To amend sections 111.16, 111.17, 1703.31, 1729.12, 1746.06, 1782.63, 2305.10, and 4743.04 and to enact sections 5903.21, 5903.22, 5903.23, 5903.24, and 5903.25 of the Revised Code to establish the Veterans Fee Waiver Program.

Section 1.  That sections 111.16, 111.17, 1703.31, 1729.12, 1746.06, 1782.63, 2305.10, and 4743.04 be amended and sections 5903.21, 5903.22, 5903.23, 5903.24, and 5903.25 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 111.16.  The secretary of state shall charge and collect, for the benefit of the state, the following fees:

(A) For filing and recording articles of incorporation of a domestic corporation, including designation of agent:

(1) Wherein the corporation shall not be authorized to issue any shares of capital stock, one hundred twenty-five dollars;

(2) Wherein the corporation shall be authorized to issue shares of capital stock, with or without par value:

(a) Ten cents for each share authorized up to and including one thousand shares;

(b) Five cents for each share authorized in excess of one thousand shares up to and including ten thousand shares;

(c) Two cents for each share authorized in excess of ten thousand shares up to and including fifty thousand shares;

(d) One cent for each share authorized in excess of fifty thousand shares up to and including one hundred thousand shares;

(e) One-half cent for each share authorized in excess of one hundred thousand shares up to and including five hundred thousand shares;

(f) One-quarter cent for each share authorized in excess of five hundred thousand shares; provided no fee shall be less than one hundred twenty-five dollars or greater than one hundred thousand dollars.

(B) For filing and recording a certificate of amendment to or amended articles of incorporation of a domestic corporation, or for filing and recording a certificate of reorganization, a certificate of dissolution, or an amendment to a foreign license application:

(1) If the domestic corporation is not authorized to issue any shares of capital stock, fifty dollars;

(2) If the domestic corporation is authorized to issue shares of capital stock, fifty dollars, and in case of any increase in the number of shares authorized to be issued, a further sum computed in accordance with the schedule set forth in division (A)(2) of this section less a credit computed in the same manner for the number of shares previously authorized to be issued by the corporation; provided no fee under division (B)(2) of this section shall be greater than one hundred thousand dollars;

(3) If the foreign corporation is not authorized to issue any shares of capital stock, fifty dollars;

(4) If the foreign corporation is authorized to issue shares of capital stock, fifty dollars.

(C) For filing and recording articles of incorporation of a savings and loan association, one hundred twenty-five dollars; and for filing and recording a certificate of amendment to or amended articles of incorporation of a savings and loan association, fifty dollars;

(D) For filing and recording a certificate of conversion, including a designation of agent, a certificate of merger, or a certificate of consolidation, one hundred twenty-five dollars and, in the case of any new corporation resulting from a consolidation or any surviving corporation that has an increased number of shares authorized to be issued resulting from a merger, an additional sum computed in accordance with the schedule set forth in division (A)(2) of this section less a credit computed in the same manner for the number of shares previously authorized to be issued or represented in this state by each of the corporations for which a consolidation or merger is effected by the certificate;

(E) For filing and recording articles of incorporation of a credit union or the American credit union guaranty association, one hundred twenty-five dollars, and for filing and recording a certificate of increase in capital stock or any other amendment of the articles of incorporation of a credit union or the association, fifty dollars;

(F) For filing and recording articles of organization of a limited liability company, for filing and recording an application to become a registered foreign limited liability company, for filing and recording a registration application to become a domestic limited liability partnership, or for filing and recording an application to become a registered foreign limited liability partnership, one hundred twenty-five dollars;

(G) For filing and recording a certificate of limited partnership or an application for registration as a foreign limited partnership, or for filing an initial statement of partnership authority pursuant to section 1776.33 of the Revised Code, one hundred twenty-five dollars.;

(H) For filing a copy of papers evidencing the incorporation of a municipal corporation or of annexation of territory by a municipal corporation, five dollars, to be paid by the municipal corporation, the petitioners therefor, or their agent;

(I) For filing and recording any of the following:

(1) A license to transact business in this state by a foreign corporation for profit pursuant to section 1703.04 of the Revised Code or a foreign nonprofit corporation pursuant to section 1703.27 of the Revised Code, one hundred twenty-five dollars;

(2) A biennial report or biennial statement pursuant to section 1775.63, 1776.83, or 1785.06 of the Revised Code, twenty-five dollars;

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section or any other section of the Revised Code, any other certificate or paper that is required to be filed and recorded or is permitted to be filed and recorded by any provision of the Revised Code with the secretary of state, twenty-five dollars.

