Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 135.18 – Security for repayment of public moneys

(A) The treasurer, before making the initial deposit in a public depository pursuant to an award made under sections 135.01 to 135.21 of the Revised Code, except as provided in section 135.144 or 135.145 of the Revised Code, shall require the institution designated as a public depository to pledge to and deposit with the treasurer, as security for the repayment of all public moneys to be deposited in the public depository during the period of designation pursuant to the award, eligible securities of aggregate market value equal to the excess of the amount of public moneys to be at the time so deposited, over and above the portion or amount of such moneys as is at that time insured by the federal deposit insurance corporation or by any other agency or instrumentality of the federal government. In the case of any deposit other than the initial deposit made during the period of designation, the amount of the aggregate market value of securities required to be pledged and deposited shall be equal to the difference between the amount of public moneys on deposit in such public depository plus the amount to be so deposited, minus the portion or amount of the aggregate as is at the time insured as provided in this section. The treasurer may require additional eligible securities to be deposited to provide for any depreciation which may occur in the market value of any of the securities so deposited.
(B) The following securities shall be eligible for the purposes of this section:
1. (1) Bonds, notes, or other obligations of the United States; or bonds, notes, or other obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States or those for which the faith of the United States is pledged for the payment of principal and interest thereon, by language appearing in the instrument specifically providing such guarantee or pledge and not merely by interpretation or otherwise;
2. (2) Bonds, notes, debentures, letters of credit, or other obligations or securities issued by any federal government agency or instrumentality, or the export-import bank of Washington; bonds, notes, or other obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States or those for which the faith of the United States is pledged for the payment of principal and interest thereon, by interpretation or otherwise and not by language appearing in the instrument specifically providing such guarantee or pledge;
3. (3) Obligations of or fully insured or fully guaranteed by the United States or any federal government agency or instrumentality;
4. (4) Obligations partially insured or partially guaranteed by any federal agency or instrumentality;
5. (5) Obligations of or fully guaranteed by the federal national mortgage association, federal home loan mortgage corporation, federal farm credit bank, or student loan marketing association;
6. (6) Bonds and other obligations of this state;
7. (7) Bonds and other obligations of any county, township, school district, municipal corporation, or other legally constituted taxing subdivision of this state, which is not at the time of such deposit, in default in the payment of principal or interest on any of its bonds or other obligations, for which the full faith and credit of the issuing subdivision is pledged;
8. (8) Bonds of other states of the United States which have not during the ten years immediately preceding the time of such deposit defaulted in payments of either interest or principal on any of their bonds;
9. (9) Shares of no-load money market mutual funds consisting exclusively of obligations described in division (B)(1) or (2) of this section and repurchase agreements secured by such obligations;
10. (10) A surety bond issued by a corporate surety licensed by the state and authorized to issue surety bonds in this state pursuant to Chapter 3929. of the Revised Code, and qualified to provide surety bonds to the federal government pursuant to 96 Stat. 1047 (1982), 31 U.S.C.A. 9304;
11. (11) Bonds or other obligations of any county, municipal corporation, or other legally constituted taxing subdivision of another state of the United States, or of any instrumentality of such county, municipal corporation, or other taxing subdivision, for which the full faith and credit of the issuer is pledged and, at the time of purchase of the bonds or other obligations, rated in one of the two highest categories by at least one nationally recognized standard rating service.
(C) If the public depository fails to pay over any part of the public deposit made therein as provided by law, the treasurer shall sell at public sale any of the bonds or other securities deposited with the treasurer pursuant to this section or section 131.09 of the Revised Code, or shall draw on any letter of credit to the extent of the failure to pay. Thirty days' notice of the sale shall be given in a newspaper of general circulation at Columbus, in the case of the treasurer of state, and at the county seat of the county in which the office of the treasurer is located, in the case of any other treasurer. When a sale of bonds or other securities has been so made and upon payment to the treasurer of the purchase money, the treasurer shall transfer such bonds or securities whereupon the absolute ownership of such bonds or securities shall pass to the purchasers. Any surplus remaining after deducting the amount due the state or subdivision and expenses of sale shall be paid to the public depository.
