibility requirements for admission to and continued participation in the program. The board shall develop the program and may designate a coordinator to administer it or enter into a contract for the program to be administered by another entity through a coordinator. The board shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish standards and procedure for operating the program.

(C) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, all records of an individual's participation in the monitoring program, including medical records, chemical dependency records, and mental health records, shall be confidential, are not public records for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code, and are not subject to discovery by subpoena or admissible as evidence in any judicial proceeding. The program coordinator shall maintain all records as directed by the board.

(D) The monitoring program's coordinator may disclose records or information regarding an individual's progress and status of participation in the program to the disciplinary section of the board and to any person or government entity that the program participant authorizes in writing to be given the records or information.

In disclosing records or information under this division, the coordinator shall not include any record or information that is protected under section 5119.27 of the Revised Code or any federal statute or regulation that provides for the confidentiality of mental health or substance abuse records.

(E) In the absence of fraud or bad faith, the monitoring program's coordinator, the board and the board's employees and representatives are not liable for damages in any civil action as a result of disclosing records or information in accordance with division (D) of this section. In the absence of fraud or bad faith, any person reporting to the program an individual's chemical dependency or mental illness, or the progress or lack of progress of that individual with regard to treatment, is not liable for damages in any civil action as a result of the report.

(F) The board may abstain from taking formal disciplinary action under section 4734.31 of the Revised Code against an individual because of the individual's chemical dependency or mental illness, if the individual meets the eligibility requirements for admission into the monitoring program and all of the following occur:

(1) The individual enters into a monitoring agreement with the coordinator of the program;

(2) The individual complies with the terms and conditions for continued participation in the program, as specified in the monitoring agreement;

(3) The individual successfully completes the terms and conditions of the monitoring agreement, including the condition that the individual attain the ability to practice in accordance with acceptable and prevailing standards of care applicable to the practice of chiropractic.

Sec. 4755.111.  (A) An individual whom the occupational therapy section of the Ohio occupational therapy, physical therapy, and athletic trainers board licenses, certificates, or otherwise legally authorizes to engage in the practice of occupational therapy may render the professional services of an occupational therapist within this state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not preclude an individual of that nature from rendering professional services as an occupational therapist through another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the Ohio occupational therapy, physical therapy, and athletic trainers board adopted pursuant to sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code.

(B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional association described in division (A) of this section may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services of the following individuals who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice their respective professions:

(1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code;

(7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code;

(8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;

(9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;

(10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a code of ethics applicable to an occupational therapist that prohibits an occupational therapist from engaging in the practice of occupational therapy in combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, mechanotherapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy but who is not also licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage in the practice of occupational therapy.

Sec. 4755.471.  (A) An individual whom the physical therapy section of the Ohio occupational therapy, physical therapy, and athletic trainers board licenses, certificates, or otherwise legally authorizes to engage in the practice of physical therapy may render the professional services of a physical therapist within this state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not preclude an individual of that nature from rendering professional services as a physical therapist through another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with sections 4755.40 to 4755.53 of the Revised Code, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the Ohio occupational therapy, physical therapy, and athletic trainers board adopted pursuant to sections 4755.40 to 4755.53 of the Revised Code.

(B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional association described in division (A) of this section may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services of the following individuals who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice their respective professions:

(1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code;

(7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code;

(8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;

(8)(9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;

(10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.

This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a code of ethics applicable to a physical therapist that prohibits a physical therapist from engaging in the practice of physical therapy in combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage in the practice of physical therapy.

Sec. 4757.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Practice of professional counseling" means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public a counseling service involving the application of clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, or career development and adjustment, including the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

(B) "Clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures" means an approach to counseling that emphasizes the counselor's role in systematically assisting clients through all of the following: assessing and analyzing background and current information, diagnosing mental and emotional disorders, exploring possible solutions, and developing and providing a treatment plan for mental and emotional adjustment or development. "Clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures" includes at least counseling, appraisal, consulting, and referral.

(C) "Practice of social work" means the application of social work theory and specialized knowledge of human development and behavior and social, economic, and cultural systems in directly assisting individuals, families, and groups in a clinical setting to improve or restore their capacity for social functioning, including counseling, the use of psychosocial interventions, and the use of social psychotherapy, which includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

(D) "Accredited educational institution" means an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency accepted by the board of regents.

(E) "Scope of practice" means the services, methods, and techniques in which and the areas for which a person licensed or registered under this chapter is trained and qualified.

(F) "Mental and emotional disorders" means those disorders that are classified in accepted nosologies such as the international classification of diseases and the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders and in future editions of those nosologies.

(G) "Marriage and family therapy" means the diagnosis, evaluation, assessment, counseling, management and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems, through the professional application of marriage and family therapies and techniques.

(H) "Practice of marriage and family therapy" means the diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, assessment, counseling, and management, of mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems, to individuals, couples, and families, singly or in groups, whether those services are offered directly to the general public or through public or private organizations, for a fee, salary or other consideration through the professional application of marriage and family theories, therapies, and techniques, including, but not limited to psychotherapeutic theories, therapies and techniques that marriage and family therapists are educated and trained to perform.

(I) "Social functioning" means living up to the expectations that are made of an individual by the individual's own self, the immediate social environment, and by society at large. "Social functioning" includes meeting basic needs of the individual and the individual's dependents, including physical aspects, personal fulfillment, emotional needs, and an adequate self-concept.

Sec. 4757.02.  (A) Except as provided in division (C) of this section and section 4757.41 of the Revised Code:

(1) No person shall engage in or claim to the public to be engaging in the practice of professional counseling for a fee, salary, or other consideration unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter as a licensed professional clinical counselor or licensed professional counselor.

(2) No person shall practice or claim to the public to be practicing social work for a fee, salary, or other consideration unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter as an independent social worker or a social worker.

(3) No person shall claim to the public to be a social work assistant unless the person is currently registered under this chapter as a social work assistant.

(4) No person shall engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy or claim to the public to be engaging in the practice of marriage and family therapy unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter as a marriage and family therapist.

(B)(1) No person shall use the title "licensed professional clinical counselor," "licensed professional counselor," or any other title or description incorporating the word "counselor" or any initials used to identify persons acting in those capacities unless currently authorized under this chapter by licensure to act in the capacity indicated by the title or initials.

(2) No person shall use the title "social worker," "independent social worker," "social work assistant," or any other title or description incorporating the words "social worker" or any initials used to identify persons acting in those capacities unless the person is currently authorized by licensure or registration under this chapter to act in the capacity indicated by the title or initials.

(3) No person shall use the title "marriage and family therapist" or any initials used to identify persons acting in that capacity unless the person is currently authorized by licensure under this chapter to act in the capacity indicated by the title or initials.

(C)(1) Divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section do not apply to the practice of marriage and family therapy by a person holding a valid license or temporary license as a marriage and family therapist or independent marriage and family therapist under this chapter.

(2) Division (A)(4) of this section does not apply to the following persons licensed or registered under this chapter: licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, and social work assistants.

Sec. 4757.03.  (A) There is hereby created the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board, consisting of fifteen members. The governor shall appoint the members with the advice and consent of the senate.

(1) Four of the members shall be individuals licensed under this chapter as licensed professional clinical counselors or licensed professional counselors. At all times, the counselor membership shall include at least two licensed professional clinical counselors, at least one individual who has received a doctoral degree in counseling from an accredited educational institution recognized by the board and holds a graduate level teaching position in a counselor education program, and at least two individuals who have received at least a master's degree in counseling from an accredited educational institution recognized by the board.

Two of the (2) Four members shall be individuals licensed under this chapter as independent marriage and family therapists and two shall be individuals licensed under this chapter as or marriage and family therapists or, if the board has not yet licensed independent marriage and family therapists or marriage and family therapists, eligible for licensure as independent marriage and family therapists or marriage and family therapists. They shall have, during the five years preceding appointment, actively engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy, in educating and training master's, doctoral, or postdoctoral students of marriage and family therapy, or in marriage and family therapy research and, during the two years immediately preceding appointment, shall have devoted the majority of their professional time to the activity while residing in this state. At all times, the marriage and family therapist membership shall include one educator who holds a teaching position in a master's degree marriage and family therapy program at an accredited educational institution recognized by the board.

(3) Two members shall be individuals licensed under this chapter as independent social workers. Two members shall be individuals licensed under this chapter as social workers, at least one of whom must hold a bachelor's or master's degree in social work from an accredited educational institution recognized by the board. At all times, the social worker membership shall include one educator who holds a teaching position in a baccalaureate or master's degree social work program at an accredited educational institution recognized by the board.

(4) Three members shall be representatives of the general public who have not practiced professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work and have not been involved in the delivery of professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work services. At least one of the members representing the general public shall be at least sixty years of age. During their terms the public members shall not practice professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work or be involved in the delivery of professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work services.

