LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC OFFICE

Columbus City Codes tit. 23, ch. 2321

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 2321.01 Definitions.

2321.01 - Definitions. As used in Title 23 of the Columbus City Codes: (A) "Public official" means any elected or appointed officer, or employee, or agent of the state or any political subdivision whether in a temporary or permanent capacity, and including without limitation legislators, judges, and law enforcement officers. (B) "Public servant" means any of the following: (1) Any public official; (2) Any person performing ad hoc a governmental function including without limitation a juror, member of a temporary commission, master, arbitrator, advisor, or consultant; (3) A candidate for public office, whether or not the candidate is elected or appointed to the office for which the person is a candidate. A person is a candidate for purposes of this division if the person has been nominated according to law for election or appointment to public office, or if the person has filed a petition or petitions as required by law to have the person's name placed on the ballot in a primary, general, or special election, or if the person campaigns as a write-in candidate in any primary, general, or special election. (C) "Party official" means any person who holds an elective or appointive post in a political party in the United States or this state, by virtue of which the person directs, conducts, or participates in directing or conducting party affairs at any level of responsibility. (D) "Official proceeding" means any proceeding before a legislative, judicial, administrative, or other governmental agency or official authorized to take evidence under oath, and includes any proceeding before a referee, hearing examiner, commissioner, notary, or other person taking testimony or a deposition in connection with an official proceeding. (E) "Detention" means arrest, confinement in any vehicle subsequent to an arrest, confinement in any facility for custody of persons charged with or convicted of crime or alleged or found to be delinquent or unruly, or detention for extradition or deportation. For a person confined in a county jail who participates in a county jail industry program pursuant to Section 5147.30 of the Revised Code, "detention" includes time spent at an assigned work site and going to and from the work site. Detention does not include supervision of probation or parole, nor constraint incidental to release on bail. (F) "Detention facility" means any place used for the confinement of a person charged with or convicted of crime or alleged or found to be delinquent or unruly. (G) "Valuable thing or valuable benefit" includes, but is not limited to, a contribution. This inclusion does not indicate or imply that a contribution was not included in those terms before the effective date of this amendment, September 17, 1986. (H) "Campaign committee, contribution," "political action committee," and "political party" have the same meanings as in Section 3517.01 of the Revised Code. (I) "Provider agreement" and "medical assistance program" have the same meanings as in Section 2913.40 of the Revised Code. (ORC 2921.01; Ord. 2535-94; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.04 Intimidation of crime victim or witness.

2321.04 - Intimidation of crime victim or witness. (A) No person shall knowingly attempt to intimidate or hinder the victim of a crime in the filing or prosecution of criminal charges, or a witness in a criminal case in the discharge of the person's duty. (B) This section does not apply to any person who is attempting to resolve a dispute pertaining to the alleged commission of a criminal offense, either prior to or subsequent to the filing of a complaint, or who is attempting to arbitrate or assist in the conciliation of any such dispute, either prior to or subsequent to the filing of a complaint. (C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of intimidation of a crime victim or witness, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (D) This section shall not apply if any person, knowingly and by force or by unlawful threat of harm to any person or property, attempts to influence, intimidate, or hinder the victim of a crime in the filing or prosecution of criminal charges, or a witness in a criminal case in the discharge of the person's duty. (ORC 2921.04; Ord. 2535-94; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.13 Falsification.

