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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 149 | Documents, Reports, and Records

 
 
 
Section
Section 149.01 | Official reports - number - filing.
 

Each elective state officer, the adjutant general, the adult parole authority, the department of agriculture, the director of administrative services, the public utilities commission, the superintendent of insurance, the superintendent of financial institutions, the superintendent of purchases and printing, the fire marshal, the industrial commission, the administrator of workers' compensation, the state department of transportation, the department of health, the state medical board, the state dental board, the board of embalmers and funeral directors, the bureau of services for the visually impaired, the accountancy board of Ohio, the state council of uniform state laws, the board of commissioners of the sinking fund, the department of taxation, the board of tax appeals, the division of liquor control, the director of state armories, the trustees of the Ohio state university, and every private or quasi-public institution, association, board, or corporation receiving state money for its use and purpose shall make annually, at the end of each fiscal year, in quadruplicate, a report of the transactions and proceedings of that office or department for that fiscal year, excepting receipts and disbursements unless otherwise specifically required by law. The report shall contain a summary of the official acts of the officer, board, council, commission, institution, association, or corporation and any suggestions and recommendations that are proper.

One of the reports shall be filed with the governor, one with the secretary of state, and one with the state library, and one shall be kept on file in the office of the officer, board, council, commission, institution, association, or corporation. The reports shall be so filed by the first day of August, except that the report of the treasurer of state shall be so filed by the thirty-first day of December.

Last updated February 7, 2023 at 9:21 AM

Section 149.011 | Documents, reports, and records definitions.
 

As used in this chapter, except as otherwise provided:

(A) "Public office" includes any state agency, public institution, political subdivision, or other organized body, office, agency, institution, or entity established by the laws of this state for the exercise of any function of government. "Public office" does not include the nonprofit corporation formed under section 187.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) "State agency" includes every department, bureau, board, commission, office, or other organized body established by the constitution and laws of this state for the exercise of any function of state government, including any state-supported institution of higher education, the general assembly, any legislative agency, any court or judicial agency, or any political subdivision or agency of a political subdivision. "State agency" does not include the nonprofit corporation formed under section 187.01 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Public money" includes all money received or collected by or due a public official, whether in accordance with or under authority of any law, ordinance, resolution, or order, under color of office, or otherwise. It also includes any money collected by any individual on behalf of a public office or as a purported representative or agent of the public office.

(D) "Public official" includes all officers, employees, or duly authorized representatives or agents of a public office.

(E) "Color of office" includes any act purported or alleged to be done under any law, ordinance, resolution, order, or other pretension to official right, power, or authority.

(F) "Archive" includes any public record that is transferred to the state archives or other designated archival institutions because of the historical information contained on it.

(G) "Records" includes any document, device, or item, regardless of physical form or characteristic, including an electronic record as defined in section 1306.01 of the Revised Code, created or received by or coming under the jurisdiction of any public office of the state or its political subdivisions, which serves to document the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the office.

Section 149.02 | Annual reports in triplicate.
 

Wherever in the Revised Code annual reports are required to be made to the governor, or annual reports to the governor are referred to, such reports shall be made in triplicate and filed as provided in section 149.01 of the Revised Code, and the special information required by any section of the Revised Code to be included in such annual report shall be included in such triplicate reports.

Section 149.03 | Governor's authority as to reports.
 

The governor may at any time require to be filed with him a detailed report from any state officer, board, or commission.

Section 149.04 | Printing of messages and inaugural addresses.
 

Messages of the governor, and the inaugural address of the governor-elect, shall be produced and distributed in electronic form to the governor, to each member of the general assembly, and to the state library. A physical copy of the message or address shall be provided, upon request, to any recipient named in this section.

Section 149.05 | Number of reports printed.
 

The annual reports of the elective state officers shall be printed in such numbers as the superintendent of purchases and printing determines.

Section 149.07 | Final journals available to members of general assembly.
 

One bound copy of each of the final journals and appendixes shall be made available to each member of the general assembly.

Section 149.09 | Distributing pamphlet laws.
 

(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, the secretary of state shall distribute the pamphlet laws in the following manner: one copy of each pamphlet law shall be forwarded to each county law library, one copy of each pamphlet law shall be forwarded to each county auditor, and one hundred copies of each pamphlet law shall be forwarded to the state library board, which shall forward to each library that receives publications under section 149.12 of the Revised Code one copy of each pamphlet law received. The secretary of state shall distribute any remaining copies of each pamphlet law on the request of interested persons.

(B)(1) If the secretary of state chooses to distribute the pamphlet laws in an electronic format instead of distributing copies as provided in division (A) of this section in a paper format, the secretary of state shall notify the clerk of the house of representatives and the clerk of the senate that the printing of paper copies for purposes of this section is no longer necessary and that the secretary of state intends to produce and distribute the pamphlet laws in an electronic format. The secretary of state shall be responsible for paying for the cost of producing and distributing the pamphlet laws in an electronic format.

(2) The secretary of state shall establish, by rule, a schedule for the distribution of pamphlet laws in an electronic format to county law libraries, county auditors, and the state library board.

(3) The secretary of state may compile one or more pamphlet laws in the same electronic distribution.

(4) The secretary of state shall maintain the ability to provide copies of the pamphlet laws in accordance with section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Section 149.091 | Publishing and distributing session laws.
 

(A) The secretary of state shall compile, publish, and distribute the session laws either annually or biennially in a paper or electronic format. The annual or biennial publication shall contain all enrolled acts and joint resolutions, a subject index, a table indicating Revised Code sections affected, and the secretary of state's certificate that the laws, as compiled and distributed, are true copies of the original enrolled acts or joint resolutions in the secretary of state's office.

(B)(1) The secretary of state may distribute the paper or electronic format of the session laws free of charge to the following persons or entities:

(a) Each county auditor.

(b) Each county law library.

(c) Other public officials upon request of the public official.

(2) The secretary of state shall distribute the paper or electronic format of the session laws free of charge to the following persons or entities:

(a) The clerk of the house of representatives.

(b) The clerk of the senate.

(c) The legislative service commission.

(d) The Ohio supreme court.

(e) The document division of the library of congress.

(f) The state library.

(g) The Ohio history connection.

The secretary of state shall retain a paper or electronic format of the session laws.

(C) The session laws may be sold in a paper or electronic format to individuals or entities not specified in division (B) of this section. The price shall not exceed the actual cost of producing and distributing the session laws in a paper or electronic format.

Section 149.10 | Submission of audit reports.
 

All boards, commissions, agencies, institutions, and departments in the executive branch of state government shall submit to the auditor of state a copy of each formal internally or independently produced audit report, as well as any management study or report which recommends changes which would affect the auditing system.

Section 149.11 | Distributing publications intended for general public use - record retention or destruction schedules.
 

(A) Any department, division, bureau, board, or commission of the state government issuing a report, pamphlet, document, or other publication intended for general public use and distribution, which publication is reproduced by duplicating processes in print whether through a contract awarded to any person, company, or the state printing division of the department of administrative services, shall cause to be delivered to the state library fifty copies of the publication, subject to the provisions of section 125.42 of the Revised Code.

(B) The state library board shall distribute the print publications so received as follows:

(1) Retain two copies in the state library;

(2) Send two copies to the document division of the library of congress;

(3) Send one copy to the Ohio history connection and to each public or college library in the state designated by the state library board to be a depository for state publications. In designating which libraries shall be depositories, the board shall select those libraries that can best preserve those publications and that are so located geographically as will make the publications conveniently accessible to residents in all areas of the state.

(4) Send one copy to each state in exchange for like publications of that state.

(C) A department, division, bureau, board, or commission of the state government shall notify the state library of the availability of documents or other publications, intended for general public use and distribution, which are made available electronically on its internet web site. The state library shall retain electronic publications in the state library digital archive and provide permanent access and records to each public or college library in the state designated by the state library board to be a depository for state publications.

(D) The print publications described in division (A) of this section and the electronic publications described in division (C) of this section shall be considered already prepared and available for inspection, and, subject to applicable copyright protections, reproduction by any person at all reasonable times during regular business hours at the state library and each library designated as a depository for state publications.

(E) The provisions of this section do not apply to any publication of the general assembly or to the publications described in sections 149.07, 149.091, and 149.17 of the Revised Code, except that the secretary of state shall forward to the document division of the library of congress two copies of all journals, two copies of the session laws as provided for in section 149.091 of the Revised Code, and two copies of all appropriation laws in separate form.

Last updated July 14, 2021 at 12:48 PM

Section 149.12 | Distributing legislative publications to libraries.
 

The state library board shall forward, free of charge, in a paper or electronic format, one copy of each legislative bulletin, daily house and senate journal, pamphlet law as described in section 149.09 of the Revised Code, and summary of enactments published by the legislative service commission, to the following libraries:

(A) Each library within the state that has been designated by the state library board under section 149.11 of the Revised Code as a depository for state publications;

(B) In each county containing no library described in division (A) of this section, to a public library designated by the state library board to receive the journals, bulletins, and summaries described in this section. The state library board shall designate libraries that can best preserve the publications and are so located geographically that they can make the publications conveniently accessible to the residents of the county.

The state library board shall forward the daily house and senate journals once every week while the general assembly is in session and the legislative bulletin, each pamphlet law, and the summary of enactments as they are published.

Each library receiving publications under this section or under section 149.09 of the Revised Code shall make these publications accessible to the public.

Section 149.16 | Secretary of state or state library board shall distribute law and journals.
 

The secretary of state shall distribute all copies of the laws and all copies of the bound house and senate journals. If no provision is made by law for the distribution of any report printed by the state, it may be distributed by the state library board in accordance with section 149.11 of the Revised Code, on the order of the officer making the report.

Section 149.17 | Highway maps of Ohio.
 

Highway maps shall be published by the state and shall be officially designated as "Highway Maps of Ohio." The director of transportation may designate the improved roads by color, and revise such maps from time to time as the improvement of the roads may justify.

The director shall secure a copyright of the maps from time to time when so published. The director may distribute the first edition of these maps, which has been published as a bulletin of the department of transportation, as follows: to each county commissioner, county auditor, and county engineer, one copy; to the director for distribution among those who gratuitously helped in preparing maps, one hundred fifty copies; for distribution among the several state departments, three hundred copies; to the state library, one hundred copies; to each newspaper correspondent of the general assembly, one copy; to the clerk of the senate and to the clerk and the chief administrative officer of the house of representatives, one copy each; to each sergeant at arms of the senate and of the house of representatives, one copy; the remaining copies to be equally divided among the members of the general assembly.

Section 149.21 | Uniform electronic legal material act - definitions; applicability.
 

(A) As used in sections 149.21 to 149.27 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Electronic" means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.

(2) "Legal material" means all of the following, whether or not in effect:

(a) The Constitution of this state;

(b) The session laws of this state;

(c) The Revised Code;

(d) State agency rules that have or had the effect of law;

(e) The final decisions of state administrative agencies.

(3) "Official publisher" includes all of the following:

(a) For the Constitution of this state, the secretary of state;

(b) For the session laws of this state, the secretary of state;

(c) For the Revised Code, the legislative service commission;

(d) For the Ohio administrative code, the legislative service commission;

(e) For a rule not published in the Ohio administrative code, the state agency adopting the rule;

(f) For the final decision of a state administrative agency, the agency making the decision.

(4) "Publish" means to display, present, or release to the public, or cause to be displayed, presented, or released to the public, by the official publisher.

(5) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

(6) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(B) Sections 149.21 to 149.27 of the Revised Code may be cited as the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act.

(C) Sections 149.21 to 149.27 of the Revised Code apply to all legal material in an electronic record that is designated as official under section 149.22 of the Revised Code and is first published electronically on or after the effective date of this act.

Last updated August 7, 2024 at 10:26 AM

Section 149.22 | Designation of official record.
 

(A) If an official publisher publishes legal material only in an electronic record, the publisher shall designate the electronic record as official and comply with division (A) of section 149.23 and with section 149.24 of the Revised Code.

(B) An official publisher that publishes legal material in an electronic record and also publishes the material in a record other than an electronic record may designate the electronic record as official if the publisher complies with division (A) of section 149.23 and with section 149.24 of the Revised Code.

Section 149.23 | Authentication.
 

(A) An official publisher of legal material in an electronic record that is designated as official under section 149.22 of the Revised Code shall authenticate the record. To authenticate an electronic record, the publisher shall provide a method for a user to determine that the record received by the user from the publisher is unaltered from the official record published by the publisher.

(B) Legal material in an electronic record that is authenticated under division (A) of this section is presumed to be an accurate copy of the legal material.

(C) If another state has adopted a law substantially similar to sections 149.21 to 149.27 of the Revised Code, legal material in an electronic record that is designated as official and authenticated by the official publisher in that state is presumed to be an accurate copy of the legal material.

(D) A party that contests the authentication of legal material in an electronic record authenticated under division (A) of this section has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the record is not authentic.

Last updated May 19, 2021 at 7:34 AM

Section 149.24 | Preservation and security.
 

(A) An official publisher of legal material in an electronic record that is or was designated as official under section 149.22 of the Revised Code shall provide for the preservation and security of the record in an electronic or nonelectronic form, and shall do all of the following:

(1) Ensure the integrity of the record;

(2) Provide for backup and disaster recovery of the record;

(3) Ensure the continuing usability of the material.

(B) An official publisher of legal material in an electronic record that is required to be preserved under division (A) of this section shall ensure that the material is reasonably available for use by the public on a permanent basis.

Section 149.25 | Implementation.
 

In implementing sections 149.21 to 149.27 of the Revised Code, an official publisher of legal material in an electronic record shall consider all of the following:

(A) Standards and practices of other jurisdictions;

(B) The most recent standards regarding authentication of, preservation and security of, and public access to, legal material in an electronic record, and other electronic records, a s promulgated by national standard-setting bodies;

(C) The needs of users of legal material in an electronic record;

(D) The views of governmental officials and entities, and other interested persons;

(E) To the extent practicable, methods and technologies for the authentication of, preservation and security of, and public access to, legal material that are compatible with the methods and technologies used by other official publishers in this state and in other states that have adopted a law substantially similar to sections 149.21 to 149.27 of the Revised Code.

Section 149.26 | Construction.
 

In applying and construing sections 149.21 to 149.27 of the Revised Code, a court shall consider the need to promote uniformity of the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

Section 149.27 | Construction with other laws.
 

Sections 149.21 to 149.27 of the Revised Code modify, limit, and supersede the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. 7001 et seq., but do not modify, limit, or supersede 15 U.S.C. 7001(c) or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices or documents described in 15 U.S.C. 7003(b).

Section 149.30 | Public functions of Ohio history connection.
 

The Ohio history connection, chartered by this state as a corporation not for profit to promote a knowledge of history and archaeology, especially of Ohio, and operated continuously in the public interest since 1885, may perform public functions as prescribed by law.

The general assembly may appropriate money to the Ohio history connection each biennium to carry out the public functions of the Ohio history connection as enumerated in this section. An appropriation by the general assembly to the Ohio history connection constitutes an offer to contract with the Ohio history connection to carry out those public functions for which appropriations are made. An acceptance by the Ohio history connection of the appropriated funds constitutes an acceptance by the Ohio history connection of the offer and is considered an agreement by the Ohio history connection to perform those functions in accordance with the terms of the appropriation and the law and to expend the funds only for the purposes for which appropriated. The governor may request on behalf of the Ohio history connection, and the controlling board may release, additional funds to the Ohio history connection for survey, salvage, repair, or rehabilitation of an emergency nature for which funds have not been appropriated, and acceptance by the Ohio history connection of those funds constitutes an agreement on the part of the Ohio history connection to expend those funds only for the purpose for which released by the controlling board.

The Ohio history connection shall faithfully expend and apply all moneys received from the state to the uses and purposes directed by law and for necessary administrative expenses. If the general assembly appropriates money to the Ohio history connection for grants or subsidies to other entities for their site-related programs, the Ohio history connection, except for good cause, shall distribute the money within ninety days of accepting a grant or subsidy application for the money.

The Ohio history connection shall perform the public function of sending notice by ordinary or certified mail to the owner of any property at the time it is listed on the national register of historic places. The Ohio history connection shall accurately record all expenditures of such funds in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

The auditor of state shall audit all funds and fiscal records of the Ohio history connection.

