(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the designation, establishment, design, construction, implementation, operation, repair, or maintenance of, or the lack of any of the preceding for, a public grade crossing included in a railroad quiet zone established pursuant to sections 4955.41 to 4955.47 of the Revised Code is a governmental function under section 2744.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Sections 9.85 to 9.87 and Chapter 2743. of the Revised Code specify the liability of this state or an officer or employee of this state with respect to a civil action brought for a violation of any provision of sections 4955.41 to 4955.47 of the Revised Code or any order issued under those sections. As used in this division, "state" has the same meaning as in section 2743.01 of the Revised Code, and "officer or employee" has the same meaning as in section 9.85 of the Revised Code.

(C) Nothing in sections 4955.41 to 4955.47 of the Revised Code obligates or requires the payment by a railroad of any part of the costs of establishing or maintaining such a railroad quiet zone.

(D) If, prior to the creation of a railroad quiet zone, a railroad is paying any part of the maintenance costs of a railroad grade crossing protective device then in existence at a railroad grade crossing located within the quiet zone, the railroad shall continue to pay those maintenance costs after the approval by the commission of the quiet zone, but the railroad is not required to pay any of the additional costs associated with the installation or maintenance of any protective device installed thereafter at the railroad grade crossing due to the creation of the quiet zone.

(E) Except as provided in division (F) of this section, no money appropriated by the general assembly to pay the costs of measures taken to increase the safety of the traveling public at a public railroad grade crossing shall be diverted from such use after the effective date of this section to pay any of the costs associated with the establishment of a railroad quiet zone, including money in the grade crossing protection fund created by section 4907.472 of the Revised Code.

(F) State grade crossing safety funds may be used to pay part of the costs of additional safety improvements required to establish a railroad quiet zone when the municipal corporation or township establishing the quiet zone complies with sections 4955.41 to 4955.47 of the Revised Code if either of the following circumstances exist:

(1) The municipal corporation or township closes a public grade crossing in the same railroad corridor as the railroad quiet zone.

(2) The department of transportation has selected the municipal corporation or township as a participant in the grade separation program along the same railroad corridor as the railroad quiet zone.

(G) No political subdivision of the state may use state funds of any kind to assist in the planning, construction, development, operation, or maintenance of a railroad quiet zone unless the political subdivision acts in accordance with sections 4955.41 to 4955.47 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 11-18-2004 .