OH SB311

Requires pawn brokers, precious metal dealers, secondhand dealers, and scrap metal dealers to make purchase records available to law enforcement via a secure internet database system approved by the director of commerce.

Allows dealers unable to obtain electronic recording means and internet access without undue hardship to submit records in written format to local law enforcement instead.

Establishes that records submitted to law enforcement are confidential and not public records, but persons who filed stolen property reports may request records with personal identifying information and prices redacted.

Creates new section 4727.22 directing the director of commerce to approve a secure law enforcement database reporting system for use by all covered dealer types.

Increases criminal penalties for violations, establishing misdemeanor charges of varying degrees (third, second, or first degree) based on the number of prior violations of dealer record-keeping requirements.