The bill, known as the "America First Act," introduced by Representatives Click and Santucci, seeks to amend various sections of the Ohio Revised Code with a primary focus on immigration enforcement and modifications to community control sanctions within the criminal justice system. It prohibits individuals unlawfully present in the United States from entering or residing in Ohio, requiring law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration laws. The bill also introduces new provisions for community control sanctions, including the imposition of sanctions for felony offenses, the responsibilities of probation departments, and the conditions under which offenders may be tested for contagious diseases. Additionally, it clarifies definitions related to technical violations and allows for the imposition of community sanctions for certain felony offenses.

Furthermore, the bill outlines significant changes to local government funding, including the introduction of an "immigration adjustment" that quantifies noncompliance with immigration enforcement and adjusts local government fund payments accordingly. It establishes a framework for traffic camera fines and mandates local authorities to report these collections annually, with adjustments to local government fund payments based on compliance. The bill also amends existing laws regarding the distribution of local government funds, including the creation of the Ohio highway and transportation safety fund to enhance public safety. Overall, the legislation aims to strengthen immigration enforcement while modifying aspects of community control and local government funding mechanisms.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 2909.30, 2929.15, 2929.16, 2929.17, 2929.25, 5747.50, 5747.502, 5747.51, 5747.53, 2965.03