Ohio § 101.15

§ 101.15.

(A) As used in this section: (1) “ Caucus ” means all of the members of either house of the general assembly who are members

of the same political party. (2) “ Committee ” means any committee of either house of the general assembly, a joint committee of

both houses of the general assembly, including a committee of conference, or a subcommittee

of any committee listed in division (A)(2) of this section. (3) “ Meeting ” means any prearranged discussion of the public business of a committee by a majority

of its members. (B) Except as otherwise provided in division (F) of this section, all meetings of any

committee are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times.  The secretary assigned to the chairperson of the committee shall prepare, file,

and maintain the minutes of every regular or special meeting of a committee.  The committee, at its next regular or special meeting, shall approve the minutes

prepared, filed, and maintained by the secretary, or, if the minutes prepared, filed,

and maintained by the secretary require correction before their approval, the committee

shall correct and approve the minutes at the next following regular or special meeting.  The committee shall make the minutes available for public inspection not later than

seven days after the meeting the minutes reflect or not later than the committee's

next regular or special meeting, whichever occurs first. (C) Each committee shall establish a reasonable method whereby any person may determine

the time and place of all regularly scheduled meetings and the time, place, and purpose

of all special meetings.  No committee shall hold a regular or special meeting unless it gives at least twenty-four

hours' advance notice to the news media that have requested notification. The method established by each committee shall provide that, upon request and payment

of a reasonable fee, any person may obtain reasonable advance notification of all

meetings at which any specific type of public business will be discussed.  Provisions for advance notification may include, but are not limited to, mailing

the agenda of meetings to all subscribers on a mailing list or mailing notices in

self-addressed stamped envelopes provided by the person who desires advance notification. (D) Any action of a committee relating to a bill or resolution, or any other formal action

of a committee, is invalid unless taken in an open meeting of the committee.  Any action of a committee relating to a bill or resolution, or any other formal

action of a committee, taken in an open meeting is invalid if it results from deliberations

in a meeting not open to the public. (E)(1) Any person may bring an action to enforce this section.  An action under this division shall be brought within two years after the date of

the alleged violation or threatened violation.  Upon proof of a violation or threatened violation of this section in an action brought

by any person, the court of common pleas shall issue an injunction to compel the members

of the committee to comply with its provisions. (2)(a) If the court of common pleas issues an injunction under division (E)(1) of this section,

the court shall order the committee that it enjoins to pay a civil forfeiture of five

hundred dollars to the party that sought the injunction and shall award to that party

all court costs and, subject to reduction as described in this division, reasonable

attorney's fees.  The court, in its discretion, may reduce an award of attorney's fees to the party

that sought the injunction or not award attorney's fees to that party if the court

determines both of the following: (i) That, based on the ordinary application of statutory law and case law as it existed

at the time of the violation or threatened violation that was the basis of the injunction,

a well-informed committee reasonably would believe that the committee was not violating

or threatening to violate this section; (ii) That a well-informed committee reasonably would believe that the conduct or threatened

conduct that was the basis of the injunction would serve the public policy that underlies

the authority that is asserted as permitting that conduct or threatened conduct. (b) If the court of common pleas does not issue an injunction under division (E)(1) of

this section and the court determines at that time that the bringing of the action

was frivolous conduct as defined in division (A) of section 2323.51 of the Revised Code , the court shall award to the committee all court costs and reasonable attorney's

fees, as determined by the court. (3) Irreparable harm and prejudice to the party that sought the injunction shall be conclusively

and irrebuttably presumed upon proof of a violation or threatened violation of this

section. (4) A member of a committee who knowingly violates an injunction issued under division

(E)(1) of this section may be removed from office by an action brought in the court

of common pleas for that purpose by the prosecuting attorney of Franklin county or

by the attorney general. (5) The remedies described in divisions (E)(1) to (4) of this section shall be the exclusive

remedies for a violation of this section. (F) This section does not apply to or affect either of the following: (1) All meetings of the joint legislative ethics committee created under section 101.34 of the Revised Code other than a meeting that is held for any of the following purposes: (a) To consider the adoption, amendment, or recission of any rule that the joint legislative

ethics committee is authorized to adopt pursuant to division (B)(11) of section 101.34 , division (E) of section 101.78 , division (B) of section 102.02 , or division (E) of section 121.68 of the Revised Code ; (b) To discuss and consider changes to any administrative operation of the joint legislative

ethics committee other than any matter described in division (G) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code ; (c) To discuss pending or proposed legislation. (2) Meetings of a caucus. (G) For purposes of division (F)(1)(a) of this section, an advisory opinion, written

opinion, or decision relative to a complaint is not a rule.