Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
Norton Overview
Norton, Ohio Code of Ordinances
CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF NORTON, OHIO
CERTIFICATION
DIRECTORY OF OFFICIALS (2025)
PRELIMINARY UNIT
CHARTER
PART TWO - ADMINISTRATION CODE
PART FOUR - TRAFFIC CODE
PART SIX - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
CHAPTER 606 General Provisions
CHAPTER 608 Administration, Enforcement and Public Service
CHAPTER 612 Alcoholic Beverages
CHAPTER 618 Animals
CHAPTER 624 Drugs
CHAPTER 626 Employer - Employee Relations
CHAPTER 630 Gambling
CHAPTER 636 Offenses Relating to Persons
CHAPTER 642 Offenses Relating to Property
CHAPTER 648 Peace Disturbances
CHAPTER 654 Railroads
CHAPTER 660 Safety, Sanitation and Health
CHAPTER 662 Clean Indoor Air
CHAPTER 666 Sex Related Offenses
CHAPTER 672 Theft and Fraud
CHAPTER 674 Criminal Activities Defined as Public Nuisances
CHAPTER 678 Weapons and Explosives
CHAPTER 698 Penalties and Sentencing
PART EIGHT - BUSINESS REGULATION AND TAXATION CODE
PART TEN - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
PART TWELVE - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE
PART FOURTEEN - BUILDING AND HOUSING CODE
PART SIXTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
Loading...
636.20 HAZING.
   (a)   As used in this section:
      (1)   “Hazing.” Means doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliation with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse, as defined in R.C. § 3719.011.
      (2)   “Organization.” Includes a national or international organization with which a fraternity or sorority is affiliated.
   (b)   (1)   No person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another.
      (2)   No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other educational institution, public or private, shall recklessly permit the hazing of any person associated with the organization.
   (c)   (1)   No person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another when the hazing includes coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs of abuse resulting in serious physical harm to the other person.
      (2)   No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other educational institution, public or private, shall recklessly permit the hazing of any person associated with the organization when the hazing includes coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs of abuse resulting in serious physical harm to that person.
   (d)   Whoever violates divisions (b) or (c) of this section is guilty of hazing. A violation of division (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree. A violation of division (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(R.C. § 2903.31)
   (e)   Reckless failure to immediately report knowledge of hazing.
      (1)   No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other public or private educational institution, who is acting in an official and professional capacity shall recklessly fail to immediately report the knowledge of hazing to a law enforcement agency in the county in which the victim of hazing resides or in which the hazing is occurring or has occurred.
      (2)   A violation of division (e)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, except that the violation is a misdemeanor of the first degree if the hazing causes serious physical harm.
(R.C. § 2903.311(B), (C))
Statutory reference:
   Civil liability for hazing, see Ohio R.C. 2307.44
636.21 ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTION OF CIGARETTES, OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS, OR ALTERNATIVE NICOTINE PRODUCTS; TRANSACTION SCANS.
   (a)   Illegal Distribution of Cigarettes, Other Tobacco Products, or Alternative Nicotine Products.
      (1)   As used in this section:
         A.   “Age verification.” A service provided by an independent third party (other than a manufacturer, producer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes) that compares information available from a commercially available database, or aggregate of databases, that regularly are used by government and businesses for the purpose of age and identity verification to personal information provided during an internet sale or other remote method of sale to establish that the purchaser is 21 years of age or older.
         B.   “Alternative nicotine product.”
            1.   Subject to division 2. of this definition, an electronic smoking device, vapor product, or any other product or device that consists of or contains nicotine that can be ingested into the body by any means, including, but not limited to, chewing, smoking, absorbing, dissolving, or inhaling.
            2.   The phrase does not include any of the following:
               a.   Any cigarette or other tobacco product;
               b.   Any product that is a “drug” as that term is defined in 21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1);
               c.   Any product that is a “device” as that term is defined in 21 U.S.C. § 321(h);
               d.   Any product that is a “combination product” as described in 21 U.S.C. § 353(g).
