As Introduced

126th General Assembly
Regular Session
2005-2006
H. B. No. 222


Representatives Hood, Brinkman 



A BILL
To amend sections 121.08, 164.07, 166.02, 176.011,1
307.022, 307.671, 307.673, 307.674, 307.696, 2
351.06, 1311.25, 1509.071, 1521.26, 1551.33, 3
1710.02, 1728.07, 3383.07, 4116.01, 4582.12, 4
5540.03, and 6117.012 and to repeal sections 5
122.452, 165.031, 176.05, 1551.13, 3706.042, 6
4115.03, 4115.031, 4115.032, 4115.033, 4115.034, 7
4115.04, 4115.05, 4115.06, 4115.07, 4115.071, 8
4115.08, 4115.09, 4115.10, 4115.101, 4115.11, 9
4115.12, 4115.13, 4115.131, 4115.132, 4115.133, 10
4115.14, 4115.15, 4115.16, 4115.21, 4115.99,11
4582.37, 4981.23, and 6121.061 of the Revised Code 12
to repeal the Prevailing Wage Law.13


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1.  That sections 121.08, 164.07, 166.02, 176.011, 14
307.022, 307.671, 307.673, 307.674, 307.696, 351.06, 1311.25, 15
1509.071, 1521.26, 1551.33, 1710.02, 1728.07, 3383.07, 4116.01, 16
4582.12, 5540.03, and 6117.012 of the Revised Code be amended to 17
read as follows:18

       Sec. 121.08.  (A) There is hereby created in the department19
of commerce the position of deputy director of administration.20
This officer shall be appointed by the director of commerce, serve21
under the director's direction, supervision, and control, perform 22
the duties the director prescribes, and hold office during the23
director's pleasure. The director of commerce may designate an24
assistant director of commerce to serve as the deputy director of25
administration. The deputy director of administration shall26
perform the duties prescribed by the director of commerce in 27
supervising the activities of the division of administration of28
the department of commerce.29

       (B) Except as provided in section 121.07 of the Revised Code,30
the department of commerce shall have all powers and perform all31
duties vested in the deputy director of administration, the state 32
fire marshal, the superintendent of financial institutions, the 33
superintendent of real estate and professional licensing, the34
superintendent of liquor control, the superintendent of the35
division of industrial compliance, the superintendent of labor and36
worker safety, and the commissioner of securities, and shall have37
all powers and perform all duties vested by law in all officers,38
deputies, and employees of those offices. Except as provided in39
section 121.07 of the Revised Code, wherever powers are conferred40
or duties imposed upon any of those officers, the powers and41
duties shall be construed as vested in the department of commerce.42

       (C)(1) There is hereby created in the department of commerce43
a division of financial institutions, which shall have all powers44
and perform all duties vested by law in the superintendent of45
financial institutions. Wherever powers are conferred or duties46
imposed upon the superintendent of financial institutions, those47
powers and duties shall be construed as vested in the division of48
financial institutions. The division of financial institutions49
shall be administered by a superintendent of financial50
institutions.51

       (2) All provisions of law governing the superintendent of52
financial institutions shall apply to and govern the53
superintendent of financial institutions provided for in this54
section; all authority vested by law in the superintendent of55
financial institutions with respect to the management of the56
division of financial institutions shall be construed as vested in57
the superintendent of financial institutions created by this58
section with respect to the division of financial institutions59
provided for in this section; and all rights, privileges, and60
emoluments conferred by law upon the superintendent of financial61
institutions shall be construed as conferred upon the62
superintendent of financial institutions as head of the division63
of financial institutions. The director of commerce shall not64
transfer from the division of financial institutions any of the65
functions specified in division (C)(2) of this section.66

       (D) There is hereby created in the department of commerce a 67
division of liquor control, which shall have all powers and 68
perform all duties vested by law in the superintendent of liquor69
control. Wherever powers are conferred or duties are imposed upon 70
the superintendent of liquor control, those powers and duties 71
shall be construed as vested in the division of liquor control. 72
The division of liquor control shall be administered by a73
superintendent of liquor control.74

       (E) The director of commerce shall not be interested,75
directly or indirectly, in any firm or corporation which is a76
dealer in securities as defined in sections 1707.01 and 1707.14 of77
the Revised Code, or in any firm or corporation licensed under78
sections 1321.01 to 1321.19 of the Revised Code.79

       (F) The director of commerce shall not have any official80
connection with a savings and loan association, a savings bank, a81
bank, a bank holding company, a savings and loan association82
holding company, a consumer finance company, or a credit union83
that is under the supervision of the division of financial84
institutions, or a subsidiary of any of the preceding entities, or85
be interested in the business thereof.86

       (G) There is hereby created in the state treasury the87
division of administration fund. The fund shall receive88
assessments on the operating funds of the department of commerce89
in accordance with procedures prescribed by the director of90
commerce and approved by the director of budget and management.91
All operating expenses of the division of administration shall be92
paid from the division of administration fund.93

       (H) There is hereby created in the department of commerce a94
division of real estate and professional licensing, which shall be95
under the control and supervision of the director of commerce. The 96
division of real estate and professional licensing shall be97
administered by a superintendent of real estate and professional98
licensing. The superintendent of real estate and professional99
licensing shall exercise the powers and perform the functions and100
duties delegated to the superintendent under Chapters 4735., 101
4763., and 4767. of the Revised Code.102

       (I) There is hereby created in the department of commerce a103
division of labor and worker safety, which shall have all powers104
and perform all duties vested by law in the superintendent of105
labor and worker safety. Wherever powers are conferred or duties106
imposed upon the superintendent of labor and worker safety, those107
powers and duties shall be construed as vested in the division of108
labor and worker safety. The division of labor and worker safety 109
shall be under the control and supervision of the director of 110
commerce and be administered by a superintendent of labor and 111
worker safety. The superintendent of labor and worker safety shall 112
exercise the powers and perform the duties delegated to the 113
superintendent by the director under Chapters 4109., 4111., 4115.,114
and 4167. of the Revised Code.115

       (J) The department of commerce or a division of the 116
department created by the Revised Code that is acting with 117
authorization on the department's behalf may request from the 118
bureau of criminal identification and investigation pursuant to 119
section 109.572 of the Revised Code, or coordinate with 120
appropriate federal, state, and local government agencies to 121
accomplish, criminal records checks for the persons whose 122
identities are required to be disclosed by an applicant for the 123
issuance or transfer of a permit, license, or certification issued 124
or transferred by the department or division. At or before the 125
time of making a request for a criminal records check, the126
department or division may require any person whose identity is 127
required to be disclosed by an applicant for the issuance or 128
transfer of such a license, permit, or certification to submit to129
the department or division valid fingerprint impressions in a 130
format and by any media or means acceptable to the bureau of 131
criminal identification and investigation and, when applicable, 132
the federal bureau of investigation. The department or division 133
may cause the bureau of criminal identification and investigation 134
to conduct a criminal records check through the federal bureau of135
investigation only if the person for whom the criminal records136
check would be conducted resides or works outside of this state or137
has resided or worked outside of this state during the preceding138
five years, or if a criminal records check conducted by the bureau139
of criminal identification and investigation within this state140
indicates that the person may have a criminal record outside of141
this state.142

        In the case of a criminal records check under section 109.572 143
of the Revised Code, the department or division shall forward to 144
the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the 145
requisite form, fingerprint impressions, and fee described in 146
division (C) of that section. When requested by the department or 147
division in accordance with this section, the bureau of criminal 148
identification and investigation shall request from the federal 149
bureau of investigation any information it has with respect to the 150
person who is the subject of the requested criminal records check 151
and shall forward the requisite fingerprint impressions and152
information to the federal bureau of investigation for that153
criminal records check. After conducting a criminal records check154
or receiving the results of a criminal records check from the155
federal bureau of investigation, the bureau of criminal156
identification and investigation shall provide the results to the157
department or division.158

        The department or division may require any person about whom 159
a criminal records check is requested to pay to the department or 160
division the amount necessary to cover the fee charged to the 161
department or division by the bureau of criminal identification 162
and investigation under division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the 163
Revised Code, including, when applicable, any fee for a criminal 164
records check conducted by the federal bureau of investigation.165

       Sec. 164.07. (A) In awarding contracts for capital166
improvement projects to be financed in whole or in part under this 167
chapter, a local subdivision shall comply with the percentage 168
requirements of section 125.081 of the Revised Code.169

       (B) A capital improvement that is financed in whole or in170
part under this chapter is a public improvement, and a subdivision171
undertaking a capital improvement is a public authority, for172
purposes of section 4115.03 of the Revised Code. All contractors173
and subcontractors working on a capital improvement financed in174
whole or in part under this chapter shall comply with sections175
4115.03 to 4115.16 of the Revised Code.176

       Sec. 166.02.  (A) The general assembly finds that many local177
areas throughout the state are experiencing economic stagnation or178
decline, and that the economic development program provided for in 179
sections 166.01 to 166.11 of the Revised Code will constitute a 180
deserved, necessary reinvestment by the state in those areas,181
materially contribute to their economic revitalization, and result 182
in improving the economic welfare of all the people of the state.183
Accordingly, it is declared to be the public policy of the state,184
through the operations under sections 166.01 to 166.11 of the185
Revised Code and other applicable laws adopted pursuant to Section 186
13 of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, and other authority vested 187
in the general assembly, to assist in and facilitate the 188
establishment or development of eligible projects or assist and 189
cooperate with any governmental agency in achieving such purpose.190

       (B) In furtherance of such public policy and to implement191
such purpose, the director of development may:192

       (1) After consultation with appropriate governmental193
agencies, enter into agreements with persons engaged in industry,194
commerce, distribution, or research and with governmental agencies195
to induce such persons to acquire, construct, reconstruct,196
rehabilitate, renovate, enlarge, improve, equip, or furnish, or197
otherwise develop, eligible projects and make provision therein198
for project facilities and governmental actions, as authorized by199
this chapter and other applicable laws, subject to any required200
actions by the general assembly or the controlling board and201
subject to applicable local government laws and regulations;202

       (2) Provide for the guarantees and loans as provided for in203
sections 166.06 and 166.07 of the Revised Code;204

       (3) Subject to release of such moneys by the controlling205
board, contract for labor and materials needed for, or contract206
with others, including governmental agencies, to provide, project207
facilities the allowable costs of which are to be paid for or208
reimbursed from moneys in the facilities establishment fund, and209
contract for the operation of such project facilities;210

       (4) Subject to release thereof by the controlling board, from 211
moneys in the facilities establishment fund acquire or contract to 212
acquire by gift, exchange, or purchase, including the obtaining 213
and exercise of purchase options, property, and convey or 214
otherwise dispose of, or provide for the conveyance or disposition 215
of, property so acquired or contracted to be acquired by sale, 216
exchange, lease, lease purchase, conditional or installment sale, 217
transfer, or other disposition, including the grant of an option 218
to purchase, to any governmental agency or to any other person 219
without necessity for competitive bidding and upon such terms and 220
conditions and manner of consideration pursuant to and as the 221
director determines to be appropriate to satisfy the objectives of 222
sections 166.01 to 166.11 of the Revised Code;223

       (5) Retain the services of or employ financial consultants,224
appraisers, consulting engineers, superintendents, managers,225
construction and accounting experts, attorneys, and employees,226
agents, and independent contractors as are necessary in the227
director's judgment and fix the compensation for their services;228

       (6) Receive and accept from any person grants, gifts, and229
contributions of money, property, labor, and other things of230
value, to be held, used and applied only for the purpose for which231
such grants, gifts, and contributions are made;232

       (7) Enter into appropriate arrangements and agreements with233
any governmental agency for the taking or provision by that234
governmental agency of any governmental action;235

       (8) Do all other acts and enter into contracts and execute236
all instruments necessary or appropriate to carry out the237
provisions of Chapter 166. of the Revised Code;238

       (9) Adopt rules to implement any of the provisions of Chapter 239
166. of the Revised Code applicable to the director.240

       (C) The determinations by the director that facilities241
constitute eligible projects, that facilities are project242
facilities, that costs of such facilities are allowable costs, and243
all other determinations relevant thereto or to an action taken or244
agreement entered into shall be conclusive for purposes of the245
validity and enforceability of rights of parties arising from246
actions taken and agreements entered into under this chapter.247

       (D) Except as otherwise prescribed in Chapter 166. of the248
Revised Code, all expenses and obligations incurred by the249
director in carrying out the director's powers and in exercising 250
the director's duties under Chapter 166. of the Revised Code, 251
shall be payable solely from, as appropriate, moneys in the 252
facilities establishment fund, the loan guarantee fund, the 253
innovation Ohio loan guarantee fund, the innovation Ohio loan 254
fund, the research and development loan fund, or moneys 255
appropriated for such purpose by the general assembly. Chapter 256
166. of the Revised Code does not authorize the director or the 257
issuing authority under section 166.08 of the Revised Code to 258
incur bonded indebtedness of the state or any political 259
subdivision thereof, or to obligate or pledge moneys raised by 260
taxation for the payment of any bonds or notes issued or261
guarantees made pursuant to Chapter 166. of the Revised Code.262

       (E) No financial assistance for project facilities shall be 263
provided under this chapter unless the provisions of the agreement 264
providing for such assistance specify that all wages paid to 265
laborers and mechanics employed on such project facilities for 266
which the assistance is granted shall be paid at the prevailing 267
rates of wages of laborers and mechanics for the class of work 268
called for by such project facilities, which wages shall be 269
determined in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 4115. of 270
the Revised Code for determination of prevailing wage rates, 271
provided that the requirements of this division do not apply where 272
the federal government or any of its agencies provides financing 273
assistance as to all or any part of the funds used in connection 274
with such project facilities and prescribes predetermined minimum 275
wages to be paid to such laborers and mechanics; and provided 276
further that should a nonpublic user beneficiary of the eligible 277
project undertake, as part of the eligible project, construction 278
to be performed by its regular bargaining unit employees who are 279
covered under a collective bargaining agreement which was in 280
existence prior to the date of the document authorizing such 281
assistance then, in that event, the rate of pay provided under the 282
collective bargaining agreement may be paid to such employees.283

       (F) Any governmental agency may enter into an agreement with284
the director, any other governmental agency, or a person to be285
assisted under this chapter, to take or provide for the purposes286
of this chapter any governmental action it is authorized to take287
or provide, and to undertake on behalf and at the request of the288
director any action which the director is authorized to undertake289
pursuant to divisions (B)(3), (4), and (5) of this section or290
divisions (B)(3), (4), and (5) of section 166.12 of the Revised291
Code. Governmental agencies of the state shall cooperate with and292
provide assistance to the director of development and the293
controlling board in the exercise of their respective functions294
under this chapter.295

       Sec. 176.011.  This section does not apply to any county296
having a population exceeding one million persons, according to297
the United States bureau of the census, on the effective date of298
this sectionMay 15, 1992, or to any township or municipal 299
corporation located within such a county.300

       (A) A board of county commissioners, a board of township301
trustees, the chief executive officer of a municipal corporation302
with the consent of the legislative authority of the municipal303
corporation, or any combination of these, may do one or both of304
the following:305

       (1) Create and participate in a nonprofit corporation306
incorporated under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code for the307
purpose of receiving funds from any person to be expended,308
granted, loaned, or invested for housing purposes, to ensure the309
efficient use of these funds, and for the coordination of the use310
of the funds with other local governments. A nonprofit corporation 311
created under division (A)(1) of this section shall not have among 312
its purposes the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of 313
housing. All funds received by the nonprofit corporation shall be 314
expended for housing purposes under Section 16 of Article VIII, 315
Ohio Constitution, and section 176.04 of the Revised Code.316

       (2) Create and participate in a nonprofit corporation317
incorporated under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code for the318
purpose of acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating housing319
under Section 16 of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, and section320
176.04 of the Revised Code, or participate in an existing321
nonprofit corporation whose purpose includes the acquisition,322
construction, or rehabilitation of housing. A nonprofit323
corporation created under division (A)(2) of this section shall324
not have among its purposes any of the purposes for which a325
nonprofit corporation created under division (A)(1) of this326
section may be created. The governing board of a nonprofit327
corporation created under division (A)(2) of this section or in328
which a county, township, or municipal corporation participates329
under division (A)(2) of this section shall consist of not more330
than one-third elected officials or appointees thereof of the331
county, township, or municipal corporation, or combination332
thereof, that through the governing boards or chief executive333
officers create or participate in such corporation.334

       Housing acquired, constructed, or rehabilitated by a335
nonprofit corporation created under division (A)(2) of this336
section is a project for purposes of section 176.05 of the Revised 337
Code and shall be considered a project undertaken by a county, 338
township, or municipal corporation for purposes of section 176.05 339
of the Revised Code.340

       Not more than fifteen per cent of the funds received by a341
nonprofit corporation created under division (A)(1) or (2) of this 342
section from any county, township, or municipal corporation shall 343
be used for administration and salaries of the nonprofit344
organization. Funds distributed to the nonprofit corporation from 345
any board of county commissioners, board of township trustees, or 346
municipal corporation shall be considered an expenditure for 347
housing purposes under Section 16 of Article VIII, Ohio 348
Constitution. A nonprofit corporation created under division 349
(A)(1) or (2) of this section is a public body for purposes of 350
section 121.22 of the Revised Code, and is subject to that 351
section.352

       (B) A county, township, or municipal corporation may353
distribute funds to a nonprofit corporation created under division 354
(A)(1) or (2) of this section that its board or chief executive 355
officer created or in which the board or chief executive officer 356
participates, and no such distribution constitutes a conflict of 357
interest.358

       (C) Service as a member, trustee, officer, employee, or agent 359
of a nonprofit corporation created under division (A) of this 360
section does not constitute a conflict of interest with the361
following:362

       (1) Employment by or membership on a board of county363
commissioners or a board of township trustees from which the364
nonprofit corporation receives funds;365

       (2) Service as the chief executive officer or as a member of 366
the legislative authority of, or employment by, a municipal367
corporation from which the nonprofit corporation receives funds;368

       (3) Service on a housing advisory board serving any of the369
political subdivisions named in division (C) of this section.370

       (D) A housing advisory board established or designated by any 371
municipal corporation, county, or township, alone or jointly,372
shall advise the nonprofit corporation created under division373
(A)(1) or (2) or both of this section in accordance with sections374
176.01 and 176.04 of the Revised Code.375

       Sec. 307.022.  (A) The board of county commissioners of any376
county may do both of the following without following the377
competitive bidding requirements of section 307.86 of the Revised378
Code:379

       (1) Enter into a lease, including a lease with an option to380
purchase, of correctional facilities for a term not in excess of381
forty years. Before entering into the lease, the board shall382
publish, once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of383
general circulation in the county, a notice that the board is384
accepting proposals for a lease pursuant to this division. The385
notice shall state the date before which the proposals are386
required to be submitted in order to be considered by the board.387

       (2) Subject to compliance with this section, grant leases,388
easements, and licenses with respect to, or sell, real property389
owned by the county if the real property is to be leased back by390
the county for use as correctional facilities.391

       The lease under division (A)(1) of this section shall require392
the county to contract, in accordance with Chapter 153.,and393
sections 307.86 to 307.92, and Chapter 4115. of the Revised Code,394
for the construction, improvement, furnishing, and equipping of395
correctional facilities to be leased pursuant to this section.396
Prior to the board's execution of the lease, it may require the397
lessor under the lease to cause sufficient money to be made398
available to the county to enable the county to comply with the399
certification requirements of division (D) of section 5705.41 of400
the Revised Code.401

       A lease entered into pursuant to division (A)(1) of this402
section by a board may provide for the county to maintain and403
repair the correctional facility during the term of the leasehold,404
may provide for the county to make rental payments prior to or405
after occupation of the correctional facilities by the county, and406
may provide for the board to obtain and maintain any insurance407
that the lessor may require, including, but not limited to, public408
liability, casualty, builder's risk, and business interruption409
insurance. The obligations incurred under a lease entered into410
pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section shall not be411
considered to be within the debt limitations of section 133.07 of412
the Revised Code.413

       (B) The correctional facilities leased under division (A)(1)414
of this section may include any or all of the following:415

       (1) Facilities in which one or more other governmental416
entities are participating or in which other facilities of the417
county are included;418

       (2) Facilities acquired, constructed, renovated, or financed419
by the Ohio building authority and leased to the county pursuant420
to section 307.021 of the Revised Code;421

       (3) Correctional facilities that are under construction or422
have been completed and for which no permanent financing has been423
arranged.424

       (C) As used in this section:425

       (1) "Correctional facilities" includes, but is not limited426
to, jails, detention facilities, workhouses, community-based427
correctional facilities, and family court centers.428

       (2) "Construction" has the same meaning as in division (B) of 429
section 4115.03 of the Revised Codemeans any construction, 430
reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, alteration, repair, 431
painting, or decorating, of any public improvement performed by 432
other than full-time employees who have completed their 433
probationary periods in the classified service of a public 434
authority.435

       As used in this division:436

       (a) "Public improvement" means all buildings, roads, streets, 437
alleys, sewers, ditches, and other structures or works constructed 438
by a public authority or by any person who, pursuant to a contract 439
with a public authority, constructs any structure or work for a440
public authority. When a public authority rents or leases a newly 441
constructed structure within six months after completion of its442
construction, any work performed on that structure to suit it for 443
occupancy is a "public improvement."444

       (b) "Public authority" means any officer, board, or445
commission of the state, or any political subdivision of the446
state, or any institution supported in whole or in part by public447
funds, authorized to enter into a contract for the construction of 448
a public improvement or to construct a public improvement by the 449
direct employment of labor.450

       Sec. 307.671.  (A) As used in this section:451

       (1) "Bonds" means, as the context requires: general452
obligation bonds of the county, or notes in anticipation thereof,453
described in division (B)(1)(b) of this section; revenue bonds of454
the port authority described in division (B)(2)(a) of this455
section; and urban renewal bonds, or notes in anticipation456
thereof, of the host municipal corporation described in division457
(B)(3)(a) of this section.458

       (2) "Corporation" means a nonprofit corporation that is459
organized under the laws of this state and that includes within460
the purposes for which it is incorporated the authorization to461
lease and operate facilities such as a port authority educational462
and cultural facility.463

       (3) "Debt service charges" means, for any period or payable464
at any time, the principal of and interest and any premium due on465
bonds for that period or payable at that time whether due at466
maturity or upon mandatory redemption, together with any required467
deposits to reserves for the payment of principal of and interest468
on such bonds, and includes any payments required by the port469
authority to satisfy any of its obligations arising from any470
guaranty agreements, reimbursement agreements, or other credit471
enhancement agreements described in division (C) of this section.472

       (4) "Host municipal corporation" means the municipal473
corporation within the boundaries of which the port authority474
educational and cultural facility is located.475

       (5) "Port authority" means a port authority created pursuant476
to the authority of section 4582.02 of the Revised Code by a477
county and a host municipal corporation.478

       (6) "Port authority educational and cultural facility" means479
a facility located within an urban renewal area that may consist480
of a museum, archives, library, hall of fame, center for481
contemporary music, or other facilities necessary to provide482
programs of an educational and cultural nature, together with all483
parking facilities, walkways, and other auxiliary facilities, real484
and personal property, property rights, easements, and interests485
that may be appropriate for, or used in connection with, the486
operation of the facility.487

       (7) "Urban renewal area" means an area of a host municipal488
corporation that the legislative authority of the host municipal489
corporation has designated as appropriate for an urban renewal490
project pursuant to Chapter 725. of the Revised Code.491

       (B) The board of county commissioners of a county, a port492
authority, and a host municipal corporation may enter into a493
cooperative agreement with a corporation, under which:494

       (1) The board of county commissioners agrees to do all of the 495
following:496

       (a) Levy a tax under division (D) of section 5739.09 of the497
Revised Code exclusively for the purposes described in divisions498
(B)(1)(c) and (d) of this section;499

       (b) Issue general obligation bonds of the county, or notes in 500
anticipation thereof, pursuant to Chapter 133. of the Revised501
Code, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, and equipping502
the port authority educational and cultural facility and503
contribute the proceeds from the issuance to the port authority504
for such purpose. The cooperative agreement may provide that such505
proceeds be deposited with and administered by the trustee506
pursuant to the trust agreement provided for in division (C) of507
this section.508

       (c) Following the issuance, sale, and delivery of the port509
authority revenue bonds provided for in division (B)(2)(a) of this510
section, and prior to the date certain stated in the cooperative511
agreement which shall be the date estimated for the completion of512
construction of the port authority educational and cultural513
facility, pledge and contribute to the port authority revenue from514
the tax levied pursuant to division (B)(1)(a) of this section,515
together with any investment earnings on that revenue, to pay a516
portion of the costs of acquiring, constructing, and equipping the517
port authority educational and cultural facility;518

       (d) Following such date certain, pledge and contribute to the 519
corporation all or such portion as provided for in the cooperative 520
agreement of the revenue from the tax, together with any 521
investment earnings on that revenue, to pay a portion of the costs 522
of the corporation of leasing the port authority educational and 523
cultural facility from the port authority.524

       (2) The port authority agrees to do all of the following:525

       (a) Issue revenue bonds of the port authority pursuant to526
Chapter 4582. of the Revised Code for the purpose of acquiring,527
constructing, and equipping the port authority educational and528
cultural facility;529

       (b) Construct the port authority educational and cultural530
facility;531

       (c) Lease the port authority educational and cultural532
facility to the corporation;533

       (d) To the extent provided for in the cooperative agreement534
or the lease to the corporation, authorize the corporation to535
administer on behalf of the port authority the contracts for536
acquiring, constructing, or equipping a port authority educational537
and cultural facility;538

       (e) Use the revenue derived from the lease of the port539
authority educational and cultural facility to the corporation540
solely to pay debt service charges on the revenue bonds of the541
port authority described in division (B)(2)(a) of this section.542

       (3) The host municipal corporation agrees to do both of the543
following:544

       (a) Issue urban renewal bonds of the host municipal545
corporation, or notes in anticipation thereof, pursuant to Chapter546
725. of the Revised Code for the purpose of acquiring and547
constructing the port authority educational and cultural facility548
and contribute the proceeds from the issuance to the port549
authority for such purpose. The cooperative agreement may provide550
that such proceeds be deposited with and administered by the551
trustee pursuant to the trust agreement provided for in division552
(C) of this section.553

       (b) To the extent provided for in the cooperative agreement,554
contribute to the county, for use by the county to pay debt555
service charges on the bonds of the county, or notes in556
anticipation thereof, described in division (B)(1)(b) of this557
section, any excess urban renewal service payments pledged by the558
host municipal corporation to the urban renewal bonds described in559
division (B)(3)(a) of this section and not required on an annual560
basis to pay debt service charges on the urban renewal bonds.561

       (4) The corporation agrees to do all of the following:562

       (a) Lease the port authority educational and cultural563
facility from the port authority;564

       (b) Operate and maintain the port authority educational and565
cultural facility pursuant to the lease;566

       (c) To the extent provided for in the cooperative agreement567
or the lease from the port authority, administer on behalf of the568
port authority the contracts for acquiring, constructing, or569
equipping a port authority educational and cultural facility.570

       (C) The pledges and contributions described in divisions571
(B)(1)(c) and (d) of this section and provided for in the572
cooperative agreement shall be for the period stated in the573
cooperative agreement, but shall not be in excess of the period574
necessary to provide for the final retirement of the port575
authority revenue bonds provided for in division (B)(2)(a) of this576
section and any bonds issued by the port authority to refund such577
bonds, and for the satisfaction by the port authority of any of578
its obligations arising from any guaranty agreements,579
reimbursement agreements, or other credit enhancement agreements580
relating to such bonds or to the revenues pledged to such bonds.581
The cooperative agreement shall provide for the termination of the582
cooperative agreement including the pledges and contributions583
described in divisions (B)(1)(c) and (d) of this section if the584
port authority revenue bonds provided for in division (B)(2)(a) of585
this section have not been issued, sold, and delivered within two586
years of the effective date of the cooperative agreement.587

       The cooperative agreement shall provide that any revenue588
bonds of the port authority shall be secured by a trust agreement589
between the port authority and a corporate trustee that is a trust590
company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or591
outside the state. The county may be a party to such trust592
agreement for the purpose of securing the pledge by the county of593
its contribution to the corporation pursuant to division (B)(1)(d)594
of this section. A tax levied pursuant to division (B)(1)(a) of595
this section is not subject to diminution by initiative or596
referendum or diminution by statute, unless provision is made597
therein for an adequate substitute therefor reasonably598
satisfactory to the trustee under the trust agreement that secures599
the revenue bonds of the port authority.600

       (D) A pledge of money by a county under this section shall601
not be net indebtedness of the county for purposes of section602
133.07 of the Revised Code.603

       (E) If the terms of the cooperative agreement so provide, any 604
contract for the acquisition, construction, or equipping of a port 605
authority educational and cultural facility shall be made in such 606
manner as is determined by the board of directors of the port607
authority, and unless the cooperative agreement provides608
otherwise, such a contract is not subject to division (A) of609
section 4582.12 of the Revised Code. The port authority may take610
the assignment of and assume any contracts for the acquisition,611
construction, and equipping of a port authority educational and612
cultural facility that previously have been authorized by either613
or both the host municipal corporation or the corporation. Such614
contracts likewise are not subject to division (A) of section615
4582.12 of the Revised Code.616

       Any contract for the acquisition, construction, or equipping617
of a port authority educational and cultural facility entered618
into, assigned, or assumed pursuant to this division shall provide619
that all laborers and mechanics employed for the acquisition,620
construction, or equipping of the port authority educational and621
cultural facility shall be paid at the prevailing rates of wages622
of laborers and mechanics for the class of work called for by the623
port authority educational and cultural facility, which wages624
shall be determined in accordance with the requirements of Chapter625
4115. of the Revised Code for the determination of prevailing wage626
rates.627

