Am. Sub. S. B. No. 21 PH

(135th General Assembly)

(Amended Substitute Senate Bill Number 21)

AN ACT

To amend sections 109.02, 119.12, 124.34, 956.11, 956.15, 1901.01, 1901.02, 1901.021, 1901.041, 1901.07, 1901.08, 1901.31, 1907.11, 2301.03, 3794.09, 3901.321, 3913.13, 3913.23, 5101.35, and 5164.38 and to enact sections 101.55, 107.13, 303.65, 519.26, and 713.16 of the Revised Code to generally change the venue in which appeal from an agency order is proper to the local court of common pleas and provide special rules regarding consideration of such cases, to revise the law governing claim preclusion in zoning appeals, to revise the law governing the referral of cases to the Hamilton County Drug Court, to transfer Perry Township in Wood County and Washington Township in Hancock County from the territorial jurisdiction of the Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court to the territorial jurisdiction of, respectively, the Bowling Green Municipal Court and the Findlay Municipal Court on January 2, 2024, to allow the General Assembly to intervene in certain actions, to allow the General Assembly and the Governor to retain special counsel, and to replace two part-time judgeships in the Sandusky County County Court with one full-time judge.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

Section 1. That sections 109.02, 119.12, 124.34, 956.11, 956.15, 1901.01, 1901.02, 1901.021, 1901.041, 1901.07, 1901.08, 1901.31, 1907.11, 2301.03, 3794.09, 3901.321, 3913.13, 3913.23, 5101.35, and 5164.38 be amended and sections 101.55, 107.13, 303.65, 519.26, and 713.16 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 101.55. (A)(1) The speaker of the house of representatives, in the speaker's official capacity as the presiding officer of the house of representatives, may retain legal counsel other than from the attorney general for either of the following purposes:

(a) To represent, and intervene on behalf of, the house in any judicial proceeding that involves a challenge to the constitution or laws of this state and that is an important matter of statewide concern. The house may intervene in any such judicial proceeding at any time as a matter of right. Intervention under this division shall be in accordance with Rule 24 of the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure or with Rule 24 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as applicable.

(b) To provide advice and counsel to the speaker on matters that affect the official business of the house.

(2) The speaker shall approve all terms of representation and authorize payment for all financial costs incurred under division (A)(1) of this section from the house of representatives' operating expenses appropriation line item or from a separate appropriation made for those costs.

(3) The house of representatives may rescind the retention of a particular legal counsel in a particular matter under division (A)(1) of this section by a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members elected to the house.

(B)(1) The president of the senate, in the president's official capacity as the presiding officer of the senate, may retain legal counsel other than from the attorney general for either of the following purposes:

(a) To represent, and intervene on behalf of, the senate in any judicial proceeding that involves a challenge to the constitution or laws of this state and that is an important matter of statewide concern. The senate may intervene in any such judicial proceeding at any time as a matter of right. Intervention under this division shall be in accordance with Rule 24 of the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure or with Rule 24 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as applicable.

(b) To provide advice and counsel to the president on matters that affect the official business of the senate.

(2) The president shall approve all terms of representation and authorize payment for all financial costs incurred under division (B)(1) of this section from the senate's operating expenses appropriation line item or from a separate appropriation made for those costs.

(3) The senate may rescind the retention of a particular legal counsel in a particular matter under division (B)(1) of this section by a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members elected to the senate.

(C)(1) The speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate, acting jointly in their official capacities as the presiding officers of the houses of the general assembly, may retain legal counsel other than from the attorney general for either of the following purposes:

(a) To represent, and intervene on behalf of, the general assembly in any judicial proceeding that involves a challenge to the constitution or laws of this state and that is an important matter of statewide concern. The general assembly may intervene in any such judicial proceeding at any time as a matter of right. Intervention under this division shall be in accordance with Rule 24 of the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure or with Rule 24 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as applicable.

(b) To provide advice and counsel to the speaker and the president, jointly, on matters that affect the official business of the general assembly.

(2) The speaker and the president shall jointly approve all terms of representation and authorize payment for all financial costs incurred under division (C)(1) of this section from the house of representatives' and the senate's operating expenses appropriation line items or from a separate appropriation made for those costs.

(3) The general assembly may rescind the retention of a particular legal counsel in a particular matter under division (C)(1) of this section by a concurrent resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members elected to each house of the general assembly.

(D) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, nothing in this section shall be construed to do any of the following:

(1) Constitute a waiver of the legislative immunity or legislative privilege of the speaker, the president, or any member, officer, or staff of either house of the general assembly;

(2) Permit any violation of section 9.58 of the Revised Code;

(3) Permit the retention of counsel, or intervention, in any criminal proceeding;

(4) Limit any authority of the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the general assembly, or any member of the general assembly that is granted under the constitution of this state or under any other provision of law.

Sec. 107.13. (A) The governor, in the governor's official capacity as the supreme executive of this state, may retain legal counsel other than from the attorney general for either of the following purposes:

(1) To represent, and intervene on behalf of, the governor in any judicial proceeding that involves a challenge to the constitution or laws of this state and that is an important matter of statewide concern. The governor may intervene in any such judicial proceeding at any time as a matter of right. Intervention under this division shall be in accordance with Rule 24 of the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure or with Rule 24 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as applicable.

(2) To provide advice and counsel to the governor on matters that affect the official business of the office of the governor.

(B) The governor shall approve all terms of representation and authorize payment for all financial costs incurred under division (A) of this section from the office of the governor's operating expenses appropriation line item or from a separate appropriation made for those costs. The requirements of sections 125.05 and 127.16 of the Revised Code do not apply to a representation agreement entered into under division (A) of this section.

(C) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, nothing in this section shall be construed to do any of the following:

(1) Constitute a waiver of any executive privilege of the governor or any executive officer or staff;

(2) Permit any violation of section 9.58 of the Revised Code;

(3) Permit the retention of counsel, or intervention, in any criminal proceeding;

(4) Limit any authority of the governor that is granted under the constitution of this state or under any other provision of law.

Sec. 109.02. The attorney general is the chief law officer for the state and all its departments and shall be provided with adequate office space in Columbus. Except as provided in division (E) of section 120.06 and in sections 101.55, 107.13, and 3517.152 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code, no state officer or board, or head of a department or institution of the state shall employ, or be represented by, other counsel or attorneys at law. The attorney general shall appear for the state in the trial and argument of all civil and criminal causes in the supreme court in which the state is directly or indirectly interested. When required by the governor or the general assembly, the attorney general shall appear for the state in any court or tribunal in a cause in which the state is a party, or in which the state is directly interested. Upon the written request of the governor, the attorney general shall prosecute any person indicted for a crime.

Sec. 119.12. ~~(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) or (3) of this section, any~~ (A) Any party adversely affected by any order of an agency issued pursuant to an adjudication denying an applicant admission to an examination, or denying the issuance or renewal of a license or registration of a licensee, or revoking or suspending a license, or allowing the payment of a forfeiture under section 4301.252 of the Revised Code may appeal from the order of the agency to the court of common pleas of the county ~~in which the place of business of the licensee is located or the county in~~ ~~which the licensee is a resident~~designated in division (B) of this section.

~~(2)~~ (B) An appeal from an order described in division ~~(A)(1)~~ (A) of this section shall be filed in the county designated as follows:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section, an appeal from an order of an agency issued pursuant to an adjudication denying an applicant admission to an examination, denying the issuance or renewal of a license or registration of a licensee, revoking or suspending a license, or allowing the payment of a forfeiture under section 4301.252 of the Revised Code shall be filed in the county in which the place of business of the licensee is located or the county in which the licensee is a resident.

(2) An appeal from an order issued by any of the following agencies shall be made to the court of common pleas of Franklin county or the court of common pleas in the county in which the place of business of the licensee is located or the county in which the licensee is a resident:

(a) The liquor control commission;

(b) The Ohio casino control commission,;

~~(c)The~~ (d) The state chiropractic board;

~~(d)The~~ (e) The board of nursing;

~~(e)The~~ (f) The bureau of workers' compensation regarding participation in the health partnership program created in sections 4121.44 and 4121.441 of the Revised Code.

(3) If any party appealing from an order described in division (A)(1) of this section is not a resident of and has no place of business in this state, the party may appeal to the court of common pleas of Franklin county.

~~(B) Any party adversely affected by any order of an agency issued pursuant to any other adjudication may appeal to the court of common pleas of Franklin county, except that appeals~~

Appeals from orders of the fire marshal issued under Chapter 3737. of the Revised Code ~~may~~ shall be to the court of common pleas of the county in which the building of the aggrieved person is located ~~and except that appeals~~ .

(4) Appeals under division (B) of section 124.34 of the Revised Code from a decision of the state personnel board of review or a municipal or civil service township civil service commission shall be taken to the court of common pleas of the county in which the appointing authority is located or, in the case of an appeal by the department of rehabilitation and correction, to the court of common pleas of Franklin county.

(5) If any party appealing from an order described in division (B)(1), (2), or (6) of this section is not a resident of and has no place of business in this state, the party shall appeal to the court of common pleas of Franklin county.

(6) Any party adversely affected by any order of an agency issued pursuant to any other adjudication may appeal to the court of common pleas of Franklin county or the court of common pleas of the county in which the business of the party is located or in which the party is a resident.

(D) Any party desiring to appeal shall file a notice of appeal with the agency setting forth the order appealed from and stating that the agency's order is not supported by reliable, probative, and substantial evidence and is not in accordance with law. The notice of appeal may, but need not, set forth the specific grounds of the party's appeal beyond the statement that the agency's order is not supported by reliable, probative, and substantial evidence and is not in accordance with law. The notice of appeal shall also be filed by the appellant with the court. In filing a notice of appeal with the agency or court, the notice that is filed may be either the original notice or a copy of the original notice. Unless otherwise provided by law relating to a particular agency, notices of appeal shall be filed within fifteen days after the mailing of the notice of the agency's order as provided in this section. For purposes of this paragraph, an order includes a determination appealed pursuant to division (C) of section 119.092 of the Revised Code. The amendments made to this paragraph by Sub. H.B. 215 of the 128th general assembly are procedural, and this paragraph as amended by those amendments shall be applied retrospectively to all appeals pursuant to this paragraph filed before September 13, 2010, but not earlier than May 7, 2009, which was the date the supreme court of Ohio released its opinion and judgment in Medcorp, Inc. v. Ohio Dep't. of Job and Family Servs. (2009), 121 Ohio St.3d 622.

(E) The filing of a notice of appeal shall not automatically operate as a suspension of the order of an agency. If it appears to the court that an unusual hardship to the appellant will result from the execution of the agency's order pending determination of the appeal, the court may grant a suspension and fix its terms. If an appeal is taken from the judgment of the court and the court has previously granted a suspension of the agency's order as provided in this section, the suspension of the agency's order shall not be vacated and shall be given full force and effect until the matter is finally adjudicated. No renewal of a license or permit shall be denied by reason of the suspended order during the period of the appeal from the decision of the court of common pleas. In the case of an appeal from the Ohio casino control commission, the state medical board, or the state chiropractic board, the court may grant a suspension and fix its terms if it appears to the court that an unusual hardship to the appellant will result from the execution of the agency's order pending determination of the appeal and the health, safety, and welfare of the public will not be threatened by suspension of the order. This provision shall not be construed to limit the factors the court may consider in determining whether to suspend an order of any other agency pending determination of an appeal.

(F) The final order of adjudication may apply to any renewal of a license or permit which has been granted during the period of the appeal.

(G) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any order issued by a court of common pleas or a court of appeals suspending the effect of an order of the liquor control commission issued pursuant to Chapter 4301. or 4303. of the Revised Code that suspends, revokes, or cancels a permit issued under Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code or that allows the payment of a forfeiture under section 4301.252 of the Revised Code shall terminate not more than six months after the date of the filing of the record of the liquor control commission with the clerk of the court of common pleas and shall not be extended. The court of common pleas, or the court of appeals on appeal, shall render a judgment in that matter within six months after the date of the filing of the record of the liquor control commission with the clerk of the court of common pleas. A court of appeals shall not issue an order suspending the effect of an order of the liquor control commission that extends beyond six months after the date on which the record of the liquor control commission is filed with a court of common pleas.

(H) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any order issued by a court of common pleas or a court of appeals suspending the effect of an order of the Ohio casino control commission issued under Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code that limits, conditions, restricts, suspends, revokes, denies, not renews, fines, or otherwise penalizes an applicant, licensee, or person excluded or ejected from a casino facility in accordance with section 3772.031 of the Revised Code shall terminate not more than six months after the date of the filing of the record of the Ohio casino control commission with the clerk of the court of common pleas and shall not be extended. The court of common pleas, or the court of appeals on appeal, shall render a judgment in that matter within six months after the date of the filing of the record of the Ohio casino control commission with the clerk of the court of common pleas. A court of appeals shall not issue an order suspending the effect of an order of the Ohio casino control commission that extends beyond six months after the date on which the record of the Ohio casino control commission is filed with the clerk of a court of common pleas.

(I) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any order issued by a court of common pleas suspending the effect of an order of the state medical board or state chiropractic board that limits, revokes, suspends, places on probation, or refuses to register or reinstate a certificate issued by the board or reprimands the holder of the certificate shall terminate not more than fifteen months after the date of the filing of a notice of appeal in the court of common pleas, or upon the rendering of a final decision or order in the appeal by the court of common pleas, whichever occurs first.

~~(I)~~ (J) Within thirty days after receipt of a notice of appeal from an order in any case in which a hearing is required by sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code, the agency shall prepare and certify to the court a complete record of the proceedings in the case. Failure of the agency to comply within the time allowed, upon motion, shall cause the court to enter a finding in favor of the party adversely affected. Additional time, however, may be granted by the court, not to exceed thirty days, when it is shown that the agency has made substantial effort to comply. The record shall be prepared and transcribed, and the expense of it shall be taxed as a part of the costs on the appeal. The appellant shall provide security for costs satisfactory to the court of common pleas. Upon demand by any interested party, the agency shall furnish at the cost of the party requesting it a copy of the stenographic report of testimony offered and evidence submitted at any hearing and a copy of the complete record.

~~(J)~~ (K) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any party desiring to appeal an order or decision of the state personnel board of review shall, at the time of filing a notice of appeal with the board, provide a security deposit in an amount and manner prescribed in rules that the board shall adopt in accordance with this chapter. In addition, the board is not required to prepare or transcribe the record of any of its proceedings unless the appellant has provided the deposit described above. The failure of the board to prepare or transcribe a record for an appellant who has not provided a security deposit shall not cause a court to enter a finding adverse to the board.

~~(K)~~ (L) Unless otherwise provided by law, in the hearing of the appeal, the court is confined to the record as certified to it by the agency. Unless otherwise provided by law, the court may grant a request for the admission of additional evidence when satisfied that the additional evidence is newly discovered and could not with reasonable diligence have been ascertained prior to the hearing before the agency.

~~(L)~~ (M) The court shall conduct a hearing on the appeal and shall give preference to all proceedings under sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code, over all other civil cases, irrespective of the position of the proceedings on the calendar of the court. An appeal from an order of the state medical board issued pursuant to division (G) of either section 4730.25 or 4731.22 of the Revised Code, the state chiropractic board issued pursuant to section 4734.37 of the Revised Code, the liquor control commission issued pursuant to Chapter 4301. or 4303. of the Revised Code, or the Ohio casino control commission issued pursuant to Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code shall be set down for hearing at the earliest possible time and takes precedence over all other actions. The hearing in the court of common pleas shall proceed as in the trial of a civil action, and the court shall determine the rights of the parties in accordance with the laws applicable to a civil action. At the hearing, counsel may be heard on oral argument, briefs may be submitted, and evidence may be introduced if the court has granted a request for the presentation of additional evidence.

~~(M)~~ (N) The court may affirm the order of the agency complained of in the appeal if it finds, upon consideration of the entire record and any additional evidence the court has admitted, that the order is supported by reliable, probative, and substantial evidence and is in accordance with law. In the absence of this finding, it may reverse, vacate, or modify the order or make such other ruling as is supported by reliable, probative, and substantial evidence and is in accordance with law. The court shall award compensation for fees in accordance with section 2335.39 of the Revised Code to a prevailing party, other than an agency, in an appeal filed pursuant to this section.

~~(N)~~ (O) The judgment of the court shall be final and conclusive unless reversed, vacated, or modified on appeal. These appeals may be taken either by the party or the agency, shall proceed as in the case of appeals in civil actions, and shall be pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure and, to the extent not in conflict with those rules, Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code. An appeal by the agency shall be taken on questions of law relating to the constitutionality, construction, or interpretation of statutes and rules of the agency, and, in the appeal, the court may also review and determine the correctness of the judgment of the court of common pleas that the order of the agency is not supported by any reliable, probative, and substantial evidence in the entire record.

The court shall certify its judgment to the agency or take any other action necessary to give its judgment effect.