(J) For filing any certificate or paper not required to be recorded, five dollars;

(K)(1) For making copies of any certificate or other paper filed in the office of the secretary of state, a fee not to exceed one dollar per page, except as otherwise provided in the Revised Code, and for creating and affixing the seal of the office of the secretary of state to any good standing or other certificate, five dollars. For copies of certificates or papers required by state officers for official purpose, no charge shall be made.

(2) For creating and affixing the seal of the office of the secretary of state to the certificates described in division (E) of section 1701.81, division (E) of section 1701.811, division (E) of section 1705.38, division (E) of section 1705.381, division (D) of section 1702.43, division (E) of section 1775.47, division (E) of section 1775.55, division (E) of section 1776.70, division (E) of section 1776.74, division (E) of section 1782.433, or division (E) of section 1782.4310 of the Revised Code, twenty-five dollars.

(L) For a minister's license to solemnize marriages, ten dollars;

(M) For examining documents to be filed at a later date for the purpose of advising as to the acceptability of the proposed filing, fifty dollars;

(N) Fifty dollars for filing and recording any of the following:

(1) A certificate of dissolution and accompanying documents, or a certificate of cancellation, under section 1701.86, 1702.47, 1705.43, 1776.65, or 1782.10 of the Revised Code;

(2) A notice of dissolution of a foreign licensed corporation or a certificate of surrender of license by a foreign licensed corporation under section 1703.17 of the Revised Code;

(3) The withdrawal of registration of a foreign or domestic limited liability partnership under section 1775.61, 1775.64, 1776.81, or 1776.86 of the Revised Code, or the certificate of cancellation of registration of a foreign limited liability company under section 1705.57 of the Revised Code;

(4) The filing of a statement of denial under section 1776.34 of the Revised Code, a statement of dissociation under section 1776.57 of the Revised Code, a statement of disclaimer of general partner status under Chapter 1782. of the Revised Code, or a cancellation of disclaimer of general partner status under Chapter 1782. of the Revised Code.

(O) For filing a statement of continued existence by a nonprofit corporation, twenty-five dollars;

(P) For filing a restatement under section 1705.08 or 1782.09 of the Revised Code, an amendment to a certificate of cancellation under section 1782.10 of the Revised Code, an amendment under section 1705.08 or 1782.09 of the Revised Code, or a correction under section 1705.55, 1775.61, 1775.64, 1776.12, or 1782.52 of the Revised Code, fifty dollars;

(Q) For filing for reinstatement of an entity cancelled by operation of law, by the secretary of state, by order of the department of taxation, or by order of a court, twenty-five dollars;

(R) For filing and recording any of the following:

(1) A change of agent, resignation of agent, or change of agent's address under section 1701.07, 1702.06, 1703.041, 1703.27, 1705.06, 1705.55, 1746.04, 1747.03, 1776.07, or 1782.04 of the Revised Code, twenty-five dollars;

(2) A multiple change of agent name or address, standardization of agent address, or resignation of agent under section 1701.07, 1702.06, 1703.041, 1703.27, 1705.06, 1705.55, 1746.04, 1747.03, 1776.07, or 1782.04 of the Revised Code, one hundred twenty-five dollars, plus three dollars per entity record being changed, by the multiple agent update.

(S) For filing and recording any of the following:

(1) An application for the exclusive right to use a name or an application to reserve a name for future use under section 1701.05, 1702.05, 1703.31, 1705.05, or 1746.06 of the Revised Code, fifty dollars;

(2) A trade name or fictitious name registration or report, fifty dollars;

(3) An application to renew any item covered by division (S)(1) or (2) of this section that is permitted to be renewed, twenty-five dollars;

(4) An assignment of rights for use of a name covered by division (S)(1), (2), or (3) of this section, the cancellation of a name registration or name reservation that is so covered, or notice of a change of address of the registrant of a name that is so covered, twenty-five dollars.

