Chapter 2919 | Offenses Against the Family

Section
Section 2919.01 \| Bigamy. Effective: January 1, 1974 Latest Legislation: House Bill 511 - 109th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No married person shall marry another or continue to cohabit with such other person in this state. (B) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that the actor's spouse was continuously absent for five years immediately preceding the purported subsequent marriage, and was not known by the actor to be alive within that time. (C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of bigamy, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Section 2919.10 \| Abortion related to finding of down syndrome. Effective: March 23, 2018 Latest Legislation: House Bill 214 - 132nd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) As used in this section: (1) "Down syndrome" means a chromosome disorder associated either with an extra chromosome twenty-one, in whole or in part, or an effective trisomy for chromosome twenty-one. (2) "Physician," "pregnant," and "unborn child" have the same meanings as in section 2919.16 of the Revised Code. (B) No person shall purposely perform or induce or attempt to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman if the person has knowledge that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion, in whole or in part, because of any of the following: (1) A test result indicating Down syndrome in an unborn child; (2) A prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome in an unborn child; (3) Any other reason to believe that an unborn child has Down syndrome. (C) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of performing or attempting to perform an abortion that was being sought because of Down syndrome, a felony of the fourth degree. (D) The state medical board shall revoke a physician's license to practice medicine in this state if the physician violates division (B) of this section. (E) Any physician who violates division (B) of this section is liable in a civil action for compensatory and exemplary damages and reasonable attorney's fees to any person, or the representative of the estate of any person, who sustains injury, death, or loss to person or property as the result of the performance or inducement or the attempted performance or inducement of the abortion. In any action under this division, the court also may award any injunctive or other equitable relief that the court considers appropriate. (F) A pregnant woman on whom an abortion is performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced in violation of division (B) of this section is not guilty of violating division (B) of this section or of attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or complicity in committing a violation of division (B) of this section. (G) If any provision of this section is held invalid, or if the application of any provision of this section to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity of that provision does not affect any other provisions or applications of this section and sections 2919.11 to 2919.193 of the Revised Code that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this section and sections 2919.11 to 2919.193 of the Revised Code are severable as provided in section 1.50 of the Revised Code. In particular, it is the intent of the general assembly that any invalidity or potential invalidity of a provision of this section is not to impair the immediate and continuing enforceability of any other provisions of this section and sections 2919.11 to 2919.193 of the Revised Code. It is furthermore the intent of the general assembly that the provisions of this section are not to have the effect of repealing or limiting any other laws of this state. (H) The general assembly may, by joint resolution, appoint one or more of its members who sponsored or cosponsored ___B___ of the 132nd general assembly to intervene as a matter of right in any case in which the constitutionality of this section is challenged.
Section 2919.101 \| Abortion report. Effective: March 23, 2018 Latest Legislation: House Bill 214 - 132nd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) In the abortion report required under section 3701.79 of the Revised Code, the attending physician shall indicate that the attending physician does not have knowledge that the pregnant woman was seeking the abortion, in whole or in part, because of any of the following: (1) A test result indicating Down syndrome in an unborn child; (2) A prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome in an unborn child; (3) Any other reason to believe that an unborn child has Down syndrome. (B) Within ninety days of the effective date of this section, the department of health shall adopt rules pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code to assist in compliance with this section.
Section 2919.11 \| Abortion defined. Effective: September 16, 1974 Latest Legislation: House Bill 989 - 110th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF As used in the Revised Code, "abortion" means the purposeful termination of a human pregnancy by any person, including the pregnant woman herself, with an intention other than to produce a live birth or to remove a dead fetus or embryo. Abortion is the practice of medicine or surgery for the purposes of section 4731.41 of the Revised Code.
Section 2919.12 \| Unlawful abortion. Effective: July 1, 1996 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 2 - 121st General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person shall perform or induce an abortion without the informed consent of the pregnant woman. (B)(1)(a) No person shall knowingly perform or induce an abortion upon a woman who is pregnant, unmarried, under eighteen years of age, and unemancipated unless at least one of the following applies: (i) Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, the person has given at least twenty-four hours actual notice, in person or by telephone, to one of the woman's parents, her guardian, or her custodian as to the intention to perform or induce the abortion, provided that if the woman has requested, in accordance with division (B)(1)(b) of this section, that notice be given to a specified brother or sister of the woman who is twenty-one years of age or older or to a specified stepparent or grandparent of the woman instead of to one of her parents, her guardian, or her custodian, and if the person is notified by a juvenile court that affidavits of the type described in that division have been filed with that court, the twenty-four hours actual notice described in this division as to the intention to perform or induce the abortion shall be given, in person or by telephone, to the specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent instead of to the parent, guardian, or custodian; (ii) One of the woman's parents, her guardian, or her custodian has consented in writing to the performance or inducement of the abortion; (iii) A juvenile court pursuant to section 2151.85 of the Revised Code issues an order authorizing the woman to consent to the abortion without notification of one of her parents, her guardian, or her custodian; (iv) A juvenile court or a court of appeals, by its inaction, constructively has authorized the woman to consent to the abortion without notification of one of her parents, her guardian, or her custodian under division (B)(1) of section 2151.85 or division (A) of section 2505.073 of the Revised Code. (b) If a woman who is pregnant, unmarried, under eighteen years of age, and unemancipated desires notification as to a person's intention to perform or induce an abortion on the woman to be given to a specified brother or sister of the woman who is twenty-one years of age or older or to a specified stepparent or grandparent of the woman instead of to one of her parents, her guardian, or her custodian, the person who intends to perform or induce the abortion shall notify the specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent instead of the parent, guardian, or custodian for purposes of division (B)(1)(a)(i) of this section if all of the following apply: (i) The woman has requested the person to provide the notification to the specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent, clearly has identified the specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent and her relation to that person, and, if the specified relative is a brother or sister, has indicated the age of the brother or sister; (ii) The woman has executed an affidavit stating that she is in fear of physical, sexual, or severe emotional abuse from the parent, guardian, or custodian who otherwise would be notified under division (B)(1)(a)(i) of this section, and that the fear is based on a pattern of physical, sexual, or severe emotional abuse of her exhibited by that parent, guardian, or custodian, has filed the affidavit with the juvenile court of the county in which the woman has a residence or legal settlement, the juvenile court of any county that borders to any extent the county in which she has a residence or legal settlement, or the juvenile court of the county in which the hospital, clinic, or other facility in which the abortion would be performed or induced is located, and has given the court written notice of the name and address of the person who intends to perform or induce the abortion; (iii) The specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent has executed an affidavit stating that the woman has reason to fear physical, sexual, or severe emotional abuse from the parent, guardian, or custodian who otherwise would be notified under division (B)(1)(a)(i) of this section, based on a pattern of physical, sexual, or severe emotional abuse of her by that parent, guardian, or custodian, and the woman or the specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent has filed the affidavit with the juvenile court in which the affidavit described in division (B)(1)(b)(ii) of this section was filed; (iv) The juvenile court in which the affidavits described in divisions (B)(1)(b)(ii) and (iii) of this section were filed has notified the person that both of those affidavits have been filed with the court. (c) If an affidavit of the type described in division (B)(1)(b)(ii) of this section and an affidavit of the type described in division (B)(1)(b)(iii) of this section are filed with a juvenile court and the court has been provided with written notice of the name and address of the person who intends to perform or induce an abortion upon the woman to whom the affidavits pertain, the court promptly shall notify the person who intends to perform or induce the abortion that the affidavits have been filed. If possible, the notice to the person shall be given in person or by telephone. (2) If division (B)(1)(a)(ii), (iii), or (iv) of this section does not apply, and if no parent, guardian, or custodian can be reached for purposes of division (B)(1)(a)(i) of this section after a reasonable effort, or if notification is to be given to a specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent under that division and the specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent cannot be reached for purposes of that division after a reasonable effort, no person shall perform or induce such an abortion without giving at least forty-eight hours constructive notice to one of the woman's parents, her guardian, or her custodian, by both certified and ordinary mail sent to the last known address of the parent, guardian, or custodian, or if notification for purposes of division (B)(1)(a)(i) of this section is to be given to a specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent, without giving at least forty-eight hours constructive notice to that specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent by both certified and ordinary mail sent to the last known address of that specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent. The forty-eight-hour period under this division begins when the certified mail notice is mailed. If a parent, guardian, or custodian of the woman, or if notification under division (B)(1)(a)(i) of this section is to be given to a specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent, the specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent, is not reached within the forty-eight-hour period, the abortion may proceed even if the certified mail notice is not received. (3) If a parent, guardian, custodian, or specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent who has been notified in accordance with division (B)(1) or (2) of this section clearly and unequivocally expresses that he or she does not wish to consult with a pregnant woman prior to her abortion, then the abortion may proceed without any further waiting period. (4) For purposes of prosecutions for a violation of division (B)(1) or (2) of this section, it shall be a rebuttable presumption that a woman who is unmarried and under eighteen years of age is unemancipated. (C)(1) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section that the pregnant woman provided the person who performed or induced the abortion with false, misleading, or incorrect information about her age, marital status, or emancipation, about the age of a brother or sister to whom she requested notice be given as a specified relative instead of to one of her parents, her guardian, or her custodian, or about the last known address of either of her parents, her guardian, her custodian, or a specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent to whom she requested notice be given and the person who performed or induced the abortion did not otherwise have reasonable cause to believe the pregnant woman was under eighteen years of age, unmarried, or unemancipated, to believe that the age of a brother or sister to whom she requested notice be given as a specified relative instead of to one of her parents, her guardian, or her custodian was not twenty-one years of age, or to believe that the last known address of either of her parents, her guardian, her custodian, or a specified brother, sister, stepparent, or grandparent to whom she requested notice be given was incorrect. (2) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that compliance with the requirements of this section was not possible because an immediate threat of serious risk to the life or physical health of the pregnant woman from the continuation of her pregnancy created an emergency necessitating the immediate performance or inducement of an abortion. (D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful abortion. A violation of division (A) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree on the first offense and a felony of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense. A violation of division (B) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree on a first offense and a felony of the fifth degree on each subsequent offense. (E) Whoever violates this section is liable to the pregnant woman and her parents, guardian, or custodian for civil compensatory and exemplary damages. (F) As used in this section "unemancipated" means that a woman who is unmarried and under eighteen years of age has not entered the armed services of the United States, has not become employed and self-subsisting, or has not otherwise become independent from the care and control of her parent, guardian, or custodian.
Section 2919.121 \| Unlawful abortion upon minor. Effective: February 3, 2012 Latest Legislation: House Bill 63 - 129th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) For the purpose of this section, a minor shall be considered "emancipated" if the minor has married, entered the armed services of the United States, become employed and self-subsisting, or has otherwise become independent from the care and control of her parent, guardian, or custodian. (B) No person shall knowingly perform or induce an abortion upon a pregnant minor unless one of the following is the case: (1) The attending physician has secured the informed written consent of the minor and one parent, guardian, or custodian; (2) The minor is emancipated and the attending physician has received her written informed consent; (3) The minor has been authorized to consent to the abortion by a court order issued pursuant to division (C) of this section, and the attending physician has received her informed written consent; (4) The court has given its consent in accordance with division (C) of this section and the minor is having the abortion willingly. (C) The right of a minor to consent to an abortion under division (B)(3) of this section or judicial consent to obtain an abortion under division (B)(4) of this section may be granted by a court order pursuant to the following procedures: (1) The minor or next friend shall make an application to the juvenile court of the county in which the minor has a residence or legal settlement or the juvenile court of any county that borders the county in which she has a residence or legal settlement. The juvenile court shall assist the minor or next friend in preparing the petition and notices required by this section. The minor or next friend shall thereafter file a petition setting forth all of the following: the initials of the minor; her age; the names and addresses of each parent, guardian, custodian, or, if the minor's parents are deceased and no guardian has been appointed, any other person standing in loco parentis of the minor; that the minor has been fully informed of the risks and consequences of the abortion; that the minor is of sound mind and has sufficient intellectual capacity to consent to the abortion; that the minor has not previously filed a petition under this section concerning the same pregnancy that was denied on the merits; that, if the court does not authorize the minor to consent to the abortion, the court should find that the abortion is in the best interests of the minor and give judicial consent to the abortion; that the court should appoint a guardian ad litem; and if the minor does not have private counsel, that the court should appoint counsel. The petition shall be signed by the minor or the next friend. (2)(a) A hearing on the merits shall be held on the record as soon as possible within five days of filing the petition. If the minor has not retained counsel, the court shall appoint counsel at least twenty-four hours prior to the hearing. The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to protect the interests of the minor at the hearing. If the guardian ad litem is an attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state, the court may appoint the guardian ad litem to serve as the minor's counsel. At the hearing, the court shall do all of the following: (i) Hear evidence relating to the emotional development, maturity, intellect, and understanding of the minor; the nature, possible consequences, and alternatives to the abortion; and any other evidence that the court may find useful in determining whether the minor should be granted the right to consent to the abortion or whether the abortion is in the best interests of the minor; (ii) Specifically inquire about the minor's understanding of the possible physical and emotional complications of abortion and how the minor would respond if the minor experienced those complications after the abortion; (iii) Specifically inquire about the extent to which anyone has instructed the minor on how to answer questions and on what testimony to give at the hearing. (b) If the minor or her counsel fail to appear for a scheduled hearing, jurisdiction shall remain with the judge who would have presided at the hearing. (3) If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the minor is sufficiently mature and well enough informed to decide intelligently whether to have an abortion, the court shall grant the petition and permit the minor to consent to the abortion. If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the abortion is in the best interests of the minor, the court shall give judicial consent to the abortion, setting forth the grounds for its finding. If the court does not make either of the findings specified in division (C)(3) of this section, the court shall deny the petition, setting forth the grounds on which the petition is denied. The court shall issue its order not later than twenty-four hours after the end of the hearing. (4) No juvenile court shall have jurisdiction to rehear a petition concerning the same pregnancy once a juvenile court has granted or denied the petition. (5) If the petition is granted, the informed consent of the minor, pursuant to a court order authorizing the minor to consent to the abortion, or judicial consent to the abortion, shall bar an action by the parents, guardian, or custodian of the minor for battery of the minor against any person performing or inducing the abortion. The immunity granted shall only extend to the performance or inducement of the abortion in accordance with this section and to any accompanying services that are performed in a competent manner. (6) An appeal from an order issued under this section may be taken to the court of appeals by the minor. The record on appeal shall be completed and the appeal perfected within four days from the filing of the notice of appeal. Because the abortion may need to be performed in a timely manner, the supreme court shall, by rule, provide for expedited appellate review of cases appealed under this section. (7) All proceedings under this section shall be conducted in a confidential manner and shall be given such precedence over other pending matters as will ensure that the court will reach a decision promptly and without delay. The petition and all other papers and records that pertain to an action commenced under this section shall be kept confidential and are not public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code. (8) No filing fee shall be required of or court costs assessed against a person filing a petition under this section or appealing an order issued under this section. (9) Nothing in division (C) of this section shall constitute a waiver of any testimonial privilege provided under the Revised Code or at common law. (D) It is an affirmative defense to any civil, criminal, or professional disciplinary claim brought under this section that compliance with the requirements of this section was not possible because an immediate threat of serious risk to the life or physical health of the minor from the continuation of her pregnancy created an emergency necessitating the immediate performance or inducement of an abortion. (E) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of unlawful abortion, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section, unlawful abortion is a felony of the fourth degree. (F) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is liable to the pregnant minor and her parents, guardian, or custodian for civil, compensatory, and exemplary damages.
