OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 504 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 504’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Rep. Pavliga
Effective date:
Jeff Grim, Research Analyst
SUMMARY
 Requires a liquor permit holder and the permit holder’s employees to complete a
training program approved by the Superintendent of Liquor Control.
 Requires the training program to include instruction on the statutes and rules governing
the sale of beer and intoxicating liquor, with reference to laws governing underage
drinking, service of alcohol to intoxicated persons, and the use of conflict management
skills.
 Provides immunity from civil liability to those who successfully complete and properly
implement the training protocols.
 Names the act Hayden’s Law.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Alcohol server training
The bill requires a liquor permit holder and the permit holder’s employees to complete
a training program approved by the Superintendent of Liquor Control. The training program
must include all of the following:
1. Instruction on the statutes and rules that govern the sale of beer, wine, mixed
beverages, and intoxicating liquor in Ohio;
2. Instruction on preventing the illegal service of beer, wine, mixed beverages, and
intoxicating liquor to persons under 21;
3. Instruction on recognizing when to decrease and stop serving beer, wine, mixed
beverages, or intoxicating liquor to a person due to the risk of intoxication; and
4. Use of conflict management skills in alcohol-related situations.
April 30, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
In approving the program, the Superintendent must establish the number of hours
required to complete the training and a method for determining if a liquor permit holder or an
employee of a liquor permit holder successfully completed the training.1
Civil immunity
Current law generally provides immunity to a liquor permit holder and the permit
holder’s employees for the actions of an intoxicated person who causes personal injury, death,
or property damage. However, the permit holder and their employees are liable if the personal
injury, death, or property damage occurred on the permit holder’s premises or in a parking lot
under the control of the permit holder and was proximately caused by the negligence of the
permit holder or the permit holder’s employee. If the injury, death, or property damage occurs
away from the permit holder’s premises, the permit holder or employee is liable if the permit
holder or employee:
1. Sold an intoxicating beverage to a noticeably intoxicated person or to an underage
person; and
2. The person’s intoxication proximately caused the death, injury, or property damage.
The bill provides that a permit holder or the permit holder’s employee is also immune
from civil liability if both of the following apply:
1. The permit holder and all of the permit holder’s employees have successfully completed
the training required by the bill; and
2. The permit holder and any employee of the permit holder followed all protocols
specified in the training program with respect to the intoxicated person who
proximately caused the injury, death, or property damage.2
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 04-23-24
ANHB0504IN-135/ts
1 R.C. 4399.19.
2 R.C. 4399.18.
P a g e |2 H.B. 504
As Introduced


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4399.18