SB 461

As Introduced
136th General Assembly
   Regular Session  S. B. No. 461
       2025-2026
  Senator Cirino
  To amend sections 3335.39, 3339.06, 3344.07,  1
  3345.382, 3345.58, 3352.16, and 3364.07 of the  2
  Revised Code to enact the Strengthening Ohio  3
  Civics Act regarding American civics literacy  4
  courses and the operation of academic civics  5
  centers.  6
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
     Section 1. That sections 3335.39, 3339.06, 3344.07,  7
3345.382, 3345.58, 3352.16, and 3364.07 of the Revised Code be  8
amended to read as follows:  9
     Sec. 3335.39. (A)(1) The Salmon P. Chase center for  10
civics, culture, and society is established as an independent  11
academic unit within the Ohio state university. The center shall       12
have all the rights and privileges of an independent college of        13
the university. The center shall conduct teaching and research  14
in the historical ideas, traditions, and texts that have shaped        15
the American constitutional order and society.  16
     (2) The center shall establish bylaws requiring the center        17
to do all of the following:  18
     (a) Educate students by means of free, open, and rigorous  19
intellectual inquiry to seek the truth;  20
S. B. No. 461  Page 2
As Introduced
       (b) Affirm its duty to equip students with the skills,  21
habits, and dispositions of mind they need to reach their own  22
informed conclusions on matters of social and political  23
importance;  24
       (c) Affirm the value of intellectual diversity in higher  25
education and aspire to enhance the intellectual diversity of  26
the university;  27
       (d) Affirm a commitment to create a community dedicated to  28
an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the  29
intellectual freedom of each member, supports individual  30
capacities for growth, and welcomes the differences of opinion  31
that shall naturally exist in a public university community.  32
       The requirements prescribed under divisions (A)(2)(a) to  33
(d) of this section shall take priority over any other bylaws  34
adopted by the center.  35
       (3) Beginning January 1, 2027, the Salmon P. Chase center  36
for civics, culture, and society shall be known as the Salmon P.  37
Chase school for civics, culture, and society, and the director  38
shall serve as dean of the school. On and after that date,  39
whenever the term "center" is used, referred to, or designated  40
in any statute, rule, contract, grant, or other document, the  41
use, reference, or designation shall be construed to mean the  42
"school" unless another section of law expressly provides  43
otherwise.  44
       (4) The board of trustees of the university may change the  45
name of the center in accordance with the philanthropic naming  46
policies and practices of the university.  47
       (B)(1) The center shall be an independent academic unit  48
with the authority to house tenure-track faculty who hold their  49
S. B. No. 461  Page 3
As Introduced
appointments within the center. Faculty appointed to the center  50
shall not be required, but may, hold joint appointments within  51
any other division of the university. Not fewer than fifteen  52
tenure-track faculty positions shall be allotted to teach under  53
the center. No faculty outside of the center shall have the  54
authority to block faculty hires into the center. No faculty  55
outside of the center shall have a role in center faculty  56
promotion and tenure, except with the consent of the director.  57
       (2) The university shall provide adequate and appropriate  58
space for the center as jointly determined by the director and  59
either the president or provost of the university. The  60
university shall not charge or assess overhead or indirect fees,  61
costs, expenses, or charges to the center.  62
       Nothing in this section precludes the ability for the  63
center to apply for external funding opportunities and negotiate  64
overhead charges as jointly determined by the director and  65
either the president or provost of the university.  66
       (3) The university shall provide adequate annual financial  67
resources to the center to achieve its mission, as determined by  68
the director. The sum of the annual money transferred from the  69
university to the center plus the annual appropriation from the  70
state to the center shall not be less than the highest annual  71
appropriation provided by the state to the center in a main  72
operating appropriation act.  73
       (4) Notwithstanding any university budget allocation  74
methodology to the contrary, the center shall receive all  75
tuition and other revenue from all of the courses it offers,  76
subject only to charges applied to all other academic units.  77
       (5) The center shall have the authority to create  78
S. B. No. 461  Page 4
As Introduced
independent endowments, both temporary and permanent, and a  79
foundation for the sole benefit of the center and place funds  80
from whatever source, including gifts, donations, grants,  81
university funds and state appropriations, in such endowments.  82
       (C)(1) The center shall offer instruction in all of the  83
following:  84
       (a) The books and major debates which form the  85
intellectual foundation of free societies, especially that of  86
the United States;  87
       (b) The principles, ideals, and institutions of the  88
American constitutional order;  89
       (c) The foundations of responsible leadership and informed  90
citizenship.  91
       (2) The center also shall focus on both of the following:  92
       (a) Offering university-wide programming related to the  93
values of free speech and civil discourse;  94
       (b) Expanding the intellectual diversity of the  95
university's academic community.  96
       (D)(1) The board of trustees of the university shall  97
appoint, with the advice and consent of the senate, a seven-  98
member Chase center academic council. An initial member shall  99
not begin service until confirmed by the senate. Four members  100
shall form a quorum.  101
       (2) The academic council shall be comprised of scholars  102
with relevant expertise and experience. Not more than one member  103
of the council may be an employee of the university. Best  104
efforts shall be made to have not fewer than three members of  105
the advisory board be from Ohio.  106
S. B. No. 461  Page 5
As Introduced
       (3) Three members of the academic council shall serve  107
initial terms of two years and four members shall serve initial  108
terms of four years, which the members shall determine at their  109
first meeting, and select replacements for vacant seats.  110
       (E)(1) The academic council established under division (D)  111
of this section shall conduct a nationwide search for candidates  112
for the director of the center and shall strictly adhere to all  113
relevant state and federal laws. The academic council shall  114
submit to the president of the university a list of finalists  115
from which the president shall select and appoint a director,  116
subject to approval by the board of trustees. Future directors  117
shall be chosen in the same manner.  118
