In accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 119.032, each state agency is required to review its rules a minimum of once every five years. The intent of the law is to ensure that 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 and local agencies will be given increased flexibility. The purpose of a rule review is to determine whether a rule should be continued without amendment, be amended or be rescinded, taking into consideration each rule's scope and purpose.

If no revisions are made to these rules prior to finalization by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, they will become effective on a permanent basis on December 01, 2011. If changes are necessary, a copy of the revised rules will be forwarded to you at that time.

The following rules were recently reviewed. No changes were made affecting the eligibility of applicants or recipients, or to the way county agencies administer the program.

5101:4-3-06, "Food assistance: victims of trafficking."

This rule was put into plain language and question-and-answer format to improve clarity.

5101:4-3-24, "Food assistance: good cause for failure to comply in providing a social security number."

This rule was put into plain language and question-and-answer format to improve clarity.

5101:-4-4-19, "Food assistance: countable income."

This rule is being amended to remove the reference to rule 5101:4-6-03 from paragraph (B)(2)(e). The reference is being removed because that section was removed from the rule effective August 1, 2011 to eliminate duplication.

5101:4-6-11, "Food assistance: determining eligibility of assistance groups with income from self-employment."

This rule is being amended to remove the reference to rule 5101:4-6-03 in regard to daycare income from paragraph (C)(2)(xi). The reference is being removed because that section was removed from the rule effective August 1, 2011 to eliminate duplication.

Instructions: The following chart identifies the material that should be removed from the Food Assistance Certification Handbook and the material that should be added.