Section 2919.122 \| Application of unlawful abortion on a minor law. Effective: May 6, 1998 Latest Legislation: House Bill 421 - 122nd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Section 2919.121 of the Revised Code applies in lieu of division (B) of section 2919.12 of the Revised Code whenever its operation is not enjoined. If section 2919.121 of the Revised Code is enjoined, division (B) of section 2919.12 of the Revised Code applies. If a person complies with the requirements of division (B) of section 2919.12 of the Revised Code under the good faith belief that the application or enforcement of section 2919.121 of the Revised Code is subject to a restraining order or injunction, good faith compliance shall constitute a complete defense to any civil, criminal, or professional disciplinary action brought under section 2919.121 of the Revised Code. If a person complies with the requirements of section 2919.121 of the Revised Code under the good faith belief that it is not subject to a restraining order or injunction, good faith compliance shall constitute a complete defense to any criminal, civil, or professional disciplinary action for failure to comply with the requirements of division (B) of section 2919.12 of the Revised Code.
Section 2919.123 \| Unlawful distribution of an abortion-inducing drug. Effective: April 12, 2021 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 260 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person shall knowingly give, sell, dispense, administer, or otherwise provide RU-486 (mifepristone) to another for the purpose of inducing an abortion in any person or enabling the other person to induce an abortion in any person, unless the person who gives, sells, dispenses, administers, or otherwise provides the RU-486 (mifepristone) is a physician, the physician satisfies all the criteria established by federal law that a physician must satisfy in order to provide RU-486 (mifepristone) for inducing abortions, and the physician provides the RU-486 (mifepristone) to the other person for the purpose of inducing an abortion in accordance with all provisions of federal law that govern the use of RU-486 (mifepristone) for inducing abortions. A person who gives, sells, dispenses, administers, or otherwise provides RU-486 (mifepristone) to another as described in division (A) of this section shall not be prosecuted based on a violation of the criteria contained in this division unless the person knows that the person is not a physician, that the person did not satisfy all the specified criteria established by federal law, or that the person did not provide the RU-486 (mifepristone) in accordance with the specified provisions of federal law, whichever is applicable. (B) No physician who provides RU-486 (mifepristone) to another for the purpose of inducing an abortion as authorized under division (A) of this section shall knowingly fail to comply with the applicable requirements of any federal law that pertain to follow-up examinations or care for persons to whom or for whom RU-486 (mifepristone) is provided for the purpose of inducing an abortion. (C)(1) If a physician provides RU-486 (mifepristone) to another for the purpose of inducing an abortion as authorized under division (A) of this section and if the physician knows that the person who uses the RU-486 (mifepristone) for the purpose of inducing an abortion experiences during or after the use an incomplete abortion, severe bleeding, or an adverse reaction to the RU-486 (mifepristone) or is hospitalized, receives a transfusion, or experiences any other serious event, the physician promptly must provide a written report of the incomplete abortion, severe bleeding, adverse reaction, hospitalization, transfusion, or serious event to the state medical board. The board shall compile and retain all reports it receives under this division. Except as otherwise provided in this division, all reports the board receives under this division are public records open to inspection under section 149.43 of the Revised Code. In no case shall the board release to any person the name or any other personal identifying information regarding a person who uses RU-486 (mifepristone) for the purpose of inducing an abortion and who is the subject of a report the board receives under this division. (2) No physician who provides RU-486 (mifepristone) to another for the purpose of inducing an abortion as authorized under division (A) of this section shall knowingly fail to file a report required under division (C)(1) of this section. (D) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any of the following: (1) A pregnant woman who obtains or possesses RU-486 (mifepristone) for the purpose of inducing an abortion to terminate her own pregnancy; (2) The legal transport of RU-486 (mifepristone) by any person or entity and the legal delivery of the RU-486 (mifepristone) by any person to the recipient, provided that this division does not apply regarding any conduct related to the RU-486 (mifepristone) other than its transport and delivery to the recipient; (3) The distribution, provision, or sale of RU-486 (mifepristone) by any legal manufacturer or distributor of RU-486 (mifepristone), provided the manufacturer or distributor made a good faith effort to comply with any applicable requirements of federal law regarding the distribution, provision, or sale. (E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful distribution of an abortion-inducing drug, a felony of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or of section 2919.12, 2919.121, 2919.13, 2919.14, 2919.15, 2919.151, 2919.17, or 2919.18 of the Revised Code, unlawful distribution of an abortion-inducing drug is a felony of the third degree. If the offender is a professionally licensed person, in addition to any other sanction imposed by law for the offense, the offender is subject to sanctioning as provided by law by the regulatory or licensing board or agency that has the administrative authority to suspend or revoke the offender's professional license, including the sanctioning provided in section 4731.22 of the Revised Code for offenders who have a certificate to practice or certificate of registration issued under that chapter. (F) As used in this section: (1) "Federal law" means any law, rule, or regulation of the United States or any drug approval letter of the food and drug administration of the United States that governs or regulates the use of RU-486 (mifepristone) for the purpose of inducing abortions. (2) "Personal identifying information" has the same meaning as in section 2913.49 of the Revised Code. (3) "Physician" has the same meaning as in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code. (4) "Professionally licensed person" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.
Section 2919.124 \| Unlawful performance of a drug-induced abortion. Effective: April 12, 2021 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 260 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) As used in this section: (1) "Abortion-inducing drug" means a drug or regimen of drugs that causes the termination of a clinically diagnosable pregnancy, including any drug identified in section 2919.123 of the Revised Code. (2) "Physician" has the same meaning as in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code. (3) "Professionally licensed person" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code. (B) No physician shall personally furnish or otherwise provide an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant woman unless the physician is physically present at the location where the initial dose of the drug or regimen of drugs is consumed at the time the initial dose is consumed. (C) No physician who personally furnishes or otherwise provides an abortion-inducing drug to another for the purpose of inducing an abortion shall knowingly fail to comply with division (B) of this section. (D) Nothing in this section shall be construed as creating or recognizing a right to abortion or affirming the lawfulness of an abortion that would otherwise be unlawful. (E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful performance of a drug-induced abortion, a felony of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or of section 2919.12, 2919.121, 2919.123, 2919.13, 2919.14, 2919.15, 2919.151, 2919.17, or 2919.18 of the Revised Code, unlawful performance of a drug-induced abortion is a felony of the third degree. If the offender is a professionally licensed person, in addition to any other sanction imposed by law for the offense, the offender is subject to sanctioning as provided by law by the regulatory or licensing board or agency that has the administrative authority to suspend or revoke the offender's professional license, including the sanctioning provided in section 4731.22 of the Revised Code for offenders who have a certificate to practice or certificate of registration issued under that chapter.
Section 2919.13 \| Abortion manslaughter; failure to render medical care to an infant born alive; civil action. Effective: March 23, 2022 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 157 - 134th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person shall purposely take the life of a child born by attempted abortion who is alive when removed from the uterus of the pregnant woman. (B) No person who performs an abortion shall purposely fail to take the measures required by the exercise of medical judgment in light of the attending circumstances to preserve the health or life of a child who is alive when removed from the uterus of the pregnant woman. (C)(1) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of abortion manslaughter, a felony of the first degree. (2) Whoever violates division (B) of this section and the child dies as a result of the person's failure to take the measures described in that division is guilty of abortion manslaughter, a felony of the first degree. (3) Whoever violates division (B) of this section and the child survives notwithstanding the person's failure to take the measures described in that division is guilty of failure to render medical care to an infant born alive, a felony of the first degree. (D)(1) A woman on whom an abortion is performed or attempted may file a civil action for the wrongful death of the woman's child against a person who violates division (A) of this section. (2) A woman on whom an abortion is performed or attempted may file a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property against a person who violates division (B) of this section. (3) A woman who prevails in an action filed under division (D)(1) or (2) of this section shall receive both of the following from the person who committed the act: (a) Compensatory and exemplary damages in an amount determined by the trier of fact; (b) Court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Last updated January 13, 2022 at 5:37 PM
Section 2919.14 \| Abortion trafficking. Effective: September 16, 1974 Latest Legislation: House Bill 989 - 110th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person shall experiment upon or sell the product of human conception which is aborted. Experiment does not include autopsies pursuant to sections 313.13 and 2108.50 of the Revised Code. (B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of abortion trafficking, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Section 2919.15 \| Dismemberment abortion. Effective: March 22, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 145 - 132nd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) As used in this section: "Dismemberment abortion" means, with the purpose of causing the death of an unborn child, to dismember a living unborn child and extract the unborn child one piece at a time from the uterus through use of clamps, grasping forceps, tongs, scissors, or similar instruments that, through the convergence of two rigid levers, slice, crush, or grasp a portion of the unborn child's body to cut or rip it off. "Dismemberment abortion" does not include a procedure performed after the death of the unborn child to extract any remaining parts of the unborn child. "Serious risk of the substantial and irreversible i mpairment of a major bodily function" has the same meaning as in section 2919.151 of the Revised Code. "Unborn child" has the same meaning as in section 2919.16 of the Revised Code. (B) No person shall knowingly perform or attempt to perform a dismemberment abortion when the dismemberment abortion is not necessary, in reasonable medical judgment, to preserve the life or physical health of the mother as a result of the mother's life or physical health being endangered by a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. (C) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of dismemberment feticide, a felony of the fourth degree. (D) None of the following are guilty of committing, attempting to commit, complicity in the commission of, or conspiracy in the commission of a violation of division (B) of this section: (1) A pregnant woman upon whom a dismemberment abortion is performed in violation of division (B) of this section; (2) An individual who is employed by the person who violates division (B) of this section and who acts at the direction of the person who violates division (B) of this section; (3) A pharmacist or other individual who fills a p rescription or provides instruments or materials used in violating division (B) of this section. (E) This section does not prohibit the suction curettage procedure of abortion or the suction aspiration procedure of abortion.
Section 2919.151 \| Partial birth feticide. Effective: March 22, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 145 - 132nd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) As used in this section: (1) "From the body of the mother" means that the portion of the fetus' body in question is beyond the mother's vaginal introitus in a vaginal delivery. (2) "Partial birth procedure" means the medical procedure that includes all of the following elements in sequence: (a) Intentional dilation of the cervix of a pregnant woman, usually over a sequence of days; (b) In a breech presentation, intentional extraction of at least the lower torso to the navel, but not the entire body, of an intact fetus from the body of the mother, or in a cephalic presentation, intentional extraction of at least the complete head, but not the entire body, of an intact fetus from the body of the mother; (c) Intentional partial evacuation of the intracranial contents of the fetus, which procedure the person performing the procedure knows will cause the death of the fetus, intentional compression of the head of the fetus, which procedure the person performing the procedure knows will cause the death of the fetus, or performance of another intentional act that the person performing the procedure knows will cause the death of the fetus; (d) Completion of the vaginal delivery of the fetus. (3) "Partially born" means that the portion of the body of an intact fetus described in division (A)(3)(b) of this section has been intentionally extracted from the body of the mother. (4) "Serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" means any medically diagnosed condition that so complicates the pregnancy of the woman as to directly or indirectly cause the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. (5) "Viable" has the same meaning as in section 2901.01 of the Revised Code. (B) When the fetus that is the subject of the procedure is viable, no person shall knowingly perform a partial birth procedure on a pregnant woman when the procedure is not necessary, in reasonable medical judgment, to preserve the life or health of the mother as a result of the mother's life or health being endangered by a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. (C) When the fetus that is the subject of the procedure is not viable, no person shall knowingly perform a partial birth procedure on a pregnant woman when the procedure is not necessary, in reasonable medical judgment, to preserve the life or health of the mother as a result of the mother's life or health being endangered by a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. (D) Whoever violates division (B) or (C) of this section is guilty of partial birth feticide, a felony of the second degree. (E) A pregnant woman upon whom a partial birth procedure is performed in violation of division (B) or (C) of this section is not guilty of committing, attempting to commit, complicity in the commission of, or conspiracy in the commission of a violation of those divisions. (F) This section does not prohibit the suction curettage procedure of abortion or the suction aspiration procedure of abortion. (G) This section does not apply to any person who performs or attempts to perform a legal abortion if the act that causes the death of the fetus is performed prior to the fetus being partially born even though the death of the fetus occurs after it is partially born.
Section 2919.16 \| Post-viability abortion definitions. Effective: October 20, 2011 Latest Legislation: House Bill 78 - 129th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF As used in sections 2919.16 to 2919.18 of the Revised Code: (A) "Fertilization" means the fusion of a human spermatozoon with a human ovum. (B) "Gestational age" or "gestation" means the age of an unborn child as calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period of a pregnant woman. (C) "Health care facility" means a hospital, clinic, ambulatory surgical treatment center, other center, medical school, office of a physician, infirmary, dispensary, medical training institution, or other institution or location in or at which medical care, treatment, or diagnosis is provided to a person. (D) "Hospital" has the same meanings as in sections 3701.01, 3727.01, and 5122.01 of the Revised Code. (E) "Live birth" has the same meaning as in division (A) of section 3705.01 of the Revised Code. (F) "Medical emergency" means a condition that in the physician's good faith medical judgment, based upon the facts known to the physician at that time, so complicates the woman's pregnancy as to necessitate the immediate performance or inducement of an abortion in order to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to avoid a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman that delay in the performance or inducement of the abortion would create. (G) "Physician" has the same meaning as in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code. (H) "Pregnant" means the human female reproductive condition, that commences with fertilization, of having a developing fetus. (I) "Pregnancy" means the condition of being pregnant. (J) "Premature infant" means a human whose live birth occurs prior to thirty-eight weeks of gestational age. (K) "Serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" means any medically diagnosed condition that so complicates the pregnancy of the woman as to directly or indirectly cause the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. A medically diagnosed condition that constitutes a "serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" includes pre-eclampsia, inevitable abortion, and premature rupture of the membranes, may include, but is not limited to, diabetes and multiple sclerosis, and does not include a condition related to the woman's mental health. (L) "Unborn child" means an individual organism of the species homo sapiens from fertilization until live birth. (M) "Viable" means the stage of development of a human fetus at which in the determination of a physician, based on the particular facts of a woman's pregnancy that are known to the physician and in light of medical technology and information reasonably available to the physician, there is a realistic possibility of the maintaining and nourishing of a life outside of the womb with or without temporary artificial life-sustaining support.
