SB 451

As Introduced
136th General Assembly
   Regular Session  S. B. No. 451
       2025-2026
  Senator Gavarone
  To amend sections 109.71, 109.77, 2935.01, 3501.05,        1
  3501.055, 3503.02, 3503.14, 3503.21, 3503.33,  2
  3517.14, 3517.15, and 3517.16 and to enact  3
  sections 111.50, 3503.34, and 3503.35 of the  4
  Revised Code to make changes to the Election Law        5
  regarding voter registration, voter roll  6
  maintenance, and enforcement and to name  7
  portions of this act the Interstate Voter  8
  Assistance Act.  9
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
     Section 1. That sections 109.71, 109.77, 2935.01, 3501.05,        10
3501.055, 3503.02, 3503.14, 3503.21, 3503.33, 3517.14, 3517.15,        11
and 3517.16 be amended and sections 111.50, 3503.34, and 3503.35       12
of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:  13
     Sec. 109.71. There is hereby created in the office of the  14
attorney general the Ohio peace officer training commission. The       15
commission shall consist of ten members appointed by the  16
governor with the advice and consent of the senate and selected        17
as follows: one member representing the public; one member who  18
represents a fraternal organization representing law enforcement       19
officers; two members who are incumbent sheriffs; two members  20
who are incumbent chiefs of police; one member from the bureau  21
S. B. No. 451  Page 2
As Introduced
of criminal identification and investigation; one member from  22
the state highway patrol; one member who is the special agent in  23
charge of a field office of the federal bureau of investigation  24
in this state; and one member from the department of education  25
and workforce, trade and industrial education services, law  26
enforcement training.  27
       This section does not confer any arrest authority or any  28
ability or authority to detain a person, write or issue any  29
citation, or provide any disposition alternative, as granted  30
under Chapter 2935. of the Revised Code.  31
       The commission is exempt from the requirements of sections  32
101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code.  33
       As used in sections 109.71 to 109.801 of the Revised Code:  34
       (A) "Peace officer" means:  35
       (1) A deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, member of  36
the organized police department of a township or municipal  37
corporation, member of a township police district or joint  38
police district police force, member of a police force employed  39
by a metropolitan housing authority under division (D) of  40
section 3735.31 of the Revised Code, or township constable, who  41
is commissioned and employed as a peace officer by a political  42
subdivision of this state or by a metropolitan housing  43
authority, and whose primary duties are to preserve the peace,  44
to protect life and property, and to enforce the laws of this  45
state, ordinances of a municipal corporation, resolutions of a  46
township, or regulations of a board of county commissioners or  47
board of township trustees, or any of those laws, ordinances,  48
resolutions, or regulations;  49
       (2) A police officer who is employed by a railroad company  50
S. B. No. 451  Page 3
As Introduced
and appointed and commissioned by the secretary of state  51
pursuant to sections 4973.17 to 4973.22 of the Revised Code;  52
       (3) Employees of the department of taxation engaged in the  53
enforcement of Chapter 5743. of the Revised Code and designated  54
by the tax commissioner for peace officer training for purposes  55
of the delegation of investigation powers under section 5743.45  56
of the Revised Code;  57
       (4) An undercover drug agent;  58
       (5) Enforcement agents of the department of public safety  59
whom the director of public safety designates under section  60
5502.14 of the Revised Code;  61
       (6) An employee of the department of natural resources who  62
is a natural resources law enforcement staff officer designated  63
pursuant to section 1501.013, a natural resources officer  64
appointed pursuant to section 1501.24, a forest-fire  65
investigator appointed pursuant to section 1503.09, or a  66
wildlife officer designated pursuant to section 1531.13 of the  67
Revised Code;  68
       (7) An employee of a park district who is designated  69
pursuant to section 511.232 or 1545.13 of the Revised Code;  70
       (8) An employee of a conservancy district who is  71
designated pursuant to section 6101.75 of the Revised Code;  72
       (9) A police officer who is employed by a hospital that  73
employs and maintains its own proprietary police department or  74
security department, and who is appointed and commissioned by  75
the secretary of state pursuant to sections 4973.17 to 4973.22  76
of the Revised Code;  77
       (10) Veterans' homes police officers designated under  78
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As Introduced
section 5907.02 of the Revised Code;  79
       (11) A police officer who is employed by a qualified  80
nonprofit corporation police department pursuant to section  81
1702.80 of the Revised Code;  82
       (12) A state university law enforcement officer appointed  83
under section 3345.04 of the Revised Code or a person serving as  84
a state university law enforcement officer on a permanent basis  85
on June 19, 1978, who has been awarded a certificate by the  86
executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission  87
attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of an approved  88
state, county, municipal, or department of natural resources  89
peace officer basic training program;  90
       (13) A special police officer employed by the department  91
of mental health and addiction services behavioral health  92
pursuant to section 5119.08 of the Revised Code or the  93
department of developmental disabilities pursuant to section  94
5123.13 of the Revised Code;  95
       (14) A member of a campus police department appointed  96
under section 1713.50 of the Revised Code;  97
       (15) A member of a police force employed by a regional  98
transit authority under division (Y) of section 306.35 of the  99
Revised Code;  100
       (16) Investigators appointed by the auditor of state  101
pursuant to section 117.091 of the Revised Code and engaged in  102
the enforcement of Chapter 117. of the Revised Code;  103
       (17) A special police officer designated by the  104
superintendent of the state highway patrol pursuant to section  105
5503.09 of the Revised Code or a person who was serving as a  106
special police officer pursuant to that section on a permanent  107
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As Introduced
basis on October 21, 1997, and who has been awarded a  108
certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer  109
training commission attesting to the person's satisfactory  110
completion of an approved state, county, municipal, or  111
department of natural resources peace officer basic training  112
program;  113
       (18) A special police officer employed by a port authority  114
under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code or a person  115
serving as a special police officer employed by a port authority  116
on a permanent basis on May 17, 2000, who has been awarded a  117
certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer  118
training commission attesting to the person's satisfactory  119
completion of an approved state, county, municipal, or  120
department of natural resources peace officer basic training  121
program;  122
       (19) A special police officer employed by a municipal  123
corporation who has been awarded a certificate by the executive  124
director of the Ohio peace officer training commission for  125
satisfactory completion of an approved peace officer basic  126
training program and who is employed on a permanent basis on or  127
after March 19, 2003, at a municipal airport, or other municipal  128
air navigation facility, that has scheduled operations, as  129
defined in section 119.3 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal  130
Regulations, 14 C.F.R. 119.3, as amended, and that is required  131
to be under a security program and is governed by aviation  132
security rules of the transportation security administration of  133
the United States department of transportation as provided in  134
Parts 1542. and 1544. of Title 49 of the Code of Federal  135
Regulations, as amended;  136
       (20) A police officer who is employed by an owner or  137
S. B. No. 451  Page 6
As Introduced
operator of an amusement park that has an average yearly  138
attendance in excess of six hundred thousand guests and that  139
employs and maintains its own proprietary police department or  140
security department, and who is appointed and commissioned by a  141
judge of the appropriate municipal court or county court  142
pursuant to section 4973.17 of the Revised Code;  143
       (21) A police officer who is employed by a bank, savings  144
and loan association, savings bank, credit union, or association  145
of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or  146
credit unions, who has been appointed and commissioned by the  147
secretary of state pursuant to sections 4973.17 to 4973.22 of  148
the Revised Code, and who has been awarded a certificate by the  149
executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission  150
attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of a state,  151
county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace  152
officer basic training program;  153
       (22) An investigator, as defined in section 109.541 of the  154
Revised Code, of the bureau of criminal identification and  155
investigation who is commissioned by the superintendent of the  156
bureau as a special agent for the purpose of assisting law  157
enforcement officers or providing emergency assistance to peace  158
officers pursuant to authority granted under that section;  159
       (23) A state fire marshal law enforcement officer  160
appointed under section 3737.22 of the Revised Code or a person  161
serving as a state fire marshal law enforcement officer on a  162
permanent basis on or after July 1, 1982, who has been awarded a  163
certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer  164
training commission attesting to the person's satisfactory  165
completion of an approved state, county, municipal, or  166
department of natural resources peace officer basic training  167
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As Introduced
program;  168
       (24) A gaming agent employed under section 3772.03 of the  169
Revised Code;  170
       (25) An employee of the state board of pharmacy designated  171
by the executive director of the board pursuant to section  172
4729.04 of the Revised Code to investigate violations of  173
Chapters 2925., 3715., 3719., 3796., 4729., and 4752. of the  174
Revised Code and rules adopted thereunder;  175
       (26) An investigator appointed by the secretary of state  176
under section 111.50 of the Revised Code.  177
       (B) "Undercover drug agent" has the same meaning as in  178
division (B)(2) of section 109.79 of the Revised Code.  179
       (C) "Crisis intervention training" means training in the  180
use of interpersonal and communication skills to most  181
effectively and sensitively interview victims of rape.  182
       (D) "Missing children" has the same meaning as in section  183
2901.30 of the Revised Code.  184
       (E) "Tactical medical professional" means an EMT, EMT-  185
basic, AEMT, EMT-I, paramedic, nurse, or physician who is  186
trained and certified in a nationally recognized tactical  187
medical training program that is equivalent to "tactical combat  188
casualty care" (TCCC) and "tactical emergency medical support"  189
(TEMS) and who functions in the tactical or austere environment  190
while attached to a law enforcement agency of either this state  191
or a political subdivision of this state.  192
       (F) "EMT-basic," "EMT-I," and "paramedic" have the same  193
meanings as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code and "EMT" and  194
"AEMT" have the same meanings as in section 4765.011 of the  195
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As Introduced
Revised Code.  196
       (G) "Nurse" means any of the following:  197
       (1) Any person who is licensed to practice nursing as a  198
registered nurse by the board of nursing;  199
       (2) Any certified nurse practitioner, clinical nurse  200
specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, or certified  201
nurse-midwife who holds a certificate of authority issued by the  202
board of nursing under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;  203
       (3) Any person who is licensed to practice nursing as a  204
licensed practical nurse by the board of nursing pursuant to  205
Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code.  206
       (H) "Physician" means a person who is licensed pursuant to  207
Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and  208
surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.  209
       (I) "County correctional officer" has the same meaning as  210
in section 341.41 of the Revised Code.  211
       (J)(1) "Fire investigator" means an employee of a fire  212
department charged with investigating fires and explosions who  213
has been authorized, in accordance with sections 737.27 and  214
3737.24 of the Revised Code, to perform the duties of  215