       (2) The director shall have the protection of tenure or  119
tenure eligibility. The director shall report directly to the  120
provost or the president of the university.  121
       (3) The director shall have the sole and exclusive  122
authority to manage all aspects of the recruitment and hiring  123
process and to extend offers for employment for and to hire all  124
faculty and staff, and to terminate employment of all staff. The  125
director's authority includes determining the salary, tenure,  126
and rank of faculty. The director may seek advice from faculty  127
outside of the center but shall not be required to seek or  128
receive such advice. The director shall have the sole,  129
exclusive, and unlimited authority to oversee, develop, and  130
approve the center's curriculum, including approval which of the  131
center's courses that the director, in the director's sole and  132
exclusive discretion, determines meet the university's general  133
education requirements. The center shall be granted have the  134
authority to offer courses independently and develop  135
certificate, minor, and major programs as well as graduate  136
S. B. No. 461  Page 6
As Introduced
programs, and offer degrees.  137
       (F)(F)(1) The director of the center shall submit an  138
annual report to the board of trustees of the university and the  139
general assembly in accordance with section 101.68 of the  140
Revised Code. The report shall provide a full account of the  141
center's achievements, opportunities, challenges, and obstacles  142
in the development of this academic unit.  143
       (2) The president or provost of the university shall  144
report to the board of trustees at every board meeting on the  145
progress of the center toward achieving its mission and the  146
university's support for the center, including its academic  147
program development, faculty and staff hiring, facility, and  148
development and advancement.  149
       Sec. 3339.06. (A)(1) The Miami university center for  150
civics, culture, and society is established as an independent  151
academic unit within Miami university. The center shall have all  152
the rights and privileges of an independent college of the  153
university. The center shall conduct teaching and research in  154
the historical ideas, traditions, and texts that have shaped the  155
American constitutional order and society.  156
       (2) The center shall establish bylaws requiring the center  157
to do all of the following:  158
       (a) Educate students by means of free, open, and rigorous  159
intellectual inquiry to seek the truth;  160
       (b) Affirm its duty to equip students with the skills,  161
habits, and dispositions of mind they need to reach their own  162
informed conclusions on matters of social and political  163
importance;  164
       (c) Affirm the value of intellectual diversity in higher  165
S. B. No. 461  Page 7
As Introduced
education and aspire to enhance the intellectual diversity of  166
the university;  167
       (d) Affirm a commitment to create a community dedicated to  168
an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the  169
intellectual freedom of each member, supports individual  170
capacities for growth, and welcomes the differences of opinion  171
that shall naturally exist in a public university community.  172
       The requirements prescribed under divisions (A)(2)(a) to  173
(d) of this section shall take priority over any other bylaws  174
adopted by the center.  175
       (3) The board of trustees of the university may name the  176
center in accordance with the philanthropic naming policies and  177
practices of the university.  178
       (B)(1) The center shall be an independent academic unit  179
physically located at the college of arts and sciences with the  180
authority to house tenure-track faculty who hold their  181
appointments within the center. Faculty appointed to the center  182
shall not be required, but may, hold joint appointments within  183
any other division of the university. Not fewer than ten tenure-  184
track faculty positions shall be allotted to teach under the  185
center. No faculty outside of the center shall have the  186
authority to block faculty hires into the center. No faculty  187
outside of the center shall have a role in center faculty  188
promotion and tenure, except with the consent of the director.  189
       (2) The university shall provide adequate and appropriate  190
space for the center as jointly determined by the director and  191
either the president or provost of the university. The  192
university shall not charge or assess overhead or indirect fees,  193
costs, expenses, or charges to the center.  194
S. B. No. 461  Page 8
As Introduced
       Nothing in this section precludes the ability for the  195
center to apply for external funding opportunities and negotiate  196
overhead charges as jointly determined by the director and  197
either the president or provost of the university.  198
       (3) The university shall provide adequate annual financial  199
resources to the center to achieve its mission as determined by  200
the director. The sum of the annual money transferred from the  201
university to the center plus the annual appropriation from the  202
state to the center shall not be less than the highest annual  203
appropriation provided by the state to the center in a main  204
operating appropriation act.  205
       (4) Notwithstanding any university budget allocation  206
methodology to the contrary, the center shall receive all  207
tuition and other revenue from all of the courses it offers,  208
subject only to charges applied to all other academic units.  209
       (5) The center shall have the authority to create  210
independent endowments, both temporary and permanent, and a  211
foundation for the sole benefit of the center and place funds  212
from whatever source, including gifts, donations, grants,  213
university funds and state appropriations, in such endowments.  214
       (C)(1) The center shall offer instruction in all of the  215
following:  216
       (a) The books and major debates which form the  217
intellectual foundation of free societies, especially that of  218
the United States;  219
       (b) The principles, ideals, and institutions of the  220
American constitutional order;  221
       (c) The foundations of responsible leadership and informed  222
citizenship.  223
S. B. No. 461  Page 9
As Introduced
       (2) The center also shall focus on both of the following:  224
       (a) Offering university-wide programming related to the  225
values of free speech and civil discourse;  226
       (b) Expanding the intellectual diversity of the  227
university's academic community.  228
       (D)(1) The board of trustees of the university shall  229
appoint, with the advice and consent of the senate, a seven-  230
member center academic council. An initial member shall not  231
begin service until confirmed by the senate. Four members shall  232
form a quorum.  233
       (2) The academic council shall be comprised of scholars  234
with relevant expertise and experience. Not more than one member  235
of the council may be an employee of the university. Best  236
efforts shall be made to have not fewer than three members of  237
the advisory board be from Ohio.  238
       (3) Three members of the academic council shall serve  239
initial terms of two years and four members shall serve initial  240
terms of four years, which the members shall determine at their  241
first meeting, and select replacements for vacant seats.  242
       (E)(1) The academic council established under division (D)  243
of this section shall conduct a nationwide search for candidates  244
for the director of the center and shall strictly adhere to all  245
relevant state and federal laws. The academic council shall  246
submit to the president of the university a list of finalists  247
from which the president shall select and appoint a director,  248
subject to approval by the board of trustees. Future directors  249
shall be chosen in the same manner.  250
       (2) The director shall have the protection of tenure or  251
tenure eligibility. The director shall report directly to the  252
S. B. No. 461  Page 10
As Introduced
provost or the president of the university.  253
       (3) The director shall have the sole and exclusive  254
authority to manage all aspects of the recruitment and hiring  255
process and to extend offers for employment for and to hire all  256
faculty and staff of the center, and to terminate employment of  257
all staff. The director's authority includes determining the  258
salary, tenure, and rank of faculty. The director may seek  259
advice from faculty outside of the center but shall not be  260
required to seek or receive such advice. The director shall have  261
the sole, exclusive, and unlimited authority to oversee,  262
develop, and approve the center's curriculum, including approval  263
which of the center's courses that the director, in the  264
director's sole and exclusive discretion, determines meet the  265
university's general education requirements. The center shall be  266
granted have the authority to offer courses independently and  267
develop certificate, minor, and major programs as well as  268
graduate programs, and offer degrees.  269
       (F)(F)(1) The director of the center shall submit an  270
annual report to the board of trustees of the university and the  271
general assembly in accordance with section 101.68 of the  272
Revised Code. The report shall provide a full account of the  273
center's achievements, opportunities, challenges, and obstacles  274
in the development of this academic unit.  275
       (2) The president or provost of the university shall  276
report to the board of trustees at every board meeting on the  277
progress of the center toward achieving its mission and the  278
university's support for the center, including its academic  279
program development, faculty and staff hiring, facility, and  280
development and advancement.  281
       Sec. 3344.07. (A)(1) The Cleveland state university center  282
S. B. No. 461  Page 11
As Introduced
for civics, culture, and society is established as an  283
independent academic unit within Cleveland state university. The  284
center shall have all the rights and privileges of an  285
independent college of the university. The center shall conduct  286
teaching and research in the historical ideas, traditions, and  287
texts that have shaped the American constitutional order and  288
society.  289
       (2) The center shall establish bylaws requiring the center  290
to do all of the following:  291
       (a) Educate students by means of free, open, and rigorous  292
intellectual inquiry to seek the truth;  293
       (b) Affirm its duty to equip students with the skills,  294
habits, and dispositions of mind they need to reach their own  295
informed conclusions on matters of social and political  296
importance;  297
       (c) Affirm the value of intellectual diversity in higher  298
education and aspire to enhance the intellectual diversity of  299
the university;  300
       (d) Affirm a commitment to create a community dedicated to  301
an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the  302
intellectual freedom of each member, supports individual  303
capacities for growth, and welcomes the differences of opinion  304
that shall naturally exist in a public university community.  305
       The requirements prescribed under divisions (A)(2)(a) to  306
(d) of this section shall take priority over any other bylaws  307
adopted by the center.  308
       (3) The board of trustees of the university may name the  309
center in accordance with the philanthropic naming policies and  310
practices of the university.  311
S. B. No. 461  Page 12
As Introduced
       (B)(1) The center shall be an independent academic unit  312
physically located at the college of public affairs and  313
education with the authority to house tenure-track faculty who  314
hold their appointments within the center. Faculty appointed to  315
the center shall not be required, but may, hold joint  316
appointments within any other division of the university. Not  317
fewer than ten tenure-track faculty positions shall be allotted  318
to teach under the center. No faculty outside of the center  319
shall have the authority to block faculty hires into the center.  320
No faculty outside of the center shall have a role in center  321
faculty promotion and tenure, except with the consent of the  322
director.  323
       (2) The university shall provide adequate and appropriate  324
space for the center as jointly determined by the director and  325
either the president or provost of the university. The  326
university shall not charge or assess overhead or indirect fees,  327
costs, expenses, or charges to the center.  328
       Nothing in this section precludes the ability for the  329
center to apply for external funding opportunities and negotiate  330
overhead charges as jointly determined by the director and  331
either the president or provost of the university.  332
       (3) The university shall provide adequate annual financial  333
resources to the center to achieve its mission, as determined by  334
the director. The sum of the annual money transferred from the  335
university to the center plus the annual appropriation from the  336
state to the center shall not be less than the highest annual  337
appropriation provided by the state to the center in a main  338
operating appropriation act.  339
       (4) Notwithstanding any university budget allocation  340
methodology to the contrary, the center shall receive all  341
S. B. No. 461  Page 13
As Introduced
tuition and other revenue from all of the courses it offers,  342
subject only to charges applied to all other academic units.  343
       (5) The center shall have the authority to create  344
independent endowments, both temporary and permanent, and a  345
foundation for the sole benefit of the center and place funds  346
from whatever source, including gifts, donations, grants,  347
university funds and state appropriations, in such endowments.  348
       (C)(1) The center shall offer instruction in all of the  349
following:  350
       (a) The books and major debates which form the  351