Section 2919.17 \| Terminating or attempting to terminate human pregnancy after viability. Effective: October 20, 2011 Latest Legislation: House Bill 78 - 129th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person shall purposely perform or induce or attempt to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman when the unborn child is viable. (B)(1) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (A) of this section that the abortion was performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced by a physician and that the physician determined, in the physician's good faith medical judgment, based on the facts known to the physician at that time, that either of the following applied: (a) The unborn child was not viable. (b) The abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. (2) No abortion shall be considered necessary under division (B)(1)(b) of this section on the basis of a claim or diagnosis that the pregnant woman will engage in conduct that would result in the pregnant woman's death or a substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman or based on any reason related to the woman's mental health. (C) Except when a medical emergency exists that prevents compliance with section 2919.18 of the Revised Code, the affirmative defense set forth in division (B)(1)(a) of this section does not apply unless the physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion performs the viability testing required by division (A) of section 2919.18 of the Revised Code and certifies in writing, based on the results of the tests performed, that in the physician's good faith medical judgment the unborn child is not viable. (D) Except when a medical emergency exists that prevents compliance with one or more of the following conditions, the affirmative defense set forth in division (B)(1)(b) of this section does not apply unless the physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion complies with all of the following conditions: (1) The physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion certifies in writing that, in the physician's good faith medical judgment, based on the facts known to the physician at that time, the abortion is necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. (2) Another physician who is not professionally related to the physician who intends to perform or induce the abortion certifies in writing that, in that physician's good faith medical judgment, based on the facts known to that physician at that time, the abortion is necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. (3) The physician performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion in a hospital or other health care facility that has appropriate neonatal services for premature infants. (4) The physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion terminates or attempts to terminate the pregnancy in the manner that provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive, unless that physician determines, in the physician's good faith medical judgment, based on the facts known to the physician at that time, that the termination of the pregnancy in that manner poses a greater risk of the death of the pregnant woman or a greater risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman than would other available methods of abortion. (5) The physician certifies in writing the available method or techniques considered and the reasons for choosing the method or technique employed. (6) The physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion has arranged for the attendance in the same room in which the abortion is to be performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced at least one other physician who is to take control of, provide immediate medical care for, and take all reasonable steps necessary to preserve the life and health of the unborn child immediately upon the child's complete expulsion or extraction from the pregnant woman. (E) For purposes of this section, there is a rebuttable presumption that an unborn child of at least twenty-four weeks gestational age is viable. (F) Whoever violates this section is guilty of terminating or attempting to terminate a human pregnancy after viability, a felony of the fourth degree. (G) The state medical board shall revoke a physician's license to practice medicine in this state if the physician violates this section. (H) Any physician who performs or induces an abortion or attempts to perform or induce an abortion with actual knowledge that neither of the affirmative defenses set forth in division (B)(1) of this section applies, or with a heedless indifference as to whether either affirmative defense applies, is liable in a civil action for compensatory and exemplary damages and reasonable attorney's fees to any person, or the representative of the estate of any person, who sustains injury, death, or loss to person or property as the result of the performance or inducement or the attempted performance or inducement of the abortion. In any action under this division, the court also may award any injunctive or other equitable relief that the court considers appropriate. (I) A pregnant woman on whom an abortion is performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced in violation of division (A) of this section is not guilty of violating division (A) of this section or of attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or complicity in committing a violation of division (A) of this section.
Section 2919.171 \| Physician's report to department on attempted or completed abortions. Effective: October 3, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A)(1) A physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman shall submit a report to the department of health in accordance with the forms, rules, and regulations adopted by the department that includes all of the information the physician is required to certify in writing or determine under section 2919.17, section 2919.18, divisions (A) and (C) of section 2919.192, division (C) of section 2919.193, division (B) of section 2919.195, or division (A) of section 2919.196 of the Revised Code. (2) If a person other than the physician described in division (A)(1) of this section makes or maintains a record required by sections 2919.192 to 2919.196 of the Revised Code on the physician's behalf or at the physician's direction, that person shall comply with the reporting requirement described in division (A)(1) of this section as if the person were the physician described in that division. (B) By September 30 of each year, the department of health shall issue a public report that provides statistics for the previous calendar year compiled from all of the reports covering that calendar year submitted to the department in accordance with this section for each of the items listed in division (A) of this section. The report shall also provide the statistics for each previous calendar year in which a report was filed with the department pursuant to this section, adjusted to reflect any additional information that a physician provides to the department in a late or corrected report. The department shall ensure that none of the information included in the report could reasonably lead to the identification of any pregnant woman upon whom an abortion is performed. (C)(1) The physician shall submit the report described in division (A) of this section to the department of health within fifteen days after the woman is discharged. If the physician fails to submit the report more than thirty days after that fifteen-day deadline, the physician shall be subject to a late fee of five hundred dollars for each additional thirty-day period or portion of a thirty-day period the report is overdue. A physician who is required to submit to the department of health a report under division (A) of this section and who has not submitted a report or has submitted an incomplete report more than one year following the fifteen-day deadline may, in an action brought by the department of health, be directed by a court of competent jurisdiction to submit a complete report to the department of health within a period of time stated in a court order or be subject to contempt of court. (2) If a physician fails to comply with the requirements of this section, other than filing a late report with the department of health, or fails to submit a complete report to the department of health in accordance with a court order, the physician is subject to division (B)(43) of section 4731.22 of the Revised Code. (3) No person shall falsify any report required under this section. Whoever violates this division is guilty of abortion report falsification, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (D) The department of health shall adopt rules pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code to assist in compliance with this section. Last updated August 4, 2023 at 11:08 AM
Section 2919.18 \| Failure to perform viability testing. Effective: October 20, 2011 Latest Legislation: House Bill 78 - 129th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Except in a medical emergency that prevents compliance with this division, no physician shall perform or induce or attempt to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman after the beginning of the twentieth week of gestation unless, prior to the performance or inducement of the abortion or the attempt to perform or induce the abortion, the physician determines, in the physician's good faith medical judgment, that the unborn child is not viable, and the physician makes that determination after performing a medical examination of the pregnant woman and after performing or causing to be performed those tests for assessing gestational age, weight, lung maturity, or other tests that the physician, in that physician's good faith medical judgment, believes are necessary to determine whether an unborn child is viable. (B) Except in a medical emergency that prevents compliance with this division, no physician shall perform or induce or attempt to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman after the beginning of the twentieth week of gestation without first entering the determination made in division (A) of this section and the associated findings of the medical examination and tests in the medical record of the pregnant woman. (C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to perform viability testing, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (D) The state medical board shall suspend a physician's license to practice medicine in this state for a period of not less than six months if the physician violates this section.
Section 2919.19 \| Definitions for ORC sections 2919.191 to 2919.1910. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) As used in this section and sections 2919.191 to 2919.1910 of the Revised Code: (1) "Conception" means fertilization. (2) "Contraceptive" means a drug, device, or chemical that prevents conception. (3) "DNA" means deoxyribonucleic acid. (4) "Fetal heartbeat" means cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac. (5) "Fetus" means the human offspring developing during pregnancy from the moment of conception and includes the embryonic stage of development. (6) "Gestational age" means the age of an unborn human individual as calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period of a pregnant woman. (7) "Gestational sac" means the structure that comprises the extraembryonic membranes that envelop the fetus and that is typically visible by ultrasound after the fourth week of pregnancy. (8) "Intrauterine pregnancy" means a pregnancy in which the fetus is attached to the placenta within the uterus of the pregnant woman. (9) "Medical emergency" has the same meaning as in section 2919.16 of the Revised Code. (10) "Physician" has the same meaning as in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code. (11) "Pregnancy" means the human female reproductive condition that begins with fertilization, when the woman is carrying the developing human offspring, and that is calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period of the woman. (12) "Serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" has the same meaning as in section 2919.16 of the Revised Code. (13) "Spontaneous miscarriage" means the natural or accidental termination of a pregnancy and the expulsion of the fetus, typically caused by genetic defects in the fetus or physical abnormalities in the pregnant woman. (14) "Standard medical practice" means the degree of skill, care, and diligence that a physician of the same medical specialty would employ in like circumstances. As applied to the method used to determine the presence of a fetal heartbeat for purposes of section 2919.192 of the Revised Code, "standard medical practice" includes employing the appropriate means of detection depending on the estimated gestational age of the fetus and the condition of the woman and her pregnancy. (15) "Unborn human individual" means an individual organism of the species homo sapiens from fertilization until live birth. (B)(1) It is the intent of the general assembly that a court judgment or order suspending enforcement of any provision of this section or sections 2919.171 or 2919.191 to 2919.1913 of the Revised Code is not to be regarded as tantamount to repeal of that provision. (2) Upon the issuance of any court order or judgment restoring, expanding, or clarifying the authority of states to prohibit or regulate abortion entirely or in part, or the effective date of an amendment to the United States Constitution restoring, expanding, or clarifying the authority of states to prohibit or regulate abortion entirely or in part, the attorney general may apply to the pertinent state or federal court for either or both of the following: (a) A declaration that any one or more sections specified in division (B)(1) of this section are constitutional; (b) A judgment or order lifting an injunction against the enforcement of any one or more sections specified in division (B)(1) of this section. (3) If the attorney general fails to apply for the relief described in division (B)(2) of this section within the thirty- day period after an event described in that division occurs, any county prosecutor, with standing, may apply to the appropriate state or federal court for such relief. (4) If any provision of this section or sections 2919.171 or 2919.191 to 2919.1913 of the Revised Code is held invalid, or if the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity of that provision does not affect any other provisions or applications of this section and sections 2919.171 and 2919.191 to 2919.1913 of the Revised Code that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this section and sections 2919.171 and 2919.191 to 2919.1913 of the Revised Code are severable as provided in section 1.50 of the Revised Code. In particular, it is the intent of the general assembly that any invalidity or potential invalidity of a provision of this section or sections 2919.171 or 2919.191 to 2919.1913 of the Revised Code is not to impair the immediate and continuing enforceability of the remaining provisions. It is furthermore the intent of the general assembly that the provisions of this section and sections 2919.171 or 2919.191 to 2919.1913 of the Revised Code are not to have the effect of repealing or limiting any other laws of this state, except as specified by this section and sections 2919.171 and 2919.191 to 2919.1913 of the Revised Code.
Section 2919.191 \| Applicability. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Sections 2919.192 to 2919.195 of the Revised Code apply only to intrauterine pregnancies.
Section 2919.192 \| Determination of presence of fetal heartbeat. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) A person who intends to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman shall determine whether there is a detectable fetal heartbeat of the unborn human individual the pregnant woman is carrying. The method of determining the presence of a fetal heartbeat shall be consistent with the person's good faith understanding of standard medical practice, provided that if rules have been adopted under division (B) of this section, the method chosen shall be one that is consistent with the rules. The person who determines the presence or absence of a fetal heartbeat shall record in the pregnant woman's medical record the estimated gestational age of the unborn human individual, the method used to test for a fetal heartbeat, the date and time of the test, and the results of the test. The person who performs the examination for the presence of a fetal heartbeat shall give the pregnant woman the option to view or hear the fetal heartbeat. (B) Not later than one hundred twenty days of the effective date of S.B. 23 of the 133rd general assembly, the director of health shall adopt rules pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code specifying the appropriate methods of performing an examination for the purpose of determining the presence of a fetal heartbeat of an unborn individual based on standard medical practice. (C) A person is not in violation of division (A) of this section if that person has performed an examination for the purpose of determining the presence of a fetal heartbeat of an unborn human individual utilizing standard medical practice in accordance with rules adopted under division (B) of this section, that examination does not reveal a fetal heartbeat or the person has been informed by a physician who has performed the examination for a fetal heartbeat that the examination did not reveal a fetal heartbeat, and the person notes in the pregnant woman's medical records the procedure utilized to detect the presence of a fetal heartbeat. Last updated January 13, 2023 at 1:29 PM
Section 2919.193 \| Determination of detectable fetal heartbeat; penalties. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no person shall knowingly and purposefully perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman before determining in accordance with division (A) of section 2919.192 of the Revised Code whether the unborn human individual the pregnant woman is carrying has a detectable heartbeat. Whoever violates this division is guilty of performing or inducing an abortion before determining whether there is a detectable fetal heartbeat, a felony of the fifth degree. A violation of this division may also be the basis of either of the following: (1) A civil action for compensatory and exemplary damages; (2) Disciplinary action under section 4731.22 of the Revised Code. (B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to a physician who performs or induces the abortion if the physician believes that a medical emergency, as defined in section 2919.16 of the Revised Code, exists that prevents compliance with that division. (C) A physician who performs or induces an abortion on a pregnant woman based on the exception in division (B) of this section shall make written notations in the pregnant woman's medical records of both of the following: (1) The physician's belief that a medical emergency necessitating the abortion existed; (2) The medical condition of the pregnant woman that assertedly prevented compliance with division (A) of this section. For at least seven years from the date the notations are made, the physician shall maintain in the physician's own records a copy of the notations. (D) A person is not in violation of division (A) of this section if the person acts in accordance with division (A) of section 2919.192 of the Revised Code and the method used to determine the presence of a fetal heartbeat does not reveal a fetal heartbeat.
Section 2919.194 \| Procedures after detection of fetal heartbeat. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Notwithstanding division (A)(3) of this section, if a person who intends to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman has determined, under section 2919.192 of the Revised Code, that the unborn human individual the pregnant woman is carrying has a detectable heartbeat, the person shall not, except as provided in division (B) of this section, perform or induce the abortion without meeting all of the following requirements and without at least twenty-four hours elapsing after the last of the requirements is met: (1) The person intending to perform or induce the abortion shall inform the pregnant woman in writing that the unborn human individual the pregnant woman is carrying has a fetal heartbeat. (2) The person intending to perform or induce the abortion shall inform the pregnant woman, to the best of the person's knowledge, of the statistical probability of bringing the unborn human individual possessing a detectable fetal heartbeat to term based on the gestational age of the unborn human individual the pregnant woman is carrying or, if the director of health has specified statistical probability information pursuant to rules adopted under division (C) of this section, shall provide to the pregnant woman that information. (3) The pregnant woman shall sign a form acknowledging that the pregnant woman has received information from the person intending to perform or induce the abortion that the unborn human individual the pregnant woman is carrying has a fetal heartbeat and that the pregnant woman is aware of the statistical probability of bringing the unborn human individual the pregnant woman is carrying to term. (B) Division (A) of this section does not apply if the person who intends to perform or induce the abortion believes that a medical emergency exists that prevents compliance with that division. (C) The director of health may adopt rules that specify information regarding the statistical probability of bringing an unborn human individual possessing a detectable heartbeat to term based on the gestational age of the unborn human individual. The rules shall be based on available medical evidence and shall be adopted in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code. (D) This section does not have the effect of repealing or limiting any other provision of the Revised Code relating to informed consent for an abortion, including the provisions in section 2317.56 of the Revised Code. (E) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of performing or inducing an abortion without informed consent when there is a detectable fetal heartbeat, a misdemeanor of the first degree on a first offense and a felony of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.
Section 2919.195 \| Performance of abortion after detection of fetal heartbeat; penalty. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no person shall knowingly and purposefully perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of the unborn human individual the pregnant woman is carrying and whose fetal heartbeat has been detected in accordance with division (A) of section 2919.192 of the Revised Code. Whoever violates this division is guilty of performing or inducing an abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, a felony of the fifth degree. (B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to a physician who performs a medical procedure that, in the physician's reasonable medical judgment, is designed or intended to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. A physician who performs a medical procedure as described in this division shall declare, in a written document, that the medical procedure is necessary, to the best of the physician's reasonable medical judgment, to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. In the document, the physician shall specify the pregnant woman's medical condition that the medical procedure is asserted to address and the medical rationale for the physician's conclusion that the medical procedure is necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. A physician who performs a medical procedure as described in this division shall place the written document required by this division in the pregnant woman's medical records. The physician shall maintain a copy of the document in the physician's own records for at least seven years from the date the document is created. (C) A person is not in violation of division (A) of this section if the person acts in accordance with division (A) of section 2919.192 of the Revised Code and the method used to determine the presence of a fetal heartbeat does not reveal a fetal heartbeat. (D) Division (A) of this section does not have the effect of repealing or limiting any other provision of the Revised Code that restricts or regulates the performance or inducement of an abortion by a particular method or during a particular stage of a pregnancy.
Section 2919.196 \| Documentation of reasons for abortion. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The provisions of this section are wholly independent of the requirements of sections 2919.192 to 2919.195 of the Revised Code. (A) A person who performs or induces an abortion on a pregnant woman shall do whichever of the following is applicable: (1) If a purported reason for the abortion is to preserve the health of the pregnant woman, the person shall specify in a written document the medical condition that the abortion is asserted to address and the medical rationale for the person's conclusion that the abortion is necessary to address that condition. (2) If division (A)(1) of this section does not apply, the person shall specify in a written document that maternal health is not a reason of the abortion. (B) The person who specifies the information in the document described in division (A) of this section shall place the document in the pregnant woman's medical records. The person who specifies the information shall maintain a copy of the document in the person's own records for at least seven years from the date the document is created.
Section 2919.197 \| Contraceptives. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Nothing in sections 2919.19 to 2919.196 of the Revised Code prohibits the sale, use, prescription, or administration of a drug, device, or chemical for contraceptive purposes.
Section 2919.198 \| Immunity of pregnant woman. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF A pregnant woman on whom an abortion is performed or induced in violation of section 2919.193, 2919.194, or 2919.195 of the Revised Code is not guilty of violating any of those sections; is not guilty of attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or complicity in committing a violation of any of those sections; and is not subject to a civil penalty based on the abortion being performed or induced in violation of any of those sections.
Section 2919.199 \| Civil action for wrongful death of unborn child. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) A woman who meets either or both of the following criteria may file a civil action for the wrongful death of her unborn child: (1) A woman on whom an abortion was performed or induced in violation of division (A) of section 2919.193 or division (A) of section 2919.195 of the Revised Code; (2) A woman on whom an abortion was performed or induced who was not given the information described in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of section 2919.194 of the Revised Code or who did not sign a form described in division (A)(3) of section 2919.194 of the Revised code. (B) A woman who prevails in an action filed under division (A) of this section shall receive both of the following from the person who committed the one or more acts described in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section: (1) Damages in an amount equal to ten thousand dollars or an amount determined by the trier of fact after consideration of the evidence at the mother's election at any time prior to final judgment subject to the same defenses and requirements of proof, except any requirement of live birth, as would apply to a suit for the wrongful death of a child who had been born alive; (2) Court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. (C) A determination by a court of record that division (A) of section 2919.193 of the Revised Code, division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of section 2919.194 of the Revised Code, or division (A) of section 2919.195 of the Revised Code is unconstitutional shall be a defense to an action filed under division (A) of this section alleging that the defendant violated the division that was determined to be unconstitutional. (D) If the defendant in an action filed under division (A) of this section prevails and all of the following apply the court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to the defendant in accordance with section 2323.51 of the Revised Code: (1) The court finds that the commencement of the action constitutes frivolous conduct, as defined in section 2323.51 of the Revised Code. (2) The court's finding in division (D)(1) of this section is not based on that court or another court determining that division (A) of section 2919.193 of the Revised Code, division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of section 2919.194 of the Revised Code, or division (A) of section 2919.195 of the Revised Code is unconstitutional. (3) The court finds that the defendant was adversely affected by the frivolous conduct.
Section 2919.1910 \| Joint legislative committee on adoption promotion and support. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) To ensure that citizens are informed of available options in this state, there is hereby created the joint legislative committee on adoption promotion and support. The committee may review or study any matter that it considers relevant to the adoption process in this state, with priority given to the study or review of mechanisms intended to increase awareness of the process, increase its effectiveness, or both. (B) The committee shall consist of three members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and three members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate. Not more than two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and not more than two members appointed by the president of the senate may be of the same political party. Each member of the committee shall hold office during the general assembly in which the member is appointed and until a successor has been appointed, notwithstanding the adjournment sine die of the general assembly in which the member was appointed or the expiration of the member's term as a member of the general assembly. Any vacancies occurring among the members of the committee shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment. (C) The committee has the same powers as other standing or select committees of the general assembly.
Section 2919.1912 \| Forfeiture for violations. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) The state medical board may assess against a person a forfeiture of not more than twenty thousand dollars for each separate violation or failure of the person to comply with any of the requirements of sections 2919.171, 2919.192, 2919.193, 2919.194, 2919.195, or 2919.196 of the Revised Code. The board shall comply with the adjudication requirements of Chapter 119. of the Revised Code when assessing the forfeiture. The forfeiture may be in addition to criminal penalties that are imposed under other sections of the Revised Code. (B) An action to recover a forfeiture shall be prosecuted in the name of the state and shall be brought in the court of common pleas of Franklin county. The action shall be commenced and prosecuted by the attorney general when directed by the board. (C) Moneys collected under division (A) of this section or recovered by an action under division (B) of this section shall be paid to the treasurer of state for deposit into the foster care and adoption initiatives fund created under section 5103.11 of the Revised Code.
Section 2919.1913 \| Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection Act. Effective: July 11, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Sections 2919.171, 2919.19 to 2919.1913, and 4731.22 of the Revised Code, as amended or enacted by this act, shall be known as the "Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection Act."
Section 2919.20 \| Definitions. Effective: March 14, 2017 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 127 - 131st General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF As used in sections 2919.20 to 2919.204 of the Revised Code: (A) "Fertilization" means the fusion of a human spermatozoon with a human ovum. (B) "Medical emergency" means a condition that in the physician's reasonable medical judgment, based upon the facts known to the physician at that time, so complicates the woman's pregnancy as to necessitate the immediate performance or inducement of an abortion in order to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to avoid a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman that delay in the performance or inducement of the abortion would create. (C) "Pain-capable unborn child" means an unborn child of a probable post-fertilization age of twenty weeks or more. (D) "Physician" has the same meaning as in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code. (E) "Post-fertilization age" means the age of the unborn child as calculated from the fusion of a human spermatozoon with a human ovum. (F) "Probable post-fertilization age" means, in reasonable medical judgment and with reasonable probability, the age of the unborn child, as calculated from fertilization, at the time the abortion is performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced. (G) "Reasonable medical judgment" means a medical judgment that would be made by a reasonably prudent physician, knowledgeable about the case and the treatment possibilities with respect to the medical conditions involved. (H) "Serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" means any medically diagnosed condition that so complicates the pregnancy of the woman as to directly or indirectly cause the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. A medically diagnosed condition that constitutes a "serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" includes pre-eclampsia, inevitable abortion, and premature rupture of the membranes, but does not include a condition related to the woman's mental health. (I) "Unborn child" means an individual organism of the species homo sapiens from fertilization until live birth.
Section 2919.201 \| Abortion after gestational age of 20 weeks. Effective: March 14, 2017 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 127 - 131st General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person shall purposely perform or induce or purposely attempt to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman when the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is twenty weeks or greater. (B)(1) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (A) of this section that the abortion was purposely performed or induced or purposely attempted to be performed or induced by a physician and that the physician determined, in the physician's reasonable medical judgment, based on the facts known to the physician at that time, that either of the following applied: (a) The probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child was less than twenty weeks. (b) The abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. (2) No abortion shall be considered necessary under division (B)(1)(b) of this section on the basis of a claim or diagnosis that the pregnant woman will engage in conduct that would result in the pregnant woman's death or a substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman or based on any reason related to the woman's mental health. (C) Except when a medical emergency exists that prevents compliance with section 2919.203 of the Revised Code, the affirmative defense set forth in division (B)(1)(a) of this section does not apply unless the physician who purposely performs or induces or purposely attempts to perform or induce the abortion makes a determination of the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child as required by division (A) of section 2919.203 of the Revised Code or relied upon such a determination made by another physician and certifies in writing, based on the results of the tests performed, that in the physician's reasonable medical judgment the unborn child's probable post-fertilization age is less than twenty weeks. (D) Except when a medical emergency exists that prevents compliance with one or more of the following conditions, the affirmative defense set forth in division (B)(1)(b) of this section does not apply unless the physician who purposely performs or induces or purposely attempts to perform or induce the abortion complies with all of the following conditions: (1) The physician who purposely performs or induces or purposely attempts to perform or induce the abortion certifies in writing that, in the physician's reasonable medical judgment, based on the facts known to the physician at that time, the abortion is necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. (2) A different physician not professionally related to the physician described in division (D)(1) of this section certifies in writing that, in that different physician's reasonable medical judgment, based on the facts known to that different physician at that time, the abortion is necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. (3) The physician purposely performs or induces or purposely attempts to perform or induce the abortion in a hospital or other health care facility that has appropriate neonatal services for premature infants. (4) The physician who purposely performs or induces or purposely attempts to perform or induce the abortion terminates or attempts to terminate the pregnancy in the manner that provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive, unless that physician determines, in the physician's reasonable medical judgment, based on the facts known to the physician at that time, that the termination of the pregnancy in that manner poses a greater risk of the death of the pregnant woman or a greater risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman than would other available methods of abortion. (5) The physician certifies in writing the available method or techniques considered and the reasons for choosing the method or technique employed. (6) The physician who purposely performs or induces or purposely attempts to perform or induce the abortion has arranged for the attendance in the same room in which the abortion is to be performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced at least one other physician who is to take control of, provide immediate medical care for, and take all reasonable steps necessary to preserve the life and health of the unborn child immediately upon the child's complete expulsion or extraction from the pregnant woman. (E) Whoever purposely performs or induces or purposely attempts to perform or induce an abortion in violation of, or without complying with, the requirements of this section is guilty of terminating or attempting to terminate a human pregnancy of a pain-capable unborn child, a felony of the fourth degree. (F) The state medical board shall revoke a physician's license to practice medicine in this state if the physician violates or fails to comply with this section. (G) Any physician who purposely performs or induces an abortion or purposely attempts to perform or induce an abortion with actual knowledge that neither of the affirmative defenses set forth in division (B)(1) of this section applies, or with a heedless indifference as to whether either an affirmative defense applies, is liable in a civil action for compensatory and exemplary damages and reasonable attorney's fees to any person, or the representative of the estate of any person, who sustains injury, death, or loss to person or property as the result of the performance or inducement or the attempted performance or inducement of the abortion. In any action under this division, the court also may award any injunctive or other equitable relief that the court considers appropriate. (H) A pregnant woman on whom an abortion is purposely performed or induced or purposely attempted to be performed or induced in violation of division (A) of this section is not guilty of violating division (A) of this section or of attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or complicity in committing a violation of division (A) of this section.
Section 2919.202 \| Report by physician. Effective: October 3, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) A physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman shall submit a report to the department of health in accordance with the forms, rules, and regulations adopted by the department that includes all of the information the physician is required to certify in writing or determine under sections 2919.201 and 2919.203 of the Revised Code. (B) By the thirtieth day of September of each year, the department of health shall issue a public report that provides statistics for the previous calendar year compiled from all of the reports covering that calendar year submitted to the department in accordance with this section for each of the items listed in division (A) of this section. The report shall also provide the statistics for each previous calendar year in which a report was filed with the department pursuant to this section, adjusted to reflect any additional information that a physician provides to the department in a late or corrected report. The department shall ensure that none of the information included in the report could reasonably lead to the identification of any pregnant woman upon whom an abortion is performed. (C)(1) The physician shall submit the report described in division (A) of this section to the department of health within fifteen days after the woman is discharged. If the physician fails to submit the report more than thirty days after that fifteen-day deadline, the physician shall be subject to a late fee of five hundred dollars for each additional thirty-day period or portion of a thirty-day period the report is overdue. A physician who is required to submit to the department of health a report under division (A) of this section and who has not submitted a report or has submitted an incomplete report more than one year following the last day of the fifteen-day deadline may, in an action brought by the department of health, be directed by a court of competent jurisdiction to submit a complete report to the department of health within a period of time stated in a court order or be subject to contempt of court. (2) If a physician fails to comply with the requirements of this section, other than filing a late report with the department of health, or fails to submit a complete report to the department of health in accordance with a court order, the physician is subject to division (B)(43) of section 4731.22 of the Revised Code. (3) No person shall purposely falsify any report required under this section. Whoever purposely violates this division is guilty of pain-capable unborn child abortion report falsification, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (D) Within ninety days of March 14, 2017, the department of health shall adopt rules pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code to assist in compliance with this section. Last updated August 4, 2023 at 11:09 AM
Section 2919.203 \| Determination of gestational age; violation. Effective: March 14, 2017 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 127 - 131st General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Except in a medical emergency that prevents compliance with this division, no physician shall purposely perform or induce or purposely attempt to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman after the unborn child reaches the probable post-fertilization age of twenty weeks unless, prior to the performance or inducement of the abortion or the attempt to perform or induce the abortion, the physician determines, in the physician's reasonable medical judgment, the unborn child's probable post-fertilization age. The physician shall make that determination after making inquiries of the pregnant woman and performing any medical examinations or tests of the pregnant woman the physician considers necessary as a reasonably prudent physician, knowledgeable about the case and medical conditions involved, would consider necessary to determine the unborn child's probable post-fertilization age. (B) Except in a medical emergency that prevents compliance with this division, no physician shall purposely perform or induce or purposely attempt to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman after the unborn child reaches the probable post- fertilization age of twenty weeks without first entering the determination made in division (A) of this section and the associated findings of the medical examination and tests in the medical record of the pregnant woman. (C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of failure to perform probable post-fertilization age testing, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (D) The state medical board shall suspend a physician's license to practice medicine in this state for a period of not less than six months if the physician violates this section.
Section 2919.204 \| Ohio pain-capable unborn child protection act litigation fund. Effective: March 14, 2017 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 127 - 131st General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF There is hereby created in the state treasury the Ohio pain-capable unborn child protection act litigation fund to be used by the attorney general to pay for any costs and expenses incurred by the attorney general in relation to actions surrounding defense of the provisions of ___.B. of the 131st general assembly. The fund shall consist of appropriations made to it and any donations, gifts, or grants made to the fund. Any interest earned on the fund shall be credited to the fund.
