HB 420 Summary - Building Safer Communities for Ohio's Children Act

• Establishes the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention within the Department of Children and Youth to administer grant programs reducing firearm violence, with an executive director earning $170,000 annually.

• Creates three competitive grant programs: violence prevention organizations in the 15 counties with highest firearm violence rates; youth development programs in those same counties; and community revitalization grants in 5 additional high-violence counties.

• Violence prevention organizations must provide behavioral health services, legal aid, housing assistance, workforce development, criminal justice reintegration support, and victim services to trauma-exposed individuals.

• Requires the Department of Medicaid to establish a team-based trauma recovery care model addressing PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders for individuals chronically exposed to firearm violence.

• Appropriates $500,000 from General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2025 to support office establishment; programs take effect January 1, 2025.