As Passed by the House

130th General Assembly
Regular Session
2013-2014
Am. Sub. H. B. No. 232


Representatives Sears, Milkovich 

Cosponsors: Representatives Gonzales, Hackett, Stebelton, Smith, Johnson, DeVitis, Letson, Stinziano, Wachtmann, Cera, Pelanda, Stautberg, Barnes, Bishoff, Brown, Amstutz, Anielski, Beck, Buchy, Burkley, Damschroder, Green, Grossman, Hagan, C., McClain, Sears, Slaby Speaker Batchelder 



A BILL
To amend sections 1701.03, 1705.03, 1705.04, 1705.53, 1
1785.01, 1785.02, 1785.03, 2152.72, 2305.234, 2
2305.51, 2317.02, 2921.22, 2925.01, 2951.041, 3
3107.014, 3701.046, 3701.74, 3709.161, 3721.21, 4
3923.28, 3923.281, 3923.282, 3923.30, 3963.01, 5
4723.16, 4725.33, 4729.161, 4731.226, 4731.65, 6
4732.28, 4734.17, 4734.41, 4755.471, 4757.01, 7
4757.02, 4757.03, 4757.04, 4757.10, 4757.11, 8
4757.16, 4757.21, 4757.22, 4757.23, 4757.26, 9
4757.27, 4757.28, 4757.29, 4757.30, 4757.31, 10
4757.33, 4757.34, 4757.36, 4757.38, 4757.41, 11
4757.43, 4758.40, 4758.41, 4758.55, 4758.561, 12
4758.59, 4758.61, 4769.01, 5101.61, and 5123.61; 13
to enact sections 4755.111, 4757.13, 4757.321, and 4757.37; 14
and to repeal section 4757.12 of the Revised Code 15
to modify the laws governing professional 16
counselors, social workers, and marriage and 17
family therapists.18


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

       Section 1. That sections 1701.03, 1705.03, 1705.04, 1705.53, 19
1785.01, 1785.02, 1785.03, 2152.72, 2305.234, 2305.51, 2317.02, 20
2921.22, 2925.01, 2951.041, 3107.014, 3701.046, 3701.74, 3709.161, 21
3721.21, 3923.28, 3923.281, 3923.282, 3923.30, 3963.01, 4723.16, 22
4725.33, 4729.161, 4731.226, 4731.65, 4732.28, 4734.17, 4734.41, 23
4755.471, 4757.01, 4757.02, 4757.03, 4757.04, 4757.10, 4757.11, 24
4757.16, 4757.21, 4757.22, 4757.23, 4757.26, 4757.27, 4757.28, 25
4757.29, 4757.30, 4757.31, 4757.33, 4757.34, 4757.36, 4757.38, 26
4757.41, 4757.43, 4758.40, 4758.41, 4758.55, 4758.561, 4758.59, 27
4758.61, 4769.01, 5101.61, and 5123.61 be amended and sections 4755.111 28
4757.13, 4757.321, and 4757.37 of the Revised Code be enacted to 29
read as follows:30

       Sec. 1701.03.  (A) A corporation may be formed under this 31
chapter for any purpose or combination of purposes for which 32
individuals lawfully may associate themselves, except that, if the 33
Revised Code contains special provisions pertaining to the 34
formation of any designated type of corporation other than a 35
professional association, as defined in section 1785.01 of the 36
Revised Code, a corporation of that type shall be formed in 37
accordance with the special provisions.38

       (B) On and after July 1, 1994, a corporation may be formed 39
under this chapter for the purpose of carrying on the practice of 40
any profession, including, but not limited to, a corporation for 41
the purpose of providing public accounting or certified public 42
accounting services, a corporation for the erection, owning, and 43
conducting of a sanitarium for receiving and caring for patients, 44
medical and hygienic treatment of patients, and instruction of 45
nurses in the treatment of disease and in hygiene, a corporation 46
for the purpose of providing architectural, landscape 47
architectural, professional engineering, or surveying services or 48
any combination of those types of services, and a corporation for 49
the purpose of providing a combination of the professional 50
services, as defined in section 1785.01 of the Revised Code, of 51
optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, 52
chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code 53
to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized 54
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed 55
practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised 56
Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised 57
Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 58
4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized 59
under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code,60
mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised 61
Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine 62
and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under 63
Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and licensed professional 64
clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent 65
social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family 66
therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under 67
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.68

        This chapter does not restrict, limit, or otherwise affect 69
the authority or responsibilities of any agency, board, 70
commission, department, office, or other entity to license, 71
register, and otherwise regulate the professional conduct of 72
individuals or organizations of any kind rendering professional 73
services, as defined in section 1785.01 of the Revised Code, in 74
this state or to regulate the practice of any profession that is 75
within the jurisdiction of the agency, board, commission, 76
department, office, or other entity, notwithstanding that an 77
individual is a director, officer, employee, or other agent of a 78
corporation formed under this chapter and is rendering 79
professional services or engaging in the practice of a profession 80
through a corporation formed under this chapter or that the 81
organization is a corporation formed under this chapter.82

       (C) Nothing in division (A) or (B) of this section precludes 83
the organization of a professional association in accordance with 84
this chapter and Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code or the 85
formation of a limited liability company under Chapter 1705. of 86
the Revised Code with respect to a business, as defined in section 87
1705.01 of the Revised Code.88

       (D) No corporation formed for the purpose of providing a 89
combination of the professional services, as defined in section 90
1785.01 of the Revised Code, of optometrists authorized under 91
Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under 92
Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or 93
acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the 94
Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses authorized 95
under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized 96
under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists 97
authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, 98
occupational therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 99
4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under 100
section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and 101
surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine 102
and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, 103
and licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed 104
professional counselors, independent social workers, social 105
workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage 106
and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the 107
Revised Code shall control the professional clinical judgment 108
exercised within accepted and prevailing standards of practice of 109
a licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized 110
optometrist, chiropractor, chiropractor practicing acupuncture 111
through the state chiropractic board, psychologist, nurse, 112
pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist,113
mechanotherapist, or doctor of medicine and surgery, osteopathic 114
medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, licensed 115
professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, 116
independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and 117
family therapist, or marriage and family therapist in rendering 118
care, treatment, or professional advice to an individual patient.119

       This division does not prevent a hospital, as defined in 120
section 3727.01 of the Revised Code, insurer, as defined in 121
section 3999.36 of the Revised Code, or intermediary organization, 122
as defined in section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, from entering 123
into a contract with a corporation described in this division that 124
includes a provision requiring utilization review, quality 125
assurance, peer review, or other performance or quality standards. 126
Those activities shall not be construed as controlling the 127
professional clinical judgment of an individual practitioner 128
listed in this division.129

       Sec. 1705.03.  (A) A limited liability company may sue and be 130
sued.131

       (B) Unless otherwise provided in its articles of 132
organization, a limited liability company may take property of any 133
description or any interest in property of any description by 134
gift, devise, or bequest and may make donations for the public 135
welfare or for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes.136

       (C) In carrying out the purposes stated in its articles of 137
organization or operating agreement and subject to limitations 138
prescribed by law or in its articles of organization or its 139
operating agreement, a limited liability company may do all of the 140
following:141

       (1) Purchase or otherwise acquire, lease as lessee or lessor, 142
invest in, hold, use, encumber, sell, exchange, transfer, and 143
dispose of property of any description or any interest in property 144
of any description;145

       (2) Make contracts;146

       (3) Form or acquire the control of other domestic or foreign 147
limited liability companies;148

       (4) Be a shareholder, partner, member, associate, or 149
participant in other profit or nonprofit enterprises or ventures;150

       (5) Conduct its affairs in this state and elsewhere;151

       (6) Render in this state and elsewhere a professional 152
service, the kinds of professional services authorized under 153
Chapters 4703. and 4733. of the Revised Code, or a combination of 154
the professional services of optometrists authorized under Chapter 155
4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 156
4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, 157
psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, 158
registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 159
4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 160
4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under 161
sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational 162
therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 163
Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 164
of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, 165
osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and 166
surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and 167
licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional 168
counselors, independent social workers, social workers, 169
independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family 170
therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;171

       (7) Borrow money;172

       (8) Issue, sell, and pledge its notes, bonds, and other 173
evidences of indebtedness;174

       (9) Secure any of its obligations by mortgage, pledge, or 175
deed of trust of all or any of its property;176

       (10) Guarantee or secure obligations of any person;177

       (11) Do all things permitted by law and exercise all 178
authority within or incidental to the purposes stated in its 179
articles of organization.180

       (D) In addition to the authority conferred by division (C) of 181
this section and irrespective of the purposes stated in its 182
articles of organization or operating agreement but subject to any 183
limitations stated in those articles or its operating agreement, a 184
limited liability company may invest funds not currently needed in 185
its business in any securities if the investment does not cause 186
the company to acquire control of another enterprise whose 187
activities and operations are not incidental to the purposes 188
stated in the articles of organization of the company.189

       (E)(1) No lack of authority or limitation upon the authority 190
of a limited liability company shall be asserted in any action 191
except as follows:192

       (a) By the state in an action by it against the company;193

       (b) By or on behalf of the company in an action against a 194
manager, an officer, or any member as a member;195

       (c) By a member as a member in an action against the company, 196
a manager, an officer, or any member as a member;197

       (d) In an action involving an alleged improper issue of a 198
membership interest in the company.199

       (2) Division (E)(1) of this section applies to any action 200
commenced in this state upon any contract made in this state by a 201
foreign limited liability company.202

       Sec. 1705.04.  (A) One or more persons, without regard to 203
residence, domicile, or state of organization, may form a limited 204
liability company. The articles of organization shall be signed 205
and filed with the secretary of state and shall set forth all of 206
the following:207

       (1) The name of the company;208

       (2) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, the 209
period of its duration, which may be perpetual;210

       (3) Any other provisions that are from the operating 211
agreement or that are not inconsistent with applicable law and 212
that the members elect to set out in the articles for the 213
regulation of the affairs of the company.214

       The legal existence of the company begins upon the filing of 215
the articles of organization or on a later date specified in the 216
articles of organization that is not more than ninety days after 217
the filing.218

       (B) If the articles of organization or operating agreement do 219
not set forth the period of the duration of the limited liability 220
company, its duration shall be perpetual.221

       (C) If a limited liability company is formed under this 222
chapter for the purpose of rendering a professional service, the 223
kinds of professional services authorized under Chapters 4703. and 224
4733. of the Revised Code, or a combination of the professional 225
services of optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the 226
Revised Code, chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the 227
Revised Code to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, 228
psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, 229
registered or licensed practical nurses authorized under Chapter 230
4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 231
4729. of the Revised Code, physical therapists authorized under 232
sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational 233
therapists authorized under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 234
Revised Code, mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 235
of the Revised Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, 236
osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and 237
surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and 238
licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional 239
counselors, independent social workers, social workers, 240
independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage and family 241
therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code the 242
following apply:243

       (1) Each member, employee, or other agent of the company who 244
renders a professional service in this state and, if the 245
management of the company is not reserved to its members, each 246
manager of the company who renders a professional service in this 247
state shall be licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally 248
authorized to render in this state the same kind of professional 249
service; if applicable, the kinds of professional services 250
authorized under Chapters 4703. and 4733. of the Revised Code; or, 251
if applicable, any of the kinds of professional services of 252
optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, 253
chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code 254
to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized 255
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed 256
practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised 257
Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised 258
Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 259
4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized 260
under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, 261
mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised 262
Code, or doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 263
surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under 264
Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, or licensed professional 265
clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent 266
social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family 267
therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under 268
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.269

       (2) Each member, employee, or other agent of the company who 270
renders a professional service in another state and, if the 271
management of the company is not reserved to its members, each 272
manager of the company who renders a professional service in 273
another state shall be licensed, certificated, or otherwise 274
legally authorized to render that professional service in the 275
other state.276

       (D) Except for the provisions of this chapter pertaining to 277
the personal liability of members, employees, or other agents of a 278
limited liability company and, if the management of the company is 279
not reserved to its members, the personal liability of managers of 280
the company, this chapter does not restrict, limit, or otherwise 281
affect the authority or responsibilities of any agency, board, 282
commission, department, office, or other entity to license, 283
certificate, register, and otherwise regulate the professional 284
conduct of individuals or organizations of any kind rendering 285
professional services in this state or to regulate the practice of 286
any profession that is within the jurisdiction of the agency, 287
board, commission, department, office, or other entity, 288
notwithstanding that the individual is a member or manager of a 289
limited liability company and is rendering the professional 290
services or engaging in the practice of the profession through the 291
limited liability company or that the organization is a limited 292
liability company.293

       (E) No limited liability company formed for the purpose of 294
providing a combination of the professional services, as defined 295
in section 1785.01 of the Revised Code, of optometrists authorized 296
under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized 297
under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic 298
or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of 299
the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses 300
authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists 301
authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical 302
therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the 303
Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 304
4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists 305
authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors 306
of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or 307
podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of 308
the Revised Code, and licensed professional clinical counselors, 309
licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, 310
social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or 311
marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of 312
the Revised Code shall control the professional clinical judgment 313
exercised within accepted and prevailing standards of practice of 314
a licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized 315
optometrist, chiropractor, chiropractor practicing acupuncture 316
through the state chiropractic board, psychologist, nurse, 317
pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, 318
mechanotherapist, or doctor of medicine and surgery, osteopathic 319
medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, licensed 320
professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, 321
independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and 322
family therapist, or marriage and family therapist in rendering 323
care, treatment, or professional advice to an individual patient.324

       This division does not prevent a hospital, as defined in 325
section 3727.01 of the Revised Code, insurer, as defined in 326
section 3999.36 of the Revised Code, or intermediary organization, 327
as defined in section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, from entering 328
into a contract with a limited liability company described in this 329
division that includes a provision requiring utilization review, 330
quality assurance, peer review, or other performance or quality 331
standards. Those activities shall not be construed as controlling 332
the professional clinical judgment of an individual practitioner 333
listed in this division.334

       Sec. 1705.53.  Subject to any contrary provisions of the Ohio 335
Constitution, the laws of the state under which a foreign limited 336
liability company is organized govern its organization and 337
internal affairs and the liability of its members. A foreign 338
limited liability company may not be denied a certificate of 339
registration as a foreign limited liability company in this state 340
because of any difference between the laws of the state under 341
which it is organized and the laws of this state. However, a 342
foreign limited liability company that applies for registration 343
under this chapter to render a professional service in this state, 344
as a condition to obtaining and maintaining a certificate of 345
registration, shall comply with the requirements of division (C) 346
of section 1705.04 of the Revised Code and shall comply with the 347
requirements of Chapters 4703. and 4733. of the Revised Code if 348
the kinds of professional services authorized under those chapters 349
are to be rendered or with the requirements of Chapters 4723., 350
4725., 4729., 4731., 4732., 4734., and 4755., and 4757. of the 351
Revised Code if a combination of the professional services of 352
optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, 353
chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code 354
to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized 355
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed 356
practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised 357
Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised 358
Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 359
4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized 360
under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, 361
mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised 362
Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine 363
and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under 364
Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and licensed professional 365
clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent 366
social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family 367
therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under 368
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code are to be rendered.369

       Sec. 1785.01.  As used in this chapter:370

       (A) "Professional service" means any type of professional 371
service that may be performed only pursuant to a license, 372
certificate, or other legal authorization issued pursuant to 373
Chapter 4701., 4703., 4705., 4715., 4723., 4725., 4729., 4730., 374
4731., 4732., 4733., 4734., or 4741., sections 4755.04 to 4755.13, 375
or 4755.40 to 4755.564755., or 4757. of the Revised Code to 376
certified public accountants, licensed public accountants, 377
architects, attorneys, dentists, nurses, optometrists, 378
pharmacists, physician assistants, doctors of medicine and 379
surgery, doctors of osteopathic medicine and surgery, doctors of 380
podiatric medicine and surgery, practitioners of the limited 381
branches of medicine specified in section 4731.15 of the Revised 382
Code, mechanotherapists, psychologists, professional engineers, 383
chiropractors, chiropractors practicing acupuncture through the 384
state chiropractic board, veterinarians, occupational therapists,385
physical therapists, and occupational therapists, licensed 386
professional clinical counselors, licensed professional 387
counselors, independent social workers, social workers, 388
independent marriage and family therapists, and marriage and 389
family therapists.390

       (B) "Professional association" means an association organized 391
under this chapter for the sole purpose of rendering one of the 392
professional services authorized under Chapter 4701., 4703., 393
4705., 4715., 4723., 4725., 4729., 4730., 4731., 4732., 4733., 394
4734., or 4741., sections 4755.04 to 4755.13, or 4755.40 to 395
4755.564755., or 4757. of the Revised Code, a combination of the 396
professional services authorized under Chapters 4703. and 4733. of 397
the Revised Code, or a combination of the professional services of 398
optometrists authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, 399
chiropractors authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code 400
to practice chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized 401
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed 402
practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised 403
Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised 404
Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 405
4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized 406
under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, 407
mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised 408
Code, and doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine 409
and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under 410
Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, and licensed professional 411
clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent 412
social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family 413
therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under 414
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.415

       Sec. 1785.02.  An individual or group of individuals each of 416
whom is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 417
render within this state the same kind of professional service, a 418
group of individuals each of whom is licensed, certificated, or 419
otherwise legally authorized to render within this state the 420
professional service authorized under Chapter 4703. or 4733. of 421
the Revised Code, or a group of individuals each of whom is 422
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to render 423
within this state the professional service of optometrists 424
authorized under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors 425
authorized under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice 426
chiropractic or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under 427
Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, registered or licensed 428
practical nurses authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised 429
Code, pharmacists authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised 430
Code, physical therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 431
4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized 432
under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, 433
mechanotherapists authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised 434
Code, or doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 435
surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under 436
Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, or licensed professional 437
clinical counselors, licensed professional counselors, independent 438
social workers, social workers, independent marriage and family 439
therapists, or marriage and family therapists authorized under 440
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code may organize and become a 441
shareholder or shareholders of a professional association. Any 442
group of individuals described in this section who may be 443
rendering one of the professional services as an organization 444
created otherwise than pursuant to this chapter may incorporate 445
under and pursuant to this chapter by amending the agreement 446
establishing the organization in a manner that the agreement as 447
amended constitutes articles of incorporation prepared and filed 448
in the manner prescribed in section 1785.08 of the Revised Code 449
and by otherwise complying with the applicable requirements of 450
this chapter.451

       Sec. 1785.03.  A professional association may render a 452
particular professional service only through officers, employees, 453
and agents who are themselves duly licensed, certificated, or 454
otherwise legally authorized to render the professional service 455
within this state. As used in this section, "employee" does not 456
include clerks, bookkeepers, technicians, or other individuals who 457
are not usually and ordinarily considered by custom and practice 458
to be rendering a particular professional service for which a 459
license, certificate, or other legal authorization is required and 460
does not include any other person who performs all of that 461
person's employment under the direct supervision and control of an 462
officer, agent, or employee who renders a particular professional 463
service to the public on behalf of the professional association.464

       No professional association formed for the purpose of 465
providing a combination of the professional services, as defined 466
in section 1785.01 of the Revised Code, of optometrists authorized 467
under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code, chiropractors authorized 468
under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic 469
or acupuncture, psychologists authorized under Chapter 4732. of 470
the Revised Code, registered or licensed practical nurses 471
authorized under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists 472
authorized under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, physical 473
therapists authorized under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the 474
Revised Code, occupational therapists authorized under sections 475
4755.04 to 4755.13 of the Revised Code, mechanotherapists 476
authorized under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and doctors 477
of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or 478
podiatric medicine and surgery authorized under Chapter 4731. of 479
the Revised Code, and licensed professional clinical counselors, 480
licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, 481
social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or 482
marriage and family therapists authorized under Chapter 4757. of 483
the Revised Code shall control the professional clinical judgment 484
exercised within accepted and prevailing standards of practice of 485
a licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized 486
optometrist, chiropractor, chiropractor practicing acupuncture 487
through the state chiropractic board, psychologist, nurse, 488
pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, 489
mechanotherapist, or doctor of medicine and surgery, osteopathic 490
medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, licensed 491
professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, 492
independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and 493
family therapist, or marriage and family therapist in rendering 494
care, treatment, or professional advice to an individual patient.495

       This division does not prevent a hospital, as defined in 496
section 3727.01 of the Revised Code, insurer, as defined in 497
section 3999.36 of the Revised Code, or intermediary organization, 498
as defined in section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, from entering 499
into a contract with a professional association described in this 500
division that includes a provision requiring utilization review, 501
quality assurance, peer review, or other performance or quality 502
standards. Those activities shall not be construed as controlling 503
the professional clinical judgment of an individual practitioner 504
listed in this division.505

       Sec. 2152.72.  (A) This section applies only to a child who 506
is or previously has been adjudicated a delinquent child for an 507
act to which any of the following applies:508

       (1) The act is a violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 509
2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2907.02, 2907.03, or 510
2907.05 of the Revised Code.511

       (2) The act is a violation of section 2923.01 of the Revised 512
Code and involved an attempt to commit aggravated murder or 513
murder.514

       (3) The act would be a felony if committed by an adult, and 515
the court determined that the child, if an adult, would be guilty 516
of a specification found in section 2941.141, 2941.144, or 517
2941.145 of the Revised Code or in another section of the Revised 518
Code that relates to the possession or use of a firearm during the 519
commission of the act for which the child was adjudicated a 520
delinquent child.521

       (4) The act would be an offense of violence that is a felony 522
if committed by an adult, and the court determined that the child, 523
if an adult, would be guilty of a specification found in section 524
2941.1411 of the Revised Code or in another section of the Revised 525
Code that relates to the wearing or carrying of body armor during 526
the commission of the act for which the child was adjudicated a 527
delinquent child.528

       (B)(1) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, a 529
public children services agency, private child placing agency, 530
private noncustodial agency, or court, the department of youth 531
services, or another private or government entity shall not place 532
a child in a certified foster home or for adoption until it 533
provides the foster caregivers or prospective adoptive parents 534
with all of the following:535

       (a) A written report describing the child's social history;536

       (b) A written report describing all the acts committed by the 537
child the entity knows of that resulted in the child being 538
adjudicated a delinquent child and the disposition made by the 539
court, unless the records pertaining to the acts have been sealed 540
pursuant to section 2151.356 of the Revised Code;541

       (c) A written report describing any other violent act 542
committed by the child of which the entity is aware;543

       (d) The substantial and material conclusions and 544
recommendations of any psychiatric or psychological examination 545
conducted on the child or, if no psychological or psychiatric 546
examination of the child is available, the substantial and 547
material conclusions and recommendations of an examination to 548
detect mental and emotional disorders conducted in compliance with 549
the requirements of Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code by an 550
independent social worker, social worker, licensed professional 551
clinical counselor, orlicensed professional counselor, 552
independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family 553
therapist licensed under that chapter. The entity shall not 554
provide any part of a psychological, psychiatric, or mental and 555
emotional disorder examination to the foster caregivers or 556
prospective adoptive parents other than the substantial and 557
material conclusions.558

       (2) Notwithstanding sections 2151.356 to 2151.358 of the 559
Revised Code, if records of an adjudication that a child is a 560
delinquent child have been sealed pursuant to those sections and 561
an entity knows the records have been sealed, the entity shall 562
provide the foster caregivers or prospective adoptive parents a 563
written statement that the records of a prior adjudication have 564
been sealed.565

       (C)(1) The entity that places the child in a certified foster 566
home or for adoption shall conduct a psychological examination of 567
the child unless either of the following applies:568

       (a) An entity is not required to conduct the examination if 569
an examination was conducted no more than one year prior to the 570
child's placement, and division (C)(1)(b) of this section does not 571
apply.572

       (b) An entity is not required to conduct the examination if a 573
foster caregiver seeks to adopt the foster caregiver's foster 574
child, and an examination was conducted no more than two years 575
prior to the date the foster caregiver seeks to adopt the child.576

       (2) No later than sixty days after placing the child, the 577
entity shall provide the foster caregiver or prospective adoptive 578
parents a written report detailing the substantial and material 579
conclusions and recommendations of the examination conducted 580
pursuant to this division.581

       (D)(1) Except as provided in divisions (D)(2) and (3) of this 582
section, the expenses of conducting the examinations and preparing 583
the reports and assessment required by division (B) or (C) of this 584
section shall be paid by the entity that places the child in the 585
certified foster home or for adoption.586

       (2) When a juvenile court grants temporary or permanent 587
custody of a child pursuant to any section of the Revised Code, 588
including section 2151.33, 2151.353, 2151.354, or 2152.19 of the 589
Revised Code, to a public children services agency or private 590
child placing agency, the court shall provide the agency the 591
information described in division (B) of this section, pay the 592
expenses of preparing that information, and, if a new examination 593
is required to be conducted, pay the expenses of conducting the 594
examination described in division (C) of this section. On receipt 595
of the information described in division (B) of this section, the 596
agency shall provide to the court written acknowledgment that the 597
agency received the information. The court shall keep the 598
acknowledgment and provide a copy to the agency. On the motion of 599
the agency, the court may terminate the order granting temporary 600
or permanent custody of the child to that agency, if the court 601
does not provide the information described in division (B) of this 602
section.603

       (3) If one of the following entities is placing a child in a 604
certified foster home or for adoption with the assistance of or by 605
contracting with a public children services agency, private child 606
placing agency, or a private noncustodial agency, the entity shall 607
provide the agency with the information described in division (B) 608
of this section, pay the expenses of preparing that information, 609
and, if a new examination is required to be conducted, pay the 610
expenses of conducting the examination described in division (C) 611
of this section:612

       (a) The department of youth services if the placement is 613
pursuant to any section of the Revised Code including section 614
2152.22, 5139.06, 5139.07, 5139.38, or 5139.39 of the Revised 615
Code;616

       (b) A juvenile court with temporary or permanent custody of a 617
child pursuant to section 2151.354 or 2152.19 of the Revised Code;618

       (c) A public children services agency or private child 619
placing agency with temporary or permanent custody of the child.620

       The agency receiving the information described in division 621
(B) of this section shall provide the entity described in division622
divisions (D)(3)(a) to (c) of this section that sent the 623
information written acknowledgment that the agency received the 624
information and provided it to the foster caregivers or 625
prospective adoptive parents. The entity shall keep the 626
acknowledgment and provide a copy to the agency. An entity that 627
places a child in a certified foster home or for adoption with the 628
assistance of or by contracting with an agency remains responsible 629
to provide the information described in division (B) of this 630
section to the foster caregivers or prospective adoptive parents 631
unless the entity receives written acknowledgment that the agency 632
provided the information.633

       (E) If a child is placed in a certified foster home as a 634
result of an emergency removal of the child from home pursuant to 635
division (D) of section 2151.31 of the Revised Code, an emergency 636
change in the child's case plan pursuant to division (F)(3) of 637
section 2151.412 of the Revised Code, or an emergency placement by 638
the department of youth services pursuant to this chapter or 639
Chapter 5139. of the Revised Code, the entity that places the 640
child in the certified foster home shall provide the information 641
described in division (B) of this section no later than ninety-six 642
hours after the child is placed in the certified foster home.643

       (F) On receipt of the information described in divisions (B) 644
and (C) of this section, the foster caregiver or prospective 645
adoptive parents shall provide to the entity that places the child 646
in the foster caregiver's or prospective adoptive parents' home a 647
written acknowledgment that the foster caregiver or prospective 648
adoptive parents received the information. The entity shall keep 649
the acknowledgment and provide a copy to the foster caregiver or 650
prospective adoptive parents.651

       (G) No person employed by an entity subject to this section 652
and made responsible by that entity for the child's placement in a 653
certified foster home or for adoption shall fail to provide the 654
foster caregivers or prospective adoptive parents with the 655
information required by divisions (B) and (C) of this section.656

       (H) It is not a violation of any duty of confidentiality 657
provided for in the Revised Code or a code of professional 658
responsibility for a person or government entity to provide the 659
substantial and material conclusions and recommendations of a 660
psychiatric or psychological examination, or an examination to 661
detect mental and emotional disorders, in accordance with division 662
(B)(1)(d) or (C) of this section.663

       (I) As used in this section:664

       (1) "Body armor" has the same meaning as in section 2941.1411 665
of the Revised Code.666

       (2) "Firearm" has the same meaning as in section 2923.11 of 667
the Revised Code.668

       Sec. 2305.234.  (A) As used in this section:669

       (1) "Chiropractic claim," "medical claim," and "optometric 670
claim" have the same meanings as in section 2305.113 of the 671
Revised Code.672

       (2) "Dental claim" has the same meaning as in section 673
2305.113 of the Revised Code, except that it does not include any 674
claim arising out of a dental operation or any derivative claim 675
for relief that arises out of a dental operation.676

       (3) "Governmental health care program" has the same meaning 677
as in section 4731.65 of the Revised Code.678

       (4) "Health care facility or location" means a hospital, 679
clinic, ambulatory surgical facility, office of a health care 680
professional or associated group of health care professionals, 681
training institution for health care professionals, or any other 682
place where medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, 683
care, or treatment is provided to a person.684

       (5) "Health care professional" means any of the following who 685
provide medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, 686
or treatment:687

       (a) Physicians authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 688
Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and 689
surgery;690

       (b) Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses licensed 691
under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code and individuals who hold a 692
certificate of authority issued under that chapter that authorizes 693
the practice of nursing as a certified registered nurse 694
anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, 695
or certified nurse practitioner;696

       (c) Physician assistants authorized to practice under Chapter 697
4730. of the Revised Code;698

       (d) Dentists and dental hygienists licensed under Chapter 699
4715. of the Revised Code;700

       (e) Physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, 701
occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants, and athletic trainers702
licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;703

       (f) Chiropractors licensed under Chapter 4734. of the Revised 704
Code;705

       (g) Optometrists licensed under Chapter 4725. of the Revised 706
Code;707

       (h) Podiatrists authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 708
Code to practice podiatry;709

       (i) Dietitians licensed under Chapter 4759. of the Revised 710
Code;711

       (j) Pharmacists licensed under Chapter 4729. of the Revised 712
Code;713

       (k) Emergency medical technicians-basic, emergency medical 714
technicians-intermediate, and emergency medical 715
technicians-paramedic, certified under Chapter 4765. of the 716
Revised Code;717

       (l) Respiratory care professionals licensed under Chapter 718
4761. of the Revised Code;719

       (m) Speech-language pathologists and audiologists licensed 720
under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;721

       (n) ProfessionalLicensed professional clinical counselors, 722
licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, 723
social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, and 724
marriage and family therapists, licensed under Chapter 4757. of 725
the Revised Code;726

       (o) Psychologists licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised 727
Code;728

       (p) Independent chemical dependency counselors, chemical 729
dependency counselors III, chemical dependency counselors II, and 730
chemical dependency counselors I, licensed under Chapter 4758. of 731
the Revised CodeIndividuals licensed or certified under Chapter 732
4758. of the Revised Code who are acting within the scope of their 733
license or certificate as members of the profession of chemical 734
dependency counseling or alcohol and other drug prevention 735
services.736

       (6) "Health care worker" means a person other than a health 737
care professional who provides medical, dental, or other 738
health-related care or treatment under the direction of a health 739
care professional with the authority to direct that individual's 740
activities, including medical technicians, medical assistants, 741
dental assistants, orderlies, aides, and individuals acting in 742
similar capacities.743

       (7) "Indigent and uninsured person" means a person who meets 744
all of the following requirements:745

       (a) The person's income is not greater than two hundred per 746
cent of the current poverty line as defined by the United States 747
office of management and budget and revised in accordance with 748
section 673(2) of the "Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981," 749
95 Stat. 511, 42 U.S.C. 9902, as amended.750

       (b) The person is not eligible for the medicaid program or 751
any other governmental health care program.752

       (c) Either of the following applies:753

       (i) The person is not a policyholder, certificate holder, 754
insured, contract holder, subscriber, enrollee, member, 755
beneficiary, or other covered individual under a health insurance 756
or health care policy, contract, or plan.757

       (ii) The person is a policyholder, certificate holder, 758
insured, contract holder, subscriber, enrollee, member, 759
beneficiary, or other covered individual under a health insurance 760
or health care policy, contract, or plan, but the insurer, policy, 761
contract, or plan denies coverage or is the subject of insolvency 762
or bankruptcy proceedings in any jurisdiction.763

       (8) "Nonprofit health care referral organization" means an 764
entity that is not operated for profit and refers patients to, or 765
arranges for the provision of, health-related diagnosis, care, or 766
treatment by a health care professional or health care worker.767

       (9) "Operation" means any procedure that involves cutting or 768
otherwise infiltrating human tissue by mechanical means, including 769
surgery, laser surgery, ionizing radiation, therapeutic 770
ultrasound, or the removal of intraocular foreign bodies. 771
"Operation" does not include the administration of medication by 772
injection, unless the injection is administered in conjunction 773
with a procedure infiltrating human tissue by mechanical means 774
other than the administration of medicine by injection. 775
"Operation" does not include routine dental restorative 776
procedures, the scaling of teeth, or extractions of teeth that are 777
not impacted.778