(T) For filing and recording a report to operate a business trust or a real estate investment trust, either foreign or domestic, one hundred twenty-five dollars; and for filing and recording an amendment to a report or associated trust instrument, or a surrender of authority, to operate a business trust or real estate investment trust, fifty dollars;

(U)(1) For filing and recording the registration of a trademark, service mark, or mark of ownership, one hundred twenty-five dollars;

(2) For filing and recording the change of address of a registrant, the assignment of rights to a registration, a renewal of a registration, or the cancellation of a registration associated with a trademark, service mark, or mark of ownership, twenty-five dollars.

(V) For filing a service of process with the secretary of state, five dollars, except as otherwise provided in any section of the Revised Code.

Fees specified in this section may be paid by cash, check, or money order, by credit card in accordance with section 113.40 of the Revised Code, or by an alternative payment program in accordance with division (B) of section 111.18 of the Revised Code. Any credit card number or the expiration date of any credit card is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 149. of the Revised Code.

The fees specified in divisions (A), (F), (G), and (S) of this section are subject to sections 5903.21 to 5903.25 of the Revised Code relating to the veterans fee waiver program.

Sec. 111.17.  The secretary of state shall not file or record articles of incorporation or consolidation, certificates, or other papers referred to in section 111.16 of the Revised Code unless the fee has been paid or the fee is waived under the veterans fee waiver program under sections 5903.21 to 5903.25 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 1703.31.  (A) Any foreign corporation may register its corporate name, if its corporate name is available for use under division (D) of section 1703.04 of the Revised Code, by filing in the office of the secretary of state an application, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, that contains the following information:

(1) The exact corporate name to be registered;

(2) The complete address of the principal office of the corporation;

(3) The jurisdiction of its incorporation;

(4) The date of its incorporation;

(5) A statement that it is carrying on or doing business;

(6) The general nature of the business in which it is engaged;

(7) Any other information required by the secretary of state.

The application shall be signed and verified by an officer of the applicant.

The application shall be accompanied by a certificate stating that the corporation is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, which certificate shall be executed by the official of the jurisdiction having custody of the records pertaining to corporations and dated not earlier than sixty days prior to the filing of the application.

The filing fee specified in division (S)(1) of section 111.16 of the Revised Code shall accompany the application unless the fee is waived under the veterans fee waiver program under sections 5903.21 to 5903.25 of the Revised Code.

(B) Registration of a corporate name under this section is effective for a term of one year from the date of registration. Upon application, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, filed with the secretary of state prior to the expiration of each one-year term, the registration may be renewed for an additional term. The renewal application shall set forth the facts required to be set forth in the original application for registration, together with a certificate of good standing as required for the initial registration.

The secretary of state shall notify registrants within the three months before the expiration of one year from the date of registration of the necessity of renewal by writing to the principal office address of the registrants as shown upon the current registration in effect.

The renewal fee specified in division (S)(3) of section 111.16 of the Revised Code, payable to the secretary of state, shall accompany the application for renewal of the registration.

Sec. 1729.12.  (A) For filing articles of incorporation or a certificate of amendment of articles or a certificate of merger, consolidation, division, or dissolution, and with respect to the issuance of shares of stock, an association organized under this chapter shall pay to the secretary of state the fees imposed by section 111.16 of the Revised Code unless a fee is waived under the veterans fee waiver program under sections 5903.21 to 5903.25 of the Revised Code. In the case of a certificate of division, the filing fee shall be the same as for a certificate of merger or consolidation.

(B) When the articles of incorporation, or a certificate of amendment of articles, or a certificate of merger, consolidation, conversion, division, or dissolution is filed with the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall, if the articles or certificate complies with this chapter, endorse approval thereon, the date of filing, a file number, and make a legible copy thereof by any authorized method. The original or a copy of the articles or certificate, certified by the secretary of state, shall be returned to the person filing the articles or certificate.

