This letter transmits proposed rules with an effective date of December 29, 2006.

CHAPTER 2000

Rule 5101:1-1-01 - Temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) definitions

Minor grammar changes were made in paragraph (Z)(2)(b) which resulted in no changes to policy.

Rule 5101:1-3-01 - Ohio works first (OWF): Federal work participation rates

The language, "who is not a parent" was removed from paragraph (D)(2) as it was redundant.

Rule 5101:1-3-12 - Ohio works first (OWF): Work Activities

A semi-colon was added after acronym OWF in paragraph (B)(1) to make it clear that paragraphs (B)(1)(a)-(d) apply to both situations in paragraph (B)(1).

The language, "previously scheduled" was removed from paragraphs (H)(3)(b) and (H)(3)(c). There is no requirement that a medical appointment or job interview be scheduled in advance of the assignment date.

The language, "or designee" was added to paragraph (H)(3)(k) to allow for the CDJFS Director to designate staff to determine additional good cause reasons for non participation.

The revision dates for forms JFS 06909 and 06910 were incorrect and have been changed. They are referenced in paragraph (J)(5).

Language has been added to paragraph (K)(4) to indicate that the CDJFS shall use the higher of the state or federal minimum wage amount when determining hours of participation allowable under the FLSA. Effective January 1, 2007, the state minimum wage will increase from $5.15 per hour to $6.85 per hour.

Rule5101:1-3-12.1 - Unsubsidized Employment

"County department of job and family services" has been replaced with the acronym "CDJFS" in paragraph (C)(3), as it was spelled out in paragraph (A)(2).

Rule 5101:1-3-12.2 - Subsidized Public and Private Employment

The word "employee's" has been replaced with "employer's" in paragraph (B)(7)(a) and "employee" to "employer" in paragraph (B)(7)(b).

Rule5101:1-3-12.3 - Work Experience Program (WEP)

The language "twice per month" has been replaced with "semi-monthly" in paragraph (C) as a result of concerns regarding what "twice per month" meant.

Rule5101:1-3-12.5 - Job Search and Job Readiness

Language has been added to paragraph (D)(3) from 45 CFR §261.34 limiting the counting of job search and job readiness hours of participation for the federal participation rate without a seven day break following a four consecutive week assignment.

Rule 5101:1-3-12.6 - Community Service

The language "twice per month" has been replaced with "semi-monthly" in paragraph (C).

The language "county department of job and family services" has been replaced with the acronym "CDJFS" in paragraph (E)(2) as it was spelled out in paragraph (A)(2).

Rule5101:1-3-12.7 - Vocational Education

The language "twice per month" has been replaced with "semi-monthly" in paragraph (C) as a result of concerns regarding what "twice per month" meant.

Rule5101:1-3-12.8 - Providing Child Care Services to an individual who is participating in a Community Service program

The language "twice per month" has been replaced with "semi-monthly" in paragraph (C) as a result of concerns regarding what "twice per month" meant.

Rule5101:1-3-12.9 - Job skills training directly related to employment

The language "twice per month" has been replaced with "semi-monthly" in paragraph (C) as a result of concerns regarding what "twice per month" meant.

Rule5101:1-3-12.10 - Education directly related to employment in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency

The language "twice per month" has been replaced with "semi-monthly" in paragraph (C) as a result of concerns regarding what "twice per month" meant.

Rule5101:1-3-12.11 - Secondary school or program leading to a certificate of general equivalence for an individual who has not completed secondary school or received a certificate

The language "twice per month" has been replaced with "semi-monthly" in paragraph (C) as a result of concerns regarding what "twice per month" meant.

Rule5101:1-3-12.12 - Alternative activities

The language "twice per month" has been replaced with "semi-monthly" in paragraph (C) as a result of concerns regarding what "twice per month" meant.

Rule5101:1-3-15 - Ohio Works First (OWF): Three-tier sanctions

The language "of the Administrative Code" has been added to paragraph (D)(2).

The word "right" has been changed to "rights" in paragraph (D)(4).

The word "is" has been changed to "are" in paragraph (E)(2).

Rule5101:1-3-15.1 - Transition of Ohio works first (OWF) assistance groups under sanctions and penalties

The word "assurance" has been changed to "assessment" in paragraph (B).

Rule5101:1-3-16 The PRC employer subsidy program

The language "purposes of the PRC employer" has been changed to "purpose of PRC employer" in paragraph (A)(1).

As a result of discussion with CDJFS Directors we have revised the language in paragraph (A)(7). The language now reads:

"The PRC subsidy program shall include the expectation of continuing employment with the participating employer after the subsidy expires or a placement component that leads to employment with another employer after the subsidy expires. The expectation of employment may be contingent upon the participant's successful completion of any probationary or training period specified in the contract and abiding by the employer's rules and regulations".

The change to language removes the agreement by the employer to retain the participant after the subsidy period ends.

The language "employers participating PRC", has been changed to "employers participating in PRC" in paragraph (A)(3).

The language "or maintaining employment with the subsidized employment program (SEP) employer" has been changed to "maintaining employment with the employer' in paragraph (B)(3).

"Subsidized employment program" was inserted before the acronym "SEP" in paragraph (C)(1).

"County" was replaced with "CDJFS" in paragraphs (C)(1)(a) and (C)(2).

Rule5101:1-23-10 - Ohio works first (OWF): Standard filing unit

The reference in (C)(8) has been changed from (B)(1) to (B)(8) to (C)(1) to (C)(8).

INSTRUCTIONS: