Chapter 3353 | Broadcast Educational Media Commission

Section 3353.01 | Definitions.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Educational television or radio" means television or radio programs which serve the educational needs of the community and which meet the requirements of the federal communications commission for noncommercial educational television or radio.

(B) "Educational telecommunications network" means a system of connected educational television, radio, or radio reading service facilities and coordinated programs established and operated or controlled by the broadcast educational media commission, pursuant to this chapter.

(C) "Transmission" means the sending out of television, radio, or radio reading service programs, either directly to the public, or to broadcasting stations or services for simultaneous broadcast or rebroadcast.

(D) "Transmission facilities" means structures, equipment, material, and services used in the transmission of educational television, radio, or radio reading service programs.

(E) "Interconnection facilities" means the equipment, material, and services used to link one location to another location or to several locations by means of telephone line, coaxial cable, microwave relays, or other available technologies.

(F) "Broadcasting station" means a properly licensed noncommercial educational television or radio station, appropriately staffed and equipped to produce programs or lessons and to broadcast programs.

(G) "Radio reading service" means a nonprofit organization that disseminates news and other information to persons who are blind and persons with other print disabilities.

(H) "Affiliate" means an educational telecommunication entity, including a television or radio broadcasting station or radio reading service.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 11:48 AM

Section 3353.02 | Broadcast educational media commission established.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created the broadcast educational media commission as an independent agency to advance education and accelerate the learning of the citizens of this state through public educational broadcasting services. The commission shall provide leadership and support in extending the knowledge of the citizens of this state by promoting access to and use of educational broadcasting services, including educational television and radio and radio reading services. The commission also shall administer programs to provide financial and other assistance to educational television and radio and radio reading services.

The commission is a body corporate and politic, an agency of the state performing essential governmental functions of the state.

(B) The commission shall consist of, eleven voting members. Nine members shall be representatives of the public, which may include individuals who are public officials or employees as defined in section 102.01 of the Revised Code, with consideration given to leading citizens in the state who have demonstrated interest in educational broadcast media, including through service on boards or advisory councils of educational television stations, educational radio stations, educational technology agencies, or radio reading services, or through service or experience in broadcast media, education, or government administration. Of the representatives of the public, three shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, three shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and three shall be 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 shall be of the same political party. The director of education and workforce or a designee of the director and the chancellor of higher education or a designee of the chancellor shall be ex officio voting members.

(C) Terms of office for appointed members shall be for four years. Any member may be reappointed by the member's respective appointing authority, but the member may serve no more than two consecutive four-year terms. Such a member may be removed by the member's respective appointing authority for cause.

(D) Vacancies among appointed members shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. Any appointed member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration of that member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(E) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation. Appointed members shall be reimbursed, pursuant to office of budget and management guidelines, for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.

(F) The governor shall appoint the chairperson of the commission from among the commission's appointed members. The chairperson shall serve a term of two years and may be reappointed. The commission shall elect other officers as necessary from among its members and shall prescribe its rules of procedure.

Last updated September 11, 2023 at 3:21 PM

Section 3353.03 | Executive director - powers and duties.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The broadcast educational media commission shall appoint an executive director, who shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The executive director shall have no authority other than that provided by law or delegated to the executive director by the commission. The executive director shall do all of the following:

(1) Direct the administration of all programs of the commission;

(2) Provide leadership and support in extending the knowledge of the citizens of this state by promoting equal access to and use of educational broadcast media, as directed by the commission;

(3) Provide financial and other assistance to educational television and radio stations, radio reading services, and related organizations and activities;

(4) Implement policies and directives issued by the commission;

(5) Perform other duties authorized by the commission.

(B) The commission shall fix the compensation of the executive director. The executive director shall employ and fix the compensation for such employees as necessary to facilitate the activities and purposes of the commission. The employees shall serve at the pleasure of the executive director.

(C) The employees of the commission shall be placed in the unclassified service.

(D)(1) Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, the employees of the commission shall be exempt from Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code and shall not be public employees as defined in section 4117.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) All employees of the commission who transferred to the commission from one of the commission's predecessor agencies upon the commission's creation and, when employed by the predecessor agency were included in a bargaining unit established under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, shall continue to be included in that bargaining unit, are public employees as defined in section 4117.01 of the Revised Code, and may collectively bargain with the commission in accordance with that chapter. Otherwise, any employee hired by the commission after July 1, 2005, either to fill vacancies or to fill new positions, shall be exempt from Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code and shall not be public employees as defined in section 4117.10 of the Revised Code.