(B) Both of the following apply to each member specified in divisions (A)(1), (2), and (3) of this section:

(1) During the five years preceding appointment to the board, the member shall have actively engaged in the practice of the member's profession. A member holding a teaching position shall have actively engaged in the practice of the member's profession by conducting research in the member's profession or by educating and training master's, doctoral, or postdoctoral students in the member's profession, as applicable.

(2) During the two years immediately preceding appointment, the member shall have devoted the majority of their professional time to the activity described in division (B)(1) of this section while residing in this state.

(C) At least three members, one from each of the board's professional standards committees, during the five years preceding appointment, shall have practiced at a public agency or at an organization that is certified or licensed by the department of developmental disabilities, the department of alcohol and drug addiction services, the department of job and family services, or the department of mental health.

(D) Not more than eight members of the board may be members of the same political party or sex. At

(E) At least one member of the board shall be of African, Native American, Hispanic, or Asian descent.

Of the initial appointees, three shall be appointed for terms ending October 10, 1985, four shall be appointed for terms ending October 10, 1986, and four shall be appointed for terms ending October 10, 1987. Of the two initial independent marriage and family therapists appointed to the board, one shall be appointed for a term ending two years after the effective date of this amendment and one for a term ending three years after that date. Of the two initial marriage and family therapists appointed to the board, one shall be appointed for a term ending two years after the effective date of this amendment and one for a term ending three years after that date. After the initial appointments, terms

(F) Terms of office shall be three years, each term ending on the same day of the same month of the year as did the term that it succeeds. As a result of the dates of initial appointment, the number of terms expiring each year are four, five, or six.

(G) A member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office after the expiration date of the member's term until a successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. Members may be reappointed, except that if a person has held office for two consecutive full terms, the person shall not be reappointed to the board sooner than one year after the expiration of the second full term as a member of the board.

Sec. 4757.04.  Within the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board, there is hereby created the counselors professional standards committee, the social workers professional standards committee, and the marriage and family therapist professional standards committee.

The counselors professional standards committee consists of the board's licensed professional clinical counselor and licensed professional counselor members and one of the members representing the public who is not the member representing the public on the marriage and family therapist professional standards committee or the social workers professional standards committee. The committee has full authority to act on behalf of the board on all matters concerning professional clinical counselors and professional counselors.

The social workers professional standards committee consists of the board's independent social worker and social worker members and one of the members representing the public who is not the member representing the public on the counselors professional standards committee or the marriage and family therapist professional standards committee. The committee has full authority to act on behalf of the board on all matters concerning independent social workers, social workers, and social work assistants.

The marriage and family therapist professional standards committee consists of the board's marriage and family therapists and one of the members representing the public who is not the member representing the public on the counselors professional standards committee or the social workers professional standards committee. The committee has full authority to act on behalf of the board on all matters concerning independent marriage and family therapists and marriage and family therapists.

Sec. 4757.10.  The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board may adopt any rules necessary to carry out this chapter.

The board shall adopt rules that do all of the following:

(A) Concern intervention for and treatment of any impaired person holding a license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter;

(B) Establish standards for training and experience of supervisors described in division (C) of section 4757.30 of the Revised Code;

(C) Define the requirement that an applicant be of good moral character in order to be licensed or registered under this chapter;

(D) Establish requirements for criminal records checks of applicants under section 4776.03 of the Revised Code;

(E) Establish a graduated system of fines based on the scope and severity of violations and the history of compliance, not to exceed five hundred dollars per incident, that any professional standards committee of the board may charge for a disciplinary violation described in section 4757.36 of the Revised Code;

(F) Establish the amount and content of corrective action courses required by the board under section 4755.36 of the Revised Code;

(G) Provide for voluntary registration of all of the following:

(1) Master's level counselor trainees enrolled in practice and internships;

(2) Master's level social worker trainees enrolled in fieldwork, practice, and internships;

(3) Master's level marriage and family therapist trainees enrolled in practice and internships.

Rules adopted under division (G) of this section shall not require a trainee to register with the board, and if a trainee has not registered, shall prohibit any adverse effect with respect to a trainee's application for licensure by the board.

All rules adopted under this section shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. When it adopts rules under this section or any other section of this chapter, the board may consider standards established by any national association or other organization representing the interests of those involved in professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy.

Sec. 4757.11.  The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall establish a code of ethical practice for persons licensed under this chapter as licensed professional clinical counselors or licensed professional counselors. The board shall establish a code of ethical practice for persons licensed under this chapter as independent social workers or social workers, persons registered under this chapter as social work assistants, and persons licensed as independent marriage and family therapists or marriage and family therapists. The codes of ethical practice shall be established by adopting rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The codes of ethical practice shall define unprofessional conduct, which shall include engaging in a dual relationship with a client or former client, committing an act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or exploitation of a client or former client, and, except as permitted by law, violating client confidentiality. The codes of ethical practice may be based on any codes of ethical practice developed by national organizations representing the interests of those involved in professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy. The board may establish standards in its codes of ethical practice that are more stringent than those established by national organizations.

Sec. 4757.13. (A) Each individual who engages in the practice of professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy shall prominently display, in a conspicuous place in the office or place where a major portion of the individual's practice is conducted, and in such a manner as to be easily seen and read, the license granted to the individual by the state counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board.

(B) A license holder engaged in a private individual practice, partnership, or group practice shall prominently display the license holder's fee schedule in the office or place where a major portion of the license holder's practice is conducted. The bottom of the first page of the fee schedule shall include the following statement, which shall be followed by the name, address, and telephone number of the board:

"This information is required by the Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, which regulates the practices of professional counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in this state."

Sec. 4757.16.  (A) A person seeking to be licensed under this chapter as a licensed professional clinical counselor or licensed professional counselor shall file with the counselors professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board a written application on a form prescribed by the board. A person seeking to be licensed under this chapter as an independent social worker or social worker or registered under this chapter as a social work assistant shall file with the social workers professional standards committee of the board a written application on a form prescribed by the board. A person seeking to be licensed under this chapter as an independent marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist shall file with the marriage and family therapist professional standards committee of the board a written application on a form prescribed by the board.

Each form prescribed by the board shall contain a statement informing the applicant that a person who knowingly makes a false statement on the form is guilty of falsification under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(B) The professional standards committees shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code concerning the process for review of each application received and shall to determine whether the applicant meets the requirements to receive the license or certificate of registration for which application has been made.

Sec. 4757.21.  A person licensed under this chapter to practice as a licensed professional clinical counselor or a licensed professional counselor may diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, except that a licensed professional counselor may do so only under the supervision of a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed professional clinical counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, or independent social worker. A licensed professional clinical counselor or licensed professional counselor may engage in the private practice of professional counseling as an individual practitioner or as a member of a partnership or group practice.

Sec. 4757.22.  (A) The counselors professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall issue a license to practice as a licensed professional clinical counselor to each applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and meets the requirements specified in division (B) of this section.

(B)(1) To be eligible for a licensed professional clinical counselor license, an individual must meet the following requirements:

(1)(a) The individual must be of good moral character.

(2)(b) The individual must hold from an accredited educational institution a graduate degree in counseling.

(3)(c) The individual must complete a minimum of ninety quarter hours or sixty semester hours of graduate credit in counselor training acceptable to the committee, including a minimum of thirty quarter hours of instruction in the following areas:

(a)(i) Clinical psychopathology, personality, and abnormal behavior;

(b)(ii) Evaluation of mental and emotional disorders;

(c)(iii) Diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders;

(d)(iv) Methods of prevention, intervention, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

(4)(d) The individual must complete, in either a private or clinical counseling setting, supervised experience in counseling that is of a type approved by the committee, is supervised by a licensed professional clinical counselor or other qualified professional approved by the committee, and is in the following amounts:

(a)(i) In the case of an individual holding only a master's degree, not less than two years of experience, which must be completed after the award of the master's degree;

(b)(ii) In the case of an individual holding a doctorate, not less than one year of experience, which must be completed after the award of the doctorate.

(5)(e) The individual must pass a field evaluation that meets the following requirements:

(a)(i) Has been completed by the applicant's instructors, employers, supervisors, or other persons determined by the committee to be competent to evaluate an individual's professional competence;

(b)(ii) Includes documented evidence of the quality, scope, and nature of the applicant's experience and competence in diagnosing and treating mental and emotional disorders.

(6)(f) The individual must pass an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as a licensed professional clinical counselor.

(2) To meet the requirement of division (B)(1)(b) of this section, a graduate degree in counseling obtained from a mental health counseling program in this state after January 1, 2018, must be from a clinical mental health counseling program, a clinical rehabilitation counseling program, or an addiction counseling program accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs.

