As Introduced

130th General Assembly
Regular Session
2013-2014
H. B. No. 481


Representatives Rogers, McGregor 

Cosponsors: Representatives Blair, Hackett, Terhar, Young, Antonio, Ashford, Barborak, Barnes, Bishoff, Boyce, Budish, Carney, Celebrezze, Cera, Clyde, Curtin, Driehaus, Fedor, Foley, Gerberry, Hagan, R., Heard, Letson, Lundy, Mallory, Milkovich, O'Brien, Patmon, Patterson, Phillips, Pillich, Ramos, Redfern, Reece, Slesnick, Stinziano, Strahorn, Sykes, Sheehy, Williams, Winburn 



A BILL
To amend sections 124.1310, 146.01, 146.12, 2915.01, 1
3333.26, 4113.41, and 4765.01 and to enact section 2
742.631 of the Revised Code to make survivors of 3
part-time, reserve, volunteer, and certain other 4
police officers killed in the line of duty 5
eligible for benefits from the Ohio Public Safety 6
Officers Death Benefit Fund; to increase the 7
benefit payable from the Volunteer Fire Fighters' 8
Dependents Fund to survivors of volunteer 9
firefighters killed in the line of duty; and to 10
make survivors of certain emergency medical 11
personnel eligible for benefits from the Volunteer 12
Fire Fighters' Dependents Fund.13


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

       Section 1. That sections 124.1310, 146.01, 146.12, 2915.01, 14
3333.26, 4113.41, and 4765.01 be amended and section 742.631 of 15
the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:16

       Sec. 124.1310. (A) As used in this section:17

       (1) "Emergency medical service," "EMT-basic," "EMT-I," "first 18
responder," and "paramedic" have the same meanings as in section 19
4765.01 of the Revised Code.20

       (2) "Volunteer firefighter" has the same meaning as in 21
division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of section 146.01 of the Revised Code.22

       (B) A state employee who is an EMT-basic, EMT-I, first 23
responder, paramedic, or volunteer firefighter shall receive forty 24
hours of leave with pay each calendar year to use during those 25
hours when the employee is absent from work in order to provide 26
emergency medical service or fire-fighting service. An appointing 27
authority shall compensate an employee who uses leave granted 28
under this section at the employee's regular rate of pay for those 29
regular work hours during which the employee is absent from work.30

       Sec. 146.01.  As used in sections 146.01 to 146.19 of the 31
Revised Code:32

       (A) "Fire department" means a volunteer fire department, a 33
fire department of a political subdivision or fire district of 34
this state, or a private volunteer company that has elected to 35
participate in the volunteer fire fighters' dependents fund 36
pursuant to section 146.02 of the Revised Code.37

       (B)(1) "Volunteer firefighter" means bothany of the 38
following, subject to division (B)(2) of this section:39

       (a) A duly appointed member of a fire department on either a 40
nonpay or part-pay basis who is ineligible to be a member of the 41
Ohio police and fire pension fund, or whose employment as a 42
firefighter does not in itself qualify any such person for 43
membership in the public employees retirement system, or who has 44
waived membership in the public employees retirement system;45

       (b) Firefighters drafted, requisitioned, or appointed to 46
serve in an emergency;47

       (c) A person to whom both of the following apply:48

        (i) The person is not described in division (B)(1)(a) or (b) 49
of this section but is employed by a fire department in a 50
part-time or volunteer capacity, in a position in which the person 51
is required to satisfactorily complete or have satisfactorily 52
completed a firefighter training course approved under former 53
section 3303.07 or section 4765.55 or conducted under section 54
3737.33 of the Revised Code;55

        (ii) The person is not a member of the public employees 56
retirement system, Ohio police and fire pension fund, or the 57
Cincinnati retirement system.58

       (2)(a) A volunteer firefighter who is a member of the public 59
employees retirement system shall be considered a volunteer 60
firefighter for purposes of this chapter, and in particular, for 61
purposes of divisions (A) and (B) to (F) of section 146.12 of the 62
Revised Code until the firefighter has at least one and one-half 63
years of Ohio service credit for purposes of division (B) of 64
section 145.45 of the Revised Code;65

       (b) A volunteer firefighter who is a member of the public 66
employees retirement system shall be considered a volunteer 67
firefighter for purposes of this chapter and, in particular, for 68
purposes of division (C)(A) of section 146.12 of the Revised Code 69
until the firefighter has at least five years of total service 70
credit for purposes of sections 145.35 and 145.36 or section 71
145.361 of the Revised Code.72

       (C) "Private volunteer fire company" means a company of 73
trained volunteer firefighters having a contract to furnish fire 74
protection or emergency service or both to a political subdivision 75
or fire district of this state.76

       (D) "Member of the fund" includes a political subdivision or 77
fire district of this state that maintains in whole or in part a 78
volunteer fire department or employs volunteer firefighters, and a 79
private volunteer fire company that has elected to participate in 80
the volunteer fire fighters' dependents fund.81

       (E) "Volunteer fire fighters' dependents fund" means the fund 82
established by section 146.07 of the Revised Code.83

       (F) "Totally and permanently disabled" means that a volunteer 84
firefighter is unable to engage in any substantial gainful 85
employment for a period of not less than twelve months by reason 86
of a medically determinable physical impairment that is permanent 87
or presumed to be permanent.88

       (G) "Death benefit amount" means an amount equal to forty 89
hours of work multiplied by the applicable minimum wage rate in 90
accordance with Section 34a, Article II of the Ohio Constitution 91
and Chapter 4111. of the Revised Code.92

        (H) "Killed in the line of duty" means either of the 93
following:94

        (a) Death in the line of duty;95

        (b) Death from injury sustained in the line of duty, 96
including heart attack or other fatal injury or illness caused 97
while in the line of duty.98

       Sec. 146.12. Benefits shall be paid from the volunteer fire 99
fighters' dependents fund to or on behalf of the following 100
persons:101

       (A) To the surviving spouse of a volunteer firefighter killed 102
while discharging the duties of a volunteer firefighter or who 103
dies from exposure or injury received while in the discharge of 104
those duties, a lump sum award of one thousand dollars, and, in 105
addition, the sum of three hundred dollars per month;106

       (B) To the parent, guardian, or other persons upon whom a 107
child of a volunteer firefighter is dependent for chief support, 108
the sum of one hundred twenty-five dollars per month for each 109
dependent child under eighteen years of age, or under twenty-three 110
years of age if the child is attending a post-secondary 111
educational institution and is completing a program of instruction 112
each school year that satisfies the equivalent of at least 113
two-thirds of the full-time curriculum requirements of the 114
institution.115

       (C) To a(A) A volunteer firefighter,who is totally and 116
permanently disabled while discharging the duties of a volunteer 117
firefighter, the sumshall receive a benefit of three hundred 118
dollars per month from the volunteer fire fighters' dependents 119
fund. No payment shall be made to a volunteer firefighter under120
who is receiving the firefighter's full salary during the time of 121
the volunteer firefighter's disability.122

       (B) Regardless of whether the volunteer firefighter received 123
a benefit under division (A) of this section, death benefits shall 124
be paid from the volunteer fire fighters' dependents fund to the 125
surviving spouse, dependent children, or dependent parents, as 126
applicable, of a volunteer firefighter who is killed in the line 127
of duty.128

       (C) A surviving spouse of a volunteer firefighter who is 129
killed in the line of duty shall receive an amount each month 130
equal to the full death benefit amount, provided there are no 131
surviving children eligible for a benefit under this section. A 132
benefit paid under this division shall terminate on the death of 133
the surviving spouse.134