         C.   “Cigarette.” Includes clove cigarettes and hand-rolled cigarettes.
         D.   “Distribute.” Means to furnish, give, or provide cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to the ultimate consumer of the cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes.
         E.   “Electronic smoking device.” Means any device that can be used to deliver aerosolized or vaporized nicotine or any other substance to the person inhaling from the device including an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic hookah, vaping pen, or electronic pipe. The phrase includes any component, part, or accessory of such a device, whether or not sold separately, and includes any substance intended to be aerosolized or vaporized during the use of the device. The phrase does not include any product that is a drug, device, or combination product, as those terms are defined or described in 21 U.S.C. §§ 321 and 353(g).
         F.   “Proof of age.” Means a driver’s license, a commercial driver’s license, a military identification card, a passport, or an identification card issued under R.C. §§ 4507.50 to 4507.52 that shows that a person is 21 years of age or older.
         G.   “Tobacco product.” Means any product that is made or derived from tobacco or that contains any form of nicotine, if it is intended for human consumption or is likely to be consumed, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to, a cigarette, an electronic smoking device, a cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, or snus. The phrase also means any component or accessory used in the consumption of a tobacco product, such as filters, rolling papers, pipes, blunt or hemp wraps, and liquids used in electronic smoking devices, whether or not they contain nicotine. The phrase does not include any product that is a drug, device, or combination product, as those terms are defined or described in 21 U.S.C. §§ 321 and 353(g).
         H.   “Vapor product.” Means a product, other than a cigarette or other tobacco product as defined in R.C. Chapter 5743, that contains or is made or derived from nicotine and that is intended and marketed for human consumption, including by smoking, inhaling, snorting, or sniffing. The phrase includes any component, part, or additive that is intended for use in an electronic smoking device, a mechanical heating element, battery, or electronic circuit and is used to deliver the product. The phrase does not include any product that is a drug, device, or combination product, as those terms are defined or described in 21 U.S.C. §§ 321 and 353(g). The phrase includes any product containing nicotine, regardless of concentration.
         I.   “Vending machine.” Has the same meaning as “coin machine” in R.C. § 2913.01.
      (2)   No manufacturer, producer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes, no agent, employee, or representative of a manufacturer, producer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes, and no other person shall do any of the following:
         A.   Give, sell, or otherwise distribute cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes:
            1.   To any person under 21 years of age; or
            2.   Without first verifying proof of age.
         B.   Give away, sell, or distribute cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes in any place that does not have posted in a conspicuous place a legibly printed sign in letters at least one-half inch high stating that giving, selling, or otherwise distributing cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to a person under 21 years of age is prohibited by law;
         C.   Knowingly furnish any false information regarding the name, age, or other identification of any person under 21 years of age with purpose to obtain cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes for that person;
         D.   Manufacture, sell, or distribute in this state any pack or other container of cigarettes containing fewer than 20 cigarettes or any package of roll-your-own tobacco containing less than six-tenths of one ounce of tobacco;
         E.   Sell cigarettes or alternative nicotine products in a smaller quantity than that placed in the pack or other container by the manufacturer;
         F.   Give, sell, or otherwise distribute alternative nicotine products, papers used to roll cigarettes, or tobacco products other than cigarettes over the internet or through another remote method without age verification;
         G.   Allow an employee under 18 years of age to sell any tobacco product;
         H.   Give away or otherwise distribute free samples of cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or coupons redeemable for cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alterative tobacco products.
      (3)   No person shall sell or offer to sell cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products by or from a vending machine, except in the following locations:
         A.   An area within a factory, business, office, or other place not open to the general public;
         B.   An area to which persons under 21 years of age are not generally permitted access;
         C.   Any other place not identified in division (a)(3)A. or (a)(3)B. of this section, upon all of the following conditions:
            1.   The vending machine is located within the immediate vicinity, plain view, and control of the person who owns or operates the place, or an employee of that person, so that all cigarettes, other tobacco product, and alternative nicotine product purchases from the vending machine will be readily observed by the person who owns or operates the place or an employee of that person. For the purpose of this section, a vending machine located in any unmonitored area, including an unmonitored coatroom, restroom, hallway, or outer waiting area, shall not be considered located within the immediate vicinity, plain view, and control of the person who owns or operates the place, or an employee of that person.