       Sec. 307.673.  This section applies only in a county in which 628
a tax is levied under section 307.697, 4301.421, 5743.024, or 629
5743.323 of the Revised Code on the effective date of this 630
amendment.631

       (A) As used in this section:632

       (1) "County taxes" means taxes levied by a board of county 633
commissioners under division (D) of section 307.697, division (B) 634
of section 4301.421, division (C) of section 5743.024, and section 635
5743.323 of the Revised Code.636

       (2) "Corporation" means a nonprofit corporation organized637
under the laws of this state and that includes among the purposes 638
for which it is incorporated the authority to acquire, construct, 639
renovate, equip, lease, manage, or operate a sports facility.640

       (3) "Cooperative agreement" means an agreement entered into 641
pursuant to this section.642

       (4) "Cost of a sports facility" means the cost of acquiring, 643
constructing, renovating, equipping, or improving one or more 644
sports facilities, including reconstructing, rehabilitating, 645
remodeling, and enlarging; the cost of equipping and furnishing 646
such a facility; and all financing costs pertaining thereto, 647
including the cost of engineering, architectural, and other 648
professional services, designs, plans, specifications and surveys, 649
and estimates of costs; the costs of refinancing obligations 650
issued by, or reimbursement of money advanced by, the parties to 651
the cooperative agreement or other persons, the proceeds of which 652
obligations were used to pay the costs of the sports facility; the 653
cost of tests and inspections; the cost of any indemnity or surety 654
bonds and premiums on insurance, all related direct and 655
administrative costs pertaining thereto, fees and expenses of 656
trustees, depositories, and paying agents for the obligations, 657
capitalized interest on the obligations, amounts necessary to 658
establish reserves as required by the obligation proceedings, the 659
reimbursement of money advanced or applied by the parties to the 660
cooperative agreement or other persons for the payment of any item 661
of costs of the sports facility, and all other expenses necessary 662
or incident to planning or determining the feasibility or663
practicability with respect to the sports facility; and any other 664
such expenses as may be necessary or incident to the acquisition, 665
construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, remodeling, 666
renovation, enlargement, improvement, equipping, and furnishing of 667
the sports facility, the financing of the sports facility, placing 668
the sports facility in use and operation, including any one, part 669
of, or combination of such classes of costs and expenses.670

       (5) "Financing costs" has the same meaning as in section671
133.01 of the Revised Code.672

       (6) "Obligations" means obligations issued or incurred to pay 673
the cost of a sports facility, including bonds, notes,674
certificates of indebtedness, commercial paper, and other675
instruments in writing, anticipatory securities as defined in676
section 133.01 of the Revised Code, issued or incurred by an677
issuer pursuant to Chapter 133. or 4582. of the Revised Code or 678
this section, or otherwise, to evidence the issuer's obligation to 679
repay borrowed money, or to pay interest, by, or to pay at any 680
future time other money obligations of, the issuer of the 681
obligations, including obligations of an issuer or lessee to make 682
payments under an installment sale, lease, lease-purchase, or 683
similar agreement.684

       (7) "Owner" means any person that owns or operates a685
professional athletic or sports team, that is party to a686
cooperative agreement, or that has a lease or other agreement with 687
a party to a cooperative agreement, and that commits to use the 688
sports facility that is the subject of the cooperative agreement 689
for all of the team's home games for the period specified in that 690
agreement.691

       (8) "Payments," when used with reference to obligations,692
means payments of the principal, including any mandatory sinking693
fund deposits and mandatory redemption payments, interest and any 694
redemption premium, and lease rentals, lease-purchase payments and 695
other amounts payable under obligations in the form of installment 696
sale, lease, lease-purchase, or similar agreements.697

       (9) "Person" has the same meaning as defined in section698
133.01 of the Revised Code.699

       (10) "Port authority" means a port authority created under 700
Chapter 4582. of the Revised Code.701

       (11) "Sports facility" means a facility, including a stadium, 702
that is intended to house or provide a site for one or more major 703
league professional athletic or sports teams or activities, 704
together with all spectator facilities, parking facilities, 705
walkways, and auxiliary facilities, real and personal property, 706
property rights, easements, leasehold estates, and interests that 707
may be appropriate for, or used in connection with, the operation 708
of the sports facility.709

       (B) The board of county commissioners of a county, the 710
legislative authority of a municipal corporation, a port 711
authority, a corporation, and an owner, or any combination 712
thereof, may enter into one or more cooperative agreements under 713
which the parties enter into one or more of the agreements 714
described in divisions (B)(1) to (5) of this section.715

       (1) The board of county commissioners agrees to do one or716
more of the following:717

       (a) Levy a tax under division (D) of section 307.697,718
division (B) of section 4301.421, division (C) of section 719
5743.024, and section 5743.323 of the Revised Code and make 720
available all or a portion of the revenue from those taxes for the 721
payment of the cost of the sports facility or to make payments on 722
obligations;723

       (b) Issue or incur obligations of the county pursuant to 724
Chapter 133. of the Revised Code or this section;725

       (c) Make available all or a portion of the revenue from those 726
taxes or of the proceeds from the issuance of those obligations to 727
the municipal corporation, port authority, corporation, or 728
otherwise for the payment of the cost of a sports facility or the 729
payment of obligations;730

       (d) Acquire, construct, renovate, equip, lease to or from 731
another person, and operate, directly or by a lease or management 732
contract with another person, one or more sports facilities;733

       (e) To the extent provided in the cooperative agreement or a 734
lease with respect to a sports facility, authorize the municipal 735
corporation, port authority, corporation, or owner to administer 736
contracts for designing, planning, acquiring, constructing, 737
renovating, or equipping a sports facility.738

       (2) The port authority agrees to do one or more of the739
following:740

       (a) Issue or incur obligations of the port authority pursuant 741
to Chapter 133. or 4582. of the Revised Code or this section;742

       (b) Make available all or a portion of the proceeds from the 743
issuance of those obligations to the municipal corporation, 744
county, or corporation for the payment of the cost of a sports 745
facility or the payment of obligations;746

       (c) Acquire, construct, renovate, equip, lease to or from 747
another person, and operate, directly or by a lease or management 748
contract with another person, one or more sports facilities;749

       (d) To the extent provided in the cooperative agreement or a 750
lease with respect to a sports facility, authorize the municipal 751
corporation, county, corporation, or owner to administer contracts 752
for designing, planning, acquiring, constructing, renovating, or 753
equipping a sports facility.754

       (3) The legislative authority of the municipal corporation 755
agrees to do one or more of the following:756

       (a) Make available the revenue from taxes levied by the 757
legislative authority for the payment of the cost of a sports 758
facility or to make payments on obligations;759

       (b) Issue or incur obligations of the municipal corporation 760
pursuant to Chapter 133. of the Revised Code or otherwise;761

       (c) Make available all or a portion of the proceeds from the 762
issuance of those obligations to the county, port authority, 763
corporation, or otherwise for the payment of the cost of a sports 764
facility or the payment of obligations;765

       (d) Acquire, construct, renovate, equip, lease to or from 766
another person, and operate, directly or by a lease or management 767
contract with another person, one or more sports facilities;768

       (e) To the extent provided in the cooperative agreement or a 769
lease with respect to a sports facility, authorize the county, 770
port authority, corporation, or owner to administer contracts for 771
designing, planning, acquiring, constructing, renovating, or 772
equipping a sports facility.773

       (4) The corporation agrees to do one or more of the774
following:775

       (a) Issue or incur obligations;776

       (b) Make available all or a portion of the proceeds from the 777
issuance of those obligations to the county, port authority, 778
municipal corporation, or otherwise for the payment of the cost of 779
a sports facility or the payment of obligations;780

       (c) Acquire, construct, renovate, equip, lease to or from 781
another person, and operate, directly or by a lease or management 782
contract with another person, one or more sports facilities;783

       (d) To the extent provided in the cooperative agreement or a 784
lease with respect to a sports facility, agree that the 785
corporation will administer contracts for designing, planning, 786
acquiring, constructing, renovating, or equipping a sports 787
facility.788

       (5) The owner agrees to do one or more of the following:789

       (a) Use the sports facility that is the subject of the 790
cooperative agreement for all of the home games of the owner's 791
professional athletic or sports team for a specified period;792

       (b) Administer contracts for designing, planning, acquiring, 793
constructing, renovating, or equipping a sports facility.794

       (C) Any obligations may be secured by a trust agreement 795
between the issuer of obligations and a corporate trustee that is 796
a trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company in or 797
outside this state and authorized to exercise corporate trust 798
powers in this state. Proceeds from the issuance of any 799
obligations or the taxes levied and collected by any party to the 800
cooperative agreement may be deposited with and administered by a 801
trustee pursuant to the trust agreement.802

       (D) Any contract for the acquisition, construction, 803
renovation, or equipping of a sports facility entered into, 804
assigned, or assumed under this section shall provide that all 805
laborers and mechanics employed in the acquisition, construction, 806
renovation, or equipping of the sports facility shall be paid at 807
the prevailing rates of wages of laborers and mechanics for the 808
class of work called for, as those wages are determined in 809
accordance with Chapter 4115. of the Revised Code.810

       Sec. 307.674.  (A) As used in this section:811

       (1) "Bonds" means:812

       (a) Revenue bonds of the port authority described in division813
(B)(2)(a) of this section;814

       (b) Securities as defined in division (KK) of section 133.01815
of the Revised Code issued by the host municipal corporation,816
described in division (B)(3)(a) of this section;817

       (c) Any bonds issued to refund any of those revenue bonds or818
securities.819

       (2) "Corporation" means a nonprofit corporation that is820
organized under the laws of this state and that includes within821
the purposes for which it is incorporated the authorization to822
lease and operate facilities such as a port authority educational823
and cultural performing arts facility.824

       (3) "Cost," as applied to a port authority educational and825
cultural performing arts facility, means the cost of acquiring,826
constructing, renovating, rehabilitating, equipping, or improving827
the facility, or any combination of those purposes, collectively828
referred to in this section as "construction," and the cost of829
acquisition of all land, rights of way, property rights,830
easements, franchise rights, and interests required for those831
purposes, the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or832
structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring833
any land to which those buildings or structures may be moved, the834
cost of public utility and common carrier relocation or835
duplication, the cost of all machinery, furnishings, and836
equipment, financing charges, interest prior to and during837
construction and for not more than three years after completion of838
construction, costs arising under guaranty agreements,839
reimbursement agreements, or other credit enhancement agreements840
relating to bonds, engineering, expenses of research and841
development with respect to such facility, legal expenses, plans,842
specifications, surveys, studies, estimates of costs and revenues,843
other expenses necessary or incident to determining the844
feasibility or practicability of acquiring or constructing the845
facility, administrative expense, and other expenses as may be846
necessary or incident to that acquisition or construction and the847
financing of such acquisition or construction, including, with848
respect to the revenue bonds of a port authority, amounts to be849
paid into any special funds from the proceeds of those bonds, and850
repayments to the port authority, host county, host municipal851
corporation, or corporation of any amounts advanced for the852
foregoing purposes.853

       (4) "Debt service charges" means, for any period or payable854
at any time, the principal of and interest and any premium due on855
bonds for that period or payable at that time whether due at856
maturity or upon mandatory redemption, together with any required857
deposits to reserves for the payment of principal of and interest858
on those bonds, and includes any payments required by the port859
authority to satisfy any of its obligations under or arising from860
any guaranty agreements, reimbursement agreements, or other credit861
enhancement agreements described in division (C) of this section.862

       (5) "Host county" means the county within the boundaries of863
which the port authority educational and cultural performing arts864
facility is or will be located.865

       (6) "Host municipal corporation" means the municipal866
corporation within the boundaries of which the port authority867
educational and cultural performing arts facility is or will be868
located.869

       (7) "Port authority" means a port authority created pursuant870
to section 4582.22 of the Revised Code.871

       (8) "Port authority educational and cultural performing arts872
facility" means a facility that consists of a center for music or873
other performing arts, a theater or other facilities to provide874
programs of an educational, recreational, or cultural nature, or875
any combination of those purposes as determined by the parties to876
the cooperative agreement for which provision is made in division877
(B) of this section to fulfill the public educational,878
recreational, and cultural purposes set forth therein, together879
with all parking facilities, walkways, and other auxiliary880
facilities, real and personal property, property rights,881
easements, and interests that may be appropriate for, or used in882
connection with, the operation of the facility.883

       (B) A host county, a host municipal corporation, and a port884
authority may enter into a cooperative agreement with a885
corporation under which, as further provided for in that886
agreement:887

       (1) The host county may agree to do any or all of the888
following:889

       (a) Levy and collect a tax under division (E) and division890
(F) of section 5739.09 of the Revised Code for the purposes, and891
in an amount sufficient for those purposes, described in divisions892
(B)(1)(b) and (c) of this section;893

       (b) Pay to the port authority all or such portion as provided 894
for in the cooperative agreement of the revenue from the tax, 895
together with any investment earnings on that revenue, to be used 896
to pay a portion of the costs of acquiring, constructing,897
renovating, rehabilitating, equipping, or improving the port898
authority educational and cultural performing arts facility;899

       (c) Pledge and pay to the corporation all or such portion as900
provided for in the cooperative agreement of the revenue from the901
tax, together with any investment earnings on that revenue, to be902
used to pay a portion of the costs to the corporation of leasing903
the port authority educational and cultural performing arts904
facility from the port authority.905

       (2) The port authority may agree to do any or all of the906
following:907

       (a) Issue its revenue bonds pursuant to section 4582.48 of908
the Revised Code for the purpose of paying all or a portion of the909
costs of the port authority educational and cultural performing910
arts facility;911

       (b) Acquire, construct, renovate, rehabilitate, equip, and912
improve the port authority educational and cultural performing913
arts facility;914

       (c) Lease the port authority educational and cultural915
performing arts facility to the corporation;916

       (d) To the extent provided for in the cooperative agreement917
or the lease to the corporation, authorize the corporation to918
administer on behalf of the port authority the contracts for919
acquiring, constructing, renovating, rehabilitating, or equipping920
the port authority educational and cultural performing arts921
facility;922

       (e) Use the revenue derived from the lease of the port923
authority educational and cultural performing arts facility to the924
corporation solely to pay debt service charges on revenue bonds of925
the port authority issued pursuant to division (B)(2)(a) of this926
section and to pay its obligations under or arising from any927
guaranty agreements, reimbursement agreements, or other credit928
enhancement agreements provided for in this section.929

       (3) The host municipal corporation may agree to do either or930
both of the following:931

       (a) Issue its bonds for the purpose of paying all or a932
portion of the costs of the port authority educational and933
cultural performing arts facility, and pay the proceeds from the934
issuance to the port authority for that purpose;935