       (10) "Tort action" means a civil action for damages for 779
injury, death, or loss to person or property other than a civil 780
action for damages for a breach of contract or another agreement 781
between persons or government entities.782

       (11) "Volunteer" means an individual who provides any 783
medical, dental, or other health-care related diagnosis, care, or 784
treatment without the expectation of receiving and without receipt 785
of any compensation or other form of remuneration from an indigent 786
and uninsured person, another person on behalf of an indigent and 787
uninsured person, any health care facility or location, any 788
nonprofit health care referral organization, or any other person 789
or government entity.790

       (12) "Community control sanction" has the same meaning as in 791
section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.792

       (13) "Deep sedation" means a drug-induced depression of 793
consciousness during which a patient cannot be easily aroused but 794
responds purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation, a 795
patient's ability to independently maintain ventilatory function 796
may be impaired, a patient may require assistance in maintaining a 797
patent airway and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate, and 798
cardiovascular function is usually maintained.799

       (14) "General anesthesia" means a drug-induced loss of 800
consciousness during which a patient is not arousable, even by 801
painful stimulation, the ability to independently maintain 802
ventilatory function is often impaired, a patient often requires 803
assistance in maintaining a patent airway, positive pressure 804
ventilation may be required because of depressed spontaneous 805
ventilation or drug-induced depression of neuromuscular function, 806
and cardiovascular function may be impaired.807

       (B)(1) Subject to divisions (F) and (G)(3) of this section, a 808
health care professional who is a volunteer and complies with 809
division (B)(2) of this section is not liable in damages to any 810
person or government entity in a tort or other civil action, 811
including an action on a medical, dental, chiropractic, 812
optometric, or other health-related claim, for injury, death, or 813
loss to person or property that allegedly arises from an action or 814
omission of the volunteer in the provision to an indigent and 815
uninsured person of medical, dental, or other health-related 816
diagnosis, care, or treatment, including the provision of samples 817
of medicine and other medical products, unless the action or 818
omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.819

       (2) To qualify for the immunity described in division (B)(1) 820
of this section, a health care professional shall do all of the 821
following prior to providing diagnosis, care, or treatment:822

       (a) Determine, in good faith, that the indigent and uninsured 823
person is mentally capable of giving informed consent to the 824
provision of the diagnosis, care, or treatment and is not subject 825
to duress or under undue influence;826

       (b) Inform the person of the provisions of this section, 827
including notifying the person that, by giving informed consent to 828
the provision of the diagnosis, care, or treatment, the person 829
cannot hold the health care professional liable for damages in a 830
tort or other civil action, including an action on a medical, 831
dental, chiropractic, optometric, or other health-related claim, 832
unless the action or omission of the health care professional 833
constitutes willful or wanton misconduct;834

       (c) Obtain the informed consent of the person and a written 835
waiver, signed by the person or by another individual on behalf of 836
and in the presence of the person, that states that the person is 837
mentally competent to give informed consent and, without being 838
subject to duress or under undue influence, gives informed consent 839
to the provision of the diagnosis, care, or treatment subject to 840
the provisions of this section. A written waiver under division 841
(B)(2)(c) of this section shall state clearly and in conspicuous 842
type that the person or other individual who signs the waiver is 843
signing it with full knowledge that, by giving informed consent to 844
the provision of the diagnosis, care, or treatment, the person 845
cannot bring a tort or other civil action, including an action on 846
a medical, dental, chiropractic, optometric, or other 847
health-related claim, against the health care professional unless 848
the action or omission of the health care professional constitutes 849
willful or wanton misconduct.850

       (3) A physician or podiatrist who is not covered by medical 851
malpractice insurance, but complies with division (B)(2) of this 852
section, is not required to comply with division (A) of section 853
4731.143 of the Revised Code.854

       (C) Subject to divisions (F) and (G)(3) of this section, 855
health care workers who are volunteers are not liable in damages 856
to any person or government entity in a tort or other civil 857
action, including an action upon a medical, dental, chiropractic, 858
optometric, or other health-related claim, for injury, death, or 859
loss to person or property that allegedly arises from an action or 860
omission of the health care worker in the provision to an indigent 861
and uninsured person of medical, dental, or other health-related 862
diagnosis, care, or treatment, unless the action or omission 863
constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.864

       (D) Subject to divisions (F) and (G)(3) of this section, a 865
nonprofit health care referral organization is not liable in 866
damages to any person or government entity in a tort or other 867
civil action, including an action on a medical, dental, 868
chiropractic, optometric, or other health-related claim, for 869
injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises 870
from an action or omission of the nonprofit health care referral 871
organization in referring indigent and uninsured persons to, or 872
arranging for the provision of, medical, dental, or other 873
health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment by a health care 874
professional described in division (B)(1) of this section or a 875
health care worker described in division (C) of this section, 876
unless the action or omission constitutes willful or wanton 877
misconduct.878

       (E) Subject to divisions (F) and (G)(3) of this section and 879
to the extent that the registration requirements of section 880
3701.071 of the Revised Code apply, a health care facility or 881
location associated with a health care professional described in 882
division (B)(1) of this section, a health care worker described in 883
division (C) of this section, or a nonprofit health care referral 884
organization described in division (D) of this section is not 885
liable in damages to any person or government entity in a tort or 886
other civil action, including an action on a medical, dental, 887
chiropractic, optometric, or other health-related claim, for 888
injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises 889
from an action or omission of the health care professional or 890
worker or nonprofit health care referral organization relative to 891
the medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or 892
treatment provided to an indigent and uninsured person on behalf 893
of or at the health care facility or location, unless the action 894
or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.895

       (F)(1) Except as provided in division (F)(2) of this section, 896
the immunities provided by divisions (B), (C), (D), and (E) of 897
this section are not available to a health care professional, 898
health care worker, nonprofit health care referral organization, 899
or health care facility or location if, at the time of an alleged 900
injury, death, or loss to person or property, the health care 901
professionals or health care workers involved are providing one of 902
the following:903

       (a) Any medical, dental, or other health-related diagnosis, 904
care, or treatment pursuant to a community service work order 905
entered by a court under division (B) of section 2951.02 of the 906
Revised Code or imposed by a court as a community control 907
sanction;908

       (b) Performance of an operation to which any one of the 909
following applies:910

        (i) The operation requires the administration of deep 911
sedation or general anesthesia.912

        (ii) The operation is a procedure that is not typically 913
performed in an office.914

       (iii) The individual involved is a health care professional, 915
and the operation is beyond the scope of practice or the 916
education, training, and competence, as applicable, of the health 917
care professional.918

       (c) Delivery of a baby or any other purposeful termination of 919
a human pregnancy.920

       (2) Division (F)(1) of this section does not apply when a 921
health care professional or health care worker provides medical, 922
dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment that 923
is necessary to preserve the life of a person in a medical 924
emergency.925

       (G)(1) This section does not create a new cause of action or 926
substantive legal right against a health care professional, health 927
care worker, nonprofit health care referral organization, or 928
health care facility or location.929

       (2) This section does not affect any immunities from civil 930
liability or defenses established by another section of the 931
Revised Code or available at common law to which a health care 932
professional, health care worker, nonprofit health care referral 933
organization, or health care facility or location may be entitled 934
in connection with the provision of emergency or other medical, 935
dental, or other health-related diagnosis, care, or treatment.936

       (3) This section does not grant an immunity from tort or 937
other civil liability to a health care professional, health care 938
worker, nonprofit health care referral organization, or health 939
care facility or location for actions that are outside the scope 940
of authority of health care professionals or health care workers.941

       (4) This section does not affect any legal responsibility of 942
a health care professional, health care worker, or nonprofit 943
health care referral organization to comply with any applicable 944
law of this state or rule of an agency of this state.945

       (5) This section does not affect any legal responsibility of 946
a health care facility or location to comply with any applicable 947
law of this state, rule of an agency of this state, or local code, 948
ordinance, or regulation that pertains to or regulates building, 949
housing, air pollution, water pollution, sanitation, health, fire, 950
zoning, or safety.951

       Sec. 2305.51.  (A)(1) As used in this section:952

       (a) "Civil Rights" has the same meaning as in section 953
5122.301 of the Revised Code.954

       (b) "Mental health client or patient" means an individual who 955
is receiving mental health services from a mental health 956
professional or organization.957

       (c) "Mental health organization" means an organization that 958
engages one or more mental health professionals to provide mental 959
health services to one or more mental health clients or patients.960

       (d) "Mental health professional" means an individual who is 961
licensed, certified, or registered under the Revised Code, or 962
otherwise authorized in this state, to provide mental health 963
services for compensation, remuneration, or other personal gain.964

       (e) "Mental health service" means a service provided to an 965
individual or group of individuals involving the application of 966
medical, psychiatric, psychological, professional counseling, 967
social work, marriage and family therapy, or nursing principles 968
or procedures to either of the following:969

       (i) The assessment, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or 970
amelioration of mental, emotional, psychiatric, psychological, or 971
psychosocial disorders or diseases, as described in the most 972
recent edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental 973
disorders published by the American psychiatric association;974

       (ii) The assessment or improvement of mental, emotional, 975
psychiatric, psychological, or psychosocial adjustment or 976
functioning, regardless of whether there is a diagnosable, 977
pre-existing disorder or disease.978

       (f) "Knowledgeable person" means an individual who has reason 979
to believe that a mental health client or patient has the intent 980
and ability to carry out an explicit threat of inflicting imminent 981
and serious physical harm to or causing the death of a clearly 982
identifiable potential victim or victims and who is either an 983
immediate family member of the client or patient or an individual 984
who otherwise personally knows the client or patient.985

       (2) For the purpose of this section, in the case of a threat 986
to a readily identifiable structure, "clearly identifiable 987
potential victim" includes any potential occupant of the 988
structure.989

       (B) A mental health professional or mental health 990
organization may be held liable in damages in a civil action, or 991
may be made subject to disciplinary action by an entity with 992
licensing or other regulatory authority over the professional or 993
organization, for serious physical harm or death resulting from 994
failing to predict, warn of, or take precautions to provide 995
protection from the violent behavior of a mental health client or 996
patient, only if the client or patient or a knowledgeable person 997
has communicated to the professional or organization an explicit 998
threat of inflicting imminent and serious physical harm to or 999
causing the death of one or more clearly identifiable potential 1000
victims, the professional or organization has reason to believe 1001
that the client or patient has the intent and ability to carry out 1002
the threat, and the professional or organization fails to take one 1003
or more of the following actions in a timely manner:1004

       (1) Exercise any authority the professional or organization 1005
possesses to hospitalize the client or patient on an emergency 1006
basis pursuant to section 5122.10 of the Revised Code;1007

       (2) Exercise any authority the professional or organization 1008
possesses to have the client or patient involuntarily or 1009
voluntarily hospitalized under Chapter 5122. of the Revised Code;1010

       (3) Establish and undertake a documented treatment plan that 1011
is reasonably calculated, according to appropriate standards of 1012
professional practice, to eliminate the possibility that the 1013
client or patient will carry out the threat, and, concurrent with 1014
establishing and undertaking the treatment plan, initiate 1015
arrangements for a second opinion risk assessment through a 1016
management consultation about the treatment plan with, in the case 1017
of a mental health organization, the clinical director of the 1018
organization, or, in the case of a mental health professional who 1019
is not acting as part of a mental health organization, any mental 1020
health professional who is licensed to engage in independent 1021
practice;1022

       (4) Communicate to a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction 1023
in the area where each potential victim resides, where a structure 1024
threatened by a mental health client or patient is located, or 1025
where the mental health client or patient resides, and if 1026
feasible, communicate to each potential victim or a potential 1027
victim's parent or guardian if the potential victim is a minor or 1028
has been adjudicated incompetent, all of the following 1029
information:1030

       (a) The nature of the threat;1031

       (b) The identity of the mental health client or patient 1032
making the threat;1033

       (c) The identity of each potential victim of the threat.1034

       (C) All of the following apply when a mental health 1035
professional or organization takes one or more of the actions set 1036
forth in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section:1037

       (1) The mental health professional or organization shall 1038
consider each of the alternatives set forth and shall document the 1039
reasons for choosing or rejecting each alternative.1040

       (2) The mental health professional or organization may give 1041
special consideration to those alternatives which, consistent with 1042
public safety, would least abridge the rights of the mental health 1043
client or patient established under the Revised Code, including 1044
the rights specified in sections 5122.27 to 5122.31 of the Revised 1045
Code.1046

       (3) The mental health professional or organization is not 1047
required to take an action that, in the exercise of reasonable 1048
professional judgment, would physically endanger the professional 1049
or organization, increase the danger to a potential victim, or 1050
increase the danger to the mental health client or patient.1051

       (4) The mental health professional or organization is not 1052
liable in damages in a civil action, and shall not be made subject 1053
to disciplinary action by any entity with licensing or other 1054
regulatory authority over the professional or organization, for 1055
disclosing any confidential information about a mental health 1056
client or patient that is disclosed for the purpose of taking any 1057
of the actions.1058

       (D) The immunities from civil liability and disciplinary 1059
action conferred by this section are in addition to and not in 1060
limitation of any immunity conferred on a mental health 1061
professional or organization by any other section of the Revised 1062
Code or by judicial precedent.1063

       (E) This section does not affect the civil rights of a mental 1064
health client or patient under Ohio or federal law.1065

       Sec. 2317.02.  The following persons shall not testify in 1066
certain respects:1067

       (A)(1) An attorney, concerning a communication made to the 1068
attorney by a client in that relation or concerning the attorney's 1069
advice to a client, except that the attorney may testify by 1070
express consent of the client or, if the client is deceased, by 1071
the express consent of the surviving spouse or the executor or 1072
administrator of the estate of the deceased client. However, if 1073
the client voluntarily reveals the substance of attorney-client 1074
communications in a nonprivileged context or is deemed by section 1075
2151.421 of the Revised Code to have waived any testimonial 1076
privilege under this division, the attorney may be compelled to 1077
testify on the same subject.1078

       The testimonial privilege established under this division 1079
does not apply concerning a communication between a client who has 1080
since died and the deceased client's attorney if the communication 1081
is relevant to a dispute between parties who claim through that 1082
deceased client, regardless of whether the claims are by testate 1083
or intestate succession or by inter vivos transaction, and the 1084
dispute addresses the competency of the deceased client when the 1085
deceased client executed a document that is the basis of the 1086
dispute or whether the deceased client was a victim of fraud, 1087
undue influence, or duress when the deceased client executed a 1088
document that is the basis of the dispute.1089

       (2) An attorney, concerning a communication made to the 1090
attorney by a client in that relationship or the attorney's advice 1091
to a client, except that if the client is an insurance company, 1092
the attorney may be compelled to testify, subject to an in camera 1093
inspection by a court, about communications made by the client to 1094
the attorney or by the attorney to the client that are related to 1095
the attorney's aiding or furthering an ongoing or future 1096
commission of bad faith by the client, if the party seeking 1097
disclosure of the communications has made a prima-facie showing of 1098
bad faith, fraud, or criminal misconduct by the client.1099

       (B)(1) A physician or a dentist concerning a communication 1100
made to the physician or dentist by a patient in that relation or 1101
the physician's or dentist's advice to a patient, except as 1102
otherwise provided in this division, division (B)(2), and division 1103
(B)(3) of this section, and except that, if the patient is deemed 1104
by section 2151.421 of the Revised Code to have waived any 1105
testimonial privilege under this division, the physician may be 1106
compelled to testify on the same subject.1107

       The testimonial privilege established under this division 1108
does not apply, and a physician or dentist may testify or may be 1109
compelled to testify, in any of the following circumstances:1110

       (a) In any civil action, in accordance with the discovery 1111
provisions of the Rules of Civil Procedure in connection with a 1112
civil action, or in connection with a claim under Chapter 4123. of 1113
the Revised Code, under any of the following circumstances:1114

       (i) If the patient or the guardian or other legal 1115
representative of the patient gives express consent;1116

       (ii) If the patient is deceased, the spouse of the patient or 1117
the executor or administrator of the patient's estate gives 1118
express consent;1119

       (iii) If a medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, 1120
or optometric claim, as defined in section 2305.113 of the Revised 1121
Code, an action for wrongful death, any other type of civil 1122
action, or a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code is 1123
filed by the patient, the personal representative of the estate of 1124
the patient if deceased, or the patient's guardian or other legal 1125
representative.1126

       (b) In any civil action concerning court-ordered treatment or 1127
services received by a patient, if the court-ordered treatment or 1128
services were ordered as part of a case plan journalized under 1129
section 2151.412 of the Revised Code or the court-ordered 1130
treatment or services are necessary or relevant to dependency, 1131
neglect, or abuse or temporary or permanent custody proceedings 1132
under Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code.1133

       (c) In any criminal action concerning any test or the results 1134
of any test that determines the presence or concentration of 1135
alcohol, a drug of abuse, a combination of them, a controlled 1136
substance, or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the 1137
patient's whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, urine, or 1138
other bodily substance at any time relevant to the criminal 1139
offense in question.1140

       (d) In any criminal action against a physician or dentist. In 1141
such an action, the testimonial privilege established under this 1142
division does not prohibit the admission into evidence, in 1143
accordance with the Rules of Evidence, of a patient's medical or 1144
dental records or other communications between a patient and the 1145
physician or dentist that are related to the action and obtained 1146
by subpoena, search warrant, or other lawful means. A court that 1147
permits or compels a physician or dentist to testify in such an 1148
action or permits the introduction into evidence of patient 1149
records or other communications in such an action shall require 1150
that appropriate measures be taken to ensure that the 1151
confidentiality of any patient named or otherwise identified in 1152
the records is maintained. Measures to ensure confidentiality that 1153
may be taken by the court include sealing its records or deleting 1154
specific information from its records.1155

       (e)(i) If the communication was between a patient who has 1156
since died and the deceased patient's physician or dentist, the 1157
communication is relevant to a dispute between parties who claim 1158
through that deceased patient, regardless of whether the claims 1159
are by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos 1160
transaction, and the dispute addresses the competency of the 1161
deceased patient when the deceased patient executed a document 1162
that is the basis of the dispute or whether the deceased patient 1163
was a victim of fraud, undue influence, or duress when the 1164
deceased patient executed a document that is the basis of the 1165
dispute.1166

       (ii) If neither the spouse of a patient nor the executor or 1167
administrator of that patient's estate gives consent under 1168
division (B)(1)(a)(ii) of this section, testimony or the 1169
disclosure of the patient's medical records by a physician, 1170
dentist, or other health care provider under division (B)(1)(e)(i) 1171
of this section is a permitted use or disclosure of protected 1172
health information, as defined in 45 C.F.R. 160.103, and an 1173
authorization or opportunity to be heard shall not be required.1174

       (iii) Division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section does not require 1175
a mental health professional to disclose psychotherapy notes, as 1176
defined in 45 C.F.R. 164.501.1177

       (iv) An interested person who objects to testimony or 1178
disclosure under division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section may seek a 1179
protective order pursuant to Civil Rule 26.1180

       (v) A person to whom protected health information is 1181
disclosed under division (B)(1)(e)(i) of this section shall not 1182
use or disclose the protected health information for any purpose 1183
other than the litigation or proceeding for which the information 1184
was requested and shall return the protected health information to 1185
the covered entity or destroy the protected health information, 1186
including all copies made, at the conclusion of the litigation or 1187
proceeding.1188

       (2)(a) If any law enforcement officer submits a written 1189
statement to a health care provider that states that an official 1190
criminal investigation has begun regarding a specified person or 1191
that a criminal action or proceeding has been commenced against a 1192
specified person, that requests the provider to supply to the 1193
officer copies of any records the provider possesses that pertain 1194
to any test or the results of any test administered to the 1195
specified person to determine the presence or concentration of 1196
alcohol, a drug of abuse, a combination of them, a controlled 1197
substance, or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the 1198
person's whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine at 1199
any time relevant to the criminal offense in question, and that 1200
conforms to section 2317.022 of the Revised Code, the provider, 1201
except to the extent specifically prohibited by any law of this 1202
state or of the United States, shall supply to the officer a copy 1203
of any of the requested records the provider possesses. If the 1204
health care provider does not possess any of the requested 1205
records, the provider shall give the officer a written statement 1206
that indicates that the provider does not possess any of the 1207
requested records.1208

       (b) If a health care provider possesses any records of the 1209
type described in division (B)(2)(a) of this section regarding the 1210
person in question at any time relevant to the criminal offense in 1211
question, in lieu of personally testifying as to the results of 1212
the test in question, the custodian of the records may submit a 1213
certified copy of the records, and, upon its submission, the 1214
certified copy is qualified as authentic evidence and may be 1215
admitted as evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence. 1216
Division (A) of section 2317.422 of the Revised Code does not 1217
apply to any certified copy of records submitted in accordance 1218
with this division. Nothing in this division shall be construed to 1219
limit the right of any party to call as a witness the person who 1220
administered the test to which the records pertain, the person 1221
under whose supervision the test was administered, the custodian 1222
of the records, the person who made the records, or the person 1223
under whose supervision the records were made.1224

       (3)(a) If the testimonial privilege described in division 1225
(B)(1) of this section does not apply as provided in division 1226
(B)(1)(a)(iii) of this section, a physician or dentist may be 1227
compelled to testify or to submit to discovery under the Rules of 1228
Civil Procedure only as to a communication made to the physician 1229
or dentist by the patient in question in that relation, or the 1230
physician's or dentist's advice to the patient in question, that 1231
related causally or historically to physical or mental injuries 1232
that are relevant to issues in the medical claim, dental claim, 1233
chiropractic claim, or optometric claim, action for wrongful 1234
death, other civil action, or claim under Chapter 4123. of the 1235
Revised Code.1236

       (b) If the testimonial privilege described in division (B)(1) 1237
of this section does not apply to a physician or dentist as 1238
provided in division (B)(1)(c) of this section, the physician or 1239
dentist, in lieu of personally testifying as to the results of the 1240
test in question, may submit a certified copy of those results, 1241
and, upon its submission, the certified copy is qualified as 1242
authentic evidence and may be admitted as evidence in accordance 1243
with the Rules of Evidence. Division (A) of section 2317.422 of 1244
the Revised Code does not apply to any certified copy of results 1245
submitted in accordance with this division. Nothing in this 1246
division shall be construed to limit the right of any party to 1247
call as a witness the person who administered the test in 1248
question, the person under whose supervision the test was 1249
administered, the custodian of the results of the test, the person 1250
who compiled the results, or the person under whose supervision 1251
the results were compiled.1252

       (4) The testimonial privilege described in division (B)(1) of 1253
this section is not waived when a communication is made by a 1254
physician to a pharmacist or when there is communication between a 1255
patient and a pharmacist in furtherance of the physician-patient 1256
relation.1257

       (5)(a) As used in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section, 1258
"communication" means acquiring, recording, or transmitting any 1259
information, in any manner, concerning any facts, opinions, or 1260
statements necessary to enable a physician or dentist to diagnose, 1261
treat, prescribe, or act for a patient. A "communication" may 1262
include, but is not limited to, any medical or dental, office, or 1263
hospital communication such as a record, chart, letter, 1264
memorandum, laboratory test and results, x-ray, photograph, 1265
financial statement, diagnosis, or prognosis.1266

       (b) As used in division (B)(2) of this section, "health care 1267
provider" means a hospital, ambulatory care facility, long-term 1268
care facility, pharmacy, emergency facility, or health care 1269
practitioner.1270

       (c) As used in division (B)(5)(b) of this section:1271

       (i) "Ambulatory care facility" means a facility that provides 1272
medical, diagnostic, or surgical treatment to patients who do not 1273
require hospitalization, including a dialysis center, ambulatory 1274
surgical facility, cardiac catheterization facility, diagnostic 1275
imaging center, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy center, home 1276
health agency, inpatient hospice, birthing center, radiation 1277
therapy center, emergency facility, and an urgent care center. 1278
"Ambulatory health care facility" does not include the private 1279
office of a physician or dentist, whether the office is for an 1280
individual or group practice.1281

       (ii) "Emergency facility" means a hospital emergency 1282
department or any other facility that provides emergency medical 1283
services.1284

       (iii) "Health care practitioner" has the same meaning as in 1285
section 4769.01 of the Revised Code.1286

       (iv) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of 1287
the Revised Code.1288

       (v) "Long-term care facility" means a nursing home, 1289
residential care facility, or home for the aging, as those terms 1290
are defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code; a residential 1291
facility licensed under section 5119.34 of the Revised Code that 1292
provides accommodations, supervision, and personal care services 1293
for three to sixteen unrelated adults; a nursing facility, as 1294
defined in section 5165.01 of the Revised Code; a skilled nursing 1295
facility, as defined in section 5165.01 of the Revised Code; and 1296
an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual 1297
disabilities, as defined in section 5124.01 of the Revised Code.1298

       (vi) "Pharmacy" has the same meaning as in section 4729.01 of 1299
the Revised Code.1300

       (d) As used in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section, 1301
"drug of abuse" has the same meaning as in section 4506.01 of the 1302
Revised Code.1303

       (6) Divisions (B)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of this section 1304
apply to doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine, 1305
doctors of podiatry, and dentists.1306

       (7) Nothing in divisions (B)(1) to (6) of this section 1307
affects, or shall be construed as affecting, the immunity from 1308
civil liability conferred by section 307.628 of the Revised Code 1309
or the immunity from civil liability conferred by section 2305.33 1310
of the Revised Code upon physicians who report an employee's use 1311
of a drug of abuse, or a condition of an employee other than one 1312
involving the use of a drug of abuse, to the employer of the 1313
employee in accordance with division (B) of that section. As used 1314
in division (B)(7) of this section, "employee," "employer," and 1315
"physician" have the same meanings as in section 2305.33 of the 1316
Revised Code.1317

       (C)(1) A cleric, when the cleric remains accountable to the 1318
authority of that cleric's church, denomination, or sect, 1319
concerning a confession made, or any information confidentially 1320
communicated, to the cleric for a religious counseling purpose in 1321
the cleric's professional character. The cleric may testify by 1322
express consent of the person making the communication, except 1323
when the disclosure of the information is in violation of a sacred 1324
trust and except that, if the person voluntarily testifies or is 1325
deemed by division (A)(4)(c) of section 2151.421 of the Revised 1326
Code to have waived any testimonial privilege under this division, 1327
the cleric may be compelled to testify on the same subject except 1328
when disclosure of the information is in violation of a sacred 1329
trust.1330

       (2) As used in division (C) of this section:1331

        (a) "Cleric" means a member of the clergy, rabbi, priest, 1332
Christian Science practitioner, or regularly ordained, accredited, 1333
or licensed minister of an established and legally cognizable 1334
church, denomination, or sect.1335

        (b) "Sacred trust" means a confession or confidential 1336
communication made to a cleric in the cleric's ecclesiastical 1337
capacity in the course of discipline enjoined by the church to 1338
which the cleric belongs, including, but not limited to, the 1339
Catholic Church, if both of the following apply:1340

        (i) The confession or confidential communication was made 1341
directly to the cleric.1342

        (ii) The confession or confidential communication was made in 1343
the manner and context that places the cleric specifically and 1344
strictly under a level of confidentiality that is considered 1345
inviolate by canon law or church doctrine.1346

       (D) Husband or wife, concerning any communication made by one 1347
to the other, or an act done by either in the presence of the 1348
other, during coverture, unless the communication was made, or act 1349
done, in the known presence or hearing of a third person competent 1350
to be a witness; and such rule is the same if the marital relation 1351
has ceased to exist;1352

       (E) A person who assigns a claim or interest, concerning any 1353
matter in respect to which the person would not, if a party, be 1354
permitted to testify;1355

       (F) A person who, if a party, would be restricted under 1356
section 2317.03 of the Revised Code, when the property or thing is 1357
sold or transferred by an executor, administrator, guardian, 1358
trustee, heir, devisee, or legatee, shall be restricted in the 1359
same manner in any action or proceeding concerning the property or 1360
thing.1361

       (G)(1) A school guidance counselor who holds a valid educator 1362
license from the state board of education as provided for in 1363
section 3319.22 of the Revised Code, a person licensed under 1364
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code as a licensed professional 1365
clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, social 1366
worker, independent social worker, marriage and family therapist 1367
or independent marriage and family therapist, or registered under 1368
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code as a social work assistant 1369
concerning a confidential communication received from a client in 1370
that relation or the person's advice to a client unless any of the 1371
following applies:1372

       (a) The communication or advice indicates clear and present 1373
danger to the client or other persons. For the purposes of this 1374
division, cases in which there are indications of present or past 1375
child abuse or neglect of the client constitute a clear and 1376
present danger.1377

       (b) The client gives express consent to the testimony.1378

       (c) If the client is deceased, the surviving spouse or the 1379
executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased client 1380
gives express consent.1381

       (d) The client voluntarily testifies, in which case the 1382
school guidance counselor or person licensed or registered under 1383
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code may be compelled to testify on 1384
the same subject.1385

       (e) The court in camera determines that the information 1386
communicated by the client is not germane to the counselor-client, 1387
marriage and family therapist-client, or social worker-client 1388
relationship.1389

       (f) A court, in an action brought against a school, its 1390
administration, or any of its personnel by the client, rules after 1391
an in-camera inspection that the testimony of the school guidance 1392
counselor is relevant to that action.1393

       (g) The testimony is sought in a civil action and concerns 1394
court-ordered treatment or services received by a patient as part 1395
of a case plan journalized under section 2151.412 of the Revised 1396
Code or the court-ordered treatment or services are necessary or 1397
relevant to dependency, neglect, or abuse or temporary or 1398
permanent custody proceedings under Chapter 2151. of the Revised 1399
Code.1400

       (2) Nothing in division (G)(1) of this section shall relieve 1401
a school guidance counselor or a person licensed or registered 1402
under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code from the requirement to 1403
report information concerning child abuse or neglect under section 1404
2151.421 of the Revised Code.1405

       (H) A mediator acting under a mediation order issued under 1406
division (A) of section 3109.052 of the Revised Code or otherwise 1407
issued in any proceeding for divorce, dissolution, legal 1408
separation, annulment, or the allocation of parental rights and 1409
responsibilities for the care of children, in any action or 1410
proceeding, other than a criminal, delinquency, child abuse, child 1411
neglect, or dependent child action or proceeding, that is brought 1412
by or against either parent who takes part in mediation in 1413
accordance with the order and that pertains to the mediation 1414
process, to any information discussed or presented in the 1415
mediation process, to the allocation of parental rights and 1416
responsibilities for the care of the parents' children, or to the 1417
awarding of parenting time rights in relation to their children;1418

       (I) A communications assistant, acting within the scope of 1419
the communication assistant's authority, when providing 1420
telecommunications relay service pursuant to section 4931.06 of 1421
the Revised Code or Title II of the "Communications Act of 1934," 1422
104 Stat. 366 (1990), 47 U.S.C. 225, concerning a communication 1423
made through a telecommunications relay service. Nothing in this 1424
section shall limit the obligation of a communications assistant 1425
to divulge information or testify when mandated by federal law or 1426
regulation or pursuant to subpoena in a criminal proceeding.1427

       Nothing in this section shall limit any immunity or privilege 1428
granted under federal law or regulation.1429

       (J)(1) A chiropractor in a civil proceeding concerning a 1430
communication made to the chiropractor by a patient in that 1431
relation or the chiropractor's advice to a patient, except as 1432
otherwise provided in this division. The testimonial privilege 1433
established under this division does not apply, and a chiropractor 1434
may testify or may be compelled to testify, in any civil action, 1435
in accordance with the discovery provisions of the Rules of Civil 1436
Procedure in connection with a civil action, or in connection with 1437
a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code, under any of the 1438
following circumstances:1439

       (a) If the patient or the guardian or other legal 1440
representative of the patient gives express consent.1441

       (b) If the patient is deceased, the spouse of the patient or 1442
the executor or administrator of the patient's estate gives 1443
express consent.1444

       (c) If a medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or 1445
optometric claim, as defined in section 2305.113 of the Revised 1446
Code, an action for wrongful death, any other type of civil 1447
action, or a claim under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code is 1448
filed by the patient, the personal representative of the estate of 1449
the patient if deceased, or the patient's guardian or other legal 1450
representative.1451

       (2) If the testimonial privilege described in division (J)(1) 1452
of this section does not apply as provided in division (J)(1)(c) 1453
of this section, a chiropractor may be compelled to testify or to 1454
submit to discovery under the Rules of Civil Procedure only as to 1455
a communication made to the chiropractor by the patient in 1456
question in that relation, or the chiropractor's advice to the 1457
patient in question, that related causally or historically to 1458
physical or mental injuries that are relevant to issues in the 1459
medical claim, dental claim, chiropractic claim, or optometric 1460
claim, action for wrongful death, other civil action, or claim 1461
under Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code.1462

       (3) The testimonial privilege established under this division 1463
does not apply, and a chiropractor may testify or be compelled to 1464
testify, in any criminal action or administrative proceeding.1465

