The Grand Jury Privacy and Protection Act proposes amendments to section 149.43 of the Revised Code to enhance the privacy of grand jurors by exempting their names, addresses, and the signature of the grand jury foreperson from disclosure under Public Records Law. This change aims to safeguard the identities and personal information of individuals involved in the grand jury process, promoting their safety and privacy. The bill also establishes a retention period for records, specifying that certain records will become public after seventy-five years or three years, with exceptions for those protected by attorney-client privilege or other specific laws.

In addition to protecting grand jurors, the bill introduces new definitions and provisions for the personal information of designated public service workers, including firefighters, EMTs, judges, and law enforcement officers, ensuring sensitive data remains exempt from public disclosure. It outlines procedures for public records requests, particularly for video records from law enforcement, and mandates that public offices make their records retention schedules available to the public. The bill also addresses the process for mandamus actions related to public records requests, stipulating conditions under which attorney's fees may be awarded and requiring training for elected officials on public records obligations. Overall, the act seeks to balance transparency with the privacy rights of individuals in sensitive roles while enhancing the accessibility of public records.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 149.43
As Reported By House Committee: 149.43
As Passed By House: 149.43