(3) All of the following meet the educational requirements of division (B)(1)(c) of this section:

(a) A clinical mental health counseling program accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs;

(b) Until January 1, 2018, a mental health counseling program accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs;

(c) A graduate degree in counseling issued by another state from a clinical mental health counseling program, a clinical rehabilitation counseling program, or an addiction counseling program that is accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs;

(d) Any other accredited counseling programs accepted by the board in accordance with rules adopted under division (F)(3) of this section.

(C) To be accepted by the committee for purposes of division (B) of this section, counselor training must include at least the following:

(1) Instruction in human growth and development; counseling theory; counseling techniques; group dynamics, processing, and counseling; appraisal of individuals; research and evaluation; professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities; social and cultural foundations; and lifestyle and career development;

(2) Participation in a supervised practicum and internship in counseling.

(D) The committee may issue a provisional temporary license to an applicant who meets all of the requirements to be licensed under this section, pending the receipt of transcripts or action by the committee to issue a license to practice as a licensed professional clinical counselor.

(E) An individual may not sit for the licensing examination unless the individual meets the educational requirements to be licensed under this section. An individual who is denied admission to the licensing examination may appeal the denial in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(F) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the committee to implement this section, including. The rules shall do all of the following:

(1) Establish criteria for the committee to use in determining whether an applicant's training should be accepted and supervised experience approved;

(2) Establish course content requirements for qualifying counseling degrees issued by institutions in other states from clinical mental health counseling programs, clinical rehabilitation counseling programs, and addiction counseling programs that are not accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs and for graduate degrees from other accredited counseling programs approved by the board in accordance with rules adopted under division (F)(3) of this section;

(3) For purposes of divisions (B)(2)(b) and (3) of this section, establish requirements for acceptance by the committee of accredited counseling programs.

Rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.23.  (A) The counselors professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall issue a license as a licensed professional counselor to each applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and meets the requirements established under division (B) of this section.

(B)(1) To be eligible for a license as a licensed professional counselor, an individual must meet the following requirements:

(1)(a) The individual must be of good moral character.

(2)(b) The individual must hold from an accredited educational institution a graduate degree in counseling.

(3)(c) The individual must complete a minimum of ninety quarter hours or sixty semester hours of graduate credit in counselor training acceptable to the committee, which the individual may complete while working toward receiving a graduate degree in counseling, or subsequent to receiving the degree, and which shall include training in the following areas:

(i) Clinical psychopathology, personality, and abnormal behavior;

(ii) Evaluation of mental and emotional disorders;

(iii) Diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders;

(iv) Methods of prevention, intervention, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

(4)(d) The individual must pass an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as a licensed professional counselor.

(2) To meet the requirement of division (B)(1)(b) of this section, a graduate degree in counseling obtained from a mental health counseling program in this state after January 1, 2018, must be from a clinical mental health counseling program, clinical rehabilitation counseling program, or addiction counseling program accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs.

(3) All of the following meet the educational requirements of division (B)(1)(c) of this section:

(a) A clinical mental health counseling program accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs;

(b) Until January 1, 2018, a mental health counseling program accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs;

(c) A graduate degree in counseling issued by an institution in another state from a clinical mental health counseling program, a clinical rehabilitation counseling program, or an addiction counseling program that is accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs;

(d) Any other accredited counseling programs accepted by the board in accordance with rules adopted under division (F)(3) of this section.

(C) To be accepted by the committee for purposes of division (B) of this section, counselor training must include at least the following:

(1) Instruction in human growth and development; counseling theory; counseling techniques; group dynamics, processing, and counseling; appraisal of individuals; research and evaluation; professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities; social and cultural foundations; and lifestyle and career development;

(2) Participation in a supervised practicum and internship in counseling.

(D) The committee may issue a provisional temporary license to practice as a licensed professional counselor to an applicant who meets all of the requirements to be licensed under this section, pending as follows:

(1) Pending the receipt of transcripts or action by the committee to issue a license as a licensed professional counselor;

(2) For a period not to exceed ninety days, to an applicant who provides the board with a statement from the applicant's academic institution indicating that the applicant has met the academic requirements for the applicant's degree and the projected date the applicant will receive the applicant's transcript showing a conferred degree.

On application to the committee, a temporary license issued under division (D)(2) of this section may be renewed for good cause shown.

(E) An individual may not sit for the licensing examination unless the individual meets the educational requirements to be licensed under this section. An individual who is denied admission to the licensing examination may appeal the denial in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(F) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the committee to implement this section, including. The rules shall do all of the following:

(1) Establish criteria for the committee to use in determining whether an applicant's training should be accepted and supervised experience approved;

(2) Establish course content requirements for qualifying counseling degrees issued by institutions in other states from clinical mental health counseling programs, clinical rehabilitation counseling programs, and addiction counseling programs that are not accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs and for graduate degrees from other accredited counseling programs accepted by the board in accordance with rules adopted under division (F)(3) of this section;

(3) For purposes of divisions (B)(2)(b) and (3) of this section, establish requirements for acceptance by the committee of accredited counseling programs.

Rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.26.  (A) A person licensed under this chapter to practice as an independent social worker or a social worker may diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, except that a social worker may do so only under the supervision of a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed professional clinical counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, independent social worker, or registered nurse who holds a master's degree in psychiatric nursing.

(B) A person licensed under this chapter to practice as an independent social worker may engage in the private practice of social work as an individual practitioner or as a member of a partnership or group practice.

(C) A person licensed under this chapter to practice as a social worker shall not engage in the private practice of social work as an individual practitioner or as a member of a partnership or group practice. A social worker shall not engage in the practice of social work as an employee of a private individual, partnership, or group practitioner of social work unless the social worker is supervised by a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed professional clinical counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, independent social worker, or registered nurse who holds a master's degree in psychiatric nursing.

(D) A person who receives a certificate of registration to practice as a social work assistant is not authorized to engage in the practice of social work. A social work assistant, under the direct supervision of a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, independent social worker, social worker, or registered nurse who holds a master's degree in psychiatric nursing, may provide human, social, and community services that include intake assessment and referral, screening, crisis intervention and resolution, community support, case management and outreach, record keeping, social assessment, visual observation of an individual in the individual's environment, assistance in facilitation with groups and families, advocacy, and orientation, education, and prevention services.

Sec. 4757.27.  (A) The social workers professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall issue a license as an independent social worker to each applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and meets the requirements specified in division (B) of this section. An independent social worker license shall clearly indicate each academic degree earned by the person to whom it has been issued.

(B) To be eligible for a license as an independent social worker, an individual must meet the following requirements:

(1) The individual must be of good moral character.

(2) The individual must hold from an accredited educational institution a master's degree or a doctorate in social work from an educational institution accredited by the council on social work education or an educational institution in candidacy for accreditation by the council.

(3) The individual must complete at least two years of post-master's degree social work experience supervised by an independent social worker.

(4) The individual must pass an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as an independent social worker.

(C) The committee may issue a temporary license to an applicant who meets all of the requirements to be licensed under this section, pending the receipt of transcripts or action by the committee to issue a license as an independent social worker.

(D) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the committee to implement this section, including criteria for the committee to use in determining whether an applicant's training should be accepted and supervised experience approved. Rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.28.  (A) The social workers professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall issue a license as a social worker to each applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and meets the requirements specified in division (B) of this section. A social worker license shall clearly indicate each academic degree earned by the person to whom it is issued.

(B) To be eligible for a license as a social worker, an individual must meet the following requirements:

(1) The individual must be of good moral character.

(2) The individual must hold from an accredited educational institution one of the following:

(a) A baccalaureate degree in social work or, prior to October 10, 1992, a baccalaureate degree in a program closely related to social work and approved by the committee;

(b) A master's degree in social work;

(c) A doctorate in social work.

(3) The individual must pass an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as a social worker.

(C) The committee may issue a temporary license to practice as a social worker as follows:

(1) To an applicant who meets all of the requirements to be licensed under this section, pending the receipt of transcripts or action by the committee to issue a license as a social worker. However, the committee may issue a temporary license;

(2) For a period not to exceed ninety days, to an applicant who provides the board with a statement from the applicant's academic institution indicating that the applicant is in good standing with the institution, that the applicant has met the academic requirements for the applicant's degree, and the projected date the applicant will receive the applicant's transcript showing a conferred degree.

On application to the committee, a temporary license issued under division (C)(2) of this section may be renewed for good cause shown.

(D) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the committee to implement this section, including criteria for the committee to use in determining whether an applicant's training should be accepted and supervised experience approved. Rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.29.  (A) The social workers professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall issue a certificate of registration as a social work assistant to each applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, is of good moral character, and holds from an accredited educational institution an associate degree in social service technology or a bachelor's degree that is equivalent to an associate degree in social service technology or a related bachelor's or higher degree that is approved by the committee.