       (D)(1) If a volunteer firefighter who is killed in the line 135
of duty is survived only by a child or children, the surviving 136
child or children shall receive an amount each month equal to the 137
full death benefit amount. If there is more than one surviving 138
child, the benefit shall be divided equally among the children.139

       (2) If a benefit paid under this division is divided among 140
two or more surviving children and any of the children become 141
ineligible to receive a benefit as provided in division (G) of 142
this section, the full death benefit amount shall be paid to the 143
remaining eligible child or divided equally among the eligible 144
children so that the benefit paid to the remaining eligible child 145
or children equals the full death benefit amount.146

       (E) If a volunteer firefighter is killed in the line of duty 147
and is survived by both a spouse and a child or children, the 148
death benefit shall be paid as follows:149

       (1)(a) If there is a surviving spouse and one surviving 150
child, the spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to 151
one-half of the full death benefit amount and the child shall 152
receive an amount each month equal to one-half of the full death 153
benefit amount.154

       (b) If a surviving spouse dies or a surviving child becomes 155
ineligible to receive a benefit as provided in division (G) of 156
this section, the spouse or child remaining eligible shall receive 157
the full death benefit amount.158

       (2)(a) If there is a surviving spouse and more than one 159
surviving child, the spouse shall receive an amount each month 160
equal to one-third of the full death benefit amount and the 161
children shall receive an amount each month, equally divided among 162
them, equal to two-thirds of the full death benefit amount.163

       (b) If a surviving spouse and more than one surviving child 164
each are receiving a benefit under division (E)(2)(a) of this 165
section and the spouse dies, the children shall receive an amount 166
each month, equally divided among them, equal to the full death 167
benefit amount.168

       (c) If a surviving spouse and more than one surviving child 169
each are receiving a benefit under division (E)(2)(a) of this 170
section and any of the children become ineligible to receive a 171
benefit as provided in division (G) of this section, the spouse 172
and remaining eligible child or children shall receive a benefit 173
as follows:174

       (i) If there are two or more remaining eligible children, the 175
spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to one-third of 176
the full death benefit amount and the children shall receive an 177
amount each month, equally divided among them, equal to two-thirds 178
of the full death benefit amount.179

       (ii) If there is one remaining eligible child, the spouse 180
shall receive an amount each month equal to one-half of the full 181
death benefit amount, and the child shall receive an amount each 182
month equal to one-half of the full death benefit amount. 183

       (d) If a surviving spouse and more than one surviving child 184
each are receiving a benefit under division (E)(2)(a) of this 185
section and all of the children become ineligible to receive a 186
benefit as provided in division (G) of this section, the spouse 187
shall receive the full death benefit amount.188

       (F) If a volunteer firefighter is killed in the line of duty 189
and is survived by only a parent or parents dependent on the 190
member for support, the surviving parent or parents shall receive 191
an amount each month equal to the full death benefit amount. If 192
there was more than one surviving parent dependent on the deceased 193
firefighter for support, the benefit shall be divided equally 194
among the parents. On the death of one of the parents, the full 195
death benefit amount shall be paid to the other parent.196

       (G) A death benefit paid to a surviving child under division 197
(D) or (E) of this section shall terminate on the death of the 198
child or, unless one of the following is the case, when the child 199
reaches age eighteen:200

       (1) The child, because of physical or mental disability, is 201
unable to provide the child's own support, in which case the 202
benefit shall terminate when the disability is removed;203

       (2) The child is unmarried, under age twenty-two, and is 204
attending an institution of learning or training pursuant to a 205
program designed to complete in each school year the equivalent of 206
at least two-thirds of the full-time curriculum requirements of 207
the institution, as determined by the volunteer fire fighters' 208
dependents fund.209

       Sec. 742.631. (A)(1) Notwithstanding division (A)(11) of 210
section 742.63 of the Revised Code, "death benefit amount" means 211
an amount equal to forty hours of work multiplied by the 212
applicable minimum wage rate in accordance with Section 34a, 213
Article II of the Ohio Constitution and Chapter 4111. of the 214
Revised Code.215

       (2) Notwithstanding division (A)(1) of section 742.63 of the 216
Revised Code, "member" includes any person to whom both of the 217
following apply:218

       (a) The person is employed as a peace officer by a county 219
sheriff's office or a police department of a municipal 220
corporation, township, village, township police district, or joint 221
police district in any of the following capacities:222

       (i) Auxiliary;223

       (ii) Part-time;224

       (iii) Reserve;225

       (iv) Reserve/auxiliary;226

       (v) Seasonal;227

       (vi) Special;228

       (vii) Volunteer.229

       (b) The person is not a member of the public employees 230
retirement system, Ohio police and fire pension fund, state 231
highway patrol retirement system, or the Cincinnati retirement 232
system.233

       (B) Death benefits shall be paid under this section from the 234
Ohio public safety officers death benefit fund to the surviving 235
spouse, dependent children, or dependent parents, as applicable, 236
of a member described in division (A)(2) of this section who is 237
killed in the line of duty.238

       (C) A surviving spouse of a member described in division 239
(A)(2) of this section who is killed in the line of duty shall 240
receive an amount each month equal to the full death benefit 241
amount, provided there are no surviving children eligible for a 242
benefit under this section. A benefit paid under this division 243
shall terminate on the death of the surviving spouse.244

       (D)(1) If a member described in division (A)(2) of this 245
section who is killed in the line of duty is survived only by a 246
child or children, the surviving child or children shall receive 247
an amount each month equal to the full death benefit amount. If 248
there is more than one surviving child, the benefit shall be 249
divided equally among the children.250

       (2) If a benefit paid under this division is divided among 251
two or more surviving children and any of the children become 252
ineligible to receive a benefit as provided in division (G) of 253
this section, the full death benefit amount shall be paid to the 254
remaining eligible child or divided equally among the eligible 255
children so that the benefit paid to the remaining eligible child 256
or children equals the full death benefit amount.257

       (E) If a member described in division (A)(2) of this section 258
is killed in the line of duty and is survived by both a spouse and 259
a child or children, the death benefit shall be paid as follows:260

       (1)(a) If there is a surviving spouse and one surviving 261
child, the spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to 262
one-half of the full death benefit amount and the child shall 263
receive an amount each month equal to one-half of the full death 264
benefit amount.265

       (b) If a surviving spouse dies or a surviving child becomes 266
ineligible to receive a benefit as provided in division (G) of 267
this section, the spouse or child remaining eligible shall receive 268
the full death benefit amount.269

       (2)(a) If there is a surviving spouse and more than one 270
surviving child, the spouse shall receive an amount each month 271
equal to one-third of the full death benefit amount and the 272
children shall receive an amount each month, equally divided among 273
them, equal to two-thirds of the full death benefit amount.274

       (b) If a surviving spouse and more than one surviving child 275
each are receiving a benefit under division (E)(2)(a) of this 276
section and the spouse dies, the children shall receive an amount 277
each month, equally divided among them, equal to the full death 278
benefit amount.279

       (c) If a surviving spouse and more than one surviving child 280
each are receiving a benefit under division (E)(2)(a) of this 281
section and any of the children become ineligible to receive a 282
benefit as provided in division (G) of this section, the spouse 283
and remaining eligible child or children shall receive a benefit 284
as follows:285

       (i) If there are two or more remaining eligible children, the 286
spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to one-third of 287
the full death benefit amount and the children shall receive an 288
amount each month, equally divided among them, equal to two-thirds 289
of the full death benefit amount.290

       (ii) If there is one remaining eligible child, the spouse 291
shall receive an amount each month equal to one-half of the full 292
death benefit amount, and the child shall receive an amount each 293
month equal to one-half of the full death benefit amount. 294

