Chapter 6301 | Workforce Development System

Section 6301.01 | Workforce development system definitions.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Local area" means a local workforce development area designated under section 106 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3121, pursuant to this chapter.

(B) "Workforce development activity" means an activity carried out through a workforce development system.

(C) "Chief elected official or officials," when used in reference to a local area, means the chief elected executive officer of a unit of general local government in the local area or, in the case of a local area that includes more than one unit of general local government, the individual or individuals designated under an agreement described in section 107 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3122.

(D) "State board" means the governor's executive workforce board required under section 101 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3111, and established pursuant to section 6301.04 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Local board" means a local workforce development board established under section 107 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3122.

(F) "OhioMeansJobs web site" means the statewide electronic system for labor exchange and job placement activity operated by the state.

(G) "OhioMeansJobs center" means a physical one-stop center described in section 121(e)(2) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3151(e)(2).

(H) "OhioMeansJobs center operator" means an entity or a consortium of entities designated or certified through a competitive process to operate a one-stop center under section 121(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3151(d).

(I) "Planning region" means an area consisting of two or more local areas that are collectively aligned to engage in the regional planning process outlined in section 106(c)(1) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3121(c)(1).

(J) "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act" means the "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act," 29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq., or other citation as specifically provided.

Section 6301.02 | Administration of Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and Wagner-Peyser Act.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

The director of job and family services shall administer the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the former "Workforce Investment Act of 1998," 112 Stat. 936, Pub. L. No. 105-220, as amended, and the "Wagner-Peyser Act," 48 Stat. 113 (1933), 29 U.S.C.A. 49, as amended, and the funds received pursuant to those acts. In administering those acts and funds received pursuant to those acts, the director shall assist the state board in establishing and administering a workforce development system that is designed to provide leadership, support, and oversight to locally designed workforce development systems. The director shall conduct investigations and hold hearings as necessary for the administration of this chapter.

To the extent permitted by state and federal law, the director may adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to establish any program or pilot program for the purposes of providing workforce development activities or services under applicable federal law. Prior to the initiation of any program of that nature, the director of budget and management shall certify to the governor that sufficient funds are available to administer a program of that nature. The director of job and family services shall advise the state board of any such program.

Unless otherwise prohibited by state or federal law, every state agency, board, or commission shall provide to the state board and the director all information and assistance requested by the state board and the director in furtherance of workforce development activities.

Section 6301.03 | Allocation and payment of funds for local administration of the workforce development activities.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) In administering the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the former "Workforce Investment Act of 1998," 112 Stat. 936, Pub. L. No. 105-220, as amended, and the "Wagner-Peyser Act," 48 Stat. 113 (1933), 29 U.S.C.A. 49, as amended, the funds received pursuant to those acts, and the workforce development system, the director of job and family services may, in consultation with the state board, make allocations and payment of funds for the local administration of the workforce development activities established under this chapter.

(B) The director shall allocate to local areas all funds required to be allocated to local areas pursuant to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and the former "Workforce Investment Act of 1998," 112 Stat. 936, Pub. L. No. 105-220, as amended. The director shall make allocations only with funds available. Local areas, as defined by either section 101 of the former "Workforce Investment Act of 1998," 112 Stat. 936, Pub. L. No. 105-220, as amended, or section 6301.01 of the Revised Code, and subrecipients of a local area shall establish a workforce development fund and the entity receiving funds shall deposit all funds received under this section into the workforce development fund. All expenditures for activities funded under this section shall be made from the workforce development fund, including reimbursements to a county public assistance fund for expenditures made for activities funded under this section.

(C) The use of funds, reporting requirements, and other administrative and operational requirements governing the use of funds received by the director pursuant to this section shall be governed by internal management rules adopted by the director pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code.

(1) A local area described in division (B) of this section shall use the OhioMeansJobs web site as the labor exchange and job placement system for the area.

(2) No additional federal or state workforce funds shall be used to build or maintain any labor exchange and job placement system that is duplicative to the OhioMeansJobs web site.

(D) To the extent permitted by state or federal law, the director and local areas authorized to administer workforce development activities may assess a fee for specialized services requested by an employer. The director shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the nature and amount of those types of fees.

Section 6301.04 | State board.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The governor shall establish a state board. The state board shall consist of the following members:

(1) The governor;

(2) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(3) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate;

(4) Members required under section 101(b)(1)(C) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3111(b)(1)(C);

(5) The deputy director of primary and secondary education and the deputy director of career-technical education appointed under section 3301.13 of the Revised Code;

(6) Any additional members appointed by the governor.

(B) The governor shall appoint members to the board, who serve at the governor's pleasure, to perform duties under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, as authorized by the governor.

(C) The board is not subject to sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code.

(D) All state agencies engaged in workforce development activities shall assist the board in the performance of its duties.

(E) The board shall have the power and authority to do all of the following:

(1) Develop, implement, and modify the state workforce development plan;

(2) Review statewide workforce policies and programs and recommendations on actions to be taken by the state to align workforce development programs to support a comprehensive and streamlined workforce development system;

(3) Recommend measures for the development and continuous improvement of the workforce development system in the state, including updating comprehensive state performance accountability measures, also known as workforce success measures;

(4) Continue to identify and disseminate information on promising practices in the area of workforce development;

(5) Perform other related work that is required of the board by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or requested by the governor.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 4:48 PM

Section 6301.05 | Partnership agreement for workforce development activities.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

The chief elected official of a local area shall enter into a written grant agreement with the director of job and family services in accordance with section 5101.20 of the Revised Code.

A grant agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall include the responsibility of the chief elected official or officials to be accountable to the department of job and family services for the use of funds provided through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, including regulations issued by the United States department of labor pursuant to that act.

Section 6301.06 | Local boards.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

(A) The chief elected official or officials of a local area shall create a local board to carry out the functions described in section 107(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3122(d). The chief elected official or officials shall appoint members of the local board in accordance with the requirements of section 107(b)(2) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3122(b)(2).

(B) Members of the local board serve at the pleasure of the chief elected official or officials of the local area. Members shall not be compensated but may be reimbursed for actual, reasonable, and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as board members. Those expenses shall be paid from funds allocated pursuant to section 6301.03 of the Revised Code.

The chief elected official or officials of a local area may provide office space, staff, or other administrative support as needed to the board. For purposes of section 102.02 of the Revised Code, members of the board are not public officials or employees.

(C) The chief elected official or officials of a local area shall adopt a process for appointing members to the local board for the local area.

(D)(1) The requirement in division (C) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code that a member of a public body be present in person at a meeting open to the public to be part of a quorum or to vote does not apply to a local board if the board holds a meeting by interactive video conference or teleconference in the following manner:

(a) The board establishes a primary meeting location that is open and accessible to the public;

(b) Meeting-related materials that are available before the meeting are sent via electronic mail, facsimile, hand-delivery, or United States postal service to each board member;

(c) In the case of an interactive video conference, the board causes a clear video and audio connection to be established that enables all meeting participants at the primary meeting location to see and hear each board member;

(d) In the case of a teleconference, the board causes a clear audio connection to be established that enables all meeting participants at the primary meeting location to hear each board member;

(e) All board members have the capability to receive meeting-related materials that are distributed during the board meeting;

(f) A roll call voice vote is recorded for each vote taken;

(g) The minutes of the board meeting identify which board members remotely attended the meeting by interactive video conference or teleconference.

(2) If the board holds a meeting by interactive video conference or teleconference in the manner described in division (D)(1) of this section, use of an interactive video conference is preferred, but nothing in this section prohibits the board from conducting its meetings by teleconference or by a combination of interactive video conference and teleconference at the same meeting.