2321.13 - Falsification. (A) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following applies: (1) The statement is made in any official proceeding. (2) The statement is made with purpose to incriminate another. (3) The statement is made with purpose to mislead a public official in performing the official's function. (4) The statement is made with purpose to secure the payment of unemployment compensation, aid for the aged, aid for the blind, aid for the permanently and totally disabled, aid to dependent children, general assistance, disability assistance administered by the Department of Human Services, retirement benefits, or other benefits administered by a governmental agency or paid out of a public treasury. (5) The statement is made with purpose to secure the issuance by a governmental agency of a license, permit, authorization, certificate, registration, release, or provider agreement. (6) The statement is sworn or affirmed before a notary public or other person empowered to administer oaths. (7) The statement is in writing on or in connection with a report or return which is required or authorized by law. (8) The statement is in writing, and is made with purpose to induce another to extend credit to or employ the offender, or to confer any degree, diploma, certificate of attainment, award of excellence, or honor on the offender, or to extend to or bestow upon the offender any other valuable benefit or distinction, when the person to whom such statement is directed relies upon it to the official's detriment. (9) The statement is made with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of a theft offense involving the proceeds of an insurance policy. (10) The statement is knowingly made to a probate court in connection with any action, proceeding, or other matter within its jurisdiction, either orally or in a written document, including, but not limited to, an application, petition, complaint, or other pleading, or an inventory, account, or report. (11) The statement is made on an application for a marriage license under Section 3101.05 of the Ohio Revised Code. (ORC 2921.13) (B) It is no defense to a charge under division (A)(4) of this section that the oath or affirmation was administered or taken in an irregular manner. (C) Where contradictory statements relating to the same fact are made by the offender within the period of the statute of limitations for falsification, it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove which statement was false, but only that one or the other was false. (D) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of falsification, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (E) This section shall not apply if: (1) The statement is made with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of a theft offense involving a motor vehicle; or (2) A violation of division (A)(9) if the amount of the claim is three hundred dollars or more. (Ord. 2535-94; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.14 False report of child abuse or neglect.

2321.14 - False report of child abuse or neglect. (A) No person shall knowingly make or cause another person to make a false report under division (B) of Section 2151.421 of the Revised Code alleging that any person has committed an act or omission that resulted in a child being an abused child as defined in Section 2151.031 of the Revised Code or a neglected child as defined in Section 2151.03 of the Revised Code. (B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of making or causing a false report of child abuse or child neglect, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2921.14; Ord. 2535-94.)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.021 School attendance.

2321.021 - School attendance. (A) No person between the ages of six and under the age of eighteen years, shall be upon or about the public streets, public places, commercial establishments or places of amusement or entertainment within the city during the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. except where one of the following applies: (1) The child has written proof from school authorities excusing the child from school attendance at that particular time. (2) The child is accompanied by a parent, guardian or person having legal custody and control of that child. (3) At the time the child was found at a place other than in school, for reasons other than being expelled or suspended, the child was not required by law to be in school. (4) The child is employed pursuant to ages and schooling certificate, during actual working hours or travelling directly to or from the job site. (5) The child is on an emergency errand. (B) A child who violates division (A) shall be guilty of a fourth degree misdemeanor. (C) A child who violates division (A) shall be taken into custody under authority of Ohio Revised Code Section 2151.31(A)(2) and (A)(6)(a) and the child shall then be processed and released within statutory guidelines set forth in Ohio Revised Code Sections 2151.311 and 2151.312(A) (4). (Ord. 1973-95; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.21 Compounding a crime.

2321.21 - Compounding a crime. (A) No person shall knowingly demand, accept, or agree to accept anything of value in consideration of abandoning or agreeing to abandon a pending criminal prosecution. (B) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section when both of the following apply: (1) The pending prosecution involved is for a violation of Section 2313.02 or 2313.11, division (B)(2) of Section 2313.21 of the Columbus City Codes, of which the actor under this section was the victim. (2) The thing of value demanded, accepted, or agreed to be accepted, in consideration of abandoning or agreeing to abandon the prosecution, did not exceed an amount that the actor reasonably believed due the actor as restitution for the loss caused the actor by the offense. (C) When a prosecuting witness abandons or agrees to abandon a prosecution under division (B) of this section, the abandonment or agreement in no way binds the city to abandoning the prosecution. (D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of compounding a crime, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2921.21; Ord. 2535-94; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.22 Reporting felony; medical personnel to report injuries.