       (4) As used in this division, "communication" means 1466
acquiring, recording, or transmitting any information, in any 1467
manner, concerning any facts, opinions, or statements necessary to 1468
enable a chiropractor to diagnose, treat, or act for a patient. A 1469
communication may include, but is not limited to, any 1470
chiropractic, office, or hospital communication such as a record, 1471
chart, letter, memorandum, laboratory test and results, x-ray, 1472
photograph, financial statement, diagnosis, or prognosis.1473

       (K)(1) Except as provided under division (K)(2) of this 1474
section, a critical incident stress management team member 1475
concerning a communication received from an individual who 1476
receives crisis response services from the team member, or the 1477
team member's advice to the individual, during a debriefing 1478
session.1479

        (2) The testimonial privilege established under division 1480
(K)(1) of this section does not apply if any of the following are 1481
true:1482

        (a) The communication or advice indicates clear and present 1483
danger to the individual who receives crisis response services or 1484
to other persons. For purposes of this division, cases in which 1485
there are indications of present or past child abuse or neglect of 1486
the individual constitute a clear and present danger.1487

        (b) The individual who received crisis response services 1488
gives express consent to the testimony.1489

       (c) If the individual who received crisis response services 1490
is deceased, the surviving spouse or the executor or administrator 1491
of the estate of the deceased individual gives express consent.1492

        (d) The individual who received crisis response services 1493
voluntarily testifies, in which case the team member may be 1494
compelled to testify on the same subject.1495

        (e) The court in camera determines that the information 1496
communicated by the individual who received crisis response 1497
services is not germane to the relationship between the individual 1498
and the team member.1499

       (f) The communication or advice pertains or is related to any 1500
criminal act.1501

       (3) As used in division (K) of this section:1502

       (a) "Crisis response services" means consultation, risk 1503
assessment, referral, and on-site crisis intervention services 1504
provided by a critical incident stress management team to 1505
individuals affected by crisis or disaster.1506

       (b) "Critical incident stress management team member" or 1507
"team member" means an individual specially trained to provide 1508
crisis response services as a member of an organized community or 1509
local crisis response team that holds membership in the Ohio 1510
critical incident stress management network.1511

       (c) "Debriefing session" means a session at which crisis 1512
response services are rendered by a critical incident stress 1513
management team member during or after a crisis or disaster.1514

       (L)(1) Subject to division (L)(2) of this section and except 1515
as provided in division (L)(3) of this section, an employee 1516
assistance professional, concerning a communication made to the 1517
employee assistance professional by a client in the employee 1518
assistance professional's official capacity as an employee 1519
assistance professional.1520

        (2) Division (L)(1) of this section applies to an employee 1521
assistance professional who meets either or both of the following 1522
requirements:1523

        (a) Is certified by the employee assistance certification 1524
commission to engage in the employee assistance profession;1525

        (b) Has education, training, and experience in all of the 1526
following:1527

        (i) Providing workplace-based services designed to address 1528
employer and employee productivity issues;1529

        (ii) Providing assistance to employees and employees' 1530
dependents in identifying and finding the means to resolve 1531
personal problems that affect the employees or the employees' 1532
performance;1533

       (iii) Identifying and resolving productivity problems 1534
associated with an employee's concerns about any of the following 1535
matters: health, marriage, family, finances, substance abuse or 1536
other addiction, workplace, law, and emotional issues;1537

       (iv) Selecting and evaluating available community resources;1538

        (v) Making appropriate referrals;1539

        (vi) Local and national employee assistance agreements;1540

        (vii) Client confidentiality.1541

        (3) Division (L)(1) of this section does not apply to any of 1542
the following:1543

        (a) A criminal action or proceeding involving an offense 1544
under sections 2903.01 to 2903.06 of the Revised Code if the 1545
employee assistance professional's disclosure or testimony relates 1546
directly to the facts or immediate circumstances of the offense;1547

        (b) A communication made by a client to an employee 1548
assistance professional that reveals the contemplation or 1549
commission of a crime or serious, harmful act;1550

        (c) A communication that is made by a client who is an 1551
unemancipated minor or an adult adjudicated to be incompetent and 1552
indicates that the client was the victim of a crime or abuse;1553

       (d) A civil proceeding to determine an individual's mental 1554
competency or a criminal action in which a plea of not guilty by 1555
reason of insanity is entered;1556

        (e) A civil or criminal malpractice action brought against 1557
the employee assistance professional;1558

        (f) When the employee assistance professional has the express 1559
consent of the client or, if the client is deceased or disabled, 1560
the client's legal representative;1561

        (g) When the testimonial privilege otherwise provided by 1562
division (L)(1) of this section is abrogated under law.1563

       Sec. 2921.22.  (A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) 1564
of this section, no person, knowing that a felony has been or is 1565
being committed, shall knowingly fail to report such information 1566
to law enforcement authorities.1567

       (2) No person, knowing that a violation of division (B) of 1568
section 2913.04 of the Revised Code has been, or is being 1569
committed or that the person has received information derived from 1570
such a violation, shall knowingly fail to report the violation to 1571
law enforcement authorities.1572

       (B) Except for conditions that are within the scope of 1573
division (E) of this section, no physician, limited practitioner, 1574
nurse, or other person giving aid to a sick or injured person 1575
shall negligently fail to report to law enforcement authorities 1576
any gunshot or stab wound treated or observed by the physician, 1577
limited practitioner, nurse, or person, or any serious physical 1578
harm to persons that the physician, limited practitioner, nurse, 1579
or person knows or has reasonable cause to believe resulted from 1580
an offense of violence.1581

       (C) No person who discovers the body or acquires the first 1582
knowledge of the death of a person shall fail to report the death 1583
immediately to a physician whom the person knows to be treating 1584
the deceased for a condition from which death at such time would 1585
not be unexpected, or to a law enforcement officer, an ambulance 1586
service, an emergency squad, or the coroner in a political 1587
subdivision in which the body is discovered, the death is believed 1588
to have occurred, or knowledge concerning the death is obtained.1589

       (D) No person shall fail to provide upon request of the 1590
person to whom a report required by division (C) of this section 1591
was made, or to any law enforcement officer who has reasonable 1592
cause to assert the authority to investigate the circumstances 1593
surrounding the death, any facts within the person's knowledge 1594
that may have a bearing on the investigation of the death.1595

       (E)(1) As used in this division, "burn injury" means any of 1596
the following:1597

       (a) Second or third degree burns;1598

       (b) Any burns to the upper respiratory tract or laryngeal 1599
edema due to the inhalation of superheated air;1600

       (c) Any burn injury or wound that may result in death;1601

       (d) Any physical harm to persons caused by or as the result 1602
of the use of fireworks, novelties and trick noisemakers, and wire 1603
sparklers, as each is defined by section 3743.01 of the Revised 1604
Code.1605

       (2) No physician, nurse, or limited practitioner who, outside 1606
a hospital, sanitarium, or other medical facility, attends or 1607
treats a person who has sustained a burn injury that is inflicted 1608
by an explosion or other incendiary device or that shows evidence 1609
of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or criminal 1610
manner shall fail to report the burn injury immediately to the 1611
local arson, or fire and explosion investigation, bureau, if there 1612
is a bureau of this type in the jurisdiction in which the person 1613
is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law enforcement 1614
authorities.1615

       (3) No manager, superintendent, or other person in charge of 1616
a hospital, sanitarium, or other medical facility in which a 1617
person is attended or treated for any burn injury that is 1618
inflicted by an explosion or other incendiary device or that shows 1619
evidence of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or 1620
criminal manner shall fail to report the burn injury immediately 1621
to the local arson, or fire and explosion investigation, bureau, 1622
if there is a bureau of this type in the jurisdiction in which the 1623
person is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law 1624
enforcement authorities.1625

       (4) No person who is required to report any burn injury under 1626
division (E)(2) or (3) of this section shall fail to file, within 1627
three working days after attending or treating the victim, a 1628
written report of the burn injury with the office of the state 1629
fire marshal. The report shall comply with the uniform standard 1630
developed by the state fire marshal pursuant to division (A)(15) 1631
of section 3737.22 of the Revised Code.1632

       (5) Anyone participating in the making of reports under 1633
division (E) of this section or anyone participating in a judicial 1634
proceeding resulting from the reports is immune from any civil or 1635
criminal liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed as 1636
a result of such actions. Notwithstanding section 4731.22 of the 1637
Revised Code, the physician-patient relationship is not a ground 1638
for excluding evidence regarding a person's burn injury or the 1639
cause of the burn injury in any judicial proceeding resulting from 1640
a report submitted under division (E) of this section.1641

       (F)(1) Any doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, 1642
hospital intern or resident, registered or licensed practical 1643
nurse, psychologist, social worker, independent social worker, 1644
social work assistant, licensed professional clinical counselor, 1645
orlicensed professional counselor, independent marriage and 1646
family therapist, or marriage and family therapist who knows or 1647
has reasonable cause to believe that a patient or client has been 1648
the victim of domestic violence, as defined in section 3113.31 of 1649
the Revised Code, shall note that knowledge or belief and the 1650
basis for it in the patient's or client's records.1651

       (2) Notwithstanding section 4731.22 of the Revised Code, the 1652
doctor-patient privilege shall not be a ground for excluding any 1653
information regarding the report containing the knowledge or 1654
belief noted under division (F)(1) of this section, and the 1655
information may be admitted as evidence in accordance with the 1656
Rules of Evidence.1657

       (G) Divisions (A) and (D) of this section do not require 1658
disclosure of information, when any of the following applies:1659

       (1) The information is privileged by reason of the 1660
relationship between attorney and client; doctor and patient; 1661
licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist and client; 1662
licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional 1663
counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent 1664
marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist 1665
and client; member of the clergy, rabbi, minister, or priest and 1666
any person communicating information confidentially to the member 1667
of the clergy, rabbi, minister, or priest for a religious 1668
counseling purpose of a professional character; husband and wife; 1669
or a communications assistant and those who are a party to a 1670
telecommunications relay service call.1671

       (2) The information would tend to incriminate a member of the 1672
actor's immediate family.1673

       (3) Disclosure of the information would amount to revealing a 1674
news source, privileged under section 2739.04 or 2739.12 of the 1675
Revised Code.1676

       (4) Disclosure of the information would amount to disclosure 1677
by a member of the ordained clergy of an organized religious body 1678
of a confidential communication made to that member of the clergy 1679
in that member's capacity as a member of the clergy by a person 1680
seeking the aid or counsel of that member of the clergy.1681

       (5) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired 1682
by the actor in the course of the actor's duties in connection 1683
with a bona fide program of treatment or services for drug 1684
dependent persons or persons in danger of drug dependence, which 1685
program is maintained or conducted by a hospital, clinic, person, 1686
agency, or services provider certified pursuant to section 5119.36 1687
of the Revised Code.1688

       (6) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired 1689
by the actor in the course of the actor's duties in connection 1690
with a bona fide program for providing counseling services to 1691
victims of crimes that are violations of section 2907.02 or 1692
2907.05 of the Revised Code or to victims of felonious sexual 1693
penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised 1694
Code. As used in this division, "counseling services" include 1695
services provided in an informal setting by a person who, by 1696
education or experience, is competent to provide those services.1697

       (H) No disclosure of information pursuant to this section 1698
gives rise to any liability or recrimination for a breach of 1699
privilege or confidence.1700

       (I) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is 1701
guilty of failure to report a crime. Violation of division (A)(1) 1702
of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Violation 1703
of division (A)(2) or (B) of this section is a misdemeanor of the 1704
second degree.1705

       (J) Whoever violates division (C) or (D) of this section is 1706
guilty of failure to report knowledge of a death, a misdemeanor of 1707
the fourth degree.1708

       (K)(1) Whoever negligently violates division (E) of this 1709
section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.1710

       (2) Whoever knowingly violates division (E) of this section 1711
is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.1712

       Sec. 2925.01.  As used in this chapter:1713

       (A) "Administer," "controlled substance," "controlled 1714
substance analog," "dispense," "distribute," "hypodermic," 1715
"manufacturer," "official written order," "person," "pharmacist," 1716
"pharmacy," "sale," "schedule I," "schedule II," "schedule III," 1717
"schedule IV," "schedule V," and "wholesaler" have the same 1718
meanings as in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code.1719

       (B) "Drug dependent person" and "drug of abuse" have the same 1720
meanings as in section 3719.011 of the Revised Code.1721

       (C) "Drug," "dangerous drug," "licensed health professional 1722
authorized to prescribe drugs," and "prescription" have the same 1723
meanings as in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code.1724

       (D) "Bulk amount" of a controlled substance means any of the 1725
following:1726

       (1) For any compound, mixture, preparation, or substance 1727
included in schedule I, schedule II, or schedule III, with the 1728
exception of controlled substance analogs, marihuana, cocaine, 1729
L.S.D., heroin, and hashish and except as provided in division 1730
(D)(2) or (5) of this section, whichever of the following is 1731
applicable:1732

       (a) An amount equal to or exceeding ten grams or twenty-five 1733
unit doses of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that 1734
is or contains any amount of a schedule I opiate or opium 1735
derivative;1736

       (b) An amount equal to or exceeding ten grams of a compound, 1737
mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount 1738
of raw or gum opium;1739

       (c) An amount equal to or exceeding thirty grams or ten unit 1740
doses of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or 1741
contains any amount of a schedule I hallucinogen other than 1742
tetrahydrocannabinol or lysergic acid amide, or a schedule I 1743
stimulant or depressant;1744

       (d) An amount equal to or exceeding twenty grams or five 1745
times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range specified in 1746
a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a compound, mixture, 1747
preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a 1748
schedule II opiate or opium derivative;1749

       (e) An amount equal to or exceeding five grams or ten unit 1750
doses of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or 1751
contains any amount of phencyclidine;1752

       (f) An amount equal to or exceeding one hundred twenty grams 1753
or thirty times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range 1754
specified in a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a 1755
compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains 1756
any amount of a schedule II stimulant that is in a final dosage 1757
form manufactured by a person authorized by the "Federal Food, 1758
Drug, and Cosmetic Act," 52 Stat. 1040 (1938), 21 U.S.C.A. 301, as 1759
amended, and the federal drug abuse control laws, as defined in 1760
section 3719.01 of the Revised Code, that is or contains any 1761
amount of a schedule II depressant substance or a schedule II 1762
hallucinogenic substance;1763

       (g) An amount equal to or exceeding three grams of a 1764
compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains 1765
any amount of a schedule II stimulant, or any of its salts or 1766
isomers, that is not in a final dosage form manufactured by a 1767
person authorized by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and 1768
the federal drug abuse control laws.1769

       (2) An amount equal to or exceeding one hundred twenty grams 1770
or thirty times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range 1771
specified in a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a 1772
compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains 1773
any amount of a schedule III or IV substance other than an 1774
anabolic steroid or a schedule III opiate or opium derivative;1775

       (3) An amount equal to or exceeding twenty grams or five 1776
times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range specified in 1777
a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a compound, mixture, 1778
preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a 1779
schedule III opiate or opium derivative;1780

       (4) An amount equal to or exceeding two hundred fifty 1781
milliliters or two hundred fifty grams of a compound, mixture, 1782
preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a 1783
schedule V substance;1784

       (5) An amount equal to or exceeding two hundred solid dosage 1785
units, sixteen grams, or sixteen milliliters of a compound, 1786
mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount 1787
of a schedule III anabolic steroid.1788

       (E) "Unit dose" means an amount or unit of a compound, 1789
mixture, or preparation containing a controlled substance that is 1790
separately identifiable and in a form that indicates that it is 1791
the amount or unit by which the controlled substance is separately 1792
administered to or taken by an individual.1793

       (F) "Cultivate" includes planting, watering, fertilizing, or 1794
tilling.1795

       (G) "Drug abuse offense" means any of the following:1796

       (1) A violation of division (A) of section 2913.02 that 1797
constitutes theft of drugs, or a violation of section 2925.02, 1798
2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.041, 2925.05, 2925.06, 2925.11, 2925.12, 1799
2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, 2925.24, 2925.31, 2925.32, 2925.36, or 1800
2925.37 of the Revised Code;1801

       (2) A violation of an existing or former law of this or any 1802
other state or of the United States that is substantially 1803
equivalent to any section listed in division (G)(1) of this 1804
section;1805

       (3) An offense under an existing or former law of this or any 1806
other state, or of the United States, of which planting, 1807
cultivating, harvesting, processing, making, manufacturing, 1808
producing, shipping, transporting, delivering, acquiring, 1809
possessing, storing, distributing, dispensing, selling, inducing 1810
another to use, administering to another, using, or otherwise 1811
dealing with a controlled substance is an element;1812

       (4) A conspiracy to commit, attempt to commit, or complicity 1813
in committing or attempting to commit any offense under division 1814
(G)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.1815

       (H) "Felony drug abuse offense" means any drug abuse offense 1816
that would constitute a felony under the laws of this state, any 1817
other state, or the United States.1818

       (I) "Harmful intoxicant" does not include beer or 1819
intoxicating liquor but means any of the following:1820

       (1) Any compound, mixture, preparation, or substance the gas, 1821
fumes, or vapor of which when inhaled can induce intoxication, 1822
excitement, giddiness, irrational behavior, depression, 1823
stupefaction, paralysis, unconsciousness, asphyxiation, or other 1824
harmful physiological effects, and includes, but is not limited 1825
to, any of the following:1826

       (a) Any volatile organic solvent, plastic cement, model 1827
cement, fingernail polish remover, lacquer thinner, cleaning 1828
fluid, gasoline, or other preparation containing a volatile 1829
organic solvent;1830

       (b) Any aerosol propellant;1831

       (c) Any fluorocarbon refrigerant;1832

       (d) Any anesthetic gas.1833

       (2) Gamma Butyrolactone;1834

       (3) 1,4 Butanediol.1835

       (J) "Manufacture" means to plant, cultivate, harvest, 1836
process, make, prepare, or otherwise engage in any part of the 1837
production of a drug, by propagation, extraction, chemical 1838
synthesis, or compounding, or any combination of the same, and 1839
includes packaging, repackaging, labeling, and other activities 1840
incident to production.1841

       (K) "Possess" or "possession" means having control over a 1842
thing or substance, but may not be inferred solely from mere 1843
access to the thing or substance through ownership or occupation 1844
of the premises upon which the thing or substance is found.1845

       (L) "Sample drug" means a drug or pharmaceutical preparation 1846
that would be hazardous to health or safety if used without the 1847
supervision of a licensed health professional authorized to 1848
prescribe drugs, or a drug of abuse, and that, at one time, had 1849
been placed in a container plainly marked as a sample by a 1850
manufacturer.1851

       (M) "Standard pharmaceutical reference manual" means the 1852
current edition, with cumulative changes if any, of references 1853
that are approved by the state board of pharmacy.1854

       (N) "Juvenile" means a person under eighteen years of age.1855

       (O) "Counterfeit controlled substance" means any of the 1856
following:1857

       (1) Any drug that bears, or whose container or label bears, a 1858
trademark, trade name, or other identifying mark used without 1859
authorization of the owner of rights to that trademark, trade 1860
name, or identifying mark;1861

       (2) Any unmarked or unlabeled substance that is represented 1862
to be a controlled substance manufactured, processed, packed, or 1863
distributed by a person other than the person that manufactured, 1864
processed, packed, or distributed it;1865

       (3) Any substance that is represented to be a controlled 1866
substance but is not a controlled substance or is a different 1867
controlled substance;1868

       (4) Any substance other than a controlled substance that a 1869
reasonable person would believe to be a controlled substance 1870
because of its similarity in shape, size, and color, or its 1871
markings, labeling, packaging, distribution, or the price for 1872
which it is sold or offered for sale.1873

       (P) An offense is "committed in the vicinity of a school" if 1874
the offender commits the offense on school premises, in a school 1875
building, or within one thousand feet of the boundaries of any 1876
school premises, regardless of whether the offender knows the 1877
offense is being committed on school premises, in a school 1878
building, or within one thousand feet of the boundaries of any 1879
school premises.1880

       (Q) "School" means any school operated by a board of 1881
education, any community school established under Chapter 3314. of 1882
the Revised Code, or any nonpublic school for which the state 1883
board of education prescribes minimum standards under section 1884
3301.07 of the Revised Code, whether or not any instruction, 1885
extracurricular activities, or training provided by the school is 1886
being conducted at the time a criminal offense is committed.1887

       (R) "School premises" means either of the following:1888

       (1) The parcel of real property on which any school is 1889
situated, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular 1890
activities, or training provided by the school is being conducted 1891
on the premises at the time a criminal offense is committed;1892

       (2) Any other parcel of real property that is owned or leased 1893
by a board of education of a school, the governing authority of a 1894
community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised 1895
Code, or the governing body of a nonpublic school for which the 1896
state board of education prescribes minimum standards under 1897
section 3301.07 of the Revised Code and on which some of the 1898
instruction, extracurricular activities, or training of the school 1899
is conducted, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular 1900
activities, or training provided by the school is being conducted 1901
on the parcel of real property at the time a criminal offense is 1902
committed.1903

       (S) "School building" means any building in which any of the 1904
instruction, extracurricular activities, or training provided by a 1905
school is conducted, whether or not any instruction, 1906
extracurricular activities, or training provided by the school is 1907
being conducted in the school building at the time a criminal 1908
offense is committed.1909

       (T) "Disciplinary counsel" means the disciplinary counsel 1910
appointed by the board of commissioners on grievances and 1911
discipline of the supreme court under the Rules for the Government 1912
of the Bar of Ohio.1913

       (U) "Certified grievance committee" means a duly constituted 1914
and organized committee of the Ohio state bar association or of 1915
one or more local bar associations of the state of Ohio that 1916
complies with the criteria set forth in Rule V, section 6 of the 1917
Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio.1918

       (V) "Professional license" means any license, permit, 1919
certificate, registration, qualification, admission, temporary 1920
license, temporary permit, temporary certificate, or temporary 1921
registration that is described in divisions (W)(1) to (36) of this 1922
section and that qualifies a person as a professionally licensed 1923
person.1924

       (W) "Professionally licensed person" means any of the 1925
following:1926

       (1) A person who has obtained a license as a manufacturer of 1927
controlled substances or a wholesaler of controlled substances 1928
under Chapter 3719. of the Revised Code;1929

       (2) A person who has received a certificate or temporary 1930
certificate as a certified public accountant or who has registered 1931
as a public accountant under Chapter 4701. of the Revised Code and 1932
who holds an Ohio permit issued under that chapter;1933

       (3) A person who holds a certificate of qualification to 1934
practice architecture issued or renewed and registered under 1935
Chapter 4703. of the Revised Code;1936

       (4) A person who is registered as a landscape architect under 1937
Chapter 4703. of the Revised Code or who holds a permit as a 1938
landscape architect issued under that chapter;1939

       (5) A person licensed under Chapter 4707. of the Revised 1940
Code;1941

       (6) A person who has been issued a certificate of 1942
registration as a registered barber under Chapter 4709. of the 1943
Revised Code;1944

       (7) A person licensed and regulated to engage in the business 1945
of a debt pooling company by a legislative authority, under 1946
authority of Chapter 4710. of the Revised Code;1947

       (8) A person who has been issued a cosmetologist's license, 1948
hair designer's license, manicurist's license, esthetician's 1949
license, natural hair stylist's license, managing cosmetologist's 1950
license, managing hair designer's license, managing manicurist's 1951
license, managing esthetician's license, managing natural hair 1952
stylist's license, cosmetology instructor's license, hair design 1953
instructor's license, manicurist instructor's license, esthetics 1954
instructor's license, natural hair style instructor's license, 1955
independent contractor's license, or tanning facility permit under 1956
Chapter 4713. of the Revised Code;1957

       (9) A person who has been issued a license to practice 1958
dentistry, a general anesthesia permit, a conscious intravenous 1959
sedation permit, a limited resident's license, a limited teaching 1960
license, a dental hygienist's license, or a dental hygienist's 1961
teacher's certificate under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code;1962

       (10) A person who has been issued an embalmer's license, a 1963
funeral director's license, a funeral home license, or a crematory 1964
license, or who has been registered for an embalmer's or funeral 1965
director's apprenticeship under Chapter 4717. of the Revised Code;1966

       (11) A person who has been licensed as a registered nurse or 1967
practical nurse, or who has been issued a certificate for the 1968
practice of nurse-midwifery under Chapter 4723. of the Revised 1969
Code;1970

       (12) A person who has been licensed to practice optometry or 1971
to engage in optical dispensing under Chapter 4725. of the Revised 1972
Code;1973

       (13) A person licensed to act as a pawnbroker under Chapter 1974
4727. of the Revised Code;1975

       (14) A person licensed to act as a precious metals dealer 1976
under Chapter 4728. of the Revised Code;1977

       (15) A person licensed as a pharmacist, a pharmacy intern, a 1978
wholesale distributor of dangerous drugs, or a terminal 1979
distributor of dangerous drugs under Chapter 4729. of the Revised 1980
Code;1981

       (16) A person who is authorized to practice as a physician 1982
assistant under Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code;1983

       (17) A person who has been issued a certificate to practice 1984
medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, a limited 1985
branch of medicine, or podiatry under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 1986
Code;1987

       (18) A person licensed as a psychologist or school 1988
psychologist under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;1989

       (19) A person registered to practice the profession of 1990
engineering or surveying under Chapter 4733. of the Revised Code;1991

       (20) A person who has been issued a license to practice 1992
chiropractic under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;1993

       (21) A person licensed to act as a real estate broker or real 1994
estate salesperson under Chapter 4735. of the Revised Code;1995

       (22) A person registered as a registered sanitarian under 1996
Chapter 4736. of the Revised Code;1997

       (23) A person licensed to operate or maintain a junkyard 1998
under Chapter 4737. of the Revised Code;1999

       (24) A person who has been issued a motor vehicle salvage 2000
dealer's license under Chapter 4738. of the Revised Code;2001

       (25) A person who has been licensed to act as a steam 2002
engineer under Chapter 4739. of the Revised Code;2003

       (26) A person who has been issued a license or temporary 2004
permit to practice veterinary medicine or any of its branches, or 2005
who is registered as a graduate animal technician under Chapter 2006
4741. of the Revised Code;2007

       (27) A person who has been issued a hearing aid dealer's or 2008
fitter's license or trainee permit under Chapter 4747. of the 2009
Revised Code;2010

       (28) A person who has been issued a class A, class B, or 2011
class C license or who has been registered as an investigator or 2012
security guard employee under Chapter 4749. of the Revised Code;2013

       (29) A person licensed and registered to practice as a 2014
nursing home administrator under Chapter 4751. of the Revised 2015
Code;2016

       (30) A person licensed to practice as a speech-language 2017
pathologist or audiologist under Chapter 4753. of the Revised 2018
Code;2019

       (31) A person issued a license as an occupational therapist 2020
or physical therapist under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;2021

       (32) A person who is licensed as a licensed professional 2022
clinical counselor or, licensed professional counselor, licensed 2023
as a social worker or, independent social worker, independent 2024
marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist,2025
or registered as a social work assistant under Chapter 4757. of 2026
the Revised Code;2027

       (33) A person issued a license to practice dietetics under 2028
Chapter 4759. of the Revised Code;2029

       (34) A person who has been issued a license or limited permit 2030
to practice respiratory therapy under Chapter 4761. of the Revised 2031
Code;2032

       (35) A person who has been issued a real estate appraiser 2033
certificate under Chapter 4763. of the Revised Code;2034

       (36) A person who has been admitted to the bar by order of 2035
the supreme court in compliance with its prescribed and published 2036
rules.2037

       (X) "Cocaine" means any of the following:2038

       (1) A cocaine salt, isomer, or derivative, a salt of a 2039
cocaine isomer or derivative, or the base form of cocaine;2040

       (2) Coca leaves or a salt, compound, derivative, or 2041
preparation of coca leaves, including ecgonine, a salt, isomer, or 2042
derivative of ecgonine, or a salt of an isomer or derivative of 2043
ecgonine;2044

       (3) A salt, compound, derivative, or preparation of a 2045
substance identified in division (X)(1) or (2) of this section 2046
that is chemically equivalent to or identical with any of those 2047
substances, except that the substances shall not include 2048
decocainized coca leaves or extraction of coca leaves if the 2049
extractions do not contain cocaine or ecgonine.2050

       (Y) "L.S.D." means lysergic acid diethylamide.2051

       (Z) "Hashish" means the resin or a preparation of the resin 2052
contained in marihuana, whether in solid form or in a liquid 2053
concentrate, liquid extract, or liquid distillate form.2054

       (AA) "Marihuana" has the same meaning as in section 3719.01 2055
of the Revised Code, except that it does not include hashish.2056

       (BB) An offense is "committed in the vicinity of a juvenile" 2057
if the offender commits the offense within one hundred feet of a 2058
juvenile or within the view of a juvenile, regardless of whether 2059
the offender knows the age of the juvenile, whether the offender 2060
knows the offense is being committed within one hundred feet of or 2061
within view of the juvenile, or whether the juvenile actually 2062
views the commission of the offense.2063

       (CC) "Presumption for a prison term" or "presumption that a 2064
prison term shall be imposed" means a presumption, as described in 2065
division (D) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code, that a prison 2066
term is a necessary sanction for a felony in order to comply with 2067
the purposes and principles of sentencing under section 2929.11 of 2068
the Revised Code.2069

       (DD) "Major drug offender" has the same meaning as in section 2070
2929.01 of the Revised Code.2071

       (EE) "Minor drug possession offense" means either of the 2072
following:2073

       (1) A violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code as it 2074
existed prior to July 1, 1996;2075

       (2) A violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code as it 2076
exists on and after July 1, 1996, that is a misdemeanor or a 2077
felony of the fifth degree.2078

       (FF) "Mandatory prison term" has the same meaning as in 2079
section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.2080

        (GG) "Adulterate" means to cause a drug to be adulterated as 2081
described in section 3715.63 of the Revised Code.2082

       (HH) "Public premises" means any hotel, restaurant, tavern, 2083
store, arena, hall, or other place of public accommodation, 2084
business, amusement, or resort.2085

       (II) "Methamphetamine" means methamphetamine, any salt, 2086
isomer, or salt of an isomer of methamphetamine, or any compound, 2087
mixture, preparation, or substance containing methamphetamine or 2088
any salt, isomer, or salt of an isomer of methamphetamine.2089

       (JJ) "Lawful prescription" means a prescription that is 2090
issued for a legitimate medical purpose by a licensed health 2091
professional authorized to prescribe drugs, that is not altered or 2092
forged, and that was not obtained by means of deception or by the 2093
commission of any theft offense.2094

       (KK) "Deception" and "theft offense" have the same meanings 2095
as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code.2096

       Sec. 2951.041.  (A)(1) If an offender is charged with a 2097
criminal offense, including but not limited to a violation of 2098
section 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, or 2919.21 of 2099
the Revised Code, and the court has reason to believe that drug or 2100
alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to the criminal 2101
offense with which the offender is charged or that, at the time of 2102
committing that offense, the offender had a mental illness or was 2103
a person with intellectual disability and that the mental illness 2104
or status as a person with intellectual disability was a factor 2105
leading to the offender's criminal behavior, the court may accept, 2106
prior to the entry of a guilty plea, the offender's request for 2107
intervention in lieu of conviction. The request shall include a 2108
statement from the offender as to whether the offender is alleging 2109
that drug or alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to 2110
the criminal offense with which the offender is charged or is 2111
alleging that, at the time of committing that offense, the 2112
offender had a mental illness or was a person with intellectual 2113
disability and that the mental illness or status as a person with 2114
intellectual disability was a factor leading to the criminal 2115
offense with which the offender is charged. The request also shall 2116
include a waiver of the defendant's right to a speedy trial, the 2117
preliminary hearing, the time period within which the grand jury 2118
may consider an indictment against the offender, and arraignment, 2119
unless the hearing, indictment, or arraignment has already 2120
occurred. The court may reject an offender's request without a 2121
hearing. If the court elects to consider an offender's request, 2122
the court shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the 2123
offender is eligible under this section for intervention in lieu 2124
of conviction and shall stay all criminal proceedings pending the 2125
outcome of the hearing. If the court schedules a hearing, the 2126
court shall order an assessment of the offender for the purpose of 2127
determining the offender's eligibility for intervention in lieu of 2128
conviction and recommending an appropriate intervention plan.2129

       If the offender alleges that drug or alcohol usage by the 2130
offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which 2131
the offender is charged, the court may order that the offender be 2132
assessed by an addiction services provider certified pursuant to 2133
section 5119.36 of the Revised Code or a properly credentialed 2134
professional for the purpose of determining the offender's 2135
eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction and 2136
recommending an appropriate intervention plan. The addiction 2137
services provider or the properly credentialed professional shall 2138
provide a written assessment of the offender to the court.2139

       (2) The victim notification provisions of division (C) of 2140
section 2930.08 of the Revised Code apply in relation to any 2141
hearing held under division (A)(1) of this section.2142

       (B) An offender is eligible for intervention in lieu of 2143
conviction if the court finds all of the following:2144

