Enact the School Bus Safety Act

hb3_06_PS

As Passed by the Senate

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
Sub. H. B. No. 3

2025-2026

Representatives Willis, Thomas, C.

Cosponsors: Representatives
Fischer, McClain, Brennan, Johnson, Williams, Synenberg, Daniels,
Brewer, Click, Hiner, Piccolantonio, Claggett, Sigrist, Cockley,
Callender, Hall, T., Jarrells, John, Sims, Abdullahi, Bird, Brownlee,
Creech, Deeter, Denson, Dovilla, Ghanbari, Glassburn, Grim, Hall, D.,
Hoops, Humphrey, King, Kishman, Lett, Manning, Mathews, T., McNally,
Miller, J., Miller, K., Miller, M., Mohamed, Odioso, Peterson,
Pizzulli, Plummer, Rader, Ritter, Robb Blasdel, Roemer, Russo, Salvo,
Sweeney, Thomas, J., Upchurch, White, A., White, E., Workman

Senators Antonio, Craig, Johnson,
O'Brien, Smith, Weinstein

To
amend sections 4503.03
,
4503.10, 4503.102, 4503.12
,
4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, and 4511.76 and to enact sections 5.501,
3327.18, 3327.19
,
4511.752, 4511.753, 4511.754, 4511.755, 4511.756, and 4511.757

of the Revised Code
to
address school bus safety, to designate this act as the School Bus
Safety Act, and to make an appropriation.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
sections 4503.03
,
4503.10, 4503.102, 4503.12
,
4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, and 4511.76 be amended and sections
5.501, 3327.18, 3327.19
,
4511.752, 4511.753, 4511.754, 4511.755, 4511.756, and 4511.757

of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
5.501.
The
month of August is designated as "School Bus Safety Awareness
Month" to increase public awareness of the need to properly stop
when a stopped school bus is loading and unloading passengers.

Sec.
3327.18.
(A)
The school bus safety fund is created in the state treasury. The fund
shall consist of the criminal fines collected for violations of
division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code and a portion of
the civil penalties collected in accordance with sections 4511.753 to
4511.757 of the Revised Code.

(B)
The fund shall be administered by the director of education and
workforce. Money in the fund shall be used to make grants to school
districts for purposes of improving the safety features on school
buses in accordance with section 3327.19 of the Revised Code.

(C)
All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

Sec.
3327.19.
(A)
As used in this section:

(1)
"Eligible applicant" means a board of education of a city
school district, a local school district, an exempted village school
district, a cooperative education school district, or a joint
vocational school district, or a governing board of an educational
service center.

(2)
"School bus safety feature" means any of the following:

(a)
External school bus cameras;

(b)
Crossing arms;

(c)
Lane departure warning systems;

(d)
Electronic stability control;

(e)
Lighted crossover mirrors;

(f)
Colorado rack test-approved bus frames;

(g)
Fully illuminated stop arms located at the front and rear of a school
bus;

(h)
Fully illuminated "school bus" signs;

(i)
Collision avoidance systems;

(j)
All light-emitting diode lights;

(k)
Ground wash lights;

(l)
Reflective chevron;

(m)
Occupant restraining devices that conform to the school bus seat belt
requirements of 49 C.F.R. 571;

(n)
Silent panic alert technology that connects the school bus to a
public safety answering point to allow immediate contact with
emergency service;

(o)
Broadband push-to-talk capabilities, integrated with traditional land
mobile radio, if necessary, for direct interoperability with public
safety and other emergency service broadband applications;

(p)
Additional safety features that become available through advancements
in technology and that are approved by the department of public
safety and the department of education and workforce.

(3)
"Emergency service" and "public safety answering
point" have the same meanings as in section 128.01 of the
Revised Code.

(B)
The department of education and workforce shall administer a school
bus safety grant program. Under the grant program, the department
shall award grants to eligible applicants who apply to the department
for funding to do any of the following:

(1)
Purchase and install school bus safety features on an eligible
applicant's school buses that do not currently have those features
installed;

(2)
Purchase and install school bus safety features to replace old,
broken, or outdated safety features on an eligible applicant's
current school buses;

(3)
Purchase school bus safety features as additional features to be
included on new school buses being purchased by the eligible
applicant.

(C)
The department shall use the school bus safety fund created under
section 3327.18 of the Revised Code to provide grants to eligible
applicants in accordance with this section.

(D)
The director of education and workforce shall establish any
procedures and requirements necessary to administer this section,
including procedures and requirements governing the form of grant
applications and grant award processes and amounts.

(E)
An eligible applicant that receives a grant under this section shall
do both of the following:

(1)
Use the funds only for the purchase and installation of school bus
safety features;

(2)
Spend any grant funds awarded not later than two years after the date
the funds are distributed to the eligible applicant.

Sec.
4503.03.
(A)(1)(a)
Except as provided in division (B) of this section, the registrar of
motor vehicles may designate one or more of the following persons to
act as a deputy registrar in each county:

(i)
The county auditor in any county;

(ii)
The clerk of a court of common pleas in any county;

(iii)
An individual;

(iv)
A nonprofit corporation as defined in division (C) of section 1702.01
of the Revised Code.

All
fees collected and retained by a clerk for conducting deputy
registrar services shall be paid into the county treasury to the
credit of the certificate of title administration fund created under
section 325.33 of the Revised Code.

(b)
As part of the selection process in awarding a deputy registrar
contract, the registrar shall consider the customer service
performance record of any person previously awarded a deputy
registrar contract pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section.

(2)
Deputy registrars shall accept applications for the annual license
tax for any vehicle not taxed under section 4503.63 of the Revised
Code and shall assign distinctive numbers in the same manner as the
registrar. Such deputies shall be located in such locations as the
registrar sees fit. Except as provided in division (A)(3) of this
section, there shall be at least one deputy registrar in each county.

(3)
The registrar need not appoint a deputy registrar in a county to
which all of the following apply:

(a)
No individual, nonprofit corporation, or, where applicable, clerk of
court of common pleas participates in the competitive selection
process to be designated as a deputy registrar;

(b)
Neither the county auditor nor the clerk of court of common pleas
agrees to be designated as a deputy registrar;

(c)
No individual or nonprofit corporation agrees to be designated as a
deputy registrar;

(d)
No deputy registrar operating an existing deputy registrar agency in
another county agrees to be designated as the deputy registrar for
that county.

(4)
The registrar may reestablish a deputy registrar in any county
without a deputy registrar if any of the following apply:

(a)
The county auditor requests to be designated as a deputy registrar;

(b)
The clerk of court of common pleas requests to be designated as a
deputy registrar;

(c)
A deputy registrar operating an existing deputy registrar agency in
another county requests to be designated as a deputy registrar for
that county;

(d)
A qualified individual or nonprofit corporation requests to be
designated as a deputy registrar. In the event that two or more
qualified individuals, nonprofit corporations, or a combination
thereof, request to be designated as a deputy registrar, the
registrar may make the designation through the competitive selection
process.

Deputy
registrar contracts are subject to the provisions of division (B) of
section 125.081 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1)
The registrar shall not designate any person to act as a deputy
registrar under division (A)(1) of this section if the person or,
where applicable, the person's spouse or a member of the person's
immediate family has made, within the current calendar year or any
one of the previous three calendar years, one or more contributions
totaling in excess of one hundred dollars to any person or entity
included in division (A)(2) of section 4503.033 of the Revised Code.
As used in this division, "immediate family" has the same
meaning as in division (D) of section 102.01 of the Revised Code, and
"entity" includes any political party and any "continuing
association" as defined in division (C)(4) of section 3517.01 of
the Revised Code or "political action committee" as defined
in division (C)(8) of that section that is primarily associated with
that political party. For purposes of this division, contributions to
any continuing association or any political action committee that is
primarily associated with a political party shall be aggregated with
contributions to that political party.

The
contribution limitations contained in this division do not apply to
any county auditor or clerk of a court of common pleas. A county
auditor or clerk of a court of common pleas is not required to file
the disclosure statement or pay the filing fee required under section
4503.033 of the Revised Code. The limitations of this division also
do not apply to a deputy registrar who, subsequent to being awarded a
deputy registrar contract, is elected to an office of a political
subdivision.

(2)
The registrar shall not designate either of the following to act as a
deputy registrar:

(a)
Any elected public official other than a county auditor or, as
authorized by division (A)(1) of this section, a clerk of a court of
common pleas, acting in an official capacity, except that, the
registrar shall continue and may renew a contract with any deputy
registrar who, subsequent to being awarded a deputy registrar
contract, is elected to an office of a political subdivision;

(b)
Any person holding a current, valid contract to conduct motor vehicle
inspections under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code.

(3)
As used in division (B) of this section, "political subdivision"
has the same meaning as in section 3501.01 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1)
Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, deputy
registrars are independent contractors and neither they nor their
employees are employees of this state, except that nothing in this
section shall affect the status of county auditors or clerks of
courts of common pleas as public officials, nor the status of their
employees as employees of any of the counties of this state, which
are political subdivisions of this state. Each deputy registrar shall
be responsible for the payment of all unemployment compensation
premiums, all workers' compensation premiums, social security
contributions, and any and all taxes for which the deputy registrar
is legally responsible. Each deputy registrar shall comply with all
applicable federal, state, and local laws requiring the withholding
of income taxes or other taxes from the compensation of the deputy
registrar's employees. Each deputy registrar shall maintain during
the entire term of the deputy registrar's contract a policy of
business liability insurance satisfactory to the registrar and shall
hold the department of public safety, the director of public safety,
the bureau of motor vehicles, and the registrar harmless upon any and
all claims for damages arising out of the operation of the deputy
registrar agency.

(2)
For purposes of Chapter 4141. of the Revised Code, determinations
concerning the employment of deputy registrars and their employees
shall be made under Chapter 4141. of the Revised Code.

