HB 702 Summary

• Creates the Reentry Ohio Program to provide grants to employers who hire ex-offenders, reimbursing employers for 50% of employment costs and providing housing assistance for participants.

• Establishes workers' compensation coverage for program participants through the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, treating them as state employees rather than private business employees.

• Requires participating employers to employ ex-offenders for at least 2 years, ensure 50% of workforce are program participants with minimum of 5 participants, and provide suitable jobs with transferable skills.

• Appropriates $34.7 million for fiscal year 2020 and $37.5 million for fiscal year 2021 to fund the program from the newly created Reentry Ohio Program Fund.

• Requires program participants to sign participation agreements committing to attend reentry programming after hours and mentor new participants after one year of program participation.