The public functions to be performed by the Ohio history connection shall include all of the following:

(A) Creating, supervising, operating, protecting, maintaining, and promoting for public use a system of state memorials, titles to which may reside wholly or in part with this state or wholly or in part with the Ohio history connection as provided in and in conformity to appropriate acts and resolves of the general assembly, and leasing for renewable periods of two years or less, with the advice and consent of the attorney general and the director of administrative services, lands and buildings owned by the state which are in the care, custody, and control of the Ohio history connection, all of which shall be maintained and kept for public use at reasonable hours;

(B) Making alterations and improvements, marking, and constructing, reconstructing, protecting, or restoring structures, earthworks, and monuments in its care, and equipping such facilities with appropriate educational maintenance facilities;

(C) Serving as the archives administration for the state and its political subdivisions as provided in sections 149.31 to 149.42 of the Revised Code;

(D) Administering a state historical museum, to be the headquarters of the society and its principal museum and library, which shall be maintained and kept for public use at reasonable hours;

(E) Establishing a marking system to identify all designated historic and archaeological sites within the state and marking or causing to be marked historic sites and communities considered by the society to be historically or archaeologically significant;

(F) Publishing books, pamphlets, periodicals, and other publications about history, archaeology, and natural science and offering one copy of each regular periodical issue to all public libraries in this state at a reasonable price, which shall not exceed one hundred ten per cent more than the total cost of publication;

(G) Engaging in research in history, archaeology, and natural science and providing historical information upon request to all state agencies;

(H) Collecting, preserving, and making available by all appropriate means and under approved safeguards all manuscript, print, or near-print library collections and all historical objects, specimens, and artifacts which pertain to the history of Ohio and its people, including the following original documents: Ohio Constitution of 1802; Ohio Constitution of 1851; proposed Ohio Constitution of 1875; design and the letters of patent and assignment of patent for the state flag; S.J.R. 13 (1873); S.J.R. 53 (1875); S.J.R. 72 (1875); S.J.R. 50 (1883); H.J.R. 73 (1883); S.J.R. 28 (1885); H.J.R. 67 (1885); S.J.R. 17 (1902); S.J.R. 28 (1902); H.J.R. 39 (1902); S.J.R. 23 (1903); H.J.R. 19 (1904); S.J.R. 16 (1905); H.J.R. 41 (1913); H.J.R. 34 (1917); petition form (2) (1918); S.J.R. 6 (1921); H.J.R. 5 (1923); H.J.R. 40 (1923); H.J.R. 8 (1929); H.J.R. 20 (1929); S.J.R. 4 (1933); petition form (2) (1933); S.J.R. 57 (1936); petition form (1936); H.J.R. 14 (1942); H.J.R. 15 (1944); H.J.R. 8 (1944); S.J.R. 6 (1947); petition form (1947); H.J.R. 24 (1947); and H.J.R. 48 (1947);

(I) Encouraging and promoting the organization and development of county and local historical societies;

(J) Providing to Ohio schools such materials as the Ohio history connection may prepare to facilitate the instruction of Ohio history at a reasonable price, which shall not exceed one hundred ten per cent more than the total cost of preparation and delivery;

(K) Providing advisory and technical assistance to local societies for the preservation and restoration of historic and archaeological sites;

(L) Devising uniform criteria for the designation of historic and archaeological sites throughout the state and advising local historical societies of the criteria and their application;

(M) Taking inventory, in cooperation with the Ohio arts council, the Ohio archaeological council, and the archaeological society of Ohio, of significant designated and undesignated state and local sites and keeping an active registry of all designated sites within the state;

(N) Contracting with the owners or persons having an interest in designated historic or archaeological sites or property adjacent or contiguous to those sites, or acquiring, by purchase, gift, or devise, easements in those sites or in property adjacent or contiguous to those sites, in order to control or restrict the use of those historic or archaeological sites or adjacent or contiguous property for the purpose of restoring or preserving the historical or archaeological significance or educational value of those sites;

(O) Constructing a monument honoring Governor James A. Rhodes, which shall stand on the northeast quadrant of the grounds surrounding the capitol building. The monument shall be constructed with private funds donated to the Ohio history connection and designated for this purpose. No public funds shall be expended to construct this monument. The department of administrative services shall cooperate with the Ohio history connection in carrying out this function and shall maintain the monument in a manner compatible with the grounds of the capitol building.

(P) Commissioning a portrait of each departing governor, which shall be displayed in the capitol building. The Ohio history connection may accept private contributions designated for this purpose and, at the discretion of its board of trustees, also may apply for the same purpose funds appropriated by the general assembly to the Ohio history connection pursuant to this section.

(Q) Submitting an annual report of its activities, programs, and operations to the governor within two months after the close of each fiscal year of the state.

The Ohio history connection, with the help of local historical societies, may compile and maintain a registry of war relics, as defined in section 155.28 of the Revised Code, that are located on public property or on the property of a cemetery association.

The Ohio history connection shall not sell, mortgage, transfer, or dispose of historical or archaeological sites to which it has title and in which the state has monetary interest except by action of the general assembly.

Money or fines paid to the Ohio history connection under section 155.99 of the Revised Code shall be expended by the Ohio history connection only for the preservation of war relics.

In consideration of the public functions performed by the Ohio history connection for the state, employees of the Ohio history connection shall be considered public employees within the meaning of section 145.01 of the Revised Code.

Last updated January 13, 2022 at 11:41 AM

Section 149.301 | Ohio historic site preservation advisory board.
 

(A) There is hereby created the Ohio historic site preservation advisory board, to consist of seventeen members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Terms of office shall be for three years, commencing on the fifteenth day of January and ending on the fourteenth day of January. Each member shall hold office from the date of the member's appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Vacancies shall be filled by appointments by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. 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 such term. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(B) The members of the advisory board shall include, but shall not be limited to, at least one individual chosen from each of the following groups:

(1) Historians;

(2) Archaeologists;

(3) Architectural historians;

(4) Architects;

(5) Historical architects;

(6) American Indians.

(C) The advisory board may include, but shall not be limited to, individuals chosen from the following organizations and fields:

(1) Professional planners;

(2) Ohio travel council;

(3) Department of administrative services;

(4) Ohio arts council;

(5) Ohio archaeological council;

(6) Patriotic and veterans' organizations;

(7) Local historical societies;

(8) Department of natural resources;

(9) Professional engineers;

(10) Attorneys at law.

The advisory board shall assist the Ohio history connection with its site preservation program, suggest legislation necessary to the Ohio history connection's preservation program including the location, designation, restoration, preservation, and maintenance of state historic and archaeological sites and artifacts, and shall encourage the designation of suitable sites on the national register of historic places and under related federal programs. The advisory board shall provide general advice, guidance, and professional recommendations to the state historic preservation officer in conducting the comprehensive statewide survey, preparing the state historic preservation plan, and carrying out the other duties and responsibilities of the state historic preservation office. Members of the advisory board shall serve without compensation.

A majority of the members of the advisory board shall be recognized professionals in the disciplines of history, archaeology, architectural history, architecture, and historical architecture.

Section 149.302 | National museum of Afro-American history and culture.
 

(A) The Ohio history connection, in addition to its other functions, shall establish a museum in the vicinity of Wilberforce to be known as the national museum of Afro-American history and culture. For this purpose the Ohio history connection may accept donations of money, property, and personal services, apply for and receive federal assistance, acquire real property or any estate, right, or interest therein, construct buildings, access roads, parking areas, and other appropriate facilities for museum visitors, and exercise any powers incidental to such purpose. The Ohio history connection shall establish an acquisition policy for the museum.

Donations of money received under this section shall be placed in a separate fund within the accounts of the Ohio history connection to be used solely for the necessary expenses of the Ohio history connection incurred in the performance of its duties under this section.

(B) After the Ohio history connection establishes the national museum of Afro-American history and culture, the Ohio history connection shall convey title to the museum and its contents to a private, nonprofit organization which shall operate and maintain the museum. The Ohio history connection shall determine the conditions of the conveyance. The Ohio history connection shall operate and maintain the museum until the museum and its contents are conveyed as provided in this section. Any historical items or artifacts donated to the Ohio history connection, or to the private, nonprofit organization to which the Ohio history connection has conveyed the museum and its contents, for placement in the museum, shall remain at the museum as part of its permanent collection.

(C) Any instrument by which real property is acquired pursuant to this section shall identify the agency of the state that has the use and benefit of the real property as specified in section 5301.012 of the Revised Code.

Section 149.304 | Historic homestead register program.
 

Any person owning or in possession of an Ohio homestead or tract of land which has been owned or in the possession of the person's family for one hundred years or more may apply to the Ohio history connection to list the homestead or tract of land in a register to be maintained by the Ohio history connection. The Ohio history connection shall provide forms for such applications and shall submit applications received to the Ohio historic site preservation advisory board, which shall rule on the authenticity of the homestead or ownership or possession of the tract of land according to criteria it shall establish and make public.

Upon authentication of the homestead or tract of land by the board, the Ohio history connection shall list the homestead or tract of land on its register and provide the applicant with a plaque of suitable design determined by the Ohio history connection to be affixed to the homestead or tract of land. The plaque shall identify the homestead or tract of land as an historic homestead and specify that it is one hundred years or more old as of the date of recognition. If the date or year of construction of the homestead or purchase of tract of land is known, that date or year may appear on the plaque in lieu of the fact that the homestead or tract of land is one hundred years or more old. The plaque shall not bear the name of any member of the Ohio history connection, board, or any other public official, but may carry an appropriate emblem to be determined by the Ohio history connection.

All costs of administering the historic homestead register program, including maintenance of the register, research into the authenticity of the homestead or tract of land, plaque, and plaque design, and mailing costs, shall be determined by the Ohio history connection and shall be borne by the applicant.

The applicant shall be responsible for displaying the plaque on the homestead or tract of land in a suitable manner, and shall bear all costs of such display.

The Ohio history connection may arrange to present plaques to applicants so desiring at the Ohio history connection's annual meeting.

Section 149.305 | Ohio African-American hall of fame.
 

(A) The Ohio history connection, in addition to its other public functions, shall cooperate with the Ohio African-American hall of fame governing board established in section 149.306 of the Revised Code to establish the Ohio African-American hall of fame.

(B) The purpose of the hall of fame shall be to provide recognition to African-Americans who have made significant contributions to the state. The governing board shall select the persons to be inducted into the hall of fame and conduct an annual induction ceremony in the city of Columbus.

(C)(1) Portraits of and biographical information regarding persons inducted into the hall of fame shall initially be housed and displayed in an appropriate space located within the Ohio historical center in Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio history connection shall consult with the governing board regarding the manner and location in which the portraits and biographical information shall be housed and displayed.

(2) Central state university also shall serve as a repository of information regarding persons inducted into the hall of fame. The university shall consult with the governing board regarding the manner and location in which the information shall be housed and displayed.

(D) The Ohio history connection and the governing board shall cooperate in the selection of a permanent hall of fame site. Before any real property is acquired or accepted for that purpose, they shall consult with the governing board on the design, plans, and specifications for the construction or modification of any buildings or other visitation facilities for the hall of fame. The Ohio history connection, in cooperation and consultation with the governing board, shall establish an acquisition policy for the hall of fame.

(E) There is hereby created the African-American hall of fame fund, which shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state but shall not be part of the state treasury. All donations of money, grants, and other assistance received for purposes of the hall of fame shall be deposited into the fund. Money in the fund shall be used for the expenses of the Ohio history connection incurred in the performance of its duties under this section and for the expenses of the hall of fame, including the reimbursement of members of the governing board. The treasurer of state shall invest any portion of the fund not needed for immediate use in the same manner as, and subject to all provisions of law with respect to the investment of, state funds. The treasurer of state shall disburse money from the fund on order of the Ohio history connection.

(F) After the Ohio history connection and governing board select a permanent site for the hall of fame, they shall establish a private, nonprofit organization that shall acquire title to, operate, and maintain the hall of fame. The Ohio history connection shall operate and maintain the hall of fame until the hall of fame and its contents are conveyed to the private, nonprofit organization.

The Ohio history connection may accept donations of historical items and artifacts for placement in the hall of fame and shall house those items and artifacts at the Ohio historical center in Columbus, Ohio. After a permanent hall of fame site is selected, the Ohio history connection shall cooperate with the private, nonprofit organization to loan those items and artifacts for interpretive purposes of the hall of fame.

Any historical items or artifacts donated to the private, nonprofit organization for placement in the hall of fame shall remain the property of the hall of fame as part of its permanent collection.

(G) Any instrument by which real property is acquired pursuant to this section shall identify the agency of the state that has the use and benefit of the real property as specified in section 5301.012 of the Revised Code.

Section 149.306 | Ohio African-American hall of fame governing board.
 

(A) There is hereby created the Ohio African-American hall of fame governing board to raise funds for the Ohio African-American hall of fame, to commission a business plan for implementation of the hall of fame, to advise the Ohio history connection in the performance of its duties under section 149.305 of the Revised Code, and to select and induct persons into the hall of fame pursuant to that section. The board shall consist of thirteen voting members who have demonstrated interest in preserving African-American history. The members shall be appointed as follows:

(1) Three members appointed by the governor;

(2) Two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(3) Two members appointed by the president of the senate;

(4) Two members appointed by the chair of the Ohio legislative black caucus;

(5) One member appointed by the national museum of Afro-American history and culture planning committee;

(6) One member appointed by the board of directors of the national underground railroad freedom center;

(7) One member appointed by the board of trustees of the Ohio history connection;

(8) One member appointed by the board of trustees of the Ohioana library association.

(B) Initial appointments to the governing board shall be made within ninety days after December 30, 2004. Of the initial appointments, the term of one member appointed by the governor, one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one member appointed by the president of the senate, one member appointed by the chair of the Ohio legislative black caucus, the member appointed by the board of directors of the national underground railroad freedom center, and the member appointed by the board of trustees of the Ohioana library association shall be for a term ending one year after December 30, 2004. The initial terms of all other members shall be for a term ending two years after December 30, 2004. Thereafter, terms for all members shall be for two years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Each member shall hold office from the date of the member's appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(C) All members of the governing board shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The expenses of the governing board shall be paid out of the African-American hall of fame fund created under section 149.305 of the Revised Code.

(D) The governing board shall elect a chairperson from its membership. It shall meet at least four times per year and shall keep a record of its proceedings, which shall be open to the public for inspection. A written notice of the time and place of each meeting shall be sent to each member. A majority of the members of the governing board shall constitute a quorum.

(E) The Ohio history connection may provide any necessary staff or services required by the governing board in the performance of its duties. Compensation for those services shall be paid out of the African-American hall of fame fund.

(F) The governing board may accept donations of historical items and artifacts for placement in the hall of fame and shall house those items and artifacts at the Ohio historical center in Columbus, Ohio, until a permanent hall of fame site is selected under section 149.305 of the Revised Code. After a permanent hall of fame site is selected, the governing board shall convey all donated items and artifacts to the private, nonprofit organization established under that section. All historical items and artifacts so conveyed shall remain the property of the hall of fame as part of its permanent collection. The governing board shall advise the private, nonprofit organization concerning the operation and maintenance of the hall of fame.

(G) The governing board is not subject to sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code.

Section 149.307 | Ohio history license plate contribution fund.
 

There is hereby created in the state treasury the Ohio history license plate contribution fund. The fund shall consist of the contributions that are paid to the registrar of motor vehicles by applicants who choose to obtain "Ohio history" license plates pursuant to section 4503.95 of the Revised Code.

The contributions deposited in the fund shall be used by the Ohio history connection to provide grants to historical organizations located in this state. An organization that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant only to host exhibits and increase access to its collection by the public.

The Ohio history connection shall establish and administer all aspects of the grant program, including eligibility requirements for receiving a grant under the program.

Not later than the last business day of January of each year, the Ohio history connection shall prepare and submit to the general assembly a written report, detailing all aspects of the grant program during the immediately preceding calendar year.

Section 149.308 | Ohio history fund.
 

There is hereby created in the state treasury the Ohio history fund, which shall consist of money contributed to it under section 5747.113 of the Revised Code for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, and of contributions made directly to it. Any person may contribute directly to the fund in addition to or independently of the income tax refund contribution system established in section 5747.113 of the Revised Code.

The Ohio history connection shall use money credited to the fund in furtherance of the public functions with which the Ohio history connection is charged under section 149.30 of the Revised Code.

Section 149.309 | Ohio commission for the United States semiquincentennial.
 

(A) The Ohio commission for the United States semiquincentennial is established to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation's past, present, and future.

(B) The commission shall consist of the following twenty-nine members:

(1) Two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, one of whom shall be recommended by the minority leader of the senate;

(2) Two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be recommended by the minority leader of the house of representatives;

(3) The governor or the governor's designee;

(4) The chief justice of the supreme court of Ohio;

(5) The president of the board of trustees of the Ohio history connection;

(6) The president of the Ohio local history alliance's designee;

(7) The president of the Ohio county commissioners association's designee;

(8) The chairperson of the board of the Ohio arts council;

(9) The director of TourismOhio;

(10) The executive director of the Ohio travel association;

(11) Seventeen members who are private citizens, of whom:

(a) Eight shall be appointed by the governor;

(b) Four shall be appointed by the president of the senate, two of whom shall be recommended by the minority leader of the senate;

(c) Four shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, two of whom shall be recommended by the minority leader of the house of representatives;

(d) One shall be appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court of Ohio.

(C) The governor shall designate one of the private citizen members as the chairperson of the commission and a different private citizen member as the vice chairperson of the commission.

The executive director or the deputy executive director of the Ohio history connection shall serve as the secretary of the commission and shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member of the commission.

(D) A member shall be appointed for the duration of the commission, so long as the member continues to hold the office that entitled the member to the position on the commission. A vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for service on the commission, except for reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses.

(E) Meetings of the commission shall be held throughout this state at times and locations determined by the chairperson. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

(F) The commission shall do all of the following:

(1) Plan, coordinate, and implement an overall program to build public awareness and foster public participation to celebrate and commemorate the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the independence and founding of the United States;

(2) Coordinate with all federal, state, and local agencies and private organizations on infrastructural improvements and projects or programs to welcome and encourage regional, national, and international tourists;

(3) Establish and maintain an official web site that is available and accessible to the public.

(G) In preparing plans and an overall program, the commission shall do all of the following:

(1) Give due consideration to related plans and programs developed by federal, other state, local, and private groups;

(2) Conduct extensive public engagement throughout this state to develop programs of its own or with or by other agencies, communities, or organizations that may take place to mark the semiquincentennial by December 31, 2026;

(3) Aim to involve and showcase all counties in this state;

(4) Draw attention to the achievements, struggles, honors, innovations, and significance of all people in this state since before its founding to the present day.

(H) The commission may designate special committees with representatives from stakeholding groups to plan, develop, and coordinate specific activities.

(I)(1) Not later than September 30, 2022, the commission shall submit to the governor and the general assembly a comprehensive report that includes the specific recommendations of the commission for the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the independence and founding of the United States and related events, as well as a timeline of the plans and overall program and estimates of all costs associated with the plans and overall program.

(2) The report may include recommendations for the following:

(a) Improvements to the infrastructure of the state or for capital projects necessary for the successful delivery of the commission's plan and overall program;

(b) Legislation needed to effectuate the plan and overall program.

(3) The report shall be available on the commission's official web site.

(4) The commission may, from time to time, expand upon or revise its initial report as events warrant.

(J) The commission may secure directly from a state agency information as the commission considers necessary to carry out its duties. On the request of the chairperson of the commission or the commission's executive director, the head of a state agency shall provide the information to the commission.

(K) The commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts and donations of money, property, or personal services and may request personnel or other supportive resources from state agencies, local governments, and public universities.

(L) As determined necessary by the commission, the commission may do any of the following:

(1) Procure supplies, services, and property;

(2) Take actions as are necessary to enable the commission to carry out efficiently and in the public interest the purpose of this section.

(M)(1) The chairperson of the commission shall appoint an executive director who may, in turn, hire personnel as are necessary to enable the commission to perform its powers and duties. With approval from the commission, the executive director may authorize the Ohio history connection to enter into contracts with vendors and consultants to undertake work commensurate with the commission's public functions. All commission employees shall be employees of the Ohio history connection and shall be subject to its customary personnel policies and procedures.

(2) The employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by majority vote of the commission.

(3) The commission, from time to time, may request operating and capital appropriations from the general assembly. Such appropriated money shall be received by the Ohio history connection and held for the use of the commission. Such money shall be audited annually in the ordinary manner and commensurate with the Ohio history connection's audit by the auditor of state.

(N) Once each year on or before the thirty-first day of December, during the period beginning on September 30, 2021, through December 31, 2026, the commission shall submit to the governor and the general assembly a report of the activities of the commission, including a summary of funds received and expended during the year covered by the report, the outputs and outcomes achieved, and whether those achievements meet the commission's plan and overall program. The report shall be available on the commission's official web site. The commission shall publish a final report of its activities on or before June 30, 2027.

(O) The commission terminates on June 30, 2027.

Last updated September 18, 2023 at 10:18 AM

Section 149.3010 | American-Indian burial sites.
 

The Ohio history connection, in addition to its other functions, may use any land owned by the Ohio history connection, any land owned by the state and in the Ohio history connection's custody and control, any land leased by the Ohio history connection, or any land that the Ohio history connection has agreed to lease to another entity or organization, for the purpose of repatriation of American Indian human remains.

The Ohio history connection shall work with and cooperate with federally recognized Indian tribal governments in the selection, management, and use of burial sites under this section. The Ohio history connection shall implement reasonable standards for the use and maintenance of the burial sites. In the event the Ohio history connection shall deaccession, otherwise dispose of, or no longer have custody and control of a burial site, the Ohio history connection shall retain access and authority to maintain the site or the Ohio history connection shall assign its right of access and maintenance to the person acquiring the site.

Chapters 517., 759., 1721., and 4767. of the Revised Code do not apply to burial sites under this section.

Last updated September 18, 2023 at 11:47 AM

Section 149.31 | Archives administration for the state.
 

(A) The Ohio history connection, in addition to its other functions, shall function as the state archives administration for the state and its political subdivisions.

It shall be the function of the state archives administration to preserve government archives, documents, and records of historical value that may come into its possession from public or private sources.

The archives administration shall evaluate, preserve, arrange, service repair, or make other disposition of, including transfer to public libraries, county historical societies, state universities, or other public or quasi-public institutions, agencies, or corporations, those public records of the state and its political subdivisions that may come into its possession under this section. Those public records shall be transferred by written agreement only, and only to public or quasi-public institutions, agencies, or corporations capable of meeting accepted archival standards for housing and use.

The archives administration shall be headed by a trained archivist designated by the Ohio history connection and shall make its services available to county, municipal, township, school district, library, and special taxing district records commissions upon request. The archivist shall be designated as the "state archivist."

(B) The archives administration may purchase or procure for itself, or authorize the board of trustees of an archival institution to purchase or procure, from an insurance company licensed to do business in this state policies of insurance insuring the administration or the members of the board and their officers, employees, and agents against liability on account of damage or injury to persons and property resulting from any act or omission of the board members, officers, employees, and agents in their official capacity.

(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, the archives administration may establish a fee schedule, which may include the cost of labor, for researching, retrieving, copying, and mailing copies of public records in the state archives. Revisions to the fee schedule shall be subject to approval by the board of trustees of the Ohio history connection.

Section 149.311 | Application for rehabilitation tax credit certificate.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Historic building" means a building, including its structural components, that is located in this state and that is either individually listed on the national register of historic places under 16 U.S.C. 470a, located in a registered historic district, and certified by the state historic preservation officer as being of historic significance to the district, or is individually listed as an historic landmark designated by a local government certified under 16 U.S.C. 470a(c).

(2) "Qualified rehabilitation expenditures" means expenditures paid or incurred during the rehabilitation period, and before and after that period as determined under 26 U.S.C. 47, by an owner or qualified lessee of an historic building to rehabilitate the building. "Qualified rehabilitation expenditures" includes architectural or engineering fees paid or incurred in connection with the rehabilitation, and expenses incurred in the preparation of nomination forms for listing on the national register of historic places. "Qualified rehabilitation expenditures" does not include any of the following:

(a) The cost of acquiring, expanding, or enlarging an historic building;

(b) Expenditures attributable to work done to facilities related to the building, such as parking lots, sidewalks, and landscaping;

(c) New building construction costs.

(3) "Owner" of an historic building means a person holding the fee simple interest in the building. "Owner" does not include the state or a state agency, or any political subdivision as defined in section 9.23 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Qualified lessee" means a person subject to a lease agreement for an historic building and eligible for the federal rehabilitation tax credit under 26 U.S.C. 47. "Qualified lessee" does not include the state or a state agency or political subdivision as defined in section 9.23 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Certificate owner" means the owner or qualified lessee of an historic building to which a rehabilitation tax credit certificate was issued under this section.

(6) "Registered historic district" means an historic district listed in the national register of historic places under 16 U.S.C. 470a, an historic district designated by a local government certified under 16 U.S.C. 470a(c), or a local historic district certified under 36 C.F.R. 67.8 and 67.9.

(7) "Rehabilitation" means the process of repairing or altering an historic building or buildings, making possible an efficient use while preserving those portions and features of the building and its site and environment that are significant to its historic, architectural, and cultural values.

(8) "Rehabilitation period" means one of the following:

(a) If the rehabilitation initially was not planned to be completed in stages, a period chosen by the owner or qualified lessee not to exceed twenty-four months during which rehabilitation occurs;

(b) If the rehabilitation initially was planned to be completed in stages, a period chosen by the owner or qualified lessee not to exceed sixty months during which rehabilitation occurs. Each stage shall be reviewed as a phase of a rehabilitation as determined under 26 C.F.R. 1.48-12 or a successor to that section.

(9) "State historic preservation officer" or "officer" means the state historic preservation officer appointed by the governor under 16 U.S.C. 470a.

(10) "Catalytic project" means the rehabilitation of an historic building, the rehabilitation of which will foster economic development within two thousand five hundred feet of the historic building.

(B) The owner or qualified lessee of an historic building may apply to the director of development for a rehabilitation tax credit certificate for qualified rehabilitation expenditures paid or incurred by such owner or qualified lessee after April 4, 2007, for rehabilitation of an historic building. If the owner of an historic building enters a pass-through agreement with a qualified lessee for the purposes of the federal rehabilitation tax credit under 26 U.S.C. 47, the qualified rehabilitation expenditures paid or incurred by the owner after April 4, 2007, may be attributed to the qualified lessee.

The form and manner of filing such applications shall be prescribed by rule of the director. Each application shall state the amount of qualified rehabilitation expenditures the applicant estimates will be paid or incurred and shall indicate whether the historic building was used as a theater before, and is intended to be used as a theater after, the rehabilitation. The director may require applicants to furnish documentation of such estimates.

The director, after consultation with the tax commissioner and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt rules that establish all of the following:

(1) Forms and procedures by which applicants may apply for rehabilitation tax credit certificates;

(2) Criteria for reviewing, evaluating, and approving applications for certificates within the limitations under division (D) of this section, criteria for assuring that the certificates issued encompass a mixture of high and low qualified rehabilitation expenditures, and criteria for issuing certificates under division (C)(3)(b) of this section;

(3) Eligibility requirements for obtaining a certificate under this section;

(4) The form of rehabilitation tax credit certificates;

(5) Reporting requirements and monitoring procedures;

(6) Procedures and criteria for conducting cost-benefit analyses of historic buildings that are the subjects of applications filed under this section. The purpose of a cost-benefit analysis shall be to determine whether rehabilitation of the historic building will result in a net revenue gain in state and local taxes once the building is used.

(7) Any other rules necessary to implement and administer this section.

(C) The director shall review the applications with the assistance of the state historic preservation officer and determine whether all of the following criteria are met:

(1) That the building that is the subject of the application is an historic building and the applicant is the owner or qualified lessee of the building;

(2) That the rehabilitation will satisfy standards prescribed by the United States secretary of the interior under 16 U.S.C. 470, et seq., as amended, and 36 C.F.R. 67.7 or a successor to that section;

(3) That receiving a rehabilitation tax credit certificate under this section is a major factor in:

(a) The applicant's decision to rehabilitate the historic building; or

(b) To increase the level of investment in such rehabilitation.

(4) The historic building that is the subject of the application is not, and will not upon completion of the rehabilitation project be, part of a qualified low-income housing project allocated a tax credit pursuant to section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code.

An applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the state historic preservation officer and director that the rehabilitation will satisfy the standards described in division (C)(2) of this section before the applicant begins the physical rehabilitation of the historic building.

(D)(1) If the director determines that an application meets the criteria in division (C) of this section, the director shall conduct a cost-benefit analysis for the historic building that is the subject of the application to determine whether rehabilitation of the historic building will result in a net revenue gain in state and local taxes once the building is used. The director shall consider the results of the cost-benefit analysis in determining whether to approve the application. The director shall also consider the potential economic impact and the regional distributive balance of the credits throughout the state. The director may approve an application only after completion of the cost-benefit analysis.

(2) A rehabilitation tax credit certificate shall not be issued for an amount greater than the estimated amount furnished by the applicant on the application for such certificate and approved by the director. The director shall not approve more than a total of one hundred twenty million dollars of rehabilitation tax credits for each of fiscal years 2023 and 2024, and sixty million dollars of rehabilitation tax credits for each fiscal year thereafter but the director may reallocate unused tax credits from a prior fiscal year for new applicants and such reallocated credits shall not apply toward the dollar limit of this division.

(3) For rehabilitations with a rehabilitation period not exceeding twenty-four months as provided in division (A)(8)(a) of this section, a rehabilitation tax credit certificate shall not be issued before the rehabilitation of the historic building is completed.

(4) For rehabilitations with a rehabilitation period not exceeding sixty months as provided in division (A)(8)(b) of this section, a rehabilitation tax credit certificate shall not be issued before a stage of rehabilitation is completed. After all stages of rehabilitation are completed, if the director cannot determine that the criteria in division (C) of this section are satisfied for all stages of rehabilitations, the director shall certify this finding to the tax commissioner, and any rehabilitation tax credits received by the applicant shall be repaid by the applicant and may be collected by assessment as unpaid tax by the commissioner.

(5) The director shall require the applicant to provide a third-party cost certification by a certified public accountant of the actual costs attributed to the rehabilitation of the historic building when qualified rehabilitation expenditures exceed two hundred thousand dollars.

If an applicant whose application is approved for receipt of a rehabilitation tax credit certificate fails to provide to the director sufficient evidence of reviewable progress, including a viable financial plan, copies of final construction drawings, and evidence that the applicant has obtained all historic approvals within twelve months after the date the applicant received notification of approval, and if the applicant fails to provide evidence to the director that the applicant has secured and closed on financing for the rehabilitation within eighteen months after receiving notification of approval, the director may rescind the approval of the application. The director shall notify the applicant if the approval has been rescinded. Credits that would have been available to an applicant whose approval was rescinded shall be available for other qualified applicants. Nothing in this division prohibits an applicant whose approval has been rescinded from submitting a new application for a rehabilitation tax credit certificate.

(6) The director may approve the application of, and issue a rehabilitation tax credit certificate to, the owner of a catalytic project, provided the application otherwise meets the criteria described in divisions (C) and (D) of this section. The director may not approve more than one application for a rehabilitation tax credit certificate under division (D)(6) of this section during each state fiscal biennium. The director shall not approve an application for a rehabilitation tax credit certificate under division (D)(6) of this section during the state fiscal biennium beginning July 1, 2017, or during any state fiscal biennium thereafter. The director shall consider the following criteria in determining whether to approve an application for a certificate under division (D)(6) of this section:

(a) Whether the historic building is a catalytic project;

(b) The effect issuance of the certificate would have on the availability of credits for other applicants that qualify for a credit certificate within the credit dollar limit described in division (D)(2) of this section;

(c) The number of jobs, if any, the catalytic project will create.

(7)(a) The owner or qualified lessee of a historic building may apply for a rehabilitation tax credit certificate under both divisions (B) and (D)(6) of this section. In such a case, the director shall consider each application at the time the application is submitted.

(b) The director shall not issue more than one certificate under this section with respect to the same qualified rehabilitation expenditures.

(8) The director shall give consideration for tax credits awarded under this section to rehabilitations of historic buildings used as a theater before, and intended to be used as a theater after, the rehabilitation. In determining whether to approve an application for such a rehabilitation, the director shall consider the extent to which the rehabilitation will increase attendance at the theater and increase the theater's gross revenue.