       (d) If a surviving spouse and more than one surviving child 295
each are receiving a benefit under division (E)(2)(a) of this 296
section and all of the children become ineligible to receive a 297
benefit as provided in division (G) of this section, the spouse 298
shall receive the full death benefit amount.299

       (F) If a member described in division (A)(2) of this section 300
is killed in the line of duty and is survived by only a parent or 301
parents dependent on the member for support, the surviving parent 302
or parents shall receive an amount each month equal to the full 303
death benefit amount. If there was more than one surviving parent 304
dependent on the deceased member for support, the benefit shall be 305
divided equally among the parents. On the death of one of the 306
parents, the full death benefit amount shall be paid to the other 307
parent.308

       (G) A death benefit paid to a surviving child under division 309
(D) or (E) of this section shall terminate on the death of the 310
child or, unless one of the following is the case, when the child 311
reaches age eighteen:312

       (1) The child, because of physical or mental disability, is 313
unable to provide the child's own support, in which case the 314
benefit shall terminate when the disability is removed;315

       (2) The child is unmarried, under age twenty-two, and is 316
attending an institution of learning or training pursuant to a 317
program designed to complete in each school year the equivalent of 318
at least two-thirds of the full-time curriculum requirements of 319
the institution, as determined by the Ohio police and fire pension 320
fund board of trustees.321

       Sec. 2915.01.  As used in this chapter:322

       (A) "Bookmaking" means the business of receiving or paying 323
off bets.324

       (B) "Bet" means the hazarding of anything of value upon the 325
result of an event, undertaking, or contingency, but does not 326
include a bona fide business risk.327

       (C) "Scheme of chance" means a slot machine unless authorized 328
under Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code, lottery unless authorized 329
under Chapter 3770. of the Revised Code, numbers game, pool 330
conducted for profit, or other scheme in which a participant gives 331
a valuable consideration for a chance to win a prize, but does not 332
include bingo, a skill-based amusement machine, or a pool not 333
conducted for profit. "Scheme of chance" includes the use of an 334
electronic device to reveal the results of a game entry if 335
valuable consideration is paid, directly or indirectly, for a 336
chance to win a prize. Valuable consideration is deemed to be paid 337
for a chance to win a prize in the following instances:338

       (1) Less than fifty per cent of the goods or services sold by 339
a scheme of chance operator in exchange for game entries are used 340
or redeemed by participants at any one location;341

       (2) Less than fifty per cent of participants who purchase 342
goods or services at any one location do not accept, use, or 343
redeem the goods or services sold or purportedly sold; 344

       (3) More than fifty per cent of prizes at any one location 345
are revealed to participants through an electronic device 346
simulating a game of chance or a "casino game" as defined in 347
section 3772.01 of the Revised Code;348

       (4) The good or service sold by a scheme of chance operator 349
in exchange for a game entry cannot be used or redeemed in the 350
manner advertised; 351

       (5) A participant pays more than fair market value for goods 352
or services offered by a scheme of chance operator in order to 353
receive one or more game entries;354

       (6) A participant may use the electronic device to purchase 355
additional game entries;356

       (7) A participant may purchase additional game entries by 357
using points or credits won as prizes while using the electronic 358
device;359

       (8) A scheme of chance operator pays out in prize money more 360
than twenty per cent of the gross revenue received at one 361
location; or362

       (9) A participant makes a purchase or exchange in order to 363
obtain any good or service that may be used to facilitate play on 364
the electronic device.365

       As used in this division, "electronic device" means a 366
mechanical, video, digital, or electronic machine or device that 367
is capable of displaying information on a screen or other 368
mechanism and that is owned, leased, or otherwise possessed by any 369
person conducting a scheme of chance, or by that person's 370
partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, or contractors.371

       (D) "Game of chance" means poker, craps, roulette, or other 372
game in which a player gives anything of value in the hope of 373
gain, the outcome of which is determined largely by chance, but 374
does not include bingo.375

       (E) "Game of chance conducted for profit" means any game of 376
chance designed to produce income for the person who conducts or 377
operates the game of chance, but does not include bingo.378

       (F) "Gambling device" means any of the following:379

       (1) A book, totalizer, or other equipment for recording bets;380

       (2) A ticket, token, or other device representing a chance, 381
share, or interest in a scheme of chance or evidencing a bet;382

       (3) A deck of cards, dice, gaming table, roulette wheel, slot 383
machine, or other apparatus designed for use in connection with a 384
game of chance;385

       (4) Any equipment, device, apparatus, or paraphernalia 386
specially designed for gambling purposes;387

       (5) Bingo supplies sold or otherwise provided, or used, in 388
violation of this chapter.389

       (G) "Gambling offense" means any of the following:390

       (1) A violation of section 2915.02, 2915.03, 2915.04, 391
2915.05, 2915.06, 2915.07, 2915.08, 2915.081, 2915.082, 2915.09, 392
2915.091, 2915.092, 2915.10, or 2915.11 of the Revised Code;393

       (2) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance 394
or law of this or any other state or the United States 395
substantially equivalent to any section listed in division (G)(1) 396
of this section or a violation of section 2915.06 of the Revised 397
Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996;398

       (3) An offense under an existing or former municipal 399
ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States, 400
of which gambling is an element;401

       (4) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in 402
committing, any offense under division (G)(1), (2), or (3) of this 403
section.404

       (H) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, "charitable 405
organization" means either of the following:406

       (1) An organization that is, and has received from the 407
internal revenue service a determination letter that currently is 408
in effect stating that the organization is, exempt from federal 409
income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in 410
subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;411

       (2) A volunteer rescue service organization, volunteer 412
firefighter's organization, veteran's organization, fraternal 413
organization, or sporting organization that is exempt from federal 414
income taxation under subsection 501(c)(4), (c)(7), (c)(8), 415
(c)(10), or (c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code. 416

        To qualify as a "charitable organization," an organization 417
shall have been in continuous existence as such in this state for 418
a period of two years immediately preceding either the making of 419
an application for a bingo license under section 2915.08 of the 420
Revised Code or the conducting of any game of chance as provided 421
in division (D) of section 2915.02 of the Revised Code. 422

       (I) "Religious organization" means any church, body of 423
communicants, or group that is not organized or operated for 424
profit and that gathers in common membership for regular worship 425
and religious observances.426

       (J) "Veteran's organization" means any individual post or 427
state headquarters of a national veteran's association or an 428
auxiliary unit of any individual post of a national veteran's 429
association, which post, state headquarters, or auxiliary unit is 430
incorporated as a nonprofit corporation and either has received a 431
letter from the state headquarters of the national veteran's 432
association indicating that the individual post or auxiliary unit 433
is in good standing with the national veteran's association or has 434
received a letter from the national veteran's association 435
indicating that the state headquarters is in good standing with 436
the national veteran's association. As used in this division, 437
"national veteran's association" means any veteran's association 438
that has been in continuous existence as such for a period of at 439
least five years and either is incorporated by an act of the 440
United States congress or has a national dues-paying membership of 441
at least five thousand persons.442

       (K) "Volunteer firefighter's organization" means any 443
organization of volunteer firefighters, as defined in division 444
(B)(1)(a) or (b) of section 146.01 of the Revised Code, that is 445
organized and operated exclusively to provide financial support 446
for a volunteer fire department or a volunteer fire company and 447
that is recognized or ratified by a county, municipal corporation, 448
or township.449

       (L) "Fraternal organization" means any society, order, state 450
headquarters, or association within this state, except a college 451
or high school fraternity, that is not organized for profit, that 452
is a branch, lodge, or chapter of a national or state 453
organization, that exists exclusively for the common business or 454
sodality of its members.455

