To enact sections 3107.018 and 5101.143 of the Revised Code to allow the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to make state adoption assistance loans to prospective adoptive parents and to make an appropriation.

Section 1. That sections 3107.018 and 5101.143 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 3107.018. (A) A prospective adoptive parent may apply to the department of job and family services for a loan from the state adoption assistance loan fund created under section 5101.143 of the Revised Code. Subject to available funds, the department may approve a state adoption assistance loan application, in whole or in part, or deny the application. In reviewing a loan application submitted to the department, the department shall consider the financial need of the prospective adoptive parent in determining whether to approve a loan application, in whole or in part, or deny the application. If the department approves a loan application, in whole or in part, and the child being adopted resides in Ohio, the department shall loan a prospective adoptive parent not more than three thousand dollars from the state adoption assistance loan fund. If the department approves a loan application, in whole or in part, and the child being adopted does not reside in Ohio, the department shall loan a prospective adoptive parent not more than two thousand dollars from the state adoption assistance loan fund.

(B) A prospective adoptive parent who receives a loan under division (A) of this section shall use that loan for only a disbursement listed under division (C) of section 3107.055 of the Revised Code or an expense related to adopting from the public child welfare system.

(C) This section applies to adoptions arranged by an attorney or by any public or private organization certified, licensed, or otherwise specially empowered by law or rule to place minors for adoption.

Sec. 5101.143. (A) The state adoption assistance loan fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of all money appropriated or transferred to it and all loan repayments or other money, including interest and penalties, derived from state adoption assistance loans. The department of job and family services shall administer the fund. Money in the fund shall be used to make state adoption assistance loans to prospective adoptive parents applying for a loan under section 3107.018 of the Revised Code. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(B) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code as necessary to implement this section, including rules for creating a loan application form, procedures and standards for reviewing and granting or denying loan applications, conditions on the use of the loan, loan repayment terms, procedures for collection of loan arrearages, and any monetary penalties for loan arrearages or improper use of loan funds.

Section 2. Notwithstanding division (A) of section 169.05 of the Revised Code, on July 1, 2007, or as soon as possible thereafter, and upon the request of the Director of Budget and Management, the Director of Commerce shall transfer to the State Adoption Assistance Loan Fund, which is created in section 5101.143 of the Revised Code, $500,000 of unclaimed funds that have been reported by holders of unclaimed funds under section 169.05 of the Revised Code, irrespective of the allocation of the unclaimed funds under that section. The amount transferred is hereby appropriated.

Notwithstanding division (A) of section 169.05 of the Revised Code, on July 1, 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter, and upon the request of the Director of Budget and Management, the Director of Commerce shall transfer to the State Adoption Assistance Loan Fund, which is created in section 5101.143 of the Revised Code, $500,000 of unclaimed funds that have been reported by holders of unclaimed funds under section 169.05 of the Revised Code, irrespective of the allocation of the unclaimed funds under that section. The amount transferred is hereby appropriated.

The Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine the form and manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained.

Section 3. The sections of law contained in this act and the items of law of which they are composed are not subject to the referendum. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 1d and section 1.471 of the Revised Code, the sections of law contained in this act and the items of law of which they are composed go into immediate effect when this act becomes law.