(9) The director shall rescind the approval of any application if the building that is the subject of the application is part of a qualified low-income housing project allocated a tax credit pursuant to section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code at any time before the building's rehabilitation is complete.

(E) Issuance of a certificate represents a finding by the director of the matters described in divisions (C)(1), (2), and (3) of this section only; issuance of a certificate does not represent a verification or certification by the director of the amount of qualified rehabilitation expenditures for which a tax credit may be claimed under section 5725.151, 5725.34, 5726.52, 5729.17, 5733.47, or 5747.76 of the Revised Code. The amount of qualified rehabilitation expenditures for which a tax credit may be claimed is subject to inspection and examination by the tax commissioner or employees of the commissioner under section 5703.19 of the Revised Code and any other applicable law. Upon the issuance of a certificate, the director shall certify to the tax commissioner, in the form and manner requested by the tax commissioner, the name of the applicant, the amount of qualified rehabilitation expenditures shown on the certificate, and any other information required by the rules adopted under this section.

(F)(1) On or before the first day of August each year, the director and tax commissioner jointly shall submit to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives a report on the tax credit program established under this section and sections 5725.151, 5725.34, 5726.52, 5729.17, 5733.47, and 5747.76 of the Revised Code. The report shall present an overview of the program and shall include information on the number of rehabilitation tax credit certificates issued under this section during the preceding fiscal year, an update on the status of each historic building for which an application was approved under this section, the dollar amount of the tax credits granted under sections 5725.151, 5725.34, 5726.52, 5729.17, 5733.47, and 5747.76 of the Revised Code, and any other information the director and commissioner consider relevant to the topics addressed in the report.

(2) On or before December 1, 2015, the director and tax commissioner jointly shall submit to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives a comprehensive report that includes the information required by division (F)(1) of this section and a detailed analysis of the effectiveness of issuing tax credits for rehabilitating historic buildings. The report shall be prepared with the assistance of an economic research organization jointly chosen by the director and commissioner.

(G) There is hereby created in the state treasury the historic rehabilitation tax credit operating fund. The director is authorized to charge reasonable application and other fees in connection with the administration of tax credits authorized by this section and sections 5725.151, 5725.34, 5726.52, 5729.17, 5733.47, and 5747.76 of the Revised Code. Any such fees collected shall be credited to the fund and used to pay reasonable costs incurred by the department of development in administering this section and sections 5725.151, 5725.34, 5726.52, 5729.17, 5733.47, and 5747.76 of the Revised Code.

The Ohio historic preservation office is authorized to charge reasonable fees in connection with its review and approval of applications under this section. Any such fees collected shall be credited to the fund and used to pay administrative costs incurred by the Ohio historic preservation office pursuant to this section.

(H) Notwithstanding sections 5725.151, 5725.34, 5726.52, 5729.17, 5733.47, and 5747.76 of the Revised Code, the certificate owner of a tax credit certificate issued under division (D)(6) of this section may claim a tax credit equal to twenty-five per cent of the dollar amount indicated on the certificate for a total credit of not more than twenty-five million dollars. The credit claimed by such a certificate owner for any calendar year, tax year, or taxable year under section 5725.151, 5725.34, 5726.52, 5729.17, 5733.47, or 5747.76 of the Revised Code shall not exceed five million dollars. If the certificate owner is eligible for more than five million dollars in total credits, the certificate owner may carry forward the balance of the credit in excess of the amount claimed for that year for not more than five ensuing calendar years, tax years, or taxable years. If the credit claimed in any calendar year, tax year, or taxable year exceeds the tax otherwise due, the excess shall be refunded to the taxpayer.

(I) Notwithstanding sections 5725.151, 5725.34, 5726.52, 5729.17, 5733.47, and 5747.76 of the Revised Code, the following apply to a tax credit approved under this section after September 13, 2022, and before July 1, 2024:

(1) The certificate holder may claim a tax credit equal to thirty-five per cent of the dollar amount indicated on the tax credit certificate if any county, township, or municipal corporation within which the project is located has a population of less than three hundred thousand according to the 2020 decennial census. The tax credit equals twenty-five per cent of the dollar amount indicated on the certificate if the project is not located within such a county, township, or municipal corporation.

(2) The total tax credit claimed under section 5725.151, 5725.34, 5726.52, 5729.17, 5733.47, or 5747.76 of the Revised Code for any one project shall not exceed ten million dollars for any calendar year, tax year, or taxable year.

(3) If the credit claimed in any calendar year, tax year, or taxable year exceeds the tax otherwise due, the excess shall be refunded to the taxpayer, subject to division (I)(2) of this section.

(J) The director of development, in consultation with the director of budget and management, shall develop and adopt a system of tracking any information necessary to anticipate the impact of credits issued under this section on tax revenues for current and future fiscal years. Such information may include the number of applications approved, the estimated rehabilitation expenditures and rehabilitation period associated with such applications, the number and amount of tax credit certificates issued, and any other information the director of budget and management requires for the purposes of this division.

(K) For purposes of this section and Chapter 122:19-1 of the Ohio Administrative Code, a tax credit certificate issued under this section is effective on the date that all historic buildings rehabilitated by the project are "placed in service," as that term is used in section 47 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Last updated January 20, 2023 at 4:10 PM

Section 149.33 | State records program - office of state records administration.
 

(A) The department of administrative services shall have responsibility for establishing and administering a state records program for all state agencies, except for state-supported institutions of higher education. The department shall apply efficient and economical management methods to the creation, utilization, maintenance, retention, preservation, and disposition of state records.

There is hereby established within the department of administrative services a state records program, which shall be under the control and supervision of the director of administrative services or the director's appointed deputy.

(B) The boards of trustees of state-supported institutions of higher education shall have full responsibility for establishing and administering a records program for their respective institutions. The boards shall apply efficient and economical management methods to the creation, utilization, maintenance, retention, preservation, and disposition of the records of their respective institutions.

Section 149.331 | State record administration program.
 

The state records program of the department of administrative services shall do all of the following:

(A) Establish and promulgate in consultation with the state archivist standards, procedures, and techniques for the effective management of state records;

(B) Review applications for one-time records disposal and schedules of records retention and destruction submitted by state agencies in accordance with section 149.333 of the Revised Code;

(C) Establish "general schedules" proposing the disposal, after the lapse of specified periods of time, of records of specified form or character common to several or all agencies that either have accumulated or may accumulate in such agencies and that apparently will not, after the lapse of the periods specified, have sufficient administrative, legal, fiscal, or other value to warrant their further preservation by the state;

(D) Establish and maintain a records management training program, and provide a basic consulting service, for personnel involved in record-making and record-keeping functions of departments, offices, and institutions;

(E) Provide for the disposition of any remaining records of any state agency, board, or commission, whether in the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of government, that has terminated its operations. After the closing of the Ohio veterans' children's home, the resident records of the home and the resident records of the home when it was known as the soldiers' and sailors' orphans' home required to be maintained by approved records retention schedules shall be administered by the state department of education and workforce pursuant to this chapter, the administrative records of the home required to be maintained by approved records retention schedules shall be administered by the department of administrative services pursuant to this chapter, and historical records of the home shall be transferred to an appropriate archival institution in this state prescribed by the state records program.

(F) Establish a centralized program coordinating micrographics standards, training, and services for the benefit of all state agencies;

(G) Establish and publish in accordance with the applicable law necessary procedures and rules for the retention and disposal of state records.

This section does not apply to the records of state-supported institutions of higher education, which shall keep their own records.

Last updated September 5, 2023 at 5:18 PM

Section 149.332 | Records management programs in the legislative and judicial branches of state government.
 

Upon request the director of administrative services and the state archivist shall assist and advise in the establishment of records management programs in the legislative and judicial branches of state government and shall, as required by them, provide program services similar to those available to the executive branch under section 149.33 of the Revised Code. Prior to the disposal of any records, the state archivist shall be allowed sixty days to select for preservation in the state archives those records the state archivist determines to have continuing historical value.

Section 149.333 | Applying for record disposal or transfer.
 

No state agency shall retain, destroy, or otherwise transfer its state records in violation of this section. This section does not apply to state-supported institutions of higher education.

Each state agency shall submit to the state records program under the director of administrative services all applications for records disposal or transfer and all schedules of records retention and destruction. The state records program shall review the applications and schedules and provide written approval, rejection, or modification of an application or schedule. The state records program shall then forward the application for records disposal or transfer or the schedule for retention or destruction, with the program's recommendation attached, to the auditor of state for review and approval. The decision of the auditor of state to approve, reject, or modify the application or schedule shall be based upon the continuing administrative and fiscal value of the state records to the state or to its citizens. If the auditor of state disapproves the action by the state agency, the auditor of state shall so inform the state agency through the state records program within sixty days, and the records shall not be destroyed.

At the same time, the state records program shall forward the application for records disposal or transfer or the schedule for retention or destruction to the state archivist for review and approval. The state archivist shall have sixty days to select for custody the state records that the state archivist determines to be of continuing historical value. Records not selected shall be disposed of in accordance with this section.

Section 149.34 | Records management procedures.
 

The head of each state agency, office, institution, board, or commission shall do the following:

(A) Establish, maintain, and direct an active continuing program for the effective management of the records of the state agency;

(B) Submit to the state records program, in accordance with applicable standards and procedures, schedules proposing the length of time each record series warrants retention for administrative, legal, or fiscal purposes after it has been received or created by the agency. The head also shall submit to the state records program applications for disposal of records in the head's custody that are not needed in the transaction of current business and are not otherwise scheduled for retention or destruction.

(C) Within one year after their date of creation or receipt, schedule all records for disposition or retention in the manner prescribed by applicable law and procedures.

This section does not apply to state-supported institutions of higher education.

Section 149.35 | Laws prohibiting the destruction of records.
 

If any law prohibits the destruction of records, the director of administrative services, the director's designee, or the boards of trustees of state-supported institutions of higher education shall not order their destruction or other disposition. If any law provides that records shall be kept for a specified period of time, the director of administrative services, the director's designee, or the boards shall not order their destruction or other disposition prior to the expiration of that period.

Section 149.351 | Prohibiting destruction or damage of records.
 

(A) All records are the property of the public office concerned and shall not be removed, destroyed, mutilated, transferred, or otherwise damaged or disposed of, in whole or in part, except as provided by law or under the rules adopted by the records commissions provided for under sections 149.38 to 149.42 of the Revised Code or under the records programs established by the boards of trustees of state-supported institutions of higher education under section 149.33 of the Revised Code. Those records shall be delivered by outgoing officials and employees to their successors and shall not be otherwise removed, destroyed, mutilated, or transferred unlawfully.

(B) Any person who is aggrieved by the removal, destruction, mutilation, or transfer of, or by other damage to or disposition of a record in violation of division (A) of this section, or by threat of such removal, destruction, mutilation, transfer, or other damage to or disposition of such a record, may commence either or both of the following in the court of common pleas of the county in which division (A) of this section allegedly was violated or is threatened to be violated:

(1) A civil action for injunctive relief to compel compliance with division (A) of this section, and to obtain an award of the reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the person in the civil action;

(2) A civil action to recover a forfeiture in the amount of one thousand dollars for each violation, but not to exceed a cumulative total of ten thousand dollars, regardless of the number of violations, and to obtain an award of the reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the person in the civil action not to exceed the forfeiture amount recovered.

(C)(1) A person is not aggrieved by a violation of division (A) of this section if clear and convincing evidence shows that the request for a record was contrived as a pretext to create potential liability under this section. The commencement of a civil action under division (B) of this section waives any right under this chapter to decline to divulge the purpose for requesting the record, but only to the extent needed to evaluate whether the request was contrived as a pretext to create potential liability under this section.

(2) In a civil action under division (B) of this section, if clear and convincing evidence shows that the request for a record was a pretext to create potential liability under this section, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to any defendant or defendants in the action.

(D) Once a person recovers a forfeiture in a civil action commenced under division (B)(2) of this section, no other person may recover a forfeiture under that division for a violation of division (A) of this section involving the same record, regardless of the number of persons aggrieved by a violation of division (A) of this section or the number of civil actions commenced under this section.

(E) A civil action for injunctive relief under division (B)(1) of this section or a civil action to recover a forfeiture under division (B)(2) of this section shall be commenced within five years after the day in which division (A) of this section was allegedly violated or was threatened to be violated.

Section 149.352 | Replevin of public records.
 

Upon request of the department of administrative services, the attorney general may replevin any public records which have been unlawfully transferred or removed in violation of sections 149.31 to 149.44 of the Revised Code or otherwise transferred or removed unlawfully. Such records shall be returned to the office of origin and safeguards shall be established to prevent further recurrence of unlawful transfer or removal.

Section 149.36 | Authority not restricted.
 

The provisions of sections 149.31 to 149.42, inclusive, of the Revised Code shall not impair or restrict the authority given by other statutes over the creation of records, systems, forms, procedures, or the control over purchases of equipment by public offices.

Section 149.38 | County records commission.
 

(A) Except as otherwise provided in section 307.847 of the Revised Code, there is hereby created in each county a county records commission, composed of a member of the board of county commissioners as chairperson, the prosecuting attorney, the auditor, the recorder, and the clerk of the court of common pleas. The commission shall appoint a secretary, who may or may not be a member of the commission and who shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The commission may employ an archivist or records manager to serve under its direction. The commission shall meet at least once every six months and upon the call of the chairperson.

(B)(1) The functions of the county records commission shall be to provide rules for retention and disposal of records of the county, and to review applications for one-time disposal of obsolete records and schedules of records retention and disposition submitted by county offices. The commission may dispose of records pursuant to the procedure outlined in this section. The commission, at any time, may review any schedule it has previously approved and, for good cause shown, may revise that schedule, subject to division (D) of this section.

(2)(a) As used in division (B)(2) of this section, "paper case records" means written reports of child abuse or neglect, written records of investigations, or other written records required to be prepared under section 2151.421, 5101.13, 5153.166, or 5153.17 of the Revised Code.

(b) A county public children services agency may submit to the county records commission applications for one-time disposal, or schedules of records retention and disposition, of paper case records that have been entered into permanently maintained and retrievable fields in the state automated child welfare information system established under section 5101.13 of the Revised Code or entered into other permanently maintained and retrievable electronic files. The county records commission may dispose of the paper case records pursuant to the procedure outlined in this section.

(C)(1) When the county records commission has approved any county application for one-time disposal of obsolete records or any schedule of records retention and disposition, the commission shall send that application or schedule to the Ohio history connection for its review. The Ohio history connection shall review the application or schedule within a period of not more than sixty days after its receipt of it. During the sixty-day review period, the Ohio history connection may select for its custody from the application for one-time disposal of obsolete records any records it considers to be of continuing historical value, and shall denote upon any schedule of records retention and disposition any records for which the Ohio history connection will require a certificate of records disposal prior to their disposal.

(2) Upon completion of its review, the Ohio history connection shall forward the application for one-time disposal of obsolete records or the schedule of records retention and disposition to the auditor of state for the auditor's approval or disapproval. The auditor of state shall approve or disapprove the application or schedule within a period of not more than sixty days after receipt of it.

(3) Before public records are to be disposed of pursuant to an approved schedule of records retention and disposition, the county records commission shall inform the Ohio history connection of the disposal through the submission of a certificate of records disposal for only the records required by the schedule to be disposed of and shall give the Ohio history connection the opportunity for a period of fifteen business days to select for its custody those records, from the certificate submitted, that it considers to be of continuing historical value. Upon the expiration of the fifteen-business-day period, the county records commission also shall notify the public libraries, county historical society, state universities, and other public or quasi-public institutions, agencies, or corporations in the county that have provided the commission with their name and address for these notification purposes, that the commission has informed the Ohio history connection of the records disposal and that the notified entities, upon written agreement with the Ohio history connection pursuant to section 149.31 of the Revised Code, may select records of continuing historical value, including records that may be distributed to any of the notified entities under section 149.31 of the Revised Code. Any notified entity that notifies the county records commission of its intent to review and select records of continuing historical value from certificates of records disposal is responsible for the cost of any notice given and for the transportation of those records.