(D)(1)
With the approval of the director, the registrar shall adopt rules
governing deputy registrars. The rules shall do all of the following:

(a)
Establish requirements governing the terms of the contract between
the registrar and each deputy registrar and the services to be
performed;

(b)
Establish requirements governing the amount of bond to be given as
provided in this section;

(c)
Establish requirements governing the size and location of the
deputy's office;

(d)
Establish requirements governing the leasing of equipment necessary
to conduct the vision screenings required under section 4507.12 of
the Revised Code and training in the use of the equipment;

(e)
Encourage every deputy registrar to inform the public of the location
of the deputy registrar's office and hours of operation by means of
public service announcements;

(f)
Allow any deputy registrar to advertise in regard to the operation of
the deputy registrar's office, including allowing nonprofit
corporations operating as a deputy registrar to advertise that a
specified amount of proceeds collected by the nonprofit corporation
are directed to a specified charitable organization or philanthropic
cause;

(g)
Specify the hours the deputy's office is to be open to the public and
require as a minimum that one deputy's office in each county be open
to the public for at least four hours each weekend, provided that if
only one deputy's office is located within the boundary of the county
seat, that office is the office that shall be open for the four-hour
period each weekend;

(h)
Specify that every deputy registrar, upon request, provide any person
with information about the location and office hours of all deputy
registrars in the county;

(i)
Allow a deputy registrar contract to be awarded to a nonprofit
corporation formed under the laws of this state;

(j)
Establish procedures for a deputy registrar to request the authority
to collect reinstatement fees under sections 4507.1612, 4507.45,
4509.101, 4509.81, 4510.10, 4510.22, 4510.72, and 4511.191 of the
Revised Code and to transmit the reinstatement fees and two dollars
of the service fee collected under those sections. The registrar
shall ensure that at least one deputy registrar in each county has
the necessary equipment and is able to accept reinstatement fees. The
registrar shall deposit the service fees received from a deputy
registrar under those sections into the public safety - highway
purposes fund created in section 4501.06 of the Revised Code and
shall use the money for deputy registrar equipment necessary in
connection with accepting reinstatement fees.

(k)
Establish standards for a deputy registrar, when the deputy registrar
is not a county auditor or a clerk of a court of common pleas, to
sell advertising rights to third party businesses to be placed in the
deputy registrar's office;

(l)
Allow any deputy registrar that is not a county auditor or a clerk of
a court of common pleas to operate a vending machine;

(m)

Specify
that each deputy registrar and driver examination location shall
display at all times, in a prominent place on the premises, a graphic
that instructs drivers to stop and yield to a stopped school bus when
it is either loading or unloading passengers.

The
registrar shall create and issue the graphic for distribution to and
display at each deputy registrar and driver examination location. The
registrar also shall display the graphic on the bureau of motor
vehicle's web site.

(n)

Establish
such other requirements as the registrar and director consider
necessary to provide a high level of service.

(2)
The rules may allow both of the following:

(a)
The registrar to award a contract to a deputy registrar to operate
more than one deputy registrar's office if determined by the
registrar to be practical;

(b)
A nonprofit corporation formed for the purposes of providing
automobile-related services to its members or the public and that
provides such services from more than one location in this state to
operate a deputy registrar office at any location.

(3)
As a daily adjustment, the bureau of motor vehicles shall credit to a
deputy registrar the amount established under section 4503.038 of the
Revised Code for each damaged license plate or validation sticker the
deputy registrar replaces as a service to a member of the public.

(4)(a)
With the prior approval of the registrar, each deputy registrar may
conduct at the location of the deputy registrar's office any business
that is consistent with the functions of a deputy registrar and that
is not specifically mandated or authorized by this or another chapter
of the Revised Code or by implementing rules of the registrar.

(b)
In accordance with guidelines the director of public safety shall
establish, a deputy registrar may operate or contract for the
operation of a vending machine at a deputy registrar location if
products of the vending machine are consistent with the functions of
a deputy registrar.

(c)
A deputy registrar may enter into an agreement with the Ohio turnpike
and infrastructure commission pursuant to division (A)(11) of section
5537.04 of the Revised Code for the purpose of allowing the general
public to acquire from the deputy registrar the electronic toll
collection devices that are used under the multi-jurisdiction
electronic toll collection agreement between the Ohio turnpike and
infrastructure commission and any other entities or agencies that
participate in such an agreement. The approval of the registrar is
not necessary if a deputy registrar engages in this activity.

(5)
As used in this section and in section 4507.01 of the Revised Code,
"nonprofit corporation" has the same meaning as in section
1702.01 of the Revised Code.

(E)(1)
Unless otherwise terminated and except for interim contracts lasting
not longer than one year, contracts with deputy registrars shall be
entered into through a competitive selection process and shall be
limited in duration as follows:

(a)
For contracts entered into between July 1, 1996 and June 29, 2014,
for a period of not less than two years, but not more than three
years;

(b)
For contracts entered into on or after June 29, 2014, for a period of
five years, unless the registrar determines that a shorter contract
term is appropriate for a particular deputy registrar.

(2)
All contracts with deputy registrars shall expire on the last
Saturday of June in the year of their expiration. Prior to the
expiration of any deputy registrar contract, the registrar, with the
approval of the director, may award a one-year contract extension to
any deputy registrar who has provided exemplary service based upon
objective performance evaluations.

(3)(a)
The auditor of state may examine the accounts, reports, systems, and
other data of each deputy registrar at least every two years. The
registrar, with the approval of the director, shall immediately
remove a deputy who violates any provision of the Revised Code
related to the duties as a deputy, any rule adopted by the registrar,
or a term of the deputy's contract with the registrar. The registrar
also may remove a deputy who, in the opinion of the registrar, has
engaged in any conduct that is either unbecoming to one representing
this state or is inconsistent with the efficient operation of the
deputy's office.

(b)
If the registrar, with the approval of the director, determines that
there is good cause to believe that a deputy registrar or a person
proposing for a deputy registrar contract has engaged in any conduct
that would require the denial or termination of the deputy registrar
contract, the registrar may require the production of books, records,
and papers as the registrar determines are necessary, and may take
the depositions of witnesses residing within or outside the state in
the same manner as is prescribed by law for the taking of depositions
in civil actions in the court of common pleas, and for that purpose
the registrar may issue a subpoena for any witness or a subpoena
duces tecum to compel the production of any books, records, or
papers, directed to the sheriff of the county where the witness
resides or is found. Such a subpoena shall be served and returned in
the same manner as a subpoena in a criminal case is served and
returned. The fees of the sheriff shall be the same as that allowed
in the court of common pleas in criminal cases. Witnesses shall be
paid the fees and mileage provided for under section 119.094 of the
Revised Code. The fees and mileage shall be paid from the fund in the
state treasury for the use of the agency in the same manner as other
expenses of the agency are paid.

In
any case of disobedience or neglect of any subpoena served on any
person or the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter
regarding which the witness lawfully may be interrogated, the court
of common pleas of any county where the disobedience, neglect, or
refusal occurs or any judge of that court, on application by the
registrar, shall compel obedience by attachment proceedings for
contempt, as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a
subpoena issued from that court, or a refusal to testify in that
court.

(4)
Nothing in division (E) of this section shall be construed to require
a hearing of any nature prior to the termination of any deputy
registrar contract by the registrar, with the approval of the
director, for cause.

(F)
Except as provided in section 2743.03 of the Revised Code, no court,
other than the court of common pleas of Franklin county, has
jurisdiction of any action against the department of public safety,
the director, the bureau, or the registrar to restrain the exercise
of any power or authority, or to entertain any action for declaratory
judgment, in the selection and appointment of, or contracting with,
deputy registrars. Neither the department, the director, the bureau,
nor the registrar is liable in any action at law for damages
sustained by any person because of any acts of the department, the
director, the bureau, or the registrar, or of any employee of the
department or bureau, in the performance of official duties in the
selection and appointment of, and contracting with, deputy
registrars.

(G)
The registrar shall assign to each deputy registrar a series of
numbers sufficient to supply the demand at all times in the area the
deputy registrar serves, and the registrar shall keep a record in the
registrar's office of the numbers within the series assigned. Except
as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, each
deputy shall be required to give bond in the amount of at least
twenty-five thousand dollars, or in such higher amount as the
registrar determines necessary, based on a uniform schedule of bond
amounts established by the registrar and determined by the volume of
registrations handled by the deputy. The form of the bond shall be
prescribed by the registrar. The bonds required of deputy registrars,
in the discretion of the registrar, may be individual or schedule
bonds or may be included in any blanket bond coverage carried by the
department.

(H)
Each deputy registrar shall keep a file of each application received
by the deputy and shall register that motor vehicle with the name and
address of its owner.

(I)
Upon request, a deputy registrar shall make the physical inspection
of a motor vehicle and issue the physical inspection certificate
required in section 4505.061 of the Revised Code.

(J)
Each deputy registrar shall file a report semiannually with the
registrar of motor vehicles listing the number of applicants for
licenses the deputy has served, the number of voter registration
applications the deputy has completed and transmitted to the board of
elections, and the number of voter registration applications
declined.

Sec.
4503.10.
(A)
The owner of every snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, and
all-purpose vehicle required to be registered under section 4519.02
of the Revised Code shall file an application for registration under
section 4519.03 of the Revised Code. The owner of a motor vehicle,
other than a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose
vehicle, that is not designed and constructed by the manufacturer for
operation on a street or highway may not register it under this
chapter except upon certification of inspection pursuant to section
4513.02 of the Revised Code by the sheriff, or the chief of police of
the municipal corporation or township, with jurisdiction over the
political subdivision in which the owner of the motor vehicle
resides. Except as provided in sections 4503.103 and 4503.107 of the
Revised Code, every owner of every other motor vehicle not previously
described in this section and every person mentioned as owner in the
last certificate of title of a motor vehicle that is operated or
driven upon the public roads or highways shall cause to be filed each
year, by mail or otherwise, in the office of the registrar of motor
vehicles or a deputy registrar, a written or electronic application
or a preprinted registration renewal notice issued under section
4503.102 of the Revised Code, the form of which shall be prescribed
by the registrar, for registration for the following registration
year, which shall begin on the first day of January of every calendar
year and end on the thirty-first day of December in the same year.
Applications for registration and registration renewal notices shall
be filed at the times established by the registrar pursuant to
section 4503.101 of the Revised Code. A motor vehicle owner also may
elect to apply for or renew a motor vehicle registration by
electronic means using electronic signature in accordance with rules
adopted by the registrar. Except as provided in division (J) of this
section, applications for registration shall be made on blanks
furnished by the registrar for that purpose, containing the following
information:

(1)
A brief description of the motor vehicle to be registered, including
the year, make, model, and vehicle identification number, and, in the
case of commercial cars, the gross weight of the vehicle fully
equipped computed in the manner prescribed in section 4503.08 of the
Revised Code;

(2)
The name and residence address of the owner, and the township and
municipal corporation in which the owner resides;

(3)
The district of registration, which shall be determined as follows:

(a)
In case the motor vehicle to be registered is used for hire or
principally in connection with any established business or branch
business, conducted at a particular place, the district of
registration is the municipal corporation in which that place is
located or, if not located in any municipal corporation, the county
and township in which that place is located.

