Bill > SB327

This bill enacts the Protecting Elected Officials Against Coercion and Extremism (PEACE) Act, which modifies Ohio's public records law to provide additional protections for elected officials' personal information. The bill amends existing statutes to restrict the disclosure of an elected official's residential and familial information. Specifically, the legislation creates a more stringent process for journalists or other requesters seeking an elected official's home address. Under the new provisions, a requester must appear in person at a board of elections, complete a detailed request form including their name, reason for the request, and signature, and show government-issued identification. The board of elections must then notify the elected official in writing if their residential information is released. The bill also expands the definition of "designated public service worker" to explicitly include elected officials and provides additional protections for their personal information in various public records, including voter registration databases. The changes aim to enhance the privacy and personal safety of elected officials by making it more difficult to obtain their home addresses and other sensitive personal details.

Government Affairs

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb327