Ohio § 1551.25

§ 1551.25.

(A) As used in this section: (1) “ Ridesharing arrangement ” means the transportation of persons in a motor vehicle when the transportation is

incidental to another purpose of a volunteer driver and includes ridesharing arrangements

known as carpools, vanpools, and buspools. (2) “ Local agency ” means a political subdivision;  any department, agency, board, commission, or instrumentality

of a political subdivision;  a regional planning commission created under section 713.21 of the Revised Code ;  a county planning commission created under section 713.22 of the Revised Code ;  a joint planning council created under section 713.231 of the Revised Code ;  an interstate regional planning commission created under section 713.30 of the Revised Code ;  or a regional council of governments created under section 167.01 of the Revised Code . (3) “ State agency ” means the state or any department, agency, board, commission, or instrumentality

of the state. (B) Any motor vehicle owned by a state agency or owned, hired, or leased by a local agency

may be used in a ridesharing arrangement, provided the motor vehicle is used in accordance

with law, ordinance, or the established policy of the state agency or local agency

and a daily, weekly, or monthly fee is charged each participant in the arrangement

that is sufficient to cover the participant's pro rata share of the cost of maintaining,

insuring, and operating the motor vehicle for such purpose, the cost of depreciation

attributable to the use stated in this division, and, if the motor vehicle is acquired

primarily for use in a ridesharing arrangement, the cost of amortization.  A fee established by the state agency or local agency under this division is presumed

to provide sufficient reimbursement to the state or local agency. (C) The state agency owning, or the local agency owning, hiring, or leasing, a motor

vehicle that is used in a ridesharing arrangement shall purchase or provide, or cause

to be purchased or provided, in accordance with applicable law governing the purchase

or provision of such insurance by the state or local agency, public liability insurance

to cover such employees in amounts and coverages no less than: (1) One hundred thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in

any one accident; (2) Three hundred thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of two or more

persons in any one accident; (3) Fifty thousand dollars because of injury to property of others in any one accident. (D) The department of administrative services, the board of county commissioners of each

county, the board of township trustees of each township, the legislative authority

of each municipal corporation, and the governing body of every other local agency

shall establish procedures governing the operation of motor vehicles used in ridesharing

arrangements, including fees of the type described in division (B) of this section. (E) No appointing authority of a state agency or local agency may require any employee

of any such agency to participate in a ridesharing arrangement between his place of

residence and place of employment, or termini near such places, except during an emergency

declared by the governor or the chief executive of the political subdivision in which

the local agency is located under sections 5502.21 to 5502.51 of the Revised Code or during an energy emergency declared by the governor under section 4935.03 of the Revised Code when the governor specifically orders such ridesharing by employees of state or local

agencies. (F) Persons other than employees of a state or local agency may participate in a ridesharing

arrangement authorized by any such agencies.  Such agencies shall provide, or purchase for such persons, the insurance required

under division (C) of this section for public employees.