S.B. 147 Summary

• Creates the American Red Cross Ohio Disaster Response Readiness and Preparedness Fund in the state treasury to receive contributions through income tax returns and direct donations.

• Allows taxpayers beginning in 2011 to contribute to the fund by designating part of their refund or increasing their tax payment, with a minimum contribution of one dollar.

• Directs the state emergency management agency executive director to make annual grants to the American Red Cross Greater Columbus Chapter for disaster preparedness, response, and planning throughout Ohio.

• Modifies the income tax contribution system to include the new Red Cross fund alongside existing charitable funds (natural areas, nongame wildlife, and military injury relief funds).

• Changes administrative cost allocation from one-third per fund to one-fourth per fund among the four charitable funds, capped at 2.5 percent of total annual contributions.