Sec. 124.34. (A) The tenure of every officer or employee in the classified service of the state and the counties, civil service townships, cities, city health districts, general health districts, and city school districts of the state, holding a position under this chapter, shall be during good behavior and efficient service. No officer or employee shall be reduced in pay or position, fined, suspended, or removed, or have the officer's or employee's longevity reduced or eliminated, except as provided in section 124.32 of the Revised Code, and for incompetency, inefficiency, unsatisfactory performance, dishonesty, drunkenness, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public, neglect of duty, violation of any policy or work rule of the officer's or employee's appointing authority, violation of this chapter or the rules of the director of administrative services or the commission, any other failure of good behavior, any other acts of misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or conviction of a felony while employed in the civil service. The denial of a one-time pay supplement or a bonus to an officer or employee is not a reduction in pay for purposes of this section.

This section does not apply to any modifications or reductions in pay or work week authorized by section 124.392, 124.393, or 124.394 of the Revised Code.

An appointing authority may require an employee who is suspended to report to work to serve the suspension. An employee serving a suspension in this manner shall continue to be compensated at the employee's regular rate of pay for hours worked. The disciplinary action shall be recorded in the employee's personnel file in the same manner as other disciplinary actions and has the same effect as a suspension without pay for the purpose of recording disciplinary actions.

A finding by the appropriate ethics commission, based upon a preponderance of the evidence, that the facts alleged in a complaint under section 102.06 of the Revised Code constitute a violation of Chapter 102., section 2921.42, or section 2921.43 of the Revised Code may constitute grounds for dismissal. Failure to file a statement or falsely filing a statement required by section 102.02 of the Revised Code may also constitute grounds for dismissal. The tenure of an employee in the career professional service of the department of transportation is subject to section 5501.20 of the Revised Code.

Conviction of a felony while employed in the civil service is a separate basis for reducing in pay or position, suspending, or removing an officer or employee, even if the officer or employee has already been reduced in pay or position, suspended, or removed for the same conduct that is the basis of the felony. An officer or employee may not appeal to the state personnel board of review or the commission any disciplinary action taken by an appointing authority as a result of the officer's or employee's conviction of a felony. If an officer or employee removed under this section is reinstated as a result of an appeal of the removal, any conviction of a felony that occurs during the pendency of the appeal is a basis for further disciplinary action under this section upon the officer's or employee's reinstatement.

A person convicted of a felony while employed in the civil service immediately forfeits the person's status as a classified employee in any public employment on and after the date of the conviction for the felony. If an officer or employee is removed under this section as a result of being convicted of a felony or is subsequently convicted of a felony that involves the same conduct that was the basis for the removal, the officer or employee is barred from receiving any compensation after the removal notwithstanding any modification or disaffirmance of the removal, unless the conviction for the felony is subsequently reversed or annulled.

Any person removed for conviction of a felony is entitled to a cash payment for any accrued but unused sick, personal, and vacation leave as authorized by law. If subsequently reemployed in the public sector, the person shall qualify for and accrue these forms of leave in the manner specified by law for a newly appointed employee and shall not be credited with prior public service for the purpose of receiving these forms of leave.

As used in this division, "felony" means any of the following:

(1) A felony that is an offense of violence as defined in section 2901.01 of the Revised Code;

(2) A felony that is a felony drug abuse offense as defined in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code;

(3) A felony under the laws of this or any other state or the United States that is a crime of moral turpitude;

(4) A felony involving dishonesty, fraud, or theft;

(5) A felony that is a violation of section 2921.05, 2921.32, or 2921.42 of the Revised Code.

(B) In case of a reduction, a suspension of more than forty work hours in the case of an employee exempt from the payment of overtime compensation, a suspension of more than twenty-four work hours in the case of an employee required to be paid overtime compensation, a fine of more than forty hours' pay in the case of an employee exempt from the payment of overtime compensation, a fine of more than twenty-four hours' pay in the case of an employee required to be paid overtime compensation, or removal, except for the reduction or removal of a probationary employee, the appointing authority shall serve the employee with a copy of the order of reduction, fine, suspension, or removal, which order shall state the reasons for the action.

Within ten days following the date on which the order is served or, in the case of an employee in the career professional service of the department of transportation, within ten days following the filing of a removal order, the employee, except as otherwise provided in this section, may file an appeal of the order in writing with the state personnel board of review or the commission. For purposes of this section, the date on which an order is served is the date of hand delivery of the order or the date of delivery of the order by certified United States mail, whichever occurs first. If an appeal is filed, the board or commission shall forthwith notify the appointing authority and shall hear, or appoint a trial board to hear, the appeal within thirty days from and after its filing with the board or commission. The board, commission, or trial board may affirm, disaffirm, or modify the judgment of the appointing authority. However, in an appeal of a removal order based upon a violation of a last chance agreement, the board, commission, or trial board may only determine if the employee violated the agreement and thus affirm or disaffirm the judgment of the appointing authority.

In cases of removal or reduction in pay for disciplinary reasons, either the appointing authority or the officer or employee may appeal from the decision of the state personnel board of review or the commission, and any such appeal shall be to the court of common pleas ~~of the county in which the appointing authority is located, or to the court of common pleas of Franklin county, as provided by section 119.12 of the Revised Code~~in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

(C) In the case of the suspension for any period of time, or a fine, demotion, or removal, of a chief of police, a chief of a fire department, or any member of the police or fire department of a city or civil service township, who is in the classified civil service, the appointing authority shall furnish the chief or member with a copy of the order of suspension, fine, demotion, or removal, which order shall state the reasons for the action. The order shall be filed with the municipal or civil service township civil service commission. Within ten days following the filing of the order, the chief or member may file an appeal, in writing, with the commission. If an appeal is filed, the commission shall forthwith notify the appointing authority and shall hear, or appoint a trial board to hear, the appeal within thirty days from and after its filing with the commission, and it may affirm, disaffirm, or modify the judgment of the appointing authority. An appeal on questions of law and fact may be had from the decision of the commission to the court of common pleas in the county in which the city or civil service township is situated. The appeal shall be taken within thirty days from the finding of the commission.

(D) A violation of division (A)(7) of section 2907.03 of the Revised Code is grounds for termination of employment of a nonteaching employee under this section.

(E) The director shall adopt a rule in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to define the term "unsatisfactory performance" as it is used in this section with regard to employees in the service of the state.

(F) As used in this section, "last chance agreement" means an agreement signed by both an appointing authority and an officer or employee of the appointing authority that describes the type of behavior or circumstances that, if it occurs, will automatically lead to removal of the officer or employee without the right of appeal to the state personnel board of review or the appropriate commission.

Sec. 303.65. A final judgment on the merits issued by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to its power of review under Chapter 2506. of the Revised Code, on claims brought under this chapter, does not preclude later claims for damages, including claims brought under 42 U.S.C. 1983, even if the common law doctrine of res judicata would otherwise bar the claim.

The general assembly intends that this section be construed to override the federal sixth circuit court of appeals's decision in the case Lavon Moore v. Hiram Twp., 988 F.3d 353 (6th Cir. 2021).

Sec. 519.26. A final judgment on the merits issued by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to its power of review under Chapter 2506. of the Revised Code, on claims brought under this chapter, does not preclude later claims for damages, including claims brought under 42 U.S.C. 1983, even if the common law doctrine of res judicata would otherwise bar the claim.

The general assembly intends that this section be construed to override the federal sixth circuit court of appeals's decision in the case Lavon Moore v. Hiram Twp., 988 F.3d 353 (6th Cir. 2021).

Sec. 713.16. A final judgment on the merits issued by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to its power of review under Chapter 2506. of the Revised Code, on claims brought under this chapter, does not preclude later claims for damages, including claims brought under 42 U.S.C. 1983, even if the common law doctrine of res judicata would otherwise bar the claim.

The general assembly intends that this section be construed to override the federal sixth circuit court of appeals's decision in the case Lavon Moore v. Hiram Twp., 988 F.3d 353 (6th Cir. 2021).

Sec. 956.11. (A) The director of agriculture may enter into contracts or agreements with an animal rescue for dogs, an animal shelter for dogs, a boarding kennel, a veterinarian, a board of county commissioners, or a humane society for the purposes of this section.

(B)(1) If the director or the director's authorized representative determines that a dog is being kept by a high volume breeder or dog broker in a manner that materially violates this chapter or rules adopted under it, the director may impound the dog and order it to be seized by an animal rescue for dogs, an animal shelter for dogs, a boarding kennel, a veterinarian, a board of county commissioners, or a humane society with which the director has entered into a contract or agreement under division (A) of this section. Upon receiving the order from the director, the animal rescue for dogs, animal shelter for dogs, boarding kennel, veterinarian, board of county commissioners, or humane society shall seize the dog and keep, house, and maintain it.

(2) The director or the director's authorized representative shall give written notice of the impoundment by posting a notice on the door of the premises from which the dog was taken or by otherwise posting the notice in a conspicuous place at the premises from which the dog was taken. The notice shall provide a date for an adjudication hearing, which shall take place not later than five business days after the dog is taken and at which the director shall determine if the dog should be permanently relinquished to the custody of the director.

(C) The owner or operator of the applicable high volume breeder or the person acting as or performing the functions of a dog broker may appeal the determination made at the adjudication hearing in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code~~, except that the appeal may be made only to the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court~~.

(D) If, after the final disposition of an adjudication hearing and any appeals from that adjudication hearing, it is determined that a dog shall be permanently relinquished to the custody of the director, the dog may be adopted directly from the animal rescue for dogs, animal shelter for dogs, boarding kennel, veterinarian, county dog pound, or humane society where it is being kept, housed, and maintained, provided that the dog has been spayed or neutered unless there are medical reasons against spaying or neutering as determined by a veterinarian. The animal rescue for dogs, animal shelter for dogs, boarding kennel, veterinarian, county dog pound, or humane society may charge a reasonable adoption fee. The fee shall be at least sufficient to cover the costs of spaying or neutering the dog unless it is medically contraindicated. Impounded dogs shall be returned to persons acquitted of any alleged violations.

Sec. 956.15. (A) The director of agriculture shall deny an application for a license that is submitted under section 956.04 or 956.05 of the Revised Code for either of the following reasons:

(1) The applicant for the license has violated any provision of this chapter or a rule adopted under it if the violation materially threatens the health or welfare of a dog.

(2) The applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a disqualifying offense as determined in accordance with section 9.79 of the Revised Code.

(B) The director may suspend or revoke a license issued under this chapter for violation of any provision of this chapter or a rule adopted or order issued under it if the violation materially threatens the health and welfare of a dog.

(C) An application or a license shall not be denied, suspended, or revoked under this section without a written order of the director stating the findings on which the denial, suspension, or revocation is based. A copy of the order shall be sent to the applicant or license holder by certified mail or may be provided to the applicant or license holder by personal service. In addition, the person to whom a denial, suspension, or revocation applies may request an adjudication hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The director shall comply with such a request. The determination of the director at an adjudication hearing may be appealed in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code~~, except that the determination may be appealed only to the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court~~.

Sec. 1901.01. (A) There is hereby established a municipal court in each of the following municipal corporations:

Akron, Alliance, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Avon Lake, Barberton, Bedford, Bellefontaine, Bellevue, Berea, Bowling Green, Bryan, Bucyrus, Cambridge, Campbell, Canton, Carrollton, Celina, Chardon, Chesapeake, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Circleville, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Columbus, Conneaut, Coshocton, Cuyahoga Falls, Dayton, Defiance, Delaware, East Cleveland, Eaton, Elyria, Euclid, Fairborn, Fairfield, Findlay, Franklin, Fremont, Gallipolis, Garfield Heights, Georgetown, Girard, Greenville, Hamilton, Hillsboro, Huron, Ironton, Jackson, Kenton, Kettering, Lakewood, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lima, Logan, London, Lorain, Lyndhurst, Mansfield, Marietta, Marion, Marysville, Mason, Massillon, Maumee, Medina, Mentor, Miamisburg, Middletown, Millersburg, Mount Gilead, Mount Vernon, Napoleon, Newark, New Lexington, New Philadelphia, Newton Falls, Niles, Norwalk, Oakwood, Oberlin, Oregon, Ottawa, Painesville, Parma, Paulding, Perrysburg, Port Clinton, Portsmouth, Ravenna, Rocky River, Sandusky, Shaker Heights, Shelby, Sidney, South Euclid, Springfield, Steubenville, Struthers, Sylvania, Tiffin, Toledo, Troy, Upper Sandusky, Urbana, Vandalia, Van Wert, Vermilion, Wadsworth, Wapakoneta, Warren, City of Washington in Fayette county, to be known as Washington Court House, Wauseon, Willoughby, Wilmington, Wooster, Xenia, Youngstown, and Zanesville.

(B) There is hereby established a municipal court within Clermont county in Batavia or in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Clermont county that is selected by the legislative authority of the Clermont county municipal court. The municipal court established by this division is a continuation of the municipal court previously established in Batavia by this section before the enactment of this division.

(C) There is hereby established a municipal court within Columbiana county in Lisbon or in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Columbiana county that is selected by the judges of the municipal court pursuant to division (I) of section 1901.021 of the Revised Code.

(D) Effective January 1, 2008, there is hereby established a municipal court within Erie county in Milan or in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Erie county that is within the territorial jurisdiction of the Erie county municipal court and is selected by the legislative authority of that court.

(E) The Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall remain in existence until December 31, 2008, and shall be replaced by the Stow municipal court on January 1, 2009.

(F) Effective January 1, 2009, there is hereby established a municipal court in the municipal corporation of Stow.

(G) Effective July 1, 2010, there is hereby established a municipal court within Montgomery county in any municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Montgomery county, except the municipal corporations of Centerville, Clayton, Dayton, Englewood, Germantown, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Union, Vandalia, and West Carrollton and Butler, German, Harrison, Miami, and Washington townships, that is selected by the legislative authority of that court.

(H) Effective January 1, 2013, there is hereby established a municipal court within Sandusky county in any municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Sandusky county, except the municipal corporations of Bellevue and Fremont and Ballville, Sandusky, and York townships, that is selected by the legislative authority of that court.

Sec. 1901.02. (A) The municipal courts established by section 1901.01 of the Revised Code have jurisdiction within the corporate limits of their respective municipal corporations, or, for the Clermont county municipal court, and, effective January 1, 2008, the Erie county municipal court, within the municipal corporation or unincorporated territory in which they are established, and are courts of record. Each of the courts shall be styled "__________________________________ municipal court," inserting the name of the municipal corporation, except the following courts, which shall be styled as set forth below:

(1) The municipal court established in Chesapeake that shall be styled and known as the "Lawrence county municipal court";

(2) The municipal court established in Cincinnati that shall be styled and known as the "Hamilton county municipal court";

(3) The municipal court established in Ravenna that shall be styled and known as the "Portage county municipal court";

(4) The municipal court established in Athens that shall be styled and known as the "Athens county municipal court";

(5) The municipal court established in Columbus that shall be styled and known as the "Franklin county municipal court";

(6) The municipal court established in London that shall be styled and known as the "Madison county municipal court";

(7) The municipal court established in Newark that shall be styled and known as the "Licking county municipal court";

(8) The municipal court established in Wooster that shall be styled and known as the "Wayne county municipal court";

(9) The municipal court established in Wapakoneta that shall be styled and known as the "Auglaize county municipal court";

(10) The municipal court established in Troy that shall be styled and known as the "Miami county municipal court";

(11) The municipal court established in Bucyrus that shall be styled and known as the "Crawford county municipal court";

(12) The municipal court established in Logan that shall be styled and known as the "Hocking county municipal court";

(13) The municipal court established in Urbana that shall be styled and known as the "Champaign county municipal court";

(14) The municipal court established in Jackson that shall be styled and known as the "Jackson county municipal court";

(15) The municipal court established in Springfield that shall be styled and known as the "Clark county municipal court";

(16) The municipal court established in Kenton that shall be styled and known as the "Hardin county municipal court";

(17) The municipal court established within Clermont county in Batavia or in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Clermont county that is selected by the legislative authority of that court that shall be styled and known as the "Clermont county municipal court";

(18) The municipal court established in Wilmington that, beginning July 1, 1992, shall be styled and known as the "Clinton county municipal court";

(19) The municipal court established in Port Clinton that shall be styled and known as the "Ottawa county municipal court";

(20) The municipal court established in Lancaster that, beginning January 2, 2000, shall be styled and known as the "Fairfield county municipal court";

(21) The municipal court established within Columbiana county in Lisbon or in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory selected pursuant to division (I) of section 1901.021 of the Revised Code, that shall be styled and known as the "Columbiana county municipal court";

(22) The municipal court established in Georgetown that, beginning February 9, 2003, shall be styled and known as the "Brown county municipal court";

(23) The municipal court established in Mount Gilead that, beginning January 1, 2003, shall be styled and known as the "Morrow county municipal court";

(24) The municipal court established in Greenville that, beginning January 1, 2005, shall be styled and known as the "Darke county municipal court";

(25) The municipal court established in Millersburg that, beginning January 1, 2007, shall be styled and known as the "Holmes county municipal court";

(26) The municipal court established in Carrollton that, beginning January 1, 2007, shall be styled and known as the "Carroll county municipal court";

(27) The municipal court established within Erie county in Milan or established in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory that is within Erie county, is within the territorial jurisdiction of that court, and is selected by the legislative authority of that court that, beginning January 1, 2008, shall be styled and known as the "Erie county municipal court";

(28) The municipal court established in Ottawa that, beginning January 1, 2011, shall be styled and known as the "Putnam county municipal court";

(29) The municipal court established within Montgomery county in any municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Montgomery county, except the municipal corporations of Centerville, Clayton, Dayton, Englewood, Germantown, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Union, Vandalia, and West Carrollton and Butler, German, Harrison, Miami, and Washington townships, that is selected by the legislative authority of that court and that, beginning July 1, 2010, shall be styled and known as the "Montgomery county municipal court";

(30) The municipal court established within Sandusky county in any municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Sandusky county, except the municipal corporations of Bellevue and Fremont and Ballville, Sandusky, and York townships, that is selected by the legislative authority of that court and that, beginning January 1, 2013, shall be styled and known as the "Sandusky county municipal court";

~~(31)~~ The municipal court established in Tiffin that, beginning January 1, 2014, shall be styled and known as the "Tiffin-Fostoria municipal court";

~~(32)~~ (31) The municipal court established in New Lexington that, beginning January 1, 2018, shall be styled and known as the "Perry county municipal court";

~~(33)~~ (32) The municipal court established in Paulding that, beginning January 1, 2020, shall be styled and known as the "Paulding county municipal court";

~~(34)~~ (33) The municipal court established in Wauseon that, beginning January 1, 2024, shall be styled and known as the "Fulton county municipal court."