       (1) The offender previously has not been convicted of or 2145
pleaded guilty to a felony offense of violence or previously has 2146
been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any felony that is not an 2147
offense of violence and the prosecuting attorney recommends that 2148
the offender be found eligible for participation in intervention 2149
in lieu of treatment under this section, previously has not been 2150
through intervention in lieu of conviction under this section or 2151
any similar regimen, and is charged with a felony for which the 2152
court, upon conviction, would impose a community control sanction 2153
on the offender under division (B)(2) of section 2929.13 of the 2154
Revised Code or with a misdemeanor.2155

       (2) The offense is not a felony of the first, second, or 2156
third degree, is not an offense of violence, is not a violation of 2157
division (A)(1) or (2) of section 2903.06 of the Revised Code, is 2158
not a violation of division (A)(1) of section 2903.08 of the 2159
Revised Code, is not a violation of division (A) of section 2160
4511.19 of the Revised Code or a municipal ordinance that is 2161
substantially similar to that division, and is not an offense for 2162
which a sentencing court is required to impose a mandatory prison 2163
term, a mandatory term of local incarceration, or a mandatory term 2164
of imprisonment in a jail.2165

       (3) The offender is not charged with a violation of section 2166
2925.02, 2925.04, or 2925.06 of the Revised Code, is not charged 2167
with a violation of section 2925.03 of the Revised Code that is a 2168
felony of the first, second, third, or fourth degree, and is not 2169
charged with a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code 2170
that is a felony of the first, second, or third degree.2171

       (4) If an offender alleges that drug or alcohol usage by the 2172
offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which 2173
the offender is charged, the court has ordered that the offender 2174
be assessed by an addiction services provider certified pursuant 2175
to section 5119.36 of the Revised Code or a properly credentialed 2176
professional for the purpose of determining the offender's 2177
eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction and 2178
recommending an appropriate intervention plan, the offender has 2179
been assessed by an addiction services provider of that nature or 2180
a properly credentialed professional in accordance with the 2181
court's order, and the addiction services provider or properly 2182
credentialed professional has filed the written assessment of the 2183
offender with the court.2184

       (5) If an offender alleges that, at the time of committing 2185
the criminal offense with which the offender is charged, the 2186
offender had a mental illness or was a person with intellectual 2187
disability and that the mental illness or status as a person with 2188
intellectual disability was a factor leading to that offense, the 2189
offender has been assessed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, 2190
independent social worker, orlicensed professional clinical 2191
counselor, or independent marriage and family therapist for the 2192
purpose of determining the offender's eligibility for intervention 2193
in lieu of conviction and recommending an appropriate intervention 2194
plan.2195

       (6) The offender's drug usage, alcohol usage, mental illness, 2196
or intellectual disability, whichever is applicable, was a factor 2197
leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is 2198
charged, intervention in lieu of conviction would not demean the 2199
seriousness of the offense, and intervention would substantially 2200
reduce the likelihood of any future criminal activity.2201

       (7) The alleged victim of the offense was not sixty-five 2202
years of age or older, permanently and totally disabled, under 2203
thirteen years of age, or a peace officer engaged in the officer's 2204
official duties at the time of the alleged offense.2205

       (8) If the offender is charged with a violation of section 2206
2925.24 of the Revised Code, the alleged violation did not result 2207
in physical harm to any person, and the offender previously has 2208
not been treated for drug abuse.2209

       (9) The offender is willing to comply with all terms and 2210
conditions imposed by the court pursuant to division (D) of this 2211
section.2212

       (10) The offender is not charged with an offense that would 2213
result in the offender being disqualified under Chapter 4506. of 2214
the Revised Code from operating a commercial motor vehicle or 2215
would subject the offender to any other sanction under that 2216
chapter. 2217

       (C) At the conclusion of a hearing held pursuant to division 2218
(A) of this section, the court shall enter its determination as to 2219
whether the offender is eligible for intervention in lieu of 2220
conviction and as to whether to grant the offender's request. If 2221
the court finds under division (B) of this section that the 2222
offender is eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction and 2223
grants the offender's request, the court shall accept the 2224
offender's plea of guilty and waiver of the defendant's right to a 2225
speedy trial, the preliminary hearing, the time period within 2226
which the grand jury may consider an indictment against the 2227
offender, and arraignment, unless the hearing, indictment, or 2228
arraignment has already occurred. In addition, the court then may 2229
stay all criminal proceedings and order the offender to comply 2230
with all terms and conditions imposed by the court pursuant to 2231
division (D) of this section. If the court finds that the offender 2232
is not eligible or does not grant the offender's request, the 2233
criminal proceedings against the offender shall proceed as if the 2234
offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction had not 2235
been made.2236

       (D) If the court grants an offender's request for 2237
intervention in lieu of conviction, the court shall place the 2238
offender under the general control and supervision of the county 2239
probation department, the adult parole authority, or another 2240
appropriate local probation or court services agency, if one 2241
exists, as if the offender was subject to a community control 2242
sanction imposed under section 2929.15, 2929.18, or 2929.25 of the 2243
Revised Code. The court shall establish an intervention plan for 2244
the offender. The terms and conditions of the intervention plan 2245
shall require the offender, for at least one year from the date on 2246
which the court grants the order of intervention in lieu of 2247
conviction, to abstain from the use of illegal drugs and alcohol, 2248
to participate in treatment and recovery support services, and to 2249
submit to regular random testing for drug and alcohol use and may 2250
include any other treatment terms and conditions, or terms and 2251
conditions similar to community control sanctions, which may 2252
include community service or restitution, that are ordered by the 2253
court.2254

       (E) If the court grants an offender's request for 2255
intervention in lieu of conviction and the court finds that the 2256
offender has successfully completed the intervention plan for the 2257
offender, including the requirement that the offender abstain from 2258
using illegal drugs and alcohol for a period of at least one year 2259
from the date on which the court granted the order of intervention 2260
in lieu of conviction, the requirement that the offender 2261
participate in treatment and recovery support services, and all 2262
other terms and conditions ordered by the court, the court shall 2263
dismiss the proceedings against the offender. Successful 2264
completion of the intervention plan and period of abstinence under 2265
this section shall be without adjudication of guilt and is not a 2266
criminal conviction for purposes of any disqualification or 2267
disability imposed by law and upon conviction of a crime, and the 2268
court may order the sealing of records related to the offense in 2269
question in the manner provided in sections 2953.31 to 2953.36 of 2270
the Revised Code.2271

       (F) If the court grants an offender's request for 2272
intervention in lieu of conviction and the offender fails to 2273
comply with any term or condition imposed as part of the 2274
intervention plan for the offender, the supervising authority for 2275
the offender promptly shall advise the court of this failure, and 2276
the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the offender 2277
failed to comply with any term or condition imposed as part of the 2278
plan. If the court determines that the offender has failed to 2279
comply with any of those terms and conditions, it shall enter a 2280
finding of guilty and shall impose an appropriate sanction under 2281
Chapter 2929. of the Revised Code. If the court sentences the 2282
offender to a prison term, the court, after consulting with the 2283
department of rehabilitation and correction regarding the 2284
availability of services, may order continued court-supervised 2285
activity and treatment of the offender during the prison term and, 2286
upon consideration of reports received from the department 2287
concerning the offender's progress in the program of activity and 2288
treatment, may consider judicial release under section 2929.20 of 2289
the Revised Code.2290

       (G) As used in this section:2291

       (1) "Community control sanction" has the same meaning as in 2292
section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.2293

       (2) "Intervention in lieu of conviction" means any 2294
court-supervised activity that complies with this section.2295

       (3) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 2296
2935.01 of the Revised Code.2297

       (4) "Mental illness" and "psychiatrist" have the same 2298
meanings as in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code.2299

       (5) "Person with intellectual disability" means a person 2300
having significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning 2301
existing concurrently with deficiencies in adaptive behavior, 2302
manifested during the developmental period.2303

       (6) "Psychologist" has the same meaning as in section 4732.01 2304
of the Revised Code.2305

       (H) Whenever the term "mentally retarded person" is used in 2306
any statute, rule, contract, grant, or other document, the 2307
reference shall be deemed to include a "person with intellectual 2308
disability," as defined in this section.2309

       Sec. 3107.014.  (A) Except as provided in division (B) of 2310
this section, only an individual who meets all of the following 2311
requirements may perform the duties of an assessor under sections 2312
3107.031, 3107.032, 3107.082, 3107.09, 3107.101, 3107.12, 2313
5103.0324, and 5103.152 of the Revised Code:2314

       (1) The individual must be in the employ of, appointed by, or 2315
under contract with a court, public children services agency, 2316
private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency;2317

       (2) The individual must be one of the following:2318

       (a) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed 2319
professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, 2320
independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family 2321
therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;2322

       (b) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the 2323
Revised Code;2324

       (c) A student working to earn a four-year, post-secondary 2325
degree, or higher, in a social or behavior science, or both, who 2326
conducts assessor's duties under the supervision of a licensed2327
professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, 2328
independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and 2329
family therapist, or marriage and family therapist licensed under 2330
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code or a psychologist licensed under 2331
Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code. Beginning July 1, 2009, a 2332
student is eligible under this division only if the supervising 2333
licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional 2334
counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent 2335
marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, or 2336
psychologist has completed training in accordance with rules 2337
adopted under section 3107.015 of the Revised Code.2338

       (d) A civil service employee engaging in social work without 2339
a license under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code, as permitted by 2340
division (A)(5) of section 4757.41 of the Revised Code;2341

       (e) A former employee of a public children services agency 2342
who, while so employed, conducted the duties of an assessor;2343

        (f) An employee of a court or public children services agency 2344
who is employed to conduct the duties of an assessor.2345

       (3) The individual must complete training in accordance with 2346
rules adopted under section 3107.015 of the Revised Code.2347

       (B) An individual in the employ of, appointed by, or under 2348
contract with a court prior to September 18, 1996, to conduct 2349
adoption investigations of prospective adoptive parents may 2350
perform the duties of an assessor under sections 3107.031, 2351
3107.032, 3107.082, 3107.09, 3107.101, 3107.12, 5103.0324, and 2352
5103.152 of the Revised Code if the individual complies with 2353
division (A)(3) of this section regardless of whether the 2354
individual meets the requirement of division (A)(2) of this 2355
section.2356

       (C) A court, public children services agency, private child 2357
placing agency, or private noncustodial agency may employ, 2358
appoint, or contract with an assessor in the county in which a 2359
petition for adoption is filed and in any other county or location 2360
outside this state where information needed to complete or 2361
supplement the assessor's duties may be obtained. More than one 2362
assessor may be utilized for an adoption.2363

       (D) Not later than January 1, 2008, the department of job and 2364
family services shall develop and maintain an assessor registry. 2365
The registry shall list all individuals who are employed, 2366
appointed by, or under contract with a court, public children 2367
services agency, private child placing agency, or private 2368
noncustodial agency and meet the requirements of an assessor as 2369
described in this section. A public children services agency, 2370
private child placing agency, private noncustodial agency, court, 2371
or any other person may contact the department to determine if an 2372
individual is listed in the assessor registry. An individual 2373
listed in the assessor registry shall immediately inform the 2374
department when that individual is no longer employed, appointed 2375
by, or under contract with a court, public children services 2376
agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial 2377
agency to perform the duties of an assessor as described in this 2378
section. The director of job and family services shall adopt rules 2379
in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code necessary for 2380
the implementation, contents, and maintenance of the registry, and 2381
any sanctions related to the provision of information, or the 2382
failure to provide information, that is needed for the proper 2383
operation of the assessor registry.2384

       Sec. 3701.046. The director of health is authorized to make 2385
grants for women's health services from funds appropriated for 2386
that purpose by the general assembly.2387

       None of the funds received through grants for women's health 2388
services shall be used to provide abortion services. None of the 2389
funds received through these grants shall be used for counseling 2390
for or referrals for abortion, except in the case of a medical 2391
emergency. These funds shall be distributed by the director to 2392
programs that the department of health determines will provide 2393
services that are physically and financially separate from 2394
abortion-providing and abortion-promoting activities, and that do 2395
not include counseling for or referrals for abortion, other than 2396
in the case of medical emergency.2397

       These women's health services include and are limited to the 2398
following: pelvic examinations and laboratory testing; breast 2399
examinations and patient education on breast cancer; screening for 2400
cervical cancer; screening and treatment for sexually transmitted 2401
diseases and HIV screening; voluntary choice of contraception, 2402
including abstinence and natural family planning; patient 2403
education and pre-pregnancy counseling on the dangers of smoking, 2404
alcohol, and drug use during pregnancy; education on sexual 2405
coercion and violence in relationships; and prenatal care or 2406
referral for prenatal care. These health care services shall be 2407
provided in a medical clinic setting by persons authorized under 2408
Chapter. 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and 2409
surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery; authorized under 2410
Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code to practice as a physician 2411
assistant; licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code as a 2412
registered nurse or licensed practical nurse; or licensed under 2413
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code as a social worker, independent 2414
social worker, licensed professional clinical counselor, or 2415
licensed professional counselor.2416

       The director shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the 2417
Revised Code specifying reasonable eligibility standards that must 2418
be met to receive the state funding and provide reasonable methods 2419
by which a grantee wishing to be eligible for federal funding may 2420
comply with these requirements for state funding without losing 2421
its eligibility for federal funding.2422

       Each applicant for these funds shall provide sufficient 2423
assurance to the director of all of the following:2424

        (A) The program shall not discriminate in the provision of 2425
services based on an individual's religion, race, national origin, 2426
handicapping condition, age, sex, number of pregnancies, or 2427
marital status;2428

        (B) The program shall provide services without subjecting 2429
individuals to any coercion to accept services or to employ any 2430
particular methods of family planning;2431

       (C) Acceptance of services shall be solely on a voluntary 2432
basis and may not be made a prerequisite to eligibility for, or 2433
receipt of, any other service, assistance from, or participation 2434
in, any other program of the service provider;2435

        (D) Any charges for services provided by the program shall be 2436
based on the patient's ability to pay and priority in the 2437
provision of services shall be given to persons from low-income 2438
families.2439

       In distributing these grant funds, the director shall give 2440
priority to grant requests from local departments of health for 2441
women's health services to be provided directly by personnel of 2442
the local department of health. The director shall issue a single 2443
request for proposals for all grants for women's health services. 2444
The director shall send a notification of this request for 2445
proposals to every local department of health in this state and 2446
shall place a notification on the department's web site. The 2447
director shall allow at least thirty days after issuing this 2448
notification before closing the period to receive applications.2449

       After the closing date for receiving grant applications, the 2450
director shall first consider grant applications from local 2451
departments of health that apply for grants for women's health 2452
services to be provided directly by personnel of the local 2453
department of health. Local departments of health that apply for 2454
grants for women's health services to be provided directly by 2455
personnel of the local department of health need not provide all 2456
the listed women's health services in order to qualify for a 2457
grant. However, in prioritizing awards among local departments of 2458
health that qualify for funding under this paragraph, the director 2459
may consider, among other reasonable factors, the 2460
comprehensiveness of the women's health services to be offered, 2461
provided that no local department of health shall be discriminated 2462
against in the process of awarding these grant funds because the 2463
applicant does not provide contraception.2464

       If funds remain after awarding grants to all local 2465
departments of health that qualify for the priority, the director 2466
may make grants to other applicants. Awards to other applicants 2467
may be made to those applicants that will offer all eight of the 2468
listed women's health services or that will offer all of the 2469
services except contraception. No applicant shall be discriminated 2470
against in the process of awarding these grant funds because the 2471
applicant does not provide contraception.2472

       Sec. 3701.74.  (A) As used in this section and section 2473
3701.741 of the Revised Code:2474

       (1) "Ambulatory care facility" means a facility that provides 2475
medical, diagnostic, or surgical treatment to patients who do not 2476
require hospitalization, including a dialysis center, ambulatory 2477
surgical facility, cardiac catheterization facility, diagnostic 2478
imaging center, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy center, home 2479
health agency, inpatient hospice, birthing center, radiation 2480
therapy center, emergency facility, and an urgent care center. 2481
"Ambulatory care facility" does not include the private office of 2482
a physician or dentist, whether the office is for an individual or 2483
group practice.2484

       (2) "Chiropractor" means an individual licensed under Chapter 2485
4734. of the Revised Code to practice chiropractic.2486

       (3) "Emergency facility" means a hospital emergency 2487
department or any other facility that provides emergency medical 2488
services.2489

       (4) "Health care practitioner" means all of the following:2490

       (a) A dentist or dental hygienist licensed under Chapter 2491
4715. of the Revised Code;2492

       (b) A registered or licensed practical nurse licensed under 2493
Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;2494

       (c) An optometrist licensed under Chapter 4725. of the 2495
Revised Code;2496

       (d) A dispensing optician, spectacle dispensing optician, 2497
contact lens dispensing optician, or spectacle-contact lens 2498
dispensing optician licensed under Chapter 4725. of the Revised 2499
Code;2500

       (e) A pharmacist licensed under Chapter 4729. of the Revised 2501
Code;2502

       (f) A physician;2503

       (g) A physician assistant authorized under Chapter 4730. of 2504
the Revised Code to practice as a physician assistant;2505

       (h) A practitioner of a limited branch of medicine issued a 2506
certificate under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;2507

       (i) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the 2508
Revised Code;2509

       (j) A chiropractor;2510

       (k) A hearing aid dealer or fitter licensed under Chapter 2511
4747. of the Revised Code;2512

       (l) A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed 2513
under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;2514

       (m) An occupational therapist or occupational therapy 2515
assistant licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;2516

       (n) A physical therapist or physical therapy assistant 2517
licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;2518

       (o) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed2519
professional counselor, social worker, or independent social 2520
worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and 2521
family therapist licensed, or a social work assistant registered, 2522
under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;2523

       (p) A dietitian licensed under Chapter 4759. of the Revised 2524
Code;2525

       (q) A respiratory care professional licensed under Chapter 2526
4761. of the Revised Code;2527

       (r) An emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical 2528
technician-intermediate, or emergency medical technician-paramedic 2529
certified under Chapter 4765. of the Revised Code.2530

       (5) "Health care provider" means a hospital, ambulatory care 2531
facility, long-term care facility, pharmacy, emergency facility, 2532
or health care practitioner.2533

       (6) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of 2534
the Revised Code.2535

       (7) "Long-term care facility" means a nursing home, 2536
residential care facility, or home for the aging, as those terms 2537
are defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code; a residential 2538
facility licensed under section 5119.34 of the Revised Code that 2539
provides accommodations, supervision, and personal care services 2540
for three to sixteen unrelated adults; a nursing facility, as 2541
defined in section 5165.01 of the Revised Code; a skilled nursing 2542
facility, as defined in section 5165.01 of the Revised Code; and 2543
an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual 2544
disabilities, as defined in section 5124.01 of the Revised Code.2545

       (8) "Medical record" means data in any form that pertains to 2546
a patient's medical history, diagnosis, prognosis, or medical 2547
condition and that is generated and maintained by a health care 2548
provider in the process of the patient's health care treatment.2549

       (9) "Medical records company" means a person who stores, 2550
locates, or copies medical records for a health care provider, or 2551
is compensated for doing so by a health care provider, and charges 2552
a fee for providing medical records to a patient or patient's 2553
representative.2554

       (10) "Patient" means either of the following:2555

       (a) An individual who received health care treatment from a 2556
health care provider;2557

       (b) A guardian, as defined in section 1337.11 of the Revised 2558
Code, of an individual described in division (A)(10)(a) of this 2559
section.2560

       (11) "Patient's personal representative" means a minor 2561
patient's parent or other person acting in loco parentis, a 2562
court-appointed guardian, or a person with durable power of 2563
attorney for health care for a patient, the executor or 2564
administrator of the patient's estate, or the person responsible 2565
for the patient's estate if it is not to be probated. "Patient's 2566
personal representative" does not include an insurer authorized 2567
under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code to do the business of 2568
sickness and accident insurance in this state, a health insuring 2569
corporation holding a certificate of authority under Chapter 1751. 2570
of the Revised Code, or any other person not named in this 2571
division.2572

       (12) "Pharmacy" has the same meaning as in section 4729.01 of 2573
the Revised Code.2574

       (13) "Physician" means a person authorized under Chapter 2575
4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery, 2576
osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and 2577
surgery.2578

       (14) "Authorized person" means a person to whom a patient has 2579
given written authorization to act on the patient's behalf 2580
regarding the patient's medical record.2581

       (B) A patient, a patient's personal representative, or an 2582
authorized person who wishes to examine or obtain a copy of part 2583
or all of a medical record shall submit to the health care 2584
provider a written request signed by the patient, personal 2585
representative, or authorized person dated not more than one year 2586
before the date on which it is submitted. The request shall 2587
indicate whether the copy is to be sent to the requestor, 2588
physician or chiropractor, or held for the requestor at the office 2589
of the health care provider. Within a reasonable time after 2590
receiving a request that meets the requirements of this division 2591
and includes sufficient information to identify the record 2592
requested, a health care provider that has the patient's medical 2593
records shall permit the patient to examine the record during 2594
regular business hours without charge or, on request, shall 2595
provide a copy of the record in accordance with section 3701.741 2596
of the Revised Code, except that if a physician, psychologist, 2597
licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional 2598
counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent 2599
marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, or 2600
chiropractor who has treated the patient determines for clearly 2601
stated treatment reasons that disclosure of the requested record 2602
is likely to have an adverse effect on the patient, the health 2603
care provider shall provide the record to a physician, 2604
psychologist, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed 2605
professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, 2606
independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family 2607
therapist, or chiropractor designated by the patient. The health 2608
care provider shall take reasonable steps to establish the 2609
identity of the person making the request to examine or obtain a 2610
copy of the patient's record.2611

       (C) If a health care provider fails to furnish a medical 2612
record as required by division (B) of this section, the patient, 2613
personal representative, or authorized person who requested the 2614
record may bring a civil action to enforce the patient's right of 2615
access to the record.2616

       (D)(1) This section does not apply to medical records whose 2617
release is covered by section 173.20 or 3721.13 of the Revised 2618
Code, by Chapter 1347. or 5122. of the Revised Code, by 42 C.F.R. 2619
part 2, "Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient 2620
Records," or by 42 C.F.R. 483.10.2621

       (2) Nothing in this section is intended to supersede the 2622
confidentiality provisions of sections 2305.24, 2305.25, 2305.251, 2623
and 2305.252 of the Revised Code.2624

       Sec. 3709.161.  (A) The board of health of a city or general 2625
health district may procure a policy or policies of insurance 2626
insuring the members of the board, the health commissioner, and 2627
the employees of the board against liability on account of damage 2628
or injury to persons and property resulting from any act or 2629
omission that occurs in the individual's official capacity as a 2630
member or employee of the board or resulting solely out of such 2631
membership or employment.2632

       (B)(1) As used in this division, "health care professional" 2633
means all of the following:2634

       (a) A dentist or dental hygienist licensed under Chapter 2635
4715. of the Revised Code;2636

       (b) A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse licensed 2637
under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;2638

       (c) A person licensed under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code 2639
to practice as a pharmacist;2640

       (d) A person authorized under Chapter 4730. of the Revised 2641
Code to practice as a physician assistant;2642

       (e) A person authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 2643
Code to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 2644
surgery, or podiatry;2645

       (f) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the 2646
Revised Code;2647

       (g) A veterinarian licensed under Chapter 4741. of the 2648
Revised Code;2649

       (h) A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed 2650
under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;2651

       (i) An occupational therapist, physical therapist, physical 2652
therapist assistant, or athletic trainer licensed under Chapter 2653
4755. of the Revised Code;2654

       (j) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed2655
professional counselor, independent social worker, or social 2656
worker licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;2657

       (k) A dieticiandietitian licensed under Chapter 4759. of the 2658
Revised Code.2659

       (2) The board of health of a city or general health district 2660
may purchase liability insurance for a health care professional 2661
with whom the board contracts for the provision of health care 2662
services against liability on account of damage or injury to 2663
persons and property arising from the health care professional's 2664
performance of services under the contract. The policy shall be 2665
purchased from an insurance company licensed to do business in 2666
this state, if such a policy is available from such a company. The 2667
board of health of a city or general health district shall report 2668
the cost of the liability insurance policy and subsequent 2669
increases in the cost to the director of health on a form 2670
prescribed by the director.2671

       Sec. 3721.21.  As used in sections 3721.21 to 3721.34 of the 2672
Revised Code:2673

       (A) "Long-term care facility" means either of the following:2674

       (1) A nursing home as defined in section 3721.01 of the 2675
Revised Code;2676

       (2) A facility or part of a facility that is certified as a 2677
skilled nursing facility or a nursing facility under Title XVIII 2678
or XIX of the "Social Security Act."2679

       (B) "Residential care facility" has the same meaning as in 2680
section 3721.01 of the Revised Code.2681

       (C) "Abuse" means knowingly causing physical harm or 2682
recklessly causing serious physical harm to a resident by physical 2683
contact with the resident or by use of physical or chemical 2684
restraint, medication, or isolation as punishment, for staff 2685
convenience, excessively, as a substitute for treatment, or in 2686
amounts that preclude habilitation and treatment.2687

       (D) "Neglect" means recklessly failing to provide a resident 2688
with any treatment, care, goods, or service necessary to maintain 2689
the health or safety of the resident when the failure results in 2690
serious physical harm to the resident. "Neglect" does not include 2691
allowing a resident, at the resident's option, to receive only 2692
treatment by spiritual means through prayer in accordance with the 2693
tenets of a recognized religious denomination.2694

       (E) "Misappropriation" means depriving, defrauding, or 2695
otherwise obtaining the real or personal property of a resident by 2696
any means prohibited by the Revised Code, including violations of 2697
Chapter 2911. or 2913. of the Revised Code.2698

       (F) "Resident" includes a resident, patient, former resident 2699
or patient, or deceased resident or patient of a long-term care 2700
facility or a residential care facility.2701

       (G) "Physical restraint" has the same meaning as in section 2702
3721.10 of the Revised Code.2703

       (H) "Chemical restraint" has the same meaning as in section 2704
3721.10 of the Revised Code.2705

       (I) "Nursing and nursing-related services" means the personal 2706
care services and other services not constituting skilled nursing 2707
care that are specified in rules the director of health shall 2708
adopt in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.2709

       (J) "Personal care services" has the same meaning as in 2710
section 3721.01 of the Revised Code.2711

       (K)(1) Except as provided in division (K)(2) of this section, 2712
"nurse aide" means an individual who provides nursing and 2713
nursing-related services to residents in a long-term care 2714
facility, either as a member of the staff of the facility for 2715
monetary compensation or as a volunteer without monetary 2716
compensation.2717

       (2) "Nurse aide" does not include either of the following:2718

        (a) A licensed health professional practicing within the 2719
scope of the professional's license;2720

        (b) An individual providing nursing and nursing-related 2721
services in a religious nonmedical health care institution, if the 2722
individual has been trained in the principles of nonmedical care 2723
and is recognized by the institution as being competent in the 2724
administration of care within the religious tenets practiced by 2725
the residents of the institution.2726

       (L) "Licensed health professional" means all of the 2727
following:2728

       (1) An occupational therapist or occupational therapy 2729
assistant licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;2730

       (2) A physical therapist or physical therapy assistant 2731
licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;2732

       (3) A physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 2733
Code to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 2734
surgery, or podiatry;2735

       (4) A physician assistant authorized under Chapter 4730. of 2736
the Revised Code to practice as a physician assistant;2737

       (5) A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse licensed 2738
under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;2739

       (6) A social worker or independent social worker licensed 2740
under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code or a social work assistant 2741
registered under that chapter;2742

       (7) A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed 2743
under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;2744

       (8) A dentist or dental hygienist licensed under Chapter 2745
4715. of the Revised Code;2746

       (9) An optometrist licensed under Chapter 4725. of the 2747
Revised Code;2748

       (10) A pharmacist licensed under Chapter 4729. of the Revised 2749
Code;2750

       (11) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the 2751
Revised Code;2752

       (12) A chiropractor licensed under Chapter 4734. of the 2753
Revised Code;2754

       (13) A nursing home administrator licensed or temporarily 2755
licensed under Chapter 4751. of the Revised Code;2756

       (14) A licensed professional counselor or licensed2757
professional clinical counselor licensed under Chapter 4757. of 2758
the Revised Code;2759

       (15) A marriage and family therapist or independent marriage 2760
and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised 2761
Code.2762

       (M) "Religious nonmedical health care institution" means an 2763
institution that meets or exceeds the conditions to receive 2764
payment under the medicare program established under Title XVIII 2765
of the "Social Security Act" for inpatient hospital services or 2766
post-hospital extended care services furnished to an individual in 2767
a religious nonmedical health care institution, as defined in 2768
section 1861(ss)(1) of the "Social Security Act," 79 Stat. 286 2769
(1965), 42 U.S.C. 1395x(ss)(1), as amended.2770

       (N) "Competency evaluation program" means a program through 2771
which the competency of a nurse aide to provide nursing and 2772
nursing-related services is evaluated.2773

       (O) "Training and competency evaluation program" means a 2774
program of nurse aide training and evaluation of competency to 2775
provide nursing and nursing-related services.2776

       Sec. 3923.28.  (A) Every policy of group sickness and 2777
accident insurance providing hospital, surgical, or medical 2778
expense coverage for other than specific diseases or accidents 2779
only, and delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state 2780
on or after January 1, 1979, and that provides coverage for mental 2781
or emotional disorders, shall provide benefits for services on an 2782
outpatient basis for each eligible person under the policy who 2783
resides in this state for mental or emotional disorders, or for 2784
evaluations, that are at least equal to five hundred fifty dollars 2785
in any calendar year or twelve-month period. The services shall be 2786
legally performed by or under the clinical supervision of a 2787
physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to 2788
practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery; 2789
a psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code; a 2790
licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional 2791
counselor, or independent social worker licensed under Chapter 2792
4757. of the Revised Code; or a clinical nurse specialist licensed 2793
under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code whose nursing specialty is 2794
mental health, whether performed in an office, in a hospital, or 2795
in a community mental health facility so long as the hospital or 2796
community mental health facility is approved by the joint 2797
commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations, the 2798
council on accreditation for children and family services, or the 2799
rehabilitation accreditation commission.2800

       (B) Outpatient benefits offered under division (A) of this 2801
section shall be subject to reasonable contract limitations and 2802
may be subject to reasonable deductibles and co-insurance costs. 2803
Persons entitled to such benefit under more than one service or 2804
insurance contract may be limited to a single 2805
five-hundred-fifty-dollar outpatient benefit for services under 2806
all contracts.2807

       (C) In order to qualify for participation under division (A) 2808
of this section, every facility specified in such division shall 2809
have in effect a plan for utilization review and a plan for peer 2810
review and every person specified in such division shall have in 2811
effect a plan for peer review. Such plans shall have the purpose 2812
of ensuring high quality patient care and effective and efficient 2813
utilization of available health facilities and services.2814

       (D) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an 2815
insurer to pay benefits which are greater than usual, customary, 2816
and reasonable.2817

       (E)(1) Services performed under the clinical supervision of a 2818
health care professional identified in division (A) of this 2819
section, in order to be reimbursable under the coverage required 2820
in division (A) of this section, shall meet both of the following 2821
requirements:2822

       (a) The services shall be performed in accordance with a 2823
treatment plan that describes the expected duration, frequency, 2824
and type of services to be performed;2825

       (b) The plan shall be reviewed and approved by the health 2826
care professional every three months.2827

       (2) Payment of benefits for services reimbursable under 2828
division (E)(1) of this section shall not be restricted to 2829
services described in the treatment plan or conditioned upon 2830
standards of clinical supervision that are more restrictive than 2831
standards of a health care professional described in division (A) 2832
of this section, which at least equal the requirements of division 2833
(E)(1) of this section.2834

       (F) The benefits provided by this section for mental and 2835
emotional disorders shall not be reduced by the cost of benefits 2836
provided pursuant to section 3923.281 of the Revised Code for 2837
diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental 2838
illnesses. This section does not apply to benefits for diagnostic 2839
and treatment services for biologically based mental illnesses.2840

       Sec. 3923.281.  (A) As used in this section:2841

       (1) "Biologically based mental illness" means schizophrenia, 2842
schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar 2843
disorder, paranoia and other psychotic disorders, 2844
obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder, as these terms 2845
are defined in the most recent edition of the diagnostic and 2846
statistical manual of mental disorders published by the American 2847
psychiatric association.2848

       (2) "Policy of sickness and accident insurance" has the same 2849
meaning as in section 3923.01 of the Revised Code, but excludes 2850
any hospital indemnity, medicare supplement, long-term care, 2851
disability income, one-time-limited-duration policy of not longer 2852
than six months, supplemental benefit, or other policy that 2853
provides coverage for specific diseases or accidents only; any 2854
policy that provides coverage for workers' compensation claims 2855
compensable pursuant to Chapters 4121. and 4123. of the Revised 2856
Code; and any policy that provides coverage to medicaid 2857
recipients.2858