(C) All persons shall have the opportunity to acquire a copy of the articles and other certificates filed and recorded in the office of the secretary of state, but no person dealing with the association shall be charged with constructive notice of the contents of any such articles or certificates by reason of the filing or recording.

Sec. 1746.06.  (A) No business trust that has made a filing pursuant to section 1746.04 of the Revised Code may use the words "Incorporated," "Corporation," "Inc.," "Co.," "Partnership," "Ltd.," or derivatives thereof in its name.

(B) No business trust formed after the effective date of this chapter that has made a filing pursuant to section 1746.04 of the Revised Code shall assume the name of any corporation established under the laws of this state, or of a corporation, firm, or association, or trust whether or not as defined in section 1746.01 of the Revised Code, or of an individual, carrying on business in this state at the time when the business trust is created, or assume a name so similar thereto as to be likely to be mistaken for it, except with the written consent of such existing corporation, firm, association, or trust, or of such individual, previously or concurrently filed with the secretary of state.

(C) The secretary of state shall refuse to receive for filing the trust instrument of a business trust if it appears to the secretary of state to have violated any provision of this section. The courts of common pleas of this state shall have jurisdiction, upon the application of any person interested or affected, to enjoin a business trust from transacting business under any name in violation of any provision of this section, notwithstanding that the trust instrument of such business trust has been received for filing under section 1746.04 of the Revised Code.

(D) Any person who wishes to reserve a name for a proposed new business trust, or any business trust intending to change its name, may submit to the secretary of state a written application for the exclusive right to use a specified name as the name of a business trust. If the secretary of state finds that, under this section, the specified name is available for such use, the secretary of state shall indorse the secretary of state's approval upon and file such application and, from the date of such indorsement, such applicant shall have the exclusive right for one hundred eighty days to use the specified name as the name of a business trust, counting the date of such indorsement as the first of the one hundred eighty days. The right so obtained may be transferred by the applicant or other holder thereof by the filing in the office of the secretary of state of a written transfer stating the name and address of the transferee. For filing any application for the exclusive right to use a specified name under this division, the secretary of state shall charge and collect the fee specified in division (S)(1) of section 111.16 of the Revised Code unless the fee is waived under the veterans fee waiver program under sections 5903.21 to 5903.25 of the Revised Code. For each filing of a transfer of the right to an exclusive name under this division, the secretary of state shall charge and collect the fee specified in division (S)(4) of section 111.16 of the Revised Code.

(E) Any business trust that has not made the filings described under section 1746.04 of the Revised Code may submit to the secretary of state a written application for the exclusive right to use a specified name as the name of such business trust. If the secretary of state finds that, under this section, the specified name is available for such use, the secretary of state shall indorse the secretary of state's approval upon and file such application and, from the date of such indorsement, such applicant has the exclusive right to use the specified name for the period that it transacts business. The right so obtained may be transferred by the applicant or other holder thereof by the filing in the office of the secretary of state of a written transfer stating the name and address of the transferee. For filing an application for the exclusive right to use a specified name under this division, the secretary of state shall charge and collect the fee specified in division (S)(1) of section 111.16 of the Revised Code unless the fee is waived under the veterans fee waiver program under sections 5903.21 to 5903.25 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 1782.63.  (A)(1) Each limited partnership existing prior to July 1, 1994, and each foreign limited partnership registered pursuant to sections 1782.49 and 1782.50 of the Revised Code prior to that date shall file, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, a certificate of limited partnership and an application for registration as a foreign limited partnership, respectively, with the secretary of state as follows:

(a) Each limited partnership with a name beginning with the letter A, B, C, D, E, or F shall so file with the secretary of state on or before June 30, 1995;

(b) Each limited partnership with a name beginning with the letter G, H, I, J, K, L, or M shall so file with the secretary of state on or before December 31, 1995;

(c) Each limited partnership with a name beginning with the letter N, O, P, Q, R, or S shall so file with the secretary of state on or before June 30, 1996;

(d) Each limited partnership with a name beginning with the letter T, U, V, W, X, Y, or Z shall so file with the secretary of state on or before December 31, 1996;

(e) If a limited partnership's name begins with a character other than a letter of the English alphabet, the first letter of the English alphabet that appears in the limited partnership's name shall be considered the beginning of its name for purposes of divisions (A)(1)(a) to (d) of this section and the limited partnership shall so file with the secretary of state in accordance with the applicable provision of divisions (A)(1)(a) to (d) of this section.