(D) An institution designated as a public depository may, by written notice to the treasurer, designate a qualified trustee and deposit the eligible securities required by this section with the trustee for safekeeping for the account of the treasurer and the institution as a public depository, as their respective rights to and interests in such securities under this section may appear and be asserted by written notice to or demand upon the trustee. In which case, the treasurer shall accept the written receipt of the trustee describing the securities that have been deposited with the trustee by the public depository, a copy of which shall also be delivered to the public depository. Thereupon all securities so deposited with the trustee are deemed to be pledged with the treasurer and to be deposited with the treasurer, for all the purposes of this section.
(E) The governing board may make provisions for the exchange and release of securities and the substitution of other eligible securities therefor except where the public depository has deposited eligible securities with a trustee for safekeeping as provided in this section.
(F) When the public depository has deposited eligible securities described in division (B)(1) of this section with a trustee for safekeeping, the public depository may at any time substitute or exchange eligible securities described in division (B)(1) of this section having a current market value equal to or greater than the current market value of the securities then on deposit and for which they are to be substituted or exchanged, without specific authorization from any governing board, boards, or treasurer of any such substitution or exchange.
(G) When the public depository has deposited eligible securities described in divisions (B)(2) to (9) of this section with a trustee for safekeeping, the public depository may at any time substitute or exchange eligible securities having a current market value equal to or greater than the current market value of the securities then on deposit and for which they are to be substituted or exchanged without specific authorization of any governing board, boards, or treasurer of any such substitution or exchange only if:
1. (1) The treasurer has authorized the public depository to make such substitution or exchange on a continuing basis during a specified period without prior approval of each substitution or exchange. The authorization may be effected by the treasurer sending to the trustee a written notice stating that substitution may be effected on a continuing basis during a specified period which shall not extend beyond the end of the period of designation during which the notice is given. The trustee may rely upon this notice and upon the period of authorization stated therein and upon the period of designation stated therein.
2. (2) No continuing authorization for substitution has been given by the treasurer, the public depository notifies the treasurer and the trustee of an intended substitution or exchange, and the treasurer fails to object to the trustee as to the eligibility or market value of the securities being substituted within ten calendar days after the date appearing on the notice of proposed substitution. The notice to the treasurer and to the trustee shall be given in writing and delivered personally or by certified or registered mail with a return receipt requested. The trustee may assume in any case that the notice has been delivered to the treasurer. In order for objections of the treasurer to be effective, receipt of the objections must be acknowledged in writing by the trustee.
3. (3) The treasurer gives written authorization for a substitution or exchange of specific securities.
(H) The public depository shall notify any governing board, boards, or treasurer of any substitution or exchange under division (G)(1) or (2) of this section. Upon request from the treasurer, the trustee shall furnish a statement of the securities pledged against such public deposits.
(I) Any federal reserve bank or branch thereof located in this state or federal home loan bank, without compliance with Chapter 1111. of the Revised Code and without becoming subject to any other law of this state relative to the exercise by corporations of trust powers generally, is qualified to act as trustee for the safekeeping of securities, under this section. Any institution mentioned in section 135.03 of the Revised Code that holds a certificate of qualification issued by the superintendent of financial institutions or any institution complying with sections 1111.04, 1111.05, and 1111.06 of the Revised Code, is qualified to act as trustee for the safekeeping of securities, other than those belonging to itself, under this section. Upon application to the superintendent in writing by an institution, the superintendent shall investigate the applicant and ascertain whether or not it has been authorized to execute and accept trusts in this state and has safe and adequate vaults and efficient supervision thereof for the storage and safekeeping within this state of securities. If the superintendent finds that the applicant has been so authorized and has such vaults and supervision thereof, the superintendent shall approve the application and issue a certificate to that effect, the original or any certified copy of which shall be conclusive evidence that the institution therein named is qualified to act as trustee for the purposes of this section with respect to securities other than those belonging to itself. Notwithstanding the fact that a public depository is required to pledge eligible securities in certain amounts to secure deposits of public moneys, a trustee has no duty or obligation to determine the eligibility, market value, or face value of any securities deposited with the trustee by a public depository. This applies in all situations including, without limitation, a substitution or exchange of securities. Any charges or compensation of a designated trustee for acting as such under this section shall be paid by the public depository and in no event shall be chargeable to the state or the subdivision or to the treasurer or to any officer of the state or subdivision. The charges or compensation shall not be a lien or charge upon the securities deposited for safekeeping prior or superior to the rights to and interests in the securities of the state or the subdivision or of the treasurer. The treasurer and the treasurer's bonders or surety shall be relieved from any liability to the state or the subdivision or to the public depository for the loss or destruction of any securities deposited with a qualified trustee pursuant to this section.