REPRESENTATIVES White, Allen, Brinkman, Calvert, Collier, DeWine, Driehaus, Faber, Fessler, Flowers, Husted, Jerse, Jolivette, Lendrum, Otterman, Roman, Schmidt, Seaver, Setzer, Webster, Wolpert, Womer Benjamin

To establish the Task Force on Faith-Based

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Organizations and to require that it recommend the

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best means for the state to assist faith-based

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organizations in providing public services and in

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cooperating with public agencies in assisting

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those who receive public services.

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. (A)(1) There is hereby created the Task Force on	7
Faith-Based Organizations, which shall consist of seventeen	8
members.	9

(2) The Directors of Administrative Services, Aging, Alcohol	10
and Drug Addiction Services, Budget and Management, Development,	11
Job and Family Services, and Youth Services shall each appoint to	12
the Task Force one employee of that Director's department or	13
office.	14

(3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall	15
appoint to the Task Force two members of the House of	16
Representatives, not more than one of whom shall be from the same	17
political party. The President of the Senate shall appoint to the	18
Task Force two members of the Senate, not more than one of whom	19
shall be from the same political party and at least one of whom	20
shall be from the legislative black caucus.	21

(4) The Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives,	22
and President of the Senate shall each appoint to the Task Force	23
two representatives of the faith-based and nonprofit community.	24

(B) The appointments to the Task Force shall be made within	25
thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy	26
that occurs on the Task Force shall be filled in the same manner	27
as the original appointment. The members of the Task Force shall	28
serve without compensation.	29

(C) At its initial meeting, the Task Force shall elect a	30
chairperson and other officers it considers necessary. The	31
chairperson shall be a member of the Task Force who is a member of	32
the House of Representatives.	33

(D) The Department of Job and Family Services shall provide	34
office space, staff, supplies, services, and other support to the	35
Task Force.	36

(E) The Task Force shall do both of the following:

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(1) Recommend the best means to provide state and federal	38
funds to faith-based organizations so that they may provide public	39
services in a manner that complies with both the United States	40
Constitution and the Ohio Constitution;	41

(2) Recommend the best means to remove any barriers that may	42
exist to faith-based organizations cooperating with public	43
agencies in assisting those who receive public services.	44

(F) This section does not prevent, and shall not be construed	45
to prevent, any faith-based organization from providing public	46
services, or from cooperating with public agencies in assisting	47
those who receive public services, in any manner authorized under	48
current law.	49

(G) The Task Force shall issue a report of its	50
recommendations by not later than eight months after the effective	51
date of this section. The Task Force shall provide a copy of the	52
report to the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives,	53
and President of the Senate.	54

Section 2. Upon the issuance of its report or twelve months	55
after the effective date of this section, whichever occurs first,	56
the Task Force on Faith-Based Organizations shall cease to exist.	57