intellectual foundation of free societies, especially that of  352
the United States;  353
       (b) The principles, ideals, and institutions of the  354
American constitutional order;  355
       (c) The foundations of responsible leadership and informed  356
citizenship.  357
       (2) The center also shall focus on both of the following:  358
       (a) Offering university-wide programming related to the  359
values of free speech and civil discourse;  360
       (b) Expanding the intellectual diversity of the  361
university's academic community.  362
       (D)(1) The board of trustees of the university shall  363
appoint, with the advice and consent of the senate, a seven-  364
member center academic council. An initial member shall not  365
begin service until confirmed by the senate. Four members shall  366
form a quorum.  367
       (2) The academic council shall be comprised of scholars  368
S. B. No. 461  Page 14
As Introduced
with relevant expertise and experience. Not more than one member  369
of the council may be an employee of the university. Best  370
efforts shall be made to have not fewer than three members of  371
the advisory board be from Ohio.  372
       (3) Three members of the academic council shall serve  373
initial terms of two years and four members shall serve initial  374
terms of four years, which the members shall determine at their  375
first meeting, and select replacements for vacant seats.  376
       (E)(1) The academic council established under division (D)  377
of this section shall conduct a nationwide search for candidates  378
for the director of the center and shall strictly adhere to all  379
relevant state and federal laws. The academic council shall  380
submit to the president of the university a list of finalists  381
from which the president shall select and appoint a director,  382
subject to approval by the board of trustees. Future directors  383
shall be chosen in the same manner.  384
       (2) The director shall have the protection of tenure or  385
tenure eligibility. The director shall report directly to the  386
provost or the president of the university.  387
       (3) The director shall have the sole and exclusive  388
authority to manage all aspects of the recruitment and hiring  389
process and to extend offers for employment for and to hire all  390
faculty and staff of the center, and to terminate employment of  391
all staff. The director's authority includes determining the  392
salary, tenure, and rank of faculty. The director may seek  393
advice from faculty outside of the center but shall not be  394
required to seek or receive such advice. The director shall have  395
the sole, exclusive, and unlimited authority to oversee,  396
develop, and approve the center's curriculum, including approval  397
which of the center's courses that the director, in the  398
S. B. No. 461  Page 15
As Introduced
director's sole and exclusive discretion, determines meet the  399
university's general education requirements. The center shall be  400
granted have the authority to offer courses independently and  401
develop certificate, minor, and major programs as well as  402
graduate programs, and offer degrees.  403
        (F)(F)(1) The director of the center shall submit an  404
annual report to the board of trustees of the university and the  405
general assembly in accordance with section 101.68 of the  406
Revised Code. The report shall provide a full account of the  407
center's achievements, opportunities, challenges, and obstacles  408
in the development of this academic unit.  409
        (2) The president or provost of the university shall  410
report to the board of trustees at every board meeting on the  411
progress of the center toward achieving its mission and the  412
university's support for the center, including its academic  413
program development, faculty and staff hiring, facility, and  414
development and advancement.  415
        Sec. 3345.382. (A) As used in this section, "state :  416
        (1) "Academic civics center" means one of the academic  417
civic centers as defined in section 3345.58 of the Revised Code.  418
        (2) "College credit plus program" means the college credit  419
plus program established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised  420
Code.  421
        (3) "Ohio civics board" means the Ohio civics board  422
established under section 3345.58 of the Revised Code.  423
        (4) "State institution of higher education" has the same  424
meaning as in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.  425
        (B) This division is subject to division (F) of this  426
S. B. No. 461  Page 16
As Introduced
section.  427
       Each state institution of higher education shall develop a  428
course with not fewer than three credit hours in the subject  429
area of American civic literacy. The course shall include a  430
study of the American economic system and capitalism. The course  431
shall comply with the criteria, policies, and procedures  432
established under section 3333.16 of the Revised Code. The  433
course may be offered under the college credit plus program  434
established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code. The course  435
shall, at a minimum, require each student to read all the  436
following:  437
       (1) The entire Constitution of the United States;  438
       (2) The entire Declaration of Independence;  439
       (3) A minimum of five essays in their entirety from the  440
Federalist Papers. The essays shall be selected by the  441
department chair.  442
       (4) The entire Emancipation Proclamation;  443
       (5) The entire Gettysburg Address;  444
       (6) The entire Letter from Birmingham Jail written by Dr.  445
Martin Luther King Jr;  446
       (7) The writings of Adam Smith, including a study of the  447
principles written in The Wealth of Nations.  448
       Any student who takes the course shall be required to pass  449
a cumulative final examination at the conclusion of the course  450
that assesses student proficiency about the documents described  451
in divisions (B)(1) to (7) of this section.  452
       Each state institution of higher education board of  453
S. B. No. 461  Page 17
As Introduced
trustees shall adopt a resolution approving a plan to offer the  454
course developed under this section. Each state institution  455
shall submit that plan to the chancellor of higher education.  456
The chancellor shall review and approve each plan. Prior to  457
approving a plan, the chancellor may require a state institution  458
to revise the plan and the course.  459
       Each state institution of higher education board of  460
trustees also shall adopt a resolution specifying the conditions  461
under which the state institution's president or designee may  462
exempt a student under division (D)(3) of this section.  463
       (C) Beginning with students who graduate from a state  464
institution of higher education in the spring semester, or  465
equivalent quarter, of the 2029-2030 academic year, no state  466
institution of higher education shall grant a bachelor's degree  467
to any student unless the student completes a course described  468
