Chapter 105 | Governmental Research

Section 105.21 | State council of uniform state laws.

• Effective: December 2, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 670 - 121st General Assembly

The governor shall appoint four competent persons who shall constitute a council of commissioners to be known as the state council of uniform state laws. Terms of office shall be for three years, commencing on the sixth day of June and ending on the fifth day of June, except that the appointment made to fill the vacancy existing on December 8, 1972, shall be made for a term ending June 5, 1973; and upon expiration of the term ending July 23, 1974, the new term which succeeds it shall commence on July 24, 1974, and end on June 5, 1977. Each commissioner shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the commissioner was appointed. The governor may remove any one or all of the commissioners for cause, and the governor may fill any vacancy by appointment. Any commissioner appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the commissioner's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of such term. Any commissioner shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the commissioner's term until a successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

Section 105.22 | Officers and meetings.

• Effective: December 2, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 670 - 121st General Assembly

The state council of uniform state laws shall meet in the office of the attorney general at least once each year. It shall organize by electing one of its members as president and another as secretary.

Section 105.23 | Duties.

• Effective: December 2, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 670 - 121st General Assembly

The state council of uniform state laws shall collect and digest data concerning the prevailing law in the United States and other countries, upon special subjects where uniformity is important. It shall ascertain the best means to effect uniformity upon such subjects in the laws of the various states of the United States, especially upon the following subjects:

(A) Form and execution of conveyances;

(B) Commercial law, including:

(1) Bills of lading;

(2) Private corporations;

(3) Holidays;

(4) Fire insurance and life insurance;

(5) Negotiable instruments;

(6) Partnerships;

(7) Trade-marks;

(8) Unfair competition;

(9) Warehouse receipts.

(C) Pure food laws;

(D) Insolvency;

(E) Uniform hours of labor;

(F) Marriage and divorce;

(G) Notarial certificates;

(H) Execution and probate of wills.

Section 105.24 | Council may attend annual and other state conferences.

• Effective: December 2, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 670 - 121st General Assembly

The commissioners of the council of uniform state laws may, on behalf of the state, attend the annual and other conferences of state commissioners for the promotion of uniformity of legislation in the United States.

Section 105.25 | Expenses of commissioners.

• Effective: December 2, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 670 - 121st General Assembly

The commissioners of the state council of uniform state laws shall receive no compensation for their services. The actual traveling and other necessary expenses of each commissioner incurred in the discharge of official duties shall be paid by the state.

Section 105.26 | Assistant secretary - expenses - audits - accounts.

• Effective: December 2, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 670 - 121st General Assembly

The state council of uniform state laws may incur expenses for an assistant secretary, postage, stationery, printing, and incidentals. The expenses authorized by this section and section 105.25 of the Revised Code shall be paid from moneys appropriated for that purpose. The council shall audit all bills and keep full and accurate accounts of its expenditures.

Section 105.27 | Record of proceedings - report.

• Effective: December 2, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 670 - 121st General Assembly

The state council of uniform state laws shall keep a record of its proceedings. Not less than thirty days before each first regular session of the general assembly, the council shall make a report to the governor, which shall contain a statement of its transactions, together with such recommendations as it deems proper.

Section 105.41 | Capitol square review and advisory board - funds.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 (GA 134), House Bill 66 (GA 133)

(A) There is hereby created in the legislative branch of government the capitol square review and advisory board, consisting of twelve members as follows:

(1) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, both of whom shall not be members of the same political party;

(2) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, both of whom shall not be members of the same political party;

(3) Four members appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, not more than three of whom shall be members of the same political party, one of whom shall be the chief of staff of the governor's office, one of whom shall represent the Ohio arts council, one of whom shall represent the Ohio history connection, and one of whom shall represent the public at large;

(4) One member, who shall be a former president of the senate, appointed by the current president of the senate. If the current president of the senate, in the current president's discretion, decides for any reason not to make the appointment or if no person is eligible or available to serve, the seat shall remain vacant.