(B) In addition to the jurisdiction set forth in division (A) of this section, the municipal courts established by section 1901.01 of the Revised Code have jurisdiction as follows:

The Akron municipal court has jurisdiction within Bath, Richfield, and Springfield townships, and within the municipal corporations of Fairlawn, Lakemore, and Mogadore, in Summit county.

The Alliance municipal court has jurisdiction within Lexington, Marlboro, Paris, and Washington townships in Stark county.

The Ashland municipal court has jurisdiction within Ashland county.

The Ashtabula municipal court has jurisdiction within Ashtabula, Plymouth, and Saybrook townships in Ashtabula county.

The Athens county municipal court has jurisdiction within Athens county.

The Auglaize county municipal court has jurisdiction within Auglaize county.

The Avon Lake municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Avon and Sheffield in Lorain county.

The Barberton municipal court has jurisdiction within Coventry, Franklin, and Green townships, within all of Copley township except within the municipal corporation of Fairlawn, and within the municipal corporations of Clinton and Norton, in Summit county.

The Bedford municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Bedford Heights, Oakwood, Glenwillow, Solon, Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls, Moreland Hills, Orange, Warrensville Heights, North Randall, and Woodmere, and within Warrensville and Chagrin Falls townships, in Cuyahoga county.

The Bellefontaine municipal court has jurisdiction within Logan county.

The Bellevue municipal court has jurisdiction within Lyme and Sherman townships in Huron county and within York township in Sandusky county.

The Berea municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Strongsville, Middleburgh Heights, Brook Park, Westview, and Olmsted Falls, and within Olmsted township, in Cuyahoga county.

The Bowling Green municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Bairdstown, Bloomdale, Bradner, Custar, Cygnet, Grand Rapids, Haskins, Hoytville, Jerry City, Milton Center, North Baltimore, Pemberville, Portage, Rising Sun, Tontogany, Wayne, West Millgrove, and Weston~~, and~~ ; within Bloom, Center, Freedom, Grand Rapids, Henry, Jackson, Liberty, Middleton, Milton, Montgomery, Plain, Portage, Washington, Webster, and Weston townships in Wood county; and on and after January 2, 2024, within Perry township in Wood county.

Beginning February 9, 2003, the Brown county municipal court has jurisdiction within Brown county.

The Bryan municipal court has jurisdiction within Williams county.

The Cambridge municipal court has jurisdiction within Guernsey county.

The Campbell municipal court has jurisdiction within Coitsville township in Mahoning county.

The Canton municipal court has jurisdiction within Canton, Lake, Nimishillen, Osnaburg, Pike, Plain, and Sandy townships in Stark county.

The Carroll county municipal court has jurisdiction within Carroll county.

The Celina municipal court has jurisdiction within Mercer county.

The Champaign county municipal court has jurisdiction within Champaign county.

The Chardon municipal court has jurisdiction within Geauga county.

The Chillicothe municipal court has jurisdiction within Ross county.

The Circleville municipal court has jurisdiction within Pickaway county.

The Clark county municipal court has jurisdiction within Clark county.

The Clermont county municipal court has jurisdiction within Clermont county.

The Cleveland municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Bratenahl in Cuyahoga county.

Beginning July 1, 1992, the Clinton county municipal court has jurisdiction within Clinton county.

The Columbiana county municipal court has jurisdiction within Columbiana county.

The Coshocton municipal court has jurisdiction within Coshocton county.

The Crawford county municipal court has jurisdiction within Crawford county.

Until December 31, 2008, the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court has jurisdiction within Boston, Hudson, Northfield Center, Sagamore Hills, and Twinsburg townships, and within the municipal corporations of Boston Heights, Hudson, Munroe Falls, Northfield, Peninsula, Reminderville, Silver Lake, Stow, Tallmadge, Twinsburg, and Macedonia, in Summit county.

Beginning January 1, 2005, the Darke county municipal court has jurisdiction within Darke county except within the municipal corporation of Bradford.

The Defiance municipal court has jurisdiction within Defiance county.

The Delaware municipal court has jurisdiction within Delaware county.

The Eaton municipal court has jurisdiction within Preble county.

The Elyria municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Grafton, LaGrange, and North Ridgeville, and within Elyria, Carlisle, Eaton, Columbia, Grafton, and LaGrange townships, in Lorain county.

Beginning January 1, 2008, the Erie county municipal court has jurisdiction within Erie county except within the townships of Florence, Huron, Perkins, and Vermilion and the municipal corporations of Bay View, Castalia, Huron, Sandusky, and Vermilion.

The Fairborn municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Beavercreek and within Bath and Beavercreek townships in Greene county.

Beginning January 2, 2000, the Fairfield county municipal court has jurisdiction within Fairfield county.

The Findlay municipal court has jurisdiction, until January 2, 2024, within all of Hancock county except within Washington township, and on and after January 2, 2024, within all of Hancock county.

The Franklin municipal court has jurisdiction within Franklin township in Warren county.

The Franklin county municipal court has jurisdiction within Franklin county.

The Fremont municipal court has jurisdiction within Ballville and Sandusky townships in Sandusky county.

Beginning January 1, 2024, the Fulton county municipal court has jurisdiction within Fulton county.

The Gallipolis municipal court has jurisdiction within Gallia county.

The Garfield Heights municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Maple Heights, Walton Hills, Valley View, Cuyahoga Heights, Newburgh Heights, Independence, and Brecksville in Cuyahoga county.

The Girard municipal court has jurisdiction within Liberty, Vienna, and Hubbard townships in Trumbull county.

The Hamilton municipal court has jurisdiction within Ross and St. Clair townships in Butler county.

The Hamilton county municipal court has jurisdiction within Hamilton county.

The Hardin county municipal court has jurisdiction within Hardin county.

The Hillsboro municipal court has jurisdiction within all of Highland county except within Madison township.

The Hocking county municipal court has jurisdiction within Hocking county.

The Holmes county municipal court has jurisdiction within Holmes county.

The Huron municipal court has jurisdiction within all of Huron township in Erie county except within the municipal corporation of Sandusky.

The Ironton municipal court has jurisdiction within Aid, Decatur, Elizabeth, Hamilton, Lawrence, Upper, and Washington townships in Lawrence county.

The Jackson county municipal court has jurisdiction within Jackson county.

The Kettering municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Centerville and Moraine, and within Washington township, in Montgomery county.

Until January 2, 2000, the Lancaster municipal court has jurisdiction within Fairfield county.

The Lawrence county municipal court has jurisdiction within the townships of Fayette, Mason, Perry, Rome, Symmes, Union, and Windsor in Lawrence county.

The Lebanon municipal court has jurisdiction within Turtlecreek township in Warren county.

The Licking county municipal court has jurisdiction within Licking county.

The Lima municipal court has jurisdiction within Allen county.

The Lorain municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Sheffield Lake, and within Sheffield township, in Lorain county.

The Lyndhurst municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Mayfield Heights, Gates Mills, Mayfield, Highland Heights, and Richmond Heights in Cuyahoga county.

The Madison county municipal court has jurisdiction within Madison county.

The Mansfield municipal court has jurisdiction within Madison, Springfield, Sandusky, Franklin, Weller, Mifflin, Troy, Washington, Monroe, Perry, Jefferson, and Worthington townships, and within sections 35-36-31 and 32 of Butler township, in Richland county.

The Marietta municipal court has jurisdiction within Washington county.

The Marion municipal court has jurisdiction within Marion county.

The Marysville municipal court has jurisdiction within Union county.

The Mason municipal court has jurisdiction within Deerfield township in Warren county.

The Massillon municipal court has jurisdiction within Bethlehem, Perry, Sugar Creek, Tuscarawas, Lawrence, and Jackson townships in Stark county.

The Maumee municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Waterville and Whitehouse, within Waterville and Providence townships, and within those portions of Springfield, Monclova, and Swanton townships lying south of the northerly boundary line of the Ohio turnpike, in Lucas county.

The Medina municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Briarwood Beach, Brunswick, Chippewa-on-the-Lake, and Spencer and within the townships of Brunswick Hills, Chatham, Granger, Hinckley, Lafayette, Litchfield, Liverpool, Medina, Montville, Spencer, and York townships, in Medina county.

The Mentor municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Mentor-on-the-Lake in Lake county.

The Miami county municipal court has jurisdiction within Miami county and within the part of the municipal corporation of Bradford that is located in Darke county.

The Miamisburg municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Germantown and West Carrollton, and within German and Miami townships in Montgomery county.

The Middletown municipal court has jurisdiction within Madison township, and within all of Lemon township, except within the municipal corporation of Monroe, in Butler county.

Beginning July 1, 2010, the Montgomery county municipal court has jurisdiction within all of Montgomery county except for the municipal corporations of Centerville, Clayton, Dayton, Englewood, Germantown, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Union, Vandalia, and West Carrollton and Butler, German, Harrison, Miami, and Washington townships.

Beginning January 1, 2003, the Morrow county municipal court has jurisdiction within Morrow county.

The Mount Vernon municipal court has jurisdiction within Knox county.

The Napoleon municipal court has jurisdiction within Henry county.

The New Philadelphia municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Dover, and within Auburn, Bucks, Fairfield, Goshen, Jefferson, Warren, York, Dover, Franklin, Lawrence, Sandy, Sugarcreek, and Wayne townships in Tuscarawas county.

The Newton Falls municipal court has jurisdiction within Bristol, Bloomfield, Lordstown, Newton, Braceville, Southington, Farmington, and Mesopotamia townships in Trumbull county.

The Niles municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of McDonald, and within Weathersfield township in Trumbull county.

The Norwalk municipal court has jurisdiction within all of Huron county except within the municipal corporation of Bellevue and except within Lyme and Sherman townships.

The Oberlin municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Amherst, Kipton, Rochester, South Amherst, and Wellington, and within Henrietta, Russia, Camden, Pittsfield, Brighton, Wellington, Penfield, Rochester, and Huntington townships, and within all of Amherst township except within the municipal corporation of Lorain, in Lorain county.

The Oregon municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Harbor View, and within Jerusalem township, in Lucas county, and north within Maumee Bay and Lake Erie to the boundary line between Ohio and Michigan between the easterly boundary of the court and the easterly boundary of the Toledo municipal court.

The Ottawa county municipal court has jurisdiction within Ottawa county.

The Painesville municipal court has jurisdiction within Painesville, Perry, Leroy, Concord, and Madison townships in Lake county.

The Parma municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Parma Heights, Brooklyn, Linndale, North Royalton, Broadview Heights, Seven Hills, and Brooklyn Heights in Cuyahoga county.

Beginning January 1, 2018, the Perry county municipal court has jurisdiction within Perry county.

Beginning January 1, 2020, the Paulding county municipal court has jurisdiction within Paulding county.

The Perrysburg municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Luckey, Millbury, Northwood, Rossford, and Walbridge, and within Perrysburg, Lake, and Troy townships, in Wood county.

The Portage county municipal court has jurisdiction within Portage county.

The Portsmouth municipal court has jurisdiction within Scioto county.

The Putnam county municipal court has jurisdiction within Putnam county.

The Rocky River municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Bay Village, Westlake, Fairview Park, and North Olmsted, and within Riveredge township, in Cuyahoga county.

The Sandusky municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Castalia and Bay View, and within Perkins township, in Erie county.

Beginning January 1, 2013, the Sandusky county municipal court has jurisdiction within all of Sandusky county except within the municipal corporations of Bellevue and Fremont and Ballville, Sandusky, and York townships.

The Shaker Heights municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of University Heights, Beachwood, Pepper Pike, and Hunting Valley in Cuyahoga county.

The Shelby municipal court has jurisdiction within Sharon, Jackson, Cass, Plymouth, and Blooming Grove townships, and within all of Butler township except sections 35-36-31 and 32, in Richland county.

The Sidney municipal court has jurisdiction within Shelby county.

Beginning January 1, 2009, the Stow municipal court has jurisdiction within Boston, Hudson, Northfield Center, Sagamore Hills, and Twinsburg townships, and within the municipal corporations of Boston Heights, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Munroe Falls, Northfield, Peninsula, Reminderville, Silver Lake, Stow, Tallmadge, Twinsburg, and Macedonia, in Summit county.

The Struthers municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Lowellville, New Middleton, and Poland, and within Poland and Springfield townships in Mahoning county.

The Sylvania municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Berkey and Holland, and within Sylvania, Richfield, Spencer, and Harding townships, and within those portions of Swanton, Monclova, and Springfield townships lying north of the northerly boundary line of the Ohio turnpike, in Lucas county.

Beginning January 1, 2014, the Tiffin-Fostoria municipal court has jurisdiction within Adams, Big Spring, Bloom, Clinton, Eden, Hopewell, Jackson, Liberty, Loudon, Pleasant, Reed, Scipio, Seneca, Thompson, and Venice townships in Seneca county, and beginning on January 1, 2014, and until January 2, 2024, has jurisdiction within Washington township in Hancock county, and within Perry township, except within the municipal corporation of West Millgrove, in Wood county.

The Toledo municipal court has jurisdiction within Washington township, and within the municipal corporation of Ottawa Hills, in Lucas county.

The Upper Sandusky municipal court has jurisdiction within Wyandot county.

The Vandalia municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Clayton, Englewood, and Union, and within Butler, Harrison, and Randolph townships, in Montgomery county.

The Van Wert municipal court has jurisdiction within Van Wert county.

The Vermilion municipal court has jurisdiction within the townships of Vermilion and Florence in Erie county and within all of Brownhelm township except within the municipal corporation of Lorain, in Lorain county.

The Wadsworth municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Gloria Glens Park, Lodi, Seville, and Westfield Center, and within Guilford, Harrisville, Homer, Sharon, Wadsworth, and Westfield townships in Medina county.

The Warren municipal court has jurisdiction within Warren and Champion townships, and within all of Howland township except within the municipal corporation of Niles, in Trumbull county.

The Washington Court House municipal court has jurisdiction within Fayette county.

The Wayne county municipal court has jurisdiction within Wayne county.

The Willoughby municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Eastlake, Wickliffe, Willowick, Willoughby Hills, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Waite Hill, Timberlake, and Lakeline, and within Kirtland township, in Lake county.

Through June 30, 1992, the Wilmington municipal court has jurisdiction within Clinton county.

The Xenia municipal court has jurisdiction within Caesarcreek, Cedarville, Jefferson, Miami, New Jasper, Ross, Silvercreek, Spring Valley, Sugarcreek, and Xenia townships in Greene county.

(1) "Within a township" includes all land, including, but not limited to, any part of any municipal corporation, that is physically located within the territorial boundaries of that township, whether or not that land or municipal corporation is governmentally a part of the township.

(2) "Within a municipal corporation" includes all land within the territorial boundaries of the municipal corporation and any townships that are coextensive with the municipal corporation.

Sec. 1901.021. (A) Except as otherwise provided in division (M) of this section, the judge or judges of any municipal court established under division (A) of section 1901.01 of the Revised Code having territorial jurisdiction outside the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is located may sit outside the corporate limits of the municipal corporation within the area of its territorial jurisdiction.

(B) Two or more of the judges of the Hamilton county municipal court may be assigned by the presiding judge of the court to sit outside the municipal corporation of Cincinnati.

(C) Two of the judges of the Portage county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporation of Ravenna, and one of the judges shall sit within the municipal corporation of Kent. The judges may sit in other incorporated areas of Portage county.

(D) The judges of the Wayne county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporation of Wooster and may sit in other incorporated areas of Wayne county.

(E) The judge of the Auglaize county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporations of Wapakoneta and St. Marys and may sit in other incorporated areas in Auglaize county.