(D) The rules of the county records commission shall include a rule that requires any receipts, checks, vouchers, or other similar records pertaining to expenditures from the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund created in section 321.261 of the Revised Code, from the real estate assessment fund created in section 325.31 of the Revised Code, or from amounts allocated for the furtherance of justice to the county sheriff under section 325.071 of the Revised Code or to the prosecuting attorney under section 325.12 of the Revised Code to be retained for at least four years.

(E) No person shall knowingly violate the rule adopted under division (D) of this section. Whoever violates that rule is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Section 149.381 | Review of applications for disposal of records or schedules of records retention and disposition by history connection.
 

(A) As used in this section, "records commission" means a records commission created under section 149.39 of the Revised Code, a school district records commission and an educational service center records commission created under section 149.41 of the Revised Code, a library records commission created under section 149.411 of the Revised Code, a special taxing district records commission created under section 149.412 of the Revised Code, and a township records commission created under section 149.42 of the Revised Code.

(B) When a records commission has approved an application for one-time disposal of obsolete records or any schedule of records retention and disposition, the records commission shall send that application or schedule to the Ohio history connection for its review. The Ohio history connection shall review the application or schedule within a period of not more than sixty days after its receipt of it. During the sixty-day review period, the Ohio history connection may select for its custody from the application for one-time disposal of obsolete records any records it considers to be of continuing historical value, and shall denote upon any schedule of records retention and disposition the records for which the Ohio history connection will require a certificate of records disposal prior to their disposal.

(C) Upon completion of its review, the Ohio history connection shall forward the application for one-time disposal of obsolete records or the schedule of records retention and disposition to the auditor of state for the auditor of state's approval or disapproval. The auditor of state shall approve or disapprove the application or schedule within a period of not more than sixty days after receipt of it.

(D) Before public records are to be disposed of pursuant to an approved schedule of records retention and disposition, the records commission shall inform the Ohio history connection of the disposal through the submission of a certificate of records disposal for only the records required by the schedule to be disposed of, and shall give the Ohio history connection the opportunity for a period of fifteen business days to select for its custody those public records, from the certificate submitted, that it considers to be of continuing historical value.

(E) The Ohio history connection may not review or select for its custody any of the following:

(1) Records the release of which is prohibited by section 149.432 of the Revised Code.

(2) Records containing personally identifiable information concerning any pupil attending a public school other than directory information, as defined in section 3319.321 of the Revised Code, without the written consent of the parent, guardian, or custodian of each such pupil who is less than eighteen years of age, or without the written consent of each pupil who is eighteen years of age or older.

(3) Records the release of which would, according to the "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974," 88 Stat. 571, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, disqualify a school or other educational institution from receiving federal funds.

Section 149.39 | Records commission - municipal corporation.
 

There is hereby created in each municipal corporation a records commission composed of the chief executive or the chief executive's appointed representative, as chairperson, and the chief fiscal officer, the chief legal officer, and a citizen appointed by the chief executive. The commission shall appoint a secretary, who may or may not be a member of the commission and who shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The commission may employ an archivist or records manager to serve under its direction. The commission shall meet at least once every six months and upon the call of the chairperson.

The functions of the commission shall be to provide rules for retention and disposal of records of the municipal corporation, and to review applications for one-time disposal of obsolete records and schedules of records retention and disposition submitted by municipal offices. The commission may dispose of records pursuant to the procedure outlined in section 149.381 of the Revised Code. The commission, at any time, may review any schedule it has previously approved and, for good cause shown, may revise that schedule under the procedure outlined in that section.

Section 149.40 | Making only necessary records.
 

The head of each public office shall cause to be made only such records as are necessary for the adequate and proper documentation of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, and essential transactions of the agency and for the protection of the legal and financial rights of the state and persons directly affected by the agency's activities.

Section 149.41 | School district records commission - educational service center records commission.
 

There is hereby created in each city, local, joint vocational, and exempted village school district a school district records commission, and in each educational service center an educational service center records commission. Each records commission shall be composed of the president, the treasurer of the board of education or governing board of the educational service center, and the superintendent of schools in each such district or educational service center. The commission shall meet at least once every twelve months.

The function of the commission shall be to review applications for one-time disposal of obsolete records and schedules of records retention and disposition submitted by any employee of the school district or educational service center. The commission may dispose of records pursuant to the procedure outlined in section 149.381 of the Revised Code. The commission, at any time, may review any schedule it has previously approved and, for good cause shown, may revise that schedule under the procedure outlined in that section.

Section 149.411 | Library records commission.
 

There is hereby created in each county free public library, municipal free public library, township free public library, school district free public library as described in section 3375.15 of the Revised Code, county library district, and regional library district a library records commission composed of the members and the fiscal officer of the board of library trustees of the appropriate public library or library district. The commission shall meet at least once every twelve months.

The functions of the commission shall be to review applications for one-time disposal of obsolete records and schedules of records retention and disposition submitted by any employee of the library. The commission may dispose of records pursuant to the procedure outlined in section 149.381 of the Revised Code. The commission, at any time, may review any schedule it has previously approved and, for good cause shown, may revise that schedule under the procedure outlined in that section.

Section 149.412 | Special taxing district records commission.
 

(A) There is hereby created in each special taxing district that is a public office as defined in section 149.011 of the Revised Code and that is not specifically designated in section 149.38, 149.39, 149.41, 149.411, or 149.42 of the Revised Code a special taxing district records commission composed of, at a minimum, the chairperson, a fiscal representative, and a legal representative of the governing board of the special taxing district. The commission shall meet at least once every twelve months and upon the call of the chairperson.

The functions of the commission shall be to review applications for one-time disposal of obsolete records and schedules of records retention and disposition submitted by any employee of the special taxing district. The commission may dispose of records pursuant to the procedure outlined in section 149.381 of the Revised Code. The commission, at any time, may review any schedule it has previously approved and, for good cause shown, may revise that schedule under the procedure outlined in that section.

(B) A special taxing district, the territory of which is coextensive with the territorial limits of a county, upon mutual assent between the special taxing district and the board of county commissioners, may designate the county records commission as the records commission for the special taxing district. Such a designation authorizes the county records commission to exercise all of the duties and responsibilities of a special taxing district records commission. The mutual assent may be manifested in an agreement defining the terms and conditions under which the county records commission is to perform public records-related functions, including establishing records retention and destruction schedules, on behalf of the special taxing district.

Section 149.42 | Township records commission.
 

There is hereby created in each township a township records commission, composed of the chairperson of the board of township trustees and the fiscal officer of the township. The commission shall meet at least once every twelve months and upon the call of the chairperson.

The function of the commission shall be to review applications for one-time disposal of obsolete records and schedules of records retention and disposition submitted by township offices. The commission may dispose of records pursuant to the procedure outlined in section 149.381 of the Revised Code. The commission, at any time, may review any schedule it has previously approved and, for good cause shown, may revise that schedule under the procedure outlined in that section.

Section 149.43 | Availability of public records for inspection and copying.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Public record" means records kept by any public office, including, but not limited to, state, county, city, village, township, and school district units, and records pertaining to the delivery of educational services by an alternative school in this state kept by the nonprofit or for-profit entity operating the alternative school pursuant to section 3313.533 of the Revised Code. "Public record" does not mean any of the following:

(a) Medical records;

(b) Records pertaining to probation and parole proceedings, to proceedings related to the imposition of community control sanctions and post-release control sanctions, or to proceedings related to determinations under section 2967.271 of the Revised Code regarding the release or maintained incarceration of an offender to whom that section applies;

(c) Records pertaining to actions under section 2151.85 and division (C) of section 2919.121 of the Revised Code and to appeals of actions arising under those sections;

(d) Records pertaining to adoption proceedings, including the contents of an adoption file maintained by the department of health under sections 3705.12 to 3705.124 of the Revised Code;

(e) Information in a record contained in the putative father registry established by section 3107.062 of the Revised Code, regardless of whether the information is held by the department of job and family services or, pursuant to section 3111.69 of the Revised Code, the office of child support in the department or a child support enforcement agency;

(f) Records specified in division (A) of section 3107.52 of the Revised Code;

(g) Trial preparation records;

(h) Confidential law enforcement investigatory records;

(i) Records containing information that is confidential under section 2710.03 or 4112.05 of the Revised Code;

(j) DNA records stored in the DNA database pursuant to section 109.573 of the Revised Code;

(k) Inmate records released by the department of rehabilitation and correction to the department of youth services or a court of record pursuant to division (E) of section 5120.21 of the Revised Code;

(l) Records maintained by the department of youth services pertaining to children in its custody released by the department of youth services to the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to section 5139.05 of the Revised Code;

(m) Intellectual property records;

(n) Donor profile records;

(o) Records maintained by the department of job and family services pursuant to section 3121.894 of the Revised Code;

(p) Designated public service worker residential and familial information;

(q) In the case of a county hospital operated pursuant to Chapter 339. of the Revised Code or a municipal hospital operated pursuant to Chapter 749. of the Revised Code, information that constitutes a trade secret, as defined in section 1333.61 of the Revised Code;

(r) Information pertaining to the recreational activities of a person under the age of eighteen;

(s) In the case of a child fatality review board acting under sections 307.621 to 307.629 of the Revised Code or a review conducted pursuant to guidelines established by the director of health under section 3701.70 of the Revised Code, records provided to the board or director, statements made by board members during meetings of the board or by persons participating in the director's review, and all work products of the board or director, and in the case of a child fatality review board, child fatality review data submitted by the board to the department of health or a national child death review database, other than the report prepared pursuant to division (A) of section 307.626 of the Revised Code;

(t) Records provided to and statements made by the executive director of a public children services agency or a prosecuting attorney acting pursuant to section 5153.171 of the Revised Code other than the information released under that section;

(u) Test materials, examinations, or evaluation tools used in an examination for licensure as a nursing home administrator that the board of executives of long-term services and supports administers under section 4751.15 of the Revised Code or contracts under that section with a private or government entity to administer;

(v) Records the release of which is prohibited by state or federal law;

(w) Proprietary information of or relating to any person that is submitted to or compiled by the Ohio venture capital authority created under section 150.01 of the Revised Code;

(x) Financial statements and data any person submits for any purpose to the Ohio housing finance agency or the controlling board in connection with applying for, receiving, or accounting for financial assistance from the agency, and information that identifies any individual who benefits directly or indirectly from financial assistance from the agency;

(y) Records listed in section 5101.29 of the Revised Code;

(z) Discharges recorded with a county recorder under section 317.24 of the Revised Code, as specified in division (B)(2) of that section;

(aa) Usage information including names and addresses of specific residential and commercial customers of a municipally owned or operated public utility;

(bb) Records described in division (C) of section 187.04 of the Revised Code that are not designated to be made available to the public as provided in that division;

(cc) Information and records that are made confidential, privileged, and not subject to disclosure under divisions (B) and (C) of section 2949.221 of the Revised Code;

(dd) Personal information, as defined in section 149.45 of the Revised Code;

(ee) The confidential name, address, and other personally identifiable information of a program participant in the address confidentiality program established under sections 111.41 to 111.47 of the Revised Code, including the contents of any application for absent voter's ballots, absent voter's ballot identification envelope statement of voter, or provisional ballot affirmation completed by a program participant who has a confidential voter registration record; records or portions of records pertaining to that program that identify the number of program participants that reside within a precinct, ward, township, municipal corporation, county, or any other geographic area smaller than the state; and any real property confidentiality notice filed under section 111.431 of the Revised Code and the information described in division (C) of that section. As used in this division, "confidential address" and "program participant" have the meaning defined in section 111.41 of the Revised Code.

(ff) Orders for active military service of an individual serving or with previous service in the armed forces of the United States, including a reserve component, or the Ohio organized militia, except that, such order becomes a public record on the day that is fifteen years after the published date or effective date of the call to order;

(gg) The name, address, contact information, or other personal information of an individual who is less than eighteen years of age that is included in any record related to a traffic accident involving a school vehicle in which the individual was an occupant at the time of the accident;

(hh) Protected health information, as defined in 45 C.F.R. 160.103, that is in a claim for payment for a health care product, service, or procedure, as well as any other health claims data in another document that reveals the identity of an individual who is the subject of the data or could be used to reveal that individual's identity;

(ii) Any depiction by photograph, film, videotape, or printed or digital image under either of the following circumstances:

(i) The depiction is that of a victim of an offense the release of which would be, to a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities, an offensive and objectionable intrusion into the victim's expectation of bodily privacy and integrity.

(ii) The depiction captures or depicts the victim of a sexually oriented offense, as defined in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code, at the actual occurrence of that offense.

(jj) Restricted portions of a body-worn camera or dashboard camera recording;

(kk) In the case of a fetal-infant mortality review board acting under sections 3707.70 to 3707.77 of the Revised Code, records, documents, reports, or other information presented to the board or a person abstracting such materials on the board's behalf, statements made by review board members during board meetings, all work products of the board, and data submitted by the board to the department of health or a national infant death review database, other than the report prepared pursuant to section 3707.77 of the Revised Code.

(ll) Records, documents, reports, or other information presented to the pregnancy-associated mortality review board established under section 3738.01 of the Revised Code, statements made by board members during board meetings, all work products of the board, and data submitted by the board to the department of health, other than the biennial reports prepared under section 3738.08 of the Revised Code;

(mm) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(oo) of this section, telephone numbers for a victim, as defined in section 2930.01 of the Revised Code or a witness to a crime that are listed on any law enforcement record or report.

(nn) A preneed funeral contract, as defined in section 4717.01 of the Revised Code, and contract terms and personally identifying information of a preneed funeral contract, that is contained in a report submitted by or for a funeral home to the board of embalmers and funeral directors under division (C) of section 4717.13, division (J) of section 4717.31, or section 4717.41 of the Revised Code.

(oo) Telephone numbers for a party to a motor vehicle accident subject to the requirements of section 5502.11 of the Revised Code that are listed on any law enforcement record or report, except that the telephone numbers described in this division are not excluded from the definition of "public record" under this division on and after the thirtieth day after the occurrence of the motor vehicle accident.

(pp) Records pertaining to individuals who complete training under section 5502.703 of the Revised Code to be permitted by a school district board of education or governing body of a community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, a STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code, or a chartered nonpublic school to convey deadly weapons or dangerous ordnance into a school safety zone;

(qq) Records, documents, reports, or other information presented to a domestic violence fatality review board established under section 307.651 of the Revised Code, statements made by board members during board meetings, all work products of the board, and data submitted by the board to the department of health, other than a report prepared pursuant to section 307.656 of the Revised Code;

(rr) Records, documents, and information the release of which is prohibited under sections 2930.04 and 2930.07 of the Revised Code;

(ss) Records of an existing qualified nonprofit corporation that creates a special improvement district under Chapter 1710. of the Revised Code that do not pertain to a purpose for which the district is created;

(tt) Educational support services data, as defined in section 3319.325 of the Revised Code.

A record that is not a public record under division (A)(1) of this section and that, under law, is permanently retained becomes a public record on the day that is seventy-five years after the day on which the record was created, except for any record protected by the attorney-client privilege, a trial preparation record as defined in this section, a statement prohibiting the release of identifying information signed under section 3107.083 of the Revised Code, a denial of release form filed pursuant to section 3107.46 of the Revised Code, or any record that is exempt from release or disclosure under section 149.433 of the Revised Code. If the record is a birth certificate and a biological parent's name redaction request form has been accepted under section 3107.391 of the Revised Code, the name of that parent shall be redacted from the birth certificate before it is released under this paragraph. If any other section of the Revised Code establishes a time period for disclosure of a record that conflicts with the time period specified in this section, the time period in the other section prevails.

(2) "Confidential law enforcement investigatory record" means any record that pertains to a law enforcement matter of a criminal, quasi-criminal, civil, or administrative nature, but only to the extent that the release of the record would create a high probability of disclosure of any of the following:

(a) The identity of a suspect who has not been charged with the offense to which the record pertains, or of an information source or witness to whom confidentiality has been reasonably promised;

(b) Information provided by an information source or witness to whom confidentiality has been reasonably promised, which information would reasonably tend to disclose the source's or witness's identity;

(c) Specific confidential investigatory techniques or procedures or specific investigatory work product;

(d) Information that would endanger the life or physical safety of law enforcement personnel, a crime victim, a witness, or a confidential information source.