2321.22 - Reporting felony; medical personnel to report injuries. (A) No person, knowing that a felony has been or is being committed, shall knowingly fail to report such information to law enforcement authorities. (B) Except for conditions that are within the scope of division (E) of this section, no physician, limited practitioner, nurse, or person giving aid to a sick or injured person, shall negligently fail to report to law enforcement authorities any gunshot or stab wound treated or observed by the physician, limited practitioner, nurse, or person giving aid to a sick or injured person, or any serious physical harm to persons that the physician, limited practitioner, nurse, or person giving aid to a sick or injured person knows or has reasonable cause to believe resulted from an offense of violence. (C) No person who discovers the body or acquires the first knowledge of the death of any person shall fail to report the death immediately to any physician whom the person knows to be treating the deceased for a condition from which death at such time would not be unexpected, or to a law enforcement officer, ambulance service, emergency squad, or the coroner in a political subdivision in which the body is discovered, the death is believed to have occurred, or knowledge concerning the death is obtained. (D) No person shall fail to provide upon request of the person to whom the person has made a report required by division (C) of this section, or to any law enforcement officer who has reasonable cause to assert the authority to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, any facts within the person's knowledge that may have a bearing on the investigation of the death. (E) (1) As used in this division, "burn injury" means any of the following: (a) Second or third degree burns; (b) Any burns to the upper respiratory tract or laryngeal edema due to the inhalation of superheated air; (c) Any burn injury or wound that may result in death. (2) No physician, nurse, or limited practitioner who, outside a hospital, sanitarium, or other medical facility, attends or treats a person who has sustained a burn injury inflicted by an explosion or other incendiary device, or that shows evidence of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or criminal manner, shall fail to report the burn injury immediately to the local arson bureau, if there is such a bureau in the jurisdiction in which the person is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law enforcement authorities. (3) No manager, superintendent, or other person in charge of a hospital, sanitarium, or other medical facility in which a person is attended or treated for any burn injury inflicted by an explosion or other incendiary device, or that shows evidence of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or criminal manner, shall fail to report the burn injury immediately to the local arson bureau, if there is such a bureau in the jurisdiction in which the person is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law enforcement authorities. (4) No person who is required to report any burn injury under division (E)(2) or (3) of this section shall fail to file, within three working days after attending or treating the victim, a written report of the burn injury with the office of the state fire marshal. The report shall be made on a form provided by the state fire marshal. (5) Anyone participating in the making of reports under division (E) of this section or anyone participating in a judicial proceeding resulting from the reports shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed as a result of such actions. Notwithstanding Section 4731.22 of the Revised Code, the physician-patient relationship is not a ground for excluding evidence regarding a person's burn injury or the cause of the burn injury in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to division (E) of this section. (F) Division (A) or (D) of this section does not require disclosure of information, when any of the following applies: (1) The information is privileged by reason of the relationship between attorney and client, doctor and patient, licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist and client, member of clergy or rabbi or minister or priest and any person communicating information confidentially to a member of clergy or rabbi or minister or priest for a religious counseling purpose in the person's professional character, or spouse, or a communications assistant and those who are a party to a telecommunications relay service call. (2) The information would tend to incriminate a member of the actor's immediate family. (3) Disclosure of the information would amount to revealing a news source, privileged under Section 2739.04 or 2739.12 of the Revised Code. (4) Disclosure of the information would amount to disclosure by an ordained member of clergy of an organized religious body of a confidential communication made to an ordained member of clergy in an ordained member of clergy's capacity as such by a person seeking his aid or counsel. (5) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired by the actor in the course of the actor's duties in connection with a bona fide program of treatment or services for drug dependent persons or persons in danger of drug dependence, which program is maintained or conducted by a hospital, clinic, person, agency, or organization registered pursuant to Section 3793.06 of the Revised Code. (6) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired by the actor in the course of the actor's duties in connection with a bona fide program for providing counseling services to victims of crimes that are violations of Section 2907.02, 2907.05, or 2907.12 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "counseling services" include services provided in an informal setting by a person who, by education or experience, is competent to provide such services. (G) No disclosure of information pursuant to this section gives rise to any liability or recrimination for a breach of privilege or confidence. (H) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of failure to report knowledge a crime. Violation of division (A) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Violation of division (B) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree. (I) Whoever violates division (C) or (D) of this section is guilty of failure to report knowledge of a death, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (J) (1) Whoever negligently violates division (E) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. (2) Whoever knowingly violates division (E) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. (ORC 2921.22; Ord. 2535-94; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.23 Failure to aid a law enforcement officer.