(F) At least one of the judges of the Miami county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporations of Troy, Piqua, and Tipp City, and the judges may sit in other incorporated areas of Miami county.

(G) The judge of the Crawford county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporations of Bucyrus and Galion and may sit in other incorporated areas in Crawford county.

(H) The judge of the Jackson county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporations of Jackson and Wellston and may sit in other incorporated areas in Jackson county.

(I) Each judge of the Columbiana county municipal court may sit within the municipal corporation of Lisbon, Salem, or East Palestine until the judges jointly select a central location within the territorial jurisdiction of the court. When the judges select a central location, the judges shall sit at that location.

(J) In any municipal court, other than the Hamilton county municipal court and the Montgomery county municipal court, that has more than one judge, the decision for one or more judges to sit outside the corporate limits of the municipal corporation shall be made by rule of the court as provided in division (C) of sections 1901.14 and 1901.16 of the Revised Code.

(K) The assignment of a judge to sit in a municipal corporation other than that in which the court is located does not affect the jurisdiction of the mayor except as provided in section 1905.01 of the Revised Code.

(L) The judges of the Clermont county municipal court may sit in any municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Clermont county.

(M) Beginning July 1, 2010, the judges of the Montgomery county municipal court shall sit in the same locations as the judges of the Montgomery county county court sat before the county court was abolished on that date. The legislative authority of the Montgomery county municipal court may determine after that date that the judges of the Montgomery county municipal court shall sit in any municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Montgomery county.

(N) The judge of the Tiffin-Fostoria municipal court shall sit within each of the municipal corporations of Tiffin and Fostoria on a weekly basis. Cases that arise within the municipal corporation of Tiffin and within Adams, Big Spring, Bloom, Clinton, Eden, Hopewell, Liberty, Pleasant, Reed, Scioto, Seneca, Thompson, and Venice townships in Seneca county shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court located in the municipal corporation of Tiffin. Cases that arise in the municipal corporation of Fostoria and within Loudon and Jackson townships in Seneca county~~, within Washington township in Hancock county, and within Perry township, except within the municipal corporation of West Millgrove, in Wood county,~~ shall be filed in the office of the special deputy clerk located in the municipal corporation of Fostoria. Until January 2, 2024, cases that arise within Washington township in Hancock county, and within Perry township, except within the municipal corporation of West Millgrove, in Wood county, shall be filed in the office of the special deputy clerk located in the municipal corporation of Fostoria.

(O) The judge of the Fulton county municipal court shall sit within each of the municipal corporations of Wauseon and Swanton on a weekly basis. Cases that arise within the municipal corporation of Wauseon and within Chesterfield, Clinton, Dover, Franklin, German, and Gorham townships in Fulton county shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court located in the municipal corporation of Wauseon. Cases that arise in the municipal corporation of Swanton and within Amboy, Fulton, Pike, Swan Creek, Royalton, and York townships shall be filed in the office of the special deputy clerk located in the municipal corporation of Swanton.

Sec. 1901.041. (A) Except as authorized by or provided in division (B) of section 1901.181 of the Revised Code, all cases filed after the institution of a housing or environmental division of a municipal court and over which the division has jurisdiction shall be assigned by the administrative judge of the municipal court to the judge of the division. Any cases pending in the municipal court at the time the division is instituted and over which the division has jurisdiction shall be reassigned to the judge of the division, if the administrative judge determines that reassignment will not delay the trial of the case and that reassignment is in the best interests of the parties.

(B) The Hamilton county municipal court may refer a case ~~of the type described in division (B)(3) of section 2301.03 of the Revised Code~~ to the drug court judge of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county ~~pursuant to that division~~ if the case is of a type that is eligible for admission into the drug court under the local rule adopted by the court of common pleas under division (B)(3) of section 2301.03 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 1901.07. (A) All municipal court judges shall be elected on the nonpartisan ballot for terms of six years. In a municipal court in which only one judge is to be elected in any one year, that judge's term commences on the first day of January after the election. In a municipal court in which two or more judges are to be elected in any one year, their terms commence on successive days beginning the first day of January, following the election, unless otherwise provided by section 1901.08 of the Revised Code.

(B) All candidates for municipal court judge may be nominated either by nominating petition or by primary election, except that if the jurisdiction of a municipal court extends only to the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which the court is located and that municipal corporation operates under a charter, all candidates shall be nominated in the same manner provided in the charter for the office of municipal court judge or, if no specific provisions are made in the charter for the office of municipal court judge, in the same manner as the charter prescribes for the nomination and election of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation.

If the jurisdiction of a municipal court extends beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is located or if the jurisdiction of the court does not extend beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is located and no charter provisions apply, all candidates for party nomination to the office of municipal court judge shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition not later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the primary election in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 of the Revised Code. The petition shall conform to the requirements provided for those petitions of candidacy contained in section 3513.05 of the Revised Code, except that the petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. If no valid declaration of candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of a political party for election to the office of municipal court judge, or if the number of persons filing the declarations of candidacy for nominations as candidates of one political party for election to the office does not exceed the number of candidates that that party is entitled to nominate as its candidates for election to the office, no primary election shall be held for the purpose of nominating candidates of that party for election to the office, and the candidates shall be issued certificates of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

The nominating petition or declaration of candidacy for a municipal court judge shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, the candidacies of the judges nominated shall be submitted to the electors of the territory on a nonpartisan, judicial ballot in the same manner as provided for judges of the court of common pleas, except that, in a municipal corporation operating under a charter, all candidates for municipal court judge shall be elected in conformity with the charter if provisions are made in the charter for the election of municipal court judges.

(C) Notwithstanding divisions (A) and (B) of this section, in the following municipal courts, the judges shall be nominated and elected as follows:

(1) In the Cleveland municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Cleveland for filing petitions of candidates for municipal offices. Each elector shall have the right to sign petitions for as many candidates as are to be elected, but no more. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.

(2) In the Toledo municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Toledo for filing nominating petitions for city council. Each elector shall have the right to sign petitions for as many candidates as are to be elected, but no more. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.

(3) In the Akron municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Akron for filing nominating petitions of candidates for municipal offices. Each elector shall have the right to sign petitions for as many candidates as are to be elected, but no more. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.

(4) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least one hundred electors of the judicial district of the county from which the candidate seeks election, which petitions shall be signed and filed not later than four p.m. of the day before the day of the primary election in the form prescribed by section 3513.261 of the Revised Code. Unless otherwise provided in this section, the petition shall conform to the requirements provided for nominating petitions in section 3513.257 of the Revised Code. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the relative judicial district of the county at the regular municipal election and in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.

(5) In the Franklin county municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. The petition shall be in the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Columbus for filing petitions of candidates for municipal offices. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.

(6) In the Auglaize, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Crawford, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Miami, Morrow, Paulding, Perry, Putnam, ~~Sandusky,~~ and Wayne county municipal courts, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petitions shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court and shall conform to the provisions of this section.

(D) In the Portage county municipal court, the judges shall be nominated either by nominating petition or by primary election, as provided in division (B) of this section.

(E) As used in this section, as to an election for either a full or an unexpired term, "the territory within the jurisdiction of the court" means that territory as it will be on the first day of January after the election.

Sec. 1901.08. The number of, and the time for election of, judges of the following municipal courts and the beginning of their terms shall be as follows:

In the Akron municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1951, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1953, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1967, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Alliance municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Ashland municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Ashtabula municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Athens county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1967.

In the Auglaize county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Avon Lake municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2017. On and after September 15, 2014, the part-time judge of the Avon Lake municipal court who was elected in 2011 shall serve as a full-time judge of the court until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 2017.

In the Barberton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1969, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Bedford municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1979.

In the Bellefontaine municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1993.

In the Bellevue municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Berea municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005.

In the Bowling Green municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1983.

In the Brown county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005. Beginning February 9, 2003, the part-time judge of the Brown county county court that existed prior to that date whose term commenced on January 2, 2001, shall serve as the full-time judge of the Brown county municipal court until December 31, 2005.

In the Bryan municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1965.

In the Cambridge municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Campbell municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Canton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1969, and two full-time judges shall be elected in 1977.

In the Carroll county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2009. Beginning January 1, 2007, the judge elected in 2006 to the part-time judgeship of the Carroll county county court that existed prior to that date shall serve as the full-time judge of the Carroll county municipal court until December 31, 2009.

In the Celina municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Champaign county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2001.

In the Chardon municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Chillicothe municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977.

In the Circleville municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Clark county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1989, and two full-time judges shall be elected in 1991. The full-time judges of the Springfield municipal court who were elected in 1983 and 1985 shall serve as the judges of the Clark county municipal court from January 1, 1988, until the end of their respective terms.

In the Clermont county municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1991, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1999.

In the Cleveland municipal court, six full-time judges shall be elected in 1975, three full-time judges shall be elected in 1953, and four full-time judges shall be elected in 1955.

In the Cleveland Heights municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Clinton county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1997. The full-time judge of the Wilmington municipal court who was elected in 1991 shall serve as the judge of the Clinton county municipal court from July 1, 1992, until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 1997.

In the Columbiana county municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 2001.

In the Conneaut municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Coshocton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Crawford county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977.

In the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1967. Effective December 31, 2008, the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall cease to exist; however, the judges of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court who were elected pursuant to this section in 2003 and 2007 for terms beginning on January 1, 2004, and January 1, 2008, respectively, shall serve as full-time judges of the Stow municipal court until December 31, 2009, and December 31, 2013, respectively.

In the Darke county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005. Beginning January 1, 2005, the part-time judge of the Darke county county court that existed prior to that date whose term began on January 1, 2001, shall serve as the full-time judge of the Darke county municipal court until December 31, 2005.

In the Dayton municipal court, three full-time judges shall be elected in 1987, their terms to commence on successive days beginning on the first day of January next after their election, and two full-time judges shall be elected in 1955, their terms to commence on successive days beginning on the second day of January next after their election.

In the Defiance municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Delaware municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 2007.

In the East Cleveland municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Eaton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1973.

In the Elyria municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1955, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1973.

In the Erie county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2007.

In the Euclid municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Fairborn municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 2023.

In the Fairfield county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2003, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005.

In the Fairfield municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1989.

In the Findlay municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1955, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1993.

In the Franklin municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Franklin county municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1969, three full-time judges shall be elected in 1971, seven full-time judges shall be elected in 1967, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1991, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1997.

In the Fremont municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Fulton county municipal court to be established on January 1, 2024, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2023.

In the Gallipolis municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1981.

In the Garfield Heights municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1981.

In the Girard municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Hamilton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Hamilton county municipal court, five full-time judges shall be elected in 1967, five full-time judges shall be elected in 1971, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1981, and two full-time judges shall be elected in 1983. All terms of judges of the Hamilton county municipal court shall commence on the first day of January next after their election, except that the terms of the additional judges to be elected in 1981 shall commence on January 2, 1982, and January 3, 1982, and that the terms of the additional judges to be elected in 1983 shall commence on January 4, 1984, and January 5, 1984.

In the Hardin county municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1989.

In the Hillsboro municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2011. On and after December 30, 2008, the part-time judge of the Hillsboro municipal court who was elected in 2005 shall serve as a full-time judge of the court until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 2011.

In the Hocking county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977.

In the Holmes county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2007. Beginning January 1, 2007, the part-time judge of the Holmes county county court that existed prior to that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2007, shall serve as the full-time judge of the Holmes county municipal court until December 31, 2007.

In the Huron municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1967.

In the Ironton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Jackson county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2001. On and after March 31, 1997, the part-time judge of the Jackson county municipal court who was elected in 1995 shall serve as a full-time judge of the court until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 2001.

In the Kettering municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Lakewood municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1955.

In the Lancaster municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1979. Beginning January 2, 2000, the full-time judges of the Lancaster municipal court who were elected in 1997 and 1999 shall serve as judges of the Fairfield county municipal court until the end of those judges' terms.

In the Lawrence county municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1981.

In the Lebanon municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1955.

In the Licking county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Lima municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1967.

In the Lorain municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1973.

In the Lyndhurst municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Madison county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1981.

In the Mansfield municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1969.

In the Marietta municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Marion municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Marysville municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2011. On and after January 18, 2007, the part-time judge of the Marysville municipal court who was elected in 2005 shall serve as a full-time judge of the court until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 2011.

In the Mason municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1965.

In the Massillon municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Maumee municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Medina municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Mentor municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Miami county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1979.

In the Miamisburg municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Middletown municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Montgomery county municipal court:

One judge shall be elected in 2011 to a part-time judgeship for a term to begin on January 1, 2012. If any one of the other judgeships of the court becomes vacant and is abolished after July 1, 2010, this judgeship shall become a full-time judgeship on that date. If only one other judgeship of the court becomes vacant and is abolished as of December 31, 2021, this judgeship shall be abolished as of that date. Beginning July 1, 2010, the part-time judge of the Montgomery county county court that existed before that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2005, shall serve as a part-time judge of the Montgomery county municipal court until December 31, 2011.

One judge shall be elected in 2011 to a full-time judgeship for a term to begin on January 2, 2012, and this judgeship shall be abolished on January 1, 2016. Beginning July 1, 2010, the part-time judge of the Montgomery county county court that existed before that date whose term commenced on January 2, 2005, shall serve as a full-time judge of the Montgomery county municipal court until January 1, 2012.

One judge shall be elected in 2013 to a full-time judgeship for a term to begin on January 2, 2014. Beginning July 1, 2010, the part-time judge of the Montgomery county county court that existed before that date whose term commenced on January 2, 2007, shall serve as a full-time judge of the Montgomery county municipal court until January 1, 2014.

One judge shall be elected in 2013 to a judgeship for a term to begin on January 1, 2014. If no other judgeship of the court becomes vacant and is abolished by January 1, 2014, this judgeship shall be a part-time judgeship. When one or more of the other judgeships of the court becomes vacant and is abolished after July 1, 2010, this judgeship shall become a full-time judgeship. Beginning July 1, 2010, the part-time judge of the Montgomery county county court that existed before that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2007, shall serve as this judge of the Montgomery county municipal court until December 31, 2013.

If any one of the judgeships of the court becomes vacant before December 31, 2021, that judgeship is abolished on the date that it becomes vacant, and the other judges of the court shall be or serve as full-time judges. The abolishment of judgeships for the Montgomery county municipal court shall cease when the court has two full-time judgeships.

In the Morrow county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005. Beginning January 1, 2003, the part-time judge of the Morrow county county court that existed prior to that date shall serve as the full-time judge of the Morrow county municipal court until December 31, 2005.

In the Mount Vernon municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Napoleon municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005.

In the New Philadelphia municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Newton Falls municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Niles municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Norwalk municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Oakwood municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Oberlin municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1989.

In the Oregon municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Ottawa county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1995, and the full-time judge of the Port Clinton municipal court who is elected in 1989 shall serve as the judge of the Ottawa county municipal court from February 4, 1994, until the end of that judge's term.

In the Painesville municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Parma municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1967, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Paulding county municipal court to be established on January 1, 2020, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2019.

In the Perry county municipal court to be established on January 1, 2018, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2017.

In the Perrysburg municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977.

In the Portage county municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1979, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Port Clinton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953. The full-time judge of the Port Clinton municipal court who is elected in 1989 shall serve as the judge of the Ottawa county municipal court from February 4, 1994, until the end of that judge's term.

In the Portsmouth municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1985.

In the Putnam county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2011. Beginning January 1, 2011, the part-time judge of the Putnam county county court that existed prior to that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2007, shall serve as the full-time judge of the Putnam county municipal court until December 31, 2011.

In the Rocky River municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Sandusky municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Sandusky county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2013. Beginning on January 1, 2013, the two part-time judges of the Sandusky county county court that existed prior to that date shall serve as part-time judges of the Sandusky county municipal court until December 31, 2013. If either judgeship becomes vacant before January 1, 2014, that judgeship is abolished on the date it becomes vacant, and the person who holds the other judgeship shall serve as the full-time judge of the Sandusky county municipal court until December 31, 2013.

In the Shaker Heights municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Shelby municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Sidney municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1995.

In the South Euclid municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1999. The part-time judge elected in 1993, whose term commenced on January 1, 1994, shall serve until December 31, 1999, and the office of that judge is abolished on January 1, 2000.

In the Springfield municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1985, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1983, all of whom shall serve as the judges of the Springfield municipal court through December 31, 1987, and as the judges of the Clark county municipal court from January 1, 1988, until the end of their respective terms.

In the Steubenville municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Stow municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2009, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 2013. Beginning January 1, 2009, the judge of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court that existed prior to that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2008, shall serve as a full-time judge of the Stow municipal court until December 31, 2013. Beginning January 1, 2009, the judge of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court that existed prior to that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2004, shall serve as a full-time judge of the Stow municipal court until December 31, 2009.

In the Struthers municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Sylvania municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Tiffin-Fostoria municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2013.

