(A) There is hereby created the broadcast educational media commission as an independent agency to advance education and accelerate the learning of the citizens of this state through public educational broadcasting services. The commission shall provide leadership and support in extending the knowledge of the citizens of this state by promoting access to and use of educational broadcasting services, including educational television and radio and radio reading services. The commission also shall administer programs to provide financial and other assistance to educational television and radio and radio reading services.

The commission is a body corporate and politic, an agency of the state performing essential governmental functions of the state.

(B) The commission shall consist of fifteen members, eleven of whom shall be voting members. Nine of the voting members shall be representatives of the public selected from among leading citizens in the state who have demonstrated interest in educational broadcast media through service on boards or advisory councils of educational television stations, educational radio stations, educational technology agencies, or radio reading services. Of the representatives of the public, three shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, three shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and three shall be appointed by the president of the senate. Not more than two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and not more than two members appointed by the president of the senate shall be of the same political party. The superintendent of public instruction or a designee of the superintendent and the chancellor of the Ohio board of regents or a designee of the chancellor shall be ex officio voting members. Of the nonvoting members, two shall be members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and two shall be members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate. The members appointed from each chamber shall not be members of the same political party.

(C) Initial terms of office for appointed voting members shall be as follows:

(1) For one member appointed by each of the governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and president of the senate, one year;

(2) For one member appointed by each of the governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and president of the senate, two years;

(3) For one member appointed by each of the governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and president of the senate, three years. At the first meeting of the commission, such members shall draw lots to determine the length of the term each member will serve. Thereafter, terms of office for such members shall be for four years. Any member who is a representative of the public may be reappointed by the member's respective appointing authority, but no such member may serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. Such a member may be removed by the member's respective appointing authority for cause.

Any legislative member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives or the president of the senate who ceases to be a member of the legislative chamber from which the member was appointed shall cease to be a member of the commission. The speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate may remove their respective appointments to the commission at any time.

(D) Vacancies among appointed members shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. Any appointed member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration of that member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(E) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation. The members who are representatives of the public shall be reimbursed, pursuant to office of budget and management guidelines, for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.

(F) The governor shall appoint the chairperson of the commission from among the commission's public voting members. The chairperson shall serve a term of two years and may be reappointed. The commission shall elect other officers as necessary from among its voting members and shall prescribe its rules of procedure.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Effective Date: 07-01-2005; 06-30-2006; 2008 HB562 09-22-2008.

Related Legislative Provision: See 129th General AssemblyFile No.39, SB 171, §4 .