2321.23 - Failure to aid a law enforcement officer. (A) No person shall negligently fail or refuse to aid a law enforcement officer, when called upon for assistance in preventing or halting the commission of an offense, or in apprehending or detaining an offender, when such aid can be given without a substantial risk of physical harm to the person giving it. (B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to aid a law enforcement officer, a minor misdemeanor. (ORC 2921.23; Ord. 2535-94.)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.30 Contempt

2321.30 - Contempt (A) No person, having been duly served a subpoena issued pursuant to the Charter authority conferred upon the Mayor or a designee of the Mayor, to give testimony or to produce books, papers or other evidence upon any matter under inquiry by the appointed mayoral designee shall knowingly fail to appear, or, having appeared, refuse to testify regarding any acts within the person's knowledge, or to produce any papers or books in the person's possession, or under the person's control, relating to the matter under inquiry. (B) No witness shall be excused from testifying regarding the witness' knowledge of the matter under investigation in any such inquiry, but such testimony shall not be used against the witness in any criminal prosecution except for perjury committed upon such inquiry. (C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of contempt, a misdemeanor of the third degree. (Ord. No. 3546-2022, § 1, 12-12-2022)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.31 Obstructing official business.

2321.31 - Obstructing official business. (A) No person, without privilege to do so and with purpose to prevent, obstruct, or delay the performance by a public official of any authorized act within the public official's official capacity, shall do any act which hampers or impedes a public official in the performance of his lawful duties. (B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of obstructing official business, a misdemeanor of the second degree. (ORC 2921.31; Ord. 2535-94; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.32 Obstructing justice.

2321.32 - Obstructing justice. (A) No person, with purpose to hinder the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for crime, or to assist another to benefit from the commission of a crime, shall do any of the following: (1) Harbor or conceal such other person; (2) Provide such other person with money, transportation, a weapon, a disguise, or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension; (3) Warn such other person of impending discovery or apprehension; (4) Destroy or conceal physical evidence of the crime, or induce any person to withhold testimony or information or to elude legal process summoning the person to testify or supply evidence; (5) Communicate false information to any person. (B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of obstructing justice, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (C) This section shall not apply if the crime committed by the person aided is a felony. (ORC 2921.32; Ord. 2535-94; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.33 Resisting arrest.

2321.33 - Resisting arrest. (A) No person, recklessly or by force, shall resist or interfere with a lawful arrest of the person's self or another. (B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of resisting arrest, a misdemeanor of the second degree. (ORC 2921.33; Ord. 2535-94; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.51 Impersonation of certain officers.

2321.51 - Impersonation of certain officers. (A) As used in this section: (1) "Peace officer" means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, member of the organized police department of a municipal corporation, or township constable, who is employed by a political subdivision of this state, a member of a police force employed by a metropolitan housing authority under division (D) of Section 3735.31 of the Revised Code, a state university law enforcement officer appointed under Section 3345.04 of the Revised Code, an Ohio veterans' home police officer appointed under Section 5907.02 of the Revised Code, or a state highway patrol trooper and whose primary duties are to preserve the peace, to protect life and property, and to enforce the laws, ordinances, or rules of the state or any of its political subdivisions. (2) "Private police officer" means any security guard, special police officer, private detective, or other person who is privately employed in a police capacity. (3) "Federal law enforcement officer" means an employee of the United States, the duties of whose position are primarily the investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States. (4) "Impersonate" means to act the part of, assume the identity of, wear the uniform or any part of the uniform of, or display the identification of a particular person or of a member of a class of persons with purpose to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons. (B) No person shall impersonate a peace officer, private police officer, or federal law enforcement officer. (C) No person, by impersonating a peace officer, a private police officer, or federal law enforcement officer shall arrest or detain any person, search any person, or search the property of any person. (D) No person, with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of an offense, shall impersonate a peace officer, a private police officer, federal law enforcement officer, or an officer, agent, or employee of the state. (E) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (B) of this section that the impersonation of the peace officer was for a lawful purpose. (F) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Whoever violates division (C) or (D) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. (G) This section shall not apply if: (1) The purpose of a violation of division (D) of this section is to commit or facilitate the commission of a felony, or, (2) If any person commits a felony while impersonating a peace officer, a private police officer, federal law enforcement officer, or an officer, agent, or employee of the state. (ORC 2921.51; Ord. 2535-94: Ord. 1056-06 § 1; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.53 Reserved.

Columbus City Codes § 2321.54 Legislative agent registration.

