There is hereby created the office of the inspector general, to be headed by the inspector general.

The term of the inspector general serving on the effective date of this amendment ends January 11, 2021. The inspector general shall be appointed by the governor quadrennially thereafter, subject to section 121.49 of the Revised Code and the advice and consent of the senate, and shall hold office for a term of four years commencing on the second Monday of January. The governor may remove the inspector general from office only after delivering written notice to the inspector general of the reasons for which the governor intends to remove the inspector general from office and providing the inspector general with an opportunity to appear and show cause why the inspector general should not be removed.

In addition to the duties imposed by section 121.42 of the Revised Code, the inspector general shall manage the office of the inspector general. The inspector general shall establish and maintain offices in Columbus.

The inspector general may employ and fix the compensation of one or more deputy inspectors general. Each deputy inspector general shall serve for a term coinciding with the term of the appointing inspector general, and shall perform the duties, including the performance of investigations, that are assigned by the inspector general. All deputy inspectors general are in the unclassified service and serve at the pleasure of the inspector general.

In addition to deputy inspectors general, the inspector general may employ and fix the compensation of professional, technical, and clerical employees that are necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the office of the inspector general. All professional, technical, and clerical employees of the office of the inspector general are in the unclassified service and serve at the pleasure of the appointing inspector general.

The inspector general may enter into any contracts that are necessary to the operation of the office of the inspector general. The contracts may include, but are not limited to, contracts for the services of persons who are experts in a particular field and whose expertise is necessary to the successful completion of an investigation.

Not later than the first day of March in each year, the inspector general shall publish an annual report summarizing the activities of the inspector general's office during the previous calendar year. The annual report shall not disclose the results of any investigation insofar as the results are designated as confidential under section 121.44 of the Revised Code.

The inspector general shall provide copies of the inspector general's annual report to the governor and the general assembly. The inspector general also shall provide a copy of the annual report to any other person who requests the copy and pays a fee prescribed by the inspector general. The fee shall not exceed the cost of reproducing and delivering the annual report.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2017.

Effective Date: 09-26-2003; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007 .