(B) On and after March 18, 1997, a counselor assistant certificate of registration issued under former section 4757.08 of the Revised Code shall be considered a certificate of registration as a social work assistant. The holder of the certificate is subject to the supervision requirements specified in section 4757.26 of the Revised Code, the continuing education requirements specified in section 4757.33 of the Revised Code, and regulation by the social workers professional standards committee. On the first renewal occurring after March 18, 1997, the committee shall issue a certificate of registration as a social work assistant to each former counselor assistant who qualifies for renewal.

(C) The social workers professional standards committee shall issue a certificate of registration as a social work assistant to any person who, on or before March 18, 1998, meets the requirements for a certificate of registration as a counselor assistant pursuant to division (A)(3) of former section 4757.08 of the Revised Code, submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and is of good moral character.

Sec. 4757.30.  (A) The marriage and family therapist professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall issue a license to practice as a marriage and family therapist to a person who has done all of the following:

(1) Properly completed an application for the license;

(2) Paid the required fee established by the board under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code;

(3) Achieved one of the following:

(a) Received from an educational institution accredited at the time the degree was granted by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the board a master's degree or a doctorate in marriage and family therapy;

(b) Completed a graduate degree that includes a minimum of ninety quarter hours of graduate level course work in marriage and family therapy training that is acceptable to the committee;

(4) Passed an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining the person's ability to be a marriage and family therapist;

(5) Completed a practicum that includes at least three hundred hours of client contact.

(B) To be accepted by the committee for purposes of division (A)(3)(b) of this section, marriage and family therapist training must include instruction in at least the following:

(1) Research and evaluation;

(2) Professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities;

(3) Marriage and family studies;

(4) Marriage and family therapy, including therapeutic theory and techniques for individuals, groups, and families;

(5) Human development;

(6) Appraisal of individuals and families;

(7) Diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders;

(8) Systems theory.

(C) The marriage and family therapist professional standards committee shall issue a license to practice as an independent marriage and family therapist to a person who does both of the following:

(1) Meets all of the requirements of division (A) of this section;

(2) After meeting the requirements of division (A)(3) of this section, completes at least two calendar years of work experience supervised training while engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy.

The two calendar years of work experience supervised training must include two hundred hours of face-to-face supervision while completing a minimum of one thousand hours of documented client contact in marriage and family therapy. Two Of the required two hundred hours of the one thousand hours must include face-to-face supervision, a minimum of one hundred hours must be individual supervision. Supervision shall be performed by a supervisor whose training and experience meets standards established by the board in rules adopted under section 4757.10 of the Revised Code and one hundred hours of the two hundred hours of supervision must be individual supervision.

(D) An independent marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist may engage in the private practice of marriage and family therapy as an individual practitioner or as a member of a partnership or group practice.

(E) A marriage and family therapist may diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders only under the supervision of a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed professional clinical counselor, independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist. An independent marriage and family therapist may diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders without supervision.

(F) Nothing in this chapter or rules adopted under it authorizes an independent marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist to admit a patient to a hospital or requires a hospital to allow a marriage and family therapist to admit a patient.

(G) An independent marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist may not diagnose, treat, or advise on conditions outside the recognized boundaries of the marriage and family therapist's competency. An independent marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist shall make appropriate and timely referrals when a client's needs exceed the marriage and family therapist's competence level.

Sec. 4757.31.  (A) Subject to division (B) of this section, the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall establish, and may from time to time adjust, fees to be charged for the following:

(1) Examination for licensure as a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, independent marriage and family therapist, social worker, or independent social worker;

(2) Initial licenses of licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, independent marriage and family therapists, social workers, and independent social workers, except that the board shall charge only one fee to a person who fulfills all requirements for more than one of the following initial licenses: an initial license as a social worker or independent social worker, an initial license as a licensed professional counselor or licensed professional clinical counselor, and an initial license as a marriage and family therapist or independent marriage and family therapist;

(3) Initial certificates of registration of social work assistants;

(4) Renewal and late renewal of licenses of licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, independent marriage and family therapists, social workers, and independent social workers and renewal and late renewal of certificates of registration of social work assistants;

(5) Verification, to another jurisdiction, of a license or registration issued by the board;

(6) Continuing education programs offered by the board to licensees or registrants;

(7) Approval of continuing education programs;

(8) Approval of continuing education providers to be authorized to offer continuing education programs without prior approval from the board for each program offered;

(9) Issuance of a replacement copy of any wall certificate issued by the board;

(10) Late completion of continuing counselor, social worker, or marriage and family therapy education required under section 4757.33 of the Revised Code and the rules adopted under it.

(B) The fees charged under division (A)(1) of this section shall be established in amounts sufficient to cover the direct expenses incurred in examining applicants for licensure. The fees charged under divisions (A)(2) to (9) of this section shall be nonrefundable and shall be established in amounts sufficient to cover the necessary expenses in administering this chapter and rules adopted under it that are not covered by fees charged under division (A)(1) or (C) of this section. The renewal fee for a license or certificate of registration shall not be less than the initial fee for that license or certificate. The fees charged for licensure and registration and the renewal of licensure and registration may differ for the various types of licensure and registration, but shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars each, unless the board determines that amounts in excess of one hundred twenty-five dollars are needed to cover its necessary expenses in administering this chapter and rules adopted under it and the amounts in excess of one hundred twenty-five dollars are approved by the controlling board.

(C) All receipts of the board shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the occupational licensing and regulatory fund. All vouchers of the board shall be approved by the chairperson or executive director of the board, or both, as authorized by the board.

Sec. 4757.321. (A) A person licensed or registered under this chapter may apply to the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board to have the person's license or registration classified as inactive. If a fee is charged under division (B) of this section, the person shall include the fee with the application. If the person's license or registration is in good standing and the person meets any other requirements established by the board in rules adopted under this section, the board shall classify the license or registration as inactive. The inactive classification shall become effective on the date immediately following the date that the person's license or registration is scheduled to expire.

(B) The board may charge a fee for classifying a license or registration as inactive.

(C) During the period that a license or registration is classified as inactive, the person may not engage in the practice of professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, as applicable, in this state or make any representation to the public indicating that the person is actively licensed or registered under this chapter.

(D) A person whose license or registration has been classified as inactive may apply to the board to have the license or registration reactivated. The board shall reactivate the license or registration if the person meets the requirements established by the board in rules adopted under this section.

(E) The board's jurisdiction to take disciplinary action under this chapter is not removed or limited when a license or registration is classified as inactive under this section.

(F) The board shall adopt rules as necessary for classifying a license or registration as inactive and reactivating an inactive license or registration. The rules shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(G) This section does not apply to registration of master's level counselor trainees, social worker trainees, marriage and family therapist trainees, or continuing education providers.

Sec. 4757.33.  (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, each person who holds a license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter shall complete during the period that the license or certificate is in effect not less than thirty clock hours of continuing professional education as a condition of receiving a renewed license or certificate. To have a lapsed license or certificate of registration restored, a person shall complete the number of hours of continuing education specified by the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board in rules it shall adopt in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

The professional standards committees of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing standards and procedures to be followed by the committees in conducting the continuing education approval process, which shall include registering individuals and entities to provide continuing education programs approved by the board.

(B) The board may waive the continuing education requirements established under this section for persons who are unable to fulfill them because of military service, illness, residence abroad, or any other reason the committee considers acceptable.

In the case of a social worker licensed by virtue of receiving, prior to October 10, 1992, a baccalaureate degree in a program closely related to social work, as a condition of the first renewal of the license, the social worker must complete at an accredited educational institution a minimum of five semester hours of social work graduate or undergraduate credit, or their equivalent, that is acceptable to the committee and includes a course in social work theory and a course in social work methods.

Sec. 4757.34.  Not later than ninety days after December 9, 1994, the The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall approve one or more continuing education courses of study that assist social workers, independent social workers, social work assistants, independent marriage and family therapists, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional clinical counselors, and licensed professional counselors in recognizing the signs of domestic violence and its relationship to child abuse. Social workers, independent social workers, social work assistants, independent marriage and family therapists, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional clinical counselors, and licensed professional counselors are not required to take the courses.

Sec. 4757.36.  (A) The appropriate professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board may, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, take any action specified in division (B) of this section for any reason described in division (C) of this section against an individual who has applied for or holds a license to practice as a professional clinical counselor, professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, social worker, or independent social worker, or a certificate of registration to practice as a social work assistant, for any reason described in division (C) of this section issued under this chapter; a master's level counselor trainee, social worker trainee, or marriage and family therapist trainee; or an individual or entity that is registered, or has applied for registration, in accordance with rules adopted under section 4757.33 of the Revised Code to provide continuing education programs approved by the board.

