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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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