Sub. S.B. No. 144 Summary

• Creates the Ohio Family Stability Commission within the Department of Job and Family Services consisting of 25 members: 4 from the General Assembly (appointed by legislative leaders from both parties) and 21 appointed by the Governor with specified expertise areas including out-of-wedlock births, divorce, education, employment, child support, custody, abuse/neglect, domestic violence, judicial system, criminal justice, faith-based initiatives, fatherhood programs, nonprofit management, and communications.

• Year 1: Commission conducts research and formulates recommendations to the General Assembly and state agencies on divorce rates, unmarried birth rates, domestic violence/child abuse rates, and child custody/support issues, along with strategies for addressing these problems.

• Years 2-3: Commission works to implement recommendations and monitors their implementation, issuing a report to the General Assembly at the end of year 3 on implementation status.

• Year 4: Commission ensures continued implementation and enforcement of recommendations, issuing a final report to the General Assembly.

• Commission ceases to exist after submitting its year 4 report; the authorizing statute is repealed four years after the effective date of the law.