(5) One member, who shall be a former speaker of the house of representatives, appointed by the current speaker of the house of representatives. If the current speaker of the house of representatives, in the current speaker's discretion, decides for any reason not to make the appointment or if no person is eligible or available to serve, the seat shall remain vacant.

(6) The clerk of the senate and the clerk of the house of representatives.

(B) All appointed members of the board serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may be discharged from the board, by the appointing authority, without cause. Terms of office of each member appointed under divisions (A)(3), (4), and (5) of this section shall be for three years unless discharged by the appointing authority before the end of the term. Members of the general assembly appointed to the board may be members of the board only so long as they are members of the general assembly and the chief of staff of the governor's office may be a member of the board only so long as the appointing governor remains in office. In case of a vacancy occurring on the board, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, or the governor, as the case may be, shall in the same manner prescribed for the regular appointment to the commission, fill the vacancy by appointing a member. 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 the term. Any appointed member may be reappointed, provided the member continues to meet all other eligibility requirements.

(C) The board shall hold meetings in a manner and at times prescribed by the rules adopted by the board. A majority of the board constitutes a quorum, and no action shall be taken by the board unless approved by at least six members or by at least seven members if a person is appointed under division (A)(4) or (5) of this section. At its first meeting, the board shall adopt rules for the conduct of its business and the election of its officers, and shall organize by selecting officers other than a chairperson as it considers necessary. In odd-numbered years, the majority member from the senate shall serve as chairperson; in even-numbered years, the majority member from the house of representatives shall serve as chairperson. Board members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(D) The board may do any of the following:

(1) Employ or hire on a consulting basis professional, technical, and clerical employees as are necessary for the performance of its duties. All employees of the board are in the unclassified service and serve at the pleasure of the board. For purposes of section 4117.01 of the Revised Code, employees of the board shall be considered employees of the general assembly, except that employees who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement on September 29, 2011, shall remain subject to the agreement until the agreement expires on its terms, and the agreement shall not be extended or renewed. Upon expiration of the agreement, the employees are considered employees of the general assembly for purposes of section 4117.01 of the Revised Code and are in the unclassified service and serve at the pleasure of the board.

(2) Hold public hearings at times and places as determined by the board;

(3) Enter into an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract, under section 153.013 of the Revised Code, for an architect or engineer;

(4) Adopt, amend, or rescind rules necessary to accomplish the duties of the board as set forth in this section;

(5) Sponsor, conduct, and support such social events as the board may authorize and consider appropriate for the employees of the board, employees and members of the general assembly, employees of persons under contract with the board or otherwise engaged to perform services on the premises of capitol square, or other persons as the board may consider appropriate. Subject to the requirements of Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code, the board may provide beer, wine, and intoxicating liquor, with or without charge, for those events and may use funds only from the sale of goods and services fund to purchase the beer, wine, and intoxicating liquor the board provides;

(6) Purchase a warehouse in which to store items of the capitol collection trust and, whenever necessary, equipment or other property of the board.

(E) The board shall do all of the following:

(1) Have sole authority to coordinate and approve any improvements, additions, and renovations that are made to the capitol square. The improvements shall include, but not be limited to, the placement of monuments and sculpture on the capitol grounds.

(2) Operate the capitol square, and have sole authority to regulate all uses of the capitol square. The uses shall include, but not be limited to, the casual and recreational use of the capitol square.

(3) Employ, fix the compensation of, and prescribe the duties of the executive director of the board and other employees the board considers necessary for the performance of its powers and duties;

(4) Establish and maintain the capitol collection trust. The capitol collection trust shall consist of furniture, antiques, and other items of personal property that the board shall store in suitable facilities until they are ready to be displayed in the capitol square.

