HB 196 Summary

• Requires each board of county commissioners to establish a local healthier buckeye council by December 15, 2015, with flexibility for counties to form joint councils or designate existing councils to fulfill this requirement.

• Renames the Ohio Healthier Buckeye Advisory Council to the Ohio Healthier Buckeye Council and expands its membership to include representatives from the county commissioners association and job and family services directors association.

• Establishes the Healthier Buckeye Grant Program administered by the Ohio Healthier Buckeye Council to award grants to local councils, public entities, private entities, and individuals for programs promoting financial independence.

• Creates the Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program requiring county departments of job and family services to designate a lead agency and conduct comprehensive employment assessments for participants, with the Ohio Healthier Buckeye Council having approval authority over the program.

• Modifies the Prevention, Retention, and Contingency Program by renaming "statements of policies" to "county plans," requiring updates by November 15, 2015, and prohibiting suspension of required benefits and services unless allocated funds are exhausted.