       (b) Enter into a guaranty agreement, a reimbursement936
agreement, or other credit enhancement agreement with the port937
authority to provide a guaranty or other credit enhancement of the938
port authority revenue bonds referred to in division (B)(2)(a) of939
this section pledging taxes, other than ad valorem property taxes,940
or other revenues for the purpose of providing the funds required941
to satisfy the host municipal corporation's obligations under that942
agreement.943

       The cooperative agreement may provide that the proceeds of944
such securities or of such guaranty agreement, reimbursement945
agreement, or other credit enhancement agreement be deposited with946
and administered by the trustee pursuant to the trust agreement947
authorized in division (C) of this section.948

       (4) The corporation may agree to do any or all of the949
following:950

       (a) Lease the port authority educational and cultural951
performing arts facility from the port authority;952

       (b) Operate and maintain the port authority educational and953
cultural performing arts facility pursuant to the lease;954

       (c) To the extent provided for in the cooperative agreement955
or the lease from the port authority, administer on behalf of the956
port authority the contracts for acquiring, constructing,957
renovating, rehabilitating, or equipping the port authority958
educational and cultural performing arts facility.959

       (C) The pledge and payments referred to in divisions960
(B)(1)(b) and (c) of this section and provided for in the961
cooperative agreement shall be for the period stated in the962
cooperative agreement but shall not extend longer than the period963
necessary to provide for the final retirement of the port964
authority revenue bonds referred to in division (B)(2)(a) of this965
section, and for the satisfaction by the port authority of any of966
its obligations under or arising from any guaranty agreements,967
reimbursement agreements, or other credit enhancement agreements968
relating to those bonds or to the revenues pledged to them. The969
cooperative agreement shall provide for the termination of the970
cooperative agreement, including the pledge and payment referred971
to in division (B)(1)(c) of this section, if the port authority972
revenue bonds referred to in division (B)(2)(a) of this section973
have not been issued, sold, and delivered within five years of the974
effective date of the cooperative agreement.975

       The cooperative agreement shall provide that any port976
authority revenue bonds shall be secured by a trust agreement977
between the port authority and a corporate trustee that is a trust978
company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or979
outside the state but authorized to exercise trust powers within980
the state. The host county may be a party to that trust agreement981
for the purpose of better securing the pledge by the host county982
of its payment to the corporation pursuant to division (B)(1)(c)983
of this section. A tax levied pursuant to section 5739.09 of the984
Revised Code for the purposes specified in division (B)(1)(b) or985
(c) of this section is not subject to diminution by initiative or986
referendum or diminution by statute, unless provision is made for987
an adequate substitute reasonably satisfactory to the trustee988
under the trust agreement that secures the port authority revenue989
bonds.990

       (D) A pledge of money by a host county under this section991
shall not be net indebtedness of the host county for purposes of992
section 133.07 of the Revised Code. A guaranty or other credit993
enhancement by a host municipal corporation under this section994
shall not be net indebtedness of the host municipal corporation995
for purposes of section 133.05 of the Revised Code.996

       (E) If the terms of the cooperative agreement so provide, any997
contract for the acquisition, construction, renovation,998
rehabilitation, equipping, or improving of a port authority999
educational and cultural performing arts facility shall be made in1000
such manner as is determined by the board of directors of the port1001
authority, and unless the cooperative agreement provides1002
otherwise, such a contract is not subject to division (R)(2) of1003
section 4582.31 of the Revised Code. The port authority may take1004
the assignment of and assume any contracts for the acquisition,1005
construction, renovation, rehabilitation, equipping, or improving1006
of a port authority educational and cultural performing arts1007
facility that had previously been authorized by any of the host1008
county, the host municipality, or the corporation. Such contracts1009
are not subject to division (R)(2) of section 4582.31 of the1010
Revised Code.1011

       Any contract for the acquisition, construction, renovation,1012
rehabilitation, equipping, or improving of a port authority1013
educational and cultural performing arts facility entered into,1014
assigned, or assumed pursuant to this division shall provide that1015
all laborers and mechanics employed for the acquisition,1016
construction, renovation, rehabilitation, equipping, or improving1017
of that facility shall be paid at the prevailing rates of wages of1018
laborers and mechanics for the class of work called for by the1019
port authority educational and cultural performing arts facility,1020
which wages shall be determined in accordance with the1021
requirements of Chapter 4115. of the Revised Code for the1022
determination of prevailing wage rates.1023

       Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in section1024
3383.07 of the Revised Code, construction services and general1025
building services for a port authority educational and cultural1026
performing arts facility funded completely or in part with money1027
appropriated by the state to the Ohio cultural facilities1028
commission may be provided by a port authority or a corporation1029
that occupies, will occupy, or is responsible for that facility,1030
as determined by the commission. The construction services and1031
general building services to be provided by the port authority or1032
the corporation shall be specified in an agreement between the1033
commission and the port authority or corporation. That agreement,1034
or any actions taken under it, are not subject to Chapters 123. or1035
153. of the Revised Code, but are subject to Chapter 4115. of the1036
Revised Code.1037

       Sec. 307.696.  (A) As used in this section:1038

       (1) "County taxes" means taxes levied by the county pursuant 1039
to sections 307.697, 4301.421, 5743.024, and 5743.323 of the 1040
Revised Code.1041

       (2) "Corporation" means a nonprofit corporation that is1042
organized under the laws of this state for the purposes of1043
operating or constructing and operating a sports facility in the1044
county and that may also be organized under the laws of this state 1045
for the additional purposes of conducting redevelopment and1046
economic development activities within the host municipal1047
corporation.1048

       (3) "Sports facility" means a sports facility that is1049
intended to house major league professional athletic teams,1050
including a stadium, together with all parking facilities,1051
walkways, and other auxiliary facilities, real and personal1052
property, property rights, easements, and interests that may be1053
appropriate for, or used in connection with, the operation of the1054
facility.1055

       (4) "Construction" includes, but is not limited to, providing 1056
fixtures, furnishings, and equipment.1057

       (5) "Debt service charges" means the interest, principal,1058
premium, if any, carrying and redemption charges, and expenses on1059
bonds issued by either the county or the corporation to:1060

       (a) Construct a sports facility or provide for related1061
redevelopment or economic development as provided in this section;1062

       (b) Acquire real and personal property, property rights,1063
easements, or interests that may be appropriate for, or used in1064
connection with, the operation of the facility; and1065

       (c) Make site improvements to real property, including, but 1066
not limited to, demolition, excavation, and installation of1067
footers, pilings, and foundations.1068

       (6) "Host municipal corporation" means the municipal1069
corporation within the boundaries of which the sports facility is1070
located, and with which a national football league, major league1071
baseball, or national basketball association sports franchise is1072
associated on the effective date of this amendmentMarch 20, 1990.1073

       (B) A board of county commissioners of a county that levies a 1074
tax under section 307.697, 4301.421, or 5743.024 of the Revised 1075
Code may enter into an agreement with a corporation operating in 1076
the county, and, if there is a host municipal corporation all or a 1077
part of which is located in the county, shall enter into an 1078
agreement with a corporation operating in the county and the host 1079
municipal corporation, under which:1080

       (1)(a) The corporation agrees to construct and operate a1081
sports facility in the county and to pledge and contribute all or1082
any part of the revenues derived from its operation, as specified1083
in the agreement, for the purposes described in division (C)(1) of 1084
this section; and1085

       (b) The board agrees to levy county taxes and pledge and1086
contribute any part or all of the revenues therefrom, as specified 1087
in the agreement, for the purposes described in division (C)(1) of 1088
this section; or1089

       (2)(a) The corporation agrees to operate a sports facility1090
constructed by the county and to pledge and contribute all or any1091
part of the revenues derived from its operation, as specified in1092
the agreement, for the purposes described in division (C)(2) of1093
this section; and1094

       (b) The board agrees to issue revenue bonds of the county,1095
use the proceeds from the sale of the bonds to construct a sports1096
facility in the county, and to levy county taxes and pledge and1097
contribute all or any part of the revenues therefrom, as specified 1098
in the agreement, for the purposes described in division (C)(2) of 1099
this section; and, if applicable1100

       (3) The host municipal corporation agrees to expend the1101
unused pledges and contributions and surplus revenues as described 1102
in divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section for redevelopment and 1103
economic development purposes related to the sports facility.1104

       (C)(1) The primary purpose of the pledges and contributions 1105
described in division (B)(1) of this section is payment of debt 1106
service charges. To the extent the pledges and contributions are 1107
not used by the county or corporation for payment of debt service 1108
charges, the county or corporation, pursuant to the agreement 1109
provided for in division (B) of this section, shall provide the 1110
unused pledges and contributions, together with surplus revenues 1111
of the sports facility not needed for debt service charges or the 1112
operation and maintenance of the sports facility, to the host 1113
municipal corporation, or a nonprofit corporation, which may be 1114
the corporation acting on behalf of the host municipal 1115
corporation, for redevelopment and economic development purposes 1116
related to the sports facility. If the county taxes are also 1117
levied for the purpose of making permanent improvements, the 1118
agreement shall include a schedule of annual pledges and 1119
contributions by the county for the payment of debt service 1120
charges. The county's pledge and contribution provided for in the 1121
agreement shall be for the period stated in the agreement but not 1122
to exceed twenty years. The agreement shall provide that any such 1123
bonds and notes shall be secured by a trust agreement between the 1124
corporation or other bond issuer and a corporate trustee that is a 1125
trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within 1126
or without the state, and the trust agreement shall pledge or 1127
assign to the retirement of the bonds or notes, all moneys paid by 1128
the county for that purpose under this section. A county tax, all 1129
or any part of the revenues from which are pledged under an 1130
agreement entered into by a board of county commissioners under 1131
this section shall not be subject to diminution by initiative or 1132
referendum, or diminution by statute, unless provision is made 1133
therein for an adequate substitute therefor reasonably 1134
satisfactory to the trustee under the trust agreement that secures 1135
the bonds and notes.1136

       (2) The primary purpose of the pledges and contributions1137
described in division (B)(2) of this section is payment of debt1138
service charges. To the extent the pledges and contributions are1139
not used by the county for payment of debt service charges, the1140
county or corporation, pursuant to the agreement provided for in1141
division (B) of this section, shall provide the unused pledges and 1142
contributions, together with surplus revenues of the sports1143
facility not needed for debt service charges or the operation and1144
maintenance of the sports facility, to the host municipal1145
corporation, or a nonprofit corporation, which may be the1146
corporation, acting on behalf of the host municipal corporation,1147
for redevelopment and economic development purposes related to the 1148
sports facility. The corporation's pledge and contribution1149
provided for in the agreement shall be until all of the bonds1150
issued for the construction of the facility have been retired.1151

       (D) A pledge of money by a county under this section shall1152
not be indebtedness of the county for purposes of Chapter 133. of1153
the Revised Code.1154

       (E) If the terms of the agreement so provide, the board of1155
county commissioners may acquire, make site improvements to,1156
including, but not limited to, demolition, excavation, and1157
installation of footers, pilings, and foundations, and lease real1158
property for the sports facility to a corporation that constructs1159
a sports facility under division (B)(1) of this section. The1160
agreement shall specify the term, which shall not exceed thirty1161
years and shall be on such terms as are set forth in the1162
agreement. The purchase, improvement, and lease may be the subject 1163
of an agreement between the county and a municipal corporation 1164
located within the county pursuant to section 153.61 or 307.15 of 1165
the Revised Code, and are not subject to the limitations of 1166
sections 307.02 and 307.09 of the Revised Code.1167

       (F) The corporation shall not enter into any construction1168
contract or contract for the purchase of services for use in1169
connection with the construction of a sports facility prior to the 1170
corporation's adoption and implementation of a policy on the set 1171
aside of contracts for bidding by or award to minority business 1172
enterprises, as defined in division (E)(1) of section 122.71 of 1173
the Revised Code. Sections 4115.03 to 4115.16 of the Revised Code 1174
apply to a sports facility constructed under this section.1175

       (G) Not more than one-half of the total costs, including debt 1176
service charges and cost of operation, of a project undertaken 1177
pursuant to an agreement entered into under division (B) of this 1178
section shall be paid from county taxes. Nothing in this section 1179
authorizes the use of revenues from county taxes or proceeds from 1180
the sale of bonds issued by the board of county commissioners for 1181
payment of costs of operation of a sports facility.1182

       Sec. 351.06. A facility to be constructed pursuant to this1183
chapter is a public improvement and a convention facilities1184
authority is a public authority for purposes of section 4115.03 of 1185
the Revised Code. All contractors and subcontractors working on 1186
such facilities are subject to and shall comply with sections1187
4115.03 to 4115.16 of the Revised Code. A convention facilities1188
authority is a contracting authority for purposes of sections1189
307.86 to 307.91 of the Revised Code.1190

       No convention facilities authority shall construct a facility 1191
under this chapter unless the plans for the facility provide for 1192
parking and transportation determined by the board of county 1193
commissioners as adequate to serve that facility.1194

       A convention facilities authority may do all of the1195
following:1196

       (A) Adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the1197
conduct of its business;1198

       (B) Adopt an official seal;1199

       (C) Maintain a principal office within its territory;1200

       (D) Acquire, purchase, construct, reconstruct, enlarge,1201
furnish, equip, maintain, repair, sell, exchange, lease or rent1202
to, lease or rent from, operate, or contract for the operation by1203
others of, facilities within its territory, and make charges for1204
the use of the facilities;1205

       (E) Make available the use or services of any facility to1206
persons or governmental agencies on such terms and conditions as1207
the authority shall determine;1208

       (F) By resolution of its board of directors, issue convention 1209
facilities authority revenue bonds beyond the limit of bonded 1210
indebtedness provided by law, payable solely from revenues as 1211
provided in section 351.14 of the Revised Code, unless the bonds 1212
are refunded by refunding bonds, for the purpose of providing 1213
funds to pay the costs of any facility or facilities or parts of 1214
any facility or facilities, and, if moneys raised by taxation are 1215
not obligated or pledged for the payment of those revenue bonds, 1216
to pay the costs of any facility or facilities or parts of any 1217
facility or facilities pursuant to Section 13 of Article VIII, 1218
Ohio Constitution, and in order to create or preserve jobs and 1219
employment opportunities and improve the economic welfare of the 1220
people of the state;1221

       (G) Maintain such funds as it determines necessary;1222

       (H) Direct its agents or employees, when properly identified 1223
in writing and after at least five days' written notice, to enter 1224
upon lands within its territory in order to make surveys and 1225
examinations preliminary to location and construction of 1226
facilities, or other work for the purposes of the convention1227
facilities authority, without liability of the authority or its1228
agents or employees except for actual damage done;1229

       (I) Promote, advertise, and publicize the authority and its 1230
facilities;1231

       (J)(1) Adopt rules, not in conflict with general law,1232
governing the use of its property, grounds, buildings, equipment,1233
and facilities, and the conduct of its employees and the public,1234
in order to promote the public safety and convenience in and about 1235
its facilities and grounds, and to maintain order. Any such rule 1236
shall be posted at a prominent place in each of the buildings or 1237
facilities to which it applies.1238

       (2) No person shall violate any lawful rule adopted and1239
posted as provided in this division.1240