       (B) Notwithstanding section 3901.71 of the Revised Code, and 2859
subject to division (E) of this section, every policy of sickness 2860
and accident insurance shall provide benefits for the diagnosis 2861
and treatment of biologically based mental illnesses on the same 2862
terms and conditions as, and shall provide benefits no less 2863
extensive than, those provided under the policy of sickness and 2864
accident insurance for the treatment and diagnosis of all other 2865
physical diseases and disorders, if both of the following apply:2866

       (1) The biologically based mental illness is clinically 2867
diagnosed by a physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the 2868
Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic 2869
medicine and surgery; a psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. 2870
of the Revised Code; a licensed professional clinical counselor, 2871
licensed professional counselor, or independent social worker 2872
licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code; or a clinical 2873
nurse specialist licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code 2874
whose nursing specialty is mental health.2875

       (2) The prescribed treatment is not experimental or 2876
investigational, having proven its clinical effectiveness in 2877
accordance with generally accepted medical standards.2878

       (C) Division (B) of this section applies to all coverages and 2879
terms and conditions of the policy of sickness and accident 2880
insurance, including, but not limited to, coverage of inpatient 2881
hospital services, outpatient services, and medication; maximum 2882
lifetime benefits; copayments; and individual and family 2883
deductibles.2884

       (D) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting 2885
a sickness and accident insurance company from taking any of the 2886
following actions:2887

       (1) Negotiating separately with mental health care providers 2888
with regard to reimbursement rates and the delivery of health care 2889
services;2890

       (2) Offering policies that provide benefits solely for the 2891
diagnosis and treatment of biologically based mental illnesses;2892

       (3) Managing the provision of benefits for the diagnosis or 2893
treatment of biologically based mental illnesses through the use 2894
of pre-admission screening, by requiring beneficiaries to obtain 2895
authorization prior to treatment, or through the use of any other 2896
mechanism designed to limit coverage to that treatment determined 2897
to be necessary;2898

       (4) Enforcing the terms and conditions of a policy of 2899
sickness and accident insurance.2900

       (E) An insurer that offers any policy of sickness and 2901
accident insurance is not required to provide benefits for the 2902
diagnosis and treatment of biologically based mental illnesses 2903
pursuant to division (B) of this section if all of the following 2904
apply:2905

       (1) The insurer submits documentation certified by an 2906
independent member of the American academy of actuaries to the 2907
superintendent of insurance showing that incurred claims for 2908
diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental 2909
illnesses for a period of at least six months independently caused 2910
the insurer's costs for claims and administrative expenses for the 2911
coverage of all other physical diseases and disorders to increase 2912
by more than one per cent per year. 2913

       (2) The insurer submits a signed letter from an independent 2914
member of the American academy of actuaries to the superintendent 2915
of insurance opining that the increase described in division 2916
(E)(1) of this section could reasonably justify an increase of 2917
more than one per cent in the annual premiums or rates charged by 2918
the insurer for the coverage of all other physical diseases and 2919
disorders.2920

       (3) The superintendent of insurance makes the following 2921
determinations from the documentation and opinion submitted 2922
pursuant to divisions (E)(1) and (2) of this section:2923

       (a) Incurred claims for diagnostic and treatment services for 2924
biologically based mental illnesses for a period of at least six 2925
months independently caused the insurer's costs for claims and 2926
administrative expenses for the coverage of all other physical 2927
diseases and disorders to increase by more than one per cent per 2928
year.2929

       (b) The increase in costs reasonably justifies an increase of 2930
more than one per cent in the annual premiums or rates charged by 2931
the insurer for the coverage of all other physical diseases and 2932
disorders.2933

       Any determination made by the superintendent under this 2934
division is subject to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.2935

       Sec. 3923.282. (A) As used in this section:2936

       (1) "Biologically based mental illness" means schizophrenia, 2937
schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar 2938
disorder, paranoia and other psychotic disorders, 2939
obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder, as these terms 2940
are defined in the most recent edition of the diagnostic and 2941
statistical manual of mental disorders published by the American 2942
psychiatric association.2943

       (2) "Plan of health coverage" includes any private or public 2944
employer group self-insurance plan that provides payment for 2945
health care benefits for other than specific diseases or accidents 2946
only, which benefits are not provided by contract with a sickness 2947
and accident insurer or health insuring corporation.2948

       (B) Notwithstanding section 3901.71 of the Revised Code, and 2949
subject to division (F) of this section, each plan of health 2950
coverage shall provide benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of 2951
biologically based mental illnesses on the same terms and 2952
conditions as, and shall provide benefits no less extensive than, 2953
those provided under the plan of health coverage for the treatment 2954
and diagnosis of all other physical diseases and disorders, if 2955
both of the following apply:2956

       (1) The biologically based mental illness is clinically 2957
diagnosed by a physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the 2958
Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic 2959
medicine and surgery; a psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. 2960
of the Revised Code; a licensed professional clinical counselor, 2961
licensed professional counselor, or independent social worker 2962
licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code; or a clinical 2963
nurse specialist licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code 2964
whose nursing specialty is mental health.2965

       (2) The prescribed treatment is not experimental or 2966
investigational, having proven its clinical effectiveness in 2967
accordance with generally accepted medical standards.2968

       (C) Division (B) of this section applies to all coverages and 2969
terms and conditions of the plan of health coverage, including, 2970
but not limited to, coverage of inpatient hospital services, 2971
outpatient services, and medication; maximum lifetime benefits; 2972
copayments; and individual and family deductibles.2973

       (D) This section does not apply to a plan of health coverage 2974
if federal law supersedes, preempts, prohibits, or otherwise 2975
precludes its application to such plans. This section does not 2976
apply to long-term care, hospital indemnity, disability income, or 2977
medicare supplement plans of health coverage, or to any other 2978
supplemental benefit plans of health coverage.2979

       (E) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting 2980
an employer from taking any of the following actions in connection 2981
with a plan of health coverage:2982

       (1) Negotiating separately with mental health care providers 2983
with regard to reimbursement rates and the delivery of health care 2984
services;2985

       (2) Managing the provision of benefits for the diagnosis or 2986
treatment of biologically based mental illnesses through the use 2987
of pre-admission screening, by requiring beneficiaries to obtain 2988
authorization prior to treatment, or through the use of any other 2989
mechanism designed to limit coverage to that treatment determined 2990
to be necessary;2991

       (3) Enforcing the terms and conditions of a plan of health 2992
coverage.2993

       (F) An employer that offers a plan of health coverage is not 2994
required to provide benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of 2995
biologically based mental illnesses in combination with benefits 2996
for the treatment and diagnosis of all other physical diseases and 2997
disorders as described in division (B) of this section if both of 2998
the following apply:2999

       (1) The employer submits documentation certified by an 3000
independent member of the American academy of actuaries to the 3001
superintendent of insurance showing that incurred claims for 3002
diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental 3003
illnesses for a period of at least six months independently caused 3004
the employer's costs for claims and administrative expenses for 3005
the coverage of all other physical diseases and disorders to 3006
increase by more than one per cent per year. 3007

       (2) The superintendent of insurance determines from the 3008
documentation and opinion submitted pursuant to division (F) of 3009
this section, that incurred claims for diagnostic and treatment 3010
services for biologically based mental illnesses for a period of 3011
at least six months independently caused the employer's costs for 3012
claims and administrative expenses for the coverage of all other 3013
physical diseases and disorders to increase by more than one per 3014
cent per year.3015

       Any determination made by the superintendent under this 3016
division is subject to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.3017

       Sec. 3923.30.  Every person, the state and any of its 3018
instrumentalities, any county, township, school district, or other 3019
political subdivisions and any of its instrumentalities, and any 3020
municipal corporation and any of its instrumentalities, which 3021
provides payment for health care benefits for any of its employees 3022
resident in this state, which benefits are not provided by 3023
contract with an insurer qualified to provide sickness and 3024
accident insurance, or a health insuring corporation, shall 3025
include the following benefits in its plan of health care benefits 3026
commencing on or after January 1, 1979:3027

       (A) If such plan of health care benefits provides payment for 3028
the treatment of mental or nervous disorders, then such plan shall 3029
provide benefits for services on an outpatient basis for each 3030
eligible employee and dependent for mental or emotional disorders, 3031
or for evaluations, that are at least equal to the following:3032

       (1) Payments not less than five hundred fifty dollars in a 3033
twelve-month period, for services legally performed by or under 3034
the clinical supervision of a physician authorized under Chapter 3035
4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or 3036
osteopathic medicine and surgery; a psychologist licensed under 3037
Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code; a licensed professional 3038
clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, or 3039
independent social worker licensed under Chapter 4757. of the 3040
Revised Code; or a clinical nurse specialist licensed under 3041
Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code whose nursing specialty is 3042
mental health, whether performed in an office, in a hospital, or 3043
in a community mental health facility so long as the hospital or 3044
community mental health facility is approved by the joint 3045
commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations, the 3046
council on accreditation for children and family services, or the 3047
rehabilitation accreditation commission;3048

       (2) Such benefit shall be subject to reasonable limitations, 3049
and may be subject to reasonable deductibles and co-insurance 3050
costs.3051

       (3) In order to qualify for participation under this 3052
division, every facility specified in this division shall have in 3053
effect a plan for utilization review and a plan for peer review 3054
and every person specified in this division shall have in effect a 3055
plan for peer review. Such plans shall have the purpose of 3056
ensuring high quality patient care and effective and efficient 3057
utilization of available health facilities and services.3058

       (4) Such payment for benefits shall not be greater than 3059
usual, customary, and reasonable.3060

       (5)(a) Services performed by or under the clinical 3061
supervision of a health care professional identified in division 3062
(A)(1) of this section, in order to be reimbursable under the 3063
coverage required in division (A) of this section, shall meet both 3064
of the following requirements:3065

       (i) The services shall be performed in accordance with a 3066
treatment plan that describes the expected duration, frequency, 3067
and type of services to be performed;3068

       (ii) The plan shall be reviewed and approved by the health 3069
care professional every three months.3070

       (b) Payment of benefits for services reimbursable under 3071
division (A)(5)(a) of the section shall not be restricted to 3072
services described in the treatment plan or conditioned upon 3073
standards of a licensed physician or licensed psychologist, which 3074
at least equal the requirements of division (A)(5)(a) of this 3075
section.3076

       (B) Payment for benefits for alcoholism treatment for 3077
outpatient, inpatient, and intermediate primary care for each 3078
eligible employee and dependent that are at least equal to the 3079
following:3080

       (1) Payments not less than five hundred fifty dollars in a 3081
twelve-month period for services legally performed by or under the 3082
clinical supervision of a health care professional identified in 3083
division (A)(1) of this section, whether performed in an office, 3084
or in a hospital or a community mental health facility or 3085
alcoholism treatment facility so long as the hospital, community 3086
mental health facility, or alcoholism treatment facility is 3087
approved by the joint commission on accreditation of hospitals or 3088
certified by the department of health;3089

       (2) The benefits provided under this division shall be 3090
subject to reasonable limitations and may be subject to reasonable 3091
deductibles and co-insurance costs.3092

       (3) A health care professional shall every three months 3093
certify a patient's need for continued services performed by such 3094
facilities.3095

       (4) In order to qualify for participation under this 3096
division, every facility specified in this division shall have in 3097
effect a plan for utilization review and a plan for peer review 3098
and every person specified in this division shall have in effect a 3099
plan for peer review. Such plans shall have the purpose of 3100
ensuring high quality patient care and efficient utilization of 3101
available health facilities and services. Such person or 3102
facilities shall also have in effect a program of rehabilitation 3103
or a program of rehabilitation and detoxification.3104

       (5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require 3105
reimbursement for benefits which is greater than usual, customary, 3106
and reasonable.3107

       (C) The benefits provided by division (A) of this section for 3108
mental and emotional disorders shall not be reduced by the cost of 3109
benefits provided pursuant to section 3923.282 of the Revised Code 3110
for diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based 3111
mental illness. This section does not apply to benefits for 3112
diagnostic and treatment services for biologically based mental 3113
illnesses.3114

       Sec. 3963.01. As used in this chapter:3115

       (A) "Affiliate" means any person or entity that has ownership 3116
or control of a contracting entity, is owned or controlled by a 3117
contracting entity, or is under common ownership or control with a 3118
contracting entity.3119

       (B) "Basic health care services" has the same meaning as in 3120
division (A) of section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, except that 3121
it does not include any services listed in that division that are 3122
provided by a pharmacist or nursing home.3123

       (C) "Contracting entity" means any person that has a primary 3124
business purpose of contracting with participating providers for 3125
the delivery of health care services.3126

       (D) "Credentialing" means the process of assessing and 3127
validating the qualifications of a provider applying to be 3128
approved by a contracting entity to provide basic health care 3129
services, specialty health care services, or supplemental health 3130
care services to enrollees.3131

       (E) "Edit" means adjusting one or more procedure codes billed 3132
by a participating provider on a claim for payment or a practice 3133
that results in any of the following:3134

       (1) Payment for some, but not all of the procedure codes 3135
originally billed by a participating provider;3136

       (2) Payment for a different procedure code than the procedure 3137
code originally billed by a participating provider;3138

       (3) A reduced payment as a result of services provided to an 3139
enrollee that are claimed under more than one procedure code on 3140
the same service date.3141

       (F) "Electronic claims transport" means to accept and 3142
digitize claims or to accept claims already digitized, to place 3143
those claims into a format that complies with the electronic 3144
transaction standards issued by the United States department of 3145
health and human services pursuant to the "Health Insurance 3146
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," 110 Stat. 1955, 42 3147
U.S.C. 1320d, et seq., as those electronic standards are 3148
applicable to the parties and as those electronic standards are 3149
updated from time to time, and to electronically transmit those 3150
claims to the appropriate contracting entity, payer, or 3151
third-party administrator.3152

       (G) "Enrollee" means any person eligible for health care 3153
benefits under a health benefit plan, including an eligible 3154
recipient of medicaid, and includes all of the following terms:3155

       (1) "Enrollee" and "subscriber" as defined by section 1751.01 3156
of the Revised Code;3157

       (2) "Member" as defined by section 1739.01 of the Revised 3158
Code;3159

       (3) "Insured" and "plan member" pursuant to Chapter 3923. of 3160
the Revised Code;3161

       (4) "Beneficiary" as defined by section 3901.38 of the 3162
Revised Code.3163

       (H) "Health care contract" means a contract entered into, 3164
materially amended, or renewed between a contracting entity and a 3165
participating provider for the delivery of basic health care 3166
services, specialty health care services, or supplemental health 3167
care services to enrollees.3168

       (I) "Health care services" means basic health care services, 3169
specialty health care services, and supplemental health care 3170
services.3171

       (J) "Material amendment" means an amendment to a health care 3172
contract that decreases the participating provider's payment or 3173
compensation, changes the administrative procedures in a way that 3174
may reasonably be expected to significantly increase the 3175
provider's administrative expenses, or adds a new product. A 3176
material amendment does not include any of the following:3177

       (1) A decrease in payment or compensation resulting solely 3178
from a change in a published fee schedule upon which the payment 3179
or compensation is based and the date of applicability is clearly 3180
identified in the contract;3181

       (2) A decrease in payment or compensation that was 3182
anticipated under the terms of the contract, if the amount and 3183
date of applicability of the decrease is clearly identified in the 3184
contract;3185

       (3) An administrative change that may significantly increase 3186
the provider's administrative expense, the specific applicability 3187
of which is clearly identified in the contract;3188

       (4) Changes to an existing prior authorization, 3189
precertification, notification, or referral program that do not 3190
substantially increase the provider's administrative expense;3191

       (5) Changes to an edit program or to specific edits if the 3192
participating provider is provided notice of the changes pursuant 3193
to division (A)(1) of section 3963.04 of the Revised Code and the 3194
notice includes information sufficient for the provider to 3195
determine the effect of the change;3196

       (6) Changes to a health care contract described in division 3197
(B) of section 3963.04 of the Revised Code.3198

       (K) "Participating provider" means a provider that has a 3199
health care contract with a contracting entity and is entitled to 3200
reimbursement for health care services rendered to an enrollee 3201
under the health care contract.3202

       (L) "Payer" means any person that assumes the financial risk 3203
for the payment of claims under a health care contract or the 3204
reimbursement for health care services provided to enrollees by 3205
participating providers pursuant to a health care contract.3206

       (M) "Primary enrollee" means a person who is responsible for 3207
making payments for participation in a health care plan or an 3208
enrollee whose employment or other status is the basis of 3209
eligibility for enrollment in a health care plan.3210

       (N) "Procedure codes" includes the American medical 3211
association's current procedural terminology code, the American 3212
dental association's current dental terminology, and the centers 3213
for medicare and medicaid services health care common procedure 3214
coding system.3215

       (O) "Product" means one of the following types of categories 3216
of coverage for which a participating provider may be obligated to 3217
provide health care services pursuant to a health care contract:3218

       (1) A health maintenance organization or other product 3219
provided by a health insuring corporation;3220

       (2) A preferred provider organization;3221

       (3) Medicare;3222

       (4) Medicaid;3223

       (5) Workers' compensation.3224

       (P) "Provider" means a physician, podiatrist, dentist, 3225
chiropractor, optometrist, psychologist, physician assistant, 3226
advanced practice registered nurse, occupational therapist, 3227
massage therapist, physical therapist, licensed professional 3228
counselor, licensed professional clinical counselor, hearing aid 3229
dealer, orthotist, prosthetist, home health agency, hospice care 3230
program, pediatric respite care program, or hospital, or a 3231
provider organization or physician-hospital organization that is 3232
acting exclusively as an administrator on behalf of a provider to 3233
facilitate the provider's participation in health care contracts. 3234
"Provider" does not mean a pharmacist, pharmacy, nursing home, or 3235
a provider organization or physician-hospital organization that 3236
leases the provider organization's or physician-hospital 3237
organization's network to a third party or contracts directly with 3238
employers or health and welfare funds.3239

       (Q) "Specialty health care services" has the same meaning as 3240
in section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, except that it does not 3241
include any services listed in division (B) of section 1751.01 of 3242
the Revised Code that are provided by a pharmacist or a nursing 3243
home.3244

       (R) "Supplemental health care services" has the same meaning 3245
as in division (B) of section 1751.01 of the Revised Code, except 3246
that it does not include any services listed in that division that 3247
are provided by a pharmacist or nursing home.3248

       Sec. 4723.16.  (A) An individual whom the board of nursing 3249
licenses, certificates, or otherwise legally authorizes to engage 3250
in the practice of nursing as a registered nurse or as a licensed 3251
practical nurse may render the professional services of a 3252
registered or licensed practical nurse within this state through a 3253
corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the 3254
Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 3255
1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional 3256
association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This 3257
division does not preclude an individual of that nature from 3258
rendering professional services as a registered or licensed 3259
practical nurse through another form of business entity, 3260
including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or 3261
foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in 3262
accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, 3263
or rules of the board of nursing adopted pursuant to this chapter.3264

       (B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or 3265
professional association described in division (A) of this section 3266
may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the 3267
professional services of the following individuals who are 3268
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3269
practice their respective professions:3270

       (1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry 3271
under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;3272

       (2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic 3273
or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;3274

       (3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology 3275
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;3276

       (4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are 3277
authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed 3278
practical nurses under this chapter;3279

       (5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under 3280
Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;3281

       (6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice 3282
physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised 3283
Code;3284

       (7) Occupational therapists who are licensed to practice 3285
occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 3286
Revised Code;3287

       (8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice 3288
mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;3289

       (9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 3290
surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are licensed, 3291
certificated, or otherwise legally authorized for their respective 3292
practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;3293

       (10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed 3294
professional counselors, independent social workers, social 3295
workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage 3296
and family therapists who are authorized for their respective 3297
practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.3298

       This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a 3299
code of ethics applicable to a nurse that prohibits a registered 3300
or licensed practical nurse from engaging in the practice of 3301
nursing as a registered nurse or as a licensed practical nurse in 3302
combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or 3303
otherwise legally authorized to practice optometry, chiropractic, 3304
acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychology, 3305
pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, 3306
medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or3307
podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social 3308
work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also 3309
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage 3310
in the practice of nursing as a registered nurse or as a licensed 3311
practical nurse.3312

       Sec. 4725.33.  (A) An individual whom the state board of 3313
optometry licenses to engage in the practice of optometry may 3314
render the professional services of an optometrist within this 3315
state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 3316
1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed 3317
under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a 3318
professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised 3319
Code. This division does not preclude an optometrist from 3320
rendering professional services as an optometrist through another 3321
form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a 3322
nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is 3323
authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter 3324
of the Revised Code, or rules of the state board of optometry 3325
adopted pursuant to this chapter.3326

       (B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or 3327
professional association described in division (A) of this section 3328
may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the 3329
professional services of the following individuals who are 3330
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3331
practice their respective professions:3332

       (1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry 3333
under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;3334

       (2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic 3335
or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;3336

       (3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology 3337
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;3338

       (4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are 3339
authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed 3340
practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;3341

       (5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under 3342
Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;3343

       (6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice 3344
physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised 3345
Code;3346

       (7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice 3347
occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 3348
Revised Code;3349

        (8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice 3350
mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;3351

       (8)(9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine 3352
and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized 3353
for their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 3354
Code;3355

       (10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed 3356
professional counselors, independent social workers, social 3357
workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage 3358
and family therapists who are authorized for their respective 3359
practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.3360

       This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a 3361
code of ethics applicable to an optometrist that prohibits an 3362
optometrist from engaging in the practice of optometry in 3363
combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or 3364
otherwise legally authorized to practice chiropractic, acupuncture 3365
through the state chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, 3366
pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, 3367
medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or3368
podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social 3369
work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also 3370
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage 3371
in the practice of optometry.3372

       Sec. 4729.161.  (A) An individual registered with the state 3373
board of pharmacy to engage in the practice of pharmacy may render 3374
the professional services of a pharmacist within this state 3375
through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 3376
of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under 3377
Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a 3378
professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised 3379
Code. This division does not preclude an individual of that nature 3380
from rendering professional services as a pharmacist through 3381
another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a 3382
nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is 3383
authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter 3384
of the Revised Code, or rules of the state board of pharmacy 3385
adopted pursuant to this chapter.3386

       (B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or 3387
professional association described in division (A) of this section 3388
may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the 3389
professional services of the following individuals who are 3390
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3391
practice their respective professions:3392

       (1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry 3393
under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;3394

       (2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic 3395
or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;3396

       (3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology 3397
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;3398

       (4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are 3399
authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed 3400
practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;3401

       (5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under 3402
Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;3403

       (6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice 3404
physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised 3405
Code;3406

       (7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice 3407
occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 3408
Revised Code;3409

       (8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice 3410
mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;3411

       (9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 3412
surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for 3413
their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 3414
Code;3415

       (10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed 3416
professional counselors, independent social workers, social 3417
workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage 3418
and family therapists who are authorized for their respective 3419
practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.3420

       This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a 3421
code of ethics applicable to a pharmacist that prohibits a 3422
pharmacist from engaging in the practice of pharmacy in 3423
combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or 3424
otherwise legally authorized to practice optometry, chiropractic, 3425
acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychology, 3426
nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, 3427
medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or3428
podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social 3429
work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also 3430
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage 3431
in the practice of pharmacy.3432

       Sec. 4731.226.  (A)(1) An individual whom the state medical 3433
board licenses, certificates, or otherwise legally authorizes to 3434
engage in the practice of medicine and surgery, osteopathic 3435
medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery may render 3436
the professional services of a doctor of medicine and surgery, 3437
osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and 3438
surgery within this state through a corporation formed under 3439
division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited 3440
liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, 3441
a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 3442
1785. of the Revised Code. Division (A)(1) of this section does 3443
not preclude an individual of that nature from rendering 3444
professional services as a doctor of medicine and surgery, 3445
osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and 3446
surgery through another form of business entity, including, but 3447
not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in 3448
another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with this 3449
chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the 3450
state medical board adopted pursuant to this chapter.3451

       (2) An individual whom the state medical board authorizes to 3452
engage in the practice of mechanotherapy may render the 3453
professional services of a mechanotherapist within this state 3454
through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 3455
of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under 3456
Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a 3457
professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised 3458
Code. Division (A)(2) of this section does not preclude an 3459
individual of that nature from rendering professional services as 3460
a mechanotherapist through another form of business entity, 3461
including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or 3462
foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in 3463
accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, 3464
or rules of the state medical board adopted pursuant to this 3465
chapter.3466

       (B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or 3467
professional association described in division (A) of this section 3468
may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the 3469
professional services of the following individuals who are 3470
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3471
practice their respective professions:3472

       (1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry 3473
under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;3474

       (2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic 3475
or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;3476

       (3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology 3477
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;3478

       (4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are 3479
authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed 3480
practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;3481

       (5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under 3482
Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;3483

       (6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice 3484
physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised 3485
Code;3486

       (7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice 3487
occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 3488
Revised Code;3489

       (8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice 3490
mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;3491

       (9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 3492
surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for 3493
their respective practices under this chapter;3494

       (10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed 3495
professional counselors, independent social workers, social 3496
workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage 3497
and family therapists who are authorized for their respective 3498
practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.3499

       (C) Division (B) of this section shall apply notwithstanding 3500
a provision of a code of ethics described in division (B)(18) of 3501
section 4731.22 of the Revised Code that prohibits either of the 3502
following:3503

       (1) A doctor of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine 3504
and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery from engaging in 3505
the doctor's authorized practice in combination with a person who 3506
is licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3507
engage in the practice of optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture 3508
through the state chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, 3509
pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or3510
mechanotherapy, professional counseling, social work, or marriage 3511
and family therapy, but who is not also licensed, certificated, or 3512
otherwise legally authorized to practice medicine and surgery, 3513
osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and 3514
surgery.3515

       (2) A mechanotherapist from engaging in the practice of 3516
mechanotherapy in combination with a person who is licensed, 3517
certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage in the 3518
practice of optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture through the state 3519
chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, physical 3520
therapy, occupational therapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic 3521
medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, 3522
professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family 3523
therapy, but who is not also licensed, certificated, or otherwise 3524
legally authorized to engage in the practice of mechanotherapy.3525

       Sec. 4731.65.  As used in sections 4731.65 to 4731.71 of the 3526
Revised Code:3527

       (A)(1) "Clinical laboratory services" means either of the 3528
following:3529

       (a) Any examination of materials derived from the human body 3530
for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, 3531
prevention, or treatment of any disease or impairment or for the 3532
assessment of health;3533

       (b) Procedures to determine, measure, or otherwise describe 3534
the presence or absence of various substances or organisms in the 3535
body.3536

       (2) "Clinical laboratory services" does not include the mere 3537
collection or preparation of specimens.3538

       (B) "Designated health services" means any of the following:3539

       (1) Clinical laboratory services;3540

       (2) Home health care services;3541

       (3) Outpatient prescription drugs.3542

       (C) "Fair market value" means the value in arms-length 3543
transactions, consistent with general market value and:3544

       (1) With respect to rentals or leases, the value of rental 3545
property for general commercial purposes, not taking into account 3546
its intended use;3547

       (2) With respect to a lease of space, not adjusted to reflect 3548
the additional value the prospective lessee or lessor would 3549
attribute to the proximity or convenience to the lessor if the 3550
lessor is a potential source of referrals to the lessee.3551

       (D) "Governmental health care program" means any program 3552
providing health care benefits that is administered by the federal 3553
government, this state, or a political subdivision of this state, 3554
including the medicare program, health care coverage for public 3555
employees, health care benefits administered by the bureau of 3556
workers' compensation, and the medicaid program. 3557

       (E)(1) "Group practice" means a group of two or more holders 3558
of certificates under this chapter legally organized as a 3559
partnership, professional corporation or association, limited 3560
liability company, foundation, nonprofit corporation, faculty 3561
practice plan, or similar group practice entity, including an 3562
organization comprised of a nonprofit medical clinic that 3563
contracts with a professional corporation or association of 3564
physicians to provide medical services exclusively to patients of 3565
the clinic in order to comply with section 1701.03 of the Revised 3566
Code and including a corporation, limited liability company, 3567
partnership, or professional association described in division (B) 3568
of section 4731.226 of the Revised Code formed for the purpose of 3569
providing a combination of the professional services of 3570
optometrists who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally 3571
authorized to practice optometry under Chapter 4725. of the 3572
Revised Code, chiropractors who are licensed, certificated, or 3573
otherwise legally authorized to practice chiropractic or 3574
acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code, psychologists 3575
who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3576
practice psychology under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, 3577
registered or licensed practical nurses who are licensed, 3578
certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice nursing 3579
under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, pharmacists who are 3580
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3581
practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, 3582
physical therapists who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise 3583
legally authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 3584
4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code, occupational therapists 3585
who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3586
practice occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of 3587
the Revised Code, mechanotherapists who are licensed, 3588
certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice 3589
mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, and 3590
doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, 3591
or podiatric medicine and surgery who are licensed, certificated, 3592
or otherwise legally authorized for their respective practices 3593
under this chapter, and licensed professional clinical counselors, 3594
licensed professional counselors, independent social workers, 3595
social workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or 3596
marriage and family therapists who are licensed, certificated, or 3597
otherwise legally authorized for their respective practices under 3598
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code to which all of the following 3599
apply:3600

       (a) Each physician who is a member of the group practice 3601
provides substantially the full range of services that the 3602
physician routinely provides, including medical care, 3603
consultation, diagnosis, or treatment, through the joint use of 3604
shared office space, facilities, equipment, and personnel.3605

       (b) Substantially all of the services of the members of the 3606
group are provided through the group and are billed in the name of 3607
the group and amounts so received are treated as receipts of the 3608
group.3609

       (c) The overhead expenses of and the income from the practice 3610
are distributed in accordance with methods previously determined 3611
by members of the group.3612

       (d) The group practice meets any other requirements that the 3613
state medical board applies in rules adopted under section 4731.70 3614
of the Revised Code.3615

       (2) In the case of a faculty practice plan associated with a 3616
hospital with a medical residency training program in which 3617
physician members may provide a variety of specialty services and 3618
provide professional services both within and outside the group, 3619
as well as perform other tasks such as research, the criteria in 3620
division (E)(1) of this section apply only with respect to 3621
services rendered within the faculty practice plan.3622

       (F) "Home health care services" and "immediate family" have 3623
the same meanings as in the rules adopted under section 4731.70 of 3624
the Revised Code.3625

       (G) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of 3626
the Revised Code.3627

       (H) A "referral" includes both of the following:3628

       (1) A request by a holder of a certificate under this chapter 3629
for an item or service, including a request for a consultation 3630
with another physician and any test or procedure ordered by or to 3631
be performed by or under the supervision of the other physician;3632

       (2) A request for or establishment of a plan of care by a 3633
certificate holder that includes the provision of designated 3634
health services.3635

       (I) "Third-party payer" has the same meaning as in section 3636
3901.38 of the Revised Code.3637

       Sec. 4732.28.  (A) An individual whom the state board of 3638
psychology licenses, certificates, or otherwise legally authorizes 3639
to engage in the practice of psychology may render the 3640
professional services of a psychologist within this state through 3641
a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the 3642
Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 3643
1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional 3644
association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This 3645
division does not preclude an individual of that nature from 3646
rendering professional services as a psychologist through another 3647
form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a 3648
nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is 3649
authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter 3650
of the Revised Code, or rules of the state board of psychology 3651
adopted pursuant to this chapter.3652

       (B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or 3653
professional association described in division (A) of this section 3654
may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the 3655
professional services of the following individuals who are 3656
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3657
practice their respective professions:3658

       (1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry 3659
under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;3660

       (2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic 3661
or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;3662

       (3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology 3663
under this chapter;3664

       (4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are 3665
authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed 3666
practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;3667

       (5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under 3668
Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;3669

       (6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice 3670
physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised 3671
Code;3672

       (7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice 3673
occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 3674
Revised Code;3675

       (8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice 3676
mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;3677

       (9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 3678
surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for 3679
their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 3680
Code;3681

       (10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed 3682
professional counselors, independent social workers, social 3683
workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage 3684
and family therapists who are authorized for their respective 3685
practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.3686

       This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a 3687
code of ethics applicable to a psychologist that prohibits a 3688
psychologist from engaging in the practice of psychology in 3689
combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or 3690
otherwise legally authorized to practice optometry, chiropractic, 3691
acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, nursing, 3692
pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, 3693
medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or3694
podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social 3695
work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also 3696
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage 3697
in the practice of psychology.3698

       Sec. 4734.17.  (A) An individual whom the state chiropractic 3699
board licenses to engage in the practice of chiropractic or 3700
certifies to practice acupuncture may render the professional 3701
services of a chiropractor or chiropractor certified to practice 3702
acupuncture within this state through a corporation formed under 3703
division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited 3704
liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, 3705
a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 3706
1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not preclude a 3707
chiropractor from rendering professional services as a 3708
chiropractor or chiropractor certified to practice acupuncture 3709
through another form of business entity, including, but not 3710
limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another 3711
manner that is authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, 3712
another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the state 3713
chiropractic board adopted pursuant to this chapter.3714

