Effective: April 12, 2021
Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 331 - 133rd General Assembly
(A) There is hereby created within the supreme court the state criminal sentencing commission, consisting of thirty-one members. One member shall be the chief justice of the supreme court, who shall be the chairperson of the commission. The following ten members of the commission, no more than six of whom shall be members of the same political party, shall be appointed by the chief justice: one judge of a court of appeals, three judges of courts of common pleas who are not juvenile court judges, three judges of juvenile courts, and three judges of municipal courts or county courts. Four members shall be the superintendent of the state highway patrol, the state public defender, the director of youth services, and the director of rehabilitation and correction, or their individual designees. The following twelve members, no more than seven of whom shall be members of the same political party, shall be appointed by the governor after consulting with the appropriate state associations, if any, that are represented by these members: one sheriff; two county prosecuting attorneys, at least one of whom shall be experienced in the prosecution of cases in juvenile court involving alleged delinquent children, unruly children, and juvenile traffic offenders; two peace officers of a municipal corporation or township, at least one of whom shall be experienced in the investigation of cases involving juveniles; one former victim of a violation of Title XXIX of the Revised Code; one attorney whose practice of law primarily involves the representation of criminal defendants; one member of the Ohio state bar association; one attorney whose practice of law primarily involves the representation in juvenile court of alleged delinquent children, unruly children, and juvenile traffic offenders; one full-time city prosecuting attorney; one county commissioner; and one mayor, city manager, or member of a legislative authority of a municipal corporation. Two members shall be members of the senate, one appointed by the president of the senate and one appointed by the minority leader of the senate. Two members shall be members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
The chief justice shall become a member of the commission on August 22, 1990, and the chief justice's successors in office shall become members of the commission on the day that they assume the office of chief justice. The term of office of the chief justice as a member of the commission shall continue for as long as that person holds the office of chief justice. The term of office of the member who is an attorney whose practice of law primarily involves the representation of criminal defendants, the term of office of the member who is an attorney whose practice of law primarily involves the representation in juvenile court of alleged delinquent children, unruly children, and juvenile traffic offenders, and the term of office of the former victim of a violation of Title XXIX of the Revised Code shall be four years. The term of office of the superintendent of the state highway patrol, the state public defender, the director of youth services, and the director of rehabilitation and correction, or their individual designees, as members of the commission shall continue for as long as they hold the office of superintendent of the state highway patrol, state public defender, director of youth services, or director of rehabilitation and correction. The term of office of a municipal corporation or township peace officer as a member of the commission shall be the lesser of four years or until that person ceases to be a peace officer of a municipal corporation or township. Unless the full-time city prosecuting attorney is an elected official, the term of office of the full-time city prosecuting attorney shall be the lesser of four years or until the full-time city prosecuting attorney ceases to be a full-time city prosecuting attorney. All of the members of the commission who are elected officials shall serve the lesser of four years or until the expiration of their term of office. Any vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
When the chief justice and governor make their appointments to the commission, they shall consider adequate representation by race and gender.
(B) The commission shall select a vice-chairperson and any other necessary officers and adopt rules to govern its proceedings. The commission shall meet as necessary at the call of the chairperson or on the written request of eight or more of its members. Sixteen members of the commission constitute a quorum, and the votes of a majority of the quorum present shall be required to validate any action of the commission. All business of the commission shall be conducted in public meetings.
The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but each member shall be reimbursed for the member's actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the member's official duties on the commission. In the absence of the chairperson, the vice-chairperson shall perform the duties of the chairperson.
(C) The commission shall establish an office and shall appoint and fix the compensation of a project director and any other employees necessary to assist the commission in the execution of its authority under sections 181.21 to 181.25 of the Revised Code. The project director shall have a thorough understanding of the criminal laws of this state and experience in committee-oriented research. The other employees may include a research coordinator with experience and training in policy-oriented research; professional staff employees with backgrounds in criminal law, criminal justice, political science, or related fields of expertise; administrative assistants; and secretaries. The commission also may appoint and fix the compensation of part-time data collectors, clerical employees, and other temporary employees as needed to enable the commission to execute its authority under sections 181.21 to 181.25 of the Revised Code.