       (K) Acquire by gift or purchase, hold, lease, and dispose of 1241
real and personal property and interests in the property in the 1242
exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under 1243
this chapter;1244

       (L) Acquire, in the name of the authority, by purchase or1245
otherwise, on such terms and in such manner as the authority finds 1246
proper, or by the exercise of the right of appropriation in the 1247
manner provided by section 351.22 of the Revised Code, such public 1248
or private lands, including public parks, playgrounds, or1249
reservations, or parts thereof or rights therein, rights-of-way,1250
rights, franchises, easements, and interests as it finds necessary 1251
or proper for carrying out this chapter, and compensation shall be 1252
paid for public or private lands so taken;1253

       (M) Make and enter into all contracts and agreements and1254
execute all instruments necessary or incidental to the performance 1255
of its duties and the execution of its powers under this chapter 1256
provided that no construction contract or contract for the 1257
purchase of goods or services shall be approved or entered into by 1258
the authority prior to the adoption and implementation of a policy 1259
on the set aside of contracts for bidding by or award to minority 1260
business enterprises, as defined in division (E)(1) of section 1261
122.71 of the Revised Code;1262

       (N) Employ managers, superintendents, and other employees and 1263
retain or contract with consulting engineers, financial1264
consultants, accounting experts, architects, attorneys, and such1265
other consultants and independent contractors as are necessary in1266
its judgment to carry out this chapter, and fix their1267
compensation. All expenses of doing so shall be payable solely1268
from the proceeds of convention facilities authority bonds and1269
notes issued under this chapter, or from excise taxes and1270
revenues.1271

       (O) Receive and accept from any governmental agency grants1272
for or in aid of the purposes of the authority, and receive and1273
accept aid or contributions from any source of money, property,1274
labor, or other things of value, to be held, used, and applied1275
only for the purposes for which such grants and contributions are1276
made;1277

       (P) Engage in research and development with respect to1278
facilities;1279

       (Q) Purchase fire and extended coverage and liability1280
insurance for any facility and for the offices of the authority,1281
insurance protecting the authority and its officers and employees1282
against liability for damage to property or injury to or death of1283
persons arising from its operations, and any other insurance the1284
authority may agree to provide under any resolution authorizing1285
its convention facilities authority revenue bonds or in any trust1286
agreement securing the same;1287

       (R) Charge, alter, and collect rentals and other charges for 1288
the use or services of any facility as provided in section 351.09 1289
of the Revised Code;1290

       (S) If a tax proposed under section 5739.026 of the Revised 1291
Code is disapproved by the electors, request the board of county 1292
commissioners to dissolve the authority pursuant to section 351.03 1293
of the Revised Code;1294

       (T) By resolution of its board of directors, levy one or both 1295
of the excise taxes authorized by division (B) of section 351.021 1296
of the Revised Code if authorized by the county commissioners, and 1297
issue convention facilities authority tax anticipation bonds 1298
beyond any limit of bonded indebtedness provided by law, payable 1299
solely from excise taxes levied pursuant to division (B) of 1300
section 351.021 of the Revised Code and revenues as provided in 1301
section 351.141 of the Revised Code.1302

       (U) Do all acts necessary or proper to carry out the powers 1303
expressly granted in this chapter.1304

       Sec. 1311.25.  As used in sections 1311.25 to 1311.32 of the1305
Revised Code:1306

       (A) "Public improvement" means any construction,1307
reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, alteration, demolition,1308
or repair of a building, highway, drainage system, water system,1309
road, street, alley, sewer, ditch, sewage disposal plant, water1310
works, and any other structure or work of any nature by a public1311
authority.1312

       (B) "Public authority" includes the state, and a county,1313
township, municipal corporation, school district, or other1314
political subdivision of the state, and any public agency,1315
authority, board, commission, instrumentality, or special district1316
of or in the state or a county, township, municipal corporation,1317
school district, or other political subdivision of the state, and1318
any officer or agent thereof.1319

       (C) "Materialman" or "material supplier" includes any person1320
by whom any materials are furnished in furtherance of a public1321
improvement.1322

       (D) "Laborer" includes any mechanic, worker, artisan, or1323
other individual who performs labor or work in furtherance of any1324
public improvement.1325

       (E) "Subcontractor" includes any person who undertakes to1326
construct, alter, erect, improve, repair, demolish, remove, dig,1327
or drill any part of any public improvement under a contract with1328
any person other than the public authority.1329

       (F) "Principal contractor" includes any person who undertakes 1330
to construct, alter, erect, improve, repair, demolish, remove, 1331
dig, or drill any part of any public improvement under a contract 1332
with a public authority.1333

       (G) "Materials" means all products and substances including,1334
without limitation, any gasoline, lubricating oil, petroleum1335
products, powder, dynamite, blasting supplies and other1336
explosives, tools, equipment, or machinery furnished in1337
furtherance of a public improvement.1338

       (H) "Wages" has the same meaning as "prevailing wage" in1339
division (E) of section 4115.03 of the Revised Codemeans the sum 1340
of the following:1341

       (1) The basic hourly rate of pay;1342

       (2) The rate of contribution irrevocably made by a contractor1343
or subcontractor to a trustee or to a third person pursuant to a1344
fund, plan, or program;1345

       (3) The rate of costs to the contractor or subcontractor,1346
which may be reasonably anticipated in providing the following1347
fringe benefits to laborers and mechanics pursuant to an1348
enforceable commitment to carry out a financially responsible plan 1349
or program, which was communicated in writing to the laborers and 1350
mechanics affected:1351

       (a) Medical or hospital care or insurance to provide such;1352

       (b) Pensions on retirement or death or insurance to provide 1353
such;1354

       (c) Compensation for injuries or illnesses resulting from 1355
occupational activities if it is in addition to that coverage 1356
required by Chapters 4121. and 4123. of the Revised Code;1357

       (d) Supplemental unemployment benefits that are in addition 1358
to those required by Chapter 4141. of the Revised Code;1359

       (e) Life insurance;1360

       (f) Disability and sickness insurance;1361

       (g) Vacation and holiday pay;1362

       (h) Defraying of costs for apprenticeship or other similar 1363
training programs that are beneficial only to the laborers and 1364
mechanics affected;1365

       (i) Other bona fide fringe benefits.1366

       (I) "Notice of commencement" means the notice specified in1367
section 1311.252 of the Revised Code.1368

       (J) "Notice of furnishing" means the notice specified in1369
section 1311.261 of the Revised Code.1370

       Sec. 1509.071.  (A) When the chief of the division of mineral 1371
resources management finds that an owner has failed to comply with 1372
the restoration requirements of section 1509.072, plugging 1373
requirements of section 1509.12, or permit provisions of section 1374
1509.13 of the Revised Code, or rules and orders relating thereto, 1375
the chief shall make a finding of that fact and declare any surety 1376
bond filed to ensure compliance with those sections and rules 1377
forfeited in the amount set by rule of the chief. The chief1378
thereupon shall certify the total forfeiture to the attorney1379
general, who shall proceed to collect the amount of the1380
forfeiture.1381

       In lieu of total forfeiture, the surety, at its option, may1382
cause the well to be properly plugged and abandoned and the area1383
properly restored or pay to the treasurer of state the cost of1384
plugging and abandonment.1385

       (B) All moneys collected because of forfeitures of bonds as1386
provided in this section shall be deposited in the state treasury1387
to the credit of the oil and gas well fund created in section1388
1509.02 of the Revised Code. The fund shall be expended by the1389
chief for the following purposes in addition to the other purposes1390
specified in that section:1391

       (1) In accordance with division (D) of this section, to plug1392
wells or to restore the land surface properly as required in1393
section 1509.072 of the Revised Code for which the bonds have been1394
forfeited, for abandoned wells for which no funds are available to1395
plug the wells in accordance with this chapter, or to use1396
abandoned wells for the injection of oil or gas production wastes;1397

       (2) In accordance with division (E) of this section, to1398
correct conditions that the chief reasonably has determined are1399
causing imminent health or safety risks.1400

       Expenditures from the fund shall be made only for lawful1401
purposes.1402

       (C)(1) Upon determining that the owner of a well has failed1403
to properly plug and abandon it or to properly restore the land1404
surface at the well site in compliance with the applicable1405
requirements of this chapter and applicable rules adopted and1406
orders issued under it or that a well is an abandoned well for1407
which no funds are available to plug the well in accordance with1408
this chapter, the chief shall do all of the following:1409

       (a) Determine from the records in the office of the county1410
recorder of the county in which the well is located the identity1411
of the owner of the land on which the well is located, the1412
identity of the owner of the oil or gas lease under which the well1413
was drilled or the identity of each person owning an interest in1414
the lease, and the identities of the persons having legal title1415
to, or a lien upon, any of the equipment appurtenant to the well;1416

       (b) Mail notice to the owner of the land on which the well is 1417
located informing the landowner that the well is to be plugged. If 1418
the owner of the oil or gas lease under which the well was drilled 1419
is different from the owner of the well or if any persons other 1420
than the owner of the well own interests in the lease, the chief 1421
also shall mail notice that the well is to be plugged to the owner 1422
of the lease or to each person owning an interest in the lease, as 1423
appropriate.1424

       (c) Mail notice to each person having legal title to, or a1425
lien upon, any equipment appurtenant to the well, informing the1426
person that the well is to be plugged and offering the person the1427
opportunity to plug the well and restore the land surface at the1428
well site at the person's own expense in order to avoid forfeiture1429
of the equipment to this state.1430

       (2) If none of the persons described in division (C)(1)(c) of 1431
this section plugs the well within sixty days after the mailing of 1432
the notice required by that division, all equipment appurtenant to 1433
the well is hereby declared to be forfeited to this state without 1434
compensation and without the necessity for any action by the state 1435
for use to defray the cost of plugging and abandoning the well and 1436
restoring the land surface at the well site.1437

       (D) Expenditures from the fund for the purpose of division1438
(B)(1) of this section shall be made in accordance with either of1439
the following:1440

       (1) The expenditures may be made pursuant to contracts1441
entered into by the chief with persons who agree to furnish all of1442
the materials, equipment, work, and labor as specified and1443
provided in such a contract. Agents or employees of persons1444
contracting with the chief for the restoration, plugging, and1445
injection projects may enter upon any land, public or private, on1446
which the well is located for the purpose of performing the work.1447
Prior to such entry, the chief shall give to the following persons1448
written notice of the existence of a contract for a project to1449
restore, plug, or inject oil or gas production wastes into a well,1450
the names of the persons with whom the contract is made, and the1451
date that the project will commence: the owner of the well, the1452
owner of the land upon which the well is located, the owner or1453
agents of adjoining land, and, if the well is located in the same1454
township as or in a township adjacent to the excavations and1455
workings of a mine and the owner or lessee of that mine has1456
provided written notice identifying those townships to the chief1457
at any time during the immediately preceding three years, the1458
owner or lessee of the mine.1459

       (2)(a) The owner of the land on which a well is located who1460
has received notice under division (C)(1)(b) of this section may1461
plug the well and be reimbursed by the division for the reasonable1462
cost of plugging the well. In order to plug the well, the1463
landowner shall submit an application to the chief on a form1464
prescribed by the chief and approved by the technical advisory1465
council on oil and gas created in section 1509.38 of the Revised1466
Code. The application, at a minimum, shall require the landowner1467
to provide the same information as is required to be included in1468
the application for a permit to plug and abandon under section1469
1509.13 of the Revised Code. The application shall be accompanied1470
by a copy of a proposed contract to plug the well prepared by a1471
contractor regularly engaged in the business of plugging oil and1472
gas wells. The proposed contract shall require the contractor to1473
furnish all of the materials, equipment, work, and labor necessary1474
to plug the well properly and shall specify the price for doing1475
the work, including a credit for the equipment appurtenant to the1476
well that was forfeited to the state through the operation of1477
division (C)(2) of this section. The application also shall be1478
accompanied by the permit fee required by section 1509.13 of the1479
Revised Code unless the chief, in the chief's discretion, waives1480
payment of the permit fee. The application constitutes an1481
application for a permit to plug and abandon the well for the1482
purposes of section 1509.13 of the Revised Code.1483

       (b) Within thirty days after receiving an application and1484
accompanying proposed contract under division (D)(2)(a) of this1485
section, the chief shall determine whether the plugging would1486
comply with the applicable requirements of this chapter and1487
applicable rules adopted and orders issued under it and whether1488
the cost of the plugging under the proposed contract is1489
reasonable. If the chief determines that the proposed plugging1490
would comply with those requirements and that the proposed cost of1491
the plugging is reasonable, the chief shall notify the landowner1492
of that determination and issue to the landowner a permit to plug1493
and abandon the well under section 1509.13 of the Revised Code.1494
Upon approval of the application and proposed contract, the chief1495
shall transfer ownership of the equipment appurtenant to the well1496
to the landowner. The chief may disapprove an application1497
submitted under division (D)(2)(a) of this section if the chief1498
determines that the proposed plugging would not comply with the1499
applicable requirements of this chapter and applicable rules1500
adopted and orders issued under it, that the cost of the plugging1501
under the proposed contract is unreasonable, or that the proposed1502
contract is not a bona fide, arms length contract.1503

       (c) After receiving the chief's notice of the approval of the 1504
application and permit to plug and abandon a well under division 1505
(D)(2)(b) of this section, the landowner shall enter into the1506
proposed contract to plug the well. The plugging shall be1507
completed within one hundred eight days after the landowner1508
receives the notice of approval and permit.1509

       (d) Upon determining that the plugging has been completed1510
within the time required by division (D)(2)(c) of this section and1511
has been completed in compliance with the applicable requirements1512
of this chapter and applicable rules adopted and orders issued1513
under it, the chief shall reimburse the landowner for the cost of1514
the plugging as set forth in the proposed contract approved by the1515
chief. The reimbursement shall be paid from the oil and gas well1516
fund. If the chief determines that the plugging was not completed1517
within the required time or was not completed in accordance with1518
the applicable requirements, the chief shall not reimburse the1519
landowner for the cost of the plugging, and the landowner or the1520
contractor, as applicable, promptly shall transfer back to this1521
state title to and possession of the equipment appurtenant to the1522
well that previously was transferred to the landowner under1523
division (D)(2)(b) of this section. If any such equipment was1524
removed from the well during the plugging and sold, the landowner1525
shall pay to the chief the proceeds from the sale of the1526
equipment, and the chief promptly shall pay the moneys so received1527
to the treasurer of state for deposit into the oil and gas well1528
fund.1529

       The chief may establish an annual limit on the number of1530
wells that may be plugged under division (D)(2) of this section or1531
an annual limit on the expenditures to be made under that1532
division.1533

       As used in division (D)(2) of this section, "plug" and1534
"plugging" include the plugging of the well and the restoration of1535
the land surface disturbed by the plugging.1536

