Ohio Administrative Code 4501:5 — Department of Public Safety | Homeland Security

Chapter 4501:5-1 School Board Treasurers

Ohio Adm.Code 4501:5-1-01 Requirements for the emergency management plan and test.

The purpose of this rule is to define the requirements, content, and format of emergency management plan and the emergency management test as required by section 5502.262 of the Revised Code.

(A) Definitions.

(1) "Hazard Identification and Risk Analysis" means the process to identify hazards and assess the vulnerability associated with each.

(2) "Full-Scale Exercise" means exercises that are typically the most complex and resource-intensive type of exercise. They involve multiple agencies, organizations, and jurisdictions and validate many facets of preparedness. Full scale exercises often include many players operating under cooperative systems such as the "Incident Command System" or "Unified Command." Individual school buildings can participate in a district-wide full-scale exercise in order to complete a full-scale exercise but they must submit their own after-action report.

(3) "Incident Command System" (ICS) is a standardized on-scene emergency management construct specifically designed to provide an integrated organizational structure that reflects the complexity and demands of single or multiple incidents, without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries. The incident command system is the combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure, designed to aid in the management of resources during incidents. ICS is used for all kinds of emergencies and is applicable to small as well as large and complex incidents. ICS is used by various jurisdictions and functional agencies, both public and private, to organize field-level incident management operations.

(4) "Unified Command" is used in incidents involving multiple jurisdictions, a single jurisdiction with multi agency involvement, or multiple jurisdictions with multi agency involvement. Unified command allows agencies with different legal, geographic, and functional authorities and responsibilities to work together effectively without affecting individual agency authority, responsibility, or accountability.

(5) "Functional Content Area" are the procedures and protocols used to respond to a variety of hazards that can be found in the emergency operations plan.

(6) "Functional Exercise" are those exercises designed to validate and evaluate capabilities, multiple functions and/or sub-functions, or interdependent groups of functions. Functional exercises are typically focused on exercising plans, policies, procedures, and staff members involved in management, direction, command, and control functions. In functional exercises, events are projected through an exercise scenario with event updates that drive activity at the management level. A functional exercise is conducted in a realistic, real-time environment; however, movement of personnel and equipment is usually simulated.

(7) Tabletop Exercise" means an exercise that is typically held in an informal setting intended to generate discussion of various issues regarding a hypothetical, simulated emergency. Tabletop exercises can be used to enhance general awareness, validate plans and procedures, rehearse concepts, and/or assess the types of systems needed to guide the prevention of, protection from, mitigation of, response to, and recovery from a defined incident. Generally, tabletop exercises are aimed at facilitating conceptual understanding, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, and/or achieving changes in attitudes. Tabletop exercises may be conducted virtually.

(8) "School safety and security contact" means the individual responsible for school based concerns related to safety, security and emergency management.

(9) "Mental health provider" means a state licensed school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker and community based mental health provider.

(10) "Trauma" means an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being.

(11) "Trauma Informed Care" means infusing and sustaining trauma awareness, knowledge, skills and appropriate response into the organization's culture, practices, and policies.

(12) "Community law enforcement and safety officials" means law enforcement, fire, emergency medical personnel, mental health providers, local public health departments, school safety and security contacts, and any local divisions having county wide emergency management.

(B) The emergency management plan and information required pursuant to division (B)(2) of section 5502.262 of the Revised Code shall be submitted on standardized forms developed and made available by the department of public safety. Each comprehensive emergency management plan consists of six parts, including:

(1) The emergency operations plan shall consist of a single document to address all-hazards that may negatively impact the school; including but not limited to active shooter, hostage, bomb threat, act of terrorism, infectious diseases or pandemic, severe weather, bullying, threats of violence or threats to life, and any other natural, technological, or human-caused events that the administrator knew or should have reasonably known about that compromise the health or safety of students, employees, administrators, or property. A hazard identification and risk analysis shall be included.

