To enact section 124.395 of the Revised Code to impose a temporary hiring freeze in state government until the state workforce is reduced by ten per cent.

Section 1.  That section 124.395 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 124.395.  (A) As used in this section, "state agency" has the meaning defined in section 1.60 of the Revised Code.

(B) On and after the effective date of this section, until a ten per cent reduction in the workforce of all state agencies combined is attained, and notwithstanding other sections of the Revised Code to the contrary, all vacancies and newly created positions within a state agency shall be filled in the following manner:

(1) Existing employees from within the state agency shall first be considered to fill newly created positions or positions created by retirement, death, removal, or other discontinuation of employment.

(2) Existing employees from other state agencies may be considered after those employees specified in division (B)(1) of this section have been considered and no satisfactory filler or replacement was found within the state agency.

(3) If a position cannot be filled by employees specified in division (B)(1) or (2) of this section, and the appointing authority concludes it is necessary to fill the position from outside the existing state workforce, the appointing authority shall seek written authorization from the governor. The governor shall file any such written authorization with the state agency and the department of administrative services before such a person is hired by the agency.

(4) If the appointing authority of a state agency concludes it is necessary to create a new position in order to fulfill the work demands of the agency, the appointing authority shall seek written authorization from the governor. The governor shall file any such written authorization with the state agency and the department of administrative services before such a new position is created by the agency.

(C) The director of administrative services shall issue a quarterly report to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the governor indicating the progress of state agencies toward reaching a ten per cent reduction in the state workforce.

(D) When a ten per cent reduction in the state workforce is attained, as indicated by the figures maintained by the department of administrative services and reported to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the governor, the requirements of this section cease to apply.