Section 2919.205 \| Construction of laws. Effective: March 14, 2017 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 127 - 131st General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Sections 2307.54 and 2919.20 to 2919.205 and the provisions of section 2305.11 of the Revised Code as amended or enacted by this bill shall not be construed to repeal, by implication or otherwise, any law regulating or restricting abortion. An abortion that complies with the provisions of those sections as amended or enacted by this bill but violates the provisions of any otherwise applicable provision of state law shall be deemed unlawful as provided in such provision. An abortion that complies with the provisions of state law regulating or restricting abortion but violates the provisions of those sections as amended or enacted by this bill shall be deemed unlawful as provided in those sections. If some or all of the provisions of sections 2307.54 and 2919.20 to 2919.205 and the provisions of section 2305.11 of the Revised Code as amended or enacted by this bill are ever temporarily or permanently restrained or enjoined by judicial order, all other provisions of state law regulating or restricting abortion shall be enforced as though such restrained or enjoined provisions had not been adopted; provided, however, that whenever such temporary or permanent restraining order of injunction is stayed or dissolved, or otherwise ceases to have effect, such provisions shall have full force and effect. Last updated January 18, 2022 at 11:53 AM
Section 2919.21 \| Nonsupport or contributing to nonsupport of dependents. Effective: April 6, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person shall abandon, or fail to provide adequate support to: (1) The person's spouse, as required by law; (2) The person's child who is under age eighteen, or the persons's child with a mental or physical disability who is under age twenty-one; (3) The person's aged or infirm parent or adoptive parent, who from lack of ability and means is unable to provide adequately for the parent's own support. (B)(1) No person shall abandon, or fail to provide support as established by a court order to, another person whom, by court order or decree, the person: (a) Is legally obligated to support; or (b) Was legally obligated to support, and an amount for support: (i) Was due and owing prior to the date the person's duty to pay current support terminated; and (ii) Remains unpaid. (2) The period of limitation under section 2901.13 of the Revised Code applicable to division (B)(1)(b) of this section shall begin to run on the date the person's duty to pay current support terminates. (C) No person shall aid, abet, induce, cause, encourage, or contribute to a child or a ward of the juvenile court becoming a dependent child, as defined in section 2151.04 of the Revised Code, or a neglected child, as defined in section 2151.03 of the Revised Code. (D) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of failure to provide adequate support under division (A) of this section or a charge of failure to provide support established by a court order under division (B) of this section that the accused was unable to provide adequate support or the established support but did provide the support that was within the accused's ability and means. (E) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (A)(3) of this section that the parent abandoned the accused or failed to support the accused as required by law, while the accused was under age eighteen, or had a mental or physical disability and was under age twenty-one. (F) It is not a defense to a charge under division (B) of this section that the person whom a court has ordered the accused to support is being adequately supported by someone other than the accused. (G)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of nonsupport of dependents, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (A)(2) or (B) of this section or if the offender has failed to provide support under division (A)(2) or (B) of this section for a total accumulated period of twenty-six weeks out of one hundred four consecutive weeks, whether or not the twenty-six weeks were consecutive, then a violation of division (A)(2) or (B) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony violation of this section, a violation of division (A)(2) or (B) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree. If the violation of division (A) or (B) of this section is a felony, all of the following apply to the sentencing of the offender: (a) Except as otherwise provided in division (G)(1)(b) of this section, the court in imposing sentence on the offender shall first consider placing the offender on one or more community control sanctions under section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code, with an emphasis under the sanctions on intervention for nonsupport, obtaining or maintaining employment, or another related condition. (b) The preference for placement on community control sanctions described in division (G)(1)(a) of this section does not apply to any offender to whom one or more of the following applies: (i) The court determines that the imposition of a prison term on the offender is consistent with the purposes and principles of sentencing set forth in section 2929.11 of the Revised Code. (ii) The offender previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section that was a felony, and the offender was sentenced to a prison term for that violation. (iii) The offender previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section that was a felony, the offender was sentenced to one or more community control sanctions of a type described in division (G)(1)(a) of this section for that violation, and the offender failed to comply with the conditions of any of those community control sanctions. (2) If the offender is guilty of nonsupport of dependents by reason of failing to provide support to the offender's child as required by a child support order issued on or after April 15, 1985, pursuant to section 2151.23, 2151.231, 2151.232, 2151.33, 3105.21, 3109.05, 3111.13, 3113.04, 3113.31, 3115.401, or former section 3115.31 of the Revised Code, the court, in addition to any other sentence imposed, shall assess all court costs arising out of the charge against the person and require the person to pay any reasonable attorney's fees of any adverse party other than the state, as determined by the court, that arose in relation to the charge. (3) Whoever violates division (C) of this section is guilty of contributing to the nonsupport of dependents, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Each day of violation of division (C) of this section is a separate offense. Last updated March 10, 2023 at 11:18 AM
Section 2919.22 \| Endangering children. Effective: April 6, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person, who is the parent, guardian, custodian, person having custody or control, or person in loco parentis of a child under eighteen years of age or a child with a mental or physical disability under twenty-one years of age, shall create a substantial risk to the health or safety of the child, by violating a duty of care, protection, or support. It is not a violation of a duty of care, protection, or support under this division when the parent, guardian, custodian, or person having custody or control of a child treats the physical or mental illness or disability of the child by spiritual means through prayer alone, in accordance with the tenets of a recognized religious body. (B) No person shall do any of the following to a child under eighteen years of age or a child with a mental or physical disability under twenty-one years of age: (1) Abuse the child; (2) Torture or cruelly abuse the child; (3) Administer corporal punishment or other physical disciplinary measure, or physically restrain the child in a cruel manner or for a prolonged period, which punishment, discipline, or restraint is excessive under the circumstances and creates a substantial risk of serious physical harm to the child; (4) Repeatedly administer unwarranted disciplinary measures to the child, when there is a substantial risk that such conduct, if continued, will seriously impair or retard the child's mental health or development; (5) Entice, coerce, permit, encourage, compel, hire, employ, use, or allow the child to act, model, or in any other way participate in, or be photographed for, the production, presentation, dissemination, or advertisement of any material or performance that the offender knows or reasonably should know is obscene, is sexually oriented matter, or is nudity-oriented matter; (6) Allow the child to be on the same parcel of real property and within one hundred feet of, or, in the case of more than one housing unit on the same parcel of real property, in the same housing unit and within one hundred feet of, any act in violation of section 2925.04 or 2925.041 of the Revised Code when the person knows that the act is occurring, whether or not any person is prosecuted for or convicted of the violation of section 2925.04 or 2925.041 of the Revised Code that is the basis of the violation of this division. (C)(1) No person shall operate a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley within this state in violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code when one or more children under eighteen years of age are in the vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person may be convicted at the same trial or proceeding of a violation of this division and a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code that constitutes the basis of the charge of the violation of this division. For purposes of sections 4511.191 to 4511.197 of the Revised Code and all related provisions of law, a person arrested for a violation of this division shall be considered to be under arrest for operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them or for operating a vehicle with a prohibited concentration of alcohol, a controlled substance, or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine. (2) As used in division (C)(1) of this section: (a) "Controlled substance" has the same meaning as in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code. (b) "Vehicle," "streetcar," and "trackless trolley" have the same meanings as in section 4511.01 of the Revised Code. (D)(1) Division (B)(5) of this section does not apply to any material or performance that is produced, presented, or disseminated for a bona fide medical, scientific, educational, religious, governmental, judicial, or other proper purpose, by or to a physician, psychologist, sociologist, scientist, teacher, person pursuing bona fide studies or research, librarian, member of the clergy, prosecutor, judge, or other person having a proper interest in the material or performance. (2) Mistake of age is not a defense to a charge under division (B)(5) of this section. (3) In a prosecution under division (B)(5) of this section, the trier of fact may infer that an actor, model, or participant in the material or performance involved is a juvenile if the material or performance, through its title, text, visual representation, or otherwise, represents or depicts the actor, model, or participant as a juvenile. (4) As used in this division and division (B)(5) of this section: (a) "Material," "performance," "obscene," and "sexual activity" have the same meanings as in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code. (b) "Nudity-oriented matter" means any material or performance that shows a minor in a state of nudity and that, taken as a whole by the average person applying contemporary community standards, appeals to prurient interest. (c) "Sexually oriented matter" means any material or performance that shows a minor participating or engaging in sexual activity, masturbation, or bestiality. (E)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of endangering children. (2) If the offender violates division (A) or (B)(1) of this section, endangering children is one of the following, and, in the circumstances described in division (E)(2)(e) of this section, that division applies: (a) Except as otherwise provided in division (E)(2)(b), (c), or (d) of this section, a misdemeanor of the first degree; (b) If the offender previously has been convicted of an offense under this section or of any offense involving neglect, abandonment, contributing to the delinquency of, or physical abuse of a child, except as otherwise provided in division (E)(2)(c) or (d) of this section, a felony of the fourth degree; (c) If the violation is a violation of division (A) of this section and results in serious physical harm to the child involved, a felony of the third degree; (d) If the violation is a violation of division (B)(1) of this section and results in serious physical harm to the child involved, a felony of the second degree. (e) If the violation is a felony violation of division (B)(1) of this section and the offender also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in section 2941.1422 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term as provided in division (B)(7) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code and shall order the offender to make restitution as provided in division (B)(8) of section 2929.18 of the Revised Code. (3) If the offender violates division (B)(2), (3), (4), or (6) of this section, except as otherwise provided in this division, endangering children is a felony of the third degree. If the violation results in serious physical harm to the child involved, or if the offender previously has been convicted of an offense under this section or of any offense involving neglect, abandonment, contributing to the delinquency of, or physical abuse of a child, endangering children is a felony of the second degree. If the offender violates division (B)(2), (3), or (4) of this section and the offender also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in section 2941.1422 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term as provided in division (B)(7) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code and shall order the offender to make restitution as provided in division (B)(8) of section 2929.18 of the Revised Code. If the offender violates division (B)(6) of this section and the drug involved is methamphetamine, the court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender as follows: (a) If the violation is a violation of division (B)(6) of this section that is a felony of the third degree under division (E)(3) of this section and the drug involved is methamphetamine, except as otherwise provided in this division, the court shall impose as a mandatory prison term one of the prison terms prescribed for a felony of the third degree that is not less than two years. If the violation is a violation of division (B)(6) of this section that is a felony of the third degree under division (E)(3) of this section, if the drug involved is methamphetamine, and if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B)(6) of this section, a violation of division (A) of section 2925.04 of the Revised Code, or a violation of division (A) of section 2925.041 of the Revised Code, the court shall impose as a mandatory prison term one of the prison terms prescribed for a felony of the third degree that is not less than five years. (b) If the violation is a violation of division (B)(6) of this section that is a felony of the second degree under division (E)(3) of this section and the drug involved is methamphetamine, except as otherwise provided in this division, the court shall impose as a mandatory prison term one of the definite prison terms prescribed for a felony of the second degree in division (A)(2)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code that is not less than three years, except that if the violation is committed on or after the effective date of this amendment, the court shall impose as the minimum prison term for the offense a mandatory prison term that is one of the minimum terms prescribed for a felony of the second degree in division (A)(2)(a) of that section that is not less than three years. If the violation is a violation of division (B)(6) of this section that is a felony of the second degree under division (E)(3) of this section, if the drug involved is methamphetamine, and if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B)(6) of this section, a violation of division (A) of section 2925.04 of the Revised Code, or a violation of division (A) of section 2925.041 of the Revised Code, the court shall impose as a mandatory prison term one of the definite prison terms prescribed for a felony of the second degree in division (A)(2)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code that is not less than five years, except that if the violation is committed on or after March 22, 2019, the court shall impose as the minimum prison term for the offense a mandatory prison term that is one of the terms prescribed for a felony of the second degree in division (A)(2)(a) of that section that is not less than five years. (4) If the offender violates division (B)(5) of this section, endangering children is a felony of the second degree. If the offender also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in section 2941.1422 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term as provided in division (B)(7) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code and shall order the offender to make restitution as provided in division (B)(8) of section 2929.18 of the Revised Code. (5) If the offender violates division (C) of this section, the offender shall be punished as follows: (a) Except as otherwise provided in division (E)(5)(b) or (c) of this section, endangering children in violation of division (C) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. (b) If the violation results in serious physical harm to the child involved or the offender previously has been convicted of an offense under this section or any offense involving neglect, abandonment, contributing to the delinquency of, or physical abuse of a child, except as otherwise provided in division (E)(5)(c) of this section, endangering children in violation of division (C) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree. (c) If the violation results in serious physical harm to the child involved and if the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of division (C) of this section, section 2903.06 or 2903.08 of the Revised Code, section 2903.07 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to March 23, 2000, or section 2903.04 of the Revised Code in a case in which the offender was subject to the sanctions described in division (D) of that section, endangering children in violation of division (C) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree. (d) In addition to any term of imprisonment, fine, or other sentence, penalty, or sanction it imposes upon the offender pursuant to division (E)(5)(a), (b), or (c) of this section or pursuant to any other provision of law and in addition to any suspension of the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege under Chapter 4506., 4509., 4510., or 4511. of the Revised Code or under any other provision of law, the court also may impose upon the offender a class seven suspension of the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(7) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code. (e) In addition to any term of imprisonment, fine, or other sentence, penalty, or sanction imposed upon the offender pursuant to division (E)(5)(a), (b), (c), or (d) of this section or pursuant to any other provision of law for the violation of division (C) of this section, if as part of the same trial or proceeding the offender also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a separate charge charging the violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code that was the basis of the charge of the violation of division (C) of this section, the offender also shall be sentenced in accordance with section 4511.19 of the Revised Code for that violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code. (F)(1)(a) A court may require an offender to perform not more than two hundred hours of supervised community service work under the authority of an agency, subdivision, or charitable organization. The requirement shall be part of the community control sanction or sentence of the offender, and the court shall impose the community service in accordance with and subject to divisions (F)(1)(a) and (b) of this section. The court may require an offender whom it requires to perform supervised community service work as part of the offender's community control sanction or sentence to pay the court a reasonable fee to cover the costs of the offender's participation in the work, including, but not limited to, the costs of procuring a policy or policies of liability insurance to cover the period during which the offender will perform the work. If the court requires the offender to perform supervised community service work as part of the offender's community control sanction or sentence, the court shall do so in accordance with the following limitations and criteria: (i) The court shall require that the community service work be performed after completion of the term of imprisonment or jail term imposed upon the offender for the violation of division (C) of this section, if applicable. (ii) The supervised community service work shall be subject to the limitations set forth in divisions (B)(1), (2), and (3) of section 2951.02 of the Revised Code. (iii) The community service work shall be supervised in the manner described in division (B)(4) of section 2951.02 of the Revised Code by an official or person with the qualifications described in that division. The official or person periodically shall report in writing to the court concerning the conduct of the offender in performing the work. (iv) The court shall inform the offender in writing that if the offender does not adequately perform, as determined by the court, all of the required community service work, the court may order that the offender be committed to a jail or workhouse for a period of time that does not exceed the term of imprisonment that the court could have imposed upon the offender for the violation of division (C) of this section, reduced by the total amount of time that the offender actually was imprisoned under the sentence or term that was imposed upon the offender for that violation and by the total amount of time that the offender was confined for any reason arising out of the offense for which the offender was convicted and sentenced as described in sections 2949.08 and 2967.191 of the Revised Code, and that, if the court orders that the offender be so committed, the court is authorized, but not required, to grant the offender credit upon the period of the commitment for the community service work that the offender adequately performed. (b) If a court, pursuant to division (F)(1)(a) of this section, orders an offender to perform community service work as part of the offender's community control sanction or sentence and if the offender does not adequately perform all of the required community service work, as determined by the court, the court may order that the offender be committed to a jail or workhouse for a period of time that does not exceed the term of imprisonment that the court could have imposed upon the offender for the violation of division (C) of this section, reduced by the total amount of time that the offender actually was imprisoned under the sentence or term that was imposed upon the offender for that violation and by the total amount of time that the offender was confined for any reason arising out of the offense for which the offender was convicted and sentenced as described in sections 2949.08 and 2967.191 of the Revised Code. The court may order that a person committed pursuant to this division shall receive hour-for-hour credit upon the period of the commitment for the community service work that the offender adequately performed. No commitment pursuant to this division shall exceed the period of the term of imprisonment that the sentencing court could have imposed upon the offender for the violation of division (C) of this section, reduced by the total amount of time that the offender actually was imprisoned under that sentence or term and by the total amount of time that the offender was confined for any reason arising out of the offense for which the offender was convicted and sentenced as described in sections 2949.08 and 2967.191 of the Revised Code. (2) Division (F)(1) of this section does not limit or affect the authority of the court to suspend the sentence imposed upon a misdemeanor offender and place the offender under a community control sanction pursuant to section 2929.25 of the Revised Code, to require a misdemeanor or felony offender to perform supervised community service work in accordance with division (B) of section 2951.02 of the Revised Code, or to place a felony offender under a community control sanction. (G)(1) If a court suspends an offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege under division (E)(5)(d) of this section, the period of the suspension shall be consecutive to, and commence after, the period of suspension of the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege that is imposed under Chapter 4506., 4509., 4510., or 4511. of the Revised Code or under any other provision of law in relation to the violation of division (C) of this section that is the basis of the suspension under division (E)(5)(d) of this section or in relation to the violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code that is the basis for that violation of division (C) of this section. (2) An offender is not entitled to request, and the court shall not grant to the offender, limited driving privileges if the offender's license, permit, or privilege has been suspended under division (E)(5)(d) of this section and the offender, within the preceding six years, has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more violations of one or more of the following: (a) Division (C) of this section; (b) Any equivalent offense, as defined in section 4511.181 of the Revised Code. (H)(1) If a person violates division (C) of this section and if, at the time of the violation, there were two or more children under eighteen years of age in the motor vehicle involved in the violation, the offender may be convicted of a violation of division (C) of this section for each of the children, but the court may sentence the offender for only one of the violations. (2)(a) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (C) of this section but the person is not also convicted of and does not also plead guilty to a separate charge charging the violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code that was the basis of the charge of the violation of division (C) of this section, both of the following apply: (i) For purposes of the provisions of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code that set forth the penalties and sanctions for a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code, the conviction of or plea of guilty to the violation of division (C) of this section shall not constitute a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code; (ii) For purposes of any provision of law that refers to a conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code and that is not described in division (H)(2)(a)(i) of this section, the conviction of or plea of guilty to the violation of division (C) of this section shall constitute a conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code. (b) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (C) of this section and the person also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a separate charge charging the violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code that was the basis of the charge of the violation of division (C) of this section, the conviction of or plea of guilty to the violation of division (C) of this section shall not constitute, for purposes of any provision of law that refers to a conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code, a conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code. (I) As used in this section: (1) "Community control sanction" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code; (2) "Limited driving privileges" has the same meaning as in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code; (3) "Methamphetamine" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code. Last updated March 14, 2023 at 10:32 AM