            2.   The vending machine is inaccessible to the public when the place is closed.
            3.   A clearly visible notice is posted in the area where the vending machine is located that states the following in letters that are legibly printed and at least one-half inch high: “It is illegal for any person under the age of 21 to purchase tobacco or alternative nicotine products.”
      (4)   The following are affirmative defenses to a charge under division (a)(2)A. of this section:
         A.   The person under 21 years of age was accompanied by a parent, spouse who is 21 years of age or older, or legal guardian of the person under 21 years of age.
         B.   The person who gave, sold, or distributed cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to a person under 21 years of age under division (a)(2)A. of this section is a parent, spouse who is 21 years of age or older, or legal guardian of the person under 21 years of age.
      (5)   A.   It is not a violation of division (a)(2)A. or (a)(2)B. of this section for a person to give or otherwise distribute to a person under 21 years of age cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes while the person under 21 years of age is participating in a research protocol if all of the following apply:
            1.   The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the person under 21 years of age has consented in writing to the person under 21 years of age participating in the research protocol.
            2.   An institutional human subjects protection review board, or an equivalent entity, has approved the research protocol.
            3.   The person under 21 years of age is participating in the research protocol at the facility or location specified in the research protocol.
         B.   It is not a violation of division (a)(2)A. or (a)(2)B. of this section for an employer to permit an employee 18, 19, or 20 years of age to sell a tobacco product.
      (6)   A.   No delivery service shall accept from, transport or deliver to, or allow pick-up by, a person under 21 years of age with respect to any of the following:
            1.   Alternative nicotine products;
            2.   Papers used to roll cigarettes;
            3.   Tobacco products other than cigarettes.
         B.   A delivery service shall require proof of age as a condition of accepting, transporting, delivering, or allowing pickup of the items described in divisions (a)(6)A.1. to 3. of this section.
      (7)   Whoever violates division (a)(2)A., (a)(2)B., (a)(2)D., (a)(2)E., (a)(2)F., (a)(2)G., (a)(2)H., (a)(3) or (a)(6) of this section is guilty of illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products. Except as otherwise provided in this division, illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
      (8)   Whoever violates division (a)(2)C. of this section is guilty of permitting a person under 21 years of age to use cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products. Except as otherwise provided in this division, permitting a person under 21 years of age to use cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of division (a)(2)C. of this section or a substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, permitting a person under 21 years of age to use cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
      (9)   Any cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes that are given, sold, or otherwise distributed to a person under 21 years of age in violation of this section and that are used, possessed, purchased, or received by a person under 21 years of age in violation of R.C. § 2151.87 are subject to seizure and forfeiture as contraband under R.C. Chapter 2981.
(R.C. § 2927.02)
   (b)   Transaction Scan.
      (1)   For the purpose of this division and division (c) of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
         A.   “Card holder.” Any person who presents a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card to a seller, or an agent or employee of a seller, to purchase or receive cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products from a seller, agent or employee.
         B.   “Identification card.” An identification card issued under Ohio R.C. 4507.50 to 4507.52.
         C.   “Seller.” A seller of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products and includes any person whose gift of or other distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is subject to the prohibitions of division (a) of this section.
         D.   “Transaction scan.” The process by which a seller or an agent or employee of a seller checks, by means of a transaction scan device, the validity of a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card that is presented as a condition for purchasing or receiving cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products.
         E.   “Transaction scan device.” Any commercial device or combination of devices used at a point of sale that is capable of deciphering in an electronically readable format the information encoded on the magnetic strip or bar code of a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card.
      (2)   A.   A seller or an agent or employee of a seller may perform a transaction scan by means of a transaction scan device to check the validity of a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by a card holder as a condition for selling, giving away or otherwise distributing to the card holder cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products.
