5101:9-7-24 Electronic funds transfer (EFT).

(A) EFT is a direct deposit payment system which transfers funds electronically to individual bank accounts in participating financial institutions. The Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS) requires EFT for all payments and reimbursements to a county agency. EFT allows ODJFS to manage cash more efficiently in compliance with the federal “Cash Management Improvement Act” (CMIA) of 1993. All counties must use the auditor of state form AUD-8361 “Authorization Agreement for Automatic Deposit of State Warrants” when enrolling or making changes to an EFT account.

(B) A board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution requiring the county department of job and family services (CDJFS) to establish an EFT system for the distribution of Ohio works first (OWF), and/or disability financial assistance (DFA) benefits.

(C) The CDJFS may use EFT to transfer regular first-of-the-month payments directly to the bank accounts of participating OWF and/or DFA recipients from the county disbursal account. These recipients will not receive paper warrants for their OWF or DFA payments. However, the usual paper warrants will continue to be issued for auxiliary and supplemental payments.

(D) When the board of county commissioners adopts a resolution for mandatory EFT of OWF and/or DFA payments, the CDJFS shall pay all charges imposed by the financial institution to establish and maintain its recipient accounts. Under voluntary EFT, the CDJFS is not required to pay the charges imposed by a financial institution. The charges incurred by the CDJFS for both mandatory and voluntary EFT are nonreimbursable. The CDJFS shall determine the type of account to be used for EFT and shall negotiate with financial institutions regarding service charges for recipient accounts.

(E) When the board of county commissioners adopts a resolution requiring EFT of OWF or DFA payments, the CDJFS must obtain the JFS 07357 “Grant Payment Authorization – Mandatory” (rev. 10/1997) form for each recipient effected within one hundred eighty days from the date of the resolution. The county shall bear the full cost of each replacement warrant issued to these recipients until the CDJFS has obtained the appropriate authorization forms from the recipient to establish EFT. The CDJFS shall not be reimbursed for any part of these costs.

Effective: 10/30/2006

Promulgated Under: 111.15

Statutory Authority: 5101.02

Rule Amplifies: 5101.02, 329.03, 329.04

Prior Effective Dates: 01/01/97, 10/4/02