(3) The board shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that are necessary to implement division (D)(1) of this section, including rules that do all of the following:

(a) Authorize board members to remotely attend a board meeting by interactive video conference or teleconference, or by a combination thereof, in lieu of attending the meeting in person;

(b) Establish a minimum number of board members that must be physically present in person at the primary meeting location if the board conducts a meeting by interactive video conference or teleconference;

(c) Require that not more than one board member remotely attending a board meeting by teleconference is permitted to be physically present at the same remote location;

(d) Establish geographic restrictions for participation in meetings by interactive video conference and by teleconference;

(e) Establish a policy for distributing and circulating meeting-related materials to board members, the public, and the media in advance of or during a meeting at which board members are permitted to attend by interactive video conference or teleconference;

(f) Establish a method for verifying the identity of a board member who remotely attends a meeting by teleconference.

(E) The chief elected official or officials of a local area may contract with the local board. The parties shall specify in the contract the workforce development activities that the local board is to administer and shall establish in the contract standards, including performance standards, for the local board's operation. The contract may include any other provisions that the chief elected official or officials consider necessary.

(F) The chief elected official or officials may contract with any government or private entity to enhance the administration of local workforce development activities for which the local board is responsible. The entity with which the chief elected official or officials contract is not required to be located in the local area in which the chief elected official or officials serve as chief elected executive officer.

(G)(1) As used in this division, "public library" means a library that is open to the public and that is one of the following:

(a) A library that is maintained and regulated under section 715.13 of the Revised Code;

(b) A library that is created, maintained, and regulated under Chapter 3375. of the Revised Code;

(c) A library that is created and maintained by a public or private school, college, university, or other educational institution;

(d) A library that is created and maintained by a historical or charitable organization, institution, association, or society.

(2) Not later than September 1, 2018, and every two years thereafter, an OhioMeansJobs center operator shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with one or more public libraries to facilitate collaboration and coordination of workforce programs and education and job training resources.

Last updated July 30, 2021 at 4:17 PM

Section 6301.061 | Advisory committee on workforce development.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

A board of county commissioners may appoint an advisory committee on workforce development. A committee appointed under this section may do both of the following:

(A) Work to further cooperation between the county and other workforce development and economic development related entities including the state, local area workforce development systems, and private businesses;

(B) Advise the board and other interested parties on ways to maintain and improve the workforce development system of the local area in which the county is a part.

Section 6301.07 | Workforce development plan.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) For purposes of this section, "performance character" means the career-essential relational attributes that build trust with others, including respect, honesty, integrity, task-excellence, responsibility, and resilience.

(B) Every local board, in partnership with the chief elected official or officials of the local area, shall develop and submit to the governor a comprehensive four-year local plan. The local plan shall support the strategy described in the state plan and shall contain descriptions of the activities of the local board as outlined in section 108 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3123, including all of the following:

(1) Identification of strategic planning elements, including all of the following:

(a) The strategic vision of the local board;

(b) Goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce;

(c) The knowledge and skills, including performance character, needed to meet the employment needs of employers in the planning region, including in-demand industry sectors and occupations.

(2) A description of the workforce development system in the local area and how the local board, working with education programs and the entities that carry out core programs, will coordinate activities to expand access to employment, training, education, and supportive services to eligible individuals with barriers to employment to improve service delivery and to avoid duplication;

(3) A determination of the local area's workforce development needs for adult and dislocated worker employment training activities, including the type and availability of activities needed;

(4) An assessment of the type and availability of youth workforce development activities carried out in the local area, including activities for youth with disabilities and youth receiving independent living services pursuant to sections 2151.81 to 2151.84 of the Revised Code;

(5) A description of any other information the chief elected official or officials of the local area require;

(6) A description of any other information the governor requires.

(C)(1) The local boards of the local areas within a planning region and the chief elected officials of those local areas shall prepare, submit to, and obtain approval from the state for a single regional plan that includes a description of the activities described in section 106(c)(1) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3121(c)(1), and that incorporates local plans described in division (B) of this section for each local area in that region.

(2) The state shall identify regions within the state, and designate each region it identifies as one of the following types:

(a) A region consisting of one local area;

(b) A planning region;

(c) An interstate planning region that is contained within two or more states and consists of labor market areas, economic development areas, or other appropriate contiguous subareas of those states.

