H.B. 211 Summary

• Enacts Section 109.831 of the Revised Code to authorize the Ohio Attorney General to prosecute crimes committed on specified state property, including Capitol Square, Ohio Supreme Court building, James A. Rhodes State Office Tower, and other designated state facilities in Columbus.

• Allows law enforcement agencies to either pursue charges normally or refer investigations to the Attorney General if they conclude a reasonable likelihood exists of obtaining a conviction for crimes on designated state property.

• Requires prosecuting attorneys, directors of law, or chief legal officers to notify the Attorney General within 30 days of referral whether they will prosecute, and to present evidence to a grand jury within that timeframe or initiate prosecution within 60 days.

• Grants the Attorney General exclusive supervision and control of any prosecutions initiated under this section and permits the Attorney General to prosecute directly if local officials fail to meet statutory deadlines.

• Does not limit the jurisdiction of any law enforcement agency or prevent local prosecutors from investigating and prosecuting crimes on designated state property, and applies retroactively to prior crimes where no charges have been filed.