investigating the origin and cause of fires and explosions using  216
the scientific method to investigate elements of the event  217
including the circumstances, actions, persons, means, and  218
motives that resulted in the fire or explosion or the report of  219
a fire or explosion within this state.  220
       (2) "Fire investigator" does not include a person who is  221
acting as a fire investigator on behalf of an insurance company  222
or any other privately owned or operated enterprise.  223
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As Introduced
       (K) "Fire department" means a fire department of the state  224
or an instrumentality of the state or of a municipal  225
corporation, township, joint fire district, or other political  226
subdivision.  227
       (L) "At-risk youth" means an individual who is all of the  228
following:  229
       (1) Under twenty-one years of age;  230
       (2) One of the following:  231
       (a) At risk of becoming an abused, neglected, or dependent  232
child, delinquent or unruly child, or juvenile traffic offender;  233
       (b) An abused, neglected, or dependent child, delinquent  234
or unruly child, or juvenile traffic offender.  235
       (3) Residing in a state correctional institution, a  236
department of youth services institution, or a residential  237
facility.  238
       (M) "Residential facility" has the same meaning as in  239
section 2151.46 of the Revised Code.  240
       Sec. 109.77. (A) As used in this section:  241
       (1) "Felony" has the same meaning as in section 109.511 of  242
the Revised Code.  243
       (2) "Companion animal" has the same meaning as in section  244
959.131 of the Revised Code.  245
       (B)(1) Notwithstanding any general, special, or local law  246
or charter to the contrary, and except as otherwise provided in  247
this section, no person shall receive an original appointment on  248
a permanent basis as any of the following unless the person  249
previously has been awarded a certificate by the executive  250
S. B. No. 451  Page 10
As Introduced
director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting  251
to the person's satisfactory completion of an approved state,  252
county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace  253
officer basic training program:  254
       (a) A peace officer of any county, township, municipal  255
corporation, regional transit authority, or metropolitan housing  256
authority;  257
       (b) A natural resources law enforcement staff officer,  258
forest-fire investigator, wildlife officer, or natural resources  259
officer of the department of natural resources;  260
       (c) An employee of a park district under section 511.232  261
or 1545.13 of the Revised Code;  262
       (d) An employee of a conservancy district who is  263
designated pursuant to section 6101.75 of the Revised Code;  264
       (e) A state university law enforcement officer;  265
       (f) A special police officer employed by the department of  266
mental health and addiction services behavioral health pursuant  267
to section 5119.08 of the Revised Code or the department of  268
developmental disabilities pursuant to section 5123.13 of the  269
Revised Code;  270
       (g) An enforcement agent of the department of public  271
safety whom the director of public safety designates under  272
section 5502.14 of the Revised Code;  273
       (h) A special police officer employed by a port authority  274
under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code;  275
       (i) A special police officer employed by a municipal  276
corporation at a municipal airport, or other municipal air  277
navigation facility, that has scheduled operations, as defined  278
S. B. No. 451  Page 11
As Introduced
in section 119.3 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations,  279
14 C.F.R. 119.3, as amended, and that is required to be under a  280
security program and is governed by aviation security rules of  281
the transportation security administration of the United States  282
department of transportation as provided in Parts 1542. and  283
1544. of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as  284
amended;  285
       (j) A gaming agent employed under section 3772.03 of the  286
Revised Code;  287
       (k) An investigator appointed by the secretary of state  288
under section 111.50 of the Revised Code.  289
       (2) Every person who is appointed on a temporary basis or  290
for a probationary term or on other than a permanent basis as  291
any of the following shall forfeit the appointed position unless  292
the person previously has completed satisfactorily or, within  293
the time prescribed by rules adopted by the attorney general  294
pursuant to section 109.74 of the Revised Code, satisfactorily  295
completes a state, county, municipal, or department of natural  296
resources peace officer basic training program for temporary or  297
probationary officers and is awarded a certificate by the  298
director attesting to the satisfactory completion of the  299
program:  300
       (a) A peace officer of any county, township, municipal  301
corporation, regional transit authority, or metropolitan housing  302
authority;  303
       (b) A natural resources law enforcement staff officer,  304
park officer, forest officer, preserve officer, wildlife  305
officer, or state watercraft officer of the department of  306
natural resources;  307
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As Introduced
       (c) An employee of a park district under section 511.232  308
or 1545.13 of the Revised Code;  309
       (d) An employee of a conservancy district who is  310
designated pursuant to section 6101.75 of the Revised Code;  311
       (e) A special police officer employed by the department of  312
mental health and addiction services behavioral health pursuant  313
to section 5119.08 of the Revised Code or the department of  314
developmental disabilities pursuant to section 5123.13 of the  315
Revised Code;  316
       (f) An enforcement agent of the department of public  317
safety whom the director of public safety designates under  318
section 5502.14 of the Revised Code;  319
       (g) A special police officer employed by a port authority  320
under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code;  321
       (h) A special police officer employed by a municipal  322
corporation at a municipal airport, or other municipal air  323
navigation facility, that has scheduled operations, as defined  324
in section 119.3 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations,  325
14 C.F.R. 119.3, as amended, and that is required to be under a  326
security program and is governed by aviation security rules of  327
the transportation security administration of the United States  328
department of transportation as provided in Parts 1542. and  329
1544. of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as  330
amended.  331
       (3) For purposes of division (B) of this section, a state,  332
county, municipal, or department of natural resources peace  333
officer basic training program, regardless of whether the  334
program is to be completed by peace officers appointed on a  335
permanent or temporary, probationary, or other nonpermanent  336
S. B. No. 451  Page 13
As Introduced
basis, shall include training in the handling of the offense of  337
domestic violence, other types of domestic violence-related  338
offenses and incidents, protection orders and consent agreements  339
issued or approved under section 2919.26 or 3113.31 of the  340
Revised Code, crisis intervention training, and training on  341
companion animal encounters and companion animal behavior. The  342
requirement to complete training in the handling of the offense  343
of domestic violence, other types of domestic violence-related  344
offenses and incidents, and protection orders and consent  345
agreements issued or approved under section 2919.26 or 3113.31  346
of the Revised Code does not apply to any person serving as a  347
peace officer on March 27, 1979, and the requirement to complete  348
training in crisis intervention does not apply to any person  349
serving as a peace officer on April 4, 1985. Any person who is  350
serving as a peace officer on April 4, 1985, who terminates that  351
employment after that date, and who subsequently is hired as a  352
peace officer by the same or another law enforcement agency  353
shall complete training in crisis intervention as prescribed by  354
rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to section  355
109.742 of the Revised Code. No peace officer shall have  356
employment as a peace officer terminated and then be reinstated  357
with intent to circumvent this section.  358
       (4) Division (B) of this section does not apply to any  359
person serving on a permanent basis on March 28, 1985, as a park  360
officer, forest officer, preserve officer, wildlife officer, or  361
state watercraft officer of the department of natural resources  362
or as an employee of a park district under section 511.232 or  363
1545.13 of the Revised Code, to any person serving on a  364
permanent basis on March 6, 1986, as an employee of a  365
conservancy district designated pursuant to section 6101.75 of  366
the Revised Code, to any person serving on a permanent basis on  367
S. B. No. 451  Page 14
As Introduced
January 10, 1991, as a preserve officer of the department of  368
natural resources, to any person employed on a permanent basis  369
on July 2, 1992, as a special police officer by the department  370
of mental health and addiction services behavioral health  371
pursuant to section 5119.08 of the Revised Code or by the  372
department of developmental disabilities pursuant to section  373
5123.13 of the Revised Code, to any person serving on a  374
permanent basis on May 17, 2000, as a special police officer  375
employed by a port authority under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of  376
the Revised Code, to any person serving on a permanent basis on  377
March 19, 2003, as a special police officer employed by a  378
municipal corporation at a municipal airport or other municipal  379
air navigation facility described in division (A)(19) of section  380
109.71 of the Revised Code, to any person serving on a permanent  381
basis on June 19, 1978, as a state university law enforcement  382
officer pursuant to section 3345.04 of the Revised Code and who,  383
immediately prior to June 19, 1978, was serving as a special  384
police officer designated under authority of that section, or to  385
any person serving on a permanent basis on September 20, 1984,  386
as a liquor control investigator, known after June 30, 1999, as  387
an enforcement agent of the department of public safety, engaged  388
in the enforcement of Chapters 4301. and 4303. of the Revised  389
Code.  390
        (5) Division (B) of this section does not apply to any  391
person who is appointed as a regional transit authority police  392
officer pursuant to division (Y) of section 306.35 of the  393
Revised Code if, on or before July 1, 1996, the person has  394
completed satisfactorily an approved state, county, municipal,  395
or department of natural resources peace officer basic training  396
program and has been awarded a certificate by the executive  397
director of the Ohio peace officer training commission attesting  398
S. B. No. 451  Page 15
As Introduced
to the person's satisfactory completion of such an approved  399
program and if, on July 1, 1996, the person is performing peace  400
officer functions for a regional transit authority.  401
       (C) No person, after September 20, 1984, shall receive an  402
original appointment on a permanent basis as a veterans' home  403
police officer designated under section 5907.02 of the Revised  404
Code unless the person previously has been awarded a certificate  405
by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training  406
commission attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of  407
an approved police officer basic training program. Every person  408
who is appointed on a temporary basis or for a probationary term  409
or on other than a permanent basis as a veterans' home police  410
officer designated under section 5907.02 of the Revised Code  411
shall forfeit that position unless the person previously has  412
completed satisfactorily or, within one year from the time of  413
appointment, satisfactorily completes an approved police officer  414
basic training program.  415
       (D) No bailiff or deputy bailiff of a court of record of  416
this state and no criminal investigator who is employed by the  417
state public defender shall carry a firearm, as defined in  418
section 2923.11 of the Revised Code, while on duty unless the  419
bailiff, deputy bailiff, or criminal investigator has done or  420
received one of the following:  421
       (1) Has been awarded a certificate by the executive  422
director of the Ohio peace officer training commission, which  423
certificate attests to satisfactory completion of an approved  424
state, county, or municipal basic training program for bailiffs  425
and deputy bailiffs of courts of record and for criminal  426
investigators employed by the state public defender that has  427
been recommended by the Ohio peace officer training commission;  428
S. B. No. 451  Page 16
As Introduced
       (2) Has successfully completed a firearms training program  429
approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission prior to  430
employment as a bailiff, deputy bailiff, or criminal  431
investigator;  432
       (3) Prior to June 6, 1986, was authorized to carry a  433
firearm by the court that employed the bailiff or deputy bailiff  434
or, in the case of a criminal investigator, by the state public  435
defender and has received training in the use of firearms that  436
the Ohio peace officer training commission determines is  437
equivalent to the training that otherwise is required by  438
division (D) of this section.  439
       (E)(1) Before a person seeking a certificate completes an  440
approved peace officer basic training program, the executive  441
director of the Ohio peace officer training commission shall  442
request the person to disclose, and the person shall disclose,  443
any previous criminal conviction of or plea of guilty of that  444
person to a felony.  445
       (2) Before a person seeking a certificate completes an  446
approved peace officer basic training program, the executive  447
director shall request a criminal history records check on the  448
person. The executive director shall submit the person's  449
fingerprints to the bureau of criminal identification and  450
investigation, which shall submit the fingerprints to the  451
federal bureau of investigation for a national criminal history  452
records check.  453
       Upon receipt of the executive director's request, the  454
bureau of criminal identification and investigation and the  455
federal bureau of investigation shall conduct a criminal history  456
records check on the person and, upon completion of the check,  457
shall provide a copy of the criminal history records check to  458
S. B. No. 451  Page 17
As Introduced
the executive director. The executive director shall not award  459
any certificate prescribed in this section unless the executive  460
director has received a copy of the criminal history records  461
check on the person to whom the certificate is to be awarded.  462
       (3) The executive director of the commission shall not  463
award a certificate prescribed in this section to a person who  464
has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony or who  465
fails to disclose any previous criminal conviction of or plea of  466
guilty to a felony as required under division (E)(1) of this  467
section.  468
       (4) The executive director of the commission shall revoke  469
the certificate awarded to a person as prescribed in this  470
section, and that person shall forfeit all of the benefits  471
derived from being certified as a peace officer under this  472
section, if the person, before completion of an approved peace  473
officer basic training program, failed to disclose any previous  474
criminal conviction of or plea of guilty to a felony as required  475
under division (E)(1) of this section.  476
       (F)(1) Regardless of whether the person has been awarded  477
the certificate or has been classified as a peace officer prior  478
to, on, or after October 16, 1996, the executive director of the  479
Ohio peace officer training commission shall revoke any  480
certificate that has been awarded to a person as prescribed in  481
this section if the person does either of the following:  482
       (a) Pleads guilty to a felony committed on or after  483
January 1, 1997;  484
       (b) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor committed on or after  485
January 1, 1997, pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as  486
provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code  487
S. B. No. 451  Page 18
As Introduced
in which the person agrees to surrender the certificate awarded  488
to the person under this section.  489
       (2) The executive director of the commission shall suspend  490
any certificate that has been awarded to a person as prescribed  491
in this section if the person is convicted, after trial, of a  492
felony committed on or after January 1, 1997. The executive  493
director shall suspend the certificate pursuant to division (F)  494
(2) of this section pending the outcome of an appeal by the  495
person from that conviction to the highest court to which the  496
appeal is taken or until the expiration of the period in which  497
an appeal is required to be filed. If the person files an appeal  498
that results in that person's acquittal of the felony or  499
conviction of a misdemeanor, or in the dismissal of the felony  500
charge against that person, the executive director shall  501
reinstate the certificate awarded to the person under this  502
section. If the person files an appeal from that person's  503
conviction of the felony and the conviction is upheld by the  504
highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the person does  505
not file a timely appeal, the executive director shall revoke  506
the certificate awarded to the person under this section.  507
       (G)(1) If a person is awarded a certificate under this  508
section and the certificate is revoked pursuant to division (E)  509
(4) or (F) of this section, the person shall not be eligible to  510
receive, at any time, a certificate attesting to the person's  511
satisfactory completion of a peace officer basic training  512
program.  513
       (2) The revocation or suspension of a certificate under  514
division (E)(4) or (F) of this section shall be in accordance  515
with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.  516
       (H)(1) A person who was employed as a peace officer of a  517
S. B. No. 451  Page 19
As Introduced
county, township, or municipal corporation of the state on  518
January 1, 1966, and who has completed at least sixteen years of  519
full-time active service as such a peace officer, or equivalent  520
service as determined by the executive director of the Ohio  521
peace officer training commission, may receive an original  522
appointment on a permanent basis and serve as a peace officer of  523
a county, township, or municipal corporation, or as a state  524
university law enforcement officer, without complying with the  525
requirements of division (B) of this section.  526
       (2) Any person who held an appointment as a state highway  527
trooper on January 1, 1966, may receive an original appointment  528
on a permanent basis and serve as a peace officer of a county,  529
township, or municipal corporation, or as a state university law  530
enforcement officer, without complying with the requirements of  531
division (B) of this section.  532
       (I) No person who is appointed as a peace officer of a  533
county, township, or municipal corporation on or after April 9,  534
1985, shall serve as a peace officer of that county, township,  535
or municipal corporation unless the person has received training  536
in the handling of missing children and child abuse and neglect  537
cases from an approved state, county, township, or municipal  538
police officer basic training program or receives the training  539
within the time prescribed by rules adopted by the attorney  540
general pursuant to section 109.741 of the Revised Code.  541
       (J) No part of any approved state, county, or municipal  542
basic training program for bailiffs and deputy bailiffs of  543
courts of record and no part of any approved state, county, or  544
municipal basic training program for criminal investigators  545
employed by the state public defender shall be used as credit  546
toward the completion by a peace officer of any part of the  547
S. B. No. 451  Page 20
As Introduced
approved state, county, or municipal peace officer basic  548
training program that the peace officer is required by this  549
section to complete satisfactorily.  550
       (K) This section does not apply to any member of the  551
police department of a municipal corporation in an adjoining  552
state serving in this state under a contract pursuant to section  553
737.04 of the Revised Code.  554
       (L) The executive director of the commission shall issue a  555
certificate of completion of a training program required under  556
this section in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised  557
Code to an individual if either of the following applies:  558
       (1) The individual holds a certificate of completion of  559
such a program in another state.  560
       (2) The individual has satisfactory work experience, a  561
government certification, or a private certification as  562
described in that chapter in the same profession, occupation, or  563
occupational activity as the profession, occupation, or  564
occupational activity for which the certificate is required in  565
this state in a state that does not require completion of such a  566
training program.  567
       (M)(1) Except as provided in division (M)(2) of this  568
section, no certificate awarded by the executive director of the  569
Ohio peace officer training commission attesting to a person's  570
satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, municipal,  571
or department of natural resources peace officer basic training  572
program shall be deemed insufficient for an appointment to a  573
position listed in division (B)(1) of this section because of a  574
lapse in the person's service as a peace officer.  575
       (2) The Ohio peace officer training commission shall  576
S. B. No. 451  Page 21
As Introduced
require a re-appointed peace officer to complete refresher  577
training of the following duration prior to performing the  578
functions of a peace officer, if the peace officer, having  579
previously been awarded a certificate by the executive director  580
of the commission attesting to the person's satisfactory  581
completion of an approved state, county, municipal, or  582
department of natural resources peace officer basic training  583
program or pursuant to Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code, for at  584
least one year prior to an appointment, was not employed as a  585
peace officer:  586
       (a) If the period of lapse was at least one year, but less  587
than four years, up to forty hours;  588
       (b) If the period of lapse was four years or longer,  589
eighty hours.  590
       Sec. 111.50. The secretary of state may appoint one or  591
more investigators to carry out the investigative duties of the  592
secretary of state under sections 111.243 and 147.032 of the  593
Revised Code and to investigate complaints and allegations  594
received by the election integrity unit under sections 3501.055  595
and 3517.16 of the Revised Code. An investigator appointed under  596
this section shall be a peace officer in compliance with section  597
109.77 of the Revised Code.  598
       Sec. 2935.01. As used in this chapter:  599
       (A) "Magistrate" has the same meaning as in section  600
2931.01 of the Revised Code.  601
       (B) "Peace officer" includes, except as provided in  602
section 2935.081 of the Revised Code, a sheriff; deputy sheriff;  603
marshal; deputy marshal; member of the organized police  604
department of any municipal corporation, including a member of  605
S. B. No. 451  Page 22
As Introduced
the organized police department of a municipal corporation in an  606
adjoining state serving in Ohio under a contract pursuant to  607
section 737.04 of the Revised Code; member of a police force  608
employed by a metropolitan housing authority under division (D)  609
of section 3735.31 of the Revised Code; member of a police force  610
employed by a regional transit authority under division (Y) of  611
section 306.35 of the Revised Code; state university law  612
enforcement officer appointed under section 3345.04 of the  613
Revised Code; enforcement agent of the department of public  614
safety designated under section 5502.14 of the Revised Code;  615
employee of the department of taxation to whom investigation  616
powers have been delegated under section 5743.45 of the Revised  617
Code; employee of the department of natural resources who is a  618
natural resources law enforcement staff officer designated  619
pursuant to section 1501.013 of the Revised Code, a forest-fire  620
investigator appointed pursuant to section 1503.09 of the  621
Revised Code, a natural resources officer appointed pursuant to  622
section 1501.24 of the Revised Code, or a wildlife officer  623
designated pursuant to section 1531.13 of the Revised Code;  624
individual designated to perform law enforcement duties under  625
section 511.232, 1545.13, or 6101.75 of the Revised Code;  626
veterans' home police officer appointed under section 5907.02 of  627
the Revised Code; special police officer employed by a port  628
authority under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code;  629
police constable of any township; police officer of a township  630
or joint police district; a special police officer employed by a  631
municipal corporation at a municipal airport, or other municipal  632
air navigation facility, that has scheduled operations, as  633
defined in section 119.3 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal  634
Regulations, 14 C.F.R. 119.3, as amended, and that is required  635
to be under a security program and is governed by aviation  636
security rules of the transportation security administration of  637
S. B. No. 451  Page 23
As Introduced
the United States department of transportation as provided in  638
Parts 1542. and 1544. of Title 49 of the Code of Federal  639
Regulations, as amended; the house of representatives sergeant  640
at arms if the house of representatives sergeant at arms has  641
arrest authority pursuant to division (E)(1) of section 101.311  642
of the Revised Code; an assistant house of representatives  643
