(A) As used in this section and in section 5101.801 of the Revised Code:

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(1) “County family services agency” has the same meaning as in section 307.981 of the Revised Code.

(2) “State agency” has the same meaning as in section 9.82 of the Revised Code.

(3) “Title IV-A administrative agency” means both of the following:

(a) A county family services agency or state agency administering a Title IV-A program under the supervision of the department of job and family services;

(b) A government agency or private, not-for-profit entity administering a project funded in whole or in part with funds provided under the Title IV-A demonstration program created under section 5101.803 of the Revised Code.

(4) “Title IV-A program” means all of the following that are funded in part with funds provided under the temporary assistance for needy families block grant established by Title IV-A of the “Social Security Act,” 110 Stat. 2113 (1996), 42 U.S.C. § 601, as amended:

(a) The Ohio works first program established under Chapter 5107 of the Revised Code;

(b) The prevention, retention, and contingency program established under Chapter 5108 of the Revised Code;

(c) A program established by the general assembly or an executive order issued by the governor that is administered or supervised by the department of job and family services pursuant to section 5101.801 of the Revised Code;

(d) The kinship permanency incentive program created under section 5101.802 of the Revised Code;

(e) The Title IV-A demonstration program created under section 5101.803 of the Revised Code;

(f) The Ohio parenting and pregnancy program created under section 5101.804 of the Revised Code;

(g) Fatherhood programs recommended by the Ohio commission on fatherhood under section 5101.805 of the Revised Code;

(h) A component of a Title IV-A program identified under divisions (A)(4)(a) to (g) of this section that the Title IV-A state plan prepared under division (C)(1) of this section identifies as a component.

(B) The department of job and family services shall act as the single state agency to administer and supervise the administration of Title IV-A programs. The Title IV-A state plan and amendments to the plan prepared under division (C) of this section are binding on Title IV-A administrative agencies. No Title IV-A administrative agency may establish, by rule or otherwise, a policy governing a Title IV-A program that is inconsistent with a Title IV-A program policy established, in rule or otherwise, by the director of job and family services.

(C) The department of job and family services shall do all of the following:

(1) Prepare and submit to the United States secretary of health and human services a Title IV-A state plan for Title IV-A programs;

(2) Prepare and submit to the United States secretary of health and human services amendments to the Title IV-A state plan that the department determines necessary, including amendments necessary to implement Title IV-A programs identified in divisions (A)(4)(c) to (h) of this section;

(3) Prescribe forms for applications, certificates, reports, records, and accounts of Title IV-A administrative agencies, and other matters related to Title IV-A programs;

(4) Make such reports, in such form and containing such information as the department may find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports, regarding Title IV-A programs;

(5) Require reports and information from each Title IV-A administrative agency as may be necessary or advisable regarding a Title IV-A program;

(6) Afford a fair hearing in accordance with section 5101.35 of the Revised Code to any applicant for, or participant or former participant of, a Title IV-A program aggrieved by a decision regarding the program;

(7) Administer and expend, pursuant to Chapters 5104., 5107., and 5108. of the Revised Code and sections 5101.801, 5101.802, 5101.803, and 5101.804 of the Revised Code, any sums appropriated by the general assembly for the purpose of those chapters and sections and all sums paid to the state by the secretary of the treasury of the United States as authorized by Title IV-A of the “Social Security Act,” 110 Stat. 2113 (1996), 42 U.S.C. § 601, as amended;

(8) Conduct investigations and audits as are necessary regarding Title IV-A programs;

(9) Enter into reciprocal agreements with other states relative to the provision of Ohio works first and prevention, retention, and contingency to residents and nonresidents;

(10) Contract with a private entity to conduct an independent on-going evaluation of the Ohio works first program and the prevention, retention, and contingency program. The contract must require the private entity to do all of the following:

(a) Examine issues of process, practice, impact, and outcomes;

(b) Study former participants of Ohio works first who have not participated in Ohio works first for at least one year to determine whether they are employed, the type of employment in which they are engaged, the amount of compensation they are receiving, whether their employer provides health insurance, whether and how often they have received benefits or services under the prevention, retention, and contingency program, and whether they are successfully self sufficient;

(c) Provide the department with reports at times the department specifies.

(11) Not later than the last day of each January and July, prepare a report containing information on the following:

(a) Individuals exhausting the time limits for participation in Ohio works first set forth in section 5107.18 of the Revised Code.

(b) Individuals who have been exempted from the time limits set forth in section 5107.18 of the Revised Code and the reasons for the exemption.

(D) The department shall provide copies of the reports it receives under division (C)(10) of this section and prepares under division (C)(11) of this section to the governor, the president and minority leader of the senate, and the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives. The department shall provide copies of the reports to any private or government entity on request.

(E) An authorized representative of the department or a county family services agency or state agency administering a Title IV-A program shall have access to all records and information bearing thereon for the purposes of investigations conducted pursuant to this section. An authorized representative of a government entity or private, not-for-profit entity administering a project funded in whole or in part with funds provided under the Title IV-A demonstration program shall have access to all records and information bearing on the project for the purpose of investigations conducted pursuant to this section.