       (M) "Volunteer rescue service organization" means any 456
organization of volunteers organized to function as an emergency 457
medical service organization, as defined in section 4765.01 of the 458
Revised Code.459

       (N) "Charitable bingo game" means any bingo game described in 460
division (O)(1) or (2) of this section that is conducted by a 461
charitable organization that has obtained a license pursuant to 462
section 2915.08 of the Revised Code and the proceeds of which are 463
used for a charitable purpose.464

       (O) "Bingo" means either of the following:465

       (1) A game with all of the following characteristics:466

       (a) The participants use bingo cards or sheets, including 467
paper formats and electronic representation or image formats, that 468
are divided into twenty-five spaces arranged in five horizontal 469
and five vertical rows of spaces, with each space, except the 470
central space, being designated by a combination of a letter and a 471
number and with the central space being designated as a free 472
space.473

       (b) The participants cover the spaces on the bingo cards or 474
sheets that correspond to combinations of letters and numbers that 475
are announced by a bingo game operator.476

       (c) A bingo game operator announces combinations of letters 477
and numbers that appear on objects that a bingo game operator 478
selects by chance, either manually or mechanically, from a 479
receptacle that contains seventy-five objects at the beginning of 480
each game, each object marked by a different combination of a 481
letter and a number that corresponds to one of the seventy-five 482
possible combinations of a letter and a number that can appear on 483
the bingo cards or sheets.484

       (d) The winner of the bingo game includes any participant who 485
properly announces during the interval between the announcements 486
of letters and numbers as described in division (O)(1)(c) of this 487
section, that a predetermined and preannounced pattern of spaces 488
has been covered on a bingo card or sheet being used by the 489
participant.490

       (2) Instant bingo, punch boards, and raffles.491

       (P) "Conduct" means to back, promote, organize, manage, carry 492
on, sponsor, or prepare for the operation of bingo or a game of 493
chance, a scheme of chance, or a sweepstakes.494

       (Q) "Bingo game operator" means any person, except security 495
personnel, who performs work or labor at the site of bingo, 496
including, but not limited to, collecting money from participants, 497
handing out bingo cards or sheets or objects to cover spaces on 498
bingo cards or sheets, selecting from a receptacle the objects 499
that contain the combination of letters and numbers that appear on 500
bingo cards or sheets, calling out the combinations of letters and 501
numbers, distributing prizes, selling or redeeming instant bingo 502
tickets or cards, supervising the operation of a punch board, 503
selling raffle tickets, selecting raffle tickets from a receptacle 504
and announcing the winning numbers in a raffle, and preparing, 505
selling, and serving food or beverages.506

       (R) "Participant" means any person who plays bingo.507

       (S) "Bingo session" means a period that includes both of the 508
following:509

       (1) Not to exceed five continuous hours for the conduct of 510
one or more games described in division (O)(1) of this section, 511
instant bingo, and seal cards;512

       (2) A period for the conduct of instant bingo and seal cards 513
for not more than two hours before and not more than two hours 514
after the period described in division (S)(1) of this section.515

       (T) "Gross receipts" means all money or assets, including 516
admission fees, that a person receives from bingo without the 517
deduction of any amounts for prizes paid out or for the expenses 518
of conducting bingo. "Gross receipts" does not include any money 519
directly taken in from the sale of food or beverages by a 520
charitable organization conducting bingo, or by a bona fide 521
auxiliary unit or society of a charitable organization conducting 522
bingo, provided all of the following apply:523

       (1) The auxiliary unit or society has been in existence as a 524
bona fide auxiliary unit or society of the charitable organization 525
for at least two years prior to conducting bingo.526

       (2) The person who purchases the food or beverage receives 527
nothing of value except the food or beverage and items customarily 528
received with the purchase of that food or beverage.529

       (3) The food and beverages are sold at customary and 530
reasonable prices.531

       (U) "Security personnel" includes any person who either is a 532
sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, township 533
constable, or member of an organized police department of a 534
municipal corporation or has successfully completed a peace 535
officer's training course pursuant to sections 109.71 to 109.79 of 536
the Revised Code and who is hired to provide security for the 537
premises on which bingo is conducted.538

       (V) "Charitable purpose" means that the net profit of bingo, 539
other than instant bingo, is used by, or is given, donated, or 540
otherwise transferred to, any of the following:541

       (1) Any organization that is described in subsection 542
509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 543
and is either a governmental unit or an organization that is tax 544
exempt under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 545
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;546

       (2) A veteran's organization that is a post, chapter, or 547
organization of veterans, or an auxiliary unit or society of, or a 548
trust or foundation for, any such post, chapter, or organization 549
organized in the United States or any of its possessions, at least 550
seventy-five per cent of the members of which are veterans and 551
substantially all of the other members of which are individuals 552
who are spouses, widows, or widowers of veterans, or such 553
individuals, provided that no part of the net earnings of such 554
post, chapter, or organization inures to the benefit of any 555
private shareholder or individual, and further provided that the 556
net profit is used by the post, chapter, or organization for the 557
charitable purposes set forth in division (B)(12) of section 558
5739.02 of the Revised Code, is used for awarding scholarships to 559
or for attendance at an institution mentioned in division (B)(12) 560
of section 5739.02 of the Revised Code, is donated to a 561
governmental agency, or is used for nonprofit youth activities, 562
the purchase of United States or Ohio flags that are donated to 563
schools, youth groups, or other bona fide nonprofit organizations, 564
promotion of patriotism, or disaster relief;565

       (3) A fraternal organization that has been in continuous 566
existence in this state for fifteen years and that uses the net 567
profit exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, 568
literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of 569
cruelty to children or animals, if contributions for such use 570
would qualify as a deductible charitable contribution under 571
subsection 170 of the Internal Revenue Code;572

       (4) A volunteer firefighter's organization that uses the net 573
profit for the purposes set forth in division (K) of this section.574

       (W) "Internal Revenue Code" means the "Internal Revenue Code 575
of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1, as now or hereafter 576
amended.577

       (X) "Youth athletic organization" means any organization, not 578
organized for profit, that is organized and operated exclusively 579
to provide financial support to, or to operate, athletic 580
activities for persons who are twenty-one years of age or younger 581
by means of sponsoring, organizing, operating, or contributing to 582
the support of an athletic team, club, league, or association.583

       (Y) "Youth athletic park organization" means any 584
organization, not organized for profit, that satisfies both of the 585
following:586

       (1) It owns, operates, and maintains playing fields that 587
satisfy both of the following:588

       (a) The playing fields are used at least one hundred days per 589
year for athletic activities by one or more organizations, not 590
organized for profit, each of which is organized and operated 591
exclusively to provide financial support to, or to operate, 592
athletic activities for persons who are eighteen years of age or 593
younger by means of sponsoring, organizing, operating, or 594
contributing to the support of an athletic team, club, league, or 595
association.596

       (b) The playing fields are not used for any profit-making 597
activity at any time during the year.598

       (2) It uses the proceeds of bingo it conducts exclusively for 599
the operation, maintenance, and improvement of its playing fields 600
of the type described in division (Y)(1) of this section.601

       (Z) "Bingo supplies" means bingo cards or sheets; instant 602
bingo tickets or cards; electronic bingo aids; raffle tickets; 603
punch boards; seal cards; instant bingo ticket dispensers; and 604
devices for selecting or displaying the combination of bingo 605
letters and numbers or raffle tickets. Items that are "bingo 606
supplies" are not gambling devices if sold or otherwise provided, 607
and used, in accordance with this chapter. For purposes of this 608
chapter, "bingo supplies" are not to be considered equipment used 609
to conduct a bingo game.610