in division (B) of this section. A state institution may require  469
students to complete the course as part of the institution's  470
general education courses of study.  471
       (D) This division is subject to division (F) of this  472
section.  473
       The president of a state institution of higher education,  474
or the president's designee, may exempt a student from the  475
requirement to complete a course described in division (B) of  476
this section, if the president or designee determines that the  477
student has completed at least one of the following:  478
       (1) A course offered under the college credit plus program  479
established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code that  480
satisfies the content requirements described in division (B) of  481
this section and is approved by the chancellor;  482
S. B. No. 461  Page 18
As Introduced
       (2) An advanced placement course and examination that  483
satisfy the content requirements described in division (B) of  484
this section and are approved by the chancellor, and the student  485
receives a score of three or higher on that examination;  486
       (3) At least three credit hours, or the equivalent, in a  487
course in the subject area of American history or American  488
government which includes the study of the documents described  489
in divisions (B)(1) to (7) of this section.  490
       Division (D)(3) of this section does not apply after the  491
2030-2031 academic year.  492
       (E) This section does not apply to associate's degree  493
programs.  494
       (F) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this  495
section, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, all of the  496
following apply:  497
       (1) The Ohio civics board has sole and exclusive authority  498
over all aspects of American civic literacy courses established  499
under this section, including course modality, syllabi, class  500
size, faculty teachers, and course content.  501
       (2) American civic literacy courses offered by a state  502
institution are subject to the approval of the board. The board  503
may adopt standard, uniform, or model American civic literacy  504
courses for use, exclusive or otherwise, in the board's  505
judgment, in state institutions.  506
       (3) In each state institution that has an academic civics  507
center, the civics center, or its designee, shall be the  508
exclusive provider of any American civic literacy course in that  509
institution. The academic civics center that provides an  510
American civic literacy course shall receive the tuition, state  511
S. B. No. 461  Page 19
As Introduced
share of instruction, and all other standard revenues associated  512
with that course in the state institution. The academic civics  513
center may designate providers of the American civic literacy  514
course in its institution on such terms and conditions, as  515
determined by the center's director.  516
       (4) In each state institution that does not have an  517
academic civics center, the institution shall utilize an  518
American civic literacy course approved by the Ohio civics  519
board. Such a state institution may contract with an academic  520
civics center for the center to offer the course at the  521
institution.  522
       (5) The Ohio civics board has sole and exclusive authority  523
over any American civic literacy class offered under the college  524
credit plus program. The board shall determine whether and under  525
what conditions such a course shall be offered. The board may  526
license and authorize the offering of such a course on terms and  527
conditions identified by the board.  528
       Sec. 3345.58. (A) As used in this section:  529
       (1) "Academic civics centers" means the following  530
institutes or centers:  531
       (a) The center at the Ohio state university established  532
under section 3335.39 of the Revised Code;  533
       (b) The center at Miami university established under  534
section 3339.06 of the Revised Code;  535
       (c) The center at Cleveland state university established  536
under section 3344.07 of the Revised Code;  537
       (d) The center at Wright state university established  538
under section 3352.16 of the Revised Code;  539
S. B. No. 461  Page 20
As Introduced
       (e) The institute at the university of Toledo established  540
under section 3364.07 of the Revised Code.  541
       (2) "State institution of higher education" has the same  542
meaning as in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.  543
       (B)(B)(1) The Ohio civics board is established. The board  544
shall consist of the directors of the academic civics centers,  545
who shall serve as ex officio members. If an academic civics  546
center does not have a director, then the center's acting or  547
interim director shall serve on behalf of that center until a  548
director is selected. No additional appointment or confirmation  549
by any authority is required for membership.  550
       (2) The board may hire, fix the compensation of, and  551
remove a director and such number of employees as the board  552
determines necessary.  553
       (C) The board shall do all of the following:  554
       (1) Support the academic civics centers to more  555
effectively pursue their mission of teaching and research in the  556
historical ideas, traditions, and texts that have shaped the  557
American and Ohio constitutional order and society;  558
       (2) Aid voluntary cooperation and coordination between the  559
academic civics centers, including coordinating intercollegiate  560
efforts and initiatives among the centers to promote  561
collaboration and serve the entire state of Ohio;  562
       (3) Advise the general assembly and chancellor of higher  563
education on matters pertaining to civic education, including  564
best practices, program development, and statewide initiatives  565
to enhance civic literacy and engagement;  566
       (4) Advise the general assembly and chancellor on  567
S. B. No. 461  Page 21
As Introduced
curriculum development and standards in state institutions of  568
higher education and primary and secondary public education  569
providers, and on the operations of the academic civics centers;  570
       (5) Assist the academic councils of the academic civics  571
centers in fulfilling their statutory duties, including  572
facilitating the selection process for directors of each center;  573
       (6) Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, exercise  574
sole and exclusive authority over all aspects of American civic  575
literacy courses established under section 3345.382 of the  576
Revised Code, including course modality, syllabi, class size,  577
faculty teachers, and course content;  578
       (7) Determine an annual amount to be contributed by each  579
of the academic civics centers to support the board's  580
operations.  581
       (D) Each of the academic civics centers shall annually pay  582
to the board the amount determined under division (C)(7) of this  583
section in a form and manner determined by the board.  584
       (E) The board shall annually elect a chairperson and vice-  585