(b)
In case the vehicle is not so used, the district of registration is
the municipal corporation or county in which the owner resides at the
time of making the application.

(4)
Whether the motor vehicle is a new or used motor vehicle;

(5)
The date of purchase of the motor vehicle;

(6)
Whether the fees required to be paid for the registration or transfer
of the motor vehicle, during the preceding registration year and
during the preceding period of the current registration year, have
been paid. Each application for registration shall be signed by the
owner, either manually or by electronic signature, or pursuant to
obtaining a limited power of attorney authorized by the registrar for
registration, or other document authorizing such signature. If the
owner elects to apply for or renew the motor vehicle registration
with the registrar by electronic means, the owner's manual signature
is not required.

(7)
The owner's social security number, driver's license number, or state
identification number, or, where a motor vehicle to be registered is
used for hire or principally in connection with any established
business, the owner's federal taxpayer identification number. The
bureau of motor vehicles shall retain in its records all social
security numbers provided under this section, but the bureau shall
not place social security numbers on motor vehicle certificates of
registration.

(8)
Whether the applicant wishes to certify willingness to make an
anatomical gift if an applicant has not so certified under section
2108.05 of the Revised Code. The applicant's response shall not be
considered in the decision of whether to approve the application for
registration.

(B)(1)
When an applicant first registers a motor vehicle in the applicant's
name, the applicant shall provide proof of ownership of that motor
vehicle. Proof of ownership may include any of the following:

(a)
The applicant may present for inspection a physical certificate of
title or memorandum certificate showing title to the motor vehicle to
be registered in the name of the applicant.

(b)
The applicant may present for inspection an electronic certificate of
title for the applicant's motor vehicle in a manner prescribed by
rules adopted by the registrar.

(c)
The registrar or deputy registrar may electronically confirm the
applicant's ownership of the motor vehicle.

An
applicant is not required to present a certificate of title to an
electronic motor vehicle dealer acting as a limited authority deputy
registrar in accordance with rules adopted by the registrar.

(2)
When a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program is in effect
under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it,
each application for registration for a vehicle required to be
inspected under that section and those rules shall be accompanied by
an inspection certificate or alternative emissions certificate for
the motor vehicle issued in accordance with that section.

(3)
An application for registration shall be refused if any of the
following applies:

(a)
The application is not in proper form.

(b)
The application is prohibited from being accepted by division (D) of
section 2935.27, division (A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of
section 4510.22, division (D) of section 4503.234,
division
(D) of section 4511.756,
division
(B)(1) of section 4521.10, or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the
Revised Code.

(c)
Proof of ownership is required but is not presented or confirmed in
accordance with division (B)(1) of this section.

(d)
All registration and transfer fees for the motor vehicle, for the
preceding year or the preceding period of the current registration
year, have not been paid.

(e)
The owner or lessee does not have an inspection certificate or
alternative emissions certificate for the motor vehicle as provided
in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code, and rules adopted under it,
if that section is applicable.

(4)
This section does not require the payment of license or registration
taxes on a motor vehicle for any preceding year, or for any preceding
period of a year, if the motor vehicle was not taxable for that
preceding year or period under sections 4503.02, 4503.04, 4503.11,
4503.12, and 4503.16 or Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code.

(5)
When a certificate of registration is issued upon the first
registration of a motor vehicle by or on behalf of the owner, the
official issuing the certificate shall indicate the issuance with a
stamp on the certificate of title or memorandum certificate or, in
the case of an electronic certificate of title or electronic
verification of ownership, an electronic stamp or other notation as
specified in rules adopted by the registrar, and with a stamp on the
inspection certificate for the motor vehicle, if any.

(6)
The official also shall indicate, by a stamp or by other means the
registrar prescribes, on the registration certificate issued upon the
first registration of a motor vehicle by or on behalf of the owner
the odometer reading of the motor vehicle as shown in the odometer
statement included in or attached to the certificate of title. Upon
each subsequent registration of the motor vehicle by or on behalf of
the same owner, the official also shall so indicate the odometer
reading of the motor vehicle as shown on the immediately preceding
certificate of registration.

(7)
The registrar shall include in the permanent registration record of
any vehicle required to be inspected under section 3704.14 of the
Revised Code the inspection certificate number from the inspection
certificate or the alternative emissions certificate number from the
alternative emissions certificate that is presented at the time of
registration of the vehicle as required under this division.

(C)(1)
The registrar and each deputy registrar shall collect the following
additional fees for each application for registration and
registration renewal received:

(a)
Except as provided in division (C)(1)(b) of this section, a fee of
eleven dollars on or before December 31, 2025, and a fee of sixteen
dollars on and after January 1, 2026;

(b)
For vehicles specified in divisions (A)(1) to (21) of section
4503.042 of the Revised Code, a fee of thirty dollars on or before
December 31, 2025, and a fee of thirty-five dollars on and after
January 1, 2026.

No
additional fee shall be charged for vehicles registered under section
4503.65 of the Revised Code. Each additional fee is for the purpose
of defraying the department of public safety's costs associated with
the administration and enforcement of the motor vehicle and traffic
laws of Ohio. Each deputy registrar shall transmit the fees collected
under divisions (C)(1) and (3) of this section in the time and manner
provided in this section. The registrar shall deposit all moneys
received under division (C)(1) of this section into the public safety
- highway purposes fund established in section 4501.06 of the Revised
Code.

(2)
In addition, a charge of twenty-five cents shall be made for each
reflectorized safety license plate issued, and a single charge of
twenty-five cents shall be made for each county identification
sticker or each set of county identification stickers issued, as the
case may be, to cover the cost of producing the license plates and
stickers, including material, manufacturing, and administrative
costs. Those fees shall be in addition to the license tax. If the
total cost of producing the plates is less than twenty-five cents per
plate, or if the total cost of producing the stickers is less than
twenty-five cents per sticker or per set issued, any excess moneys
accruing from the fees shall be distributed in the same manner as
provided by section 4501.04 of the Revised Code for the distribution
of license tax moneys. If the total cost of producing the plates
exceeds twenty-five cents per plate, or if the total cost of
producing the stickers exceeds twenty-five cents per sticker or per
set issued, the difference shall be paid from the license tax moneys
collected pursuant to section 4503.02 of the Revised Code.

(3)
The registrar and each deputy registrar shall collect the following
additional fee, as applicable, for each application for registration
or registration renewal received for any hybrid motor vehicle,
plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle, or battery electric motor
vehicle:

(a)
One hundred dollars for a hybrid motor vehicle;

(b)
One hundred fifty dollars for a plug-in hybrid electric motor
vehicle;

(c)
Two hundred dollars for a battery electric motor vehicle.

Each
fee imposed under this division shall be prorated based on the number
of months for which the vehicle is registered. The registrar shall
transmit all money arising from each fee to the treasurer of state
for distribution in accordance with division (E) of section 5735.051
of the Revised Code, subject to division (D) of section 5735.05 of
the Revised Code.

(D)
Each deputy registrar shall be allowed a fee equal to the amount
established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code for each
application for registration and registration renewal notice the
deputy registrar receives, which shall be for the purpose of
compensating the deputy registrar for the deputy registrar's
services, and such office and rental expenses, as may be necessary
for the proper discharge of the deputy registrar's duties in the
receiving of applications and renewal notices and the issuing of
registrations.

(E)
Upon the certification of the registrar, the county sheriff or local
police officials shall recover license plates erroneously or
fraudulently issued.

(F)
Each deputy registrar, upon receipt of any application for
registration or registration renewal notice, together with the
license fee and any local motor vehicle license tax levied pursuant
to Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, shall transmit that fee and
tax, if any, in the manner provided in this section, together with
the original and duplicate copy of the application, to the registrar.
The registrar, subject to the approval of the director of public
safety, may deposit the funds collected by those deputies in a local
bank or depository to the credit of the "state of Ohio, bureau
of motor vehicles." Where a local bank or depository has been
designated by the registrar, each deputy registrar shall deposit all
moneys collected by the deputy registrar into that bank or depository
not more than one business day after their collection and shall make
reports to the registrar of the amounts so deposited, together with
any other information, some of which may be prescribed by the
treasurer of state, as the registrar may require and as prescribed by
the registrar by rule. The registrar, within three days after receipt
of notification of the deposit of funds by a deputy registrar in a
local bank or depository, shall draw on that account in favor of the
treasurer of state. The registrar, subject to the approval of the
director and the treasurer of state, may make reasonable rules
necessary for the prompt transmittal of fees and for safeguarding the
interests of the state and of counties, townships, municipal
corporations, and transportation improvement districts levying local
motor vehicle license taxes. The registrar may pay service charges
usually collected by banks and depositories for such service. If
deputy registrars are located in communities where banking facilities
are not available, they shall transmit the fees forthwith, by money
order or otherwise, as the registrar, by rule approved by the
director and the treasurer of state, may prescribe. The registrar may
pay the usual and customary fees for such service.

(G)
This section does not prevent any person from making an application
for a motor vehicle license directly to the registrar by mail, by
electronic means, or in person at any of the registrar's offices,
upon payment of a service fee equal to the amount established under
section 4503.038 of the Revised Code for each application.

(H)
No person shall make a false statement as to the district of
registration in an application required by division (A) of this
section. Violation of this division is falsification under section
2921.13 of the Revised Code and punishable as specified in that
section.

(I)(1)
Where applicable, the requirements of division (B) of this section
relating to the presentation of an inspection certificate issued
under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it
for a motor vehicle, the refusal of a license for failure to present
an inspection certificate or alternative emissions certificate, and
the stamping of the inspection certificate or alternative emissions
certificate by the official issuing the certificate of registration
apply to the registration of and issuance of license plates for a
motor vehicle under sections 4503.102, 4503.12, 4503.14, 4503.15,
4503.16, 4503.171, 4503.172, 4503.19, 4503.40, 4503.41, 4503.42,
4503.43, 4503.44, 4503.46, 4503.47, and 4503.51 of the Revised Code.

(2)(a)
The registrar shall adopt rules ensuring that each owner registering
a motor vehicle in a county where a motor vehicle inspection and
maintenance program is in effect under section 3704.14 of the Revised
Code and rules adopted under it receives information about the
requirements established in that section and those rules and about
the need in those counties to present an inspection certificate or an
alternative emissions certificate with an application for
registration or preregistration.

(b)
Upon request, the registrar shall provide the director of
environmental protection, or any person that has been awarded a
contract under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code, an on-line
computer data link to registration information for all passenger
cars, noncommercial motor vehicles, and commercial cars that are
subject to that section. The registrar also shall provide to the
director of environmental protection a magnetic data tape containing
registration information regarding passenger cars, noncommercial
motor vehicles, and commercial cars for which a multi-year
registration is in effect under section 4503.103 of the Revised Code
or rules adopted under it, including, without limitation, the date of
issuance of the multi-year registration, the registration deadline
established under rules adopted under section 4503.101 of the Revised
Code that was applicable in the year in which the multi-year
registration was issued, and the registration deadline for renewal of
the multi-year registration.

(J)
Subject to division (K) of this section, application for registration
under the international registration plan, as set forth in sections
4503.60 to 4503.66 of the Revised Code, shall be made to the
registrar on forms furnished by the registrar. In accordance with
international registration plan guidelines and pursuant to rules
adopted by the registrar, the forms shall include the following:

(1)
A uniform mileage schedule;

(2)
The gross vehicle weight of the vehicle or combined gross vehicle
weight of the combination vehicle as declared by the registrant;

(3)
Any other information the registrar requires by rule.

(K)
The registrar shall determine the feasibility of implementing an
electronic commercial fleet licensing and management program that
will enable the owners of commercial tractors, commercial trailers,
and commercial semitrailers to conduct electronic transactions by
July 1, 2010, or sooner. If the registrar determines that
implementing such a program is feasible, the registrar shall adopt
new rules under this division or amend existing rules adopted under
this division as necessary in order to respond to advances in
technology.

If
international registration plan guidelines and provisions allow
member jurisdictions to permit applications for registrations under
the international registration plan to be made via the internet, the
rules the registrar adopts under this division shall permit such
action.

Sec.
4503.102.
(A)(1)
The registrar of motor vehicles may adopt rules to establish a
centralized system of motor vehicle registration for initial
registration, registration renewal, and transfer of registration, by
mail or by electronic means.

(2)
Any person applying electronically for initial registration or for
transfer of registration may submit all associated documents
electronically through the centralized system of motor vehicle
registration established under this section. The registrar or a
deputy registrar shall verify and authenticate such documents.

(3)
Any person owning a motor vehicle that was registered in the person's
name during the preceding registration year shall renew the
registration of the motor vehicle not more than ninety days prior to
the expiration date of the registration through one of the following:

(a)
By mail or by electronic means through the centralized system of
registration established under this section;

(b)
In person at any office of the registrar or at a deputy registrar's
office.

(B)(1)
Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, no less than
forty-five days prior to the expiration date of any motor vehicle
registration, the registrar shall mail a renewal notice to the person
in whose name the motor vehicle is registered. The renewal notice
shall clearly state that the registration of the motor vehicle may be
renewed by mail or electronic means through the centralized system of
registration or in person at any office of the registrar or at a
deputy registrar's office and shall be preprinted with information
including, but not limited to, the owner's name and residence address
as shown in the records of the bureau of motor vehicles, a brief
description of the motor vehicle to be registered, notice of the
license taxes and fees due on the motor vehicle, the toll-free
telephone number of the registrar as required under division (D)(1)
of section 4503.031 of the Revised Code, and any additional
information the registrar may require by rule. The renewal notice
shall not include the social security number of either the owner of
the motor vehicle or the person in whose name the motor vehicle is
registered. The renewal notice shall be sent by regular mail to the
owner's last known address as shown in the records of the bureau of
motor vehicles.

(2)
The registrar is not required to mail a renewal notice if either of
the following applies:

(a)
The owner of the vehicle has consented to receiving the renewal
notice by electronic means only.

(b)
The application for renewal of the registration of a motor vehicle is
prohibited from being accepted by the registrar or a deputy registrar
by division (D) of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 4503.13,
division (B) of section 4510.22, division (D) of section 4503.234,

division
(D) of section 4511.756,
division
(B)(1) of section 4521.10, or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the
Revised Code.

(3)
If the owner of a motor vehicle has consented to receiving a renewal
notice by electronic means only, the registrar shall send an
electronic renewal notice to the owner that contains the information
specified in division (B)(1) of this section at the time specified
under that division.

(C)
The owner of the motor vehicle shall verify the information contained
in the notice, sign it either manually or by electronic means, and
return it, either by mail or electronic means, or the owner may take
it in person to any office of the registrar or of a deputy registrar.
The owner shall include with the notice a financial transaction
device number when renewing in person or by electronic means but not
by mail, check, or money order in the amount of the registration
taxes and fees payable on the motor vehicle and a service fee equal
to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code,
plus postage as indicated on the notice if the registration is
renewed or fulfilled by mail, and an inspection certificate or
alternative emissions certificate for the motor vehicle as provided
in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code. If the motor vehicle owner
chooses to renew the motor vehicle registration by electronic means,
the owner shall proceed in accordance with the rules the registrar
adopts.

(D)
If all registration and transfer fees for the motor vehicle for the
preceding year or the preceding period of the current registration
year have not been paid, if division (D) of section 2935.27, division
(A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4510.22, division (D)
of section 4503.234,
division
(D) of section 4511.756,
division
(B)(1) of section 4521.10, or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the
Revised Code prohibits acceptance of the renewal notice, or if the
owner or lessee does not have an inspection certificate or
alternative emissions certificate for the motor vehicle as provided
in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code, if that section is
applicable, the license shall be refused, and the registrar or deputy
registrar shall so notify the owner. This section does not require
the payment of license or registration taxes on a motor vehicle for
any preceding year, or for any preceding period of a year, if the
motor vehicle was not taxable for that preceding year or period under
section 4503.02, 4503.04, 4503.11, 4503.12, or 4503.16 or Chapter
4504. of the Revised Code.

(E)(1)
Failure to receive a renewal notice does not relieve a motor vehicle
owner from the responsibility to renew the registration for the motor
vehicle. Any person who has a motor vehicle registered in this state
and who does not receive a renewal notice as provided in division (B)
of this section prior to the expiration date of the registration
shall request an application for registration from the registrar or a
deputy registrar and sign the application manually or by electronic
means and submit the application and pay any applicable license taxes
and fees to the registrar or deputy registrar.

(2)
If the owner of a motor vehicle submits an application for
registration and the registrar is prohibited by division (D) of
section 2935.27, division (A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of
section 4510.22, division (D) of section 4503.234,
division
(D) of section 4511.756,
division
(B)(1) of section 4521.10, or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the
Revised Code from accepting the application, the registrar shall
return the application and the payment to the owner. If the owner of
a motor vehicle submits a registration renewal application to the
registrar by electronic means and the registrar is prohibited from
accepting the application as provided in this division, the registrar
shall notify the owner of this fact and deny the application and
return the payment or give a credit on the financial transaction
device account of the owner in the manner the registrar prescribes by
rule adopted pursuant to division (A) of this section.

(F)
Every deputy registrar shall post in a prominent place at the
deputy's office a notice informing the public of the mail
registration system required by this section and also shall post a
notice that every owner of a motor vehicle and every chauffeur
holding a certificate of registration is required to notify the
registrar in writing of any change of residence within ten days after
the change occurs. The notice shall be in such form as the registrar
prescribes by rule.

(G)(1)
The service fee equal to the amount established under section
4503.038 of the Revised Code that is collected from a person who
renews a motor vehicle registration by electronic means or by mail,
plus postage collected by the registrar and any financial transaction
device surcharge collected by the registrar, shall be paid to the
credit of the public safety - highway purposes fund established by
section 4501.06 of the Revised Code.

(2)
A person who submits an initial registration or a transfer of
registration by electronic means under this section shall pay a
service fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of
the Revised Code, any necessary postage costs, and any financial
transaction device surcharge, as applicable. The service fee
collected shall be paid either to the registrar or to the deputy
registrar that verifies and authenticates the submitted documents in
accordance with division (A)(2) of this section. If the registrar
authorizes a deputy registrar to mail the certificate of registration
and any associated license plate to the applicant, the postage costs
shall be paid to that deputy registrar.

(H)(1)
Pursuant to section 113.40 of the Revised Code, the registrar shall
implement a program permitting payment of motor vehicle registration
taxes and fees, driver's license and commercial driver's license
fees, and any other taxes, fees, penalties, or charges imposed or
levied by the state by means of a financial transaction device for
transactions occurring online, at any office of the registrar, and at
all deputy registrar locations. The program shall take effect not
later than July 1, 2016. The registrar shall adopt rules as necessary
for this purpose, but all such rules are subject to any action,
policy, or procedure of the board of deposit or treasurer of state
taken or adopted under section 113.40 of the Revised Code.

(2)
The rules adopted under division (H)(1) of this section shall require
a deputy registrar to accept payments by means of a financial
transaction device beginning on the effective date of the rules
unless the deputy registrar contract entered into by the deputy
registrar prohibits the acceptance of such payments by financial
transaction device. However, commencing with deputy registrar
contract awards that have a start date of July 1, 2016, and for all
contract awards thereafter, the registrar shall require that the
proposer accept payment by means of a financial transaction device,
including credit cards and debit cards, for all department of public
safety transactions conducted at that deputy registrar location.

The
bureau and deputy registrars are not required to pay any costs that
result from accepting payment by means of a financial transaction
device. A deputy registrar may charge a person who tenders payment
for a department transaction by means of a financial transaction
device any cost the deputy registrar incurs from accepting payment by
the financial transaction device, but the deputy registrar shall not
require the person to pay any additional fee of any kind in
connection with the use by the person of the financial transaction
device.

(3)
In accordance with division (H)(1) of this section and rules adopted
by the registrar under that division, a county auditor or clerk of a
court of common pleas that is designated a deputy registrar shall
accept payment by means of a financial transaction device, including
credit cards and debit cards, for all department transactions
conducted at the office of the county auditor or clerk in the county
auditor's or clerk's capacity as deputy registrar. The bureau is not
required to pay any costs incurred by a county auditor or clerk that
result from accepting payment by means of a financial transaction
device for any department transaction.

(I)
For persons who reside in counties where tailpipe emissions
inspections are required under the motor vehicle inspection and
maintenance program, the notice required by division (B) of this
section shall also include the toll-free telephone number maintained
by the Ohio environmental protection agency to provide information
concerning the locations of emissions testing centers. The registrar
also shall include a statement in the notice that a battery electric
motor vehicle is not required to undergo emissions inspection under
the motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program established
under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code.