(5) Perform repair, construction, contracting, purchasing, maintenance, supervisory, and operating activities the board determines are necessary for the operation and maintenance of the capitol square;

(6) Maintain and preserve the capitol square, in accordance with guidelines issued by the United States secretary of the interior for application of the secretary's standards for rehabilitation adopted in 36 C.F.R. part 67;

(7) Plan and develop a center at the capitol building for the purpose of educating visitors about the history of Ohio, including its political, economic, and social development and the design and erection of the capitol building and its grounds.

(F)(1) The board shall lease capital facilities improved by the department of administrative services or financed by the treasurer of state pursuant to Chapter 154. of the Revised Code for the use of the board, and may enter into any other agreements with the department, the Ohio public facilities commission, or any other authorized governmental agency ancillary to improvement, financing, or leasing of those capital facilities, including, but not limited to, any agreement required by the applicable bond proceedings authorized by Chapter 154. of the Revised Code. Any lease of capital facilities authorized by this section shall be governed by Chapter 154. of the Revised Code.

(2) Fees, receipts, and revenues received by the board from the state underground parking garage constitute available receipts as defined in section 154.24 of the Revised Code, and may be pledged to the payment of bond service charges on obligations issued by the treasurer of state pursuant to Chapter 154. of the Revised Code to improve, finance, or purchase capital facilities useful to the board. The treasurer of state may, with the consent of the board, provide in the bond proceedings for a pledge of all or a portion of those fees, receipts, and revenues as the treasurer of state determines. The treasurer of state may provide in the bond proceedings or by separate agreement with the board for the transfer of those fees, receipts, and revenues to the appropriate bond service fund or bond service reserve fund as required to pay the bond service charges when due, and any such provision for the transfer of those fees, receipts, and revenues shall be controlling notwithstanding any other provision of law pertaining to those fees, receipts, and revenues.

(3) All moneys received by the treasurer of state on account of the board and required by the applicable bond proceedings or by separate agreement with the board to be deposited, transferred, or credited to the bond service fund or bond service reserve fund established by the bond proceedings shall be transferred by the treasurer of state to such fund, whether or not it is in the custody of the treasurer of state, without necessity for further appropriation.

(G)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (G)(2) of this section, all fees, receipts, and revenues received by the board from the state underground parking garage shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the underground parking garage operating fund, which is hereby created, to be used for the purposes specified in division (F) of this section and for the operation and maintenance of the garage. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(2) There is hereby created the parking garage automated equipment fund, which shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state but shall not be part of the state treasury. Money in the fund shall be used to purchase the automated teller machine quality dollar bills needed for operation of the parking garage automated equipment. The fund shall consist of fees, receipts, or revenues received by the board from the state underground parking garage; provided, however, that the total amount deposited into the fund at any one time shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(H) All donations received by the board shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the capitol square renovation gift fund, which is hereby created. The fund shall be used by the board as follows:

(1) To provide part or all of the funding related to construction, goods, or services for the renovation of the capitol square;

(2) To purchase art, antiques, and artifacts for display at the capitol square;

(3) To award contracts or make grants to organizations for educating the public regarding the historical background and governmental functions of the capitol square. Chapters 125., 127., and 153. and section 3517.13 of the Revised Code do not apply to purchases made exclusively from the fund, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in those chapters or that section. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(I) Except as provided in divisions (G), (H), and (J) of this section, all fees, receipts, and revenues received by the board shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the sale of goods and services fund, which is hereby created. Money credited to the fund shall be used solely to pay costs of the board other than those specified in divisions (F) and (G) of this section. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(J) There is hereby created in the state treasury the capitol square improvement fund, to be used by the board to pay construction, renovation, and other costs related to the capitol square for which money is not otherwise available to the board. Whenever the board determines that there is a need to incur those costs and that the unencumbered, unobligated balance to the credit of the underground parking garage operating fund exceeds the amount needed for the purposes specified in division (F) of this section and for the operation and maintenance of the garage, the board may request the director of budget and management to transfer from the underground parking garage operating fund to the capitol square improvement fund the amount needed to pay such construction, renovation, or other costs. The director then shall transfer the amount needed from the excess balance of the underground parking garage operating fund.

