(A) There is created the center for community health worker excellence, a public-private partnership to support and foster the practice of community health workers and improve access to community health worker services across this state.

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(B) The center shall be a public-private partnership governed by a board of directors comprised of the following members:

(1) The director of the department of health or the director’s designee;

(2) The executive director of the commission on minority health or the director’s designee;

(3) The medicaid director or the director’s designee;

(4) The executive director of the board of nursing or the director’s designee;

(5) The director of education and workforce or the director’s designee;

(6) A representative of an OhioMeansJobs center operator, as defined in section 6301.01 of the Revised Code, appointed by the director of job and family services;

(7) An individual who provides services within one or more community HUBs that fully or substantially comply with the pathways community HUB certification standards developed by the pathways community HUB institute, appointed by the director of health;

(8) A representative of the Ohio association of community health workers, appointed by that entity;

(9) A representative of the Ohio health information partnership, appointed by that entity;

(10) A representative of the center for community solutions, appointed by that entity;

(11) A representative of the Ohio association of community colleges, appointed by that entity;

(12) A representative of the Ohio association of community health centers, appointed by that entity;

(13) A representative of the Ohio alliance for population health, appointed by that entity;

(14) A member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(15) A member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(C) Initial appointments to the committee shall be made not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section. Terms shall be two years, and members may be reappointed. If an appointed member no longer satisfies the grounds upon which the member was appointed, the member is ineligible to continue to serve, and a new member shall be appointed in accordance with division (B) of this section.

Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for the remainder of that term.

Members of the board shall serve without compensation, except to the extent that serving on the board is considered part of the member’s regular duties of employment. Members shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.

(D) The board of directors shall annually select from its members a chairperson or co-chairpersons.

(E) The board of directors shall meet at the call of the chairperson but not less than quarterly. A majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum. The chairperson shall provide members with at least five days written notice of all meetings.

(F) Under the direction and oversight of the board of directors, and as implemented by health impact Ohio and the Ohio alliance for population health at Ohio university, the center shall engage in all of the following activities:

(1) Establishing an electronic platform that may be accessed statewide to connect community health workers with individuals or communities in need of their services;

(2) Evaluating and reporting on the state of the community health workforce in Ohio, including the total number of community health workers employed, the settings in which they practice, the number certified by the board of nursing, the average income or hourly wage earned by a community health worker, the reimbursement rates and needs of community health workers, and any available funding sources;

(3) Creating and maintaining a web site or other electronic tools to coordinate resources for individuals practicing or seeking to practice as community health workers, including resources related to recruitment, education, training, certification, employment, and mentorships;

(4) Making continuing education hours or credits available for free to community health workers certified by the board of nursing;

(5) Providing financial assistance to employers that host or offer practicums or other training to community health workers seeking certification by board of nursing.

In performing the activities, the center, together with health impact Ohio and the Ohio alliance for population health at Ohio university, may as necessary collaborate with other organizations and institutions, in particular, clinisync, unite us, Ohio association of community health workers, board of nursing, and university of Toledo.

(G) The board shall issue a report to the governor and general assembly describing its activities and any recommendations pertaining to community health workers by the first of January of each odd numbered calendar year.