       (E) Expenditures from the oil and gas well fund for the1537
purpose of division (B)(2) of this section may be made pursuant to1538
contracts entered into by the chief with persons who agree to1539
furnish all of the materials, equipment, work, and labor as1540
specified and provided in such a contract. The competitive bidding1541
requirements of Chapter 153. of the Revised Code do not apply if 1542
the chief reasonably determines that correction of the applicable 1543
health or safety risk requires immediate action. The chief, 1544
designated representatives of the chief, and agents or employees 1545
of persons contracting with the chief under this division may 1546
enter upon any land, public or private, for the purpose of 1547
performing the work.1548

       (F) Contracts entered into by the chief under this section1549
are not subject to either of the following:1550

       (1) Chapter 4115. of the Revised Code;1551

       (2) Sectionsection 153.54 of the Revised Code, except that 1552
the contractor shall obtain and provide to the chief as a bid1553
guaranty a surety bond or letter of credit in an amount equal to1554
ten per cent of the amount of the contract.1555

       (G) The owner of land on which a well is located who has1556
received notice under division (C)(1)(b) of this section, in lieu1557
of plugging the well in accordance with division (D)(2) of this1558
section, may cause ownership of the well to be transferred to an1559
owner who is lawfully doing business in this state and who has met1560
the financial responsibility requirements established under1561
section 1509.07 of the Revised Code, subject to the approval of1562
the chief. The transfer of ownership also shall be subject to the1563
landowner's filing the appropriate forms required under this1564
chapter and providing to the chief sufficient information to1565
demonstrate the landowner's or owner's right to produce a1566
formation or formations. That information may include a deed, a1567
lease, or other documentation of ownership or property rights.1568

       The chief shall approve or disapprove the transfer of1569
ownership of the well. If the chief approves the transfer, the1570
owner is responsible for operating the well in accordance with1571
this chapter and rules adopted under it, including, without1572
limitation, all of the following:1573

       (1) Filing an application with the chief under section1574
1509.06 of the Revised Code if the owner intends to drill deeper1575
or produce a formation that is not listed in the records of the1576
division for that well;1577

       (2) Taking title to and possession of the equipment1578
appurtenant to the well that has been identified by the chief as1579
having been abandoned by the former owner;1580

       (3) Complying with all applicable requirements that are1581
necessary to drill deeper, plug the well, or plug back the well.1582

       Sec. 1521.26.  (A) A board of county commissioners may use a 1583
loan obtained under division (C) of this section to provide1584
financial assistance to any person who owns real property in a1585
coastal erosion area, as defined in section 1506.01 of the Revised 1586
Code, and who has received a permit under section 1521.22 of the1587
Revised Code to construct an erosion control structure in that 1588
coastal erosion area. The board shall enter into an agreement with1589
the person that complies with all of the following requirements:1590

       (1) The agreement shall identify the person's real property 1591
for which the erosion control structure is being constructed and 1592
shall include a legal description of that property and a reference 1593
to the volume and page of the deed record in which the title of 1594
that person to that property is recorded.1595

       (2) In accordance with rules adopted by the Ohio water1596
development authority under division (V) of section 6121.04 of the1597
Revised Code for the purposes of division (C) of this section and 1598
pursuant to an agreement between the board and the authority under 1599
that division, the board shall agree to cause payments to be made 1600
by the authority to the contractor hired by the person to 1601
construct an erosion control structure in amounts not to exceed 1602
the total amount specified in the agreement between the board and 1603
the person.1604

       (3) The person shall agree to pay to the board, or to the 1605
authority as the assignee pursuant to division (C) of this 1606
section, the total amount of the payments plus administrative or 1607
other costs of the board or the authority at times, in 1608
installments, and bearing interest as specified in the agreement.1609

       The agreement may contain additional provisions that the 1610
board determines necessary to safeguard the interests of the 1611
county or to comply with an agreement entered into under division 1612
(C) of this section.1613

       (B) Upon entering into an agreement under division (A) of 1614
this section, the board shall do all of the following:1615

       (1) Cause the agreement to be recorded in the county deed 1616
records in the office of the county recorder of the county in 1617
which the real property is situated. Failure to record the 1618
agreement does not affect the validity of the agreement or the 1619
collection of any amounts due under the agreement.1620

       (2) Establish by resolution an erosion control repayment fund 1621
into which shall be deposited all amounts collected under division 1622
(B)(3) of this section. Moneys in that fund shall be used by the 1623
board for the repayment of the loan and for administrative or 1624
other costs of the board or the authority as specified in an 1625
agreement entered into under division (C) of this section. If the 1626
amount of money in the fund is inadequate to repay the loan when 1627
due, the board of county commissioners, by resolution, may advance 1628
money from any other fund in order to repay the loan if that use 1629
of the money from the other fund is not in conflict with law. If 1630
the board so advances money in order to repay the loan, the board1631
subsequently shall reimburse each fund from which the board 1632
advances money with moneys from the erosion control repayment 1633
fund.1634

       (3) Bill and collect all amounts when due under the agreement 1635
entered into under division (A) of this section. The board shall 1636
certify amounts not paid when due to the county auditor, who shall 1637
enter the amounts on the real property tax list and duplicate 1638
against the property identified under division (A)(1) of this 1639
section. The amounts not paid when due shall be a lien on that 1640
property from the date on which the amounts are placed on the tax 1641
list and duplicate and shall be collected in the same manner as 1642
other taxes.1643

       (C) A board may apply to the authority for a loan for the 1644
purpose of entering into agreements under division (A) of this 1645
section. The loan shall be for an amount and on the terms 1646
established in an agreement between the board and the authority. 1647
The board may assign any agreements entered into under division 1648
(A) of this section to the authority in order to provide for the 1649
repayment of the loan and may pledge any lawfully available 1650
revenues to the repayment of the loan, provided that no moneys 1651
raised by taxation shall be obligated or pledged by the board for 1652
the repayment of the loan. Any agreement with the authority1653
pursuant to this division is not subject to Chapter 133. of the 1654
Revised Code or any requirements or limitations established in 1655
that chapter.1656

       (D) The authority, as assignee of any agreement pursuant to 1657
division (C) of this section, may enforce and compel the board and 1658
the county auditor by mandamus pursuant to Chapter 2731. of the 1659
Revised Code to comply with division (B) of this section in a 1660
timely manner.1661

       (E) The construction of an erosion control structure by a1662
contractor hired by an individual homeowner, group of individual 1663
homeowners, or homeowners association that enters into an 1664
agreement with a board under division (A) of this section is not a 1665
public improvement, as defined in section 4115.03 of the Revised 1666
Code, and is not subject to competitive bidding or public bond 1667
laws.1668

       Sec. 1551.33.  (A) The Ohio air quality development 1669
authority, by the affirmative vote of a majority of its members, 1670
shall appoint and fix the compensation of the director of the Ohio 1671
coal development office. The director shall serve at the pleasure 1672
of the authority.1673

       (B) The director of the office shall do all of the following:1674

       (1) Biennially prepare and maintain the Ohio coal development 1675
agenda required under section 1551.34 of the Revised Code;1676

       (2) Propose and support policies for the office consistent1677
with the Ohio coal development agenda and develop means to1678
implement the agenda;1679

       (3) Initiate, undertake, and support projects to carry out1680
the office's purposes and ensure that the projects are consistent1681
with and meet the selection criteria established by the Ohio coal1682
development agenda;1683

       (4) Actively encourage joint participation in and, when1684
feasible, joint funding of the office's projects with governmental1685
agencies, electric utilities, universities and colleges, other1686
public or private interests, or any other person;1687

       (5) Establish a table of organization for and employ such1688
employees and agents as are necessary for the administration and1689
operation of the office. Any such employees shall be in the 1690
unclassified service and shall serve at the pleasure of the 1691
authority.1692

       (6) Appoint specified members of and convene the technical1693
advisory committee established under section 1551.35 of the1694
Revised Code;1695

       (7) Review, with the assistance of the technical advisory1696
committee, proposed coal research and development projects as1697
defined in section 1555.01 of the Revised Code, and coal1698
development projects, submitted to the office by public utilities1699
for the purpose of section 4905.304 of the Revised Code. If the1700
director and the advisory committee determine that any such1701
facility or project has as its purpose the enhanced use of Ohio1702
coal in an environmentally acceptable, cost effective manner,1703
promotes energy conservation, is cost effective, and is1704
environmentally sound, the director shall submit to the public1705
utilities commission a report recommending that the commission1706
allow the recovery of costs associated with the facility or1707
project under section 4905.304 of the Revised Code and including1708
the reasons for the recommendation.1709

       (8) Establish such policies, procedures, and guidelines as1710
are necessary to achieve the office's purposes.1711

       (C) By the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of 1712
the Ohio air quality development authority, the director of the 1713
office may exercise any of the powers and duties of the director 1714
of development as the authority and the director of the office 1715
consider appropriate or desirable to achieve the office's 1716
purposes, including, but not limited to, the powers and duties 1717
enumerated in sections 1551.11, 1551.12, 1551.13, and 1551.15 of 1718
the Revised Code.1719

       Additionally, the director of the office may make loans to1720
governmental agencies or persons for projects to carry out the1721
office's purposes. Fees, charges, rates of interest, times of1722
payment of interest and principal, and other terms, conditions,1723
and provisions of the loans shall be such as the director of the1724
office determines to be appropriate and in furtherance of the1725
purposes for which the loans are made. The mortgage lien securing1726
any moneys lent by the director of the office may be subordinate1727
to the mortgage lien securing any moneys lent or invested by a1728
financial institution, but shall be superior to that securing any1729
moneys lent or expended by any other person. The moneys used in1730
making the loans shall be disbursed upon order of the director of1731
the office.1732

       Sec. 1710.02.  (A) A special improvement district may be1733
created within the boundaries of any one municipal corporation, 1734
any one township, or any combination of contiguous municipal 1735
corporations and townships by a petition of the property owners 1736
within the proposed district, for the purpose of developing and1737
implementing plans for public improvements and public services1738
that benefit the district. All territory in a district shall be1739
contiguous.1740

       The district shall be governed by the board of trustees of a 1741
nonprofit corporation. This board shall be known as the board of 1742
directors of the special improvement district. No special 1743
improvement district shall include any church property, or 1744
property of the federal or state government or a county, township, 1745
or municipal corporation, unless the church or the county, 1746
township, or municipal corporation specifically requests in 1747
writing that the property be included within the district. More 1748
than one district may be created within a participating political1749
subdivision, but no real property may be included within more than 1750
one district unless the owner of the property files a written 1751
consent with the clerk of the legislative authority or the village 1752
clerk, as appropriate. The area of each district shall be 1753
contiguous.1754

       (B) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, a1755
district created under this chapter is not a political1756
subdivision. A district created under this chapter shall be1757
considered a public agency under section 102.01 and a public1758
authority under section 4115.03 of the Revised Code. Each member 1759
of the board of directors of a district, each member's designee or 1760
proxy, and each officer and employee of a district shall be 1761
considered a public official or employee under section 102.01 of 1762
the Revised Code and a public official and public servant under 1763
section 2921.42 of the Revised Code. Districts created under this 1764
chapter are not subject to section 121.24 of the Revised Code. 1765
Districts created under this chapter are subject to sections 1766
121.22 and 121.23 of the Revised Code.1767

       (C) Each district created under this chapter shall be1768
considered a political subdivision for purposes of section 4905.34 1769
of the Revised Code.1770

       Membership on the board of directors of the district shall 1771
not be considered as holding a public office. Directors and their 1772
designees shall be entitled to the immunities provided by Chapter 1773
1702. and to the same immunity as an employee under division 1774
(A)(6) of section 2744.03 of the Revised Code, except that 1775
directors and their designees shall not be entitled to the 1776
indemnification provided in section 2744.07 of the Revised Code 1777
unless the director or designee is an employee or official of a 1778
participating political subdivision of the district and is acting 1779
within the scope of the director's or designee's employment or 1780
official responsibilities.1781

       District officers and district members and directors and1782
their designees or proxies shall not be required to file a1783
statement with the Ohio ethics commission under section 102.02 of1784
the Revised Code. All records of the district shall be treated as 1785
public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code, except 1786
that records of organizations contracting with a district shall 1787
not be considered to be public records under section 149.43 or 1788
section 149.431 of the Revised Code solely by reason of any 1789
contract with a district.1790

       (D) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the1791
nonprofit corporation that governs a district shall be organized1792
in the manner described in Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code. The 1793
corporation's articles of incorporation are required to be1794
approved, as provided in division (E) of this section, by1795
resolution of the legislative authority of each participating 1796
political subdivision of the district. A copy of that resolution 1797
shall be filed along with the articles of incorporation in the 1798
secretary of state's office.1799

       In addition to meeting the requirements for articles of1800
incorporation set forth in Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code, the1801
articles of incorporation for the nonprofit corporation governing 1802
a district formed under this chapter shall provide all the1803
following:1804

       (1) The name for the district, which shall include the name 1805
of each participating political subdivision of the district;1806

       (2) A description of the territory within the district, which 1807
may be all or part of each participating political subdivision. 1808
The description shall be specific enough to enable real property1809
owners to determine if their property is located within the1810
district.1811

       (3) A description of the procedure by which the articles of 1812
incorporation may be amended. The procedure shall include1813
receiving approval of the amendment, by resolution, from the1814
legislative authority of each participating political subdivision 1815
and filing the approved amendment and resolution with the 1816
secretary of state.1817

       (4) The reasons for creating the district, plus an1818
explanation of how the district will be conducive to the public1819
health, safety, peace, convenience, and welfare of the district.1820

       (E) The articles of incorporation for a nonprofit corporation 1821
governing a district created under this chapter and amendments to 1822
them shall be submitted to the municipal executive, if any, and1823
the legislative authority of each municipal corporation or 1824
township in which the proposed district is to be located, 1825
accompanied by a petition signed either by the owners of at least 1826
sixty per cent of the front footage of all real property located 1827
in the proposed district that abuts upon any street, alley, public 1828
road, place, boulevard, parkway, park entrance, easement, or other 1829
existing public improvement within the proposed district, 1830
excluding church property or property owned by the state, county,1831
township, municipal, or federal government, unless a church, 1832
county, township, or municipal corporation has specifically 1833
requested in writing that the property be included in the 1834
district, or by the owners of at least seventy-five per cent of 1835
the area of all real property located within the proposed 1836
district, excluding church property or property owned by the1837
state, county, township, municipal, or federal government, unless 1838
a church, county, township, or municipal corporation has 1839
specifically requested in writing that the property be included in 1840
the district. For purposes of determining compliance with these 1841
requirements, the area of the district, or the front footage and 1842
ownership of property, shall be as shown in the most current 1843
records available at the county recorder's office and the county 1844
engineer's office sixty days prior to the date on which the 1845
petition is filed.1846

       Each municipal corporation or township with which the 1847
petition is filed has sixty days to approve or disapprove, by 1848
resolution, the petition, including the articles of incorporation. 1849
This chapter does not prohibit or restrict the rights of municipal1850
corporations under Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution or the1851
right of the municipal legislative authority to impose reasonable1852
conditions in a resolution of approval.1853