       (B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or 3715
professional association described in division (A) of this section 3716
may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the 3717
professional services of the following individuals who are 3718
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3719
practice their respective professions:3720

       (1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry, 3721
under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;3722

       (2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic 3723
or acupuncture under this chapter;3724

       (3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology 3725
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;3726

       (4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are 3727
authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed 3728
practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;3729

       (5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under 3730
Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;3731

       (6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice 3732
physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised 3733
Code;3734

       (7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice 3735
occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 3736
Revised Code;3737

       (8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice 3738
mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;3739

       (9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 3740
surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for 3741
their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 3742
Code;3743

       (10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed 3744
professional counselors, independent social workers, social 3745
workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage 3746
and family therapists who are authorized for their respective 3747
practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.3748

       This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of any 3749
code of ethics established or adopted under section 4734.16 of the 3750
Revised Code that prohibits an individual from engaging in the 3751
practice of chiropractic or acupuncture in combination with an 3752
individual who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise authorized 3753
for the practice of optometry, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, 3754
physical therapy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, medicine 3755
and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric 3756
medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social work, or 3757
marriage and family therapy, but who is not also licensed under 3758
this chapter to engage in the practice of chiropractic.3759

       Sec. 4734.41.  (A) As used in this section:3760

       (1) "Chemical dependency" means either of the following:3761

       (a) The chronic and habitual use of alcoholic beverages to 3762
the extent that the user no longer can control the use of alcohol 3763
or endangers the user's health, safety, or welfare or that of 3764
others;3765

       (b) The use of a controlled substance as defined in section 3766
3719.01 of the Revised Code, a harmful intoxicant as defined in 3767
section 2925.01 of the Revised Code, or a dangerous drug as 3768
defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code, to the extent that 3769
the user becomes physically or psychologically dependent on the 3770
substance, intoxicant, or drug or endangers the user's health, 3771
safety, or welfare or that of others.3772

       (2) "Mental illness" means a recognized psychiatric or 3773
psychological condition, disorder, or syndrome that has been 3774
diagnosed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed professional 3775
clinical counselor, or independent social worker as a condition, 3776
disorder, or syndrome that may pose a danger to the person 3777
diagnosed or others or may prevent the person from practicing the 3778
person's profession according to acceptable and prevailing 3779
standards of care.3780

       (B) The state chiropractic board shall establish a chemical 3781
dependency and mental illness monitoring program. The program 3782
shall be made available to any individual under the board's 3783
jurisdiction who has a chemical dependency or mental illness and 3784
meets the board's eligibility requirements for admission to and 3785
continued participation in the program. The board shall develop 3786
the program and may designate a coordinator to administer it or 3787
enter into a contract for the program to be administered by 3788
another entity through a coordinator. The board shall adopt rules 3789
in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish 3790
standards and procedure for operating the program.3791

       (C) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, all 3792
records of an individual's participation in the monitoring 3793
program, including medical records, chemical dependency records, 3794
and mental health records, shall be confidential, are not public 3795
records for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code, 3796
and are not subject to discovery by subpoena or admissible as 3797
evidence in any judicial proceeding. The program coordinator shall 3798
maintain all records as directed by the board.3799

       (D) The monitoring program's coordinator may disclose records 3800
or information regarding an individual's progress and status of 3801
participation in the program to the disciplinary section of the 3802
board and to any person or government entity that the program 3803
participant authorizes in writing to be given the records or 3804
information.3805

       In disclosing records or information under this division, the 3806
coordinator shall not include any record or information that is 3807
protected under section 5119.27 of the Revised Code or any federal 3808
statute or regulation that provides for the confidentiality of 3809
mental health or substance abuse records.3810

       (E) In the absence of fraud or bad faith, the monitoring 3811
program's coordinator, the board and the board's employees and 3812
representatives are not liable for damages in any civil action as 3813
a result of disclosing records or information in accordance with 3814
division (D) of this section. In the absence of fraud or bad 3815
faith, any person reporting to the program an individual's 3816
chemical dependency or mental illness, or the progress or lack of 3817
progress of that individual with regard to treatment, is not 3818
liable for damages in any civil action as a result of the report.3819

       (F) The board may abstain from taking formal disciplinary 3820
action under section 4734.31 of the Revised Code against an 3821
individual because of the individual's chemical dependency or 3822
mental illness, if the individual meets the eligibility 3823
requirements for admission into the monitoring program and all of 3824
the following occur:3825

       (1) The individual enters into a monitoring agreement with 3826
the coordinator of the program;3827

       (2) The individual complies with the terms and conditions for 3828
continued participation in the program, as specified in the 3829
monitoring agreement;3830

       (3) The individual successfully completes the terms and 3831
conditions of the monitoring agreement, including the condition 3832
that the individual attain the ability to practice in accordance 3833
with acceptable and prevailing standards of care applicable to the 3834
practice of chiropractic.3835

       Sec. 4755.111.  (A) An individual whom the occupational 5
therapy section of the Ohio occupational therapy, physical 6
therapy, and athletic trainers board licenses, certificates, or 7
otherwise legally authorizes to engage in the practice of 8
occupational therapy may render the professional services of an 9
occupational therapist within this state through a corporation 10
formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, 11
a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the 12
Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed 13
under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not 14
preclude an individual of that nature from rendering professional 15
services as an occupational therapist through another form of 16
business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit 17
corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized 18
by or in accordance with sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 19
Revised Code, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the 20
Ohio occupational therapy, physical therapy, and athletic trainers 21
board adopted pursuant to sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 22
Revised Code.23

       (B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or 24
professional association described in division (A) of this section 25
may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the 26
professional services of the following individuals who are 27
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 28
practice their respective professions:29

       (1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry 30
under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;31

       (2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic 32
or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;33

       (3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology 34
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;35

       (4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are 36
authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed 37
practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;38

       (5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under 39
Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;40

       (6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice 41
physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised 42
Code;43

       (7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice 44
occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 45
Revised Code;46

       (8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice 47
mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;48

       (9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 49
surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for 50
their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 51
Code;52

       (10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed 53
professional counselors, independent social workers, social 54
workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage 55
and family therapists who are authorized for their respective 56
practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.57

       This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a 58
code of ethics applicable to an occupational therapist that 59
prohibits an occupational therapist from engaging in the practice 60
of occupational therapy in combination with a person who is 61
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 62
practice optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture through the state 63
chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, physical 64
therapy, mechanotherapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic 65
medicine and surgery, podiatric medicine and surgery, professional 66
counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy but who is 67
not also licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized 68
to engage in the practice of occupational therapy.69

       Sec. 4755.471.  (A) An individual whom the physical therapy section of the Ohio 3837
occupational therapy, physical therapy, and athletic trainers 3838
board licenses, certificates, or otherwise legally authorizes to 3839
engage in the practice of physical therapy 3840
may render the professional services of a physical therapist within this state through a corporation 3842
formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, 3843
a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the 3844
Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed 3845
under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not 3846
preclude an individual of that nature from rendering professional 3847
services as a physical therapist 3848
through another form of business entity, including, but not 3849
limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another 3850
manner that is authorized by or in accordance with sections 3851
4755.40 to 4755.53 of the Revised Code, another chapter of the 3852
Revised Code, or rules of the Ohio occupational therapy, physical 3853
therapy, and athletic trainers board adopted pursuant to sections 3854
4755.40 to 4755.53 of the Revised Code.3855

       (B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or 3856
professional association described in division (A) of this section 3857
may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the 3858
professional services of the following individuals who are 3859
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3860
practice their respective professions:3861

       (1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry 3862
under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;3863

       (2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic 3864
or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;3865

       (3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology 3866
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;3867

       (4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are 3868
authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed 3869
practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;3870

       (5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under 3871
Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;3872

       (6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice 3873
physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised 3874
Code;3875

       (7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice 3876
occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 3877
Revised Code;3878

        (8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice 3879
mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;3880

       (8)(9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine 3881
and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized 3882
for their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 3883
Code;3884

       (10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed 3885
professional counselors, independent social workers, social 3886
workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage 3887
and family therapists who are authorized for their respective 3888
practices under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code.3889

       This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of a 3890
code of ethics applicable to a 3891
physical therapist that prohibits a 3892
physical therapist from engaging in the practice of physical therapy in combination with a person who is 3894
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 3895
practice optometry, chiropractic, acupuncture through the state 3896
chiropractic board, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, occupational therapy, mechanotherapy, 3897
medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or3898
podiatric medicine and surgery, professional counseling, social 3899
work, or marriage and family therapy, but who is not also 3900
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage 3901
in the practice of physical therapy.3902

       Sec. 4757.01.  As used in this chapter:3903

       (A) "Practice of professional counseling" means rendering or 3904
offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the 3905
general public a counseling service involving the application of 3906
clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures to assist 3907
individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, 3908
educational, or career development and adjustment, including the 3909
diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.3910

       (B) "Clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures" 3911
means an approach to counseling that emphasizes the counselor's 3912
role in systematically assisting clients through all of the 3913
following: assessing and analyzing background and current 3914
information, diagnosing mental and emotional disorders, exploring 3915
possible solutions, and developing and providing a treatment plan 3916
for mental and emotional adjustment or development. "Clinical 3917
counseling principles, methods, or procedures" includes at least 3918
counseling, appraisal, consulting, and referral.3919

       (C) "Practice of social work" means the application of social 3920
work theory and specialized knowledge of human development and 3921
behavior and social, economic, and cultural systems in directly 3922
assisting individuals, families, and groups in a clinical setting 3923
to improve or restore their capacity for social functioning, 3924
including counseling, the use of psychosocial interventions, and 3925
the use of social psychotherapy, which includes the diagnosis and 3926
treatment of mental and emotional disorders.3927

       (D) "Accredited educational institution" means an institution 3928
accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency accepted 3929
by the board of regents.3930

       (E) "Scope of practice" means the services, methods, and 3931
techniques in which and the areas for which a person licensed or 3932
registered under this chapter is trained and qualified.3933

       (F) "Mental and emotional disorders" means those disorders 3934
that are classified in accepted nosologies such as the 3935
international classification of diseases and the diagnostic and 3936
statistical manual of mental disorders and in future editions of 3937
those nosologies.3938

       (G) "Marriage and family therapy" means the diagnosis, 3939
evaluation, assessment, counseling, management and treatment of 3940
mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or 3941
behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems, 3942
through the professional application of marriage and family 3943
therapies and techniques.3944

       (H) "Practice of marriage and family therapy" means the 3945
diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, assessment, counseling, and 3946
management, of mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, 3947
affective or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family 3948
systems, to individuals, couples, and families, singly or in 3949
groups, whether those services are offered directly to the general 3950
public or through public or private organizations, for a fee, 3951
salary or other consideration through the professional application 3952
of marriage and family theories, therapies, and techniques, 3953
including, but not limited to psychotherapeutic theories, 3954
therapies and techniques that marriage and family therapists are 3955
educated and trained to perform.3956

       (I) "Social functioning" means living up to the expectations 3957
that are made of an individual by the individual's own self, the 3958
immediate social environment, and by society at large. "Social 3959
functioning" includes meeting basic needs of the individual and 3960
the individual's dependents, including physical aspects, personal 3961
fulfillment, emotional needs, and an adequate self-concept.3962

       Sec. 4757.02.  (A) Except as provided in division (C) of this 3963
section and section 4757.41 of the Revised Code:3964

       (1) No person shall engage in or claim to the public to be 3965
engaging in the practice of professional counseling for a fee, 3966
salary, or other consideration unless the person is currently 3967
licensed under this chapter as a licensed professional clinical 3968
counselor or licensed professional counselor.3969

       (2) No person shall practice or claim to the public to be 3970
practicing social work for a fee, salary, or other consideration 3971
unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter as an 3972
independent social worker or a social worker.3973

       (3) No person shall claim to the public to be a social work 3974
assistant unless the person is currently registered under this 3975
chapter as a social work assistant.3976

       (4) No person shall engage in the practice of marriage and 3977
family therapy or claim to the public to be engaging in the 3978
practice of marriage and family therapy unless the person is 3979
currently licensed under this chapter as a marriage and family 3980
therapist.3981

       (B)(1) No person shall use the title "licensed professional 3982
clinical counselor," "licensed professional counselor," or any 3983
other title or description incorporating the word "counselor" or 3984
any initials used to identify persons acting in those capacities 3985
unless currently authorized under this chapter by licensure to act 3986
in the capacity indicated by the title or initials.3987

       (2) No person shall use the title "social worker," 3988
"independent social worker," "social work assistant," or any other 3989
title or description incorporating the words "social worker" or 3990
any initials used to identify persons acting in those capacities 3991
unless the person is currently authorized by licensure or 3992
registration under this chapter to act in the capacity indicated 3993
by the title or initials.3994

       (3) No person shall use the title "marriage and family 3995
therapist" or any initials used to identify persons acting in that 3996
capacity unless the person is currently authorized by licensure 3997
under this chapter to act in the capacity indicated by the title 3998
or initials.3999

       (C)(1) Divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section do not apply 4000
to the practice of marriage and family therapy by a person holding 4001
a valid license or temporary license as a marriage and family 4002
therapist or independent marriage and family therapist under this 4003
chapter.4004

       (2) Division (A)(4) of this section does not apply to the 4005
following persons licensed or registered under this chapter:4006
licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed professional 4007
counselors, independent social workers, social workers, and social 4008
work assistants.4009

       Sec. 4757.03. (A) There is hereby created the counselor, 4010
social worker, and marriage and family therapist board, consisting 4011
of fifteen members. The governor shall appoint the members with 4012
the advice and consent of the senate.4013

       (1) Four of the members shall be individuals licensed under 4014
this chapter as licensed professional clinical counselors or 4015
licensed professional counselors. At all times, the counselor 4016
membership shall include at least two licensed professional 4017
clinical counselors, at least one individual who has received a 4018
doctoral degree in counseling from an accredited educational 4019
institution recognized by the board and holds a graduate level 4020
teaching position in a counselor education program, and at least 4021
two individuals who have received at least a master's degree in 4022
counseling from an accredited educational institution recognized 4023
by the board.4024

       Two of the(2) Four members shall be individuals licensed 4025
under this chapter as independent marriage and family therapists 4026
and two shall be individuals licensed under this chapter asor4027
marriage and family therapists or, if the board has not yet 4028
licensed independent marriage and family therapists or marriage 4029
and family therapists, eligible for licensure as independent 4030
marriage and family therapists or marriage and family therapists. 4031
They shall have, during the five years preceding appointment, 4032
actively engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy, 4033
in educating and training master's, doctoral, or postdoctoral 4034
students of marriage and family therapy, or in marriage and family 4035
therapy research and, during the two years immediately preceding 4036
appointment, shall have devoted the majority of their professional 4037
time to the activity while residing in this state. At all times, 4038
the marriage and family therapist membership shall include one 4039
educator who holds a teaching position in a master's degree 4040
marriage and family therapy program at an accredited educational 4041
institution recognized by the board.4042

       (3) Two members shall be individuals licensed under this 4043
chapter as independent social workers. Two members shall be 4044
individuals licensed under this chapter as social workers, at 4045
least one of whom must hold a bachelor's or master's degree in 4046
social work from an accredited educational institution recognized 4047
by the board. At all times, the social worker membership shall 4048
include one educator who holds a teaching position in a 4049
baccalaureate or master's degree social work program at an 4050
accredited educational institution recognized by the board.4051

       (4) Three members shall be representatives of the general 4052
public who have not practiced professional counseling, marriage 4053
and family therapy, or social work and have not been involved in 4054
the delivery of professional counseling, marriage and family 4055
therapy, or social work services. At least one of the members 4056
representing the general public shall be at least sixty years of 4057
age. During their terms the public members shall not practice 4058
professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social 4059
work or be involved in the delivery of professional counseling, 4060
marriage and family therapy, or social work services.4061

       (B) Both of the following apply to each member specified in 4062
divisions (A)(1), (2), and (3) of this section:4063

       (1) During the five years preceding appointment to the board, 4064
the member shall have actively engaged in the practice of the 4065
member's profession. A member holding a teaching position shall 4066
have actively engaged in the practice of the member's profession 4067
by conducting research in the member's profession or by educating 4068
and training master's, doctoral, or postdoctoral students in the 4069
member's profession, as applicable.4070

       (2) During the two years immediately preceding appointment, 4071
the member shall have devoted the majority of their professional 4072
time to the activity described in division (B)(1) of this section 4073
while residing in this state.4074

       (C) At least three members, one from each of the board's 4075
professional standards committees, during the five years preceding 4076
appointment, shall have practiced at a public agency or at an 4077
organization that is certified or licensed by the department of 4078
developmental disabilities, the department of alcohol and drug 4079
addiction services, the department of job and family services, or 4080
the department of mental health.4081

       (D) Not more than eight members of the board may be members 4082
of the same political party or sex. At4083

       (E) At least one member of the board shall be of African, 4084
Native American, Hispanic, or Asian descent.4085

       Of the initial appointees, three shall be appointed for terms 4086
ending October 10, 1985, four shall be appointed for terms ending 4087
October 10, 1986, and four shall be appointed for terms ending 4088
October 10, 1987. Of the two initial independent marriage and 4089
family therapists appointed to the board, one shall be appointed 4090
for a term ending two years after the effective date of this 4091
amendment and one for a term ending three years after that date. 4092
Of the two initial marriage and family therapists appointed to the 4093
board, one shall be appointed for a term ending two years after 4094
the effective date of this amendment and one for a term ending 4095
three years after that date. After the initial appointments, terms4096

       (F) Terms of office shall be three years, each term ending on 4097
the same day of the same month of the year as did the term that it 4098
succeeds. As a result of the dates of initial appointment, the 4099
number of terms expiring each year are four, five, or six.4100

       (G) A member shall hold office from the date of appointment 4101
until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. A 4102
member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the 4103
expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was 4104
appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. A 4105
member shall continue in office after the expiration date of the 4106
member's term until a successor takes office or until a period of 4107
sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. Members may be 4108
reappointed, except that if a person has held office for two 4109
consecutive full terms, the person shall not be reappointed to the 4110
board sooner than one year after the expiration of the second full 4111
term as a member of the board.4112

       Sec. 4757.04.  Within the counselor, social worker, and 4113
marriage and family therapist board, there is hereby created the 4114
counselors professional standards committee, the social workers 4115
professional standards committee, and the marriage and family 4116
therapist professional standards committee.4117

       The counselors professional standards committee consists of 4118
the board's licensed professional clinical counselor and licensed4119
professional counselor members and one of the members representing 4120
the public who is not the member representing the public on the 4121
marriage and family therapist professional standards committee or 4122
the social workers professional standards committee. The committee 4123
has full authority to act on behalf of the board on all matters 4124
concerning professional clinical counselors and professional 4125
counselors.4126

       The social workers professional standards committee consists 4127
of the board's independent social worker and social worker members 4128
and one of the members representing the public who is not the 4129
member representing the public on the counselors professional 4130
standards committee or the marriage and family therapist 4131
professional standards committee. The committee has full authority 4132
to act on behalf of the board on all matters concerning 4133
independent social workers, social workers, and social work 4134
assistants.4135

       The marriage and family therapist professional standards 4136
committee consists of the board's marriage and family therapists 4137
and one of the members representing the public who is not the 4138
member representing the public on the counselors professional 4139
standards committee or the social workers professional standards 4140
committee. The committee has full authority to act on behalf of 4141
the board on all matters concerning independent marriage and 4142
family therapists and marriage and family therapists.4143

       Sec. 4757.10.  The counselor, social worker, and marriage and 4144
family therapist board may adopt any rules necessary to carry out 4145
this chapter.4146

       The board shall adopt rules that do all of the following:4147

       (A) Concern intervention for and treatment of any impaired 4148
person holding a license or certificate of registration issued 4149
under this chapter;4150

       (B) Establish standards for training and experience of 4151
supervisors described in division (C) of section 4757.30 of the 4152
Revised Code;4153

       (C) Define the requirement that an applicant be of good moral 4154
character in order to be licensed or registered under this 4155
chapter;4156

       (D) Establish requirements for criminal records checks of 4157
applicants under section 4776.03 of the Revised Code;4158

       (E) Establish a graduated system of fines based on the scope 4159
and severity of violations and the history of compliance, not to 4160
exceed five hundred dollars per incident, that any professional 4161
standards committee of the board may charge for a disciplinary 4162
violation described in section 4757.36 of the Revised Code;4163

       (F) Establish the amount and content of corrective action 4164
courses required by the board under section 4755.36 of the Revised 4165
Code;4166

       (G) Provide for voluntary registration of all of the 4167
following: 4168

       (1) Master's level counselor trainees enrolled in practice 4169
and internships;4170

       (2) Master's level social worker trainees enrolled in 4171
fieldwork, practice, and internships;4172

       (3) Master's level marriage and family therapist trainees 4173
enrolled in practice and internships.4174

       Rules adopted under division (G) of this section shall not 4175
require a trainee to register with the board, and if a trainee has 4176
not registered, shall prohibit any adverse effect with respect to 4177
a trainee's application for licensure by the board.4178

       All rules adopted under this section shall be adopted in 4179
accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. When it adopts 4180
rules under this section or any other section of this chapter, the 4181
board may consider standards established by any national 4182
association or other organization representing the interests of 4183
those involved in professional counseling, social work, or 4184
marriage and family therapy.4185

       Sec. 4757.11.  The counselor, social worker, and marriage and 4186
family therapist board shall establish a code of ethical practice 4187
for persons licensed under this chapter as licensed professional 4188
clinical counselors or licensed professional counselors. The board 4189
shall establish a code of ethical practice for persons licensed 4190
under this chapter as independent social workers or social 4191
workers, persons registered under this chapter as social work 4192
assistants, and persons licensed as independent marriage and 4193
family therapists or marriage and family therapists. The codes of 4194
ethical practice shall be established by adopting rules in 4195
accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The codes of 4196
ethical practice shall define unprofessional conduct, which shall 4197
include engaging in a dual relationship with a client or former 4198
client, committing an act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or 4199
exploitation of a client or former client, and, except as 4200
permitted by law, violating client confidentiality. The codes of 4201
ethical practice may be based on any codes of ethical practice 4202
developed by national organizations representing the interests of 4203
those involved in professional counseling, social work, or 4204
marriage and family therapy. The board may establish standards in 4205
its codes of ethical practice that are more stringent than those 4206
established by national organizations.4207

       Sec. 4757.13. (A) Each individual who engages in the practice 4208
of professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family 4209
therapy shall prominently display, in a conspicuous place in the 4210
office or place where a major portion of the individual's practice 4211
is conducted, and in such a manner as to be easily seen and read, 4212
the license granted to the individual by the state counselor, 4213
social worker, and marriage and family therapist board.4214

       (B) A license holder engaged in a private individual 4215
practice, partnership, or group practice shall prominently display 4216
the license holder's fee schedule in the office or place where a 4217
major portion of the license holder's practice is conducted. The 4218
bottom of the first page of the fee schedule shall include the 4219
following statement, which shall be followed by the name, address, 4220
and telephone number of the board:4221

       "This information is required by the Counselor, Social 4222
Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, which regulates 4223
the practices of professional counseling, social work, and 4224
marriage and family therapy in this state."4225

       Sec. 4757.16.  (A) A person seeking to be licensed under this 4226
chapter as a licensed professional clinical counselor or licensed4227
professional counselor shall file with the counselors professional 4228
standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage 4229
and family therapist board a written application on a form 4230
prescribed by the board. A person seeking to be licensed under 4231
this chapter as an independent social worker or social worker or 4232
registered under this chapter as a social work assistant shall 4233
file with the social workers professional standards committee of 4234
the board a written application on a form prescribed by the board. 4235
A person seeking to be licensed under this chapter as an 4236
independent marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family 4237
therapist shall file with the marriage and family therapist 4238
professional standards committee of the board a written 4239
application on a form prescribed by the board.4240

       Each form prescribed by the board shall contain a statement 4241
informing the applicant that a person who knowingly makes a false 4242
statement on the form is guilty of falsification under section 4243
2921.13 of the Revised Code, a misdemeanor of the first degree.4244

       (B) The professional standards committees shall adopt rules 4245
under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code concerning the process for4246
review of each application received and shallto determine whether 4247
the applicant meets the requirements to receive the license or 4248
certificate of registration for which application has been made.4249

       Sec. 4757.21.  A person licensed under this chapter to 4250
practice as a licensed professional clinical counselor or a4251
licensed professional counselor may diagnose and treat mental and 4252
emotional disorders, except that a licensed professional counselor 4253
may do so only under the supervision of a psychologist, 4254
psychiatrist, licensed professional clinical counselor, 4255
independent marriage and family therapist, or independent social 4256
worker. A licensed professional clinical counselor or licensed4257
professional counselor may engage in the private practice of 4258
professional counseling as an individual practitioner or as a 4259
member of a partnership or group practice.4260

       Sec. 4757.22.  (A) The counselors professional standards 4261
committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family 4262
therapist board shall issue a license to practice as a licensed4263
professional clinical counselor to each applicant who submits a 4264
properly completed application, pays the fee established under 4265
section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and meets the requirements 4266
specified in division (B) of this section.4267

       (B)(1) To be eligible for a licensed professional clinical 4268
counselor license, an individual must meet the following 4269
requirements:4270

       (1)(a) The individual must be of good moral character.4271

       (2)(b) The individual must hold from an accredited 4272
educational institution a graduate degree in counseling.4273

       (3)(c) The individual must complete a minimum of ninety 4274
quarter hours or sixty semester hours of graduate credit in 4275
counselor training acceptable to the committee, including a 4276
minimum of thirty quarter hours of instruction in the following 4277
areas:4278

       (a)(i) Clinical psychopathology, personality, and abnormal 4279
behavior;4280

       (b)(ii) Evaluation of mental and emotional disorders;4281

       (c)(iii) Diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders;4282

       (d)(iv) Methods of prevention, intervention, and treatment of 4283
mental and emotional disorders.4284

       (4)(d) The individual must complete, in either a private or 4285
clinical counseling setting, supervised experience in counseling 4286
that is of a type approved by the committee, is supervised by a 4287
licensed professional clinical counselor or other qualified 4288
professional approved by the committee, and is in the following 4289
amounts:4290

       (a)(i) In the case of an individual holding only a master's 4291
degree, not less than two years of experience, which must be 4292
completed after the award of the master's degree;4293

       (b)(ii) In the case of an individual holding a doctorate, not 4294
less than one year of experience, which must be completed after 4295
the award of the doctorate.4296

       (5)(e) The individual must pass a field evaluation that meets 4297
the following requirements:4298

       (a)(i) Has been completed by the applicant's instructors, 4299
employers, supervisors, or other persons determined by the 4300
committee to be competent to evaluate an individual's professional 4301
competence;4302

       (b)(ii) Includes documented evidence of the quality, scope, 4303
and nature of the applicant's experience and competence in 4304
diagnosing and treating mental and emotional disorders.4305

       (6)(f) The individual must pass an examination administered 4306
by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as 4307
a licensed professional clinical counselor.4308

       (2) To meet the requirement of division (B)(1)(b) of this 4309
section, a graduate degree in counseling obtained from a mental 4310
health counseling program in this state after January 1, 2018, 4311
must be from a clinical mental health counseling program, a 4312
clinical rehabilitation counseling program, or an addiction 4313
counseling program accredited by the council for accreditation of 4314
counseling and related educational programs.4315

       (3) All of the following meet the educational requirements of 4316
division (B)(1)(c) of this section:4317

       (a) A clinical mental health counseling program accredited by 4318
the council for accreditation of counseling and related 4319
educational programs;4320

       (b) Until January 1, 2018, a mental health counseling program 4321
accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and 4322
related educational programs;4323

        (c) A graduate degree in counseling issued by another state 4324
from a clinical mental health counseling program, a clinical 4325
rehabilitation counseling program, or an addiction counseling 4326
program that is accredited by the council for accreditation of 4327
counseling and related educational programs;4328

       (d) Any other accredited counseling programs accepted by the 4329
board in accordance with rules adopted under division (F)(3) of 4330
this section.4331

       (C) To be accepted by the committee for purposes of division 4332
(B) of this section, counselor training must include at least the 4333
following:4334

       (1) Instruction in human growth and development; counseling 4335
theory; counseling techniques; group dynamics, processing, and 4336
counseling; appraisal of individuals; research and evaluation; 4337
professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities; social and 4338
cultural foundations; and lifestyle and career development;4339

       (2) Participation in a supervised practicum and internship in 4340
counseling.4341

       (D) The committee may issue a provisionaltemporary license 4342
to an applicant who meets all of the requirements to be licensed 4343
under this section, pending the receipt of transcripts or action 4344
by the committee to issue a license to practice as a licensed4345
professional clinical counselor.4346

       (E) An individual may not sit for the licensing examination 4347
unless the individual meets the educational requirements to be 4348
licensed under this section. An individual who is denied admission 4349
to the licensing examination may appeal the denial in accordance 4350
with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.4351

       (F) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the 4352
committee to implement this section, including. The rules shall do 4353
all of the following:4354

       (1) Establish criteria for the committee to use in 4355
determining whether an applicant's training should be accepted and 4356
supervised experience approved;4357

        (2) Establish course content requirements for qualifying 4358
counseling degrees issued by institutions in other states from 4359
clinical mental health counseling programs, clinical 4360
rehabilitation counseling programs, and addiction counseling 4361
programs that are not accredited by the council for accreditation 4362
of counseling and related educational programs and for graduate 4363
degrees from other accredited counseling programs approved by the 4364
board in accordance with rules adopted under division (F)(3) of 4365
this section;4366

       (3) For purposes of divisions (B)(2)(b) and (3) of this 4367
section, establish requirements for acceptance by the committee of 4368
accredited counseling programs.4369

        Rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in 4370
accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.4371

       Sec. 4757.23.  (A) The counselors professional standards 4372
committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family 4373
therapist board shall issue a license as a licensed professional 4374
counselor to each applicant who submits a properly completed 4375
application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the 4376
Revised Code, and meets the requirements established under 4377
division (B) of this section.4378

       (B)(1) To be eligible for a license as a licensed4379
professional counselor, an individual must meet the following 4380
requirements:4381

       (1)(a) The individual must be of good moral character.4382

       (2)(b) The individual must hold from an accredited 4383
educational institution a graduate degree in counseling.4384

       (3)(c) The individual must complete a minimum of ninety 4385
quarter hours or sixty semester hours of graduate credit in 4386
counselor training acceptable to the committee, which the 4387
individual may complete while working toward receiving a graduate 4388
degree in counseling, or subsequent to receiving the degree, and 4389
which shall include training in the following areas:4390

       (i) Clinical psychopathology, personality, and abnormal 4391
behavior;4392

       (ii) Evaluation of mental and emotional disorders;4393

       (iii) Diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders;4394

       (iv) Methods of prevention, intervention, and treatment of 4395
mental and emotional disorders.4396

       (4)(d) The individual must pass an examination administered 4397
by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as 4398
a licensed professional counselor.4399

       (2) To meet the requirement of division (B)(1)(b) of this 4400
section, a graduate degree in counseling obtained from a mental 4401
health counseling program in this state after January 1, 2018, 4402
must be from a clinical mental health counseling program, clinical 4403
rehabilitation counseling program, or addiction counseling program 4404
accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and 4405
related educational programs.4406

       (3) All of the following meet the educational requirements of 4407
division (B)(1)(c) of this section:4408

       (a) A clinical mental health counseling program accredited by 4409
the council for accreditation of counseling and related 4410
educational programs;4411

       (b) Until January 1, 2018, a mental health counseling program 4412
accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and 4413
related educational programs;4414

       (c) A graduate degree in counseling issued by an institution 4415
in another state from a clinical mental health counseling program, 4416
a clinical rehabilitation counseling program, or an addiction 4417
counseling program that is accredited by the council for 4418
accreditation of counseling and related educational programs;4419

       (d) Any other accredited counseling programs accepted by the 4420
board in accordance with rules adopted under division (F)(3) of 4421
this section.4422

       (C) To be accepted by the committee for purposes of division 4423
(B) of this section, counselor training must include at least the 4424
following:4425

       (1) Instruction in human growth and development; counseling 4426
theory; counseling techniques; group dynamics, processing, and 4427
counseling; appraisal of individuals; research and evaluation; 4428
professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities; social and 4429
cultural foundations; and lifestyle and career development;4430

       (2) Participation in a supervised practicum and internship in 4431
counseling.4432

       (D) The committee may issue a provisionaltemporary license 4433
to practice as a licensed professional counselor to an applicant 4434
who meets all of the requirements to be licensed under this 4435
section, pendingas follows:4436

       (1) Pending the receipt of transcripts or action by the 4437
committee to issue a license as a licensed professional counselor;4438

       (2) For a period not to exceed ninety days, to an applicant 4439
who provides the board with a statement from the applicant's 4440
academic institution indicating that the applicant has met the 4441
academic requirements for the applicant's degree and the projected 4442
date the applicant will receive the applicant's transcript showing 4443
a conferred degree.4444

