OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
S.B. 195* Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for S.B. 195’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Reported by House Government Oversight
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Manning
Effective date:
S. Ben Fogle, Attorney
SUMMARY
Ohio Ireland Trade Commission
▪ Creates the Ohio Ireland Trade Commission, which must study certain economic and
policy issues and potential business and academic exchanges.
▪ Specifies that the Commission consists of nine members, with three members appointed
from each chamber of the General Assembly and three members appointed by the
Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
▪ Sets out procedures for the internal operations of the Commission.
▪ Requires the Commission to issue annual reports of its activities and any findings and
recommendations.
▪ Allows the Commission to fundraise and to accept gifts from private and public entities.
Ohio River Commission of Ohio
▪ Creates the Ohio River Commission of Ohio within the Department of Development to
develop and promote economic development, marine cargo terminal operations, and
travel and tourism on the Ohio River and its tributaries.
▪ Specifies the Commission’s powers and duties, which include developing a master plan
for Ohio River infrastructure and transportation projects.
* This analysis was prepared before the report of the House Government Oversight Committee appeared
in the House Journal. Note that the legislative history may be incomplete.
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▪ Requires every other Ohio authority, commission, department, or agency to provide the
Commission with data, plans, research, and any other information that the Commission
requests to assist it in performing its duties.
▪ Allows the Commission to issue grants and loans for the development of the Ohio River
infrastructure or for continuing or instituting Ohio River transportation in Ohio.
▪ Creates the Ohio River Commission of Ohio Fund to be used for the Commission’s
purposes and to pay its administrative expenses.
▪ Requires the Controlling Board to approve any expenditures by the Department of
Development, the Commission, or any other state agency for capital improvements to
promote economic development, marine cargo terminal operations, and travel and
tourism on the Ohio River and its tributaries.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Ohio Ireland Trade Commission
The bill creates the Ohio Ireland Trade Commission, which must study potential means of
advancing the following between Ohio and Ireland:
▪ Bilateral trade and investment;
▪ Policy issues of mutual interest;
▪ Business and academic exchanges;
▪ Mutual economic support;
▪ Mutual investment in infrastructure;
▪ Other issues as determined by the Commission.1
Members and procedures
The Commission consists of the following nine members:
▪ Six members of the General Assembly – three senators appointed by the Senate President
and three representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House – who have knowledge
of, or current or past involvement in, organizations that promote Irish affairs, or have
interest in the wellbeing of trade relations between Ohio and Ireland;
▪ Three members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, as
follows:
 One member who represents a state institution of higher education;
1 R.C. 149.60(A).
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 One member who represents the Ohio Chamber of Commerce or a successor
organization that advances business interests in Ohio;
 One member who represents Irish American communities or interest in Ohio.
The bill requires that members be appointed within 90 days after the bill takes effect.
Legislative members must serve terms of two years or for the remainder of the legislator’s term,
whichever is shorter. Members appointed by the Governor must serve terms of four years. Any
vacancy is to be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
The Commission must elect a chairperson from among its members. A majority of the
members of the Commission constitutes a quorum to do business. The chairperson may create
subcommittees and appoint Commission members as subcommittee chairpersons, at the
discretion of the Commission chairperson. Members of the Commission must serve without
compensation, but they may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of
their duties, within the limits of available funds.2
Activities
The bill requires the Commission to meet and hold hearings at the places it designates
throughout the state. Not later than 15 months after the bill takes effect (one year after the
members must be appointed), and annually thereafter, the Commission must file a report with
the Governor, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House. The report must discuss the
Commission’s activities during the past year and any associated findings and recommendations.
Under the bill, the Commission may raise funds through direct solicitation or other
fundraising events independently or with other groups. And, it may accept gifts, grants, and
bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and
private organizations and institutions. All funds must be deposited in the Ohio Ireland Trade
Commission Fund, which the bill creates in the state treasury. The Commission must use the fund
to defray its administrative expenses and to carry out its purposes under the bill.3
Ohio River Commission of Ohio
The bill creates the Ohio River Commission of Ohio within the Department of
Development to develop and promote economic development, marine cargo terminal
operations, and travel and tourism on the Ohio River and its tributaries. It specifies that the
Commission consists of the following members:
1. The Director of Development, or the Director’s designee, who serves as chairperson;
2. The Director of Transportation, or the Director’s designee;
3. The Director of Natural Resources, or the Director’s designee;
2 R.C. 149.60(B) through (E).
3 R.C. 149.60(F) and (G).
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4. Two members, who are Ohio residents or a designee of a business licensed in Ohio,
representing the general public – one appointed by the Senate President and one
appointed by the Speaker of the House; and
5. Six members, who are Ohio residents or a designee of a business licensed in Ohio,
appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate (with up to three
from the same political party) as follows:
a. Three who represent private industry associated or affiliated with marine cargo
terminal operations on the Ohio River; and
b. Three who represent private industry possessing experience in marine cargo terminal
operations or travel and tourism on the Ohio River.4
The bill requires members to be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in performance
of their duties.5
Additionally, it specifies all of the following concerning the Commission’s organization and
structure:
▪ Initial appointments: within 60 days after the bill’s effective date, the Governor must
make initial appointments to the Commission. Of the initial appointments, three
members must be for a term ending two years after the bill’s effective date and three
must be for a term ending four years after that date.
▪ Vacancies: vacancies are filled in the same manner as original appointments and any
member appointed to fill a vacancy must have the same qualifications as the member’s
predecessor.
▪ Terms: each term is generally four years and ends on the same month and day as the
preceding term. Each appointed member must hold office from the appointment date
until the end of the term. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy before the expiration
of the predecessor’s term must hold office for the remainder of that term. Any appointed
member must continue in office subsequent to the term’s expiration date until the
member’s successor takes office, or for an additional 60 days, whichever occurs first.
