(A) There is hereby created a turnpike legislative review committee consisting of six members as follows:

(1) Three members of the senate, no more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party, one of whom shall be the chairperson of the committee dealing primarily with highway matters, one of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

Both the senate member who is appointed by the president of the senate and the senate member appointed by the minority leader of the senate shall represent either districts in which is located or through which passes a portion of a turnpike project that is part of the Ohio turnpike system or districts located in the vicinity of a turnpike project that is part of the Ohio turnpike system.

The president of the senate shall make the president of the senate's appointment to the committee first, followed by the minority leader of the senate, and they shall make their appointments in such a manner that their two appointees represent districts that are located in different areas of the state. If the chairperson of the senate committee dealing primarily with highway matters represents a district in which is located or through which passes a portion of a turnpike project that is part of the Ohio turnpike system or a district located in the vicinity of a turnpike project that is part of the Ohio turnpike system, the president of the senate and the minority leader of the senate shall make their appointments in such a manner that their two appointees and the chairperson of the senate committee dealing primarily with highway matters all represent districts that are located in different areas of the state.

(2) Three members of the house of representatives, no more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party, one of whom shall be the chairperson of the house of representatives committee dealing primarily with highway matters, one of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.

Both the house of representatives member who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the house of representatives member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives shall represent either districts in which is located or through which passes a portion of a turnpike project that is part of the Ohio turnpike system or districts located in the vicinity of a turnpike project that is part of the Ohio turnpike system.

The speaker of the house of representatives shall make the speaker of the house of representative's appointment to the committee first, followed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, and they shall make their appointments in such a manner that their two appointees represent districts that are located in different areas of the state. If the chairperson of the house of representatives committee dealing primarily with highway matters represents a district in which is located or through which passes a portion of a turnpike project that is part of the Ohio turnpike system or a district located in the vicinity of a turnpike project that is part of the Ohio turnpike system, the speaker of the house of representatives and the minority leader of the house of representatives shall make their appointments in such a manner that their two appointees and the chairperson of the house of representatives committee dealing primarily with highway matters all represent districts that are located in different areas of the state.

The chairperson of the house of representatives committee shall serve as the chairperson of the turnpike legislative review committee for the year 1996. Thereafter, the chair annually shall alternate between, first, the chairperson of the senate committee and then the chairperson of the house of representatives committee.

(B) Each member of the turnpike legislative review committee who is a member of the general assembly shall serve a term of the remainder of the general assembly during which the member is appointed or is serving as chairperson of the specified senate or house committee. In the event of the death or resignation of a committee member who is a member of the general assembly, or in the event that a member ceases to be a senator or representative, or in the event that the chairperson of the senate committee dealing primarily with highway matters or the chairperson of the house of representatives committee dealing primarily with highway matters ceases to hold that position, the vacancy shall be filled through an appointment by the president of the senate or the speaker of the house of representatives or minority leader of the senate or house of representatives, as applicable. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the end of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the term or for a shorter period of time as determined by the president or the speaker. A member of the committee is eligible for reappointment.

(C) The turnpike legislative review committee shall meet at least quarterly and may meet at the call of its chairperson, or upon the written request to the chairperson of not fewer than four members of the committee. Meetings shall be held at sites that are determined solely by the chairperson of the committee. At each meeting, the Ohio turnpike and infrastructure commission shall make a report to the committee on commission matters, including but not limited to financial and budgetary matters and proposed and on-going construction, maintenance, repair, and operational projects of the commission.

The committee, by the affirmative vote of at least four of its members, may submit written recommendations to the commission, either at meetings held pursuant to this section or at any other time, describing new turnpike projects or new interchanges located on existing projects that the committee believes the commission should consider constructing.

(D) At least annually the commission shall make a report to the committee of those infrastructure projects approved and paid for by the commission.

(E) The members of the turnpike legislative review committee who are members of the general assembly shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed by the commission for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties as committee members. Serving as a member of the turnpike legislative review committee does not constitute grounds for resignation from the senate or house of representatives under section 101.26 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 7, HB 51, §101.01, eff. 7/1/2013.

Effective Date: 10-17-1996; 2006 HB699 03-29-2007