sergeant at arms; the senate sergeant at arms; an assistant  644
senate sergeant at arms; officer or employee of the bureau of  645
criminal identification and investigation established pursuant  646
to section 109.51 of the Revised Code who has been awarded a  647
certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer  648
training commission attesting to the officer's or employee's  649
satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, municipal,  650
or department of natural resources peace officer basic training  651
program and who is providing assistance upon request to a law  652
enforcement officer or emergency assistance to a peace officer  653
pursuant to section 109.54 or 109.541 of the Revised Code; a  654
state fire marshal law enforcement officer described in division  655
(A)(23) of section 109.71 of the Revised Code; a gaming agent,  656
as defined in section 3772.01 of the Revised Code; an  657
investigator appointed by the secretary of state under section  658
111.50 of the Revised Code; and, for the purpose of arrests  659
within those areas, for the purposes of Chapter 5503. of the  660
Revised Code, and the filing of and service of process relating  661
to those offenses witnessed or investigated by them, the  662
superintendent and troopers of the state highway patrol.  663
       (C) "Prosecutor" includes the county prosecuting attorney  664
and any assistant prosecutor designated to assist the county  665
prosecuting attorney, and, in the case of courts inferior to  666
courts of common pleas, includes the village solicitor, city  667
director of law, or similar chief legal officer of a municipal  668
S. B. No. 451  Page 24
As Introduced
corporation, any such officer's assistants, or any attorney  669
designated by the prosecuting attorney of the county to appear  670
for the prosecution of a given case.  671
        (D) "Offense," except where the context specifically  672
indicates otherwise, includes felonies, misdemeanors, and  673
violations of ordinances of municipal corporations and other  674
public bodies authorized by law to adopt penal regulations.  675
        (E) "Tier one offense" means a violation of section  676
2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.06, 2903.11, 2903.12,  677
2903.21, 2903.211, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.32, 2907.02, 2907.03,  678
2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2909.02,  679
2909.03, 2909.24, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2919.25, 2921.34,  680
2923.161, 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, or 2950.06 of the Revised  681
Code.  682
        Sec. 3501.05. The secretary of state shall do all of the  683
following:  684
        (A) Appoint all members of boards of elections;  685
        (B) Issue instructions by directives and advisories in  686
accordance with section 3501.053 of the Revised Code to members  687
of the boards as to the proper methods of conducting elections.  688
        (C) Prepare rules and instructions for the conduct of  689
elections;  690
        (D) Publish and furnish to the boards from time to time a  691
sufficient number of indexed copies of all election laws then in  692
force;  693
        (E) Edit and issue all pamphlets concerning proposed laws  694
or amendments required by law to be submitted to the voters;  695
        (F) Prescribe the form of registration cards, blanks, and  696
S. B. No. 451  Page 25
As Introduced
records;  697
       (G) Determine and prescribe the forms of ballots and the  698
forms of all blanks, cards of instructions, pollbooks, tally  699
sheets, certificates of election, and forms and blanks required  700
by law for use by candidates, committees, and boards;  701
       (H) Prepare the ballot title or statement to be placed on  702
the ballot for any proposed law or amendment to the constitution  703
to be submitted to the voters of the state;  704
       (I) Except as otherwise provided in section 3519.08 of the  705
Revised Code, certify to the several boards the forms of ballots  706
and names of candidates for state offices, and the form and  707
wording of state referendum questions and issues, as they shall  708
appear on the ballot;  709
       (J) Except as otherwise provided in division (I)(2)(b) of  710
section 3501.38 of the Revised Code, give final approval to  711
ballot language for any local question or issue approved and  712
transmitted by boards of elections under section 3501.11 of the  713
Revised Code;  714
       (K) Receive all initiative and referendum petitions on  715
state questions and issues and determine and certify to the  716
sufficiency of those petitions;  717
       (L) Require such reports from the several boards as are  718
provided by law, or as the secretary of state considers  719
necessary;  720
       (M) Compel the observance by election officers in the  721
several counties of the requirements of the election laws;  722
       (N)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (N)(2) of  723
this section, through the election integrity unit created under  724
S. B. No. 451  Page 26
As Introduced
section 3501.055 of the Revised Code, investigate the  725
administration of election laws, frauds, and irregularities in  726
elections in any county, and report violations of election laws  727
to the attorney general or prosecuting attorney, or both, for  728
prosecution;  729
       (2) Receive and process complaints regarding any alleged  730
violation of a provision of law over which the Ohio election  731
integrity commission has jurisdiction, in accordance with  732
sections 3517.14 to 3517.18 of the Revised Code.  733
       (O) Make an annual report to the governor containing the  734
results of elections, the cost of elections in the various  735
counties, a tabulation of the votes in the several political  736
subdivisions, and other information and recommendations relative  737
to elections the secretary of state considers desirable;  738
       (P) Prescribe and distribute to boards of elections a list  739
of instructions indicating all legal steps necessary to petition  740
successfully for local option elections under sections 4301.32  741
to 4301.41, 4303.29, 4305.14, and 4305.15 of the Revised Code;  742
       (Q) Adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised  743
Code for the removal by boards of elections of ineligible voters  744
from the statewide voter registration database and, if  745
applicable, from the poll list or signature pollbook used in  746
each precinct, which rules shall provide for all of the  747
following:  748
       (1) A process for the removal of voters who have changed  749
residence, which shall be uniform, nondiscriminatory, and in  750
compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National  751
Voter Registration Act of 1993, including a program that uses  752
the national change of address service provided by the United  753
S. B. No. 451  Page 27
As Introduced
States postal system through its licensees;  754
       (2) A process for the removal of ineligible voters under  755
section 3503.21 of the Revised Code;  756
       (3) A uniform system for marking or removing the name of a  757
voter who is ineligible to vote from the statewide voter  758
registration database and, if applicable, from the poll list or  759
signature pollbook used in each precinct and noting the reason  760
for that mark or removal.  761
       (R)(1) Prescribe a general program for registering voters  762
or updating voter registration information, such as name and  763
residence changes, by boards of elections, designated agencies,  764
public high schools and vocational schools, public libraries,  765
and offices of county treasurers consistent with the  766
requirements of section 3503.09 of the Revised Code;  767
       (2) Prescribe a general program for registering voters or  768
updating voter registration information through the registrar of  769
motor vehicles and deputy registrars, consistent with the  770
requirements of section 3503.11 of the Revised Code.  771
       (S) Prescribe a program of distribution of voter  772
registration forms through boards of elections, designated  773
agencies, offices of the registrar and deputy registrars of  774
motor vehicles, public high schools and vocational schools,  775
public libraries, and offices of county treasurers;  776
       (T) To the extent feasible, provide copies, at no cost and  777
upon request, of the voter registration form in post offices in  778
this state;  779
       (U) Adopt rules pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised  780
Code for the purpose of implementing the programs for  781
registering voters through boards of elections, designated  782
S. B. No. 451  Page 28
As Introduced
agencies, and the offices of the registrar and deputy registrars  783
of motor vehicles consistent with this chapter;  784
       (V) Establish the full-time position of Americans with  785
Disabilities Act coordinator within the office of the secretary  786
of state to do all of the following:  787
       (1) Assist the secretary of state with ensuring that there  788
is equal access to polling places for persons with disabilities;  789
       (2) Assist the secretary of state with ensuring that each  790
voter may cast the voter's ballot in a manner that provides the  791
same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy  792
and independence, as for other voters;  793
       (3) Advise the secretary of state in the development of  794
standards for the certification of voting machines, marking  795
devices, and automatic tabulating equipment.  796
       (W) Establish and maintain a computerized statewide  797
database of all legally registered voters under section 3503.15  798
of the Revised Code that complies with the requirements of the  799
"Help America Vote Act of 2002," Pub. L. No. 107-252, 116 Stat.  800
1666, and provide training in the operation of that system;  801
       (X) Ensure that all directives, advisories, other  802
instructions, or decisions issued or made during or as a result  803
of any conference or teleconference call with a board of  804
elections to discuss the proper methods and procedures for  805
conducting elections, to answer questions regarding elections,  806
or to discuss the interpretation of directives, advisories, or  807
other instructions issued by the secretary of state are posted  808
on a web site of the office of the secretary of state as soon as  809
is practicable after the completion of the conference or  810
teleconference call, but not later than the close of business on  811
S. B. No. 451  Page 29
As Introduced
the same day as the conference or teleconference call takes  812
place.  813
       (Y) Publish a report on a web site of the office of the  814
secretary of state not later than one month after the completion  815
of the canvass of the election returns for each primary and  816
general election, identifying, by county, the number of absent  817
voter's ballots cast and the number of those ballots that were  818
counted, and the number of provisional ballots cast and the  819
number of those ballots that were counted, for that election.  820
The secretary of state shall maintain the information on the web  821
site in an archive format for each subsequent election.  822
       (Z) Conduct voter education outlining voter  823
identification, absent voters ballot, provisional ballot, and  824
other voting requirements;  825
       (AA) Establish a procedure by which a registered elector  826
may make available to a board of elections a more recent  827
signature to be used in the poll list or signature pollbook  828
produced by the board of elections of the county in which the  829
elector resides;  830
       (BB) Disseminate information, which may include all or  831
part of the official explanations and arguments, by means of  832
direct mail or other written publication, broadcast, or other  833
means or combination of means, as directed by the Ohio ballot  834
board under division (F) of section 3505.062 of the Revised  835
Code, in order to inform the voters as fully as possible  836
concerning each proposed constitutional amendment, proposed law,  837
or referendum;  838
       (CC) Be the single state office responsible for the  839
implementation of the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee  840
S. B. No. 451  Page 30
As Introduced
Voting Act," Pub. L. No. 99-410, 100 Stat. 924, 42 U.S.C.  841
1973ff, et seq., as amended, in this state. The secretary of  842
state may delegate to the boards of elections responsibilities  843
for the implementation of that act, including responsibilities  844
arising from amendments to that act made by the "Military and  845
Overseas Voter Empowerment Act," Subtitle H of the "National  846
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010," Pub. L. No.  847
111-84, 123 Stat. 3190.  848
       (DD) Adopt rules, under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code,  849
to establish procedures and standards for determining when a  850
board of elections shall be placed under the official oversight  851
of the secretary of state, placing a board of elections under  852
the official oversight of the secretary of state, a board that  853
is under official oversight to transition out of official  854
oversight, and the secretary of state to supervise a board of  855
elections that is under official oversight of the secretary of  856
state.  857
       (EE) Perform other duties required by law.  858
       Whenever a primary election is held under section 3513.32  859