(B) In its imposition of sanctions against an individual or entity specified in division (A) of this section, the board may do any of the following:

(1) Refuse to issue or refuse to renew a license or certificate of registration;

(2) Suspend, revoke, or otherwise restrict a license or certificate of registration;

(3) Reprimand an individual holding a license or certificate of registration;

(4) Impose a fine in accordance with the graduated system of fines established by the board in rules adopted under section 4757.10 of the Revised Code;

(5) Require an individual holding a license or certificate of registration to take corrective action courses.

(C) The appropriate professional standards committee of the board may take an action specified in division (B) of this section for any of the following reasons:

(1) Commission of an act that violates any provision of this chapter or rules adopted under it;

(2) Knowingly making a false statement on an application for licensure or registration, or for renewal of a license or certificate of registration;

(3) Accepting a commission or rebate for referring persons to any professionals licensed, certified, or registered by any court or board, commission, department, division, or other agency of the state, including, but not limited to, individuals practicing counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy or practicing in fields related to counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy;

(4) A failure to comply with section 4757.12 4757.13 of the Revised Code;

(5) A conviction in this or any other state of a crime that is a felony in this state;

(6) A failure to perform properly as a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, social work assistant, social worker, or independent social worker due to the use of alcohol or other drugs or any other physical or mental condition;

(7) A conviction in this state or in any other state of a misdemeanor committed in the course of practice as a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, social work assistant, social worker, or independent social worker;

(8) Practicing outside the scope of practice applicable to that person;

(9) Practicing in violation of the supervision requirements specified under sections 4757.21 and 4757.26, and division (E) of section 4757.30, of the Revised Code;

(10) A violation of the person's code of ethical practice adopted by rule of the board pursuant to section 4757.11 of the Revised Code;

(11) Revocation or suspension of a license or certificate of registration, other disciplinary action against a license holder or registration, or the voluntary surrender of a license or certificate of registration in another state or jurisdiction for an offense that would be a violation of this chapter.

(D) A disciplinary action under division (B) of this section shall be taken pursuant to an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, except that in lieu of an adjudication, the appropriate professional standards committee may enter into a consent agreement with an individual or entity specified in division (A) of this section to resolve an allegation of a violation of this chapter or any rule adopted under it. A consent agreement, when ratified by the appropriate professional standards committee, constitutes the findings and order of the board with respect to the matter addressed in the agreement. If a committee refuses to ratify a consent agreement, the admissions and findings contained in the consent agreement are of no force or effect.

(E) In any instance in which a professional standards committee of the board is required by Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to give notice of the opportunity for a hearing and the individual or entity subject to the notice does not timely request a hearing in accordance with section 119.07 of the Revised Code, the committee may adopt a final order that contains the board's findings. In that final order, the committee may order any of the sanctions identified in division (B) of this section.

(F) One year or more after the date of suspension or revocation of a license or certificate of registration under this section, application may be made to the appropriate professional standards committee for reinstatement. The committee may accept approve or refuse deny an application for reinstatement. If a license has been suspended or revoked, the committee may require an examination for reinstatement.

(E)(G) On request of the board, the attorney general shall bring and prosecute to judgment a civil action to collect any fine imposed under division (B)(4) of this section that remains unpaid.

(F)(H) All fines collected under division (B)(4) of this section shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the occupational licensing and regulatory fund.

Sec. 4757.37.  (A) An individual whom the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board licenses, certificates, or otherwise legally authorizes to engage in the practice of professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy may render the professional services of a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist within this state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not preclude such an individual from rendering professional services as a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist through another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional association described in division (A) of this section may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services of the following individuals who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice their respective professions:

(1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code;

(7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code;

(8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;

(9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;

(10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family therapists who are authorized for their respective practices under this chapter.

This division applies notwithstanding a provision of a code of ethics applicable to an individual who is a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist that prohibits the individual from engaging in the individual's practice in combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, but who is not also licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage in the practice of professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy.

Sec. 4757.38.  (A) The counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall investigate alleged violations of this chapter or the rules adopted under it and alleged irregularities in the delivery of services related to professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy by persons licensed or registered under this chapter. As part of its conduct of an investigation, the board may issue subpoenas, examine witnesses, and administer oaths.

(B) All of the following apply under this chapter with respect to the confidentiality of information:

(1) Information received by the board pursuant to a complaint or an investigation is confidential and not subject to discovery in any civil action, except that the board may disclose information to law enforcement officers and government entities for purposes of an investigation of either an individual who holds a license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter or an individual or entity that may have engaged in the unauthorized practice of professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy. No law enforcement officer or government entity with knowledge of any information disclosed by the board pursuant to this division shall divulge the information to any other person or government entity except for the purpose of a government investigation, a prosecution, or an adjudication by a court or government entity.

(2) If an investigation requires a review of patient records, the investigation and proceeding shall be conducted in such a manner as to protect patient confidentiality.

(3) All adjudications and investigations of the board are civil actions for the purposes of section 2305.252 of the Revised Code.

(4) Any board activity that involves continued monitoring of an individual as part of or following any disciplinary action taken under section 4755.36 of the Revised Code shall be conducted in a manner that maintains the individual's confidentiality. Information received or maintained by the board with respect to the board's monitoring activities is not subject to discovery in any civil action and is confidential, except that the board may disclose information to law enforcement officers and government entities for purposes of an investigation of an individual holding a license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter.

(C) The board may receive any information necessary to conduct an investigation under this section. If the board is investigating the provision of services to a couple or group, it is not necessary for both members of the couple or all members of the group to consent to the release of information relevant to the investigation.

(D) The board shall ensure that all records it holds pertaining to an investigation remain confidential. The board shall adopt rules establishing procedures to be followed in maintaining the confidentiality of its investigative records. The rules shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.41.  (A) This chapter shall not apply to the following:

(1) A person certified by the state board of education under Chapter 3319. of the Revised Code while performing any services within the person's scope of employment by a board of education or by a private school meeting the standards prescribed by the state board of education under division (D) of section 3301.07 of the Revised Code or in a program operated under Chapter 5126. of the Revised Code for training individuals with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities;

(2) Psychologists or school psychologists licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(3) Members of other professions licensed, certified, or registered by this state while performing services within the recognized scope, standards, and ethics of their respective professions;

(4) Rabbis, priests, Christian science practitioners, clergy, or members of religious orders and other individuals participating with them in pastoral counseling when the counseling activities are within the scope of the performance of their regular or specialized ministerial duties and are performed under the auspices or sponsorship of an established and legally cognizable church, denomination, or sect or an integrated auxiliary of a church as defined in federal tax regulations, paragraph (g)(5) of 26 C.F.R. 1.6033-2 (1995), and when the individual rendering the service remains accountable to the established authority of that church, denomination, sect, or integrated auxiliary;

(5) Any person who is not licensed under this chapter as a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, or social worker and is employed in the civil service as defined in section 124.01 of the Revised Code while engaging in social work or professional counseling or social work as a civil service employee, if on the effective date of this amendment the person has at least two years of service in that capacity;

(6) A student in an accredited educational institution while carrying out activities that are part of the student's prescribed course of study if the activities are supervised as required by the educational institution and if the student does not hold herself or himself out as a person licensed or registered under this chapter;

(7) Individuals who hold a license or certificate under Chapter 4758. of the Revised Code who are acting within the scope of their license or certificate as members of the profession of chemical dependency counseling or alcohol and other drug prevention services;

(8) Any person employed by the American red cross while engaging in activities relating to services for military families and veterans and disaster relief, as described in the "American National Red Cross Act," 33 Stat. 599 (1905), 36 U.S.C.A. 1, as amended;

(9) Members of labor organizations who hold union counselor certificates while performing services in their official capacity as union counselors;

(10) Any person employed in a hospital as defined in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code or in a nursing home as defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code while providing as a hospital employee or nursing home employee, respectively, social services other than counseling and the use of psychosocial interventions and social psychotherapy;

(11) A vocational rehabilitation professional who is providing rehabilitation services to individuals under section 3304.17 of the Revised Code, or holds certification by the commission on rehabilitation counselor certification and is providing rehabilitation counseling services consistent with the commission's standards;

(12) A caseworker not licensed under this chapter as an independent social worker or social worker who is employed by a public children services agency under section 5153.112 of the Revised Code.

(B) Divisions (A)(5), (8), and (10) of this section do not prevent a person described in those divisions from obtaining a license or certificate of registration under this chapter.

(C) Except as provided in divisions (A) and (D) of this section, no employee in the service of the state, including public employees as defined by Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, shall engage in the practice of professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy without the appropriate license issued by the board. Failure to comply with this division constitutes nonfeasance under section 124.34 of the Revised Code or just cause under a collective bargaining agreement. Nothing in this division restricts the director of administrative services from developing new classifications related to this division or from reassigning affected employees to appropriate classifications based on the employee's duties and qualifications.

(D) Except as provided in division (A) of this section, an employee who was engaged in the practice of professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy in the service of the state prior to the effective date of this amendment, including public employees as defined by Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, shall comply with division (C) of this section within two years after the effective date of this amendment. Any such employee who fails to comply shall be removed from employment.

