Bill Text: OH SB249 | 2013-2014 | 130th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: To establish a Chaplain of the Senate.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-04 - To State Government Oversight & Reform [SB249 Detail]

Download: Ohio-2013-SB249-Introduced.html

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As Introduced

130th General Assembly Regular Session 2013-2014

S. B. No. 249

Senator Kearney 

Cosponsors: Senators Turner, LaRose 

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A BILL

To enact section 101.291 of the Revised Code to

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establish a Chaplain of the Senate.

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1.  That section 101.291 of the Revised Code be	3
enacted to read as follows:	4

Sec. 101.291.  The president of the senate, with the consent	5
of the senate, shall appoint a chaplain of the senate. The	6
appointment shall be made within thirty days after the first day	7
of the first regular session of a general assembly. The chaplain	8
of the senate shall serve at the pleasure of the senate for the	9
term of the general assembly during which the chaplain is	10
appointed. A chaplain of the senate is entitled to serve multiple	11
terms, but is not entitled to serve successive terms.	12

A vacancy in the position of chaplain of the senate shall be	13
filled in the manner provided for an original appointment. A	14
chaplain of the senate appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior	15
to the expiration date of the term for which the chaplain of the	16
senate's predecessor was appointed shall serve at the pleasure of	17
the senate as chaplain of the senate for the remainder of the	18
predecessor's term.	19

The chaplain of the senate may be from any religious	20
community, body, or organization.	21

The chaplain of the senate shall open each session of the	22
senate with prayer, and shall provide counseling and spiritual	23
care and counseling for senate members, staff of senate members,	24
and family of senate members. When performing these duties, the	25
chaplain of the senate shall be nonpartisan, nonpolitical, and	26
nondenominational.	27

The chaplain of the senate may allow a guest chaplain to give	28
an opening prayer before session. A guest chaplain may be from any	29
religious community, body, or organization, and shall be	30
nonpartisan, nonpolitical, and nondenominational while giving an	31
opening prayer before session.	32

The chaplain of the senate is not entitled to compensation	33
for performing the duties of the position, and is not entitled to	34
reimbursement of expenses incurred in performing the duties of the	35
position.	36

Section 2.  Within thirty days after the effective date of	37
this section, the President of the Senate, with the consent of the	38
Senate, shall appoint an initial Chaplain of the Senate. The term	39
of the Chaplain of the Senate thus appointed coinicides with the	40
remaining term of the 130th General Assembly.	41