of the Revised Code or a special election is held under section  860
3521.03 of the Revised Code to fill a vacancy in the office of  861
representative to congress, the secretary of state shall  862
establish a deadline, notwithstanding any other deadline  863
required under the Revised Code, by which any or all of the  864
following shall occur: the filing of a declaration of candidacy  865
and petitions or a statement of candidacy and nominating  866
petition together with the applicable filing fee; the filing of  867
protests against the candidacy of any person filing a  868
declaration of candidacy or nominating petition; the filing of a  869
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate; the filing of  870
S. B. No. 451  Page 31
As Introduced
campaign finance reports; the preparation of, and the making of  871
corrections or challenges to, precinct voter registration lists;  872
the receipt of applications for absent voter's ballots or  873
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots; the  874
supplying of election materials to precincts by boards of  875
elections; the holding of hearings by boards of elections to  876
consider challenges to the right of a person to appear on a  877
voter registration list; and the scheduling of programs to  878
instruct or reinstruct election officers.  879
       In the performance of the secretary of state's duties as  880
the chief election officer, the secretary of state may  881
administer oaths, issue subpoenas within or without the state,  882
summon witnesses, compel the production of books, papers,  883
records, and other evidence, and fix the time and place for  884
hearing any matters relating to the administration and  885
enforcement of the election laws, including for the purposes  886
described in division (N)(2) of this section.  887
       In any controversy involving or arising out of the  888
adoption of registration or the appropriation of funds for  889
registration, the secretary of state may, through the attorney  890
general, bring an action in the name of the state in the court  891
of common pleas of the county where the cause of action arose or  892
in an adjoining county, to adjudicate the question.  893
       In any action involving the laws in Title XXXV of the  894
Revised Code wherein the interpretation of those laws is in  895
issue in such a manner that the result of the action will affect  896
the lawful duties of the secretary of state or of any board of  897
elections, the secretary of state may, on the secretary of  898
state's motion, be made a party.  899
       The secretary of state may apply to any court that is  900
S. B. No. 451  Page 32
As Introduced
hearing a case in which the secretary of state is a party, for a  901
change of venue as a substantive right, and the change of venue  902
shall be allowed, and the case removed to the court of common  903
pleas of an adjoining county named in the application or, if  904
there are cases pending in more than one jurisdiction that  905
involve the same or similar issues, the court of common pleas of  906
Franklin county.  907
        Public high schools and vocational schools, public  908
libraries, and the office of a county treasurer shall implement  909
voter registration programs as directed by the secretary of  910
state pursuant to this section.  911
        Sec. 3501.055. (A) There is in the office of the secretary  912
of state the election integrity unit.  913
        (B) Under the direction of the secretary of state, the  914
election integrity unit shall do all of the following:  915
        (1) Investigate alleged violations of Title XXXV of the  916
Revised Code on the unit's own initiative, upon receiving a  917
complaint under this section, or upon the filing of a complaint  918
with the secretary of state under section 3517.16 of the Revised  919
Code;  920
        (2) Allow the public to submit allegations of violations  921
of Title XXXV of the Revised Code to the unit;  922
        (3) Submit a report to the governor and the general  923
assembly not later than the fifteenth day of January of each  924
year. The report shall include all of the following with respect  925
to the previous calendar year:  926
        (a) The number of allegations the unit received from  927
members of the public;  928
S. B. No. 451  Page 33
As Introduced
       (b) The number of allegations the unit investigated on its  929
own initiative;  930
       (c) The number of allegations the unit referred to another  931
agency for further investigation or prosecution;  932
       (d) All of the following concerning each allegation:  933
       (i) The general nature of the allegation;  934
       (ii) The county in which the violation is alleged to have  935
occurred;  936
       (iii) Whether the allegation has been referred to another  937
agency for further investigation or prosecution, and if so, to  938
which agency;  939
       (iv) The current status of the investigation or any  940
resulting criminal or civil proceeding.  941
       (C) In performing its duties, the election integrity unit  942
may administer oaths, issue subpoenas within or without the  943
state, summon witnesses, compel the production of books, papers,  944
records, and other evidence, and hold hearings.  945
       (D) Within one year after receiving a referral for further  946
investigation or prosecution from the election integrity unit,  947
the prosecuting attorney shall either prosecute the violation or  948
provide to the election integrity unit a written statement  949
declining to prosecute the referral or requesting any additional  950
evidence needed. If the prosecuting attorney requests additional  951
evidence, the election integrity unit shall provide such  952
evidence, if available, within ninety days after receiving the  953
request. Within one hundred eighty days after receiving the  954
additional evidence, the prosecuting attorney either shall  955
prosecute the violation or provide a written statement to the  956
S. B. No. 451  Page 34
As Introduced
election integrity unit explaining a reason for declining to  957
prosecute. If the prosecuting attorney fails to provide this  958
statement within one hundred eighty days after receiving the  959
additional evidence, the election integrity unit may refer the  960
violation to the attorney general for further investigation or  961
prosecution.  962
       Sec. 3503.02. All registrars and precinct election  963
officials, in determining the residence of a person offering to  964
register or vote, shall be governed by the following rules:  965
       (A) That place shall be considered the residence of a  966
person in which the person's habitation is fixed and to which,  967
whenever the person is absent, the person has the intention of  968
returning.  969
       (B) A person shall not be considered to have lost the  970
person's residence who leaves the person's home and goes into  971
another state or county of this state, for temporary purposes  972
only, with the intention of returning.  973
       (C) A person shall not be considered to have gained a  974
residence in any county of this state into which the person  975
comes for temporary purposes only, without the intention of  976
making such county the permanent place of abode.  977
       (D) The place where the family of a married person resides  978
shall be considered to be the person's place of residence;  979
except that when the spouses have separated and live apart, the  980
place where such a spouse resides the length of time required to  981
entitle a person to vote shall be considered to be the spouse's  982
place of residence.  983
       (E) If a person removes to another state with the  984
intention of making such state the person's residence, the  985
S. B. No. 451  Page 35
As Introduced
person shall be considered to have lost the person's residence  986
in this state.  987
       (F) Except as otherwise provided in division (G) of this  988
section, if a person removes from this state and continuously  989
resides outside this state for a period of four years or more,  990
the person shall be considered to have lost the person's  991
residence in this state, notwithstanding the fact that the  992
person may entertain an intention to return at some future  993
period.  994
       (G)(1) If a person removes from this state to engage in  995
the services of the United States government, the person shall  996
not be considered to have lost the person's residence in this  997
state, and likewise should the person enter the employment of  998
the state, the place where such person resided at the time of  999
the person's removal shall be considered to be the person's  1000
place of residence.  1001
       (2) If a person removes from this state to a location  1002
outside of the United States and the person does not become a  1003
resident of another state, the person shall not be considered to  1004
have lost the person's residence in this state. The place where  1005
the person resided at the time of the person's removal shall be  1006
considered to be the person's place of residence.  1007
       (3) If a person is eligible to vote in this state under  1008
division (D)(2) of section 3511.011 of the Revised Code, the  1009
place where the person's parent or legal guardian resided in  1010
this state prior to that parent or legal guardian's removal to a  1011
location outside of the United States shall be considered to be  1012
the person's place of residence.  1013
       (4) If an address that is considered to be a person's  1014
S. B. No. 451  Page 36
As Introduced
place of residence under division (G) of this section ceases to  1015
be a recognized residential address, the board of elections  1016
shall assign an address to the applicable person for voting  1017
purposes.  1018
       (H) If a person goes into another state and while there  1019
exercises the right of a citizen by voting registering to vote  1020
in that state, the person shall be considered to have lost the  1021
person's residence in this state.  1022
       (I) If a person does not have a fixed place of habitation,  1023
but has a shelter or other location at which the person has been  1024
a consistent or regular inhabitant and to which the person has  1025
the intention of returning, that shelter or other location shall  1026
be deemed the person's residence for the purpose of registering  1027
to vote.  1028
       Sec. 3503.14. (A) The secretary of state shall prescribe  1029
the form and content of the registration, change of residence,  1030
and change of name forms used in this state. The forms shall  1031
meet the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of  1032
1993 and shall include spaces for all of the following:  1033
       (1) The voter's name;  1034
       (2) The voter's current residence address;  1035
       (3) The current date;  1036
       (4) The voter's date of birth;  1037
       (5) The voter to provide at least one of the following  1038
forms of identification:  1039
       (a) The voter's Ohio driver's license or state  1040
identification card number;  1041
S. B. No. 451  Page 37
As Introduced
       (b) The last four digits of the voter's social security  1042
number.  1043
       (6) A space for the voter to provide the voter's former  1044
residence address in this state or another state, if the voter  1045
is currently registered to vote at that address.  1046
       (7) The voter's signature, accompanied by the following  1047
statement: "I declare under penalty of election falsification I  1048
am a citizen of the United States, will have lived in this state  1049
for 30 days immediately preceding the next election, and will be  1050
at least 18 years of age at the time of the general election. I  1051
understand that if I am registered to vote at another address in  1052
Ohio, my registration will be transferred. If I am registered to  1053
vote in another state, I request that my previous voter  1054
registration be canceled."  1055
       The forms shall include the following statement:  1056
       "WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A  1057
FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."  1058
       The registration form shall include a space on which the  1059
person registering an applicant shall sign the person's name and  1060
provide the person's address and a space on which the person  1061
registering an applicant shall name the employer who is  1062
employing that person to register the applicant.  1063
       The forms shall include a box for the person filling out  1064
the form to check to indicate, if applicable, that the person  1065
has filled out all or part of the form on behalf of the  1066
applicant because the applicant declares that the applicant  1067
requires such assistance by reason of blindness, disability, or  1068
illiteracy.  1069
       Except for forms prescribed by the secretary of state  1070
S. B. No. 451  Page 38
As Introduced
under section 3503.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of  1071
state shall permit boards of elections to produce forms that  1072
have subdivided spaces for each individual alphanumeric  1073
character of the information provided by the voter so as to  1074
accommodate the electronic reading and conversion of the voter's  1075
information to data and the subsequent electronic transfer of  1076
that data to the statewide voter registration database  1077
established under section 3503.15 of the Revised Code.  1078
       (B) None of the following persons who are registering an  1079
applicant in the course of that official's or employee's normal  1080
