(A) A complaint shall be filed with the Ohio elections commission within two years after the occurrence of the act or failure to act that is the subject of the complaint, except that if the act or failure to act involves fraud, concealment, or misrepresentation and was not discovered during that two-year period, a complaint may be filed within one year after discovery of such act or failure to act.

(B) Whoever files a complaint with the commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised Code may withdraw it at the following times:

(1) If the complaint receives an expedited hearing under section 3517.156 of the Revised Code, at any time prior to the hearing without the permission of the commission, or at any time after the hearing begins but only with the permission of the commission;

(2) If the complaint does not receive an expedited hearing, at any time.

(C) The commission may dismiss a complaint pending before it or before a panel of the commission.

(D) The commission or a panel of the commission shall conduct hearings in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and the Rules of Civil Procedure, except as they are inconsistent with rules adopted by the commission. A party adversely affected by a final determination of the commission may appeal from the determination under section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

(E) The privilege granted to an attorney under section 2317.02 of the Revised Code shall be granted to the full-time attorney employed by the commission under division (H)(2) of section 3517.152 of the Revised Code, and the commission or a panel of the commission shall be considered the client of that attorney for purposes of that privilege.

(F) The members of the commission shall not do either of the following except at a meeting of the commission subject to section 121.22 of the Revised Code:

(1) Discuss among themselves a complaint pending before the commission or a panel of the commission;

(2) Discuss a complaint pending before the commission or a panel of the commission with a party to the complaint, an attorney representing a party to the complaint, or an investigatory attorney of the commission.

Effective Date: 08-24-1995 .