(2) Any limited partnership that files a certificate of limited partnership or an application for registration as a foreign limited partnership is subject to the payment of filing fees in accordance with division (G) of section 111.16 of the Revised Code unless the fee is waived under the veterans fee waiver program under sections 5903.21 to 5903.25 of the Revised Code.

(3) A limited partnership that is required by divisions (A)(1)(a) to (e) of this section to file any document with the secretary of state and that has not done so by the time required for the filing may not maintain any action, suit, or proceeding in any court of this state until it has filed the required document. The failure of a limited partnership to make the required filing does not impair the validity of any contract or act of the limited partnership or prevent it from defending any action, suit, or proceeding in any court of this state. A limited partner of a limited partnership is not liable as a general partner of the limited partnership or otherwise liable for obligations of the partnership solely by reason of the partnership having transacted business in this state without making the filing required by divisions (A)(1)(a) to (e) of this section.

(B) If a surviving domestic limited partnership that has not filed a certificate of limited partnership pursuant to division (A) of this section results from a merger on and after July 1, 1994, the partnership shall include a copy of its certificate of limited partnership with its certificate of merger or consolidation filed pursuant to section 1782.433 of the Revised Code. Upon filing of the certificate of limited partnership in accordance with this division, the surviving domestic limited partnership shall be deemed to be in compliance with division (A) of this section.

(C) A limited partnership that is formed under this chapter or governed by this chapter pursuant to section 1782.61 of the Revised Code and that is in existence on July 1, 1994, shall be governed by this chapter, as amended by the act in which this section was enacted, except that the amendments to section 1782.28 of the Revised Code made by that act and the repeal of section 1782.38 of the Revised Code by that act shall not affect the rights of any person who extended credit to a limited partnership prior to July 1, 1994, but only to the extent of credit extended before such date.

(D) The amendments to this chapter made by the act in which this section was enacted do not affect a claim, action, or proceeding that is accrued, existing, incurred, or pending on or before July 1, 1994, but the claim, action, or proceeding may be asserted, enforced, prosecuted, or defended as if those amendments had not been made.

Sec. 2305.10.  (A) Except as provided in division (C) or (E) of this section, an action based on a product liability claim and an action for bodily injury or injuring personal property shall be brought within two years after the cause of action accrues. Except as provided in divisions (B)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of this section, a cause of action accrues under this division when the injury or loss to person or property occurs.

(B)(1) For purposes of division (A) of this section, a cause of action for bodily injury that is not described in division (B)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section and that is caused by exposure to hazardous or toxic chemicals, ethical drugs, or ethical medical devices accrues upon the date on which the plaintiff is informed by competent medical authority that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, or upon the date on which by the exercise of reasonable diligence the plaintiff should have known that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, whichever date occurs first.

(2) For purposes of division (A) of this section, a cause of action for bodily injury caused by exposure to chromium in any of its chemical forms accrues upon the date on which the plaintiff is informed by competent medical authority that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, or upon the date on which by the exercise of reasonable diligence the plaintiff should have known that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, whichever date occurs first.

(3) For purposes of division (A) of this section, a cause of action for bodily injury incurred by a veteran through exposure to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including agent orange, accrues upon the date on which the plaintiff is informed by competent medical authority that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, or upon the date on which by the exercise of reasonable diligence the plaintiff should have known that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, whichever date occurs first.

(4) For purposes of division (A) of this section, a cause of action for bodily injury caused by exposure to diethylstilbestrol or other nonsteroidal synthetic estrogens, including exposure before birth, accrues upon the date on which the plaintiff is informed by competent medical authority that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, or upon the date on which by the exercise of reasonable diligence the plaintiff should have known that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, whichever date occurs first.

(5) For purposes of division (A) of this section, a cause of action for bodily injury caused by exposure to asbestos accrues upon the date on which the plaintiff is informed by competent medical authority that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, or upon the date on which by the exercise of reasonable diligence the plaintiff should have known that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, whichever date occurs first.

