The bill amends various sections of the Revised Code concerning municipal court procedures, clarifying judges' authority to operate outside their municipal limits and requiring adherence to the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio. It modifies civil action procedures in municipal courts, particularly for cases exceeding jurisdictional amounts, and streamlines the legal framework by repealing outdated provisions related to the powers of municipal judges and clerks. The bill also addresses the appointment and duties of deputy clerks in county and probate courts, mandating the provision of a guardianship guide to guardians and establishing acknowledgment requirements for receipt of the guide.

Additionally, the bill revises testimonial privileges for attorneys and healthcare providers, specifying when attorneys may be compelled to testify and outlining conditions for disclosing patient communications. It introduces protections for communications involving critical incident stress management team members and employee assistance professionals while detailing exceptions for disclosure in certain circumstances. The bill further updates evidence admissibility rules regarding photographs and records from hospitals, allowing for authenticated records without custodian testimony under specific conditions. It also revises grand jury procedures, ensuring alignment with current practices and repealing outdated sections of the Revised Code.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 109.04, 1901.021, 1901.14, 1901.22, 1907.20, 2111.011, 2307.23, 2317.02, 2317.021, 2317.41, 2317.422, 2939.03, 2939.06, 2941.61, 2943.02, 2945.51, 2945.52, 2945.53, 2945.54, 1901.16, 1901.41, 1907.21, 1907.231, 2101.12, 2101.121, 2101.14, 2101.141, 2301.141, 2317.03, 2317.40, 2317.42, 2939.02, 2939.11, 2939.19, 2939.20, 2941.021, 2943.03, 2943.04, 2945.12, 2945.30, 2945.31, 2945.33, 2945.34, 2945.41, 2945.45, 2945.50