(a) The plan shall be an all-hazards emergency operations plan organized around five mission areas: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. The plan should be consistent with "National Incident Management System" (NIMS) principles pursuant to division (C) of section 5502.28 of the Revised Code;

(b) The plan shall incorporate the access and functional needs of the students, teachers, and staff;

(c) The plan shall incorporate education for students, staff, and administrators to avoid, deter, or stop an imminent crime or safety issue, threatened or actual;

(d) The plan may include use of temporary door locking devices, when approved by the building official and noted on the certificate of occupancy only in school buildings where the requirements of section 1008.1.9.11 of the NIMS are met and as outlined in rule 4101:1-10-01 of the Administrative Code;

(e) The plan shall be updated and revised at least every three years from the previous date of compliance to reflect lessons learned and best practices to continually improve the plan. The areas of improvement identified in the emergency management test and actual emergencies at the school buildings will be a source for lessons learned;

(f) The plan shall include procedures for notifying law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, mental health, public health officials, and other outside experts who could assist in responding to and recovering from an emergency;

(g) In addition to the notification requirements of division (B)(3) section 5502.262 of the Revised Code, any student and their parent or legal guardian enrolled in the school after the annual notification, shall be notified upon enrollment; and

(h) Section 5502.263 of the Revised Code requires a threat assessment plan that may be used in a building's emergency management plan developed under section 5502.262 of the Revised Code.

(2) A floor plan that is unique to each floor of the building as outlined in rule 1301:7-7-04 of the Administrative Code;

(3) A site-plan that includes all building property and surrounding property;

(4) An emergency contact information sheet;

(5) Stakeholder signatures as defined in paragraph (C) of this rule; and

(6) Section 3313.669 of the Revised Code requires proof of completion of an approved threat assessment training program to be submitted for each team member in the building's emergency management plan.

(C) Stakeholder community engagement.

(1) In developing the emergency management plan for each building, the administrator shall involve stakeholders pursuant to division (B)(1) of section 5502.262 of the Revised Code. Stakeholders are defined as:

(a) Community law enforcement and safety officials as defined in paragraph (A)(12) of this rule;

(b) Parents or legal guardians of students who are assigned to the building;

(c) Teachers who are assigned to the building; and

(d) Non-teaching employees who are assigned to the building.

(2) The emergency management plan shall contain the name, title (if applicable), contact information, and signature of each stakeholder as identified in paragraph (C)(1) of this rule.

(3) The signature ensures the stakeholder was offered an opportunity to provide feedback; it does not mean or require the stakeholder to approve the school's plan.

(D) Annual review of emergency management plan.

(1) Each administrator must certify that the plan, emergency contact information sheet, floor plan, and site plan are current and accurate pursuant to division (D)(1) of section 5502.262 of the Revised Code.

(2) This certification is to be done in the school safety plan portal between January first and September first of each year.

(E) Emergency management tests.

(1) The information on the emergency management test pursuant to division (E)(1) of section 5502.262 of the Revised Code shall be submitted on standardized forms developed and made available by the department of public safety.

(2) In addition to the required emergency evacuation drills outlined in rule 1301:7-7-04 of the Administrative Code, administrators shall prepare and conduct at least one emergency management test each year during the three year annual review cycle as defined in division (A)(2) of section 5502.262 of the Revised Code. Emergency management tests must meet the following requirements:

(a) Be a scheduled event at least two of the years; one actual emergency may be used during the three year plan cycle if an after action report is produced with the involvement of stakeholders pursuant to paragraph (E)(2)(e) of this rule;

(b) The type of test shall be a tabletop, functional, or full-scale, each type being used once every three years;

(c) The test shall include at least one hazard from the hazard analysis identified in the emergency operations plan, as required in paragraph (B)(1) of this rule;

(d) The test shall include at least one functional content area; and

(e) The test should include at least one representative from law enforcement, fire, EMA, EMS, and a mental health provider and public health official.

(3) Student participation in the emergency management test is not mandatory. Emergency management tests with student inclusion are at the discretion of the building administrator. Administrators should consider what benefit student inclusion in the emergency management test may have on the student population in preparation for an emergency and to enhance the safety of students in the building. Schools should obtain parental consent if students are to be included in the emergency management test. Schools should also consider age appropriate participation, guidance, trauma informed best practice, and training in preparation for participation in the test.