Sec.
4503.12.
(A)
Upon the transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle, the registration
of the motor vehicle expires, and the original owner immediately
shall remove the license plates from the motor vehicle, except that:

(1)
If a statutory merger or consolidation results in the transfer of
ownership of a motor vehicle from a constituent corporation to the
surviving corporation, or if the incorporation of a proprietorship or
partnership results in the transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle
from the proprietorship or partnership to the corporation, the
registration shall be continued upon the filing by the surviving or
new corporation, within thirty days of such transfer, of an
application for an amended certificate of registration. Upon a proper
filing, the registrar of motor vehicles shall issue an amended
certificate of registration in the name of the new owner.

(2)
If the death of the owner of a motor vehicle results in the transfer
of ownership of the motor vehicle to the surviving spouse of the
owner or if a motor vehicle is owned by two persons under joint
ownership with right of survivorship established under section
2131.12 of the Revised Code and one of those persons dies, the
registration shall be continued upon the filing by the survivor of an
application for an amended certificate of registration. In relation
to a motor vehicle that is owned by two persons under joint ownership
with right of survivorship established under section 2131.12 of the
Revised Code, the application shall be accompanied by a copy of the
certificate of title that specifies that the vehicle is owned under
joint ownership with right of survivorship. Upon a proper filing, the
registrar shall issue an amended certificate of registration in the
name of the survivor.

(3)
If the death of the owner of a motor vehicle results in the transfer
of ownership of the motor vehicle to a transfer-on-death beneficiary
or beneficiaries designated under section 2131.13 of the Revised
Code, the registration shall be continued upon the filing by the
transfer-on-death beneficiary or beneficiaries of an application for
an amended certificate of registration. The application shall be
accompanied by a copy of the certificate of title that specifies that
the owner of the motor vehicle has designated the motor vehicle in
beneficiary form under section 2131.13 of the Revised Code. Upon a
proper filing, the registrar shall issue an amended certificate of
registration in the name of the transfer-on-death beneficiary or
beneficiaries.

(4)
If the original owner of a motor vehicle that has been transferred
makes application for the registration of another motor vehicle at
any time during the remainder of the registration period for which
the transferred motor vehicle was registered, the owner may file an
application for transfer of the registration and, where applicable,
the license plates. The transfer of the registration and, where
applicable, the license plates from the motor vehicle for which they
originally were issued to a succeeding motor vehicle purchased by the
same person in whose name the original registration and license
plates were issued shall be done within a period not to exceed thirty
days. During that thirty-day period, the license plates from the
motor vehicle for which they originally were issued may be displayed
on the succeeding motor vehicle, and the succeeding motor vehicle may
be operated on the public roads and highways in this state.

At
the time of application for transfer, the registrar shall compute and
collect the amount of tax due on the succeeding motor vehicle, based
upon the amount that would be due on a new registration as of the
date on which the transfer is made less a credit for the unused
portion of the original registration beginning on that date. If the
credit exceeds the amount of tax due on the new registration, no
refund shall be made. In computing the amount of tax due and credits
to be allowed under this division, the provisions of division
(B)(1)(a) and (b) of section 4503.11 of the Revised Code shall apply.
As to passenger cars, noncommercial vehicles, motor homes, and
motorcycles, transfers within or between these classes of motor
vehicles only shall be allowed. If the succeeding motor vehicle is of
a different class than the motor vehicle for which the registration
originally was issued, new license plates also shall be issued upon
the surrender of the license plates originally issued and payment of
the fees provided in divisions (C) and (D) of section 4503.10 of the
Revised Code.

(5)
The owner of a commercial car having a gross vehicle weight or
combined gross vehicle weight of more than ten thousand pounds may
transfer the registration of that commercial car to another
commercial car the owner owns without transferring ownership of the
first commercial car. At any time during the remainder of the
registration period for which the first commercial car was
registered, the owner may file an application for the transfer of the
registration and, where applicable, the license plates, accompanied
by the certificate of registration of the first commercial car. The
amount of any tax due or credit to be allowed for a transfer of
registration under this division shall be computed in accordance with
division (A)(4) of this section.

No
commercial car to which a registration is transferred under this
division shall be operated on a public road or highway in this state
until after the transfer of registration is completed in accordance
with this division.

(6)
Upon application to the registrar or a deputy registrar, a person who
owns or leases a motor vehicle may transfer special license plates
assigned to that vehicle to any other vehicle that the person owns or
leases or that is owned or leased by the person's spouse. As
appropriate, the application also shall be accompanied by a power of
attorney for the registration of a leased vehicle and a written
statement releasing the special plates to the applicant. Upon a
proper filing, the registrar or deputy registrar shall assign the
special license plates to the motor vehicle owned or leased by the
applicant and issue a new certificate of registration for that motor
vehicle.

(7)
If a corporation transfers the ownership of a motor vehicle to an
affiliated corporation, the affiliated corporation may apply to the
registrar for the transfer of the registration and any license
plates. The registrar may require the applicant to submit
documentation of the corporate relationship and shall determine
whether the application for registration transfer is made in good
faith and not for the purposes of circumventing the provisions of
this chapter. Upon a proper filing, the registrar shall issue an
amended certificate of registration in the name of the new owner.

(B)
An application under division (A) of this section shall be
accompanied by a service fee equal to the amount established under
section 4503.038 of the Revised Code, a transfer fee of one dollar,
and the original certificate of registration, if applicable.

(C)
Neither the registrar nor a deputy registrar shall transfer a
registration under division (A) of this section if the registration
is prohibited by division (D) of section 2935.27, division (A) of
section 4503.13, division (D) of section 4503.234, division (B) of
section 4510.22,
division
(D) of section 4511.756,
division
(B)(1) of section 4521.10, or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the
Revised Code.

(D)
Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a
misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(E)
As used in division (A)(6) of this section, "special license
plates" means either of the following:

(1)
Any license plates for which the person to whom the license plates
are issued must pay an additional fee in excess of the fees
prescribed in section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, Chapter 4504. of
the Revised Code, and the service fee prescribed in division (D) or
(G) of section 4503.10 of the Revised Code;

(2)
License plates issued under section 4503.44 of the Revised Code.

Sec.
4510.036.
(A)
The bureau of motor vehicles shall record within ten days of
conviction or bail forfeiture and shall keep at its main office, all
abstracts received under this section or section 4510.03, 4510.031,
4510.032, or 4510.034 of the Revised Code and shall maintain records
of convictions and bond forfeitures for any violation of a state law
or a municipal ordinance regulating the operation of vehicles,
streetcars, and trackless trolleys on highways and streets, except a
violation related to parking a motor vehicle.

(B)
Every court of record or mayor's court before which a person is
charged with a violation for which points are chargeable by this
section shall assess and transcribe to the abstract of conviction
that is furnished by the bureau to the court the number of points
chargeable by this section in the correct space assigned on the
reporting form. A United States district court that has jurisdiction
within this state and before which a person is charged with a
violation for which points are chargeable by this section may assess
and transcribe to the abstract of conviction report that is furnished
by the bureau the number of points chargeable by this section in the
correct space assigned on the reporting form. If the federal court so
assesses and transcribes the points chargeable for the offense and
furnishes the report to the bureau, the bureau shall record the
points in the same manner as those assessed and transcribed by a
court of record or mayor's court.

(C)
A court shall assess the following points for an offense based on the
following formula:

(1)
Aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide, vehicular
manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, or vehicular assault when
the offense involves the operation of a vehicle, streetcar, or
trackless trolley on a highway or street __________ 6 points

(2)
A violation of section 2921.331 of the Revised Code or any ordinance
prohibiting the willful fleeing or eluding of a law enforcement
officer __________ 6 points

(3)
A violation of section 4549.02 or 4549.021 of the Revised Code or any
ordinance requiring the driver of a vehicle to stop and disclose
identity at the scene of an accident __________ 6 points

(4)
A violation of section 4511.251 of the Revised Code or any ordinance
prohibiting street racing, stunt driving, or street takeover
__________ 6 points

(5)
A violation of section 4510.037 of the Revised Code or any ordinance
prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while the driver's or
commercial driver's license is under a twelve-point suspension
__________ 6 points

(6)
A violation of section 4510.14 of the Revised Code, or any ordinance
prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle upon the public roads or
highways within this state while the driver's or commercial driver's
license of the person is under suspension and the suspension was
imposed under section 4511.19, 4511.191, or 4511.196 of the Revised
Code or section 4510.07 of the Revised Code due to a conviction for a
violation of a municipal OVI ordinance or any ordinance prohibiting
the operation of a motor vehicle while the driver's or commercial
driver's license is under suspension for an OVI offense __________ 6
points

(7)
A violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code,
any ordinance prohibiting the operation of a vehicle while under the
influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them, or
any ordinance substantially equivalent to division (A) of section
4511.19 of the Revised Code prohibiting the operation of a vehicle
with a prohibited concentration of alcohol, a controlled substance,
or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the whole blood, blood
serum or plasma, breath, or urine __________ 6 points

(8)
A violation of section 2913.03 of the Revised Code that does not
involve an aircraft or motorboat or any ordinance prohibiting the
operation of a vehicle without the consent of the owner __________ 6
points

(9)
Any offense under the motor vehicle laws of this state that is a
felony, or any other felony in the commission of which a motor
vehicle was used __________ 6 points

(10)
A violation of division (B) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or
any ordinance substantially equivalent to that division prohibiting
the operation of a vehicle with a prohibited concentration of alcohol
in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine
__________ 4 points

(11)
A violation of section 4511.20 of the Revised Code or any ordinance
prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle in willful or wanton
disregard of the safety of persons or property __________ 4 points

(12)
A violation of any law or ordinance pertaining to speed:

(a)
Notwithstanding divisions (C)(12)(b) and (c) of this section, when
the speed exceeds the lawful speed limit by thirty miles per hour or
more __________ 4 points

(b)
When the speed exceeds the lawful speed limit of fifty-five miles per
hour or more by more than ten miles per hour __________ 2 points

(c)
When the speed exceeds the lawful speed limit of less than fifty-five
miles per hour by more than five miles per hour __________ 2 points

(d)
When the speed does not exceed the amounts set forth in divisions
(C)(12)(a), (b), or (c) of this section __________ 0 points

(13)
A violation of division (A) of section 4511.204 of the Revised Code
or any substantially similar municipal ordinance:

(a)
For a first offense within any two-year period __________ 2 points

(b)
For a second offense within any two-year period __________ 3 points

(c)
For a third or subsequent offense within any two-year period
__________ 4 points.