chairperson from among its members. The chairperson shall  586
preside over meetings and serve as the primary liaison to the  587
chancellor and the general assembly. The vice-chairperson shall  588
perform the duties of the chairperson in the absence of the  589
chairperson.  590
       The board shall meet as necessary at the call of the  591
chairperson or on the written request of three or more members  592
of the board. The board shall meet at least twice annually.  593
       A majority of the members of the board constitutes a  594
quorum, and the votes of a majority of the quorum present are  595
required to validate any action of the board, including  596
S. B. No. 461  Page 22
As Introduced
recommendations.  597
       The members of the board shall serve without compensation,  598
but each member shall be reimbursed for the member's actual and  599
necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the member's  600
official duties on the board.  601
       (E)(F) The board shall submit an annual report to the  602
general assembly and the chancellor not later than the first day  603
of December each year. The report shall detail the board's  604
activities, recommendations, and findings related to civic  605
education, higher education curricula, primary and secondary  606
public education curricula, and the operations of the academic  607
civics centers.  608
       (F)(G) The board, in consultation with the chancellor, may  609
adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code as necessary  610
to implement this section.  611
       Sec. 3352.16. (A)(1) The Wright state university center  612
for civics, culture, and workforce development is established as  613
an independent academic division within Wright state university,  614
physically located on the Dayton campus of Wright state  615
university. The center shall have all the rights and privileges  616
of an independent college of the university. The center shall  617
conduct teaching and research in the historical ideas,  618
traditions, and texts that have shaped the American  619
constitutional order and society and the United States armed  620
forces.  621
       (2) The center shall establish bylaws requiring the center  622
to do all of the following:  623
       (a) Educate students by means of free, open, and rigorous  624
intellectual inquiry to seek the truth;  625
S. B. No. 461  Page 23
As Introduced
       (b) Affirm its duty to equip students with the skills,  626
habits, and dispositions of mind they need to reach their own  627
informed conclusions on matters of social and political  628
importance;  629
       (c) Affirm the value of intellectual diversity in higher  630
education and aspire to enhance the intellectual diversity of  631
the university;  632
       (d) Affirm a commitment to create a community dedicated to  633
an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the  634
intellectual freedom of each member, supports individual  635
capacities for growth, and welcomes the differences of opinion  636
that shall naturally exist in a public university community.  637
       The requirements prescribed under divisions (A)(2)(a) to  638
(d) of this section shall take priority over any other bylaws  639
adopted by the center.  640
       (3) The board of trustees of the university may name the  641
center in accordance with the philanthropic naming policies and  642
practices of the university.  643
       (B)(1) The center shall be an independent academic  644
division, physically located on the Dayton campus of Wright  645
state university, with the authority to house faculty who hold  646
their appointments within the center. Faculty appointed to the  647
center shall not be required, but may, hold joint appointments  648
within any other division of the university. No faculty outside  649
of the center shall have the authority to block faculty hires  650
into the center. No faculty outside of the center shall have a  651
role in center faculty promotion and tenure, except with the  652
consent of the director. No university policy shall govern the  653
development and approval of curriculum within the center.  654
S. B. No. 461  Page 24
As Introduced
       (2) The university shall provide adequate and appropriate  655
space for the center as jointly determined by the director and  656
either the president or provost of the university. The  657
university shall not charge or assess overhead or indirect fees,  658
costs, expenses, or charges to the center.  659
       Nothing in this section precludes the ability for the  660
center to apply for external funding opportunities and negotiate  661
overhead charges as jointly determined by the director and  662
either the president or provost of the university.  663
       (3) The university shall provide adequate annual financial  664
resources to the center to achieve its mission, as determined by  665
the director. The sum of the annual money transferred from the  666
university to the center plus the annual appropriation from the  667
state to the center shall not be less than the highest annual  668
appropriation provided by the state to the center in a main  669
operating appropriation act.  670
       (4) Notwithstanding any university budget allocation  671
methodology to the contrary, the center shall receive all  672
tuition and other revenue from all of the courses it offers,  673
subject only to charges applied to all other academic units.  674
       (5) The center shall have the authority to create  675
independent endowments, both temporary and permanent, and a  676
foundation for the sole benefit of the center and place funds  677
from whatever source, including gifts, donations, grants,  678
university funds and state appropriations, in such endowments.  679
       (C)(1) The center shall offer instruction in all of the  680
following:  681
       (a) The books and major debates which form the  682
intellectual foundation of free societies, especially that of  683
S. B. No. 461  Page 25
As Introduced
the United States;  684
       (b) The principles, ideals, and institutions of the  685
American constitutional order, including the United States armed  686
forces;  687
       (c) The foundations of responsible leadership and informed  688
citizenship;  689
       (d) The origins, purpose, and role of Wright-Patterson air  690
force base and surrounding defense-related industries in  691
supporting the United States;  692
       (e) The workforce needs of Wright-Patterson air force base  693
and industries that support the base.  694
       (2) The center also shall focus on all of the following:  695
       (a) Offering university-wide programming related to the  696
values of free speech and civil discourse;  697
       (b) Expanding the intellectual diversity of the  698
university's academic community;  699
       (c) Increasing the awareness of Wright-Patterson air force  700
base and supporting workforce needs to sustain and attract  701
missions at the base.  702
       (D)(1) The board of trustees of the university shall  703
appoint, with the advice and consent of the senate, a seven-  704
member center academic council. An initial member shall not  705
begin service until confirmed by the senate. Four members shall  706