duties shall sign the person's name, provide the person's  1081
address, or name the employer who is employing the person to  1082
register an applicant on a form prepared under this section:  1083
       (1) An election official;  1084
       (2) A county treasurer;  1085
       (3) A deputy registrar of motor vehicles;  1086
       (4) An employee of a designated agency;  1087
       (5) An employee of a public high school;  1088
       (6) An employee of a public vocational school;  1089
       (7) An employee of a public library;  1090
       (8) An employee of the office of a county treasurer;  1091
       (9) An employee of the bureau of motor vehicles;  1092
       (10) An employee of a deputy registrar of motor vehicles;  1093
       (11) An employee of an election official.  1094
       (C) Except as provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised  1095
Code, any applicant who is unable to sign the applicant's own  1096
S. B. No. 451  Page 39
As Introduced
name shall make an "X," if possible, which shall be certified by  1097
the signing of the name of the applicant by the person filling  1098
out the form, who shall add the person's own signature. If an  1099
applicant is unable to make an "X," the applicant shall indicate  1100
in some manner that the applicant desires to register to vote or  1101
to change the applicant's name or residence. The person  1102
registering the applicant shall sign the form and attest that  1103
the applicant indicated that the applicant desired to register  1104
to vote or to change the applicant's name or residence.  1105
       (D) No registration, change of residence, or change of  1106
name form shall be rejected solely on the basis that a person  1107
registering an applicant failed to sign the person's name or  1108
failed to name the employer who is employing that person to  1109
register the applicant as required under division (A) of this  1110
section.  1111
       (E) (E)(1) A voter registration application is not  1112
required to contain the voter's former residence address to be  1113
considered valid.  1114
       (2) A voter registration application submitted  1115
electronically through the registrar of motor vehicles or a  1116
deputy registrar pursuant to section 3503.11 or submitted online  1117
through the internet pursuant to section 3503.20 of the Revised  1118
Code is not required to contain a signature to be considered  1119
valid. The signature obtained under division (A)(3) of section  1120
3503.11 or under division (B) of section 3503.20 of the Revised  1121
Code, as applicable, shall be considered the applicant's  1122
signature for all election and signature-matching purposes.  1123
       (F)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of  1124
this section and in sections 3501.382 and 3505.24 of the Revised  1125
Code, no person shall preprint or fill out any portion of a  1126
S. B. No. 451  Page 40
As Introduced
voter registration, change of residence, or change of name form  1127
on behalf of an applicant.  1128
       (2) A completed voter registration, change of residence,  1129
or change of name form is not valid if any portion of it has  1130
been completed by any person other than the applicant in  1131
violation of division (F)(1) of this section.  1132
       (G) As used in this section, "registering an applicant"  1133
includes any effort, for compensation, to provide voter  1134
registration forms or to assist persons in completing or  1135
returning those forms.  1136
       Sec. 3503.21. (A) The registration of a registered elector  1137
shall be canceled upon the occurrence of any of the following:  1138
       (1) The filing by a registered elector of a written  1139
request with a board of elections or the secretary of state, on  1140
a form prescribed by the secretary of state and signed by the  1141
elector, that the registration be canceled. The filing of such a  1142
request does not prohibit an otherwise qualified elector from  1143
reregistering to vote at any time.  1144
       (2) The filing of a notice of the death of a registered  1145
elector as provided in section 3503.18 of the Revised Code;  1146
       (3) The filing with the board of elections of a certified  1147
copy of the death certificate of a registered elector by the  1148
deceased elector's spouse, parent, or child, by the  1149
administrator of the deceased elector's estate, or by the  1150
executor of the deceased elector's will;  1151
       (4) The conviction of the registered elector of a felony  1152
under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United  1153
States as provided in section 2961.01 of the Revised Code;  1154
S. B. No. 451  Page 41
As Introduced
       (5) The adjudication of incompetency of the registered  1155
elector for the purpose of voting as provided in section  1156
5122.301 of the Revised Code;  1157
       (6) The change of residence of the registered elector to a  1158
location outside the county of registration in accordance with  1159
division (B) of this section or as described in section 3503.33,  1160
3503.34, or 3503.35 of the Revised Code;  1161
       (7) The failure of the registered elector, after having  1162
been mailed a confirmation notice, to do either of the  1163
following:  1164
       (a) Respond to such a notice and vote at least once during  1165
a period of four consecutive years, which period shall include  1166
two general federal elections;  1167
       (b) Update the elector's registration and vote at least  1168
once during a period of four consecutive years, which period  1169
shall include two general federal elections.  1170
       (8) The receipt by the board of elections of a  1171
cancellation notice or request pursuant to section 111.44 of the  1172
Revised Code;  1173
       (9) The receipt by the board of elections of a report from  1174
the secretary of state indicating that the person is not a  1175
United States citizen, as described in division (B)(1) of  1176
section 3503.152 of the Revised Code;  1177
       (10) The circumstances described in division (D)(4) of  1178
section 3503.201 of the Revised Code;  1179
       (11) The circumstances described in section 111.44 of the  1180
Revised Code;  1181
       (12) The circumstances described in division (Q) of  1182
S. B. No. 451  Page 42
As Introduced
section 3501.05 of the Revised Code;  1183
       (13) The circumstances described in division (C) of  1184
section 3503.24 of the Revised Code;  1185
       (14) The determination by the board of elections that the  1186
elector is a fictitious person;  1187
       (15) The determination by the board of elections that the  1188
registration is a duplicate.  1189
       (B)(1) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures  1190
to identify and cancel the registration in a prior county of  1191
residence of any registrant who changes the registrant's voting  1192
residence to a location outside the registrant's current county  1193
of registration. Any procedures prescribed in this division  1194
shall be uniform and nondiscriminatory, and shall comply with  1195
the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The secretary of state may  1196
prescribe procedures under this division that include the use of  1197
the national change of address service provided by the United  1198
States postal system through its licensees. Any program so  1199
prescribed shall be completed not later than ninety days prior  1200
to the date of any primary or general election for federal  1201
office.  1202
       (2) The registration of any elector identified as having  1203
changed the elector's voting residence to a location outside the  1204
elector's current county of registration shall not be canceled  1205
unless the registrant is sent a confirmation notice on a form  1206
prescribed by the secretary of state and the registrant fails to  1207
respond to the confirmation notice or otherwise update the  1208
registration and fails to vote in any election during the period  1209
of two federal elections subsequent to the mailing of the  1210
confirmation notice.  1211
S. B. No. 451  Page 43
As Introduced
       (C) The registration of a registered elector shall not be  1212
canceled except as provided in this section.  1213
       (D) Boards of elections shall send their voter  1214
registration information to the secretary of state as required  1215
under section 3503.15 of the Revised Code. The secretary of  1216
state may prescribe by rule adopted pursuant to section 111.15  1217
of the Revised Code the format in which the boards of elections  1218
must send that information to the secretary of state. In the  1219
first quarter of each year, the secretary of state shall send  1220
the information to the national change of address service  1221
described in division (B) of this section and request that  1222
service to provide the secretary of state with a list of any  1223
voters sent by the secretary of state who have moved within the  1224
last twelve months. The secretary of state shall transmit to  1225
each appropriate board of elections whatever lists the secretary  1226
of state receives from that service. The board shall send a  1227
notice to each person on the list transmitted by the secretary  1228
of state requesting confirmation of the person's change of  1229
address, together with a postage prepaid, preaddressed return  1230
envelope containing a form on which the voter may verify or  1231
correct the change of address information.  1232
       (E) The registration of a registered elector described in  1233
division (A)(7) or (B)(2) of this section shall be canceled not  1234
later than one hundred twenty days after the date of the second  1235
general federal election in which the elector fails to vote or  1236
not later than one hundred twenty days after the expiration of  1237
the four-year period in which the elector fails to vote or  1238
respond to a confirmation notice, whichever is later.  1239
       (F)(1) When a registration is canceled pursuant to this  1240
section, the applicable board of elections shall send a written  1241
S. B. No. 451  Page 44
As Introduced
notice, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, to the  1242
address at which the elector was registered, informing the  1243
recipient that the elector's registration has been canceled, of  1244
the reason for the cancellation, and that if the cancellation  1245
was made in error, the elector may contact the board of  1246
elections to correct the error.  1247
       (2) If the elector's registration is canceled in error, it  1248
shall be restored and treated as though it were never canceled.  1249
       Sec. 3503.33. (A) If an elector applying for registration  1250
is already registered in another state or in another county  1251
within this state, the elector shall declare this fact to the  1252
registration officer and shall sign elector's registration  1253
application is an authorization to cancel transfer the elector's  1254
previous registration on a form prescribed by the secretary of  1255
state to the board of elections of the elector's new county.  1256
       The director of the board (B) When, based on the  1257
information in the statewide voter registration database, it  1258
becomes apparent that an elector who is registered to vote in  1259
one county has registered to vote in a new county, the secretary  1260
of state shall instruct the boards of elections shall mail all  1261
such authorizations of both counties to the board of elections  1262
or comparable agency of the proper state and confirm that the  1263
registration records are for the same elector and, if so, to  1264
securely transmit a copy of the elector's previous registration  1265
record to the board of elections of the elector's new county.  1266
Upon the receipt of this authorization from the forwarding  1267
county, the director of a The board of elections in Ohio, upon a  1268
comparison of the elector's signature with the elector's  1269
signature as it appears on the registration files, of the  1270
elector's previous county shall remove the elector's previous  1271
S. B. No. 451  Page 45
As Introduced
registration record from the files, and place it with the  1272
cancellation authorization in a separate file which shall be  1273
kept for a period of two calendar years. The board shall notify  1274
the elector at the present address as shown on the cancellation  1275
authorization that his registration has been canceled.  1276
       (C) The secretary of state shall provide procedures for  1277
the boards of elections to follow under division (B) of this  1278
section, including procedures to ensure the secure transmission  1279
of voter registration records between the boards.  1280
       Sec. 3503.34. (A)(1) If an elector applying for  1281
registration in another state is already registered in this  1282
state, and the elector provides the elector's former residence  1283
address in this state or otherwise indicates that the elector is  1284
registered in this state and requests on the registration form  1285
that the elector's previous registration be canceled, the  1286
elector's registration application is an authorization to cancel  1287
the elector's registration in this state.  1288
       (2) Upon receiving a copy of the elector's registration  1289
application in the other state from an appropriate election  1290
official of that state, the secretary of state promptly shall  1291
transmit the application to the appropriate board of elections.  1292
The board shall compare the information in the application with  1293