       (F) Persons proposing creation and operation of the district 1854
may propose an initial plan for public services or public 1855
improvements that benefit all or any part of the district. Any 1856
initial plan shall be submitted as part of the petition proposing 1857
creation of the district.1858

       An initial plan may include provisions for the following:1859

       (1) Creation and operation of the district and of the1860
nonprofit corporation to govern the district under this chapter;1861

       (2) Hiring employees and professional services;1862

       (3) Contracting for insurance;1863

       (4) Purchasing or leasing office space and office equipment;1864

       (5) Other actions necessary initially to form, operate, or1865
organize the district and the nonprofit corporation to govern the1866
district;1867

       (6) A plan for public improvements or public services that 1868
benefit all or part of the district, which plan shall comply with 1869
the requirements of division (A) of section 1710.06 of the Revised 1870
Code and may include, but is not limited to, any of the permissive 1871
provisions described in the fourth sentence of that division or 1872
listed in divisions (A)(1) to (5) of that section.1873

       After the initial plan is approved by all municipal1874
corporations and townships to which it is submitted for approval 1875
and the district is created, each participating subdivision shall 1876
levy a special assessment within its boundaries to pay for the 1877
costs of the initial plan. The levy shall be for no more than ten 1878
years from the date of the approval of the initial plan. For1879
purposes of levying an assessment for this initial plan, the 1880
services or improvements included in the initial plan shall be 1881
deemed a special benefit to property owners within the district.1882

       (G) Each nonprofit corporation governing a district under1883
this chapter may do the following:1884

       (1) Exercise all powers of nonprofit corporations granted1885
under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code that do not conflict with1886
this chapter;1887

       (2) Develop, adopt, revise, implement, and repeal plans for 1888
public improvements and public services for all or any part of the 1889
district;1890

       (3) Contract with any person, political subdivision as1891
defined in section 2744.01 of the Revised Code, or state agency as1892
defined in section 1.60 of the Revised Code to develop and1893
implement plans for public improvements or public services within1894
the district;1895

       (4) Contract and pay for insurance for the district and for 1896
directors, officers, agents, contractors, employees, or members of 1897
the district for any consequences of the implementation of any 1898
plan adopted by the district or any actions of the district.1899

       Sec. 1728.07.  Every approved project shall be evidenced by a 1900
financial agreement between the municipal corporation and the1901
community urban redevelopment corporation. Such agreement shall be 1902
prepared by the community urban redevelopment corporation and1903
submitted as a separate part of its application for project1904
approval.1905

       The financial agreement shall be in the form of a contract1906
requiring full performance within twenty years from the date of1907
completion of the project and shall, as a minimum, include the1908
following:1909

       (A) That all improvements in the project to be constructed or 1910
acquired by the corporation shall be exempt from taxation, subject 1911
to section 1728.10 of the Revised Code;1912

       (B) That the corporation shall make payments in lieu of real 1913
estate taxes not less than the amount as provided by section1914
1728.11 of the Revised Code; or if the municipal corporation is an 1915
impacted city, not less than the amount as provided by section1916
1728.111 of the Revised Code;1917

       (C) That the corporation, its successors and assigns, shall 1918
use, develop, and redevelop the real property of the project in 1919
accordance with, and for the period of, the community development 1920
plan approved by the governing body of the municipal corporation 1921
for the blighted area in which the project is situated and shall 1922
so bind its successors and assigns by appropriate agreements and 1923
covenants running with the land enforceable by the municipal 1924
corporation.;1925

       (D) If the municipal corporation is an impacted city, the1926
extent of the undertakings and activities of the corporation for1927
the elimination and for the prevention of the development or1928
spread of blight.;1929

       (E) That the corporation or the municipal corporation, or1930
both, shall provide for carrying out relocation of persons,1931
families, business concerns, and others displaced by the project,1932
pursuant to a relocation plan, including the method for the1933
relocation of residents in decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling1934
accommodations, and reasonable moving costs, determined to be1935
feasible by the governing body of the municipal corporation. Where 1936
the relocation plan is carried out by the corporation, its1937
officers, employees, agents, or lessees, the municipal corporation 1938
shall enforce and supervise the corporation's compliance with the 1939
relocation plan. If the corporation refuses or fails to comply 1940
with the relocation plan and the municipal corporation fails or 1941
refuses to enforce compliance with such plan, the director of 1942
development may request the attorney general to commence a civil 1943
action against the municipality and the corporation to require 1944
compliance with such relocation plan. Prior to requesting action 1945
by the attorney general the director shall give notice of the 1946
proposed action to the municipality and the corporation, provide 1947
an opportunity to such municipality and corporation for 1948
discussions on the matter, and allow a reasonable time in which 1949
the corporation may begin compliance with the relocation plan, or 1950
the municipality may commence enforcement of the relocation plan.1951

       (F) That the corporation shall submit annually, within ninety 1952
days after the close of its fiscal year, its auditor's reports to 1953
the mayor and governing body of the municipal corporation;1954

       (G) That the corporation shall, upon request, permit1955
inspection of property, equipment, buildings, and other facilities 1956
of the corporation, and also permit examination and audit of its 1957
books, contracts, records, documents, and papers by authorized 1958
representatives of the municipal corporation;1959

       (H) That in the event of any dispute between the parties the 1960
matters in controversy shall be resolved by arbitration in the 1961
manner provided therein;1962

       (I) That operation under the financial agreement is1963
terminable by the corporation in the manner provided by Chapter1964
1728. of the Revised Code;1965

       (J) That the corporation shall, at all times prior to the1966
expiration or other termination of the financial agreement, remain 1967
bound by Chapter 1728. of the Revised Code;1968

       (K) That all wages paid to laborers and mechanics employed1969
for work on such projects, other than for residential structures1970
containing seven or less family units, shall be paid at the1971
prevailing rates of wages of laborers and mechanics for the class1972
of work called for by the project, which wages shall be determined 1973
in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 4115. of the 1974
Revised Code for determination of prevailing wage rates, provided 1975
that the requirements of this division do not apply where the 1976
federal government or any of its agencies furnishes by law or 1977
grant all or any part of the funds used in connection with such 1978
project and prescribes predetermined minimum wages to be paid to 1979
such laborers and mechanics.1980

       Modifications of the financial agreement may from time to1981
time be made by agreement between the governing body of the1982
municipal corporation and the community urban redevelopment1983
corporation.1984

       Sec. 3383.07.  (A) The department of administrative services1985
shall provide for the construction of a cultural project in1986
conformity with Chapter 153. of the Revised Code, except as1987
follows:1988

       (1) For a cultural project that has an estimated construction1989
cost, excluding the cost of acquisition, of twenty-five million1990
dollars or more, and that is financed by the Ohio building1991
authority, construction services may be provided by the authority1992
if the authority determines it should provide those services.1993

       (2) For a cultural project other than a state historical1994
facility, construction services may be provided on behalf of the1995
state by the Ohio cultural facilities commission, or by a1996
governmental agency or a cultural organization that occupies, will1997
occupy, or is responsible for the Ohio cultural facility, as1998
determined by the commission. Construction services to be provided 1999
by a governmental agency or a cultural organization shall be2000
specified in an agreement between the commission and the2001
governmental agency or cultural organization. The agreement, or 2002
any actions taken under it, are not subject to Chapter 123. or 2003
153. of the Revised Code, except for sections 123.081 and 153.011 2004
of the Revised Code, and shall be subject to Chapter 4115. of the 2005
Revised Code.2006

       (3) For a cultural project that is a state historical 2007
facility, construction services may be provided by the Ohio 2008
cultural facilities commission or by a cultural organization that 2009
occupies, will occupy, or is responsible for the facility, as 2010
determined by the commission. The construction services to be2011
provided by the cultural organization shall be specified in an 2012
agreement between the commission and the cultural organization. 2013
That agreement, and any actions taken under it, are not subject to 2014
Chapter 123.,or 153., or 4115. of the Revised Code.2015

       (B) For an Ohio sports facility that is financed in part by2016
the Ohio building authority, construction services shall be2017
provided on behalf of the state by or at the direction of the2018
governmental agency or nonprofit corporation that will own or be2019
responsible for the management of the facility, all as determined2020
by the Ohio cultural facilities commission. Any construction 2021
services to be provided by a governmental agency or nonprofit 2022
corporation shall be specified in an agreement between the 2023
commission and the governmental agency or nonprofit corporation. 2024
That agreement, and any actions taken under it, are not subject to 2025
Chapter 123. or 153. of the Revised Code, except for sections 2026
123.081 and 153.011 of the Revised Code, and shall be subject to2027
Chapter 4115. of the Revised Code.2028

       (C) General building services for an Ohio cultural facility2029
shall be provided by the Ohio cultural facilities commission or by 2030
a cultural organization that occupies, will occupy, or is 2031
responsible for the facility, as determined by the commission, 2032
except that the Ohio building authority may elect to provide those 2033
services for Ohio cultural facilities financed with proceeds of 2034
state bonds issued by the authority. The costs of management and 2035
general building services shall be paid by the cultural2036
organization that occupies, will occupy, or is responsible for the2037
facility as provided in an agreement between the commission and2038
the cultural organization, except that the state may pay for 2039
general building services for state-owned cultural facilities 2040
constructed on state-owned land.2041

       General building services for an Ohio sports facility shall2042
be provided by or at the direction of the governmental agency or2043
nonprofit corporation that will be responsible for the management2044
of the facility, all as determined by the commission. Any general2045
building services to be provided by a governmental agency or2046
nonprofit corporation for an Ohio sports facility shall be2047
specified in an agreement between the commission and the2048
governmental agency or nonprofit corporation. That agreement, and2049
any actions taken under it, are not subject to Chapter 123. or2050
153. of the Revised Code, except for sections 123.081 and 153.0112051
of the Revised Code, and shall be subject to Chapter 4115. of the2052
Revised Code.2053

       (D) This division does not apply to a state historical2054
facility. No state funds, including any state bond proceeds, shall 2055
be spent on the construction of any cultural project under this2056
chapter unless, with respect to the cultural project and to the 2057
Ohio cultural facility related to the project, all of the 2058
following apply:2059

       (1) The Ohio cultural facilities commission has determined2060
that there is a need for the cultural project and the Ohio 2061
cultural facility related to the project in the region of the 2062
state in which the Ohio cultural facility is located or for which 2063
the facility is proposed.2064

       (2) The commission has determined that, as an indication of2065
substantial regional support for the cultural project, the 2066
cultural organization has made provision satisfactory to the 2067
commission, in its sole discretion, for local contributions 2068
amounting to not less than fifty per cent of the total state 2069
funding for the cultural project.2070

       (3) The general assembly has specifically authorized the2071
spending of money on, or made an appropriation for, the2072
construction of the cultural project, or for rental payments 2073
relating to the financing of the construction of the cultural 2074
project. Authorization to spend money, or an appropriation, for 2075
planning the cultural project does not constitute authorization to 2076
spend money on, or an appropriation for, construction of the 2077
cultural project.2078

       (E) No state funds, including any state bond proceeds, shall2079
be spent on the construction of any state historical facility2080
under this chapter unless the general assembly has specifically2081
authorized the spending of money on, or made an appropriation for,2082
the construction of the state historical project related to the 2083
facility, or for rental payments relating to the financing of the 2084
construction of the state historical project. Authorization to 2085
spend money, or an appropriation, for planning the state 2086
historical project does not constitute authorization to spend 2087
money on, or an appropriation for, the construction of the state 2088
historical project.2089

       (F) State funds shall not be used to pay or reimburse more2090
than fifteen per cent of the initial estimated construction cost2091
of an Ohio sports facility, excluding any site acquisition cost,2092
and no state funds, including any state bond proceeds, shall be2093
spent on any Ohio sports facility under this chapter unless, with2094
respect to that facility, all of the following apply:2095

       (1) The Ohio cultural facilities commission has determined2096
that there is a need for the facility in the region of the state 2097
for which the facility is proposed to provide the function of an 2098
Ohio sports facility as provided for in this chapter.2099

       (2) As an indication of substantial local support for the2100
facility, the commission has received a financial and development2101
plan satisfactory to it, and provision has been made, by agreement2102
or otherwise, satisfactory to the commission, for a contribution2103
amounting to not less than eighty-five per cent of the total2104
estimated construction cost of the facility, excluding any site2105
acquisition cost, from sources other than the state.2106

       (3) The general assembly has specifically authorized the2107
spending of money on, or made an appropriation for, the2108
construction of the facility, or for rental payments relating to2109
state financing of all or a portion of the costs of constructing2110
the facility. Authorization to spend money, or an appropriation,2111
for planning or determining the feasibility of or need for the2112
facility does not constitute authorization to spend money on, or2113
an appropriation for, costs of constructing the facility.2114

       (4) If state bond proceeds are being used for the Ohio sports2115
facility, the state or a governmental agency owns or has2116
sufficient property interests in the facility or in the site of2117
the facility or in the portion or portions of the facility2118
financed from proceeds of state bonds, which may include, but is2119
not limited to, the right to use or to require the use of the2120
facility for the presentation of sport and athletic events to the2121
public at the facility.2122

       (G) In addition to the requirements of division (F) of this 2123
section, no state funds, including any state bond proceeds, shall 2124
be spent on any Ohio sports facility that is a motorsports 2125
complex, unless, with respect to that facility, both of the 2126
following apply:2127

       (1) Motorsports events shall be presented at the facility 2128
pursuant to a lease entered into with the owner of the facility. 2129
The term of the lease shall be for a period of not less than the 2130
greater of the useful life of the portion of the facility financed 2131
from proceeds of state bonds as determined using the guidelines 2132
for maximum maturities as provided under divisions (B) and (C) of 2133
section 133.20 of the Revised Code, or the period of time 2134
remaining to the date of payment or provision for payment of 2135
outstanding state bonds allocable to costs of the facility, all as 2136
determined by the director of budget and management and certified 2137
by the director to the Ohio cultural facilities commission and to 2138
the Ohio building authority. 2139

       (2) Any motorsports organization that commits to using the 2140
facility for an established period of time shall give the 2141
political subdivision in which the facility is located not less 2142
than six months' advance notice if the organization intends to 2143
cease utilizing the facility prior to the expiration of that 2144
established period. Such a motorsports organization shall be 2145
liable to the state for any state funds used on the construction 2146
costs of the facility.2147

       Sec. 4116.01.  As used in sections 4116.01 to 4116.04 of the2148
Revised Code:2149

       (A) "Public authority" means any officer, board, or 2150
commission of the state, or any political subdivision of the 2151
state, or any institution supported in whole or in part by public2152
funds, authorized to enter into a contract for the construction of 2153
a public improvement or to construct a public improvement by the 2154
direct employment of labor. "Public authority" shall not mean any 2155
municipal corporation that has adopted a charter under sections 2156
three and seven of article XVIII of the Ohio constitution2157
Constitution, unless the specific contract for a public 2158
improvement includes state funds appropriated for the purposes of 2159
that public improvement.2160