(14)

A
violation of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code:

(a)
For a first offense within any five-year period

2
points

(b)
For a second or subsequent offense within any five-year period

4 points.

(15)

Operating
a motor vehicle in violation of a restriction imposed by the
registrar __________ 2 points

(15)

(16)

A
violation of section 4510.11, 4510.111, 4510.16, or 4510.21 of the
Revised Code or any ordinance prohibiting the operation of a motor
vehicle while the driver's or commercial driver's license is under
suspension __________ 2 points

(16)

(17)

With
the exception of violations under section 4510.12 of the Revised Code
where no points shall be assessed, all other moving violations
reported under this section __________ 2 points

(D)
Upon receiving notification from the proper court, including a United
States district court that has jurisdiction within this state, the
bureau shall delete any points entered for a bond forfeiture if the
driver is acquitted of the offense for which bond was posted.

(E)
If a person is convicted of or forfeits bail for two or more offenses
arising out of the same facts and points are chargeable for each of
the offenses, points shall be charged for only the conviction or bond
forfeiture for which the greater number of points is chargeable, and,
if the number of points chargeable for each offense is equal, only
one offense shall be recorded, and points shall be charged only for
that offense.

Sec.
4511.75.
(A)

(A)(1)

The
driver of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley upon meeting or
overtaking from either direction any school bus stopped for the
purpose of receiving or discharging any school child, person
attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and
county boards of developmental disabilities, or child attending a
program offered by a head start agency, shall stop at least ten feet
from the front or rear of the school bus and shall not proceed until
such school bus resumes motion, or until signaled by the school bus
driver
or
a law enforcement officer
to
proceed.

(2)

It
is no defense to a charge under
this

division

(A)(1)
of this section
that
the school bus involved failed to display or be equipped with an
automatically extended stop warning sign as required by division (B)
of this section.

(B)
Every school bus shall be equipped with amber and red visual signals
meeting the requirements of section 4511.771 of the Revised Code, and
an automatically extended stop warning sign of a type approved by the
department of education and workforce, which shall be actuated by the
driver of the bus whenever but only whenever the bus is stopped or
stopping on the roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging
school children, persons attending programs offered by community
boards of mental health and county boards of developmental
disabilities, or children attending programs offered by head start
agencies. A school bus driver shall not actuate the visual signals or
the stop warning sign in designated school bus loading areas where
the bus is entirely off the roadway or at school buildings when
children or persons attending programs offered by community boards of
mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities are
loading or unloading at curbside or at buildings when children
attending programs offered by head start agencies are loading or
unloading at curbside. The visual signals and stop warning sign shall
be synchronized or otherwise operated as required by rule of the
board.

(C)
Where a highway has been divided into four or more traffic lanes, a
driver of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley need not stop
for a school bus approaching from the opposite direction which has
stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school child,
persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental
health and county boards of developmental disabilities, or children
attending programs offered by head start agencies. The driver of any
vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley overtaking the school bus
shall comply with division (A) of this section.

(D)
School buses operating on divided highways or on highways with four
or more traffic lanes shall receive and discharge all school
children, persons attending programs offered by community boards of
mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities, and
children attending programs offered by head start agencies on their
residence side of the highway.

(E)
No school bus driver shall start the driver's bus until after any
child, person attending programs offered by community boards of
mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities, or
child attending a program offered by a head start agency who may have
alighted therefrom has reached a place of safety on the child's or
person's residence side of the road.

(F)(1)
Whoever
(F)
Except as provided in division (G) of this section, whoever
violates
division (A) of this section
may
be fined an amount
is
guilty of passing a stopped school bus, an unclassified misdemeanor.
The court, including a mayor's court, shall punish the offender in
accordance with divisions (F)(1) to (6) of this section.

(1)(a)
Except as provided in divisions (F)(1)(b) and (c) of this section,
the court shall impose upon the offender a fine of
not

to
exceed five
less
than two
hundred

fifty
and not more than one thousand
dollars.

A

(b)
If, within five years of the violation, the offender has been
convicted of or pleaded guilty to a prior violation of this section,
the court shall impose upon the offender a fine of not less than
three hundred fifty and not more than two thousand dollars.

(c)
In lieu of the fine range specified in division (F)(1)(a) of this
section, the court may impose a fine of one hundred fifty dollars for
an offender who has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a
prior violation of this section if the offender attends and
successfully completes the school bus safety course described in
division (F)(4) of this section within a time frame specified by the
court.

(2)
A
person
who is issued a
criminal

citation
for a violation of division (A) of this section is not permitted to
enter a written plea of guilty and waive the person's right to
contest the citation in a trial but instead must appear in person in
the proper court to answer the charge.

(2)
In addition to and independent of any other penalty provided by law,
the
(3)(a)
Except as otherwise provided in division (F)(3)(b) of this section,
the
court

or
mayor
may
impose upon
an

the

offender

who
violates this section
a
class
seven

six

suspension
of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license,
temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident
operating privilege from the range specified in division
(A)(7)

(A)(6)

of
section 4510.02 of the Revised Code.
When

(b)
If, within five years of the violation, the offender has been
convicted of or pleaded guilty to a prior violation of this section,
the court shall impose upon the offender a class five suspension of
the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license,
temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident
operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(5) of
section 4510.02 of the Revised Code.

(c)
When
a
license is suspended under this section, the court
or
mayor
shall
cause the offender to deliver the license to the court, and the court
or clerk of the court immediately shall forward the license to the
registrar of motor vehicles, together with notice of the court's
action.

(4)
If, within five years of the violation, the offender has been
convicted of or pleaded guilty to a prior violation of this section,
the court shall require the offender to attend and successfully
complete a school bus safety course. The director of public safety
shall develop the contents and determine the duration of the course.

(5)(a)
Except as provided in division (F)(5)(b) of this section, the court
shall assess points for the violation in accordance with section
4510.036 of the Revised Code.

(b)
The court may waive the assessment of points for an offender who has
not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a prior violation of this
section if the offender attends and successfully completes the school
bus safety course described in division (F)(4) of this section within
a time frame specified by the court.

(6)
The court may impose any other penalty authorized under sections
2929.21 to 2929.28 of the Revised Code. However, except as provided
in division (G) of this section, the court shall not impose a fine or
a suspension not otherwise specified in division (F) of this section.
The court also shall not impose a jail term or community residential
sanction.

(G)

If
the identity of the driver of a vehicle that is the subject of a
violation of division (A) of this section cannot be established
through investigation or otherwise, the registered owner of a vehicle
may be fined a civil penalty of three hundred dollars in accordance
with sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code when that
owner's vehicle is used to commit a violation of division (A) of this
section.

(H)
Any fine collected under division (F) of this section shall be paid
to the school bus safety fund created in section 3327.18 of the
Revised Code and shall be used for the purposes established under
that section.

(I)

As
used in this section:

(1)
"Head start agency" has the same meaning as in section
3301.32 of the Revised Code.

(2)
"School bus," as used in relation to children who attend a
program offered by a head start agency, means a bus that is owned and
operated by a head start agency, is equipped with an automatically
extended stop warning sign of a type approved by the department, is
painted the color and displays the markings described in section
4511.77 of the Revised Code, and is equipped with amber and red
visual signals meeting the requirements of section 4511.771 of the
Revised Code, irrespective of whether or not the bus has fifteen or
more children aboard at any time. "School bus" does not
include a van owned and operated by a head start agency, irrespective
of its color, lights, or markings.

(3)
"Registered owner" has the same meaning as in section
4511.752 of the Revised Code.

Sec.
4511.751.
(A)

As
used in this section
,
"license
:

(1)
"License
plate"
includes, but is not limited to, any temporary motor vehicle license
registration issued under section 4503.182 of the Revised Code or
similar law of another jurisdiction.

(2)
"Entity responsible for operation of a school bus," "law
enforcement agency," "notice of violation,"
"registered owner," and "school bus violation
detection monitoring system" have the same meanings as in
section 4511.752 of the Revised Code.

(B)

When
the operator of a school bus believes that a motorist has violated
division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code, the operator
shall report the license plate number and a general description of
the vehicle and of the operator of the vehicle to the law enforcement
agency exercising jurisdiction over the area where the alleged
violation occurred. The information contained in the report relating
to the license plate number and to the general description of the
vehicle and the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged
violation may be supplied
or
corroborated
by
any person with first-hand knowledge of the information. Information

of
which the operator of the school bus has first-hand knowledge

contained
in the report
also
may be
supplied
or
corroborated
by any other person
,
an entity responsible for operation of a school bus or its contracted
private vendor, or through an image, images, or video captured by a
school bus camera, including a school bus violation detection
monitoring system, installed pursuant to section 4511.76 of the
Revised Code
.

(C)(1)

Upon
receipt of the report of the alleged violation of division (A) of
section 4511.75 of the Revised Code, the law enforcement agency shall
conduct an investigation to attempt to determine or confirm the

following:

(a)
The license plate number and the make and model of the vehicle;

(b)
The date, approximate time, and location of the alleged violation;

(c)
The
identity
of the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation.

If

(2)
The law enforcement agency may use a sufficiently clear image,
images, or video provided by a school bus camera, including a school
bus violation detection monitoring system installed pursuant to
section 4511.76 of the Revised Code, to determine the information
specified in division (C)(1) of this section.

(D)
If
the
identity of the operator at the time of the alleged violation is
established, the reporting of the license plate number of the vehicle
shall establish probable cause for the law enforcement agency to
issue a
criminal

citation
for the violation of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised
Code.
However,
if

(E)
If
the
identity of the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged
violation cannot be established

and the recorded image, images, or video are sufficiently clear to
identify the license plate of the vehicle that is the subject of the
alleged violation
,
the law enforcement agency
shall
issue a warning
may
do one of the following, as applicable:

(1)
Issue a notice of violation for a civil penalty of three hundred
dollars
to
the
registered

owner
of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation
,
except in the case of a leased or rented vehicle when the warning
shall be issued to the lessee at the time of the alleged violation
in
accordance with sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code. A
law enforcement agency shall not issue a notice of violation under
this division unless both of the following apply:

(a)
The entity responsible for operation of the school bus that is the
subject of the alleged violation has installed and monitors a school
bus violation detection monitoring system pursuant to section 4511.76
of the Revised Code on all school buses actively operated by the
entity for transportation routes.

