(A) It is hereby declared to be a public purpose and an essential governmental function of the state that the department of rehabilitation and correction, in the name of the state and for the use and benefit of the department, purchase, acquire, construct, own, lease, or sublease capital facilities or sites for capital facilities for use as halfway house facilities.

(B) The director of rehabilitation and correction may lease or sublease capital facilities or sites for capital facilities under division (A) of this section to or from, and may make any other agreement with respect to the purchase, construction, management, or operation of those capital facilities with, a halfway house organization or the Ohio public facilities commission, the department of administrative services, or any other state agency having authority over that function. The director may make any lease, sublease, or other agreement under this division without the necessity for advertisement, auction, competitive bidding, court order, or other action or formality otherwise required by law. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, the director shall make each lease or sublease to or from the Ohio public facilities commission or halfway house organization in accordance with Chapter 154. of the Revised Code.

(C) The director, by a sale, lease, sublease, release, or other agreement, may dispose of real or personal property or a lesser interest in real or personal property that is held or owned by the state for the use and benefit of the department, if the department does not need the property or interest for its purposes. The department shall make a sale, lease, sublease, release, or other agreement under this division upon the terms that it determines, subject to the approval by the governor in the case of a sale, lease, sublease, release, or other agreement regarding real property or an interest in real property. The director may make a lease, sublease, or other grant of use of property or an interest in property under this division without the necessity for advertisement, auction, competitive bidding, court order, or other action or formality otherwise required by law.

(D) The director may grant an easement or other interest in real property held by the state for the use and benefit of the department if that easement or interest will not interfere with the use of the property as a halfway house facility.

(E) All property purchased, acquired, constructed, owned, leased, or subleased by the department in the exercise of its powers and duties are public property used exclusively for a public purpose, and that property and the income derived by the department from the property are exempt from all taxation within this state, including without limitation, ad valorem and excise taxes.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 497, §101.01, eff. 7/1/2014.

Effective Date: 03-17-1998 .