(C)(1) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (C)(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7) of this section or in section 2305.19 of the Revised Code, no cause of action based on a product liability claim shall accrue against the manufacturer or supplier of a product later than ten years from the date that the product was delivered to its first purchaser or first lessee who was not engaged in a business in which the product was used as a component in the production, construction, creation, assembly, or rebuilding of another product.

(2) Division (C)(1) of this section does not apply if the manufacturer or supplier of a product engaged in fraud in regard to information about the product and the fraud contributed to the harm that is alleged in a product liability claim involving that product.

(3) Division (C)(1) of this section does not bar an action based on a product liability claim against a manufacturer or supplier of a product who made an express, written warranty as to the safety of the product that was for a period longer than ten years and that, at the time of the accrual of the cause of action, has not expired in accordance with the terms of that warranty.

(4) If the cause of action relative to a product liability claim accrues during the ten-year period described in division (C)(1) of this section but less than two years prior to the expiration of that period, an action based on the product liability claim may be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrues.

(5) If a cause of action relative to a product liability claim accrues during the ten-year period described in division (C)(1) of this section and the claimant cannot commence an action during that period due to a disability described in section 2305.16 of the Revised Code, an action based on the product liability claim may be commenced within two years after the disability is removed.

(6) Division (C)(1) of this section does not bar an action for bodily injury caused by exposure to asbestos if the cause of action that is the basis of the action accrues upon the date on which the plaintiff is informed by competent medical authority that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, or upon the date on which by the exercise of reasonable diligence the plaintiff should have known that the plaintiff has an injury that is related to the exposure, whichever date occurs first.

(7)(a) Division (C)(1) of this section does not bar an action based on a product liability claim against a manufacturer or supplier of a product if all of the following apply:

(i) The action is for bodily injury.

(ii) The product involved is a substance or device described in division (B)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section.

(iii) The bodily injury results from exposure to the product during the ten-year period described in division (C)(1) of this section.

(b) If division (C)(7)(a) of this section applies regarding an action, the cause of action accrues upon the date on which the claimant is informed by competent medical authority that the bodily injury was related to the exposure to the product, or upon the date on which by the exercise of reasonable diligence the claimant should have known that the bodily injury was related to the exposure to the product, whichever date occurs first. The action based on the product liability claim shall be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrues and shall not be commenced more than two years after the cause of action accrues.

(D) This section does not create a new cause of action or substantive legal right against any person involving a product liability claim.

(E) An action brought by a victim of childhood sexual abuse asserting any claim resulting from childhood sexual abuse, as defined in section 2305.111 of the Revised Code, shall be brought as provided in division (C) of that section.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) "Agent orange," "causative agent," and "veteran" have Veteran" has the same meanings meaning as in section 5903.21 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Ethical drug," "ethical medical device," "manufacturer," "product," "product liability claim," and "supplier" have the same meanings as in section 2307.71 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Harm" means injury, death, or loss to person or property.

(G) This section shall be considered to be purely remedial in operation and shall be applied in a remedial manner in any civil action commenced on or after April 7, 2005, in which this section is relevant, regardless of when the cause of action accrued and notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code or prior rule of law of this state, but shall not be construed to apply to any civil action pending prior to April 7, 2005.

Sec. 4743.04.  (A) The renewal of a license or other authorization to practice a trade or profession issued under Title XLVII of the Revised Code is subject to the provisions of section 5903.10 of the Revised Code relating to service in the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard or the national guard of any other state.

(B) Continuing education requirements applicable to the licensees under Title XLVII of the Revised Code are subject to the provisions of section 5903.12 of the Revised Code relating to active duty military service.

(C) A department, agency, or office of this state or of any political subdivision of this state that issues a license or certificate to practice a trade or profession may, pursuant to rules adopted by the department, agency, or office, issue a temporary license or certificate to practice the trade or profession to a person whose spouse is on active military duty in this state.

(D) The issuance of a license or other authorization to practice a trade or profession issued under Title XLVII of the Revised Code is subject to the provisions of section 5903.03 of the Revised Code relating to service in the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard or the national guard of any other state.

