Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
                                                Office of Research                            Legislative Budget
         www.lsc.ohio.gov                         and Drafting                                      Office
                             S.B. 261                                Bill Analysis
                  135th   General Assembly
                                                                     Click here for S.B. 261’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Ingram
Effective date:
Jessica Sutton, LSC Fellow
                                                              SUMMARY
                     Requires the Auditor of State to audit the funds or accounts of a chartered nonpublic
                          school into which public money is placed or deposited each fiscal year.
                                                    DETAILED ANALYSIS
Audits of charted nonpublic school funds and accounts
        The bill requires the Auditor of State, each fiscal year, to audit the funds and accounts of
a chartered nonpublic school into which the school placed or deposited public money. This
includes public money the school received: (1) from participating in the educational choice
scholarship program,1 (2) as administrative and clerical cost reimbursements,2 or (3) for
auxiliary services reimbursements.3 The audit will cover the fiscal year during which the money
was placed or deposited.4
        Continuing law requires the Auditor of State to audit every public school in Ohio; there
is no current requirement specific to chartered nonpublic schools. Though, the Auditor has
discretion to audit the funds or accounts of a private institution (including chartered nonpublic
schools) that contains public money, and the Auditor can require a private entity to file an
annual report. If the private entity receives only public money or fails to separately and
independently account for the public money, or if the Auditor believes the entity has illegally
1                 R.C. 3310.01 to 3310.17, not in the bill.
2                 R.C. 3317.063, not in the bill.
3                 R.C. 3317.064, not in the bill.
4                 R.C. 117.113.
                                                                                                             May 20, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting                  LSC                      Legislative Budget Office
expended or otherwise misappropriated public money, the Auditor can audit all of that entity’s
accounts.5
                                               HISTORY
                              Action                                    Date
Introduced                                               05-07-24
ANSB0261IN-135/ks
5   R.C. 117.10 and 117.11, not in the bill.
P a g e |2                                                                                S.B. 261
                                                                                    As Introduced
Statutes affected: 
As Introduced: 117.113