(4) Administrators shall submit an after action report to the Ohio department of public safety no later than thirty days after the exercise documenting the following:

(a) Date/time/weather/length/ of exercise;

(b) Identify discussion/operations based exercise;

(c) Scenario utilized;

(d) Hazard(s) utilized; safety data sheets, as appropriate, shall be provided;

(e) Functional content area(s) utilized; and

(f) Identify at least three strengths and at least three improvement areas of the Plan discovered as a result of the emergency management test.

Last updated June 25, 2025 at 5:56 PM

History

• Effective: September 1, 2024
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

Chapter 4501:5-3 Scrap Metal Dealers

Ohio Adm.Code 4501:5-3-01 Searchable electronic list(s).

(A) Upon the effective date of this rule, in accordance with division (F)(2) of section 4737.04 of the Revised Code, each law enforcement agency that serves the jurisdiction in which a scrap metal dealer or bulk merchandise container dealer, hereinafter collectively referred to as "dealer," is located shall submit a searchable electronic list to the dealers registered in their jurisdiction and the Ohio department of public safety.

(B) The list shall contain all available primary and secondary personal identifiers and conviction information for persons who have been convicted of a theft offense, any violation of Chapter 4737. of the Revised Code, or any act committed in another state or jurisdiction that, if committed in Ohio, would constitute a violation set forth is this paragraph. "Theft offense" has the same meaning as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code.

(1) Primary personal identifiers:

(a) First name;

(b) Middle name or initial, if applicable;

(c) Last name;

(d) Sex;

(e) Date of birth;

(f) State driver's license or state identification number, if included in the court record.

(2) Secondary personal identifiers:

(a) Race and/or ethnicity;

(b) Height;

(c) Weight;

(d) Hair color;

(e) Eye color;

(f) Scars, marks, and/or tattoos, as applicable;

(g) Known aliases, as applicable.

(3) Conviction information:

(a) Case number;

(b) Offense;

(c) Date of disposition;

(d) Offense class;

(e) Court number.

(C) The searchable electronic list that is submitted to the Ohio department of public safety shall be in the form of a character separated value (CSV) file. This file shall be submitted to the "Communication and Information Management System" (CIMS) website at https://apps.dps.ohio.gov/cims. A character separated value file is a file that stores tabular data (numbers and text) in a plain-text form. CSV can include any file that:

(1) Is plain text using a character set such as "ASCII," "Unicode," "EBCDIC," or "Shift JIS";

(2) Consists of records (typically one record per line);

(3) Divides the records into fields separated by delimiters (typically a single reserved character such as comma, semicolon, or tab; the delimiter may include optional spaces);

(4) Contains the same sequence of fields for every record.

(D) Following an agency's initial submission of the list, if there are any updates to the initial list, the agency shall submit a new list to the dealers registered in its jurisdiction and the Ohio department of public safety on the first business day of each month.

(E) Unless the transaction is specifically exempted in section 4737.043 of the Revised Code, to ensure compliance with division (F)(2) of section 4737.04 of the Revised Code, prior to purchasing or receiving articles from any person, dealers shall verify that the person does not appear on either the searchable electronic list that the dealer receives from law enforcement or the list(s) made available by the Ohio department of public safety at https://apps.dps.ohio.gov/cims.

(1) A person is deemed to be on the list if:

(a) The person's state driver's license or state issued identification card number match the same information contained on the list; or

(b) The person's last name, first name, and date of birth match the same information contained on the list.

(F) Once a person is deemed to be on the list in accordance with paragraph (E) of this rule, dealers may also refer to secondary personal identifiers that are visible in plain sight for confirmation that the person matches the person identified on the list.

Last updated February 2, 2026 at 8:27 AM

History

• Effective: February 1, 2026
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

Ohio Adm.Code 4501:5-3-02 Certificates of registration.

(A) In accordance with section 4737.045 of the Revised Code, no person who meets the definition of scrap metal dealer as defined in division (A)(1) of section 4737.04 of the Revised Code, shall engage in the business of a scrap metal dealer or a bulk merchandise container dealer, hereinafter collectively referred to as "dealer," unless the person has first registered with the director of the Ohio department of public safety.