(E) Nothing in this chapter prevents a public children services agency from employing as a caseworker a person not licensed under this chapter as an independent social worker or social worker who has the qualifications specified in section 5153.112 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4757.43.  Nothing in this chapter or the rules adopted under it shall be construed as authorizing a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, independent social worker, social worker, or social work assistant to admit a patient to a hospital or as requiring a hospital to allow any of those individuals to admit a patient.

Sec. 4758.40. An individual seeking an independent chemical dependency counselor license shall meet the requirements of division (A) or (B) of this section.

(A) To meet the requirements of this division, an individual must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Hold from an accredited educational institution at least a master's degree in a behavioral science or nursing that meets the course requirements specified in rules adopted under section 4758.20 of the Revised Code;

(2) Have not less than two thousand hours of compensated work or supervised internship experience in any of the following, not less than four hundred hours of which are in chemical dependency counseling:

(a) Chemical dependency services, substance abuse services, or both types of services;

(b) The practice of psychology, as defined in section 4732.01 of the Revised Code;

(c) The practice of professional counseling, the practice of social work, or the practice of marriage and family therapy, all as defined in section 4757.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) Have a minimum of one hundred eighty hours of training in chemical dependency that meets the requirements specified in rules adopted under section 4758.20 of the Revised Code;

(4) Unless the individual holds a valid license, registration, certificate, or credentials issued under another chapter of the Revised Code that authorizes the individual to engage in a profession whose scope of practice includes chemical dependency counseling and diagnosing and treating chemical dependency conditions, pass one or more examinations administered pursuant to section 4758.22 of the Revised Code for the purpose of determining competence to practice as an independent chemical dependency counselor.

(B) To meet the requirements of this division, an individual must meet both of the following requirements:

(1) Hold, on December 23, 2002, a certificate or credentials that were accepted under former section 3793.07 of the Revised Code as authority to practice as a certified chemical dependency counselor III or certified chemical dependency counselor III-E;

(2) Meet one of the following requirements:

(a) Hold the degree described in division (A)(1) of this section;

(b) Have held a chemical dependency counselor III, II, or I certificate for at least eight consecutive years and have not less than forty clock hours of training on the version of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders that is current at the time of the training. The training must meet the requirements specified in rules adopted under section 4758.20 of the Revised Code. An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery, a psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, or a licensed professional clinical counselor or independent social worker licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code may provide any portion of the training. An independent chemical dependency counselor licensed under this chapter who holds the degree described in division (A)(1) of this section may provide the portion of the training on chemical dependency conditions.

Sec. 4758.41. An individual seeking a chemical dependency counselor III license shall meet the requirements of division (A), (B), or (C) of this section.

(A) To meet the requirements of this division, an individual must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Hold from an accredited educational institution at least a bachelor's degree in a behavioral science or nursing that meets the course requirements specified in rules adopted under section 4758.20 of the Revised Code;

(2) Have not less than two thousand hours of compensated work or supervised internship experience in any of the following, not less than four hundred hours of which are in chemical dependency counseling:

(a) Chemical dependency services, substance abuse services, or both types of services;

(b) The practice of psychology, as defined in section 4732.01 of the Revised Code;

(c) The practice of professional counseling, the practice of social work, or the practice of marriage and family therapy, all as defined in section 4757.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) Have a minimum of one hundred eighty hours of training in chemical dependency that meets the requirements specified in rules adopted under section 4758.20 of the Revised Code;

(4) Unless the individual holds a valid license, registration, certificate, or credentials issued under another chapter of the Revised Code that authorizes the individual to engage in a profession whose scope of practice includes chemical dependency counseling and diagnosing and treating chemical dependency conditions, pass one or more examinations administered pursuant to section 4758.22 of the Revised Code for the purpose of determining competence to practice as a chemical dependency counselor III.

(B) To meet the requirements of this division, an individual must meet both of the following requirements:

(1) Hold, on December 23, 2002, a certificate or credentials that were accepted under former section 3793.07 of the Revised Code as authority to practice as a certified chemical dependency counselor III or certified chemical dependency counselor III-E;

(2) Have not less than forty clock hours of training on the version of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders that is current at the time of the training. The training must meet the requirements specified in rules adopted under section 4758.20 of the Revised Code. An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery, a psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, or a licensed professional clinical counselor or independent social worker licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code may provide any portion of the training. An independent chemical dependency counselor licensed under this chapter who holds the degree described in division (A)(1) of section 4758.40 of the Revised Code may provide the portion of the training on chemical dependency conditions.

(C) To meet the requirements of this division, an individual must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Hold, on December 23, 2002, a certificate or credentials that were accepted under former section 3793.07 of the Revised Code as authority to practice as a certified chemical dependency counselor II;

(2) Meet the requirement of division (B)(2) of this section;

(3) Hold a bachelor's degree in a behavioral science.

Sec. 4758.55.  In addition to practicing chemical dependency counseling, an individual holding a valid independent chemical dependency counselor license may do all of the following:

(A) Diagnose and treat chemical dependency conditions;

(B) Perform treatment planning, assessment, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, case management, and education services as they relate to abuse of and dependency on alcohol and other drugs;

(C) Provide clinical supervision of chemical dependency counseling under the supervision of any of the following:

(1) An independent chemical dependency counselor-clinical supervisor licensed under this chapter;

(2) An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery;

(3) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(4) A registered nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code or licensed professional clinical counselor, independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code if such supervision is consistent with the scope of practice of the registered nurse, licensed professional clinical counselor, independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist.

(D) Refer individuals with nonchemical dependency conditions to appropriate sources of help.

Sec. 4758.561. Any of the following professionals may supervise a chemical dependency counselor III for purposes of divisions (A)(1) and (4) of section 4758.56 of the Revised Code:

(A) An independent chemical dependency counselor-clinical supervisor licensed under this chapter;

(B) An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery;

(C) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(D) A registered nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code or licensed professional clinical counselor, independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code if such supervision is consistent with the scope of practice of the registered nurse, licensed professional clinical counselor, independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist.

Sec. 4758.59. (A) Subject to division (B) of this section, an individual holding a valid chemical dependency counselor assistant certificate may do both of the following in addition to practicing chemical dependency counseling:

(1) Perform treatment planning, assessment, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, case management, and education services as they relate to abuse of or dependency on alcohol and other drugs;

(2) Refer individuals with nonchemical dependency conditions to appropriate sources of help.

(B) An individual holding a valid chemical dependency counselor assistant certificate may practice chemical dependency counseling and perform the tasks specified in division (A) of this section only while under the supervision of any of the following:

(1) An independent chemical dependency counselor-clinical supervisor, independent chemical dependency counselor, or chemical dependency counselor III licensed under this chapter;

(2) An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery;

(3) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(4) A registered nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code or licensed professional clinical counselor, independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code if such supervision is consistent with the scope of practice of the registered nurse, licensed professional clinical counselor, independent social worker, or independent marriage and family therapist.

(C) A chemical dependency counselor assistant may not practice as an individual practitioner.

Sec. 4758.61. An individual who holds a valid prevention specialist assistant certificate or registered applicant certificate issued under this chapter may engage in the practice of alcohol and other drug prevention services under the supervision of any of the following:

(A) A prevention specialist II or prevention specialist I certified under this chapter;

(B) An independent chemical dependency counselor-clinical supervisor, an independent chemical dependency counselor, or a chemical dependency counselor III licensed under this chapter;

(C) An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery;

(D) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(E) A registered nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(F) A licensed professional clinical counselor, a licensed professional counselor, an independent social worker, a social worker, an independent marriage and family therapist, or a marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;

(G) A school counselor licensed by the department of education pursuant to section 3319.22 of the Revised Code;

(H) A health education specialist certified by the national commission for health education credentialing.

Sec. 4769.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Medicare" means the program established by Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 301, as amended.

(B) "Balance billing" means charging or collecting from a medicare beneficiary an amount in excess of the medicare reimbursement rate for medicare-covered services or supplies provided to a medicare beneficiary, except when medicare is the secondary insurer. When medicare is the secondary insurer, the health care practitioner may pursue full reimbursement under the terms and conditions of the primary coverage and, if applicable, the charge allowed under the terms and conditions of the appropriate provider contract, from the primary insurer, but the medicare beneficiary cannot be balance billed above the medicare reimbursement rate for a medicare-covered service or supply. "Balance billing" does not include charging or collecting deductibles or coinsurance required by the program.

