H.B. 349 Summary

• Increases public members on the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood from five to seven representatives appointed by the governor, all with extensive experience in fatherhood-related issues.

• Adds the assistant director of job and family services in charge of the office of child support as a new commission member.

• Authorizes the commission to employ an executive director and other staff as necessary, with positions in the unclassified civil service.

• Changes the state fatherhood summit requirement from once every four years to once every two-year period beginning in odd-numbered calendar years.

• Revises commission duties to focus on identifying and funding fatherhood initiatives that increase public awareness, prevent premature fatherhood, build parenting skills, promote father-child bonding, and develop fathers' relationship skills; requires annual reports evaluating funded initiatives to legislative and executive leaders.