As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session S. B. No. 179
2025-2026
Senator Johnson
Cosponsors: Senators Weinstein, Brenner, Cirino
To amend sections 341.02 and 5901.03 and to enact
section 341.43 of the Revised Code to verify the
veteran status of imprisoned individuals and
individuals facing imprisonment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 341.02 and 5901.03 be amended and
section 341.43 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as
follows:
Sec. 341.02. The sheriff shall make the following entries
in a suitable book, which shall be known as the "jail register,"
kept in the office of the jailer, and delivered to the successor
in office of such jailer:
(A) The name of each prisoner, and the date and cause of
histhe prisoner's commitment;
(B) The date and manner of his the prisoner's discharge;
(C) If the prisoner is verified as a veteran as a result
of an investigation conducted pursuant to section 341.43 of the
Revised Code, the veteran status of the prisoner .
The sheriff or jail administrator shall prepare written
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operational policies and procedures and prisoner rules of
conduct, and maintain the records prescribed by these policies
and procedures in accordance with the minimum standards for
jails in Ohio promulgated by the department of rehabilitation
and correction.
The court of common pleas shall review the jail's
operational policies and procedures and prisoner rules of
conduct. If the court approves the policies, procedures, and
rules of conduct, they shall be adopted.
Sec. 341.43. (A) All of the following institutions or
entities shall designate as soon as practicable at least one
individual to perform the duties set forth in division (B) of
this section:
(1) Each institution that is under the control of the
department of rehabilitation and correction;
(2) Each county, municipal, municipal-county, and
multicounty correctional institution that has on its premises a
jail, workhouse, minimum security jail, community-based
correctional facility, or facility in which an individual shall
serve a term of imprisonment or prison term pursuant to section
2929.34 of the Revised Code for the type of criminal offense and
under the circumstances specified or referred to in that
section;
(3) Each court of common pleas, municipal and county
court, department of probation, and pre-trial diversion program;
(4) Each county veterans service commission.
(B) Each institution or entity referred to in division (A)
of this section shall do all of the following:
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(1) Determine the number of individuals necessary to
perform the duties set forth in divisions (B)(4) to (6) of this
section;
(2) Upon determining the number of necessary individuals,
designate as soon as practicable that number of individuals to
perform the duties set forth in divisions (B)(4) to (6) of this
section;
(3) Train each designated qualified individual to use the
veteran's reentry search service operated by the United States
department of veterans affairs by seeking cost-free training
assistance from a representative of the veterans justice
outreach program operated by the department of veterans affairs
or other appropriate representative of the department. If an
institution or entity is unable to acquire cost-free assistance
from the department, the institution or entity may, at the
institution's or entity's own expense, retain individuals who
are knowledgeable about the veteran's reentry search service by
training or experience to assist in training designated
qualified individuals to use the service;
(4) Investigate and verify the veteran status of each
individual served by the institution or entity, appearing before
the institution or entity, or who is in the institution's or
entity's care or custody, and who is imprisoned or charged with
a criminal offense punishable by incarceration. The institution
or entity shall conduct investigations under division (B)(4) of
this section by using data provided by the veteran's reentry
search service operated by the United States department of
veterans affairs;
(5) For each individual verified as a veteran as a result
of an investigation conducted pursuant to division (B)(4) of
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this section, note the individual's status as a veteran on all
appropriate records pursuant to rules adopted under division (C)
of this section;
(6) For each individual verified as a veteran as a result
of an investigation conducted pursuant to division (B)(4) of
this section, assist the individual in contacting veteran-
related services such as the department of veterans services,
county veteran service commissions, veteran service
organizations, a representative of the veterans justice outreach
program operated by the United States department of veterans
affairs, or community organizations that may assist veterans in
applying for any federal, state, or local veteran-related
resources.
(C) The director of rehabilitation and correction shall
adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section for
each of the institutions or entities under its control,
including rules establishing the types of records upon which an
individual's veteran status must be indicated pursuant to
division (B)(5) of this section. Institutions and entities
referred to in division (A)(2) or (4) of this section that are
not under the control of the department of rehabilitation and
corrections shall adopt rules to implement the requirements of
this section, including rules establishing the types of records
upon which an individual's veteran status must be indicated
pursuant to division (B)(5) of this section.
Sec. 5901.03. The veterans service commission shall select
one of its members as president, one as vice-president, and one
as secretary. The commission shall meet at least once each
month. A judge of the court of common pleas may remove, for
cause, any member of the commission appointed under section
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5901.02 of the Revised Code, and shall fill vacancies occurring
among memberships appointed under that section for the unexpired
terms in the manner provided for the original appointments.
The commission's duties shall include but are not limited
to the following:
(A) Employing such staff as are necessary to carry out the
commission's duties, and fixing their compensation;
(B) Establishing policies and procedures for the
administration of the commission and the veterans service
office;
(C) Establishing policies and procedures for the
administration of assistance as provided under this chapter;
(D) Causing the budgets of the veterans service commission
and veterans service office to be presented to the board of
county commissioners for approval;
(E) Establishing programs of outreach and coordination
with other agencies to enhance available services to veterans
within the county;, which may include either of the following:
(1) Providing financial assistance to a veterans treatment
court to establish and fulfill an outreach program under this
section;
(2) Hiring and compensating a person who will work at a
veterans treatment court and provide assistance to the court as
specified by the terms of an outreach program established under
this section.
(F) Promoting, monitoring, and providing funding for
ongoing education and training for veterans service
commissioners and staff;
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(G) Making reports to the organizations represented on the
commission, as provided in section 5901.02 of the Revised Code,
and to others, upon request;
(H) Establishing regularly scheduled transportation for
veterans to and from veterans administration medical centers
whose districts the county is within, through contractual
agreements or through other arrangements determined by the
commission to be most cost-effective;
(I) Participating in appropriate memorial and
commemorative activities to help promote patriotism and veterans
services;
(J) Taking any other actions required by this chapter.
Section 2. That existing sections 341.02 and 5901.03 of
the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
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