(A) There is hereby created the governor's residence advisory commission. The commission shall provide for the preservation, restoration, acquisition, and conservation of all decorations, objects of art, chandeliers, china, silver, statues, paintings, furnishings, accouterments, and other aesthetic materials that have been acquired, donated, loaned, or otherwise obtained by the state for the governor's residence and that have been approved by the commission. In addition, the commission shall provide for the maintenance of plants that have been acquired, donated, loaned, or otherwise obtained by the state for the governor's residence and that have been approved by the commission.

(B) The commission shall be responsible for the care, provision, repair, and placement of furnishings and other objects and accessories of the grounds and public areas of the first story of the governor's residence and for the care and placement of plants on the grounds. In exercising this responsibility, the commission shall preserve and seek to further establish all of the following:

(1) The authentic ambiance and decor of the historic era during which the governor's residence was constructed;

(2) The grounds as a representation of Ohio's natural ecosystems;

(3) The heritage garden for all of the following purposes:

(a) To preserve, sustain, and encourage the use of native flora throughout the state;

(b) To replicate the state's physiographic regions, plant communities, and natural landscapes;

(c) To serve as an educational garden that demonstrates the artistic, industrial, political, horticultural, and geologic history of the state through the use of plants;

(d) To serve as a reservoir of rare species of plants from the physiographic regions of the state. These duties shall not affect the obligation of the department of administrative services to provide for and adopt policies and procedures regarding the use, general maintenance, and operating expenses of the governor's residence.

(C) The commission shall consist of eleven members. One member shall be the director of administrative services or the director's designee, who shall serve during the director's term of office and shall serve as chairperson. One member shall be the director of the Ohio history connection or the director's designee, who shall serve during the director's term of office and shall serve as vice-chairperson. One member shall represent the Columbus landmarks foundation. One member shall represent the Bexley historical society. One member shall be the mayor of the city of Bexley, who shall serve during the mayor's term of office. One member shall be the chief executive officer of the Franklin park conservatory joint recreation district, who shall serve during the term of employment as chief executive officer. The remaining five members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The five members appointed by the governor shall be persons with knowledge of Ohio history, architecture, decorative arts, or historic preservation, and one of those members shall have knowledge of landscape architecture, garden design, horticulture, and plants native to this state.

(D) Of the initial appointees, the representative of the Columbus landmarks foundation shall serve for a term expiring December 31, 1996, and the representative of the Bexley historical society shall serve for a term expiring December 31, 1997. Of the five members appointed by the governor, three shall serve for terms ending December 31, 1998, and two shall serve for terms ending December 31, 1999. Thereafter, each term shall be for four years, commencing on the first day of January and ending on the last day of December. The member having knowledge of landscape architecture, garden design, horticulture, and plants native to this state initially shall be appointed upon the first vacancy on the commission occurring on or after June 30, 2006.

Each member shall hold office from the date of the member's appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the end of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the term. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration of the term until the member's successor takes office.

(E) Six members of the commission constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of six members is required for approval of any action by the commission.

(F) After each initial member of the commission has been appointed, the commission shall meet and select one member as secretary and another as treasurer. Organizational meetings of the commission shall be held at the time and place designated by call of the chairperson. Meetings of the commission may be held anywhere in the state and shall be in compliance with Chapters 121. and 149. of the Revised Code. The commission may adopt, pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code, rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(G) Members of the commission shall serve without remuneration, but shall be compensated for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

(H) All expenses incurred in carrying out this section are payable solely from money accrued under this section or appropriated for these purposes by the general assembly, and the commission shall incur no liability or obligation beyond such money.

(I) Except as otherwise provided in this division, the commission may accept any payment for the use of the governor's residence or may accept any donation, gift, bequest, or devise for the governor's residence or as an endowment for the maintenance and care of the garden on the grounds of the governor's residence in furtherance of its duties. The commission shall not accept any donation, gift, bequest, or devise from a person, individual, or member of an individual's immediate family if the person or individual is receiving payments under a contract with the state or a state agency for the purchase of supplies, services, or equipment or for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, alteration, repair, painting, or decoration of a public improvement, except for payments received under an employment contract or a collective bargaining agreement. Any revenue received by the commission shall be deposited into the governor's residence fund, which is hereby established in the state treasury, for use by the commission in accordance with the performance of its duties. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Title to all property acquired by the commission shall be taken in the name of the state and shall be held for the use and benefit of the commission.

(J) Nothing in this section limits the ability of a person or other entity to purchase decorations, objects of art, chandeliers, china, silver, statues, paintings, furnishings, accouterments, plants, or other aesthetic materials for placement in the governor's residence or on the grounds of the governor's residence or donation to the commission. No such object or plant, however, shall be placed on the grounds or public areas of the first story of the governor's residence without the consent of the commission.

(K) The heritage garden established under this section shall be officially known as "the heritage garden at the Ohio governor's residence."

(L) As used in this section, "heritage garden" means the botanical garden of native plants established at the governor's residence.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 141, §1, eff. 9/29/2015.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 06-30-1997; 06-30-2006; 2006 HB699 03-29-2007; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007.

Related Legislative Provision: See 129th General AssemblyFile No.39, SB 171, §4 .