(K) As the operation and maintenance of the capitol square constitute essential government functions of a public purpose, the board shall not be required to pay taxes or assessments upon the square, upon any property acquired or used by the board under this section, or upon any income generated by the operation of the square.

(L) As used in this section, "capitol square" means the capitol building, senate building, capitol atrium, capitol grounds, the state underground parking garage, and the warehouse owned by the board.

(M) The capitol annex shall be known as the senate building.

(N) Any person may possess a firearm in a motor vehicle in the state underground parking garage at the state capitol building, if the person's possession of the firearm in the motor vehicle is not in violation of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code or any other provision of the Revised Code. Any person may store or leave a firearm in a locked motor vehicle that is parked in the state underground parking garage at the state capitol building, if the person's transportation and possession of the firearm in the motor vehicle while traveling to the garage was not in violation of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code or any other provision of the Revised Code.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Last updated August 4, 2021 at 2:38 PM

Section 105.42 | Placement of commemorative work in house or senate.

• Effective: May 6, 2005
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 16 - 126th General Assembly

Notwithstanding division (E) of section 105.41 of the Revised Code, the capitol square review and advisory board shall not place or cause to be placed any artwork, artifact, bust, memorial, monument, or other commemorative work in the hall or gallery of the house of representatives or the senate, or in the committee or other meeting rooms of the house of representatives or the senate, without first obtaining the approval of the speaker of the house of representatives or the speaker's designee, or of the president of the senate or the president's designee, as applicable. If so approved, the placement shall be made in accordance with any conditions accompanying the approval.

Section 105.91 | Ohio judicial conference.

• Effective: August 19, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 205 - 105th General Assembly

There is hereby established an Ohio judicial conference consisting of the judges of the supreme court, courts of appeals, common pleas courts, probate courts, juvenile courts, municipal courts, and county courts of Ohio organized and operated upon a voluntary membership basis for the purpose of studying the co-ordination of the work of the several courts of Ohio, the encouragement of uniformity in the application of the law, rules, and practice throughout the state and within each division of the courts as an integral part of the judicial system of the state; to promote an exchange of experience and suggestions respecting the operation of the judicial system; and in general to consider the business and problems pertaining to the administration of justice and to make recommendations for its improvement.

Section 105.911 | Judicial impact statement.

• Effective: April 12, 2021
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 331 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) If a bill or resolution introduced in the general assembly appears to affect the revenues or expenditures of the courts of Ohio, to increase or decrease the workload or caseload of judges or members of their staffs, or to affect case disposition, the Ohio judicial conference may prepare a judicial impact statement of the bill or resolution on its own initiative or at the request of any member of the general assembly. The Ohio judicial conference may prepare a judicial impact statement before the bill or resolution is recommended for passage by the house of representatives or senate committee of the general assembly to which the bill was referred and again before the bill or resolution is taken up for final consideration by either house of the general assembly. The judicial impact statement shall include an estimate, in dollars, of the amount by which the bill or resolution would increase or decrease revenues or expenditures and any other information the Ohio judicial conference considers necessary to explain the fiscal effect of the bill or resolution. The statement also shall include an analysis of the bill or resolution's administrative and procedural effects on the courts of this state.

(B) The Ohio judicial conference shall distribute copies of a judicial impact statement as follows:

(1) For consideration by the senate or house of representatives rules committee, or the standing committee to which a bill is referred, two copies to the chairperson together with a copy to each member of the committee;

(2) For final consideration, a copy to each member of the house that is considering the bill.

If the member who introduced the bill or resolution or who requested the statement is not a member of the house or rules committee considering the bill, the Ohio judicial conference shall send the member a copy.

The Ohio judicial conference may distribute the judicial impact statement, in an electronic format, to the official electronic mail address of the general assembly members designated to receive the statement.

