CAMTL 148 (Five Year Rule Review: Written Declaration of Citizenship/Alien Status and the Use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements System)
Cash Assistance Manual Transmittal Letter No. 148
November 15, 2019
TO: All Cash Assistance Manual Holders
FROM: Kimberly Hall, Director
SUBJECT: Five Year Rule Review: Written Declaration of Citizenship/Alien Status and the Use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements System

In accordance with section 106.03 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), each state agency is required to review each of its rules in the Ohio Administrative Code a minimum of once every five years. The intent of the review is to ensure that Administrative Code rules are clearly written and that program requirements are accurate, up-to-date and clearly expressed. To the extent possible, unnecessary paperwork will be eliminated, local agencies will be given increased flexibility, and any adverse impact on businesses will be eliminated or reduced. As a result of the review, the agency may amend the rule; rescind the rule; or continue the rule without amendment.

The rule has been subject to a review by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR). The rule will become effective on 12/1/2019.

Chapter 1000

5101:1-1-50 " Written Declaration of Citizenship/Alien Status and the Use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements System."

The rule describes the policy regarding written declaration for citizenship/alien status and the use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements System (SAVE) of noncitizens who apply for the Ohio Works First; Prevention, Retention and Contingency; and Refugee Cash Assistance programs. The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) has rescinded and replaced this rule with a new rule as more than 50 percent of the language has been stricken. The rule has been reorganized to improve clarity. Changes to the rule include: 

  • Language in paragraph (A) referring to forms JFS 7200 and JFS 7204 was stricken and replaced with the term "application" in accordance with rule 5101:1-2-01 of the Administrative Code;
  • The term "reapplication" was replaced with "recertification" in order to align with rule 5101:1-2-10 of the Administrative Code;
  • Paragraph (B)(1)(a)(ii) removed the word "seven" in order to align with the definition of A-number as defined by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;
  • Paragraph (C) was stricken and combined with paragraph (D);
  • New paragraph (C) defines the SAVE system;
  • New paragraph (D) has been modified to identify methods of verifying documents;
  • Former paragraph (D)(3) was stricken and moved to new paragraph (E) to improve clarity;
  • New paragraph (F) was updated to reflect the manual process to be used for extraordinary circumstances in verifying an individual's immigration status; and
  • Minor language changes to improve clarity.