(A) As used in this section, "felony" has the same meaning as in section 109.511 of the Revised Code.

(B)

(1) A metropolitan housing authority shall not employ a person as a member of the police force of the metropolitan housing authority on a permanent basis, on a temporary basis, for a probationary term, or on other than a permanent basis if the person previously has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony.

(2)

(a) A metropolitan housing authority shall terminate the employment of a member of the police force of the metropolitan housing authority who does either of the following:

(i) Pleads guilty to a felony;

(ii) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code in which the member of the police force agrees to surrender the certificate awarded to that member under section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(b) A metropolitan housing authority shall suspend from employment a member of the police force of the metropolitan housing authority who is convicted, after trial, of a felony. If the member of the police force files an appeal from that conviction and the conviction is upheld by the highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the member of the police force does not file a timely appeal, the metropolitan housing authority shall terminate the employment of that member of the police force. If the member of the police force files an appeal that results in that member's acquittal of the felony or conviction of a misdemeanor, or in the dismissal of the felony charge against that member, the metropolitan housing authority shall reinstate that member of the police force. A member of the police force who is reinstated under division (B)(2)(b) of this section shall not receive any back pay unless that member's conviction of the felony was reversed on appeal, or the felony charge was dismissed, because the court found insufficient evidence to convict the member of the police force of the felony.

(3) Division (B) of this section does not apply regarding an offense that was committed prior to January 1, 1997.

(4) The suspension from employment, or the termination of the employment, of a member of the police force of a metropolitan housing authority under division (B)(2) of this section shall be in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 01-01-2004.