       (AA) "Instant bingo" means a form of bingo that shall use 611
folded or banded tickets or paper cards with perforated break-open 612
tabs, a face of which is covered or otherwise hidden from view to 613
conceal a number, letter, or symbol, or set of numbers, letters, 614
or symbols, some of which have been designated in advance as prize 615
winners, and may also include games in which some winners are 616
determined by the random selection of one or more bingo numbers by 617
the use of a seal card or bingo blower. In all "instant bingo" the 618
prize amount and structure shall be predetermined. "Instant bingo" 619
does not include any device that is activated by the insertion of 620
a coin, currency, token, or an equivalent, and that contains as 621
one of its components a video display monitor that is capable of 622
displaying numbers, letters, symbols, or characters in winning or 623
losing combinations.624

       (BB) "Seal card" means a form of instant bingo that uses 625
instant bingo tickets in conjunction with a board or placard that 626
contains one or more seals that, when removed or opened, reveal 627
predesignated winning numbers, letters, or symbols.628

       (CC) "Raffle" means a form of bingo in which the one or more 629
prizes are won by one or more persons who have purchased a raffle 630
ticket. The one or more winners of the raffle are determined by 631
drawing a ticket stub or other detachable section from a 632
receptacle containing ticket stubs or detachable sections 633
corresponding to all tickets sold for the raffle. "Raffle" does 634
not include the drawing of a ticket stub or other detachable 635
section of a ticket purchased to attend a professional sporting 636
event if both of the following apply:637

        (1) The ticket stub or other detachable section is used to 638
select the winner of a free prize given away at the professional 639
sporting event; and640

       (2) The cost of the ticket is the same as the cost of a 641
ticket to the professional sporting event on days when no free 642
prize is given away.643

       (DD) "Punch board" means a board containing a number of holes 644
or receptacles of uniform size in which are placed, mechanically 645
and randomly, serially numbered slips of paper that may be punched 646
or drawn from the hole or receptacle when used in conjunction with 647
instant bingo. A player may punch or draw the numbered slips of 648
paper from the holes or receptacles and obtain the prize 649
established for the game if the number drawn corresponds to a 650
winning number or, if the punch board includes the use of a seal 651
card, a potential winning number.652

       (EE) "Gross profit" means gross receipts minus the amount 653
actually expended for the payment of prize awards.654

       (FF) "Net profit" means gross profit minus expenses.655

       (GG) "Expenses" means the reasonable amount of gross profit 656
actually expended for all of the following:657

       (1) The purchase or lease of bingo supplies;658

       (2) The annual license fee required under section 2915.08 of 659
the Revised Code;660

       (3) Bank fees and service charges for a bingo session or game 661
account described in section 2915.10 of the Revised Code;662

       (4) Audits and accounting services;663

       (5) Safes;664

       (6) Cash registers;665

       (7) Hiring security personnel;666

       (8) Advertising bingo;667

       (9) Renting premises in which to conduct a bingo session;668

       (10) Tables and chairs;669

       (11) Expenses for maintaining and operating a charitable 670
organization's facilities, including, but not limited to, a post 671
home, club house, lounge, tavern, or canteen and any grounds 672
attached to the post home, club house, lounge, tavern, or canteen;673

       (12) Payment of real property taxes and assessments that are 674
levied on a premises on which bingo is conducted;675

       (13) Any other product or service directly related to the 676
conduct of bingo that is authorized in rules adopted by the 677
attorney general under division (B)(1) of section 2915.08 of the 678
Revised Code.679

       (HH) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the 680
Revised Code and includes any firm or any other legal entity, 681
however organized.682

       (II) "Revoke" means to void permanently all rights and 683
privileges of the holder of a license issued under section 684
2915.08, 2915.081, or 2915.082 of the Revised Code or a charitable 685
gaming license issued by another jurisdiction.686

       (JJ) "Suspend" means to interrupt temporarily all rights and 687
privileges of the holder of a license issued under section 688
2915.08, 2915.081, or 2915.082 of the Revised Code or a charitable 689
gaming license issued by another jurisdiction.690

       (KK) "Distributor" means any person who purchases or obtains 691
bingo supplies and who does either of the following:692

       (1) Sells, offers for sale, or otherwise provides or offers 693
to provide the bingo supplies to another person for use in this 694
state;695

       (2) Modifies, converts, adds to, or removes parts from the 696
bingo supplies to further their promotion or sale for use in this 697
state.698

       (LL) "Manufacturer" means any person who assembles completed 699
bingo supplies from raw materials, other items, or subparts or who 700
modifies, converts, adds to, or removes parts from bingo supplies 701
to further their promotion or sale.702

       (MM) "Gross annual revenues" means the annual gross receipts 703
derived from the conduct of bingo described in division (O)(1) of 704
this section plus the annual net profit derived from the conduct 705
of bingo described in division (O)(2) of this section.706

       (NN) "Instant bingo ticket dispenser" means a mechanical 707
device that dispenses an instant bingo ticket or card as the sole 708
item of value dispensed and that has the following 709
characteristics:710

        (1) It is activated upon the insertion of United States 711
currency.712

        (2) It performs no gaming functions.713

        (3) It does not contain a video display monitor or generate 714
noise.715

        (4) It is not capable of displaying any numbers, letters, 716
symbols, or characters in winning or losing combinations.717

       (5) It does not simulate or display rolling or spinning 718
reels.719

        (6) It is incapable of determining whether a dispensed bingo 720
ticket or card is a winning or nonwinning ticket or card and 721
requires a winning ticket or card to be paid by a bingo game 722
operator.723

        (7) It may provide accounting and security features to aid in 724
accounting for the instant bingo tickets or cards it dispenses.725

       (8) It is not part of an electronic network and is not 726
interactive.727

       (OO)(1) "Electronic bingo aid" means an electronic device 728
used by a participant to monitor bingo cards or sheets purchased 729
at the time and place of a bingo session and that does all of the 730
following:731

        (a) It provides a means for a participant to input numbers 732
and letters announced by a bingo caller.733

        (b) It compares the numbers and letters entered by the 734
participant to the bingo faces previously stored in the memory of 735
the device.736

        (c) It identifies a winning bingo pattern.737

        (2) "Electronic bingo aid" does not include any device into 738
which a coin, currency, token, or an equivalent is inserted to 739
activate play.740

       (PP) "Deal of instant bingo tickets" means a single game of 741
instant bingo tickets all with the same serial number.742

       (QQ)(1) "Slot machine" means either of the following:743

       (a) Any mechanical, electronic, video, or digital device that 744
is capable of accepting anything of value, directly or indirectly, 745
from or on behalf of a player who gives the thing of value in the 746
hope of gain; 747

        (b) Any mechanical, electronic, video, or digital device that 748
is capable of accepting anything of value, directly or indirectly, 749
from or on behalf of a player to conduct bingo or a scheme or game 750
of chance.751

       (2) "Slot machine" does not include a skill-based amusement 752
machine or an instant bingo ticket dispenser.753

        (RR) "Net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant 754
bingo" means gross profit minus the ordinary, necessary, and 755
reasonable expense expended for the purchase of instant bingo 756
supplies, and, in the case of instant bingo conducted by a 757
veteran's, fraternal, or sporting organization, minus the payment 758
by that organization of real property taxes and assessments levied 759
on a premises on which instant bingo is conducted.760

       (SS) "Charitable instant bingo organization" means an 761
organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under 762
subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the 763
Internal Revenue Code and is a charitable organization as defined 764
in this section. A "charitable instant bingo organization" does 765
not include a charitable organization that is exempt from federal 766
income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in 767
subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is 768
created by a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or 769
a sporting organization in regards to bingo conducted or assisted 770
by a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or a 771
sporting organization pursuant to section 2915.13 of the Revised 772
Code.773