the board's records and, if it determines that the elector in  1294
the board's records is the same elector who submitted the  1295
application, shall cancel the elector's registration and place  1296
it in a separate file, which shall be kept for a period of two  1297
calendar years.  1298
       (B)(1) If an elector applying for registration in this  1299
state is already registered in another state and the elector  1300
provides the elector's former residence address or otherwise  1301
S. B. No. 451  Page 46
As Introduced
indicates that the elector is registered in the other state and  1302
requests on the registration form that the elector's previous  1303
registration be canceled, the elector's registration application  1304
is an authorization to cancel the elector's previous  1305
registration. Upon processing the registration application, the  1306
board of elections shall transmit the elector's new registration  1307
record and a copy of the elector's new registration form to the  1308
secretary of state in the manner prescribed by the secretary of  1309
state.  1310
       (2) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(3) of  1311
this section, at least once per calendar quarter, the secretary  1312
of state shall securely transmit a report to the chief election  1313
official of each state from which one or more electors has moved  1314
to Ohio since the last report was transmitted to that state  1315
under this division. The report shall include, for each elector  1316
identified as having moved to Ohio from that state since the  1317
last report was transmitted, the information in the elector's  1318
new registration record, a copy of the elector's new  1319
registration form, and any other information requested by the  1320
chief election official of that state that is necessary for  1321
voter roll maintenance.  1322
       (3) Before first transmitting a report to the chief  1323
election official of a state under division (B)(2) of this  1324
section, the secretary of state shall enter into an agreement  1325
with that chief election official for the secretary of state to  1326
transmit the reports. The secretary of state shall not transmit  1327
a report under division (B)(2) of this section to any state with  1328
which the secretary of state does not have such an agreement.  1329
The agreement shall include procedures to ensure that the  1330
information in the reports that is not a public record subject  1331
to disclosure under section 3503.13 of the Revised Code is  1332
S. B. No. 451  Page 47
As Introduced
disclosed only to the appropriate election officials in that  1333
state for the purpose of voter roll maintenance and is not  1334
inadvertently disclosed to any other person or for any other  1335
purpose.  1336
       (C) At least once per calendar quarter, the secretary of  1337
state shall submit to the general assembly a report of all of  1338
the following:  1339
       (1) The total number of electors concerning whom the  1340
secretary of state received reports from the chief election  1341
officials of other states since the last report prepared under  1342
division (C) of this section, indicating that the electors have  1343
moved to another state, and how many of those electors'  1344
registrations in this state have been canceled under division  1345
(A) of this section;  1346
       (2) The total number of electors whose information the  1347
secretary of state transmitted to the chief election officials  1348
of other states under division (B)(2) of this section since the  1349
last report prepared under division (C) of this section;  1350
       (3) The information described in division (C)(2) of this  1351
section, disaggregated by state.  1352
       Sec. 3503.35. Upon receiving notice from an appropriate  1353
election official in another state that an elector has  1354
registered to vote in that state, other than under division (A)  1355
of section 3503.34 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state  1356
shall notify the board of elections of the county in which the  1357
elector is registered to vote and the board promptly shall  1358
cancel the elector's registration.  1359
       Sec. 3517.14. (A)(1) There is in the office of the  1360
secretary of state the Ohio election integrity commission,  1361
S. B. No. 451  Page 48
As Introduced
consisting of the following five members and two alternate  1362
members:  1363
       (a) A chairperson appointed by the secretary of state;  1364
       (b) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of  1365
representatives;  1366
       (c) One member appointed by the minority leader of the  1367
house of representatives;  1368
       (d) One member appointed by the president of the senate;  1369
       (e) One member appointed by the senate minority leader;  1370
       (f) One alternate member appointed by the secretary of  1371
state;  1372
       (g) One alternate member appointed by the legislative  1373
leader of the largest political party in the senate of which the  1374
secretary of state is not a member.  1375
       (2)(a) Subject to division (A)(2)(b) of this section, each  1376
member of the commission shall be a registered elector to whom  1377
at least one of the following applies:  1378
       (i) The person is an attorney in good standing before the  1379
supreme court of Ohio.  1380
       (ii) The person has at least four years of work experience  1381
in election administration.  1382
       (b) At all times, at least three members of the commission  1383
shall be attorneys in good standing before the supreme court of  1384
Ohio. If, at any time that multiple appointments to the  1385
commission are made simultaneously, too few of the intended  1386
appointees are attorneys, the following appointing officials  1387
shall have priority in selecting their preferred appointees who  1388
S. B. No. 451  Page 49
As Introduced
are not attorneys, in the order stated, and the appointing  1389
officials with lower priority shall select appointees who are  1390
attorneys: the secretary of state, the speaker of the house of  1391
representatives, the president of the senate, the senate  1392
minority leader, and the house minority leader.  1393
       (c) Each alternate member or temporary alternate member of  1394
the commission shall be a registered elector who is an attorney  1395
in good standing before the supreme court of Ohio.  1396
       (3) The members of the commission appointed under  1397
divisions (A)(1)(a), (c), and (d) of this section shall serve  1398
initial terms of four years beginning on January 1, 2026, and  1399
the members appointed under divisions (A)(1)(b) and (e) of this  1400
section shall serve initial terms of two years beginning on  1401
January 1, 2026. Thereafter, all terms shall be four years.  1402
       (4) The alternate members of the commission shall serve  1403
initial terms ending on December 31, 2028. The next alternate  1404
members shall serve terms of two years beginning on January 1,  1405
2029, and thereafter, all terms of alternate members shall be  1406
two years.  1407
       (B) Each member or alternate member of the commission  1408
shall hold office from the date of the member's appointment  1409
until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. A  1410
member or alternate member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring  1411
prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's  1412
predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of  1413
that term. A member or alternate member shall continue in office  1414
subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the  1415
member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days  1416
has elapsed, whichever occurs first.  1417
S. B. No. 451  Page 50
As Introduced
       (C) A vacancy on the commission may be caused by death or  1418
resignation or by removal under division (I) of this section.  1419
Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as for the  1420
original appointment.  1421
       (D) (D)(1) Each member of the commission while in the  1422
performance of the business of the commission shall be entitled  1423
to receive compensation at the rate of twenty-five thousand  1424
dollars per year. Members  1425
       (2) Each alternate member or temporary alternate member of  1426
the commission shall receive compensation at the rate of five  1427
hundred dollars per matter heard under division (B) of section  1428
3517.15 of the Revised Code.  1429
       (3) Members, alternate members, and temporary alternate  1430
members shall be reimbursed for expenses actually and  1431
necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.  1432
       (E) No member of the commission shall serve for more than  1433
two successive terms of four years. Terms are considered  1434
successive unless separated by a period of at least four years.  1435
In determining a person's eligibility to be a member of the  1436
commission, all of the following apply:  1437
       (1) Time spent as a member in fulfillment of a term to  1438
which another person was first appointed shall not be  1439
considered, provided that a period of at least four years has  1440
passed between the time, if any, when the person previously was  1441
a member and the time the person is appointed to fulfill the  1442
unexpired term.  1443
       (2) A person who is appointed to serve a full term and  1444
resigns before completing the term is considered to have served  1445
the full term.  1446
S. B. No. 451  Page 51
As Introduced
       (3) A two-year term served under division (A)(3) of this  1447
section is considered a full term of four years.  1448
       (F)(1) No member, alternate member, or temporary alternate  1449
member of the Ohio election integrity commission shall do or be  1450
any of the following:  1451
       (a) Hold, or be a candidate for, an elected public office;  1452
       (b) Serve on a committee supporting or opposing a  1453
candidate or ballot question or issue;  1454
       (c) Be an officer of the state central committee, a county  1455
central committee, or a district, city, township, or other  1456
committee of a political party or an officer of the executive  1457
committee of the state central committee, a county central  1458
committee, or a district, city, township, or other committee of  1459
a political party;  1460
       (d) Be a legislative agent as defined in section 101.70 of  1461
the Revised Code or an executive agency lobbyist as defined in  1462
section 121.60 of the Revised Code;  1463
       (e) Solicit or be involved in soliciting contributions on  1464
behalf of a candidate, campaign committee, political party,  1465
legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or  1466
political contributing entity;  1467
       (f) Be compensated for providing goods or services to a  1468
candidate, campaign committee, political party, legislative  1469
campaign fund, political action committee, or political  1470
contributing entity;  1471
       (g) Be a person or employee who is excluded from the  1472
definition of public employee pursuant to division (C) of  1473
section 4117.01 of the Revised Code.  1474
S. B. No. 451  Page 52
As Introduced
       (2) No member, alternate member, or temporary alternate  1475
member of the commission shall make a contribution to, or for  1476
the benefit of, a campaign committee or committee in support of  1477
or opposition to a ballot question or issue, a political party,  1478
a legislative campaign fund, a political action committee, or a  1479
political contributing entity.  1480
       (G)(1) The commission shall meet at the call of the  1481
chairperson or upon the written request of a majority of the  1482
members. The meetings and hearings of the commission under  1483
sections 3517.15 to 3517.18 of the Revised Code are subject to  1484
section 121.22 of the Revised Code.  1485
       (2) The commission shall adopt rules for its procedures in  1486
accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. Four of the  1487
five members constitute a quorum. Except as otherwise provided  1488
in this section and in sections 3517.15 to 3517.18 of the  1489
Revised Code, no action shall be taken without the concurrence  1490
of a majority of the members.  1491
       (H) The secretary of state shall employ the technical,  1492
professional, and clerical employees that are necessary for the  1493
commission to carry out its duties, and the attorney general  1494
shall provide legal counsel to the commission upon the  1495
commission's request.  1496
       (I)(1) The secretary of state, the speaker or minority  1497
leader of the house of representatives, or the president or  1498
minority leader of the senate may file a complaint in the  1499
supreme court of Ohio, seeking the removal of a member,  1500
alternate member, or temporary alternate member of the  1501
commission on any of the following grounds:  1502
       (a) That the member does not meet the applicable  1503
S. B. No. 451  Page 53
As Introduced
requirements of division (A)(2) of this section;  1504
       (b) That the member has violated division (F) of this  1505
section;  1506
       (c) That In the case of a regular member, that the member  1507
has been absent from three or more meetings of the commission in  1508
a calendar year;  1509
       (d) That the member is guilty of misconduct in office, as  1510
described in section 3.07 of the Revised Code.  1511
       (2) The court shall hear a complaint filed with it under  1512
division (I)(1) of this section on an expedited basis. If the  1513