Section 2919.222 \| Parental education neglect. Effective: October 29, 1996 Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 121st General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF No person required to attend a parental education or training program pursuant to a policy adopted under division (A) or (B) of section 3313.663 of the Revised Code shall fail to attend the program. Whoever violates this section is guilty of parental education neglect, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
Section 2919.223 \| Child and family day-care facilities - definitions. Effective: October 3, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF As used in sections 2919.223 to 2919.227 of the Revised Code: (A) "Child care," "child care center," "in-home aide," "type A family child care home," and "type B family child care home" have the same meanings as in section 5104.01 of the Revised Code. (B) "Child care center licensee" means the owner of a child care center licensed pursuant to Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code who is responsible for ensuring the center's compliance with Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code and rules adopted pursuant to that chapter. (C) "Child care facility" means a child care center, a type A family child care home, or a type B family child care home. (D) "Child care provider" means any of the following: (1) An owner, provider, administrator, or employee of, or volunteer at, a child care facility; (2) An in-home aide; (3) A person who represents that the person provides child care. (E) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code. Last updated August 21, 2023 at 9:19 AM
Section 2919.224 \| Misrepresentation relating to provision of child care. Effective: October 3, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No child care provider shall knowingly misrepresent any factor or condition that relates to the provision of child care and that substantially affects the health or safety of any child or children in that provider's facility or receiving child care from that provider to any of the following: (1) A parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a child in the provider's facility or receiving child care from the provider; (2) A parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a child who is considering the provider as a child care provider for the child; (3) A public official responsible for issuing the provider a license or certificate to provide child care; (4) A public official investigating or inquiring about the provision of child care by the provider; (5) A peace officer. (B) For the purposes of this section, "any factor or condition that relates to the provision of child care" includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) The person or persons who will provide child care to the child of the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of the child, or to the children in general; (2) The qualifications to provide child care of the child care provider, of a person employed by the provider, or of a person who provides child care as a volunteer; (3) The number of children to whom child care is provided at one time or the number of children receiving child care in the child care facility at one time; (4) The conditions or safety features of the child care facility; (5) The area of the child care facility in which child care is provided. (C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of misrepresentation by a child care provider, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Last updated August 16, 2023 at 4:42 PM
Section 2919.225 \| Disclosure and notice regarding death or injury of child in facility. Effective: October 3, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Subject to division (C) of this section, no owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family child care home or type B family child care home, knowing that the event described in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section has occurred, shall accept a child into that home without first disclosing to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of that child any of the following that has occurred: (1) A child died while under the care of the home or while receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator or died as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the home or while receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator. (2) Within the preceding ten years, a child suffered injuries while under the care of the home or while receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator, and those injuries led to the child being hospitalized for more than twenty-four hours. (B)(1) Subject to division (C) of this section, no owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family child care home or type B family child care home shall fail to provide notice in accordance with division (B)(3) of this section to the persons and entities specified in division (B)(2) of this section, of any of the following that occurs: (a) A child who is under the care of the home or is receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator dies while under the care of the home or while receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator or dies as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the home or while receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator. (b) A child who is under the care of the home or is receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator is hospitalized for more than twenty-four hours as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the home or while receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator. (2) An owner, provider, or administrator of a home shall provide the notices required under division (B)(1) of this section to each of the following: (a) For each child who, at the time of the injury or death for which the notice is required, is receiving or is enrolled to receive child care at the home or from the owner, provider, or administrator, to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of the child; (b) If the notice is required as the result of the death of a child as described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section, to the public children services agency of the county in which the home is located or the child care was given, a municipal or county peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the home is located or the child care was given, and the child fatality review board appointed under section 307.621 of the Revised Code that serves the county in which the home is located or the child care was given. (3) An owner, provider, or administrator of a home shall provide the notices required by divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section not later than forty-eight hours after the child dies or, regarding a child who is hospitalized for more than twenty-four hours as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the home, not later than forty-eight hours after the child suffers the injuries. If a child is hospitalized for more than twenty-four hours as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the home, and the child subsequently dies as a result of those injuries, the owner, provider, or administrator shall provide separate notices under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section regarding both the injuries and the death. All notices provided under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section shall state that the death or injury occurred. (C) Division (A) of this section does not require more than one person to make disclosures to the same parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a child regarding any single injury or death for which disclosure is required under that division. Division (B) of this section does not require more than one person to give notices to the same parent, guardian, custodian, other person responsible for the care of the child, public children services agency, peace officer, or child fatality review board regarding any single injury or death for which disclosure is required under division (B)(1) of this section. (D) An owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family child care home or type B family child care home is not subject to civil liability solely for making a disclosure required by this section. (E) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of failure of a type A or type B family child care home to disclose the death or serious injury of a child, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Last updated August 16, 2023 at 4:45 PM
Section 2919.226 \| Child day-care disclosure form - immunity from prosecution. Effective: October 3, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) If a child care provider accurately answers the questions on a child care disclosure form that is in substantially the form set forth in division (B) of this section, presents the form to a person identified in division (A)(1) or (2) of section 2919.224 of the Revised Code, and obtains the person's signature on the acknowledgement in the form, to the extent that the information set forth on the form is accurate, the provider who presents the form is not subject to prosecution under division (A) of section 2919.224 of the Revised Code regarding presentation of that information to that person. An owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family child care home or a type B family child care home may comply with division (A) of section 2919.225 of the Revised Code by accurately answering the questions on a child care disclosure form that is in substantially the form set forth in division (B) of this section, providing a copy of the form to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a child and to whom disclosure is to be made under division (A) of section 2919.225 of the Revised Code, and obtaining the person's signature on the acknowledgement in the form. The use of the form set forth in division (B) of this section is discretionary and is not required to comply with any disclosure requirement contained in section 2919.225 of the Revised Code or for any purpose related to section 2919.224 of the Revised Code. (B) To be sufficient for the purposes described in division (A) of this section, a child care disclosure form shall be in substantially the following form: "CHILD CARE DISCLOSURE FORM Please Note: This form contains information that is accurate only at the time the form is given to you. The information provided in this form is likely to change over time. It is the duty of the person responsible for the care of the child to monitor the status of child care services to ensure that those services remain satisfactory. If a question on this form is left unanswered, the child care provider makes no assertion regarding the question. Choosing appropriate child care for a child is a serious responsibility, and the person responsible for the care of the child is encouraged to make all appropriate inquiries. Also, in acknowledging receipt of this form, the person responsible for the care of the child acknowledges that in selecting the child care provider the person is not relying on any representations other than those provided in this form unless the child care provider has acknowledged the other representations in writing. 1. What are the names and qualifications to provide child care of: (a) the child care provider, (b) the employee who will provide child care to the applicant child, (c) the volunteer who will provide child care to the applicant child, and (d) any other employees or volunteers of the child care provider? (attach additional sheets if necessary): ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. What is the maximum number of children to whom you provide child care at one time? (If children are divided into groups or classes, please describe the maximum number of children in each group or class and indicate the group or class in which the applicant child will be placed.): ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Where in the home will you provide child care to the applicant child?: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Has a child died while in the care of, or receiving child care from, the child care provider? (Yes/No) Description/explanation (attach additional sheets if necessary) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Has a child died as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of, or receiving child care from, the child care provider? (Yes/No) Description/explanation (attach additional sheets if necessary) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Within the preceding ten years, has a child suffered injuries while under the care of, or receiving child care from, the child care provider that led to the child being hospitalized for more than 24 hours? (Yes/No) Description/explanation (attach additional sheets if necessary) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________ ___________ Signature of person completing form Date ________________________________ Name of person completing form (Typed or printed) ________________________________ Title of person completing form (Typed or printed) Acknowledgement: I hereby acknowledge that I have been given a copy of the preceding document and have read and understood its contents. I further acknowledge that I am not relying on any other representations in selecting the child care provider unless the child care provider has acknowledged the other representations in writing. Person receiving the form Date" (C) If a child care provider accurately answers the questions on a disclosure form that is substantially similar to the form described in division (B) of this section, presents the form to a person identified in division (A)(1) or (2) of section 2919.224 of the Revised Code, and obtains the person's signature on the acknowledgement in the form, to the extent that the information set forth on the form is accurate, the form is sufficient for the purposes described in division (A) of this section. An owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family child care home or a type B family child care home who accurately answers the questions on a disclosure form that is substantially similar to the form described in division (B) of this section, provides a copy of the completed form to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person who is responsible for the care of a child and to whom disclosure is to be made under division (A) of section 2919.225 of the Revised Code, and obtains the person's signature on the acknowledgement in the form complies with the requirements of that division. If the owner, provider, or administrator uses the disclosure form, leaving a portion of the disclosure form blank does not constitute a misrepresentation for the purposes of section 2919.224 of the Revised Code but may constitute a violation of section 2919.225 of the Revised Code. The owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family child care home or type B family child care home who completes the disclosure form and provides a copy of the form to any person described in section 2919.224 or 2919.225 of the Revised Code may retain a copy of the completed form. Last updated August 16, 2023 at 4:48 PM
Section 2919.227 \| Information to be provided to prospective users - notice of death of child. Effective: January 1, 2014 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 316 - 129th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A)(1) No child care center licensee shall accept a child into that center without first providing to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of that child the following information, if the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of the child requests the information: (a) The types of injuries to children, as reported in accordance with rules adopted under section 5104.015 of the Revised Code, that occurred at the center on or after April 1, 2003, or the date that is two years before the date the information is requested, whichever date is more recent; (b) The number of each type of injury to children that occurred at the center during that period. (2) If a death described in division (A)(2)(a) or (A)(2)(b) of this section occurred during the fifteen-year period immediately preceding the date that the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a child seeks to enroll that child, no child care center licensee shall accept that child into that center without first providing to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of that child a notice that states that the death occurred. (a) A child died while under the care of the center or while receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator of the center; (b) A child died as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the center or while receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator of the center. (3) Each child care center licensee shall keep on file at the center a copy of the information provided under this division for at least three years after providing the information. (B)(1) No child care center licensee shall fail to provide notice in accordance with division (B)(3) of this section to the persons and entities specified in division (B)(2) of this section if a child who is under the care of the center or is receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator of the center dies while under the care of the center or while receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator or dies as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the center or while receiving child care from the owner, provider, or administrator. (2) A child care center licensee shall provide the notice required under division (B)(1) of this section to all of the following: (a) The parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of each child who, at the time of the death for which notice is required, is receiving or is enrolled to receive child care from the center; (b) The public children services agency of the county in which the center is located or the child care was given; (c) A municipal or county peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the center is located or the child care was given; (d) The child fatality review board appointed under section 307.621 of the Revised Code that serves the county in which the center is located or the child care was given. (3) A child care center licensee shall provide the notice required by division (B)(1) of this section not later than forty-eight hours after the child dies. The notice shall state that the death occurred. (C) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of failure of a child care center to disclose the death or serious injury of a child, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
Section 2919.23 \| Interference with custody. Effective: April 6, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person, knowing the person is without privilege to do so or being reckless in that regard, shall entice, take, keep, or harbor a person identified in division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section from the parent, guardian, or custodian of the person identified in division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section: (1) A child under the age of eighteen, or a child with a mental or physical disability under the age of twenty-one; (2) A person committed by law to an institution for delinquent, unruly, neglected, abused, or dependent children; (3) A person committed by law to an institution for persons with mental illnesses or an institution for persons with intellectual disabilities. (B) No person shall aid, abet, induce, cause, or encourage a child or a ward of the juvenile court who has been committed to the custody of any person, department, or public or private institution to leave the custody of that person, department, or institution without legal consent. (C) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of enticing or taking under division (A)(1) of this section, that the actor reasonably believed that the actor's conduct was necessary to preserve the child's health or safety. It is an affirmative defense to a charge of keeping or harboring under division (A) of this section, that the actor in good faith gave notice to law enforcement or judicial authorities within a reasonable time after the child or committed person came under the actor's shelter, protection, or influence. (D)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of interference with custody. (2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, a violation of division (A)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the child who is the subject of a violation of division (A)(1) of this section is removed from the state or if the offender previously has been convicted of an offense under this section, a violation of division (A)(1) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree. If the child who is the subject of a violation of division (A)(1) of this section suffers physical harm as a result of the violation, a violation of division (A)(1) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree. (3) A violation of division (A)(2) or (3) of this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree. (4) A violation of division (B) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Each day of violation of division (B) of this section is a separate offense. Last updated March 10, 2023 at 11:19 AM
Section 2919.231 \| Interfering with action to issue or modify support order. Effective: March 15, 2002 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 27 - 124th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person, by using physical harassment or threats of violence against another person, shall interfere with the other person's initiation or continuance of, or attempt to prevent the other person from initiating or continuing, an action to issue or modify a support order under Chapter 3115. or under section 2151.23, 2151.231, 2151.232, 2151.33, 2151.36, 2151.361, 2151.49, 3105.18, 3105.21, 3109.05, 3109.19, 3111.13, 3113.04, 3113.07, or 3113.31 of the Revised Code. (B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of interfering with an action to issue or modify a support order, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or of section 3111.19 of the Revised Code, interfering with an action to issue or modify a support order is a felony of the fifth degree.
Section 2919.24 \| Contributing to unruliness or delinquency of a child. Effective: April 6, 2017 Latest Legislation: House Bill 410 - 131st General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) As used in this section: (1) "Delinquent child" has the same meaning as in section 2152.02 of the Revised Code. (2) "Unruly child" has the same meaning as in section 2151.022 of the Revised Code. (B) No person, including a parent, guardian, or other custodian of a child, shall do any of the following: (1) Aid, abet, induce, cause, encourage, or contribute to a child or a ward of the juvenile court becoming an unruly child or a delinquent child; (2) Act in a way tending to cause a child or a ward of the juvenile court to become an unruly child or a delinquent child; (3) Act in a way that contributes to an adjudication of the child as a delinquent child based on the child's violation of a court order adjudicating the child an unruly child for being an habitual truant; (4) If the person is the parent, guardian, or custodian of a child who has the duties under Chapters 2152. and 2950. of the Revised Code to register, register a new residence address, and periodically verify a residence address, and, if applicable, to send a notice of intent to reside, and if the child is not emancipated, as defined in section 2919.121 of the Revised Code, fail to ensure that the child complies with those duties under Chapters 2152. and 2950. of the Revised Code. (C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Each day of violation of this section is a separate offense.
