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Ohio Laws and Rules
(A) As used in this section:
(1) “Employment” includes volunteer service.
(2) “Licensure” means the authorization, evidenced by a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other authority that is issued or conferred by a public office, to engage in a profession, occupation, or occupational activity or to have control of and operate certain specific equipment, machinery, or premises over which a public office has jurisdiction.
(3) “Participating public office” means a public office that requires a fingerprint background check as a condition of employment with or licensure by the public office and that elects to receive notice under division (C) of this section in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general.
(4) “Public office” has the same meaning as in section 117.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) Within six months after the effective date of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall establish and maintain a database of fingerprints of individuals on whom the bureau has conducted criminal records checks for the purpose of determining eligibility for employment with or licensure by a public office. The superintendent shall maintain the database separate and apart from other records maintained by the bureau. The database shall be known as the retained applicant fingerprint database.
(C) When the superintendent receives information that an individual whose name is in the retained applicant fingerprint database has been arrested for or convicted of any offense, the superintendent shall promptly notify any participating public office that employs or that licensed the individual of the arrest or conviction. The public office that receives the notification and its employees and officers shall use the information contained in the notification solely to determine the individual’s eligibility for continued employment with the public office or to retain a license issued by the public office. The public office and its employees and officers shall not disclose that information to any person for any other purpose.
(D) The attorney general shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the operation and maintenance of the database. The rules shall provide for, but not be limited to, both of the following:
(1) The expungement or sealing of records of individuals who are deceased or who are no longer employed or licensed by the public office that required submission of the individual’s fingerprints;
(2) The terms under which a public office may elect to receive notification under division (C) of this section, including payment of any reasonable fee that may be charged for the purpose.
(E) No public office or employee of a public office shall be considered negligent in a civil action solely because the public office did not elect to be a participating public office.
(F)(1) No person shall knowingly use information contained in or received from the retained applicant fingerprint database for purposes not authorized by this section.
(2) No person shall knowingly use information contained in or received from the retained applicant fingerprint database with the intent to harass or intimidate another person.
(3) Whoever violates division (F)(1) or (F)(2) of this section is guilty of unlawful use of retained applicant fingerprint database records. A violation of division (F)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. A violation of division (F)(2) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Effective Date: 2007 SB97 08-15-2007