       (TT) "Game flare" means the board or placard that accompanies 774
each deal of instant bingo tickets and that has printed on or 775
affixed to it the following information for the game:776

       (1) The name of the game;777

       (2) The manufacturer's name or distinctive logo;778

       (3) The form number;779

       (4) The ticket count;780

       (5) The prize structure, including the number of winning 781
instant bingo tickets by denomination and the respective winning 782
symbol or number combinations for the winning instant bingo 783
tickets;784

       (6) The cost per play;785

       (7) The serial number of the game.786

       (UU)(1) "Skill-based amusement machine" means a mechanical, 787
video, digital, or electronic device that rewards the player or 788
players, if at all, only with merchandise prizes or with 789
redeemable vouchers redeemable only for merchandise prizes, 790
provided that with respect to rewards for playing the game all of 791
the following apply:792

       (a) The wholesale value of a merchandise prize awarded as a 793
result of the single play of a machine does not exceed ten 794
dollars;795

       (b) Redeemable vouchers awarded for any single play of a 796
machine are not redeemable for a merchandise prize with a 797
wholesale value of more than ten dollars;798

       (c) Redeemable vouchers are not redeemable for a merchandise 799
prize that has a wholesale value of more than ten dollars times 800
the fewest number of single plays necessary to accrue the 801
redeemable vouchers required to obtain that prize; and802

       (d) Any redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes are 803
distributed at the site of the skill-based amusement machine at 804
the time of play.805

       A card for the purchase of gasoline is a redeemable voucher 806
for purposes of division (UU)(1) of this section even if the 807
skill-based amusement machine for the play of which the card is 808
awarded is located at a place where gasoline may not be legally 809
distributed to the public or the card is not redeemable at the 810
location of, or at the time of playing, the skill-based amusement 811
machine.812

       (2) A device shall not be considered a skill-based amusement 813
machine and shall be considered a slot machine if it pays cash or 814
one or more of the following apply:815

       (a) The ability of a player to succeed at the game is 816
impacted by the number or ratio of prior wins to prior losses of 817
players playing the game.818

       (b) Any reward of redeemable vouchers is not based solely on 819
the player achieving the object of the game or the player's score;820

       (c) The outcome of the game, or the value of the redeemable 821
voucher or merchandise prize awarded for winning the game, can be 822
controlled by a source other than any player playing the game.823

       (d) The success of any player is or may be determined by a 824
chance event that cannot be altered by player actions.825

       (e) The ability of any player to succeed at the game is 826
determined by game features not visible or known to the player.827

       (f) The ability of the player to succeed at the game is 828
impacted by the exercise of a skill that no reasonable player 829
could exercise.830

       (3) All of the following apply to any machine that is 831
operated as described in division (UU)(1) of this section:832

       (a) As used in division (UU) of this section, "game" and 833
"play" mean one event from the initial activation of the machine 834
until the results of play are determined without payment of 835
additional consideration. An individual utilizing a machine that 836
involves a single game, play, contest, competition, or tournament 837
may be awarded redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes based on 838
the results of play.839

       (b) Advance play for a single game, play, contest, 840
competition, or tournament participation may be purchased. The 841
cost of the contest, competition, or tournament participation may 842
be greater than a single noncontest, competition, or tournament 843
play.844

       (c) To the extent that the machine is used in a contest, 845
competition, or tournament, that contest, competition, or 846
tournament has a defined starting and ending date and is open to 847
participants in competition for scoring and ranking results toward 848
the awarding of redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes that are 849
stated prior to the start of the contest, competition, or 850
tournament. 851

       (4) For purposes of division (UU)(1) of this section, the 852
mere presence of a device, such as a pin-setting, ball-releasing, 853
or scoring mechanism, that does not contribute to or affect the 854
outcome of the play of the game does not make the device a 855
skill-based amusement machine.856

       (VV) "Merchandise prize" means any item of value, but shall 857
not include any of the following:858

       (1) Cash, gift cards, or any equivalent thereof;859

       (2) Plays on games of chance, state lottery tickets, bingo, 860
or instant bingo;861

       (3) Firearms, tobacco, or alcoholic beverages; or862

       (4) A redeemable voucher that is redeemable for any of the 863
items listed in division (VV)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.864

       (WW) "Redeemable voucher" means any ticket, token, coupon, 865
receipt, or other noncash representation of value.866

       (XX) "Pool not conducted for profit" means a scheme in which 867
a participant gives a valuable consideration for a chance to win a 868
prize and the total amount of consideration wagered is distributed 869
to a participant or participants.870

       (YY) "Sporting organization" means a hunting, fishing, or 871
trapping organization, other than a college or high school 872
fraternity or sorority, that is not organized for profit, that is 873
affiliated with a state or national sporting organization, 874
including but not limited to, the league of Ohio sportsmen, and 875
that has been in continuous existence in this state for a period 876
of three years.877

       (ZZ) "Community action agency" has the same meaning as in 878
section 122.66 of the Revised Code.879

       (AAA)(1) "Sweepstakes terminal device" means a mechanical, 880
video, digital, or electronic machine or device that is owned, 881
leased, or otherwise possessed by any person conducting a 882
sweepstakes, or by that person's partners, affiliates, 883
subsidiaries, or contractors, that is intended to be used by a 884
sweepstakes participant, and that is capable of displaying 885
information on a screen or other mechanism. A device is a 886
sweepstakes terminal device if any of the following apply:887

       (a) The device uses a simulated game terminal as a 888
representation of the prizes associated with the results of the 889
sweepstakes entries.890

       (b) The device utilizes software such that the simulated game 891
influences or determines the winning of or value of the prize.892

       (c) The device selects prizes from a predetermined finite 893
pool of entries.894

       (d) The device utilizes a mechanism that reveals the content 895
of a predetermined sweepstakes entry.896

       (e) The device predetermines the prize results and stores 897
those results for delivery at the time the sweepstakes entry 898
results are revealed.899

       (f) The device utilizes software to create a game result.900

       (g) The device reveals the prize incrementally, even though 901
the device does not influence the awarding of the prize or the 902
value of any prize awarded.903

       (h) The device determines and associates the prize with an 904
entry or entries at the time the sweepstakes is entered.905

       (2) As used in this division and in section 2915.02 of the 906
Revised Code:907

       (a) "Enter" means the act by which a person becomes eligible 908
to receive any prize offered in a sweepstakes.909

       (b) "Entry" means one event from the initial activation of 910
the sweepstakes terminal device until all the sweepstakes prize 911
results from that activation are revealed.912

       (c) "Prize" means any gift, award, gratuity, good, service, 913
credit, reward, or any other thing of value that may be 914
transferred to a person, whether possession of the prize is 915
actually transferred, or placed on an account or other record as 916
evidence of the intent to transfer the prize.917

       (d) "Sweepstakes terminal device facility" means any location 918
in this state where a sweepstakes terminal device is provided to a 919
sweepstakes participant, except as provided in division (G) of 920
section 2915.02 of the Revised Code.921

       (BBB) "Sweepstakes" means any game, contest, advertising 922
scheme or plan, or other promotion where consideration is not 923
required for a person to enter to win or become eligible to 924
receive any prize, the determination of which is based upon 925
chance. "Sweepstakes" does not include bingo as authorized under 926
this chapter, pari-mutuel wagering as authorized by Chapter 3769. 927
of the Revised Code, lotteries conducted by the state lottery 928
commission as authorized by Chapter 3770. of the Revised Code, and 929
casino gaming as authorized by Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code.930

       Sec. 3333.26.  (A) Any citizen of this state who has resided 931
within the state for one year, who was in the active service of 932
the United States as a soldier, sailor, nurse, or marine between 933
April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, and who has been honorably 934
discharged from that service, shall be admitted to any school, 935
college, or university that receives state funds in support 936
thereof, without being required to pay any tuition or 937
matriculation fee, but is not relieved from the payment of 938
laboratory or similar fees.939

       (B)(1) As used in this division:940

       (a) "Volunteer firefighter" has the meaning as in division 941
(B)(1)(a) or (b) of section 146.01 of the Revised Code.942

       (b) "Public service officer" means an Ohio firefighter, 943
volunteer firefighter, police officer, member of the state highway 944
patrol, employee designated to exercise the powers of police 945
officers pursuant to section 1545.13 of the Revised Code, or other 946
peace officer as defined by division (B) of section 2935.01 of the 947
Revised Code, or a person holding any equivalent position in 948
another state.949

       (c) "Qualified former spouse" means the former spouse of a 950
public service officer, or of a member of the armed services of 951
the United States, who is the custodial parent of a minor child of 952
that marriage pursuant to an order allocating the parental rights 953
and responsibilities for care of the child issued pursuant to 954
section 3109.04 of the Revised Code.955

       (d) "Operation enduring freedom" means that period of 956
conflict which began October 7, 2001, and ends on a date declared 957
by the president of the United States or the congress.958

        (e) "Operation Iraqi freedom" means that period of conflict 959
which began March 20, 2003, and ends on a date declared by the 960
president of the United States or the congress.961

       (f) "Combat zone" means an area that the president of the 962
United States by executive order designates, for purposes of 26 963
U.S.C. 112, as an area in which armed forces of the United States 964
are or have engaged in combat.965

       (2) Any resident of this state who is under twenty-six years 966
of age, or under thirty years of age if the resident has been 967
honorably discharged from the armed services of the United States, 968
who is the child of a public service officer killed in the line of 969
duty or of a member of the armed services of the United States 970
killed in the line of duty during operation enduring freedom or 971
operation Iraqi freedom, and who is admitted to any state 972
university or college as defined in division (A)(1) of section 973
3345.12 of the Revised Code, community college, state community 974
college, university branch, or technical college shall not be 975
required to pay any tuition or any student fee for up to four 976
academic years of education, which shall be at the undergraduate 977
level.978

       A child of a member of the armed services of the United 979
States killed in the line of duty during operation enduring 980
freedom or operation Iraqi freedom is eligible for a waiver of 981
tuition and student fees under this division only if the student 982
is not eligible for a war orphans scholarship authorized by 983
Chapter 5910. of the Revised Code. In any year in which the war 984
orphans scholarship board reduces the percentage of tuition 985
covered by a war orphans scholarship below one hundred per cent 986
pursuant to division (A) of section 5910.04 of the Revised Code, 987
the waiver of tuition and student fees under this division for a 988
child of a member of the armed services of the United States 989
killed in the line of duty during operation enduring freedom or 990
operation Iraqi freedom shall be reduced by the same percentage.991

       (3) Any resident of this state who is the spouse or qualified 992
former spouse of a public service officer killed in the line of 993
duty, and who is admitted to any state university or college as 994
defined in division (A)(1) of section 3345.12 of the Revised Code, 995
community college, state community college, university branch, or 996
technical college, shall not be required to pay any tuition or any 997
student fee for up to four academic years of education, which 998
shall be at the undergraduate level.999

       (4) Any resident of this state who is the spouse or qualified 1000
former spouse of a member of the armed services of the United 1001
States killed in the line of duty while serving in a combat zone 1002
after May 7, 1975, and who is admitted to any state university or 1003
college as defined in division (A)(1) of section 3345.12 of the 1004
Revised Code, community college, state community college, 1005
university branch, or technical college, shall not be required to 1006
pay any tuition or any student fee for up to four years of 1007
academic education, which shall be at the undergraduate level. In 1008
order to qualify under division (B)(4) of this section, the spouse 1009
or qualified former spouse shall have been a resident of this 1010
state at the time the member was killed in the line of duty.1011

       (C) Any institution that is not subject to division (B) of 1012
this section and that holds a valid certificate of registration 1013
issued under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code, a valid 1014
certificate issued under Chapter 4709. of the Revised Code, or a 1015
valid license issued under Chapter 4713. of the Revised Code, or 1016
that is nonprofit and has a certificate of authorization issued 1017
under section 1713.02 of the Revised Code, or that is a private 1018
institution exempt from regulation under Chapter 3332. of the 1019
Revised Code as prescribed in section 3333.046 of the Revised 1020
Code, which reduces tuition and student fees of a student who is 1021
eligible to attend an institution of higher education under the 1022
provisions of division (B) of this section by an amount indicated 1023
by the chancellor of the Ohio board of regents shall be eligible 1024
to receive a grant in that amount from the chancellor.1025

       Each institution that enrolls students under division (B) of 1026
this section shall report to the chancellor, by the first day of 1027
July of each year, the number of students who were so enrolled and 1028
the average amount of all such tuition and student fees waived 1029
during the preceding year. The chancellor shall determine the 1030
average amount of all such tuition and student fees waived during 1031
the preceding year. The average amount of the tuition and student 1032
fees waived under division (B) of this section during the 1033
preceding year shall be the amount of grants that participating 1034
institutions shall receive under this division during the current 1035
year, but no grant under this division shall exceed the tuition 1036
and student fees due and payable by the student prior to the 1037
reduction referred to in this division. The grants shall be made 1038
for four years of undergraduate education of an eligible student.1039

       Sec. 4113.41. (A) No employer shall terminate an employee who 1040
is a member of a volunteer fire department, or who is employed by 1041
a political subdivision of this state as a volunteer firefighter, 1042
or who is a volunteer provider of emergency medical services 1043
because that employee, when acting as a volunteer firefighter or a 1044
volunteer provider of emergency medical services, is absent from 1045
or late to the employee's employment in order to respond to an 1046
emergency prior to the time the employee is to report to work. An 1047
employer may charge any time that an employee who is a volunteer 1048
firefighter or a volunteer provider of emergency medical services 1049
loses from employment because of the employee's response to an 1050
emergency against the employee's regular pay.1051

       (B) An employee who is a volunteer firefighter or volunteer 1052
provider of emergency medical services shall do all of the 1053
following:1054

       (1) Not later than thirty days after receiving certification 1055
as a volunteer firefighter or a volunteer provider of emergency 1056
services, submit to the employee's employer a written notification 1057
signed by the chief of the volunteer fire department with which 1058
the employee serves, or the medical director or chief 1059
administrator of the cooperating physician advisory board of the 1060
emergency medical organization with which the employee serves, to 1061
notify the employer of the employee's status as a volunteer 1062
firefighter or volunteer provider of emergency services;1063

       (2) Make every effort to notify the employee's employer that 1064
the employee may report late to or be absent from work due to the 1065
employee's dispatch to an emergency.1066

       If notification of dispatch to an emergency cannot be made 1067
either due to the extreme circumstances of the emergency or the 1068
inability to contact the employer, then the employee shall submit 1069
to the employee's employer a written explanation from the chief of 1070
the volunteer fire department with which the employee serves, or 1071
the medical director or chief administrator of the cooperating 1072
physician advisory board of the emergency medical service 1073
organization with which the employee serves, as applicable, to 1074
explain why prior notice was not given.1075

       (C) At the employer's request, an employee who loses time 1076
from the employee's employment to respond to an emergency shall 1077
provide the employer with a written statement from the chief of 1078
the volunteer fire department or the medical director or chief 1079
administrator of the cooperating physician advisory board of the 1080
emergency medical service organization, as applicable, stating 1081
that the employee responded to an emergency and listing the time 1082
of that response.1083