(3) "Medical record" means any document or combination of documents, except births, deaths, and the fact of admission to or discharge from a hospital, that pertains to the medical history, diagnosis, prognosis, or medical condition of a patient and that is generated and maintained in the process of medical treatment.

(4) "Trial preparation record" means any record that contains information that is specifically compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or in defense of, a civil or criminal action or proceeding, including the independent thought processes and personal trial preparation of an attorney.

(5) "Intellectual property record" means a record, other than a financial or administrative record, that is produced or collected by or for faculty or staff of a state institution of higher learning in the conduct of or as a result of study or research on an educational, commercial, scientific, artistic, technical, or scholarly issue, regardless of whether the study or research was sponsored by the institution alone or in conjunction with a governmental body or private concern, and that has not been publicly released, published, or patented.

(6) "Donor profile record" means all records about donors or potential donors to a public institution of higher education except the names and reported addresses of the actual donors and the date, amount, and conditions of the actual donation.

(7) "Designated public service worker" means a peace officer, parole officer, probation officer, bailiff, prosecuting attorney, assistant prosecuting attorney, correctional employee, county or multicounty corrections officer, community-based correctional facility employee, designated Ohio national guard member, protective services worker, youth services employee, firefighter, EMT, medical director or member of a cooperating physician advisory board of an emergency medical service organization, state board of pharmacy employee, investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, emergency service telecommunicator, forensic mental health provider, mental health evaluation provider, regional psychiatric hospital employee, judge, magistrate, or federal law enforcement officer.

(8) "Designated public service worker residential and familial information" means any information that discloses any of the following about a designated public service worker:

(a) The address of the actual personal residence of a designated public service worker, except for the following information:

(i) The address of the actual personal residence of a prosecuting attorney or judge; and

(ii) The state or political subdivision in which a designated public service worker resides.

(b) Information compiled from referral to or participation in an employee assistance program;

(c) The social security number, the residential telephone number, any bank account, debit card, charge card, or credit card number, or the emergency telephone number of, or any medical information pertaining to, a designated public service worker;

(d) The name of any beneficiary of employment benefits, including, but not limited to, life insurance benefits, provided to a designated public service worker by the designated public service worker's employer;

(e) The identity and amount of any charitable or employment benefit deduction made by the designated public service worker's employer from the designated public service worker's compensation, unless the amount of the deduction is required by state or federal law;

(f) The name, the residential address, the name of the employer, the address of the employer, the social security number, the residential telephone number, any bank account, debit card, charge card, or credit card number, or the emergency telephone number of the spouse, a former spouse, or any child of a designated public service worker;

(g) A photograph of a peace officer who holds a position or has an assignment that may include undercover or plain clothes positions or assignments as determined by the peace officer's appointing authority.

(9) As used in divisions (A)(7) and (15) to (17) of this section:

"Peace officer" has the meaning defined in section 109.71 of the Revised Code and also includes the superintendent and troopers of the state highway patrol; it does not include the sheriff of a county or a supervisory employee who, in the absence of the sheriff, is authorized to stand in for, exercise the authority of, and perform the duties of the sheriff.

"Correctional employee" means any employee of the department of rehabilitation and correction who in the course of performing the employee's job duties has or has had contact with inmates and persons under supervision.

"County or multicounty corrections officer" means any corrections officer employed by any county or multicounty correctional facility.

"Designated Ohio national guard member" means a member of the Ohio national guard who is participating in duties related to remotely piloted aircraft, including, but not limited to, pilots, sensor operators, and mission intelligence personnel, duties related to special forces operations, or duties related to cybersecurity, and is designated by the adjutant general as a designated public service worker for those purposes.

"Protective services worker" means any employee of a county agency who is responsible for child protective services, child support services, or adult protective services.

"Youth services employee" means any employee of the department of youth services who in the course of performing the employee's job duties has or has had contact with children committed to the custody of the department of youth services.

"Firefighter" means any regular, paid or volunteer, member of a lawfully constituted fire department of a municipal corporation, township, fire district, or village.

"EMT" means EMTs-basic, EMTs-I, and paramedics that provide emergency medical services for a public emergency medical service organization. "Emergency medical service organization," "EMT-basic," "EMT-I," and "paramedic" have the meanings defined in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

"Investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation" has the meaning defined in section 2903.11 of the Revised Code.

"Emergency service telecommunicator" means an individual employed by an emergency service provider as defined under section 128.01 of the Revised Code, whose primary responsibility is to be an operator for the receipt or processing of calls for emergency services made by telephone, radio, or other electronic means.

"Forensic mental health provider" means any employee of a community mental health service provider or local alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services board who, in the course of the employee's duties, has contact with persons committed to a local alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services board by a court order pursuant to section 2945.38, 2945.39, 2945.40, or 2945.402 of the Revised Code.

"Mental health evaluation provider" means an individual who, under Chapter 5122. of the Revised Code, examines a respondent who is alleged to be a mentally ill person subject to court order, as defined in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code, and reports to the probate court the respondent's mental condition.

"Regional psychiatric hospital employee" means any employee of the department of mental health and addiction services who, in the course of performing the employee's duties, has contact with patients committed to the department of mental health and addiction services by a court order pursuant to section 2945.38, 2945.39, 2945.40, or 2945.402 of the Revised Code.

"Federal law enforcement officer" has the meaning defined in section 9.88 of the Revised Code.

(10) "Information pertaining to the recreational activities of a person under the age of eighteen" means information that is kept in the ordinary course of business by a public office, that pertains to the recreational activities of a person under the age of eighteen years, and that discloses any of the following:

(a) The address or telephone number of a person under the age of eighteen or the address or telephone number of that person's parent, guardian, custodian, or emergency contact person;

(b) The social security number, birth date, or photographic image of a person under the age of eighteen;

(c) Any medical record, history, or information pertaining to a person under the age of eighteen;

(d) Any additional information sought or required about a person under the age of eighteen for the purpose of allowing that person to participate in any recreational activity conducted or sponsored by a public office or to use or obtain admission privileges to any recreational facility owned or operated by a public office.

(11) "Community control sanction" has the meaning defined in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(12) "Post-release control sanction" has the meaning defined in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code.

(13) "Redaction" means obscuring or deleting any information that is exempt from the duty to permit public inspection or copying from an item that otherwise meets the definition of a "record" in section 149.011 of the Revised Code.

(14) "Designee," "elected official," and "future official" have the meanings defined in section 109.43 of the Revised Code.

(15) "Body-worn camera" means a visual and audio recording device worn on the person of a correctional employee, youth services employee, or peace officer while the correctional employee, youth services employee, or peace officer is engaged in the performance of official duties.

(16) "Dashboard camera" means a visual and audio recording device mounted on a peace officer's vehicle or vessel that is used while the peace officer is engaged in the performance of the peace officer's duties.

(17) "Restricted portions of a body-worn camera or dashboard camera recording" means any visual or audio portion of a body-worn camera or dashboard camera recording that shows, communicates, or discloses any of the following:

(a) The image or identity of a child or information that could lead to the identification of a child who is a primary subject of the recording when the department of rehabilitation and correction, department of youth services, or the law enforcement agency knows or has reason to know the person is a child based on the department's or law enforcement agency's records or the content of the recording;

(b) The death of a person or a deceased person's body, unless the death was caused by a correctional employee, youth services employee, or peace officer or, subject to division (H)(1) of this section, the consent of the decedent's executor or administrator has been obtained;

(c) The death of a correctional employee, youth services employee, peace officer, firefighter, paramedic, or other first responder, occurring while the decedent was engaged in the performance of official duties, unless, subject to division (H)(1) of this section, the consent of the decedent's executor or administrator has been obtained;

(d) Grievous bodily harm, unless the injury was effected by a correctional employee, youth services employee, or peace officer or, subject to division (H)(1) of this section, the consent of the injured person or the injured person's guardian has been obtained;

(e) An act of severe violence against a person that results in serious physical harm to the person, unless the act and injury was effected by a correctional employee, youth services employee, or peace officer or, subject to division (H)(1) of this section, the consent of the injured person or the injured person's guardian has been obtained;

(f) Grievous bodily harm to a correctional employee, youth services employee, peace officer, firefighter, paramedic, or other first responder, occurring while the injured person was engaged in the performance of official duties, unless, subject to division (H)(1) of this section, the consent of the injured person or the injured person's guardian has been obtained;

(g) An act of severe violence resulting in serious physical harm against a correctional employee, youth services employee, peace officer, firefighter, paramedic, or other first responder, occurring while the injured person was engaged in the performance of official duties, unless, subject to division (H)(1) of this section, the consent of the injured person or the injured person's guardian has been obtained;

(h) A person's nude body, unless, subject to division (H)(1) of this section, the person's consent has been obtained;

(i) Protected health information, the identity of a person in a health care facility who is not the subject of a correctional, youth services, or law enforcement encounter, or any other information in a health care facility that could identify a person who is not the subject of a correctional, youth services, or law enforcement encounter;

(j) Information that could identify the alleged victim of a sex offense, menacing by stalking, or domestic violence;

(k) Information, that does not constitute a confidential law enforcement investigatory record, that could identify a person who provides sensitive or confidential information to the department of rehabilitation and correction, the department of youth services, or a law enforcement agency when the disclosure of the person's identity or the information provided could reasonably be expected to threaten or endanger the safety or property of the person or another person;

(l) Personal information of a person who is not arrested, cited, charged, or issued a written warning by a peace officer;

(m) Proprietary correctional, youth services, or police contingency plans or tactics that are intended to prevent crime and maintain public order and safety;

(n) A personal conversation unrelated to work between correctional employees, youth services employees, or peace officers or between a correctional employee, youth services employee, or peace officer and an employee of a law enforcement agency;

(o) A conversation between a correctional employee, youth services employee, or peace officer and a member of the public that does not concern correctional, youth services, or law enforcement activities;

(p) The interior of a residence, unless the interior of a residence is the location of an adversarial encounter with, or a use of force by, a correctional employee, youth services employee, or peace officer;

(q) Any portion of the interior of a private business that is not open to the public, unless an adversarial encounter with, or a use of force by, a correctional employee, youth services employee, or peace officer occurs in that location.

As used in division (A)(17) of this section:

"Grievous bodily harm" has the same meaning as in section 5924.120 of the Revised Code.

"Health care facility" has the same meaning as in section 1337.11 of the Revised Code.

"Protected health information" has the same meaning as in 45 C.F.R. 160.103.

"Law enforcement agency" means a government entity that employs peace officers to perform law enforcement duties.

"Personal information" means any government-issued identification number, date of birth, address, financial information, or criminal justice information from the law enforcement automated data system or similar databases.

"Sex offense" has the same meaning as in section 2907.10 of the Revised Code.

"Firefighter," "paramedic," and "first responder" have the same meanings as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Upon request by any person and subject to division (B)(8) of this section, all public records responsive to the request shall be promptly prepared and made available for inspection to the requester at all reasonable times during regular business hours. Subject to division (B)(8) of this section, upon request by any person, a public office or person responsible for public records shall make copies of the requested public record available to the requester at cost and within a reasonable period of time. If a public record contains information that is exempt from the duty to permit public inspection or to copy the public record, the public office or the person responsible for the public record shall make available all of the information within the public record that is not exempt. When making that public record available for public inspection or copying that public record, the public office or the person responsible for the public record shall notify the requester of any redaction or make the redaction plainly visible. A redaction shall be deemed a denial of a request to inspect or copy the redacted information, except if federal or state law authorizes or requires a public office to make the redaction. When the auditor of state receives a request to inspect or to make a copy of a record that was provided to the auditor of state for purposes of an audit, but the original public office has asserted to the auditor of state that the record is not a public record, the auditor of state may handle the requests by directing the requestor to the original public office that provided the record to the auditor of state.

(2) To facilitate broader access to public records, a public office or the person responsible for public records shall organize and maintain public records in a manner that they can be made available for inspection or copying in accordance with division (B) of this section. A public office also shall have available a copy of its current records retention schedule at a location readily available to the public. If a requester makes an ambiguous or overly broad request or has difficulty in making a request for copies or inspection of public records under this section such that the public office or the person responsible for the requested public record cannot reasonably identify what public records are being requested, the public office or the person responsible for the requested public record may deny the request but shall provide the requester with an opportunity to revise the request by informing the requester of the manner in which records are maintained by the public office and accessed in the ordinary course of the public office's or person's duties.

(3) If a request is ultimately denied, in part or in whole, the public office or the person responsible for the requested public record shall provide the requester with an explanation, including legal authority, setting forth why the request was denied. If the initial request was provided in writing, the explanation also shall be provided to the requester in writing. The explanation shall not preclude the public office or the person responsible for the requested public record from relying upon additional reasons or legal authority in defending an action commenced under division (C) of this section.

(4) Unless specifically required or authorized by state or federal law or in accordance with division (B) of this section, no public office or person responsible for public records may limit or condition the availability of public records by requiring disclosure of the requester's identity or the intended use of the requested public record. Any requirement that the requester disclose the requester's identity or the intended use of the requested public record constitutes a denial of the request.

(5) A public office or person responsible for public records may ask a requester to make the request in writing, may ask for the requester's identity, and may inquire about the intended use of the information requested, but may do so only after disclosing to the requester that a written request is not mandatory, that the requester may decline to reveal the requester's identity or the intended use, and when a written request or disclosure of the identity or intended use would benefit the requester by enhancing the ability of the public office or person responsible for public records to identify, locate, or deliver the public records sought by the requester.

(6) If any person requests a copy of a public record in accordance with division (B) of this section, the public office or person responsible for the public record may require the requester to pay in advance the cost involved in providing the copy of the public record in accordance with the choice made by the requester under this division. The public office or the person responsible for the public record shall permit the requester to choose to have the public record duplicated upon paper, upon the same medium upon which the public office or person responsible for the public record keeps it, or upon any other medium upon which the public office or person responsible for the public record determines that it reasonably can be duplicated as an integral part of the normal operations of the public office or person responsible for the public record. When the requester makes a choice under this division, the public office or person responsible for the public record shall provide a copy of it in accordance with the choice made by the requester. Nothing in this section requires a public office or person responsible for the public record to allow the requester of a copy of the public record to make the copies of the public record.

(7)(a) Upon a request made in accordance with division (B) of this section and subject to division (B)(6) of this section, a public office or person responsible for public records shall transmit a copy of a public record to any person by United States mail or by any other means of delivery or transmission within a reasonable period of time after receiving the request for the copy. The public office or person responsible for the public record may require the person making the request to pay in advance the cost of postage if the copy is transmitted by United States mail or the cost of delivery if the copy is transmitted other than by United States mail, and to pay in advance the costs incurred for other supplies used in the mailing, delivery, or transmission.

(b) Any public office may adopt a policy and procedures that it will follow in transmitting, within a reasonable period of time after receiving a request, copies of public records by United States mail or by any other means of delivery or transmission pursuant to division (B)(7) of this section. A public office that adopts a policy and procedures under division (B)(7) of this section shall comply with them in performing its duties under that division.

(c) In any policy and procedures adopted under division (B)(7) of this section:

(i) A public office may limit the number of records requested by a person that the office will physically deliver by United States mail or by another delivery service to ten per month, unless the person certifies to the office in writing that the person does not intend to use or forward the requested records, or the information contained in them, for commercial purposes;

(ii) A public office that chooses to provide some or all of its public records on a web site that is fully accessible to and searchable by members of the public at all times, other than during acts of God outside the public office's control or maintenance, and that charges no fee to search, access, download, or otherwise receive records provided on the web site, may limit to ten per month the number of records requested by a person that the office will deliver in a digital format, unless the requested records are not provided on the web site and unless the person certifies to the office in writing that the person does not intend to use or forward the requested records, or the information contained in them, for commercial purposes.

(iii) For purposes of division (B)(7) of this section, "commercial" shall be narrowly construed and does not include reporting or gathering news, reporting or gathering information to assist citizen oversight or understanding of the operation or activities of government, or nonprofit educational research.

(8) A public office or person responsible for public records is not required to permit a person who is incarcerated pursuant to a criminal conviction or a juvenile adjudication to inspect or to obtain a copy of any public record concerning a criminal investigation or prosecution or concerning what would be a criminal investigation or prosecution if the subject of the investigation or prosecution were an adult, unless the request to inspect or to obtain a copy of the record is for the purpose of acquiring information that is subject to release as a public record under this section and the judge who imposed the sentence or made the adjudication with respect to the person, or the judge's successor in office, finds that the information sought in the public record is necessary to support what appears to be a justiciable claim of the person.