       On application to the committee, a temporary license issued 4445
under division (D)(2) of this section may be renewed for good 4446
cause shown.4447

       (E) An individual may not sit for the licensing examination 4448
unless the individual meets the educational requirements to be 4449
licensed under this section. An individual who is denied admission 4450
to the licensing examination may appeal the denial in accordance 4451
with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.4452

       (F) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the 4453
committee to implement this section, including. The rules shall do 4454
all of the following:4455

       (1) Establish criteria for the committee to use in 4456
determining whether an applicant's training should be accepted and 4457
supervised experience approved;4458

       (2) Establish course content requirements for qualifying 4459
counseling degrees issued by institutions in other states from 4460
clinical mental health counseling programs, clinical 4461
rehabilitation counseling programs, and addiction counseling 4462
programs that are not accredited by the council for accreditation 4463
of counseling and related educational programs and for graduate 4464
degrees from other accredited counseling programs accepted by the 4465
board in accordance with rules adopted under division (F)(3) of 4466
this section;4467

       (3) For purposes of divisions (B)(2)(b) and (3) of this 4468
section, establish requirements for acceptance by the committee of 4469
accredited counseling programs.4470

        Rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in 4471
accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.4472

       Sec. 4757.26.  (A) A person licensed under this chapter to 4473
practice as an independent social worker or a social worker may 4474
diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, except that a 4475
social worker may do so only under the supervision of a 4476
psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed professional clinical 4477
counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, independent 4478
social worker, or registered nurse who holds a master's degree in 4479
psychiatric nursing.4480

       (B) A person licensed under this chapter to practice as an 4481
independent social worker may engage in the private practice of 4482
social work as an individual practitioner or as a member of a 4483
partnership or group practice.4484

       (C) A person licensed under this chapter to practice as a 4485
social worker shall not engage in the private practice of social 4486
work as an individual practitioner or as a member of a partnership 4487
or group practice. A social worker shall not engage in the 4488
practice of social work as an employee of a private individual, 4489
partnership, or group practitioner of social work unless the 4490
social worker is supervised by a psychologist, psychiatrist,4491
licensed professional clinical counselor, independent marriage and 4492
family therapist, independent social worker, or registered nurse 4493
who holds a master's degree in psychiatric nursing.4494

       (D) A person who receives a certificate of registration to 4495
practice as a social work assistant is not authorized to engage in 4496
the practice of social work. A social work assistant, under the 4497
direct supervision of a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed4498
professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, 4499
independent marriage and family therapist, independent social 4500
worker, social worker, or registered nurse who holds a master's 4501
degree in psychiatric nursing, may provide human, social, and 4502
community services that include intake assessment and referral, 4503
screening, crisis intervention and resolution, community support, 4504
case management and outreach, record keeping, social assessment, 4505
visual observation of an individual in the individual's 4506
environment, assistance in facilitation with groups and families, 4507
advocacy, and orientation, education, and prevention services.4508

       Sec. 4757.27.  (A) The social workers professional standards 4509
committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family 4510
therapist board shall issue a license as an independent social 4511
worker to each applicant who submits a properly completed 4512
application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the 4513
Revised Code, and meets the requirements specified in division (B) 4514
of this section. An independent social worker license shall 4515
clearly indicate each academic degree earned by the person to whom 4516
it has been issued.4517

       (B) To be eligible for a license as an independent social 4518
worker, an individual must meet the following requirements:4519

       (1) The individual must be of good moral character.4520

       (2) The individual must hold from an accredited educational 4521
institution a master's degree or a doctorate in social work from 4522
an educational institution accredited by the council on social 4523
work education or an educational institution in candidacy for 4524
accreditation by the council.4525

       (3) The individual must complete at least two years of 4526
post-master's degree social work experience supervised by an 4527
independent social worker.4528

       (4) The individual must pass an examination administered by 4529
the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as an 4530
independent social worker.4531

       (C) The committee may issue a temporary license to an 4532
applicant who meets all of the requirements to be licensed under 4533
this section, pending the receipt of transcripts or action by the 4534
committee to issue a license as an independent social worker.4535

       (D) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the 4536
committee to implement this section, including criteria for the 4537
committee to use in determining whether an applicant's training 4538
should be accepted and supervised experience approved. Rules 4539
adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with 4540
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.4541

       Sec. 4757.28.  (A) The social workers professional standards 4542
committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family 4543
therapist board shall issue a license as a social worker to each 4544
applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the 4545
fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and 4546
meets the requirements specified in division (B) of this section. 4547
A social worker license shall clearly indicate each academic 4548
degree earned by the person to whom it is issued.4549

       (B) To be eligible for a license as a social worker, an 4550
individual must meet the following requirements:4551

       (1) The individual must be of good moral character.4552

       (2) The individual must hold from an accredited educational 4553
institution one of the following:4554

       (a) A baccalaureate degree in social work or, prior to 4555
October 10, 1992, a baccalaureate degree in a program closely 4556
related to social work and approved by the committee;4557

       (b) A master's degree in social work;4558

       (c) A doctorate in social work.4559

       (3) The individual must pass an examination administered by 4560
the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as a 4561
social worker.4562

       (C) The committee may issue a temporary license to practice 4563
as a social worker as follows:4564

       (1) To an applicant who meets all of the requirements to be 4565
licensed under this section, pending the receipt of transcripts or 4566
action by the committee to issue a license as a social worker. 4567
However, the committee may issue a temporary license;4568

       (2) For a period not to exceed ninety days, to an applicant 4569
who provides the board with a statement from the applicant's 4570
academic institution indicating that the applicant is in good 4571
standing with the institution, that the applicant has met the 4572
academic requirements for the applicant's degree, and the 4573
projected date the applicant will receive the applicant's 4574
transcript showing a conferred degree.4575

       On application to the committee, a temporary license issued 4576
under division (C)(2) of this section may be renewed for good 4577
cause shown.4578

       (D) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the 4579
committee to implement this section, including criteria for the 4580
committee to use in determining whether an applicant's training 4581
should be accepted and supervised experience approved. Rules 4582
adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with 4583
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.4584

       Sec. 4757.29. (A) The social workers professional standards 4585
committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family 4586
therapist board shall issue a certificate of registration as a 4587
social work assistant to each applicant who submits a properly 4588
completed application, pays the fee established under section 4589
4757.31 of the Revised Code, is of good moral character, and holds 4590
from an accredited educational institution an associate degree in 4591
social service technology or a bachelor's degree that is 4592
equivalent to an associate degree in social service technology or 4593
a related bachelor's or higher degree that is approved by the 4594
committee.4595

       (B) On and after March 18, 1997, a counselor assistant 4596
certificate of registration issued under former section 4757.08 of 4597
the Revised Code shall be considered a certificate of registration 4598
as a social work assistant. The holder of the certificate is 4599
subject to the supervision requirements specified in section 4600
4757.26 of the Revised Code, the continuing education requirements 4601
specified in section 4757.33 of the Revised Code, and regulation 4602
by the social workers professional standards committee. On the 4603
first renewal occurring after March 18, 1997, the committee shall 4604
issue a certificate of registration as a social work assistant to 4605
each former counselor assistant who qualifies for renewal.4606

       (C) The social workers professional standards committee shall 4607
issue a certificate of registration as a social work assistant to 4608
any person who, on or before March 18, 1998, meets the 4609
requirements for a certificate of registration as a counselor 4610
assistant pursuant to division (A)(3) of former section 4757.08 of 4611
the Revised Code, submits a properly completed application, pays 4612
the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and 4613
is of good moral character.4614

       Sec. 4757.30.  (A) The marriage and family therapist 4615
professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, 4616
and marriage and family therapist board shall issue a license to 4617
practice as a marriage and family therapist to a person who has 4618
done all of the following:4619

       (1) Properly completed an application for the license;4620

       (2) Paid the required fee established by the board under 4621
section 4757.31 of the Revised Code;4622

       (3) Achieved one of the following:4623

       (a) Received from an educational institution accredited at 4624
the time the degree was granted by a regional accrediting 4625
organization recognized by the board a master's degree or a 4626
doctorate in marriage and family therapy;4627

       (b) Completed a graduate degree that includes a minimum of 4628
ninety quarter hours of graduate level course work in marriage and 4629
family therapy training that is acceptable to the committee;4630

       (4) Passed an examination administered by the board for the 4631
purpose of determining the person's ability to be a marriage and 4632
family therapist;4633

       (5) Completed a practicum that includes at least three 4634
hundred hours of client contact.4635

       (B) To be accepted by the committee for purposes of division 4636
(A)(3)(b) of this section, marriage and family therapist training 4637
must include instruction in at least the following: 4638

       (1) Research and evaluation;4639

       (2) Professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities;4640

       (3) Marriage and family studies;4641

       (4) Marriage and family therapy, including therapeutic theory 4642
and techniques for individuals, groups, and families;4643

       (5) Human development;4644

       (6) Appraisal of individuals and families;4645

       (7) Diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders;4646

       (8) Systems theory.4647

       (C) The marriage and family therapist professional standards 4648
committee shall issue a license to practice as an independent 4649
marriage and family therapist to a person who does both of the 4650
following:4651

       (1) Meets all of the requirements of division (A) of this 4652
section;4653

       (2) After meeting the requirements of division (A)(3) of this 4654
section, completes at least two calendar years of work experience4655
supervised training while engaged in the practice of marriage and 4656
family therapy.4657

       The two calendar years of work experiencesupervised training4658
must include two hundred hours of face-to-face supervision while 4659
completing a minimum of one thousand hours of documented client 4660
contact in marriage and family therapy. TwoOf the required two4661
hundred hours of the one thousand hours must include face-to-face 4662
supervision, a minimum of one hundred hours must be individual 4663
supervision. Supervision shall be performed by a supervisor whose 4664
training and experience meets standards established by the board 4665
in rules adopted under section 4757.10 of the Revised Code and one 4666
hundred hours of the two hundred hours of supervision must be 4667
individual supervision.4668

       (D) An independent marriage and family therapist or a 4669
marriage and family therapist may engage in the private practice 4670
of marriage and family therapy as an individual practitioner or as 4671
a member of a partnership or group practice.4672

       (E) A marriage and family therapist may diagnose and treat 4673
mental and emotional disorders only under the supervision of a 4674
psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed professional clinical 4675
counselor, independent social worker, or independent marriage and 4676
family therapist. An independent marriage and family therapist may 4677
diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders without 4678
supervision.4679

       (F) Nothing in this chapter or rules adopted under it 4680
authorizes an independent marriage and family therapist or a 4681
marriage and family therapist to admit a patient to a hospital or 4682
requires a hospital to allow a marriage and family therapist to 4683
admit a patient.4684

       (G) An independent marriage and family therapist or a 4685
marriage and family therapist may not diagnose, treat, or advise 4686
on conditions outside the recognized boundaries of the marriage 4687
and family therapist's competency. An independent marriage and 4688
family therapist or a marriage and family therapist shall make 4689
appropriate and timely referrals when a client's needs exceed the 4690
marriage and family therapist's competence level.4691

       Sec. 4757.31.  (A) Subject to division (B) of this section, 4692
the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist 4693
board shall establish, and may from time to time adjust, fees to 4694
be charged for the following:4695

       (1) Examination for licensure as a licensed professional 4696
clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, marriage and 4697
family therapist, independent marriage and family therapist, 4698
social worker, or independent social worker;4699

       (2) Initial licenses of licensed professional clinical 4700
counselors, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family 4701
therapists, independent marriage and family therapists, social 4702
workers, and independent social workers, except that the board 4703
shall charge only one fee to a person who fulfills all 4704
requirements for more than one of the following initial licenses: 4705
an initial license as a social worker or independent social 4706
worker, an initial license as a licensed professional counselor or 4707
licensed professional clinical counselor, and an initial license 4708
as a marriage and family therapist or independent marriage and 4709
family therapist;4710

       (3) Initial certificates of registration of social work 4711
assistants;4712

       (4) Renewal and late renewal of licenses of licensed4713
professional clinical counselors, licensed professional 4714
counselors, marriage and family therapists, independent marriage 4715
and family therapists, social workers, and independent social 4716
workers and renewal and late renewal of certificates of 4717
registration of social work assistants;4718

       (5) Verification, to another jurisdiction, of a license or 4719
registration issued by the board;4720

       (6) Continuing education programs offered by the board to 4721
licensees or registrants;4722

       (7) Approval of continuing education programs;4723

       (8) Approval of continuing education providers to be 4724
authorized to offer continuing education programs without prior 4725
approval from the board for each program offered;4726

       (9) Issuance of a replacement copy of any wall certificate 4727
issued by the board;4728

       (10) Late completion of continuing counselor, social worker, 4729
or marriage and family therapy education required under section 4730
4757.33 of the Revised Code and the rules adopted under it.4731

       (B) The fees charged under division (A)(1) of this section 4732
shall be established in amounts sufficient to cover the direct 4733
expenses incurred in examining applicants for licensure. The fees 4734
charged under divisions (A)(2) to (9) of this section shall be 4735
nonrefundable and shall be established in amounts sufficient to 4736
cover the necessary expenses in administering this chapter and 4737
rules adopted under it that are not covered by fees charged under 4738
division (A)(1) or (C) of this section. The renewal fee for a 4739
license or certificate of registration shall not be less than the 4740
initial fee for that license or certificate. The fees charged for 4741
licensure and registration and the renewal of licensure and 4742
registration may differ for the various types of licensure and 4743
registration, but shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars 4744
each, unless the board determines that amounts in excess of one 4745
hundred twenty-five dollars are needed to cover its necessary 4746
expenses in administering this chapter and rules adopted under it 4747
and the amounts in excess of one hundred twenty-five dollars are 4748
approved by the controlling board.4749

       (C) All receipts of the board shall be deposited in the state 4750
treasury to the credit of the occupational licensing and 4751
regulatory fund. All vouchers of the board shall be approved by 4752
the chairperson or executive director of the board, or both, as 4753
authorized by the board.4754

       Sec. 4757.321. (A) A person licensed or registered under this 4755
chapter may apply to the counselor, social worker, and marriage 4756
and family therapist board to have the person's license or 4757
registration classified as inactive. If a fee is charged under 4758
division (B) of this section, the person shall include the fee 4759
with the application. If the person's license or registration is 4760
in good standing and the person meets any other requirements 4761
established by the board in rules adopted under this section, the 4762
board shall classify the license or registration as inactive. The 4763
inactive classification shall become effective on the date 4764
immediately following the date that the person's license or 4765
registration is scheduled to expire.4766

       (B) The board may charge a fee for classifying a license or 4767
registration as inactive.4768

       (C) During the period that a license or registration is 4769
classified as inactive, the person may not engage in the practice 4770
of professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family 4771
therapy, as applicable, in this state or make any representation 4772
to the public indicating that the person is actively licensed or 4773
registered under this chapter.4774

       (D) A person whose license or registration has been 4775
classified as inactive may apply to the board to have the license 4776
or registration reactivated. The board shall reactivate the 4777
license or registration if the person meets the requirements 4778
established by the board in rules adopted under this section.4779

       (E) The board's jurisdiction to take disciplinary action 4780
under this chapter is not removed or limited when a license or 4781
registration is classified as inactive under this section.4782

       (F) The board shall adopt rules as necessary for classifying 4783
a license or registration as inactive and reactivating an inactive 4784
license or registration. The rules shall be adopted in accordance 4785
with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.4786

       (G) This section does not apply to registration of master's 4787
level counselor trainees, social worker trainees, marriage and 4788
family therapist trainees, or continuing education providers.4789

       Sec. 4757.33.  (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this 4790
section, each person who holds a license or certificate of 4791
registration issued under this chapter shall complete during the 4792
period that the license or certificate is in effect not less than 4793
thirty clock hours of continuing professional education as a 4794
condition of receiving a renewed license or certificate. To have a 4795
lapsed license or certificate of registration restored, a person 4796
shall complete the number of hours of continuing education 4797
specified by the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family 4798
therapist board in rules it shall adopt in accordance with Chapter 4799
119. of the Revised Code.4800

       The professional standards committees of the counselor, 4801
social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall adopt 4802
rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code 4803
establishing standards and procedures to be followed by the 4804
committees in conducting the continuing education approval 4805
process, which shall include registering individuals and entities 4806
to provide continuing education programs approved by the board.4807

       (B) The board may waive the continuing education requirements 4808
established under this section for persons who are unable to 4809
fulfill them because of military service, illness, residence 4810
abroad, or any other reason the committee considers acceptable.4811

       In the case of a social worker licensed by virtue of 4812
receiving, prior to October 10, 1992, a baccalaureate degree in a 4813
program closely related to social work, as a condition of the 4814
first renewal of the license, the social worker must complete at 4815
an accredited educational institution a minimum of five semester 4816
hours of social work graduate or undergraduate credit, or their 4817
equivalent, that is acceptable to the committee and includes a 4818
course in social work theory and a course in social work methods.4819

       Sec. 4757.34. Not later than ninety days after December 9, 4820
1994, theThe counselor, social worker, and marriage and family 4821
therapist board shall approve one or more continuing education 4822
courses of study that assist social workers, independent social 4823
workers, social work assistants, independent marriage and family 4824
therapists, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional 4825
clinical counselors, and licensed professional counselors in 4826
recognizing the signs of domestic violence and its relationship to 4827
child abuse. Social workers, independent social workers, social 4828
work assistants, independent marriage and family therapists, 4829
marriage and family therapists, licensed professional clinical 4830
counselors, and licensed professional counselors are not required 4831
to take the courses.4832

       Sec. 4757.36.  (A) The appropriate professional standards 4833
committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family 4834
therapist board may, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the 4835
Revised Code, take any action specified in division (B) of this 4836
section for any reason described in division (C) of this section4837
against an individual who has applied for or holds a license to 4838
practice as a professional clinical counselor, professional 4839
counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and 4840
family therapist, social worker, or independent social worker, or 4841
a certificate of registration to practice as a social work 4842
assistant, for any reason described in division (C) of this 4843
sectionissued under this chapter; a master's level counselor 4844
trainee, social worker trainee, or marriage and family therapist 4845
trainee; or an individual or entity that is registered, or has 4846
applied for registration, in accordance with rules adopted under 4847
section 4757.33 of the Revised Code to provide continuing 4848
education programs approved by the board.4849

       (B) In its imposition of sanctions against an individual or 4850
entity specified in division (A) of this section, the board may do 4851
any of the following:4852

       (1) Refuse to issue or refuse to renew a license or 4853
certificate of registration;4854

       (2) Suspend, revoke, or otherwise restrict a license or 4855
certificate of registration;4856

       (3) Reprimand an individual holding a license or certificate 4857
of registration;4858

       (4) Impose a fine in accordance with the graduated system of 4859
fines established by the board in rules adopted under section 4860
4757.10 of the Revised Code;4861

       (5) Require an individual holding a license or certificate of 4862
registration to take corrective action courses.4863

       (C) The appropriate professional standards committee of the 4864
board may take an action specified in division (B) of this section 4865
for any of the following reasons:4866

       (1) Commission of an act that violates any provision of this 4867
chapter or rules adopted under it;4868

       (2) Knowingly making a false statement on an application for 4869
licensure or registration, or for renewal of a license or 4870
certificate of registration;4871

       (3) Accepting a commission or rebate for referring persons to 4872
any professionals licensed, certified, or registered by any court 4873
or board, commission, department, division, or other agency of the 4874
state, including, but not limited to, individuals practicing 4875
counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy or 4876
practicing in fields related to counseling, social work, or 4877
marriage and family therapy;4878

       (4) A failure to comply with section 4757.124757.13 of the 4879
Revised Code;4880

       (5) A conviction in this or any other state of a crime that 4881
is a felony in this state;4882

       (6) A failure to perform properly as a licensed professional 4883
clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent 4884
marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, 4885
social work assistant, social worker, or independent social worker 4886
due to the use of alcohol or other drugs or any other physical or 4887
mental condition;4888

       (7) A conviction in this state or in any other state of a 4889
misdemeanor committed in the course of practice as a licensed4890
professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, 4891
independent marriage and family therapist, marriage and family 4892
therapist, social work assistant, social worker, or independent 4893
social worker;4894

       (8) Practicing outside the scope of practice applicable to 4895
that person;4896

       (9) Practicing in violation of the supervision requirements 4897
specified under sections 4757.21 and 4757.26, and division (E) of 4898
section 4757.30, of the Revised Code;4899

       (10) A violation of the person's code of ethical practice 4900
adopted by rule of the board pursuant to section 4757.11 of the 4901
Revised Code;4902

       (11) Revocation or suspension of a license or certificate of 4903
registration, other disciplinary action against a license holder 4904
or registration, or the voluntary surrender of a license or 4905
certificate of registration in another state or jurisdiction for 4906
an offense that would be a violation of this chapter.4907

       (D) A disciplinary action under division (B) of this section 4908
shall be taken pursuant to an adjudication under Chapter 119. of 4909
the Revised Code, except that in lieu of an adjudication, the 4910
appropriate professional standards committee may enter into a 4911
consent agreement with an individual or entity specified in 4912
division (A) of this section to resolve an allegation of a 4913
violation of this chapter or any rule adopted under it. A consent 4914
agreement, when ratified by the appropriate professional standards 4915
committee, constitutes the findings and order of the board with 4916
respect to the matter addressed in the agreement. If a committee 4917
refuses to ratify a consent agreement, the admissions and findings 4918
contained in the consent agreement are of no force or effect.4919

        (E) In any instance in which a professional standards 4920
committee of the board is required by Chapter 119. of the Revised 4921
Code to give notice of the opportunity for a hearing and the 4922
individual or entity subject to the notice does not timely request 4923
a hearing in accordance with section 119.07 of the Revised Code, 4924
the committee may adopt a final order that contains the board's 4925
findings. In that final order, the committee may order any of the 4926
sanctions identified in division (B) of this section.4927

        (F) One year or more after the date of suspension or 4928
revocation of a license or certificate of registration under this 4929
section, application may be made to the appropriate professional 4930
standards committee for reinstatement. The committee may accept4931
approve or refusedeny an application for reinstatement. If a 4932
license has been suspended or revoked, the committee may require 4933
an examination for reinstatement.4934

       (E)(G) On request of the board, the attorney general shall 4935
bring and prosecute to judgment a civil action to collect any fine 4936
imposed under division (B)(4) of this section that remains unpaid.4937

       (F)(H) All fines collected under division (B)(4) of this 4938
section shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit 4939
of the occupational licensing and regulatory fund.4940

       Sec. 4757.37.  (A) An individual whom the counselor, social 4941
worker, and marriage and family therapist board licenses, 4942
certificates, or otherwise legally authorizes to engage in the 4943
practice of professional counseling, social work, or marriage and 4944
family therapy may render the professional services of a licensed 4945
professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, 4946
independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and 4947
family therapist, or marriage and family therapist within this 4948
state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 4949
1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed 4950
under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a 4951
professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised 4952
Code. This division does not preclude such an individual from 4953
rendering professional services as a licensed professional 4954
clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent 4955
social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family 4956
therapist, or marriage and family therapist through another form 4957
of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit 4958
corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized 4959
by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the 4960
Revised Code, or rules of the counselor, social worker, and 4961
marriage and family therapist board adopted pursuant to this 4962
chapter.4963

       (B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or 4964
professional association described in division (A) of this section 4965
may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the 4966
professional services of the following individuals who are 4967
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to 4968
practice their respective professions:4969

       (1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry 4970
under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;4971

       (2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic 4972
or acupuncture under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code;4973

       (3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology 4974
under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;4975

       (4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are 4976
authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed 4977
practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;4978

       (5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under 4979
Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;4980

       (6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice 4981
physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised 4982
Code;4983

       (7) Occupational therapists who are authorized to practice 4984
occupational therapy under sections 4755.04 to 4755.13 of the 4985
Revised Code;4986

       (8) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice 4987
mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 of the Revised Code;4988

       (9) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 4989
surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for 4990
their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 4991
Code;4992

       (10) Licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed 4993
professional counselors, independent social workers, social 4994
workers, independent marriage and family therapists, or marriage 4995
and family therapists who are authorized for their respective 4996
practices under this chapter.4997

        This division applies notwithstanding a provision of a code 4998
of ethics applicable to an individual who is a licensed 4999
professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, 5000
independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and 5001
family therapist, or marriage and family therapist that prohibits 5002
the individual from engaging in the individual's practice in 5003
combination with a person who is licensed, certificated, or 5004
otherwise legally authorized to practice optometry, chiropractic, 5005
acupuncture through the state chiropractic board, psychology, 5006
nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, 5007
mechanotherapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 5008
surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, but who is not also 5009
licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to engage 5010
in the practice of professional counseling, social work, or 5011
marriage and family therapy.5012

       Sec. 4757.38. (A) The counselor, social worker, and marriage 5013
and family therapist board shall investigate alleged violations of 5014
this chapter or the rules adopted under it and alleged 5015
irregularities in the delivery of services related to professional 5016
counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy by persons 5017
licensed or registered under this chapter. As part of its conduct 5018
of an investigation, the board may issue subpoenas, examine 5019
witnesses, and administer oaths.5020

       (B) All of the following apply under this chapter with 5021
respect to the confidentiality of information:5022

        (1) Information received by the board pursuant to a complaint 5023
or an investigation is confidential and not subject to discovery 5024
in any civil action, except that the board may disclose 5025
information to law enforcement officers and government entities 5026
for purposes of an investigation of either an individual who holds 5027
a license or certificate of registration issued under this chapter 5028
or an individual or entity that may have engaged in the 5029
unauthorized practice of professional counseling, social work, or 5030
marriage and family therapy. No law enforcement officer or 5031
government entity with knowledge of any information disclosed by 5032
the board pursuant to this division shall divulge the information 5033
to any other person or government entity except for the purpose of 5034
a government investigation, a prosecution, or an adjudication by a 5035
court or government entity.5036

        (2) If an investigation requires a review of patient records, 5037
the investigation and proceeding shall be conducted in such a 5038
manner as to protect patient confidentiality.5039

        (3) All adjudications and investigations of the board are 5040
civil actions for the purposes of section 2305.252 of the Revised 5041
Code.5042

        (4) Any board activity that involves continued monitoring of 5043
an individual as part of or following any disciplinary action 5044
taken under section 4755.36 of the Revised Code shall be conducted 5045
in a manner that maintains the individual's confidentiality. 5046
Information received or maintained by the board with respect to 5047
the board's monitoring activities is not subject to discovery in 5048
any civil action and is confidential, except that the board may 5049
disclose information to law enforcement officers and government 5050
entities for purposes of an investigation of an individual holding 5051
a license or certificate of registration issued under this 5052
chapter.5053

        (C) The board may receive any information necessary to 5054
conduct an investigation under this section. If the board is 5055
investigating the provision of services to a couple or group, it 5056
is not necessary for both members of the couple or all members of 5057
the group to consent to the release of information relevant to the 5058
investigation.5059

       (D) The board shall ensure that all records it holds 5060
pertaining to an investigation remain confidential. The board 5061
shall adopt rules establishing procedures to be followed in 5062
maintaining the confidentiality of its investigative records. The 5063
rules shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the 5064
Revised Code.5065

       Sec. 4757.41.  (A) This chapter shall not apply to the 5066
following:5067

       (1) A person certified by the state board of education under 5068
Chapter 3319. of the Revised Code while performing any services 5069
within the person's scope of employment by a board of education or 5070
by a private school meeting the standards prescribed by the state 5071
board of education under division (D) of section 3301.07 of the 5072
Revised Code or in a program operated under Chapter 5126. of the 5073
Revised Code for training individuals with mental retardation or 5074
other developmental disabilities;5075

       (2) Psychologists or school psychologists licensed under 5076
Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;5077

       (3) Members of other professions licensed, certified, or 5078
registered by this state while performing services within the 5079
recognized scope, standards, and ethics of their respective 5080
professions;5081

       (4) Rabbis, priests, Christian science practitioners, clergy, 5082
or members of religious orders and other individuals participating 5083
with them in pastoral counseling when the counseling activities 5084
are within the scope of the performance of their regular or 5085
specialized ministerial duties and are performed under the 5086
auspices or sponsorship of an established and legally cognizable 5087
church, denomination, or sect or an integrated auxiliary of a 5088
church as defined in federal tax regulations, paragraph (g)(5) of 5089
26 C.F.R. 1.6033-2 (1995), and when the individual rendering the 5090
service remains accountable to the established authority of that 5091
church, denomination, sect, or integrated auxiliary;5092

       (5) Any person who is not licensed under this chapter as a 5093
licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional 5094
counselor, independent social worker, or social worker and is5095
employed in the civil service as defined in section 124.01 of the 5096
Revised Code while engaging in social work or professional 5097
counseling or social work as a civil service employee, if on the 5098
effective date of this amendment the person has at least two years 5099
of service in that capacity;5100

       (6) A student in an accredited educational institution while 5101
carrying out activities that are part of the student's prescribed 5102
course of study if the activities are supervised as required by 5103
the educational institution and if the student does not hold 5104
herself or himself out as a person licensed or registered under 5105
this chapter;5106

        (7) Individuals who hold a license or certificate under 5107
Chapter 4758. of the Revised Code who are acting within the scope 5108
of their license or certificate as members of the profession of 5109
chemical dependency counseling or alcohol and other drug 5110
prevention services;5111

       (8) Any person employed by the American red cross while 5112
engaging in activities relating to services for military families 5113
and veterans and disaster relief, as described in the "American 5114
National Red Cross Act," 33 Stat. 599 (1905), 36 U.S.C.A. 1, as 5115
amended;5116

       (9) Members of labor organizations who hold union counselor 5117
certificates while performing services in their official capacity 5118
as union counselors;5119

       (10) Any person employed in a hospital as defined in section 5120
3727.01 of the Revised Code or in a nursing home as defined in 5121
section 3721.01 of the Revised Code while providing as a hospital 5122
employee or nursing home employee, respectively, social services 5123
other than counseling and the use of psychosocial interventions 5124
and social psychotherapy;5125

       (11) A vocational rehabilitation professional who is 5126
providing rehabilitation services to individuals under section 5127
3304.17 of the Revised Code, or holds certification by the 5128
commission on rehabilitation counselor certification and is 5129
providing rehabilitation counseling services consistent with the 5130
commission's standards;5131

       (12) A caseworker not licensed under this chapter as an 5132
independent social worker or social worker who is employed by a 5133
public children services agency under section 5153.112 of the 5134
Revised Code.5135

       (B) Divisions (A)(5), (8), and (10) of this section do not 5136
prevent a person described in those divisions from obtaining a 5137
license or certificate of registration under this chapter.5138

       (C) Except as provided in divisions (A) and (D) of this 5139
section, no employee in the service of the state, including public 5140
employees as defined by Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, shall 5141
engage in the practice of professional counseling, social work, or 5142
marriage and family therapy without the appropriate license issued 5143
by the board. Failure to comply with this division constitutes 5144
nonfeasance under section 124.34 of the Revised Code or just cause 5145
under a collective bargaining agreement. Nothing in this division 5146
restricts the director of administrative services from developing 5147
new classifications related to this division or from reassigning 5148
affected employees to appropriate classifications based on the 5149
employee's duties and qualifications.5150

       (D) Except as provided in division (A) of this section, an 5151
employee who was engaged in the practice of professional 5152
counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy in the 5153
service of the state prior to the effective date of this 5154
amendment, including public employees as defined by Chapter 4117. 5155
of the Revised Code, shall comply with division (C) of this 5156
section within two years after the effective date of this 5157
amendment. Any such employee who fails to comply shall be removed 5158
from employment.5159

       (E) Nothing in this chapter prevents a public children 5160
services agency from employing as a caseworker a person not 5161
licensed under this chapter as an independent social worker or 5162
social worker who has the qualifications specified in section 5163
5153.112 of the Revised Code.5164

       Sec. 4757.43.  Nothing in this chapter or the rules adopted 5165
under it shall be construed as authorizing a licensed professional 5166
clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent 5167
marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, 5168
independent social worker, social worker, or social work assistant 5169
to admit a patient to a hospital or as requiring a hospital to 5170
allow any of those individuals to admit a patient.5171

       Sec. 4758.40. An individual seeking an independent chemical 5172
dependency counselor license shall meet the requirements of 5173
division (A) or (B) of this section.5174

       (A) To meet the requirements of this division, an individual 5175
must meet all of the following requirements:5176

       (1) Hold from an accredited educational institution at least 5177
a master's degree in a behavioral science or nursing that meets 5178
the course requirements specified in rules adopted under section 5179
4758.20 of the Revised Code;5180

       (2) Have not less than two thousand hours of compensated work 5181
or supervised internship experience in any of the following, not 5182
less than four hundred hours of which are in chemical dependency 5183
counseling:5184

       (a) Chemical dependency services, substance abuse services, 5185
or both types of services;5186

       (b) The practice of psychology, as defined in section 4732.01 5187
of the Revised Code;5188