(C) "Health care practitioner" means all of the following:

(1) A dentist or dental hygienist licensed under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code;

(2) A registered or licensed practical nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(3) An optometrist licensed under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(4) A dispensing optician, spectacle dispensing optician, contact lens dispensing optician, or spectacle-contact lens dispensing optician licensed under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(5) A pharmacist licensed under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(6) A physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatry;

(7) A physician assistant authorized under Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code to practice as a physician assistant;

(8) A practitioner of a limited branch of medicine issued a certificate under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;

(9) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(10) A chiropractor licensed under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;

(11) A hearing aid dealer or fitter licensed under Chapter 4747. of the Revised Code;

(12) A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;

(13) An occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(14) A physical therapist or physical therapy assistant licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;

(15) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, social worker, or independent social worker licensed, or a social work assistant registered, under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;

(16) A dietitian licensed under Chapter 4759. of the Revised Code;

(17) A respiratory care professional licensed under Chapter 4761. of the Revised Code;

(18) An emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical technician-intermediate, or emergency medical technician-paramedic certified under Chapter 4765. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 5101.61.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Senior service provider" means any person who provides care or services to a person who is an adult as defined in division (B) of section 5101.60 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Ambulatory health facility" means a nonprofit, public or proprietary freestanding organization or a unit of such an agency or organization that:

(a) Provides preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, or palliative items or services furnished to an outpatient or ambulatory patient, by or under the direction of a physician or dentist in a facility which is not a part of a hospital, but which is organized and operated to provide medical care to outpatients;

(b) Has health and medical care policies which are developed with the advice of, and with the provision of review of such policies, an advisory committee of professional personnel, including one or more physicians, one or more dentists, if dental care is provided, and one or more registered nurses;

(c) Has a medical director, a dental director, if dental care is provided, and a nursing director responsible for the execution of such policies, and has physicians, dentists, nursing, and ancillary staff appropriate to the scope of services provided;

(d) Requires that the health care and medical care of every patient be under the supervision of a physician, provides for medical care in a case of emergency, has in effect a written agreement with one or more hospitals and other centers or clinics, and has an established patient referral system to other resources, and a utilization review plan and program;

(e) Maintains clinical records on all patients;

(f) Provides nursing services and other therapeutic services in accordance with programs and policies, with such services supervised by a registered professional nurse, and has a registered professional nurse on duty at all times of clinical operations;

(g) Provides approved methods and procedures for the dispensing and administration of drugs and biologicals;

(h) Has established an accounting and record keeping system to determine reasonable and allowable costs;

(i) "Ambulatory health facilities" also includes an alcoholism treatment facility approved by the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations as an alcoholism treatment facility or certified by the department of mental health and addiction services, and such facility shall comply with other provisions of this division not inconsistent with such accreditation or certification.

(3) "Community mental health facility" means a facility which provides community mental health services and is included in the comprehensive mental health plan for the alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health service district in which it is located.

(4) "Community mental health service" means services, other than inpatient services, provided by a community mental health facility.

(5) "Home health agency" means an institution or a distinct part of an institution operated in this state which:

(a) Is primarily engaged in providing home health services;

(b) Has home health policies which are established by a group of professional personnel, including one or more duly licensed doctors of medicine or osteopathy and one or more registered professional nurses, to govern the home health services it provides and which includes a requirement that every patient must be under the care of a duly licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy;

(c) Is under the supervision of a duly licensed doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy or a registered professional nurse who is responsible for the execution of such home health policies;

(d) Maintains comprehensive records on all patients;

(e) Is operated by the state, a political subdivision, or an agency of either, or is operated not for profit in this state and is licensed or registered, if required, pursuant to law by the appropriate department of the state, county, or municipality in which it furnishes services; or is operated for profit in this state, meets all the requirements specified in divisions (A)(5)(a) to (d) of this section, and is certified under Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C. 301, as amended.

(6) "Home health service" means the following items and services, provided, except as provided in division (A)(6)(g) of this section, on a visiting basis in a place of residence used as the patient's home:

(a) Nursing care provided by or under the supervision of a registered professional nurse;

(b) Physical, occupational, or speech therapy ordered by the patient's attending physician;

(c) Medical social services performed by or under the supervision of a qualified medical or psychiatric social worker and under the direction of the patient's attending physician;

(d) Personal health care of the patient performed by aides in accordance with the orders of a doctor of medicine or osteopathy and under the supervision of a registered professional nurse;

(e) Medical supplies and the use of medical appliances;

(f) Medical services of interns and residents-in-training under an approved teaching program of a nonprofit hospital and under the direction and supervision of the patient's attending physician;

(g) Any of the foregoing items and services which:

(i) Are provided on an outpatient basis under arrangements made by the home health agency at a hospital or skilled nursing facility;

(ii) Involve the use of equipment of such a nature that the items and services cannot readily be made available to the patient in the patient's place of residence, or which are furnished at the hospital or skilled nursing facility while the patient is there to receive any item or service involving the use of such equipment.

Any attorney, physician, osteopath, podiatrist, chiropractor, dentist, psychologist, any employee of a hospital as defined in section 3701.01 of the Revised Code, any nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, any employee of an ambulatory health facility, any employee of a home health agency, any employee of a residential facility licensed under section 5119.34 of the Revised Code that provides accommodations, supervision, and personal care services for three to sixteen unrelated adults, any employee of a nursing home, residential care facility, or home for the aging, as defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code, any senior service provider, any peace officer, coroner, member of the clergy, any employee of a community mental health facility, and any person engaged in professional counseling, social work or counseling, or marriage and family therapy having reasonable cause to believe that an adult is being abused, neglected, or exploited, or is in a condition which is the result of abuse, neglect, or exploitation shall immediately report such belief to the county department of job and family services. This section does not apply to employees of any hospital or public hospital as defined in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Any person having reasonable cause to believe that an adult has suffered abuse, neglect, or exploitation may report, or cause reports to be made of such belief to the department.

(C) The reports made under this section shall be made orally or in writing except that oral reports shall be followed by a written report if a written report is requested by the department. Written reports shall include:

(1) The name, address, and approximate age of the adult who is the subject of the report;

(2) The name and address of the individual responsible for the adult's care, if any individual is, and if the individual is known;

(3) The nature and extent of the alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the adult;

(4) The basis of the reporter's belief that the adult has been abused, neglected, or exploited.

(D) Any person with reasonable cause to believe that an adult is suffering abuse, neglect, or exploitation who makes a report pursuant to this section or who testifies in any administrative or judicial proceeding arising from such a report, or any employee of the state or any of its subdivisions who is discharging responsibilities under section 5101.62 of the Revised Code shall be immune from civil or criminal liability on account of such investigation, report, or testimony, except liability for perjury, unless the person has acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose.

(E) No employer or any other person with the authority to do so shall discharge, demote, transfer, prepare a negative work performance evaluation, or reduce benefits, pay, or work privileges, or take any other action detrimental to an employee or in any way retaliate against an employee as a result of the employee's having filed a report under this section.

(F) Neither the written or oral report provided for in this section nor the investigatory report provided for in section 5101.62 of the Revised Code shall be considered a public record as defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code. Information contained in the report shall upon request be made available to the adult who is the subject of the report, to agencies authorized by the department to receive information contained in the report, and to legal counsel for the adult.

Sec. 5123.61.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Law enforcement agency" means the state highway patrol, the police department of a municipal corporation, or a county sheriff.

(2) "Abuse" has the same meaning as in section 5123.50 of the Revised Code, except that it includes a misappropriation, as defined in that section.

(3) "Neglect" has the same meaning as in section 5123.50 of the Revised Code.

(B) The department of developmental disabilities shall establish a registry office for the purpose of maintaining reports of abuse, neglect, and other major unusual incidents made to the department under this section and reports received from county boards of developmental disabilities under section 5126.31 of the Revised Code. The department shall establish committees to review reports of abuse, neglect, and other major unusual incidents.

(C)(1) Any person listed in division (C)(2) of this section, having reason to believe that a person with mental retardation or a developmental disability has suffered or faces a substantial risk of suffering any wound, injury, disability, or condition of such a nature as to reasonably indicate abuse or neglect of that person, shall immediately report or cause reports to be made of such information to the entity specified in this division. Except as provided in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code or as otherwise provided in this division, the person making the report shall make it to a law enforcement agency or to the county board of developmental disabilities. If the report concerns a resident of a facility operated by the department of developmental disabilities the report shall be made either to a law enforcement agency or to the department. If the report concerns any act or omission of an employee of a county board of developmental disabilities, the report immediately shall be made to the department and to the county board.