       (D) An employee who is a member of a volunteer fire 1084
department, or who is employed by a political subdivision of this 1085
state as a volunteer firefighter, or who is a volunteer provider 1086
of emergency medical services shall notify that employee's 1087
employer when the employee's status as a volunteer firefighter or 1088
volunteer provider of emergency medical services changes, 1089
including when the employee's status as a volunteer firefighter or 1090
volunteer provider of emergency medical services is terminated.1091

       (E) If an employer purposely violates division (A) of this 1092
section, the employee may bring a civil action for reinstatement 1093
to the employee's former position of employment, payment of back 1094
wages, and full reinstatement of fringe benefits and seniority 1095
rights. An action to enforce this section shall be commenced 1096
within one year after the date of the violation in the court of 1097
common pleas of the county where the place of employment is 1098
located.1099

       (F) As used in this section:1100

       (1) "Emergency" means going to, attending to, or coming from 1101
a fire, hazardous or toxic materials spill and cleanup, medical 1102
emergency, or other situation that poses an imminent threat of 1103
loss of life or property to which the fire department or provider 1104
of emergency medical services has been or later could be 1105
dispatched.1106

       (2) "Emergency medical services" and "emergency medical 1107
service organization" have the same meanings as in section 4765.01 1108
of the Revised Code.1109

       (3) "Volunteer firefighter" has the same meaning as in 1110
division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of section 146.01 of the Revised Code.1111

       Sec. 4765.01.  As used in this chapter:1112

       (A) "First responder" means an individual who holds a 1113
current, valid certificate issued under section 4765.30 of the 1114
Revised Code to practice as a first responder.1115

       (B) "Emergency medical technician-basic" or "EMT-basic" means 1116
an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued under 1117
section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as an emergency 1118
medical technician-basic.1119

       (C) "Emergency medical technician-intermediate" or "EMT-I" 1120
means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued 1121
under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as an 1122
emergency medical technician-intermediate.1123

       (D) "Emergency medical technician-paramedic" or "paramedic" 1124
means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued 1125
under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as an 1126
emergency medical technician-paramedic.1127

       (E) "Ambulance" means any motor vehicle that is used, or is 1128
intended to be used, for the purpose of responding to emergency 1129
medical situations, transporting emergency patients, and 1130
administering emergency medical service to patients before, 1131
during, or after transportation.1132

       (F) "Cardiac monitoring" means a procedure used for the 1133
purpose of observing and documenting the rate and rhythm of a 1134
patient's heart by attaching electrical leads from an 1135
electrocardiograph monitor to certain points on the patient's body 1136
surface.1137

       (G) "Emergency medical service" means any of the services 1138
described in sections 4765.35, 4765.37, 4765.38, and 4765.39 of 1139
the Revised Code that are performed by first responders, emergency 1140
medical technicians-basic, emergency medical 1141
technicians-intermediate, and paramedics. "Emergency medical 1142
service" includes such services performed before or during any 1143
transport of a patient, including transports between hospitals and 1144
transports to and from helicopters.1145

       (H) "Emergency medical service organization" means a public 1146
or private organization using first responders, EMTs-basic, 1147
EMTs-I, or paramedics, or a combination of first responders, 1148
EMTs-basic, EMTs-I, and paramedics, to provide emergency medical 1149
services.1150

       (I) "Physician" means an individual who holds a current, 1151
valid certificate issued under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code 1152
authorizing the practice of medicine and surgery or osteopathic 1153
medicine and surgery.1154

       (J) "Registered nurse" means an individual who holds a 1155
current, valid license issued under Chapter 4723. of the Revised 1156
Code authorizing the practice of nursing as a registered nurse.1157

       (K) "Volunteer" means a person who provides services either 1158
for no compensation or for compensation that does not exceed the 1159
actual expenses incurred in providing the services or in training 1160
to provide the services.1161

       (L) "Emergency medical service personnel" means first 1162
responders, emergency medical service technicians-basic, emergency 1163
medical service technicians-intermediate, emergency medical 1164
service technicians-paramedic, and persons who provide medical 1165
direction to such persons.1166

       (M) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of 1167
the Revised Code.1168

       (N) "Trauma" or "traumatic injury" means severe damage to or 1169
destruction of tissue that satisfies both of the following 1170
conditions:1171

       (1) It creates a significant risk of any of the following:1172

       (a) Loss of life;1173

       (b) Loss of a limb;1174

       (c) Significant, permanent disfigurement;1175

       (d) Significant, permanent disability.1176

       (2) It is caused by any of the following:1177

       (a) Blunt or penetrating injury;1178

       (b) Exposure to electromagnetic, chemical, or radioactive 1179
energy;1180

       (c) Drowning, suffocation, or strangulation;1181

       (d) A deficit or excess of heat.1182

       (O) "Trauma victim" or "trauma patient" means a person who 1183
has sustained a traumatic injury.1184

       (P) "Trauma care" means the assessment, diagnosis, 1185
transportation, treatment, or rehabilitation of a trauma victim by 1186
emergency medical service personnel or by a physician, nurse, 1187
physician assistant, respiratory therapist, physical therapist, 1188
chiropractor, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, 1189
audiologist, or psychologist licensed to practice as such in this 1190
state or another jurisdiction.1191

       (Q) "Trauma center" means all of the following:1192

       (1) Any hospital that is verified by the American college of 1193
surgeons as an adult or pediatric trauma center;1194

       (2) Any hospital that is operating as an adult or pediatric 1195
trauma center under provisional status pursuant to section 1196
3727.101 of the Revised Code;1197

       (3) Until December 31, 2004, any hospital in this state that 1198
is designated by the director of health as a level II pediatric 1199
trauma center under section 3727.081 of the Revised Code;1200

       (4) Any hospital in another state that is licensed or 1201
designated under the laws of that state as capable of providing 1202
specialized trauma care appropriate to the medical needs of the 1203
trauma patient.1204

       (R) "Pediatric" means involving a patient who is less than 1205
sixteen years of age.1206

       (S) "Adult" means involving a patient who is not a pediatric 1207
patient.1208

       (T) "Geriatric" means involving a patient who is at least 1209
seventy years old or exhibits significant anatomical or 1210
physiological characteristics associated with advanced aging.1211

       (U) "Air medical organization" means an organization that 1212
provides emergency medical services, or transports emergency 1213
victims, by means of fixed or rotary wing aircraft.1214

       (V) "Emergency care" and "emergency facility" have the same 1215
meanings as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.1216

       (W) "Stabilize," except as it is used in division (B) of 1217
section 4765.35 of the Revised Code with respect to the manual 1218
stabilization of fractures, has the same meaning as in section 1219
1753.28 of the Revised Code.1220

       (X) "Transfer" has the same meaning as in section 1753.28 of 1221
the Revised Code.1222

       (Y) "Firefighter" means any member of a fire department as 1223
defined in section 742.01 of the Revised Code.1224

       (Z) "Volunteer firefighter" has the same meaning as in 1225
division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of section 146.01 of the Revised Code.1226

       (AA) "Part-time paid firefighter" means a person who provides 1227
firefighting services on less than a full-time basis, is routinely 1228
scheduled to be present on site at a fire station or other 1229
designated location for purposes of responding to a fire or other 1230
emergency, and receives more than nominal compensation for the 1231
provision of firefighting services.1232

       (BB) "Physician assistant" means an individual who holds a 1233
valid certificate to practice as a physician assistant issued 1234
under Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code.1235

       Section 2. That existing sections 124.1310, 146.01, 146.12, 1236
2915.01, 3333.26, 4113.41, and 4765.01 of the Revised Code are 1237
hereby repealed.1238