2321.54 - Legislative agent registration. (A) Definitions. As used in this section: (1) "Actively advocate" means to promote, advocate, or oppose the passage, modification, defeat, or mayoral approval or veto of any legislation by direct communication with any elected official or appointee of elected official, or any member of an elected official's staff, or the mayor or any director of any department described in the City Charter, or any member of the staff of the mayor or of any director described above. "Actively advocate" does not include the action of any individual not engaged by an client who has a direct interest in legislation if the person, acting under Section 3 of Article I, Ohio Constitution, assembles together with other persons to consult for their common good, instructs a public officer or employee who is listed in this chapter, or petitions that public officer or employee for the redress of grievances. (2) "Client" means any individual, partnership, trust, estate, business trust, association, or corporation; any labor organization or manufacturer association; any department, commission, board, publicly supported college or university, chapter, institution, bureau, or other instrumentality of the state; or any county, township, municipal corporation, school district, or other political subdivision of the state who, directly or indirectly, engages a legislative agent. (3) "Compensation" means a salary, gift, payment, benefit, subscription, loan, advance, reimbursement, or deposit of money or anything of value; or a contract, promise, or agreement, whether or not legally enforceable, to make compensation. (4) "Engage" means to make any arrangement, and "engagement" means any arrangement, whereby an individual is employed or retained for compensation to act for or on behalf of a client to actively advocate. (5) "Legislation" means ordinances, resolutions, amendments, nominations, communications and any other matter pending before city council, or the mayoral approval or veto of any legislation acted upon by city council. (6) "Legislative agent" means any individual, except an elected official or a member of the staff of any elected official, who is engaged during at least five (5) percent of the legislative agent's compensated time to actively advocate as one of the legislative agent's main purposes. (7) "File" means electronically submitting information fulfilling the requirements of this section to the office of the city clerk. (8) "Distribution" means the act of making information available either by traditional or electronic mail or by other traditional or electronic means. (9) "Publish" means making available, as a book, electronic document, or other traditional means, a document or series of documents, either for sale or for general distribution. (B) Registration Requirements for Legislative Agents. (1) Each legislative agent, within ten (10) days following an engagement of that legislative agent, shall file with the city clerk a completed initial registration statement, the form of which shall be prescribed by the city clerk, showing all of the following: (i) The name, business address, and occupation of the legislative agent; (ii) The name, business address, and industry information of the client on whose behalf the legislative agent is actively advocating, unless otherwise prohibited by law or by the Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, in which case the legislative agent or client shall indicate that disclosure of the information requested is prohibited by law or by the Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio. For the purposes of this section, where a trade association or other charitable or social organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(c) of the federal Internal Revenue Code is the client, the statement need not list the names and addresses of each member of the association or organization, so long as the association or organization itself is listed; and, a brief indication of the type of legislation and/or issues to which the engagement relates. (2) In addition to the initial registration statement(s) required by this division, each legislative agent shall file with the city clerk, not later than the last day of January, May, and September of each year, an updated registration statement, the form of which shall be prescribed by the city clerk, that confirms the continuing existence of each engagement described in the initial registration statement(s) and that lists the specific ordinances or resolutions on which the agent actively advocated under the engagement(s) during the period covered by the updated statement. (3) If a legislative agent is engaged by more than one client, the agent shall file an initial registration statement listing all clients, and separate updated registration statements, as required by this section, for each client engagement. (4) Each legislative agent must file separately, regardless of collaboration and/or employment with other legislative agents or clients. (5) A registration fee of forty-five ($45.00) dollars plus an administrative fee shall be charged when a legislative agent files the legislative agent's first initial registration statement and yearly, thereafter, so long as the legislative agent is still engaged by one or more clients to actively advocate. All money collected from this registration fee shall be deposited to the credit of the Lobbyist Registration Fund. (6) Upon registration pursuant to this division, the legislative agent shall be provided a copy of the registration electronically for the legislative agent and/or client's records. (7) The city clerk shall be responsible for reviewing each registration statement filed under this division and for determining whether the statement contains all of the information required by this division. If the city clerk determines that the registration statement does not contain all of the required information or that a legislative agent has failed to file a registration statement, the city clerk shall notify in writing the individual who filed the registration statement regarding the deficiency in the statement or the individual who failed to file the registration statement regarding the failure. Any individual so notified by the city