Section 3353.04 | Powers of commission.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The broadcast educational media commission may perform any act necessary to carry out the functions of this chapter, including any of the following:

(1) Promote accessibility through broadcasting services of educational products aligned with the statewide academic standards, adopted by the state board pursuant to section 3301.079 of the Revised Code, for school districts, community schools, and other entities serving grades kindergarten through twelve;

(2) Own or operate transmission facilities and interconnection facilities, or contract for transmission facilities and interconnection facilities, for an educational television, radio, or radio reading service network;

(3) Establish standards for interconnection facilities used by the commission in the transmission of educational television, radio, or radio reading service programming;

(4) Enter into agreements with noncommercial educational television or radio broadcasting stations or radio reading services for the operation of the interconnection;

(5) Enter into agreements with noncommercial educational television or radio broadcasting stations or radio reading services for the production and use of educational television, radio, or radio reading service programs to be transmitted by the educational telecommunications network;

(6) Execute contracts and other agreements necessary and desirable to carry out the purposes of this chapter and other duties prescribed to the commission by law or authorize the executive director of the commission to execute such contracts and agreements on the commission's behalf;

(7) Act as consultant with educational television and educational radio stations and radio reading services toward coordination within the state of the distribution of federal funds that may become available for equipment for educational broadcasting or radio reading services;

(8) Make payments to noncommercial Ohio educational television or radio broadcasting stations or radio reading services to sustain the operation of such stations or services;

(9) In consultation with participants in programs administered by the commission, establish guidelines governing purchasing and procurement that facilitate the timely and effective implementation of such programs;

(10) In consultation with participants in programs administered by the commission, consider the efficiency and cost savings of statewide procurement prior to allocating and releasing funds for such programs;

(11) In consultation with participants in programs administered by the commission, establish a systems support network to facilitate the timely implementation of the programs and other projects and activities for which the commission provides assistance.

(B) Chapters 123., 124., 125., and 153. of the Revised Code and sections 9.331 to 9.335 of the Revised Code do not apply to contracts, programs, projects, or activities of the commission.

Section 3353.05 | Payments to noncommercial educational broadcasting stations or radio reading service.

• Effective: July 26, 1991
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 298 - 119th General Assembly

Any taxing authority as defined in section 5705.01 of the Revised Code located in a county may pay to any noncommercial educational television or radio broadcasting station or radio reading service located in the county or serving any part of the county an amount not to exceed five cents annually on each one thousand dollars of the total value of all property within the county as listed and assessed for taxation at the close of the fiscal year immediately preceding the year in which the payment is made.

Section 3353.06 | Affiliates services fund.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The affiliates services fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The broadcast educational media commission shall deposit any money it receives for services provided to affiliates to the credit of the fund, including:

(1) Reimbursements for services provided to stations;

(2) Charges levied for maintenance of telecommunications, broadcasting, or transmission equipment;

(3) Contract or grant payments from affiliates.

(B) The commission shall use money credited to the affiliates services fund for any commission operating purposes, including:

(1) The purchase, repair, or maintenance of telecommunications, broadcasting, or transmission equipment;

(2) The purchase or lease of educational programming;

(3) The purchase of tape and digital media storage and maintenance of a media library;

(4) Administrative expenses.

Section 3353.07 | Ohio government telecommunications service - programming committee.

• Effective: October 17, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created the Ohio government telecommunications service. The Ohio government telecommunications service shall provide the state government and affiliated organizations with multimedia support including audio, visual, and internet services, multimedia streaming, and hosting multimedia programs.

Services relating to the official activities of the general assembly and the executive offices provided by the Ohio government telecommunications service shall be funded through grants to an educational television broadcasting station that will manage the staff and provide the services of the Ohio government telecommunications service. The Ohio educational television stations shall select a member station to manage the Ohio government telecommunications service. The Ohio government telecommunications service shall receive grants from, or contract with, any of the three branches of Ohio government, and their affiliates, to provide additional services. Services provided by the Ohio government telecommunications service shall not be used for political purposes included in campaign materials, or otherwise used to influence an election, legislation, issue, judicial decision, or other policy of state government.

(B)(1) There is hereby created the legislative programming committee of the Ohio government telecommunications service that shall consist of the president of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives, minority leader of the senate, and minority leader of the house of representatives, or their designees, and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives as nonvoting, ex officio members. By a vote of a majority of its members, the program committee may add additional members to the committee.

(2) The legislative programming committee shall adopt rules that govern the operation of the Ohio government telecommunications service relating to the general assembly and any affiliated organizations.

(C) The Ohio government telecommunications service is authorized to broadcast and record any committee meeting of the senate or house of representatives as directed by the presiding officer of the senate or house of representatives.

As used in this division, "committee" and "meeting" have the same meanings as in section 101.15 of the Revised Code.

Section 3353.11 | Governmental telecommunications operating fund.

• Effective: March 29, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 699 - 126th General Assembly

There is hereby created in the state treasury the governmental telecommunications operating fund. The fund shall consist of money received from contract services of the Ohio government telecommunications service and shall be used for operations or equipment breakdowns related to the service. Only the Ohio government telecommunications service may authorize the spending of money in the fund. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Once the fund has a balance of zero, the fund shall cease to exist.