H. B. No. 201 As Introduced

As Introduced

127th General Assembly

Regular Session

2007-2008

H. B. No. 201

Representative Boyd

Cosponsors: Representatives Skindell, Williams, S., Miller

A BILL

To enact section 5101.93 of the Revised Code to 1
establish the Welfare Oversight Council. 2

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

       Section 1. That section 5101.93 of the Revised Code be 3
amended to read as follows: 4

       Sec. 5101.93. (A) There is hereby established a welfare 5
oversight council consisting of eight voting members, four of whom 6
shall be members of the house of representatives, two appointed by 7
the speaker and two appointed by the minority leader of the house 8
of representatives, not more than two of whom shall be members of 9
the same political party, and four of whom shall be members of the 10
senate, two appointed by the president and two appointed by the 11
minority leader of the senate, not more than two of whom shall be 12
members of the same political party. The directors of 13
administrative services and job and family services shall be ex 14
officio nonvoting members. Two representatives of the general 15
public appointed by the governor shall be nonvoting members of the 16
council. The council may, by a majority vote, add other nonvoting 17
members to the council. A vacancy on the council shall be filled 18
in the same manner as the original appointment. 19

       (B) The speaker of the house of representatives shall 20
designate the initial chairperson of the welfare oversight council 21
and the president of the senate shall designate the initial 22
vice-chairperson of the council. Thereafter, the authority to 23
designate the chairperson and the vice-chairperson shall alternate 24
between the speaker of the house and the president of the senate. 25
The chairperson and vice-chairperson and other members of the 26
council shall serve one-year terms. 27

       The council shall meet at least four times a year in Columbus 28
or other locations selected by the chairperson to monitor and 29
review the Ohio works first program established under Chapter 30
5107. of the Revised Code, including sanctions imposed under 31
section 5107.16 of the Revised Code; the prevention, retention, 32
and contingency program established under Chapter 5108. of the 33
Revised Code; and the department of job and family services, 34
county departments of job and family services, child support 35
enforcement agencies, and public children services agencies. The 36
council may visit the department, county departments, and 37
agencies. 38

       The chairperson of the council shall determine the agenda for 39
each meeting of the council, except that if at least four 40
legislative members of the council submit a written request to the 41
chairperson to consider an item, the chairperson shall place the 42
item on the agenda of the council's next regularly scheduled 43
meeting occurring more than ten days after the written request is 44
submitted to the chairperson. 45

       (C) The members of the welfare oversight council shall serve 46
without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their actual and 47
necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their official 48
duties. In the discharge of its duties the council may issue 49
subpoenas compelling the attendance of witnesses and the 50
production of any records of the department of job and family 51
services or local agencies. The council shall adopt rules to 52
implement this section. 53

       (D) The welfare oversight council shall advise the general 54
assembly on the performance of the department of job and family 55
services, county departments of job and family services, child 56
support enforcement agencies, and public children services 57
agencies. The council shall submit recommendations to the general 58
assembly for any changes in law that the council considers 59
necessary or appropriate. 60

Section 1. That section 5101.93 of the Revised Code be	3
amended to read as follows:	4

Sec. 5101.93. (A) There is hereby established a welfare	5
oversight council consisting of eight voting members, four of whom	6
shall be members of the house of representatives, two appointed by	7
the speaker and two appointed by the minority leader of the house	8
of representatives, not more than two of whom shall be members of	9
the same political party, and four of whom shall be members of the	10
senate, two appointed by the president and two appointed by the	11
minority leader of the senate, not more than two of whom shall be	12
members of the same political party. The directors of	13
administrative services and job and family services shall be ex	14
officio nonvoting members. Two representatives of the general	15
public appointed by the governor shall be nonvoting members of the	16
council. The council may, by a majority vote, add other nonvoting	17
members to the council. A vacancy on the council shall be filled	18
in the same manner as the original appointment.	19

(B) The speaker of the house of representatives shall	20
designate the initial chairperson of the welfare oversight council	21
and the president of the senate shall designate the initial	22
vice-chairperson of the council. Thereafter, the authority to	23
designate the chairperson and the vice-chairperson shall alternate	24
between the speaker of the house and the president of the senate.	25
The chairperson and vice-chairperson and other members of the	26
council shall serve one-year terms.	27

The council shall meet at least four times a year in Columbus	28
or other locations selected by the chairperson to monitor and	29
review the Ohio works first program established under Chapter	30
5107. of the Revised Code, including sanctions imposed under	31
section 5107.16 of the Revised Code; the prevention, retention,	32
and contingency program established under Chapter 5108. of the	33
Revised Code; and the department of job and family services,	34
county departments of job and family services, child support	35
enforcement agencies, and public children services agencies. The	36
council may visit the department, county departments, and	37
agencies.	38

The chairperson of the council shall determine the agenda for	39
each meeting of the council, except that if at least four	40
legislative members of the council submit a written request to the	41
chairperson to consider an item, the chairperson shall place the	42
item on the agenda of the council's next regularly scheduled	43
meeting occurring more than ten days after the written request is	44
submitted to the chairperson.	45

(C) The members of the welfare oversight council shall serve	46
without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their actual and	47
necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their official	48
duties. In the discharge of its duties the council may issue	49
subpoenas compelling the attendance of witnesses and the	50
production of any records of the department of job and family	51
services or local agencies. The council shall adopt rules to	52
implement this section.	53

(D) The welfare oversight council shall advise the general	54
assembly on the performance of the department of job and family	55
services, county departments of job and family services, child	56
support enforcement agencies, and public children services	57
agencies. The council shall submit recommendations to the general	58
assembly for any changes in law that the council considers	59
necessary or appropriate.	60