       (c) The practice of professional counseling, the practice of 5189
social work, or the practice of marriage and family therapy, all 5190
as defined in section 4757.01 of the Revised Code.5191

       (3) Have a minimum of one hundred eighty hours of training in 5192
chemical dependency that meets the requirements specified in rules 5193
adopted under section 4758.20 of the Revised Code;5194

       (4) Unless the individual holds a valid license, 5195
registration, certificate, or credentials issued under another 5196
chapter of the Revised Code that authorizes the individual to 5197
engage in a profession whose scope of practice includes chemical 5198
dependency counseling and diagnosing and treating chemical 5199
dependency conditions, pass one or more examinations administered 5200
pursuant to section 4758.22 of the Revised Code for the purpose of 5201
determining competence to practice as an independent chemical 5202
dependency counselor.5203

       (B) To meet the requirements of this division, an individual 5204
must meet both of the following requirements:5205

       (1) Hold, on December 23, 2002, a certificate or credentials 5206
that were accepted under former section 3793.07 of the Revised 5207
Code as authority to practice as a certified chemical dependency 5208
counselor III or certified chemical dependency counselor III-E;5209

       (2) Meet one of the following requirements:5210

       (a) Hold the degree described in division (A)(1) of this 5211
section;5212

       (b) Have held a chemical dependency counselor III, II, or I 5213
certificate for at least eight consecutive years and have not less 5214
than forty clock hours of training on the version of the 5215
diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders that is 5216
current at the time of the training. The training must meet the 5217
requirements specified in rules adopted under section 4758.20 of 5218
the Revised Code. An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of 5219
the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic 5220
medicine and surgery, a psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. 5221
of the Revised Code, or a licensed professional clinical counselor 5222
or independent social worker licensed under Chapter 4757. of the 5223
Revised Code may provide any portion of the training. An 5224
independent chemical dependency counselor licensed under this 5225
chapter who holds the degree described in division (A)(1) of this 5226
section may provide the portion of the training on chemical 5227
dependency conditions.5228

       Sec. 4758.41. An individual seeking a chemical dependency 5229
counselor III license shall meet the requirements of division (A), 5230
(B), or (C) of this section.5231

       (A) To meet the requirements of this division, an individual 5232
must meet all of the following requirements:5233

       (1) Hold from an accredited educational institution at least 5234
a bachelor's degree in a behavioral science or nursing that meets 5235
the course requirements specified in rules adopted under section 5236
4758.20 of the Revised Code;5237

       (2) Have not less than two thousand hours of compensated work 5238
or supervised internship experience in any of the following, not 5239
less than four hundred hours of which are in chemical dependency 5240
counseling:5241

       (a) Chemical dependency services, substance abuse services, 5242
or both types of services;5243

       (b) The practice of psychology, as defined in section 4732.01 5244
of the Revised Code;5245

       (c) The practice of professional counseling, the practice of 5246
social work, or the practice of marriage and family therapy, all 5247
as defined in section 4757.01 of the Revised Code.5248

       (3) Have a minimum of one hundred eighty hours of training in 5249
chemical dependency that meets the requirements specified in rules 5250
adopted under section 4758.20 of the Revised Code;5251

       (4) Unless the individual holds a valid license, 5252
registration, certificate, or credentials issued under another 5253
chapter of the Revised Code that authorizes the individual to 5254
engage in a profession whose scope of practice includes chemical 5255
dependency counseling and diagnosing and treating chemical 5256
dependency conditions, pass one or more examinations administered 5257
pursuant to section 4758.22 of the Revised Code for the purpose of 5258
determining competence to practice as a chemical dependency 5259
counselor III.5260

       (B) To meet the requirements of this division, an individual 5261
must meet both of the following requirements:5262

       (1) Hold, on December 23, 2002, a certificate or credentials 5263
that were accepted under former section 3793.07 of the Revised 5264
Code as authority to practice as a certified chemical dependency 5265
counselor III or certified chemical dependency counselor III-E;5266

       (2) Have not less than forty clock hours of training on the 5267
version of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental 5268
disorders that is current at the time of the training. The 5269
training must meet the requirements specified in rules adopted 5270
under section 4758.20 of the Revised Code. An individual 5271
authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice 5272
medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery, a 5273
psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code, or 5274
a licensed professional clinical counselor or independent social 5275
worker licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code may 5276
provide any portion of the training. An independent chemical 5277
dependency counselor licensed under this chapter who holds the 5278
degree described in division (A)(1) of section 4758.40 of the 5279
Revised Code may provide the portion of the training on chemical 5280
dependency conditions.5281

       (C) To meet the requirements of this division, an individual 5282
must meet all of the following requirements:5283

       (1) Hold, on December 23, 2002, a certificate or credentials 5284
that were accepted under former section 3793.07 of the Revised 5285
Code as authority to practice as a certified chemical dependency 5286
counselor II;5287

       (2) Meet the requirement of division (B)(2) of this section;5288

       (3) Hold a bachelor's degree in a behavioral science.5289

       Sec. 4758.55.  In addition to practicing chemical dependency 5290
counseling, an individual holding a valid independent chemical 5291
dependency counselor license may do all of the following:5292

       (A) Diagnose and treat chemical dependency conditions;5293

       (B) Perform treatment planning, assessment, crisis 5294
intervention, individual and group counseling, case management, 5295
and education services as they relate to abuse of and dependency 5296
on alcohol and other drugs;5297

       (C) Provide clinical supervision of chemical dependency 5298
counseling under the supervision of any of the following:5299

       (1) An independent chemical dependency counselor-clinical 5300
supervisor licensed under this chapter;5301

       (2) An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the 5302
Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic 5303
medicine and surgery;5304

       (3) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the 5305
Revised Code;5306

       (4) A registered nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the 5307
Revised Code or licensed professional clinical counselor, 5308
independent social worker, or independent marriage and family 5309
therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code if such 5310
supervision is consistent with the scope of practice of the 5311
registered nurse, licensed professional clinical counselor, 5312
independent social worker, or independent marriage and family 5313
therapist.5314

       (D) Refer individuals with nonchemical dependency conditions 5315
to appropriate sources of help.5316

       Sec. 4758.561. Any of the following professionals may 5317
supervise a chemical dependency counselor III for purposes of 5318
divisions (A)(1) and (4) of section 4758.56 of the Revised Code:5319

       (A) An independent chemical dependency counselor-clinical 5320
supervisor licensed under this chapter;5321

       (B) An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the 5322
Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic 5323
medicine and surgery;5324

       (C) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the 5325
Revised Code;5326

       (D) A registered nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the 5327
Revised Code or licensed professional clinical counselor, 5328
independent social worker, or independent marriage and family 5329
therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code if such 5330
supervision is consistent with the scope of practice of the 5331
registered nurse, licensed professional clinical counselor, 5332
independent social worker, or independent marriage and family 5333
therapist.5334

       Sec. 4758.59. (A) Subject to division (B) of this section, an 5335
individual holding a valid chemical dependency counselor assistant 5336
certificate may do both of the following in addition to practicing 5337
chemical dependency counseling:5338

       (1) Perform treatment planning, assessment, crisis 5339
intervention, individual and group counseling, case management, 5340
and education services as they relate to abuse of or dependency on 5341
alcohol and other drugs;5342

       (2) Refer individuals with nonchemical dependency conditions 5343
to appropriate sources of help.5344

       (B) An individual holding a valid chemical dependency 5345
counselor assistant certificate may practice chemical dependency 5346
counseling and perform the tasks specified in division (A) of this 5347
section only while under the supervision of any of the following:5348

       (1) An independent chemical dependency counselor-clinical 5349
supervisor, independent chemical dependency counselor, or chemical 5350
dependency counselor III licensed under this chapter;5351

       (2) An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the 5352
Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic 5353
medicine and surgery;5354

       (3) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the 5355
Revised Code;5356

       (4) A registered nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the 5357
Revised Code or licensed professional clinical counselor, 5358
independent social worker, or independent marriage and family 5359
therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code if such 5360
supervision is consistent with the scope of practice of the 5361
registered nurse, licensed professional clinical counselor, 5362
independent social worker, or independent marriage and family 5363
therapist.5364

       (C) A chemical dependency counselor assistant may not 5365
practice as an individual practitioner.5366

       Sec. 4758.61. An individual who holds a valid prevention 5367
specialist assistant certificate or registered applicant 5368
certificate issued under this chapter may engage in the practice 5369
of alcohol and other drug prevention services under the 5370
supervision of any of the following:5371

       (A) A prevention specialist II or prevention specialist I 5372
certified under this chapter;5373

       (B) An independent chemical dependency counselor-clinical 5374
supervisor, an independent chemical dependency counselor, or a 5375
chemical dependency counselor III licensed under this chapter;5376

       (C) An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the 5377
Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic 5378
medicine and surgery;5379

        (D) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the 5380
Revised Code;5381

       (E) A registered nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the 5382
Revised Code;5383

        (F) A licensed professional clinical counselor, a licensed5384
professional counselor, an independent social worker, a social 5385
worker, an independent marriage and family therapist, or a 5386
marriage and family therapist licensed under Chapter 4757. of the 5387
Revised Code;5388

        (G) A school counselor licensed by the department of 5389
education pursuant to section 3319.22 of the Revised Code;5390

        (H) A health education specialist certified by the national 5391
commission for health education credentialing.5392

       Sec. 4769.01.  As used in this chapter:5393

       (A) "Medicare" means the program established by Title XVIII 5394
of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 5395
301, as amended.5396

       (B) "Balance billing" means charging or collecting from a 5397
medicare beneficiary an amount in excess of the medicare 5398
reimbursement rate for medicare-covered services or supplies 5399
provided to a medicare beneficiary, except when medicare is the 5400
secondary insurer. When medicare is the secondary insurer, the 5401
health care practitioner may pursue full reimbursement under the 5402
terms and conditions of the primary coverage and, if applicable, 5403
the charge allowed under the terms and conditions of the 5404
appropriate provider contract, from the primary insurer, but the 5405
medicare beneficiary cannot be balance billed above the medicare 5406
reimbursement rate for a medicare-covered service or supply. 5407
"Balance billing" does not include charging or collecting 5408
deductibles or coinsurance required by the program.5409

       (C) "Health care practitioner" means all of the following:5410

       (1) A dentist or dental hygienist licensed under Chapter 5411
4715. of the Revised Code;5412

       (2) A registered or licensed practical nurse licensed under 5413
Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;5414

       (3) An optometrist licensed under Chapter 4725. of the 5415
Revised Code;5416

       (4) A dispensing optician, spectacle dispensing optician, 5417
contact lens dispensing optician, or spectacle-contact lens 5418
dispensing optician licensed under Chapter 4725. of the Revised 5419
Code;5420

       (5) A pharmacist licensed under Chapter 4729. of the Revised 5421
Code;5422

       (6) A physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised 5423
Code to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and 5424
surgery, or podiatry;5425

       (7) A physician assistant authorized under Chapter 4730. of 5426
the Revised Code to practice as a physician assistant;5427

       (8) A practitioner of a limited branch of medicine issued a 5428
certificate under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;5429

       (9) A psychologist licensed under Chapter 4732. of the 5430
Revised Code;5431

       (10) A chiropractor licensed under Chapter 4734. of the 5432
Revised Code;5433

       (11) A hearing aid dealer or fitter licensed under Chapter 5434
4747. of the Revised Code;5435

       (12) A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed 5436
under Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code;5437

       (13) An occupational therapist or occupational therapy 5438
assistant licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;5439

       (14) A physical therapist or physical therapy assistant 5440
licensed under Chapter 4755. of the Revised Code;5441

       (15) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed5442
professional counselor, social worker, or independent social 5443
worker licensed, or a social work assistant registered, under 5444
Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code;5445

       (16) A dietitian licensed under Chapter 4759. of the Revised 5446
Code;5447

       (17) A respiratory care professional licensed under Chapter 5448
4761. of the Revised Code;5449

       (18) An emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical 5450
technician-intermediate, or emergency medical technician-paramedic 5451
certified under Chapter 4765. of the Revised Code.5452

       Sec. 5101.61.  (A) As used in this section:5453

       (1) "Senior service provider" means any person who provides 5454
care or services to a person who is an adult as defined in 5455
division (B) of section 5101.60 of the Revised Code.5456

       (2) "Ambulatory health facility" means a nonprofit, public or 5457
proprietary freestanding organization or a unit of such an agency 5458
or organization that:5459

       (a) Provides preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, 5460
rehabilitative, or palliative items or services furnished to an 5461
outpatient or ambulatory patient, by or under the direction of a 5462
physician or dentist in a facility which is not a part of a 5463
hospital, but which is organized and operated to provide medical 5464
care to outpatients;5465

       (b) Has health and medical care policies which are developed 5466
with the advice of, and with the provision of review of such 5467
policies, an advisory committee of professional personnel, 5468
including one or more physicians, one or more dentists, if dental 5469
care is provided, and one or more registered nurses;5470

       (c) Has a medical director, a dental director, if dental care 5471
is provided, and a nursing director responsible for the execution 5472
of such policies, and has physicians, dentists, nursing, and 5473
ancillary staff appropriate to the scope of services provided;5474

       (d) Requires that the health care and medical care of every 5475
patient be under the supervision of a physician, provides for 5476
medical care in a case of emergency, has in effect a written 5477
agreement with one or more hospitals and other centers or clinics, 5478
and has an established patient referral system to other resources, 5479
and a utilization review plan and program;5480

       (e) Maintains clinical records on all patients;5481

       (f) Provides nursing services and other therapeutic services 5482
in accordance with programs and policies, with such services 5483
supervised by a registered professional nurse, and has a 5484
registered professional nurse on duty at all times of clinical 5485
operations;5486

       (g) Provides approved methods and procedures for the 5487
dispensing and administration of drugs and biologicals;5488

       (h) Has established an accounting and record keeping system 5489
to determine reasonable and allowable costs;5490

       (i) "Ambulatory health facilities" also includes an 5491
alcoholism treatment facility approved by the joint commission on 5492
accreditation of healthcare organizations as an alcoholism 5493
treatment facility or certified by the department of mental health 5494
and addiction services, and such facility shall comply with other 5495
provisions of this division not inconsistent with such 5496
accreditation or certification.5497

       (3) "Community mental health facility" means a facility which 5498
provides community mental health services and is included in the 5499
comprehensive mental health plan for the alcohol, drug addiction, 5500
and mental health service district in which it is located.5501

       (4) "Community mental health service" means services, other 5502
than inpatient services, provided by a community mental health 5503
facility.5504

       (5) "Home health agency" means an institution or a distinct 5505
part of an institution operated in this state which:5506

       (a) Is primarily engaged in providing home health services;5507

       (b) Has home health policies which are established by a group 5508
of professional personnel, including one or more duly licensed 5509
doctors of medicine or osteopathy and one or more registered 5510
professional nurses, to govern the home health services it 5511
provides and which includes a requirement that every patient must 5512
be under the care of a duly licensed doctor of medicine or 5513
osteopathy;5514

       (c) Is under the supervision of a duly licensed doctor of 5515
medicine or doctor of osteopathy or a registered professional 5516
nurse who is responsible for the execution of such home health 5517
policies;5518

       (d) Maintains comprehensive records on all patients;5519

       (e) Is operated by the state, a political subdivision, or an 5520
agency of either, or is operated not for profit in this state and 5521
is licensed or registered, if required, pursuant to law by the 5522
appropriate department of the state, county, or municipality in 5523
which it furnishes services; or is operated for profit in this 5524
state, meets all the requirements specified in divisions (A)(5)(a) 5525
to (d) of this section, and is certified under Title XVIII of the 5526
"Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C. 301, as 5527
amended.5528

       (6) "Home health service" means the following items and 5529
services, provided, except as provided in division (A)(6)(g) of 5530
this section, on a visiting basis in a place of residence used as 5531
the patient's home:5532

       (a) Nursing care provided by or under the supervision of a 5533
registered professional nurse;5534

       (b) Physical, occupational, or speech therapy ordered by the 5535
patient's attending physician;5536

       (c) Medical social services performed by or under the 5537
supervision of a qualified medical or psychiatric social worker 5538
and under the direction of the patient's attending physician;5539

       (d) Personal health care of the patient performed by aides in 5540
accordance with the orders of a doctor of medicine or osteopathy 5541
and under the supervision of a registered professional nurse;5542

       (e) Medical supplies and the use of medical appliances;5543

       (f) Medical services of interns and residents-in-training 5544
under an approved teaching program of a nonprofit hospital and 5545
under the direction and supervision of the patient's attending 5546
physician;5547

       (g) Any of the foregoing items and services which:5548

       (i) Are provided on an outpatient basis under arrangements 5549
made by the home health agency at a hospital or skilled nursing 5550
facility;5551

       (ii) Involve the use of equipment of such a nature that the 5552
items and services cannot readily be made available to the patient 5553
in the patient's place of residence, or which are furnished at the 5554
hospital or skilled nursing facility while the patient is there to 5555
receive any item or service involving the use of such equipment.5556

       Any attorney, physician, osteopath, podiatrist, chiropractor, 5557
dentist, psychologist, any employee of a hospital as defined in 5558
section 3701.01 of the Revised Code, any nurse licensed under 5559
Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, any employee of an ambulatory 5560
health facility, any employee of a home health agency, any 5561
employee of a residential facility licensed under section 5119.34 5562
of the Revised Code that provides accommodations, supervision, and 5563
personal care services for three to sixteen unrelated adults, any 5564
employee of a nursing home, residential care facility, or home for 5565
the aging, as defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code, any 5566
senior service provider, any peace officer, coroner, member of the 5567
clergy, any employee of a community mental health facility, and 5568
any person engaged in professional counseling, social work or 5569
counseling, or marriage and family therapy having reasonable cause 5570
to believe that an adult is being abused, neglected, or exploited, 5571
or is in a condition which is the result of abuse, neglect, or 5572
exploitation shall immediately report such belief to the county 5573
department of job and family services. This section does not apply 5574
to employees of any hospital or public hospital as defined in 5575
section 5122.01 of the Revised Code.5576

       (B) Any person having reasonable cause to believe that an 5577
adult has suffered abuse, neglect, or exploitation may report, or 5578
cause reports to be made of such belief to the department.5579

       (C) The reports made under this section shall be made orally 5580
or in writing except that oral reports shall be followed by a 5581
written report if a written report is requested by the department. 5582
Written reports shall include:5583

       (1) The name, address, and approximate age of the adult who 5584
is the subject of the report;5585

       (2) The name and address of the individual responsible for 5586
the adult's care, if any individual is, and if the individual is 5587
known;5588

       (3) The nature and extent of the alleged abuse, neglect, or 5589
exploitation of the adult;5590

       (4) The basis of the reporter's belief that the adult has 5591
been abused, neglected, or exploited.5592

       (D) Any person with reasonable cause to believe that an adult 5593
is suffering abuse, neglect, or exploitation who makes a report 5594
pursuant to this section or who testifies in any administrative or 5595
judicial proceeding arising from such a report, or any employee of 5596
the state or any of its subdivisions who is discharging 5597
responsibilities under section 5101.62 of the Revised Code shall 5598
be immune from civil or criminal liability on account of such 5599
investigation, report, or testimony, except liability for perjury, 5600
unless the person has acted in bad faith or with malicious 5601
purpose.5602

       (E) No employer or any other person with the authority to do 5603
so shall discharge, demote, transfer, prepare a negative work 5604
performance evaluation, or reduce benefits, pay, or work 5605
privileges, or take any other action detrimental to an employee or 5606
in any way retaliate against an employee as a result of the 5607
employee's having filed a report under this section.5608

       (F) Neither the written or oral report provided for in this 5609
section nor the investigatory report provided for in section 5610
5101.62 of the Revised Code shall be considered a public record as 5611
defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code. Information 5612
contained in the report shall upon request be made available to 5613
the adult who is the subject of the report, to agencies authorized 5614
by the department to receive information contained in the report, 5615
and to legal counsel for the adult.5616

       Sec. 5123.61.  (A) As used in this section:5617

       (1) "Law enforcement agency" means the state highway patrol, 5618
the police department of a municipal corporation, or a county 5619
sheriff.5620

       (2) "Abuse" has the same meaning as in section 5123.50 of the 5621
Revised Code, except that it includes a misappropriation, as 5622
defined in that section.5623

       (3) "Neglect" has the same meaning as in section 5123.50 of 5624
the Revised Code.5625

       (B) The department of developmental disabilities shall 5626
establish a registry office for the purpose of maintaining reports 5627
of abuse, neglect, and other major unusual incidents made to the 5628
department under this section and reports received from county 5629
boards of developmental disabilities under section 5126.31 of the 5630
Revised Code. The department shall establish committees to review 5631
reports of abuse, neglect, and other major unusual incidents.5632

       (C)(1) Any person listed in division (C)(2) of this section, 5633
having reason to believe that a person with mental retardation or 5634
a developmental disability has suffered or faces a substantial 5635
risk of suffering any wound, injury, disability, or condition of 5636
such a nature as to reasonably indicate abuse or neglect of that 5637
person, shall immediately report or cause reports to be made of 5638
such information to the entity specified in this division. Except 5639
as provided in section 5120.173 of the Revised Code or as 5640
otherwise provided in this division, the person making the report 5641
shall make it to a law enforcement agency or to the county board 5642
of developmental disabilities. If the report concerns a resident 5643
of a facility operated by the department of developmental 5644
disabilities the report shall be made either to a law enforcement 5645
agency or to the department. If the report concerns any act or 5646
omission of an employee of a county board of developmental 5647
disabilities, the report immediately shall be made to the 5648
department and to the county board.5649

       (2) All of the following persons are required to make a 5650
report under division (C)(1) of this section:5651

       (a) Any physician, including a hospital intern or resident, 5652
any dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor, practitioner of a limited 5653
branch of medicine as specified in section 4731.15 of the Revised 5654
Code, hospital administrator or employee of a hospital, nurse 5655
licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code, employee of an 5656
ambulatory health facility as defined in section 5101.61 of the 5657
Revised Code, employee of a home health agency, employee of a 5658
residential facility licensed under section 5119.34 of the Revised 5659
Code that provides accommodations, supervision, and person care 5660
services for three to sixteen unrelated adults, or employee of a 5661
community mental health facility;5662

       (b) Any school teacher or school authority, licensed 5663
professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, 5664
independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and 5665
family therapist, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, 5666
attorney, peace officer, coroner, or residents' rights advocate as 5667
defined in section 3721.10 of the Revised Code;5668

       (c) A superintendent, board member, or employee of a county 5669
board of developmental disabilities; an administrator, board 5670
member, or employee of a residential facility licensed under 5671
section 5123.19 of the Revised Code; an administrator, board 5672
member, or employee of any other public or private provider of 5673
services to a person with mental retardation or a developmental 5674
disability, or any MR/DD employee, as defined in section 5123.50 5675
of the Revised Code;5676

       (d) A member of a citizen's advisory council established at 5677
an institution or branch institution of the department of 5678
developmental disabilities under section 5123.092 of the Revised 5679
Code;5680

       (e) A member of the clergy who is employed in a position that 5681
includes providing specialized services to an individual with 5682
mental retardation or another developmental disability, while 5683
acting in an official or professional capacity in that position, 5684
or a person who is employed in a position that includes providing 5685
specialized services to an individual with mental retardation or 5686
another developmental disability and who, while acting in an 5687
official or professional capacity, renders spiritual treatment 5688
through prayer in accordance with the tenets of an organized 5689
religion.5690

       (3)(a) The reporting requirements of this division do not 5691
apply to employees of the Ohio protection and advocacy system.5692

       (b) An attorney or physician is not required to make a report 5693
pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section concerning any 5694
communication the attorney or physician receives from a client or 5695
patient in an attorney-client or physician-patient relationship, 5696
if, in accordance with division (A) or (B) of section 2317.02 of 5697
the Revised Code, the attorney or physician could not testify with 5698
respect to that communication in a civil or criminal proceeding, 5699
except that the client or patient is deemed to have waived any 5700
testimonial privilege under division (A) or (B) of section 2317.02 5701
of the Revised Code with respect to that communication and the 5702
attorney or physician shall make a report pursuant to division 5703
(C)(1) of this section, if both of the following apply:5704

       (i) The client or patient, at the time of the communication, 5705
is a person with mental retardation or a developmental disability.5706

       (ii) The attorney or physician knows or suspects, as a result 5707
of the communication or any observations made during that 5708
communication, that the client or patient has suffered or faces a 5709
substantial risk of suffering any wound, injury, disability, or 5710
condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect 5711
of the client or patient.5712

       (4) Any person who fails to make a report required under 5713
division (C) of this section and who is an MR/DD employee, as 5714
defined in section 5123.50 of the Revised Code, shall be eligible 5715
to be included in the registry regarding misappropriation, abuse, 5716
neglect, or other specified misconduct by MR/DD employees 5717
established under section 5123.52 of the Revised Code.5718

       (D) The reports required under division (C) of this section 5719
shall be made forthwith by telephone or in person and shall be 5720
followed by a written report. The reports shall contain the 5721
following:5722

       (1) The names and addresses of the person with mental 5723
retardation or a developmental disability and the person's 5724
custodian, if known;5725

       (2) The age of the person with mental retardation or a 5726
developmental disability;5727

       (3) Any other information that would assist in the 5728
investigation of the report.5729

       (E) When a physician performing services as a member of the 5730
staff of a hospital or similar institution has reason to believe 5731
that a person with mental retardation or a developmental 5732
disability has suffered injury, abuse, or physical neglect, the 5733
physician shall notify the person in charge of the institution or 5734
that person's designated delegate, who shall make the necessary 5735
reports.5736

       (F) Any person having reasonable cause to believe that a 5737
person with mental retardation or a developmental disability has 5738
suffered or faces a substantial risk of suffering abuse or neglect 5739
may report or cause a report to be made of that belief to the 5740
entity specified in this division. Except as provided in section 5741
5120.173 of the Revised Code or as otherwise provided in this 5742
division, the person making the report shall make it to a law 5743
enforcement agency or the county board of developmental 5744
disabilities. If the person is a resident of a facility operated 5745
by the department of developmental disabilities, the report shall 5746
be made to a law enforcement agency or to the department. If the 5747
report concerns any act or omission of an employee of a county 5748
board of developmental disabilities, the report immediately shall 5749
be made to the department and to the county board.5750

       (G)(1) Upon the receipt of a report concerning the possible 5751
abuse or neglect of a person with mental retardation or a 5752
developmental disability, the law enforcement agency shall inform 5753
the county board of developmental disabilities or, if the person 5754
is a resident of a facility operated by the department of 5755
developmental disabilities, the director of the department or the 5756
director's designee.5757

       (2) On receipt of a report under this section that includes 5758
an allegation of action or inaction that may constitute a crime 5759
under federal law or the law of this state, the department of 5760
developmental disabilities shall notify the law enforcement 5761
agency.5762

       (3) When a county board of developmental disabilities 5763
receives a report under this section that includes an allegation 5764
of action or inaction that may constitute a crime under federal 5765
law or the law of this state, the superintendent of the board or 5766
an individual the superintendent designates under division (H) of 5767
this section shall notify the law enforcement agency. The 5768
superintendent or individual shall notify the department of 5769
developmental disabilities when it receives any report under this 5770
section.5771

       (4) When a county board of developmental disabilities 5772
receives a report under this section and believes that the degree 5773
of risk to the person is such that the report is an emergency, the 5774
superintendent of the board or an employee of the board the 5775
superintendent designates shall attempt a face-to-face contact 5776
with the person with mental retardation or a developmental 5777
disability who allegedly is the victim within one hour of the 5778
board's receipt of the report.5779

       (H) The superintendent of the board may designate an 5780
individual to be responsible for notifying the law enforcement 5781
agency and the department when the county board receives a report 5782
under this section.5783

       (I) An adult with mental retardation or a developmental 5784
disability about whom a report is made may be removed from the 5785
adult's place of residence only by law enforcement officers who 5786
consider that the adult's immediate removal is essential to 5787
protect the adult from further injury or abuse or in accordance 5788
with the order of a court made pursuant to section 5126.33 of the 5789
Revised Code.5790

       (J) A law enforcement agency shall investigate each report of 5791
abuse or neglect it receives under this section. In addition, the 5792
department, in cooperation with law enforcement officials, shall 5793
investigate each report regarding a resident of a facility 5794
operated by the department to determine the circumstances 5795
surrounding the injury, the cause of the injury, and the person 5796
responsible. The investigation shall be in accordance with the 5797
memorandum of understanding prepared under section 5126.058 of the 5798
Revised Code. The department shall determine, with the registry 5799
office which shall be maintained by the department, whether prior 5800
reports have been made concerning an adult with mental retardation 5801
or a developmental disability or other principals in the case. If 5802
the department finds that the report involves action or inaction 5803
that may constitute a crime under federal law or the law of this 5804
state, it shall submit a report of its investigation, in writing, 5805
to the law enforcement agency. If the person with mental 5806
retardation or a developmental disability is an adult, with the 5807
consent of the adult, the department shall provide such protective 5808
services as are necessary to protect the adult. The law 5809
enforcement agency shall make a written report of its findings to 5810
the department.5811

       If the person is an adult and is not a resident of a facility 5812
operated by the department, the county board of developmental 5813
disabilities shall review the report of abuse or neglect in 5814
accordance with sections 5126.30 to 5126.33 of the Revised Code 5815
and the law enforcement agency shall make the written report of 5816
its findings to the county board.5817

       (K) Any person or any hospital, institution, school, health 5818
department, or agency participating in the making of reports 5819
pursuant to this section, any person participating as a witness in 5820
an administrative or judicial proceeding resulting from the 5821
reports, or any person or governmental entity that discharges 5822
responsibilities under sections 5126.31 to 5126.33 of the Revised 5823
Code shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability that 5824
might otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of such actions 5825
except liability for perjury, unless the person or governmental 5826
entity has acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose.5827

       (L) No employer or any person with the authority to do so 5828
shall discharge, demote, transfer, prepare a negative work 5829
performance evaluation, reduce pay or benefits, terminate work 5830
privileges, or take any other action detrimental to an employee or 5831
retaliate against an employee as a result of the employee's having 5832
made a report under this section. This division does not preclude 5833
an employer or person with authority from taking action with 5834
regard to an employee who has made a report under this section if 5835
there is another reasonable basis for the action.5836

       (M) Reports made under this section are not public records as 5837
defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code. Information 5838
contained in the reports on request shall be made available to the 5839
person who is the subject of the report, to the person's legal 5840
counsel, and to agencies authorized to receive information in the 5841
report by the department or by a county board of developmental 5842
disabilities.5843

       (N) Notwithstanding section 4731.22 of the Revised Code, the 5844
physician-patient privilege shall not be a ground for excluding 5845
evidence regarding the injuries or physical neglect of a person 5846
with mental retardation or a developmental disability or the cause 5847
thereof in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report 5848
submitted pursuant to this section.5849

       Section 2. That existing sections 1701.03, 1705.03, 1705.04, 5850
1705.53, 1785.01, 1785.02, 1785.03, 2152.72, 2305.234, 2305.51, 5851
2317.02, 2921.22, 2925.01, 2951.041, 3107.014, 3701.046, 3701.74, 5852
3709.161, 3721.21, 3923.28, 3923.281, 3923.282, 3923.30, 3963.01, 5853
4723.16, 4725.33, 4729.161, 4731.226, 4731.65, 4732.28, 4734.17, 5854
4734.41, 4755.471, 4757.01, 4757.02, 4757.03, 4757.04, 4757.10, 5855
4757.11, 4757.16, 4757.21, 4757.22, 4757.23, 4757.26, 4757.27, 5856
4757.28, 4757.29, 4757.30, 4757.31, 4757.33, 4757.34, 4757.36, 5857
4757.38, 4757.41, 4757.43, 4758.40, 4758.41, 4758.55, 4758.561, 5858
4758.59, 4758.61, 4769.01, 5101.61, and 5123.61 and section 5859
4757.12 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.5860

       Section 3. Within one year after the effective date of this 5861
act, the Office of Collective Bargaining in the Department of 5862
Administrative Services shall implement division (C) of section 5863
4757.41 of the Revised Code as enacted by this act.5864

       Within ninety days after the effective date of this act, the 5865
Office of Collective Bargaining shall negotiate with each state 5866
agency and the affected union to reach a mutually agreeable 5867
resolution for employees impacted by the enactment of division (C) 5868
of section 4757.41 of the Revised Code.5869

       Notwithstanding divisions (A) and (D) of section 124.14 of 5870
the Revised Code or any other contrary provision of law, for 5871
employees in the service of the state exempt from Chapter 4117. of 5872
the Revised Code who are impacted by the enactment of division (C) 5873
of section 4757.41 of the Revised Code, the Director of 5874
Administrative Services may implement any or all of the provisions 5875
of the resolutions described in the preceding paragraph. 5876

       The Director, within ninety days after the effective date of 5877
this act, shall develop and assign new classifications related to 5878
the enactment of division (C) of section 4757.41 of the Revised 5879
Code as needed and reassign impacted employees to appropriate 5880
classifications based on the employee's duties and qualifications.5881