         B.   If the information deciphered by the transaction scan performed under division (b)(2)A. of this section fails to match the information printed on the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by the card holder, or if the transaction scan indicates that the information so printed is false or fraudulent, neither the seller nor any agent or employee of the seller shall sell, give away or otherwise distribute any cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products to the card holder.
         C.   Division (b)(2)A. of this section does not preclude a seller or an agent or employee of a seller from using a transaction scan device to check the validity of a document other than a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card, if the document includes a bar code or magnetic strip that may be scanned by the device, as a condition for selling, giving away or otherwise distributing cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products to the person presenting the document.
      (3)   Rules adopted by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under Ohio R.C. 4301.61(C) apply to the use of transaction scan devices for purposes of this division (b) and division (c) of this section.
      (4)   A.   No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall electronically or mechanically record or maintain any information derived from a transaction scan, except for the following:
            1.   The name and date of birth of the person listed on the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by the card holder;
            2.   The expiration date and identification number of the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by the card holder.
         B.   No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall use the information that is derived from a transaction scan or that is permitted to be recorded and maintained under division (b)(4)A. of this section, except for purposes of division (c) of this section.
         C.   No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall use a transaction scan device for a purpose other than the purpose specified in division (c)(2)A. of this section.
         D.   No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall sell or otherwise disseminate the information derived from a transaction scan to any third party, including but not limited to selling or otherwise disseminating that information for any marketing, advertising or promotional activities, but a seller or agent or employee of a seller may release that information pursuant to a court order or as specifically authorized by division (c) of this section or another section of these Codified Ordinances or the Ohio Revised Code.
      (5)   Nothing in this division (b) or division (c) of this section relieves a seller or an agent or employee of a seller of any responsibility to comply with any other applicable local, state or federal laws or rules governing the sale, giving away or other distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products.
      (6)   Whoever violates division (b)(2)B. or (b)(4) of this section is guilty of engaging in an illegal tobacco product or alternative nicotine product transaction scan, and the court may impose upon the offender a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation. The Clerk of the Court shall pay each collected civil penalty to the County Treasurer for deposit into the County Treasury.
(ORC 2927.021)
   (c)   Affirmative Defenses.
      (1)   A seller or an agent or employee of a seller may not be found guilty of a charge of a violation of division (a) of this section in which the age of the purchaser or other recipient of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is an element of the alleged violation, if the seller, agent or employee raises and proves as an affirmative defense that all of the following occurred:
         A.   A card holder attempting to purchase or receive cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products presented a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card.
         B.   A transaction scan of the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card that the card holder presented indicated that the license or card was valid.
         C.   The cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products were sold, given away or otherwise distributed to the card holder in reasonable reliance upon the identification presented and the completed transaction scan.
      (2)   In determining whether a seller or an agent or employee of a seller has proven the affirmative defense provided by division (c)(1) of this section, the trier of fact in the action for the alleged violation of division (a) of this section shall consider any written policy that the seller has adopted and implemented and that is intended to prevent violations of division (a) of this section. For purposes of division (c)(1)C. of this section, the trier of fact shall consider that reasonable reliance upon the identification presented and the completed transaction scan may require a seller or an agent or employee of a seller to exercise reasonable diligence to determine, and that the use of a transaction scan device does not excuse a seller or an agent or employee of a seller from exercising reasonable diligence to determine, the following:
         A.   Whether a person to whom the seller or agent or employee of a seller sells, gives away or otherwise distributes cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is 21 years of age or older;
         B.   Whether the description and picture appearing on the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by a card holder is that of the card holder.
      (3)   In any criminal action in which the affirmative defense provided by division (c)(1) of this section is raised, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles or a Deputy Registrar who issued an identification card under Ohio R.C. 4507.50 to 4507.52 shall be permitted to submit certified copies of the records of that issuance in lieu of the testimony of the personnel of or contractors with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in the action.
(ORC 2927.022)
   (d)   Shipment of Tobacco Products.