(D) Before the date on which a local board submits a regional or local plan for approval, the local board shall make copies of the proposed plan available to the public through electronic and other means and allow members of the public to submit comments on the proposed plan to the local board. For purposes of this division, public hearings and presentation to local news media are examples of other means by which a local board may make a proposed plan available.

(E) A local board may provide policy guidance and recommendations to the chief elected official or officials of a local area for any workforce development activities.

Section 6301.08 | Local workforce development system for workforce development activities.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

Every local area shall establish and administer a local workforce development system for workforce development activities. The chief elected official or officials of a local area shall ensure that at least one comprehensive OhioMeansJobs center is available in the local area. An OhioMeansJobs center may be supported by electronic means approved by the director of job and family services for the provision of workforce development activities.

Every OhioMeansJobs center shall be named "OhioMeansJobs (name of county) County."

Every OhioMeansJobs center shall be operated by an OhioMeansJobs center operator.

The local workforce development system shall include representatives of all the partners required under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Section 6301.09 | Federal law applicable to workforce policy boards.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

The provision under division (g) of section 101 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3111, applies to the state board created under this chapter. The provision under division (e) of section 107 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3122 applies to the local boards established pursuant to this chapter.

Section 6301.10 | State of Ohio's workforce report.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly

Beginning January 1, 2013, and each calendar year thereafter, the state board, with the assistance of all state agencies engaged in workforce development activities, shall prepare a report concerning the state of Ohio's workforce. Upon completion of the annual workforce report, the state board shall provide an electronic copy of the report to the president and minority leader of the senate, the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, the governor's office of Appalachian Ohio, the commission on Hispanic-Latino affairs, and the commission on African-Americans, and shall post the report on the state board's internet web site.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 1:16 PM

Section 6301.11 | Methodology for determining workforce demands.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "public or private institution" means any of the following:

(1) A state institution of higher education, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code;

(2) A private, nonprofit institution in this state holding a certificate of authorization pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code;

(3) An Ohio technical center that provides adult technical education services as recognized by the chancellor of higher education.

(B) The state board, in connection with the department of job and family services, the department of education and workforce, and public or private institutions, shall develop a methodology for identifying jobs that are in demand by employers operating in this state. The methodology for identifying in-demand jobs shall include an analysis of both of the following:

(1) Jobs that are in demand in each region of the state, as determined by the director of job and family services;

(2) Jobs that pay a wage rate that is equal to or greater than one hundred twenty-five per cent of the wage rate established under section 6 of the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938," 52 Stat. 1060, 29 U.S.C. 206, as amended, or its successor law.

(C) The department of job and family services, the department of education and workforce, and the public or private institutions, in consultation with the state board, shall use the methodology to create a list of such in-demand jobs in the state and a list of such in-demand jobs in each region of the state. The department of job and family services and the department of education and workforce shall publish the lists on the web sites of each department. The departments and public or private institutions shall periodically update the lists to reflect evolving workforce demands in this state and its regions.

(D) Local boards and other providers of workforce training shall use the lists of in-demand jobs to cultivate and prioritize workforce development activities that correspond to the employment needs of employers operating in this state and in each of its regions and to assist individuals in maximizing their employment opportunities.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 4:49 PM

Section 6301.111 | Employer survey.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

The governor's office of workforce transformation, in conjunction with the department of job and family services and the department of education and workforce, shall conduct an electronic survey of employers in this state to identify jobs that are in demand by those employers. The office, in conjunction with the departments, shall use the survey results to update the list of in-demand jobs required under section 6301.11 of the Revised Code, notwithstanding the requirement in that section that the departments and public or private institutions, as defined in that section, periodically update that list. The office shall complete the initial survey and make the update required under this section not later than December 31, 2018. The office shall complete a subsequent survey and update not later than the last day of December every two years thereafter.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 4:50 PM

Section 6301.112 | Online workforce supply tool.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The governor's office of workforce transformation, in collaboration with the departments of higher education, job and family services, and education and workforce, shall create and publish on the OhioMeansJobs web site a workforce supply tool that uses real-time demand and supply data. The office shall provide all of the following through the tool:

(1) Businesses with historical information on graduates from high demand fields;

(2) Businesses with projections on future graduates;

(3) The number of skilled workers available for work in occupations included in the list of in-demand jobs created under section 6301.11 of the Revised Code.