(9)(a) Upon written request made and signed by a journalist, a public office, or person responsible for public records, having custody of the records of the agency employing a specified designated public service worker shall disclose to the journalist the address of the actual personal residence of the designated public service worker and, if the designated public service worker's spouse, former spouse, or child is employed by a public office, the name and address of the employer of the designated public service worker's spouse, former spouse, or child. The request shall include the journalist's name and title and the name and address of the journalist's employer and shall state that disclosure of the information sought would be in the public interest.

(b) Division (B)(9)(a) of this section also applies to journalist requests for:

(i) Customer information maintained by a municipally owned or operated public utility, other than social security numbers and any private financial information such as credit reports, payment methods, credit card numbers, and bank account information;

(ii) Information about minors involved in a school vehicle accident as provided in division (A)(1)(gg) of this section, other than personal information as defined in section 149.45 of the Revised Code.

(c) As used in division (B)(9) of this section, "journalist" means a person engaged in, connected with, or employed by any news medium, including a newspaper, magazine, press association, news agency, or wire service, a radio or television station, or a similar medium, for the purpose of gathering, processing, transmitting, compiling, editing, or disseminating information for the general public.

(10) Upon a request made by a victim, victim's attorney, or victim's representative, as that term is used in section 2930.02 of the Revised Code, a public office or person responsible for public records shall transmit a copy of a depiction of the victim as described in division (A)(1)(ii) of this section to the victim, victim's attorney, or victim's representative.

(C)(1) If a person allegedly is aggrieved by the failure of a public office or the person responsible for public records to promptly prepare a public record and to make it available to the person for inspection in accordance with division (B) of this section or by any other failure of a public office or the person responsible for public records to comply with an obligation in accordance with division (B) of this section, the person allegedly aggrieved may do only one of the following, and not both:

(a) File a complaint with the clerk of the court of claims or the clerk of the court of common pleas under section 2743.75 of the Revised Code;

(b) Commence a mandamus action to obtain a judgment that orders the public office or the person responsible for the public record to comply with division (B) of this section, that awards court costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the person that instituted the mandamus action, and, if applicable, that includes an order fixing statutory damages under division (C)(2) of this section. The mandamus action may be commenced in the court of common pleas of the county in which division (B) of this section allegedly was not complied with, in the supreme court pursuant to its original jurisdiction under Section 2 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution, or in the court of appeals for the appellate district in which division (B) of this section allegedly was not complied with pursuant to its original jurisdiction under Section 3 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution.

(2) If a requester transmits a written request by hand delivery, electronic submission, or certified mail to inspect or receive copies of any public record in a manner that fairly describes the public record or class of public records to the public office or person responsible for the requested public records, except as otherwise provided in this section, the requester shall be entitled to recover the amount of statutory damages set forth in this division if a court determines that the public office or the person responsible for public records failed to comply with an obligation in accordance with division (B) of this section.

The amount of statutory damages shall be fixed at one hundred dollars for each business day during which the public office or person responsible for the requested public records failed to comply with an obligation in accordance with division (B) of this section, beginning with the day on which the requester files a mandamus action to recover statutory damages, up to a maximum of one thousand dollars. The award of statutory damages shall not be construed as a penalty, but as compensation for injury arising from lost use of the requested information. The existence of this injury shall be conclusively presumed. The award of statutory damages shall be in addition to all other remedies authorized by this section.

The court may reduce an award of statutory damages or not award statutory damages if the court determines both of the following:

(a) That, based on the ordinary application of statutory law and case law as it existed at the time of the conduct or threatened conduct of the public office or person responsible for the requested public records that allegedly constitutes a failure to comply with an obligation in accordance with division (B) of this section and that was the basis of the mandamus action, a well-informed public office or person responsible for the requested public records reasonably would believe that the conduct or threatened conduct of the public office or person responsible for the requested public records did not constitute a failure to comply with an obligation in accordance with division (B) of this section;

(b) That a well-informed public office or person responsible for the requested public records reasonably would believe that the conduct or threatened conduct of the public office or person responsible for the requested public records would serve the public policy that underlies the authority that is asserted as permitting that conduct or threatened conduct.

(3) In a mandamus action filed under division (C)(1) of this section, the following apply:

(a)(i) If the court orders the public office or the person responsible for the public record to comply with division (B) of this section, the court shall determine and award to the relator all court costs, which shall be construed as remedial and not punitive.

(ii) If the court makes a determination described in division (C)(3)(b)(iii) of this section, the court shall determine and award to the relator all court costs, which shall be construed as remedial and not punitive.

(b) If the court renders a judgment that orders the public office or the person responsible for the public record to comply with division (B) of this section or if the court determines any of the following, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the relator, subject to division (C)(4) of this section:

(i) The public office or the person responsible for the public records failed to respond affirmatively or negatively to the public records request in accordance with the time allowed under division (B) of this section.

(ii) The public office or the person responsible for the public records promised to permit the relator to inspect or receive copies of the public records requested within a specified period of time but failed to fulfill that promise within that specified period of time.

(iii) The public office or the person responsible for the public records acted in bad faith when the office or person voluntarily made the public records available to the relator for the first time after the relator commenced the mandamus action, but before the court issued any order concluding whether or not the public office or person was required to comply with division (B) of this section. No discovery may be conducted on the issue of the alleged bad faith of the public office or person responsible for the public records. This division shall not be construed as creating a presumption that the public office or the person responsible for the public records acted in bad faith when the office or person voluntarily made the public records available to the relator for the first time after the relator commenced the mandamus action, but before the court issued any order described in this division.

(c) The court shall not award attorney's fees to the relator if the court determines both of the following:

(i) That, based on the ordinary application of statutory law and case law as it existed at the time of the conduct or threatened conduct of the public office or person responsible for the requested public records that allegedly constitutes a failure to comply with an obligation in accordance with division (B) of this section and that was the basis of the mandamus action, a well-informed public office or person responsible for the requested public records reasonably would believe that the conduct or threatened conduct of the public office or person responsible for the requested public records did not constitute a failure to comply with an obligation in accordance with division (B) of this section;

(ii) That a well-informed public office or person responsible for the requested public records reasonably would believe that the conduct or threatened conduct of the public office or person responsible for the requested public records would serve the public policy that underlies the authority that is asserted as permitting that conduct or threatened conduct.

(4) All of the following apply to any award of reasonable attorney's fees awarded under division (C)(3)(b) of this section:

(a) The fees shall be construed as remedial and not punitive.

(b) The fees awarded shall not exceed the total of the reasonable attorney's fees incurred before the public record was made available to the relator and the fees described in division (C)(4)(c) of this section.

(c) Reasonable attorney's fees shall include reasonable fees incurred to produce proof of the reasonableness and amount of the fees and to otherwise litigate entitlement to the fees.

(d) The court may reduce the amount of fees awarded if the court determines that, given the factual circumstances involved with the specific public records request, an alternative means should have been pursued to more effectively and efficiently resolve the dispute that was subject to the mandamus action filed under division (C)(1) of this section.

(5) If the court does not issue a writ of mandamus under division (C) of this section and the court determines at that time that the bringing of the mandamus action was frivolous conduct as defined in division (A) of section 2323.51 of the Revised Code, the court may award to the public office all court costs, expenses, and reasonable attorney's fees, as determined by the court.

(D) Chapter 1347. of the Revised Code does not limit the provisions of this section.

(E)(1) To ensure that all employees of public offices are appropriately educated about a public office's obligations under division (B) of this section, all elected officials or their appropriate designees shall attend training approved by the attorney general as provided in section 109.43 of the Revised Code. A future official may satisfy the requirements of this division by attending the training before taking office, provided that the future official may not send a designee in the future official's place.

(2) All public offices shall adopt a public records policy in compliance with this section for responding to public records requests. In adopting a public records policy under this division, a public office may obtain guidance from the model public records policy developed and provided to the public office by the attorney general under section 109.43 of the Revised Code. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the policy may not limit the number of public records that the public office will make available to a single person, may not limit the number of public records that it will make available during a fixed period of time, and may not establish a fixed period of time before it will respond to a request for inspection or copying of public records, unless that period is less than eight hours.

The public office shall distribute the public records policy adopted by the public office under this division to the employee of the public office who is the records custodian or records manager or otherwise has custody of the records of that office. The public office shall require that employee to acknowledge receipt of the copy of the public records policy. The public office shall create a poster that describes its public records policy and shall post the poster in a conspicuous place in the public office and in all locations where the public office has branch offices. The public office may post its public records policy on the internet web site of the public office if the public office maintains an internet web site. A public office that has established a manual or handbook of its general policies and procedures for all employees of the public office shall include the public records policy of the public office in the manual or handbook.

(F)(1) The bureau of motor vehicles may adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to reasonably limit the number of bulk commercial special extraction requests made by a person for the same records or for updated records during a calendar year. The rules may include provisions for charges to be made for bulk commercial special extraction requests for the actual cost of the bureau, plus special extraction costs, plus ten per cent. The bureau may charge for expenses for redacting information, the release of which is prohibited by law.

(2) As used in division (F)(1) of this section:

(a) "Actual cost" means the cost of depleted supplies, records storage media costs, actual mailing and alternative delivery costs, or other transmitting costs, and any direct equipment operating and maintenance costs, including actual costs paid to private contractors for copying services.

(b) "Bulk commercial special extraction request" means a request for copies of a record for information in a format other than the format already available, or information that cannot be extracted without examination of all items in a records series, class of records, or database by a person who intends to use or forward the copies for surveys, marketing, solicitation, or resale for commercial purposes. "Bulk commercial special extraction request" does not include a request by a person who gives assurance to the bureau that the person making the request does not intend to use or forward the requested copies for surveys, marketing, solicitation, or resale for commercial purposes.

(c) "Commercial" means profit-seeking production, buying, or selling of any good, service, or other product.

(d) "Special extraction costs" means the cost of the time spent by the lowest paid employee competent to perform the task, the actual amount paid to outside private contractors employed by the bureau, or the actual cost incurred to create computer programs to make the special extraction. "Special extraction costs" include any charges paid to a public agency for computer or records services.

(3) For purposes of divisions (F)(1) and (2) of this section, "surveys, marketing, solicitation, or resale for commercial purposes" shall be narrowly construed and does not include reporting or gathering news, reporting or gathering information to assist citizen oversight or understanding of the operation or activities of government, or nonprofit educational research.

(G) A request by a defendant, counsel of a defendant, or any agent of a defendant in a criminal action that public records related to that action be made available under this section shall be considered a demand for discovery pursuant to the Criminal Rules, except to the extent that the Criminal Rules plainly indicate a contrary intent. The defendant, counsel of the defendant, or agent of the defendant making a request under this division shall serve a copy of the request on the prosecuting attorney, director of law, or other chief legal officer responsible for prosecuting the action.

(H)(1) Any portion of a body-worn camera or dashboard camera recording described in divisions (A)(17)(b) to (h) of this section may be released by consent of the subject of the recording or a representative of that person, as specified in those divisions, only if either of the following applies:

(a) The recording will not be used in connection with any probable or pending criminal proceedings;

(b) The recording has been used in connection with a criminal proceeding that was dismissed or for which a judgment has been entered pursuant to Rule 32 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, and will not be used again in connection with any probable or pending criminal proceedings.

(2) If a public office denies a request to release a restricted portion of a body-worn camera or dashboard camera recording, as defined in division (A)(17) of this section, any person may file a mandamus action pursuant to this section or a complaint with the clerk of the court of claims pursuant to section 2743.75 of the Revised Code, requesting the court to order the release of all or portions of the recording. If the court considering the request determines that the filing articulates by clear and convincing evidence that the public interest in the recording substantially outweighs privacy interests and other interests asserted to deny release, the court shall order the public office to release the recording.

Last updated August 28, 2024 at 11:04 AM

Section 149.431 | Records of governmental or nonprofit organizations receiving governmental funds.
 

(A) Except as provided in sections 9.833, 2744.081, and 3345.203 of the Revised Code, any governmental entity or agency and any nonprofit corporation or association, except a corporation organized pursuant to Chapter 1719. of the Revised Code prior to January 1, 1980 or organized pursuant to Chapter 3941. of the Revised Code, that enters into a contract or other agreement with the federal government, a unit of state government, or a political subdivision or taxing unit of this state for the provision of services shall keep accurate and complete financial records of any moneys expended in relation to the performance of the services pursuant to such contract or agreement according to generally accepted accounting principles. Such contract or agreement and such financial records shall be deemed to be public records as defined in division (A)(1) of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and are subject to the requirements of division (B) of that section, except that:

(1) Any information directly or indirectly identifying a present or former individual patient or client or such an individual patient's or client's diagnosis, prognosis, or medical treatment, treatment for a mental or emotional disorder, treatment for a developmental disability, treatment for drug abuse or alcoholism, or counseling for personal or social problems is not a public record;

(2) If disclosure of the contract or agreement or financial records is requested at a time when confidential professional services are being provided to a patient or client whose confidentiality might be violated if disclosure were made at that time, disclosure may be deferred if reasonable times are established when the contract or agreement or financial records will be disclosed.

(3) Any nonprofit corporation or association that receives both public and private funds in fulfillment of any such contract or other agreement is not required to keep as public records the financial records of any private funds expended in relation to the performance of services pursuant to the contract or agreement.

(B) Any nonprofit corporation or association that receives more than fifty per cent of its gross receipts excluding moneys received pursuant to Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C. 301, as amended, in a calendar year in fulfillment of a contract or other agreement for services with a governmental entity shall maintain information setting forth the compensation of any individual serving the nonprofit corporation or association in an executive or administrative capacity. Such information shall be deemed to be public records as defined in division (A)(1) of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and is subject to the requirements of division (B) of that section.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to otherwise limit the provisions of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Section 149.432 | Releasing library record or patron information.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Library" means a library that is open to the public, including any of the following:

(a) A library that is maintained and regulated under section 715.13 of the Revised Code;

(b) A library that is created, maintained, and regulated under Chapter 3375. of the Revised Code;

(c) A library that is created and maintained by a public or private school, college, university, or other educational institution;

(d) A library that is created and maintained by a historical or charitable organization, institution, association, or society.

"Library" includes the members of the governing body and the employees of a library.

(2) "Library record" means a record in any form that is maintained by a library and that contains any of the following types of information:

(a) Information that the library requires an individual to provide in order to be eligible to use library services or borrow materials;

(b) Information that identifies an individual as having requested or obtained specific materials or materials on a particular subject;

(c) Information that is provided by an individual to assist a library staff member to answer a specific question or provide information on a particular subject.

"Library record" does not include information that does not identify any individual and that is retained for the purpose of studying or evaluating the use of a library and its materials and services.

(3) Subject to division (B)(5) of this section, "patron information" means personally identifiable information about an individual who has used any library service or borrowed any library materials.

(B) A library shall not release any library record or disclose any patron information except in the following situations:

(1) If a library record or patron information pertaining to a minor child is requested from a library by the minor child's parent, guardian, or custodian, the library shall make that record or information available to the parent, guardian, or custodian in accordance with division (B) of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(2) Library records or patron information shall be released in the following situations:

(a) In accordance with a subpoena, search warrant, or other court order;

(b) To a law enforcement officer who is acting in the scope of the officer's law enforcement duties and who is investigating a matter involving public safety in exigent circumstances.

(3) A library record or patron information shall be released upon the request or with the consent of the individual who is the subject of the record or information.

(4) Library records may be released for administrative library purposes, including establishment or maintenance of a system to manage the library records or to assist in the transfer of library records from one records management system to another, compilation of statistical data on library use, and collection of fines and penalties.

(5) A library may release under division (B) of section 149.43 of the Revised Code records that document improper use of the internet at the library so long as any patron information is removed from those records. As used in division (B)(5) of this section, "patron information" does not include information about the age or gender of an individual.

Section 149.433 | Exempting security and infrastructure records.
 

(A) As used in this section:

"Act of terrorism" has the same meaning as in section 2909.21 of the Revised Code.

"Express statement" means a written statement substantially similar to the following: "This information is voluntarily submitted to a public office in expectation of protection from disclosure as provided by section 149.433 of the Revised Code."