court determines that the charges in the complaint are true, the  1514
court shall order the member removed from the commission, and  1515
the seat shall be considered vacant.  1516
       Sec. 3517.15. (A)(1) No prosecution shall commence for a  1517
violation of a provision in sections 145.054, 742.043, 3307.073,  1518
3309.073, 3517.08 to 3517.12, 3517.13, 3517.20 to 3517.22,  1519
3599.03, 3599.031, or 5505.045 of the Revised Code unless a  1520
complaint has been filed with the secretary of state under  1521
section 3517.16 of the Revised Code and all proceedings under  1522
sections 3517.16 to 3517.18 of the Revised Code are completed.  1523
       (2) A complaint may be filed with the secretary of state  1524
under section 3517.16 of the Revised Code for a violation of a  1525
provision in sections 3501.35, 3599.13, 3599.14, or 3599.21,  1526
division (A) of section 3599.11, or division (A)(1) or (2) of  1527
section 3599.12 of the Revised Code that occurs on or after the  1528
effective date of this amendment September 30, 2025. A  1529
prosecution may commence for a violation of such a provision at  1530
any time before or after a complaint has been filed with the  1531
secretary of state under section 3517.16 of the Revised Code.  1532
S. B. No. 451  Page 54
As Introduced
       (B)(1) The Ohio election integrity commission shall hear  1533
all matters referred to the commission by the secretary of state  1534
under division (E)(3) of section 3517.16 of the Revised Code.  1535
       (2) No member, alternate member, or temporary alternate  1536
member of the commission shall participate in any meeting,  1537
deliberation, or vote on any matter in which the person is a  1538
party, is involved, or otherwise has a conflict of interest. A  1539
member, alternate member, or temporary alternate member shall  1540
recuse the person's self from any such matter. A member,  1541
alternate member, or temporary alternate member may recuse the  1542
person's self from any other matter to avoid any appearance of  1543
impropriety.  1544
       (3) When a member is recused under division (B)(2) of this  1545
section, the alternate member of the commission who was  1546
appointed by an authority who is a member of the same political  1547
party as the authority that appointed the recused member shall  1548
serve in the recused member's place, solely for the purpose of  1549
participating in any meeting, deliberation, or vote on the  1550
relevant matter. An alternate member shall participate in no  1551
other meeting, deliberation, or vote of the commission.  1552
       (4) When an alternate member is recused under division (B)  1553
(2) of this section or is unavailable to serve in place of a  1554
member because multiple members are recused, the authority who  1555
appointed the alternate member shall appoint a temporary  1556
alternate member to serve in the alternate member's place,  1557
solely for the purpose of participating in any meeting,  1558
deliberation, or vote on the relevant matter. A temporary  1559
alternate member shall participate in no other meeting,  1560
deliberation, or vote of the commission. The temporary alternate  1561
member's term of office ends at the disposition of the relevant  1562
S. B. No. 451  Page 55
As Introduced
matter.  1563
       (5) When a temporary alternate member is recused under  1564
division (B)(2) of this section, the authority who appointed the  1565
temporary alternate member shall appoint another temporary  1566
alternate member in accordance with division (B)(4) of this  1567
section.  1568
       (C) The commission may recommend legislation and render  1569
advisory opinions concerning the provisions of the Revised Code  1570
listed in division (A) of this section for persons over whose  1571
acts the commission has or may have jurisdiction. When the  1572
commission renders an advisory opinion relating to a specific  1573
set of circumstances involving any of those sections stating  1574
that there is no violation of a provision in those sections, the  1575
person to whom the opinion is directed or a person who is  1576
similarly situated may reasonably rely on the opinion and is  1577
immune from criminal prosecution and a civil action, including,  1578
without limitation, a civil action for removal from public  1579
office or employment, based on facts and circumstances covered  1580
by the opinion. An advisory opinion issued by the Ohio elections  1581
commission that is in effect as of the effective date of this  1582
amendment September 30, 2025, is considered an advisory opinion  1583
of the Ohio election integrity commission, unless and until the  1584
Ohio election integrity commission amends or rescinds the  1585
advisory opinion.  1586
       (C) (D) The secretary of state and the boards of elections  1587
shall furnish the information that the commission requests. The  1588
commission or a member of the commission may administer oaths,  1589
and the commission may issue subpoenas to any person in the  1590
state compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production  1591
of relevant papers, books, accounts, and reports. Section 101.42  1592
S. B. No. 451  Page 56
As Introduced
of the Revised Code governs the issuance of subpoenas insofar as  1593
applicable. Upon the refusal of any person to obey a subpoena or  1594
to be sworn or to answer as a witness, the commission may apply  1595
to the court of common pleas of Franklin county under section  1596
2705.03 of the Revised Code. The court shall hold proceedings in  1597
accordance with Chapter 2705. of the Revised Code.  1598
       (D) (E) The Ohio election integrity commission shall  1599
establish a web site on which it shall post, at a minimum, all  1600
decisions and advisory opinions issued by the commission, all  1601
decisions and advisory opinions issued by the Ohio elections  1602
commission before the effective date of this amendment September  1603
30, 2025, and copies of each election law as it is amended by  1604
the general assembly. The Ohio election integrity commission  1605
shall update the web site regularly to reflect any changes to  1606
those decisions and advisory opinions and any new decisions and  1607
advisory opinions.  1608
       Sec. 3517.16. (A)(1) Any person who has personal knowledge  1609
of a violation of a provision of the Revised Code listed in  1610
division (A) of section 3517.15 of the Revised Code may file a  1611
complaint with the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by  1612
the secretary of state and signed under penalty of perjury.  1613
       (2) An official at a board of elections may file a  1614
complaint with the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by  1615
the secretary of state and signed under penalty of perjury,  1616
alleging a violation of a provision of the Revised Code listed  1617
in division (A) of section 3517.15 of the Revised Code.  1618
       (3) The election integrity unit of the office of the  1619
secretary of state may initiate a complaint alleging a violation  1620
of a provision of the Revised Code listed in division (A) of  1621
section 3517.16 of the Revised Code.  1622
S. B. No. 451  Page 57
As Introduced
       (B)(1) Subject to division (F) of this section, the  1623
election integrity unit shall review each complaint filed with  1624
the secretary of state under division (A)(1) or (2) of this  1625
section. If the complaint does not allege a violation of a  1626
provision of the Revised Code listed in division (A) of section  1627
3517.15 of the Revised Code or, in the case of a complaint filed  1628
under division (A)(1) of this section, is not based on personal  1629
knowledge, the secretary of state shall dismiss the complaint.  1630
Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section,  1631
a dismissal under this division is without prejudice.  1632
       (2) After a complaint is dismissed under division (B)(1)  1633
of this section on the ground that the complaint is not based on  1634
personal knowledge, if the same person files another complaint  1635
alleging the same or a substantially similar violation and the  1636
complaint is not based on personal knowledge, the secretary of  1637
state shall dismiss the complaint with prejudice.  1638
       (3) If the complaint is not dismissed under division (B)  1639
(1) or (2) of this section, the election integrity unit shall  1640
investigate the complaint.  1641
       (C) Subject to division (F) of this section, the election  1642
integrity unit shall draft a report to the secretary of state  1643
concerning each complaint filed under division (A) of this  1644
section that is not dismissed under division (B) of this  1645
section. The report shall recommend that the secretary of state  1646
make a particular finding and, if applicable, impose a fine or  1647
refer the matter for prosecution, in accordance with section  1648
3517.17 of the Revised Code.  1649
       (D) The election integrity unit may join two or more  1650
complaints if the unit determines that the allegations in each  1651
complaint are of the same or similar character, are based on the  1652
S. B. No. 451  Page 58
As Introduced
same act or failure to act, or are based on two or more acts or  1653
failures to act constituting parts of a common scheme or plan.  1654
If one complaint contains two or more allegations, the unit may  1655
separate the allegations if they are not of the same or similar  1656
character, if they are not based on the same act or failure to  1657
act, or if they are not based on two or more acts or failures to  1658
act constituting parts of a common scheme or plan. If the unit  1659
separates the allegations in a complaint, the unit may make  1660
separate recommendations under division (C) of this section for  1661
each allegation.  1662
       (E)(1) Upon receiving the recommendation of the election  1663
integrity unit under division (C) of this section, the secretary  1664
of state shall review the report and recommendation and shall do  1665
one of the following:  1666
       (a) Refer the matter back to the unit for further  1667
investigation and a revised recommendation under division (C) of  1668
this section;  1669
       (b) Make a finding in accordance with section 3517.17 of  1670
the Revised Code, and, if applicable, impose a fine or refer the  1671
matter for prosecution.  1672
       (2) The secretary of state shall serve notice of the  1673
secretary of state's decision under division (E)(1)(b) of this  1674
section on the person who is alleged to have committed the  1675
violation in accordance with section 119.05 of the Revised Code.  1676
       (3) If the secretary of state finds that a violation has  1677
occurred and imposes a fine and, within fourteen days after  1678
service of the notice is complete under section 119.05 of the  1679
Revised Code, the person objects to the secretary of state's  1680
decision, the secretary of state shall not impose a the fine or  1681
S. B. No. 451  Page 59
As Introduced
refer the matter for prosecution, and immediately shall refer  1682
the matter to the Ohio election integrity commission for its  1683
determination under section 3517.17 of the Revised Code.  1684
       (4) If the secretary of state finds that a violation has  1685
occurred and imposes a fine and the person does not object to  1686
the secretary of state's decision within fourteen days after  1687
receiving the notice, the secretary of state's decision is final  1688
and, if applicable, the secretary of state shall impose a the  1689
fine or refer the matter for prosecution as determined under  1690
division (E)(1)(b) of this section.  1691
       (F)(1) If any of the following apply to a complaint, the  1692
secretary of state shall proceed under division (F)(2) of this  1693
section:  1694
       (a) The secretary of state is a party to the complaint.  1695
       (b) A candidate for an office for which the secretary of  1696
state is also a candidate is a party to the complaint or is  1697
otherwise involved in the complaint.  1698
       (c) The complaint involves a contribution, expenditure, or  1699
independent expenditure made to advocate the election or defeat  1700
of the secretary of state or a candidate for an office for which  1701
the secretary of state is also a candidate.  1702
       (d) The secretary of state determines that the secretary  1703
of state otherwise has a conflict of interest with respect to  1704
the complaint or that the secretary of state should proceed  1705
under division (F)(2) of this section to avoid any appearance of  1706
impropriety.  1707
       (2) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of divisions  1708
(B) to (E) of this section, when division (F)(1) of this section  1709
applies to a complaint, the secretary of state shall request the  1710
S. B. No. 451  Page 60
As Introduced
attorney general to designate one or more persons to fulfill the  1711
duties of the election integrity unit described in divisions (B)  1712
to (D) of this section. The attorney general shall designate  1713
those persons and shall fulfill the duties of the secretary of  1714
state under divisions (B) to (D) of this section.  1715
       Section 2. That existing sections 109.71, 109.77, 2935.01,  1716
3501.05, 3501.055, 3503.02, 3503.14, 3503.21, 3503.33, 3517.14,  1717
3517.15, and 3517.16 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.  1718
       Section 3. Sections 3503.14, 3503.21, 3503.33, 3503.34,  1719
and 3503.35 of the Revised Code, as amended or enacted by this  1720
act, shall be known as the Interstate Voter Assistance Act.  1721