This letter transmits four new rules as a result of language, enacted through House Bill 64, creating a locally controlled regional model through which the Ohio Children's Trust Fund (OCTF) will provide child abuse and child neglect prevention funds on a regional basis. This language set forth rules that the OCTF is required to adopt and rules that it is permitted to adopt to implement the bill's provisions. These rules will be effective January 1, 2016.

The following is a brief explanation of the new rules:

OAC 5101:5-1-01 entitled Regional prevention councils operation and regional prevention council member duties provides guidance, in accordance with divisions (A) and (B) of section 3109.179 of the Revised Code, on child abuse and child neglect regional prevention council meetings including notices, quorums, procedure, minutes and agenda. The rule also explains council officers and their duties as well as the creation and operation of council workgroups. The rule outlines council duties along with the form and manner by which councils submit regional child abuse and child neglect prevention plans to the OCTF. In addition, the rule provides guidance on child abuse and child neglect regional prevention council member duties including attending council meetings, serving on council workgroups and assisting with the conducting of comprehensive needs assessments.

OAC 5101:5-1-02 entitled Regional prevention coordinator duties and selection process provides guidance, in accordance with division (B) of section 3109.179 of the Revised Code, on the responsibilities of regional prevention coordinators including the selection of child abuse and child neglect regional prevention council chairpersons, the conducting of comprehensive needs assessments and the provision of management and administrative functions of the regional prevention councils and their workgroups. The rule also provides guidance for situations in which a regional prevention coordinator is unable to continue and/or is not fulfilling its statutory obligations.

OAC 5101:5-1-03 entitled Boards of county commissioners appointing of regional prevention council members provides guidance, in accordance with division (A) of section 3109.179 of the Revised Code, on the manner in which boards of county commissioners are to appoint and reappoint child abuse and child neglect regional prevention council members.

OAC 5101:5-1-04 entitled Regional prevention council designations creates names, in accordance with division (B) of section 3109.179 of the Revised Code, for each of the eight child abuse and child neglect regional prevention councils established under division (B) of section 3109.172 of the Revised Code to serve the eight child abuse and child neglect prevention regions created and defined under section 3109.171 of the Revised Code.

The following form is being created through these rules: JFS 01475 entitled Ohio children's trust fund regional child abuse and child neglect prevention plan submission.

INSTRUCTIONS:
The following chart identifies the material that should be added to the Children's Trust Fund Manual (CTFMTL).