FSTL 215 (June 1998 Rule Review)
Food Stamp Transmittal Letter No. 215
May 11, 1998
TO: Food Stamp Certification Handbook Holders
FROM: Arnold R. Tompkins, Director
SUBJECT: June 1998 Rule Review

Effective September 26, 1996, Substitute House Bill (Sub. H.B.) 473 required each state agency 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The purpose of the rule review is to determine whether a rule should be continued without amendment, be amended, or be rescinded, taking into consideration each rule's purpose and scope.

Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rules 5101:4-3-01, 4-3-03, 4-3-05, 4-3-08, 4-3-22, 4-3-23, and 4-3-25, rules for Chapter 3000 of the Food Stamp Certification Handbook (FSCH), were sent out for review and comment. The comments have been evaluated and, where appropriate, incorporated in the rule. There are no changes to Chapter 3000 which directly impact on the eligibility of applicants/recipients or how any county agency is to administer the program.

Rule 5101:4-3-01 is replacing Sections 3000 and 3010.

Rule 5101:4-3-03 is replacing Sections 3100 through 3130.

Rule 5101:4-3-05 was not replaced but updated to include the rule's effective and certification dates, promulgation, statutory authority, rule amplification, review date and prior effecctive dates. No changes were made to the actual text.

Rule 5101:4-3-08 is replacing Section 3360.

Rule 5101:4-3-22 is replacing Sections 3600 through 3660. In addition, the language from rule 5101:4-3-25 was incorporated into rule 5101:4-3-22. Thus, rule 5101:4-3-25 has been rescinded. Section 3660 is now located in rule 51014-3-22.

Rule 5101:4-3-23 is replacing Sections 3630 through 3640.

The aforementioned rules are effective June 4, 1998.

Sections 3650 et seq. are being issued in rule format at this time as OAC rule 5101:4-3-24. The effective date for this rule is June 6, 1997.

In the left-hand margin the former FSCH section number that corresponds with the new OAC language format has been entered. The primary reason for this dual numbering is that for the time being CRIS-E will continue to use the FSCH numbering system; this will allow caseworkers to locate specific language in the manual.

In the text of the rule, an FSCH section number is cited immediately after a reference to an OAC rule only if the section has not been converted to the OAC format in this manual.