To adopt section 2q of article vIII of the constitution of the state of Ohio

Purpose: House Joint Resolution Number 5 (HJR 5) would be for the public purposes of conservation and revitalization in the natural areas and agricultural lands in Ohio.

HJR 5 Would Authorize the State to Raise Money for Conservation Purposes: Under HJR 5, the state can raise not more than two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) of bonds and obligations for conservation purposes.

Conservation purposes include:

Conservation and preservation of natural areas, open spaces, and farmlands, and other lands devoted to agriculture, including by acquiring land or interests in land.

Making provisions for state and local park and recreation facilities, and undertaking other activities that will permit and enhance the availability, public use, and enjoyment of natural areas and open spaces in Ohio.

Conservation and preservation of land, forest, water, and other natural resource management projects.

Not more than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) principal amount of those obligations, plus the principal amount of those obligations that in any prior fiscal year could have been but were not issued within the limit, may be issued in any fiscal year.

HJR 5 Would Authorize the State to Raise Money for Revitalization Purposes: Under HJR 5, the state can raise not more than two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) of bonds and obligations for revitalization purposes.

Revitalization purposes include:
Providing for and enabling the environmentally safe and productive development and use or reuse of publicly and privately owned lands, including those within urban areas, by the remediation or clean up or planning and assessment for remediation or clean up, of contamination or addressing, by clearance, land acquisition or assembly, infrastructure, or otherwise, that or other property conditions or circumstances that may be harmful to the public and safety and the environment and water and other natural resources, or that preclude or inhibit environmentally sound or economic use or reuse of the property.

Not more than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) principal amount of those obligations, plus the principal amount of those obligations that in any prior fiscal year could have been but were not issued within the limit, may be issued in any fiscal year.

Refunding or Retiring Debt: Each state obligation issued according to this proposed amendment must mature not later than the 31st day of December of the 25th calendar year after its issuance, except that obligations issued to refund or retire other obligations shall mature not later than the 31st day of December of the 25th calendar year after the year in which the original obligation to pay was issued or entered into.

Authority of General Assembly under HJR 5: The Ohio General Assembly may enact laws for the issuance of bonds and other obligations of the state for the purpose of paying costs of projects implementing those purposes. The
General Assembly may also enact laws that prohibit or restrict the granting or lending of proceeds of obligations issued for revitalization purposes to parties to pay clean up costs or remediation of contamination for which they are determined to be responsible.

If approved, this proposed amendment will be effective immediately.