OH HB363

Amends the Public Utilities Commission nominating council composition by removing the state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors chairperson and adding two new public members appointed by legislative minority leaders, plus a representative of regulated public utilities appointed by the governor.

Prohibits council members (except the regulated utilities representative) from being or having been representatives, employees, or having business relations with entities regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, and prohibits them from holding stocks, bonds, or pecuniary interests in such entities.

Requires all commissioner applicant interviews to be conducted in public meetings with no executive sessions, and mandates commissioner applicants disclose all services rendered to public utilities regardless of compensation.

Establishes a new public disclosure requirement for the Public Utilities Commission to post on its website council member biographies, meeting notices and minutes, applicant biographies, and video recordings of council meetings and interviews, along with opportunities for public electronic comments.

Adds conflict-of-interest restrictions prohibiting commissioners appointed after the effective date from currently being or previously having been representatives or employees of, or having relations with, regulated utility entities.