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Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(A) The general assembly and executive department officers elected under Ohio Constitution, Article III may establish, implement, and fund through public resources, security provisions for the protection of the members of the general assembly and executive department officers covered under this section.
(B)(1) The authority to determine and administer appropriate security provisions for the general assembly is vested in the presiding officer of each house.
(2) The authority to determine and administer security provisions for executive department officers covered by this section is vested in each respective officer.
(3) The supreme court has the authority to adopt rules under its general superintending power that governs security provisions, including establishing, implementing, and funding through public resources, those provisions, for justices, judges, and the judiciary as established by Ohio Constitution, Article IV and the laws of this state.
(C)(1) In addition to the sergeant at arms and any assistant sergeants at arms, each house of the general assembly may appoint, employ, contract with, and fix the compensation of law enforcement officers, as defined in section 9.69 of the Revised Code, or other persons to provide or coordinate security for the members of the general assembly.
(2) Each executive department officer covered by this section may appoint, employ, contract with, and fix the compensation of law enforcement officers, as defined in section 9.69 of the Revised Code, or other persons to provide or coordinate security for the officer.
(3) Any law enforcement officer, as defined in section 9.69 of the Revised Code, who is authorized to provide or coordinate security for the general assembly or the executive department officers covered by this section has the same arrest powers as other peace officers and law enforcement officers to apprehend offenders against the criminal laws who endanger or threaten the security of any person being protected, no matter where the offense occurs. This jurisdiction is concurrent with that of peace officers and law enforcement officers of the county, township, or municipal corporation in which the violation occurs and with the state highway patrol.
(D) This section is in addition to, independent of, and operates concurrently with, any security provided by the state highway patrol under section 5503.02 of the Revised Code.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Ohio Revised Code General Provisions § 9.691 - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/oh/general-provisions/oh-rev-code-sect-9-691/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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