(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Agency" and "license" have the same meanings as in section 119.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Crime" and "victim" have the same meanings as in section 2930.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Health care practitioner" means any of the following:

(a) An individual licensed under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery;

(b) An individual licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse;

(c) An individual licensed under Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code to practice as a physician assistant;

(d) An individual licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code to practice as a psychologist;

(e) An individual licensed under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code to practice as a chiropractor.

(B) No health care practitioner, with the intent to obtain professional employment for the health care practitioner, shall directly contact in person, by telephone, or by electronic means any party to a motor vehicle accident, any victim of a crime, or any witness to a motor vehicle accident or crime until thirty days after the date of the motor vehicle accident or crime. Any communication to obtain professional employment shall be sent via the United States postal service.

(C) No person who has been paid or given, or was offered to be paid or given, money or anything of value to solicit employment on behalf of another shall directly contact in person, by telephone, or by electronic means any party to a motor vehicle accident, any victim of a crime, or any witness to a motor vehicle accident or crime until thirty days after the date of the motor vehicle accident or crime. Any communication to solicit employment on behalf of another shall be sent via the United States postal service.

(D) If the attorney general believes that a health care practitioner or a person described in division (C) of this section has violated division (B) or (C) of this section, the attorney general shall issue a notice and conduct a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. If, after the hearing, the attorney general determines that a violation of division (B) or (C) of this section occurred, the attorney general shall impose a fine of five thousand dollars for each violation to each health care practitioner or person described in division (C) of this section who sought to financially benefit from the solicitation. If the attorney general determines that a health care practitioner or person described in division (C) of this section has subsequently violated division (B) or (C) of this section, the attorney general shall impose a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars for each violation.

(E) After determining that a health care practitioner or person described in division (C) of this section has violated division (B) or (C) of this section on three separate occasions, and if that health care practitioner or person described in division (C) of this section holds a license issued by an agency, the attorney general shall notify that agency in writing of the three violations. On receipt of that notice, the agency shall suspend the health care practitioner's or the person's license without a prior hearing and shall afford the health care practitioner or the person a hearing on request in accordance with section 119.06 of the Revised Code.

Added by 133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff. 10/17/2019.