Subject to the approval of the controlling board, the department of youth services may grant and pay financial assistance to defray the county's share of the cost of acquiring or constructing a district detention facility, established under section 2152.41 of the Revised Code, to any county making application under section 2152.43 of the Revised Code if the department finds that the application was made in accordance with its rules and the facility or the specifications for the facility meet minimum standards established by the department. No financial assistance shall be granted for defraying the cost of land.

The department shall adopt rules prescribing the minimum standards of construction and condition of existing structures, established under section 2152.41 of the Revised Code, for which financial assistance is granted under this section. The department may recommend programs of education and training and the qualifications desired for personnel of a district detention facility.

The amount of financial assistance granted to any county shall not exceed sixty per cent of the county's share of the cost of acquisition or construction of the facility.

A county that receives financial assistance under this section shall repay the assistance to the state if the facility for which the assistance is granted is used within the ten-year period immediately following its establishment for purposes other than those contained in section 2152.41 of the Revised Code. A board of county commissioners that uses the facility for any other purpose within that period shall enter into an agreement with the director of budget and management for the discharge of that obligation over a period not to exceed ten years. If a board of county commissioners fails to enter into an agreement for the discharge of that obligation, or fails to comply with the terms of such an agreement, the director shall direct the tax commissioner, pursuant to section 5747.54 of the Revised Code, to withhold from the distribution of the local government fund an amount sufficient to discharge the obligation.

As used in this section:

(A) "Construction" means the building and initial equipping of new structures.

(B) "Acquisition" means "acquisition" as defined in the rules of the department, which may include the purchase, remodeling, and initial equipping of existing structures.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 310, §101.01, eff. 8/16/2016.

Effective Date: 01-01-2002 .