clerk shall, not later than fifteen days after receiving the notice, file a registration statement or an amended registration statement that does contain all of the information required by this section. If any individual who receives a notice under this section fails to file a registration statement or such an amended registration statement within this fifteen-day period, the city clerk will send out a second written notification to that individual and notify the city attorney of the deficiency in the statement or the failure to file a registration statement. Any individual so notified by the city clerk shall, not later than fifteen days after receiving the notice, file a registration statement or an amended registration statement that does contain all of the information required by this section. If any individual who receives a notice under this section fails to file a registration statement or such an amended registration statement within this additional fifteen (15)-day period, the city attorney's office will take appropriate action as authorized under this section. If the city clerk provides notification to the city attorney under this division, the city clerk shall also notify in writing the mayor and each member of the council of the pending investigation. (8) The city clerk shall, in the manner and form that the city clerk determines, maintain a current list based upon the registration statements and make it available to the public. (C) Prohibitions. (1) No individual shall knowingly fail to register as a legislative agent as defined in this section or fail to file on or before the applicable deadline any statement that the person is required to file under division (B) of this section. (2) No individual shall knowingly file a false statement that the individual is required to file under division (B) of this section. (D) Exceptions. (1) The requirements and prohibitions of this section do not apply to efforts to actively advocate by any of the following: (a) Appearances before meetings of the committees of city council or the full council, and appearances before public hearings of the committees of the council; (b) News, editorial, and advertising statements published in bona fide newspapers, journals, or magazines, or broadcast over radio or television; (c) The gathering and furnishing of information and news by bona fide reporters, correspondents, or news bureaus to news media described hereinabove; (d) Publications primarily designed for and distributed to members of bona fide associations or charitable or social nonprofit corporations. (2) The requirements and prohibitions of this section do not apply to the rendering of professional services in drafting ordinances or resolutions, preparing arguments thereon, or in advising clients and rendering opinions as to the construction and the effect of proposed or pending legislation, provided the services are not otherwise connected with actions to actively advocate. (E) Registration duties of the city clerk (1) The city clerk shall keep a file of the registration statements required by this section. Those statements are public records and open to public inspection according to law, and the city clerk shall computerize them so that the information contained in them is readily accessible to the general public. The city clerk shall provide copies of the statements to the general public upon request and may charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost of copying and delivering each statement. (2) The city clerk shall prescribe and make available an appropriate form for filing the information either electronically, or by hard copy, or both. The form shall contain the following notice in boldface type: "ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO KNOWINGLY FILES A FALSE STATEMENT IS GUILTY OF FALSIFICATION UNDER SECTION 2321.13 OF THE COLUMBUS CITY CODES, WHICH IS A MISDEMEANOR OF THE FIRST DEGREE." (3) The city clerk shall publish on-line instructions, which are also available in hard copy for a reasonable fee to cover the cost of copying and delivering the instructions, which explain this section in clear and concise language. (4) Within thirty (30) days of the filing deadlines listed in division (B)(2) of this section, the city clerk shall compile from registration statements filed, a complete and updated list of active registered legislative agents and their clients and publish that list electronically in the City Bulletin. The city clerk shall provide copies of the list to the general public upon request and may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the cost of copying and delivering the list. The city clerk shall also ensure that the current list is available online on the website of the city of Columbus. (5) The city clerk may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. (6) The city clerk shall exercise the powers and duties prescribed under this section. (7) All moneys collected from registration fees prescribed under this section shall be deposited into the city treasury to the credit of the Lobbyist Registration Fund created by this ordinance. Money credited to the fund and any interest and earnings from the fund shall be dedicated to covering the costs of coordinating and enforcing this effort and used solely for conducting the lobbyist registration duties of the city clerk and, as needed for enforcement activities undertaken by the city attorney. (8) The city clerk shall provide an updated list of registered legislative agents to the members of council and to the mayor at any time upon request. (F) Authority of the City Attorney. The city attorney may investigate compliance with the filing requirements of this section, in accordance with division (B), or upon a written complaint filed with the city attorney's office. (G) Penalties. (1) Whoever violates the prohibitions contained in division (C)(1) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. (2) Whoever violates the prohibitions contained in division (C)(2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. (Ord. 315-06 § 1.; Ord. No. 0084-2016, § 1, 3-28-2016; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 3536-2024, § 1, 12-16-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.55 Prohibited use of public funds.