       (B) "Construction" means all of the following:2161

       (1) Any new construction of any public improvement performed 2162
by other than full-time employees who have completed their 2163
probationary periods in the classified service of a public2164
authority;2165

       (2) Any reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, repair,2166
remodeling, renovation, or painting of any public improvement2167
performed by other than full-time employees who have completed2168
their probationary period in the classified civil service of a2169
public authority;2170

       (3) Construction on any project, facility, or project2171
facility to which section 122.452, 122.80, 165.031, 166.02,2172
1551.13,or 1728.07, or 3706.042 of the Revised Code applies.2173

       (C) "Public improvement" means all buildings, roads, streets, 2174
alleys, sewers, ditches, sewage disposal plants, water works, and 2175
other structures or works constructed by a public authority or by 2176
any person who, pursuant to a contract with a public authority, 2177
constructs any structure or work for a public authority. When a 2178
public authority rents or leases a newly constructed structure 2179
within six months after completion of its construction, all work 2180
performed on that structure to suit it for occupancy by a public 2181
authority is a "public improvement."2182

       (D) "Interested party," with respect to a particular public 2183
improvement, means all of the following:2184

       (1) Any person who submits a bid for the purpose of securing 2185
the award of a contract for the public improvement;2186

       (2) Any person acting as a subcontractor of a person 2187
mentioned in division (D)(1) of this section;2188

       (3) Any association having as members any of the persons 2189
mentioned in division (D)(1) or (2) of this section;2190

       (4) Any employee of a person mentioned in division (D)(1), 2191
(2), or (3) of this section;2192

       (5) Any individual who is a resident of the jurisdiction of 2193
the public authority for whom products or services for a public 2194
improvement are being procured or for whom work on a public 2195
improvement is being performed.2196

       Sec. 4582.12.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in division 2197
(E) of section 307.671 of the Revised Code, division (A) of this 2198
section does not apply to a port authority educational and 2199
cultural facility acquired, constructed, and equipped pursuant to 2200
a cooperative agreement entered into under section 307.671 of the 2201
Revised Code.2202

       Except as provided in division (C) of this section, when the 2203
cost of a contract for the construction of any building,2204
structure, or other improvement undertaken by a port authority 2205
involves an expenditure exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars and 2206
the port authority is the contracting entity, the port authority 2207
shall make a written contract after notice calling for bids for 2208
the award of the contract has been given by publication twice, 2209
with at least seven days between publications, in a newspaper of 2210
general circulation in the area of the jurisdiction of the port 2211
authority. Each such contract shall be let to the lowest 2212
responsive and responsible bidder in accordance with section 9.312 2213
of the Revised Code. Every contract let shall be in writing and if 2214
the contract involves work or construction, it shall be 2215
accompanied by or shall refer to plans and specifications for the 2216
work to be done, prepared for and approved by the port authority, 2217
signed by an authorized officer of the port authority and by the2218
contractor, and shall be executed in triplicate.2219

       Each bid shall be awarded in accordance with sections 153.54, 2220
153.57, and 153.571 of the Revised Code.2221

       The port authority may reject any and all bids.2222

       (B) The board of directors of a port authority by rule may2223
provide criteria for the negotiation and award without competitive 2224
bidding of any contract as to which the port authority is the 2225
contracting entity for the construction of any building, 2226
structure, or other improvement under any of the following 2227
circumstances:2228

       (1) There exists a real and present emergency that threatens 2229
damage or injury to persons or property of the port authority or 2230
other persons, provided that a statement specifying the nature of 2231
the emergency that is the basis for the negotiation and award of a 2232
contract without competitive bidding shall be signed by the 2233
officer of the port authority that executes that contract at the 2234
time of the contract's execution and shall be attached to the2235
contract.2236

       (2) A commonly recognized industry or other standard or2237
specification does not exist and cannot objectively be articulated 2238
for the improvement.2239

       (3) The contract is for any energy conservation measure as 2240
defined in section 307.041 of the Revised Code.2241

       (4) With respect to material to be incorporated into the 2242
improvement, only a single source or supplier exists for the2243
material.2244

       (5) A single bid is received by the port authority after2245
complying with the provisions of division (A) of this section.2246

       (C)(1) If a contract is to be negotiated and awarded without2247
competitive bidding for the reason set forth in division (B)(2) of 2248
this section, the port authority shall publish a notice calling 2249
for technical proposals at least twice, with at least seven days 2250
between publications, in a newspaper of general circulation in the 2251
area of the port authority. After receipt of the technical2252
proposals, the port authority may negotiate with and award a2253
contract for the improvement to the proposer making the proposal2254
considered to be the most advantageous to the port authority.2255

       (2) If a contract is to be negotiated and awarded without2256
competitive bidding for the reason set forth in division (B)(4) of 2257
this section, any construction activities related to the 2258
incorporation of the material into the improvement also may be 2259
provided without competitive bidding by the source or supplier of 2260
that material.2261

       (D) No contract for the construction or repair of any 2262
building, structure, or other improvement and no loan agreement 2263
for the borrowing of funds for any such improvement undertaken by 2264
a port authority, where the port authority is the contracting 2265
entity, shall be executed unless laborers and mechanics employed 2266
on such improvements are paid at the prevailing rates of wages of 2267
laborers and mechanics for the class of work called for by the 2268
improvement. The wages shall be determined in accordance with the 2269
requirements of Chapter 4115. of the Revised Code for the 2270
determination of prevailing wage rates, provided that the 2271
requirements of this section do not apply where the federal 2272
government or any of its agencies furnishes by loan or grant all 2273
or any part of the funds used in connection with such project and 2274
prescribes predetermined minimum wages to be paid to the laborers 2275
and mechanics.2276

       Sec. 5540.03.  (A) A transportation improvement district may:2277

       (1) Adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the 2278
conduct of its business;2279

       (2) Adopt an official seal;2280

       (3) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded, 2281
provided any actions against the district shall be brought in the 2282
court of common pleas of the county in which the principal office 2283
of the district is located, or in the court of common pleas of the 2284
county in which the cause of action arose, and all summonses, 2285
exceptions, and notices of every kind shall be served on the2286
district by leaving a copy thereof at its principal office with 2287
the secretary-treasurer;2288

       (4) Purchase, construct, maintain, repair, sell, exchange, 2289
police, operate, or lease projects;2290

       (5) Issue either or both of the following for the purpose of 2291
providing funds to pay the costs of any project or part thereof:2292

       (a) Transportation improvement district revenue bonds;2293

       (b) Bonds pursuant to Section 13 of Article VIII, Ohio 2294
Constitution;2295

       (6) Maintain such funds as it considers necessary;2296

       (7) Direct its agents or employees, when properly identified 2297
in writing and after at least five days' written notice, to enter 2298
upon lands within its jurisdiction to make surveys and 2299
examinations preliminary to the location and construction of 2300
projects for the district, without liability of the district or 2301
its agents or employees except for actual damage done;2302

       (8) Make and enter into all contracts and agreements 2303
necessary or incidental to the performance of its functions and 2304
the execution of its powers under this chapter;2305

       (9) Employ or retain or contract for the services of 2306
consulting engineers, superintendents, managers, and such other 2307
engineers, construction and accounting experts, financial 2308
advisers, trustees, marketing, remarketing, and administrative 2309
agents, attorneys, and other employees, independent contractors, 2310
or agents as are necessary in its judgment and fix their2311
compensation, provided all such expenses shall be payable solely 2312
from the proceeds of bonds or from revenues;2313

       (10) Receive and accept from the federal or any state or2314
local government, including, but not limited to, any agency,2315
entity, or instrumentality of any of the foregoing, loans and2316
grants for or in aid of the construction, maintenance, or repair 2317
of any project, and receive and accept aid or contributions from 2318
any source or person of money, property, labor, or other things of 2319
value, to be held, used, and applied only for the purposes for 2320
which such loans, grants, and contributions are made. Nothing in 2321
division (A)(10) of this section shall be construed as imposing 2322
any liability on this state for any loan received by a 2323
transportation improvement district from a third party unless this 2324
state has entered into an agreement to accept such liability.2325

       (11) Acquire, hold, and dispose of property in the exercise 2326
of its powers and the performance of its duties under this 2327
chapter;2328

       (12) Establish and collect tolls or user charges for its 2329
projects;2330

       (13) Do all acts necessary and proper to carry out the powers 2331
expressly granted in this chapter.2332

       (B) Chapters 123., 124., 125., and 153., and 4115., and 2333
sections 9.331, 9.332, 9.333, and 307.86 of the Revised Code do2334
not apply to contracts or projects of a transportation improvement 2335
district.2336

       Sec. 6117.012.  (A) A board of county commissioners may adopt 2337
rules requiring owners of property within the district whose 2338
property is served by a connection to sewers maintained and2339
operated by the board or to sewers that are connected to2340
interceptor sewers maintained and operated by the board to do any 2341
of the following:2342

       (1) Disconnect stormwater inflows to sanitary sewers2343
maintained and operated by the board and not operated as a2344
combined sewer, or to connections with those sewers;2345

       (2) Disconnect non-stormwater inflows to stormwater sewers2346
maintained and operated by the board and not operated as a2347
combined sewer, or to connections with those sewers;2348

       (3) Reconnect or relocate any such disconnected inflows in2349
compliance with board rules and applicable building codes, health2350
codes, or other relevant codes;2351

       (4) Prevent sewer back-ups into properties that have 2352
experienced one or more overflows of sanitary or combined sewers 2353
maintained and operated by the board.2354

       (B) Any inflow required to be disconnected or any sewer 2355
back-up required to be prevented under a rule adopted pursuant to 2356
division (A) of this section constitutes a nuisance subject to 2357
injunctive relief and abatement pursuant to Chapter 3767. of the 2358
Revised Code or as otherwise permitted by law.2359

       (C) A board of county commissioners may use sewer district2360
funds; county general fund moneys; and, to the extent permitted by 2361
their terms, loans, grants, or other moneys from appropriate state 2362
or federal funds, for either of the following:2363

       (1) The cost of disconnections, reconnections, relocations, 2364
or sewer back-up prevention required by rules adopted pursuant to 2365
division (A) of this section, performed by the county or under 2366
contract with the county;2367

       (2) Payments to the property owner or a contractor hired by 2368
the property owner pursuant to a competitive process established 2369
by district rules, for the cost of disconnections, reconnections, 2370
relocations, or sewer back-up prevention required by rules adopted 2371
pursuant to division (A) of this section after the board, pursuant 2372
to its rules, has approved the work to be performed and after the 2373
county has received from the property owner a statement releasing 2374
the county from all liability in connection with the 2375
disconnections, reconnections, relocations, or sewer back-up 2376
prevention.2377

       (D) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, the 2378
board of county commissioners shall require in its rules regarding 2379
disconnections, reconnections, or relocations of sewers or sewer 2380
back-up prevention the reimbursement of moneys expended pursuant 2381
to division (C) of this section by either of the following 2382
methods:2383

       (1) A charge to the property owner in the amount of the2384
payment made pursuant to division (C) of this section for2385
immediate payment or payment in installments with interest as2386
determined by the board not to exceed ten per cent, which payments 2387
may be billed as a separate item with the rents charged to that 2388
owner for use of the sewers. The board may approve installment 2389
payments for a period of not more than fifteen years. If charges 2390
are to be paid in installments, the board shall certify to the 2391
county auditor information sufficient to identify each subject 2392
parcel of property, the total of the charges to be paid in 2393
installments, and the total number of installments to be paid. The 2394
auditor shall record the information in the sewer improvement 2395
record until these charges are paid in full. Charges not paid when 2396
due shall be certified to the county auditor, who shall place the 2397
charges upon the real property tax list and duplicate against that 2398
property. Those charges shall be a lien on the property from the 2399
date they are placed on the tax list and duplicate and shall be 2400
collected in the same manner as other taxes.2401

       (2) A special assessment levied against the property, payable 2402
in the number of years the board determines, not to exceed fifteen 2403
years, with interest as determined by the board not to exceed ten 2404
per cent. The board shall certify the assessments to the county 2405
auditor, stating the amount and time of payment. The auditor shall 2406
record the information in the county sewer improvement record, 2407
showing separately the assessments to be collected, and shall 2408
place the assessments upon the real property tax list and 2409
duplicate for collection. The assessments shall be a lien on the 2410
property from the date they are placed on the tax list and 2411
duplicate and shall be collected in the same manner as other 2412
taxes.2413

       (E) The county may adopt a resolution specifying a maximum2414
amount of the cost of any disconnection, reconnection, relocation, 2415
or sewer back-up prevention required pursuant to division (A) of 2416
this section that may be paid by the county for each affected 2417
parcel of property without requiring reimbursement. That amount 2418
may be allowed only if there is a building code, health code, or 2419
other relevant code, or a federally imposed or state-imposed 2420
consent decree that is filed or otherwise recorded in a court of 2421
competent jurisdiction, applicable to the affected parcel that 2422
prohibits in the future any inflows or sewer back-ups not allowed 2423
under rules adopted pursuant to division (A)(1) or (4) of this 2424
section. The board, by rule, shall establish criteria for 2425
determining how much of the maximum amount for each qualifying 2426
parcel need not be reimbursed.2427

       (F) Disconnections, reconnections, relocations, or sewer 2428
back-up prevention required under this section and performed by a 2429
contractor under contract with the property owner shall not be 2430
considered a public improvement, and those performed by the county 2431
shall be considered a public improvement as defined in section 2432
4115.03 of the Revised Code.2433

       Disconnections, reconnections, relocations, or sewer back-up 2434
prevention required under this section performed by a contractor 2435
under contract with the property owner shall not be subject to 2436
competitive bidding or public bond laws.2437

       (G) Property owners shall be responsible for maintaining any 2438
improvements made on private property to reconnect or relocate 2439
disconnected inflows or for sewer back-up prevention pursuant to 2440
this section unless a public easement exists for the county to 2441
maintain that improvement.2442

       Section 2.  That existing sections 121.08, 164.07, 166.02, 2443
176.011, 307.022, 307.671, 307.673, 307.674, 307.696, 351.06, 2444
1311.25, 1509.071, 1521.26, 1551.33, 1710.02, 1728.07, 3383.07, 2445
4116.01, 4582.12, 5540.03, and 6117.012 and sections 122.452,2446
165.031, 176.05, 1551.13, 3706.042, 4115.03, 4115.031, 4115.032, 2447
4115.033, 4115.034, 4115.04, 4115.05, 4115.06, 4115.07, 4115.071, 2448
4115.08, 4115.09, 4115.10, 4115.101, 4115.11, 4115.12, 4115.13,2449
4115.131, 4115.132, 4115.133, 4115.14, 4115.15, 4115.16, 4115.21, 2450
4115.99, 4582.37, 4981.23, and 6121.061 of the Revised Code are 2451
hereby repealed.2452

       Section 3.  Sections 1 and 2 of this act do not apply to 2453
contracts governed by the sections being amended and repealed by 2454
Sections 1 and 2 of this act that are entered into before the 2455
effective date of this act.2456