(C) In preparing a judicial impact statement the Ohio judicial conference may request any court, department, division, institution, board, commission, authority, bureau, or other instrumentality or officer of the state or of a county, municipal corporation, township, school district, or other governmental entity of the state to provide any of the following information:

(1) An estimate, in dollars, of the amount by which the bill or resolution would increase or decrease the revenues or expenditures received or made by the court, instrumentality, officer, or entity;

(2) Any other information the Ohio judicial conference considers necessary for it to understand or explain the fiscal, administrative, and procedural effects of the bill or resolution.

The Ohio judicial conference first shall contact the Ohio legislative service commission for information regarding the fiscal effects of the bill or resolution. If the Ohio legislative service commission does not have the fiscal information sought by the Ohio judicial conference, then the Ohio judicial conference and the Ohio legislative service commission jointly may request any of the entities described in division (C) of this section to provide the fiscal information.

A court, instrumentality, officer, or entity shall comply with a request for information as soon as reasonably possible after receiving it. The Ohio judicial conference shall specify the manner of compliance in its request and, if necessary, may specify a period of no longer than five days for compliance. The Ohio judicial conference may consider any information provided under division (C) of this section in preparing a judicial impact statement.

(D) The failure of the Ohio judicial conference to prepare a judicial impact statement before a bill or resolution is taken up for consideration by the house of representatives or senate committee, or by either or both houses for final consideration, shall not impair the validity of any bill or resolution passed by either or both houses of the general assembly.

(E) This section does not affect the duty of the Ohio legislative service commission to prepare fiscal analyses pursuant to section 103.14 of the Revised Code.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) With regard to a bill or resolution, "procedural effects" includes all court-related procedures, including pretrial, trial, and post-trial proceedings.

(2) With regard to a bill or resolution, "administrative effects" includes matters pertaining to the business of the courts, including clerical processes, records management, planning and research, changes in court personnel, calendar management, facilities and equipment, workload distribution, court reorganization, and the creation or addition of judgeships.

Section 105.92 | Membership not a public office.

• Effective: August 19, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 205 - 105th General Assembly

Membership in the Ohio judicial conference does not constitute holding another public office.

Section 105.93 | Publication of reports and recommendations.

• Effective: August 19, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 205 - 105th General Assembly

The Ohio judicial conference may publish reports and recommendations and at its election sell and distribute the same upon such terms and conditions as may be authorized by its executive committee.

Section 105.94 | Reception and use of grants, gifts, bequests, and devises.

• Effective: July 1, 1985
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 201 - 116th General Assembly

The Ohio judicial conference may receive grants, gifts, bequests, and devises and expend them for expenses of members in attending executive and standing committee meetings and for special research or study relating to the administration of justice. The conference shall file annually, but not later than the fifteenth day of March, with the supreme court, a full report of all grants, gifts, bequests, and devises received during the preceding calendar year, when received, and to whom and for what expended.

Section 105.95 | Biennial reports to general assembly and governor.

• Effective: August 19, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 205 - 105th General Assembly

On or before February 1, 1965, and biennially thereafter the Ohio judicial conference shall submit in writing to the general assembly and to the governor a report of the proceedings of the conference together with any recommendations for legislation.

Section 105.96 | Employees.

• Effective: September 20, 1965
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 269 - 106th General Assembly

The Ohio judicial conference may employ personnel and such research assistants as may be required to carry out the purposes of the conference. Their compensation and necessary expenses shall be paid from the state treasury out of funds appropriated therefor. All disbursements shall be by voucher approved by the chairman of the conference.

Section 105.97 | No reimbursement for continuing education fees.

• Effective: November 15, 1981
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 694 - 114th General Assembly

A judge who attends any continuing education program or course offered by the Ohio judicial conference shall pay the requisite fees associated with the program or course and shall not receive reimbursement for the fees from moneys appropriated by the general assembly to the conference.