The bill amends sections 117.01, 120.521, and 120.54 of the Revised Code and enacts new sections 9.631 and 3129.07. It modifies the membership of the board of directors of the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation, ensuring that at least one voting member is the chief executive officer of a legal aid society. Additionally, the bill establishes that the foundation cannot use any funds to provide legal services or assistance to individuals unlawfully present in the United States. It also mandates that the foundation must include an audited financial statement in its annual report, detailing the distribution and use of its funds while maintaining confidentiality regarding the individuals served.

Furthermore, the bill prohibits state agencies from providing grants or services to entities that use state funds for gender transition services to minors. If an audit reveals that state funds were misused for such services, the auditor must report the findings and the entity will be ineligible for state funds for four years. The bill also clarifies the definition of "public money" to include funds from the access to justice foundation and outlines the permissible uses of financial assistance received by legal aid societies, explicitly barring the use of such funds for criminal cases or assistance to individuals unlawfully present in the U.S.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 117.01, 120.521, 120.54