In accordance with section 119.032 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 Office of Family Assistance (OFA) has completed a review of the following rule(s) and taken the action(s) described below:

Chapter 8000

5101:4-8-30,"Food assistance: Treasury offset program"

This rule describes the process for referring overdue claims to the Federal Treasury Offset Program (TOP). OFA has rescinded and replaced this rule with a new rule as a result of the five year review. The only substantive change from the existing rule is that information regarding the review process has been moved to new rule 5101:4-8-30.1. The following changes were made for clarity:

• The rule was changed to question and answer format;
• Language regarding safeguarding of Federal Tax Information was added; and
• Information about the review of a claim pending referral to the TOP was removed from this rule and placed in a new supplemental rule 5101:4-8-30.1.

5101:4-8-30.1,"Food assistance: Review of a claim pending a treasury offset program referral"

This new rule was added to clarify the review process for claims pending referral to the TOP. The policy was previously located in rule 5101:4-8-30. The information in the new rule is not substantively different than what was in the prior rule.

CHAPTER 8000

Instructions

The following chart identifies the material removed from the Food Assistance Certification Handbook and the material that was added: