Background

Section 119.032 of the Ohio Revised Code requires a review of all state agency rules within a five-year period. The purpose of this review is to determine whether a rule should be continued without amendment, be amended or be rescinded, taking into consideration the rule's purpose and scope. In addition, the intent of the review is to ensure that rules are clear and concise as written, program requirements are accurate and up-to-date, unnecessary paperwork is eliminated, and, when possible, local agencies are given more flexibility. As part of the ongoing review process, the acronym "CDJFS" has been changed to "county agency" to align with the Food Assistance rules.

This letter transmits changes with the proposed effective date of August 1, 2010. This cover letter includes a summary statement of the policy changes.

CHAPTER 1000

5101:1-2-30 Citizenship: Ohio Works First and Disability Financial Assistance

We have rescinded the former version of this rule and created a new rule that is written in plain language for better readability and to align with rule 5101:4-3-07 of the Ohio Administrative Code, which is the Food Assistance Citizenship rule. The proposed changes to the rule are formatting changes and are not substantive.

H.R. 3326, "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010" (Public Law 111-118), removed the eight-month limitation on cash and food assistance benefits for Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa holders. These individuals will now be able to receive benefits in the same manner as individuals admitted to the United States as refugees. They will no longer be subject to the eight-month limitation or the five-year waiting period for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits. This rule obsoletes Action Change Transmittal Letters #245, 246 and 248.

CHAPTER 2000

5101:1-3-02 Ohio Works First: School Attendance

We have rescinded the former version of this rule and created a new rule written in plain language for better readability.

5101:1-3-03 Ohio Works First: Residence and Living Arrangement Requirement

We have rescinded the former version of this rule and created a new rule written in plain language for better readability. We also added additional policy from section 5107.24 of the Ohio Revised Code that addresses exemptions to a minor parent or pregnant minor residing with a parent, relative, guardian or custodian.

CHAPTER 4000

5101:1-2-60 Repatriate program

This rule has been proposed for amendment. As a result of a recent clarification, we have removed the initial resettlement payment of $560 and replaced it with Ohio's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families payment standard, which is the Ohio Works First standard for the assistance group size. The reference to the "Temporary Assistance for Repatriates" pamphlet has been removed and replaced with the "Welcome Package," which is provided by International Social Service-United States of America branch incorporated (ISS-USA). All references to JFS forms have been removed, as the forms are provided by ISS-USA in the welcome package. The county agencies work directly with ISS-USA, and we have removed the requirement to send information to ODJFS. Counties can submit required documents directly to ISS-USA.

Cash Assistance Manual Instructions:

The following chart identified the material that should be removed from the Cash Assistance Manual and the material that should be added.