(b)
The recorded image meets all requirements necessary to issue a ticket
under section 4511.753 of the Revised Code.

(2)
Issue a warning to the registered owner of the vehicle at the time of
the alleged violation
.

(F)
A law enforcement agency shall not issue both a criminal citation and
a civil notice of violation for a single instance of a violation of
division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code.

(G)(1)

The
registrar of motor vehicles and deputy registrars shall

provide access to
,
at the time of issuing license plates
or
a driver's license
to
any person,
include
with the license plate
a
summary of the
following:

(a)
The
requirements
of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code

and the
;

(b)
The
procedures

of,

and penalty in
,

division (F) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code
.
;

(c)
The process, described in division (B) of this section, that allows
any person with first-hand knowledge of a violation of division (A)
of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code to corroborate the report made
by the operator of a school bus.

(2)
The registrar shall make the summaries required under division (G)(1)
of this section available on the bureau of motor vehicles' web site.

(H)
For purposes of enforcing section 4511.75 of the Revised Code under
this section, the state highway patrol may issue a criminal citation
under division (D) of this section, but shall not issue a notice of
violation for a civil violation under division (E) of this section.
If the identity of the operator of the vehicle at the time of the
alleged violation cannot be established, the state highway patrol may
issue a warning to the registered owner of the vehicle at the time of
the alleged violation.

Sec.
4511.752.
As
used in sections 4511.752 to 4511.757 and section 4511.76 of the
Revised Code:

(A)
"Designated party" means the person whom a registered owner
of a vehicle identifies as the person who was operating the owner's
vehicle at the time of a school bus violation.

(B)
"Entity responsible for operation of the school bus" means
the applicable board of education of a city, local or exempted
village school district, the governing board of an educational
service center, a county board of developmental disabilities, or the
governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school, community school
established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, STEM school
established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code, or head start
program that is responsible for the operation of the school bus on
which a school bus violation detection monitoring system is
installed.

(C)
"Law enforcement officer" means a sheriff, deputy sheriff,
marshal, deputy marshal, school resource officer, police officer of a
police department of any municipal corporation, police constable of
any township, or police officer of a township or joint police
district who is employed by a law enforcement agency.

(D)
"License plate" includes any temporary motor vehicle
license registration issued under section 4503.182 of the Revised
Code or similar law of another jurisdiction.

(E)
"Motor vehicle dealer" has the same meaning as in section
4517.01 of the Revised Code.

(F)
"Motor vehicle renting dealer" has the same meaning as in
section 4549.65 of the Revised Code.

(G)
"Notice of violation" means a traffic ticket, citation,
summons, or other ticket issued in response to an alleged school bus
violation detected by a school bus violation detection monitoring
system that represents a civil violation.

(H)
"Recorded images" means either of the following, recorded
by a school bus violation detection monitoring system, when it is
sufficiently clear and shows, on at least one image or on a portion
of the videotape, the rear of a vehicle and the letters and numerals
on the rear license plate of the vehicle:

(1)
Two or more photographs, microphotographs, electronic images, or
digital images;

(2)
Videotape.

(I)
"Registered owner" means all of the following:

(1)
Any person or entity identified by the bureau of motor vehicles or
any other state motor vehicle registration bureau, department, or
office as the owner of a vehicle;

(2)
The lessee of a vehicle under a lease of six months or longer;

(3)
The renter of a vehicle pursuant to a written rental agreement with a
motor vehicle renting dealer.

(J)
"School bus violation detection monitoring system" means a
camera system affixed to a school bus that consists of two or more
camera sensors or computers that can produce recorded images.

(K)
"School bus violation" means a violation of division (A) of
section 4511.75 of the Revised Code, or a substantially equivalent
municipal ordinance, when division (E) of section 4511.751 of the
Revised Code applies.

Sec.
4511.753.
(A)
When a law enforcement agency receives a report under division (B) of
section 4511.751 of the Revised Code, and the identity of the
operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation cannot
be established, the law enforcement agency may use any lawful means
to identify the registered owner for purposes of issuing a notice of
violation under this section to that owner if all of the following
are shown on the image recorded by a school bus violation detection
monitoring system:

(1)
The school bus violation;

(2)
The date and time of the violation;

(3)
The electronic red light visual signals or stop warning sign to
demonstrate that such signals and sign were actuated;

(4)
The letter and numerals on the license plate of the vehicle involved
and the state that issued the license plate.

(B)(1)
After the identification of the registered owner under division (A)
of this section and within thirty days of the school bus violation,
the law enforcement agency or the agency's agent may issue and send
by regular mail in a clearly marked envelope that includes the citing
law enforcement agency on the envelope a notice of violation charging
the registered owner with the violation. Proof of such mailing,
conducted through the ordinary course of business, is prima facie
evidence of notification to the registered owner.

(2)
A school bus violation for which a notice of violation is issued by
or on behalf of a law enforcement agency based on evidence recorded
by a school bus violation detection monitoring system is a civil
violation. The law enforcement agency or the agency's agent shall
issue the notice of violation in accordance with the requirements of
section 4511.754 of the Revised Code. The civil penalty for the
notice of violation shall be three hundred dollars.

(C)(1)
A law enforcement agency or the agency's agent that mails a notice of
violation charging the registered owner with the school bus violation
shall, without unnecessary delay, file a certified copy of the notice
of violation with the municipal court or county court with
jurisdiction over the civil action.

(2)
The municipal court or county court with jurisdiction may designate
an agent to collect any civil penalties imposed in accordance with
sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code. The agent may be
the private vendor contracted by the entity responsible for operation
of a school bus in accordance with section 4511.76 of the Revised
Code to purchase, install, operate, and maintain the school bus
violation detection monitoring system.

(D)
A certified copy of the notice of violation alleging a school bus
violation, sworn to or affirmed by a law enforcement officer employed
by the law enforcement agency, including by electronic means, and the
recorded images produced by the school bus violation detection
monitoring system, is prima facie evidence of the facts contained
therein and is admissible in a civil action or proceeding concerning
the notice of violation issued under this section. Such prima facie
evidence creates a rebuttable presumption that the registered owner
was the operator of the vehicle at the time of the violation.

Sec.
4511.754.
A
law enforcement agency or the agency's agent shall ensure that a
notice of violation for a school bus violation sent under section
4511.753 of the Revised Code contains all of the following:

(A)
The name and address of the registered owner;

(B)
The letters and numerals appearing on the license plate issued to the
vehicle;

(C)
The school bus violation charged;

(D)
A statement that the violation was recorded by a school bus violation
detection monitoring system;

(E)
The date and time of the violation;

(F)
A copy of the recorded images;

(G)
The amount of the civil penalty imposed, the date by which the civil
penalty is required to be paid, and the address of the municipal
court or county court with jurisdiction over the civil action or the
court's designated agent to which the payment is to be sent;

(H)
A statement signed by a law enforcement officer indicating that,
based on an inspection of the recorded images, the vehicle was
involved in a school bus violation and the recorded images are prima
facie evidence of that school bus violation. The law enforcement
officer may sign the statement electronically.

(I)
Information advising the person or entity alleged to be liable of the
options prescribed in section 4511.755 of the Revised Code, including
the time, place, and manner in which the person or entity may appear
in court to contest the violation and notice of violation and the
procedure for disclaiming liability by submitting a notarized
affidavit to the municipal court or county court as prescribed in
section 4511.755 of the Revised Code;

(J)
A warning that failure to exercise one of the options prescribed in
section 4511.755 of the Revised Code is deemed to be an admission of
liability and waiver of the opportunity to contest the violation.

Sec.
4511.755.
A
person or entity who receives a notice of violation for a civil
violation sent under section 4511.753 of the Revised Code shall elect
to do one of the following:

(A)
In accordance with instructions on the notice of violation, pay the
civil penalty, thereby admitting liability and waiving the
opportunity to contest the violation;

(B)(1)
Within thirty days after receipt of the notice of violation, provide
the municipal court or county court with jurisdiction over the civil
action with either of the following affidavits:

(a)
A notarized affidavit executed by the registered owner identifying
the operator of the vehicle at the time of the violation as the
designated party who may be held liable for the violation, and
containing at a minimum the name and address of that designated
party;

(b)
A notarized affidavit executed by the registered owner stating that
at the time of the violation, the vehicle or the license plates
issued to the vehicle were stolen and therefore were in the care,
custody, or control of some person or entity to whom the registered
owner did not grant permission to use the vehicle. To demonstrate
that the vehicle or the license plates were stolen prior to the
school bus violation and therefore were not under the control or
possession of the registered owner at the time of the violation, the
registered owner shall submit proof that a report about the stolen
vehicle or license plates was filed with the appropriate law
enforcement agency prior to the violation or within forty-eight hours
after the violation occurred.

(2)
A registered owner is not responsible for a school bus violation if,
within thirty days after the date of mailing of the notice of
violation, the registered owner furnishes an affidavit specified in
division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of this section to the court with
jurisdiction in a form established by the court and the following
conditions are met:

(a)
If the registered owner submits an affidavit as specified in division
(B)(1)(a) of this section and the operator of the vehicle at the time
of the violation, as the designated party, either accepts liability
for the violation by paying the civil penalty or by failing to
request a court hearing within thirty days or is determined liable in
a court hearing.

(b)
If the registered owner submits an affidavit as specified in division
(B)(1)(b) of this section, the affidavit is supported by a stolen
vehicle or stolen license plate report as required in that division.

(C)
If the registered owner is a motor vehicle dealer or a motor vehicle
renting dealer, notify the court with jurisdiction of the name and
address of the customer, lessee, or renter of the vehicle at the time
of the school bus violation. The court may establish the form of the
notice or use a standard form of notice. A motor vehicle dealer or
motor vehicle renting dealer who receives a notice of violation for
an alleged school bus violation detected by a school bus violation
detection monitoring system is not liable for a notice of violation
issued for a vehicle that was in the care, custody, or control of a
customer, lessee, or renter at the time of the alleged violation. The
dealer shall not pay the fine specified on the notice of violation
and subsequently attempt to collect a fee or assess the customer,
lessee, or renter a charge for any payment of such a notice of
violation made on behalf of the customer, lessee, or renter.

