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About

The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission was established by the 129th General Assembly with passage of House Bill 188, as codified in Ohio Revised Code Sections 103.61 through 103.67. The Commission is modeled after the 1970s Ohio Constitutional Revision Commission, whose published recommendations may be accessed at http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/ocrc/.

The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission is charged under R.C. 103.61 with:

  • studying the Constitution of Ohio;
  • promoting an exchange of experiences and suggestions respecting desired changes in the Ohio Constitution;
  • considering the problems pertaining to the amendment of the Ohio Constitution; and
  • making recommendations from time to time to the General Assembly for the amendment of the Ohio Constitution.

A Commission recommendation is void unless it receives a two-thirds vote of the membership of the Commission. In the event of a call for a constitutional convention, the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission shall report to the General Assembly its recommendations with respect to the organization of a convention, and report to the convention its recommendations with respect to amendment of the Ohio Constitution.

As provided in (Am. Sub.) H.B. 49, the main operating budget bill for fiscal years 2018-19, as signed into law by Governor John Kasich on June 30, 2017:

The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission shall cease operations on or before July 1, 2017. Notwithstanding section 126.29 of the Revised Code, the Director of the Legislative Service Commission shall attend to any matters associated with winding up the affairs of the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission.



Reports


2015 Annual Report

The report, issued December 10, 2015, addresses:

  • Membership
  • Staff
  • Amendments to Rules of Procedure and Conduct
  • Subject Matter Committees
  • Standing Committees
  • Proceedings of the Full Commission
  • Recommendations to the General Assembly

The full report can be viewed at http://www.ocmc.ohio.gov/ocmc/uploads/Uploaded Files/OCMC - 2015 Annual Report (2015.12.10).pdf.

2013-2014 Biennial Report

The report, issued December 11, 2014, addresses:

  • Membership
  • Hiring Staff and Establishment of Office
  • Adoption of Rules of Procedure and Conduct
  • Subject Matter Committees
  • Standing Committees
  • Presentations to the Full Commission

The full report can be viewed at http://www.ocmc.ohio.gov/ocmc/uploads/Uploaded Files/OCMC - Biennial Report 2013-2014.pdf.

2012 Report of Proceedings

The report, issued December 10, 2012, addresses:

  • Membership
  • Enabling Language
  • Summary of Meetings
  • March 22, 2012 Colloquium

The full report can be viewed at http://www.ocmc.ohio.gov/ocmc/uploads/Uploaded Files/OCMC_Report_of_Proceedings_2012.pdf.



Statutory Charges


103.61 Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission

The members of the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission shall meet for the purpose of:

(A) Studying the Constitution of Ohio;

(B) Promoting an exchange of experiences and suggestions respecting desired changes in the Constitution;

(C) Considering the problems pertaining to the amendment of the Constitution;

(D) Making recommendations from time to time to the general assembly for the amendment of the Constitution.

A commission recommendation is void unless it receives a two-thirds vote of the membership of the commission.

103.62 Report to General Assembly

In the event of a call for a constitutional convention, the Ohio constitutional modernization commission shall report to the general assembly its recommendations with respect to the organization of a convention, and report to the convention its recommendations with respect to amendment of the Constitution.

103.63 Establishment; members; compensation

There is established an Ohio constitutional modernization commission consisting of thirty-two members. Twelve members shall be appointed from the general assembly as follows: three by the president of the senate, three by the minority leader of the senate, three by the speaker of the house of representatives, and three by the minority leader of the house of representatives. On or before the tenth day of January every even-numbered year, the twelve general assembly members shall meet, organize, and elect two co-chairpersons, who shall be from different political parties. Beginning in 2014, the twelve general assembly members shall elect one co-chairperson from each house of the general assembly. The members shall then, by majority vote, appoint twenty commission members, not from the general assembly. All appointments shall end on the first day of January of every even-numbered year, or as soon thereafter as successors are appointed, and the commission shall then be re-created in the manner provided above. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies on the commission shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments.

The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but each member shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred while engaging in the performance of the member's official duties. Membership on the commission does not constitute holding another public office. The joint legislative ethics committee is the appropriate ethics commission as described in division (F) of section 102.01 of the Revised Code for matters relating to the public members appointed to the Ohio constitutional modernization commission.

103.64 Receipt of and disbursement of funds; annual report

The Ohio constitutional modernization commission may receive appropriations and grants, gifts, bequests, and devises and may expend any funds received in such a manner for the purpose of reimbursing members for actual and necessary expenses incurred while engaged in official duties, or for the purpose of meeting expenses incurred in any special research or study relating to the Constitution of Ohio. The commission shall file annually with the auditor of state, on or before the fifteenth day of March, a full report of all grants, gifts, bequests, and devises received during the preceding calendar year, stating the date when each was received and the purpose for which the funds received therefrom were expended.

103.65 Staff

The Ohio constitutional modernization commission may employ professional, technical, and clerical employees as may be required successfully and efficiently to carry out the purposes of the commission. Funds for the compensation and reimbursement of employees shall be paid from the state treasury out of funds appropriated for the purpose. All disbursements of the commission shall be by voucher approved by one of the co-chairpersons of the commission.

103.66 Timing of reports

The Ohio constitutional modernization commission shall make its first report to the general assembly not later than January 1, 2013. Thereafter, it shall report at least every two years until its work is completed.

103.67 Expiration of commission

The Ohio constitutional modernization commission shall complete its work on or before July 1, 2021, and shall cease to exist at that time. The terms of all members shall expire July 1, 2021.


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