Ohio § 102.08

§ 102.08.

(A)(1) Subject to division (A)(2) of this section, the board of commissioners on grievances

and discipline of the supreme court and the joint legislative ethics committee may

recommend legislation relating to ethics, conflicts of interest, and financial disclosure

and shall render advisory opinions with regard to questions concerning these matters

for persons for whom it is the appropriate ethics commission. (2) The board of commissioners on grievances and discipline of the supreme court shall

issue advisory opinions only in a manner consistent with Rule V of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio . (B) When the board of commissioners on grievances and discipline of the supreme court

renders an advisory opinion relating to a special set of circumstances involving ethics,

conflict of interest, or financial disclosure under Chapter 102. or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code , the person to whom the opinion was directed or who was similarly situated may reasonably

rely upon the opinion and shall be immune from criminal prosecutions, civil suits,

or actions for removal from his office or position of employment for a violation of

Chapter 102. or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code based on facts and circumstances covered by the opinion, if the opinion states there

is no violation of Chapter 102. or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code .  Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section, the board of commissioners

on grievances and discipline of the supreme court shall include in every advisory

opinion it renders a statement as to whether the set of circumstances described in

the opinion constitutes a violation of section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code . (C)(1) When the joint legislative ethics committee renders an advisory opinion that has

been publicly sought and that relates to a special set of circumstances involving

ethics, conflicts of interest, or financial disclosure under Chapter 102. or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code , the person to whom the opinion was directed or who was similarly situated may reasonably

rely upon such opinion and shall be immune from criminal prosecutions, civil suits,

or actions for removal from his office or position of employment for a violation of

Chapter 102. or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code based on the facts and circumstances covered by the opinion, if the opinion states

that there is no violation of Chapter 102. or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code . The joint legislative ethics committee shall include in every advisory opinion it

renders a statement as to whether the set of circumstances described in the opinion

constitutes a violation of section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code . When the joint legislative ethics committee renders an advisory opinion that has

been publicly sought, the advisory opinion is a public record available under section 149.43 of the Revised Code . (2) When the joint legislative ethics committee renders a written opinion that has been

privately sought and that relates to a special set of circumstances involving ethics,

conflicts of interest, or financial disclosure under Chapter 102. or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code , the written opinion does not have the legal effect of an advisory opinion issued

under division (C)(1) of this section. When the joint legislative ethics committee renders a written opinion that has been

privately sought, the written opinion is not a public record available under section 149.43 of the Revised Code . The proceedings of the joint legislative ethics committee relating to a written opinion

that has been privately sought shall be closed to the public and records relating

to these proceedings are not public records available under section 149.43 of the Revised Code . The person to whom a written opinion is issued under division (C)(2) of this section

may request the committee to issue the written opinion as an advisory opinion. Upon receiving such a request and with the approval of a majority of the members of

the committee, the committee may issue the written opinion as an advisory opinion.

If the committee issues the written opinion as an advisory opinion, the advisory opinion

has the same legal effect as an advisory opinion issued under division (C)(1) of this

section and is a public record available under section 149.43 of the Revised Code . (3) The joint legislative ethics committee shall issue an advisory opinion under division

(C)(1) of this section or a written opinion under division (C)(2) of this section,

whether it is publicly or privately sought, only at a meeting of the committee and

only with the approval of a majority of the members of the committee. (D) The board of commissioners on grievances and discipline of the supreme court and

the joint legislative ethics committee shall provide a continuing program of education

and information concerning the provisions of Chapter 102. and sections 2921.42 and 2921.43 of the Revised Code and other provisions of law pertaining to ethics, conflicts of interest, and financial

disclosure. (E) The Ohio ethics commission may recommend legislation relating to ethics, conflicts

of interest, and financial disclosure and may render advice with regard to questions

concerning these matters for persons for whom it is the appropriate ethics commission.

When the Ohio ethics commission renders a written formal or staff advisory opinion

relating to a special set of circumstances involving ethics, conflict of interest,

or financial disclosure under Chapter 102. or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code , the person to whom the opinion was directed or who was similarly situated may reasonably

rely upon the opinion and shall be immune from criminal prosecutions, civil suits,

or actions for removal from his office or position of employment for a violation of

Chapter 102. or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code based on facts and circumstances covered by the opinion, if the opinion states there

is no violation of Chapter 102. or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code . The commission shall provide a continuing program of education and information concerning

the provisions of Chapter 102. and sections 2921.42 and 2921.43 of the Revised Code and other provisions of law pertaining to ethics, conflicts of interest, and financial

disclosure.