(B) Registration as a dealer shall be completed electronically via the "Scrap Metal and Bulk Merchandise Container Dealer" (SMBC) website at https://services.dps.ohio.gov/scrapdealer and upon payment of the initial registration fee as set forth in division (A)(6) of section 4737.045 of the Revised Code by electronic check or credit card.

(C) Persons registering as dealers shall provide the following information:

(1) The name, street address, and mailing address, if different from street address, of the dealer's place of business. A dealer's place of business is the physical address where the scrap metal recycling place of business exists;

(2) The name of the primary owner of the dealer's business, and of the manager of the business, if the manager is not the primary owner;

(3) The electronic mail address of the dealer's business;

(4) Confirmation that the dealer has the capabilities to electronically connect with the department of public safety for the purpose of sending and receiving information.

(5) Verification that the person is at least eighteen years of age.

(6) Verification that the person has not been convicted of, pled guilty to, had a judicial finding of guilt for, or had a judicial finding of eligibility for treatment and/or intervention in lieu of conviction for, any of the following:

(a) Any misdemeanor that is a theft offense, as defined in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, within three years prior to the date of the person's registration;

(b) Any felony that is a theft offense, as defined in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, within six years of the date of the person's registration.

(c) Any violation of Chapter 4737. of the Revised Code;

(d) Any act committed in another state or jurisdiction that, if committed in Ohio, would constitute a violation set forth in this paragraph.

(7) Verification that at the time of application, the person is neither under indictment for any felony nor has any misdemeanor charges pending as outlined in paragraph (C)(6) of this rule.

(8) Verification that the person has not committed fraud or material deception while registering as a dealer.

(9) Verification that the person has not violated any conditions of a consent agreement or an adjudication order issued by the director of the Ohio department of public safety.

(D) A person's registration will not be accepted if the information submitted on the registration application is incomplete or inaccurate. Upon full completion and acceptance of registration, the SMBC will generate a temporary certificate of registration. The dealer shall print and prominently display this certificate in a conspicuous location at the dealer's place of business as entered into the SMBC.

(E) If the director finds that the dealer has met all requirements in this rule, prior to the expiration of the temporary certificate, the director shall submit the official certificate of registration to the dealer within forty-five days of payment processing. The dealer shall replace the temporary certificate of registration with the official certificate.

(F) Registered dealers are responsible for notifying the director within ten business days of any change in the dealer's registration information entered in the SMBC. Notice shall be sent by email to "scrapmetal@dps.ohio.gov."

(G) Registration issued in accordance with this rule shall expire one year from the date of the issuance stamped on the dealer's official certificate of registration.

(H) Registered dealers will receive a notice of renewal via email ninety days prior to the expiration of their certificates of registration. The renewal process must be completed prior to the date of expiration stamped on the dealer's certificate of registration.

(1) Renewal of a certificate of registration shall be completed electronically via the "Scrap Metal and Bulk Merchandise Container Dealer" (SMBC) website at https://services.dps.ohio.gov/scrapdealer and upon the payment of the registration renewal fee as set forth in division (C) of section 4737.045 of the Revised Code by electronic check or credit card.

(2) A dealer's renewal will not be accepted if the information submitted during renewal is incomplete or inaccurate. Upon full completion and acceptance of the renewal, the SMBC will generate a renewal payment receipt to serve as a temporary certificate of registration. The dealer shall print and prominently display this receipt in a conspicuous location at the dealer's place of business as entered into the SMBC.

(I) If the director finds that the dealer continues to meet the requirements of this rule and Chapter 4501:5-3 of the Administrative Code, the director shall submit the renewed official certificate of registration to the dealer within forty-five days of payment processing. The dealer shall replace the temporary certificate of registration with the official certificate.

(J) Dealers whose certificates of registration expire before the renewal process is completed shall be considered as new registrants requiring new registration and payment of the initial registration fee as set forth in division (A)(6) of section 4737.045 of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 2, 2026 at 8:28 AM

History

• Effective: February 1, 2026
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

Ohio Adm.Code 4501:5-3-03 Daily business transaction reporting.