2321.55 - Prohibited use of public funds. (A) As used in this section: (1) "Campaign committee," "campaign fund," "candidate," "legislative campaign fund," "political action committee," "political committee," "political party," and "separate segregated fund" have the same meanings as in Section 3517.01 of the Revised Code, or a successor to that section. (2) "Expressly advocate" and "express advocacy" means unambiguously calling for the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate for public office or the passage or defeat of a municipal ballot issue. "Unambiguously calling for" includes the use of explicit words such as "vote for," "elect," "support," "cast your ballot for," "Smith for Congress," "vote against," "defeat," or "reject;" or use of generic phrases such as "vote pro-democracy" in conjunction with the name, photo, likeness, title, or description of a candidate for public office or a municipal ballot issue. (3) "Transaction" includes a purchase, sale, trade, loan, pledge, investment, gift, transfer, transmission, delivery, deposit, withdrawal, payment, extension of credit, purchase or sale of a payment instrument, or any other acquisition or disposition of anything of value, including a benefit, privilege, claim, or right with respect to anything of value, whether real or personal property, tangible or intangible. (B) No funds of the city shall be expended, nor shall any transaction using such funds be authorized or conducted, to do any of the following: (1) Benefit, whether directly or indirectly, a campaign committee, campaign fund, candidate, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, political committee, political party, or separate segregated fund; (2) Promote or conduct illegal discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, family or military status, or any other status that is protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance; (3) Publish, distribute, or otherwise communicate defamatory or libelous matter; or (4) Expressly advocate for the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate for public office or the passage or defeat of a municipal ballot issue. Subsection (B)(4) of this section does not prohibit either of the following: (a) The use of public funds to compensate an employee of a political subdivision to participate in or conduct a public forum even if an election or municipal ballot issue is discussed or debated in such forum, provided the employee's activity does not constitute express advocacy; or (b) The utilization of any person's own time to expressly advocate, unless otherwise prohibited by law. The prohibitions in subsection (B) of this section shall apply to all officers and employees of the city, and to any person expending funds that were received from the city to be used for a permitted public purpose. (C) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the use of public funds to do any of the following: (1) Produce, present or communicate information about the finances, plans, policies, activities, initiatives, operations, and governmental actions of the city; (2) Conduct activities intended to promote, enforce and protect the fundamental right to vote in all municipal elections, including, but not limited to, the institution of legal action to protect the right to vote, the expansion of opportunities and eligibility to register and vote, and the undertaking of non-partisan measures to promote voter registration, education, and participation; or (3) Engage in election-related communications required by applicable law. (D) Council may declare void any city contract the proceeds of which were used, whether directly or indirectly, in furtherance of any knowing violation of this section. (E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be required to repay to the city any funds improperly used in addition to any other applicable penalty. (Ord. No. 2030-2015, § 1, 7-27-2015)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.56 Ethics Disclosure.