In the Toledo municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1971, four full-time judges shall be elected in 1975, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1973.

In the Upper Sandusky municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2011. The part-time judge elected in 2005, whose term commenced on January 1, 2006, shall serve as a full-time judge on and after January 1, 2008, until the expiration of that judge's term on December 31, 2011, and the office of that judge is abolished on January 1, 2012.

In the Vandalia municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1959.

In the Van Wert municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Vermilion municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1965.

In the Wadsworth municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1981.

In the Warren municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Washington Court House municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1999. The part-time judge elected in 1993, whose term commenced on January 1, 1994, shall serve until December 31, 1999, and the office of that judge is abolished on January 1, 2000.

In the Wayne county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1979.

In the Willoughby municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Wilmington municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1991, who shall serve as the judge of the Wilmington municipal court through June 30, 1992, and as the judge of the Clinton county municipal court from July 1, 1992, until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 1997.

In the Xenia municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977.

In the Youngstown municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 2013.

In the Zanesville municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

Sec. 1901.31. The clerk and deputy clerks of a municipal court shall be selected, be compensated, give bond, and have powers and duties as follows:

(A) There shall be a clerk of the court who is appointed or elected as follows:

(1)(a) Except in the Akron, Barberton, Toledo, Columbiana county, Hamilton county, Miami county, Montgomery county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts and through December 31, 2008, the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, if the population of the territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand at the regular municipal election immediately preceding the expiration of the term of the present clerk, the clerk shall be nominated and elected by the qualified electors of the territory in the manner that is provided for the nomination and election of judges in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code.

The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(b) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the clerk of courts of Hamilton county shall be the clerk of the municipal court and may appoint an assistant clerk who shall receive the compensation, payable out of the treasury of Hamilton county in semimonthly installments, that the board of county commissioners prescribes. The clerk of courts of Hamilton county, acting as the clerk of the Hamilton county municipal court and assuming the duties of that office, shall receive compensation at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to the annual compensation that is received for the performance of the duties of the clerk of courts of Hamilton county, as provided in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(c) In the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts, the clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code and assistant clerks as the judges of the municipal court determine are necessary, all of whom shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county, acting as the clerks of the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts and assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(d) In the Montgomery county and Miami county municipal courts, the clerks of courts of Montgomery county and Miami county shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Montgomery county and Miami county municipal courts. The clerks of courts of Montgomery county and Miami county, acting as the clerks of the Montgomery county and Miami county municipal courts and assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to the annual compensation that is received for the performance of the duties of the clerks of courts of Montgomery county and Miami county, as provided in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(e) of this section, in the Akron municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Akron for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(f) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(f) of this section, in the Barberton municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Barberton for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(g)(i) Through December 31, 2008, except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(g)(i) of this section, in the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Cuyahoga Falls for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(ii) Division (A)(1)(g)(i) of this section shall have no effect after December 31, 2008.

(h) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(h) of this section, in the Toledo municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Toledo for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(i) In the Columbiana county municipal court, the clerk of courts of Columbiana county shall be the clerk of the municipal court, may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch office that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code, and may appoint any assistant clerks that the judges of the court determine are necessary. All of the chief deputy clerks and assistant clerks shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerk of courts of Columbiana county, acting as the clerk of the Columbiana county municipal court and assuming the duties of that office, shall receive in either biweekly installments or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, compensation payable from the county treasury at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(2)(a) Except for the Alliance, Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, Putnam county, ~~Sandusky county,~~ Lima, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown municipal courts, in a municipal court for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand, the clerk shall be appointed by the court, and the clerk shall hold office until the clerk's successor is appointed and qualified.

(b) In the Alliance, Lima, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown municipal courts, the clerk shall be elected for a term of office as described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section.

(c) In the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, and Putnam county~~, and Sandusky county~~ municipal courts, the clerks of courts of Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, and Putnam county~~, and Sandusky county~~ shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, and Putnam county~~, and Sandusky county~~ municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch office that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code, and assistant clerks as the judge of the court determines are necessary, all of whom shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerks of courts of Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, and Putnam county, ~~and Sandusky county~~, acting as the clerks of the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, and Putnam county~~, and Sandusky county~~ municipal courts and assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(3) During the temporary absence of the clerk due to illness, vacation, or other proper cause, the court may appoint a temporary clerk, who shall be paid the same compensation, have the same authority, and perform the same duties as the clerk.

(B) Except in the Hamilton county, Montgomery county, Miami county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, if a vacancy occurs in the office of the clerk of the Alliance, Lima, Lorain, Massillon, or Youngstown municipal court or occurs in the office of the clerk of a municipal court for which the population of the territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand because the clerk ceases to hold the office before the end of the clerk's term or because a clerk-elect fails to take office, the vacancy shall be filled, until a successor is elected and qualified, by a person chosen by the residents of the territory of the court who are members of the county central committee of the political party by which the last occupant of that office or the clerk-elect was nominated. Not less than five nor more than fifteen days after a vacancy occurs, those members of that county central committee shall meet to make an appointment to fill the vacancy. At least four days before the date of the meeting, the chairperson or a secretary of the county central committee shall notify each such member of that county central committee by first class mail of the date, time, and place of the meeting and its purpose. A majority of all such members of that county central committee constitutes a quorum, and a majority of the quorum is required to make the appointment. If the office so vacated was occupied or was to be occupied by a person not nominated at a primary election, or if the appointment was not made by the committee members in accordance with this division, the court shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy. A successor shall be elected to fill the office for the unexpired term at the first municipal election that is held more than one hundred thirty-five days after the vacancy occurred.

(C)(1) In a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, the Brown county, the Holmes county, the Perry county, the Putnam county, ~~the Sandusky county,~~ and the Lorain municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand, the clerk of the municipal court shall receive the annual compensation that the presiding judge of the court prescribes, if the revenue of the court for the preceding calendar year, as certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer of the municipal corporation in which the court is located or, in the case of a county-operated municipal court, the county auditor, is equal to or greater than the expenditures, including any debt charges, for the operation of the court payable under this chapter from the city treasury or, in the case of a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury for that calendar year, as also certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer. If the revenue of a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, the Brown county, the Columbiana county, the Perry county, the Putnam county, ~~the Sandusky county,~~ and the Lorain municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand for the preceding calendar year as so certified is not equal to or greater than those expenditures for the operation of the court for that calendar year as so certified, the clerk of a municipal court shall receive the annual compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. As used in this division, "revenue" means the total of all costs and fees that are collected and paid to the city treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury by the clerk of the municipal court under division (F) of this section and all interest received and paid to the city treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury in relation to the costs and fees under division (G) of this section.

(2) In a municipal court, other than the Columbiana county, Hamilton county, Montgomery county, Miami county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is one hundred thousand or more, and in the Lorain municipal court, the clerk of the municipal court shall receive annual compensation in a sum equal to eighty-five per cent of the salary of a judge of the court.

(3) The compensation of a clerk described in division (C)(1) or (2) of this section and of the clerk of the Columbiana county municipal court is payable in either semimonthly installments or biweekly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, from the same sources and in the same manner as provided in section 1901.11 of the Revised Code, except that the compensation of the clerk of the Carroll county municipal court is payable in biweekly installments.

(D) Before entering upon the duties of the clerk's office, the clerk of a municipal court shall give bond of not less than six thousand dollars to be determined by the judges of the court, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the clerk's duties.

(E) The clerk of a municipal court may do all of the following: administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue executions upon any judgment rendered in the court, including a judgment for unpaid costs; issue, sign, and attach the seal of the court to all writs, process, subpoenas, and papers issuing out of the court; and approve all bonds, sureties, recognizances, and undertakings fixed by any judge of the court or by law. The clerk may refuse to accept for filing any pleading or paper submitted for filing by a person who has been found to be a vexatious litigator under section 2323.52 of the Revised Code and who has failed to obtain leave to proceed under that section. The clerk shall do all of the following: file and safely keep all journals, records, books, and papers belonging or appertaining to the court; record the proceedings of the court; perform all other duties that the judges of the court may prescribe; and keep a book showing all receipts and disbursements, which book shall be open for public inspection at all times.

The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a docket, and other records that the court, by rule, requires, all of which shall be the public records of the court. In the docket, the clerk shall enter, at the time of the commencement of an action, the names of the parties in full, the names of the counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under proper dates, the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint, issuing of summons or other process, returns, and any subsequent pleadings. The clerk also shall enter all reports, verdicts, orders, judgments, and proceedings of the court, clearly specifying the relief granted or orders made in each action. The court may order an extended record of any of the above to be made and entered, under the proper action heading, upon the docket at the request of any party to the case, the expense of which record may be taxed as costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the party demanding the record, upon order of the court.

(F) The clerk of a municipal court shall receive, collect, and issue receipts for all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other moneys payable to the office or to any officer of the court. The clerk shall on or before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are collected disburse to the proper persons or officers, and take receipts for, all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other moneys that the clerk collects. Subject to sections 307.515 and 4511.193 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court and except for the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay all fines received for violation of municipal ordinances into the treasury of the municipal corporation the ordinance of which was violated and shall pay all fines received for violation of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the treasury of the township the resolution of which was violated. Subject to sections 1901.024 and 4511.193 of the Revised Code, in the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay fifty per cent of the fines received for violation of municipal ordinances and fifty per cent of the fines received for violation of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the treasury of the county. Subject to sections 307.515, 4511.19, and 5503.04 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court, the clerk shall pay all fines collected for the violation of state laws into the county treasury. Except in a county-operated municipal court, the clerk shall pay all costs and fees the disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in the Revised Code into the city treasury. The clerk of a county-operated municipal court shall pay the costs and fees the disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in the Revised Code into the county treasury. Moneys deposited as security for costs shall be retained pending the litigation. The clerk shall keep a separate account of all receipts and disbursements in civil and criminal cases, which shall be a permanent public record of the office. On the expiration of the term of the clerk, the clerk shall deliver the records to the clerk's successor. The clerk shall have other powers and duties as are prescribed by rule or order of the court.

(G) All moneys paid into a municipal court shall be noted on the record of the case in which they are paid and shall be deposited in a state or national bank, as defined in section 1101.01 of the Revised Code, that is selected by the clerk. Any interest received upon the deposits shall be paid into the city treasury, except that, in a county-operated municipal court, the interest shall be paid into the treasury of the county in which the court is located.

On the first Monday in January of each year, the clerk shall make a list of the titles of all cases in the court that were finally determined more than one year past in which there remains unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or any part of a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the costs in the case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to the parties who are entitled to the moneys or to their attorneys of record. All the moneys remaining unclaimed that are for restitution payments for crime victims shall be sent to the reparations fund created under section 2743.191 of the Revised Code, with a list from the clerk or other officer responsible for the collection and distribution of restitution payments specifying the amounts and individual identifying information of the funds. All other moneys remaining unclaimed on the first day of April of each year shall be paid by the clerk to the city treasurer, except that, in a county-operated municipal court, the moneys shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which the court is located. The treasurer shall pay any part of the moneys at any time to the person who has the right to the moneys upon proper certification of the clerk.

(H) Deputy clerks of a municipal court other than the Carroll county municipal court may be appointed by the clerk and shall receive the compensation, payable in either biweekly installments or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, out of the city treasury, that the clerk may prescribe, except that the compensation of any deputy clerk of a county-operated municipal court shall be paid out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located. The judge of the Carroll county municipal court may appoint deputy clerks for the court, and the deputy clerks shall receive the compensation, payable in biweekly installments out of the county treasury, that the judge may prescribe. Each deputy clerk shall take an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform the duties appertaining to the office of the clerk. The clerk may require any of the deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.

(I) For the purposes of this section, whenever the population of the territory of a municipal court falls below one hundred thousand but not below ninety thousand, and the population of the territory prior to the most recent regular federal census exceeded one hundred thousand, the legislative authority of the municipal corporation may declare, by resolution, that the territory shall be considered to have a population of at least one hundred thousand.

(J) The clerk or a deputy clerk shall be in attendance at all sessions of the municipal court, although not necessarily in the courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors and receive verdicts.

Sec. 1907.11. (A) Each county court district shall have the following county court judges, to be elected as follows:

In the Adams county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

In the Ashtabula county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1980, and one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

In the Belmont county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1992, term to commence on January 1, 1993, and two part-time judges shall be elected in 1994, terms to commence on January 1, 1995, and January 2, 1995, respectively.

In the Butler county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1992, term to commence on January 1, 1993, and two part-time judges shall be elected in 1994, terms to commence on January 1, 1995, and January 2, 1995, respectively.

Until December 31, 2007, in the Erie county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982. Effective January 1, 2008, the Erie county county court shall cease to exist.

In the Harrison county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

In the Highland county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

In the Jefferson county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1992, term to commence on January 1, 1993, and two part-time judges shall be elected in 1994, terms to commence on January 1, 1995, and January 2, 1995, respectively.

In the Mahoning county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1992, term to commence on January 1, 1993, and three part-time judges shall be elected in 1994, terms to commence on January 1, 1995, January 2, 1995, and January 3, 1995, respectively.

In the Meigs county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

In the Monroe county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

In the Morgan county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

In the Muskingum county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1980, and one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

In the Noble county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

In the Pike county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

Until December 31, 2006, in the Sandusky county county court, two part-time judges shall be elected in 1994, terms to commence on January 1, 1995, and January 2, 1995, respectively. The judges elected in 2006 shall serve until December 31, 2012. The Sandusky county county court shall cease to exist on January 1, 2013.

In the Sandusky county county court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2024, term to commence on January 2, 2025. Effective January 2, 2025, notwithstanding division (A)(6) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code and division (A) of section 1907.16 of the Revised Code, the full-time judge of the Sandusky county county court under this section shall receive the compensation set forth in division (A)(5) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code.

In the Trumbull county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1992, and one part-time judge shall be elected in 1994.

In the Tuscarawas county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

In the Vinton county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

In the Warren county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1980, and one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982.

(B)(1) Additional judges shall be elected at the next regular election for a county court judge as provided in section 1907.13 of the Revised Code.

(2) Vacancies caused by the death or the resignation from, forfeiture of, or removal from office of a judge shall be filled in accordance with section 107.08 of the Revised Code, except as provided in section 1907.15 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2301.03. (A) In Franklin county, the judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, January 2, 1953, January 5, 1969, January 5, 1977, January 2, 1997, January 9, 2019, and January 3, 2021, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Franklin county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them. In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge who is senior in point of service shall serve on the children services board and the county advisory board and shall be the administrator of the domestic relations division and its subdivisions and departments.

(B) In Hamilton county:

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas, whose term begins on January 1, 1957, and successors, and the judge of the court of common pleas, whose term begins on February 14, 1967, and successors, shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdiction conferred by those chapters.

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 5, 1957, January 16, 1981, and July 1, 1991, and successors, shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and shall have assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the court. On or after the first day of July and before the first day of August of 1991 and each year thereafter, a majority of the judges of the division of domestic relations shall elect one of the judges of the division as administrative judge of that division. If a majority of the judges of the division of domestic relations are unable for any reason to elect an administrative judge for the division before the first day of August, a majority of the judges of the Hamilton county court of common pleas, as soon as possible after that date, shall elect one of the judges of the division of domestic relations as administrative judge of that division. The term of the administrative judge shall begin on the earlier of the first day of August of the year in which the administrative judge is elected or the date on which the administrative judge is elected by a majority of the judges of the Hamilton county court of common pleas and shall terminate on the date on which the administrative judge's successor is elected in the following year.

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the administrative judge of the division of domestic relations shall be the administrator of the domestic relations division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, including any referees considered necessary by the judges in the discharge of their various duties.

The administrative judge of the division of domestic relations also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the personnel of the division, and shall fix the duties of its personnel. The duties of the personnel, in addition to those provided for in other sections of the Revised Code, shall include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling and conciliation services that may be made available to persons requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an action pending in the division.

The board of county commissioners shall appropriate the sum of money each year as will meet all the administrative expenses of the division of domestic relations, including reasonable expenses of the domestic relations judges and the division counselors and other employees designated to conduct the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, conciliation and counseling, and all matters relating to those cases and counseling, and the expenses involved in the attendance of division personnel at domestic relations and welfare conferences designated by the division, and the further sum each year as will provide for the adequate operation of the division of domestic relations.

The compensation and expenses of all employees and the salary and expenses of the judges shall be paid by the county treasurer from the money appropriated for the operation of the division, upon the warrant of the county auditor, certified to by the administrative judge of the division of domestic relations.

The summonses, warrants, citations, subpoenas, and other writs of the division may issue to a bailiff, constable, or staff investigator of the division or to the sheriff of any county or any marshal, constable, or police officer, and the provisions of law relating to the subpoenaing of witnesses in other cases shall apply insofar as they are applicable. When a summons, warrant, citation, subpoena, or other writ is issued to an officer, other than a bailiff, constable, or staff investigator of the division, the expense of serving it shall be assessed as a part of the costs in the case involved.