(E) The issuance of a license or other authorization to practice a trade or profession issued under Title XLVII of the Revised Code is subject to sections 5903.21 to 5903.25 of the Revised Code relating to the veterans fee waiver program.

Sec. 5903.21.  As used in sections 5902.21 to 5903.25 of the Revised Code:

"Armed forces" means the armed forces of the United States, including the army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, or any reserve components of those forces; the national guard of any state; the commissioned corps of the United States public health service; the merchant marine service during wartime; such other service as may be designated by congress; or the Ohio organized militia when engaged in full-time national guard duty for a period of more than thirty days.

"Document" means articles of incorporation of a domestic corporation, including designation of agent; articles of organization of a limited liability company; a registration application to become a domestic limited liability partnership; a certificate of limited partnership; an application for the exclusive right to use a name; an application to reserve a name for future use; and a trade name or fictitious name registration or report.

"License" means a license, certificate, permit, or other authorization issued or conferred by a licensing agency under which a recipient may operate a business within a profession or occupation.

"Licensing agency" means any state department, division, board, commission, agency, or other state governmental unit authorized by the Revised Code to issue a license.

"Merchant marine" includes the United States army transport service and the United States naval transport service.

"Veteran" means any person who has completed service in the armed forces, including the national guard of any state, or a reserve component of the armed forces, who has been discharged under honorable conditions from the armed forces or who has been transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory service.

Sec. 5903.22.  The department of veterans services shall establish and maintain the veterans fee waiver program.

As a function of the program, the department shall, upon receiving a request for verification from the secretary of state or a licensing agency, verify for the secretary of state or licensing agency whether or not an individual who claims a fee waiver is eligible to receive the fee waiver. The department shall respond to a request for verification within thirty days after receiving the request.

Sec. 5903.23.  To be eligible to receive a fee waiver under the veterans fee waiver program, an individual shall satisfy all of the following conditions that apply to the individual:

(A) The individual is a resident of the state;

(B) The individual is a veteran and provides documentation to the secretary of state or licensing agency indicating the individual is a veteran;

(C) The individual has not received previously a fee waiver under the program;

(D) If applying for a license, the individual is applying for an initial license; and

(E) If applying for a license, the individual is an owner of a business and is applying for a license to operate that business.

Sec. 5903.24.  (A) The secretary of state shall prescribe a form on which an individual who is charged a fee under division (A), (F), (G), or (S) of section 111.16 of the Revised Code may claim a fee waiver under the veterans fee waiver program. Upon receiving a form claiming eligibility for a fee waiver, the secretary of state shall request the department to verify whether the individual is eligible for a fee waiver under the program. The secretary of state shall provide to the department the documentation provided by the individual that indicates the individual is a veteran.

If the department verifies the individual is eligible for a fee waiver, the secretary of state shall waive the fee for the document. The amount waived by the secretary of state under this section may not exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars.

(B) A licensing agency shall provide, on its license application or applications, an opportunity for an individual to claim the individual is eligible to receive a fee waiver under the veterans fee waiver program.

After receiving an application that includes a claim of eligibility for a fee waiver, the licensing agency shall request the department of veterans services to verify whether the applicant is eligible for a fee waiver under the program. The licensing agency shall provide to the department the documentation provided by the individual that indicates the individual is a veteran.

If the department verifies the applicant is eligible for a fee waiver, the licensing agency shall waive the fee for the license.

Sec. 5903.25.  The department of veterans services shall provide information on its web site about the veterans fee waiver program. The web site shall include a list of the licenses and documents for which a fee waiver may be used and shall state which licensing agency to contact to receive a fee waiver for a license, or, in the case of a document, shall direct the user to the secretary of state.

Each licensing agency shall provide information on its web site about the veterans fee waiver program and shall include a list of the licenses the licensing agency issues that are eligible for a fee waiver under the program.

The secretary of state shall provide information on its web site about the veterans fee waiver program and shall include a list of documents for which a fee waiver may be used under the program.

Section 2.  That existing sections 111.16, 111.17, 1703.31, 1729.12, 1746.06, 1782.63, 2305.10, and 4743.04 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.