(A) Upon the effective date of this rule, in accordance with division (E)(1)(b) of section 4737.04 of the Revised Code, the dealer or dealer's designee shall prepare a daily transaction report detailing all of the non-exempt business transactions conducted by the registered place of business. This report shall be submitted electronically to the Ohio department of public safety via the "Scrap Metal and Bulk Merchandise Container Dealer" (SMBC) website at https://services.dps.ohio.gov/scrapdealer.

(B) Dealers shall submit daily transaction reports by:

(1) Accessing the SMBC website and manually entering the transactions; or

(2) Accessing the SMBC website and uploading prepared transaction reports either manually or utilizing independently developed or purchased software applications capable of transmitting the transactions in accordance with this rule.

(C) All photographs required for a transaction record in accordance with sections 4737.04, 4737.041, and 4737.012 of the Revised Code, shall be submitted to the SMBC website as part of the record and shall:

(1) Include a valid date and time stamp reflecting the date and time on which the photograph was taken. The stamp shall reflect this information in a mm/dd/yyyy and 00:00 standard time format;

(2) Be legible and clearly display the face of the person being photographed;

(3) Be in color;

(4) Be no larger than one megabyte;

(5) Be transmitted as a "JPEG" file.

(D) All records required by this rule and sections 4737.01 to 4737.045 of the Revised Code shall be submitted to the SMBC website in English.

Last updated February 2, 2026 at 8:28 AM

History

• Effective: February 1, 2026
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

Ohio Adm.Code 4501:5-3-04 Dealer records.

(A) In accordance with sections 4737.04 and 4737.012 of the Revised Code, dealers shall maintain either a record book and/or an electronic file containing accurate and complete records of the dealer's daily business transactions. Records shall be maintained for inspection in accordance with section 4737.04 of the Revised Code.

(B) Records shall be maintained in English.

(C) Dealers shall maintain records in a single, accessible location at the dealer's place of business in either a hard copy or electronic copy format.

(D) Transaction records shall:

(1) Be numbered separately and in chronological order, never repeating the number of previously recorded transactions;

(2) Be consistent with the data that is electronically transmitted to the SMBC website;

(3) Reflect the date and time when the transaction occurred; and

(4) Be organized in chronological order and by date and month on which the business transaction occurred.

(E) Authentic copies of all photographs required for a transaction record in accordance with sections 4737.04, 4737.041, and 4737.012 of the Revised Code, shall be maintained without alteration, enhancement, or manipulation in either hard copy or digital file format.

(1) If the photograph is retained digitally, it shall be retained in a commonly known, standard image file format of sufficient file size to accurately and legibly reproduce the original photograph transmitted to the SMBC website.

(2) If the photograph is retained in hard copy format, the copy shall be no smaller than four inches by six inches and printed to produce an accurate and legible copy of the photograph transmitted to the SMBC website.

(3) All photographs, regardless of medium, shall be retained with their corresponding transactions or numbered, organized, and retained in such a manner as to be easily and accurately matched to the transactions to which they apply.

Last updated November 19, 2025 at 11:19 AM

History

• Effective: July 1, 2014
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

Ohio Adm.Code 4501:5-3-05 Inspections and disciplinary actions.

(A) In accordance with division (E)(1) of section 4737.04 of the Revised Code, the director or the director's designee may enter a dealer's place of business during normal business hours to inspect the dealer's records to determine if the dealer:

(1) Has the proper certificate of registration and that it is prominently displayed in accordance with division (D) of section 4737.045 of the Revised Code and rule 4501:5-3-02 of the Administrative Code;

(2) Is retaining records, whether electronic or hard copy, in accordance with sections 4737.04, 4737.012, and 4737.041 of the Revised Code and rule 4501:5-3-04 of the Administrative Code.

(B) Subject to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the director may:

(1) Deny a person's initial or renewal registration, and may revoke, suspend, reprimand, impose a fine of not more than five hundred dollars for any violation, or take other appropriate action against a dealer's certificate of registration if the individual fails to meet the requirements set forth in this chapter and sections 4737.01 to 4737.045 of the Revised Code;

(2) Deny a renewal registration or impose a fine of not more than five hundred dollars per day for any dealer that operates with an expired certificate of registration.

Last updated February 2, 2026 at 8:28 AM

History

• Effective: February 1, 2026
• Promulgated Under: 119.03