Section 2919.25 \| Domestic violence. Effective: March 22, 2019 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 201 - 132nd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member. (B) No person shall recklessly cause serious physical harm to a family or household member. (C) No person, by threat of force, shall knowingly cause a family or household member to believe that the offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family or household member. (D)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of domestic violence, and the court shall sentence the offender as provided in divisions (D)(2) to (6) of this section. (2) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (D)(3) to (5) of this section, a violation of division (C) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, and a violation of division (A) or (B) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. (3) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(4) of this section, if the offender previously has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of domestic violence, a violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States that is substantially similar to domestic violence, a violation of section 2903.14, 2909.06, 2909.07, 2911.12, 2911.211, or 2919.22 of the Revised Code if the victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the violation, a violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States that is substantially similar to any of those sections if the victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the commission of the violation, or any offense of violence if the victim of the offense was a family or household member at the time of the commission of the offense, a violation of division (A) or (B) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree, and, if the offender knew that the victim of the violation was pregnant at the time of the violation, the court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender pursuant to division (D)(6) of this section, and a violation of division (C) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree. (4) If the offender previously has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of two or more offenses of domestic violence or two or more violations or offenses of the type described in division (D)(3) of this section involving a person who was a family or household member at the time of the violations or offenses, a violation of division (A) or (B) of this section is a felony of the third degree, and, if the offender knew that the victim of the violation was pregnant at the time of the violation, the court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender pursuant to division (D)(6) of this section, and a violation of division (C) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. (5) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(3) or (4) of this section, if the offender knew that the victim of the violation was pregnant at the time of the violation, a violation of division (A) or (B) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree, and the court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender pursuant to division (D)(6) of this section, and a violation of division (C) of this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree. (6) If division (D)(3), (4), or (5) of this section requires the court that sentences an offender for a violation of division (A) or (B) of this section to impose a mandatory prison term on the offender pursuant to this division, the court shall impose the mandatory prison term as follows: (a) If the violation of division (A) or (B) of this section is a felony of the fourth or fifth degree, except as otherwise provided in division (D)(6)(b) or (c) of this section, the court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender of at least six months. (b) If the violation of division (A) or (B) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree and the offender, in committing the violation, caused serious physical harm to the pregnant woman's unborn or caused the termination of the pregnant woman's pregnancy, the court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender of twelve months. (c) If the violation of division (A) or (B) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree and the offender, in committing the violation, caused serious physical harm to the pregnant woman's unborn or caused the termination of the pregnant woman's pregnancy, the court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender of at least twelve months. (d) If the violation of division (A) or (B) of this section is a felony of the third degree, except as otherwise provided in division (D)(6)(e) of this section and notwithstanding the range of definite prison terms prescribed in division (A)(3) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of the third degree, the court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender of either a definite term of six months or one of the prison terms prescribed in division (A)(3) (b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for felonies of the third degree. (e) If the violation of division (A) or (B) of this section is a felony of the third degree and the offender, in committing the violation, caused serious physical harm to the pregnant woman's unborn or caused the termination of the pregnant woman's pregnancy, notwithstanding the range of definite prison terms prescribed in division (A)(3) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of the third degree, the court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender of either a definite term of one year or one of the prison terms prescribed in division (A)(3)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for felonies of the third degree. (E) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no court or unit of state or local government shall charge any fee, cost, deposit, or money in connection with the filing of charges against a person alleging that the person violated this section or a municipal ordinance substantially similar to this section or in connection with the prosecution of any charges so filed. (F) As used in this section and sections 2919.251 and 2919.26 of the Revised Code: (1) "Family or household member" means any of the following: (a) Any of the following who is residing or has resided with the offender: (i) A spouse, a person living as a spouse, or a former spouse of the offender; (ii) A parent, a foster parent, or a child of the offender, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to the offender; (iii) A parent or a child of a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the offender, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the offender. (b) The natural parent of any child of whom the offender is the other natural parent or is the putative other natural parent. (2) "Person living as a spouse" means a person who is living or has lived with the offender in a common law marital relationship, who otherwise is cohabiting with the offender, or who otherwise has cohabited with the offender within five years prior to the date of the alleged commission of the act in question. (3) "Pregnant woman's unborn" has the same meaning as "such other person's unborn," as set forth in section 2903.09 of the Revised Code, as it relates to the pregnant woman. Division (C) of that section applies regarding the use of the term in this section, except that the second and third sentences of division (C)(1) of that section shall be construed for purposes of this section as if they included a reference to this section in the listing of Revised Code sections they contain. (4) "Termination of the pregnant woman's pregnancy" has the same meaning as "unlawful termination of another's pregnancy," as set forth in section 2903.09 of the Revised Code, as it relates to the pregnant woman. Division (C) of that section applies regarding the use of the term in this section, except that the second and third sentences of division (C)(1) of that section shall be construed for purposes of this section as if they included a reference to this section in the listing of Revised Code sections they contain.
Section 2919.251 \| Bail in certain domestic violence cases. Effective: June 30, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 191 - 135th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Subject to division (D) of this section, a person who is charged with the commission of any offense of violence shall appear before the court for the setting of bail if the alleged victim of the offense charged was a family or household member at the time of the offense and if any of the following applies: (1) The person charged, at the time of the alleged offense, was subject to the terms of a protection order issued or consent agreement approved pursuant to section 2919.26 or 3113.31 of the Revised Code or previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2919.25 of the Revised Code or a violation of section 2919.27 of the Revised Code involving a protection order or consent agreement of that type, a violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States that is substantially similar to either section, a violation of section 2909.06, 2909.07, 2911.12, or 2911.211 of the Revised Code if the victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the violation, a violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States that is substantially similar to any of those sections if the victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the commission of the violation, or any offense of violence if the victim of the offense was a family or household member at the time of the offense; (2) The arresting officer indicates in a police report or other document accompanying the complaint any of the following: (a) That the arresting officer observed on the alleged victim objective manifestations of physical harm that the arresting officer reasonably believes are a result of the alleged offense; (b) That the arresting officer reasonably believes that the person had on the person's person at the time of the alleged offense a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance; (c) That the arresting officer reasonably believes that the person presents a credible threat of serious physical harm to the alleged victim or to any other person if released on bail before trial. (B) To the extent that information about any of the following is available to the court, the court shall consider all of the following, in addition to any other circumstances considered by the court and notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in section 2937.011 of the Revised Code, before setting bail for a person who appears before the court pursuant to division (A) of this section: (1) Whether the person has a history of domestic violence or a history of other violent acts; (2) The mental health of the person; (3) Whether the person has a history of violating the orders of any court or governmental entity; (4) Whether the person is potentially a threat to any other person; (5) Whether the person has access to deadly weapons or a history of using deadly weapons; (6) Whether the person has a history of abusing alcohol or any controlled substance; (7) The severity of the alleged violence that is the basis of the offense, including but not limited to, the duration of the alleged violent incident, and whether the alleged violent incident involved serious physical injury, sexual assault, strangulation, abuse during the alleged victim's pregnancy, abuse of pets, or forcible entry to gain access to the alleged victim; (8) Whether a separation of the person from the alleged victim or a termination of the relationship between the person and the alleged victim has recently occurred or is pending; (9) Whether the person has exhibited obsessive or controlling behaviors toward the alleged victim, including but not limited to, stalking, surveillance, or isolation of the alleged victim; (10) Whether the person has expressed suicidal or homicidal ideations; (11) Any information contained in the complaint and any police reports, affidavits, or other documents accompanying the complaint. (C) Any court that has jurisdiction over charges alleging the commission of an offense of violence in circumstances in which the alleged victim of the offense was a family or household member at the time of the offense may set a schedule for bail to be used in cases involving those offenses. The schedule shall require that a judge consider all of the factors listed in division (B) of this section and may require judges to set bail at a certain level if the history of the alleged offender or the circumstances of the alleged offense meet certain criteria in the schedule. (D)(1) Upon the court's own motion or the motion of a party and upon any terms that the court may direct, a court may permit a person who is required to appear before it by division (A) of this section to appear by video conferencing equipment. (2) If in the opinion of the court the appearance in person or by video conferencing equipment of a person who is charged with a misdemeanor and who is required to appear before the court by division (A) of this section is not practicable, the court may waive the appearance and release the person on bail in accordance with the court's schedule for bail set under division (C) of this section or, if the court has not set a schedule for bail under that division, on one or both of the following types of bail in an amount set by the court: (a) A bail bond secured by a deposit of ten per cent of the amount of the bond in cash; (b) A surety bond, a bond secured by real estate or securities as allowed by law, or the deposit of cash, at the option of the person. (3) Division (A) of this section does not create a right in a person to appear before the court for the setting of bail or prohibit a court from requiring any person charged with an offense of violence who is not described in that division from appearing before the court for the setting of bail. (E) As used in this section: (1) "Controlled substance" has the same meaning as in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code. (2) "Dangerous ordnance" and "deadly weapon" have the same meanings as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code. Last updated July 18, 2023 at 12:32 PM
Section 2919.26 \| Motion for and hearing on protection order. Effective: July 7, 2023 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 16 - 135th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A)(1) Upon the filing of a complaint or indictment that alleges a violation of section 2909.06, 2909.07, 2911.12, or 2911.211 of the Revised Code if the alleged victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the violation, a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to any of those sections if the alleged victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the violation, any offense of violence if the alleged victim of the offense was a family or household member at the time of the commission of the offense, or any sexually oriented offense if the alleged victim of the offense was a family or household member at the time of the commission of the offense, the complainant, the alleged victim, or a family or household member of an alleged victim may file, or, if in an emergency the alleged victim is unable to file, a person who made an arrest for the alleged violation or offense under section 2935.03 of the Revised Code may file on behalf of the alleged victim, a motion that requests the issuance of a temporary protection order as a pretrial condition of release of the alleged offender, in addition to any bail set under Criminal Rule 46. The motion shall be filed with the clerk of the court that has jurisdiction of the case at any time after the filing of the complaint or indictment. (2) For purposes of section 2930.09 of the Revised Code, all stages of a proceeding arising out of a complaint or indictment alleging the commission of a violation, offense of violence, or sexually oriented offense described in division (A)(1) of this section, including all proceedings on a motion for a temporary protection order, are critical stages of the case, and a victim may be accompanied by a victim advocate or another person to provide support to the victim as provided in that section. (B) The motion shall be prepared on a form that is provided by the clerk of the court, which form shall be substantially as follows: "MOTION FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTION ORDER __________________________ Court Name and address of court State of Ohio v. No. ____ _________________________ Name of Defendant (name of person), moves the court to issue a temporary protection order containing terms designed to ensure the safety and protection of the complainant, alleged victim, and other family or household members, in relation to the named defendant, pursuant to its authority to issue such an order under section 2919.26 of the Revised Code. A complaint or indictment, a copy of which has been attached to this motion, has been filed in this court charging the named defendant with __________________________ (name of the specified violation, the offense of violence, or sexually oriented offense charged) in circumstances in which the victim was a family or household member in violation of (section of the Revised Code designating the specified violation, offense of violence, or sexually oriented offense charged), or charging the named defendant with a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to ________________________ (section of the Revised Code designating the specified violation, offense of violence, or sexually oriented offense charged) involving a family or household member. I understand that I must appear before the court, at a time set by the court within twenty-four hours after the filing of this motion, for a hearing on the motion or that, if I am unable to appear because of hospitalization or a medical condition resulting from the offense alleged in the complaint or indictment, a person who can provide information about my need for a temporary protection order must appear before the court in lieu of my appearing in court. I understand that any temporary protection order granted pursuant to this motion is a pretrial condition of release and is effective only until the disposition of the criminal proceeding arising out of the attached complaint or indictment, or the issuance of a civil protection order or the approval of a consent agreement, arising out of the same activities as those that were the basis of the complaint or indictment, under section 3113.31 of the Revised Code. __________________________________________ Signature of person (or signature of the arresting officer who filed the motion on behalf of the alleged victim) __________________________________________ Address of person (or office address of the arresting officer who filed the motion on behalf of the alleged victim)" (C)(1) As soon as possible after the filing of a motion that requests the issuance of a temporary protection order, but not later than twenty-four hours after the filing of the motion, the court shall conduct a hearing to determine whether to issue the order. The person who requested the order shall appear before the court and provide the court with the information that it requests concerning the basis of the motion. If the person who requested the order is unable to appear and if the court finds that the failure to appear is because of the person's hospitalization or medical condition resulting from the offense alleged in the complaint or indictment, another person who is able to provide the court with the information it requests may appear in lieu of the person who requested the order. If the court finds that the safety and protection of the complainant, alleged victim, or any other family or household member of the alleged victim may be impaired by the continued presence of the alleged offender, the court may issue a temporary protection order, as a pretrial condition of release, that contains terms designed to ensure the safety and protection of the complainant, alleged victim, or the family or household member, including a requirement that the alleged offender refrain from entering the residence, school, business, or place of employment of the complainant, alleged victim, or the family or household member. The court may include within a protection order issued under this section a term requiring that the alleged offender not remove, damage, hide, harm, or dispose of any companion animal owned or possessed by the complainant, alleged victim, or any other family or household member of the alleged victim, and may include within the order a term authorizing the complainant, alleged victim, or other family or household member of the alleged victim to remove a companion animal owned by the complainant, alleged victim, or other family or household member from the possession of the alleged offender. (2)(a) If the court issues a temporary protection order that includes a requirement that the alleged offender refrain from entering the residence, school, business, or place of employment of the complainant, the alleged victim, or the family or household member, the order shall state clearly that the order cannot be waived or nullified by an invitation to the alleged offender from the complainant, alleged victim, or family or household member to enter the residence, school, business, or place of employment or by the alleged offender's entry into one of those places otherwise upon the consent of the complainant, alleged victim, or family or household member. (b) Division (C)(2)(a) of this section does not limit any discretion of a court to determine that an alleged offender charged with a violation of section 2919.27 of the Revised Code, with a violation of a municipal ordinance substantially equivalent to that section, or with contempt of court, which charge is based on an alleged violation of a temporary protection order issued under this section, did not commit the violation or was not in contempt of court. (D)(1) Upon the filing of a complaint or indictment that alleges a violation of section 2909.06, 2909.07, 2911.12, or 2911.211 of the Revised Code if the alleged victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the violation, a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to any of those sections if the alleged victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the violation, any offense of violence if the alleged victim of the offense was a family or household member at the time of the commission of the offense, or any sexually oriented offense if the alleged victim of the offense was a family or household member at the time of the commission of the offense, the court, upon its own motion, may issue a temporary protection order as a pretrial condition of release if it finds that the safety and protection of the complainant, alleged victim, or other family or household member of the alleged offender may be impaired by the continued presence of the alleged offender. (2) If the court issues a temporary protection order under this section as an ex parte order, it shall conduct, as soon as possible after the issuance of the order, a hearing in the presence of the alleged offender not later than the next day on which the court is scheduled to conduct business after the day on which the alleged offender was arrested or at the time of the appearance of the alleged offender pursuant to summons to determine whether the order should remain in effect, be modified, or be revoked. The hearing shall be conducted under the standards set forth in division (C) of this section. (3) An order issued under this section shall contain only those terms authorized in orders issued under division (C) of this section. (4) If a municipal court or a county court issues a temporary protection order under this section and if, subsequent to the issuance of the order, the alleged offender who is the subject of the order is bound over to the court of common pleas for prosecution of a felony arising out of the same activities as those that were the basis of the complaint upon which the order is based, notwithstanding the fact that the order was issued by a municipal court or county court, the order shall remain in effect, as though it were an order of the court of common pleas, while the charges against the alleged offender are pending in the court of common pleas, for the period of time described in division (E)(2) of this section, and the court of common pleas has exclusive jurisdiction to modify the order issued by the municipal court or county court. This division applies when the alleged offender is bound over to the court of common pleas as a result of the person waiving a preliminary hearing on the felony charge, as a result of the municipal court or county court having determined at a preliminary hearing that there is probable cause to believe that the felony has been committed and that the alleged offender committed it, as a result of the alleged offender having been indicted for the felony, or in any other manner. (E) A temporary protection order that is issued as a pretrial condition of release under this section: (1) Is in addition to, but shall not be construed as a part of, any bail set under Criminal Rule 46; (2) Is effective only until the occurrence of either of the following: (a) The disposition, by the court that issued the order or, in the circumstances described in division (D)(4) of this section, by the court of common pleas to which the alleged offender is bound over for prosecution, of the criminal proceeding arising out of the complaint or indictment upon which the order is based; (b) The issuance of a protection order or the approval of a consent agreement, arising out of the same activities as those that were the basis of the complaint or indictment upon which the order is based, under section 3113.31 of the Revised Code. (3) Shall not be construed as a finding that the alleged offender committed the alleged offense, and shall not be introduced as evidence of the commission of the offense at the trial of the alleged offender on the complaint or indictment upon which the order is based. (F) A person who meets the criteria for bail under Criminal Rule 46 and who, if required to do so pursuant to that rule, executes or posts bond or deposits cash or securities as bail, shall not be held in custody pending a hearing before the court on a motion requesting a temporary protection order. (G)(1) A copy of any temporary protection order that is issued under this section shall be issued by the court to the complainant, to the alleged victim, to the person who requested the order, to the defendant, and to all law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction to enforce the order. The court shall direct that a copy of the order be delivered to the defendant on the same day that the order is entered. If a municipal court or a county court issues a temporary protection order under this section and if, subsequent to the issuance of the order, the defendant who is the subject of the order is bound over to the court of common pleas for prosecution as described in division (D)(4) of this section, the municipal court or county court shall direct that a copy of the order be delivered to the court of common pleas to which the defendant is bound over. (2) Upon the issuance of a protection order under this section, the court shall provide the parties to the order with the following notice orally or by form: "NOTICE As a result of this protection order, it may be unlawful for you to possess or purchase a firearm, including a rifle, pistol, or revolver, or ammunition pursuant to federal law under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) for the duration of this order. If you have any questions whether this law makes it illegal for you to possess or purchase a firearm or ammunition, you should consult an attorney." (3) All law enforcement agencies shall establish and maintain an index for the temporary protection orders delivered to the agencies pursuant to division (G)(1) of this section. With respect to each order delivered, each agency shall note on the index, the date and time of the receipt of the order by the agency. (4) A complainant, alleged victim, or other person who obtains a temporary protection order under this section may provide notice of the issuance of the temporary protection order to the judicial and law enforcement officials in any county other than the county in which the order is issued by registering that order in the other county in accordance with division (N) of section 3113.31 of the Revised Code and filing a copy of the registered protection order with a law enforcement agency in the other county in accordance with that division. (5) Any officer of a law enforcement agency shall enforce a temporary protection order issued by any court in this state in accordance with the provisions of the order, including removing the defendant from the premises, regardless of whether the order is registered in the county in which the officer's agency has jurisdiction as authorized by division (G)(4) of this section. (H) Upon a violation of a temporary protection order, the court may issue another temporary protection order, as a pretrial condition of release, that modifies the terms of the order that was violated. (I)(1) As used in divisions (I)(1) and (2) of this section, "defendant" means a person who is alleged in a complaint or indictment to have committed a violation, offense of violence, or sexually oriented offense of the type described in division (A) of this section. (2) If a complaint or indictment is filed that alleges that a person committed a violation, offense of violence, or sexually oriented offense of the type described in division (A) of this section, the court may not issue a temporary protection order under this section that requires the complainant, the alleged victim, or another family or household member of the defendant to do or refrain from doing an act that the court may require the defendant to do or refrain from doing under a temporary protection order unless both of the following apply: (a) The defendant has filed a separate complaint that alleges that the complainant, alleged victim, or other family or household member in question who would be required under the order to do or refrain from doing the act committed a violation or offense of violence of the type described in division (A) of this section. (b) The court determines that both the complainant, alleged victim, or other family or household member in question who would be required under the order to do or refrain from doing the act and the defendant acted primarily as aggressors, that neither the complainant, alleged victim, or other family or household member in question who would be required under the order to do or refrain from doing the act nor the defendant acted primarily in self-defense, and, in accordance with the standards and criteria of this section as applied in relation to the separate complaint filed by the defendant, that it should issue the order to require the complainant, alleged victim, or other family or household member in question to do or refrain from doing the act. (J)(1) Subject to division (J)(2) of this section and regardless of whether a protection order is issued or a consent agreement is approved by a court of another county or a court of another state, no court or unit of state or local government shall charge the movant any fee, cost, deposit, or money in connection with the filing of a motion pursuant to this section, in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order, consent agreement, or witness subpoena or for obtaining a certified copy of a protection order or consent agreement. (2) Regardless of whether a protection order is issued or a consent agreement is approved pursuant to this section, if the defendant is convicted the court may assess costs against the defendant in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order, consent agreement, or witness subpoena or for obtaining a certified copy of a protection order or consent agreement. (K) As used in this section: (1) "Companion animal" has the same meaning as in section 959.131 of the Revised Code. (2) "Sexually oriented offense" has the same meaning as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code. (3) "Victim advocate" means a person who provides support and assistance for a victim of an offense during court proceedings. Last updated September 7, 2023 at 12:49 PM
Section 2919.27 \| Violating protection order. Effective: April 4, 2023 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 288 - 134th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) No person shall recklessly violate the terms of any of the following: (1) A protection order issued or consent agreement approved pursuant to section 2919.26 or 3113.31 of the Revised Code; (2) A protection order issued pursuant to section 2151.34, 2903.213, or 2903.214 of the Revised Code; (3) A protection order issued by a court of another state. (B)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of violating a protection order. (2) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(3) or (4) of this section, violating a protection order is a misdemeanor of the first degree. (3) Violating a protection order is a felony of the fifth degree if the offender previously has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for any of the following: (a) A violation of a protection order issued or consent agreement approved pursuant to section 2151.34, 2903.213, 2903.214, 2919.26, or 3113.31 of the Revised Code; (b) Two or more violations of section 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, or 2911.211 of the Revised Code, or any combination of those offenses, that involved the same person who is the subject of the protection order or consent agreement; (c) One or more violations of this section. (4) If the offender violates a protection order or consent agreement while committing a felony offense, violating a protection order is a felony of the third degree. (5) If the protection order violated by the offender was an order issued pursuant to section 2151.34 or 2903.214 of the Revised Code that required electronic monitoring of the offender pursuant to that section, the court may require in addition to any other sentence imposed upon the offender that the offender be electronically monitored for a period not exceeding five years by a law enforcement agency designated by the court. If the court requires under this division that the offender be electronically monitored, unless the court determines that the offender is indigent, the court shall order that the offender pay the costs of the installation of the electronic monitoring device and the cost of monitoring the electronic monitoring device. (C) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (A)(3) of this section that the protection order issued by a court of another state does not comply with the requirements specified in 18 U.S.C. 2265(b) for a protection order that must be accorded full faith and credit by a court of this state or that it is not entitled to full faith and credit under 18 U.S.C. 2265(c). (D) In a prosecution for a violation of this section, it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the protection order or consent agreement was served on the defendant if the prosecution proves that the defendant was shown the protection order or consent agreement or a copy of either or a judge, magistrate, or law enforcement officer informed the defendant that a protection order or consent agreement had been issued, and proves that the defendant recklessly violated the terms of the order or agreement. (E) As used in this section, "protection order issued by a court of another state" means an injunction or another order issued by a criminal court of another state for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts or harassment against, contact or communication with, or physical proximity to another person, including a temporary order, and means an injunction or order of that nature issued by a civil court of another state, including a temporary order and a final order issued in an independent action or as a pendente lite order in a proceeding for other relief, if the court issued it in response to a complaint, petition, or motion filed by or on behalf of a person seeking protection. "Protection order issued by a court of another state" does not include an order for support or for custody of a child issued pursuant to the divorce and child custody laws of another state, except to the extent that the order for support or for custody of a child is entitled to full faith and credit under the laws of the United States. Last updated February 9, 2023 at 10:47 AM
Section 2919.271 \| Evaluation of mental condition of defendant. Effective: March 20, 2014 Latest Legislation: House Bill 83 - 130th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A)(1)(a) If a defendant is charged with a violation of section 2919.27 of the Revised Code or of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to that section, the court may order an evaluation of the mental condition of the defendant if the court determines that either of the following criteria apply: (i) If the alleged violation is a violation of a protection order issued or consent agreement approved pursuant to section 2919.26 or 3113.31 of the Revised Code, that the violation allegedly involves conduct by the defendant that caused physical harm to the person or property of a family or household member covered by the order or agreement, or conduct by the defendant that caused a family or household member to believe that the defendant would cause physical harm to that member or that member's property. (ii) If the alleged violation is a violation of a protection order issued pursuant to section 2903.213 or 2903.214 of the Revised Code or a protection order issued by a court of another state, that the violation allegedly involves conduct by the defendant that caused physical harm to the person or property of the person covered by the order, or conduct by the defendant that caused the person covered by the order to believe that the defendant would cause physical harm to that person or that person's property. (b) If a defendant is charged with a violation of section 2903.211 of the Revised Code or of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to that section, the court may order an evaluation of the mental condition of the defendant. (2) An evaluation ordered under division (A)(1) of this section shall be completed no later than thirty days from the date the order is entered pursuant to that division. In that order, the court shall do either of the following: (a) Order that the evaluation of the mental condition of the defendant be preceded by an examination conducted either by a forensic center that is designated by the department of mental health and addiction services to conduct examinations and make evaluations of defendants charged with violations of section 2903.211 or 2919.27 of the Revised Code or of substantially similar municipal ordinances in the area in which the court is located, or by any other program or facility that is designated by the department of mental health and addiction services or the department of developmental disabilities to conduct examinations and make evaluations of defendants charged with violations of section 2903.211 or 2919.27 of the Revised Code or of substantially similar municipal ordinances, and that is operated by either department or is certified by either department as being in compliance with the standards established under division (B)(7) of section 5119.10 of the Revised Code or division (C) of section 5123.04 of the Revised Code. (b) Designate a center, program, or facility other than one designated by the department of mental health and addiction services or the department of developmental disabilities, as described in division (A)(2)(a) of this section, to conduct the evaluation and preceding examination of the mental condition of the defendant. Whether the court acts pursuant to division (A)(2)(a) or (b) of this section, the court may designate examiners other than the personnel of the center, program, facility, or department involved to make the evaluation and preceding examination of the mental condition of the defendant. (B) If the court considers that additional evaluations of the mental condition of a defendant are necessary following the evaluation authorized by division (A) of this section, the court may order up to two additional similar evaluations. These evaluations shall be completed no later than thirty days from the date the applicable court order is entered. If more than one evaluation of the mental condition of the defendant is ordered under this division, the prosecutor and the defendant may recommend to the court an examiner whom each prefers to perform one of the evaluations and preceding examinations. (C)(1) The court may order a defendant who has been released on bail to submit to an examination under division (A) or (B) of this section. The examination shall be conducted either at the detention facility in which the defendant would have been confined if the defendant had not been released on bail, or, if so specified by the center, program, facility, or examiners involved, at the premises of the center, program, or facility. Additionally, the examination shall be conducted at the times established by the examiners involved. If such a defendant refuses to submit to an examination or a complete examination as required by the court or the center, program, facility, or examiners involved, the court may amend the conditions of the bail of the defendant and order the sheriff to take the defendant into custody and deliver the defendant to the detention facility in which the defendant would have been confined if the defendant had not been released on bail, or, if so specified by the center, program, facility, or examiners involved, to the premises of the center, program, or facility, for purposes of the examination. (2) A defendant who has not been released on bail shall be examined at the detention facility in which the defendant is confined or, if so specified by the center, program, facility, or examiners involved, at the premises of the center, program, or facility. (D) The examiner of the mental condition of a defendant under division (A) or (B) of this section shall file a written report with the court within thirty days after the entry of an order for the evaluation of the mental condition of the defendant. The report shall contain the findings of the examiner; the facts in reasonable detail on which the findings are based; the opinion of the examiner as to the mental condition of the defendant; the opinion of the examiner as to whether the defendant represents a substantial risk of physical harm to other persons as manifested by evidence of recent homicidal or other violent behavior, evidence of recent threats that placed other persons in reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm, or evidence of present dangerousness; and the opinion of the examiner as to the types of treatment or counseling that the defendant needs. The court shall provide copies of the report to the prosecutor and defense counsel. (E) The costs of any evaluation and preceding examination of a defendant that is ordered pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section shall be taxed as court costs in the criminal case. (F) If the examiner considers it necessary in order to make an accurate evaluation of the mental condition of a defendant, an examiner under division (A) or (B) of this section may request any family or household member of the defendant to provide the examiner with information. A family or household member may, but is not required to, provide information to the examiner upon receipt of the request. (G) As used in this section: (1) "Bail" includes a recognizance. (2) "Examiner" means a psychiatrist, a licensed independent social worker who is employed by a forensic center that is certified as being in compliance with the standards established under division (B)(7) of section 5119.10 or division (C) of section 5123.04 of the Revised Code, a licensed professional clinical counselor who is employed at a forensic center that is certified as being in compliance with such standards, or a licensed clinical psychologist, except that in order to be an examiner, a licensed clinical psychologist shall meet the criteria of division (I) of section 5122.01 of the Revised Code or be employed to conduct examinations by the department of mental health and addiction services or by a forensic center certified as being in compliance with the standards established under division (B)(7) of section 5119.10 or division (C) of section 5123.04 of the Revised Code that is designated by the department of mental health and addiction services. (3) "Family or household member" has the same meaning as in section 2919.25 of the Revised Code. (4) "Prosecutor" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code. (5) "Psychiatrist" and "licensed clinical psychologist" have the same meanings as in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code. (6) "Protection order issued by a court of another state" has the same meaning as in section 2919.27 of the Revised Code.
Section 2919.272 \| Protection order issued by court of another state. Effective: September 17, 2014 Latest Legislation: House Bill 309 - 130th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) As used in this section, "protection order issued by a court of another state" has the same meaning as in section 2919.27 of the Revised Code. (B) A person who has obtained a protection order issued by a court of another state may provide notice of the issuance of the order to judicial and law enforcement officials in any county of this state by registering the order in that county and filing a copy of the registered order with a law enforcement agency in that county. To register the order, the person shall obtain a certified copy of the order from the clerk of the court that issued the order and present that certified copy to the clerk of the court of common pleas or the clerk of a municipal court or county court in the county in which the order is to be registered. Upon accepting the certified copy of the order for registration, the clerk shall place an endorsement of registration on the order and give the person a copy of the order that bears proof of registration. The person then may file with a law enforcement agency in that county a copy of the order that bears proof of registration. (C) The clerk of each court of common pleas and the clerk of each municipal court and county court shall maintain a registry of certified copies of protection orders issued by courts of another state that have been registered with the clerk. Each law enforcement agency shall establish and maintain a registry for protection orders delivered to the agency pursuant to this section. The agency shall note in the registry the date and time that the agency received an order. (D) An officer of a law enforcement agency shall enforce a protection order issued by a court of another state in accordance with the provisions of the order, including removing the person allegedly violating the order from the premises, regardless of whether the order is registered as authorized by division (B) of this section in the county in which the officer's agency has jurisdiction. (E)(1) Subject to division (E)(2) of this section and regardless of whether a protection order is issued or a consent agreement is approved by a court of another county or a court of another state, no court or unit of state or local government shall charge a person who registers and files an order any fee, cost, deposit, or money in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order, consent agreement, or witness subpoena or for obtaining a certified copy of a protection order or consent agreement, including a protection order issued by a court of another state. (2) Regardless of whether a protection order is issued or a consent agreement is approved pursuant to this section, the court may assess costs against the person who is subject to a registered and filed order in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order, consent agreement, or witness subpoena or for obtaining a certified copy of a protection order or consent agreement.