The board of trustees of any college or university supported in part or in whole by state funds, or two or more such boards, may enter into a contract, upon such terms as shall be determined to be in the best interests of students, for the provision of legal services to students through a group legal services insurance plan approved by the superintendent of insurance or through a prepaid legal services plan established by attorneys admitted to the practice of law in this state. The fees or charges to students who participate in the plan shall be established by the board or boards and shall be sufficient to defray the college's or university's cost of administering the plan. No student shall be required to pay any such fee or charge unless the student elects to participate in the plan, and no revenue from any other student fees or charges shall be used to finance any portion of the cost of any plan or the college's or university's cost of administering the plan. Legal representation under the plan shall be limited to services determined by the board to be reasonably related to student welfare, to the advancement or successful completion of student education, or to serve a public purpose within the powers of the college or university.

A plan shall not provide or pay for the cost of representation of a student in an action against a state officer or agency arising out of the performance of the duties of the officer or agency, against a law enforcement officer arising out of the performance of the duties of the officer, against a college or university participating in the plan, against a student of such a college or university, or against the chancellor of higher education or a member of the board of regents or of the board of trustees, faculty, or staff of such a college or university, if the cause of action arises out of the performance of the duties of the office of the member or in the course of the member's employment by the college or university. As used in this section, "law enforcement officer" means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, marshal, deputy marshal, municipal police officer, state highway patrol trooper, or state university law enforcement officer appointed under section 3345.04 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Effective Date: 08-08-1991 .