(D)
If the vehicle involved in the school bus violation is a commercial
motor vehicle and the notice of violation is issued to a corporate
entity, provide to the court with jurisdiction an affidavit, sworn to
or affirmed by an agent of the corporate entity, that provides the
name and address of the employee who was operating the vehicle at the
time of the alleged violation and who is the designated party;

(E)
Contest the notice of violation by filing a written request for a
court hearing to review the notice of violation in a form established
by the court. The person shall file the written request not later
than thirty days after receipt of the notice of violation. The
failure to request a hearing within this time period constitutes a
waiver of the right to contest the violation and notice of violation
and is deemed to constitute an admission of liability.

Sec.
4511.756.
(A)(1)
A court with jurisdiction that receives an affidavit described in
division (B)(1)(a) or (D) of section 4511.755 of the Revised Code or
a notification under division (C) of that section from a registered
owner may proceed to notify the law enforcement agency to send a
notice of violation that conforms with this section and section
4511.754 of the Revised Code to the designated party.

(2)
The law enforcement agency shall send the conforming notice of
violation to the designated party by ordinary mail not later than
thirty days after receipt of the notification from the court.

(B)(1)
The person named in the original or any subsequent notice of
violation that requests a hearing under division (E) of section
4511.755 of the Revised Code has the burden of proving, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that either the alleged school bus
violation did not occur or that that person was not the person who
was operating the vehicle at the time of the violation.

(2)
If, after conducting a hearing requested under division (E) of
section 4511.755 of the Revised Code, the court finds by a
preponderance of the evidence that the alleged school bus violation
did not occur or did in fact occur but the person named in the
original or any subsequent notice of violation is not the person who
was operating the vehicle at the time of the violation, the court
shall issue a written decision finding that the individual is not
liable for the violation and submit it to the law enforcement agency
and the person named in the notice of violation.

(3)
If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the
alleged school bus violation did in fact occur and that the person
named in the original or any subsequent notice of violation is or was
likely the person who was operating the vehicle at the time of the
violation, the court shall issue a written decision imposing
liability for the violation upon the individual and submit it to the
law enforcement agency and the person named in the notice of
violation.

(4)
If the person who requested the court hearing fails to appear, the
court may determine that the person is liable for the violation or
grant a continuance of the hearing. If the court determines that the
person is liable, the court shall issue a written decision imposing
liability for the violation upon the individual and submit it to the
law enforcement agency and the person named in the notice of
violation.

(C)
The court shall charge the applicable court costs and fees for the
civil action to the party that does not prevail in the action.

(D)(1)
If a person liable for a school bus violation fails to pay the civil
penalty or any applicable court costs and fees, the court may notify
the registrar of motor vehicles.

(2)
If the registrar receives a notice from a court under division (D)(1)
of this section, neither the registrar nor any deputy registrar shall
accept any application for the registration or transfer of
registration of any motor vehicle owner or leased by the person named
in the notice, until the registrar receives notice from the court
that the civil penalty and any court costs and fees has been paid or
dismissed.

Sec.
4511.757.
(A)
The civil penalty charged and collected in accordance with sections
4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code shall be paid as follows:

(1)
Fifty dollars to the school bus safety fund created in section
3327.18 of the Revised Code;

(2)
Two hundred fifty dollars to the entity responsible for operation of
the school bus.

(B)
The entity responsible for operation of the school bus shall use the
proceeds it receives for school bus safety technology initiatives. As
part of those initiatives, the entity may use proceeds for the
purpose of defraying the costs of purchasing, installing, operating,
and maintaining the school bus violation detection monitoring systems
and offsetting a law enforcement agency's costs related to reviewing
recorded images and issuing the notices of violation.

Sec.
4511.76.
(A)
The department of public safety, by and with the advice of the
department of education and workforce, shall
educate
the public regarding the laws pertaining to school bus safety and
shall
adopt
and enforce rules relating to the construction, design, and equipment

of all school buses both publicly and privately owned and operated in
this state
,
including
lighting

rules
governing both of the following:

(1)
Lighting
equipment
required by section 4511.771 of the Revised Code
,
of all school buses both publicly and privately owned and operated in
this state
;

(2)
School bus cameras, including school bus violation detection
monitoring systems, that provide an image, images, or video for
purposes of recording a violation of division (A) of section 4511.75
of the Revised Code
.

(B)
The department of education and workforce, by and with the advice of
the director of public safety, shall adopt and enforce rules relating
to the operation of all vehicles used for pupil transportation.

(C)
No person shall operate a vehicle used for pupil transportation
within this state in violation of the rules of the department of
education and workforce or the department of public safety. No
person, being the owner thereof or having the supervisory
responsibility therefor, shall permit the operation of a vehicle used
for pupil transportation within this state in violation of the rules
of the department of education and workforce or the department of
public safety.

(D)
The department of public safety shall adopt and enforce rules
relating to the issuance of a license under section 4511.763 of the
Revised Code. The rules may relate to the condition of the equipment
to be operated; the liability and property damage insurance carried
by the applicant; the posting of satisfactory and sufficient bond;
and such other rules as the director of public safety determines
reasonably necessary for the safety of the pupils to be transported.

(E)
A chartered nonpublic school or a community school may own and
operate, or contract with a vendor that supplies, alternative
vehicles to transport students to and from regularly scheduled school
sessions, school-related activities, and school-sanctioned events
when one of the following applies:

(1)
A student's school district of residence has declared the
transportation of the student impractical pursuant to section 3327.02
of the Revised Code;

(2)
A student does not live within thirty minutes of the chartered
nonpublic school or the community school, as applicable, and the
student's school district is not required to transport the student
under section 3327.01 of the Revised Code;

(3)
The governing authority of the chartered nonpublic school or the
community school has offered to provide the transportation for its
students in lieu of the students being transported by their school
district of residence.

(F)
A school district may own and operate, or contract with a vendor that
supplies, alternative vehicles to transport students to and from
regularly scheduled school sessions, school-related activities, and
school-sanctioned events.

(G)
A school district or the governing authority of a chartered nonpublic
school or community school that uses an alternative vehicle in
accordance with division (E) or (F) of this section, shall ensure
that all of the following apply to the operation of that vehicle:

(1)
A qualified mechanic inspects the vehicle not fewer than two times
each year and determines that it is safe for pupil transportation;

(2)
The driver of the vehicle does not stop on the roadway to load or
unload passengers;

(3)
The driver of the vehicle meets the requirements specified for a
driver of a school bus or motor van under section 3327.10 of the
Revised Code and any corresponding rules adopted by the department of
education and workforce. Notwithstanding that section or any
department rules to the contrary, the driver is not required to have
a commercial driver's license but shall have a current, valid
driver's license, and shall be accustomed to operating the vehicle
used to transport the students.

(4)
The driver and all passengers in the vehicle comply with the
requirements of sections 4511.81 and 4513.263 of the Revised Code, as
applicable.

(H)(1)
A school district, a chartered nonpublic school, or a community
school may own and operate, or contract with a vendor that supplies,
a multifunction school activity bus to transport students between
school and school functions or activities.

(2)
A multifunction school activity bus shall not be used to transport
students between school and home or between school and designated
school bus stops.

(I)
(I)(1)
An entity responsible for operation of a school bus may purchase,
install, operate, and maintain school bus cameras, including school
bus violation detection monitoring systems, on its new or currently
owned and operated school buses. Alternatively, the entity may
contract with a private vendor to purchase, install, operate, and
maintain such cameras and systems on the school buses.

(2)
An entity that uses school bus violation detection monitoring
systems, either on its own or through a contract with a private
vendor, shall do all of the following:

(a)
Ensure that the contract entered into with a private vendor, if
applicable, requires payment of any costs or fees to the vendor for
the vendor's services as a whole and is not based exclusively on the
number of notices of violation generated or collected from use of the
school bus violation detection monitoring systems. If the contract
requires that a portion of the costs and fees owed to the vendor are
based on the notices of violation generated or collected, those costs
and fees shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars per notice of
violation;

(b)
Ensure that all of the entity's school buses with a regular
transportation route are outfitted with a school bus violation
detection monitoring system before commencing a civil penalty system
in accordance with sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code;

(c)
Ensure that all of the school bus violation detection monitoring
systems equipped on the school buses are regularly monitored for
purposes of enforcing the civil penalty system in accordance with
sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code;

(d)
Enter into a memorandum of understanding with the appropriate local
law enforcement agency to ensure review of the recorded images
captured by the school bus violation detection monitoring systems,
reimbursement of review expenses, and appropriate enforcement
support.

(J)

As used in this section:

(1)
"Alternative vehicle" means a motor vehicle originally
manufactured and designed for not more than twelve passengers, not
including the driver.

(2)
"Vehicle used for pupil transportation" means any vehicle
that is identified as such by the department of education and
workforce by rule and that is subject to Chapter 3301-83 of the
Administrative Code.

(J)
(K)

Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this
section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If the offender previously
has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more violations of
this section or section 4511.63, 4511.761, 4511.762, 4511.764,
4511.77, or 4511.79 of the Revised Code or a municipal ordinance that
is substantially similar to any of those sections, whoever violates
this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

Section
2.
That
existing sections 4503.03
,
4503.10, 4503.102, 4503.12
,
4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, and 4511.76 of the Revised Code are
hereby repealed.

Section
3.
All
items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any
moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund.
For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first
column are for fiscal year 2026 and those in the second column are
for fiscal year 2027. The operating appropriations made in this act
are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these
fiscal years.

Section
4.

1

2

3

4

5

A

EDU
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE

B

State
Lottery Fund Group

C

7017

200413

School
Bus Safety

$10,000,000

$0

D

State
Lottery Fund Group Total

$10,000,000

$0

E

TOTAL
ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS

$10,000,000

$0

SCHOOL
BUS SAFETY

Of
the foregoing appropriation item 200413, School Bus Safety, up to
$100,000 in fiscal year 2026 may be used by the Department of
Education and Workforce to administer the school bus safety grant
program under section 3327.19 of the Revised Code.

The
remainder of the foregoing appropriation item 200413, School Bus
Safety, shall be used to award school bus safety grants pursuant to
section 3327.19 of the Revised Code.

Any
unexpended and unencumbered portion of the foregoing appropriation
item 200413, School Bus Safety, at the end of fiscal year 2026 is
hereby reappropriated for the same purpose in fiscal year 2027.

Section
5.
Within
the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and
Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount
of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine
the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained.
Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act
shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all
applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act of
the 136th General Assembly.

Section
6.
This
act shall be known as the School Bus Safety Act.