(B) The governor's office of workforce transformation, in collaboration with the departments of higher education, job and family services, and education and workforce, shall include in the workforce supply tool created under division (A) of this section all in-demand jobs included in the list of in-demand jobs created under section 6301.11 of the Revised Code.

(C) The governor's office of workforce transformation, in collaboration with the department of higher education and the department of education and workforce, shall establish design teams. The design teams shall do both of the following:

(1) Identify emerging skill needs based on predictive analytics and analysis of the data from the workforce supply tool created under division (A) of this section;

(2) Periodically recommend innovations for responding to emerging in-demand jobs and skills.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 4:51 PM

Section 6301.14 | OhioMeansJobs workforce development revolving loan fund.

• Effective: October 11, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 1 - 130th General Assembly

The OhioMeansJobs workforce development revolving loan fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of a portion of the proceeds from the upfront license fees paid for the casino facilities authorized under Section 6(C) of Article XV, Ohio Constitution. The investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

Section 6301.15 | Online education and career planning tool.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

The director of job and family services, in consultation with the director of the governor's office of workforce transformation and the director of education and workforce, shall develop and maintain an online education and career planning tool to assist students in developing education and career plans. The director of job and family services shall periodically update the online education and career planning tool and other information as determined necessary by the director and shall provide the updates to the department of education and workforce.

The department of education and workforce shall post the information developed under this section in a prominent location on the department's web site.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 4:53 PM

Section 6301.16 | Access to automated employer application services.

• Effective: September 24, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 3 - 131st General Assembly

(A) All companies based in this state and in good standing with this state shall have the same access to all automated employer application services available through the OhioMeansJobs web site, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Posting job openings and searching resumes of job applicants;

(2) Identifying and exploring employment programs;

(3) Improving a company's workforce;

(4) Hiring veterans;

(5) Hiring or making accommodations for employees with disabilities.

(B) Division (A) of this section applies to any contract related to the operation of the OhioMeansJobs web site that is amended, extended, or entered into on or after the effective date of the enactment of this section .

Section 6301.17 | Performance review of OhioMeansJobs web site.

• Effective: September 24, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 3 - 131st General Assembly

Not later than the thirty-first day of January of each year, the state board shall comprehensively review the performance of the OhioMeansJobs web site and prepare a report including at least the following data for the preceding calendar year:

(A) The number of referrals and placements to jobs displayed on the web site;

(B) The number of jobs posted to the web site by employers based in this state;

(C) The number of resumes displayed on the web site that were aggregated from other web sites.

Upon completion of the report, the state board shall provide an electronic copy of the report to the governor, the president and minority leader of the senate, and the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives.

Section 6301.18 | Participants in programs funded under Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; creation of account with OhioMeansJobs web site.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) Each participant in an adult training or education program funded under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act shall create an account with the OhioMeansJobs web site at the time of enrollment in the program.

(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any individual who is legally prohibited from using a computer, has a physical or visual impairment that makes the individual unable to use a computer, or has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand a language in which the OhioMeansJobs web site is available.

Section 6301.19 | Workforce development projects fund.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

There is hereby created in the state treasury the workforce development projects fund. The fund may consist of intrastate agency transfers, nonfederal grants, and other similar revenue sources. The department of job and family services shall use the fund to support program and administrative expenses related to the implementation of workforce development initiatives within the department.

Section 6301.20 | Applications for WIOA programs.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

Not later than September 30, 2017, the governor's office of workforce transformation, in consultation with the departments of job and family services, higher education, and aging and the opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities agency, shall develop and maintain a uniform electronic application for adult training programs funded under the "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act," 128 Stat. 1425, 29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq., as amended. The application shall be available for use not later than July 1, 2018.

