Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation repeals Chapter 539 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959. Chapter 539 governs the regulation of pawnbrokers and grants the License Section of the Department of Public Safety the authority to regulate them. Section 4727.21 of the Ohio Revised Code grants exclusive authority to regulate pawnbrokers to the state of Ohio through its superintendent of financial institutions. Consequently, it is necessary to repeal Chapter 539 in its entirety because it is no longer valid law and should be removed from the municipal ordinances of the City of Columbus
Title
To repeal Chapter 539 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, to reconcile municipal ordinances with state law granting exclusive authority over the regulation of pawnbrokers to the Ohio Department of Commerce.
Body
WHEREAS, Chapter 539 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, requires pawnbrokers operating in the City of Columbus to obtain a license from the License Section of the Department of Public Safety; and
WHEREAS, Section 4727.21 of the Ohio Revised Code provides that "[t]he state, through the superintendent of financial institutions, in accordance with this chapter, is the sole regulator of persons engaged in business as pawnbrokers"; and
WHEREAS, because the Ohio legislature has granted exclusive authority to the Ohio Department of Commerce through its superintendent of financial institutions to regulate pawnbrokers as a matter of statewide concern, it is necessary to repeal Chapter 539 to reconcile the City Code with existing state law; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO:
Section 1. That for good cause shown, Chapter 539 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, be and it hereby repealed.
Section 2. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.