      (1)   As used in this division (D):
         A.   “Authorized recipient of tobacco products.” Means:
            1.   In the case of cigarettes, a person who is:
               a.   Licensed as a cigarette wholesale dealer under R.C. § 5743.15;
               b.   Licensed as a retail dealer as long as the person purchases cigarettes with the appropriate tax stamp affixed;
               c.   An export warehouse proprietor as defined in Internal Revenue Code § 5702;
               d.   An operator of a customs bonded warehouse under 19 U.S.C. § 1311 or 19 U.S.C. § 1555;
               e.   An officer, employee, or agent of the federal government or of this state acting in the person's official capacity;
               f.   A department, agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the federal government or of this state;
               g.   A person having a consent for consumer shipment issued by the Ohio Tax Commissioner under R.C. § 5743.71.
            2.   In the case of electronic smoking devices or vapor products, a person who is:
               a.   Licensed as a distributor of tobacco or vapor products under R.C. § 5743.61;
               b.   A retail dealer of vapor products, as defined in R.C. § 5741.01(C)(3), that is not licensed as a vapor distributor, as long as the tax levied by R.C. § 5743.51, 5743.62, or 5743.63, as applicable, has been paid;
               c.   An operator of a customs bonded warehouse under 19 U.S.C. § 1311 or 19 U.S.C. § 1555;
               d.   An officer, employee, or agent of the federal government or of this state acting in the person's official capacity;
               e.   A department, agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the federal government or of this state.
         B.   “Motor carrier.” Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4923.01.
      (2)   The purpose of this section is to prevent the sale of cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products to minors and to ensure compliance with the Master Settlement Agreement, as defined in R.C. § 1346.01.
      (3)   A.   No person shall cause to be shipped any cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products to any person in this municipality other than an authorized recipient of tobacco products.
         B.   No motor carrier, or other person shall knowingly transport cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products to any person in this municipality that the carrier or other person reasonably believes is not an authorized recipient of tobacco products. If cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products are transported to a home or residence, it shall be presumed that the motor carrier, or other person knew that the person to whom the cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products were delivered was not an authorized recipient of tobacco products.
      (4)   No person engaged in the business of selling cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products who ships or causes to be shipped cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products to any person in this municipality in any container or wrapping other than the original container or wrapping shall fail to plainly and visibly mark the exterior of the container or wrapping in which the cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products are shipped with the words “cigarettes”, “electronic smoking devices”, or “vapor products”, as applicable.
      (5)   A court shall impose a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each violation of division (d)(3)A., (d)(3)B. or (d)(4) of this section.
(R.C. § 2927.023)
   (e)   Furnishing false information to obtain tobacco products.
      (1)   No person who is 18 years of age or older but younger than 21 years of age shall knowingly furnish false information concerning that person’s name, age, or other identification for the purpose of obtaining tobacco products.
      (2)   Whoever violates division (e)(1) of this section is guilty of furnishing false information to obtain tobacco products. Except as otherwise provided in this division, furnishing false information to obtain tobacco products is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (e)(1) of this section or a substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, furnishing false information to obtain tobacco products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(R.C. § 2927.024)
636.22 ETHNIC INTIMIDATION.
   (a)   No person shall violate Ohio R.C. 2903.21, 2903.22, 2909.06, or 2909.07, or Ohio R.C. 2917.21(A)(3), (4), or (5), or any substantially similar municipal ordinance to any of these sections, by reason of the race, color, religion, or national origin of another person or group of persons.
   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of ethnic intimidation. Ethnic intimidation is an offense of the next higher degree than the offense the commission of which is a necessary element of ethnic intimidation. In the case of an offense that is a misdemeanor of the first degree, ethnic intimidation is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(ORC 2927.12)
636.23 INTIMIDATION IN CONNECTION WITH HOUSING.
   (a)   No person, whether or not acting under color of law, shall by force or threat of force willfully injure, intimidate, or interfere with, or attempt to injure, intimidate, or interfere with any of the following:
      (1)   Any person because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01, national origin, military status as defined in that section, disability as defined in that section, or ancestry and because that person is or has been selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, contracting, or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing, or occupation of any housing accommodations, or applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting housing accommodations.
