(A)

(1) There is hereby created the Ohio tuition trust authority within the office of the chancellor of the Ohio board of regents, which shall have the powers enumerated in this chapter and which shall operate as a qualified state tuition program within the meaning of section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. The exercise by the authority of its powers shall be and is hereby declared an essential state governmental function. The authority is subject to all provisions of law generally applicable to state agencies which do not conflict with the provisions of this chapter.

(2) Except for the duties and responsibilities under this chapter of the Ohio tuition trust authority investment board as specified in divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section, the Ohio tuition trust authority shall perform all duties and responsibilities specified under this chapter.

(B)

(1)

(a) There is hereby created the Ohio tuition trust authority investment board, which shall consist of eleven members, no more than six of whom shall be of the same political party. Six members shall be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate , who have significant experience in finance, accounting, or investment management. Four members shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate as follows: the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member of the house from each political party and the president of the senate shall appoint one member of the senate from each political party. The chancellor or the chancellor's designee shall be an ex officio voting member.

Terms of office for gubernatorial appointees shall be staggered four-year terms. Legislative members shall serve two-year terms, provided that legislative members may continue to serve on the board only if they remain members of the general assembly. Any vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, except that any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed to the remainder of the unexpired term. Any member is eligible for reappointment.

(b) Any member may be removed by the appointing authority for misfeasance, malfeasance, or willful neglect of duty or for other cause after notice and a public hearing, unless the notice and hearing are waived in writing by the member. Members shall serve without compensation but shall receive their reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the conduct of the board's business.

(c) The speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall each designate a member of the board to serve as co-chairpersons. The six gubernatorial appointees and the chancellor or the chancellor's designee shall serve as the executive committee of the board, and shall elect an executive chairperson from among the executive committee members. The board and the executive committee may elect such other officers as determined by the board or the executive committee respectively. The authority shall meet at least annually at the call of either co-chairperson and at such other times as either co-chairperson or the board determines necessary. In the absence of both co-chairpersons, the executive chairperson shall serve as the presiding officer of the board. The executive committee shall meet at the call of the executive chairperson or as the executive committee determines necessary. The board may delegate to the executive committee such duties and responsibilities as the board determines appropriate, except that the board may not delegate to the executive committee the final designation of bonds as college savings bonds or providing of advice concerning and consent to the employment of an executive director of the Ohio tuition trust authority. Upon such delegation, the executive committee shall have the authority to act pursuant to such delegation without further approval or action by the board. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum of the board, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for any action taken by the board. A majority of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum of the executive committee, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for any action taken by the executive committee. No vacancy in the membership of the board or the executive committee shall impair the rights of a quorum to exercise all rights and perform all duties of the board or the executive committee respectively.

(2) The Ohio tuition trust authority investment board solely shall perform the duties and responsibilities specified in division (B)(3) of this section and in all of the following:

(a) Section 3334.04 of the Revised Code, except for administration responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, marketing, promoting, and advertising;

(b) Division (A)(11) of section 3334.08 of the Revised Code to provide advice and consent to the Ohio tuition trust authority on the hiring of the executive director, provided that the executive director shall not be hired unless a majority of the board votes in favor of the hiring;

(c) Divisions (A) to (E), (G)(1), (K), (L), and (M) of section 3334.11 of the Revised Code, except that the board shall consult with the chancellor prior to any change in the order of expenditures under division (B) of that section, prior to entering into a contract under division (E) of that section, or prior to establishing an entity authorized under division (K)(2) of that section;

(d) Section 3334.12 of the Revised Code;

(e) Sections 3334.18 to 3334.21 of the Revised Code concerning investment and fiduciary duties that are required for the variable college savings program. In addition, prior to any change in the order of expenditures under division (F) of section 3334.19 of the Revised Code, the board shall consult with the chancellor.

(3) Subject to the advice and consent of the chancellor, the Ohio tuition trust authority investment board may remove at any time the executive director of the Ohio tuition trust authority hired under division (A)(11) of section 3334.08 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 471, §1, eff. 12/19/2016.

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

Effective Date: 03-30-1999; 09-29-2005

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