2321.56 - Ethics Disclosure. (A) Definitions. As used in this section: (1) "Municipal office" means the offices of mayor, city council member, city auditor, or city attorney. (2) "Office holder" means a person who is elected or appointed to the office of mayor, city council member, city auditor, or city attorney. (3) "Candidate" means any candidate in an election for nomination or election to office for mayor, city council member, city auditor, or city attorney. (4) The definitions set forth in section 102.01 of the Ohio Revised Code shall apply to this section except to the extent modified in this section. (B) Financial Disclosure Statement filed with Ohio Ethics Commission Every person who is an office holder, or a candidate, and every person who is appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term in such an elective office, shall file with the Ohio Ethics Commission the disclosure statement described in this division on a form prescribed by the Commission, according to the section 102.02 of the Ohio Revised Code. In addition to the information required by division (A)(2) of section 102.02 of the Ohio Revised Code, other than exceptions provided in that same division, the disclosure statement shall include the following: (1) As provided in division (A)(2)(g)-(i) of section 102.02 of the Ohio Revised Code, including a brief description of each gift, or aggregate of gifts from any one source, of over seventy-five (75) dollars, received by the officeholder or candidate, in the officer holder or candidate's own name, or by any other person for the office holder or candidate's use or benefit during the preceding calendar year, from the following persons: (a) Any person with whom the officer holder or candidate, or office holder's or candidate's immediate family, does business; (b) Any person who is a creditor of over one thousand dollars ($1,000) of, or a debtor of over one thousand dollars ($1,000) to, the office holder or candidate; (c) Any person with whom the office holder or candidate has an investment, other than a primary residence or real property held primarily for personal recreation, of over one thousand dollars ($1,000); (d) Any person that has another fiduciary relationship, such as co-owner or proprietorship of a corporation, trust, business trust, partnership, or association, with an office holder or candidate. (C) Financial Disclosure Statements filed with the City Clerk (1) Every officer holder or candidate, and every person who is appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term in such an elective office, shall file a financial disclosure statement, mandated by division (B) of this section, with the city clerk. (2) The same filing deadlines as provided in division (A)(4) of section 102.02 of the Ohio Revised Code shall apply to the financial disclosure statements required to be filed with the city clerk pursuant to this division. In addition, every person required to file a financial disclosure statement with the city clerk pursuant to this division shall file an additional, semiannual financial disclosure statement with the city clerk, not later than the fifteenth (15th) day of November each year. This statement shall contain the same information required by division (B) of this section for the period between the first day of January of the current calendar year and the last day of June of the current calendar year. (3) A person may file the duplicate annual statement and original semiannual statement required by this division in person or by mail. (4) The city clerk shall be responsible for reviewing each statement filed under this division and for determining whether the statement contains all of the information required by this division. If the city clerk determines that the statement does not contain all of the required information or that an office holder or candidate has failed to file a statement, the city clerk shall notify, in writing, the person who filed the statement regarding the deficiency in the statement or the person who failed to file the statement regarding the failure. Any person so notified by the city clerk shall, not later than fifteen (15) days after receiving the notice, file a statement or an amended statement that contains all of the information required by this section. If any person who receives a notice under this section fails to file a statement or an amended statement within this fifteen (15)-day period, the city clerk will send out a second written notification to that person and notify the city attorney of the deficiency in the statement or the failure to file a statement. Any person so notified by the city clerk shall, not later than fifteen (15) days after receiving the notice, file a statement or an amended statement that contains all of the information required by this section. If any person who receives a notice under this section fails to file a statement or an amended statement within this additional fifteen (15)-day period, the city attorney's office will take appropriate action as authorized under this section. (5) The city clerk may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. (6) The city clerk shall exercise the powers and duties prescribed under this section. (D) Authority of the City Attorney The city attorney may investigate compliance with the filing requirements of this section in accordance with division (C) or upon a written complaint filed with the city attorney's office. (E) Ethics Policy For each municipal office, the office holder shall establish an ethics policy for that office within six (6) months of election, including annual ethics training for those persons in the office that the office holder designates. Each office holder shall also designate a person in the office who will coordinate the ethics policy within that office. (1) For the purposes of this division, the president of city council shall retain the responsibility to establish an ethics policy for all city council offices, as well as to designate a person in the city council president's office who will coordinate ethics issues and policy. (2) To the extent practicable, municipal offices shall collaborate toward uniformity in their respective ethics policies. (F) Penalties (1) No person shall knowingly fail to file the financial disclosure statement, on or before the applicable filing deadlines, required under this section. A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor of the third degree. (2) No person shall knowingly file a false financial disclosure statement required under this section. A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor of the first degree. (Ord. No. 0086-2016, § 1, 3-28-2016)

Columbus City Codes § 2321.331 Failure to comply with officer's order or signal.

2321.331 - Failure to comply with officer's order or signal. (A) No person shall fail to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer invested with authority to direct, control, or regulate traffic. (B) No person shall operate a motor vehicle so as willfully to elude or flee a police officer after receiving a visible or audible signal from a police officer to bring the person's motor vehicle to a stop. (C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer. A violation of division (A) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. A violation of division (B) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree, except when any of the following apply: (1) In committing the offense, the offender was fleeing immediately after the commission of a felony; (2) The operation of the motor vehicle by the offender was a proximate cause of serious physical harm to persons or property; (3) The operation of the motor vehicle by the offender caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property. (D) As used in this section, "police officer" has the same meaning as in Section 4511.01 of the Revised Code. (ORC 2921.331; Ord. 2535-94; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT23GEOFCO_CH2321LAENPUOFFetched: 10/27/2026