▪ Reappointment: all members are eligible for reappointment.
▪ Quorum: six members constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of the
quorum is necessary for any action taken by the Commission. No vacancy in the
membership of the Commission impairs the rights of a quorum to exercise all the rights
and perform all the duties of the Commission.
4 R.C. 122.29(A) and (B)(1).
5 R.C. 122.29(B)(2).
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▪ Ethics: all Commission members are subject to Ohio’s laws governing the ethics standards
and requirements of public officers.6
Ohio River Commission of Ohio’s powers and duties
The bill requires the Commission to do all of the following:
1. Employ an Executive Director who has appropriate experience as determined by the
Commission, and a secretary-treasurer and other employees that the Commission
considers appropriate (and may fix the compensation of the employees);
2. Adopt and, from time to time, ratify, amend, and repeal bylaws necessary and proper for
the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business and rules to implement and
make effective its powers and duties;
3. Adopt an official seal;
4. Maintain a principal office in Columbus, Ohio and, if necessary, regional sub-offices at
locations properly designated by the Commission;
5. Receive, promote, support, and consider recommendations, from public or private
planning organizations, and develop a master plan for Ohio River infrastructure and
transportation projects;
6. Coordinate with port authorities, private port operators, metropolitan planning
organizations, regional transportation planning organizations, local development
districts, Ohio River service entities, utility service providers, and agricultural, tourism,
and recreational interests, regarding Ohio River infrastructure and transportation;
7. Coordinate with state agencies, local governments and communities, other states, and
the federal government regarding Ohio River issues;
8. Advocate for Ohio River infrastructure and transportation as related to commerce, job
creation, economic development, and taxes;
9. Collect, track, and maintain key statistics and data regarding commerce on the Ohio River
and make an annual report to the General Assembly;
10. Ensure the coordination and monitoring of federal, state, and local policies, programs,
and priorities pertaining to the development and operation of marine cargo terminals and
travel and tourism on the Ohio River;
11. Prioritize policies, programs, and issues identified in the Ohio Maritime Strategy7
prepared by the Department of Transportation (ODOT) and in ODOT’s Economic Impact
6 R.C. 122.29(C) to (E).
7 See Ohio Maritime Strategy, available on the Department of Transportation’s website:
transportation.ohio.gov by conducting a keyword “Maritime Strategy” search.
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of the Ohio River Maritime Activity study,8 as those or similar documents or reports are
published and updated by ODOT;
12. Coordinate with and assist the various state agencies in their work as it relates to issues
concerning the Ohio River;
13. Evaluate policies, programs, programs of research, and priorities to offset the continued
decline in coal production and consumption within the Ohio River Basin and promote
prosperity in Ohio’s Appalachian region;
14. Administer development funds and seek, support, and assist the Ohio River industry in
the utilization of available grants, loans, and other finance mechanisms in support of Ohio
River projects;
15. Represent the interests of Ohio in regional, national, and international forums pertaining
to economic development, marine cargo terminals, and travel and tourism on the Ohio
River and its tributaries; and
16. Coordinate, for dissemination and publication, information regarding the Commission
and its related activities in connection with the Ohio River.9
Additionally, the bill requires every other Ohio authority, commission, department, or
agency to provide the Commission with data, plans, research, and any other information that the
Commission requests to assist it in performing its duties.10
The Department of Development and ODOT, when so requested by the Commission, must
cooperate in the implementation of the Commission’s organization, data and research requests,
and provide any other information to assist the Commission in performing its duties.11
Issue grants and loans
The bill allows the Commission to issue grants and loans for the development of
Ohio River infrastructure or for continuing or instituting Ohio River transportation in Ohio to any
of the following:
▪ An individual;
▪ A corporation;
▪ A business trust;
▪ An estate;
8 See The Economic Impacts of Ohio River Maritime Activity, available on the Department of
Transportation’s website: transportation.ohio.gov by conducting a keyword “Economic Impacts of Ohio
River Maritime Activity” search.
9 R.C. 122.291.
10 R.C. 122.29(I).
11 R.C. 122.29(H).
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▪ A trust;
▪ A partnership;
▪ An association;
▪ A unit of local government;
▪ A local or regional transportation authority; or
▪ A private corporation or organization.12
The grants and loans may be used for rehabilitation, construction, planning, relocation,
or acquisition and may be provided by the Commission with funds from the U.S. government, the
state, or any person, or from any combination of those sources. The Commission must establish
eligibility and distribution criteria for the grants and loans.13
The bill allows the Commission to cooperate with other states when issuing grants and
loans. It also allows the Commission to enter into any agreements with other states for the
operation of Ohio River services.14
Funding and expenditures
The bill creates the Ohio River Commission of Ohio Fund in the state treasury. The fund
consists of all money as may be provided by law, including money received from any sale,
transfer, or lease of property. Fund money must be used for the Commission’s purposes and to
pay the Commission’s administrative expenses.15 The Commission must use all acquired public
funds for developing, implementing, promoting, and regulating economic development, marine
terminal operations, and travel and tourism on the Ohio River and its tributaries.16
In addition, the bill allows the Department of Development to use all appropriate sources
of revenue to assist the Commission in furtherance of the Commission’s purposes.17 It also
specifies that expenditures by the Department, the Commission, or any other state agency for
capital improvements to promote economic development, marine cargo terminal operations,
and travel and tourism on the Ohio River and its tributaries are subject to the approval of the
Controlling Board.18
12 R.C. 122.292(A) and (B).
13 R.C. 122.292(B).
14 R.C. 122.292(C).
15 R.C. 122.293.
16 R.C. 122.29(G)(2).
17 R.C. 122.29(F).
18 R.C. 122.29(G)(1).
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