      (2)   Any person because that person is or has been doing, or in order to intimidate that person or any other person or any class of persons from doing either of the following:
         A.   Participating, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01, national origin, military status as defined in that section, disability as defined in that section, or ancestry, in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in division (a)(1) of this section;
         B.   Affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection so to participate.
      (3)   Any person because that person is or has been, or in order to discourage that person or any other person from, lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, familial status as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01, national origin, military status as defined in that section, disability as defined in that section, or ancestry, in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in division (a)(1) of this section, or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to so participate.
   (b)   Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(ORC 2927.03)
636.24 FAILING TO PROVIDE FOR A PERSON WITH A FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT.
   (a)   No caretaker shall knowingly fail to provide a person with a functional impairment under the caretaker’s care with any treatment, care, goods, or service that is necessary to maintain the health or safety of the person with a functional impairment when this failure results in physical harm or serious physical harm to the person with a functional impairment.
   (b)   No caretaker shall recklessly fail to provide a person with a functional impairment under the caretaker’s care with any treatment, care, goods, or service that is necessary to maintain the health or safety of the person with a functional impairment when this failure results in serious physical harm to the person with a functional impairment.
   (c)   (1)   Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of knowingly failing to provide for a person with a functional impairment, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the person with a functional impairment under the offender’s care suffers serious physical harm as a result of the violation of this section, a violation of division (a) of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
      (2)   Whoever violates division (b) of this section is guilty of recklessly failing to provide for a person with a functional impairment, a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the person with a functional impairment under the offender’s care suffers serious physical harm as a result of the violation of this section, a violation of division (b) of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
         (R.C. § 2903.16)
   (d)   For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
      (1)   “Caretaker.” A person who assumes the duty to provide for the care and protection of a person with a functional impairment on a voluntary basis, by contract, through receipt of payment for care and protection, as a result of a family relationship, or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction. The term does not include a person who owns, operates, or administers, or who is an agent or employee of, a care facility, as defined in R.C. § 2903.33.
      (2)   “Person with a functional impairment.” Any person who has a physical or mental impairment that prevents the person from providing for the person’s own care or protection or whose infirmities caused by aging prevent the person from providing for the person’s own care or protection.
         (R.C. § 2903.10)
636.25 FAILURE TO PERFORM VIABILITY TESTING. (REPEALED)
   Editor’s note: In November 2023, voters approved Issue 1, enacting Article 1, Section 22 to the Ohio Constitution relating to reproductive rights. To ensure that there are no conflicts with this Constitutional amendment, this section, relating to unlawful abortion, failure to perform viability testing, and abortion trafficking, has been removed from this code.
636.26 UNLAWFUL COLLECTION OF BODILY SUBSTANCES.
   (a)   No person shall knowingly collect any blood, urine, tissue, or other bodily substance of another person without privilege or consent to do so.
   (b)   (1)   Division (a) of this section does not apply to any of the following:
         A.   The collection of any bodily substance of a person by a law enforcement officer, or by another person pursuant to the direction or advice of a law enforcement officer, for purposes of a chemical test or tests of the substance under Ohio R.C. 1547.111(A)(1) or Ohio R.C. 4511.191(A)(2) to determine the alcohol, drug, controlled substance, metabolite of a controlled substance, or combination content of the bodily substance;
         B.   The collection of any bodily substance of a person by a peace officer, or by another person pursuant to the direction or advice of a peace officer, for purposes of a test or tests of the substance as provided in Ohio R.C. 4506.17(A) to determine the person’s alcohol concentration or the presence of any controlled substance or metabolite of a controlled substance.
      (2)   Division (b)(1) of this section shall not be construed as implying that the persons identified in divisions (b)(1)A. and B. of this section do not have privilege to collect the bodily substance of another person as described in those divisions or as limiting the definition of “privilege” set forth in Ohio R.C. 2901.01.
   (c)   Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of unlawful collection of a bodily substance. Except as otherwise provided in this division, unlawful collection of a bodily substance is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (a) of this section or a substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, unlawful collection of a bodily substance is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2927.15)