Section 6301.21 | Regional workforc e collaboration model.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The governor's office of workforce transformation, the department of education and workforce, and the chancellor of higher education, in consultation with business and economic development stakeholder groups, shall develop a regional workforce collaboration model. The model shall provide guidance on how the JobsOhio regional network, local chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, business, business associations, secondary and post-secondary education organizations, and Ohio college tech prep regional centers, that are jointly managed by the department of education and workforce and the chancellor, shall collaborate to form a partnership that provides career services to students.

Career services to students may include, but are not limited to, job shadowing, internships, co-ops, apprenticeships, career exploration activities, and problem-based curriculum developed in alignment with in-demand jobs.

(B) The governor's office of workforce transformation shall oversee the creation of regional workforce collaboration partnerships based on the model created under division (A) of this section. The partnerships shall be located in each of the six different regions of the state, as determined by JobsOhio.

(C) As used in this section, "JobsOhio" has the same meaning as in section 187.01 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 4:54 PM

Section 6301.22 | Role of office of workforce transformation as liaison.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) With regard to industry-recognized credentials and certificate programs, the governor's office of workforce transformation shall act as a liaison between the business community and the department of education and workforce or the chancellor of higher education. In acting as a liaison, the governor's office of workforce transformation shall accept inquiries from the business community regarding all of the following:

(1) Industry-recognized credentials approved under section 3313.6113 of the Revised Code;

(2) Certificate programs and industry-recognized credentials included in the inventory prescribed under section 3333.94 of the Revised Code;

(3) Any other existing or proposed credential or certificate program necessary to meet the workforce needs of the state, as determined by the office.

(B) Based on inquiries submitted under division (A) of this section, the governor's office of workforce transformation shall do either of the following:

(1) Request information from the department of education and workforce regarding industry-recognized credentials approved under section 3313.6113 of the Revised Code;

(2) Request information from the chancellor regarding certificate programs and industry-recognized credentials included in the inventory prescribed under section 3333.94 of the Revised Code or offered by an institution that holds a certificate of authorization issued under Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code.

(C) Based on inquiries submitted under division (A) of this section, the governor's office of workforce transformation, in collaboration with the department of education and workforce, the chancellor, and other stakeholders, including regional education providers, determined appropriate by the office, shall convene a review of an existing or proposed industry-recognized credential or certificate program. The office shall submit the findings of the department of education and workforce or the chancellor, as appropriate, to the business that submitted the inquiry for which the review was initiated.

(D) Nothing in this section shall affect the responsibilities assigned under division (B) of section 3313.6113 of the Revised Code to the committee established under division (A) of that section or the responsibilities assigned to the chancellor under division (B) of section 3333.94 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 4:55 PM

Section 6301.23 | Industry-recognized credentials.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Ohio career-technical associations" includes all of the following:

(a) The Ohio association of career and technical education;

(b) The Ohio association of career-technical superintendents;

(c) The Ohio association of comprehensive and compact career-technical schools.

(2) "Other public school" has the same meaning as in section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code.

(3) "State agency" has the same meaning as in section 1.60 of the Revised Code.

(B) The governor's office of workforce transformation, the department of education and workforce, and the chancellor of higher education, in consultation with Ohio career-technical associations and other appropriate stakeholders, shall develop model guidance for maintaining a statewide inventory of industry-recognized credentials. The guidance shall address the following:

(1) Methods for state agencies to efficiently and effectively organize the different categories of industry-recognized credentials in a manner that allows students, school districts, other public schools, chartered nonpublic schools, and institutions of higher education to easily understand available credentialing options, based on the unique circumstances of each individual student;

(2) The potential creation of a centralized, inter-agency database of information on all industry-recognized credentials that is accessible to the public;

(3) Methods to streamline the process to add career-technical programs to the various approved credentialing lists;

(4) Methods to increase transparency in the approval process for industry-recognized credentials.

Last updated September 20, 2023 at 4:55 PM