(3) The judge of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county whose term begins on January 3, 1997, and the successors to that judge shall each be elected and designated as the drug court judge of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county. The drug court judge may accept or reject any case referred to the drug court judge under division (B)(3) of this section. After the drug court judge accepts a referred case, the drug court judge has full authority over the case, including the authority to conduct arraignment, accept pleas, enter findings and dispositions, conduct trials, order treatment, and if treatment is not successfully completed pronounce and enter sentence.

A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal court may refer to the drug court judge any case, and any companion cases, the judge determines meet the criteria described under divisions (B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section. If the drug court judge accepts referral of a referred case, the case, and any companion cases, shall be transferred to the drug court judge. A judge may refer a case meeting the criteria described in divisions (B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section that involves a violation of a condition of a community control sanction to the drug court judge, and, if the drug court judge accepts the referral, the referring judge and the drug court judge have concurrent jurisdiction over the case.

A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal court may refer a case to the drug court judge under division (B)(3) of this section if the judge determines that both of the following apply:

~~(a) One of the following applies:~~

(i) The case involves a drug abuse offense, as defined in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third or fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1, 1996, a felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the offense is committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor.

(ii) The case involves a theft offense, as defined in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third or fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1, 1996, a felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the offense is committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor, and the defendant is drug or alcohol dependent or in danger of becoming drug or alcohol dependent and would benefit from treatment.

~~(b) All of the following apply:~~

~~(i) The case involves an offense for which a community control sanction may be imposed or is a case in which a mandatory prison term or a mandatory jail term is not required to be imposed.~~

~~(ii) The defendant has no history of violent behavior.~~

~~(iii) The defendant has no history of mental illness.~~

~~(iv) The defendant's current or past behavior, or both, is drug or alcohol driven.~~

~~(v) The defendant demonstrates a sincere willingness to participate in a fifteen-month treatment process.~~

~~(vi) The defendant has no acute health condition.~~

~~(vii) If the defendant is incarcerated, the county prosecutor approves of the referral~~Eligibility for admission of a case into the drug court shall be set forth in a local rule adopted by the court of common pleas of Hamilton county. The local rule specifying eligibility shall not permit referral to the drug court of a case that involves a felony of the first or second degree, a violation of any prohibition contained in Chapter 2907. of the Revised Code that is a felony of the third degree, or a violation of section 2903.01 or 2903.02 of the Revised Code.

(4) If the administrative judge of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county determines that the volume of cases pending before the drug court judge does not constitute a sufficient caseload for the drug court judge, the administrative judge, in accordance with the Rules of Superintendence for Courts of Common Pleas, shall assign individual cases to the drug court judge from the general docket of the court. If the assignments so occur, the administrative judge shall cease the assignments when the administrative judge determines that the volume of cases pending before the drug court judge constitutes a sufficient caseload for the drug court judge.

~~(5) As used in division (B) of this section, "community control sanction," "mandatory prison term," and "mandatory jail term" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.~~

(C)(1) In Lorain county:

(a) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 3, 1959, January 4, 1989, and January 2, 1999, and successors, and the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on February 9, 2009, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Lorain county and shall be elected and designated as the judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 3, 1959, January 4, 1989, and January 2, 1999, and successors, shall have all of the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them, except cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common pleas. From February 9, 2009, through September 28, 2009, the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on February 9, 2009, shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to that judge, except cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common pleas.

(b) From January 1, 2006, through September 28, 2009, the judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, in addition to the powers and jurisdiction set forth in division (C)(1)(a) of this section, shall have jurisdiction over matters that are within the jurisdiction of the probate court under Chapter 2101. and other provisions of the Revised Code.

(c) The judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, whose term begins on February 9, 2009, is the successor to the probate judge who was elected in 2002 for a term that began on February 9, 2003. After September 28, 2009, the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, whose term begins on February 9, 2009, shall be the probate judge.

(2)(a) From February 9, 2009, through September 28, 2009, with respect to Lorain county, all references in law to the probate court shall be construed as references to the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and all references to the probate judge shall be construed as references to the judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations.

(b) From February 9, 2009, through September 28, 2009, with respect to Lorain county, all references in law to the clerk of the probate court shall be construed as references to the judge who is serving pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio as the administrative judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations.

(D) In Lucas county:

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1955, and January 3, 1965, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Lucas county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them.

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in point of service, shall be considered as the presiding judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and shall be charged exclusively with the assignment and division of the work of the division and the employment and supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations division.

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 5, 1977, and January 2, 1991, and successors shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Lucas county, shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, senior in point of service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including any referees considered necessary by the judges of the division in the discharge of their various duties.

The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, senior in point of service, also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowance, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties include the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and conciliation services that may be made available to persons requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an action pending in the division.

(3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the juvenile division is sick, absent, or unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in that judge's division necessitates it, the duties shall be performed by the judges of the other of those divisions.

(E) In Mahoning county:

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and shall be assigned all the divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the court. In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, shall be the administrator of the domestic relations division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, including any referees considered necessary in the discharge of the various duties of the judge's office.

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling and conciliation services that may be made available to persons requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an action pending in the division.

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began on January 2, 1969, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including any referees considered necessary by the judge in the discharge of the judge's various duties.

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and conciliation services that may be made available to persons requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an action pending in the division.

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform that judge's judicial duties, or the volume of cases pending in that judge's division necessitates it, that judge's duties shall be performed by another judge of the court of common pleas.

(F) In Montgomery county:

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 2, 1953, and January 4, 1977, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Montgomery county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. These judges shall have assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases.

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the assignment and division of the work of the division and shall have charge of the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, including any necessary referees, except those employees who may be appointed by the judge, junior in point of service, under this section and sections 2301.12 and 2301.18 of the Revised Code. The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in point of service, also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties.

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, and January 1, 1993, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Montgomery county, shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code.

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, senior in point of service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division, including any necessary referees, who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases. The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and conciliation services that are available upon request to persons, whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the division.

If one of the judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform that judge's duties or the volume of cases pending in that judge's division necessitates it, the duties of that judge may be performed by the judge or judges of the other of those divisions.

(G) In Richland county:

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 1, 1957, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Richland county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. That judge shall be assigned and hear all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all domestic violence cases arising under section 3113.31 of the Revised Code, and all post-decree proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of those matters. The division of domestic relations has concurrent jurisdiction with the juvenile division of the court of common pleas of Richland county to determine the care, custody, or control of any child not a ward of another court of this state, and to hear and determine a request for an order for the support of any child if the request is not ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil action involving an allegation of domestic violence, or an action for support brought under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code. Except in cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the judge of the division of domestic relations shall be assigned and hear all cases pertaining to paternity or parentage, the care, custody, or control of children, parenting time or visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children, all proceedings arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings arising under the uniform interstate family support act contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, and all post-decree proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of those matters.

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, shall be the administrator of the domestic relations division and its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the domestic relations division, including any magistrates the judge considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's duties. The judge shall also designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, vacation, and other employment-related matters of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties.

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 3, 2005, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Richland county, shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code. Except in cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the judge of the juvenile division shall not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any case pertaining to paternity or parentage, the care, custody, or control of children, parenting time or visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children or any post-decree proceeding arising from any case pertaining to any of those matters. The judge of the juvenile division shall not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any proceeding under the uniform interstate family support act contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code.

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the juvenile division shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including any magistrates whom the judge considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's various duties.

The judge of the juvenile division also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling, conciliation, and mediation services that the court makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action pending in the court, who request the services.

(H)(1) In Stark county, the judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, January 2, 1959, and January 1, 1993, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Stark county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, family court division. They shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, except cases that are assigned to some other judge of the court of common pleas for some special reason, shall be assigned to the judges.

(2) The judge of the family court division, second most senior in point of service, shall have charge of the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, and necessary referees required for the judge's respective court.

(3) The judge of the family court division, senior in point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the administration of sections 2151.13, 2151.16, 2151.17, and 2152.71 of the Revised Code and with the assignment and division of the work of the division and the employment and supervision of all other personnel of the division, including, but not limited to, that judge's necessary referees, but excepting those employees who may be appointed by the judge second most senior in point of service. The senior judge further shall serve in every other position in which the statutes permit or require a juvenile judge to serve.

(4) On and after September 29, 2015, all references in law to "the division of domestic relations," "the domestic relations division," "the domestic relations court," "the judge of the division of domestic relations," or "the judge of the domestic relations division" shall be construed, with respect to Stark county, as being references to "the family court division" or "the judge of the family court division."

(I) In Summit county:

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 4, 1967, and January 6, 1993, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Summit county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic relations shall have assigned to them and hear all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases that come before the court. Except in cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the judges of the division of domestic relations shall have assigned to them and hear all cases pertaining to paternity, custody, visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and all post-decree proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of those matters. The judges of the division of domestic relations shall have assigned to them and hear all proceedings under the uniform interstate family support act contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code.

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in point of service, shall be the administrator of the domestic relations division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the division, including any necessary referees, who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases. That judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and of any counseling and conciliation services that are available upon request to all persons, whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the division.

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Summit county, shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code. Except in cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the judge of the juvenile division shall not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any case pertaining to paternity, custody, visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children or any post-decree proceeding arising from any case pertaining to any of those matters. The judge of the juvenile division shall not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any proceeding under the uniform interstate family support act contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code.

The juvenile judge shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division, including any necessary referees, who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases. The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and conciliation services that are available upon request to persons, whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the division.

(J) In Trumbull county, the judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1977, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Trumbull county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them, except cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common pleas.

(K) In Butler county:

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1957, and January 4, 1993, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Butler county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic relations shall have assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common pleas. The judges of the division of domestic relations also have concurrent jurisdiction with judges of the juvenile division of the court of common pleas of Butler county with respect to and may hear cases to determine the custody, support, or custody and support of a child who is born of issue of a marriage and who is not the ward of another court of this state, cases commenced by a party of the marriage to obtain an order requiring support of any child when the request for that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil action involving an allegation of domestic violence, an action for support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, or an action that is within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the juvenile division of the court of common pleas of Butler county and that involves an allegation that the child is an abused, neglected, or dependent child, and post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those types of cases. The judge senior in point of service shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations division.

The judge senior in point of service also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and providing any counseling and conciliation services that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the services.

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 3, 1987, and January 2, 2003, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Butler county, shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. Except in cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the judges of the juvenile division shall not have jurisdiction or the power to hear and shall not be assigned, but shall have the limited ability and authority to certify, any case commenced by a party of a marriage to determine the custody, support, or custody and support of a child who is born of issue of the marriage and who is not the ward of another court of this state when the request for the order in the case is not ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment, or legal separation. The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, who is senior in point of service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments. The judge, senior in point of service, shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's various duties.

The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling and conciliation services that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the services.

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties of that judge shall be performed by the other judges of the domestic relations and juvenile divisions.

(L)(1) In Cuyahoga county, the judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 8, 1961, January 9, 1961, January 18, 1975, January 19, 1975, and January 13, 1987, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the powers relating to all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, except in cases that are assigned to some other judge of the court of common pleas for some special reason.

(2) The administrative judge is administrator of the domestic relations division and its subdivisions and departments and has the following powers concerning division personnel:

(a) Full charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision;

(b) Sole determination of compensation, duties, expenses, allowances, hours, leaves, and vacations.

(3) "Division personnel" include persons employed or referees engaged in hearing, servicing, investigating, counseling, or conciliating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation and annulment matters.

(M) In Lake county:

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 2, 1961, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Lake county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all the divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations division.

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and providing any counseling and conciliation services that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the services.

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 4, 1979, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Lake county, shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's various duties.

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling and conciliation services that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the services.

(N) In Erie county:

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 2, 1971, and the successors to that judge whose terms begin before January 2, 2007, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judge of the court of common pleas of Erie county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and shall be assigned all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, except cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other judge.

On or after January 2, 2007, the judge of the court of common pleas who is elected in 2006 shall be the successor to the judge of the domestic relations division whose term expires on January 1, 2007, shall be designated as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and jurisdictions conferred by those chapters.

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas, general division, whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, the judge of the court of common pleas, general division whose term begins on January 2, 2005, and successors, and the judge of the court of common pleas, general division, whose term begins February 9, 2009, and successors, shall have assigned to them, in addition to all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the general division of the court of common pleas, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the court, and all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the probate court under Chapter 2101., and other provisions, of the Revised Code.

(O) In Greene county:

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 1, 1961, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Greene county and shall be elected and designated as the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support enforcement, and domestic violence cases and all other cases related to domestic relations, except cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common pleas.

The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of all other personnel of the division. The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties of the personnel of the division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and the provision of counseling and conciliation services that the division considers necessary and makes available to persons who request the services, whether or not the persons are parties in an action pending in the division. The compensation for the personnel shall be paid from the overall court budget and shall be included in the appropriations for the existing judges of the general division of the court of common pleas.

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Greene county, shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and, on or after January 1, 1995, shall be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and jurisdiction conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's various duties.

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling and conciliation services that the court makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action pending in the court, who request the services.

(3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas, general division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the general division necessitates it, the duties of that judge of the general division shall be performed by the judge of the division of domestic relations and the judge of the juvenile division.

(P) In Portage county, the judge of the court of common pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Portage county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations division.

(Q) In Clermont county, the judge of the court of common pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Clermont county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations division.

(R) In Warren county, the judge of the court of common pleas, whose term begins January 1, 1987, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Warren county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations division.

(S) In Licking county, the judges of the court of common pleas, whose terms begin on January 1, 1991, and January 1, 2005, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Licking county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judges shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The administrative judge of the division of domestic relations shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.

The administrative judge of the division of domestic relations shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation and providing any counseling and conciliation services that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the services.

(T) In Allen county, the judge of the court of common pleas, whose term begins January 1, 1993, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Allen county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.

(U) In Medina county, the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Medina county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.

(V) In Fairfield county, the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Fairfield county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge also has concurrent jurisdiction with the probate-juvenile division of the court of common pleas of Fairfield county with respect to and may hear cases to determine the custody of a child, as defined in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of another court of this state, cases that are commenced by a parent, guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a parent of the child to pay child support for that child when the request for that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil action involving an allegation of domestic violence, an action for support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, or an action that is within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the probate-juvenile division of the court of common pleas of Fairfield county and that involves an allegation that the child is an abused, neglected, or dependent child, and post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those types of cases.

The judge of the domestic relations division shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and providing any counseling and conciliation services that the division makes available to persons, regardless of whether the persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the services. When the judge hears a case to determine the custody of a child, as defined in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of another court of this state or a case that is commenced by a parent, guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a parent of the child to pay child support for that child when the request for that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil action involving an allegation of domestic violence, an action for support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, or an action that is within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the probate-juvenile division of the court of common pleas of Fairfield county and that involves an allegation that the child is an abused, neglected, or dependent child, the duties of the personnel of the domestic relations division also include the handling, servicing, and investigation of those types of cases.

(W)(1) In Clark county, the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 2, 1995, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Clark county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, domestic relations division. The judge shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code and all parentage proceedings under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction shall be assigned to the judge of the division of domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support enforcement, and other cases related to domestic relations shall be assigned to the domestic relations division, and the presiding judge of the court of common pleas shall assign the cases to the judge of the domestic relations division and the judges of the general division.

(2) In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the division of domestic relations shall serve on the children services board and the county advisory board.

(3) If the judge of the court of common pleas of Clark county, division of domestic relations, is sick, absent, or unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or if the presiding judge of the court of common pleas of Clark county determines that the volume of cases pending in the division of domestic relations necessitates it, the duties of the judge of the division of domestic relations shall be performed by the judges of the general division or probate division of the court of common pleas of Clark county, as assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of that court, and the judges so assigned shall act in conjunction with the judge of the division of domestic relations of that court.

(X) In Scioto county, the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Scioto county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.

(Y) In Auglaize county, the judge of the probate and juvenile divisions of the Auglaize county court of common pleas also shall be the administrative judge of the domestic relations division of the court and shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the court. The judge shall have all powers as administrator of the domestic relations division and shall have charge of the personnel engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, including any referees considered necessary for the discharge of the judge's various duties.

(Z)(1) In Marion county, the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Marion county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge and the successors to that judge. Except as provided in division (Z)(2) of this section and notwithstanding any other provision of any section of the Revised Code, on and after February 9, 2003, the judge of the court of common pleas of Marion county whose term begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to the probate division of the court of common pleas of Marion county in addition to the powers previously specified in this division, and shall exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of that court otherwise specified in division (Z)(1) of this section.

(2) The judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of the court of common pleas of Marion county or the judge of the probate division of the court of common pleas of Marion county, whichever of those judges is senior in total length of service on the court of common pleas of Marion county, regardless of the division or divisions of service, shall serve as the clerk of the probate division of the court of common pleas of Marion county.

