The governor shall organize and maintain within this state, on a reserve basis, civilian cyber security reserve forces capable of being expanded and trained to educate and protect state, county, and local government entities, critical infrastructure, including election systems, businesses, and citizens of this state from cyber attacks. In the case of an emergency proclaimed by the governor, or caused by illicit actors or imminent danger, the governor, as commander-in-chief, shall expand the reserve as the exigency of the occasion requires.

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The reserve shall be a part of the Ohio organized militia under the adjutant general’s department. The reserve shall be known as the Ohio cyber reserve. The adjutant general shall establish and may revise, in accordance with section 5923.12 of the Revised Code, the rates of pay for reserve members when called to state active duty. When called to state active duty by the governor, reserve members shall function as civilian members of the Ohio organized militia and shall be paid at the rates established by the adjutant general.

The adjutant general may provide appropriate training to current and potential members of the Ohio cyber reserve. While performing any drill or training, current and potential reserve members shall serve in an unpaid volunteer status.

The adjutant general may pay from funds appropriated by the general assembly the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the Ohio cyber reserve for administration, training, and deployment of the Ohio cyber reserve, at the discretion of the adjutant general or the adjutant general’s designee. Expenses for administration, training, and deployment may include, but are not limited to, permanent or temporary state employees or contractual internal or external administrative staff, travel and subsistence expenses, the purchase or rental of equipment, hardware, and local operational support.