OH HB357

Amends Ohio Revised Code section 1901.181 to grant the Housing Division of Cleveland Municipal Court concurrent jurisdiction with the Court of Common Pleas in criminal cases related to environmental pollution.

Concurrent jurisdiction applies to all criminal actions or proceedings related to pollution of air, ground, or water within Cleveland Municipal Court's territory, excluding cases where a death sentence could be imposed.

Maintains existing exclusive jurisdiction of housing and environmental divisions in municipal courts over civil and criminal violations of local building, housing, air pollution, sanitation, health, fire, zoning, and safety codes.

Requires the administrative judge to assign substitute judges when the environmental division judge or housing division judge is unavailable due to vacation, illness, absence, recusal, or other reasons.

Repeals the existing section 1901.181 of the Revised Code upon enactment.