"Infrastructure record" means any record that discloses the configuration of critical systems including, but not limited to, communication, computer, electrical, mechanical, ventilation, water, and plumbing systems, security codes, or the infrastructure or structural configuration of a building.

"Infrastructure record" includes a risk assessment of infrastructure performed by a state or local law enforcement agency at the request of a property owner or manager.

"Infrastructure record" does not mean a simple floor plan that discloses only the spatial relationship of components of the building.

"Security record" means any of the following:

(1) Any record that contains information directly used for protecting or maintaining the security of a public office against attack, interference, or sabotage;

(2) Any record assembled, prepared, or maintained by a public office or public body to prevent, mitigate, or respond to acts of terrorism, including any of the following:

(a) Those portions of records containing specific and unique vulnerability assessments or specific and unique response plans either of which is intended to prevent or mitigate acts of terrorism, and communication codes or deployment plans of law enforcement or emergency response personnel;

(b) Specific intelligence information and specific investigative records shared by federal and international law enforcement agencies with state and local law enforcement and public safety agencies;

(c) National security records classified under federal executive order and not subject to public disclosure under federal law that are shared by federal agencies, and other records related to national security briefings to assist state and local government with domestic preparedness for acts of terrorism.

(3) An emergency management plan adopted pursuant to section 5502.262 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(4) of this section, a record kept by a public office that is a security record is not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code and is not subject to mandatory release or disclosure under that section.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(4) of this section, a record kept by a public office that is an infrastructure record of a public office, public school, or a chartered nonpublic school is not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code and is not subject to mandatory release or disclosure under that section.

(3) A record kept by a public office that is an infrastructure record of a private entity may be exempted from release or disclosure under division (C) of this section.

(4) Divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section do not apply to a record that is a public notification required to be provided under division (D)(1)(d) of section 2923.122 of the Revised Code. A record that is such a public notification is a public record to the extent that it is required to be provided under division (D)(1)(d) of section 2923.122 of the Revised Code.

(C) A record prepared by, submitted to, or kept by a public office that is an infrastructure record of a private entity, which is submitted to the public office for use by the public office, when accompanied by an express statement, is exempt from release or disclosure under section 149.43 of the Revised Code for a period of twenty-five years after its creation if it is retained by the public office for that length of time.

(D) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, disclosure by a public office, public employee, chartered nonpublic school, or chartered nonpublic school employee of a security record or infrastructure record that is necessary for construction, renovation, or remodeling work on any public building or project or chartered nonpublic school does not constitute public disclosure for purposes of waiving division (B) of this section and does not result in that record becoming a public record for purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Last updated June 30, 2022 at 9:11 AM

Section 149.434 | Public offices to maintain employee database.
 

(A) Each public office or person responsible for public records shall maintain a database or a list that includes the name of all public officials and employees elected to or employed by that public office. The database or list is a public record and shall be made available upon a request made pursuant to section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(B) As used in this section:

(1) "Employee" has the same meaning as in section 9.40 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Public official" has the same meaning as in section 117.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Public record" has the same meaning as in section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Last updated July 14, 2021 at 12:50 PM

Section 149.435 | Confidentiality of records regarding abused children.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Abused child" has the same meaning as in section 2151.031 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Confidential law enforcement investigatory record" has the same meaning as in section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Law enforcement agency" means a municipal or township police department, the office of a sheriff, the state highway patrol, federal law enforcement, a county prosecuting attorney, the office of the United States attorney, or a state or local governmental body that enforces criminal laws and that has employees who have a statutory power of arrest.

(4) "Prosecutor" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Routine factual report" means a police blotter, arrest log, incident report, or other record of events maintained in paper, electronic, or other form by a law enforcement agency, other than a confidential law enforcement investigatory record.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, a law enforcement agency or employee of a law enforcement agency shall not disclose a name or other information contained in a routine factual report that is highly likely to identify an alleged delinquent child or arrestee who is also an abused child and who is under eighteen years of age at the time the report is created. If the agency or employee does not know whether the alleged delinquent child or arrestee is an abused child, the agency or employee shall attempt to determine whether or not the alleged delinquent child or arrestee is an abused child and shall not disclose the name or other information before making the determination.

(2) No person to whom information described in division (B)(1) of this section is disclosed, and no employer of that person, shall further disclose that information except as provided in division (C) of this section.

(C) This section does not prohibit the disclosure of information described in division (B) of this section to any of the following:

(1) An employee of a law enforcement agency or a prosecutor for the purpose of investigating or prosecuting a crime or delinquent act;

(2) An employee of the department of youth services, a probation officer, a juvenile court judge, or an employee of a public children services agency or a county department of job and family services who is supervising the alleged delinquent child or arrestee who is also an abused child and who is under eighteen years of age;

(3) An employee of a law enforcement agency for use in the employee's defense of a civil or administrative action arising out of the employee's involvement in the case that gave rise to the civil or administrative action;

(4) An employee of the attorney general's office responsible for administering awards of reparations under section 2743.191 of the Revised Code;

(5) A parent, guardian, or custodian of the alleged delinquent child or arrestee who is also an abused child and who is under eighteen years of age or an attorney for such a parent, guardian, or custodian;

(6) Any other person pursuant to a court order.

Section 149.436 | Written request for records for occupant of school vehicle involved in accident.
 

Notwithstanding division (A)(1)(gg) of section 149.43 of the Revised Code, upon written request made and signed by the parent or guardian of an individual who is less than eighteen years of age and was an occupant of a school vehicle involved in a traffic accident, a public office or person responsible for public records, having custody of any record related to the traffic accident containing the personal information of the individual, shall transmit a copy of that record to the recipient identified in the request.

The written request shall identify the individual on whose behalf the record is requested and the person to whom the record shall be transmitted. The record shall be transmitted only to the person identified in the written request as the recipient of the record.

A public office or person responsible for records responding to a request under this section shall redact any personal information contained in the record of any individual less than eighteen years of age who is not the subject of the request, before providing the record to the recipient.

Section 149.44 | Rules and procedures for operation of state records centers and archival institutions holding public records.
 

Any state records center or archival institution established pursuant to sections 149.31 and 149.331 of the Revised Code is an extension of the departments, offices, and institutions of the state and all state and local records transferred to records centers and archival institutions shall be available for use under section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The state records administration, assisted by the state archivist, shall establish rules and procedures for the operation of state records centers and archival institutions holding public records, respectively.

Section 149.45 | Public office redaction of personal information from internet.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Personal information" means any of the following:

(a) An individual's social security number;

(b) An individual's state or federal tax identification number;

(c) An individual's driver's license number or state identification number;

(d) An individual's checking account number, savings account number, credit card number, or debit card number;

(e) An individual's demand deposit account number, money market account number, mutual fund account number, or any other financial or medical account number.

(2) "Public record," "designated public service worker," and "designated public service worker residential and familial information" have the meanings defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Truncate" means to redact all but the last four digits of an individual's social security number.

(B)(1) No public office or person responsible for a public office's public records shall make available to the general public on the internet any document that contains an individual's social security number without otherwise redacting, encrypting, or truncating the social security number.

(2) A public office or person responsible for a public office's public records that, prior to October 17, 2011, made available to the general public on the internet any document that contains an individual's social security number shall redact, encrypt, or truncate the social security number from that document.

(3) Divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section do not apply to documents that are only accessible through the internet with a password.

(C)(1) An individual may request that a public office or a person responsible for a public office's public records redact personal information of that individual from any record made available to the general public on the internet. An individual who makes a request for redaction pursuant to this division shall make the request in writing on a form developed by the attorney general and shall specify the personal information to be redacted and provide any information that identifies the location of that personal information within a document that contains that personal information.

(2) Upon receiving a request for a redaction pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, a public office or a person responsible for a public office's public records shall act within five business days in accordance with the request to redact the personal information of the individual from any record made available to the general public on the internet, if practicable. If a redaction is not practicable, the public office or person responsible for the public office's public records shall verbally or in writing within five business days after receiving the written request explain to the individual why the redaction is impracticable.

(3) The attorney general shall develop a form to be used by an individual to request a redaction pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section. The form shall include a place to provide any information that identifies the location of the personal information to be redacted.

(D)(1) A designated public service worker may request that a public office, other than a county auditor, or a person responsible for the public records of a public office, other than a county auditor, redact the designated public service worker's address from any record made available to the general public on the internet that includes designated public service worker residential and familial information of the designated public service worker making the request. A designated public service worker who makes a request for a redaction pursuant to this division shall make the request in writing and on a form developed by the attorney general.

(2) Upon receiving a written request for a redaction pursuant to division (D)(1) of this section, a public office, other than a county auditor, or a person responsible for the public records of a public office, other than a county auditor, shall act within five business days in accordance with the request to redact the address of the designated public service worker making the request from any record made available to the general public on the internet that includes designated public service worker residential and familial information of the designated public service worker making the request, if practicable. If a redaction is not practicable, the public office or person responsible for the public office's public records shall verbally or in writing within five business days after receiving the written request explain to the designated public service worker why the redaction is impracticable.

(3) Except as provided in this section and section 319.28 of the Revised Code, a public office, other than an employer of a designated public service worker, or a person responsible for the public records of the employer, is not required to redact designated public service worker residential and familial information of the designated public service worker from other records maintained by the public office.

(4) The attorney general shall develop a form to be used by a designated public service worker to request a redaction pursuant to division (D)(1) of this section. The form shall include a place to provide any information that identifies the location of the address of the designated public service worker to be redacted.

(E)(1) If a public office or a person responsible for a public office's public records becomes aware that an electronic record of that public office that is made available to the general public on the internet contains an individual's social security number that was mistakenly not redacted, encrypted, or truncated as required by division (B)(1) or (2) of this section, the public office or person responsible for the public office's public records shall redact, encrypt, or truncate the individual's social security number within a reasonable period of time.

(2) A public office or a person responsible for a public office's public records is not liable in damages in a civil action for any harm an individual allegedly sustains as a result of the inclusion of that individual's personal information on any record made available to the general public on the internet or any harm a designated public service worker sustains as a result of the inclusion of the designated public service worker's address on any record made available to the general public on the internet in violation of this section, unless the public office or person responsible for the public office's public records acted with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner or unless division (A)(6)(a) or (c) of section 2744.03 of the Revised Code applies.

Last updated May 11, 2021 at 10:59 AM

Section 149.52 | Filing articles of dedication.
 

As used in this section, "archaeological site" means any mounds, earthworks, burial or settlement sites, or other place where evidence of prehistoric or early historic settlement or occupation lies on or below the surface of the ground.

The Ohio history connection may accept articles dedicating as preserves real property upon which significant archaeological sites are located, if funds and services are available for their preservation and protection.

An archaeological preserve is established when articles of dedication have been filed by or at the direction of the owner of site, or a governmental agency having ownership or control thereof, in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the site is located.

Articles of dedication shall be executed by the owner of the land in the same manner and with the same effect as a deed or conveyance of an interest in real property and shall be irrevocable except as provided in this section. The county recorder may not accept articles of dedication for recording unless they have been accepted by the director of the Ohio history connection. The articles shall be recorded in the official records of the county recorder. The director may not accept articles of dedication unless they contain terms restricting the use of the property which adequately provide for its preservation and protection, for restoration where appropriate, and for archaeological research and study. Whenever possible and consistent with such purposes, the articles shall provide for public access in order that the maximum benefit be obtained.

Articles of dedication may contain provisions for the management, custody, and transfer to the state or the Ohio history connection of real property or any estate, or right therein, provisions defining the rights of the owner or operating agency and of the Ohio history connection and its agents, and such other provisions as may be necessary or advisable to carry out the uses and purposes for which the property is dedicated. They may contain conditions under which the owner and the Ohio history connection may agree to rescind the articles.

The attorney general, upon request of the director, may bring an action for injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the terms of articles of dedication.

The director may make or accept amendments of any articles of dedication upon terms and conditions that are consistent with the purposes for which the preserve is dedicated. If the fee simple interest in the property is not held by the Ohio history connection, no amendments shall be made without the written consent of the owner. Each amendment shall be recorded in the same manner as the articles of dedication.

Archaeological preserves dedicated under this section shall not be taken for any other use or purpose except another public use or purpose after a finding by a court of common pleas of the existence of an imperative and unavoidable public necessity for such other public use or purpose.

All departments, agencies, units, instrumentalities, and political subdivisions of the state, including counties, townships, municipal corporations, park districts, conservancy districts, universities, colleges, and school districts, may dedicate real property under their jurisdiction as archaeological preserves in accordance with this section.

No person shall violate any terms or conditions of the articles of dedication of an archaeological preserve. No person shall sell, offer for sale, or possess any artifacts or skeletal remains removed without privilege to do so from an archaeological preserve dedicated under this section. Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. Whoever violates or threatens to violate this section may be enjoined from violation.

Section 149.53 | Archaeological and historic survey and salvage work.
 

All departments, agencies, units, instrumentalities, and political subdivisions of the state shall cooperate with the Ohio history connection and the Ohio historic site preservation advisory board in the preservation of archaeological and historic sites and in recovery of scientific information from such sites, and for such purposes shall, whenever practical, by contract or otherwise provide for archaeological and historic survey and salvage work during the planning phases, before work on a public improvement begins or at other appropriate times; and require that contractors performing work on public improvements cooperate with archaeological and historic survey and salvage efforts and notify the Ohio history connection or the board about archaeological discoveries. The director of the Ohio history connection shall determine the disposition of artifacts and skeletal remains discovered on state lands.

Section 149.54 | Archaeological and historic survey and salvage work permit.
 

In order to ensure that archaeological survey and salvage work on public lands, dedicated archaeological preserves, and registered state archaeological landmarks is conducted in a scientific manner, the director of the Ohio history connection shall, in consultation with the Ohio archaeological council and the archaeological society of Ohio, adopt and may amend or rescind rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, prescribing minimum education, training, and experience requirements for personnel in charge of or otherwise engaging in archaeological survey and salvage work, and prescribing scientific methods for undertaking such activities.

No person shall engage in archaeological survey or salvage work on any land that is owned, controlled, or administered by the state or any political subdivision of the state, or at any archaeological preserve, dedicated under section 149.52 of the Revised Code, without first obtaining the written permission of the director. To obtain permission, the applicant shall submit written application to the director, which application shall indicate the proposed location, the qualifications of personnel who will be engaged in the archaeological survey or salvage work, the proposed methods of survey or salvage, and such other information as the director requires by rule.

The director shall deny the applicant permission to engage in archaeological survey or salvage work at the proposed location if the applicant's proposed undertaking will not comply with the rules adopted under this section. The director shall by written order approve or deny permission to disturb the site. If the director decides to deny permission, the order shall state the reasons for denial, and the director shall afford the applicant an adjudication hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The requirements of this section and of any rule adopted pursuant to this section shall not apply to any department, agency, unit, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the state.

Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. Whoever violates or threatens to violate this section may be enjoined from violation.

Section 149.56 | Program to locate, identify, and evaluate abandoned property and other resources in Lake Erie.
 

(A) As used in this section, "abandoned property" has the same meaning as in section 1506.30 of the Revised Code.

(B) The Ohio history connection shall establish a program to locate, identify, and evaluate abandoned property and other resources in Lake Erie. The Ohio history connection, in accordance with the authority granted under section 149.30 of the Revised Code, may list any abandoned property it finds to have historical significance on its Ohio archaeological inventory or Ohio historical inventory as the director of the Ohio history connection considers appropriate. In determining whether an item has historical significance, the director shall follow the criteria of the national register of historic places established in 36 C.F.R. 60. The director shall notify the director of natural resources of any abandoned property found to have historical significance. The Ohio history connection may use the services of volunteers to locate, identify, and evaluate abandoned property in Lake Erie. The director shall approve any volunteer programs and may recruit, train, and supervise the services of volunteers.

(C) The moneys credited to the Ohio history connection under division (C) of section 1506.35 of the Revised Code and any appropriations, contributions, gifts, and federal grants made to the Ohio history connection for the purposes of this section and the applicable provisions of sections 1506.30 to 1506.36 of the Revised Code shall be placed in a separate fund within the accounts of the Ohio history connection, together with moneys credited to that fund under divisions (D)(2) and (3) of section 1506.33 of the Revised Code, to be used solely to implement and administer this section and the duties assigned the Ohio history connection under sections 1506.30 to 1506.36 of the Revised Code.