form a quorum.  707
       (2) The academic council shall be comprised of scholars  708
with relevant expertise and experience. Not more than three  709
members of the council may be employees of the university. Best  710
S. B. No. 461  Page 26
As Introduced
efforts shall be made to have not fewer than three members of  711
the advisory board be from Ohio.  712
       (3) Three members of the academic council shall serve  713
initial terms of two years and four members shall serve initial  714
terms of four years, which the members shall determine at their  715
first meeting, and select replacements for vacant seats.  716
       (E)(1) The academic council established under division (D)  717
of this section shall conduct a nationwide search for candidates  718
for the director of the center and shall strictly adhere to all  719
relevant state and federal laws. The academic council shall  720
submit to the president of the university a list of finalists  721
from which the president shall select and appoint a director,  722
subject to approval by the board of trustees. Future directors  723
shall be chosen in the same manner.  724
       (2) The director shall consult with the provost; however,  725
the director shall report directly to the president of the  726
university.  727
       (3) The director shall have the sole and exclusive  728
authority to manage all aspects of the recruitment and hiring  729
process and to extend offers for employment for and to hire all  730
faculty and staff of the center, and to terminate employment of  731
all staff, subject to the approval of the board of trustees of  732
the university. The director's authority includes determining  733
the salary, tenure, and rank of faculty. The director may seek  734
advice from faculty outside of the center but shall not be  735
required to seek or receive such advice. The director shall have  736
the sole, exclusive, and unlimited authority to oversee,  737
develop, and approve the center's curriculum, including approval  738
which of the center's courses that the director, in the  739
director's sole and exclusive discretion, determines meet the  740
S. B. No. 461  Page 27
As Introduced
university's general education requirements. The center shall be  741
granted have the authority to offer courses independently and  742
develop certificate, minor, and major programs as well as  743
graduate programs, and offer degrees.  744
       (4) Notwithstanding section 3333.164 of the Revised Code,  745
the center shall develop a set of standards and procedures to  746
maximize the granting of academic credit for military training,  747
experience, and coursework.  748
       (5) Notwithstanding section 3333.31 of the Revised Code,  749
Wright state university shall not charge more than its in-state  750
instructional and general fees to any current or honorably  751
discharged member of the United States armed forces, or the  752
spouse or dependents of such a member, who enrolls in a program  753
offered by the center, regardless of whether that member,  754
spouse, or dependent is a resident of this state under rules  755
adopted under section 3333.31 of the Revised Code.  756
       (F)(F)(1) The director of the center shall submit an  757
annual report to the board of trustees of the university and the  758
general assembly in accordance with section 101.68 of the  759
Revised Code. The report shall provide a full account of the  760
center's achievements, opportunities, challenges, and obstacles  761
in the development of this academic division.  762
       (2) The president or provost of the university shall  763
report to the board of trustees at every board meeting on the  764
progress of the center toward achieving its mission and the  765
university's support for the center, including its academic  766
program development, faculty and staff hiring, facility, and  767
development and advancement.  768
       Sec. 3364.07. (A)(1) The institute of American  769
S. B. No. 461  Page 28
As Introduced
constitutional thought and leadership is established for the  770
purpose of creating and disseminating knowledge about American  771
constitutional thought and to form future leaders of the legal  772
profession through research, scholarship, teaching,  773
collaboration, and mentorship. The institute shall be an  774
independent academic unit within the university of Toledo. The  775
institute shall have all the rights and privileges of an  776
independent college of the university.  777
       (2) The university shall provide adequate and appropriate  778
space for the institute as jointly determined by the director  779
and either the president or provost of the university. The  780
university shall not charge or assess overhead or indirect fees,  781
costs, expenses, or charges to the institute.  782
       Nothing in this section precludes the ability for the  783
institute to apply for external funding opportunities and  784
negotiate overhead charges as jointly determined by the director  785
and either the president or provost of the university.  786
       (3) The university shall provide adequate annual financial  787
resources to the institute to achieve its mission, as determined  788
by the director. The sum of the annual money transferred from  789
the university to the institute plus the annual appropriation  790
from the state to the institute shall not be less than the  791
highest annual appropriation provided by the state to the  792
institute in a main operating appropriation act.  793
       (4) Notwithstanding any university budget allocation  794
methodology to the contrary, the institute shall receive all  795
tuition and other revenue from all of the courses it offers,  796
subject only to charges applied to all other academic units.  797
       (5) The institute shall have the authority to create  798
S. B. No. 461  Page 29
As Introduced
independent endowments, both temporary and permanent, and a  799
foundation for the sole benefit of the institute and place funds  800
from whatever source, including gifts, donations, grants,  801
university funds and state appropriations, in such endowments.  802
       (B) The institute shall pursue all of the following goals:  803
       (1) To enrich the curriculum in American constitutional  804
studies, including the core texts and great debates of western  805
civilization;  806
       (2) To educate university students in the principles,  807
ideals, and institutions of the American and Ohio constitutional  808
order;  809
       (3) To educate university students in the foundations of  810
responsible leadership and informed citizenship and to cultivate  811
the next generation of leaders in the legal profession;  812
       (4) To offer university-wide programming related to the  813
values of open inquiry and civil discourse;  814
       (5) To expand the intellectual diversity of the  815
university's academic community and to create a rich forum for  816
the development of ideas across the political and ideological  817
spectrum;  818
       (6) To support faculty and graduate student scholarship  819
that advances understanding of American constitutional thought  820
