(A) There is hereby created the Ohio veterans hall of fame. The department of veterans services shall serve as the veterans hall of fame's administrative agent. The veterans hall of fame shall recognize the post-military achievements of outstanding veterans and spotlight all veterans' contributions to the civilian workplace.

(B) The Ohio veterans hall of fame shall have an executive committee composed of thirteen members, all of whom shall be veterans. The director of veterans services shall be an ex officio member. The department of veterans services' veterans advisory committee, the advisory committee on women veterans, the Ohio veterans hall of fame foundation, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the AMVETS, the Vietnam Veterans of America, and the American Legion shall each appoint one member.

The Ohio veterans hall of fame executive committee shall appoint its final four members, one of whom shall be from any veterans organization that is incorporated in this state and that is not otherwise represented on the executive committee, one of whom was inducted into the veterans hall of fame three years before the current fiscal year, one of whom was inducted into the veterans hall of fame two years before the current fiscal year, and one of whom was inducted into the veterans hall of fame one year before the current fiscal year.

(C) Terms of office of the members of the Ohio veterans hall of fame executive committee shall be for three years. Each member shall serve subsequent to the expiration of the member's term until the member's successor is appointed, or until sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms.

(D) All vacancies in the membership of the Ohio veterans hall of fame executive committee shall be filled in the same manner as prescribed for original appointments, and the terms of the appointees shall be limited to the unexpired terms.

(E) The members of the Ohio veterans hall of fame executive committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

(F) The Ohio veterans hall of fame executive committee shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from its membership. It shall meet annually to select inductees for the veterans hall of fame from the persons nominated in a manner prescribed by the executive committee. The names of selected inductees shall be submitted to the governor for final approval. The governor shall provide any final approval within thirty days after the executive committee submits the names of the selected inductees. The governor may reject any of the selected inductees for cause, but shall not make any additions to the list of those inductees.

(G) All state elected officials, members of the general assembly, members of the Ohio veterans hall of fame foundation, members of the veterans hall of fame executive committee, members of the governor's staff, members of the veterans hall of fame staff, and members of any county veterans service commission, and the director of veterans services, shall not be eligible for induction into the veterans hall of fame until two years after having vacated that position. The executive committee may waive the two-year moratorium for such a person who is over seventy years of age and who currently holds such a position or has vacated such a position.

(H) The Ohio veterans hall of fame executive committee is not subject to sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Effective Date: 04-29-2005; 2008 SB289 08-22-2008