(3) On and after February 9, 2003, all references in law to "the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or "the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect to Marion county, as being references to both "the probate division" and "the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division" and as being references to both "the judge of the probate division" and "the judge of the domestic relations- juvenile-probate division." On and after February 9, 2003, all references in law to "the clerk of the probate court" shall be construed, with respect to Marion county, as being references to the judge who is serving pursuant to division (Z)(2) of this section as the clerk of the probate division of the court of common pleas of Marion county.

(AA) In Muskingum county, the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 2, 2003, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Muskingum county and shall be elected and designated as the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.

(BB) In Henry county, the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judge of the court of common pleas of Henry county and shall be elected and designated as the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall have all of the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapter 2151. or 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to the other judge of the court of common pleas.

(CC)(1) In Logan county, the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins January 2, 2005, and the successors to that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Logan county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, family court division. Except as otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge and the successors to that judge. Notwithstanding any other provision of any section of the Revised Code, on and after January 2, 2005, the judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county whose term begins on January 2, 2005, and the successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to the probate division of the court of common pleas of Logan county in addition to the powers previously specified in this division and shall exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of the family court division of that court otherwise specified in division (CC)(1) of this section.

(2) The judge of the family court division of the court of common pleas of Logan county or the probate judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county who is elected as the administrative judge of the family court division of the court of common pleas of Logan county pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules of Superintendence shall be the clerk of the family court division of the court of common pleas of Logan county.

(3) On and after April 5, 2019, all references in law to "the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or "the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect to Logan county, as being references to both "the probate division" and the "family court division" and as being references to both "the judge of the probate division" and the "judge of the family court division." On and after April 5, 2019, all references in law to "the clerk of the probate court" shall be construed, with respect to Logan county, as being references to the judge who is serving pursuant to division (CC)(2) of this section as the clerk of the family court division of the court of common pleas of Logan county.

(DD)(1) In Champaign county, the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins February 9, 2003, and the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins February 10, 2009, and the successors to those judges, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Champaign county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as otherwise specified in this division, those judges, and the successors to those judges, shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to those judges and the successors to those judges. Notwithstanding any other provision of any section of the Revised Code, on and after February 9, 2009, the judges designated by this division as judges of the court of common pleas of Champaign county, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division, and the successors to those judges, shall have all the powers relating to probate courts in addition to the powers previously specified in this division and shall exercise jurisdiction over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of probate courts under Chapter 2101., and other provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division otherwise specified in division (DD)(1) of this section.

(2) On and after February 9, 2009, all references in law to "the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or "the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed with respect to Champaign county as being references to the "domestic relations-juvenile-probate division" and as being references to the "judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division." On and after February 9, 2009, all references in law to "the clerk of the probate court" shall be construed with respect to Champaign county as being references to the judge who is serving pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio as the administrative judge of the court of common pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division.

(EE) In Delaware county, the judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 1, 2017, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of Delaware county and shall be elected and designated as the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. Divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, including any post-decree proceedings, and cases involving questions of paternity, custody, visitation, child support, and the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children, regardless of whether those matters arise in post-decree proceedings or involve children born between unmarried persons, shall be assigned to that judge, except cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas.

(FF) In Hardin county:

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins on January 1, 2023, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judge of the court of common pleas of Hardin county and shall be elected and designated as the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall have all of the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapter 2151. or 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, civil protection orders issued under sections 2903.214 and 3113.31 of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to the other judge of the court of common pleas.

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas, general division, whose term begins on February 9, 2027, and successors, shall have assigned to the judge, in addition to all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the general division of the court of common pleas, all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the probate court under Chapter 2101., and other provisions, of the Revised Code.

(GG) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, or juvenile judge, of any of the counties mentioned in this section is sick, absent, or unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties of that judge shall be performed by another judge of the court of common pleas of that county, assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of the court of common pleas of that county to act in place of or in conjunction with that judge, as the case may require.

Sec. 3794.09. Enforcement; Penalties.

(A) Upon the receipt of a first report that a proprietor of a public place or place of employment or an individual has violated any provision of this chapter, the department of health or its designee shall investigate the report and, if it concludes that there was a violation, issue a warning letter to the proprietor or individual.

(B) Upon a report of a second or subsequent violation of any provision of this chapter by a proprietor of a public place or place of employment or an individual, the department of health or its designee shall investigate the report. If the director of health or director's designee concludes, based on all of the information before ~~him or her~~ the director or the director's designee, that there was a violation, ~~he or she~~ the director or the director's designee shall impose a civil fine upon the proprietor or individual in accordance with the schedule of fines required to be promulgated under section 3794.07 of ~~this chapter~~ the Revised Code.

(C) Any proprietor or individual against whom a finding of a violation is made under this chapter may appeal the finding ~~to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Such appeal shall be governed by the provisions of~~ in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

(D) The director of health may institute an action in the court of common pleas seeking an order in equity against a proprietor or individual that has repeatedly violated the provisions of this chapter or fails to comply with its provisions.

Sec. 3901.321. (A) For the purposes of this section:

(1) "Acquiring party" means any person by whom or on whose behalf a merger or other acquisition of control is to be effected.

(2) "Domestic insurer" includes any person controlling a domestic insurer unless the person, as determined by the superintendent of insurance, is either directly or through its affiliates primarily engaged in business other than the business of insurance.

(3) "Person" does not include any securities broker holding, in the usual and customary broker's function, less than twenty per cent of the voting securities of an insurance company or of any person that controls an insurance company.

(B)(1) Subject to compliance with division (B)(2) of this section, no person other than the issuer shall do any of the following if, as a result, the person would, directly or indirectly, including by means of conversion or the exercise of any right to acquire, be in control of a domestic insurer:

(a) Make a tender offer for any voting security of a domestic insurer;

(b) Make a request or invitation for tenders of any voting security of a domestic insurer;

(d) Seek to acquire or acquire, in the open market or otherwise, any voting security of a domestic insurer;

(e) Enter into an agreement to merge with, or otherwise to acquire control of, a domestic insurer.

(2)(a) No person shall engage in any transaction described in division (B)(1) of this section, unless all of the following conditions are met:

(i) The person has filed with the superintendent of insurance a statement containing the information required by division (C) of this section;

(ii) The person has sent the statement to the domestic insurer;

(iii) The offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition has been approved by the superintendent in the manner provided in division (F) of this section.

(b) The requirements of division (B)(2)(a) of this section shall be met at the time any offer, request, or invitation is made, or any agreement is entered into, or prior to the acquisition of the securities if no offer or agreement is involved.

(3) Any controlling person of a domestic insurer seeking to divest its controlling interest in the domestic insurer shall file a confidential notice of its proposed divestiture with the superintendent at least thirty days prior to the cessation of control, and provide a copy of the confidential notice to the insurer. The superintendent may require the person seeking to divest the controlling interest to file for and obtain approval of the transaction. The information shall remain confidential until the conclusion of the transaction unless the superintendent, in the superintendent's discretion, determines that the confidential treatment will interfere with enforcement of this section. If the statement required by division (B)(2) of this section is otherwise filed with the superintendent in relation to all parties that acquire a controlling interest as a result of the divestiture, this division shall not apply.

(C) The statement required by division (B)(2) of this section shall be made under oath or affirmation, and shall contain all of the following information:

(1) The name and address of each acquiring party;

(2) If the acquiring party is an individual, the individual's principal occupation and all offices and positions held during the past five years, and any conviction of crimes other than minor traffic violations during the past ten years;

(3) If the acquiring party is not an individual, a report of the nature of its business operations during the past five years or for such lesser period as the acquiring party and any of its predecessors shall have been in existence; an informative description of the business intended to be done by the acquiring party and the acquiring party's subsidiaries; and a list of all individuals who are or who have been selected to become directors or executive officers of the acquiring party, who perform or will perform functions appropriate to such positions. The list shall include for each individual the information required by division (C)(2) of this section.

(4) The source, nature, and amount of the consideration used or to be used in effecting the merger or other acquisition of control, a description of any transaction in which funds were or are to be obtained for any such purpose, including any pledge of the domestic insurer's stock, or the stock of any of its subsidiaries or controlling affiliates, and the identity of persons furnishing such consideration;

(5) Fully audited financial information as to the earnings and financial condition of each acquiring party for its preceding five fiscal years, or for such lesser period as the acquiring party and any of its predecessors shall have been in existence, and similar unaudited information as of a date not earlier than ninety days prior to the filing of the statement;

(6) Any plans or proposals which each acquiring party may have to liquidate such domestic insurer, to sell its assets or merge or consolidate it with any person, or to make any other material change in its business or corporate structure or management;

(7) The number of shares of any security of such issuer or such controlling person that each acquiring party proposes to acquire, and the terms of the offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition, and a statement as to the method by which the fairness of the proposal was determined;

(8) The amount of each class of any security of such issuer or such controlling person which is beneficially owned or concerning which there is a right to acquire beneficial ownership by each acquiring party;

(9) A full description of any contracts, arrangements, or understandings with respect to any security of such issuer or such controlling person in which any acquiring party is involved, including but not limited to transfer of any of the securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of loans, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profits, division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies. The description shall identify the persons with whom such contracts, arrangements, or understandings have been made.

(10) A description of the purchase of any security of such issuer or such controlling person during the year preceding the filing of the statement, by any acquiring party, including the dates of purchase, names of the purchasers, and consideration paid or agreed to be paid therefor;

(11) A description of any recommendations to purchase any security of such issuer or such controlling person made during the year preceding the filing of the statement, by any acquiring party, or by anyone based upon interviews or at the suggestion of the acquiring party;

(12) Copies of all tender offers for, requests, or invitations for tenders of, exchange offers for, and agreements to acquire or exchange any securities of such issuer or such controlling person, and, if distributed, of additional solicitation material relating thereto;

(13) The terms of any agreement, contract, or understanding made with or proposed to be made with any broker or dealer as to solicitation of securities of such issuer or such controlling person for tender, and the amount of any fees, commissions, or other compensation to be paid to brokers or dealers with regard thereto;

(14) With respect to proposed affiliations between depository institutions or any affiliate thereof, within the meaning of Title I, section 104(c) of the "Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act," Pub. L. No. 106-102, 113 Stat. 1338 (1999), and a domestic insurer, the proposed effective date of the acquisition or change of control;

(15) An agreement by the person required to file the statement required by division (B) of this section that the person will provide the annual registration required by division (K) of section 3901.33 of the Revised Code for so long as the person has control of the domestic insurer;

(16) An acknowledgment by the person required to file the statement required by division (B) of this section that the person and all subsidiaries within the person's control in the insurance holding company system will provide information to the superintendent upon request as necessary to evaluate enterprise risk to the insurer;

(17) Such additional information as the superintendent may by rule prescribe as necessary or appropriate for the protection of policyholders of the domestic insurer or in the public interest.

(D)(1) If the person required to file the statement required by division (B)(2) of this section is a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group, the superintendent may require that the information required by division (C) of this section be furnished with respect to each partner of such partnership or limited partnership, each member of such syndicate or group, and each person that controls such partner or member. If any such partner, member, or person is a corporation, or the person required to file the statement is a corporation, the superintendent may require that the information required by division (C) of this section be furnished with respect to the corporation, each officer and director of the corporation, and each person that is directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of more than ten per cent of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation.

(2) If any material change occurs in the facts set forth in the statement required by division (B)(2) of this section, an amendment setting forth such change, together with copies of all documents and other material relevant to the change, shall be filed with the superintendent by the person subject to division (B)(2) of this section and sent to the domestic insurer within two business days after such person learns of the occurrence of the material change.

(E) If any offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition described in division (B)(1) of this section is proposed to be made by means of a registration statement under the "Securities Act of 1933," 48 Stat. 74, 15 U.S.C.A. 78a, or in circumstances requiring the disclosure of similar information under the "Securities Exchange Act of 1934," 48 Stat. 881, 15 U.S.C.A. 78a, or under a state law requiring similar registration or disclosure, the person required to file the statement required by division (B)(2) of this section may use such documents in furnishing the information required by that statement.

(F)(1) The superintendent shall approve any merger or other acquisition of control described in division (B)(1) of this section unless, after a public hearing, the superintendent finds that any of the following apply:

(a) After the change of control, the domestic insurer would not be able to satisfy the requirements for the issuance of a license to write the line or lines of insurance for which it is presently licensed;

(b) The effect of the merger or other acquisition of control would be substantially to lessen competition in insurance in this state or tend to create a monopoly;

(c) The financial condition of any acquiring party is such as might jeopardize the financial stability of the domestic insurer, or prejudice the interests of its policyholders;

(d) The plans or proposals that the acquiring party has to liquidate the domestic insurer, sell its assets, or consolidate or merge it with any person, or to make any other material change in its business or corporate structure or management, are unfair and unreasonable to policyholders of the domestic insurer and not in the public interest;

(e) The competence, experience, and integrity of those persons that would control the operation of the domestic insurer are such that it would not be in the interest of policyholders of the domestic insurer and of the public to permit the merger or other acquisition of control;

(f) The acquisition is likely to be hazardous or prejudicial to the insurance-buying public.

(2)(a) Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, except for section 119.09 of the Revised Code, applies to any hearing held under division (F)(1) of this section, including the notice of the hearing, the conduct of the hearing, the orders issued pursuant to it, the review of the orders, and all other matters relating to the holding of the hearing, but only to the extent that Chapter 119. of the Revised Code is not inconsistent or in conflict with this section.

(b) The notice of a hearing required under this division shall be transmitted by personal service, certified mail, e-mail, or any other method designed to ensure and confirm receipt of the notice, to the persons and addresses designated to receive notices and correspondence in the information statement filed under division (B)(2) of this section. Confirmation of receipt of the notice, including electronic "Read Receipt" confirmation, shall constitute evidence of compliance with the requirement of this section. The notice of hearing shall include the reasons for the proposed action and a statement informing the acquiring party that the party is entitled to a hearing. The notice also shall inform the acquiring party that at the hearing the acquiring party may appear in person, by attorney, or by such other representative as is permitted to practice before the superintendent, or that the acquiring party may present its position, arguments, or contentions in writing, and that at the hearing the acquiring party may present evidence and examine witnesses appearing for and against the acquiring party. A copy of the notice also shall be transmitted to attorneys or other representatives of record representing the acquiring party.

(c) The hearing shall be held at the offices of the superintendent within ten calendar days, but not earlier than seven calendar days, of the date of transmission of the notice of hearing by any means, unless it is postponed or continued; but in no event shall the hearing be held unless notice is received at least three days prior to the hearing. The superintendent may postpone or continue the hearing upon receipt of a written request by an acquiring party, or upon the superintendent's motion, provided, however, a hearing in connection with a proposed change of control involving a depository institution or any affiliate thereof, within the meaning of Title I, section 104(c) of the "Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act," Pub. L. No. 106-102, 113 Stat. 1338 (1999), and a domestic insurer, may be postponed or continued only upon the request of an acquiring party, or upon the superintendent's motion when the acquiring party agrees in writing to extend the sixty-day period provided for in section 104(c) of the "Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act," by a number of days equal to the number of days of such postponement or continuance.

(d) For the purpose of conducting any hearing held under this section, the superintendent may require the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, and papers as the superintendent desires, and may take the depositions of witnesses residing within or without the state in the same manner as is prescribed by law for the taking of depositions in civil actions in the court of common pleas, and for that purpose the superintendent may, and upon the request of an acquiring party shall, issue a subpoena for any witnesses or a subpoena duces tecum to compel the production of any books, records, or papers, directed to the sheriff of the county where such witness resides or is found, which shall be served and returned in the same manner as a subpoena in a criminal case is served and returned. The fees of the sheriff shall be the same as that allowed in the court of common pleas in criminal cases. Witnesses shall be paid the fees and mileage provided for under section 119.094 of the Revised Code. Fees and mileage shall be paid from the fund in the state treasury for the use of the superintendent in the same manner as other expenses of the superintendent are paid. In any case of disobedience or neglect of any subpoena served on any person or the refusal of any witness to testify in any matter regarding which the witness may lawfully be interrogated, the court of common pleas of any county where such disobedience, neglect, or refusal occurs or any judge thereof, on application by the superintendent, shall compel obedience by attachment proceedings for contempt, as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from the court or a refusal to testify therein.

In any hearing held under this section, a record of the testimony, as provided by stenographic means or by use of audio electronic recording devices, as determined by the superintendent, and other evidence submitted shall be taken at the expense of the superintendent. The record shall include all of the testimony and other evidence, and rulings on the admissibility thereof, presented at the hearing.

The superintendent shall pass upon the admissibility of evidence, but a party to the proceedings may at that time object to the rulings of the superintendent, and if the superintendent refuses to admit evidence, the party offering the evidence shall proffer the evidence. The proffer shall be made a part of the record of the hearing.

In any hearing held under this section, the superintendent may call any person to testify under oath as upon cross-examination. The superintendent, or any one delegated by the superintendent to conduct a hearing, may administer oaths or affirmations.

