(A) There is hereby created the Ohio government telecommunications service. The Ohio government telecommunications service shall provide the state government and affiliated organizations with multimedia support including audio, visual, and internet services, multimedia streaming, and hosting multimedia programs.

Services relating to the official activities of the general assembly and the executive offices provided by the Ohio government telecommunications service shall be funded through grants to an educational television broadcasting station that will manage the staff and provide the services of the Ohio government telecommunications service. The Ohio educational television stations shall select a member station to manage the Ohio government telecommunications service. The Ohio government telecommunications service shall receive grants from, or contract with, any of the three branches of Ohio government, and their affiliates, to provide additional services. Services provided by the Ohio government telecommunications service shall not be used for political purposes included in campaign materials, or otherwise used to influence an election, legislation, issue, judicial decision, or other policy of state government.

(B)

(1) There is hereby created the legislative programming committee of the Ohio government telecommunications service that shall consist of the president of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives, minority leader of the senate, and minority leader of the house of representatives, or their designees, and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives as nonvoting, ex officio members. By a vote of a majority of its members, the program committee may add additional members to the committee.

(2) The legislative programming committee shall adopt rules that govern the operation of the Ohio government telecommunications service relating to the general assembly and any affiliated organizations.

(C) The Ohio government telecommunications service is authorized to broadcast and record any committee meeting of the senate or house of representatives as directed by the presiding officer of the senate or house of representatives.

As used in this division, "committee" and "meeting" have the same meanings as in section 101.15 of the Revised Code.

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

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Effective Date: 12-13-2001; 07-01-2005; 2006 HB699 03-29-2007.

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