(2) All of the following persons are required to make a report under division (C)(1) of this section:

(a) Any physician, including a hospital intern or resident, any dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor, practitioner of a limited branch of medicine as specified in section 4731.15 of the Revised Code, hospital administrator or employee of a hospital, nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, employee of an ambulatory health facility as defined in section 5101.61 of the Revised Code, employee of a home health agency, employee of a residential facility licensed under section 5119.34 of the Revised Code that provides accommodations, supervision, and person care services for three to sixteen unrelated adults, or employee of a community mental health facility;

(b) Any school teacher or school authority, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, attorney, peace officer, coroner, or residents' rights advocate as defined in section 3721.10 of the Revised Code;

(c) A superintendent, board member, or employee of a county board of developmental disabilities; an administrator, board member, or employee of a residential facility licensed under section 5123.19 of the Revised Code; an administrator, board member, or employee of any other public or private provider of services to a person with mental retardation or a developmental disability, or any MR/DD employee, as defined in section 5123.50 of the Revised Code;

(d) A member of a citizen's advisory council established at an institution or branch institution of the department of developmental disabilities under section 5123.092 of the Revised Code;

(e) A member of the clergy who is employed in a position that includes providing specialized services to an individual with mental retardation or another developmental disability, while acting in an official or professional capacity in that position, or a person who is employed in a position that includes providing specialized services to an individual with mental retardation or another developmental disability and who, while acting in an official or professional capacity, renders spiritual treatment through prayer in accordance with the tenets of an organized religion.

(3)(a) The reporting requirements of this division do not apply to employees of the Ohio protection and advocacy system.

(b) An attorney or physician is not required to make a report pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section concerning any communication the attorney or physician receives from a client or patient in an attorney-client or physician-patient relationship, if, in accordance with division (A) or (B) of section 2317.02 of the Revised Code, the attorney or physician could not testify with respect to that communication in a civil or criminal proceeding, except that the client or patient is deemed to have waived any testimonial privilege under division (A) or (B) of section 2317.02 of the Revised Code with respect to that communication and the attorney or physician shall make a report pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, if both of the following apply:

(i) The client or patient, at the time of the communication, is a person with mental retardation or a developmental disability.

(ii) The attorney or physician knows or suspects, as a result of the communication or any observations made during that communication, that the client or patient has suffered or faces a substantial risk of suffering any wound, injury, disability, or condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect of the client or patient.

(4) Any person who fails to make a report required under division (C) of this section and who is an MR/DD employee, as defined in section 5123.50 of the Revised Code, shall be eligible to be included in the registry regarding misappropriation, abuse, neglect, or other specified misconduct by MR/DD employees established under section 5123.52 of the Revised Code.

(D) The reports required under division (C) of this section shall be made forthwith by telephone or in person and shall be followed by a written report. The reports shall contain the following:

(1) The names and addresses of the person with mental retardation or a developmental disability and the person's custodian, if known;

(2) The age of the person with mental retardation or a developmental disability;

(3) Any other information that would assist in the investigation of the report.

(E) When a physician performing services as a member of the staff of a hospital or similar institution has reason to believe that a person with mental retardation or a developmental disability has suffered injury, abuse, or physical neglect, the physician shall notify the person in charge of the institution or that person's designated delegate, who shall make the necessary reports.

(F) Any person having reasonable cause to believe that a person with mental retardation or a developmental disability has suffered or faces a substantial risk of suffering abuse or neglect may report or cause a report to be made of that belief to the entity specified in this division. Except as provided in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code or as otherwise provided in this division, the person making the report shall make it to a law enforcement agency or the county board of developmental disabilities. If the person is a resident of a facility operated by the department of developmental disabilities, the report shall be made to a law enforcement agency or to the department. If the report concerns any act or omission of an employee of a county board of developmental disabilities, the report immediately shall be made to the department and to the county board.

(G)(1) Upon the receipt of a report concerning the possible abuse or neglect of a person with mental retardation or a developmental disability, the law enforcement agency shall inform the county board of developmental disabilities or, if the person is a resident of a facility operated by the department of developmental disabilities, the director of the department or the director's designee.

(2) On receipt of a report under this section that includes an allegation of action or inaction that may constitute a crime under federal law or the law of this state, the department of developmental disabilities shall notify the law enforcement agency.

(3) When a county board of developmental disabilities receives a report under this section that includes an allegation of action or inaction that may constitute a crime under federal law or the law of this state, the superintendent of the board or an individual the superintendent designates under division (H) of this section shall notify the law enforcement agency. The superintendent or individual shall notify the department of developmental disabilities when it receives any report under this section.

(4) When a county board of developmental disabilities receives a report under this section and believes that the degree of risk to the person is such that the report is an emergency, the superintendent of the board or an employee of the board the superintendent designates shall attempt a face-to-face contact with the person with mental retardation or a developmental disability who allegedly is the victim within one hour of the board's receipt of the report.

(H) The superintendent of the board may designate an individual to be responsible for notifying the law enforcement agency and the department when the county board receives a report under this section.

(I) An adult with mental retardation or a developmental disability about whom a report is made may be removed from the adult's place of residence only by law enforcement officers who consider that the adult's immediate removal is essential to protect the adult from further injury or abuse or in accordance with the order of a court made pursuant to section 5126.33 of the Revised Code.

(J) A law enforcement agency shall investigate each report of abuse or neglect it receives under this section. In addition, the department, in cooperation with law enforcement officials, shall investigate each report regarding a resident of a facility operated by the department to determine the circumstances surrounding the injury, the cause of the injury, and the person responsible. The investigation shall be in accordance with the memorandum of understanding prepared under section 5126.058 of the Revised Code. The department shall determine, with the registry office which shall be maintained by the department, whether prior reports have been made concerning an adult with mental retardation or a developmental disability or other principals in the case. If the department finds that the report involves action or inaction that may constitute a crime under federal law or the law of this state, it shall submit a report of its investigation, in writing, to the law enforcement agency. If the person with mental retardation or a developmental disability is an adult, with the consent of the adult, the department shall provide such protective services as are necessary to protect the adult. The law enforcement agency shall make a written report of its findings to the department.

If the person is an adult and is not a resident of a facility operated by the department, the county board of developmental disabilities shall review the report of abuse or neglect in accordance with sections 5126.30 to 5126.33 of the Revised Code and the law enforcement agency shall make the written report of its findings to the county board.

(K) Any person or any hospital, institution, school, health department, or agency participating in the making of reports pursuant to this section, any person participating as a witness in an administrative or judicial proceeding resulting from the reports, or any person or governmental entity that discharges responsibilities under sections 5126.31 to 5126.33 of the Revised Code shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of such actions except liability for perjury, unless the person or governmental entity has acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose.

(L) No employer or any person with the authority to do so shall discharge, demote, transfer, prepare a negative work performance evaluation, reduce pay or benefits, terminate work privileges, or take any other action detrimental to an employee or retaliate against an employee as a result of the employee's having made a report under this section. This division does not preclude an employer or person with authority from taking action with regard to an employee who has made a report under this section if there is another reasonable basis for the action.

(M) Reports made under this section are not public records as defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code. Information contained in the reports on request shall be made available to the person who is the subject of the report, to the person's legal counsel, and to agencies authorized to receive information in the report by the department or by a county board of developmental disabilities.

(N) Notwithstanding section 4731.22 of the Revised Code, the physician-patient privilege shall not be a ground for excluding evidence regarding the injuries or physical neglect of a person with mental retardation or a developmental disability or the cause thereof in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to this section.

SECTION 2. That existing sections 1701.03, 1705.03, 1705.04, 1705.53, 1785.01, 1785.02, 1785.03, 2152.72, 2305.234, 2305.51, 2317.02, 2921.22, 2925.01, 2951.041, 3107.014, 3701.046, 3701.74, 3709.161, 3721.21, 3923.28, 3923.281, 3923.282, 3923.29, 3923.30, 3963.01, 4723.16, 4725.33, 4729.161, 4731.226, 4731.65, 4732.28, 4734.17, 4734.41, 4755.471, 4757.01, 4757.02, 4757.03, 4757.04, 4757.10, 4757.11, 4757.16, 4757.21, 4757.22, 4757.23, 4757.26, 4757.27, 4757.28, 4757.29, 4757.30, 4757.31, 4757.33, 4757.34, 4757.36, 4757.38, 4757.41, 4757.43, 4758.40, 4758.41, 4758.55, 4758.561, 4758.59, 4758.61, 4769.01, 5101.61, and 5123.61 and section 4757.12 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. Within one year after the effective date of this act, the Office of Collective Bargaining in the Department of Administrative Services shall implement division (C) of section 4757.41 of the Revised Code as enacted by this act.

Within ninety days after the effective date of this act, the Office of Collective Bargaining shall negotiate with each state agency and the affected union to reach a mutually agreeable resolution for employees impacted by the enactment of division (C) of section 4757.41 of the Revised Code.

Notwithstanding divisions (A) and (D) of section 124.14 of the Revised Code or any other contrary provision of law, for employees in the service of the state exempt from Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code who are impacted by the enactment of division (C) of section 4757.41 of the Revised Code, the Director of Administrative Services may implement any or all of the provisions of the resolutions described in the preceding paragraph.

The Director, within ninety days after the effective date of this act, shall develop and assign new classifications related to the enactment of division (C) of section 4757.41 of the Revised Code as needed and reassign impacted employees to appropriate classifications based on the employee's duties and qualifications.

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