In any hearing under this section, the superintendent may appoint a hearing officer to conduct the hearing; the hearing officer has the same powers and authority in conducting the hearing as is granted to the superintendent. The hearing officer shall have been admitted to the practice of law in the state and be possessed of any additional qualifications as the superintendent requires. The hearing officer shall submit to the superintendent a written report setting forth the hearing officer's finding of fact and conclusions of law and a recommendation of the action to be taken by the superintendent. A copy of the written report and recommendation shall, within seven days of the date of filing thereof, be served upon the acquiring party or the acquiring party's attorney or other representative of record, by personal service, certified mail, electronic mail, or any other method designed to ensure and confirm receipt of the report. The acquiring party may, within three days of receipt of the copy of the written report and recommendation, file with the superintendent written objections to the report and recommendation, which objections the superintendent shall consider before approving, modifying, or disapproving the recommendation. The superintendent may grant extensions of time to the acquiring party within which to file such objections. No recommendation of the hearing officer shall be approved, modified, or disapproved by the superintendent until after three days following the service of the report and recommendation as provided in this section. The superintendent may order additional testimony to be taken or permit the introduction of further documentary evidence. The superintendent may approve, modify, or disapprove the recommendation of the hearing officer, and the order of the superintendent based on the report, recommendation, transcript of testimony, and evidence, or the objections of the acquiring party, and additional testimony and evidence shall have the same effect as if the hearing had been conducted by the superintendent. No such recommendation is final until confirmed and approved by the superintendent as indicated by the order entered in the record of proceedings, and if the superintendent modifies or disapproves the recommendations of the hearing officer, the reasons for the modification or disapproval shall be included in the record of proceedings.

After the order is entered, the superintendent shall transmit in the manner and by any of the methods set forth in division (F)(2)(b) of this section a certified copy of the order and a statement of the time and method by which an appeal may be perfected. A copy of the order shall be mailed to the attorneys or other representatives of record representing the acquiring party.

(e) An order of disapproval issued by the superintendent may be appealed to the court of common pleas ~~of Franklin county~~ in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code by filing a notice of appeal with the superintendent and a copy of the notice of appeal with the court, within fifteen calendar days after the transmittal of the copy of the order of disapproval. The notice of appeal shall set forth the order appealed from and the grounds for appeal, in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

(3) The superintendent may retain at the acquiring party's expense any attorneys, actuaries, accountants, and other experts not otherwise a part of the superintendent's staff as may be reasonably necessary to assist the superintendent in reviewing the proposed acquisition of control.

(G) This section does not apply to either of the following:

(1) Any transaction that is subject to section 3921.14, or sections 3925.27 to 3925.31, 3941.35 to 3941.46, or section 3953.19 of the Revised Code;

(2) Any offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition that the superintendent by order exempts from this section on either of the following bases:

(a) It has not been made or entered into for the purpose and does not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of a domestic insurer;

(b) It is not otherwise comprehended within the purposes of this section.

(H) Nothing in this section or in any other section of Title XXXIX of the Revised Code shall be construed to impair the authority of the attorney general to investigate or prosecute actions under any state or federal antitrust law with respect to any merger or other acquisition involving domestic insurers.

(I) In connection with a proposed change of control involving a depository institution or any affiliate thereof, within the meaning of Title I, section 104(c) of the "Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act," Pub. L. No. 106-102, 113 Stat. 1338 (1999), and a domestic insurer, not later than sixty days after the date of the notification of the proposed change in control submitted pursuant to division (B)(2) of this section, the superintendent shall make any determination that the person acquiring control of the insurer shall maintain or restore the capital of the insurer to the level required by the laws and regulations of this state.

Sec. 3913.13. Any policyholder adversely affected by an order of the superintendent of insurance pursuant to division (F) of section 3913.11 of the Revised Code, may appeal to the court of common pleas ~~of Franklin county~~ pursuant to section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3913.23. Any policyholder adversely affected by an order of the superintendent of insurance pursuant to division (F) of section 3913.21 of the Revised Code, may appeal to the court of common pleas ~~of Franklin county~~ pursuant to section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 5101.35. (A) As used in this section:

(1)(a) "Agency" means the following entities that administer a family services program:

(i) The department of job and family services;

(ii) A county department of job and family services;

(iii) A public children services agency;

(iv) A private or government entity administering, in whole or in part, a family services program for or on behalf of the department of job and family services or a county department of job and family services or public children services agency.

(b) If the department of medicaid contracts with the department of job and family services to hear appeals authorized by section 5160.31 of the Revised Code regarding medical assistance programs, "agency" includes the department of medicaid.

(2) "Appellant" means an applicant, participant, former participant, recipient, or former recipient of a family services program who is entitled by federal or state law to a hearing regarding a decision or order of the agency that administers the program.

(3)(a) "Family services program" means all of the following:

(i) A Title IV-A program as defined in section 5101.80 of the Revised Code;

(ii) Programs that provide assistance under Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code;

(iii) Programs that provide assistance under section 5101.141, 5101.461, 5101.54, 5119.41, 5153.163, or 5153.165 of the Revised Code;

(iv) Title XX social services provided under section 5101.46 of the Revised Code, other than such services provided by the department of mental health and addiction services, the department of developmental disabilities, a board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services, or a county board of developmental disabilities.

(4) "Medical assistance program" has the same meaning as in section 5160.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Except as provided by divisions (G) and (H) of this section, an appellant who appeals under federal or state law a decision or order of an agency administering a family services program shall, at the appellant's request, be granted a state hearing by the department of job and family services. This state hearing shall be conducted in accordance with rules adopted under this section. The state hearing shall be recorded, but neither the recording nor a transcript of the recording shall be part of the official record of the proceeding. Except as provided in section 5160.31 of the Revised Code, a state hearing decision is binding upon the agency and department, unless it is reversed or modified on appeal to the director of job and family services or a court of common pleas.

(C) Except as provided by division (G) of this section, an appellant who disagrees with a state hearing decision may make an administrative appeal to the director of job and family services in accordance with rules adopted under this section. This administrative appeal does not require a hearing, but the director or the director's designee shall review the state hearing decision and previous administrative action and may affirm, modify, remand, or reverse the state hearing decision. An administrative appeal decision is the final decision of the department and, except as provided in section 5160.31 of the Revised Code, is binding upon the department and agency, unless it is reversed or modified on appeal to the court of common pleas.

(D) An agency shall comply with a decision issued pursuant to division (B) or (C) of this section within the time limits established by rules adopted under this section. If a county department of job and family services or a public children services agency fails to comply within these time limits, the department may take action pursuant to section 5101.24 of the Revised Code. If another agency, other than the department of medicaid, fails to comply within the time limits, the department may force compliance by withholding funds due the agency or imposing another sanction established by rules adopted under this section.

(E) An appellant who disagrees with an administrative appeal decision of the director of job and family services or the director's designee issued under division (C) of this section may appeal from the decision to the court of common pleas pursuant to section 119.12 of the Revised Code. The appeal shall be governed by section 119.12 of the Revised Code except that:

(1) ~~The person may appeal to the court of common pleas of the county in which the person resides, or to the court of common pleas of Franklin county if the person does not reside in this state.~~

~~(2)~~ The person may apply to the court for designation as an indigent and, if the court grants this application, the appellant shall not be required to furnish the costs of the appeal.

~~(3)~~ (2) The appellant shall mail the notice of appeal to the department of job and family services and file notice of appeal with the court within thirty days after the department mails the administrative appeal decision to the appellant. For good cause shown, the court may extend the time for mailing and filing notice of appeal, but such time shall not exceed six months from the date the department mails the administrative appeal decision. Filing notice of appeal with the court shall be the only act necessary to vest jurisdiction in the court.

~~(4)~~ (3) The department shall be required to file a transcript of the testimony of the state hearing with the court only if the court orders the department to file the transcript. The court shall make such an order only if it finds that the department and the appellant are unable to stipulate to the facts of the case and that the transcript is essential to a determination of the appeal. The department shall file the transcript not later than thirty days after the day such an order is issued.

(F) The department of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section, including rules governing the following:

(1) State hearings under division (B) of this section. The rules shall include provisions regarding notice of eligibility termination and the opportunity of an appellant appealing a decision or order of a county department of job and family services to request a county conference with the county department before the state hearing is held.

(2) Administrative appeals under division (C) of this section;

(3) Time limits for complying with a decision issued under division (B) or (C) of this section;

(4) Sanctions that may be applied against an agency under division (D) of this section.

(G) The department of job and family services may adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing an appeals process for an appellant who appeals a decision or order regarding a Title IV-A program identified under division (A)(4)(c), (d), (e), (f), or (g) of section 5101.80 of the Revised Code that is different from the appeals process established by this section. The different appeals process may include having a state agency that administers the Title IV-A program pursuant to an interagency agreement entered into under section 5101.801 of the Revised Code administer the appeals process.

(H) If an appellant receiving medicaid through a health insuring corporation that holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code is appealing a denial of medicaid services based on lack of medical necessity or other clinical issues regarding coverage by the health insuring corporation, the person hearing the appeal may order an independent medical review if that person determines that a review is necessary. The review shall be performed by a health care professional with appropriate clinical expertise in treating the recipient's condition or disease. The department shall pay the costs associated with the review.

A review ordered under this division shall be part of the record of the hearing and shall be given appropriate evidentiary consideration by the person hearing the appeal.

(I) The requirements of Chapter 119. of the Revised Code apply to a state hearing or administrative appeal under this section only to the extent, if any, specifically provided by rules adopted under this section.

Sec. 5164.38. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Party" has the same meaning as in division (G) of section 119.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Revalidate" means to approve a medicaid provider's continued enrollment as a medicaid provider in accordance with the revalidation process established in rules authorized by section 5164.32 of the Revised Code.

(B) This section does not apply to either of the following:

(1) Any action taken or decision made by the department of medicaid with respect to entering into or refusing to enter into a contract with a managed care organization pursuant to section 5167.10 of the Revised Code;

(2) Any action taken by the department under division (D)(2) of section 5124.60, division (D)(1) or (2) of section 5124.61, or sections 5165.60 to 5165.89 of the Revised Code.

(C) Except as provided in division (E) of this section and section 5164.58 of the Revised Code, the department shall do any of the following by issuing an order pursuant to an adjudication conducted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code:

(1) Refuse to enter into a provider agreement with a medicaid provider;

(2) Refuse to revalidate a medicaid provider's provider agreement;

(3) Suspend or terminate a medicaid provider's provider agreement;

(4) Take any action based upon a final fiscal audit of a medicaid provider.

(D) Any party who is adversely affected by the issuance of an adjudication order under division (C) of this section may appeal to the court of common pleas ~~of Franklin county~~ in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

(E) The department is not required to comply with division (C)(1), (2), or (3) of this section whenever any of the following occur:

(1) The terms of a provider agreement require the medicaid provider to hold a license, permit, or certificate or maintain a certification issued by an official, board, commission, department, division, bureau, or other agency of state or federal government other than the department of medicaid, and the license, permit, certificate, or certification has been denied, revoked, not renewed, suspended, or otherwise limited.

(2) The terms of a provider agreement require the medicaid provider to hold a license, permit, or certificate or maintain certification issued by an official, board, commission, department, division, bureau, or other agency of state or federal government other than the department of medicaid, and the provider has not obtained the license, permit, certificate, or certification.

(3) The medicaid provider's application for a provider agreement is denied, or the provider's provider agreement is terminated or not revalidated, because of or pursuant to any of the following:

(a) The termination, refusal to renew, or denial of a license, permit, certificate, or certification by an official, board, commission, department, division, bureau, or other agency of this state other than the department of medicaid, notwithstanding the fact that the provider may hold a license, permit, certificate, or certification from an official, board, commission, department, division, bureau, or other agency of another state;

(b) Division (D) or (E) of section 5164.35 of the Revised Code;

(c) The provider's termination, suspension, or exclusion from the medicare program or from another state's medicaid program and, in either case, the termination, suspension, or exclusion is binding on the provider's participation in the medicaid program in this state;

(d) The provider's pleading guilty to or being convicted of a criminal activity materially related to either the medicare or medicaid program;

(e) The provider or its owner, officer, authorized agent, associate, manager, or employee having been convicted of one of the offenses that caused the provider's provider agreement to be suspended pursuant to section 5164.36 of the Revised Code;

(f) The provider's failure to provide the department the national provider identifier assigned the provider by the national provider system pursuant to 45 C.F.R. 162.408.

(4) The medicaid provider's application for a provider agreement is denied, or the provider's provider agreement is terminated or suspended, as a result of action by the United States department of health and human services and that action is binding on the provider's medicaid participation.

(5) The medicaid provider's provider agreement and medicaid payments to the provider are suspended under section 5164.36 or 5164.37 of the Revised Code.

(6) The medicaid provider's application for a provider agreement is denied because the provider's application was not complete;

(7) The medicaid provider's provider agreement is converted under section 5164.32 of the Revised Code from a provider agreement that is not time-limited to a provider agreement that is time-limited.

(8) Unless the medicaid provider is a nursing facility or ICF/IID, the provider's provider agreement is not revalidated pursuant to division (B)(1) of section 5164.32 of the Revised Code.

(9) The medicaid provider's provider agreement is suspended, terminated, or not revalidated because of either of the following:

(a) Any reason authorized or required by one or more of the following: 42 C.F.R. 455.106, 455.23, 455.416, 455.434, or 455.450;

(b) The provider has not billed or otherwise submitted a medicaid claim for two years or longer.

(F) In the case of a medicaid provider described in division (E)(3)(f), (6), (7), or (9)(b) of this section, the department may take its action by sending a notice explaining the action to the provider. The notice shall be sent to the medicaid provider's address on record with the department. The notice may be sent by regular mail.

(G) The department may withhold payments for medicaid services rendered by a medicaid provider during the pendency of proceedings initiated under division (C)(1), (2), or (3) of this section. If the proceedings are initiated under division (C)(4) of this section, the department may withhold payments only to the extent that they equal amounts determined in a final fiscal audit as being due the state. This division does not apply if the department fails to comply with section 119.07 of the Revised Code, requests a continuance of the hearing, or does not issue a decision within thirty days after the hearing is completed. This division does not apply to nursing facilities and ICFs/IID.

Section 2. That existing sections 109.02, 119.12, 124.34, 956.11, 956.15, 1901.01, 1901.02, 1901.021, 1901.041, 1901.07, 1901.08, 1901.31, 1907.11, 2301.03, 3794.09, 3901.321, 3913.13, 3913.23, 5101.35, and 5164.38 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

Section 3. (A) All cases arising in Perry Township in Wood County that are pending in the Fostoria branch of the Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court on January 2, 2024, shall be adjudicated by the Fostoria branch of the Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court. All cases arising in Perry Township in Wood County on or after January 2, 2024, shall be brought before the Bowling Green Municipal Court.

(B) All cases arising in Washington Township in Hancock County that are pending in the Fostoria branch of the Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court on January 2, 2024, shall be adjudicated by the Fostoria branch of the Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court. All cases arising in Washington Township in Hancock County on or after January 2, 2024, shall be brought before the Findlay Municipal Court.

(C) All cases that are pending in the Tenth District Court of Appeals on the effective date of this section and that were appropriately filed in that court shall be adjudicated by the Tenth District Court of Appeals. All cases that, prior to the effective date of this section, would have been solely within the jurisdiction on appeal of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, and that on the effective date of this section are pending in a common pleas court that is an appropriate venue and are not pending in the Tenth District Court of Appeals, shall be adjudicated by that court of common pleas and shall remain solely within the jurisdiction on appeal of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, on and after the effective date of this section.

(D) If, on or after the effective date of this section, a court of appeals other than the Tenth District Court of Appeals or a court of common pleas within the territory of a court of appeals other than the Tenth District Court of Appeals is considering any matter that, prior to the effective date of this section, would have been solely within the jurisdiction on appeal of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, all of the following apply:

(1) The court of appeals or court of common pleas considering the matter may consider judicial decisions of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and the Tenth District Court of Appeals that were decided prior to the effective date of this section in deciding the matter.

(2) The judicial decisions of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and the Tenth District Court of Appeals that were decided prior to the effective date of this section are not binding on the court of appeals or court of common pleas considering the matter.

(3) The court of appeals or court of common pleas considering the matter is not required to issue any findings of fact explaining why the court, in deciding the matter, did not consider or follow any precedent on the matter set forth in any judicial decision of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas or the Tenth District Court of Appeals.

Section 4. The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the following sections, presented in this act as composites of the sections as amended by the acts indicated, are the resulting versions of the sections in effect prior to the effective date of the sections as presented in this act:

Section 119.12 of the Revised Code as amended by both H.B. 52 and H.B. 64 of the 131st General Assembly.

Section 1901.07 of the Revised Code as amended by both H.B. 215 and S.B. 25 of the 132nd General Assembly.

Section 1901.31 of the Revised Code as amended by both H.B. 343 and H.B. 518 of the 134th General Assembly.

Speaker ___________________ of the House of Representatives.

President ___________________ of the Senate.

Passed ________________________, 20____

Approved ________________________, 20____

Governor.

The section numbering of law of a general and permanent nature is complete and in conformity with the Revised Code.

Director, Legislative Service Commission.

Filed in the office of the Secretary of State at Columbus, Ohio, on the ____ day of ___________, A. D. 20____.

Secretary of State.

File No. _________ Effective Date ___________________