and institutions;  821
       (7) To promote scholarly collaboration within the  822
university and beyond;  823
       (8) To host lectures, debates, and symposia, and sponsor  824
visiting scholars, jurists, and teachers.  825
S. B. No. 461  Page 30
As Introduced
       (C) The institute shall adhere to the following policies:  826
       (1) The institute shall educate students by means of free,  827
open, and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth.  828
       (2) The institute shall equip students with the skills,  829
habits, and dispositions of mind they need to reach their own  830
informed conclusions on matters of legal, social, and political  831
importance.  832
       (3) The institute shall value intellectual diversity in  833
higher education, including in faculty recruitment, hiring, and  834
appointment, and aspire to enhance the intellectual diversity of  835
academic life at the university.  836
       (4) The institute shall create a community dedicated to an  837
ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the intellectual  838
freedom of each member, supports individual capacities for  839
growth, and welcomes the differences of opinion that naturally  840
occur in a public university community.  841
       (D)(1) The talent, compensation, and governance committee  842
of the board of trustees of the university, if such a committee  843
exists, shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the  844
senate, a seven-member institute academic council. If no such  845
committee exists, the board of trustees shall appoint members  846
under this division. An initial member shall not begin service  847
until confirmed by the senate. Four members shall form a quorum.  848
       (2) The academic council shall be comprised of scholars  849
with relevant expertise and experience. Not more than one member  850
of the council may be an employee of the university. Best  851
efforts shall be made to have not fewer than three members of  852
the council be from Ohio.  853
       (3) Three members of the academic council shall serve  854
S. B. No. 461  Page 31
As Introduced
initial terms of two years and four members shall serve initial  855
terms of four years, which the members shall determine at their  856
first meeting, and select replacements for vacant seats.  857
       (4) To fill a vacancy for the institute director after the  858
initial director, following a national search, the academic  859
council shall transmit to the president a list of finalists from  860
which the president shall select a director, subject to the  861
approval of the talent, compensation, and governance committee  862
of the board of trustees.  863
       (E)(1) The institute shall be led by a director who shall  864
report directly to the president and provost of the university.  865
The president of the university shall appoint the director. The  866
director shall be an expert of the western tradition, the  867
American founding, and American constitutional thought, and  868
shall have shown a commitment to the purposes, goals, and  869
policies of the institute. The director's term shall be for five  870
years and shall be renewable.  871
       (2) The director shall have the protection of tenure or  872
tenure eligibility. Any existing tenure with the university held  873
by a director shall be maintained with the university.  874
       (F) The institute shall be an independent academic unit of  875
the university with the authority to house tenure-track faculty  876
who hold their appointments within the institute. Not fewer than  877
five tenure-track faculty positions shall be allotted to the  878
institute. Faculty appointed within the institute shall not be  879
required, but may be permitted, to hold joint or courtesy  880
appointments within any other division of the university. No  881
faculty from outside the institute shall have the authority to  882
block faculty hires into the institute. No faculty outside of  883
the institute shall have a role in institute faculty promotion  884
S. B. No. 461  Page 32
As Introduced
and tenure, except with the consent of the director.  885
       (G)(1) The director shall have the sole and exclusive  886
authority to manage all aspects of the recruitment and hiring  887
process and to extend offers for employment and to hire for all  888
faculty and staff, and to terminate employment of all staff. The  889
director's authority includes determining the salary, tenure,  890
and rank of faculty. The director may seek advice from faculty  891
outside of the center but shall not be required to seek or  892
receive such advice. The director shall have the sole,  893
exclusive, and unlimited authority to oversee, develop, and  894
approve the institute's curriculum, including approval which of  895
the institute's courses that the director, in the director's  896
sole and exclusive discretion, determines meet the university's  897
general education requirements. The institute shall be granted  898
have the authority to offer courses independently and develop  899
certificate, minor, major, and graduate programs, and offer  900
degrees.  901
       (2) Employment contracts offered under division (G)(1) of  902
this section to tenure-track faculty appointed to the institute  903
shall guarantee reappointment elsewhere in the university, at  904
the same rank and compensation, in the event the institute is  905
discontinued.  906
       (H)(H)(1) The director of the institute shall submit an  907
annual report to the board of trustees of the university and the  908
general assembly in accordance with section 101.68 of the  909
Revised Code. The report shall provide a full account of the  910
institute's achievements, opportunities, challenges, and  911
obstacles in the development of this academic unit.  912
       (2) The president or provost of the university shall  913
report to the board of trustees at every board meeting on the  914
S. B. No. 461  Page 33
As Introduced
progress of the center toward achieving its mission and the  915
university's support for the center, including its academic  916
program development, faculty and staff hiring, facility, and  917
development and advancement.  918
       (I)(I)(1) Beginning January 1, 2027, the institute of  919
American constitutional thought and leadership shall be known as  920
the school of American constitutional thought and leadership,  921
and the director shall serve as dean of the school. On and after  922
that date, whenever the term "institute" is used, referred to,  923
or designated in any statute, rule, contract, grant, or other  924
document, the use, reference, or designation shall be construed  925
to mean the "school" unless another section of law expressly  926
provides otherwise.  927
       (2) The board of trustees of the university may change the  928
name of the institute in accordance with the philanthropic  929
naming policies and practices of the university.  930
       Section 2. That existing sections 3335.39, 3339.06,  931
3344.07, 3345.382, 3345.58, 3352.16, and 3364.07 of the Revised  932
Code are hereby repealed.  933
       Section 3. This act shall be known as the Strengthening  934
Ohio Civics Act.  935